bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Palliative and end‐of‐life care in pediatric solid organ transplantation
Authors: Fowler Amy , Freiberger Dawn , Moonan Marilyn 
Published: November 2014

AbstractEnd‐of‐life care is a component of palliative care and takes a holistic, individualized approach to patients, focusing on the assessment of quality of life and its maintenance until the end of life, and beyond, for the patient's family. Transplant teams do not always make timely referrals to palliative care teams due to various clinician and perceived family barriers, an important one being the simultaneous, active care plan each patient would have alongside an end‐of‐life plan. Application of findings and further research specific to the pediatric solid organ population would be of significant benefit to guide transplant teams as to the most effective time to introduce end‐of‐life care, who to involve in ongoing discussions, and important ethical and cultural considerations to include in care planning. Attention must also be paid to clinician training and support in this challenging area of health care.
Heterogeneity in soil water and light environments and dispersal limitation: what facilitates tree species coexistence in a temperate forest?
Authors: Masaki T. , Hata S. , Ide Y. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn the present study, we analysed the habitat association of tree species in an old‐growth temperate forest across all life stages to test theories on the coexistence of tree species in forest communities. An inventory for trees was implemented at a 6‐ha plot in Ogawa Forest Reserve for adults, juveniles, saplings and seedlings. Volumetric soil water content (SMC) and light levels were measured in 10‐m grids. Relationships between the actual number of stems and environmental variables were determined for 35 major tree species, and the spatial correlations within and among species were analysed. The light level had no statistically significant effect on distribution of saplings and seedlings of any species. In contrast, most species had specific optimal values along the SMC gradient. The optimal values were almost identical in earlier life stages, but were more variable in later life stages among species. However, no effective niche partitioning among the species was apparent even at the adult stage. Furthermore, results of spatial analyses suggest that dispersal limitation was not sufficient to mitigate competition between species. This might result from well‐scattered seed distribution via wind and bird dispersal, as well as conspecific density‐dependent mortality of seeds and seedlings. Thus, both niche partitioning and dispersal limitation appeared less important for facilitating coexistence of species within this forest than expected in tropical forests. The tree species assembly in this temperate forest might be controlled through a neutral process at the spatial scale tested in this study.
Time‐varying correlations between delta EEG power and heart rate variability in midlife women: The SWAN Sleep Study
Authors: Rothenberger Scott D. , Krafty Robert T. , Taylor Briana J. , Cribbet Matthew R. , Thayer Julian F. , Buysse Daniel J. , Kravitz Howard M. , Buysse Evan D. , Hall Martica H. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractNo studies have evaluated the dynamic, time‐varying relationship between delta electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep and high frequency heart rate variability (HF‐HRV) in women. Delta EEG and HF‐HRV were measured during sleep in 197 midlife women (Mage = 52.1, SD = 2.2). Delta EEG–HF‐HRV correlations in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep were modeled as whole‐night averages and as continuous functions of time. The whole‐night delta EEG–HF‐HRV correlation was positive. The strongest correlations were observed during the first NREM sleep period preceding and following peak delta power. Time‐varying correlations between delta EEG–HF‐HRV were stronger in participants with sleep‐disordered breathing and self‐reported insomnia compared to healthy controls. The dynamic interplay between sleep and autonomic activity can be modeled across the night to examine within‐ and between‐participant differences including individuals with and without sleep disorders.
The Role of MicroRNAs in Autoimmune Diseases with Skin Involvement
Authors: Deng X. , Su Y. , Wu H. , Wu R. , Zhang P. , Dai Y. , Chan T.‐M. , Zhao M. , Lu Q. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNA molecules that negatively modulate gene expression by binding to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which leads to the degradation or translational repression of their target mRNAs. Previous research on miRNAs has revealed a new paradigm of gene regulations and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and malignant diseases. The roles of miRNAs in cellular processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and immune functions, are not clearly understood. MiRNAs are easily detected in a variety of sources, including tissues, serum and other body fluids, and this make them a good biological sample for pathogenic studies and disease biomarker development. This review encompasses the current understanding of the roles of miRNAs in autoimmunity and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in various autoimmune diseases (AIMDs). Specifically, we focus on the target genes of miRNAs and the biological processes associated with autoimmune diseases with skin involvement, including systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, systemic sclerosis, Behcet's disease and dermatomyositis. In addition, the diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of miRNAs that are involved in autoimmunity are elucidated to provide information for clinical implications.
Coping responses in the midst of terror: The July 22 terror attack at Utøya Island in Norway
Authors: Jensen Tine K. , Thoresen Siri , Dyb Grete 
Published: November 2014

This study examined the peri‐trauma coping responses of 325 survivors, mostly youth, after the July 22, 2011 terror attack on Utøya Island in Norway. The aim was to understand peri‐trauma coping responses and their relation to subsequent post‐traumatic stress (PTS) reactions. Respondents were interviewed face‐to‐face 4–5 months after the shooting, and most were interviewed at their homes. Peri‐trauma coping was assessed using ten selected items from the “How I Cope Under Pressure Scale” (HICUPS), covering the dimensions of problem solving, positive cognitive restructuring, avoidance, support seeking, seeking understanding, and religious coping. PTS reactions were assessed with the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index. The participants reported using a wide variety of coping strategies. Problem solving, positive cognitive restructuring, and seeking understanding strategies were reported most often. Men reported using more problem‐solving strategies, whereas women reported more emotion‐focused strategies. There were no significant associations between age and the use of coping strategies. Problem solving and positive cognitive restructuring were significantly associated with fewer PTS reactions. The results are discussed in light of previous research and may help to inform early intervention efforts for survivors of traumatic events.
Association of Toll‐like receptor 7 and 8 gene polymorphisms with Graves' disease in Chinese Cantonese population
Authors: Xiao WenJuan , Liu ZeLin , Lin JiangHai , Li JingBo , Wu KeJing , Ma Yun , Xiong ChunJiang , Gong YingXue , Liu ZeHuan 
Published: November 2014

AbstractGraves' disease (GD) is a common polygenic multifactorial autoimmune disease. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) play critical roles in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. This study investigated the association of TLR7 and TLR8 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility of GD. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely, rs179019, rs179010 and rs3853839 in TLR7 and rs3764880 and rs5744088 in TLR8, were evaluated in 332 GD patients and 351 controls using High‐Resolution Melting analysis. After adjusting for age, SNP rs179010 was found to decrease the risk of GD in females (ORT vs C = 0.64, P = 0.004). In the additive model, the risk of GD decreased significantly as the number of T alleles increased in females [odds ratio (OR) = 0.67 (0.50–0.90), P = 0.007]. The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the independent contribution of rs179010 to the protective effect against GD. This study indicates that rs179010 in TLR7 may be associated with the decreased susceptibility to GD in Chinese Cantonese.
The diversity of major histocompatibility complex class II DRB1 gene in sheep breeds from Xinjiang, China
Authors: Polat M. , Aida Y. , Takeshima S.‐N. , Aniwashi J. , Halik M. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractExon 2 of the ovine leukocyte antigen OLA‐DRB1 locus was examined in sheep from the Xinjiang Karakul Ram and Bashibai populations, and three generations of hybrids were derived from a cross between Bashibai and Altai Argali wild sheep. This identified 12 novel alleles and 30 previously reported alleles. A neighbor‐joining tree of the amino acid sequences of these 42 alleles revealed allelic clusters shared across the study populations. There were significant differences in allelic frequency between Karakul Ram and Bashibai sheep. DRB1*K18cC was the most frequent allele in Kararul Ram with a frequency of 21.2%, while DRB1*2F10c8 (13.2%) and DRB1*0803 (13.2%) were the most frequent alleles found in Bashibai sheep; the alleles DRB1*2F16c2, DRB1*1601, and DRB1*0803 occurred most frequently in F1, F2, and F3 populations, with frequencies of 17.6%, 14.3%, and 20%, respectively. Although many alleles were shared by Bashibai and hybrid sheep, some alleles differed between them, especially in the F1 generation of the Bashibai × Altai Argali cross. The hybrid‐specific alleles indicated the introgression of Altai Argali alleles into hybrid flocks. A population tree based on the OLA‐DRB1 allelic frequency in each population indicated that the Bashibai sheep and three hybrid populations were similar, with Karakul Ram being genetically distinct.
Determinants of common mental disorder, alcohol use disorder and cognitive morbidity among people coming for HIV testing in Goa, India
Authors: Mayston Rosie , Patel Vikram , Abas Melanie , Korgaonkar Priya , Paranjape Ramesh , Rodrigues Savio , Prince Martin 
Published: November 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate associations between background characteristics (psychosocial adversity, risk behaviours/perception of risk and HIV‐related knowledge, perceptions and beliefs) and psychological and cognitive morbidity among people coming for testing for HIV/AIDS in Goa, India.MethodsAnalysis of cross‐sectional baseline data (plus HIV status) from a prospective cohort study. Participants were recruited at the time of coming for HIV testing.ResultsConsistent with associations found among general population samples, among our sample of 1934 participants, we found that indicators of psychosocial adversity were associated with CMD (common mental disorder – major depression, generalised anxiety and panic disorder) among people coming for testing for HIV. Similarly, perpetration of intimate partner violence was associated with AUD (alcohol use disorder). Two STI symptoms were associated with CMD, and sex with a non‐primary partner was associated with AUD. Suboptimal knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention was associated with low cognitive test scores. In contrast with other studies, we found no evidence of any association between stigma and CMD. There was no evidence of modification of associations by HIV status.ConclusionsAmong people coming for testing for HIV/AIDS in Goa, India, we found that CMD occurred in the context of social and economic stressors (violence, symptoms of STI, poor education and food insecurity) and AUD was associated with violence and risky sexual behaviour. Further research is necessary to understand the role of gender, stigma and social norms in determining the relationship between sexual and mental health. Understanding associations between these background characteristics and psychological morbidity may help inform the design of appropriate early interventions for depression among people newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS.
Side readout of long scintillation crystal elements with digital SiPM for TOF‐DOI PET
Authors: Yeom Jung Yeol , Vinke Ruud , Levin Craig S. 
Published: November 2014

Purpose:Side readout of scintillation light from crystal elements in positron emission tomography (PET) is an alternative to conventional end‐readout configurations, with the benefit of being able to provide accurate depth‐of‐interaction (DOI) information and good energy resolution while achieving excellent timing resolution required for time‐of‐flight PET. This paper explores different readout geometries of scintillation crystal elements with the goal of achieving a detector that simultaneously achieves excellent timing resolution, energy resolution, spatial resolution, and photon sensitivity.Methods:The performance of discrete LYSO scintillation elements of different lengths read out from the end/side with digital silicon photomultipliers (dSiPMs) has been assessed.Results:Compared to 3 × 3 × 20 mm3 LYSO crystals read out from their ends with a coincidence resolving time (CRT) of 162 ± 6 ps FWHM and saturated energy spectra, a side‐readout configuration achieved an excellent CRT of 144 ± 2 ps FWHM after correcting for timing skews within the dSiPM and an energy resolution of 11.8% ± 0.2% without requiring energy saturation correction. Using a maximum likelihood estimation method on individual dSiPM pixel response that corresponds to different 511 keV photon interaction positions, the DOI resolution of this 3 × 3 × 20 mm3 crystal side‐readout configuration was computed to be 0.8 mm FWHM with negligible artifacts at the crystal ends. On the other hand, with smaller 3 × 3 × 5 mm3 LYSO crystals that can also be tiled/stacked to provide DOI information, a timing resolution of 134 ± 6 ps was attained but produced highly saturated energy spectra.Conclusions:The energy, timing, and DOI resolution information extracted from the side of long scintillation crystal elements coupled to dSiPM have been acquired for the first time. The authors conclude in this proof of concept study that such detector configuration has the potential to enable outstanding detector performance in terms of timing, energy, and DOI resolution.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Micafungin and Its Metabolites M1 and M5 in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Hope William W. , Kaibara Atsunori , Roy Michael , Arrieta Antonio , Azie Nkechi , Kovanda Laura L. , Benjamin Daniel K. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

The aim of this analysis was to identify therapeutic micafungin regimens for children that produce the same micafungin exposures known to be effective for the prevention and treatment of
Candida
infections in adults. Pediatric pharmacokinetic data from 229 patients between the ages of 4 months and <17 years were obtained from four phase I and two phase III clinical trials. Population pharmacokinetic models were used to simulate the proportion of children who had a steady-state area under the concentration-time curve at 24 hours (AUC
24
) of micafungin within the 10th to 90th percentile range observed in a population of adults receiving a dose of micafungin with established efficacy for invasive candidiasis (100 mg/day), i.e., 75 to 139 μg · h/ml. Simulated pediatric dosages of 0.5 to 5 mg/kg of body weight/day were explored. A two-compartment model was used that incorporated body weight as a predefined covariate for allometric scaling of the pharmacokinetic parameters. During construction of the model, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin were also identified as covariates that had a significant effect on micafungin clearance. A dose of 2 mg/kg resulted in the highest proportion of children within the predefined micafungin AUC
24
target range for invasive candidiasis. Cutoffs of 40 or 50 kg for weight-based dosing resulted in heavier children being appropriately dosed. Thus, dose regimens of 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg/day micafungin are appropriate for the prevention of invasive candidiasis, the treatment of invasive candidiasis, and the treatment of esophageal candidiasis, respectively, in children aged 4 months to <17 years.
Engineered Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides To Overcome Multidrug Resistance by ESKAPE Pathogens
Authors: Deslouches Berthony , Steckbeck Jonathan D. , Craigo Jodi K. , Doi Yohei , Burns Jane L. , Montelaro Ronald C. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

Multidrug resistance constitutes a threat to the medical achievements of the last 50 years. In this study, we demonstrated the abilities of two
de novo
engineered cationic antibiotic peptides (eCAPs), WLBU2 and WR12, to overcome resistance from 142 clinical isolates representing the most common multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens and to display a lower propensity to select for resistant bacteria
in vitro
compared to that with colistin and LL37. The results warrant an exploration of eCAPs for use in clinical settings.
Quality improvement strategies to optimise transition of patients with heart failure to independent living: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Kastner Monika , Lillie Erin , Ashoor Huda , Perrier Laure , Cardoso Roberta , Straus Sharon , Lee Douglas S 
Published: November 2014

IntroductionHeart failure (HF) is a leading reason for hospitalisation and readmissions to hospital, particularly among individuals older than 65 years of age. The prognosis of patients with HF is grim, with high rates of mortality risk and hospital readmissions. The transition period early after hospital discharge represents a window of opportunity to positively influence patient outcomes using quality improvement (QI) strategies. However, little is known about which QI interventions exist for early events of HF after discharge, so the main objective of our study is to conduct a scoping review of the literature to determine which QI strategies are effective for reducing hospital readmissions and mortality for patients with HF who transition from the hospital back into independent living. We will also investigate which elements contribute to effective QI strategies.Methods and analysisWe will search the literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane library for randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews evaluating QI interventions aimed at improving outcomes for patients with HF transitioning from the hospital back into the community. Two reviewers will independently apply our eligibility criteria at level 1 (abstract/title) and level 2 (full-text) screening; disagreements will be resolved through consensus. We will extract data in duplicate on study characteristics, population, setting, QI intervention and outcomes. We will synthesise results descriptively and explore QI elements to determine which aspect contributes to its impact. We will also consider synthesis of our data according to several conceptual frameworks such as Wagner's Chronic Care Model.Discussion and disseminationThe findings of this scoping review will be used to determine which elements should comprise a QI intervention aimed at facilitating the transition of newly admitted patients with HF back into the community. We will disseminate our findings through publications, presentations as well as through a stakeholder meeting to generate key messages most relevant to each.
Structural brain lesions and restless legs syndrome: a cross-sectional population-based study
Authors: Rist Pamela M , Tzourio Christophe , Elbaz Alexis , Soumaré Aïcha , Dufouil Carole , Mazoyer Bernard , Kurth Tobias 
Published: November 2014

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between white matter lesion (WML) volume, silent infarcts and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a population-based study of elderly individuals.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPopulation-based Three-City study.Participants1035 individuals from the Dijon, France, centre of the Three-City study who had available information on volume of WMLs from MRIs and who answered questions about the prevalence of RLS.Primary outcome measurePrevalence of RLS.ResultsWML volume was measured using an automated tissue segmentation method. Logistic regression was used to evaluate adjusted associations between tertiles of WML volume and RLS and between silent infarcts and RLS. 218 individuals (21.1%) were determined to have RLS. Compared with those in the first tertile of WML volume, individuals in the second tertile (OR=1.09; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.60) or third tertile (OR=1.17; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.74) did not have an increased prevalence of RLS. We also did not observe associations between the volume of deep or periventricular WML and RLS; nor did we observe an association between silent brain infarcts and RLS (OR=0.74; 95% CI 0.40 to 1.39). These findings were not modified by age or gender.ConclusionsHigher volume of WML and the presence of silent infarcts were not associated with an increased prevalence of RLS in this population-based cohort of elderly individuals.
Randomised trial of the fascia iliaca block versus the ‘3-in-1’ block for femoral neck fractures in the emergency department
Authors: Reavley Paul , Montgomery Alan A , Smith Jason E , Binks Simon , Edwards Judith , Elder Georgina , Benger Jonathan 
Published: November 2014

IntroductionFemoral neck fractures are a common and painful injury. Femoral nerve blocks, and a variant of this technique termed the ‘3-in-1’ block, are often used in this patient group, but their effect is variable. The fascia iliaca compartment block (FIB) has been proposed as an alternative, but the relative effectiveness of the two techniques in the early stages of care is unknown. We therefore compared the FIB versus the 3-in-1 block in a randomised trial conducted in two UK emergency departments.MethodsParallel, two-group randomised equivalence trial. Consenting patients >18 years with a femoral neck fracture were randomly allocated to receive either a FIB or a 3-in-1 block. The primary outcome was pain measured on a 100 mm visual analogue scale at 60 min. The between-group difference was adjusted for centre, age, sex, fracture type, pre-block analgesia and pre-block pain score.Results178 patients were randomised and 162 included in the primary analysis. The mean 100 mm visual analogue pain scale score at 60 min was 38 mm in the FIB arm and 35 mm in the 3-in-1 arm. The adjusted difference between the arms was 3 mm, with a 95% CI (−4.7 to 10.8) that excluded a clinically important difference between the two interventions.ConclusionsFIB is equivalent to the 3-in-1 block for immediate pain relief in adult neck of femur fractures.Trial registration numberISRCTN16152419.