bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical impact of ultrathin colonoscopy for Crohn's disease patients with strictures
Authors: Morimoto Kenichi , Watanabe Kenji , Noguchi Atsushi , Miyazaki Takako , Nagami Yasuaki , Sugimori Satoshi , Kamata Noriko , Sogawa Mitsue , Tanigawa Tetsuya , Yamagami Hirokazu , Shiba Masatsugu , Tominaga Kazunari , Watanabe Toshio , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Arakawa Tetsuo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and AimMucosal healing is now the ideal treatment goal for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and endoscopy is suitable for both visualizing the intestinal mucosa and optimizing treatment according to the objective endoscopic findings; however, passing through strictures with a conventional colonoscope is sometimes difficult. An ultrathin colonoscope (outer diameter 9.2 mm) has been developed for superior insertion performance.MethodsCD patients with strictures that could not be passed with a conventional colonoscope were eligible for entry into the study. We investigated the rate of passage of the ultrathin colonoscope beyond strictures. We also investigated the clinical impact of optimizing the treatment strategy according to the endoscopic findings beyond the stricture.ResultsOf 49 patients, the ultrathin colonoscope could pass the stricture in 59.2% (29/49). The main reason for failure compared with the “pass” group was anal stricture (P = 0.005). When including finger bougie for severe anal stricture, passage of the stricture was achieved in 83.7% (41/49) of cases and the oral mucosa beyond the stricture was visualized. In these cases, 56.1% (23/41) had treatment efficacy confirmed and 43.9% (18/41) required a change of treatment. Importantly, half (9/18) of them were in clinical remission. There were no complications of the study.ConclusionThe ultrathin colonoscope could provide optimized treatment based on objective findings of the activity of the oral‐side mucosa in CD patients complicated with stricture. Selection of the appropriate endoscope to visualize the responsible lesion is essential to optimize the treatment strategy in each case of CD.
Usefulness of baseline impedance in patients with proton pump inhibitor‐refractory nonerosive reflux disease
Authors: Kohata Yukie , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Yamagami Hirokazu , Tanigawa Tetsuya , Shiba Masatsugu , Watanabe Kenji , Watanabe Toshio , Tominaga Kazunari , Arakawa Tetsuo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and AimApproximately more than half of patients with non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) do not respond to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Although NERD is a heterogeneous entity, previous study showed that multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII)‐pH monitoring could distinguish reflux‐related disease from PPI‐refractory NERD. The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of baseline impedance in PPI‐refractory NERD patients.MethodsWe used MII‐pH monitoring to analyze reflux parameters, symptom index (SI), and baseline impedance in 37 PPI‐refractory NERD patients on PPI. Reflux was divided into acid (nadir pH ≤ 4) and non‐acid (nadir pH > 4). Subjects were classified as having reflux‐related disease based on abnormal reflux parameters or positive SI (≥ 50%), or non‐reflux‐related disease, including functional heartburn, based on negative SI with normal reflux parameters.ResultsA total of 26 of the 37 subjects were diagnosed with reflux‐related disease, including eight with acid‐reflux type and 18 with non‐acid‐reflux type, and nine with functional heartburn and two with pseudohypersalivation. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of the acid‐reflux type, non‐acid‐reflux type, and functional heartburn groups. The baseline impedance value in the acid‐reflux type (1245 ± 392 Ω) was significantly lower than that in the non‐acid‐reflux type (2824 ± 1160 Ω) and functional heartburn (3546 ± 1353 Ω) groups. Baseline impedance values inversely correlated with reflux percent time, acid‐reflux time, and acid exposure time.ConclusionAmong patients with PPI‐refractory NERD, acid‐reflux type was associated with lower baseline impedance compared with non‐acid‐reflux type and functional heartburn.
Atypical symptoms and health‐related quality of life of patients with asymptomatic reflux esophagitis
Authors: Tomita Toshihiko , Yasuda Toshinari , Oka Hideo , Terao Shuichi , Arai Eitastu , Oshima Tadayuki , Fukui Hirokazu , Hori Kazutoshi , Watari Jiro , Miwa Hiroto 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and AimAsymptomatic reflux esophagitis (RE) is simply regarded as RE without the typical reflux symptoms, but it is unknown whether patients with asymptomatic RE have atypical symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with asymptomatic RE.Patients and MethodsConsecutive patients with RE were enrolled during January 2010 to August 2012, and of them, 41 who had taken acid‐suppressing drugs were excluded, leaving 280 patients as the study group. The patients' symptoms were evaluated using a self‐completed questionnaire (modified Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease [FSSG]), as well as an HRQOL questionnaire (SF‐8). We defined the typical symptoms of RE as heartburn and regurgitation. Asymptomatic RE was defined if the total symptom score was 0 or the minimum (1 point) for typical reflux symptoms in the modified FSSG.ResultsOf the 280 RE patients, 71.8% (n = 201) were symptomatic and 28.2% (n = 79) were asymptomatic. The atypical symptom scores were significantly lower in asymptomatic RE (2.2 ± 2.2) than in symptomatic RE patients (6.9 ± 5.2) (P < 0.0001), and the HRQOL scores were significantly higher in asymptomatic RE than in symptomatic RE (P < 0.0001). Sleep was significantly less disturbed and chronic cough less frequent in asymptomatic RE than in symptomatic RE.ConclusionFrequency and severity of atypical symptoms in patients with asymptomatic RE were significantly less than in patients with symptomatic RE, and the HRQOL score was significantly higher in those patients. These observations suggest a specific patient cohort that is truly unlikely to manifest symptoms.
Investigating the effect of hypoxic culture on the endothelial differentiation of human amniotic fluid‐derived stem cells
Authors: Lloyd‐Griffith Cai , Duffy Garry P. , O'Brien Fergal J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAmniotic fluid‐derived stem cells (AFSCs) are a unique stem cell source that may have great potential for use in tissue engineering (TE) due to their pluripotentiality. AFSCs have previously shown angiogenic potential and may present an alternative cell source for endothelial‐like cells that could be used in range of applications, including the pre‐vascularisation of TE constructs and the treatment of ischaemic diseases. This study investigated the ability of these cells to differentiate down an endothelial lineage with the aim of producing an endothelial‐like cell suitable for use in pre‐vascularisation. As hypoxia and the associated HIF‐1 pathway have been implicated in the induction of angiogenesis in a number of biological processes, it was hypothesised that culture in hypoxic conditions could enhance the endothelial differentiation of AFSCs. The cells were cultured in endothelial cell media supplemented with 50 ng mL−1 of VEGF, maintained in normoxia, intermittent hypoxia or continuous hypoxia and assessed for markers of endothelial differentiation at day 7 and 14. The results demonstrated that AFSCs subjected to these culture conditions display an endothelial gene expression profile and adopted functional endothelial cell characteristics indicative of early endothelial differentiation. Culture in continuous hypoxia enhanced endothelial gene expression but did not enhance functional endothelial cell characteristics. Overall, AFSCs subjected to endothelial stimuli demonstrated a less mature endothelial gene expression profile and phenotype when compared with HUVECs, the endothelial cell control. However, this study is the first time that the positive effect of an extended period of continuous hypoxic culture on endothelial differentiation in AFSCs has been demonstrated.
Prenatally diagnosed monochorionic diamniotic triplet pregnancy
Authors: Yonetani Naoto , Ishii Keisuke , Mabuchi Aki , Sasahara Jun , Hayashi Shusaku , Mitsuda Nobuaki 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe present an extremely rare case of monochorionic diamniotic (MD) triplet pregnancy diagnosed via ultrasonography at the end of the first trimester that resulted in delivery of three healthy newborns. Ultrasonography for a 34‐year‐old woman at 12 weeks of gestation showed three fetuses and one placenta with a T‐sign at the initial segment of the dividing membrane. Color Doppler examination revealed umbilical cord entanglement between two fetuses in one sac in addition to another sac containing one fetus. Therefore, this was diagnosed as MD triplet pregnancy. The triplets were delivered by cesarean section at 35 weeks of gestation and were healthy without neurological morbidities at the age of 28 days. Histopathological examination also revealed an MD triplet placenta. The possibility of MD triplet pregnancy should be recognized, although it is rare.
Premature rupture of membranes and neonatal respiratory morbidity at 32–41 weeks’ gestation: A retrospective single‐center cohort study
Authors: Shimokaze Tomoyuki , Akaba Kazuhiro , Banzai Michio , Kihara Kaori , Saito Emi , Kanasugi Hiroshi 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimTo ascertain whether premature rupture of membranes (PROM) independently affects the risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity at 32–41 weeks’ gestation because previous reports have given insufficient consideration to the mode of delivery and labor onset.MethodsData on 4,629 consecutive singleton infants were retrospectively collected. Respiratory morbidity was limited to respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnea of the newborn, both of which are related to prematurity. Delivery modes were divided into four groups based on the existence of PROM and of labor onset, and the respiratory morbidity was examined according to the number of weeks of gestational age. Multivariate analysis including PROM and delivery mode was conducted to examine the association of respiratory morbidity.ResultsRespiratory morbidity or a positive pressure requirement delivered after PROM and intact amniochorionic membranes accompanied by labor were similar at all weeks. Around 37 weeks, the absence of labor onset was associated with a risk of respiratory morbidity or positive pressure requirement. Significant respiratory risk was not associated with the incidence of PROM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52–1.83), interval from rupture to delivery (aOR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99–1.01), clinical chorioamnionitis, induction management, pregnancy‐related complications, or neonatal sex. Delivery by Cesarean section and early gestational age presented a significant risk for respiratory morbidity.ConclusionsNeither PROM nor latency after PROM at 32–41 weeks affected neonatal respiratory morbidity. Avoiding Cesarean section instead of simply increasing the time to delivery may help to reduce respiratory morbidity.
Acute presentation of gestational diabetes insipidus with pre‐eclampsia complicated by cerebral vasoconstriction: A case report and review of the published work
Authors: Mor Amir , Fuchs Yael , Zafra Kathleen , Haberman Shoshana , Tal Reshef 
Published: April 2015

AbstractGestational diabetes insipidus (GDI) is a rare, self‐limited complication of pregnancy. As it is related to excess placental vasopressinase enzyme activity, which is metabolized in the liver, GDI is more common in pregnancies complicated by conditions associated with liver dysfunction. We present a case of a 41‐year‐old woman at 38 weeks’ gestation who presented with pre‐eclampsia with severe features, including impaired liver function and renal insufficiency. Following cesarean section she was diagnosed with GDI, which was further complicated by cerebral vasoconstriction as demonstrated by magnetic resonance angiography. This case raises the possibility that cerebral vasoconstriction may be related to the cause of GDI. A high index of suspicion of GDI should be maintained in patients who present with typical signs and symptoms, especially in the setting of pregnancy complications associated with liver dysfunction.
The Valuation of Lifetime Health Insurance Policies with Limited Coverage
Authors: Yang Shang‐Yin , Wang Chou‐Wen , Huang Hong‐Chih 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn adopting a traditional actuarial view, insurance companies often use expected values to determine the premiums for lifetime health insurance policies with limited coverage, which can lead to serious overpricing problems when the coverage limit is not very low or very high. To address this overpricing problem, this article provides analytical solutions for fair premiums of lifetime health insurance policies with limited coverage. Using internal data provided by insurance companies, this article describes the relationship between the level of limited coverage and excess premiums. The premium difference between a practical pricing method and a proposed pricing model creates a humped curve; the maximum excess premium ratio reaches nearly 20 percent for limited coverage for younger insured people.
Evaluation of Thyroid‐Stimulating Hormone, Total Thyroxine, and Free Thyroxine Concentrations in Hyperthyroid Cats Receiving Methimazole Treatment
Authors: Aldridge C. , Behrend E.N. , Martin L.G. , Refsal K. , Kemppainen R.J. , Lee H.P. , Chciuk K. 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundIatrogenic hypothyroidism (IH) after treatment of hyperthyroidism can impair renal function. No study compared the efficacy of measurement of serum free thyroxine by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ed) or thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations for monitoring cats receiving methimazole.ObjectivesTo (1) compare the ability of total T4 andfT4ed concentrations in conjunction withTSHto define thyroid function in hyperthyroid cats receiving methimazole, (2) determine the prevalence ofIHin cats receiving methimazole, and (3) examine the relationship between thyroid axis hormones and serum creatinine concentration.AnimalsOne hundred and twenty‐five serum samples from hyperthyroid cats receiving methimazole and total T4 concentrations ≤3.9 μg/dL.MethodsTotal T4,fT4ed, andTSHconcentrations were measured to evaluate thyroid status and serum creatinine concentration was measured to assess renal function. A low total T4 orfT4ed concentration in combination with an increasedTSHconcentration defined IH.ResultsForty‐one cats (33%) had increasedTSHconcentrations. Of cats with total T4 andfT4ed concentrations below the reference range, 68% and 73%, respectively, hadTSHconcentrations above the reference range. Only 18% of cats with a normalTSHconcentration had an increased serum creatinine concentrations as compared to 39% of those with increasedTSHconcentrations (P < .001).ConclusionsFree T4ed does not identify more cats with potentialIHas compared to total T4. TheIHprevalence was approximately 20%. Measurement ofTSHmay be more helpful in indicating that azotemia, if present, is at least in part related toIH. Investigation is needed to defineTSHassay utility in identifying possible subclinicalIH.
Evaluation of Low‐protein Alternative Diets for Pond‐raised Hybrid Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus × Ictalurus furcatus
Authors: Li Menghe H. , Robinson Edwin H. , Lucas Penelope M. , Bosworth Brian G. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA study was conducted to evaluate low‐protein traditional or alternative diets for pond‐raised hybrid catfish, Ictalurus punctatus × Ictalurus furcatus. Three 24% protein diets containing decreasing levels of soybean meal (30, 20, and 15%) and increasing levels of cottonseed meal and corn germ meal were compared with a 28% protein control diet. Hybrid catfish fingerlings (mean initial weight = 71 g/fish) were stocked into 20 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at a density of 14,826 fish/ha with five ponds per dietary treatment. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for a 191‐d growing season. There were no significant differences in total diet fed, net yield, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, or fillet proximate nutrient composition among dietary treatments (P ≥ 0.10). However, regression analysis showed for fish fed 24% protein diets there was a linear increase in FCR as soybean meal levels decreased (P = 0.06). Compared with fish fed the 28% protein control diet, fish fed 24% protein diets had lower carcass and fillet yield. Results demonstrate a 24% protein alternative diet containing 20% soybean meal may be substituted for 28% protein diets for hybrid catfish during food fish production.
Effects of Salinity and Na+/K+ Ratio on Osmoregulation and Growth Performance of Black Tiger Prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798, Juveniles Reared in Inland Saline Water
Authors: Antony Jose , Vungurala Harikrishna , Saharan Neelam , Reddy Appidi K. , Chadha Narinder K. , Lakra Wazir S. , Roy Luke A. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA 60‐d growth trial was conducted with the black tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon (ca. 0.8 g juveniles) at CIFE Rohtak Centre to evaluate the effects of salinity and Na+/K+ ratio of inland saline water on shrimp growth, survival, and osmoregulation. Three different salinities (5, 10, and 15 ppt) and five different Na+/K+ ratios (25:1, 45:1, 65:1, 85:1, and 27.9:1), for a total of 15 treatments were prepared by ionic manipulation. The medium with Na+/K+ ratio 27.9 was reconstituted seawater and was used as the reference treatment. At the end of the 60‐d trial both salinity and Na+/K+ ratio significantly influenced the survival and growth of shrimp in inland saline water (P < 0.05). Final mean individual weight, weight gain (%) (WG [%]) increased with decreasing Na+/K+ ratios. Survival rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for Na+/K+ ratio 45 and 27.9 at salinities 10 and 15 ppt, respectively. Minimum growth and survival (0–24%) were observed in mediums with Na+/K+ ratio 85 at all salinities. Serum osmolality and osmoregulatory capacity were similar across all treatments at identical salinities except for sodium to potassium ratio (Na+/K+) 85. The serum sodium and potassium levels did not show any significant difference (P > 0.05) for mediums with Na+/K+ ratio 25, 45, 65, and 27.9 at all salinities. Significantly different (P < 0.05) serum sodium levels were observed in mediums with Na+/K+ ratio 85 at all salinities at the end of the trial. The serum potassium levels were significantly low in treatments with Na+/K+ ratio 85. There was no significant difference in the serum magnesium levels between treatments and the serum calcium levels were significantly lower for shrimp reared in the reference mediums. Results of this study confirm that P. monodon can be successfully cultured in low salinity waters with Na+/K+ ratio ranging between 25 and 45:1.
The Effects of Brackish Water on Growth Hormone/Insulin‐like Growth Factor‐1 Gene Expression of the Caspian Trout, Salmo trutta caspius (Kessler, 1877), During the Early Stage of Smoltification
Authors: Sharif Sepideh , Shoae Alireza , Mojazi Amiri Bagher , Farahmand Hamid 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCaspian trout, Salmo trutta caspius, a subspecies of brown trout, S. trutta, is a commercially important but endangered fish species found in the Caspian Sea. To investigate the effect of changes in salinity during migration on the growth of Caspian trout, juvenile fish were challenged in brackish water, and the levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) expression were quantified in the pituitary gland and the liver. Specifically, juvenile fish were reared in freshwater to a weight of 15–20 g and subsequently transferred to brackish water for 28 d. Fish were sampled at 1, 3, 5 and 28 d post‐transfer, and target gene mRNA was quantified using a real‐time qPCR assay. A significant increase in the specific growth rate (SGR) as well as in the abundance of GH and IGF‐1 mRNA was observed in fish that were reared in brackish water (P < 0.05). Two transcripts of GH with 90% homology in the open reading frame and the complete transcript of IGF‐1Ea4 were identified based on gene cloning. In conclusion, our results suggest that brackish water adaptation stimulates the SGR via the GH/IGF‐1 axis and that GH and IGF‐1 have been highly conserved during the evolution of the Caspian trout.
Apparent Protein and Energy Digestibility and Amino Acid Availability of Corn and Co‐products in Extruded Diets for Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus
Authors: Vidal Luiz Vítor Oliveira , Xavier Tadeu Orlandi , Michelato Mariana , Martins Elias Nunes , Pezzato Luiz Edivaldo , Furuya Wilson Massamitu 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe assessed the nutritional value of corn in extruded diets for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, by determining the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy, and by measuring the apparent availability coefficients (AACs) of essential and non‐essential amino acids (AAs) in several corn‐based diets. We fed 180 juvenile Nile tilapia a reference diet containing 325.8 g/kg crude protein and 4613 kcal/kg gross energy or a test diet containing a 70:30 mixture of the reference diet and a test ingredient (whole corn, corn germ, corn germ meal, corn gluten feed, or corn gluten meal). The apparent digestibility coefficients ranged from 56.3 to 96.6% (dry matter), 89.4 to 96.8% (crude protein), and 59.0 to 95.4% (gross energy). The AACs of all AAs exceeded 80% for all diets and were >90% for corn gluten meal. All ingredients showed high levels of apparent digestibility for crude protein and high AACs of AAs. Diets based on whole corn or corn gluten meal showed higher digestibility values for dry matter and gross energy, suggesting that they are preferable choices for Nile tilapia.
Enrichment of Adult Artemia Biomass and Squid Mantle Muscle, Dosidicus gigas, with Different Ascorbic Acid (L‐Ascorbyl‐2‐Monophosphate‐Na/Ca) Concentrations
Authors: Marentes‐Montes Miguel E. , Ponce Palafox Jesús T. , Castillo‐Vargasmachuca Sergio , Martínez‐Rodríguez Irma E. , Castro Mejia Jorge , García‐Ulloa Manuel , Seidavi Alireza 
Published: April 2015

AbstractL‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate‐Na/Ca (AMP‐Na/Ca) was used as a vitamin C source to investigate its ascorbic acid (L‐AA) enrichment and retention in boosted Artemia biomass (AB) and squid mantle muscle (SM). Different doses of AMP‐Na/Ca (500, 1000, and 1500 AMP‐Na/Ca mg/kg) were gradually dissolved into the culture tanks at time 0 (T0) and at each hour until Hour 6 (T6). Samples of AB and SM were taken for AMP‐Na/Ca and L‐AA analysis at T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T12, and T24. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the AB groups at T1. The T6 enrichment analysis for AB resulted in significant differences (P < 0.05) in the AMP‐Na/Ca content for the 1500 mg/kg treatment, in which the initial concentration (0.001 ± 0.002 mg/kg) increased by more than 16‐fold. For all AB enrichment treatments, the AMP‐Na/Ca content demonstrated a decrease (32–11%) for the T6, T12 and T24 analysis. The T1 analysis for SM at the higher AMP‐Na/Ca enrichment concentration registered 30 mg/kg of L‐AA and decreased (27.6%) at T6. This study demonstrated that AB and SM can be boosted with AMP‐Na/Ca.