bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Metolazone Versus Chlorothiazide in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Diuretic Resistance
Authors: Moranville Michael P. , Choi Suji , Hogg Jennifer , Anderson Allen S. , Rich Jonathan D. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryAimsSequential nephron blockade with thiazide‐like diuretics is a strategy used to overcome diuretic resistance in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), but head‐to‐head studies are lacking and equipoise exists regarding the preferred thiazide‐like diuretic in this setting. We thus compared the effectiveness of oral metolazone versus intravenous (IV) chlorothiazide as add‐on therapy to loop diuretics in hospitalized patients with ADHF and renal dysfunction.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral metolazone versus IV chlorothiazide as add‐on therapy to loop diuretics in patients hospitalized with ADHF and renal dysfunction. The primary endpoint was net urine output (UOP) at 72 h after initiation of thiazide‐like diuretics. Safety endpoints included worsening renal function, hypotension, and electrolyte abnormalities.ResultsFifty‐five patients were enrolled with 33 patients receiving metolazone and 22 patients receiving chlorothiazide. There was no difference in median net UOP at 72 h in those receiving metolazone (4828 mL, interquartile range [IQR] 2800–7209 mL) compared to chlorothiazide (3779 mL, IQR 1885–6535 mL) (P = 0.16). There was no difference in hypotension, worsening renal function, hyponatremia, or hypokalemia (P = NS for all comparisons). Hospital length of stay was shorter in the metolazone cohort (median 7 days) compared to chlorothiazide (median 15 days), suggesting the chlorothiazide cohort was likely sicker.ConclusionSequential nephron blockade with either metolazone or chlorothiazide appears to be efficacious and safe in ADHF, renal dysfunction, and diuretic resistance. Given the considerable cost difference favoring oral metolazone, larger randomized studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to exclude the possibility of confounding by indication.
The Use of Subdissociative‐dose Ketamine for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department
Authors: Sin Billy , Ternas Theologia , Motov Sergey M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesKetamine is a well‐known anesthetic with its use trailing back to the 1960s. It has antagonistic effects at the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor. There is emerging literature to suggest the use of subdissociative‐dose ketamine (SDDK) for pain reduction. This evidence‐based review evaluates the evidence regarding the use of SDDK for acute pain control in the emergency department (ED).MethodsThe MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that described or evaluated the use of SDDK for acute pain in the ED were included. Literature was excluded if it was not published in English. Duplicate articles, unpublished reports, abstracts, and review articles were also excluded. Quality assessment and evaluation of literature were evaluated based on the GRADE criteria. The primary outcome of interest in this review was the difference in pain score from baseline to cutoff time as specified in the studies. Secondary outcome measures were the incidence of adverse events and reduction in the amount of adjuvant opioids consumed by patients who received SDDK.ResultsFour RCTs met the inclusion criteria, which enrolled a total of 428 patients. Three adult trials and one pediatric trial were identified. The level of evidence for the individual trials ranged from low to moderate. A significant reduction in pain scores was only found in two of the four trials. One trial found a significant reduction in mean pain scores when ketamine was compared to morphine (p < 0.05). Another trial reported a significant decrease in mean distress scores, favoring SDDK over fentanyl (1.0 vs. 2.7, p < 0.05). One trial found a significant reduction in the amount of morphine consumed, favoring ketamine over placebo (0.14 mg/kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.16 mg/kg vs. 0.2 mg/kg, 95% CI = 0.18 to 0.22 mg/kg; p < 0.001). An emergence phenomenon was reported in one trial.ConclusionsFour RCTs with methodologic limitations failed to provide convincing evidence to either support or refute the use of SDDK for acute pain control in the ED.
Right‐sided congestive heart failure in a dog because of a primary intracavitary myocardial lymphoma
Authors: Tong LJ , Bennett SL , Thompson DJ , Adsett SL , Shiel RE 
Published: February 2015

Case reportA 9‐year‐old female intact Cocker Spaniel was presented with a history of acute‐onset dyspnoea and abdominal distension of 3 days' duration. Ultrasonography revealed pleural, peritoneal and pericardial effusions. Abdominal fluid analysis was consistent with a modified transudate. Echocardiography revealed a large, hypoechoic space‐occupying mass within the right atrium. The dog was euthanased and the postmortem examination showed a solid, 40 × 35 × 20 mm broad‐based mass arising from the right atrial wall and occluding approximately 90% of the right atrial lumen. Histopathology revealed myocardial lymphoma. There were histologically similar, focal nodules in the lung parenchyma without involvement of other extracardiac sites. There was gross and histological evidence of hepatic congestion and marked distension of the caudal vena cava, consistent with secondary right‐sided congestive heart failure.ConclusionThis case highlights the need to consider lymphoma as a differential diagnosis for an intra‐atrial mass and as a cause of congestive heart failure in the dog.
Canine tick‐borne pathogens and associated risk factors in dogs presenting with and without clinical signs consistent with tick‐borne diseases in northernAustralia
Authors: Hii SF , Traub RJ , Thompson MF , Henning J , O'Leary CA , Burleigh A , McMahon S , Rees RL , Kopp SR 
Published: February 2015

ObjectivesTo estimate the proportion of canine tick‐borne disease (CTBD) pathogens in dogs from northern states ofAustralia presenting with and without clinical signs/laboratory abnormalities suggestive ofCTBDand to evaluate associated risk factors.DesignClient‐owned dogs presented to a general practice clinic in theNorthernTerritory (NT; n = 138) and five referral hospitals in south‐eastQueensland (SEQ; n = 100) were grouped intoCTBD‐suspect and ‐control groups based on clinical and laboratory criteria. Blood and sera were screened for haemotropicMycoplasmaspp.,Babesiaspp.,Anaplasmaspp.,Ehrlichiaspp. andHepatozoonspp. using microscopic examination, in‐clinicELISAtesting andPCRassays. Dog‐specific risk factors associated with the presence ofCTBDpathogens were evaluated.ResultsOverall, 24.4% of the suspect group and 12.2% of the control group dogs were infected. The proportions ofM.haemocanis,B. vogeli,A. platys,Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, andC.Mycoplasma haemobos were 7.1%, 5.0%, 3.8%, 1.7% and 0.4%, respectively. Dogs originating from theNTwere 3.6‐fold (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51–8.62; P = 0.004) more likely to be infected withCTBDpathogens than those fromSEQ. Male dogs were 2.3‐fold (95%CI1.17–4.80, P = 0.024) more likely to bePCR‐positive toCTBDpathogens than female dogs. Dogs presenting with clinical signs consistent withCTBDand thrombocytopenia were more likely to be infected byCTBDpathogens (odds ratio 2.85; 95%CI1.16, 7.02; P = 0.019).ConclusionsHaemotropic mycoplasmas were the most common tick‐borne pathogen infecting client‐owned dogs. Subclinical cases were common in dogs from theNT. Veterinary practitioners should be aware of the proportion ofCTBDpathogens and the presenting features of clinical and subclinical disease in their area.
A case of Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2‐year‐old Australian Stock Horse in south‐east Queensland
Authors: Barton AJ , Prow NA , Hall RA , Kidd L , Bielefeldt‐Ohmann H 
Published: February 2015

Case reportThis report summarises the findings from a case of naturally‐occurring Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2‐year‐old filly presenting with acute onset of depression and weakness. Serum samples tested at the onset of clinical signs were negative for Hendra and Kunjin virus antibodies, but positive for Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) using IgM‐capture ELISA (1 : 300 dilution). A virus neutralisation assay performed 4 weeks later confirmed a titre of 1 : 160. Sera collected in the weeks preceding neurological signs returned a negative titre for MVEV 2 weeks prior followed by a titre of 1:80 in the week prior to illness. Serological surveillance conducted on 67 co‐located horses returned a positive titre of 1 : 20 in one in‐contact horse. There was no history of clinical disease in that horse. At 3 months after the onset of clinical signs in the index case, the filly continued to show mild facial paresis and hypermetria; the owners elected euthanasia and gave permission for necropsy. Histopathological analysis of the brain showed a mild meningoencephalitis.ConclusionThe progression of a naturally‐occurring MVEV infection in a horse has been documented in this case.
Prediction of desmoid tumor progression using miRNA expression profiling
Authors: Dufresne Armelle , Paturel Marie , Alberti Laurent , Philippon Heloise , Duc Adeline , Decouvelaere Anne‐Valerie , Cassier Philippe , Blay Jean‐Yves 
Published: February 2015

Desmoid tumor is a rare connective tissue tumor with locoregional aggressiveness but unpredictable behavior. The miRNA profile was ascertained for 26 patients included in the Desminib phase II trial and an independent validation cohort of 15 patients. Predictive and prognostic supervised analysis on the Desminib cohort failed to identify miRNAs differentially expressed between progressive and non‐progressive patients under imatinib treatment or between progressive and non‐progressive patients after discontinuation of imatinib. However, an unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the Desminib cohort identified two groups (A and B) of 13 patients each, where only the number of previous lines of treatment before inclusion in the study differed significantly between the two groups. Time to progression after discontinuation of imatinib was longer in group B than in group A. Fifteen miRNAs were highly statistically differentially expressed between groups A and B, targeting more than 3000 genes, including AGO1, BCL2, CDK6, SMAD4, PTEN, CCND1, VEGFA, and RB1. These results were confirmed in the independent validation cohort: hierarchical clustering of these 15 miRNAs identified two groups, in which time to recurrence was statistically different (28.8 months vs 68.8 months). These results provide the first indication of the prognostic value of miRNA expression profiling with a possible direct impact on patient management. A more precise miRNA signature must now be determined to select patients who would not benefit from surgical resection of their tumor and who ought to be monitored without treatment.
UK rates of occupational skin disease attributed to rubber accelerators, 1996–2012
Authors: Warburton Katharine L. , Urwin Rachel , Carder Melanie , Turner Susan , Agius Raymond , Wilkinson S. Mark 
Published: February 2015

SummaryBackgroundNatural and synthetic rubbers containing rubber accelerators are well‐known causes of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Latex contact urticaria (CU) has been widely reported, especially when powdered latex glove use was commonplace. Consequently, interventions to reduce latex exposure by altering glove manufacture were introduced.ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyse trends in UK‐reported incidence of occupational skin disease associated with rubber accelerators.MethodWe analysed cases reported to EPIDERM (part of The Health and Occupation Research network) of occupational ACD caused by natural and synthetic rubber products, between 1996 and 2012.ResultsFor the studied period, a decreasing incidence of ACD associated with rubber products was found, with an average annual change of −1.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) −3.1 to 0.7]. The number of cases of latex CU (n = 580) significantly declined. The number of cases of ACD caused by mercapto mix and mercaptobenzothiazole (n = 177) and thiuram mix (n = 603) also declined. Reports of ACD associated with carba mix and its constituents (n = 219) increased significantly, by an average annual percentage of 10.1% (95%CI: 6.1–14.2). Twenty‐six cases of ACD caused by rarer rubber compounds were identified, highlighting skin disease attributable to less widely recognized chemicals.ConclusionsThese data show a falling reported incidence of occupational ACD attributed to rubber chemicals, but within this a significant rise attributable to the constituents of the carba mix. Clinicians should recognize the changing diversity of chemicals used in rubber manufacturing, and consider including carba mix in their baseline series and testing beyond this in suspect cases to avoid false‐negative results.
Contact allergy to reactive diluents and related aliphatic epoxy resins
Authors: Aalto‐Korte Kristiina , Kuuliala Outi , Henriks‐Eckerman Maj‐Len , Suuronen Katri 
Published: February 2015

SummaryBackgroundDiglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin (DGEBA‐R) is the most common sensitizer in epoxy systems, but a minority of patients also develop contact allergy to reactive diluents.ObjectivesTo analyse the frequency and clinical relevance of allergic reactions to different epoxy reactive diluents and related aliphatic epoxy resins.MethodsTest files (January 1991 to June 2014) were screened, and the clinical records of patients with allergic reactions were analysed for occupation, concomitant allergic reactions, and exposure.ResultsA total of 67 patients reacted to at least one of the compounds. The largest numbers of allergic reactions were to phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE; n = 41), 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE; n = 34), and p‐tert‐butylphenyl glycidyl ether (PTBPGE; n = 19). Ten of the patients did not have contact allergy to DGEBA‐R. The reactions of 5 of these were related to the use of BDDGE‐containing products. We found no significant exposure to PGE or PTBPGE in patients sensitized to them, but some of the patients had used cresyl glycidyl ether‐containing products.ConclusionsAllergic reactions to reactive diluents and related aliphatic epoxy resins usually occurred together with reactions to DGEBA‐R. BDDGE was the clinically most significant compound, and was the sole cause of occupational allergic contact dermatitis in 3 patients.
Ecological Functions and Functionings: Towards a Senian Analysis of Ecosystem Services
Authors: Forsyth Tim 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTEcosystem services are part of a growing trend within environment and development to analyse environmental change within the context of socially valued outcomes. Yet, ecosystem services‐based policies and analyses are increasingly criticized for failing to connect with, or even for restricting, development outcomes. This article seeks to connect environmental analysis with development outcomes better by applying the capability approach of Amartya Sen and others. It demonstrates how scientific analysis of ecosystem services sometimes conflates pathways of ecosystem management with development outcomes, but that it can be reconfigured to include more diverse values and objectives. The article argues that ecosystem services should be identified more as ‘functionings’ (in the Senian sense of valued development outcomes) rather than ‘functions’ (in the sense of biophysical, apolitical ecosystem properties) in order to indicate that ‘services’ always reflect social values, and that values and scientific explanations of underlying biophysical properties evolve together. Environmental science for socially valued outcomes such as ecosystem services is therefore an important site of political inclusion and exclusion. The article illustrates this analysis with examples of ecosystem‐based adaptation to climate change from the World Bank and government of Bangladesh, and in contrast to differing approaches from the field of sustainability science.
Two distinct roles of the yorkie/yap gene during homeostasis in the planarian Dugesia japonica
Authors: Hwang Byulnim , An Yang , Agata Kiyokazu , Umesono Yoshihiko 
Published: February 2015

Adult planarians possess somatic pluripotent stem cells called neoblasts that give rise to all missing cell types during regeneration and homeostasis. Recent studies revealed that the Yorkie (Yki)/Yes‐associated protein (YAP) transcriptional coactivator family plays an important role in the regulation of tissue growth during development and regeneration, and therefore we investigated the role of a planarian yki‐related gene (termed Djyki) during regeneration and homeostasis of the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica. We found that knockdown of the function of Djyki by RNA interference (RNAi) downregulated neoblast proliferation and caused regeneration defects after amputation. In addition, Djyki RNAi caused edema during homeostasis. These seemingly distinct defects induced by Djyki RNAi were rescued by simultaneous RNAi of a planarian mats‐related gene (termed Djmats), suggesting an important role of Djmats in the negative regulation of Djyki, in accordance with the conservation of the functional relationship of these two genes during the course of evolution. Interestingly, Djyki RNAi did not prevent normal protonephridial structure, suggesting that Djyki RNAi induced the edema phenotype without affecting the excretory system. Further analyses revealed that increased expression of the D. japonica gene DjaquaporinA (DjaqpA), which belongs to a large gene family that encodes a water channel protein for the regulation of transcellular water flow, promoted the induction of edema, but not defects in neoblast dynamics, in Djyki(RNAi) animals. Thus, we conclude that Djyki plays two distinct roles in the regulation of active proliferation of stem cells and in osmotic water transport across the body surface in D. japonica.
Characterizing the genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes in a Malaysian multi‐ethnic cohort
Authors: Abdullah N. , Abdul Murad N. A. , Attia J. , Oldmeadow C. , Mohd Haniff E. A. , Syafruddin S. E. , Abd Jalal N. , Ismail N. , Ishak M. , Jamal R. , Scott R. J. , Holliday E. G. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimsTo characterize the association with Type 2 diabetes of known Type 2 diabetes risk variants in people in Malaysia of Malay, Chinese and Indian ancestry who participated in the Malaysian Cohort project.MethodsWe genotyped 1604 people of Malay ancestry (722 cases, 882 controls), 1654 of Chinese ancestry (819 cases, 835 controls) and 1728 of Indian ancestry (851 cases, 877 controls). First, 62 candidate single‐nucleotide polymorphisms previously associated with Type 2 diabetes were assessed for association via logistic regression within ancestral groups and then across ancestral groups using a meta‐analysis. Second, estimated odds ratios were assessed for excess directional concordance with previously studied populations. Third, a genetic risk score aggregating allele dosage across the candidate single‐nucleotide polymorphisms was tested for association within and across ancestral groups.ResultsAfter Bonferroni correction, seven individual single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with Type 2 diabetes in the combined Malaysian sample. We observed a highly significant excess in concordance of effect directions between Malaysian and previously studied populations. The genetic risk score was strongly associated with Type 2 diabetes in all Malaysian groups, explaining from 1.0 to 1.7% of total Type 2 diabetes risk variance.ConclusionThis study suggests there is substantial overlap of the genetic risk alleles underlying Type 2 diabetes in Malaysian and other populations.
Estimation of human leptin concentration in the subcutaneous adipose and skeletal muscle tissues
Authors: Sendlhofer Gerald , Brunner Gernot , Schaupp Lukas , Wutte Andrea , Ellmerer Martin , Pieber Thomas R 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundInterstitial leptin concentrations in subcutaneous adipose and skeletal muscle tissues were determined by open‐flow microperfusion.MethodIn 12 lean male subjects (age: 25·6 ± 1·1 years), a zero flow rate experiment using different flow rates was applied. Recovery was determined by urea as an internal reference. In the no‐net‐flux experiments, catheters were perfused with five solutions containing different concentrations of leptin. Concentrations of interstitial leptin were calculated by applying linear regression analysis to perfusate as opposed to sampled leptin concentrations.ResultsThe zero flow rate protocol showed significantly higher concentrations of leptin in the interstitial fluid of subcutaneous adipose compared to skeletal muscle tissue [36·8 ± 10·32 vs. 7·1 ± 2·5% of the corresponding plasma level (P = 0·018)]. The recovery of urea in the samples was comparable for all catheters [79·4 ± 6·8 vs. 83·0 ± 5·8 of the corresponding plasma level, flow rate of 0·3 μL/min; (P = ns)] and was higher when compared to leptin. In the no‐net‐flux protocol, the concentration of leptin in subcutaneous adipose tissue was almost identical to plasma [90. 5 ± 7·0%] and the skeletal muscle tissue concentration of leptin was 23·7 ± 2·5% of the corresponding plasma level.ConclusionOpen‐flow microperfusion enables the estimation of leptin concentrations in subcutaneous adipose and skeletal muscle tissues in humans in vivo. This is the first documentation on the use of open‐flow microperfusion to demonstrate that relevant amounts of leptin are also found in skeletal muscle tissue.
Geographical origin of dabbling ducks wintering in Iberia: sex differences and implications for pair formation
Authors: Parejo Manuel , Navedo Juan G. , Gutiérrez Jorge S. , Abad‐Gómez José M. , Villegas Auxiliadora , Corbacho Casimiro , Sánchez‐Guzmán Juan M. , Masero José A. 
Published: February 2015

Natural and anthropogenic Iberian wetlands in southern Europe are well known for supporting large numbers of migratory Palaearctic waterbirds each winter. However, information on the geographical origin of dabbling ducks overwintering in these wetlands is scarce and mostly limited to data from ringing recoveries. Here, we used intrinsic isotopic markers to determine the geographical origin of male and female Northern Pintails Anas acuta and Eurasian Teal Anas crecca in Extremadura, inland Iberia, a key site for overwintering dabbling ducks. Additionally, we fitted six Northern Pintails with GPS‐GSM tags to complement the data derived from stable isotope analysis. Most (> 70%) first calendar‐year Northern Pintails were assigned to regions above 55°N, flying 2600–5600 km from their main natal regions to Extremadura. Mean values of δ2Hf varied significantly between male and female Northern Pintails, suggesting that the sexes had different geographical origins. Data from tagged adult Northern Pintails supported the isotopic data, one male flying more than 5000 km to the coast of the Pechora Sea (Russia). Most (> 70%) first calendar‐year Eurasian Teal were assigned to the region between 48° and 60°N, travelling 1500–4500 km to arrive in Extremadura. Male and female Eurasian Teal showed marginal differences in mean values of δ2Hf. In migratory dabbling ducks, pairing typically occurs on the wintering grounds, and ducks in their first winter can breed the following spring. For Northern Pintails, pair formation in Extremadura could occur between individuals with different geographical origins, which could contribute to the genetic variability of their offspring.