bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meeting report: 3rd international transplant conference: how much risk can you take?
Authors: Lowe D. , Daga S. , Briggs D. , Khovanova N. , Mitchell D. , Higgins R. , Krishnan N. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryThe 3rd International Transplant Conference took place on 31st October and 1st November 2014 at the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Key focal points of the meeting were the exploration of the molecular basis of antibody–antigen interactions and their relation to clinical practice and to share experiences and knowledge regarding strategies to transplant the ‘high‐risk’ patient. In addition, lively debate sessions were hosted where controversial clinical and immunological themes were discussed by leading experts in the field.
Long‐term prevalence and predictors of urinary incontinence among women in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study
Authors: Phelan Suzanne , Kanaya Alka M , Ma Yong , Vittinghoff Eric , Barrett‐Connor Elizabeth , Wing Rena , Kusek John W , Orchard Trevor J , Crandall Jill P , Montez Maria G , Brown Jeanette S ,   Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group
Published: February 2015

ObjectivesTo examine the long‐term prevalence and predictors of weekly urinary incontinence in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study, a follow‐up study of the Diabetes Prevention Program randomized clinical trial of overweight adults with impaired glucose tolerance.MethodsThis analysis included 1778 female participants of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study who had been randomly assigned during the Diabetes Prevention Program to intensive lifestyle intervention (n = 582), metformin (n = 589) or placebo (n = 607). The study participants completed semi‐annual assessments after the final Diabetes Prevention Program visit and for 6 years untilOctober 2008.ResultsAt the study entry, the prevalence of weekly urinary incontinence was lower in the intensive lifestyle intervention group compared with the metformin and placebo groups (44.2%vs51.8%, 48.0% urinary incontinence/week,P = 0.04); during the 6‐year follow‐up period, these lower rates in intensive lifestyle intervention were maintained (46.7%, 53.1%, 49.9% urinary incontinence/week;P = 0.03). Statistically adjusting for urinary incontinence prevalence at the end of the Diabetes Prevention Program, the treatment arm no longer had a significant impact on urinary incontinence during the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study. Independent predictors of lower urinary incontinence during the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study included lower body mass index (odds ratio 0.988, 95% confidence interval 0.982–0.994) and greater physical activity (odds ratio 0.999, 95% confidence interval 0.998–1.000) at the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study entry, and greater reductions in body mass index (odds ratio 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.60–0.94) and waist circumference (odds ratio 0.998, 95% confidence interval 0.996–1.0) during the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study. Diabetes was not significantly related to urinary incontinence.ConclusionsIntensive lifestyle intervention has a modest positive and enduring impact on urinary incontinence, and should be considered for the long‐term prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence in overweight/obese women with glucose intolerance.
Therapeutic outcomes of neoadjuvant and concurrent androgen‐deprivation therapy and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy with gold marker implantation for intermediate‐risk and high‐risk prostate cancer
Authors: Kobayashi Masayuki , Hatano Kazuo , Fukasawa Satoshi , Komaru Atsushi , Namekawa Takeshi , Imagumbai Toshiyuki , Araki Hitoshi , Hara Ryusuke , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Ueda Takeshi 
Published: February 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate the therapeutic outcomes of neoadjuvant and concurrent androgen‐deprivation therapy and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy with gold marker implantation for intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 325 patients with intermediate‐ or high‐risk prostate cancer according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines who underwent androgen‐deprivation therapy and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (76 Gy) after gold marker implantation between 2001 and 2010.ResultsThe 5‐year distant metastasis‐free survival rate was significantly lower for very high‐risk patients than for intermediate‐ and high‐risk patients (82.6% vs 99.4% and 96.5%, respectively; P  <  0.01). The 5‐year biochemical relapse‐free survival rates significantly declined with increasing prostate cancer risk (P  <  0.01), and were 95.9%, 87.2%, and 73.1% for the intermediate‐risk, high‐risk and very high‐risk patients, respectively. Acute genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity grade ≥3 were not observed in any of the patients. Late grade 3 genitourinary toxicity occurred in 0.3% of patients.ConclusionCombination androgen‐deprivation therapy and 76‐Gy intensity‐modulated radiation therapy with gold marker implantation offers good therapeutic outcomes with few serious complications in patients with intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer.
Improved emergency myelopoiesis and survival in neonatal sepsis by caspase‐1/11 ablation
Authors: Gentile Lori F. , Cuenca Angela L. , Cuenca Alex G. , Nacionales Dina C. , Ungaro Ricardo , Efron Philip A. , Moldawer Lyle L. , Larson Shawn D. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryOver one million newborns die annually from sepsis with the highest mortality in premature and low‐birthweight infants. The inflammasome plays a central role in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation, and is presumed to be involved in protective immunity, in large part through the caspase‐1‐dependent activation of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐18. Studies in endotoxic shock, however, suggest that endogenous caspase‐1 activity and the inflammasome contribute to mortality primarily by promoting excessive systemic inflammatory responses. We examined whether caspase‐1 and the inflammasome also regulate neonatal inflammation, host protective immunity and myelopoiesis during polymicrobial sepsis. Neonatal (5–7 days) C57BL/6 and caspase‐1/11−/− mice underwent a low‐lethality caecal slurry model of intra‐abdominal sepsis (LD25–45). Ablation of caspase‐1/11, but not apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a CARD domain or nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), improved neonatal survival following septic challenge compared with wild‐type mice (P < 0·001), with decreased concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in the serum and peritoneum. Surprisingly, caspase‐1/11−/− neonates also exhibited increased bone marrow and splenic haematopoietic stem cell expansion (P < 0·001), and increased concentrations of granulocyte and macrophage colony‐stimulating factors in the peritoneum (P < 0·001) after sepsis. Ablation of caspase‐1/11 signalling was also associated with increased recruitment of peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils (P < 0·001), increased phagocytosis by neutrophils (P = 0·003), and decreased bacterial colonization (P = 0·02) in the peritoneum. These findings suggest that endogenous caspase‐1/11 activity, independent of the NLRP3 inflammasome, not only promotes the magnitude of the inflammatory response, but also suppresses protective immunity in the neonate, so contributing to innate immune dysfunction and poor survival in neonatal sepsis.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cell and functional HIV Gag p55‐specific T cells before treatment interruption can inform set‐point plasma HIV viral load after treatment interruption in chronically suppressed HIV‐1+ patients
Authors: Papasavvas Emmanouil , Foulkes Andrea , Yin Xiangfan , Joseph Jocelin , Ross Brian , Azzoni Livio , Kostman Jay R. , Mounzer Karam , Shull Jane , Montaner Luis J. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryThe identification of immune correlates of HIV control is important for the design of immunotherapies that could support cure or antiretroviral therapy (ART) intensification‐related strategies. ART interruptions may facilitate this task through exposure of an ART partially reconstituted immune system to endogenous virus. We investigated the relationship between set‐point plasma HIV viral load (VL) during an ART interruption and innate/adaptive parameters before or after interruption. Dendritic cell (DC), natural killer (NK) cell and HIV Gag p55‐specific T‐cell functional responses were measured in paired cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained at the beginning (on ART) and at set‐point of an open‐ended interruption from 31 ART‐suppressed chronically HIV‐1+ patients. Spearman correlation and linear regression modeling were used. Frequencies of plasmacytoid DC (pDC), and HIV Gag p55‐specific CD3+ CD4− perforin+ IFN‐γ+ cells at the beginning of interruption associated negatively with set‐point plasma VL. Inclusion of both variables with interaction into a model resulted in the best fit (adjusted R2 = 0·6874). Frequencies of pDC or HIV Gag p55‐specific CD3+ CD4− CSFElo CD107a+ cells at set‐point associated negatively with set‐point plasma VL. The dual contribution of pDC and anti‐HIV T‐cell responses to viral control, supported by our models, suggests that these variables may serve as immune correlates of viral control and could be integrated in cure or ART‐intensification strategies.
Measurement of resilience in Chinese older people
Authors: Yang F. , Bao J.‐M. , Huang X.‐H. , Guo Q. , Smith G.D. 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundResilience has been identified as a personal construct that may contribute to the process of healthy ageing in older people. To date, no measurement instrument has been tested to evaluate resilience in Chinese older people.AimTo examine the psychometric testing and clinical application of the Chinese version of the Resilience Scale (RS) in Chinese older people.MethodsA descriptive cross‐sectional study design was used. Forward and backward translation procedures were used to obtain semantic equivalence of the original English version of the RS. Content validity was examined by identified experts, followed by exploratory factor analysis, item‐to‐total correlation, Cronbach's α coefficients and test–retest reliability.ResultsThe 25‐item Chinese version of Resilience Scale (RS‐CN) was fully completed by 461 Chinese older people. Cronbach's α for the total Chinese version of the Revised Resilience Scale was 0.95, with a range of 0.85–0.89 for the sub‐scales. Item‐to‐total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.51 to 0.75 and items were excluded with item‐to‐total correlations coefficients lower than 0.4. The test–retest reliability of the total scale was 0.80, sub‐scale test–retest reliability ranged from 0.61 to 0.620. The exploratory principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed RS‐CN to have a four‐factor structure.ConclusionThe RS‐CN is a valid and reliable instrument for the measurement of the concept of resilience in Chinese older people. The results of this study provide cross‐cultural evidence for the potential application of this scale in Chinese older people.Implications for nursing and health policyGreater insight into the psychological constructs of resilience in Chinese older people can lead to international comparisons and to the potential development of interventions for this population around the world.
Making reasonable and achievable adjustments: the contributions of learning disability liaison nurses in ‘Getting it right’ for people with learning disabilities receiving general hospitals care
Authors: MacArthur Juliet , Brown Michael , McKechanie Andrew , Mack Siobhan , Hayes Matthew , Fletcher Joan 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimsTo examine the role of learning disability liaison nurses in facilitating reasonable and achievable adjustments to support access to general hospital services for people with learning disabilities.DesignMixed methods study involving four health boards in Scotland with established Learning Disability Liaison Nurses (LDLN) Services. Quantitative data of all liaison nursing referrals over 18 months and qualitative data collected from stakeholders with experience of using the liaison services within the previous 3–6 months.MethodsSix liaison nurses collected quantitative data of 323 referrals and activity between September 2008–March 2010. Interviews and focus groups were held with 85 participants included adults with learning disabilities (n = 5), carers (n = 16), primary care (n = 39), general hospital (n = 19) and liaison nurses (n = 6).Results/findingsFacilitating reasonable and achievable adjustments was an important element of the LDLNs’ role and focussed on access to information; adjustments to care; appropriate environment of care; ensuring equitable care; identifying patient need; meeting patient needs; and specialist tools/resources.ConclusionEnsuring that reasonable adjustments are made in the general hospital setting promotes person‐centred care and equal health outcomes for people with a learning disability. This view accords with ‘Getting it right’ charter produced by the UK Charity Mencap which argues that healthcare professionals need support, encouragement and guidance to make reasonable adjustments for this group. LDLNs have an important and increasing role to play in advising on and establishing adjustments that are both reasonable and achievable.
Affiliates’ Bank Debt Policy: Does Parent Firm Nationality Matter?
Authors: Locorotondo Rosy , Dewaelheyns Nico , Van Hulle Cynthia 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThis paper examines whether and how bank debt is affected by foreign group affiliation. Ceteris paribus, affiliates of foreign business groups only use about half as much bank debt compared to affiliates of domestic groups. Further, the results indicate that geographical and cultural distance between parent and affiliate countries raise barriers when accessing bank financing. The bank debt usage decreases even further if affiliates and parent firms depend on different legal systems or the degree of legal enforcement in the parent firm's country is low.
Rapid video‐referenced ratings of reciprocal social behavior in toddlers: a twin study
Authors: Marrus Natasha , Glowinski Anne L. , Jacob Theodore , Klin Ami , Jones Warren , Drain Caroline E. , Holzhauer Kieran E. , Hariprasad Vaishnavi , Fitzgerald Robert T. , Mortenson Erika L. , Sant Sayli M. , Cole Lyndsey , Siegel Satchel A. , Zhang Yi , Agrawal Arpana , Heath Andrew C. , Constantino John N. 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundReciprocal social behavior (RSB) is a developmental prerequisite for social competency, and deficits in RSB constitute a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although clinical screeners categorically ascertain risk of ASD in early childhood, rapid methods for quantitative measurement of RSB in toddlers are not yet established. Such measurements are critical for tracking developmental trajectories and incremental responses to intervention.MethodsWe developed and validated a 20‐min video‐referenced rating scale, the video‐referenced rating of reciprocal social behavior (vrRSB), for untrained caregivers to provide standardized ratings of quantitative variation in RSB. Parents of 252 toddler twins [Monozygotic (MZ) = 31 pairs, Dizygotic (DZ) = 95 pairs] ascertained through birth records, rated their twins’ RSB at two time points, on average 6 months apart, and completed two developmental measures, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M‐CHAT) and the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory Short Form (MCDI‐s).ResultsScores on the vrRSB were fully continuously distributed, with excellent 6‐month test–retest reliability ([intraclass correlation coefficient] ICC = 0.704, p < .000). MZ twins displayed markedly greater trait concordance than DZ twins, (MZ ICC = 0.863, p < .000, DZ ICC = 0.231, p < .012). VrRSB score distributions were highly distinct for children passing versus failing the M‐CHAT (t = −8.588, df = 31, p < .000), incrementally improved from 18–24 months, and were inversely correlated with receptive and expressive vocabulary on the MCDI‐s.ConclusionsLike quantitative autistic trait ratings in school‐aged children and adults, toddler scores on the vrRSB are continuously distributed and appear highly heritable. These ratings exhibited minimal measurement error, high inter‐individual stability, and developmental progression in RSB as children matured from 18–24 months, supporting their potential utility for serially quantifying the severity of early autistic syndromes over time and in response to intervention. In addition, these findings inform the genetic‐environmental structure of RSB in early typical development.
Annual Research Review: The (epi)genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders in the era of whole‐genome sequencing – unveiling the dark matter
Authors: Kiser Dominik P. , Rivero Olga , Lesch Klaus‐Peter 
Published: February 2015

Background and ScopeNeurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are defined by a wide variety of behavioural phenotypes, psychopathology and clinically informed categorical classifications. Diagnostic entities include intellectual disability (ID), the autism spectrum (ASD) and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aetiopathogenesis of these conditions and disorders involves an interaction between both genetic and environmental risk factors on the developmental trajectory. Despite their remarkable genetic heterogeneity and complexity of pathophysiological mechanisms, NDDs display an overlap in their phenotypic features, a considerable degree of comorbidity as well as sharing of genetic and environmental risk factors. This review aims to provide an overview of the genetics and epigenetic of NDDs.FindingsRecent evidence suggests a critical role of defined and tightly regulated neurodevelopmental programs running out of control in NDDs, most notably neuronal proliferation and migration, synapse formation and remodelling, as well as neural network configuration resulting in compromised systems connectivity and function. Moreover, the machinery of epigenetic programming, interacting with genetic liability, impacts many of those processes and pathways, thus modifying vulnerability of, and resilience to, NDDs. Consequently, the categorically defined entities of ID, ADHD and ASD are increasingly viewed as disorders on a multidimensional continuum of molecular and cellular deficiencies in neurodevelopment. As such, this range of NDDs displays a broad phenotypic diversity, which may be explained by a combination and interplay of underlying loss‐ and potential gain‐of‐function traits.ConclusionIn this overview, we discuss a backbone continuum concept of NDDs by summarizing pertinent findings in genetics and epigenetics. We also provide an appraisal of the genetic overlap versus differences, with a focus on genome‐wide screening approaches for (epi)genetic variation. Finally, we conclude with insights from evolutionary psychobiology suggesting positive selection for discrete NDD‐associated traits.
Extent of weight reduction necessary for minimization of diabetes risk in Japanese men with visceral fat accumulation and glycated hemoglobin of 5.6–6.4%
Authors: Iwahashi Hiromi , Noguchi Midori , Okauchi Yukiyoshi , Morita Sachiko , Imagawa Akihisa , Shimomura Iichiro 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAims/IntroductionWeight reduction improves glycemic control in obese men with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 5.6–6.4%, suggesting that it can prevent the development of diabetes in these patients. The aim of the present study was to quantify the amount of weight reduction necessary for minimization of diabetes risk in Japanese men with visceral fat accumulation.Materials and MethodsThe study participants were 482 men with an estimated visceral fat area of ≥100 cm2, HbA1c of 5.6–6.4%, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of <126 mg/dL or casual plasma glucose <200 mg/dL. They were divided into two groups based on weight change at the end of the 3‐year follow‐up period (weight gain and weight loss groups). The weight loss group was classified into quartile subgroups (lowest group, 0 to <1.2%: second lowest group, ≥1.2 to <2.5%: second highest group, ≥2.5 to <4.3%: highest group, ≥4.3% weight loss). The development of diabetes at the end‐point represented a rise in HbA1c to ≥6.5% or FPG ≥126 mg/dL, or casual plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL.ResultsThe cumulative incidence of diabetes at the end of the 3‐year follow‐up period was 16.2% in the weight gain group and 10.1% in the weight loss group (P not significant). The incidence of diabetes was significantly lower in the highest weight loss group (3.1%), but not in the second highest, the second lowest and the lowest weight loss groups (9.7, 10.1 and 18.3%), compared with the weight gain group.ConclusionsMinimization of the risk of diabetes in Japanese men with visceral fat accumulation requires a minimum of 4–5% weight loss in those with HbA1c of 5.6–6.4%.
Induction therapy with linezolid/clarithromycin combination for Mycobacterium chelonae skin infections in immunocompromised hosts
Authors: Parize P. , Hamelin A. , Veziris N. , Morand P.C. , Guillemain R. , Lortholary O. , Dupin N. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe optimal management of Mycobacterium chelonae disease in immunocompromised patients remains unclear. A combination of antimicrobial agents is recommended as monotherapy with clarithromycin has been associated with clinical failures due to acquired resistance.ObjectivesWe aim to report the efficacy and tolerability of linezolid in association with clarithromycin for the treatment of M. chelonae infections in immunocompromised patients.MethodsWe describe four immunocompromised patients treated by linezolid and clarithromycin for cutaneous M. chelonae disease.ResultsThis combination was associated with rapid clinical efficacy in all patients with no relapse observed after a median follow‐up of 2.25 years (1.4 years). However, this treatment was responsible for frequent adverse events including thrombocytopaenia, myalgia and mitochondrial toxicity. All adverse effects were reversible after linezolid discontinuation.ConclusionsWe therefore suggest linezolid/clarithromycin combination as the initial therapeutic strategy for M. chelonae skin infections in immunocompromised patients.
Folliculitis decalvans: a multicentre review of 82 patients
Authors: Vañó‐Galván S. , Molina‐Ruiz A.M. , Fernández‐Crehuet P. , Rodrigues‐Barata A. R. , Arias‐Santiago S. , Serrano‐Falcón C. , Martorell‐Calatayud A. , Barco D. , Pérez B. , Serrano S. , Requena L. , Grimalt R. , Paoli J. , Jaén P. , Camacho F.M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundFolliculitis decalvans (FD) is a rare neutrophilic scarring alopecia that represents a therapeutic challenge for dermatologists.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology, comorbidities, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and therapeutic options in a large series of patients with FD.MethodsThis retrospective multicentre review includes patients diagnosed with FD based on clinical and histopathologic findings. The clinical severity was determined by the maximum diameter of the largest alopecic patch (slight: <2 cm, moderate: 2–4.99 cm, severe: 5 cm or more). Response to therapy was assessed as improvement, worsening or stabilization depending on the clinical symptoms (pruritus and trichodynia), inflammatory signs (erythema, pustules and crusts) and the extension of the alopecic patch.ResultsOverall, 82 patients (52 males and 30 females) with a mean age of 35 years were included. No significant comorbidities were present. A family history was present in three males. Severe FD was observed in 17 patients (21%). The independent factors associated with severe FD after multivariate analysis were: onset of FD before 25 years of age and presence of pustules. Oral antibiotics (tetracyclines and the combination of clindamycin and rifampicin) improved 90% and 100% of the patients, with a mean duration of response of 4.6 and 7.2 months respectively.ConclusionsThe onset of FD before 25 years of age and the presence of pustules within the alopecic patch were associated with severe FD. Tetracyclines and the combination of clindamycin and rifampicin were the most useful treatments.