bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethnicity‐specific obesity cut‐points in the development of Type 2 diabetes – a prospective study including three ethnic groups in the United Kingdom
Authors: Tillin T. , Sattar N. , Godsland I. F. , Hughes A. D. , Chaturvedi N. , Forouhi N. G. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAimsConventional definitions of obesity, e.g. body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 or waist circumference cut‐points of 102 cm (men) and 88 cm (women), may underestimate metabolic risk in non‐Europeans. We prospectively identified equivalent ethnicity‐specific obesity cut‐points for the estimation of diabetes risk in British South Asians, African‐Caribbeans and Europeans.MethodsWe studied a population‐based cohort from London, UK (1356 Europeans, 842 South Asians, 335 African‐Caribbeans) who were aged 40–69 years at baseline (1988–1991), when they underwent anthropometry, fasting and post‐load (75 g oral glucose tolerance test) blood tests. Incident Type 2 diabetes was identified from primary care records, participant recall and/or follow‐up biochemistry. Ethnicity‐specific obesity cut‐points in association with diabetes incidence were estimated using negative binomial regression.ResultsDiabetes incidence rates (per 1000 person years) at a median follow‐up of 19 years were 20.8 (95% CI: 18.4, 23.6) and 12.0 (8.3, 17.2) in South Asian men and women, 16.5 (12.7, 21.4) and 17.5 (13.0, 23.7) in African‐Caribbean men and women, and 7.4 (6.3, 8.7), and 7.2 (5.3, 9.8) in European men and women. For incidence rates equivalent to those at a BMI of 30 kg/m2 in European men and women, age‐ and sex‐adjusted cut‐points were: South Asians, 25.2 (23.4, 26.6) kg/m2; and African‐Caribbeans, 27.2 (25.2, 28.6) kg/m2. For South Asian and African‐Caribbean men, respectively, waist circumference cut‐points of 90.4 (85.0, 94.5) and 90.6 (85.0, 94.5) cm were equivalent to a value of 102 cm in European men. Waist circumference cut‐points of 84.0 (74.0, 90.0) cm in South Asian women and 81.2 (71.4, 87.4) cm in African‐Caribbean women were equivalent to a value of 88 cm in European women.ConclusionsIn prospective analyses, British South Asians and African‐Caribbeans had equivalent diabetes incidence rates at substantially lower obesity levels than the conventional European cut‐points.
Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of retinopathy in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: He R. , Shen J. , Liu F. , Zeng H. , Li L. , Yu H. , Lu H. , Lu F. , Wu Q. , Jia W. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAimsTo investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and diabetic retinopathy.MethodsIn total, 1520 patients with Type 2 diabetes were recruited and divided into three groups according to their fundus oculi results: no diabetic retinopathy (n = 625, 41.12%); non‐sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy (n = 562, 36.97%); and sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy (n = 333, 21.91%). Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum circulating 25–hydroxyvitamin D level < 20 ng/ml. Clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters were detected and compared.ResultsThe patients with sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy had significantly lower serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than other two groups (all P < 0.05). In addition, there was a downward trend in average 25–hydroxyvitamin D level with the increased stages of diabetic retinopathy (P < 0.01). The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy in patients with vitamin D deficiency was also higher than in those without vitamin D deficiency (both P < 0.01). After adjusting for all potential confounders, vitamin D deficiency was still associated with increased risk of diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio 1.93) and sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio 2.42) (both P < 0.01). Logistical regression analysis further revealed that vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy (β = 0.66) and sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy (β = 0.93) (both P < 0.01). ROC analysis indicated that a serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D level < 15.57 ng/ml suggested the occurrence of sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio 2.38, P < 0.01).ConclusionsVitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy and sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy. The prevalence of sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy doubles when the serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D level is < 15.57 ng/ml.
Increased abundance of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in acidified Norwegian rivers after liming
Authors: Larsen Bjørn M. , Hesthagen Trygve , Thorstad Eva B. , Diserud Ola H. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe prevalence and abundance (density 100 m−2) of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) were studied by means of electrofishing in 13 acidified rivers in Norway that had been limed to restore acceptable water quality for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Status of Atlantic salmon in these rivers varied prior to liming, from being entirely lost in six highly acidified rivers and in different stages of decline in seven less acidified rivers. Four of the rivers are heavily affected by hydropower development. The abundance and prevalence of European eel increased significantly during the study period. The best model for predicting eel abundance was that with four explanatory variables: time after liming, time after liming squared, status of salmon stocks and hydropower regulation. The eel density was expected to increase by a factor of almost 5 after 10 years of liming. The model also predicts that a river with a formerly reduced Atlantic salmon stock has a 2.8 times higher density of eel than rivers with formerly lost salmon stocks. Before liming, European eel were on average recorded at 15 and 41% of the sampling stations in rivers with formerly lost and reduced Atlantic salmon populations, respectively, increasing to 49 and 68% in individual rivers, respectively, after 10 years of liming. The recovery of European eel in these formerly acidified rivers by means of liming took place during the same period as their abundance declined in other parts of their distribution area in Norway and elsewhere in Europe.
Quantitative assessment of the equine hoof using digital radiography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Grundmann I. N. M. , Drost W. T. , Zekas L. J. , Belknap J. K. , Garabed R. B. , Weisbrode S. E. , Parks A. H. , Knopp M. V. , Maierl J. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryReasons for performing studyEvaluation of laminitis cases relies on radiographic measurements of the equine foot. Reference values have not been established for all layers of the foot.ObjectivesTo establish normal hoof wall and sole measurements using digital radiography (DR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to document tissue components present in the dorsal hoof wall and solar layers seen onDR.Study designProspective observational case–control study.MethodsDigital radiography andMRIwere performed on 50 cadaver front feet from 25 horses subjected to euthanasia for nonlameness‐related reasons. Four observers measured hoof wall (dorsal, lateral and medial) and sole thickness (sagittal, lateral and medial) usingDRand magnetic resonance images. One observer repeated the measurements 3 times. Inter‐ and intraobserver correlation was assessed.ResultsDigital radiography andMRImeasurements for the normal hoof wall and sole were established. Inter‐ and intraobserver pairwisePearson's correlation forDR(r>0.98) andMRImeasurements (r>0.99) was excellent. Based onMRI, the less radiopaque layer onDRis comprised of the stratum lamellatum and stratum reticulare.ConclusionsNormalDRandMRImeasurements for the hoof wall and sole were established. OnDRimages, the less radiopaque layer of the foot observed corresponds to the critical tissues injured in laminitis, the strata lamellatum and reticulare. These reference measurements may be used by the clinician to detect soft‐tissue changes in the laminitic equine foot and provide a foundation for future research determining changes in these measurements in horses with laminitis.
A comparison of the education and work experiences of immigrant and the United States of America‐trained nurses
Authors: Mazurenko O. , Gupte G. , Shan G. 
Published: September 2014

AimThis study examined the education and work experience of immigrant and American‐trained registered nurses from 1988 to 2008.BackgroundThe USA increasingly relies on immigrant nurses to fill a significant nursing shortage. These nurses receive their training overseas, but can obtain licenses to practice in different countries.IntroductionAlthough immigrant nurses have been in the USA workforce for several decades, little is known about how their education and work experience compares with USA‐trained nurses. Yet much is presumed by policy makers and administrators who perpetuate the stereotype that immigrant nurses are not as qualified.MethodsWe analysed the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses datasets from 1988 to 2008 using the Cochran–Armitage trend tests.ResultsOur findings showed similar work experience and upward trends in education among both groups of nurses. However, American‐trained nurses were more likely to further advance their education, whereas immigrant nurses were more likely to have more work experience and practice in a wider range of healthcare settings.DiscussionAlthough we discovered differences between nurses trained in the USA and abroad, we theorize that these differences even out, as education and work experience each have their own distinct caregiving advantages.ConclusionImmigrant nurses are not less qualified than their American‐trained counterparts. However, healthcare providers should encourage them to further pursue their education and certifications.Implications for nursing and health policyEven though immigrant nurses' education and work experience are comparable with their American counterparts, workforce development policies may be particularly beneficial for this group.
Development of the Spatial Rainfall Generator (SRGEN) for the Agricultural Policy/Environmental Extender Model
Authors: Jeong Jaehak , Williams Jimmy R. , Rossi Colleen G. , Taylor Robin A. , Wang Xiuying , Fox William E. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAccurate spatial representation of climatic patterns is often a challenge in modeling biophysical processes at the watershed scale, especially where the representation of a spatial gradient in rainfall is not sufficiently captured by the number of weather stations. The spatial rainfall generator (SRGEN) is developed as an extension of the “weather generator” (WXGEN), a component of the Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model. SRGEN generates spatially distributed daily rainfall using monthly weather statistics available at multiple locations in a watershed. The spatial rainfall generator as incorporated in APEX is tested on the Cowhouse watershed (1,178 km2) in central Texas. The watershed presented a significant spatial rainfall gradient of 2.9 mm/km in the lateral (north‐south) directions based on four rainfall gages. A comparative analysis between SRGEN and WXGEN indicates that SRGEN performs well (PBIAS = 2.40%). Good results were obtained from APEX for streamflow (NSE = 0.99, PBIAS = 8.34%) and NO3‐N and soluble P loads (PBIAS ≈ 6.00% for each, respectively). However, APEX underpredicted sediment yield and organic N and P loads (PBIAS: 24.75‐27.90%) with SRGEN, although its uncertainty in output was lower than WXGEN results (PBIAS: −13.02 to −46.13%). The overall improvement achieved in rainfall generation by SRGEN is demonstrated to be effective in the improving model performance on flow and water quality output.
Sustainable Rainwater Catchment Systems for Micronesian Atoll Communities
Authors: Wallace Corey D. , Bailey Ryan T. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAtoll island communities rely on rainwater catchment systems (RWCS) as a primary method of storing freshwater. However, stored freshwater can be depleted during times of drought, requiring importation of water to sustain community living. To maintain adequate water supply under future climatic conditions, the functioning of RWCS for atoll communities must be analyzed and optimal designs must be adopted. In this study, a quantitative analysis of stored daily water volumes is provided for atoll islands within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), with Nikahlap Island, Pakein Atoll, and a generic island in western FSM used as representative cases. Using a daily water balance model for the RWCS, baseline conditions are simulated for the 1997‐1999 time period, during which an intense El Niño‐induced drought occurred, and a sensitivity analysis is performed to quantify the influence of RWCS features on water system outputs, whereupon an optimal RWCS design using existing infrastructure is analyzed. Results indicate the strong influence of catchment area, system efficiency, and storage capacity on water volumes and the depletion of water during dry seasons and drought periods using current RWCS infrastructure. Adequate storage can be maintained during a major drought if unused RWCS features are employed and if minimal rationing is adopted. Study results provide water resource managers and government officials with valuable data for consideration in water security measures.
An assessment of treatment history and its association with clinical outcomes and relapse in 155 pemphigus patients with response to a single cycle of rituximab
Authors: Amber K.T. , Hertl M. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundStudies of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus patients treated with rituximab have used several different dosing protocols. Likewise, patients' clinical history varies in the length of the disease prior to initiation of rituximab, previous immunosuppressants used and adjuvants used during rituximab treatment.ObjectiveWe sought to assess clinical factors associated with improved outcomes and a greater duration from last dose of rituximab to time of relapse in patients responding to a single cycle of rituximab.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated published cases of pemphigus patients treated with a single cycle of rituximab.ResultsOne hundred and fifty‐five patients were evaluated. An increased number of months with disease before receiving treatment were associated with failure to achieve complete remission. Patients treated using the low‐dose rheumatoid arthritis protocol (2 × 500 mg) experienced a lower rate of complete response and a decrease in the time to relapse. Patients treated using the standard lymphoma protocol (375 mg/m2 × 4 weeks) demonstrated improved time to relapse. There was no difference seen in the rate of patients reaching complete response in patients treated with the standard lymphoma protocol vs. the standard rheumatoid arthritis protocol (1000 mg × 2). The use of adjuvant plasma exchange or immunoadsorption was associated with an increase in the time to relapse.ConclusionBased on these observations, the low‐dose rheumatoid arthritis protocol should not be recommended due to the inferior clinical response and shortened time to relapse.
ETHNIC AND CULTURAL CHALLENGES AT THE END OF LIFE: SETTING THE SCENE
Authors: Brown Edwina A. 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYPatients with advanced kidney disease come from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. This potentially causes conflict when considering end‐of‐life management for patients from minority ethnic groups in a Western healthcare system that is dominated by the principles of patient autonomy, beneficence, non‐maleficence and avoiding futile care. This article explores the impact of religion and culture on truth telling and futile care at end of life.
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION AND SERVICE PROVISION FOR RENAL PATIENTS OF SOUTH ASIAN ORIGIN: THE CONTRIBUTION OF A CULTURAL AND HEALTH IMPROVEMENT OFFICER
Authors: Akhtar Tahira , Hipkiss Vicki , Stoves John 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYA large number of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease in Bradford, UK are of South Asian origin. Effective delivery of care for these patients demands a consistently high standard of communication between patients, their families and renal unit staff. Communication may be problematic for a number of reasons, including language barriers and an incomplete appreciation of important cultural or religious beliefs. In 2010, we received charitable funding for an Ethnic Liaison Support Worker, renamed Cultural and Health Improvement Officer (CHIO). The CHIO is able to engage with and support patients, relatives and other members of the multidisciplinary renal team. Core responsibilities include ensuring that patients and their families feel at ease whenever they are in communication with the renal services team in Bradford; contributing to formal discussion and explanation of important clinical issues in the patient's first language (typically Urdu or Punjabi), thereby encouraging patients to feel more involved in decisions about their care; listening to ad hoc patient queries and concerns and addressing these directly or indirectly through timely involvement of other members of the renal team; cultivating a greater awareness of and empathy towards the holistic needs of patients and their families within the renal MDT; and strengthening the links between renal and social care services. The involvement of the CHIO is especially important when discussing sensitive and complex issues such as conservative and end‐of‐life care with patients and their families, as communication needs to be detailed, precise and unequivocal. This is crucial to providing a bespoke supportive service for our all patients, especially those who have opted for conservative management. The significant contribution of the CHIO to the quality of renal services in Bradford has been recognised and a permanent CHIO post has now been established.
Osmotic concentration of prey affects food discrimination behaviour in the Australian pelican
Authors: Troup G. , Dutka T. L. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe Australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus is the largest of all pelican species and can consume up to half their body weight per day, feeding predominantly on teleost fishes. Anecdotally, it has been suggested that pelicans preferentially avoid the consumption of small portions of elasmobranch fishes (e.g. sharks and rays), which prompted this investigation into their food discrimination behaviour. The large differences in the osmolarity and/or urea content between elasmobranch and teleost fishes are likely to underpin this behaviour. Osmoconformers such as elasmobranchs maintain an internal osmotic concentration similar to seawater, with this state being achieved primarily by the retention of the osmolyte urea, while other osmoconforming organisms such as squid likely conserve ions such as Na+ and Cl–. In contrast, osmoregulating teleosts maintain an osmolarity much lower than seawater and approximately the same as pelicans. Consequently, ingestion of teleost fishes results in minimal water movement; however, if a large bolus of osmoconformers are consumed this may lead to dehydration. It was hypothesized that pelicans would preferentially avoid the consumption of osmoconformers and accept osmoregulators. In addition, we investigated the underlying physiological basis for elasmobranch rejection, and which sense(s) are primarily utilized for such behaviour. We found that pelicans freely chose to accept offerings of osmoregulators at a significantly greater frequency than osmoconformers. Furthermore, the osmotic concentration (and not specifically urea) was considered to be the most likely cause of rejection, as squid, which do not conserve urea, were rejected equally as often as elasmobranchs. Finally, vision appears to be the sense utilized for this behaviour because when elasmobranchs were made to appear visibly ‘similar’ to teleost fishes they were consumed at equal frequencies. This study provides new insight into food discrimination in pelicans and might also be applicable to other seabirds.
Virulent strain of Lichtheimia corymbifera shows increased phagocytosis by macrophages as revealed by automated microscopy image analysis
Authors: Kraibooj Kaswara , Park Hea‐Reung , Dahse Hans‐Martin , Skerka Christine , Voigt Kerstin , Figge Marc Thilo 
Published: September 2014

SummaryLichtheimia corymbifera is a ubiquitous soilborne zygomycete fungus, which is an opportunistic human pathogen in immunocompromised patients. The fungus can cause life‐threatening diseases by attacking the lung during early stages of invasion and by disseminating during later phases causing systemic infection. Since infections have drastically increased during the last decades, it is a major goal to investigate the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity of L. corymbifera. One of the first barriers, which the fungus needs to cope with in the lung tissue, is phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages. Here, we report on phagocytosis assays for murine alveolar macrophages co‐incubated with resting, swollen and opsonised spores of a virulent and an attenuated L. corymbifera strain. A major finding of this study is the significantly increased phagocytosis ratio of the virulent strain if compared to the attenuated strain. We quantify the phagocytosis by performing automated analysis of fluorescence microscopy images and by computing ratios for (i) fungal phagocytosis, (ii) fungal adhesion to phagocytes and (iii) fungal aggregation and spore cluster distribution in space. Automation of the image analysis yields objective results that overcome the disadvantages of manual analyses being time consuming, error‐prone and subjective. Therefore, it can be expected that automated image analysis of confrontation assays will play a crucial role in future investigations of host–pathogen interactions.
Accumulation of dipeptide repeat proteins predates that of TDP‐43 in frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9ORF72 gene
Authors: Baborie Atik , Griffiths Timothy D. , Jaros Evelyn , Perry Robert , McKeith Ian G. , Burn David J. , Masuda‐Suzukake Masami , Hasegawa Masato , Rollinson Sara , Pickering‐Brown Stuart , Robinson Andrew C. , Davidson Yvonne S. , Mann David M. A. 
Published: September 2014

AimsFrontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and motor neurone disease are linked by the possession of a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72, and both show neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions within cerebellar and hippocampal neurones which are TDP‐43 negative but immunoreactive for p62 and dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR), these being generated by a non‐ATG RAN translation of the expanded region of the gene.MethodsTwenty‐two cases of FTLD from Newcastle were analysed for an expansion in C9ORF72 by repeat primed PCR and Southern blot. Detailed case note analysis was performed, and blinded retrospective clinical impressions were achieved by review of clinical histories. Sections from all major brain regions were immunostained for TDP‐43, p62 and DPR. The extent of TDP‐43 and DPR pathology in expansion bearers was compared with that in 13 other previously identified cases from the Manchester Brain Bank with established disease.ResultsThree Newcastle patients bearing an expansion in C9ORF72 were identified. These three patients died prematurely, two from bronchopneumonia within 10 months and 3 years of onset, and one from myocardial infarction 3 years after onset. In all three, DPR were plentiful throughout all cerebral cortical regions, hippocampus and cerebellum, but TDP‐43 pathological changes were sparse. The severity of DPR pathological changes in these three patients was similar to that in the Manchester series, although the extent of TDP‐43 pathology was significantly less.ConclusionWidespread accumulation of DPR within nerve cells may occur much earlier than that of TDP‐43 in patients with FTLD bearing expansion in C9ORF72.