bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment and survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: 15-year national cohort
Authors: Nymo Linn Såve , Myklebust Tor Åge , Hamre Hanne , Møller Bjørn , Lassen Kristoffer 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
Improvement in survival from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been reported in trial settings but is less explored in unselected cohorts. The aim of this study was to assess trends in provision of treatments and survival in Norway over a 15-year period following the implementation of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) multidisciplinary teams, centralization of surgery, and implementation of modern chemotherapy (CTx) regimens.

Methods
A population-based observational study was conducted by analysing all patients diagnosed with PDAC between 2004 and 2018 using coupled data from the Cancer Registry of Norway and the National Patient Registry.

Results
A total of 10 630 patients were identified, of whom 1492 (14.0 per cent) underwent surgical resection. The resection rate, median age of those resected, and provision of perioperative CTx all increased over time. Median overall survival after resection improved from 16.0 months in the period 2004 to 2008 to 25.1 months in the period 2014 to 2018 (P &lt; 0.001). For non-resected patients there was a rise in the provision of palliative chemotherapy, but little survival gain over time (median overall survival for 2004 to 2008 was 3.2 months versus 4.2 months for 2014 to 2018; P &lt; 0.001). The rate of patients who did not receive any tumour-directed treatment (neither CTx nor surgery) was 44.3 per cent (2481 of 5603 patients) and decreased from 52.9 per cent in 2010 to 37.9 per cent in 2018 (P &lt; 0.001). The median overall survival for all patients with PDAC increased from 3.7 months for 2004 to 2008 to 5.8 months for 2014 to 2018 (P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
Survival after resection increased substantially, as did national resection rates. Little development in the provision of CTx or survival was observed for non-resected patients.
Phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Psoraleeae (Fabaceae)
Authors: Bello Abubakar , Stirton Charles H , Chimphango Samson Bm , Muasya A Muthama 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Psoraleeae consist of c. 228 species in ten genera, distributed worldwide but mostly in the temperate biome. Here, we reconstruct the phylogenetic history of Psoraleeae using eight molecular markers (rpl32-trnL, trnQ-rps16, trnS-trnG, matK, rbcLa, rpoB-trnC, trnL-trnF and ITS) to test the monophyly and previous hypotheses on generic relationships and to reconstruct the biogeographical history (distribution pattern, potential ancestral area and biome). The monophyly of Psoraleeae is supported. The African Otholobium and Psoralea form a strongly supported clade that is sister to the rest of Psoraleeae. However, Otholobium is not monophyletic; the American taxa of the genus are resolved as closer to Bituminaria, whereas Psoralea is a clade derived from within African Otholobium. South African Otholobium is subsumed into Psoralea, the latter having priority, with a synopsis of species level nomenclature provided here. An expanded sampling of Cullen reveals three clades comprising Mediterranean (Cullen americanum), African (Cullen obtusifolium and Cullen biflorum) and Eurasian (Cullen corylifolium and Cullen drupaceum) taxa, whereas Australian Cullen are a derived clade (BS = 95%, PP = 1.00). Biogeographic reconstructions show that Psoraleeae probably originated in the Mediterranean south biome of Africa in the Late Miocene, c. 8.2 Mya, and then dispersed into the succulent biome of the Americas, Mediterranean north biome, temperate grasslands of Africa and Australia to the temperate forest of Eurasia. Climate changes in the Late Miocene, changes induced by ocean currents during the Quaternary and environmental heterogeneity are proposed as the major drivers of speciation in Psoraleeae.
Increased circulating PD-1hiCXCR5− peripheral T helper cells are associated with disease activity of ANCA-associated vasculitis
Authors: Liu Zhenyu , Li Xueqin , Fan Ningning , Wang Hong , Xia Wenli , Li Wenjie , Tang Sha , Zhou Xinyuan , Wu Yuzhang , Zou Liyun , Li Jingyi , Zhang Jingbo 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Newly identified PD-1hiCXCR5–CD4+ T-cells, termed as peripheral helper T-cells (Tph), have been found elevated and playing a pathogenic role in some autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatic arthritis (RA). However, the potential role of Tph-cells in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) remains unclear. Here, we explored the potential clinical significance of circulating Tph-cells in the pathogenesis of AAV. Comparing 32 active AAV patients and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs), we found that the frequency of circulating Tph-cells was significantly expanded in active AAV patients. Besides, programmed death 1 (PD-1) expression on the surface of Tph-cells was significantly up-regulated in active AAV patients. Importantly, the frequency of circulating Tph-cells was greatly decreased in AAV patients after receiving treatment. Tph-cells frequency was positively correlated with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and cellular crescent in active AAV patients, but negatively correlated with fibrosus crescent. Tph-cells frequency was also positively correlated with naïve B-cells, serum concentration of MPO-ANCAs, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-21, and IL-12. However, serum IL-10 exhibited a negative correlation with circulating Tph-cells in active AAV patients. These results demonstrate that circulating Tph-cells are greatly expanded in active AAV patients and are positively associated with serum MPO-ANCAs and disease activity, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of AAV.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Transmission Dynamics and Immune Responses in a Household of Vaccinated Persons
Authors: Liu Jamin , Laurie Matthew T , Rubio Luis , Vazquez Sara E , Sunshine Sara , Mitchell Anthea M , Hapte-Selassie Matthias , Mann Sabrina A , Pilarowski Genay , Black Douglas , Marquez Carina , Rojas Susana , Lionakis Michail S , Petersen Maya , Whitman Jeffrey D , Jain Vivek , Anderson Mark , Havlir Diane , DeRisi Joseph 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
While SARS-CoV-2 vaccines prevent severe disease effectively, postvaccination “breakthrough” COVID-19 infections and transmission among vaccinated individuals remain ongoing concerns. We present an in-depth characterization of transmission and immunity among vaccinated individuals in a household, revealing complex dynamics and unappreciated comorbidities, including autoimmunity to type 1 interferon in the presumptive index case.
Stability and compatibility of antibiotics in peritoneal dialysis solutions
Authors: So Simon Wai Yin , Chen Lu , Woo Alex Yuk Hei , Ng Derek Man Him , Wong Jennifer Ka Wah , Chow Kai Ming , Runnegar Naomi , Johnson David W , Li Philip Kam-Tao 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACT
Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of antibiotics is a preferred treatment of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis. Given the treatment duration of up to 2–3 weeks, it is important that robust data on antibiotic stability and compatibility are available to achieve notable treatment success. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent stability and compatibility studies pertaining to a wide range of antibiotics admixed in various PD solutions.
Two-Party Signing For ISO/IEC Digital Signature Standards
Authors: Tang Guofeng , Zhang Zhenfeng 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Two-party signing can be used to provide a high level of key protection especially in the blockchain systems where the safety of money relies on the safety of the signing key. With a two-party signing protocol, the signing key is distributed among two devices, thus the funds are safe as long as one device remains uncorrupted. In this paper, we study the two-party signing protocols for all ISO/IEC signature standards. The mechanisms based on elliptic curve discrete logarithm in ISO/IEC can be divided into three types: Schnorr-type, Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA)-type and SM2-type. There have already been efficient two-party protocols based on Schnorr signature scheme which can be easily extended into all Schnorr-type standards. However, it is particularly hard to construct efficient distributed SM2-type and ECDSA-type protocols due to their nonlinear signing equations. In this paper, we present the first secure and efficient two-party protocol over SM2-type signature standard. We prove its security in the generic group model. We then construct a more efficient two-party ECDSA protocol that is secure in the generic group model and outperforms all previous works.
Single step estimation of ARMA roots for nonfundamental nonstationary fractional models
Authors: Lobato Ignacio N , Velasco Carlos 
Published: January 2022

SummaryWe propose a single step estimator for the autoregressive and moving average roots (without imposing causality or invertibility restrictions) of a nonstationary Fractional ARMA process. These estimators employ an efficient tapering procedure, which allows for a long memory component in the process, but avoids estimating the nonstationarity component, which can be stochastic and/or deterministic. After selecting automatically the order of the model, we robustly estimate the AR and MA roots for trading volume for the thirty stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index in the last decade. Two empirical results are found. First, there is strong evidence that stock market trading volume exhibits nonfundamentalness. Second, noncausality is more common than noninvertibility.
Trend, predictors, and outcomes of combined mitral valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft in patients with concomitant mitral valve and coronary artery disease: a National Inpatient Sample database analysis
Authors: Ullah Waqas , Gul Sajjad , Saleem Sameer , Syed Mubbasher Ameer , Khan Muhammad Zia , Zahid Salman , Minhas Abdul Mannan Khan , Virani Salim S , Mamas Mamas A , Fischman David L 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAimsCombined mitral valve replacement (MVR) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures have been the norm for patients with concomitant mitral valve disease (MVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) with no large-scale data on their safety and efficacy.Methods and resultsThe National Inpatient Sample database (2002–18) was queried to identify patients undergoing MVR and CABG. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and its components were compared using a propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR). A total of 6 145 694 patients (CABG only 3 971 045, MVR only 1 933 459, MVR + CABG 241 190) were included in crude analysis, while a matched cohort of 724 237 (CABG only 241 436, MVR only 241 611 vs. MVR + CABG 241 190) was selected in PSM analysis. The combined MVR + CABG procedure had significantly higher adjusted odds of MACE [OR 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.14 and OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.93–1.99] and in-hospital mortality (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.27–1.31 and OR 2.1, 95% CI 2.05–2.14) compared with CABG alone and MVR alone, respectively. Similarly, the risk of post-procedure bleeding, major bleeding, acute kidney injury, cardiogenic shock, sepsis, need for intra-aortic balloon pump, mean length of stay, and total charges per hospitalization were significantly higher for patients undergoing the combined procedure. These findings remained consistent on yearly trend analysis favouring the isolated CABG and MVR groups.ConclusionCombined procedure (MVR + CABG) in patients with MVD and CAD appears to be associated with worse in-hospital outcomes, increased mortality, and higher resource utilization compared with isolated CABG and MVR procedures. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the relative safety of these procedures in the full spectrum of baseline valvular and angiographic characteristics.
The 2020 ESC atrial fibrillation guidelines for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation, CABANA, and EAST
Authors: Arbelo Elena , Dagres Nikolaos 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Prior randomised clinical trials (RCTs) have suggested that rhythm control offers no benefit compared to accepting AF and instituting rate control in terms of all-cause mortality, CV mortality and sudden death; as a consequence, the ESC AF guidelines have recommended rhythm control for reducing AF-related symptoms and improving quality of life. The Early Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke Prevention Trial (EAST-AFNET 4) evaluated whether a more up-to-date rhythm control management strategy provides a benefit in mortality or stroke rates while the Catheter Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CABANA) trial evaluated whether catheter ablation was better than drug therapy in preventing a composite of death, disabling stroke, serious bleeding or cardiac arrest. This document critically reviews the recommendations of the 2020 ESC guidelines for the management of AF in the light of these two landmark trials, both of which have underlined the safety of contemporary rhythm control treatment. Considering the safety of the different strategies in modern AF treatment, a personalized approach taking into account the specific patient profile and preferences of the individual patient is needed.
Supportive interactions with primary care doctors are associated with better mental health among transgender people: results of a nationwide survey in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Treharne Gareth J , Carroll Rona , Tan Kyle K H , Veale Jaimie F 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
Past research has established that transgender people experience significant disparities in mental health outcomes and healthcare dissatisfaction compared with cisgender people, but more research is needed on how supportive healthcare interactions relate to the mental health of transgender people.

Objectives
The 2 main aims of our analyses were: (i) to establish the most common negative experiences in healthcare and the most common supportive experiences specifically with primary care doctors for transgender people; and (ii) to examine the association of supportive experiences with mental health variables after controlling for demographic factors.

Methods
Data from the 2018 Counting Ourselves nationwide survey of transgender people were analysed using regression modelling. The 948 participants with a primary care doctor or general practitioner were included in analyses. Participants were aged 14–83 years old (mean 30.20).

Results
The most common supportive experiences involved primary care doctors treating transgender people equitably, with competence, and with respect. Participants with more negative healthcare experiences had higher psychological distress as well as higher likelihood of reporting nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidality. Conversely, participants with more experiences of supportive primary care doctors had lower psychological distress and were less likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months.

Conclusion
When transgender people receive supportive care from their primary care providers they experience better mental health, despite ongoing negative healthcare experiences. Future research is needed to confirm ways of supporting positive trajectories of mental health for transgender people but these findings demonstrate the importance of positive aspects of care.
Cost-effectiveness of an occupational therapy-led self-management support programme for multimorbidity in primary care
Authors: Gillespie Paddy , Hobbins Anna , O’Toole Lynn , Connolly Deirdre , Boland Fiona , Smith Susan M 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
Multimorbidity is a major public health concern. Complex interventions, incorporating individualized care plans, may be appropriate for patients with multimorbidity given their individualized and variable needs. There is a dearth of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of complex multimorbidity interventions.

Objective
This study examines the cost-effectiveness of a 6-week occupational therapy-led self-management support programme (OPTIMAL) for adults with multimorbidity.

Methods
Economic evaluation, from a healthcare perspective, was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial of 149 adults with multimorbidity. Intervention was the OPTIMAL programme with a comparison of usual primary care. Incremental costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained, and expected cost-effectiveness were estimated at 6 months and uncertainty was explored using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

Results
The intervention was associated with a mean improvement in QALYs gained of 0.031 per patient (P-value: 0.063; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: −0.002 to 0.063) and a mean reduction in total costs of €2,548 (P-value: 0.114; 95% CIs: −5,606 to 509) per patient. At cost-effectiveness threshold values of €20,000 and €45,000 per QALY, the probability of the intervention being cost-effective was estimated to be 0.951 and 0.958, respectively. The results remained consistent across all subgroups examined.

Conclusions
This study adds to the limited evidence base on the cost-effectiveness of complex interventions for multimorbidity, and highlights the potential for the OPTIMAL programme to be cost-effective. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical and cost-effectiveness of complex interventions for the multimorbidity patient population, and for subgroups within it.

Trial registration
Trial number: ISRCTN67235963.
Combination of salicylic acid and ultrasonication for alleviating chilling injury symptoms of longkong
Authors: Noonim Paramee , Venkatachalam Karthikeyan 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Chilling injury is a prominent physiological disorder in longkong fruit pericarp when stored under 13 °C for a prolonged period. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individual salicylic acid (SA) and ultrasonication (US) treatments and of the combination salicylic acid and ultrasonication (SA-US) on alleviating the chilling injury symptoms in longkong fruit pericarp when in prolonged cold storage.

Materials and methods
SA (1 mmol/L) and US (40 kHz, 10 min at 90% amplitude, 350 W) were used as individual and combined (SA-US) treatments to control the chilling injury in longkong pericarp. The various quality measures were checked every 2 days in longkong for up to 18 days of cold storage (13 °C, 90% relative humidity).

Results
The results revealed that the control fruits treated with water exhibited severe chilling injury symptoms followed in rank order by US, SA, and SA-US cases. Treatments such as US and SA alone were more effective in controlling chilling injuries than control, while only minimal significant differences were noticed between them. On the other hand, the longkong pericarp treated with the SA-US combination had significantly increased antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities and decreased levels of membrane lytic (phospholipase D and lipoxygenase) enzymes and browning-inducing enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia lyase and polyphenol oxidase). Consequently, in the longkong pericarp, the chilling injury index, electrolytic leakage, respiration rate, weight loss, firmness, malondialdehyde content, changes in unsaturated and saturated fatty acid contents, and reactive oxygen species were significantly controlled by this treatment.

Conclusions
The present study concludes that longkong fruit treatment with a combination of US and SA is an excellent alternative for controlling the chilling injury symptoms and extending the shelf-life.
Dietary fiber in plant cell walls—the healthy carbohydrates
Authors: An Yi , Lu Weitai , Li Wenze , Pan Langlang , Lu Mengzhu , Cesarino Igor , Li Zheng , Zeng Wei 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Dietary fiber (DF) is one of the major classes of nutrients for humans. It is widely distributed in the edible parts of natural plants, with the cell wall being the main DF-containing structure. DF content varies significantly in different plant species and organs, and the processing procedure can have a dramatic effect on the DF composition of plant-based foods. Given the considerable nutritional value of DF, a deeper understanding of DF in food plants, including its composition and biosynthesis, is fundamental to the establishment of a daily intake reference of DF and is also critical to molecular breeding programs for modifying DF content. In the past decades, plant cell wall biology has seen dramatic progress, and such knowledge is of great potential to be translated into DF-related food science research and may provide future research directions for improving the health benefits of food crops. In this review, to spark interdisciplinary discussions between food science researchers and plant cell wall biologists, we focus on a specific category of DF—cell wall carbohydrates. We first summarize the content and composition of carbohydrate DF in various plant-based foods, and then discuss the structure and biosynthesis mechanism of each carbohydrate DF category, in particular the respective biosynthetic enzymes. Health impacts of DF are highlighted, and finally, future directions of DF research are also briefly outlined.
Phenolic degradation by catechol dioxygenases is associated with pathogenic fungi with a necrotrophic lifestyle in the Ceratocystidaceae
Authors: Soal Nicole C , Coetzee Martin P A , van der Nest Magriet A , Hammerbacher Almuth , Wingfield Brenda D 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Fungal species of the Ceratocystidaceae grow on their host plants using a variety of different lifestyles, from saprophytic to highly pathogenic. Although many genomes of fungi in the Ceratocystidaceae are publicly available, it is not known how the genes that encode catechol dioxygenases (CDOs), enzymes involved in the degradation of phenolic plant defense compounds, differ among members of the Ceratocystidaceae. The aim of this study was therefore to identify and characterize the genes encoding CDOs in the genomes of Ceratocystidaceae representatives. We found that genes encoding CDOs are more abundant in pathogenic necrotrophic species of the Ceratocystidaceae and less abundant in saprophytic species. The loss of the CDO genes and the associated 3-oxoadipate catabolic pathway appears to have occurred in a lineage-specific manner. Taken together, this study revealed a positive association between CDO gene copy number and fungal lifestyle in Ceratocystidaceae representatives.