bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interstitial lung disease
Authors: Cottin Vincent
Published: March 2013

This article reviews the most important articles published in interstitial lung disease, as reviewed during the Clinical Year in Review session at the 2012 annual European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna, Austria.

Since the recent international guidelines for the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), important new evidence is available. The anti-fibrotic drug pirfenidone has been recently approved in Europe. Other pharmacological agents, especially nintedanib, are still being tested. The so-called triple combination therapy, anticoagulation therapy and endothelin receptor antagonists, especially ambrisentan, are either harmful or ineffective in IPF and are not recommended as treatment. Although the clinical course of IPF is highly variable, novel tools have been developed for individual prediction of prognosis. Acute exacerbations of IPF are associated with increased mortality and may occur with higher frequency in IPF patients with associated pulmonary hypertension.

Interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease has been definitely established to have a better long-term survival than IPF. A subset of patients present with symptoms and/or biological autoimmune features, but do not fulfil diagnostic criteria for a given autoimmune disease; this condition is associated with a higher prevalence of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern, female sex and younger age, although survival relevance is unclear.
Pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Peacock Andrew
Published: March 2013

2011 to 2012 has seen an explosion in published research in the field of pulmonary vascular disease, especially pulmonary hypertension. In conjunction with this research has been an explosion in clinical interest in treating pulmonary hypertension. This is possible because we now have three different generic classes of drug therapy: endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and prostacyclins. Clearly, however, we need to be careful that we are treating the correct disease with the correct drug and measuring the correct response. Herein, I will review the papers published over the last year that offer the most insight into the pathobiology, but also those that give us the clinical information we need in epidemiology, treatment and end-points so that we can treat this devastating group of disease.
Smoking cessation and COPD
Authors: Tønnesen Philip
Published: March 2013

The mainstay in smoking cessation is counselling in combination with varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or bupropion SR. Varenicline and combination of two NRTs is equally effective, while varenicline alone is more effective than either NRT or bupropion SR. NRT is extremely safe but cardiovascular and psychiatric adverse events with varenicline have been reported. These treatments have also been shown to be effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

A model study is the Lung Health Study from the USA. Findings from this study of 5,587 patients with mild COPD showed that repeated smoking cessation for a period of 5 yrs resulted in a quit rate of 37%. After 14.5 yrs the quitters had a higher lung function and a higher survival rate. A study with a new nicotine formulation, a mouth spray, showed high relative efficacy. As 5–10% of quitters use long-term NRT, we report the results of a study where varenicline compared with placebo increased the quit rate in long-term users of NRT.

Smoking cessation is the most effective intervention in stopping the progression of COPD, as well as increasing survival and reducing morbidity. This is why smoking cessation should be the top priority in the treatment of COPD.
Evolution of foot-and-mouth disease virus intra-sample sequence diversity during serial transmission in bovine hosts
Authors: Morelli Marco J , Wright Caroline F , Knowles Nick J , Juleff Nicholas , Paton David J , King Donald P , Haydon Daniel T
Published: March 2013

RNA virus populations within samples are highly heterogeneous, containing a large number of minority sequence variants which can potentially be transmitted to other susceptible hosts. Consequently, consensus genome sequences provide an incomplete picture of the within- and between-host viral evolutionary dynamics during transmission. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an RNA virus that can spread from primary sites of replication, via the systemic circulation, to found distinct sites of local infection at epithelial surfaces. Viral evolution in these different tissues occurs independently, each of them potentially providing a source of virus to seed subsequent transmission events. This study employed the Illumina Genome Analyzer platform to sequence 18 FMDV samples collected from a chain of sequentially infected cattle. These data generated snap-shots of the evolving viral population structures within different animals and tissues. Analyses of the mutation spectra revealed polymorphisms at frequencies >0.5% at between 21 and 146 sites across the genome for these samples, while 13 sites acquired mutations in excess of consensus frequency (50%). Analysis of polymorphism frequency revealed that a number of minority variants were transmitted during host-to-host infection events, while the size of the intra-host founder populations appeared to be smaller. These data indicate that viral population complexity is influenced by small intra-host bottlenecks and relatively large inter-host bottlenecks. The dynamics of minority variants are consistent with the actions of genetic drift rather than strong selection. These results provide novel insights into the evolution of FMDV that can be applied to reconstruct both intra- and inter-host transmission routes.
In-depth performance evaluation of PFP and ESG sequence-based function prediction methods in CAFA 2011 experiment
Authors: Chitale Meghana , Khan Ishita K , Kihara Daisuke
Published: March 2013

Background

Many Automatic Function Prediction (AFP) methods were developed to cope with an increasing growth of the number of gene sequences that are available from high throughput sequencing experiments. To support the development of AFP methods, it is essential to have community wide experiments for evaluating performance of existing AFP methods. Critical Assessment of Function Annotation (CAFA) is one such community experiment. The meeting of CAFA was held as a Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting at the Intelligent Systems in Molecular Biology (ISMB) conference in 2011. Here, we perform a detailed analysis of two sequence-based function prediction methods, PFP and ESG, which were developed in our lab, using the predictions submitted to CAFA.

Results

We evaluate PFP and ESG using four different measures in comparison with BLAST, Prior, and GOtcha. In addition to the predictions submitted to CAFA, we further investigate performance of a different scoring function to rank order predictions by PFP as well as PFP/ESG predictions enriched with Priors that simply adds frequently occurring Gene Ontology terms as a part of predictions. Prediction accuracies of each method were also evaluated separately for different functional categories. Successful and unsuccessful predictions by PFP and ESG are also discussed in comparison with BLAST.

Conclusion

The in-depth analysis discussed here will complement the overall assessment by the CAFA organizers. Since PFP and ESG are based on sequence database search results, our analyses are not only useful for PFP and ESG users but will also shed light on the relationship of the sequence similarity space and functions that can be inferred from the sequences.
Induction kinetics of the Staphylococcus aureus cell wall stress stimulon in response to different cell wall active antibiotics
Authors: Dengler Vanina , Meier Patricia Stutzmann , Heusser Ronald , Berger-Bächi Brigitte , McCallum Nadine
Published: March 2013

Background

Staphylococcus aureus activates a protective cell wall stress stimulon (CWSS) in response to the inhibition of cell wall synthesis or cell envelope damage caused by several structurally and functionally different antibiotics. CWSS induction is coordinated by the VraSR two-component system, which senses an unknown signal triggered by diverse cell wall active agents.

Results

We have constructed a highly sensitive luciferase reporter gene system, using the promoter of sas016 (S. aureus N315), which detects very subtle differences in expression as well as measuring > 4 log-fold changes in CWSS activity, to compare the concentration dependence of CWSS induction kinetics of antibiotics with different cell envelope targets. We compared the effects of subinhibitory up to suprainhibitory concentrations of fosfomycin, D-cycloserine, tunicamycin, bacitracin, flavomycin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, oxacillin, lysostaphin and daptomycin. Induction kinetics were both strongly antibiotic- and concentration-dependent. Most antibiotics triggered an immediate response with induction beginning within 10 min, except for tunicamycin, D-cycloserine and fosfomycin which showed lags of up to one generation before induction commenced. Induction characteristics, such as the rate of CWSS induction once initiated and maximal induction reached, were strongly antibiotic dependent. We observed a clear correlation between the inhibitory effects of specific antibiotic concentrations on growth and corresponding increases in CWSS induction kinetics. Inactivation of VraR increased susceptibility to the antibiotics tested from 2- to 16-fold, with the exceptions of oxacillin and D-cycloserine, where no differences were detected in the methicillin susceptible S. aureus strain background analysed. There was no apparent correlation between the induction capacity of the various antibiotics and the relative importance of the CWSS for the corresponding resistance phenotypes.

Conclusion

CWSS induction profiles were unique for each antibiotic. Differences observed in optimal induction conditions for specific antibiotics should be determined and taken into account when designing and interpreting CWSS induction studies.
Axonal outgrowth is associated with increased ERK 1/2 activation but decreased caspase 3 linked cell death in Schwann cells after immediate nerve repair in rats
Authors: Tsuda Yoshifumi , Kanje Martin , Dahlin Lars B
Published: March 2013

Background

Extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) is activated by nerve damage and its activation precedes survival and proliferation of Schwann cells. In contrast, activation of caspase 3, a cysteine protease, is considered as a marker for apoptosis in Schwann cells. In the present study, axonal outgrowth, activation of ERK1/2 by phosphorylation (p-ERK 1/2 ) and immunoreactivity of cleaved caspase 3 were examined after immediate, delayed, or no repair of transected rat sciatic nerves.

Results

Axonal outgrowth, detected by neurofilament staining, was longer after immediate repair than after either the delayed or no repair conditions. Immediate repair also showed a higher expression of p-ERK 1/2 and a lower number of cleaved caspase 3 stained Schwann cells than after delayed nerve repair. If the transected nerve was not repaired a lower level of p-ERK 1/2 was found than in either the immediate or delayed repair conditions. Axonal outgrowth correlated to p-ERK 1/2, but not clearly with cleaved caspase 3. Contact with regenerating axons affected Schwann cells with respect to p-ERK 1/2 and cleaved caspase 3 after immediate nerve repair only.

Conclusion

The decreased regenerative capacity that has historically been observed after delayed nerve repair may be related to impaired activation of Schwann cells and increased Schwann cell death. Outgrowing axons influence ERK 1/2 activation and apoptosis of Schwann cells.
New stable anchor protein and peptide linker suitable for successful spore surface display in B. subtilis
Authors: Hinc Krzysztof , Iwanicki Adam , Obuchowski Michał
Published: March 2013

Background

In last decade spores have been successfully used as a surface display platform. Various peptides or proteins were displayed this way as functional enzymes or antigens. Nearly all attempts involved use of three coat proteins: CotB, CotC or CotG. Increasing knowledge of the structure of the spore coat allowed us to propose the use of other proteins whose localization in the spore envelope has been determined. We also propose the application of a new linker suitable for building fusion proteins.

Results

We show that a member of the outer coat, CotZ, is a good candidate as a new anchor protein useful in spore surface display. This protein allows use of relatively large passenger proteins and their efficient display on the spore surface. Analysis by Western- and dot-blotting, combined with immunofluorescence microscopy, allowed us to estimate the number of displayed fusion proteins molecules as 1.4 × 102 per spore. In addition, we present data indicating that the use of a peptide linker, which forms a stable α-helix, may greatly improve the display of anchored proteins on the spore surface.

Conclusion

CotZ can be used as an efficient anchor protein in the outer spore coat. Its localisation in the coat crust layer should guarantee surface display of passenger proteins. Moreover, a CotZ based fusion can tolerate relatively large passenger proteins for efficient spore surface display. In addition, to the properties of both the anchor and passenger proteins, an important issue is the nature of the linker. Here we present evidence that the linker, which forms a stable α-helix, may be crucial for successful display.
Exclusion of eleven candidate genes for ocular melanosis in cairn terriers
Authors: Winkler Paige A , Bartoe Joshua T , Quinones Celeste R , Venta Patrick J , Petersen-Jones Simon M
Published: March 2013

Background

Ocular melanosis of Cairn terrier dogs is an inherited defect characterized by progressive pigmentation of both eyes which can result in glaucoma and blindness. Pedigree analysis suggests the trait has an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. We selected 11 potential candidate genes and used an exclusion analysis approach to investigate the likelihood that one of the candidate gene loci contained the Cairn terrier-ocular melanosis locus.

Results

Two polymorphic loci were identified within or close to each candidate gene. Genotyping of at least 10 ocular melanosis Cairn terriers for each marker showed that there was no single shared allele for either of the two polymorphic markers identified in ASIP, COMT, GPNMB, GSK3B, LYST, MC1R, MITF, SILV, TYR, TYRP1, and TYRP2. This is strong evidence to exclude each locus as the site of the ocular melanosis mutation (probability of a false exclusion calculated for each gene ranged from 1.59 × 10-4 to 1 × 10-9).

Conclusions

None of the 11 potential candidate genes selected are likely to be the gene locus for ocular melanosis in Cairn terriers.
Climate for evidence-informed health systems: A print media analysis in 44 low- and middle-income countries that host knowledge-translation platforms
Authors: Cheung Andrew , Lavis John N , Hamandi Ali , El-Jardali Fadi , Sachs Jonathan , Sewankambo Nelson ,   Knowledge-Translation Platform Evaluation Team
Published: March 2013

Background

We conducted a print media analysis in 44 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean in order to understand one dimension of the climate for evidence-informed health systems and to provide a baseline for an evaluation of knowledge-translation platforms. Our focus was whether and how policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers talk in the media about three topics: policy priorities in the health sector, health research evidence, and policy dialogues regarding health issues.

Methods

We developed a search strategy consisting of three progressively more delimited phases. For each jurisdiction, we searched Major World Publications in LexisNexis Academic News for articles published in 2007, selected relevant articles using one set of general criteria and three sets of concept-specific criteria, and coded the selected articles to identify common themes. Second raters took part in the analysis of Lebanon and Malaysia to assess inter-rater reliability for article selection and coding.

Results

We identified approximately 5.5 and 5 times more articles describing health research evidence compared to the number of articles describing policy priorities and policy dialogues, respectively. Few articles describing health research evidence discussed systematic reviews (2%) or health systems research (2%), and few of the policy dialogue articles discussed researcher involvement (9%). News coverage of these concepts was highly concentrated in several countries like China and Uganda, while few articles were found for many other jurisdictions. Kappa scores were acceptable and consistently greater than 0.60.

Conclusions

In many countries the print media, at least as captured in a global database, are largely silent about three topics central to evidence-informed health systems. These findings suggest the need for proactive-media engagement strategies.
R5X4 HIV-1 coreceptor use in primary target cells: implications for coreceptor entry blocking strategies
Authors: Loftin Lamorris M , Kienzle Martha , Yi Yanjie , Collman Ronald G
Published: March 2013

Entry coreceptor use by HIV-1 plays a pivotal role in viral transmission, pathogenesis and disease progression. In many HIV-1 infected individuals, there is an expansion in coreceptor use from CCR5 to include CXCR4, which is associated with accelerated disease progression. While targeting HIV-1 envelope interactions with coreceptor during viral entry is an appealing approach to combat the virus, the methods of determining coreceptor use and the changes in coreceptor use that can occur during disease progression are important factors that may complicate the use of therapies targeting this stage of HIV-1 replication. Indicator cells are typically used to determine coreceptor use by HIV-1in vitro, but the coreceptors used on these cells can differ from those used on primary cell targets. V3 based genetic sequence algorithms are another method used to predict coreceptor use by HIV-1 strains. However, these algorithms were developed to predict coreceptor use in cell lines and not primary cells and, furthermore, are not highly accurate for some classes of viruses. This article focuses on R5X4 HIV-1, the earliest CXCR4-using variants, reviewing the pattern of coreceptor use on primary CD4+ lymphocytes and macrophages, the relationship between primary cell coreceptor use and the two principal approaches to coreceptor analysis (genetic prediction and indicator cell phenotyping), and the implications of primary cell coreceptor use by these strains for treatment with a new class of small molecule antagonists that inhibit CCR5-mediated entry. These are important questions to consider given the development of new CCR5 blocking therapies and the prognosis associated with CXCR4 use.
Supported quantum clusters of silver as enhanced catalysts for reduction
Authors: Leelavathi Annamalai , Bhaskara Rao Thumu Udaya , Pradeep Thalappil
Published: March 2013

Quantum clusters (QCs) of silver such as Ag7(H2MSA)7, Ag8(H2MSA)8 (H2MSA, mercaptosuccinic acid) were synthesized by the interfacial etching of Ag nanoparticle precursors and were loaded on metal oxide supports to prepare active catalysts. The supported clusters were characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. We used the conversion of nitro group to amino group as a model reaction to study the catalytic reduction activity of the QCs. Various aromatic nitro compounds, namely, 3-nitrophenol (3-np), 4-nitrophenol (4-np), 3-nitroaniline (3-na), and 4-nitroaniline (4-na) were used as substrates. Products were confirmed using UV-visible spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The supported QCs remained active and were reused several times after separation. The rate constant suggested that the reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The turn-over frequency was 1.87 s-1 per cluster for the reduction of 4-np at 35°C. Among the substrates investigated, the kinetics followed the order, SiO2 > TiO2 > Fe2O3 > Al2O3.
Linking aggregation of Aspergillus niger spores to surface electrostatics: a theoretical approach
Authors: Wargenau Andreas , Kampen Ingo , Kwade Arno
Published: March 2013

The effect of medium pH on conidial aggregation during submerged cultivation of Aspergillus niger is considered to originate from the electrostatic surface properties of the spores. As previously shown, these properties are greatly influenced by the presence of a melanin-containing surface coating covering the outer spore wall layer. The present study was designed to elucidate the impact of such a coating on the spores’ surface potential and their electrostatic repulsion under acidic conditions. A Poisson–Boltzmann model was proposed and potential profiles across the surface coating of noninteracting and interacting spores were calculated. The surface potentials thus obtained were in line with the observed pH dependence of the zeta potential. This dependence was consistent with the outcome of aggregation experiments. Apparently contradictory results regarding the zeta potential and the aggregation behavior of the spores were obtained when the ionic strength was varied. However, both of these observations could be explained by the model.
Existence of solutions for a coupled system of nonlinear fractional differential equations with fractional boundary conditions on the half-line
Authors: Liu Yuji , Ahmad Bashir , Agarwal Ravi P
Published: March 2013

In this article, we study a boundary value problem of a coupled system of nonlinear Riemann-Liouville type fractional differential equations with fractional boundary conditions on the half-line. An appropriate compactness criterion is established to prove the existence of solutions of the problem by means of the Schauder fixed point theorem. An illustrative example is also given.

MSC:34A08, 34A12, 34B40.
The V86M mutation in HIV-1 capsid confers resistance to TRIM5α by abrogation of cyclophilin A-dependent restriction and enhancement of viral nuclear import
Authors: Veillette Maxime , Bichel Katsiaryna , Pawlica Paulina , Freund Stefan M V , Plourde Mélodie B , Pham Quang Toan , Reyes-Moreno Carlos , James Leo C , Berthoux Lionel
Published: March 2013

Background

HIV-1 is inhibited early after entry into cells expressing some simian orthologues of the tripartite motif protein family member TRIM5α. Mutants of the human orthologue (TRIM5αhu) can also provide protection against HIV-1. The host protein cyclophilin A (CypA) binds incoming HIV-1 capsid (CA) proteins and enhances early stages of HIV-1 replication by unknown mechanisms. On the other hand, the CA-CypA interaction is known to increase HIV-1 susceptibility to restriction by TRIM5α. Previously, the mutation V86M in the CypA-binding loop of HIV-1 CA was found to be selected upon serial passaging of HIV-1 in cells expressing Rhesus macaque TRIM5α (TRIM5αrh). The objectives of this study were (i) to analyze whether V86M CA allows HIV-1 to escape mutants of TRIM5αhu, and (ii) to characterize the role of CypA in the resistance to TRIM5α conferred by V86M.

Results

We find that in single-cycle HIV-1 vector transduction experiments, V86M confers partial resistance against R332G-R335G TRIM5αhu and other TRIM5αhu variable 1 region mutants previously isolated in mutagenic screens. However, V86M HIV-1 does not seem to be resistant to R332G-R335G TRIM5αhu in a spreading infection context. Strikingly, restriction of V86M HIV-1 vectors by TRIM5αhu mutants is mostly insensitive to the presence of CypA in infected cells. NMR experiments reveal that V86M alters CypA interactions with, and isomerisation of CA. On the other hand, V86M does not affect the CypA-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 replication in permissive human cells. Finally, qPCR experiments show that V86M increases HIV-1 transport to the nucleus of cells expressing restrictive TRIM5α.

Conclusions

Our study shows that V86M de-couples the two functions associated with CA-CypA binding, i.e. the enhancement of restriction by TRIM5α and the enhancement of HIV-1 replication in permissive human cells. V86M enhances the early stages of HIV-1 replication in restrictive cells by improving nuclear import. In summary, our data suggest that HIV-1 escapes restriction by TRIM5α through the selective disruption of CypA-dependent, TRIM5α-mediated inhibition of nuclear import. However, V86M does not seem to relieve restriction of a spreading HIV-1 infection by TRIM5αhu mutants, underscoring context-specific restriction mechanisms.
Intracellular lactate signaling cascade in atrial remodeling of mitral valvular patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Xu Jing , Xu Xiaohan , Si Linjie , Xue Lei , Zhang Shijiang , Qin Jianwei , Wu Yanhu , Shao Yongfeng , Chen Yijiang , Wang Xiaowei
Published: March 2013

Background

Atrial remodeling has emerged as the structural basis for the maintenance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Lactate signaling cascade was recently linked to some cardiovascular disorders for its regulatory functions to myocardial structural remodeling. It was hypothesized that lactate signaling cascade was involved in the maintenance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation by regulating atrial structural remodeling.

Methods

Biopsies of right atrial appendage and clinical data were collected from sex- and age-matched 30 persistent atrial fibrillation, 30 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 30 sinus rhythm patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery and 10 healthy heart donors.

Results

Atrial fibrillation groups had higher atrial lactate expression and this upregulated expression was positively correlated with regulatory indicators of atrial structural remodeling as reflected by severe oxidative stress injury and mitochondrial control of apoptosis.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest a potential role for lactate signaling cascade in the maintenance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation and possibly represent new targets for therapeutic intervention in this disorder.
Molecular cytogenetic analysis and clinical manifestations of a case with de novo mosaic ring chromosome 7
Authors: Tsai Li-Ping , Lee Kuei-Fang , Fang Jye-Siung , Liu Ingrid Y
Published: March 2013

Aim

Clinical and molecular cytogenetic investigations of a newborn girl exhibiting facial dysmorphism with developmental delay.

Methods

Phenotypic evaluation was first applied to examine the proband's developmental status. Computed tomography and colour transcranial Doppler were used then to investigate her brain structure and function. Subsequently, chromosomal abnormalities were examined by karyotyping and fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed to investigate size of fragments lost at the two distal ends of the ring chromosome 7. In addition, multicolour banding was applied to rule out structural rearrangement occurs in between the ring chromosome 7.

Results

The proband was born with mosaic supernumerary ring chromosome 7, without a normal karyotype detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes. The distal arm of chromosome 7p (at least 255 kb from the telomere) was part of an extra ring chromosome 7. In addition, the distal arm of 7q, at least 8 kb from the telomere, was missing. There was no other chromosomal rearrangement detected by multicolour banding.

Interpretation

This is the 19th reported case of complete ring chromosome 7 mosaicism and the first survived case with mosaic supernumerary ring 7 without a normal karyotype detected in the peripheral lymphocytes.
Hormonal status in protracted critical illness and in-hospital mortality
Authors: Sharshar Tarek , Bastuji-Garin Sylvie , Polito Andrea , De Jonghe Bernard , Stevens Robert D , Maxime Virginie , Rodriguez Pablo , Cerf Charles , Outin Hervé , Touraine Philippe , Laborde Kathleen ,   the Groupe de Réflexion et d'Etude des Neuromyopathies En Réanimation
Published: March 2013

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between hormonal status and mortality in patients with protracted critical illness.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study in four medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs). ICU patients who regained consciousness after 7 days of mechanical ventilation were included. Plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and cortisol were measured on the first day patients were awake and cooperative (day 1). Mean blood glucose from admission to day 1 was calculated.

Results

We studied 102 patients: 65 men and 37 women (29 of the women were postmenopausal). Twenty-four patients (24%) died in the hospital. The IGF-1 levels were higher and the cortisol levels were lower in survivors. Mean blood glucose was lower in women who survived, and DHEA and DHEAS were higher in men who survived.

Conclusions

These results suggest that, on the basis of sex, some endocrine or metabolic markers measured in the postacute phase of critical illness might have a prognostic value.
Augmented renal clearance in septic and traumatized patients with normal plasma creatinine concentrations: identifying at-risk patients
Authors: Udy Andrew A , Roberts Jason A , Shorr Andrew F , Boots Robert J , Lipman Jeffrey
Published: March 2013

Introduction

Improved methods to optimize drug dosing in the critically ill are urgently needed. Traditional prescribing culture involves recognition of factors that mandate dose reduction (such as renal impairment), although optimizing drug exposure, through more frequent or augmented dosing, represents an evolving strategy. Elevated creatinine clearance (CLCR) has been associated with sub-therapeutic antibacterial concentrations in the critically ill, a concept termed augmented renal clearance (ARC). We aimed to determine the prevalence of ARC in a cohort of septic and traumatized critically ill patients, while also examining demographic, physiological and illness severity characteristics that may help identify this phenomenon.

Methods

This prospective observational study was performed in a 30-bed tertiary level, university affiliated, adult intensive care unit. Consecutive traumatized and septic critically ill patients, receiving antibacterial therapy, with a plasma creatinine concentration ≤110 μmol/L, were eligible for enrolment. Pulse contour analysis (Vigileo / Flo Trac® system, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA), was used to provide continuous cardiac index (CI) assessment over a single six-hour dosing interval. Urinary CLCR measures were obtained concurrently.

Results

Seventy-one patients contributed data (sepsis n = 43, multi-trauma n = 28). Overall, 57.7% of the cohort manifested ARC, although there was a greater prevalence in trauma (85.7% versus 39.5%, P <0.001). In all patients, a weak correlation was noted between CI and CLCR (r = 0.346, P = 0.003). This was mostly driven by septic patients (r = 0.508, P = 0.001), as no correlation (r = -0.012, P = 0.951) was identified in trauma. Those manifesting ARC were younger (P<0.001), male (P = 0.012), with lower acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II (P= 0.008) and modified sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores (P = 0.013), and higher cardiac indices (P = 0.013). In multivariate analysis, age ≤50 years, trauma, and a modified SOFA score ≤4, were identified as significant risk factors. These had greater utility in predicting ARC, compared with CI assessment alone.

Conclusions

Diagnosis, illness severity and age, are likely to significantly influence renal drug elimination in the critically ill, and must be regularly considered in future study design and daily prescribing practice.

See related commentary by De Waele and Carlier, http://ccforum.com/content/17/2/130
Feasibility of absolute cerebral tissue oxygen saturation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Authors: Meex Ingrid , De Deyne Cathy , Dens Jo , Scheyltjens Simon , Lathouwers Kevin , Boer Willem , Vundelinckx Guy , Heylen René , Jans Frank
Published: March 2013

Introduction

Current monitoring during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is limited to clinical observation of consciousness, breathing pattern and presence of a pulse. At the same time, the adequacy of cerebral oxygenation during CPR is critical for neurological outcome and thus survival. Cerebral oximetry, based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), provides a measure of brain oxygen saturation. Therefore, we examined the feasibility of using NIRS during CPR.

Methods

Recent technologies (FORE-SIGHT™ and EQUANOX™) enable the monitoring of absolute cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (SctO2) values without the need for pre-calibration. We tested both FORE-SIGHT™ (five patients) and EQUANOX Advance™ (nine patients) technologies in the in-hospital as well as the out-of-hospital CPR setting. In this observational study, values were not utilized in any treatment protocol or therapeutic decision. An independent t-test was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Our data demonstrate the feasibility of both technologies to measure cerebral oxygen saturation during CPR. With the continuous, pulseless near-infrared wave analysis of both FORE-SIGHT™ and EQUANOX™ technology, we obtained SctO2 values in the absence of spontaneous circulation. Both technologies were able to assess the efficacy of CPR efforts: improved resuscitation efforts (improved quality of chest compressions with switch of caregivers) resulted in higher SctO2 values. Until now, the ability of CPR to provide adequate tissue oxygenation was difficult to quantify or to assess clinically due to a lack of specific technology. With both technologies, any change in hemodynamics (for example, ventricular fibrillation) results in a reciprocal change in SctO2. In some patients, a sudden drop in SctO2 was the first warning sign of reoccurring ventricular fibrillation.

Conclusions

Both the FORE-SIGHT™ and EQUANOX™ technology allow non-invasive monitoring of the cerebral oxygen saturation during CPR. Moreover, changes in SctO2 values might be used to monitor the efficacy of CPR efforts.
Early intervention for psychosis in low- and middle-income countries needs a public health approach
Authors: Farooq Saeed
Published: March 2013

Early intervention in psychosis has significantly improved outcomes compared with standard treatment but it is considered as a luxury for low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries. However, a public health approach that is based on the principles of supplying all essential medication free of charge for at least the first 2 years of illness, medication being taken under supervision of a caregiver and treatment following a standardised treatment algorithm can prove a cost-effective early intervention model for LAMI countries.
Place of safety orders in England: changes in use and outcome, 1984/5 to 2010/11
Authors: Keown Patrick
Published: March 2013

Aims and method

To detail changes in the use of place of safety orders in England, including the outcome of these detentions, using publicly available data.

Results

There was a sixfold increase in the rate of the Mental Health Act Section 136 detentions to places of safety in hospitals between 1984 and 2011. The use of Section 135 and the rate of subsequent detention under Section 2 or 3 also increased, but the proportion of people detained fell as the absolute rate of detention increased. There was a wide variation between regions in the use of hospitals or police stations as places of safety. The change in the annual rate of detention under Section 136 was associated with the annual change in the population of England.

Clinical implications

The increase in detentions to places of safety in hospitals may in part reflect their move from police cells. It may also reflect a real increase in overall rate of detention and possibly a change in the threshold for the use of Section 136 detentions.
Strindberg's Vampiric Narrators
Authors: Balkin Sarah
Published: March 2013

August Strindberg once claimed that his novels and stories were “plays in epic form.” But Strindberg's fluid formulation of genre and medium is complicated and enriched by his understanding of narration and authorship as vampiric. In the novel The Red Room (1879) and the play The Dance of Death (1900), Strindberg attributes vampiric qualities of authorship to characters that function as narrators. Strindberg's vampires sustain themselves with language rather than blood, and the forms they use to drain their victims are inextricable from the epic narration Strindberg explicitly adapts and develops in his dramaturgy. By assigning formally generative movement across genres to vampire characters that perform the functions of narrators, Strindberg depicts dramatic character as a parasitic performance—and a locus of formal change in modern drama.
On the global estimates of geostrophic and Ekman surface currents
Authors: Sudre Joël , Maes Christophe , Garçon Véronique
Published: March 2013

Lay Abstract

A fundamental goal of physical oceanography is to provide a primary description of global ocean circulation. Historically, ocean surface currents were inferred from ship drift measurements, mainly in relation with navigational requirements. Ocean circulation was shown to play an important role in the last decades for studying the transport of heat, freshwater, momentum, and biogeochemical substances and is crucial to climate variability at both regional and global scales. It is particularly well known that, thanks to the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current, Europe has a relatively mild climate considering its latitude. Measuring the ocean currents with great accuracy is instrumental for studying the movement of any material in the sea, from marine algae to turtles, and from plastic debris to oil spills. The advent of remote sensing has allowed surface currents to be estimated accurately using wind and sea‐level data observed from space. Our GEKCO (Geostrophic and Ekman Current Observatory) estimates of currents cover the global ocean from the Arctic Ocean (82°N) to the Antarctic continent (82°S) at a horizontal resolution of a quarter of a degree (~28 km). Estimates are available on a daily basis over the 2000–2008 period and have been fully validated with several independent data sets. Among the full range of cross‐disciplinary applications requiring the knowledge of oceanic currents, two examples focusing on plankton dynamics resulting from an iron fertilization experiment and the mechanical action of currents on the displacement of marine animals are discussed.
From the Editors: Probability Approximations, Anti-Terrorism Strategy, and Bull's-Eye Display for Performance Feedback
Authors: Sarin Rakesh K. , Keller L. Robin
Published: March 2013

This “From the Editors” column is coauthored by new Editor-in-Chief Rakesh K. Sarin and former Editor-in-Chief L. Robin Keller. Our first two articles are on techniques for approximating probability distributions. The first article, by Robert K. Hammond and J. Eric Bickel is on “Reexamining Discrete Approximations to Continuous Distributions.” Next, Luis V. Montiel and J. Eric Bickel present a method for “Approximating Joint Probability Distributions Given Partial Information.” The next two articles present methods for analyzing terrorist threats or measures for terrorist protection. Kevin Ni, Daniel Faissol, Thomas Edmunds, and Richard Wheeler present a new method for “Exploitation of Ambiguous Cues to Infer Terrorist Activity.” The next article is on “Passenger Profiling and Screening for Aviation Security in the Presence of Strategic Attackers” by Huseyin Cavusoglu, Young Kwark, Bin Mai, and Srinivasan Raghunathan. Our final paper is on “WholeSoldier Performance Appraisal to Support Mentoring and Personnel Decisions,” by Robert A. Dees, Scott T. Nestler, and Robert Kewley.
Getting Closer at the Company Party: Integration Experiences, Racial Dissimilarity, and Workplace Relationships
Authors: Dumas Tracy L. , Phillips Katherine W. , Rothbard Nancy P.
Published: March 2013

Using survey data from two distinct samples, we found that reported integration behaviors (e.g., attending company parties, discussing nonwork matters with colleagues) were associated with closer relationships among coworkers but that this effect was qualified by an interaction effect. Racial dissimilarity moderated the relationship between integration and closeness such that integration was positively associated with relationship closeness for those who were demographically similar to their coworkers, but not for those who were demographically dissimilar from their coworkers. Additionally, this moderation effect was mediated by the extent to which respondents experienced comfort and enjoyment when integrating. These findings highlight the importance of creating the right kind of interactions for building closer relationships between employees, particularly relationships that span racial boundaries.
Why Do Racial Slurs Remain Prevalent in the Workplace? Integrating Theory on Intergroup Behavior
Authors: Rosette Ashleigh Shelby , Carton Andrew M. , Bowes-Sperry Lynn , Hewlin Patricia Faison
Published: March 2013

Racial slurs are prevalent in organizations; however, the social context in which racial slurs are exchanged remains poorly understood. To address this limitation, we integrate three intergroup theories (social dominance, gendered prejudice, and social identity) and complement the traditional emphasis on aggressors and targets with an emphasis on observers. In three studies, we test two primary expectations: (1) when racial slurs are exchanged, whites will act in a manner more consistent with social dominance than blacks; and (2) this difference will be greater for white and black men than for white and black women. In a survey (n = 471), we show that whites are less likely to be targets of racial slurs and are more likely to target blacks than blacks are to target them. We also show that the difference between white and black men is greater than the difference between white and black women. In an archival study that spans five years (n = 2,480), we found that white men are more likely to observe racial slurs than are black men, and that the difference between white and black men is greater than the difference between white and black women. In a behavioral study (n = 133), analyses showed that whites who observe racial slurs are more likely to remain silent than blacks who observe slurs. We also find that social dominance orientation (SDO) predicts observer silence and that racial identification enhances the effect of race on SDO for men, but not for women. Further, mediated moderation analyses show that SDO mediates the effect of the interaction between race, gender, and racial identification on observer silence.
Typical simplicially convex bodies
Authors: Zamfirescu Tudor
Published: March 2013

In this note we describe some geometrical properties that simplicially convex bodies typically enjoy. It is shown, for example, that they are nowhere dense and of measure zero. Moreover, they look at least half-dense from any of their points.
Crys tal struc ture of catena[(μ3-2-pyridin-4-yl-1H-imidazole-4,5- dicarboxylate)-aqua-manganese(II)dihydrate], C10H11MnN3O7
Authors: Wu Wei , Qin Yan , Liang Peng , Yin Xian-Hong , Huang Pu-Hui
Published: March 2013

C10H11MnN3O7, orthorhombic, Pna21 (no. 33), a = 7.861(6) A, b = 10.337(8) A, c = 15.92(1) A, V = 1293.5 A3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0481, wRref(F2) = 0.1313, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of 2,3-bis(2,4-dimethylthiazole-3-yl)thiophene, C14H14N2S3
Authors: Li Xiaochuan , Li Yajuan , Zhang Junna , Son Young-A , Shimada Yuta , Matsumoto Shinya
Published: March 2013

C14H14N2S3, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 9.3075(2) Å, b = 15.0363(4) Å, c = 11.0037(3) Å, β = 99.313(1)°, V = 1519.7 Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0306, wRref(F2) = 0.0721, T = 296 K
International Perspectives
Authors: Bester Mary Estelle , Lovering Sandra , Arafat Layla
Published: March 2013

The birthing experience is a universal experience but strongly influenced by the culture of the patient, health care providers, and institution. Arab Muslim patients’ spiritual and cultural values are intertwined and affect their lives, including pregnancy, labor, and neonatal care.

A review of the literature and practices within a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia describes the values of the Arab Muslim patient. The spiritual values based on Islam necessitate an understanding of practices such as using zam-zam water, praying, reading of the Qu’ran, and specific religious practices around the neonate including Adhan. Cultural practices specific to the perinatal period that need acknowledgment include the use of special phrases such as Ma’shalah, Bismi’ allah before caring for patients as protection against beliefs such as the Evil Eye.
In-Situ Tem-Investigations of Electromigration Induced Mass Transport in “Near-Bamboo” Al-Interconnects
Authors: Heinen Dirk , Schroeder Herbert , Schilling Werner
Published: March 2013

Electromigration(EM)-driven mass transport in “near-bamboo” Al-lines, which consist mostly of “blocking grains” is an important topic of research on ULSI-metallizations. Because the most easy diffusion path, i.e. grain boundaries parallel to the line, is suppressed in bamboo-like Al-lines other paths have to be considered. In this work two other possible paths of diffusion were examined by in-situ observations in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). For these experiments a special sample holder had to be constructed.

One path is EM-driven intragranular diffusion in Al-lines. In this experiment, inert gas-filled voids with a mean diameter of about lOnm, so-called bubbles, which were created after gas implantation and annealing of the Al-lines, serve as indicators of mass (or vacancy) transport. The in-situ EM-tests reveal no intragranular void motion over a period of more than 100h at current densities of l-1.75MA/cm2 and temperatures of 150–225°C. This leads to an estimation of the maximum void diffusion velocity which was compared with calculated values of surface and volume diffusion controlled void motion, respectively. The second point of interest was the behavior of dislocations in Al-lines under an applied EM-force. The importance of their observed motion for intragranular mass transport will be discussed.
Thermal Evolution of Extrinsic Defects in Ion Implanted Silicon: Current Understanding and Modelling
Authors: Cristiano Fuccio , Colombeau Benjamin , Mauduit Bernadette de , Bonafos Caroline , Benassayag Gerard , Claverie Alain
Published: March 2013

We present an extensive study of the thermal evolution of the extended defects found in ion implanted Si as a function of annealing conditions. We will first review their structure and energetics and show that the defect kinetics can be described by an Ostwald ripening process whereby the defects exchange Si atoms and evolve in size and type to minimise their formation energy. Finally, we will present a physically based model to predict the evolution of extrinsic defects during annealing through the calculation of defect densities, size distributions, number of clustered interstitials and free-interstitial supersaturation. We will show some successful applications of our model to a variety of experimental conditions and give an example of its predictive capabilities at ultra low implantation energies.