bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of adult and pediatric atopic dermatitis: Review on safety and benefits
Authors: Ohtsuki Mamitaro , Morimoto Hiroshi , Nakagawa Hidemi
Published: June 2018

Atopic dermatitis (AD) requires long‐term management, mainly with topical anti‐inflammatory agents. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) and tacrolimus ointment (TAC‐O) are recommended as first‐line treatments for AD. However, the long‐term use of TCS is limited by cutaneous adverse events such as skin atrophy. For TAC‐O, Japanese and US labelings were updated in 2003 and 2006, respectively, to include a boxed warning about a theoretical risk of skin cancer and lymphoma in patients treated with topical calcineurin inhibitors. However, TAC‐O has been used worldwide for longer than 15 years to treat adult and pediatric patients with AD. Available data suggest that TAC‐O is effective and well tolerated, and can improve quality of life. TAC‐O has successfully been used in the proactive management of AD consisting of long‐term intermittent use to prevent, delay or reduce the occurrence of AD flares. Systemic drug absorption after TAC‐O application is negligible and unlikely to result in systemic immunosuppression. There is currently no strong evidence of an increased rate of malignancy in treated patients, and observational data from postmarketing surveillance studies have shown no safety concerns. In the absence of robust evidence, the warning about the carcinogenic potential in the Japanese labeling for TAC‐O does not appear justified and should be reconsidered. This mitigation of description would allow adult and pediatric patients with AD to receive the effective treatment more appropriately.
The efficacy of ultrasound in the follow up after a negative sentinel lymph node in women with vulvar cancer: a prospective single‐centre study
Authors: Pouwer AW , Mus RDM , IntHout J , van der Zee AGJ , Bulten J , Massuger LFAG , de Hullu JA
Published: June 2018

Objective

To determine the efficacy of the addition of an ultrasound of the groins in routine follow up of women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after a negative sentinel lymph node (SLN).

Design

Prospective single‐centre study.

Setting

A tertiary expert oncology centre for the treatment of vulvar cancer.

Population

All women with vulvar SCC with a negative SLN, treated between 2006 and 2014.

Methods

We prospectively collected data of 139 women with vulvar SCC treated with an SLN procedure. We analysed data of 76 patients with a negative SLN. Three‐monthly follow‐up visits consisted of physical examination combined with an ultrasound of the groins by a radiologist.

Main outcome measures

The diagnostic value of ultrasound in the follow up of women with vulvar SCC with a negative SLN during the first 2 years after treatment.

Results

During a routine visit, two asymptomatic isolated groin recurrences were detected. Both patients were treated by inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy and are alive without evidence of disease 39 and 120 months after diagnosis. In total, 348 ultrasounds and 29 fine‐needle aspiration were performed. The sensitivity of ultrasound to detect a groin metastasis was 100% (95% CI 16–100%), and specificity was 92% (95% CI 89–95%).

Conclusions

Routine follow up including ultrasound of the groin led to early detection of asymptomatic isolated groin recurrences. Further research is necessary to determine the exact role of ultrasound in the follow up of patients with vulvar SCC with a negative SLN.

Tweetable abstract

Routine follow up including ultrasound of the groin led to early detection of asymptomatic isolated groin recurrences.
Student‐Generated Pre‐Exam Questions is an Effective Tool for Participatory Learning: A Case Study from Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens Course
Authors: Teplitski Max , Irani Tracy , Krediet Cory J. , Di Cesare Mariachiara , Marvasi Massimiliano
Published: June 2018

This multiyear study helps elucidate how the instructional practice of student‐generated questions support learning in a blended classroom in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. Students designed multiple‐choice pre‐exam questions aimed at higher levels of learning, according to Bloom's taxonomy. Student‐generated questions were edited by the instructor and then discussed by the students in the classroom and in an online forum. We tested the hypothesis that this intervention improves student learning, measured as student achievement on the exam following the intervention, and compared to student achievement on the traditional exam (prior to which a review session focused on instructor‐led recitation of the key concepts). Following the intervention in all years, average grade on the post‐intervention exam increased by 7.44%. It is important to point out that not all students benefited equally from this activity. Students who were in the 4th quintile (60% to 80%) based on the results of the 1st exam demonstrated the highest achievement improving their performance on average by 12.37% percentage points (measured as a score on the 2nd exam). Gains were not observed in the semesters when the intervention was not implemented. In this study we provided students detailed instructions on how to design questions that focus on testing higher levels of learning.
Effects of Lowering Dialysate Calcium Concentration on Bone Metabolic Markers in Hemodialysis Patients With Suppressed Serum Parathyroid Hormone: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Niwa Hiroki , Fukasawa Hirotaka , Ishibuchi Kento , Kaneko Mai , Yasuda Hideo , Furuya Ryuichi
Published: June 2018

Although the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend a dialysate calcium concentration between 2.5 and 3.0 mEq/L, its optimal concentration remains unclear. A total of 53 hemodialysis patients with intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels <150 pg/mL were enrolled in this prospective observational study. A dialysate calcium concentration was converted from 3.0 to 2.75 mEq/L and bone metabolic markers including bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐5b (TRACP‐5b) were examined. After 3 months, serum corrected calcium levels decreased (P < 0.001), while serum intact PTH, BAP and TRACP‐5b levels increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Multiple regression analyses showed that the amount of change in BAP was significantly associated with dialysis vintage (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the lowering of dialysate calcium concentration stimulated parathyroid gland and bone remodeling in hemodialysis patients with suppressed PTH, particularly with longer dialysis vintage.
Short‐term postoperative complications and prognostic factors in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhang WeiJian , Peng DeFeng , Zhu JinHai
Published: June 2018

Background

The study was conducted to investigate the short‐term complications and prognostic factors in patients with esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJA).

Methods

This retrospective study included 110 EGJA patients who underwent surgery from January 2010 to November 2012 at The First Affiliated Hospital of BengBu Medical College. The overall survival and short‐term complications were analyzed according to the patients’ clinical characteristics.

Results

The incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications was significantly higher in patients with preoperative cardiopulmonary disease or elderly patients (P < 0.05). Four cases of upper margin cancer residue were detected using the abdominal approach and three using the thoracic approach, which indicated that the cancer residue margin was related to surgical approach. The overall five‐year survival rate was 34.3% and statistically differed according to pathological stage and en block resection (Pall < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05) and the extent of tumor invasion (P < 0.05) were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

Elderly patients with preoperative cardiopulmonary disease had an increased risk of developing postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Lymph node status and depth of tumor invasion were independent factors related to patient prognosis.
Efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Peiliang , Yan Wanpu , Fu Hao , Lin Yao , Chen Ke‐Neng
Published: June 2018

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the predominant type of esophageal cancer and most clinically curable patients are diagnosed with locally advanced disease. While the efficacy of preoperative treatment is relatively clear and well characterized, the effect of postoperative treatment, especially postoperative chemotherapy, remains controversial, and its role in the treatment strategy is obscure. We conducted an updated meta‐analysis to include recent developments.

Methods

A comprehensive search in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed to identify studies published from the inception of each database to February 2018. The overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates of patients treated with and without postoperative chemotherapy were analyzed and compared. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the associations between postoperative chemotherapy and patient survival. Potential publication bias was assessed using Egger's line regression test.

Results

A total of nine studies, including three randomized controlled trials and six retrospective studies, were retrieved from the databases, comprising a total of 1684 cases. The results showed that postoperative chemotherapy could improve OS (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.91; P = 0.002) and DFS (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.6–0.86; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The current meta‐analysis supports postoperative chemotherapy as an independent favorable prognostic factor for ESCC, which could improve both OS and DFS.
Utility of the laryngeal handshake method for identifying the cricothyroid membrane
Authors: Oh H. , Yoon S. , Seo M. , Oh E. , Yoon H. , Lee H. , Lee J. , Ryu H. G.
Published: June 2018

Background

The cricothyroid membrane is the most commonly accessed location for invasive surgical airway. Although the laryngeal handshake method is recommended for identifying the cricothyroid membrane, there is no clinical data regarding the utility of the laryngeal handshake method in cricothyroid membrane identification. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of cricothyroid membrane identification between the laryngeal handshake method and simple palpation.

Methods

After anaesthesia induction, the otorhinolaryngology resident and anaesthesia resident identified and marked the needle insertion point for cricothyroidotomy using simple palpation and the laryngeal handshake method, respectively. The cricothyroid membrane was confirmed with ultrasonography. Identification was determined successful if the marked point was placed within the longitudinal area of the cricothyroid membrane and within 5 mm from midline transversely. The accuracy of cricothyroid membrane identification using the laryngeal handshake method and simple palpation was compared.

Results

A total of 123 patients were enrolled. The cricothyroid membrane was correctly identified in 87 (70.7%, 95% confidence interval 61.8‐78.6%) patients using the laryngeal handshake method compared to 78 (63.4%, 95% confidence interval 54.3‐71.9%) patients using simple palpation (P = .188). The time required to identify the cricothyroid membrane was longer when using the laryngeal handshake method (15 [3‐48] seconds vs 10.9 [3‐55] seconds, P = .003).

Conclusion

The success rate of identifying the cricothyroid membrane was similar among the anesthesiologists who performed the laryngeal handshake method and also among otorhinolaryngologists who used simple palpation.
Intensive care doctors’ preferences for arterial oxygen tension levels in mechanically ventilated patients
Authors: Schjørring O. L. , Toft‐Petersen A. P. , Kusk K. H. , Mouncey P. , Sørensen E. E. , Berezowicz P. , Bestle M. H. , Bülow H.‐H. , Bundgaard H. , Christensen S. , Iversen S. A. , Kirkeby‐Garstad I. , Krarup K. B. , Kruse M. , Laake J. H. , Liboriussen L. , Læbel R. L. , Okkonen M. , Poulsen L. M. , Russell L. , Sjövall F. , Sunde K. , Søreide E. , Waldau T. , Walli A. R. , Perner A. , Wetterslev J. , Rasmussen B. S.
Published: June 2018

Background

Oxygen is liberally administered in intensive care units (ICUs). Nevertheless, ICU doctors’ preferences for supplementing oxygen are inadequately described. The aim was to identify ICU doctors’ preferences for arterial oxygenation levels in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients.

Methods

In April to August 2016, an online multiple‐choice 17‐part‐questionnaire was distributed to 1080 ICU doctors in seven Northern European countries. Repeated reminder e‐mails were sent. The study ended in October 2016.

Results

The response rate was 63%. When evaluating oxygenation 52% of respondents rated arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) the most important parameter; 24% a combination of PaO2 and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2); and 23% preferred SaO2. Increasing, decreasing or not changing a default fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.50 showed preferences for a PaO2 around 8 kPa in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a PaO2 around 10 kPa in patients with healthy lungs, acute respiratory distress syndrome or sepsis, and a PaO2 around 12 kPa in patients with cardiac or cerebral ischaemia. Eighty per cent would accept a PaO2 of 8 kPa or lower and 77% would accept a PaO2 of 12 kPa or higher in a clinical trial of oxygenation targets.

Conclusion

Intensive care unit doctors preferred PaO2 to SaO2 in monitoring oxygen treatment when peripheral oxygen saturation was not included in the question. The identification of PaO2 as the preferred target and the thorough clarification of preferences are important when ascertaining optimal oxygenation targets. In particular when designing future clinical trials of higher vs lower oxygenation targets in ICU patients.
Examining the Sexual Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption Among Black Gay and Bisexual Men
Authors: Allen Vincent C. , Ray Lara A. , Myers Hector F.
Published: June 2018

Background

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV infection. Efforts are needed to understand correlates of HIV risk among this group. Alcohol consumption may have a role in HIV transmission given its association with condomless sex. This study aimed to examine the association between alcohol consumption (i.e., drinking before/during sex and levels of alcohol use problems) and condom use during lifetime, past 6 months, and the event (i.e., a specific sexual episode) level.

Methods

Black MSM (N = 102) reported sexual behavior and condom use for lifetime, past 6 months, and the most recent condom and condomless sex events. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) determined alcohol use problems.

Results

Ordinal and binary regression analyses analyzed associations between AUDIT scores and condomless sex (receptive and insertive). AUDIT scores were associated with a greater likelihood of condomless sex (lifetime receptive sex: OR = 1.06, p < 0.05; past 6 months insertive sex: odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, p < 0.01). At the event level, there was no greater likelihood of drinking during last condomless sex as compared to last condom sex, χ2(1) = 0.18, p = 0.39.

Conclusions

There was evidence that an increase in alcohol use problems was associated with a greater likelihood of risky sexual behavior. Drinking before/during sex was not related to condom use. These findings contribute to understanding the nuanced relationship between alcohol use and sexual risk.
Mini‐review: Update on the genetics of schizophrenia
Authors: Coelewij Leda , Curtis David
Published: June 2018

A number of important findings have recently emerged relevant to identifying genetic risk factors for schizophrenia. Findings using common variants point towards gene sets of interest and also demonstrate an overlap with other psychiatric and nonpsychiatric disorders. Imputation of variants of the gene for complement component 4 (C4) from GWAS data has shown that the predicted expression of the C4A product is associated with schizophrenia risk. Very rare variants disrupting SETD1A, RBM12 or NRXN1 have a large effect on risk. Other rare, damaging variants are enriched in genes that are loss of function intolerant and/or whose products localise to the synapse. These and particular copy number variants can result in increased risk of schizophrenia but also of other neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings for C4 and NRXN1 may be especially helpful for elucidating the biological mechanisms that can lead to disease.
The provision of alcohol and breastfeeding information by maternal health practitioners in the Australian setting
Authors: Giglia Roslyn Carmel , Symons Martyn , Shaw Thérèse
Published: June 2018

Background

In the 2009 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking, a guideline specific to lactating women was included. For the first time the effect of alcohol at this important developmental stage was nationally and internationally acknowledged.

Aims

To determine the degree to which maternal health practitioners adopted an Australian national policy guideline (Guideline 4B) on alcohol and breastfeeding into their everyday health practice and the factors associated with adoption.

Materials and Methods

A convenience sample of participants completed an online survey based on the Nursing Practice Questionnaire (NPQ) to elicit measures of knowledge, awareness and practice implementation.

Results

In total, 240 maternal health practitioners completed the online survey. All statistical analyses clearly indicated a higher adoption of Guideline 4B by the child health nurses, midwives and general practitioners (GPs) than was the case for paediatricians and obstetricians. A mean adoption score (range 0–4) indicative of ‘some’ practice implementation of 3.13, 3.04 and 2.73 was obtained by child health nurses, midwives and GPs, respectively. Obstetricians and paediatricians scored a mean of 2.0, indicating they remain to be ‘persuaded about the practice’ of incorporating discussions around alcohol and breastfeeding into their practice.

Conclusion

Despite the existence of a national alcohol guideline for breastfeeding women, maternal health practitioners are not incorporating this advice into their everyday practice with lactating women. Opportunities exist for all maternal practitioners along the reproductive continuum to protect long‐term breastfeeding duration using an evidence‐based harm minimisation approach to alcohol consumption.
Significance of pSmad2/3 and Smad4 in hepatitis C virus‐related liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Moussa Mona Mohammed , Helal Noha Said , Youssef Mohieldin Magdy
Published: June 2018

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a major public health problem, especially in Egypt. Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development increases as hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐related liver diseases progress. Smads act as substrates for the transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) family of receptors. This study aims to assess hepatic expression of pSmad2/3 and Smad4 in CHC with different stages of fibrosis and grades of necro‐inflammation as well as in HCC on top of CHC. This study was done on 33 core liver biopsies from patients with CHC (15 with early fibrosis and 18 with late fibrosis), 15 liver specimens from HCC cases on top of CHC, as well as five normal controls. pSmad2/3 and Smad4 show more immunopositivity, higher percentage of positive hepatocytes and stronger staining intensity in CHC with late fibrosis compared to early fibrosis. pSmad2/3 shows increase of the previous parameters in CHC with high grade activity than those with low activity. Smad4 shows increase of the previous parameters in HCC compared to CHC cases. pSmad2/3 and Smad4 can be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for progression of HCV‐related fibrosis to cirrhosis and further progression to HCC.
High prevalence of a variety of autoantibodies in a population of hepatitis C virus‐infected individuals
Authors: Navarta Luz Marina , Espul Carlos Alberto , Acosta‐Rivero Nelson
Published: June 2018

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been related to self‐reactivity, extrahepatic manifestations and autoimmune diseases. The main goals of this work were to study the prevalence of autoantibodies and their relationship with viral titers and biochemical markers of hepatic damage in patients infected with HCV. Autoantibodies (ANA, AMA, SMA, APC, LKM, DNAds, ANCA, ATG and RF) were determined in 73 individuals with chronic HCV infection and 44 healthy volunteers. The presence of these antibodies was related to demographic variables, viral titers and biochemical parameters. A high prevalence of autoantibodies, particularly for RF, that was associated with female gender was observed in HCV‐infected patients. In addition, SMA, ANA and ATG showed increased frequencies in HCV infection. Interestingly, the concurrent detection of SMA and more than one autoantibody was associated with high gGT levels. Notably, concurrent higher gGT, HCV and SMA levels were observed in male patients as compared to their female counterparts. These results indicate a relationship between HCV infection and the concurrent detection of various autoantibodies in the absence of symptoms of autoimmune diseases. They also suggest a link among the presence of a variety of autoantibodies simultaneously with SMA, increased gGT levels and HCV titers in a population of male patients.
SATB2 is a supplementary immunohistochemical marker to CDX2 in the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma metastasis in an unknown primary
Authors: Dabir Parag Deepak , Svanholm Hans , Christiansen Jens Johannes
Published: June 2018

CDX2 is routinely used for identifying gastrointestinal origin of metastatic adenocarcinomas; but a high percentage of other carcinomas also show positivity with this antibody. SATB2 is a new immunohistochemical marker with a few studies showing that it is specifically expressed in a large majority of colorectal adenocarcinomas. We assessed SATB2 along with CDX2 in patient material with metastasis in order to determine whether the primary site could be identified as ‘colon‐rectum’. Metastasis in 67 liver biopsies, 108 lymph nodes from resection specimens and 36 serous effusions was analyzed retrospectively. Blinded slides stained for CDX2 and SATB2 were assessed individually by two pathologists and sensitivity, specificity and kappa statistics were calculated. Sensitivity for CDX2 in metastasis from colorectal adenocarcinomas was 93%; while in SATB2 it was 79%. The combination of CDX2 and SATB2 yielded a sensitivity of 79% and a high specificity of 93%. There was an acceptable level of agreement (κ = 0.64) between the pathologists for both the markers in case of colorectal adenocarcinoma metastasis. CDX2 is a sensitive marker compared to SATB2; while the specificity of combination of CDX2 and SATB2 is high for metastasis from colorectal adenocarcinoma. SATB2 can be used as a supplementary marker along with CDX2 to identify colorectal origin for material received from patients clinically presenting with metastasis.
The Hypothesis of Circulus Hypoxicus and Its Clinical Relevance in Patients With Methanol Poisoning – An Observational Study of 35 Patients
Authors: Drangsholt Elise , Vangstad Marie , Zakharov Sergey , Hovda Knut Erik , Jacobsen Dag
Published: June 2018

Methanol mass poisoning is a global problem with high fatality rates and often severe sequelae in survivors. Patients typically present late to the hospital with severe metabolic acidosis followed by a rapid deterioration in their clinical status. The hypothesis ‘Circulus hypoxicus’ describes the metabolic acidosis following methanol poisoning as a self‐enhancing hypoxic circle responsible for methanol toxicity. We wanted to test the validity of this hypothesis by an observational study based on 35 patients from the methanol outbreaks in Norway (2004) and the Czech Republic (2012). Comprehensive laboratory values, including S(serum)‐methanol, S‐formate, S‐lactate, arterial blood gases, anion and osmolal gaps, were used in the calculations. Laboratory values and calculated gaps were compared to each other using linear regression. S‐lactate and S‐formate correlated better with the increased base deficit and anion gap than did S‐formate alone. Base deficit rose to about 20 mmol/L and S‐formate rose to 12 mmol/L prior to a significant rise in S‐lactate – most likely caused by formate inhibition of mitochondrial respiration (type B lactacidosis). The further rise in S‐lactate was not linear to S‐formate most likely due to the self‐enhancing pathophysiology, but may also be associated with hypotension in critically ill patients and variable ethanol drinking habits. Our study suggests that the primary metabolic acidosis leads to a secondary lactic acidosis mainly due to the toxic effects of formate. The following decline in pH will further increase this toxicity. As such, a vicious and self‐enhancing acidotic circle may explain the pathophysiology in methanol poisoning, namely the ‘Circulus hypoxicus’.
Schizotypal personality traits and social cognition are associated with childhood trauma exposure
Authors: Quidé Yann , Cohen‐Woods Sarah , O'Reilly Nicole , Carr Vaughan J. , Elzinga Bernet M. , Green Melissa J.
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Childhood trauma is a common risk factor for adult psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar‐I disorder (BD). However, its association with schizotypal personality traits, as well as cognitive and social cognitive abilities, is less well studied in these populations.

Methods

In a cohort of 79 SZ cases, 84 BD cases, and 75 healthy controls (HCs), clinically significant levels of childhood trauma exposure (according to scores on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; CTQ) were evident in 54 SZ, 55 BD, and 26 HC individuals. Trauma‐exposed and non‐exposed groups were compared on schizotypal personality features (schizotypy) measured with the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Cognitive assessments included executive function, working memory, attention, and immediate and delayed memory. Social cognitive measures assessed facial emotion processing and theory‐of‐mind abilities.

Results

Trauma‐exposed participants showed higher levels of schizotypy, especially suspiciousness, relative to non‐exposed individuals, regardless of clinical or HC status. Furthermore, trauma‐exposed individuals showed deficits specifically in social cognitive, but not general cognitive abilities, regardless of clinical or HC status. These trauma‐related results were found in the context of higher schizotypy levels in both SZ and BD relative to HC, and lower cognitive and social cognitive performance in SZ, relative to BD and HC groups.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that childhood trauma exposure impacts long‐term schizotypy outcomes, especially paranoid ideation (suspiciousness), as well as complex social cognitive abilities in both healthy and psychotic populations. However, cognitive deficits associated with psychotic illness may not be distinguishable from those related to trauma exposure in previous studies.

Practitioner points

Findings

Childhood trauma exposure is associated with increased schizotypal features (in particular paranoid ideation) and complex social cognitive abilities, independently of the diagnosis of psychotic disorder.

Cognitive and social cognitive deficits were larger in schizophrenia compared to bipolar‐I cases and healthy controls, but increased schizotypal features were observed in both schizophrenia and bipolar‐I disorder relative to healthy controls.

Limitations

We were unable to distinguish the specific effects of particular childhood trauma exposures due to the high rate of exposure to more than one type of maltreatment.

Retrospective assessment of childhood trauma in adulthood cannot be externally validated, and associations with behavioural traits in later life may be confounded by other factors not studied here.
Intrasexually selected weapons
Authors: Rico‐Guevara Alejandro , Hurme Kristiina J.
Published: June 2018

We propose a practical concept that distinguishes the particular kind of weaponry that has evolved to be used in combat between individuals of the same species and sex, which we term intrasexually selected weapons (ISWs). We present a treatise of ISWs in nature, aiming to understand their distinction and evolution from other secondary sex traits, including from ‘sexually selected weapons’, and from sexually dimorphic and monomorphic weaponry. We focus on the subset of secondary sex traits that are the result of same‐sex combat, defined here as ISWs, provide not previously reported evolutionary patterns, and offer hypotheses to answer questions such as: why have only some species evolved weapons to fight for the opposite sex or breeding resources? We examined traits that seem to have evolved as ISWs in the entire animal phylogeny, restricting the classification of ISW to traits that are only present or enlarged in adults of one of the sexes, and are used as weapons during intrasexual fights. Because of the absence of behavioural data and, in many cases, lack of sexually discriminated series from juveniles to adults, we exclude the fossil record from this review. We merge morphological, ontogenetic, and behavioural information, and for the first time thoroughly review the tree of life to identify separate evolution of ISWs. We found that ISWs are only found in bilateral animals, appearing independently in nematodes, various groups of arthropods, and vertebrates. Our review sets a reference point to explore other taxa that we identify with potential ISWs for which behavioural or morphological studies are warranted. We establish that most ISWs come in pairs, are located in or near the head, are endo‐ or exoskeletal modifications, are overdeveloped structures compared with those found in females, are modified feeding structures and/or locomotor appendages, are most common in terrestrial taxa, are frequently used to guard females, territories, or both, and are also used in signalling displays to deter rivals and/or attract females. We also found that most taxa lack ISWs, that females of only a few species possess better‐developed weapons than males, that the cases of independent evolution of ISWs are not evenly distributed across the phylogeny, and that animals possessing the most developed ISWs have non‐hunting habits (e.g. herbivores) or are faunivores that prey on very small prey relative to their body size (e.g. insectivores). Bringing together perspectives from studies on a variety of taxa, we conceptualize that there are five ways in which a sexually dimorphic trait, apart from the primary sex traits, can be fixed: sexual selection, fecundity selection, parental role division, differential niche occupation between the sexes, and interference competition. We discuss these trends and the factors involved in the evolution of intrasexually selected weaponry in nature.
The key role of behaviour in animal camouflage
Authors: Stevens Martin , Ruxton Graeme D.
Published: June 2018

Animal camouflage represents one of the most important ways of preventing (or facilitating) predation. It attracted the attention of the earliest evolutionary biologists, and today remains a focus of investigation in areas ranging from evolutionary ecology, animal decision‐making, optimal strategies, visual psychology, computer science, to materials science. Most work focuses on the role of animal morphology per se, and its interactions with the background in affecting detection and recognition. However, the behaviour of organisms is likely to be crucial in affecting camouflage too, through background choice, body orientation and positioning; and strategies of camouflage that require movement. A wealth of potential mechanisms may affect such behaviours, from imprinting and self‐assessment to genetics, and operate at several levels (species, morph, and individual). Over many years there have been numerous studies investigating the role of behaviour in camouflage, but to date, no effort to synthesise these studies and ideas into a coherent framework. Here, we review key work on behaviour and camouflage, highlight the mechanisms involved and implications of behaviour, discuss the importance of this in a changing world, and offer suggestions for addressing the many important gaps in our understanding of this subject.
Role of diet and food intake in age‐related macular degeneration: a systematic review
Authors: Chapman Naoko A , Jacobs Robert J , Braakhuis Andrea J
Published: June 2018

A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate the role of diet and food intake in age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Eighteen high‐quality studies were identified. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet had decreased risk of AMD progression. An Oriental diet pattern had decreased association with AMD prevalence, whereas a Western diet pattern had increased association with AMD prevalence. High consumption of vegetables rich in carotenoids and fatty fish containing omega‐3 fatty acids was beneficial for those at risk of AMD. Vegetable oils and animal fats containing omega‐6 fatty acids, and red/processed meat should be consumed minimally to reduce the risk of AMD progression. High glycaemic index diets and alcohol consumption of greater than two drinks a day had increased association with AMD. As the quality of diet and food intake had a vital role in AMD, the provision of appropriate nutritional advice to those at risk of AMD is recommended.
Learning a Phonological Contrast Modulates the Auditory Grouping of Rhythm
Authors: Yeung H. Henny , Bhatara Anjali , Nazzi Thierry
Published: June 2018

Perceptual grouping is fundamental to many auditory processes. The Iambic–Trochaic Law (ITL) is a default grouping strategy, where rhythmic alternations of duration are perceived iambically (weak‐strong), while alternations of intensity are perceived trochaically (strong‐weak). Some argue that the ITL is experience dependent. For instance, French speakers follow the ITL, but not as consistently as German speakers. We hypothesized that learning about prosodic patterns, like word stress, modulates this rhythmic grouping. We tested this idea by training French adults on a German‐like stress contrast. Individuals who showed better phonological learning had more ITL‐like grouping, particularly over duration cues. In a non‐phonological condition, French adults were trained using identical stimuli, but they learned to attend to acoustic variation that was not linguistic. Here, no learning effects were observed. Results thus suggest that phonological learning can modulate low‐level auditory grouping phenomena, but it is constrained by the ability of individuals to learn from short‐term training.
Artificial neural networks for optimising camera‐based colour measurements of prints enhanced with pearlescent pigments
Authors: Tomić Ivana , Dedijer Sandra , Novaković Dragoljub , Jurič Ivana
Published: June 2018

Pearlescent pigments are widely used in printing due to their optical, chemical and physical properties. To analyse the effects of goniochromism they produce, the colorimetric characterisation of materials printed with pearlescent pigments requires multi‐angular measurements. In this study, the colours of prints enhanced with pearlescent pigments were measured by means of a digital camera, relying on the empirical camera characterisation method. Since this method is time‐consuming, it was altered to enable estimates of colorimetric values for different geometries to be measured on the basis of images captured at one viewing angle. This approach was based on the use of artificial neural networks which were shown to provide sufficient flexibility for the given task. The results indicate that the images obtained at the viewing angle of 45° aspecular (measuring geometry 45°/asp 45°) accurately estimate CIELab values for all of the tested measuring geometries. The proposed method is therefore not only time‐efficient but also reduces the associated errors due to the camera's movement, and enables the estimation of colorimetric values for those viewing angles inaccessible by camera.
Role of the oxidative stress index, myeloperoxidase, catalase activity for cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Kargin Ramazan , Emiroglu Mehmet Yunus , Evlice Mert , Celik Mehmet , Toprak Aybala Erek , Avci Anil , Ayturk Mehmet , Kulahcioglu Seyhmus , Bulut Mustafa , Caliskan Mustafa
Published: June 2018

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the role of oxidative stress index (OSI), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and catalase (CAT) activity in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in heart transplant recipients (HTRs).

Methods

The study enrolled a median age of 41 ± 9 years 47 recipients. The HTx patients were divided into two groups based on the presence CAV as follows: CAV(+) and CAV(−) group. Also, CAV(+) group were divided into two groups as mild/moderate to severe CAV. The OSI, MPO, and CAT activity were analyzed in both groups.

Results

The mean total antioxidant capacity (0.79 ± 0.46 vs 1.03 ± 0.33 μmol H2O2 equiv/L) P = .043 was significantly lower and OSI, MPO, CAT activity were significantly higher in CAV(+) group (63 ± 38 vs 20 ± 16 arbitrary unit, P = .001; 398 ± 242 vs 139  ± 112 μg/L, P = .001; 51 ± 42 vs 26 ± 23 pmol/mg protein, P = .013, respectively). Also, mean OSI (38 ± 41 vs 93 ± 75, P = .05) were significantly higher in severe CAV(+) group. Recipient age, male gender, and low density lipoprotein‐cholesterol were significantly higher in CAV(+)group. There was a moderate correlation between the CAV grade and OSI, MPO, and CAT levels in univariate analysis (r = .560, P = .002; r = .643, P = .007; r = .681, P = .001, respectively).

Conclusion

An increase in the serum level of OSI, MPO, and CAT was associated with CAV in HTRs.
LOBBYING FOR MINIMUM WAGES
Authors: Lesica Josip
Published: June 2018

Using a common agency lobbying framework, this paper illustrates how the minimum wage set reflects the interaction between economic and political factors and under what circumstances will the policymaker be induced, through lobbying, to change the minimum wage. Specifically, when the labor demand elasticity is large, lobbying is successful in inducing the policymaker to set the minimum wage in accordance with her political ideology. However, the paper also shows the conditions under which lobbying will reverse the ideological preference and induce a business‐friendly government to increase the minimum wage. Empirical analysis on a panel data for ten Canadian provinces gives considerable support for theoretical predictions. The real minimum wage decreases in skill‐adjusted union density and political ideology, while larger labor demand elasticity reinforces the influence of political ideology in the presence of lobbying. (JEL J38, D72, D78)
Three physical barriers with obvious effects on Carposina sasakii selection behavior to two dominant jujube tree volatiles
Authors: Men Lina , Zhang Zhiwei , Deng Angie , Ma Yan , Liu Xianqian , Ma Ruiyan , Han Youzhi
Published: June 2018

The peach fruit moth (PFM), Carposina sasakii Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae), a severe pest of Ziziphus jujuba Miller fruit trees (jujube, Rhamnaceae) mainly grown in China, has increasingly hindered the development of the jujube industry in recent years. In order to provide a theoretical basis for a physical obstruction method, we evaluated the effect of three commonly sold physical barriers on PFM host‐searching behavior. Two principal volatiles generated by the jujube tree, α‐farnesene and cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate (leaf acetate), were used as references to detect electroantennography (EAG) response values of 2‐, 4‐, and 6‐day‐old PFM adults. The results indicated different EAG responses toward α‐farnesene and leaf acetate between different ages of PFM, and males responded differently than females. The EAG responses were stronger in 4‐day‐old males to leaf acetate and in 2‐day‐old females to α‐farnesene. The two‐choice behavioral Y‐tube olfactometer assay confirmed that PFM was strongly attracted to α‐farnesene and leaf acetate. We determined the EAG and behavioral responses of PFM after spraying three kinds of physical barriers: Liquid Film Fruit Bag, High Lipid Film, and Jujube Protection No. 1. We obtained strong inhibitory effects on PFM attraction to both volatile lures using these barriers, including negative taxis by both females and males to Liquid Film Fruit Bag and Jujube Protection No. 1. We can infer that Liquid Film Fruit Bag is the most promising potential physical barrier for PFM control, with Jujube Protection No. 1 ranking as second‐best.
Blind Spots: Spatial analytics can identify nonrandom geographic variation in first episode psychosis program enrollments
Authors: Mathis Walter S. , Woods Scott , Srihari Vinod
Published: June 2018

Aim

To apply spatial analytics to an underway first episode psychosis program to identify areas of significant variation in the geographical distribution of program enrollees from an underlying at‐risk population.

Methods

Adaptive bandwidth kernel smoothing was used to estimate spatial density functions from program enrollee home addresses and a control population computed from US Census data. A relative risk surface derived from the ratio of these functions was used to discover under‐represented areas, or areas from which fewer enrollees where produced than suggested by the underlying population density at the P < .05 level of statistical significance. As a test application of this analysis, a comprehensive list of primary care providers in the program catchment was extracted from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System and spatially compared to the under‐represented areas.

Results

This approach identified under‐represented areas containing 27.5% of the total program catchment area and 16% of the control population, yet had yielded zero program participants. These under‐represented areas contained 179 primary care providers of the 2,337 in the total catchment area.

Conclusions

Findings of nonrandom spatial variation in program enrollment is valuable data for those evaluating the impact of and implementing improvements for recruitment to specialty clinics serving geographically‐defined catchments. Positive findings from this preliminary study warrant further development of the predictive model as well as measurement of the impact on enrollment from recruitment interventions driven by these findings.
Clinical high risk for psychosis: The effects of labelling on public stigma in a undergraduate population
Authors: Parrish Emma M. , Kim Nancy S. , Woodberry Kristen A. , Friedman‐Yakoobian Michelle
Published: June 2018

Aim

Schizophrenia is a highly stigmatized disorder. Identification of youth at high risk for psychosis has the potential for improved outcomes. However, identifying youth at risk could subject them to increased public stigma. Using an experimental vignette design, this study examined relative levels of public stigma elicited by the labels “schizophrenia,” “clinical high risk (CHR),” “attenuated psychotic symptoms syndrome (APSS),” a label implying normative adolescent development (“a bad breakup”), and a no‐label control condition.

Methods

Ninety‐six undergraduates (age: 18.8 + 1.1, range: 18‐22) read a vignette describing an adolescent experiencing symptoms typical of CHR for psychosis. The vignette label (APSS, CHR, schizophrenia, a bad breakup or no label) was counterbalanced between participants. Participants answered questions assessing stigma toward the individual and their prior knowledge of and familiarity with psychosis.

Results

Overall stigma did not differ across conditions. Only ratings of personal responsibility were higher for the breakup label than the schizophrenia label (P < .05). More prior knowledge about, and higher familiarity with, psychotic symptoms predicted lower overall stigma.

Conclusion

We did not find that schizophrenia, CHR or APSS labels elicited elevated stigma in this sample relative to the control labels. This may reflect relatively low levels of mental health stigma in the group studied, a new finding inconsistent with earlier work. Greater levels of knowledge about and familiarity with psychosis were associated with lower stigma. These findings reinforce the potential for mental health awareness campaigns to reduce stigma but also raise questions about factors contributing to lower rates of stigma.
Hereditary amyloidosis related to transthyretin V30M: disease progression in treated and untreated patients
Authors: Conceição I. , Miranda B. , Castro J. , de Carvalho M.
Published: June 2018

Background and purpose

Hereditary amyloidosis related to transthyretin V30M (hATTR V30M) is a progressive length‐dependent sensorimotor axonal neuropathy. We aimed to compare the disease progression of treated [liver transplantation (LT) or tafamidis] versus untreated patients with hATTR V30M.

Methods

A total of 81 patients with hATTR V30M were included: 27 untreated, 25 treated with LT and 29 undergoing tafamidis treatment. Neuropathy was assessed at baseline, 12, 24 and 36 months after study entry. We evaluated disease stage, modified polyneuropathy disability (mPND) score and a composite neurophysiological score comprised of sensory and motor conduction parameters. The effect of treatment on disease progression was analysed using linear mixed‐effects modelling.

Results

At baseline, patients from the untreated group were older (P < 0.01) and those in the LT group had longer disease duration than those in the tafamidis group (P < 0.05). Gender, mPND and motor scores at study entry were equal in the three groups; however, the untreated group had lower sensory scores compared with the tafamidis group (P < 0.01). During the 3‐year follow‐up period, progression to stage II of the disease was seen only in the untreated group. The progression on mPND, sensory and motor scores was significantly higher in the untreated patients. When treated groups were compared, the LT group had lower rates of composite neurophysiological score progression. However, the sensory score outcome was similar between tafamidis responders and LT patients.

Conclusion

Both LT and tafamidis therapy modified the natural history of hATTR V30M by reducing neuropathy progression.
Mild electrical stimulation with heat shock reduces inflammatory symptoms in the imiquimod‐induced psoriasis mouse model
Authors: Tsurekawa Yu , Morita Misaki , Suico Mary Ann , Moriuchi Masataka , Nakano Yoshio , Piruzyan Mariam , Takada Masafumi , Fukami Sanako , Shuto Tsuyoshi , Kai Hirofumi
Published: June 2018

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease caused by immune disorder. The chronic skin inflammation involves inflammatory molecules that are released from T lymphocytes and keratinocytes. Therefore, developing an anti‐inflammatory therapy that is suitable for long‐term treatment is needed. Electrical stimulation induces biological responses by modulating intracellular signaling pathways. Our previous studies showed that the optimized combination treatment of mild electrical stimulation (MES, 0.1‐millisecond; ms, 55‐pulses per second; pps) and heat shock (HS, 42°C) modulates inflammatory symptoms of metabolic disorders and chronic kidney disease in mice models and clinical trials. Here, we investigated the effect of MES+HS treatment on imiquimod‐induced psoriasis mouse model. Topical application of imiquimod cream (15 mg) to mice ear induced keratinocyte hyperproliferation and psoriasis‐like inflammation. In MES+HS‐treated mice, imiquimod‐induced skin hyperplasia was significantly decreased. MES+HS treatment reduced the protein expression of IL‐17A and the infiltration of CD3‐positive cells in lesioned skin. In addition, MES+HS‐treated mice had decreased mRNA expression level of antimicrobial molecules (S100A8 and Reg3γ) which aggravate psoriasis. In IL‐17A‐stimulated HaCaT cells, MES+HS treatment significantly lowered the mRNA expression of aggravation markers (S100A8, S100A9 and β‐defensin2). Taken together, our study suggested that MES+HS treatment improves the pathology of psoriasis via decreasing the expression of inflammatory molecules.