bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Polypharmacy and Cognitive and Physical Capability: A British Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Rawle Mark James , Cooper Rachel , Kuh Diana , Richards Marcus
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To investigate longitudinal associations between polypharmacy and cognitive and physical capability and to determine whether these associations differ with cumulative exposure to polypharmacy.

Design

Prospective birth cohort study.

Setting

England, Scotland, and Wales.

Participants

An eligible sample of men and women from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development with medication data at age 69 (N=2,122, 79%).

Measurements

Cognitive capability was assessed using a word learning test, visual search speed task, and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, Third Edition (ACE‐III). Physical capability was measured using chair rise speed, standing balance time, walking speed, and grip strength.

Results

Polypharmacy (5–8 prescribed medications) was present in 18.2% of participants at age 69 and excessive polypharmacy (≥9 prescribed medications) in 4.7%. Both were associated with poorer cognitive and physical capability in models adjusted for sex, education, and disease burden. Stronger associations were found for excessive polypharmacy (e.g., difference in mean ACE‐III scores comparing polypharmacy=−2.0, 95% CI=−2.8 to −1.1 and excessive polypharmacy=−2.9, 95% CI=−4.4 to −1.4 with no polypharmacy). Participants with polypharmacy at age 60 to 64 and at age 69 showed stronger Negative associations with cognitive and physical capability were stronger still in participants with polypharmacy at both age 60 to 64 and at age 69 (e.g. difference in mean chair rise speed, comparing polypharmacy with no polypharmacy at both ages=−3.9, 95% CI=−5.2 to −2.6 and at age 60–64 only=−2.5, 95% CI=−4.1 to −0.9).

Conclusion

Polypharmacy at age 60 to 64 and age 69 was associated with poorer physical and cognitive capability, even after adjusting for disease burden. Stronger negative associations were seen in participants with longstanding polypharmacy, suggesting a cumulative, dose‐dependent relationship (where dose is the number of prescribed medications). Future research aiming to improve cognitive and physical capability should consider interventions to reduce the duration and level of polypharmacy at younger ages, in addition to optimizing disease control with appropriate medications.
Influence of beverages and surface roughness on the color change of resin composites
Authors: Tavangar Maryam , Bagheri Rafat , Kwon Tae‐Yub , Mese Ayse , Manton David J.
Published: March 2018

Aim

The aim of the present study was to determine the degree of surface staining and roughness of resin composites (RC) after finishing and polishing with different methods and immersion in three soft drinks.

Methods

A microhybrid, a nanohybrid, and a hybrid composite were selected. The specimens were prepared and divided into three groups of 36 after 24 hours, and designated as either unpolished or polished using Sof‐Lex discs or Enhance point. Each group was further divided into three subgroups, immersed in distilled water, coffee, or cola for 1 week (N = 12). Color change (∆E) was measured by a spectrophotometer after each treatment. The ∆E was calculated using the following formula: ∆E = ([∆L]2+[∆a]2+[∆b]2)1/2. Surface roughness (Ra) was measured after 24 hours and 1 week. To observe the Ra, a scanning electron microscope was used.

Results

A moderate correlation between Ra and ∆E was determined. Only coffee caused perceptible ∆E. The effect of Ra on staining was statistically significant (P < .05), but immersion in solutions for 7 days did not increase the Ra of RC.

Conclusions

The highest Ra values were obtained from hybrid RC. The Enhance point created the greatest roughness. Coffee was associated with the greatest ∆E for all materials and polishing methods.
Ecosystem Services in Life Cycle Assessment while Encouraging Techno‐Ecological Synergies
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Bakshi Bhavik R.
Published: March 2018

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has enabled consideration of environmental impacts beyond the narrow boundary of traditional engineering methods. This reduces the chance of shifting impacts outside the system boundary. However, sustainability also requires that supporting ecosystems are not adversely affected and remain capable of providing goods and services for supporting human activities. Conventional LCA does not account for this role of nature, and its metrics are best for comparing alternatives. These relative metrics do not provide information about absolute environmental sustainability, which requires comparison between the demand and supply of ecosystem services (ES). Techno‐ecological synergy (TES) is a framework to account for ES, and has been demonstrated by application to systems such as buildings and manufacturing activities that have narrow system boundaries.

This article develops an approach for techno‐ecological synergy in life cycle assessment (TES‐LCA) by expanding the steps in conventional LCA to incorporate the demand and supply of ecosystem goods and services at multiple spatial scales. This enables calculation of absolute environmental sustainability metrics, and helps identify opportunities for improving a life cycle not just by reducing impacts, but also by restoring and protecting ecosystems. TES‐LCA of a biofuel life cycle demonstrates this approach by considering the ES of carbon sequestration, air quality regulation, and water provisioning. Results show that for the carbon sequestration ecosystem service, farming can be locally sustainable but unsustainable at the global or serviceshed scale. Air quality regulation is unsustainable at all scales, while water provisioning is sustainable at all scales for this study in the eastern part of the United States.
The Arabidopsis catalase triple mutant reveals important roles of catalases and peroxisome‐derived signaling in plant development
Authors: Su Tong , Wang Pingping , Li Huijuan , Zhao Yiwu , Lu Yao , Dai Peng , Ren Tianqi , Wang Xiaofeng , Li Xuezhi , Shao Qun , Zhao Dazhong , Zhao Yanxiu , Ma Changle
Published: March 2018

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is generated in many metabolic processes. As a signaling molecule, H2O2 plays important roles in plant growth and development, as well as environmental stress response. In Arabidopsis, there are three catalase genes, CAT1, CAT2, and CAT3. The encoded catalases are predominately peroxisomal proteins and are critical for scavenging H2O2. Since CAT1 and CAT3 are linked on chromosome 1, it has been almost impossible to generate cat1/3 and cat1/2/3 mutants by traditional genetic tools. In this study, we constructed cat1/3 double mutants and cat1/2/3 triple mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate the role of catalases. The cat1/2/3 triple mutants displayed severe redox disturbance and growth defects under physiological conditions compared with wild‐type and the cat2/3 double mutants. Transcriptome analysis showed a more profound transcriptional response in the cat1/2/3 triple mutants compared to the cat2/3 mutants. These differentially expressed genes are involved in plant growth regulation as well as abiotic and biotic stress responses. In addition, expression of OXI1 (OXIDATIVE SIGNAL INDUCIBLE 1) and several MAPK cascade genes were changed dramatically in the catalase triple mutant, suggesting that H2O2 produced in peroxisomes could serve as a peroxisomal retrograde signal.
Efficient allelic replacement in rice by gene editing: A case study of the NRT1.1B gene
Authors: Li Jingying , Zhang Xin , Sun Yongwei , Zhang Jiahui , Du Wenming , Guo Xiuping , Li Shaoya , Zhao Yunde , Xia Lanqin
Published: March 2018

Precise replacement of an existing allele in commercial cultivars with an elite allele is a major goal in crop breeding. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the NRT1.1B gene between japonica and indica rice is responsible for the improved nitrogen use efficiency in indica rice. Herein, we precisely replaced the japonica NRT1.1B allele with the indica allele, in just one generation, using CRISPR/Cas9 gene‐editing technology. No additional selective pressure was needed to enrich the precise replacement events. This work demonstrates the feasibility of replacing any genes with elite alleles within one generation, greatly expanding our ability to improve agriculturally important traits.
Two soybean bHLH factors regulate response to iron deficiency
Authors: Li Lin , Gao Wenwen , Peng Qi , Zhou Bin , Kong Qihui , Ying Yinghui , Shou Huixia
Published: March 2018

Iron is an indispensable micronutrient for plant growth and development. Limited bioavailability of Fe in the soil leads to iron deficiency chlorosis in plants and yield loss. In this study, two soybean basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factors, GmbHLH57 and GmbHLH300, were identified in response to Fe‐deficiency. Both transcription factors are expressed in roots and nodules, and are induced by Fe deficiency; these patterns were confirmed in transgenic hairy roots expressing constructs of the endogenous promoters fused to a GUS reporter gene. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation, yeast two‐hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation (co‐IP) assays indicated a physical interaction between GmbHLH57 and GmbHLH300. Studies on transgenic soybeans overexpressing GmbHLH57 and GmbHLH300 revealed that overexpression of each transcription factor, alone, results in no change of the responses to Fe deficiency, whereas overexpression of both transcription factors upregulated the downstream Fe uptake genes and increased the Fe content in these transgenic plants. Compared to wild type, these double overexpression transgenic plants were more tolerant to Fe deficiency. Taken together, our findings establish that GmbHLH57 and GmbHLH300 are important transcription factors involved in Fe homeostasis in soybean.
Multicentric cutaneous keratoacanthomas in a free‐living marmoset (Callithrix sp.)
Authors: Díaz‐Delgado J. , Sanches T.C. , Cirqueira C.S. , Coimbra A.A.C. , Guerra J.M. , Olivares V. , Di Loretto C. , Ressio R.A. , Iglezias S. , Fernandes N.C.C.A. , Kanamura C. , Groch K.R. , Catão‐Dias J.L.
Published: March 2018

Cutaneous neoplasia is common in non‐human primates. We describe the gross and microscopic features of multicentric cutaneous keratoacanthomas in a free‐living marmoset (Callithrix sp.). Immunohistochemistry for human papillomavirus and herpes simplex virus type I and simplex virus type II was negative. Keratoacanthomas should be included in the differential diagnosis for cutaneous masses in non‐human primates.
Phosphatidylcholine 36:1 concentration decreases along with demyelination in the cuprizone animal model and in post‐mortem multiple sclerosis brain tissue
Authors: Trépanier Marc‐Olivier , Hildebrand Kayla D. , Nyamoya Stella D. , Amor Sandra , Bazinet Richard P. , Kipp Markus
Published: March 2018

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating and inflammatory disease. Myelin is enriched in lipids, and more specifically, oleic acid. The goal of this study was to evaluate the concentration of oleic acid following demyelination and remyelination in the cuprizone model, test if these changes occurred in specific lipid species, and whether differences in the cuprizone model correlate with changes observed in post‐mortem human brains. Eight‐week‐old C57Bl/6 mice were fed a 0.2% cuprizone diet for 5 weeks and some animals allowed to recover for 11 days. Demyelination, inflammation, and lipid concentrations were measured in the corpus callosum. Standard fatty acid techniques and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry were performed to measure concentrations of fatty acids in total brain lipids and a panel of lipid species within the phosphatidylcholine (PC). Similar measurements were conducted in post‐mortem brain tissues of multiple sclerosis patients and were compared to healthy controls. Five weeks of cuprizone administration resulted in demyelination followed by significant remyelination after 11 days of recovery. Compared to control, oleic acid was decreased after 5 weeks of cuprizone treatment and increased during the recovery phase. This decrease in oleic acid was associated with a specific decrease in the PC 36:1 pool. Similar results were observed in human post‐mortem brains. Decreases in myelin content in the cuprizone model were accompanied by decreases in oleic acid concentration and is associated with PC 36:1 suggesting that specific lipids could be a potential biomarker for myelin degeneration. The biological relevance of oleic acid for disease progression remains to be verified.

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Mechanisms underlying lesion development and lesion distribution in CNS autoimmunity
Authors: Lindner Maren , Klotz Luisa , Wiendl Heinz
Published: March 2018

It is widely accepted that development of autoimmunity in the central nervous system (CNS) is triggered by autoreactive T cells, that are activated in the periphery and gain the capacity to migrate through endothelial cells at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) into the CNS. Upon local reactivation, an inflammatory cascade is initiated, that subsequently leads to a recruitment of additional immune cells ultimately causing demyelination and axonal damage. Even though the interaction of immune cells with the BBB has been in the focus of research for many years, the exact mechanisms of how immune cells enter and exit the CNS remains poorly understood. In this line, the factors deciding immune cell entry routes, lesion formation, cellular composition as well as distribution within the CNS have also not been elucidated. The following factors have been proposed to represent key determinants for lesion evaluation and distribution: (i) presence and density of (auto) antigens in the CNS, (ii) local immune milieu at sites of lesion development and resolution, (iii) trafficking routes and specific trafficking requirements, especially at the BBB and (iv) characteristics and phenotypes of CNS infiltrating cells and cell subsets (e.g. features of T helper subtypes or CD8 cells). The heterogeneity of lesion development within inflammatory demyelinating diseases remains poorly understood until today, but here especially orphan inflammatory CNS disorders such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), Rasmussen encephalitis or SUSAC syndrome might give important insights in critical determinants of lesion topography. Finally, investigating the interaction of T cells with the BBB using in vitro approaches or tracking of T cells in vivo in animals or even human patients, as well as the discovery of lymphatic vasculature in the CNS are teaching us new aspects during the development of CNS autoimmunity. In this review, we discuss recent findings which help to unravel mechanisms underlying lesion topography and might lead to new diagnostic or therapeutic approaches in neuroinflammatory disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS).

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Dynamic SAP102 expression in the hippocampal subregions of rats and APP/PS1 mice of various ages
Authors: Su Dongning , Liu Hui , Liu Tianrong , Zhang Xin , Yang Wei , Song Yizhi , Liu Jinping , Wu Yan , Chang Lirong
Published: March 2018

The hippocampus is a structurally and functionally complex brain area that plays important and diverse roles in higher brain functions, such as learning and memory, and mounting evidence indicates that different hippocampal subregions play distinctive roles. The hippocampus is also one of the first regions in the brain to suffer damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Synaptic dysfunction in the hippocampus, rather than neuronal loss per se, is paralleled by behavioural and functional deficits in AD. The membrane‐associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family of proteins, including SAP102, PSD‐95, PSD‐93 and SAP97, have long been recognized as essential components of the postsynaptic density (PSD) at excitatory synapses. Hippocampal spines are the predominant synaptic transmission sites of excitatory glutamatergic synapses. During postnatal brain development, individual MAGUK members show distinct expression patterns. Although SAP102 has been confirmed as the dominant scaffold protein in neonatal synapses, its expression profiles in adult and ageing rodent hippocampi are discrepant. Furthermore, in AD brains, significantly reduced SAP102 protein levels have been found, suggesting that SAP102 may be related to AD progression; however, the precise mechanism underlying this result remains unclear. Herein, we observed distinct SAP102 expression profiles in the hippocampal CA1, CA3 and DG subregions of rats and APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice at various ages using immunofluorescence. In Wistar rats, SAP102 was not only highly expressed in the hippocampal subregions of neonatal rats but also maintained relatively high expression levels in adult hippocampi and displayed no obvious decreases in the CA1 and DG subregions of aged rats. Surprisingly, we observed abnormally high SAP102 expression levels in the CA1 stratum moleculare and CA3 stratum polymorphum subregions of 2‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice, but low SAP102 levels in the DG and CA3 subregions of 7‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice, reflecting the subregion‐specific reactivity and vulnerability of AD mouse models in different disease stages. Our findings provide fundamental data to support the functional differences of SAP102 in different hippocampal subregions during postnatal periods and may serve as the basis for additional functional studies on SAP102 in normal physiological conditions and different stages of AD.
The tracheal system in post‐embryonic development of holometabolous insects: a case study using the mealworm beetle
Authors: Raś Marcin , Iwan Dariusz , Kamiński Marcin Jan
Published: March 2018

The tracheal (respiratory) system is regarded as one of the key elements which enabled insects to conquer terrestrial habitats and, as a result, achieve extreme species diversity. Despite this fact, anatomical data concerning this biological system is relatively scarce, especially in an ontogenetic context. The purpose of this study is to provide novel and reliable information on the post‐embryonic development of the tracheal system of holometabolous insects using micro‐computed tomography methods. Data concerning the structure of the respiratory system acquired from different developmental stages (larvae, pupae and adults) of a single insect species (Tenebrio molitor) are co‐analysed in detail. Anatomy of the tracheal system is presented. Sample sizes used (29 individuals) enabled statistical analysis of the results obtained. The following aspects have been investigated (among others): the spiracle arrangement, the number of tracheal ramifications originating from particular spiracles, the diameter of longitudinal trunks, tracheal system volumes, tracheae diameter distribution and fractal dimension analysis. Based on the data acquired, the modularity of the tracheal system is postulated. Using anatomical and functional factors, the following respiratory module types have been distinguished: cephalo‐prothoracic, metathoracic and abdominal. These modules can be unambiguously identified in all of the studied developmental stages. A cephalo‐prothoracic module aerates organs located in the head capsule, prothorax and additionally prolegs. It is characterised by relatively thick longitudinal trunks and originates in the first thoracic spiracle pair. Thoracic modules support the flight muscles, wings, elytra, meso‐ and metalegs. The unique feature of this module is the presence of additional longitudinal connections between the neighbouring spiracles. These modules are concentrated around the second prothoracic and the first abdominal spiracle pairs. An abdominal module is characterised by relatively thin ventral longitudinal trunks. Its main role is to support systems located in the abdomen; however, its long visceral tracheae aerate organs situated medially from the flight muscles. Analysis of changes of the tracheal system volume enabled the calculation of growth scaling among body tissues and the volume of the tracheal system. The data presented show that the development of the body volume and tracheal system is not linear in holometabola due to the occurrence of the pupal stage causing a decrease in body volume in the imago and at the same time influencing high growth rates of the tracheal system during metamorphosis, exceeding that ones observed for hemimetabola.
Rethinking the agrarian question: Agriculture and underdevelopment in the Global South
Authors: Carlson Chris
Published: March 2018

In recent years, agriculture has come to be seen as increasingly irrelevant to processes of industrialization and economic development in the Global South. The integration of developing economies into global capitalism and the continued advance of structural transformation would seem to indicate that there is no longer a classic “agrarian question” in the developing world. In other words, agriculture is no longer a major barrier to capitalist development in these countries. However, there is reason to doubt this growing consensus. This article argues for a rethinking of the agrarian question in the Global South and presents evidence that capitalist property relations have not penetrated agriculture throughout much of the developing world. Contrary to recent trends in the literature, I argue that not only is there still an agrarian question in the Global South but also that it remains central to explaining lower levels of industrialization in these countries and, thereby, their relative underdevelopment.
Medication safety challenges in primary care: Nurses’ perspective
Authors: Khalil Hanan , Lee Sarah
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectives

To identify the issues surrounding medication error reporting in community nursing and improvement strategies related to medication safety.

Background

Medication‐related problems have been identified from various sources in the literature. Examples of these include incident reporting by healthcare professionals, medico‐legal and patient complaints and systematic identification of organisational structure. Only a few studies report on the clinicians’ perceptions of medication safety in community nursing and the challenges they face within their workplace to implement medication safety initiatives.

Design

Qualitative design, using conversation‐style interviews with experienced registered nurses in primary care roles.

Methods

Using a general iterative approach of semantic analysis, our qualitative research study was guided by an essentialist paradigm. Our method for understanding included semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with 10 clinicians from a large community care organisation in rural Victoria in Australia. We developed an interview guide, which included open‐ended questions on clinicians’ experiences, perceived barriers and facilitators, and strategies to improve medication safety.

Results

Several barriers have been identified by healthcare practitioners that hinder medication safety in primary care including culture differences between community and hospital setting, politics within the healthcare system, lack of clarity around the nurses’ roles and lack of error reporting. Other sources of errors cited by the participants were the lack of clarity or awareness of the processes and procedures of medication incidents reporting for staff within the organisation experience. Lack of education regarding medication safety, the dilemmas associated with reporting and documentation are also significant barriers.
The adoption of care robots in home care—A survey on the attitudes of Finnish home care personnel
Authors: Rantanen Teemu , Lehto Paula , Vuorinen Pertti , Coco Kirsi
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectives

This article examines the attitudes of Finnish home care registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and other health and social care personnel towards the introduction and use of care robots in home care.

Background

The significance of care robotics has been highlighted in recent years. However, personnel‐related social psychological barriers to the introduction of care robots have been given very little study.

Design

Cross‐sectional study conducted by questionnaire. The theoretical framework of the study is based on Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour and the research discussion about attitudes towards robots.

Methods

The research data were collected in five municipalities in different parts of Finland in 2016, and the questionnaire was answered by a total of 200 home care workers. The research data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis, Pearson product–moment correlation, one‐way analysis of variance and linear regression analysis.

Results

The results are consistent with Ajzen's theory and previous studies on the acceptance of information systems in health care. Personnel behavioural intentions related to the introduction of robot applications in home care are influenced by their personal appreciation of the usefulness of robots, the expectations of their colleagues and supervisors, as well as by their own perceptions of their capacity to learn to use care robots. In particular, personnel emphasised the value of care robots in providing reminders and guidance, as well as promoting the safety of the older people.

Conclusions

The study shows that an intimate human–robot relationship can pose a challenge from the perspective of the acceptance of care robots.

Relevance to clinical practice

From the perspective of the introduction of care robots in home care, personnel training and the construction of a positive working atmosphere play a key role. In addition, the introduction of robots requires further consideration of a number of ethical issues.
Healthcare providers’ perspectives on perceived barriers and facilitators of compassion: Results from a grounded theory study
Authors: Singh Pavneet , Raffin‐Bouchal Shelley , McClement Susan , Hack Thomas F , Stajduhar Kelli , Hagen Neil A , Sinnarajah Aynharan , Chochinov Harvey M , Sinclair Shane
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore healthcare provider perspectives and experiences of perceived barriers and facilitators of compassion.

Background

Compassion is considered a component of quality health care that healthcare providers are increasingly expected to provide. While there have been some studies exploring facets of healthcare providers’ perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to providing compassion, a comprehensive understanding based on direct reports from healthcare providers is lacking.

Design

Data were collected via focus groups and semi‐structured interviews. Data was analyzed in accordance with Straussian grounded theory.

Methods

Semistructured focus groups with frontline healthcare providers and individual interviews with peer‐nominated exemplary compassionate care providers were audio‐recorded, professionally transcribed and analysed. Fifty‐seven participants were recruited from three healthcare settings within both rural and urban settings in Alberta, Canada, using convenience, snowball and theoretical sampling.

Results

Qualitative analysis of the data generated two categories and associated themes and subthemes delineating perceived barriers and facilitators to compassion. The first category, challenges to compassion, reflects participants’ discomfort associating the notion of barriers to compassion and contained several themes participants conceptualised as challenges: personal challenges, relational challenges, systemic challenges and maladaptive responses. The second category, facilitators of compassion, included the themes of personal facilitators, relational facilitators, systemic facilitators and adaptive responses of intentional action.

Conclusion

Although participants described certain factors such as system and time constraints along with interaction styles of patients and families that can challenge healthcare provider compassion, these challenges were not considered insurmountable. While acknowledging these as challenges, participants identified healthcare providers themselves, including their responses towards the identified challenges of compassion, as significant factors in this process—a novel finding from this study. This study provides insight into healthcare providers’ perspectives on the notion of barriers and facilitators in the provision of compassion.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study provides a blueprint for optimising compassion on a personal, relational and system level.
The challenge of the biosciences in nurse education: A literature review
Authors: Jensen Kari Toverud , Knutstad Unni , Fawcett Tonks N.
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectives

To review relevant literature that addresses the challenges of the biosciences in nurse education. More precisely, the review aims to explore the literature, concerning students’ learning, learning contexts and methodological issues and identify any significant gaps.

Background

Knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry is essential for the understanding of human beings and for full appreciation of the concepts of illness and disease. The current status would seem to be that the required competencies within bioscience subjects are difficult to acquire and students have high rates of failure.

Design

Integrative review.

Methods

The research was performed onCINAHL,ERIC, Medline and British Nursing Index databases in a period from 2013–2017. Descriptive analytical methods were used for the initial research trawl.

Findings

The search strategy resulted in 23 papers. The results of this review shed light on certain deficiencies in the research field looking at the biosciences in nurse education. There is a distinct lack of intervention studies and, thereby, knowledge of how best to support students’ learning in effective ways. Of note is that there are no field study approaches identified in the review sample.

Conclusion

Many of the papers are single studies and course evaluations which may be seen as too narrow and inadequate as perspective. Students appear satisfied with the courses in the biosciences, but there seems to be no correlation between satisfaction and achievement.

Relevance to clinical practice

Understanding and being able to give coherent rationales for the bioscience content in the nursing curricula are crucial and must be established in relation to its relevance to the dynamic nature of patient care, technological advances and demographic realities. Only on that basis can the primacy of this content be seen as relevant to the aspiring student nurse.
The rural mother's experience of caring for a child with a chronic health condition: An integrative review
Authors: Bristow Sally , Jackson Debra , Shields Linda , Usher Kim
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectives

To identify and review the literature on rural mothers’ experiences in caring for a child with a chronic health condition.

Background

Families living with a child who has a chronic health condition experience many challenges; these are often amplified for families living in rural areas, where issues such as the distance from services add further challenges the family must manage. Like many children, rural children with chronic health conditions are primarily cared for by their mothers. The additional strain of geography creates its own unique experiences for mothers who need to access the high‐quality care that their child requires.

Design

Integrative literature review using the Equator PRISMA guidelines.

Methods

A search of databases; Cochrane, CINAHL, Ovid, PubMed, ProQuest Health and Medicine, Informit and Scopus for studies published between 2005–2016 using an integrative review approach. A total of 1,484 studies were identified with an additional six studies found through snowballing. The search resulted in seven studies being meeting the inclusion criteria after using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme.

Results

Data from the seven articles were analysed, and the mothers’ experiences were synthesised into five themes: “struggling for resources,” “barriers in accessing services,” “strain of decision‐making,” “mother's physical and emotional breakdown” and “the daily management of family activities”. These five themes formed the basis of this article.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that mothers from rural areas face additional barriers related to their rurality, including transportation difficulties, socioeconomic status and social isolation, and are challenged by limited access to specialty medical services, educators and allied health professionals. The literature review outcome will assist in informing nursing practice through identifying and allocating resources to reduce these barriers; rural mother experience will assist in enabling the child to reach their full developmental potential.

Relevance to clinical practice

There is a need for health professionals to understand the challenges and barriers rural mothers face in accessing services. Nurses can assist rural mothers to navigate and access the appropriate services in order to reduce health inequity, increase accessibility to services and reduce rural disadvantage for their child. Nurses and health professionals are in an ideal position to develop future models of care that optimise health outcomes and enable equity and access to services for rural children with chronic conditions similar to those experienced by their urban counterparts.
Percutaneous coronary intervention: 2017 in review
Authors: Rao Gaurav , Sheth Shikha , Grines Cindy
Published: March 2018

In an effort to keep the interventional community up‐to‐date with the abundant amount of new data, we have selected what we believe to be the most important publications in percutaneous coronary intervention from January 1, 2017 to December 2017.
Incomplete Hippocampal Inversion and Its Relationship to Hippocampal Subfield Volumes and Aging
Authors: Colenutt Jessica , McCann Bryony , Knight Michael J. , Coulthard Elizabeth , Kauppinen Risto A.
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Incomplete hippocampal inversion (IHI) is an atypical anatomical pattern presented by the hippocampus. It is associated with several neuropathological conditions and is thought to be a factor of susceptibility to hippocampal sclerosis and loss of volume. The volume loss of hippocampus is an inevitable consequence of aging, and when accelerated it is commonly considered an imaging biomarker of Alzheimer's disease dementia.

METHODS

We have studied the relationship between IHI and hippocampal subfield volumes in a cohort of 60 healthy participants of 49–87 years of age. The presence and severity of IHI and hippocampal subfield volumes were quantified from T2 magnetic resonance (MR) images acquired at 3T.

RESULTS

It was found that IHI presented in 23.3% of participants. Right unilateral IHI was rare (two cases, 3.3%) in comparison to left unilateral IHI (nine cases, 15%), with three (5%) of participants showing bilateral IHI. No significant relationships between the whole hippocampal volumes and IHI were observed. Instead, significant relationships between the volumes of the left and right cornu ammonis subfield‐1 (CA1) and IHI scores were evident.

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of IHI prevalence in the current cohort are similar to those previously reported in healthy cohorts. The IHI severity is related to hippocampal subfield volumes, most notably the CA1, which is a novel finding with potential implications in research on aging and dementia.
Transcranial Sonography to Differentiate Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage from Cerebral Infarction with Hemorrhagic Transformation
Authors: Niesen Wolf‐Dirk , Schläger Axel , Reinhard Matthias , Fuhrer Hannah
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The differentiation of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation within an ischemic infarction (PHI) is crucial in order to adapt therapeutic measures. We hypothesized that a distinction of ICH and PHI can be made at bedside via transcranial gray‐scale and perfusion sonography.

METHODS

We prospectively included 14 patients with intracranial hemorrhage on admission imaging in this pilot study. Differentiation between ICH and PHI was made either by cerebral magnetic resonance imaging or follow‐up computed tomography scan. All patients were examined via gray‐scale and perfusion sonography.

RESULTS

Eight patients were diagnosed with ICH, and 6 patients with PHI. Volumes of ICH did not differ between the two groups. However, PHI patients showed a significantly larger perfusion deficit compared to ICH patients (P < .01). At a cutoff value of 1.41 of the mismatch index of perfusion deficit and hyperechogenic lesion, the PHI diagnosis can be made with a 100%‐sensitivity and 100%‐specificity.

CONCLUSION

Differentiation of ICH and PHI via multimodal transcranial sonography with mismatch imaging is possible. Since sonographic imaging as a bedside‐method is cost‐ as well as time‐efficient, it may be a helpful tool for differentiation between these two entities particularly in critically ill patients with unclear ICH.
Directive versus participative leadership: Dispositional antecedents and team consequences
Authors: Li Guiquan , Liu Haixin , Luo Yaxuan
Published: March 2018

Directive leadership and participative leadership are two fundamental sets of behaviours leaders employ to manage teams, yet little is known about their antecedents. Drawing on regulatory mode theory, we propose that team leaders high in locomotion orientation – the dispositional propensity to control movements and carry them forward – prefer directive leadership to ‘keep moving’, while team leaders high in assessment orientation – the dispositional propensity to compare between means and options – prefer participative leadership to ‘get the best’. We further hypothesize that directive leadership increases team efficiency but decreases team creativity, whereas participative leadership increases team creativity but decreases team efficiency. Based on multisource and time‐lagged data from 75 management consulting project teams, regression and bootstrapping results support most of the hypotheses. Supplementary analysis reveals that participative leadership has an inverted U‐shaped relationship with team efficiency when directive leadership is low, implying that leadership is a complex behavioural process rather than a simple choice between seemingly contradictory behaviours. We discuss the findings’ implications for the leadership, regulatory mode, and team literature.

Practitioner Points

Leaders should be aware of both the bright and the dark sides of leadership behaviours.

Leaders high in locomotion personality should incorporate participative leadership behaviours such as listening to suggestions and communicating with followers in decision‐making when directive leadership behaviours are not functional.

Leaders high in assessment personality should spend more attention to the pace of teamwork by incorporating directive leadership behaviours such as giving clear orders and addressing deadlines.
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation on the anterior neck region: The impact of pulse duration and frequency on maximum amplitude tolerance and perceived discomfort
Authors: Barikroo Ali , Carnaby Giselle , Bolser Donald , Rozensky Ronald , Crary Michael
Published: March 2018

Maximum amplitude tolerance (MAT) has been known as a primary factor determining the depth of electrical current penetration. However, the effect of varying transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) parameters on MAT and discomfort level is poorly understood. Furthermore, limited information exists regarding the biopsychological factors that may impact MAT and discomfort. The primary aims of this study were to compare the effects TES protocol with varying levels of pulse duration (300 μs vs 700 μs) and frequency (30 Hz vs 80 Hz) on the MAT and discomfort in healthy older adults. The exploratory aim of this study was to examine relationships between submental adipose tissue thickness, pain sensitivity and gender with MAT and discomfort. Twenty‐four healthy older adults participated in this study. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation was delivered to the submental region. Maximum amplitude tolerance and discomfort were measured for each condition. Furthermore, submental adipose tissue thickness and pain sensitivity were measured for each subject. Maximum amplitude tolerance was significantly increased for the TES protocols with short‐pulse duration [F (3, 69) = 38.695, P < .0001]. Discomfort was similar across different TES protocols. Submental adipose tissue thickness (r = .30, P < .003) and pain sensitivity (r = −.43, P < .0001) were related to MAT. Pain sensitivity rating was also related to discomfort (r = .45, P < .0001). In conclusion, using TES protocols with short‐pulse duration may increase the MAT. Higher amplitude stimulation may increase the impact on deep swallowing muscles. In addition, submental adipose tissue thickness and pain sensitivity are potential biopsychological factors that may affect MAT and discomfort.
Relationships between dysphagia and tongue pressure during swallowing in Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Minagi Y. , Ono T. , Hori K. , Fujiwara S. , Tokuda Y. , Murakami K. , Maeda Y. , Sakoda S. , Yokoe M. , Mihara M. , Mochizuki H.
Published: March 2018

Although dysphagia is a life‐threatening problem in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), the pathophysiology of oropharyngeal dysphagia is yet to be understood. This study investigated the tongue motor function during swallowing in relation to dysphagia and the severity of PD. Thirty patients with PD (14 males and 16 females; average age, 69.4 years), Hoehn and Yahr stage II‐IV, in Osaka University Hospital are participated in this study. During swallowing 5 ml of water, tongue pressure on the hard palate was measured using a sensor sheet with 5 measuring points. The maximal tongue pressure at each measuring point during swallowing was compared between patients with PD and healthy controls. Subjective assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia was performed using Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire‐Japanese. The maximal tongue pressure at each measuring point was significantly lower in patients with PD than in healthy controls (8 males and 12 females; average age, 71.6 years). Furthermore, the maximal tongue pressure was significantly lower in dysphagic PD patients than non‐dysphagic PD patients. Loss of tongue pressure production at the anterior part of the hard palate was strongly related to dysphagia in the oral phase as well as in the pharyngeal phase. An abnormal pattern of tongue pressure production was more frequently observed in dysphagic PD patients than in non‐dysphagic PD patients. The results suggest that tongue pressure measurement might be useful for early and quantitative detection of tongue motor disability during swallowing in patients with PD.
Frequency of awake bruxism behaviours in the natural environment. A 7‐day, multiple‐point observation of real‐time report in healthy young adults
Authors: Bracci A. , Djukic G. , Favero L. , Salmaso L. , Guarda‐Nardini L. , Manfredini D.
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study was to assess awake bruxism (AB) behaviours in a sample of healthy young adults using a smartphone‐based application for a real‐time report (ie, ecological momentary assessment [EMA], also called experience sampling method [ESM]). Forty‐six dental students used a smartphone application that sent 15 alerts at random intervals during the day for 1 week to collect AB self‐reports. They had to answer on time by tapping on the display icon that refers to their current condition of jaw muscles: relaxed; teeth contact; teeth clenching; teeth grinding; jaw clenching without teeth contact (ie, bracing). The average frequency of relaxed jaw muscles, as a percentage of answers over the 7 days, was 71.7%. Teeth contact (14.5%) and jaw clenching (10.0%) were the most frequent AB behaviours. No significant gender differences were detected. Interindividual differences were quite relevant, but the overall frequency was in general only moderately variable from day‐to‐day. Coefficient of variation (CV) was low for the condition “relaxed jaw muscles” (0.44). At the individual level, teeth contact was the most prevalent behaviour, with a 39.1%‐52.2% proportion of subjects reporting it at least once a day. During a 7‐day observation period, the frequency of real‐time report of AB behaviours in a sample of healthy young adults was 28.3%. The low daily variability in the average frequency value for the relaxed jaw muscles condition suggests that EMA may be a reliable strategy to get deeper into the epidemiology of oral behaviours. This investigation introduced EMA principles to the study of AB and provided data on the frequency of AB behaviours in young adults that could be compared to populations with risk/associated factors and possible clinical consequences.
The dynamics of citizen sociolinguistics
Authors: Svendsen Bente Ailin
Published: March 2018

The objective of this paper is to explore the dynamics of citizen science (CS) in sociolinguistics or citizen sociolinguistics, i.e. the engagement of non‐professionals in doing sociolinguistic research. Based on a CS‐study undertaken in Norway where we engaged young people as citizen scientists to explore linguistic diversity, this paper aims to clarify the definition of citizen sociolinguistics; it seeks to advance the discussion of the advantages of CS and of how CS can contribute to sociolinguistics; it also addresses the opposite: how sociolinguistics can contribute to the general field of citizen science; and it discusses the challenges of a CS‐methodology for sociolinguistic research, epistemologically and ethically, as well as in terms of recruitment, quality control and possible types of sociolinguistic tasks and topics. To meet the needs of society and societal challenges of today there is a need to develop methods and establish scientific acceptance for the relevance of public engagement in research. This paper argues that citizen sociolinguistics has the potential to advance the societal impact of sociolinguistics by constructing a dialogue between ‘the academy’ and ‘the citizens’; citizen sociolinguistics relies on and encourages participatory citizen agency, provides research experience, stimulates curiosity, further research, public understanding of science and (socio)linguistic awareness, and encourages linguistic stewardship.
Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics, targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor family: from herceptin to Pan HER
Authors: Moradi-Kalbolandi Shima , Hosseinzade Aysooda , Salehi Malihe , Merikhian Parnaz , Farahmand Leila
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Monoclonal antibody-based of cancer therapy has been considered as one of the most successful therapeutic strategies for both haematologic malignancies and solid tumours in the last two decades. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family signalling pathways play a key role in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Hence, anti-EGFR family mAbs is one of the most promising approaches in cancer therapy.

Key findings

Here, recent advances in anti-EGFR mAb including approved or successfully tested in preclinical and clinical studies have been reviewed. Although we focus on monoclonal antibodies against the EGF receptor, but the mechanisms underlying the effects of EGFR-specific mAb in cancer therapy, to some extend the resistance to existing anti-EGFR therapies and some therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance such as combination of mAbs on different pathways are briefly discussed as well.

The EGFR family receptors, is considered as an attractive target for mAb development to inhibit their consecutive activities in tumour growth and resistance. However, due to resistance mechanisms, the combination therapies may become a good candidate for targeting EGFR family receptors.