bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The glass cage: The gender pay gap and self-employment in the United States
Authors: Lawter Leanna , Rua Tuvana , Andreassi Jeanine
Published: January 2018

Self-employment is often viewed as a more desirable work arrangement than working as an employee for a firm. Women are pushed into self-employment due to organizational factors, such as a shrinking workforce or limited job opportunities, while being attracted to self-employment by the many psychological and social benefits (e.g., independence, flexibility, work-life balance, job satisfaction). Despite more women moving into self-employment, this type of employment still has different financial consequences for men and women. This article investigates whether a pay gap exists for self-employed women after controlling for industry, occupation, and hours worked and seeks to quantify the gender wage gap for the self-employed. A sample of 467 self-employed independent contractors in the United States was examined from the 2008 National Study of the Changing Workforce. The results indicate a large financial disparity between self-employed women and men. On average men earned $54,959 as compared to women who earned on average $28,554. Regardless of the parity in education, work experience, number of hours worked, or occupations, women earn less than men in self-employment. Findings suggest the existence of the glass cage‐a phenomenon whereby self-employed women earn significantly less than self-employed men with limited abilities to narrow the economic inequality.
An Integrated Model of Employee Adoption
Authors: Pizarro Nelson
Published: January 2018

Proactive firms recognize that environmental and social issues are sources of competitive advantages, but whatever the motivation, organizations face challenges when implementing sustainable practices. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), sustainable practices have stemmed from multinational corporations (MNC), but SMEs cannot adopt sustainable practices from the knowledge and experiences of large corporations because the two entities differ critically. This study introduces an integrated model of employee adoption of sustainable practices in SMEs. It is based on five behaviors to select practical areas to which SMEs can make internal changes to achieve sustainable practices and the benefits gained from them. The theory of planned behavior is used to extend employee adoption of sustainable practices to SMEs.
Entrepreneurship research in management and organizational studies: A contribution-based assessment of the literature
Authors: Gupta Vishal K. , Ibrahim Sajna , Guo Grace , Markin Erik
Published: January 2018

Entrepreneurship-related research in management and organizational journals has experienced rapid growth, particularly in the last several years. The purpose of this study is to identify the researchers and universities that have had the greatest influence on entrepreneurship research since the turn of the century. Using a systematic and comprehensive study identification protocol, the authors delve into the individual and institutional actors contributing to scholarship in entrepreneurial studies for the period from 2000 to 2015. Examination of top-tier management and organizational journals revealed that a total of 371 entrepreneurship-related articles were published during this period by 618 authors from 303 different institutions. Rankings for the most prolific individuals as well as institutions, adjusted and unadjusted for journal quality, are presented. The article concludes with a discussion of the limitations and implications of the research undertaken here.
Examining affective and cognitive discourse at the time of IPO: Effects on underpricing and the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation
Authors: Wales William , Mousa Fariss-Terry
Published: January 2018

This study presents evidence concerning the effects of affective and cognitive rhetoric on the underpricing of firms at the time of their initial public offering. It is suggested that firms that use less affective, and more cognitively oriented discourse in their IPO prospectus will experience better underpricing outcomes. We examine these assertions using a sample of young high-tech IPO firms where investors rely on prospectuses as accurate and informative firm communications. Results from a robust five-year time span observe initial support for the hypothesized effects. Moreover, the signaling of a higher degree of entrepreneurial orientation in the firm prospectus is found to worsen the negative effects of affective discourse
Formats of responsibility: elective surgery in the era of evidence‐based medicine
Authors: Ducey Ariel , Nikoo Shoghi
Published: January 2018

This article illustrates what pragmatic sociology refers to as investments in form, by examining the formats created and used by a group of surgeons to determine when elective surgery for pelvic floor disorders could be responsibly undertaken. Drawing upon ethnographic observations of surgical consultations at an academic medical centre in Canada, we show how two specific formats – that the patient is sufficiently bothered and the patient accepts the risks of surgery – allow for justifiable action in conditions of uncertainty and contingency and in light of the demands of dominant imperatives in medicine and health care, especially evidence‐based medicine (EBM). We argue that an analytic of justification is necessary for understanding when and how surgery is offered and elected for, and for considering how surgical consultations might be improved.
Etiology of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy
Authors: Shaukat Arslan , Waheed Salman , Alexander Ethan , Washko Daniel , Dawn Buddhadeb , Olyaee Mojtaba , Gupta Kamal
Published: January 2018

OBJECTIVE

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and is thought to cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). However, recent reports indicate that the incidence of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) in patients on DAPT may be increasing. We aimed to compare the endoscopic findings and etiology of GI bleeding between patients on DAPT compared with those not on DAPT.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, single‐center, case‐control study. Cases were 114 consecutive patients admitted with a first episode of GI bleeding while on DAPT who underwent detailed GI evaluation. We chose 114 controls who had GIB but were not on DAPT.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the incidence of UGIB or LGIB between the two groups (UGIB: 53.5% vs 51.3% and LGIB: 46.5% vs 48.7%, P = 0.10) or within groups (DAPT: 53.5% vs 46.5%, P = 0.30 and controls: 51.3% vs 48.7%, P = 0.80). Although the DAPT group had a lower prevalence of the usual UGIB risk factors, it had a higher likelihood of bleeding from varices or upper GI inflammation [odds ratio (OR) 3.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14–92.3; OR 13.98, 95% CI 1.40–140.36]. No etiology of bleeding was identified in a higher percentage of patients on DAPT than those who were not (22.8% vs 5.3%).

CONCLUSION

In patients with GI bleeding, the incidences of UGIB and LGIB are similar irrespective of their DAPT use.
Tofacitinib with conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Patient‐reported outcomes from a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial
Authors: Li Zhanguo , An Yuan , Su Houheng , Li Xiangpei , Xu Jianhua , Zheng Yi , Li Guiye , Kwok Kenneth , Wang Lisy , Wu Qizhe
Published: January 2018

Aim

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assess the effect of tofacitinib + conventional synthetic disease‐modifying anti rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on patient‐reported outcomes in Chinese patients with RA and inadequate response to DMARDs.

Methods

This analysis of data from the Phase 3 study ORAL Sync included Chinese patients randomized 4 : 4 : 1 : 1 to receive tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily, placebo→tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or placebo→tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily, with csDMARDs. Placebo non‐responders switched to tofacitinib at 3 months; the remaining placebo patients switched at 6 months. Least squares mean changes from baseline were reported for Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index (HAQ‐DI), patient assessment of arthritis pain (Pain), patient global assessment of disease activity (PtGA), physician global assessment of disease activity (PGA), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Fatigue (FACIT‐F) scores, Short Form 36 (SF‐36), and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ), using a mixed‐effects model for repeated measures.

Results

Overall, 216 patients were included (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, n = 86; tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily, n = 86; placebo→tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, n = 22; placebo→tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily, n = 22). At month 3, tofacitinib elicited significant improvements in HAQ‐DI, Pain, PtGA, PGA and SF‐36 Physical Component Summary scores. Improvements were generally maintained through 12 months.

Conclusion

Tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg twice daily + csDMARDs resulted in improvements in health‐related quality of life, physical function and Pain through 12 months in Chinese patients with RA.
Personality Traits Are Associated With Cortical Development Across Adolescence: A Longitudinal Structural MRI Study
Authors: Ferschmann Lia , Fjell Anders M. , Vollrath Margarete E. , Grydeland Håkon , Walhovd Kristine B. , Tamnes Christian K.
Published: January 2018

How personality traits relate to structural brain changes in development is an important but understudied question. In this study, cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA), estimated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were investigated in 99 participants aged 8–19 years. Follow‐up MRI data were collected after on average 2.6 years for 74 individuals. The Big Five personality traits were related to longitudinal regional CT or SA development, but limited cross‐sectional relations were observed. Conscientiousness, emotional stability, and imagination were associated with more age‐expected cortical thinning over time. The results suggest that the substantial individual variability observed in personality traits may partly be explained by cortical maturation across adolescence, implying a developmental origin for personality–brain relations observed in adults.
Randomized controlled trial of standard closure of a stoma site vs biological mesh reinforcement: study protocol of the ROCSS trial
Authors:   the Reinforcement of Closure of Stoma Site (ROCSS) Collaborative and the West Midlands Research Collaborative
Published: January 2018

Background

Closure of complex and contaminated abdominal wounds is challenging and carries risks, including wound dehiscence and incisional hernia. Hernia formation at closed stoma sites occurs in up to 30% of patients. Use of biological meshes in these situations may provide a safe method of reducing these complications, especially long‐term incisional hernias.

Method

The Reinforcement of Closure of Stoma Site (ROCSS) study is a Phase III multicentre randomized controlled trial (RCT) with an internal feasibility study. The primary objective of ROCSS is to assess whether a biological mesh (collagen tissue matrix) reduces the incidence of clinically detectable stoma closure site hernias at 2 years compared with standard closure techniques. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either standard suture (nonmesh) closure or closure with an intra‐abdominal biological mesh reinforcement. Patients and outcome assessors are masked to treatment allocation. ROCSS aims to recruit 560 patients, with an option to recruit to 790 patients to increase power. The primary outcome measure is the occurrence of clinically detectable hernias years 2 years postrandomization. The secondary outcome measures are the radiological hernia rate at 1 year, incidence of symptomatic hernia, the surgical complication/re‐intervention rate, quality of life, postoperative pain and cost–benefit analysis.

Discussion

ROCSS is a multicentre RCT assessing the placement of a biological mesh at the site of stoma closure on clinical hernia rate. Our hypothesis is that reinforcing the stoma closure site with a collagen mesh is superior to the standard technique in reducing the risk of herniation at 2 years. These findings could influence future closure of stomas and other complex and/or contaminated abdominal wounds in settings around the world.
Balanced blood product transfusion during liver transplantation
Authors: Hogen Rachel , Dhanireddy Kiran , Clark Damon , Biswas Subarna , DiNorcia Joseph , Brown Niquelle , Yee Jonson , Cobb Joseph Perren , Strumwasser Aaron
Published: January 2018

Introduction

This study was conducted to determine whether an intra‐operative ratio of at least 1:1:2 of fresh frozen plasma (FFP):platelets (PLTs):packed red blood cells (pRBCs) improves outcomes in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods

A single‐center, retrospective study of deceased donor OLT recipients (MELD ≥15) requiring intra‐operative pRBC transfusion (years 2013‐2016). Patients were grouped into those receiving an intra‐operative ratio of ≥1:1:2 of FFP:PLTs:pRBCs vs ratios <1:1:2.

Results

Patients in ≥1:1:2 group (n = 150) and patients in <1:1:2 group (n = 80) were matched for baseline characteristics (P > .05). Patients in the ≥1:1:2 group had lower pRBC and intra‐operative blood product requirements (11 ± 0.5 vs 19 ± 1.4 units, P < .001, and 33 ± 1.3 vs 43 ± 3.3 units, P = .006, respectively), improved 1‐month mortality (0 vs 8%, P = .002), improved 1‐year survival (P = .004), less intra‐operative cardiac arrest (3% vs 10%, P = .03), and shorter operating room time (389 ± 7.2 vs 431 ± 17.2 minutes, P = .03). After multivariate adjustment for baseline and intra‐operative variables, balanced blood product transfusion (BBPT) was significantly associated with less intra‐operative pRBC transfusion (95% confidence interval: 0.60‐0.72).

Conclusion

Balanced blood product transfusion is associated with reduced transfusion requirements in OLT.
Cochrane systematic review and meta‐analysis of the impact of psychological treatments for people with epilepsy on health‐related quality of life
Authors: Michaelis Rosa , Tang Venus , Wagner Janelle L. , Modi Avani C. , LaFrance W. Curt , Goldstein Laura H. , Lundgren Tobias , Reuber Markus
Published: January 2018

Objective

Given the significant impact epilepsy can have on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of individuals with this condition and their families, there is great clinical interest in evidence‐based psychological treatments aimed at enhancing well‐being in people with epilepsy (PWE). An evaluation of the current evidence is needed to assess the effects of psychological treatments for PWE on HRQoL outcomes to inform future therapeutic recommendations and research designs.

Methods

The operational definition of psychological treatments included a broad range of interventions that use psychological or behavioral techniques designed to improve HRQoL, psychiatric comorbidities, and seizure frequency and severity for adults and children with epilepsy. A systematic literature search was conducted in line with Cochrane criteria for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi‐RCTs investigating psychological treatments and using HRQoL outcome measures as primary or secondary outcome measures. Standard methodological procedures required by the Cochrane Collaboration were used for data collection and analysis.

Results

Twenty‐four completed RCTs were included in this review (2439 participants). Based on satisfactory methodological homogeneity, data from 9 studies (468 participants) providing Quality of Life in Epilepsy‐31 (QOLIE‐31) outcomes were pooled for meta‐analyses, showing significant mean changes for QOLIE‐31 total score and 6 subscales. The significant mean changes of QOLIE‐31 total score (mean improvement of 5.68 points; 95% confidence interval = 3.11‐8.24, P < .0001) and 3 subscales (emotional well‐being, energy/fatigue, overall quality of life [QoL]) exceeded the threshold of minimally important change, indicating a clinically meaningful postintervention improvement of QoL. Overall, the meta‐analysis quality of evidence was characterized as “moderate” due to the risk of bias present in 8 of the 9 included studies (Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, Version 5.1.0, 2011, Chapters 8 and 12). A narrative synthesis was conducted for all trials and outcomes that were not entered in the meta‐analysis.

Significance

These results provide moderate‐quality evidence that psychological treatments for adults with epilepsy may enhance HRQoL in people with epilepsy.
Reducing medication errors in critical care patients: pharmacist key resources and relationship with medicines optimisation
Authors: Bourne Richard S , Shulman Rob , Jennings Jennifer K
Published: January 2018

Background

Medication errors are the most common type of medical errors critical care patients experience. Critical care units utilise a variety of resources to reduce medication errors; it is unknown which resources or combinations thereof are most effective in improving medication safety.

Objectives

To obtain UK critical care pharmacist group consensus on the most important interventions/resources that reduce medication errors. To then classify units that participated in the PROTECTED UK study to investigate if there were significant differences in the reported pharmacist prescription intervention type, clinical impact and rates according to unit resource classification.

Methods

An e-Delphi process (three rounds) obtained pharmacist consensus on which interventions/resources were most important in the reduction of medication errors in critical care patients. The 21 units involved in the PROTECTED UK study (multicentre study of UK critical care pharmacist medicines interventions), were categorised as high-, medium- and low-resource units based on routine delivery of the final Top 5 interventions/ resources. High and low units were compared according to type, clinical impact and rate of medication interventions reported during the PROTECTED UK study.

Key findings

Consensus on the Top 5 combined medication error reduction resources was established: advanced-level clinical pharmacist embedded in critical care being ranked most important. Pharmacists working on units with high resources made significantly more clinically significant medicines optimisations compared to those on low-resourced units (OR 3.09; P = 0.035).

Conclusions

Critical care pharmacist group consensus on the most important medication error reduction resources was established. Pharmacists working on high-resourced units made more clinically significant medicines optimisations.
Nursing assessment of TURP syndrome: a pilot study
Authors: Subrata Sumarno A. , Istanti Yuni P. , Kesetyaningsih Tri W.
Published: January 2018

How can the signs and symptoms of transurethral resection prostate (TURP) syndrome be identified by nurses? This study aimed to develop a nursing instrument to assess TURP syndrome. TURP syndrome is a complication that potentially occurs during TURP surgery. It is a water intoxication related to hyponatremia and acid‐based imbalance. This syndrome should be recognized early in order to prevent fatality. This pilot study employed a participatory action research combined with statistical analysis for validity and reliability testing. Twenty‐eight Indonesian urological nurses and one urologist medical doctor were engaged in this study. Informed consent was obtained before study outset. The study was entirely accomplished at Muhammadiyah Hospital I and II, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Pearson's correlations test of each item was measured with correlation coefficient greater than 0·40 considered as evidence of satisfactory item convergence validity. The instrument reliability test was confirmed by Cronbach's α coefficients with score greater than 0·433 supposed as a reliable instrument. This study obtained a nursing instrument to assess TURP syndrome which involved 15 aspects as follows: disorientation, headaches, altered states of consciousness, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, hypertension, rhonchi sound, tachycardia, abnormal capillary refill‐time, tachypnea, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, anaemia, increased urea and creatinine, and lower‐extremities oedema. A nursing instrument to assess TURP syndrome was established. Nevertheless, further investigation is required among patients who are suspected of having TURP syndrome to increase instrument accuracy.
Inflammatory monocytes contribute to the persistence of CXCR3hiCX3CR1lo circulating and lung‐resident memory CD8+ T cells following respiratory virus infection
Authors: Desai Pritesh , Tahiliani Vikas , Stanfield Jessica , Abboud Georges , Salek‐Ardakani Shahram
Published: January 2018

Phenotypically diverse memory CD8+ T cells are present in the lungs that either re‐circulate or reside within the tissue. Understanding the key cellular interactions that regulate the generation and then persistence of these different subsets is of great interest. Recently, DNGR‐1+ dendritic cell (DC) mediated priming was reported to control the generation of lung‐resident but not circulating memory cells following respiratory viral infection. Here, we report an important role for Ly6C+ inflammatory monocytes (IMs) in contributing to the persistence of memory CD8+ T cells but not their generation. Effector CD8+ T cells expanded and contracted normally in the absence of IMs, but the memory compartment declined significantly over time. Quite unexpectedly, this defect was confined to tissue resident and circulating CXCR3hiCX3CR1lo memory cells but not CXCR3hiCX3CR1int and CXCR3loCX3CR1hi subsets. Thus, two developmentally distinct innate cells orchestrate the generation and persistence of memory T cell subsets following a respiratory virus infection.

See also: News and Commentary by Lafouresse & Groom
Dynamic Agency and Investment Theory under Model Uncertainty
Authors: Niu Yingjie , Yang Jinqiang , Zou Zhentao
Published: January 2018

We extend dynamic agency and investment theory by incorporating model uncertainty. As concerns regarding model uncertainty induce a trade‐off between incentives and ambiguity sharing, the principal tends to delay the cash payout to the agent. We find model uncertainty lowers the firm value, the average q and marginal q, where q is defined as the ratio between a physical asset's market value and its replacement value. Furthermore, model uncertainty leads to insufficient investment, which provides an alternative explanation for under‐investment. Finally, the optimal pay‐performance sensitivity of the agent's continuation value to the firm's output is state dependent and exceeds the lower bound when it is close to the payout boundary.
Experiences of registered nurses from a refugee background: A scoping review
Authors: Ng Chok Harrison , Mannix Judy , Dickson Cathy , Wilkes Lesley
Published: January 2018

Aims and objectives

This scoping review presents an exploration of international literature on the factors that impact refugees’ personal and professional experiences during their journey to being registered nurses in a new host country.

Background

Governments of host countries receiving refugees seek to develop strategies that facilitate the successful resettlement, employment and enculturation of refugees that arrive as skilled professionals. There is a scarcity of studies focussing on issues faced by refugees that are RNs or those pursuing nursing registration and employment in a new host country. This study is relevant for resettlement services, nursing registration authorities and education providers and informs the international nursing workforce.

Design

Scoping review.

Methods

Databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL; Google Scholar; PubMed; Scopus and Web of Science were searched for qualitative studies published up to and including 2017. Articles that did not specify explicitly the participants as registered nurses and/or refugees were excluded. All eligible articles were analysed for collective findings, and impact factors were extracted, synthesised and illustrated diagrammatically.

Results

This review explored six eligible articles and six impact factors were identified. The challenging impacts were as follows: loss of control; shock in a new environment and bleak employment prospects. Equally three impact factors: reconciling new reality; establishing a new identity and hope for the future, facilitate positive experiences for nurses in their successful transition into society and the nursing workplace.

Conclusions

This scoping review reports the small number of international studies on the experiences of refugees seeking to become registered and employed as registered nurses. The six impact factors identified influence the lives of the nurse participants socio‐economically in and out of the workplace.

Relevance to clinical practice

Policymakers, managers and educators providing resettlement, registration and employment services could develop strategies that enhance integration and transition experiences of refugees aspiring to be registered nurses.
Falls and delirium in an acute care setting: A retrospective chart review before and after an organisation‐wide interprofessional education
Authors: Babine Rhonda L , Hyrkäs Kristiina E , Hallen Sarah , Wierman Heidi R , Bachand Deborah A , Chapman Joanne L , Fuller Valerie J
Published: January 2018

Aim and objectives

To describe and compare identification of delirium, length of stay and discharge locations in two patient samples of falls, before and after an organisation‐wide interprofessional delirium education and practice change along with implementation of a policy.

Background

Delirium is a common and severe problem for hospitalised patients, with occurrence ranging from 14%–56%, morbidity and mortality from 25%–33%. Recent studies report that 73%–96% of patients who fell during a hospital stay had symptoms of delirium; however, the delirium went undiagnosed and untreated in 75% of the cases.

Design

A descriptive, retrospective observational study using a pre/postdesign.

Methods

Two chart reviews were performed on patient falls as identified in the hospital safety reporting system in 2009–2010 (98 fallers) and 2012 (108 fallers). An organisation‐wide education was planned and implemented with monitoring of policy compliance.

Results

After the education, documentation of the “diagnosis of delirium” and “no evidence of delirium” increased from 14.3%–29.5% and from 27.6%–44.4%. The documentation of “evidence of delirium” decreased significantly from 58.2%–25.9% (p < .001). The confusion assessment method (CAM) identified the diagnosis of delirium at 76% accuracy. The length of stay decreased by 7.3 days. The fall rates in 2011 and 2012 were 3.01 and 2.82 falls per 1,000 patient days and in 2013 decreased to 2.16.

Conclusion

The results indicate that improving delirium recognition and treatment through interprofessional education can reduce falls and length of stay.

Relevance to clinical practice

The results demonstrate that when staff learn to prevent, identify, manage and document delirium more accurately the fall rate decreases. The practice change, including the use of CAM, was sustained by continuous auditing including re‐education, and the re‐enforcement of learning along with the implementation of a policy.
Bone augmentation followed by implant surgery in the edentulous mandible: A systematic review
Authors: de Groot R. J. , Oomens M. A. E. M. , Forouzanfar T. , Schulten E. A. J. M.
Published: January 2018

Long‐standing loss of natural teeth in the mandible can lead to severe jaw atrophy and even mandibular fracture. There is no consensus on the best pre‐prosthetic surgical treatment to reconstruct the atrophic edentulous mandible. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the existing literature and to give an evidence‐based recommendation for bone grafting and future research. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. A literature search was performed in online databases Pubmed and Cochrane library for articles published between January 1980 and September 2017. The search was conducted using Medical Subject Heading terms: alveolar ridge augmentation; mouth, edentulous and mandible. Eligible articles were included according to in‐ and exclusion criteria and assessed on quality. Dental implant survival and bone stability were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were complications. Twenty‐four text articles matched the criteria and were included. Eleven articles were assessed to be of adequate quality for analysis. Graft stability seems to be higher in vertical distraction and tent‐pole grafting, but as the dental implant survival is high (91.7% or higher) regardless of the procedure used for bone augmentation, this is of no clinical relevance. The survival rate of dental implants is high, regardless of the bone augmentation procedure used. High‐quality clinical trials are needed to support the current evidence and guidelines on pre‐implant bone grafting. Reporting of future research should include proper baseline characteristics and treatment description, as well as uniform outcome rendering.
Bilateral balanced occlusion compared to other occlusal schemes in complete dentures: A systematic review
Authors: Lemos C. A. A. , Verri F. R. , Gomes J. M. L. , Santiago Júnior J. F. , Moraes S. L. D. , Pellizzer E. P.
Published: January 2018

No consensus has been reached regarding the best occlusal scheme for making complete dentures. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to compare bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO) with other occlusal schemes (canine guidance, lingualised occlusion and zero degree) in complete dentures. The schemes were compared in terms of quality of life/satisfaction and masticatory performance. Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive search of studies published in or before October 2017 using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases. The search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The focused question was: “In conventional complete denture, is BBO better than lingualised occlusion, canine guidance and zero degree in terms of quality of life, patient satisfaction and masticatory performance/muscle activity?” Seventeen studies were selected for analysis. In total, there were 492 patients with a mean age of 64.78 years and a mean follow‐up duration of 2.96 months (range: 1‐6 months). All studies compared BBO with the other occlusal schemes. Eleven studies evaluated the influence of the occlusal scheme designs on quality of life and satisfaction, and 8 studies evaluated masticatory performance and muscle activity between BBO and the other occlusion schemes. The present systematic review indicated that BBO does not confer better quality of life/satisfaction or masticatory performance and muscle activity. Thus, lingualised occlusion can be considered a predictable occlusal scheme for complete dentures in terms of quality of life/satisfaction and masticatory performance, while canine guidance can be used to reduce muscular activity.
White blood cell differentials in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) in comparison to those in dogs without cardiac disease
Authors: Hamilton‐Elliott J. , Ambrose E. , Christley R. , Dukes‐McEwan J.
Published: January 2018

Objectives

To determine if dogs with congestive heart failure have different white blood cell differential cell counts than dogs without cardiac disease.

Materials and Methods

In total, 72 dogs with congestive heart failure and 143 controls were included in this retrospective study. Signalment, white blood cell differential counts and echocardiography data were retrieved. Basic statistical analysis was performed on white blood cell differential counts, and principal component analysis was used to compare these counts between cases and controls, with age, gender and case/control status as supplementary variables. Cases and controls were compared with binary logistic regression for the principal components identified and individual white blood cell differential counts. Principal component analysis of cases alone was conducted with age, gender, weight and mitral E wave:isovolumic relaxation time as supplementary variables. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the association between mitral E wave:isovolumic relaxation time and the principal components, weight, gender, age and diagnosis (mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy).

Results

Among cases and controls, the largest variance in data (component 1) was associated with neutrophils, band neutrophils, monocytes and case status (P<0·01). The odds of an individual being a case increased 2·5‐fold (95% confidence interval: 1·4 to 4·4) for each unit increase in component 1. Among the cases, mitral E wave:isovolumic relaxation time was associated with neutrophil count and case/control category.

Clinical Significance

Dogs with congestive heart failure had a statistically significant increase in neutrophils, band neutrophils and monocytes in comparison with those without cardiac disease but the cell counts remained within normal reference intervals.
Genetic determinants of hepatic steatosis and serum cytokeratin‐18 fragment levels in Taiwanese children
Authors: Lin Yu‐Cheng , Chang Pi‐Feng , Chang Mei‐Hwei , Ni Yen‐Hsuan
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims

There are substantial genetic components contributing to the susceptibility of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It has recently been reported that the rs641738 C>T variant in the membrane‐bound O‐acyltransferase domain‐containing protein 7 (MBOAT7) gene increased severity of NAFLD in adults of European descent. We aimed to test the hypothesis that MBOAT7 rs641738 variant would increase hepatic steatosis and hepatocellular injury in obese children.

Methods

A total of 831 obese children aged 7‐15 years were recruited. Hepatic steatosis was measured by ultrasonography. Because PNPLA3 rs738409, GCKR rs780094 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 variants are known to confer susceptibility to NAFLD, we assessed the influence of MBOAT7 rs641738 on hepatic steatosis, and serum levels of CK‐18 fragment (a biomarker of hepatocellular injury and apoptosis for NAFLD) after adjusting the effects of PNPLA3, GCKR and TM6SF2 polymorphisms.

Results

Of the recruited obese children, 22.7% had hepatic steatosis. PNPLA3 rs738409, GCKR rs780094 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 variants were independent risk factors of hepatic steatosis and elevated ALT levels. In contrast, MBOAT7 rs641738 variants, neither heterozygous nor homozygous genotypes, were not associated with hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, lipid levels and liver enzymes. The multiple linear regression model revealed that after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index z score, PNPLA3 rs738409 and GCKR rs780094 variants, but not MBOAT7 rs641738, were associated with serum levels of CK‐18 fragment.

Conclusions

The variant MBOAT7 rs641738 genotype is not associated with hepatic steatosis and serum levels of CK‐18 fragment in obese Taiwanese children.
U‐Pb and Pb‐Pb apatite ages for Antarctic achondrite Graves Nunataks 06129
Authors: Zhou Qin , Yin Qing‐Zhu , Shearer Charles K. , Li Xian‐Hua , Li Qiu‐Li , Liu Yu , Tang Guo‐Qiang , Li Chun‐Lai
Published: January 2018

The Antarctic achondrite Graves Nunataks 06128 (GRA 06128) and Graves Nunataks 06129 (GRA 06129) represent a unique high‐temperature, nonbasaltic magmatism in the early solar system. These objects have been interpreted as products of low‐degree partial melting of volatile‐rich chondritic material, which may have been the asteroid parent bodies of brachinite. Previous studies have investigated their crystallization and metamorphic history with various isotope systematics. Here, we report the U‐Pb intercept age of 4466 ± 29 Ma and the weighted‐average 207Pb‐206Pb age of 4460 ± 30 Ma for the Cl‐apatite grains from GRA 06129. Our apatite ages are obviously younger than that of the 26Al‐26Mg model age (4565.9 ± 0.3 Ma; Shearer et al. ), but are the same as the 40Ar‐39Ar age obtained via step‐heating of the bulk rock (4460 ± 28 Ma; Fernandes and Shearer ; Shearer et al. ). Based on petrographic observations, merrillites are usually rimmed by apatite and exist as inclusions in apatite. Therefore, the apatite U‐Pb age from GRA 06129 probably records a metamorphic event of replacing merrillite with apatite, caused by Cl‐rich melts or fluids on their parent body. A collisional event has provided the impact heating for this metamorphic event. Increasing amounts of geochronologic evidence show that the giant impact of the Moon‐forming event has affected the asteroid belt at 4450–4470 Ma (Bogard and Garrison ; Popova et al. ; Yin et al. ; Zhang et al. ). Considering the contemporary metamorphic events for GRA 06129 (4460 ± 30 Ma), it is likely that the asteroid parent body of GRA 06129 was also affected by the same giant impact as the Moon‐forming event.
Vitamin D levels in asthmatic patients with and without allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Agarwal Ritesh , Sehgal Inderpaul S. , Dhooria Sahajal , Aggarwal Ashutosh N. , Sachdeva Naresh , Bhadada Sanjay K. , Garg Mandeep , Behera Digambar , Chakrabarti Arunaloke
Published: January 2018

Vitamin D deficiency is believed to be a pathogenetic factor in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and cystic fibrosis. Whether vitamin D deficiency is also prevalent in ABPA complicating asthma, remains unknown. Herein, we evaluated vitamin D levels in asthmatic patients with and without ABPA. In a prospective study, plasma vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured in consecutive subjects with asthma (n = 75), ABPA (n = 158) and healthy volunteers (n = 50). Vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL were considered as vitamin D deficiency. There was no difference in mean (95% CI) vitamin D levels between healthy controls (15.3 [12.7‐17.9]), asthmatics (19.2 [16.3‐22.1]) and subjects with ABPA (18.9 [16.9‐20.8]) (P = .22). Vitamin D deficiency was encountered in 70%, 64% and 65% of the healthy controls, asthmatics and ABPA subjects, respectively, and was not different between the groups (P = .79). There was no difference in the asthma control, pulmonary function, immunological findings and the severity of bronchiectasis, in patients with ABPA, with and without vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is equally prevalent in asthmatic patients with or without ABPA in the Indian subcontinent, and does not appear to play a major role in the pathogenesis of ABPA complicating asthma.
Chemotherapy‐induced oral mucositis and associated infections in a novel organotypic model
Authors: Sobue T. , Bertolini M. , Thompson A. , Peterson D.E. , Diaz P.I. , Dongari‐Bagtzoglou A.
Published: January 2018

Oral mucositis is a common side effect of cancer chemotherapy, with significant adverse impact on the delivery of anti‐neoplastic treatment. There is a lack of consensus regarding the role of oral commensal microorganisms in the initiation or progression of mucositis because relevant experimental models are non‐existent. The goal of this study was to develop an in vitro mucosal injury model that mimics chemotherapy‐induced mucositis, where the effect of oral commensals can be studied. A novel organotypic model of chemotherapy‐induced mucositis was developed based on a human oral epithelial cell line and a fibroblast‐embedded collagen matrix. Treatment of organotypic constructs with 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) reproduced major histopathologic characteristics of oral mucositis, such as DNA synthesis inhibition, apoptosis and cytoplasmic vacuolation, without compromising the three‐dimensional structure of the multilayer organotypic mucosa. Although structural integrity of the model was preserved, 5‐FU treatment resulted in a widening of epithelial intercellular spaces, characterized by E‐cadherin dissolution from adherens junctions. In a neutrophil transmigration assay we discovered that this treatment facilitated transport of neutrophils through epithelial layers. Moreover, 5‐FU treatment stimulated key proinflammatory cytokines that are associated with the pathogenesis of oral mucositis. 5‐FU treatment of mucosal constructs did not significantly affect fungal or bacterial biofilm growth under the conditions tested in this study; however, it exacerbated the inflammatory response to certain bacterial and fungal commensals. These findings suggest that commensals may play a role in the pathogenesis of oral mucositis by amplifying the proinflammatory signals to mucosa that is injured by cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Association of leptin with disease severity and inflammation indicators in Chinese obese children with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Liu Wenlong , Zeng Qingxiang , Zhou Lifeng , Luo Renzhong , Dong Haipeng
Published: January 2018

Background

The prevalence of both obesity and allergic diseases in children has increased over the last several decades. However, the direct relationship between diverse allergic diseases and obesity has varied in different studies. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effect of obesity on the incidence and severity of allergic rhinitis (AR) and the possible key inflammation mediators during AR.

Methods

A total of 3126 healthy students (without chronic diseases) were recruited from 14 randomly selected secondary schools in Guangzhou, China. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (PBF) were measured and compared. The effect of obesity indicators and leptin level (exposures) on the incidence (primary outcome) and severity of AR (secondary outcomes) was analyzed. Inflammatory markers were detected and compared among groups.

Results

The symptom score (9.5 ± 3.1 vs 8.2 ± 3.5, P < .05) and medication score (3.6 ± 1.6 vs 2.9 ± 1.8, P < .05) were significantly higher in obese children with AR than in non‐obese children with AR. After adjusting for potential confounders, multiple linear regression analysis showed that the serum leptin concentration was significantly correlated with the levels of T‐helper (TH) 2 cytokines (coefficient, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.05‐0.91]), TH17 cytokines (coefficient, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.11‐0.89]), and regulatory T‐cell cytokines (IL‐10, coefficient, −0.43 [95% CI, −0.02‐0.65]; TGF‐β, coefficient, −0.65 [95% CI, −0.06‐1.35]) in patients with AR.

Conclusions

Our study shows that obesity exacerbates inflammation and contributes to disease severity in AR. Our study provides evidence that leptin was involved in enhanced TH inflammation as well as the accumulation and activation of inflammatory cells in obese children with AR.
An approach to the asthma‐protective farm effect by geocoding: Good farms and better farms
Authors: Müller‐Rompa S. E. K. , Markevych I. , Hose A. J. , Loss G. , Wouters I. M. , Genuneit J. , Braun‐Fahrländer C. , Horak E. , Boznanski A. , Heederik D. , von Mutius E. , Heinrich J. , Ege M. J. ,   The GABRIELA Study Group
Published: January 2018

Background

The highly consistent association of growing up on a farm with a reduced asthma risk has so far been attributed to direct farm exposure. In contrast, geographic determinants of the larger environment have never been assessed. In this study, the effects of proximity to farms and environmental variables in relation to the residential address on asthma and atopy were assessed.

Methods

Addresses of 2265 children of the Bavarian arm of the GABRIELA study were converted into geocodes. Proximity to the nearest cow farm was calculated, and environmental characteristics were derived from satellite data or terrestrial monitoring. Bacterial diversity in mattress dust samples was assessed in 501 children by sequencing of the 16S rRNA amplicons. Logistic regression models were used to calculate associations between outcomes and exposure variables.

Results

Asthma and atopy were inversely associated with the presence of a farm within a radius of maximum 100 m. The environmental variables greenness, tree cover, soil sealing, altitude, air pollution differed not only between farm and non‐farm children but also between farm children with and without another farm nearby. The latter distinction revealed strong associations with characteristics of traditional farms including a broader diversity of microbial exposure, which mainly contributed to the protective effect on asthma. In non‐farm children, the protective effect of a farm nearby was completely explained by consumption of farm milk.

Conclusions

Clustering of farms within a neighborhood of 100 m is strongly associated with the protective effect on asthma and may represent a more traditional style of farming with broader microbial exposure.
Local immune response to larvae of Rhipicephalus microplus in Santa Gertrudis cattle
Authors: Constantinoiu C. C. , Lew‐Tabor A. , Jackson L. A. , Jorgensen W. K. , Piper E. K. , Mayer D. G. , Johnson L. , Venus B. , Jonsson N. N.
Published: January 2018

This study investigated the local immune response at larval attachment sites in Santa Gertrudis cattle with low and high levels of tick resistance. Skin samples with tick larvae attached were collected from Santa Gertrudis cattle at the end of a period of 25 weekly infestations, when the animals manifested highly divergent tick‐resistant phenotypes. There was a tendency for more CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, γδ T cells and neutrophils to concentrate at larval tick attachment site in susceptible cattle than in resistant cattle but the differences were significant only for γδ T cells and CD4+ cells. Most of the cattle developed intra‐epidermal vesicles at the larval attachment site but the predominant cell within or around the vesicles was the neutrophil in susceptible animals and eosinophil in the resistant animals. The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for CD45 and CD45 RO antigens reacted with skin leucocytes from a higher number of susceptible cattle than resistant cattle. Our data suggest that some of the cellular responses mounted at larval attachment site are not involved in tick protection. The mAbs specific for CD45 and CD45 RO directly, or a test for CD45 genotype might be developed as markers of tick susceptibility or resistance.
Expression and functional analysis of two PsbS genes in bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)
Authors: Lou Yongfeng , Sun Huayu , Wang Sining , Xu Hao , Li Lichao , Zhao Hansheng , Gao Zhimin
Published: January 2018

Higher plants have an array of photoprotection mechanisms alleviating the harmful effects of light. Non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) is one of the photoprotective mechanisms, which dissipates the excess of light energy absorbed in the light‐harvesting complexes (LHCs) into thermal energy. The photosystem II subunit S (PsbS), a member of the LHC family thought to be present exclusively in higher plants, is supposed to activate NPQ through interactions with antenna proteins. However, the roles of PsbS in bamboo remain unclear. Here, two genes of bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), PePsbS1 and PePsbS2, are investigated and functionally analyzed. PePsbS1 and PePsbS2 have a similar gene structure with three introns separated by two exons, which encode 269 and 268 amino acid residues, respectively. Tissue‐specific analysis showed that PePsbS1 and PePsbS2 are highly expressed in leaf blade. Besides, they are both upregulated in the leaf blade when plantlets are submitted to an increased and prolonged light intensity, suggesting that they are light‐induced. Western blot analysis indicated that the accumulation level of total PePsbSs is consistent with what obtained by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction for PePsbS1 and PePsbS2. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing PePsbS1 and PePsbS2 both displayed an enhanced photoprotection. Moreover, the expression of PePsbS1 and PePsbS2 could both rescue the NPQ of Arabidopsis npq4 mutant, indicating that the PsbSs are functionally conserved between monocots and dicots. These results indicated that both PePsbS1 and PePsbS2 could circumvent photoinhibition and enhance photoprotection, which are key factors for bamboo's adaptation to different light environment.