bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Of puzzles and pavements: a quantitative exploration of leaf epidermal cell shape
Authors: Vőfély Róza V. , Gallagher Joseph , Pisano Grace D. , Bartlett Madelaine , Braybrook Siobhan A.
Published: October 2018

Epidermal cells of leaves are diverse: tabular pavement cells, trichomes, and stomatal complexes. Pavement cells from the monocot Zea mays (maize) and the eudicot Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) have highly undulate anticlinal walls. The molecular basis for generating these undulating margins has been extensively investigated in these species. This has led to two assumptions: first, that particular plant lineages are characterized by particular pavement cell shapes; and second, that undulatory cell shapes are common enough to be model shapes.

To test these assumptions, we quantified pavement cell shape in epidermides from the leaves of 278 vascular plant taxa.

We found that monocot pavement cells tended to have weakly undulating margins, fern cells had strongly undulating margins, and eudicot cells showed no particular undulation degree. Cells with highly undulating margins, like those of Arabidopsis and maize, were in the minority. We also found a trend towards more undulating cell margins on abaxial leaf surfaces; and that highly elongated leaves in ferns, monocots and gymnosperms tended to have highly elongated cells.

Our results reveal the diversity of pavement cell shapes, and lays the quantitative groundwork for testing hypotheses about pavement cell form and function within a phylogenetic context.
Endophyte traits relevant to stress tolerance, resource use and habitat of origin predict effects on host plants
Authors: Giauque Hannah , Connor Elise W. , Hawkes Christine V.
Published: October 2018

All terrestrial plants are colonized by foliar endophytic fungi that can affect plant growth and physiology, but the prediction of these effects on the plant host remains a challenge. Here, we examined three paradigms that potentially control how endophytes affect plant hosts: habitat adaptation, evolutionary history and functional traits.

We screened 35 plant–endophyte pairings in a microcosm experiment under well‐watered and drought conditions with Panicum virgatum as the host. We related the measured plant responses to fungal phylogenetic relatedness, characteristics of fungal habitats across a rainfall gradient and functional traits of the fungi related to stress tolerance and resource use.

The functional traits and habitat characteristics of the fungi predicted 26–53% of endophyte‐mediated effects on measures of plant growth, physiology and survival. Overall, survival was higher for plants grown with more stress‐tolerant fungi, and aboveground biomass was enhanced by fungi from warmer and drier habitats. Plant growth and physiology were also dependent on fungal resource use indicators; however, specific predictors were dependent on water availability.

Simple ecological traits of foliar endophytic fungi observed in culture can translate to symbiotic lifestyles. These findings offer new insights and key testable predictions for likely pathways by which endophytes benefit the plant host.
A randomized controlled trial of oral chloral hydrate vs intranasal dexmedetomidine plus buccal midazolam for auditory brainstem response testing in children
Authors: Li Bi L. , Yuen Vivian M. , Zhou Jia L. , Zhang Na , Huang Jun X. , Tian Hang , Song Xing R.
Published: October 2018

Background

Moderate to deep sedation is required for an auditory brainstem response test when high‐intensity stimulation is used. Chloral hydrate is the most commonly used sedative, whereas intranasal dexmedetomidine is increasingly used in pediatric non‐painful procedural sedations.

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the sedation success rate after oral chloral hydrate at 50 mg kg−1 and intranasal dexmedetomidine at 3 μg kg−1 plus buccal midazolam at 0.1 mg kg−1 for an auditory brainstem response test.

Methods

Children who required an auditory brainstem response test were recruited and randomly assigned to receive oral chloral hydrate at 50 mg kg−1 and intranasal placebo, or intranasal dexmedetomidine at 3 μg kg−1 with buccal midazolam 0.1 mg kg−1. The primary outcome was the rate of successful sedation for auditory brainstem response tests.

Results

Fifty‐seven out of 82 (69.5%) were successfully sedated after chloral hydrate, while 70 out of 78 (89.7%) children were successfully sedated with dexmedetomidine plus midazolam combination, with the odd ratio (95% CI) for successful sedation between dexmedetomidine plus midazolam combination and chloral hydrate estimated to be 3.84 (1.61‐9.16), P = 0.002. Dexmedetomidine plus midazolam was associated with quicker onset with median onset time 15 (IQR 11.0‐19.8) for dexmedetomidine plus midazolam and 20 (IQR 15.0‐27.0) for chloral hydrate respectively, with difference between median (95% CI) of 5 [3‐8], P < 0.0001). The behavior observed during drug administration of intranasal dexmedetomidine and buccal midazolam was better that of the children who had oral chloral hydrate. No children required oxygen therapy or medical intervention for hemodynamic disturbances in this study and the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia was similar.

Conclusion

Intranasal dexmedetomidine plus buccal midazolam was associated with higher sedation success with deeper level of sedation, with similar discharge time and adverse event rate when compared to chloral hydrate.
Involvement of neutrophils in Chagas disease pathology
Authors: de Andrade Micássio Fernandes , de Almeida Valéria Duarte , de Souza Lara Michelly Soares , Paiva Dayane Carla Costa , Andrade Cléber de Mesquita , de Medeiros Fernandes Thales Allyrio Araújo
Published: October 2018

Chagas disease (CD) is a public health problem in Latin America. The acute phase presents nonspecific symptoms and most patients recover from acute parasitemia and undergo a prolonged asymptomatic phase. Several years later, about 30% of infected individuals develop chronic cardiopathy with progressive cardiomegaly, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events and heart failure. These symptoms suggest a persistent association with the presence of inflammatory infiltrate and tissue, and cellular destruction in the heart muscle. Nevertheless, few research studies have attempted to understand the role of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, in establishing the pathology and progression of CD. Only recently have some studies been performed with this intention. Despite this effort, the role of neutrophils in CD is still considered controversial. This review discusses the morphological and functional characteristics of neutrophils that describes their participation in the establishment and progression of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, through the development of its effector functions, such as release of lithic components, production of oxidative agents and release of inflammatory mediators capable of modulating the host immune response.
Understanding the patient's experience of care in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Burnett Kimberley , Glaspole Ian , Holland Anne E.
Published: October 2018

Background and objective

New treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have improved survival; however, the complexity of care may be difficult for patients. The aim of this study was to assess the patient experience of modern IPF care.

Methods

A qualitative study was undertaken for 100 people with IPF with a range of disease severity (forced vital capacity range: 46–106% predicted). Participants were asked about their experience of care using semi‐structured interviews. Two investigators independently undertook analysis using the principles of grounded theory.

Results

Participants reported dissatisfaction with information received about IPF, particularly at the time of diagnosis. Most were enthusiastic about the benefits of specialist IPF centres including regular monitoring, frequent contact with health professionals and access to clinical trials. However, the burden of travel to specialist centres and costs of treatment were significant. Many reported that side effects of anti‐fibrotics caused them to titrate or pause therapy, sometimes without consulting their treating team. Co‐morbid medical conditions had a negative impact on well‐being and highlighted poor coordination of care. Participants perceived a responsibility for self‐management that included exercise, diet, vaccination and treatment of chest infections; many felt this active role should receive more positive emphasis from health professionals.

Conclusion

These data show opportunities to improve modern IPF care including accurate and timely provision of information, improving access to specialist care, more support for managing treatment side effects and better coordination of care for patients with co‐morbid conditions. Future research should explore the impact of self‐management strategies on IPF outcomes.
Rectangular Latent Markov Models for Time-Specific Clustering, with An Analysis of the Wellbeing of Nations
Authors: Anderson Gordon , Farcomeni Alessio , Pittau Maria Grazia , Zelli Roberto
Published: October 2018

A latent Markov model admitting variation in the number of latent states at each time period is introduced. The model facilitates subjects switching latent states at each time period according to an inhomogeneous first-order Markov process, wherein transition matrices are generally rectangular. As a consequence, latent groups can merge, split or be rearranged. An application analysing the progress of wellbeing of nations, as measured by the three dimensions of the human development index over the last 25 years, illustrates the approach.
Long‐term school‐level effects of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP)
Authors: Olweus Dan , Solberg Mona E. , Breivik Kyrre
Published: October 2018

In agreement with two predictions, this somewhat unusual study documented that 70 elementary schools (A‐schools) with continued and repeated use of the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire (OBQ) in a four‐year follow‐up period of 2007–2010, two to eight years after original implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), had a clearly more favorable long‐term development in terms of being‐bullied problems, as measured with a completely independent data source, the National Pupil Survey than 102 comparable schools (B‐schools) that had not conducted any OBQ‐surveys in the same period. The odds of being bullied for students in a Norwegian average elementary school were also almost 40% higher than for students who attended a school with continued use of the OBQ, and very likely, other components of the program. Several alternative explanations of the findings were explored and found wanting. Results suggested that A‐schools with continued use had changed their “school culture” for the better with regard to awareness, preparedness and competence in handling and preventing bullying. This form of ‘organizational learning’ has major consequences in that new groups of students will benefit from such a school environment. It was generally concluded – in spite of a highly stable average of the level of bullying problems in Norway – that it is fully possible to substantially reduce such problems not only in one‐year evaluations, as has been amply documented before, but also in the long term, up to eight years after original implementation, with a program such as the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
Exogenous attention and memory for faces following contextual behavioral immune system activation
Authors: Magalhães Ana Cláudia , Pandeirada Josefa N. S. , Fernandes Natália Lisandra , Soares Sandra C.
Published: October 2018

The behavioral immune system (BIS) is characterized by affective, cognitive and behavioral processes that work in an articulated manner to prevent the occurrence of infections. Attention and memory evolved to enhance the organism's chances of survival and have been proposed to play an important role in the BIS. The present study investigated the effects of attention and memory for neutral faces after a contextual activation of the BIS. Participants were primed, by the use of film clips, either with infectious disease concerns or non‐infectious disease concerns. They performed an exogenous attentional task involving the discrimination of target letters, with face stimuli presented as distractors, which was then followed by a surprise recognition task for the faces. The results showed that participants in the infectious disease condition were more accurate in the attentional task than participants in the control condition. No significant difference between groups was found in the response times during the attention task nor in memory performance. Overall, these results suggest that the BIS might be associated with a hypervigilant state towards cues in general and that BIS activation through this type of priming may not be sufficient to clearly activate mnemonic mechanisms.
Exposure to parental and community violence and the relationship to bullying perpetration and victimization among early adolescents: A parallel process growth mixture latent transition analysis
Authors: Davis Jordan P. , Ingram Katherine M. , Merrin Gabriel J. , Espelage Dorothy L.
Published: October 2018

This study examined heterogeneity in parental and community violence exposure during middle school and its association with bullying perpetration and victimization in high school. Youth (N = 1,611) in four Midwestern middle schools participated. Parallel process growth mixture latent transition analysis was used to understand how trajectory profiles of middle school violence exposure was associated with high school bullying profiles. Impulsivity, depression, school belonging, and delinquency were assessed as moderators of the transition probabilities. A three class solution was found for violence exposure: decreasing parental violence/increasing community violence (n = 103; 6.4%), stable high parental violence and low community violence (n = 1,027; 63.7%), and increasing parental violence and stable high community violence (n = 481; 29.8%). Similarly, a three class solution was found for high school bullying: High Bullying Perpetration and High Victimization class (n = 259; 16%), Victimization only (n = 1145; 71%), and low all class (n = 207; 13%). The largest proportion of youth transitioning into the high bullying and high victimization class were from the decreasing parental violence/increasing community violence. Depression, impulsivity, school belonging, and delinquency all had various moderating effects on transition probabilities. Our findings make it apparent that early forms of parental and community violence are associated with aggressive behaviors and experiences with victimization during high school. Prevention and intervention efforts should target individuals who display early and chronic patterns of exposure to violence as these individuals have the greatest risk of later aggressive and victimization in high school.
Constraining long‐term fault activity in the brittle domain through in situ dating of hydrothermal monazite
Authors: Bergemann Christian A. , Gnos Edwin , Berger Alfons , Whitehouse Martin J. , Mullis Josef , Walter Franz , Bojar Hans‐Peter
Published: October 2018

SIMS Th–Pb dating of hydrothermal fissure‐vein monazite‐(Ce) has the unique potential to date multiple tectonic events under low‐grade metamorphic brittle/ductile conditions over large time frames. Monazites‐(Ce) from brittle fault systems in the Eastern Alps allow us to constrain their Cretaceous activity over 20 Ma within single crystals, recording all major tectonic events. Eo‐Alpine formation of the fluid‐filled fissure‐veins occurred 90 Ma ago at 352 ± 19°C and 342 ± 42 MPa. This corresponds to peak conditions during regional metamorphism of the Cretaceous collisional nappe stacking. Several stages of dissolution–reprecipitation/recrystallization record fault activity between 84 and 70 Ma. Corresponding fluid inclusions indicate conditions of 229 ± 10°C and 143 ± 20 MPa. This correlates with the formation of sedimentary basins during post‐orogenic extension associated with strike‐slip movements. The results strengthen the hypothesis that many large fault systems in the Eastern Alps developed during the Cretaceous orogeny and became reactivated during Neogene Alpine tectonics.
High intraspecific diversity of Restorer‐of‐fertility‐like genes in barley
Authors: Melonek Joanna , Zhou Ruonan , Bayer Philipp E. , Edwards David , Stein Nils , Small Ian
Published: October 2018

SUMMARY

Nuclear restorer of fertility (Rf) genes suppress the effects of mitochondrial genes causing cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), a condition in which plants fail to produce viable pollen. Rf genes, many of which encode RNA‐binding pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, are applied in hybrid breeding to overcome CMS used to block self‐pollination of the seed parent. Here, we characterise the repertoire of restorer‐of‐fertility‐like (RFL) PPR genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare). We found 26 RFL genes in the reference genome (‘Morex’) and an additional 51 putative orthogroups (POGs) in a re‐sequencing data set from 262 barley genotypes and landraces. Whereas the sequences of some POGs are highly conserved across hundreds of barley accessions, the sequences of others are much more variable. High sequence variation strongly correlates with genomic location – the most variable genes are found in a cluster on chromosome 1H. A much higher likelihood of diversifying selection was found for genes within this cluster than for genes present as singlets. This work includes a comprehensive analysis of the patterns of intraspecific variation of RFL genes. The RFL sequences characterised in this study will be useful for the development of new markers for fertility restoration loci.
Alloimmunization risk associated with amino acid 223 substitution in the RhD protein: analysis in the light of molecular modeling
Authors: de Brevern Alexandre G. , Floch Aline , Barrault Aurélie , Martret Jennifer , Bodivit Gwellaouen , Djoudi Rachid , Pirenne France , Tournamille Christophe
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Partial D status is a major concern for transfusion and pregnancy, due to the possibility of carriers becoming immunized. When known carriers of a D variant have never been exposed to complete D, they are assumed to have D partial status based on the position of the amino acid substituted. New approaches for predicting immunization risk are required. We built a three‐dimensional (3D) structural model to investigate the consequences of substitutions of Amino Acid 223 involved in a large number of D variants.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Homology modeling was performed with multiple templates. The model was evaluated by comparing the interactions of the known p.Phe223Val variant (RHD*08.01) and a new p.Phe223Ser variant (RHD*52) to RhD reference allele (p.Phe223). The consequences predicted by modeling the variants were compared with serologic data.

RESULTS

The 3D structural model was generated from two related protein structures and assessed with state‐of‐the‐art approaches. An analysis of the interactions of the variant Residue 223 in the proposed 3D model highlighted the importance of this position. Modeling predictions were consistent with the serologic and clinical data obtained for the D antigen with a substitution of Amino Acid 223.

CONCLUSION

We used a 3D structural model to evaluate the effect of the p.Phe223 substitution on the conformation of the RhD protein. This model shed light on the influence of substitutions on the structure of the RhD protein and the associated alloimmunization risk. These initial findings indicate that the p.Phe223Ser variant can be considered partial.
Bursting strength of surgeon's and self‐locking knots for closure of ventral midline celiotomy in horses
Authors: McGlinchey Leah , Hanson R. Reid , Boone Lindsey H. , Rosanowski Sarah M. , Coleridge Matthew , Souza Camila , Munsterman Amelia S.
Published: October 2018

Objective

To compare the bursting strength and failure mode of ventral midline celiotomy closed with a simple continuous suture pattern with 1 of 2 knot combinations, a novel self‐locking knot combination of a forwarder start with an Aberdeen end knot (F‐A) and a traditional combination of a surgeon's start with a surgeon's end knot (S‐S).

Study design

Ex vivo experimental.

Sample population

Equine cadavers (n = 14).

Methods

A 20‐cm ventral midline celiotomy was created in 14 equine cadavers. Horses were assigned to celiotomy closure with an F‐A or S‐S knot combination. Prior to closure, a 200‐L inflatable bladder was placed in the abdomen and then insufflated until failure of the celiotomy closure. The horses’ signalment, weight, breed, and age, as well as knot combination type, mode of failure, closure time, and bursting strength (mm Hg) were recorded.

Results

The median bursting strength was significantly greater when incisions were closed with the F‐A knot combination (388 mm Hg) compared with the S‐S knot combination (290 mm Hg) (P = .035). Most incisions failed along the fascia when closed with F‐A combinations and at the knot when closed with S‐S combinations.

Conclusion

The bursting strength of ventral midline incisions in equine cadavers was increased by an average of 25% when closed with the self‐locking F‐A knot combination.

Clinical significance

Closing ventral midline celiotomies with an F‐A knot combination may provide a more secure closure than the traditional S‐S knot combination. Additional in vivo investigation is required prior to recommending this closure in clinical cases.
Checking into the germinal centers: PD-1 regulates entry
Authors: Eisenbarth Stephanie C.
Published: October 2018

PD-1 functions on T follicular helper cells to dictate localization within lymph node germinal centers.
B cells drive auto-T cells to the brain
Authors: Pappalardo Jenna L. , O’Connor Kevin C.
Published: October 2018

Self-reactive T cells that traffic to the brain tissue of patients with multiple sclerosis are driven by antigen-experienced B cells.
Soluble gp130 prevents interleukin-6 and interleukin-11 cluster signaling but not intracellular autocrine responses
Authors: Lamertz Larissa , Rummel Franziska , Polz Robin , Baran Paul , Hansen Selina , Waetzig Georg H. , Moll Jens M. , Floss Doreen M. , Scheller Jürgen
Published: October 2018

Autocrine responses to interleukin-6 family cytokines are insensitive to extracellular gp130 signaling receptor blockade.
Causes and characteristics of injury in paediatric major trauma and trends over time
Authors: Beck Ben , Teague Warwick , Cameron Peter , Gabbe Belinda J
Published: October 2018

Objective

To investigate causes, characteristics and temporal trends of paediatric major trauma.

Design

A retrospective review of paediatric major trauma (<16 years of age) was conducted using data from the population-based Victorian State Trauma Registry from 2006 to 2016. Temporal trends in population-based incidence rates were evaluated using Poisson regression.

Setting

Victoria, Australia.

Results

Of the 1511 paediatric major trauma patients, most were male (68%), had sustained blunt trauma (87%) and had injuries resulting from unintentional events (91%). Motor vehicle collisions (15%), struck by/collisions with an object or person (14%) and low falls (13%) were the leading mechanisms of injury. Compared with those aged 1–15 years, a greater proportion of non-accidental injury events were observed in infants (<1 year) (32%). For all patients, isolated head injury (29%), other/multitrauma (27%) and head and other injuries (24%) were the most prevalent injury groups. The incidence of paediatric major trauma did not change over the study period (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.97; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.02; p=0.27), which was consistent in all age groups. There was a 3% per year decline in the incidence of transport events (IRR=0.97; 95% CI 0.94 to 0.99; p=0.005), but no change in the incidence of falls of any type (IRR=1.01; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.04; p=0.70) or other events (IRR=1.00; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.02; p=0.79). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 7.2%.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated no change in the incidence of paediatric major trauma over an 11-year period. Given the potential lifelong impacts of serious injury in children, additional investment and coordination of injury prevention activities are required.
Research priorities for childhood chronic conditions: a workshop report
Authors: Lopez-Vargas Pamela , Tong Allison , Crowe Sally , Alexander Stephen I , Caldwell Patrina Ha Yuen , Campbell Dianne E , Couper Jennifer , Davidson Andrew , De Sukanya , Fitzgerald Dominic A , Haddad Suzy , Hill Sophie , Howell Martin , Jaffe Adam , James Laura J , Ju Angela , Manera Karine E , McKenzie Anne , Morrow Angie M , Odgers Harrison Lindsay , Pinkerton Ross , Ralph Angelique F , Richmond Peter , Shaw Peter J , Singh-Grewal Davinder , van Zwieten Anita , Wake Melissa , Craig Jonathan C
Published: October 2018

Background

Chronic conditions are the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disability in children. However, children and caregivers are rarely involved in identifying research priorities, which may limit the value of research in supporting patient-centred practice and policy.

Objective

To identify priorities of patients, caregivers and health professionals for research in childhood chronic conditions and describe the reason for their choices.

Setting

An Australian paediatric hospital and health consumer organisations.

Methods

Recruited participants (n=73) included patients aged 8 to 14 years with a chronic condition (n=3), parents/caregivers of children aged 0 to 18 years with a chronic condition (n=19), representatives from consumer organisations (n=13) and health professionals including clinicians, researches (n=38) identified and discussed research priorities. Transcripts were thematically analysed.

Results

Seventy-eight research questions were identified. Five themes underpinned participants’ priorities: maintaining a sense of normality (enabling participation in school, supporting social functioning, promoting understanding and acceptance), empowering self-management and partnership in care (overcoming communication barriers, gaining knowledge and skills, motivation for treatment adherence, making informed decisions, access and understanding of complementary and alternative therapies),strengthening ability to cope (learning to have a positive outlook, preparing for home care management, transitioning to adult services), broadening focus to family (supporting sibling well-being, parental resilience and financial loss, alleviating caregiver burden), and improving quality and scope of health and social care (readdressing variability and inequities, preventing disease complications and treatment side effects, identifying risk factors, improving long-term outcomes, harnessing technology, integrating multidisciplinary services).

Conclusion

Research priorities identified by children, caregivers and health professionals emphasise a focus on life participation, psychosocial well-being, impact on family and quality of care. These priorities may be used by funding and policy organisations in establishing a paediatric research agenda.
Time to include burden of surgical injuries after disasters in the Global Surgery agenda? An assessment of DALYs and averted burden by surgery after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Authors: Rodriguez-Llanes Jose Manuel , Hellman Lina , Wu Qi , van den Oever Barbara , Pan Liang , Albela Miranda Manuel , Chen Gao , Zhang De-Sheng , Guha-Sapir Debarati , Von Schreeb Johan
Published: October 2018

Unlike other disasters, injury rates after earthquakes are still on the rise at a global scale. With an estimated one million people injured by earthquakes in the last decade, the burden of injury is considerable. Importantly, the surgical procedures carried out by healthcare facilities are capable to avert part of this burden. Yet both burdens remain unquantified using understandable metrics. We explored in this analysis a method to calculate them using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), an internationally accepted measure expressing years of healthy life lost due to a health condition. We used data from a large standardised hospital database of earthquake-related injuries with complete information on International Classification of Diseases for injury and surgical procedures, sex and age information. DALYs and averted DALYs were calculated by injury types and per patient using disability weights available in the literature and expert opinion. We also suggested how DALYs might be further converted into an economic measure using approaches in the published literature. We estimated 10 397 DALYs as the earthquake surgical-injury burden produced in 1861 hospitalised patients treated in a single hospital (on average, 5.6 DALYs per patient). Our study also assessed that 4379 DALYs, or 2.4 DALYs per patient, were averted by surgery (42%). In economic terms, DALY losses amounted to US$36.1 million, from which US$15.2 million were averted by surgery in our case study. We urge to systematically estimate these impacts through improvements in the routine reporting of injury diagnoses and surgical procedures by health systems, potentially improving prevention policies and resource allocation to healthcare facilities.
Effect of moderate-intensity exercise bouts lasting <10 minutes on body composition in sedentary Kenyan adults aged ≥50 years
Authors: Magutah Karani , Patel Nilesh B , Thairu Kihumbu
Published: October 2018

Background

Sedentary lifestyles and related morbidities are rising among adults despite existing exercise recommendations. Appealing exercise regimes yielding similar/better body composition should be sought.

Objective

We investigated the effect of moderate-intensity exercise bouts of <10 min on body composition in previously sedentary adults.

Methods

This unblinded study enrolled 53 healthy sedentary volunteers aged ≥50 years, randomised into one of two gender-balanced exercise interventions: (1) male and (2) female short-duration bouts (MS, n=14; FS, n = 13), and (3) male and (4) female long-duration bouts (ML, n=13; FL, n=13). Short-duration bouts entailed 5–10 min of jogging thrice daily; long-duration bouts, 30–60 min 3–5 days weekly. Body composition was determined at recruitment and 8-weekly thereafter, for 24 weeks.

Results

At baseline, 14.3% of MS, 38.5% of ML, 92.3% of FSand 69.2% of FLwere obese, dropping to 7.1%, 15.4%, 61.5% and 30.8%, respectively. For waist:height ratio, 64.3 % of MS, 76.9% of ML, 100% of FSand 84.6.3% of FLhad ratios >0.5, dropping to 42.9%, 30.8%, 92.9% and 26.2%, respectively. While baseline MSand MLwaist:hip ratio (WHR) ≥0.9 were 64.3% and 69.2%, respectively, they correspondingly dropped to 23.1% and 21.4%. The FSand FLwith WHR ≥0.85 dropped from 46.2% to 15.4% and from 30.8% to 7.7%, respectively. Body composition variables improved for both sexes (all p <0.05) and mean change between exercise regimes was comparable for both sexes.

Conclusion

In equal cumulative times, moderate-intensity exercise bouts lasting <10 min are comparable with current 30–60 min bouts in body composition modification for adults of ≥50 years.
Adjunctive Peony-Glycyrrhiza decoction for antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Zheng Wei , Cai Dong-Bin , Li Hai-Yan , Wu Yu-Jie , Ng Chee H , Ungvari Gabor S , Xie Shan-Shan , Shi Zhan-Ming , Zhu Xiao-Min , Ning Yu-Ping , Xiang Yu-Tao
Published: October 2018

Background

Hyperprolactinaemia is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics (APs). The results of Peony-Glycyrrhiza decoction (PGD) as a potentially useful adjunctive treatment for hyperprolactinaemia are inconsistent.

Aim

This meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examined the efficacy and safety of adjunctive PGD therapy for AP-induced hyperprolactinaemia.

Methods

English (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO) and Chinese (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data) databases were systematically searched up to 10 June 2018. The inclusion criteria were based on PICOS—Participants: adult patients with schizophrenia; Intervention: PGD plus APs; Comparison: APs plus placebo or AP monotherapy; Outcomes: efficacy and safety; Study design: RCTs. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and risk ratio (RR) along with their 95% CIs were calculated using Review Manager (RevMan) V.5.3 software.

Results

Five RCTs (n=450) were included and analysed. Two RCTs (n=140) were double-blind and four RCTs (n=409) reported ‘random’ assignment with specific description. The PGD group showed a significantly lower serum prolactin level at endpoint than the control group (n=380, WMD: −32.69  ng/mL (95%  CI −41.66 to 23.72), p<0.00001, I2=97%). Similarly, the superiority of PGD over the control groups was also found in the improvement of hyperprolactinaemia-related symptoms. No difference was found in the improvement of psychiatric symptoms assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (n=403, WMD: −0.62 (95% CI −2.38 to 1.15), p=0.49, I2=0%). There were similar rates of all-cause discontinuation (n=330, RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.63 to 1.37), p=0.71, I2=0%) and adverse drug reactions between the two groups. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, the level of evidence of primary and secondary outcomes ranged from ‘very low’ (14.3%), ‘low’ (42.8%), ‘moderate’ (14.3%), to ‘high’ (28.6%).

Conclusions

Current evidence supports the adjunctive use of PGD to suppress elevated prolactin and improve prolactin-induced symptoms without significant adverse events in adult patients with AP-induced hyperprolactinaemia. High-quality RCTs with longer duration are needed to confirm these findings.

Trial registration number

42016037017.
Impact of automated photo enforcement of vehicle speed in school zones: interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Quistberg D Alex , Thompson Leah L , Curtin James , Rivara Frederick P , Ebel Beth E
Published: October 2018

Objective

Measure the impact of automated photo speed enforcement in school zones on motorist speed and speeding violation rates during school travel.

Methods

Automated enforcement cameras, active during school commuting hours, were installed around four elementary schools in Seattle, Washington, USA in 2012. We examined the effect of automated enforcement on motorist speeds and speed violation rates during the citation period (10 December 2012 to 15 January 2015) compared with the ‘warning’ period (1 November to 9 December 2012). We evaluated outcomes with an interrupted time series approach using multilevel mixed linear regression.

Results

Motorist speed violation rates decreased by nearly half in the citation period compared with the warning period (standardised incident rate ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.66). The hourly maximum violation speed and mean hourly speeds decreased 2.1 MPH (95% CI –2.88 to –1.39) and 1.1 MPH (95% CI –1.64 to – 0.60), respectively. The impact of automated enforcement was sustained during the second year of implementation.

Conclusion

Automated photo enforcement of speed limit in school zones was effective at reducing motorist speed violations and also achieved a significant reduction in mean motorist speed.
Performance analysis of SiRe next-generation sequencing panel in diagnostic setting: focus on NSCLC routine samples
Authors: Pepe Francesco , De Luca Caterina , Smeraglio Riccardo , Pisapia Pasquale , Sgariglia Roberta , Nacchio Mariantonia , Russo Maria , Serra Nicola , Rocco Danilo , Battiloro Ciro , Ambrosio Francesca , Gragnano Gianluca , Vigliar Elena , Bellevicine Claudio , Troncone Giancarlo , Malapelle Umberto
Published: October 2018

Aims

Following the development for liquid biopsies of the SiRe next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel that covers 568 clinical relevant mutations inEGFR, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, cKITandPDGFRagenes, in this current study, we apply this small NGS panel on tissue samples of lung cancer.

Methods

A total of 322 specimens were prospectively tested. Technical parameters were analysed on both cytological and histological samples. In a subset of 75 samples, theEGFRSiRe results were compared with those generated by the European Community (CE)–IVDEGFRassay on Idylla platform. Clinical outcomes of 11 patients treated, on the basis of SiRe results, were also evaluated.

Results

Only 28 (8.7%) specimens failed to produce a library; out of the 294 remaining samples, a total of 168 somatic mutations were found. In nearly all instances (74/75–99%), theEGFRSiRe results were confirmed by Idylla. In general, SiRe analytical parameters were excellent. However, histological and cytological specimens differed in relation to average reads for sample, mean number of mapped reads, median read length and average reads for amplicon. Treatment outcome evaluation in 11 patients showed a partial response in 82 % (9/11) patients with a median progression-free survival of 340 days.

Conclusions

The small gene panel SiRe is a clinically relevant tool useful to widespread the adoption of NGS in predictive molecular pathology laboratories.
Lifetime risk of common neurological diseases in the elderly population
Authors: Licher Silvan , Darweesh Sirwan K L , Wolters Frank J , Fani Lana , Heshmatollah Alis , Mutlu Unal , Koudstaal Peter J , Heeringa Jan , Leening Maarten J G , Ikram M Kamran , Ikram M Arfan
Published: October 2018

Objective

To quantify the burden of common neurological disease in older adults in terms of lifetime risks, including their co-occurrence and preventive potential, within a competing risk framework.

Methods

Within the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study, we studied lifetime risk of dementia, stroke and parkinsonism between 1990 and 2016. Among 12 102 individuals (57.7% women) aged ≥45 years free from these diseases at baseline, we studied co-occurrence, and quantified the combined, and disease-specific remaining lifetime risk of these diseases at various ages for men and women separately. We also projected effects on lifetime risk of hypothetical preventive strategies that delay disease onset by 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively.

Results

During follow-up of up to 26 years (156 088 person-years of follow-up), 1489 individuals were diagnosed with dementia, 1285 with stroke and 263 with parkinsonism. Of these individuals, 438 (14.6%) were diagnosed with multiple diseases. Women were almost twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with both stroke and dementia during their lifetime. The lifetime risk for any of these diseases at age 45 was 48.2% (95% CI 47.1% to 51.5%) in women and 36.2% (35.1% to 39.3%) in men. This difference was driven by a higher risk of dementia as the first manifesting disease in women than in men (25.9% vs 13.7%; p<0.001), while this was similar for stroke (19.0%vs18.9% in men) and parkinsonism (3.3% vs 3.6% in men). Preventive strategies that delay disease onset with 1 to 3 years could theoretically reduce lifetime risk for developing any of these diseases by 20%–50%.

Conclusion

One in two women and one in three men will develop dementia, stroke or parkinsonism during their life. These findings strengthen the call for prioritising the focus on preventive interventions at population level which could substantially reduce the burden of common neurological diseases in the ageing population.
Feasibility of cardiovascular disease risk assessments in rheumatology outpatient clinics: experiences from the nationwide NOCAR project
Authors: Ikdahl Eirik , Rollefstad Silvia , Wibetoe Grunde , Salberg Anne , Krøll Frode , Bergsmark Kjetil , Kvien Tore K , Olsen Inge C , Soldal Dag Magnar , Bakland Gunnstein , Lexberg Åse , Gjesdal Clara G , Gulseth Christian , Haugeberg Glenn , Semb Anne Grete
Published: October 2018

Objective

The European League Against Rheumatism recommends implementing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessments for patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) into clinical practice. Our goal was to design a structured programme for CVD risk assessments to be implemented into routine rheumatology outpatient clinic visits.

Methods

The NOrwegian Collaboration on Atherosclerosis in patients with Rheumatic joint diseases (NOCAR) started in April 2014 as a quality assurance project including 11 Norwegian rheumatology clinics. CVD risk factors were recorded by adding lipids to routine laboratory tests, self-reporting of CVD risk factors and blood pressure measurements along with the clinical joint examination. The patients’ CVD risks, calculated by the European CVD risk equation SCORE, were evaluated by the rheumatologist. Patients with high or very high CVD risk were referred to their primary care physician for initiation of CVD preventive measures.

Results

Data collection (autumn 2015) showed that five of the NOCAR centres had implemented CVD risk assessments. There were 8789 patients eligible for CVD risk evaluation (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 4483; ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 1663; psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 1928; unspecified and other forms of spondyloarthropathies (SpA), 715) of whom 41.4 % received a CVD risk assessment (RA, 44.7%; AS, 43.4%; PsA, 36.3%; SpA, 30.6%). Considerable differences existed in the proportions of patients receiving CVD risk evaluations across the NOCAR centres.

Conclusion

Patients with IJD represent a patient group with a high CVD burden that seldom undergoes CVD risk assessments. The NOCAR project lifted the offer of CVD risk evaluation to over 40% in this high-risk patient population.
Effect of dietary inclusion of safflower meal on ruminal fermentation, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of lambs
Authors: Buendía-Rodríguez Germán , Vallejo Laura H. , Elghandour Mona M.Y. , Salem Abdelfattah Z.M. , Mlambo Victor
Published: October 2018

This study examines the effect of including graded levels of safflower meal (SM) [0 (SM0), 150 (SM15), or 200 g kg−1 dry matter (SM20)] in diets of Katahdin–Pelibuey lambs on ruminal fermentation, growth performance, and meat quality. Experimental diets were randomly allocated to 24 lambs (29.25 ± 0.55 kg) in a 60 d feeding trial. On day 30, rumen fluid was collected from each sheep at 0, 3, and 6 h after morning feeding to measure pH, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids. Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality were also measured. Feed intake, ruminal volatile fatty acids concentration, dry matter, and crude protein digestibility were not affected (P > 0.05) by diets. Lambs fed on SM15 had higher (P < 0.05) ruminal pH at 3 and 6 h post feeding compared with those on SM0 and SM20. Inclusion of SM increased (P < 0.05) ruminal ammonia concentration at 3 and 6 h post feeding; however, daily gain decreased with increasing levels of SM. Diets did not affect (P > 0.05) carcass and meat quality traits. Feeding SM-containing diets resulted in similar feed utilization, carcass characteristics, and meat quality to the control diet while improving ruminal fermentation parameters.
Effect of variety and level of inclusion of barley silage selected for varying neutral detergent fiber digestibility on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility in feedlot heifers fed backgrounding and finishing diets
Authors: Nair Jayakrishnan , Christensen David , Yu Peiqiang , Beattie Aaron D. , McAllister Tim , Damiran Daalkhaijav , McKinnon John J.
Published: October 2018

Two metabolism studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of variety and level of inclusion of barley silage on ruminal fermentation and total tract nutrient digestibility using beef heifers fed backgrounding (Study 1) and finishing (Study 2) diets. Both studies were 4 × 4 Latin square designs with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (barley varieties, CDC Cowboy and Xena; levels of inclusion, LOW and HIGH). Barley varieties did not vary in 30 h neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and averaged 37.1% ± 1.86% (% of NDF) across varieties. Heifers fed CDC Cowboy had greater (P = 0.05) mean ruminal pH and a lower (P = 0.01) duration under pH 5.8 relative to those fed Xena in Study 1, whereas heifers fed HIGH-silage diets had lower (P = 0.05) duration under ruminal pH 5.8 than those fed LOW-silage diets in Study 2. Variety of barley had minimal impact on ruminal fermentation and total tract nutrient digestibility in heifers fed barley silage, although high NDF content decreased energy intake. High NDF barley varieties and greater inclusion levels also increased ruminal pH which may improve total tract fiber digestibility in heifers fed finishing diets.
Demand for provisioning ecosystem services as a driver of change in the Canadian boreal zone1
Authors: Erdozain Maitane , Freeman Erika C. , Ouellet Dallaire Camille , Teichert Sonja , Nelson Harry W. , Creed Irena F.
Published: October 2018

The Canadian boreal zone provides extractive goods and services (provisioning ecosystem services (PrES)) to domestic and global markets and makes a significant contribution to the Canadian economy. The intensity and location of these extractive activities, however, may positively or negatively affect the availability of other benefits that the Canadian and global society receive from the boreal. Where PrES compete, managing these activities along with their impacts to boreal ecosystems becomes a balancing act between the need for resource extraction and the continued availability of the other benefits from ecosystems. Management measures and policies are more likely to succeed if they are designed with foresight, which means accounting for how demand, a key driver of change in the boreal, may change in the future. To help this process, we present three divergent, yet plausible future scenarios based on the analysis of: (i) the capacity of the boreal to provide wood products, fossil fuels, metals and minerals, and hydropower and other renewables; (ii) past trends (1985–2015) and key events in the demand for these PrES; (iii) the interaction of demand for PrES with other drivers of change to the boreal zone; and (iv) the synergies and trade-offs between PrES. We find that historically and currently the capacity of the boreal to provide these PrES exceeds the amount currently supplied. However, the capacity of different PrES and location of extractive activities are spatially dispersed creating a spatial and temporal patchwork of associated risks to local ecosystem integrity and the supply of non-PrES. In addition, these scenarios suggest that the future of boreal PrES is very uncertain and highly dependent on how other drivers of change (namely governance and geopolitics, societal values and climate change) play out in the future. Given the spatial complexity, we find that the cumulative effect of these drivers (e.g., climate change) will determine what paths unfold for different areas of the boreal, and we conclude that careful consideration and planning must be given to ensure that the balance between PrES and non-PrES is maintained.
Positive linear maps on normal matrices
Authors: Bourin Jean-Christophe , Lee Eun-Young
Published: October 2018

For a positive linear map [Formula: see text] and a normal matrix [Formula: see text], we show that [Formula: see text] is bounded by some simple linear combinations in the unitary orbit of [Formula: see text]. Several elegant sharp inequalities are derived, for instance for the Schur product of two normal matrices [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] for some unitary [Formula: see text], where the constant [Formula: see text] is optimal.