bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uterine Spiral Artery Remodeling: The Role of Uterine Natural Killer Cells and Extravillous Trophoblasts in Normal and High‐Risk Human Pregnancies
Authors: Tessier Daniel R. , Yockell‐Lelièvre Julien , Gruslin Andrée
Published: December 2014

The process of uterine spiral artery remodeling in the first trimester of human pregnancy is an essential part of establishing adequate blood perfusion of the placenta that will allow optimal nutrient/waste exchange to meet fetal demands during later development. Key regulators of spiral artery remodeling are the uterine natural killer cells and the invasive extravillous trophoblasts. The functions of these cells as well as regulation of their activation states and temporal regulation of their localization within the uterine tissue are beginning to be known. In this review, we discuss the roles of these two cell lineages in arterial remodeling events, their interaction/influence on one another and the outcomes of altered temporal, and spatial regulation of these cells in pregnancy complications.
Review article: the aetiology, diagnosis, mechanisms and clinical evidence for food intolerance
Authors: Lomer M. C. E.
Published: December 2014

Background

Food intolerance is non‐immunological and is often associated with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Aim

To focus on food intolerance associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and critically appraise the literature in relation to aetiology, diagnosis, mechanisms and clinical evidence.

Methods

A search using the terms and variants of food intolerance, lactose, FODMAP, gluten, food chemicals within Pubmed, Embase and Scopus was carried out and restricted to human studies published in English. Additionally, references from relevant papers were hand searched for other appropriate studies.

Results

Food intolerance affects 15–20% of the population and may be due to pharmacological effects of food components, noncoeliac gluten sensitivity or enzyme and transport defects. There have been significant advances in understanding the scientific basis of gastrointestinal food intolerance due to short‐chain fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs). The most helpful diagnostic test for food intolerance is food exclusion to achieve symptom improvement followed by gradual food reintroduction. A low FODMAP diet is effective, however, it affects the gastrointestinal microbiota and FODMAP reintroduction to tolerance is part of the management strategy.

Conclusions

There is increasing evidence for using a low FODMAP diet in the management of functional gastrointestinal symptoms where food intolerance is suspected. Exclusion diets should be used for as short a time as possible to induce symptom improvement, and should be followed by gradual food reintroduction to establish individual tolerance. This will increase dietary variety, ensure nutritional adequacy and minimise impact on the gastrointestinal microbiota.
Forecast Verification and Visualization based on Gaussian Mixture Model Co‐estimation
Authors: Wang Y. H. , Fan C. R. , Zhang J. , Niu T. , Zhang S. , Jiang J. R.
Published: December 2014

Precipitation forecast verification is essential to the quality of a forecast. The Gaussian mixture model (GMM) can be used to approximate the precipitation of several rain bands and provide a concise view of the data, which is especially useful for comparing forecast and observation data. The robustness of such comparison mainly depends on the consistency of and the correspondence between the extracted rain bands in the forecast and observation data. We propose a novel co‐estimation approach based on GMM in which forecast and observation data are analysed simultaneously. This approach naturally increases the consistency of and correspondence between the extracted rain bands by exploiting the similarity between both forecast and observation data. Moreover, a novel visualization and exploration framework is implemented to help the meteorologists gain insight from the forecast. The proposed approach was applied to the forecast and observation data provided by the China Meteorological Administration. The results are evaluated by meteorologists and novel insight has been gained.
Breaking Down Silos: Mapping Growth of Cross‐Disciplinary Collaboration in a Translational Science Initiative
Authors: Luke Douglas A. , Carothers Bobbi J. , Dhand Amar , Bell Ryan A. , Moreland‐Russell Sarah , Sarli Cathy C. , Evanoff Bradley A.
Published: December 2014

The importance of transdisciplinary collaboration is growing, though not much is known about how to measure collaboration patterns. The purpose of this paper is to present multiple ways of mapping and evaluating the growth of cross‐disciplinary partnerships over time. Social network analysis was used to examine the impact of a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) on collaboration patterns. Grant submissions from 2007 through 2010 and publications from 2007 through 2011 of Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) members were examined. A Cohort Model examining the first‐year ICTS members demonstrated an overall increase in collaborations on grants and publications, as well as an increase in cross‐discipline collaboration as compared to within‐discipline. A Growth Model that included additional members over time demonstrated the same pattern for grant submissions, but a decrease in cross‐discipline collaboration as compared to within‐discipline collaboration for publications. ICTS members generally became more cross‐disciplinary in their collaborations during the CTSA. The exception of publications for the Growth Model may be due to the time lag between funding and publication, as well as pressure for younger scientists to publish in their own fields. Network analysis serves as a valuable tool for evaluating changes in scientific collaboration.
Pioglitazone has a dubious bladder cancer risk but an undoubted cardiovascular benefit
Authors: Ryder R. E. J.
Published: December 2014

On 8 April 2014, a US jury ordered Takeda and Eli Lilly to pay $9 bn in punitive damages after finding that they had concealed the cancer risks associated with pioglitazone. By contrast, on 28 August 2014, the long‐awaited outcome of the 10‐year Kaiser Permanente Northern California study was announced. That study was specifically designed to investigate whether patients exposed to pioglitazone were at an increased risk of bladder cancer and found no association; thus, at last, the controversial issue has been resolved. A review, in retrospect, of the story of the proposed link between pioglitazone and bladder cancer reveals flaws at every stage. In 2012, a BMJ editorial, in keeping with some other contemporary reports, stated ‘it can confidently be assumed that pioglitazone increases the risk of bladder cancer’. Examination of the information which led to such a statement shows that: 1) the pre‐clinical findings of bladder cancer in male rats is not indicative of human risk; 2) there is no association between bladder cancer and pioglitazone in randomized controlled trials, once cases that could not plausibly be related to treatment are removed; and 3) the observational studies that have suggested a link have over‐extrapolated from the data: pioglitazone‐treated patients had more risk factors for bladder cancer than those not treated with pioglitazone. Meanwhile careful study of randomized controlled trials shows evidence of cardiovascular benefit from pioglitazone in Type 2 diabetes, a condition which results, more than anything, in premature cardiovascular death and morbidity.
Diabetes in the young: a population‐based study of South Asian, Chinese and White people
Authors: Ke C. , Sohal P. , Qian H. , Quan H. , Khan N. A.
Published: December 2014

Aims

Rates of diabetes mellitus in the young have not been quantified on a population level, particularly in South Asian and Chinese populations, which bear high rates of diabetes. We determined the incidence of diabetes (Type 2 diabetes and diabetes using insulin only) and rates of hospitalizations among South Asian, Chinese and White people aged 5–29 years with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Methods

People with newly diagnosed diabetes (1997–2006) in British Columbia, Canada were identified using population‐based administrative data and pharmacy databases. Age‐standardized incidence rates were calculated for people with diabetes prescribed insulin only and those with Type 2 diabetes. They were followed for up to 8 years for all hospitalizations and diabetes‐related complications.

Results

There were 712 South Asians, 498 Chinese and 6176 White people aged 5–29 years with diabetes. Most youth with diabetes had Type 2 diabetes (South Asian 86.4%; Chinese 87.1% and White 61.8%). The incidence of diabetes on insulin only was highest in White people compared with the other groups. The incidence of Type 2 diabetes was highest in South Asians, particularly in 20–29‐year‐olds, with rates 2.2 times that of White people and 3.1 times that of Chinese people. Hospitalization and diabetes‐related complications were uncommon in all groups.

Conclusion

The incidence of Type 2 diabetes is higher than previously estimated among youth and is now surpassing diabetes on insulin only. Significant reductions in Type 2 diabetes screening ages in South Asians need to be considered and prevention efforts are urgently required in childhood and adolescence. Global estimates need to consider the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes in the young.
Clinical relevance and cost‐effectiveness of HLA genotyping in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus in screening for coeliac disease in the Netherlands
Authors: Elias J. , Hoorweg‐Nijman J. J. G. , Balemans W. A.
Published: December 2014

Aims

To investigate the clinical relevance and cost‐effectiveness of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐genotyping in the Netherlands as a screening tool for the development of coeliac disease in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed in 110 children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnosed between January 1996 and January 2013. All children were screened for coeliac disease using coeliac disease‐specific antibodies and HLA genotyping was performed in all children.

Results

One hundred and ten children were screened for coeliac disease, and coeliac disease could be confirmed in seven. Eighty‐six per cent of the children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus had one of the variants of HLA–DQ2.5 and DQ8. HLA genotypes observed in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus children and coeliac disease were heterozygote DQ2.5, homozygote DQ2.5 and heterozygote DQ2.5/DQ8. HLA genotyping in coeliac disease screening in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus is more expensive than screening for coeliac disease with antibodies alone (€326 vs. €182 per child).

Conclusions

The risk of coeliac disease development in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus is increased when they are heterozygote DQ2.5/DQ8, homozygote or heterozygote DQ2.5. The implementation of HLA genotyping as a first‐line screening tool has to be reconsidered because it is not distinctive or cost‐effective.
Association of Mitral Annular Calcification with Left Ventricular Mechanics: A Speckle Tracking Study
Authors: Gökdeniz Tayyar , Boyaci Faruk , Hatem Engin , Bektaş Hüseyin , Kalaycıoğlu Ezgi , Gürsoy Mustafa Ozan , Aykan Ahmet Çağrı , Yıldız Banu Şahin , Altıntaş Bernas
Published: December 2014

Background

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a common echocardiographic finding in clinical practice and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. However, data regarding left ventricular (LV) functions are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between MAC and LV mechanical functions with the utility of two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Methods

The study involved 91 patients with MAC and 48 control subjects. Mitral annular thickness of 1–2 mm was reported as mild, 2–5 mm as moderate, and >5 mm as severe MAC. All patients underwent 2D echocardiography.

Results

MAC was observed in 91 (65.5%) patients. Of LV diastolic parameters, E/Em ratio, LAVI, LV mass index, and t‐LV UR were increased. Of LV systolic parameters, GLS and Sm were decreased, whereas Ar, Ar‐rate systole, peak LV twist, peak LV twist rate, LV‐tor, and MPI were increased, which were all correlated with presence and severity of MAC. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that LV mass index (β = 0.225, P = 0.012), t‐LV UR (β = 0.370, P < 0.001), LV mass index (β = 0.183, P = 0.025), MPI (β = 0.288, P < 0.001), and GLS (β = −0.385, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with MAC severity.

Conclusion

The presence and severity of MAC is associated with impaired LV systolic and diastolic functions. Therefore, preventive strategies might be taken in patients with MAC to avoid LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
What Is the Role and Importance of the Revised AERA, APA, NCME Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing?
Authors: Plake Barbara S. , Wise Lauress L.
Published: December 2014

With the 2014 publication of the 5th revision of the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, the cochairs of the Joint Committee for the revision process were asked to consider the role and importance of the Standards for the educational testing community, and in particular for members of the National Council on Measurement in Education. This article begins with an overview of the process used to create the 2014 revision of the Standards and a discussion of challenges faced by the Joint Committee in the revision process. The next section summarizes the major changes in the revised Standards. The final section considers uses of the revised Standards and is intended to stimulate discussion and debate on the role and importance of these revised Standards for the educational measurement community.
Anatomical variation of the spinous and transverse processes in the caudal cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra in horses
Authors: Santinelli I. , Beccati F. , Arcelli R. , Pepe M.
Published: December 2014

Reasons for performing study

There are scant data on the incidence of different anatomical variants of the equine caudal cervical spine, despite interest in cervical pathology.

Objectives

To identify morphological radiographic variation in the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra in horses of different breeds and to determine whether there are breed‐ and sex‐related differences.

Study design

Retrospective descriptive study.

Methods

Radiographs of the cervical spine of 270 horses were assessed retrospectively. The Chi‐square test, or Fisher's exact test when appropriate, was used to test for associations between radiographic findings and sex or breed, and residual analysis was performed to localise differences. Chi‐square tests and calculation of phi coefficient (φ) were used to test for associations between different types of radiological variation.

Results

Three variants were identified in the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra, and 2 variants were identified in the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra. The presence of the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra was associated with breed, and transposition of the ventral process of the 6th cervical vertebra onto the ventral aspect of the 7th cervical vertebra was associated with sex. The shape of the spinous process of first thoracic vertebra was associated with the shape of the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra and with the presence of transposition of the ventral process of the 6th cervical vertebra onto the ventral aspect of the 7th.

Conclusions

A large number of anatomical variants can be detected radiographically in the caudal cervical area; some of these have a higher frequency, depending on sex and breed. Knowledge of the different shapes is very important in avoiding misdiagnosis of periarticular new bone formation. The spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra has 2 morphological variants.
Tat predominantly associates with host promoter elements in HIV‐1‐infected T‐cells – regulatory basis of transcriptional repression of c‐Rel
Authors: Dhamija Neeru , Choudhary Deepika , Ladha Jayashree S. , Pillai Beena , Mitra Debashis
Published: December 2014

HIV‐1 Tat is a multifunctional regulatory protein that, in addition to its primary function of transactivating viral transcription, also tends to modulate cellular gene expression, for which the molecular mechanism remains to be clarified. We have reported earlier nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) enhancer binding activity of Tat and proposed this DNA binding activity as a possible molecular basis for Tat‐mediated regulation of cellular gene expression in infected cells. In the present study, we analyzed the genome‐wide occupancy of Tat protein on host cell chromatin in HIV‐1‐infected T‐cells to investigate a potential role of Tat on cellular gene expression. The results obtained identify a spectrum of binding sites of Tat protein on the chromatin and reveal that Tat is also recruited on a number of cellular gene promoters in HIV‐1‐infected T‐cells, indicating its possible involvement in the regulation of gene expression of such cellular genes. Tat was identified as a repressor of one such validated gene, c‐Rel, because it downregulates the expression of c‐Rel in both Tat expressing and HIV‐1‐infected T‐cells. The results also show that Tat downregulates c‐Rel promoter activity by interacting with specific NFκB sites on the c‐Rel promoter, thus providing a molecular basis of Tat‐mediated regulation of cellular gene expression. Thus, in the present study, we have not only identified recruitment sites of Tat on the chromatin in HIV‐1‐infected T‐cells, but also report for the first time that c‐Rel is downregulated in HIV‐1‐infected cells specifically by interaction of Tat with NFκB binding sites on the promoter.

Database

The microarray data supporting the results of this article are available in GEO (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo) under accession number GSE37183.
No evidence that elevated CO2 gives tropical lianas an advantage over tropical trees
Authors: Marvin David C. , Winter Klaus , Burnham Robyn J. , Schnitzer Stefan A.
Published: December 2014

Recent studies indicate that lianas are increasing in size and abundance relative to trees in neotropical forests. As a result, forest dynamics and carbon balance may be altered through liana‐induced suppression of tree growth and increases in tree mortality. Increasing atmospheric CO2 is hypothesized to be responsible for the increase in neotropical lianas, yet no study has directly compared the relative response of tropical lianas and trees to elevated CO2. We explicitly tested whether tropical lianas had a larger response to elevated CO2 than co‐occurring tropical trees and whether seasonal drought alters the response of either growth form. In two experiments conducted in central Panama, one spanning both wet and dry seasons and one restricted to the dry season, we grew liana (n = 12) and tree (n = 10) species in open‐top growth chambers maintained at ambient or twice‐ambient CO2 levels. Seedlings of eight individuals (four lianas, four trees) were grown in the ground in each chamber for at least 3 months during each season. We found that both liana and tree seedlings had a significant and positive response to elevated CO2 (in biomass, leaf area, leaf mass per area, and photosynthesis), but that the relative response to elevated CO2 for all variables was not significantly greater for lianas than trees regardless of the season. The lack of differences in the relative response between growth forms does not support the hypothesis that elevated CO2 is responsible for increasing liana size and abundance across the neotropics.
Mind the gap: non‐biological processes contributing to soil CO2 efflux
Authors: Rey Ana
Published: December 2014

Widespread recognition of the importance of soil CO2 efflux as a major source of CO2 to the atmosphere has led to active research. A large soil respiration database and recent reviews have compiled data, methods, and current challenges. This study highlights some deficiencies for a proper understanding of soil CO2 efflux focusing on processes of soil CO2 production and transport that have not received enough attention in the current soil respiration literature. It has mostly been assumed that soil CO2 efflux is the result of biological processes (i.e. soil respiration), but recent studies demonstrate that pedochemical and geological processes, such as geothermal and volcanic CO2 degassing, are potentially important in some areas. Besides the microbial decomposition of litter, solar radiation is responsible for photodegradation or photochemical degradation of litter. Diffusion is considered to be the main mechanism of CO2 transport in the soil, but changes in atmospheric pressure and thermal convection may also be important mechanisms driving soil CO2 efflux greater than diffusion under certain conditions. Lateral fluxes of carbon as dissolved organic and inorganic carbon occur and may cause an underestimation of soil CO2 efflux. Traditionally soil CO2 efflux has been measured with accumulation chambers assuming that the main transport mechanism is diffusion. New techniques are available such as improved automated chambers, CO2 concentration profiles and isotopic techniques that may help to elucidate the sources of carbon from soils. We need to develop specific and standardized methods for different CO2 sources to quantify this flux on a global scale. Biogeochemical models should include biological and non‐biological CO2 production processes before we can predict the response of soil CO2 efflux to climate change. Improving our understanding of the processes involved in soil CO2 efflux should be a research priority given the importance of this flux in the global carbon budget.
Conditions that favor clover establishment in permanent grass swards
Authors: Tracy Benjamin F. , Schlueter David H. , Flores Joao Paulo
Published: December 2014

Over seeding clover into permanent grasslands has many benefits, but successful establishment can be difficult as it depends on multiple interacting variables. This paper reports on a 2‐year factorial experiment conducted to evaluate how the interaction of several variables: (i) height of residual grass stubble at sowing, (ii) defoliation frequency, and (iii) fertilization with P and K affected clover seedling emergence and subsequent biomass in a permanent grass sward. In 2010, a red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) mix was broadcast seeded into grass plots arranged in a split‐split plot arrangement of treatments. Clover seed sown into short grass stubble produced two times more seedlings (226 m−2) compared with sowing into tall swards (106 m−2). Frequent defoliation facilitated clover establishment, but only when seed had been sown into short grass stubble. Fertilization increased red clover yield in year 1, but this also depended on interactions with defoliation frequency and stubble height. Overall, red clover benefitted from fertilization with P and K but only during the establishing year. Fertilization also promoted a less desirable weedy species, hop clover (Trifolium campestre Schreb.), which may have had negative impacts on clover yield and white clover persistence in year 2. The results highlight the complexity of managing grass‐legume mixtures especially with respect to fertilization.
Neonatal circumcision in severe haemophilia: a survey of paediatric haematologists at United States Hemophilia Treatment Centers
Authors: Kearney S. , Sharathkumar A. , Rodriguez V. , Chitlur M. , Valentino L. , Boggio L. , Gill J.
Published: December 2014

Neonatal circumcision in patients with severe haemophilia has not been well studied. We performed a survey of paediatric haematologists from Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTC) across the United States to better understand the attitudes toward and management of neonatal circumcision in haemophilia patients. Response rate to our survey was 40% (n = 64/159). Thirty‐eight percent of respondents (n = 24) said that they would allow this procedure in the newborn period but in many cases this was against medical advice. The most reported concern regarding neonatal circumcision in haemophilia patients was the risk of development of an inhibitor (n = 25; 39%) followed by the concern for bleeding (n = 22; 34%) and issues related to vascular access in the neonate (n = 11; 17%). All respondents recommended at least one preprocedure dose of factor replacement. Twenty‐two percent (n = 14) of respondents did not use more than one dose of factor replacement but 32% (n = 21) used 1–2 postoperative doses. The remainder of paediatric haematologists surveyed recommended between 3–5 (16%; n = 10) and 6–10 (3%, n = 2) additional days postoperatively. There was wide variation in both techniques of circumcision as well as adjuvant haemostatic agents used. Only 22% of respondents said that they had an established protocol for management of circumcision in the newborn haemophilia patient. These survey results highlight the need for evidence‐based guidelines regarding the optimal management of circumcision in neonates with severe haemophilia.
Oral surgery‐associated postoperative bleeding in haemophilia patients – a tertiary centre's two decade experience
Authors: Givol N. , Hirschhorn A. , Lubetsky A. , Bashari D. , Kenet G.
Published: December 2014

Our goal in this research was to evaluate potential and targeted therapy, correlated with haemophilia severity and dental procedural risk, to reduce postoperative bleeding risk. Patients with haemophilia who were treated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic at Sheba Medical Center between 1996 and 2012 comprised the study cohort. Data collected included disease history and severity, perioperative factor concentrate therapy, local haemostatic agent application, systemic tranexamic acid use and outcome. Bleeding was defined as excessive bleeding during or within 20 days following procedure. Dental procedures (n = 1968) of 125 patients were studied. Patients’ bleeding risk score was evaluated according to the severity of haemophilia with or without the presence of an inhibitor, presence of comorbid coagulopathy and the type of dental procedure. Thirty‐four patients undergoing a total of 880 high‐risk and 1088 low‐risk procedures suffered 40 postoperative bleeding events that necessitated further dental and/or haematological intervention. Among risk factors for delayed bleeding, the use of fibrin glue was significantly (P = 0.027) associated with the risk of postprocedural bleed probably as it was applied to high‐risk patients and procedures. Earlier treatment period (P = 0.055), postprocedure hospitalization (P = 0.039) and dental “high‐risk” procedures (P < 0.0001) also increased bleeding risk. Patients with haemophilia may be safely treated if meticulous haemostasis is applied, along with fibrin glue and systemic therapy as required. Factor transfusions are not mandatory and should be applied considering the procedure‐related risk and the patient's calculated haematological risk for bleeding.
New molecularly targeted therapies against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: From molecular pathogenesis to clinical trials and future directions
Authors: Chuma Makoto , Terashita Katsumi , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: December 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be lethal due to its aggressive course and lack of effective systemic therapies for advanced disease. Sorafenib is the only systemic therapy that has demonstrated an overall survival benefit in patients with advanced HCC, and new agents for treatment of advanced HCC are needed. The multiple pathways involved in HCC oncogenesis, proliferation and survival provide many opportunities for the development of molecularly targeted therapies. Molecular targets of interest have expanded from angiogenesis to cancer cell‐directed oncogenic signaling pathways for treatment of advanced HCC. Agents targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor, platelet‐derived growth factor receptor, c‐mesenchymal‐epithelial transition factor‐1 and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling have been actively explored. This article focuses on the evaluation of molecular agents targeting pathogenic HCC and provides a review of recently completed phase III drug studies (e.g. involving sorafenib, sunitinib, brivanib, linifanib, erlotinib, everolimus, ramucirumab or orantinib) and ongoing drug studies (e.g. involving lenvatinib, regorafenib, tivantinib or cabozantinib) of molecularly targeted agents in advanced HCC, including a brief description of the biologic rationale behind these agents.
Slide navigation patterns among pathologists with long experience of digital review
Authors: Molin Jesper , Fjeld Morten , Mello‐Thoms Claudia , Lundström Claes
Published: December 2014

Aims

In order to develop efficient digital pathology workstations, we studied the navigation patterns of pathologists diagnosing whole‐slide images. To gain a better understanding of these patterns, we built a conceptual model based on observations. We also determined whether or not new navigation patterns have emerged among pathologists with extensive digital experience.

Methods and results

Five pathologists were asked to diagnose a set of four cases while thinking out loud. The navigation within the digital slides was recorded and divided into re‐occurring navigation actions. The pathologists reused the same type of actions, but their occurrence differed. The most common action was a slow panning that followed an edge structure or covered an area systematically, which accounted for 30.2% of all actions and had a median duration of 7.2 s. Of all the actions, 49% were carried out within the navigation overview and 38% of the actions could not have been performed with a conventional microscope.

Conclusions

The new navigation possibilities in the digital workstation were used to a large extent. The division of actions into different concepts can be used to find and prioritize between existing user interface designs as well as to understand the different navigation styles used by different pathologists.
Evaluation of antioxidant activities and phenolic subtype contents of ethanolic bran extracts of Thai pigmented rice varieties through chemical and cellular assays
Authors: Surarit Worawat , Jansom Chalerm , Lerdvuthisopon Nusiri , Kongkham Supranee , Hansakul Pintusorn
Published: December 2014

This study revealed that the ethanolic bran extracts of 11 Thai pigmented (red and purple) and 2 nonpigmented rice varieties exerted scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals and ROS in HL‐60 cells in the following order: red > purple > nonpigmented rice. These rice extracts also showed the same order of phenolic and flavonoid contents, which were strongly correlated with their scavenging activity. Phenolic subtype analysis further indicated that proanthocyanidins as well as anthocyanins and protocatechuic acid contributed directly to antioxidant capacity in red and purple rice bran, respectively. In contrast, these pigmented rice bran extracts possessed moderate chelating activity partly attributed to their contents of phenolics and flavonoids, especially proanthocyanidins in red rice bran. Moreover, rice bran extracts significantly restored SOD and CAT activities in oxidative stress‐induced A549 cells. This study provides new insights on the intracellular potent antioxidant capacity of pigmented rice bran extracts in the cell‐based systems.
Valorisation of olive mill wastewater by enhancement of natural hydroxytyrosol recovery
Authors: Hamza Manel , Sayadi Sami
Published: December 2014

Recovery of natural and simple phenolic compounds with high added value was performed successfully from olive mill wastewater. Three types of olive mill wastewater were assayed in bioconversion at 15 and 40 L in mechanically stirred systems for 2 h at 50 °C. Maximum hydroxytyrosol concentrations of about 1.53, 0.83 and 0.46 g L−1 were obtained in the presence of 5 IU Aspergillus niger β‐glucosidase per milliliter of OMW in North OMW, MSP and MCC, which were 2.70‐, 1.38‐ and 1.77‐fold higher than the controls, respectively. Enzymatic pretreatment was followed by two tangential flow membrane separation steps, microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF), and concentration procedures for the ultrafiltration permeate. The latter exhibited a COD level of 48.44 g L−1. The UF permeate concentration increased the hydroxytyrosol concentration to 7.2 g L−1. Hence, this innovative work described an environmently friendly process; pilot‐scale has allowed producing a new and natural product which obeyed the dietary requirements; it contains some minerals beneficial to health and does not contain heavy metals or chemicals. Overall, this chemical‐free large‐scale process proved efficient for recovery of natural hydroxytyrosol.
Analysis of tea catechins in vegetable oils by high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with liquid–liquid extraction
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wu Zufang , Weng Peifang , Yang Yang
Published: December 2014

In this study, a method was developed for the determination of various tea catechins in vegetable oils. Firstly, vegetable oils including tea seed oil, sunflower seed oil and soya bean oil were extracted by methanol/water (40:60, v/v), and then, a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of GA, caffeine, EGC, EGCG, EC, ECG, GC, GCG, C and CG. For the compounds detected in tested vegetable oils, LODs were in the range of 0.05–1.65 ng, both intraday and interday relative standard deviations (RSDs) were <5.0%, and the recovery rates were in the range of 96.2–100.5% with RSD <3.7%. The results showed in vegetable oils which declared to had added tea catechins in, the concentrations of tea catechins were less than that showed in package label, and the content of EGCG was the highest in all samples. Therefore, the advancement made in our study will facilitate studies of tea catechins in oil industry.
Factors Affecting Clinical Outcome in Large-Vessel Occlusive Ischemic Strokes
Authors: Lin Michelle P. , Tsivgoulis Georgios , Alexandrov Andrei V. , Chang Jason J.
Published: December 2014

Clinical outcome after large-vessel occlusive strokes depends on admitting clinical condition, successful recanalization, and robust collateral circulation. However, predicting successful recanalization and quantifying collateral status in the acute setting remain elusive. Successful recanalization has many predictive factors. Strong evidence supports increasing clot length being associated with poor recanalization. Current imaging techniques completed in the acute setting suggest that clot length can be estimated with a clot burden score. In vitro evidence suggests that clots with more red blood cells and less thrombin lyse more easily after systemic fibrinolysis. Clinical correlations with clot composition have been mixed, although one study suggested that clot composition could be predicted with computed tomography and correlate with successful recanalization. Finally, overwhelming proof shows that robust collateral circulation correlates with improved clinical outcome. Imaging modalities in the acute setting remain promising, with studies suggesting that collaterals can be quantified with computed tomography angiography and perfusion studies. Patients with large-vessel occlusive strokes have variable clinical responses to fibrinolysis and thrombectomy. Independent predictive variables that can possibly alter clinical outcome appear to be successful recanalization and robust collateral circulation. Future studies that allow for better prediction of successful recanalization and quantification of collateral status may help clinical decision-making when evaluating large-vessel occlusions.
Poststroke Fatigue: Risk Factors and its Effect on Functional Status and Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Chen Yang-Kun , Qu Jian-Feng , Xiao Wei-Min , Li Wan-Yi , Weng Han-Yu , Li Wei , Liu Yong-Lin , Luo Gen-Pei , Fang Xue-Wen , Ungvari Gabor S. , Xiang Yu-Tao
Published: December 2014

Background

Fatigue is a common problem in ischemic stroke survivors. The mechanisms of poststroke fatigue are uncertain yet. The effects of it on functional status have rarely been studied.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of poststroke fatigue and its effect on activities of daily living and health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods

Two hundred and eighteen patients with ischemic stroke formed the study sample. A comprehensive assessment, including the Fatigue Severity Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Lawton activities of daily living scale, and the stroke-specific quality of life scale, was conducted three-months after stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging scans focused on the evaluation of infarctions, white matter lesions, and brain atrophy.

Results

In the whole sample, with Fatigue Severity Scale as the dependent variable in a linear regression model, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, prestroke fatigue, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission were significant correlates of Fatigue Severity Scale, accounting for 36% of the variance of it. When subjects with depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ≥ 20 or current usage of antidepressants) were excluded, only Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and prestroke fatigue remained significant correlates of Fatigue Severity Scale, accounting for 33% of the variance of Fatigue Severity Scale. No magnetic resonance imaging variables correlated with Fatigue Severity Scale. In bivariate correlation analyses, Fatigue Severity Scale was significantly correlated with both activities of daily living and stroke-specific quality of life. In linear regression models, Fatigue Severity Scale independently contributed to activities of daily living accounting for 27% of the variance. Fatigue Severity Scale was also a significant contributor to stroke-specific quality of life accounting for 39% of the variance.

Conclusion

Depressive symptoms and prestroke fatigue are major correlates of poststroke fatigue while more severe post-stroke fatigue is associated with poorer activities of daily living and health-related quality of life.
Effects of Blood Pressure Lowering in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Carotid Artery Stenosis
Authors: Jusufovic Mirza , Sandset Else Charlotte , Bath Philip M. W. , Karlson Björn W. , Berge Eivind
Published: December 2014

Background

The Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial (SCAST) showed no beneficial clinical effects of blood pressure lowering with the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan in the acute phase of stroke. In the present analysis we wanted to see if the effects of blood pressure lowering are harmful in the subgroup of patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Methods

SCAST was a randomized- and placebo-controlled, double-masked trial of 2029 patients with acute stroke and high systolic blood pressure (≥140 mmHg). Of 1733 patients with ischemic stroke 993 underwent carotid artery imaging, and the degree of stenosis was categorized as no/insignificant (0–49%, n = 806), moderate (50–69%, n = 97) or severe (=70%, n = 90). The trial's two co-primary effect variables were the composite end-point of vascular death, stroke or myocardial infarction, and functional outcome at six-months, according to the modified Rankin Scale.

Results

Among patients with moderate or severe carotid artery stenosis the vascular end-point occurred in 9 of 87 patients (10·3%) treated with candesartan and in 17 of 100 controls (17·0%), and there was no evidence of a different risk in patients with severe stenosis (adjusted hazard ratio 0·74, 95% confidence interval 0·28–1·96, P = 0·54). For functional outcome there was also no clear difference, although in patients with severe stenosis the risk of a poor outcome was somewhat higher than in any of the other groups (adjusted odds ratio 2·24, 95% confidence interval 0·71–7·09, P = 0·16). Progressive stroke also occurred more often in patients with carotid artery stenosis treated with candesartan (10 of 87 patients (11·5%) vs. 4 of 100 patients (4·0%)), with a trend towards an increased risk with increasing severity of stenosis ( P-value for linear trend = 0·04).

Conclusions

There is no clear evidence that the effect of candesartan is qualitatively different in patients with carotid artery stenosis, but there are signals that patients with severe stenosis are at particularly high risk of stroke progression and poor functional outcome.
Effect of Addition of Clopidogrel to Aspirin on Subdural Hematoma: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Bakheet Majid F. , Pearce Lesly A. , Hart Robert G.
Published: December 2014

Background

Clopidogrel combined with aspirin is routinely prescribed after coronary artery stenting, in patients with acute coronary syndromes, and recently to prevent stroke in patients with acute minor ischemic stroke and TIA. Subdural hematomas are an important complication of antithrombotic treatment, but the risk associated with clopidogrel plus aspirin has not been previously defined.

Purpose

To quantify the risk of subdural hematoma associated with dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel plus aspirin.

Methods

Randomized clinical trials comparing clopidogrel plus aspirin with aspirin alone were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1990 to 2014, and restricted to those with more than 7 days of treatment. Two reviewers independently extracted data about subdural hematomas.

Results

Of 24 randomized trials testing clopidogrel added to aspirin, results for subdural hematoma were available for 11 trials, of which eight did not identify any subdural hematomas. The three trials reporting subdural hematomas were double-blind and included patients with recent lacunar stroke, acute coronary syndromes or atrial fibrillation with a total of 23,136 patients (mean age 66 years) and reported 39 subdural hematomas during a mean follow-up 2·1 years per patient. Clopidogrel plus aspirin was associated with a significantly increased risk of subdural hematoma compared with aspirin alone (risk ratio 2·0, 95% CI 1·0, 3·8; P = 0·04; fixed effects model; I2 for heterogeneity of 0%, P = 0·51). The average absolute incidence of subdural hematoma averaged 1·1 (95%CI 0·7,1·6) per 1000 patient – years among those assigned clopidogrel plus aspirin in 11 randomized trials.

Conclusions

The absolute rate of subdural hematoma during dual antiplatelet therapy is low, averaging 1·1 per 1000 patient-years. Chronic treatment with clopidogrel plus aspirin significantly increases the risk of subdural hematoma compared with aspirin alone.
Improvement of wound tissue repair by chitosan films containing (–)‐borneol, a bicyclic monoterpene alcohol, in rats
Authors: Barreto Rosana SS , Quintans Jullyana SS , Barreto André S , Albuquerque‐Júnior Ricardo LC , Galvão Juliana G , Gonsalves Joice KMC , Nunes Rogéria S , Camargo Enilton A , Lucca‐Júnior Waldecy , Soares Rosilene C , Feitosa Vera Lúcia C , Quintans‐Júnior Lucindo J
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the wound‐healing activity of (–)‐borneol (BOR) incorporated in chitosan film on healing protocol in rodents. To assess the BOR wound‐healing potential, male Wistar rats were subjected to a full‐thickness excisional wound. The animals were divided into three groups: dressed with chitosan‐based film (QUIN); dressed with chitosan‐based film containing 0·5% BOR (QUIBO05); or dressed with chitosan‐based film containing 1% BOR (QUIBO1). Dressing the wound areas and histological analysis were performed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was assessed on the third and seventh days after surgical procedures. Wounds dressed with chitosan‐based film containing BOR reduced significantly the MPO activity (P < 0·001), showed significantly larger wound retraction rates (7 days, P < 0·05), improved the granulation reaction, and also provided better collagenisation density and arrangement during wound healing. It is suggested that BOR modulates the wound‐healing process and is a promising compound to be used in wound care. This product may be quite useful in improving wound healing and could be a new biotechnological product with healing properties and clinical application. Further ongoing studies will enable us to understand the precise mechanisms whereby BOR improves the wound‐healing process.
Physiological and Yield Responses of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) to Drought Stress in Managed and Open Field Environments
Authors: Ammar M. H. , Anwar F. , El‐Harty E. H. , Migdadi H. M. , Abdel‐Khalik S. M. , Al‐Faifi S. A. , Farooq M. , Alghamdi S. S.
Published: December 2014

Water scarcity is threatening the sustainability of global food grain production systems. Devising management strategies and identification of crop species and genotypes are direly required to meet the global food demands with limited supply. This study, consisted of two independent experiments, was conducted to compare faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes Giza Blanka, Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1, Hassawi‐2 and Gazira‐2 in terms of physiological attributes and yield under water‐limited environments. In first experiment, conducted in a growth chamber, osmotic stress of −0.78, −0.96, −1.19 and −1.65 MPa was induced using polyethylene glycol for 4 weeks. In second experiment, conducted in open field for two consecutive growing seasons, water deficit treatments were applied 3 weeks after sowing. In this experiment, irrigation was applied when an amount of evaporated water from the ‘class A pan’ evaporation reached 50 mm (well watered), 100 mm (moderate drought) and 150 mm (severe drought). Water deficit, applied in terms of osmotic stress or drought, reduced the root and shoot length, related leaf water contents, total chlorophyll contents and efficiency of photosystem‐II, plant height, grain yield and related attributes in faba bean; increased the leaf free proline, leaf soluble proteins and malondialdehyde contents, and triggered the maturity in tested faba bean genotypes. However, substantial genetic variation was observed in the tested genotypes in this regard. For instance, root length of genotypes Giza Blanka and Hassawi‐2 decreased gradually, whereas it was increased in genotypes Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1 and Gazira‐2 with increase in the level of osmotic stress. Genotypes Gazira‐2 and Hassawi‐2 had better relative leaf water contents, leaf free proline and soluble proteins under water deficit conditions; however, these were minimum in genotype Giza Blanka. Better accumulation of leaf free proline, soluble proteins, and maintenance of chlorophyll contents, tissue water, efficiency of photosystem‐II and grain weight in water‐limited conditions helped some genotypes like Hassawi‐2 to yield better. Future breeding programs for developing new faba bean genotypes for water‐limited environments may consider these traits.