bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EU’s democracy promotion in Egypt before and after Arab uprisings
Authors: Zahran Alaa Hosny
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline how the EU figures out the importance of strengthening its relations with Egypt as one of the most strategic countries in the region to keep the union secured and stable. The paper also assesses to what extent the EU succeeds to promote democracy in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

The EU pursues its policy through a series of both bilateral and multilateral agreements with Egypt aiming at positioning their relations in a strategic context. The research adopted different approaches as descriptive and analytical ones.

Findings

Following the Arab uprisings, the EU was caught by surprise and announced a paradigm shift in its relations and introduced a set of policies to foster democracy promotion that witnessed some successes but with extremely modest results in some areas compared to the costs of the process. The EU succeeded in important reforms in trade liberalization while it did not bring clear changes in the political arena in Egypt.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper convey that the Arab uprisings were a wake-up call for the EU. It was the right time for the EU to conduct such a strategic and sincere reflection based on the role it wants to play in the changing region. In addition, findings prove that the EU’s response to revolutionary events has been weak and hesitant, and the EU has not an effective role in promoting democracy in Egypt.
Responding to hate: how national and local incidents sparked action at the UNLV University Libraries
Authors: Fiedler Brittany Paloma , Mitola Rosan , Cheng James
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how an academic library at one of the most diverse universities in the country responded to the 2016 election through the newly formed Inclusion and Equity Committee and through student outreach.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper details the context of the 2016 election and the role of social justice in librarianship. It offers ideas for how library diversity committees can address professional development, recruitment and retention efforts and cultural humility. It highlights student outreach efforts to support marginalized students, educate communities and promote student activism. Finally, it offers considerations and suggestions for librarians who want to engage in this work.

Findings

This paper shows that incorporating social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion requires individuals taking action. If institutions want to focus on any of these issues, they need to formally include them in their mission, vision and values as well as in department goals and individual job descriptions. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries fully supports this work, but most of the labor is done by a small number of people. Unsustainable practices can cause employee burnout and turnover resulting in less internal and external efforts to support diversity.

Originality/value

Most of the previous literature focuses either on internal activities, such as professional development and committees, or on student-focused activities, such as outreach events, displays and instruction. This paper is one comprehensive review of both kinds of activities.
Pregnancy and childbirth in English prisons: institutional ignominy and the pains of imprisonment
Authors: Abbott Laura , Scott Tricia , Thomas Hilary , Weston Kathy
Published: January 2020

With a prison population of approximately 9000 women in England, it is estimated that approximately 600 pregnancies and 100 births occur annually. Despite an extensive literature on the sociology of reproduction, pregnancy and childbirth among women prisoners is under‐researched. This article reports an ethnographic study in three English prisons undertaken in 2015‐2016, including interviews with 22 prisoners, six women released from prison and 10 staff members. Pregnant prisoners experience numerous additional difficulties in prison including the ambiguous status of a pregnant prisoner, physical aspects of pregnancy and the degradation of the handcuffed or chained prisoner during visits to the more public setting of hospital. This article draws on Erving Goffman's concepts of closed institutions, dramaturgy and mortification of self, Crewe et al.'s work on the gendered pains of imprisonment and Crawley's notion of ‘institutional thoughtlessness’, and proposes a new concept of institutional ignominy to understand the embodied situation of the pregnant prisoner.
The paradoxical mechanisms of high‐performance work systems (HPWSs) on perceived workload: A dual‐path mediation model
Authors: Liu Fang , Chow Irene Hau‐Siu , Zhu Weichun , Chen Weiqi
Published: January 2020

We invoke conservation of resources theory to present an integrative model that simultaneously examines the positive and negative effects of employee‐experienced high‐performance work systems (experienced‐HPWSs) on perceived workload (PW). Analysis of three‐wave, time‐lagged data from 368 employees of four major state‐owned commercial banks in China revealed that experienced‐HPWSs positively predict perceived organisational support, which in turn decreases PW. Experienced‐HPWSs positively predict psychological empowerment, which in turn increases PW. The positive influence of psychological empowerment on PW is stronger than the negative influence of perceived organisational support on PW, indicating that resource loss is more salient than resource gain. This dual‐path mediation model increases our understanding of the mechanisms through which HPWSs influence PW and highlights the coexistence of opposite impacts during the process.
Root‐tip cutting and uniconazole treatment improve the colonization rate of Tuber indicum on Pinus armandii seedlings in the greenhouse
Authors: Li Xiaolin , Ye Lei , Zhang Xiaoping , Tan Hao , Li Qiang
Published: January 2020

The Chinese black truffle Tuber indicum is commercially valuable. The main factors influencing the success or failure of a truffle crop include the mycorrhizal colonization rate and host plant quality. The effects of a plant growth regulator (uniconazole) and plant growth management technique (root‐tip cutting) on T. indicum colonization rate and Pinus armandii seedling growth were assessed under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that 10 mg l−1 uniconazole or the combination of 5 mg l−1 uniconazole and root‐tip cutting constitutes an effective method for ectomycorrhizal synthesis based on an overall evaluation of colonization rate, plant biomass, plant height, root weight, stem circumference and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and POD) of P. armandii. The abundance of Proteobacteria in the rhizosphere of colonized seedlings might serve as an indicator of stable mycorrhizal colonization. This research inspires the potential application of uniconazole and root‐tip cutting treatments for mycorrhizal synthesis and truffle cultivation.
Making Economic Policy in a Democratic Indonesia: The First Two Decades
Authors: Basri Chatib , Hill Hal
Published: January 2020

After three decades of rapid economic growth during the authoritarian Soeharto era, followed by the deep but relatively short‐lived Asian financial crisis, Indonesia transitioned rapidly to democratic and decentralized governance. We examine policy‐making processes and economic outcomes during the first two decades of this new era, leading up to the 2019 national elections where it was widely conjectured that Indonesia might follow the global trends of authoritarian rule and illiberalism. We conclude that, thus far, Indonesia has navigated the transition from authoritarian to democratic rule quite successfully. Compared to the Soeharto era, growth has been somewhat slower, inequality has risen, and policy reform is slower and generally incremental. But living standards continue to rise and all major political players have elected to operate within the new democratic parameters. Macroeconomic management has continued to be effective. Nevertheless, there are no grounds for complacency: there is a large outstanding reform agenda, and the economy is not providing enough economic opportunities for the better‐educated senior secondary and tertiary graduates entering the workforce.
Video reflection: An emerging tool for training client‐centred communication skills in staff supporting adults with learning disabilities in an education setting
Authors: Meadows Ben , Taylor Megan , Rayment Tara , Johnson Jane , Mahon Merle
Published: January 2020

Accessible summary

Video reflection is one of the best ways to help staff develop their communication skills provided the training setting is supportive.

Good communication skills are important so staff can support people with learning disabilities access education.

This study filmed education staff working with people with a learning disability at college.

The staff watched the video so they could see themselves and think about what they did well and what they could improve on.

The results found that staff were better at communicating and more confident using their communication skills after watching the video.

Background

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) contribute to communication with adults with learning disabilities by providing training to the networks that support them. The requirements for successful communication with this population are frequently complex and necessitate an effective training medium to transfer the target knowledge and skills. Video has increasingly been used as a tool to facilitate self‐reflection and behaviour change. Currently, there is limited research into the effectiveness of video‐based training in education settings for adults with learning disabilities. Therefore, this study investigated the effectiveness of video reflection training (VRT) for support staff in a college for adults with learning disabilities.

Materials and Method

Ten staff members with diverse skill sets completed three VRT sessions aimed at improving their use of communication strategies. Training evaluation measures were taken before and after VRT and included use of communication strategies, self‐efficacy, training pre‐conceptions and training experience.

Results

Overall, the majority of staff made gains either in their use of communication strategies or in their self‐efficacy ratings. Yet, study limitations restrict conclusions regarding whether VRT itself caused these outcomes. Interpretation revealed five factors relating to the effectiveness of VRT: tailoring training to staff's pre‐existing skills, practising facilitation techniques, providing acceptable training, increasing self‐reflection skills and using video as a reflection tool.

Conclusions

Regardless of the limitations, this study provides findings that VRT is a useful tool for training support staff to use client‐centred communication skills in an education setting. Future training programmes should be individualised and tailored to staff depending on their skill sets.
Combined effects of land use and hunting on distributions of tropical mammals
Authors: Gallego‐Zamorano Juan , Benítez‐López Ana , Santini Luca , Hilbers Jelle P. , Huijbregts Mark A. J. , Schipper Aafke M.
Published: January 2020

Land use and hunting are 2 major pressures on biodiversity in the tropics. Yet, their combined impacts have not been systematically quantified at a large scale. We estimated the effects of both pressures on the distributions of 1884 tropical mammal species by integrating species’ range maps, detailed land‐use maps (1992 and 2015), species‐specific habitat preference data, and a hunting pressure model. We further identified areas where the combined impacts were greatest (hotspots) and least (coolspots) to determine priority areas for mitigation or prevention of the pressures. Land use was the main driver of reduced distribution of all mammal species considered. Yet, hunting pressure caused additional reductions in large‐bodied species’ distributions. Together, land use and hunting reduced distributions of species by 41% (SD 30) on average (year 2015). Overlap between impacts was only 2% on average. Land use contributed more to the loss of distribution (39% on average) than hunting (4% on average). However, hunting reduced the distribution of large mammals by 29% on average; hence, large mammals lost a disproportional amount of area due to the combination of both pressures. Gran Chaco, the Atlantic Forest, and Thailand had high levels of impact across the species (hotspots of area loss). In contrast, the Amazon and Congo Basins, the Guianas, and Borneo had relatively low levels of impact (coolspots of area loss). Overall, hunting pressure and human land use increased from 1992 to 2015 and corresponding losses in distribution increased from 38% to 41% on average across the species. To effectively protect tropical mammals, conservation policies should address both pressures simultaneously because their effects are highly complementary. Our spatially detailed and species‐specific results may support future national and global conservation agendas, including the design of post‐2020 protected area targets and strategies.
Recombinant adiponectin peptide promotes neuronal survival after intracerebral haemorrhage by suppressing mitochondrial and ATF4‐CHOP apoptosis pathways in diabetic mice via Smad3 signalling inhibition
Authors: Wu Xun , Luo Jianing , Liu Haixiao , Cui Wenxing , Guo Wei , Zhao Lei , Guo Hao , Bai Hao , Guo Kang , Feng Dayun , Qu Yan
Published: January 2020

Objective

Low levels of adiponectin (APN), a biomarker of diabetes mellitus, have been implicated in the poor outcome of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Herein, we aimed to demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of a blood‐brain barrier‐permeable APN peptide (APNp) on ICH injury in diabetic mice and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods

Recombinant APNp was administrated intraperitoneally to mice with collagenase‐induced ICH. Neurological deficits, brain water content and neural apoptosis were assessed. Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, quantitative RT‐PCR and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the signalling pathways affected by APNp.

Results

Adiponectin peptide significantly alleviated neural apoptosis, neurological deficits and brain oedema following ICH in diabetic mice. Mechanistically, APNp promoted the restoration of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)‐1α related mitochondrial function and suppressed activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)‐CCAAT‐enhancer‐binding protein homologous protein (CHOP)‐induced neural apoptosis. Furthermore, Smad3 signalling was found to play a regulatory role in this process by transcriptionally regulating the expression of PGC‐1α and ATF4. APNp significantly suppressed the elevated phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad3 after ICH in diabetic mice, while the protective effects of APNp on mitochondrial and ATF4‐CHOP apoptosis pathways were counteracted when Smad3 was activated by exogenous transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 treatment.

Conclusions

Our study provided the first evidence that APNp promoted neural survival following ICH injury in the diabetic setting and revealed a novel mechanism by which APNp suppressed mitochondrial and ATF4‐CHOP apoptosis pathways in a Smad3 dependent manner.
Epilepsy surgery: more to treatment outcomes than counting seizures
Authors: Varadkar Sophia
Published: January 2020

This commentary is on the original article by Jain et al. on pages 600–608 of this issue.
Special issue introduction Ownership in a post‐aid effectiveness era: Comparative perspectives
Authors: Keijzer Niels , Black David
Published: January 2020

Motivation

Close to 15 years have passed since the adoption of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which generated unprecedented efforts to advance effective development co‐operation with a central focus on developing country ownership. Under today’s international development co‐operation realities, involving inclusive agendas, strategic divergence and increasing competition, discussions on ownership, harmonization and alignment have lost traction. Yet the practices of development co‐operation relationships show strong continuities.

Purpose

This special issue examines how the principle of ownership may be understood and advanced under these new conditions. National ownership is prioritized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development yet has so far been marginalized by a predominantly piecemeal response and by the rise of “mutual benefit” co‐operation.

Approach and Methods

This special issue takes an inductive approach to studying specific cases and actors bearing on the challenge of understanding and advancing ownership today, in order to inform future policy and research. The contributions to this special issue mainly draw from qualitative research designs that present detailed research inquiries into specific country and actor cases, drawing from interviews, structured desk reviews of policy documents and the rich body of literature on development effectiveness. They are complemented by two contributions that respectively present quantitative research and probe the critical and post‐development literature for additional insights.

Findings

Findings point to an increasing prevalence of pragmatism and self‐interest among all actors, to the detriment of national ownership. Broad co‐operation agendas, a sense of urgency interpreted as a search for quick results, and more diverse, interest‐ and outcome‐driven forms of multi‐stakeholder partnerships all entail a more assertive and proactive approach on the part of external actors. Under these conditions, local initiative may either become stifled or be reasoned away. Given this, today’s dominant approaches to co‐operation raise concerns about their ethics and sustainability.

Policy implications

Ownership remains both a requirement and a desired outcome of international co‐operation and is key to the effective use of public funding. A key requirement to revitalizing the debate on and practice of ownership is to gather better evidence as the basis for informed scrutiny. To this end, policy‐makers need to reprioritize independent evaluation at both the individual and collective level.
Extra molting, cannibalism and pupal diapause under unfavorable growth conditions in Atrophaneura alcinous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)
Authors: Nakahara Toru , Horita Junnosuke , Booton Ross D. , Yamaguchi Ryo
Published: January 2020

Atrophaneura alcinous adopt multiple strategies such as extra molting, cannibalism and pupal diapause under unfavorable growth conditions. The conditions under which these strategies are adopted have been separately verified, but their relationship has often been overlooked. We examined which strategy A. alcinous adopted and the relative advantages of strategies using four experimental groups under different food quantity and individual density conditions. Our results indicated that A. alcinous often extra‐molted, prolonged the larval period, and larval and pupal weights were lighter under food shortage. Cannibalism and disease often occurred under the high density and food shortage condition. We also showed that individuals cannibalized during the prepupal or pupal period were less likely to extra molt before they were killed. Extra molting tended to occur more frequently in females than in males under a shortage of food. In addition, we showed that, when food was insufficient, A. alcinous might initiate pupal diapause under low densities, but not under high densities. These results suggest that A. alcinous prolongs the larval period by engaging in extra molting during times of unfavorable food conditions. This strategy might decrease the risk of cannibalization because surrounding larvae who could potentially cannibalize others pupate before larvae who prolong the larval period pupate. Our results also suggest that diapausing pupae under a shortage of food can only survive when there are few surrounding conspecifics, due to a lower cannibalization risk. In conclusion, there is a complex interaction between extra molting, cannibalism and pupal diapause strategies.
Vegetation expansion in the subnival Hindu Kush Himalaya
Authors: Anderson Karen , Fawcett Dominic , Cugulliere Anthony , Benford Sophie , Jones Darren , Leng Ruolin
Published: January 2020

The mountain systems of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) are changing rapidly due to climatic change, but an overlooked component is the subnival ecosystem (between the treeline and snow line), characterized by short‐stature plants and seasonal snow. Basic information about subnival vegetation distribution and rates of ecosystem change are not known, yet such information is needed to understand relationships between subnival ecology and water/carbon cycles. We show that HKH subnival ecosystems cover five to 15 times the area of permanent glaciers and snow, highlighting their eco‐hydrological importance. Using satellite data from the Landsat 5, 7 and 8 missions, we measured change in the spatial extent of subnival vegetation from 1993 to 2018. The Landsat surface reflectance‐derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index product was thresholded at 0.1 to indicate the presence/absence of vegetation. Using this product, the strength and direction of time‐series trends in the green pixel fraction were measured within three regions of interest. We controlled for cloud cover, snow cover and evaluated the impact of sensor radiometric differences between Landsat 7 and Landsat 8. Using Google Earth Engine to expedite data processing tasks, we show that there has been a weakly positive increase in the extent of subnival vegetation since 1993. Strongest and most significant trends were found in the height region of 5,000–5,500 m a.s.l. across the HKH extent: R2 = .302, Kendall's τ = 0.424, p < .05, but this varied regionally, with height, and according to the sensors included in the time series. Positive trends at lower elevations occurred on steeper slopes whilst at higher elevations, flatter areas exhibited stronger trends. We validated our findings using online photographs. Subnival ecological changes have likely impacted HKH carbon and water cycles with impacts on millions of people living downstream, but the strength and direction of impacts of vegetation expansion remain unknown.
Development and Implementation of the Integrative Toolbox for Headache Management
Authors: Beaton‐Starr Meredith , Rist Pamela M. , Connor Julie P. , Wayne Peter M. , Osypiuk Kamila , Bernstein Carolyn
Published: January 2020

Patients with migraine are interested in integrative therapies and overall wellness. They also suffer from social isolation as they try to manage a chronic medical condition. We implemented a three‐part workshop structured as a group visit that teaches multiple integrative therapies from specialists and offers a chance for shared support and learning.
The blockade of CC chemokine receptor type 1 influences the level of nociceptive factors and enhances opioid analgesic potency in a rat model of neuropathic pain
Authors: Pawlik Katarzyna , Piotrowska Anna , Kwiatkowski Klaudia , Ciapała Katarzyna , Popiolek‐Barczyk Katarzyna , Makuch Wioletta , Mika Joanna
Published: January 2020

A growing body of evidence has indicated that the release of nociceptive factors, such as interleukins and chemokines, by activated immune and glial cells has crucial significance for neuropathic pain generation and maintenance. Moreover, changes in the production of nociceptive immune factors are associated with low opioid efficacy in the treatment of neuropathy. Recently, it has been suggested that CC chemokine receptor type 1 (CCR1) signaling is important for nociception. Our study provides evidence that the development of hypersensitivity in rats following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve is associated with significant up‐regulation of endogenous CCR1 ligands, namely, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL6, CCL7 and CCL9 in the spinal cord and CCL2, CCL6, CCL7 and CCL9 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). We showed that single and repeated intrathecal administration of J113863 (an antagonist of CCR1) attenuated mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Moreover, repeated administration of a CCR1 antagonist enhanced the analgesic properties of morphine and buprenorphine after CCI. Simultaneously, repeated administration of J113863 reduced the protein levels of IBA‐1 in the spinal cord and MPO and CD4 in the DRG and, as a consequence, the level of pronociceptive factors, such as interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6 and IL‐18. The data obtained provide evidence that CCR1 blockade reduces hypersensitivity and increases opioid‐induced analgesia through the modulation of neuroimmune interactions.
“She’ll be able to live independently… as long as I’m around”: The “lived” experience of parenting a child with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in the transition to adulthood
Authors: Goodwin Jane , Swaab Linda , Campbell Linda E.
Published: January 2020

Background

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome. Parents of emerging adults with 22q11DS have an intense and ongoing involvement in their child's life. This study explores the lived experience of parents in relation to their child becoming independent and establishing intimate relationships.

Method

Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore the positive and negative experiences of five parents of emerging adults with 22q11DS.

Results

Supervised independence overarched four subordinate themes. These themes highlighted the difficulties experienced by parents attempting to relinquish control whilst still experiencing a need to keep their child safe as their child negotiated a complex stage of life. Parents waited for “signs” from their child before initiating conversations about intimate relationships.

Conclusions

These findings provide insight into the lived experience of parenting a child through the transition into adulthood, providing a catalyst for further research with the aim of facilitating better services for families.
Seeing strengths: Young adults and their siblings with autism or intellectual disability
Authors: Carter Erik W. , Carlton Mary E. , Travers Hilary E.
Published: January 2020

Background

Understanding the positive qualities of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can provide a much‐needed counterpoint to deficit‐based depictions of disability.

Method

This study examined how 163 young adults (ages 18–30) viewed the strengths of their brothers and sisters with intellectual disability or autism using the Assessment Scale for Positive Character Traits‐Developmental Disabilities (Woodard, 2009). In addition, the authors examined factors that may shape their perspectives.

Results

Overall, siblings' ratings of strengths were moderate to high, indicating an overall portrait of strengths. The majority of brothers and sisters with disabilities was described as having multiple strengths and their profiles on this measure were highly individualized. Lower overall ratings were associated with several variables, including not using speech as a primary mode of communication, exhibiting challenging behaviours, having autism and not currently living together.

Conclusions

The authors offer recommendations for future research and practice related to supporting siblings with and without disabilities.
Percutaneous retrieval of a dislocated LAmbre left atrial appendage occluder in a canine model
Authors: Wang Guangji , Kong Bin , Liu Yu , Huang He
Published: January 2020

Background

Dislocated left atrial appendage (LAA) occluders can be retrieved by percutaneous intervention when performing device embolization into the left atrium (LA), aorta (AO), or left ventricle (LV). However, few reports exist regarding LAmbre LAA occluder dislocation.

Objective

The study was aimed to explore the outcome of retrieving dislocated LAmbre LAA occluder.

Methods

Sixteen healthy dogs received LAmbre implants. After implantation of an occlusion device (not released), the occlusion device was completely retrieved. Subsequently, the device was released in the LA, resulting in the dislocation of the device. Angiography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed to check the occluders position. Disposable grasping rat‐tooth forceps were used to percutaneously retrieve the LAA occluder.

Results

All the 16 dogs were successfully implanted with the LAmbre LAA occluder and the success rate was 100%. After the occluder was released, TEE and angiography confirmed that the device was located in the LA in eight cases (50%), in the AO in five cases (31%), and in the LV in three cases (19%). One subject died due to cardiogenic shock before the retrieval procedure was complete as the device fell into the LV. Two cases of device‐related aortic valve injury occurred during the retrieval procedure when the device was located in the LV. No complications were observed when the device was located in the LA or AO.

Conclusions

Device retrieval is feasible in most cases. However, potentially lethal complications may occur once the device is dislocated into the LV/AO.
Commentary: A challenge for a higher bar in research on childhood trauma – reflections on Danese (2020)
Authors: Widom Cathy S.
Published: January 2020

While there have been major advances in documenting the consequences of childhood adversities for psychopathology, Professor Danese's excellent paper challenges existing theory and research methods, urging the field to move ahead with future research that overcomes existing limitations. Importantly, he reminds us of the methodological caveats necessary to consider when assessing the body of evidence for causal effects of childhood trauma and urges caution in interpreting the ACEs literature. This editorial calls attention to and elaborates on a number of issues, including (a) why prospective and retrospective data cannot be used interchangeably; (b) the need for researchers to distinguish among childhood adversities, childhood traumas, and childhood maltreatment; (c) the sparse attention at present to the role of pre‐existing vulnerabilities in influencing assessments of the risk of psychopathology; and (d) the critical importance of contextual factors (e.g., age, sex, race, ethnicity, and social class) that are likely to influence the risk of psychopathology. Professor Danese argues for the use of new analytic strategies to advance the field. This editorial elaborates on this recommendation and calls attention to the use of machine learning techniques that may be particularly worthwhile for the child maltreatment field, where there is little psychometric research on measures.
Real‐world evidence of secukinumab in psoriasis treatment – a meta‐analysis of 43 studies
Authors: Augustin M. , Jullien D. , Martin A. , Peralta C.
Published: January 2020

Real‐world evidence (RWE) meta‐analyses provide valuable insights from patients in routine clinical practice. Secukinumab, the first fully human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL‐17A, has shown long‐lasting effectiveness and safety in plaque psoriasis (PsO). Since its licence approval in 2015, many RWE studies have been published. The objective of this study was to review all available literature on RWE studies with secukinumab and the secukinumab arm of comparator studies in patients with moderate‐to‐severe PsO to evaluate its effectiveness, drug survival and safety. https://www.embase.com and https://clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched using prespecified inclusion criteria between 1 January 2015 and 31 May 2019. Using a meta‐package and R statistical software to analyse data, key outcomes were measured at 3, 6 and 12 months. PASI and DLQI score data were recorded for patients who remained on secukinumab treatment. Overall, 43 studies were included. Drug survival was 90% at 3 and 6 months, and 80% at 12 months. At 12 months, 8% of patients had discontinued treatment due to lack of effectiveness. At 3, 6 and 12 months, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 scores were as follows: 50%, 53% and 60%, and PASI 100 scores were 36%, 46% and 51%, respectively. At 3, 6 and 12 months, 57%, 55% and 65% of patients achieved a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score of 0 or 1, respectively. Adverse events were consistent with rates observed in clinical trials with no new safety signals. This meta‐analysis strengthens existing evidence on the clinical effectiveness of secukinumab in patients with moderate‐to‐severe PsO, demonstrating high drug survival rates, high levels of patient‐reported outcomes, and good tolerance.
Trachyonychia: a retrospective study of 122 patients in a period of 30 years
Authors: Starace M. , Alessandrini A. , Bruni F. , Piraccini B.M.
Published: January 2020

Background

Trachyonychia is a nail disease characterized by longitudinal striations, ridges, fissures and/or pitting. This condition can be both idiopathic and associated with other dermatologic diseases.

Objective and methods

The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the clinical features, onychoscopy, therapy efficacy and outcome of 122 patients with trachyonychia visited at the Hair Disease Outpatient Consultations of the Dermatology Unit of the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine of the University of Bologna, from 1988 to 2018.

Results

Opaque trachyonychia was the most observed type while shiny trachyonychia, less common, was present especially in milder cases. Pitting was the most frequently observed feature (80.3%), followed by koilonychia (45%) and hyperkeratosis (19.6%). Nail matrix longitudinal biopsy was performed for diagnosis confirmation in 29 cases, and spongiotic was the most common pattern. Topical therapy was prescribed in 109 patients while systemic treatments were reserved for severe cases (38 patients); 22 patients did not receive any treatment. A marked improvement in the appearance of the nails or even a total resolution was seen in 63 patients.

Conclusions

Trachyonychia can occur at any age but is more frequent in children and often associated with alopecia areata. The pathological diagnosis of trachyonychia is not mandatory as the disease has generally a benign outcome. Considering the absence of pain and the high rate of spontaneous resolution, treatment is often prescribed only for cosmetic reasons or reserved for severe cases.
Outcome of ICSI pregnancies with spontaneous loss of a co‐twin compared with singleton ICSI pregnancies: Single center experience
Authors: Uysal Nihal Ş. , Gülümser Çağrı , Bilgin Yanık Filiz F. , Önalan Göğşen , Zeyneloğlu Hulusi B.
Published: January 2020

Aim

To compare the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancies complicated by spontaneous loss of a dichorionic co‐twin with that of singleton ICSI pregnancies.

Methods

The study group included dichorionic ICSI pregnancies with co‐twin loss (n = 33) and the control group included ICSI pregnancies with a singleton from the beginning (n = 327). Primary outcome measures were obstetric complications, including preterm delivery, newborn small for gestational age, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertensive disorders and abruptio placenta; admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and perinatal mortality observed in the study and control groups. Statistical analysis was performed using spss for Windows, version 22.0.

Results

In the study group, there were 26 cases of first trimester (early) and 7 cases of second or third trimester (late) co‐twin losses. Mean gestational age at delivery and mean birth weight were significantly lower in the whole study group compared to control (P < 0.05). Preterm delivery and NICU admission rates were significantly higher in the whole study group, compared to control (39.3% vs 14.6% and 36.36% vs 11.69% respectively, P < 0.05), but did not show significant difference between early loss subgroup and control (P > 0.05). Preterm delivery rate was significantly higher in the late loss subgroup compared to the early loss subgroup (85.71% vs 26.92% P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Loss of a co‐twin in dichorionic ICSI pregnancies is associated with increased risk of preterm birth. This risk is significantly higher in cases with late loss compared to the early loss cases.
Validation of the HADS and PSS‐10 and a cross‐sectional study of psychological status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Authors: Wiriyakijja Paswach , Porter Stephen , Fedele Stefano , Hodgson Tim , McMillan Roddy , Shephard Martina , Ni Riordain Richeal
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To validate the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the 10‐item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10) for use in clinical studies of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and to provide cross‐sectional assessment of anxiety, depressive, and distress symptoms and perceived stress in patients with RAS.

Methods

The validity and reliability of the HADS and PSS‐10 were evaluated in 120 individuals with RAS through confirmatory factor analysis and calculation of Cronbach's alpha and omega coefficients. The prevalence of comorbid anxiety, depression, distress, and moderate‐to‐high perceived stress, and their association with demographics and clinical factors were assessed through cutoff scores of the HADS and PSS‐10 and bivariate analyses, respectively.

Results

A bi‐factor model, with all items loading onto general factor with two group factors, provides the best fit to the HADS and PSS‐10 data of this RAS cohort. While omega values suggested adequate reliability of total score of both scales, relatively low ranges of coefficient omega hierarchical limit utility of their subscale scores. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, distress, and moderate‐to‐high perceived stress was 42.5%, 18.33%, 28.33%, and 71.67%, respectively. Ethnicity, alcohol consumption, disease comorbidities, clinical type of RAS, ulcer size, pain, and RAS disease activity were found to be associated with negative psychological symptoms.

Conclusion

The HADS and PSS‐10 are valid and reliable as general scales of psychological distress and stress in patients with RAS. Significant mental burden among RAS patients makes the use of these validated instruments a sensible and prudent practice for psychological assessment of this patient group.
Medicaid coverage expansions and liability insurance
Authors: Heaton Paul , Flint Caleb
Published: January 2020

Do changes in the population covered by health insurance affect liability insurers, who compensate billions of dollars in medical claims each year? We examine this question by exploiting the selective rollout across states of Medicaid expansions under the Affordable Care Act. Using data on insurer losses across a range of insurance lines, and employing a triple‐difference research design that contrasts states, years, and lines of insurance, we demonstrate that coverage expansions reduce auto liability and workers’ compensation outlays by 6–11 percent, but do not measurably impact other lines of insurance. Our analysis provides some of the first evidence regarding the use of the tort system particularized to the low‐income population and is the first to consider the impacts of health insurance on medical professional liability and commercial auto insurance claims.
Natural polyphenols prevent indomethacin-induced and diclofenac-induced Caco-2 cell death by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress regardless of their direct reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity
Authors: Boonyong Cherdsak , Vardhanabhuti Nontima , Jianmongkol Suree
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Indomethacin (INDO) and diclofenac (DIC) can induce intestinal cell death through induction of oxidative stress-mediated ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study investigated the cytoprotective potential of 11 polyphenols, namely caffeic acid (CAF), curcumin (CUR), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallic acid (GAL), hypophyllanthin (HYPO), naringenin (NAR), phyllanthin (PHY), piperine (PIP), quercetin (QUE), rutin (RUT) and silymarin (SLY) against these two NSAIDs in Caco-2 cells.

Methods

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined with fluorescence spectroscopy using specific probes (DHE, DCFH-DA, HPF). Cell viability and mitochondrial function were assessed by MTT and TMRE assays. The mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and CHOP proteins were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technique.

Key findings

All test polyphenols reduced NSAIDs-mediated ROS production. Only EGCG, QUE and RUT protected INDO-/DIC-induced cell death. These three polyphenols suppressed Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio, CHOP up-regulation and MMP disruption in NSAIDs-treated cells. CAF and NAR prevented cytotoxicity from INDO, but not DIC. The cytoprotective effect of NAR, but not CAF, involved alteration of Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio or MMP disruption, but not CHOP transcription.

Conclusion

The cytoprotective activity of polyphenols against NSAIDs-induced toxicity stemmed from either suppression of CHOP-related ER and mitochondria stresses or other CHOP-independent pathways, but not from the intrinsic ROS scavenging capacity.
Pediatric perioperative outcomes: Protocol for a systematic literature review and identification of a core outcome set for infants, children, and young people requiring anesthesia and surgery
Authors: Razavi Cyrus , Walker Suellen M. , Moonesinghe S. Ramani , Stricker Paul A. ,   the Pediatric Perioperative Outcomes Group
Published: January 2020

Clinical outcomes are measurable changes in health, function, or quality of life that are important for evaluating the quality of care and comparing the efficacy of interventions. However, clinical outcomes and related measurement tools need to be well‐defined, relevant, and valid. In adults, Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) methodology has been used to develop core outcome sets for perioperative care. Systematic literature reviews identified standardized endpoints (StEP) and valid measurement tools, and consensus across a broader range of relevant stakeholders was achieved via a Delphi process to establish Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (COMPAC). Core outcome sets for pediatric perioperative care cannot be directly extrapolated from adult data. The type and weighting of endpoints within particular domains can be influenced by age‐dependent differences in the indications for and/or nature of surgery and medical comorbidities, and the validity and utility of many measurement tools vary significantly with developmental stage and age. The involvement of parents/carers is essential as they frequently act as surrogate responders for preverbal and developmentally delayed children, parental response may influence child outcome, and parental and/or child ranking of outcomes may differ from those of health professionals. Here, we describe the formation of the international Pediatric Perioperative Outcomes Group, which aims to identify and create validated, broadly applicable, patient‐centered outcome measures for infants, children, and young people. Methodologies parallel that of the StEP and COMPAC projects, and systematic literature searches have been performed within agreed age‐dependent subpopulations to identify reported outcomes and measurement tools. This represents the first steps for developing core outcome sets for pediatric perioperative care.
A point mutation in LTT1 enhances cold tolerance at the booting stage in rice
Authors: Xu Yufang , Wang Ruci , Wang Yueming , Zhang Li , Yao Shanguo
Published: January 2020

The cold tolerance of rice at the booting stage is a main factor determining sustainability and regional adaptability. However, relatively few cold tolerance genes have been identified that can be effectively used in breeding programmes. Here, we show that a point mutation in the low‐temperature tolerance 1 (LTT1) gene improves cold tolerance by maintaining tapetum degradation and pollen development, by activation of systems that metabolize reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cold‐induced ROS accumulation is therefore prevented in the anthers of the ltt1 mutants allowing correct development. In contrast, exposure to cold stress dramatically increases ROS accumulation in the wild type anthers, together with the expression of genes encoding proteins associated with programmed cell death and with the accelerated degradation of the tapetum that ultimately leads to pollen abortion. These results demonstrate that appropriate ROS management is critical for the cold tolerance of rice at the booting stage. Hence, the ltt1 mutation can significantly improve the seed setting ability of cold‐sensitive rice varieties under low‐temperature stress conditions, with little yield penalty under optimal temperature conditions. This study highlights the importance of a valuable genetic resource that may be applied in rice breeding programmes to enhance cold tolerance.
Non‐engagement of Mid‐aged and Elderly Residents in Rural Civic Livability Initiatives
Authors: Ubels Hiska , Bock Bettina , Haartsen Tialda
Published: January 2020

In the context of public budget cuts and rural areas facing depopulation and aging, local governments increasingly encourage citizen engagement in addressing local livability issues. This paper examines the non‐engagement of mid‐aged and elderly residents (45+ years old) in civic initiatives that intend to improve the livability of their community. We focus on residents of depopulating rural areas in the North Netherlands. We compare their engagement with the behavior of residents in other, not depopulating, rural areas, and urban areas. Using logistic statistical analyses, we found that the majority of the aging residents did not engage in civic livability initiatives during the past two years, and one‐third of this group had no intention to do so in the future. In all areas, the main reasons for non‐engagement were that residents had other priorities, felt not capable of engaging, or felt that the responsibility for local livability belonged to the local government. Furthermore, it appeared that non‐engagement was predominantly explained by the unwillingness to engage, rather than by specific motivations or lacking abilities.
Metabolomics should be deployed in the identification and characterization of gene‐edited crops
Authors: Fraser Paul D. , Aharoni Asaph , Hall Robert D. , Huang Sanwen , Giovannoni James J. , Sonnewald Uwe , Fernie Alisdair R.
Published: January 2020

Gene‐editing techniques are currently revolutionizing biology, allowing far greater precision than previous mutagenic and transgenic approaches. They are becoming applicable to a wide range of plant species and biological processes. Gene editing can rapidly improve a range of crop traits, including disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, yield, nutritional quality and additional consumer traits. Unlike transgenic approaches, however, it is not facile to forensically detect gene‐editing events at the molecular level, as no foreign DNA exists in the elite line. These limitations in molecular detection approaches are likely to focus more attention on the products generated from the technology than on the process in itself. Rapid advances in sequencing and genome assembly increasingly facilitate genome sequencing as a means of characterizing new varieties generated by gene‐editing techniques. Nevertheless, subtle edits such as single base changes or small deletions may be difficult to distinguish from normal variation within a genotype. Given these emerging scenarios, downstream ‘omics’ technologies reflective of edited affects, such as metabolomics, need to be used in a more prominent manner to fully assess compositional changes in novel foodstuffs. To achieve this goal, metabolomics or ‘non‐targeted metabolite analysis’ needs to make significant advances to deliver greater representation across the metabolome. With the emergence of new edited crop varieties, we advocate: (i) concerted efforts in the advancement of ‘omics’ technologies, such as metabolomics, and (ii) an effort to redress the use of the technology in the regulatory assessment for metabolically engineered biotech crops.