bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hashimoto thyroiditis, anti‐thyroid antibodies and systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Posselt Rayana T. , Coelho Vinícius N. , Skare Thelma L.
Published: May 2017

Aim

To study the prevalence of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), anti‐thyroid autoantibodies (anti‐thyroglobulin or TgAb and thyroperoxidase or TPOAb) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. To analyze if associated HT, TgAb and/or TPOAb influence clinical or serological profiles, disease activity and/or its cumulative damage.

Methods

Three hundred and one SLE patients and 141 controls were studied for thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxin, TgAb and TPOAb by chemiluminescence and immunometric assays. Patients’ charts were reviewed for serological and clinical profiles. Activity was measured by SLE Disease Activity Index and cumulative damage by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index for SLE. SLE patients were divided into: (i) with HT; (ii) with anti‐thyroid antibodies but without HT; and (iii) without HT and without anti‐thyroid antibodies, and were then compared. Furthermore, SLE patients were compared according to the number of positive anti‐thyroid antibodies.

Results

Hashimoto thyroiditis prevalence in SLE was 12.6% and 5.6% in controls (P = 0.02; odds ratio = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.09–5.2). Lupus patients with HT had less malar rash (P = 0.02) and more anti‐Sm (P = 0.04). Anti‐Sm was more common in those with two anti‐thyroid antibodies than in those with one or negative. The presence of HT or the number of positive autoantibodies did not associate either with disease activity (P = 0.95) or with cumulative damage (P = 0.98).

Conclusion

There is a two‐fold increased risk of HT in SLE patients. Anti‐Sm antibodies favor this association and also double antibody positivity. Disease activity and cumulative damage are not related to HT or with autoantibodies.
Efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Asian patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: 52‐week pooled results from two phase 3 studies
Authors: Wei James C.‐C. , Baeten Dominique , Sieper Joachim , Deodhar Atul , Bhosekar Vaishali , Martin Ruvie , Porter Brian
Published: May 2017

Aim

To evaluate efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Asian patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) via a pooled subgroup analysis from two phase 3 studies, MEASURE 1 (NCT01358175) and MEASURE 2 (NCT01649375).

Methods

In MEASURE 1, patients were randomized to intravenous secukinumab 10 mg/kg or placebo at baseline, Weeks 2 and 4, followed by subcutaneous (s.c.) secukinumab 150 mg, 75 mg or placebo every 4 weeks (q4w) at Week 8. In MEASURE 2, patients were randomized to s.c. secukinumab 150 mg, 75 mg or placebo at baseline, Weeks 1, 2 and 3, and q4w starting at Week 4. Efficacy outcomes were SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 20/40, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), ASAS5/6, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Short Form‐36 physical component summary, AS quality of life (QoL), ASAS partial remission, and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score – CRP at Weeks 16 and 52. Due to lack of efficacy, the secukinumab 75 mg dose in MEASURE 2 was excluded from this pooled Asian subgroup analysis. Safety analysis included patients who received ≥ 1 dose of study treatment.

Results

Of 517 patients enrolled into the MEASURE studies, 69 (13.3%) were Asians: 46 in pooled secukinumab and 23 in placebo. At Week 16, ASAS20/40 responses in Asian patients were 69.6%/43.5% with pooled secukinumab versus 26.1%/17.4% with placebo, which were comparable with rates reported in the overall study population. Secukinumab improved predefined efficacy endpoints at Week 16, with responses sustained through Week 52. Secukinumab was well tolerated in Asian patients, with a safety profile consistent with that reported in the overall study population.

Conclusion

Secukinumab improved signs and symptoms, physical function, and disease‐specific QoL in Asian patients with active AS.
A survey on the beliefs and knowledge of gout management in new medical graduates ‐ New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Terrill Matthew , Riordan John
Published: May 2017

Aim

To assess the beliefs and knowledge of gout management in new medical graduates.

Method

A survey on gout management was sent to new medical graduates during their orientation week, New South Wales, Australia.

Results

Of 15 hospital networks, 11 agreed to participate. From these, 168 graduates responded (23.7% response rate). Most (81.1%) felt that gout was a serious disease, 51.2% answered that they had been taught adequately to manage acute gout, only 37.2% for chronic gout. In an acute gout flare, 63.4% answered they would continue urate lowering therapy and 67.2% were aware of first‐line pharmacological management options; 28% answered the correct dosing regimen for colchicine. Chronic management was answered poorly. Only 42.0% stated they would titrate allopurinol dosing to a target urate level; 23.5% would check the urate level monthly. More than half, 56.8%, were aware that medical prophylaxis is indicated when initiating urate lowering therapy. Of this subgroup, 46.7% (25.9% overall) knew that non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and colchicine were recommended and 28.4% (15.4% overall) answered the correct timeframe of use. Close to one‐third (35.0%), were aware of febuxostat, probenecid and benzbromarone as second‐line urate lowering therapy.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that new graduates’ knowledge of gout management, especially chronic management, is suboptimal. Many felt their teaching on gout management inadequate; this is a potential target for intervention. Up to date university education which covers chronic management may lead to better clinical outcomes for this burdensome disease.
Estimating occupancy and abundance using aerial images with imperfect detection
Authors: Williams Perry J. , Hooten Mevin B. , Womble Jamie N. , Bower Michael R.
Published: May 2017

Species distribution and abundance are critical population characteristics for efficient management, conservation, and ecological insight. Point process models are a powerful tool for modelling distribution and abundance, and can incorporate many data types, including count data, presence‐absence data, and presence‐only data. Aerial photographic images are a natural tool for collecting data to fit point process models, but aerial images do not always capture all animals that are present at a site. Methods for estimating detection probability for aerial surveys usually include collecting auxiliary data to estimate the proportion of time animals are available to be detected.

We developed an approach for fitting point process models using an N‐mixture model framework to estimate detection probability for aerial occupancy and abundance surveys. Our method uses multiple aerial images taken of animals at the same spatial location to provide temporal replication of sample sites. The intersection of the images provide multiple counts of individuals at different times. We examined this approach using both simulated and real data of sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Glacier Bay National Park, southeastern Alaska.

Using our proposed methods, we estimated detection probability of sea otters to be 0.76, the same as visual aerial surveys that have been used in the past. Further, simulations demonstrated that our approach is a promising tool for estimating occupancy, abundance, and detection probability from aerial photographic surveys.

Our methods can be readily extended to data collected using unmanned aerial vehicles, as technology and regulations permit. The generality of our methods for other aerial surveys depends on how well surveys can be designed to meet the assumptions of N‐mixture models.
Contribution of spatial heterogeneity in effective population sizes to the variance in pairwise measures of genetic differentiation
Authors: Prunier Jérôme G. , Dubut Vincent , Chikhi Lounès , Blanchet Simon
Published: May 2017

Pairwise measures of neutral genetic differentiation are supposed to contain information about past and ongoing dispersal events and are thus often used as dependent variables in correlative analyses to elucidate how neutral genetic variation is affected by landscape connectivity. However, spatial heterogeneity in the intensity of genetic drift, stemming from variations in population sizes, may inflate variance in measures of genetic differentiation and lead to erroneous or incomplete interpretations in terms of connectivity. Here, we tested the efficiency of two distance‐based metrics designed to capture the unique influence of spatial heterogeneity in local drift on genetic differentiation. These metrics are easily computed from estimates of effective population sizes or from environmental proxies for local carrying capacities, and allow us to introduce the hypothesis of Spatial‐Heterogeneity‐in‐Effective‐Population‐Sizes (SHNe). SHNe can be tested in a way similar to isolation‐by‐distance or isolation‐by‐resistance within the classical landscape genetics hypothesis‐testing framework.

We used simulations under various models of population structure to investigate the reliability of these metrics to quantify the unique contribution of SHNe in explaining patterns of genetic differentiation. We then applied these metrics to an empirical genetic dataset obtained for a freshwater fish (Gobio occitaniae).

Simulations showed that SHNe explained up to 60% of variance in genetic differentiation (measured as Fst) in the absence of gene flow, and up to 20% when migration rates were as high as 0.10. Furthermore, one of the two metrics was particularly robust to uncertainty in the estimation of effective population sizes (or proxies for carrying capacity). In the empirical dataset, the effect of SHNe on spatial patterns of Fst was five times higher than that of isolation‐by‐distance, uniquely contributing to 41% of variance in pairwise Fst. Taking the influence of SHNe into account also allowed decreasing the signal‐to‐noise ratio, and improving the upper estimate of effective dispersal distance.

We conclude that the use of SHNe metrics in landscape genetics will substantially improve the understanding of evolutionary drivers of genetic variation, providing substantial information as to the actual drivers of patterns of genetic differentiation in addition to traditional measures of Euclidean distance or landscape resistance.
Cutaneous bacteria, but not peptides, are associated with chytridiomycosis resistance in Peruvian marsupial frogs
Authors: Burkart D. , Flechas S. V. , Vredenburg V. T. , Catenazzi A.
Published: May 2017

Amphibians are a highly threatened vertebrate group, and populations of these animals have declined drastically. An important global threat to amphibians is the pathogenic fungusBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Bd), which causes the disease chytridiomycosis. However, not all species develop chytridiomycosis when exposed to Bd. We compared susceptibility to disease in two species of marsupial frogs and found thatGastrotheca nebulanastesis susceptible, whereas its congenericG. excubitoris resistant. Since Bd is a skin pathogen, it is possible that cutaneous defenses like symbiotic bacteria and antimicrobial peptides protect the resistant species. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the anti‐Bd abilities of cutaneous defenses between the twoGastrothecaspecies. Cultivable bacteria and peptides were isolated from the skin and tested for their abilities to inhibit Bd within vitroco‐culture assays. Twenty‐six bacteria were identified by sequencing their 16S rRNA gene and 19 peptides were profiled by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. We found that bacteria, but not peptides, differed between the two species in their ability to inhibit Bd growth. The resistantG. excubitorharbored more isolates of cultivable anti‐Bd bacteria both in number and proportion (6/15 vs. 1/11). Also, the one anti‐Bd isolate fromG. nebulanastesdemonstrated the weakest ability to inhibit Bd growth. Our results highlight the importance of anti‐Bd skin bacteria in providing frog species with protection from Bd and can inform mitigation strategies for other wildlife diseases.
Dentists' restorative decision‐making and implications for an ‘amalgamless’ profession. Part 5: knowledge factors
Authors: Alexander G , Hopcraft MS , Tyas MJ , Wong RHK
Published: May 2017

Background

A phase‐down of amalgam in Australia is possible given the Australian Government intends to ratify the Minamata Convention. There is little research as to the influence of a dentist's knowledge on decision‐making, which may be of use when determining the impact of any change.

Methods

An online survey relating to aspects of and attitudes to use of direct restorative materials was distributed to all dentists who were members of the Australian Dental Association or Members or Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

Results

There were 408 respondents. Fifty‐eight per cent agreed that there was consistency in undergraduate teaching. Fifty‐two per cent stated that there was a difference between undergraduate teaching and the ‘real world’. Postgraduate education was ranked the most important influence on decision‐making. Ninety‐six per cent stated that knowledge of the evidence base is important and 89% believed that they practised evidence‐based dentistry.

Conclusions

Dental schools need to maintain teachers' and students' understanding of the evolving technology of direct restorative materials. There is a perceived disconnect between undergraduate teaching and the ‘real’ world. The evidence base is viewed as confusing, contradictory and not readily understandable. The creation of clinical guidelines would be useful.
The expression pattern of Bcl11a, Mdm2 and Pten genes in B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Xu Ling , Wu Hong , Wu Xiuli , Li Yangqiu , He Dongmei
Published: May 2017

Aim

Bcl11a is closely associated with B‐cell lymphoma and B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, little is known about the expression character of Bcl11a gene in B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL). In previous study, our results showed there was a clear dysregulation in the global gene expression of the Bcl11a‐suppressed B lymphoma cells. The aim of the study is to further evaluate the role of Bcl11a and the expression level of its related genes Mdm2, Pten in B‐ALL patients.

Methods

The relative mRNA expression levels of Bcl11a and Mdm2, Pten in blood mononuclear cells of B‐ALL patients were determined by real‐time quantitative reverse transcript‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) with SYBR Green Dye. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers served as control. Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) was used as reference.

Results

There was higher Bcl11a mRNA expression in initial diagnosed B‐ALL than the healthy control, but there is no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The expression level of Bcl11a and Mdm2 in initial diagnosed B‐ALL patients was statistically higher compared to those with complete remission (CR; P < 0.05). The expression levels of Bcl11a and Mdm2, Pten in B‐ALL patients with CR were decreased significantly when compared with the healthy control (P < 0.05). The correlation analyses revealed that the Bcl11a expression level was positively correlated with the Mdm2 and Pten relative expression level in B‐ALL patients. There is also positive correlation between Mdm2 and Pten expression.

Conclusions

Bcl11a transcript levels were significantly downregulated in B‐ALL patients with CR. The decreased expression characteristics of Bcl11a and Mdm2, Pten might imply the CR of B‐ALL patients.
Liposomes or traditional adjuvants: induction of bactericidal activity by the macrophage infectivity potentiator protein (Mip) of Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Costoya Liliana , Marzoa Juan , Ferreirós Carlos , Criado Maria Teresa
Published: May 2017

Currently, one of the main approaches to achieve a vaccine for serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis is based on outer membrane proteins with low antigenic variability among strains. Since these proteins tend to be minor components of the outer membrane, recombinant production is required to obtain them in sufficient amounts for evaluation and development of vaccines. In this study, we analysed the ability of recombinant macrophage infectivity potentiator (rMip) protein to induce protective bactericidal activity in mice. The rMip protein was cloned from N. meningitidis strain H44/76 and was used to immunise mice, and the sera obtained were tested against the homologous and several heterologous N. meningitidis strains. The sera were obtained using the rMip alone, with adjuvant Al(OH)3, or after inclusion into liposomes. Bactericidal activity was variable depending on the strain, although high titres were seen against strains H44/76 and NmP27. Liposomes enhanced fourfold the reactivity against the homologous strain. The results presented suggest that the rMip protein should be considered a promising candidate for the improvement of future protein‐based vaccines.
Effect of a single intravenous zoledronic acid administration on biomarkers of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with osteoporosis: a pilot study
Authors: Cipriani Cristiana , Pepe Jessica , Clementelli Carolina , Manai Rizieri , Colangelo Luciano , Fassino Valeria , Nieddu Luciano , Minisola Salvatore
Published: May 2017

Aims

The pilot study was designed to evaluate the early effect of intravenous (i.v.) zoledronic acid (ZA) on renal function.

Methods

Five mg i.v. ZA was administered to 23 patients with osteoporosis (17 women and 6 men, mean age 73 ± 7 SD years). Urinary NGAL, KIM‐1, and MCP‐1, plasma (p) MCP‐1 and serum (s) IL‐18, serum calcium (sCa), Creatinine clearance (CrCl), parathyroid hormone (PTH), plasma C‐terminal FGF23 (pFGF23), serum (s) Klotho, calcium excretion (CaEx) and renal threshold phosphate concentration/GFR (TmPO4/GFR) were assessed at baseline, 24 h and Day 30 after administration.

Results

There was a significant decrease in sCa and CaEx at 24 h (−4.1 ± 2.8%, P < 0.01 and −28 ± 59%, P < 0.05, respectively) and Day 30 (−3.9 ± 4%, P < 0.001 and −26 ± 43%, P < 0.01) and a significant increase in PTH (79.8 ± 95.8%) at Day 30 (P < 0.001) compared to baseline. TmPO4/GFR decreased significantly at 24 h and Day 30 (−8.6 ± 15.9%, P < 0.05 and −11.3 ± 13.5%, P < 0.001) compared to baseline. We observed no difference in the concentration of pFGF23, sKlotho and urinary AKI biomarkers at any time points. Mean levels of sIL‐18 and pMCP‐1 increased significantly at 24 h (44 ± 88%; P < 0.01 and 198 ± 237%; P < 0.001) and returned to baseline at Day 30.

Conclusions

Our pilot study suggests that there is no direct acute effect of ZA on kidney function. The increase in plasma MCP‐1 and serum IL‐18 concentration could be associated with the stimulation of immunity mechanisms occurring soon after the administration of the drug. Secondary hyperparathyroidism develops shortly after the infusion of ZA and is maintained even after 1 month.
Characterisation of cellular adhesion reinforcement by multiple bond force spectroscopy in alveolar epithelial cells
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc‐Minh , Angely Christelle , Andre Dias Sofia , Planus Emmanuelle , Filoche Marcel , Pelle Gabriel , Louis Bruno , Isabey Daniel
Published: May 2017

Background Information

Integrin‐mediated adhesion is a key process by which cells physically connect with their environment, and express sensitivity and adaptation through mechanotransduction. A critical step of cell adhesion is the formation of the first bonds which individually generate weak contacts (∼tens pN) but can sustain thousand times higher forces (∼tens nN) when associated.

Results

We propose an experimental validation by multiple bond force spectroscopy (MFS) of a stochastic model predicting adhesion reinforcement permitted by non‐cooperative, multiple bonds on which force is homogeneously distributed (called parallel bond configuration). To do so, spherical probes (diameter: 6.6 μm), specifically coated by RGD‐peptide to bind integrins, are used to statically indent and homogenously stretch the multiple bonds created for short contact times (2 s) between the bead and the surface of epithelial cells (A549). Using different separation speeds (v = 2, 5, 10 μm/s) and measuring cellular Young's modulus as well as the local stiffness preceding local rupture events, we obtain cell‐by‐cell the effective loading rates both at the global cell level and at the local level of individual constitutive bonds. Local rupture forces are in the range: , whereas global rupture (detachment) forces reach . Global and local rupture forces both exhibit linear dependencies with the effective loading rate, the slopes of these two linear relationships providing an estimate of the number of independent integrin bonds constituting the tested multiple bond structure (∼12).

Conclusions

The MFS method enables to validate the reinforcement of integrin‐mediated adhesion induced by the multiple bond configuration in which force is homogeneously distributed amongst parallel bonds. Local rupture events observed in the course of a spectroscopy manoeuver (MFS) lead to rupture force values considered in the literature as single‐integrin bonds.

Significance

Adhesion reinforcement permitted by the parallel multiple bond association is particularly challenging to verify for two reasons: first, it is difficult to control precisely the direction of forces experimentally, and second, because both global and local bond rupture forces depend on the effective loading rate applied to the bond. Here, we propose an integrin‐specific MFS method capable of detecting bond number and characterising bond configuration and its impact on adhesion strength.
Design and synthesis of some acridine‐piperazine hybrids for the improvement of cognitive dysfunction
Authors: Sharma Anuradha , Piplani Poonam
Published: May 2017

A novel series of hybrid molecules (5a–5m) was designed, synthesized and evaluated as multifunctional cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors against cognitive dysfunction. Heterocyclic moieties acridine and piperazine were conjugated with suitable linkers in a single scaffold, and the structures of the target compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and LC‐MS analysis. The pharmacological activity of synthesized compounds was evaluated using behavioral models of amnesia viz. step‐down passive avoidance and elevated plus maze at a dose 0.5 mg/kg as compared to standard rivastigmine. In vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition studies using brain homogenate of mice as the enzyme source revealed that most of the compounds exhibited a significant ability to inhibit the enzyme cholinesterase with compound 5c being the most potent (IC50 0.33 μm). Biochemical estimation of oxidative stress markers viz. plasma nitrite, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione has been carried out using the respective assays to see the effect of the synthesized compounds on the scopolamine‐induced oxidative damage. The molecular docking studies indicated the binding mode of the compounds to the catalytic site, peripheral site, and mid‐gorge of AChE simultaneously. The calculated absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion properties ensured the drug‐likeness of the target compounds. The synthesized compounds were found to be potential cognitive enhancers, which were able to interfere with the scopolamine‐induced oxidative stress also.
“American = English Speaker” Before “American = White”: The Development of Children's Reasoning About Nationality
Authors: DeJesus Jasmine M. , Hwang Hyesung G. , Dautel Jocelyn B. , Kinzler Katherine D.
Published: May 2017

Adults implicitly judge people from certain social backgrounds as more “American” than others. This study tests the development of children's reasoning about nationality and social categories. Children across cultures (White and Korean American children in the United States, Korean children in South Korea) judged the nationality of individuals varying in race and language. Across cultures, 5‐ to 6‐year‐old children (N = 100) categorized English speakers as “American” and Korean speakers as “Korean” regardless of race, suggesting that young children prioritize language over race when thinking about nationality. Nine‐ and 10‐year‐olds (N = 181) attended to language and race and their nationality judgments varied across cultures. These results suggest that associations between nationality and social category membership emerge early in life and are shaped by cultural context.
Subclinical hypothyroidism and risk of cerebral small vessel disease: A hospital‐based observational study
Authors: Zhang Xiaohao , Xie Yi , Ding Caixia , Xiao Jing , Tang Yinyan , Jiang Xuemei , Shan Hua , Lin Yuankai , Zhu Yujia , Li Chuanyou , Hu Dan , Ling Zhixiang , Xu Gelin , Sheng Lei
Published: May 2017

Objective

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been associated with atherosclerosis and increased risk of ischaemic stroke. However, whether SCH is associated with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SCH and total cSVD burden, a composite measurement detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in patients with minor ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Design

This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted in a tertiary referral hospital.

Methods

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was defined as with mildly or moderately increased thyroid‐stimulating hormone levels (TSH, 4.5‐10.0 mIU/L), but with normal free thyroxine levels. Brain MRI presence of silent lacunar infarcts (LIs), white matter lesions (WMLs), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVs) were summed to a validated scales ranging from 0 to 4 to represent the load of cSVD. The associations between SCH and cSVD were analysed by logistic regression analyses.

Results

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was identified in 43 of 229 (18.8%) patients with minor stroke or TIA. Compared with patients without SCH, those with SCH had higher risks of WMLs, CMBs and total cSVD burden. Adjustment of potential confounders did not change these associations.

Conclusions

These findings showed that SCH might be associated with the presence of WMLs, CMBs, as well as cSVD burden in patients with minor stroke or TIA.
Clinical, biochemical, and genetic aspects of Sjögren‐Larsson syndrome
Authors: Cho K.H. , Shim S.H. , Kim M.
Published: May 2017

Sjögren‐Larsson syndrome (SLS) is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in ALDH3A2, which encodes the fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase responsible for the metabolism of long‐chain aliphatic aldehydes and alcohols. The pathophysiologic accumulation of aldehydes in various organs, including the skin, brain, and eyes, leads to characteristic features of ichthyosis, intellectual disability, spastic di‐/quadriplegia, and low visual acuity with photophobia. The severity of the clinical manifestations thereof can vary greatly, although most patients are bound to a wheelchair due to contractures. To date, correlations between genotype and phenotype have proven difficult to document due to low disease incidence and high heterogenetic variability in mutations. This review summarizes the clinical characteristics of SLS that have been found to contribute to the prognosis thereof, as well as recent updates from genetic and brain imaging studies. In addition, the differential diagnoses of SLS are briefly illustrated, covering cerebral palsy and other genetic or neurocutaneous syndromes mimicking the syndrome.
Rewilding: A Call for Boosting Ecological Complexity in Conservation
Authors: Fernández Néstor , Navarro Laetitia M. , Pereira Henrique M.
Published: May 2017

Rewilding has emerged as an audacious conservation approach aiming at restoring wild species interactions and their regulation of ecosystem processes by focusing on the key role of species that have been extensively extirpated by humans. Rewilding has gained increasing attention from scientists, conservationists and the mass‐media. Yet, it has raised highly divergent perspectives as to which ecological processes and species assemblages should be restored. Here we argue that a pragmatic and immediate approach to rewilding unequivocally focused on preserving and restoring the structural and functional complexity of ecosystems must become a primary component of biodiversity conservation. We propose a process‐oriented formulation of the rewilding hypothesis as a general guide to assess the conservation benefits of reverting defaunation. Finally, we identify the need for a framework where the benefits, risks, and costs of rewilding can be evaluated in relation to restoration baselines and the intensity of interventions required to achieve conservation goals.
Investigation of bronchiectasis in severe uncontrolled asthma
Authors: Dimakou Katerina , Gousiou Anna , Toumbis Michail , Kaponi Maria , Chrysikos Serafeim , Thanos Loukas , Triantafillidou Christina
Published: May 2017

Introduction

The presence of bronchiectasis in patients with asthma varies in different reports, while a clear aetiological relation has not been precisely established.

Objectives

To investigate the presence of bronchiectasis in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and examine whether they contribute to the severity of asthma.

Methods

Patients with severe asthma were prospectively recruited. HRCT of the chest was performed to identify and grade bronchiectasis using the ‘Smith’ radiology scale. Investigation of the underlying cause was carried out for patients with bronchiectasis in order to exclude aetiologies other than asthma. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21, was used.

Results

Forty patients were studied, 28 women, mean age (±SD) 57.9 years (±12.4). Mean ACT score was 14.2(±4.9). Main symptoms were: wheezing (95%), cough (92%), dysponea (92%) and sputum production (72%). Mean duration of asthma was 16.5(±11.5) years, exacerbations: 4.4(±2.7)/year. In 27 patients (67.5%) bronchiectasis was diagnosed. In nine patients (22.5%) pathogens were cultured in sputum (mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae). Patients with sputum production and pathogens in sputum cultures had a higher Smith score compared to those without expectoration and without pathogens, respectively (P = .005, P < .0001). No correlation was found between the extent of bronchiectasis and lung function. The radiological severity of bronchiectasis was correlated with the antibiotic courses/year (P = .002).

Conclusion

Bronchiectasis is common in patients with severe asthma. Sputum production and pathogen isolation in sputum may indicate the presence of bronchiectasis which seems to contribute to the severity of asthma.
The effect of helium–oxygen‐assisted mechanical ventilation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: A systemic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wu Xu , Shao Chuan , Zhang Liang , Tu Jinjing , Xu Hui , Lin Zhihui , Xu Shuguang , Yu Biyun , Tang Yaodong , Li Shanqun
Published: May 2017

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often accompanied by acute exacerbations. Patients of COPD exacerbation suffering from respiratory failure often need the support of mechanical ventilation. Helium–oxygen can be used to reduce airway resistance during mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of helium–oxygen‐assisted mechanical ventilation on COPD exacerbation through a meta‐analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search through databases of Pub Med (1966∼2016), Ovid MEDLINE (1965∼2016), Cochrane EBM (1991∼2016), EMBASE (1974∼2016) and Ovid MEDLINE was performed to identify associated studies. Randomized clinical trials met our inclusion criteria that focus on helium–oxygen‐assisted mechanical ventilation on COPD exacerbation were included. The quality of the papers was evaluated after inclusion and information was extracted for meta‐analysis.

Results

Six articles and 392 patients were included in total. Meta‐analysis revealed that helium–oxygen‐assisted mechanical ventilation reduced Borg dyspnea scale and increased arterial PH compared with air–oxygen. No statistically significant difference was observed between helium–oxygen and air–oxygen as regards to WOB, PaCO2, OI, tracheal intubation rates and mortality within hospital.

Conclusions

Our study suggests helium–oxygen‐assisted mechanical ventilation can help to reduce Borg dyspnea scale. In terms of the tiny change of PH, its clinical benefit is negligible. There is no conclusive evidence indicating the beneficial effect of helium–oxygen‐assisted mechanical ventilation on clinical outcomes or prognosis of COPD exacerbation.
Income inequality and traumatic dental injuries in 12‐year‐old children: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Vettore Mario Vianna , Efhima Salma , Machuca Carolina , Lamarca Gabriela de Almeida
Published: May 2017

Background/Aim

Contextual socio‐economic factors have been associated with traumatic dental injuries (TDIs). However, evidence concerning the role of income inequality on TDIs in children is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between contextual income inequality over a 10‐year period and TDIs in Brazilian children.

Subjects and Methods

The study population comprised a representative sample of 5027 children aged 12 years who participated in the Brazilian oral health survey in 2010. City‐level Gini Index was used to measure contextual income inequality in the years 2000 and 2010, as well as the variation in income inequality between 2000 and 2010. Covariates were gender, ethnicity, family income, number of people per room and incisal overjet. Clinical examinations were used to assess TDIs. Multivariable multilevel ordered multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate cumulative Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals between income inequality and TDIs.

Results

The prevalence of children who had one tooth with TDI and two or more teeth with TDIs was 15.2% and 6.4%, respectively. The maxillary central and left lateral incisors were the teeth most affected by TDIs. Gini coefficient reduction between the years 2000 and 2010 decreased the odds of TDIs even after adjustment for demographic and socio‐economic characteristics, and incisal overjet. The likelihood of more TDIs decreased 21% for each 0.05 unit decrease in the Gini coefficient between the years 2000 and 2010. Boys, brown skin colour, overcrowding and incisal overjet greater than 5 mm remained statistically associated with TDIs in the final model.

Conclusions

The decrease in income inequality over a 10‐year period was inversely associated with TDIs among Brazilian children aged 12 years.
Carbamazepine‐ and oxcarbazepine‐induced hyponatremia in people with epilepsy
Authors: Berghuis Bianca , van der Palen Job , de Haan Gerrit‐Jan , Lindhout Dick , Koeleman Bobby P. C. , Sander Josemir W. ,   The EpiPGX Consortium
Published: May 2017

Objective

To ascertain possible determinants of carbamazepine (CBZ)– and oxcarbazepine (OXC)–induced hyponatremia in a large cohort of people with epilepsy.

Methods

We collected data on serum sodium levels in people with epilepsy who were attending a tertiary epilepsy center while on treatment with CBZ or OXC. We defined hyponatremia as Na+ ≤134 mEq/L and severe hyponatremia as Na+ ≤128 mEq/L.

Results

We identified 1,782 people who had used CBZ (n = 1,424) or OXC (n = 358), of whom 50 were treated with both drugs. Data on sodium level measurements were available in 1,132 on CBZ and in 289 on OXC. Hyponatremia occurred in 26% of those taking CBZ and 46% of those taking OXC. This was severe in 7% in the CBZ group and 22% in the OXC group. Hyponatremia was symptomatic in 48% and led to admissions in 3%. Age over 40 years, high serum levels of CBZ and OXC, and concomitant use of other antiepileptic drugs were the main risk factors for hyponatremia in both treatment groups. Female patients on OXC were at a higher risk than male patients of hyponatremia. The risk of hyponatremia on CBZ was significantly associated with the risk of hyponatremia on OXC within a subgroup that used both drugs consecutively.

Significance

Hyponatremia is a common problem in people taking CBZ or OXC. Regular ascertainment of sodium levels in those taking either drug is recommended and results should be acted on.
Drinking problems: mechanisms of macropinosome formation and maturation
Authors: Buckley Catherine M. , King Jason S.
Published: May 2017

Macropinocytosis is a mechanism for the nonspecific bulk uptake and internalisation of extracellular fluid. This plays specific and distinct roles in diverse cell types such as macrophages, dendritic cells and neurons, by allowing cells to sample their environment, extract extracellular nutrients and regulate plasma membrane turnover. Macropinocytosis has recently been implicated in several diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis. Uptake by macropinocytosis is also exploited by several intracellular pathogens to gain entry into host cells. Both capturing and subsequently processing large volumes of extracellular fluid poses a number of unique challenges for the cell. Macropinosome formation requires coordinated three‐dimensional manipulation of the cytoskeleton to form shaped protrusions able to entrap extracellular fluid. The following maturation of these large vesicles then involves a complex series of membrane rearrangements to shrink and concentrate their contents, while delivering components required for digestion and recycling. Recognition of the diverse importance of macropinocytosis in physiology and disease has prompted a number of recent studies. In this article, we summarise advances in our understanding of both macropinosome formation and maturation, and seek to highlight the important unanswered questions.
Better the devil you know? A relational reading of risk and innovation in the rural water sector
Authors: Brown Julia , van den Broek Marije
Published: May 2017

This paper introduces an innovation – CBM‐lite – designed by a small Ugandan non‐governmental organisation (NGO) to remedy the shortfall of operation and maintenance (O&M) funds, identified as the key explanation behind the poor sustainability record of the community‐based management (CBM) model. Without a radical change in government and NGO policy concerning post‐construction support, the financing of hand pump O&M must come from communities themselves: hence the user pays principle is fundamental. CBM‐lite aims to reduce hand pump downtime by replacing the voluntary water user committees with an incentivised water operator bolstering the user pays principle, and through an insurance‐style micro‐finance product that ensures funds are available for expedient repairs. This innovation refines organisation and governance arrangements of CBM, but as the rules of operation and enforcement of sanctions are communally arranged, remains within the existing institutional framework of CBM. Drawing on original and extensive ethnographic fieldwork, surveys and interviews, we argue that a relational reading of risk applied to an innovation that deviates from mainstream CBM goes some way towards explaining the intransigence within the rural water sector. This novel application of relational risk theory advances the conceptual and empirical contribution of geography to the conundrum of realising sustainability in the rural water sector. The known risks associated with CBM – a third of hand pumps being non‐functional at any one time – may be seen as preferable to potential harm to ideology, to policy coherence, to organisational reputation, and to social and cultural norms. Finally, the study reconsiders current views about rural water management – notably the actual level of support for the user pays principle, key to both CBM and CBM‐lite. Unpacking sectoral inertia assumes greater significance with estimates that 57% of the global population will be reliant on communally managed water sources by 2020.
Understanding food vulnerability and health literacy in older bereaved men: A qualitative study
Authors: Thompson Jill , Tod Angela , Bissell Paul , Bond Michael
Published: May 2017

Background

Older people are sometimes challenged in maintaining a healthy diet but, because of age and disadvantage, are also more vulnerable to the adverse health consequences of poor nutrition. It has been claimed that older adults have low levels of health literacy regarding food and struggle to discern which foods are healthy from the vast range available in developed counties. However, nutrition and eating behaviour are modifiable risk factors for health in old age and health benefits can accrue from promoting healthy eating later in life. In order to achieve these health benefits, it is necessary to understand more about the capabilities and vulnerabilities of older people in terms of acquiring and maintaining a healthy diet.

Objective

To understand the potential for issues around food vulnerability to arise in that group and to characterize that vulnerability, if present.

Design

Narrative interviews were conducted to collect the data. An interpretative thematic approach to analysis was utilized.

Participants

Twenty older, bereaved men from two communities in the North of England.

Findings

Five overarching themes were identified: financial security, social networks, cooking skills, food and routine and single servings.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that some older men experience cumulative benefit from resources at their disposal, which contributes towards their capabilities to avoid food vulnerability.
Left Out/Left Behind: On Care Theory's Other
Authors: Hanes Douglas William
Published: May 2017

Care theory's efforts to valorize care have depended upon the development of a minimally coherent conception of “care.” Despite many disagreements, there is a shared assumption that care is the Other to concepts and activities that are male‐dominated and so better paid, more powerful, and included in instead of excluded from politics. However, such an assumption ignores the other, noncaring forms of labor women do, which are likewise underpaid, exploited, and excluded from politics. This becomes a problem when care theorists propose greater inclusion for care workers, for example Joan Tronto's argument to extend citizenship on the basis of care work, because it does not consider the hierarchies it may reproduce between care and its Others, especially feminized commodity production. Using Dorothy Roberts's distinction between spiritual and menial housework, I argue that care theory is susceptible to perpetuating hierarchies among women. Extending Roberts's argument, I argue that the care/noncare division of feminized labor reproduces hierarchies among women in the Global South, and between consumers and producers. Although we do not need to abandon the category of care altogether, we do need to address care's exclusions and its relationship to other forms of feminized labor.
Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs): ultrastructural analysis and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit mRNA expression in offspring subjected to protein restriction throughout pregnancy
Authors: Castro Paula Aiello Tomé de Souza , Faccioni Ludimila Canuto , Boer Patrícia Aline , Carvalho Robson Francisco , Matheus Selma Maria Michelin , Dal‐Pai‐Silva Maeli
Published: May 2017

Protein restriction during gestation can alter the skeletal muscle phenotype of offspring; however, little is known with regard to whether this also affects the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), as muscle phenotype maintenance depends upon NMJ functional integrity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a low protein (6%) intake by dams throughout gestation on male offspring NMJ morphology and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α1, γ and ε subunit expression in the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. Four groups of male Wistar offspring rats were studied. The offspring of dams fed low‐protein (6% protein, LP) and normal protein (17% protein, NP) diets were evaluated at 30 and 120 days of age, and the SOL and EDL muscles were collected for analysis. Morphological studies using transmission electron microscopy revealed that only SOL NMJs were affected in 30‐day‐old offspring in the LP group compared with the NP group. SOL NMJs exhibited fewer synaptic folds, the postsynaptic membranes were smooth and myelin figures were also frequently observed in the terminal axons. With regard to the expression of mRNAs encoding nAChR subunits, only 30‐day‐old LP offspring EDL muscles exhibited reduced α, γ and ε subunit expression compared with the NP group. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that a low‐protein diet (6%) imposed throughout pregnancy impairs the expression of mRNAs encoding the nAChR α, γ and ε subunits in EDL NMJs and promotes morphological changes in SOL NMJs of 30‐day‐old offspring, indicating specific differences among muscle types following long‐term maternal protein restriction.
Au/CeO2 hollow nanospheres with enhanced catalytic activity for CO oxidation
Authors: Gong Ming , Zhang Jian , Luo Jing‐Li , Wang Chang‐An
Published: May 2017

Au/CeO2 hollow nanospheres were successfully synthesized by template method. Carbon spheres (CSs) were employed as the sacrificial templates, which were fabricated by hydrothermal method, and the shell of CeO2 precursor was formed on the surface of CSs through layer‐by‐layer self‐assembled approach. Then, Au nanoparticles were deposited on the shell. Finally, the templates were removed by calcination and Au/CeO2 hollow spheres with hierarchically porous structure were obtained. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, TG‐DSC, and BET analysis. The diameters and thickness of the nanospheres were about 250 nm and 20 nm, respectively. Samples with different loading amounts of Au were prepared and noted as L‐Au/CeO2, M‐Au/CeO2, and H‐Au/CeO2, corresponding to the Au weight percentages of 1.8%, 4.2%, and 9.3%. The specific surface area of L‐Au/CeO2 could reach 87.1 m2/g, higher than that of M‐Au/CeO2 (77.8 m2/g), while M‐Au/CeO2 showed the best catalytic activity that CO could be completely converted to CO2 at 81°C. The CeO2, L‐Au/CeO2, and M‐Au/CeO2 hollow nanospheres showed excellent catalytic stability. Moreover, this method can be easily extended to the synthesis of other metal oxide hollow nanospheres compounded with Au nanoparticles.
Experiences and views of married women about domestic violence
Authors: Turk Rukiye , Celik Sevilay Senol , Çetin Merve , Soydan Gamze
Published: May 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the experiences and views of married women about the topic of domestic violence.

Methods

This research was planned as a mixed methods study with an in‐depth interview and descriptive approach. The study was conducted between November 2011 and December 2012 with 24 married women living in Ankara, Turkey. Two main data‐collection tools were used in the study: the “Personal Information Form” and the “In‐depth Interview Questionnaire.” Data of this study were evaluated by content analysis.

Results

A majority of the participants (83.3%) stated that they had been exposed to domestic violence that had been committed primarily by their husbands. The actual reasons for the violence were reported to be such factors as “financial problems and lack of education and love and respect between the couples.” It was determined that as the victims became more desperate, they turned to reading of the Koran, prayer, and smoking.

Conclusion

Domestic violence adversely affects the physical and mental health of individuals, families, and the entire community. Therefore, it will take a community effort to address the causes of domestic violence and to create viable solutions that will improve the health of everyone.