bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance in a tertiary hospital
Authors: Ajibade Oluwatosin , Kolawole Oladipo , Adeosun Idowu , Aina Kolade , Olotu Titilayo , Oyawoye Olubukola , Bamigboye Olutoyin
Published: April 2019

Antibiotic is a formidable remedy to infections caused by diverse microbial agents. This assertion is however questioned in the wake of antimicrobial resistance. Fifty clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained from both in and out-patients using standard procedure. The isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of each isolate was examined inaccordance to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines using the Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method. The antibiotics used in the study includes: Ciprotab, Colistin-sulphate, Meropenem, Ceftraxone and Cefepine. Out of the clinical isolates obtained, a total of 48 per cent male and 52 per cent females were the population under study. The percentage ratio of in-patient and out-patient examined were 32% to 68 %. The percentage distribution of the administration class for medical and surgical was 34% and 66% respectively. The highest incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was from patients that have undergone cesarean section (28%). Highest susceptibility was observed in Ciprotab (82%) Meropenem (64%) and Ceftraxone (46%). Highest number of resistance was observed against Cefepine and Colistin Sulphate while less than 5 % were resistant to Ciprotab and Meropenem. Meropenem and ciprotab were the two classes of drugs that showed highest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Commonly used antibiotics must be continuously examined for its efficacy. Anti-microbial susceptibility monitoring is necessary inorder to guide physicians in prescribing the right combinations of anti-microbials to limit and prevent the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains of P. aeruginosa.
In vitro reconstitution of the polymicrobial community associated with cystic fibrosis airway infections
Authors: O’Brien Tom , Welch Martin
Published: April 2019

The airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients provide a rich and unique environmental niche, prone to lifelong chronic infection by a diverse and dynamic polymicrobial community. Such dense microbial ecosystems have a network of interspecies communication between each member of the community, serving to modulate virulence, impact metabolism and contribute towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Currently no models exist which enable the long-term culture of a true polymicrobial community. Most existing animal models are only suitable for short term infection studies, often utilising relatively healthy hosts and which use axenically cultured clonal strains, providing little parallel to the complex biochemical interactions occurring within chronic CF infections. Here we describe a simple in vitro model utilising artificial sputum medium to allow the successful coculture of major CF-associated pathogens and begin to recapitulate and maintain the CF microbiome within a relatively steady-state. An in vitro model confers several advantages for studying widespread community changes and pathogenic interactions. Perhaps most importantly, in vitro models can be easily perturbed through the addition of antibiotics or introduction of new species/strain variants, allowing the impact of external stressors upon the emergence and changes in lifestyles of key pathogens to be effectively studied. A simple, robust and physiologically relevant CF model could be applied to address any number of fundamental biological questions surrounding interspecies interactions occurring within polymicrobial infections.
Drug delivery to rodents: how to deal with body mass and water intake fluctuations?
Authors: Leidyanne Ferreira Gonçalves , Caroline Fernandes-Santos
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Animal models are used to test the safety and efficacy of drugs. They are often administered to rodents in the drinking water, but it has some limitations, such as the drug stability, variations of water consumption and body mass. We investigated telmisartan (TEL) stability in mice drinking water by UV spectrophotometry, and if water intake and body mass fluctuations change drug ingestion.

Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice at two months old, were fed for eight weeks with a purified AIN93M diet, or a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHS). TEL 5 mg/Kg/day was administered ad libitum to mice in the drinking water during three weeks concomitant with diets, summing 11 weeks of diet feeding.

Results

UV spectrophotometry could detect TEL at the wavelength of 300 nm, and it remained stable in mice drinking water for seven days, at the concentration expected. Mice gain weight after eight weeks on high-fat high-sucrose diet feeding, and TEL 5 mg/kg/day in the drinking water for three weeks reduced it. TEL did not change water intake. Not adjusting TEL concentration weekly would lead to a higher intake of TEL by mice.

Discussion

We demonstrated that body mass and water intake fluctuations significantly change the amount of drug that the animal receive, and it would add a bias to the experiment. TEL remains stable for at least seven days in wrapped mice water bottles in the animal care facility, and UV spectrophotometry proved to be a simple and low-cost method to detect TEL in mice drinking water.
Huntingtin confers fitness but is not embryonically essential in zebrafish development
Authors: Sidik Harwin , Ang Christy J. , Pouladi Mahmoud A.
Published: April 2019

Attempts to constitutively knockout HTT in rodents resulted in embryonic lethality, curtailing efforts to study HTT function later in development. Here we show that HTT is dispensable for early zebrafish development, contrasting published zebrafish morpholino experiment results. Homozygous HTT knockouts were embryonically viable and appeared developmentally normal through juvenile stages. Comparison of adult fish revealed significant reduction in body size and fitness in knockouts compared to hemizygotes and wildtype fish, indicating an important role for wildtype HTT in postnatal development. Our zebrafish model provides an opportunity to examine the function of wildtype HTT later in development.
Raw wastewater irrigation for urban agriculture in Africa increases the diversity of transferable antibiotic resistances genes in soil, including those encoding ESBLs
Authors: Bougnom B. P. , Thiele-Bruhn S. , Ricci V. , Zongo C. , Piddock L.J.V
Published: April 2019

A metagenomic study was conducted to investigate the impact of raw wastewater use for irrigation in urban agriculture on the development of bacterial resistance in soil. Soil samples were collected in two African countries, from three different cities (each with irrigated and non-irrigated plots). Basic physical and chemical analysis were conducted, and the presence of selected antibiotic residues was assessed. Microbial DNA was extracted, quantified and sequenced. Microbial population structure and function, presence of horizontally transferable antibiotic resistance genes andEnterobacteriaceaeplasmids replicons were analysed using bioinformatics. The relative prevalence ofProteobacteriaandBacteroidetesand sequence reads coding for microbial adaptation and growth were higher in irrigated fields; 33 and 26 transferable ARGs were found in irrigated and non-irrigated fields sequence reads, respectively. Extended spectrum β-lactam genes identified in irrigated fields includedblaCARB-3,blaOXA-347,blaOXA-5 andblaRm3. Concentration of sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin in soils influenced the selection of antibiotic resistance genes encoding resistance against amphenicol, β-lactams, and tetracyclines. TenEnterobacteriaceaeplasmid amplicon groups were identified in the fields, five were common to both, two (IncW and IncP1) and three (IncY, IncFIB and IncFIA) were found in irrigated and non-irrigated fields, respectively.

In conclusion, wastewater irrigation affected both soil microbial diversity and functions. Irrigated fields have more diverse transferable antibiotic resistance genes, including ESBL genes that encode resistance to β-lactams antibiotics, except cephamycins and carbapenems. Even more, critical concentrations of antibiotic residues select for multiple and cross resistance. The findings from African cities show that wastewater irrigation in urban agriculture presents a serious public health risk for farmworkers and consumers by spread of bacterial resistance.
Re-weighting of Sound Localization Cues by Audiovisual Training
Authors: Kumpik Daniel P. , Campbell Connor , Schnupp Jan W.H. , King Andrew J
Published: April 2019

Sound localization requires the integration in the brain of auditory spatial cues generated by interactions with the external ears, head and body. Perceptual learning studies have shown that the relative weighting of these cues can change in a context-dependent fashion if their relative reliability is altered. One factor that may influence this process is vision, which tends to dominate localization judgments when both modalities are present and induces a recalibration of auditory space if they become misaligned. It is not known, however, whether vision can alter the weighting of individual auditory localization cues. Using non-individualized head-related transfer functions, we measured changes in subjects’ sound localization biases and binaural localization cue weights after ~55 minutes of training on an audiovisual spatial oddball task. Four different configurations of spatial congruence between visual and auditory cues (interaural time differences (ITDs) and frequency-dependent interaural level differences (interaural level spectra, ILS) were used. When visual cues were spatially congruent with both auditory spatial cues, we observed an improvement in sound localization, as shown by a reduction in the variance of subjects’ localization biases, which was accompanied by an up-weighting of the more salient ILS cue. However, if the position of either one of the auditory cues was randomized during training, no overall improvement in sound localization occurred. Nevertheless, the spatial gain of whichever cue was matched with vision increased, with different effects observed on the gain for the randomized cue depending on whether ITDs or ILS were matched with vision. As a result, we observed a similar up-weighting in ILS when this cue alone was matched with vision, but no overall change in binaural cue weighting when ITDs corresponded to the visual cues and ILS were randomized. Consistently misaligning both cues with vision produced the ventriloquism aftereffect, i.e., a corresponding shift in auditory localization bias, without affecting the variability of the subjects’ sound localization judgments, and no overall change in binaural cue weighting. These data show that visual contextual information can invoke a reweighting of auditory localization cues, although concomitant improvements in sound localization are only likely to accompany training with fully congruent audiovisual information.
A neuroanatomically grounded optimal control model of the compensatory eye movement system
Authors: Holland P.J. , Sibindi T.M. , Ginzburg M. , Das S. , Arkesteijn K. , Frens M.A. , Donchin O.
Published: April 2019

We present a working model of the compensatory eye movement system. We challenge the model with a data set of eye movements in mice (n=34) recorded in 4 different sinusoidal stimulus conditions with 36 different combinations of frequency (0.1-3.2 Hz) and amplitude (0.5-8°) in each condition. The conditions included vestibular stimulation in the dark (vestibular-ocular reflex, VOR), optokinetic stimulation (optokinetic reflex, OKR), and two combined visual/vestibular conditions (the visual-vestibular ocular reflex, vVOR, and visual suppression of the VOR, sVOR). The model successfully reproduced the eye movements in all conditions, except for minor failures to predict phase when gain was very low. Most importantly, it could explain the non-linear summation of VOR and OKR when the two reflexes are activated simultaneously during vVOR stimulation. In addition to our own data, we also reproduced the behavior of the compensatory eye movement system found in the existing literature. These include its response to sum-of-sines stimuli, its response after lesions of the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi or the flocculus, characteristics of VOR adaptation, and characteristics of drift in the dark. Our model is based on ideas of state prediction and forward modeling that have been widely used in the study of motor control. However, it represents one of the first quantitative efforts to simulate the full range of behaviors of a specific system. The model has two separate processing loops, one for vestibular stimulation and one for visual stimulation. Importantly, state prediction in the visual processing loop depends on a forward model of residual retinal slip after vestibular processing. In addition, we hypothesize that adaptation in the system is primarily adaptation of this model. In other words, VOR adaptation happens primarily in the OKR loop.
Regulation of the 20S proteasome by a novel family of inhibitory proteins
Authors: Olshina Maya A , Deshmukh Fanindra Kumar , Arkind Galina , Fainer Irit , Taranavsky Mark , Hayat Daniel , Ben-Dor Shifra , Ben-Nissan Gili , Sharon Michal
Published: April 2019

The protein degradation machinery plays a critical role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, preventing the accumulation of damaged or misfolded proteins and controlling the levels of regulatory proteins. The 20S proteasome degradation machinery is able to cleave any protein with a partially unfolded region, however uncontrolled degradation of the myriad of potential substrates is improbable. Thus, there must exist a regulatory mechanism to control 20S proteasome mediated degradation. Here we have discovered a family of 20S proteasome regulators, named Catalytic Core Regulators (CCRs). They coordinate the function of the 20S proteasome and are involved in the oxidative stress response via Nrf2. The CCRs organize into a feed-forward loop regulatory circuit, with some members stabilizing Nrf2, others being induced by Nrf2, and all of them inhibiting the 20S proteasome. This provides a fine-tuned mechanism to carefully modulate the 20S proteasome, ensuring its proper functioning by controlling the degradative flux.
Interaction ofPlasmodium falciparumCasein kinase 1 (PfCK1) with components of host cell protein trafficking machinery
Authors: Batty Mitchell B , Schittenhelm Ralf B , Doerig Christian , Garcia-Bustos Jose
Published: April 2019

During infection, thePlasmodium falciparumcasein kinase 1 (PfCK1) is secreted to the extracellular medium and appears on the RBC membrane during trophozoite stage of development. We attempted to identify a mechanism that describes the secretion of PfCK1 and its appearance on the RBC membrane and suspected a mechanism involving multiple host proteins may be utilised. Indeed, we found that the host proteins GTPase-activating protein and Vps9 domain-containing protein (GAPVD1) and Sorting nexin 22 (SNX22), which have described functions in membrane trafficking in higher eukaryotes, consistently co-purify with PfCK1 suggesting the parasite utilises trafficking pathways previously thought to be inactive in RBCs. Further, reciprocal immunoprecipitation experiments with GAPVD1 identified parasite proteins suggestive of a recycling pathway hitherto only described in higher eukaryotes to recycle membrane proteins. Thus, we have identified components of a trafficking pathway involving parasite proteins that act in concert with host proteins which we hypothesise coordinate the trafficking of PfCK1 during infection.
SCAND1 suppresses CDC37 gene transcription by repressing MZF1
Authors: Eguchi Takanori , Prince Thomas L. , Tran Manh Tien , Sogawa Chiharu , Lang Benjamin J. , Calderwood Stuart K.
Published: April 2019

CDC37 increases the stability of HSP90 client proteins and is essential for numerous intracellular oncogenic signaling pathways. Elevated expression of CDC37 was found in prostate cancer cells, although the regulatory mechanisms through which CDC37 expression becomes increased are unknown. Here we show both positive and negative regulation of CDC37 gene transcription by two members of the SCAN transcription factor family- MZF1 and SCAND1, respectively. Consensus DNA-binding motifs for MZF1 were abundant in the CDC37 promoter region. MZF1 became bound to these regulatory sites and trans-activated the CDC37 gene whereas MZF1 depletion decreased CDC37 transcrption and reduced tumorigenesis of prostate cancer cells. On the other hand, SCAND1, a zinc-fingerless SCAN box protein that potentially inhibits MZF1, accumulated at MZF1-binding sites in CDC37 gene, negatively regulated CDC37 gene and inhibited tumorigenesis. SCAND1 was abundantly expressed in normal prostate cells but was reduced in prostate cancer cells, suggesting a potential tumor suppressor role of SCAND1 in prostate cancer. These findings indicate that CDC37, a crucial protein in prostate cancer progression, is regulated reciprocally by MZF1 and SCAND1.
Metaphysics, methodology and theory in classical accounting thought
Authors: Rutherford Brian A.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The received wisdom on classical accounting thought is that its early stages were methodologically vacuous, while, in its “golden” age, it espoused the methods and philosophical commitments of received-view hypothetico-deductivism but actually remained methodologically incoherent. The purpose of this paper is to argue, to the contrary, that classical accounting thought possesses a coherent constitutional structure that qualifies as a methodology and unifies it as a body of argument.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on Cartwright’s metaphysical nomological pluralism, which holds that we should attend to the actual practices of successful inquiry and the methodologies and metaphysical presuppositions that support it.

Findings

The paper argues that accounting does achieve disciplinary success and that classical accounting thought, using the methodology of defeasible postulationism, provides the theoretical infrastructure that supports that success. The accounting domain is a world of “dappled realism”, in which theories are useful in the construction of reporting schemes and inform our understanding of the nature of the domain.

Research limitations/implications

Applying metaphysical nomological pluralism rescues classical accounting thought from the charge of methodological incoherence and metaphysical naivety.

Originality/value

The paper justifies a place for classical accounting theorising in the endeavours of modern accounting scholarship and moves the analysis of classical accounting thought within a philosophy of science framework towards an approach with a contemporary resonance.
The views of privacy auditors regarding standards and methodologies
Authors: Toy Alan , Lau David , Hay David , Gunasekara Gehan
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to uncover the practices of different privacy auditors to reveal the extent of any similarities in such practices. The purpose is to investigate the drivers of practices used by privacy auditors and to identify potential for improvements in the practice of privacy auditing so that privacy audits may better serve stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

Six semi-structured interviews with seven privacy auditors and regulators and an analyst across Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA are used as the basis for our analysis.

Findings

The study shows that some privacy auditors view privacy as an organizational issue, which means that all staff within an organization should understand the privacy issues that are relevant to the organization and to its customers. Because this practice goes beyond a mere compliance approach to privacy auditing, it indicates that there is a way to avoid the approach of merely applying standards from national data privacy laws which is an approach that has been subject to criticism because it is not applicable to the current situation of global applications and cross-border data. The interview themes demonstrate that privacy audits face significant challenges, such as the lack of a privacy auditing profession and the difficulty of raising the awareness of organizations and individuals regarding information privacy rights and duties.

Originality/value

Privacy auditing is mostly unexplored by academic research and little is known about the drivers behind the practice of privacy auditing. This study is the first to document the views of privacy auditors regarding the practices that they use. It also presents novel results regarding the drivers of the practice of privacy auditing and the interests of the beneficiaries of privacy audits. It builds on research that argues for the existence of best practices for privacy (Toy, 2013; Toy and Hay, 2015) and it extends this argument by providing reasons why privacy auditors may benefit from the use of best practices for privacy.
Fermented rice bran extract improves blood pressure and glucose in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Ardiansyah  , David Wahyudi , Handoko Dody Dwi , Kusbiantoro Bram , Budijanto Slamet , Shirakawa Hitoshi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate thein vitroandin vivoeffects of three varieties of Indonesian fermented rice bran (RB) (Inpari 6, Inpari 30 and Inpara 1).

Design/methodology/approach

Three types of RB were fermented usingRhizopus oligosporus. The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteau method, and antioxidant activity was analyzed by measuring the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (RSA). Forin vivoanalyses, one week after acclimatization, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (n= 4, 12 weeks of age) were divided into two groups and orally administered fermented RB (40 mg/kg body weight) or distilled water as a control after 16 h of fasting. Blood pressure (BP) was measured before and 2, 4 and 6 h after administration with a BP monitor without warming. Six days later, the rats were subject to the same procedure and sacrificed after 6 h of oral administration. Blood was collected and the plasma was separated to measure nitric oxide, glucose and insulin levels.

Findings

The highest TPC and RSA of fermented RB were obtained from Inpari 30 after incubation for 72 h (260.33 ± 0.39 mg GAE/100 g dry basis and 83.71 ± 0.61 per cent), respectively. Furthermore, single oral administration of fermented RB improved BP (p< 0.05) and glucose metabolism after 6 h of administration (p< 0.05).

Originality/value

This is the first study to evaluate the effects of fermented RB on improving high BP and glucose profiles by using a spontaneously hypertensive animal model.
Dental injuries in relation to general anaesthesia—A retrospective study
Authors: Christensen Rasmus Ejlersgaard , Baekgaard Josefine S. , Rasmussen Lars S.
Published: April 2019

Background

Dental injuries may occur during general anaesthesia, especially during airway management. The aim of this study was to describe cases of dental injury related to general anaesthesia, focusing on the type and extent of the injuries as well as the timing of recognition.

Method

We reviewed the nationwide electronic database available at the Danish Patient Compensation Association and scrutinized all claims classified as possible dental injuries in relation to general anaesthesia between 2007 and 2017.

Results

During the 10‐year study period, there were 2523 claims for compensation related to anaesthesia. Of these, 552 (21.9%) were cases of possible dental injuries following general anaesthesia. The most commonly injured teeth were the central maxillary incisors with 174 (25.3%) cases related to the left and 118 (17.2%) cases related to the right incisor. The most common injuries were fractures (41.2%) and subluxations (25.9%). Airway management included the use of Macintosh laryngoscope in 296 (64.4%) cases and a supraglottic airway device in 69 (15%) cases. Claims were more frequently approved if more than two intubation attempts were used (100% vs 82.8%, RR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.78‐0.88], P = 0.0037). Injuries recognized in‐hospital were more frequently approved than injuries recognized after discharge (91.6% vs 70.7%, RR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.70‐0.86], P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The most commonly reported dental injury related to general anaesthesia in the Danish Patient Compensation Association database was a fracture. Claims were more frequently approved if more than two intubation attempts were used and if the injury was recognized in‐hospital.
Fresh meat baits are currently the only available effective option to detect low‐density Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) populations in South Africa
Authors: Haupt Karla , Addison Pia , Veldtman Ruan
Published: April 2019

The eusocial wasp Vespula germanica is a problematic invasive species in the Southern Hemisphere regions. Especially in New Zealand, Tasmania and Argentina, population densities can be very high and result in large negative impacts. In these regions, the development of baits is used not only to monitor population sizes but also to poison wasps when they return with treated baits to their nests. In contrast, this wasp has been present in South Africa since 1974 but is still confined to a small geographical area. Therefore, detection of the presence of V. germanica with a low level of false negatives is important. The foundation of such a monitoring strategy is a reliable bait or lure that can be placed, in a standard way, in different environments to detect wasp presence. In this study, we tested two baits and two lures at eight localities in 2013 and two baits and four lures at nine localities in 2014. Trap catches confirm low population densities of the target species even in the core of its distribution in South Africa with on average between 3 and 11 wasps (median of 0) caught per trap. Confirming classical bait preference studies, meat baits, specifically lean smoked ham and lean beef mince, trapped significantly more foragers in both sampling years than the unbaited control treatments. However, all catches using synthetic lures with various compounds known to be attractive to Vespula species were almost always indistinguishable from control treatments. Consequently, more research is required in optimising baiting of V. germanica in South Africa, where it occurs at relatively low densities and worker activity peaks when seasonal conditions are unfavourable (hot and dry). Low population densities could explain why synthetic lures that are effective in other invaded continents were not effective in South Africa.
Demographic, Cannabis Use, and Depressive Correlates of Cannabis Use Consequences in Regular Cannabis Users
Authors: Struble Cara A. , Ellis Jennifer D. , Cairncross Molly , Lister Jamey J. , Lundahl Leslie H.
Published: April 2019

Background and Objectives

Regular cannabis users experience cannabis‐related consequences across many domains of functioning. The present study examined demographic, cannabis use, and depressive correlates of cannabis consequences. We hypothesized that (1) earlier onset of use would predict greater psychological and functional consequences; and (2) women would endorse more psychological and withdrawal consequences.

Methods

Data were collected from an urban sample of 184 adults who reported regular cannabis use. Seventeen items from a cannabis consequence checklist were grouped into three domains: Psychological Consequences, Cannabis Withdrawal, and Functional Consequences. Three multiple regressions were performed to explore demographic and cannabis use correlates of each domain. Correlations between domains and depressive symptoms were assessed using Pearson's r.

Results

Greater endorsement on the Psychological Consequence subgroup was predicted by female sex, lower educational attainment, and treatment‐seeking history for cannabis abuse/dependence. Individuals with greater number of quit attempts or treatment‐seeking history endorsed more items in the Cannabis Withdrawal domain. Although the model failed to reach significance for Functional Consequences, age at onset of regular and daily cannabis use were negatively associated with this domain. Correlational analyses demonstrated higher Beck Depression Inventory—Second Edition scores were related to greater endorsement of Psychological Consequence and Cannabis Withdrawal items.

Discussion and Conclusions

Regular cannabis users report consequences of use, which can be grouped into content‐specific subgroups. Individual characteristics are differentially associated with these subgroups.

Scientific Significance

Understanding which individual characteristics are related to cannabis use sequelae could help identify those at risk for greater consequences, thus leading to improved assessment and treatment interventions. (Am J Addict 2019;28:295–302)
Prospective study on a novel treatment for leaking cystic bleb: Efficacy and safety of collagen crosslinking
Authors: Cai Yu , Choy Bonnie N. K. , Zhu Ming M. , Li Bai B. , Chan Jonathan C. H. , Ho Wing L. , Lai Jimmy S. M.
Published: April 2019

Importance

Management of cystic bleb leak is difficult. It would be essential to look for a method to strengthen the original pathological conjunctiva and reverse bleb leak.

Background

To evaluate the long‐term efficacy and safety of collagen crosslinking in patients with leaking cystic bleb.

Design

Prospective interventional case series at a university‐based hospital.

Participants

Twelve eyes in 12 subjects with late‐onset bleb leak from cystic bleb, without indications for prompt surgical interventions were included.

Methods

The subjects underwent crosslinking with 0.1% riboflavin application to bleb surface, followed by ultraviolet irradiation for 30 minutes. The subjects were followed up at baseline and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months post‐treatment and then every 6 months afterwards.

Main Outcome Measures

Interval from treatment to cessation of bleb leak, recurrence rate of bleb leak and side effects of treatment.

Results

The mean follow‐up after crosslinking was 29.33 ± 12.45 months. Bleb leak subsided in 11 (92%) of 12 patients after a single session of crosslinking, after 1 to 8 weeks (median 3 weeks). Time to leak cessation was significantly correlated with the number of prior glaucoma interventions (R = .71, P = .014). Bleb wall at 3 months was significantly thicker than at baseline (0.70 ± 0.67 vs 0.81 ± 0.62 mm, P = .008). None of the patients experienced any complications.

Conclusions and Relevance

Crosslinking achieves resolution of cystic bleb leak which lasts for at least 12 months, without the need of subsequent surgical interventions. Crosslinking is a simple, non‐invasive treatment for bleb leak. It aims to restore the integrity of conjunctiva.
Oil prices, growth, and remittance outflows from the Gulf Cooperation Council
Authors: De Supriyo , Quayyum Saad , Schuettler Kirsten , Yousefi Seyed Reza
Published: April 2019

How does a decline in oil prices and its impacts on growth affect remittance outflows from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries? This paper carries out an empirical analysis of the relationship between oil prices, oil‐ and non‐oil GDP, and remittances outflows from the GCC. The findings of our paper are three folds. First, we find that non‐oil GDP is a key determinant of remittance outflows and that oil GDP is a significant driver of non‐oil GDP in the GCC only in the long term. Second, we document that historically oil prices and remittances tend to broadly move in the same direction but that remittances have been much less volatile than oil prices. An analysis of the past large oil price declines shows that remittance flows to major remittance recipients in Mashreq, Pakistan, and Yemen fell only modestly following large declines in oil prices and recovered quickly in line with oil prices. Finally, we estimate the elasticity of remittance outflows with respect to non‐oil GDP in the GCC using various techniques. Estimates of short‐term elasticity vary between 0.5 and 0.8, while estimates of long‐term elasticity vary between 0.6 and 1.1. We find that construction and government services are two non‐oil GDP components that are strongly associated with remittance outflows.
Managerial optimism: New observations on the unifying theory
Authors: Heaton J. B.
Published: April 2019

Managerial optimism theory is behavioral finance's greatest achievement. It explains two prominent features of corporate financial behavior – over‐investment and pecking‐order capital structure preferences – that otherwise require two different theories with mutually incompatible assumptions about managerial loyalties to shareholder‐value maximization. After reviewing the development of managerial optimism as a unifying theory, I use a simple change of measure to transform risk‐averse optimism to risk‐neutral probabilities that can be pessimistic or optimistic depending on wealth changes. This unexplored feature has implications for, among other things, pay for performance when managers are excessively optimistic.
High School Start Time and Migraine Frequency in High School Students
Authors: Gelfand Amy A. , Pavitt Sara , Greene Kaitlin , Szperka Christina L. , Irwin Samantha , Grimes Barbara , Allen Isabel E.
Published: April 2019

Objective

To investigate whether later high school start time is associated with lower migraine frequency in high school students with migraine.

Background

Adequate sleep is thought to be important in managing adolescent migraine. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends teenagers sleep ≥8 hours/night. Adolescents have a physiologically delayed sleep phase, going to bed, and waking later than children and adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) accordingly recommends high schools start no earlier than 8:30 AM.

Methods

Cross‐sectional observational study of U.S. high schoolers with migraine. Participants were recruited nationally using social media. Respondents attending high schools starting at 8:30 AM or later were compared to those attending earlier start time schools. The primary outcome was headache days/month.

Results

Two hundred and fifty‐six subjects constituted the analysis set: 115 later group vs 141 earlier group. Age and sex did not differ. Mean (SD) self‐reported headache days/month were 7 (5) vs 8 (7), respectively, (P = .985); mean difference (95% CI for the difference) was −0.8 (−2.3‐0.7) days. Median (IQR) self‐reported total hours of sleep/school night were: 5.6 (5.0‐6.6) vs 5.6 (4.5‐6.4), P = .058. Students attending later start time schools woke later (median [IQR] 6:38 AM [55 minutes] vs 6:09 AM [59 minutes], P < .0001) and left home later (median [IQR] 7:28 AM [28 minutes] vs 7:02 AM [60 minutes], P < .0001). Average commute time was also longer: 41 (21) minutes vs 28 (16), P < .0001. The vast majority in both groups reported missing breakfast at least once/week: 103/114 (90.4%) vs 128/141 (90.8%), P = .907. Hours of sleep did not correlate with headache days per month.

Conclusion

High school start time does not have a large effect on headache frequency in high schoolers with migraine. Given the high variance in headache days/month observed in this study, a larger study would be needed to determine whether there might still be a small effect of starting high school at/after 8:30 AM. More research is needed to establish evidence‐based recommendations about lifestyle factors in adolescent migraine management.
Primary health care: an opportunity for early identification of people living with undiagnosed HIV infection
Authors: Martin‐Iguacel R , Pedersen C , Llibre JM , Søndergaard J , Jensen J , Omland LH , Johansen IS , Obel N , Rasmussen LD
Published: April 2019

Objectives

We aimed to determine the fraction of HIV‐diagnosed individuals who had primary health care (PHC) contacts 3 years prior to HIV diagnosis and whether the risk of HIV diagnosis and degree of immunodeficiency were associated with the frequency of visits or procedures performed.

Methods

We used data from national registries to conduct a population‐based nested case–control study. Cases were individuals diagnosed with HIV infection in Denmark from 1998 to 2016. Population controls were extracted from the general population matched 13:1 on gender and age. We used conditional logistic regression. As there was a statistically significant interaction, analyses were further stratified by gender and Danish/non‐Danish origin.

Results

We identified 2784 cases and 36 192 controls. Ninety‐three per cent of cases and 88% of controls attended PHC at least once in the 3 years prior to diagnosis, with a higher median number of visits to PHC (NVPC) for cases. We found a statistically significant positive association between NVPC and risk of subsequent HIV diagnosis in men and non‐Danish women. A U‐shaped association between NVPC and risk of HIV diagnosis among Danish women. No substantial association between NVPC and degree of immunodeficiency was found. Risk of HIV diagnosis and degree of immunodeficiency were weakly associated with type of procedures performed.

Conclusions

For most HIV‐infected individuals, there seem to be many opportunities for earlier diagnosis in PHC. In men and non‐Danish women, the risk of HIV diagnosis but not the degree of immunodeficiency was related to NVPC. The results suggest that the type of medical procedure performed cannot not be used as a guide by the primary physician to indicate which patients to test.
A new species of Piaractus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) from the Orinoco Basin with a redescription of Piaractus brachypomus
Authors: Escobar L. Maria D. , Ota Rafaela P. , Machado‐Allison Antonio , Andrade‐López Juana , Farias Izeni P. , Hrbek Tomas
Published: April 2019

Piaractus orinoquensis, a new species of serrasalmid fish, is described from the Orinoco River basin. The new species differs from congeners by having a slenderer body, relatively smaller head and snout, more compressed mid‐body, fewer scales above and below the lateral line and diagnostic molecular characters in the coI mitochondrial gene region. We also provide a re‐description of Piaractus brachypomus, restricting its geographic distribution to the Amazon River basin. Both species are economically important in their respective basins and need to be independently managed as distinct species.
Tenofovir alafenamide for hepatitis B virus infection including switching therapy from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Authors: Kaneko Shun , Kurosaki Masayuki , Tamaki Nobuharu , Itakura Jun , Hayashi Tsuguru , Kirino Sakura , Osawa Leona , Watakabe Keiya , Okada Mao , Wang Wan , Shimizu Takao , Higuchi Mayu , Takaura Kenta , Yasui Yutaka , Tsuchiya Kaoru , Nakanishi Hiroyuki , Takahashi Yuka , Watanabe Mamoru , Izumi Namiki
Published: April 2019

Background and Aim

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a new prodrug of tenofovir, enabling treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection at a lower dose than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), via more efficient delivery of tenofovir to the hepatocytes. We compared the efficacy and safety of TDF and TAF and investigated switching from TDF to TAF therapy.

Methods

Consent for TDF and TAF therapy was obtained from 117 and 67 patients from August 2014 to January 2018. In total, 45 and 14 patients were administered with TDF and TAF, respectively, as naïve therapy, and 36 patients were switched from TDF to TAF. The antiviral effects and renal function safety were assessed.

Results

At week 48, the antiviral effects on patients receiving TDF and TAF as naïve therapy were similar in terms of reduction of HBV DNA (−5.6 ± 1.8 logIU/ml vs −5.0 ± 1.7 log IU/ml; P = 0.34) and hepatitis B surface antigen (−0.29 ± 0.64 logIU/ml vs −0.15 ± 0.42 logIU/ml; P = 0.71) levels. A significant decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was seen at 48‐week TDF treatment (−5.34 ± 7.69 ml/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.001). Switching from TDF to TAF did not increase the HBV DNA or hepatitis B surface antigen at 24 weeks. Although the eGFR worsened during TDF therapy (−7.32 ± 4.87 ml/min/1.73 m2), it improved significantly at week 4 (+3.93 ± 6.18 ml/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.008) and week 24 (+2.89 ± 4.26 ml/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.020) after switching from TDF to TAF.

Conclusion

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and TAF showed adequate antiviral effects as naïve therapies. Furthermore, switching from TDF to TAF therapy contributed to the maintenance of the antiviral effect and recovery of renal dysfunction.
Daily Use of Bilateral Custom‐Made Ankle‐Foot Orthoses for Fall Prevention in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Changhong , Goel Rahul , Zhang Qianzi , Lepow Brian , Najafi Bijan
Published: April 2019

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of bilateral custom‐made ankle‐foot orthoses (AFOs) to prevent falls for older adults with concern about or at risk for falling over 12‐month daily use.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Community‐dwelling older adults.

INTERVENTION

Half of the participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG) that received fitted walking shoes and bilateral custom‐made AFOs, and the other half were randomly allocated to a control group (CG) that only received fitted walking shoes.

MEASUREMENTS

Self‐reported fall history of 12‐month duration was investigated at baseline and 12‐month follow‐up for both groups. Fall incidence rate and proportion of fallers were used as outcome measures to determine effects of 12‐month footwear intervention in either group.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged 65 years and older with concern about or at risk for falling (n = 44).

RESULTS

No significant between‐group differences in participant characteristics were observed at the baseline (P = .144‐.882). Within the IG, significant reductions were found in the fall incidence rate (P = .039) and the proportion of fallers (P = .036) at the 12‐month follow‐up compared to the baseline. Within the CG, no significant change was found at the 12‐month follow‐up compared to the baseline for the fall incidence rate (P = .217) or the proportion of fallers (P = .757). When comparing the IG with the CG, there was no significant difference in the change from the baseline to the 12‐month follow‐up for the fall incidence rate (P = .572) or the proportion of fallers (P = .080).

CONCLUSION

This study failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of bilateral custom‐made AFOs to reduce falls compared to fitted walking shoes. However, the AFO users had significant reductions in falls compared to the preceding year. A future study with a larger sample size is recommended to confirm these observations.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02819011. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1656–1661, 2019
‘Transformed rights’ sexual health programme evaluation for the parents and service workers of adults with an intellectual disability
Authors: Chou Y.‐C. , Lu Z.‐y. J. , Chen B.‐W. , Lin C.‐J.
Published: April 2019

Background

To promote sexual health in adults with an intellectual disability (ID) in Taiwan, sexual health programmes were provided to adults with ID, their parents and service workers. This study evaluates the impact of these programmes that involved the parents and service workers.

Methods

Intervention and participatory research paradigms were applied to develop, implement and evaluate programmes that address the challenges that relate to the sexual rights of adults with ID. Additionally, the programmes fostered open dialogue among the participants concerning the sexual health of people with ID. In total, 57 parents and 164 service workers were involved in the programmes. A quasi‐experimental design and standardised questionnaires (Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire – Individuals with an Intellectual Disability), as well as in‐depth interviews, were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data on the programmes' effectiveness and participants' experiences between April 2012 and July 2015.

Results

The findings revealed that after the programmes were implemented, attitudes towards the sexual rights of people with ID were significantly more positive among both the parents and service workers. Participation in the sexual health programmes facilitated constructive dialogue by revealing hidden concerns and by transforming the perspectives of the parents and service workers from viewing sexuality as a social problem to understanding the sexual rights of adults with ID.

Conclusions

Both the quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate that the programmes had a positive impact on the parents and service workers in terms of their attitudes towards the sexual rights of people with ID. Open dialogue and reciprocal interaction strategies caused transformations in the perspectives of parents and service workers on sexual health.
Gender Differences in Couples' Matrimonial Property Regime in Italy
Authors: Fraboni Romina , Vitali Agnese
Published: April 2019

Objective

This study investigates the characteristics of spouses in Italy who choose to pool their economic resources.

Background

If resource pooling is common among male‐breadwinner couples, expectations regarding resource pooling are mixed for female‐breadwinner couples or, more generally, for couples with wives who are economically advantaged when compared with their husbands. This study asks whether resource‐pooling strategies differ between couples with economically advantaged husbands, couples with economically advantaged wives, and couples in which spouses have similar economic resources.

Method

The article uses an objective measure of pooling of wealth available for Italy at the time of marriage: the matrimonial property regime, indicating the choice between a shared or separate ownership of assets accumulated during marriage. Using data from the 2015 marriage register, the article models the probability that a couple chooses the community of property with a logistic regression model.

Results

Couples with husbands who were economically advantaged when compared with their wives (i.e., the husband was older, more educated, or employed with a nonemployed wife) were more likely to choose the community of property when compared with couples with similar resources (both spouses were employed, of similar age or educational attainment); conversely, couples with economically advantaged wives were more likely to choose the separation of property.

Conclusion

Economically advantaged women seem to be “undoing gender” by protecting their economic resources via the separation of property.
A comparison of canine whole and intact parathyroid hormone concentrations as measured by different assays
Authors: Mooney C. T. , Shiel R. E. , Fawcett K. , Matthews E. , Gunn E.
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To compare an intact immunoradiometric parathyroid hormone assay with (1) a non‐isotopic technique; and, (2) a whole parathyroid hormone immunoradiometric assay.

Materials and Methods

Intact parathyroid hormone concentrations were measured using immunoradiometric (Scantibodies) and chemiluminescent (Immulite 2000) assays. Whole parathyroid hormone concentration was measured using an immunoradiometric assay (Scantibodies).

Results

A total of 48 and 47 samples, respectively, were used to compare immunoradiometric and chemiluminescent intact parathyroid concentrations and intact and whole parathyroid hormone concentrations by immunoradiometric assays. Using chemiluminescence, 39 (81.3%) samples had intact parathyroid hormone concentrations at or below the reported limit of detection of the assay (0.3 pmol/L). Intact [6.3 (2.0 to 95.5) pmol/L] and whole [3.3 (0.8 to 125.2) pmol/L] immunoradiometric parathyroid hormone concentrations exhibited excellent correlation.

Clinical Significance

Not all parathyroid hormone assays perform similarly. The chemiluminescent assay in this study cannot be recommended for use in dogs. The immunoradiometric intact parathyroid hormone assay proved to be a more reliable method. Given the correlation between intact and whole parathyroid hormone concentrations, it remains unclear which one is superior for routine clinical decision‐making.