bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal depression in women hospitalized for threatened preterm labour: A prospective study in Greece
Authors: Papazisis G. , Dagklis T. , Tsakiridis I. , Chouliara F. , Mamopoulos A. , Rousso D.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Pregnancy complications may require admission in a high-risk pregnancy unit (HRPU). A complicated pregnancy and hospital admission might negatively affect the pregnant woman's mental health.

Objectives

To screen for depressive symptoms in pregnant women admitted in a high-risk pregnancy unit due to threatened preterm labour and also to investigate for associated risk factors.

Aims

Early identification of prenatal depression will decrease the risk of pregnancy complications and postnatal depression.

Methods

A prospective study enrolled pregnant women admitted at 324 gestational weeks due to threatened preterm labour in a university hospital HRPU, between 9/2014 and 11/2015. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess depressive symptoms and a cut-off score 313 was considered as indicative of depression. Test results were then correlated with the indication for admission, demographic and socio-economic parameters.

Results

Overall, 80 of the women admitted in the HRPU were eligible for the study and agreed to complete the questionnaire. The mean age was 29.4 ± 6.23 years and the mean gestational week at the admission was 31.6 ± 3.33 weeks. The prevalence of prenatal depression (score 313) was 25% (20/80). In the multivariable model, depression was significantly correlated with the existence of thoughts for pregnancy termination [P = .03 OR = 4.560 95% CI: (1.162–17.892)].

Conclusions

One quarter of pregnant women admitted in the HRPU with the indication of threatened preterm labour may suffer from clinically significant depression. An unwanted pregnancy was found to be independently associated with prenatal depression whereas no association was found with any obstetric parameters.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Women that present fibromyalgia have higher levels in all scales of catastrophism
Authors: Cabas-Hoyos K.
Published: May 2016

Fibromyalgia patients value their pain as modern high and they perceive it more as a threat than as a challenge (Ayan, 2011). There is a relative consensus related to catastrophic thoughts that seems to play an important role in the maintenance of chronic pain (Esteve, Ramírez and López, 2001). The objective of the present study was to explore the level of catastrophism in women with and without fibromyalgia. Adult women (n = 39) with an average of 47 years old (TD: 12.14) and more than 12 years schooling, paired with healthy controls (n = 39) with similar characteristics. Patients with fibromyalgia were previously diagnosed according to ACR (American College of Rheumatology). This was a cross-sectional study, comparative and quantitative cut. An ANOVA was used to compare both groups. The level of catastrophism was measured through the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan, Bishop and Pivick, 1995). Scale composed of 13 questions and three subscales: rumination, magnification and hopelessness. This instrument has been tested in both clinical and non-clinical populations (Osman et al., 2000; Sullivan et al., 1995). Rumination, magnification and hopelessness were trend significantly higher in the women group with Fibromyalgia. [Rumination: F (1.36) = 6.22; P = 0.00]; [Magnification: F (1.36) = 17.66; P = 0.00]; [Hopelessness: F (1.36) = 6.53; P = 0.00]. These results allowed that the total catastrophism level was higher in the women group with Fibromyalgia and that the statistical significance level was reached [F (1.36) = 9.89; P = 0.00). This type of studies will allow to study the pain as a multidimensional entity comprised of physical, cognitive and affective aspects.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Gender differences in medical and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Fortuna L. , Ramos Z. , Falgas-Bague I. , Cellerino L. , Alegria M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

PTSD is associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Less is known regarding differences in PTSD comorbidities and service use by gender.

Objectives

To examine variations in comorbidities for PTSD by gender and implications for quality of care.

Aims

We identify the prevalence of PTSD, medical and psychiatric comorbidities diagnosed by gender within outpatient, inpatient and emergency services.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis using existing medical records from all outpatient, inpatient and emergency department (ED) encounters in 2010–2012 in a safety net health care system in the US. We identified the rates of PTSD diagnosis by gender, co-occurring diagnoses in ED and inpatient care, and rate of different comorbid diagnoses following initial PTSD diagnosis.

Results

Women in the sample had twice the likelihood of having a diagnosis of PTSD as compared to men (1.9% vs. 3.6%, P > 0.001), the most common comorbid diagnoses for ED visits were substance use disorder (SUD), depression, anxiety and pain. Men were more likely to have pain as a diagnosis in the ED as compared to women (P > 0.001). In inpatient services, men with PTSD were more likely to be diagnosed with a SUD (35% vs. 26%, P > 0.001) and women more likely diagnosed with comorbid depression (32% vs. 43%, P > 0.001). Men were more likely to have combined medical and substance use disorders and women more likely to have combined medical and psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions

Given the different patterns of comorbidity by gender, services should focus on tailoring services early to contend with these differences.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The effect of psychoeducation on anger management and problem solving skills of the patients with post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Senyurt M. , Demiralp M. , Ozmenler N. , Acikel C.
Published: May 2016

This study was conducted as pre-test and post-test experimental design with the control group in order to identify the effect of psychoeducation on anger management and problem solving skills of the patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. This study was carried out in Gülhane Military Medical Academy, the department of Military Psychology and Battle Psychiatry between May 2012 and May 2013. The study sample included 22 control and 22 intervention group patients with PTSD who admitted to participate in the study and who were asked to receive the drug treatment by staying in the clinic. Psychoeducation was only performed on the intervention group. In the collection of research data, “Sociodemographical Information Form”, “Trait-Trait Anger Expression Inventory”, “Problem Solving Inventory” and “The Impact of Event Scale” were used. Data were assessed by Repeated Measures Variance Analysis via SPSS (15.0). Problem solving skills of the patients who had high-school and up to the level of high-school education were identified to be more insufficient than the ones having undergraduate and graduate educations. Before receiving psychoeducation, it was identified that the levels of trait anger of the patients were high, and that they perceived themselves as mild insufficient individuals in problem solving skills. It was identified that trait anger increased the anger control and problem-solving skills while it decreased inward and outward anger levels in the intervention group of psychoeducation. As a consequence, it has been recommended that the continuity of psychoeducations the psychiatry nurses applied have been provide in psychiatry clinic.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Antioxidant uric acid is lower in current major depression and anxiety disorders
Authors: Black C. , Bot M. , Scheffer P. , Penninx B.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

It has been hypothesized that lowered antioxidant capacity, which leads to increased oxidative stress, may be involved in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders and might be altered by antidepressant treatment.

Objectives

This study investigated the association of plasma uric acid, the greatest contributor to blood antioxidant capacity, with MDD, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia and antidepressants in a large cohort.

Methods

Data was derived from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety including patients with current (n = 1648) or remitted (n = 609) MDD and/or anxiety disorder(s) (of which n = 710 antidepressant users) and 618 controls. Diagnoses were established with the Composite Interview Diagnostic Instrument. Symptom severity was ascertained in all participants with the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. ANCOVA and regression analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, health and lifestyle variables.

Results

Plasma uric acid was lower in those with current MDD and/or anxiety disorder(s) (adjusted mean 270 μmol/L) compared to those with remitted disorders (280 μmol/L, P < 0.001) or to controls (281 μmol/L, P < 0.001; Cohen's d 0.14). Within patients antidepressants were not associated with uric acid levels. Increasing symptom severity was associated with lower uric acid levels for both depression (β = –0.05, P = 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (β = –0.05, P = 0.004).

Conclusion

This large scale study finds that the antioxidant uric acid is lower in current, but not remitted, MDD or anxiety disorders and in persons with higher symptom severity, suggesting disturbances in redox homeostasis play a role in the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety disorders.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Cognitive analytic therapy: A bibliometric review
Authors: Gimeno E. , Chiclana C.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) has emerged as an integrative new approach with promising results in the treatment of personality-disordered patients, particularly in borderline personality disorder. Although this approach has already demonstrated its effectiveness in adults, increasingly studies try to validate it in young population, which has meant a turning point in research.

Aim and objectives

The goal of this study is to know the whole production about CAT in a double way:

–articles that describes the main theoretical concepts underlying CAT theory;

–articles with evidence supporting its effectiveness in different mental disorders.

Methods

A bibliometric review of 397 scientific articles extracted from research databases including Dialnet, EBSCO, PUBMED, Unika and Scholar Google was conducted.

Results

The results indicate an exponential growth in published studies on CAT, from first publications in the late 1960s, particularly strong in the last two decades and reaching its peak in 2008. Total research includes 247 literature reviews, 109 clinical studies, 47 case studies, 17 letters and comments from authors, 4 studies on diagnostic tests and 1 meta-analysis. Most research has focused on borderline personality disorder or other personality disorders (35% and 12% respectively) and eating disorders (11%). Studies have been conducted with adults (49%) the same as children and adolescents (46%) whereas only the 4% has been developed for elderly population.

Conclusions

Cognitive analytic therapy represents a well-documented psychotherapy with a proven efficacy in a wide range of clinical contexts.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Healthcare resource use of paliperidone palmitate 3-month injection vs. paliperidone palmitate 1-month injection: An analysis of phase III clinical trial hospital data
Authors: Woodruff K. , Chirila C. , Zheng Q. , Van Impe K. , Nuamah I.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

PSY-3011 was a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, non-inferiority study of paliperidone palmitate 3-month injection (PP3M) vs. paliperidone palmitate 1-month injection (PP1M). Adults with schizophrenia were stabilized on PP1M in an open-label (OL) 17-week transition phase. Qualifying subjects at the end of the OL phase were then randomized to PP3M or PP1M in the 48-week double-blind (DB) phase. Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) between PP3M and PP1M was compared using the HCRU questionnaire during the double-blind (DB) phase.

Methods

HCRU was measured at the start of the OL and DB phases, and every 12 weeks during DB until end of study/early withdrawal. Information included hospitalizations, ER visits, day or night clinic stays, outpatient treatment, daily living conditions, and occupational status. Logistic regressions modeled the probability of hospitalization vs. no hospitalization for psychiatric and social reasons, as well as hospitalizations for psychiatric reasons only, during the DB phase. The models controlled for OL baseline hospitalizations, OL phase hospitalizations, and time in study.

Results

The analysis set included 483 subjects randomized to PP3M and 512 subjects to PP1M during the DB phase. The odds of hospitalization for psychiatric/social reasons during 1 year for PP1M subjects were 1.16 times the odds of hospitalization for PP3M subjects (95% CI: 0.70, 1.93, P = 0.56). For psychiatric reasons only, the odds of hospitalization during 1 year for PP1 M subjects were 1.63 times the odds of hospitalization for PP3M subjects (95% CI: 0.88, 3.02, P = 0.12).

Conclusions

PP3M and PP1M demonstrated similar trends in hospitalizations throughout the course of the study.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Patient assessment following substance overdose: Can we predict memory of the psychiatric interview?
Authors: Salles J. , Very E. , Pariente J. , Schmitt L.
Published: May 2016

Suicide is a major public health issue, and a critical step in its prevention is a psychiatric assessment of individuals following suicide attempts (NICE 2008). In cases where patients attempt suicide through substance overdose, the central nervous system and consciousness are altered in significant ways. This is problematic, given that patients must have recovered sufficient cognitive capacity if a psychiatric assessment is to yield a meaningful and suitable care plan that the patient will recall and follow (Lukens 2006). Currently, there is no validated tool to assess whether sufficient cognitive recovery has occurred in such patients to ensure their memory of the assessment. Therefore, our goal was to identify indicators that predict preserved memory of undergoing a psychiatric assessment. We carried out a prospective study with 41 patients recruited from an emergency department. We collected data on cognitive tests (including WAIS coding test), memory self-assessment, plasma benzodiazepine levels, age, gender, and educational level at the time of psychiatric assessment. We then assessed patients’ memory for undergoing a psychiatric interview 24 hours post-assessment, using an episodic memory score. Whereas memory self-assessment did not predict the episodic memory score, age, plasma benzodiazepine level, and cognitive test scores significantly influenced it, predicting 70% of memory score variation. Among these factors, the WAIS coding test predicted 57% of the memory score variation. To improve clinical practice, it may be useful to assess visual scanning, processing speed, and attentional function prior to psychiatric interview to ensure later patient recall.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Tendency to stigmatization of mentally ill people by university students in the Czech Republic
Authors: Holubova M. , Prasko J. , Klimusova H.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Mental illness is still surrounded by false myths, stereotypes and prejudices. Stigmatization is a social problem on a national and international level and may lead to discrimination.

Objectives

Stigmatization has a negative impact on patient's life, treatment seeking, self-image, adherence and mental health recovery.

Aims

The aim of the study was to examined the tendency to stigmatization mentally ill people by university students in the Czech Republic.

Methods

The constructed questionnaire called Tendency to stigmatization TTS (Cronbach's alpha = 0.952), demographic questionnaire and tentative shortened version of personality questionnaire NEO-PI-R were administered on Facebook offered to student groups.

Results

The statistical analysis of data from 1350 students showed a relatively high tendency to stigmatization depending on age (stigma is lower with age), gender (women have a lower TTS than men), studied university, faculty, educational focus. The lowest rate of stigmatization had students of psychology. Students of economics, management, informatics and engineering disciplines stigmatize in a high degree. Social oriented students had the lowest TTS, technically orientated the highest. The TTS also depends on personal agreeableness (low-friendly students had a higher TTS) and neuroticism (mentally unstable students had slight TTS). Lower TTS had students who attended psychopathological/psychiatric subject at school, also students, who personally met or know somebody with mental disease and students with mental health problems (Table 1).

Conclusions

Our study suggests the importance of stigmatization already among university students according to their academic orientation. Understanding the process of stigmatization is important for future efforts to find possible solutions and de-stigmatization of mental illness in society.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Brain Drain Project
Authors: Pinto da Costa M.
Published: May 2016

Despite the ongoing reality of workforce migration, information on medical migration is missing, with lack of detailed evidence of transnational migrations within Europe, obscuring the extent of how migration occurs amongst the different medical specialties.

The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) has been pioneer in researching workforce migration in junior doctors, conducting the EFPT Brain Drain study, which explored the reasons and patterns of mobility and migration in 33 European countries among junior doctors training in psychiatry.

The intention has been to better understand the migration phenomena, its reasoning and effects in order to give practical proposals to improve education, training and work conditions and ultimately the health care itself in both donor and host countries.

Migration among medical professionals can take place throughout the career: before, during or after training. Exploring attitudes towards migration among junior doctors can help to understand the factors that shape the decision-making processes related to migration in future specialists.

These findings provide objective data that can assist policy makers, providing instruments to address the critical conditions leading to migration from at-risk countries, adjusting the pull factors and improving the standards of education, work and salaries.

Future studies should explore whether the presented results differ for junior doctors in other medical disciplines, as well as physicians in general and psychiatric consultants in Europe and in other areas of the world. Furthermore, the follow up of the respondents from this study could assess to what extent the migratory tendency and intention predicts the future migration itself.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Role of inhibitory processes in relapse prevention treatment
Authors: Rudio G.
Published: May 2016

Alcohol dependence is a chronic disorder with frequent relapses during recovery. Most studies have pointed out that craving is the main process involved in relapse, but recently other factors have been implicated in it, such as attentional bias and impulsivity. Some authors consider that different stages could be involved in the relapse process, and each may be governed by different mechanisms: Attentional bias; motivational response to alcohol cues and inhibitory control.

Motivationally salient cues attract and hold selective attention, and this “attentional bias, (AB)” is related to individual differences in appetitive and aversive motivation. In a recent review, attentional bias has been shown to be significantly present in alcohol-dependent and is associated with craving and risk to a relapse in alcohol consumption.

In alcohol-dependent subjects, alcohol-related cues reach a very high motivational valence (Motivational response, MR), which, in effect, increases craving for alcohol and activates behavioral strategies towards alcohol intake. One method used to assess motivational valence of alcohol is the craving self-assessment. In addition, in recent years, the affective modulation of the startle reflex has been used as an objective measure of craving. It has been shown that subjects with a low baseline startle response when viewing alcohol-associated pictures are at major risk of relapse compared to those with increased reactions.

Once alcohol craving has appeared, the subject will either drink or not, depending on his ability to resist his behavior towards alcohol consumption (impulsivity or inhibitory control, IC). Moreover, subjects that exhibit greater impulsivity are those more likely to relapse.

Our group has recently conducted a study on a sample of 172 alcohol-dependent patients seen in outpatient therapeutic program during 12 weeks. All of them were assessed with the following measures: Attentional bias was assessed using the dot task, motivational response was evaluated using the affective modulation of the startle reflex paradigm, inhibitory control was assessed by the stop-signal reaction time task. Alcohol relapse variables were: relapse, days to the first relapse and days of accumulated abstinence.

One of the most relevant results was that processes related to inhibitory control (Stop-signal reaction time and attentional bias) were the most relevant measures to explain variables related to relapse in alcohol consumption during the treatment period.

Our results support the use of assessment strategies, therapeutic and pharmacological inhibtoria aimed at improving the ability of serious alcohol-dependent patients.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
The impact of the different dimensions of social cognition on functional outcome in schizophrenia
Authors: Rocca P.
Published: May 2016

Social cognition (SC) refers broadly to the domains of cognitive functions that are employed in socially relevant situations. These include three primary domains (i.e., emotion perception, Theory of Mind-TOM-, and attributional style), as well as more complex and developing concepts such as social metacognition.

Patients with schizophrenia demonstrate significant deficits across multiple dimensions of SC and throughout all phases of the illness.

The correlation between SC and real-life functioning ranged from small to large, mainly depending on the examined aspect of SC, with largest effects observed for TOM. Indeed, it has been suggested that TOM difficulties may lead to social misperceptions that influence how an individual reacts to others, which in turn may lead to maladaptive social patterns and/or social withdrawal, which both may influence real-life vocational outcome more than neurocognition (NC) abilities. Moreover, SC appears to act as a mediator between nonsocial basic NC and community functioning.

The goals of this study are to analyze the pattern of SC variables in schizophrenia using cluster analysis, to examine the relationship of real-life functioning with cluster membership, and to identify cut-offs that best discriminate among clusters in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia recruited to the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses (NIRP). A full assessment of different aspects of SC was carried out, including emotional intelligence, recognition and theory of mind (TOM).

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Subglacial controls on the flow of Institute Ice Stream, West Antarctica
Authors: Siegert Martin J. , Ross Neil , Li Jilu , Schroeder Dustin M. , Rippin David , Ashmore David , Bingham Robert , Gogineni Prasad
Published: May 2016

The Institute Ice Stream (IIS) rests on a reverse-sloping bed, extending >150 km upstream into the ~1.8 km deep Robin Subglacial Basin, placing it at the threshold of marine ice-sheet instability. Understanding IIS vulnerability has focused on the effect of grounding-line melting, which is forecast to increase significantly this century. Changes to ice-flow dynamics are also important to IIS stability, yet little is known about them. Here we reveal that the trunk of the IIS occurs downstream of the intersection of three discrete subglacial features; a large ‘active’ subglacial lake, a newly-discovered sharp transition to a zone of weak basal sediments and a major tectonic rift. The border of IIS trunk flow is confined by the sediment on one side, and by a transition between basal melting and freezing at the border with the Bungenstock Ice Rise. By showing how basal sediment and water dictate present-day flow of IIS, we reveal that ice-sheet stability here is dependent on this unusual arrangement.
Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Metastasis of the Prostate: A Case Presentation and Review of the Literature
Authors: Wolf Amparo , Johnstone Ryan , Siddiqi Fawaz
Published: May 2016

Prostate cancer is associated with vertebral metastasis in up to 10% of patients; however, intradural spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are much less frequent. We present the clinical and histopathological findings of a patient with ISCM arising from prostate. A PubMed literature search for ISCM from the prostate yielded a total of nine additional cases. ISCM of the prostate occurs at a late stage of systemic disease and the prognosis is generally poor. Decompressive surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy may help reduce intractable pain and stabilize neurological symptoms, thereby improving quality of life.
CIRCULATION OF THE ELITE IN THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY
Authors: Meyer David A. , Ram Megha , Wilke Laura
Published: May 2016

The history of leadership change in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exemplifies Pareto's notion ofcirculationof the elite. To analyze it we have compiled a partially ranked dataset of members and alternates of the Politburo Standing Committee, Politburo, and Central Committee for the 1st through 18th National Party Congresses. Quantitative studies of leadership change in the CCP have typically focused on the fraction of new members in each political body from one Party Congress to the next, but the existence of partially ranked data calls for a more subtle quantification of leadership change. Thus, we define a new family of metrics which consider change within each political body, the magnitude of such change, and the importance of each change to CCP structure and policy. We use two of these metrics to compute the distances between each pair of successive, partially-ranked leadership lists in our dataset. Our results capture important political developments from the irregular leadership change of the early years to the subsequent transformation of the CCP into a more institutionalized polity. This metric-based analysis also supplements our understanding of anomalous leadership transitions, intra-Party dynamics, and systemic change in the CCP.
Antioxidant supplementation increases retinal responses and decreases refractive error changes in dogs
Authors: Wang Wei , Hernandez Jerome , Moore Cecil , Jackson Janet , Narfström Kristina
Published: May 2016

The objective of the study was to examine whether a nutritional antioxidant supplementation could improve visual function in healthy dogs as measured by electroretinography (ERG) and autorefraction. A total of twelve Beagles, 6 to 8 years of age, with normal eyes upon indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy, were age and sex matched and randomly assigned to receive a feeding regimen for 6 months with or without a daily antioxidant supplementation. Portable, mini-Ganzfeld ERG and a Welch Allyn hand-held autorefractor were used to test retinal response and refractive error in the dogs at baseline and at the end of the supplementation period. All ERG a-wave amplitudes obtained were increased in the treatment group compared with those of dogs in the control group, with significant improvements in the scotopic high and photopic single flash cone ERG responses (P< 0·05 for both). For the b-wave amplitudes, all responses were similarly increased, with significant improvements in responses for the scotopic high light intensity stimulation (P< 0·05), and for photopic single flash cone and 30 Hz flicker (P< 0·01 for both) recordings. Change in refractive error was significantly less in the treatment group compared with that of the control group during the 6-month study (P< 0·05). Compared with the control group, the antioxidant-supplemented group showed improvement to varying degrees for retinal function and significantly less decline in refractive error. Dogs, like humans, experience retinal and lens functional decline with age. Antioxidant supplementation as demonstrated may be beneficial and effective in the long-term preservation and improvement of various functions of the canine eye.
FULL LAMBEK CALCULUS WITH CONTRACTION IS UNDECIDABLE
Authors: CHVALOVSKÝ KAREL , HORČÍK ROSTISLAV
Published: May 2016

We prove that the set of formulae provable in the full Lambek calculus with the structural rule of contraction is undecidable. In fact, we show that the positive fragment of this logic is undecidable.
Effectiveness ofLactobacillus helveticusandLactobacillus rhamnosusfor the management of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Evans Malkanthi , Salewski Ryan P. , Christman Mary C. , Girard Stephanie-Anne , Tompkins Thomas A.
Published: May 2016

Broad-spectrum antibiotic use can disrupt the gastrointestinal microbiota resulting in diarrhoea. Probiotics may be beneficial in managing this type of diarrhoea. The aim of this 10-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study was to investigate the effect ofLactobacillus helveticusR0052 andLactobacillus rhamnosusR0011 supplementation on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in healthy adults. Subjects were randomised to receive 1 week of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (875 mg/125 mg) once per day, plus a daily dose of 8×109colony-forming units of a multi-strain probiotic (n80) or placebo (n80). The probiotic or placebo intervention was maintained for 1 week after completion of the antibiotic. Primary study outcomes of consistency and frequency of bowel movements were not significantly different between the probiotic and placebo groups. The secondary outcomes of diarrhoea-like defecations, Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale scores, safety parameters and adverse events were not significantly different between the probiotic intervention and the placebo. Apost hocanalysis on the duration of diarrhoea-like defecations showed that probiotic intervention reduced the length of these events by 1 full day (probiotic, 2·70(sem0·36) d; placebo, 3·71 (sem0·36) d;P=0·037; effect size=0·52). In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence thatL. helveticusR0052 andL. rhamnosusR0011 supplementation significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea-like defecations in healthy adults receiving antibiotics.
Calcium intake and breast cancer risk: meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Hidayat Khemayanto , Chen Guo-Chong , Zhang Ru , Du Xuan , Zou Sheng-Yi , Shi Bi-Min , Qin Li-Qiang
Published: May 2016

Findings from observational studies have suggested a possible relation between Ca and breast cancer risk. However, the results of these studies are inconclusive, and the dose–response relationship between Ca intake and risk of breast cancer remains to be determined. A meta-analysis of prospective studies was conducted to address these issues. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies concerning the association between Ca intake and breast cancer up to March 2016. The summary relative risks (RR) with 95 % CI were calculated with a random-effects model. The final analysis included eleven prospective cohort studies involving 26 606 cases and 872 895 participants. The overall RR of breast cancer for high v. low intake of Ca was 0·92 (95 % CI 0·85, 0·99), with moderate heterogeneity (P=0·026, I2=44·2 %). In the subgroup analysis, the inverse association appeared stronger for premenopausal breast cancer (RR 0·75; 95 % CI 0·59, 0·96) than for postmenopausal breast cancer (RR 0·94; 95 % CI 0·87, 1·01). Dose–response analysis revealed that each 300 mg/d increase in Ca intake was associated with 2 % (RR 0·98; 95 % CI 0·96, 0·99), 8 % (RR 0·92; 95 % CI 0·87, 0·98) and 2 % (RR 0·98; 95 % CI 0·97, 0·99) reduction in the risk of total, premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, respectively. Our findings suggest an inverse dose–response association between Ca intake and risk of breast cancer.
Isolation and characterization of the first microsatellite markers for the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator
Authors: Muna N. , O'Ryan C.
Published: May 2016

The southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, is ecologically important due to its nutrient cycling activities and trophic interactions. Additionally, M. viator appears to have very long-lived colonies, which amplifies their effect on the environment. In order to estimate the longevity of a colony it is necessary to understand colony genetic structure. However, intra- and intercolonial genetic structure and levels of relatedness have not yet been examined in this species, likely due to a lack of microsatellite markers that effectively hybridize in this species. Here we describe the identification and characterization of seven microsatellite loci for M. viator, using an enriched approach and a preliminary test of their suitability for studies of fine-scale population genetic structure. Seven polymorphic loci were identified, none of which deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The loci had an average of 5.8 alleles per locus (range: 2–14) and an overall mean heterozygosity of 0.51 ± 0.3. Across all loci, population level pairwise FST values showed significant genetic differentiation. The loci described and preliminary genetic data presented here provide an invaluable tool for future studies of population structure and longevity in M. viator colonies.
On Systems of Complexity One in the Primes
Authors: Henriot Kevin
Published: May 2016

Consider a translation-invariant system of linear equationsVx= 0 of complexity one, whereVis an integerr×tmatrix. We show that ifAis a subset of the primes up toNof density at leastC(log logN)–1/25t, there exists a solutionx∈ AttoVx= 0 with distinct coordinates. This extends a quantitative result of Helfgott and de Roton for three-term arithmetic progressions, while the qualitative result is known to hold for all translation-invariant systems of finite complexity by the work of Green and Tao.
“Knowing Movement, Wanting Order”: Michael O'Brien on the US South
Authors: KING RICHARD H.
Published: May 2016

It is easy to forget that interest in the intellectual history of the US South only fully emerged in the post-1960s years. Though there have been no outstanding southern philosophers or philosophers of the South to focus on, there have been plenty of talented literary and cultural critics and political and social thinkers, as well as historians, political scientists, and sociologists, whose work has significantly shaped the idea of the South and who thus deserve the interest of the intellectual historian. Works as varied as Clement Eaton's The Freedom-of-Thought Struggle in the Old South (1940) Rollin Osterweis's Romanticism and Nationalism in the Old South (1949), and William R. Taylor's Cavalier and Yankee (1961) were early examples of the effort to identify the intellectual and cultural issues central to the history of the region. By exploring the literary history of the South in the interwar years, what came to be called the Southern Renaissance, post-1945 literary historians such as Louis D. Rubin and Lewis Simpson undoubtedly also influenced those who tried to make sense of the life of the mind below the Mason–Dixon line.
DIET QUALITY OF MOROCCAN ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN MOROCCO AND IN SPAIN
Authors: Montero M. Del Pilar , Mora-Urda Ana Isabel , Anzid Karim , Cherkaoui Mohamed , Marrodan M. Dolores
Published: May 2016

Intra-population socioeconomic changes and migration are powerful factors in changing eating habits. Changes in eating habits could affect the nutritional status, growth, development and health of adolescents. The aim of this study was to compare the diet of adolescents of Moroccan origin living in Spain with that of adolescents living in Morocco. The sample comprised 428 Moroccan adolescents aged from 12 to 19 recruited in high schools: 327 living in Ouarzazate (Morocco) and 101 living in Madrid (Spain). The variables studied were energy intake (kcal/day), diet quality indicators (adherence to the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI); cholesterol intake (mg/day); fibre intake (g/day) and energy profile)); and indicators of keeping traditional customs (halalmeat consumption, bread made at home). Teenagers from Morocco living in Madrid consumed more calories, proteins, saturated fats and simple sugars (p<0.001) than those living in Morocco. Their diet was of lower quality than that of their peers in Morocco. This difference was more marked in boys than in girls. Changes in eating habits associated with migration from the south to the north Mediterranean basin can benefit young migrants in an immediate way (through greater availability of energy and nutrients), but later in life it could have negative consequences for their health, increasing the risk of overweight, obesity and cardiovascular and metabolic problems.
Imaging in head and neck cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines
Authors: Lewis-Jones H , Colley S , Gibson D
Published: May 2016

This guideline is endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. This paper summarises the current imaging modalities in use for head and neck cancer evaluation. It highlights their role in the management with recommendations on modality choice for each cancer subsite.

Recommendations

• Offer appropriate radiological imaging, based on tumour extent, site and local expertise, to stage tumours and plan treatment for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer. (G)

• Consider positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET–CT) imaging if conventional cross-sectional imaging identifies no primary site. (R)

• Offer PET–CT imaging 12 weeks after non-surgical treatment to detect residual disease. (R)
Psychological management for head and neck cancer patients: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines
Authors: Humphris G
Published: May 2016

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. It provides recommendations on the assessment and interventions for the psychological management in this patient group.

Recommendations

• Audit of information supplied to patients and carers should be conducted on an annual basis to update and review content and media presentation. (G)

• Patients and carers should be invited to discuss treatment options and relate possible outcomes to functional retention or loss to provide a patient-centred approach. (G)

• Clinical staff should inspect their systems of assessment to make them sensitive enough to identify patients with psychological difficulties. (G)

• Flexibility, rather than rigid formulation is required to assess patients frequently, and to allow for change in circumstances to be noted. (G)

• Multidisciplinary teams should determine the supportive care services available and commission extra assistance to provide patients and carers with timely information, education or brief supportive advice. (G)

• Multidisciplinary teams need to inspect specialist services for mental health interventions at structured and complex levels for the small proportion of patients with more serious, but rarer, psychological difficulties. (G)

• Clinical staff at all levels should receive communication skills training to raise and maintain consultation expertise with difficult patient and/or carer interactions. (G)
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines
Authors: Simo R , Robinson M , Lei M , Sibtain A , Hickey S
Published: May 2016

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. Although much commoner in the eastern hemisphere, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 0.39 per 100 000 population, cancers of the nasopharynx form one of the rarer subsites in the head and neck.1 This paper provides recommendations on the work up and management of nasopharyngeal cancer based on the existing evidence base for this condition.

Recommendations

• Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) should be assessed with rigid and fibre-optic nasendoscopy. (R)

• Nasopharyngeal biopsies should be preferably carried out endoscopically. (R)

• Multislice computed tomographic (CT) scan of head, neck and chest should be carried out in all patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where appropriate to optimise staging. (R)

• Radiotherapy (RT) is the mainstay for the radical treatment for NPC. (R)

• Concurrent chemoradiotherapy offers significant improvement in overall survival in stage III and IV diseases. (R)

• Surgery should only be used to obtain tissue for diagnosis and to deal with otitis media with effusion. (R)

• Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for stage I and II disease. (R)

• Intensity modulated radiation therapy techniques should be employed. (R)

• Concurrent chemotherapy with radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for stage III and IV disease. (R)

• Patients with NPC should be followed-up and assessed with rigid and/or fibre-optic nasendoscopy. (G)

• Positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET–CT), CT or MRI scan should be carried out at three months from completion of treatment to assess response. (R)

• Multislice CT scan of head, neck and chest should be carried out in all patients and MRI scan whenever possible and specially in advanced cases with suspected recurrence. (R)

• Surgery in form of nasopharyngectomy should be considered as a first line treatment of residual or recurrent disease at the primary site. (R)

• Neck dissection remains the treatment of choice for residual or metastatic neck disease whenever possible. (R)

• Re-irradiation should be considered as a second line of treatment in recurrent disease. (R)
Management of lateral skull base cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines
Authors: Homer JJ , Lesser T , Moffat D , Slevin N , Price R , Blackburn T
Published: May 2016

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. It provides recommendations on the work up and management of lateral skull base cancer based on the existing evidence base for this rare condition.

Recommendations

• All patients with more than one of: chronic otalgia, bloody otorrhoea, bleeding, mass, facial swelling or palsy should be biopsied. (R)

• Magnetic resonance and computed tomography imaging should be performed. (R)

• Patients should undergo audiological assessment. (R)

• Carotid angiography is recommended in select patients. (G)

• The modified Pittsburg T-staging system is recommended. (G)

• The minimum operation for cancer involving the temporal bone is a lateral temporal bone resection. (R)

• Facial nerve rehabilitation should be initiated at primary surgery. (G)

• Anterolateral thigh free flap is the workhorse flap for lateral skull base defect reconstruction. (G)

• For patients undergoing surgery for squamous cell carcinoma, at least a superficial parotidectomy and selective neck dissection should be carried out. (R)
Education of trainees, training and fellowships for head and neck oncologic and surgical training in the UK: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines
Authors: Simo R , Robson A , Woodwards B , Niblock P , Matteucci P
Published: May 2016

Since the previous edition of these guidelines, significant changes have taken place in the training and assessment of surgeons and oncologists who treat patients with head and neck cancer. For those intending to become head and neck surgeons, a fellowship in head and neck surgery is virtually mandatory. This paper summarises the current career structure to specialise in head and neck oncology and surgery in the UK.

Recommendation

• Trainees applying for head and neck surgical oncology consultant posts should have completed additional training in the subspecialty.
Integral terminal sliding mode formation control of non-holonomic robots using leader follower approach
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Junaid , Memon Attaullah Y.
Published: May 2016

Multi-robot formation control has become an important area of research due to its advantages and applications. This paper presents multi-robot formation control using a leader–follower approach without considering the leader's velocity information or estimation. The leader–follower formation is formulated by incorporating the model uncertainties and disturbances. A novel formation controller is presented using integral terminal sliding mode (ITSM) control, which drives the formation tracking error convergence to zero in finite-time. The stability of the close-loop control scheme is verified by using Lyapunov theory. Furthermore, obstacle detection and avoidance are incorporated to avoid collision while maintaining the formation. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is verified and validated using sine and lamniscate curve trajectories. Moreover, the performance of the proposed ITSM formation controller is compared with the standard linear sliding mode (LSM) control.
Anglicized Korean Neologisms of the New Millennium: An Overview
Authors: Kim Eun-Young Julia
Published: May 2016

With a rapid increase of electronic communication and online social media, the English language has become a ubiquitous element in global communication. Although change is an inevitable phenomenon in any living language, an infiltration of a foreign language is often resisted by those who fear that a foreign influence would disintegrate the purity of their language, sabotaging its integrity and distinctiveness.