bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects in vitro of TNF-α and its antagonist ‘etanercept’ on ejaculated human sperm
Authors: Pascarelli Nicola A. , Fioravanti Antonella , Moretti Elena , Guidelli Giacomo M. , Mazzi Lucia , Collodel Giulia
Published: May 2016

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is primarily involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis; in addition it possesses pro-inflammatory properties. Anti-TNF-α strategies involve either administration of anti-TNF-α antibody or soluble TNF receptor to mop up circulating TNF-α. Etanercept, a recombinant human TNF-α receptor, was found to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The impact of TNF-α inhibitors on human fertility is of notable interest. This in vitro study investigated the effect of different concentrations of TNF-α and etanercept used alone or in combination on sperm viability, motility, mitochondrial function, percentage of apoptosis and chromatin integrity in swim-up selected human spermatozoa. A negative effect of TNF-α (300 and 500 ng mL–1) and etanercept (from 800 µg mL–1 to 2000 µg mL–1) individually on sperm viability, motility, mitochondrial function, percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa and sperm DNA integrity was demonstrated. However, at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg mL–1, etanercept can block, in a significant way, the toxic effects of TNF-α (500 ng mL–1) on studied sperm characteristics. Our results confirm that TNF-α has a detrimental effect on sperm function and suggest, for the first time, that etanercept may counteract the in vitro toxic action of TNF-α. This data appears to be quite promising, although further studies, both in vivo and in vitro, are needed to understand the exact mechanism of action of TNF-α and TNF-α antagonists on sperm function.
On the unsupervised analysis of domain-specific Chinese texts
Authors: Deng Ke , Bol Peter K. , Li Kate J. , Liu Jun S.
Published: May 2016

Significance

We propose top-down word discovery and segmentation (TopWORDS), an unsupervised tool for Chinese word (and phrase) discovery, word ranking, and text segmentation. We show that pipelines formed by combining TopWORDS with context analysis tools can help researchers quickly gain insights into new types of texts without training and recover almost all interesting features of the text that a well-trained supervised method can find.
Pravastatin ameliorates placental vascular defects, fetal growth, and cardiac function in a model of glucocorticoid excess
Authors: Wyrwoll Caitlin S. , Noble June , Thomson Adrian , Tesic Dijana , Miller Mark R. , Rog-Zielinska Eva A. , Moran Carmel M. , Seckl Jonathan R. , Chapman Karen E. , Holmes Megan C.
Published: May 2016

Significance

Environmental challenges in utero perturb fetal growth and alter subsequent adult health outcomes. The role of the placenta is uncertain. We use a genetically modified mouse model of fetoplacental glucocorticoid excess, which exhibits decreased placental vascularity and fetal growth restriction. We show that this model associates with retarded fetal heart development. Strikingly, treatment with pravastatin restores placental vascularity and reverses retarded fetal growth and cardiovascular development. These results highlight the potential of statins to remedy placental vascular insufficiency and enhance fetal outcomes in compromised pregnancy.
Tissue-specific dynamin-1 deletion at the calyx of Held decreases short-term depression through a mechanism distinct from vesicle resupply
Authors: Mahapatra Satyajit , Fan Fan , Lou Xuelin
Published: May 2016

Significance

Endocytosis is crucial for sustained synaptic transmission. During high-frequency neurotransmission, endocytosis recycles vesicular components rapidly and may promote the clearance of used SNAREs and other membrane proteins from release sites. We report that tissue-specific dynamin-1 deletion significantly reduces synaptic depression during bursts of the high-frequency stimulation at the mature calyx of Held in mice. This effect is contrary to the expected consequence of reduced recycling and cannot be explained by the commonly known mechanisms underlying short-term depression. Rather, the data imply that endocytosis may have a rapid, retrograde effect on transmitter release (e.g., through alterations of release site clearance) during high rates of synaptic vesicle fusion. Our finding indicates a role of dynamin-1 in high-frequency synaptic transmission and short-term plasticity.
A binding site outside the canonical PDZ domain determines the specific interaction between Shank and SAPAP and their function
Authors: Zeng Menglong , Shang Yuan , Guo Tingfeng , He Qinghai , Yung Wing-Ho , Liu Kai , Zhang Mingjie
Published: May 2016

Significance

Synaptic scaffold proteins, such as Shank and SAPAP, play critical roles in organizing protein complexes essential for neuronal development and signaling. Approximately 50% of protein concentration changes resulting from genetic mutations can cause various forms of psychiatric disorders; however, the molecular mechanism underlying such dosage-sensitive functional changes for the two scaffold proteins are not clear. Here we discover that a previously unrecognized PDZ domain-mediated binding mode renders an exquisitely specific interaction between Shank and SAPAP. Mutations of either of these proteins lead to quantitative reductions of the Shank/SAPAP complex in synapses. We also demonstrate that a Shank/SAPAP complex inhibitory peptide can modulate excitatory synaptic activities, providing a proof of concept of modulating synaptic activities by targeting the Shank PDZ domain.
Isoprene photochemistry over the Amazon rainforest
Authors: Liu Yingjun , Brito Joel , Dorris Matthew R. , Rivera-Rios Jean C. , Seco Roger , Bates Kelvin H. , Artaxo Paulo , Duvoisin Sergio , Keutsch Frank N. , Kim Saewung , Goldstein Allen H. , Guenther Alex B. , Manzi Antonio O. , Souza Rodrigo A. F. , Springston Stephen R. , Watson Thomas B. , McKinney Karena A. , Martin Scot T.
Published: May 2016

Significance

For isolated regions of the planet, organic peroxy radicals produced as intermediates of atmospheric photochemistry have been expected to follow HO
2
rather than NO pathways. Observational evidence, however, has been lacking. An accurate understanding of the relative roles of the two pathways is needed for quantitative predictions of the concentrations of particulate matter, oxidation capacity, and consequent environmental and climate impacts. The results herein, based on measurements, find that the ratio of the reaction rate of isoprene peroxy radicals with HO
2
to that with NO is about unity for background conditions of Amazonia. The implication is that sufficient NO emissions are maintained by natural processes of the forest such that both HO
2
and NO pathways are important, even in this nominally low-NO region.
Severe adult malaria is associated with specific PfEMP1 adhesion types and high parasite biomass
Authors: Bernabeu Maria , Danziger Samuel A. , Avril Marion , Vaz Marina , Babar Prasad H. , Brazier Andrew J. , Herricks Thurston , Maki Jennifer N. , Pereira Ligia , Mascarenhas Anjali , Gomes Edwin , Chery Laura , Aitchison John D. , Rathod Pradipsinh K. , Smith Joseph D.
Published: May 2016

Significance

The clinical presentation of severe malaria differs between children and adults, but the factors leading to these differences remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated parasite virulence factors in adult patients in India and show that specific endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR)-binding parasites are associated with severe adult malaria and act together with parasite biomass in patient hospitalization and disease severity. We found substantial differences in EPCR binding activity from severe malaria isolates. However, even parasite domains that partially obstructed the interaction between EPCR and its ligand activated protein C were sufficient to interfere with activated protein C-barrier protective activities in human brain endothelial cells. Thus, restoration of EPCR functions may be a key target for adjunctive malaria drug treatments.
Open chromatin reveals the functional maize genome
Authors: Rodgers-Melnick Eli , Vera Daniel L. , Bass Hank W. , Buckler Edward S.
Published: May 2016

Significance

The maize genome, similar to those of most plant genomes, is 98% noncoding. Much of the remainder is a vast desert of repeats that remain repressed throughout the cell cycle. The plant cell orchestrates its complex activities by restricting access to functional regions with an open chromatin configuration. Here, we identify the small portion (<1%) of the maize genome residing in open chromatin. We demonstrate that open chromatin predicts molecular phenotypes such as gene expression and recombination. Furthermore, we show that genetic variation within open chromatin regions accounts for ∼40% of phenotypic variation in agronomic traits. By greatly narrowing the scope of the functional maize genome, this study can help to accelerate the pace of crop improvement through highly focused genomic selection and genome editing.
LAP-like process as an immune mechanism downstream of IFN-γ in control of the human malariaPlasmodium vivaxliver stage
Authors: Boonhok Rachasak , Rachaphaew Nattawan , Duangmanee Apisak , Chobson Pornpimol , Pattaradilokrat Sittiporn , Utaisincharoen Pongsak , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Ponpuak Marisa
Published: May 2016

Significance

IFN-γ plays an important role in the elimination of liver-stagePlasmodiumparasites, but the mechanism involved in this process is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that IFN-γ treatment induces a noncanonical autophagy pathway in human hepatocytes dubbed an LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP)-like process, in which the parasitophorous vacuole membrane of the parasites is decorated with LC3, resulting in the colocalization of parasite compartments with lysosomes. Downstream autophagy-related proteins are involved in this pathway, whereas the upstream autophagy-initiating protein is not. Our work shows that a LAP-like process serves as a previously unidentified downstream effector of IFN-γ in elimination of the liver-stage human malarial parasitePlasmodium vivax.
Resistance to docetaxel in prostate cancer is associated with androgen receptor activation and loss of KDM5D expression
Authors: Komura Kazumasa , Jeong Seong Ho , Hinohara Kunihiko , Qu Fangfang , Wang Xiaodong , Hiraki Masayuki , Azuma Haruhito , Lee Gwo-Shu Mary , Kantoff Philip W. , Sweeney Christopher J.
Published: May 2016

Significance

The results of the recent clinical trials, ChemoHormonal Therapy Versus Androgen Ablation Randomized Trial for Extensive Disease in Prostate Cancer (CHAARTED) and Systemic Therapy in Advanced or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy (STAMPEDE), suggest a significant contribution of androgen receptor signaling to sensitivity of docetaxel in prostate cancer. This study provides evidence that KDM5D (lysine-specific demethylase 5D) encoded on the Y chromosome plays an important role in docetaxel sensitivity by interacting with androgen receptor signaling, and that its expression level is associated with clinical outcomes. These data start to elucidate the biological underpinnings for the findings from these clinical trials.
Prevalent vegetation growth enhancement in urban environment
Authors: Zhao Shuqing , Liu Shuguang , Zhou Decheng
Published: May 2016

Significance

Cities experiencing elevated temperature (i.e., urban “heat island” warming), CO
2
, and nitrogen deposition decades ahead of the projected average global change are regarded as the “harbingers” of the future global change. It is for this reason that cities have been regarded as ideal natural laboratories for global change studies and particularly valuable to elucidate the potential responses of other nonurban ecosystems to future climate and environmental changes. However, the impacts of urbanization on vegetation growth are not well understood. We demonstrate, conceptually and empirically, that urbanization generates direct and indirect effects on vegetation growth at the landscape to regional scales.
Chemo-mechanical pushing of proteins along single-stranded DNA
Authors: Sokoloski Joshua E. , Kozlov Alexander G. , Galletto Roberto , Lohman Timothy M.
Published: May 2016

Significance

Cellular processes take place in dynamic, crowded environments. Single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) proteins are ubiquitous in cells, serving to protect the transient single-stranded (ss)DNA formed during DNA replication, recombination, and repair and recruit numerous other proteins to the ssDNA. SSBs must be displaced or otherwise moved in order for DNA to be replicated or repaired. The motor protein activity of ssDNA translocases could serve in this capacity to facilitate directional movement of SSBs along ssDNA. In this work, we show that high-affinity SSBs can be moved directionally along ssDNA and eventually displaced via the ATP-driven action of ssDNA translocases. This process occurs via nonspecific chemo-mechanical pushing of the SSB along the ssDNA in the direction of translocation.
S
-adenosyl methionine is necessary for inhibition of the methyltransferase G9a by the lysine 9 to methionine mutation on histone H3
Authors: Jayaram Hariharan , Hoelper Dominik , Jain Siddhant U. , Cantone Nico , Lundgren Stefan M. , Poy Florence , Allis C. David , Cummings Richard , Bellon Steven , Lewis Peter W.
Published: May 2016

Significance

Recent exome sequencing studies have uncovered high-frequency histone H3 driver mutations in pediatric cancers. Previous studies have shown that lysine to methionine histone mutations are potent inhibitors of their respective lysine methyltransferases. However, an in-depth understanding of this inhibition was limited by the lack of structural and kinetic information. This study investigates the biochemical and biophysical parameters of lysine to methionine histone mutants using the methyltransferase G9a and H3K9M as a model system. Structural and functional experiments conclude that the methyltransferase cofactor
S
-adenosyl methionine is required for binding of G9a to the mutant histone.
Striatal cholinergic interneurons generate beta and gamma oscillations in the corticostriatal circuit and produce motor deficits
Authors: Kondabolu Krishnakanth , Roberts Erik A. , Bucklin Mark , McCarthy Michelle M. , Kopell Nancy , Han Xue
Published: May 2016

Significance

Exaggerated beta oscillations within the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic (CBT) network are putative electrophysiological signatures of bradykinesia and rigidity in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it is unclear how exaggerated beta oscillations emerge and how such oscillation patterns are related to PD motor deficits. In this study, we demonstrate that a single cell type, the striatal cholinergic interneuron, mediates the emergence of exaggerated beta oscillations within CBT circuits of normal mice and induces parkinsonian-like motor deficits. Because the striatal cholinergic system is uninhibited by loss of dopamine, these results provide mechanistic insights into the therapeutic effects of anticholinergic drugs in the treatment of PD and highlight the potential for developing beta oscillation-based biomakers for PD.
Soft, thin skin-mounted power management systems and their use in wireless thermography
Authors: Lee Jung Woo , Xu Renxiao , Lee Seungmin , Jang Kyung-In , Yang Yichen , Banks Anthony , Yu Ki Jun , Kim Jeonghyun , Xu Sheng , Ma Siyi , Jang Sung Woo , Won Phillip , Li Yuhang , Kim Bong Hoon , Choe Jo Young , Huh Soojeong , Kwon Yong Ho , Huang Yonggang , Paik Ungyu , Rogers John A.
Published: May 2016

Significance

Existing options for electrical power generation and storage in wearable electronics are incompatible with thin geometries, soft, stretchable mechanics, and lightweight construction needed for long‐lived, intimate interfaces with the skin. Here we demonstrate concepts that allow the integration of collections of thin, millimeter-scale solid-state batteries and multijunction solar cells into electrically interconnected arrays that simultaneously provide high-performance operation and soft, biocompatible mechanics at the system level. Examples in photovoltaic energy harvesting, storage, and overall power management illustrate some of the functional options with such platforms. Thin, wearable wireless sensors for skin thermography with capabilities in data logging demonstrate the combined use of components for energy storage, power management, digital memory, physiological monitoring, and wireless, near-field communications in an integrated, stretchable device architecture with the ability to establish robust, nonirritating measurement interfaces directly to the skin.
Phasic dopamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex enhances stimulus discrimination
Authors: Popescu Andrei T. , Zhou Michael R. , Poo Mu-ming
Published: May 2016

Significance

Much of our knowledge about the role of dopamine (DA) during learning comes from studying the ventral tegmental area (VTA)-to-striatum pathway, and considerably less is known about the function of phasic DA release in other regions, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). By pairing auditory conditioned stimuli (CSs) with optogenetically activated VTA-to-mPFC projections, we show that mice learn faster a subsequent task that involves discrimination of the same CSs against unpaired stimuli. During and after CS-DA pairing, mPFC neurons specifically increase firing in response to the paired CSs, and blocking DA receptors in mPFC during learning impairs stimulus discrimination. Thus, phasic DA acts in mPFC to enhance discrimination of behaviorally relevant stimuli during learning.
Wholesale Apocalypse: Brand Names in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake
Authors: Grimbeek Marinette
Published: May 2016

Coinages pervade Margaret Atwood’s post-apocalyptic novel Oryx and Crake (2003). Most of the neologisms in the novel denote corporations and their products and form part of a thoroughgoing critique of consumerism. The coinages are jarringly hyperbolic and their orthography often evokes contrary connotations. However, in the thematic context of the novel, coining practices follow certain patterns and function as effective, if ambiguous, satirical tools. On one level, the practice of branding is thoroughly satirized. On another, however, the neologisms point to both the limitations and possibilities of satire when dealing with the themes addressed in the novel: commoditization, environmental damage on a planetary scale, and a vision of the imminent end of humanity itself.
Risk Analysis of Plausible Incidental Exploitation Rates for the Pacific Sleeper Shark, a Data-Poor Species in the Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Courtney Dean L. , Adkison Milo D. , Sigler Michael F.
Published: May 2016

Monte Carlo simulation was used to investigate the sustainability of incidental exploitation rates (U) for Pacific Sleeper Sharks Somniosus pacificus in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) under status quo management. Monte Carlo simulations were implemented with a standard, length-based, age-structured model that was evaluated with forward projection. Given the paucity of relevant data, we investigated the sensitivity of simulation results to a range of assumptions about key model parameters by using 24 alternative model configurations, each simulated 1,000 times. The risk analysis results were most sensitive to Pacific Sleeper Shark U-values. The aggregate fraction of simulations ending in an overfished condition increased from 0% under the low-U scenario to 59% under the high-U scenario. Risk analysis results were also sensitive to the assumed shape of the length-based selectivity curve (asymptotic or dome shaped) but were less sensitive to the range of assumptions about other key model parameters, including maximum age and stock productivity. These results indicate that a priority for Pacific Sleeper Shark management is to reduce the uncertainty in U. This major uncertainty will be decreased by an observer program that is now in place to monitor the historically unobserved GOA Pacific Halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis fishery, which incidentally catches Pacific Sleeper Sharks.

Received March 19, 2015; accepted December 7, 2015 Published online May 16, 2016
Examination of a Single-Unit, Multiple-Pass Electrofishing Protocol to Reliably Estimate Fish Assemblage Composition in Wadeable Streams of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the USA
Authors: Shank Matthew K. , Henning Aaron M. , Leakey Andrew S.
Published: May 2016

Electrofishing is a valuable tool used to collect fish assemblage data, which is often vital to ecological assessments; however, wadeable electrofishing protocols vary in optimal reach length and number of passes based on study objectives, stream size, and geographic region, among other factors. This study examined a method intended to efficiently assess fish assemblage composition through the use of a single-unit, width-based electrofishing protocol using multiple passes. Fish assemblage data were collected using backpack or tote barge electrofishing equipment from 93 wadeable streams 2.3–76.4 m in width in the Susquehanna River basin (SRB). Results indicated that >97% of total species present were collected after the first two electrofishing passes, regardless of stream size. New species were more often captured on subsequent electrofishing passes in larger streams. Compared with other studies our results suggest less electrofishing effort is necessary to accurately estimate fish assemblage composition in smaller streams and in more depauperate ichthyofaunal regions. A single electrofishing pass satisfied the objective of obtaining ≥90% assemblage similarity in small streams ≤ 5 m wide. Two electrofishing passes were necessary to reach ≥90% assemblage similarity in larger wadeable SRB streams > 5 m in width. Results suggest a single electrofishing unit and a crew of ≤4 individuals can obtain reliable estimates of fish assemblage composition from wadeable streams of various sizes, which may be desirable when personnel or gear is limited. The shortcomings of single-unit, multiple-pass electrofishing (e.g., inability to model abundance or species richness) reinforce the need for managers and researchers to choose electrofishing protocols based on study objectives. Overall, our results suggest that the single-unit, multiple-pass protocol performed throughout a reach equal to 10 times the stream width is appropriate to reliably estimate fish assemblage composition in streams of the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions of the United States.

Received April 27, 2015; accepted December 28, 2015 Published online May 16, 2016
Quorum Signal Inhibitors and Their Potential Use against Fish Diseases
Authors: Chu Weihua , McLean Robert J. C.
Published: May 2016

Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of bacterial communication used to control group behaviors, including bioluminescence, virulence factor production, biofilm formation, and biofilm antimicrobial tolerance. Many aquatic bacterial pathogens such as Aeromonas, Vibrio, and Edwardsiella spp. use QS to regulate virulence factor production. The disruption of QS has been shown to be an effective strategy in the competition between higher organisms and bacteria and more recently between bacterial species. For this reason, QS disruption has been proposed as a strategy to prevent bacterial pathogenicity. In this review, we summarize the current literature and illustrate the value of QS inhibitors in controlling virulence production in aquatic bacterial pathogens. This represents a new, nonantibiotic strategy to combat fish diseases.

Received August 11, 2015; accepted January 26, 2016
Leaf litter affects the survival and predation rates for large and small Pinus seeds in the Qinling Mountains, China
Authors: Yu Fei , Shi Xiaoxiao , Wei Kailu , Wang Dexiang
Published: May 2016

It is generally accepted that leaf litter covers seeds, which may be beneficial for their survival, but it is unclear whether leaf litter contributes in different ways to the survival of plant seeds with contrasting sizes. In this study, we examined the effect of different levels of leaf litter coverage on seed predation and foraging/caching for small-seededPinus tabulaeformisand large-seededPinus armandiiin the Qinling Mountains, China. Our results showed that leaf litter failed to protectP. armandiiseeds from being removed by small rodents, whereas it improved seed survival forP. tabulaeformis.P. tabulaeformiswere eatenin situ, whereas moreP. armandiiseeds were eaten in the high leaf litter coverage plots. Therefore, we propose that leaf litter affects the survival and predation rates for large and smallPinusseeds in the Qinling Mountains, China.
Mediated configural learning in rats
Authors: Lin Tzu-Ching E. , Dumigan Natasha M. , Recio Sergio A. , Honey R. C.
Published: May 2016

Three experiments investigated mediated configural learning in male rats. In Experiment 1, after exposure to audio-visual compounds AX and BY, rats received trials where X was paired with shock, and Y was not. The idea that conditioning with X enables the evoked configural representation of AX to be linked to shock received support from the facts that while AX provoked more fear than BX, there was no difference between BY and AY. Similarly, Experiment 2 showed that after exposure to AX and BY, separate pairings of X and Y with shock resulted in more fear to AX and BY than AY and BX. In Experiment 3, rats in group consistent received separate exposures to A and X in Context C, and B and Y in D, while those in group inconsistent received A and X (and B and Y) in both C and D. After rats had received shocks in both C and D, rats in group consistent showed more fear to AX and BY than to BX and AY, but this was not the case in group inconsistent. These results indicate that configural representations, formed either by presenting auditory and visual stimuli as parts of a compound or in a shared context, are subject to a process of mediated learning.
Monsters in the dark: predictions for luminous galaxies in the early Universe from the BlueTides simulation
Authors: Waters Dacen , Wilkins Stephen M. , Di Matteo Tiziana , Feng Yu , Croft Rupert , Nagai Daisuke
Published: May 2016

Using deep Hubble and Spitzer observations Oesch et al. have identified a bright (MUV ≈ −22) star-forming galaxy candidate at z ≈ 11. The presence of GN-z11 implies a number density ∼10−6 Mpc−3, roughly an order of magnitude higher than the expected value based on extrapolations from lower redshift. Using the unprecedented volume and high resolution of the BlueTides cosmological hydrodynamical simulation, we study the population of luminous rare objects at z > 10. The luminosity function in BlueTides implies an enhanced number of massive galaxies, consistent with the observation of GN-z11. We find about 30 galaxies at MUV ≈ −22 at z = 11 in the BlueTides volume, including a few objects about 1.5 mag brighter. The probability of observing GN-z11 in the volume probed by Oesch et al. is ∼13 per cent. The predicted properties of the rare bright galaxies at z = 11 in BlueTides closely match those inferred from the observations of GN-z11. BlueTides predicts a negligible contribution from faint AGN in the observed SED. The enormous increase in volume surveyed by WFIRST will provide observations of ∼1000 galaxies with MUV < −22 beyond z = 11 out to z = 13.5.
The Association Between Government Health Care Spending and Maternal Mortality in the European Union, 1981 to 2010: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Maruthappu M. , Ng K.Y.B. , Williams C. , Atun R. , Agrawal P. , Zeltner T.
Published: May 2016

(BJOG. 2015;122(9):1216–1224)

Government health care expenditure per capita, on a national level, is a predictor of maternal mortality, which the authors of this study defined as death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of delivery from obstetric causes. In turn, maternal mortality is commonly used as a marker for the performance of a country’s health care system. In the present study, authors determined associations between decreases in government health care spending and maternal mortality over a 30-year period (1981 to 2010) in 24 European Union countries, with the goal of elucidating the impact of government health care spending on survival in the parturient population.
Is Fetal Cerebroplacental Ratio an Independent Predictor of Intrapartum Fetal Compromise and Neonatal Unit Admission?
Authors: Khalil A.A. , Morales-Rosello J. , Morlando M. , Hannan H. , Bhide A. , Papageorghiou A. , Thilaganathan B.
Published: May 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;213:54.e154.e10)

Identifying whether a fetus is at risk for intrapartum hypoxia and other adverse conditions is challenging. Although smaller fetal size is more strongly associated with nonreassuring fetal status, many appropriate weight babies are also at risk for conditions such as cerebral palsy. A recent study suggested that fetal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) measured within 72 hours of delivery, can successfully identify patients that will require obstetric intervention for intrapartum fetal compromise. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the CPR can in fact serve as a reliable indicator of both intrapartum fetal compromise and admission to a neonatal unit.
Value and Health Care Policy Ramifications of Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Srikumaran Uma , Hannan Casey , Higgins Laurence D. , Warner Jon J.P.
Published: May 2016

The societal burden of rotator cuff disease continues to increase with the aging of our population. Rotator cuff repairs have also become increasingly common over the last 2 decades. In our current cost conscious health care environment it is imperative to understand the value delivered to patients by various interventions. Value is most often equated with outcomes relative to the costs associated with care. To determine the value of different interventions, a thorough understanding of how to measure and interpret patient outcomes is crucial. In addition, calculating costs can be complex and physicians are often unaware of the costs related to their own decisions. Despite the complexities of measuring value, its benefits include heightened transparency in health care delivery, aligning stakeholders, and avoiding the trap of focussing solely on cost reductions, which may endanger effective treatment modalities.
Effects of preoperative vaginal estrogen therapy for the incidence of mesh complication after pelvic organ prolapse surgery in postmenopausal women: is it helpful or a myth? A 1-year randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sun Zhixing , Zhu Lan , Xu Tao , Shi Xinwen , Lang Jinghe
Published: May 2016

Objective:

The literature advocates preoperative vaginal estrogen (VE) therapy to reduce mesh exposure in pelvic organ prolapsed (POP); however, there are no comparative studies so far. This study aims to compare the effects of preoperative VE and non-VE therapy for the incidence of mesh exposure in postmenopausal women after transvaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery (PRS) with mesh.

Methods:

A randomized noninferiority single-surgeon study of 186 women with severe POP was conducted. Ninety-three women (VE group) received 0.5 g promestriene cream twice a week transvaginally for 6 weeks before PRS with mesh, and 93 women (non-VE group) underwent PRS with mesh 6 weeks after enrollment without pharmacologic preparation. The primary outcome was the occurrence of mesh exposure within 1 year.

Results:

Overall, 173 of 186 participants (93.0%) completed 1-year follow-up. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the proportion of participants experiencing mesh exposure was 16.1% (15 of 93) in the VE group versus 12.9% (12 of 93) in the non-VE group (P = 0.024 for noninferiority). Both exposure area and time to exposure did not differ between the two groups. Similarly, no detectable differences at month 12 were found in terms of anatomic success, good response on the Patient Global Impression of Change, improvement in quality of life and sexual function, and complications. The result of per-protocol analysis agreed with that seen in the intention-to-treat analysis.

Conclusions:

In postmenopausal women with severe POP who underwent transvaginal PRS with mesh, non-VE therapy before surgery was noninferior to VE therapy regarding mesh exposure rate within 1 year of follow-up.
Using the TIDieR Checklist to Standardize the Description of a Functional Strength Training Intervention for the Upper Limb After Stroke
Authors: van Vliet Paulette , Hunter Susan M. , Donaldson Catherine , Pomeroy Valerie
Published: May 2016

Background and Purpose:

Published reports of intervention in randomized controlled trials are often poorly described. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist has been recently developed to improve the reporting of interventions. The aim of this article is to describe a therapy intervention used in the stroke rehabilitation trial, “Clinical Efficacy of Functional Strength Training for Upper Limb Motor Recovery Early After Stroke: Neural Correlates and Prognostic Indicators” (FAST-INdICATE), using TIDieR.

Methods:

The functional strength training intervention used in the FAST-INdICATE trial was described using TIDieR so that intervention can be replicated by both clinicians, who may implement it in practice, and researchers, who may deliver it in future research. The usefulness of TIDieR in the context of a complex stroke rehabilitation intervention was then discussed.

Results and Discussion:

The TIDieR checklist provided a systematic way of describing a treatment intervention used in a clinical trial of stroke rehabilitation. Clarification is needed regarding several aspects of the TIDieR checklist, including in which section to report about the development of the intervention in pilot studies, results of feasibility studies; overlap between training and procedures for assessing fidelity; and where to publish supplementary material so that it remains in the public domain.

Conclusions:

TIDieR is a systematic way of reporting the intervention delivered in a clinical trial of a complex intervention such as stroke rehabilitation. This approach may also have value for standardizing intervention in clinical practice.

Video abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A131).
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Pediatric Respiratory Failure: Risk Factors Associated With Center Volume and Mortality*
Authors: Kirkland Brandon W. , Wilkes Jacob , Bailly David K. , Bratton Susan L.
Published: May 2016

Objectives:

Recent analyses show higher mortality at low-volume centers providing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We sought to identify factors associated with center volume and mortality to explain survival differences and identify areas for improvement.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Patients admitted to children’s hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database and supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure from 2003 to 2014.

Patients:

A total of 5,303 patients aged 0–18 years old met inclusion criteria: 3,349 neonates and 1,954 children.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Low center volume was defined as less than 20, medium 20–49, and large greater than or equal to 50 cases per year. Center volume was also assessed as a continuous integer. Among neonates, clinical factors including intraventricular hemorrhage (relative risk, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.24–1.56) and acute renal failure (relative risk, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.20–1.60) were more common at low-volume compared to larger centers and were associated with in-hospital death. After adjustment for differences in demographic factors and primary pulmonary conditions, mild prematurity, acute renal failure, intraventricular hemorrhage, and receipt of dialysis remained independently associated with mortality, as did center volume measured as a continuous number. Among children, the risk of acute renal failure was almost 20% greater (relative risk, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02–1.38) in small compared to large centers, but dialysis and bronchoscopy were used significantly less but were associated with mortality. After adjustment for differences in demographic factors and primary pulmonary conditions, acute renal failure, acute liver necrosis, acute pancreatitis, and receipt of bronchoscopy remained independently associated with mortality. Center volume measurement was not associated with mortality given these factors.

Conclusions:

Among neonates, investigation for intraventricular hemorrhage prior to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and preservation of renal function are important factors for improvement. Earlier initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and careful attention to preservation of organ function are important to improve survival for children.
Income and Markers of Immunological Cellular Aging
Authors: Aiello Allison E. , Feinstein Lydia , Dowd Jennifer B. , Pawelec Graham , Derhovanessian Evelyna , Galea Sandro , Uddin Monica , Wildman Derek E. , Simanek Amanda M.
Published: May 2016

Objective

Socioeconomic disadvantage may contribute to poor health through immune-related biological mechanisms. We examined the associations between socioeconomic status, as measured by annual household income, and T-cell markers of aging, including the ratios of CD4 and CD8 effector cells to naïve cells (E/N ratio) and the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio. We hypothesized that participants with a lower income would have higher E/N ratios and lower CD4/CD8 ratios compared with participants with a higher income, and that these associations would be partially mediated by elevated cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibody levels, a virus implicated in aging and clonal expansion of T cells.

Methods

Data were from 79 individuals who participated in the population-based Detroit Neighborhood Health Study. We used linear regression to quantify the association between a $10,000 decrease in income and each ratio outcome.

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, medication use, and lifetime history of mental health conditions, lower income was associated with a 0.41 (95% confidence interval = 0.09–0.72) log-unit increase in the CD4 E/N ratio and a 0.20 (95% confidence interval = 0.02–0.39) log-unit increase in the CD8 E/N ratio. CMV immunoglobulin G antibody level partially mediated these associations.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that low socioeconomic status is associated with immunological aging as measured by the E/N ratio and that impaired immune control of CMV may partially mediate these associations.
Associations Among Child Abuse, Depression, and Interleukin-6 in Pregnant Adolescents: Paradoxical Findings
Authors: Walsh Kate , Basu Archana , Werner Elizabeth , Lee Seonjoo , Feng Tianshu , Osborne Lauren M. , Rainford Ashley , Gilchrist Michelle , Monk Catherine
Published: May 2016

Objective

Limited data exist on child abuse–related immune variation during pregnancy, despite implications for maternal and infant health and extensive data showing that abuse history and depression are related to increased inflammation in other populations. This study examined associations among child abuse, depression, circulating levels of inflammatory markers, and perinatal health in pregnant adolescents, a group at high risk for childhood abuse and poor birth outcomes.

Methods

Pregnant teenagers (n= 133; 14–19 years; 89.5% Latina) reported on abuse and depression and had two blood draws (24–27 and 34–37 gestational weeks, second and third trimesters, respectively) for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein; birth outcomes were collected.

Results

Abuse and depression interacted to predict higher IL-6 at second trimester (B= 0.006,p= .011) such that severely abused adolescents with high depression had higher IL-6 relative to severely abused adolescents with low depression; depression did not differentiate IL-6 levels for those with low abuse severity. Abuse and IL-6 also interacted to predict gestational age at birth (B= 0.004,p= .040) such that those with low abuse and high IL-6 and those with high abuse and low IL-6 had infants with earlier gestational age at birth. Cortisol at the second trimester mediated the association between IL-6 and gestational age at birth (indirect effect estimate=−0.143,p< .039).

Conclusions

Depression severity distinguished IL-6 levels among more severely abused pregnant Latina adolescents, but it was unrelated to IL-6 among less severely abused adolescents. Cortisol explained the relationship between IL-6 and earlier gestational age at birth. Multiple adversities and inflammation may influence birth outcomes and potentially affect intergenerational health.
Major Depression and Long-Term Survival of Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Freedland Kenneth E. , Hesseler Michael J. , Carney Robert M. , Steinmeyer Brian C. , Skala Judith A. , Dávila-Román Victor G. , Rich Michael W.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

Previous studies have found that depression predicts all-cause mortality in heart failure (HF), but little is known about its effect on long-term survival. This study examined the effects of depression on long-term survival in patients with HF.

Methods

Patients hospitalized with HF (n = 662) at an urban academic medical center were enrolled in a prospective cohort study between January 1994 and July 1999. Depression was assessed on a structured interview during the index hospitalization and on quarterly interviews for 1 year after discharge. Patients were classified at index as having Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition major depressive disorder (n = 131), minor depression (n = 106), or no depression (n = 425). Clinical data and the National Death Index were used to identify date of death or last known contact through December 19, 2014, up to 20 years after the index hospitalization. The main outcome was time from enrollment to death from any cause.

Results

A total of 617 (94.1%) patients died during the follow-up period. Major depressive disorder was associated with higher all-cause mortality compared with no depression (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval = 1.27–2.11, p = .0001). This association was stronger than that of any of the established predictors of mortality that were included in the fully adjusted model. Patients with persistent or worsening depressive symptoms during the year after discharge were at greatest risk for death. The association between minor depression and survival was not significant.

Conclusions

Major depression is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in patients with HF. Its effect persists for many years after the diagnosis of depression.
A gradiometric version of contactless inductive flow tomography: theory and first applications
Authors: Ratajczak Matthias , Wondrak Thomas , Stefani Frank
Published: May 2016

The contactless inductive flow tomography (CIFT) is a measurement technique that allows reconstructing the flow of electrically conducting fluids by measuring the flow-induced perturbations of one or various applied magnetic fields and solving the underlying inverse problem. One of the most promising application fields of CIFT is the continuous casting of steel, for which the online monitoring of the flow in the mould would be highly desirable. In previous experiments at a small-scale model of continuous casting, CIFT has been applied to various industrially relevant problems, including the sudden changes of flow structures in case of argon injection and the influence of a magnetic stirrer at the submerged entry nozzle. The application of CIFT in the presence of electromagnetic brakes, which are widely used to stabilize the flow in the mould, has turned out to be more challenging due to the extreme dynamic range between the strong applied brake field and the weak flow-induced perturbations of the measuring field. In this paper, we present a gradiometric version of CIFT, relying on gradiometric field measurements, that is capable to overcome those problems and which seems, therefore, a promising candidate for applying CIFT in the steel casting industry.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Supersensing through industrial process tomography’.
Multiphase permittivity imaging using absolute value electrical capacitance tomography data and a level set algorithm
Authors: Al Hosani E. , Soleimani M.
Published: May 2016

Multiphase flow imaging is a very challenging and critical topic in industrial process tomography. In this article, simulation and experimental results of reconstructing the permittivity profile of multiphase material from data collected in electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) are presented. A multiphase narrowband level set algorithm is developed to reconstruct the interfaces between three- or four-phase permittivity values. The level set algorithm is capable of imaging multiphase permittivity by using one set of ECT measurement data, so-called absolute value ECT reconstruction, and this is tested with high-contrast and low-contrast multiphase data. Simulation and experimental results showed the superiority of this algorithm over classical pixel-based image reconstruction methods. The multiphase level set algorithm and absolute ECT reconstruction are presented for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, in this paper and critically evaluated.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Supersensing through industrial process tomography’.
Synthesizer: Expediting synthesis studies from context-free data with natural language processing
Authors: Gandy Lisa , Gumm Jordan , Fertig Benjamin , Kennish Michael J. , Chavan Sameer , Thessen Ann , Marchionni Luigi , Xia Xiaoxan , Shankrit Shambhavi , Fertig Elana J
Published: May 2016

Today’s low cost digital data provides unprecedented opportunities for scientific discovery from synthesis studies. For example, the medical field is revolutionizing patient care by creating personalized treatment plans based upon mining electronic medical records, imaging, and genomics data. Standardized annotations are essential to subsequent analyses for synthesis studies. However, accurately combining records from diverse studies requires tedious and error-prone human curation, posing a significant barrier to synthesis studies. We propose a novel natural language processing (NLP) algorithm, Synthesize, to merge data annotations automatically. Application to patient characteristics for diverse human cancers and ecological datasets demonstrates the accuracy of Synthesize in diverse scientific disciplines. This NLP approach is implemented in an open-source software package, Synthesizer. Synthesizer is a generalized, user-friendly system for error-free data merging.
Accuracy, speed and error tolerance of short DNA sequence aligners
Authors: Ziemann Mark
Published: May 2016

Aligning short DNA sequence reads to the genome is an early step in the processing of many types of genomics data, and impacts on the fidelity of downstream results. In this work, the accuracy, speed and tolerance to errors are evaluated in read of varied length for six commonly used mapping tools; BWA aln, BWA mem, Bowtie2, Soap2, Subread and STAR. The accuracy evaluation using Illumina-like simulated reads showed that accuracy varies by read length, but overall BWA aln was most accurate, followed by BWA mem and Bowtie2. BWA mem was most accurate with Ion Torrent-like read sets. STAR was at least 5 fold faster than Bowtie2 or BWA mem. BWA mem tolerated the highest density of mismatches and indels compared to other mappers. These data provide important accuracy and speed benchmarks for commonly used mapping software.