bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of capital structure on profitability and stock returns
Authors: Chandra Teddy , Junaedi Achmad Tavip , Wijaya Evelyn , Suharti Suharti , Mimelientesa Irman , Ng Martha
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence capital structure, profitability and stock returns and the relationship between capital structure, profitability and stock returns. The endogenous variables in this study are capital structure, profitability and stock returns, whereas the exogenous variables are firm size, growth opportunity, tangibility, liquidity, volatility and uniqueness.

Design/methodology/approach

The population used is a company that is listed on the compass index 100 period of August 2016. A total of 64 companies are sampled in this study. The unit of analysis is 448 data. The data analysis technique used is path analysis with the help of AMOS.

Findings

The results obtained show only profitability variables that affect stock returns. Variable capital structure, firm size, growth opportunity, tangibility and liquidity have no significant effect. Variables that influence capital structure are only influenced by growth opportunity, whereas other variables are not significant and variables that affect profitability are firm size, growth opportunity, uniqueness and volatility.

Originality/value

Path analysis is a model similar to the multiple regression analysis, factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis, discriminant analysis and more general multivariate analysis groups. This research discusses that capital structure is useful for increasing the value of the company in the sense that the more debt that is used, a tax deduction will be obtained because of interest costs. So that the company’s profits will increase and eventually will increase the value of the company. This opinion remains a controversy among financial experts. Until now, there is no agreement that can explain the capital structure in all conditions of the company. There are two important theories concerning capital structure, trade-off theory and pecking order theory.
US–China trade war and the WTO dispute settlement mechanism
Authors: Adekola Tolulope Anthony
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The paper is prompted by the US–China trade war and its implications for the sustenance of the multilateral trading system. The two rivals resorted to “self-help” without recourse to the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system, flouting the WTO as an adjudicator in trade disputes. This paper aims to analyze the drawbacks in the settlement system and examines the urgent need for a retroactive remedy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts desk-review and jurisprudential analysis of the relevant rulings of the WTO dispute settlement body. Using desk-review, primary sources such as the relevant domestic legislations invoked by the USA and China to trigger the trade war were discussed and critically analyzed.

Findings

This paper finds that the unilateral and protectionist actions that characterize the trade war can be linked to the loss of confidence in WTO remedies to redress members’ retroactive economic losses. This finding is useful in arguing for the incorporation of a retrospective monetary remedy to forestall the reoccurrence of a similar trade war and save the WTO from being dysfunctional.

Originality/value

Although, whether there should be retroactive remedies in the settlement system has been long debated, this paper makes a significant contribution by highlighting why the drawbacks in the settlement system have become so prominent in the context of this trade war. This paper strengthens the urgent need for WTO dispute settlement reform to prevent a reoccurrence of another global distortion of trade.
The scientometrics of literature on smart cities
Authors: Moradi Shima
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the research trends in smart cities (SCs) in order to demonstrate the most and the least active fields, researchers, institutions, frontier active centers/authors and funding institutions, as well as drawing the map of the most active countries in this scope.

Design/methodology/approach

Bibliometric data of 4,696 scientific works were collected from Web of Science, one of the most authentic bibliometric databases, within 1970–2018. The data were analyzed using scientometrics and content analysis methods and visualized by tables, charts and atlases.

Findings

The results showed an increasing trend in these studies mostly published as conference papers during 48 years. In this period, 0.6 percent of the papers got more than ten citations. Highly cited fields in the area of SCs were orderly smart IT infrastructure, smart government, smart environment, smart mobility, smart energy, smart economy and smart citizen. The geographic atlas of SC studies showed that the frontier countries in SCs were China, Spain and Italy, orderly. China’s main focus was on smart infrastructure while Spain’s focus was smart citizens and smart energy. Italy’s studies were mostly concentrated on smart government, smart mobility and smart environment. In general, it can be concluded that “smart IT infrastructure” was the most noted among the other components of SCs.

Originality/value

The scientometrics of SC literature has been conducted for the first time.
Shopping value and patronage: when satisfaction and crowding count
Authors: Moharana Tapas Ranjan , Pradhan Debasis
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare two competing models denoting two dimensions (hedonic and utilitarian) and three dimensions (hedonic, utilitarian and social) of the construct “value” and investigates their relative influence on satisfaction, future patronage intention (FPI) and word-of-mouth (WoM) in a hypermarket context. Additionally, the study examines if these relationships are contingent upon gender and shoppers’ perception of retail crowding.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed models and the hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling, across two cross-sectional studies (n1=268, n2=259). The multi-group analysis was used to test moderated relationships.

Findings

The study demonstrates that satisfaction mediates the impact of shopping value on FPI and WoM. The model that includes utilitarian, hedonic and social value explains higher variance in satisfaction and WoM than that is evidenced in the alternate model comprising utilitarian and hedonic values. Shoppers’ gender and perceived retail crowding moderate the influence of shopping value on satisfaction.

Practical implications

Retail managers should understand that enjoyable and social shopping experience of the consumers lead to satisfaction, which in turn plays a pivotal role in the formation of FPI and WoM. Managers discern that a moderate level of crowding is better than the extremely low or high level of density.

Originality/value

Amidst a lack of unanimity on the dimensionality of shopping value, this is one of the first studies to evaluate the two theoretical models of shopping value having two dimensions and three dimensions, respectively. An understanding of gender and retail crowding perceptions is crucial in shopping value judgments.
Do firms use early guidance to disclose the effect of conservatism on future earnings?
Authors: D’Augusta Carlo , Redigolo Giulia
Published: June 2019

Purpose

By deferring profits and anticipating losses, conservatism makes earnings increases more persistent and earnings declines more likely to revert. Therefore, the level of conservatism in current earnings has implications for future earnings expectations. Past research shows that outsiders can fail to understand these implications. This paper aims to investigate whether firms help outsiders by voluntarily disclosing their expectations about how conservatism will affect future earnings trends.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the likelihood and content of “early” earnings guidance – i.e. guidance about future earnings that is released around or before the announcement of current earnings. The sample is made of 8,820 annual earnings announcements, 62 per cent of which are combined with early guidance.

Findings

The authors find that the more conservative current earnings, the higher: the likelihood that the firm releases early guidance; the likelihood that the firm predicts a positive change in earnings; and the difference between the forecasted earnings and current earnings. The authors also find such guidance to be relevant to analysts, who use it to update their forecasts.

Practical implications

By showing that firms use early guidance to disclose the effect of conservatism on future earnings, the study is interesting to users and preparers because it shows that analysts need and use such disclosure; and regulators because it alleviates concerns about the information consequences of conservatism.

Originality/value

The findings show that firms do not refrain from committing to positive early guidance to disclose the earnings effects of conservatism. This is interesting in light of the difficulty of predicting such effects, the manager incentives to keep expectations low and the cost of committing to positive guidance instead of less risky qualitative disclosure alternatives. In this way, the authors contribute to the literature on the interrelation between voluntary disclosure and conservatism in financial reports.
The kinematics of S waves in acoustic orthorhombic media
Authors: Xu Shibo , Stovas Alexey
Published: June 2019

Orthorhombic models are often used in the seismic industry nowadays to describe azimuthal and polar anisotropy and reasonably realistic in capturing the features of the earth interior. It is challenging to handle so many model parameters in the seismic data processing. In order to reduce the number of the parameters for P wave, the acoustic orthorhombic medium is proposed by setting all on‐axis S wave velocities to zero. However, due to the coupled behaviour for P and S waves in the orthorhombic model, the ‘S wave artefacts’ are still remained in the acoustic orthorhombic model, which kinematics needs to be defined and analysed. In this paper, we analyse the behaviour of S wave in acoustic orthorhombic media. By analysis of the slowness surface in acoustic orthorhombic media, we define the S waves (or S wave artefacts) that are more complicated in shape comparing to the one propagating in an acoustic transversely isotropic medium with a vertical symmetry axis. The kinematic properties of these waves are defined and analysed in both phase and group domain. The caustics, amplitude and the multi‐layered case for S wave in acoustic orthorhombic model are also discussed. It is shown that there are two waves propagating in this acoustic orthorhombic medium. One of these waves is similar to the one propagating in acoustic vertical symmetry axis media, whereas another one has a very complicated shape consisting of two crossing surfaces.
Trait‐based life‐history strategies explain succession scenario for complex bacterial communities under varying disturbance
Authors: Santillan Ezequiel , Seshan Hari , Constancias Florentin , Wuertz Stefan
Published: June 2019

Trait‐based approaches are increasingly gaining importance in community ecology, as a way of finding general rules for the mechanisms driving changes in community structure and function under the influence of perturbations. Frameworks for life‐history strategies have been successfully applied to describe changes in plant and animal communities upon disturbance. To evaluate their applicability to complex bacterial communities, we operated replicated wastewater treatment bioreactors for 35 days and subjected them to eight different disturbance frequencies of a toxic pollutant (3‐chloroaniline), starting with a mixed inoculum from a full‐scale treatment plant. Relevant ecosystem functions were tracked and microbial communities assessed through metagenomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Combining a series of ordination, statistical and network analysis methods, we associated different life‐history strategies with microbial communities across the disturbance range. These strategies were evaluated using tradeoffs in community function and genotypic potential, and changes in bacterial genus composition. We further compared our findings with other ecological studies and adopted a semi‐quantitative competitors, stress‐tolerants, ruderals (CSR) classification. The framework reduces complex data sets of microbial traits, functions and taxa into ecologically meaningful components to help understand the system response to disturbance and hence represents a promising tool for managing microbial communities.
Endogenous productivity of demand‐induced R&D: evidence from pharmaceuticals
Authors: Myers Kyle , Pauly Mark
Published: June 2019

We examine trends in the productivity of the pharmaceutical sector over the past three decades. Motivated by Ricardo's insight that productivity and rents are endogenous to demand when inputs are scarce, we examine the industry's aggregate Research and Development (R&D) production function. Using exogenous demand shocks to instrument investments, we find that demand growth can explain a large portion of R&D growth. Returns to scale have been stable, whereas total factor productivity has declined significantly. Predicted rents based on our estimates and Ricardo's theory closely match the trends we observe.
Prescription Opioid Misuse After a Recent Sexual Assault: A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Video Intervention
Authors: Gilmore Amanda K. , Walsh Kate , Frazier Patricia , Ledray Linda , Acierno Ron , Ruggiero Kenneth J. , Kilpatrick Dean G. , Resnick Heidi S.
Published: June 2019

Background and Objectives

Prescription opioid (PO) misuse is increasing and is associated with overdose. Individuals who experienced a recent sexual assault are at risk for increased substance use, yet limited interventions target PO misuse after sexual assault. The current study examined the efficacy of video interventions on PO misuse after sexual assault.

Methods

Adolescent girls and women (n = 154) were recruited in the context of a sexual assault medical forensic exam in the emergency department. Effects of a prevention of post‐rape stress (PPRS) video and a pleasant imagery and relaxation instruction (PIRI) video were compared with treatment as usual (TAU) during a sexual assault medical forensic exam on PO misuse. Participants reported if they had used POs for non‐medical purposes since the sexual assault at 1.5 month follow‐up.

Results

Results from a logistic regression analysis indicated that participants with a prior sexual assault were less likely to misuse prescription opioids 1.5 months after the assault in the PIRI condition compared with TAU. There were no main effects for video condition and no interactions for the PPRS condition on PO misuse.

Discussion and Conclusions

Providing the PIRI video, or teaching other types of mindfulness or relaxation exercises, may be warranted as a secondary prevention for individuals during the sexual assault medical forensic exam for those with a prior sexual assault history.

Scientific Significance

This research provides an initial examination of the impact of mindfulness skills recently after traumatic event exposure on PO misuse. (Am J Addict 2019;28:376–381)
Living, loving, dying: Insights into rural compassion
Authors: Marsh Pauline , Thompson Stephanie , Mond Jonathan
Published: June 2019

Objective

To improve understandings of the enablers and barriers to maintaining good quality of life for people dying, caring and grieving in rural areas.

Design and setting

In‐depth interviews designed on participatory research principles were held with bereaved carers living in a small community in rural Tasmania. Participants had cared for someone until their death within the 3‐year period prior.

Participants

Nineteen participants comprising 18 bereaved former carers and one person with a life‐limiting illness, and all but four were over retirement age.

Study aim

To explore experiences of end‐of‐life care in a rural community.

Results

Participants discussed the challenges they experienced during end‐of‐life caring, including transport into the city for treatment, and access to basic and specialised services. However, they also reported positive aspects of formal and informal palliative care, and described experiences of personable, expert, flexible and innovative caregiving.

Conclusions

The rural location enabled personalised and innovative expressions of care. This research adds new insight into rural end‐of‐life palliation, as a complex intersection of supererogation, innovation and place‐driven care.
No additional long‐term effect of group vs individual family intervention in the treatment of childhood obesity—A randomised trial
Authors: Kokkvoll Ane Sofie , Grimsgaard Sameline , Flægstad Trond , Andersen Lars Bo , Ball Geoff D. C. , Wilsgaard Tom , Njølstad Inger
Published: June 2019

Aim

Long‐term evaluations of childhood obesity treatments are needed. We examined changes in weight and cardiometabolic risk 1 year after children completed individual family or group‐based weight management interventions.

Methods

In 2009‐2010, 6‐ to 12‐year‐old children with overweight or obesity from Finnmark and Troms (Norway) were recruited after media coverage and randomised to 24 months of individual family (n = 49) or group intervention (n = 48). Individual family intervention included counselling by a paediatric hospital team and a public health nurse in the local community. Group intervention included meetings with other families and a multidisciplinary hospital team, weekly physical activity sessions and a family camp. The primary outcome body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic risk factors were analysed 12 months after intervention.

Results

From baseline to 36 months, children's BMI increased 3.0 kg/m2 in individual family and 2.1 kg/m2 in group intervention (between‐group −0.9kg/m2, P = 0.096). Data were available from 62 children (64%). Between‐group differences in C peptide (P = 0.01) were detected in favour of group intervention. Pooled data from both treatment groups showed continued decrease in BMI standard deviation score (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

No between‐group difference in BMI was observed 12 months after intervention. Both groups combined showed sustained decrease in BMI standard deviation score.
Effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients switched from vitamin K antagonists: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hellfritzsch Maja , Adelborg Kasper , Damkier Per , Paaske Johnsen Søren , Hallas Jesper , Pottegård Anton , Grove Erik Lerkevang
Published: June 2019

A substantial proportion of atrial fibrillation patients initiating direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are vitamin K antagonists (VKA)‐experienced, for example switchers from VKA to DOAC. With this study, we aimed to summarize available evidence on the effectiveness and safety of DOAC vs VKA in real‐life VKA‐experienced atrial fibrillation patients. We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library systematically for English‐language studies indexed any time before October 2018. We included studies of VKA‐experienced atrial fibrillation patients initiating DOAC therapy, with continued VKA therapy as comparator. Outcomes included arterial thromboembolism and bleeding. When appropriate, meta‐analysis was performed by calculating pooled, weighted and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Eight cohort studies comparing VKA‐experienced DOAC (dabigatran or rivaroxaban) users with continued VKA users were included. When comparing DOAC to VKA, an increased risk of ischaemic stroke and myocardial infarction was found for dabigatran (pooled aHR of 1.61 [95% CI 1.19‐2.19, I2 = 65%] and 1.29 [95% CI 1.10‐1.52, I2 = 0%], respectively), but not for rivaroxaban. The use of dabigatran in VKA‐experienced users was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (pooled aHR 1.63 [95% CI 1.36‐1.94, I2 = 30%]), but a decreased risk of intracranial bleeding (pooled aHR 0.45 [95% CI 0.32‐0.64, I2 = 0%]). In conclusion, the use of dabigatran in prior VKA users in clinical practice was associated with a slightly increased risk of arterial thromboembolism and gastrointestinal bleeding, but a decreased risk of intracranial bleeding. Importantly, observational studies of real‐life VKA‐experienced oral anticoagulant users may be confounded by the reason for switching.
Association between genetic polymorphisms of SLCO1B1 and susceptibility to methimazole‐induced liver injury
Authors: Jin Shasha , Li Xuesong , Fan Yujuan , Fan Xiaofang , Dai Yu , Lin Haishu , Cai Weimin , Yang Jialin , Xiang Xiaoqiang
Published: June 2019

Methimazole (MMI) has been used in the therapy of Grave's disease (GD) since 1954, and drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the most deleterious side effects. Genetic polymorphisms of drug‐metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters have been associated with drug‐induced hepatotoxicity in many cases. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic susceptibility of the drug‐metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters to the MMI‐DILI. A total of 44 GD patients with MMI‐DILI and 118 GD patients without MMI‐DILI development were included in the study. Thirty‐three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in twenty candidate genes were genotyped. We found that rs12422149 of SLCO2B1, rs2032582_AT of ABCB1, rs2306283 of SLCO1B1 and rs4148323 of UGT1A1 exhibited a significant association with MMI‐DILI; however, no significant difference existed after Bonferroni correction. Haplotype analysis showed that the frequency of SLCO1B1*1a (388A521T) was significantly higher in MMI‐DILI cases than that in the control group (OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.11‐4.39, P = 0.023), while the frequency of SLCO1B1*1b (388G521T) was significantly higher in the control group (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.29‐0.93, P = 0.028). These results suggested that genetic polymorphisms of SLCO1B1 were associated with susceptibility to MMI‐DILI. The genetic polymorphism of SLCO1B1 may be important predisposing factors for MMI‐induced hepatotoxicity.
Adrenoceptors—New roles for old players
Authors: Michel Martin C. , Bond Richard A. , Summers Roger J.
Published: June 2019

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Adrenoceptors—New Roles for Old Players. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.14/issuetoc
The ecology and evolution of autotomy
Authors: Emberts Zachary , Escalante Ignacio , Bateman Philip W.
Published: June 2019

Autotomy, the self‐induced loss of a body part, occurs throughout Animalia. A lizard dropping its tail to escape predation is an iconic example, however, autotomy occurs in a diversity of other organisms. Octopuses can release their arms, crabs can drop their claws, and bugs can amputate their legs. The diversity of organisms that can autotomize body parts has led to a wealth of research and several taxonomically focused reviews. These reviews have played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of autotomy within their respective groups. However, because of their taxonomic focus, these reviews are constrained in their ability to enhance our understanding of autotomy. Here, we aim to synthesize research on the ecology and evolution of autotomy throughout Animalia, building a unified framework on which future studies can expand. We found that the ability to drop an appendage has evolved multiple times throughout Animalia and that once autotomy has evolved, selection appears to act on the removable appendage to increase the efficacy and/or efficiency of autotomy. This could explain why some autotomizable body parts are so elaborate (e.g. brightly coloured). We also show that there are multiple benefits, and variable costs, associated with autotomy. Given this variation, we generate an economic theory of autotomy (modified from the economic theory of escape) which makes predictions about when an individual should resort to autotomy. Finally, we show that the loss of an autotomizable appendage can have numerous consequences on population and community dynamics. By taking this broad taxonomic approach, we identified patterns of autotomy that transcend specific lineages and highlight clear directions for future research.
Average area under the curve: An alternative method for quantifying the dental caries experience in longitudinal studies
Authors: Jordan Kelsey H. , Long D. Leann , Mcgwin Gerald , Childers Noel K.
Published: June 2019

Objectives

Field‐traditional decayed, missing, filled surfaces (dmfs) increments require complete follow‐up, only using initial and final visits. Repeated dmfs scores complicate sophisticated statistical models, limiting their utility. Elsewhere, area under the curve (AUC) uses all repeated measures to summarize data. This study applied AUC methodology to caries data, creating average AUCs for dmfs trajectories (dmfsaAUC) and comparing increments and dmfsaAUC values.

Methods

Longitudinal data were obtained from high‐caries risk (i.e. poor, rural, African American community in Perry County, Alabama) infants, 8 to 18 months at baseline. Baseline and five annual visual oral examinations provided dmfs scores. Differences in baseline and final dmfs scores constituted increments. The trapezoidal rule was applied to dmfs trajectories to calculate AUC values which were adjusted for varying follow‐up times, producing dmfsaAUC values. Participants sharing incremental or dmfsaAUC values had their trajectories and second caries measurements compared. Within‐participant increment and dmfsaAUC differences were evaluated (paired t test, α = 0.05). Comparative analyses required complete follow‐up.

Results

The dmfsaAUC provided forty‐eight additional person‐years, increasing the potential sample size by 20% (N = 85). Sixty‐six children, 5.7 to 6.3 year‐olds at study’s end, contributed 121 331 person‐days to five‐year increment and dmfsaAUC calculations. Trajectories and dmfsaAUC values varied for participants with equivalent increments; comparable trajectories and different increments resulted from participants with similar dmfsaAUC values. Within‐participant disease amounts were similar.

Conclusions

When desired, dmfsaAUC can replace increments as a more data‐inclusive summary of longitudinal caries burden, incorporating intermediate visits, incomplete follow‐up and time.
Pilot study on the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression among Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kikuchi Hiromi , Niino Masaaki , Hirotani Makoto , Miyazaki Yusei , Kikuchi Seiji
Published: June 2019

Objective

We investigated whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves the measures of depression and quality of life for Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis.

Methods

Seven patients with multiple sclerosis received an eight‐session course of CBT. The session length was 60 min. The effects of CBT were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for depression, and the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis for quality of life. These instruments were administered pre‐, mid‐ and post‐CBT.

Results

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores were significantly improved mid‐CBT. Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis total scores were also increased mid‐CBT as well as post‐CBT, albeit not significantly. Similarly, scores for three Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis subscales – symptoms, emotional well‐being and thinking/fatigue – were also improved, although not significantly, mid‐ and post‐CBT.

Conclusions

This pilot study suggests that CBT has the potential to alleviate depressive states for Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis.
PointCleanNet: Learning to Denoise and Remove Outliers from Dense Point Clouds
Authors: Rakotosaona Marie‐Julie , La Barbera Vittorio , Guerrero Paul , Mitra Niloy J. , Ovsjanikov Maks
Published: June 2019

Point clouds obtained with 3D scanners or by image‐based reconstruction techniques are often corrupted with significant amount of noise and outliers. Traditional methods for point cloud denoising largely rely on local surface fitting (e.g. jets or MLS surfaces), local or non‐local averaging or on statistical assumptions about the underlying noise model. In contrast, we develop a simple data‐driven method for removing outliers and reducing noise in unordered point clouds. We base our approach on a deep learning architecture adapted from PCPNet, which was recently proposed for estimating local 3D shape properties in point clouds. Our method first classifies and discards outlier samples, and then estimates correction vectors that project noisy points onto the original clean surfaces. The approach is efficient and robust to varying amounts of noise and outliers, while being able to handle large densely sampled point clouds. In our extensive evaluation, both on synthetic and real data, we show an increased robustness to strong noise levels compared to various state‐of‐the‐art methods, enabling accurate surface reconstruction from extremely noisy real data obtained by range scans. Finally, the simplicity and universality of our approach makes it very easy to integrate in any existing geometry processing pipeline. Both the code and pre‐trained networks can be found on the project page (https://github.com/mrakotosaon/pointcleannet).
Radiographic outcomes of transcrestal and lateral sinus floor elevation: One‐year results of a bi‐center, parallel‐arm randomized trial
Authors: Farina Roberto , Franceschetti Giovanni , Travaglini Domenico , Consolo Ugo , Minenna Luigi , Schincaglia Gian Pietro , Riccardi Orio , Bandieri Alberto , Maietti Elisa , Trombelli Leonardo
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To comparatively evaluate the radiographic outcomes of transcrestal and lateral sinus floor elevation (tSFE and lSFE, respectively) when applied concomitantly with implant placement.

Materials and methods

Patients with at least 1 edentulous site with residual bone height (RBH) of 3–6 mm were enrolled in a bi‐center, parallel‐arm, randomized trial. Both tSFE and lSFE were associated with a bovine‐derived xenograft, and implants were inserted concomitantly. In lSFE group, the antrostomy was covered with a resorbable collagen membrane. Marginal bone loss and the maturation of the grafted area were evaluated on periapical radiographs at 6 and 12 months. Twelve‐month CT/CBCT was used to assess the effect of grafting procedures circumferentially around the implant. A per‐protocol analysis was performed.

Results

The per‐protocol study population consisted of 26 patients in the tSFE group and 28 patients in the lSFE group. At 12 months, the median proportion of the implant surface in contact with the peri‐implant radiopaque area was 100% in both groups, with no significant inter‐group difference. Suboptimal bone‐to‐implant contact was observed in 13% and 3.6% of tSFE and lSFE cases, respectively. In both groups, marginal bone loss was minimal (≤1 mm) and infrequent, and the radiographic aspect was suggestive of an advanced stage of maturation.

Conclusions

At sites with RBH of 3–6 mm where implants are placed concomitantly with sinus floor elevation, tSFE and lSFE are both highly predictable in obtaining an implant surface completely embedded in a radiopaque area at 12 months post‐surgery. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02415946).
High abdominal adiposity and low phase angle in overweight renal transplant recipients
Authors: Ferreira Thaís da Silva , Barreto Silva Maria Inês , da Costa Mariana Silva , Pontes Karine Scanci da Silva , Castro Flavia Garcia , Antunes Vanessa Parada , Rosina Kelli Trindade de Carvalho , Menna Barreto Ana Paula Medeiros , Souza Edison , Klein Márcia Regina Simas Torres
Published: June 2019

Obesity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Body mass index (BMI) is the most used parameter for obesity screening. However, the evaluation of CVD risk in overweight individuals should include the assessment of body fat distribution and body composition. Renal transplant recipients (RTR) have a high CVD risk and frequently present weight gain and loss of lean mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate body fat distribution and body composition in overweight RTR. This cross‐sectional study was conducted with 86 RTR and 86 hypertensive individuals (comparison group, CG) presenting BMI 25‐35 Kg/m2 and 45‐70 years. Anthropometric evaluation included BMI, waist circumference, waist‐to‐height ratio, and a body shape index. Body composition was evaluated with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Glomerular filtration rate was estimated (eGFR) by CKD‐EPI equation. RTR group (RTRG) and CG presented similar age and BMI. RTRG when compared to CG presented lower percentage of women and eGFR; higher central adiposity; and lower values of reactance, intracellular water, body cell mass and phase angle, more consistently observed in women. This study suggests that overweight RTR present higher abdominal adiposity and impairment in BIA parameters that are sensitive indicators of impaired membrane integrity, water distribution, and body cell mass.
Zink und Haut: ein Update
Authors: Glutsch Valerie , Hamm Henning , Goebeler Matthias
Published: June 2019

Das Spurenelement Zink (Zn) spielt eine zentrale Rolle für die Entwicklung, die Differenzierung und das Wachstum vieler Gewebe des menschlichen Körpers. Für die Regulation der Zinkhomöostase sind zwei Zinktransporterfamilien (solute‐linked carrier families; SLC) maßgeblich verantwortlich. Störungen im Zinkstoffwechsel können Erkrankungen hervorrufen, die sich in charakteristischer Weise an der Haut manifestieren. Eine Mutation in einem für den ZIP4‐Zinktransporter kodierenden Gen ist ursächlich für die Acrodermatitis enteropathica, eine autosomal‐rezessiv vererbte Zinkmangelerkrankung. Betroffene Säuglinge entwickeln durch intestinale Malabsorption von Zink typischerweise kurz nach dem Abstillen erste klinische Symptome. Erworbener Zinkmangel ist eine zwar seltene, jedoch unterdiagnostizierte Erkrankung mit vielfältiger Ätiologie und variabler klinischer Ausprägung. Abhängig vom Alter der Patienten kommen zahlreiche Ursachen in Betracht. Aufgrund der charakteristischen periorifiziell und akral lokalisierten Effloreszenzen wird die Verdachtsdiagnose meist von Dermatologen gestellt und kann durch die laborchemische Bestimmung des Zinkspiegels und – ergänzend – zinkabhängiger Enzyme wie der alkalischen Phosphatase bestätigt werden. Unter oraler Zinksubstitution heilen die Hautveränderungen meist innerhalb weniger Tage ab. Abhängig von der Ursache der Erkrankung sollte die Therapie in interdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit mit Pädiatern und Gastroenterologen erfolgen, um eine optimale Versorgung der betroffenen Patienten zu gewährleisten.
Gute Verträglichkeit und Wirkung der topischen Skabiestherapie mit Permethrin bei Kindern unter zwei Monaten
Authors: Hoffmann Johanna Charlotte , Mößner Rotraut , Schön Michael Peter , Lippert Undine
Published: June 2019

Hintergrund und Ziele

Bei Skabies im Kindesalter ist ein adäquates Management unverzichtbar, um einer verlängerten Krankheitsdauer vorzubeugen und die weitere Ausbreitung der Erkrankung zu verhindern. Noch fehlen die Daten, die die topische Anwendung von Permethrin 5 % bei Säuglingen unter zwei Monaten unterstützen; die Anwendung in dieser Altersgruppe ist daher ein Off‐Label‐Use.

Patienten und Methodik

Um Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit der topischen Therapie mit Permethrin‐Creme in dieser Altersgruppe zu untersuchen, ermittelten wir an Skabies erkrankte Säuglinge, die jünger als zwei Monate waren. Die Diagnosestellung der Skabies erfolgte aufgrund der charakteristischen Symptomatik und der pathognomischen Befunde in der Dermatoskopie. Wir untersuchten die Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit der angewendeten Therapien.

Ergebnisse

Sieben Skabies‐Patienten unter zwei Monaten wurden mit Permethrin‐Creme 5 % behandelt. Bei vier Patienten wurde die topische Therapie aufgrund einer unvollständigen Remission oder dem Wiederauftreten der Hautveränderungen bis zu dreimal wiederholt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Permethrin‐Therapie wurde von allen sieben Säuglingen gut vertragen, auch bei mehrmaliger Anwendung. Unsere Ergebnisse bestätigen, dass die Anwendung von Permethrin‐Creme 5 % bei Säuglingen unter zwei Monaten sicher ist.
Extragenital cutaneous warts – clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Abeck Dietrich , Tetsch Larissa , Lüftl Matthias , Biedermann Tilo
Published: June 2019

Extragenital cutaneous warts are benign epidermal tumors caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and a frequent reason for patients to consult a dermatologist. Depending on wart type and site involved, the clinical presentation is highly varied. Given that warts represent a self‐limiting condition, a wait‐and‐see approach may be justified. However, treatment is always indicated if the lesions become painful or give rise to psychological discomfort. Factors to be considered in this context include subjective disease burden, patient age, site affected, as well as the number and duration of lesions. Destructive treatment methods involve chemical or physical removal of diseased tissue. Nondestructive methods consist of antimitotic and antiviral agents aimed at inhibiting viral proliferation in keratinocytes. Some of the various immunotherapies available not only have localized but also systemic effects and are thus able to induce remission of warts located at any distance from the injection site. Especially patients with warts at multiple sites benefit from this form of treatment. Intralesional immunotherapy using the mumps‐measles‐rubella (MMR) vaccine is a particularly promising option for the treatment of recalcitrant warts in adult patients. For children, on the other hand, HPV vaccination is a novel and promising approach, even though it has not been approved for the treatment of cutaneous warts. At present, there is no universally effective treatment available. Moreover, many frequently employed therapies are currently not supported by conclusive clinical trials.
Cultural considerations in forgoing enteral feeding: A comparison between the Hong Kong Chinese, North American, and Malaysian Islamic patients with advanced dementia at the end‐of‐life
Authors: Ngan Olivia M.Y. , Bergstresser Sara M. , Sanip Suhaila , Emdadul Haque A.T.M. , Chan Helen Y.L. , Au Derrick K.S.
Published: June 2019

Cultural competence, a clinical skill to recognise patients' cultural and religious beliefs, is an integral element in patient‐centred medical practice. In the area of death and dying, physicians' understanding of patients' and families' values is essential for the delivery of culturally appropriate care. Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition marked by the decline of cognitive functions. When the condition progresses and deteriorates, patients with advanced dementia often have eating and swallowing problems and are at high risk of developing malnutrition. Enteral tube feeding is a conventional means of providing artificial nutrition and hydration to meet nutritional needs, but its benefits to the frail population are limitedly shown in the clinical evidence. Forgoing tube feeding is ethically challenging when patients are mentally incompetent and in the absence of an advance directive. Unlike some developed countries, like the United States of America, death and dying is a sensitive issue or even a taboo in some cultures in developing countries that forgoing enteral tube feeding is clinically and ethically challenging, such as China and Malaysia. This article in three parts 1) discusses the clinical and ethical issues related to forgoing tube feeding among patients with advanced dementia, 2) describes how Hong Kong Chinese, North American, and Malaysian Islamic cultures respond differently in the decision‐making patterns of forgoing tube feeding for patients with advanced dementia, and 3) reiterates the clinical implications of cultural competence in end‐of‐life care.
Hypozincemia is associated with human hepatocarcinogenesis in hepatitis C virus‐related liver cirrhosis
Authors: Shigefuku Ryuta , Iwasa Motoh , Katayama Kazuhiro , Eguchi Akiko , Kawaguchi Takumi , Shiraishi Koichi , Ito Toshifumi , Suzuki Kazutomo , Koreeda Chizu , Ohtake Takaaki , Tokumoto Yoshio , Endo Ryujin , Kawamura Naohiro , Shiraki Makoto , Habu Daiki , Sakai Hironori , Kato Akinobu , Nishiguchi Shuhei , Moriwaki Hisataka , Suzuki Kazuyuki , Takei Yoshiyuki
Published: June 2019

Aim

Hypozincemia is associated with the progression of chronic liver diseases, but it is unknown whether hypozincemia promotes human hepatocarcinogenesis. Our aim is to evaluate the serum zinc levels in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and clarify the relationship between the serum zinc levels and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Cirrhotic patients without HCC (n = 299) were enrolled from 14 medical institutes in Japan as a multicenter prospective study (No. 2028). Of the 299 patients, 157 were included in the present study based on reliable and consistent serum zinc levels and no history of oral zinc supplementation. Clinical parameters associated with the development of HCC were determined. Furthermore, the cumulative incidence of HCC was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods and was calculated using the log–rank test. A Cox regression analysis was utilized for the multivariate analysis to evaluate the predictors of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Results

Thirty of 157 patients (19.1%) developed HCC during an observation period of 3 years. Serum zinc levels were significantly decreased in hepatitis C virus‐related LC (C‐LC) patients with HCC (0.0180). The risk factors for incidence of HCC were hypozincemia (0.0014), high α‐fetoprotein (0.0080), low branched chain amino acids‐to‐tyrosine ratio (0.0128), or female sex (0.0228). Hypozincemia (hazard ratio 1.61, 0.0324) was the only significant predictor of hepatocarcinogenesis by multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Conclusions

Hypozincemia is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in C‐LC patients.
The urostomy: The poor relation?
Authors: Jury Rachel , Biddle Richard
Published: June 2019

Aims/Objective

To discuss the findings of a small research project about knowledge of urostomies amongst health care professionals (HCPs).

Background

The lead author's urostomy was formed in 2015. From early dealings with HCPs, it was clear that knowledge about urostomies was lacking. In particular, many do not know how to take an uncontaminated urine sample for testing. This has led to treatment delays, anxiety and frustration and caused the author to question care she had received. Discussions with other patients suggested a commonality in experience.

Method and findings

Working with a researcher from a UK‐based stoma charity, we conducted a small qualitative survey of urostomates via a Facebook support group. This asked the question: “How knowledgeable have you found Healthcare Professionals about urostomies?” 52 patients responded. Of these, 50 indicated that lack of knowledge was normal in encounters with HCPs. While in some clinical settings this is understandable, it was notable that some respondents recorded instances where staff on urological wards seemed to confuse a nephrostomy with a urostomy.

Conclusion

Urostomies are rare. It is estimated that 10 000 people in the United Kingdom have a urostomy, compared with between 110 000 and 120 000 with colostomies/ileostomies. HCPs encounter few during their career. Finding a way to embed knowledge and keep it up‐to‐date is therefore central to the problem. Our project has provided the impetus for larger scale research, with the aim of addressing this issue and improving the treatment and care that patients with urostomies receive.
Comparative risk of new‐onset diabetes mellitus for antihypertensive drugs in elderly: A Bayesian network meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Jinhua , Tong Aihua , Dai Yan , Niu Jie , Yu Fengquan , Xu Fangjiang
Published: June 2019

There is no study to compare different class of antihypertensive drugs on new‐onset diabetes mellitus (NOD) in elderly. We aimed to investigate the risk of antihypertensive drugs on NOD in elderly patients. The databases were retrieved in an orderly manner from the dates of their establishment to October, 2018, including Medline, Embase, Clinical Trials, and the Cochrane Database, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different antihypertensive drugs in elderly patients (age > 60 years). Then, a network meta‐analysis was conducted using R and Stata 12.0 softwares. A total of 14 RCTs involving 74 042 patients were included. The relative risk of NOD mellitus associated with six classes of antihypertensive drugs was analyzed, including placebo, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), diuretics, and β blockers. Patients with ACEIs or ARBs appeared to have significantly reduced risk of NOD compare with placebo: ACEIs (OR = 0.49, 95% CrI 0.28‐0.85), ARBs (OR = 0.37, 95% CrI 0.26‐0.52), while CCBs, diuretics, and β blockers appeared to have not significantly reduced risk of NOD mellitus compare with placebo: CCBs (OR = 1.10, 95% CrI 0.85‐1.60), diuretics (OR = 1.40, 95% CrI 0.92‐2.50), β blockers (OR = 1.40, 95% CrI 0.93‐2.10). The SUCRA of placebo, ACEIs, ARBs, CCBs, diuretics, and β blockers was, respectively, 65.3%, 69.3%, 92.3%, 44.1%, 12.1%, and 16.5%. According to the evidence, ARBs have an advantage over the other treatments in reducing the risk of NOD in elderly patients.
Editorial: The passage of time
Authors: Fombonne Eric
Published: June 2019

In this editorial, the author reflects on changes that occurred in the quality of research on developmental psychopathology over the last 35 years. This is illustrated in the increased quality of nine longitudinal studies that are included in the current issue of JCPP. Using approaches that capitalize on the passage of time, ranging from 28 days to 40 years across investigations, these studies employed multiple levels of analysis, used sophisticated statistical methods to control for confounding factors, included measurement at both the biological, cognitive, and behavioral levels, and collectively provided results that allow improved assessment of causality.
Outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for intestinal‐type adenocarcinoma with anastomosing glands of the stomach
Authors: Kim Tae‐Se , Kim Binnari , Min Byung‐Hoon , Min Yang Won , Lee Hyuk , Lee Jun Haeng , Rhee Poong‐Lyul , Kim Jae J , Kushima Ryoji , Kim Kyoung‐Mee
Published: June 2019

Background and Aim

Gastric intestinal‐type adenocarcinoma with anastomosing glands (IAAG) is characterized by architectural abnormality with frequent anastomosing glands and low‐grade cytologic atypia. Clinicopathologic features and long‐term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for IAAG remain unclear.

Methods

This study included 2828 patients who underwent ESD for early gastric cancers (EGCs) (78 IAAGs [2.6%] and 2893 well‐differentiated [WD] or moderately differentiated [MD] EGCs [97.4%]). Clinicopathologic features and short‐term and long‐term outcomes of ESD for IAAG were reviewed and compared with those for WD or MD EGCs.

Results

Gastric IAAGs were larger and more likely to be confined to the lamina propria than WD or MD EGCs. Histological heterogeneity, flat or depressed lesion and lateral resection margin (LRM) involvement were observed with significantly higher frequencies in IAAGs than in WD or MD EGCs. En bloc with R0 resection and curative resection rates of IAAGs were 79.5% and 73.1%, respectively, and both were significantly lower than those of WD or MD EGCs (93.8% and 82.9%). LRM involvement accounted for 57.1% of the non‐curative resection cases in gastric IAAGs. Half of IAAGs with LRM involvement had a crawling pattern at tumor periphery. Among patients undergoing curative ESD for IAAG, no recurrences occurred during a median 52 months of follow‐up. No lymph node metastasis was found in any of IAAG patients undergoing additional surgery after ESD.

Conclusions

Gastric IAAGs have distinct clinicopathologic features from WD or MD EGCs. Given the favorable long‐term outcomes after curative resection, ESD can be indicated for early gastric IAAGs.