bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personal tobacco pack display before and after the introduction of plain packaging with larger pictorial health warnings in Australia: an observational study of outdoor café strips
Authors: Zacher Meghan , Bayly Megan , Brennan Emily , Dono Joanne , Miller Caroline , Durkin Sarah , Scollo Michelle , Wakefield Melanie
Published: January 2014

Aims

We tested whether prevalence of cigarette pack display and smoking at outdoor venues and pack orientation changed following the introduction of plain packaging and larger pictorial health warnings in Australia.

Methods

Between October and April 2011–12 (pre‐plain packaging, pre‐PP) and 2012–13 (post‐plain packaging, post‐PP), we counted patrons, smokers and tobacco packs at cafés, restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. Pack type (fully branded, plain or unknown) and orientation were noted. Rates of pack display, smoking and pack orientation were analysed using multi‐level Poisson regression.

Results

Pack display declined by 15% [adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR) = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79–0.91, P < 0.001], driven by a 23% decline in active smoking (IRR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.71–0.84, P < 0.001) between phases. The decline in pack display coincided with the full implementation of plain packaging from December 2012, was stronger in venues with children present and was limited to mid and high socio‐economic status (SES) areas. The proportion of packs orientated face‐up declined from 85.4% of fully branded packs pre‐PP to 73.6% of plain packs post‐PP (IRR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79–0.95, P = 0.002). Alternatively, the proportions concealed by telephones, wallets or other items (4.4% of fully branded packs pre‐PP and 9.5% of plain packs post‐PP; IRR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.72–3.17, P < 0.001) and in an external case (1.5–3.5% of all packs; IRR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.77–4.40, P < 0.001) increased. Low SES areas evidenced the greatest increase in pack concealment and the greatest decline in face‐up pack orientation.

Conclusions

Following Australia's 2012 policy of plain packaging and larger pictorial health warnings on cigarette and tobacco packs, smoking in outdoor areas of cafés, restaurants and bars and personal pack display (packs clearly visible on tables) declined. Further, a small proportion of smokers took steps to conceal packs that would otherwise be visible. Both are promising outcomes to minimize exposure to tobacco promotion.
Temporal asynchrony in fine‐root biomass may contribute to shrub and grass coexistence in mixed patches
Authors: Rodríguez María Victoria , Bertiller Mónica Beatriz
Published: January 2014

We described seasonal changes in fine‐root biomass of a grass and a shrub dominant species in a plant community characteristic of the arid Patagonian Monte and then we inferred to want extent the observed differences could contribute to the species coexistence. We selected representative plant patches of the natural vegetation arrangement consisting of one isolated plant of the dominant shrub Larrea divaricata (Ld), grass patches formed by one or more bunches of the dominant grass Nassella tenuis (Nt), and mixed patches consisting of one individual of L. divaricata with bunches of N. tenuis under its canopy (LdNt). We assessed the biomass and temporal changes in fine roots of each species in the upper soil (50 cm depth) of each patch type at three‐month intervals during 2 years. The temporal series of fine‐root biomass were compared among patch types and in relation to above‐ground phenology, as well as climate variables (precipitation, arid index and air temperature). Seasonal changes in fine‐root biomass showed similar cycles in the three plant patches with a maximum in spring. The maximum increase in root biomass in Ld and Nt patches occurred during the onset of reproductive growth in winter and spring, respectively. Fine‐root changes in LdNt patches mimicked that in Ld patches. Precipitation inputs were significantly positively and temperature negatively related to fine‐root changes in Nt patches. Fine‐root changes in Ld and LdNt patches were related to the aridity index (positively) and temperature (negatively). We concluded that the observed asynchronies in the date of the largest increases in root biomass and its climate control between the studied grass and shrub species could contribute to the coexistence of plants of both life forms when they overlap their root systems growing in mixed patches. Mechanisms underlying the root patterns observed should be further explored.
Do newly built homes affect rhinitis in children? The ISAAC phase III study in Korea
Authors: Hahm M.‐I. , Chae Y. , Kwon H.‐J. , Kim J. , Ahn K. , Kim W.‐K. , Lee S.‐Y. , Park Y. M. , Han M. Y. , Lee K.‐J. , Lee H.‐Y. , Min I.
Published: January 2014

Background

As Korea has experienced rapid economic development, the lifestyles of Koreans have become more Westernized, in terms of urbanization and dietary habits. Also, the prevalences of allergic diseases, such as rhinitis, asthma, and dermatitis, have increased rapidly. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the symptoms of rhinitis conditions, including rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, overlapped rhinitis, and overlapped allergic rhinitis, among Korean children aged 6–7 years.

Methods

The study subjects were drawn from participants in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study in 2010 and were aged 6–7 years. We analysed data for a total of 3804 children.

Results

The prevalences of symptoms suggestive of rhinitis and allergic rhinitis in the previous 12 months were 43.4% and 22.1%, respectively. For overlapped rhinitis and overlapped allergic rhinitis, only 2.5% and 1.9% of the children had overlapping symptoms, having rhinitis with asthma and eczema simultaneously. Gender, a parental history of allergic disease, mould or dampness at home, and the risk factors for ‘sick building syndrome’ (SBS) were risk factors influencing rhinitis diseases. In particular, a history of moving to a newly built home in the child's infancy was strongly associated with symptoms of all the rhinitis diseases examined.

Conclusions

This study identified patterns of the prevalence of rhinitis conditions among Korean children that were similar to those reported in Western countries. We confirmed that a history of moving to a newly built home during infancy was associated with a considerable risk of rhinitis conditions.
Impact of ectopic pregnancy for reproductive prognosis in next generation
Authors: Kårhus Line Lund , Egerup Pia , Skovlund Charlotte Wessel , Lidegaard Øjvind
Published: January 2014

The impact of an ectopic pregnancy in the next generation is unknown. Our aim was to compare reproductive outcomes in daughters of women with and without ectopic pregnancy. Designed as a historical prospective controlled cohort study with data collected in four Danish registries from 1977–2009, women with ectopic pregnancy during 1977–1982 were age‐matched to women without ectopic pregnancy. Daughters of these two cohorts were followed until 2009. We compared 5126 daughters of women with ectopic pregnancy with 19 928 daughters of women without ectopic pregnancy. The daughters of women with ectopic pregnancy had a 1.5‐fold (95% confidence interval 1.2–1.9) increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, while for deliveries this was 1.0 (1.0–1.1), for miscarriages 1.1 (1.0–1.2), and for induced abortions 1.3 (1.2–1.4). Daughters of mothers with ectopic pregnancy have a 50% higher risk of ectopic pregnancy than daughters of women without an ectopic pregnancy, but a normal delivery rate.
A novel gene expression signature in peripheral blood mononuclear cells for early detection of colorectal cancer
Authors: Nichita C. , Ciarloni L. , Monnier‐Benoit S. , Hosseinian S. , Dorta G. , Rüegg C.
Published: January 2014

Background

Early detection and treatment of colorectal adenomatous polyps (AP) and colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with decreased mortality for CRC. However, accurate, non‐invasive and compliant tests to screen for AP and early stages of CRC are not yet available. A blood‐based screening test is highly attractive due to limited invasiveness and high acceptance rate among patients.

Aim

To demonstrate whether gene expression signatures in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were able to detect the presence of AP and early stages CRC.

Methods

A total of 85 PBMC samples derived from colonoscopy‐verified subjects without lesion (controls) (n = 41), with AP (n = 21) or with CRC (n = 23) were used as training sets. A 42‐gene panel for CRC and AP discrimination, including genes identified by Digital Gene Expression‐tag profiling of PBMC, and genes previously characterised and reported in the literature, was validated on the training set by qPCR. Logistic regression analysis followed by bootstrap validation determined CRC‐ and AP‐specific classifiers, which discriminate patients with CRC and AP from controls.

Results

The CRC and AP classifiers were able to detect CRC with a sensitivity of 78% and AP with a sensitivity of 46% respectively. Both classifiers had a specificity of 92% with very low false‐positive detection when applied on subjects with inflammatory bowel disease (n = 23) or tumours other than CRC (n = 14).

Conclusion

This pilot study demonstrates the potential of developing a minimally invasive, accurate test to screen patients at average risk for colorectal cancer, based on gene expression analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from a simple blood sample.
Predictors of persistent villous atrophy in coeliac disease: a population‐based study
Authors: Lebwohl B. , Murray J. A. , Rubio‐Tapia A. , Green P. H. R. , Ludvigsson J. F.
Published: January 2014

Background

Villous atrophy (VA) with intraepithelial lymphocytosis is the histological hallmark of coeliac disease (CD), but reported rates of mucosal recovery are variable.

Aim

To determine the impact of age and other demographic variables on the probability of persistent VA on follow‐up biopsy.

Methods

We identified patients with VA on duodenal histology at all 28 Swedish pathology departments during the years spanning 1969–2008. We examined age, gender, calendar period, duration of disease and educational attainment to determine predictors of persistent VA.

Results

Of 7648 patients with CD who underwent follow‐up biopsy, persistent VA was present in 3317 (43%; 95% CI 42–44%). The effect of age on persistent VA varied according to time period; among those biopsied in the years spanning 2000–2008, the prevalence of persistent VA was 31%, and increasing age was associated with increasing rates of persistent VA (17% among those younger than 2 years compared to 56% among those ≥70 years). In contrast, persistent VA did not vary widely by age in earlier years. On multivariate analysis (restricted to the calendar period 2000–2008, 2–5 years after CD diagnosis), persistent VA was more common among males (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.07–1.90) and less common among patients with higher educational attainment (OR for college degree vs. <2 years of high school 0.52, 95% CI 0.35–0.78).

Conclusions

The prevalence of persistent villous atrophy has changed over time, with greater rates of healing in recent years. Social differences in persistent villous atrophy suggest that access and/or education regarding the gluten‐free diet impact mucosal healing.
UTS2R gene polymorphisms are associated with fatty acid composition in Japanese beef cattle
Authors: Sasazaki Shinji , Akiyama Kento , Narukami Takahiro , Matsumoto Hirokazu , Oyama Kenji , Mannen Hideyuki
Published: January 2014

Fatty acid composition of beef adipose tissue is one of its important traits because a high proportion of monounsaturated fatty acid is related to favorable beef flavor and tenderness. In this study, we searched polymorphisms in full length coding DNA sequence of urotensin 2 recepter and investigated the effects on fatty acid composition (C14:0, C14:1, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, monounsaturated fatty acid, saturated fatty acid). Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified by sequence comparison among eight animals, including five Japanese Black and three Holstein cattle. One of these SNP (c.866C>T) was predicted to cause amino acid substitutions (P289L) and the other seven synonymous SNP, including c.267C>T, were presumed to be in linkage disequilibrium. Therefore we selected two SNP (c.267C>T and c.866C>T) for further analysis. We investigated associations between these genotypes and fatty acid composition in three Japanese Black populations (n = 560, 245 and 287) and a Holstein population (n = 202). Tukey‐Kramer's honestly significant difference test revealed that CC genotype in c.267C>T indicated lower C14:0 and higher C18:1 than the other genotypes in Japanese Black cattle and CC genotype in c.866C>T showed lower C16:1 than CT genotype in Holstein cattle (P < 0.05). These results suggested that these genotypes would contribute to production of high‐grade meat as selection markers in beef cattle.
IMP improves water‐holding capacity, physical and sensory properties of heat‐induced gels from porcine meat
Authors: Nakamura Yukinobu , Migita Koshiro , Okitani Akihiro , Matsuishi Masanori
Published: January 2014

Water‐holding capacity (WHC) of heat‐induced pork gels was examined. The heat‐induced gels were obtained from meat homogenates prepared by adding nine volumes of 0.3–0.5 mol/L NaCl solutions containing 9–36 mmol/L disodium inosine‐5′‐monophosphate (IMP) or 9 mmol/L tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (KPP) to minced pork. IMP at 36 mmol/L enhanced the WHC to the same level as attained by KPP. Physical and sensory properties of heat‐induced gels were also examined. The heat‐induced gels were prepared from porcine meat homogenates containing 0.3 mol/L NaCl and 9–36 mmol/L IMP or 9 mmol/L KPP. IMP at 36 mmol/L enhanced the values of hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess and springiness, measured with a Tensipresser, and several organoleptic scores to the same level as the score attained by KPP. Thus, it is concluded that IMP is expected to be a practical substitute for pyrophosphates to improve the quality of sausages.
Effects of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibition on Leptin and Adiponectin Levels in Essential Hypertension
Authors: Fontana Vanessa , de Faria Ana Paula Cabral , Oliveira‐Paula Gustavo Henrique , Silva Pamela Souza , Biagi Celso , Tanus‐Santos Jose Eduardo , Moreno Heitor
Published: January 2014

Activation of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) and abnormal adipokine levels are biological alterations that affect blood pressure regulation and interact to link hypertension, obesity and metabolic diseases. While imbalanced levels of hormones produced by adipocytes including hypo‐adiponectinaemia and hyperleptinaemia were reported in hypertension, little is known about how antihypertensive therapy affects these alterations. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of enalapril on plasma adiponectin and leptin levels in hypertensive individuals. Thirty‐seven untreated hypertensive patients were prospectively treated with enalapril for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after the treatment with enalapril. Plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunoassay. We found significant increases in adiponectin levels after enalapril treatment (5.4 ± 3.7 versus 6.0 ± 4.5 μg/mL, mean±S.D., p = 0.04). Conversely, leptin levels were unchanged (18.0 ± 14.7 versus 18.4 ± 14.8 ng/mL, mean ± S.D., p = 0.31). Multiple linear regression revealed that baseline leptin is a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure reduction (β=0.269, p = 0.01) in hypertensive individuals treated with enalapril. While enalapril increases adiponectin levels in hypertensive individuals, baseline leptin levels predict blood pressure reduction in response to this therapy. These findings support the idea of an important relationship between RAAS and adipose tissue in hypertension and suggest that enalapril improves the adipokine profile, possibly allowing beneficial effects to overweight or obese hypertensive individuals.
Improved population level survival in younger Hodgkin lymphoma patients in Germany in the early 21st century
Authors: Pulte Dianne , Jansen Lina , Gondos Adam , Emrich Katharina , Holleczek Bernd , Katalinic Alexander , Brenner Hermann ,   the GEKID Cancer Survival Working Group
Published: January 2014

Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is more aggressive in Germany than in the United States (US) and differences in treatment may lead to differences in population level survival. Patients diagnosed with HL in 11 German states in 1997–2006 were included in the analyses and were compared to similar analyses from patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database in the US. Period analysis was used to calculate 5‐year relative survival for the time period of 2002–2006 overall and by gender, age and histology. Overall 5‐year relative survival for patients with HL in Germany was 84·3%, compared to 80·6% for the US. Survival was highest in patients aged 15–29 years at 97·9% and decreased with age to 57·5% at age 60 +  Survival for men and women, respectively, was 84·7% and 84·1% in Germany and 78·2% and 83·6% in the US. 5‐year relative survival for patients diagnosed with HL in Germany was close to 100% for younger patients. Survival of HL patients in the US was lower than in Germany overall, but was comparable in older patients and in women. Population‐based studies with longer follow‐up are still needed to examine effects of late toxicity on long term survival.
MORAL HAZARD, RISK AVERSION AND EFFICIENCY
Authors: Gürtler Oliver
Published: January 2014

This note revisits the classic moral‐hazard model, but assumes that the output distribution has moving support and punishments are limited. The results show that the principal can implement an efficient solution if the agent is sufficiently risk averse.
Targeted inhibition of IL‐18 attenuates irinotecan‐induced intestinal mucositis in mice
Authors: Lima‐Júnior R C P , Freitas H C , Wong D V T , Wanderley C W S , Nunes L G , Leite L L , Miranda S P , Souza M H L P , Brito G A C , Magalhães P J C , Teixeira M M , Cunha F Q , Ribeiro R A
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose

Intestinal mucositis is a common side‐effect of irinotecan‐based cancer chemotherapy regimens. This mucositis is associated with cytokine activation and NO synthesis. Production of IL‐18 is up‐regulated in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, we have investigated the role of IL‐18 in the pathogenesis of irinotecan‐induced intestinal mucositis.

Experimental Approach

Wild type (WT), IL‐18 or caspase‐1 knockout mice were treated with either saline or irinotecan (60 mg·kg−1 per 4 days, i.p.) or the IL‐18 binding protein (IL‐18bp, 10 mg·kg−1) before irinotecan. On day 5, diarrhoea was monitored and proximal intestinal strips were obtained for histopathology, in vitro gut contractility, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inducible NOS (iNOS) activity, and detection of IL‐18 expression.

Key Results

Irinotecan induced severe diarrhoea accompanied by intestinal injury (villi shortening and increased crypt depth). Additionally, irinotecan treatment increased MPO and iNOS activity, iNOS immunostaining and IL‐18 expression in WT mice compared with saline treatment. The IL‐18 production was associated with macrophages. In vitro, intestinal smooth muscle strips were hyperresponsive to ACh after irinotecan treatment. Increases in MPO and iNOS activity, intestinal contractility and diarrhoea were prevented in caspase‐1 knockout and IL‐18 knockout mice, and in IL‐18bp‐treated WT mice. Furthermore, the Survival of irinotecan‐treated mice was increased and iNOS immunoexpression and IL‐18 production prevented in IL‐18 knockout mice.

Conclusions and Implications

Targeting IL‐18 function may be a promising therapeutic approach to decreasing the severity of intestinal mucositis during irinotecan treatment regimens.
Efficacy assessment of a combined anticholinergic and oxime treatment against topical sarin‐induced miosis and visual impairment in rats
Authors: Gore A , Bloch‐Shilderman E , Egoz I , Turetz J , Brandeis R
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose

Eye exposure to the organophosphorus (OP) irreversible cholinesterase inhibitor sarin results in long‐term miosis and impaired visual function. We have previously shown that tropicamide is better at ameliorating this insult than topical atropine or cyclopentolate. However, to minimize side effects associated with repeated tropicamide applications and high treatment doses, we evaluated the effects of oximes (ChE re‐activators) alone and combined with tropicamide at ameliorating OP‐induced ocular impairments.

Experimental approach

Rats were topically exposed to sarin, followed by topical treatment with various oximes alone or in combination with tropicamide. Pupil width and light reflex were measured by an infrared‐based digital photograph system, while visual performance was assessed by employing the cueing version of the Morris water maze (MWM).

Key Results

Oxime treatment following sarin ocular exposure induced a slow persistent pupil widening with efficacy in the order of HLö‐7 > HI‐6 > obidoxime = TMB‐4 = MMB‐4. In the light reflex test, the ability of the iris to contract following oxime treatment was mostly impaired at 1 h and was back to normal at 4 h following sarin exposure. All oxime treatments ameliorated the sarin‐induced visual impairment as tested in the visual task (MWM). The combined topical treatment of tropicamide with an oxime induced a rapid improvement in pupil widening, light reflex and visual performance, and enabled a reduction in tropicamide dose.

Conclusions and Implications

The use of tropicamide combined with an oxime should be considered as the topical treatment of choice against the toxic effects of ocular OP exposure.
Sharing and Comparing: How Comparing Shared Goals Broadens Goal Understanding in Development
Authors: Gerson Sarah A.
Published: January 2014

How we recognize the goals of others is a critical question for those interested in social, cognitive, and linguistic development. The origins of goal understanding exist early in life—that is, infants recognize the intentional relations (e.g., between actor and goal) that underlie intentional actions. In this article, I propose one mechanism through which these initially narrow goal representations can be generalized: comparison. I briefly review evidence that comparison facilitates detection of relational similarities across several domains, then address theoretical and neural findings consistent with the notion that comparison plays a role in social‐cognitive development. I discuss more direct evidence that infants can and do expand their recognition of others' goals through comparison and then propose several hypotheses concerning the ways in which the benefits of comparison (and facilitative cues to compare) may influence the generalization of action understanding throughout development.
Social Knowledge Facilitates Chunking in Infancy
Authors: Stahl Aimee E. , Feigenson Lisa
Published: January 2014

Two experiments investigated whether infants can use their rich social knowledge to bind representations of individual objects into larger social units, thereby overcoming the three‐item limit of working memory. In Experiment 1, 16‐month‐olds (n = 32) remembered up to four hidden dolls when the dolls had faced and interacted with each other in pairs, but not when they faced and interacted with the infant, suggesting that infants chunked the dolls into social pairs. In Experiment 2 (n = 16), infants failed to remember four dolls when they faced each other without interacting, indicating that interaction between the dolls was necessary to drive chunking. This work bridges a gap between social cognition and memory by demonstrating that infants can use social cues to expand memory.
Sources of Individual Differences in Children's Understanding of Fractions
Authors: Vukovic Rose K. , Fuchs Lynn S. , Geary David C. , Jordan Nancy C. , Gersten Russell , Siegler Robert S.
Published: January 2014

Longitudinal associations of domain‐general and numerical competencies with individual differences in children's understanding of fractions were investigated. Children (n = 163) were assessed at 6 years of age on domain‐general (nonverbal reasoning, language, attentive behavior, executive control, visual‐spatial memory) and numerical (number knowledge) competencies; at 7 years on whole‐number arithmetic computations and number line estimation; and at 10 years on fraction concepts. Mediation analyses controlling for general mathematics ability and general academic ability revealed that numerical and mathematical competencies were direct predictors of fraction concepts, whereas domain‐general competencies supported the acquisition of fraction concepts via whole‐number arithmetic computations or number line estimation. Results indicate multiple pathways to fraction competence.
Psychological status in female carriers of premutation FMR1 allele showing a complex relationship with the size of CGG expansion
Authors: Loesch D. Z. , Bui M. Q. , Hammersley E. , Schneider A. , Storey E. , Stimpson P. , Burgess T. , Francis D. , Slater H. , Tassone F. , Hagerman R. J. , Hessl D.
Published: January 2014

We utilized a sample of 299 adult females aged between 19 and 86 years, carrying fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) alleles with small CCG expansions ranging from 50 to 141 repeats to analyse the relationships between psychological symptoms as assessed by the Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised (SCL‐90‐R) and the size of the CGG repeat in the FMR1 gene. There were highly significant (negative) correlations between the size of the CGG repeat and a great majority of SCL‐90‐R subscale scores and all the global indices, suggesting that carriers of premutations in the mid‐size CGG repeat range may be at greatest risk for the development of psychiatric disorder.
Is haemorrhoidectomy in inflammatory bowel disease harmful? An old dogma re‐examined
Authors: Cracco N. , Zinicola R.
Published: January 2014

Aim

Haemorrhoidectomy and removal of anal skin tags in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been considered to be potentially harmful, but the evidence for this is poor. A review of the literature was undertaken to determine the complications rate after haemorrhoidectomy in patients with IBD.

Method

A Medline, PubMed and Cochrane Library search was performed to retrieve studies reporting the surgical treatment of haemorrhoids in patients with IBD. All studies that investigated the complications of haemorrhoidectomy and skin tag removal in patients with IBD were included. Complications included local sepsis, fissure, ulcer, stenosis, faecal incontinence and the direct need for proctectomy or a stoma.

Results

Eleven retrospective studies including 135 patients were identified. Most series were small and lacked information on the interval between surgery and the onset of complications. The range of complications ranged from 0% to 100%. Taking the studies together, complications occurred more frequently in Crohn's disease (CD) (17.1%) than in ulcerative colitis (UC) (5.5%). The risk of complication was much higher in patients with unknown than in those with known diagnosis of IBD (50% vs 9.8% in CD; 9.1% vs 4% in UC).

Conclusion

There is great variation in the incidence of complications reported after haemorrhoidectomy or removal of skin tags in patients with IBD and it is not possible to draw a firm conclusion. Nevertheless the incidence of complications is high in patients with CD.
Lupus erythematosus. Part II: Clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Ziemer Mirjana , Milkova Linda , Kunz Manfred
Published: January 2014

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an important dermatologic autoimmune disease. In many respects, it may be regarded as a model autoimmune disease due to its spectrum of autoimmune antibodies and involvement of different organ systems, as well as response to immunosuppressive agents which target B cells and T cells and their cytokines. A recently published article in this Journal summarized the most important knowledge about epidemiology, genetics, and immunology of LE. Here, the different clinical manifestations, diagnostic procedures and current therapeutic approaches will be described. Special emphasis is placed on different cutaneous manifestations of LE. In regard to treatment, the classic treatment approaches such as corticosteroids, methotrexate, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine will be described. Lastly, new therapeutic approaches with specific monoclonal antibodies which are currently used in systemic LE, such as belimumab (Benlysta®), will be addressed. The most recent developments in this area could have implications even for purely cutaneous forms of LE.
Central Bank Forecasts of Policy Interest Rates: An Evaluation of the First Years
Authors: Beechey Meredith , Österholm Pär
Published: January 2014

In recent years, the central banks of Norway and Sweden have published their endogenous policy interest‐rate forecasts. In this paper, we evaluate those forecasts alongside policy‐rate expectations inferred from market pricing. We find that for both economies, there are only small differences in relative forecasting precision between the central bank and market‐implied measures. However, both types of forecast fail tests for unbiasedness and efficiency at longer horizons.
Identifying and Regulating Systemically Important Financial Institutions
Authors: Bongini Paola , Nieri Laura
Published: January 2014

The current international financial crisis, which started in 2007 in the US and soon spread to the rest of the world, has revealed that the failure of an interconnected and complex financial institution, even though not necessarily large in terms of total assets, can threaten the stability of the entire financial system and have serious negative consequences for the real economy. In this study, we survey the analytical framework for identifying systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) and discuss the various regulatory proposals that have been put forward at the national and global level to deal with SIFIs.
Systemic Risk in the Italian Banking Industry
Authors: Borri Nicola , Caccavaio Marianna , Giorgio Giorgio Di , Sorrentino Alberto Maria
Published: January 2014

Systemic risk is the risk of a collapse of the entire financial system, typically triggered by the default of one, or more, interconnected financial institutions. In this paper, we estimate the systemic risk contribution of Italian‐listed banks for the period 2000–2011. We follow a methodology first proposed by Adrian and Brunnermeier and measure banks' contribution to systemic risk by ΔCoVaR, which measures the contribution of bank i to the financial system VaR when bank i is in a state of distress. We define ‘the system’ as the set of Italian‐listed banks in the sample. First, we find that the information contained in ΔCoVaR is different from that contained in the VaR. Therefore, regulators should take it into account in order to monitor the systemic risk posed by banks. Second, recent policy debate has focused on the danger posed by large banks and on the need to curb their size. We find that size is indeed the main predictor of a bank contribution to systemic risk. However, in the post‐Lehman period, leverage is also an important predictor of systemic risk. Consequently, any financial regulation designed only to curb banks' size could not completely eliminate systemic risk because it is exactly in crisis times that leverage becomes relevant. Hence, we conclude that ΔCoVaR is a very useful policy tool for regulators that can estimate which factors are more relevant in terms of contribution to systemic risk.
The Future Starts in the Past. The Loss of the Spiritual Centre of the University
Authors: Vanhoutte Kristof K.P.
Published: January 2014

Discussion on the crisis in/of the humanities and in/of the university institution has in the past decades become ubiquitous. The surge of literature on the subject strongly suggests that the problem is a genuine one. However, the variety of explanations that have been offered not only have brought along confusion, but the majority of these explanations also neglect the historical development of higher education. As such, they tend to underestimate the scale of the problems affecting the humanities and higher education. This article seeks to investigate an alternative explanation that takes into consideration the history of the changing ‘value’ of humanities within higher education. In doing so, the legacy of postmodernism is considered and the idea of a ‘spiritual centre’ of the university and its relation to the humanities is put forth and explored. The article concludes with some contemplations on a possible way out of the current crisis in the humanities and in higher education.
Technical set‐up and radiation exposure for standing computed tomography of the equine head
Authors: Dakin S. G. , Lam R. , Rees E. , Mumby C. , West C. , Weller R.
Published: January 2014

The recent adaptation of human computed tomography (CT) machines to enable scanning of the equine head via standing sedation has revolutionised our ability to acquire images of this complex anatomical region. There are a small number of CT systems installed worldwide and it is to be expected that this will increase in the next few years; however, currently, there is no publication that describes the technical set‐up required to permit CT scanning of the equine head. This paper describes the technical set‐up, technique and exposures necessary to accomplish CT scanning of the horse under standing sedation to diagnose disorders of the equine head.
Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in the horse
Authors: Koch C. , Witte T.
Published: January 2014

Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) is a well‐recognised clinical entity in horses. Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is characterised by progressive osseous proliferation of the proximal portion of the stylohyoid and petrous temporal bones, and is generally described as a disease of middle‐aged horses. More recent reports also attribute a variety of clinical syndromes in young horses toTHO, requiring a diversification of approaches to confirm the diagnosis and its significance, and to guide conservative and surgical treatment options. This commentary will review the purported aetiology, clinical syndromes, available diagnostic tests and treatment options of equineTHO.
Resuscitation attempts in a foal with sudden cardiac arrest in the early recovery period
Authors: Hopster K. , Tüensmeyer J. , Kästner S. B. R.
Published: January 2014

A 3‐month‐old female Warmblood foal, weighing 150 kg, was presented to the Equine Clinic of the University of Hannover with a fracture of the ulna (type 5 fracture of the olecranon). Anaesthesia was induced with midazolam and ketamine after sedation with xylazine and maintained with isoflurane. Anaesthesia was uneventful until cardiac arrest occurred in the early recovery period. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed with chest compressions and electrical defibrillation. During resuscitation palpebral reflexes and spontaneous breathing returned but ventricular fibrillation could not be converted to sinus rhythm by transthoracic defibrillation of the heart by electrical shock.
Beyond Self‐Evident: Recognising the Problematic Political Context of Accrual Accounting Adoption in South Korea
Authors: Ahn Paul D. , Jacobs Kerry , Lim Dong‐Wan , Moon Kwangmin
Published: January 2014

This paper responds to a recent call by researchers that we need to move beyond both advocacy of and technical arguments about the value of accrual accounting to more fully recognise the institutional forces, key change agents and the local political fields. We draw on elements of institutional theory and the practice theory of Pierre Bourdieu to explore the ‘problematic’ aspects of institutional forces, key organisational change agents and the local political field associated with the adoption of accrual accounting in the South Korean public sector. We found that accrual accounting was driven by many factors including a local financial scandal, the advocacy of a civil society group and the ambitions and the ideology of key actors. The contribution of this paper is that it shows how the practices of accounting cannot be separated from their political and personal context.
An Institutional Theory Perspective on Corruption: The Case of a Developing Democracy
Authors: Pillay Soma , Kluvers Ron
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this paper is to use quantitative data to describe corruption in the SANPS, and use Luo's () institutional theory to gain insights into how corruption develops and remains entrenched despite the introduction of anti‐corruption legislation. A total of 1,500 questionnaires were distributed to public servants in nine provinces, but predominantly in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng. There were 702 returned giving a response rate of 47%. We conclude that the findings discussed in this paper lend support for Luo's theoretical model being able to provide insight into the development of corruption, its consequences and possible remedies.
The hydrogeochemistry of subsurface brines in and west of the Jordan–Dead Sea Transform fault
Authors: Möller P. , Rosenthal E. , Flexer A.
Published: January 2014

This study is based on 113 analyses of brines with Cl > 0.57 mol l−1 (modern seawater), which were collected and analysed mostly during several decades of exploration for gas and oil in Israel. Based on critical evaluation of correlations of elements and ionic ratios and on spider patterns, six different brine events or source brines were identified in the Phanerozoic: the Triassic, Lower Cretaceous and the Mio/Pliocene brine families which were identified in boreholes Sdom‐1, Sdom Deep‐1 and Ha'on, and the Holocene Dead Sea brines. The Triassic brines are nowadays also encountered in under‐ and overlying rock units such as the Paleozoic Negev‐Yam Suf and the Jurassic Arad Groups, respectively. The southern Jordan–Dead Sea Transform (also known as the Rift) hosts the Mio‐Pliocene Sdom Deep and Sdom brine families. Brine bodies not sufficiently isolated by impervious sedimentary layers were flushed out during the Pliocene when the southern Valley drained north‐ and westwards through the Yizre'el Valley to the Mediterranean Sea. In the northern Rift Miocene to Pliocene seawater evaporated and infiltrated into the Rift sediments and into adjacent rocks. Further diluted by freshwater, it emerges as the Ha'on brine. Together with its derivatives, they form the Ha'on family. The derivatives of the Holocene Dead Sea brine family occur along the shoreline of the recent Dead Sea. Apart of all these evaporation brines, brines deriving from dissolution of evaporites locally occur in the area. The time‐bound chemical composition of paleoseawater is considered when discussing the ionic ratios of brines generated during different geological periods. Spider patterns of each brine family are compared and, where necessary, the relationship of brines to distinct families of brines is supported by inverse modelling.
Multidepth Pumping Tests in Deep Aquifers
Authors: Alam N. , Olsthoorn T.N.
Published: January 2014

Multidepth pumping tests (MDPTs), in which different sections of a screen are pumped in sequence, are not being used by hydrogeologists, despite the capability of such tests to resolve uncertainties in the estimation of aquifer characteristics. MDPTs can be used to discern the effects of partial penetration and vertical anisotropy. This article demonstrates the use of MDPTs for a deep and vertically anisotropic aquifer, based on a real and unique series of pumping tests conducted in the Indus Basin. Traditional single‐layer methods, which incorporate partial penetration and vertical scaling, were employed to evaluate these tests. However, the drawdowns of the 19 piezometers at different depths for which times series data were available could not be matched, presumably because of the layered structure of the aquifer. Numerical (MODFLOW) and multilayer analytical (Hemker and Maas 1987; Hemker 1999) approaches were used to assess the benefits of using MDPTs in the analysis of deep layered and anisotropic aquifers. The multilayer analytical solution results are consistent with the measured and numerically computed drawdowns. The original step‐drawdown data were used to verify the model independently. The results of statistical analyses indicate that the parameters for a three‐layer system are uniquely estimated. A sensitivity analysis showed that aquifer depths greater than 900 m do not affect the drawdown. The multilayer analytical solution was implemented in MATLAB and can be found in the online version of this article. This multilayer analytical approach was implemented in MLU by Hemker and Randall (2013) for up to 40 layers. The results of this study will be useful in groundwater management, exploration, and optimal well depth estimation for the Indus Basin aquifer and other vertically heterogeneous aquifers.
Viruses as Groundwater Tracers: Using Ecohydrology to Characterize Short Travel Times in Aquifers
Authors: Hunt Randall J. , Borchardt Mark A. , Bradbury Kenneth R.
Published: January 2014

Viruses are attractive tracers of short (<3 year) travel times in aquifers because they have unique genetic signatures, are detectable in trace quantities, and are mobile in groundwater. Virus “snaphots” result from infection and disappearance in a population over time; therefore, the virus snapshot shed in the fecal wastes of an infected population at a specific point in time can serve as a marker for tracking virus and groundwater movement. The virus tracing approach and an example application are described to illustrate their ability to characterize travel times in high‐groundwater velocity settings, and provide insight unavailable from standard hydrogeologic approaches. Although characterization of preferential flowpaths does not usually characterize the majority of other travel times occurring in the groundwater system (e.g., center of plume mass; tail of the breakthrough curve), virus approaches can trace very short times of transport, and thus can fill an important gap in our current hydrogeology toolbox.
Nine Steps to Risk‐Informed Wellhead Protection and Management: A Case Study
Authors: Enzenhoefer R. , Bunk T. , Nowak W.
Published: January 2014

Wellhead‐protection zones are commonly delineated on the basis of advective travel‐time analysis without considering any aspects of model uncertainty. In the past decade, research efforts have produced quantifiable risk‐based safety margins for protection zones. These margins are based on well‐vulnerability criteria (e.g., travel times, exposure times, peak concentrations) and take model and parameter uncertainty into account. There are three main reasons why practitioners still refrain from applying these new techniques. (1) They fear the additional areal demand of probabilistic safety margins; (2) probabilistic approaches are allegedly complex, not readily available and require huge computing resources, and (3) uncertainty bounds are fuzzy, whereas final decisions are binary. The primary goal of this paper is to show that these reservations are unjustified. We present a straightforward, computationally affordable framework that offers risk‐informed decision support for robust and transparent wellhead delineation under uncertainty. We show that reliability levels can be increased by exchanging delineated low‐risk areas for previously nondelineated high‐risk areas. We also show that further improvements may often be available with only little additional delineated area. As proof of our concept, we illustrate our key points with the example of a pumped karstic well catchment, located in Germany.
Pseudotumor Cerebri Pathophysiology
Authors: McGeeney Brian E. , Friedman Deborah I.
Published: January 2014

Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) is an uncommon disorder of raised intracranial pressure of unknown etiology. The signs and symptoms have been well described but the pathogenesis remains a mystery. Most of the evidence suggests increased resistance to cerebrospinal fluid outflow as being pivotal to the disorder. Any comprehensive theory on causation will have to explain the preponderance of obese women of childbearing age with primary PTCS and lack of ventriculomegaly in the disorder. It is possible that female sex hormones, along with endocrinologically active adipose tissue, directly result in the syndrome, in those genetically predisposed. Aldosterone has been proposed also as important in the development of PTCS. Vitamin A, in the form of retinoic acid, may also play a pivotal role, and is influenced by both estrogen and adipose tissue. This article reviews proposed mechanisms of PTCS.
Margin status of the vas deferens in radical prostatectomy specimens: relevant or waste of time?
Authors: Saar Matthias , Kamradt Jörn , Sauer Christian , Stöckle Michael , Grobholz Rainer
Published: January 2014

Aims

Positive surgical margins (PSM) after radical prostatectomy are of great interest, but investigation of the vas deferens (VD) is not recommended. This study examined the VD margins in radical prostatectomy patients to report the incidence of PSM and their clinical staging.

Methods and results

A total of 2701 consecutive specimens (1995–2009) were reviewed for tumour infiltration of the VD margin and correlated with clinicopathological data. Forty‐one of 2701 cases (1.5%) had a positive VD margin. Thirteen cases had bilateral infiltration. All tumours were locally advanced [pT3a (n = 1), pT3b (n = 34), pT4 (n = 6)]; 15 (37%) had lymph node metastases. While Gleason scores ranged from 7 to 9, mean PSA was 22.3 ng/ml (1.68–127 ng/ml). In all cases with seminal vesicle infiltration (40 of 41) the PSM of the VD was seen ipsilaterally. In 11 of 15 patients (73%) with pN1 status, seminal vesicle infiltration and PSM of the VD were seen on the same side. In 16 cases (39%) the VD was the only PSM.

Conclusions

A PSM of the VD is an infrequent finding, but might appear as the only PSM. Histological evaluation of the VD therefore seems reasonable, especially as biochemical recurrence has been reported with positive VD margins, and awareness of them might assist in making clinical decisions for adjuvant therapy.
Impact of maternal hepatitis B virus coinfection on mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV
Authors: Mave V , Kadam D , Kinikar A , Gupte N , Bhattacharya D , Bharadwaj R , McIntire K , Kulkarni V , Balasubramanian U , Suryavanshi N , Thio C , Deshpande P , Sastry J , Bollinger R , Gupta A , Bhosale R ,   SWEN India and Byramjee‐Jeejeebhoy Medical College Clinical Trials Unit Study team
Published: January 2014

Objectives

Despite high hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemicity in various resource‐limited settings (RLSs), the impact of maternal HIV/HBV coinfection on infant health outcomes has not been defined. We aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV coinfection among HIV‐infected pregnant women and its impact on HIV transmission and infant mortality.

Methods

In this study, the seroprevalence of HBV coinfection was determined among HIV‐infected pregnant women enrolled in the Six‐Week Extended‐Dose Nevirapine (SWEN) India trial. The impact of maternal HIV/HBV coinfection on mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and infant mortality was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among 689 HIV‐infected pregnant Indian women, 32 (4.6%) had HBV coinfection [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4%, 5.3%]. HBV DNA was detectable in 18 (64%) of 28 HIV/HBV‐coinfected women; the median HBV viral load was 155 copies/mL [interquartile range (IQR) < 51–6741 copies/mL]. Maternal HIV/HBV coinfection did not increase HIV transmission risk [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.06; 95% CI 0.30, 3.66; P = 0.93]. Increased odds of all‐cause infant mortality was noted (aOR 3.12; 95% CI 0.67, 14.57; P = 0.15), but was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

The prevalence of active maternal HBV coinfection in HIV‐infected pregnant women in India was 4.6%. HIV/HBV coinfection was not independently associated with HIV transmission.