bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of hearing loss and clinical otologic manifestations in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A literature review
Authors: Verheij E. , Derks L.S.M. , Stegeman I. , Thomeer H.G.X.M.
Published: March 2017

Background

Hearing loss and otitis media are frequently reported in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Objective of review

Our objective was to review the current literature on the prevalence of hearing loss and otologic manifestations in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Type of review

Systematic review.

Search strategy

We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and Embase combining the term “22q11.2 deletion syndrome” and synonyms with “hearing loss” and “otologic manifestations” and synonyms.

Evaluation method

We screened title/abstract and full text of all retrieved articles on pre‐defined in‐ and exclusion criteria. The remaining articles were assessed on risk of bias. Outcome measures included the prevalence of hearing loss and otologic manifestations such as otitis media.

Results

Our search yielded 558 unique studies of which a total of 25 articles were included for critical appraisal and data extraction. Twenty‐one studies reported on hearing loss, and 21 studies on otologic manifestations. The prevalence of hearing loss varied from 6.0% to 60.3%, where in most studies conductive hearing loss was most prevalent. Rates of recurrent or chronic otitis media varied from 2.2% to 89.8%.

Conclusion

Although a very broad range in prevalences is reported in different studies, hearing loss and recurrent or chronic otitis media are frequently present in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Regular check‐ups and audiometric testing are advised in these patients.
Differential increments of basal glucagon‐like‐1 peptide concentration among SLC47A1 rs2289669 genotypes were associated with inter‐individual variability in glycaemic response to metformin in Chinese people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Liang H. , Xu W. , Zhou L. , Yang W. , Weng J.
Published: March 2017

Aim

To elucidate the effects of rs2289669, an intron variant of the SLC47A1 gene, on glucose response to metformin in Chinese people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Rs2289669 was genotyped, using Sequenom, in 291 participants receiving 48 weeks of metformin monotherapy. The changes in HbA1c were compared among rs2289669 genotypes, and associations with rs2289669 were evaluated using linear regression analysis.

Results

We found that, compared with participants with a homozygous G allele, those carrying the minor A allele had significantly greater HbA1c reduction and greater increases in basal glucagon‐like peptide‐1 concentration. Regression analysis showed that there was a significant association between rs2289669 and the glucose response to metformin after adjusting for confounding factors, except for changes in basal glucagon‐like peptide‐1, for which an association was not observed.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that rs2289669 might help predict the glycaemic response to metformin in Chinese people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and that differential increases in basal glucagon‐like peptide‐1 concentration among rs2289669 genotypes might be associated with inter‐individual response to metformin.
Opening the black box: an open‐source release of Maxent
Authors: Phillips Steven J. , Anderson Robert P. , Dudík Miroslav , Schapire Robert E. , Blair Mary E.
Published: March 2017

This software note announces a new open‐source release of the Maxent software for modeling species distributions from occurrence records and environmental data, and describes a new R package for fitting such models. The new release (ver. 3.4.0) will be hosted online by the American Museum of Natural History, along with future versions. It contains small functional changes, most notably use of a complementary log‐log (cloglog) transform to produce an estimate of occurrence probability. The cloglog transform derives from the recently‐published interpretation of Maxent as an inhomogeneous Poisson process (IPP), giving it a stronger theoretical justification than the logistic transform which it replaces by default. In addition, the new R package, maxnet, fits Maxent models using the glmnet package for regularized generalized linear models. We discuss the implications of the IPP formulation in terms of model inputs and outputs, treating occurrence records as points rather than grid cells and interpreting the exponential Maxent model (raw output) as as an estimate of relative abundance. With these two open‐source developments, we invite others to freely use and contribute to the software.
Rutin and quercetin content in the forage of common buckwheat as affected by maturity and conservation method
Authors: Mariotti Marco , Andreuccetti Victoria , Nuvoloni Roberta , Gatta Domenico , Liponi Gian Battista , Pedonese Francesca , Fratini Filippo , Turchi Barbara , Saccomanni Giuseppe , Torracca Beatrice
Published: March 2017

The content of rutin and quercetin was examined in fresh, hayed and ensiled forage of common buckwheat. The treatments were two varieties of buckwheat, ‘Bamby’ and ‘Lileja’, and two ripening stages of harvest, first green and first brown achenes. In the silage, produced with experimental mini‐silos, additional treatments were the wilting of the forage (at 35% dry matter) and the addition ofLactobacillus plantarumas inoculum. The concentration of rutin and quercetin decreased between ripening stages. Flavonoid content was different among varieties, ‘Lileja’ had the highest rutin concentration (about 20 g kg−1), while ‘Bamby’ had the highest quercetin concentration (about 0.2 g kg−1). Rutin and quercetin yield reached about 70 kg ha−1and 500 g ha−1, respectively. The haymaking process reduced the rutin and quercetin concentration in the forage, however, the extent of reduction was higher at the green (−43% for rutin and −55% for quercetin) than at the brown achenes stage (−13% rutin and −26% quercetin). The ensiling process, with the associated bacterial activities, led to the transformation of rutin into quercetin. The decrease of rutin in the silage, compared to fresh forage, ranged between −84 and −99%, while in contrast, the quercetin concentration increased by about 140–200 times. However, the loss of total rutin plus quercetin during ensiling was limited (approximately 5%). Forage wilting negatively affected rutin transformation in quercetin, while bacterial inoculum improved it. These results highlight that the forage of buckwheat could be considered like a dietary supplement rich of flavonoids, with the potential to be used as functional feed*.
Hidradenitis suppurativa gains increasing interest on World Wide Web: a source for patient information?
Authors: Hessam Schapoor , Salem Johannes , Bechara Falk G. , Haferkamp Axel , Heidenreich Axel , Paffenholz Pia , Sand Michael , Tsaur Igor , Borgmann Hendrik
Published: March 2017

Background

Gathering health information from Internet websites is increasingly utilized by patients. No data exist about hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)‐related online health information.

Thus, we aimed to study the quality, popularity, readability, and timeliness of the most frequented websites on HS.

Methods

Google Trends was used to evaluate the public interest in HS. An Internet search on Google was performed for the terms “hidradenitis suppurativa,” “acne inversa,” and “Verneuil's disease.” Readability scores, HONcode quality certification, Alexa popularity rank, and content were assessed.

Results

Google search queries on HS have steadily risen in the last 10 years. The website analysis revealed 39 unique websites, which were difficult to read. Ten websites (26%) had HONcode quality certification, and the median (IQR) Alexa popularity rank was 48871 (2333–361275). Thirteen websites (33%) yielded disease‐specific photos with a median rating between “quite useful” and “uncertain.” A therapy option with adalimumab was mentioned on 11 websites (28%).

Conclusions

In addition to an increasing interest, we found a broad variation in the quality, readability, popularity, and timeliness of content on HS‐related websites. Improvement of the quality and readability of HS‐related websites is desirable to potentially raise disease awareness and contribute to an earlier presentation of patients suffering with undiagnosed HS.
Perceptions of inequality and attitudes towards redistribution in four East Asian welfare states
Authors: Kim Hansung , Huh Sooyeon , Choi Sangmi , Lee Yushin
Published: March 2017

This study examined the effects of perceived economic inequality and inequality of opportunity on individual preferences for redistributive policies among people in mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Using data from the 2009 International Social Survey Program, a series of regression analyses were performed. Results of the analyses indicate that perceived economic inequality is the most significant predictive factor of attitudes towards redistribution in all four states. Perceived inequality of opportunity was positively associated with favourable attitudes towards redistribution in mainland China and South Korea. Perceived socioeconomic status was not found to have a significant effect on attitudes towards redistribution in South Korea.
Reproductive biology of Haemulon plumierii in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean's most extensive reefs: implications for fisheries management
Authors: Hoffmann G. C. S. , Freitas M. O. , Moura R. L. , Previero M. , Abilhoa V.
Published: March 2017

The reproductive biology of the white grunt Haemulon plumierii was studied from 360 individuals obtained from artisanal fisheries landings in the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, between August 2010 and March 2012. The overall sex‐ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1, although males predominated in larger size classes. β‐Binomial modelling of historical sex‐ratio data indicated that the catch rate of females has increased in recent years. Females reached maturity at a smaller total length (LT; 214 mm) than males (235 mm LT) and the LT at which 50% of all individuals are mature (L50) was 220 mm, corresponding to 41·5% of the maximum recorded LT. Variation in the gonado‐somatic index and in the relative frequency of reproductive stages indicates that reproduction occurs year round, with increased activity during the austral spring and summer. Fecundity was not size dependent. The reproductive parameters provided here can support management measures focussed on seasonal closures during spawning peaks (September to November and February to March) and minimum sizes (>L50) for the capture of this important artisanal fisheries resource in Abrolhos, the region with the largest and most biodiverse coralline reefs in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Systematical analyses of variants in DNase I hypersensitive sites to identify hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility loci in a Chinese population
Authors: Jiang Tao , Du Fangzhi , Qin Na , Lu Qun , Dai Juncheng , Shen Hongbing , Hu Zhibin
Published: March 2017

Background and Aim

Although several variants located at coding and non‐coding regions were evaluated by previous studies, the evidence for associations between variants located in DNase I‐hypersensitive sites (DHSs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk was still limited. Recent advances using ENCODE data indicated that genetic variants in DHSs played an important role in carcinogenesis. Therefore, systematically investigating the associations between regulatory variants in DHSs and HCC risk should be put on the agenda.

Methods

We conducted a case–control design (1538 HCC cases vs 1465 normal controls) to evaluate the effects on HCC for the variants located at the uniform DNase I hypersensitive sites sequencing peaks in a Chinese population.

Results

We found two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms rs12309362 (odds ratio = 0.64, P = 5.61 × 10−6) and rs9970827 (odds ratio = 0.73, P = 7.23 × 10−6) significantly associated with decreased risk of HCC. Conditional analysis proved that both of them independently contributed to the susceptibility of HCC. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis found that A allele of rs12309362 was significantly associated with an elevated expression of phosphatase phosphoglycerate mutase 5 in liver tissues. In addition, gene‐based analysis indicated that CEBPB (P = 1 × 10−4) was associated with the risk of HCC, and the expression of CEBPB was significantly lower in 50 The Cancer Genome Atlas HCC tumor tissues compared with matched normal tissues.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that rs12309362 (G > A), rs9970827 (A > G) in DHSs, and elevated expression of CEBPB were associated with a decreased risk of HCC. These results may contribute us to understand the function of regulatory DNA sequences in HCC development.
RETRACTED: Effects of glucose concentration on osteogenic differentiation of type II diabetes mellitus rat bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells on a nano‐scale modified titanium
Authors: Yamawaki I. , Taguchi Y. , Komasa S. , Tanaka A. , Umeda M.
Published: March 2017

Background and Objective

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common disease worldwide. Patients with DM have an increased risk of losing their teeth compared with other individuals. Dental implants are a standard of care for treating partial or full edentulism, and various implant surface treatments have recently been developed to increase dental implant stability. However, some studies have reported that DM reduces osseointegration and the success rate of dental implants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high glucose levels for hard tissue formation on a nano‐scale modified titanium surface.

Material and Methods

Titanium disks were heated at 600°C for 1 h after treatment with or without 10 m NaOH solution. All disks were incubated with type II DM rat bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells before exposure to one of four concentrations of glucose (5.5, 8.0, 12.0 or 24.0 mm). The effect of different glucose concentrations on bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cell osteogenesis and inflammatory cytokines on the nano‐scale modified titanium surface was evaluated.

Results

Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased with increasing glucose concentration. In contrast, osteocalcin production and calcium deposition were significantly decreased at 8.0 mm glucose, but increased with glucose concentrations over 8.0 mm. Differences in calcium/phosphate ratio associated with the various glucose concentrations were similar to osteocalcin production and calcium deposition. Inflammatory cytokines were expressed at high glucose concentrations, but the nano‐scale modified titanium surface inhibited the effect of high glucose concentrations.

Conclusion

High glucose concentration increased hard tissue formation, but the quality of the mineralized tissue decreased. Furthermore, the nano‐scale modified titanium surface increased mineralized tissue formation and anti‐inflammation, but the quality of hard tissue was dependent on glucose concentration.
Relationship between food insecurity, child weight status, and parent‐reported child eating and snacking behaviors
Authors: Kral Tanja V.E. , Chittams Jesse , Moore Reneé H.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Prior studies showed that food insecurity may increase the odds of obesity in children and adults. We still know very little about the familial aggregation of obesity in food‐insecure households or the mechanisms by which food insecurity confers an increased risk of obesity to children. The purpose of this study was to compare children and mothers from food‐insecure and food‐secure households in their weight status, child eating patterns/behaviors, and maternal feeding practices.

Design and Methods

Fifty mothers of 8–10‐year‐old children were asked to complete questionnaires, including the U.S. Household Food Security survey, and had their own and their children's heights and weights measured.

Results

The odds of a child being obese were five times higher for children from food‐insecure households compared with children from food‐secure households (95% confidence interval 1.15–20.8). In univariate analyses, children from food‐insecure households showed significantly greater external eating, both past satiation and in the absence of hunger (p < .03), and mothers from food‐insecure households expressed significantly greater concern about their children's weight and used restrictive feeding practices to a greater extent (p < .03) when compared with families from food‐secure households. A greater proportion of children from food‐secure households consumed three to four snacks per day (45.9 vs. 15.4%), while a higher proportion of children from food‐insecure households consumed five or more snacks per day (15.4 vs. 0%; p = .02).

Practice Implications

These findings provide further support for an association between food insecurity and childhood obesity and suggest that differences in external eating, child snacking patterns, and select maternal feeding practices may be implicated in food‐insecure children's overconsumption of calories. When caring for food‐insecure children, healthcare providers should screen for problematic eating patterns and feeding practices.
L2 Speaking Development During Study Abroad: Fluency, Accuracy, Complexity, and Underlying Cognitive Factors
Authors: Leonard Karen Ruth , Shea Christine E.
Published: March 2017

We take a multidimensional perspective on the development of second language (L2) speaking ability and examine how changes in the underlying cognitive variables of linguistic knowledge and processing speed interact with complexity, fluency, and accuracy over the course of a 3‐month Spanish study abroad session. Study abroad provides a unique learning context for evaluating changes in the underlying dimensions of L2 speaking because learners are fully immersed in the target language and have ample opportunity to implement, practice, and integrate newly gained skills. Participants were 39 native English speakers acquiring Spanish in Argentina. Results show that participants experienced significant gains across complexity, fluency, and accuracy. However, these gains were not evenly distributed across all dimensions or across all learners. Learners with higher levels of L2 linguistic knowledge and faster L2 processing speed prior to study abroad experienced greater gains in accuracy and syntactic and lexical complexity during study abroad.
Joint Development of Teacher Cognition and Identity Through Learning to Teach L2 Pronunciation
Authors: Burri Michael , Chen Honglin , Baker Amanda
Published: March 2017

The constructs of teacher cognition and teacher identity have recently gained considerable attention in second language teacher education research for their crucial roles in understanding teacher learning. While a number of current studies have examined the contributions of both constructs, the connections between cognition and identity are yet to be fully conceptualized. This article addresses this gap by drawing on the notion of identification to examine the identity construction and cognition development of 15 student teachers in the context of a postgraduate course on pronunciation pedagogy. Questionnaires, focus group interviews, observations, and semi‐structured interviews were triangulated to obtain an in‐depth understanding of the complex relations between identity formation and cognition growth. Findings revealed that identity construction—manifested through imagination of self and others, engagement and investment in the course, and alignment with course content—not only had a profound impact on participants’ cognition development, but that these two constructs were intertwined in a complex and reciprocal relationship, fostering the process of student teachers’ learning to teach pronunciation.
Chloroprocaine for epidural anesthesia in infants and children
Authors: Veneziano Giorgio , Tobias Joseph D.
Published: March 2017

Continuous epidural infusions are an effective and safe method of providing anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in infants and children with multiple advantages over systemic medications, including earlier tracheal extubation, decreased perioperative stress response, earlier return of bowel function, and decreased exposure to volatile anesthetic agents with uncertain long‐term neurocognitive effects. Despite these benefits, local anesthetic toxicity remains a concern in neonates and infants because of their decreased metabolic capacity for amide local anesthetics. Chloroprocaine, an ester local anesthetic agent, which is rapidly metabolized in plasma at all ages, is an attractive alternative for this special population, particularly in the presence of superimposed liver impairment or when higher infusion rates are needed for surgical incisions stretching many dermatomes. The current manuscript reviews the literature pertaining to the use of 2‐chloroprocaine for regional anesthesia in infants and children. Dosing regimens are presented and the applications of 2‐chloroprocaine in this population are discussed.
A quality improvement initiative to optimize dosing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis
Authors: Caruso Thomas J. , Wang Ellen , Schwenk Hayden T. , Scheinker David , Yeverino Calida , Tweedy Mary , Maheru Manjit , Sharek Paul J.
Published: March 2017

Background

The risk of surgical site infections is reduced with appropriate timing and dosing of preoperative antimicrobials. Based on evolving national guidelines, we increased the preoperative dose of cefazolin from 25 to 30 mg·kg−1. This quality improvement project describes an improvement initiative to develop standard work processes to ensure appropriate dosing.

Aims

The primary aim was to deliver cefazolin 30 mg·kg−1 to at least 90% of indicated patients. The secondary aim was to determine differences between accuracy of cefazolin doses when given as an electronic order compared to a verbal order.

Methods

Data were collected from January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2016. A quality improvement team of perioperative physicians, nurses, and pharmacists implemented a series of interventions including new electronic medical record order sets, personal provider antibiotic dose badges, and utilization of pharmacists to prepare antibiotics to increase compliance with the recommended dose. Process compliance was measured using a statistical process control chart, and dose compliance was measured through electronic analysis of the electronic medical record. Secondary aim data were displayed as percentage of dose compliance. An unpaired t‐test was used to determine differences between groups.

Results

Between January 1, 2012 and May 31, 2016, cefazolin was administered to 9086 patients. The mean compliance of cefazolin at 30 mg·kg−1 from May 2013 to March 2014 was 40%, which prompted initiation of this project. From April 2014 to May 2016, a series of interventions were deployed. The mean compliance from September 2015 to May 2016 was 93% with significantly reduced variation and no special cause variation, indicating that the process was in control at the target primary aim.

There were 649 cefazolin administrations given verbally and 1929 given with an electronic order between October 1, 2014 and May 31, 2016. During this time period, the rate of compliance of administering cefazolin at 30 mg·kg−1 was significantly higher when given after an electronic order than when given verbally, 94% vs 76%.

Conclusion

This comprehensive quality improvement project improved practitioner compliance with evidence‐based preoperative antimicrobial dosing recommendations to reduce the risk of surgical site infections.
Risk factors for perioperative mortality and transfusion in sacrococcygeal teratoma resections
Authors: Isserman Rebecca S. , Nelson Olivia , Tran Kha M. , Cai Lingyu , Polansky Marcia , Rosenbloom Julia M. , Goebel Theodora K. , Lin Elaina E.
Published: March 2017

Background

Sacrococcygeal teratomas are a common congenital tumor. Surgical resection can occur in utero, in the neonatal period, or in the postneonatal period.

Aims

We describe patient and tumor factors associated with mortality and transfusion in this population.

Methods

We did a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent sacrococcygeal teratoma resection between January 1998 and March 2016. Demographic data, transfusion data, and tumor characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and univariate comparisons were performed with chi‐square test and Fisher's exact test. Variables significant at univariate level were used in multivariate logistic regression and negative binomial regression.

Results

Of the 112 cases, 6 were in utero repairs, 73 were neonatal repairs, and 33 were repairs at >30 days of life. There was 17%, 1%, and 0% intraoperative mortality and 33%, 5%, and 0% 30‐day mortality in the in utero, neonatal, and >30 days of life repairs, respectively. All six patients who died within the first 30 days of life had a postmenstrual age of <32 weeks at time of surgery. All six patients who died had noncystic tumors. Patients with noncystic tumors were more likely to be born prior to 30‐week gestation (23/65 vs 6/47; χ2 = 7.3; P = 0.007). Gestational age >30 weeks was associated with decreased intraoperative death (0% vs 10%; modified maximum likelihood estimate of OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.002–0.96; P = 0.02). Gestational age >30 weeks (2.4% vs 13.8%; OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.03–0.89; P = 0.04) and cystic morphology (0% vs 9.2%; modified maximum likelihood estimate of OR 0.1; CI 0.01–1.75; P = 0.04) were associated with decreased 30‐day mortality and emergent surgery (17.9% vs 1.2%; OR 18; 95% CI 2–162.2; P = 0.004) was associated with increased 30‐day mortality. Gestational age >30 weeks (33.7% vs 62.1%; OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.09–0.79; P = 0.02) and Altman class 3–4 (12.1% vs 52.7%; OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.03–0.34; P = 0.0002) were associated with decreased need for transfusion and noncystic tumor was associated with increased transfusion volume (131.6 ml·kg−1 [95% CI 94–184] vs 63 ml·kg−1 [95% CI 40–100.1]; P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Prematurity is associated with increased intraoperative and 30‐day mortality. Noncystic tumor morphology was the only significant factor associated with transfusion volume and all six patients who died had transfusion volumes of 240 ml·kg−1 or greater. In these patients at high risk of mortality due to blood loss, the anesthesia team should be prepared to manage massive transfusion and coagulopathy with blood components and pharmacologic measures.
Disruptions in valine degradation affect seed development and germination in Arabidopsis
Authors: Gipson Andrew B. , Morton Kyla J. , Rhee Rachel J. , Simo Szabolcs , Clayton Jack A. , Perrett Morgan E. , Binkley Christiana G. , Jensen Erika L. , Oakes Dana L. , Rouhier Matthew F. , Rouhier Kerry A.
Published: March 2017

We have functionally characterized the role of two putative mitochondrial enzymes in valine degradation using insertional mutants. Prior to this study, the relationship between branched‐chain amino acid degradation (named for leucine, valine and isoleucine) and seed development was limited to leucine catabolism. Using a reverse genetics approach, we show that disruptions in the mitochondrial valine degradation pathway affect seed development and germination in Arabidopsis thaliana. A null mutant of 3‐hydroxyisobutyryl‐CoA hydrolase (CHY4, At4g31810) resulted in an embryo lethal phenotype, while a null mutant of methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (MMSD, At2g14170) resulted in seeds with wrinkled coats, decreased storage reserves, elevated valine and leucine, and reduced germination rates. These data highlight the unique contributions CHY4 and MMSD make to the overall growth and viability of plants. It also increases our knowledge of the role branched‐chain amino acid catabolism plays in seed development and amino acid homeostasis.
Group O RBCs: where is universal donor blood being used
Authors: Barty R. L. , Pai M. , Liu Y. , Arnold D. M. , Cook R. J. , Zeller M. P. , Heddle N. M.
Published: March 2017

Background

There have been recurrent shortages of group O blood due to insufficient inventory and use of group O blood in ABO non‐identical recipients. We performed a 12‐year retrospective study to determine utilization of group O Rh‐positive and Rh‐negative red blood cells (RBCs) by recipient ABO group. Reasons for transfusing group O blood to ABO non‐identical recipients were also assessed.

Methods

Utilization data from all group O Rh‐positive and Rh‐negative RBCs transfused at three academic hospitals between April 2002 and March 2014 were included. Data were extracted from Transfusion Registry for Utilization Surveillance and Tracking, a comprehensive database with inventory information on all blood products received at the hospitals. Extracted data included product type, ABO and Rh, final disposition (transfused, wasted, outdated), and demographic and clinical data on all patients admitted to hospital. Descriptive statistics were performed using sas 9.3.

Results

There were 314 968 RBC transfusions: 151 645 (48·1%) were group O, of which 138 136 (91·1%) RBC units were transfused to group O individuals. ABO non‐identical recipients received 13 509 group O RBCs (8·9%). The percentage of group O RBCs transfused to ABO non‐identical recipients by fiscal year varied from 7·8% to 11·1% with a steady increase from 2011 to 2013. Reasons for this included: trauma, outdating, outpatient usage and shortages.

Conclusion

The practice of transfusing O RBCs to non‐O individuals has been increasing. Specific hospital and blood supplier policies could be targeted to change practice, leading to a more sustainable group O red blood cell supply.
Using Statcast to lift the discussion of projectile motion
Authors: Siegel P. B.
Published: March 2017

Home run data from Major League Baseball's Statcast can be described by adding a lift force to the equations of projectile motion commonly used in undergraduate computational physics courses. We discuss how the Statcast data can be implemented in the classroom.
Realizing a finite array of dipole sources with high acoustic transmission directivity at low frequency
Authors: Ding Erliang , Mao Yiwei , Liu Xiaozhou
Published: March 2017

A finite array of dipole sources is used to enhance the directivity and radiation gains of sound. This letter demonstrates that this idea can be realized as several sub-wavelength slits in a plate with periodic Helmholtz resonators. Moreover, the array gain of this structure can be further improved by adjusting the effective boundary impedance. The directivity of the dipole array is compared with that of a point array, and the advantages of the dipole array are revealed. Prospective applications of this mechanism include achieving directional radiation in high-gain loudspeakers and ultrasonic medical instrumentation.
In VitroandIn VivoAntibacterial Activities of Patchouli Alcohol, a Naturally Occurring Tricyclic Sesquiterpene, against Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Xu Y. F. , Lian D. W. , Chen Y. Q. , Cai Y. F. , Zheng Y. F. , Fan P. L. , Ren W. K. , Fu L. J. , Li Y. C. , Xie J. H. , Cao H. Y. , Tan B. , Su Z. R. , Huang P.
Published: March 2017

This study further evaluated thein vitroandin vivoanti-Helicobacter pyloriactivities and potential underlying mechanism of patchouli alcohol (PA), a tricyclic sesquiterpene. In thein vitroassay, the capacities of PA to inhibit and killH. pyloriwere tested on three standard strains at different pH values and on 12 clinical isolates. The effects of PA onH. pyloriadhesion (and itsalpA,alpB, andbabAgenes), motility (and itsflaAandflaBgenes), ultrastructure, and flagellation were investigated. Moreover, theH. pyloriresistance to and postantibiotic effect (PAE) of PA were determined. Furthermore, thein vivoeffects of PA onH. pylorieradication and gastritis were examined. Results showed that MICs of PA against three standard strains (pH 5.3 to 9) and 12 clinical isolates were 25 to 75 and 12.5 to 50 μg/ml, respectively. The killing kinetics of PA were time and concentration dependent, and its minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were 25 to 75 μg/ml. In addition,H. pyloriadhesion, motility, ultrastructure, and flagellation were significantly suppressed. PA also remarkably inhibited the expression of adhesion genes (alpAandalpB) and motility genes (flaAandflaB). Furthermore, PA treatment caused a longer PAE and less bacterial resistance than clarithromycin and metronidazole. Thein vivostudy showed that PA can effectively eradicateH. pylori, inhibit gastritis, and suppress the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]). In conclusion, PA can efficiently killH. pylori, interfere with its infection process, and attenuate gastritis with less bacterial resistance, making it a potential candidate for new drug development.
Occurrence of Acquired 16S rRNA Methyltransferase-Mediated Aminoglycoside Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Enterobacteriaceae within a Tertiary Referral Hospital of Northeast India
Authors: Wangkheimayum Jayalaxmi , Paul Deepjyoti , Dhar Debadatta , Nepram Rajlakshmi , Chetri Shiela , Bhowmik Deepshikha , Chakravarty Atanu , Bhattacharjee Amitabha
Published: March 2017

The methylation of a ribosomal target leads to a high level of resistance to all clinically relevant aminoglycoside antibiotics, so early detection of these resistance determinants will help to reduce the incidence of treatment failures as well as lessen the dissemination rate. Here, we characterized different 16S rRNA methyltransferases responsible for aminoglycoside resistance and their epidemiological background in clinical isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
in a tertiary referral hospital in India. All aminoglycoside-resistant isolates were screened for different 16S rRNA methyltransferases by PCR assay, and incompatibility typing of the conjugable plasmid harboring resistance genes was performed by PCR-based replicon typing. An assay for the stability and elimination of these resistance plasmids was performed. The coexistence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases and metallo-β-lactamases was also detected, and the heterogeneity of these isolates was determined by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR. The PCR assay revealed the presence of
armA
,
rmtA
,
rmtB
,
rmtC
, and
rmtD
in single and multiple combinations, and these were carried by a diverse group of Inc plasmids. Plasmids harboring these resistance determinants were highly stable and maintained until the 55th serial passage, but SDS treatment could easily eliminate the plasmids harboring the resistance determinants. The coexistence of
bla
TEM
,
bla
PER
,
bla
GES
, and
bla
SHV
, as well as
bla
VIM
and
bla
NDM
, within these isolates was also detected. Strains with different clonal patterns of aminoglycoside resistance were found to spread in this hospital setting. We observed that the 16S rRNA methyltransferase genes were encoded within different Inc plasmid types, suggesting diverse origins and sources of acquisition. Therefore, the present study is of epidemiological importance and can have a role in infection control policy in hospital settings.
In Vitro
Activity of Imipenem-Relebactam against Gram-Negative ESKAPE Pathogens Isolated by Clinical Laboratories in the United States in 2015 (Results from the SMART Global Surveillance Program)
Authors: Lob Sibylle H. , Hackel Meredith A. , Kazmierczak Krystyna M. , Young Katherine , Motyl Mary R. , Karlowsky James A. , Sahm Daniel F.
Published: March 2017

Relebactam (formerly MK-7655) is an inhibitor of class A and C β-lactamases, including
Klebsiella pneumoniae
carbapenemase (KPC), and is currently in clinical development in combination with imipenem-cilastatin. Using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)-defined broth microdilution methodology, we evaluated the
in vitro
activities of imipenem-relebactam, imipenem, and seven routinely tested parenteral antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens (including
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
n
= 689;
Acinetobacter baumannii
,
n
= 72;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
n
= 845; and
Enterobacter
spp.,
n
= 399) submitted by 21 clinical laboratories in the United States in 2015 as part of the SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) global surveillance program. Relebactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 μg/ml in combination with doubling dilutions of imipenem. Imipenem-relebactam MICs were interpreted using CLSI imipenem breakpoints. The respective rates of susceptibility to imipenem-relebactam and imipenem were 94.2% (796/845) and 70.3% (594/845) for
P. aeruginosa
, 99.0% (682/689) and 96.1% (662/689) for
K. pneumoniae
, and 100% (399/399) and 98.0% (391/399) for
Enterobacter
spp. Relebactam restored imipenem susceptibility to 80.5% (202/251), 74.1% (20/27), and 100% (8/8) of isolates of imipenem-nonsusceptible
P. aeruginosa
,
K. pneumoniae
, and
Enterobacter
spp. Relebactam did not increase the number of isolates of
Acinetobacter
spp. susceptible to imipenem, and the rates of resistance to all of the agents tested against this pathogen were >30%. Further development of imipenem-relebactam is warranted given the demonstrated ability of relebactam to restore the activity of imipenem against current clinical isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
and
P. aeruginosa
that are nonsusceptible to carbapenems and its potential as a therapy for treating patients with antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative infections.
Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime) Causes Oxidative Stress-Derived DNA Damage in BALB/c Mice Infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum
Authors: Moreira Vanessa Ribeiro , de Jesus Luís Cláudio Lima , Soares Rossy-Eric Pereira , Silva Luis Douglas Miranda , Pinto Bruno Araújo Serra , Melo Maria Norma , Paes Antonio Marcus de Andrade , Pereira Silma Regina Ferreira
Published: March 2017

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by >20 species of the protozoan parasite
Leishmania
. Meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) is the first-choice drug recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of all types of leishmaniasis. However, the mechanisms of action and toxicity of pentavalent antimonials, including genotoxic effects, remain unclear. Therefore, the mechanism by which meglumine antimoniate causes DNA damage was investigated for BALB/c mice infected by
Leishmania
(
Leishmania
)
infantum
and treated with meglumine antimoniate (20 mg/kg for 20 days). DNA damage was analyzed by a comet assay using mouse leukocytes. Furthermore, comet assays were followed by treatment with formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase and endonuclease III, which remove oxidized DNA bases. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the animals' sera were assessed. To investigate mutagenicity, we carried out a micronucleus test. Our data demonstrate that meglumine antimoniate, as well as
L. infantum
infection, induces DNA damage in mammalian cells by the oxidation of nitrogenous bases. Additionally, the antileishmanial increased the frequency of micronucleated cells, confirming its mutagenic potential. According to our data, both meglumine antimoniate treatment and
L. infantum
infection promote oxidative stress-derived DNA damage, which promotes overactivation of the SOD-CAT axis, whereas the SOD-GPx axis is inhibited as a probable consequence of glutathione (GSH) depletion. Finally, our data enable us to suggest that a meglumine antimoniate regimen, as recommended by the World Health Organization, would compromise GPx activity, leading to the saturation of antioxidant defense systems that use thiol groups, and might be harmful to patients under treatment.
Variability in Trough Total and Unbound Teicoplanin Concentrations and Achievement of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Targets in Adult Patients with Hematological Malignancy
Authors: Byrne Catherine J. , Roberts Jason A. , McWhinney Brett , Fennell Jerome P. , O'Byrne Philomena , Deasy Evelyn , Egan Sean , Desmond Ronan , Enright Helen , Ryder Sheila A. , D'Arcy Deirdre M. , McHugh Johnny
Published: March 2017

The objective of this study was to explore the following aspects of teicoplanin use in patients with hematological malignancy: early attainment of target trough concentrations with current high-dose teicoplanin regimens, variability in unbound teicoplanin fractions, factors associated with observed total and unbound trough concentrations, efficacy and toxicity, and renal function estimation. This was a single-center, prospective study. Samples for determination of trough concentrations were taken on days 3, 4, 7, and 10. Total and unbound teicoplanin concentrations were determined using validated high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with the trough concentration. Thirty teicoplanin-treated adults with hematological malignancy were recruited. Despite the use of dosages higher than the conventional dosages, the proportions of patients with a trough concentration of ≥20 mg/liter at 48 h and at 72 h were 16.7% and 37.9%, respectively. Renal function was significantly negatively associated with total trough concentrations at 48 h and 72 h (
P
< 0.05). For an average hematological malignancy patient (creatinine clearance = 70 ml/min), sequential loading doses of at least 12 mg/kg of body weight may be needed to achieve early adequate exposure. In the absence of measured creatinine clearance, estimates obtained using the Cockcroft-Gault (total body weight) equation could prove to be an acceptable surrogate. The unbound fractions of teicoplanin were highly variable (3.4 to 18.8%). Higher unbound fractions were observed in patients with low serum albumin concentrations. Teicoplanin was well tolerated. Teicoplanin loading doses higher than those in current use appear to be necessary. Increased dosing is needed in patients with increased renal function. The high variability in protein binding supports the contention for therapeutic drug monitoring of unbound teicoplanin concentrations. (This study has been registered with EudraCT under registration no. 2013-004535-72.)
The Suf Iron-Sulfur Cluster Biosynthetic System Is Essential in Staphylococcus aureus, and Decreased Suf Function Results in Global Metabolic Defects and Reduced Survival in Human Neutrophils
Authors: Roberts Christina A. , Al-Tameemi Hassan M. , Mashruwala Ameya A. , Rosario-Cruz Zuelay , Chauhan Unnati , Sause William E. , Torres Victor J. , Belden William J. , Boyd Jeffrey M.
Published: March 2017

Staphylococcus aureus
remains a causative agent for morbidity and mortality worldwide. This is in part a result of antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the need to uncover novel antibiotic targets and to discover new therapeutic agents. In the present study, we explored the possibility that iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster synthesis is a viable antimicrobial target. RNA interference studies established that Suf (
su
l
f
ur mobilization)-dependent Fe-S cluster synthesis is essential in
S. aureus
. We found that
sufCDSUB
were cotranscribed and that
suf
transcription was positively influenced by sigma factor B. We characterized an
S. aureus
strain that contained a transposon inserted in the intergenic space between
sufC
and
sufD
(
sufD
*), resulting in decreased transcription of
sufSUB
. Consistent with the transcriptional data, the
sufD
* strain had multiple phenotypes associated with impaired Fe-S protein maturation. They included decreased activities of Fe-S cluster-dependent enzymes, decreased growth in media lacking metabolites that require Fe-S proteins for synthesis, and decreased flux through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Decreased Fe-S cluster synthesis resulted in sensitivity to reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, as well as increased DNA damage and impaired DNA repair. The
sufD
* strain also exhibited perturbed intracellular nonchelated Fe pools. Importantly, the
sufD*
strain did not exhibit altered exoprotein production or altered biofilm formation, but it was attenuated for survival upon challenge by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The results presented are consistent with the hypothesis that Fe-S cluster synthesis is a viable target for antimicrobial development.
Metabolism Shapes the Cell
Authors: Sperber Anthony M. , Herman Jennifer K.
Published: March 2017

More than 5 decades of work support the idea that cell envelope synthesis, including the inward growth of cell division, is tightly coordinated with DNA replication and protein synthesis through central metabolism. Remarkably, no unifying model exists to account for how these fundamentally disparate processes are functionally coupled. Recent studies demonstrate that proteins involved in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism can moonlight as direct regulators of cell division, coordinate cell division and DNA replication, and even suppress defects in DNA replication. In this minireview, we focus on studies illustrating the intimate link between metabolism and regulation of peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis during growth and division, and we identify the following three recurring themes. (i) Nutrient availability, not growth rate, is the primary determinant of cell size. (ii) The degree of gluconeogenic flux is likely to have a profound impact on the metabolites available for cell envelope synthesis, so growth medium selection is a critical consideration when designing and interpreting experiments related to morphogenesis. (iii) Perturbations in pathways relying on commonly shared and limiting metabolites, like undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P), can lead to pleotropic phenotypes in unrelated pathways.
Replication Restart in Bacteria
Authors: Michel Bénédicte , Sandler Steven J.
Published: March 2017

In bacteria, replication forks assembled at a replication origin travel to the terminus, often a few megabases away. They may encounter obstacles that trigger replisome disassembly, rendering replication restart from abandoned forks crucial for cell viability. During the past 25 years, the genes that encode replication restart proteins have been identified and genetically characterized. In parallel, the enzymes were purified and analyzed
in vitro
, where they can catalyze replication initiation in a sequence-independent manner from fork-like DNA structures. This work also revealed a close link between replication and homologous recombination, as replication restart from recombination intermediates is an essential step of DNA double-strand break repair in bacteria and, conversely, arrested replication forks can be acted upon by recombination proteins and converted into various recombination substrates. In this review, we summarize this intense period of research that led to the characterization of the ubiquitous replication restart protein PriA and its partners, to the definition of several replication restart pathways
in vivo
, and to the description of tight links between replication and homologous recombination, responsible for the importance of replication restart in the maintenance of genome stability.
Air everywhere: colon perforation after colonoscopy
Authors: Araújo Ana Virgínia , Santos Cláudia , Contente Helena , Branco Cláudia
Published: March 2017

Colonoscopy is being widely used since the 1980s and is the leading diagnostic procedure for colorectal cancer. For many colorectal diseases, it is also a therapeutic tool. Like many other procedures in Medicine, it has its drawbacks and complications, some of which if not readily diagnosed can represent a serious risk to the patient's health and well-being. We describe a case of colon perforation during diagnostic colonoscopy in a patient, resulting in exuberant pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema, who successfully underwent laparoscopic colonic resection with primary anastomosis. There are only a few cases of combined intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal perforations described in the literature.