bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic pain connectome functional connectivity and oscillations reflect multiple sclerosis pain
Authors: Bosma Rachael L. , Kim Junseok A. , Cheng Joshua C. , Rogachov Anton , Hemington Kasey S. , Osborne Natalie R. , Oh Jiwon , Davis Karen D.
Published: July 2018

Pain is a prevalent and debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS); yet, the mechanisms underlying this pain are unknown. Previous studies have found that the functional relationships between the salience network (SN), specifically the right temporoparietal junction a SN node, and other components of the dynamic pain connectome (default mode network [DMN], ascending and descending pathways) are abnormal in many chronic pain conditions. Here, we use resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and measures of static and dynamic functional connectivity (sFC and dFC), and regional BOLD variability to test the hypothesis that patients with MS have abnormal DMN-SN cross-network sFC, dFC abnormalities in SN-ascending and SN-descending pathways, and disrupted BOLD variability in the dynamic pain connectome that relates to pain inference and neuropathic pain (NP). Thirty-one patients with MS and 31 controls completed questionnaires to characterize pain and pain interference, and underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan from which measures of sFC, dFC, and BOLD variability were compared. We found that (1) ∼50% of our patients had NP features, (2) abnormalities in SN-DMN sFC were driven by the mixed-neuropathic subgroup, (3) in patients with mixed NP, dFC measures showed that there was a striking change in how the SN was engaged with the ascending nociceptive pathway and descending modulation pathway, (4) BOLD variability was increased in the DMN, and (5) the degrees of sFC and BOLD variability abnormalities were related to pain interference. We propose that abnormal SN-DMN cross-network FC and temporal dynamics within and between regions of the dynamic pain connectome reflect MS pain features.
Complex regional pain syndrome: intradermal injection of phenylephrine evokes pain and hyperalgesia in a subgroup of patients with upregulated α1-adrenoceptors on dermal nerves
Authors: Drummond Peter D. , Morellini Natalie , Finch Philip M. , Birklein Frank , Knudsen Lone F.
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to determine whether upregulated cutaneous expression of α1-adrenoceptors (α1-AR) is a source of pain in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Immunohistochemistry was used to identify α1-AR on nerve fibres and other targets in the affected and contralateral skin of 90 patients, and in skin samples from 38 pain-free controls. The distribution of α1-AR was compared between patients and controls, and among subgroups of patients defined by CRPS duration, limb temperature asymmetry, and diagnostic subtype (CRPS I vs CRPS II). In addition, α1-AR expression was investigated in relation to pain and pinprick hyperalgesia evoked by intradermal injection of the α1-AR agonist phenylephrine. Expression of α1-AR on nerve bundles in the CRPS-affected limb was greater in patients who reported prolonged pain and pinprick hyperalgesia around the phenylephrine injection site than in patients with transient pain after the injection. In addition, α1-AR expression in nerve bundles was greater in patients with CRPS II than CRPS I, and was greater in acute than more long-standing CRPS. Although less clearly associated with the nociceptive effects of phenylephrine, α1-AR expression was greater on dermal nerve fibres in the painful than contralateral limb. Together, these findings are consistent with nociceptive involvement of cutaneous α1-AR in CRPS. This involvement may be greater in acute than chronic CRPS, and in CRPS II than CRPS I.
International Service-Learning: Feedback From a Community Served
Authors: Haines Jamie , Lambaria Michele
Published: July 2018

Introduction.

Mutual benefit to participants and recipients of international service-learning (ISL) is often assumed by academic institutions when bringing medical/health care and education to underserved countries. Research documenting feedback from host communities is needed in all disciplines, including physical therapy. Overall, host communities seem to appreciate collaborations with ISL visiting teams; however, these communities may endure hardships unbeknownst to visiting partners such as reinforcement of negative attitudes, disruption of community relations and dynamics, interactions with culturally insensitive visitors, and poor quality care. The purpose of this study was to collect and document feedback from a host community after a 2-week ISL experience with Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and faculty.

Methods.

Twelve community leaders who interacted daily with DPT students and faculty were interviewed. Individual interviews were completed and transcribed. The constant comparative method was used to generate themes.

Results.

Overall, the community felt that their the interactions with the ISL team 1) improved local cultural attitudes about disability, 2) improved awareness of the role of physical therapy, 3) fostered strong, respectful relationships between the community and team, and 4) strengthened the desire to sustain the partnership.

Discussion and Conclusion.

The host community was very satisfied with the partnership and wished to strengthen relationships for long-term sustainability. Recommendations for the ISL curriculum in physical therapist education were identified or reinforced from this study.
Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery Versus the Linear Incision Technique With Soft Tissue Preservation for Bone Conduction Hearing Implants: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Calon Tim G.A. , Johansson Martin L. , de Bruijn Arthur J.G. , van den Berge Herbert , Wagenaar Mariet , Eichhorn Edwin , Janssen Miranda M.L. , Hof Janny R. , Brunings Jan-Wouter , Joore Manuela A. , Jonhede Sofia , van Tongeren Joost , Holmberg Marcus , Stokroos Robert-Jan
Published: July 2018

Objective:

To compare the surgical outcomes of the Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery (MIPS) technique with those of the linear incision technique with soft-tissue preservation for bone-anchored hearing systems (BAHS).

Design:

Sponsor-initiated multicenter, open, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Setting:

Maastricht University Medical Centre, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente and Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, all situated in The Netherlands.

Participants:

Sixty-four adult patients eligible for unilateral BAHS surgery.

Interventions Single-stage BAHS surgery with 1:1 randomization to the linear incision technique with soft-tissue preservation (control) or the MIPS (test) group.

Primary and Secondary Outcome Measurements:

Primary objective: compare the incidence of inflammation (Holgers Index ≥ 2) during 12 weeks’ follow-up after surgery. Secondary objectives: skin dehiscence, pain scores, loss of sensibility around the implant, soft-tissue overgrowth, skin sagging, implant extrusion, cosmetic results, surgical time, wound healing and Implant Stability Quotient measurements.

Results:

Sixty-three subjects were analyzed in the intention-to-treat population. No significant difference was found for the incidence of inflammation between groups. Loss of skin sensibility, cosmetic outcomes, skin sagging, and surgical time were significantly better in the test group. No statistically significant differences were found for dehiscence, pain, and soft-tissue overgrowth. A nonsignificant difference in extrusion was found for the test group. The Implant Stability Quotient was statistically influenced by the surgical technique, abutment length, and time.

Conclusion:

No significant differences between the MIPS and the linear incision techniques were observed regarding skin inflammation. MIPS results in a statistically significant reduction in the loss of skin sensibility, less skin sagging, improved cosmetic results, and reduced surgical time. Although nonsignificant, the implant extrusion rate warrants further research.
Tablet-based Hearing Screening in Children Aged 5 to 17 in Rural Dominican Republic
Authors: Levy Dylan A. , Hill David R. , Bia Frank J. , Feinn Richard S.
Published: July 2018

Objective:

The principal aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of hearing screening using tablet audiometry among a cohort of school-aged children in rural Dominican Republic. The authors hypothesized that the tablet audiometer would serve as an expeditious means for hearing loss screening in various remote locations.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional.

Setting:

Twenty-three remote locations in and around the city of La Romana, Dominican Republic. The quietest location available in each site was used for testing.

Patients:

Inclusion criteria comprised children aged 5 to 17 currently residing in the testing location. Children aged <5 years or >18 years were excluded.

Intervention:

Screening.

Main Outcome Measures:

For each subject, air conduction thresholds were obtained bilaterally at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz; testing duration was also measured. Hearing loss was suspected if any threshold measured ≥30 dB.

Results:

In this cohort of 423 subjects, 44 (10.4%) failed the screening protocol. The mean thresholds for 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz frequencies were 26.05, 22.73, 17.57, and 17.15 dB, respectively. Of the 658 thresholds obtained at ≥30 dB, the majority were at 500 or 1000 Hz. The mean testing duration was 494 seconds.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that children living in remote communities can be screened quickly for hearing loss using a tablet audiometer. However, significant background noise during testing negatively impacted the low-frequency measurements, thus compromising test reliability. Despite extending the reach of existing audiological services, the value of tablet audiometry is not entirely clear in rural environments with uncontrollable background noise.
Evaluation of Intraoperative Testing During Cochlear Implantation From a Time and Cost Perspective: A Single-Center Experience in the United States
Authors: Page Joshua Cody , Al-Muhawas Fida , Allsopp Tristan , Cox Matthew D. , Karim Saleema , Dornhoffer John L.
Published: July 2018

Objective:

To measure the time spent performing intraoperative testing during cochlear implantation (CI) and determine the impact on hospital charges.

Study Design:

Prospective study.

Setting:

Tertiary referral hospital.

Patients:

Twenty-two children (7 mo–18 yr) who underwent a total of 22 consecutive primary and/or revision CIs by a single surgeon from December 2016 to July 2017.

Intervention:

The time spent performing intraoperative testing, including evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) and electrical impedances (EI), was recorded for each case. The audiologist performing the testing was unaware of the time measurement and subsequent evaluations with regard to cost data. Billing information was used to determine if the testing contributed to increased operative charges to the patient.

Outcome Measures:

Whether intraoperative testing had an impact on operative charges to the patient.

Results:

The average time spent in testing (ECAPs/EIs in all cases) was 6.7 minutes (range, 2–26 min). No correlation was found between testing time and preoperative computed tomography findings, the audiologist performing testing, or the electrode type used (p > 0.05). Based on billing data, including time spent in the operating room (OR), 5/22 (23%) cases incurred greater charges than if intraoperative testing had not been performed.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that intraoperative testing increases time in the OR and can contribute to increased hospital charges for CI patients. By using testing selectively, costs incurred by patients and hospitals may be reduced. This is of interest in a healthcare environment that is increasingly focused on cost, quality, and outcomes.
Targeted PCR Array Analysis of Genes in Innate Immunity and Glucocorticoid Signaling Pathways in Mice Cochleae Following Acoustic Trauma
Authors: Maeda Yukihide , Kariya Shin , Omichi Ryotaro , Noda Yohei , Sugaya Akiko , Fujimoto Shohei , Nishizaki Kazunori
Published: July 2018

Aim:

To comprehensively analyze cochlear gene expressions related to innate immunity and glucocorticoid signaling at onset of acute noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Background:

Recent studies suggested innate immunity is involved in the cochlear pathology of NIHL. Glucocorticoids may modulate immune actions in cochleae.

Methods:

Mice were exposed to 120 dB-octave band noise for 2 hours. Twelve hours later, a targeted PCR array analyzed cochlear expressions of 84 key genes in inflammation and immune pathways and 84 genes in the glucocorticoid signaling pathway. Real-time RT-PCR was used to analyze expression of two immune-related genes, Ccl12 and Glycam1, in noise-exposed cochleae with or without dexamethasone.

Result:

In inflammatory and immune gene pathways, 31.0% (26/84 genes) were significantly upregulated (>2-fold change) or downregulated (<0.5-fold change) (p < 0.05) in noise-exposed cochleae compared with controls. Sixteen of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoded chemokines. DEGs included Ccl12, Ccl2, Ccl4, Ccl7, Cxcl1, Cxcl10, and Ptgs2 (upregulated genes), and Ccr7, Cxcr2, Kng1, Ltb, and Tnfsf14 (downregulated genes). In the glucocorticoid signaling pathway, 92.9% (78/84 genes) were unchanged in noise-exposed cochleae without dexamethasone administration. Cochlear expressions of Ccl12 and Glycam1 were significantly upregulated by noise and downregulated by dexamethasone.

Conclusion:

The targeted PCR array demonstrated that several dozen genes involved in innate immunity are actively regulated in cochleae with NIHL. The glucocorticoid signaling pathway was not endogenously regulated at 12 hours post-noise trauma. Systemic dexamethasone downregulated Ccl12 and Glycam1, which are upregulated in noise-exposed cochleae. These data may provide a basis for genomic medicine treatment of acute sensorineural hearing loss.
Readmission Rates and Skilled Nursing Facility Utilization After Major Inpatient Surgery
Authors: Chen Lena M. , Acharya Yubraj , Norton Edward C. , Banerjee Mousumi , Birkmeyer John D.
Published: July 2018

Background:

There is widespread interest in reducing use of postacute care (ie, care after hospital discharge) following major surgery, provided that such reductions do not worsen quality outcomes such as readmission rates.

Objectives:

To describe the association between changes in skilled nursing facility (SNF) use and changes in readmission rates after surgery.

Research Design:

This was a observational study.

Subjects:

Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or total hip replacement (THR) from 2008 to 2013.

Measures:

Primary exposure was risk-adjusted SNF use initiated 0–2 days after hospital discharge, and the primary outcome was risk-adjusted readmission rates from 3 to 30 days after discharge.

Results:

Among 176,994 patients who underwent CABG at 804 hospitals and 233,955 patients who underwent THR at 1220 hospitals, hospital-level SNF utilization increased after CABG (16.4%–19.0%, P=0.001) and THR (40.8%–45.5%, P<0.001), from 2008 to 2013. Hospital readmission rates decreased for CABG (14.7%–12.7%, P<0.001) but did not change for THR (4.9%–4.8%, P=0.55), from 2008 to 2013. However, there was wide variation in hospital-level change in readmission rates. After adjusting for hospital characteristics and baseline readmission rates, there was no statistically significant association between change in SNF use and change in readmission rates (0.017 and 0.011 percentage point increase in SNF use for every one percentage point increase in readmission rates for CABG and THR respectively, P=0.58 and 0.32).

Conclusions:

Changes in use of postacute care after THR and CABG have not been associated with changes in readmission rates.
Defining Multimorbidity in Older Surgical Patients
Authors: Silber Jeffrey H. , Reiter Joseph G. , Rosenbaum Paul R. , Zhao Qingyuan , Small Dylan S. , Niknam Bijan A. , Hill Alexander S. , Hochman Lauren L. , Kelz Rachel R. , Fleisher Lee A.
Published: July 2018

Background:

There are numerous definitions of multimorbidity (MM). None systematically examines specific comorbidity combinations accounting for multiple testing when exploring large datasets.

Objectives:

Develop and validate a list of all single, double, and triple comorbidity combinations, with each individual qualifying comorbidity set (QCS) more than doubling the odds of mortality versus its reference population. Patients with at least 1 QCS were defined as having MM.

Research Design:

Cohort-based study with a matching validation study.

Subjects:

All fee-for-service Medicare patients between age 65 and 85 without dementia or metastatic solid tumors undergoing general surgery in 2009–2010, and an additional 2011–2013 dataset.

Measures:

30-day all-location mortality.

Results:

There were 576 QCSs (2 singles, 63 doubles, and 511 triples), each set more than doubling the odds of dying. In 2011, 36% of eligible patients had MM. As a group, multimorbid patients (mortality rate=7.0%) had a mortality Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio=1.90 (1.77–2.04) versus a reference that included both multimorbid and nonmultimorbid patients (mortality rate=3.3%), and Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio=3.72 (3.51–3.94) versus only nonmultimorbid patients (mortality rate=1.6%). When matching 3151 pairs of multimorbid patients from low-volume hospitals to similar patients in high-volume hospitals, the mortality rates were 6.7% versus 5.2%, respectively (P=0.006).

Conclusions:

A list of QCSs identified a third of older patients undergoing general surgery that had greatly elevated mortality. These sets can be used to identify vulnerable patients and the specific combinations of comorbidities that make them susceptible to poor outcomes.
Ovarian Lipoleiomyoma: A Rare Entity
Authors: Vishwajeet Vikarn , Banerjee Nirmalya , Dey Pranab
Published: July 2018

Ovarian lipoleiomyoma is an extremely rare neoplasm and may pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists. It is rarely described as case reports in the literature; almost all patients are late middle aged or elderly. Hereby, we encountered a 57-yr-old postmenopausal woman who presented with abdominal pain. Radiologic investigation revealed a heterogenous nonenhancing mass in the left adnexa, suggestive of dermoid cyst. Microscopic examination showed clusters of adipocytes intersecting the fascicles of smooth muscles, diagnostic of lipoleiomyoma. The present case revisits the clinical and morphologic findings of lipoleiomyoma along with previously published cases in literature.
Relation Between Memory Impairment and the Fornix Injury in Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Jang Sung Ho , Kim Seong Ho , Do Lee Han
Published: July 2018

Objective

We investigated the relation between memory impairment and the fornix injury in patients with mild traumatic brain injury, using diffusion tensor tractography.

Design

Eighty-six chronic patients with mild traumatic brain injury and 50 normal control subjects were recruited. Fractional anisotropy and fiber volume were measured for each reconstructed fornix. The patients were classified according to the following three types: type A (47 patients), intact integrity of both fornical crura; type B (27 patients), showed a discontinuation in either fornical crus; and type C (12 patients), discontinuations in both fornical crura. The Memory Assessment Scale was used for evaluation of memory function.

Results

Fractional anisotropy and fiber volume showed weak positive correlations with global memory of Memory Assessment Scale, respectively (r = 0.303, P = 0.006; r = 0.271, P = 0.014). Significant difference in the global memory of Memory Assessment Scale was observed between type A and B and between type A and C without difference between type B and C (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

It seems that the diffusion tensor tractography parameters of the fornix and the integrity of fornical crus can be used as a biomarker for axonal injury of the fornix in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
Characteristics of Autonomic Activity and Reactivity During Rest and Emotional Processing and Their Clinical Correlations in Somatic Symptom Disorder
Authors: Lee Deokjong , Kim Se Joo , Cheon Jooah , Hwang Eun Hee , Jung Young-chul , Kang Jee In
Published: July 2018

Objective

Altered autonomic nervous system activity is considered to be involved in the pathophysiology of somatic symptom disorder (SSD). This study aimed to investigate whether patients with SSD have disturbed autonomic activity during rest and reactivity to emotional processing and whether altered autonomic nervous system correlates with clinical characteristics and interoceptive accuracy in SSD.

Methods

We recruited 23 patients with SSD and 20 healthy controls. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed during recording at rest and during performance of an emotional face dot-probe task. Alpha-amylase responses were also assessed. Patients with SSD completed a self-assessment survey and heart beat perception task, which reflects interoceptive awareness.

Results

Patients with SSD had lower low-frequency HRV, high-frequency HRV, standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals (SDNN), and proportion of successive R-R intervals greater than 50 milliseconds (pNN50) at rest (p < .05). The reactivity scores (during-task activity minus resting activity) for SDNN and pNN50 were significantly different between patients with SSD and controls (SDNN: p = .013; pNN50: p = .008). In addition, resting HRV parameters (low-frequency, high-frequency, SDNN, pNN50) correlated with heart beat perception error (p < .01) in patients with SSD. No significant differences in α-amylase activity were found.

Conclusions

Our findings showed that patients with SSD have altered resting-state autonomic activity and reactivity to emotional processing, and the resting-state autonomic activity correlated with their interoceptive awareness. These findings suggest that disturbed interactions between the autonomic nervous, affective, and interoceptive systems may be involved in the pathophysiology of SSD.
Analgesic Use in Dutch Patients With Osteoarthritis
Authors: van den Driest Jacoline J. , Pijnenburg Patrick , Bindels Patrick J. E. , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita M. A. , Schiphof Dieuwke
Published: July 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine which analgesics are used by patients with osteoarthritis (OA)–related pain and how the analgesics are used in the preceding month. In addition, their beliefs about (pain) medication and the rationale of those declining to use analgesics were explored.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was sent to 1521 patients participating in the panel of the Dutch Arthritis Foundation. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were used to analyze data.

Results

Of the 842 participants (56%) with OA that responded, 70% had generalized OA, 26% had concomitant fibromyalgia, and 34% had another musculoskeletal morbidity. Of all participants, 71% used analgesics, and 34% used more than 1 type. Analgesics were used for more than 14 days in the preceding month by most participants, with paracetamol being used most frequently (51%). Doses used were predominantly lower than the daily defined dose: 58.2% for paracetamol, 31.2% for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and 75.7% for weak opioids. Compared with participants with concomitant fibromyalgia or other musculoskeletal morbidities, participants with OA alone significantly more frequently declined to use analgesics (p < 0.01) and significantly less frequently used 2 or 3 types of analgesics (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In this population with generalized OA and musculoskeletal comorbidities, medication use was high, and more than 1 type of analgesic was frequently used. Patients with concomitant fibromyalgia or other musculoskeletal morbidities more frequently used 2 or 3 types of analgesics; however, this use was often intermittent and in low doses. Medication use on a daily basis and at higher doses may lead to improved analgesic effect.
Postoperative Complications and Health-related Quality of Life 10 Years After Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Authors: Kauppila Joonas H. , Johar Asif , Lagergren Pernilla
Published: July 2018

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of postoperative complications on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) up to 10 years after surgery for esophageal cancer.

Background:

The impact of postoperative complications on HRQOL past 5 years is unknown.

Methods:

Some 616 patients undergoing open esophageal cancer surgery between April 2, 2001 and December 31, 2005 in Sweden were enrolled in this population-based, nationwide, and prospective cohort study. Exposure was the occurrence of predefined postoperative complications, and the outcome was HRQOL evaluated by validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires at 6 months, 3, 5, and 10 years after surgery. Linear mixed models, adjusted for longitudinal HRQOL in the general population and confounders, provided mean score differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each HRQOL item and scale in patients with or without postoperative complications.

Results:

At 10 years, 104 (17%) patients were alive and 92 (88%) answered the HRQOL questionnaires. Of these, 37 (40%) had at least 1 predefined postoperative complication. Twelve of the 25 scales and items were significantly worse in patients with postoperative complications 10 years after surgery, for example, physical function (MD −15, 95% CI −24 to −7), fatigue (MD 16, 95% CI 5–26), pain (MD 18, 95% CI 7–30), dyspnea (MD 15, 95% CI 2–27), insomnia (MD 20, 95% CI 8–32), and eating problems (MD 14, 95% CI 3–24) compared to patients without complications.

Conclusions:

Postoperative complications are associated with considerably impaired HRQOL up to 10 years after esophageal cancer surgery.
Temporal development of
Drosophila
embryos is highly robust across a wide temperature range
Authors: Chong Jeronica , Amourda Christopher , Saunders Timothy E.
Published: July 2018

Development is a process precisely coordinated in both space and time. Spatial precision has been quantified in a number of developmental systems, and such data have contributed significantly to our understanding of, for example, morphogen gradient interpretation. However, comparatively little quantitative analysis has been performed on timing and temporal coordination during development. Here, we use
Drosophila
to explore the temporal robustness of embryonic development within physiologically normal temperatures. We find that development is temporally very precise across a wide range of temperatures in the three
Drosophila
species investigated. However, we find temperature dependence in the timing of developmental events. A simple model incorporating history dependence can explain the developmental temporal trajectories. Interestingly, history dependence is temperature-specific, with either effective negative or positive feedback at different temperatures. We also find that embryos are surprisingly robust to shifting temperatures during embryogenesis. We further identify differences between tropical and temperate species, potentially due to different mechanisms regulating temporal development that depend on the local environment. Our data show that
Drosophila
embryonic development is temporally robust across a wide range of temperatures. This robustness shows interesting species-specific differences that are suggestive of different sensitivity to temperature fluctuations between
Drosophila
species.
Optimizing the route for production of activated carbon fromCasuarina equisetifoliafruit waste
Authors: Ravichandran P. , Sugumaran P. , Seshadri S. , Basta Altaf H.
Published: July 2018

This work deals with optimizing the conditions of pyrolysis and type of activator to upgrade the use ofCasuarina equisetifoliafruit waste (CFW) as available and a potential precursor, in production of activated carbon (AC). In this respect, the route of activation was carried out through one- and two-step pyrolysis processes, using different chemical activating agents, such as H3PO4, KOH and ZnCl2. The performance of the CFW-based ACs is assessed by estimating the physico-chemical characteristics (pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density and hardness), surface morphology and scanning electron microscopy, together with carbon yield, surface area and adsorption performance of pollutants in aqueous medium (methylene blue, iodine and molasses colour removal efficiencies). The results show that the two-step activation process was more effective than one-step activation for providing high adsorption performance CFW-based ACs. The maximum Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area 547.89 m2 g−1was produced by using H3PO4activating agents, and applied two-step pyrolysis. According to the American Water Work Association and based on bulk density of the investigated ACs, we recommend that most of produced ACs are suitable for treating waste water.
Peptidomics of potato protein hydrolysates: implications of post-translational modifications in food peptide structure and behaviour
Authors: Yao Shixiang , Udenigwe Chibuike C.
Published: July 2018

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) often occur in proteins and play a regulatory role in protein function. There is an increasing interest in the bioactivity of food protein-derived peptides, but the occurrence of PTMs and their influence on food peptide structure and behaviour remain largely unknown. In this study, the shotgun-based peptidomics strategy was used to identify the occurrence of PTMs in peptides generated from potato protein hydrolysis using digestive proteases. Diverse PTMs were found in the potato peptides, including acetylation of lysine, N-terminal of proteins and peptides, C-terminal amidation, de-amidation of asparagine/glutamine, methylation and trimethylation, methionine oxidation and N-terminal pyro-glutamyl residue formation. The modifications may have been formed naturally or as a result of chemical reactions during isolation and enzymatic processing of the potato proteins. Most of the PTMs were calculated to decrease the isoelectric point and increase molecular hydrophobicity of the peptides, which will influence their bioactivity while also potentially altering their solubility in an aqueous environment. This is the first study to unravel that food-derived peptides can be widely modified by PTMs associated with notable changes in peptide chemical properties. The findings have broader implications on the bioavailability, biomolecular interactions and biological activities of food peptides.
Imaging of nuclear magnetic resonance spin–lattice relaxation activation energy in cartilage
Authors: Foster R. J. , Damion R. A. , Ries M. E. , Smye S. W. , McGonagle D. G. , Binks D. A. , Radjenovic A.
Published: July 2018

Samples of human and bovine cartilage have been examined using magnetic resonance imaging to determine the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spin–lattice relaxation time,
T
1
, as a function of depth within through the cartilage tissue.
T
1
was measured at five to seven temperatures between 8 and 38°C. From this, it is shown that the
T
1
relaxation time is well described by Arrhenius-type behaviour and the activation energy of the relaxation process is quantified. The activation energy within the cartilage is approximately 11 ± 2 kJ mol
−1
with this notably being less than that for both pure water (16.6 ± 0.4 kJ mol
−1
) and the phosphate-buffered solution in which the cartilage was immersed (14.7 ± 1.0 kJ mol
−1
). It is shown that this activation energy increases as a function of depth in the cartilage. It is known that cartilage composition varies with depth, and hence, these results have been interpreted in terms of the structure within the cartilage tissue and the association of the water with the macromolecular constituents of the cartilage.
The impact of nutritional quality and gut bacteria on the fitness ofBactrocera minax(Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Andongma Awawing A. , Wan Lun , Dong Xue-ping , Akami Mazarin , He Jin , Clarke Anthony R. , Niu Chang-Ying
Published: July 2018

To examine how nutritional quality and resident gut bacteria interplay in improving the fitness of an oligophagous fruit fly,Bactrocera minax, artificial sucrose diets and full diets (sucrose, tryptone and yeast extract) were fed to flies with and without antibiotic supplementation. Furthermore,Klebsiella oxytocaandCitrobacter freundiiwere supplemented to sucrose-only diets. Flies were maintained in the laboratory and the fitness parameters, male and female longevity, number of copulations and female fecundity, were recorded. Full diet without bacterial depletion significantly increased fecundity and copulation. In the absence of gut bacteria, flies fed with full diets had significantly decreased mean fecundity and copulation rate. Flies that were fed with sucrose diet had a very low copulation rate and produced no eggs. Diet type and the presence of bacteria did not have any effect on the average longevity of male and female flies. Bacterial supplementation in sucrose diets did not improve any of the measured parameters. The results demonstrate that gut bacteria interact with diet to influence mating and reproduction inB. minax. Symbiotic bacteria significantly and positively impact reproduction inB. minax; however, their impact can only be fully realized when the flies are fed with a nutritionally complete diet.
Social behaviour in bees influences the abundance of
Sodalis
(Enterobacteriaceae) symbionts
Authors: Rubin Benjamin E. R. , Sanders Jon G. , Turner Kyle M. , Pierce Naomi E. , Kocher Sarah D.
Published: July 2018

Social interactions can facilitate transmission of microbes between individuals, reducing variation in gut communities within social groups. Thus, the evolution of social behaviours and symbiont community composition have the potential to be tightly linked. We explored this connection by characterizing the diversity of bacteria associated with both eusocial and solitary bee species within the behaviourally variable family Halictidae using 16S amplicon sequencing. Contrary to expectations, we found few differences in bacterial abundance or variation between social forms; most halictid species appear to share similar gut bacterial communities. However, several strains of
Sodalis,
a genus described as a symbiont in a variety of insects but yet to be characterized in bees, differ in abundance between eusocial and solitary bees. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on whole-genome alignments indicate that
Sodalis
has independently colonized halictids at least three times. These strains appear to be mutually exclusive within individual bees, although they are not host-species-specific and no signatures of vertical transmission were observed, suggesting that
Sodalis
strains compete for access to hosts. The symbiosis between halictids and
Sodalis
therefore appears to be in its early stages.
Zinc recovery from metallurgical slag and dust by coordination leaching in NH3–CH3COONH4–H2O system
Authors: Ma Aiyuan , Zheng Xuemei , Li Song , Wang Yihong , Zhu Shan
Published: July 2018

Metallurgical slag and dust (MSD) from lead and zinc smelting, steel dust and galvanized steel scrap are important secondary sources of zinc and other valuable metals. This paper describes the production feasibility and rationality of a cleaner zinc recovery process using MSD and a hydrometallurgical method. It was found that the addition of CH3COONH4to a NH3–H2O system promotes zinc extraction, and 83.76% of zinc could be dissolved and recovered from the MSD under the following conditions: total ammonia concentration of 5 mol l−1, stirring speed of 300 r.p.m., ammonia/ammonium ratio of 1 : 1, solid/liquid ratio of 1 : 5, leaching temperature of 25°C and a leaching time of 60 min. A leaching kinetic study indicates that the leaching process is controlled by the diffusion and interface transfer and that the reaction apparent activation energy is 22.66 kJ mol−1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis showed that zinc can combine with the carboxylate anion to form Zn complexes such as [Zn2(Ac)3(NH3)2]+. Zn2SiO4, ZnS and ZnFe2O4in NH3–CH3COONH4–H2O system did not disappear according to X-ray diffraction analysis for leaching residue.
A transition from SoxB1 to SoxE transcription factors is essential for progression from pluripotent blastula cells to neural crest cells
Authors: Buitrago-Delgado Elsy , Schock Elizabeth N. , Nordin Kara , LaBonne Carole
Published: July 2018

The neural crest is a stem cell population unique to vertebrate embryos that gives rise to derivatives from multiple embryonic germ layers. The molecular underpinnings of potency that govern neural crest potential are highly conserved with that of pluripotent blastula stem cells, suggesting that neural crest cells may have evolved through retention of aspects of the pluripotency gene regulatory network (GRN). A striking difference in the regulatory factors utilized in pluripotent blastula cells and neural crest cells is the deployment of different subfamilies of Sox transcription factors; SoxB1 factors play central roles in the pluripotency of naïve blastula and ES cells, whereas neural crest cells require SoxE function. Here we explore the shared and distinct activities of these factors to shed light on the role that this molecular hand-off of Sox factor activity plays in the genesis of neural crest and the lineages derived from it. Our findings provide evidence that SoxB1 and SoxE factors have both overlapping and distinct activities in regulating pluripotency and lineage restriction in the embryo. We hypothesize that SoxE factors may transiently replace SoxB1 factors to control pluripotency in neural crest cells, and then poise these cells to contribute to glial, chondrogenic and melanocyte lineages at stages when SoxB1 factors promote neuronal progenitor formation.
Selection of an Appropriate Empiric Antibiotic Regimen in Culture-Negative Hematogenous Vertebral Osteomyelitis
Authors: Park Ki-Ho , Kim Dong Youn , Lee Yu-Mi , Lee Mi Suk , Kang Kyung-Chung , Lee Jung Hee , Park Seong Yeon , Moon Chisook , Chong Yong Pil , Kim Sung-Han , Lee Sang-Oh , Choi Sang-Ho , Kim Yang Soo , Woo Jun Hee , Bae In-Gyu , Cho Oh-Hyun
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to determine which antibiotic combinations are appropriate for culture-negative hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis (HVO), based on the antibiotic-susceptibility pattern of organisms isolated from cases of culture-proven HVO. We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients with microbiologically proven HVO in five tertiary-care hospitals over a 7-year period. The appropriateness of empiric antibiotic regimens was assessed based on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of isolated bacteria. In total, 358 cases of microbiologically proven HVO were identified. The main causative pathogens identified were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (33.5%), followed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (24.9%), aerobic gram-negative bacteria (21.8%), and Streptococcus species (11.7%). Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes accounted for only 1.7% and 1.4%, respectively, of the causative pathogens. Based on the susceptibility results of isolated organisms, levofloxacin plus rifampicin was appropriate in 73.5%, levofloxacin plus clindamycin in 71.2%, and amoxicillin-clavulanate plus ciprofloxacin in 64.5% of cases. These oral combinations were more appropriate for treating community-acquired HVO (85.8%, 84.0%, and 80.4%, respectively) than healthcare-associated HVO (52.6%, 49.6%, and 37.6%, respectively). Vancomycin combined with ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, or cefepime was similarly appropriate (susceptibility rates of 93.0%, 94.1%, 95.8%, and 95.8%, respectively). In conclusion, in a setting with a high prevalence of MRSA HVO, oral antibiotic combinations may be suboptimal for treatment of culture-negative HVO and should be used only in patients with community-acquired HVO. Vancomycin combined with fluoroquinolone or a broad-spectrum cephalosporin was appropriate in most cases of HVO in this study.
Chemical Characterization of Interacting Genes in Few Subnetworks of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sengupta Antara , Manners Hazel Nicolette , Choudhury Pabitra Pal , Roy Swarup
Published: July 2018

A number of genes have been identified as a key player in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Topological analysis of co-expression network reveals that key genes are mostly central or hub genes. The association between a hub gene and its neighbour genes can be derived easily using relative abundance of their expression levels. However, it is still unexplored fact that whether any hub and its neighbour genes within a sub-network exhibits any kind of proximity with respect to their chemical properties of the DNA sequences or not, that code for a sequence of amino acids.

In this work, we try to make a quantitative investigation of the underlying biological facts in DNA sequential and primary protein level in mathematical paradigm. It may gives a holistic view of the interrelationships existing between hub genes and neighbour genes in few selective AD subnetworks. We define a mapping model from physicochemical properties of DNA sequence to chemical characterization of amino acid sequences. We use distribution of chemical groups present in a sequence after decoding into corresponding amino acids to investigate the fact that whether any hub genes are associated closely with its neighbour genes chemically in the subnetworks. Interestingly, our preliminary results confirm the fact the dependent genes that are coexpressed with its hub gene are also having proximity with respect to their amino acid chemical group distributions.

CCS Concepts

•Applied computing → Computational genomics;
The Genetic Landscape of Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
Authors: Ulirsch Jacob C. , Verboon Jeffrey M. , Kazerounian Shideh , Guo Michael H. , Yuan Daniel , Ludwig Leif S. , Handsaker Robert E. , Abdulhay Nour J. , Fiorini Claudia , Genovese Giulio , Lim Elaine T. , Cheng Aaron , Cummings Beryl B. , Chao Katherine R. , Beggs Alan H. , Genetti Casie A. , Sieff Colin A. , Newburger Peter E. , Niewiadomska Edyta , Matysiak Michal , Vlachos Adrianna , Lipton Jeffrey M. , Atsidaftos Eva , Glader Bertil , Narla Anupama , Gleizes Pierre-Emmanuel , O’Donohue Marie-Françoise , Montel-Lehry Nathalie , Amor David J. , McCarroll Steven A. , O’Donnell-Luria Anne H. , Gupta Namrata , Gabriel Stacey B. , MacArthur Daniel G. , Lander Eric S. , Lek Monkol , Da Costa Lydie , Nathan David. G. , Korostelev Andrei K. , Do Ron , Sankaran Vijay G. , Gazda Hanna T.
Published: July 2018

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare bone marrow failure disorder that affects 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 live births and has been associated with mutations in components of the ribosome. In order to characterize the genetic landscape of this genetically heterogeneous disorder, we recruited a cohort of 472 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of DBA and performed whole exome sequencing (WES). Overall, we identified rare and predicted damaging mutations in likely causal genes for 78% of individuals. The majority of mutations were singletons, absent from population databases, predicted to cause loss of function, and in one of 19 previously reported genes encoding for a diverse set of ribosomal proteins (RPs). Using WES exon coverage estimates, we were able to identify and validate 31 deletions in DBA associated genes. We also observed an enrichment for extended splice site mutations and validated the diverse effects of these mutations using RNA sequencing in patientderived cell lines. Leveraging the size of our cohort, we observed several robust genotype-phenotype associations with congenital abnormalities and treatment outcomes. In addition to comprehensively identifying mutations in known genes, we further identified rare mutations in 7 previously unreported RP genes that may cause DBA. We also identified several distinct disorders that appear to phenocopy DBA, including 9 individuals with biallelicCECR1mutations that result in deficiency of ADA2. However, no new genes were identified at exome-wide significance, suggesting that there are no unidentified genes containing mutations readily identified by WES that explain > 5% of DBA cases. Overall, this comprehensive report should not only inform clinical practice for DBA patients, but also the design and analysis of future rare variant studies for heterogeneous Mendelian disorders.
Smart bone plates can monitor fracture healing
Authors: Lin Monica C. , Hu Diane , Marmor Meir , Herfat Safa T. , Bahney Chelsea S. , Maharbiz Michel M.
Published: July 2018

One Sentence Summary

Electrical impedance measurements using microscale sensors implanted in two mouse fracture models tracked longitudinal differences between individual mice with proper healing and mice experiencing poor healing, laying the groundwork for translation to the clinic through integration into fracture fixation implants (i.e. instrumented bone plates).

There are currently no standardized methods for monitoring fracture healing. While histological studies can clearly identify the tissues found in the four stages of repair, in practice surgeons rely on X-ray, which is only useful at later stages of healing after mineralization has occurred. As electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has previously been used to distinguish tissue types during healing, we hypothesized that microscale sensors embedded in the fracture callus could track the changing tissue with high sensitivity. Using in vivo mouse fracture models, we present the first evidence that microscale instrumented implants provide a route for post-operative fracture monitoring. In this study, we implanted sensors in mouse long bone fractures fixed with either external fixators or bone plates. EIS measurements taken across two electrodes implanted in the fracture gap were able to track longitudinal differences between individual mice with proper healing and mice experiencing poor healing. We additionally present an equivalent circuit model that combines the EIS data in order to classify healing states of fractures. Lastly, we show that EIS measures are strongly correlated with standard µCT measures of healing and that these correlations validate clinically-relevant operating frequencies for implementation of this technique. The data from these two models demonstrate that this technique can be translated to the clinic through integration into current fracture management strategies such as bone plating, providing physicians with quantitative information about the state of a fracture to guide clinical decision-making for patients.