bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid alteration of serum interleukin‐6 levels may predict the reactivity of i.v. cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Numajiri Hiroko , Yoshizaki Ayumi , Fukasawa Takemichi , Ebata Satoshi , Nakamura Kouki , Yamashita Takashi , Saigusa Ryosuke , Miura Syunsuke , Hirabayashi Megumi , Yoshizaki Asako , Sumida Hayakazu , Asano Yoshihide , Kazoe Yutaka , Mawatari Kazuma , Kitamori Takehiko , Sato Shinichi
Published: July 2018

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Although SSc‐associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most important complications as a cause of death in SSc, prediction factors of treatment reactivity in SSc‐ILD are still unclear. To assess relationships between interleukin (IL)‐6 and reactivity to treatment, we measured serum IL‐6 levels in 23 of active SSc‐ILD patients under i.v. cyclophosphamide (IVCY) therapy and 20 of stabilized SSc‐ILD, using the high‐sensitivity enzyme‐linked immunoassay system. Serum IL‐6 levels in active SSc‐ILD patients were significantly higher than those in stabilized SSc‐ILD patients. Among active SSc‐ILD patients, baseline serum IL‐6 levels were not significantly different between IVCY responders and non‐responders. Meanwhile, serum IL‐6 levels after three IVCY doses out of a total of six were decreased in responders but not in non‐responders. Regarding changes of parameters by the three doses of a total of six of IVCY, change in serum IL‐6 levels correlated inversely with that in values of pulmonary function test. Thus, the rapid decrease in serum IL‐6 levels during a couple of doses may predict the efficacy of IVCY therapy against SSc‐ILD.
Research note: the effect of strain amplitude produced by ultrasonic waves on its velocity
Authors: Nourifard Nazanin , Lebedev Maxim
Published: July 2018

The effect of the amplitude of ultrasonic waves propagating through a sample is not often taken into account in laboratory experiments. However, ultrasonic waves can produce relatively large strain inside the sample, and thus change the properties of the sample. To investigate the effect of strain amplitude on the P‐wave velocity, a series of ultrasonic wave propagation experiments were carried out on three different media. All measurements were performed at 1 MHz central frequency and at the strain levels inside propagating waves of  ∼3.0 × 10−6 to 6.0 × 10−5 without applying confining pressure to the sample. Strains in the waves were measured by a laser Doppler interferometer upon wave arrival on a free surface of the sample. The ultrasonic velocities were measured by a pair of P‐wave transducers located at the same measuring point as the laser beam of the LDI. The effect of strain on P‐wave velocity varied for different material. The P‐wave velocity was calculated using both a first arrival and a first maximum peak at different applied voltage. The P‐wave velocity remained unchanged for a pure elastic medium (aluminium); however, the velocity increased continuously with the increasing of the strain for polymethylmethacrylate and Gosford sandstone. For Gosford sandstone, velocity increases up to 0.8% with strain increase from 7.0 × 10−6 to 2.0 × 10−5. This effect of velocity increase with the strain induced by an ultrasonic wave can be explained by the in‐elasticity of both the polymethylmethacrylate and Gosford sandstone samples.
A novel approach to determining dynamic nitrogen thresholds for seagrass conservation
Authors: Fernandes Milena B. , van Gils Jos , Erftemeijer Paul L. A. , Daly Rob , Gonzalez Dennis , Rouse Karen
Published: July 2018

Seagrass decline is often related to eutrophication, with sudden and drastic losses attributed to tipping points in nutrient loads. The identification of these threshold loads is an important step in the sustainable management of nutrient discharges.

In this study, a novel methodological approach is presented to simulate the spatial and temporal dynamics of coastal nitrogen loads and its relationship with seagrass loss. The analysis allows the identification of nitrogen thresholds associated with the loss of Posidonia and Amphibolis spp. in Adelaide, South Australia.

The identified thresholds varied between 0.8 and 1.1 t N km−2 over 6 months and explained up to 95% of all seagrass losses in the region.

Posidonia spp. was predominantly lost nearshore, indicating a threshold for this species in the higher end of the values reported here. In contrast, Amphibolis spp. were selectively lost further offshore, suggesting a lower threshold for the onset of fragmentation and decline.

Nitrogen pressure was concentrated over the wetter months of the year between late autumn and early spring. Pulsed pressure peaking in August likely affected thresholds by reducing resilience in the system.

Synthesis and applications. This study derives, for the first time, nitrogen load thresholds for the loss of the seagrasses Posidonia and Amphibolis spp., highlighting the low tolerance of these keystone temperate species to nitrogen pressure. The methodology developed as part of the work provides a tool to inform planning and improved management of nutrient discharges from land to facilitate seagrass conservation.
Microbial responses to inorganic nutrient amendment overridden by warming: Consequences on soil carbon stability
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Ding Junjun , Sun Bo , Zhang Junyu , Wyckoff Kristen N. , Yue Haowei , Zhao Mengxin , Liang Yuting , Wang Xiaoyue , Wen Chongqing , Zhou Jizhong , Yang Yunfeng
Published: July 2018

Eutrophication and climate warming, induced by anthropogenic activities, are simultaneously occurring worldwide and jointly affecting soil carbon stability. Therefore, it is of great interest to examine whether and how they interactively affect soil microbial community, a major soil carbon driver. Here, we showed that climate warming, simulated by southward transferring Mollisol soil in agricultural ecosystems from the cold temperate climate zone (N) to warm temperate climate (C) and subtropical climate zone (S), decreased soil organic matter (SOM) by 6%–12%. In contrast, amendment with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium enhanced plant biomass by 97% and SOM by 6% at the N site, thus stimulating copiotrophic taxa but reducing oligotrophic taxa in relative abundance. However, microbial responses to nutrient amendment were overridden by soil transfer in that nutrient amendment had little effect at the C site but increased recalcitrant carbon‐degrading fungal Agaricomycetes and Microbotryomycetes taxa derived from Basidiomycota by 4‐17 folds and recalcitrant carbon‐degrading genes by 23%–40% at the S site, implying a possible priming effect. Consequently, SOM at the S site was not increased by nutrient amendment despite increased plant biomass by 108%. Collectively, we demonstrate that soil transfer to warmer regions overrides microbial responses to nutrient amendment and weakens soil carbon sequestration.
Spatial scaling of forest soil microbial communities across a temperature gradient
Authors: Deng Ye , Ning Daliang , Qin Yujia , Xue Kai , Wu Liyou , He Zhili , Yin Huaqun , Liang Yuting , Buzzard Vanessa , Michaletz Sean T. , Zhou Jizhong
Published: July 2018

Temperature is an important correlate of global patterns of biodiversity, yet the mechanisms driving these relationships are not well understood. Taxa‐area relationships (TARs) have been intensively examined, but the effects of temperature on TARs, particularly for microbial communities, are largely undocumented. Here we present a continental‐scale description of temperature‐dependent nested TARs of microbial communities (bacteria and archaea) from soils of six forest sites spanning a temperature gradient from subalpine Colorado to tropical Panama. Our results revealed that spatial scaling rates (z‐values) of microbial communities varied with both taxonomic resolutions and phylogenetic groups. Additionally, microbial TAR z‐values increased with temperature (r = 0.739, P < 0.05), but were not correlated with other environmental variables tested (P > 0.05), indicating that microbial spatial scaling rate is temperature‐dependent. Understanding how temperature affects the spatial scaling of microbial biodiversity is of fundamental importance for preservation of soil biodiversity and management of ecosystems.
Structure and function of high Arctic pelagic, particle‐associated and benthic bacterial communities
Authors: Balmonte John Paul , Teske Andreas , Arnosti Carol
Published: July 2018

Arctic marine microbes are affected by environmental changes that may ultimately influence their functions in carbon cycling. Here, we investigated in concert the structure and enzymatic activities of pelagic, particle‐associated and benthic bacterial communities in the central Arctic Ocean, and used these data to evaluate microbial structure–function relationships. Our findings showed influences of hydrographic conditions and particle association on community composition, and sharp pelagic‐benthic contrasts. In addition to community compositional differences, regional and depth‐related patterns in enzymatic activities were observed. Peptide hydrolysis rates were highest in surface waters, especially at ice‐free and first year ice‐covered regions, and decreased with depth. While the range of hydrolysed polysaccharides showed varying geographic patterns, particles often showed a wider spectrum of polysaccharide hydrolase activities. Summed benthic peptidase rates differed across stations but showed similar proportions of individual enzyme activities. Analysing for potential linkages between structure and function after subtracting the effect of environmental conditions revealed no direct link, indicating functional redundancy to carry out peptide hydrolysis among pelagic microbes. Thus, while community composition and activities are influenced by environmental conditions, bacterial functional redundancy suggests that compositional shifts – in response to the changing Arctic – may have complex and less predictable functional consequences than previously anticipated. © 2018 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Exploring plant‐microbe interactions of the rhizobacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus mycoides by use of the CRISPR‐Cas9 system
Authors: Yi Yanglei , Li Zhibo , Song Chunxu , Kuipers Oscar P.
Published: July 2018

Bacillus subtilis HS3 and Bacillus mycoides EC18 are two rhizosphere‐associated bacteria with plant growth‐promoting activity. The CRISPR‐Cas9 system was implemented to study various aspects of plant‐microbe interaction mechanisms of these two environmental isolates. The results show that fengycin and surfactin are involved in the antifungal activity of B. subtilis HS3. Moreover, this strain emits several other volatile organic compounds than 2,3‐butanediol, contributing to plant growth promotion. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations of the GFP‐labelled strain showed that HS3 selectively colonizes root hairs of grass (Lolium perenne) in a hydroponic system. For B. mycoides EC18, we found that the wild‐type EC18 strain and a ΔasbA (petropectin‐deficient) mutant, but not the ΔdhbB (bacillibactin‐deficient) and ADKO (asbA and dhbB double knockout) mutants, can increase the plant biomass and total chlorophyll. All the mutant strains have a reduced colonization capability on Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) roots, at the root tip and root hair region compared with the wild‐type strain. These results indicate that the siderophore, bacillibactin, is involved in the plant growth promoting activity and could affect the root colonization of B. mycoides. Collectively, the CRISPR‐Cas9 system we developed for environmental isolates is broadly applicable and will facilitate deciphering the mechanisms of Bacillus‐plant interactions. © 2018 The Authors.
Evidence of differential adaptation to decreased temperature by anammox bacteria
Authors: Lin Ximao , Wang Yayi , Ma Xiao , Yan Yuan , Wu Min , Bond Philip L. , Guo Jianhua
Published: July 2018

Low temperature is recognized as one of the major barriers for the application of the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process to treat mainstream wastewater. Studies are yet to reveal the underlying biological limitations and molecular mechanisms associated with the inhibition of low temperature on the anammox process. In this study, metaproteomics was used to examine proteome modulation patterns of the anammox community occurring at different temperatures. The anammox community remarkably altered their proteomes when the temperature decreased from 35 °C to 20 °C. This was especially for proteins involved in energy conversion, transcription and translation and inorganic ion transport. However, at 15 °C the anammox activities became distinctly inhibited, and there was evidence of energy limitations and severe stress in Candidatus Kuenenia and to a lesser degree in Candidatus Brocadia. Candidatus Jettenia exhibited more changes in its proteome at 15 °C. From the proteomes, at the lower temperatures there was evidence of stress caused by toxic nitrogen compounds or reactive oxygen species in the anammox bacteria. Hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO)‐like proteins and an oxidative stress response protein (a catalase) were in high abundance to potentially ameliorate these inhibitory effects. This study offers metaproteomic insight into the anammox community‐based physiological response to decreasing temperatures.
Community dynamics and functional characteristics of naphthalene‐degrading populations in contaminated surface sediments and hypoxic/anoxic groundwater
Authors: Wilhelm Roland C. , Hanson Buck T. , Chandra Subhash , Madsen Eugene
Published: July 2018

Earlier research on the biogeochemical factors affecting natural attenuation in coal‐tar contaminated groundwater, at South Glens Falls, NY, revealed the importance of anaerobic metabolism and trophic interactions between degrader and bacterivore populations. Field‐based characterizations of both phenomena have proven challenging, but advances in stable isotope probing (SIP), single‐cell imaging and shotgun metagenomics now provide cultivation‐independent tools for their study. We tracked carbon from 13C‐labelled naphthalene through microbial populations in contaminated surface sediments over 6 days using respiration assays, secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging and shotgun metagenomics to disentangle the contaminant‐based trophic web. Contaminant‐exposed communities in hypoxic/anoxic groundwater were contrasted with those from oxic surface sediments to identify putative features of anaerobic catabolism of naphthalene. In total, six bacteria were responsible for naphthalene degradation. Cupriavidus, Ralstonia and Sphingomonas predominated at the earliest stages of SIP incubations and were succeeded in later stages by Stenotrophomonas and Rhodococcus. Metagenome‐assembled genomes provided evidence for the ecological and functional characteristics underlying these temporal shifts. Identical species of Stenotrophomonas and Rhodococcus were abundant in the most contaminated, anoxic groundwater. Apparent increases in bacterivorous protozoa were observed following exposure to naphthalene, though insignificant amounts of carbon were transferred between bacterial degraders and populations of secondary feeders.
Metagenome analysis of Russian and Georgian Pyophage cocktails and a placebo‐controlled safety trial of single phage versus phage cocktail in healthy Staphylococcus aureus carriers
Authors: McCallin Shawna , Sarker Shafiqul A. , Sultana Shamima , Oechslin Frank , Brüssow Harald
Published: July 2018

Bacteriophage therapy is a commonly used treatment for Staphylococcus aureus infections in countries of the former Soviet Union, using both single phages and phage cocktails. The scarce data available on Eastern phage cocktails prompted an investigation into commercially‐available Pyophage cocktails from two different manufacturers used to treat skin and wound infections. Comparison of the metagenomic composition of two Pyophage products from Georgia and Russia revealed substantial differences in phage‐types targeting Escherichia, Enterococcus, Salmonella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus, therefore indicating multiple strategies for composing phage cocktails against these bacterial pathogens. Closely‐related Kayvirus‐like Myoviruses were, however, a shared component against S. aureus within all products, except for the inclusion of a secondary S. aureus Podovirus in one Microgen cocktail. Metagenomic analysis also revealed the presence of several probable prophage sequences but detected no genetic safety risks in terms of virulence factors or antibiotic resistance genes. The safety of broad‐spectrum cocktails was tested by comparing the effects of nasal and oral exposure to Eliava Pyophage, a monospecies counterpart and placebo in healthy human carriers of S. aureus. The lack of adverse effects in any treatment groups supports the clinical safety of S. aureus phages administered as a single phage or as phage cocktail.
Temporal and spatial dynamics in microbial community composition within a temperate stream network
Authors: Hassell Norman , Tinker Kara A. , Moore Thomas , Ottesen Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2018

The water column of streams hosts a unique microbial community that is distinct from the microbial communities of the stream benthos and surrounding soil. This community is shaped by complex interacting forces, including microbial dispersal from surrounding environments and in‐stream selection. However, how the processes structuring stream communities change over space and time remains poorly understood. In this study, we characterize spatial and temporal trends in microbial community composition throughout a stream network spanning first through fifth order streams. We found that the microbial communities of headwater streams are compositionally diverse, with low representation of freshwater microbial taxa and high representation of soil and sediment‐associated taxa. In three out of five seasonal samplings, a successional pattern was identified in which phylotype richness and compositional heterogeneity decreased while the proportion of known freshwater taxa increased with increasing cumulative upstream dendritic distance. However, in two samplings, streams instead exhibited uniformly high microbial diversity across the watershed, and the fraction of freshwater taxa showed no relationship with dendritic distance. Overall, our data suggest that the successional processes that drive microbial diversity in streams are highly dynamic and can be disrupted at landscape scales, potentially in response to variation in temperature and precipitation.
The Inhibition of Advanced Glycation End Products by Carnosine and Other Natural Dipeptides to Reduce Diabetic and Age‐Related Complications
Authors: Freund Michael A. , Chen Bingcan , Decker Eric A.
Published: July 2018

As people age they are at a greater risk for many disorders including cardiovascular, renal, and neurodegenerative diseases, and these conditions are exacerbated by diabetes. An important cause of the maladies associated with both age and diabetes is the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGE formation is initiated by glycation reactions between reducing sugars and free amine groups. A cascade of other reactions follows, leading to alterations in membrane function and damage to the proteome, such as protein crosslinking. Compounds that prevent these reactions are currently being researched, but peptides hold great potential as they tend to lack toxicity, are absorbed intact, are easily produced, and are cheaper than other options. Of the peptides researched, carnosine is the most promising. Research suggests that carnosine is absorbed into the plasma unaltered and intact. Carnosine has been shown to prevent AGE formations through reduction of blood glucose, prevention of early glycation, and even reversing previously formed AGEs. Other promising peptides and amino acids include β‐alanine, L‐histidine, homocarnosine, anserine, and glutathione. If bioactive peptides and amino acids can minimize the formation of AGEs, foods containing these peptides could be used to improve health.
Increased transport of acetyl‐CoA into the endoplasmic reticulum causes a progeria‐like phenotype
Authors: Peng Yajing , Shapiro Samantha L. , Banduseela Varuna C. , Dieterich Inca A. , Hewitt Kyle J. , Bresnick Emery H. , Kong Guangyao , Zhang Jing , Schueler Kathryn L. , Keller Mark P. , Attie Alan D. , Hacker Timothy A. , Sullivan Ruth , Kielar‐Grevstad Elle , Arriola Apelo Sebastian I. , Lamming Dudley W. , Anderson Rozalyn M. , Puglielli Luigi
Published: July 2018

The membrane transporter AT‐1/SLC33A1 translocates cytosolic acetyl‐CoA into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), participating in quality control mechanisms within the secretory pathway. Mutations and duplication events in AT‐1/SLC33A1 are highly pleiotropic and have been linked to diseases such as spastic paraplegia, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, propensity to seizures, and dysmorphism. Despite these known associations, the biology of this key transporter is only beginning to be uncovered. Here, we show that systemic overexpression of AT‐1 in the mouse leads to a segmental form of progeria with dysmorphism and metabolic alterations. The phenotype includes delayed growth, short lifespan, alopecia, skin lesions, rectal prolapse, osteoporosis, cardiomegaly, muscle atrophy, reduced fertility, and anemia. In terms of homeostasis, the AT‐1 overexpressing mouse displays hypocholesterolemia, altered glycemia, and increased indices of systemic inflammation. Mechanistically, the phenotype is caused by a block in Atg9a‐Fam134b‐LC3β and Atg9a‐Sec62‐LC3β interactions, and defective reticulophagy, the autophagic recycling of the ER. Inhibition of ATase1/ATase2 acetyltransferase enzymes downstream of AT‐1 restores reticulophagy and rescues the phenotype of the animals. These data suggest that inappropriately elevated acetyl‐CoA flux into the ER directly induces defects in autophagy and recycling of subcellular structures and that this diversion of acetyl‐CoA from cytosol to ER is causal in the progeria phenotype. Collectively, these data establish the cytosol‐to‐ER flux of acetyl‐CoA as a novel event that dictates the pace of aging phenotypes and identify intracellular acetyl‐CoA‐dependent homeostatic mechanisms linked to metabolism and inflammation.
Leukocyte telomere length in the Thoroughbred racehorse
Authors: Denham J. , Denham M. M.
Published: July 2018

Thoroughbred racehorses possess superior cardiorespiratory fitness levels and are at the pinnacle of athletic performance compared to other breeds of horses. Although equine athletes have undergone years of artificial selection for racing performance, musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses are common and concerns relating to animal welfare have been proposed. Leukocyte telomere length is indicative of biological age, and accelerated telomere shortening occurs with excess physical and psychological stress. This study was designed to explore the association between leukocyte telomere length, biological factors (age, sex and coat colour), training status, winnings and race history parameters. Blood was collected from 146 Thoroughbred racehorses from around Geelong, Victoria, Australia. DNA was extracted from leukocytes; telomere length was measured using qPCR and analysed in context with traits obtained from the Racing Australia website. Age was inversely correlated with telomere length (r = −0.194, P = 0.019). The oldest horses (≥11 years) in the highest age quartile possessed shorter telomeres compared to younger horses in the first, second and third quartiles (≤2, 3–5 and 6–10 years respectively; P < 0.05). No statistically significant associations were observed between telomere length and biological factors, training status, winnings or race history parameters in age‐adjusted analyses. The study findings suggest that Thoroughbred horses may undergo age‐related telomere shortening similar to other mixed breeds and humans. Despite concerns from some quarters regarding the welfare of racehorses, there was a lack of accelerated biological ageing observed in the present study, as indicated by leukocyte telomere length.
Seroprevalence of antibodies to Pestivirus infections in South Australian sheep flocks
Authors: Evans CA , Lanyon SR , O’Handley RM , Reichel MP , Cockcroft PD
Published: July 2018

Objective

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV) are of the genus Pestivirus. They are known to cause significant reproductive and production losses, with BVDV acknowledged as a major source of economic loss to the Australian cattle industry. Very little is currently known about the prevalence and effect of pestiviruses in the Australian sheep industry. The present study aimed to examine the seroprevalence and effect of both BVDV and BDV in South Australian sheep flocks.

Methods

In total, 875 breeding ewes on 29 properties were serologically tested by ELISA, AGID and VNT assays for the presence of Pestivirus‐specific antibodies.

Results

Three (0.34%) individual animals returned serological results suggestive of previous BDV infection. All three positive animals were collected from one property, giving a property level seroprevalence of 3.45% and a within‐flock seroprevalence of 10%.

Conclusion

The results suggested that BDV infection is present, albeit at a very low incidence, in the South Australian sheep flock and BVDV infection appears to be absent. Consequently, pestiviruses are unlikely to impair production in South Australian sheep populations.
A Non‐Proxied Empirical Investigation of Cultures Effect on Corruption
Authors: Mornah Dekuwmini , Macdermott Raymond J.
Published: July 2018

We empirically examine the effect of two measures of culture, the World Values Survey and Hofstede's six dimensions, on three measures of corruption, Transparency International's CPI, the International Country Risk Guide, and the World Bank's Corruption Index. By adopting three measures of corruption and using a large data set covering many countries over many years, we offer more robust results as to the effects of aspects of culture on corruption. Using the World Values Survey, we find that Trust in society, Control over one's destiny and Respect for others decrease corruption while Obedience increases corruption. We find strong evidence that societies characterized by high Power Distance and Masculinity are more corrupt. Some evidence is found to indicate Long Term Orientation, Indulgence, and Individualism have a negative effect on corruption. The effect of Uncertainty Avoidance on corruption is unclear. The results have implications for international business leaders as well as policy makers.
University Mission Statements and Sustainability Performance
Authors: Lopez Yvette P. , Martin William F.
Published: July 2018

This paper examines the relationship between university mission statements and sustainability practices by institutions of higher education. We examine mission statement constructs and the degree to which higher educational institutions meet specific sustainability criteria in line with the College Sustainability Report Card. Our sample consists of 347 universities from the Sustainable Endowment Institute's (2011) Green Report Card. Previous research suggests that mission statements are essential for superior organizational performance outcomes. We examine the relationship between university mission statement content and sustainability practices. Findings indicate that the greater the number of specific terms used in the university mission statements, the higher the statistical likelihood that those universities had higher sustainability ratings. Findings also indicate that private institutions and nonreligious‐affiliated institutions are more likely to include sustainability constructs in their mission statements than colleges and universities with religious affiliation and public institutions. Several propositions to guide future research are discussed.
A step ahead: Exploring the gut microbiota in inpatients with bipolar disorder during a depressive episode
Authors: Painold Annamaria , Mörkl Sabrina , Kashofer Karl , Halwachs Bettina , Dalkner Nina , Bengesser Susanne , Birner Armin , Fellendorf Frederike , Platzer Martina , Queissner Robert , Schütze Gregor , Schwarz Markus J. , Moll Natalie , Holzer Peter , Holl Anna K. , Kapfhammer Hans‐Peter , Gorkiewicz Gregor , Reininghaus Eva Z.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

There is evidence that the gut microbiota plays a major role in the pathogenesis of diseases of the central nervous system through the gut–brain axis. The aim of the present study was to analyze gut microbiota composition in bipolar disorder (BD) and its relation to inflammation, serum lipids, oxidative stress, tryptophan (TRP)/kynurenine (KYN) levels, anthropometric measurements and parameters of metabolic syndrome. Further, microbial community differences of individuals with BD compared with healthy controls (HC) were explored.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples from 32 BD individuals and 10 HC. Laboratory parameters included inflammatory markers, serum lipids, KYN, oxidative stress and anthropometric measures. Microbial community analysis and correlation to clinical parameters was performed with QIIME, differential abundance analysis of taxa encompassed linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe).

Results

We found a negative correlation between microbial alpha‐diversity and illness duration in BD (R = −0.408, P = 0.021). Furthermore, we identified bacterial clades associated with inflammatory status, serum lipids, TRP, depressive symptoms, oxidative stress, anthropometrics and metabolic syndrome in individuals with BD. LEfSe identified the phylum Actinobacteria (LDA= 4.82, P = 0.007) and the class Coriobacteria (LDA= 4.75, P = 0.010) as significantly more abundant in BD when compared with HC, and Ruminococcaceae (LDA= 4.59, P = 0.018) and Faecalibacterium (LDA= 4.09, P = 0.039) as more abundant in HC when compared with BD.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that causes and/or consequences of BD may also lie outside the brain. Exploratory research of the gut microbiota in affective disorders like BD may identify previously unknown underlying causes, and offer new research and therapeutic approaches to mood disorders.
Increasing mortality gap for patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder—A nationwide study with 20 years of follow‐up
Authors: Staudt Hansen Pernille , Frahm Laursen Mathilde , Grøntved Simon , Puggard Vogt Straszek Sune , Licht Rasmus W. , Nielsen René Ernst
Published: July 2018

Objectives

The primary aim of this study was to examine whether the mortality of patients with bipolar disorder has increased over the past two decades as compared with the background population.

Methods

All patients registered with a bipolar disorder diagnosis in the Danish Psychiatric Research Registry from 1965 until the end of 2014, living in Denmark, alive and below the age of 65 years in the study period from 1995 to 2014 were included. Included patients reaching the age of 65 years during the study period were censored at that time point. Overall standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for each calendar year over the study period, and trends in SMR over the study period were examined using linear regression. In addition, the SMRs were stratified according to age groups.

Results

Patients with bipolar disorder had an overall elevated mortality rate relative to the general population with an SMR of 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.8–2.9. The highest SMR was found among the youngest (15–29 years: 8.2, 95% CI: 6.7–10.1; 30–34 years: 7.7, 95% CI: 6.4–9.3; 35–39 years: 6.2, 95% CI: 5.4–7.2; 40–44 years: 4.6, 95% CI: 4.1–5.1; 45–49 years: 3.5, 95% CI: 3.3–3.8; 50–54 years: 3.2, 95% CI: 3.0–3.4; 55–59 years: 2.7, 95% CI: 2.6–2.8; and 60–64 years: 2.2, 95% CI: 2.1–2.3). An increase in SMR of 0.03 per year in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (P < 0.01) was found.

Conclusions

The mortality gap between patients with bipolar disorder and the general Danish population has widened over the past two decades, which is a cause for concern, although reasons for the increasing mortality gap are unknown.
Social value, clinical equipoise, and research in a public health emergency
Authors: London Alex John
Published: July 2018

The 2016 CIOMS International ethical guidelines for health‐related research involving humans states that ‘health‐related research should form an integral part of disaster response’ and that, ‘widespread emergency use [of unproven interventions] with inadequate data collection about patient outcomes must therefore be avoided’ (Guideline 20). This position is defended against two lines of criticism that emerged during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. One holds that desperately ill patients have a moral right to try unvalidated medical interventions (UMIs) and that it is therefore unethical to restrict access to UMIs to the clinical trial context. The second holds that clinical trials in contexts of high‐mortality diseases are morally suspect because equipoise does not exist between a standard of care that offers little prospect of clinical benefit and a UMI that might offer some clinical advantage.
Sufficient Dimension Reduction via Random-Partitions for the Large-p-Small-n Problem
Authors: Hung Hung , Huang Su-Yun
Published: July 2018

Sufficient dimension reduction (SDR) continues to be an active field of research. When estimating the central subspace (CS), inverse regression based SDR methods involve solving a generalized eigenvalue problem, which can be problematic under the large-p-small-n situation. In recent years, new techniques have emerged in numerical linear algebra, called randomized algorithms or random sketching, for high-dimensional and large scale problems. To overcome the large-p-small-n SDR problem, we combine the idea of statistical inference with random sketching to propose a new SDR method, called integrated random-partition SDR (iRP-SDR). Our method consists of the following three steps: (i) Randomly partition the covariates into subsets to construct an envelope subspace with low dimension. (ii) Obtain a sketch of the CS by applying a conventional SDR method within the constructed envelope subspace. (iii) Repeat the above two steps many times and integrate these multiple sketches to form the final estimate of the CS. After describing the details of these steps, the asymptotic properties of iRP-SDR are established. Unlike existing methods, iRP-SDR does not involve the determination of the structural dimension until the last stage, which makes it more adaptive to a high-dimensional setting. The advantageous performance of iRP-SDR is demonstrated via simulation studies and a practical example analyzing EEG data.
Needs of parents and professionals to improve shared decision‐making in interprofessional maternity care practice: A qualitative study
Authors: Molenaar Joyce , Korstjens Irene , Hendrix Marijke , de Vries Raymond , Nieuwenhuijze Marianne
Published: July 2018

Background

Shared decision‐making (SDM) is a critical but challenging component of high quality maternity care. In co‐creation with parents and professionals, we are developing an intervention to improve SDM. As a first step we aimed to explore the experiences and needs of parents and professionals regarding shared decision‐making in interprofessional antenatal, natal, and postnatal care.

Methods

We organized 11 focus groups in the Netherlands in November and December 2016. Parents, primary care midwives, hospital‐based midwives, obstetricians, obstetric nurses, and maternity care assistants participated.

Results

Parents and professionals recognized the SDM steps of introducing a decision (choice talk) and discussing options (option talk), but most parents did not seem to discuss preferences and weigh options with professionals before making their final decision (decision talk). Barriers to SDM were often related to interprofessional collaboration, while good communication skills of parents and professionals facilitated SDM. An intervention to improve SDM would need to: (a) increase awareness and offer insight into the SDM process and roles and responsibilities of parents and professionals, (b) develop good communication skills, and (c) encourage interprofessional collaboration. The preferred design of the intervention was online, interactive, and practical.

Conclusions

Parents and professionals will benefit from an intervention designed to improve SDM. A practical e‐learning for all maternity care providers and e‐health information for parents seems most appropriate. Key elements for the e‐learning are raising awareness of the roles and responsibilities of parents and professionals, developing good communication skills and encouraging interprofessional collaboration. This requires a variety of educational strategies.
Association between early‐term birth and breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity: A systematic review
Authors: Fan Heidi Sze Lok , Wong Janet Y. H. , Fong Daniel Yee Tak , Lok Kris Yuet Wan , Tarrant Marie
Published: July 2018

Background

Infants born early‐term, between 37 weeks, 0 days and 38 weeks, 6 days of gestation, are more likely to have adverse health outcomes and to undergo interventions that could pose barriers to breastfeeding. The objectives of this review are to examine the effect of early‐term birth on breastfeeding initiation and the duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, and Scopus, from January 2007 to June 2017, for studies examining the associations between early‐term birth and rates of breastfeeding initiation and the duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding.

Results

Nine studies were included in the review, of which four assessed breastfeeding initiation rates, eight assessed any breastfeeding duration and two assessed exclusive breastfeeding duration. Two studies found that early‐term birth was associated with a lower rate of breastfeeding initiation and five studies reported an association between early‐term birth and breastfeeding cessation. One study found that early‐term birth was associated with a shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Although the majority of the reviewed studies reported that early‐term infants were less likely to be breastfed and were more likely to be breastfed for a shorter duration, study quality varied and the duration of follow‐up was short. Further research with longer follow‐up would be beneficial to better understand the effect of early‐term birth on breastfeeding.
Factors associated with breastfeeding support from health care professionals by implementing a Clinical Practice Guideline
Authors: Harillo‐Acevedo David , Ramos‐Morcillo Antonio Jesús , Ruzafa‐Martinez Maria
Published: July 2018

Background

The prevalence and duration of breastfeeding are at low levels and may be improved by the support of health care professionals. Our objective was to determine the effect of implementing a breastfeeding clinical practice guideline on factors associated with breastfeeding support by health care professionals, adopting a Theory of Planned Behavior approach.

Methods

We conducted an observational, cross‐sectional study during 2016 in a health area with implemented clinical practice guideline on breastfeeding, comparing the results with data from a previous cross‐sectional study (2011) in the same area, in a standard‐care area, and in a Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)‐accredited area. A validated questionnaire (four scales: attitudes, beliefs, subjective norms, and behavioral intention) was completed by professionals in each area. Descriptive analysis was followed by comparisons among the different settings using the chi‐square test.

Results

In the area with the implemented clinical practice guideline, the professionals scored significantly higher in subjective norms and beliefs than had been recorded in 2011 (preimplementation), and their scores for all four scales were significantly higher than in the standard‐care area. Professionals obtained significantly higher scores for subjective norms in the BFHI‐accredited area than in the other settings.

Conclusions

Clinical practice guideline implementation improved the responses of professionals on breastfeeding support in subjective norms and beliefs scales. There is a need for activities to assist breastfeeding in a practical manner and for more effective measures to ensure compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes.
Determinants of in‐hospital feeding practices in Shiraz, Iran: Results of a prospective cohort study
Authors: Zarshenas Mahnaz , Zhao Yun , Binns Colin W. , Scott Jane A.
Published: July 2018

Background

In‐hospital feeding practices have been shown negatively to affect breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence and determinants of delayed breastfeeding, provision of traditional prelacteal foods, and use of infant formula in hospital.

Methods

Between June 2014 and March 2015, 700 women were recruited from three public and two private maternity hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected at recruitment via face‐to‐face interviews and extracted from medical records. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the association of feeding practices with a variety of maternal characteristics and hospital practices.

Results

Only 32.2% of infants were breastfed within 1 hour of birth, with 40.8% receiving a traditional prelacteal food, and 34.9% given formula during their hospital stay. Compared with infants delivered vaginally, those delivered by cesarean were more likely to have experienced delayed breastfeeding and received formula, but less likely to have received traditional prelacteal foods. Infants who did not experience skin‐to‐skin contact were more likely to have experienced delayed breastfeeding and received traditional prelacteal foods and formula in hospital.

Conclusions

Although four out of the five hospitals were designated as Baby‐Friendly, several of the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding were not adhered to. The high rate of cesarean delivery was a barrier to the early initiation of breastfeeding and the majority of infants did not experience early skin‐to‐skin contact. Maternity care practices should be reviewed and include a clear breastfeeding care plan for women who undergo a cesarean delivery.
Women's preference for vaginal birth after a first delivery by cesarean
Authors: Attanasio Laura B. , Kozhimannil Katy B. , Kjerulff Kristen H.
Published: July 2018

Background

Nearly 90% ofUnited Statespregnant women with a prior cesarean give birth by repeat cesarean. Public health goals encourage greater use of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), but there is little prospective data on predictors of women's preference forVBAC. We characterized predictors of women's preferred mode of delivery after a first cesarean and thematically categorized reasons for their preference.

Methods

Data were from a cohort of 3006 women whose first childbirth was in Pennsylvania in 2009‐2011. The analytic sample included women who had their first birth by cesarean and reported mode of delivery preference for their next delivery at 12 months postpartum (n = 616). Associations with future birth mode preference were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, and reasons for preference were categorized using content analysis.

Results

At 12 months postpartum, 45% of women who delivered by cesarean in their first birth wanted to have their next delivery vaginally. Independent predictors ofVBACpreference were Black race/ethnicity, nonrecurrent indication for the first cesarean, planning three or more additional children, and difficulty recovering from the first cesarean. The most common reason for preferring a vaginal birth was wanting the experience of vaginal birth; the most common reason for preferring cesarean birth was that the first birth was by cesarean.

Conclusion

Nearly half of respondents preferredVBACin future births, but national estimates indicate that only about 12% of women with prior cesareans have aVBAC. This suggests a need to ensure greater access toVBACfor women who want it.
Robust estimation of the hierarchical model for responses and response times
Authors: Ranger Jochen , Wolgast Anett , Kuhn Jörg‐Tobias
Published: July 2018

Van der Linden's (2007,Psychometrika,72,287) hierarchical model for responses and response times in tests has numerous applications in psychological assessment. The success of these applications requires the parameters of the model to have been estimated without bias. The data used for model fitting, however, are often contaminated, for example, by rapid guesses or lapses of attention. This distorts the parameter estimates. In the present paper, a novel estimation approach is proposed that is robust against contamination. The approach consists of two steps. In the first step, the response time model is fitted on the basis of a robust estimate of the covariance matrix. In the second step, the item response model is extended to a mixture model, which allows for a proportion of irregular responses in the data. The parameters of the mixture model are then estimated with a modified marginal maximum likelihood estimator. The modified marginal maximum likelihood estimator downweights responses of test‐takers with unusual response time patterns. As a result, the estimator is resistant to several forms of data contamination. The robustness of the approach is investigated in a simulation study. An application of the estimator is demonstrated with real data.
The genetic landscape of anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
Authors: Phillips Joanna J. , Gong Henry , Chen Katharine , Joseph Nancy M. , van Ziffle Jessica , Bastian Boris C. , Grenert James P. , Kline Cassie N. , Mueller Sabine , Banerjee Anuradha , Nicolaides Theodore , Gupta Nalin , Berger Mitchel S. , Lee Han S. , Pekmezci Melike , Tihan Tarik , Bollen Andrew W. , Perry Arie , Shieh Joseph T.C. , Solomon David A.
Published: July 2018

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is an astrocytic neoplasm that is typically well circumscribed and can have a relatively favorable prognosis. Tumor progression to anaplastic PXA (WHO grade III), however, is associated with a more aggressive biologic behavior and worse prognosis. The factors that drive anaplastic progression are largely unknown. We performed comprehensive genomic profiling on a set of 23 PXAs from 19 patients, including 15 with anaplastic PXA. Four patients had tumor tissue from multiple recurrences, including two with anaplastic progression. We find that PXAs are genetically defined by the combination of CDKN2A biallelic inactivation and RAF alterations that were present in all 19 cases, most commonly as CDKN2A homozygous deletion and BRAF p.V600E mutation but also occasionally BRAF or RAF1 fusions or other rearrangements. The third most commonly altered gene in anaplastic PXA was TERT, with 47% (7/15) harboring TERT alterations, either gene amplification (n = 2) or promoter hotspot mutation (n = 5). In tumor pairs analyzed before and after anaplastic progression, two had increased copy number alterations and one had TERT promoter mutation at recurrence. Less commonly altered genes included TP53, BCOR, BCORL1, ARID1A, ATRX, PTEN, and BCL6. All PXA in this cohort were IDH and histone H3 wildtype, and did not contain alterations in EGFR. Genetic profiling performed on six regions from the same tumor identified intratumoral genomic heterogeneity, likely reflecting clonal evolution during tumor progression. Overall, anaplastic PXA is characterized by the combination of CDKN2A biallelic inactivation and oncogenic RAF kinase signaling as well as a relatively small number of additional genetic alterations, with the most common being TERT amplification or promoter mutation. These data define a distinct molecular profile for PXA and suggest additional genetic alterations, including TERT, may be associated with anaplastic progression.