bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors predicting distress among parents/caregivers of children with neurological disease and home enteral nutrition
Authors: Pedrón‐Giner C. , Calderón C. , Martínez‐Costa C. , Borraz Gracia S. , Gómez‐López L.
Published: March 2013

Background & aims

Caregivers of children with chronic diseases included in a home enteral nutrition (HEN) programme are at risk of experiencing a feeling of burden, high level of anxiety and psychological distress. The aims of this study were: first, to examine the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety–depression in caregivers of children with neurological diseases requiring HEN by gastrostomy tube (GT); second, to compare the characteristics of caregivers with high or low risk of exhibiting symptoms of anxiety–depression; and third, to investigate possible associations to child disease severity and nutrition support mode.

Methods

A cross‐sectional observational study was performed in 58 caregivers of children (31 boys, aged 0.3–18 years) with neurological diseases and GT feeding. The characteristics of caregivers with high or low risk of presenting symptoms of anxiety–depression were compared regarding the following variables: socio‐demographic characteristics, the primary caregiver's intrapsychic factors, anthropometric parameters of the child, length of HEN, type of nutrients delivered by GT and infusion regime.

Results

All primary caregivers were mothers. Fifty‐three per cent of them showed high risk of exhibiting symptoms of anxiety–depression. Mothers with high or low risk of presenting symptoms of anxiety–depression were comparable in age and family socio‐economic status. They were also similar in terms of age, anthropometric conditions and length of HEN in their children.No differences were found between the two groups of mothers according to the level of the child's motor function impairment, type of nutrients delivered by GT and infusion regime. Higher levels of psychological distress and perception of burden overload were found in mothers with high risk of exhibiting symptoms of anxiety–depression.

Conclusions

This study found a high prevalence of symptoms of anxiety–depression, perception of burden overload and psychological distress in caregivers of children with HEN. Thus, greater practical and emotional support is required for these families.
Racial disparities in trajectories of dental caries experience
Authors: Liang Jersey , Wu Bei , Plassman Brenda , Bennett Joan , Beck James
Published: March 2013

Objectives

This study charted the trajectories of dental caries, including decayed teeth, missing teeth and filled teeth among older Americans over a 5‐year period. In particular, it focused on racial differences in the levels of and rates of change in dental caries experience.

Methods

Data came from the Piedmont Dental Study. The sample included 810 older Americans who were dentate at the baseline with up to 4 repeated observations between 1988 and 1994. Hierarchical linear models were employed in depicting intrapersonal and interpersonal differences in dental caries experience.

Results

Different measures of caries outcomes exhibited distinct trajectories. On average, the number of decayed teeth decreased over time, whereas missing teeth increased. In contrast, the number of filled teeth remained stable during a 5‐year period. Relative to their white counterparts, older black Americans had more decayed teeth and missing teeth but fewer filled teeth. Blacks and whites differed in the levels of dental caries but not in their rates of change except for missing teeth. Even when demographic and socioeconomic attributes were adjusted, racial variations in dental caries experience remained significant.

Conclusions

Although significantly correlated, various dental caries outcomes move along different paths over time. In view of the persistent racial disparities in dental caries trajectories, future interventions to minimize such variations among older Americans in the levels of and the rates of change in dental caries experience are clearly warranted.
Improvements in kidney transplantation from donors after cardiac death
Authors: Hoogland E. R. Pieter , Snoeijs Maarten G. J. , Habets Margot A. W. , Brandsma D. Steven , Peutz‐Kootstra Carine J. , Christiaans Maarten H. L. , van Heurn L. W. Ernest
Published: March 2013

To reduce the growing waiting list for kidney transplantation, we explored the limits of kidney transplantation from donors after cardiac death by liberally accepting marginal donor kidneys for transplantation. As the percentage of primary non‐function (PNF) increased, we evaluated our transplantation program and implemented changes to reduce the high percentage of PNF in 2005, followed by a second evaluation over the period 2006–2009. Recipients of a kidney from a donor after cardiac death between 1998 and 2005 were analyzed, with PNF as outcome measure. During the period 2002–2005, the percentage of PNF increased and crossed the upper control limits of 12% which was considered as unacceptably high. After implementation of changes, this percentage was reduced to 5%, without changing the number of kidney transplantations from donors after cardiac death. Continuous monitoring of the quality of care is essential as the boundaries of organ donation and transplantation are sought. Meticulous donor, preservation, and recipient management make extension of the donor potential possible, with good results for the individual recipient. Liberal use of kidneys from donors after cardiac death may contribute to a reduction in the waiting list for kidney transplantation and dialysis associated mortality.
Levels of the EMT‐related protein Snail/Slug are not correlated with p53/p63 in cutaneous squamouscell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Hongxiang , Takahara Masakazu , Xie Lining , Takeuchi Satoshi , Tu Yating , Nakahara Takeshi , Uchi Hiroshi , Moroi Yoichi , Furue Masutaka
Published: March 2013

Background

The contribution of the E‐cadherin transcriptional repressors Snail and Slug to invasion and metastasis has strengthened the evidence for the importance of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in carcinoma progression. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has described the immunohistochemical staining of the EMT‐related proteins Snail/Slug in skin tumors and the correlation between Snail/Slug and tumor suppressor p53/p63.

Methods

We performed immunohistological staining of Snail, Slug, E‐cadherin, p53 and p63 in 20 archived specimens each of seborrheic keratosis (SK), actinic keratosis (AK) and squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS), and 53 specimens of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Fifteen normal skin (NS) specimens served as controls.

Results

Significant negative correlations were observed between Snail and E‐cadherin expression and between Slug and E‐cadherin expression (Snail: R2 = 0.5432, p < 0.01; Slug: R2 = 0.4666, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The staining intensities of Snail and Slug are associated with decreased E‐cadherin staining in SCC and this may promote EMT. However, the staining intensities of p53 and p63 are not significantly correlated with the loss of E‐cadherin.
TheIn Situ Upgrading of Japanese Electronics Firms inMalaysian Industrial Clusters
Authors: Edgington David , Hayter Roger
Published: March 2013

The ability of clusters generated by direct foreign investment (DFI) in emerging economies to generate sustained, value‐added growth is a matter of controversy. This article assesses this debate with reference to the role of Japanese electronics multinational corporations (MNCs) in the development of clusters inMalaysia. Conceptually, we present a typology ofDFI‐generated industrial clusters that represent increasing degrees of commitment to local value creation and upgrading. Empirically, we conducted a survey of 10 Japanese firms inMalaysia that examined whether or not their factories increased technological upgrading, increasingly embedded their operations through using local skilled labor and supply firms, and responded positively to national policies and cluster‐governance measures supporting the electronics industry. We found thatJapanese firms had clearly moved beyond simple assembly‐based to embedded clustering but had not progressed further to technology‐intensive behavior because of the poor technological environment inMalaysia, as well asJapaneseMNCs' strategies that depend on technology from headquarters. Nonetheless,JapaneseMNCswere sufficiently embedded inMalaysia to upgrade production to digital consumer products, and semiconductor assembly has flourished, warding off competition fromChina and low‐cost locations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. At the end of the study period,Malaysia remained an attractive location forJapanese electronicsMNCs.
Lateral reticular nucleus modulates the cardiosomatic reflex evoked by intrapericardial capsaicin in the rat
Authors: Han Man , Liu Xiao‐Hua , Sun Na , Du Jian‐Qing , Zhu Juan‐Xia , Li Qiang , Tang Jing‐Shi
Published: March 2013

The current study examined the role of the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) in modulating the cardiosomatic reflex (CSR) induced by intrapericardial capsaicin in the anesthetized rat. Intrapericardial capsaicin was administered, and the CSR was monitored via electromyogram responses of the dorsal spinotrapezius muscle. Electrical stimulation of the LRN (10, 20 and 30 μA) depressed the CSR induced by intrapericardial capsaicin in an intensity‐dependent manner. Microinjection of glutamate (4, 10, 20 and 40 nmol, in 0.2 μL) into the LRN replicated the effects of electrical stimulation. Furthermore, bilateral transections of the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF) decreased the LRN electrical stimulation‐induced inhibition of the electromyogram responses. Intrathecal administration of the α2‐adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine or the serotonergic receptor antagonist methysergide significantly attenuated the LRN electrical stimulation‐induced inhibition of the electromyogram responses. However, intrathecal application of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone had no effect on the LRN electrical stimulation‐induced inhibition. These results suggest that the LRN–DLF–spinal cord pathway is involved in descending inhibition of the CSR, and spinal α2‐adrenergic and serotonergic receptors participate in this descending inhibition.
Ethosuximide reduces epileptogenesis and behavioral comorbidity in the GAERS model of genetic generalized epilepsy
Authors: Dezsi Gabi , Ozturk Ezgi , Stanic Davor , Powell Kim L. , Blumenfeld Hal , O'Brien Terence J. , Jones Nigel C.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Ethosuximide (ESX) is a drug of choice for the symptomatic treatment of absence seizures. Chronic treatment with ESX has been reported to have disease‐modifying antiepileptogenic activity in the WAG/Rij rat model of genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) with absence seizures. Here we examined whether chronic treatment with ESX (1) possesses antiepileptogenic effects in the genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) model of GGE, (2) is associated with a mitigation of behavioral comorbidities, and (3) influences gene expression in the somatosensory cortex region where seizures are thought to originate.

Methods

GAERS and nonepileptic control (NEC) rats were chronically treated with ESX (in drinking water) or control (tap water) from 3 to 22 weeks of age. Subsequently, all animals received tap water only for another 12 weeks to assess enduring effects of treatment. Seizure frequency and anxiety‐like behaviors were serially assessed throughout the experimental paradigm. Treatment effects on the expression of key components of the epigenetic molecular machinery, the DNA methyltransferase enzymes, were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Key Findings

ESX treatment significantly reduced seizures in GAERS during the treatment phase, and this effect was maintained during the 12‐week posttreatment phase (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the anxiety‐like behaviors present in GAERS were reduced by ESX treatment (p < 0.05). Molecular analysis revealed that ESX treatment was associated with increased expression of DNA methyltransferase enzyme messenger RNA (mRNA) in cortex.

Significance

Chronic ESX treatment has disease‐modifying effects in the GAERS model of GGE, with antiepileptogenic effects against absence seizures and mitigation of behavioral comorbidities. The cellular mechanism for these effects may involve epigenetic modifications.
Coping with Career Boundaries in Masculine Professions: Career Politics of Female Professionals in theICTand Energy Supplier Industries inSwitzerland
Authors: Clerc Isabelle , Kels Peter
Published: March 2013

This article investigates the mid‐career realities of female professionals in male‐dominated industrial sectors by way of two explorative company case studies, located in theITand energy supplier industry inSwitzerland. Based on preliminary results taken from qualitative interviews, we analyze career politics of female professionals trying to cope with career boundaries in the context of male‐affected management cultures. Career politics, such as pursuing calculated relationships with organizational gatekeepers, are part of a more or less conscious game, with the male order trying to compensate disadvantages in gaining access to career‐relevant resources. But as an unintended side effect, they contribute to the reproduction of gendered stereotypes and career boundaries in ‘male professions’.
Efficiency of Sodium Oxybate in Episodic Cluster Headache
Authors: Hidalgo Hildegard , Uhl Verena , Gantenbein Andreas R. , Sándor Peter S. , Kallweit Ulf
Published: March 2013

We report the case of a 60‐year‐old man suffering from episodic cluster headache treated successfully with sodium oxybate. Sodium oxybate may be a therapeutic option in attacks of episodic cluster headache.
The Experience of Headaches in Health Care Workers: Opportunity for Care Improvement
Authors: Hughes Mary D. , Wu Jun , Williams Terry C. , Loberger Jeremy M. , Hudson Matthew F. , Burdine Joselyn R. , Wagner Peggy J.
Published: March 2013

Objective/Background

This study assessed the relationship between health care workers' self‐reported experience of headaches/migraines, their overall quality of life, and treatment outcomes.

Methods

The study sample consisted of adults employed by a self‐insured hospital system located in the Southeast United States. Study participants responded to a web‐based survey disseminated via work email accounts. The survey measured headache medication use, health care service utilization, and impacts on quality of life and treatment optimization using standardized instruments.

Results

We received responses from 2453 employees (response rate 33.8%), of which 84.4% reported headaches, suggesting that those with headaches were more likely to complete the survey. Forty percent of respondents reported mild to severe disability due to headaches, and approximately 65% used prescription or over‐the‐counter medications to treat headaches. Approximately 45% of participants taking headache medications reported unsatisfactory treatment. Among all respondents, those with mild, moderate, or severe migraine disability were 2.35, 1.7, or 2.08 times more likely to take headache medications than those with little or no migraine disability. Among those taking headache medications for treatment, respondents with nonclinical job titles, presenting better physical health status, or reporting little or no migraine disability were more likely to achieve treatment optimization.

Conclusions

Recognizing the potential over response by employees who have headaches, our study remains suggestive of a care improvement opportunity in the health care workforce.
IgG4‐related sialadenitis is rare: histopathological investigation of 129 cases of chronic submandibular sialadenitis
Authors: Harrison John D , Rodriguez‐Justo Manuel
Published: March 2013

Aims

The incidence of IgG4‐related sialadenitis among cases of chronic sialadenitis is unknown, and so we investigated the presence of IgG4 plasma cells in 129 specimens from an archival collection of consecutive cases of chronic submandibular sialadenitis collected from 1969 to 1989 that had been previously extensively characterized.

Methods and results

Immunohistology revealed that only three of the 129 specimens contained areas over the threshold for IgG4‐related sialadenitis of 50 IgG4 plasma cells per high‐power field, and these cells were part of a non‐specific chronic inflammatory infiltrate associated with ducts that had contained sialoliths. The infiltrate of IgG4 plasma cells in the series was significantly positively related to the total infiltrate of inflammatory cells, fibrosis, atrophy, lymphoid germinal centres and sialoliths.

Conclusions

IgG4‐related sialadenitis is rare and was not found in the present series. The IgG4 plasma cells that were present in the glands were part of a non‐specific chronic inflammatory infiltrate.
Factors associated with guideline‐based hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients: role of comorbidities and physicians' perceptions
Authors: Winnock M , Bani‐Sadr F , Pambrun E , Loko M‐A , Carrieri P , Neau D , Morlat P , Marchou B , Dabis F , Salmon D ,   French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) CO13 HEPAVIH Study Group
Published: March 2013

Objectives

Many HIV‐infected patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection do not receive treatment for HCV infection, often because of contraindications or poor adherence to anti‐HIV therapy. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing guideline‐based HCV treatment initiation in a large cohort of HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2011, 194 (40.5%) of 479 coinfected patients not previously treated for HCV infection started this treatment based on current recommendations, i.e. a Metavir score > F1 for liver fibrosis; HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection; or HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection and low HCV viral load (< 800 000 IU/mL), whatever the fibrosis score. Clinical and biological data were compared between patients who started HCV therapy during follow‐up and those who did not.

Results

In multivariate analyses, good adherence to treatment for HIV infection, as judged by the patient's physician, was associated with HCV treatment initiation [odds ratio (OR) 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–4.81; P = 0.017], whereas patients with children (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.30–0.91; P = 0.022) and those with cardiovascular disease or respiratory distress (OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.01–0.78; P = 0.03) were less likely to be treated.

Conclusions

Adherence to treatment for HIV infection, as judged by the patient's physician, appears to have a major influence on the decision to begin treatment for HCV infection in coinfected patients. This calls for specific therapeutic education and adherence support in order to ensure timely anti‐HCV therapy in this population.
Use of statins and prostate cancer recurrence among patients treated with radical prostatectomy
Authors: Chao Chun , Jacobsen Steven J. , Xu Lanfang , Wallner Lauren P. , Porter Kimberly R. , Williams Stephen G.
Published: March 2013

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Statins have shown broad spectrum anti‐cancer properties in laboratory studies. In epidemiological studies, use of statins has been associated with reduced risk of advanced prostate cancer. However, the effects of statins on prostate cancer disease progression following curative treatment have not been extensively studied, and previous studies reported conflicting results.

This study found no clear association between overall statin use and risk of disease progression, as well as lack of a monotone dose–response relationship between the use of statins, whether it was use before or after prostatectomy, and prostate cancer disease progression.

Objective

To investigate whether use of HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors (‘statins’), which have shown broad spectrum anti‐cancer properties in laboratory studies, is associated with a reduced risk of recurrence in patients with prostate cancer who undergo radical prostatectomy.

Patients and Methods

All men with incident prostate cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2005 who subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy by the end of 2005 in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health plan were identified using KPSC's cancer registry.

Subjects were followed for up to 5 years after prostatectomy for (i) biochemical recurrence, defined as a single PSA measurement >0.2 ng/mL, and (ii) clinical disease progression, defined as diagnosis of metastatic disease or prostate‐cancer‐related death.

Information on statin use, demographics, comorbidities, patho‐clinical factors and outcomes were ascertained from KPSC's electronic medical records.

The effects of statin use prior to and after prostatectomy were both examined using bivariate and multivariate Cox models, adjusting for known prognostic factors. For postoperative statin exposure, a time‐dependent Cox model was used.

Results

A total of 1200 men were included; 37% had preoperative and 56% had postoperative statin use.

Neither preoperative nor postoperative statin use was associated with biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.00 [0.72–1.39] and 1.05 [0.76–1.46], respectively) or clinical disease progression (HR = 0.63 [0.31–1.27] and 1.20 [0.63–2.30], respectively).

No clear dose–response relationship was found for duration of use.

Conclusions

Statin use may not prevent prostate cancer progression following radical prostatectomy.

These findings do not provide support for the pursuit of a prospective clinical trial of statin use as a secondary prevention among surgically treated patients with prostate cancer.
Dispersal modes affect tropical forest assembly across trophic levels
Authors: Beaudrot Lydia , Rejmánek Marcel , Marshall Andrew J.
Published: March 2013

We examined assemblages of trees and two major groups of vertebrate seed dispersers, birds and primates, in Ugandan protected areas to evaluate the roles of dispersal limitation and species sorting in community assembly. We conducted partial Mantel tests to investigate relationships between community similarity, environmental distance and geographic distance. Results showed that environmental factors, specifically temperature and rainfall, significantly and more strongly structured tree assemblages than geographic distance. Analysis of tree dispersal modes revealed wind‐dispersed tree guilds were significantly dispersal limited but trees dispersed by animals were not. For assemblages of vertebrate seed dispersers, dispersal limitation significantly and more strongly structured assemblages of primates than species sorting whereas environmental factors significantly and more strongly structured assemblages of birds than dispersal limitation. We therefore examined whether trees dispersed by primates were more dispersal limited than trees dispersed by birds. We found consistent trends that primate fruit trees were more dispersal limited than bird fruit trees using three definitions of dispersal syndromes based on fruit color. Our results suggest that the dispersal abilities of primary consumers may affect the distribution of primary producers at large spatial scales.
Juncture interview: Bonnie Honig
Authors: Honig Bonnie
Published: March 2013

Political theorist, Bonnie Honig, talks to Juncture about some of the driving forces behind her work and importance of ‘public things’ in a vibrant democracy.
Randomized Trial of Treadmill Training to Improve Walking in Community-Dwelling People after Stroke: The AMBULATE Trial
Authors: Ada Louise , Dean Catherine M , Lindley Richard
Published: March 2013

Background

Residual walking deficits are common in community-dwelling people after stroke.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine if a four-month treadmill and overground walking program is more effective than a two-month program, compared with control, at improving walking in community-dwelling people with stroke who walk slowly.

Method

A three-arm randomized trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis involving 102 people with stroke living in the community who walked slowly was undertaken. Experimental group 1 undertook 30 min of treadmill and overground walking thrice per week for four-months, experimental group 2 undertook training for two-months, while the control group had no intervention. The primary outcome was walking measured as the distance covered during the six-min walk test. Other outcomes were walking speed, step length and cadence, health status, community participation, self-efficacy and falls.

Results

By two-months, the experimental groups, who were both undergoing training, had improved their six-min walk distance compared with the control group. The four-month training group continued training beyond two-months and improved further so that by four months they walked 38 m (95% confidence interval 15–60) more than the control group and 29 m (95% confidence interval 4–53) more than the two-month training group. However, by 12 months, well after the cessation of training, both experimental groups had returned to near baseline levels, and there was no difference between the groups.

Conclusion

Four months of treadmill training results in better walking. However, these effects disappear once training ceases. Therefore, training should be ongoing.
ALMOST ANYONE CAN HAVE HOME THERAPY BUT CAN WE OVERCOME THE BARRIERS?
Authors: Muroma‐Karttunen Riitta
Published: March 2013

Background

Home dialysis, including both peritoneal and haemodialysis, has been shown to improve patient wellbeing as well as being an economically beneficial alternative to hospital‐based therapies.

Objectives

This paper discusses the major barriers to home therapies, particularly in relation to home haemodialysis (HHD) and systems that can be used to overcome them.

Results

The use of HHD varies considerably between and within countries. The major limitation is lack of experience and education. A well‐planned pre‐dialysis education programme seems to be one essential key to the growth of home therapies.

Conclusions

Key points in providing a successful home therapy programme are a highly motivated multidisciplinary team including a dedicated nephrologist and high‐level nursing expertise. In addition, an effective pre‐dialysis education programme for identifying suitable patients is required.
Characteristics and Future Cardiovascular Risk of Patients With Not‐At‐Goal Hypertension in General Practice in France: The AVANT'AGE Study
Authors: Zhang Yi , Lelong Hélène , Kretz Sandrine , Agnoletti Davide , Mourad Jean‐Jacques , Safar Michel E. , Blacher Jacques
Published: March 2013

Although many studies focus on patients with resistant hypertension, general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to face patients in clinical practice with not‐at‐goal hypertension, whose antihypertensive treatment needs to be modified. However, information regarding such patients is limited. In the present study, 710 GPs in France each included their first 10 not‐at‐goal hypertensive patients, ie, the patients for whom they decided to modify antihypertensive treatment. The study population was composed of 7032 patients (58% men, mean age 62.4±11.5 years). Anthropometric and biologic measurements and clinical data were collected, and vascular age and 10‐year cardiovascular risk were estimated by standard formula. Of 7032 participants, cardiovascular risk factors were prevalent, with 15.1% current smokers, 26.1% obese, 22.8% with diabetes mellitus, 35.1% with dyslipidemia, 12.0% with left ventricular hypertrophy, and 4.9% with renal insufficiency. In the subgroup (n=4697) of patients aged between 30 and 74 years and undergoing primary cardiovascular prevention, vascular age was superior (13 to 28 years) when compared with chronological age in different subgroups. The patients' estimated 10‐year cardiovascular global risk was 25.3±13.6%, with 16.0±10.5% for coronary heart disease, 8.7±6.8% for myocardial infarction, 5.8±4.5% for stroke, and 6.8±6.6% for cardiovascular mortality. Patients with not‐at‐goal hypertension in primary care bear a heavy burden of cardiovascular diseases.
Disease characteristics in patients with and without psoriatic arthritis treated with etanercept
Authors: Papp K. , Poulin Y. , Vieira A. , Shelton J. , Poulin‐Costello M.
Published: March 2013

Background

Patients with psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have functional disability, pain and emotional problems, and experience lower quality of life (QoL) than patients with PsO alone.

Objectives

Examine effectiveness of etanercept (ETN) in patients with PsO alone, and with PsA, and determine whether PsA patients onETNexperience rapid QoL improvement.

Methods

Data from three phaseIIItrials usingETNin adults with moderate‐to‐severe PsO were pooled. Patients with (n = 523) and without (n = 1330) PsA receivedETN25 mg once weekly to 50 mg twice weekly or placebo for 12–24 weeks. Assessments included Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), EuroQoL‐5D (EQ‐5D), Study 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D).

Results

BaselinePASI,EQ‐5D andSF‐36 physical component summary scores were worse for PsA patients. WithETN,PASIfor PsA and non‐PsA groups improved as early as week 2. Scores for both groups converged by week 12.EQ‐5D andSF‐36 physical component improved faster in PsA patients, withEQ‐5D scores converged by week 2. For totalDLQIand most components, both groups had similar baseline scores and improved over 24 weeks onETN. While the PsA group had more depressed patients at baseline, after 24 weeks onETNit showed a greater reduction in the number of depressed patients than the non‐PsA group.

Conclusions

In patients with PsO involving ≥10% of body surface area, skin disease and QoL are worse in PsA patients. WithETN, QoL improved rapidly in PsA patients.
Vitamin C in Blanched Vegetables: Effect of Chlorine Dioxide and Peracetic Acid Used as Disinfectants during Cooling
Authors: Jooken Etienne , Smedts Annelies , Desmidt Evelyn , Monballiu Annick , Amery Ruis , Meesschaert Boudewijn
Published: March 2013

The production of frozen vegetables generally includes a heat treatment (a blanching) to denaturate cellular enzymes. The water used for cooling after this blanching is disinfected to prevent microbial growth and to ensure a microbiologically qualitative end product. In this study, the possible influence of the disinfectants chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and peracetic acid (PAA) on the vitamin C content of the processed vegetables was investigated. The vitamin C content was measured using a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique coupled with a fluorescence detector. Besides a decrease, resulting from the blanching of the vegetables, a concentration‐dependent effect was seen with PAA. This effect was not noticed when using lower concentrations, e.g., 30 parts per million (ppm) of PAA or 3 ppm chlorine dioxide. The major conclusion of our work is about spinach and we can conclude that it makes no sense to use concentrations higher than 40 ppm of PAA in the cooling water of the blancher since this only results in a supplementary decrease of the vitamin C content and this without a substantial additional antimicrobial effect.

Practical Applications

This work clearly demonstrates that disinfection with chlorine dioxide or PAA of the water used for cooling blanched vegetables, does not affect the vitamin C content of the frozen vegetables on condition that the concentration of the disinfectant is not too large. If a larger concentration is used, then the microbial quality of the vegetables will not improve, but there will be additional breakdown of vitamin C. For spinach, this safe concentration limit of disinfectant is about 40 ppm for PAA or 3 ppm for chlorine dioxide. For snap beans, carrots and sprouts the “safe” PAA concentrations, which will not provoke additional vitamin C breakdown are respectively 50, 40 and 30 ppm.
The Efficacy of Satureja khuzistanica Essential Oil Treatment in Reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Load on Alfalfa Seeds Prior to Sprouting
Authors: Taban Azin , Rahimi Mohammad Javad , Saharkhiz Mohammad Jamal , Hadian Javad , Zomorodian Kamiar
Published: March 2013

Along with the popularity of raw sprouts in the food baskets, the outbreaks associated with the consumption of the contaminated sprouts increased. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of the essential oil of Satureja khuzistanica in reducing the Escherichia coli O157:H7 population on alfalfa seeds prior to sprouting was evaluated.

The essential oil (EO) was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7. The inoculated seeds were then treated with different concentrations of the essential oil of S. khuzistanica. The surviving populations of E. coli O157:H7 were enumerated by direct plating of the seeds on tryptic soy agar.

The oil was rich in carvacrol. Direct surface‐plating on selective media showed the treatment resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction of E. coli O157:H7 population in a dose‐dependent manner. Increasing the washing time revealed a significant effect on reduction of E. coli O157:H7 population.

The considerable antibacterial activity of the oil might be due to the high concentration of carvacrol. As the S. khuzistanica EO did not adversely affect alfalfa seed germination and had a strong antibacterial activity, the oil might be used as a natural antimicrobial product to overcome bacterial contamination of sprouts without compromising the viability.

Practical Application

During the past decades, existing of chemical antibacterial has become increasingly unpopular in food industries. Consumers presume that these chemicals are threats to human health, because of their carcinogenicity, allergenicity, toxicity and environmental contaminations. For these reasons, nowadays, using of organic products is becoming more popular. Moreover, many foodborne pathogens are genetically adapted to synthetic antimicrobial compounds, thereby reducing the efficacy of such preventatives.

It has been known that EOs have antimicrobial activities, rendering these natural products as good alternatives to synthetic bactericides. S. khuzistanica, with high concentration of carvacrol which is classified as GRAS (generally regarded as safe), could be one of these potential alternatives. This antimicrobial property favors its application in food industries as a reasonably safe agent.

The confirmed antibacterial activities of S. khuzistanica, recommends its possible application in the field of food preservation for prolonging the shelf life of sprouts during postharvest and marketing processes.
The role of MAC1 in diesel exhaust particle‐induced microglial activation and loss of dopaminergic neuron function
Authors: Levesque Shannon , Taetzsch Thomas , Lull Melinda E. , Johnson Jo Anne , McGraw Constance , Block Michelle L.
Published: March 2013

Increasing reports support that air pollution causes neuroinflammation and is linked to central nervous system (CNS) disease/damage. Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are a major component of urban air pollution, which has been linked to microglial activation and Parkinson's disease‐like pathology. To begin to address how DEP may exert CNS effects, microglia and neuron‐glia cultures were treated with either nanometer‐sized DEP (< 0.22 μM; 50 μg/mL), ultrafine carbon black (ufCB, 50 μg/mL), or DEP extracts (eDEP; from 50 μg/mL DEP), and the effect of microglial activation and dopaminergic (DA) neuron function was assessed. All three treatments showed enhanced ameboid microglia morphology, increased H2O2 production, and decreased DA uptake. Mechanistic inquiry revealed that the scavenger receptor inhibitor fucoidan blocked DEP internalization in microglia, but failed to alter DEP‐induced H2O2 production in microglia. However, pre‐treatment with the MAC1/CD11b inhibitor antibody blocked microglial H2O2 production in response to DEP. MAC1−/− mesencephalic neuron‐glia cultures were protected from DEP‐induced loss of DA neuron function, as measured by DA uptake. These findings support that DEP may activate microglia through multiple mechanisms, where scavenger receptors regulate internalization of DEP and the MAC1 receptor is mandatory for both DEP‐induced microglial H2O2 production and loss of DA neuron function.
Job‐Related Stress, Emotional Labor, and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Nurses
Authors: Yoon Saunjoo L. , Kim Jeong‐Hee
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose was to examine the relationship between job‐related stress, emotional labor, and depressive symptoms among South Korean nurses in order to suggest practical methods for their management, prevention, and reduction.

Design

A cross‐sectional, descriptive study design was used to conduct the study. A convenience sample of 441 nurses who were employed in five general hospitals in four provinces of Korea was used in the study.

Methods

A self‐reported questionnaire was used to collect data, which included demographic and job characteristics, job‐related stress, emotional labor, and depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi‐squared testing, and multivariate logistic regression.

Findings

Approximately 38% of South Korean nurses experience depressive symptoms, and young or single nurses in particular have high levels of depressive symptoms. Marital status (odds ratio [OR] = 2.88), surface acting (OR = 2.46), job insecurity (OR = 1.99), and lack of reward (OR = 1.60) are strongly related depressive symptoms that result from job‐related stress.

Conclusions

Findings indicate that programs for nurses need to be created that will help reduce expectations for surface acting and control job‐related stress, thus preventing the development of depressive symptoms.

Clinical Relevance

This study has implications for human resources management in nursing organizations. If nursing administrators understand that nurses may suffer from depressive symptoms, they can strive to improve stressful work conditions, develop programs that ease job‐related stress, and reduce the chances that depressive symptoms will occur.
Child Survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and Trauma‐Related Affect
Authors: Kaplan Suzanne
Published: March 2013

This article reports findings from an interview study of orphans who were street children in Rwanda after the genocide in 1994. During two study visits in Rwanda in 2003 and 2004, in‐depth videotaped interviews, follow‐up interviews, and observations were carried out. Specifically, this article addresses how 10 teenage boys dealt with their memories and affects. The affect regulation of these Rwandan child survivors is elaborated and explained in a theoretical model referred to as the “affect propeller”. This model emerged in previous studies of life histories of Holocaust child survivors, using grounded theory, and has been further developed based on the findings from these follow‐up studies of Rwandan teenagers. One key finding that is described is the theme of retraumatization and revenge fantasies, which are obstacles in efforts toward resilience, as well as counterforces that facilitate a positive development in the aftermath of the genocide.
Direct and size‐dependent effects of climate on flowering performance in alpine and lowland herbaceous species
Authors: Meineri Eric , Skarpaas Olav , Spindelböck Joachim , Bargmann Tessa , Vandvik Vigdis
Published: March 2013

Questions

Effects of climate on flowering performance are often investigated independently of plant size. We ask how temperature and precipitation impact flowering probability and flower production: via direct effects, size‐dependent indirect effects, changes in minimum size for flowering and/or changes in reproductive investment.

Location

Twelve calcareous grasslands in western Norway (4°50′–8°45′ E, 60°20′–61°50′ N).

Methods

The investigations were carried out at the rear temperature edge of alpine plants and at the leading temperature edge of lowland plants to capture the variety of climate responses occurring in different parts of species climate niches within our study landscape. The study was conducted within a natural ‘climatic grid’ consisting of temperature gradients replicated along a precipitation gradient. In each study site, we sampled populations of two alpine (Viola biflora, Veronica alpina) and two lowland (Viola palustris, Veronica officinalis) species. The relative importance of each effect was assessed under a 2 °C increase in mean summer temperature and a 10% increase in annual precipitation.

Results

Flowering was climate‐ and size‐dependent in all species except Viola palustris. Both direct climate effects and climate‐driven variation in reproductive investment were detected for the three other species. Indirect climate effects were detected for Veronica officinalis, and climate‐driven variation in minimum size for flowering in Viola biflora. Climatic responses were not consistent within or between distributional types (alpine vs lowland) or genera. A temperature increase of 2 °C was predicted to increase flower production by 22% for Veronica alpina and by 74% for Veronica officinalis. A precipitation increase of 10% had a limited impact on Viola biflora flowering probability (0.08% increase) and increased Veronica officinalis flower production by 1.7%.

Conclusions

Our study shows that climate affects flowering performance both directly and through size dependence. Understanding such size‐dependent responses to climate is important for our understanding of how climate change will affect flowering performance and recruitment in plant populations.
Anti‐ribosomal P protein: a novel antibody in autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Calich Ana L. , Viana Vilma S. T. , Cancado Eduardo , Tustumi Francisco , Terrabuio Débora R. B. , Leon Elaine P. , Silva Clovis A. , Borba Eduardo F. , Bonfa Eloisa
Published: March 2013

Background

Autoantibodies to ribosomal P proteins (anti‐rib P) are specific serological markers for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are associated with liver involvement in this disease. The similarity in autoimmune background between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and SLE‐associated hepatitis raises the possibility that anti‐rib P antibodies might also have relevance in AIH.

Aims

To evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of anti‐rib P antibodies in a large AIH cohort.

Methods

Sera obtained at diagnosis of 96 AIH patients and of 82 healthy controls were tested for IgG anti‐ribosomal P protein by ELISA. All of the sera were also screened for other lupus‐specific autoantibodies, three patients with the presence of anti‐dsDNA (n = 1) and anti‐Sm (n = 2) were excluded.

Results

Moderate to high titres (>40 U) of anti‐rib P antibody were found in 9.7% (9/93) of the AIH patients and none of the controls (P = 0.003). At presentation, AIH patients with and without anti‐rib P antibodies had similar demographic/clinical features, including the frequency of cirrhosis (44.4 vs. 28.5%, P = 0.44), hepatic laboratorial findings (P > 0.05). Importantly, at the final observation (follow‐up period 10.2 ± 4.9 years), the AIH patients with anti‐rib P had a significantly higher frequency of cirrhosis compared with the negative group (100 vs. 60%, P = 0.04).

Conclusion

The novel demonstration of anti‐rib P in AIH patients without clinical or laboratory evidence of SLE suggests a common underlying mechanism targeting the liver in these two diseases. In addition, this antibody appears to predict the patients with worse AIH prognoses.
The one‐component system ArnR: a membrane‐bound activator of the crenarchaeal archaellum
Authors: Lassak Kerstin , Peeters Eveline , Wróbel Sandra , Albers Sonja‐Verena
Published: March 2013

Linking the motility apparatus to signal transduction systems enables microbes to precisely control their swimming behaviour according to environmental conditions. Bacteria have therefore evolved a complex chemotaxis machinery, which has presumably spread through lateral gene transfer into the euryarchaeal subkingdom. By contrast Crenarchaeota encode no chemotaxis‐like proteins but are nevertheless able to connect external stimuli to archaellar derived motility. This raises fundamental questions about the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Recently, we reported that the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius becomes motile upon nutrient starvation by promoting transcription of flaB encoding the filament forming subunits. Here we describe two transcriptional activators as paralogous one‐component‐systems Saci_1180 and Saci_1171 (ArnR and ArnR1). Deletions of arnR and arnR1 resulted in diminished flaB expression and accordingly the deletion mutants revealed impaired swimming motility. We further identified two inverted repeat sequences located upstream of the flaB core promoter of S. acidocaldarius. These cis‐regulatory elements were shown to be critical for ArnR and ArnR1 mediated flaB gene expression in vivo. Finally, bioinformatic analysis revealed ArnR to be conserved not only in Sulfolobales but also in the crenarchaeal order of Desulfurococcales and thus might represent a more general control mechanism of archaeal motility.
Synthetic biology: lessons from engineering yeast MAPK signalling pathways
Authors: Furukawa Kentaro , Hohmann Stefan
Published: March 2013

All living cells respond to external stimuli and execute specific physiological responses through signal transduction pathways. Understanding the mechanisms controlling signalling pathways is important for diagnosing and treating diseases and for reprogramming cells with desired functions. Although many of the signalling components in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been identified by genetic studies, many features concerning the dynamic control of pathway activity, cross‐talk, cell‐to‐cell variability or robustness against perturbation are still incompletely understood. Comparing the behaviour of engineered and natural signalling pathways offers insight complementary to that achievable with standard genetic and molecular studies. Here, we review studies that aim at a deeper understanding of signalling design principles and generation of novel signalling properties by engineering the yeast mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. The underlying approaches can be applied to other organisms including mammalian cells and offer opportunities for building synthetic pathways and functionalities useful in medicine and biotechnology.
CD4 and CD8 double‐negative adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma with monomorphic cells expressing CD99: A diagnostic challenge in a country non‐endemic for human T‐cell leukemia virus
Authors: Lin Tsung‐Hsien , Wu Hung‐Chang , Hsieh Yen‐Chuan , Tseng Chih‐En , Ichinohasama Ryo , Chuang Shih‐Sung
Published: March 2013

Adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a peripheral T‐cell neoplasm caused by human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I). The neoplastic cells are highly pleomorphic and are usually CD4+ and CD8− phenotypically. We reported the case of a 46‐year‐old woman presenting with fever, abdominal distention, lymphadenopathy, leukocytosis and hypercalcemia. Nodal biopsy showed diffuse infiltration by monomorphic small to medium‐sized atypical lymphocytes expressing CD3, CD25, CD30 and CD99, but not CD1a, CD4, CD8, CD34, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase or ALK. An initial diagnosis of T‐lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma was made based on cytomorphology, CD4 and CD8 double negativity, and the expression of CD99. The diagnosis was later revised to ATLL based on the positive serology study for anti‐HTLV I/II antibody and confirmation by the clonal integration of HTLV‐I proviral DNA into the tumor tissues by Southern blotting analysis. The patient had a stage IVB disease and died of septic shock after 2 courses of chemotherapy 3 months after diagnosis. Immunohistochemical staining for CD99 in archival ATLL tissues showed a positive rate of 67% (4 of 6 tumors). Our case showed that ATLL with atypical morphology and immunophenotype in HTLV non‐endemic areas might pose a diagnostic challenge and CD99 expression is frequent in ATLL.