bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mourning process of older people with dementia who lost their spouse
Authors: Watanabe Akiko , Suwa Sayuri
Published: February 2017

Aims

To explore the mourning process of people with dementia who have lost their spouse, using family caregivers’ and professionals’ perspectives and to devise grief care for people with dementia.

Background

There have been studies on the loss of one's spouse; however, little is known about widows and widowers with dementia as they may find it hard to tell their perception and feelings to others accurately because of cognitive impairment.

Design

Qualitative descriptive study using semi‐structured interviews.

Method

Seven family caregivers and six professional caregivers from day care centres were interviewed between June and September 2015. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify mourning behaviours of people with dementia.

Results

In the mourning process of people with dementia, different behaviours were found according to dementia stages and different circumstances. In FAST2, they could remember their spouse's death. In FAST4 ‐6, it took 1 year to be able to perceive their spouse's death and more time to store it. In FAST 7, people with dementia did not discern his spouse's death throughout the process. Furthermore, it was revealed that people with dementia followed a different mourning process from conventional ones.

Conclusion

In the care of widows and widowers with dementia it is crucial to adjust circumstances to allow people with dementia to guess reality. Further studies are needed to clarify differences between the mourning process of people with dementia and that of intact older people to develop a grief model and educational programmes.
Phylogeography of the rare velvety tree ant Liometopum microcephalum (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)
Authors: Petráková Lenka , Tóthová Andrea , Schlaghamerský Jiří
Published: February 2017

Aim

The European velvety tree ant (Liometopum microcephalum), forming large colonies defending territories, has specific habitat requirements and occurs in isolated populations irregularly distributed across its range. Its dispersal is slow and colony numbers have been declining in many areas. We aim to assess the origin of populations across the species range and to reconstruct its distributional and evolutionary history.

Location

From Italy to Israel in the south, from Czechia to Russia (Lower Volga) in the north.

Methods

Three mitochondrial and one nuclear DNA markers were sequenced in 157 specimens collected at 42 sites. We constructed haplotype networks, calculated analysis of molecular variance and performed Bayesian evolutionary analysis with lineage divergence time estimations and ancestral area reconstructions.

Results

We found 39 mitochondrial haplotypes, the nuclear marker had no variability. More than one haplotype was found within six colonies. Two groups, the European and the Asian, diverged genetically. Seven clades were delimited based on Bayesian evolutionary analysis: the Levantine, Western Anatolian, Black Sea, Northern, Balkan, Northwestern Balkan and Western. The species arose during the Pliocene and the youngest divergences within European clades occurred during the last glaciation. The Levantine clade is the basal one, the ancestral area of European populations is probably the Pannonian Basin.

Main conclusions

Liometopum microcephalum is an ancient species, which speciated probably in Anatolia during the Pliocene. Although the species as such dispersed towards the northwest, reaching the Pannonian Basin, and later also the Italian Peninsula, the Levantine population stayed isolated. The European clades diverged during the Pleistocene climate oscillations, most probably during the Riss glaciation. Parts of the ancestral population survived the glaciations in the Mediterranean (Italian and Balkan Peninsulas), while others survived in extra‐Mediterranean refugia (Carpathian Arc, Black Sea coast) and evolved separately for a long time. Later, the north of the Pannonian Basin was re‐colonized from at least two source populations.
Maternal perinatal and concurrent depressive symptoms and child behavior problems: a sibling comparison study
Authors: Gjerde Line C. , Eilertsen Espen Moen , Reichborn‐Kjennerud Ted , McAdams Tom A. , Zachrisson Henrik Daae , Zambrana Imac Maria , Røysamb Espen , Kendler Kenneth S. , Ystrom Eivind
Published: February 2017

Background

Previous studies have found significant associations between maternal prenatal and postpartum depression and child behavior problems (CBP). The present study investigates whether associations remain in a prospective, longitudinal design adjusted for familial confounding.

Methods

The sample comprised 11,599 families including 17,830 siblings from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study. Mothers reported depressive symptoms at gestational weeks 17 and 30, as well as 6 months, 1.5, 3, and 5 years postpartum. Fathers’ depression was measured at gestational week 17. At the last three time‐points, child internalizing and externalizing problems were concurrently assessed. We performed multilevel analyses for internalizing and externalizing problems separately, using parental depression as predictors. Analyses were repeated using a sibling comparison design to adjust for familial confounding.

Results

All parental depressive time‐points were significantly and positively associated with child internalizing and externalizing problems. After sibling comparison, however, only concurrent maternal depression was significantly associated with internalizing [estimate = 2.82 (1.91–3.73, 95% CI)] and externalizing problems [estimate = 2.40 (1.56–3.23, 95% CI)]. The effect of concurrent maternal depression on internalizing problems increased with child age.

Conclusions

Our findings do not support the notion that perinatal maternal depression is particularly detrimental to children's psychological development, as the most robust effects were found for maternal depression occurring during preschool years.
Reactivation of hepatitis B in patients of chronic hepatitis C with hepatitis B virus infection treated with direct acting antivirals
Authors: Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Chung‐Feng , Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Ko Yu‐Min , Chen Kuan‐Yu , Liu Ta‐Wei , Lin Yi‐Hung , Liang Po‐Cheng , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Lin Zu‐Yau , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Huang Ching‐I , Huang Jee‐Fu , Kuo Po‐Lin , Dai Chia‐Yen , Yu Ming‐Lung , Chuang Wan‐Long
Published: February 2017

Background and Aim

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may reactivate when treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with direct acting antivirals (DAA). We aim to investigate the risk of HBV reactivation during DAA therapy.

Methods

Chronic hepatitis C patients receiving pan‐oral DAA therapy from December 2013 to August 2016 were evaluated. Fifty‐seven patients that had a past HBV infection (negative hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and positive hepatitis B core antibody) and seven patients that had a current HBV infection (positive HBsAg) were enrolled. Serum HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers were regularly measured. The endpoints were the HCV sustained virological response (SVR) and the HBV virological/clinical reactivation.

Results

The overall SVR12 rate was 96.9%, and two patients, one with positive HBsAg, had a relapse of HCV. No episodes of HBV virological reactivation were observed among the patients with a past HBV infection. For the seven patients with a current HBV infection, HBV virological reactivation was found in four (57.1%) of the seven patients. Clinical reactivation of HBV was observed in one patient with pretreatment detectable HBV DNA and recovered after entecavir administration. For the other three patients with HBV virological reactivation, the reappearance of low level HBV DNA without clinical reactivation was observed. HBsAg levels demonstrated only small fluctuations in all the patients.

Conclusions

There was a minimal impact of hepatitis B core antibody seropositivity on HCV efficacy and safety. For CHC patients with current HBV infection, the risk of HBV reactivation was present, and monitoring the HBV DNA level during therapy is warranted.
Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Mortality in a Large Multiethnic Postmenopausal Cohort—Results from the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Chen Zhao , Klimentidis Yann C. , Bea Jennifer W. , Ernst Kacey C. , Hu Chengcheng , Jackson Rebecca , Thomson Cynthia A.
Published: February 2017

Objectives

To determine whether the relationship between anthropometric measurements of obesity and mortality varies according to age, race, and ethnicity in older women.

Design

Prospective cohort study of multiethnic postmenopausal women.

Setting

Women's Health Initiative (WHI) observational study and clinical trials in 40 clinics.

Participants

Postmenopausal women aged 50–79 participating in WHI (N = 161,808).

Measurements

Baseline height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on height and weight. Demographic, health, and lifestyle data from a baseline questionnaire were used as covariates. The outcome was adjudicated death (n = 18,320) during a mean follow‐up of 11.4 ± 3.2 years.

Results

Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) indicated that ethnicity and age modified (P < .01) the relationship between obesity and mortality. Underweight was associated with higher mortality, but overweight or slight obesity was not a risk factor for mortality in most ethnic groups except for Hispanic women in the obesity I category (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.04–1.95). BMI was not or was only weakly associated with mortality in individuals aged 70–79 (HR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.85–0.95 for overweight; HR = 0.98, 95 CI = 0.92–1.06 for obese I; HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.00–1.23 for obese II; HR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.92–1.26 for obese III). In contrast, higher central obesity measured using WC was consistently associated with higher mortality in all groups.

Conclusion

Underweight is a significant risk factor for mortality in older women, and healthy BMI ranges may need to be specific for age, race, and ethnicity. The findings support a consistent relationship between central obesity and mortality.
Short‐Term Market Risks Implied by Weekly Options
Authors: ANDERSEN TORBEN G. , FUSARI NICOLA , TODOROV VIKTOR
Published: February 2017

We study short‐maturity (“weekly”) S&P 500 index options, which provide a direct way to analyze volatility and jump risks. Unlike longer‐dated options, they are largely insensitive to the risk of intertemporal shifts in the economic environment. Adopting a novel seminonparametric approach, we uncover variation in the negative jump tail risk, which is not spanned by market volatility and helps predict future equity returns. As such, our approach allows for easy identification of periods of heightened concerns about negative tail events that are not always “signaled” by the level of market volatility and elude standard asset pricing models.
Adaptive divergence in wine yeasts and their wild relatives suggests a prominent role for introgressions and rapid evolution at noncoding sites
Authors: Almeida Pedro , Barbosa Raquel , Bensasson Douda , Gonçalves Paula , Sampaio José Paulo
Published: February 2017

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the main yeast in wine fermentation, the opportunity to examine divergence at the molecular level between a domesticated lineage and its wild counterpart arose recently due to the identification of the closest relatives of wine strains, a wild population associated with Mediterranean oaks. As genomic data are available for a considerable number of representatives belonging to both groups, we used population genomics to estimate the degree and distribution of nucleotide variation between wine yeasts and their closest wild relatives. We found widespread genomewide divergence, particularly at noncoding sites, which, together with above average divergence in trans‐acting DNA binding proteins, may suggest an important role for divergence at the level of transcriptional regulation. Nine outlier regions putatively under strong divergent selection were highlighted by a genomewide scan under stringent conditions. Several cases of introgressions, originating in the sibling species Saccharomyces paradoxus, were also identified in the Mediterranean oak population. FZF1 and SSU1, mostly known for conferring sulphite resistance in wine yeasts, were among the introgressed genes, although not fixed. Because the introgressions detected in our study are not found in wine strains, we hypothesize that ongoing divergent ecological selection segregates the two forms between the different niches. Together, our results provide a first insight into the extent and kind of divergence between wine yeasts and their closest wild relatives.
Assessing Public Procurement of Innovation as a Cross‐Domain Policy: A Framework and Application to the Chinese Context
Authors: Li Yanchao
Published: February 2017

Despite the fact that public procurement of innovation (PPI) has become an increasingly popular policy tool, there has been a lack of holistic approaches to assessing policies promoting PPI. This article attempts to address this gap by proposing a framework which links the multiple levels and aspects related to the design and implementation of PPI policies. By adopting a systemic understanding of “public procurement” as well as “innovation policies,” this article positions PPI as a cross‐domain policy which is inherently a mix of procurement and innovation‐related interventions. The article develops an assessment framework using “vertical coherence” and “horizontal coherence” as criteria. It then illustrates the use of the framework by applying it to PPI policies in China. The framework can aid the conduct of ex ante as well as ex post assessment of PPI policies, which can further inform policy design, implementation, and learning.
Changes in soil phosphorus pools of grasslands following 17 yrs of balanced application of manure and fertilizer
Authors: van der Salm C. , van Middelkoop J. C. , Ehlert P. A. I.
Published: February 2017

Limiting the use of phosphorous (P) in intensive agriculture is necessary to decrease losses to surface waters. Balanced fertilizer application (P supply equals P offtake by the crop) is a first step to limit the use of P. However, it is questioned whether this balance approach is sufficient to maintain soil fertility. A long‐term field experiment (17 yr), on grazed grassland, has been conducted on sandy soil, marine clay soil and peat soil to obtain insight into the effects of balanced P fertilizer application on soil test P values and to explain the results by changes in P pools in the soil. The balance approach led to a gradual decline in plant available P, measured as P‐AL, in the topsoil (<0.10 m deep). This decline was accompanied by a decline in oxalate extractable P, dithionite extractable P and inorganic P (0.5 m H2SO4). The decline in these mineral P pools in the topsoil was (partly) compensated by an increase in the amount of organic P. There was evidence for the accumulation of P in an occluded form, especially at one of sites which received P as Gafsa rock phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2].
The pangenome of hexaploid bread wheat
Authors: Montenegro Juan D. , Golicz Agnieszka A. , Bayer Philipp E. , Hurgobin Bhavna , Lee HueyTyng , Chan Chon‐Kit Kenneth , Visendi Paul , Lai Kaitao , Doležel Jaroslav , Batley Jacqueline , Edwards David
Published: February 2017

There is an increasing understanding that variation in gene presence–absence plays an important role in the heritability of agronomic traits; however, there have been relatively few studies on variation in gene presence–absence in crop species. Hexaploid wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world and intensive breeding has reduced the genetic diversity of elite cultivars. Major efforts have produced draft genome assemblies for the cultivar Chinese Spring, but it is unknown how well this represents the genome diversity found in current modern elite cultivars. In this study we build an improved reference for Chinese Spring and explore gene diversity across 18 wheat cultivars. We predict a pangenome size of 140 500 ± 102 genes, a core genome of 81 070 ± 1631 genes and an average of 128 656 genes in each cultivar. Functional annotation of the variable gene set suggests that it is enriched for genes that may be associated with important agronomic traits. In addition to variation in gene presence, more than 36 million intervarietal single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified across the pangenome. This study of the wheat pangenome provides insight into genome diversity in elite wheat as a basis for genomics‐based improvement of this important crop. A wheat pangenome, GBrowse, is available at http://appliedbioinformatics.com.au/cgi-bin/gb2/gbrowse/WheatPan/, and data are available to download from http://wheatgenome.info/wheat_genome_databases.php.
Harmonization of nucleic acid testing for Zika virus: development of the 1st World Health Organization International Standard
Authors: Baylis Sally A. , Hanschmann Kay‐Martin O. , Schnierle Barbara S. , Trösemeier Jan‐Hendrik , Blümel Johannes ,   Zika Virus Collaborative Study Group
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND

With the ongoing public health emergency due to Zika virus (ZIKV), nucleic acid testing (NAT) is essential for clinical diagnosis and screening of blood donors. However, NAT for ZIKV has not been standardized, and this study was performed to establish a World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard (IS) for ZIKV RNA; WHO ISs have been used to improve detection and quantification of blood‐borne viruses.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The candidate IS (cIS), code number 11468/16, was prepared by heat inactivation and lyophilization of a ZIKV strain isolated from a patient in French Polynesia in 2013. The cIS was evaluated together with other reference materials, including both Asian and African ZIKV lineages as well as a panel of clinical samples and in vitro–transcribed RNAs. The samples for evaluation were distributed to 24 laboratories from 11 countries. The assays used consisted of a mixture of in‐house developed and commercial assays (available or in development).

RESULTS

The potencies of the standards were determined by quantitative and qualitative assays. In total, 37 sets of data were analyzed: 19 from quantitative assays and 18 from qualitative assays. Data demonstrated wide variations in reported potencies of the cIS and the other study samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Assay variability was substantially reduced when ZIKV RNA concentrations from the biological reference materials and clinical samples were expressed relative to the cIS. Thus, the WHO has established 11468/16 as the 1st IS for ZIKV RNA, with a unitage of 50,000,000 IU/mL.
Phenome‐wide association studies: a new method for functional genomics in humans
Authors: Roden Dan M.
Published: February 2017

In experimental physiological research, a common study design for examining the functional role of a gene or a genetic variant is to introduce that genetic variant into a model organism (such as yeast or mouse) and then to search for phenotypic consequences. The development of DNA biobanks linked to dense phenotypic information enables such an experiment to be applied to human subjects in the form of a phenome‐wide association study (PheWAS). The PheWAS paradigm takes advantage of a curated medical phenome, often derived from electronic health records, to search for associations between ‘input functions’ and phenotypes in an unbiased fashion. The most commonly studied input function to date has been single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), but other inputs, such as sets of SNPs or a disease or drug exposure, are now being explored to probe the genetic and phenotypic architecture of human traits. Potential outcomes of these approaches include defining subsets of complex diseases (that can then be targeted by specific therapies) and drug repurposing.

image
Endogenous nitric oxide formation in cardiac myocytes does not control respiration during β‐adrenergic stimulation
Authors: Kohlhaas Michael , Nickel Alexander G. , Bergem Stefanie , Casadei Barbara , Laufs Ulrich , Maack Christoph
Published: February 2017

Key points

In the heart, endothelial nitric oxide (NO) controls oxygen consumption in the working heart through paracrine mechanisms.

While cardiac myocytes contain several isoforms of NO synthases, it is unclear whether these can control respiration in an intracrine fashion.

A long‐standing controversy is whether a NOS exists within mitochondria.

By combining fluorescence technologies with electrical field stimulation or the patch‐clamp technique in beating cardiac myocytes, we identified a neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) as the most relevant source of intracellular NO during β‐adrenergic stimulation, while no evidence for a mitochondria‐located NOS was obtained.

The amounts of NO produced by non‐mitochondrial nNOS were insufficient to regulate respiration during β‐adrenergic stimulation, arguing against intracrine control of respiration by NO within cardiac myocytes.

Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) controls cardiac oxygen (O2) consumption in a paracrine way by slowing respiration at the mitochondrial electron transport chain. While NO synthases (NOSs) are also expressed in cardiac myocytes, it is unclear whether they control respiration in an intracrine way. Furthermore, the existence of a mitochondrial NOS is controversial. Here, by combining fluorescence imaging with electrical field stimulation, the patch‐clamp method and knock‐out technology, we determined the sources and consequences of intracellular NO formation during workload transitions in isolated murine and guinea pig cardiac myocytes and mitochondria. Using 4‐amino‐5‐methylamino‐2′,7′‐difluorofluorescein diacetate (DAF) as a fluorescent NO‐sensor that locates to the cytosol and mitochondria, we observed that NO increased by ∼12% within 3 min of β‐adrenergic stimulation in beating cardiac myocytes. This NO stems from neuronal NOS (nNOS), but not endothelial (eNOS). After patch clamp‐mediated dialysis of cytosolic DAF, the remaining NO signals (mostly mitochondrial) were blocked by nNOS deletion, but not by inhibiting the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter with Ru360. While in isolated mitochondria exogenous NO inhibited respiration and reduced the NAD(P)H redox state, pyridine nucleotide redox states were unaffected by pharmacological or genetic disruption of endogenous nNOS or eNOS during workload transitions in cardiac myoctyes. We conclude that under physiological conditions, nNOS is the most relevant source for NO in cardiac myocytes, but this nNOS is not located in mitochondria and does not control respiration. Therefore, cardiac O2 consumption is controlled by endothelial NO in a paracrine, but not intracrine, fashion.
Label-free detection of hepatitis B virus using solution immersed silicon sensors
Authors: Diware Mangesh S. , Cho Hyun Mo , Chegal Won , Cho Yong Jai , O Sang Won , Paek Se-Hwan , Kim Dong Soo , Kim Kyeong-Suk , Min Yoon Gi , Jo Jae Heung , Shin ChaeHo
Published: February 2017

Highly sensitive solution immersed silicon (SIS) biosensors were developed for detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the early stage. The ultrasensitivity for overlayer thickness at the nonreflecting condition for the p-polarized wave is the basis of SIS sensing technology. The change in thickness due to biomolecular interactions and change in refractive index of the surrounding buffer medium were assessed simultaneously using two separate ellipsometric parameters (Ψ and Δ), respectively, from a single sensing spot. A direct antigen-antibody affinity assay was used to detect and quantify hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which is the early stage biomarker for HBV infection. The detection limit of 10 pg/ml was achieved for HBsAg in the human blood serum, which is comparable with the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and other hybrid assays. The SIS sensor's response time was less than 10 min. The SIS sensors exhibit excellent stability and high signal-to-noise ratio, and are cost-effective, which makes them a suitable candidate for point-of-care applications.
Beyond Prometheus, Strawmen, and Science Fiction: Ethicists and the Moral Debate Over Enhancements to Human Performance
Authors: Gleaves John
Published: February 2017

Human performance enhancement is one of kinesiology’s many vibrant topics for inquiry. Though philosophers in kinesiology departments have offered some contribution to this topic, this paper argues that philosophers could improve their relevance by better engaging the existing scientific research. Rather than simply defending their place at the table, this paper proposes that philosophers build upon existing contributions to the ethics of human enhancement by increasing their scientific literacy. At the same time, this paper argues that certain patterns in philosophical discussions of human enhancement do not connect with scientific researchers. The paper concludes that ultimately philosophers must become more conversant with the language of science if they are going to continue contributing to central questions within the field of kinesiology.
The [4Fe4S] cluster of human DNA primase functions as a redox switch using DNA charge transport
Authors: O’Brien Elizabeth , Holt Marilyn E. , Thompson Matthew K. , Salay Lauren E. , Ehlinger Aaron C. , Chazin Walter J. , Barton Jacqueline K.
Published: February 2017

DNA charged with regulating replication

DNA can transport electrical charge over long distances and has the potential to act as a signaling system. The iron-sulfur complex [4Fe4S] found in some proteins is known to be involved in redox reactions. The eukaryotic DNA primase is involved in DNA replication and contains a [4Fe4S] cluster that is required for its RNA primer synthesis activity. O'Brien
et al.
show that the [4Fe4S] cluster in DNA primase can regulate the protein's DNA binding activity through DNA-mediated charge transfer. This in turn plays a role in primer initiation and length determination.

Science
, this issue p.
eaag1789
Optical control of cell signaling by single-chain photoswitchable kinases
Authors: Zhou Xin X. , Fan Linlin Z. , Li Pengpeng , Shen Kang , Lin Michael Z.
Published: February 2017

Shining a light on cell signaling

Protein kinases are proteins that are used to transmit signals within cells. Zhou
et al.
engineered diverse kinases so that they could be switched on and off with visible light. They modified the fluorescent protein Dronpa so that instead of being tetrameric, it dimerized in violet light and dissociated in cyan light, and they fused two copies to representatives from different families of kinases. The engineered kinases could be photo-switched with spatial and temporal precision and were successfully used to study a variety of signaling pathways.

Science
, this issue p.
836
Cell-wide analysis of protein thermal unfolding reveals determinants of thermostability
Authors: Leuenberger Pascal , Ganscha Stefan , Kahraman Abdullah , Cappelletti Valentina , Boersema Paul J. , von Mering Christian , Claassen Manfred , Picotti Paola
Published: February 2017

How proteomes take the heat

Living organisms are very sensitive to temperature, and much of this is attributed to its effect on the structure and function of proteins. Leuenberger
et al.
explored thermostability on a proteome-wide scale in bacteria, yeast, and human cells by using a combination of limited proteolysis and mass spectrometry (see the Perspective by Vogel). Their results suggest that temperature-induced cell death is caused by the loss of a subset of proteins with key functions. The study also provides insight into the molecular and evolutionary bases of protein and proteome stability.

Science
, this issue p.
eaai7825
; see also p.
794
To slow or not? Challenges in subsecond networks
Authors: Johnson Neil F.
Published: February 2017

Advancing understanding of extreme behaviors beyond human response times is vital to our electronics-driven world
Quantifying protein (dis)order
Authors: Vogel Christine
Published: February 2017

A study of bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells maps the melting behavior of cellular proteins
Effect of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Alone versus MALDI-TOF MS Combined with Real-Time Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions on Time to Optimal Antimicrobial Therapy in Patients with Positive Blood Cultures
Authors: Beganovic Maya , Costello Michael , Wieczorkiewicz Sarah M.
Published: February 2017

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) decreases the time to organism identification and improves clinical and financial outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of MALDI-TOF MS alone versus MALDI-TOF MS combined with real-time, pharmacist-driven, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) intervention on patient outcomes. This single-center, pre-post, quasiexperimental study evaluated hospitalized patients with positive blood cultures identified via MALDI-TOF MS combined with prospective AMS intervention compared to a control cohort with MALDI-TOF MS identification without AMS intervention. AMS intervention included: real-time MALDI-TOF MS pharmacist notification and prospective AMS provider feedback. The primary outcome was the time to optimal therapy (TTOT). A total of 252 blood cultures, 126 in each group, were included in the final analysis. MALDI-TOF MS plus AMS intervention significantly reduced the overall TTOT (75.17 versus 43.06 h;
P
< 0.001), the Gram-positive contaminant TTOT (48.21 versus 11.75 h;
P
< 0.001), the Gram-negative infection (GNI) TTOT (71.83 versus 35.98 h;
P
< 0.001), and the overall hospital length of stay (LOS; 15.03 versus 9.02 days;
P
= 0.021). The TTOT for Gram-positive infection (GPI) was improved (64.04 versus 41.61 h;
P
= 0.082). For GPI, the hospital LOS (14.64 versus 10.31 days;
P
= 0.002) and length of antimicrobial therapy 24.30 versus 18.97 days;
P
= 0.018) were reduced. For GNI, the time to microbiologic clearance (51.13 versus 34.51 h;
P
< 0.001), the hospital LOS (15.40 versus 7.90 days;
P
= 0.027), and the intensive care unit LOS (5.55 versus 1.19 days;
P
= 0.035) were reduced. To achieve optimal outcomes, rapid identification with MALDI-TOF MS combined with real-time AMS intervention is more impactful than MALDI-TOF MS alone.
Prevalence of FAI radiographic hip abnormalities in elite soccer players: are there differences related to skeletal maturity?
Authors: Monckeberg Juan , Amenabar Tomas , Rafols Claudio , Garcia Nicolas , Yañez Roberto
Published: February 2017

Background

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can be a source of hip pain in young adults. Some reports have revealed that participation in high-impact sports may play a role in the development of cam deformity, and there is a higher prevalence of signs of cam impingement in asymptomatic adolescents who participate in soccer and basketball than in non-athlete controls; however, current evidence is scarce regarding the initiation and development of deformities.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of radiographic hip abnormalities related to FAI in young elite soccer players and compare this with findings in a group of adult elite soccer players.

Subjects and methods

Anteroposterior pelvic and cross-table hip radiographs were obtained for 75 young elite soccer players with skeletal immaturity (group 1) and for 75 adult elite soccer players (group 2), all of whom were previously asymptomatic and had no history of hip disease. After exclusion, group 1 included 72 patients, and group 2 included 70 patients. Radiological signs of FAI were evaluated.

Results

34 subjects in groups 1 and 2 demonstrated cam morphology. The prevalence of pincer morphology was 30 in group 1 and 36 in group 2. However, these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

We found no differences in the prevalence of FAI radiological signs between soccer players in their late adolescence and adult soccer players.
Unloading knee brace is a cost-effective method to bridge and delay surgery in unicompartmental knee arthritis
Authors: Lee Paul YF , Winfield Thomas G , Harris Shaun RS , Storey Emerald , Chandratreya Amit
Published: February 2017

Background

Unloading knee braces can provide good short-term pain relief for some patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis (UOA). Their cost is relatively small compared with surgical interventions. However, no previous studies have reported their use over a duration of 5 years or more.

Methods

Up to 8 years of prospective data were collected from 63 patients who presented with UOA. After conservative management with analgesia and physiotherapy, patients were offered an unloading brace. EQ-5D (EuroQol five dimensions) questionnaires were collected at baseline and after wearing the brace. Cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were compared with a total knee replacement (TKR) with an 8-month waiting duration and 8 years of results.

Results

Patients experienced a mean increase in EQ-5D of 0.42 with an average duration of wear of 26.1 months resulting in an increase of 0.44 in QALYs with a mean cost of £625. The adoption of an unloader knee brace was found to be a short-term cost-effective treatment option with an 8-month incremental cost effectiveness ratio of £9599. Compared with no treatment, the unloader knee brace can be considered cost effective at 4 months or more. At 8 years follow-up, the unloader knee brace demonstrated QALYs gain of 0.43 and with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of -£6467 compared with TKR.

Conclusion

Unloading knee braces are cost effective for the management of UOA. These findings strongly support the undertaking of further research into the long-term impact of unloading knee brace. The unloader knee brace has benefits to the National Health Service for capacity, budget, waiting list duration, frequency of surgery and reducing the required severity of surgical intervention.
Outcomes in patients with glenoid labral lesions: a cohort study
Authors: Zughaib Marc , Robbins Christopher B , Miller Bruce S , Gagnier Joel J
Published: February 2017

Background/aim

For patients presenting with glenoid labral pathologies, there is little information on how operative interventions affect long-term outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study evaluated outcomes in operative and non-operative patients presenting with labral tears versus labral degenerations.

Methods

Participants completed a pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons instrument, Scapular Assistance Test (SAT), Shoulder Activity Level, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation at baseline and at 6-month, 12-month and 2-year follow-ups. χ2and Student's t-test were used to test the differences between categorical and continuous variables. Analysis of variance investigated the differences between groups, and linear regression analyses explored the relationship of baseline characteristics with outcome scores.

Results

After 2 years, the operative cohort (n=68) significantly improved in all measures. The non-operative cohort (n=55) showed significant improvements in all scores except the mental component summary (MCS) and pain VAS. Labral tear patients (n=52) within the operative group (n=28) significantly improved in all measures except MCS. Non-operative labral tear patients (n=24) indicated significant improvements in all measures except MCS, VAS and SAT. Labral degeneration patients (n=71) within the operative group (n=27) significantly improved in all measures except MCS and SAT. Non-operative labral degeneration patients (n=44) indicated significant improvements in all measures except the physical component summary, MCS, VAS and SAT.

Conclusion

Patients who were surgically treated for labral tears or degenerations had significantly improved outcomes and HRQoL scores after 2 years compared with the non-operative cohort.
Pain, objectivity and history: understanding pain stigma
Authors: Goldberg Daniel S
Published: February 2017

The primary claim of this paper is that understanding the stigma so commonly endured by chronic pain sufferers today in the USA and the UK is unlikely without proper appreciation of the history of pain. Ameliorating such stigma is an ethical imperative, and yet most approaches eschew even an attempt to trace connections between historical attitudes, practices and beliefs towards pain and the stigmatisation so many pain sufferers currently endure. The manuscript aims to help fill this gap by framing pain in the modern era in context of two crucial intellectual schemes that waxed in the 19th and 20th centuries: mechanical objectivity and somaticism. The analysis explains these frameworks and applies them to exploration of primary sources connected to contested pain conditions such as railway spine. By properly situating the historical roots of what it means to cite the ‘subjectivity’ of pain as a problem, the modern roots of stigmatising attitudes and practices towards chronic pain sufferers become much clearer. The manuscript concludes by suggesting that interventions expressly intended to target the root causes of such stigma are much more likely to be successful than approaches that proceed in ignorance of the historical forces shaping and driving pain stigma in the present.
Impact of a competition with two consecutive matches in a day on physical performance in young tennis players
Authors: Gallo-Salazar Cesar , Del Coso Juan , Barbado David , Lopez-Valenciano Alejandro , Santos-Rosa Francisco Javier , Sanz-Rivas David , Moya Manuel , Fernandez-Fernandez Jaime
Published: February 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of playing 2 tennis matches on the same day on physical performance in young tennis players. Twelve well-trained young tennis players took part in a simulated tennis competition consisting of 2 tennis matches on the same day (morning and afternoon sessions). Before and the day after the competition, physical performance was measured using a battery of countermovement jumps; a 10 m sprint; the 5–0–5 agility test; hip, grip and shoulder maximal isometric strength; shoulder range of motion; and a serve velocity test. Postcompetition results showed reduced performance in 10 m (–3.3%, effect size (ES) = small), dominant and nondominant 5–0–5 agility test (–4.6%, ES = moderate; –4.2%, ES = moderate, respectively), bilateral (–5.2%, ES = small), and unilateral countermovement jumps (dominant leg: –7.2%, ES = small; non-dominant leg: –9.1%, ES = small). Both dominant and nondominant shoulder external rotation range of motion increased (12.2%, ES = moderate; 5.6%, ES = small), whereas internal rotation decreased (–4.2%, ES = small; –3.3%, ES = small) in the postcompetition tests, together with the dominant shoulder external rotation (–10.7%, ES = moderate) and internal rotation (–9.3%, ES = small) strength. Physical impairments occurred in neuromuscular performance variables involving lower (e.g., jumping, sprinting, and change of direction) and upper (e.g., isometric strength and range of motion) limbs the day after playing a competition with 2 consecutive matches on the same day. These alterations in neuromuscular and sport-specific performance need to be taken into consideration when planning tournament schedules for young tennis players, as well as preparing match and recovery strategies.
Lycium chinense Improves Post-Menopausal Obesity via Regulation of PPAR-γ and Estrogen Receptor-α/β Expressions
Authors: Kim Mi Hye , Kim Eun-Jung , Choi You Yeon , Hong Jongki , Yang Woong Mo
Published: February 2017

The fruit of Lycium chinense Miller (Solanaceae) is used as a functional food and a medicinal herb for treating many specific health concerns. Weight gain induced by estrogen deficiency is a problem for post-menopausal women around the globe. The present study investigates the effects of aqueous extract of L. chinense (LC) on post-menopausal obesity. Female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized and fed on high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce post-menopausal obesity. LC extract (1[Formula: see text]mg/kg and 10[Formula: see text]mg/kg) was orally administrated for 6 weeks with continuous HFD feeding. Ovarian adipose tissues and uterus were weighed. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and fasting glucose levels were analyzed. The expressions of adipocyte-specific factors and estrogen receptors (ERs) were investigated. Additionally, lipid accumulation was confirmed in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Increased body weight due to post-menopausal obesity was ameliorated about 14.7% and 17.76% by treatment of 1[Formula: see text]mg/kg and 10[Formula: see text]mg/kg LC, respectively. LC treatment reduced both of serum lipid and fasting blood glucose levels. Adipocyte hypertrophy and fatty liver were ameliorated in LC-treated groups. In LC-treated adipocyte cells, lipid accumulation was significantly inhibited. The expression of perilipin in adipose tissues was decreased by LC. In addition, expression of PPAR-[Formula: see text] protein was down-regulated in adipose tissues and differentiated adipocytes, while GLUT4 expression was increased in adipose tissues by LC treatment. Moreover, LC treatment up-regulated the expressions of ER-[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] accompanied with increased uterine weight. These results showed the ameliorative effects of LC on overweight after menopause. Post-menopausal obesity may be improved by LC treatment.
Bounce and collapse in the slotheonic universe
Authors: Adak Debabrata , Ali Amna
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we examine the cosmological dynamics of a slotheon field in a linear potential. The slotheon correction term [Formula: see text] respects the galileon symmetry in curved spacetime. We demonstrate the future evolution of universe in this model. We show that in this scenario, the universe ends with the Big Crunch singularity like the standard case. The difference being that the time at which the singularity occurs is delayed in the slotheon gravity. The delay crucially depends upon the strength of slotheon correction. We use observational data from Type Ia Supernovae, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations, and [Formula: see text] measurements to constrain the parameters of the model for a viable cosmology, providing the corresponding likelihood contours.
Moderate and sustained exercise modulates muscle proteolytic and myogenic markers in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)
Authors: Vélez Emilio J. , Azizi Sheida , Lutfi Esmail , Capilla Encarnación , Moya Alberto , Navarro Isabel , Fernández-Borràs Jaume , Blasco Josefina , Gutiérrez Joaquim
Published: February 2017

Swimming activity primarily accelerates growth in fish by increasing protein synthesis and energy efficiency. The role of muscle in this process is remarkable and especially important in teleosts, where muscle represents a high percentage of body weight and because many fish species present continuous growth. The aim of this work was to characterize the effects of 5 wk of moderate and sustained swimming in gene and protein expression of myogenic regulatory factors, proliferation markers, and proteolytic molecules in two muscle regions (anterior and caudal) of gilthead sea bream fingerlings. Western blot results showed an increase in the proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), proteolytic system members calpain 1 and cathepsin D, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR data showed that exercise increased the gene expression of proteases (calpains, cathepsins, and members of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the anterior muscle region) and the gene expression of the proliferation marker PCNA and the myogenic factor MyoD in the caudal area compared with control fish. Overall, these data suggest a differential response of the two muscle regions during swimming adaptation, with tissue remodeling and new vessel formation occurring in the anterior muscle and enhanced cell proliferation and differentiation occurring in the caudal area. In summary, the present study contributes to improving the knowledge of the role of proteolytic molecules and other myogenic factors in the adaptation of muscle to moderate sustained swimming in gilthead sea bream.
Accumulation of worn-out GBM material substantially contributes to mesangial matrix expansion in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Kriz Wilhelm , Löwen Jana , Federico Giuseppina , van den Born Jacob , Gröne Elisabeth , Gröne Hermann Josef
Published: February 2017

Thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and expansion of the mesangial matrix are hallmarks of diabetic nephropathy (DN), generally considered to emerge from different sites of overproduction: GBM components from podocytes and mesangial matrix from mesangial cells. Reevaluation of 918 biopsies with DN revealed strong evidence that these mechanisms are connected to each other, wherein excess GBM components fail to undergo degradation and are deposited in the mesangium. These data do not exclude that mesangial cells also synthesize components that contribute to the accumulation of matrix in the mesangium. Light, electron microscopic, immunofluorescence, and in situ hybridization studies clearly show that the thickening of the GBM is due not only to overproduction of components of the mature GBM (α3 and α5 chains of collagen IV and agrin) by podocytes but also to resumed increased synthesis of the α1 chain of collagen IV and of perlecan by endothelial cells usually seen during embryonic development. We hypothesize that these abnormal production mechanisms are caused by different processes: overproduction of mature GBM-components by the diabetic milieu and regression of endothelial cells to an embryonic production mode by decreased availability of mediators from podocytes.
Approximate Controllability of Semilinear Control System Using Tikhonov Regularization
Authors: Katta Ravinder , Sukavanam N.
Published: February 2017

For an approximately controllable semilinear system, the problem of computing control for a given target state is converted into an equivalent problem of solving operator equation which is ill-posed. We exhibit a sequence of regularized controls which steers the semilinear control system from an arbitrary initial statex0to anϵneighbourhood of the target statexτat timeτ>0under the assumption that the nonlinear functionfis Lipschitz continuous. The convergence of the sequences of regularized controls and the corresponding mild solutions are shown under some assumptions on the system operators. It is also proved that the target state corresponding to the regularized control is close to the actual state to be attained.