bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of psychiatric re‐hospitalization in older adults with severe mental illness
Authors: Yu Ching , Sylvestre Jean‐Daniel , Segal Marilyn , Looper Karl J. , Rej Soham
Published: September 2015

Objective

Many patients with severe recurrent mental illness are approaching late life; however, little is known about psychiatric re‐hospitalization in this population. Our objective was to identify predictors of psychiatric re‐hospitalization.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of all 226 geriatric patients (age ≥65 years) admitted to a tertiary care Canadian inpatient psychiatric unit between 2003 and 2008. The main outcome was psychiatric re‐hospitalization in 5‐year follow‐up post‐discharge (e.g. 2008–2013 if a patient had been first admitted in 2008). Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify potential predictors of re‐hospitalization.

Results

Over 5‐year follow‐up, 32.3% (73/226) required psychiatric re‐hospitalization. Prior lifetime history of psychiatric admission, currently living in a supervised setting and bipolar disorder diagnosis all independently predicted a lower time to psychiatric re‐hospitalization (HRs > 2.0, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The rate of psychiatric re‐hospitalization is high in older adults admitted for severe mental illness. Clinicians should be aware of the especially high rates of re‐hospitalization in geriatric psychiatric inpatients with bipolar disorder, previous psychiatric admissions, or those living in a supervised setting. Future research could investigate approaches to prevent psychiatric re‐hospitalization in these vulnerable sub‐populations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thyroid endocrine disruption of acetochlor on zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae
Authors: Yang Mei , Hu Jingjin , Li Shuying , Ma Youning , Gui Wenjun , Zhu Guonian
Published: September 2015

The herbicide acetochlor is widely used and detected in the environment and biota, and has been suspected to disrupt the thyroid endocrine system, but underlying mechanisms have not yet been clarified. In the present study, zebrafish larvae (7 days post‐fertilization) were exposed to a series concentration of acetochlor (0, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 and 300 µg l−1) within a 14‐day window until 21 days post‐fertilization. Thyroid hormones and mRNA expression profiles of genes involved in the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis were analyzed. Exposure to the positive control, 3,5,3′‐triiodothyronine (T3), altered the mRNA expression, suggesting that the HPT axis in the critical window of zebrafish responded to chemical exposure and could be used to evaluate the effects of chemicals on the thyroid endocrine system. The mRNA expressions of genes involved in thyroid hormone synthesis (tshβ, slc5a5 and tpo) were upregulated significantly with acetochlor treatment, which might be responsible for the increased thyroxine concentrations. The downregulation of genes related to thyroid hormone metabolism (dio1 and ugt1ab) and transport (ttr) in zebrafish larvae exposed to acetochlor might further explain the increased thyroxine levels and decreased T3 levels. The mRNA expression of the thyroid hormone receptor (trα) was also upregulated upon acetochlor exposure. Results suggested that acetochlor altered mRNA expression of the HPT axis‐related genes and changed the whole body thyroid hormone levels in zebrafish larvae. It demonstrated that acetochlor could cause endocrine disruption of the thyroid system by simulating the biological activity of T3. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Osteology of Priocharax and remarkable developmental truncation in a miniature Amazonian fish (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)
Authors: Mattox George M.T. , Britz Ralf , Toledo‐Piza Mônica
Published: September 2015

Establishing phylogenetic relationships of miniature fishes is challenging in taxa with developmental truncation. Within the Characiformes, developmental truncation appears to be relatively rare, with the Neotropical genus Priocharax being an example. Priocharax includes three miniature species among the smallest of the order and has been hypothesized to belong to the Heterocharacinae. The pronounced reduction in its skeleton, however, prevented a clearer evaluation of its relationships. The present detailed osteological study was designed to address this question and revealed that 21 bones are absent and nine other skeletal structures are simplified in Priocharax when compared to other characids. Comparison of the skeleton of adult Priocharax with early developmental stages of other characids demonstrated that most of the absences and simplifications can be interpreted as developmental truncations. The most striking developmental truncations are in the pectoral girdle, in which the endoskeleton remains entirely cartilaginous. Other interesting truncations are in the ethmoid region of the skull, infraorbital series, and Weberian apparatus, in which the claustrum is absent. Our study also revealed some unusual sexual dimorphisms in the pelvic girdle. Two cladistic analyses were performed to assess the relationships of Priocharax within the Heterocharacinae. The first consisted of a traditional analysis in which all absences and reductions of Priocharax were coded in the same way as in the remaining taxa. This resulted in three equally most parsimonious topologies, all of which have Priocharax as the most basal taxon of the Heterocharacinae. The second analysis incorporated ontogenetic information, and most absences and reductions of Priocharax were reinterpreted as apomorphic conditions and thus, coded differently from similar conditions in outgroups. This resulted in a single phylogenetic hypothesis with Priocharax and Gnathocharax as sister groups based on seven synapomorphies. Our approach demonstrates the importance of developmental studies to better understand morphological evolution of miniaturized, truncated taxa, and to generate hypotheses of their relationships. J. Morphol. 277:65–85, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of degradation products of indigoids by tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Witkoś Katarzyna , Lech Katarzyna , Jarosz Maciej
Published: September 2015

The study concerns identification of photodegradation products of indigotin, indirubin and isoindigo. Experimental methodology consists of degradation of standard solutions of indigoids in a solar box and analysis of samples taken at different aging time by using capillary high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric and spectrophotometric detectors. Identification of the formed compounds was based on careful interpretation of the electrospray ionization MS/MS spectra. Apart from the well‐known degradation products of indigoids: isatin, isatoic anhydride and anthranilic acid, another seven species were also identified, and their proposed structures were confirmed by high‐resolution molecular masses measurements; according to the best knowledge of authors, they have not been reported so far. The obtained results formed the basis for postulating mechanism of the process. Moreover, the MRM (Multiple Reaction Monitoring) method was developed for the identification of natural dyes and their degradation products in textiles of historical value. Apart from such colorants as indigotin and flavonoids, also presence of degradation products of indigoids was confirmed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent advances in lipidomics for disease research
Authors: Yang Li , Li Min , Shan Yabing , Shen Sensen , Bai Yu , Liu Huwei
Published: September 2015

Lipidomics is an important branch of metabolomics, which aims at the detailed analysis of lipid species and their multiple roles in the living system. In recent years, the development of various analytical methods for effective identification and characterization of lipids has greatly promoted the process of lipidomics. Meanwhile, as many diseases demonstrate a remarkable alteration in lipid profiles compared with that of healthy people, lipidomics has been extensively introduced to disease research. The comprehensive lipid profiling provides a chance to discover novel biomarkers for specific disease. In addition, it plays a crucial role in the study of lipid metabolism, which could illuminate the pathogenesis of diseases. In this review, after brief discussion of analytical methods for lipidomics in clinical research, we focus on the recent advances of lipidomics related to four types of diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and Alzheimer's disease.
The Impact of Infidelity on Combat‐Exposed Service Members
Authors: Kachadourian Lorig K. , Smith Brian N. , Taft Casey T. , Vogt Dawne
Published: September 2015

This study examined relationships between combat‐exposed Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans’ experiences related to infidelity during deployment (i.e., indicating that a partner was unfaithful or reporting concern about potential infidelity) and postdeployment mental health, as well as the role of subsequent stress exposure and social support in these associations. The sample consisted of 571 individuals (338 men). There were 128 participants (22.2%) who indicated that their partners were unfaithful during their most recent deployment. Of the remaining 443 participants, 168 (37.8%) indicated that they were concerned that their partners might have been unfaithful. Individuals who indicated that their partners were unfaithful exhibited higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptomatology (β = .08; f2= .18) and depression symptom severity (β = .09; f2 = .14), compared to individuals who did not indicate that their partners were unfaithful. For both men and women, reported infidelity was associated with mental health indirectly via postdeployment life stressors, whereas infidelity concerns were indirectly associated with mental health via postdeployment life stressors for men only. Findings suggested that infidelity can have a significant impact on combat‐exposed veterans’ mental health and highlight the need for additional research on this understudied topic within the military population.
A Genetic Algorithm–Based Method for the Optimization of Reduced Kinetics Mechanisms
Authors: Sikalo Nejra , Hasemann Olaf , Schulz Christof , Kempf Andreas , Wlokas Irenäus
Published: September 2015

This paper describes an automatic method for the optimization of reaction rate constants of reduced reaction mechanisms. The optimization technique is based on a genetic algorithm that aims at finding new reaction rate coefficients that minimize the error introduced by the preceding reduction process. The error is defined by an objective function that covers regions of interest where the reduced mechanism may deviate from the original mechanism. The mechanism's performance is assessed for homogeneous reactor or laminar‐flame simulations against the results obtained from a given reference—the original mechanism, another detailed mechanism, or experimental data, if available. The overall objective function directs the search towards more accurate reduced mechanisms that are valid for a given set of operating conditions. An optional feature to the objective function is a penalty term that permits to minimize the change to the reaction coefficients, keeping them as close as possible to the original value. This means that the penalty function can be used to constrain the reaction rates modifications during the optimization if needed. It is demonstrated that the penalty function is successful and can be combined with predefined uncertainty bounds for each reaction of the mechanism. In addition, the penalty function can be modified to achieve a further reduction of the mechanism. The algorithm is demonstrated for the optimization of a previously reduced variant of the GRI‐Mech 3.0, a tert‐butanol combustion mechanism by Sarathy et al. (Combust. Flame, 2012, 159, 2028–2055) and a hydrogen mechanism by Konnov (Combust. Flame, 2008, 152, 507–528), for which the complete uncertainty vector is known. The method has shown to be, robust, flexible, and suitable for a wide range of operating conditions by using multiple criteria simultaneously.
Quantifying the distribution and influence of non‐uniform bed properties in shallow coastal bays
Authors: Wiberg Patricia L. , Carr Joel A. , Safak Ilgar , Anutaliya Arachaporn
Published: September 2015

Sediment resuspension and related increases in turbidity in shallow coastal bays are strongly controlled by local bed properties. However, knowledge of bed properties in coastal bays is typically sparse at best. In this study, we developed a method to estimate the spatial distribution of bed properties in shallow coastal bays using a combination of bed sediment measurements and residence time calculations that requires neither extensive dedicated modeling nor extensive sampling. We found a strong relationship between water residence times derived from a coastal hydrodynamic model and observed bed grain size fractions in a system of coastal bays and used that relationship to transform maps of residence time to maps of grain size fractions throughout the bays. Because grain‐size fractions are related to other bed properties such as organic fraction, permeability and cohesion, these maps provide valuable information for habitat studies as well as morphodynamic modeling. We used our maps of grain size distributions to initialize a 2‐month‐long model simulation of currents, waves and suspended sediment forced with measured wind and tides. Spatial variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) reflected spatial gradients in sand and mud abundance in the bed. Lower SSC in sandier regions of the bays, near barrier islands and inlets, resulted in higher benthic light availability but lower sediment supply for deposition on back‐barrier marshes. Higher SSC in more landward, muddier regions resulted in greater light attenuation and sediment availability for deposition on mainland fringing marshes. The proposed methodology facilitates quantification of these bed‐dependent spatial variations in SSC.
Facile Preparation of Open‐Cell PP/TPS Blend Foams Using Water as a Blowing Agent
Authors: Xu Ming Zhi , Bian Jun Jia , Han Chang Yu , Dong Li Song
Published: September 2015

Extrusion foaming using water as a blowing agent offers a green process of preparing polymer foams. Due to the low water solubility of hydrophobic polymers such as polypropylene (PP), it is difficult to produce low‐density foams of such pure polymers. In this study, starch was utilized as an effective water carrier and open‐cell PP/thermoplastic starch (TPS) blend foams with apparent density as low as 19.5 kg · m−3 and open‐cell content of 95.6% were successfully prepared. A possible expansion mechanism is also proposed to better understand the observed foaming behavior. The PP/TPS blend foams with low density and high open‐cell content are found to be a promising candidate absorbent material for oil spill cleanup application.
Nomogram for determining the lower normal limits for radial sensory nerve action potentials
Authors: Panagiotis Kokotis , Alexandra Antelli , Nikos Karandreas
Published: September 2015

Introduction: In this study we aimed to determine the normal lower limits of sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude of the radial nerve by taking into account age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Methods: Three hundred thirty‐four volunteers, 168 men and 166 women, were recruited. Sensory nerve conduction studies of the radial nerve were performed, and reproducible waveforms were obtained. Results: The mean radial SNAP amplitude was 44.87 ± 14.58 (range 24–92) μV. SNAP amplitude had a statistically strong negative correlation with age, height, weight, and BMI of the subjects. A multiple linear correlation equation was computed, based on age and BMI of the subjects, to calculate the lower normal limits of radial SNAP and to construct the corresponding nomogram. Conclusion The lower limit of normal SNAP amplitude of the radial nerve, determined in individual subjects using the nomogram, is a useful tool for detection of polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 53: 136–139, 2016
Pelvic floor muscle training for female stress urinary incontinence: Five years outcomes
Authors: Beyar Netta , Groutz Asnat
Published: September 2015

Aim

To evaluate the clinical status, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and quality of life (QOL) 5 years after completion of a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods

Two hundred and eight consecutive women who underwent a guided PFMT program as first‐line management of SUI were invited to participate in a questionnaire‐based outcome study 5 years after treatment. Primary outcome measures comprised of adherence to PFMT, interim surgery for SUI, and patients’ self‐assessment of LUTS and QOL.

Results

One hundred and thirty‐two (63%) women completed all questionnaires, 55 of whom (41.7%, mean age 52.1 ± 10.8) reported adherence to PFMT, 75 (56.8%, mean age 49.8 ± 10.8) discontinued training, and two (1.5%) underwent surgery. Further analysis of the 76 non‐responders revealed six more patients who underwent surgery. Thus, overall, eight patients (3.8% of the original cohort) underwent surgery within 5 years after completion of the training program. Except for those who underwent surgery, almost all women reported SUI, however their ICIQ‐UI scores for frequency and amount of leakage were low (2.2 ± 0.9, 1.18 ± 1.04, respectively) and I‐QOL score was high (96.2 ± 13.6). All investigated parameters and domains, in each of the three questionnaires and among all women, consistently demonstrated low severity of LUTS and relatively high continence‐associated QOL. There were no statistically significant differences in favor of adherence to PFMT.

Conclusions

Although relatively high rates of 5‐year adherence to training were demonstrated among our patients, this adherence was not associated with superior treatment outcomes. Further studies are needed to establish the long‐term efficacy of PFMT for SUI. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:132–135, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biocultural Consequences of Spanish Contact in the Lambayeque Valley Region of Northern Peru: Internal Enamel Micro‐Defects as Indicators of Early Life Stress
Authors: Garland C. J. , Turner B. L. , Klaus H. D.
Published: September 2015

The present study utilises dental histological methods to analyse enamel micro‐defects as indicators of early life stress in indigenous Muchik individuals interred at two sites: La Capilla Santa María Magdalena de Eten (CSMME) (n = 15) and La Capilla del Niño Serranito (CNS) (n = 15), both located in the Lambayeque Valley region of northern Peru. Individuals interred at CNS date to the Early Colonial Period (AD 1533–1610), and individuals interred at CSMME date to the Middle/Late Colonial Period (AD 1625–1760), thus permitting comparison of childhood stress events between the Early and Middle/Late Colonial Periods. Results reveal a high prevalence of Wilson bands at both sites, although a lower prevalence at the CSMME was observed in comparison with the CNS. This indicates that, over time, Muchik individuals in this town may have been able to acclimate to life under Spanish oppression. Stress chronologies suggest that early life stress possibly resulted from inadequate and less than desirable food and/or water available for supplemental feeding during early infancy, especially around the ages of 4 and 5 months. Furthermore, results show that individuals with enamel defects in the form of Wilson bands at both the CNS and CSMME had an earlier mean age‐at‐death (9.6 and 4.05 years, respectively) in comparison with those without observed Wilson bands (19.75 and 8.8 years, respectively). These results underscore the importance of not only regional and temporal studies of the biological consequences of Spanish contact in the Americas but also of investigating the relationship between early life stress and adult health and longevity in archaeological populations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacodynamic and genomic markers associated with response to the XPO1/CRM1 inhibitor selinexor (KPT‐330): A report from the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Attiyeh Edward F. , Maris John M. , Lock Richard , Reynolds C. Patrick , Kang Min H. , Carol Hernan , Gorlick Richard , Kolb E. Anders , Keir Stephen T. , Wu Jianrong , Landesman Yosef , Shacham Sharon , Lyalin Dmitry , Kurmasheva Raushan T. , Houghton Peter J. , Smith Malcolm A.
Published: September 2015

Background

Selinexor (KPT‐330) is an inhibitor of the major nuclear export receptor, exportin 1 (XPO1, also termed chromosome region maintenance 1, CRM1) that has demonstrated activity in preclinical models and clinical activity against several solid and hematological cancers.

Procedures

Selinexor was tested against the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP) in vitro cell line panel at concentrations from 1.0 nM to 10 μM and against the PPTP in vivo xenograft panels administered orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg thrice weekly for 4 weeks.

Results

Selinexor demonstrated cytotoxic activity in vitro, with a median relative IC50 value of 123 nM (range 13.0 nM to >10 μM). Selinexor induced significant differences in event‐free survival (EFS) distribution in 29 of 38 (76%) of the evaluable solid tumor xenografts and in five of eight (63%) of the evaluable ALL xenografts. Objective responses (partial or complete responses, PR/CR) were observed for 4 of 38 solid tumor xenografts including Wilms tumor, medulloblastoma (n = 2), and ependymoma models. For the ALL panel, two of eight (25%) xenografts achieved either CR or maintained CR. Two responding xenografts had FBXW7 mutations at R465 and two had SMARCA4 mutations. Selinexor induced p53, p21, and cleaved PARP in several solid tumor models.

Conclusions

Selinexor induced regression against several solid tumor and ALL xenografts and slowed tumor growth in a larger number of models. Pharmacodynamic effects for XPO1 inhibition were noted. Defining the relationship between selinexor systemic exposures in mice and humans will be important in assessing the clinical relevance of these results. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Follow‐up care of adolescent survivors of childhood cancer: The role of health beliefs
Authors: Lupatsch Judith E. , Wengenroth Laura , Rueegg Corina S. , Teuffel Oliver , Gumy‐Pause Fabienne , Kuehni Claudia E. , Michel Gisela ,   for the Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG)
Published: September 2015

Background

Little is known about follow‐up care attendance of adolescent survivors of childhood cancer, and which factors foster or hinder attendance. Attending follow‐up care is especially important for adolescent survivors to allow for a successful transition into adult care. We aimed to (i) describe the proportion of adolescent survivors attending follow‐up care; (ii) describe adolescents' health beliefs; and (iii) identify the association of health beliefs, demographic, and medical factors with follow‐up care attendance.

Procedure

Of 696 contacted adolescent survivors diagnosed with cancer at ≤16 years of age, ≥5 years after diagnosis, and aged 16–21 years at study, 465 (66.8%) completed the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study questionnaire. We assessed follow‐up care attendance and health beliefs, and extracted demographic and medical information from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. Cross‐sectional data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models.

Results

Overall, 56% of survivors reported attending follow‐up care. Most survivors (80%) rated their susceptibility for late effects as low and believed that follow‐up care may detect and prevent late effects (92%). Few (13%) believed that follow‐up care is not necessary. Two health beliefs were associated with follow‐up care attendance (perceived benefits: odds ratio [OR]: 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–2.27; perceived barriers: OR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.50–1.00).

Conclusions

We show that health beliefs are associated with actual follow‐up care attendance of adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. A successful model of health promotion in adolescent survivors should, therefore, highlight the benefits and address the barriers to keep adolescent survivors in follow‐up care. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Trajectory of Material Hardship and Income Poverty in Families of Children Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bona Kira , London Wendy B. , Guo Dongjing , Frank Deborah A. , Wolfe Joanne
Published: September 2015

Background

Poverty is correlated with negative health outcomes in pediatric primary care, and is emerging as a negative prognostic indicator in pediatric oncology. However, measures of poverty amenable to targeted intervention, such as household material hardship (HMH)—including food, energy, and housing insecurity—have not been described in pediatric oncology. We describe the trajectory of family reported HMH and income poverty at a pediatric oncology referral center in New England with high psychosocial supports.

Procedure

Single site, prospective cohort study including 99 English‐speaking families of children receiving chemotherapy for primary cancer. Families completed face‐to‐face surveys at two time‐points: (1) Within 30 days of child's diagnosis (T1) (N = 99, response rate 88%); (2) 6‐months following diagnosis (T2) (N = 93, response rate 94%). HMH was assessed in three domains: food, energy, and housing insecurity.

Results

Twenty percent of families reported low‐income (≤200% Federal Poverty Level) and at least one HMH prior to their child's diagnosis. At T2, 25% of families lost >40% annual household income secondary to treatment‐related work disruptions, and 29% of families reported HMH despite utilization of psychosocial supports.

Conclusions

Low‐income and HMH are prevalent in a significant proportion of newly diagnosed pediatric oncology families at a large referral center. Despite psychosocial supports, the proportion of families experiencing unmet basic needs increases during chemotherapy to nearly one in three families. HMH provides a quantifiable and remediable measure of poverty in pediatric oncology. Interventions to ameliorate this concrete component of poverty could benefit a significant proportion of pediatric oncology families. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Retrospective Evaluation of the Benefit of Referring Pediatric Cancer Patients to an External Proton Therapy Center
Authors: Munck af Rosenschold Per , Engelholm Svend A. , Brodin Patrik N. , Jørgensen Morten , Grosshans David R. , Zhu Ronald X. , Palmer Matthew , Crawford Cody N. , Mahajan Anita
Published: September 2015

Background

Pediatric cancer patients requiring radiation therapy (RT) have been routinely assessed and referred to proton therapy (PT) at an external institution. The benefit of the delivered PT compared to the state‐of‐the‐art intensity modulated x‐ray RT (XT) at the home institution was evaluated.

Procedure

Twenty‐four consecutive children referred for PT during 2010–2013 for craniospinal (CSI, n = 10), localized intracranial (IC, n = 7), head/neck (HN, n = 4) or parameningeal (PM, n = 3) lesions were included. The median age was 8 years (2–16 years). XT plans were generated for each patient, blinded to the PT delivered. Dosimetry, estimated growth hormone deficiency (GHD), and neurocognitive dysfunction (NCD) risks were compared for PT and XT (Wilcoxon).

Results

PT started (median) 5 weeks (± 1.3 weeks, 95% CI) after referral. For CSI patients, PT was clearly superior to XT plans with median dose reductions for the heart, lungs and thyroid of 17, 2.5 and 18 Gy, respectively (P = 0.005). The median estimated NCD and GHD risks were 1–3 (max 16) and 2 (max 61) percentage points, respectively, lower for PT compared to XT. The median of the mean doses to the brain, cochleae and pituitary gland was lower with PT than XT for the IC, H/N and PM patients (P < 0.039). For a single IC patient, the dose to hippocampi and optic chiasm was higher for PT compared to XT.

Conclusions

PT clearly benefitted the patients studied, except for IC disease where differences between PT and XT were modest, and comparative PT and XT treatment planning is warranted prior to referral. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Combined Autoimmune Cytopenias Presenting in Childhood
Authors: Al Ghaithi Ibrahim , Wright Nicola A.M. , Breakey Vicky R. , Cox Kelly , Warias Ashley , Wong Tiffany , O'Connell Colleen , Price Victoria
Published: September 2015

Background

Pediatric patients with chronic and/or refractory autoimmune multi‐lineage cytopenias present challenges in both diagnosis and management. Increasing availability of diagnostic testing has revealed an underlying immune dysfunction in patients previously diagnosed with Evans Syndrome. However, the data are sparse and the majority of patients are adults.

Procedure

We performed a retrospective chart review to document the natural history of 23 pediatric patients with autoimmune multi‐lineage cytopenias followed at three tertiary care pediatric hematology clinics.

Results

Investigations revealed seven patients (30.4%) with an autoimmune lymphoproliferative‐like syndrome and six patients (26.1%) with other primary immunodeficiencies. Only one (4.3%) patient was suspected to have systemic lupus erythematosus and six patients (26.1%) had other types of autoimmunity. Treatment consisted of immunosuppressive therapy, intravenous gammaglobulin, and splenectomy. Supportive care included granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor, and blood product transfusions. Two patients (8.7%) died. Complete remission was achieved in 3 patients (13.0%); of the remaining, 14 patients (60.9%) had chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, 10 patients (43.5%) chronic autoimmune neutropenia, and 4 patients (17.4%) chronic autoimmune hemolytic anemia with a median follow up of 5 years (2 months–12 years).

Conclusions

These data suggest that pediatric patients presenting with autoimmune multi‐lineage cytopenias should undergo investigation for underlying immune dysregulation, including autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, other primary immunodeficiencies and autoimmune disorders. The development of an international registry for such patients is imperative to improve the understanding of their complex natural history. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sn and SnO2 nanoparticles by pulsed plasma in liquid: Synthesis, characterization and applications
Authors: Kelgenbaeva Zhazgul , Omurzak Emil , Ihara Hirotaka , Iwamoto Chihiro , Sulaimankulova Saadat , Mashimo Tsutomu
Published: September 2015

In this work, spherical Sn and SnO2 nanoparticles smaller than 5 and 20 nm, respectively, were synthesized using pulsed plasma in deionized water, simply and environmentally friendly. The tetragonal Sn nanoparticles showed good crystallinity and slight increase in lattice parameters. Thermo‐gravimetric analysis revealed insignificant weight loss from the particles, indicating their thermal stability up to 500 °C. The Sn nanoparticles then were annealed at 800 °C; in result, cassiterite phase of SnO2 nanoparticles were successfully obtained. Structural and morphological analysis indicated the full oxidation of Sn and size growth of SnO2 nanoparticles upto 20–25 nm. The SnO2 nanoparticles showed good photocatalytic activity in degradation of organic dyes, such as methylene blue and methyl orange.
Control of a photoswitching chelator by metal ions:DFT,NBO, andQTAIManalysis
Authors: Dimić Dušan , Petković Milena
Published: September 2015

Ability of aroylhydrazones to change conformation upon interaction with light makes them promising candidates for molecular switches. Isomerization can be controlled through complexation with selected metal ions which bind with different affinity.N′‐[1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyliden]iso‐nicotinoylhydrazide (HAPI) is an example of a dual‐wavelenght photoswitching molecule, whose complexation with metal ions was recently experimentally investigated (Franks et al. J. Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 1397). In this contribution, complexes between HAPI and K+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ions were investigated using Density Functional Theory, Natural Bond Order analysis, and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. The most important parameters that determine complex stability are found to be ion radius and charge transferred from ligands to the ion: smaller ion radii and larger CT values characterize formation of more stable complexes. Our results explain experimentally observed effect of different metal ions on photoisomerization through determination of metal ion affinity (MIA): photoisomerization is inhibited if MIA exceeds 100 kcal/mol; for MIA between 50 and 100 kcal/mol excess of metal ions prevents isomerization, whereas in case of MIA below 50 kcal/mol metal ions have no influence on light–HAPI interaction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Supermolecular design: From molecules to solid states
Authors: Minyaev Ruslan M. , Starikov Andrey G. , Minkin Vladimir I.
Published: September 2015

A short review of the recent studies aimed at the search for novel stable polyhedral structures engineered by superstruction of the classical parent highly strained but kinetically stable organic predecessors, tetrahedrane, cubane, and dodecahedrane is presented. A series of stable structures B80H20, C80H20, and Al80H20 with tetrahedral B4H, C4H, and Al4H fragments displacing CH vertices of the cubane and dodecahedron scaffolds was computationally designed. In the similar way, the molecules С104H32, В104H32, В64С40H32 and В40С64H32, Al104H32, Si104H32 and Al64Si40H32 representing the supermolecular models of the corresponding crystal structures were constructed on the basis of the diamond crystal lattice in which carbon atoms are replaced by B4, C4, and Al4 and Si4 tetrahedral moieties, respectively. The effect of crystalline packing exerted on the conformation of the non‐rigid molecular structures is discussed by an example of supermolecular modeling of the structural configuration of a ten molecule sampling of a bis‐chelate Ni(II) complex. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward antiviral therapy/prophylaxis for rhinovirus‐induced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: challenges, opportunities, and strategies
Authors: Thibaut Hendrik Jan , Lacroix Céline , De Palma Armando M. , Franco David , Decramer Mark , Neyts Johan
Published: September 2015

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life‐threatening lung illness characterized by persistent and progressive airflow limitation. Exacerbations of COPD contribute to the severity of this pathology and accelerate disease progression. To date, pharmacological treatment of both stable COPD patients and patients experiencing exacerbations is mainly symptomatic with bronchodilators and steroids as the mainstay of therapy. Bacteria trigger such exacerbations in a number of cases; hence, antibiotics might be included in the treatment as well. Several respiratory viruses are frequently detected in sputum from patients during COPD exacerbations. These include influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and, most often, rhinoviruses. In this review, we discuss the potential use of an anti‐rhinovirus drug for the treatment and prophylaxis of rhinovirus‐induced COPD exacerbations and the path forward toward the development and use of such a drug. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel use of glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) to study corrosion of AA2024‐T3 in the presence and absence of inhibitors
Authors: Bingham Ruth Violet , Thompson George E.
Published: September 2015

Recent interest in environmentally friendly alternatives to chromate‐based corrosion inhibitors has led to the development of a range of novel coating formulations. The work described herein is aimed at developing a novel methodology to contribute to investigation of the self‐healing and active corrosion protection of the new coatings. An experimental procedure has been developed to model a defect in the coating by fixing coated specimens in close proximity to the uncoated AA2024‐T3, each separated by a narrow gap containing sodium chloride solution. After exposure to the corrosive environment, elemental depth profiles of the uncoated specimens were acquired by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES). The depth profiles of selected elements (notably aluminium, oxygen and copper) were shown to have characteristics which can be correlated with bulk surface roughening/intensity of corrosion, the thickness of the corroded layer and de‐alloying/re‐distribution of copper. An unanticipated inhibitory effect was noted in the case of a coating doped with γ‐Al2O3 (γ‐alumina or AluOx). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐Throughput Continuous Flow Production of Nanoscale Liposomes by Microfluidic Vertical Flow Focusing
Authors: Hood Renee R. , DeVoe Don L.
Published: September 2015

Liposomes represent a leading class of nanoparticles for drug delivery. While a variety of techniques for liposome synthesis have been reported that take advantage of microfluidic flow elements to achieve precise control over the size and polydispersity of nanoscale liposomes, with important implications for nanomedicine applications, these methods suffer from extremely limited throughput, making them impractical for large‐scale nanoparticle synthesis. High aspect ratio microfluidic vertical flow focusing is investigated here as a new approach to overcoming the throughput limits of established microfluidic nanoparticle synthesis techniques. Here the vertical flow focusing technique is utilized to generate populations of small, unilamellar, and nearly monodisperse liposomal nanoparticles with exceptionally high production rates and remarkable sample homogeneity. By leveraging this platform, liposomes with modal diameters ranging from 80 to 200 nm are prepared at production rates as high as 1.6 mg min−1 in a simple flow‐through process.
Photo‐electrochemical Bioanalysis of Guanosine Monophosphate Using Coupled Enzymatic Reactions at a CdS/ZnS Quantum Dot Electrode
Authors: Sabir Nadeem , Khan Nazimuddin , Völkner Johannes , Widdascheck Felix , del Pino Pablo , Witte Gregor , Riedel Marc , Lisdat Fred , Konrad Manfred , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: September 2015

A photo‐electrochemical sensor for the specific detection of guanosine monophosphate (GMP) is demonstrated, based on three enzymes combined in a coupled reaction assay. The first reaction involves the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐dependent conversion of GMP to guanosine diphosphate (GDP) by guanylate kinase, which warrants substrate specificity. The reaction products ADP and GDPare co‐substrates for the enzymatic conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate in a second reaction mediated by pyruvate kinase. Pyruvate in turn is the co‐substrate for lactate dehydrogenase that generates lactate via oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form) NADH to NAD+. This third enzymatic reaction is electrochemically detected. For this purpose a CdS/ZnS quantum dot (QD) electrode is illuminated and the photocurrent response under fixed potential conditions is evaluated. The sequential enzyme reactions are first evaluated in solution. Subsequently, a sensor for GMP is constructed using polyelectrolytes for enzyme immobilization.
Nanocomposite‐Based Photodynamic Therapy Strategies for Deep Tumor Treatment
Authors: Hu Jun , Tang Yong'an , Elmenoufy Ahmed H. , Xu Huibi , Cheng Zhen , Yang Xiangliang
Published: September 2015

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as an emerging clinically approved modality, has been used for treatment of various cancer diseases. Conventional PDT strategies are mainly focused on superficial lesions because the wavelength of illumination light of most clinically approved photosensitizers (PSs) is located in the UV/VIS range that possesses limited tissue penetration ability, leading to ineffective therapeutic response for deep‐seated tumors. The combination of PDT and nanotechnology is becoming a promising approach to fight against deep tumors. Here, the rapid development of new PDT modalities based on various smartly designed nanocomposites integrating with conventionally used PSs for deep tumor treatments is introduced. Until now many types of multifunctional nanoparticles have been studied, and according to the source of excitation energy they can be classified into three major groups: near infrared (NIR) light excited nanomaterials, X‐ray excited scintillating/afterglow nanoparticles, and internal light emission excited nanocarriers. The in vitro and in vivo applications of these newly developed PDT modalities are further summarized here, which highlights their potential use as promising nano‐agents for deep tumor therapy.
Functional Niche Competition Between Normal Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells and Myeloid Leukemia Cells
Authors: Glait-Santar Chen , Desmond Ronan , Feng Xingmin , Bat Taha , Chen Jichun , Heuston Elisabeth , Mizukawa Benjamin , Mulloy James C. , Bodine David M. , Larochelle Andre , Dunbar Cynthia E.
Published: September 2015

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in a specialized niche that regulates their proliferative capacity and their fate. There is increasing evidence for similar roles of marrow niches on controlling the behavior of leukemic cells; however, whether normal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and leukemic cells reside in or functionally compete for the same marrow niche is unclear. We used the mixed lineage leukemia-AF9 (MLL-AF9) murine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a competitive repopulation model to investigate whether normal HSPC and leukemic cells functionally compete for the same marrow niches. Irradiated recipient mice were transplanted with fixed numbers of MLL-AF9 cells mixed with increasing doses of normal syngeneic whole bone marrow (WBM) or with purified HSPC (LSK). Survival was significantly increased and leukemic progression was delayed proportional to increasing doses of normal WBM or normal LSK cells in multiple independent experiments, with all doses of WBM or LSK cells studied above the threshold for rapid and complete hematopoietic reconstitution in the absence of leukemia. Confocal microscopy demonstrated nests of either leukemic cells or normal hematopoietic cells but not both in the marrow adjacent to endosteum. Early following transplantation, leukemic cells from animals receiving lower LSK doses were cycling more actively than in those receiving higher doses. These results suggest that normal HSPC and AML cells compete for the same functional niche. Manipulation of the niche could impact on response to antileukemic therapies, and the numbers of normal HSPC could impact on leukemia outcome, informing approaches to cell dose in the context of stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells  2015;33:3635–3642
Lifetime and energy optimization in multi‐hop wireless sensor networks with spatial modulation based cooperative MIMO
Authors: Peng Yuyang , Youn Chan‐Hyun
Published: September 2015

In this letter, the optimizations of both lifetime and energy consumption are jointly considered in multi‐hop clustered wireless sensor networks (WSNs), where spatial modulation (SM)‐based cooperative MIMO (CMIMO‐SM) is utilized as the transmission scheme. In this scheme, an only‐forwarding transmission scenario is considered so that the intermediate clusters only act as deliverers to pass the data from the source to the destination. The energy consumption and lifetime of the whole network are optimized by allocating the hop lengths and selecting the appropriate number of hops. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Gulf Arab E‐Business Environment: Localization Strategy Insights
Authors: Benmamoun Mamoun , Sobh Rana , Singh Nitish , Moura Francisco Tigre
Published: September 2015

The Gulf Arab region, particularly Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), took significant steps toward adopting e‐business and is poised to become a significant online marketplace. The region has a number of vital ingredients that could make it an e‐commerce powerhouse; however, e‐commerce has not reached its full potential. In this article, the authors explore the e‐business environment in the Gulf Arab region and shed light on some of the opportunities and challenges that are shaping and restricting e‐business infiltration. The article places greater emphasis on the idea of localization and how it may impact consumer behavior and expansion of e‐commerce. We argue that by increasing the focus on culturally customized online content by considering country‐level cultural, geopolitical, and linguistic factors, this region could be lucrative for companies looking to attract online consumers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical experience with single‐nucleotide polymorphism‐based non‐invasive prenatal screening for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Gross S. J. , Stosic M. , McDonald‐McGinn D. M. , Bassett A. S. , Norvez A. , Dhamankar R. , Kobara K. , Kirkizlar E. , Zimmermann B. , Wayham N. , Babiarz J. E. , Ryan A. , Jinnett K. N. , Demko Z. , Benn P.
Published: September 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the performance of a single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based non‐invasive prenatal test (NIPT) for the detection of fetal 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in clinical practice, assess clinical follow‐up and review patient choices for women with high‐risk results.

Methods

In this study, 21 948 samples were submitted for screening for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome using a SNP‐based NIPT and subsequently evaluated. Follow‐up was conducted for all cases with a high‐risk result.

Results

Ninety‐five cases were reported as high risk for fetal 22q11.2 deletion. Diagnostic testing results were available for 61 (64.2%) cases, which confirmed 11 (18.0%) true positives and identified 50 (82.0%) false positives, resulting in a positive predictive value (PPV) of 18.0%. Information regarding invasive testing was available for 84 (88.4%) high‐risk cases: 57.1% (48/84) had invasive testing and 42.9% (36/84) did not. Ultrasound anomalies were present in 81.8% of true‐positive and 18.0% of false‐positive cases. Two additional cases were high risk for a maternal 22q11.2 deletion; one was confirmed by diagnostic testing and one had a positive family history. There were three pregnancy terminations related to screening results of 22q11.2 deletion, two of which were confirmed as true positive by invasive testing.

Conclusions

Clinical experience with this SNP‐based non‐invasive screening test for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome indicates that these deletions have a frequency of approximately 1 in 1000 in the referral population with most identifiable through this test. Use of this screening method requires the availability of counseling and other management resources for high‐risk pregnancies. © 2015 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Implementing drinking water security: the limits of source protection
Authors: Cook Christina
Published: September 2015

While the implementation of drinking water security legislation was an important response to a water quality tragedy in Ontario, Canada, its effect has been circumscribed by hydrosocial relations underlying water governance arrangements. The long‐established land‐use planning—and more recent growth planning and place‐based planning—laws and policies make water management secondary to land whether it is as part of the ecological system, as a resource, or as an amenity. The effect is to subjugate source water protection to land use and, indeed, economic development priorities for resource extraction. The Ontario case shows that implementation of proactive drinking water security through source protection law and policy will be circumscribed by hydrosocial relations that prioritize the economic development. To implement proactive drinking water security will require a fundamental rethinking of the trade‐offs implicit in our existing hydrosocial relations. WIREs Water 2016, 3:5–12. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1117

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance