bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in Bowen's disease: a retrospective observational study in 423 lesions
Authors: Zaar O. , Fougelberg J. , Hermansson A. , Gillstedt M. , Wennberg‐Larkö A.‐M. , Paoli J.
Published: February 2017

Background

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well‐known technique that is often used for treating superficial precancerous and cancerous skin lesions. However, only a handful of studies, with a relatively small number of treated lesions, have been carried out on the effectiveness of PDT for Bowen's disease (BD).

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and recurrence risk of PDT in the treatment of BD. The secondary objectives were to determine what factors affected the response rates and the cosmetic result of the treatment.

Method

In this retrospective observational study, the electronic patient charts at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SUH) in Gothenburg, Sweden, were searched to find all patients diagnosed with BD who were treated with PDT between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2014. Data were collected regarding clinical response at the first follow‐up visit, recurrences during later follow‐up visits and other relevant patient and tumour characteristics.

Results

In total, 423 BD lesions in 335 patients were included in the study. The mean FU duration was 11.2 months (range 0.2–151 months). The complete response rate at the first FU visit was 77.5% for all BD lesions. During later FU visits, another 60 recurrences were observed, which resulted in a recurrence rate of 18.3%. Thus, the overall clearance rate after FU was 63.4% for all BD lesions. Significant risk factors for unsuccessful treatment in this study were large lesion size (>2 cm) and a single PDT session.

Conclusion

This study shows that PDT is a relatively effective treatment modality for BD.
Expression of programmed death‐1 in cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma and its effect on clinical findings and biological behaviour
Authors: Kim Y.J. , Won C.H. , Chang S.E. , Lee M.W. , Choi J.H. , Lee W.J.
Published: February 2017

Background

Recent studies have evaluated the expression of programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) and its prognostic value in malignant T‐cell lymphomas.

Objectives

This study investigated whether the positivity of PD‐1 was associated with the clinical characteristics of cutaneous extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma (ENKTL) and evaluated its effects on survival outcomes.

Methods

Forty‐one patients with cutaneous ENKTL were included. Clinical features and survival outcomes were analysed according to the positivity of PD‐1.

Results

There was no significant difference between primary cutaneous ENKTL and secondary cutaneous ENKTL in the expression of PD‐1. The degree of disease dissemination was not affected by the positivity of PD‐1. Higher positivity for PD‐1 was associated with lesions presenting erythematous to purpuric patches that are mainly composed of small tumour cells. Cutaneous ENKTL presenting nodular lesions had a significantly lower number of PD‐1‐positive infiltrating cells than those with other clinical morphologies. There was no significant effect of PD‐1 expression on outcomes such as overall and progression‐free survival.

Limitations

This study used a retrospective design and had a small sample size.

Conclusion

Higher PD‐1 positivity is associated with small‐cell‐predominant cutaneous ENKTL. However, PD‐1 expression has no prognostic value in cutaneous ENKTL.
Intrinsic reproductive isolating mechanisms in the maintenance of a hybrid zone between ecologically divergent subspecies
Authors: McKenzie J. L. , Bucking C. , Moreira A. , Schulte P. M.
Published: February 2017

Understanding factors involved in maintaining stable hybrid zones is important for predicting the ultimate fate of the interacting taxa, but the relative importance of mechanisms such as ecological selection and intrinsic reproductive isolation remains unclear. Most studies of reproductive isolation in hybrid zones have focused either on zones with strongly bimodal patterns in genotype or phenotype frequencies, with relatively strong isolation, or unimodal zones with relatively weak isolation, whereas less is known about more intermediate classes of hybrid zone. Here, we utilize a hybrid zone of this intermediate type occurring between northern and southern subspecies of Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, to identify isolating mechanisms playing a role in maintaining this type of zone. The two subspecies differ in environmental tolerance, and we found some evidence of microhabitat preference between subspecies within a small tidal creek at the centre of the hybrid zone. There was also an association between sex, mitochondrial genotype and habitat within this creek. Fertilization success did not differ between consubspecific and heterosubspecific crosses, but hatching success was significantly lower for crosses involving southern males and northern females, and crosses between southern females and northern males had altered developmental rates. Southern females and northern males showed patterns consistent with positive assortative mating. Together, these results indicate a role for a combination of factors including assortative mating and/or early hybrid inviability in the maintenance of this hybrid zone and suggest that hybrid zones with intermediate levels of reproductive isolation are likely to be maintained by multiple interacting isolating mechanisms.
Management of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with ANCA‐associated vasculitis
Authors: Bramlage Carsten Paul , Kröplin Juliane , Wallbach Manuel , Minguet Joan , Smith Katherine Helen , Lüders Stephan , Schrader Joachim , Patschan Susan , Gross Oliver , Deutsch Cornelia , Bramlage Peter , Müller Gerhard Anton , Koziolek Michael
Published: February 2017

Objectives

Anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV) is accompanied by increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Treatment of AAV patients includes the management of conventional CV risk factors, primarily hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, while lipoprotein(a) (LP(a)) is an emerging potential target.

Methods

We performed a multicenter, retrospective study in Germany. Patients were considered if they were between 18 and 90 years old and presented with AAV. Patients with arterial hypertension but no autoimmune disease were used as a control group (HTN reference group).

Results

Compared to the reference group (n = 52), CV disease burden was significantly greater in patients with AAV (n = 53). Hypercholesterolemia was also more common in the AAV patients (71.7% vs 46.2% for the HTN; P = .008). Lipoprotein(a) levels were elevated in both groups, with 11.3% and 17.3% of the AAV and HTN groups, respectively, displaying a level above 0.6 g/l (P = .083).

Guideline‐recommended targets for low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure levels were rarely met. According to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines, 72.5% of the patients with AAV should have been taking statins and/or ezetimibe for treatment of hyperlipidemia; however, only 24.3% of them were receiving such treatment. Blood pressure below ≤140/90 mmHg was reached in 78.6% of the patients with chronic kidney disease. However, for patients with chronic kidney disease and an albumin excretion rate of >30 mg/day, the recommended blood pressure is ≤130/80 mmHg, a value that was not reached in 65% of the AAV patients.

Conclusion

Patients with AAV are at high CV risk, but management of the associated risk factors is poor. In addition to improving the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, lipoprotein(a) is a further potential target for reducing CV risk in individuals with AAV.
An evaluation of the costs and consequences of Children Community Nursing teams
Authors: Hinde Sebastian , Allgar Victoria , Richardson Gerry , Spiers Gemma , Parker Gillian , Birks Yvonne
Published: February 2017

Aims

Recent years have seen an increasing shift towards providing care in the community, epitomised by the role of Children's Community Nursing (CCN) teams. However, there have been few attempts to use robust evaluative methods to interrogate the impact of such services. This study sought to evaluate whether reduction in secondary care costs, resulting from the introduction of 2 CCN teams, was sufficient to offset the additional cost of commissioning.

Methods

Among the potential benefits of the CCN teams is a reduction in the burden placed on secondary care through the delivery of care at home; it is this potential reduction which is evaluated in this study via a 2‐part analytical method. Firstly, an interrupted time series analysis used Hospital Episode Statistics data to interrogate any change in total paediatric bed days as a result of the introduction of 2 teams. Secondly, a costing analysis compared the cost savings from any reduction in total bed days with the cost of commissioning the teams. This study used a retrospective longitudinal study design as part of the transforming children's community services trial, which was conducted between June 2012 and June 2015.

Results

A reduction in hospital activity after introduction of the 2 nursing teams was found, (9634 and 8969 fewer bed days), but this did not reach statistical significance. The resultant cost saving to the National Health Service was less than the cost of employing the teams.

Conclusion

The study represents an important first step in understanding the role of such teams as a means of providing a high quality of paediatric care in an era of limited resource. While the cost saving from released paediatric bed days was not sufficient to demonstrate cost‐effectiveness, the analysis does not incorporate wider measures of health care utilisation and nonmonetary benefits resulting from the CCN teams.
Characterization of Chitosan/TiO2 Nano‐Powder Modified Glass‐Ionomer Cement for Restorative Dental Applications
Authors: Ibrahim Marrwa A. , Meera Priyadarshini Balasankar , Neo Jennifer , Fawzy Amr S.
Published: February 2017

Objectives

We are introducing novel glass‐ionomer cement (GIC) dually‐modified with chitosan (CH) in the liquid phase and titanium‐dioxide nano‐powder (TiO2/NP) in the powder phase. The aim was to investigate the effect of this dual‐modification on the antibacterial properties against S. mutans biofilms and on the bulk and surface mechanical properties.

Methods

Commercially available powder/liquid restorative GIC was used in this study. The GIC specimens were modified with 3% (w/w) TiO2/NP, 10% (v/v) CH solution, or dually‐modified with TiO2/CH. The non‐modified GIC was used as a control. The biofilms formations were characterized by SEM, live/dead assay using confocal‐microscopy, colony‐forming unit counts, and MTS assay. The bulk and surface mechanical properties were characterized in terms of flexural and compressive strengths and surface hardness, respectively.

Results

With the dual‐modification, a significant improvement in the antibacterial properties was found both qualitatively and quantitatively. The synergetic effect of the dual‐modification was also reflected on the enhancement of the flexural and compressive strengths. However, no difference was found in surface hardness.

Conclusions

The modification of GIC powder with TiO2/NP showed to be more effective in enhancing the mechanical properties. However, the enhancement in the antibacterial properties was more evident with CH incorporation in GIC liquid.

Clinical Significance

This study introduced novel glass ionomer cement dually‐modified with TiO2 NP and chitosan with superior mechanical and antibacterial properties for potential applications in restorative and preventive dentistry. The modification of GIC powder with TiO2 NP showed to be more effective in enhancing the mechanical properties. However, the enhancement in the antibacterial properties was more evident with CH incorporation in GIC liquid. Although of the promising synergetic effect of the dual‐modification of GIC with TiO2 NP/CH, further clinically‐related studies are recommended. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:146–156, 2017)
The use of a contextual, modal and psychological classification of medication errors in the emergency department: a retrospective descriptive study
Authors: Cabilan CJ , Hughes James A , Shannon Carl
Published: February 2017

Aims and objectives

To describe the contextual, modal and psychological classification of medication errors in the emergency department to know the factors associated with the reported medication errors.

Background

The causes of medication errors are unique in every clinical setting; hence, error minimisation strategies are not always effective. For this reason, it is fundamental to understand the causes specific to the emergency department so that targeted strategies can be implemented.

Design

Retrospective analysis of reported medication errors in the emergency department.

Methods

All voluntarily staff‐reported medication‐related incidents from 2010–2015 from the hospital's electronic incident management system were retrieved for analysis. Contextual classification involved the time, place and the type of medications involved. Modal classification pertained to the stage and issue (e.g. wrong medication, wrong patient). Psychological classification categorised the errors in planning (knowledge‐based and rule‐based errors) and skill (slips and lapses).

Results

There were 405 errors reported. Most errors occurred in the acute care area, short‐stay unit and resuscitation area, during the busiest shifts (0800–1559, 1600–2259). Half of the errors involved high‐alert medications. Many of the errors occurred during administration (62·7%), prescribing (28·6%) and commonly during both stages (18·5%). Wrong dose, wrong medication and omission were the issues that dominated. Knowledge‐based errors characterised the errors that occurred in prescribing and administration. The highest proportion of slips (79·5%) and lapses (76·1%) occurred during medication administration. It is likely that some of the errors occurred due to the lack of adherence to safety protocols.

Conclusion

Technology such as computerised prescribing, barcode medication administration and reminder systems could potentially decrease the medication errors in the emergency department. There was a possibility that some of the errors could be prevented if safety protocols were adhered to, which highlights the need to also address clinicians’ attitudes towards safety.

Relevance to clinical practice

Technology can be implemented to help minimise errors in the ED, but this must be coupled with efforts to enhance the culture of safety.
Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats and the Risk of Total Hypercalcemia
Authors: van den Broek D.H.N. , Chang Y.‐M. , Elliott J. , Jepson R.E.
Published: February 2017

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common comorbidity in cats with hypercalcemia, but whether CKD is a risk factor for hypercalcemia is unclear. Hypercalcemia often is diagnosed based on total calcium concentration (tCa), which tends to underestimate the ionized calcium concentration (iCa) in cats.

Objectives

Assessment of the performance of tCa for the diagnosis of ionized hypercalcemia, and exploration of factors influencing the relationship between iCa and tCa. Determination of risk factors for incident total hypercalcemia (ie, the development of hypercalcemia based on tCa during follow‐up).

Animals

Records of a cross‐section (n = 477) and observational cohort (n = 367) of client‐owned cats with and without azotemic CKD from first opinion practice.

Methods

Retrospective cross‐sectional and retrospective cohort study. The diagnostic accuracy of tCa as an index test for ionized hypercalcemia was evaluated, and risk factors for underestimation were explored by binary logistic and linear regression in a cross‐section of cats with and without azotemic CKD. Chronic kidney disease and clinicopathological variables were assessed as predictors of incident total hypercalcemia by both time‐invariant and time‐dependent Cox regression in a cohort of cats.

Results

Specificity of tCa for identification of ionized hypercalcemia was high (100%), but sensitivity was low. Underestimation was associated with lower venous bicarbonate concentrations. Cats with CKD had increased risk for incident total hypercalcemia (hazard ratio, 4.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.96–9.37; P < .001). Higher tCa predicted incident total hypercalcemia in both azotemic and nonazotemic cats (P < .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for incident total hypercalcemia, and most cats with increased tCa had concurrent ionized hypercalcemia. Higher baseline tCa predicts incident total hypercalcemia. Prospective studies assessing changes in iCa are warranted.
Use of Renal Replacement Therapy in a Neonatal Foal with Postresuscitation Acute Renal Failure
Authors: Wong D.M. , Ruby R.E. , Eatroff A. , Yaeger M.J.
Published: February 2017

A newborn foal was presented because it was unresponsive and in cardiopulmonary arrest. Aggressive cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation was administered to the foal, which revived the foal; however, acute renal failure developed. Fluid retention and azotemia occurred although the foal was alert and able to suckle. A 6‐hour renal replacement therapy session using hemodiafiltration and a continuous renal replacement therapy machine was administered to the foal at 3 days of age which lowered the foal's azotemia and facilitated removal of some of the excess body fluid. Despite therapy, the foal developed pulmonary edema and was euthanized. Although the foal in this case did not survive, this report highlights the possibility of developing postresuscitation complications such as acute renal failure and describes the use of renal replacement therapy using hemodiafiltration as a viable option in neonatal foals with acute kidney injury.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in healthy and Aeromonas hydrophila‐infected crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)
Authors: Fan J. , Shan Q. , Wang J. , Liu S. , Li L. , Zheng G.
Published: February 2017

The comparative pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin (ENR) and its metabolite ciprofloxacin (CIP) were investigated in healthy and Aeromonas hydrophila‐infected crucian carp after a single oral (p.o.) administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg at 25 °C. The plasma concentrations of ENR and of CIP were determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated based on mean ENR concentrations by noncompartmental modeling. In healthy fish, the elimination half‐life (T1/2λz), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to peak (Tmax), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) values were 64.66 h, 3.55 μg/mL, 0.5 h, and 163.04 μg·h/mL, respectively. In infected carp, by contrast, the corresponding values were 73.70 h, 2.66 μg/mL, 0.75 h, and 137.43 μg·h/mL, and the absorption and elimination of ENR were slower following oral administration. Very low levels of CIP were detected, which indicates a low extent of deethylation of ENR in crucian carp.
Sensitivity analysis of effective population size to demographic parameters in house sparrow populations
Authors: Stubberud Marlene Wæge , Myhre Ane Marlene , Holand Håkon , Kvalnes Thomas , Ringsby Thor Harald , Sæther Bernt‐Erik , Jensen Henrik
Published: February 2017

The ratio between the effective and the census population size, , is an important measure of the long‐term viability and sustainability of a population. Understanding which demographic processes that affect most will improve our understanding of how genetic drift and the probability of fixation of alleles is affected by demography. This knowledge may also be of vital importance in management of endangered populations and species. Here, we use data from 13 natural populations of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in Norway to calculate the demographic parameters that determine . Using the global variance‐based Sobol’ method for the sensitivity analyses, we found that was most sensitive to demographic variance, especially among older individuals. Furthermore, the individual reproductive values (that determine the demographic variance) were most sensitive to variation in fecundity. Our results draw attention to the applicability of sensitivity analyses in population management and conservation. For population management aiming to reduce the loss of genetic variation, a sensitivity analysis may indicate the demographic parameters towards which resources should be focused. The result of such an analysis may depend on the life history and mating system of the population or species under consideration, because the vital rates and sex–age classes that is most sensitive to may change accordingly.
Application of network methods for understanding evolutionary dynamics in discrete habitats
Authors: Greenbaum Gili , Fefferman Nina H.
Published: February 2017

In populations occupying discrete habitat patches, gene flow between habitat patches may form an intricate population structure. In such structures, the evolutionary dynamics resulting from interaction of gene‐flow patterns with other evolutionary forces may be exceedingly complex. Several models describing gene flow between discrete habitat patches have been presented in the population‐genetics literature; however, these models have usually addressed relatively simple settings of habitable patches and have stopped short of providing general methodologies for addressing nontrivial gene‐flow patterns. In the last decades, network theory – a branch of discrete mathematics concerned with complex interactions between discrete elements – has been applied to address several problems in population genetics by modelling gene flow between habitat patches using networks. Here, we present the idea and concepts of modelling complex gene flows in discrete habitats using networks. Our goal is to raise awareness to existing network theory applications in molecular ecology studies, as well as to outline the current and potential contribution of network methods to the understanding of evolutionary dynamics in discrete habitats. We review the main branches of network theory that have been, or that we believe potentially could be, applied to population genetics and molecular ecology research. We address applications to theoretical modelling and to empirical population‐genetic studies, and we highlight future directions for extending the integration of network science with molecular ecology.
Long‐term tag retention on two species of small cetaceans
Authors: Heide‐Jørgensen Mads Peter , Nielsen Nynne H. , Teilmann Jonas , Leifsson Páll S.
Published: February 2017

The effects of tagging on small cetaceans are difficult to assess due to logistical difficulties in recapturing the whales. In this study two narwhals, Monodon monoceros, and five harbor porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, were recaptured between 297 and 767 days after instrumentation with satellite transmitters. The transmitters were mounted by pins that were pushed through the fins of the porpoises or the backs of the narwhals. Overall body condition seemed unaffected by the instrumentations. Macroscopical examination revealed that umbilicalization of the tissue surrounding the pins was almost complete. On one of the narwhals the reepithelialization created a closed tunnel where the pins were isolated from the subdermal tissue, however the reepithelialization was incomplete around the middle of the pin and a low‐grade inflammation increased with decreasing thickness of epidermis. The inflammation consisted of mononuclear cells, mainly lymphocytes. With increasing inflammation the number of neutrophils and macrophages increased. In the lymphoid follicular hyperplasia macrophages and a few neutrophils were found, in one case accompanied by Splendore‐Hoeppli material with radiating eosinophilic clubs and Gram‐positive cocci. Immunohistochemical staining of the cocci for Staphylococcus aureus was positive. The observations from the recaptured cetaceans suggest that the instrumentations caused only temporary and low‐grade inflammatory responses.
Mini review: A unique case of crescentic C3 glomerulonephritis
Authors: Palamuthusingam Dharmenaan , Mantha Murty , Oliver Kimberley , Bavishi Ketan , Dheda Shyam
Published: February 2017

Kidney involvement is an under‐recognized complication of non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. They occur in a variety of mechanisms and differ widely in their clinical presentation. We take this opportunity to report a case of a 65 year‐old man who developed a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis within days after completing his first cycle of R‐CHOP (Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone) chemotherapy for newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma. He was odematous, hypertensive, oliguric with nephrotic range proteinuria and an active urine sediment. A renal biopsy showed a crescentic C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) with no evidence endocapillary or mesangial hypercellularity. He was promptly treated with immunosuppression and dialysis, with resumption of his chemotherapy. Genetic testing on complement proteins revealed a homozygous deletion spanning the CFHR1 and CFHR3 genes. Crescentic C3GN is a rare form of kidney injury, and this is the first known case of lymphoma‐associated kidney involvement manifesting as C3GN. This article explores the possible mechanism of disease and reviews the literature of lymphoma‐related kidney disease.
The influence of climatic niche preferences on the population genetic structure of a mistletoe species complex
Authors: Ramírez‐Barahona Santiago , González Clementina , González‐Rodríguez Antonio , Ornelas Juan Francisco
Published: February 2017

The prevalent view on genetic structuring in parasitic plants is that host‐race formation is caused by varying degrees of host specificity. However, the relative importance of ecological niche divergence and host specificity to population differentiation remains poorly understood.

We evaluated the factors associated with population differentiation in mistletoes of the Psittacanthus schiedeanus complex (Loranthaceae) in Mexico. We used genetic data from chloroplast sequences and nuclear microsatellites to study population genetic structure and tested its association with host preferences and climatic niche variables.

Pairwise genetic differentiation was associated with environmental and host preferences, independent of geography. However, environmental predictors appeared to be more important than host preferences to explain genetic structure, supporting the hypothesis that the occurrence of the parasite is largely determined by its own climatic niche and, to a lesser degree, by host specificity.

Genetic structure is significant within this mistletoe species complex, but the processes associated with this structure appear to be more complex than previously thought. Although host specificity was not supported as the major determinant of population differentiation, we consider this to be part of a more comprehensive ecological model of mistletoe host‐race formation that incorporates the effects of climatic niche evolution.
One way. Or another? Iron uptake in plants
Authors: Tsai Huei‐Hsuan , Schmidt Wolfgang
Published: February 2017

Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P), the latter taken up by plants as phosphate (Pi), are two essential nutrients that determine species distribution and often limit crop yield as a result of their low availability in most soils. Pi‐deficient plants improve the interception of Pi by increasing the density of root hairs, thereby expanding the volume of soil to be explored. The increase in root‐hair frequency results mainly from attenuated primary root growth, a process that was shown to be dependent on the availability of external Fe. Recent data support a hypothesis in which cell elongation during Pi starvation is tuned by depositing Fe in the apoplast of cortical cells in the root elongation zone. Uptake of Fe under Pi starvation appears to proceed via an alternative, as yet unidentified, route that bypasses the default Fe transporter. Fe deposits acquired through this noncanonical Fe‐uptake pathway compromises cell‐to‐cell communication that is critical for proper morphogenesis of epidermal cells and leads to shorter cells and higher root‐hair density. An auxiliary Fe‐uptake system might not only be crucial for recalibrating cell elongation in Pi‐deficient plants but may also have general importance for growth on Pi‐ or Fe‐poor soils by balancing the Pi and Fe supply.
PbrMYB21, a novel MYB protein of Pyrus betulaefolia, functions in drought tolerance and modulates polyamine levels by regulating arginine decarboxylase gene
Authors: Li Kongqing , Xing Caihua , Yao Zhenghong , Huang Xiaosan
Published: February 2017

MYB comprises a large family of transcription factors that play significant roles in plant development and stress response in plants. However, knowledge concerning the functions of MYBs and the target genes remains poorly understood. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a novel stress‐responsive MYB gene from Pyrus betulaefolia. The MYB gene, designated as PbrMYB21, belongs to the R2R3‐type and shares high degree of sequence similarity to MdMYB21. The transcript levels of PbrMYB21 were up‐regulated under various abiotic stresses, particularly dehydration. PbrMYB21 was localized in the nucleus with transactivation activity. Overexpression of PbrMYB21 in tobacco conferred enhanced tolerance to dehydration and drought stresses, whereas down‐regulation of PbrMYB21 in Pyrus betulaefolia by virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) resulted in elevated drought sensitivity. Transgenic tobacco exhibited higher expression levels of ADC (arginine decarboxylase) and accumulated larger amount of polyamine in comparison with wild type (WT). VIGS of PbrMYB21 in Pyrus betulaefolia down‐regulated ADC abundance and decreased polyamine level, accompanied by compromised drought tolerance. The promoter region of PbrADC contains one MYB‐recognizing cis‐element, which was shown to be interacted with PbrMYB21, indicating the ADC may be a target gene of PbrMYB21. Take together, these results demonstrated that PbrMYB21 plays a positive role in drought tolerance, which may be, at least in part, due to the modulation of polyamine synthesis by regulating the ADC expression.
High‐yield secretion of recombinant proteins from the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Ramos‐Martinez Erick Miguel , Fimognari Lorenzo , Sakuragi Yumiko
Published: February 2017

Microalga‐based biomanufacturing of recombinant proteins is attracting growing attention due to its advantages in safety, metabolic diversity, scalability and sustainability. Secretion of recombinant proteins can accelerate the use of microalgal platforms by allowing post‐translational modifications and easy recovery of products from the culture media. However, currently, the yields of secreted recombinant proteins are low, which hampers the commercial application of this strategy. This study aimed at expanding the genetic tools for enhancing secretion of recombinant proteins in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a widely used green microalga as a model organism and a potential industrial biotechnology platform. We demonstrated that the putative signal sequence from C. reinhardtii gametolysin can assist the secretion of the yellow fluorescent protein Venus into the culture media. To increase the secretion yields, Venus was C‐terminally fused with synthetic glycomodules comprised of tandem serine (Ser) and proline (Pro) repeats of 10 and 20 units [hereafter (SP)n, wherein n = 10 or 20]. The yields of the (SP)n‐fused Venus were higher than Venus without the glycomodule by up to 12‐fold, with the maximum yield of 15 mg/L. Moreover, the presence of the glycomodules conferred an enhanced proteolytic protein stability. The Venus‐(SP)n proteins were shown to be glycosylated, and a treatment of the cells with brefeldin A led to a suggestion that glycosylation of the (SP)n glycomodules starts in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Taken together, the results demonstrate the utility of the gametolysin signal sequence and (SP)n glycomodule to promote a more efficient biomanufacturing of microalgae‐based recombinant proteins.
Health‐related quality of life after combined liver and kidney transplantation in children
Authors: Schmaeschke Kaja , Lezius Susanne , Grabhorn Enke , Kemper Markus J. , Brinkert Florian
Published: February 2017

While reduced HRQOL following isolated organ transplantation has been previously reported, there are no data in the context of children following CLKT. Twenty‐three children who underwent CLKT at our institution were included in the study. The indication for CLKT was PH1 in 13 patients and ARPKD in 10 patients. Quantification of HRQOL was facilitated through the use of the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale. The results of the study were compared to healthy children and published data of children who had undergone LTx or KTx. The CLKT samples' child self‐report showed good HRQOL. No statistically significant difference was found between the patients with PH1 and patients with ARPKD (P=.4). Compared to healthy children, a significant difference in the total scale score, the physical health score, and the school functioning was reported. HRQOL did not differ significantly when compared to patients following isolated LTx or KTx. To improve HRQOL after CLKT, a focus on patients' physical health, educational performances, and overall quality of life is crucial. Thus, coordinated medical care across disciplines and psychological and social support is essential to achieve this goal.
Th17 cells and neutrophils: Close collaborators in chronic Leishmania mexicana infections leading to disease severity
Authors: Pedraza‐Zamora C. P. , Delgado‐Domínguez J. , Zamora‐Chimal J. , Becker I.
Published: February 2017

Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania mexicana is associated with an important inflammatory response. We here analysed the kinetics of Th17 cells and neutrophils in ear lobe lesions caused by Leishmania mexicana throughout 90 days of disease progression in susceptible BALB/c and semi‐resistant C57BL/6 mice infected with 1 × 105 Leishmania mexicana promastigotes. Cells in the lesions were extracted and quantified by flow cytometry, whereas their distribution in the tissues in relation to the parasites was analysed by immunohistochemistry. Our results show that in BALB/c mice, both Th17 cells and neutrophils increase concomitantly and to significantly higher levels on day 90 post‐infection, as compared to C57BL/6 mice. Our results provide novel evidence on the cells causing chronic inflammation throughout Leishmania mexicana infections, resulting as a consequence of neutrophil recruitment together with Th17 cell differentiation and recruitment, both of which remain in the infection site throughout the late phase of the infection. We conclude that the more enhanced levels of Th17 cells and neutrophils during chronic inflammatory lesions in BALB/c mice participate in their enhanced susceptibility towards a progressive disease evolution, whereas the more controlled response of these cells in C57BL/6 mice possibly relates to the more resistant profile of this mouse strain.
Spatial organization of the three‐component lichen Peltigera aphthosa in functional terms
Authors: Chekanov Konstantin , Feoktistov Alexandr , Lobakova Elena
Published: February 2017

The cephalolichen Peltigera aphthosa (L.) Willd. is characterized by lateral heterogeneity, which manifests itself in the presence of three thallus zones, referred to as the apical, basal and medial zone. These zones differ in terms of interaction between lichen bionts and their physiological activity. The apical thallus zone is more efficient in establishing a contact with cyanobacteria, because of a higher lectin content and a larger overall thallus surface area due to the presence of numerous mycobiont hyphae. Cephalodia are formed in this zone. The interaction between the mycobiont and cyanobiont is more intense in the medial zone. However, the establishment of the contact with cyanobacteria in this zone less probable. The spatial distribution of lectins in the thallus was determined. To reveal the differences in photosynthetic activity in three thallus zones, transient analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence and the assessment of non‐photochemical quenching of excited chlorophyll states were performed. Assimilation of absorbed light energy was more effective in the medial zone. The basal zone was characterized by decreased photosynthetic activity, lichen dissociation and thallus death.
Adverse Effects of Early Life Extreme Precipitation Shocks on Short‐term Health and Adulthood Welfare Outcomes
Authors: Abiona Olukorede
Published: February 2017

This paper examines the impact of exposure to early life rainfall shock on children's anthropometric growth status and other welfare outcomes. The study exploits World Bank repeated cross‐section household data on Malawi and exogenous variation in precipitation measures across localities to identify the impact of drought and flood shocks on health, schooling and satisfaction levels. Our main estimate for children's anthropometric growth reveals that an incidence of drought shock leads to a resultant average decrease of 15%, 17% and 43% in age‐standardized weight z‐scores for shocks experienced at in‐utero stage, first and second years respectively. Correspondingly, the relative impacts of an incidence of drought shock on age‐standardized height z‐scores are 14%, 15% and 27%. In contrast, the impacts of flood shock on each of these outcomes deteriorate over the outlined reference periods. On the adult dimension, we find that adults who face in‐utero drought shock are more likely to have greater school entry delays and be unhappy with their current economic situations. However, this adulthood result pertains to male adults in our sample.
Translation and testing of measurement properties of the Swedish version of the IKDC subjective knee form
Authors: Tigerstrand Grevnerts H. , Grävare Silbernagel K. , Sonesson S. , Ardern C. , Österberg A. , Gauffin H. , Kvist J.
Published: February 2017

To translate to Swedish language and cross‐culturally adapt the IKDC‐SKF and to test the measurement properties of the Swedish version of IKDC‐SKF in ACL‐injured patients undergoing reconstruction surgery.The translation and cross‐cultural adaption was performed according to guidelines. Seventy‐six patients with an ACL injury filled out the IKDC‐SKF and other questionnaires before ACL reconstruction and at 4, 6, and 12 months after surgery. A total of 203 patients from the Swedish ACL Registry participated at 8 months post‐operative. Measurement properties were tested according to the COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines.The Swedish IKDC‐SKF had high internal consistency (Cronbach′s alpha=0.90) and test‐retest reliability (ICC2,1=0.92, CI 95%: 0.81‐0.97, P<.001). A single factor solution accounted for 46.1% of the variance in IKDC‐SKF scores. Criterion validity was moderate to high. All ten predefined hypotheses for hypothesis testing were confirmed. The six hypotheses for responsiveness testing were confirmed. The effect size was 1.8, the standardized response mean was 1.9, the and minimal clinically important difference was 13.9 points.The Swedish version of the IKDC‐SKF had good measurement properties and can be recommended for use in a population of ACL‐deficient patients undergoing ACL reconstruction.
Diaporthe soft tissue infection in a heart transplant patient
Authors: Rakita Robert M. , O'Brien Kevin D. , Bourassa Lori
Published: February 2017

Infections caused by Diaporthe species are very uncommon. We describe a heart transplant recipient 14 years post transplant who developed a soft tissue fungal infection due to a Diaporthe species that responded well to surgical excision and posaconazole therapy. The Aspergillus galactomannan index was markedly elevated, and returned to normal following treatment. Solid organ transplant patients remain at risk of infection long after transplantation and should be counseled about risk avoidance.
AaMYB1 and its orthologue AtMYB61 affect terpene metabolism and trichome development in Artemisia annua and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Matías‐Hernández Luis , Jiang Weimin , Yang Ke , Tang Kexuan , Brodelius Peter E. , Pelaz Soraya
Published: February 2017

The effective anti‐malarial drug artemisinin (AN) isolated from Artemisia annua is relatively expensive due to the low AN content in the plant as AN is only synthesized within the glandular trichomes. Therefore, genetic engineering of A. annua is one of the most promising approaches for improving the yield of AN. In this work, the AaMYB1 transcription factor has been identified and characterized. When AaMYB1 is overexpressed in A. annua, either exclusively in trichomes or in the whole plant, essential AN biosynthetic genes are also overexpressed and consequently the amount of AN is significantly increased. Artemisia AaMYB1 constitutively overexpressing plants displayed a greater number of trichomes. In order to study the role of AaMYB1 on trichome development and other possibly connected biological processes, AaMYB1 was overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. To support our findings in Arabidopsis thaliana, an AaMYB1 orthologue from this model plant, AtMYB61, was identified and atmyb61 mutants characterized. Both AaMYB1 and AtMYB61 affected trichome initiation, root development and stomatal aperture in A. thaliana. Molecular analyses indicated that two crucial trichome activator genes are misexpressed in atmyb61 mutant plants and in plants overexpressing AaMYB1. Furthermore, AaMYB1 and AtMYB61 are also essential for gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and degradation in both species by positively affecting the expression of the enzymes that convert GA9 into the bioactive GA4 as well as the enzymes involved in the degradation of GA4. Overall, these results identify AaMYB1/AtMYB61 as a key component of the molecular network that connects important biosynthetic processes, and reveal its potential value for AN production through genetic engineering.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bloodstream infection – A 22‐year experience at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota
Authors: Tan E. M. , Marcelin J. R. , Adeel N. , Lewis R. J. , Enzler M. J. , Tosh P. K.
Published: February 2017

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a facultatively anaerobic Gram‐positive bacillus found mostly in swine, fish and sheep. E. rhusiopathiae classically causes cutaneous eruptions in butchers, fish handlers and veterinarians. Based solely on case reports, 90% of E. rhusiopathiae bloodstream infections (BSI) have been associated with infective endocarditis (IE). To assess the true frequency of IE in E. rhusiopathiae BSI as well as other clinical associations, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of E. rhusiopathiae BSI at Mayo Clinic. This is a single‐centre, retrospective study conducted between 1/1/1994 and 20/6/2016 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, E. rhusiopathiae BSI, anti‐microbial susceptibilities, incidence of IE, patient comorbidities, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and duration of antibiotics. Five cases of E. rhusiopathiae BSI were identified. Risk factors included animal exposures, immunosuppression, diabetes and kidney disease. All cases involved penicillin‐sensitive strains and high‐grade BSI. Four cases showed no signs of IE on transesophageal echocardiogram. All patients recovered fully with intravenous antibiotics. Our retrospective review illustrates that E. rhusiopathiae can cause invasive BSI in the absence of IE and that the previously reported 90% association between BSI and IE may be overestimated due to reporting bias. E. rhusiopathiae should be suspected in any patient with Gram‐positive bacilli in blood cultures and the aforementioned risk factors. A limitation of our study was the low sample size, and future studies may involve multicentre collaborations and the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or serologic testing to increase the number of diagnoses..
Phylogeography and phylogeny of the genus Acanthonyx (Decapoda, Epialtidae) in the north‐east Atlantic and Mediterranean
Authors: Tavares Ana I. , Cabezas M. Pilar , Xavier Raquel , Branco Madalena , Lima Fernando P. , Seabra Rui , Ribeiro Pedro A. , Lopes Evandro P. , Santos António M.
Published: February 2017

The genus Acanthonyx Latreille, 1828 (Majoidea, Epialtidae) contains 17 or 18 known species, depending on competing taxonomic views, that are widely distributed across the world. Morphologically, most species look superficially alike, and therefore, similar taxonomic concepts have been described under different names. Consequently, there is today a considerable list of synonyms, which further complicates the taxonomy of the genus Acanthonyx. In this study, we conducted a phylogeographical and phylogenetic analysis of populations of the genus Acanthonyx in the NE Atlantic, Mediterranean and Macaronesia using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear 28S rRNA loci. Our phylogenetic and phylogeographical results revealed that Acanthonyx lunulatus sensu lato is a complex of three distinct lineages: one corresponding to the previously described Acanthonyx brevifrons, another to A. lunulatus sensu stricto and a third to a yet undescribed group. Whereas our results confirms that A. brevifrons deserves the status of a species, as it can be easily distinguishable from A. lunulatus by a few morphological traits, we could not find any such traits suitable for the discrimination between A. lunulatus sensu stricto and the third lineage. Furthermore, the degree of COI divergence between this lineage and A. lunulatus is below average levels for Decapoda species. Yet, no shared haplotypes have been detected between them. The differences found in the nuclear gene (indels), together with the sympatric occurrence of the two forms, prompt for a more detailed analysis of this group. Overall, the results show that significant genetic differentiation between specimens with similar morphology occurs in the Epialtidae, thus reinforcing the importance of combining morphological and genetic tools to fully resolve the taxonomy of these decapods.
SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY, AND AYAHUASCA: THE PROBLEM OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SPIRITUAL ONTOLOGIES IN THE ACADEMY
Authors: Apud Ismael
Published: February 2017

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew from Amazonas, popularized in the last decades in part through transnational religious networks, but also due to interest in exploring spirituality through altered states of consciousness among academic schools and scientific researchers. In this article, the author analyzes the relation between science and religion proposing that the “demarcation problem” between the two arises from the relations among consciousness, intentionality, and spirituality. The analysis starts at the beginning of modern science, continues through the nineteenth century, and then examines the appearance of new schools in psychology and anthropology in the countercultural milieu of the 1960s. The author analyzes the case of ayahuasca against this historical background, first, in the general context of ayahuasca studies in the academic field. Second, he briefly describes three cases from Spain. Finally, he discusses the permeability of science to “spiritual ontologies” from an interdisciplinary perspective, using insights from social and cognitive sciences.