bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A fresh look at radial shaft fracture fixation: The lateral approach to the radius
Authors: Haseeb Muhammad , Muzafar Khalid , Ghani Abdul , Bhat Khurshid A , Butt M Farooq
Published: June 2018

Introduction:

Open reduction and internal fixation using plates is the gold standard for the treatment of displaced forearm bone fractures in adults. The ulna being subcutaneous throughout has a constant approach. However, the radius is approached from either the dorsal or the volar side. Both the dorsal and the volar approaches to the radial shaft involve meticulous dissection and preservation of important neurovascular structures. The posterior interosseus nerve is at risk in the dorsal approach and the radial artery and its branches in the volar approach. Dissection of these structures also adds to the operative time. The possibility of a third alternate approach was perceived, which could decrease the potential risks of the conventional approaches.

Patients and Methods:

Sixteen patients with radial shaft fractures in the middle third were operated on using the lateral approach: 6 of them had isolated radius fracture and 10 had both-bone fractures. There were 13 males and three females with a mean age of 37.9 years. Limited contact dynamic compression plate or locking compression plate of 3.5 mm was used to fix all fractures. All patients were operated on within 36 h of injury and then followed up till union. Union was assessed using serial radiographs and functional outcome using Anderson et al.’s criteria. The final functional outcome was assessed at an average 6 months after surgery and the results compiled.

Results:

The mean operative time in isolated radius fractures was 37.5 min and that for plating of both bones was 80.7 min. Primary bone grafting of the radius was done in one case and secondary bone grafting in another patient with delayed union of the radius. Union was achieved in all cases at a mean time of 17.25 weeks. The functional outcome was excellent in 10 patients, satisfactory in 5 patients, and unsatisfactory in 1 patient.

Conclusion:

The lateral approach is a simple approach with low operative complexity and complications. We found this approach to provide a reliably good exposure of the middle third of the radius, enabling lateral plating without complications.
Differential Misclassification of Disease under Partial-Mouth Sampling
Authors: Preisser J.S. , Sanders A.E. , Lyles R.H.
Published: June 2018

Aim:

The effect of misclassification of a cluster-level dichotomous outcome (disease) due to partial-cluster sampling on its association with a dichotomous exposure is investigated.

Methods:

Disease (e.g., chronic periodontitis) is deemed to exist in a cluster (e.g., full mouth) when a condition of interest (e.g., pocket depth or clinical attachment loss exceeding an established threshold) is present in number and pattern across observations (e.g., tooth sites) in the cluster according to a specific criterion. When a subset of observations within each cluster is selected (i.e., partial-mouth sampling), specificity of disease is 100% (in the absence of site-level measurement error), whereas sensitivity is imperfect and generally unknown. Using conditional probability arguments, we investigate disease misclassification under partial-cluster sampling and its impact on the estimated disease-exposure association when the exposure is cluster level and measured without error.

Results:

When the probability of disease varies by exposure status, outcome misclassification at the cluster level is differential under partial-cluster sampling and depends on 1) the partial recording protocol, including the number of observations sampled and the particular sites selected in a cluster; 2) the joint probability structure of the condition within clusters; and 3) the criterion for disease. A numeric example demonstrates that disease-exposure odds ratios under partial-cluster random sampling can be biased in either direction (toward or away from the null) relative to gold-standard odds ratios under full-cluster sampling.

Conclusions:

In general, misclassification of disease is differential under partial-cluster sampling. In particular, sensitivity and negative predictive values depend on exposure status, which leads to biased inference.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

Partial-mouth sampling causes disease misclassification probabilities, including sensitivity, to vary by exposure groups when disease prevalence differs between groups. As a result, disease-exposure associations may be under- or overestimated by standard analysis procedures for periodontal data relative to full-mouth estimates. Procedures that address bias are needed for partial-recording protocols.
Psychosocial challenges and health-related quality of life of adolescents and young adults with hematologic malignancies
Authors: Husson Olga , Huijgens Peter C. , van der Graaf Winette T. A.
Published: June 2018

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) occupy a unique place within the hematologic malignancy community due to the challenges they face related to their disease biology and physical, psychosocial, and economic circumstances, as well as issues related to access to care and long-term follow-up. Efforts to define age-specific (supportive) care needs and targets for intervention in these areas are evolving. This review discusses the psychosocial issues AYAs with hematologic malignancies are dealing with, how these might affect their health-related quality of life, and the challenges in delivering high-quality supportive care to this underserved population.
Preinfusion polyfunctional anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells are associated with clinical outcomes in NHL
Authors: Rossi John , Paczkowski Patrick , Shen Yueh-Wei , Morse Kevin , Flynn Brianna , Kaiser Alaina , Ng Colin , Gallatin Kyle , Cain Tom , Fan Rong , Mackay Sean , Heath James R. , Rosenberg Steven A. , Kochenderfer James N. , Zhou Jing , Bot Adrian
Published: June 2018

Key Points

The PSI of manufactured CAR T cells was associated with clinical response and toxicities. Monitoring CAR T-cell polyfunctionality as a key product attribute may complement other characteristics including T-cell proliferation.
Management of aggressive B-cell NHLs in the AYA population: an adult vs pediatric perspective
Authors: Dunleavy Kieron , Gross Thomas G.
Published: June 2018

The adolescents and young adult (AYA) population represent a group wherein mature B-cell lymphomas constitute a significant proportion of the overall malignancies that occur. Among these are aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs), which are predominantly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma. For the most part, there is remarkable divide in how pediatric/adolescent patients (under the age of 18 years) with lymphoma are treated vs their young adult counterparts, and molecular data are lacking, especially in pediatric and AYA series. The outcome for AYA patients with cancers has historically been inferior to that of children or older adults, highlighting the necessity to focus on this population. This review discusses the pediatric vs adult perspective in terms of how these diseases are understood and approached and emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts in both developing consensus for treatment of this population and planning future research endeavors.
l-Glutamine for sickle cell anemia: more questions than answers
Authors: Quinn Charles T.
Published: June 2018

In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved 2 medications for sickle cell anemia (SCA): hydroxyurea for children and l-glutamine for children and adults. The approval of hydroxyurea was long overdue, but the approval of l-glutamine was a surprise to many. Any effective new treatment for SCA is a welcome advance, but there are few published studies of l-glutamine as a specific treatment for SCA. Accordingly, there are many unanswered questions about its efficacy, safety, and role in current therapy.
Rationale and design of study of dapagliflozin versus sitagliptin treatment efficacy on prevention of cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes patients: the DIVERSITY-CVR study
Authors: Shigiyama Fumika , Kumashiro Naoki , Fuchigami Ayako , Hirose Takahisa
Published: June 2018

Background

Recent studies reported that sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduced the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to placebo in contrast to no reduction with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors. However, there are no comparative studies on the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP4 inhibitors on HbA1c, body weight and hypoglycemia as risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present ongoing study is to compare the effects of dapagliflozin, a SGLT2 inhibitor, with those of sitagliptin, a DPP4 inhibitor, on cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM patients with inadequate glycemic control.

Methods

The study of dapagliflozin versus sitagliptin treatment efficacy on prevention of cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM patients (DIVERSITY-CVR study) is a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, parallel-group, comparative study. A total of 340 T2DM patients treated with metformin alone or with no glucose-lowering agents (hemoglobin A1c ≥ 7.0 and < 10.0%) will be randomized into the dapagliflozin group (5–10 mg/day, n = 170) and the sitagliptin group (50–100 mg/day, n = 170), and treated for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint is the rate of achieving a composite endpoint of the following three items at 24th week; (1) HbA1c < 7.0%; (2) body weight loss of ≥ 3.0% from baseline; (3) avoidance of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia will be monitored using the flash glucose monitoring system. The secondary outcomes include each component of the primary endpoint, plus indices of lipid metabolism, and evaluations related to safety.

Conclusions

There is lack of solid information on differences in the therapeutic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP4 inhibitors on multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. It is anticipated that the results of the DIVERSITY-CVR study provides useful clinical data on the management of patients with T2DM, including reducing the risk of CVD. The results of this study will become available in 2019.

Trial registration University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN000028014). Registered 30 June 2017
Just like a woman? New comparative evidence on the gender income gap across Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Authors: Blunch Niels-Hugo
Published: June 2018

I examine the incidence and determinants of the gender income gap in Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine using recent household data based on an identical survey instrument across countries. Four main results are established, using a range of estimators, including OLS, interval regression, and quantile regression: (1) the presence of a substantively large gender income gap (favoring males) in all six countries; (2) some evidence of a gender-related glass ceiling in some of these countries; (3) some evidence that endowments diminish the income gaps, while the returns to characteristics increase the gaps; and (4) while observed individual characteristics explain a part of the gaps, a substantial part of the income gap is left unexplained. In sum, these results are consistent with the presence of income discrimination towards females but at the same time also point towards the importance of continued attention towards institutions and economic policy for decreasing the gender income gap in these former formally gender neutral economies—notably through attention towards the maternity and paternity leave system, as well as public provision of child care.

JEL Classification:J16, J31, J7
Seismic facies analysis using machine learning
Authors: Wrona Thilo , Pan Indranil , Gawthorpe Robert L. , Fossen Haakon
Published: June 2018

Seismic interpretations are, by definition, subjective and often require significant time and expertise from the interpreter. We are convinced that machine-learning techniques can help address these problems by performing seismic facies analyses in a rigorous, repeatable way. For this purpose, we use state-of-the-art 3D broadband seismic reflection data of the northern North Sea. Our workflow includes five basic steps. First, we extract seismic attributes to highlight features in the data. Second, we perform a manual seismic facies classification on 10,000 examples. Third, we use some of these examples to train a range of models to predict seismic facies. Fourth, we analyze the performance of these models on the remaining examples. Fifth, we select the “best” model (i.e., highest accuracy) and apply it to a seismic section. As such, we highlight that machine-learning techniques can increase the efficiency of seismic facies analyses.
Resolution enhancement with relative amplitude preservation for unconventional targets
Authors: Kwietniak Anna , Cichostępski Kamil , Pietsch Kaja
Published: June 2018

Our primary objective was to evaluate a method that enhances the resolution of 3D seismic data that does not disturb the relative amplitude preservation. The formations that are the subject of the analysis are Lower Silurian: the Jantar Formation and the Ordovician Sasino Formation (the onshore part of the Baltic Basin, northern Poland). Both formations are seismically thin layers and have been recent targets for unconventional exploration. Resolution enhancement designed to help the structural interpretation may enable precise structural interpretation of thinly layered intervals. The method that we applied is poststack spectral blueing. To verify the effectiveness of the spectral blueing procedure, we designed an algorithm that compares the amplitude values along evenly distributed seismic traces. The algorithm addresses the preservation of the relative amplitude ratio. We did not want to disturb the amplitude values by the enhancement algorithm and introduce information that would be false for seismic inversion analysis. Hence, it was crucial for us to obtain the enhanced seismic volume suitable for structural interpretation that holds relative amplitude relation criterion. The algorithm helped obtain the optimal enhanced seismic volume that is preferable for the structural interpretation of seismic data and possibly could be used successfully for a seismic inversion process. With the optimal enhanced seismic volume, we were able to conduct a more accurate structural interpretation — an entirely new seismic horizon that indicates that the top of one of the formations under analysis was clearly visible and thus possible for interpretation. We applied the acoustic inversion to the original and the enhanced seismic data — the latter enabled the determination of two additional anomalous zones that had not been previously possible to distinguish within the seismic volume.
Efficacy of Exercise Therapy on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Scott Jessica M. , Zabor Emily C. , Schwitzer Emily , Koelwyn Graeme J. , Adams Scott C. , Nilsen Tormod S. , Moskowitz Chaya S. , Matsoukas Konstantina , Iyengar Neil M. , Dang Chau T. , Jones Lee W.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of exercise therapy on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) among patients with adult-onset cancer. Secondary objectives were to evaluate treatment effect modifiers, safety, and fidelity.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library was conducted to identify RCTs that compared exercise therapy to a nonexercise control group. The primary end point was change in CRF as evaluated by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak; in mL O2 × kg−1 × min−1) from baseline to postintervention. Subgroup analyses evaluated whether treatment effects differed as a function of exercise prescription (ie, modality, schedule, length, supervision), study characteristics (ie, intervention timing, primary cancer site), and publication year. Safety was defined as report of any adverse event (AE); fidelity was evaluated by rates of attendance, adherence, and loss to follow-up.

Results

Forty-eight unique RCTs that represented 3,632 patients (mean standard deviation age, 55 ± 7.5 years; 68% women); 1,990 (55%) and 1,642 (45%) allocated to exercise therapy and control/usual care groups, respectively, were evaluated. Exercise therapy was associated with a significant increase in CRF (+2.80 mL O2 × kg−1 × min−1) compared with no change (+0.02 mL O2 × kg−1 × min−1) in the control group (weighted mean differences, +2.13 mL O2 × kg−1 × min−1; 95% CI, 1.58 to 2.67; I2, 20.6; P < .001). No statistical significant differences were observed on the basis of any treatment effect modifiers. Thirty trials (63%) monitored AEs; a total of 44 AEs were reported. The mean standard deviation loss to follow-up, attendance, and adherence rates were 11% ± 13%, 84% ± 12%, and 88% ± 32%, respectively.

Conclusion

Exercise therapy is an effective adjunctive therapy to improve CRF in patients with cancer. Our findings support the recommendation of exercise therapy for patients with adult-onset cancer.
The origins and evolution of sleep
Authors: Keene Alex C. , Duboue Erik R.
Published: June 2018

Sleep is nearly ubiquitous throughout the animal kingdom, yet little is known about how ecological factors or perturbations to the environment shape the duration and timing of sleep. In diverse animal taxa, poor sleep negatively impacts development, cognitive abilities and longevity. In addition to mammals, sleep has been characterized in genetic model organisms, ranging from the nematode worm to zebrafish, and, more recently, in emergent models with simplified nervous systems such as Aplysia and jellyfish. In addition, evolutionary models ranging from fruit flies to cavefish have leveraged natural genetic variation to investigate the relationship between ecology and sleep. Here, we describe the contributions of classical and emergent genetic model systems to investigate mechanisms underlying sleep regulation. These studies highlight fundamental interactions between sleep and sensory processing, as well as a remarkable plasticity of sleep in response to environmental changes. Understanding how sleep varies throughout the animal kingdom will provide critical insight into fundamental functions and conserved genetic mechanisms underlying sleep regulation. Furthermore, identification of naturally occurring genetic variation regulating sleep may provide novel drug targets and approaches to treat sleep-related diseases.
The evolution of foraging capacity and gigantism in cetaceans
Authors: Goldbogen J. A. , Madsen P. T.
Published: June 2018

The extant diversity and rich fossil record of cetaceans provides an extraordinary evolutionary context for investigating the relationship between form, function and ecology. The transition from terrestrial to marine ecosystems is associated with a complex suite of morphological and physiological adaptations that were required for a fully aquatic mammalian life history. Two specific functional innovations that characterize the two great clades of cetaceans, echolocation in toothed whales (Odontoceti) and filter feeding in baleen whales (Mysticeti), provide a powerful comparative framework for integrative studies. Both clades exhibit gigantism in multiple species, but we posit that large body size may have evolved for different reasons and in response to different ecosystem conditions. Although these foraging adaptations have been studied using a combination of experimental and tagging studies, the precise functional drivers and consequences of morphological change within and among these lineages remain less understood. Future studies that focus at the interface of physiology, ecology and paleontology will help elucidate how cetaceans became the largest predators in aquatic ecosystems worldwide.
Short- and long-term effects of altered point of ground reaction force application on human running energetics
Authors: Ekizos Antonis , Santuz Alessandro , Arampatzis Adamantios
Published: June 2018

The current study investigates an acute and a gradual transition of the point of force application (PFA) from the rearfoot towards the fore of the foot during running, on the rate of metabolic energy consumption. The participants were randomly assigned in two experimental and one control groups: a short-term intervention group (STI, N=17; two training sessions), a long-term intervention group (LTI, N=10; 14-week gradual transition) and a control group (CG, N=11). Data were collected at two running velocities (2.5 and 3.0 m/s). The cost coefficient (i.e. energy required for a unit of vertical ground reaction force, J/N) decreased (p<0.001) after both interventions due to a more anterior PFA during running (STI:12%, LTI:11%), but led to a higher (p<0.001) rate of force generation (STI:17%, LTI:15.2%). Dynamic stability of running showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease in the STI (2.1%), but no differences (p=0.673) in the LTI. The rate of metabolic energy consumption increased in the STI (p=0.038), but remained unchanged in the LTI (p=0.660). The control group had no changes. These results demonstrate that the cost coefficient was successfully decreased following an alteration in the running technique towards a more anterior PFA. However, the energy consumption remained unchanged because of a simultaneous increase in rate of force generation due to a decreased contact time per step. The increased instability found during the short-term intervention and its neutralization after the long-term intervention indicates a role of motor control errors in the economy of running after acute alterations in habitual running execution.
Cardiac mitochondrial metabolism may contribute to differences in thermal tolerance of red- and white-blooded Antarctic notothenioid fishes
Authors: O'Brien Kristin M. , Rix Anna S. , Egginton Stuart , Farrell Anthony P. , Crockett Elizabeth L. , Schlauch Karen , Woolsey Rebekah , Hoffman Megan , Merriman Sean
Published: June 2018

Studies in temperate fishes provide evidence that cardiac mitochondrial function and the capacity to fuel cardiac work contributes to thermal tolerance. Here we tested the hypothesis that decreased cardiac aerobic metabolic capacity contributes to the lower thermal tolerance of the haemoglobinless Antarctic icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus, compared to the red-blooded Antarctic species, Notothenia coriiceps. Maximal activities of citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), respiration rates of isolated mitochondria, adenylate levels, and changes in mitochondrial protein expression were quantified from hearts of animals held at ambient temperature or exposed to their critical thermal maximum (CTMAX). Compared to C. aceratus, activity of CS, ATP concentration, and energy charge were higher in hearts of N. coriiceps at ambient temperature and CTMAX. While state 3 mitochondrial respiration rates were not impaired by exposure to CTMAX in either species, state 4 rates, indicative of proton leakage, increased following exposure to CTMAX in C. aceratus but not N. coriiceps. The interactive effect of temperature and species resulted in an increase in antioxidants and aerobic metabolic enzymes in N. coriiceps, but not C. aceratus. Together, our results support the hypothesis that the lower aerobic metabolic capacity of C. aceratus hearts contributes to its low thermal tolerance.
Comparative feeding strategies and kinematics in phocid seals: suction without specialized skull morphology
Authors: Kienle Sarah S. , Hermann-Sorensen Holly , Costa Daniel P. , Reichmuth Colleen , Mehta Rita S.
Published: June 2018

Feeding kinematic studies inform our understanding of behavioral diversity and provide a framework for studying the flexibility and constraints of different prey acquisition strategies. However, little is known about the feeding behaviors used by many marine mammals. We characterized the feeding behaviors and associated kinematics of captive bearded (Erignathus barbatus), harbor (Phoca vitulina), ringed (Pusa hispida), and spotted (Phoca largha) seals through controlled feeding trials. All species primarily used a suction feeding strategy but were also observed using a biting strategy, specifically pierce feeding. Suction feeding was distinct from pierce feeding and was characterized by significantly faster feeding times, smaller gape and gape angles, smaller gular depressions, and fewer jaw motions. Most species showed higher variability in suction feeding performance than pierce feeding, indicating that suction feeding is a behaviorally flexible strategy. Bearded seals were the only species for which there was strong correspondence between skull and dental morphology and feeding strategy, providing further support for their classification as suction feeding specialists. Harbor, ringed, and spotted seals have been classified as pierce feeders based on skull and dental morphologies. Our behavioral and kinematic analyses show that suction feeding is also an important feeding strategy for these species, indicating that skull morphology alone does not capture the true diversity of feeding behaviors used by pinnipeds. The ability of all four species to use more than one feeding strategy is likely advantageous for foraging in spatially and temporally dynamic marine ecosystems that favor opportunistic predators.
Inequality and Globalization: A Review Essay
Authors: Ravallion Martin
Published: June 2018

As normally measured, “global inequality” is the relative inequality of incomes found among all people in the world no matter where they live. Francois Bourguignon and Branko Milanovic have written insightful and timely books on global inequality, emphasizing the role of globalization. The books are complementary: Milanovic provides an ambitious broad-brush picture, with some intriguing hypotheses on the processes at work; Bourguignon provides a deep and suitably qualified economic analysis. This paper questions the thesis of both books—that globalization has been a major driving force of inequality between or within countries. The paper also questions the robustness of the evidence for declining global inequality, and notes some conceptual limitations of standard measures in capturing the concerns of many observers in the ongoing debates about globalization and the policy responses. ( JEL D31, D63, E25, F61, F63)
Microprocessor-dependent processing of splice site overlapping microRNA exons does not result in changes in alternative splicing
Authors: Pianigiani Giulia , Licastro Danilo , Fortugno Paola , Castiglia Daniele , Petrovic Ivana , Pagani Franco
Published: June 2018

MicroRNAs are found throughout the genome and are processed by the microprocessor complex (MPC) from longer precursors. Some precursor miRNAs overlap intron:exon junctions. These splice site overlapping microRNAs (SO-miRNAs) are mostly located in coding genes. It has been intimated, in the rarer examples of SO-miRNAs in noncoding RNAs, that the competition between the spliceosome and the MPC modulates alternative splicing. However, the effect of this overlap on coding transcripts is unknown. Unexpectedly, we show that neither Drosha silencing nor SF3b1 silencing changed the inclusion ratio of SO-miRNA exons. Two SO-miRNAs, located in genes that code for basal membrane proteins, are known to inhibit proliferation in primary keratinocytes. These SO-miRNAs were up-regulated during differentiation and the host mRNAs were down-regulated, but again there was no change in inclusion ratio of the SO-miRNA exons. Interestingly, Drosha silencing increased nascent RNA density, on chromatin, downstream from SO-miRNA exons. Overall our data suggest a novel mechanism for regulating gene expression in which MPC-dependent cleavage of SO-miRNA exons could cause premature transcriptional termination of coding genes rather than affecting alternative splicing.
The evolving role of endoscopy in the diagnosis of premalignant gastric lesions
Authors: Waddingham William , Graham David , Banks Matthew , Jansen Marnix
Published: June 2018

Gastric adenocarcinoma is a disease that is often detected late, at a stage when curative treatment is unachievable. This must be addressed through changes in our approach to the identification of patients at increased risk by improving the detection and risk assessment of premalignant changes in the stomach, including chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Current guidelines recommend utilising random biopsies in a pathology-led approach in order to stage the extent and severity of gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. This random method is poorly reproducible and prone to sampling error and fails to acknowledge recent advances in our understanding of the progression to gastric cancer as a non-linear, branching evolutionary model. Data suggest that recent advances in endoscopic imaging modalities, such as narrow band imaging, can achieve a high degree of accuracy in the stomach for the diagnosis of these premalignant changes. In this review, we outline recent data to support a paradigm shift towards an endoscopy-led approach to diagnosis and staging of premalignant changes in the stomach. High-quality endoscopic interrogation of the chronically inflamed stomach mucosa, supported by targeted biopsies, will lead to more accurate risk assessment, with reduced rates of under or missed diagnoses.
Hepatic deletion of p110α and p85α results in insulin resistance despite sustained IRS1-associated phosphatidylinositol kinase activity
Authors: Chaudhari Aditi , Ejeskär Katarina , Wettergren Yvonne , Kahn C. Ronald , Rotter Sopasakis Victoria
Published: June 2018

Background: Class IA phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) is an integral mediator of insulin signaling. The p110 catalytic and p85 regulatory subunits of PI3K are the products of separate genes, and while they come together to make the active heterodimer, they have opposing roles in insulin signaling and action. Deletion of hepatic p110α results in an impaired insulin signal and severe insulin resistance, whereas deletion of hepatic p85α results in improved insulin sensitivity due to sustained levels of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate. Here, we created mice with combined hepatic deletion of p110α and p85α (L-DKO) to study the impact on insulin signaling and whole body glucose homeostasis.

Methods: Six-week old male flox control and L-DKO mice were studied over a period of 18 weeks, during which weight and glucose levels were monitored, and glucose tolerance tests, insulin tolerance test and pyruvate tolerance test were performed. Fasting insulin, insulin signaling mediators, PI3K activity and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)1-associated phosphatidylinositol kinase activity were examined at 10 weeks. Liver, muscle and white adipose tissue weight was recorded at 10 weeks and 25 weeks.

Results: The L-DKO mice showed a blunted insulin signal downstream of PI3K, developed markedly impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia and had decreased liver and adipose tissue weights. Surprisingly, however, these mice displayed normal hepatic glucose production, normal insulin tolerance, and intact IRS1-associated phosphatidylinositol kinase activity without compensatory upregulated signaling of other classes of PI3K.

Conclusions: The data demonstrate an unexpectedly overall mild metabolic phenotype of the L-DKO mice, suggesting that lipid kinases other than PI3Ks might partially compensate for the loss of p110α/p85α by signaling through other nodes than Akt/Protein Kinase B.
segment_liftover : a Python tool to convert segments between genome assemblies
Authors: Gao Bo , Huang Qingyao , Baudis Michael
Published: June 2018

The process of assembling a species’ reference genome may be performed in a number of iterations, with subsequent genome assemblies differing in the coordinates of mapped elements. The conversion of genome coordinates between different assemblies is required for many integrative and comparative studies. While currently a number of bioinformatics tools are available to accomplish this task, most of them are tailored towards the conversion of single genome coordinates. When converting the boundary positions of segments spanning larger genome regions, segments may be mapped into smaller sub-segments if the original segment’s continuity is disrupted in the target assembly. Such a conversion may lead to a relevant degree of data loss in some circumstances such as copy number variation (CNV) analysis, where the quantitative representation of a genomic region takes precedence over base-specific accuracy. segment_liftover aims at continuity-preserving remapping of genome segments between assemblies and provides features such as approximate locus conversion, automated batch processing and comprehensive logging to facilitate processing of datasets containing large numbers of structural genome variation data.
Current understanding and management of Helicobacter pylori infection: an updated appraisal
Authors: Ansari Shamshul , Yamaoka Yoshio
Published: June 2018

In addition to its role in gastric conditions, Helicobacter pylori has been found to contribute to the development of several non-gastric issues in recent years. Eradication therapy is the only effective management strategy to minimize the H. pylori-related gastric cancer and extra-gastric complications. For an effective “test and treat” strategy, diagnosis and therapy are both important. Because the infection is usually asymptomatic, patient selection is a critical issue for timely diagnosis and many clinical and demographic factors should be considered. Clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance rates also need to be considered while eradication therapy is offered. In this report, we discuss the issues which must be taken into account for the correct and timely diagnosis and for the antibiotic therapy-based management of H. pylori infection.
Recent advances in understanding and managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Albhaisi Somaya , Sanyal Arun
Published: June 2018

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a leading cause of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular cancer, and end-stage liver disease, and it is linked to elevated cardiovascular- and cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Insulin resistance related to metabolic syndrome is the main pathogenic trigger that, in association with adverse genetic, lifestyle, and other factors, precipitates the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Biochemical markers and radiological imaging, along with liver biopsy in selected cases, help in the disease’s diagnosis and prognostication. Weight loss is the cornerstone treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; however, it is difficult to achieve and maintain, so pharmacotherapy was developed. The remarkable evolution in understanding disease pathogenesis has led to the development of new medical therapies and even the modification of currently available ones. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the epidemiology, natural history, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
RETRACTION: Optimization of conditions for the biological treatment of textile dyes using isolated soil bacteria
Authors: Rahman Shafkat Shamim , Alif Fahim Ahmed , Hossain M. Mahboob
Published: June 2018

The article titled “Optimization of conditions for the biological treatment of textile dyes using isolated soil bacteria” ([version 1; referees: peer review discontinued]. F1000Research 2018, 7:351 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.13757.1) by Shafkat Shamim Rahman and colleagues, has been retracted by F1000Research on grounds of misconduct by the first author. Following publication of the article, the editorial team at F1000Research were notified by Romana Siddique, from BRAC University, that the data presented in this paper significantly overlaps with the data in her recently published article : Siddique and Alif; ARRB, 22(5): 1-12, 2018; Article no.ARRB.38637; https://doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2018/38637. 

In response to our queries to the authors, the second and last author listed on this article, Fahim Ahmed Alif and M. Mahboob Hossain, have stated that they were not aware of the submission of this article to F1000Research, and did not agree to be authors. We have evidence which confirms their statement. 

After further investigation by the F1000Research team, and a separate investigation by BRAC University, it has become clear that Shafkat Shamim Rahman was not involved with the research presented in this paper, and that the decision to submit and publish the article was taken independently by him, and not his listed co-authors. BRAC University has confirmed that Shafkat Shamim Rahman is not currently based at their institution.
Prevalence and factors associated with burnout among frontline primary health care providers in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
Authors: Dugani Sagar , Afari Henrietta , Hirschhorn Lisa R. , Ratcliffe Hannah , Veillard Jeremy , Martin Gayle , Lagomarsino Gina , Basu Lopa , Bitton Asaf
Published: June 2018

Background: Primary health care (PHC) systems require motivated and well-trained frontline providers, but are increasingly challenged by the growing global shortage of health care workers. Burnout, defined as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal achievement, negatively impacts motivation and may further decrease productivity of already limited workforces. The objective of this review was to analyze the prevalence of and factors associated with provider burnout in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: We performed a systematic review of articles on outpatient provider burnout in LMICs published up to 2016 in three electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CAB). Articles were reviewed to identify prevalence of factors associated with provider burnout.

Results: A total of 6,182 articles were identified, with 20 meeting eligibility criteria. We found heterogeneity in definition and prevalence of burnout. Most studies assessed burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. All three dimensions of burnout were seen across multiple cadres (physicians, nurses, community health workers, midwives, and pharmacists). Frontline nurses in South Africa had the highest prevalence of high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, while PHC providers in Lebanon had the highest reported prevalence of low personal achievement. Higher provider burnout (for example, among nurses, pharmacists, and rural health workers) was associated with high job stress, high time pressure and workload, and lack of organizational support.

Conclusions: Our comprehensive review of published literature showed that provider burnout is prevalent across various health care providers in LMICs. Further studies are required to better measure the causes and consequences of burnout and guide the development of effective interventions to reduce or prevent burnout.
Smartphones for community health in rural Cambodia: A feasibility study
Authors: Ngor Pengby , White Lisa J. , Chalk Jeremy , Lubell Yoel , Favede Cecelia , Cheah Phaik-Yeong , Nguon Chea , Ly Po , Maude Richard J. , Sovannaroth Siv , Day Nicholas P. , Dunachie Susanna
Published: June 2018

Background: Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) are lay people trained to provide a valuable role in frontline testing and treatment of malaria in rural villages in Cambodia. Emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria highlights the essential role of such VMWs in surveillance and early treatment of malaria. Smartphone technology offers huge potential to support VMWs in isolated and resource-poor settings. 

Methods: We investigated the feasibility of issuing established VMWs with a smartphone, bespoke Android application and solar charger to support their role. 27 VMWs in Kampong Cham and Kratie provinces participated. 

Results: 26/27 of the smartphones deployed were working well at study completion twelve months later. Interviews with VMWs using quantitative and qualitative methods revealed pride, ease of use and reports of faster communication with the smartphone. VMWs also expressed a strong wish to help people presenting with non-malarial fever, for which further potential supportive smartphone applications are increasingly available. 

Conclusions: As a result of this pilot study, two smartphone based reporting systems for malaria have been developed at the Cambodian National Malaria Center, and the programme is now being extended nationwide. The full code for the smartphone application is made available to other researchers and healthcare providers with this article. Smartphones represent a feasible platform for developing the VMW role to include other health conditions, thus maintaining the relevance of these important community health workers.
Patient isolation in psychiatric healthcare
Authors: Bażydło Marta , Giezek Marta , Zabielska Paulina , Flaga-Gieruszyńska Kinga , Karakiewicz Beata
Published: June 2018

Cel pracy

Poznanie opinii pacjentów opieki psychiatrycznej na temat postaw personelu oraz udziału rodziny w procesie leczenia.

Metoda

W badaniu wzięło udział 219 pacjentów: 80 pacjentów opieki całodobowej; 69 pacjentów opieki dziennej; 70 pacjentów poradni zdrowia psychicznego. Zastosowano metodę sondażu diagnostycznego, technikę ankiety za pomocą kwestionariuszy: (1) opinii pacjenta na temat pobytu w oddziale całodobowym, (2) opinii pacjenta na temat opieki w oddziale dziennym, poradni lub w leczeniu środowiskowym oraz (3) badania satysfakcji pacjenta z otrzymanej usługi medycznej VSSS-54.

Wyniki

Otrzymanie wsparcia psychicznego podczas leczenia potwierdziło 81,25% pacjentów oddziałów całodobowych; 88,41% pacjentów oddziałów dziennych i 84,29% pacjentów poradni. Jako osobę udzielającą największego wsparcia pacjenci opieki całodobowej i poradni wskazywali najczęściej lekarza; pacjenci oddziałów dziennych - terapeutę. Większość pacjentów opieki całodobowej (76,25%) przyznała, że pielęgniarki poświęcają im wystarczającą ilość czasu. Liczba pozytywnych odpowiedzi względem lekarzy wynosiła 61,25% (p=0,000). Wśród pacjentów oddziałów dziennych 66,67% respondentów odpowiedziało, że czas poświęcony im przez personel jest wystarczający; wśród pacjentów poradni odsetek ten wynosił 57,14%. Pacjentów oddziałów dziennych i poradni zapytano o zadowolenie z włączenia rodziny w proces leczenia. Ankietowani ocenili ten aspekt opieki średnio na 3,807 punktów (na 5,0).

Wnioski

W celu zwiększania satysfakcji pacjentów psychiatrycznej opieki zdrowotnej należy wdrożyć rozwiązania organizacyjne, które przyczynią się do zwiększenia wymiaru czasu przeznaczanego przez personel na kontakt z pacjentem oraz pozwolą na włączenie rodziny w proces leczenia.
Los jóvenes ninis en el Ecuador
Authors: Buitrón Karina , Jami Verónica , Salazar Méndez Yasmín
Published: June 2018

Los “ninis” hacen referencia al grupo de jóvenes entre 15 y 24 años que ni estudian ni trabajan. Factores individuales, como el ingreso familiar y la educación, incidirían en la formación de los jóvenes ninis. En este artículo se analizan las características de los jóvenes ninis ecuatorianos y se determinan los factores que aumentan la probabilidad de que un joven no estudie ni trabaje. Para esto, modelos logit son estimados a partir de la Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida del 2014. Los resultados sugieren que los jóvenes de familias de baja renta, las mujeres, los jóvenes que habitan en el área urbana y los pertenecientes a las minorías étnicas son más propensos a convertirse en un nini.
Factores que influyen en el emprendimiento de un micronegocio familiar en México
Authors: Alvarado Lagunas Elías , Ortiz Rodríguez Jeyle , Morales Ramírez Dionicio
Published: June 2018

En el presente artículo se presentan los resultados de una caracterización de los micronegocios en México, efectuada mediante el uso de un modelo de elección discreta binaria, que permite determinar el efecto de los motivos por los que se inicia un micronegocio sobre la probabilidad de que un sujeto se encuentre en un micronegocio familiar. Para llevar a cabo este estudio se utiliza la Encuesta Nacional de Micronegocios del 2012, base de datos generada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. Entre los resultados se encontró que los principales motivos que tienen los empresarios mexicanos para emprender un micronegocio familiar son mejorar y complementar el ingreso familiar y que los hombres casados son quienes más emprenden este tipo de asociación de negocio.
Process Flexibility in Baseball: The Value of Positional Flexibility
Authors: Chan Timothy C. Y. , Fearing Douglas
Published: June 2018

This paper introduces the formal study of process flexibility to the novel domain of sports analytics. In baseball, positional flexibility is the analogous concept to process flexibility from manufacturing. We study the flexibility of players (plants) on a baseball team who produce innings-played at different positions (products). We develop models and metrics to evaluate expected and worst-case performance under injury risk (capacity uncertainty) with continuous player-position capabilities. Using Major League Baseball data, we quantify the impact of flexibility on team and individual performance and explore the player chains that arise when injuries occur. We discover that top teams can attribute at least one to two wins per season to flexibility alone, generally as a result of long subchains in the infield or outfield. The least robust teams to worst-case injury, those whose performance is driven by one or two star players, are over four times as fragile as the most robust teams. We evaluate several aspects of individual flexibility, such as how much value individual players bring to their team in terms of average and worst-case performance. Finally, we demonstrate the generalizability of our framework for player evaluation by quantifying the value of potential free agent additions and uncovering the true “MVP” of a team.

Data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.3004 .

This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
Random Projections for Linear Programming
Authors: Vu Ky , Poirion Pierre-Louis , Liberti Leo
Published: June 2018

Random projections are random linear maps, sampled from appropriate distributions, which approximately preserve certain geometrical invariants so that the approximation improves as the dimension of the space grows. The well known Johnson-Lindenstrauss lemma states that there are random matrices with surprisingly few rows which approximately preserve pairwise Euclidean distances among a set of points. This is commonly used to speed up algorithms based on Euclidean distances. We prove that these matrices also preserve other quantities, such as the distance to a cone. We exploit this result to devise a probabilistic algorithm to approximately solve linear programs. We show that this algorithm can approximately solve very large randomly generated LP instances. We also showcase its application to an error correction coding problem.
Raising the profile of healthcare research with policy makers
Authors: Kolyva Katerina
Published: June 2018

Katerina Kolyva, Executive Director, Council of Deans of Health, discusses the importance of demonstrating the positive effects of nursing and midwifery research on patient care and safety in order to influence policy makers
Sharing expertise: when immunology meets psychiatry and neuroscience
Authors: Honey Leo
Published: June 2018

A radio programme investigating how a ‘rogue’ immune system could affect mental health led second-year nursing student at Kingston and St George's University Leo Honey to research the subject further, leohoney3@gmail.com
The Government response to the consultation on nursing associates
Authors: Glasper Alan
Published: June 2018

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses a recently published report from the Government on the response to proposals concerning the regulation of nursing associates in England