bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PP102 Perceived Quality By Patients Hospitalized At Home Undergoing Domicillary Radiography
Authors: Davini Ottavio , Giacometti Marika , Scardino Matteo , Cerutti Stefano , Guida Antonio , Tibaldi Stefano , Romano Valeria , Rivoiro Chiara , Grosso Marco
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Europe currently has the highest proportion of older people in the world and is expected to maintain this leading position for the next 50 years. A teleradiology service for frail patients living at home or in nursing-homes (R@dhome), funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, has been operating from June 2013 to May 2015 (1). The goal was to offer, within the path of home care patients, radiologic care for fragile elderly patients (2). In this report of the study a secondary outcome was evaluated; the perceived quality for patients and caregivers undergoing home radiology.

METHODS:

The study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 136 patients; 71 cases and 65 controls. The perceived quality assessment was only performed among home inpatient group cases, at home or in nursing homes and not in the control group patients (who had treatment in a hospital). The assessment instrument was a semi-structured interview based on the benchmark system SERQUAL®. The identified dimensions of quality were: tangible aspects, reliability, responsiveness and empathy in a subpopulation of non-dementia patients. Eligible subjects were interviewed between May 2014 and May 2015.

RESULTS:

The percentage of satisfied patients, evaluated on the dimensions of perceived quality, was 97.7 percent. The main reasons given were: short waiting time, best comfort and safety, efficiency, operator's kindness and less need to travel for the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

R@dhome benefits are not limited to clinical or financial aspects but ethical, social and relational advantages have also been shown in this study (3). Given the fragility of the patients, positive results were mostly achieved by reducing the risk of trauma in transport between their home and the hospital.
PP111 The Use Of Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics In Schizophrenia
Authors: Bini Chiara , Mennini Francesco , Marcellusi Andrea , Verzura Claudio , Trovini Giada , Rapinesi Chiara , Kotzalidis Georgios D. , De Filippis Sergio , Carrus Dario , Ballerini Andrea , Francomano Antonio , Ducci Giuseppe , Del Casale Antonio , Brugnoli Roberto , Girardi Paolo
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disease that affects approximately 1 percent of the population with a relevant chronic impact on social and occupational functioning, and daily activities. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the clinical and economic consequences of long-acting injectable (LAI) treatment in patients with psychotic disorders, with a special focus on schizophrenia, in Italian real world practice.

METHODS:

A retrospective, observational mirror-study was developed to analyze outcomes measure referred to patients with psychotic disorders. Five hospital centers were involved in this study that collected patient level data from clinical databases. Retrospective data for each patient were referred to 6 months before LAI drug administration and 6 months after. A paired-Samples t-test was performed in order to identify statistical differences between pre- and post-LAI administration.

RESULTS:

A total number of 308 patients were enrolled in the study (65.6 percent male). Of these 221 were eligible for our analysis (119 with schizophrenia). In the six months after LAI administration period we estimate a 47.3 percent reduction of the antipsychotic drugs (43.8 percent for schizophrenic patients), 94.7 percent reduction of hospitalizations (94.0 percent for schizophrenic patients) and adherent patients increase to 198/221 patients (78/221 in pre-LAI administration period). All differences between pre- and post- LAI administration period were statistically significant with a p< .005. In Italy over 152 thousand schizophrenic treated patients were estimated. Assuming that 20–40 percent of patients are eligible to the Mo.Ma (Model of Management) approach, our model estimates a direct cost reduction during the first year of implementation of around EUR12 million. Additionally, EUR18 million of direct costs in the mid-term and EUR58 million of indirect costs could be saved in the mid-term estimating a total cost reduction, due to the Mo.Ma approach, of about EUR90 million.

CONCLUSIONS:

This new therapeutic approach could change the cost structure of schizophrenia by decreasing costs with efficient economic resource allocation guaranteed from efficient diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.
PP137 Regional Process For Planning Medical Equipment Procurement In Italy
Authors: Medici Mario Fregonara , Bellelli Stefania , Villarboito Luciano , Pepe Michela
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

An appropriate governance of the installed equipment base, by defining replacements strategies and programming introductions of innovative Biomedical Technologies (BT), has direct effects on the efficiency and effectiveness of health systems. An effective health technology management is of paramount importance for providing safe, high quality and innovative care with the constraint of health-care budgets, safeguarding equity, access and choice principles. Data from the regional BT information flow show that, compared to the gold standard (1), the North Region of Italy has about 15 percent less of large medical equipment younger than 5 years and about 15 percent more of equipment older than 10 years.

METHODS:

In order to draw a unified path of BT procurement processes, in 2013 and 2014 regional regulations (2,3) were enacted. Each Public Hospital and Local Health Authorities (ASRs) defined a plan (PLTB) containing, regardless of the form of procurement and type of funding, all BT requests for a value greater than EUR40,000 distinguished in replacement/new acquisition/upgrade, innovative acquisition and donations. Requests of BT have to obtain the authorization by the Regional Healthcare Authority Commission (GTB), in compliance with defined criteria, including financial and sustainability aspects, after the evaluation of the Regional Clinical Engineering Commission (GIC) supported by IRES, Health Technology Assessment and Management research group.

RESULTS:

Over the years 2014 and 2015, the ASRs submitted 491 BT requests, of which 87 percent were replacement/new acquisition/upgrade, 9 percent innovative acquisition and 4 percent donations. Altogether 26 percent of these instances were urgent and 2 percent were unique BT on the market. Sixteen percent of requests for replacement/new acquisition/upgrade of BT related to large medical equipment with mean age of 13.3 years, 2 percent regarded innovative BT with average age of 8.4 years and 48 percent widespread technologies with mean age of 15.6 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

The limitations in investments deriving from being a Region in “Recovery Plan”, have originated an absence of BT programming, as shown in PLTB by the prevalence of requests for the replacement management of obsolete equipment with inadequate performance, high machine downtimes and elevated maintenance costs.
VP22 Cancer Drugs Fund Allocation Under The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): The First Six Months
Authors: Liden Daniel , Pontynen Anson , Jaksa Ashley , Rubinstein Judith
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

As of July 2016, funding from England's Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) is dispensed based on the results of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidances instead of independent CDF appraisals (1). NICE can recommend providing temporary CDF funding for drugs that have potential to demonstrate cost-effectiveness after further data collection (2). This analysis examines drugs considered for temporary CDF funding since the start of this new process in July 2016.

METHODS:

We collected all final NICE oncology technology appraisal guidances completed before the end of 2016 and noted whether each drug was considered for or awarded CDF funding and which factors impacted the decision to give or withhold CDF funding (3).

RESULTS:

We identified twenty-one NICE oncology reviews completed between July 2016 and the end of 2016. Of these reviews, only one was recommended for temporary funding under the CDF because further data collection had the potential to significantly reduce incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Three further reviews were considered for temporary CDF funding but ultimately received negative decisions. In all three cases, NICE found no potential for further data collection to sufficiently improve ICERs. The evaluations also noted that the manufacturers either did not intend or did not have sufficient time to prepare a case for CDF funding.

CONCLUSIONS:

NICE focused strongly on evidence maturity in making CDF funding decisions. The only drug recommended for CDF funding had immature trial data with uncertainties that could be resolved by further data collection. The three drugs that did not receive CDF funding had relatively mature evidence that would not be improved through further data collection. Timing was also an issue: two reviews specifically noted that the manufacturers had insufficient time to prepare strong cases for CDF funding. The CDF historically had significant budget issues, so NICE may be trying to be more judicious in allocating CDF funding.
VP25 African Countries Are Working Together To Enhance Medicine Use
Authors: Massele Amos , Afriyie Daniel , Burger Johanita , Ezenduka Charles , Fadare Joseph , Kalungia Aubrey , Kibuule Dan , Meyer Johanna , Ogunleye Olayinka , Oluka Margaret , Truter Ilse , Godman Brian
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

The socioeconomic burden of diseases is increasing in Africa. For instance in 2011, 70 percent of the world's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) population resided in sub-Sahara Africa. There are also growing rates of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which necessitates newer more expensive antibiotics adding to costs. There is also a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), three out of four patients with hypertension currently live in low and middle income countries (LMICs), with prevalence rates up to 30 to 45 percent among adults in Africa. Alongside this, up to 70 percent of total healthcare expenditure is spent on medicines in LMICs; much of this out-of-pocket. Consequently, there is an urgent need to strengthen collaborative research to improve medicine use.

METHODS:

Summary of groups working together in Africa including the Medicines Utilisation Research in Africa (MURIA) group.

RESULTS:

African Strategies for Health identifies and advocates best practices, as well as works with others to develop sustainable solutions. Pharmacology for Africa (PharfA) organises and promotes pharmacology on the African continent, including research in clinical pharmacology, alongside the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) sub-division. International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Africa co-ordinates activities from the different African country chapters. The South African Health Technology Assessment Society (SAHTAS) is a scientific and professional society for all those who produce, use, or encounter Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Southern Africa, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International and Regional groups are improving antibiotic drug utilization capabilities in Africa. The MURIA group was established in 2015 (1). Ongoing collaborative research includes (i) initiatives to optimize antibiotic use; (ii) methods to enhance adherence to anti-infective prescribing guidance, (iii) approaches to improve adherence to HIV and NCDs; (iv) researching current anti-hypertensive utilization patterns and knowledge; (v) approaches to enhance Drugs and Therapeutic Committees (DTC) activities, and (vi) strengthening medicine utilization capabilities (2,3). These activities have already strengthened research ties across Africa.

CONCLUSIONS:

A number of groups are already working across Africa to enhance appropriate medicine use, and should continue. Ongoing MURIA activities include antibiotic point-prevalence studies, ongoing research into infectious diseases, NCDs and DTCs including adherence as well as the third workshop and symposium in Namibia in 2017.
VP71 Health Technology Assessment In Japan: Current Issues And Challenges
Authors: Kido Kaori , Matsumaru Naoki , Tsukamoto Katsura
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Japan plans to introduce Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in 2018 after a two-year trial period. Japan currently requires HTA for certain innovative products which may have a large budget impact. Through this trial implementation, the government can examine the criteria of applicable products, the necessary infrastructure to conduct and evaluate HTA, the quality of data content, and localization to meet the current Japanese reimbursement and pricing scheme. However, the pharmaceutical industry in Japan is still puzzled by this introduction. The aim of this study is to visualize the issues and implementation challenges of HTA in Japan through a survey of the pharmaceutical industry.

METHODS:

A semi-structured nineteen-item questionnaire was designed and the survey was conducted through face-to face or phone interviews. Answers were summarized after the interview and confirmed with the respondents via e-mail. The survey focused on pharmaceutical companies which develop new innovative products.

RESULTS:

The differences between Japanese and non-Japanese pharmaceutical companies were observed in terms of HTA staff expertise and experience, the source of HTA data, and relationships with external vendors. Many respondents stated that a sufficient number of HTA professionals in Japan is critical to implement HTA, and raised a concern that the same public experts who are involved in HTA preparation may also review HTA submissions. Although companies are generally pessimistic about HTA for pharmaceutical pricing, they also have some positive views that HTA may be used as an indicator to enable stakeholders to understand product value. Many are unsure about the link between HTA and pharmaceutical prices.

CONCLUSIONS:

If HTA is implemented for an extended number of products, a shortage of experts may cause delays of HTA review and appraisal processes. Consequently, product launch and patient access will be delayed. Practical timing of HTA review and appraisal after product launch could affect the results of re-pricing.
VP84 A Synthetic Index To Assess The Quality Of Care Of Acute Hospitals
Authors: Ortiz Laura Muñoz , Robles Noemi , Davins Josep , Espallargues Mireia , Mercader Mercè , Oliva Gloria
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

One of the initiatives promoted by the Department of Health of Catalonia to promote the policies of clinical safety and quality of care was the construction of a synthetic indicator to obtain a global ranking that assess the quality of care and recognizes the best acute hospitals in Catalonia.

METHODS:

For the selection of dimensions and individual indicators, focus groups with experts, focus groups with patient representatives and a wide consensus process with health professionals were carried out. Weights of dimensions and indicators have been obtained from this consensus with experts. We identified fourty-seven individual indicators grouped into four dimensions, fourty-nine hospitals grouped into five categories were included. Goal programming methodology was used to construct synthetic dimensional indicators and then aggregate to obtain the global ranking based on the global synthetic indicator.

RESULTS:

The best situation regarding quality of care of general acute hospitals is achieved in hospitals with better indicators of both the clinical effectiveness and adequacy dimension and patient safety, specifically the synthetic indicator places the hospitals with lowest percentage of patients with postoperative complications or with lowest percentage of infections of organ-space surgical localization in elective colonic or rectal surgery in a better position. Both in the synthetic global indicator and in the synthetic dimensional indicators, position the county hospitals as the best in the ranking, followed by reference hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS:

We have presented a new methodology to assess the quality of care of hospitals which offers several advantages over existing ones. It is designed to be practical and to facilitate obtaining synthetic indicators that can be easily interpreted, based on information provided by the reference value corresponding to each indicator and adjusted by the clinical criterion supported by the consensus of more than 300 experts in the field of the evaluation of hospital care quality.
VP122 Cryoballoon Versus Radiofrequency Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wang Gongru , Chen Yingyao , Shi Lizheng , Chen Danni , Sun Hui
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a new effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) (1). The standard of care for ablation methods using radiofrequency (RF) is time-consuming and technically challenging (2), and restricted to a few specialized centers, which causes the limited availability of ablation therapy (3). Therefore, cryoballoon (CB) ablation has been developed to shorten and simplify the procedure. The objective of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of AF.

METHODS:

We searched the Cochrane Library and PubMed from 2009 to October 2016 to screen the eligible literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The effectiveness measures were the acute pulmonary vein (PV) isolation rate, procedure time, complications and the proportion of patients free from AF (follow-up > 3 months). Meta-analysis and descriptive statistics were used in this study.

RESULTS:

A total of seventeen articles with 5,806 cases (2,288 from CBA group, 3,518 from RFA group) from seven different countries were reviewed and analyzed. Pooled analyses indicated that CBA was more beneficial in terms of procedural time (Standard mean difference, SMD = -.501; 95%CI: -.893– -.109; P<.05) for RFA; but the acute PV isolation rate (Odds ratio, OR = .06; 95 percent Confidence Interval, CI: .03–.13; P < .05) in RFA was higher than for CBA; also, after median follow-up of 14 months (range 9–28 months), the proportion of patients free from AF (OR = .965; 95 percent CI:.859—1.085; P = .554) and the total complication rates (OR = .937; 95 percent CI:.753–1.167; P = .562) were not significantly different between CBA and RFA.

In the four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the seventeen studies, the proportion of patients free from AF (OR = .951; 95 percent CI:.752–1.202; P = .672) and the complications (OR = 1.521; 95 percent CI:.570–4.058; P = .402) were not significantly different between CBA and RFA.

CONCLUSIONS:

Overall, compared with RFA for the treatment of patients with AF, CBA had similar clinical effectiveness on the proportion of people free from AF and the number of complications, and yet greater improvement in total procedure time referred for CBA and higher acute PVI rate referred for RFA.
VP138 Integration Of Ethics In Health Technology Assessment
Authors: Bellemare Christian , Bédard Suzanne Kocsis , Dagenais Pierre , Béland Jean-Pierre , Bernier Louise , Daniel Charles-Etienne , Gagnon Hubert , Legault Georges-Auguste , Parent Monelle , Patenaude Johane
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

The objective was to identify the conceptual and methodological issues surrounding integration of ethics in Health Technology Assessment (HTA). We conducted a systematic review examining: (i) social needs, (ii) methodological and procedural barriers, (iii) concepts or processes of ethics assessment used and (iv) results of experimentations for integrating ethics in HTA.

METHODS:

Search criteria included ‘ethic’, ‘technology assessment’ and ‘HTA’. The literature search was done up to 21 November 2016 in Medline/Ovid, SCOPUS, CINAHL, PsycINFO and international HTA Database. Screening of citations, screening of full-text and data extraction were performed by two subgroups of two independent reviewers. The first group was constituted of HTA experts, and the second of ethics and philosophy experts. Data extracted from articles were regrouped in categories for each objective.

RESULTS:

A list of 2,420 citations was obtained while 1,646 remained after the removal of duplicates. Of these, 132 were fully reviewed, yielding 67 eligible articles for analysis. Eight categories were identified within the social needs. The mostly evoked were ‘Informed policy decision making’ (n = 16) and 'Informed public/patient decision making’ (n = 12). Ten categories of methodological and procedural barriers were identified. The most mentioned were 'Lack of standardized and recognized proceedings for ethical analysis’ (n = 28) and ‘Lack of shared consensus on the role of ethical theory and ethical expertise’ (n = 17). Within the concepts or processes of ethics assessment, thirteen categories were identified. The most mentioned were ‘Fairness and Equity’ (n = 12), ‘Beneficence and Non-maleficence’ (n = 10) and, ‘Autonomy’ (n = 10). Within results of experimentations, five categories were identified. The most mentioned was ‘Usefulness of ethics for identifying relevant problems’ (n = 3). While few experimentations were identified, no clear operational method was found in our research.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study confirms the necessity to design an operational method integrating ethics and addressing social needs of HTA. Our results constitute the basis for developing a new theoretical and practical method.
VP171 The Safety Of Barbed Sutures In Cosmetic Surgery
Authors: Lin Yifei , Du Liang , Huang Jin , Liao Ga , Zhang Yonggang
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Knotless barbed sutures can eliminate knot tying when patients are undergoing cosmetic surgery (CS). Although benefits reported on clinical outcomes are obvious, many studies have failed to demonstrate the potential for barbed sutures to mitigate adverse events. Thus, this study aimed to determine the safety of knotless barbed suture in CS.

METHODS:

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Clinical Studies, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing barbed sutures with conventional sutures in CS (until 30 June 2016). Quality assessment was conducted using Cochrane recommendations. Review Manager was applied to analyze the data, and we sequentially omitted each study to perform sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS:

A total of five RCTs (low to moderate risk of bias) and six cohort studies (low to moderate risk of bias), proved eligible (3,481 patients). The CS included body contouring operations, breast reconstruction, lipoabdominoplasty, abdominoplasty and wound closure of cesarean delivery. Comparing to conventional sutures, pooling data showed that general adverse events of barbed sutures were not significantly different (Odds Ratio, OR = .6, 95 percent Confidence Interval, CI .24 to 1.52, P = .28), while the subgroup analysis showed that fewer adverse events occurred in cohort studies, though with high heterogeneity (I2 = 87 percent). Specifically, no significant differences were shown between barbed and traditional sutures in wound dehiscence (OR = .55, 95 percent CI .29 to 1.03, P = .06), incisional infection (OR = .56, 95 percent CI .22 to 1.48, P = .25), seroma (OR = .87, 95 percent CI .42 to 1.79, P = .70) and hematoma (OR = 1.52, 95 percent CI .29 to 7.99, P = .62).

CONCLUSIONS:

No differences were found between knotless barbed sutures and conventional sutures generally, but the cohort studies suggested barbed sutures resulted in fewer adverse events with longer follow-up. Thus barbed sutures are considered a safe surgical technique in CS. More evidence with larger sample sizes and longer follow up are needed to confirm the advantages of this technique in the future.
VP195 Using The ISSG Search Filter Resource In Health Technology Assessment
Authors: Wright Kath , Glanville Julie , Lefebvre Carol
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Information specialists and others searching for Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) can use the ISSG Search Filter resource (SFR) to identify filters to incorporate into search strategies. This can save time and effort when designing searches and create more efficient searches that retrieve fewer and possibly more relevant database records (link available here: https://sites.google.com/a/york.ac.uk/issg-search-filters-resource/home).

What are search filters? Search filters are collections of search terms designed to retrieve selections of records from bibliographic databases. Some filters are designed to retrieve records of specific study designs such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews; others aim to retrieve records relating to other features or topics such as the age or gender of study participants.

Search filters may be designed to be sensitive, precise or balanced between sensitivity and precision.

METHODS:

When would you use a search filter in HTA? Search filters can be added to search strategies to limit to specific study types, for example, RCTs, mixed methods studies, systematic reviews. They can also be used when searching for other aspects of HTA such as patient views or specific age groups.

The ISSG SFR includes sections listing search filters to help identify adverse effects, aetiology, economic evaluations, health state utility values, public views, and quality of life.

RESULTS:

How are filters used? A search filter is often used in combination with a topic search to restrict the search results to a specific type of record, for example, records reporting health state utility values or records of randomized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS:

Further guidance on the use of search filters can be found in the SuRe Info Search Filters chapter.
VP201 From A Systematic Review To Addressing Evidence Gaps
Authors: Österberg Marie , Hellberg Christel , Wallgren Lena
Published: January 2018

INTRODUCTION:

In both health care and social services it is important to continuously summarize and analyze existing research in the form of systematic reviews. At the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) (www.SBU.se) we collect the evidence gaps identified by systematic reviews in a database. These evidence gaps are methods used in health care/social services for which there is not enough good quality research available. By analyzing this database we can highlight populations or methods where evidence gaps are more frequent. This knowledge can be used to find areas that might need assistance in developing research structure and also when arranging research prioritization processes involving patients, consumers and clinicians.

METHODS:

Systematic reviews and evidence maps (methodical collections of systematic reviews) are used by SBU to identify evidence gaps. SBU has adapted the James Lindh alliance approach to give patients, consumers, relatives and clinicians the opportunity to give their view of what research they find most important to execute. SBU also collaborates with governmental research funders to communicate the content of the SBU database.

RESULTS:

A prioritizing process regarding evidence gaps within Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-treatment has been finalized (1). This was accomplished by people with ADHD and caretakers, as well as clinicians and staff. Another prioritization process on the topic of treatments for injuries after vaginal birth is ongoing. In November 2016 the Swedish government presented the research policy bill where they, based on analyses of the SBU database, pointed out areas of specific importance in future research.

CONCLUSIONS:

It is of great importance that evidence gaps get addressed and that new research is promoted in order to fill these gaps. In areas where there are numerous gaps, prioritizations involving different stakeholders is needed. Considering areas with large amounts of evidence gaps the primary focus might be on building infrastructure surrounding research before research calls can be directed towards these areas.
Inflammatory Potential of Diet is Associated with Increased Odds of Cataract in a Case-Control Study from Iran
Authors: Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Rashidkhani Bahram , Ghanavati Matin
Published: January 2018

Abstract.Background: In previous studies, diet has been shown to be associated with cataract. However, no study to date has focused on the association between inflammatory potential of diet and cataract. Objectives: In this case-control study conducted in Iran, we examined the association of the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and cataract. Methods: This case-control study included 97 cataract cases and 198 healthy controls hospitalized for acute non-neoplastic diseases with the control group matched according to age (with a five-year interval) and sex with the case group. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed by a previously validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), with the DII analyzed as both continuous and as tertiles. Energy was adjusted using the residual method. Results: Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e., with a more pro-inflammatory diet) had a higher odds of cataract, with the DII being used as both a continuous variable (ORcontinuous 1.51, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.13 – 2.03; one unit increase corresponding to ≈18% of its range in the current study) and as tertiles (ORtertile3vs1 2.67, 95%CI 1.32 – 5.48, Ptrend = 0.002). Conclusions: These results indicate that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with increased risk of cataract. Additional studies should be conducted to further explore this association.
Accelerating evaluation of converged lattice thermal conductivity
Authors: Qin Guangzhao , Hu Ming
Published: January 2018

High-throughput computational materials design is an emerging area in materials science, which is based on the fast evaluation of physical-related properties. The lattice thermal conductivity (κ) is a key property of materials for enormous implications. However, the high-throughput evaluation of κ remains a challenge due to the large resources costs and time-consuming procedures. In this paper, we propose a concise strategy to efficiently accelerate the evaluation process of obtaining accurate and converged κ. The strategy is in the framework of phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) coupled with first-principles calculations. Based on the analysis of harmonic interatomic force constants (IFCs), the large enough cutoff radius (rcutoff), a critical parameter involved in calculating the anharmonic IFCs, can be directly determined to get satisfactory results. Moreover, we find a simple way to largely (~10 times) accelerate the computations by fast reconstructing the anharmonic IFCs in the convergence test of κ with respect to the rcutof, which finally confirms the chosen rcutoff is appropriate. Two-dimensional graphene and phosphorene along with bulk SnSe are presented to validate our approach, and the long-debate divergence problem of thermal conductivity in low-dimensional systems is studied. The quantitative strategy proposed herein can be a good candidate for fast evaluating the reliable κ and thus provides useful tool for high-throughput materials screening and design with targeted thermal transport properties.
The influence of gravity and light on locomotion and orientation of Heterocypris incongruens and Notodromas monacha (Crustacea, Ostracoda)
Authors: Fischer Jessica , Laforsch Christian
Published: January 2018

For future manned long-d uration space missions, the supply of essentials, such as food, water, and oxygen with the least possible material resupply from Earth is vital. This need could be satisfied utilizing aquatic bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS), as they facilitate recycling and autochthonous production. However, few organisms can cope with the instable environmental conditions and organic pollution potentially prevailing in such BLSS. Ostracoda, however, occur in eu- and even hypertrophic waters, tolerate organic and chemical waste, varying temperatures, salinity, and pH ranges. Thus, according to their natural role, they can link oxygen liberating, autotrophic algae, and higher trophic levels (e.g., fish) probably also in such harsh BLSS. Yet, little is known about how microgravity (µg) affects Ostracoda. In this regard, we investigated locomotion and orientation, as they are involved in locating mating partners and suitable microhabitats, foraging, and escaping predators. Our study shows that Ostracoda exhibit altered activity patterns and locomotion behavior (looping) in µg. The alterations are differentially marked between the studied species (i.e., 2% looping in Notodromas monacha, ~50% in Heterocypris incongruens) and also the thresholds of gravity perception are distinct, although the reasons for these differences remain speculative. Furthermore, neither species acclimates to µg nor orientates by light in µg. However, Ostracoda are still promising candidates for BLSS due to the low looping rate of N. monacha and our findings that the so far analyzed vital functions and life-history parameters of H. incongruens remained similar as under normal gravity conditions despite of its high looping rate.
First experimental proof of Proton Boron Capture Therapy (PBCT) to enhance protontherapy effectiveness
Authors: Cirrone G. A. P. , Manti L. , Margarone D. , Petringa G. , Giuffrida L. , Minopoli A. , Picciotto A. , Russo G. , Cammarata F. , Pisciotta P. , Perozziello F. M. , Romano F. , Marchese V. , Milluzzo G. , Scuderi V. , Cuttone G. , Korn G.
Published: January 2018

Protontherapy is hadrontherapy’s fastest-growing modality and a pillar in the battle against cancer. Hadrontherapy’s superiority lies in its inverted depth-dose profile, hence tumour-confined irradiation. Protons, however, lack distinct radiobiological advantages over photons or electrons. Higher LET (Linear Energy Transfer) 12C-ions can overcome cancer radioresistance: DNA lesion complexity increases with LET, resulting in efficient cell killing, i.e. higher Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE). However, economic and radiobiological issues hamper 12C-ion clinical amenability. Thus, enhancing proton RBE is desirable. To this end, we exploited the p + 11B → 3α reaction to generate high-LET alpha particles with a clinical proton beam. To maximize the reaction rate, we used sodium borocaptate (BSH) with natural boron content. Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) uses 10B-enriched BSH for neutron irradiation-triggered alpha particles. We recorded significantly increased cellular lethality and chromosome aberration complexity. A strategy combining protontherapy’s ballistic precision with the higher RBE promised by BNCT and 12C-ion therapy is thus demonstrated.
Intensification of ice nucleation observed in ocean ship emissions
Authors: Thomson E. S. , Weber D. , Bingemer H. G. , Tuomi J. , Ebert M. , Pettersson J. B. C.
Published: January 2018

Shipping contributes primary and secondary emission products to the atmospheric aerosol burden that have implications for climate, clouds, and air quality from regional to global scales. In this study we exam the potential impact of ship emissions with regards to ice nucleating particles. Particles that nucleate ice are known to directly affect precipitation and cloud microphysical properties. We have collected and analyzed particles for their ice nucleating capacity from a shipping channel outside a large Scandinavia port. We observe that ship plumes amplify the background levels of ice nucleating particles and discuss the larger scale implications. The measured ice nucleating particles suggest that the observed amplification is most likely important in regions with low levels of background particles. The Arctic, which as the sea ice pack declines is opening to transit and natural resource exploration and exploitation at an ever increasing rate, is highlighted as such a region.
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis from cerebrospinal fluids via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis
Authors: Yonar Dilek , Ocek Levent , Tiftikcioglu Bedile Irem , Zorlu Yasar , Severcan Feride
Published: January 2018

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory and degenerative disease of central nervous system. Here, we aimed to develop a method for differential diagnosis of Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients, as well as to identify CIS patients who will progress to RRMS, from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and multivariate analysis. Spectral analyses demonstrated significant differences in the molecular contents, especially in the lipids and Z conformation of DNA of CSF from CIS, CIS to RRMS transformed (TCIS) and RRMS groups. These changes enables the discrimination of diseased groups and controls (individuals with no neurological disease) from each other using hierarchical cluster and principal component analysis. Some CIS samples were consistently clustered in RRMS class, which may indicate that these CIS patients potentially will transform to RRMS over time. Z-DNA band at 795 cm−1 that is existent only in diseased groups and significant increase in carbonyl amount, decrease in amideI/amide II and lipid/protein ratios observed only for RRMS groups can be used as diagnostic biomarkers. The results of the present study shed light on the early diagnosis of RRMS by IR spectroscopy complemented with multivariate analysis tools.
Arabidopsis serine/threonine/tyrosine protein kinase phosphorylates oil body proteins that regulate oil content in the seeds
Authors: Ramachandiran Iyappan , Vijayakumar Anitha , Ramya Visvanathan , Rajasekharan Ram
Published: January 2018

Protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification that can regulate the protein function. The current knowledge on the phosphorylation status of plant oil body (OB) proteins is inadequate. This present study identifies the distinct physiological substrates of Arabidopsis serine/threonine/tyrosine protein kinase (STYK) and its role in seed oil accumulation; the role of Arabidopsis OLE1, a major seed OB protein has also been elucidated. In vitro kinase assay followed by mass spectrometry identifies residue that are phosphorylated by STYK. Further, co-expression of OLE1 and STYK in yeast cells increases the cellular lipid levels and reduces the total lipid when OLE1 was replaced with OLE1T166A. Moreover, in vivo experiments with OB isolated from wild-type and styk knock-out lines show the ability of STYK to phosphorylate distinct OB proteins. OLE1T166A mutant and Arabidopsis styk mutant demonstrate the significant reduction of its substrate phosphorylation. styk mutant line significantly reduces the amount of total seed oil as compared to wild-type seeds. Together, our results provide the evidences that Arabidopsis At2G24360 (STYK) is phosphorylating oil body proteins and the phosphorylation regulates the oil content in Arabidopsis seeds.
The bone microstructure of polar “hypsilophodontid” dinosaurs from Victoria, Australia
Authors: Woodward Holly N. , Rich Thomas H. , Vickers-Rich Patricia
Published: January 2018

High-latitude (i.e., “polar”) Mesozoic fauna endured months of twilight and relatively low mean annual temperatures. Yet non-avian dinosaurs flourished in this taxing environment. Fossils of basal ornithopod dinosaurs (“hypsilophodontids”) are common in the Early Cretaceous high-latitude sediments of Victoria, Australia, and four taxa have been described; although their ontogenetic histories are largely unexplored. In the present study, eighteen tibiae and femora were utilized in the first multi-specimen ontogenetic histological analysis of Australian polar hypsilophodontids. The sample consists of eleven individuals from the Flat Rocks locality (Late Valanginian or Barremian), and five from the Dinosaur Cove locality (Albian). In both groups, growth was most rapid during the first three years, and skeletal maturity occurred between five and seven years. There is a weak asymptotic trend in a plot of growth mark count versus femur length, with considerable individual variation. Histology suggests two genera are present within the Dinosaur Cove sample, but bone microstructure alone could not distinguish genera within the Flat Rocks sample, or across the two geologically separate (~ 26 Ma) localities. Additional histologic sampling, combined with morphological analyses, may facilitate further differentiation between ontogenetic, individual, and species variation.
Exclusion from spheroid formation identifies loss of essential cell-cell adhesion molecules in colon cancer cells
Authors: Stadler Mira , Scherzer Martin , Walter Stefanie , Holzner Silvio , Pudelko Karoline , Riedl Angelika , Unger Christine , Kramer Nina , Weil Beatrix , Neesen Jürgen , Hengstschläger Markus , Dolznig Helmut
Published: January 2018

Many cell lines derived from solid cancers can form spheroids, which recapitulate tumor cell clusters and are more representative of the in vivo situation than 2D cultures. During spheroid formation, a small proportion of a variety of different colon cancer cell lines did not integrate into the sphere and lost cell-cell adhesion properties. An enrichment protocol was developed to augment the proportion of these cells to 100% purity. The basis for the separation of spheroids from non-spheroid forming (NSF) cells is simple gravity-sedimentation. This protocol gives rise to sub-populations of colon cancer cells with stable loss of cell-cell adhesion. SW620 cells lacked E-cadherin, DLD-1 cells lost α-catenin and HCT116 cells lacked P-cadherin in the NSF state. Knockdown of these molecules in the corresponding spheroid-forming cells demonstrated that loss of the respective proteins were indeed responsible for the NSF phenotypes. Loss of the spheroid forming phenotype was associated with increased migration and invasion properties in all cell lines tested. Hence, we identified critical molecules involved in spheroid formation in different cancer cell lines. We present here a simple, powerful and broadly applicable method to generate new sublines of tumor cell lines to study loss of cell-cell adhesion in cancer progression.
Guanylate Binding Protein 1 Inhibits Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived from Bone Marrow
Authors: Bai Shi , Mu Zhixiang , Huang Yuanding , Ji Ping
Published: January 2018

Guanylate Binding Proteins (GBPs) are a group of cytokine-inducible large guanosine triphosphatase. Previous studies have shown high expression of GBP1 in circulating monocytes of premenopausal subjects was correlated to extremely low peak bone mass, which is considered as an important determinant of osteoporosis. However, whether GBPs play a role in regulation of osteogenesis of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) remains largely unknown. In the present study, we found that mRNA expression of GBP1 was highest among all the GBPs, and it was dramatically downregulated during osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs derived from bone marrow (hBM-MSCs). While siRNA-mediated knockdown of GBP1 promoted osteogenesis, overexpression of GBP1 suppressed osteogenesis of hBM-MSCs. Furthermore, we found GBP1 is required for expression of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8 induced by treatment with Interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Depletion of GBP1 rescued the inhibited osteogenesis induced by IFN-γ treatment, at least in part. Collectively, our findings indicate GBP1 inhibits osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and inhibition of GBP1 expression may prevent development of osteoporosis and facilitate MSC-based bone regeneration.
A synthetic combinatorial approach to disabling deviant Hedgehog signaling
Authors: Fan C-W. , Yarravarapu N. , Shi H. , Kulak O. , Kim J. , Chen C. , Lum L.
Published: January 2018

Mutations in components of the Hedgehog (HH) signal transduction pathway are found in the majority of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma incidents. Cancerous cells with intrinsic or acquired resistance to antagonists targeting the seven transmembrane effector Smoothened (SMO) frequently invoke alternative mechanisms for maintaining deviant activity of the GLI DNA binding proteins. Here we introduce a chemical agent that simultaneously achieves inhibition of SMO and GLI activity by direct targeting of the SMO heptahelical domain and the GLI-modifying enzymes belonging to the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family. We demonstrate a small molecule SMO-HDAC antagonist (IHR-SAHA) retains inhibitory activity for GLI transcription induced by SMO-dependent and -independent mechanisms frequently associated with cancer biogenesis. Synthetic combinatorial therapeutic agents such as IHR-SAHA that a priori disable cancer drivers and anticipated mechanisms of drug resistance could extend the duration of disease remission, and provide an alternative clinical development path for realizing combinatorial therapy modalities.
The theoretical molecular weight of NaYF
4
:RE upconversion nanoparticles
Authors: Mackenzie Lewis E. , Goode Jack A. , Vakurov Alexandre , Nampi Padmaja P. , Saha Sikha , Jose Gin , Millner Paul A.
Published: January 2018

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are utilized extensively for biomedical imaging, sensing, and therapeutic applications, yet the molecular weight of UCNPs has not previously been reported. Herein, we present a theory based upon the crystal structure of UCNPs to estimate the molecular weight of UCNPs: enabling insight into UCNP molecular weight for the first time. We estimate the theoretical molecular weight of various UCNPs reported in the literature, predicting that spherical NaYF4 UCNPs ~ 10 nm in diameter will be ~1 MDa (i.e. 106 g/mol), whereas UCNPs ~ 45 nm in diameter will be ~100 MDa (i.e. 108 g/mol). We also predict that hexagonal crystal phase UCNPs will be of greater molecular weight than cubic crystal phase UCNPs. Additionally we find that a Gaussian UCNP diameter distribution will correspond to a lognormal UCNP molecular weight distribution. Our approach could potentially be generalised to predict the molecular weight of other arbitrary crystalline nanoparticles: as such, we provide stand-alone graphic user interfaces to calculate the molecular weight both UCNPs and arbitrary crystalline nanoparticles. We expect knowledge of UCNP molecular weight to be of wide utility in biomedical applications where reporting UCNP quantity in absolute numbers or molarity will be beneficial for inter-study comparison and repeatability.