bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial activity of a novel characterized and purified bacteriocin extracted from Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Authors: Mahdi Likaa H. , Auda Ibtesam G. , Ali Istabreq M. , Alsaadi Luma G. , Zwain Luma A.H.
Published: March 2018

Lactic acid bacteria and their own bacteriocin are great promising in health and industry; hence, too many lactic acid bacteria species and metabolites are involve in health maintenance and treatment of infectious disease as well as food preservation and dairy production. Current study sought to produce, isolate, purify and characterize novel bacteriocin from oral Bifidobacterium adolescentis and studying its effect on antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Saliva of 18 volunteers postmenopausal women with their age ranging from 49 to 58 years was included. Bifidobacterium spp. cultivates in anaerobic conditions and identified by API50. Bifidobacterium bacteriocin prepared in De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe broth (MRS) broth as a crude preparation then concentrated by ammonium sulphate precipitation and purified by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular weight of B. adolescentis bacteriocin was estimated by gel filtration chromatography. The effect of temperature and pH value on purified bacteriocin activity was estimated using Escherichia coli American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC. To determine the nature of produced bacteriocin and whether or not the bacteriocin contain lipid or carbohydrate moiety, it was treated with some enzymes (pepsin, lipase, α-amylase, papain and chemotrypsin). Challenged pathogenic bacteria were surveyed for occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes by PCR and to verify the inhibitory effect of B. adolescentis bacteriocin on challenged pathogenic bacteria, disc diffusion method was used. The result of anaerobic culture showed that, 35 Bifidobacterium isolates were obtained, the predominant species was B. adolescentis other species was lesser, namely Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium urinalis. The purified B. adolescentis bacteriocin was 14 600-Da protein and was active at wide range of pH value (3–8), thermostable and has no lipid or carbohydrate moiety. Almost all of pathogenic bacteria, whether or not they carry antibiotic resistance genes, appeared to be sensitive to crude and purified bacteriocin but purified bacteriocin was more effective as antimicrobial agent. The results suggest that Bifidobacterium spp. was dominant in oral cavities of postmenopausal women who have no caries it may prevent dental caries via antimicrobial activities of their own bacteriocin. Bifidobacterium bacteriocin is protein in nature, without lipid or carbohydrate moiety, heat-stable and active at wide range of pH values and can be classified as type II bacteriocin and so-called bifidoadocin. The antimicrobial activity of bifidoadocin makes it probable food preservative and antagonistic agent against pathogens of oral cavity and causative agents of dental caries as well as other pathogens.
Modification and Assessment of the Bedside Pediatric Early Warning Score in the Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Population
Authors: Cater Daniel T. , Tori Alvaro J. , Moser Elizabeth A. S. , Rowan Courtney M.
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

To determine the validity of the Bedside Pediatric Early Warning Score system in the hematopoietic cell transplant population, and to determine if the addition of weight gain further strengthens the association with need for PICU admission.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study of pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant patients from 2009 to 2016. Daily Pediatric Early Warning Score and weights were collected during hospitalization. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between maximum Pediatric Early Warning Score or Pediatric Early Warning Score plus weight gain and the need for PICU intervention. The primary outcome was need for PICU intervention; secondary outcomes included mortality and intubation.

Setting:

A large quaternary free-standing children’s hospital.

Patients:

One-hundred two pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Of the 102 hematopoietic cell transplant patients included in the study, 29 were admitted to the PICU. The median peak Pediatric Early Warning Score was 11 (interquartile range, 8–13) in the PICU admission cohort, compared with 4 (interquartile range, 3–5) in the cohort without a PICU admission (p < 0.0001). Pediatric Early Warning Score greater than or equal to 8 had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 90%. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.83. There was a high negative predictive value at this Pediatric Early Warning Score of 90%. When Pediatric Early Warning Score greater than or equal to 8 and weight gain greater than or equal to 7% were compared together, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve increased to 0.88.

Conclusions:

In this study, a Pediatric Early Warning Score greater than or equal to 8 was associated with PICU admission, having a moderately high sensitivity and high specificity. This study adds to literature supporting Pediatric Early Warning Score monitoring for hematopoietic cell transplant patients. Combining weight gain with Pediatric Early Warning Score improved the discriminative ability of the model to predict the need for critical care, suggesting that incorporation of weight gain into Pediatric Early Warning Score may be beneficial for monitoring of hematopoietic cell transplant patients.
Treatment of Dehisced, Thoracic Neonatal Wounds With Single-Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device and Medical-Grade Honey
Authors: Boyar Vita
Published: March 2018

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to report on our experience with a portable, single-use negative pressure wound therapy device used in combination with activated active Leptospermum honey (ALH) in the treatment of colonized or infected, dehisced, thoracic wounds in neonates with complex congenital heart disease.

DESIGN:

Retrospective, descriptive study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

We reviewed medical records of 18 neonates and reported on findings from 11; the remaining 7 were not included secondary to incomplete records, transfer to a different institution prior to wound healing, or death. The median age of our patients was 12 days (range, 2 days to 5 weeks); their mean gestational age was 34 weeks. All of the neonates had acquired postoperative wound dehiscence that were colonized or infected and were treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Cohen Children's Medical Center (New Hyde Park, New York), a regional perinatal center with a level 4 NICU.

METHODS:

Wound cultures were obtained on all patients prior to treatment commencement. All cultures were repeated on day 4 of treatment. Systemic antibiotics were administered as necessary. No complications were observed related to the use of negative pressure wound therapy device and ALH. All patients were followed until discharge home or transfer to another facility. The pain scores during placement and removal were acceptable (between 1 and 3; median = 2) using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale. Staff and parents indicated that the combination of ALH and the negative pressure wound therapy device did not interfere with daily care and parental bonding.

CONCLUSIONS:

Use of ALH and a single-use negative pressure wound therapy device was successful in this series of 11 neonates with complex congenital heart disease.
Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Intrarectal Device for Management of Fecal Incontinence in Bedridden Patients
Authors: Singh Sandeep , Bhargava Balram , Vasantha Padma , Bhatia Rohit , Sharma Hanish , Pal Sujoy , Sahni Peush , Makharia Govind K.
Published: March 2018

PURPOSE:

The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a stool management kit (SMK) for containment of fecal incontinence in hospitalized bedridden patients.

DESIGN:

A single-group quasi-experimental study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Twenty bedridden adults who had at least 1 episode of fecal incontinence in the prior 24 hours participated in the study. The study setting was the neurological unit of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India.

METHODS:

The study was carried out in 2 phases. The device was placed in situ for up to 24 hours in 10 patients during phase I of the study and up to 120 hours in an additional 10 patients during phase II. Participants were assessed for anorectal injury and peripheral device leakage on a 4- to 6-hourly basis. Sigmoidoscopy was performed to evaluate for any mucosal trauma or alteration of anorectal pathology after retrieval of the device.

RESULTS:

The device was successfully placed in all patients following the first attempt to place the device; 80% of patients retained the device until planned removal. The SMK diverted fecal matter without anal leakage in 174 (93.5%) out of 186 assessment points in a group of 20 patients. The devices remained in situ for 21 ± 0.2 and 84.5 ± 38.9 hours during phase I and phase II, respectively. None experienced anorectal bleeding, sphincter injury, or mucosal ulceration with device usage. Post–device sigmoidoscopy revealed erythema at the site of diverter placement in 2 participants.

CONCLUSION:

Study findings suggest that the SMK successfully diverted liquid to semiformed fecal exudate without peripheral device leakage in 93.5% of bedridden patients. No serious adverse events occurred. Additional research is needed to compare its effectiveness with that of currently available intrarectal balloon devices.
VarQ: a tool for the structural analysis of Human Protein Variants
Authors: Radusky Leandro , Modenutti Carlos , Delgado Javier , Bustamante Juan P. , Vishnopolska Sebastian , Kiel Christina , Serrano Luis , Marti Marcelo , Turjanski Adrián
Published: March 2018

Understanding the functional effect of Single Amino acid Substitutions (SAS), derived from the occurrence of single nucleotide variants (SNVs), and their relation to disease development is a major issue in clinical genomics. Even though there are several bioinformatic algorithms and servers that predict if a SAS can be pathogenic or not they give little or non-information on the actual effect on the protein function. Moreover, many of these algorithms are able to predict an effect that no necessarily translates directly into pathogenicity. VarQ Web Server is an online tool that given an UniProt id automatically analyzes known and user provided SAS for their effect on protein activity, folding, aggregation and protein interactions among others. VarQ assessment was performed over a set of previously manually curated variants, showing its ability to correctly predict the phenotypic outcome and its underlying cause. This resource is available online at http://varq.qb.fcen.uba.ar/.

Contact: lradusky@qb.fcen.uba.ar

Supporting Information & Tutorials may be found in the webpage of the tool.
Two polymorphs of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis(dibenzylamino)-p-hydroquinone with flexible dibenzylamino groups
Authors: Shin In-Sub , Shimada Yuta , Horiguchi-Babamoto Emi , Matsumoto Shinya
Published: March 2018

We obtained two conformational polymorphs of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis(dibenzylamino)-p-hydroquinone, C34H30Cl2N2O2. Both polymorphs have an inversion centre at the centre of the hydroquinone ring (Z′ = 1 \over 2), and there are no significant differences between their bond lengths and angles. The most significant structural difference in the molecular conformations was found in the rotation of the phenyl rings of the two crystallographically independent benzyl groups. The crystal structures of the polymorphs were distinguishable with respect to the arrangement of the hydroquinone rings and the packing motif of the phenyl rings that form part of the benzyl groups. The phenyl groups of one polymorph are arranged in a face-to-edge motif between adjacent molecules, with intermolecular C—H...π interactions, whereas the phenyl rings in the other polymorph form a lamellar stacking pattern with no significant intermolecular interactions. We suggest that this partial conformational difference in the molecular structures leads to the significant structural differences observed in their molecular arrangements.
Design and simulations of non-uniform velocity motion curves for a slider-crank servo press
Authors: Qu Juxin
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a new design approach for stamping process curves based on the main transmission structure of a slider-crank servo press.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical simulation approach for the slider and crank motion curve shape is developed on the basis of the forward and inverse kinematics models. A general method of curve segment connection is analyzed and discussed. Examples and experiments are also given to verify the feasibility of this work.

Findings

By properly connecting the basic curve segments, such as the constant velocity and cycloid trajectory segments, the designed curve can be incorporated into the output motion. The basic curve segments can be used as backups and stored in a curve repository. Different requirements of stamping process curves can be obtained by connecting the newly designed curve segments and selected existing curve segments. That the design approach has transferability to similar problems is encouraging.

Originality/value

This study provides a new method of designing curves for non-uniform velocity motion by connecting commonly used basic curve segments. It is characterized by simple operation and small calculating amount. Different curves can be obtained by connecting the newly designed segments and selected existing segments. Choosing simple curve segments freely can maintain minimum power dissipation in non-working intervals. The method can obtain minimum peak values of acceleration and jerk in the connection interval. Basic curve segments can also be used as backups and stored in a curve repository to improve the efficiency of design.
Smart home for elder care using wireless sensor
Authors: Udupa Prathiba , Yellampalli Siva S.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain, in brief, about smart, intelligent system which actively monitors the wellness of the elderly and will also send necessary alarms to the caretakers or doctors during an emergency because nowadays most of elderly people wish to stay alone independently. It is necessary to monitor their health conditions and activities continuously to prevent occurrence of health problems and also be able to provide medical assistance to them during emergencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The review paper describes the development of a methodology to monitor elderly continuously with a combination of advanced intelligent sensors, networking technologies and data processing system.

Findings

This paper identified various sensors used in smart home such as a pressure sensor, temperature sensor, etc., for monitoring elders health and their characteristics and also the cost, model number, etc., of various sensors available in the market.

Originality/value

This paper contains the comparison of various sensors available in the market that can be used in the smart home and also where we can use those sensors in smart home based on their characteristics.
Service failures after online flash sales: role of deal proneness, attribution, and emotion
Authors: Vakeel Khadija Ali , Sivakumar K. , Jayasimha K.R. , Dey Shubhamoy
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on failures in online flash sales (OFS) and to explore why consumers participate in an OFS even after experiencing service failure. It also examines the role of deal proneness, attribution, and emotions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a mixed method approach to gain insights into this relatively unexplored phenomenon of OFS, this research uses netnography followed by a survey study.

Findings

The findings show that deal-prone customers tend to ignore service failures during OFS and re-participate in the future. In the context of OFS, failures attributed to internal locus of attribution (LOA) also have a negative effect on re-participation compared with failures attributed to external LOA. Furthermore, there is a three-way interaction among deal proneness, LOA, and past emotions. The results show that negative past emotions further exacerbate the impact of attribution on the link between deal proneness and re-participation.

Originality/value

In contrast with prior research, the paper shows that consumers participate even after service failure. The proposed difference is between customers who experience different LOA and past emotions offers insights into their behavior after service failure in a new context of an online/electronic commerce event – flash sales. This paper specifically explores the role of internal LOA and finds that it has a more negative impact than external LOA on re-participation.
Detection of Fingermarks—Applicability to Metallic Surfaces: A Literature Review
Authors: Christofidis George , Morrissey Joanne , Birkett Jason W.
Published: March 2018

There are many different fingermark visualization techniques available, and the choice of methodology employed may be dependent on the surface type. This comprehensive review of the scientific literature evaluates the methodologies of fingermark enhancement methods that are applicable to metallic surfaces; optical, physical, chemical, and physicochemical methods are critically discussed. Methods that are currently used and those that have the potential to reduce the cost and time required to process evidence and increase the recovery rates are considered and are assessed against the Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) and the International Fingerprint Research Group (IFRG) guidelines. The use of chemical imaging techniques in particular has increased the potential to recover fingermarks of sufficient quality for identification purposes. Presently, there appears to be a lack of detailed research pertaining to validation and thorough casework studies for fingermark enhancement techniques. Further studies incorporating these guidelines are recommended.
Drinking despite adversity: behavioral evidence for a head down and push strategy of conflict‐resistant alcohol drinking in rats
Authors: Darevsky David , Gill Thomas Michael , Vitale Katherine Rose , Hu Bing , Wegner Scott Andrew , Hopf Frederic Woodward
Published: March 2018

Compulsive alcohol drinking, where intake persists regardless of adverse consequences, plays a major role in the substantial costs of alcohol use disorder. However, the processes that promote aversion‐resistant drinking remain poorly understood. Compulsion‐like responding has been considered automatic and reflexive and also to involve higher motivation, since drinking persists despite adversity. Thus, we used lickometry, where microstructural behavioral changes can reflect altered motivation, to test whether conflict‐resistant intake [quinine‐alcohol (QuiA)] reflected greater automaticity or motivation relative to alcohol‐only drinking (Alc). Front‐loading during QuiA and Alc suggested incentive to drink in both. However, the relationship between total licking and intake was less variable during QuiA, as was lick volume, without changes in average responding. QuiA bout organization was also less variable, with fewer licks outside of bouts (stray licks) and fewer gaps within bouts. Interestingly, QuiA avoidance of stray licking continued into short bouts, with fewer short and more medium‐length bouts, which was striking given their minor impact on intake. Instead, more effort at bout onset could allow short bouts to persist longer. Indeed, while QuiA licking was overall faster, QuiA bouts were especially fast at bout initiation. However, few QuiA changes individually predicted greater intake, perhaps suggesting an overarching strategy during aversion‐resistant responding. Thus, our results indicate that aversion‐resistant intake exhibited less variability, where increased automaticity could decrease need for awareness, and stronger bout initiation, which might prolong responding despite adversity. This may reflect a collective strategy, which we call Head Down and Push responding that facilitates conflict‐resistant, compulsion‐like intake.
Incidence of cephalosporin‐induced anaphylaxis and clinical efficacy of screening intradermal tests with cephalosporins: A large multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yang M.‐S. , Kang D.Y. , Seo B. , Park H. J. , Park S.‐Y. , Kim M.‐Y. , Park K. H. , Koo S.‐M. , Nam Y.‐H. , Kim S. , Jung J.‐W. , Kim T.‐B. , Jang G. C. , Yang H.‐J. , Ahn Y.‐M. , Park J.‐W. , Kang H.‐R. ,   Drug Allergy Work Group of KAAACI
Published: March 2018

Background

Few studies have investigated the incidence of anaphylaxis induced by individual or structurally similar cephalosporins. The aims of the study were to assess the incidence of cephalosporin‐induced anaphylaxis and evaluate the clinical efficacy of screening skin tests.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we obtained information on total cephalosporin use and cephalosporin‐induced anaphylaxis in intravenous cephalosporin recipients in 12 general hospitals between 2013 and 2015. Cephalosporins were divided into 4 groups according to similar side‐chain structures. The incidence of cephalosporin‐induced anaphylaxis was assessed for each cephalosporin, cephalosporin generation, and side‐chain group. To verify the efficacy of screening intradermal tests (IDT) with cephalosporin, the 12 hospitals were assigned to the intervention or control group depending on whether they performed screening IDT before the administration of cephalosporins.

Results

We identified 76 cases of cephalosporin‐induced anaphylaxis with 1 123 345 exposures to intravenous cephalosporins (6.8 per 100 000 exposures), and the incidence of fatal anaphylaxis by cephalosporin was 0.1 cases per 100 000 exposures. The highest incidences of anaphylaxis occurred in the ceftizoxime (13.0 cases per 100 000 exposures) and side‐chain group 1 (cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, and cefuroxime; 9.3 per 100 000). There was no case of anaphylaxis induced by cefoxitin, cefmetazole, cefminox, and cefotiam. The clinical effectiveness of routine screening IDT was not significant (P = .06).

Conclusions

The incidence of cephalosporin‐induced anaphylaxis differed according to individual drugs and side‐chain structure. Screening IDT showed no clinical efficacy at a population level.
Identification of specifically reduced Th2 cell subsets in allergic rhinitis patients after sublingual immunotherapy
Authors: Ihara F. , Sakurai D. , Yonekura S. , Iinuma T. , Yagi R. , Sakurai T. , Ito T. , Matsuura A. , Morimoto Y. , Arai T. , Suzuki S. , Katayama K. , Nakayama T. , Okamoto Y.
Published: March 2018

Background

Although Th2 cells are well known to play important roles in allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR), the factors that induce and sustain the pathogenesis of AR remain unclear. The recent development of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is expected to allow changes to the underlying pathogenesis of AR. However, which Th2 cell subsets are important in house dust mite‐induced AR (HDM‐AR), the influence of SLIT on the pathogenic Th2 cells, and the association of Th2 cell subsets with SLIT efficacy have not been clarified.

Methods

The cytokine production and frequency of HDM‐reactive T‐cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated using flow cytometry in 89 HDM‐AR patients (placebo [n = 43] and HDM 300 IR [n = 46]) who participated in a placebo‐controlled study of SLIT with HDM tablets. All patients provided samples both before treatment as a baseline and at the end of the 52‐week study. The PBMCs were stained with CellTrace™ Violet (CTV) before culture with HDM extract, and HDM‐reactive T cells were detected as the proliferated cells with diminished CTV.

Results

HDM‐reactive IL‐5+IL‐13+CD27−CD161+CD4+ cells and ST2+CD45RO+CD4+ cells were observed in the peripheral blood from each patient with HDM‐AR; these cells significantly decreased after SLIT in the group treated with active tablets. HDM‐reactive ST2+CD45RO+CD4+ cells were significantly lower in active‐responders.

Conclusion

Allergen‐reactive ST2+CD45RO+CD4+ cells or those combined with IL‐5+IL‐13+CD27−CD161+CD4+ cells may be useful as markers indicating the successful treatment of SLIT. These cells may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AR as pathogenic memory Th2 cells.
Radiotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma: must the upper pelvic nodes and the inguinal nodes be treated?
Authors: Thompson Stephen R. , Lee Isabel S. Y. , Carroll Susan , Bishop Sarah , Douglas Philip , Lam Francis , Brown Chris , Williams Janet , Goldstein David
Published: March 2018

Background

Loco‐regional failure is the predominant cause of death in anal squamous cell carcinoma. We assessed patterns of loco‐regional recurrence to determine the impact of radiotherapy (RT) volumes on patient outcome.

Methods

Retrospective clinical study, including patients treated curatively with RT or chemo‐radiotherapy between 1994 and 2007. RT fields/volumes were reviewed and compared with patterns of failure. Patients were classified as having whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) if RT extended to L5/S1 or lower pelvic radiotherapy (LPRT) if it extended to the lower sacroiliac joints or below. Patients with negative inguinal nodes either underwent prophylactic inguinal radiotherapy (PIRT) or had inguinal observation (IO). Patterns of failure were compared.

Results

Twenty‐seven patients (53%) had WPRT and 24 (47%) had LPRT. Forty‐two patients had negative inguinal nodes: 29 (69%) had PIRT and 13 (31%) had IO. Median follow‐up was 5.8 years. Twelve regional failures occurred in eight patients: three pelvic, one inguinal and four pelvic and inguinal. All patients with regional failure died of disease. Pelvic nodal failure was 7.7% in N0 and 33% in N1–3 patients (P = 0.012). There was no difference in pelvic regional failure between WPRT and LPRT (11% versus 16%, P = 0.64). There was only one possible regional failure above LPRT in this group (4%). Inguinal failure was 0% in the PIRT group compared with 23% in IO group (P = 0.009).

Conclusion

There was no difference in pelvic regional failure between WPRT and LPRT. LPRT is likely to be safe in N0 patients. Inguinal nodes should be treated in all patients.
A Case Study of Stakeholder Dialogue in Professional Sport: An Example of CSR Engagement
Authors: Babiak Kathy , Kihl Lisa A.
Published: March 2018

Many businesses, including professional sport teams, are designing and engaging in socially responsible initiatives which benefit stakeholders as well as the businesses themselves. Gaining insight into stakeholders' expectations regarding corporations' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives through dialogue is important as the way a business is viewed and evaluated by stakeholders underlies subsequent interactions. Based on semi‐structured interviews with 42 diverse stakeholders involved in a professional sport team's CSR initiative we found that stakeholders' expectations of the team's involvement in the community related to social and institutional norms, values, and benefits. The team also appeared to be meeting stakeholder expectations about being socially responsible in the community. This study provides new insights into a firm's CSR expectations through engaging in stakeholder management and interaction. Future research directions and practical suggestions are offered for organizations attempting to understand and meet stakeholders' expectations in the area of CSR.
Lower levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor are associated with melancholic psychomotor retardation among depressed inpatients
Authors: Primo de Carvalho Alves Lucas , Sica da Rocha Neusa
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Melancholic depression is a type of depression which is closely related to biological variables than are other types of depression. Its clinical features can be assessed using six items on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D6). Previous studies have shown, using item response theory, that the symptom depressed mood is the least severe melancholic feature; work and activities, somatic symptoms and psychic anxiety are of moderate severity; and feelings of guilt and psychomotor retardation are the most severe. We aimed to evaluate whether the more severe melancholic signs or symptoms were associated with decreases in brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.

Methods

A total of 151 severely depressed inpatients had their BDNF levels analyzed by comparing those who presented with each HAM‐D6 melancholic feature to those for whom the HAM‐D6 feature was absent, using multiple linear regressions. The levels of BDNF of patients who presented with each melancholic feature were also compared with those of 100 healthy controls.

Results

Depressed patients' median BDNF level was 44.06 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR]: 33.99‐62.4 ng/mL), and controls' median BDNF level was 65.22 ng/mL (IQR: 49.87‐76.08 ng/mL) (P < .001). The presence of depressed mood, work and activities, somatic symptoms, psychic anxiety, and guilty feelings was not associated with BDNF levels. However, the presence of psychomotor retardation was associated with reduced BDNF (median reduction −10.07 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −19.43 to −0.71; P = .03).

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to associate BDNF levels with melancholic features in a sample of severely depressed inpatients. The main finding of this study was that severely depressed inpatients who presented the most severe melancholic feature, psychomotor retardation, had significantly reduced BDNF levels in the blood.
Stomatin‐like protein 2 inhibits cisplatin‐induced apoptosis through MEK/ERK signaling and the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in cervical cancer cells
Authors: Hu Guolin , Zhang Jialu , Xu Feifei , Deng Huan , Zhang Weiwei , Kang Shijun , Liang Weijiang
Published: March 2018

Stomatin‐like protein 2 (STOML2 or SLP‐2) is an oncogenic anti‐apoptotic protein that is upregulated in several types of cancer, including cervical cancer. However, the mechanisms responsible for the SLP‐2 anti‐apoptotic function remain poorly understood. Here, we show that siRNA‐mediated SLP‐2 suppression decreases growth of human cervical cancer HELA and SIHA cells, and increases cisplatin‐induced apoptosis through activation of MEK/ERK signaling and suppression of the mitochondrial pathway. The inhibition of the mitochondrial pathway is mediated by increasing the mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby downregulating p‐MEK and p‐ERK levels, upregulating the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio, increasing cytochrome C release from mitochondria into the cytosol, and upregulating levels of cleaved‐caspase 9, cleaved‐caspase 3, and cleaved poly ADP‐ribose polymerase (PARP). Overexpression of SLP‐2 using adenovirus‐STOML2 has the opposite effect: it upregulates p‐MEK and p‐ERK and downregulates the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and levels of cleaved‐caspase 9 to caspase 9, cleaved‐caspase 3 to caspase 3, and cleaved‐PARP to PARP in cisplatin‐treated cells. These data show that SLP‐2 inhibits cisplatin‐induced apoptosis by activating the MEK/ERK signaling and inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in cervical cancer cells.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in lung transplant recipients
Authors: Cheng Jesse , Moore Cody A. , Iasella Carlo J. , Glanville Allan R. , Morrell Matthew R. , Smith Randall B. , McDyer John F. , Ensor Christopher R.
Published: March 2018

A systematic review of papers in English on post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in lung transplant recipients (LTR) using MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases was performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations were strictly adhered to. Pooled odds ratios (pOR) were calculated from a random‐effects model, and heterogeneity among studies was quantitated using I2 values. Fourteen studies published from 2005 to 2015 were included in the meta‐analysis. One hundred and sixty‐four lung transplant recipients were included. LTRs who received single vs bilateral were associated with a 7.67‐fold risk of death after PTLD (6 studies with 64 LTRs; pOR 7.67 95% CI 1.98‐29.70; P = .003). pOR of death for early onset PTLD (<1 year post‐LT) vs late onset (>1 year post‐LT) was not different (3 studies with 72 LTRS; pOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.20‐1.86, P = .39). Standardized mean difference (SMD) in time from transplant to PTLD onset between LTRs who died vs alive was not different (9 studies with 109 LTRs; SMD 0.03, 95% CI −0.48‐0.53, P = .92). Survival in polymorphic vs monomorphic PTLD and extranodal vs nodal disease was similar (4 studies with 31 LTRs; pOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.08‐2.51; P = .36. 6 studies with 81 LTRs; pOR 1.05 95% CI 0.31‐3.52, P = .94). This meta‐analysis demonstrates that single LTRs are at a higher risk of death vs bilateral LTRs after the development of PTLD.
Muscle tone is not a well‐defined term
Authors: Shortland Adam Peter
Published: March 2018

This commentary is on the systematic review by Goo et al. on pages 660–671 of this issue.
Amodiaquine improves insulin resistance and lipid metabolism in diabetic model mice
Authors: Jung Hoe‐Yune , Kim Bobae , Ryu Hye Guk , Ji Yosep , Park Soyoung , Choi Seung Hee , Lee Dohyun , Lee In‐Kyu , Kim Munki , Lee You Jeong , Song Woojin , Lee Young Hee , Choi Hyung Jin , Hyun Chang‐Kee , Holzapfel Wilhelm H , Kim Kyong‐Tai
Published: March 2018

Aims

Although peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs)α/γ dual agonists can be beneficial for treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, their use is limited owing to various side effects, including body weight gain, edema, and heart failure. We aimed to demonstrate that amodiaquine, an antimalarial agent, has potential as a PPARα/γ dual agonist with low risk of adverse effects.

Methods

We screened a Prestwick library (Prestwick Chemical; Illkirch, France) to identify novel PPARα/γ dual agonists and selected amodiaquine (4‐[(7‐chloroquinolin‐4‐yl)amino]‐2‐[(diethylamino)methyl]phenol), which activated both PPAR‐α & ‐γ, for further investigation. We performed both in vitro, including glucose uptake assay and fatty acid oxidation assay, and in vivo studies to elucidate the anti‐diabetic and anti‐obesity effects of amodiaquine.

Results

Amodiaquine selectively activated the transcriptional activities of PPARα/γ and enhanced both fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake without altering insulin secretion in vitro. In high‐fat diet‐induced obese and genetically modified obese/diabetic mice, amodiaquine not only remarkably ameliorated insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver but also decreased body weight gain.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that amodiaquine exerts beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism by concurrent activation of PPARα/γ. Furthermore, amodiaquine acts as an alternative insulin‐sensitizing agent with a positive influence on lipid metabolism and has potential to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes while reducing the risk of lipid abnormalities.
Phylogenetic diversity, types of endemism and the evolutionary history of New World bats
Authors: López‐Aguirre Camilo , Hand Suzanne J. , Laffan Shawn W. , Archer Michael
Published: March 2018

New World bats represent over one third of global bat species and encompass the widest adaptive radiation among bats. Modern bat diversity in the Americas resulted from a mixture of migrations and colonisations of different taxa throughout the Cenozoic. Traditionally, these taxa are conceived as either South or North American, based on the location of their centres of diversification. To better understand the spatial and temporal processes behind modern biogeographic patterns of New World bat fauna, we investigated phylogenetic diversity (PD) and endemism (PE) for 325 American bat species using distribution maps and a species‐level phylogenetic supertree of bats. Randomisation tests were used to evaluate the statistical significance of our results, and to derive a categorical analysis of neo‐ and palaeo‐endemism (CANAPE) to deconstruct significant endemism into its different components. PD and PE showed different patterns than those previously reported for New World bats based on traditional measures of diversity. We found multiple centres of significant endemism across the New World for most bat families, extending the hypothesis of dual centres of diversification, previously proposed for Emballonuridae, Phyllostomidae and Mormoopidae, to Molossidae and Vespertilionidae. Our results indicate that Central America and southern North America played important roles in the diversification of New World bats, as did the Andes in the diversification of Vespertilionidae in South America.
Knowledge about emergency dental trauma management among school teachers in Colombia: A baseline study to develop an education strategy
Authors: Marcano‐Caldera Maytté , Mejía‐Cardona Jose Luis , Parra Sanchez José Hernán , Méndez de la Espriella Catalina , Covo Morales Eduardo , Sierra Varón Gustavo , Gómez Díaz Martha , Fortich Mesa Natalia , Escobar Villegas Paola , Bermúdez Reyes Patricia , Rodríguez Sanchez Patricia , Mejia Fernández Pedro , Gómez‐Scarpetta Ruth Ángela , Bernal Alfaro Vanessa , Cifuentes Aguirre Olga Lucia , López Soto Olga Patricia , Sigurdsson Asgeir
Published: March 2018

Background/Aim

Dental trauma in school populations has a high frequency and school teachers are often close to the place where such injuries occur. However, many studies have confirmed the lack of knowledge as to how to act in these cases. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge in regard to dental trauma of school teachers in Colombia.

Materials and Methods

A multicentre, descriptive cross‐sectional study was performed in 251 schools using a stratified randomized sampling. A structured hard copy survey was personally delivered to 2390 school teachers in the selected schools. The survey contained questions related to work experience, teaching level and demographic data, as well as questions related to their knowledge of and attitude towards emergency dental trauma management.

Results

The response rate was 96%. Most of the school teachers (95%) had never received training related to dental trauma, although 35% had witnessed at least 1 case. Of 2296 school teachers surveyed, only 5.8% would have replanted an avulsed tooth. An association was found between work experience and appropriate management of an avulsed tooth. No significant differences were found in regard to school location (city), school type (private/public), gender and school teachers’ education level.

Conclusions

The knowledge of school teachers in Colombia about emergency dental trauma management is inadequate. The findings strongly suggest a need for an education strategy with the involvement of the government, dentistry schools and private organizations.
Spontaneous eye blink rate and dopamine synthesis capacity: preliminary evidence for an absence of positive correlation
Authors: Sescousse Guillaume , Ligneul Romain , van Holst Ruth J. , Janssen Lieneke K. , de Boer Femke , Janssen Marcel , Berry Anne S. , Jagust William J. , Cools Roshan
Published: March 2018

Dopamine is central to a number of cognitive functions and brain disorders. Given the cost of neurochemical imaging in humans, behavioural proxy measures of dopamine have gained in popularity in the past decade, such as spontaneous eye blink rate (sEBR). Increased sEBR is commonly associated with increased dopamine function based on pharmacological evidence and patient studies. Yet, this hypothesis has not been validated using in vivo measures of dopamine function in humans. To fill this gap, we measured sEBR and striatal dopamine synthesis capacity using [18F]DOPA PET in 20 participants (nine healthy individuals and 11 pathological gamblers). Our results, based on frequentist and Bayesian statistics, as well as region‐of‐interest and voxel‐wise analyses, argue against a positive relationship between sEBR and striatal dopamine synthesis capacity. They show that, if anything, the evidence is in favour of a negative relationship. These results, which complement findings from a recent study that failed to observe a relationship between sEBR and dopamine D2 receptor availability, suggest that caution and nuance are warranted when interpreting sEBR in terms of a proxy measure of striatal dopamine.
Influence of auditory attention on sentence recognition captured by the neural phase
Authors: Müller Jana Annina , Kollmeier Birger , Debener Stefan , Brand Thomas
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate whether attentional influences on speech recognition are reflected in the neural phase entrained by an external modulator. Sentences were presented in 7 Hz sinusoidally modulated noise while the neural response to that modulation frequency was monitored by electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in 21 participants. We implemented a selective attention paradigm including three different attention conditions while keeping physical stimulus parameters constant. The participants’ task was either to repeat the sentence as accurately as possible (speech recognition task), to count the number of decrements implemented in modulated noise (decrement detection task), or to do both (dual task), while the EEG was recorded. Behavioural analysis revealed reduced performance in the dual task condition for decrement detection, possibly reflecting limited cognitive resources. EEG analysis revealed no significant differences in power for the 7 Hz modulation frequency, but an attention‐dependent phase difference between tasks. Further phase analysis revealed a significant difference 500 ms after sentence onset between trials with correct and incorrect responses for speech recognition, indicating that speech recognition performance and the neural phase are linked via selective attention mechanisms, at least shortly after sentence onset. However, the neural phase effects identified were small and await further investigation.
Working memory alpha–beta band oscillatory signatures in adolescents and young adults
Authors: Zammit Nowell , Falzon Owen , Camilleri Kenneth , Muscat Richard
Published: March 2018

The timing of neural activity is an intriguing way of exposing behaviorally relevant neural activity, as neural populations exploit transient windows of synchronized activations to exchange dynamic communications in the service of various cognitive operations. The link between neural synchrony and working memory (WM) has been supported at the theoretical and empirical level. However, findings have also shown that WM encoding is also related to significant alpha–beta desynchronization. These findings have been primarily recorded during subsequent memory effect paradigms that compare correct with incorrect encoding trials. The dissociable contribution imparted by various processes to WM performance suggests that incorrect performance may not be directly translatable to unsuccessful encoding. Here, we address the relationship between alpha–beta desynchronization and encoding through the use of an alternative paradigm design by contrasting frontal and parietal human scalp electroencephalography activity during the encoding interval of a delayed matching‐to‐sample task with that recorded during a control task. The additional use of non‐verbal/semantic visual stimulation and recruitment of typically developing adolescent subjects has led us to the conclusion that encoding‐relevant alpha–beta decrements can be replicated via a non‐verbal/semantic delayed matching‐to‐sample task and these are also evident in typically developing adolescents, in addition to adults, as has been previously demonstrated. The identification of encoding‐related alpha–beta decrements in adolescent subjects performing such WM tasks may open new avenues to explore whether such a rhythmic signature may explain WM and electrophysiological deficits that emerge in various adolescent neuropsychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Neighbour tolerance, not suppression, provides competitive advantage to non‐native plants
Authors: Golivets Marina , Wallin Kimberly F.
Published: March 2018

High competitive ability has often been invoked as a key determinant of invasion success and ecological impacts of non‐native plants. Yet our understanding of the strategies that non‐natives use to gain competitive dominance remains limited. Particularly, it remains unknown whether the two non‐mutually exclusive competitive strategies, neighbour suppression and neighbour tolerance, are equally important for the competitive advantage of non‐native plants. Here, we analyse data from 192 peer‐reviewed studies on pairwise plant competition within a Bayesian multilevel meta‐analytic framework and show that non‐native plants outperform their native counterparts due to high tolerance of competition, as opposed to strong suppressive ability. Competitive tolerance ability of non‐native plants was driven by neighbour's origin and was expressed in response to a heterospecific native but not heterospecific non‐native neighbour. In contrast to natives, non‐native species were not more suppressed by hetero‐ vs. conspecific neighbours, which was partially due to higher intensity of intraspecific competition among non‐natives. Heterogeneity in the data was primarily associated with methodological differences among studies and not with phylogenetic relatedness among species. Altogether, our synthesis demonstrates that non‐native plants are competitively distinct from native plants and challenges the common notion that neighbour suppression is the primary strategy for plant invasion success.
Effects of three γ‐alkylidene‐γ‐lactams on the formation of multispecies biofilms
Authors: de Almeida Josiane , Pimenta Andrea L. , Pereira Ulisses A. , Barbosa Luiz C. A. , Hoogenkamp Michel A. , van der Waal Suzette V. , Crielaard Wim , Felippe Wilson T.
Published: March 2018

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of lactams on Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida glabrata multispecies biofilm formation. γ‐Alkylidene‐γ‐lactams 1, 2, and 3 [solubilized in 3.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)] were tested. Glass coverslips were conditioned with either the lactams or 3.5% DMSO (control) for 1 h, inoculated with microbial cultures, and incubated for 48 h. To assess the effect of the lactams on biofilm formation, the following parameters were determined: the biofilm biomass (by both crystal violet staining and protein determination); the amount of insoluble polysaccharides of the extracellular matrix; and the number of viable and total cells [by both colony‐forming unit counting and quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR)]. Data were analysed using one‐way anova and post‐hoc Tukey tests. Lactams 1, 2, and 3 promoted a statistically significant reduction in the amount of biofilm biomass, but only lactam 3 resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the number of attached viable E. faecalis. Both total protein content and the amount of extracellular polysaccharides decreased significantly. The effects of γ‐alkylidene‐γ‐lactams 1, 2, and 3 on the inhibition of multispecies biofilm formation were evident by their ability to reduce the amount of protein and extracellular polysaccharides.