bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Draining Setons as Definitive Management of Fistula-in-Ano
Authors: Daodu Oluwatomilayo O. , O’Keefe Julia , Heine John A.
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND:

The ideal management for fistula-in-ano would resolve the disease while preserving anal continence.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of draining seton alone in achieving resolution or significant amelioration of symptoms for patients with fistula-in-ano.

DESIGN:

This was a retrospective case series involving chart review and telephone interviews. A single colorectal surgeon performed surgeries between June 1, 2005, and June 30, 2014.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted by a single surgeon in a large urban city.

PATIENTS:

Patient ≥18 years of age presenting with fistula-in-ano of cryptoglandular origin were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Resolution of symptoms or significant symptom improvement requiring no additional surgical management and rate of recurrence were measured.

RESULTS:

A total of 76 patients (53 men) met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 45 years (range, 19–73 y). The average time to seton removal was 36.6 weeks (range, 6.0–188.0 wk). Mean follow-up was 63 months (range, 7–121 mo). Fifty-seven patients (75%) were reached for telephone interview. Fifty-six patients (73.7%) had complete symptom resolution, and 14 (18.4%) had significant amelioration of symptoms with no additional surgical management required. Six (7.9%) had persistent severe symptoms. Five (7.1%) had a recurrence after seton removal. Rates of symptom resolution and recurrence were similar between patients whose setons were removed before or after 26 weeks (median time of seton removal) from the time of placement. Twenty-one patients (27.6%) required 1 or more additional operative procedures before planned seton removal to unroof a collection and/or replace the seton, and this represented the most significant risk factor for failure of resolution or improvement or recurrence (relative risk = 7.0).

LIMITATIONS:

This study was retrospective and represents a single surgeon experience.

CONCLUSIONS:

Placement of draining seton alone is a viable treatment option for definitive symptomatic management of fistula-in-ano. Because draining setons are sphincter and function preserving, their use should be considered as primary management for fistula-in-ano. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A552.
Murder by Pushing
Authors: Ferguson Claire , Sutherland Tiffany
Published: March 2018

The difficulty in classifying manner of death in falls from a height provides offenders an opportunity to avoid detection by having a homicide appear otherwise. Twelve fall homicides were qualitatively examined. Results showed that most homicidal falls occurred at remote outdoor locations, were planned by offenders who were in controlling intimate relationships with the victim, and were motivated by gain. Homicide was established using inconsistencies in offender's statements and the physical evidence, inappropriate postoffense behavior, evidence of planning, and improbable alleged victim behavior. Fall homicides pose unique challenges for investigators and may negatively impact on the criminal justice process.
The Use of Smartphones as a Digital Security Blanket: The Influence of Phone Use and Availability on Psychological and Physiological Responses to Social Exclusion
Authors: Hunter John F. , Hooker Emily D. , Rohleder Nicolas , Pressman Sarah D.
Published: March 2018

Objective

Mobile phones are increasingly becoming a part of the social environment, and when individuals feels excluded during a socially stressful situation, they often retreat to the comfort of their phone to ameliorate the negativity. This study tests whether smartphone presence does, in fact, alter psychological and physiological responses to social stress.

Methods

Participants (N = 148, 84% female, mean age = 20.4) were subjected to a peer, social-exclusion stressor. Before exclusion, participants were randomized to one of the following three conditions: (1) phone-present with use encouraged, (2) phone-present with use restricted, or (3) no phone access. Saliva samples and self-report data were collected throughout the study to assess salivary alpha amylase (sAA), cortisol, and feelings of exclusion.

Results

Participants in both phone-present conditions reported lower feelings of exclusion compared with individuals who had no access to their phone (F(2,143) = 5.49, p = .005). Multilevel modeling of sAA responses revealed that the individuals in the restricted-phone condition had a significantly different quadratic trajectory after the stressor compared with the phone use (ϒ = −0.12, z = −2.15, p = .032), and no-phone conditions (ϒ = −0.14, z = −2.64, p = .008). Specifically, those in the restricted-phone condition showed a decrease in sAA after exclusion, those in the no-phone condition showed a gradual increase, and phone users exhibited little change. Cortisol responses to the stressor did not vary by condition.

Conclusions

Taken together, these results suggest that the mere presence of a phone (and not necessarily phone use) can buffer against the negative experience and effects of social exclusion.
Prevention of Pressure Injuries in the Operating Room
Authors: Riemenschneider Karen J.
Published: March 2018

Prevention of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remains a crucial clinical challenge especially for those patients undergoing surgery. The purpose of this project was to examine whether a 5-layer silicone foam dressing applied to the sacrum of patients undergoing vascular surgery decreased the occurrence of sacral pressure injuries and to explore participant characteristics associated with the development of operating room (OR)-related pressure injuries. A pre-/postintervention design, quality improvement project in a convenience sample of 81 patients undergoing vascular surgery, in a 700-bed level I trauma acute care setting, in the Northeastern United States. Eighty-one patients undergoing vascular surgery participated in this project. Thirty-seven were in the preintervention group who were identified from the housewide pressure injury prevalence data from May and December 2010 and received standard pressure injury prevention while hospitalized. Forty-four patients in the intervention group were identified from a hospital-based outpatient vascular surgery office and preoperatively received the 5-layer silicone foam dressing in addition to standard care. Data were collected on the third and seventh postoperative days via the electronic medical record and paper medical records. Collected data included age, gender, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and, smoking status), presence of a 5-layer silicone sacral foam dressing, and pressure injury occurrence. Analysis included descriptive statistics, Fisher exact test to compare groups, and logistic regression to identify associated risk factors. More than 50% (n = 19) in the preintervention group developed a hospital-acquired pressure injury while only 1 subject (n = 2%) in the intervention group developed a hospital-acquired pressure injury (P = .000). Findings indicate that, after controlling for age, gender, and other comorbidities, application of a 5-layer silicone sacral foam dressing significantly reduced the likelihood of development of a new pressure injury (OR= 0.04, 95% confidence interval, 0.00-40; P = .006). This pre–/postquality improvement project, using a 5-layer silicone sacral foam dressing in addition to standard operating room pressure injury preventive interventions, for elective vascular surgical cases, resulted in a significant decrease in sacral operating room-related pressure injuries. These findings suggest the effectiveness of a 5-layer silicone foam dressing when added to standard preventive interventions. The findings warrant further investigation of additional preventative interventions in the OR specific to high-risk populations.
Experience of Nurses Caring for Patients With Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction
Authors: Todd Claire , Woodward Sue
Published: March 2018

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience and perceptions of nurses providing bowel care to patients after spinal cord injury.

DESIGN:

Qualitative study using thematic analysis of semistructured interviews.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Eleven RNs who provided bowel care to patients following spinal cord injury and were deemed competent to do so by their employer were invited to participate. The study setting was a large, London NHS Trust providing acute hospital care to a population of around 1 million people.

METHODS:

Semistructured interviews were digitally audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of data was undertaken using Braun and Clark's 6 stages of thematic analysis.

RESULTS:

Four main themes emerged: (1) unpleasantness of task; (2) perceived patient experience; (3) motivation and avoidance; and (4) barriers to care. There was stoic acceptance of the unpleasant nature of bowel care for the nurse, but unpleasantness for patients was not as readily acknowledged. Perceived patient experience ranged from descriptions of positive aspects of comfort and continence to negative aspects of embarrassment and discomfort. Nurses were motivated by the medical need for bowel care but often saw it as low priority due to the unpleasant nature and displayed avoidance tactics. The barriers concerned inadequate training, the taboo nature of bowel care, and potential sexual interpretations of care.

CONCLUSION:

Nurses described bowel care as unpleasant but accepted its physiologic need and importance. The standardization of bowel care training and increasing the numbers of nurses trained in bowel care may decrease stigma surrounding provision of care. Study findings suggest that male nurses' experience may differ from female nurses' experience, but this result requires further investigation.
Why should mitochondria define species?
Authors: Stoeckle M.Y. , Thaler D.S.
Published: March 2018

More than a decade of DNA barcoding encompassing about five million specimens covering 100,000 animal species supports the generalization that mitochondrial DNA clusters largely overlap with species as defined by domain experts. Most barcode clustering reflects synonymous substitutions. What evolutionary mechanisms account for synonymous clusters being largely coincident with species? The answer depends on whether variants are phenotypically neutral. To the degree that variants are selectable, purifying selection limits variation within species and neighboring species may have distinct adaptive peaks. Phenotypically neutral variants are only subject to demographic processes—drift, lineage sorting, genetic hitchhiking, and bottlenecks. The evolution of modern humans has been studied from several disciplines with detail unique among animal species. Mitochondrial barcodes provide a commensurable way to compare modern humans to other animal species. Barcode variation in the modern human population is quantitatively similar to that within other animal species. Several convergent lines of evidence show that mitochondrial diversity in modern humans follows from sequence uniformity followed by the accumulation of largely neutral diversity during a population expansion that began approximately 100,000 years ago. A straightforward hypothesis is that the extant populations of almost all animal species have arrived at a similar result consequent to a similar process of expansion from mitochondrial uniformity within the last one to several hundred thousand years.
Study on tumor cell RNA cross-anticancer mechanism in non-tumor mice experimental model
Authors: Xu Qiwang
Published: March 2018

To report the experiments of fractal structure and self-similar function in biological coupled oscillation brings life system waving growth in life organism. At the same time by self-organization the system openness come into being to maintain stability features of growth survival. From this, the orderly oscillation of tumor cell RNA was recognized that this process could lead to system sequentiality openness. According to waving growth of basic research the procedure could be sure to turn into a model as out of control of growing in tumor. Then in complete contrast that derived from the same component which have cross resistance effect. It shows that its biological behavior is converted as only a single physical power to play action by inactivated processing. Subsequent further confirms the essential roles whether essential roles link up with recovery of physiological function. The result in that it could exhibit feature of anticancer owing to be endowed tissue embryonization response. So that it also exerts preventing on senile chronic diseases. In theory, the concept of this tissue response in life organism closely link up with the single physical power of RNA component so as to bring up specific procedure of growing and subsisting that deal with keeping life vigor generalized explanatory.
A dual sRNA inStaphylococcus aureusinduces a metabolic switch responding to glucose consumption
Authors: Bronesky D. , Desgranges E. , Corvaglia A. , François P. , Caballero C.J. , Prado L. , Toledo-Arana A. , Lasa I. , Moreau K. , Vandenesch F. , Marzi S. , Romby P. , Caldelari I.
Published: March 2018

Pathogenic bacteria must rapidly adapt to ever-changing environmental signals or nutrient availability resulting in metabolism remodeling. The carbon catabolite repression represents a global regulatory system, allowing the bacteria to express genes involved in carbon utilization and metabolization of the preferred carbon source. InStaphylococcus aureus, regulation of catabolite repressing genes is mediated by the carbon catabolite protein A (CcpA). Here, we have identified a CcpA-dependent small non-coding RNA, RsaI that is inhibited by high glucose concentrations. RsaI represses the translation of mRNAs encoding a major permease of glucose uptake, the FN3K enzyme that protects proteins against damages caused by high glucose concentrations, and IcaR, the transcriptional repressor of exopolysaccharide production. Besides, RsaI regulates the activities of other sRNAs responding to the uptake of glucose-6 phosphate or NO. Finally, RsaI inhibits the expression of several enzymes involved in carbon catabolism pathway, and activates genes involved in energy production, fermentation and NO detoxification when the glucose concentration decreases. This multifunctional RNA provides a signature for a metabolic switch when glucose is scarce and growth is arrested.
Phosphorylation by CK2 Regulates MUS81/EME1 in Mitosis and After Replication Stress
Authors: Palma Anita , Pugliese Giusj Monia , Murfuni Ivana , Marabitti Veronica , Malacaria Eva , Rinalducci Sara , Minoprio Anna , Sanchez Massimo , Mazzei Filomena , Zolla Lello , Franchitto Annapaola , Pichierri Pietro
Published: March 2018

The MUS81 complex is crucial for preserving genome stability through the resolution of branched DNA intermediates in mitosis. However, untimely activation of the MUS81 complex in S-phase is dangerous. Little is known about the regulation of the human MUS81 complex and how deregulated activation affects chromosome integrity. Here, we show that the CK2 kinase phosphorylates MUS81 at Serine 87 in late-G2/mitosis, and upon mild replication stress. Phosphorylated MUS81 interacts with SLX4, and this association promotes the function of the MUS81 complex. In line with a role in mitosis, phosphorylation at Serine 87 is suppressed in S-phase and is mainly detected in the MUS81 molecules associated with EME1. Loss of CK2-dependent MUS81 phosphorylation contributes modestly to chromosome integrity, however, expression of the phosphomimic form induces DSBs accumulation in S-phase, because of unscheduled targeting of HJ-like DNA intermediates, and generates a wide chromosome instability phenotype. Collectively, our findings describe a novel regulatory mechanism controlling the MUS81 complex function in human cells. Furthermore, they indicate that, genome stability depends mainly on the ability of cells to counteract targeting of branched intermediates by the MUS81/EME1 complex in S-phase, rather than on a correct MUS81 function in mitosis.
Chromosome (mis)segregation is biased by kinetochore size
Authors: Drpic Danica , Almeida Ana , Aguiar Paulo , Maiato Helder
Published: March 2018

Aneuploidy, the gain or loss of chromosomes, arises through problems in chromosome segregation during mitosis or meiosis and has been implicated in cancer and developmental abnormalities in humans. Possible routes to aneuploidy include a compromised spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), cohesion defects, centrosome amplification, as well as improper kinetochore-microtubule attachments. However, none of these established routes takes into account the intrinsic features of the kinetochore - the critical chromosomal interface with spindle microtubules. Kinetochore size and respective microtubule binding capacity varies between different animal and plant species, among different chromosomes from the same species (including humans), and in response to microtubule attachments throughout mitosis. How kinetochore size impacts chromosome segregation remains unknown. Addressing this fundamental question in human cells is virtually impossible, because most of the 23 pairs of chromosomes cannot be morphologically distinguished, while detection of 2-3 fold differences in kinetochore size is limited by diffraction and cannot be resolved by conventional light microscopy in living cells. Here we used the unique cytological attributes of female Indian muntjac, the mammal with the lowest known chromosome number (n=3), to track individual chromosomes with distinct kinetochore sizes throughout mitosis. We found that chromosomes with larger kinetochores bi-orient more easily and are biased to congress to the equator in a motor-independent manner. However, they are also more prone to establish erroneous merotelic attachments and lag behind during anaphase. Thus, we uncovered an intrinsic kinetochore feature - size - as an important determinant of chromosome segregation fidelity.
An intelligent computation system for precise assembly of large laser optics
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Zheng , Xiong Zhao , Liu Tianye , Long Kai , Quan Xusong , Yuan Xiaodong
Published: March 2018

Purpose

It is a huge technical and engineering challenge to realize the precise assembly of thousands of large optics in high power solid-state laser system. Using the 400-mm aperture-sized transport mirror as a case, this paper aims to present an intelligent numerical computation methodology for mounting performance analysis and modeling of large optics in a high-power laser system for inertial confinement fusion (ICF).

Design/methodology/approach

Fundamental principles of modeling and analysis of the transport mirror surface distortion are proposed, and a genetic algorithm-based computation framework is proposed to evaluate and optimize the assembly and mounting performance of large laser optics.

Findings

The stringent specifications of large ICF optics place very tight constraints upon the transport mirror’s assembly and mounts. The operational requirements on surface distortion [peak-to-valley and root mean square (RMS)] can be met as it is appropriately assembled by the close loop of assembly-inspection-optimization-fastening. In the end, the experimental study validates the reliability and effectiveness of the transport mirror mounting method.

Originality/value

In the assembly design and mounting performance evaluation of large laser optics, the whole study has the advantages of accurate evaluation and intelligent optimization on nano-level optical surface distortion, which provides a fundamental methodology for precise assembly and mounting of large ICF optics.
Sleep signal controlled footless domino circuit for low leakage current
Authors: Pandey Amit Kumar , Gupta Tarun Kumar , Verma Pawan Kumar
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new sleep signal controlled footless domino circuit for reducing the subthreshold and gate oxide leakage currents.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed circuit, a P channel MOSFET (PMOS) sleep switch transistor is inserted between the power supply and the output node. The sleep transistor, the source of the pull-down network, and the source of the N channel MOSFET (NMOS) transistor of the output inverter are controlled by this additional sleep signal to place the footless domino circuit in a low leakage state.

Findings

The authors simulate the proposed circuit by using HSPICE in 45-nm CMOS technology for OR and AND logic gates such as OR2, OR4, OR8, AND2 and AND4 at 25°C and 110°C. The proposed circuit reduces leakage power consumption as compared to the existing circuits.

Originality/value

The proposed circuit significantly reduces the total leakage power consumption up to 99.41 and 99.51 per cent as compared to the standard dual-threshold voltage footless domino circuits at 25°C and 110°C, respectively, and up to 93.79 and 97.98 per cent as compared to the sleep control techniques at 25°C and 110°C, respectively. Similarly, the proposed circuit reduces the active power consumption up to 26.76 and 86.25 per cent as compared to the standard dual-threshold voltage and sleep control techniques footless domino circuits at 25°C and 110°C, respectively.
University governance: insights from England and Greece
Authors: Saiti Anna , Abbott Ian , Middlewood David
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and assess the role played by university governance in the effectiveness and efficiency of the higher education system through literature analysis and the management evaluation method of Organization and Methods (the O and M technique) and argue for a more radical change in, and greater scrutiny of, university governance so as to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of university operations and thus yield a more optimal satisfaction of social needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs the O and M technique in order to investigate and assess the role played by university governance in the effectiveness and efficiency of the higher education system.

Findings

The “objective” is education and knowledge and there is no room for experimentation in the system. The higher education sector does not need experiments to develop further. Rather, it deserves cautious, creative and innovative consideration and needs a very distinctive treatment of national problems. No matter the policy orientation of the system, higher education policy makers should not forget that higher education has a tremendous influence on peoples’ attitudes and beliefs so the focus should be on the actual knowledge on social responsibility and on the commitment of higher education to serve social interests and needs.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis developed in this study would benefit from a deeper exploration by investigating more numerous and diverse examples from the international arena of higher education.

Originality/value

This study acts as a complement to previous research on higher education governance since it develops further the analysis and the understanding of university governance. By using as examples two countries with different orientation in their higher education system (mainly due to differences in cultural and ideological perceptions) and keeping in mind that there is no ideal model for university governance, this study could enlighten decision makers in any country to develop a more effective and constructive model of university governance that would serve societal interests more effectively.
Teacher self-efficacy and students’ ratings
Authors: Lev Smadar , Tatar Moshe , Koslowsky Meni
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Extensive theoretical and empirical work has yielded abundant knowledge regarding teacher self-efficacy (TSE). Recent research has found significant correlations between TSE and students’ ratings, as an indicator for teaching effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between TSE and students’ ratings of their school teacher (SRST) in the context of school level and teacher role.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 111 teachers and their 2,490 students attending junior- and senior-high schools. Teachers reported on their personal efficacy beliefs at the beginning of the school year, whereas students rated their teachers at the end of the year.

Findings

Teacher role and school level moderated the relationship between STE and SRST: the relationship between TSE and SRST is higher among homeroom classes than subject matter classes, and among junior high classes as compared to senior high classes.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on small number of classes, which precluded more sophisticated analyses. Future research should consider additional personal and/or contextual variables to better understand the association between teacher and students perceptions.

Originality/value

This study is a first exploration of the ways teachers perceive their ability to enhance student performance vis-à-vis their students’ views of their teaching functioning.
Enhancing female graduate employment through a women-only professional services firm in an economically remote city
Authors: Khalifa Rihab
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a study that investigated the feasibility of a women-only professional accounting firm in the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that could help reduce female graduate unemployment in the city. Practically, the study sought to find out if, and under what conditions, a women-only professional accounting firm in Al Ain might be useful in providing employment for women in professional accountancy and facilitating the entry of female graduates into the job market by providing them with professional training. Theoretically, the study sought to add to the literature on positive discrimination to help women’s job prospects.

Design/methodology/approach

The study followed a qualitative research approach. It sought to show some specific connections between various professional, cultural, and economic factors by crystallising them through a hypothetical, innovative solution to the problem of local female unemployment, namely, a women-only professional accounting firm in a location of limited employment opportunities. It did so by investigating the views of male and female accounting graduates and other stakeholders.

Findings

The main finding is that the model women-only professional accounting firm could be used to overcome family objections to female graduate employment by removing the requirement that women work a long distance away from their families. The study also showed the deep cultural entrenchment of gendered stereotypes of female professionals.

Research limitations/implications

The study could have had a larger sample size with the survey, but it is important to note that this was not the focus of the study. However, the strength of the paper is in the qualitative aspect of canvassing views from various stakeholders.

Practical implications

The study brought to light key opportunities and challenges for policy makers who are seeking to address female graduate unemployment in economically remote locations.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on positive discrimination for female job seekers in an adverse cultural and economic context.
Impact of control on innovation: the case of franchising
Authors: Karmeni Kerim , de la Villarmois Olivier , Beldi Adel
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between organizational control and innovation. The authors address two questions: “First, does the organizational control have a positive impact on innovation within a franchise network? Second, if such positive relationship exists, how we can explain it?”

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a survey data of 106 outlets belonging to franchise networks in France, using partial least squares and mobilizing an analysis of mediating effects.

Findings

Organizational control is positively related to innovation; this positive relationship can be partly explained by the mediating effect of knowledge creation.

Research limitations/implications

Taking care to use appropriate techniques that guarantee a higher response rate (e.g. following up contacts after the initial request, phoning before sending the questionnaire), this study could be extended to other forms of organization, such as cooperatives or MNCs, to generalize the explanation of the positive impact of control on innovation through the mediating effect of knowledge creation.

Practical implications

The empirical results show that control encourages knowledge creation and innovation, which is a strong argument for franchisors to persuade franchisees of the necessity and utility of implementing organizational control. Moreover, the results constitute a practical tool to help managers making decision regarding innovation management. Innovation success can be improved by paying attention to the organizational control and deploying a combination of different control mechanisms including process, outcome and social.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate both direct and indirect effects of organizational control on innovation. The authors contribute by explaining the complex relationship between control and innovation.
Effects of an early‐life paraquat exposure on adult resistance to oxidative stress, plumage colour and sperm performance in a wild bird
Authors: Losdat Sylvain , Blount Jonathan D. , Marri Viviana , Maronde Lea , Richner Heinz , Helfenstein Fabrice
Published: March 2018

Early‐life stressful conditions can shape individual phenotypes and ultimately influence fitness. Oxidative stress is a pervasive threat that affects many fitness‐related traits and can modulate life‐history trade‐offs. Yet, the extent to which exposure to oxidative stress during early life can have long‐lasting effects on key fitness‐related traits remains to be elucidated, particularly in natural populations of vertebrates.

Using a wild population of great tits Parus major, we experimentally dosed 11‐day‐old birds with paraquat, a pro‐oxidant molecule, aiming at increasing oxidative stress. One year later, we recaptured 39 of them as adult recruiting breeders and quantified effects of the paraquat exposure on their resistance to oxidative stress, carotenoid‐based plumage coloration and male sperm performance.

Despite the absence of a short‐term effect of paraquat on oxidative stress measured two days later, the pre‐fledging exposure to paraquat induced a reduction in individual oxidative damage measured at adulthood. Paraquat‐dosed individuals also had brighter plumage, but no effect was observed on male sperm performance.

For the first time in a natural population of vertebrates, we experimentally show that an early‐life acute exposure to a pro‐oxidant has long‐lasting effects on individual resistance to oxidative stress at adulthood. Our results are in line with the environmental matching and the hormesis hypotheses but may also reflect selective disappearance of individuals with lower resistance to oxidative stress.
‘Everybody has to think – do I have any peanuts and nuts in my lunch?’ School nurses, collective adherence, and children's food allergies
Authors: Muñoz Vanessa Lopes
Published: March 2018

Developing robust explanations for patients’ non‐adherence to medical treatments is a pressing clinical concern. Social scientists have emphasised the importance of taking a ‘patient‐centred’ approach to the study of illness management. Using data from a qualitative study of the management of children's food allergies, I found that school nurses created what I term collective adherence – the translation of individual medical recommendations into prescriptions to be followed by entire communities. School nurses secured collective adherence by aligning physicians, schools, and families around a particular interpretation of medical recommendations, setting guidelines of behaviour for the entire school community to follow, and balancing the diverging needs of illness sufferers and non‐illness sufferers. This study contributes to the study of adherence by examining the medical recommendation as a dynamic prescription, extending adherence to the study of ancillary providers’ interaction with medical recommendations, and examining the impact of illness on non‐family ties. I conclude with a discussion of implications for the field of school nursing; and potential applications of the collective adherence framework to the management of health conditions and health risks.
Shipping Policy to Fight the Resource Curse
Authors: Wenar Leif , Kouris Ioannis
Published: March 2018

Transnational trade rules endow authoritarians and armed groups with unaccountable power in states rich with natural resources. This structural flaw in international trade generates the ‘resource curse’ phenomena that have driven many of the world's most serious crises since the 1970s. Attempts to curtail this unaccountable power from outside resource‐rich states have not been successful, and crises caused by this structural flaw continue to plague the global community. The shipping sector provides a promising location for reforms to fight the resource curse, as it is a sector where extensive, unified and enforceable regulations have long been established.
Clinicopathological features of younger (aged ≤ 50 years) lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring the EML4‐ALK fusion gene
Authors: Kometani Takuro , Sugio Kenji , Osoegawa Atsushi , Seto Takashi , Ichinose Yukito
Published: March 2018

Background

The EML4‐ALK fusion gene has recently been identified as a driver mutation in a subset of non‐small cell lung cancers. In subsequent studies, EML4‐ALK has been detected in a low percentage of patients, and was associated with a lack of EGFR or KRAS mutations, younger age, and adenocarcinoma with acinar histology. Cases with the EML4‐ALK fusion gene were examined to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics of young adenocarcinoma patients.

Methods

Between December 1998 and May 2009, 85 patients aged ≤ 50 with lung adenocarcinoma were treated at our hospital. We examined 49 samples from adenocarcinoma patients who underwent surgical resection, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy for the EML4‐ALK gene. None of the patients received ALK inhibitors because these drugs had not been approved in Japan before 2012. EML4‐ALK fusion genes were screened using multiplex reverse‐transcription PCR assay, and were confirmed by direct sequencing.

Results

The EML4‐ALK fusion gene was detected in five tumors (10.2%). One patient had stage IB disease, one had stage IIIA, and three had stage IV. Histologically, there was one solid adenocarcinoma, two acinar adenocarcinomas, and two papillary adenocarcinomas. EML4‐ALK fusion genes were mutually exclusive to EGFR and KRAS mutations. The five‐year survival rate was 59.4% in patients without EML4‐ALK fusion and was not reached in patients with EML4‐ALK fusion.

Conclusion

The EML4‐ALK fusion gene may be a strong oncogene in younger patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
CEP72‐ROS1: A novel ROS1 oncogenic fusion variant in lung adenocarcinoma identified by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Zhu You‐cai , Zhou Yue‐fen , Wang Wen‐xian , Xu Chun‐wei , Zhuang Wu , Du Kai‐qi , Chen Gang
Published: March 2018

ROS1 rearrangement is a validated therapeutic driver gene in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and represents a small subset (1–2%) of NSCLC. A total of 17 different fusion partner genes of ROS1 in NSCLC have been reported. The multi‐targeted MET/ALK/ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) crizotinib has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC. Consequently, ROS1 detection assays include fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and real‐time PCR. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) assay covers a range of fusion genes and approaches to discover novel receptor‐kinase rearrangements in lung cancer. A 63‐year‐old male smoker with stage IV NSCLC (TxNxM1) was detected with a novel ROS1 fusion. Histological examination of the tumor showed lung adenocarcinoma. NGS analysis of the hydrothorax cellblocks revealed a novel CEP72‐ROS1 rearrangement. This novel CEP72‐ROS1 fusion variant is generated by the fusion of exons 1–11 of CEP72 on chromosome 5p15 to exons 23–43 of ROS1 on chromosome 6q22. The predicted CEP72‐ROS1 protein product contains 1202 amino acids comprising the N‐terminal amino acids 594–647 of CEP72 and C‐terminal amino acid 1‐1148 of ROS1. CEP72‐ROS1 is a novel ROS1 fusion variant in NSCLC discovered by NGS and could be included in ROS1 detection assay, such as reverse transcription PCR. Pleural effusion samples show good diagnostic performance in clinical practice.
Blind spot in lung cancer lymph node metastasis: Cross‐lobe peripheral lymph node metastasis in early stage patients
Authors: Li Ning , Tan Fengwei , Li Jiagen , Shao Kang , Zhao Jun , Mu Juwei , Gao Shugeng , He Jie
Published: March 2018

Background

At present, it has not yet been determined whether metastasis can be transferred cross‐lobe to peripheral lymph nodes (LNs) from other lobes in early stages of lung cancer, especially without any direct involvement to the pleura and parenchyma of the lobe. This study was conducted to investigate this issue.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Patients undergoing right middle and lower lobectomy with lymphadenectomy for preoperative clinical stage Ia–IIIa from 2014 to 2015 were identified. To avoid interference, cases were limited to tumors within the primary lobe. When a tumor is completely located in the lower lobe, no direct invasion occurs into the visceral pleura/bronchus/parenchyma of the middle lobe and tumor cell metastasis into the peripheral LNs (stations 12–14) in the middle lobe is defined as cross‐lobe lymph node metastasis (CLM).

Results

A total of 68 patients were identified, of which nine (13.2%) had CLM. Seven had squamous cell carcinoma, one adenocarcinoma, and one small cell carcinoma. Seven cases (77.8%) had intermediate bronchus invasion, and seven cases (77.8%) intermediate bronchus adjacent lymph node involvement (station 11). Compared to non‐CLM patients, tumor diameter (5.2 vs. 3.2; P = 0.28), N2 lymph node metastasis rate (66.7% vs. 28.8%; P = 0.03), late stage (IIIa 77.8% vs. 35.6%; P = 0.04), and invasion of intermediate bronchus (77.8% vs. 45.8%; P = 0.07) relatively increased.

Conclusion

Non‐primary lobe peripheral LN metastasis exists in lung cancer and requires greater attention and further study.
Evidence of subgroups in smokers as revealed in clinical measures and evaluated by neuroimaging data: a preliminary study
Authors: Ding Xiaoyu , Salmeron Betty Jo , Wang Jamei , Yang Yihong , Stein Elliot A. , Ross Thomas J.
Published: March 2018

To date, fractionation of the nicotine addiction phenotype has been limited to that based primarily on characteristics of cigarette use, although it is widely appreciated that a variety of individual factors are associated with tobacco use disorder. Identifying subtypes of tobacco use disorder based on such factors may lead to better understanding of potential treatment targets, individualize treatments and improve outcomes. In this preliminary study, to identify potential subgroups, we applied hierarchical clustering to a broad range of assessments measuring personality, IQ and psychiatric symptoms, as well as various environmental and experiential characteristics from 102 otherwise healthy cigarette smokers. The identified subgroups were further compared on various resting‐state fMRI measures from a subset (N = 65) of individuals who also underwent resting‐state fMRI scanning. The clustering dendrogram indicated that smokers can be divided into three subgroups. Each subgroup had unique clinical assessment characteristics. The division yielded imaging differences between subgroups in the supplementary motor area/middle cingulate cortex and the cuneus. Regression analyses showed that amplitude of low frequency fluctuations in the supplementary motor area/middle cingulate cortex differed between groups and were negatively correlated with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale subscale Difficulty Describing Feelings.
Life history and habitat preference in the Darling hardyhead, Craterocephalus amniculus (Teleostei, Atherinidae) in the northern Murray‐Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Moy Karl G. , Wilson G. Glenn , Ellison Tanya L.
Published: March 2018

The Darling hardyhead, Craterocephalus amniculus (Atherinidae), is a threatened fish species inhabiting upstream reaches of a number of northern Murray‐Darling Basin catchments. Little is known of its life history. Our goal was to determine patterns of seasonal size structure, interannual and spatial variation in diet, and habitat selection in this species across multiple sites and years in the upper Macintyre River, northern New South Wales. Preserved specimens from a separate study were used to obtain information on diet and size structure. Size structures suggested a single annual spawning season in late September or early October. Diets varied significantly, both between years at the downstream site and among the three sites although the underlying cause of this was untested. Dietary diversity increased with distance downstream. At the two upstream sites, aquatic invertebrates made up most of the diet while over half the gut contents at the downstream site was unidentified detritus. Preference was shown for pool habitats with a sand or cobble substrate, increased channel depth and width and distance from the bank, and reduced flow velocity. Overhanging exotic riparian vegetation and in‐stream woody debris were non‐preferred. This species may be vulnerable to further population decline in light of its restricted habitat preferences and narrow spawning season. However, comparable data from nearby catchments will be necessary to ascertain the species’ conservation status across its broader distribution.
Effects of prokineticin 2 on testicular inflammation in rats
Authors: Li Ying , Wang Jiaojiao , Yu Lili , Zhao Kai , Chen Biao , Li Cuiling , Yang Fan , Yuan Hongfang , Zhang Huiping
Published: March 2018

Problem

Prokineticin 2 (PK2), a pro‐inflammatory peptide, is highly expressed in primary spermatocytes. However, systematic research on PK2 and testicular inflammation is lacking to date.

Method of study

An experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) model was established to detect the expression of PK2 and its receptor (prokineticin receptor 1, PKR1) 50 and 80 days after immunization. PK2 siRNA sequence was injected into the rat rete testis to downregulate the expression of PK2. PK2 was over‐expressed in the testis by injecting PK2 protein through the rat rete testis at different concentrations. Testicular morphology and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were detected after the intervention.

Results

Results showed that PK2 and PKR1 were upregulated in EAO at 50 days and downregulated at 80 days. PK2 over‐expression contributed to the apoptosis of spermatogenic epithelial cells and increased infiltration of the inflammatory cells, whereas PK2 under‐expression showed no change. Furthermore, iNOS expression was increased significantly when PK2 was over‐expressed.

Conclusion

This finding demonstrated that the PK2/PKR1 signals may have an essential role in the regulation of testicular inflammation through iNOS. PK2 interference may represent a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of orchitis.
Employee Social Responsibility: A Missing Component in the ISI 26000 Social Responsibility Standard
Authors: Hemphill Thomas A. , Laurence Gregory A.
Published: March 2018

In this article, the focus is on developing a governance concept built on integrating the ISO 26000 Social Responsibility (SR) standard with an “employee social responsibility” (ESR) concept developed by the authors. To this end. The authors propose to compliment the voluntary, organizationally adaptable, ISO 26000 SR standard for the organization/firm with a seamlessly integrated—and equally adaptable—ESR concept for the individual/employee of that organization/firm. An SR/ESR governance concept emerges, with an emphasis on implementing a SR‐based business enterprise code of conduct and ESR‐related functional‐level codes of conduct, the latter firmly ensconced in an organization's ethical climate. The conclusion section discusses the strengths and weaknesses of our proposed SR/ESR governance concept.
Connexins in health and disease
Authors: Yamasaki Ryo
Published: March 2018

Gap junctions or hemichannels are expressed on all cells in our body, and have a highly significant role in homeostasis and in disease states. There are 21 connexins found in humans and they have distinct characteristics that compensate for each other. The anatomical expression pattern also differs between each connexin; some of them are expressed together and some are not. Genetically mutated connexin genes induce inheritable diseases, but acquired disorders can also be caused by primary or secondary connexin dysfunctions. In the central nervous system, glial cells are the main connexin‐expressing cells. They utilize connexin gap junctions to assemble glial networks. The present review not only describes the basic structures and functions of connexins, it also examines the relationships between connexins and their role in disease pathology.
Incidence of classic PKU in Italy estimated from consanguineous marriages and from neonatal
Authors: ROMEO G. , MENOZZI P. , FERLINI A. , PROSPERI L. , CERONE R. , SCALISI S. , ROMANO C. , ANTONOZZI I. , RIVA E. , SERENI L. PICENI , ZAMMARCI E. , LENZI G. , SARTORIO R. , ANDRIA G. , CIONI M. , FOIS A. , BURRONI M. , BURLINA A. B. , CARNEVALE F.
Published: March 2018

As already described for cystic fibrosis and Friedreich ataxia, the incidence of PKU in Italy has been estimated by determining the increase of consanguineous marriages among 178 couples of PKU parents over the frequencies carefully established for the same marriages in the general Italian population for each of the 95 provinces during a 55‐year period. The incidence estimated (between 1/15595 and 1/17815 according to two different formulas) is not very different from the incidence derived from screening programs (almost 1/12000). This indicates that the former method can be applied in Italy to the study of the incidence of other autosomal recessive disorders.
Facial weakness and oligosyndactyly: ? independent variable features of familial type of the Möbius syndrome
Authors: MITTER NAVNIT S. , CHUDLEY ALBERT E.
Published: March 2018

A family consisting of two daughters, one with an isolated oligosyndactyly and the other with the Möbius Syndrome (VIth and VIIth nerve dysplasia) is presented. The majority of the individuals previously reported with an association of occulo‐facial diplegia and limb anomalies have been sporadic. However, on examination of the parents in the family we report, the mother was found to have bilateral facial weakness. Isolated limb anomalies may, therefore, be a variable expression of a broad spectrum type of the Möbius Syndrome, with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.