bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute kidney injury requiring dialysis and in‐hospital mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease and non–ST‐segment elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing early vs delayed percutaneous coronary intervention: A nationwide analysis
Authors: Patel Brijesh , Carson Philip , Shah Mahek , Garg Lohit , Agarwal Manyoo , Agrawal Sahil , Arora Shilpkumar , Steigerwalt Susan , Bavry Anthony , Dusaj Raman , Patel Nainesh , Feldman Bruce
Published: December 2017

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a well‐known risk factor for coronary artery disease and is associated with poor outcomes following an acute coronary syndrome (NSTE‐ACS). The optimal timing of an invasive strategy in patients with CKD and NSTE‐ACS is unclear.

Hypothesis

Timing of PCI in CKD patients will not affect the risk of mortality or incidence of dialysis.

Methods

We queried the National Inpatient Sample database (NIS) to identify cases with NSTEMI and CKD. Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) day 0 or 1 vs day 2 or 3 after admission were categorized as early vs delayed PCI, respectively. The primary outcomes of the study were in‐hospital mortality and acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis (AKI‐D). The secondary outcomes were length of stay and hospital charges. Baseline characteristics were balanced using propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

After PSM, 3708 cases from the delayed PCI group were matched with 3708 cases from the early PCI group. The standardized mean differences between the 2 groups were substantially reduced after PSM. All other recorded variables were balanced between the 2 groups. In the early and delayed PCI groups, the incidence of AKI‐D (2.5% vs 2.3%; P = 0.54) and in‐hospital mortality (1.9% vs 1.4%; P = 0.12) was similar. Hospital charges and length of stay were higher in the delayed PCI group.

Conclusions

The incidence of AKI‐D and in‐hospital mortality among patients with CKD and NSTE‐ACS were not significantly affected by the timing of PCI. However, delayed PCI added significant cost and length of stay. A prospective randomized study is required to validate this concept.
Machine learning–based diagnosis of melanoma using macro images
Authors: Gautam Diwakar , Ahmed Mushtaq , Meena Yogesh Kumar , Ul Haq Ahtesham
Published: December 2017

Cancer bears a poisoning threat to human society. Melanoma, the skin cancer, originates from skin layers and penetrates deep into subcutaneous layers. There exists an extensive research in melanoma diagnosis using dermatoscopic images captured through a dermatoscope. While designing a diagnostic model for general handheld imaging systems is an emerging trend, this article proposes a computer‐aided decision support system for macro images captured by a general‐purpose camera. General imaging conditions are adversely affected by nonuniform illumination, which further affects the extraction of relevant information. To mitigate it, we process an image to define a smooth illumination surface using the multistage illumination compensation approach, and the infected region is extracted using the proposed multimode segmentation method. The lesion information is numerated as a feature set comprising geometry, photometry, border series, and texture measures. The redundancy in feature set is reduced using information theory methods, and a classification boundary is modeled to distinguish benign and malignant samples using support vector machine, random forest, neural network, and fast discriminative mixed‐membership–based naive Bayesian classifiers. Moreover, the experimental outcome is supported by hypothesis testing and boxplot representation for classification losses. The simulation results prove the significance of the proposed model that shows an improved performance as compared with competing arts.
Revisiting Principles Behind Drug Clearance and Organ Extraction
Authors: Rostami‐Hodjegan Amin
Published: December 2017

In this issue, readers will find an interesting account of some recent exchanges of views on organ clearance and extraction ratio between Benet et al. on one side and Rowland and Pang on the other. The beauty of these pieces is in the fact that they remind us of some of the basic principles behind organ clearance and show that occasional challenges to widely accepted views can bring novel insights or perspectives into any subject matter, no matter how old.
Artificial neural network model to distinguish follicular adenoma from follicular carcinoma on fine needle aspiration of thyroid
Authors: Savala Rajiv , Dey Pranab , Gupta Nalini
Published: December 2017

Background

To distinguish follicular adenoma (FA) and follicular carcinoma (FC) of thyroid in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a challenging problem.

Aims and objectives

In this article, we attempted to build an artificial neural network (ANN) model from the cytological and morphometric features of the FNAC smears of thyroid to distinguish FA from FC.

Material and methods

The cytological features and morphometric analysis were done on the FNAC smears of histology proven cases of FA (26) and FC (31). The cytological features were analysed semi‐quantitatively by two independent observers (RS and PD). These data were used to make an ANN model to differentiate FA versus FC on FNAC material. The performance of this ANN model was assessed by analysing the confusion matrix and receiving operator curve.

Result

There were 39 cases in training set, 9 cases each in validation and test sets. In the test group, ANN model successfully distinguished all cases (9/9) of FA and FC. The area under receiver operating curve was 1.

Conclusion

The present ANN model is efficient to diagnose follicular adenoma and carcinoma cases on cytology smears without any error. In future, this ANN model will be able to diagnose follicular adenoma and carcinoma cases on thyroid aspirate. This study has immense potential in future. This is an open ended ANN model and more parameters and more cases can be included to make the model much stronger.
Optimal timing of biodiversity offsetting for metapopulations
Authors: Southwell Darren M. , Heard Geoffrey W. , McCarthy Michael A.
Published: December 2017

Biodiversity offsetting schemes permit habitat destruction, provided that losses are compensated by gains elsewhere. While hundreds of offsetting schemes are used around the globe, the optimal timing of habitat creation in such projects is poorly understood. Here, we developed a spatially explicit metapopulation model for a single species subject to a habitat compensation scheme. Managers could compensate for destruction of a patch by creating a new patch either before, at the time of, or after patch loss. Delaying patch creation is intuitively detrimental to species persistence, but allowed managers to invest financial compensation, accrue interest, and create a larger patch at a later date. Using stochastic dynamic programming, we found the optimal timing of patch creation that maximizes the number of patches occupied at the end of a 50‐yr habitat compensation scheme when a patch is destroyed after 10 yr. Two case studies were developed for Australian species subject to habitat loss but with very different traits: the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) and the critically endangered Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu‐wren (Spititurus malachurus intermedius). Our results show that adding a patch either before or well after habitat destruction can be optimal, depending on the occupancy state of the metapopulation, the interest rate, the area of the destroyed patch and metapopulation parameters of the focal species. Generally, it was better to delay patch creation when the interest rate was high, when the species had a relatively high colonization rate, when the patch nearest the new patch was occupied, and when the destroyed patch was small. Our framework can be applied to single‐species metapopulations subject to habitat loss, and demonstrates that considering the timing of habitat compensation could improve the effectiveness of offsetting schemes.
Sudden cardiac death after acute heart failure hospital admission: insights from ASCEND‐HF
Authors: Pokorney Sean D. , Al‐Khatib Sana M. , Sun Jie‐Lena , Schulte Phillip , O'Connor Christopher M. , Teerlink John R. , Armstrong Paul W. , Ezekowitz Justin A. , Starling Randall C. , Voors Adriaan A. , Velazquez Eric J. , Hernandez Adrian F. , Mentz Robert J.
Published: December 2017

Aims

The incidence of and factors associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) early after an acute heart failure (HF) hospital admission have not been well defined.

Methods and results

We assessed SCD and ventricular arrhythmias in the Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND‐HF) trial, which included patients with acute HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. SCD, resuscitated SCD (RSCD), and sustained ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) were adjudicated from randomization through 30 days and were combined into a composite endpoint. Baseline characteristics associated with this composite were determined by logistic regression. RSCD and VT/VF were included as time‐dependent variables in a Cox model evaluating the association of these variables with 180‐day all‐cause mortality. Among 7011 patients, the 30‐day all‐cause mortality rate was 3.8%; SCD accounted for 17% of these deaths. The 30‐day composite event rate was 1.8% (n = 121). Ten patients had more than one event with 30‐day Kaplan–Meier event rates of 0.6% for SCD [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5%–0.9%, n = 43], 0.4% for RSCD (95% CI 0.2%–0.5%, n = 24), and 0.9% for VT/VF (95% CI 0.7%–1.2%, n = 64). In the multivariable model, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, history of VT, male sex, and longer QRS duration were associated with SCD, RSCD, or VT/VF. A RSCD or VT/VF event was associated with higher 180‐day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 6.6, 95% CI 4.8–9.1, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Approximately 2% of patients admitted for acute HF experienced SCD, RSCD, or VT/VF within 30 days of admission, and SCD accounted for 17% of all deaths within 30 days.
An Amine Double Functionalized Composite Strategy for CO2 Adsorbent Preparation using a ZSM‐5/KIT‐6 Composite as a Support
Authors: Lin Zhifeng , Wei Jianwen , Geng Linlin , Mei Dejun , Liao Lei
Published: December 2017

An amine double functionalized composite strategy is used to fabricate grafted‐impregnated micro‐/mesoporous composites for CO2 capture. The micro‐/mesoporous three‐dimensional cross straight zeolite and cubic silica structural ZSM‐5/KIT‐6 composite is used as a support, N1‐(3‐trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (TMPTA) is used as the grafted component, and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) or branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) is used as the impregnated component. The amine efficiency, adsorption kinetics, enthalpy of adsorption, thermal stability, regeneration performance, the effects of types of impregnated amines (TEPA or PEI) and loadings (30–60 %), and temperatures (60–90 °C) on CO2 adsorption performance are investigated using thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) in the mixed gases (15 % CO2 and the balance is N2). At 75 °C, the double functionalized sample with TEPA impregnation displays the highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 6.28 mmol g−1 even at high TEPA loading of 60 %, while that of 4.69 mmol g−1 is obtained for the PEI‐impregnated compound at PEI loading of 50 %. The former has higher amine efficiency and faster kinetics as well as higher enthalpy. The composites demonstrate excellent CO2 adsorption performance compared to other amine double functionalized silicas, indicating the prospect of these adsorbents for CO2 capture from actual flue gas after desulfurization (60–85 °C).
Effects of gasoline fumigation on exhaust emission and performance characteristics of a diesel engine with mechanically‐controlled fuel injection pump
Authors: Hoseinpour M. , Sadrnia H. , Ghobadian B. , Tabasizadeh M.
Published: December 2017

One of the various efforts to reduce PM and NO emissions from modern diesel engines is the use of light fuels fumigation as supplement to pilot injected diesel fuel. Present work aims at developing a fumigation system for introduction of gasoline in a diesel engine with mechanically‐controlled fuel injection pump and to determine its effects on emission. Experiments were performed on a 4‐cylinder direct‐injection diesel engine operating at two constant engine speeds for different engine loads. Diesel fuel was considered as baseline fuel and gasoline was inducted as fumigation in intake manifold at two different ratio on every operation modes. The experimental results show that with gasoline fumigation, the specific NOx and CO2 emission decreased to about 28, and 7% (averaged on all engine loads), respectively in comparison with baseline diesel case. While smoke opacity decreases at high loads up to 50%. However, increase in the specific CO and HC emission have been found after use of premixed gasoline at all loading conditions. Moreover, gasoline fumigation can improve brake thermal efficiency slightly at intermediate and high loads. Thus, gasoline fuel as premixed fuel with fumigation method showed a favorable potential in terms of reduction of main emissions and improvement performance in diesel engines with mechanically‐controlled fuel injection pump. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1845–1852, 2018
Neural mechanism and heritability of complex motor sequence and audiovisual integration: A healthy twin study
Authors: Li Zhi , Huang Jia , Xu Ting , Wang Ya , Li Ke , Zeng Ya‐Wei , Lui Simon S. Y. , Cheung Eric F. C. , Jin Zhen , Dazzan Paola , Glahn David C. , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: December 2017

Complex motor sequencing and sensory integration are two key items in scales assessing neurological soft signs. However, the underlying neural mechanism and heritability of these two functions is not known. Using a healthy twin design, we adopted two functional brain imaging tasks focusing on fist‐edge‐palm (FEP) complex motor sequence and audiovisual integration (AVI). Fifty‐six monozygotic twins and 56 dizygotic twins were recruited in this study. The pre‐ and postcentral, temporal and parietal gyri, the supplementary motor area, and the cerebellum were activated during the FEP motor sequence, whereas the precentral, temporal, and fusiform gyri, the thalamus, and the caudate were activated during AVI. Activation in the supplementary motor area during FEP motor sequence and activation in the precentral gyrus and the thalamic nuclei during AVI exhibited significant heritability estimates, ranging from 0.5 to 0.62. These results suggest that activation in cortical motor areas, the thalamus and the cerebellum associated with complex motor sequencing and audiovisual integration function may be heritable.
Confirmation of a gyral bias in diffusion MRI fiber tractography
Authors: Schilling Kurt , Gao Yurui , Janve Vaibhav , Stepniewska Iwona , Landman Bennett A. , Anderson Adam W.
Published: December 2017

Diffusion MRI fiber tractography has been increasingly used to map the structural connectivity of the human brain. However, this technique is not without limitations; for example, there is a growing concern over anatomically correlated bias in tractography findings. In this study, we demonstrate that there is a bias for fiber tracking algorithms to terminate preferentially on gyral crowns, rather than the banks of sulci. We investigate this issue by comparing diffusion MRI (dMRI) tractography with equivalent measures made on myelin‐stained histological sections. We begin by investigating the orientation and trajectories of axons near the white matter/gray matter boundary, and the density of axons entering the cortex at different locations along gyral blades. These results are compared with dMRI orientations and tract densities at the same locations, where we find a significant gyral bias in many gyral blades across the brain. This effect is shown for a range of tracking algorithms, both deterministic and probabilistic, and multiple diffusion models, including the diffusion tensor and a high angular resolution diffusion imaging technique. Additionally, the gyral bias occurs for a range of diffusion weightings, and even for very high‐resolution datasets. The bias could significantly affect connectivity results using the current generation of tracking algorithms.
Multidisciplinary approach for patients with functional and non‐functional adrenal masses and review of the literature
Authors: Akkuş Gamze , Evran Mehtap , Sert Murat , Ok Fesih , Tetiker Tamer
Published: December 2017

Background

Adrenal incidentalomas are adrenal masses that are discovered by imaging tests performed for other reasons.

Aims

In this retrospective study, we analysed 229 Turkish patients with adrenal masses and who presented with or without complaints.

Study design

Descriptive retrospective study and review of the literature

Methods

This study conducted a retrospective review of 229 patients with adrenal incidentalomas that were referred to Cukurova University Hospital's endocrinological department between 2009 and 2014. We reviewed detailed patient histories, physical examination findings, and symptoms and signs related to hormonal hypersecretion or malignant neoplasm and recorded clinical indications for performing diagnostic radiological imaging. The statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS‐19 software.

Results

Of the 229 patients reviewed, 195 (85.2%) had non‐functional, benign adrenal adenomas, and 34 (14.8%) had functional lesions. Among those with functional lesions, 8 (3.5%) had lesions that secreted excess cortisol, 11 (4.8%) had lesions that secreted aldosterone, and 15 (6.6%) had lesions that secreted catecholamines. Eighty‐four patients included in the study (36.8%) underwent adrenalectomy; in 14 of these cases, the adrenalectomy was performed before surgical treatment criteria occurred. The most frequent pathologic diagnosis was adrenal cortical neoplasia (n = 38); 32 of these patients had adenomas (Weiss <4 criteria), and 6 had carcinomas (Weiss >4 criteria). Other patient diagnoses included benign pheochromocytoma (n = 13), pseudocyst (n = 12), metastasis (n = 10), haemorrhage (n = 3), necrosis (n = 1), hyperplasia (n = 2), and other (n = 5).

Conclusions

Detailed endocrinological and radiological assessments of the mass nature and hormone status are necessary in cases of adrenal incidentaloma. Appropriate surgical treatment or periodic follow‐up must be determined based on the assessment results.
Targeting tumor‐infiltrating Ly6G+ myeloid cells improves sorafenib efficacy in mouse orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chang Chun‐Jung , Yang Yao‐Hsu , Chiu Chiao‐Juno , Lu Li‐Chun , Liao Chien‐Chia , Liang Cher‐Wei , Hsu Chih‐Hung , Cheng Ann‐Lii
Published: December 2017

Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic activity, is an approved therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is unclear whether the proinflammatory and immunosuppressive mechanisms may limit the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib in HCC. We used a syngeneic mouse liver cancer cell line to establish orthotopic liver or subcutaneous tumors to study how proinflammatory and immunosuppressive mechanisms impact on the efficacy of sorafenib. We found sorafenib exhibited a potent therapeutic effect in subcutaneous tumors, but a less potent effect in orthotopic liver tumors. The protein levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) were persistently elevated in orthotopic liver tumors, but not in subcutaneous tumors, treated with sorafenib. Likewise, the tumor‐infiltrating Ly6G+ myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and immune suppressors were increased in orthotopic liver tumors, not in subcutaneous tumors, treated with sorafenib. The tumor‐infiltrating Ly6G+ MDSCs of sorafenib‐treated orthotopic liver tumors significantly induced IL‐10 and TGF‐β expressing CD4+ T cells, and downregulated the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells. IL‐6, but not VEGF‐A, protected Ly6G+ MDSCs from sorafenib‐induced cell death in vitro. The combination of anti‐Ly6G antibody or anti‐IL‐6 antibody with sorafenib significantly reduced the cell proportion of Ly6G+ MDSCs in orthotopic liver tumors, enhanced the T cells proliferation and improved the therapeutic effect of sorafenib synergistically. Modulating tumor microenvironment through targeting tumor‐infiltrating Ly6G+MDSCs represents a potential strategy to improve the anti‐HCC efficacy of sorafenib.
Secreted factors from metastatic prostate cancer cells stimulate mesenchymal stem cell transition to a pro‐tumourigenic ‘activated’ state that enhances prostate cancer cell migration
Authors: Ridge Sarah M. , Bhattacharyya Dibyangana , Dervan Eoin , Naicker Serika D. , Burke Amy J. , Murphy J.M. , O'leary Karen , Greene John , Ryan Aideen E. , Sullivan Francis J. , Glynn Sharon A.
Published: December 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of multipotent cells that are capable of differentiating into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Recently, MSCs have been found to home to the tumour site and engraft in the tumour stroma. However, it is not yet known whether they have a tumour promoting or suppressive function. We investigated the interaction between prostate cancer cell lines 22Rv1, DU145 and PC3, and bone marrow‐derived MSCs. MSCs were ‘educated’ for extended periods in prostate cancer cell conditioned media and PC3‐educated MSCs were found to be the most responsive with a secretory profile rich in pro‐inflammatory cytokines. PC3‐educated MSCs secreted increased osteopontin (OPN), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2) and decreased soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) compared to untreated MSCs. PC3‐educated MSCs showed a reduced migration and proliferation capacity that was dependent on exposure to PC3‐conditioned medium. Vimentin and α‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression was decreased in PC3‐educated MSCs compared to untreated MSCs. PC3 and DU145 education of healthy donor and prostate cancer patient‐derived MSCs led to a reduced proportion of FAP+ αSMA+ cells contrary to characteristics commonly associated with cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The migration of PC3 cells was increased toward both PC3‐educated and DU145‐educated MSCs compared to untreated MSCs, while DU145 migration was only enhanced toward patient‐derived MSCs. In summary, MSCs developed an altered phenotype in response to prostate cancer conditioned medium which resulted in increased secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, modified functional activity and the chemoattraction of prostate cancer cells.
SAFE START: AN EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE SETTING—A CRITICAL REVIEW
Authors: Dirani Julien , Raad Hala , Akoury‐Dirani Leyla
Published: December 2017

Early childhood mental health programs are vital for the current and future mental health and brain development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Founded in 2014, Safe Start is the only early childhood mental health program in Beirut, Lebanon. It aims at being the prototype of such services at the national level. A retrospective analysis of the outcomes of the first year of operations has resulted in important findings about the age of the participants, their diagnoses, previous therapies that the participants have undergone, types of referrals recommended, and the number of participants who were lost to follow‐up. This first analysis pointed at the need for more in‐depth research to encompass the gaps and benefits of such services. It shows the pivotal importance of designing awareness strategies about the importance of early childhood mental health services and care; to move from a diagnostic seeking behavior to commitment to psychotherapy and follow‐up interventions.
PARENTAL CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, AND PARENTING QUALITY: EFFECTS ON TODDLER SELF‐REGULATION IN CHILD WELFARE SERVICES INVOLVED FAMILIES
Authors: Spieker Susan J. , Oxford Monica L. , Fleming Charles B. , Lohr Mary Jane
Published: December 2017

Parents who are involved with child welfare services (CWSI) often have a history of childhood adversity and depressive symptoms. Both affect parenting quality, which in turn influences child adaptive functioning. We tested a model of the relations between parental depression and child regulatory outcomes first proposed by K. Lyons‐Ruth, R. Wolfe, A. Lyubchik, and R. Steingard (2002). We hypothesized that both parental depression and parenting quality mediate the effects of parental early adversity on offspring regulatory outcomes. Participants were 123 CWSI parents and their toddlers assessed three times over a period of 6 months. At Time 1, parents reported on their childhood adversity and current depressive symptoms. At Time 2, parents’ sensitivity to their child's distress and nondistress cues was rated from a videotaped teaching task. At Time 3, observers rated children's emotional regulation, orientation/engagement, and secure base behavior. The results of a path model partly supported the hypotheses. Parent childhood adversity was associated with current depressive symptoms, which in turn related to parent sensitivity to child distress, but not nondistress. Sensitivity to distress also predicted secure base behavior. Depression directly predicted orientation/engagement, also predicted by sensitivity to nondistress. Sensitivity to distress predicted emotion regulation and orientation/engagement. Results are discussed in terms of intervention approaches for CWSI families.
Reducing fretting‐initiated crevice corrosion in hip simulator tests using a zirconia‐toughened alumina femoral head
Authors: Kyomoto Masayuki , Shoyama Yuichi , Saiga Kenichi , Moro Toru , Ishihara Kazuhiko
Published: December 2017

Taper fretting corrosion is considered a potentially limiting factor for total hip arthroplasty longevity. Recently, attention has been focused on new materials for ceramic femoral heads, for example, zirconia‐toughened alumina (ZTA), since they have an alternative bearing surface that can improve the wear resistance. Moreover, ceramics have high chemical stability and corrosion resistance. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ZTA and Co–Cr–Mo alloy femoral heads on their taper fretting and/or corrosion characteristics under a controlled hip simulator test. After the test, less fretting and corrosion were observed in the taper surface of the trunnion against the ZTA femoral head than for that against the Co–Cr–Mo alloy femoral head. In addition, corrosion damages were only observed in the lateral‐distal taper surface (noncontact area) of the trunnion in the Co–Cr–Mo alloy femoral head group. The ZTA femoral head group also eliminated the potential for Co ion release into the lubricants from taper corrosion, reducing the possibility of adverse local tissue inflammatory responses. In conclusion, ZTA femoral heads showed markedly less fretting corrosion compared to Co–Cr–Mo alloy femoral heads and have a lower potential for metal ion release. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2815–2826, 2018.
Interactions between the microbiota and innate and innate-like lymphocytes
Authors: Constantinides Michael G
Published: December 2017

The microbiota, which consists of commensal bacteria, fungi, and viruses, limits the colonization of pathogens at barrier tissues and promotes immune homeostasis. The latter is accomplished through the induction and regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Innate lymphocytes, which include the type-1 innate lymphoid cell (ILC1), NK cell, type-2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2), type-3 innate lymphoid cell (ILC3), and lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cell populations, and innate-like lymphocytes, such as NKT cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and γδ T cells, are uniquely capable of responding to the microbiota due to their tissue localization and rapid primary responses. In turn, through their effector functions, these lymphocyte populations modulate the composition of the microbiota and maintain the segregation of commensals. This review will focus on how innate and innate-like lymphocytes mediate the crosstalk with the microbiome.
Summary of the 10th International Conference on Human Herpesviruses‐6 and ‐7 (HHV‐6A, ‐6B, and HHV‐7)
Authors: Komaroff Anthony L. , Boeckh Michael , Eliason Eva , Phan Tuan , Kaufer Benedikt B.
Published: December 2017

The 10th International Conference on Human herpesviruses‐6 and ‐7 (HHV‐6A, HHV‐6B, and HHV‐7) was held at the Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany from July 23‐26, 2017. It attracted more than 130 basic, translational and clinical scientists from 19 countries. Important new information was presented regarding: the biology of HHV‐6A and ‐6B; the biology and epidemiology of inherited chromosomally integrated HHV‐6A and ‐6B; improved diagnostic tests; animal models for and animal viruses with similarities to HHV‐6A, ‐6B, and ‐7; established and possible disease associations; and new treatment strategies. Here, we summarize work presented at the meeting that is of particular interest.
Autolytic enzymes are responsible for increased melanization of carbon stressed Aspergillus nidulans cultures
Authors: Szilágyi Melinda , Anton Fruzsina , Pócsi István , Emri Tamás
Published: December 2017

Melanization of carbon stressed Aspergillus nidulans cultures were studied. Melanin production showed strong positive correlation with the activity of the secreted chitinase and ß‐1,3‐glucanase. Deletion of either chiB encoding an autolytic endochitinase or engA encoding an autolytic ß‐1,3‐endoglucanase, or both, almost completely prevented melanization of carbon stressed cultures. In contrast, addition of Trichoderma lyticase to cultures induced melanin production. Synthetic melanin could efficiently inhibit the purified ChiB chitinase activity. It could also efficiently decrease the intensity of hyphal fragmentation and pellet disorganization in Trichoderma lyticase treated cultures. Glyphosate, an inhibitor of L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine‐type melanin synthesis, could prevent melanization of carbon‐starved cultures and enhanced pellet disorganization, while pyroquilon, a 1,8‐dihydroxynaphthalene‐type melanin synthesis inhibitor, enhanced melanization, and prevented pellet disorganization. We concluded that cell wall stress induced by autolytic cell wall hydrolases was responsible for melanization of carbon‐starved cultures. The produced melanin can shield the living cells but may not inhibit the degradation and reutilization of cell wall materials of dead hyphae. Controlling the activity of autolytic hydrolase production can be an efficient approach to prevent unwanted melanization in the fermentation industry, while applying melanin synthesis inhibitors can decrease the resistance of pathogenic fungi against the chitinases produced by the host organism.
Can radical margins improve prognosis in primary and localized epithelioid sarcoma of the extremities?
Authors: Sambri Andrea , Bianchi Giuseppe , Cevolani Luca , Donati Davide , Abudu Adesegun
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) has a tendency to locally recur, spread proximally, and metastasize, in particular to lymphnodes and lungs. The aim of this report is to study the role of surgery and the extent of margins required for optimal management of patients with localized epithelioid sarcoma of the extremities.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 77 patients affected by ES of the extremities treated at two different Institutions.

Results

Twenty‐two patients had metastasis at diagnosis. Estimated survival was 65.5% at 5 years and 50.9% at 10 years, with a better prognosis in patients with localized disease at diagnosis (P < 0.001). Among patients with localized disease, a significantly better survival was found in patients with primary tumors in which radical surgical margins were achieved (P = 0.043). Among 47 patients presenting with primary tumors, local recurrence‐free rate was 72.9% at 5 years, and 61.9% at 10 years, with a better local control achieved in patients with radical margins were achieved (P = 0.026).

Discussion

We believe that the best approach to improve both local control and survival is to aim for radical margins in patients with primary tumors. Therefore, the best chance for cure is if the first treatment is the right treatment, which we believe to be radical margins.
Morphologic and Functional Changes in Right‐Sided Cardiac Chambers in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease and Normal Pulmonary Artery Pressure
Authors: Günay Nuran , Erdem Şükran , Güvenç Tolga Sinan , Bulur Atilla , Özdil Kamil , Hasdemir Hakan , Uyan Cihangir
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To investigate the effects of chronic liver disease (CLD) on the structural and functional characteristics of right‐sided heart chambers in patients with normal pulmonary artery pressure.

Methods

Fifty‐one patients with known CLD but without pulmonary hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions were consecutively enrolled, along with 25 age‐ and sex‐matched participants. Patients with CLD were classified according to the Model of End‐Stage Liver Disease score and Child‐Pugh classification. Right ventricular (RV) and right atrial (RA) dimensions, indices of RV systolic/diastolic function, and myocardial strain were measured by standard echocardiographic methods.

Results

Patients in the study group had similar RV end‐diastolic, end‐systolic, and RA dimensions compared to controls. Similarly, neither the conventional indices of RV systolic/diastolic function nor the strain imaging findings were different between groups (P > .05). Only RV free wall thickness was significantly higher in the study group (mean ± SD, 4.15 ± 0.64 versus 3.75 ± 0.37 mm; P < .001). Right ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (P = .018; r = 0.334) and RA area (P = .017; r = 0.335) had a significant correlation with RV free wall thickness in patients with CLD. Patients treated with beta blockers were found to have a significant reduction in mean RV free wall strain compared to patients who did not receive beta blocker treatment (–20.37 ± 6.6 versus –24.07 ± 6.52; P = .04).

Conclusions

Patients with CLD had increased RV free wall thickness despite normal systolic pulmonary pressure, presumably secondary to cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. In the absence of pulmonary hypertension, however, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy did not cause impaired RV systolic or diastolic function.
Dietary niche relationships among predators on farmland and a protected area
Authors: Drouilly Marine , Nattrass Nicoli , O'Riain M. Justin
Published: December 2017

The use of land for pastoralism is often associated with a reduction in the diversity and abundance of wildlife and influences conflict between farmers and predators worldwide. We explored differences in the diversity and relative abundance of medium and large animals on farmlands and a nearby protected area and compared these differences to prey consumed by 3 sympatric predators (black‐backed jackal [Canis mesomelas], caracal [Caracal caracal], and leopard [Panthera pardus]) in the Karoo region of South Africa. All 3 predators, but especially jackals and caracals, are a source of conflict with small‐stock farmers, many of whom believe that predators use the protected area as a base for raiding farmland. We determined predator diets using 657 scats collected on both land uses in subsequent years. Domestic ungulates dominated the farming landscape and comprised the bulk of prey in the scats of jackals and caracals as determined by the frequency of occurrence (42% and 25%, respectively), percent volume (47% and 32%, respectively), and ingested biomass. By contrast jackals and caracals in the reserve fed primarily on fruits and micromammals, respectively, with a lower ingested biomass of mammalian prey. No domestic sheep were in any of the scats in the reserve. We found leopard scats only in the reserve and they mostly contained wild ungulates. Dietary niche breadth and overlap were higher on farms than in the reserve and were attributed to the high consumption of domestic livestock by jackal and caracal. Dietary overlap between medium‐sized predators and leopards was small. Caracals on farms and caracals and jackals in the reserve showed strong prey preference for wild mammals, whereas jackals on farms showed prey preference for goats and sheep over similar‐sized wild mammals. Leopards showed preference for bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) and mountain‐dwelling antelopes but consumed baboons (Papio ursinus) according to availability. Together these results fill a gap in our knowledge about jackal and caracal diets on farmland and dietary niche relationships between 3 sympatric predators in conflict with small‐stock farmers in the semi‐arid regions of South Africa. In terms of management, our results show that it is crucial that farmers protect their livestock from predators, even on farms where wild prey are abundant because of jackals' preference for sheep and goats over similar‐sized wild mammals. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Factors affecting survival and locoregional control in head and neck cSCCA with nodal metastasis
Authors: Creighton Francis , Lin Alice , Leavitt Erica , Lin Derrick , Deschler Dan , Emerick Kevin
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To determine factors affecting locoregional control (LRC) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) in patients presenting with regionally metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCCA) of the head and neck.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Methods

Upon review of institutional pathology database to identify patients with metastatic cSCCA, 62 subjects met the inclusion criteria between 2009 to 2012. Cox proportional hazard ratios for DSS and LRC were calculated for tumor, patient, lymph node, and treatment variables. These factors included primary site, primary tumor grade, primary tumor perineural invasion, extent of primary tumor invasion, age, immune status, parotid nodal status, invasion of facial nerve by parotid tumor, cervical nodal status, extracapsular spread, number of nodes involved, adjuvant radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. All variables were analyzed to determine impact on LRC and DSS. A disease‐specific Kaplan‐Meier curve was determined for the entire cohort.

Results

Five‐year survival was 56% for all patients. The presence of extracapsular spread (ECS) and bone involvement of the primary tumor site resulted in statistically significant decreases in DSS (hazard ratio (HR) 41.3 and 270, respectively; P = 0.02 and P = 0.008, respectively) and LRC (HR 8.41 and 11.1, respectively; P = 0.005 and P = 0.04, respectively). The remaining factors had no statistically significant effect on DSS or LRC.

Conclusion

The presence of ECS in the metastatic lymph node and of bone invasion by the primary tumor appear to be important to the outcome of patients with metastatic cSCCA. These factors should be considered when developing multidisciplinary care plans and future investigations.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 1881–1886, 2018
Danish validation of sniffin' sticks olfactory test for threshold, discrimination, and identification
Authors: Niklassen Andreas Steenholt , Ovesen Therese , Fernandes Henrique , Fjaeldstad Alexander Wieck
Published: December 2017

Objectives

The applicability of olfactory testing is dependent on cultural adaptation. The aim of this study was to validate the Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart Messtechnik, Wedel, Germany) threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I) olfaction test. This data was subsequently used to investigate external validity of international normative values to separate hyposmia from normosmia.

Methods

The study included 388 participants. The first step was a questionnaire study in which 238 adults rated their familiarity with 125 odor descriptors. In the second step, we evaluated the original Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart Messtechnik) in 75 participants. In the third step, we modified our odor descriptors and tested 75 participants with the new version.

Results

In the I test, we found that 21 original odor descriptors were unfamiliar and that five odors had I rates < 75%. After modification, all odors had a successful I rate > 75%. By comparing the T, D, and I scores of previous validation studies, we found a significant variation in the scores between countries.

Conclusion

The original Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart Messtechnik) was not applicable in Denmark. The modification resulted in improvement of familiarity and rate of I, making the test valid for use in Denmark. Furthermore, the study found a large variation in T and D scores between different countries, which should be considered when using these scores to separate hyposmia and anosmia from normosmia.

Level of Evidence

2b. Laryngoscope, 1759–1766, 2018
Scavenging processes on jellyfish carcasses across a fjord depth gradient
Authors: Dunlop Kathy M. , Jones Daniel O. B. , Sweetman Andrew K.
Published: December 2017

Gelatinous zooplankton populations have increased in some regions, specifically Norwegian fjords, which has likely increased the occurrence of dead jellyfish aggregations on the seafloor (jelly‐falls). The importance of scavengers in the redistribution of organic material from jelly‐falls and their biogeochemical influence on the benthic environment has been demonstrated. However, scavenger responses to jelly‐falls across environmental gradients have not been studied, but would significantly advance our understanding of the impact of jelly‐falls on benthic ecosystems in different regions. This study examined scavenging ecology on jelly‐falls across an upper‐bathyal depth gradient in a boreal oxygenated fjord using baited time‐lapse camera lander deployments. The mean maximum abundance of scavengers increased with depth (eight individuals at 250 m, 10 at 600 m, and 18 at 1250 m) and at shallower depths more scavenger species fed on the bait (six species at 250 m, five at 600 m, and four at 1250 m). Mean scavenging rates (841.5 g d−1 at 250 m; 667.7 g at 600 m; and 883.7 g at 1250 m), however, did not vary significantly with depth. The lack of detection of a significant depth effect in this study may result from steep fjord topography enhancing food supply to deep waters reducing food limitation at the seafloor. Significant temporal changes in scavenging dynamics were primarily caused by changes in the dynamics of lyssianassoid amphipods. This study demonstrates that scavengers can rapidly remove jellyfish carcasses at the seafloor across a range of upper bathyal depths, potentially reducing the effects of jellyfish decomposition in fjord benthic environments.
Combination of platelet rich plasma in fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment increased clinical efficacy of for acne scar by enhancement of collagen production and modulation of laser‐induced inflammation
Authors: Min Seonguk , Yoon Ji Young , Park Seon Yong , Moon Jungyoon , Kwon Hyuck Hoon , Suh Dae Hun
Published: December 2017

Background

Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) which contains large amounts of growth factors has been tried to enhance therapeutic efficacy of laser treatment for acne scar with unknown underlying mechanism.

Objectives

The present study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanism of increased clinical efficacy of PRP when combined with fractional laser treatment for treating acne scars.

Methods

Subjects with mild to moderate acne scars were treated with two sessions of fractional CO2 laser therapy given with and without co‐administration of PRP. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained at baseline, 1, 3, 7, and 28 days for investigation of molecular profiles associated with skin changes produced by laser plus PRP treatment.

Results

The PRP treatment increased clinical efficacy with decreased severity of adverse effects such as erythema, swelling and oozing. Productions of TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 proteins were more highly elevated on the PRP‐treated side of the face compared to the control side at day 28. Furthermore, PRP‐treated side showed significant increase of c‐myc, TIMP, and HGF expression. Experimental fibroblast culture model was also used. PRP administration after laser irradiation increased expressions of p‐Akt, TGFβ1, TGFβ3, β‐catenin, collagen 1, and collagen 3 in both dose‐dependent and time dependent manners in fibroblast. Moreover, we acquired clinical and histological data through randomized control clinical trial.

Conclusion

Taken together with human study results combined with the data from cell experiments we suggest that PRP treatment increased fibrogenetic molecules induced by fractional CO2 laser, which have association with clinical effect. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:302–310, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tractography study in a patient with hemidystonia‐hemiatrophy syndrome
Authors: Barcellos Igor , Vale Thiago Cardoso , Pedroso José Luiz , Tibana Luis Antônio Tobaru , Barsottini Orlando Graziani Povoas
Published: December 2017

View Supplementary Video 1
Quadrupolar jump‐and‐return pulse sequence for fluid‐suppressed sodium MRI of the knee joint at 7T
Authors: Xia Ding , Lee Jae‐Seung , Regatte Ravinder R.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of the so‐called quadrupolar jump‐and‐return (QJR) pulse sequence by assessing its performance on the contrast modification to knee cartilage and quality of fluid suppression in the knee joint in vivo at 7T.

Methods

The right knee joints of five healthy volunteers (3 males: mean age = 32.4 ± 1.3 years; 2 females: mean age = 27.9 ± 1.0 years; mean age = 30.6 ± 2.7 years) were scanned on a 7T scanner with variation of the delay in the QJR sequence from 1 ms to 5 ms. For one healthy volunteer, the QJR scan with the delay of 3 ms and the inversion‐recovery (IR) scan were performed. Numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the effects of B0‐ and B1‐field inhomogeneities and residual quadrupolar couplings on fluid suppression and tissue contrast, respectively.

Results

The QJR sequence suppressed the fluid signal from the artery and produced the contrast of knee cartilage in vivo. Its performance was comparable to that of the conventional IR sequence. Numerical simulations suggested that the fluid suppression may not be affected much by field inhomogeneities but that a distribution of residual quadrupolar couplings and weak RF pulses may interfere with the clear interpretation of cartilage contrast.

Conclusion

This preliminary work demonstrated that the QJR pulse sequence produces contrast for knee cartilage while suppressing the fluid signal from the artery. The knee cartilage contrast and quality of fluid suppression obtained from the QJR sequence were comparable to those of the IR sequence. Magn Reson Med 80:641–647, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Static and dynamic mechanical analysis of graphite flake filled phenolic‐carbon fabric composites and their correlation with interfacial interaction parameters
Authors: Kumar Ravindra , Kar Kamal K. , Dasgupta Kinshuk
Published: December 2017

The presented studies concern the effects of graphite flake (GF) on the properties of a specific and challenging type of composite, that is, phenolic‐carbon fabric (PC) composites. This type of materials are commonly used in large scale, but the studies in this manuscript try to explain in detail the effects of graphite on the characteristics of composites. The results show that Young's modulus exhibits increasing trend however tensile strength and interlaminar shear strength show decrement on increasing the GF content in the PC‐GF composites. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) reveals that storage modulus (E′) increases by ∼42% and 139% upon addition of 10 and 40 wt% GF in the PC‐GF composites, respectively. Loss modulus (E″) of the composites shows a drastic improvement (∼145%) upon addition of only 10 wt% GF. Moreover, various interfacial interaction parameters such as entanglement density (N), reinforcement efficiency factor (r), C factor (the effectiveness of fillers on the modulus of the composites), interphase adhesion factor (A), and ‘b’ factor (fiber volume correction factor) of the composites are also evaluated using the data obtained from DMTA and correlated with mechanical properties of the composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1987–1998, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers