bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of vision loss, functional limitations and the supporting network in depression in a general population
Authors: van Nispen Ruth M. A. , Vreeken Hilde L. , Comijs Hannie C. , Deeg Dorly J. H. , van Rens Ger H. M. B.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

Although the prevalence of depression in visually impaired older persons is high, the association between vision loss and depression seems to be influenced by factors other than visual impairment. In this study, the role of vision loss, functional limitations and social network characteristics in relation to depressive symptoms was investigated.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data (N = 1237) from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used to investigate the prevalence of depression (Center of Epidemiological Studies‐Depression scale) within subgroups with increasing vision loss. In linear regression models, functional limitations and social network characteristics were examined as possible mediators in the association between vision loss and depression. Having a partner was considered to be a potential moderator.

Results

Although a significant linear trend was found in the presence of depressive symptoms with 14% in normally sighted, 23% in mild and 37% in severe vision loss (χ2(1) = 14.9; p < 0.001), vision loss was not an independent determinant of depression. Mediators were functional limitations (p < 0.001) and social network size (p = 0.009). No interaction with partner status was found.

Conclusion

In the presence of depression, a trend was found with increasing severity of vision loss, indicating the need for more attention in (mental) health care and low‐vision rehabilitation. In the general older population, vision loss was not an independent determinant of depression but was mediated by functional limitations and social network size. Rather than receiving actual social support, the idea of having a social network to rely on when needed seemed to be associated with lower levels of depression.
“You Can't Give a Syringe with Unity”: Rwandan Responses to the Government's Single Recategorization Policies
Authors: Moss Sigrun Marie , Vollhardt Johanna Ray
Published: November 2015

Rwanda's postgenocide government has implemented policies that resemble social psychological models of single recategorization, banning references to ethnic groups and replacing these with a superordinate, Rwandan identity. While social psychological research suggests problems with this approach, little is known about how people make sense of recategorization in the aftermath of ethnic conflict and genocide. The present interview study investigates the responses of 56 Rwandans to these single recategorization policies. Despite strong societal pressures, a variety of positions were apparent—showing how people actively construe categories, and the complexity of single recategorization in real‐world settings. The findings suggest several novel insights and policy implications, including the need for context‐specific approaches, utilitarian reasons for single recategorization, the role of malleability of identities in promoting social recategorization, and the potential use of recategorization models as transitional measures in postconflict societies.
Long non‐coding RNA urothelial cancer‐associated 1 promotes bladder cancer cell migration and invasion by way of the hsa‐miR‐145–ZEB1/2–FSCN1 pathway
Authors: Xue Mei , Pang Huan , Li Xu , Li Huijin , Pan Jingjing , Chen Wei
Published: November 2015

Numerous studies suggest that several long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in bladder cancer development and progression. Long non‐coding RNA urothelial cancer‐associated 1 (lncRNA‐UCA1) is highly expressed in bladder cancer tissues and cells, and it has been shown to play an important role in regulating aggressive phenotypes of bladder cancer cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of lncRNA‐UCA1‐mediated bladder cancer cell migration and invasion. Here, we show that overexpression of lncRNA‐UCA1 could induce EMT and increase the migratory and invasive abilities of bladder cancer cells. Mechanistically, lncRNA‐UCA1 induced EMT of bladder cancer cells by upregulating the expression levels of zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 and 2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), and regulated bladder cancer cell migration and invasion by tumor suppressive hsa‐miR‐145 and its target gene the actin‐binding protein fascin homologue 1 (FSCN1). Furthermore, we also observed a positive correlation between lncRNA‐UCA1 and ZEB1/2 expression, and a negative correlation between lncRNA‐UCA1 and hsa‐miR‐145 expression in bladder cancer specimens. Importantly, we found that lncRNA‐UCA1 repressed hsa‐miR‐145 expression to upregulate ZEB1/2, whereas the suppression of hsa‐miR‐145 could upregulate lncRNA‐UCA1 expression in bladder cancer cells. Moreover, the binding site for hsa‐miR‐145 within exons 2 and 3 of lncRNA‐UCA1 contributed to the reciprocal negative regulation of lncRNA‐UCA1 and hsa‐miR‐145. Taken together, our results identified that lncRNA‐UCA1 enhances bladder cancer cell migration and invasion in part through the hsa‐miR‐145/ZEB1/2/FSCN1 pathway. Therefore, lncRNA‐UCA1 might act as a promising therapeutic target for the invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer.
Antitumor effect of afatinib, as a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐targeted therapy, in lung cancers harboring HER2 oncogene alterations
Authors: Suzawa Ken , Toyooka Shinichi , Sakaguchi Masakiyo , Morita Mizuki , Yamamoto Hiromasa , Tomida Shuta , Ohtsuka Tomoaki , Watanabe Mototsugu , Hashida Shinsuke , Maki Yuho , Soh Junichi , Asano Hiroaki , Tsukuda Kazunori , Miyoshi Shinichiro
Published: November 2015

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a member of the HER family of proteins containing four receptor tyrosine kinases. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of certain human cancers. In non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), HER2 amplification or mutations have been reported. However, little is known about the benefit of HER2‐targeted therapy for NSCLCs harboring HER2 alterations. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of afatinib, an irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–HER2 dual inhibitor, in lung cancers harboring HER2 oncogene alterations, including novel HER2 mutations in the transmembrane domain, which we recently identified. Normal bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS‐2B, ectopically overexpressing wild‐type HER2 or mutants (A775insYVMA, G776VC, G776LC, P780insGSP, V659E, and G660D) showed constitutive autophosphorylation of HER2 and activation of downstream signaling. They were sensitive to afatinib, but insensitive to gefitinib. Furthermore, we examined the antitumor activity of afatinib and gefitinib in several NSCLC cell lines, and investigated the association between their genetic alterations and sensitivity to afatinib treatment. In HER2‐altered NSCLC cells (H2170, Calu‐3, and H1781), afatinib downregulated the phosphorylation of HER2 and EGFR as well as their downstream signaling, and induced an antiproliferative effect through G1 arrest and apoptotic cell death. In contrast, HER2‐ or EGFR‐non‐dependent NSCLC cells were insensitive to afatinib. In addition, these effects were confirmed in vivo by using a xenograft mouse model of HER2‐altered lung cancer cells. Our results suggest that afatinib is a therapeutic option as a HER2‐targeted therapy for NSCLC harboring HER2 amplification or mutations.
Bone fractures and lumbar mineral density after renal transplantation. A long‐term cross‐sectional study
Authors: Jiménez Sara , Marcén Roberto , Vaamonde Carlos , Caballero Carmen , Fernández‐Rodríguez Ana , Villafruela Juan José , Galeano Cristina , Teruel José Luis , Quereda Carlos
Published: November 2015

Background

The purpose of this work was to investigate the association of vertebral and peripheral fractures 10 yr after grafting with bone metabolic markers and body mass density (BMD).

Patients and methods

One hundred thirty‐eight recipients with stable graft function were included in a cross‐sectional study. Graft function, biochemical mineral metabolism markers and body mass density (DEXA) were measured. Vertebral fractures were assessed by a semiquantitative analysis of lateral spine X‐ray exam.

Results

At the time of the study, intact parathyroid hormone levels were 127.5 ± 78.4 pg/mL and serum calcidiol 20.4 ± 9.3 ng/mL. DEXA showed osteopenia in 47% and osteoporosis in 23% at lumbar spine, 51% and 14% at femoral neck, and 53% and 8% at trochanter. Eighty‐five recipients presented vertebral fractures, 69 mild and 16 moderate/severe fractures. In the multivariate analysis, vertebral fractures were associated with older age (p = 0.010), length of follow‐up (p = 0.022) and trochanter T‐score (p = 0.038). Twenty‐three patients presented peripheral fractures and 19 of them also had vertebral fractures. Patients with peripheral fractures were younger, mostly women and had lower BMD.

Conclusions

Vertebral fractures were associated with lower BMD at trochanter. Most fractures were mild and were several times more frequent than in general population. Their clinical significance needs to be determined.
Global environmental change effects on ecosystems: the importance of land‐use legacies
Authors: Perring Michael P. , De Frenne Pieter , Baeten Lander , Maes Sybryn L. , Depauw Leen , Blondeel Haben , Carón María M. , Verheyen Kris
Published: November 2015

One of the major challenges in ecology is to predict how multiple global environmental changes will affect future ecosystem patterns (e.g. plant community composition) and processes (e.g. nutrient cycling). Here, we highlight arguments for the necessary inclusion of land‐use legacies in this endeavour. Alterations in resources and conditions engendered by previous land use, together with influences on plant community processes such as dispersal, selection, drift and speciation, have steered communities and ecosystem functions onto trajectories of change. These trajectories may be modulated by contemporary environmental changes such as climate warming and nitrogen deposition. We performed a literature review which suggests that these potential interactions have rarely been investigated. This crucial oversight is potentially due to an assumption that knowledge of the contemporary state allows accurate projection into the future. Lessons from other complex dynamic systems, and the recent recognition of the importance of previous conditions in explaining contemporary and future ecosystem properties, demand the testing of this assumption. Vegetation resurvey databases across gradients of land use and environmental change, complemented by rigorous experiments, offer a means to test for interactions between land‐use legacies and multiple environmental changes. Implementing these tests in the context of a trait‐based framework will allow biologists to synthesize compositional and functional ecosystem responses. This will further our understanding of the importance of land‐use legacies in determining future ecosystem properties, and soundly inform conservation and restoration management actions.
Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus‐limited Eucalyptus woodland
Authors: Hasegawa Shun , Macdonald Catriona A. , Power Sally A.
Published: November 2015

Free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments have demonstrated increased plant productivity in response to elevated (e)CO2, with the magnitude of responses related to soil nutrient status. Whilst understanding nutrient constraints on productivity responses to eCO2 is crucial for predicting carbon uptake and storage, very little is known about how eCO2 affects nutrient cycling in phosphorus (P)‐limited ecosystems. Our study investigates eCO2 effects on soil N and P dynamics at the EucFACE experiment in Western Sydney over an 18‐month period. Three ambient and three eCO2 (+150 ppm) FACE rings were installed in a P‐limited, mature Cumberland Plain Eucalyptus woodland. Levels of plant accessible nutrients, evaluated using ion exchange resins, were increased under eCO2, compared to ambient, for nitrate (+93%), ammonium (+12%) and phosphate (+54%). There was a strong seasonality to responses, particularly for phosphate, resulting in a relatively greater stimulation in available P, compared to N, under eCO2 in spring and summer. eCO2 was also associated with faster nutrient turnover rates in the first six months of the experiment, with higher N (+175%) and P (+211%) mineralization rates compared to ambient rings, although this difference did not persist. Seasonally dependant effects of eCO2 were seen for concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in soil solution (+31%), and there was also a reduction in bulk soil pH (‐0.18 units) observed under eCO2. These results demonstrate that CO2 fertilization increases nutrient availability – particularly for phosphate – in P‐limited soils, likely via increased plant belowground investment in labile carbon and associated enhancement of microbial turnover of organic matter and mobilization of chemically bound P. Early evidence suggests that there is the potential for the observed increases in P availability to support increased ecosystem C‐accumulation under future predicted CO2 concentrations.
Drought and leaf herbivory influence floral volatiles and pollinator attraction
Authors: Burkle Laura A. , Runyon Justin B.
Published: November 2015

The effects of climate change on species interactions are poorly understood. Investigating the mechanisms by which species interactions may shift under altered environmental conditions will help form a more predictive understanding of such shifts. In particular, components of climate change have the potential to strongly influence floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, in turn, plant–pollinator interactions. In this study, we experimentally manipulated drought and herbivory for four forb species to determine effects of these treatments and their interactions on (1) visual plant traits traditionally associated with pollinator attraction, (2) floral VOCs, and (3) the visitation rates and community composition of pollinators. For all forbs tested, experimental drought universally reduced flower size and floral display, but there were species‐specific effects of drought on volatile emissions per flower, the composition of compounds produced, and subsequent pollinator visitation rates. Moreover, the community of pollinating visitors was influenced by drought across forb species (i.e. some pollinator species were deterred by drought while others were attracted). Together, these results indicate that VOCs may provide more nuanced information to potential floral visitors and may be relatively more important than visual traits for pollinator attraction, particularly under shifting environmental conditions.
Canopy leaf area of a mature evergreen Eucalyptus woodland does not respond to elevated atmospheric [CO2] but tracks water availability
Authors: Duursma Remko A. , Gimeno Teresa E. , Boer Matthias M. , Crous Kristine Y. , Tjoelker Mark G. , Ellsworth David S.
Published: November 2015

Canopy leaf area, quantified by the leaf area index (L), is a crucial driver of forest productivity, water use and energy balance. Because L responds to environmental drivers, it can represent an important feedback to climate change, but its responses to rising atmospheric [CO2] and water availability of forests have been poorly quantified. We studied canopy leaf area dynamics for 28 months in a native evergreen Eucalyptus woodland exposed to free‐air CO2 enrichment (the EucFACE experiment), in a subtropical climate where water limitation is common. We hypothesized that, because of expected stimulation of productivity and water‐use efficiency, L should increase with elevated [CO2]. We estimated L from diffuse canopy transmittance, and measured monthly leaf litter production. Contrary to expectation, L did not respond to elevated [CO2]. We found that L varied between 1.10 and 2.20 across the study period. The dynamics of L showed a quick increase after heavy rainfall and a steady decrease during periods of low rainfall. Leaf litter production was correlated to changes in L, both during periods of decreasing L (when no leaf growth occurred) and during periods of increasing L (active shedding of old foliage when new leaf growth occurred). Leaf lifespan, estimated from mean L and total annual litter production, was up to 2 months longer under elevated [CO2] (1.18 vs. 1.01 years; P = 0.05). Our main finding that L was not responsive to elevated CO2 is consistent with other forest FACE studies, but contrasts with the positive response of L commonly predicted by many ecosystem models.
Modeling the Drying Kinetics of Green Bell Pepper in a Heat Pump Assisted Fluidized Bed Dryer
Authors: Jafari S.M. , Ghanbari V. , Ganje M. , Dehnad D.
Published: November 2015

In this research, green bell pepper was dried in a pilot plant fluidized bed dryer equipped with a heat pump humidifier using three temperatures of 40, 50 and 60C and two airflow velocities of 2 and 3 m/s in constant air moisture. Three modeling methods including nonlinear regression technique, Fuzzy Logic and Artificial Neural Networks were applied to investigate drying kinetics for the sample. Among the mathematical models, Midilli model with R = 0.9998 and root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.00451 showed the best fit with experimental data. Feed‐Forward‐Back‐Propagation network with Levenberg–Marquardt training algorithm, hyperbolic tangent sigmoid transfer function, training cycle of 1,000 epoch and 2‐5‐1 topology, deserving R = 0.99828 and mean square error (MSE) = 5.5E‐05, was determined as the best neural model. Overall, Neural Networks method was much more precise than two other methods in prediction of drying kinetics and control of drying parameters for green bell pepper.

Practical Applications

This article deals with different modeling approaches and their effectiveness and accuracy for predicting changes in the moisture ratio of green bell pepper enduring fluidized bed drying, which is one of the most concerning issues in food factories involved in drying fruits and vegetables. This research indicates that although efficiency of mathematical modeling, Fuzzy Logic controls and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were all acceptable, the modern prediction methods of Fuzzy Logic and especially ANNs were more productive and precise. Besides, this report compares our findings with previous ones carried out with the view of predicting moisture quotients of other food crops during miscellaneous drying procedures.
IL‐1alpha induces angiogenesis in brain endothelial cells in vitro: implications for brain angiogenesis after acute injury
Authors: Salmeron Kathleen , Aihara Takuma , Redondo‐Castro Elena , Pinteaux Emmanuel , Bix Gregory
Published: November 2015

Inflammation is a major contributor to neuronal injury and is associated with poor outcome after acute brain injury such as stroke. The pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)‐1 is a critical regulator of cerebrovascular inflammation after ischemic injury, mainly through action of both of its isoforms, IL‐1α and IL‐1β, at the brain endothelium. In contrast, the differential action of these ligands on endothelial activation and post‐stroke angiogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that IL‐1α is chronically elevated in the brain after experimental stroke suggesting that it is present during post‐stroke angiogenic periods. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IL‐1α is a potent mediator of endothelial activation and inducer of angiogenic markers in endothelial cells in vitro. Using brain endothelial cell lines, we found that IL‐1α was significantly more potent than IL‐1β at inducing endothelial cell activation, as measured by expression of the pro‐angiogenic chemokine CXCL‐1. IL‐1α also induced strong expression of the angiogenic mediator IL‐6 in a concentration‐dependent manner. Furthermore, IL‐1α induced significant proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and promoted formation of tube‐like structures that are established key hallmarks of angiogenesis in vitro. Finally, all of those responses were blocked by the IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA). In conclusion, our data highlights a potential new role for IL‐1 in brain repair mechanisms and identifies IL‐1α as a potential new therapy to promote post‐stroke angiogenesis.

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Inflammation is a major contributor to neuronal injury and is associated with poor outcome after neurotrauma. We demonstrate that cytokine IL‐1α is chronically elevated in the brain after experimental stroke suggesting that it is present chronically post‐stroke. We demonstrate that IL‐1α is a potent mediator of endothelial activation and inducer of angiogenic markers in endothelial cells. Our data highlights a new role for IL‐1 in brain repair mechanisms and identifies IL‐1α as a potential therapy to promote post‐stroke angiogenesis.
SIRT2 inhibition exacerbates neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier disruption in experimental traumatic brain injury by enhancing NF‐κB p65 acetylation and activation
Authors: Yuan Fang , Xu Zhi‐Ming , Lu Li‐Yan , Nie Hui , Ding Jun , Ying Wei‐Hai , Tian Heng‐Li
Published: November 2015

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is a member of the sirtuin family of NAD+‐dependent protein deacetylases. In recent years, SIRT2 inhibition has emerged as a promising treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. However, to date, there is no evidence of a specific role for SIRT2 in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated the effects of SIRT2 inhibition on experimental TBI using the controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury model. Adult male mice underwent CCI or sham surgery. A selective brain‐permeable SIRT2 inhibitor, AK‐7, was administrated 30 min before injury. The volume of the brain edema lesion and the water content of the brain were significantly increased in mice treated with AK‐7 (20 mg/kg), compared with the vehicle group, following TBI (p < 0.05 at 1 day and p < 0.05 at 3 days, respectively). Concomitantly, AK‐7 administration greatly worsened neurobehavioral deficits on days 3 and 7 after CCI. Furthermore, blood–brain barrier disruption and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐9 activity increased following SIRT2 inhibition. AK‐7 treatment increased TBI‐induced microglial activation both in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by a large increase in the expression and release of inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, SIRT2 inhibition increased both K310 acetylation and nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65, leading to enhanced NF‐κB activation and up‐regulation of its target genes, including aquaporin 4 (AQP4), MMP‐9, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Together, these data demonstrate that SIRT2 inhibition exacerbates TBI by increasing NF‐κB p65 acetylation and activation. Our findings provide additional evidence of an anti‐inflammatory effect of SIRT2.

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SIRT2 is a member of the sirtuin family of NAD+‐dependent protein deacetylases. Our study suggests that the SIRT2 inhibitor AK‐7 exacerbates traumatic brain injury (TBI) via a potential mechanism involving increased acetylation and nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65, resulting in up‐regulation of NF‐κB target genes, including aquaporin 4 (AQP4), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9), and pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Our findings provide additional evidence of an anti‐inflammatory effect of SIRT2.
Signaling pathways regulating neuron–glia interaction and their implications in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Lian Hong , Zheng Hui
Published: November 2015

Astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the central nervous system. They play critical roles in neuronal homeostasis through their physical properties and neuron–glia signaling pathways. Astrocytes become reactive in response to neuronal injury and this process, referred to as reactive astrogliosis, is a common feature accompanying neurodegenerative conditions, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Reactive astrogliosis represents a continuum of pathobiological processes and is associated with morphological, functional, and gene expression changes of varying degrees. There has been a substantial growth of knowledge regarding the signaling pathways regulating glial biology and pathophysiology in recent years. Here, we attempt to provide an unbiased review of some of the well‐known players, namely calcium, proteoglycan, transforming growth factor β, NFκB, and complement, in mediating neuron–glia interaction under physiological conditions as well as in Alzheimer's disease.

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This review discusses the role of astrocytic NFκB and calcium as well as astroglial secreted factors, including proteoglycans, TGFβ, and complement in mediating neuronal function and AD pathogenesis through direct interaction with neurons and through cooperation with microglia.
Iron neurochemistry in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease: targets for therapeutics
Authors: Belaidi Abdel A. , Bush Ashley I.
Published: November 2015

Brain iron homeostasis is increasingly recognized as a potential target for the development of drug therapies for aging‐related disorders. Dysregulation of iron metabolism associated with cellular damage and oxidative stress is reported as a common event in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer′s, Parkinson′s, and Huntington′s diseases. Indeed, many proteins initially characterized in those diseases such as amyloid‐β protein, α‐synuclein, and huntingtin have been linked to iron neurochemistry. Iron plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological functions in the brain through its participation in many cellular functions such as mitochondrial respiration, myelin synthesis, and neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism. However, excess iron is a potent source of oxidative damage through radical formation and because of the lack of a body‐wide export system, a tight regulation of its uptake, transport and storage is crucial in fulfilling cellular functions while keeping its level below the toxicity threshold. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on iron homeostasis in the brain and explore how alterations in brain iron metabolism affect neuronal function with emphasis on iron dysregulation in Alzheimer′s and Parkinson′s diseases. Finally, we discuss recent findings implicating iron as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

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Iron plays a fundamental role in maintaining the high metabolic and energetic requirements of the brain. However, iron has to be maintained in a delicate balance as both iron overload and iron deficiency are detrimental to the brain and can trigger neurodegeneration. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on brain iron homeostasis and its involvement in major aging‐related neurodegenerative diseases.

This article is part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.
Respiratory variation in aortic blood flow peak velocity to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated children: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Desgranges François‐Pierrick , Desebbe Olivier , Pereira de Souza Neto Edmundo , Raphael Darren , Chassard Dominique
Published: November 2015

Background

Dynamic indices of preload have been shown to better predict fluid responsiveness than static variables in mechanically ventilated adults. In children, dynamic predictors of fluid responsiveness have not yet been extensively studied.

Aim

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of respiratory variation in aortic blood flow peak velocity (ΔVPeak) for the prediction of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated children.

Method

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were screened for studies relevant to the use of ΔVPeak to predict fluid responsiveness in children receiving mechanical ventilation. Clinical trials published as full‐text articles in indexed journals without language restriction were included. We calculated the pooled values of sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and positive and negative likelihood ratio using a random‐effects model.

Results

In total, six studies (163 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Data are reported as point estimate with 95% confidence interval. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and DOR of ΔVPeak to predict fluid responsiveness for the overall population were 92.0% (84.1–96.7), 85.5% (75.6–92.5), 4.89 (2.92–8.18), 0.13 (0.07–0.25), and 50.44 (17.70–143.74), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.94. Cutoff values for ΔVPeak to predict fluid responsiveness varied across studies, ranging from 7% to 20%.

Conclusion

Our results confirm that the ΔVPeak is an accurate predictor of fluid responsiveness in children under mechanical ventilation. However, the question of the optimal cutoff value of ΔVPeak to predict fluid responsiveness remains uncertain, as there are important variations between original publications, and needs to be resolved in further studies. The potential impact of intraoperative cardiac output optimization using goal‐directed fluid therapy based on ΔVPeak on the perioperative outcome in the pediatric population should be subsequently evaluated.
Clinical utility of rapid pathogen identification using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry in ventilated patients with pneumonia: A pilot study
Authors: Mok Jeong Ha , Eom Jung Seop , Jo Eun Jung , Kim Mi Hyun , Lee Kwangha , Kim Ki Uk , Park Hye‐Kyung , Yi Jongyoun , Lee Min Ki
Published: November 2015

Background and objective

We evaluated the clinical utility of rapid identification of microorganisms in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) in terms of the clinical outcomes of ventilated patients with pneumonia.

Methods

Patients for whom microorganisms were identified via MALDI‐TOF MS (from March 2013 to February 2014; post‐intervention group) were compared with patients for whom microorganisms were identified using conventional methods (from March 2012 to February 2013; pre‐intervention group). All pneumonia types (community‐acquired, hospital‐acquired, healthcare‐associated and ventilator‐associated pneumonia) were included in the analysis.

Results

In total, 77 patients (50 men, mean age 67.2 ± 12.5 years) were included (40 patients in the pre‐intervention group and 37 in the post‐intervention group). The time from BAL fluid collection to microorganism identification and the availability of antimicrobial susceptibility results was shorter in the post‐ compared with the pre‐intervention group (51.9 ± 11.3 vs 67.3 ± 17.4 h, P < 0.001). Also, the time from BAL fluid collection to adjustment of antibiotic therapy was shorter in the post‐intervention group (56.5 ± 10.9 vs 73.2 ± 18.5 h, P < 0.001). Microorganism identification via MALDI‐TOF MS was independently associated with a shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay after BAL fluid was drawn (hazard ratio = 2.324, P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Rapid identification of microorganisms in BAL fluid via MALDI‐TOF MS was associated with adjustment of antibiotic therapy and a shorter ICU stay after BAL fluid was collected from ventilated patients with pneumonia.
A bead‐based assay in the work‐up of suspected platelet alloimmunization
Authors: Cooper Nina , Bein Gregor , Heidinger Kathrin , Santoso Sentot , Sachs Ulrich J.
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Alloantibodies against human platelet antigens (HPAs) are of clinical significance in immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia such as fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), posttransfusion purpura, and platelet (PLT) transfusion refractoriness. The gold standard for the detection of these antibodies is the monoclonal antibody immobilization of PLT antigens (MAIPA) assay. Both requirement of typed donor PLT panels and technical expertise often restrict its use to reference laboratories.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

An easy‐to‐use, bead‐based assay (BBA) has been introduced recently. In this study, we compared MAIPA and BBA test results for 126 serum samples from women who gave birth to a child with FNAIT including rare HPA specificities (n = 111) and from patients with PLT transfusion refractoriness (n = 15).

RESULTS

For sera with defined allospecificities, the number of BBA false‐negatives was 12 of 126, or 9.5%, and the number of BBA false‐positives (i.e., detection of additional specificities) was two of 126, or 1.6%. BBA had major problems in detecting antibodies against HPA‐3a (3/15 undetected = 20% failure rate) and HPA‐3b (5/6 undetected = 83.3% failure rate), but performed well in detecting typical FNAIT‐ or PLT transfusion refractoriness–associated antibodies including HPA‐1a (35/35 = 100%), HPA‐1b (15/15 = 100%), HPA‐5b (22/24 = 91.6%), and glycoprotein IV (6/6 = 100%).

CONCLUSION

BBA might be a useful and time‐saving tool in the initial laboratory work‐up of suspected PLT alloimmunization when an appropriate algorithm ensures follow‐up investigation of BBA‐negative sera.
How do I interpret a p value?
Authors: O'Brien Sheila F. , Osmond Lori , Yi Qi‐Long
Published: November 2015

A p‐value is a number between 0 and 1 that is extremely useful in interpreting research results. Using comparison of the means of two samples as an example, a p‐value <0.05 suggests that there is enough evidence to presume a real difference between groups from which the samples were drawn (that the “null hypothesis” can be rejected). We say that the difference between the means is statistically significant. However, it isn't iron clad proof and there is still a chance that there is really no difference. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference may not be clinically significant if it is not enough to appreciably affect patient outcomes. We describe the theory behind p‐values and some common errors in interpretation.
Methodologic quality assessment of red blood cell transfusion guidelines and the evidence base of more restrictive transfusion thresholds
Authors: Van Remoortel Hans , De Buck Emmy , Dieltjens Tessa , Pauwels Nele S. , Compernolle Veerle , Vandekerckhove Philippe
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Recent literature suggests that more restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practices are equivalent or better than more liberal transfusion practices. The methodologic quality of guidelines recommending more restrictive transfusion thresholds and their underlying scientific evidence is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the quality of the development process of RBC transfusion guidelines and to investigate the underlying evidence of guidelines recommending a more restrictive hemoglobin (Hb) threshold.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Via systematic literature screening of relevant databases (NGC, GIN, Medline, and Embase), RBC transfusion guidelines recommending a more restrictive Hb level (<6, <7, or <8 g/dL) were included. Four assessors independently evaluated the methodologic quality by scoring the rigor of development domain (AGREE II checklist). The level of evidence served as a reference for the quality of the underlying evidence.

RESULTS

The methodologic quality of 13 RBC transfusion guidelines was variable (18%‐72%) but highest for those developed by Advancing Transfusion and Cellular Therapies Worldwide (72%), the Task Force of Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma (70%), and the Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement (61%). A Hb level of less than 7 g/dL (intensive care unit patients) or less than 8 g/dL (postoperative patients) were the only thresholds based on high‐quality evidence. Only four of 32 recommendations had a high‐quality evidence base.

CONCLUSION

Methodologic quality should be guaranteed in future RBC transfusion guideline development to ensure that the best available evidence is captured when recommending restrictive transfusion strategies. More high‐quality trials are needed to provide a stronger scientific basis for RBC transfusion guidelines that recommend more restrictive transfusion thresholds.
Blood donation mobile applications: are donors ready?
Authors: Yuan Shan , Chang Shelley , Uyeno Kasie , Almquist Gay , Wang Shirong
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

The rapid rise of mobile communication technologies has the potential to dramatically change and improve blood donor recruitment and retention efforts.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

E‐mail invitations were sent to blood donors in a large metropolitan area to participate in a Web‐based survey designed to gauge their readiness and interest level for a blood donation mobile application (“app”).

RESULTS

A total of 982 ethnically diverse respondents of various age groups and prior donation experiences were surveyed. Among the respondents, 87.3% had ready access to smart phones. E‐mail was chosen by 62.1% as the currently preferred method when contacted by the blood center, followed by texting (10.1%). App features desired by most respondents were the abilities to request appointments 24/7 (76.8%) and to receive appointment confirmations quickly (81.3%). Many were concerned about receiving too many alerts or messages (64.1%) or insufficient protection for personal information (53.5%). Overall, 67.7% of respondents indicated that they were likely to use a blood donation mobile app. Likelihood was not significantly different by sex or ethnicity, and the impact of education level was limited. Donors who currently made donation appointments via telephone or a website were equally likely to use such an app. However, donors older than 45 years were less likely than younger donors (p = 0.001), and donors with more than five lifetime donations were more likely than less frequent donors to use such an app (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

In a metropolitan area, donors are very receptive to using a mobile app to manage their donations.
Technical Note: Preliminary investigations into the use of a functionalised polymer to reduce diffusion in Fricke gel dosimeters
Authors: Smith S. T. , Masters K.‐S. , Hosokawa K. , Blinco J. P. , Crowe S. B. , Kairn T. , Trapp J. V.
Published: November 2015

Purpose:

A modification of the existing PVA‐FX hydrogel has been made to investigate the use of a functionalised polymer in a Fricke gel dosimetry system to decrease Fe3+ diffusion.

Methods:

The chelating agent, xylenol orange, was chemically bonded to the gelling agent, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to create xylenol orange functionalised PVA (XO‐PVA). A gel was created from the XO‐PVA (20% w/v) with ferrous sulfate (0.4 mM) and sulfuric acid (50 mM).

Results:

This resulted in an optical density dose sensitivity of 0.014 Gy−1, an auto‐oxidation rate of 0.0005 h−1, and a diffusion rate of 0.129 mm2 h−1; an 8% reduction compared to the original PVA‐FX gel, which in practical terms adds approximately 1 h to the time span between irradiation and accurate read‐out.

Conclusions:

Because this initial method of chemically bonding xylenol orange to polyvinyl alcohol has inherently low conversion, the improvement on existing gel systems is minimal when compared to the drawbacks. More efficient methods of functionalising polyvinyl alcohol with xylenol orange must be developed for this system to gain clinical relevance.
Prior image based temporally constrained reconstruction algorithm for magnetic resonance guided high intensity focused ultrasound
Authors: Prakash Jaya , Todd Nick , Yalavarthy Phaneendra K.
Published: November 2015

Purpose:

A prior image based temporally constrained reconstruction (PITCR) algorithm was developed for obtaining accurate temperature maps having better volume coverage, and spatial, and temporal resolution than other algorithms for highly undersampled data in magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry.

Methods:

The proposed PITCR approach is an algorithm that gives weight to the prior image and performs accurate reconstruction in a dynamic imaging environment. The PITCR method is compared with the temporally constrained reconstruction (TCR) algorithm using pork muscle data.

Results:

The PITCR method provides superior performance compared to the TCR approach with highly undersampled data. The proposed approach is computationally expensive compared to the TCR approach, but this could be overcome by the advantage of reconstructing with fewer measurements. In the case of reconstruction of temperature maps from 16% of fully sampled data, the PITCR approach was 1.57× slower compared to the TCR approach, while the root mean square error using PITCR is 0.784 compared to 2.815 with the TCR scheme.

Conclusions:

The PITCR approach is able to perform more accurate reconstructions of temperature maps compared to the TCR approach with highly undersampled data in MR guided high intensity focused ultrasound.
Accuracy and calibration of integrated radiation output indicators in diagnostic radiology: A report of the AAPM Imaging Physics Committee Task Group 190
Authors: Lin Pei‐Jan P. , Schueler Beth A. , Balter Stephen , Strauss Keith J. , Wunderle Kevin A. , LaFrance M. Terry , Kim Don‐Soo , Behrman Richard H. , Shepard S. Jeff , Bercha Ishtiaq H.
Published: November 2015

Due to the proliferation of disciplines employing fluoroscopy as their primary imaging tool and the prolonged extensive use of fluoroscopy in interventional and cardiovascular angiography procedures, “dose‐area‐product” (DAP) meters were installed to monitor and record the radiation dose delivered to patients. In some cases, the radiation dose or the output value is calculated, rather than measured, using the pertinent radiological parameters and geometrical information. The AAPM Task Group 190 (TG‐190) was established to evaluate the accuracy of the DAP meter in 2008. Since then, the term “DAP‐meter” has been revised to air kerma‐area product (KAP) meter. The charge of TG 190 (Accuracy and Calibration of Integrated Radiation Output Indicators in Diagnostic Radiology) has also been realigned to investigate the “Accuracy and Calibration of Integrated Radiation Output Indicators” which is reflected in the title of the task group, to include situations where the KAP may be acquired with or without the presence of a physical “meter.” To accomplish this goal, validation test protocols were developed to compare the displayed radiation output value to an external measurement. These test protocols were applied to a number of clinical systems to collect information on the accuracy of dose display values in the field.
3D liver segmentation using multiple region appearances and graph cuts
Authors: Peng Jialin , Hu Peijun , Lu Fang , Peng Zhiyi , Kong Dexing , Zhang Hongbo
Published: November 2015

Purpose:

Efficient and accurate 3D liver segmentations from contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) images play an important role in therapeutic strategies for hepatic diseases. However, inhomogeneous appearances, ambiguous boundaries, and large variance in shape often make it a challenging task. The existence of liver abnormalities poses further difficulty. Despite the significant intensity difference, liver tumors should be segmented as part of the liver. This study aims to address these challenges, especially when the target livers contain subregions with distinct appearances.

Methods:

The authors propose a novel multiregion‐appearance based approach with graph cuts to delineate the liver surface. For livers with multiple subregions, a geodesic distance based appearance selection scheme is introduced to utilize proper appearance constraint for each subregion. A special case of the proposed method, which uses only one appearance constraint to segment the liver, is also presented. The segmentation process is modeled with energy functions incorporating both boundary and region information. Rather than a simple fixed combination, an adaptive balancing weight is introduced and learned from training sets. The proposed method only calls initialization inside the liver surface. No additional constraints from user interaction are utilized.

Results:

The proposed method was validated on 50 3D CT images from three datasets, i.e., Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) training and testing set, and local dataset. On MICCAI testing set, the proposed method achieved a total score of 83.4 ± 3.1, outperforming nonexpert manual segmentation (average score of 75.0). When applying their method to MICCAI training set and local dataset, it yielded a mean Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 97.7% ± 0.5% and 97.5% ± 0.4%, respectively. These results demonstrated the accuracy of the method when applied to different computed tomography (CT) datasets. In addition, user operator variability experiments showed its good reproducibility.

Conclusions:

A multiregion‐appearance based method is proposed and evaluated to segment liver. This approach does not require prior model construction and so eliminates the burdens associated with model construction and matching. The proposed method provides comparable results with state‐of‐the‐art methods. Validation results suggest that it may be suitable for the clinical use.
A new generation of alloyed/multimetal chalcogenide nanowires by chemical transformation
Authors: Yang Yuan , Wang Kai , Liang Hai-Wei , Liu Guo-Qiang , Feng Mei , Xu Liang , Liu Jian-Wei , Wang Jin-Long , Yu Shu-Hong
Published: November 2015

A general chemical transformation process for synthesis of more than 45 kinds of one-dimensional metal chalcogenide nanostructure.
Visualization of superparamagnetic dynamics in magnetic topological insulators
Authors: Lachman Ella O. , Young Andrea F. , Richardella Anthony , Cuppens Jo , Naren H. R. , Anahory Yonathan , Meltzer Alexander Y. , Kandala Abhinav , Kempinger Susan , Myasoedov Yuri , Huber Martin E. , Samarth Nitin , Zeldov Eli
Published: November 2015

The ferromagnetic state of topological insulators showing quantum anomalous Hall effect is surprisingly superparamagnetic.
Uniform metal nanostructures with long-range order via three-step hierarchical self-assembly
Authors: Erb Denise J. , Schlage Kai , Röhlsberger Ralf
Published: November 2015

Bottom-up routine enables precise metal nanopatterning on large areas, overcoming the limits of top-down fabrication methods.
Tuning bad metal and non-Fermi liquid behavior in a Mott material: Rare-earth nickelate thin films
Authors: Mikheev Evgeny , Hauser Adam J. , Himmetoglu Burak , Moreno Nelson E. , Janotti Anderson , Van de Walle Chris G. , Stemmer Susanne
Published: November 2015

This work elucidates unconventional metallic behavior and metal-insulator transitions in a strongly correlated materials system.
Neuropilin-1 and heparan sulfate proteoglycans cooperate in cellular uptake of nanoparticles functionalized by cationic cell-penetrating peptides
Authors: Pang Hong-Bo , Braun Gary B. , Ruoslahti Erkki
Published: November 2015

Two cell entry mechanisms cooperate in peptide-mediated intracellular delivery.
The PTEN pathway in T
regs
is a critical driver of the suppressive tumor microenvironment
Authors: Sharma Madhav D. , Shinde Rahul , McGaha Tracy L. , Huang Lei , Holmgaard Rikke B. , Wolchok Jedd D. , Mautino Mario R. , Celis Esteban , Sharpe Arlene H. , Francisco Loise M. , Powell Jonathan D. , Yagita Hideo , Mellor Andrew L. , Blazar Bruce R. , Munn David H.
Published: November 2015

Tumors depend on a specialized pathway of regulatory T cell activation to create their immunosuppressive microenvironment, which can be blocked by inhibiting PTEN phosphatase.