bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lycopene attenuates chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation via the interaction of NF‐κB, MAPKs, and Nrf2 signaling pathways in rats
Authors: Zhao Qinxin , Yang Feiya , Meng Lingquan , Chen Dong , Wang Mingshuai , Lu Xinxing , Chen Dexi , Jiang Yongguang , Xing Nianzeng
Published: December 2019

Background

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is identified as a urinary andrological diseases that afflict men due to various discomforts. It is urgent and meaningful to develop the novel and effective treatments as a result of the unclear etiology and dismal therapeutic effect of CP/CPPS. Lycopene exerts a crucial role in numerous chronic inflammatory diseases owing to its potent antioxidant capacity.

Objective

This study aimed to observe the effect of lycopene on CP/CPPS and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

A CP/CPPS model with complete Freund's adjuvant was established in this study. Afterward, intragastric lycopene or corn oil was administered daily for 4 consecutive weeks. Finally, the cardiac blood and prostate tissue samples were collected from rats to carry out related evaluation and testing.

Results

It was found in this study that lycopene alleviated changes in prostate histopathology compared with those in the complete Freund's adjuvant‐induced CP/CPPS model rats without lycopene treatment. Furthermore, lycopene was suggested to reduce the levels of chemokines MCP1 and MIP‐1α, down‐regulate the expression levels of cytokines (such as TNFα, IL‐1β, IL‐2, and IL‐6), and up‐regulate those of CAT, GSH‐PX, and T‐SOD, decrease that of malondialdehyde. Moreover, it also inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, NF‐κB, and enhanced phosphorylation of the Nrf2 in the CP/CPPS rat model.

Discussion and Conclusions

The findings in this study suggest that lycopene exerts potent anti‐ CP/CPPS Seffects through alleviating inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which is probably attributed to the interaction of NF‐κB, MAPKs, and Nrf2 signaling pathways in rats. As a natural antioxidant, lycopene may serve as a promising pharmaceutical preparation for treating CP/CPPS.
Mycophenolates: The latest modern and potent immunosuppressive drugs in adult kidney transplantation: What we should know about them?
Authors: Bentata Yassamine
Published: December 2019

Introduced in 1995, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) would become the most powerful antiproliferative agent in the field of organ transplantation, thereby supplanting azathioprine, the first antiproliferative agent introduced in the early 1960s. Its association with tacrolimus greatly improved kidney transplant (KT) prognosis by significantly reducing the incidence of posttransplant acute rejection. MMF is also reputed to be a safe medication, but the frequency of the gastrointestinal complications associated with it, even minor ones, has induced the marketing of a second molecule called enteric‐coated mycophenolate sodium. This late form of mycophenolate was supposed to be better tolerated thanks to its pharmacokinetic properties but the studies did not show significant differences between the two molecules. Otherwise, the combination of MMF with tacrolimus has significantly increased the risk of infections, particularly viral, and of neoplasia. To reduce this risk and avoid any situation of under or overexposure while remaining effective, only a strict and long‐term monitoring of MMF allows the maintenance of already established therapeutic targets within the predefined ranges. In KT, individualizing the prescription and targets of MMF according to immunologic risk, global immunosuppression, and posttransplant period, as for other immunosuppressants, is open to discussion and may be beneficial.
Editorial: how can we best promote the routine use of scores that are accurate at predicting outcomes in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding?
Authors: Bardou Marc , Barkun Alan N.
Published: December 2019

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Saffouri et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15541.
Two duodenal gastrointestinal stroma tumors: Management by minimally invasive surgery and then by conservative surgery
Authors: Dembinski Jeanne , Sabbagh Charles , Chivot Cyril , Le Mouel Jean‐Philippe , Regimbeau Jean‐Marc
Published: December 2019

We report the case of a 48‐year‐old woman treated for a gastrointestinal stroma tumor of the duodenum after presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. She was treated with a combination of a radiological and endoscopic approach and minimally invasive surgery. During follow‐up, the patient developed a second metachronous duodenal gastrointestinal stroma tumor, distinct from a local recurrence. This tumor was treated with a conservative surgical approach.
What do we know about duodenal‐type follicular lymphoma? From pathological definition to treatment options
Authors: Duffles Amarante Guilherme , Collins Graham , Rocha Vanderson
Published: December 2019

Duodenal‐type follicular lymphoma (DFL) is a newly recognised variant of follicular lymphoma (FL), although little is known about its biology and clinical evolution. In general, patients tend to have mild symptoms and do not require therapy, comparable with other forms of low‐tumour burden asymptomatic FL. Specific pathological features, such as a dendritic cell meshwork, low expression of CD10 and upregulation of activation‐induced cytidine deaminase can help the diagnosis. The molecular landscape of DFL is similar to the classical nodal presentation of FL, although studies using gene expression profiling demonstrate a close relation with MALT lymphomas. Markers associated with inflammation have suggested that the microenvironment plays a likely role in the pathogenesis of DFL and its low progression rate. Clinical series published vary between 20–63 patients with an estimated overall survival between 92–100% and a median follow‐up ranging between 20 and 107 months. Treatment options include a watch and wait strategy, rituximab monotherapy and radiotherapy. In this review, we summarise current pathological data and treatment studies in DFL.
piR‐39980 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis via repression of SERPINB1 in human osteosarcoma
Authors: Das Basudeb , Jain Neha , Mallick Bibekanand
Published: December 2019

Background Information

Piwi‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a novel class of ∼23–36 nts long endogenous small non‐coding RNAs, earlier known to maintain germline genome integrity during development by regulating transposable elements. Recently, piRNAs are known to regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis in different cancer cells. However, piRNAs have not yet been reported in human osteosarcoma (OS), a highly metastatic aggressive bone tumour among adolescents. Therefore, our current study aimed to decrypt the potential role of a piRNA, piR‐39980 in osteosarcoma, which was earlier reported by us in fibrosarcoma, neuroblastoma and epithelial ovarian cancer.

Results

We found that piR‐39980 is significantly upregulated in two human osteosarcoma cell lines, 143B and HOS compared to IMR90‐tert fibroblast cells. The transient overexpression of endogenous piR‐39980 level through transfection by piRNA mimic promotes proliferation, migration and invasion ability of OS cells, whereas its inhibition significantly induces apoptosis, chromatin condensation and γ‐H2AX accumulation as well as restrains migration and invasion of OS cells. Further, we found 13 genes as targets of piR‐39980 using miRanda, among which SERPINB1 that is downregulated in OS cells is seen to suppress proliferation, and migration in this cancer upon its overexpression. The knockdown of piR‐39980 in OS cells led to enhanced expression of SERPINB1 indicating to be its target, which was then confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. In addition, gelatin zymography and western blotting revealed that transfection of piR‐39980 mimic promotes MMP‐2 activation, whereas its inhibition and SERPINB1 overexpression suppresses MMP‐2 activation in OS cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, our study revealed that piR‐39980 promotes migration and invasion via MMP‐2 activation as well as inhibits cell death, both through negative regulation of SERPINB1.

Significance

This study revealed that piR‐39980 functions as an oncogene in human osteosarcoma, which could be harnessed as a potential therapeutic target for this malignancy.
Plant response to habitat amount and configuration in Swedish forests
Authors: Lehtilä Kari , Vinter Tiina , Dinnetz Patrik
Published: December 2019

Aim

There is an intense debate about whether habitat fragmentation has a negative or positive effect on biodiversity. We examined whether species richness and incidence of forest plants were negatively or positively associated with fragmented forest configuration. We also analysed whether the results support the fragmentation threshold hypothesis with fragmentation effects only in landscapes with small habitat amount.

Location

Södermanland province, south‐eastern Sweden (8,388 km2).

Methods

Data consisted of plant distribution maps and landscape data on forest amount and configuration in 2.5 km × 2.5 km quadrats. We carried out models including forest area together with clumpiness index (CL models) or edge density (ED models) as the measure of habitat configuration. We focused on plant taxa with positive association between incidence and forest area (163 taxa in CL models; 119 taxa in ED models).

Results

Responses to fragmented configuration were negative more often than by random (33 and 22 taxa in CL and ED models, respectively; includes only models without significant forest area × configuration interaction), whereas positive responses were rare (four taxa in both models). When forest area × configuration interaction was significant, the most common response had a negative effect of fragmented configuration when forest area was low and no effect of configuration when forest area was high, which agrees with the fragmentation threshold hypothesis. Species richness also had this type of response. In another common interactive response, the effect of fragmented configuration was negative at low forest area and positive at high forest area.

Main conclusions

Responses to fragmented forest configuration, when significant, were usually negative. When responses to fragmented configuration were modulated by forest area, they were negative when forest area was low. The findings of complex interaction between forest area and configuration have implications for selection of appropriate patch sizes in sustainable forest management.
Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures or rigidity and multifocal seizure syndrome, lethal neonatal? Different emphases on a severe phenotype
Authors: Guerrini Renzo
Published: December 2019

This commentary is on the case series by Scheffer et al. on pages 1096–1099 of this issue.
Smartphone interfaced handheld echocardiography for focused assessment of ventricular function and structure in children: A pilot study
Authors: Acheampong Benjamin , Parra David A. , Aliyu Muktar H. , Moon Troy D. , Soslow Jonathan H.
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Miniaturized echocardiographic machines improve availability and portability and can be particularly useful for underserved and resource‐limited settings. The goal of this study was to compare left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) obtained by a newer handheld echo (HHE) machine to standard transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) in children.

Methods

Pediatric outpatients (Birth−18 years) undergoing TTE were prospectively enrolled. HHE protocol included 2D and M‐mode images from the parasternal long, short, and apical‐4 chamber views. HHE and TTE measurements were reviewed for agreement. Kappa statistic was used to analyze qualitative indices while FS and LVEF were analyzed with Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland–Altman limits of agreement (loa).

Results

Sixty children were enrolled; 55 were included in the quantitative analysis. Mean age was 7.5 ± 5.5 years; 67% males; median HHE image acquisition duration was 2.3(1‐5) minutes. Fractional shortening and EF by HHE showed good agreement with TTE [CCC = 0.82, 95%CI (0.73,0.90), mean bias −3.18%, loa (−7.00,6.44%) vs CCC = 0.81 (0.72,0.90), mean bias −0.87%, loa (−6.94,5.17%], respectively. In children ≤5 years, HHE FS (n = 20) and EF (n = 21) agreed with TTE measurement [0.59 (0.31, 0.88), mean bias 0.30%, loa (−8.5, 9.1%); 0.79 (0.63, 0.96), mean bias 0.10%, loa (−5.99, 6.14)]. Kappa values for RV size, function, and LV function were 1.00 (P < .05); 0.75 for LV size (P < .05) and 0.66 for pericardial effusion (P < .05).

Conclusion

Handheld echo demonstrates good correlation with standard TTE for focused assessment of ventricular chamber sizes and function in children.
Prenatal diagnosis of Marfan syndrome by fetal echocardiography: A case report and review of cardiovascular manifestations
Authors: Wang Xin , Sun Lin , Liu Xiao‐Wei , Shang Jian‐Feng , He Yi‐Hua
Published: December 2019

Neonatal Marfan syndrome (nMFS), phenotypically and genotypically distinct from the classical syndrome, is rarely diagnosed prenatally, and the cardiovascular prognosis is poor. This case report described one fetus diagnosed with nMFS by fetal echocardiography. The main features were cardiomegaly, and atrioventricular valves prolapse with moderate regurgitation and dilated great vessels. Extracardiac malformations included right diaphragmatic eventration, bilateral pyelectasis, and lengthy femur. Pathological examination confirmed the findings of fetal echo, and all cardiac valves were dysplastic. Sanger sequencing revealed a deletion mutation affecting exon 30 of the fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene. Echocardiography is essential for prenatal diagnosis, and multivalve dysplasia is common among those patients.
Antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Mohyuddin Ghulam Rehman , Aziz Muhammad , McClune Brian , Abdallah Al‐Ola , Qazilbash Muzaffar
Published: December 2019

Objective

Ascertain the benefit of prophylactic antibiotics for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), given that clinical trials evaluating this have had conflicting results.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluating the use of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with MM and its impact on infection risk and mortality.

Results

Across three included studies, a total of 664 patients received antibiotics and 650 patients received no antibiotics. The overall incidence of infection within 3 months was lower for antibiotic group compared to placebo (18.4% vs 23.4%, RR: 0.79, 95% CI 0.62‐1.00, P = .05, I2 = 6.5%). There was no difference in mortality in the first 3 months (1.5% vs 3.5%, RR: 0.47, 95% CI 0.17‐1.27, P = .60, I2 = 28.1%).

Conclusion

Antibiotic prophylaxis for a finite duration can decrease the overall incidence of infection within the first 3 months following diagnosis. This does not lead to a decrease in mortality. Further data on antibiotic resistance patterns, toxicity, healthcare expenditures, and the impact of antibiotics on subsequent therapies can assist providers in helping make decisions on prophylactic antibiotics with their patients.
Partial FMRP expression is sufficient to normalize neuronal hyperactivity in Fragile X neurons
Authors: Graef John D. , Wu Hao , Ng Carrie , Sun Chicheng , Villegas Vivian , Qadir Deena , Jesseman Kimberly , Warren Stephen T. , Jaenisch Rudolf , Cacace Angela , Wallace Owen
Published: December 2019

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common genetic form of intellectual disability caused by a CGG repeat expansion in the 5′‐UTR of the Fragile X mental retardation gene FMR1, triggering epigenetic silencing and the subsequent absence of the protein, FMRP. Reactivation of FMR1 represents an attractive therapeutic strategy targeting the genetic root cause of FXS. However, largely missing in the FXS field is an understanding of how much FMR1 reactivation is required to rescue FMRP‐dependent mutant phenotypes. Here, we utilize FXS patient‐derived excitatory neurons to model FXS in vitro and confirm that the absence of FMRP leads to neuronal hyperactivity. We further determined the levels of FMRP and the percentage of FMRP‐positive cells necessary to correct this phenotype utilizing a mixed and mosaic neuronal culture system and a combination of CRISPR, antisense and expression technologies to titrate FMRP in FXS and WT neurons. Our data demonstrate that restoration of greater than 5% of overall FMRP expression levels or greater than 20% FMRP‐expressing neurons in a mosaic pattern is sufficient to normalize a FMRP‐dependent, hyperactive phenotype in FXS iPSC‐derived neurons.
Genome‐wide mRNA profiling identifies RCAN1 and GADD45A as regulators of the transitional switch from survival to apoptosis during ER stress
Authors: Bartoszewski Rafal , Gebert Magdalena , Janaszak‐Jasiecka Anna , Cabaj Aleksandra , Króliczewski Jarosław , Bartoszewska Sylwia , Sobolewska Aleksandra , Crossman David K. , Ochocka Renata , Kamysz Wojciech , Kalinowski Leszek , Dąbrowski Michał , Collawn James F.
Published: December 2019

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions promote a cellular adaptive mechanism called the unfolded protein response (UPR) that utilizes three stress sensors, inositol‐requiring protein 1, protein kinase RNA‐like ER kinase, and activating transcription factor 6. These sensors activate a number of pathways to reduce the stress and facilitate cell survival. While much is known about the mechanisms involved that modulate apoptosis during chronic stress, less is known about the transition between the prosurvival and proapoptotic factors that determine cell fate. Here, we employed a genetic screen that utilized three different pharmacological stressors to induce ER stress in a human‐immortalized airway epithelial cell line, immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells. We followed the stress responses over an 18‐h time course and utilized real‐time monitoring of cell survival, next‐generation sequencing, and quantitative real‐time PCR to identify and validate genes that were upregulated with all three commonly employed ER stressors, inhibitor of calpain 1, tunicamycin, and thapsigargin. growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible alpha (GADD45A), a proapoptotic factor, and regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) mRNAs were identified and verified by showing that small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of GADD45A decreased CCAAT‐enhancer‐binding protein homologous protein (a.k.a DDIT3), BCL2‐binding component 3 (a.k.a. BBC3), and phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate‐induced protein 1 expression, 3 proapoptotic factors, and increased cell viability during ER stress conditions, whereas siRNA knockdown of RCAN1 dramatically decreased cell viability. These results suggest that the relative levels of these two genes regulate cell fate decisions during ER stress independent of the type of ER stressor.
Functional traits explain the Hutchinsonian niches of plant species
Authors: Treurnicht Martina , Pagel Jörn , Tonnabel Jeanne , Esler Karen J. , Slingsby Jasper A. , Schurr Frank M.
Published: December 2019

Aim

The Hutchinsonian niche is a foundational concept in ecology and evolutionary biology that describes fundamental characteristics of any species: the global maximum population growth rate (rmax); the niche optimum (the environment for which rmax is reached); and the niche width (the environmental range for which intrinsic population growth rates are positive). We examine whether these characteristics are related to inter‐ and intraspecific variation in functional traits.

Location

Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.

Time period

Present day.

Major taxa studied

Twenty‐six plant species (Proteaceae).

Methods

We measured leaf, plant‐architectural and seed traits across species geographical ranges. We then examined how species‐mean traits are related to demographically derived niche characteristics of rmax, in addition to niche optima and widths in five environmental dimensions, and how intraspecific trait variation is related to niche widths.

Results

Interspecific trait variation generally exceeded range‐wide intraspecific trait variation. Species‐mean trait values were associated with variation in rmax (R2 = 0.27) but were more strongly related to niche optima (mean R2 = 0.56). These relationships generally matched trait–environment associations described in the literature. Both species‐mean traits and intraspecific trait variability were strongly related to niche widths (R2 = 0.66 and 0.59, respectively). Moreover, niche widths increased with intraspecific trait variability. Overall, the different niche characteristics were associated with few, largely non‐overlapping sets of traits.

Main conclusions

Our study relating functional traits to Hutchinsonian niches demonstrates that key demographic properties of species relate to few traits with relatively strong effects. Our results further support the hypothesis that intraspecific trait variation increases species niche widths. Given that niche characteristics were related to distinct sets of traits, different aspects of environmental change might affect axes of trait variation independently. Trait‐based studies of Hutchinsonian niches thus yield important insights into the mechanisms shaping functional biodiversity, which should reinforce the role of traits in functional biogeography.
Balancing constituency and congruence: How constituency involvement affects positional congruence between organized interests and the general public
Authors: Willems Evelien , De Bruycker Iskander
Published: December 2019

This article asks to what extent and under which conditions interest groups are congruent with public opinion. We argue that interest groups can be caught in a balancing act between engaging with their constituency on the one hand and aligning their position with the broader public on the other hand. We contribute to previous studies by arguing that the effect of interest group type on congruence is moderated by the degree to which constituencies are involved in advocacy processes and the salience of policy issues. We test these expectations by analyzing 314 media claims made by Belgian interest groups regarding 58 policy issues. The results demonstrate that citizen groups with formal members are more prone to share the position of the broader public compared to concentrated interest groups such as business associations, especially if they involve their members in advocacy activities and when issues are salient in the media.
Three scenarios for the future of work
Authors: MÉDA Dominique
Published: December 2019

After presenting a historical overview of the concept of work and the different meanings that it has acquired over the centuries, the author analyses the value it holds for Europeans, and the impact on work and employment of the popular rhetoric about a technological revolution and its “inevitable” consequences. She then considers the future of work in the light of three scenarios: a “dismantling of labour law”, a “technological revolution” (where automation brings an end to employment), and an “environmental transition”. She argues that the latter is compatible with the imperative to take action on climate change and the expectations placed in work and employment.
Prácticas de compra predatorias en las cadenas mundiales de suministro de la industria de la confección: tensión en las relaciones laborales en la India
Authors: ANNER Mark
Published: December 2019

Desde hace tiempo se viene documentando en múltiples estudios la vulneración de los derechos de los trabajadores en las cadenas mundiales de suministro de la industria de la confección; sin embargo, se ha prestado menos atención al reciente empeoramiento de algunos déficits de trabajo decente y sus causas, que el presente artículo asocia a las prácticas de compra predatorias derivadas de las crecientes asimetrías de poder. Estas prácticas, ilustradas aquí a través de las empresas indias del sector del vestido orientadas a la exportación, ejercen presiones salariales a la baja y favorecen la proliferación de formas atípicas de empleo y la banalización de la violencia física y verbal contra los trabajadores, al tiempo que aumentan las exigencias de productividad. Para frenar esta evolución, es necesario establecer mecanismos de fijación de precios que tengan en cuenta el costo que entraña el cumplimiento del principio del trabajo decente, adoptar una reglamentación estatal adecuada y contar con la participación de los trabajadores.
Baicalein inhibits mitochondrial apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes by stabilizing MARCH5 expression
Authors: Li Qi , Yu Zhongjie , Xiao Dandan , Wang Yu , Zhao Lin , An Yi , Gao Yufang
Published: December 2019

Abnormal mitochondrial fission and mitophagy participate in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases. Baicalein is a key active component in the roots of traditional Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. It has been reported that baicalein can resist cardiotoxicity induced by several stress, but the mechanisms of baicalein operate in the protection of cardiomyocytes need to be researched further. Here we report that baicalein can promote cell survival under oxidative stress by up‐regulating the expression level of MARCH5 in cardiomyocytes. Pre‐treatment cells or mice with baicalein can stabilize the expression of MARCH5, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of mitochondrial network and mitophagy. Overexpressed MARCH5 is able to against H2O2 and ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) stress by suppressing mitochondrial fission and enhancing mitophagy, and then attenuate cells apoptosis. Altogether, our present study investigated that baicalein exerts a protective effect through regulating KLF4‐MARCH5‐Drp1 pathway, our research also provided a novel theoretical basis for the clinical application of baicalein.
Quality preservation of minimally processed pomegranate cv. Jahrom arils based on chitosan and organic acid edible coatings
Authors: Zarbakhsh Saeedeh , Kazemzadeh‐Beneh Hashem , Rastegar Somayeh
Published: December 2019

The effects of chitosan (CTS), ascorbic acid (AsA), and citric acid (CtA) on quality preservation of (Punica granatum cv. “Jahrom”) processed arils were investigated. The arils were immersed in aqueous solutions including water (control), CTS (0.5 and 1%), AsA (1 and 2%), and CtA (1 and 2%) and stored at 5–7°C for 15 days. Results showed that AsA maintained water loss; inhibited color change, phenolic, and anthocyanin degradation; increased vitamin C; and decreased total soluble solids and titratable acidity as compared to control. The efficiency was better for AsA than CtA and thus the effect of CTS on quality safety except to protect water loss was approximately ineffective. AsA also exhibited a significantly lower decay percentage, probably due to the suppressing peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase followed by improving antioxidant power and maintaining catalase activity, which displayed that AsA exerts an antibrowning effect. Moreover, the positive effects of AsA result in getting a higher score in sensory quality at the end storage.
A comparative study of phenols composition, antioxidant, and antifungal potency of leaves extract from five Moroccan Vitis vinifera L. varieties
Authors: Jediyi Hicham , Naamani Khalid , Ait Elkoch Abderrahim , Dihazi Abdelhey , Lemjiber Naima
Published: December 2019

Vitis vinifera (L) crops, covers an area of about 54,000 ha corresponding to a production of 230,000 t of grapes, representing 5.5% of the national perennial corps. However, this plant is sensitive to various ravages and diseases, among others, the cryptogrammic by fungi. The degrading enzymes of the cell wall are among the factors of pathogenicity the more important than fungi use to colonize their host plants. In this study, the first step was devoted to the antioxidant activity and phenols composition (phenylalanine‐ammonia‐lyase [PAL], tyrosine‐ammonia‐lyase [TAL], flavonoids, and tannins) as well as high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis in five vineyard leaves extract, which are “Superior, Early sweet and Flame” (Allochthonous), “Abbou and Adari” (endemic). In the second step, the lytic activities “pectinase, polygalacturonase, xylanase, mannanase, glucanase, and cellulase” were investigated among six epiphytic fungus to compare their hydrolytic aggressiveness. Subsequently, as a third part, phenols antifungal potency and Trichoderma biocontrol were displayed in the study. The phenolic compounds observed in the attributes leaves were different among varieties (p < .05), and show that the endemic variety “Abbou” leads the phytochemical amount, which has the highest quantities of PAL, and TAL, as well as the DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activity, while the introduced variety show a higher amount in total phenol and flavonoids. The polygalacturonase, mannanase, and pectinase activities are probably the main factors responsible for the aggressiveness of the studied fungus. Phenols potency showed a good mycelial inhibition with 82.09% as compared to the biocontrol (64.45%). Given the efficacy of the phytochemical control in this study, the phenols could be a part of integrated management strategies for sustainable control of vineyard disease.
Inadequate Risk Adjustment Impacts Geriatricians' Performance on Medicare Cost and Quality Measures
Authors: Johnston Kenton J. , Wen Hefei , Joynt Maddox Karen E.
Published: December 2019

OBJECTIVES

Medicare value‐based payment programs evaluate physicians' performance on their patients' annual Medicare costs and clinical outcomes. However, little is known about how geriatricians, who disproportionately provide care for medically complex older adults, perform on these measures.

DESIGN

A retrospective study using multivariable regression methods to estimate the association of geriatric risk factors with annualized Medicare costs and preventable hospitalization rates and to compare geriatricians' performance on these outcomes to other primary care physicians (PCPs) under standard Medicare risk adjustment and after adding additional adjustment for geriatric risk factors.

SETTING

Eight years (2006‐2013) of cohort data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 years and older, with primary care services contributing 27 027 person‐years of data.

MEASUREMENTS

Outcomes were costs and preventable hospitalization rates; geriatric risk factors were patient frailty, long‐term institutionalization, dementia, and depression.

RESULTS

Geriatricians were more likely to care for patients with frailty (22.8% vs 14.1%), long‐term institutionalization (12.0% vs 4.7%), dementia (21.6% vs 10.2%), and depression (23.6% vs 17.4%) than other PCPs (P < .001 for each). Under standard Medicare risk adjustment, geriatricians performed more poorly on costs compared to other PCPs (observed‐expected [O‐E] ratio = 1.24 vs 0.99) and preventable hospitalizations (O‐E ratio = 1.16 vs 0.98). Adding frailty, institutionalization, dementia, and depression to risk adjustment improved geriatricians' performance on costs by 25% and on preventable hospitalization rates by 35%, relative to other PCPs. Concurrent‐year risk prediction that removed the influence of unpredictable acute events further improved geriatricians' performance vs other PCPs (O‐E ratio = 0.99 vs 1.00).

CONCLUSION

Medicare should consider risk adjusting for frailty, long‐term institutionalization, dementia, and depression to avoid inappropriately penalizing geriatricians who care for vulnerable older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:297–304, 2020
Association between oxidative stress and temporomandibular joint dysfunction: A narrative review
Authors: Braz Marcylene Arruda , Freitas Portella Fernando , Seehaber Karin Astrid , Bavaresco Caren Serra , Rivaldo Elken Gomes
Published: December 2019

Background

The role of oxidative stress in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) has been studied using synovial fluid, to evaluate oxidative stress (im)balance and its potential role in the onset and/or progression of the disease.

Objective

This review aimed to evaluate the association between oxidative stress markers and the etiopathogenesis of TMJ dysfunction by means of synovial fluid analysis.

Methods

Two independent reviewers searched the electronic databases from inception to March 2019: PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, EMBASE, TRIPDATABASE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. The following key search terms were used: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders OR Temporomandibular Joint Disc OR Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome OR Temporomandibular Joint OR Facial Pain AND Free Radicals OR Oxidative Stress. Data were extracted from the selected articles, including study design, sample profile, TMJ disease reported, diagnostic method, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species evaluated, enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants evaluated, and techniques used to measure free radicals and antioxidants.

Results

After title and abstract screening of 6974 results, and full‐text reading, 19 studies were included. All selected articles were cross‐sectional observational studies. Enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidant defences appeared to be reduced in these patients, resulting in the establishment of the oxidative stress process. In addition, the studies showed a positive correlation between the severity of the intra‐articular TMD and the increase in oxidative damage.

Conclusion

The establishment of oxidative stress, whether by an increase in reactive oxygen/nitrogen species or by a decrease in antioxidant defences, or a combination of both, may be associated with the establishment and maintenance of intra‐articular damage.
Value Creation and Value Capture Alignment in Business Model Innovation: A Process View on Outcome‐Based Business Models
Authors: Sjödin David , Parida Vinit , Jovanovic Marin , Visnjic Ivanka
Published: December 2019

Industrial manufacturers are innovating their business models by shifting from selling products to selling outcome‐based services, where the provider (manufacturer) guarantees to deliver the performance outcomes of the products and services. This form of business model innovation requires a profound yet little understood shift in how value is created, delivered, and captured. To address this research gap, our study examines two successful and four unsuccessful cases of this shift. We find that effectiveness in business model innovation hinges on the three process phases that unfold in collaboration with the customers: value proposition definition, value provision design, and value‐in‐use delivery. We also find that that success is determined by the alignment of specific value creation and value capture activities in each phase: identifying value creation opportunities—agreeing on value distribution in value proposition definition, designing the value offering—deciding on the profit formula in the value provision design, and finally refining value creation processes—regulating incentive structures in the value‐in‐use delivery. Our process model contributes to the literature and practice on business model innovation by providing a thorough understanding of how alignment of value creation and value capture processes is ensured, whilst paying special attention to their interdependence and the interactions between provider and customer.
Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of meloxicam oil suspension in pigs after intramuscular administration
Authors: Li Ying , Guo Fanxi , Jiang Xiangyuan , Ren Juncai , Miao Yingxue , Ding Fangyi , Yu Zugong
Published: December 2019

This study aimed to develop one novel meloxicam (MEL) oil suspension for sustained‐release and compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of it with MEL conventional formulation in pigs after a single intramuscular administration. Six healthy pigs were used for the study by a crossover design in two periods with a withdrawal interval of 14 days. Plasma concentrations of MEL were measured by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental methods. The difference was statistically significant (p < .05) between MEL oil suspension and MEL conventional formulation in pharmacokinetic parameters of mean residence time (6.16 ± 4.04) hr versus (2.66 ± 0.55) hr, peak plasma concentration (Cmax) (0.82 ± 0.12) µg/ml versus (1.12 ± 0.22) µg/ml, time needed to reach Cmax (Tmax) (2.33 ± 0.82) hr versus (0.59 ± 0.18) hr, and terminal elimination half‐life (t1/2λz) (3.74 ± 2.66) hr versus (1.55 ± 0.37) hr. The mean area under the concentration–time curve (AUC0–∝) of MEL oil suspension and MEL conventional formulation was 5.35 and 3.43 hr µg/ml, respectively, with a relative bioavailability of 155.98%. Results of the present study demonstrated that the MEL oil suspension could prolong the effective time of drugs in blood, thereby reducing the frequency of administration on a course of treatment. Therefore, the novel MEL oil suspension seems to be of great value in veterinary clinical application.
Abundance and residency dynamics of the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis, in the Dafengjiang River Estuary, China
Authors: Peng Chongwei , Wu Haiping , Wang Xianyan , Zhu Qian , Jefferson Thomas A. , Wang Chun‐Chieh , Xu Youhou , Li Jian , Huang Hu , Chen Mo , Huang Shiang‐Lin
Published: December 2019

Robust population size estimates are essential for informing population conservation status. Residency dynamics show population habitat use through time. Population size of Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) has been extensively investigated in Chinese waters, but their residency dynamics are rarely known. Mark‐recapture analysis based on photo‐identification records was applied to humpback dolphins in the Dafengjiang River Estuary habitat, one of the key habitats in the northern Beibu Gulf, China. Movement analyses based on lagged identification rate indicated the humpback dolphins spent, on average, 78.5 days inside and 46.9 days outside the survey area. Within the study area, the humpback dolphin abundance was 83 identifiable dolphins. A total of 353–430 humpback dolphins, estimated by POPAN modeling, were involved in this fluid habitat‐use dynamic. Robust Design analysis showed strong seasonality in humpback dolphin abundance and emigration probability, implying a movement‐ and habitat‐use pattern likely associated with spatiotemporal distribution of oceanographic characteristics and prey occurrences. Population surveys and conservation measures currently conducted in Chinese waters seldom consider seasonality in movements between habitat patches, which can be addressed by genetic analyses across habitats and cross‐matching photo‐identification records among neighboring habitats.
A review of persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain (formerly PDAP/Atypical odontalgia)
Authors: Coulter J. , Nixdorf D. R.
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain (PIDP) is a persistent pain condition isolated to the dentoalveolar region and has previously been known as PDAP/Atypical odontalgia.

Presentation

The challenge in diagnosing PIDP means it is often confused for acute dental pain resulting in patients often receiving a number of dental interventions before a diagnosis is made. This highlights the need for practitioners to be aware of the signs of PIDP as early detection can reduce this risk.

Aetiology

The pathophysiology behind PIDP is a subject for much debate. Theories suggest that there may be a link to nerve injury. However, this is complicated by suggestions of links to psychological factors and not all patients reporting dental interventions at the outset. Furthermore it is difficult to determine if the pain has continued since before the intervention or resulted after it.

Treatment

Current first line treatment for PIDP revolves around the prescription of systemic medications. Whilst these have been proven to have some efficacy they are not universally effective and side effects can reduce compliance. Local treatments have been trailed to improve this, but further research is required and a gold standard has not been set.

Conclusion

Persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain an uncommon and poorly understood condition making its diagnosis and treatment challenging. Advances in research are required to the aetiology and treatment of the condition as well as an improvement in clinician's awareness of PIDP. This will hopefully reduce the associated burden on quality of life.
Children with heart transplants: Lessons learned from 774 visits at a primary community clinic
Authors: Nasser Nadim H. , Simri Mohammad M. , Bishara Nasim K. , Habib Mona G. , Nasir Nadir N.
Published: December 2019

Aims Unexpected decompensation of PHTRs may surprise, when the patient is at home. If the PHTR lives a distance from transplant center, the task of identifying risk factors of allograft rejection/dysfunction falls primarily on the PCP in the PCC, whether or not they are knowledgeable toward pediatric heart‐transplantation. Methods We reviewed the medical reports of three heart‐transplanted children in our periphery clinic between the years 2005 and 2019. Results The unexpected death of one patient, hours after he left our health facility, was the impetus for writing this article. Another heart transplant child attended our periphery clinic for 774 visits. Majority of visits were casual, others were scheduled, and the rest were for administrative affairs. We referred the PHTR to the transplantation center in 9% of all visits. In remaining 91% visits, we handled problems locally. Conclusions One of the important lessons we have learned through handling the PHTR at the PCC is that, during daily workflows and dealing with the occasional visits of a heart transplant child, related critical clinical information to allograft rejection or its dysfunction can easily evade from awareness of the attending physician. Through this study, we demonstrated that a program of summoning the PHTR to “initiated monthly visits” at the PCC enables the PCP to be maximally aware of critical clinical information, in addition to limiting futile referrals of 91% of the visits to specialized centers, without adversely affecting the prognosis.
Effects of 308 nm excimer light treatment on the skin microbiome of atopic dermatitis patients
Authors: Kurosaki Yuko , Tsurumachi Munehiro , Kamata Yayoi , Tominaga Mitsutoshi , Suga Yasushi , Takamori Kenji
Published: December 2019

Background

The skin microbiome has been implicated in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although 308 nm excimer light treatment is an effective phototherapy for AD, its effects on the skin microbiome currently remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the excimer light treatment on the skin bacterial and fungal microbiome of lesional skin of AD.

Methods

Swab samples were collected from 11 healthy controls, non‐lesional and lesional skin of 11 AD patients. The excimer light treatment was administered to the lesional skin. The composition of the skin microbiome, the clinical score and skin barrier function of the lesional skin were examined before and after the treatment. The composition of the skin microbiome was determined by sequencing bacterial 16S and fungal internal transcribed spacer regions.

Results

The excimer light treatment significantly changed the composition of the bacterial microbiome in the lesional skin of AD, as well as improved the clinical score and skin barrier function. The treatment increased the relative abundance of the phylum Cyanobacteria and decreased that of the phylum Bacteroidetes in lesional skin. At the species level, the treatment significantly decreased the relative abundance of Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) in lesional skin. There was also a significant correlation between the reduction of S aureus and improvement of the clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that alterations of the skin microbiome with excimer light treatment, specifically the decrease in the abundance of S aureus, are partly involved in the improvement of AD lesions.
Immunogenicity, antibody responses and vaccine efficacy of recombinant annexin B30 against Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Leow Chiuan Yee , Willis Charlene , Chuah Candy , Leow Chiuan Herng , Jones Malcolm
Published: December 2019

Aims

Schistosomes infect approximately 250 million people worldwide. To date, there is no effective vaccine available for the prevention of schistosome infection in endemic regions. There remains a need to develop means to confer long‐term protection of individuals against reinfection. In this study, an annexin, namely annexin B30, which is highly expressed in the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni was selected to evaluate its immunogenicity and protective efficacy in a mouse model.

Methods and results

Bioinformatics analysis showed that there were three potential linear B‐cell epitopes and four conformational B‐cell epitopes predicted from annexin B30, respectively. Full‐length annexin B30 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). In the presence of adjuvants, the soluble recombinant protein was evaluated for its protective efficacy in two independent vaccine trials. Immunization of CBA mice with recombinant annexin B30 formulated either in alum only or alum/CpG induced a mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine profile but no significant protection against schistosome infection was detected.

Conclusion

Recombinant annexin B30 did not confer significant protection against the parasite. The molecule may not be suitable for vaccine development. However, it could be an ideal biomarker recommended for immunodiagnostics development.
When Will Public Officials Listen? A Vignette Experiment on the Effects of Input Legitimacy on Public Officials’ Willingness to Use Public Participation
Authors: Migchelbrink Koen , Van de Walle Steven
Published: December 2019

Public officials can be reluctant to use citizens’ input in decision‐making, especially when turnout is low and participants are unrepresentative of the wider population. Using Fritz Scharpf's democratic legitimacy approach, the authors conducted a survey‐based vignette experiment to examine how the input legitimacy of participatory processes affects (1) public officials’ willingness to use public participation in administrative decision‐making, (2) their assessment of the quality of the policy decision, and (3) their anticipation of popular support for the policy outcome. The study shows that turnout and participants’ representativeness have a positive and significant effect on public officials’ attitudes toward public participation. Specifically, participants’ representativeness influences public officials’ willingness to use citizens’ inputs more than turnout.