bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PDGFRa amplification in multiple skin lesions of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A clue for intimal sarcoma metastases
Authors: Osio Amélie , Vignon‐Pennamen Marie‐Dominique , Pedeutour Florence , Le Maignan Christine , Koskas Fabien , Lebbé Célèste , Janin Anne , Battistella Maxime
Published: January 2017

A 62‐year‐old human immunodeficiency virus‐positive man was admitted for multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules on his lower limbs, corresponding to an undifferentiated proliferation of spindle and pleomorphic cells, with irregular nuclei and numerous mitoses. The tumor cells were negative for a large panel of immunohistochemical markers, except CD10. MDM2 immunohistochemical staining was also negative, leading to the diagnosis of Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte contre le Cancer grade III undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). Array‐comparative genomic hybridization showed a highly complex karyotype, with amplification of the 4q12 region, an area that contains only the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRa) gene. This amplification of PDFGRa, molecular hallmark of intimal sarcoma (IS), led to the diagnosis of skin IS metastasis. A positron emission tomography showed a hypermetabolic mass protruding in the preaortic area, consistent with the diagnosis of aortic IS. Our study shows that a rare differential diagnosis in peripheral UPS can be IS skin metastasis, and underlines the importance of molecular analyses in UPS.
Intraepidermal proliferation of Merkel cells within a seborrheic keratosis: Merkel cell carcinoma in situ or Merkel cell hyperplasia?
Authors: McFalls Jeanne , Okon Lauren , Cannon Sarah , Lee Jason B.
Published: January 2017

Intradepidermal proliferation of Merkel cells without any dermal component has been interpreted as either a hyperplastic process secondary to chronic ultraviolet radiation or a neoplastic process, namely Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in situ. The recent criteria that have been proffered to diagnose MCC in situ, unfortunately, are identical to those that have been applied to Merkel cell hyperplasia in the past, posing a diagnostic quandary when faced with an intraepidermal proliferation of Merkel cells. Most previously reported cases of MCC in situ have occurred within associated epithelial lesion that includes solar (actinic) keratosis and squamous‐cell carcinoma in situ. Similarly, Merkel cell hyperplasia has been reported to occur in association with a variety of epithelial lesions as well as on chronically sun‐damaged skin. Herein, a case of an intraepidermal proliferation of Merkel cells within a seborrheic keratosis is presented accompanied by a discussion on whether the proliferation represents another case of Merkel cell carcinoma in situ or an incidental hyperplastic process on chronically sun‐damaged skin.
Observational Registry of Basal Insulin Treatment (ORBIT) in patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled with oral antihyperglycaemic drugs: Real‐life use of basal insulin in China
Authors: Ji Linong , Zhang Puhong , Zhu Dongshan , Li Xian , Ji Jiachao , Lu Juming , Guo Xiaohui , Jia Weiping , Weng Jianping , Wu Yangfeng , Yang Wenying , Zou Dajin , Zhou Zhiguang , Pan Changyu , Gao Yan , Garg Satish K.
Published: January 2017

Aims

To examine treatment patterns following basal insulin (BI) introduction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients under real‐world conditions across China.

Materials and methods

Overall, 18 995 patients inadequately controlled (HbA1c ≥ 53 mmol/mol [7%]) with oral antihyperglycaemic drugs (OADs) and willing to receive BI treatment were registered at 209 hospitals and followed at baseline (visit 1), 3 months (visit 2) and 6 months (visit 3). Type of BI was initiated at physicians’ discretion.

Results

Retention with BI therapy at 6 months was 75.6%. Use of long‐acting BI predominated, with insulin glargine accounting for 71%, detemir 13% and Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin 16%. Over 70% of long‐acting users maintained the same initial BI at visit 3, while 40% of NPH users switched treatment and 24.4% of participants initiated BI with prandial insulin. The initial mean (± SD) dose of BI and total insulin was 0.18 ± 0.07 and 0.25 ± 0.19 IU/kg, respectively, with a mean increase of daily dose by 0.03 and 0.02 IU/kg after 6 months, respectively. Only 56.6% of insulin users reported dose titration at visit 3. Mean HbA1c was 81 mmol/mol (9.6%) at baseline and 57 mmol/mol (7.4%) at 6 months. The frequency of hypoglycaemia was 1.61 and 2.07 episodes/patient‐year at baseline and 6 months, respectively.

Conclusions

In real‐world clinical settings, add‐on BI therapy in T2DM patients is associated with significant improvement in glycaemic control without overtly compromising safety related to hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Evolution of insulin treatment regimens varied among patients, but dose titration was suboptimal. More active BI dose titration might further improve glycaemic outcome in patients receiving BI therapy.

Video Abstract

A free Video Abstract to accompany this article is available at https://vimeo.com/212655959
Individual variation in behavioural responsiveness to humans leads to differences in breeding success and long‐term population phenotypic changes
Authors: Arroyo Beatriz , Mougeot François , Bretagnolle Vincent
Published: January 2017

Whether human disturbance can lead to directional selection and phenotypic change in behaviour in species with limited behavioural plasticity is poorly understood in wild animal populations. Using a 19‐year study on Montagu′s harrier, we report a long‐term increase in boldness towards humans during nest visits. The probability of females fleeing or being passive during nest visits decreased, while defence intensity steadily increased over the study period. These behavioural responses towards humans were significantly repeatable. The phenotypic composition of the breeding population changed throughout the study period (4–5 harrier generations), with a gradual disappearance of shy individuals, leading to a greater proportion of bolder ones and a more behaviourally homogeneous population. We further show that nest visit frequency increased nest failure probability and reduced productivity of shy females, but not of bold ones. Long‐term research or conservation programmes needing nest visits can therefore lead to subtle but relevant population compositional changes that require further attention.
Inflammatory profile discriminates clinical subtypes in LRRK2‐associated Parkinson's disease
Authors: Brockmann K. , Schulte C. , Schneiderhan‐Marra N. , Apel A. , Pont‐Sunyer C. , Vilas D. , Ruiz‐Martinez J. , Langkamp M. , Corvol J.‐C. , Cormier F. , Knorpp T. , Joos T. O. , Bernard A. , Gasser T. , Marras C. , Schüle B. , Aasly J. O. , Foroud T. , Marti‐Masso J. F. , Brice A. , Tolosa E. , Berg D. , Maetzler W.
Published: January 2017

Background and purpose

The presentation of Parkinson's disease patients with mutations in the LRRK2 gene (PDLRRK2) is highly variable, suggesting a strong influence of modifying factors. In this context, inflammation is a potential candidate inducing clinical subtypes.

Methods

An extensive battery of peripheral inflammatory markers was measured in human serum in a multicentre cohort of 142 PDLRRK2 patients from the MJFF LRRK2 Consortium, stratified by three different subtypes as recently proposed for idiopathic Parkinson's disease: diffuse/malignant, intermediate and mainly pure motor.

Results

Patients classified as diffuse/malignant presented with the highest levels of the pro‐inflammatory proteins interleukin 8 (IL‐8), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP‐1) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1‐β (MIP‐1‐β) paralleled by high levels of the neurotrophic protein brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). It was also possible to distinguish the clinical subtypes based on their inflammatory profile by using discriminant and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Conclusions

Inflammation seems to be associated with the presence of a specific clinical subtype in PDLRRK2 that is characterized by a broad and more severely affected spectrum of motor and non‐motor symptoms. The pro‐inflammatory metabolites IL‐8, MCP‐1 and MIP‐1‐β as well as BDNF are interesting candidates to be included in biomarker panels that aim to differentiate subtypes in PDLRRK2 and predict progression.
Octopamine enhances oxidative stress resistance through the fasting‐responsive transcription factor DAF‐16/FOXO in C. elegans
Authors: Hoshikawa Haruka , Uno Masaharu , Honjoh Sakiko , Nishida Eisuke
Published: January 2017

Dietary restriction regimens lead to enhanced stress resistance and extended life span in many species through the regulation of fasting and/or diet‐responsive mechanisms. The fasting stimulus is perceived by sensory neurons and causes behavioral and metabolic adaptations. Octopamine (OA), one of the Caenorhabditis elegans neurotransmitters, is involved in behavioral adaptations, and its levels are increased under fasting conditions. However, it remains largely unknown how OA contributes to the fasting responses. In this study, we found that OA administration enhanced organismal resistance to oxidative stress. This enhanced resistance was suppressed by a mutation of the OA receptors, SER‐3 and SER‐6. Moreover, we found that OA administration promoted the nuclear translocation of DAF‐16, the key transcription factor in fasting responses, and that the OA‐induced enhancement of stress resistance required DAF‐16. Altogether, our results suggest that OA signaling, which is triggered by the absence of food, shifts the organismal state to a more protective one to prepare for environmental stresses.
Climbazole boosts activity of retinoids in skin
Authors: Adamus J. , Feng L. , Hawkins S. , Kalleberg K. , Lee J‐M.
Published: January 2017

Objective

To explore whether climbazole enhances retinoid‐associated biological activities in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

Primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were treated from six to 48 h with either retinoids (retinol, retinyl propionate, retinyl palmitate) alone or in combination with climbazole, and then assessed for cellular retinoic acid‐binding protein 2 (CRABP2) mRNA expression by RT‐qPCR. Next, skin equivalent (SE) cultures were topically treated with retinol or retinyl propionate, with or without climbazole, and then measured for biological changes in retinoid biomarkers. Lastly, an IRB‐approved clinical study was conducted on the outer forearm of 16 subjects to ascertain the effects of low (0.02%) or high (0.1%) levels of retinol, retinyl propionate (0.5%), climbazole (0.5%) or a combination of retinol (0.02%)/climbazole (0.5%). Indicators of retinoid activities were measured after 3 weeks.

Results

Treatment of HDFs with retinol or retinyl propionate was unaffected by climbazole but alone, resulted in a significantly (P < 0.01) higher sustained CRABP2 mRNA expression than those treated with retinyl palmitate or vehicle control. In SEs, climbazole combined with either retinol or retinyl propionate boosted retinoid related activity greater than the retinoid only, reflected by a dose–response, downregulation of loricrin (LOR) and induction of keratin 4 (KRT4) proteins. In vivo, retinol (0.1%) and retinyl propionate (0.5%) significantly increased most evaluated biomarkers, as expected. Low‐dose retinol or climbazole alone did not increase these biomarkers; however, in combination, significant (P < 0.05) increases in retinoid and ageing biomarkers were detected.

Conclusion

Climbazole boosted retinoid activity both in the SE model, after a combined topic treatment with either retinol or retinyl propionate, and in vivo, in combination with a low level of retinol. Based upon the evidence presented here, we suggest that the topical skin application of climbazole in combination with retinoids could deliver skin ageing benefits more than a less robust retinoid alone.
Comparison of the proliferation and excretion of Bartonella quintana between body and head lice following oral challenge
Authors: Kim J. H. , Previte D. J. , Yoon K. S. , Murenzi E. , Koehler J. E. , Pittendrigh B. R. , Lee S. H. , Clark J. M.
Published: January 2017

Human body and head lice are highly related haematophagous ectoparasites but only the body louse has been shown to transmit Bartonella quintana, the causative agent of trench fever. The mechanisms by which body lice became a vector for B. quintana, however, are poorly understood. Following oral challenge, green fluorescent protein‐expressing B. quintana proliferated over 9 days postchallenge with the number of bacteria being significantly higher in whole body vs. head lice. The numbers of B. quintana detected in faeces from infected lice, however, were approximately the same in both lice. Nevertheless, the viability of B. quintana was significantly higher in body louse faeces. Comparison of immune responses in alimentary tract tissues revealed that basal transcription levels of peptidoglycan recognition protein and defensins were lower in body lice and the transcription of defensin 1 was up‐regulated by oral challenge with wild‐type B. quintana in head but not in body lice. In addition, the level of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species generated by epithelial cells was significantly lower in body lice. Although speculative at this time, the reduced immune response is consistent with the higher vector competence seen in body vs. head lice in terms of B. quintana infection.
Measuring patient engagement: which healthcare engagement behaviours are important to patients?
Authors: Tzeng Huey‐Ming , Marcus Pierson James
Published: January 2017

Aim(s)

This study identified patient healthcare engagement behaviours that are important to community‐dwelling adult patients living in the southern region of the USA.

Background

Patient engagement has been identified as a key driver for containing healthcare costs, but the public and healthcare professionals lack a scientific understanding of patient engagement. A valid tool is needed for prompting patients to discuss health activities with their healthcare providers and to obtain support.

Design

This exploratory cross‐sectional survey study used a quantitative research design. It was conducted in seven senior centres in the southern region of the USA in 2015.

Methods

This project used convenience sampling to recruit subjects. Subjects were community‐dwelling adult patients older than 18 years and living in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee. Individuals who had taken the survey previously were excluded. The survey tool, Patient Involvement Behaviors in Health Care, was developed by the authors and used for data collection.

Results

Ninety‐two participants completed or partially completed the survey. The response rate was 74·8%. Among the 51 identified behaviours, 17 were identified as being important by less than 95% of participants; eight of these 17 behaviours were important to less than 90% of participants.

Conclusions

We identified 34 behaviours that at least 95% of the participants indicated were important. Nurses may use this tool to help individual patients identify engagement behaviours that are important to them, to respect their personal preferences and thus improve their engagement in health care.
How Does the European Commission Create a European Civil Society with Words? A Discourse Theoretical Inquiry
Authors: Kutay Acar
Published: January 2017

The intent of this article is to make sense of European civil society from the point of view of post‐structural discourse theory. This theory suggests examining meaning‐making processes concerning European civil society by adopting a post‐foundational philosophy and an interpretive approach to studying social phenomena. Post‐foundational philosophy is anti‐essentialist, combines discursive and non‐discursive elements, and adopts a constructionist approach to language that recognizes agency as situated. Discourse theorists conduct empirical research by strictly following these philosophical presumptions. So conceived, discourse theory suggests that the conceptual link between NGOs and European civil society does not have any foundational ground or naturalistic explanation. Such a link is not a pre‐given fact, and can be best understood as linguistically constructed and articulated; that is, the EU institutions, the European Commission in particular, have defined and constituted NGOs as civil society subjects that would stand for and make Europe's imagined civil society present.
Safety and effectiveness of tofogliflozin in elderly Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A post‐marketing study (J‐STEP/EL Study)
Authors: Utsunomiya Kazunori , Shimmoto Naoki , Senda Masayuki , Kurihara Yuji , Gunji Ryoji , Fujii Shoko , Kakiuchi Seigo , Fujiwara Hisataka , Kameda Hiroyuki , Tamura Masahiro , Kaku Kohei
Published: January 2017

Aims/Introduction

Although sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a promising treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, they are associated with concerns about specific adverse drug reactions. We carried out a 1‐year post‐marketing study of tofogliflozin, a novel agent in this class, in Japanese elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

This was a prospective, observational and multicenter post‐marketing study carried out in the context of routine clinical practice. The study included all type 2 diabetes patients aged ≥65 years who started treatment with tofogliflozin during the first 3 months after its launch on 23 May 2014.

Results

Of 1,535 patients registered, 1,507 patients whose electronic case report forms were collected and who had at least one follow‐up visit were included in the safety analysis. A total of 270 of 1,507 patients (17.92%) had at least one adverse drug reaction to tofogliflozin. The incidences of adverse drug reactions of special interest, namely, polyuria/pollakiuria, volume depletion‐related events, urinary tract infection, genital infection, hypoglycemia and skin disorders were 2.92, 3.85, 2.06, 1.33, 1.06 and 2.39%, respectively. Among those patients evaluable for clinical effectiveness, the mean change in glycated hemoglobin and bodyweight from baseline to last visit was −0.46% (P < 0.0001) and −2.71 kg (P < 0.0001), respectively.

Conclusions

The present study showed that the incidence of adverse drug reactions to tofogliflozin in this study of elderly patients aged ≥65 years differed little from the incidence in the preapproval clinical trials. It was shown that tofogliflozin significantly decreased glycated hemoglobin levels.
Tattoo removal by Q‐switched yttrium aluminium garnet laser: client satisfaction
Authors: Hutton Carlsen K. , Esmann J. , Serup J.
Published: January 2017

Background

Tattoo removal by Q‐switched yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) lasers is golden standard; however, clients’ satisfaction with treatment is little known.

Objective

To determine clients’ satisfaction with tattoo removal.

Methods

One hundred and fifty‐four tattoo removal clients who had attended the private clinic ‘Centre for Laser Surgery’, Hellerup, Denmark, from 2001 to 2013 completed a questionnaire concerning outcome expectations, level of pain experiences and satisfaction with tattoo removal. The laser surgeon and his team were blinded from data handling. The study design included a minimum 2‐year postlaser treatment observation period from 2013 to 2015.

Results

Overall, clients were satisfied with their laser treatment; 85% assessed their treatment and results to be acceptable to superb, while 15% assessed their treatment and results to be inferior to unacceptable. Effectiveness relative to colour of tattoo on a scale from 0 (no effect) to 10 (complete removal) scored a mean of blue 9.5, black 9.4, yellow 8.9, red 8.8 and green 6.5. Clients were dissatisfied with green pigment remnants, which could mimic bruising. One hundred and twenty‐nine clients (84%) experienced moderate to extreme pain during treatment. Twenty‐eight (20%) developed minor scarring. There were many reasons for tattoo removal; e.g. stigmatisation (33%), conspicuousness (29%) and poor artistic quality (22%). One hundred and two clients had expected complete removal of tattoos without a blemish, expectations that were only partly fulfilled. During the treatment period, clients adjusted expectations and adapted more realistic views of outcomes.

Conclusion

The majority of clients were satisfied with Q‐switched YAG laser removal of tattoos despite high pretreatment expectations which were only partly met. The study supports YAG lasers for tattoo removal as acceptable therapy of today, with room for new approaches.
The interrater and test‐retest reliability of the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) in Malaysia: Using raters with a range of professional backgrounds
Authors: Romli Muhammad Hibatullah , Mackenzie Lynette , Lovarini Meryl , Tan Maw Pin , Clemson Lindy
Published: January 2017

Rationale, aims and objectives

Falls can be a devastating issue for older people living in the community, including those living in Malaysia. Health professionals and community members have a responsibility to ensure that older people have a safe home environment to reduce the risk of falls. Using a standardised screening tool is beneficial to intervene early with this group. The Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) should be considered for this purpose; however, its use in Malaysia has not been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the interrater and test‐retest reliability of the HOME FAST with multiple professionals in the Malaysian context.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design was used to evaluate interrater reliability where the HOME FAST was used simultaneously in the homes of older people by 2 raters and a prospective design was used to evaluate test‐retest reliability with a separate group of older people at different times in their homes. Both studies took place in an urban area of Kuala Lumpur.

Results

Professionals from 9 professional backgrounds participated as raters in this study, and a group of 51 community older people were recruited for the interrater reliability study and another group of 30 for the test‐retest reliability study. The overall agreement was moderate for interrater reliability and good for test‐retest reliability. The HOME FAST was consistently rated by different professionals, and no bias was found among the multiple raters.

Conclusion

The HOME FAST can be used with confidence by a variety of professionals across different settings. The HOME FAST can become a universal tool to screen for home hazards related to falls.
Gyrodactylus salmonis infection impairs the olfactory system of rainbow trout
Authors: Lari E , Pyle G G
Published: January 2017

Monogenean worms are ectoparasites that are known to be infectious to a wide variety of fish. Few species of monogenean parasites have been reported in the olfactory chamber of fish in current peer‐reviewed literature. However, the impacts of these parasites on the olfactory system are not well understood. In this study, the effects of Gyrodactylus salmonis on the olfactory system structure and performance were investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The olfactory performance of the infected fish was examined using an electro‐olfactography (EOG) technique, while the ultrastructure of the olfactory rosette was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). The infected rainbow trout displayed reduced responses to two standard olfactory cues (L‐alanine and TCA). The SEM micrographs revealed that many regions of the olfactory epithelium in the infected fish were heavily pitted and the LM examination of the olfactory epithelium showed local proliferation of mucous cells in the sensory regions as compared to the control group. The results of this study demonstrated that G. salmonis causes physical damage to the olfactory system of fish that lead to olfactory impairment.
Predictors of liver histological changes and a sustained virological response to peginterferon among chronic hepatitis B e antigen‐positive patients with normal or minimally elevated alanine aminotransferase levels
Authors: Chen J. , Xu C. R. , Xi M. , Hu W. W. , Tang Z. H. , Zang G. Q.
Published: January 2017

A proportion of chronic hepatitis B patients with normal or only minimally elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels display significant histologic changes and would benefit from antiviral therapy. We aim to evaluate the histologic abnormalities seen in these patients and then determine which of them would most likely respond to peginterferon therapy. One hundred and thirteen hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive patients with a normal or minimally elevated ALT level and moderate‐to‐severe histologic changes in their liver tissue were selected to receive peginterferon monotherapy and participate in a follow‐up analysis. A multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that increasing age (P=.049) and lower hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels (P=.038) were associated with significant histological abnormalities in patients with a normal or minimally elevated ALT. Our predictive model which incorporated HBeAg testing at treatment week 12 combined with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing at treatment week 24 was able to identify which patients with a normal ALT level would achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) (positive predictive value [PPV]: 66.7%, negative predictive value [NPV]: 90.0%). Lower HBsAg and HBeAg levels at treatment week 24 were associated with a SVR in patients with a minimally elevated ALT level (PPV: 100.0%, NPV: 100.0%). A liver biopsy and antiviral therapy should be strongly considered when treating HBeAg‐positive patients with a normal or minimally elevated ALT level, low HBV DNA level, and aged >35 years. On‐treatment quantification of combined HBsAg and HBeAg test results may be useful for predicting a SVR to peginterferon monotherapy in these patients.
Normal saline is associated with increased sickle red cell stiffness and prolonged transit times in a microfluidic model of the capillary system
Authors: Carden Marcus A. , Fay Meredith , Sakurai Yumiko , McFarland Brynn , Blanche Sydney , DiPrete Caleb , Joiner Clinton H. , Sulchek Todd , Lam Wilbur A.
Published: January 2017

Objective

Vaso‐occlusive crisis (VOC) is a complex process that occurs in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and is often associated with pain and urgent hospitalization. A major instigator of VOC is microvascular obstruction by pathologically stiffened sickle red blood cells (RBCs), and thus, therapy relies heavily on optimizing intravenous fluid (IVF) hydration to increase RBC deformability. However, no evidence‐based guidelines regarding the choice of IVF currently exist. We therefore analyzed alterations in biomechanical properties of sickle RBCs isolated from patients with homozygous SCD (hemoglobin SS) after exposure to different osmolarities of clinical IVF formulations.

Methods

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to assess stiffness of RBCs after exposure to different IVFs. A microfluidic model of the human capillary system was used to assess transit time (TT) and propensity to occlusion after exposure to the different IVF formulations.

Results

Sickle RBCs exposed to normal saline (NS) had increased stiffness, TTs, and propensity to microchannel occlusion compared to other osmolarities.

Conclusion

NS, an IVF formulation often used to treat patients with SCD during VOC, may induce localized microvascular obstruction due to alterations of sickle RBC biomechanical properties.
Evaluation of efficacy of impregnated curtains in experimental hen houses as a phlebotomine control tool in northeast Argentina
Authors: MANTECA ACOSTA M. , SANTINI M. S. , PÉREZ A. A. , SALOMÓN O. D.
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of insecticide‐impregnated curtains against the entry of phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) flies into experimental slatted hen houses in an area endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Three treatments in experimental dwellings containing three chickens each were applied using, respectively, an impregnated curtain (IC), a non‐impregnated curtain (NIC) and no curtain (NC). A control site without chickens (WC) was included. The study used permethrin at 0.05 g/m2. During each month for 1 year, each experimental hen house randomly received all treatments. Phlebotomine sandflies were captured using REDILA BL traps placed inside the hen house. Significant differences in abundances of phlebotomine flies/trap/night were observed between treatments (χ2 = 17853.58, d.f. = 3, P < 0.0001): 59.7% of phlebotomines were captured in the NC treatment, 26.3% in the NIC treatment, 8.0% in the IC treatment and 6.1% in the WC condition. Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) was the most abundant species in all collections (89.9%). These results showed a lower abundance of phlebotomines in the experimental hen house in the IC condition than in the hen house in the NC condition (P < 0.05) and that the presence of NIC represents an effective physical barrier against phlebotomines (P < 0.05). Therefore, the use of curtains may be an alternative eco‐friendly method for the prevention of indoor ACL transmission in slatted dwellings, which represent a common house type in northeast Argentina.
Divergent cytosine DNA methylation patterns in single‐cell, soybean root hairs
Authors: Hossain Md Shakhawat , Kawakatsu Taiji , Kim Kyung Do , Zhang Ning , Nguyen Cuong T. , Khan Saad M. , Batek Josef M. , Joshi Trupti , Schmutz Jeremy , Grimwood Jane , Schmitz Robert J. , Xu Dong , Jackson Scott A. , Ecker Joseph R. , Stacey Gary
Published: January 2017

Chromatin modifications, such as cytosine methylation of DNA, play a significant role in mediating gene expression in plants, which affects growth, development, and cell differentiation. As root hairs are single‐cell extensions of the root epidermis and the primary organs for water uptake and nutrients, we sought to use root hairs as a single‐cell model system to measure the impact of environmental stress.

We measured changes in cytosine DNA methylation in single‐cell root hairs as compared with multicellular stripped roots, as well as in response to heat stress.

Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in each methylation context showed very distinct methylation patterns between cell types and in response to heat stress. Intriguingly, at normal temperature, root hairs were more hypermethylated than were stripped roots. However, in response to heat stress, both root hairs and stripped roots showed hypomethylation in each context, especially in the CHH context. Moreover, expression analysis of mRNA from similar tissues and treatments identified some associations between DMRs, genes and transposons.

Taken together, the data indicate that changes in DNA methylation are directly or indirectly associated with expression of genes and transposons within the context of either specific tissues/cells or stress (heat).
Arabidopsis phosphoinositide‐specific phospholipase C 4 negatively regulates seedling salt tolerance
Authors: Xia Keke , Wang Bo , Zhang Jiewei , Li Yuan , Yang Hailian , Ren Dongtao
Published: January 2017

Previous physiological and pharmacological studies have suggested that the activity of phosphoinositide‐specific phospholipase C (PI‐PLC) plays an important role in regulating plant salt stress responses by altering the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. However, the individual members of plant PLCs involved in this process need to be identified. Here, the function of AtPLC4 in the salt stress response of Arabidopsis seedlings was analysed. plc4 mutant seedlings showed hyposensitivity to salt stress compared with Col‐0 wild‐type seedlings, and the salt hyposensitive phenotype could be complemented by the expression of native promoter‐controlled AtPLC4. Transgenic seedlings with AtPLC4 overexpression (AtPLC4 OE) exhibited a salt‐hypersensitive phenotype, while transgenic seedlings with its inactive mutant expression (AtPLC4m OE) did not exhibit this phenotype. Using aequorin as a Ca2+ indicator in plc4 mutant and AtPLC4 OE seedlings, AtPLC4 was shown to positively regulate the salt‐induced Ca2+ increase. The salt‐hypersensitive phenotype of AtPLC4 OE seedlings was partially rescued by EGTA. An analysis of salt‐responsive genes revealed that the transcription of RD29B, MYB15 and ZAT10 was inversely regulated in plc4 mutant and AtPLC4 OE seedlings. Our findings suggest that AtPLC4 negatively regulates the salt tolerance of Arabidopsis seedlings, and Ca2+ may be involved in regulating this process.
Acute exacerbations of interstitial lung disease: Don't just do something, stand there!
Authors: Lentz Robert J. , Maldonado Fabien
Published: January 2017

See article, page 352
Pulmonary embolism requiring intensive care: Do we now have a better idea of how to triage?
Authors: Proud Kevin C.
Published: January 2017

See article, page 329
A new HLA‐B*55 allele, B*55:83N with a stop codon in exon 4 generated by a point mutation, identified in a Chinese individual
Authors: Zhou X.‐Y. , Jiang P. , Zhang L.‐Q. , Cui J. , Cai J.‐P.
Published: January 2017

The new allele HLA‐B*55:83N differs from HLA‐B*55:02:01:01 by a single nucleotide.
European Knowledge Neighbourhood: Knowledge Production in EU Neighbouring Countries and Intensity of the Relationship with EU Countries
Authors: Autant‐Bernard Corinne , Chalaye Sylvie , Gagliardini Elisa , Usai Stefano
Published: January 2017

This study aims to analyse the creation of knowledge in the European neighbourhood and the diffusion of knowledge among EU countries and European neighbouring countries (ENCs). We first collate different indicators of knowledge production and diffusion in order to characterise the main feature of ENCs. In this respect, we contribute not only with an overview of potential knowledge interactions between EU and ENCs, but also suggest original ways to account for the different facets of knowledge diffusion. We use these indicators to assess the efficiency of ENC and EU in their use of knowledge resources, relying on data envelopment analysis (DEA). Contrary to the rare DEA studies in the field, inputs are both internal and external. The results show that, despite their weakness, ENCs may benefit from their orientation towards the EU for access to external knowledge, with some of them successfully turning their rare knowledge resources into knowledge creation and innovation.
On quasi-classical limits of DQ-algebroids
Authors: Bressler Paul , Gorokhovsky Alexander , Nest Ryszard , Tsygan Boris
Published: January 2017

We determine the additional structure which arises on the classical limit of a DQ-algebroid.
EVIDENCIAS RESPECTO A LA MEDIACIÓN PENAL EN LA NORMA EUROPEA
Authors: Soler-Noguera Irene , Iglesias-Ortuño Emilia
Published: January 2017

El presente artículo plantea como objetivo principal de investigación conocer la normativa vigente en mediación penal de los países pertenecientes a la Unión Europea, para estudiar y comparar los rasgos característicos de esta normativa entre los países europeos. Para este fin se ha utilizado una metodología de investigación cualitativa basada en el análisis documental por categorías con el software MaxQDA para comparar las diversas legislaciones seleccionadas. Los países estudiados han sido Alemania, Austria, Bélgica, Finlandia, Francia, Hungría, Italia, Luxemburgo, Polonia, Portugal y República Checa. Los hallazgos han sido que la normativa específica en esta materia (que aparece sobre todo en Códigos Penales y Procesales más que en leyes autónomas) tiene muy poco tiempo de desarrollo, está fundamentada para delitos menos graves y hay muy poca fundamentación teórica de la mediación penal en las leyes. La sistematización de la legislación por categorías con ayuda de un programa informático ha permitido construir una visión general de la mediación penal en Europa muy útil para su desarrollo y sobre todo para darle visibilidad a esta práctica restaurativa.
Low-frequency fine-structure cues allow for the online use of lexical stress during spoken-word recognition in spectrally degraded speech
Authors: Kong Ying-Yee , Jesse Alexandra
Published: January 2017

English listeners use suprasegmental cues to lexical stress during spoken-word recognition. Prosodic cues are, however, less salient in spectrally degraded speech, as provided by cochlear implants. The present study examined how spectral degradation with and without low-frequency fine-structure information affects normal-hearing listeners' ability to benefit from suprasegmental cues to lexical stress in online spoken-word recognition. To simulate electric hearing, an eight-channel vocoder spectrally degraded the stimuli while preserving temporal envelope information. Additional lowpass-filtered speech was presented to the opposite ear to simulate bimodal hearing. Using a visual world paradigm, listeners' eye fixations to four printed words (target, competitor, two distractors) were tracked, while hearing a word. The target and competitor overlapped segmentally in their first two syllables but mismatched suprasegmentally in their first syllables, as the initial syllable received primary stress in one word and secondary stress in the other (e.g., “ˈadmiral,” “ˌadmiˈration”). In the vocoder-only condition, listeners were unable to use lexical stress to recognize targets before segmental information disambiguated them from competitors. With additional lowpass-filtered speech, however, listeners efficiently processed prosodic information to speed up online word recognition. Low-frequency fine-structure cues in simulated bimodal hearing allowed listeners to benefit from suprasegmental cues to lexical stress during word recognition.
Large-region acoustic source mapping using a movable array and sparse covariance fitting
Authors: Zhao Shengkui , Tuna Cagdas , Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tho , Jones Douglas L.
Published: January 2017

Large-region acoustic source mapping is important for city-scale noise monitoring. Approaches using a single-position measurement scheme to scan large regions using small arrays cannot provide clean acoustic source maps, while deploying large arrays spanning the entire region of interest is prohibitively expensive. A multiple-position measurement scheme is applied to scan large regions at multiple spatial positions using a movable array of small size. Based on the multiple-position measurement scheme, a sparse-constrained multiple-position vectorized covariance matrix fitting approach is presented. In the proposed approach, the overall sample covariance matrix of the incoherent virtual array is first estimated using the multiple-position array data and then vectorized using the Khatri-Rao (KR) product. A linear model is then constructed for fitting the vectorized covariance matrix and a sparse-constrained reconstruction algorithm is proposed for recovering source powers from the model. The user parameter settings are discussed. The proposed approach is tested on a 30 m × 40 m region and a 60 m × 40 m region using simulated and measured data. Much cleaner acoustic source maps and lower sound pressure level errors are obtained compared to the beamforming approaches and the previous sparse approach [Zhao, Tuna, Nguyen, and Jones, Proc. IEEE Intl. Conf. on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP) (2016)].
Draft Genome Sequence of a
Chitinophaga
Strain Isolated from a Lignocellulose Biomass-Degrading Consortium
Authors: Kishi Luciano T. , Lopes Erica M. , Fernandes Camila C. , Fernandes Gabriela C. , Sacco Lais P. , Carareto Alves Lucia M. , Lemos Eliana G. M.
Published: January 2017

Chitinophaga
comprises microorganisms capable of degrading plant-derived carbohydrates, serving as a source of new tools for the characterization and degradation of plant biomass. Here, we report the draft genome assembly of a
Chitinophaga
strain with 8.2 Mbp and 7,173 open reading frames (ORFs), isolated from a bacterial consortium that is able to degrade lignocellulose.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Potential Novel
Bacillus
sp. Strain, FJAT-18017, Isolated from a Potato Field
Authors: Liu Guo-Hong , Liu Bo , Wang Jie-Ping , Che Jian-Mei , Chen Qian-Qian
Published: January 2017

Bacillus
sp. strain FJAT-18017 was isolated from a potato field in Xinjiang, China. This paper is the first report, to our knowledge, to demonstrate the fully sequenced and completely annotated genome of
Bacillus
sp. FJAT-18017. The genome size is 5,265,521 bp. The average G+C content was 42.42%.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Microbacterium
sp. Strain Alg239_V18, an Actinobacterium Retrieved from the Marine Sponge
Spongia
sp
Authors: Karimi Elham , Gonçalves Jorge M. S. , Reis Margarida , Costa Rodrigo
Published: January 2017

Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of
Microbacterium
sp. strain Alg239_V18, an actinobacterium retrieved from the marine sponge
Spongia
sp. Genome annotation revealed a vast gene repertoire involved in antibiotic and heavy metal-resistance, and a versatile carbohydrate assimilation metabolism with potential for chitin utilization.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Desulfovibrio
BerOc1, a Mercury-Methylating Strain
Authors: Goñi Urriza Marisol , Gassie Claire , Bouchez Oliver , Klopp Christophe , Guyoneaud Rémy
Published: January 2017

Desulfovibrio
BerOc1 is a sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from the Berre lagoon (French Mediterranean coast). BerOc1 is able to methylate and demethylate mercury. The genome size is 4,081,579 bp assembled into five contigs. We identified the
hgcA
and
hgcB
genes involved in mercury methylation, but not those responsible for mercury demethylation.
First Complete Genome Sequence of Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a
Authors: Iskander Mariam , Hayden Kristy , Van Domselaar Gary , Tsang Raymond
Published: January 2017

Haemophilus influenzae
is an important human pathogen that primarily infects small children. In recent years,
H. influenzae
serotype a has emerged as a significant cause of invasive disease among indigenous populations. Here, we present the first complete whole-genome sequence of
H. influenzae
serotype a.
Genomic Epidemiology of Penicillin-Nonsusceptible Pneumococci with Nonvaccine Serotypes Causing Invasive Disease in the United States
Authors: Andam Cheryl P. , Mitchell Patrick K. , Callendrello Alanna , Chang Qiuzhi , Corander Jukka , Chaguza Chrispin , McGee Lesley , Beall Bernard W. , Hanage William P.
Published: January 2017

Conjugate vaccination against seven pneumococcal serotypes (PCV7) reduced disease prevalence due to antibiotic-resistant strains throughout the 2000s. However, diseases caused by resistant nonvaccine type (NVT) strains increased. Some of these emerging strains were derived from vaccine types (VT) that had changed their capsule by recombination. The introduction of a vaccine targeting 13 serotypes (PCV13) in 2010 has led to concern that this scenario will repeat itself. We generated high-quality draft genomes from 265 isolates of NVT pneumococci not susceptible to penicillin (PNSP) in 2009 and compared them with the genomes of 581 isolates from 2012 to 2013 collected by the Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the seven sequence clusters (SCs) identified, three SCs fell into a single lineage associated with serogroup 23, which had an origin in 1908 as dated by coalescent analysis and included isolates with a divergent 23B capsule locus. Three other SCs represented relatively deep-branching lineages associated with serotypes 35B, 15A, and 15BC. In all cases, the resistant clones originated prior to 2010, indicating that PNSP are at present dominated by descendants of NVT clones present before vaccination. With one exception (15BC/ST3280), these SCs were related to clones identified by the Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network (PMEN). We conclude that postvaccine diversity in NVT PNSP between 2009 and 2013 was driven mainly by the persistence of preexisting strains rather than through
de novo
adaptation, with few cases of serotype switching. Future surveillance is essential for documenting the long-term dynamics and resistance of NVT PNSP.
Novel approach for independent control of brain hypothermia and systemic normothermia: cerebral selective deep hypothermia for refractory cardiac arrest
Authors: Wang Chih-Hsien , Lin Yu-Ting , Chou Heng-Wen , Wang Yi-Chih , Hwang Joey-Jen , Gilbert John R , Chen Yih-Sharng
Published: January 2017

A 38-year-old man was found unconscious, alone in the driver's seat of his car. The emergency medical team identified his condition as pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation was attempted but failed. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was started in the emergency room 52 min after the estimated arrest following the extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) protocol in our center. The initial prognosis under the standard protocol was <25% chance of survival. A novel adjunctive to our ECPR protocol, cerebral selective deep (<30°C) hypothermia (CSDH), was applied. CSDH adds a second independent femoral access extracorporeal circuit, perfusing cold blood into the patient's common carotid artery. The ECMO and CSDH circuits demonstrated independent control of cerebral and core temperatures. Nasal temperature was lowered to below 30°C for 12 hours while core was maintained at normothermia. The patient was discharged without significant neurological deficit 32 days after the initial arrest.
Utility of social media and crowd-sourced data for pharmacovigilance: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Tricco Andrea C , Zarin Wasifa , Lillie Erin , Pham Ba , Straus Sharon E
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Adverse events associated with medications are under-reported in postmarketing surveillance systems. A systematic review of published data from 37 studies worldwide (including Canada) found the median under-reporting rate of adverse events to be 94% in spontaneous reporting systems. This scoping review aims to assess the utility of social media and crowd-sourced data to detect and monitor adverse events related to health products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics and natural health products.

Methods and analysis

Our review conduct will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methods manual. Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from inception to 13 May 2016. Additional sources included searches of study registries, conference abstracts, dissertations, as well as websites of international regulatory authorities (eg, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the WHO, European Medicines Agency). Search results will be supplemented by scanning the references of relevant reviews. We will include all publication types including published articles, editorials, websites and book sections that describe use of social media and crowd-sourced data for surveillance of adverse events associated with health products. Two reviewers will perform study selection and data abstraction independently, and discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. Data analysis will involve quantitative (eg, frequencies) and qualitative (eg, content analysis) methods.

Dissemination

The summary of results will be sent to Health Canada, who commissioned the review, and other relevant policymakers involved with the Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network. We will compile and circulate a 1-page policy brief and host a 1-day stakeholder meeting to discuss the implications, key messages and finalise the knowledge translation strategy. Findings from this review will ultimately inform the design and development of a data analytics platform for social media and crowd-sourced data for pharmacovigilance in Canada and internationally.

Registration details

Our protocol was registered prospectively with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/kv9hu/).