bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Classification of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Vocalizations
Authors: Garcia Maxime , Gingras Bruno , Bowling Daniel L. , Herbst Christian T. , Boeckle Markus , Locatelli Yann , Fitch W. Tecumseh
Published: February 2016

Determining whether a species' vocal communication system is graded or discrete requires definition of its vocal repertoire. In this context, research on domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) vocalizations, for example, has led to significant advances in our understanding of communicative functions. Despite their close relation to domestic pigs, little is known about wild boar (Sus scrofa) vocalizations. The few existing studies, conducted in the 1970s, relied on visual inspections of spectrograms to quantify acoustic parameters and lacked statistical analysis. Here, we use objective signal processing techniques and advanced statistical approaches to classify 616 calls recorded from semi‐free ranging animals. Based on four spectral and temporal acoustic parameters—quartile Q25, duration, spectral flux, and spectral flatness—extracted from a multivariate analysis, we refine and extend the conclusions drawn from previous work and present a statistically validated classification of the wild boar vocal repertoire into four call types: grunts, grunt‐squeals, squeals, and trumpets. While the majority of calls could be sorted into these categories using objective criteria, we also found evidence supporting a graded interpretation of some wild boar vocalizations as acoustically continuous, with the extremes representing discrete call types. The use of objective criteria based on modern techniques and statistics in respect to acoustic continuity advances our understanding of vocal variation. Integrating our findings with recent studies on domestic pig vocal behavior and emotions, we emphasize the importance of grunt‐squeals for acoustic approaches to animal welfare and underline the need of further research investigating the role of domestication on animal vocal communication.
Integrin αE(CD103) is induced but plays no pathogenic role in psoriasiform skin lesions of TGFβ1 transgenic mice
Authors: Braun Andrea , Schlickum Stephanie , Dewert Nadin , Schön Margarete , Schön Michael P.
Published: February 2016

T‐cells expressing αE(CD103), an integrin induced by TGFβ on T‐cells in vitro, accumulate within epithelia in inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis. However, it is unclear, if and how αE(CD103) contributes to skin inflammation. Using two complementary approaches, we have investigated αE(CD103) in psoriasis‐like skin inflammation of mice with transgenic epidermal expression of human TGFβ1: αE(CD103) was inhibited by function‐blocking antibodies in vivo, and double‐mutants with additional αE(CD103)‐depletion were generated in two different genetic backgrounds. Epidermal hTGFβ1 expression was associated with prominent expression of αE(CD103) on infiltrating cells. However, neither treatment with αE(CD103)‐blocking antibodies nor deficiency of αE(CD103) in double‐mutant mice altered the psoriasis‐like phenotype. In addition, histopathological and flow cytometric analyses revealed similar pathological skin alterations and lymphocyte subgroups in the different mouse strains. Thus, while αE(CD103) expression is indeed associated with hTGFβ1 in vivo, it has little, if any, influence on the course of the psoriasis‐like phenotype in K5.hTGFβ1 transgenic mice.
Phenomics analysis of drought responses in Miscanthus collected from different geographical locations
Authors: Malinowska Marta , Donnison Iain S. , Robson Paul R.H.
Published: February 2016

Miscanthus is a genus of C4 perennial grasses capable of high biomass potential even in temperate regions making it an ideal industrial crop for the renewable supply of energy and chemicals. Yield is strongly linked to water availability, and many environments have limited water supply where otherwise irradiation and temperature are favourable. A total of 47 Miscanthus genotypes, diverse regarding collection site and genotype, were screened in a high‐throughput phenomics facility under drought to generate high‐quality time‐course data for biomass accumulation and water use. Plants were subjected to three treatments: a watered control, mild drought (20% of field capacity) and a severe drought (water completely withdrawn). Daily visual spectrum images were calibrated to harvested biomass and used to assess biomass accumulation over the experiment. Image analyses were used to determine growth and senescence as functions of time and treatment, plant survival and to relate responses to geographical data. An accurate prediction of plant biomass (R2 = 0.92***) was made by comparing actual harvested biomass and projected shoot area. Dynamic responses in senescence between the multiple genotypes under the three treatments demonstrated stay‐green and senescence responses were not associated with species. Microclimate/geographical modelling indicated that origin of genotype was associated with drought tolerance and this helped explain the different responses within the same species. Water‐use efficiency (WUE), the amount of dry biomass accumulated per kg of water, correlated with summer rainfall. Phenomic analysis of drought responses was shown to have the potential to improve the selection of breeding candidates in Miscanthus and has identified interesting Miscanthus genotypes combining high biomass and high WUE for further characterization.
Pharmacokinetics of a high‐purity plasma‐derived factor X concentrate in subjects with moderate or severe hereditary factor X deficiency
Authors: Austin S. K. , Brindley C. , Kavakli K. , Norton M. , Shapiro A. ,   the FX Investigators Group
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Hereditary factor X (FX) deficiency affects 1:500 000 to 1:1 000 000 of individuals. There are few published data on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of FX for existing treatments for FX deficiency, and no specific replacement factor concentrate exists. A high‐purity plasma‐derived FX concentrate (pdFX) has been developed for use as replacement therapy in subjects with hereditary FX deficiency.

Aim

This analysis assessed pdFX PK after a single 25 IU kg−1 bolus dose in subjects with hereditary moderate or severe FX deficiency (plasma FX activity [FX:C] <5 IU dL−1).

Methods

For a baseline PK assessment, blood samples were taken predose and at intervals up to 144 h (7 days) post dose. After ≥6 months of on‐demand pdFX treatment and treatment of ≥1 bleed with pdFX, subjects underwent repeat PK assessment. Samples were assayed for plasma FX:C (measured using the clotting and chromogenic assays) and FX antigen.

Results

FX:C peaked at 0.4–0.5 h and subsequently declined over the course of 144 h with a biphasic decay curve. PK parameters observed at the baseline (n = 16) and repeat (n = 15) assessments were equivalent, therefore summary PK values were obtained by combining data from both visits (n = 31). The mean terminal half‐life and incremental recovery of pdFX was 29.4 h and 2.00 IU dL−1 per IU kg−1 respectively.

Conclusion

This is the most comprehensive PK study to date in subjects with hereditary FX deficiency. These results are consistent with the observed haemostatic efficacy of pdFX and provide the PK data required for the treatment of hereditary FX deficiency using pdFX replacement therapy.
Design and application of a 23‐gene panel by next‐generation sequencing for inherited coagulation bleeding disorders
Authors: Bastida J. M. , del Rey M. , Lozano M. L. , Sarasquete M. E. , Benito R. , Fontecha M. E. , Fisac R. , García‐Frade L. J. , Aguilar C. , Martínez M. P. , Pardal E. , Aguilera C. , Pérez B. , Ramos R. , Cardesa M. R. , Martin‐Antorán J. M. , Silvestre L. A. , Cebeira M. J. , Bermejo N. , Riesco S. , Mendoza M. C. , García‐Sanz R. , González‐Díaz M. , Hernández‐Rivas J. M. , González‐Porras J. R.
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Molecular testing of Inherited bleeding coagulation disorders (IBCDs) not only offers confirmation of diagnosis but also aids in genetic counselling, prenatal diagnosis and in certain cases genotype–phenotype correlations are important for predicting the clinical course of the disease and to allow tailor‐made follow‐up of individuals. Until recently, genotyping has been mainly performed by Sanger sequencing, a technique known to be time consuming and expensive. Currently, next‐generation sequencing (NGS) offers a new potential approach that enables the simultaneous investigation of multiple genes at manageable cost.

Aim

The aim of this study was to design and to analyse the applicability of a 23‐gene NGS panel in the molecular diagnosis of patients with IBCDs.

Methods

A custom target enrichment library was designed to capture 31 genes known to be associated with IBCDs. Probes were generated for 296 targets to cover 86.3 kb regions (all exons and flanking regions) of these genes. Twenty patients with an IBCDs phenotype were studied using NGS technology.

Results

In all patients, our NGS approach detected causative mutations. Twenty‐one pathogenic variants were found; while most of them were missense (18), three deletions were also identified. Six novel mutations affecting F8, FGA, F11, F10 and VWF genes, and 15 previously reported variants were detected. NGS and Sanger sequencing were 100% concordant.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that this approach could be an accurate, reproducible and reliable tool in the rapid genetic diagnosis of IBCDs.
The Barriers of Access to Selective Universities in Russia
Authors: Prakhov Ilya
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the characteristics of students admitted to Russian universities with different levels of selectivity. First, we argue that students differ not only by the results of the Unified State Exam (USE), the university entrance exam, but by family and school characteristics, and by educational strategies. Next, it is shown that the probability of being admitted to the most selective HEIs is determined not only by the USE scores, but by characteristics that are not directly related to the applicants’ abilities, such as class specialisation in secondary schools, and high school location. Moreover, we have found that income has an indirect impact on the admission results: a higher level of income increases the probability of being admitted to highly selective universities through the level of investment in pre‐entry coaching and the regional differences in wages. On the other hand, regional differences in costs of living decrease the opportunities of studying in selective universities. Hence, schooling and financial barriers without alternative student support can limit the participation of less affluent students in selective universities.
Abiraterone acetate for metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer after docetaxel failure: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase 3 bridging study
Authors: Sun Yinghao , Zou Qing , Sun Zhongquan , Li Changling , Du Chuanjun , Chen Zhiwen , Shan Yuxi , Huang Yiran , Jin Jie , Ye Zhang Qun , Xie Liping , Lin Guowen , Feng Yi , De Porre Peter , Liu Weiping , Ye Dingwei
Published: February 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of abiraterone acetate‐prednisone versus placebo‐prednisone in Asian metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer patients who have failed docetaxel‐based chemotherapy.

Methods

In this double‐blind, phase 3 study from China, 214 patients were randomized (2:1) to abiraterone acetate 1000 mg once daily plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily and placebo plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily in 28‐day treatment cycles.

Results

Abiraterone acetate–prednisone treatment significantly decreased prostate‐specific antigen progression risk by 49%, with longer median time to prostate‐specific antigen progression of 5.55 months versus 2.76 months in the placebo‐prednisone group (hazard ratio 0.506, P = 0.0001, primary end‐point). There was a strong trend for improved overall survival in the abiraterone acetate–prednisone group, with a 40% decrease in the risk of death (hazard ratio 0.604, P = 0.0597); however, median survival was not reached in either group because of the short follow‐up period (12.9 months) and limited number of observed death events. The prostate‐specific antigen response rate was higher in the abiraterone–prednisone group (49.7%) than in the placebo–prednisone group (14.1%). A total of 37.1% patients in this group had pain progression events compared with 50.7% in the placebo–prednisone group. Abiraterone–prednisone significantly decreased the risk of pain progression by 50% (hazard ratio 0.496, P = 0.0014). The incidence of adverse events was similar between the two groups; the most common adverse events being anemia (25.9% for abiraterone–prednisone vs 22.5% for placebo–prednisone), hypokalemia (25.9% and 11.3%), bone pain (23.8% and 21.1%), hypertension (16.1% and 12.7%) and increased aspartate aminotransferase (14.7% and 15.5%), respectively.

Conclusions

Abiraterone–prednisone significantly delays disease and pain progression, and prostate‐specific antigen, with a favorable benefit–risk ratio in Asian metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer patients in the post‐docetaxel setting.
Patient physiological status at the emergency department–ward interface and emergency calls for clinical deterioration during early hospital admission
Authors: Considine Julie , Jones Daryl , Pilcher David , Currey Judy
Published: February 2016

Aims

To examine the relationship between physiological status at the emergency department–ward interface and emergency calls (medical emergency team or cardiac arrest team activation) during the first 72 hours of hospital admission.

Background

Ward adverse events are related to abnormal physiology in emergency department however the relationship between physiology at the emergency department–ward interface and ward adverse events is unknown.

Design

Descriptive and exploratory design.

Methods

The study involved 1980 patients at three hospitals in Melbourne Australia: i) 660 randomly selected adults admitted via the emergency department to medical or surgical wards during 2012 and who had an emergency call; and ii) 1320 adults without emergency calls matched for gender, triage category, usual residence, admitting unit and age.

Results/findings

The median age was 78 years and 48·8% were males. The median time to the first emergency call was 18·8 hours and ≥1 abnormal parameters were documented in 34·9% of patients during the last hour ofEDcare and 47·1% of patients during first hour of ward care. Emergency calls were significantly more common in patients with heart rate and conscious state abnormalities during the last hour of emergency care and abnormal oxygen saturation, heart rate or respiratory rate during the first hour of ward care. Medical emergency team afferent limb failure occurred in 55·3% patients with medical emergency team activation criteria during first hour of ward care.

Conclusion

The use of physiological status at the emergency department–ward interface to guide care planning and reasons for and outcomes of medical emergency team afferent limb failure are important areas for future research.
A randomized controlled trial of the effect of a photographic display with and without music on pre‐operative anxiety
Authors: Gómez‐Urquiza Jose L. , Hueso‐Montoro César , Urquiza‐Olmo Josefa , Ibarrondo‐Crespo Rocío , González‐Jiménez Emilio , Schmidt‐Riovalle Jacqueline
Published: February 2016

Aims

To determine the effectiveness of photographic display at reducing pre‐operative anxiety in an ear, nose and throat surgery unit; alone and in combination with music.

Background

The waiting time prior to the surgery is often unpleasant and a time of anxiety for patients. Anxiety can affect physical recovery and psychological well‐being; lengthening convalescence and hospital stay after the surgery. Improving pre‐operative anxiety is a challenge with potential impacts on improving patients' satisfaction and well‐being and decreasing the cost of care.

Design

A clinical trial was conducted with two intervention groups and one control group.

Methods

The sample consisted of 180 subjects from the otolaryngology major ambulatory surgery unit in a tertiary hospital in the province of Granada, with 60 subjects per group. The outcome variables measured were state anxiety, heart and respiratory rate and blood pressure. The data were collected from May–December 2013.

Results

After the intervention, in the comparison between control group and photographic display group, all variables had lower means in the intervention group, although a significant P value was only obtained for respiratory rate using one‐way anova test. When comparing control group and photographic display combined with music group, using one‐way anova test, all mean values were lower in the intervention group and a significant P value were observed for all variables except diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion

Photographic display in combination with music is more effective at reducing pre‐operative anxiety than the standard intervention and photographic display alone.
Preferences of Lay Persons and Dental Professionals Regarding the Recurring Esthetic Dental Proportion
Authors: Pitel Mark L. , Raley‐Susman Kathleen M. , Rubinov Alexander
Published: February 2016

Background

This study evaluated the preferences of dental professionals and lay persons with respect to the Recurring Esthetic Dental (RED) Proportion, an objective mathematical tool used in treatment planning the “apparent” widths of maxillary anterior teeth.

Materials and Methods

Stock dentofacial and facial images of a prototypical smiling male and female were digitally altered to demonstrate five different RED proportion relationships (0.62, 0.65, 0.70, 0.75, and 0.80). Four sets of the five altered images were presented to dental professionals and lay persons using a web‐based survey site. The professional group included dentists and dental laboratory technicians. The lay group included anyone without previous dental education or experience. Study participants were asked to rank each series from most to least esthetic and their preferences were extracted from the data.

Results

Preference data from the five RED proportion relationships was consolidated into two categories: a narrow group including 0.62, 0.65, and 0.70 and a broad group including 0.75 and 0.80. Analysis shows that the level of professional training or experience does not play a significant role in the RED proportion preferences of study participants. Only in the prototypical male facial views was there any significant difference between professional and lay groups. For that view, a greater percentage of the layperson group preferred the narrow RED proportions. However, for the male dentofacial views that difference disappeared and both participant groups showed a slight preference for the broad proportion category. This may be due to the traditional esthetic stereotype for males to have broader, more vigorous appearing anterior teeth. For the prototypical female images, all participants expressed a clear, statistically significant preference for the narrower RED proportions in both full face and close up views.

Conclusions

Based on the results above, dental professionals who are developing a treatment plan should attempt to utilize a RED proportion ≤ 0.70 for both male and female patients.

Clinical Significance

The RED proportion is an objective numeric tool for relating the apparent widths of maxillary anterior teeth. It may be used by dental professionals to help diagnose and develop an optimal esthetic treatment plan. This paper offers insight into whether there are specific RED proportions that are preferred, whether there is a difference in preference when considering the male or female smile and whether professional educational training changes those preferences.
Guillain‐Barré syndrome in the elderly
Authors: Peric Stojan , Berisavac Ivana , Stojiljkovic Tamas Olivera , Rajic Sonja , Babic Milica , Cvijanovic Milan , Dominovic‐Kovacevic Aleksandra , Basta Ivana , Beslac‐Bumbasirevic Ljiljana , Lavrnic Dragana
Published: February 2016

The aim of the study was to analyze specific features of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) in old people. The study included 403 GBS patients (62% young [<60 years], 35% young‐old [60–80 years], and 3% old‐old [>80 years]). Diagnosis of GBS was made according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS criteria). Severe disability (GBS disability score of >3) at nadir was more common in old compared with young patients (p = 0.0001) as was mortality (9% vs. 2%, respectively). Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy and hyponatremia were more common in old compared with young patients (12% vs. 6% and 27% vs. 18%, respectively, p = 0.04). A positive history for malignancy was more than three times more common in old than young patients (11% vs. 3%, respectively, p = 0.01). Disability on nadir was similar in young‐old and old‐old subjects with disability on discharge being more severe in old‐old (p = 0.04) suggesting slower recovery in this subgroup. Bulbar symptoms were more common in old‐old compared with young‐old (50% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.01). Comorbidities were present in virtually all old‐old patients compared with 66% of young‐old patients (p = 0.04). In conclusion, Elderly patients, and especially old‐old patients, with GBS have more severe disease with slower recovery than do younger patients.
A review of trabecular bone functional adaptation: what have we learned from trabecular analyses in extant hominoids and what can we apply to fossils?
Authors: Kivell Tracy L.
Published: February 2016

Many of the unresolved debates in palaeoanthropology regarding evolution of particular locomotor or manipulative behaviours are founded in differing opinions about the functional significance of the preserved external fossil morphology. However, the plasticity of internal bone morphology, and particularly trabecular bone, allowing it to respond to mechanical loading during life means that it can reveal greater insight into how a bone or joint was used during an individual's lifetime. Analyses of trabecular bone have been commonplace for several decades in a human clinical context. In contrast, the study of trabecular bone as a method for reconstructing joint position, joint loading and ultimately behaviour in extant and fossil non‐human primates is comparatively new. Since the initial 2D studies in the late 1970s and 3D analyses in the 1990s, the utility of trabecular bone to reconstruct behaviour in primates has grown to incorporate experimental studies, expanded taxonomic samples and skeletal elements, and improved methodologies. However, this work, in conjunction with research on humans and non‐primate mammals, has also revealed the substantial complexity inherent in making functional inferences from variation in trabecular architecture. This review addresses the current understanding of trabecular bone functional adaptation, how it has been applied to hominoids, as well as other primates and, ultimately, how this can be used to better interpret fossil hominoid and hominin morphology. Because the fossil record constrains us to interpreting function largely from bony morphology alone, and typically from isolated bones, analyses of trabecular structure, ideally in conjunction with that of cortical structure and external morphology, can offer the best resource for reconstructing behaviour in the past.
Development of a patient decision aid for the treatment of localised prostate cancer: a participatory design approach
Authors: Al‐Itejawi Hoda HM , van Uden‐Kraan Cornelia F , Vis André N , Nieuwenhuijzen Jakko A , Hofstee Myrna JA , van Moorselaar Reindert Jeroen A , Verdonck‐de Leeuw Irma M
Published: February 2016

Aims and objectives

To develop a patient decision aid and to prepare an overview of requirements for implementation.

Background

We developed a decision aid that fits the preferences of patients and health care professionals to ensure adequate uptake in clinical practice.

Design

A participatory design approach was used to acquire insight into preferences regarding the content and design of a decision aid and into barriers and aspects of the decision aid that facilitate implementation in clinical practice.

Methods

Three focus group interviews with patients, their partners and health care professionals were conducted. A prototype of the decision aid was developed and presented to patients (n = 14) and health care professionals (n = 13) in semi‐structured interviews. Patients (n = 5) participated in a usability study. Data were analysed by two independent coders.

Results

Health care professionals considered medical information on treatments and side effects as the most important aspect to be included in the decision aid. Patients also focused on nonmedical considerations, such as location. Both expected the decision aid to support patients in making a treatment choice. According to health care professionals, the oncology nurse was the most suitable to discuss the decision aid with patients, while some patients preferred to discuss the patient decision aid with the urologist. The main barrier to implementation of the decision aid was said to be the expectation that it is time and money consuming, while the incorporation of the decision aid into clinical guidelines and basing the content on these guidelines, would promote implementation.

Conclusions

By using a participatory design approach a patient decision aid was designed to meet patients' and health care professionals' needs. Insight was also gained on requirements for implementation.

Relevance to clinical practice

Wide‐scale implementation of decision aids is desirable. An overview is provided of requirements for implementation to successfully incorporate a decision aid into clinical practice.
Interviewing people with dementia in hospital: recommendations for researchers
Authors: Digby Robin , Lee Susan , Williams Allison
Published: February 2016

Aims and objectives

This article aims to:

Discuss the inclusion of the perspectives of people with dementia in research.

Consider the major challenges involved in the process of interviewing people with dementia.

Provide recommendations for those involved in interviewing people with dementia in hospital.

Background

People with dementia are frequent consumers of health care and often have a poor experience in hospital but have been largely excluded from direct participation in research until recently. Limited understanding of the specific communication needs of people with dementia restricts access to the person's viewpoint. Recommendations for interviewers which consider the specific requirements of people with dementia are presented.

Design/Method

This is a discursive article drawing on the experience of interviewing people with dementia in three separate studies. The conclusions that will be discussed are recommendations for researchers which were formulated following examination of the reflective journals written during the data collection phases of the studies and analysis of the data from the perspective of interviewer performance.

Results

Six main issues have been identified and discussed with reference to Habermas's theory of communicative action.

Conclusions

Interviewing people with dementia requires specific skills including an ability to be emotionally sensitive and respectful of the person. This engagement can be challenging and complex for the interviewer. It is vital that genuine engagement and mutual recognition are established before the interview is attempted. A more meaningful research outcome is likely to be the result.

Relevance to clinical practice

The suggestions outlined here are relevant to a variety of people who are in contact with people with dementia in clinical settings. Developing the skills of researchers in this area needs a commitment by organisations to promote the inclusion of the perceptions of people with dementia in research and in discussions about their own care.
The effects of different types of hair shaving on the body image and surgical site infection in elective cranial surgery
Authors: Kose Gulsah , Tastan Sevinc , Kutlay Murat , Bedir Orhan
Published: February 2016

Aims and Objectives

To investigate the effects of different types of shaving on body image and surgical site infection in elective cranial surgery.

Background

Hair shaving before cranial surgery is commonly performed in many countries. However, the impact of shaving on the patients’ body image and surgical site infection is not, as yet, well investigated.

Design

A randomised‐controlled design was used in this study.

Methods

The sample comprised 200 patients who underwent elective cranial surgery between March 2013–August 2014. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were applied for the preoperative preparation of patients and for the follow‐up of surgical site infection. Wound swab cultures were obtained four times from all patients. The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale was used to assess changes in the body image of patients.

Findings

The rate of surgical site infection was 1% for each group and for all patients. There was no difference between the groups of surgical site infection. Coagulase‐negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus epidermidis were mostly isolated in the swab cultures. The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale score decreased in patients who underwent strip shaving and increased in patients with regional shaving.

Conclusion

There is no difference between strip shaving and regional shaving in the development of surgical site infection after cranial surgery. In addition, regional hair shaving negatively affects the patients’ body image.

Relevance to clinical practice

Findings of this study provide useful evidence‐based information for healthcare professionals. The development and implementation of effective interventions result in the prevention of surgical site infection and improvement of the patients’ body image in elective cranial surgery.
The development and psychometric analysis of the Chinese HIV‐Related Fatigue Scale
Authors: Li Su‐Yin , Wu Hua‐Shan , Barroso Julie
Published: February 2016

Aims and objectives

To develop a Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale and examine its reliability and validity.

Background

Fatigue is found in more than 70% of people infected with human immunodeficiency virus. However, a scale to assess fatigue in human immunodeficiency virus–positive people has not yet been developed for use in Chinese‐speaking countries.

Design

A methodologic study involving instrument development and psychometric evaluation was used.

Methods

The human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale was examined through a two‐step procedure: (1) translation and back translation and (2) psychometric analysis. A sample of 142 human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients was recruited from the Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic in central Taiwan. Their fatigue data were analysed with Cronbach's α for internal consistency. Two weeks later, the data of a random sample of 28 patients from the original 142 were analysed for test–retest reliability. The correlation between the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment‐Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus‐related Fatigue Scale was analysed for concurrent validity. The Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale scores of human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy and those without were compared to demonstrate construct validity.

Results

The internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale were 0·97 and 0·686, respectively. In regard to concurrent validity, a negative correlation was found between the scores of the Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment‐Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Additionally, the Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale could be used to effectively distinguish fatigue differences between the human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy and those without.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale presents good reliability and validity through a robust psychometric analysis. This scale can be appropriately applied to human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients by clinical staff and case managers in Chinese‐speaking countries.

Relevance to clinical practice

The Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus–related Fatigue Scale is an effective and comprehensive tool that can help clinical professionals measure the frequency, strength and impact on the quality of life of fatigue in Chinese human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients.
Health professionals' perspectives on children's and young people's participation in health care: a qualitative multihospital study
Authors: Schalkers Inge , Parsons Cathleen S , Bunders Joske FG , Dedding Christine
Published: February 2016

Aims and objectives

To investigate healthcare professionals' perspectives on child participation in paediatric hospital care and their opinions on improving participation practices.

Background

Some scholars argue that the decision‐making capacities of children largely depend on the attitudes of healthcare professionals rather than on the children's own competences. Healthcare professionals' perspectives on children's participation in hospital care remain largely unexplored.

Design

Qualitative descriptive design.

Methods

Healthcare professionals (n = 32) from 10 paediatric wards in the Netherlands participated in semi‐structured interviews. Shier's Pathways to Participation model (2001) was used to guide the interviews.

Results

Participation is not a term that is frequently used by professionals; however, they feel familiar with the ideas underlying the term, and it is perceived as being at the core of their work. Professionals believe that high levels of participation are possible in basic care for children. Participation in medical decision‐making is considered to be more complex and subject to a number of reservations and restrictions. The participants expressed a strong need to enhance child participation in service evaluation and to increase the respect for and understanding of the rights of children to participate outside of the paediatric unit, including in the surgery and emergency departments.

Conclusion

Children do not currently participate in the assessment of hospital services. Creative methods that support the role of children in evaluating and improving the quality of paediatric hospital care and services should be developed. Hospital‐wide policies could help to promote understanding of child participation among all professionals caring for children in hospitals.

Relevance to clinical practice

Based on international agreements that the Netherlands has ratified, professionals have the duty to facilitate child participation in hospital care. Concrete opportunities and ideas on how to accomplish this goal in practice are provided, and areas for improvement are identified.
Neuroprotective effect of melatonin in experimental optic neuritis in rats
Authors: Aranda Marcos L. , González Fleitas María F. , De Laurentiis Andrea , Keller Sarmiento María I. , Chianelli Mónica , Sande Pablo H. , Dorfman Damián , Rosenstein Ruth E.
Published: February 2016

Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative condition of the optic nerve, which might induce permanent vision loss. Currently, there are no effective therapies for this disorder. We have developed an experimental model of primary ON in rats through a single microinjection of 4.5 μg of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the optic nerve. Since melatonin acts as a pleiotropic therapeutic agent in various neurodegenerative diseases, we analyzed the effect of melatonin on LPS‐induced ON. For this purpose, LPS or vehicle were injected into the optic nerve from adult male Wistar rats. One group of animals received a subcutaneous pellet of 20 mg melatonin at 24 hr before vehicle or LPS injection, and another group was submitted to a sham procedure. Melatonin completely prevented the decrease in visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and pupil light reflex (PLR), and preserved anterograde transport of cholera toxin β‐subunit from the retina to the superior colliculus. Moreover, melatonin prevented microglial reactivity (ED1‐immunoreactivity, P < 0.01), astrocytosis (glial fibrillary acid protein‐immunostaining, P < 0.05), demyelination (luxol fast blue staining, P < 0.01), and axon (toluidine blue staining, P < 0.01) and retinal ganglion cell (Brn3a‐immunoreactivity, P < 0.01) loss, induced by LPS. Melatonin completely prevented the increase in nitric oxide synthase 2, cyclooxygenase‐2 levels (Western blot) and TNFα levels, and partly prevented lipid peroxidation induced by experimental ON. When the pellet of melatonin was implanted at 4 days postinjection of LPS, it completely reversed the decrease in VEPs and PLR. These data suggest that melatonin could be a promising candidate for ON treatment.
Surgical Patient Safety Outcomes in Critical Access Hospitals: How Do They Compare?
Authors: Natafgi Nabil , Baloh Jure , Weigel Paula , Ullrich Fred , Ward Marcia M.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The aim of the study was to examine whether Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), the predominant type of hospital in small and isolated rural areas, perform better than, the same as, or worse than Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals on measures of quality.

Methods

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases and American Hospital Association annual survey data were used for analyses. A total of 35,674 discharges from 136 nonfederal general hospitals with fewer than 50 beds were included in the analyses: 14,296 from 100 CAHs and 21,378 from 36 PPS hospitals. Outcome measures included 6 bivariate indicators of adverse events (including complications) of surgical care developed from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety Indicators. Multiple logistic regression models were developed to examine the relationship between hospital adverse events and CAH status.

Findings

Compared with PPS hospitals, CAHs are significantly less likely to have any observed (unadjusted) adverse event on 4 of the 6 indicators. After adjusting for patient mix and hospital characteristics, CAHs perform better on 3 of the 6 indicators. Accounting for the number of discharges eliminated the differences between CAHs and PPS hospitals in the likelihood of adverse events across all indicators except one.

Conclusions

The study suggests there are no differences in surgical patient safety outcomes between CAHs and PPS hospitals of comparable size. This reinforces the central role of CAHs in providing quality surgical care to populations in rural and isolated areas, and underscores the importance of strategies to sustain rural surgery infrastructure.
Sex‐specific antipredator response to auditory cues in the black spiny‐tailed iguana
Authors: Curlis J. D. , Macklem D. C. , Davis R. , Cox C. L.
Published: February 2016

The selective pressures exerted by predation can have considerable influence on the behavior of prey species across a wide range of taxa. Within a species, this force may differ between the sexes, leading to sex‐specific behavioral responses to predators. We tested whether the black spiny‐tailed iguana Ctenosaura similis is able to use auditory cues to detect an avian predator and whether antipredator responses differ in a sex‐dependent fashion. We conducted behavioral assays in which a food item was used as bait while iguanas were subjected to a recording of a Harris's hawk or white noise as a control. We found that a significantly greater percentage of individuals of either sex responded to the hawk call than to the white noise. We also found that a significantly greater percentage of females than males responded to either sound. These results suggest that not only do black spiny‐tailed iguanas incorporate auditory cues into predator detection, but that antipredator behavioral responses differ between the sexes as well. Such sex‐specific behaviors can be attributed to morphological and endocrine differences between male and female iguanas. These findings may also lend insight into how behavior can influence the evolution of sexual dimorphism within a species.
Potential syndromes linking dispersal and reproduction in the hermaphrodite land snail Cornu aspersum
Authors: Dahirel M. , Ansart A. , Madec L.
Published: February 2016

Dispersal plays a key role in many ecological and evolutionary processes, in particular through correlations, or syndromes, with other life‐history traits. Here, we investigated the potential syndromes linking movement behaviour, body mass and male and female sexual organs development, to explain a previously described subadult dispersal pattern in the hermaphrodite land snail Cornu aspersum. We found elements indicating that this snail may not strictly be a simultaneous hermaphrodite, but presents a male‐biased phase before reaching adulthood and hermaphroditism. Body mass was positively correlated with both patch‐leaving propensity and movement speed. However, because the dry mass of the female albumen gland, which represents on average in adults masses equivalent to 42.6% of somatic soft tissues dry mass, was negatively correlated with patch‐leaving propensity, snails of intermediate age are expected to be more likely to leave than older ones. No relationship between male organ size and movement characteristics was found. We discuss briefly the interesting consequences the existence of a syndrome linking movement propensity with female investment in a protandric hermaphrodite species might have in terms of life‐history evolution and on the maintenance of hermaphroditism in dispersal‐favouring environments.
Transcriptomic response to injury sheds light on the physiological costs of reproduction in ant queens
Authors: von Wyschetzki Katharina , Lowack Helena , Heinze Jürgen
Published: February 2016

The trade‐off between reproduction and longevity is widespread among multicellular organisms. As an important exception, the reproductive females of perennial social insects (ants, honeybees, termites) are simultaneously highly fertile and very long‐lived relative to their nonreproductive nestmates. The observation that increased fecundity is not coupled with decreased lifespan suggests that social insect queens do not have to reallocate resources between reproduction and self‐maintenance. If queens have to compensate for the costs of reproduction on the level of the individual, the activation of other energy‐demanding physiological processes might force them to reduce the production of eggs. To test this hypothesis in ant queens, we increased immunity costs by injury and measured the effect of this treatment on egg‐laying rates and genomewide gene expression. Amputation of both middle legs led to a temporary decrease in egg‐laying rates and affected the expression of 947 genes corresponding to 9% of the transcriptome. The changes comprised the upregulation of the immune and wound healing response on the one hand, and the downregulation of germ cell development, central nervous system development and learning ability on the other hand. Injury strongly influenced metabolism by inducing catabolism and repressing amino acid and nitrogen compound metabolism. By comparing our results to similar transcriptomic studies in insects, we found a highly consistent upregulation of immune genes due to sterile and septic wounding. The gene expression changes, complemented by the temporary decline of egg‐laying rates, clearly reveal a trade‐off between reproduction and the immune response in social insect queens.
Perceived environmental correlates of cycling for transport among adults in five regions of Europe
Authors: Mertens L. , Compernolle S. , Gheysen F. , Deforche B. , Brug J. , Mackenbach J. D. , Lakerveld J. , Oppert J.‐M. , Feuillet T. , Glonti K. , Bárdos H. , De Bourdeaudhuij I.
Published: February 2016

Regular cycling for transport is an important potential contributor to daily physical activity among adults. Characteristics of the physical environment are likely to influence cycling for transport. The current study investigated associations between perceived physical environmental neighbourhood factors and adults' cycling for transport across five urban regions across Europe, and whether such associations were moderated by age, gender, education and urban region. A total of 4,612 adults from five European regions provided information about their transport‐related cycling and their neighbourhood physical environmental perceptions in an online survey. Hurdle models adjusted for the clustering within neighbourhoods were performed to estimate associations between perceived physical environmental neighbourhood factors and odds of engaging in cycling for transport and minutes of cycling for transport per week. Inhabitants of neighbourhoods that were perceived to be polluted, having better street connectivity, having lower traffic speed levels and being less pleasant to walk or cycle in had higher levels of cycling for transport. Moderation analyses revealed only one interaction effect by gender. This study indicates that cycling for transport is associated with a number of perceived physical environmental neighbourhood factors across five urban regions across Europe. Our results indicated that the majority of the outcomes identified were valid for all subgroups of age, gender, education and across regions in the countries included in the study.
The relation between sleep duration and sedentary behaviours in European adults
Authors: Lakerveld J. , Mackenbach J. D. , Horvath E. , Rutters F. , Compernolle S. , Bárdos H. , De Bourdeaudhuij I. , Charreire H. , Rutter H. , Oppert J.‐M. , McKee M. , Brug J.
Published: February 2016

Too much sitting, and both short and long sleep duration are associated with obesity, but little is known on the nature of the relations between these behaviours. We therefore examined the associations between sleep duration and time spent sitting in adults across five urban regions in Europe.

We used cross‐sectional survey data from 6,037 adults (mean age 51.9 years (SD 16.4), 44.0% men) to assess the association between self‐reported short (<6 h per night), normal (6–8 h per night) and long (>8 h per night) sleep duration with self‐report total time spent sitting, time spent sitting at work, during transport, during leisure and while watching screens. The multivariable multilevel linear regression models were tested for moderation by urban region, age, gender, education and weight status. Because short sleepers have more awake time to be sedentary, we also used the percentage of awake time spent sedentary as an outcome.

Short sleepers had 26.5 min day−1 more sedentary screen time, compared with normal sleepers (CI 5.2; 47.8). No statistically significant associations were found with total or other domains of sedentary behaviour, and there was no evidence for effect modification. Long sleepers spent 3.2% higher proportion of their awake time sedentary compared with normal sleepers.

Shorter sleep was associated with increased screen time in a sample of European adults, irrespective of urban region, gender, age, educational level and weight status. Experimental studies are needed to assess the prospective relation between sedentary (screen) time and sleep duration.