bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis: long‐term fire regimes and the structure of ant communities in a Neotropical savanna hotspot
Authors: Maravalhas Jonas , Vasconcelos Heraldo L.
Published: October 2014

The idea that variable fire regimes (pyrodiversity) may increase habitat heterogeneity and, consequently, increase biodiversity at the landscape level is a relatively old one. However, this idea has been recently challenged by studies showing that the biota of fire‐prone ecosystems is so resilient to fire that variation in fire regime has little ecological consequences.

We evaluated how communities of ants – a dominant faunal group – differ with variation in the frequency and seasonal timing of fire in Brazilian Cerrado (savanna), a global biodiversity hotspot. We compared the number and composition of ant species foraging on the ground and in trees among experimental treatments with three fire frequencies (unburned for 37 years and burned every 2 or 4 years for the past 16 years) and three seasonal timings (early, mid and late dry season) of fire with a biennial frequency.

There were no significant differences in ant species richness in trees, and there were no significant differences in the richness of ground‐dwelling ants among plots burned at different times of the dry season. However, unburned plots had fewer ground‐dwelling ant species than those burned at 2 or 4 year intervals. We detected marked differences in species composition across regimes varying in both the frequency and the timing of fire, which were related to fire‐induced changes in vegetation structure. Over 40% of the overall ant species richness recorded in our study site was attributed to differences in species composition among fire treatments.

Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that Cerrado ant diversity at the landscape scale is promoted by a diversity of fire regimes, and therefore supports the validity of the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis for the Cerrado biome. Our findings suggest that the current policy of fire suppression in Cerrado protected areas has a negative effect on overall biodiversity and therefore should be reconsidered.
Is Great Britain heading for a Ponto–Caspian invasional meltdown?
Authors: Gallardo Belinda , Aldridge David C.
Published: October 2014

The outcome of multiple invasions from a common origin may lead to facilitative interactions because the invaders have co‐evolved under similar environmental conditions. This outcome is often referred to as invasional meltdown, with a resultant increase in invasive species and a decline in native species richness and abundance.

This study seeks to assess the full scope of the threat posed by a high‐risk group of 23 freshwater invaders originating from the Ponto–Caspian region (south‐east Europe) across Great Britain. Ponto–Caspian invaders constitute a group of special concern because they have recently caused a large‐scale invasion into western Europe.

According to a literature review, 76% of reported interactions between Ponto–Caspian invaders are positive (mostly provision of food and commensalism) or neutral (habitat partitioning). Negative interactions (mostly predation) were rare, thus highlighting the ability of Ponto–Caspian invaders to coexist.

At least 14 out of the 23 Ponto–Caspian organisms investigated are well‐established in the Rhine estuary and Dutch ports. Four of them (Hemimysis anomala, Dikerogammarus villosus, D. haemobaphes and Hypania invalida) have recently established in Great Britain. Regression models suggest the rest are under a critical risk of being transported, with four species predicted to have arrived already to Great Britain: Echinogammarus ischnus, Jaera istri, Limnomysis benedeni and D. bispinosus.

According to species distribution models, the cumulative risk of invasion of multiple Ponto–Caspian species, thus invasional meltdown, is highest in the south‐east of England and decreases to the north and west.

Great Britain might be on the brink of invasional meltdown, and as a consequence, confronting the problem of Ponto–Caspian invasive species is a vital element for national biosecurity.

Synthesis and applications. The predictive models and maps developed in this study provide a means for an evidence‐based prioritization of species and habitats for the management of existing and future invasions of Ponto–Caspian species. This integrated approach can be easily applied to risk assess other groups of species and habitats.
Modelling the abundance and distribution of marine birds accounting for uncertain species identification
Authors: Johnston Alison , Thaxter Chris B. , Austin Graham E. , Cook Aonghais S.C.P. , Humphreys Elizabeth M. , Still David A. , Mackay Alastair , Irvine Ryan , Webb Andy , Burton Niall H.K.
Published: October 2014

Many emerging methods for ecological monitoring use passive monitoring techniques, which cannot always be used to identify the observed species with certainty. Digital aerial surveys of birds in marine areas are one such example of passive observation and they are increasingly being used to quantify the abundance and distribution of marine birds to inform impact assessments for proposed offshore wind developments. However, the uncertainty in species identification presents a major hurdle to determining the abundance and distribution of individual species.

Using a novel analytical approach, we combined data from two surveys in the same area: aerial digital imagery that identified only 23% of individuals to species level and boat survey records that identified 95% of individuals to species level. The data sets were analysed to estimate the effects of environmental covariates on species density and to produce species‐specific estimates of population size.

For each digital aerial observation without certain species identification, randomized species assignments were generated using the observed species proportions from the boat surveys. For each species, we modelled several random realizations of species assignments and produced a density surface from the ensemble of models. The uncertainty from each stage of the process was propagated, so that final confidence limits accounted for all sources of uncertainty, including species identification.

In the breeding season, several species had higher densities near colonies and this pattern was clearest for three auk species. Sandeel density was an important predictor of the density of several gull species.

Synthesis and applications. This method shows it is possible to construct maps of species density in situations in which ecological observations cannot be identified to species level with certainty. The increasing use of passive detection methods is providing many more data sets with uncertain species identification and this method could be used with these data to produce species‐specific abundance estimates. We discuss the advantages of this approach for estimating the abundance and distribution of birds in marine areas, particularly for quantifying the impacts of offshore renewable developments by making the estimates derived from the older digital surveys more comparable to the recently improved surveys.
Partner diversity and identity impacts on plant productivity in Acacia–rhizobial interactions
Authors: Barrett Luke G. , Bever James D. , Bissett Andrew , Thrall Peter H.
Published: October 2014

Genetic variation for functionally important traits is ubiquitous in communities of nitrogen‐fixing rhizobia, and while some studies have described significant effects of diversity on the functioning of plant‐associated microbial communities, we lack a systematic test of how rhizobial diversity influences plant productivity.

The complexity of potential interactions among rhizobia and plants complicates the development of general predictions regarding causal relationships between rhizobial diversity and plant productivity. For example, while rhizobial complementarity may result in positive associations between symbiont diversity and plant productivity, antagonistic competition may reduce rhizobial community function.

Using two widespread native Australian Acacia species (A. salicina, A. stenophylla) and experimental rhizobial communities derived from 16 bacterial genotypes naturally associated with these hosts, we examined how the provision of mutualistic benefit varies with rhizobial identity, diversity and phylogenetic relatedness.

Analysis of plant performance in relation to rhizobial genotypic richness revealed that the presence of multiple rhizobial genotypes in the rhizosphere was associated with a general decrease in plant productivity compared to growth with single rhizobial genotypes. Importantly, these results appear to be robust in the face of variation in host identity and host diversity (i.e. one or two species mixtures). We also found that rhizobial genotypic identity and host species significantly influenced plant productivity in Acacia–rhizobia interactions, both in single‐ and multistrain inoculations.

Synthesis. Together, our data show that multiple rhizobia interacting with a single host species creates opportunities for emergent or higher‐order effects that extend beyond those that could be simply predicted based upon outcomes of pairwise interactions and that increased mutualist diversity does not necessarily translate into positive effects on plant growth.
Occupational therapists’ use of advocacy in brain injury rehabilitation settings
Authors: King Donna , Curtin Michael
Published: October 2014

Background/aim

Occupational therapists working in brain injury rehabilitation are required to use the skill of advocacy to ensure that people with a brain injury have the right to engage in their chosen occupations. However, no studies were found exploring the use of advocacy by occupational therapists working in brain injury rehabilitation. To investigate how occupational therapists working in brain injury rehabilitation defined and implemented the skill of advocacy when working with clients.

Method

Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to guide planning, data collection and analysis. Thirteen occupational therapists from six NSW metropolitan, regional and rural brain injury rehabilitation units participated in semi‐structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed and member‐checked prior to in‐depth idiographic, inductive and interrogative analysis of each transcript.

Findings

Participants identified the key elements of advocacy as the representation and education of clients and significant others. They indicated that all brain injury rehabilitation workers used advocacy when working with their clients, but were unable to identify unique ways that occupational therapists used advocacy when compared with other brain injury rehabilitation staff. However, they all felt that occupational therapists were well suited to advocate for clients in brain injury rehabilitation settings.

Conclusion

Although participants had difficulty identifying unique ways in which occupational therapists used advocacy in brain injury rehabilitation settings, they all agreed that advocacy was an important skill for occupational therapists to develop and implement.
The position of tree shrews in the mammalian tree: Comparing multi‐gene analyses with phylogenomic results leaves monophyly of Euarchonta doubtful
Authors: ZHOU Xuming , SUN Fengming , XU Shixia , YANG Guang , LI Ming
Published: October 2014

The well‐accepted Euarchonta grandorder is a pruned version of Archonta nested within the Euarchontoglires (or Supraprimates) clade. At present, it includes tree shrews (Scandentia), flying lemurs (Dermoptera) and primates (Primates). Here, a phylogenomic dataset containing 1912 exons from 22 representative mammals was compiled to investigate the phylogenetic relationships within this group. Phylogenetic analyses and hypothesis testing suggested that tree shrews can be classified as a sister group to Primates or to Glires or even as a basal clade within Euarchontoglires. Further analyses of both modified and original previously published datasets found that the phylogenetic position of tree shrews is unstable. We also found that two of three exonic indels reported as synapomorphies of Euarchonta in a previous study do not unambiguously support the monophyly of such a clade. Therefore, the monophyly of both Euarchonta and Sundatheria (Dermoptera + Scandentia) are suspect. Molecular dating and divergence rate analyses suggested that the ancestor of Euarchontoglires experienced a rapid divergence, which may cause the unresolved position of tree shrews even using the whole genomic data.
Correlating Consumer Perception and Consumer Acceptability of Traditional Doenjang in Korea
Authors: Kim Mina K. , Lee Kwang‐Geun
Published: October 2014

Doenjang is a traditional Korean food and is widely used for many Korean foods. Consumer perception and consumer acceptability on the typical sensory characteristics of traditional Doenjang remain unknown. The objective of the current study was to determine the consumer perception on traditional Doenjang characteristics and how preexisting consumer perception influenced the consumer liking for traditionally and commercially manufactured Doenjang. A consumer survey was conducted by presenting 26 sensory descriptions to consumers (n = 82) for check‐all‐that‐apply measurement. Then, a consumer acceptance test was conducted over 2 d on 2 Doenjang samples representing commercially produced Doenjang and traditionally produced Doenjang: Day 1 consumers evaluated without any information (n = 182), and day 2 consumers evaluated samples informed that both samples were made by the “traditional” method (n = 109). Two‐way ANOVA and multivariate analyses were conducted. Consumers’ preexisting perceptions on the typical sensory characteristics of traditionally made Doenjang were similar in that they associate “gu‐soo flavor,” “dark color,” “flavorful,” and “well‐fermented flavor” regardless of consumer demographics and Doenjang user status. However, these consumer perceptions on sensory attributes of traditional Doenjang did not agree with desirable sensory attributes for consumer liking, in that consumers preferred the commercially made Doenjang regardless of the evaluation condition and consumer user status. Findings from the current study therefore suggested a discrepancy between the preexisting current consumer perception and actual consumer acceptability of traditional Doenjang products.
Diversity of Glycosyl Hydrolase Enzymes from Metagenome and Their Application in Food Industry
Authors: Sathya T.A. , Khan Mahejibin
Published: October 2014

Traditional use of enzymes for food processing and production of food ingredients resulted in fast‐growing enzyme industries world over. The advances in technologies gave rise to exploring newer enzymes and/or modified enzymes for specific application. Search for novel enzymes that can augment catalytic efficiency and advances in molecular biology techniques including sequencing has targeted microbial diversity through metagenomic approaches for sourcing enzymes from difficult to culture organisms. Such mining studies have received more attention in characterizing hydrolases, their prevalence, broad substrate specificities, stability, and independence of cofactors. The focus on glycosyl hydrolases from metagenome for their application in food sector is reviewed.
Effect of Soybean Lecithin on Iron‐Catalyzed or Chlorophyll‐Photosensitized Oxidation of Canola Oil Emulsion
Authors: Choe Jeesu , Oh Boyoung , Choe Eunok
Published: October 2014

The effect of soybean lecithin addition on the iron‐catalyzed or chlorophyll‐photosensitized oxidation of emulsions consisting of purified canola oil and water (1:1, w/w) was studied based on headspace oxygen consumption using gas chromatography and hydroperoxide production using the ferric thiocyanate method. Addition levels of iron sulfate, chlorophyll, and soybean lecithin were 5, 4, and 350 mg/kg, respectively. Phospholipids (PLs) during oxidation of the emulsions were monitored by high performance liquid chromatography. Addition of soybean lecithin to the emulsions significantly reduced and decelerated iron‐catalyzed oil oxidation by lowering headspace oxygen consumption and hydroperoxide production. However, soybean lecithin had no significant antioxidant effect on chlorophyll‐photosensitized oxidation of the emulsions. PLs in soybean lecithin added to the emulsions were degraded during both oxidation processes, although there was little change in PL composition. Among PLs in soybean lecithin, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol were degraded the fastest in the iron‐catalyzed and the chlorophyll‐photosensitized oxidation, respectively. The results suggest that addition of soybean lecithin as an emulsifier can also improve the oxidative stability of oil in an emulsion.
Effect of Tocopherol on Atherosclerosis, Vascular Function, and Inflammation in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice with Subtotal Nephrectomy
Authors: Shing Cecilia M. , Fassett Robert G. , Peake Jonathan M. , Coombes Jeff S.
Published: October 2014

Background/Aims

Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction contribute to cardiovascular disease, prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Antioxidant supplements such as tocopherols may reduce inflammation and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tocopherol supplementation on vascular function, aortic plaque formation, and inflammation in apolipoprotein E−/− mice with 5/6 nephrectomy as a model of combined cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Methods

Nephrectomized mice were assigned to a normal chow diet group (normal chow), a group receiving 1000 mg/kg diet of α‐tocopherol supplementation or a group receiving 1000 mg/kg diet mixed‐tocopherol (60% γ‐tocopherol).

Results

Following 12 weeks, in vitro aortic endothelial‐independent relaxation was enhanced with both α‐tocopherol and mixed‐tocopherol (P < 0.05), while mixed‐tocopherol enhanced aortic contraction at noradrenaline concentrations of 3 × 10−7 M to 3 × 10−5 M (P < 0.05), when compared to normal chow. Supplementation with α‐ and mixed‐tocopherol reduced systemic concentrations of IL‐6 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and IL‐10 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively), while α‐tocopherol also reduced MCP‐1 (P < 0.05) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α (P < 0.05). Aortic sinus plaque area was significantly reduced with α‐tocopherol supplementation when compared to normal chow (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Tocopherol supplementation favorably influenced vascular function and cytokine profile, while it was also effective in reducing atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E−/− mouse with CKD.
Intercostobrachial nerve handling and pain after axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer
Authors: ANDERSEN K. G. , AASVANG E. K. , KROMAN N. , KEHLET H.
Published: October 2014

Background

Moderate to severe pain in the first week after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer is experienced by approximately 50% of the patients. Damage to the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) has been proposed as a risk factor for the development of persistent pain following breast cancer surgery but with limited information on acute post‐operative pain. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of ICBN handling on pain during the first week after ALND.

Methods

The study was part of a larger prospective cohort study on persistent pain after breast cancer treatment. Pain and sensory disturbances were assessed pre‐operatively, within the first 72 h post‐operatively and a week after surgery. Intraoperative handling of the nerve was recorded by the surgeon as preserved, partially preserved or sectioned.

Results

One hundred forty‐one patients were treated with ALND level I + II, and the ICBN could be identified in 125 (89%) patients. Of the 17 not identified, eight were stated as without any sign of the nerve and were included in analysis as sectioned. Thus, the analysis included 133 patients in which 45 (34%) of these the ICBN was preserved, 39 (29%) partially preserved and 49 (37%) sectioned. At 1 week after surgery, 104 patients (78%) reported pain, whereas 35 (26%) reported moderate to severe pain. There was no difference between the ICBN groups in pain scores or sensory disturbances measured pre‐operatively compared to 1 week post‐operatively.

Conclusion

The type of ICBN handling during ALND may not influence acute post‐operative pain in the first week after surgery.
Morphology of the Pelvis and Hind Limb of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) Evidenced by Gross Osteology, Radiography and Computed Tomography
Authors: Makungu M. , du Plessis W. M. , Groenewald H. B. , Barrows M. , Koeppel K. N.
Published: October 2014

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a quadrupedal arboreal animal primarily distributed in the Himalayas and southern China. It is a species commonly kept in zoological collections. This study was carried out to describe the morphology of the pelvis and hind limb of the red panda evidenced by gross osteology, radiography and computed tomography as a reference for clinical use and identification of skeletons. Radiography of the pelvis and right hind limb was performed in nine and seven animals, respectively. Radiographic findings were correlated with bone specimens from three adult animals. Computed tomography of the torso and hind limb was performed in one animal. The pelvic bone had a wide ventromedial surface of the ilium. The trochlea of the femur was wide and shallow. The patella was similar to that seen in feline species. The medial fabella was not seen radiographically in any animal. The cochlea grooves of the tibia were shallow with a poorly defined intermediate ridge. The trochlea of the talus was shallow and presented with an almost flattened medial ridge. The tarsal sesamoid bone was always present. The lateral process of the base of the fifth metatarsal (MT) bone was directed laterally. The MT bones were widely spaced. The morphology of the pelvis and hind limb of the red panda indicated flexibility of the pelvis and hind limb joints as an adaptation to an arboreal quadrupedal lifestyle.
The Ligaments of the Canine Hip Joint Revisited
Authors: Casteleyn C. , den Ouden I. , Coopman F. , Verhoeven G. , Van Cruchten S. , Van Ginneken C. , Van Ryssen B. , Simoens P.
Published: October 2014

Numerous conventional anatomical textbooks describe the canine hip joint, but many contradictions, in particular regarding the ligament of the femoral head, are present. This paper presents a brief overview of the different literature descriptions. These are compared with own observations that have resulted in a revised description of the anatomy of the ligament of the femoral head in the dog. To this purpose, the hip joints of 41 dogs, euthanized for reasons not related to this study and devoid of lesions related to hip joint pathology, were examined. It was observed that the ligament of the femoral head is not a single structure that attaches only to the acetabular fossa, as generally accepted, but it also connects to the transverse acetabular ligament and is complemented by a strong accessory ligament that courses in caudal direction to attach in the elongation of the acetabular notch that extends on the cranioventral surface of the body of the ischium. The description of this accessory ligament in conventional anatomical handbooks is incomplete. This description of the accessory ligament of the femoral head could support the research unravelling the etiopathogenesis of hip instability.
Closed‐population capture–recapture modeling of samples drawn one at a time
Authors: Barker Richard J. , Schofield Matthew R. , Wright Janine A. , Frantz Alain C. , Stevens Chris
Published: October 2014

Motivated by field sampling of DNA fragments, we describe a general model for capture–recapture modeling of samples drawn one at a time in continuous‐time. Our model is based on Poisson sampling where the sampling time may be unobserved. We show that previously described models correspond to partial likelihoods from our Poisson model and their use may be justified through arguments concerningS‐ and Bayes‐ancillarity of discarded information. We demonstrate a further link to continuous‐time capture–recapture models and explain observations that have been made about this class of models in terms of partial ancillarity. We illustrate application of our models using data from the European badger (Meles meles) in which genotyping of DNA fragments was subject to error.
New perspectives on the thrombotic complications of haemolysis
Authors: L'Acqua Camilla , Hod Eldad
Published: October 2014

Many clinical settings are associated with haemolysis, from rare conditions, such as paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, to common interventions, such as mechanical circulatory support and blood transfusion. The toxic effects of circulating free haemoglobin, haem, and iron are becoming increasingly understood and include an increased risk of thrombotic complications. This review summarizes the epidemiological evidence for an association between haemolysis and thrombosis and explores potential underlying mechanisms. New insights into the role haem plays in inflammatory signalling and in generating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may provide useful strategies for managing pathological states associated with severe haemolysis. A better understanding of the toxic effects of haemolysis will result in better therapies to prevent the side effect of thrombosis.
Transurethral intraprostatic injection of botulinum neurotoxin type A for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: results of a prospective pilot double‐blind and randomized placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Falahatkar Siavash , Shahab Elaheh , Gholamjani Moghaddam Keivan , Kazemnezhad Ehsan
Published: October 2014

Objective

To evaluate the effect of botulinum neurotoxin type‐A (BoNT‐A) on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) refractory to medical therapy.

Materials and Methods

Between November 2011 and January 2013, 60 men aged ≥18 years with CP/CPPS, and with National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH‐CPSI) scores ≥10 and pain subscale scores ≥8, who were refractory to 4–6 weeks' medical therapy, underwent transurethral intraprostatic injection of BoNT‐A or normal saline in a prospective pilot double‐blind randomized study. The patients' NIH‐CPSI total and subscale scores, American Urological Association (AUA)‐symptom score (SS), visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life (QoL) scores and frequencies of diurnal and nocturnal urination were evaluated and compared at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months after injection and also were compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 60 consecutive patients were randomized to a BoNT‐A (treatment) or normal saline (placebo) group. In the treatment group at the 1‐, 3‐ and 6‐month evaluation the NIH‐CPSI total and subscale scores, and the AUA‐SS, VAS and QoL scores, along with frequencies of diurnal and nocturnal urinations, had significantly improved compared with baseline values (P < 0.05). By contrast, in the placebo group, none of these values showed improvement and the values were significantly different from those in the treatment group. Although the differences between the two groups in AUA‐SS and frequencies of nocturnal urination were not significant at 1‐month follow‐up, repeated‐measure analysis showed significant improvement in each of these values over the entire follow‐up period in the treatment group. The most prominent improvement was related to the pain subscale score, which decreased by 64.76, 75.63 and 79.97% at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment compared with baseline, followed by the VAS score, which decreased by 62.3, 72.4 and 82.1% at each follow‐up, respectively. Only two patients developed mild transient gross haematuria, which was managed conservatively.

Conclusions

Transurethral intraprostatic BoNT‐A injection maybe an effective therapeutic option in patients with CP/CPPS as it reduces pain and improves QoL.
Radical cystectomy with super‐extended lymphadenectomy: impact of separate vs en bloc lymph node submission on analysis and outcomes
Authors: Zehnder Pascal , Moltzahn Felix , Mitra Anirban P. , Cai Jie , Miranda Gus , Skinner Eila C. , Gill Inderbir S. , Daneshmand Siamak
Published: October 2014

Objective

To update our previous analysis of the clinical and pathological impact of the change in the submission of lymphadenectomy specimens from en bloc to 13 separate anatomically defined packets, which took place at the University of Southern California in May 2002, and to determine whether lymph node (LN) packeting resulted in any change in oncological outcomes.

Patients and Methods

A total of 846 patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) with super‐extended LN dissection for cTxN0M0 bladder cancer between January 1996 and December 2007 were identified. Specimens of 376 patients were sent en bloc (group 1), and specimens of 470 patients were sent in 13 separate anatomical packets (group 2).

Results

The pathological tumour stage distribution and the proportion of LN‐positive patients (group 1: 82 patients [22%] versus group 2: 99 patients [21%]; P = 0.80) were similar between the two groups: the median [range] number of total LNs identified increased significantly (group 1: 32 [10–97] versus group 2: 65 [10–179]; P < 0.001). LN density decreased (group 1, 11% versus group 2, 4%; P = 0.005). The median [range] number of positive LNs removed was similar (group 1: 0 [0–30] versus group 2: 0 [0–97]; P = 0.87). No nodal stage shift was observed. The 5‐year overall survival (group 1: 58% versus group 2: 59%; P = 0.65) and recurrence‐free survival rates (group 1: 68% versus group 2: 70%; P = 0.57) were similar.

Conclusions

The incidence of patients with positive LNs remained unchanged, regardless of how the LN specimen was submitted. Submitting 13 separate nodal packets significantly increased the total LN yield, but did not result in a significant increase in the number of positive LNs or a consecutive nodal stage shift and did not affect oncological outcomes. Based on these results LN density is not an accurate prognosticator.
Vitamin D and the development of allergic disease: how important is it?
Authors: Mirzakhani H. , Al‐Garawi A. , Weiss S. T. , Litonjua A. A.
Published: October 2014

Vitamin D has known effects on lung development and the immune system that may be important in the development, severity, and course of allergic diseases (asthma, eczema, and food allergy). Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide and may partly explain the increases in asthma and allergic diseases that have occurred over the last 50–60 years. In this review, we explore past and current knowledge on the effect of vitamin D on lung development and immunomodulation and present the evidence of its role in allergic conditions. While there is growing observational and experimental evidence for the role of vitamin D, well‐designed and well‐powered clinical trials are needed to determine whether supplementation of vitamin D should be recommended in these disorders.
Children's journeys through organizations: how inspectors evaluate coordination of care
Authors: Rutz Suzanne I. , de Bont Antoinette A. , Robben Paul B. M. , Buitendijk Simone E.
Published: October 2014

Inspectorates have been criticized for assessing compliance with the rules rather than outcomes for children. In the Netherlands, inspectorates have developed a ‘journey tool’ to reconstruct children's travels through all the organizations providing care. Using document analysis and semi‐structured interviews, we evaluated how inspectors use this tool in practice. We applied an ontological theoretical framework to the coordination of care to analyse 24 journeys through care organizations, including a selection of six journeys in further detail. Our analysis shows that up until now, inspectors used only one form of coordination, the creation of a hierarchy, resulting in one problem definition. However, in complex care practices, children have multiple and often incompatible problems so that one coherent problem definition cannot be made. We show that ‘patchwork’, a form of coordination that allows discrepancies enables inspectors to reflect on complex care practices and evaluate options to improve outcomes for children.
Peer paradox: the tensions that peer relationships raise for vulnerable youth
Authors: Sanders Jackie , Munford Robyn , Liebenberg Linda , Ungar Michael
Published: October 2014

The contribution peer relationships make to positive adolescent development is well recognized. Accordingly, peer problem measures typically assess youth with few age‐appropriate peers as having peer problems. Yet, youth facing high levels of personal and/or social adversity may reduce their association with antisocial peers as part of coping or risk mitigation strategies. While such strategies will result in higher scores on peer problem measures, they may also facilitate resilience and constitute a resource social workers can draw on in their work with youth. To test this proposition of peer adaptation as a risk mitigation strategy, mixed‐methods data relating to two groups of youth who were exposed to different levels of adversity were compared on a standardized peer problem measure and a range of risk measures. Qualitative interviews extended this data and explored vulnerable youth perceptions of social withdrawal as a coping strategy. Results from the survey and qualitative data indicated that a subgroup of youth facing high levels of adversity restricted association with antisocial peers to reduce their behavioural risks. However, without adequate support from adults in both formal support systems and youths' social ecologies to compensate for the loss of peer friendships, this strategy did not reduce behavioural risk in the medium term. The social withdrawal strategy also appeared to heighten mental health concerns for these youth. The implications of this finding for the development of policy and practice with vulnerable youth are discussed.
The gastrointestinal manifestation of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome: from a single adenoma to polyposis‐like phenotype and early onset cancer
Authors: Levi Z. , Kariv R. , Barnes‐Kedar I. , Goldberg Y. , Half E. , Morgentern S. , Eli B. , Baris H.N. , Vilkin A. , Belfer R.G. , Niv Y. , Elhasid R. , Dvir R. , Abu‐Freha N. , Cohen S.
Published: October 2014

Data on the clinical presentation of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome (CMMRD) is accumulating. However, as the extraintestinal manifestations are often fatal and occur at early age, data on the systematic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract is scarce. Here we describe 11 subjects with verified biallelic carriage and who underwent colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and small bowel evaluation. Five subjects were symptomatic and in six subjects the findings were screen detected. Two subjects had colorectal cancer and few adenomatous polyps (19, 20 years), three subjects had polyposis‐like phenotype (13, 14, 16 years), four subjects had few adenomatous polyps (8, 12–14 years) and two subjects had no polyps (both at age 6). Of the three subjects in the polyposis‐like group, two subjects had already developed high‐grade dysplasia or cancer and one subject had atypical juvenile polyps suggesting juvenile polyposis. Three out of the five subjects that underwent repeated exams had significant findings during short interval. The gastrointestinal manifestations of CMMRD are highly dependent upon age of examination and highly variable. The polyps may also resemble juvenile polyposis. Intensive surveillance according to current guidelines is mandatory.
Genetics of sudden cardiac death in the young
Authors: Saenen J.B. , Van Craenenbroeck E.M. , Proost D. , Marchau F. , Van Laer L. , Vrints C.J. , Loeys B.L.
Published: October 2014

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) has an enormous impact on those who are left behind, evoking strong feelings of anxiety and incomprehension because such a dramatic event was not anticipated. Moreover, over the last decade a prominent genetic contribution to the pathogenesis of SCD has been unveiled. As many inherited cardiac diseases show an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, the risk of carrying the same inherited predisposition is a real concern for the relatives. In this article, we discuss the major causes of primary electrical disorders, cardiomyopathies and thoracic aortic dissection and address issues in genotype–phenotype correlation, personalized management and cardiogenetic counselling.
Patient reported outcomes and patient empowerment in clinical genetics services
Authors: McAllister M. , Dearing A.
Published: October 2014

Evaluation of clinical genetics services (CGS), including genetic counseling and genetic testing, has been problematic. Patient mortality and morbidity are unlikely to be directly improved by interventions offered in CGS. Patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) are not routinely measured in CGS evaluation, but this may change as patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) become a key part of how healthcare services are managed and funded across the world. However, there is no clear consensus about which PROMs are most useful for CGS evaluation. This review summarizes the published research on how PROs from CGS have been measured and how patients may benefit from using those services, with a focus on patient empowerment. Many patient benefits (PROs) identified repeatedly in the research literature can be re‐interpreted within a patient empowerment framework. Other important PROs identified include family functioning, social functioning, altruism, sense of purpose, enabling development of future research and treatment/participating in research. Well‐validated measures are available to capture (dimensions of) patient empowerment. Although generic measures of family functioning are available, suitable measures capturing social functioning, development of future treatments, and altruism were not identified in this review. Patient empowerment provides one useful approach to measuring PROs from CGS.
Collagen type IV‐related nephropathies in Portugal: pathogenic COL4A3 and COL4A4 mutations and clinical characterization of 25 families
Authors: Nabais Sá M.J. , Storey H. , Flinter F. , Nagel M. , Sampaio S. , Castro R. , Araújo J.A. , Gaspar M.A. , Soares C. , Oliveira A. , Henriques A.C. , da Costa A.G. , Abreu C.P. , Ponce P. , Alves R. , Pinho L. , Silva S.E. , de Moura C.P. , Mendonça L. , Carvalho F. , Pestana M. , Alves S. , Carvalho F. , Oliveira J.P.
Published: October 2014

Pathogenic mutations in genes COL4A3/COL4A4 are responsible for autosomal Alport syndrome (AS) and thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN). We used Sanger sequencing to analyze all exons and splice site regions of COL4A3/COL4A4, in 40 unrelated Portuguese probands with clinical suspicion of AS/TBMN. To assess genotype–phenotype correlations, we compared clinically relevant phenotypes/outcomes between homozygous/compound heterozygous and apparently heterozygous patients. Seventeen novel and four reportedly pathogenic COL4A3/COL4A4 mutations were identified in 62.5% (25/40) of the probands. Regardless of the mutated gene, all patients with ARAS manifested chronic renal failure (CRF) and hearing loss, whereas a minority of the apparently heterozygous patients had CRF or extrarenal symptoms. CRF was diagnosed at a significantly younger age in patients with ARAS. In our families, the occurrence of COL4A3/COL4A4 mutations was higher, while the prevalence of XLAS was lower than expected. Overall, a pathogenic COL4A3/COL4A4/COL4A5 mutation was identified in >50% of patients with fewer than three of the standard diagnostic criteria of AS. With such a population background, simultaneous next‐generation sequencing of all three genes may be recommended as the most expedite approach to diagnose collagen IV‐related glomerular basement membrane nephropathies.
Low utilization of prenatal and pre‐implantation genetic diagnosis in Huntington disease – risk discounting in preventive genetics
Authors: Schulman J.D. , Stern H.J.
Published: October 2014

Huntington disease (HD) is a late‐onset, fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a (CAG) triplet repeat expansion in the Huntingtin gene that enlarges during male meiosis. In 1996 in this journal, one of us (J. D. S.) presented a methodology to perform pre‐implantation genetic diagnosis in families at‐risk for HD without revealing the genetic status of the at‐risk parent. Despite the introduction of accurate prenatal and pre‐implantation genetic testing which can prevent transmission of the abnormal HD gene in the family permanently, utilization of these options is extremely low. In this article, we examine the decision‐making process regarding genetic testing in families with HD and discuss the possible reasons for the low uptake among this group.
Association between genetic polymorphisms in XPD and XRCC1 genes and risks of non‐small cell lung cancer in East Chinese Han population
Authors: Du Yong , He Yanchao , Mei Zhoufang , Qian Ling , Shi Jindong , Jie Zhijun
Published: October 2014

Background and Aims

Lung cancer is a multifactorial disease. Xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) and X‐ray repair cross‐complementing 1 (XRCC1) genes are 2 important susceptibility genes related to lung cancer. In this study, we explored the correlation between genetic polymorphisms in XPD and XRCC1 and the risk of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the East Chinese Han population. We also investigated risk factors associated with non‐small cell lung cancer in this population.

Methods

We conducted a case control study in 120 NSCLC patients and 120 healthy controls. The NSCLC patients were further divided into three subgroups, squamous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and other type of cancer, according to tumor histology. No patients had undergone any treatment. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism technologies were applied to detect the distribution of XPD‐751, XRCC1‐194 and XRCC1‐399 genes in all patients.

Results

The results showed significant gene frequency differences for all three genes between patients with NSCLC and control patients. Significantly different frequencies of XPD‐751‐Gln, XRCC‐194‐Trp and XRCC1‐399‐Gln mutant alleles were observed between the two groups. XPD‐751SNP and XRCC1‐194SNP frequencies varied among the three lung cancer groups, while the frequency of XRCC1‐399SNP did not differ significantly.

Conclusions

The results suggested that genetic polymorphisms in XPD‐751, XRCC1‐194 and XRCC1‐399 were related to the risk of NSCLC, among which XPD‐751SNP was responsible for adenocarcinoma, while XRCC1‐194SNP was closely linked to squamous carcinoma. Smoking and XRCC1‐194SNP were risk factors of NSCLC.
Cytokine response to the 6‐min walk test in individuals with different degrees of COPD
Authors: Dorneles Gilson Pires , Vianna Priscila , Del Duca Lima Diego , Galant Lucas , Dias Alexandre Simões , Chies José Artur Bogo , Monteiro Mariane Borba , Peres Alessandra
Published: October 2014

Background and Aim

Physical exercise is a key part of rehabilitation programs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, although it could modulates immune system responses by altering the cytokine profile of such individuals. Furthermore, the degree of severity of COPD could influence the inflammatory response induced by exercise. To evaluate the cytokine profile of individuals with different degrees of COPD in response to a 6‐min walk test (6MWT).

Methods

Forty‐one patients with COPD were classified according to the severity of the disease by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease method: moderate = 14 individuals; severe = 14 individuals; very severe = 13 individuals. Blood sample collection was performed in the subjects pre and post a 6MWT. Cytokine plasma levels were analyzed to determine the cytokine profile using a Cytometric Bead Array technique (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA) assay in flow cytometry.

Results

A significant difference was observed in the interleukin (IL)‐6 levels after test between very severe and severe groups (P = 0.036). Also, lower levels of IL‐4 were observed in the severe group compared with the very severe and the moderate groups in the pretest (P = 0.029; P = 0.003, respectively), and different values between the moderate and severe groups in the post‐test (P = 0.044). A significant time pre‐post effect was found in the IL‐4 levels on the very severe group (P = 0.046).

Conclusion

After the 6MWT, a discrete inflammatory response was observed in COPD patients, independent of the degree of severity. The results concerning IL‐4 and IL‐6 levels can be indicative of an attempt to control inflammation after the 6MWT in COPD patients.
A meta‐analysis: is low‐dose computed tomography a superior method for risky lung cancers screening population?
Authors: Fu Cuiping , Liu Zilong , Zhu Fen , Li Shanqun , Jiang Liyan
Published: October 2014

Background and Aims

Low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been proposed to be a new screening method to discover lung cancers in an early stage, especially those patients who are in a high risk of lung cancer. The primary objective of this meta‐analysis is to systematically review the effect of LDCT on screening for lung cancers among the risky population who are older than 49 years old and with smoking exposure.

Methods

We searched randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) about comparing LDCT and chest X‐ray or usual caring from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, Web of Knowledge and Springerlink databases (January 1994 to September 2013).

Results

Nine RCTs met criteria for inclusion. Screening for lung cancer using LDCT resulted in a significantly higher number of stage I lung cancers [odds ratio (OR) 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88–2.47], higher number of total lung cancers (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.20–1.43) than the control. Four of the nine studies indicated that the screening method did not decrease all‐cause mortality (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90–1.02), but decreased lung cancer‐specific mortality (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74–0.96). Five studies showed that LDCT had higher false‐positive rates (OR 8.7, 95% CI 7.43–10.19) than the group of control.

Conclusion

Among the risky population, LDCT screening find out more stage I lung cancers and total lung cancers compared with chest X‐ray or no screening, and also shows advantages in decreasing lung cancer‐specific mortality, but the screening method does not decrease all‐cause mortality and have a higher false‐positive rates in diagnosis.