bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐Term Outcome of Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Coexistent Metabolic Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Impact of Repeat Procedures versus Lifestyle Changes
Authors: MOHANTY SANGHAMITRA , MOHANTY PRASANT , DI BIASE LUIGI , BAI RONG , TRIVEDI CHINTAN , SANTANGELI PASQUALE , SANTORO FRANCESCO , HONGO RICHARD , HAO STEVEN , BEHEIRY SALWA , BURKHARDT DAVID , GALLINGHOUSE JOSEPH G. , HORTON RODNEY , SANCHEZ JAVIER E. , BAILEY SHANE , HRANITZKY PATRICK M. , ZAGRODZKY JASON , NATALE ANDREA
Published: June 2014

Ablation Outcome in AF with Concurrent MS and OSA

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome (MS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are well‐known independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. This study evaluated ablation outcome in AF patients with coexistent MS and OSA and influence of lifestyle modifications (LSM) on arrhythmia recurrence.

Methods and Results

We included 1,257 AF patients undergoing first catheter ablation (30% paroxysmal AF). Patients having MS + OSA were classified into Group 1 (n = 126; 64 ± 8 years; 76% male). Group 2 (n = 1,131; 62 ± 11 years; 72% male) included those with either MS (n = 431) or OSA (n = 112; no CPAP users) or neither of these comorbidities (n = 588). Patients experiencing recurrence after first procedure were divided into 2 subgroups; those having sporadic events (frequency < 2 months) remained on previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and aggressive LSM, while those with persistent arrhythmia (incessant or ≥2 months) underwent repeat ablation.

After 34 ± 8 months of first procedure, 66 (52%) in Group 1 and 386 (34%) in Group 2 had recurrence (P < 0.001). Recurrence rate in only‐MS, only‐OSA, and without MS/OSA groups were 40%, 38%, and 29%, respectively. Patients with MS + OSA experienced substantially higher recurrence compared to those with lone MS or OSA (52% vs. 40% vs. 38%; P = 0.036). Of the 452 patients having recurrence, 250 underwent redo‐ablation and 194 remained on AAD and LSM. At 20 ± 6 months, 76% of the redo group remained arrhythmia‐free off AAD whereas 74% of the LSM group were free from recurrence (P = 0.71), 33% of which were off AAD.

Conclusions

MS and OSA have additive negative effect on arrhythmia recurrence following single procedure. Repeat ablation or compliant LSM increase freedom from recurrent AF.
Circumstances and causes of falls by patients at a Spanish acute care hospital
Authors: Aranda‐Gallardo Marta , Morales‐Asencio Jose Miguel , Canca‐Sanchez Jose Carlos , Toribio‐Montero Juan Carlos
Published: June 2014

Rationale, aims and objectives

A major problem in hospitals is that of falls, which can seriously reduce patients' quality of life. Fall rates vary considerably depending on health care practices, the hospital environment and the measurement method used. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of hospitalized acute patients who suffer falls, by analysing the distribution and the profile of these patients.

Methods

This is an analytic cross‐sectional study conducted at a Spanish hospital. All patients who suffered a fall during hospitalization in 2011 were studied by analysing the computerized register of falls. Downton index, circumstances and consequences of falls were analysed. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed.

Results

The frequency of falls was 0.64%. The rate of falls increased with age (mean age: 71.06 years). The highest percentage occurred among patients in the medical care area (63.7%). The probability of suffering a fall was 1.33 times higher among men than women. Differences in age, type of risk of fall and circumstances were found, depending on the type of hospitalization. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in the medical care area suffered more falls with consequences: 7.01 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34–36.79], as did the patients classified as ‘low risk’: 2.40 (CI 95%: 1.02–5.65).

Conclusions

Falls have diverse causes. Determining these circumstances can contribute to promoting a culture of prevention and to reducing the injuries provoked by falls. Notification procedures should be standardized in order to enable comparisons among different environments.
Time and deprivation trends in incidence of primary liver cancer subtypes in England
Authors: Konfortion Julie , Coupland Victoria H. , Kocher Hemant M. , Allum William , Grocock Melanie J. , Jack Ruth H.
Published: June 2014

Rationale, aims and objectives

Primary liver cancer consists of distinct subtypes with differing aetiology so it is valuable to study the incidence of these subtypes separately. This study aims to investigate time and socio‐economic deprivation trends in the incidence of primary liver cancer subtypes in England, identifying the burden in the population.

Methods

Data were extracted from the population‐based National Cancer Data Repository (NCDR) for patients diagnosed with primary liver cancer between 1990 and 2009. Subtypes were defined by the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐10) codes: liver cell carcinoma (C22.0), intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (C22.1), other (C22.2–C22.4, C22.7) and unspecified (C22.9). A sensitivity analysis was carried out on the main histological subtypes of liver cell carcinoma and intrahepatic bile duct using the 2nd edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD‐O‐2). Male and female age‐standardized incidence rates per 100 000 World standard population were calculated for each year and for the period 1999–2009 by socio‐economic deprivation quintile.

Results

A total of 40 945 patients were diagnosed with primary liver cancer between 1990 and 2009. Liver cell carcinoma incidence increased in men from 0.63 in 1990 to 2.48 per 100 000 in 2009. While incidence was low in women, rates increased from 0.18 to 0.59, respectively. Intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma incidence increased between 1990 and 2009 from 0.40 to 1.25 per 100 000 in men, and from 0.28 to 1.08 in women. Incidence of the other liver cancer subtype remained low throughout the study period at less than 0.3 per 100 000 in each year in both men and women. The highest rate of liver cell carcinoma and intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma was generally in men and women resident in the most deprived areas between 1999 and 2009. The largest difference by deprivation quintile was observed for liver cell carcinoma in men, where the incidence was more than double in the most deprived quintile with an average rate of 3.56 per 100 000 compared to the least deprived quintile at 1.43.

Conclusions

Liver cell carcinoma and intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma incidence increased between 1990 and 2009 in both sexes. This pattern was largely driven by patients living in the most deprived areas. Differences observed may be due to the variation in the prevalence of known risk factors such as chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections and excessive alcohol consumption.
Practices and preferences for detecting chronic medication toxicity: a pilot cross‐sectional survey of health care providers focusing on decision support systems
Authors: Dischinger Hannah R. , Cheng Elizabeth , Davis Lisa A. , Caplan Liron
Published: June 2014

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a critical concern: they are costly, both in dollars and in diminishing patients' quality of life. ADRs that occur due to prolonged exposure to a pharmaceutical agent (adverse drug reactions of long latency, ADRLLs) may be easier to prevent than acute ADRs, as ADRLLs inherently require continued medication exposures. This pilot study used glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis (GIO) as an example ADRLL. The aims were to survey health care providers' current practices in avoiding ADRLLs and the perceived utility of decisional support systems (DSS) to aid them in preventing GIO.

Methods

We administered an anonymous, cross‐sectional survey to health care providers (fellows, doctor assistants, nurse practitioners and attending doctors) focusing on their methods to monitor for and prevent ADRLLs. The questionnaire also gauged usage of electronic medical records (EMRs) and each provider's perceived utility of specific DSS‐based approaches to monitoring for GIO. Data were interpreted using descriptive statistics and histograms.

Results

A majority of the 33 responding providers (84.8%) reported that their primary ADRLL avoidance technique is simply remembering that a patient is on chronic glucocorticoids. The most favourably perceived DSS options included tracking medications on a flow sheet (84.8%) and digital tracking of cumulative glucocorticoid exposure with real‐time prompts (83.9%).

Conclusions

Surveyed providers reported that additional DSS implementation may help in the avoidance of ADRLLs such as GIO. Providers ranked both digital and non‐digital DSS favourably, but a computerized approach is appealing in that it may be integrated into extant EMR systems.
Tetrodotoxin‐resistant voltage‐gated sodium channel Nav1.8 constitutively interacts with ankyrin G
Authors: Montersino Audrey , Brachet Anna , Ferracci Géraldine , Fache Marie‐Pierre , Angles d'Ortoli Stephanie , Liu Wenjing , Rueda‐Boroni Fanny , Castets Francis , Dargent Bénédicte
Published: June 2014

The tetrodotoxin‐resistant (TTX‐R) voltage‐gated sodium channel Nav1.8 is predominantly expressed in peripheral afferent neurons, but in case of neuronal injury an ectopic and detrimental expression of Nav1.8 occurs in neurons of the CNS. In CNS neurons, Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 channels accumulate at the axon initial segment, the site of the generation of the action potential, through a direct interaction with the scaffolding protein ankyrin G (ankG). This interaction is regulated by protein kinase CK2 phosphorylation. In this study, we quantitatively analyzed the interaction between Nav1.8 and ankG. GST pull‐down assay and surface plasmon resonance technology revealed that Nav1.8 strongly and constitutively interacts with ankG, in comparison to what observed for Nav1.2. An ion channel bearing the ankyrin‐binding motif of Nav1.8 displaced the endogenous Nav1 accumulation at the axon initial segment of hippocampal neurons. Finally, Nav1.8 and ankG co‐localized in skin nerves fibers. Altogether, these results indicate that Nav1.8 carries all the information required for its localization at ankG micro‐domains. The constitutive binding of Nav1.8 with ankG could contribute to the pathological aspects of illnesses where Nav1.8 is ectopically expressed in CNS neurons.

image

The peripheral voltage‐gated sodium channel Nav1.8 can be abnormally expressed in central nervous system (CNS) neurons in cases of neuronal injury. We here demonstrated that Nav1.8 binds strongly and constitutively to the scaffolding protein ankyrin G. This indicates that Nav1.8 concentrates at the ankyrin G micro‐domains and could disturb the electrophysiological signature of CNS neurons where it is ectopicaly expressed.
The effect of heart failure nurse consultations on heart failure patients’ illness beliefs, mood and quality of life over a six‐month period
Authors: Lucas Rebecca , Riley Jillian P , Mehta Paresh A , Goodman Helen , Banya Winston , Mulligan Kathleen , Newman Stanton , Cowie Martin R
Published: June 2014

Aims and Objectives

To explore the effect contact with a heart failure nurse can have on patients' illness beliefs, mood and quality of life.

Background

There is growing interest in patients' illness beliefs and the part they play in a patients understanding of chronic disease.

Design

Secondary analysis on two independent datasets. Patients were recruited from five UK hospitals, four in London and one in Sussex. Patients were recruited from an inpatient and outpatient setting. The first dataset recruited 174 patients with newly diagnosed heart failure, whilst the second dataset recruited 88 patients with an existing diagnosis of heart failure.

Methods

Patients completed the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Treatment Representations Inventory at baseline and six months. We used a linear regression model to assess the association that contact with a heart failure nurse had on mood, illness beliefs and quality of life over a six‐month period.

Results

Patients who had contact with a heart failure nurse were more satisfied with their treatment and more likely to believe that their heart failure was treatable. Contact with a heart failure nurse did not make a statistically significant difference to mood or quality of life.

Conclusions

This study has shown that contact with a heart failure nurse can improve patient satisfaction with treatment decisions but has less influence on a patient's beliefs about their personal control, treatment control and treatment concerns. With appropriate support, skills and training, heart failure nurses could play an important role in addressing individual patient's beliefs. There is a need to further investigate this.

Relevance to clinical practice

Exploring patients’ illness beliefs and mood could help to enhance person‐centred care. Heart failure nurses would need additional training in the techniques used.
Effect of virtual reality distraction on pain among patients with hand injury undergoing dressing change
Authors: Guo Chunlan , Deng Hongyan , Yang Jian
Published: June 2014

Aims and objectives

To assess the effect of virtual reality distraction on pain among patients with a hand injury undergoing a dressing change.

Background

Virtual reality distraction can effectively alleviate pain among patients undergoing a dressing change. Clinical research has not addressed pain control during a dressing change.

Design

A randomised controlled trial was performed.

Methods

In the first dressing change sequence, 98 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 49 cases in each group. Pain levels were compared between the two groups before and after the dressing change using a visual analog scale. The sense of involvement in virtual environments was measured using the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, which determined the relationship between the sense of involvement and pain level.

Results

The difference in visual analog scale scores between the two groups before the dressing change was not statistically significant (t = 0·196, p > 0·05), but the scores became statistically significant after the dressing change (t = −30·792, p < 0·01). The correlation between the sense of involvement in a virtual environment and pain level during the dressing was statistically significant (R2 = 0·5538, p < 0·05).

Conclusion

Virtual reality distraction can effectively alleviate pain among patients with a hand injury undergoing a dressing change. Better results can be obtained by increasing the sense of involvement in a virtual environment.

Relevance to clinical practice

Virtual reality distraction can effectively relieve pain without side effects and is not reliant on a doctor's prescription. This tool is convenient for nurses to use, especially when analgesics are unavailable.
The Effect of Relative Air Humidity on the Rheological Properties of Roasted Turkey Breast
Authors: Myhan Ryszard , Białobrzewski Ireneusz , Karpińska‐Tymoszczyk Mirosława , Danowska‐Oziewicz Marzena , Markowski Marek , Majewska Katarzyna
Published: June 2014

The effect of relative humidity (RH) of air on the mechanical properties of roasted turkey breast was studied using a rheological model. The raw turkey breast with a moisture content of ca. 75%, protein content of ca. 24% and fat content of ca. 1% was roasted in a convection steam oven at 180C and five RH levels (0, 20, 50, 70 and 90%). The elastic modulus decreased, whereas the flow consistency index and the flow limit increased with an increase in RH from 0 to 70%. Significant differences were observed in elastic modulus between RH levels of 0 and 20% versus 50, 70 and 90%. As regard the flow consistency index and the flow limit, significant differences were observed between 0 versus 50 and 70% RH levels. No significant differences in those values were reported at RH exceeding 50%. The flow consistency index was independent of RH of air level.

Practical Applications

The proposed method can be used to determine the effect of treatment parameters on the rheological properties of the analyzed product, and to assess its final quality. The presented mathematical model allows to evaluate the rheological properties of turkey breast meat roasted in a convection steam oven independently of the type of mechanical tests used to determine those values. The obtained results support the selection of roasting parameters (relative humidity) aimed at yielding a product with the desired rheological properties.
Canine Pancreatic‐Specific Lipase Concentrations in Clinically Healthy Dogs and Dogs with Naturally Occurring Hyperadrenocorticism
Authors: Mawby D.I. , Whittemore J.C. , Fecteau K.A.
Published: June 2014

Background

Specificity of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) assays in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is unknown.

Hypothesis

Results ofcPLIassays differ for clinically healthy dogs and dogs with HAC.

Animals

Seventeen healthy dogs and 20 dogs withHACdiagnosed byACTHstimulation test results without evidence of clinical pancreatitis.

Methods

Dogs were enrolled between December 2009 and November 2010. SerumcPLIconcentrations were determined by quantitative (Spec cPL test,SPEC) and semiquantitative (SNAP cPL test,SNAP) assays. Results were categorized as normal, equivocal, or abnormal (SPEC) or negative or positive (SNAP). Associations between group andcPLIwere assessed using Fisher's exact test or the Mann–WhitneyU‐test. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (ρ) were determined forSNAPandSPECresults. Significance was set atP < .05.

Results

Spec cPL test concentrations were significantly (P < .001) higher in dogs withHAC(491.1 μg/L) than in healthy dogs (75.2 μg/L), with more abnormalSPECresults inHACdogs (P < .001). There were more (P = .002) positiveSNAPresults in dogs withHAC(55%) than in healthy dogs (6%).SNAPandSPECresults were highly correlated (ρ = 0.85;P < .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs withHAChad higherSPECconcentrations and more positiveSNAPresults than clinically healthy dogs with normalACTHstimulation test results. Specificity ofSPECandSNAPassays inHACdogs without clinical pancreatitis were 65 and 45%, respectively. Pending further study,SNAPandSPECresults should be interpreted cautiously in dogs withHACto avoid false diagnosis of concurrent pancreatitis.
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses in an Equine Patient Population: Part I – Adult Horses
Authors: Aleman M. , Holliday T.A. , Nieto J.E. , Williams D.C.
Published: June 2014

Background

Brainstem auditory evoked response has been an underused diagnostic modality in horses as evidenced by few reports on the subject.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To describeBAERfindings, common clinical signs, and causes of hearing loss in adult horses.

Animals

Study group, 76 horses; control group, 8 horses.

Methods

Retrospective.BAERrecords from the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory were reviewed from the years of 1982 to 2013. Peak latencies, amplitudes, and interpeak intervals were measured when visible. Horses were grouped under disease categories. Descriptive statistics and a posthoc Bonferroni test were performed.

Results

Fifty‐seven of 76 horses hadBAERdeficits. There was no breed or sex predisposition, with the exception of American Paint horses diagnosed with congenital sensorineural deafness. Eighty‐six percent (n = 49/57) of the horses were younger than 16 years of age. The most common causes ofBAERabnormalities were temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO, n = 20/20; abnormalities/total), congenital sensorineural deafness in Paint horses (17/17), multifocal brain disease (13/16), and otitis media/interna (4/4). Auditory loss was bilateral and unilateral in 74% (n = 42/57) and 26% (n = 15/57) of the horses, respectively. The most common causes of bilateral auditory loss were sensorineural deafness,THO, and multifocal brain disease whereasTHOand otitis were the most common causes of unilateral deficits.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Auditory deficits should be investigated in horses with altered behavior,THO, multifocal brain disease, otitis, and in horses with certain coat and eye color patterns.BAERtesting is an objective and noninvasive diagnostic modality to assess auditory function in horses.
The Neuronal Recycling Hypothesis for Reading and the Question of Reading Universals
Authors: COLTHEART MAX
Published: June 2014

Are there universals of reading? There are three ways of construing this question. Is the region of the brain where reading is implemented identical regardless of what writing system the reader uses? Is the mental information‐processing system used for reading the same regardless of what writing system the reader uses. Do the word's writing systems share certain universal features? Dehaene offers affirmative answers to all three questions in his book. Here I suggest instead that the answers should be negative. And I ask: if reading is not universal in any sense, what does this imply about Dehaene's Neuronal Recycling hypothesis for reading?
Developmental Dyslexia and the Phonological Deficit Hypothesis
Authors: CASTLES ANNE , FRIEDMANN NAAMA
Published: June 2014

Dehaene (in Reading in the Brain) reviews and finds support for the phonological deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia, which proposes that dyslexics have a basic deficit in processing the constituents of spoken words. This hypothesis can be seen as reflecting three associated claims: a) there is only one basic kind of dyslexia; b) all (or most) dyslexic children have phonological impairments, and c) these phonological impairments cause their dyslexia. We consider each of these claims, and the evidence presented by Dehaene, and conclude that questions remain about all three. Phonological deficits alone seem unlikely to be able to account for the complexity and heterogeneity of developmental dyslexia.
The binding force of the staphylococcal adhesin SdrG is remarkably strong
Authors: Herman Philippe , El‐Kirat‐Chatel Sofiane , Beaussart Audrey , Geoghegan Joan A. , Foster Timothy J. , Dufrêne Yves F.
Published: June 2014

SdrG is a cell surface adhesin from Staphylococcus epidermidis which binds to the blood plasma protein fibrinogen (Fg). Ligand binding follows a ‘dock, lock and latch’ model involving dynamic conformational changes of the adhesin that result in a greatly stabilized adhesin–ligand complex. To date, the force and dynamics of this multistep interaction are poorly understood. Here we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to unravel the binding strength and cell surface localization of SdrG at molecular resolution. Single‐cell force spectroscopy shows that SdrG mediates time‐dependent attachment to Fg‐coated surfaces. Single‐molecule force spectroscopy with Fg‐coated AFM tips demonstrates that the adhesin forms nanoscale domains on the cell surface, which we believe contribute to strengthen cell adhesion. Notably, we find that the rupture force of single SdrG–Fg bonds is very large, ∼ 2 nN, equivalent to the strength of a covalent bond, and shows a low dissociation rate, suggesting that the bond is very stable. The strong binding force, slow dissociation and clustering of SdrG provide a molecular foundation for the ability of S. epidermidis to colonize implanted biomaterials and to withstand physiological shear forces.
Annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate is a risk factor for cardiovascular events independent of proteinuria
Authors: Nagai Kei , Yamagata Kunihiro , Ohkubo Reiko , Saito Chie , Asahi Koichi , Iseki Kunitoshi , Kimura Kenjiro , Moriyama Toshiki , Narita Ichiei , Fujimoto Shouichi , Tsuruya Kazuhiko , Konta Tsuneo , Kondo Masahide , Watanabe Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2014

Aims

Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor of the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is not clear whether decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), not reduced GFR, is a risk factor for the incidence of CVD independent of proteinuria.

Methods

By using a population‐based 521 123 person‐years longitudinal cohort receiving annual health checkups from 2008 to 2010, we examined whether the annual decline of estimated GFR is a risk factor for CVD development independent of proteinuria.

Results

During the follow‐up period, there were 12 041 newly developed CVD events, comprising 4426 stroke events and/or 8298 cardiac events. As expected, both reduced estimated GFR and proteinuria were risk factors for the development of CVD in our study population. Moreover, annual decline of estimated GFR was a significant and independent risk factor for the incidence of CVD (HR [95% CI], 1.23 [1.18–1.28] in males or 1.14 [1.10–1.18] in females for −10% per year) with covariant adjustment for proteinuria and reduced estimated GFR.

Conclusion

Annual decline of GFR is an independent risk factor for CVD. Serial measurement of both creatinine and proteinuria would be better to predict the incidence of CVD in the general population.
The role of bile acids in functional GI disorders
Authors: Appleby Richard N. , Walters Julian R. F.
Published: June 2014

Background

Bile acids are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of functional GI disorders. New mechanisms have recently been described in the irritable bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhea and chronic idiopathic constipation. Identification of bile acid signaling through farnesoid X receptor (FXR), transmembrane G‐coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) and fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has led to the development of new, directly acting therapeutic agents. Despite these advances primary bile acid diarrhea remains under‐recognized partly because of the lack of a widely available diagnostic test.

Purpose

In this review we will summarize the effects of bile acids on bowel function throughout the gastrointestinal tract and their roles in the pathogenesis of functional diseases. We will review established diagnostic tests and therapies for functional heartburn, dyspepsia and bile acid diarrhea. There will be a particular emphasis on recent trial data for emerging therapies such as Elobixibat and Obeticholic acid and novel diagnostic tests for bile acid diarrhea such as 7α‐Hydroxy‐4‐cholesten‐3‐one (C4) and FGF19. Finally we will discuss future directions for research in this rapidly evolving field, such as bacterial bile acid modification and identification of genetic anomalies associated with functional disorders.
The causes and molecular consequences of polyploidy in flowering plants
Authors: Moghe Gaurav D. , Shiu Shin‐Han
Published: June 2014

Polyploidy is an important force shaping plant genomes. All flowering plants are descendants of an ancestral polyploid species, and up to 70% of extant vascular plant species are believed to be recent polyploids. Over the past century, a significant body of knowledge has accumulated regarding the prevalence and ecology of polyploid plants. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the causes and molecular consequences of polyploidization in angiosperms. We also provide a discussion on the relationships between polyploidy and adaptation and suggest areas where further research may provide a better understanding of polyploidy.
Unofficial Development Assistance: A Model of Development Charities’ Donation Income
Authors: Arulampalam Wiji , Backus Peter G. , Micklewright John
Published: June 2014

The empirical literature on the determinants of charities’ donation income, distinguishing the charitable cause, is small. We consider the case of development charities specifically. Using a panel covering a quarter of a century, we observe a strong fundraising effect and a unitary household income elasticity. We find evidence that the conventionally identified ‘price’ effect may simply be the product of omitted variable bias. Our results further suggest that public spending on development crowds in private donations for development. We find a positive spillover effect of fundraising, suggesting the efforts of one development charity may increase contributions to other development charities.
The first thousand days – intestinal microbiology of early life: establishing a symbiosis
Authors: Wopereis Harm , Oozeer Raish , Knipping Karen , Belzer Clara , Knol Jan
Published: June 2014

The development of the intestinal microbiota in the first years of life is a dynamic process significantly influenced by early‐life nutrition. Pioneer bacteria colonizing the infant intestinal tract and the gradual diversification to a stable climax ecosystem plays a crucial role in establishing host–microbe interactions essential for optimal symbiosis. This colonization process and establishment of symbiosis may profoundly influence health throughout life. Recent developments in microbiologic cultivation‐independent methods allow a detailed view of the key players and factors involved in this process and may further elucidate their roles in a healthy gut and immune maturation. Aberrant patterns may lead to identifying key microbial signatures involved in developing immunologic diseases into adulthood, such as asthma and atopic diseases. The central role of early‐life nutrition in the developmental human microbiota, immunity, and metabolism offers promising strategies for prevention and treatment of such diseases. This review provides an overview of the development of the intestinal microbiota, its bidirectional relationship with the immune system, and its role in impacting health and disease, with emphasis on allergy, in early life.
Genetic variants in endotoxin signalling pathway, domestic endotoxin exposure and asthma exacerbations
Authors: Kljaic‐Bukvic Blazenka , Blekic Mario , Aberle Neda , Curtin John A. , Hankinson Jenny , Semic‐Jusufagic Aida , Belgrave Danielle , Simpson Angela , Custovic Adnan
Published: June 2014

Background

We investigated the interaction between genetic variants in endotoxin signalling pathway and domestic endotoxin exposure in relation to asthma presence, and amongst children with asthma, we explored the association of these genetic variants and endotoxin exposure with hospital admissions due to asthma exacerbations.

Methods

In a case–control study, we analysed data from 824 children (417 asthmatics, 407 controls; age 5–18 yr). Amongst asthmatics, we extracted data on hospitalization for asthma exacerbation from medical records. Endotoxin exposure was measured in dust samples collected from homes. We included 26 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the final analysis (5 CD14, 7LY96 and 14 TLR4).

Results

Two variants remained significantly associated with hospital admissions with asthma exacerbations after correction for multiple testing: for CD14 SNP rs5744455, carriers of T allele had decreased risk of repeated hospital admissions compared with homozygotes for C allele [OR (95% CI), 0.42 (0.25–0.88), p = 0.01, False Discovery Rate (FDR) p = 0.02]; for LY96 SNP rs17226566, C‐allele carriers were at a lower risk of hospital admissions compared with T‐allele homozygotes [0.59 (0.38–0.90), p = 0.01, FDR p = 0.04]. We observed two interactions between SNPs in CD14 and LY96 with environmental endotoxin exposure in relation to hospital admissions due to asthma exacerbation which remained significant after correction for multiple testing (CD14 SNPs rs2915863 and LY96 SNP rs17226566).

Conclusion

Amongst children with asthma, genetic variants in CD14 and LY96 may increase the risk of hospital admissions with acute exacerbations. Polymorphisms in endotoxin pathway interact with domestic endotoxin exposure in further modification of the risk of hospitalization.
Quantitative trait loci analysis of soluble sugar contents in soybean
Authors: Wang Yueqiang , Chen Pengyin , Zhang Bo
Published: June 2014

The soluble sugar content in soybean seeds, mainly sucrose, stachyose, raffinose and trace amounts of glucose and fructose, is important for the increasing global market demand for various soyfoods including tofu, soymilk, natto, bean sprouts and edamame due to their nutritional value and health benefits. The objective of this study was to conduct quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis and identify molecular markers for soluble sugar content in soybean seeds for marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in soybean breeding. The content of the five previously mentioned sugars were measured and associated QTLs were mapped based on a F2 population that was derived from a cross between V97‐3000 and V99‐5089. Eleven QTLs were detected for the five sugar contents: one for glucose, three each for fructose and sucrose, and two each for raffinose and stachyose. However, only one QTL for sucrose, one QTL for raffinose, and two QTLs for stachyose were identified with LOD > 3.0 and R2 > 10% from this research. The QTL on chromosome 11 [linkage group (LG) B1] was identified as associated with sucrose, raffinose and stachyose in the same region as previously reported for sucrose and stachyose. The SSR marker, Satt359, on the QTL B1 region had an significant association with sucrose (LOD = 5.192; R2 = 0.134), raffinose (LOD = 3.95; R2 = 0.104), and stachyose (LOD = 13.572; R2 = 0.314); therefore it can be used to assist breeding selection for sucrose, raffinose and stachyose contents simultaneously.
Tyrosinase‐catalyzed oxidation of rhododendrol produces 2‐methylchromane‐6,7‐dione, the putative ultimate toxic metabolite: implications for melanocyte toxicity
Authors: Ito Shosuke , Ojika Makoto , Yamashita Toshiharu , Wakamatsu Kazumasa
Published: June 2014

RS‐4‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐butanol (rhododendrol, RD) was used as a skin‐whitening agent until it was reported to induce leukoderma in July 2013. To explore the mechanism underlying its melanocyte toxicity, we characterized the tyrosinase‐catalyzed oxidation of RD using spectrophotometry and HPLC. Oxidation of RD with mushroom tyrosinase rapidly produced RD‐quinone, which was quickly converted to 2‐methylchromane‐6,7‐dione (RD‐cyclic quinone) and RD‐hydroxy‐p‐quinone through cyclization and addition of water molecule, respectively. RD‐quinone and RD‐cyclic quinone were identified as RD‐catechol and RD‐cyclic catechol after NaBH4 reduction. Autoxidation of RD‐cyclic catechol produced superoxide radical. RD‐quinone and RD‐cyclic quinone quantitatively bound to thiols such as cysteine and GSH. These results suggest that the melanocyte toxicity of RD is caused by its tyrosinase‐catalyzed oxidation through production of RD‐cyclic quinone which depletes cytosolic GSH and then binds to essential cellular proteins through their sulfhydryl groups. The production of ROS through autoxidation of RD‐cyclic catechol may augment the toxicity.
Support and challenges to the melanosomal casing model based on nanoscale distribution of metals within iris melanosomes detected by X‐ray fluorescence analysis
Authors: Gorniak Thomas , Haraszti Tamás , Suhonen Heikki , Yang Yang , Hedberg‐Buenz Adam , Koehn Demelza , Heine Ruth , Grunze Michael , Rosenhahn Axel , Anderson Michael G.
Published: June 2014

Melanin within melanosomes exists as eumelanin or pheomelanin. Distributions of these melanins have been studied extensively within tissues, but less often within individual melanosomes. Here, we apply X‐ray fluorescence analysis with synchrotron radiation to survey the nanoscale distribution of metals within purified melanosomes of mice. The study allows a discovery‐based characterization of melanosomal metals, and, because Cu is specifically associated with eumelanin, a hypothesis‐based test of the ‘casing model’ predicting that melanosomes contain a pheomelanin core surrounded by a eumelanin shell. Analysis of Cu, Ca, and Zn shows variable concentrations and distributions, with Ca/Zn highly correlated, and at least three discrete patterns for the distribution of Cu vs. Ca/Zn in different melanosomes – including one with a Cu‐rich shell surrounding a Ca/Zn‐rich core. Thus, the results support predictions of the casing model, but also suggest that in at least some tissues and genetic contexts, other arrangements of melanin may co‐exist.
First report on the whole genome sequence of Pseudomonas cichorii strain JBC1 and comparison with other Pseudomonas species
Authors: Ramkumar G. , Lee S. W. , Weon H.‐Y. , Kim B.‐Y. , Lee Y. H.
Published: June 2014

Pseudomonas cichorii, a plant pathogen that infects a wide range of host plants worldwide, causes several diseases in economically important vegetable crops. Availability of the genome sequences of pathogens can greatly enhance research necessary for the advancement of disease management programmes. Despite the significance of P. cichorii, its whole genome sequence has not been reported previously. The genome sequence of P. cichorii JBC1, described for the first time in this study, is 5 986 012 bp with an average GC content of 58·1% and has 5174 coding sequences (CDS). The genes related to virulence, transport mechanisms, phytotoxic compounds, and secondary metabolite products were analysed and the genome was compared to eight other Pseudomonas species to understand the diversity at species level. Despite the high similarity (up to 80·85%), significant diversity was found among the different Pseudomonas species at the genome level. A comparison of JBC1 pathogenicity island (PAI) regions indicated that the P. viridiflava UASWS0038 PAI has more similarity than the P. syringae PAI region, and the analysis revealed significant divergence at PAI regions among the Pseudomonas species, providing an insight into the differences in host specificity and degree of virulence. In addition, JBC1 encodes antibiotic resistance and tolerance to heavy metals, and two different prophage segments were inserted at three different regions. The genome sequence of JBC1, which was deposited into the NCBI GenBank (accession no. CP007039), will be a reference sequence for other P. cichorii strains and a useful resource for further research.
“Who's the fairest of them all?” Beauty and Femininity in Contemporary Russian Adolescent Girl Fiction
Authors: RUDOVA LARISSA
Published: June 2014

The present article draws attention to “post‐Soviet commodity tales,” a subgenre of adolescent girl fiction that provides a narrative of personal success for girls willing to learn the tricks of managed beauty, fashion, consumer literacy, and other lessons of femininity. Since these tales are written almost exclusively by women authors for the consumption by young girls, they vividly demonstrate a gender ideology that the older female generation passes on to the new one. I trace the history of the relationship between beauty and gender construction in Soviet children's literature and analyze how new economic and cultural realities affected it in post‐Soviet time. My analysis focuses on two representative popular tales, Ludmila Matveeva's Beauty Contest in Sixth Grade (2001) and Svetlana Lubenets’ A Heart for the Invisible Man (2007).
Recreational football improves bone mineral density and bone turnover marker profile in elderly men
Authors: Helge E. W. , Andersen T. R. , Schmidt J. F. , Jørgensen N. R. , Hornstrup T. , Krustrup P. , Bangsbo J.
Published: June 2014

This study examined the effect of recreational football and resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers (BTMs) in elderly men. Twenty‐six healthy sedentary men (age 68.2 ± 3.2 years) were randomized into three groups: football (F; n = 9) and resistance training (R; n = 9), completing 45–60 min training two to three times weekly, and inactive controls (C; n = 8). Before, after 4 months, and after 12 months, BMD in proximal femur (PF) and whole body (WB) were determined together with plasma osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type‐1 amino‐terminal propeptide (P1NP), and carboxy‐terminal type‐1 collagen crosslinks (CTX‐1). In F, BMD in PF increased up to 1.8% (P < 0.05) from 0 to 4 months and up to 5.4% (P < 0.001) from 0 to 12 months; WB‐BMD remained unchanged. After 4 and 12 months of football, OC was 45% and 46% higher (P < 0.001), and P1NP was 41% and 40% higher (P < 0.001) than at baseline, respectively. After 12 months, CTX‐1 showed a main effect of 43% (P < 0.05). In R and C, BMD and BTM remained unchanged. In conclusion, 4 months of recreational football for elderly men had an osteogenic effect, which was further developed after 12 months, whereas resistance training had no effect. The anabolic response may be due to increased bone turnover, especially improved bone formation.
Effect of football or strength training on functional ability and physical performance in untrained old men
Authors: Andersen T. R. , Schmidt J. F. , Nielsen J. J. , Randers M. B. , Sundstrup E. , Jakobsen M. D. , Andersen L. L. , Suetta C. , Aagaard P. , Bangsbo J. , Krustrup P.
Published: June 2014

The effects of 16 weeks of football or strength training on performance and functional ability were investigated in 26 (68.2 ± 3.2 years) untrained men randomized into a football (FG; n = 9), a strength training (ST; n = 9), or a control group (CO; n = 8). FG and ST trained 1.6 ± 0.1 and 1.5 ± 0.1 times per week, respectively, with higher (P < 0.05) average heart rate (HR) (∼ 140 vs 100 bpm) and time >90%HRmax (17 vs 0%) in FG than ST, and lower (P < 0.05) peak blood lactate in FG than ST (7.2 ± 0.9 vs 10.5 ± 0.6 mmol/L). After the intervention period (IP), VO2max (15%; P < 0.001), cycle time to exhaustion (7%; P < 0.05), and Yo‐Yo Intermittent Endurance Level 1 performance (43%; P < 0.01) were improved in FG, but unchanged in ST and CO. HR during walking was 12% and 10% lower (P < 0.05) in FG and ST, respectively, after IP. After IP, HR and blood lactate during jogging were 7% (P < 0.05) and 30% lower (P < 0.001) in FG, but unchanged in ST and CO. Sit‐to‐stand performance was improved (P < 0.01) by 29% in FG and 26% in ST, but not in CO. In conclusion, football and strength training for old men improves functional ability and physiological response to submaximal exercise, while football additionally elevates maximal aerobic fitness and exhaustive exercise performance.
Characterization of a novel HLA‐A*33 allele, A*33:47, using next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Stückler C. , Danzer M. , Raml E. , Steitzer H. , Gabriel C.
Published: June 2014

HLA‐A*33:47 has a single nucleotide difference to A*33:03:01 at position 181, G > C, in exon 2.
Full‐length coding sequences of two MICA alleles, MICA*002:01 and MICA*012:01, identified by sequence‐based typing in Chinese individuals
Authors: Xu Y. P. , Gao S. Q.
Published: June 2014

Full‐length coding sequences of MICA*002:01 and MICA*012:01, were identified by sequence‐based typing in Chinese individuals.
A new HLA‐A*24 allele, HLA‐A*24:02:87, identified by sequencing‐based typing in a Chinese volunteer bone marrow donor
Authors: Dai D. P. , Zhou X. Y. , Cai J. P.
Published: June 2014

Novel allele HLA‐A*24:02:87 has one nucleotide change with A*24:02:01:01 in exon 3 at position 594 C>T
Roothairless5, which functions in maize (Zea maysL.) root hair initiation and elongation encodes a monocot‐specificNADPHoxidase
Authors: Nestler Josefine , Liu Sanzhen , Wen Tsui‐Jung , Paschold Anja , Marcon Caroline , Tang Ho Man , Li Delin , Li Li , Meeley Robert B. , Sakai Hajime , Bruce Wesley , Schnable Patrick S. , Hochholdinger Frank
Published: June 2014

Root hairs are instrumental for nutrient uptake in monocot cereals. The maize (Zea maysL.)roothairless5(rth5) mutant displays defects in root hair initiation and elongation manifested by a reduced density and length of root hairs. Map‐based cloning revealed that therth5gene encodes a monocot‐specificNADPHoxidase.RNA‐Seq,in situhybridization and qRT‐PCRexperiments demonstrated that therth5gene displays preferential expression in root hairs but also accumulates to low levels in other tissues. Immunolocalization detected RTH5 proteins in the epidermis of the elongation and differentiation zone of primary roots. Because superoxide and hydrogen peroxide levels are reduced in the tips of growingrth5mutant root hairs as compared with wild‐type, and Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known to be involved in tip growth, we hypothesize that the RTH5 protein is responsible for establishing the high levels ofROSin the tips of growing root hairs required for elongation. Consistent with this hypothesis, a comparativeRNA‐Seq analysis of 6‐day‐oldrth5versus wild‐type primary roots revealed significant over‐representation of only two gene ontology (GO) classes related to the biological functions (i.e. oxidation/reduction and carbohydrate metabolism) among 893 differentially expressed genes (FDR <5%). Within these two classes the subgroups ‘response to oxidative stress’ and ‘cellulose biosynthesis’ were most prominently represented.
Plasma matrix metalloproteinase‐9 activity in cats with lymphoma
Authors: Tamamoto T. , Ohno K. , Takahashi M. , Fukushima K. , Kanemoto H. , Fujino Y. , Tsujimoto H.
Published: June 2014

In this study, plasma MMP‐9 activity was evaluated in cats with lymphoma. Plasma samples were obtained from 26 cats with lymphoma before treatment. From 13 of the included 26 cats, plasma samples were obtained 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment. Plasma samples were also obtained from 10 healthy cats as a control. Plasma MMP‐9 activity was examined by gelatin zymography and semi‐quantitative value (arbitrary unit; a.u.) for each sample was calculated. Relatively high levels of MMP‐9 were observed in cats with lymphoma compared with those in healthy control cats. MMP‐9 quantification through zymography showed significantly higher activity in cats with lymphoma (median, 0.63 a.u.; range, 0.23–3.24 a.u.) than in healthy controls (0.22 a.u.; 0.12–0.46 a.u.; P < 0.01). MMP‐9 activities were significantly different before (0.73 a.u.; 0.30–3.24 a.u.) and after treatment (0.50 a.u.; 0.14–1.32 a.u.; P = 0.017). Measuring plasma MMP‐9 activity in cats with lymphoma may become an appropriate monitoring tool for feline lymphoma.
A new, bioactive, antibacterial‐eluting, composite graft for infection‐free wound healing
Authors: Mittal Anupama , Kumar Neeraj
Published: June 2014

The current work focuses on the in vivo performance of a newly developed injectable composite graft in infected full‐thickness wounds. The composite graft was composed of bioactive porous Poly dl‐lactide‐co‐glycolide scaffolds, antibiotic gentamicin, and crosslinked gelatin as carrier gel. Treated infected wounds exhibited a faster wound closure, rapid weight gain, lower neutrophil count, higher breaking strength, and 100 times lesser microbial count (102 colony forming units/g in infected treated vs. 104 colony forming units/g in infected control group) in comparison with infected control group 28 days post treatment. During healing, collagen production was more in the treated groups at day 7 than controls and thereafter gradually reduced to normal levels. Histology revealed a mature scar tissue formation, fibroblast proliferation, epidermal resurfacing, and collagen deposition in reticular alignment similar to normal healthy skin in treated wounds. Further, the plasma concentration of gentamicin was 35–45 μg/mL during the initial 12 hours and reduced to 1 μg/mL in 24 hours, which indicated safe levels of the antibiotic drug during healing. These results clearly indicate a faster, infection‐free, and safe after treatment with the developed graft.