bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RNA-seq of spinal cord from nerve-injured rats after spinal cord stimulation
Authors: Stephens Kimberly E , Chen Zhiyong , Sivanesan Eellan , Raja Srinivasa N , Linderoth Bengt , Taverna Sean D , Guan Yun
Published: November 2018

Spinal cord stimulation has become an important modality in pain treatment especially for neuropathic pain conditions refractory to pharmacotherapy. However, the molecular control of inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms observed after spinal cord stimulation are poorly understood. Here, we used RNA-seq to identify differences in the expression of genes and gene networks in spinal cord tissue from nerve-injured rats with and without repetitive conventional spinal cord stimulation treatment. Five weeks after chronic constrictive injury to the left sciatic nerve, male and female rats were randomized to receive repetitive spinal cord stimulation or no treatment. Rats receiving spinal cord stimulation underwent epidural placement of a miniature stimulating electrode and received seven sessions of spinal cord stimulation (50 Hz, 80% motor threshold, 0.2 ms, constant current bipolar stimulation, 120 min/session) over four consecutive days. Within 2 h after the last spinal cord stimulation treatment, the L4-L6 spinal segments ipsilateral to the side of nerve injury were harvested and used to generate libraries for RNA-seq. Our RNA-seq data suggest further increases of many existing upregulated immune responses in chronic constrictive injury rats after repetitive spinal cord stimulation, including transcription of cell surface receptors and activation of non-neuronal cells. We also demonstrate that repetitive spinal cord stimulation represses transcription of several key synaptic signaling genes that encode scaffold proteins in the post-synaptic density. Our transcriptional studies suggest a potential relationship between specific genes and the therapeutic effects observed in patients undergoing conventional spinal cord stimulation after nerve injury. Furthermore, our results may help identify new therapeutic targets for improving the efficacy of conventional spinal cord stimulation and other chronic pain treatments.
Depression, antidepressants, and the risk of non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A nationwide Danish matched cohort study
Authors: Fenger-Grøn Morten , Vestergaard Mogens , Pedersen Henrik S , Frost Lars , Parner Erik T , Ribe Anette R , Davydow Dimitry S
Published: November 2018

Background

Depression is associated with an increased risk of a series of cardiovascular diseases and with increased symptom burden in patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to determine the association between depression as well as antidepressant treatment and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation.

Design

A nationwide register-based study comparing the atrial fibrillation risk in all Danes initiating antidepressant treatment from 2000 to 2013 ( N = 785,254) with that in a 1:5-matched sample from the general population.

Methods

Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), both after initiation of treatment and in the month before when patients were assumed to have medically untreated depression.

Results

Antidepressant treatment was associated with a three-fold higher risk of atrial fibrillation during the first month (aHR = 3.18 (95% CI: 2.98–3.39)). This association gradually attenuated over the following year (aHR = 1.37 (95% CI: 1.31–1.44) 2–6 months after antidepressant therapy initiation, and aHR = 1.11 (95% CI: 1.06–1.16) 6–12 months after). However, the associated atrial fibrillation risk was even higher in the month before starting antidepressant treatment (aHR = 7.65 (95% CI: 7.05–8.30) from 30 to 15 days before, and aHR = 4.29 (95% CI: 3.94–4.67) the last 15 days before). Overall, 0.4% of patients were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation from 30 days before to 30 days after antidepressant treatment.

Conclusions

Antidepressant users had a substantially increased atrial fibrillation risk, particularly before treatment initiation. Whether this mirrors a causal relation between depression and atrial fibrillation may have large consequences for public health and should be discussed.
A task-based design methodology for robotic exoskeletons
Authors: Heidari Omid , Wolbrecht Eric T , Perez-Gracia Alba , Yihun Yimesker S
Published: November 2018

Introduction

This study is aimed at developing a task-based methodology for the design of robotic exoskeletons. This is in contrast to prevailing research efforts, which attempt to mimic the human limb, where each human joint is given an exoskeleton counter-joint. Rather, we present an alternative systematic design approach for the design of exoskeletons that can follow the complex three-dimensional motions of the human body independent of anatomical measures and landmarks. With this approach, it is not necessary to know the geometry of the targeted limb but rather to have a description of its motion at the point of attachment.

Methods

The desired trajectory of the targeted limb has been collected through a motion capture system from a healthy subject. Then, an approximate dimensional synthesis has been employed to specify the size of the mechanism and its location with respect to the limb, while generating the desired trajectory. The procedure for this method, from motion capture to kinematic synthesis to mechanism selection and optimization, is validated with an illustrative example.

Results

The proposed method resulted an exoskeleton which follows the desired trajectory of the human limb without any need of aligning its joint to the corresponding human joints.

Conclusion

A method to design lower mobility exoskeletons for specific sets of human motion is presented; the approach result an exoskeleton with lesser actuation system while generating complex 3D limb motions, which in turn results a lighter exoskeletons. It also avoids a need to align each robotic joint axis with its human counterpart.
Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Patients With a Lumbar Far Lateral Herniated Nucleus Pulposus as Compared to Those With a Central or Paracentral Herniation
Authors: Khan Jannat M. , McKinney Dennis , Basques Bryce A. , Louie Philip K. , Carroll Deven , Paul Justin , Varthi Arya , Iyer Sravisht , An Howard S.
Published: November 2018

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives:

Examine pre- and postoperative outcomes between patients presenting with a central/paracentral versus a far lateral herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) and assess whether significantly worse postoperative outcomes, assessed via patient self-reported survey, are associated with far lateral disc herniations.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who underwent primary lumbar decompression between January 2008 and December 2015. Groups were divided based on herniation type, central/paracentral or far lateral. Patients with 3 months, or longer, of follow-up were included. Variables analyzed included demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Score, Charleston Comorbidity Index (CCI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, Visual Analog Scales (VAS) scores for the back and leg, 12-Item Short Form Mental and Physical Survey (SF-12) scores, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Mental and Physical Survey (VR-12) scores.

Results:

A total of 100 patients met the inclusion criteria. Postoperative ODI scores for central/paracentral HNP were significantly lower compared to far lateral HNP. Patients with a far lateral disc herniation presented with significantly lower preoperative SF-12 and VR-12 scores. The improvement in ODI score from preoperative to final was significantly lower in the patients presenting with a far lateral HNP.

Conclusions:

Although patients with far lateral HNP present with worse preoperative outcome scores, they can expect similar symptom improvement to central or paracentral herniations following discectomy. This information can be used for future surgeons when weighing conservative versus surgical treatment of far lateral herniations.
DNA Methylation and Chromatin: Role(s) of Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein ZBTB38
Authors: de Dieuleveult Maud , Miotto Benoit
Published: November 2018

DNA methylation plays an essential role in the control of gene expression during early stages of development as well as in disease. Although many transcription factors are sensitive to this modification of the DNA, we still do not clearly understand how it contributes to the establishment of proper gene expression patterns. We discuss here the recent findings regarding the biological and molecular function(s) of the transcription factor ZBTB38 that binds methylated DNA sequences in vitro and in cells. We speculate how these findings may help understand the role of DNA methylation and DNA methylation–sensitive transcription factors in mammalian cells.
Genomic alterations important for the prognosis in patients with follicular lymphoma treated in SWOG study S0016
Authors: Qu Xiaoyu , Li Hongli , Braziel Rita M. , Passerini Verena , Rimsza Lisa M. , Hsi Eric D. , Leonard John P. , Smith Sonali M. , Kridel Robert , Press Oliver , Weigert Oliver , LeBlanc Michael , Friedberg Jonathan W. , Fang Min
Published: November 2018

Although recent advances in molecular genetics have enabled improved risk classification of follicular lymphoma (FL) using, for example, the m7-FLIPI score, the impact on treatment has been limited. We aimed to assess the prognostic significance of copy-number aberrations (CNAs) and copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (cnLOH) identified by chromosome genomic-array testing (CGAT) at FL diagnosis using prospectively collected clinical trial specimens from 255 patients enrolled in the SWOG study S0016. The impact of genomic aberrations was assessed for early progression (progressed or died within 2 years after registration), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). We showed that increased genomic complexity (ie, the total number of aberration calls) was associated with poor outcome in FL. Certain chromosome arms were critical for clinical outcome. Prognostic CNAs/cnLOH were identified: whereas early progression was correlated with 2p gain (P = .007; odds ratio [OR] = 2.55 [1.29, 5.03]) and 2p cnLOH (P = .005; OR = 10.9 [2.08, 57.2]), 2p gain specifically encompassing VRK2 and FANCL predicted PFS (P = .01; hazard ratio = 1.80 [1.14, 2.68]) as well as OS (P = .005; 2.40 [1.30, 4.40]); CDKN2A/B (9p) deletion correlated with worse PFS (P = .004, 3.50 [1.51, 8.28]); whereas CREBBP (16p) (P < .001; 6.70 [2.52, 17.58]) and TP53 (17p) (P < .001; 3.90 [1.85, 8.31]) deletion predicted worse OS. An independent cohort from the m7-FLIPI study was explored, and the prognostic significance of aberration count, and TP53 and CDKN2A/B deletion were further validated. In conclusion, assessing genomic aberrations at FL diagnosis with CGAT improves risk stratification independent of known clinical parameters, and provides a framework for development of future rational targeted therapies.
Intima-media thickness of the common femoral artery as a marker of leg ulceration in sickle cell disease patients
Authors: Ayoola Oluwagbemiga O. , Bolarinwa Rahman A. , Onakpoya Uvie U. , Adedeji Tewogbade A. , Onwuka Chidiogo C. , Idowu Bukunmi M.
Published: November 2018

Leg ulceration is a debilitating chronic complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) the pathogenesis of which is yet to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that SCD patients with histories of previous leg ulcers would have intima hyperplasia of the common femoral artery (CFA). We enrolled 44 SCD patients and 33 age-matched and sex-matched controls with hemoglobin AA. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and sonographic intima-media thickness (IMT) of the CFA were determined. The median CFA IMT in SCD limbs with history of leg ulcers (SWLU) was 1.0 mm, whereas it was 0.7 mm in SCD limbs with no history of leg ulcer (SNLU) and 0.60 mm in controls (P < .001). Among the SNLU, 70.3% had CFA IMT <0.9 mm, whereas only 29.7% had CFA IMT ≥0.9 mm. Conversely, only 20.8% of SWLU had CFA IMT <0.9 mm, whereas the remaining 79.2% had CFA IMT ≥0.9 mm. All the controls had CFA IMT <0.9 mm. Binary logistic regression to determine the odds of having leg ulcer among SCD limbs with CFA IMT of ≥0.9 mm yielded an odds ratio of 9, indicating that SCD limbs with CFA IMT ≥0.9 mm had a 9 times greater risk of having leg ulcer compared with those with CFA IMT <0.9 mm. There is a significant increase in the CFA IMT of SCD limbs with ulcer compared with controls and SCD limbs without ulcer, suggesting that arterial vasculopathy plays a major role in the formation of these ulcers.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Performance analysis of ethylene-propylene diene monomer sound-absorbing materials based on image processing recognition
Authors: Wang Kun , Yan Xiong
Published: November 2018

In order to study the performance of rubber sound-absorbing materials, this study processed the surface of ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber sound-absorbing materials based on image recognition. Simultaneously, in this study, microscopic images were obtained from macroscopic rubber materials, and the images were processed to become standard images with certain characteristics. In addition, this study combines image processing to obtain pictures related to sound absorption performance. In the identification of rubber sound-absorbing materials, this study used EPDM rubber as the material, and studied the influence of various factors on the sound absorption performance of rubber sound-absorbing materials from the technical point of view and obtained the corresponding processed images. Through research, it is found that the sound-absorbing materials of this study have good sound-absorbing effects based on the control of relevant process conditions, and the image recognition and processing functions can be applied to the research of rubber sound-absorbing materials.
Proposal and validation of a modified staging system to improve the prognosis predictive performance of the 8th AJCC/UICC pTNM staging system for gastric adenocarcinoma: a multicenter study with external validation
Authors: Fang Cheng , Wang Wei , Deng Jing‐Yu , Sun Zhe , Seeruttun Sharvesh Raj , Wang Zhen‐Ning , Xu Hui‐Mian , Liang Han , Zhou Zhi‐Wei
Published: November 2018

Background

The 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) pathological tumor‐node‐metastasis (pTNM) staging system may have increased accuracy in predicting prognosis of gastric cancer due to its important modifications from previous editions. However, the homogeneity in prognosis within each subgroup classified according to the 8th edition may still exist. This study aimed to compare and analyze the prognosis prediction abilities of the 8th and 7th editions of AJCC/UICC pTNM staging system for gastric cancer and propose a modified pTNM staging system with external validation.

Methods

In total, clinical data of 7911 patients from three high‐capacity institutions in China and 10,208 cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program Registry were analyzed. The homogeneity, discriminatory ability, and monotonicity of the gradient assessments of the 8th and 7th editions of AJCC/UICC pTNM staging system were compared using log‐rank χ2, linear‐trend χ2, likelihood‐ratio χ2 statistics and Akaike information criterion (AIC) calculations, on which a modified pTNM classification with external validation using the SEER database was proposed.

Results

Considerable stage migration, mainly for stage III, between the 8th and 7th editions was observed in both cohorts. The survival rates of subgroups of patients within stage IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC classified according to both editions were significantly different, demonstrating poor homogeneity for patient stratification. A modified pTNM staging system using data from the Chinese cohort was then formulated and demonstrated an improved homogeneity in these abovementioned subgroups. This staging system was further validated using data from the SEER cohort, and similar promising results were obtained. Compared with the 8th and 7th editions, the modified pTNM staging system displayed the highest log‐rank χ2, linear‐trend χ2, likelihood‐ratio χ2, and lowest AIC values, indicating its superior discriminatory ability, monotonicity, homogeneity and prognosis prediction ability in both populations.

Conclusions

The 8th edition of AJCC/UICC pTNM staging system is superior to the 7th edition, but still results in homogeneity in prognosis prediction. Our modified pTNM staging system demonstrated the optimal stratification and prognosis prediction ability in two large cohorts of different gastric cancer populations.
An overview of nutritional strategies for recovery process in sports-related muscle injuries
Authors: Quintero Katherin Johana , Resende Ayane de Sá , Leite Geovana Silva Fogaça , Lancha Junior Antonio Herbert
Published: November 2018

Introduction

Muscle injuries are common among elite athletes and compromise competitions and training schedules. Within the interventions to treat a sports injury, the nutritional approach is key to improve the physiological response and maintain the body composition to promote a quick and safe return to the play.

Objective

Present an overview of the nutritional strategies and recommendations after a muscular sports injury, emphasizing the use of main nutrients and elements for the muscle recovery, such as proteins, antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and probiotics.

Methodology

The search of information was made in the PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, Embase, and Google Scholar databases under specific DeCS and MeSh terms. The selected articles included literature reviews and clinical trials related to muscle injury in high-performance athletes, in any sports discipline or in immobilized patient (healthy men or women).

Results

The stages of a muscle injury are classified as destruction-inflammation, repair, and remodeling phase. In all stages, energy recommendations should follow the estimated energy requirement plus the injury/stress percentage of increase (10–15%). During the repair phase, the optimal protein consumption (1.6–2.5 g/kg/day divided in several meals with 20–35 g of protein per meal) is crucial for muscle mass maintenance and to reduce the anabolic resistance of skeletal muscle in case of injury. Antioxidants intake from food sources may control the oxidative stress, which occurs during the inflammatory phase, as well as omega 3 fatty acids through stimulation of anti-inflammatory pathway. Moreover, probiotic consumption has been investigated in sports field with the goal of improving muscle repair by enhancing protein absorption capacity and immune cells function at the intestine.

Conclusion

According to the literature, it is necessary to carry out clinical studies with injured athletes and determine how the consumption of nutrients and elements such as probiotics can influence the recovery processes of injured athletes. Also, there are little research in this area of sports nutrition.
Decision-making in crisis resolution and home treatment teams: The AWARE framework
Authors: Lombardo Chiara , Santos Mónica , Van Bortel Tine , Croos Robert , Arensman Ella , Kar Ray Manaan
Published: November 2018

Aims and method

The aim of the study is to improve patient safety by identifying factors influencing gatekeeping decisions by crisis resolution and home treatment teams. A theoretical sampling method was used to recruit clinicians. Semi-structured interviews to elicit various aspects of clinical decision-making were carried out. The transcripts were thematically analysed using a grounded theory approach.

Results

Patient needs (safety and treatment) was the primary driver behind decisions. The research also revealed that information gathered was processed using heuristics. We identified five key themes (anxiety, weighting, agenda, resource and experience), which were constructed into an acronym ‘AWARE’.

Clinical implications

AWARE provides a framework to make explicit drivers for decision-making that are often implicit. Incorporating these drivers into reflective practice will help staff be more mindful of undue influences and result in improved clinical decisions.

Declaration of interest

None.
Clinical pharmacy workload in medical and surgical patients: effect of patient partition, disease complexity and Major Disease Category
Authors: Stuchbery Peter , Kong David C M , DeSantis Giovanna N , Lo Sing Kai
Published: November 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to measure the time spent providing clinical pharmacy services to individual patient episodes for general medical and surgical patients and to measure the effect of patient presentation and complexity on this workload.

Methods

We conducted a 5-month study at The Northern Hospital and Western Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, during 2006. Pharmacists recorded a defined range of activities that they provided for individual patients, including the actual times required for these tasks. A customised database, linked to the two hospitals' patient administration systems, stored these data according to the specific patient episode number. We then examined the influence of patient presentation and complexity on clinical pharmacy activities provided.

Key findings

During intervals when pharmacists recorded the time required to conduct activities, the average time required to perform the medication history and reconciliation exercise on 3052 occasions was 9.6 ± 4.5 min. The 1844 interventions required an average of 5.9 ± 3.0 min, clinical review of the patient's medical record required 5.5 ± 2.7 min and medication order review required 3.5 ± 1.3 min. For all of these activities, the time required was greater for medical patients than for surgical patients and greater for patients whose Diagnosis Related Group classification included a complication or co-morbidity. The average time required to perform all clinical pharmacy activities for 4625 completed patient episodes was 22.4 ± 16.7 min and was again greater for medical patients and for patients with a complication or co-morbidity.

Conclusions

The times required to perform a range of clinical pharmacy activities for individual patients was affected by whether the patients were medical or surgical patients. Furthermore, the existence of co-morbidities or complications affected these times. The methodology has potential application for other patient presentations and in other practice settings.
Rilke’s Lyric Lies
Authors: Molde Klas
Published: November 2018

This essay addresses the question of lying in the lyric with reference to both canonical and lesser-known works by Rilke, including several of his relatively neglected poems in French. Taking as a point of departure Rilke’s late lyric “Mensonges,” the essay proceeds via a series of close readings to formulate his poetics of lies and deception in positive terms. Special attention is given to the relationship of fraudulence to lyric form, animation, and praise. Ultimately, Rilke’s lesson is not to lie more but to lie better. Thus he puts on display a fundamental lyric operation: From its inception as counter-mythology, presupposing the existence of myth that it can either affirm or critique, the lyric does not present an alternative between enchantment and disenchantment but rather—in negotiating between the two—shows us the agency we have in fashioning our enchantments as well as our embarrassments.
Exploring landscapes of brain morphogenesis with organoids
Authors: Jabaudon Denis , Lancaster Madeline
Published: November 2018

The field of developmental neuroscience is benefitting from recent technological advances that allow access to organogenesis in vitro via organoid preparations. These methods have been applied to better understanding neural identity, and have opened up a window into the early events that occur during development of the human brain. However, current approaches are not without their limitations, and although brain organoids and other in vitro paradigms recapitulate many processes with remarkable fidelity, there are clear differences between brain organoid development in vitro and brain development in vivo. These topics were discussed extensively at a recent workshop organized by The Company of Biologists entitled ‘Thinking beyond the dish: taking in vitro neural differentiation to the next level’. Here, we summarize the common themes that emerged from the workshop and highlight some of the limitations and the potential of this emerging technology. In particular, we discuss how organoids can help us understand not only healthy and diseased brain, but also explore new arrays of cellular behaviors.
GIFs as floating signifiers
Authors: Gradinaru Camelia
Published: November 2018

This paper investigates GIFs that use famous paintings and art collages in order to discern if their possible interpretations justify the label of ‘floating signifiers’. For this purpose, I explain what ‘floating signifier’ means and describe what happened with the term when it was correlated with the issues of information and digital materiality. Thus, in new media, the parallel term for ‘floating signifier’ is Hayles’s ‘flickering signifier’. In a subtle manner, GIFs represents perfect instantiation of both concepts. The paper also addresses the main “portrait” of GIFs, examining them in both online (Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook) and offline discursive contexts. The signifieds attributed to particular examples of GIFs, and to GIFs in general, delineate their profile in terms of floating signifiers.
Urban ecosemiotics of trees: Why the ecological alien species paradigm has not gained ground in cities?
Authors: Magnus Riin , Remm Tiit
Published: November 2018

The transportation and translocation of species beyond their natural habitats is considered to be one of the major causes of biodiversity loss these days. Concerns are growing also about urbanization and the resulting destruction of natural habitats. At the same time, the integration of urban environments into nature protection efforts has brought along the intent to apply the ecological alien species paradigm in cities. Yet, as the practices of urban landscaping demonstrate, this objective has not been achieved. In this article, we propose that the reasons behind it are largely related to the specifics of the city as a semiotic system. Multiplicity of codes and subjects of various origins is contested by the ecological alien species paradigm, yet characteristic of the urban semiotic environment. The city often serves the function of a cultural model, embodying the principles of setting the borders between Self and the Other. Also in this case, the ecological alien species paradigm has to face a different complex of meanings attributed to the Other. We demonstrate how two different models of the city are expressed in the interpretations of alien trees by using pyramid oaks and poplars in Estonia as an example.
A study by Umberto Eco and his colleagues on the history of early zoosemiotics: Commentary and bibliography
Authors: Kull Kalevi
Published: November 2018

The article provides a commentary on Umberto Eco’s text “Animal language before Sebeok”, and an annotated bibliography of various versions of the article on ‘latratus canis’ that Eco published together with Roberto Lambertini, Costantino Marmo, and Andrea Tabarroni.
Founding of the French Zoosemiotics Society
Authors: Delahaye Pauline
Published: November 2018

Founding of the French Zoosemiotics Society
Versioning and Information Dissemination: A New Perspective
Authors: Lahiri Atanu , Dey Debabrata
Published: November 2018

That versioning can be effective for information goods is well known. In particular, related literature shows that when consumers underestimate a product, it is often better for the manufacturer to offer a base version of the product along with the fully featured version. This is because the base version lets consumers discover their true valuations, allowing the manufacturer to set a high price for the full version. This finding is also consistent with broader literature in economics, which contends that informing consumers cannot be optimal unless doing so also improves their average willingness to pay. Absent any such upward revision, keeping consumers in the dark becomes profitwise equivalent to first-degree price discrimination. This equivalence, although correct, does not hold when a fraction of consumers are fully aware of the true valuation to begin with. Accordingly, we propose a new perspective and explain why a manufacturer should consider versioning even when consumers do not underestimate the product and their average willingness to pay does not change after exposure to it. The point of this paper is to show that the presence of an informed segment of consumers fundamentally changes the information structure of the market, elevating in the process the relative value of information dissemination.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Authors: McAlees Melissa
Published: November 2018

A recently announced cash injection to help the NHS through winter has been welcomed, but it has also evoked criticism from charities, with many claiming the funding is insufficient.
Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of cognitive decline
Authors: Palmer Sarah
Published: November 2018

The link between heart health and cognitive health has been made before, but a recent study found a direct link between the condition atrial fibrillation and faster cognitive decline. Sarah Palmer discusses this study.
Eczematous conditions in the older person
Authors: Butcher Lesley
Published: November 2018

Skin conditions such as eczema are common in older people, but they might not always be able or willing to tell nurses about this condition. Lesley Butcher discusses various types of eczema, how to assess skin and which treatments to use.
The State of health and adult social care report evaluated
Authors: Frankova Helena
Published: November 2018

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently published its yearly report into the state of care, comparing ratings of care providers, evaluating quality of care and access to it and discussing recruitment issues. Helena Frankova shines a light over the report.
Covert monitoring versus employee privacy rights
Authors: Stevens Mark
Published: November 2018

There are various reasons why monitoring in the workplace occurs: to avoid misconduct or to detect criminal activities or abuse. However, when covert monitoring is employed, there is a chance that privacy law is being violated. Mark Stevens explains
Ensuring effective communication in every way
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: November 2018

In this series, Adrian Ashurst shares his experiences as a specialist trainer working with nurses. This month he talks about different types of communication and how to use these in different situations.
How to … work with staff members with dyslexia
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: November 2018

Dyslexia is a learning disability that people generally do not like to talk about, but it can make training sessions challenging for staff members. However, with the right adjustments they will be able to get the full benefits of any course.
Social media and schools
Authors: Jack Sally
Published: November 2018

It is an area that still divides professional opinion – to what extent should a school use social media? Sally Jack discusses the positives and the pitfalls, and offers some advice to school leaders
Hepatic Metabolomics Profiling of Cyprinus Carpio after Acute Cypermethrin Toxicity
Authors: Habotta Ola , Abouelmagd Mamdouh , Halawa Amal , Uno Seiichi , Habotta Ola
Published: November 2018

In the current study, The GC-MS metabolomics approach was used to evaluate the effect of cypermethrin on the metabolic profile in liver tissue of common carp fish. Fish were exposed to low and high concentrations of cypermethrin (0.1 and 1 µg/L respectively) for 24 and 96 h with subsequent PCA analysis to illustrate the response of the metabolic system after exposure to the pyrethroid. Cypermethrin induced obvious alteration in the intermediates of TCA cycle and encouraged consumption of non-carbohydrate sources in liver at all-time points. Additionally, cypermethrin exposure reduced the level of several amino acids and induced damage to the nucleotides reflecting the effect of cypermethrin on purine metabolism. GC-MS based metabolomics approach is a new and powerful tool to understand the toxicological effects and the underlying mechanism of cypermethrin on fish.
Remembering “Planet Auschwitz” During the Cold War
Authors: Brackney Kathryn L.
Published: November 2018

During one of the most famous moments of the trial of Adolf Eichmann, author and Holocaust survivor Yehiel Dinur took the witness stand in the summer of 1961 to deliver a brief and enigmatic testimony about what he termed “the Auschwitz planet.” Over the next two decades, as international Holocaust consciousness re-emerged in the shadow of the Cold War, writers, thinkers, and filmmakers would elaborate on the topography of “Planet Auschwitz,” figuring the Holocaust as an alien world at the limits of modernity. Drawing on a number of sources not always included in canons of art and theory of Holocaust memory, this article shows how the genocide of Europe’s Jews, ongoing global racial conflicts, and the penetration of the “final frontier” became overlapping sites of philosophical speculation during the 1960s and 1970s about the nature of modernity and what it means to be a human being.
Thermodynamic Rhythm
Authors: Jones Ewan
Published: November 2018

This essay argues that the cultural reception of thermodynamics in the late nineteenth century reformulated the concept of rhythm in an attempt to manage, mitigate, or acknowledge the problem of waste. Having demonstrated an overlooked historical dialectic between the thermal sciences and prosody, I conclude by reading A. C. Swinburne’s Tristram of Lyonesse to demonstrate how rhythmical excess represents a positive expressive resource.
Lithuanian Literary Magazine Kulturos barai –Cultural Mission in a Modern Way
Authors: Urbanaviciute Asta
Published: November 2018

The aim of this article is to present shortly the regulations and aims of Lithuaniaʼs cultural policy concerning cultural publications, to introduce publishing models of one of the biggest and most important Lithuanian literary publications Kulturos baraiand to discuss its importance for the Lithuanian literary society. For a small country, culture is one of the most important features of its identity and that is why we need to recognize the enduring value and mission of literary media – to inform about literary life, to influence public taste, to be an active part of culture, a tool for societal education, and the space in which creators can express themselves. On the other hand, increasing globalization and changing society needs may raise a question if literary publications perform their mission in a modern way, if culture is not equaled to a narrower art concept. Kulturos baraiis one of more than 20 Lithuanian literary periodicals with long tradition. Started in 1965 as an amateur publication, thanks to influential authors the magazine turned into a publication which is intended to shape the cultural strategy. In 1988, public discussion events organized by Kulturos baraigave an impetus to create the Reform Movement in Lithuania. At that time the whole cultural situation was changing in Lithuania – when Reform Movement was established, culture started to be understood as the basis for identity, and literary publications became the space which assisted to return memory. Literary pages were unprofitable for the mass media which had just been born, however, they were important as a sign of prestige. Kulturos barai, having played an important role in shaping the cultural taste in society several decades ago, still remains one of the most progressive and most modern literary publications, which performs its content management and dissemination organization in the best possible way. The research is based on the interview with an editor-in-chief of the magazine Kulturos barai.
Cancer risk in Chinese diabetes patients: a retrospective cohort study based on management data
Authors: Fang Yuan , Zhang Xuehong , Xu Huilin , Smith-Warner Stephanie A , Xu Dongli , Fang Hong , Xu Wang Hong
Published: November 2018

The excess risk of cancer observed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) may have been influenced by detection bias. The aim of this study was to examine the real association by evaluating time-varying site-specific cancer risks in newly diagnosed T2DM patients. A total of 51,324 registered cancer-free individuals newly diagnosed with T2DM between 2004 and 2014 were linked with the Shanghai Cancer Registry and the Vital Statistics through September 2015. A total of 2920 primary, invasive cancer cases were identified during 325,354 person-years period. Within 1 year following diabetes onset, participants with T2DM had higher risks of total, lung and rectal cancer in men and total, liver, pancreas, thyroid, breast and uteri cancer in women. Thereafter the incidence for overall cancer decreased and then increased along with follow-up time, with the upward trend varying by cancer, suggesting potential detection bias. After the initial 1-year period, standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% CIs for overall cancer were 0.80 (95% CI 0.76–0.85) in men and 0.93 (95% CI 0.88–0.99) in women, but a higher risk of breast and thyroid cancers were observed in women, with SIR and 95% CI being 1.13 (1.01, 1.28) and 1.37 (1.11, 1.63), respectively. Our results suggest that T2DM patients are at higher risk of certain cancers; this risk particularly increases shortly after diabetes diagnosis, which is likely to be due to detection bias caused by increased ascertainment. Prevention of female breast and thyroid cancers should be paid attention in Chinese individuals with T2DM.
Association between the metabolically healthy obese phenotype and the risk of myocardial infarction: results from the Kailuan study
Authors: Xu Yijie , Li Haibin , Wang Anxin , Su Zhaoping , Yang Guang , Luo Yanxia , Tao Lixin , Chen Shuohua , Wu Shouling , Wang Youxin , Guo Xiuhua
Published: November 2018

Objective

This study aimed to determine if the metabolically healthy obese (MHO) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in Chinese population.

Design

The Kailuan study is a community-based prospective cohort study.

Methods

BMI and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were assessed in 91 866 participants without a history of MI or stroke. Participants were categorised into six mutually exclusive groups according to the BMI-MetS status: normal weight (BMI:  ≤ 18.5to < 24.0 kg/m2) without MetS (MH-NW), normal weight with MetS (MUH-NW), overweight (BMI:  ≤ 24.0to < 28.0 kg/m2) without MetS (MH-OW), overweight with MetS (MUH-OW), obese (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2) without MetS (MHO) and obese with MetS (MUO). The hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI was calculated for the incidence of MI using a multivariable Cox model.

Results

A total of 6745 (7.34%) individuals were classified as MHO. During a median 8-year follow-up, 1167 (1.27%) participants developed MI. The MHO group had an increased risk of MI (HR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.37–2.25) in comparison with the MH-NW group after adjusting for potential confounding variables. After a similar adjustment, the risk of MI was significantly elevated in the MUH-NW (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.28–2.05), MUH-OW (HR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.67–2.35) and MUO group (HR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.70–2.49).

Conclusions

MHO subjects showed a substantially higher risk of MI in comparison with MH-NW subjects. That said, even without measurable metabolic abnormalities, obesity was associated with a higher risk of MI.
A Low Resolution Epistasis Mapping Approach To Identify Chromosome Arm Interactions in Allohexaploid Wheat
Authors: Santantonio Nicholas , Jannink Jean-Luc , Sorrells Mark
Published: November 2018

Epistasis is an important contributor to genetic variance. In inbred populations, pairwise epistasis is present as additive by additive interactions. Testing for epistasis presents a multiple testing problem as the pairwise search space for modest numbers of markers is large. Single markers do not necessarily track functional units of interacting chromatin as well as haplotype based methods do. To harness the power of multiple markers while minimizing the number of tests conducted, we present a low resolution test for epistatic interactions across whole chromosome arms. Epistasis covariance matrices were constructed from the additive covariances of individual chromosome arms. These covariances were subsequently used to estimate an epistatic variance parameter while correcting for background additive and epistatic effects. We find significant epistasis for 2% of the interactions tested for four agronomic traits in a winter wheat breeding population. Interactions across homeologous chromosome arms were identified, but were less abundant than other chromosome arm pair interactions. The homeologous chromosome arm pair 4BL/4DL showed a strong negative relationship between additive and interaction effects that may be indicative of functional redundancy. Several chromosome arms appeared to act as hubs in an interaction network, suggesting that they may contain important regulatory factors. The differential patterns of epistasis across different traits demonstrate that detection of epistatic interactions is robust when correcting for background additive and epistatic effects in the population. The low resolution epistasis mapping method presented here identifies important epistatic interactions with a limited number of statistical tests at the cost of low precision.
Management of Neonates Born at ≥35 0/7 Weeks’ Gestation With Suspected or Proven Early-Onset Bacterial Sepsis
Authors: Puopolo Karen M. , Benitz William E. , Zaoutis Theoklis E. ,   COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN,   COMMITTEE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES, Cummings James , Juul Sandra , Hand Ivan , Eichenwald Eric , Poindexter Brenda , Stewart Dan L. , Aucott Susan W. , Goldsmith Jay P. , Watterberg Kristi , Byington Carrie L. , Maldonado Yvonne A. , Banerjee Ritu , Barnett Elizabeth D. , Campbell James D. , Gerber Jeffrey S. , Lynfield Ruth , Munoz Flor M. , Nolt Dawn , Nyquist Ann-Christine , O’Leary Sean T. , Rathore Mobeen H. , Sawyer Mark H. , Steinbach William J. , Tan Tina Q.
Published: November 2018

The incidence of neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) has declined substantially over the last 2 decades, primarily because of the implementation of evidence-based intrapartum antimicrobial therapy. However, EOS remains a serious and potentially fatal illness. Laboratory tests alone are neither sensitive nor specific enough to guide EOS management decisions. Maternal and infant clinical characteristics can help identify newborn infants who are at risk and guide the administration of empirical antibiotic therapy. The incidence of EOS, the prevalence and implications of established risk factors, the predictive value of commonly used laboratory tests, and the uncertainties in the risk/benefit balance of antibiotic exposures all vary significantly with gestational age at birth. Our purpose in this clinical report is to provide a summary of the current epidemiology of neonatal sepsis among infants born at ≥35 0/7 weeks’ gestation and a framework for the development of evidence-based approaches to sepsis risk assessment among these infants.
Estrategias de estimulación temprana dentro de unidades de neonatología para bebés pretérmino
Authors: Ortega Matarrita José , Núñez Chaves Carolina
Published: November 2018

Debido a la mejora constante de los servicios de neonatología, se logra una mayor sobrevida de los bebés prematuros; no obstante, su grado de inmadurez los coloca en una situación de fragilidad que los expone tanto a una mayor morbilidad, como a retrasos en el desarrollo, con repercusiones a corto, mediano y largo plazo. Los servicios de neonatología, en ocasiones de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales, son el primer contacto del recién nacido al momento del nacimiento, donde es sometido a múltiples estímulos ambientales que interfieren en su desarrollo. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la mejor evidencia científica disponible respecto de las estrategias de estimulación temprana aplicadas por enfermería a los recién nacidos pretérmino, hospitalizados, que han sido útiles para reducir o evitar alteraciones leves o graves en el neurodesarrollo. Respecto de la metodología para desarrollar este protocolo se aplicará la práctica clínica basada en evidencia, que consta de cinco pasos: la pregunta clínica, búsqueda de evidencia científica, análisis crítico de la evidencia, transferencia de la evidencia y evaluación de la transferencia de la evidencia.
Efectividad de la atención domiciliaria de enfermería en el seguimiento de prematuros después del alta hospitalaria
Authors: Rodríguez Molina Ana María
Published: November 2018

Los prematuros con alta hospitalaria de la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal (UCIN), deben admitirse a un programa de seguimiento para prevenir que tengan complicaciones durante la transición al hogar y se produzcan reingresos hospitalarios. Además, los padres de infantes prematuros experimentan diversos sentimientos y desafíos cuando estos llegan al hogar. El objetivo de este protocolo de práctica clínica basada en la evidencia es analizar la mejor evidencia científica disponible respecto de la efectividad de los programas de atención domiciliaria de enfermería (ADE) para el seguimiento de prematuros egresados de la UCIN. Se utilizó como metodología la práctica clínica basada en la evidencia: inicialmente se planteó una pregunta clínica de tipo pronóstico y se planteó objetivos acordes a esta, a partir de los que se identificó un conjunto de descriptores con los que se realizó la búsqueda de evidencia científica en diferentes bases de datos científicas.
Prevalencia del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y la aparición de la enfermedad mental en adolescentes
Authors: Marín Madrigal Carlos , Calderón Barboza José
Published: November 2018

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar los resultados de una investigación secundaria acerca de la prevalencia del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA) en la población adolescente con enfermedad mental en comparación con los adolescentes que no padecen enfermedad mental. Se formuló una pregunta según el acrónimo “PICO” (pacientes, intervención, comparación, resultados); posteriormente, se buscó información en distintas bases de datos sugeridas en el curso de Práctica Clínica Basada en la Evidencia, impartido por el Programa de Colaboración para la Investigación de Enfermería Basada en la Evidencia de Costa Rica (CIEBE-CR). Para la búsqueda de información se efectuó una revisión de artículos científicos en Medline Plus, PudMed y EBSCO Host, con el fin de recuperar la mayor cantidad de información. Después de establecer los criterios de inclusión y exclusión y realizar un análisis crítico, se seleccionó cuatro documentos que dieron respuesta a la pregunta planteada.  Se detectó 58 documentos relacionados con el tema de los cuales solo cuatro cumplían criterios de calidad que establece el Critical Appraisal Skills Programme español (CASPe) para responder a la pregunta clínica. Se evidencia cómo en la niñez la psicopatología se reconoce cada vez más como un factor de riesgo en cuanto al uso de sustancias psicoactivas. Se concluye que los adolescentes con patología mental tienen una mayor prevalencia al uso de sustancias psicoactivas en comparación con los adolescentes que no padecen enfermedad mental.