bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of prediabetes, defined by fasting glucose, HbA1c only, or combined criteria, with the risk of cardiovascular disease in Koreans
Authors: Kim Hong‐Kyu , Lee Jung Bok , Kim Seon Ha , Jo Min‐Woo , Kim Eun Hee , Hwang Jenie Yoonoo , Bae Sung Jin , Jung Chang Hee , Lee Woo Je , Park Joong‐Yeol , Park Gyung‐Min , Kim Young‐Hak , Choe Jaewon
Published: September 2015

Background

The aim of the present study was to compare the association between cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and prediabetes defined by either fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, or their combination in a Korean population.

Methods

In all, 76 434 South Koreans who voluntarily underwent a general health examination in the Health Screening & Promotion Center (Asan Medical Center) were analyzed after excluding patients with a previous history of CVD. Cardiovascular events and death due to CVD during a median follow‐up period of 3.1 years (interquartile range 1.9–4.3 years) were identified from the Nationwide Health Insurance Claims Database and death certificates using ICD‐10 codes.

Results

Age‐ and sex‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for overall CVD events were significantly greater for subjects with prediabetes defined by FPG only (HR 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–1.31), HbA1c only (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.16–1.42), and combined criteria (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.09–1.32) compared with the normoglycemic group. After adjusting for multiple conventional risk factors (e.g. hypertension, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking status, family history of CVD, and BMI), the HRs for overall CVD were significantly increased only for participants with prediabetes defined by HbA1c. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted HRs for major ischemic heart disease events were significantly increased for subjects with prediabetes defined either by HbA1c or combined criteria. Similarly, age‐ and sex‐adjusted HRs for percutaneous coronary intervention were significantly higher for subjects with prediabetes defined by HbA1c only. For diabetes, the multivariate‐adjusted HRs for all outcomes were significantly increased by all three criteria.

Conclusions

Adding an HbA1c criterion when defining prediabetes in Koreans can help identify individuals with an increased risk of CVD.
Singapore Chapter of Rheumatologists consensus statement on the eligibility for government subsidy of biologic disease modifying anti‐rheumatic agents for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Lahiri Manjari , Teng Gim‐Gee , Cheung Peter P. , Suresh Ernest , Chia Faith L. , Lui Nai‐Lee , Koh Dow‐Rhoon , Koh Wei‐Howe , Leong Khai‐Pang , Lim Anita Y. N. , Ng Swee‐Cheng , Thumboo Julian , Lau Tang‐Ching , Leong Keng‐Hong
Published: September 2015

Aim

In Singapore, patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) constitute a significant disease burden. There is good evidence for the efficacy of anti‐tumor necrosis factor (anti‐TNF) in PsA; however cost remains a limiting factor. Non‐biologic disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (nbDMARDs) hence remain the first‐line treatment option in PsA in spite of limited evidence. The Singapore Chapter of Rheumatologists aims to develop national guidelines for clinical eligibility for government‐assisted funding of biologic disease modifying anti‐ rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) for PsA patients in Singapore.

Methods

Evidence synthesis was performed by reviewing seven published guidelines on use of biologics for PsA. Using the modified Research and Development/University of California at Los Angeles Appropriateness Method (RAM), rheumatologists rated indications for therapies for different clinical scenarios. Points reflecting the output from the formal group consensus were used to formulate the practice recommendations.

Results

Ten recommendations were formulated relating to initiation, continuation and options of bDMARD therapy. The panellists agreed that a bDMARD is indicated if a patient has active PsA with at least five swollen and tender joints, digits or entheses and has failed two nbDMARD strategies at optimal doses for at least 3 months each. Any anti‐TNF may be used and therapy may be continued if an adequate PsARC response is achieved by 3 months after commencement.

Conclusion

The recommendations developed by a formal group consensus method may be useful for clinical practice and guiding funding decisions by relevant authorities in making bDMARD usage accessible and equitable to eligible patients in Singapore.
Survey on management strategies of rheumatoid arthritis in Saudi Arabia: a Saudi Society for Rheumatology Initiative
Authors: Omair Mohammed A. , Omair Maha A. , Halabi Hussein
Published: September 2015

Aim

Currently there are no national recommendation guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Saudi Arabia, which has led to a lack of standard of care. The aim of this study is to explore RA management strategies in practicing rheumatologists in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A 38 questions survey was designed using an electronic website. The survey was distributed through the official email of the Saudi Society for Rheumatology. Rheumatologists with at least 1 year of experience were included. Descriptive analysis was used to report demographics and participants' answers. Chi‐square and Fischer's exact test were used to evaluate the relation between the characteristics of participants and their answers.

Results

Out of 120 registered practicing adult rheumatologists, 54 (45%) completed the survey. The majority were male 31 (57.4%) and Saudis 36 (66.7%). Forty‐two participants (77.8%) use clinical outcome measures in daily clinical practice to guide treatment decisions with the majority using the Disease Activity Score of 28 joints (61.1%). Quality of life measures were used by 22 (40.7%) participants with statistically significant male predominance (P = 0.043). Time consumption was the most important cause for not using any outcome measures. Thirteen (24.1%) and 17 (31.5%) participants do not use parenteral methotrexate and leflunomide, respectively, because of unavailability in the hospital formulary. Nine (16.7%) and 38 (70.37%) participants do not see a role for tofacitinib and biosimilars, respectively, in the management of RA.

Conclusion

This survey has highlighted many areas of improvement in the practice of rheumatologists in Saudi Arabia and should be the focus of future educational activities.
Hand Hygiene Compliance in an Emergency Department: The Effect of Crowding
Authors: Muller Matthew P. , Carter Eileen , Siddiqui Naureen , Larson Elaine
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Emergency department (ED) crowding results from the need to see high volumes of patients of variable acuity within a limited physical space. ED crowding has been associated with poor patient outcomes and increased mortality. The authors evaluated whether ED crowding is also associated with reduced hand hygiene compliance among health care workers.

Methods

A trained observer measured hand hygiene compliance using standardized definitions for 22 months in the 40‐bed ED of a 475‐bed academic hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ED crowding measures, including mean daily patient volumes, time to initial physician assessment, and daily nursing hours, were obtained from hospital administrative and human resource databases. Known predictors of hand hygiene compliance, including the indication for hand hygiene and the health care workers' professions, were also measured. Hand hygiene data, measured during 20‐minute observation sessions, were linked to aggregate daily results for each crowding metric. Crowding metrics and known predictors of hand hygiene compliance were then included in a multivariate model if associated with hand hygiene compliance at a p‐value of <0.20.

Results

Hand hygiene compliance was 29% (325 of 1,116 opportunities). Alcohol‐based hand rinse was used 66% of the time. Nurses accounted for 68% of hand hygiene opportunities and physicians for 18%, with the remaining 14% attributed to nonphysician, nonnurse health care workers. The most common indications for hand hygiene were hand hygiene prior to (35%) and hand hygiene following (52%) contact with the patient or his or her environment. In multivariate analysis, time to physician assessment > 1.5 hours was associated with lower compliance (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51 to 0.89). Additionally, compliance was lower for nonnurse, nonphysician health care workers (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.79) and higher for hand hygiene performed after contact with the patients or his/her environment, compared to hand hygiene performed before contact with the patient or his/her environment (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.5 to 2.7). Daily patient volumes and nursing hours were not associated with hand hygiene compliance.

Conclusions

ED hand hygiene compliance was low. Increased time to physician assessment was associated with reduced compliance, suggesting an association between crowding and compliance. Strategies that minimize ED crowding may improve ED hand hygiene compliance.
Large audit firm premium and audit specialisation in the public sector
Authors: Bradbury Michael E.
Published: September 2015

The outsourcing of public‐sector audits to the private sector is an important issue. This study examines the fee premium in the public sector by comparing audit fees between the government auditor and the Big5. The study (i) statistically adjusts for self‐selection bias, (ii) allows the slope coefficients in the audit fee model to vary between the Big5 and the government audit and (iii) estimates the counterfactual audit fee premium. The Big5 premium is around 23 percent. However, the variation in premium depends on whether the Big5 auditor is an industry or city specialist.
Reducing spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) emergence for hibernation in central British Columbia by felling infested trees
Authors: Hodgkinson Robert S. , Stock Arthur J. , Lindgren B. Staffan
Published: September 2015

Sanitation harvesting for the removal, processing and killing of spruce beetle in infested trees the year after attack is often only partially effective because a significant percentage of beetles emerge from standing trees in the autumn and drop down to the root collar to hibernate under the bark below the duff line. When trees are harvested, these beetles are left behind in stump root collars. We hypothesized that falling of spruce beetle‐infested standing trees, in the second summer (before pre‐hibernation emergence of beetles), can increase the window of opportunity for sanitation harvesting and extract more beetles from the forest.

Thirty Engelmann spruce that had been successfully infested by spruce beetle on a 2‐year life cycle in 1995 were selected at each of two locations in the central interior of British Columbia in 1996. At each site, 10 replicates of three treatments were randomly applied. Ten spruce were felled from 29 May to 10 June (early treatment), 10 were felled on 8 August (late treatment) and the remaining 10 were left standing. In mid‐August, a pair of nylon screening emergence traps were attached to all trees to capture any immature adults emerging for hibernation.

Emergence traps and underlying phloem were collected in late September to early October and revealed that 48–62% of immature adults emerged for hibernation from standing trees, whereas significantly fewer (7–17%) emerged from felled trees.

We conclude that, if sanitation harvesting of 2‐year cycle spruce beetle‐infested spruce cannot occur until the second winter, pre‐harvest felling of these trees in the second year can reduce emergence for hibernation by 69–88% and allow the extraction of more beetles over a longer period.
Geography, urban geomorphology and sustainability
Authors: Thornbush Mary
Published: September 2015

This introduction to the special section of Area ‘Geography, Urban Geomorphology and Sustainability’ provides an overview of the key landscapes and common themes in urban geomorphology (centred upon urban rivers, karst landscapes and the weathering of buildings) within the six papers comprising the special section. First, urban geomorphology is defined geographically confined to areas of concentrated urbanisation, where the natural environment is anthropogenically modified and where natural processes modify anthropogenic structures. A novel approach to sustainable urban geomorphology is developed through the case studies comprising the special section. These clearly illustrate key contemporary issues within the field and a long‐term perspective, considering future as well as historic human–environment associations and modifications.
Sward characteristics, nutritive value and choice by cattle of conterminous monocultures of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)
Authors: Hirata Masahiko , Okuma Toshiro , Tanaka Yuichiro , Tobisa Manabu
Published: September 2015

In south‐western Japan, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides; CG) offers a novel option for a warm‐season perennial for grazing use in areas where bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BG) can be grown. However, the potential of CG as a forage has not been fully explored because of the short history as a forage crop. We conducted four experiments to evaluate CG (cv. TifBlair) in comparison with BG (cv. Pensacola) in terms of sward characteristics, nutritive value and choice by animals. In each experiment, four Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus) were individually allowed to graze conterminous monocultures of CG and BG (5 × 10 m each) for 30 min. Irrespective of regrowth durations and fertilizer rates, CG was consistently shorter, leafier and denser, contained lower acid detergent fiber and cellulose, and was preferred or equally selected by cows, as compared with BG. Furthermore, CG maintained sufficient levels of crude protein (80–89 g/kg DM) to ensure voluntary intake of ruminant animals under extended regrowth‡ and without fertilizer, whereas BG failed to do so (65 g/kg DM). CG provided higher digestible dry matter than BG when crude protein concentration exceeded 86 g/kg DM. The results indicate advantages of CG as a forage.
Disproportionate effect on child admissions of the change in Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency guidance for management of paracetamol poisoning: an analysis of hospital admissions for paracetamol overdose in England and Scotland
Authors: Narayan Hafid , Thomas Simon HL. , Eddleston Michael , Dear James W. , Sandilands Euan , Nicholas Bateman D.
Published: September 2015

Objective

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the changes in the management of paracetamol overdose recommended by the UK Commission for Human Medicines on rates of hospital admission.

Methods

An interrupted time series analysis was carried out on data for hospital admissions for paracetamol poisoning for England between January 2010 and June 2014, and for Scotland between January 2010 and Sept. 2014. The main outcome measure was admissions to hospital with paracetamol poisoning (T39.1), as defined by first position coding in children and adults.

Results

The time series analysis (Jan 2010 to June 2014) showed that admission rates for paracetamol poisoning were steady from 2010 to the date of change (September 2012), with an estimated 269 [95% confidence interval (CI) 252.5, 285.5] child (0–14 years) and 3541 (95% CI 3454, 3628) adult admissions per month. In September 2013, 12 months after the change, there were an estimated additional 116 [37.3% (95% CI 17.2–67.4)] child and 426 [12.5 % (95% CI 4.5–19.6)] adult admissions. Thus, in the year before the change (September 2011 to August 2012) there were 45,181 (3500 child and 41,681 adult) admissions, and in the year after (September 2012 to August 2013) there were 50,198 (4779 child and 45,419 adult) admissions. The overall proportion of child admissions was significantly greater after the change (Chi‐square 32.486, P < 0.001), emphasizing the disproportionate effect in children.

Conclusions

Changes to the management guidelines for paracetamol poisoning in September 2012 were rapidly implemented but have particularly increased paediatric hospital admissions for paracetamol poisoning. This impact in children, who are at low risk of mortality from paracetamol toxicity, appears excessive.
Riboflavin and ultraviolet A as adjuvant treatment against Acanthamoeba cysts
Authors: Lamy Ricardo , Chan Elliot , Good Samuel D , Cevallos Vicky , Porco Travis C , Stewart Jay M
Published: September 2015

Background

Experimental studies have shown that the standard dose of riboflavin (R) or R + ultraviolet‐A (UVA) as solo treatment are not able to exterminate Acanthamoeba cysts or even trophozoites. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the application of R + UVA can enhance the cysticidal effects of cationic antiseptic agents in vitro.

Methods

The log of either polyhexamethylene biguanide or chlorhexidine minimal cysticidal concentration in solutions containing riboflavin (concentrations 0.1, 0.05 and 0.025%) plus either Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts or Acanthamoeba polyphaga cysts was determined and compared in groups treated with UVA 30 mW/cm2 for 30 min and in control groups (with no exposure to UVA). A permutation test was used to determine the P value associated with treatment.

Results

Regardless of the riboflavin concentration and UVA treatment condition, no trophozoites were seen in plates where the cysts were previously exposed to cationic antiseptic agent concentrations ≥200 µg/mL for Acanthamoeba castellanii samples and ≥100 µg/mL for A. polyphaga samples. There was no statistical evidence that R + UVA treatment was associated with minimal cysticidal concentration (P = 0.82).

Conclusion

R + UVA in doses up to 10 times higher than recommended for corneal crosslinking does not enhance the cysticidal effect of either polyhexamethylene biguanide or chlorhexidine in vitro.
Influence of different lubricants on the retentive force of LOCATOR® attachments – an in vitro pilot study
Authors: Srinivasan Murali , Schimmel Martin , Kobayashi Mariko , Badoud Isabelle , Ammann Patrick , Herrmann François R. , Müller Frauke
Published: September 2015

Objective

The aim of this in vitro pilot study was to evaluate the influence of an artificial saliva (AS) lubricant on the retentive force of a stud‐type attachment (LOCATOR®) for implant overdentures (IODs).

Methods

Twenty custom‐made models simulating a two‐IOD with parallel implant situation were fabricated using LOCATOR® attachments. The in vitro testing was carried out with an Instron® universal testing machine for a total of 10,000 insertion–removal cycles, for each model, in two different aqueous test mediums (Group 1: 0.9% sodium chloride solution (NaCl), n = 10; Group 2: AS, n = 10). Changes in the mean retentive force (F) were plotted against the cycle numbers #10, #100, #1000, #5000, and #10,000. Mixed regression models were applied for statistical analyses.

Results

A mixed regression (not considering interactions) predicted, compared to cycle #10, higher retentive forces at cycles #100 (P < 0.0001), #1000 (P = 0.017), similar forces at #5000 (P = 0.277), and lower forces at #10,000 (P = 0.012); there was no overall effect of the medium (P = 0.159). A second statistical model, employing the interaction term “cycle##medium”, confirmed similarly the effect. Although the interaction term was significant at cycle #100 (p = 0.045), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.140).

Conclusion

In this in vitro pilot experiment, there was no difference in mean retentive forces of the LOCATOR® attachments when tested with either 0.9% NaCl or a Glandosane®‐like artificial saliva lubricant. A larger scale study may still confirm the superiority of either lubricant for quasiclinical bench experiments.
Surface roughness of dental implants and treatment time using six different implantoplasty procedures
Authors: Ramel Christian F. , Lüssi Anja , Özcan Mutlu , Jung Ronald E. , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Thoma Daniel S.
Published: September 2015

Objectives

To test whether or not one of six implantoplasty procedures is superior to the others rendering a minimal final implant surface roughness and a short treatment time.

Material and methods

Forty‐two one‐piece implants were embedded in epoxy resin blocks with 6‐mm rough implant surface exposed. The following implantoplasty polishing sequences were applied: Brownie®, Greenie® sequence (BG) (diamond rotary instruments 106‐, 40‐, 15‐μm grit, Brownie®, Greenie® silicone polishers); Arkansas stone sequence (AS) (diamond 106‐, 40‐, 15‐μm grit, Arkansas stone torpedo‐shaped bur); Short diamond sequence (SD) (diamond 106‐, 40‐, 4‐μm grit); Short diamond sequence with Greenie® (SDG) (diamond 106‐, 40‐, 4‐μm grit, Greenie®); Complete diamond sequence (CD) (diamond 106‐, 40‐, 15‐, 8‐, 4‐μm grit); Complete diamond sequence with Greenie® (CDG) (106‐, 40‐, 15‐, 8‐, 4‐μm grit, Greenie®). The polished neck portion served as a positive control, the untreated sandblasted and acid‐etched surface as negative control. Each implant was scanned with a contact profilometer rendering Ra values and Rz values as a measure of surface roughness. The time needed to polish the implant surface for each group was recorded. Simultaneous comparisons between more than two groups were done performing Kruskal–Wallis tests. Comparisons between two groups were analysed using Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests.

Results

Mean Ra values amounted to 0.32 ± 0.14 μm (BG), 0.39 ± 0.13 μm (AS), 0.59 ± 0.19 μm (SDG), 0.71 ± 0.22 μm (SD), 0.75 ± 0.26 μm (CDG), 0.98 ± 0.30 μm (CD), 0.10 ± 0.01 μm (PC) and 1.94 ± 0.47 μm (NC). Pairwise one‐sided comparisons between the test group revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The shortest treatment time was recorded for group AS (13 ± 2 min) and the longest for CDG (21 ± 2 min) and BG (21 ± 4 min).

Conclusions

Considering final surface roughness and treatment duration, the use of rotary diamond burs in decreasing roughness, followed by an arkansas stone (group AS), appears to be an optimal treatment option.
Bilateral compared with unilateral sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence: results of a randomized, single‐blinded crossover study
Authors: Duelund‐Jakobsen J. , Buntzen S. , Lundby L. , Sørensen M. , Laurberg S.
Published: September 2015

Aim

This randomized single‐blinded crossover study aimed to investigate whether bilateral sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is more efficient than unilateral stimulation for faecal incontinence (FI).

Method

Patients with FI who responded during a unilateral test stimulation, with a minimum improvement of 50% were eligible. Twenty‐seven patients who were accepted to enter the trial were bilaterally implanted with two permanent leads and pacemakers. Patients were randomized into three periods of 4 weeks’ stimulation including unilateral right, unilateral left and bilateral stimulation. Symptoms scores and bowel habit diaries were collected at baseline and in each study period. A 1‐week washout was introduced between each study period.

Results

Twenty‐seven (25 female) patients with a median age of 63 (36–84) years were bilaterally implanted from May 2009 to June 2012. The median number of episodes of FI per 3 weeks significantly decreased from 17 (3–54) at baseline to 2 (0–20) during stimulation on the right side, 2 (0–42) during stimulation on the left side and 1 (0–25) during bilateral stimulation. The Wexner incontinence score improved significantly from a median of 16 (10–20) at baseline to 9 (0–14) with right‐side stimulation, 10 (0–15) with left‐side stimulation and 9 (0–14) with bilateral stimulation. The differences between unilateral right or unilateral left and bilateral stimulation were non‐significant, for FI episodes (P = 0.3) or for Wexner incontinence score (P = 0.9).

Conclusion

Bilateral SNS therapy for FI is not superior to standard unilateral stimulation in the short term. Equal functional results can be obtained regardless of the side of implantation.
A prospective multicentre observational study of Permacol™ collagen paste for anorectal fistula: preliminary results
Authors: Giordano P. , Sileri P. , Buntzen S. , Stuto A. , Nunoo‐Mensah J. , Lenisa L. , Singh B. , Thorlacius‐Ussing O. , Griffiths B. , Ziyaie D.
Published: September 2015

Aim

Permacol™ collagen paste (Permacol paste) is a new option for the treatment of anorectal fistula. It functions by filling the fistula tract with an acellular crosslinked porcine dermal collagen matrix suspension. The MASERATI 100 study group was set up to evaluate the clinical outcome of Permacol paste in the treatment of anorectal fistula. This paper reports the results from the initial 30 patients enrolled in the MASERATI 100 prospective, observational clinical trial.

Method

Patients (N = 30) with anal fistula presenting to 10 European academic surgical units were treated with a sphincter‐preserving technique using Permacol paste. Fistula healing was assessed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, with the primary end‐point of fistula healing at 6 months post‐surgery. Faecal continence and patient satisfaction were recorded at each follow‐up visit and adverse events were monitored throughout the follow‐up.

Results

Of the 28 patients with data at 6 months post‐surgery, 15 (54%) were healed, and the healing rate was maintained at 12 months. Healing after treatment with Permacol paste was similar for intersphincteric to transsphincteric fistulae and primary or recurrent fistulae. Only one patient exhibited an adverse event (perianal abscess) that was possibly related to the treatment. At the last outpatient visit, over 60% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the operation.

Conclusion

Permacol paste is shown to be effective in treating primary and recurrent cryptoglandular anorectal fistula with minimal unwanted side effects.
The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research Training and Community Dissemination
Authors: Gill Simone V. , Vessali Misha , Pratt Jacob A. , Watts Samantha , Pratt Janey S. , Raghavan Preeti , DeSilva Jeremy M.
Published: September 2015

Funding agencies and institutions are creating initiatives to encourage interdisciplinary research that can be more easily translated into community initiatives to enhance health. Therefore, the current research environment calls for interdisciplinary education and skills to create sustained partnerships with community institutions. However, formalized opportunities in both of these areas are limited for students embarking on research careers. The purpose of this paper is to underscore the historical and current importance of providing interdisciplinary training and community dissemination for research students. We also suggest an approach to begin to address the existing gap. Specifically, we suggest embedding a 10‐week summer rotation into existing research curricula with the goals of: (1) providing students with a hands‐on interdisciplinary research experience, (2) facilitating dialogue between research students and community settings to disseminate science to the public, and (3) sparking collaborations among researchers who seek to create a way to sustain summer program rotations with grant funding.
Morphologic clues and utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization for the diagnosis of nevoid melanoma
Authors: Yélamos Oriol , Busam Klaus J. , Lee Christina , Meldi Sholl Lauren , Amin Sapna M. , Merkel Emily A. , Obregon Roxana , Guitart Joan , Gerami Pedram
Published: September 2015

Background

Nevoid melanomas include melanomas with a low power silhouette similar to melanocytic nevi. However, at higher power magnification, nevoid melanoma may have severe nuclear atypia and dermal mitoses.

Methods

We performed a clinical, pathological and molecular study on a series of 58 examples of nevoid melanoma, excluding cases with spitzoid morphology.

Results

We identified distinct morphologic patterns: ‘classic’ nevoid melanoma, superficial spreading melanomas with nevoid invasive melanoma, lentigo maligna with nevoid invasive melanoma and deep penetrating nevus‐like nevoid melanoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was positive in 74% of cases. Copy number gains in 8q24 were common in amelanotic nevoid melanoma. The median follow‐up was 28 months (range 140). At last follow‐up, 37 patients had no evidence of disease, 3 were alive with metastases and 6 died from metastatic melanoma. Of these six patients who died, four had a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) performed, which was negative in all four.

Conclusions

We describe distinct clues to the diagnosis of nevoid melanoma including occult intraepidermal atypia, and expansile nesting resulting in asymmetric silhouette or dermal papillae expansion. We also describe that nevoid melanoma have infrequent SLNB involvement in aggressive cases, and have frequent 8q24 gains rather than 9p21 deletions. Our results suggest that nevoid melanoma are distinct from spitzoid melanomas and should be distinguished.
Demand Growth in Services: A Discrete Choice Analysis of Customer Preferences and Online Selling
Authors: Xie Xiaoqing (Kristine) , Verma Rohit , Anderson Chris K.
Published: September 2015

The selling of perishable services (e.g., hotel rooms, airline seats, and rental cars) online is increasingly popular with both retailers and consumers. Among the innovative approaches to online sales is opaque selling. First popularized by Priceline.com's name‐your‐own‐price model, opaque selling hides some attributes of the service (notably, brand and specific location) until after the purchase decision, in exchange for a discounted price. This means that a branded “product” is being sold as somewhat of a commodity, but the brand “name” is protected by the opaque model. The attraction of this model for retailers is that they are presumably able to increase their revenue stream, albeit at a lower rate, by selling rooms that otherwise would remain in inventory. In this article, we outline the development and analysis of an online choice survey to understand consumer preferences among three types of online distribution channels: regular full information sales channels, and opaque sales channels with or without consumer bidding. A Multinomial Logit model is employed to analyze the data and measure the consumer trade‐offs between price and other attributes of the product. We use the estimated model to calculate the incremental demand and revenue created by using an opaque channel simultaneously with regular full information channels. On balance, we find that correctly priced opaque channels can add to hotels revenue streams without undue cannibalization of regular room sales.
Development of infants' segmentation of words from native speech: a meta‐analytic approach
Authors: Bergmann Christina , Cristia Alejandrina
Published: September 2015

Infants start learning words, the building blocks of language, at least by 6 months. To do so, they must be able to extract the phonological form of words from running speech. A rich literature has investigated this process, termed word segmentation. We addressed the fundamental question of how infants of different ages segment words from their native language using a meta‐analytic approach. Based on previous popular theoretical and experimental work, we expected infants to display familiarity preferences early on, with a switch to novelty preferences as infants become more proficient at processing and segmenting native speech. We also considered the possibility that this switch may occur at different points in time as a function of infants' native language and took into account the impact of various task‐ and stimulus‐related factors that might affect difficulty. The combined results from 168 experiments reporting on data gathered from 3774 infants revealed a persistent familiarity preference across all ages. There was no significant effect of additional factors, including native language and experiment design. Further analyses revealed no sign of selective data collection or reporting. We conclude that models of infant information processing that are frequently cited in this domain may not, in fact, apply in the case of segmenting words from native speech.
Emotional experience in music fosters 18‐month‐olds' emotion–action understanding: a training study
Authors: Siu Tik Sze Carrey , Cheung Him
Published: September 2015

We examine whether emotional experiences induced via music‐making promote infants' use of emotional cues to predict others' action. Fifteen‐month‐olds were randomly assigned to participate in interactive emotion training either with or without musical engagement for three months. Both groups were then re‐tested with two violation‐of‐expectation paradigms respectively assessing their sensitivity to some expressive features in music and understanding of the link between emotion and behaviour in simple action sequences. The infants who had participated in music, but not those who had not, were surprised by music–face inconsistent displays and were able to interpret an agent's action as guided by her expressed emotion. The findings suggest a privileged role of musical experience in prompting infants to form emotional representations, which support their understanding of the association between affective states and action.
β‐Arrestin1 regulates the morphology and dynamics of microglia in zebrafish in vivo
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Du Xufei , Pei Gang , Du Jiulin , Zhao Jian
Published: September 2015

Microglia are the primary immune cells in the central nervous system. Microglia typically exist in a ‘resting’ state in the healthy brain, with ramified processes dynamically exploring the surrounding microenvironment. They become ‘activated’ under pathological conditions with marked changes in morphology. However, the regulation of their morphology dynamics remains poorly understood. Here, using in vivo time‐lapse imaging and three‐dimensional morphology analysis of microglia in intact zebrafish larvae, we found that β‐arrestin1, a multifunctional protein involved in various signal transductions, cell‐autonomously regulated the microglial morphology. Knockdown of β‐arrestin1 increased the volume size and process number of microglia but reduced the deformation speed in the resting state. Meanwhile, β‐arrestin1 down‐regulation led to a high frequency of phagocytic behaviour of microglia. These defects were partially rescued by over‐expressing human β‐arrestin1 in microglia. Our study indicated that microglial dynamics in the resting state can be regulated cell‐autonomously by β‐arrestin1 signalling.
Demographic compensation among populations: what is it, how does it arise and what are its implications?
Authors: Villellas Jesús , Doak Daniel F. , García María B. , Morris William F.
Published: September 2015

Most species are exposed to significant environmental gradients across their ranges, but vital rates (survival, growth, reproduction and recruitment) need not respond in the same direction to those gradients. Opposing vital rate trends across environments, a phenomenon that has been loosely called ‘demographic compensation’, may allow species to occupy larger geographical ranges and alter their responses to climate change. Yet the term has never been precisely defined, nor has its existence or strength been assessed for multiple species. Here, we provide a rigorous definition, and use it to develop a strong test for demographic compensation. By applying the test to data from 26 published, multi‐population demographic studies of plants, we show that demographic compensation commonly occurs. We also investigate the mechanisms by which this phenomenon arises by assessing which demographic processes and life stages are most often involved. In addition, we quantify the effect of demographic compensation on variation in population growth rates across environmental gradients, a potentially important determinant of the size of a species’ geographical range. Finally, we discuss the implications of demographic compensation for the responses of single populations and species’ ranges to temporal environmental variation and to ongoing environmental trends, e.g. due to climate change.
Microdialysis measurements of equine lamellar perfusion and energy metabolism in response to physical and pharmacological manipulations of blood flow
Authors: Medina‐Torres C. E. , Underwood C. , Pollitt C. C. , Castro‐Olivera E. M. , Hodson M. P. , Richardson D. W. , van Eps A. W.
Published: September 2015

Reasons for performing study

A suitable method for evaluating lamellar perfusion changes and their metabolic consequences is currently lacking.

Objectives

To examine perfusion changes in lamellar tissue using serial microdialysis measurements of urea clearance and energy metabolites.

Study design

Randomised, controlled (within subject) experimental trial.

Methods

Nine Standardbred horses were instrumented with microdialysis probes in the foot lamellar tissue and skin (over the tail base). Urea (20 mmol/l) was added to the perfusate and its clearance was used to estimate local perfusion. Samples were collected every 15 min for a 1 h control period, then during application of a distal limb tourniquet, during periods when norepinephrine or potassium chloride (KCl) were included in both skin and lamellar perfusates, and after systemic (intravenous) acetylpromazine. Dialysate concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and urea were measured and lactate:glucose (L:G) and lactate:pyruvate (L:P) ratios calculated. Values were compared with pre‐intervention baseline and also between simultaneous skin and lamellar samples using nonparametric statistical methods.

Results

Lamellar glucose decreased and lactate, urea, L:G and L:P increased significantly with tourniquet application, without significant changes in skin dialysate values. Lamellar and skin glucose decreased and L:G increased significantly during norepinephrine infusion, but mild increases in urea were not significant at either site.KCl caused significant decreases in lamellar and skin L:G, and an increase in skin glucose, but did not affect urea clearance. Acetylpromazine caused profound decreases in lamellar glucose and L:P, with increased L:G and pyruvate, but did not affect urea clearance or any skin dialysate values.

Conclusions

Significant changes in microdialysis urea clearance only occurred with severe lamellar hypoperfusion. However, changes in dialysate metabolite concentrations reflected less profound fluctuations in perfusion. This method may be useful for examining lamellar perfusion and energy balance during laminitis development and for the evaluation of vasoactive therapeutics.
Sequencing, biochemical characterization, crystal structure and molecular dynamics of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A from Geotrichum candidum 3C
Authors: Borisova Anna S. , Eneyskaya Elena V. , Bobrov Kirill S. , Jana Suvamay , Logachev Anton , Polev Dmitrii E. , Lapidus Alla L. , Ibatullin Farid M. , Saleem Umair , Sandgren Mats , Payne Christina M. , Kulminskaya Anna A. , Ståhlberg Jerry
Published: September 2015

The ascomycete Geotrichum candidum is a versatile and efficient decay fungus that is involved, for example, in biodeterioration of compact discs; notably, the 3C strain was previously shown to degrade filter paper and cotton more efficiently than several industrial enzyme preparations. Glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 7 cellobiohydrolases (CBHs) are the primary constituents of industrial cellulase cocktails employed in biomass conversion, and feature tunnel‐enclosed active sites that enable processive hydrolytic cleavage of cellulose chains. Understanding the structure–function relationships defining the activity and stability of GH7 CBHs is thus of keen interest. Accordingly, we report the comprehensive characterization of the GH7 CBH secreted by G. candidum (GcaCel7A). The bimodular cellulase consists of a family 1 cellulose‐binding module (CBM) and linker connected to a GH7 catalytic domain that shares 64% sequence identity with the archetypal industrial GH7 CBH of Hypocrea jecorina (HjeCel7A). GcaCel7A shows activity on Avicel cellulose similar to HjeCel7A, with less product inhibition, but has a lower temperature optimum (50 °C versus 60–65 °C, respectively). Five crystal structures, with and without bound thio‐oligosaccharides, show conformational diversity of tunnel‐enclosing loops, including a form with partial tunnel collapse at subsite –4 not reported previously in GH7. Also, the first O‐glycosylation site in a GH7 crystal structure is reported – on a loop where the glycan probably influences loop contacts across the active site and interactions with the cellulose surface. The GcaCel7A structures indicate higher loop flexibility than HjeCel7A, in accordance with sequence modifications. However, GcaCel7A retains small fluctuations in molecular simulations, suggesting high processivity and low endo‐initiation probability, similar to HjeCel7A.

Database

Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession numbers 5AMP, 4ZZV, 4ZZW, 4ZZT, and 4ZZU. The Geotrichum candidum GH family 7 cellobiohydrolase nucleotide sequence is available in GenBank under accession number KJ958925.

Enzymes

Glycoside hydrolase family 7 reducing end acting cellobiohydrolase
Differentiation of stem cells derived from carious teeth into dopaminergic‐like cells
Authors: Gnanasegaran N. , Govindasamy V. , Abu Kasim N. H.
Published: September 2015

Aim

To investigate whether dental pulp stem cells from carious teeth (DPSCs‐CT) can differentiate into functional dopaminergic‐like (DAergic) cells and provide an alternative cell source in regenerative medicine.

Methodology

Dental pulp stem cells from healthy (DPSCs) and carious teeth (DPSCs‐CT) were isolated from young donors. Both cell lines were expanded in identical culture conditions and subsequently differentiated towards DAergic‐like cells using pre‐defined dopaminergic cocktails. The dopaminergic efficiencies were evaluated both at gene and protein as well as at secretome levels.

Results

The efficiency of DPSCs‐CT to differentiate into DAergic‐like cells was not equivalent to that of DPSCs. This was further reflected in both gene and protein generation whereby key neuronal markers such as nestin, NURR1 and beta‐III‐tubulin were expressed significantly lower as compared to differentiated DPSCs (P < 0.05). In addition, expressions of transcriptomes related to neurogenesis revealed downregulation of more than 50% of the genes as compared to differentiated DPSC (P < 0.05). Amongst the notable genes were those from the transcription factors family (FLNA, MEF2C, NEUROG2), signalling pathway family (DLL1, Notch1, TGF‐β1), neuro‐inducer family (BDNF) and cell communication family (APBB1).

Conclusions

DPSCs‐CT were able to differentiate into DAergic‐like cells but not as efficiently as DPSCs. As such, prior to use in regenerative medicine, stem cells from any source should be thoroughly investigated beyond conventional benchmarks such as that proposed by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT).
Adverse outcome after incident stroke hospitalization for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory
Authors: He Vincent Yf. , Condon John R. , You Jiqiong , Zhao Yuejen , Burrow James N.
Published: September 2015

Background

Survival after a stroke is lower for Indigenous than other stroke patients in Australia. It is not known whether recurrence is more common for Indigenous patients, or whether their higher prevalence of comorbidity affects their lower survival.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the stroke recurrence and role of comorbidities in adverse stroke outcomes (recurrence and death) for Indigenous compared with other Australians.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of first hospitalization for stroke ( n = 2105) recorded in Northern Territory hospital inpatient data between 1996 and 2011 was conducted. For the multivariable analyses of adverse outcomes, logistic regression was used for case fatality and competing risk analysis for recurrent stroke and long-term death. Comorbidities (identified from inpatient diagnosis data) were analyzed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (modified for stroke outcomes).

Results

Prevalence of comorbidities, case fatality, incidence of re-hospitalization for recurrent stroke, and long-term death rate were higher for Indigenous than non-Indigenous stroke patients. Adjustment for comorbidity in multivariable analyses considerably reduced Indigenous patients’ excess risk for case fatality (odds ratio: 1.25, 0.88-1.78) and long-term death (standard hazard ratio: 1.27, 1.01-1.61) (but not recurrence), implying that their excess risk of death was in part due to higher comorbidity prevalence.

Conclusion

Indigenous stroke patients have higher prevalence of comorbidities than non-Indigenous stroke patients, which explained part of the disparity in both case fatality and long-term survival but did not explain the disparity in stroke recurrence at all.
Nonserious Adverse Events in Randomized Trials with Opioid‐Dependent Pregnant Women: Direct versus Indirect Measurement
Authors: Jones Hendrée E. , Kaltenbach Karol , Heil Sarah H , Stine Susan M , Coyle Mara G , Arria Amelia M , O’Grady Kevin E , Selby Peter , Martin Peter R
Published: September 2015

Background and Objectives: How best to measure the occurrence of adverse events during a randomized clinical trial is an issue that has not been adequately examined in the research literature. Focus of this study was on the examination of the relative frequency of occurrence of adverse events directly recorded during the conduct of the trial compared to an indirect determination of adverse events derived from data collected as part of the trial.

Methods: A secondary analysis of nonserious adverse events that occurred in the Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research (MOTHER) Study was undertaken. MOTHER was a randomized clinical trial of methadone versus buprenorphine in 175 opioid‐dependent pregnant women.

Results: The two methods of recording adverse events failed to agree on where differences in the frequency of occurrence of adverse events between the medication conditions might exist. Moreover, indirect assessment indicated all participants had experienced at least one adverse event, yet indirect coverage of adverse events was incomplete.

Conclusions: Findings suggest indirect examination of occurrence of adverse events should be cautiously undertaken, because indirect assessment of adverse events makes no distinction between what might be simply typical variation in behavior rather than systematic changes in behavior attributable to study condition, and lacks coverage of the full spectrum of adverse events.

Scientific Significance: Contemporaneous direct measurement of adverse events likely yield reasonably valid estimates of the rate of occurrence of the adverse events, while indirect measu‐rement of adverse events may not be sufficiently reliable. (Am J Addict 2012;21:S1–S4)