bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Memories of Infant Pain in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Influence Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Mothers of Infants Born Preterm
Authors: Vinall Jillian , Noel Melanie , Disher Timothy , Caddell Kim , Campbell-Yeo Marsha
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

The birth of a preterm infant and witnessing ones’ infant in pain is remembered by parents as being one of the most stressful aspects of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Elevated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are highly prevalent among mothers of preterm infants, however, little is known about mothers’ memories of invasive procedures in the NICU and how these memories may contribute to the development of PTSS. We examined the relationships between number of invasive procedures, mothers’ memories of these procedures, and their PTSS at discharge from the NICU.

Materials and Methods:

Participants included 36 mothers of infants born below 37 weeks gestational age recruited from a tertiary-level NICU. Medical chart review was performed between birth and discharge from the NICU. At discharge, a research nurse conducted a structured memory interview with the mothers to assess their memories of their infants’ invasive procedures. Mothers also completed a self-report measure of PTSS (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5).

Results:

Mothers of infants exposed to greater numbers of invasive procedures had more elevated PTSS at discharge (R
2=0.37). Moreover, mothers who recalled having greater anxiety about their infant’s invasive procedures had greater symptoms of reexperiencing (R
2=0.34) and avoidance (R
2=0.28) at discharge from the NICU.

Discussion:

Greater neonatal exposure to invasive procedures and mothers’ recall of these procedures were related to mothers’ posttraumatic stress symptomatology at discharge. Invasive procedures in the NICU represent an important target area for neonatal intervention to reduce maternal distress and improve outcomes.
The Analgesic and Emotional Response to Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Liu Hui , Lu Fan , Zhou Dan , Yin Yan , Li Jun , Yang BangXiang , Song Li , Ye Ling , Xiao Hong
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

This study evaluated the analgesic efficacy and emotional response to intravenous lidocaine infusion compared with placebo in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods:

In this randomized, double-blinded study, patients with PHN received 5 mg/kg intravenous lidocaine infusion or placebo. The primary outcome was pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale, Von Frey, and area of allodynia. Moreover, emotional status of anxiety and depression were evaluated by Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Quality of life was assessed by Short Form Health Survey 36.

Results:

In total, 197 patients were enrolled and eligible data were collected from 183 of those patients. The Visual Analogue Scale scores were reduced to a minimum at 2 weeks (2.74, 2.99) after infusion, but no significant difference was found between the lidocaine and placebo groups. Similar changes were also found in mechanical pain threshold and area of allodynia. However, the lidocaine group was associated with a statistically significant reduction in consumption of analgesics with a relative risk of 6.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.24-17.16). Lidocaine infusion also significantly improved the anxiety and depression status; the values of mean change in anxiety and depression were 3.89 (95% CI, 1.43-6.35) and 4.3 (95% CI, 0.63-7.98), respectively, at 2 weeks. Moreover, improvement was exhibited in Short Form Health Survey 36 health status, with the mean change of 49.81 (95% CI, 28.17-71.46) at 1 week, in particular scores on vitality, physical and emotional role functioning, and mental health.

Conclusions:

The analgesic response of 5 mg/kg lidocaine intravenous infusion is comparable to placebo in patients with PHN, but intravenous lidocaine infusion significantly reduced total analgesic consumption, and improved the overall emotional and health status.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF LACQUER CRACKS IN EYES WITH PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA
Authors: Xu Xian , Fang Yuxin , Uramoto Kengo , Nagaoka Natsuko , Shinohara Kosei , Yokoi Tae , Tanaka Noriko , Ohno-Matsui Kyoko
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

To analyze the morphologic features of lacquer cracks (LCs), compare their detectability by different imaging instruments, and determine their progressive pattern.

Methods:

The medical records of 47 highly myopic eyes of 33 patients with LCs were reviewed. Fundus fluorescein angiography was used as the primary method of identifying LCs, and the detection rate was compared with that by fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography.

Results:

A total of 176 LCs were detected in the 47 eyes. Lacquer cracks were detected more frequently in the temporal (44.3%) than the inferior (30.7%), superior (17.0%), and nasal (8.0%) quadrants of the retina. The detection rate of LCs was 98% in fundus photographs and 85% by fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography. A progression of the LCs was observed in 22 of the 41 eyes with a follow-up period of ≥1 year. The progression patterns were an increase in the number (18 of 41, including 5 eyes in which new LCs had a branching pattern), elongation (4 of 41), and progression to patchy atrophy (6 of 41).

Conclusion:

Lacquer cracks can be detected noninvasively by fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography; however, improvements are necessary to detect all of the lesions. Lacquer cracks frequently progress with time, and an increase in the number of LCs was the most frequent progression pattern.
Epicardial, Biatrial Ablation with Integrated Uni-Bipolar Radiofrequency Technology in Stand-Alone Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Rosati Fabrizio , Muneretto Claudio , Merati Elisa , Polvani Gianluca , Moltrasio Massimo , Tondo Claudio , Curnis Antonio , Cerini Manuel , Metras Alexandre , Bisleri Gianluigi
Published: April 2018

Objective

Although minimally invasive approaches for surgical treatment of stand-alone atrial fibrillation have gained popularity for the past decade, ablation technology and extensive lesion sets play a major role in the achievement of a successful procedure, especially in presence of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. We evaluated clinical outcomes after totally endoscopic biatrial epicardial ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation with a novel integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency device.

Methods

Forty-nine (49) consecutive patients with stand-alone atrial fibrillation underwent right-sided monolateral thoracoscopic surgical ablation with a novel integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency energy delivery and temperature-controlled technology. Atrial fibrillation was persistent in 13 (26.5%) of 49 and long-standing persistent in 36 (73.5%) of 49 patients. Mean ± SD age was 60.6 ± 10.3 years. Median duration of atrial fibrillation was 74 months. Mean ± SD left atrial diameter was 44.7 ± 4.0 mm.

Results

Epicardial en bloc isolation of all pulmonary veins (box lesion) and additional ablation of the right atrial free wall was successfully performed via minimally invasive approach without any intraoperative and postoperative major complications. Intraoperative entrance and exit block was achieved in 77.5% (38/49) and 91.8% (45/49) of patients, respectively. Mean ± SD ablation time was 16.3 ± 4.8 minutes. No intensive care unit stay was required. Postoperative sinus rhythm was achieved in 93.8% (30/32) patients, and no pacemaker implantation was required. At 13 months, 87.7% (43/49) of patients were in sinus rhythm; 71.4% (35/49) were free from antiarrhythmic drugs and 75.5% (37/49) from oral anticoagulation.

Conclusions

Integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency ablation technology showed to be effective for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation with a total endoscopic approach. A versapolar suction device with extensive right-left atrial lesion set may further improve outcomes in patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Evolution of Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Andrawes Peter A. , Shariff Masood A. , Nabagiez John P. , Steward Richard , Azab Basem , Povar Natasha , Sarza Mirala , Demissie Seleshi , Sadel Scott M. , Nichols Michele , McGinn Joseph T.
Published: April 2018

Objective

Minimally invasive coronary surgery approach for coronary artery bypass grafting is a safe and reproducible procedure for multivessel revascularization. This study reviewed a single surgeon's experience with minimally invasive coronary surgery coronary artery bypass grafting, including operative time, number of bypasses, and conversion to sternotomy.

Methods

A prospective database of consecutive minimally invasive coronary surgery coronary artery bypass grafting procedures from 2005 to 2013 was reviewed. A small anterolateral left thoracotomy allowed left internal mammary artery harvest, proximal anastomoses on the ascending aorta, and distal coronary anastomoses. Early cases were compared with the later cases, focusing on grafting strategies that led to a standardized approach with Propensity Score Matching analysis.

Results

Seven hundred consecutive cases were divided into early (1–200) and late (201–700) groups. In the late group, the number of triple-vessel disease patients trended higher (50% vs. 57%, P = 0.0674) and the number of bypasses increased (2.3 ± 0.8 vs. 2.7 ± 1.0, P < 0.0001). Conversion to sternotomy significantly decreased between the groups (6% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.0001). There was no difference in rate of postoperative complications between the groups except for prolonged intubation (10% vs. 5%, P = 0.0236) and shortened length of stay (5.9 ± 6.7 vs. 5.5 ± 6.0, P = 0.0268). Propensity score matching analysis (n = 177) was significant for total bypass performed and time per bypass ( P < 0.05). The late group was further divided into subgroups of one hundred each (subgroup 1 through 5). Operative times differed significantly (subgroup 1: 249 ± 71.2, subgroup 2: 259 ± 85.8, subgroup 3: 244 ± 71.0, subgroup 4: 270 ± 58.4, and subgroup 5: 246 ± 47.9, P < 0.005).

Conclusions

As experience with minimally invasive coronary surgery coronary artery bypass grafting increased, the ideal sequence of steps to optimize surgical outcome was defined. The number of bypassed vessels increased and the operative time and conversion to sternotomy decreased.
A Phase 1 Study of a Novel Bidirectional Perfusion Cannula in Patients Undergoing Femoral Cannulation for Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Marasco Silvana F. , Tutungi Elli , Vallance Shirley A. , Udy Andrew A. , Negri Justin C. , Zimmet Adam D. , McGiffin David C. , Pellegrino Vincent A. , Moshinsky Randall A.
Published: April 2018

Objective

Leg ischemia is a serious complication of femoral artery cannulation. The primary aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel bidirectional femoral arterial cannula (Sorin Group USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of LivaNova PLC, Arvada, CO USA) that provides both antegrade and retrograde flow, in patients undergoing peripheral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass during cardiac surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing routine cardiac surgery requiring femoral artery cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass were identified preoperatively. Informed written consent was obtained in all cases. Bidirectional cannula insertion used either a surgical cut-down and wire through needle approach or a percutaneous technique. Flow in the superficial femoral artery was assessed using Doppler ultrasound after commencement of cardiopulmonary bypass. Lower limb perfusion was assessed using reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy to measure regional oxygen saturations in the cannulated limb during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Results

Fifteen patients (median age = 61.3 years, range = 26–79 years, 10 males, 5 females) underwent femoral arterial cannulation using the novel bidirectional femoral cannula between August 2016 and May 2017. Fourteen cannulae were inserted directly into the femoral artery via a surgical cut-down and wire through needle technique. One bidirectional cannula was inserted using a percutaneous insertion technique. Indications included minimally invasive mitral and aortic valve surgery, thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, and redo cardiac surgery. The median duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was 129 minutes (range = 53–228 minutes). The cannula was inserted and positioned without difficulty in 14 of 15 patients. Incorrect sizing and arterial spasm prevented correct cannula positioning in one patient. Antegrade flow in the superficial femoral artery was observed on Doppler ultrasound in 12 of 12 patients in which this was performed. Continuous stable distal perfusion was demonstrated in the cannulated limb in 14 of 15 patients. No procedural complications occurred in the immediate or convalescent postoperative period.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that in patients undergoing femoral arterial cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass during cardiac surgery, the use of a novel bidirectional cannula is safe and easy to insert and provides stable distal perfusion of the cannulated limb. Use of the device should largely obviate the need to insert a separate downstream perfusion cannula or use other techniques to protect against lower limb ischemia. Further research on a larger scale and in different patient populations is now warranted.
Mice lacking Kcns1 in peripheral neurons show increased basal and neuropathic pain sensitivity
Authors: Tsantoulas Christoforos , Denk Franziska , Signore Massimo , Nassar Mohammed A. , Futai Kensuke , McMahon Stephen B.
Published: April 2018

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are increasingly recognised as key regulators of nociceptive excitability. Kcns1 is one of the first potassium channels to be associated with neuronal hyperexcitability and mechanical sensitivity in the rat, as well as pain intensity and risk of developing chronic pain in humans. Here, we show that in mice, Kcns1 is predominantly expressed in the cell body and axons of myelinated sensory neurons positive for neurofilament-200, including Aδ-fiber nociceptors and low-threshold Aβ mechanoreceptors. In the spinal cord, Kcns1 was detected in laminae III to V of the dorsal horn where most sensory A fibers terminate, as well as large motoneurons of the ventral horn. To investigate Kcns1 function specifically in the periphery, we generated transgenic mice in which the gene is deleted in all sensory neurons but retained in the central nervous system.Kcns1ablation resulted in a modest increase in basal mechanical pain, with no change in thermal pain processing. After neuropathic injury, Kcns1 KO mice exhibited exaggerated mechanical pain responses and hypersensitivity to both noxious and innocuous cold, consistent with increased A-fiber activity. Interestingly,Kcns1deletion also improved locomotor performance in the rotarod test, indicative of augmented proprioceptive signalling. Our results suggest that restoring Kcns1 function in the periphery may be of some use in ameliorating mechanical and cold pain in chronic states.
From the Ground Up: Improving Pregnancy and Birth Experiences Through the Provision of Extraordinary Learning Opportunities in Australia
Authors: Baldwin Adele , Capper Tanya , Rogers Lucy , Wood Elspeth
Published: April 2018

A collaborative project formally titled “Working together to improve pregnancy and birth experiences for women and provide extraordinary learning opportunities for midwifery students” was launched in April 2017, after several years of consultation and planning. The opportunity to adopt an integrated response to the needs of incarcerated pregnant women and the learning needs of midwifery students was identified and supported by the university offering a graduate-entry midwifery program, a women’s correctional center, and a health service in a regional area of Australia. Incarcerated women who are pregnant require pregnancy, birth, and postnatal support distinct from their clinical care, while at the same time, midwifery students need to recruit pregnant women for continuity-of-care experiences. This article presents an overview of the implementation of the pilot project. It also discusses the project team and the challenges and successes of and unanticipated opportunities for practice modification and change.
Endoscopic Electrocautery Incisional Therapy as a Treatment for Refractory Benign Pediatric Esophageal Strictures
Authors: Manfredi Michael A. , Clark Susannah J. , Medford Shawn , Staffa Steven J. , Ngo Peter D. , Hamilton Thomas E. , Smithers C. Jason , Jennings Russell W.
Published: April 2018

Background and Aim:

Refractory esophageal strictures are rare conditions in pediatrics, and are often due to anastomotic, congenital, or caustic strictures. Traditional treatment options include serial dilation and surgical stricture resection; endoscopic intralesional steroid injections, mitomycin C, and externally removable stents combined with dilation have had variable success rates. Although not as widely used, endoscopic electrocautery incisional therapy (EIT) has been reported as an alternative treatment for refractory strictures in a small number of adult series. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EIT in a pediatric population with refractory esophageal strictures.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients who underwent EIT for esophageal strictures (May 2011–September 2017) at our tertiary‐care referral center. A total of 57 patients underwent EIT. Procedural success was defined as no stricture resection, appropriate diameter for age, and fewer than 7 dilations within 24 months of first EIT session. This corresponded to the 90th percentile of the observed number of dilations in the data. All patients included in the study had at least 2‐year follow‐up.

Results:

A total of 133 EIT sessions on 58 distinct anastomotic strictures were performed on 57 patients (24 girls). The youngest patient to have EIT was 3 months old and 4.8 kg. There were 36 strictures that met the criteria for refractory stricture and 22 non‐refractory (NR) strictures. The median number of dilations before EIT therapy was 8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 6–10) in the refractory group and 3 (IQR: 0–3) in the NR group. In the refractory group, 61% of the patients met the criteria for treatment success. The median number of dilations within 2 years of EIT in the refractory group was 2 (IQR: 0–4). In the NR group, 100% of the patients met criteria for success. The median number of dilations within 2 years of EIT in the NR was 1 (IQR: 0–2). The overall adverse event rate was 5.3% (7/133), with 3 major (2.3%) and 4 minor events (3%).

Conclusions:

EIT shows promise as an adjunct treatment option for pediatric refractory esophageal strictures and may be considered before surgical resection even in severe cases. The complication rate, albeit low, is significant, and EIT should only be considered by experienced endoscopists in close consultation with surgery. Further prospective longitudinal studies are needed to validate this treatment.
Use of Infliximab Biosimilar Versus Originator in a Pediatric United Kingdom Inflammatory Bowel Disease Induction Cohort
Authors: Chanchlani Neil , Mortier Kajal , Williams Linda J. , Muhammed Rafeeq , Auth Marcus K.H. , Cosgrove Mike , Fagbemi Andrew , Fell John , Chong Sonny , Zamvar Veena , Hyer Warren , Bisset W. Michael , Morris Mary‐Anne , Rodrigues Astor , Mitton Sally G. , Bunn Su , Beattie R. Mark , Willmott Anne , Wilson David C. , Russell Richard K.
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to summarize short‐term effectiveness, safety, and cost of using infliximab biosimilar (IFX‐B) drugs, (Inflectra [Hospira] and Remsima [NAAP]) compared to originator infliximab (IFX‐O) (Remicade [MSD]) in biologic naive pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in the United Kingdom.

Methods:

Prospective audit of patients starting anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Disease severity, response to treatment, and remission rate was measured by Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) and/or Physician Global Assessment.

Results:

Between March 2015 and February 2016, 278 patients (175 IFX‐O, 82 IFX‐B, and 21 Adalimumab) were started on anti‐TNF therapy. This was compared with collected data on 398 patients started on IFX‐O from 2011 to 2015. At initiation, median PCDAI was 36 (20,48) (n = 42) in the IFX‐O group and 28 (20,40) (n = 29) in the IFX‐B group, (P = 0.08). Immunosuppression rates were similar: 150/175 (86%) for IFX‐O and 65/82 (79%) for IFX‐B (P > 0.05). Post induction, median PCDAI score was 5 (0,11) (n = 19) and 0 (0,8) (n = 15) in the IFX‐O and IFX‐B groups, respectively (P = 0.35). There was no difference in response to treatment using Physician Global Assessment 85% (n = 28) in IFX‐O group and 86% (n = 19) in IFX‐B group (P > 0.05). Adverse events at initiation and post induction were not different between both groups (P > 0.05). Using conservative calculations, £875,000 would have been saved for a 1‐year period with universal adoption of biosimilars in patients who were instead treated with IFX‐O.

Conclusions:

IFX‐B is likely as effective as IFX‐O in treating IBD in comparable pediatric populations. Sites should adopt infliximab biosimilar for new starts due to cost reduction with no difference in other parameters.
Cold Panniculitis After Ice Therapy for Supraventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Malia Laurie , Wang Alicia , Scheiner Laurie , Laurich V. Matt
Published: April 2018

A late preterm infant presenting with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit because of poor systolic function seen on echocardiogram. The hospitalization was complicated by multiple breakthrough episodes of SVT requiring ice placed on the face during each repeat episode. The infant was later diagnosed as having cold panniculitis secondary to the application of ice to the face on multiple occasions. In children who are hemodynamically stable during SVT episodes, ice is used as first-line treatment. It is important to be aware of how often ice is being applied to the face and the duration of time to limit complications such as cold panniculitis.
Simultaneous Blood Glucose Monitoring During Gastric-Emptying Scintigraphy May Identify Unsuspected Abnormalities
Authors: McWhorter Nathan E. , Abazid Leen , Gorzell Brandon C. , Lynch Jane L. , Salman Umber A. , Metter Darlene F. , Phillips William T.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

A retrospective study of 197 patients was performed to evaluate utility of simultaneous fingerstick glucose monitoring during standardized solid meal gastric-emptying scintigraphy (GES). We hypothesized the unlabeled carbohydrate components of the standardized meal often empty at different rates than the labeled egg protein component and that simultaneous glucose monitoring may identify rapid carbohydrate gastric emptying.

Methods

Patients were classified as normal, rapid, or delayed gastric emptying from the standardized solid egg meal GES criteria. Further subcategorization was made based on postprandial glycemic excursions above baseline at 30/60 minutes and was delineated as elevated (>75 mg/>85 mg/dL), normal, or diminished (<30 mg/dL) glucose excursion.

Results

Of the 197 patients, solid gastric-emptying rates for 105 were normal, delayed in 54, and rapid in 25 patients, and 13 patients had initially delayed emptying 1 or 2 hours with normal emptying by 4 hours. Of the 105 patients with normal gastric emptying, 58 had elevated, 47 normal, and none had diminished glucose excursions. Of the 54 patients with delayed gastric emptying, 26 had elevated, 16 had normal, and 12 had diminished glucose excursions. Nine patients with normal or delayed gastric emptying but elevated glycemic excursions returned for a liquid glucose GES. In contrast to their standardized GES results, all 9 had rapid emptying with elevated glycemic excursions.

Conclusions

Simultaneous blood glucose monitoring with standardized GES protocols may provide a marker for contradictory findings of rapid gastric emptying of the unlabeled carbohydrate component in the standardized meal and may contribute to unexplained postprandial gastrointestinal symptoms. The additional insights provided by fingerstick glucose monitoring are inexpensive, easy to perform and may provide for new approaches to management of patient's gastrointestinal symptoms.
A Case of Mesh Erosion to the Sigmoid After Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy and a Literature Review of Mesh Related Complications
Authors: Lin Xiaoting , Du Pei , Chen Liquan , Gan Yaping , Zhang Xiaowei
Published: April 2018

Sacrocolpopexy has long been the preferred surgical procedure for the management of apical vaginal prolapse. The published literature regarding rectal mesh erosion after sacrocolpopexy includes only 6 cases in MEDLINE. We report a case of sigmoid vaginal fistula identified 4 years after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, along with an analysis of the follow-up of 140 patients over 12 months or more.
Liver Transplantation Without Venovenous Bypass: Does Surgical Approach Matter?
Authors: Barbas Andrew S. , Levy Jordan , Mulvihill Michael S. , Goldaracena Nicolas , Dib Martin J. , Al-Adra David P. , Cattral Mark S. , Ghanekar Anand , Greig Paul D. , Grant David R. , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Selzner Markus , McCluskey Stuart A. , McGilvray Ian D.
Published: April 2018

Background

The use of venovenous bypass in liver transplantation has declined over time. Few studies have examined the impact of surgical approach in cases performed exclusively without venovenous bypass. We hypothesized that advances in liver transplant anesthesia and perioperative care have minimized the importance of surgical approach in the modern era.

Methods

Deceased donor liver transplants at the University of Toronto from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed, all performed without venovenous bypass. First, an unadjusted analysis was performed comparing perioperative outcomes and graft/patient survival for 3 different liver transplant techniques (caval interposition, piggyback, side-to-side cavo-cavostomy). Second, a propensity-matched analysis was performed comparing caval interposition to caval-preserving techniques.

Results

One thousand two hundred thirty-three liver transplants were included in the study. On unadjusted analysis, blood loss, transfusion requirement, postoperative complications, and graft/patient survival were equivalent for the 3 different techniques. To account for possible confounding patient variables, propensity matching was performed. Analysis of the propensity-matched cohorts also demonstrated similar outcomes for caval interposition versus caval-preserving approaches.

Conclusions

In the modern era at centers with a multidisciplinary team, the importance of specific liver transplant technique is minimized. Full or partial cross-clamping of the inferior vena cava is feasible without the use of venovenous bypass.
Augmenting endogenous repair of soft tissues with nanofibre scaffolds
Authors: Baldwin Mathew , Snelling Sarah , Dakin Stephanie , Carr Andrew
Published: April 2018

As our ability to engineer nanoscale materials has developed we can now influence endogenous cellular processes with increasing precision. Consequently, the use of biomaterials to induce and guide the repair and regeneration of tissues is a rapidly developing area. This review focuses on soft tissue engineering, it will discuss the types of biomaterial scaffolds available before exploring physical, chemical and biological modifications to synthetic scaffolds. We will consider how these properties, in combination, can provide a precise design process, with the potential to meet the requirements of the injured and diseased soft tissue niche. Finally, we frame our discussions within clinical trial design and the regulatory framework, the consideration of which is fundamental to the successful translation of new biomaterials.
Does it actually feel right? A replication attempt of the rounded price effect
Authors: Harms Christopher , Genau Hanna A. , Meschede Carolin , Beauducel André
Published: April 2018

How does the roundedness of prices affect product evaluations? The ‘rounded price effect’ postulates that depending on the context, rounded or non-rounded prices increase the purchase likelihood of consumers. The study presented here is a replication attempt of these findings and the proposed mediation of the effect through a sense of ‘feeling right’ when evaluating the product.
p
-Curve analysis and the R-Index are used to assess the robustness of the originally reported statistics since original data were not available. A pre-registered replication of study 5 from the original article was conducted in a sample of
N
=588 participants. For both the original product and one alternative product neither an interaction between price roundedness and context, nor a mediation through ‘a sense of feeling right’ was found. Our results suggest that the effect is either smaller than originally reported or contingent on other, not investigated factors. Further studies might investigate contingencies in larger samples.
The cosmic spiderweb: equivalence of cosmic, architectural and origami tessellations
Authors: Neyrinck Mark C. , Hidding Johan , Konstantatou Marina , van de Weygaert Rien
Published: April 2018

For over 20 years, the term ‘cosmic web’ has guided our understanding of the large-scale arrangement of matter in the cosmos, accurately evoking the concept of a network of galaxies linked by filaments. But the physical correspondence between the cosmic web and structural engineering or textile ‘spiderwebs’ is even deeper than previously known, and also extends to origami tessellations. Here, we explain that in a good structure-formation approximation known as the adhesion model, threads of the cosmic web form a spiderweb, i.e. can be strung up to be entirely in tension. The correspondence is exact if nodes sampling voids are included, and if structure is excluded within collapsed regions (walls, filaments and haloes), where dark-matter multistreaming and baryonic physics affect the structure. We also suggest how concepts arising from this link might be used to test cosmological models: for example, to test for large-scale anisotropy and rotational flows in the cosmos.
Surrogate modelling for the prediction of spatial fields based on simultaneous dimensionality reduction of high-dimensional input/output spaces
Authors: Crevillén-García D.
Published: April 2018

Time-consuming numerical simulators for solving groundwater flow and dissolution models of physico-chemical processes in deep aquifers normally require some of the model inputs to be defined in high-dimensional spaces in order to return realistic results. Sometimes, the outputs of interest are spatial fields leading to high-dimensional output spaces. Although Gaussian process emulation has been satisfactorily used for computing faithful and inexpensive approximations of complex simulators, these have been mostly applied to problems defined in low-dimensional input spaces. In this paper, we propose a method for simultaneously reducing the dimensionality of very high-dimensional input and output spaces in Gaussian process emulators for stochastic partial differential equation models while retaining the qualitative features of the original models. This allows us to build a surrogate model for the prediction of spatial fields in such time-consuming simulators. We apply the methodology to a model of convection and dissolution processes occurring during carbon capture and storage.
Testing the assumptions of the pyrodiversity begets biodiversity hypothesis for termites in semi-arid Australia
Authors: Davis Hayley , Ritchie Euan G. , Avitabile Sarah , Doherty Tim , Nimmo Dale G.
Published: April 2018

Fire shapes the composition and functioning of ecosystems globally. In many regions, fire is actively managed to create diverse patch mosaics of fire-ages under the assumption that a diversity of post-fire-age classes will provide a greater variety of habitats, thereby enabling species with differing habitat requirements to coexist, and enhancing species diversity (the pyrodiversity begets biodiversity hypothesis). However, studies provide mixed support for this hypothesis. Here, using termite communities in a semi-arid region of southeast Australia, we test four key assumptions of the pyrodiversity begets biodiversity hypothesis (i) that fire shapes vegetation structure over sufficient time frames to influence species' occurrence, (ii) that animal species are linked to resources that are themselves shaped by fire and that peak at different times since fire, (iii) that species’ probability of occurrence or abundance peaks at varying times since fire and (iv) that providing a diversity of fire-ages increases species diversity at the landscape scale. Termite species and habitat elements were sampled in 100 sites across a range of fire-ages, nested within 20 landscapes chosen to represent a gradient of low to high pyrodiversity. We used regression modelling to explore relationships between termites, habitat and fire. Fire affected two habitat elements (coarse woody debris and the cover of woody vegetation) that were associated with the probability of occurrence of three termite species and overall species richness, thus supporting the first two assumptions of the pyrodiversity hypothesis. However, this did not result in those species or species richness being affected by fire historyper se.Consequently, landscapes with a low diversity of fire histories had similar numbers of termite species as landscapes with high pyrodiversity. Our work suggests that encouraging a diversity of fire-ages for enhancing termite species richness in this study region is not necessary.
Morphometric assessment of pterosaur jaw disparity
Authors: Navarro Charlie A. , Martin-Silverstone Elizabeth , Stubbs Thomas L.
Published: April 2018

Pterosaurs were a successful group of Mesozoic flying reptiles. They were the first vertebrate group to achieve powered flight and varied enormously in morphology and ecology, occupying a variety of niches and developing specialized feeding strategies. Ecomorphological principles suggest this variation should be reflected by great morphological diversity in the lower jaw, given that the mandible served as the primary apparatus for prey acquisition. Here we present the first study of mandibular shape disparity in pterosaurs and aim to characterize major aspects of variation. We use a combination of geometric morphometric approaches, incorporating both outline analysis using elliptical Fourier analysis and semi-landmark approaches. Our results show that morphological convergence is prevalent and many pterosaurs, belonging to diverse dietary groups and subclades, overlap in morphospace and possessed relatively simple ‘rod-shaped’ jaws. There is no clear trend of size distributions in pterosaur mandibular morphospace, and larger forms are widely distributed. Additionally, there is limited functional signal within pterosaur lower jaw morphospace. Instead, the development of a large anterior ventral crest represents the major component of disparity. This suggests that a socio-sexual trait was a key driver for innovation in pterosaur lower jaw shape.
Behavioural divergence during biological invasions: a study of cane toads (Rhinella marina) from contrasting environments in Hawai'i
Authors: Gruber Jodie , Brown Gregory , Whiting Martin J. , Shine Richard
Published: April 2018

Invasive species must deal with novel challenges, both from the alien environment and from pressures arising from range expansionper se(e.g. spatial sorting). Those conditions can create geographical variation in behaviour across the invaded range, as has been documented across regions of Australia invaded by cane toads; range-edge toads are more exploratory and willing to take risks than are conspecifics from the range-core. That behavioural divergence might be a response to range expansion and invasionper se, or to the different environments encountered. Climate differs across the cane toads' invasion range from the wet tropics of Queensland to the seasonally dry climates of northwestern Western Australia. The different thermal and hydric regimes may affect behavioural traits via phenotypic plasticity or through natural selection. We cannot tease apart the effects of range expansion versus climate in an expanding population but can do so in a site where the colonizing species was simultaneously released in all suitable areas, thus removing any subsequent phase of range expansion. Cane toads were introduced to Hawai'i in 1932; and thence to Australia in 1935. Toads were released in all major sugarcane-growing areas in Hawai'i within a 12-month period. Hence, Hawai'ian cane toads provide an opportunity to examine geographical divergence in behavioural traits in a climatically diverse region (each island has both wet and dry sides) in the absence of range expansion subsequent to release. We conducted laboratory-based behavioural trials testing exploration, risk-taking and response to novelty using field-caught toads from the wet and dry sides of two Hawai'ian islands (Oahu and Hawai'i). Toads from the dry side of Oahu had a higher propensity to take risks than did toads from the dry side of Hawai'i. Toads from Oahu were also more exploratory than were conspecifics from the island of Hawai'i. However, toads from wet versus dry climates were similar in all behaviours that we scored, suggesting that founder effects, genetic drift, or developmentally plastic responses to ecological factors other than climate may have driven behavioural divergence between islands.
Movement patterns and athletic performance of leopards in the Okavango Delta
Authors: Hubel Tatjana Y. , Golabek Krystyna A. , Rafiq Kasim , McNutt J. Weldon , Wilson Alan M.
Published: April 2018

Although leopards are the most widespread of all the big cats and are known for their adaptability, they are elusive and little is known in detail about their movement and hunting energetics. We used high-resolution GPS/IMU (inertial measurement unit) collars to record position, activity and the first high-speed movement data on four male leopards in the Okavango Delta, an area with high habitat diversity and habitat fragmentation. Leopards in this study were generally active and conducted more runs during the night, with peaks in activity and number of runs in the morning and evening twilight. Runs were generally short (less than 100 m) and relatively slow (maximum speed 5.3 m s−1, mean of individual medians) compared to other large predators. Average daily travel distance was 11 km and maximum daily travel distance was 29 km. No direct correlation was found between average daily temperature and travel distance or between season and travel distance. Total daily energy requirements based on locomotor cost and basal metabolic rate varied little between individuals and over time. This study provides novel insights into movement patterns and athletic performance of leopards through quantitative high-resolution measurement of the locomotor, energetic, spatial and temporal movement characteristics. The results are unbiased by methodological and observational limitations characteristic of previous studies and demonstrate the utility of applying new technologies to field studies of elusive nocturnal species.
Adiposity signals predict vocal effort in Alston's singing mice
Authors: Burkhard Tracy T. , Westwick Rebecca R. , Phelps Steven M.
Published: April 2018

Advertisement displays often seem extravagant and expensive, and are thought to depend on the body condition of a signaller. Nevertheless, we know little about how signallers adjust effort based on condition, and few studies find a strong relationship between natural variation in condition and display. To examine the relationship between body condition and signal elaboration more fully, we characterized physiological condition and acoustic displays in a wild rodent with elaborate vocalizations, Alston's singing mouse,Scotinomys teguina. We found two major axes of variation in condition—one defined by short-term fluctuations in caloric nutrients, and a second by longer-term variation in adiposity. Among acoustic parameters, song effort was characterized by high rates of display and longer songs. Song effort was highly correlated with measures of adiposity. We found that leptin was a particularly strong predictor of display effort. Leptin is known to influence investment in other costly traits, such as immune function and reproduction. Plasma hormone levels convey somatic state to a variety of tissues, and may govern trait investment across vertebrates. Such measures offer new insights into how animals translate body condition into behavioural and life-history decisions.
Social conformity and propagation of information in collective U-turns of fish schools
Authors: Lecheval Valentin , Jiang Li , Tichit Pierre , Sire Clément , Hemelrijk Charlotte K. , Theraulaz Guy
Published: April 2018

Moving animal groups such as schools of fishes or flocks of birds often undergo sudden collective changes of their travelling direction as a consequence of stochastic fluctuations in heading of the individuals. However, the mechanisms by which these behavioural fluctuations arise at the individual level and propagate within a group are still unclear. In this study, we combine an experimental and theoretical approach to investigate spontaneous collective U-turns in groups of rummy-nose tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) swimming in a ring-shaped tank. U-turns imply that fish switch their heading between the clockwise and anticlockwise direction. We reconstruct trajectories of individuals moving alone and in groups of different sizes. We show that the group decreases its swimming speed before a collective U-turn. This is in agreement with previous theoretical predictions showing that speed decrease facilitates an amplification of fluctuations in heading in the group, which can trigger U-turns. These collective U-turns are mostly initiated by individuals at the front of the group. Once an individual has initiated a U-turn, the new direction propagates through the group from front to back without amplification or dampening, resembling the dynamics of falling dominoes. The mean time between collective U-turns sharply increases as the size of the group increases. We develop an Ising spin model integrating anisotropic and asymmetrical interactions between fish and their tendency to follow the majority of their neighbours nonlinearly (social conformity). The model quantitatively reproduces key features of the dynamics and the frequency of collective U-turns observed in experiments.
Stick insect in Burmese amber reveals an early evolution of lateral lamellae in the Mesozoic
Authors: Chen Sha , Yin Xiangchu , Lin Xiaodan , Shih Chungkun , Zhang Runzhi , Gao Taiping , Ren Dong
Published: April 2018

Extant stick and leaf insects commonly imitate twigs or leaves, with lateral lamellae used to enhance crypsis or achieve mimicry for protection. However, the origin and early evolution of such lateral expansions among Phasmatodea are unknown, because all known Mesozoic phasmatodeans hitherto lack preserved evidence of such structures. We report here the first Mesozoic stick insect,
Elasmophasma stictum
gen. et sp. nov., with well-preserved, thin, lateral lamellae on the thoracic pleura, the terga of abdominal segments I–X and the ventrolateral margins of all femora. This new species, from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar, has a clear, stick-like body and is assigned to Euphasmatodea. The abdominal structures of
E. stictum
exhibit traces of multiple expansions of the terga, suggesting that such structure might have been an early development of body expansions used to improve crypsis for stick or leaf insects when they sprawled on twigs or leaves.
Database-integrated genome screening (DIGS): exploring genomes heuristically using sequence similarity search tools and a relational database
Authors: Zhu Henan , Dennis Tristan , Hughes Joseph , Gifford Robert J.
Published: April 2018

A significant fraction of most genomes is comprised of DNA sequences that have been incompletely investigated. This genomic ‘dark matter’ contains a wealth of useful biological information that can be recovered by systematically screening genomes in silico using sequence similarity search tools. Specialized computational tools are required to implement these screens efficiently. Here, we describe the database-integrated genome-screening (DIGS) tool: a computational framework for performing these investigations. To demonstrate, we screen mammalian genomes for endogenous viral elements (EVEs) derived from the Filoviridae, Parvoviridae, Circoviridae and Bornaviridae families, identifying numerous novel elements in addition to those that have been described previously. The DIGS tool provides a simple, robust framework for implementing a broad range of heuristic, sequence analysis-based explorations of genomic diversity.

Availability

http://giffordlabcvr.github.io/DIGS-tool/

Contact

robert.gifford@glasgow.ac.uk

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Comment on “Seasonal cycling in the gut microbiome of the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania”
Authors: Schnorr Stephanie L. , Candela Marco , Rampelli Simone , Turroni Silvia , Henry Amanda G. , Crittenden Alyssa N.
Published: April 2018

In a recent paper, Smits et al. (Science, 25 August 2017, p. 802) report on seasonal changes in the gut microbiome of Hadza hunter-gatherers. They argue that seasonal volatility of some bacterial taxa corresponds to seasonal dietary changes. We address the authors’ insufficient reporting of relevant data and problematic areas in their assumptions about Hadza diet that yield inconsistencies in their results and interpretations.
Sensorimotor cortical-subthalamic network dynamics during force generation
Authors: Alhourani Ahmad , Korzeniewska Anna , Wozny Thomas A. , Lipski Witold J. , Kondylis Efstathios D. , Ghuman Avniel S. , Crone Nathan E. , Crammond Donald J. , Turner Robert S. , Richardson R. Mark
Published: April 2018

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is proposed to participate in pausing, or alternately, in dynamic scaling of behavioral responses, roles that have conflicting implications for understanding STN function in the context of deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy. To examine the nature of event-related STN activity and subthalamic-cortical dynamics, we performed primary motor and somatosensory electrocorticography while subjects (n=10) performed a grip force task during DBS implantation surgery. The results provide the first evidence from humans that STN gamma activity can predict activity in the cortex both prior to and during movement, consistent with the idea that the STN participates in both motor planning and execution. We observed that STN activity appeared to facilitate movement: while both movement onset and termination both coincided with STN-cortical phase-locking, narrow-band gamma power was positively correlated with grip force, and event-related causality measures demonstrated that STN gamma activity predicted cortical gamma activity during movement. STN participation in somatosensory integration also was demonstrated by casual analysis. Information flow from the STN to somatosensory cortex was observed for both beta and gamma range frequencies, specific to particular movement periods and kinematics. Interactions in beta activity between the STN and somatosensory cortex, rather than motor cortex, predicted PD symptom severity. Thus, the STN contributes to multiple aspects of sensorimotor behavior dynamically across time.