bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does pre‐operative MRI predict the risk of local recurrence in primary myxofibrosarcoma of the extremities?
Authors: Sambri Andrea , Spinnato Paolo , Bazzocchi Alberto , Tuzzato Gian Marco , Donati Davide , Bianchi Giuseppe
Published: May 2019

Objective

The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze and classify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of primary myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) of the extremities and their correlation with patients’ prognosis (local recurrence [LR] and sarcoma‐specific survival [OS]).

Methods

Ninety‐four patients with primary MFS of the extremities were included. All MRI were performed with 1.5 Tesla magnet using a standard protocol. The presence of a “tail pattern” was recorded. Myxoid tumor component and contrast enhancement of the tumor were evaluated and graded with semiquantitative method using a newly proposed classification.

Results

A tail‐like pattern was observed in 32% MFS; most of the tumors presented with high myxoid features and high grade of gadolinium (Gd) enhancement. Type 3 myxoid characteristics (P = 0.003) were most often observed in FNCLCC grade 3 tumors. Estimated LR‐free survival rate was 70.3% at 3 and 58.4% at 5 years. A higher LR‐rate was observed in those tumors presenting a tail‐like pattern at MRI (P = 0.039), in those with myxoid features type 2 and 3 (0.047) and in those with Gd enhancement grade 2 or 3 (P = 0.029). A worse OS was observed in Gd enhancement grade 3 (P = 0.013) and in deep tumors (P = 0.031).

Conclusions

MFS features on preoperative MRI can be useful in order to identify risk classes of LR and OS. These data may suggest that patients with a tail‐like pattern, high Gd enhancement and high myxoid features should be followed up more carefully after surgery.
Effects of rearing systems on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality, lymphoid organ indices, and serum biochemistry of Wannan Yellow chickens
Authors: Jin Sihua , Fan Xinfeng , Yang Lei , He Tingting , Xu Yuan , Chen Xingyong , Liu Ping , Geng Zhaoyu
Published: May 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of free‐range system (FRS) and conventional cage‐rearing system (CRS) on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality, lymphoid organ indices, and serum biochemistry of Wannan Yellow chickens. At 56 days of age, a total of 640 male chickens were randomly allocated to FRS and CRS groups, each of which included 4 replicates with 80 chickens in each replicate. The experiment lasted from 56 to 112 days of age. The results showed that CRS chickens exhibited better final body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio, whereas FRS chickens showed better breast and leg yields, shear force, meat color, lower drip loss, and decreased abdominal fat deposition. Moreover, the absolute thymus weight and thymus to body weight ratio of FRS birds were significantly higher than those of CRS birds (p < 0.05). Additionally, FRS chickens had significantly reduced glucose, total protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol contents, but enhanced levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the FRS has advantages in breast and leg yields, meat quality, and some serum biochemical parameters of Wannan Yellow chickens, whereas it has negative effects on growth performance.
Cumulative disturbances to assess forest degradation using spectral unmixing in the northeastern Amazon
Authors: Hasan Ali Fadhil , Laurent François , Messner François , Bourgoin Clément , Blanc Lilian
Published: May 2019

Question

Tropical forests are subject to disturbances by logging, gathering of fuelwood, and fires. Can degradation trajectories (i.e. cumulative disturbances events over a period of timer) be identified using remote‐sensing Landsat time series?

Location

Paragominas (Pará, Brazil), a municipality covering 19,395 km² in the north‐eastern Amazon.

Methods

We used Landsat annual imagery from 2000 to 2015 and spectral mixture analysis to derive time series of the fraction of soil (S), active photosynthetic vegetation (PV), and non‐photosynthetic vegetation (senescent) (NPV) indicators.

Results

The NPV values over a 16‐year period revealed five different degradation trajectories (i.e., cumulative disturbances in space and over time): undisturbed forest, selectively logged forest (with a management plan), overlogged forest (no management plan), overlogged forest (charcoal production) and burned forest. The variance of NPV calculated per pixel over the same period is useful to map forest degradation over Paragominas municipality, highlighting the role of disturbance factors (logging, fuelwood gathering and fire).

Conclusions

The fractional cover of NPV obtained from spectral mixture analysis can be used to differentiate degradation trajectories and to map forest degradation.
Personal Income Tax Reform in China in 2018 and Its Impact on Income Distribution
Authors: Zhan Peng , Li Shi , Xu Xiaojing
Published: May 2019

In the context of personal income tax (PIT) reform in China in 2018, this paper examines some of the major issues of concern regarding the reform and income distribution. Using the China Personal Income Tax Micro‐simulation model, the paper compares the differences between the 2011 and 2018 PIT systems, and finds that residents relying on different income sources may face a large degree of real tax rate change. Once the tax system is altered to PIT 2018, the coverage of PIT for wage earners will decrease from 46.9 to 23.4 percent, the income redistributive effect will drop from 1.95 to 1.22 percent and the PIT's role in fiscal revenue will also be negatively affected. Nevertheless, if individual income continues to grow, the share of PIT in fiscal revenue is expected to return to the 2018 level in 2022, but its income redistribution function is difficult to recover in the short term. The paper finds that the effect of PIT on income distribution depends on the tax structure. Gradual transition to an “entirely comprehensive” tax system when conditions are appropriate will achieve better income redistribution results at a lower average tax rate.
Do Political Connections Promote Innovation in Environmentally Polluting Enterprises?
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Li Xiaoqing , Fung Hung‐Gay , Qiao Penghua
Published: May 2019

We use an unbalanced panel data analysis to examine the effect of political connections (PCs) in state‐owned enterprises (SOE) and non‐SOEs on the innovation of Chinese environmentally polluting enterprises listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2007 to 2016. Our sample consists of 792 firms and 4587 firm‐year observations. There are several interesting findings. First, SOEs that are politically linked to the central government promote more innovation in general and more environmental innovation than SOEs without these links. Second, privately‐owned enterprises (non‐SOEs) with PCs promote less environmental innovation than non‐SOEs without PCs. Third, environmental regulation does not affect the environmental innovation of SOEs but it drives non‐SOEs with PCs to become more environmentally innovative. Our results enable us to better understand how PCs and regulations affect environmental innovation.
Fiscal Decentralization or Centralization: Diverging Paths of Chinese Cities
Authors: Yang Shiming
Published: May 2019

If fiscal decentralization promotes growth, why do some regions decentralize more than others? This article identifies the growing divergence of fiscal centralization among Chinese cities and explains it in a public finance framework. It argues that fiscal decentralization and its economy‐liberalizing effect entail significant short‐term fiscal risk. The more a locality relies on uncompetitive business ownership for fiscal revenue, the less likely fiscal decentralization is to occur. This article compiles a dataset of 20 provincial capitals between 1999 and 2016 to test for the connection between a city's tax base and its fiscal centralization level. It then pairs two “most similar” cities to trace how fiscal security concerns drove their fiscal and economic policies apart. This article adds a micro‐level perspective to the literature on fiscal federalism. By pointing out the fiscal constraints confronting local governments, it offers a new angle to understand the different growth paths of Chinese cities.
Endogenous Institutions and Economic Outcomes
Authors: Guerriero Carmine
Published: May 2019

To evaluate the relative importance of a culture of cooperation and inclusive political institutions, I divide Europe into 120 km×120 km grid cells, and exploit the exogenous variation in both institutions created by medieval history. I document strong first‐stage relationships between present‐day norms of respect and trust and the severity of consumption risk—i.e. climate volatility—over the period 1000–1600 and between the inclusiveness of present‐day regional political institutions and the factors that raised the returns on elite‐citizenry investments—i.e. terrain ruggedness and direct access to the coast. Building on these first stages, I show that only culture has a first‐order effect on income, even after controlling for country fixed effects, proxies for the alternative roles of the excluded instruments, factors modulating the roles of institutions, and intermediate outcomes. Two possible explanations for these results are that more inclusive regional political institutions might have impeded, in the early modern era, state‐building and market integration, and that in modern representative democracies, they are irrelevant in easing the monitoring of politicians by voters when the latter are not morally compelled to punish political malfeasance or the former have weak civic virtues. Macro and micro evidence supports these ideas.
Diagnosis and management of transverse root fractures
Authors: Abbott Paul V.
Published: May 2019

Background

Root fractures are not a common injury, but a thorough understanding of their etiology, healing responses, diagnosis, management, and prognosis is essential.

Review

The prognosis is largely related to the patient’s age; degree of displacement, if any, of the coronal fragment; and the location and orientation of the fracture. The more apical the fracture is located, the better the prognosis. Teeth with root fractures located supracrestally may have the worst prognosis, but their management and outcome depend on many factors, with the most influential factor being the ability to restore the tooth because the coronal fragment usually needs to be removed. In contrast, root fractures located in the apical and middle thirds and those subcrestally in the coronal third of the root have a good prognosis and usually require little, if any, treatment apart from immediate repositioning (if the coronal fragment has been displaced) and stabilization. Monitoring of root‐fractured teeth over time is essential to determine the healing response and to assess whether the pulp survives or not. In some cases, the pulp in the coronal fragment may necrose and become infected, thus requiring root canal treatment, but this should only be done to the fracture line. Pulp necrosis and infection typically occur within the first 3‐4 months if it is a direct result of the trauma. However, pulp necrosis and infection can also occur many years later, in which case it is likely to be a result of bacterial penetration via cracks or breakdown of restorations.

Conclusion

Overall, root fractures should be managed conservatively unless they are located supracrestally.
Views of young people in Malaysia on mental health, help‐seeking and unusual psychological experiences
Authors: Berry Clio , Michelson Daniel , Othman Ellisha , Tan Jun C. , Gee Brioney , Hodgekins Joanne , Byrne Rory E. , Ng Alvin L. O. , Marsh Nigel V. , Coker Sian , Fowler David
Published: May 2019

Aim

Mental health problems are prevalent among young people in Malaysia yet access to specialist mental health care is extremely limited. More context‐specific research is needed to understand the factors affecting help‐seeking in youth, when mental health problems typically have first onset. We aimed to explore the attitudes of vulnerable young Malaysians regarding mental health problems including unusual psychological experiences, help‐seeking and mental health treatment.

Methods

In the present study, nine young people (aged 16–23 years) from low‐income backgrounds participated in a semi‐structured interview about their perspectives on mental health problems, unusual psychological experiences and help‐seeking.

Results

Four themes were developed using thematic analysis. “Is it that they [have] family problems?” reflected participants' explanatory models of mental health problems. “Maybe in Malaysia” was concerned with perceptions of Malaysian culture as both encouraging of open sharing of problems and experiences, but also potentially stigmatizing. “You have to ask for help” emphasized the importance of mental health help‐seeking despite potential stigma. “It depends on the person” addressed the challenges of engaging with psychological therapy.

Conclusions

We conclude that young people in Malaysia may hold compassionate, non‐stigmatizing views towards people experiencing mental health problems and a desire to increase their knowledge and understandings. Yet societal stigma is a perceived reputational risk that may affect mental health problem disclosure and help‐seeking. We suggest that efforts to improve mental health literacy would be valued by young Malaysians and could support reduced stigma and earlier help‐seeking.
Modulation of striatal dopamine dynamics by cocaine self‐administration and amphetamine treatment in female rats
Authors: Siciliano Cody A. , Mauterer Madelyn I. , Fordahl Steve C. , Jones Sara R.
Published: May 2019

Despite decades of research into the neurobiological basis of cocaine abuse, pharmacotherapeutic treatments for cocaine addiction have been largely ineffective. Converging evidence from preclinical research and from outpatient clinical trials suggest that treatment with amphetamine is efficacious in reducing cocaine intake. Although it has been suggested that amphetamine treatment reduces cocaine intake as an agonist replacement therapy, we have shown recently that multiple aspects of dopamine signaling are altered by cocaine self‐administration and returned to pre‐cocaine function by amphetamine treatment in the nucleus accumbens of male rats. Here, we sought to determine if these effects were also evident in female subjects, and across regions of the striatum. Female rats performed 5 days of cocaine self‐administration (1.5 mg kg−1 inj−1, 40 inj/day) and were treated with a single amphetamine (0.56 mg/kg) or saline infusion 1 hr prior to killing. We then used ex vivo fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry in the nucleus accumbens core or dorsolateral caudate‐putamen to examine dopamine signaling and cocaine potency. We found that in the nucleus accumbens core, cocaine self‐administration decreased dopamine uptake rate and cocaine potency, and both alterations were restored by amphetamine treatment. In the dorsolateral caudate‐putamen, neither cocaine self‐administration nor amphetamine treatment altered dopamine uptake; however, cocaine potency was decreased by self‐administration and returned to control levels by amphetamine. Together, these findings support a role for amphetamine treatment for cocaine addiction outside of agonist replacement therapy, and suggest that the development of cocaine tolerance is similar across sexes.
Epileptiform activity contralateral to unilateral hippocampal sclerosis does not cause the expression of brain damage markers
Authors: Noè Francesco , Cattalini Alessandro , Vila Verde Diogo , Alessi Camilla , Colciaghi Francesca , Figini Matteo , Zucca Ileana , de Curtis Marco
Published: May 2019

Objective

Patients with epilepsy often ask if recurrent seizures harm their brain and aggravate their epileptic condition. This crucial question has not been specifically addressed by dedicated experiments. We analyze here if intense bilateral seizure activity induced by local injection of kainic acid (KA) in the right hippocampus produces brain damage in the left hippocampus.

Methods

Adult guinea pigs were bilaterally implanted with hippocampal electrodes for continuous video—electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. Unilateral injection of 1 μg KA in the dorsal CA1 area induced nonconvulsive status epilepticus (ncSE) characterized by bilateral hippocampal seizure discharges. This treatment resulted in selective unilateral sclerosis of the KA‐injected hippocampus. Three days after KA injection, the animals were killed, and the brains were submitted to ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were processed for immunohistochemical analysis.

Results

During ncSE, epileptiform activity was recorded for 27.6 ± 19.1 hours in both the KA‐injected and contralateral hippocampi. Enhanced T1‐weighted MR signal due to gadolinium deposition, mean diffusivity reduction, neuronal loss, gliosis, and blood–brain barrier permeability changes was observed exclusively in the KA‐injected hippocampus. Despite the presence of a clear unilateral hippocampal sclerosis at the site of KA injection, no structural alterations were detected by MR and immunostaining analysis performed in the hippocampus contralateral to KA injection 3 days and 2 months after ncSE induction. Fluoro‐Jade and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining at the same time points confirmed the absence of degenerating cells in the hippocampi contralateral to KA injection.

Significance

We demonstrate that intense epileptiform activity during ncSE does not cause obvious brain damage in the hippocampus contralateral to unilateral hippocampal KA injection. These findings argue against the hypothesis that epileptiform activity per se contributes to focal brain injury in previously undamaged cortical regions.
Automated detection of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy risk factors in electronic medical records using natural language processing
Authors: Barbour Kristen , Hesdorffer Dale C. , Tian Niu , Yozawitz Elissa G. , McGoldrick Patricia E. , Wolf Steven , McDonough Tiffani L. , Nelson Aaron , Loddenkemper Tobias , Basma Natasha , Johnson Stephen B. , Grinspan Zachary M.
Published: May 2019

Objective

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is an important cause of mortality in epilepsy. However, there is a gap in how often providers counsel patients about SUDEP. One potential solution is to electronically prompt clinicians to provide counseling via automated detection of risk factors in electronic medical records (EMRs). We evaluated (1) the feasibility and generalizability of using regular expressions to identify risk factors in EMRs and (2) barriers to generalizability.

Methods

Data included physician notes for 3000 patients from one medical center (home) and 1000 from five additional centers (away). Through chart review, we identified three SUDEP risk factors: (1) generalized tonic–clonic seizures, (2) refractory epilepsy, and (3) epilepsy surgery candidacy. Regular expressions of risk factors were manually created with home training data, and performance was evaluated with home test and away test data. Performance was evaluated by sensitivity, positive predictive value, and F‐measure. Generalizability was defined as an absolute decrease in performance by <0.10 for away versus home test data. To evaluate underlying barriers to generalizability, we identified causes of errors seen more often in away data than home data. To demonstrate how small revisions can improve generalizability, we removed three “boilerplate” standard text phrases from away notes and repeated performance.

Results

We observed high performance in home test data (F‐measure range = 0.86‐0.90), and low to high performance in away test data (F‐measure range = 0.53‐0.81). After removing three boilerplate phrases, away performance improved (F‐measure range = 0.79‐0.89) and generalizability was achieved for nearly all measures. The only significant barrier to generalizability was use of boilerplate phrases, causing 104 of 171 errors (61%) in away data.

Significance

Regular expressions are a feasible and probably a generalizable method to identify variables related to SUDEP risk. Our methods may be implemented to create large patient cohorts for research and to generate electronic prompts for SUDEP counseling.
Taxonomic and geographic gaps in understanding the functional effects of imperilled fishes on freshwater ecosystems
Authors: Moody Eric K. , Albright Ellen , Cope Katie , Fleck Rachel , Grigel Haley , Ortiz David , Wilkinson Grace M.
Published: May 2019

The effects that fishes have on rates of one or more ecosystem processes (hereafter referred to as functional effects) are often invoked as an important reason for imperilled species conservation. However, the degree to which we understand these effects is rarely evaluated for most groups of fishes. We assessed how well the functional effects of freshwater and diadromous fishes, one of the most imperilled groups of animals, are quantified to date. We found that 88% of studies considering the functional effects of imperilled North American fishes were conducted on one family, Salmonidae. Studies of the functional effects of fishes were also concentrated in Pacific drainages of North America, with few studies in hotspots of imperilled fish diversity such as the Southeastern United States, the arid Southwest and central Mexico. Our results demonstrate the vast taxonomic and geographic gaps in our functional understanding of imperilled fishes and highlight the need to broaden this work to justify the argument that they are functionally important in the ecosystems they inhabit.
A tale of two cousins: Ependymal cells, quiescent neural stem cells and potential mechanisms driving their functional divergence
Authors: Stratton Jo Anne , Shah Prajay , Sinha Sarthak , Crowther Emilie , Biernaskie Jeff
Published: May 2019

Recent work has suggested that stem cells exhibit far greater heterogeneity than initially thought. Indeed, their dynamic nature and shared traits with surrounding niche cells have made prospective identification of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) challenging. Refined fate mapping strategies and single‐cell omics techniques have begun to clarify functionally distinct states within the adult NSC pool, the molecular signatures that govern these states, and the functional contributions/interactions with neighboring cells within the subventricular niche. Ependymal cells are the epithelial cells which line the ventricular system and reside in the same niche as NSCs. Our own work has revealed that, despite sharing similar embryonic origins with NSCs and close geographic proximity, ependymal cells are transcriptionally distinct and fail to exhibit stem cell function in vivo, even following injury. Intriguingly, comparison of ependymal cells with qNSCs revealed transcriptional signatures that are largely overlapping, suggesting that post‐transcriptional regulation might underlie their divergent phenotypes. Additional analysis of ependymal versus qNSC gene regulatory network activation supports this notion. This Viewpoint summarizes the historical confusion regarding the identity of NSCs within the lateral ventricle niche and describes recent work that provides greater appreciation for the diverse functional states within the NSC niche.
Episodic recruitment of young Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) during high discharge in a floodplain lake of the River Paraná, Argentina
Authors: Lozano Ismael E. , Llamazares Vegh Sabina , Gómez María I. , Piazza Yanina G. , Salva Javier L. , Fuentes Carlos M.
Published: May 2019

Prochilodus lineatus (Val.) is one of the main target species of South American freshwater fisheries. The following null hypotheses regarding juvenile recruitment of P. lineatus were tested: (a) recruitment is not determined by variations in larval abundance and (b) recruitment is not determined by variations in discharge. For this purpose, variations in abundance of larvae in main channel drift and monthly captures of juveniles in a floodplain lake of the River Paraná were examined weekly between 2009 and 2016. Mean annual abundances of larval densities and CPUE of juveniles were correlated with a set of hydrometric variables. A positive correlation was found between the abundance of juveniles with high and persistent flood pulses. By contrast, larval abundance was not correlated with juvenile abundance. Pronounced contrast was found in the recruitment of P. lineatus between years of high and low discharge, which supports the hypothesis that floods are the main determining factor for recruitment of this species.
Does political pressure matter in bank lending? Evidence from China
Authors: Cai Weixing , Xu Fangming , Zeng Cheng
Published: May 2019

Using provincial data from China between 2002 and 2011, we find substantial evidence indicating a positive association between the growth of bank loans issued by commercial banks and the political pressures faced by provincial leaders. This association is particularly true for state‐owned banks, which are much more politically pressurized than others, but is relatively attenuated in provinces with a more developed banking sector. We also find that bank loans issued under greater political pressures are less commercially oriented and have lower quality. Our findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity analyses and alternative measures of political pressure. Overall, our study contribute to a growing literature emphasizing the role of the political incentives of government officials in fuelling economic growth through credit allocation.
Motivating high‐impact innovation: Evidence from managerial compensation contracts
Authors: Francis Bill B. , Hasan Iftekhar , Sharma Zenu , Waisman Maya
Published: May 2019

We investigate the relationship between Chief Executive Officer (CEO) compensation and firm innovation and find that long‐term incentives in the form of options, especially unvested options, and protection from managerial termination in the form of golden parachutes are positively related to corporate innovation, and particularly to high‐impact, exploratory (new knowledge creation) invention. Conversely, non‐equity pay has a detrimental effect on the input, output and impact of innovation. Tests using the passage of an option expensing regulation (FAS 123R) as an exogenous shock to option compensation suggest a causal interpretation for the link between long‐term pay incentives, patents and citations. Furthermore, we find that the decline in option pay following the implementation of FAS 123R has led to a significant reduction in exploratory innovation and therefore had a detrimental effect on innovation output. Overall, our findings support the idea that compensation contracts that protect from early project failure and incentivize long‐term commitment are more suitable for inducing high‐impact corporate innovation.
Natural climate solutions versus bioenergy: Can carbon benefits of natural succession compete with bioenergy from short rotation coppice?
Authors: Kalt Gerald , Mayer Andreas , Theurl Michaela C. , Lauk Christian , Erb Karl‐Heinz , Haberl Helmut
Published: May 2019

Short rotation plantations are often considered as holding vast potentials for future global bioenergy supply. In contrast to raising biomass harvests in forests, purpose‐grown biomass does not interfere with forest carbon (C) stocks. Provided that agricultural land can be diverted from food and feed production without impairing food security, energy plantations on current agricultural land appear as a beneficial option in terms of renewable, climate‐friendly energy supply. However, instead of supporting energy plantations, land could also be devoted to natural succession. It then acts as a long‐term C sink which also results in C benefits. We here compare the sink strength of natural succession on arable land with the C saving effects of bioenergy from plantations. Using geographically explicit data on global cropland distribution among climate and ecological zones, regionally specific C accumulation rates are calculated with IPCC default methods and values. C savings from bioenergy are given for a range of displacement factors (DFs), acknowledging the varying efficiency of bioenergy routes and technologies in fossil fuel displacement. A uniform spatial pattern is assumed for succession and bioenergy plantations, and the considered timeframes range from 20 to 100 years. For many parameter settings—in particular, longer timeframes and high DFs—bioenergy yields higher cumulative C savings than natural succession. Still, if woody biomass displaces liquid transport fuels or natural gas‐based electricity generation, natural succession is competitive or even superior for timeframes of 20–50 years. This finding has strong implications with climate and environmental policies: Freeing land for natural succession is a worthwhile low‐cost natural climate solution that has many co‐benefits for biodiversity and other ecosystem services. A considerable risk, however, is C stock losses (i.e., emissions) due to disturbances or land conversion at a later time.
Being at Home: A Feminist Phenomenology of Disorientation in Illness
Authors: Lajoie Corinne
Published: May 2019

This article explores the relation among illness, home, and belonging. Through a feminist phenomenological framework, I describe the disorientations of being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and living with mental illness. This research anticipates the consequences of illness and serious (bodily) disorientations for a conception of belonging as seamless body–world compatibility. Instead, this article examines how the (in)stability of bodily dwellings in experiences of disorientation can suggest ways of being in the world that are more attentive to interdependency, unpredictability, and change in human experience. I argue that these types of dwellings function as a more capacious and apposite metaphor to account for variations in belonging. This discussion outlines the ethical importance of building worlds that make room for different ways of being at home in and through our interactions with others. Although my discussion does not supply norms for ethical action, I contend that a feminist phenomenology of illness generates saliences and illuminates sensibilities that can transform our ways of being with others.
Acute efficacy and clinical outcomes using HotBalloon for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with a left common pulmonary vein
Authors: Nakamura Yoshinori , Sohara Hiroshi , Ihara Minoru
Published: May 2019

Introduction

HotBalloon material is compliant and the balloon size can be enlarged by increasing the intraballoon injection volume. HotBalloon‐based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has demonstrated encouraging clinical results in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), however, the acute efficacy and clinical outcomes of the HotBalloon‐based PVI have never been fully investigated in patients with a left common pulmonary vein (LCPV).

Methods and Results

One hundred fifty‐three PAF patients underwent HotBalloon‐based PVI. Three‐dimensional computed tomography was performed in all patients before the ablation. An LCPV was observed in 40 (26%) patients. For HotBalloon ablation of an LCPV, in patients with an LCPV of superoinferior diameter <34 mm, the left common ostium was preferably isolated if sufficient occlusion could be achieved. In patients with an LCPV diameter ≥34 mm, left superior and inferior branches of the LCPV were targeted individually. The number of HotBalloon applications in patients with LCPV was significantly smaller than without LCPV (7.3 ± 2.0 vs 8.1 ± 2.1; P = .04). In patients with LCPV diameter <34 mm, 75% of LCPVs successfully achieved full balloon occlusion (50% were isolated by application at the LCPV ostium alone, 25% by application at the LCPV ostium followed by either superior or inferior LCPV branch ablation) and 25% were isolated individually. One year after a single session, the arrhythmia‐free rates were similar between patients with and without LCPV (77% vs 74%, log rank, P = .86).

Conclusions

HotBalloon‐based PVI delivers long‐term favorable success rates with fewer HotBalloon applications in paroxysmal AF patients with an LCPV.
Cardiopulmonary support in patients undergoing catheter ablation of poorly tolerated ventricular arrhythmias and electrical storm
Authors: Di Monaco Antonio , Quadrini Federico , Troisi Federica , Vitulano Nicola , Caruso Rosa , Duni Nicola , Cecere Giacomo , Guida Piero , Langialonga Tommaso , Grimaldi Massimo
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Catheter ablation is an important treatment option for sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VA) that are refractory to pharmacological treatment; however, patients with fast VA or electrical storm (ES) are at risk for cardiogenic shock. We report our experience using cardiopulmonary support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during catheter ablation of VA.

Methods

Nineteen patients (mean age, 62 ± 10 years; 84% male) were referred to our center for CA of ES between January 2017 and April 2018. ES was defined as the occurrence of ≥3 ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation episodes requiring electrical cardioversion or defibrillation in a 24‐hour period. ECMO support was implemented for all patients.

Results

CA of ES was completed in all patients. Activation mapping was performed for all VTs and substrate modification was performed by targeting sites identified by late/fragmented abnormal potentials. VTs were not inducible after ablation in 16 of 19 patients (84%). With regard to procedural complications, two patients underwent percutaneous angioplasty with stenting for a femoral artery dissection and one patient was treated for a dislodged ECMO arterial cannula and subsequent hemorrhagic shock. After a median follow‐up of 10 months, three patients died from refractory heart failure and one patient died as a result of ES. Overall, the procedural success rate was 68% and the Kaplan‐Meier mortality rate was 21%.

Conclusions

ECMO support may be used for ablation procedures in patients with ES.
Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) positively regulates imiquimod‐induced, psoriasiform dermal inflammation in mice
Authors: Zhou Yan , Han Dan , Follansbee Taylor , Wu Xuesong , Yu Sebastian , Wang Bo , Shi Zhenrui , Domocos Dan T. , Carstens Mirela , Carstens Earl , Hwang Samuel T.
Published: May 2019

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a membrane protein ion channel, is known to mediate itch and pain in skin. The function of TRPA1, however, in psoriasiform dermatitis (PsD) is uncertain. Herein, we found that expression of TRPA1 is highly up‐regulated in human psoriatic lesional skin. To study the role of TRPA1 in PsD, we assessed Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) scores, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin thickness and pathology, and examined dermal inflammatory infiltrates, Th17‐related genes and itch‐related genes in c57BL/6 as wild‐type (WT) and TRPA1 gene knockout (KO) mice following daily application of topical IMQ cream for 5 days. Compared with WT mice, clinical scores, skin thickness change and TEWL scores were similar on day 3, but were significantly decreased on day 5 in IMQ‐treated TRPA1 KO mice (vs WT mice), suggesting reduced inflammation and skin barrier defects. Additionally, the relative area of epidermal Munro's microabscesses and mRNA levels of neutrophil inducible chemokines (S100A8, S100A9 and CXCL1) were decreased in the treated skin of TRPA1 KO mice, suggesting that neutrophil recruitment was impaired in the KO mice. Furthermore, mast cells, CD31+ blood vascular cells, CD45+ leukocytes and CD3+ T cells were all reduced in the treated skin of TRPA1 KO mice. Lastly, mRNA expression levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐23, IL‐17A, IL‐17F and IL‐22 were decreased in TRPA1 KO mice. In summary, these results suggest a key role for TRPA1 in psoriasiform inflammation and raising its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention.
Wnt3a promotes radioresistance via autophagy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Jing Qiancheng , Li Guo , Chen Xiyu , Liu Chao , Lu Shanhong , Zheng Hua , Ma Huiling , Qin Yuexiang , Zhang Diekuo , Zhang Shuiting , Ren Shuling , Huang Donghai , Tan Pingqing , Chen Jie , Qiu Yuanzheng , Liu Yong
Published: May 2019

The canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway and autophagy play critical roles in cancer progression. However, the role of Wnt‐mediated autophagy in cancer radioresistance remains unclear. In this study, we found that irradiation activated the Wnt/β‐catenin and autophagic signalling pathways in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Wnt3a is a classical ligand that activated the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway, induced autophagy and decreased the sensitivity of SCCHN to irradiation both in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that Wnt3a promoted SCCHN radioresistance via protective autophagy. Finally, expression of the Wnt3a protein was elevated in both SCCHN tissues and patients' serum. Patients showing high expression of Wnt3a displayed a worse prognosis. Taken together, our study indicates that both the canonical Wnt and autophagic signalling pathways are valuable targets for sensitizing SCCHN to irradiation.
Practice of parents and pharmacists regarding antibiotics use in pediatrics: A 2017 cross‐sectional study in Lebanese community pharmacies
Authors: Hallit Souheil , Zahreddine Lama , Saleh Nadine , Shakaroun Shadia , Lahoud Nathalie
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To assess practices of community pharmacists towards prescribing or dispensing antibiotics without prescription to children, determine obstacles that stand in the way of best practices, and determine whether parents misuse antibiotics when administering them to their children.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study, conducted between June 2017 and August 2017 on a random sample of community pharmacies, enrolled 202 community pharmacists and 204 parents.

Results

A total of 84.6% of pharmacists prescribed antibiotics for children in community pharmacies, particularly for the treatment of pharyngitis (67.5%), otitis media (56%), or diarrhea/vomiting (40.4%); 54.2% of these pharmacists reported prescribing antibiotics to children under 2 years of age, while 14.4% reported only prescribing antibiotics for children aged six and above. Most pharmacists cited pressure from the child's parents as a reason for prescribing antibiotics, while parents not being able to afford the doctor's visit was cited by 24.7%. When dispensing antibiotics for use by children, 23.5% of the pharmacists reported recommending a small or large spoon two to three times daily, regardless of the standard dose or the child's weight. In addition, 21.7% of the pharmacists reported always dispensing the entire bottle of antibiotics, while 5.4% do not specify the treatment's duration.

From the parents' side, 38% reported that the most recent purchase of an antibiotic for their child was made without a medical prescription, while 20.6% reported that they did not follow medical instructions regarding treatment's dosage and duration; 64.3% reported ending the antibiotic treatment early if their child felt better. Most of the parents reported diluting the antibiotic incorrectly, with half of them not shaking the bottle well enough before adding in water.

Conclusion

These study results demonstrated poor practices of community pharmacists towards dispensing antibiotics without a prescription, and in parents when administering them to their children. Educational campaigns to increase awareness on antibiotics misuse in pediatrics are warranted.
The Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Poorly known Heterotrich Ciliate Ampullofolliculina lageniformis Hadži, 1951 (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea)
Authors: Luo Jun , Ma Mingzhen , Lu Borong , Li Xinghao , Warren Alan , Shi Yuhong , Chen Xiangrui
Published: May 2019

Ampullofolliculina Hadži, 1951 is a monotypic genus, the only species being A. lageniformis which was first discovered in estuarine habitats in the U.S. and has never been redescribed. In the present study, we investigated the taxonomy and phylogeny of A. lageniformis Hadži, 1951 based on analyses of a population collected from a brackish wetland in Ningbo, China. The main characteristics of this species are as follows: trophont about 450–700 μm long in vivo with two short, rounded peristomial lobes of equal size; lorica flask‐shaped, transparent and smooth with a short, wide neck at the base of which two transparent valves are asymmetrically inserted; cortex with brownish to reddish cortical granules and greenish pigment granules; about 80 somatic kineties evenly arranged; moniliform macronucleus with 4–8 ellipsoidal nodules; swarmer dark green, vermiform in shape, about 200–350 μm long in vivo, with about 60 adoral membranelles and 85 somatic kineties, no mouth nor paroral membrane. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from SSU rDNA sequences show that A. lageniformis is closely related to Folliculina and Eufolliculina which nest within a large clade that comprises five families, i.e. Stentoridae, Blepharismidae, Fabreidae, Maristentoridae, and Folliculinidae.
Long‐term effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on prevalence of reflux esophagitis
Authors: Adachi Kyoichi , Notsu Takumi , Mishiro Tomoko , Kinoshita Yoshikazu
Published: May 2019

Background and Aim

This study aimed to clarify the long‐term effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the prevalence of reflux esophagitis (RE).

Methods

We enrolled 8123 individuals (male 5286, female 2837; mean age 54.2 ± 9.3 years) who visited our medical center for an annual checkup between April 2016 and December 2018 and in whom the status of H. pylori infection could be determined. The presence of endoscopically proven RE was determined and compared based on that infection status.

Results

Reflux esophagitis was observed in 898 subjects (11.1%). The rates of prevalence in subjects without and with H. pylori infection and with a post‐eradication status were 14.0%, 3.7%, and 10.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis of those positive for RE showed male gender, elevated body mass index, habitual drinking, habitual smoking, larger diaphragmatic hiatus size, and milder gastric mucosal atrophy to be significant risk factors. As compared with H. pylori negative, the odds ratios for H. pylori‐positive and post‐eradication status were 0.225 and 0.703, respectively. When post‐eradication subjects were divided according to duration following eradication, RE prevalence was increased in association with a longer duration. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed longer duration after H. pylori eradication to be a significant risk factor for RE.

Conclusions

The risk of RE developing in individuals following eradication of H. pylori is considered to be lower as compared with those never infected. However, the risk for RE increases as the period following H. pylori eradication is extended.
Significance of pancreatic calcification on preoperative computed tomography of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms
Authors: Tsujimae Masahiro , Masuda Atsuhiro , Shiomi Hideyuki , Toyama Hirochika , Sofue Keitaro , Ueshima Eisuke , Yamakawa Kohei , Ashina Shigeto , Yamada Yasutaka , Tanaka Takeshi , Tanaka Shunta , Nakano Ryota , Sato Yu , Ikegawa Takuya , Kurosawa Manabu , Fujigaki Seiji , Kobayashi Takashi , Sakai Arata , Kutsumi Hiromu , Zen Yoh , Itoh Tomoo , Fukumoto Takumi , Kodama Yuzo
Published: May 2019

Background and Aim

Chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic calcification is a characteristic of chronic pancreatitis; however, its significance for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) oncogenesis remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between pancreatic calcification and invasive IPMN.

Methods

This study included 157 patients who underwent resection for IPMN between April 2001 and October 2016 (intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma, n = 76; noninvasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma [IPMC], n = 32; and invasive IPMC, n = 49). We divided the subjects on the basis of the presence/absence of pancreatic calcification on preoperative computed tomography (CT). The factors associated with pancreatic calcification were investigated in univariate analyses. Then, multivariate logistic regression analyses of the relationship between pancreatic calcification and invasive IPMC (after adjusting for clinical or imaging characteristics) were conducted.

Results

Preoperative CT revealed pancreatic calcification in 17.2% (27/157) of the resected IPMN. In the univariate analyses, jaundice, high serum carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 levels, and invasive IPMC were significantly associated with pancreatic calcification (4/27 [14.8%] vs 4/130 [3.1%], 0.01; 12/27 [44.4%] vs 31/130 [23.8%], 0.03; and 15/27 [55.6%] vs 34/130 [26.2%], 0.001, respectively). Pancreatic calcification was significantly associated with invasive IPMC (multivariate odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.15–7.21, 0.03, adjusted for clinical characteristics; odds ratio = 5.50, 95% CI = 1.98–15.3, 0.001, adjusted for imaging characteristics).

Conclusions

Pancreatic calcification on CT is associated with invasive IPMC. Pancreatic calcification might be a predictor of invasive IPMC.
Trade Credit Use as Firms Approach Default
Authors: GARCIA‐APPENDINI EMILIA , MONTORIOL‐GARRIGA JUDIT
Published: May 2019

Using a sample of distressed firms with information about suppliers, we document an average fall in the use of trade credit as firms approach bankruptcy compared to a control sample of nonbankrupt firms. However, we uncover a large degree of heterogeneity across suppliers. Suppliers facing high switching costs maintain their business ties with the distressed firms as they approach bankruptcy, and provide them more trade credit. Suppliers in concentrated markets provide temporary support to their clients. Overall, the findings of this paper suggest that switching costs are fundamental to explain whether suppliers provide liquidity to their distressed clients or not.
Identifying Different Ways People Change: A Latent Basis Growth Mixture Model Example Identifying Nonlinear Trajectories of Binge Drinking
Authors: Soloski Kristy L. , Durtschi Jared A.
Published: May 2019

Our field of couple and family therapy focuses on change, different ways people change, and how therapists can facilitate change. Change can be modeled as an average trajectory—growth curve model—or as multiple classes of trajectories—growth mixture model. The field of MFT has not yet fully embraced implementing more advanced longitudinal modeling procedures to study what we care about most, change across time. To support our field moving in this direction, we provide a step‐by‐step description and example in Mplus software. Our example analysis used N = 5,958 participants from the Add Health dataset, to identify unique classifications of trajectories of binge drinking. We discuss how these analytical methods provide increased options to advance family science and clinical research.