bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Down‐regulated lncRNA SLC25A5‐AS1 facilitates cell growth and inhibits apoptosis via miR‐19a‐3p/PTEN/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in gastric cancer
Authors: Li Xiwen , Yan Xin , Wang Feng , Yang Qian , Luo Xi , Kong Jun , Ju Shaoqing
Published: February 2019

Mounting evidence has illustrated the vital roles of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs in gastric cancer (GC). Nevertheless, the majority of their roles and mechanisms in GC are still largely unknown. In this study, we investigate the roles of lncRNA SLC25A5‐AS1 on tumourigenesis and explore its potential mechanisms in GC. The results showed that the expressions of SLC25A5‐AS1 in GC were significantly lower than that of adjacent normal tissues, which were significantly associated with tumour size, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, SLC25A5‐AS1 could inhibit GC cell proliferation, induce G1/G1 cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis in vitro, as well as GC growth in vivo. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay confirmed the direct interaction between SLC25A5‐AS1 and miR‐19a‐3p, rescue experiment showed that co‐transfection miR‐19a‐3p mimics and pcDNA‐SLC25A5‐AS1 could partially restore the ability of GC cell proliferation and the inhibition of cell apoptosis. The mechanism analyses further found that SLC25A5‐AS1 might act as a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA), which was involved in the derepression of PTEN expression, a target gene of miR‐19a‐3p, and regulate malignant phenotype via PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in GC. Taken together, this study indicated that SLC25A5‐AS1 was down‐regulated in GC and functioned as a suppressor in the progression of GC. Moreover, it could act as a ceRNA to regulate cellular behaviours via miR‐19a‐3p/PTEN/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Thus, SLC25A5‐AS1 might be served as a potential target for cancer therapeutics in GC.
MARCH1 encourages tumour progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulation of PI3K‐AKT‐β‐catenin pathways
Authors: Xie Lulu , Dai Hanhan , Li Minjing , Yang Wei , Yu Guohua , Wang Xia , Wang Peiyuan , Liu Wei , Hu Xuemei , Zhao Mingdong
Published: February 2019

Membrane‐associated RING‐CH‐1 (MARCH1) is a membrane‐anchored E3 ubiquitin ligase that is involved in a variety of cellular processes. MARCH1 was aberrantly expressed as a tumour promoter in ovarian cancer, but the signalling about the molecular mechanism has not yet been fully illuminated. Here, we first determined that MARCH1 was obviously highly expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma samples and cells. In addition, our findings demonstrated that the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma were suppressed, but the apoptosis was increased, as a result of MARCH1 knockdown by either siRNA targeting MARCH1 or pirarubicin treatment. Conversely, the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma were obviously accelerated, and the apoptosis was decreased, by transfecting the MARCH1 plasmid to make MARCH1 overexpressed. Moreover, in vivo, the results exhibited a significant inhibition of the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice, which were given an intra‐tumour injection of siRNA targeting MARCH1. Furthermore, our study concluded that MARCH1 functions as a tumour promoter, and its role was up‐regulated the PI3K‐AKT‐β‐catenin pathways both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our work determined that MARCH1 has an important role in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and may be used as a novel potential molecular therapeutic target in the future treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The Trio Presidency and the Efficiency of Council Decision‐Making: An Empirical Study
Authors: van Gruisen Philippe
Published: February 2019

Does the trio presidency system enhance efficiency in EU legislative decision‐making? Since 2007, fixed groups of three Member States have been required to set a joint 18‐month agenda, with each Member State taking 6‐month turns at the presidency. To date, however, there has been no empirical evidence that either confirms or refutes the notion that this system is efficient. In a study of the duration of Council decision‐making on 1,927 legislative proposals for the 2000–12 period, we obtain empirical support for the hypothesis that a common agenda leads to a significant decrease in the amount of time needed to reach a first agreement on regulations, directives and decisions. In addition, we show that the requirement to pre‐negotiate the agenda helps to moderate the effect of political conflict on the speed of decision‐making, thereby offering support to the recent decision to proceed with the trio presidency system until at least 2030.
Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the EmPHasis‐10 questionnaire in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Odevoglu Pinar , Demir Rengin , Okumus Gulfer , Kucukoglu M. Serdar , Kuran Aslan Goksen
Published: February 2019

Rationale, aims, and objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the EmPHasis‐10 questionnaire to ensure cultural adaptation.

Methods

This study involved translation, back translation, and cross‐cultural adaptation. One hundred and one patients who were diagnosed as having pulmonary hypertension (PH) for at least 6 months were evaluated using the Turkish version of EmPHasis‐10. Turkish version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) was used as gold standard to assess the validation of the Turkish version of the EmPHasis‐10 questionnaire. Relationship between MLHFQ and EmPHasis‐10 was analysed using Spearman correlation analysis to assess the validation. Cronbach alpha (internal consistency) and exploratory factor analyses were used to assess the questionnaire's reliability.

Results

The statistical analysis showed that the EmPHasis‐10 questionnaire showed a high validity with MLHFQ (r = 0.85) (P = 0.001). Reliability analysis showed that EmPHasis‐10 had a high level of Cronbach alpha (α = 0.98) and internal consistency (ICC = 0.97).

Conclusions

The Turkish version of EmPHasis‐10 is a quality of life questionnaire specific to PH. It has a high‐level validity and reliability questionnaire that can be used by researchers and physicians.
Holographic projection for multispot structured illumination microscopy
Authors: WARD E.N. , PAL R.
Published: February 2019

This paper describes the design and testing of a multispot structured illumination microscopy system using computer‐generated holograms to create the required excitation patterns. Furthermore, it demonstrates the use of an adapted direct search algorithm for calculating the holograms that allows for imaging across an extended field of view. The system was tested on fixed targets and live cells yielding a two times resolution increase over conventional diffraction‐limited imaging.

Lay Description

We present the design and testing of a multispot structured illumination microscopy system using computer‐generated holograms to create the required excitation patterns. It demonstrates the use of an adapted direct search algorithm for calculating the holograms that allows for imaging across an extended field of view. The system was tested on fixed targets and live cells yielding a two times resolution increase over conventional diffraction‐limited imaging.

The results here demonstrate that holography provides an efficient means of pattern projection for MSIM imaging. It provides a significant improvement in the efficiency of pattern projection and more importantly it allows for the testing of more diverse excitation patterns than possible with amplitude‐only projection. For example, PSF engineering using phase modulation can be easily incorporated into the calculated holograms, potentially generating subdiffraction structures in the excitation pattern. The ability to incorporate PSF engineering into SIM opens up holographic MSIM as a potential method for further increasing resolution with little or no change to the imaging system.
Trabecular architecture of the great ape and human femoral head
Authors: Georgiou Leoni , Kivell Tracy L. , Pahr Dieter H. , Buck Laura T. , Skinner Matthew M.
Published: February 2019

Studies of femoral trabecular structure have shown that the orientation and volume of bone are associated with variation in loading and could be informative about individual joint positioning during locomotion. In this study, we analyse for the first time trabecular bone patterns throughout the femoral head using a whole‐epiphysis approach to investigate how potential trabecular variation in humans and great apes relates to differences in locomotor modes. Trabecular architecture was analysed using microCT scans of Pan troglodytes (n = 20), Gorilla gorilla (n = 14), Pongo sp. (n = 5) and Homo sapiens (n = 12) in medtool 4.1. Our results revealed differences in bone volume fraction (BV/TV) distribution patterns, as well as overall trabecular parameters of the femoral head between great apes and humans. Pan and Gorilla showed two regions of high BV/TV in the femoral head, consistent with hip posture and loading during two discrete locomotor modes: knuckle‐walking and climbing. Most Pongo specimens also displayed two regions of high BV/TV, but these regions were less discrete and there was more variability across the sample. In contrast, Homo showed only one main region of high BV/TV in the femoral head and had the lowest BV/TV, as well as the most anisotropic trabeculae. The Homo trabecular structure is consistent with stereotypical loading with a more extended hip compared with great apes, which is characteristic of modern human bipedalism. Our results suggest that holistic evaluations of femoral head trabecular architecture can reveal previously undetected patterns linked to locomotor behaviour in extant apes and can provide further insight into hip joint loading in fossil hominins and other primates.
The potential contribution of impaired brain glucose metabolism to congenital Zika syndrome
Authors: Gilbert‐Jaramillo Javier , Garcez Patricia , James William , Molnár Zoltán , Clarke Kieran
Published: February 2019

The Zika virus (ZIKV) became a major worldwide public concern in 2015 due to the congenital syndrome which presents the highest risk during the first trimester of pregnancy and includes microcephaly and eye malformations. Several cellular, genetic and molecular studies have shown alterations in metabolic pathways, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, immunity and dysregulation of RNA and energy metabolism both in vivo and in vitro. Here we summarise the main metabolic complications, with a particular focus on the possibility that brain energy metabolism is altered following ZIKV infection, contributing to developmental abnormalities. Brain energetic failure has been implicated in neurological conditions such as autism disorder and epilepsy, as well as in metabolic diseases with severe neurodevelopmental complications such as Glut‐1 deficiency syndrome. Therefore, these energetic alterations are of wide‐ranging interest as they might be directly implicated in congenital ZIKV syndrome. Data showing increased glycolysis during ZIKV infection, presumably required for viral replication, might support the idea that the virus can cause energetic stress in the developing brain cells. Consequences may include neuroinflammation, cell cycle dysregulation and cell death. Ketone bodies are non‐glycolytic brain fuels that are produced during neonatal life, starvation or fasting, ingestion of high‐fat low‐carbohydrate diets, and following supplementation with ketone esters. We propose that dietary ketones might alter the course of the disease and could even provide some degree of prevention of ZIKV‐associated abnormalities and potentially related neurological conditions characterised by brain glucose impairment.
Rehospitalisation rates and associated factors within 6 months after hospital discharge for patients with chronic heart failure: A longitudinal observational study
Authors: Ma Chunhua
Published: February 2019

Aims and objectives

To examine the rate of rehospitalisation within 6 months after hospital discharge for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and to investigate the potential factors influencing rehospitalisation.

Background

The rehospitalisation rates of heart failure (HF) patients show large differences from previous studies. It is not clear whether HF patients readmit due to exacerbation of HF or to comorbidities or other diseases. Although many studies have investigated the factors influencing rehospitalisation of HF patients, the impacts of depression and self‐care on rehospitalisation in this population remain unclear in China.

Design

A longitudinal observational study was conducted. The study adheres to the STROBE guideline.

Methods

Four hundred thirty‐two CHF inpatients were recruited by using a convenience sampling method from three tertiary teaching hospitals in Guangzhou, southern China. The scales used included the demographic and clinical questionnaires, the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index and the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Data were collected at two time points. A binary logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with rehospitalisation of HF patients.

Results

The rehospitalisation rate of CHF patients was 23.6% (n = 102) within 6 months after hospital discharge. Of those patients, 74 (72.6%) were readmitted once, 20 patients (19.6%) were readmitted twice and eight patients (7.8%) were readmitted three times. The results from logistic regression showed that CHF patients who maintained self‐care behaviours (OR = 0.763,p = 0.026) and had better self‐care management (OR = 0.516,p = 0.041) and stronger self‐care confidence (OR = 0.854,p = 0.039) were less likely to readmit. The odds of rehospitalisation were 2.239 times higher in HF patients with depressive symptoms (OR = 2.239,p = 0.013) than in those without these symptoms. Compared to patients living alone, those who lived with family members were less likely to be readmitted to hospital (OR = 0.361,p = 0.048).

Conclusions

Rehospitalisation commonly occurs in CHF patients within 6 months after hospital discharge in China. A lower level of self‐care, the presence of depressive symptoms and not living with family members are key determinants that influence rehospitalisation for this population.

Relevance to clinical practice

Effective measures are required to improve CHF patients’ self‐care, reduce depressive symptoms and receive full support from family members.
Volume Assessment of the Effect of Obturators on Facial Form Following Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer Using Stereophotogrammetry
Authors: Coward Trevor J. , Richards Robin , Fenlon Michael R. , Scott Brendan J.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

To determine if stereophotogrammetry could be used to determine the effects of obturators on facial contour in relation to the measurement of facial volumes.

Materials and Methods

Stereophotogrammetry images were recorded from 20 subjects with and without their obturators in place. These were converted into a stereolithographic format and overlaid. Registrations were made using the tissues on the normal areas of the face. Difference images were created, enabling surface areas and volumes to be calculated. To assess repeatability of measurement, 2 readings were recorded on each of 2 separate registrations. Data analysis between the sets of readings used correlation coefficients and paired t‐tests. Coefficients of repeatability were also calculated.

Results

A comparison of readings for the surface areas showed the method of measurement was repeatable with no significant differences between the 2 repeated readings for registration 1 (p = 0.977, coefficient of repeatability = 101 mm2), registration 2 (p = 0.085, coefficient of repeatability = 106 mm2), and the mean of the two readings for registration 1 compared with registration 2 (p = 0.355, coefficient of repeatability = 103 mm2). Similar results were found for the volume measurements with no significant differences between the repeated readings for registration 1 (p = 0.862, coefficient of repeatability = 229 mm3), registration 2 (p = 0.200, coefficient of repeatability = 209 mm3), and the mean of the 2 readings for registration 1 compared with those for registration 2 (p = 0.131, coefficient of repeatability 339 mm3). There was a statistically significant range of volumes that appeared to have been restored by the obturators (p < 0.0005).

Conclusions

Stereophotogrammetry is reliable in assessing the effects of obturators on facial form. In the sample of subjects, obturators generally appeared to be effective in supporting facial tissues following surgical resections of the maxilla and therefore contribute in some degree to the restoration of facial appearance.
Trust, Innocence, and Individual Responsibility: Neoliberal Dreams of a Colorblind Peace
Authors: Perez Michael J. , Salter Phia S.
Published: February 2019

In his 1944 article, Prospect of a World Without Racial Conflict, W.E.B. DuBois hypothesized that we would never live in a world without racial division. With this in mind, we highlight how neoliberal ideologies promote policy, actions, and an idea of peace that upholds racial inequality in the United States. We consider how neoliberal tenets, such as free market trust and individual responsibility, reflect and promote misperceptions of racial conflict and impact colorblind perceptions of peace and justice. These perceptions promote definitions of conflict as physical violence versus systemic violence, ignore racial equality as a path to peace in favor of harmonious interaction, and highlight individuals as responsible for racial conflict as opposed to the system. In response, we argue for counter‐definitions of peace that explicitly acknowledge systemic violence and prioritize justice within the racial conflict context.
Application of the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in drug development and therapeutic equivalence: a PEARRL review
Authors: Loisios-Konstantinidis Ioannis , Paraiso Rafael L M , Fotaki Nikoletta , McAllister Mark , Cristofoletti Rodrigo , Dressman Jennifer
Published: February 2019

Objectives

The objective of this review was to provide an overview of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models, focusing on drug-specific PK/PD models and highlighting their value added in drug development and regulatory decision-making.

Key findings

Many PK/PD models, with varying degrees of complexity and physiological understanding have been developed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug products. In special populations (e.g. paediatrics), in cases where there is genetic polymorphism and in other instances where therapeutic outcomes are not well described solely by PK metrics, the implementation of PK/PD models is crucial to assure the desired clinical outcome. Since dissociation between the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles is often observed, it is proposed that physiologically based pharmacokinetic and PK/PD models be given more weight by regulatory authorities when assessing the therapeutic equivalence of drug products.

Modelling and simulation approaches already play an important role in drug development. While slowly moving away from ‘one-size fits all’ PK methodologies to assess therapeutic outcomes, further work is required to increase confidence in PK/PD models in translatability and prediction of various clinical scenarios to encourage more widespread implementation in regulatory decision-making.
Prolonged therapy with the anticonvulsant carbamazepine leads to increased plasma clearance of fentanyl
Authors: Nozari Ala , Akeju Oluwaseun , Mirzakhani Hooman , Eskandar Emad , Ma Zhijun , Hossain M D Amin , Wang Qingping , Greenblatt David J , Martyn J A Jeevendra
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Fentanyl is a potent analgesic that accounts for an increasing number of overdose deaths in the United States. This study tested whether altered pharmacokinetics plays a pivotal role in the increased fentanyl dose requirements in patients receiving the enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant, carbamazepine.

Methods

Neurosurgical patients receiving carbamazepine for >6 weeks (N = 11) or no carbamazepine (N = 6, controls) received a single bolus dose of fentanyl (200 μg) intravenously. Plasma was collected before and for up to 9 h after the bolus. Fentanyl concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic variables were derived from plasma concentration–time curves best fitted to a two-compartment model.

Key findings

Fentanyl clearance was significantly higher in the carbamazepine group compared to controls (mean ± SD: 20.1 ± 6.8 vs 13.2 ± 4.8 ml/min per kg, P < 0.05), and area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) was significantly lower (150 ± 65 vs 233 ± 70 ng/ml × min, P < 0.02). Volume of distribution was larger in the carbamazepine group, but the difference was not statistically significant (5.4 ± 3.1 vs 3.6 ± 1.2 l/kg, P > 0.15). The terminal elimination half-life did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions

Chronic carbamazepine therapy leads to increased fentanyl clearance and decreased AUC, which may result in decreased duration of therapeutic plasma concentrations of fentanyl and an increased dose requirement. Assuming that carbamazepine does not change fentanyl pharmacodynamics, patients on chronic carbamazepine therapy may require more frequent or higher fentanyl doses to maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations.
Echocardiographic indices and severity of mitral regurgitation in dogs with preclinical degenerative mitral valve disease
Authors: Larouche‐Lebel Éva , Loughran Kerry A. , Oyama Mark A.
Published: February 2019

Background

Describing severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) is challenging.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Mitral regurgitant fraction (RF), effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), and the ratio of mitral regurgitant to aortic flow (QMR:QAo) can be calculated from routine echocardiographic measurements and provide additional information regarding MR severity.

Animals

Fifty‐seven dogs with preclinical DMVD including 36 without and 21 with cardiomegaly.

Methods

Prospective observational study. The expected relationships among RF, EROA, and QMR:QAo and 1‐dimensional measurements including left atrium to aortic root diameter ratio (LA:Ao) and normalized left ventricular internal dimension at end‐diastole (LVIDdN) were mathematically derived and calculated using echocardiographic data from the study population. Nonlinear goodness of fit was determined by calculation of the root mean standard error. The correlations between 1‐dimensional and multidimensional indices were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

The relationships among RF, EROA, QMR:QAo, and both LA:Ao and LVIDdN were curvilinear, and the multidimensional indices differentiated MR of variable severity. By contrast, 1‐dimensional measurements were insensitive to MR severity until RF equaled or exceeded 50%. Regurgitant fraction ≥50%, EROA to body surface area ≥0.347 and QMR:QAo ≥0.79 were strongly associated with LA:Ao ≥1.6 and LVIDdN ≥1.7.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Regurgitant fraction, EROA, and QMR:QAo quantify MR severity in dogs with preclinical DMVD in a manner that 1‐dimensional measurements do not.
Evaluation of resistive index of the prostate and bladder sonomorphologic parameters as replacements for urodynamics to predict bladder outlet obstruction in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Garg Gaurav , Sankhwar Satya Narayan , Goel Apul , Pandey Siddharth , Sharma Deepanshu , Parihar Anit
Published: February 2019

Objective

This study investigated whether the resistive index (RI) of prostate and bladder sonomorphologic parameters (total prostate volume [TPV], detrusor wall thickness [DWT], intraprostatic protrusion [IPP]) can be used instead of urodynamic studies (UDS) to predict bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods

Men aged ≥50 years with clinical BPH/LUTS were prospectively enrolled included. Basic evaluations, measurement of sonomorphologic parameters, and UDS were performed in accordance with the International Continence Society's Good Urodynamics Practices protocol.

Results

Data of 240 patients were divided into two groups based on the BOO index(BOOI). Group 1 consisted of patients negative for BOO (BOOI <40), whereas Group 2 consisted of patients positive for BOO (BOOI > 40). Patient age, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score and post‐void residual volume were comparable between the two groups, whereas significant differences were evident in peak flow rate, TPV, DWT, RI, and IPP (P < 0.01 for all). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between BOOI and DWT (r = 0.198, P = 0.002), IPP (r = 0.450, P = 0.000), and RI (r = 0.334, P = 0.000). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between BOOI and IPP (β = 0.382, P = 0.000) and RI (β = 0.226, P = 0.000). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the area under curve was 0.785 for RI (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.703–0.867, P < 0.001) and 0.905 for IPP (95% CI 0.850–0.961, P < 0.001). At a cut‐off value of 7.5 mm for IPP, the sensitivity was 86.9%, specificity was 83.3% and positive predictive value was 92.41%.

Conclusion

IPP and RI may be the best non‐invasive predictors for BOO in selected patients with LUTS/BPH.
Structural basis of transcriptional regulation by the HigA antitoxin
Authors: Schureck Marc A. , Meisner Jeffrey , Hoffer Eric D. , Wang Dongxue , Onuoha Nina , Ei Cho Shein , Lollar Pete , Dunham Christine M.
Published: February 2019

Bacterial toxin–antitoxin systems are important factors implicated in growth inhibition and plasmid maintenance. Type II toxin–antitoxin pairs are regulated at the transcriptional level by the antitoxin itself. Here, we examined how the HigA antitoxin regulates the expression of the Proteus vulgaris higBA toxin–antitoxin operon from the Rts1 plasmid. The HigBA complex adopts a unique architecture suggesting differences in its regulation as compared to classical type II toxin–antitoxin systems. We find that the C‐terminus of the HigA antitoxin is required for dimerization and transcriptional repression. Further, the HigA structure reveals that the C terminus is ordered and does not transition between disorder‐to‐order states upon toxin binding. HigA residue Arg40 recognizes a TpG dinucleotide in higO2, an evolutionary conserved mode of recognition among prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription factors. Comparison of the HigBA and HigA‐higO2 structures reveals the distance between helix‐turn‐helix motifs of each HigA monomer increases by ~4 Å in order to bind to higO2. Consistent with these data, HigBA binding to each operator is twofold less tight than HigA alone. Together, these data show the HigB toxin does not act as a co‐repressor suggesting potential novel regulation in this toxin–antitoxin system.
A new way to determine correct depth of central venous catheter insertion using a real‐time ultrasound‐guided insertion technique in pediatric patients
Authors: Yamamoto Tomohiro , Schindler Ehrenfried
Published: February 2019

Background

Several formulae or methods are reported to predict the ideal central venous catheter insertion depth. However, they are complicated and often unsuitable in cases requiring rapid management.

Aims

This study aimed to determine a simple and practical method to predict the ideal central venous catheter insertion depth after the real‐time ultrasound‐guided right internal jugular vein, or left or right supraclavicular approach in pediatric patients.

Method

Pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases who underwent cardiovascular surgery between July 2015 and February 2018 in the German Pediatric Heart Center Sankt Augustin were enrolled. Body height, body weight, patient age (months), and central venous catheter insertion depth were retrieved from the anesthesia records. Ideal central venous catheter insertion depth was calculated by measuring the distance between the level of the carina tracheae and the  central venous catheter tip on the first postoperative chest radiograph. The relationships of body height, body weight, and patient age (months) to ideal central venous catheter insertion depth for the right internal jugular, left supraclavicular, and right supraclavicular approaches were investigated.

Results

Body height was the best parameter, providing the best coefficients of determination as well as the simplest relationship. Based on analysis for ideal central venous catheter insertion depth for every 10‐cm increase in body height, there was an ideal central venous catheter insertion depth for each body height, independent of the anesthesiologist's experience with the approach used. Whereas ideal central venous catheter insertion depths for the right internal jugular vein approach and the left supraclavicular approach showed no significant difference, ideal central venous catheter insertion depth for the right supraclavicular approach was significantly shorter than that of the other two approaches.

Conclusion

This study successfully determined a visually simple and practical bar graph to predict the ideal central venous catheter depth inserted using only the real‐time ultrasound‐guided insertion technique for the right internal jugular vein, left supraclavicular, and right supraclavicular approaches.
Linear porokeratosis associated with Bardet‐Biedl syndrome: A case report
Authors: Tappel Anna C. , Tiwari Nitin , Zlotoff Barrett
Published: February 2019

This case report presents a 17‐year‐old boy with Bardet‐Biedl syndrome (BBS) and a long‐standing hyperpigmented eruption on the left trunk and upper extremity, clinically and histologically consistent with linear porokeratosis (LP). BBS patients frequently require solid organ transplant, and subsequent immunosuppression places them at especially high risk for malignant transformation of premalignant skin lesions such as LP. Although BBS affects multiple organ systems, there are only a handful of case reports detailing associated cutaneous involvement, and, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of linear porokeratosis occurring in patient with BBS.
Dynamic pH‐induced conformational changes of the PsbO protein in the fluctuating acidity of the thylakoid lumen
Authors: Carius Anke B. , Rogne Per , Duchoslav Miloš , Wolf‐Watz Magnus , Samuelsson Göran , Shutova Tatyana
Published: February 2019

The PsbO protein is an essential extrinsic subunit of photosystem II, the pigment–protein complex responsible for light‐driven water splitting. Water oxidation in photosystem II supplies electrons to the photosynthetic electron transfer chain and is accompanied by proton release and oxygen evolution. While the electron transfer steps in this process are well defined and characterized, the driving forces acting on the liberated protons, their dynamics and their destiny are all largely unknown. It was suggested that PsbO undergoes proton‐induced conformational changes and forms hydrogen bond networks that ensure prompt proton removal from the catalytic site of water oxidation, i.e. the Mn4CaO5 cluster. This work reports the purification and characterization of heterologously expressed PsbO from green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and two isoforms from the higher plant Solanum tuberosum (PsbO1 and PsbO2). A comparison to the spinach PsbO reveals striking similarities in intrinsic protein fluorescence and CD spectra, reflecting the near‐identical secondary structure of the proteins from algae and higher plants. Titration experiments using the hydrophobic fluorescence probe ANS revealed that eukaryotic PsbO proteins exhibit acid–base hysteresis. This hysteresis is a dynamic effect accompanied by changes in the accessibility of the protein's hydrophobic core and is not due to reversible oligomerization or unfolding of the PsbO protein. These results confirm the hypothesis that pH‐dependent dynamic behavior at physiological pH ranges is a common feature of PsbO proteins and causes reversible opening and closing of their β‐barrel domain in response to the fluctuating acidity of the thylakoid lumen.
Increased neural sensitivity to self‐relevant stimuli in major depressive disorder
Authors: Benau Erik M. , Hill Kaylin E. , Atchley Ruth Ann , O’Hare Aminda J. , Gibson Linzi J. , Hajcak Greg , Ilardi Stephen S. , Foti Dan
Published: February 2019

The current research examined how individuals with depression process emotional, self‐relevant stimuli. Across two studies, individuals with depression and healthy controls read stimuli that varied in self‐relevance while EEG data were recorded. We examined the late positive potential (LPP), an ERP component that captures the dynamic allocation of attention to motivationally salient stimuli. In Study 1, participants read single words in a passive‐viewing task. Participants viewed negative, positive, or neutral words that were either normative or self‐generated. Exploratory analyses indicated that participants with depression exhibited affective modulation of the LPP for self‐generated stimuli only (both positive and negative) and not for normative stimuli; healthy controls exhibited similar affective modulation of the LPP for both self‐relevant and normative stimuli. In Study 2, using a separate sample and a different task, stimuli were provided within the context of sentence stems referring to the self or other people. Participants with depression were more likely to endorse negative self‐referent sentences and reject positive ones compared to healthy controls. Depressed participants also exhibited an increased LPP to negative stimuli compared to positive or neutral stimuli. Together, these two studies suggest that depression is characterized by relatively increased sensitivity to affective self‐relevant stimuli, perhaps in the context of a broader reduction in emotional reactivity to stimuli that are not self‐relevant. Thus, depression may be characterized by a more nuanced pattern based on the degree of stimulus self‐relevance than either a global decrease or increase in reactivity to affective stimuli.
Cyberattacks at the Grass Roots: American Local Governments and the Need for High Levels of Cybersecurity
Authors: Norris Donald F. , Mateczun Laura , Joshi Anupam , Finin Tim
Published: February 2019

This article examines data from the first‐ever nationwide survey of cybersecurity among American local governments. The data show that these governments are under constant or near‐constant cyberattack, yet, on average, they practice cybersecurity poorly. While nearly half reported experiencing cyberattacks at least daily, one‐third said that they did not know whether they were under attack, and nearly two‐thirds said that they did not know whether their information systems had been breached. Serious barriers to their practice of cybersecurity include a lack of cybersecurity preparedness within these governments and a lack of adequate funding for it. The authors make recommendations to local governments to improve their cybersecurity practice and to scholars for additional research into local government cybersecurity, an area that, to date, has largely been neglected by researchers from the social sciences and computer science.
Pedagogy of regulation: Strategies and instruments to supervise learning from adverse events
Authors: Kok Josje , Leistikow Ian , Bal Roland
Published: February 2019

Diverse scholars have argued that standards and performance measurements are “instruments of control” that have a profound influence on the day‐to‐day lives of individuals and organizations, causing constitutive effects. Regulatory bodies increasingly use standards to oversee and monitor the regulated. This paper discusses the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate's use of both standards and a performance measurement system introduced to monitor how Dutch hospitals investigate and learn from serious adverse events. Rather than focusing on how standards affect regulated practices and organizations, our study examines how the use of these instruments affects the standard maker, that is, the Inspectorate. We explore how the Inspectorate's work practices, standards, and coupled performance measurement system influence its regulatory pedagogy, reviewing practices, and decisionmaking. We conclude that standards and performance measurement systems are not by definition “instruments of control” as their constitutive effects are (under)determined by the relationships in which they are enacted.
Glacial sequence stratigraphy of ANDRILL‐1B core reveals a dynamic subpolar Antarctic Ice Sheet in Ross Sea during the late Miocene
Authors: Rosenblume Justin A. , Powell Ross D.
Published: February 2019

The Upper Miocene interval of the AND‐1B sediment core is a muddy ca 300 m thick succession of glacimarine strata that was recovered from the McMurdo sector of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. This succession comprises lithofacies consistent with those formed in modern polythermal glacial systems with large volumes of subglacial meltwater. In particular, meltwater‐associated facies and iceberg‐rafted debris suggest that these late Miocene glacial systems were similar to subpolar glaciers like those in Svalbard today. Modern subpolar systems in Svalbard accumulate sediments at rates of ca 50 to 100 mm a−1 within ca 1 km of their grounded tidewater cliffs in waters up to hundreds of metres deep. Here, the rifted tectonic setting and glacio‐isostatic load of the Antarctic Ice Sheet enhanced accommodation for this succession. Based on these interpretations, the glacial sequence stratigraphic model of Powell & Cooper (2002) is applied to the study interval in an effort to better understand ice dynamics during this time. Base level is defined as the grounding line (where the ice sheet is grounded on the sea floor) and the surface that projects basinward (a correlative conformity). Glacial sequence stratigraphic description of the sediment core reveals 10 glacial sequences bounded by glacial erosion surfaces and two lower‐ranked glacial sequences bounded by correlative conformities. These glacial sequences occur in regular fining‐upward stratigraphic patterns and consist of two distinct styles of glacial retreat: packages with grounding‐line fan deposits and those without them. Lastly, in an effort to fill the gap between the middle Miocene and Plio‐Pleistocene climate histories of Antarctica, comparison of the AND‐1B Upper Miocene interval with the obliquity curve reveals one glacial–interglacial cycle and identifies erosion surfaces along which significant time may be missing.
The devil is in the detail: Discrepancy between soil organic carbon stocks estimated from regional and local data sources in Flanders, Belgium
Authors: Ottoy Sam , Vanierschot Laura , Dondeyne Stefaan , Vancampenhout Karen , Hermy Martin , Van Orshoven Jos
Published: February 2019

Storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) is an essential function of ecosystems underpinning the delivery of multiple services to society. Regional SOC stock estimates often rely on data collected during land‐use‐specific inventory schemes with varying sampling depth and density. Using such data requires techniques that can deal with the associated heterogeneity. As the resulting SOC assessments are not calibrated for the local scale, they could suffer from oversimplification of landscape processes and heterogeneity. This might especially be the case for sandy regions where typical historical land use practices and soil development processes determine SOC storage. The aims of this study were (a) to combine four land‐use‐specific SOC stock assessments to estimate the total stock in Flanders, Belgium, and (b) to evaluate the applicability of this regional‐scale estimate at the local scale. We estimated the SOC stock in the upper 100 cm of the unsealed area in Flanders (887,745 ha) to be 111.67 Mt OC, or 12.6 ± 5.65 kg OC m−2 on average. In general, soils under (semi‐) natural land‐use types, for example forests, store on average more organic carbon than under agriculture. However, overall agricultural soils store the largest amounts of SOC due to their vast spatial extent. Zooming in on a sandy location study (13.55 km2) revealed the poor performance of the regional estimates, especially where Histosols occurred. Our findings show that a greater spatial sampling density is required when SOC stock estimates are needed to inform carbon‐aware land management rather than to provide for regional reporting.
A novel HLA‐B allele: HLA‐B*58:01:13
Authors: Zheng Jie W. , Xie Jun H. , Sun Ying , Xiang Dong
Published: February 2019

The HLA‐B*58:01:13 allele differs from B*58:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 516.
Remaking more‐than‐human society: Thought experiments on street dogs as “nature”
Authors: Srinivasan Krithika
Published: February 2019

This paper examines the socio‐legal and everyday moral geographies of human cohabitation with free‐living dogs in India to think through what is implicated in living with nonhuman difference on a planet where the social and the natural are inextricably entangled. It investigates the contours of canine cosmopolitanism in Chennai city and theorises street dogs as unintentional natures to problematise dominant ideas about valued and pestilent nonhuman life, drawing out implications for biodiversity conservation and other more‐than‐humanisms. Through these analyses, the paper transgresses the silos of domestic/wild and biodiversity conservation/animal protection to advance scholarship on the politics of (non)dualism and offers thought experiments on making and maintaining more‐than‐human society in contemporary times.
A longer duration of red blood cell storage is associated with a lower hemoglobin increase after blood transfusion: a cohort study
Authors: Rydén Jenny , Clements Mark , Hellström‐Lindberg Eva , Höglund Petter , Edgren Gustaf
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

RBC concentrates are commonly stored for up to 42 days but there has been conflicting evidence on the effect of storage duration and clinical outcomes. Most clinical studies have focused on possible associations between duration of storage time and risk for adverse outcomes, including mortality. Recent clinical trials did not find any such associations, but fewer studies have addressed whether storage time affects component efficacy. The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of RBC storage time on hemoglobin increment in transfused patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Transfusion data on a cohort of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes were linked to hemoglobin measurements taken between 2 days before and 28 days after a transfusion episode. We applied a mixed‐effect linear regression model, accounting for patient characteristics and time from transfusion to next hemoglobin measurement, to study the effect of RBC storage on the hemoglobin increment.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 225 patients who received 6437 RBC units. Compared to units stored less than 5 days, transfusion of blood units stored 5 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 29, or 30 or more days resulted in hemoglobin increases that were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24–1.41), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.34–1.51), 1.33 (95% CI, 0.65–2.02) and 1.51 (95% CI, 0.58–2.43) g/L lower, respectively, per RBC unit. Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer RBC storage was associated with a smaller increase in hemoglobin concentration after transfusion. Although statistically significant, the effect was modest, and its clinical relevance in subgroups of patients should be investigated in prospective clinical trials.
Companion hamsters with cutaneous lesions; a retrospective study of 102 cases at two university veterinary teaching hospitals (1985–2018)
Authors: White Stephen D. , Bourdeau Patrick J , Brément Thomas , Bruet Vincent , Gimenez‐Acosta Carmen , Guzman David S.‐M. , Paul‐Murphy Joanne , Hawkins Michelle G.
Published: February 2019

Background

Hamsters are popular companion animals which may present to veterinarians for treatment of skin diseases. Most descriptions of dermatoses in hamsters have primarily been in case reports and in text books.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To document skin diseases and their prevalence in companion hamsters examined in northern California, USA, and Nantes, France, and to investigate predilections for the most common conditions documented in medical records over a 33 year or 15 year period, respectively.

Animals

One hundred and one hamsters from two hospital populations.

Methods and material

A computerized search of medical records of all hamsters seen at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC‐Davis in California, USA, from 1 January 1985 to 1 January 2018, was performed using the key search words “skin” and “dermatitis”. The medical records of all hamsters presenting to the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Nantes, from 1 September 1998 to 1 December 2013, were reviewed for skin diseases. The presence of lesions noted in key search words for the California records were used as inclusion guidelines for both institutions. Cases of suspected mammary neoplasia were excluded.

Results

Of the 65 hamsters seen in California, 34 (54%) had skin disease; of a total of 164 hamsters in Nantes, 67 (41%) had skin disease. Nodules were the most common lesions noted by both institutions.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Cutaneous conditions in companion hamsters are common. Clinicians should include a dermatological examination when examining these rodents.
Effect of the Energy Drink “Red Bull” on the Amateur Football Players’ Aerobic and Anaerobic Performances
Authors: Zileli Raif , Şemşek Önder , Baldirlioğlu Ali , Tunçeli Barış , Ip Enes
Published: February 2019

This study was conducted to investigate effect of 250 ml of Red Bull energy drink consumed 60 minutes before an intensive exercise on aerobic and anaerobic performances of amateur football players (subjects were PE students).In this study, a crossover research design was applied. Test subjects were divided into two groups, namely A and B. In the first experiment, group A was provided Red Bull, and group B was given apple juice (placebo) and tests were carried out. In the second experiment, the same tests were carried out by interchanging the drinks provided to the groups previously. The aerobic performance assesment was performed with the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Level 1) while the anaerobic performance assesment was carried out with the Wingate test. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test, and the significance level was accepted as p<0.05.As a result of the tests applied to Red Bull and Placebo groups; there was seen no significance difference between the maximal VO2 values of the groups (Red Bull, x̅=49.50±3.14 ml/kg/min; Placebo, x̅=48.81±3.07 ml/kg/min, z=-1.244, p>0.214). Additionally, according to the Wingate test results, no significant difference was found between the Red Bull and Placebo groups. (Peak Power: Red Bull x̅=877.56±164.82 W, Placebo x̅=841.67±162.23 W (z=-1.48, p>0.13), Average Power: Red Bull x̅=616.70±99.17 W, Placebo x̅=603.69±92.05 W (z=-1.59, p>0.11), Time at Peak Power: Red Bull x̅=2.21±0.95 sec, Placebo x̅=1.97±1.00 sec (z=-0.29, p>0.76).As a result, it was observed that the performances of amateur footballers did not show a significant increase when Red Bull energy drink was consumed one hour before Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Level 1) and Wingate Anaerobic Power Test. Considering unconscious consumption of caffeinated drinks and its possible side effects, it is not recommended for athletes who are not used to it.