bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of hypersensitivity reactions of intravenous iron: iron isomaltoside‐1000 (Monofer®) versus ferric carboxy‐maltose (Ferinject®). A single center, cohort study
Authors: Mulder Midas B. , van den Hoek Hester L. , Birnie Erwin , van Tilburg Antonie J.P. , Westerman Elsbeth M.
Published: November 2018

Aims

Intravenous iron supplementation is widely used to treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia when oral iron administration is ineffective or poorly tolerated. Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) during infusions are rare, but can be life‐threatening. This study aimed to compare the risk for HSRs with the intravenous administration of iron isomaltoside‐1000 and ferric carboxymaltose for the treatment of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.

Methods

This was a single‐centre cohort study. Nurses and physicians were instructed to fill out an HSR registration form with every administration of intravenous iron. HSRs were distinguished into serious and non‐serious HSRs using the Ring and Messmer classification.

Results

HSRs occurred in 18/836 (2.1%) ferric carboxymaltose and 43/496 (8.7%) iron isomaltoside‐1000 administrations. The crude risk for HSRs was 75% lower after ferric carboxymaltose treatment (RR = 0.248, 95% CI: 0.145–0.426, P < 0.0001). The risk for grade II HSRs was 88% lower after ferric carboxymaltoside (RR = 0.123, 95% CI: 0.051–0.294). The likelihood of HSRs was 3.4 times higher after the administration of iron isomaltoside‐1000 (95% CI: 1.910–6.093, P < 0.0001). Regardless of the type of intravenous iron, patients with comorbidities have a factor 3.6 higher risk (95% CI: 1.899–6.739, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Ferric carboxymaltose is associated with a 75% lower risk for HSRs compared with iron isomaltoside‐1000 in our population. The presence of a comorbidity raises the likelihood of an HSR by a factor of three regardless of the type of intravenous iron infusion. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanism in various patient groups.
Design and synthesis of 2‐phenyl benzimidazole derivatives as VEGFR‐2 inhibitors with anti‐breast cancer activity
Authors: Mostafa Amany S. , Gomaa Rania M. , Elmorsy Mohammad A.
Published: November 2018

Three new series of 2‐phenyl benzimidazole‐based derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against breast cancer (MCF‐7) cell lines. Three compounds 8, 9, and 15 showed high cytotoxic activities, with IC50 values of 3.37, 6.30, and 5.84 μM, respectively, while they showed comparable cytotoxicity to the standard drug doxorubicin against human normal cells, including nontumorigenic breast epithelial cell line (MCF‐10F), skin fibroblast cell line (BJ), and lung fibroblast cell line (MRC‐5). Six of the synthesized compounds were screened against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR‐2) where compounds 8, 9, 12, and 15 exhibited an outstanding potency in comparison with sorafenib, with IC50 values of 6.7–8.9 nM. Molecular docking study assessed the good binding patterns of the most potent compounds with the reported conserved amino acids of VEGFR‐2 active site.
Meeting in the Middle: The Role of Mutual Biracial Friends in Cross‐Race Friendships
Authors: Echols Leslie , Graham Sandra
Published: November 2018

Social network analysis was used to examine the role of having a mutual biracial friend on cross‐race friendship nominations among monoracial sixth‐grade students (Mage = 10.56 years) in two racially diverse middle schools (n = 385; n = 351). Monoracial youth were most likely to choose same‐race peers as friends but more likely to choose biracial than different‐race peers as friends, suggesting that racial homophily may operate in an incremental way to influence friendships. Monoracial different‐race youth were also more likely to be friends if they had a mutual biracial friend. The findings shed light on the unique role that biracial youth play in diverse friendship networks. Implications for including biracial youth in studies of cross‐race friendship are discussed.
Locus and allelic heterogeneity and phenotypic variability in Waardenburg syndrome
Authors: Somashekar Puneeth H. , Girisha Katta M. , Nampoothiri Sheela , Gowrishankar Kalpana , Devi Radha R. , Gupta Neerja , Narayanan Dhanya L. , Kaur Anupriya , Bajaj Shruti , Jagadeesh Sujatha , Lewis Leslie E. S. , Shailaja Shenoy , Shukla Anju
Published: November 2018

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a disorder of neural crest cell migration characterized by auditory and pigmentary abnormalities. We investigated a cohort of 14 families (16 subjects) either by targeted sequencing or whole‐exome sequencing. Thirteen of these families were clinically diagnosed with WS and one family with isolated non‐syndromic hearing loss (NSHL). Intra‐familial phenotypic variability and non‐penetrance were observed in families diagnosed with WS1, WS2 and WS4 with pathogenic variants in PAX3, MITF and EDNRB, respectively. We observed gonosomal mosaicism for a variant in PAX3 in an asymptomatic father of two affected siblings. For the first time, we report a biallelic pathogenic variant in MITF in a subject with WS2 and a biallelic variant in EDNRB was noted in a subject with WS2. An individual with isolated NSHL carried a pathogenic variant in MITF. Blended phenotype of NSHL and albinism was observed in a subject clinically diagnosed to have WS2. A phenocopy of WS1 was observed in a subject with a reported pathogenic variant in GJB2, known to cause isolated NSHL. These novel and infrequently reported observations exemplify the allelic and genetic heterogeneity and show phenotypic diversity of WS.
Bullous autoimmune dermatoses
Authors: Hofmann Silke C. , Juratli Hazem A. , Eming Rüdiger
Published: November 2018

Pathophysiologically, bullous autoimmune dermatoses are caused by autoantibodies directed against adhesion molecules or structural proteins of the skin and mucous membranes, clinically resulting in blister formation. Depending on the respective target proteins of the autoimmune response and their location in the skin, a distinction is made between intraepidermal (pemphigus disorders), junctional (pemphigoid disorders), and subepidermal (epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, dermatitis herpetiformis) autoimmune blistering diseases.

The most common bullous autoimmune dermatosis, bullous pemphigoid is characterized by marked clinical variability and intense pruritus. Predominantly affecting elderly individuals, there has been a significant increase in its incidence in recent years. While mucosal lesions occur in less than 30 % of bullous pemphigoid patients, the second most common bullous autoimmune dermatosis, pemphigus vulgaris, typically presents with oral erosions as the predominant and – frequently – initial symptom. Its onset is usually in the 4th to 6th decade of life. Scarring is typically found in subepidermal blistering disorders such as epidermolysis bullosa acquisita or mucous membrane pemphigoid.

Diagnosis is based on clinical and histological findings as well as direct and indirect immunofluorescence and detection of circulating autoantibodies. Although a number of controlled clinical trials have been conducted in recent years, treatment of bullous autoimmune disorders is still primarily based on clinical experience. Therapeutic options include topical and systemic corticosteroids as well as adjuvant immunosuppressants. Recalcitrant cases may require treatment with immunoadsorption, intravenous immunoglobulins, or the monoclonal anti‐CD20 antibody rituximab.
Follistatins in glucose regulation in healthy and obese individuals
Authors: Perakakis Nikolaos , Kokkinos Alexander , Peradze Natia , Tentolouris Nicholas , Ghaly Wael , Tsilingiris Dimitrios , Alexandrou Andreas , Mantzoros Christos S.
Published: November 2018

Aims

It has been suggested recently that follistatin (FST) and its homologous protein, follistatin‐like 3 (FSTL3), may be a therapeutic target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes because of their glucose‐regulatory effects in rodents.

Materials and Methods

We investigated this hypothesis in humans by studying the physiology of a possible glycaemia–follistatin feedback loop, that is, whether glucose, but not lipid intake (oral or intravenous), can regulate circulating FST and FSTL3 in healthy humans (n = 32), whether the levels of follistatins change in response to various types of bariatric operation in morbidly obese individuals, with or without type 2 diabetes (n = 41), and whether such changes are associated prospectively with improvement of glucose homeostasis/insulin sensitivity.

Results

In healthy individuals, circulating FST decreases after intravenous or oral glucose intake compared to controls, indicating the presence of a negative feedback mechanism. In morbid obesity, insulin resistance, glycaemia, circulating FST and FSTL3 are all reduced (by 22%‐33%) after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy. Importantly, the changes in circulating FST 3 months after bariatric surgery are associated prospectively with the changes in glucose, insulin, HOMA‐IR and HbA1c observed 6 months postoperatively in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions

Our findings provide evidence of an important role of FST in glucose homeostasis in healthy individuals as well as in severely obese individuals with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Our data extend recent results from animal studies to humans and support the need for further evaluation of FST inactivation strategies for targeting hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance.
Crisscross heart with situs invesus in pregnancy: A rare case report and literature review
Authors: Hu Jinling , Ren Weidong
Published: November 2018

Crisscross heart(CCH) is a rare congenital anomaly. CCH is always with rare complex congenital heart malformations, and for this reason it is difficult to diagnose. We present an asymptomatic 29‐year‐old pregant woman with history of cardiac murmur at 28 weeks of gestation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a CCH with situs inversus, concordant atrioventricular, double outlet right ventricle, ventricular septum defect and pulmonary stenosis. The anomalies were demonstrated by two‐dimensional echocardiography and confirmed by color Doppler imaging. The patient was stable and did not require surgical interventions. She underwent successful term vaginal delivery without complication and her baby had a normal heart. Patients with CCHs can be diagnosed by a careful, systematic study with two‐dimensional and Doppler echocardiography to identify the ventricular morphology and position, determine the sequence of connections and spatial relationships of the cardiac chambers and identify other abnormalities.
Layer‐specific strain in dipyridamole stress echo: A new tool for the diagnosis of microvascular angina
Authors: Mandoli Giulia Elena , Cameli Matteo , Minardi Simona , Crudele Felice , Lunghetti Stefano , Mondillo Sergio
Published: November 2018

Background

Dipyridamole stress echocardiography (DSE) represents a fundamental test in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). The diagnosis of microvascular disease is still challenging. We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of left ventricular (LV) layer‐specific longitudinal (LS) and circumferential strain (CS) by Speckle Tracking in detecting CAD during DSE and to study if they can help in discriminate between a negative echo and a suspected microvascular angina.

Methods and results

We enrolled 66 patients with known or suspected CAD. All underwent standard DSE. We identified 3 groups according to the result of DSE (36 negative DSE, 19 positive DSE, 11 indicatives for microvascular disease). Wall motion score index, global LV LS and CS (global longitudinal strain [GLS] and global circumferential strain [GCS]), and layer‐specific LV LS and CS were measured at rest and peak stress. The Delta between rest and peak stress values was calculated. GLS increased after injection in negative DSE and microvascular disease while reducing in positive DSE. Endocardial GCS and transmural GCS values were stable in microvascular disease while increasing significantly in negative DSE, helping in the diagnosis. The specific analysis of endocardial LS showed the most powerful difference between healthy and macrovascular CAD patients, both for LS and CS.

Conclusions

Global circumferential strain can be a new valuable added tool in the echocardiographic diagnosis of microvascular disease. Endocardial GLS is the best indicator of an altered wall deformation in the presence of macrovascular ischemia.
Cryptic niche differentiation in West African savannah termites as indicated by stable isotopes
Authors: Schyra Janine , Scheu Stefan , Korb Judith
Published: November 2018

1. Termites consume a wide range of plant material at different stages of decomposition and, accordingly, have been classified into ‘feeding groups’. African savannah ecosystems harbour many termite species, yet most belong to Termitidae. Especially striking is the co‐occurrence of up to eight Macrotermitinae and five Trinervitermes species, each having apparently identical trophic niches, i.e. fungus‐growers and grass‐feeders, respectively.

2. This study examined stable isotope signatures of 15N and 13C of West African savannah termites to test the validity of existing feeding group concepts and whether there is fine‐scaled niche differentiation of species within feeding groups. Despite a phylogenetic signal that species from the same subfamily and congenerics have correlated isotope signatures, evidence of niche differentiation was found.

3. Interestingly, species with similar δ15N values generally differed in δ13C values, and vice versa. The dominant mound‐building fungus‐grower Macrotermes bellicosus had the lowest δ15N values among all fungus‐growers, indicating that it occupies a different trophic niche.

4. This fine‐scaled differentiation along the trophic niche axis can help to explain the coexistence of so many apparently identical termite species.
Rain, predators and vegetation lushness may structure web‐building spider communities along precipitation gradients
Authors: Robertson Mark , Avilés Leticia
Published: November 2018

1. Web building spider communities represent a vehicle for addressing how abiotic and biotic factors interact to structure natural communities.

2. The present study investigates how intense rainfall and potential predation by ants affect the proportion of three‐dimensional (3D) versus two‐dimensional (2D) spider webs along precipitation gradients.

3. Besides capturing prey, 3D webs may provide protection against predators, but they require a much greater material investment to be built than 2D webs. If costs take precedence over predator protection benefits, the proportion of 3D webs would decrease as precipitation increases (the ‘rain intensity’ hypothesis). Alternatively, if predator protection benefits take precedence, and the abundance of ants and other predators increases with precipitation, the proportion of 3D webs would increase with precipitation (the ‘predation risk’ hypothesis).

4. Seven sites were selected along a rain gradient of relatively uniform elevation and latitude in western Ecuador. Rain intensity, ant abundance and vegetation lushness (leaf area, canopy cover, tree diameter) were all observed to increase along the gradient, as did vegetation cover immediately above each web.

5. Relative to 2D webs, 3D webs increased in frequency with annual rainfall, consistent with the predation risk hypothesis but counter to the rain intensity hypothesis.

6. In areas of greater precipitation, however, lusher vegetation provided greater immediate vegetation cover to webs. Microhabitat factors may thus mitigate the destructive power of intense rainfall, thus allowing the predator protection benefits of 3D webs to be realised despite the occurrence of strong rains.
Robust soil mapping at the farm scale with vis–NIR spectroscopy
Authors: Ramirez‐Lopez L. , Wadoux A. M. J.‐C. , Franceschini M. H. D. , Terra F. S. , Marques K. P. P. , Sayão V. M. , Demattê J. A. M.
Published: November 2018

Sustainable agriculture practices are often hampered by the prohibitive costs associated with the generation of fine‐resolution soil maps. Recently, several papers have been published highlighting how visible and near infrared (vis–NIR) reflectance spectroscopy may offer an alternative to address this problem by increasing the density of soil sampling and by reducing the number of conventional laboratory analyses needed. However, for farm‐scale soil mapping, previous studies rarely focused on sample optimization for the calibration of vis–NIR models or on robust modelling of the spatial variation of soil properties predicted by vis–NIR spectroscopy. In the present study, we used soil vis–NIR spectroscopy models optimized in terms of both number of calibration samples and accuracy for high‐resolution robust farm‐scale soil mapping and addressed some of the most common pitfalls identified in previous research. We collected 910 samples from 458 locations at two depths (A, 0–0.20 m; B, 0.80–1.0 m) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. All soil samples were analysed by conventional methods and scanned in the vis–NIR spectral range. With the vis–NIR spectra only, we inferred statistically the optimal set size and the best samples with which to calibrate vis–NIR models. The calibrated vis–NIR models were validated and used to predict soil properties for the rest of the samples. The prediction error of the spectroscopic model was propagated through the spatial analysis, in which robust block kriging was used to predict particle‐size fractions and exchangeable calcium content for each depth. The results indicated that statistical selection of the calibration samples based on vis–NIR spectra considerably decreased the need for conventional chemical analysis for a given level of mapping accuracy. The methods tested in this research were developed and implemented using open‐source software. All codes and data are provided for reproducible research purposes.

Highlights

Vis–NIR spectroscopy enables an increase in sampling density with little additional cost.

Guided selection of vis–NIR calibration samples reduced the need for conventional soil analysis.

Error of spectroscopic model prediction was propagated by spatial analysis.

Maps from the vis–NIR augmented dataset were almost as accurate as those from conventional soil analysis.
Paving the road to ‘legal revolution’: The Dutch origins of the first preliminary references in European law (1957–1963)
Authors: van Leeuwen Karin
Published: November 2018

This article reconsiders the driving forces behind the active role of Dutch courts in the early development of European law by analysing the histories of the 1962 Bosch and 1963 Van Gend en Loos preliminary references. The legal context of these path‐breaking references and their crucial impact on the development of a constitutional doctrine in European law are evident. Yet for understanding the emergence of the cases, their political and economic contexts need to be added to the well‐known favourable constitutional settlement from which they arose. Adding contingency to the narrative of the Netherlands as the proverbial ‘good European’, this article reports how the pavement for the ‘road to Luxembourg’ was made up of materials as diverse as an open stance towards international law, a black market in electronic equipment, and a dispute on the definition of Harnstoffharz.
Heterogeneous impacts of provincial governance on household welfare in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Tuyen Quang , Doan Tinh Thanh , Van Vu Huong , Nguyen Hien Thi
Published: November 2018

This study investigated the role of provincial governance in the growth of per capita income of Vietnamese households, using a balanced panel data set for the period 2012–2014. Although we found no evidence for the influence of provincial governance when a linear fixed‐effect regression estimator was used, the results from a fixed‐effect quantile regression estimator revealed that provincial governance has a positive effect on all groups (but not the poorest) and that the effect tends to be greater for better‐off households. In addition, we found that wage employment plays a larger role in the income growth of poorer households, whereas returns on education are greater for richer households. The findings suggest that a mean regression approach that looks only a t the role of explanatory variables on mean household welfare, and does not consider differences in the distribution of household welfare, may miss some heterogeneity that is of interest to policymakers.

Key Practitioner Message:

• Using a quantile regression approach has allowed the current study to provide new insight into the role of household‐related factors in household welfare. • Finding shows that good governance tends to provide greater benefits to richer households than to other groups in the population.
Burnout in Chinese social work: Differential predictability of the components of the Maslach Burnout Inventory
Authors: Wang Yean , Zhang Huan , Lei Jie , Yu Yuehui
Published: November 2018

Burnout is a worldwide phenomenon among social welfare workers. This study examined how burnout affects student social workers and professional social workers. It first examined the construct validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory‐General Survey (MBI‐GS) scale, using data from two Chinese samples (848 student social workers and 748 professional social workers). The original three‐factor model was regarded as superior to other competing models. Investigation of the second‐order factor model indicated that exhaustion and cynicism are core components but that personal efficacy is not. The research also revealed the differential predictability of the three subscales of the MBI‐GS. Our expectation that differential patterns of effects could be predicted was largely supported. Professional efficacy plays a key mediating role in the relationship between student social workers’ professional identity and their satisfaction with fieldwork, while social workers’ cynicism is the main mediator in the relationship between their professional identity and turnover intention. Therefore, identifying at‐risk students and professional social workers to undertake appropriate intervention strategies that focus on both their professional identity and different dimensions of burnout may be an effective way to prevent students’ dissatisfaction and reduce social worker turnover.
Mobilising the welfare machine: Questioning the resurgent socialist concern in China’s Public Rental Housing Scheme
Authors: Wang June , Li Mingye
Published: November 2018

This study examined the resurgence of public housing provision in China since 2007 by situating it in a broad welfare regime analysis. Based on insights from Productivist Welfare Capitalism (Holliday, 2000. Productivist Welfare Capitalism, 706‒723) and Graduated Sovereignty (Ong, 2006a.Neoliberalism as exception), we have sought to shed new light on the productivist approach through a study on Chinese cases. Using the examples of Chongqing and Nanjing, we argue in the study that the proactive action of the state to further commodify labour power has led to the flexible de‐articulation and re‐articulation of welfare and citizenship in an ongoing process of de‐territorialisation and re‐territorialisation of various segments of the population that own parcels of land. Another aspect of flexibility in the welfare regime is the double segmentation of population and territory, which is also contingent on, and subject to, alteration upon government decision.
Infant Electroencephalogram Coherence and Toddler Inhibition are Associated with Social Responsiveness at Age 4
Authors: Broomell Alleyne P. R. , Savla Jyoti , Bell Martha Ann
Published: November 2018

Previous work has suggested that individual differences in infant functional neuroconnectivity are a potential biomarker for later cognitive and social outcomes, but the mechanisms are unclear. This study investigated a longitudinal model of infant frontotemporal electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence predicting toddler inhibition, which then predicted childhood social responsiveness. A structural equation model showed good fit, with increased right hemisphere frontotemporal EEG coherence predicting less inhibition at age 2, which in turn predicted less social responsiveness at age 4. These findings support the hypothesis that infant frontotemporal connectivity is indirectly associated with later social behavior, with toddler inhibition as a potential mechanism.
Overview of psychosocial problems in individuals with stoma: A review of literature
Authors: Ayaz‐Alkaya Sultan
Published: November 2018

This literature review was conducted to summarise empirical evidence relating to psychosocial health following ostomy surgery during hospitalisation and after discharge. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were searched from 2000 to 2017 using PubMed, CINAHL, Ebrary, Elsevier, Science Direct, and Scopus. Twenty‐seven articles were included that examined the patient's psychosocial health following colostomy or ileostomy surgery. Among the 27 included studies, 11 adopted qualitative research methods and 16 used quantitative designs. Most of the studies were conducted to determine psychosocial problems and emotions of the individuals, their adaptation to the stoma, and their quality of life. Most of the psychosocial problems identified in these studies were poor body image perception and self‐respect, depression, sexual problems, and lower psychosocial adaptation. This literature review has illustrated the patient's psychosocial health following stoma surgery. Further studies exploring the effect of psychosocial interventions could be planned.
Non‐uraemic calciphylaxis successfully treated with pamidronate infusion
Authors: Truong David H. , Riedhammer Marcus M. , Zinszer Kathya
Published: November 2018

Calciphylaxis is a rare and potentially fatal disease that affects the subcutaneous layer of the skin. It is a calcific vasculopathy induced by a systemic process that causes occlusion of small blood vessels. The mortality rate for individuals diagnosed with calciphylaxis is estimated between 52% and 81% with sepsis being the leading cause of death. Uraemic calciphylaxis and its known effective treatments are well documented in the literature. Unfortunately, there is no known effective treatment for non‐uraemic calciphylaxis. Most of the current treatments for non‐uraemic calciphylaxis are derived from uraemic calciphylaxis treatment protocols. We report a case of a 75‐year‐old female with calciphylaxis on the right lower extremity who was successfully treated with four pamidronate infusions in addition to local wound care. This case represents a non‐uraemic calciphylaxis wound successfully treated with pamidronate infusions and standard wound care, and suggests that IV pamidronate can be an effective treatment option.
Cyprus as an ancient hub for house mice and humans
Authors: García‐Rodríguez Oxala , Andreou Demetra , Herman Jeremy S. , Mitsainas George P. , Searle Jeremy B. , Bonhomme François , Hadjisterkotis Eleftherios , Schutkowski Holger , Stafford Richard , Stewart John R. , Hardouin Emilie A.
Published: November 2018

Aim

The distribution of the western house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) around the world has been strongly influenced by the movement of humans. The close association between the house mouse and human phylogeography has been primarily studied in the peripheral distribution of the species. Here, we inferred the complex colonization history of Cyprus, situated close to the centre of the house mouse distribution and one of the first European islands to be colonized by the species. We investigated the resulting complexity of house mouse population genetics as well as considering the value of the house mouse as a bioproxy for studying modern human movement.

Location

The study was carried out on Cyprus.

Methods

The analysis was performed using 221 new mitochondrial D‐loop sequences and assessed the fine‐scale population genetic structure using 18 autosomal microsatellite loci from 191 modern house mice specimens.

Results

We found a high genetic variability in the island that is illustrated by the presence of individuals from 9 of the 11 previously identified house mouse haplogroups for the D‐loop, reflecting the hub‐like nature of the island to mice. Two main waves of mouse introductions were tentatively identified based on coalescent and mismatch analysis. The first is apparently related to the Bronze Age expansion and the second one to more recent human movements. Cyprus represents an island with high complexity due to different introductions related to human transport and activity.

Main conclusions

The dispersal of mice along with humans has left a complex footprint on the island with two main waves of introductions suggested. The phylogeography of the house mouse on Cyprus is in concordance with the complex human colonization history of the island and validates the use of the house mouse as a proxy to study human migration.
Linking Workplace Safety to Operational Disruptions: A Moderated Mediation Analysis in Commercial Vessels
Authors: Choo Adrian S. , Grabowski Martha R.
Published: November 2018

Little is known about the mechanism of how workplace safety may affect operational disruptions manifested as unplanned maintenance in commercial vessels. Building upon the high reliability organization theory as a broad framework, we propose that workplace safety climate influences how employees identify and report errors at work. Specifically, no‐blame error reporting mediates the relationship between safety climate and unplanned maintenance in vessels. Additionally, we posit that the mediation effect varies among vessels in that it is stronger (weaker) in newer (older) vessels that are easier (harder) to maintain operationally. We test the moderated mediation framework at the vessel level of analysis using an archival survey data with multiple responses from 1,169 crewmembers in 86 marine vessels. Our results lend support to the mediation effect in that safety climate facilitates no‐blame error reporting, which subsequently reduces the frequency of unplanned maintenance. In particular, the effect of safety climate on unplanned maintenance is fully mediated by no‐blame error reporting. As vessel owners attempt to maximize their return on investments in aging ships, the mediation effect shows a high level of safety climate in a vessel is indirectly associated with a significantly lower level of unplanned maintenance rate relative to a similar age vessel but with an average level of safety climate. However, the mediation effect weakens as a vessel ages. This study contributes to important insights into how safety climate can reduce operational disruptions (unplanned maintenance events) through error reporting behaviors, contingent upon the age of ocean carriers in logistics companies.
Diallyl disulfide down‐regulates calreticulin and promotes C/EBPα expression in differentiation of human leukaemia cells
Authors: Sun Jing , Mu Hongxiang , Yu Jia , Li Linwei , Yan Hongxia , Li Guoqing , Tan Hui , Yang Nanyang , Yang Xiaoyan , Yi Lan
Published: November 2018

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), the main active component of the cancer fighting allyl sulfides found in garlic, has shown potential as a therapeutic agent in various cancers. Previous studies showed DADS induction of HL‐60 cell differentiation involves down‐regulation of calreticulin (CRT). Here, we investigated the mechanism of DADS‐induced differentiation of human leukaemia cells and the potential involvement of CRT and CCAAT enhancer binding protein‐α (C/EBPα). We explored the expression of CRT and C/EBPα in clinical samples (20 healthy people and 19 acute myeloid leukaemia patients) and found that CRT and C/EBPα expressions were inversely correlated. DADS induction of differentiation of HL‐60 cells resulted in down‐regulated CRT expression and elevated C/EBPα expression. In severe combined immunodeficiency mice injected with HL‐60 cells, DADS inhibited the growth of tumour tissue and decreased CRT levels and increased C/EBPα in vivo. We also found that DADS‐mediated down‐regulation of CRT and up‐regulation of C/EBPα involved enhancement of reactive oxidative species. RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that CRT bound C/EBPα mRNA, indicating its regulation of C/EBPα mRNA degradation by binding the UG‐rich element in the 3′ untranslated region of C/EBPα. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the C/EBPα expression was correlated with CRT expression in vitro and in vivo and the molecular mechanism of DADS‐induced leukaemic cell differentiation.
Rates of antibiotic resistance/sensitivity in bacterial cultures of hidradenitis suppurativa patients
Authors: Bettoli V. , Manfredini M. , Massoli L. , Carillo C. , Barozzi A. , Amendolagine G. , Ruina G. , Musmeci D. , Libanore M. , Curtolo A. , Mantovani L. , Contini C. , Pellacani G. , Corazza M.
Published: November 2018

Background

Antibiotic (AB) treatment is one of the first steps in the management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Bacteria, in HS patients, may play a double role, as triggering factors of inflammatory reactions and/or agents of infection.

Objectives

The aims of this study are as follows: (i) to assess prevalence and AB resistance of bacterial growths in HS patients (ii) assessment of the clinical relevance of obtained data in guiding the selection of the most effective AB therapy.

Methods

Purulent material from 137 skin lesions of HS patients was collected with swabs. Bacterial flora and AB sensitivity were determined using microbiological cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

Results

A total of 114 samples resulted positive for bacteria. Sample was collected from the axillae, groin and perianal areas. A total of 163 single bacterial growths were observed; 55% were Gram‐positive and 44% were Gram‐negative. Among them, 18.4% were anaerobic. The most frequent bacterial families included enterobacteriaceae (30.7%), Staphylococcus (25.2%) and Streptococcus (14.1%). The most frequent genus or species were proteus spp. (13.5%) and Escherichia coli (9.8%). The prevalence of AB resistance observed was clindamycin 65.7%, rifampicin 69.3%, penicillin 70.0%, ciprofloxacin 74%, tetracycline 84.7% and erythromycin 89.0%. A limitation of the study is represented the short culture period adopted which may have impaired the isolation of anaerobes.

Conclusions

Bacterial growth in HS patients has shown a high level of resistance to ABs, including rifampicin, clindamycin and tetracyclines, cited as an empiric choice in HS therapeutic guidelines. A targeted and specific AB therapy, driven by microbiological evaluations with prolonged culture periods, seems more appropriate than empiric, generic, non‐specific, therapeutic approaches. Current knowledge regarding HS bacterial AB resistance should be considered in the update of current therapeutic guidelines for HS.
Liver stiffness measurements in chronic hepatitis C: Treatment evaluation and risk assessment
Authors: Nakagomi Ryo , Tateishi Ryosuke , Masuzaki Ryota , Soroida Yoko , Iwai Tomomi , Kondo Mayuko , Fujiwara Naoto , Sato Masaya , Minami Tatsuya , Uchino Koji , Enooku Kenichiro , Nakagawa Hayato , Asaoka Yoshinari , Kondo Yuji , Tanaka Yasuo , Otsuka Motoyuki , Kato Naoya , Moriya Kyoji , Ikeda Hitoshi , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: November 2018

Background and Aim

Liver stiffness (LS), measured by transient elastography, has been validated as a non‐invasive surrogate for liver fibrosis.

Methods

We investigated the long‐term predictive ability of LS for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and overall survival in 1146 patients with chronic hepatitis C by using LS value at enrollment. We also investigated chronological changes in LS based on antiviral therapy and its outcome in 752 patients.

Results

During the mean follow‐up period of 6.6 years, 190 patients developed HCC. Cumulative HCC incidence rates at 5 years were clearly stratified as 1.7% in the ≤ 5 kPa, 3.3% in 5.1–10 kPa, 16.7% in 10.1–15 kPa, 24.4% in 15.1–20 kPa, 36.3% in 20.1–25 kPa, and 43.7% in > 25 kPa subgroups (P < 0.001). Overall survival was also stratified: 10‐year survival rates were 99.3% in the ≤ 5 kPa, 95.4% in 5.1–10 kPa, 81.4% in 10.1–15 kPa, 79.5% in 15.1–20 kPa, 66.1% in 20.1–25 kPa, and 49.1% in > 25 kPa subgroups (P < 0.001). LS decreased at a rate of 8.1% per year in those who achieved sustained virological responses, but increased at 0.1% per year in those who could not achieve sustained virological response instead of antiviral therapy, and increased at 3.7% per year in those who did not undergo antiviral therapy.

Conclusions

Liver stiffness measurements can be useful in the prediction of HCC development and overall survival and in the evaluation of chronological changes in liver fibrosis grade during and after antiviral therapy.
Risk of skin cancers in thiopurines‐treated and thiopurines‐untreated patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Shao‐Zhuo , Liu Zhi‐Cheng , Liao Wei‐Xin , Wei Jun‐Xiao , Huang Xiao‐Wen , Yang Chen , Xia Yu‐Han , Li Lu , Ye Chao , Dai Shi‐Xue
Published: November 2018

Background and Aim

The thiopurines are effective in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the association between thiopurines use and the risk of skin cancer (including nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC] and melanoma skin cancer) has already been sufficiently reported. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent, and thus, the objective of our analysis was to explore whether thiopurines can lead to an excess risk of skin cancer in IBD patients.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies that evaluated the risk of skin cancer in IBD patients treated with thiopurines. A random effects meta‐analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled incidence rate ratios as well as risk ratios (RRs). Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the potential source of heterogeneity.

Results

Thirteen studies comprising 149 198 participants were included. The result suggested that thiopurines significantly increased the risk of overall skin cancer in IBD patients (random effects: RR = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.87, P = 0.013), among which NMSC showed an excess risk associated with thiopurines use (random effects: RR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.48–2.38, P < 0.001) while no increased risk was observed with respect to melanoma skin cancer (random effects: RR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.90–1.65, P = 0.206). Subgroup analysis regarding sample size and geographic distribution in skin cancer and follow‐up duration in NMSC reached statistical significance, while other subgroups showed no significance.

Conclusion

Exposition of thiopurines in patients with IBD is associated with a higher risk of skin cancer. Routine skin screening and daily skin protective practice are recommended for these patients.
Peer Victimization and Sexual Risk Taking Among Adolescents
Authors: Holt Melissa , Espelage Dorothy , Van Ryzin Mark , Bowman Chelsey
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that victimization exposures are associated with sexual risk‐taking behaviors, but there is a relative lack of research on the relation between peer victimization and sexual risk taking among adolescents. This study fills this gap through examining how bullying, cyberbullying, and dating violence victimization at baseline are related to sexual risk‐taking behaviors 1 year later.

METHODS

Participants were a convenience sample of 220 sexually active high school students who were drawn from a larger sample of 2205 adolescents attending 6 high schools in Illinois. Adolescents completed Wave 1 surveys in Spring 2015 and Wave 2 surveys in Spring 2016.

RESULTS

Latent difference score models indicated that bullying victimization was not related to sexual risk‐taking behaviors. Baseline levels of cyberbullying and verbal teen dating violence, however, were both associated with more sex under the influence of alcohol at Wave 2. Further, findings revealed that changes over time in verbal teen dating violence victimization were associated with changes over time in sex under the influence of alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

Given links between peer victimization exposures and sexual risk‐taking behaviors, school‐based prevention and intervention efforts should address these in concert with one another.
Children's Obesogenic Behaviors During Summer Versus School: A Within‐Person Comparison
Authors: Brazendale Keith , Beets Michael W. , Turner‐McGrievy Gabrielle M. , Kaczynski Andrew T. , Pate Russell R. , Weaver Robert G.
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND

Evidence consistently shows children in the United States gain 3 to 5 times more weight during summer vacation (∼2.5 months) compared to the 9‐month school year. The purpose of this study is to examine within‐child differences in 4 obesogenic behaviors (physical activity [PA], sedentary/screen‐time, diet, and sleep) during school versus summer.

METHODS

We used a repeated‐measures within‐subjects design. Children (N = 30 mean age = 8.2 years; 57% female; 37% overweight/obese; 100% African American) wore accelerometers on the nondominant wrist for 24 hr/d over 9 consecutive days during school and summer of 2016 to capture PA, sedentary time, and sleep. Parents completed a daily diary to report bed/wake times, diet, and screen‐time of their child each day. Mixed‐effect models compared summer and school behaviors.

RESULTS

Children spent more time sedentary (69% vs 67% of wake wear time), less time in light PA (25% vs 23% of wake wear time), had higher screen‐time (242 vs 123 minutes/day), slept longer (428 vs 413 minutes/night), and consumed more sugar‐based foods (6 days vs 2.5 days/week) and fruit (7 days vs 4.7 days/week) during summer compared to school (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Initial evidence suggests children are displaying multiple unfavorable obesogenic behaviors during summer compared to school that may contribute to accelerated weight gain during summer.
Interactive effects of climate and topography on soil salinity and vegetation zonation in North‐African continental saline depressions
Authors: Chaieb Ghassen , Abdelly Chedly , Michalet Richard
Published: November 2018

Questions

Complex distal factors such as climate and topography can interact to drive direct proximal ecological gradients and vegetation zonation in geographical and ecological space, in particular salinity and soil moisture in arid climates. We pose the following questions: (a) Does increasing climate aridity alter direct water and salinity gradients along topography gradients in saline depressions in arid climates? (b) Do these effects of increasing climate aridity in turn alter vegetation life‐form zonation? (c) Does increasing climate aridity alter community composition along the zonation?

Study site

Continental saline depressions of the Mediterranean arid climate of central and southern Tunisia.

Methods

We sampled vegetation structure, diversity, and composition and environmental variables at five positions along the topography gradient of continental saline depressions in wet and dry conditions.

Results

Climate aridity altered salinity gradients and vegetation structure but not diversity and community composition. Salinity increased with increasing aridity at the lowest positions of the depressions but decreased with increasing aridity at their highest positions. Total vegetation cover and relative abundance of therophytes decreased, whereas relative abundance of chamaephytes increased with increasing climate aridity at the upper habitats.

Conclusions

Ecological factors acting at a regional scale can alter the spatial variation of other ecological factors acting at smaller spatial scales, ultimately explaining vegetation zonation in continental saline depressions. Salinity collapses with increasing aridity.
Listeria monocytogenes is inhibited on fillets of cold‐smoked sunshine bass, Morone chrysops × Morone saxatilis, with an edible corn zein‐based coating incorporated with lemongrass essential oil or nisin
Authors: Hager Janelle V. , Rawles Steven D. , Xiong Youling L. , Newman Melissa C. , Thompson Kenneth R. , Webster Carl D.
Published: November 2018

Ready‐to‐eat (RTE) foods have been identified as a high‐risk food group because of the number of outbreaks caused by food‐borne pathogens isolated from these products. As these items receive no further processing or heat treatment prior to consumption, bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes present a serious threat to consumer safety. Of particular concern, L. monocytogenes is resistant to various food storage techniques, including reduced or modified atmosphere packaging, refrigerated storage, and increased salt concentration. Cold‐smoked fishery products have been implicated in a number of listeriosis cases, where it is estimated that between 6 and 36% of cold‐smoked fish is contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Edible coatings incorporated with natural antimicrobials have been suggested to control pathogenic and spoilage bacteria on a variety of meat products. In this study, edible zein‐based coatings incorporated with nisin and lemongrass essential oil (LG) (8%) were evaluated for antibacterial action against L. monocytogenes and spoilage organisms on cold‐smoked, cultured hybrid striped bass, Morone saxatilis × Morone chrysops, under polyvinyl chlorine (PVC) and vacuum packaging for 14 days (PVC) and 42 days (vacuum packaging), respectively, at 4°C. In this study, corn zein‐based edible coatings were found to be an effective carrier for nisin and LG. Nisin‐treated samples were most effective against L. monocytogenes in both PVC and vacuum‐packaged fillets, with a total reduction of 3.5 log and 3.7 log, respectively over the length of the storage time. LG‐treated samples reduced L. monocytogenes cell counts by 2.5 log in PVC and 1.7 log in vacuum‐packaged samples. Only LG‐treated samples packaged in PVC were found to inhibit the growth of spoilage organisms. Because nisin‐ and LG‐treated fillets reduced L. monocytogenes, they may be useful methods to improve food safety in smoked seafood.
Elevated serum levels of procollagen C‐proteinase enhancer‐1 in patients with chronic kidney disease is associated with a declining glomerular filtration rate
Authors: Özkan Gülsüm , Güzel Savaş , Atar Reşit V , Fidan Çiğdem , Kara Sonat P , Ulusoy Şükrü
Published: November 2018

Background

Procollagen C‐proteinase enhancer‐1 (PCPE‐1) is a 55 kDa glycoprotein, which increases the activity of procollagen C‐proteinases that break down C‐terminal propeptides. Studies have shown that PCPE‐1 is involved in the fibrotic process that occurs in various tissues and organs. Our review of the literature revealed no data concerning the relation between PCPE‐1 and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this study was to determine PCPE‐1 levels in CKD.

Methods

One hundred thirty‐one CKD patients and 34 healthy controls were included in our study. Demographic data were recorded, and routine biochemical tests were performed. Blood specimens were collected for PCPE‐1 investigation. Demographic data, biochemical test results and PCPE‐1 levels were compared between the control and patient groups. Parameters affecting PCPE‐1 levels in our patient group were assessed.

Results

Procollagen C‐proteinase enhancer‐1 levels were significantly higher in our patient group compared to the control group. Parameters affecting PCPE‐1 elevation in the patient group were identified as systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, phosphorus, haemoglobin, intact parathormone levels, glomerular filtration rate and body mass index.

Conclusion

We determined high PCPE‐1 levels in CKD patients. PCPE‐1 levels being negatively correlated with glomerular filtration rate suggests that PCPE‐1 may be associated with progression in CKD patients.