bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arthropod pests of date palm and their management.
Authors: El-Shafie H. A. F. , Abdel-Banat B. M. A. , Al-Hajhoj M. R.
Published: January 2018

This review lists 132 species of insect and mite pests associated with date palm (
Phoenix dactylifera
L.) grown worldwide. These species are distributed among eight insect orders and 30 families, besides one order of mite comprising nine families. Most of the species (52) were reported on the leaf (frond), while 26 species were associated with the roots and trunk. Green fruits with their stalks and stored dates hosted 27 species each. Coleoptera represented 41% of the listed pest species, followed by Hemiptera (20%), Acari (16%) and Lepidoptera (12%). Although the number of date palm pest species seems to be high, only a few species are considered major pests of economic importance. The major pests include the red palm weevil, (
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
), old world date mite (
Oligonychus afrasiaticus
), lesser date moth (
Batrachedra amydraula
), Dubas date bug (
Ommatissus lybicus
), green pit scale (
Palmaspis phoenicis
), carob moth (
Ectomyelois ceratoniae
), date palm longhorn beetle (
Jebusaea hammerschmidti
), and almond moth (
Cadra cautella
). The review also lists 90 species of predators and parasitoids representing nine orders and 23 families, indicating their potential role in date palm pest management. The paper summarizes the current knowledge on management tactics including monitoring, agrotechnical measures, biological control, semiochemical-based control and chemical control. The implementation of integrated pest management strategies against major pests, based on the above-mentioned tactics, is discussed. The information gathered in this review indicates that strict quarantine, semiochemicals including pheromones and training and education of farmers are expected to play a central role in area-wide IPM of major date palm pests.
A novel function of geranylgeraniol in regulating testosterone production
Authors: Ho Hsin-Jung , Shirakawa Hitoshi , Giriwono Puspo E , Ito Asagi , Komai Michio
Published: January 2018

Isoprenoids play widely differing roles in various physiological processes in animals and plants. Geranylgeraniol (GGOH) is an isoprenoid found in plants, and is an important metabolic derivative in the isoprenoid/cholesterol synthesis pathway. Earlier studies focused on GGOH’s ability to improve the side effects of bisphosphonate therapy by regulating the mevalonate pathway. More recently, the mevalonate pathway-independent effects of GGOH have been described, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, and neuroprotective activities. It is noteworthy that GGOH regulates the steroidogenesis pathway in testis-derived I-10 tumor cells. Testosterone is a hormone produced via steroidogenesis in testicles and plays a role in fetal development and the male reproductive system. GGOH enhanced testosterone and progesterone (its precursor) levels in I-10 cells by activating adenylate cyclase via cAMP/PKA signaling, without altering phosphodiesterase activity. These findings highlight the potential benefits of GGOH as a therapeutic agent for low testosterone levels, such as late-onset hypogonadism in men.
Graph-theoretic approach for structural controllability of two-dimensional linear systems
Authors: Elosmani Aissa Omar , Bouagada Djillali , Chadli Mohammed
Published: January 2018

The aim of this work is to present some criteria of structural-controllability relative to a certain structural two-dimensional linear systems. The most important property of two-dimensional systems is that the information is spread in two independent directions. To study their structural-controllability, we considered a new structural digraph associated with the different structural two-dimensional linear systems. The construction of this structural digraph is based on the disjoint-union graph notion, which translates the independence of the two dynamics, and consider separately the horizontal and vertical part of the state space model representation of two-dimensional systems. We define the two-dimensional disjoint-union digraph of structural Givone–Roesser model, and determine the two-dimensional disjoint-union digraph of structural Fornasini–Marchesini model, finally we derive a criteria based on the two-dimensional disjoint-union digraph.
A Comparative Analysis of Sepsis Identification Methods in an Electronic Database*
Authors: Johnson Alistair E. W. , Aboab Jerome , Raffa Jesse D. , Pollard Tom J. , Deliberato Rodrigo O. , Celi Leo A. , Stone David J.
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

To evaluate the relative validity of criteria for the identification of sepsis in an ICU database.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study of adult ICU admissions from 2008 to 2012.

Setting:

Tertiary teaching hospital in Boston, MA.

Patients:

Initial admission of all adult patients to noncardiac surgical ICUs.

Interventions:

Comparison of five different algorithms for retrospectively identifying sepsis, including the Sepsis-3 criteria.

Measurements and Main Results:

11,791 of 23,620 ICU admissions (49.9%) met criteria for the study. Within this subgroup, 59.9% were suspected of infection on ICU admission, 75.2% of admissions had Sequential Organ Failure Assessment greater than or equal to 2, and 49.1% had both suspicion of infection and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment greater than or equal to 2 thereby meeting the Sepsis-3 criteria. The area under the receiver operator characteristic of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (0.74) for hospital mortality was consistent with previous studies of the Sepsis-3 criteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Angus, Martin, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and explicit coding methods for identifying sepsis revealed respective sepsis incidences of 31.9%, 28.6%, 14.7%, 11.0%, and 9.0%. In-hospital mortality increased with decreasing cohort size, ranging from 30.1% (explicit codes) to 14.5% (Sepsis-3 criteria). Agreement among the criteria was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha, 0.40–0.62).

Conclusions:

The new organ dysfunction-based Sepsis-3 criteria have been proposed as a clinical method for identifying sepsis. These criteria identified a larger, less severely ill cohort than that identified by previously used administrative definitions. The Sepsis-3 criteria have several advantages over prior methods, including less susceptibility to coding practices changes, provision of temporal context, and possession of high construct validity. However, the Sepsis-3 criteria also present new challenges, especially when calculated retrospectively. Future studies on sepsis should recognize the differences in outcome incidence among identification methods and contextualize their findings according to the different cohorts identified.
Nonejecting Hearts on Femoral Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Aortic Root Blood Stasis and Thrombus Formation—A Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Hireche-Chikaoui Hanane , Grübler Martin R. , Bloch Andreas , Windecker Stephan , Bloechlinger Stefan , Hunziker Lukas
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

Cardiogenic shock constitutes the final common pathway of cardiac dysfunction associated with tissue hypoperfusion and organ failure. Besides treatment of the underlying cause, temporary mechanical circulatory support serves as a supportive measure. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can effectively prevent hypoxemia and end-organ dysfunction, but knowledge about patient selection, risks, and complications remains sparse.

Data Sources:

Clinical observation.

Study Selection:

Case report and review of the literature.

Data Extraction:

Relevant clinical information. Online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID, were searched for previous publications.

Data Synthesis:

We report six cases of patients in refractory cardiogenic shock receiving emergency femoral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support complicated by echocardiographic evidence of absent blood flow, sedimentation, and thrombus formation in the aortic root.

Conclusions:

Patients in cardiogenic shock who require femoral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support are at risk of developing a state of nonejecting heart with thrombus formation in the aortic root. Echocardiography is the cornerstone of diagnosis and documentation of treatment effects. Depending on the likelihood of the presence of clinically relevant thrombotic material in the aortic root, we propose a treatment algorithm for this group of high-risk patients.
Bullous Pemphigoid–like Skin Lesions and Overt Eosinophilia in a Patient With Melanoma Treated With Nivolumab: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Anastasopoulou Amalia , Papaxoinis Georgios , Diamantopoulos Panagiotis , Christofidou Erietta , Benopoulou Olga , Stratigos Alexandros , Gogas Helen
Published: January 2018

The widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has shed light to several unusual immune-related adverse effects of the drugs. Severe cutaneous adverse reactions are generally rare with anti-PD1 agents. We present in this paper the case of a 48-year-old patient with melanoma who developed bullous pemphigoid–like skin lesions along with fever, arthralgia and overt eosinophilia following adjuvant treatment with nivolumab. The condition was successfully treated with corticosteroids and a rechallenge with another anti-PD1 agent did not lead to recurrence of the skin lesions. We also reviewed the literature on the epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics of bullous pemphigoid as well as on the treatment and prognosis of this dermatologic condition in patients with melanoma or other malignancies under treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Addressing Obesity in Clinical Gynecology Practice
Authors: KAHAN SCOTT , WINSTON GINGER
Published: January 2018

Obesity disproportionately affects women, and many patients presenting at obstetric and gynecologic clinics will have, or be at risk for, obesity and its associated comorbid conditions. Given the high frequency of interaction between women and their gynecologists, this setting may be an ideal opportunity to support patients who would benefit from obesity treatment. This article describes evidence-based obesity treatment strategies, including behavioral counseling, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery.
The Association Between Macula and ONH Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) Vessel Densities in Glaucoma, Glaucoma Suspect, and Healthy Eyes
Authors: Manalastas Patricia I. C. , Zangwill Linda M. , Daga Fabio B. , Christopher Mark A. , Saunders Luke J. , Shoji Takuhei , Akagi Tadamichi , Penteado Rafaella C. , Yarmohammadi Adeleh , Suh Min H. , Medeiros Felipe A. , Weinreb Robert N.
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To evaluate strength of associations between optical coherence tomography (OCT)-angiography vessel density (VD) measurements in the macula and peripapillary region of the optic nerve head (ONH) with standard structural OCT thickness measures.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study included 333 eyes of 219 primary open-angle glaucoma patients, 41 glaucoma suspects, and 73 healthy participants from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) with good quality OCT angiography images. The strength of associations between microvasculature measures in the ONH retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and superficial macula layer was assessed using linear regression models. Associations between ONH and macula VD, and circumpapillary (cp) RNFL thickness and macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) measures were also evaluated.

Results:

The strength (r
2) of associations among VD and thickness measures of ONH and macula ranged from 14.1% to 69.4%; all were statistically significant (P<0.001). The association between ONH and macula whole-image VD (r
2=41.0%) was significantly weaker than the relationship between mGCC and cpRNFL thickness (r
2=69.4%, P<0.001). Although both cpRNFL and mGCC thicknesses tended to be more strongly associated with ONH VD (r
2=39.2% and 26.7%, respectively) than macula VD (r
2=27.5% and 17.7%, respectively), differences did not reach statistical significance (P=0.050 and P=0.113, respectively).

Conclusions:

The strength of the association of VD with cpRNFL and mGCC thicknesses varies by retinal layer. The weaker association of macula VD compared with ONH VD with tissue thickness may be due to differences in micorovasculature between the macula and ONH.
Outcome Following Laser Peripheral Iridotomy and Predictors of Future Lens Extraction
Authors: Bo Jenny , Changulani Tulsi , Cheng Mei-Ling , Tatham Andrew J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To examine the outcome of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) for primary angle closure and determine predictors of future lens extraction (LE).

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of 218 eyes from 128 consecutive patients undergoing LPI between 2010 and 2012 at a university hospital. Baseline factors including age, peak intraocular pressure (IOP) before LPI, diagnosis (primary angle closure suspect, primary angle closure, primary angle closure glaucoma), and acute or non–acute presentation were recorded. Patients were followed for 3.7±1.6 years. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to examine survival times to LE and Cox proportional hazard regression was used to identify factors associated with LE.

Results:

In total, 91 of 218 eyes (41.7%) initially treated with LPI had LE during follow-up. For eyes with non–acute presentation, 12%, 25%, and 32% had LE at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. For eyes with acute presentation, 27%, 42%, and 50% had LE at 1, 2, and 3 years. In univariable analysis, older age, higher IOP, worse visual field, and primary angle closure glaucoma diagnosis were associated with LE, with older age and higher IOP remaining significant in multivariable analysis. There was a 1.09-fold increased odds of LE for each year older at baseline and each 1 mm Hg higher IOP was associated with a 1.08-fold increased odds of LE.

Conclusions:

A large proportion of patients with angle closure treated with LPI went on to require LE. Patients with features associated with higher odds of LE might be considered for LE as a primary procedure.
Ab Interno Tube Occlusion for Postoperative Hypotony in a Patient With an Ahmed Glaucoma Drainage Device
Authors: Feinstein Max , Moussa Kareem , Han Ying
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To report a case of Ahmed glaucoma valve-induced hypotony that was successfully managed with postoperative intraluminal stenting of the aqueous shunt tube.

Patient and Methods:

We describe a 68-year-old man with advanced uveitic glaucoma with an intraocular pressure (IOP) of 25 mm Hg in the left eye. The patient initially responded well to an Ahmed glaucoma valve implant, but at 10 weeks postimplantation, the patient underwent cataract surgery and developed persistent hypotony, choroidal folds, and decreased vision.

Results:

Before partial occlusion of the aqueous shunt tube, the patient had an IOP of 3 mm Hg and a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/60. Following intraluminal stenting of the aqueous shunt tube with 4-0 polypropylene suture (Prolene; Ethican), IOP rose from 7 to 10 mm Hg, BCVA improved to 20/30, and the choroidal folds resolved; IOP and BCVA remained stable through 1 year of follow-up and no additional surgical or pharmacological interventions were required.

Conclusions:

Aqueous shunt-induced hypotony can be successfully managed with intraluminal stenting and should be considered before tubal ligation or shunt removal.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Description of Ocular Decompression Retinopathy After Deep Sclerectomy in Traumatic Glaucoma
Authors: Salinas Lauriane , Chaudhary Ankita , Mansouri Kaweh
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to present a case of ocular decompression retinopathy (ODR) occurring after uncomplicated deep sclerectomy with Mitomycin C using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Patient and Method:

This is a single case report.

Results:

A 55-year-old man with traumatic glaucoma in the right eye complained of blurred vision. Visual acuity was 20/25 and intraocular pressure (IOP) was 50 mm Hg. Deep sclerectomy with Mitomycin C was performed. On the first postoperative day, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was light perception and IOP was 6 mm Hg. At 3 months follow-up, BCVA was 20/40 and IOP was 14 mm Hg. Fundoscopy showed multiple diffuse round retinal hemorrhages over the posterior pole, in all quadrants. On OCTA (RTVue XR Avanti; Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA), hemorrhages were present in superficial and deep retinal layers, with a normal vascularization in the en face image. BCVA improved to 20/32 at postoperative month 4 with reduced but persistent retinal hemorrhages.

Conclusions:

ODR is a rare complication of filtering surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second reported case of ODR occurring after deep sclerectomy and first description using OCTA. OCTA showed superficial and deep retinal hemorrhages with a normal vascular configuration. High-preoperative IOP seems to be the most important risk factor for this complication.
Role of DNA copy number variation in dyslipidemias
Authors: Iacocca Michael A. , Hegele Robert A.
Published: January 2018

Purpose of review

DNA copy number variations (CNVs) are quantitative structural rearrangements that include deletions, duplications, and higher order amplifications. Because of technical limitations, the contribution of this common form of genetic variation to regulation of lipid metabolism and dyslipidemia has been underestimated.

Recent findings

Recent literature involving CNVs and dyslipidemias has focused mainly on rare CNVs causing familial hypercholesterolemia, and a common CNV polymorphism as the major determinant of lipoprotein(a) plasma concentrations. Additionally, there is tantalizing evidence of largely uninvestigated but plausible presence of CNVs underlying other dyslipidemias. We also discuss the future role of improved technologies in facilitating more economic, routine CNV assessment in dyslipidemias.

CNVs account for large proportion of human genetic variation and are already known to contribute to susceptibility of dyslipidemias, particularly in about 10% of familial hypercholesterolemia patients. Increasing availability of clinical next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics presents a cost-effective opportunity for novel CNV discoveries in dyslipidemias.
Pancreatic Cancer Mortality in China
Authors: Jia Xiaoyue , Du Peiling , Wu Kusheng , Xu Zhenxi , Fang Jiaying , Xu Xiaoling , Lin Kun
Published: January 2018

Objectives

During the last decade, the mortality rate of pancreatic cancer in China has significantly increased. We analyzed data for the period 1991–2014 to investigate the distribution of mortality rates and predict trends for the next 5 years.

Methods

We obtained the pancreatic mortality data from the Chinese cancer annual report. Trend surface analysis was applied to study the geographical distribution. We used curve estimation, time series, grey box modeling, and joinpoint regression to predict the mortality rate.

Results

Standardized pancreatic cancer mortality rate increased during 1991–2014 and might peak in the ensuing 5 years in China. The mortality rate was higher among elderly people and in urban and northeast/eastern areas than among young people and in rural and middle/western areas.

Conclusions

Pancreatic cancer mortality shows an increasing trend, which is related to the socioeconomic development of China and the ageing of the population. Prevention strategies should be aimed at urban men 45 years or older, especially those residing in higher-mortality rate areas.
Using Quality Improvement to Increase Utilization of Enteral Therapy in Pediatric Crohn Disease
Authors: Shaikhkhalil Ala K. , Boyle Brendan , Smith Jennifer , Dotson Jennifer L. , Donegan Amy , Kim Sandra C. , Maltz Ross M. , Crandall Wallace
Published: January 2018

Introduction:

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) for induction of remission in children with Crohn disease (CD) is recommended as first‐line therapy, but underutilized in the United States related to real and perceived barriers. We hypothesized that quality improvement (QI) methodology could increase use of EEN.

Methods:

We developed, implemented, and revised an algorithm and a set of tools to facilitate use of EEN. Through a series of Plan Do Study Act cycles, the approach was modified to overcome provider and patient/family barriers. The primary outcome, the percentage of newly diagnosed CD patients who receive EEN per month between July 2013 and October 2015, assessed using statistical process control. Secondary outcomes, including the short pediatric Crohn disease activity index (sPCDAI), body mass index (BMI) z score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and hemoglobin were compared before and after EEN.

Results:

Among patients newly diagnosed with CD, 73 patients initiated EEN and were included (mean age 12.7 ± 2.9 years, 49% girls, 86% white). Rates of utilization of EEN increased significantly from a baseline of <5% to an average of approximately 50%. Of the 73 patients who started EEN, 37 (50%) completed a minimum of 8 weeks. Of those completing therapy, 25 (71%) achieved remission, with a significant reduction of sPCDAI (33.6 ± 14.4 to 10.7 ± 12.3, P < 0.0001)

Conclusions:

Use of QI methodology to systematically implement tools designed to improve utilization was effective in increasing the use of EEN. Among those completing therapy, EEN was effective in inducing remission.
Suicide Prevention
Authors: Davidson Judy E. , Zisook Sidney , Kirby Brittany , DeMichele Gianni , Norcross William
Published: January 2018

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the pilot expansion of a proactive suicide risk–screening program, initially designed for physicians, to nurses.

BACKGROUND

The Healer Education, Assessment and Referral (HEAR) program detects at-risk physicians and facilitates referral to mental healthcare. Nothing similar has been available for at-risk nurses. Local nurse suicides served as the catalyst to extend the HEAR program to nurses.

METHODS

Education, outreach, and an encrypted, online, anonymous, proactive risk screening were conducted to identify and refer nurses with depression and suicide risk.

RESULTS

During the 1st 6 months of the program, 172 of 2475 (7%) nurses completed questionnaires; 74 (43%) were rated as high risk, and another 98 (55%) as moderate risk; 12 (7%) reported current active thoughts or actions of self-harm, and 19 (11%) reported previous suicide attempts. Forty-four (26%) received in-person or verbal counseling, and 17 accepted referral for continued treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

An encrypted, anonymous, proactive risk screening is effective at identifying nurses at risk and referring them to mental healthcare.
Exploring the Use of Educational Material About Shoulder Dysfunction
Authors: Burke Katherine , Ellrodt Amy Swartz , Levine Jason , Adams Taylor , Allis Rebecca , Macmurdie Ian , Paganoni Sabrina
Published: January 2018

Shoulder pain is a common secondary complication of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that can contribute to functional decline and decreased participation in daily activities. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an educational brochure aimed at improving knowledge regarding shoulder pain and dysfunction in people with ALS. Participants completed a preintervention survey with questions regarding their knowledge of how ALS may affect their shoulders. After completing the presurvey, they were mailed a brochure that described shoulder health and range of motion and stretching exercises. Four weeks after receiving the brochure, participants were then asked to determine the effectiveness of the educational materials in terms of impact on shoulder-related knowledge and self-efficacy with regard to prevention of shoulder pain and dysfunction. More than 50% of participants reported pain, decreased range of motion, or weakness in at least one shoulder since being diagnosed with ALS. All participants were interested in receiving educational materials, and all agreed that the brochure was easy to interpret and understand, with most (87%) reporting that it was helpful. Educational brochures are one strategy to improve awareness about shoulder health and to educate patients with ALS about exercises that may help reduce shoulder pain and dysfunction.
Alcohol Use and HIV Disease Progression in an Antiretroviral Naive Cohort
Authors: Hahn Judith A. , Cheng Debbie M. , Emenyonu Nneka I. , Lloyd-Travaglini Christine , Fatch Robin , Shade Starley B. , Ngabirano Christine , Adong Julian , Bryant Kendall , Muyindike Winnie R. , Samet Jeffrey H.
Published: January 2018

Background:

Alcohol use has been shown to accelerate disease progression in experimental studies of simian immunodeficiency virus in macaques, but the results in observational studies of HIV have been conflicting.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective cohort study of the impact of unhealthy alcohol use on CD4 cell count among HIV-infected persons in southwestern Uganda not yet eligible for antiretroviral treatment (ART). Unhealthy alcohol consumption was 3-month Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—Consumption positive (≥3 for women, ≥4 for men) and/or phosphatidylethanol (PEth—an alcohol biomarker) ≥50 ng/mL, modeled as a time-dependent variable in a linear mixed effects model of CD4 count.

Results:

At baseline, 43% of the 446 participants were drinking at unhealthy levels and the median CD4 cell count was 550 cells/mm3 (interquartile range 416–685). The estimated CD4 cell count decline per year was −14.5 cells/mm3 (95% confidence interval: −38.6 to 9.5) for unhealthy drinking vs. −24.0 cells/mm3 (95% confidence interval: −43.6 to −4.5) for refraining from unhealthy drinking, with no significant difference in decline by unhealthy alcohol use (P value 0.54), adjusting for age, sex, religion, time since HIV diagnosis, and HIV viral load. Additional analyses exploring alternative alcohol measures, participant subgroups, and time-dependent confounding yielded similar findings.

Conclusion:

Unhealthy alcohol use had no apparent impact on the short-term rate of CD4 count decline among HIV-infected ART naive individuals in Uganda, using biological markers to augment self-report and examining disease progression before ART initiation to avoid unmeasured confounding because of misclassification of ART adherence.
Factors Influencing Perception of Facial Attractiveness: Gender and Dental Education
Authors: Jung Ga-Hee , Jung Seunggon , Park Hong-Ju , Oh Hee-Kyun , Kook Min-Suk
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

This study was conducted to investigate the gender- and dental education-specific differences in perception of facial attractiveness for varying ratio of lower face contour.

Methods:

Two hundred eleven students (110 male respondents and 110 female respondents; aged between 20–38 years old) were requested to rate facial figures with alterations to the bigonial width and the vertical length of the lower face. We produced a standard figure which is based on the “golden ratio” and 4 additional series of figures with either horizontal or vertical alterations to the contour of lower face. The preference for each figure was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale. The Kruskal Wallis test was used for differences in the preferences for each figure and the Mann–Whitney U test was used to evaluate gender-specific differences and differences by dental education.

Results:

In general, the highest preference score was indicated for the standard figure, whereas facial figure with large bigonial width and chin length had the lowest score.

Male respondents showed significantly higher preference score for facial contour that had a 0.1 proportional increase in the facial height-bigonial width ratio over that of the standard figure.

For horizontal alterations to the facial profiles, there were no significant differences in the preferences by the level of dental education. For vertically altered images, the average Visual Analog Scale was significantly lower among the dentally-educated for facial image that had a proportional 0.22 and 0.42 increase in the ratio between the vertical length of the chin and the lip.

Conclusion:

Generally, the standard image based on the golden ratio was the most. Slender face was appealed more to males than to females, and facial image with an increased lower facial height were perceived to be much less attractive to the dentally-educated respondents, which suggests that the dental education might have some influence in sensitivity to vertical changes in lower face.
Wedge Osteotomy for Correction of Chin Asymmetry
Authors: Costa Pedro Jorge Cavalcante , de Gauw Johnny Holanda , Costa Filho José Zenou
Published: January 2018

Chin deviation is generally the visible reflex of a mandibular asymmetry. The difficulty in obtaining a symmetrical result exists, but it can be minimized with the appropriate surgical technique. This article reports the mentoplasty technique with wedge osteotomy performed in an individual with a right-sided chin deviation. Three osteotomies were performed vertically and equidistantly, forming a bone wedge on the contralateral side of the deviation. Horizontal repositioning associated with the rotation caused by the vertical impaction of the chin after bone wedge removal was effective in solving esthetic problems of facial asymmetry, meeting the patient's main complaint.
Mandibular Osteonecrosis Associated With Raloxifene
Authors: Pontes Hélder Antônio Rebelo , Souza Lucas Lacerda de , Uchôa Daniel Cavalléro Colares , Cerqueira João Mateus Mendes
Published: January 2018

Osteonecrosis is a disease with diverse pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management. It may be associated with some medications used to treat systemic issues with bone metabolism. A few cases of jaw bone osteonecrosis have been associated with raloxifene. In this paper, the authors present a clinical report of a 64-year-old woman who presented with a necrosis foci in the right alveolar ridge of the mandible, associated with continued raloxifene use.
Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma Associated With Dental Implants
Authors: Scarano Antonio , Lorusso Carmen , Mortellaro Carmen , Limongelli Luisa , Tempesta Angela , Favia Gianfranco
Published: January 2018

Peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) is a nonneoplastic lesion of the oral mucosa arising on the buccal or lingual attached gingiva or alveolar mucosa and the crest of the edentulous alveolar ridge and contains numerous giant cells. This case series describes 3 cases regarding the clinical and surgical management of PGCG associated with dental implants.

Materials and Methods:

This case series presents 3 patients, mean age 36 years, who showed a pedunculated painless lesion associated with dental implants that radiographically appeared as an osseous rarefaction corresponding the implants.

Discussion:

Histological examination provided the diagnosis of PGCG. The treatment approach consisted in a surgical complete resection of the lesion and implant removal. After 1-year-follow-up, all the investigated cases did not show signs of recurrence.

Conclusion:

A correct diagnosis and an appropriate surgical treatment of peri-implant giant cell granuloma are very important aspects for proper management of the lesion.
Meta-analysis of surgeon-performed central line placement: Real-time ultrasound versus landmark technique
Authors: Gurien Lori A. , Blakely Martin L. , Crandall Marie C. , Schlegel Cameron , Rettiganti Mallikarjuna R. , Saylors Marie E. , France Daniel J. , Anders Shilo , Thomas Sheila L. , Dassinger Melvin S.
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Major health care agencies recommend real-time ultrasound (RTUS) guidance during insertion of percutaneous central venous catheters (CVC) based on studies in which CVCs were placed by nonsurgeons. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare outcomes for surgeon-performed RTUS-guided CVC insertion versus traditional landmark technique.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed, identifying randomized controlled trials (RCT) and prospective “safety studies” of surgeon-performed CVC insertions comparing landmark to RTUS techniques. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Web of Science, with additional relevant articles identified through examination of the bibliographies and citations of the included studies. Two independent reviewers selected relevant studies that matched inclusion criteria, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. A meta-analysis was conducted using random effects models to compare success and complication rates.

RESULTS

Three RCTs were identified totaling 456 patients. The RTUS guidance was associated with better first attempt success (odds ratio [OR], 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5–14.7, p = 0.008) and overall success (OR 6.5, 95% CI: 2.7–15.7, p < 0.0001). However, there were no differences in overall complication (OR 1.9 (95% CI, 0.8–4.4, p = 0.14)) or arterial puncture (OR 2.0 (95% CI, 0.7–5.6, p = 0.18) rates between the two methods.

CONCLUSION

Despite many studies involving nonsurgeons, there are only three RCTs comparing RTUS versus landmark technique for surgeon-performed CVC placement. The RTUS guidance is associated with better success than landmark technique, but no difference in complication rates. No study evaluated how RTUS was implemented. Larger studies examining RTUS use during surgeon-performed CVC placements are needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review and meta-analysis, level III.
PET and ictal SPECT can be helpful for localizing epileptic foci
Authors: von Oertzen Tim J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose of review

Functional neuroimaging with PET and SPECT is a commonly used tool in presurgical evaluation. The following article reviews the literature of PET and SPECT in presurgical assessment of epilepsies published in the last year.

Recent findings

FDG-PET adds concomitant information in temporal and extratemporal lobe epilepsy in adults and children. The pattern of hypometabolism in FDG-PET is a good additional predictor or seizure outcome in TLE with mesial temporal sclerosis or negative MRI. There is growing evidence that diagnostic value of FDG-PET increases with postprocessing. Although several methods were applied in the reviewed literature, all of them seem to outperform the visual analysis. Imaging of the epileptic focus with ictal SPECT is depending on short injection latencies. It is particularly useful in patients with nonlesional MRI and mostly of extratemporal localization. Areas of hyperperfusion remote of SOZ are reflecting the epileptic network. Combining more concordant investigations including PET and SPECT in MRI-negative evaluation adds to better presurgical stratification and therefore, better postsurgical outcome. FET-PET shows increased uptake in status epilepticus.

PET and SPECT are important investigations to localize the epileptic focus in temporal lobe and nonlesional extratemporal epilepsies. Postprocessing for both modalities is important to increase diagnostic value.
Intravenous Valproic Acid Add-On Therapy in Acute Agitation Adolescents With Suspected Substance Abuse: A Report of Six Cases
Authors: Battaglia Claudia , Averna Roberto , Labonia Milena , Riccioni Assia , Vicari Stefano
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to test efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) valproate for aggression in children and adolescents with mood or conduct disorder and concomitant substance abuse. Six patients received a 20 mg/kg dose of IV valproic acid as an add-on therapy to their standard therapy with second-generation antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. Agitation and general psychopathology were measured at baseline and after the first injection using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and the Children’s Global Assessment Scale. The findings suggested that in emergency psychiatry clinical settings, IV valproate was effective in reducing agitation and aggressive behaviors with a good tolerability profile and better treatment compliance.
Mechanism of evolution by genetic assimilation
Authors: Nishikawa Ken , Kinjo Akira R.
Published: January 2018

Conrad H. Waddington discovered the phenomenon of genetic assimilation through a series of experiments on fruit flies. In those experiments, artificially exerted environmental stress induced plastic phe-notypic changes in the fruit flies, but after some generations the same phenotypic variant started to appear without the environmental stress. Both the initial state (where the phenotypic changes were environmentally induced and plastic) and the final state (where the phenotypic changes were genetically fixed and constitutive) are experimental facts. However, it remains unclear how the environmentally induced phenotypic change in the first generation becomes genetically fixed in the central process of genetic assimilation itself. We have argued that the key to understanding the mechanism of genetic assimilation lies in epigenetics, and proposed the “cooperative model” in which the evolutionary process depends on both genetic and epigenetic factors. Evolutionary simulations based on the cooperative model reproduced the process of genetic assimilation. Detailed analysis of the trajectories has revealed genetic assimilation is a process in which epigenetically induced phe-notypic changes are incrementally and statistically replaced with multiple minor genetic mutations through natural selection. In this scenario, epigenetic and genetic changes may be considered as mutually independent but equivalent in terms of their effects on phenotypic changes. This finding rejects the common (and confused) hypothesis that epigenetically induced phe-notypic changes depend on genetic mutations. Furthermore, we argue that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is not required for evolution by genetic assimilation.
Is the blunderbuss a misleading visual metaphor for stasis and punctuated evolution?
Authors: Waller John T.
Published: January 2018

I discuss the usefulness of the so-called “blunderbuss pattern” of phenotypic evolution as a visual metaphor for stasis and punctuated evolution that was originally put forward in Uyeda et al. (2011) in their highly influential paper “The million-year wait for macroevolutionary bursts”. I argue the blunderbuss pattern is not surprising, and in some cases it is misleading. I review several publications that cite Uyeda et al. (2011) that seem to be confused about the meaning of the pattern and what it implies. I do not critique the original analysis within Uyeda et al (2011), but show the blunderbuss pattern itself would be produced even when assuming a Brownian motion (completely gradual) model of phenotypic divergence. Finally, I discuss how the interesting results of the paper have been overlooked in favor of the surprisingly powerful, but also misleading visual metaphor of the blunderbuss.
An Automated Workflow for Segmenting Single Adult Cardiac Cells from Large-Volume Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy Data
Authors: Hussain Akter , Ghosh Shouryadipta , Kalkhoran Siavash Beikoghli , Hausenloy Derek J. , Hanssen Eric , Rajagopal Vijay
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a new algorithm to automatically segment the myofibrils, mitochondria and nuclei within single adult cardiac cells that are part of a large serial-block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) dataset. The algorithm only requires a set of manually drawn contours that roughly demarcate the cell boundary at routine slice intervals (every 50th, for example). The algorithm correctly classified pixels within the single cell with 97% accuracy when compared to manual segmentations. One entire cell and the partial volumes of two cells were segmented. Analysis of segmentations within these cells showed that myofibrils and mitochondria occupied 47.5% and 51.6% on average respectively, while the nuclei occupy 0.7% of the cell for which the entire volume was captured in the SBF-SEM dataset. Mitochondria clustering increased at the periphery of the nucleus region and branching points of the cardiac cell. The segmentations also showed high area fraction of mitochondria (up to 70% of the 2D image slice) in the sub-sarcolemmal region, whilst it was closer to 50% in the intermyofibrillar space. We finally demonstrate that our segmentations can be turned into 3D finite element meshes for cardiac cell computational physiology studies. We offer our large dataset and MATLAB implementation of the algorithm for research use atwww.github.com/CellSMB/sbfsem-cardiac-cell-segmenter/. We anticipate that this timely tool will be of use to cardiac computational and experimental physiologists alike who study cardiac ultrastructure and its role in heart function.
Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Stem-Cell Donor Availabilitys
Authors: Sivasankaran Adarsh , Williams Eric , Albrecht Mark , Switzer Galen E. , Cherkassky Vladimir , Maiers Martin
Published: January 2018

0. Abstract

The success of Unrelated Donor stem-cell transplants depends not only on finding genetically matched donors but also on donor availability. On average 50% of potential donors in the NMDP database are unavailable for a variety of reasons, after initially matching a patient, with significant variations in availability among subgroups (e.g., by race or age). Several studies have established univariate donor characteristics associated with availability. Individual consideration of each applicable characteristic is laborious. Extrapolating group averages to individual donor level tends to be highly inaccurate. In the current environment with enhanced donor data collection, we can make better estimates of individual donor availability. In this study, we propose a Machine Learning based approach to predict availability of every registered donor, to be used during donor selection and reduce the time taken to complete a transplant.
Unidirectional fork movement coupled with strand-specific histone incorporation ensures asymmetric histone inheritance
Authors: Wooten Matthew , Snedeker Jonathan , Nizami Zehra , Yang Xinxing , Ranjan Rajesh , Urban Elizabeth , Kim Jee Min , Gall Joseph , Xiao Jie , Chen Xin
Published: January 2018

One Sentence Summary

DNA replication establishes asymmetric epigenomes

One of the most fundamental questions in developmental biology concerns how cells with identical genomes differentiate into distinct cell types. One important context for understanding cell fate specification is asymmetric cell division, where the two daughter cells establish different cell fates following a single division. Many stem cells undergo asymmetric division to produce both a self-renewing stem cell and a differentiating daughter cell1–5. Here we show that histone H4 is inherited asymmetrically in asymmetrically dividing Drosophila male germline stem cells, similar to H36. In contrast, both H2A and H2B are inherited symmetrically. By combining superresolution microscopy with the chromatin fiber method, we are able to study histone inheritance patterns on newly replicated chromatin fibers. Using this technique, we find asymmetric inheritance patterns for old and new H3, but symmetric inheritance patterns for old and new H2A on replicating sister chromatids. Furthermore, co-localization studies on isolated chromatin fibers and proximity ligation assays on intact nuclei reveal that old H3 are preferentially incorporated by the leading strand while newly synthesized H3 are enriched on the lagging strand. Finally, using a sequential nucleoside analog incorporation assay, we detect a high incidence of unidirectional DNA replication on germline-derived chromatin fibers and DNA fibers. The unidirectional fork movement coupled with the strand preference of histone incorporation could explain how old and new H3 are asymmetrically incorporated by replicating sister chromatids. In summary, our work demonstrates that the intrinsic asymmetries in DNA replication may help construct sister chromatids enriched with distinct populations of histones. Therefore, these results suggest unappreciated roles for DNA replication in asymmetrically dividing cells in multicellular organisms.
CHC22 clathrin mediates traffic from early secretory compartments for human GLUT4 pathway biogenesis
Authors: Camus Stéphane M. , Camus Marine D. , Figueras-Novoa Carmen , Boncompain Gaelle , Amanda Sadacca L. , Esk Christopher , Bigot Anne , Gould Gwyn W. , Kioumourtzoglou Dimitrios , Perez Franck , Bryant Nia J. , Mukherjee Shaeri , Brodsky Frances M.
Published: January 2018

Glucose Transporter 4 (GLUT4) is sequestered inside muscle and fat, then released by vesicle traffic to the cell surface in response to post-prandial insulin for blood glucose clearance. Here we map the biogenesis of this GLUT4 traffic pathway in humans, which involves clathrin isoform CHC22. We observe that GLUT4 transits through the early secretory pathway more slowly than the constitutively-secreted GLUT1 transporter and localize CHC22 to the endoplasmic-reticulum-to-Golgi-intermediate compartment (ERGIC). CHC22 functions in transport from the ERGIC, as demonstrated by an essential role in forming the replication vacuole ofLegionella pneumophilabacteria, which requires ERGIC-derived membrane. CHC22 complexes with ERGIC tether p115, GLUT4 and sortilin and down-regulation of either p115 or CHC22, but not GM130 or sortilin abrogate insulin-responsive GLUT4 release. This indicates CHC22 traffic initiates human GLUT4 sequestration from the ERGIC, and defines a role for CHC22 in addition to retrograde sorting of GLUT4 after endocytic recapture, enhancing pathways for GLUT4 sequestration in humans relative to mice, which lack CHC22.

Blood glucose clearance relies on insulin-mediated exocytosis of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from sites of intracellular sequestration. We show that in humans, CHC22 clathrin mediates membrane traffic from the ER-to-Golgi Intermediate Compartment, which is needed for GLUT4 sequestration during GLUT4 pathway biogenesis.
Phenotypic convergence in the brain: distinct transcription factors regulate common terminal neuronal characters
Authors: Konstantinides Nikos , Kapuralin Katarina , Fadil Chaimaa , Barboza Luendreo , Satija Rahul , Desplan Claude
Published: January 2018

Transcription factors regulate the molecular, morphological, and physiological characters of neurons and generate their impressive cell type diversity. To gain insight into general principles that govern how transcription factors regulate cell type diversity, we used large-scale single-cell mRNA sequencing to characterize the extensive cellular diversity in the Drosophila optic lobes. We sequenced 55,000 single optic lobe neurons and glia and assigned them to 52 clusters of transcriptionally distinct single cells. We validated the clustering and annotated many of the clusters using RNA sequencing of characterized FACS-sorted single cell types, as well as marker genes specific to given clusters. To identify transcription factors responsible for inducing specific terminal differentiation features, we used machine-learning to generate a ‘random forest’ model. The predictive power of the model was confirmed by showing that two transcription factors expressed specifically in cholinergic (apterous) and glutamatergic (traffic-jam) neurons are necessary for the expression of ChAT and VGlut in many, but not all, cholinergic or glutamatergic neurons, respectively. We used a transcriptome-wide approach to show that the same terminal characters, including but not restricted to neurotransmitter identity, can be regulated by different transcription factors in different cell types, arguing for extensive phenotypic convergence. Our data provide a deep understanding of the developmental and functional specification of a complex brain structure.