bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Site of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Via Flexible Bronchoscopy and Fluid Return in Children
Authors: Rosas-Salazar Christian , Walczak Stephen A. , Kurland Geoffrey , Spahr Jonathan E.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Despite its widespread use as a diagnostic tool, the procedure for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) via flexible bronchoscopy is not standardized in children. Our objective was to examine the dissimilarities in fluid return between the different lobes in children undergoing flexible bronchoscopies with BAL.

Methods:

We conducted a review of all pediatric flexible bronchoscopies with BAL conducted at a single institution over a 2-year period. Our predictor of interest was the site of the BAL. Our outcome of interest was the percent of fluid return. We used 1-way analysis of variance with subsequent pairwise comparisons for unadjusted analyses and multivariable linear regression for adjusted analyses.

Results:

We identified 529 procedures that met prespecified criteria. The mean (SD) percent of fluid return was 52.1 (14.4) for the right middle lobe, 50.7 (16.0) for the lingula (LIN), 50.5 (18.6) for the right or left upper lobes other than LIN (R/L-UL), and 42.2 (18.7) for the right or left lower lobes (R/L-LL). The R/L-LL had significantly lower fluid return when compared with each of the other lobes (P<0.05 for all pairwise comparisons); in contrast, there was no significant difference in fluid return between the other lobes. In our main analysis adjusting for potential confounders, performing the BAL in the right middle lobe, LIN, or R/L-UL increased the fluid return by 11.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 6.2-16.1], 9.5% (95% CI, 3.2-15.8), and 8.7% (95% CI, 0.9-16.5%), respectively, when compared with the R/L-LL.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that the lower lobes provide the lowest BAL fluid return in children, whereas the other lobes seem to perform similarly.
The Effects of the Transition From Medicaid to Medicare on Health Care Use for Adults With Mental Illness
Authors: Burns Marguerite E. , Huskamp Haiden A. , Smith Jessica C. , Madden Jeanne M. , Soumerai Stephen B.
Published: June 2016

Background:

The transition from Medicaid-only to dual Medicare/Medicaid coverage has the potential to reduce financial barriers to health care for patients with serious mental illness through increased coverage or expanded access to clinicians as their reimbursement increases.

Aims:

To estimate the effect of dual coverage after Medicaid enrollment during the required waiting period among adults with serious mental illness on health care use, overall and related to mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUD).

Methods:

Data include enrollment and claims from Medicaid and Medicare in Missouri and South Carolina, from January 2004 to December 2007. We used an interrupted time-series design to estimate the effect of dual coverage on average use of outpatient, emergency department (ED), and inpatient care/month.

Results:

After 12 months of dual coverage, the probability of outpatient care use increased in both states from 4% to 9%. In Missouri, the mean probability and frequency of ED visits, total and MHSUD related, increased by 21%–32%; the probability of all-cause and MHSUD-related inpatient admissions increased by 10% and 19%, respectively. In South Carolina, the mean probability of any inpatient admission increased by 27% and of any MHSUD-related inpatient admission by 42%.

Discussion:

The increase in use of outpatient care is consistent with the expected increase in coverage of, and payment for, outpatient services under dual coverage relative to Medicaid-only. Sustained increases in ED and inpatient admissions raise questions regarding the complexity of obtaining care under 2 programs, pent-up demand among beneficiaries pretransition, and the complementarity of outpatient and inpatient service use.
Effects of Orthokeratology on Choroidal Thickness and Axial Length
Authors: Chen Zhi , Xue Feng , Zhou Jiaqi , Qu Xiaomei , Zhou Xingtao
Published: June 2016

Purpose

To investigate the effect of orthokeratology (ortho-k) treatment on choroidal thickness and its relationship with axial length change.

Methods

Seventy-seven myopic subjects aged between 7 and 17 years were treated with ortho-k lenses (n = 39) or single-vision spectacle lenses (SVL, n = 38). Choroidal thickness and axial length measurements were taken at baseline and repeated 1 week and 3 weeks after lens wear for the ortho-k group and at 3 weeks for the SVL group. Parafoveal choroidal thickness was assessed using optical coherence tomography and segmented into nine regions according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) within a 6 × 6 mm circular zone centered on the fovea. Axial length was measured using partial coherence interferometry. The changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness were compared to the changes in axial length in both study groups.

Results

The change in axial length was significantly correlated with the change in choroidal thickness in both groups at 3 weeks (ortho-k, r = −0.351, p = 0.028 vs. SVL, r = −0.408, p = 0.011). Parafoveal choroidal thickness increased after 3 weeks of lens wear in the ortho-k group (mean, 21.8 ± 25.2 μm) but did not change in the SVL group (mean, 0.1 ± 19.7 μm). Choroidal thickness significantly varied across the posterior retinal regions (F = 82.14, p < 0.001), with the temporal regions being thickest and nasal regions being thinnest. After 3 weeks of ortho-k treatment, the magnitude of change (range, 14.1–27.6 μm) in choroidal thickness of the nine ETDRS regions was proportional to the baseline choroidal thickness in those regions (r = 0.88, p = 0.002). Axial length did not significantly change over time (F = 0.001, p = 0.975) and did not differ between the two treatment modalities (F = 0.305, p = 0.582).

Conclusions

Choroidal thickness increases after short-term ortho-k treatment. Regional choroidal thickening after ortho-k treatment may be attributable to the altered retinal defocus profile associated with ortho-k lens wear.
Eyelid Margin and Meibomian Gland Characteristics and Symptoms in Lens Wearers
Authors: Cox Stephanie M. , Berntsen David A. , Chatterjee Neil , Hickson-Curran Sheila B. , Jones Lyndon W. , Moezzi Amir M. , Morgan Philip B. , Nichols Jason J.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

To describe the lid margin characteristics of contact lens wearers and relate them to comfort during lens wear.

Methods

Three study sites enrolled habitual contact lens wearers. Subjects completed the Comfort domain of the Contact Lens User Experience (CLUE) questionnaire, and each eye was graded for the presence of mucocutaneous junction (MCJ) displacement, lid margin irregularity, and lid margin vascularity. Examiners counted the number of meibomian gland (MG) orifices in the central centimeter of the lower eyelid and the number of those that showed pouting/plugging and vascular invasion. MG expressibility was graded according to the Shimazaki schema. Subjects were grouped based on presence/absence of each characteristic, total number of orifices (≥5 vs. <5), and expressibility (grade 0 vs. >0). Descriptive statistics are reported. A linear model was used to assess the fixed effect of each characteristic on combined CLUE score and each CLUE statement, if the effect on combined CLUE score showed p < 0.10.

Results

The study included 203 subjects (67.5% female) with mean age (±SD) of 30.3 ± 9.6 years. The most commonly observed characteristics were orifice pouting/plugging, compromised MG expressibility, and lid margin vascularity (35.0, 30.3, and 20.4%, respectively). MCJ displacement and MG expressibility had an effect on the combined CLUE score such that individual CLUE statements were analyzed (p = 0.01 and p = 0.06, respectively). MCJ displacement had an effect on comfort upon insertion (p = 0.01), comfort after 5 minutes (p = 0.03), end-of-day comfort (p = 0.01), and ability to maintain ocular moisture (p = 0.030). MG expressibility had a significant effect on general comfort (p = 0.01), comfort throughout the day (p = 0.02), and the ability to maintain ocular moisture (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

MCJ displacement and MG expressibility have an effect on contact lens comfort.
Description of PICU Unplanned Readmission*
Authors: Kotsakis Afrothite , Stevens Derek , Frndova Helena , Neal Richard , Williamson Grace , Mohseni-Bod Hadi , Parshuram Christopher S.
Published: June 2016

Objectives:

ICU readmission within 48 hours of discharge is associated with increased mortality. The objectives of this study were to describe the frequency of, factors associated with, and outcomes associated with unplanned PICU readmission.

Design:

A retrospective case-control study was performed. We evaluated 13 candidate risk factors and report patient outcomes following readmission. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients discharged from the cardiac PICU and medical-surgical PICU.

Setting:

The study was undertaken at the Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Critical Care Medicine.

Patients:

Eligible patients were discharged from the PICU to an inpatient ward between December 2006 and January 2013. Case patients were readmitted to the PICU within 48 hours of discharge.

Measurements and Main Results:

There were 10,422 eligible patient discharges; 264 (2.5%) were readmitted within 48 hours. In the univariable analysis, unplanned readmission was associated with PICU patient admissions of younger age, lower weight, greater duration of PICU stay, greater cumulative stay in PICU in the past 2 years, higher Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score on PICU discharge, discharge outside goal discharge time (06:00–11:59 hr), use of extracorporeal organ support during ICU stay, greater Bedside Pediatric Early Warning Score, at discharge and discharge from the cardiac PICU. In the multivariable analysis, the factors most significantly associated with unplanned PICU readmission were length of stay more than 48 hours, greater cumulative length of PICU stay in the past 2 years, discharge from cardiac PICU, and higher Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction and Bedside Pediatric Early Warning Scores on index discharge. Mortality was 1.8 times (p = 0.03) higher in patients with an unplanned PICU readmission compared with patients during their index PICU admission.

Conclusions:

The only potentially modifiable factors we found associated with PICU readmission within 48 hours of discharge were discharge time of day and the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction and Bedside Pediatric Early Warning Scores at the time of PICU discharge.
Iodine Concentration and Optimization in Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Faggioni Lorenzo , Gabelloni Michela
Published: June 2016

Computed tomography (CT) technology has seen a dramatic evolution in the recent past that has deeply changed the face of this diagnostic modality. Since the early days of helical single-slice and then multislice CT, CT angiography (CTA) has been one of the most technically demanding applications, both in terms of scanning technique and contrast medium (CM) injection protocol, due to the need to acquire a large amount of high-resolution data over a limited period corresponding to the peak contrast enhancement of the arterial system. Iodine concentration is one of the main determinants of arterial enhancement in CTA, and current low-osmolar and iso-osmolar nonionic CM for intravascular administration still come in a handful of molecules, but a relatively wide range of different iodine concentrations. This gives the opportunity to optimize CTA protocols as a function of several factors such as patient characteristics, CT technology, and CM features in an attempt to maximize the diagnostic yield of CTA examinations while considering patient safety and avoiding unnecessary extra costs. Our aim is to provide an up-to-date overview of the existing evidence on how changing iodine concentration can have an impact on CTA performance, especially with the use of state-of-the-art CT and power injector technology, in the perspective of improving patient care while minimizing overall exposure to iodinated CM and ionizing radiation.
Automated Quantitative Plaque Analysis for Discrimination of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion and Subtotal Occlusion in Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Staruch Adam D. , Opolski Maksymilian P. , Slomka Piotr J. , Staruch Michal , Kepka Cezary , Witkowski Adam , Kruk Mariusz , Dey Damini
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of automated plaque analysis in differentiating chronic total occlusion (CTO) from subtotal occlusion (SO) in patients with ambiguous coronary lesions on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Materials and Methods:

A total of 63 patients with 63 ambiguous coronary lesions on CTA were included. The lesion length (LL), diameter stenosis, plaque volume and composition, remodeling index, and contrast density difference (CDD) (reflecting intraluminal contrast kinetics over the lesion) were assessed using an automatic software tool. All patients underwent invasive coronary angiography.

Results:

Coronary angiography confirmed 28 CTOs and 35 SOs. CTOs showed significantly longer LL (6.4±12.3 vs. 1.0±2.2 mm, P=0.03) and higher CDD (74%±31% vs. 55%±32%, P=0.02) compared with SO. The optimal thresholds for prediction of CTO for CDD and LL were ≥43% and ≥1 mm, respectively (max. sensitivity: 82% for CDD, max. specificity: 77% for LL). The guidewire manipulation time correlated with LL (r=0.529, P=0.004) and CDD (r=0.435, P=0.021) in lesions attempted by percutaneous coronary intervention.

Conclusions:

Automated computed tomography plaque analysis may be applied as a noninvasive tool to differentiate CTO from SO.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion With Subsequent Central Retinal Vein Occlusion in Biopsy-Proven Giant Cell Arteritis
Authors: Williams Zoë R. , Wang Xiaofei , DiLoreto David A.
Published: June 2016

Central retinal artery occlusion with subsequent central retinal vein occlusion in the same eye is a rare entity. We present a 72-year-old man with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis who developed bilateral arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and a left central retinal artery occlusion. Subsequently, he developed a left central retinal vein occlusion within 2 weeks of his initial vision loss. His vision did not improve with corticosteroids.
Utility of Continuous EEG Monitoring in Noncritically lll Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Billakota Santoshi , Sinha Saurabh R.
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

Continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring is used in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting to detect seizures, especially nonconvulsive seizures and status epilepticus. The utility and impact of such monitoring in non-ICU patients are largely unknown.

Methods:

Hospitalized patients who were not in an ICU and underwent cEEG monitoring in the first half of 2011 and 2014 were identified. Reason for admission, admitting service (neurologic and nonneurologic), indication for cEEG, comorbid conditions, duration of recording, EEG findings, whether an event/seizure was recorded, and impact of EEG findings on management were reviewed. We evaluated the impact of the year of recording, admitting service, indication for cEEG, and neurologic comorbidity on the yield of recordings based on whether an event was captured and/or a change in antiepileptic drug management occurred.

Results:

Two hundred forty-nine non-ICU patients had cEEG monitoring during these periods. The indication for cEEG was altered mental status (60.6%), observed seizures (26.5%), or observed spells (12.9%); 63.5% were on neuro-related services. The average duration of recording was 1.8 days. EEG findings included interictal epileptiform discharges (14.9%), periodic lateralized discharges (4%), and generalized periodic discharges (1.6%). Clinical events were recorded in 28.1% and seizures in 16.5%. The cEEG led to a change in antiepileptic drug management in 38.6% of patients. There was no impact of type of admitting service; there was no significant impact of indication for cEEG.

Conclusions:

In non-ICU patients, cEEG monitoring had a relatively high yield of event/seizures (similar to ICU) and impact on management. Temporal trends, admitting service, and indication for cEEG did not alter this.
Utilization of Quantitative EEG Trends for Critical Care Continuous EEG Monitoring: A Survey of Neurophysiologists
Authors: Swisher Christa B. , Sinha Saurabh R.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

Quantitative EEG (QEEG) can be used to assist with review of large amounts of data generated by critical care continuous EEG monitoring. This study aimed to identify current practices regarding the use of QEEG in critical care continuous EEG monitoring of critical care patients.

Methods:

An online survey was sent to 796 members of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), instructing only neurophysiologists to participate.

Results:

The survey was completed by 75 neurophysiologists that use QEEG in their practice. Survey respondents reported that neurophysiologists and neurophysiology fellows are most likely to serve as QEEG readers (97% and 52%, respectively). However, 21% of respondents reported nonneurophysiologists are also involved with QEEG interpretation. The majority of nonneurophysiologist QEEG data review is aimed to alert neurophysiologists to periods of concern, but 22% reported that nonneurophysiologists use QEEG to directly guide clinical care. Quantitative EEG was used most frequently for seizure detection (92%) and burst suppression monitoring (59%). A smaller number of respondents use QEEG for monitoring the depth of sedation (29%), ischemia detection (28%), vasospasm detection (28%) and prognosis after cardiac arrest (21%). About half of the respondents do not review every page of the raw critical care continuous EEG record when using QEEG. Respondents prefer a panel of QEEG trends displayed as hemispheric data, when applicable. There is substantial variability regarding QEEG trend preferences for seizure detection and ischemia detection.

Conclusions:

QEEG is being used by neurophysiologists and nonneurophysiologists for applications beyond seizure detection, but practice patterns vary widely. There is a need for standardization of QEEG methods and practices.
Association Between Gender, Body Mass Index, and Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the Elbow: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Uzunkulaoğlu Aslihan , Ikbali Afsar Sevgi , Karataş Metin
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

Entrapment of the ulnar nerve is the second most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity, but the etiology is multifactorial and still not clearly understood. The authors aimed to determine whether gender and body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE) at the elbow.

Methods:

Results of electrodiagnostic studies performed on patients with UNE between January 2008 and February 2013 were examined retrospectively. Patients with BMI ≤22 were considered slender, those with a BMI between 22 and 29, normal, and those with a BMI >29, overweight. The authors compared the data for patients with and without UNE.

Results:

A total of 622 subjects were studied; 295 were UNE cases (154 men, 141 women) and 327 were controls (110 men, 217 women). There was no difference between control and UNE groups in terms of BMI. In univariate analysis, age and gender are independent risk factors for UNE, but when included in a stepwise Cox regression model, only gender was a significant factor. Male gender was found to be a risk factor for UNE.

Conclusions:

Male gender is a risk factor for developing UNE, but age and BMI are not significant risk factors. Further studies which examine BMI and gender differences with data about occupational risk factors are required.
Intraoperative ECoG During MRI-Guided Laser-Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Intractable Epilepsy
Authors: Luedke Matthew W. , Pietak Michael R. , Serafini Sandra , Haglund Michael M. , Sinha Saurabh R.
Published: June 2016

MRI-guided laser-interstitial thermal therapy is a new modality for epilepsy surgery. In patients with intractable localization-related seizures, it has been used to ablate epileptogenic lesions with less morbidity than conventional craniotomies, and with potentially similar rates of seizure freedom. It is gaining favor in the treatment of mesial temporal sclerosis, in which the circumscribed epileptic focus is amenable to a stereotactic approach. In some centers, intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) is a standard procedure during tailored temporal lobectomies that include resection of mesial temporal structures. Results of intraoperative ECoG have been used to guide the extent of resection of mesial temporal structures and for prognostication. Given the limitations of burr-hole access during laser-interstitial thermal therapy, ECoG has not previously been applied. We present two case reports involving intraoperative ECoG monitoring with a depth electrode placed into the parahippocampal region, with recording before and immediately after thermal ablation of the mesial temporal region. In each case, there were decreases in the mesial temporal spike activity after laser ablation of the hippocampus. This is the first demonstration of intraoperative neurophysiologic motoring during laser-interstitial thermal therapy. The role of intraoperative ECoG for guiding the extent of ablation and determining prognosis during MRI-guided laser-interstitial thermal therapy remains to be determined.
Kin Recognition in a Clonal Fish,Poecilia Formosa
Authors: Makowicz Amber M. , Tiedemann Ralph , Steele Rachel N. , Schlupp Ingo
Published: June 2016

Relatedness strongly influences social behaviors in a wide variety of species. For most species, the highest typical degree of relatedness is between full siblings with 50% shared genes. However, this is poorly understood in species with unusually high relatedness between individuals: clonal organisms. Although there has been some investigation into clonal invertebrates and yeast, nothing is known about kin selection in clonal vertebrates. We show that a clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), can distinguish between different clonal lineages, associating with genetically identical, sister clonals, and use multiple sensory modalities. Also, they scale their aggressive behaviors according to the relatedness to other females: they are more aggressive to non-related clones. Our results demonstrate that even in species with very small genetic differences between individuals, kin recognition can be adaptive. Their discriminatory abilities and regulation of costly behaviors provides a powerful example of natural selection in species with limited genetic diversity.
The Effects of Migration and Assortative Mating on Admixture Linkage Disequilibrium
Authors: Zaitlen Noah , Huntsman Scott , Hu Donglei , Spear Melissa , Eng Celeste , Oh Sam S. , White Marquitta J , Mak Angel , Davis Adam , Meade Kelly , Brigino-Buenaventura Emerita , LeNoir Michael A , Bibbins-Domingo Kirsten , Burchard Esteban G , Halperin Eran
Published: June 2016

1

Statistical models in medical and population genetics typically assume that individuals assort randomly in a population. While this simplifies model complexity, it contradicts an increasing body of evidence of non-random mating in human populations. Specifically, it has been shown that assortative mating is significantly affected by genomic ancestry. In this work we examine the effects of ancestry-assortative mating on the linkage disequilibrium between local ancestry tracks of individuals in an admixed population. To accomplish this, we develop an extension to the Wright-Fisher model that allows for ancestry based assortative mating. We show that ancestry-assortment perturbs the distribution of local ancestry linkage disequilibrium (LAD) and the variance of ancestry in a population as a function of the number of generations since admixture. This assortment effect can induce errors in demographic inference of admixed populations when methods assume random mating. We derive closed form formulae for LAD under an assortative-mating model with and without migration. We observe that LAD depends on the correlation of global ancestry of couples in each generation, the migration rate of each of the ancestral populations, the initial proportions of ancestral populations, and the number of generations since admixture. We also present the first evidence of ancestry-assortment in African Americans and examine LAD in simulated and real admixed population data of African Americans. We find that demographic inference under the assumption of random mating significantly underestimates the number of generations since admixture, and that accounting for assortative mating using the patterns of LAD results in estimates that more closely agrees with the historical narrative.
Dopaminergic neurons modulate locomotion inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Abdelhack Mohamed
Published: June 2016

Adaptation in the sensory-mechanical loop during locomotion is a powerful mechanism that allows organisms to survive in different conditions and environments. Motile animals need to alter motion patterns in different environments. For example, crocodiles and other animals can walk on solid ground but switch to swimming in water beds. The nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansalso shows adaptability by employing thrashing behaviour in low viscosity media and crawling in high viscosity media. The mechanism that enables this adaptability is an active area of research. It has been attributed previously to neuro-modulation by dopamine and serotonin.

The aim of this study is to physiologically investigate the neuronal mechanisms of modulation of locomotion by dopamine. The results suggest that the mechanosensory properties of the dopaminergic neurons PDE are not limited to touch sensation, but to surrounding environment resistance as well. The significance of such characterization is improving our understanding of dopamine gait switching which gets impaired in Parkinson’s disease.
The Human Octopus: Controlling supernumerary hands with the help of virtual reality
Authors: Kulu Sander , Vasser Madis , Vicente Zafra Raul , Aru Jaan
Published: June 2016

We investigated the “human octopus” phenomenon where subjects controlled virtual supernumerary hands through hand tracking technology and virtualreality. Four experiments were developed to study how subjects (n=10) operate with different number and behaviour of supernumerary hands. The behaviours involved inserting movement delays to the virtual hands and adjustingtheir movement scale or position. It was found that having more hands to operate with does not necessarily mean higher success rate while performinga certain task. However, supernumerary hands could bemade more effective by adjusting the associated movement scales of the extra hands. The subjective feeling and ownership of the hands diminished when a delay was inserted for the virtual hands or when their position was altered.
Active modules for multilayer weighted gene co-expression networks: a continuous optimization approach
Authors: Li Dong , He Shan
Published: June 2016

Motivation

Searching for active connected subgraphs in biological networks has shown important to identifying functional modules. Most existing active modules identification methods need both network structural information and gene activity measures, typically requiring prior knowledge database and high-throughput data. As a pure data-driven gene network, weighted gene co-expression network (WGCN) could be constructed only from expression profile. Searching for modules on WGCN thus has potential values. While traditional clustering based modules detection on WGCN method covers all genes, unavoidable introducing many uninformative ones when annotating modules. We need to find more accurate part of them.

Results

We propose a fine-grained method to identifyactivemodules on the multi-layer weighted (co-expression gene)network, based onacontinuous optimization approach (AMOUNTAIN). The multilayer network are also considered under the unified framework, as a natural extension to single layer network case. The effectiveness is validated on both synthetic data and real-world data. And the software is provided as a user-friendly R package.

Availability

Available athttps://github.com/fairmiracle/AMOUNTAIN

Contact

s.he@cs.bham.ac.uk

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available atBioin-formaticsonline.
A Facilitated Diffusion Mechanism Establishes the Drosophila Dorsal Gradient
Authors: Carrell Sophia N. , O’Connell Michael D. , Allen Amy E. , Smith Stephanie M. , Reeves Gregory T.
Published: June 2016

The transcription factor NF-κB plays an important role in the immune system as an apoptotic and inflammatory factor. In theDrosophila melanogasterembryo, a homolog of NF-ΚB called Dorsal (dl) patterns the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis in a concentration-dependent manner. During early development, dl is sequestered outside the nucleus by Cactus (Cact), homologous to IκB. Toll signaling at the ventral midline breaks the dl/Cact complex, allowing dl to enter the nucleus where it transcribes target genes. Here we show that dl accumulates on the ventral side of the embryo over the last 5 cleavage cycles and that this accumulation is the result of facilitated diffusion of dl/Cact complex. We speculate that the predominant role for Cact in DV axis specification is to shuttle dl towards the ventral midline. Given that this mechanism has been found in other, independent systems, we suggest it may be more prevalent than previously thought.
Large shifts among eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea define the vertical organization of a lake sediment
Authors: Wurzbacher Christian , Fuchs Andrea , Attermeyer Katrin , Frindte Katharina , Grossart Hans-Peter , Hupfer Michael , Casper Peter , Monaghan Michael T.
Published: June 2016

Sediments are depositional areas where particles sink from water columns, but they are also microbial hotspots that play an important role in biogeochemical cycles. Unfortunately, the importance of both processes in structuring microbial community composition has not been assessed. We surveyed all organismic signals of the last ca. 170 years of sediment by metabarcoding, identifying global trends for eukaryotes, bacteria, archaea, and monitored 40 sediment parameters. We linked the microbial community structure to ongoing and historical environmental parameters and defined three distinct sediment horizons. This not only expands our knowledge of freshwater sediments, but also has profound implications for understanding the microbial community structure and function of sediment communities in relation to future, present, and past environmental changes.
Patient resistance as a resource: candidate obstacles in diabetes consultations
Authors: Barton Josh , Dew Kevin , Dowell Anthony , Sheridan Nicolette , Kenealy Timothy , Macdonald Lindsay , Docherty Barbara , Tester Rachel , Raphael Debbie , Gray Lesley , Stubbe Maria
Published: June 2016

This study uses conversation analysis to explore ‘candidate obstacles’, a practice observed in sequences of patient resistance to lifestyle advice within health professional consultations. This article presents illustrative analyses of selected data excerpts drawn from audio‐visual recordings of 116 tracked consultations between health professionals and 34 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus in New Zealand. The analysis shows that in consultations where health promotion activities are central, patient resistance can provide space for patients to identify obstacles to their compliance with lifestyle advice. Identifying candidate obstacles provides opportunities for health professionals to align advice with concerns of patients and potentially improve patient outcomes.
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Iran: A 2011 update
Authors: Noshad Sina , Abbasi Mehrshad , Etemad Koorosh , Meysamie Alipasha , Afarideh Mohsen , Khajeh Elias , Asgari Fereshteh , Mousavizadeh Mostafa , Rafei Ali , Neishaboury Mohamadreza , Ghajar Alireza , Nakhjavani Manouchehr , Koohpayehzadeh Jalil , Esteghamati Alireza
Published: June 2016

Background

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components among the Iranian adult population in 2011 and to investigate changes between 2007 and 2011.

Methods

Data from two rounds of the Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non‐communicable Diseases national surveys conducted in 2007 and 2011 were pooled. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to International Diabetes Federation criteria.

Results

In 2007, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults aged 25–64 years was 35.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 34.27–37.63), which decreased to 32.96 (95% CI 30.73–35.18) in 2011 (P = 0.0108). Despite this overall decline, the prevalence of central obesity (P = 0.1383), raised triglycerides (P = 0.3058), and reduced high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C; P = 0.5595) remained constant. There was a trend towards a decline in the proportion of individuals with increased blood pressure (P = 0.0978), and the proportion of adults with increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) increased (P < 0.0001). In 2011, the prevalence of central obesity, raised triglycerides, reduced HDL‐C, increased blood pressure and increased FPG was 51.88 (95% CI 48.97–54.79), 36.99 (95% CI 34.52–39.45), 54.72 (95% CI 50.87–58.57), 38.92 (95% CI 36.19–41.64), and 24.97 (95% CI 22.02–27.93) respectively.

Conclusions

Over the period 2007–11, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has decreased slightly in Iran, although prevalence of increased FPG has increased significantly. One‐third of the Iranian adult population is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
Shear stress‐induced angiogenesis in mouse muscle is independent of the vasodilator mechanism and quickly reversible
Authors: Egginton S. , Hussain A. , Hall‐Jones J. , Chaudhry B. , Syeda F. , Glen K. E.
Published: June 2016

Aim

Is modulation of skeletal muscle capillary supply by altering blood flow due to a presumptive shear stress response per se, or dependent on the vasodilator mechanism?

Methods

The response to four different vasodilators, and cotreatment with blockers of NO and prostaglandin synthesis, was compared. Femoral artery blood flow was correlated with capillary‐to‐fibre ratio (C:F) and protein levels of putative angiogenic compounds.

Results

All vasodilators induced a similar increase in blood flow after 14 days, with a similar effect on C:F (1.62 ± 0.05, 1.60 ± 0.01, 1.57 ± 0.06, 1.57 ± 0.07, respectively, all P < 0.05 vs. control 1.20 ± 0.01). Concomitant inhibitors revealed differential effects on blood flow and angiogenesis, demonstrating that a similar response may have different signalling origins. The time course of this response with the most commonly used vasodilator, prazosin, showed that blood flow increased from 0.40 mL min−1 to 0.61 mL min−1 by 28 days (P < 0.05), dropped within 1 week after the cessation of treatment (0.54 mL min−1; P < 0.05) and returned to control levels by 6 weeks. In parallel with FBF, capillary rarefaction began within 1 week (P < 0.05), giving C:F values similar to control by 2 weeks. Of the dominant signalling pathways, prazosin decreased muscle VEGF, but increased its cognate receptor Flk‐1 (both P < 0.01); levels of eNOS varied with blood flow (P < 0.05), and Ang‐1 initially increased, while its receptor Tie‐2 was unchanged, with only modest changes in the antiangiogenic factor TSP‐1.

Conclusion

Hyperaemia‐induced angiogenesis, likely in response to elevated shear stress, is independent of the vasodilator involved, with a rapid induction and quick regression following the stimulus withdrawal.
Pro‐inflammatory cytokines, IL‐1β and TNF‐α, produce persistent compromise in tonic immobility defensive behaviour in endotoxemia guinea‐pigs
Authors: Ribeiro A. B. , de Barcellos‐Filho P. C. G. , Franci C. R. , Menescal‐de‐Oliveira L. , Saia R. S.
Published: June 2016

Aim

Sepsis has been associated with acute behavioural changes in humans and rodents, which consists of a motivational state and an adaptive response that improve survival. However, the involvement of peripheral cytokines synthesized during systemic inflammation as modulators of the tonic immobility (TI) defensive behaviour remains a literature gap. Our purposes were to characterize the TI defensive behaviour in endotoxemia guinea‐pigs at acute phase and after recovery from the initial inflammatory challenge. Furthermore, we investigated whether peri‐aqueductal grey matter (PAG) exists as a brain structure related to this behaviour and also pro‐inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β, act at this mesencephalic nucleus.

Methods

Endotoxemia was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration in guinea‐pigs. The parameters evaluated included TI defensive behaviour, survival, cytokines production, as well as neuronal activation and apoptosis in the PAG.

Results

Endotoxemia guinea‐pigs exhibited a reduction in the duration of TI episodes, starting at 2 h after LPS administration and persisting throughout the experimental period evaluated over 7 days. Moreover, endotoxemia increased the c‐FOS immunoreactivity of neurones in the ventrolateral PAG (vlPAG), as well as the caspase‐3 expression. The LPS microinjection into vlPAG reproduces the same compromise, that is a decrease in the duration of TI defensive behaviour, observed after the peripheral administration. The immunoneutralization against IL‐1β and TNF‐α into vlPAG reverts all the effects produced by peripheral LPS administration.

Conclusion

Our findings confirm that vlPAG is an important brain structure involved in the behavioural alterations induced by endotoxemia, possibly changing the neuronal activity caused by pro‐inflammatory cytokines produced peripherally.
Is there a significant interaction effect between apolipoprotein E rs405509 T/T and ε4 genotypes on cognitive impairment and gray matter volume?
Authors: Ma C. , Zhang Y. , Li X. , Zhang J. , Chen K. , Liang Y. , Chen Y. , Liu Z. , Zhang Z.
Published: June 2016

Background

Evidence demonstrates that the T allele of the single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs405509 in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) promoter is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. However, it is unknown whether rs405509 T allele synergizes with the APOE ε4 allele in influencing cognition and brain structure.

Methods

We analyzed the interaction effect of the rs405509 T allele and the APOE ε4 allele on cognitive ability and brain gray matter volume among elderly people. The subjects were grouped into four groups according to APOE and rs405509 genotypes.

Results

Significant interaction effects were found between rs405509 and APOE on general mental status, memory and attention. Analysis of the whole brain gray matter showed a significantly positive interaction effect between rs405509and APOE on the right inferior temporal gyrus and right fusiform gyrus (alphasim correction P < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant relationship between cognitive ability and gray matter volume.

Conclusions

The data indicate that the APOE rs405509 T homozygote modulates the effect of APOE ε4 on both cognitive performance and brain gray matter structure.
Genetic structure reveals a history of multiple independent origins followed by admixture in the allopolyploid weed Salsola ryanii
Authors: Welles Shana R. , Ellstrand Norman C.
Published: June 2016

It has recently become clear that many invasive species have evolved in situ via hybridization or polyploidy from progenitors which themselves are introduced species. For species formed by hybridization or polyploidy, genetic diversity within the newly formed species is influenced by the number of independent evolutionary origins of the species. For recently formed species, an analysis of genetic structure can provide insight into the number of independent origin events involved in the formation of the species. For a putative invasive allopolyploid species, the number of origins involved in the species formation, the genetic diversity present within these origins, and the level of gene flow between independent origins determines the genetic composition of the neospecies. Here we analyze the genetic structure of the newly formed allopolyploid species, Salsola ryanii, a tumbleweed which evolved within the last 20–100 years in California. We utilize the genetic structure analysis to determine that this new species is the result of at least three independent allopolyplodization events followed by gene flow between the descendants of independent origins.
Molecular basis of retinol anti‐ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Authors: Shao Y. , He T. , Fisher G. J. , Voorhees J. J. , Quan T.
Published: June 2016

Objective

Retinoic acid has been shown to improve the aged‐appearing skin. However, less is known about the anti‐ageing effects of retinol (ROL, vitamin A), a precursor of retinoic acid, in aged human skin in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the molecular basis of ROL anti‐ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo.

Methods

Sun‐protected buttock skin (76 ± 6 years old, n = 12) was topically treated with 0.4% ROL and its vehicle for 7 days. The effects of topical ROL on skin epidermis and dermis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, Northern analysis, real‐time RT‐PCR and Western analysis. Collagen fibrils nanoscale structure and surface topology were analysed by atomic force microscopy.

Results

Topical ROL shows remarkable anti‐ageing effects through three major types of skin cells: epidermal keratinocytes, dermal endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Topical ROL significantly increased epidermal thickness by stimulating keratinocytes proliferation and upregulation of c‐Jun transcription factor. In addition to epidermal changes, topical ROL significantly improved dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment; increasing dermal vascularity by stimulating endothelial cells proliferation and ECM production (type I collagen, fibronectin and elastin) by activating dermal fibroblasts. Topical ROL also stimulates TGF‐β/CTGF pathway, the major regulator of ECM homeostasis, and thus enriched the deposition of ECM in aged human skin in vivo. 0.4% topical ROL achieved similar results as seen with topical retinoic acid, the biologically active form of ROL, without causing noticeable signs of retinoid side effects.

Conclusion

0.4% topical ROL shows remarkable anti‐ageing effects through improvement of the homeostasis of epidermis and dermis by stimulating the proliferation of keratinocytes and endothelial cells, and activating dermal fibroblasts. These data provide evidence that 0.4% topical ROL is a promising and safe treatment to improve the naturally aged human skin.
Pattern of skin cancer among Saudi patients attending a tertiary care center in Dhahran, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A 20‐year retrospective study
Authors: Al‐Dawsari Najla A. , Amra Nasir
Published: June 2016

Skin cancer is the ninth most common malignancy in Saudi Arabia. It represented 3.2% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in the year 2010. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of skin cancer in relation to age, sex, and anatomic location among Saudi patients attending the Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare center in Dhahran, Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. We retrospectively reviewed the surgical pathology records of Saudi nationals from 1995 to 2014 at the Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare center, which directly provides for the healthcare needs of Saudi Aramco company employees and dependents in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Tumor metastases to skin, skin involvement by primary breast carcinoma, and B‐cell leukemia/lymphoma with secondary involvement by skin were excluded. The total number of primary skin tumors was 204. The commonest cutaneous malignancies were basal cell carcinoma (36%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (23%), with the head and neck being the commonest location for both tumors. Mycosis fungoides (MF) was the third most common malignancy (11%). Malignant melanoma was the fourth commonest skin malignancy (7%) with the lower extremities being the commonest location. The four most common skin cancers in our tertiary center in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia were squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, MF, and malignant melanoma. Other regions of Saudi Arabia report a similar pattern of skin cancers as our center, with MF having a higher frequency at our center.
Discrimination of amygdala response predicts future separation anxiety in youth with early deprivation
Authors: Green Shulamite A. , Goff Bonnie , Gee Dylan G. , Gabard‐Durnam Laurel , Flannery Jessica , Telzer Eva H. , Humphreys Kathryn L. , Louie Jennifer , Tottenham Nim
Published: June 2016

Background

Significant disruption in caregiving is associated with increased internalizing symptoms, most notably heightened separation anxiety symptoms during childhood. It is also associated with altered functional development of the amygdala, a neurobiological correlate of anxious behavior. However, much less is known about how functional alterations of amygdala predict individual differences in anxiety. Here, we probed amygdala function following institutional caregiving using very subtle social‐affective stimuli (trustworthy and untrustworthy faces), which typically result in large differences in amygdala signal, and change in separation anxiety behaviors over a 2‐year period. We hypothesized that the degree of differentiation of amygdala signal to trustworthy versus untrustworthy face stimuli would predict separation anxiety symptoms.

Methods

Seventy‐four youths mean (SD) age = 9.7 years (2.64) with and without previous institutional care, who were all living in families at the time of testing, participated in an fMRI task designed to examine differential amygdala response to trustworthy versus untrustworthy faces. Parents reported on their children's separation anxiety symptoms at the time of scan and again 2 years later.

Results

Previous institutional care was associated with diminished amygdala signal differences and behavioral differences to the contrast of untrustworthy and trustworthy faces. Diminished differentiation of these stimuli types predicted more severe separation anxiety symptoms 2 years later. Older age at adoption was associated with diminished differentiation of amygdala responses.

Conclusions

A history of institutional care is associated with reduced differential amygdala responses to social‐affective cues of trustworthiness that are typically exhibited by comparison samples. Individual differences in the degree of amygdala differential responding to these cues predict the severity of separation anxiety symptoms over a 2‐year period. These findings provide a biological mechanism to explain the associations between early caregiving adversity and individual differences in internalizing symptomology during development, thereby contributing to individualized predictions of future clinical outcomes.