bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing the apple of my eye: Parental reactions to academic social comparisons of their elementary school‐aged children
Authors: Vogels Emily A. , Perunovic Wei Qi Elaine
Published: November 2019

The current study examines parents’ reactions to making social comparisons of their children on school‐related domains. Parents (N = 117; ages 25 to 49; 94% women) of elementary school‐age children (ages 5 to 10; 57.3% girls) were recruited online from Facebook parenting groups and several school districts in Atlantic Canada. Participants were randomly assigned to make either an upward, a downward, or a lateral social comparison about their child’s ability in school. Participants reported the time since the event in comparison, their emotional reactions, their evaluations of their child’s ability in the domain, and how important they perceived the domain to be for their child’s future. Domain importance and evaluations of the child’s abilities also were measured prior to making the comparison. Significant differences based on social comparison condition were found for temporal distance, post‐comparison domain importance, and post‐comparison assessments of the child’s ability in the domain. The effect of social comparison on post‐comparison domain importance was not mediated by post‐comparison assessments of the child’s ability, suggesting a direct effect of comparisons on perceived domain importance. These findings suggest that the act of social comparison caused parents to reevaluate the importance of the domain of comparison and their child’s abilities in that domain. Implications for parents and educators are discussed.
Current status of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Asian countries: A report from the HOPE Asia Network
Authors: Shin Jinho , Kario Kazuomi , Chia Yook‐Chin , Turana Yuda , Chen Chen‐Huan , Buranakitjaroen Peera , Divinagracia Romeo , Nailes Jennifer , Hoshide Satoshi , Siddique Saulat , Sison Jorge , Soenarta Arieska Ann , Sogunuru Guru Prasad , Tay Jam Chin , Teo Boon Wee , Zhang Yu‐Qing , Park Sungha , Van Minh Huynh , Kabutoya Tomoyuki , Verma Narsingh , Wang Tzung‐Dau , Wang Ji‐Guang
Published: November 2019

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) can measure 24‐hour blood pressure (BP), including nocturnal BP and diurnal variations. This feature of ABPM could be of value in Asian populations for preventing cardiovascular events. However, no study has yet investigated regarding the use of ABPM in actual clinical settings in Asian countries/regions. In this study, 11 experts from 11 countries/regions were asked to answer questionnaires regarding the use of ABPM. We found that its use was very limited in primary care settings and almost exclusively available in referral settings. The indications of ABPM in actual clinical settings were largely similar to those of home BP monitoring (HBPM), that is, diagnosis of white‐coat or masked hypertension and more accurate BP measurement for borderline clinic BP. Other interesting indications, such as nighttime BP patterns, including non‐dipper BP, morning BP surge, and BP variability, were hardly adopted in daily clinical practice. The use of ABPM as treatment guidance for detecting treated but uncontrolled hypertension in the Asian countries/regions didn't seem to be common. The barrier to the use of ABPM was primarily its availability; in referral centers, patient reluctance owing to discomfort or sleep disturbance was the most frequent barrier. ABPM use was significantly more economical when it was reimbursed by public insurance. To facilitate ABPM use, more simplified indications and protocols to minimize discomfort should be sought. For the time being, HBPM could be a reasonable alternative.
Is periodontitis a risk indicator for gastrointestinal cancers? A meta‐analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Zhang Yun , Sun Chenyu , Song Evelyn J. , Liang Mingming , Shi Tingting , Min Min , Sun Yehuan
Published: November 2019

Objective

To evaluate the association between periodontitis and the incidence and mortality of gastrointestinal cancer.

Method

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all relevant studies published prior to April 2019 according to the established inclusion criteria. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random‐effects model.

Results

We identified 10 studies with 26 estimates of the relationship between periodontitis and gastrointestinal cancer. The HR for the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in periodontitis was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.10–1.37). Subgroup analyses showed that periodontitis was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers in prospective cohort studies and high–quality studies, North American individuals, and individuals 18 years or older, as well as when the dental status was self‐reported and when the study was adjusted for smoking. A meta‐analysis of nine reports demonstrated that periodontitis was associated with increased mortality from gastrointestinal cancer (HR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.16–2.16). Additionally, periodontitis was associated with mortality from pancreatic cancer (HR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.44–3.37); thus, periodontitis may be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

Our meta‐analysis demonstrated that periodontitis may be a risk factor for gastrointestinal cancers. Additional prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Microbial composition of Korean kefir and antimicrobial activity of Acetobacter fabarum DH1801
Authors: Kim Dong‐Hyeon , Kim Hyunsook , Seo Kun‐Ho
Published: November 2019

Kefir is a probiotic dairy product containing multiple species of lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and yeast, with varying microbial composition depending on geographical origin. In the present study, we characterized the acetic acid bacterial population in Korean kefir by next‐generation sequencing‐based community analysis and isolated a novel acetic acid bacterial strain, Acetobacter fabarum DH1801. To evaluate its potential application in the food industry, the antimicrobial activity of A. fabarum DH1801 against seven foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii, Salmonella Enteritidis, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri) was analyzed by growth curve analysis. Remarkably, the culture filtrate of the novel isolate inhibited the growth of all seven pathogenic bacteria in a dose‐dependent manner, which was superior to acetic acid solution of same pH value. Our findings suggest that the A. fabarum DH1801 strain forms a protective barrier during kefir fermentation against contamination by foodborne pathogens.
Hepatocellular adenoma in Taiwan: Distinct ensemble of male predominance, overweight/obesity, and inflammatory subtype
Authors: Huang Wen‐Chih , Liau Jau‐Yu , Jeng Yung‐Ming , Liu Kao‐Lang , Lin Chia‐Nan , Song Hsiang‐Lin , Tsai Jia‐Huei
Published: November 2019

Background and Aim

The clinicopathologic features of hepatocellular adenoma in Asian populations have been poorly defined. The study aimed to characterize this rare entity in a single institution in Taiwan.

Methods

In total, 45 hepatocellular adenomas from 1995 to 2018 were included and sent for pathologic review and molecular subtyping.

Results

The numbers of patients with hepatocellular adenoma has doubled in the recent decade. Surprisingly, men outnumbered women in our cohort (n = 26, 58% vs N = 19, 42%). A collection of clinical information revealed that overweight/obesity accounts for most of the associated conditions of hepatocellular adenoma. Only three women took oral contraceptives. There were 34 inflammatory (75%), three LFABP‐negative (7%), four β‐catenin activated (9%), and four unclassified (9%) hepatocellular adenomas. Ten inflammatory hepatocellular adenomas demonstrated strong and homogeneous glutamine synthetase staining and were thus also β‐catenin activated. Notably, overweight and obesity were significantly associated with inflammatory hepatocellular adenoma than other subtypes (P = .029 and .056, respectively) and were strongly correlated with steatosis in background liver (P = .028 and.007, respectively). Malignant transformation (four borderline tumors and two hepatocellular carcinomas) was identified in six adenomas (two women and four men). All six hepatocellular adenomas with malignancy were β‐catenin activated; β‐catenin activation could serve as a biomarker for malignant progression.

Conclusions

The clinicopathologic features of hepatocellular adenoma in Taiwan are distinct from those reported in Western countries. Rare oral contraceptive usage and an emerging epidemic of overweight/obesity in Taiwan provides new insights into the pathogenesis of hepatocellular adenoma.
Efficacy of adjuvant curcumin therapy in ulcerative colitis: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zheng Ting , Wang Xin , Chen Zongran , He Anqi , Zheng Zicheng , Liu Gang
Published: November 2019

Background and Aim

Aminosalicylic acids are recognized to be the first‐line treatment options for ulcerative colitis. Currently, the effectiveness of curcumin as an adjuvant treatment in ulcerative colitis has been investigated, which was still controversial. This study aimed to systematically review and meta‐analyze the efficacy and safety of curcumin as an adjuvant treatment in ulcerative colitis.

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from original to July 2019, and relevant randomized controlled clinical trials were enrolled and analyzed. The primary outcomes were clinical and endoscopic remission; meanwhile, the secondary outcomes were clinical and endoscopic improvement. Subgroup analyses of doses, delivery way, form, and intervention time of curcumin were also conducted.

Results

Six randomized controlled clinical trials with a total of 349 patients were included. Eligible trials suggested that adjuvant curcumin treatment in ulcerative colitis was effective in inducing clinical remission (odds ratio [OR] = 5.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.84–14.56, P = 0.002), endoscopic remission (OR = 5.69, 95% CI: 1.28–25.27, P = 0.02), and endoscopic improvement (OR = 17.05, 95% CI: 1.30–233.00, P = 0.03), but not in clinical improvement (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 1.02–22.43, P = 0.05). We can see the potential advantages in large dosage, topical enema, special drug form, and longer duration from the enrolled studies. There were no severe side effects reported.

Conclusions

Curcumin, as an adjuvant treatment of mesalamine, was proved to be effective and safe in ulcerative colitis. Better efficacy can be achieved with suitable dose, delivery way, formation, and intervention time, which needs further study to verify.
Clinical features and etiology of patients with erythema ab igne: A retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Ozturk Murat , An Isa
Published: November 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical features, etiology of patients with erythema ab igne (EAI) who presented to our clinics.

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted on 71 patients who were admitted to our dermatology clinics between April 2018 and June 2019 and were diagnosed with EAI by clinical or histopathological examination. Age, gender, localization of lesions, and etiologic causes of lesions were recorded.

Results

Of the 71 patients, 48 (67.6%) were women and 23 (32.4%) were men. The mean age of the patients was 28.6 ± 10.4 years. Most of the lesions were localized (60.6%, n = 43) on the anterior aspect of both legs. Among the etiological reasons, 53 (74.6%) patients had exposure to heater, 14 (19.7%) patients had exposure to stove, 2 (2.8%) patients had laptop use, 1 (1.4%) patient had tandoor contact, and 1 (1.4%) patient had exposure to hot water bag. One patient was diagnosed with bullous EAI.

Conclusion

In conclusion, EAI was also more common in females and lower extremities, which is in accordance with the literature. However, the mean age of occurrence in our study is younger when compared with that in the literature. One case of EAI due to the use of tandoor in our study has not been reported previously. It should be kept in mind that bullous EAI may develop in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Packs, Troops and Herds: Prosocial Cooperatives and Innovation in the New Normal
Authors: Muñoz Pablo , Kimmitt Jonathan , Dimov Dimo
Published: November 2019

Prosocial organizations are emerging to tackle the effects of a New Normal. As they navigate its fragile and liquid institutional membranes, they prioritize cooperative forms of governance. These forms allow for collaboration and democratic decision‐making necessary for the development of innovative solutions in this new context. At the same time, the high coordination costs of cooperatives lead to significant market pressures. Therefore, understanding when and under what conditions these new cooperatives innovate and strive is important as it provides insight into whether and how these ventures can become a viable alternative in this changing landscape. Using configurational analyses of organizational enablers leading to innovation in 40 entrepreneurial cooperatives, we identify three approaches: Attentive Pack, Eclectic Troop, and Wandering Herd, showing that innovative outcomes can indeed emerge under traditional cooperative features emphasizing collectivism. However, the pursuit of higher novelty requires a shift to more individualistic, business‐as‐usual, approaches. The New Normal does indeed enhance entrepreneurial activity, but of a different kind comprising novel sets of antecedents and outcomes, which we show can easily become the new dominant form of venturing required in this new context.
Comparative Effect of Glass Fiber and Nano‐Filler Addition on Denture Repair Strength
Authors: Abushowmi Tahani H. , AlZaher Zahra A. , Almaskin Danah F. , Qaw Masoumah S. , Abualsaud Reem , Akhtar Sultan , Al‐Thobity Ahmad M. , Al‐Harbi Fahad A. , Gad Mohammed M. , Baba Nadim Z.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To evaluate and compare the effects of glass fiber (GF), Zirconium oxide nanoparticles (nano‐ZrO2), and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nano‐SiO2) addition on the flexural strength and impact strength of repaired denture base material.

Materials and Methods

Heat‐polymerized acrylic resin specimens were fabricated. All specimens were sectioned centrally and beveled creating 2.5 mm repair gap except for 10 controls. Specimen grouping (n = 10/group) was done according to filler concentration of 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% of auto‐polymerized acrylic powder. Modified resin was mixed, packed in the repair gap, polymerized, finished and polished. Three‐point bending test and Charpy type impact testing were done. Data were analyzed using one‐way‐ANOVA and Post‐Hoc Tukey test (α = 0.05).

Results

All additives significantly increased flexural strength and impact strength (p < 0.05). Within the modified subgroups, no significant differences were found for GF. Significant increase for nano‐ZrO2 and significant decrease for nano‐SiO2 as the concentration of additive increased were noted for both flexural strength and impact strength. Highest flexural strength was found with 0.75%‐nano‐ZrO2 (69.59 ± 2.52MPa) and the lowest was found with 0.75%‐nano‐SiO2 (53.82 ± 3.10MPa). The 0.25%‐nano‐SiO2 showed the highest impact strength value (2.54 ± 0.21 kJ/m2) while the lowest impact strength value was seen with 0.75%‐nano‐SiO2 (1.54 ± 0.17 kJ/m2).

Conclusion

Nano‐filler effect was concentration dependent and its addition to repair resin increased the flexural and impact strengths. The incorporation of 0.75%‐ZrO2 or 0.25%‐SiO2 into repair resin proved to be a promising technique to enhance repair strength and avoid repeated fractures.
The contribution of texture contrasts and combinations to food acceptance across cultures
Authors: Pellegrino Robert , Cheon Bobby K. , Forde Ciarán G. , Oleszkiewicz Anna , Pieniak Michal , Luckett Curtis R.
Published: November 2019

Texture has long been considered an important attribute for food acceptance. However, which specific textural characteristics contribute to overall acceptance of a food is not well understood. It has been suggested that texture contrasts and combinations are a universal feature in giving foods a desirable texture, yet this notion is largely based upon anecdotal data. This study uses multiple survey research methods to assess the importance of texture contrast and combinations across cultures (Poland, U.S.A., and Singapore). Participants (N = 288) completed a survey that included overt measures of food texture contrast importance as well as free response questions regarding texture. The overall importance of texture for food liking was not different across the populations. However, the participants from Singapore and Poland gave more importance to a desirable food having multiple textures than the U.S.A. cohort. When looking at free responses, participants were twice as likely to mention combinations (multiple textures) with a texture contrast when describing foods they liked, in comparison to foods they disliked. This was observed across all three cultures. However, the type and quantity of texture terms used within combinations were different among cultures. For instance, Singaporeans enjoyed more texturally diverse food combinations than the other two cultures. These findings highlight the importance of texture contrasts and combinations in three distinct cultures.
Mother‐to‐child transmission of hepatitis B: What more needs to be done to eliminate it around the world?
Authors: Nayagam Shevanthi , Shimakawa Yusuke , Lemoine Maud
Published: November 2019

Mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a key component of the hepatitis B burden worldwide. Despite its efficacy to prevent HBV transmission, infant vaccination is not enough to control HBV MTCT. Additional efforts are urgently needed to evaluate and scale‐up preventive strategies especially in endemic countries, which are most affected. This review highlights the efficacy and barriers of the currently validated measures for the prevention of HBV MTCT and proposes alternatives adapted to resource‐limited settings to eventually achieve HBV elimination worldwide.
Phase I study of KRP‐116D, a 50% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide aqueous solution, on the systemic absorption from bladder by intravesical instillation in healthy Japanese subjects
Authors: Shimada Hideyo , Yono Makoto , Hojo Yuya , Hamamura Yuka , Ootsuki Atsushi
Published: November 2019

Objective

This was a single‐institution, single‐dose, single‐arm phase 1 study in healthy adult males to evaluate the safety and absorption of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from the bladder into the body when KRP‐116D (a 50% w/w DMSO solution) was intravesically administered and allowed to remain in the bladder for 15 minutes.

Methods

Six healthy adult males were enrolled in this study. KRP‐116D (50 mL) was instilled directly into the bladder via a catheter where it was allowed to remain for 15 minutes under lidocaine anesthesia in accordance with the usage of RIMSO‐50 (50% w/w DMSO solution) approved in the USA. The residual DMSO solution in the bladder was collected 15 minutes after instillation. The concentrations of DMSO in the plasma and the recovered solution were analyzed by a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The concentration in the residual DMSO solution was multiplied by the solution volume and divided by the dosage to calculate the recovery rate of DMSO.

Results

Plasma DMSO was detected in one of six subjects, and in the remaining five subjects DMSO was not detected (<19.6 μg/mL). The recovery rate of DMSO from the bladder was 60.7% to 93.7%. The only drug‐related adverse event was breath odor (garlic‐like breath) observed in four of six subjects (66.7%).

Conclusion

Absorption of DMSO from the bladder was low (16.3%), and the systemic exposure was limited. Most of the DMSO was recovered from the bladder. KRP‐116D 50 mL was well tolerated and safe.
Roseocin, a novel two‐component lantibiotic from an actinomycete
Authors: Singh Mangal , Chaudhary Sandeep , Sareen Dipti
Published: November 2019

Lantibiotics are lanthionine ring containing natural products that belong to the class of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Recent expansion in the availability of microbial genome data and in silico analysis tools have accelerated the discovery of these promising alternatives to antibiotics. Following the genome‐mining approach, a biosynthetic gene cluster for a putative two‐component lantibiotic, roseocin, was identified in the genome of an Actinomycete, Streptomyces roseosporus NRRL 11379. Posttranslationally modified lanthipeptides of this cluster were obtained by heterologous expression of the genes in Escherichia coli, and were in vitro reconstituted to their bioactive form by exploiting commercial proteases like endoproteinase GluC, and proteinase K. The two peptides displayed synergistic antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria including the WHO high‐priority pathogens, MRSA and VRE. Structural characterization confirmed the installation of four (methyl)lanthionine rings with an indispensable disulfide bond in the α‐peptide, and six (methyl)lanthionine rings in the β‐peptide, by a single promiscuous lanthionine synthetase, RosM. Roseocin is the first two‐component lantibiotic from a non‐Firmicute, with extensive lanthionine bridging.
The association between visual impairment and fatigue: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Schakel Wouter , Bode Christina , Elsman Ellen B M , van der Aa Hilde P A , de Vries Ralph , van Rens Gerardus H M B , van Nispen Ruth M A
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The aim was to compare fatigue levels between patients with visual impairment and controls with normal sight and to examine the association between fatigue and vision loss severity.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using databases of PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane to identify observational studies with outcomes related to fatigue (e.g. vitality subscale of the Short‐Form 36, Fatigue Assessment Scale). A meta‐analysis was performed using standardised mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (OR) to quantitatively summarise the association between visual impairment and fatigue. Sources of heterogeneity were explored by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale.

Results

After reviewing 4477 studies, 22 studies with a total of 40 004 participants were included, of which 18 contributed to meta‐analysis. Among these, eight were assessed as moderate quality studies and 10 as high quality studies. Pooled analysis involving 2500 patients and 8395 controls showed higher fatigue severity levels (S.M.D. = −0.36, 95% CI −0.50 to −0.22, 14 studies) among visually impaired patients compared to normally sighted controls. This effect size was small and persisted in sensitivity analyses that involved study quality, fatigue assessment tools and visual acuity data. Furthermore, pooled analysis of four studies including 2615 patients and 5438 controls showed a significant association between visual impairment and fatigue (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.69 to 4.04). Secondary meta‐analysis of four studies showed no significant difference in fatigue severity (S.M.D. = 0.01, 95% CI −0.37 to 0.39) between patients with moderate visual impairment and patients with severe visual impairment or blindness.

Conclusions

Current moderate to high quality evidence suggest that patients with visual impairment experience more severe fatigue symptoms than persons with normal sight. However, a limited number of available studies indicates that fatigue is not associated with severity of vision loss. Future studies are required to determine which factors and underlying mechanisms may explain the association between visual impairment and fatigue. Discussing fatigue at an early stage and developing intervention options for vision‐related fatigue should be considered within the field of low vision rehabilitation.
Public Communication as a Tool to Implement Environmental Policies
Authors: de Vries Gerdien
Published: November 2019

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our times. We humans must change our behavior in the short run to mitigate the effects of climate change in the long run. Policymakers develop environmental policies to motivate this behavioral change. However, people may nonetheless fail to change to more sustainable practices, defeating the effectiveness of environmental policies. Public communications, such as mass media campaigns, can enhance compliance with environmental policies, but they have not yet lived up to their potential. In this contribution, I propose that environmental communication would be more effective if public communicators took account of the (often counterintuitive) social and psychological processes that influence sustainable behaviors. I present research evidence of the impact of cognitive biases (discounting, control perceptions, optimism bias, denial, defensive avoidance, and reactance), emotions (fear and hope), and expectations (about the intentions of the communication source and other people's environmental behaviors) on the power of environmental public communication as a tool to promote sustainable behaviors. If social and psychological processes are neglected in the design of environmental public communications, messages can backfire and achieve the opposite of what was intended. To improve environmental communications, I propose three communication design suggestions: keep it simple, balance the message, and provide an action perspective.
Amotosalen and ultraviolet A light efficiently inactivate MERS‐coronavirus in human platelet concentrates
Authors: Hashem A. M. , Hassan A. M. , Tolah A. M. , Alsaadi M. A. , Abunada Q. , Damanhouri G. A. , El‐Kafrawy S. A. , Picard‐Maureau M. , Azhar E. I. , Hindawi S. I.
Published: November 2019

Objective

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the INTERCEPT™ Blood System [amotosalen/ultraviolet A (UVA) light] to reduce the risk of Middle East respiratory syndrome‐Coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) transmission by human platelet concentrates.

Background

Since 2012, more than 2425 MERS‐CoV human cases have been reported in 27 countries. The infection causes acute respiratory disease, which was responsible for 838 deaths in these countries, mainly in Saudi Arabia. Viral genomic RNA was detected in whole blood, serum and plasma of infected patients, raising concerns of the safety of blood supplies, especially in endemic areas.

Methods

Four apheresis platelet units in 100% plasma were inoculated with a clinical MERS‐CoV isolate. Spiked units were then treated with amotosalen/UVA to inactivate MERS‐CoV. Infectious and genomic viral titres were quantified by plaque assay and quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Inactivated samples were successively passaged thrice on Vero E6 cells to exclude the presence of residual replication‐competent viral particles in inactivated platelets.

Results

Complete inactivation of MERS‐CoV in spiked platelet units was achieved by treatment with Amotosalen/UVA light with a mean log reduction of 4·48 ± 0·3. Passaging of the inactivated samples in Vero E6 showed no viral replication even after nine days of incubation and three passages. Viral genomic RNA titration in inactivated samples showed titres comparable to those in pre‐treatment samples.

Conclusion

Amotosalen and UVA light treatment of MERS‐CoV‐spiked platelet concentrates efficiently and completely inactivated MERS‐CoV infectivity (>4 logs), suggesting that such treatment could minimise the risk of transfusion‐related MERS‐CoV transmission.
Capturing the passenger leukocyte
Authors: Reed William , Bloch Evan M.
Published: November 2019

See article on page 3329–3336, in this issue
Hybrid glycophorin and red blood cell antigen genotyping in Asian American type O blood donors with Mia phenotype
Authors: Lin Xin , Rubio Graciela , Patel Jigar , Banerjee Sukanta , Frame Tom , Billups Norkeshia , Yang Jiacheng
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

The GP.Mur glycophorin with Mia phenotype is relatively common and clinically significant in the Southeast Asian populations. The aim of this study is to genotype Mia‐positive Asian American type O blood donors. Red blood cell (RBC) minor antigens were also determined in the same cohort.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Asian American blood donors of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (Houston, TX) were screened using a typing reagent (NOVACLONE Anti‐Mia Monoclonal IgG Typing Reagent, Dominion Biologicals Ltd) from March 2016 to July 2018. Aliquots of Mia‐positive blood from type O donors were subjected to serologic confirmation using Mia‐ and/or Mur‐specific GAMA210 and 64D6 monoclonal antibodies, and two human antisera. Extracted genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using GYP hybrid gene/allele‐specific primers followed by bidirectional Sanger sequencing. Zygosity for GYP*Mur and GYP*Bun was determined using TaqMan real‐time PCR assay. Phenotypes of 35 RBC antigens and three phenotypic variants were determined with use of an in vitro diagnostic test, PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test (Immucor).

RESULTS

By screening 4600 blood donations in the Houston metropolitan area, 209 samples from 103 unique donors were identified to be Mia‐positive. By PCR and sequencing analysis, 97 of the 103 Mia‐positive donors carried hybrid genes GYP*Mur (89.7% including two homozygotes), GYP*Bun (6.2%), GYP*Vw (3.1%) and GYP*Hut (1.0%). Concordance between serology and DNA analysis was 98%, 99%, and 100% for the GAMA210, 64D6, and human antisera, respectively. Genotyping of RBC antigens showed that the Mia‐positive donors were predominantly associated M+ N‐ S‐ s+ (48.5%) and M+ N+ S‐ s+ (38.1%) phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The GP.Mur glycophorin is most prevalent in the Mia‐positive Asian American type O blood donors.
Pannexin 1 activation and inhibition is permeant‐selective
Authors: Nielsen Brian Skriver , Toft‐Bertelsen Trine Lisberg , Lolansen Sara Diana , Anderson Connor L. , Nielsen Morten Schak , Thompson Roger J. , MacAulay Nanna
Published: November 2019

Key points

The large‐pore channel pannexin 1 (Panx1) is expressed in many cell types and can open upon different, yet not fully established, stimuli.

Panx1 permeability is often inferred from channel permeability to fluorescent dyes, but it is currently unknown whether dye permeability translates to permeability to other molecules.

Cell shrinkage and C‐terminal cleavage led to a Panx1 open‐state with increased permeability to atomic ions (current), but did not alter ethidium uptake.

Panx1 inhibitors affected Panx1‐mediated ion conduction differently from ethidium permeability, and inhibitor efficiency towards a given molecule therefore cannot be extrapolated to its effects on the permeability of another.

We conclude that ethidium permeability does not reflect equal permeation of other molecules and thus is no measure of general Panx1 activity.

Pannexin 1 (Panx1) is a large‐pore membrane channel connecting the extracellular milieu with the cell interior. While several activation regimes activate Panx1 in a variety of cell types, the selective permeability of an open Panx1 channel remains unresolved: does a given activation paradigm increase Panx1's permeability towards all permeants equally and does fluorescent dye flux serve as a proxy for biological permeation through an open channel? To explore permeant‐selectivity of Panx1 activation and inhibition, we employed Panx1‐expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK293T cells. We report that different mechanisms of activation of Panx1 differentially affected ethidium and atomic ion permeation. Most notably, C‐terminal truncation or cell shrinkage elevated Panx1‐mediated ion conductance, but had no effect on ethidium permeability. In contrast, extracellular pH changes predominantly affected ethidium permeability but not ionic conductance. High [K+]o did not increase the flux of either of the two permeants. Once open, Panx1 demonstrated preference for anionic permeants, such as Cl−, lactate and glutamate, while not supporting osmotic water flow. Panx1 inhibitors displayed enhanced potency towards Panx1‐mediated currents compared to that of ethidium uptake. We conclude that activation or inhibition of Panx1 display permeant‐selectivity and that permeation of ethidium does not necessarily reflect an equal permeation of smaller biological molecules and atomic ions.
Development and characterization of five microsatellite loci for the hard tick Hyalomma marginatum (Acari: Ixodidae), through next generation sequencing

Authors: Hekimoglu Olcay , Baris Ibrahim , Ozer Nurdan
Published: November 2019

Hyalomma marginatum is a hard tick species of medical and veterinary importance that is widely distributed throughout Turkey. In this study, five novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and developed from partial genome information using the Hiseq Illumina paired end technology. A total of 20,943,321 reads were obtained from vegetation collected specimens, 103 primer pairs were randomly selected for the analysis and 62 of them were tested for polymorphism. Seventy five specimens from nine different localities of Turkey were genotyped. Markers for selected loci were tested using labeled primers on capillary electrophoresis. Five loci were successfully scored and used to analyze genetic diversity. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 7, with an average of 5.4 alleles per locus. The average observed and expected heterozygosity values were 0.314 and 0.468, respectively. Two loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between loci. This study is the first attempt to generate genome sequence data and to develop SSR markers for H. marginatum. These markers will be useful to understand the taxonomic status of this vector, its population dynamics, and spatial distributions as well as mechanisms underlying Crimean Congo Heamorrhagic Fever transmission and the development and implementation of well-designed prevention strategies.
Evaluation of Step-Counting Interventions Differing on Intensity Messages
Authors: Tudor-Locke Catrine , Schuna John M. , Swift Damon L. , Dragg Amber T. , Davis Allison B. , Martin Corby K. , Johnson William D. , Church Timothy S.
Published: November 2019

Background: Step-counting interventions with discrepant intensity emphases may elicit different effects. Methods: A total of 120 sedentary/low-active, postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to one of the following 3 groups: (1) 10,000 steps per day (with no emphasis on walking intensity/speed/cadence; basic intervention, 49 completers), (2) 10,000 steps per day and at least 30 minutes in moderate intensity (ie, at a cadence of at least 100 steps per minute; enhanced intervention, 47 completers), or (3) a control group (19 completers). NL-1000-determined steps and active minutes (a device-specific indicator of time at moderate+ intensity) were collected as process variables during the 12-week intervention. Outcome variables included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose and insulin, flow-mediated dilation, gait speed, and ActiGraph GT3X+-determined physical activity and sedentary behavior. Results: The “basic group” increased 5173 to 9602 steps per day and 9.2 to 30.2 active minutes per day. The “enhanced group” similarly increased 5061 to 10,508 steps per day and 8.7 to 38.8 active minutes per day. The only significant change over time for clinical variables was body mass index. Conclusions: Interventions that use simple step-counters can achieve elevated volume and intensity of daily physical activity, regardless of emphasis on intensity. Despite this, few clinical outcomes were apparent in this sample of postmenopausal women with generally normal or controlled hypertension.
Evaluating the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effects of Deposit Contracts With and Without Daily Feedback to Promote Physical Activity
Authors: Kerrigan Stephanie G. , Forman Evan M. , Patel Mitesh , Williams Dave , Zhang Fengqing , Crosby Ross D. , Butryn Meghan L.
Published: November 2019

Background: Despite interest in financial incentive programs, evidence regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of deposit contracts (ie, use of participants’ own money as a financial reward) for increasing physical activity (PA) is limited. Furthermore, evidence regarding the use of feedback within incentive programs is limited. Purpose: To evaluate: (1) the feasibility and acceptability of deposit contracts for increasing objectively measured PA and (2) the effects of deposit contracts with or without ongoing feedback on PA. Methods: Participants (n = 24) were exposed to 3 conditions (1) self-monitoring, (2) incentive, and (3) incentive with feedback in an ABACABAC design, with the order of incentive conditions counterbalanced across participants. Results: Effect sizes suggest that individuals had a modest increase in PA during the incentive conditions compared with self-monitoring. Presentation order moderated results, such that individuals exposed to incentives with feedback first performed more poorly across both incentive conditions. In addition, individuals often cited the deposit contract as a reason for not enrolling, and those who did participate reported inadequate acceptability of the incentives and feedback. Conclusions: Results suggest that while deposit contracts may engender modest increases in PA, this type of incentive may not be feasible or acceptable for promoting PA.
Low-complexity domain of U1-70K modulates phase separation and aggregation through distinctive basic-acidic motifs
Authors: Xue Song , Gong Rui , He Fanqi , Li Yanqin , Wang Yunjia , Tan Tianwei , Luo Shi-Zhong
Published: November 2019

A repetitive basic-acidic motif in U1-70K is critical for its phase separation and aggregation.
Targeting inflammatory sites through collagen affinity enhances the therapeutic efficacy of anti-inflammatory antibodies
Authors: Katsumata Kiyomitsu , Ishihara Jun , Mansurov Aslan , Ishihara Ako , Raczy Michal M. , Yuba Eiji , Hubbell Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2019

Inflammation targeting through collagen affinity improves antibody therapeutic ability.
Untethering and Degradation of the Polysaccharide Matrix Are Essential Steps in the Dispersion Response of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Biofilms
Authors: Cherny Kathryn E. , Sauer Karin
Published: November 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
forms multicellular aggregates or biofilms encased in a matrix. We show for the first time here that dispersion by
P. aeruginosa
requires the endogenous expression of
pelA
and
pslG
, leading to the degradation of both Pel and Psl polysaccharides, with PslG-induced dispersion being CdrA dependent. The findings suggested that endogenously induced Psl degradation is a sequential process, initiated by untethering of CdrA-bound Psl or CdrA-dependent cell interactions to enable Psl degradation and ultimately, dispersion. Untethering likely involves CdrA release in a manner independent of c-di-GMP modulation and thus LapG. Our findings not only provide insight into matrix degrading factors contributing to dispersion but also identify key steps in the degradation of structural components of the
P. aeruginosa
biofilm matrix.
Amphipathic Helices of Cellular Proteins Can Replace the Helix in M2 of Influenza A Virus with Only Small Effects on Virus Replication
Authors: Hu Bodan , Siche Stefanie , Möller Lars , Veit Michael
Published: November 2019

Influenza virus is unique among enveloped viruses since it does not rely on the cellular ESCRT machinery for budding. Instead, viruses encode their own scission machine, the M2 protein. M2 is targeted to the edge of the viral assembly site, where it inserts an amphiphilic helix into the membrane to induce curvature. Cellular proteins utilize a similar mechanism for scission of vesicles. We show that the helix of M2 can be replaced by helices from cellular proteins with only small effects on virus replication. No evidence was obtained that budding is disturbed, but individual mutants exhibit other defects in M2 that explain the reduced virus titers. In contrast, no virus could be generated if the helix of M2 is deleted or replaced by irrelevant sequences. These experiments support the concept that M2 requires an amphiphilic helix to induce membrane curvature, but its biophysical properties are more important than the amino acid sequence.
Engineering Newcastle Disease Virus as an Oncolytic Vector for Intratumoral Delivery of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Immunocytokines
Authors: Vijayakumar Gayathri , McCroskery Stephen , Palese Peter
Published: November 2019

Checkpoint inhibitor therapy has shown tremendous efficacy, but also frequent and often severe side effects—especially when multiple drugs of the class are used simultaneously. Similarly, many investigational immunotherapy agents, which have shown promise in animal models, have failed in clinical trials due to dose-limiting toxicity when administered systemically. This study utilized a murine melanoma model to evaluate the efficacy of intratumoral injections of recombinant NDVs engineered to express multiple immunotherapeutic proteins with well-documented side effects in humans. Our results indicate that intratumoral administration of these recombinant NDVs, particularly when combined with systemic CTLA4 checkpoint inhibition, exerts a robust effect in treated and nontreated tumors, indicative of a systemic antitumoral response. The intratumoral delivery of rNDVs expressing immunotherapeutic proteins may be an effective method of targeting the immune cell populations most relevant for antitumoral immunity and allowing us to restrict the use of systemic immunotherapy agents.
An ecological framework for improving child and adolescent health
Authors: Bem Chris , Small Neil
Published: November 2019

The rise in non-communicable disease as a principal cause of premature mortality and a continuing failure to address health inequalities requires a critical examination of prevailing paradigms in health. In this paper, we offer ecology as an alternative way to view health need and as a guide to action to enhance human health and model a healthy economy. After describing the shortcomings of the prevailing biophysical approach to health, we describe an ecological approach to health that brings to the forefront social and environmental determinants and empowers health workers together with their communities to achieve a health-affirming society and economy.
Effect of revealing authors’ conflicts of interests in peer review: randomized controlled trial
Authors: John Leslie K , Loewenstein George , Marder Andrew , Callaham Michael L
Published: November 2019

Objective

To assess the effect of disclosing authors’ conflict of interest declarations to peer reviewers at a medical journal.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Manuscript review process at the
Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Participants

Reviewers (n=838) who reviewed manuscripts submitted between 2 June 2014 and 23 January 2018 inclusive (n=1480 manuscripts).

Intervention

Reviewers were randomized to either receive (treatment) or not receive (control) authors’ full International Committee of Medical Journal Editors format conflict of interest disclosures before reviewing manuscripts. Reviewers rated the manuscripts as usual on eight quality ratings and were then surveyed to obtain “counterfactual scores”—that is, the scores they believed they would have given had they been assigned to the opposite arm—as well as attitudes toward conflicts of interest.

Main outcome measure

Overall quality score that reviewers assigned to the manuscript on submitting their review (1 to 5 scale). Secondary outcomes were scores the reviewers submitted for the seven more specific quality ratings and counterfactual scores elicited in the follow-up survey.

Results

Providing authors’ conflict of interest disclosures did not affect reviewers’ mean ratings of manuscript quality (M
control
=2.70 (SD 1.11) out of 5; M
treatment
=2.74 (1.13) out of 5; mean difference 0.04, 95% confidence interval –0.05 to 0.14), even for manuscripts with disclosed conflicts (M
control
= 2.85 (1.12) out of 5; M
treatment
=2.96 (1.16) out of 5; mean difference 0.11, –0.05 to 0.26). Similarly, no effect of the treatment was seen on any of the other seven quality ratings that the reviewers assigned. Reviewers acknowledged conflicts of interest as an important matter and believed that they could correct for them when they were disclosed. However, their counterfactual scores did not differ from actual scores (M
actual
=2.69; M
counterfactual
=2.67; difference in means 0.02, 0.01 to 0.02). When conflicts were reported, a comparison of different source types (for example, government, for-profit corporation) found no difference in effect.

Conclusions

Current ethical standards require disclosure of conflicts of interest for all scientific reports. As currently implemented, this practice had no effect on any quality ratings of real manuscripts being evaluated for publication by real peer reviewers.
Addressing inequalities in medical workforce distribution: evidence from a quasi-experimental study in Brazil
Authors: Maffioli Elisa Maria , Hernandes Rocha Thiago Augusto , Vivas Gabriel , Rosales Carlos , Staton Catherine , Nickenig Vissoci Joao Ricardo
Published: November 2019

Background

Brazil faces huge health inequality challenges since not all municipalities have access to primary care physicians. The More Doctors Programme (MDP), which started in 2013, was born out of this recognition, providing more than 18 000 doctors in the first few years. However, the programme faced a restructuring at the end of 2018.

Methods

We construct a panel municipality-level data between 2008 and 2017 for 5570 municipalities in Brazil. We employ a difference-in-differences empirical approach, combined with propensity score matching, to study the impacts of the programme on hospitalisations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions and its costs. We explore heterogeneous impacts by age of the patients, type of admissions, and municipalities that were given priority.

Findings

The MDP reduced ambulatory admissions by 2.9 per cent (p value <0.10) and the costs by 3.7 per cent (p value <0.01) over the mean. The reduction was driven by infectious gastroenteritis, bacterial pneumonias, asthma, kidney and urinary infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease. The results held on the subsample of municipalities targeted by the programme. By comparing the benefits of the programme from the reduction in the costs of ambulatory admissions to the total financial costs of the MDP, the impacts allowed the government to save at least BRL 27.88 (US$ 6.9 million) between 2014 and 2017.

Conclusion

Addressing inequalities in the distribution of the medical workforce remains a global challenge. Our results inform the discussion on the current strategy adopted in Brazil to increase access to primary healthcare in underserved areas.