bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Sleep Quality in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Alexopoulou Christina , Kondili Eumorfia , Diamantaki Eleni , Psarologakis Charalambos , Kokkini Sofia , Bolaki Maria , Georgopoulos Dimitris
Published: July 2014

Background:

Dexmedetomidine, a potent α-2-adrenergic agonist, is widely used as sedative in critically ill patients. This pilot study was designed to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine administration on sleep quality in critically ill patients.

Methods:

Polysomnography was performed on hemodynamically stable critically ill patients for 57 consecutive hours, divided into three night-time (9:00 pm to 6:00 am) and two daytime (6:00 am to 9:00 pm) periods. On the second night, dexmedetomidine was given by a continuous infusion targeting a sedation level −1 to −2 on the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale. Other sedatives were not permitted.

Results:

Thirteen patients were studied. Dexmedetomidine was given in a dose of 0.6 μg kg−1 h−1 (0.4 to 0.7) (median [interquartile range]). Compared to first and third nights (without dexmedetomidine), sleep efficiency was significantly higher during the second night (first: 9.7% [1.6 to 45.1], second: 64.8% [51.4 to 79.9], third: 6.9% [0.0 to 17.1], P < 0.002). Without dexmedetomidine, night-time sleep fragmentation index (7.6 events per hour [4.8 to 14.2]) and stage 1 of sleep (48.0% [30.1 to 66.4]) were significantly higher (P = 0.023 and P = 0.006, respectively), and stage 2 (47.0% [27.5 to 61.2]) showed values lower (P = 0.006) than the corresponding values (2.7 events per hour [1.6 to 4.9], 13.1% [6.2 to 23.6], 80.2% [68.9 to 92.8]) observed with dexmedetomidine. Without sedation, sleep was equally distributed between day and night, a pattern that was modified significantly (P = 0.032) by night-time dexmedetomidine infusion, with more than three quarters of sleep occurring during the night (79% [66 to 87]).

Conclusion:

In highly selected critically ill patients, dexmedetomidine infusion during the night to achieve light sedation improves sleep by increasing sleep efficiency and stage 2 and modifies the 24-h sleep pattern by shifting sleep mainly to the night.
Lung Cancer Assistant: a hybrid clinical decision support application for lung cancer care
Authors: Sesen M. Berkan , Peake Michael D. , Banares-Alcantara Rene , Tse Donald , Kadir Timor , Stanley Roz , Gleeson Fergus , Brady Michael
Published: July 2014

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are becoming the model of care for cancer patients worldwide. While MDTs have improved the quality of cancer care, the meetings impose substantial time pressure on the members, who generally attend several such MDTs. We describe Lung Cancer Assistant (LCA), a clinical decision support (CDS) prototype designed to assist the experts in the treatment selection decisions in the lung cancer MDTs. A novel feature of LCA is its ability to provide rule-based and probabilistic decision support within a single platform. The guideline-based CDS is based on clinical guideline rules, while the probabilistic CDS is based on a Bayesian network trained on the English Lung Cancer Audit Database (LUCADA). We assess rule-based and probabilistic recommendations based on their concordances with the treatments recorded in LUCADA. Our results reveal that the guideline rule-based recommendations perform well in simulating the recorded treatments with exact and partial concordance rates of 0.57 and 0.79, respectively. On the other hand, the exact and partial concordance rates achieved with probabilistic results are relatively poorer with 0.27 and 0.76. However, probabilistic decision support fulfils a complementary role in providing accurate survival estimations. Compared to recorded treatments, both CDS approaches promote higher resection rates and multimodality treatments.
Genetic analysis of hair samples attributed to yeti, bigfoot and other anomalous primates
Authors: Sykes Bryan C. , Mullis Rhettman A. , Hagenmuller Christophe , Melton Terry W. , Sartori Michel
Published: July 2014

In the first ever systematic genetic survey, we have used rigorous decontamination followed by mitochondrial 12S RNA sequencing to identify the species origin of 30 hair samples attributed to anomalous primates. Two Himalayan samples, one from Ladakh, India, the other from Bhutan, had their closest genetic affinity with a Palaeolithic polar bear,Ursus maritimus. Otherwise the hairs were from a range of known extant mammals.
Group-size-dependent punishment of idle subordinates in a cooperative breeder where helpers pay to stay
Authors: Fischer Stefan , Zöttl Markus , Groenewoud Frank , Taborsky Barbara
Published: July 2014

In cooperative breeding systems, dominant breeders sometimes tolerate unrelated individuals even if they inflict costs on the dominants. According to the ‘pay-to-stay’ hypothesis, (i) subordinates can outweigh these costs by providing help and (ii) dominants should be able to enforce help by punishing subordinates that provide insufficient help. This requires that dominants can monitor helping and can recognize group members individually. In a field experiment, we tested whether cooperatively breeding cichlid
Neolamprologus pulcher
subordinates increase their help after a forced ‘idle’ period, how other group members respond to a previously idle helper, and how helper behaviour and group responses depend on group size. Previously idle helpers increased their submissiveness and received more aggression than control helpers, suggesting that punishment occurred to enforce help. Subordinates in small groups increased their help more than those in large groups, despite receiving less aggression. When subordinates were temporarily removed, dominants in small groups were more likely to evict returning subordinates. Our results suggest that only in small groups do helpers face a latent threat of punishment by breeders as predicted by the pay-to-stay hypothesis. In large groups, cognitive constraints may prevent breeders from tracking the behaviour of a large number of helpers.
Frequent, independent transfers of a catabolic gene from bacteria to contrasted filamentous eukaryotes
Authors: Bruto Maxime , Prigent-Combaret Claire , Luis Patricia , Moënne-Loccoz Yvan , Muller Daniel
Published: July 2014

Even genetically distant prokaryotes can exchange genes between them, and these horizontal gene transfer events play a central role in adaptation and evolution. While this was long thought to be restricted to prokaryotes, certain eukaryotes have acquired genes of bacterial origin. However, gene acquisitions in eukaryotes are thought to be much less important in magnitude than in prokaryotes. Here, we describe the complex evolutionary history of a bacterial catabolic gene that has been transferred repeatedly from different bacterial phyla to stramenopiles and fungi. Indeed, phylogenomic analysis pointed to multiple acquisitions of the gene in these filamentous eukaryotes—as many as 15 different events for 65 microeukaryotes. Furthermore, once transferred, this gene acquired introns and was found expressed in mRNA databases for most recipients. Our results show that effective inter-domain transfers and subsequent adaptation of a prokaryotic gene in eukaryotic cells can happen at an unprecedented magnitude.
Reinforcement generates reproductive isolation between neighbouring conspecific populations of spadefoot toads
Authors: Pfennig Karin S. , Rice Amber M.
Published: July 2014

Reproductive character displacement is the adaptive evolution of traits that minimize deleterious reproductive interactions between species. When arising from selection to avoid hybridization, this process is referred to as reinforcement. Reproductive character displacement generates divergence not only between interacting species, but also between conspecific populations that are sympatric with heterospecifics versus those that are allopatric. Consequently, such conspecific populations can become reproductively isolated. We compared female mate preferences in, and evaluated gene flow between, neighbouring populations of spadefoot toads that did and did not occur with heterospecifics (mixed- and pure-species populations, respectively). We found that in mixed-species populations females significantly preferred conspecifics. Such females also tended to prefer a conspecific call character that was dissimilar from heterospecifics. By contrast, females from pure-species populations did not discriminate conspecific from heterospecific calls. They also preferred a more exaggerated conspecific call character that resembles heterospecific males. Moreover, gene flow was significantly reduced between mixed- and pure-species population types. Thus, character displacement (and, more specifically, reinforcement) may initiate reproductive isolation between conspecific populations that differ in interactions with heterospecifics.
Comparison of four automated nucleic acid extraction platforms for the recovery of DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Perry Michael D. , White P. Lewis , Barnes Rosemary A.
Published: July 2014

Invasive aspergillosis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality within at-risk groups. Directed antifungal chemotherapy, guided by effective screening algorithms that incorporate reliable and validated molecular assays, reduces the morbidity associated with empirical administration and allows earlier diagnosis. The efficient extraction of nucleic acid from Aspergillus fumigatus is the main limiting factor for successful Aspergillus PCR from clinical specimens. With the integration of automated extraction platforms, assessment of the suitability of these platforms for specific targets is of paramount importance. In this study, four extraction robots (Applied Biosystems MagMAX, bioMérieux easyMAG, Qiagen EZ1 and Roche MagNA Pure LC) were evaluated for their ability to extract clinically significant levels of A. fumigatus from blood. All of the platforms could detect 101 c.f.u. ml−1 from EDTA whole blood, although only the easyMAG, EZ1 and MagNA Pure had 100 % reproducibility at this level. Despite good analytical sensitivity, contamination associated with the easyMAG platform excluded its use for diagnostic Aspergillus PCR. The EZ1 and MagNA Pure platforms demonstrated equivalent high sensitivity and negative predictive values (97.4–100 %), essential for screening assays.
SUMOylation of ATRIP potentiates DNA damage signaling by boosting multiple protein interactions in the ATR pathway
Authors: Wu Ching-Shyi , Ouyang Jian , Mori Eiichiro , Nguyen Hai Dang , Maréchal Alexandre , Hallet Alexander , Chen David J. , Zou Lee
Published: July 2014

The ATR (ATM [ataxia telangiectasia-mutated]- and Rad3-related) checkpoint is a crucial DNA damage signaling pathway. While the ATR pathway is known to transmit DNA damage signals through the ATR–Chk1 kinase cascade, whether post-translational modifications other than phosphorylation are important for this pathway remains largely unknown. Here, we show that protein SUMOylation plays a key role in the ATR pathway. ATRIP, the regulatory partner of ATR, is modified by SUMO2/3 at K234 and K289. An ATRIP mutant lacking the SUMOylation sites fails to localize to DNA damage and support ATR activation efficiently. Surprisingly, the ATRIP SUMOylation mutant is compromised in the interaction with a protein group, rather than a single protein, in the ATR pathway. Multiple ATRIP-interacting proteins, including ATR, RPA70, TopBP1, and the MRE11–RAD50–NBS1 complex, exhibit reduced binding to the ATRIP SUMOylation mutant in cells and display affinity for SUMO2 chains in vitro, suggesting that they bind not only ATRIP but also SUMO. Fusion of a SUMO2 chain to the ATRIP SUMOylation mutant enhances its interaction with the protein group and partially suppresses its localization and functional defects, revealing that ATRIP SUMOylation promotes ATR activation by providing a unique type of protein glue that boosts multiple protein interactions along the ATR pathway.
A fly trap mechanism provides sequence-specific RNA recognition by CPEB proteins
Authors: Afroz Tariq , Skrisovska Lenka , Belloc Eulàlia , Guillén-Boixet Jordina , Méndez Raúl , Allain Frédéric H.-T.
Published: July 2014

Cytoplasmic changes in polyA tail length is a key mechanism of translational control and is implicated in germline development, synaptic plasticity, cellular proliferation, senescence, and cancer progression. The presence of a U-rich cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) in the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of the responding mRNAs gives them the selectivity to be regulated by the CPE-binding (CPEB) family of proteins, which recognizes RNA via the tandem RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). Here we report the solution structures of the tandem RRMs of two human paralogs (CPEB1 and CPEB4) in their free and RNA-bound states. The structures reveal an unprecedented arrangement of RRMs in the free state that undergo an original closure motion upon RNA binding that ensures high fidelity. Structural and functional characterization of the ZZ domain (zinc-binding domain) of CPEB1 suggests a role in both protein–protein and protein–RNA interactions. Together with functional studies, the structures reveal how RNA binding by CPEB proteins leads to an optimal positioning of the N-terminal and ZZ domains at the 3′ UTR, which favors the nucleation of the functional ribonucleoprotein complexes for translation regulation.
LINEing germ and embryonic stem cells’ silencing of retrotransposons
Authors: Ishiuchi Takashi , Torres-Padilla Maria-Elena
Published: July 2014

Almost half of our genome is occupied by transposable elements. Although most of them are inactive, one type of non-long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon, long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE1), is capable of retrotransposition. Two studies in this issue, Pezic and colleagues (pp. 1410–1428) and Castro-Diaz and colleagues (pp. 1397–1409), provide novel insight into the regulation of LINE1s in human embryonic stem cells and mouse germ cells and shed new light on the conservation of complex mechanisms to ensure silencing of transposable elements in mammals.
Impairment in Sulfite Reductase Leads to Early Leaf Senescence in Tomato Plants
Authors: Yarmolinsky Dmitry , Brychkova Galina , Kurmanbayeva Assylay , Bekturova Aizat , Ventura Yvonne , Khozin-Goldberg Inna , Eppel Amir , Fluhr Robert , Sagi Moshe
Published: July 2014

Sulfite reductase (SiR) is an essential enzyme of the sulfate assimilation reductive pathway, which catalyzes the reduction of sulfite to sulfide. Here, we show that tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants with impaired SiR expression due to RNA interference (SIR Ri) developed early leaf senescence. The visual chlorophyll degradation in leaves of SIR Ri mutants was accompanied by a reduction of maximal quantum yield, as well as accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation. Interestingly, messenger RNA transcripts and proteins involved in chlorophyll breakdown in the chloroplasts were found to be enhanced in the mutants, while transcripts and their plastidic proteins, functioning in photosystem II, were reduced in these mutants compared with wild-type leaves. As a consequence of SiR impairment, the levels of sulfite, sulfate, and thiosulfate were higher and glutathione levels were lower compared with the wild type. Unexpectedly, in a futile attempt to compensate for the low glutathione, the activity of adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate reductase was enhanced, leading to further sulfite accumulation in SIR Ri plants. Increased sulfite oxidation to sulfate and incorporation of sulfite into sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols were not sufficient to maintain low basal sulfite levels, resulting in accumulative leaf damage in mutant leaves. Our results indicate that, in addition to its biosynthetic role, SiR plays an important role in prevention of premature senescence. The higher sulfite is likely the main reason for the initiation of chlorophyll degradation, while the lower glutathione as well as the higher hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde additionally contribute to premature senescence in mutant leaves.
Daily energy expenditure during lactation is strongly selected in a free‐living mammal
Authors: Fletcher Quinn E. , Speakman John R. , Boutin Stan , Lane Jeffrey E. , McAdam Andrew G. , Gorrell Jamieson C. , Coltman David W. , Humphries Murray M.
Published: July 2014

Energy expenditure is a trait of central importance in ecological and evolutionary theory. We examined the correlates of, the strength of selection on, and the heritability of, daily energy expenditure (DEE; kJ day−1) during lactation in free‐ranging North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

Over 7 years, lactating squirrels with greaterDEEhad higher annual reproductive success (ARS; standardized selection gradient: β′ = 0·47; top 12% of published estimates). Surprisingly, positive fecundity selection on lactationDEEfor increasedARSdid not result because lactationDEEwas correlated with typical measures of reproductive performance and/or investment.

We found no evidence of costs of elevated lactationDEEacting through female survival, subsequent year lactationDEEor subsequent year reproduction.

LactationDEEwas not significantly repeatable, and heritability was not significantly different from zero.

Elevated lactationDEEenhancesARSthrough a link betweenDEEand an unidentified measure of maternal or environmental quality, but there is limited evolutionary potential for lactationDEEto respond to our documented selection.
Where is Urban Politics?
Authors: Rodgers Scott , Barnett Clive , Cochrane Allan
Published: July 2014

We outline the rationale for reopening the issue of the spatiality of the ‘urban’ in urban politics. There is a long tradition of arguing about the distinctive political qualities of urban sites, practices and processes. Recent work often relies on spatial concepts or metaphors that anchor various political phenomena to cities while simultaneously putting the specificity of the urban itself in question. This symposium seeks to extend debates about the relationship between the urban and the political. Instead of asking ‘what is urban politics?’, seeking a definition of the urban as a starting point we begin by asking ‘where is urban politics?’. This question orients all of the contributions to this symposium, and it allows each to trace diverse political dimensions of urban life and living beyond the confines of ‘the city’ as classically conceived. The symposium engages with ‘the urban question’ through diverse settings and objects, including infrastructures, in‐between spaces, professional cultures, transnational and postcolonial spaces and spaces of sovereignty. Contributions draw on a range of intellectual perspectives, including geography, urban studies, political science and political theory, anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, planning and environmental studies — indicating the range of intellectual traditions that can and do inform the investigation of the urban/political nexus.
Isolation and Phenotypic Characterization of Cronobacter from Dried Edible Macrofungi Samples
Authors: Ye Yingwang , Li Hui , Wu Qingping , Chen Mengshi , Lu Yudong , Yan Chunming
Published: July 2014

Cronobacter is a group of food‐borne pathogens including 10 species associated with severe infections in infant by consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula. The information about the prevalence of Cronobacter in dried edible macrofungi samples is also not available. In combination with PCR targeting gluB gene, the traditional ISO method was modified for determining the prevalence of Cronobacter in dried edible macrofungi samples. In addition, the antibiotics susceptibility test, biofilm formation, osmotic, and desiccation resistance of Cronobacter strains were also tested. Results indicated that 18 dried edible macrofungi samples (n = 60) were found to be positive for Cronobacter. All isolated Cronobacter strains were resistant to vancomycin and penicillin G, and sensitive to chloramphenicol, norfloxacin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and cephazolin. The abilities to form biofilm and survive when exposed to osmotic and dry stresses were different. This study contributes to a valid method for detection of Cronobacter and phenotypic characterization of Cronobacter, promoting the necessary measures for control and precaution of Cronobacter in dried edible macrofungi samples.
Determining the culturability of the rumen bacterial microbiome
Authors: Creevey Christopher J. , Kelly William J. , Henderson Gemma , Leahy Sinead C.
Published: July 2014

The goal of the Hungate1000 project is to generate a reference set of rumen microbial genome sequences. Toward this goal we have carried out a meta‐analysis using information from culture collections, scientific literature, and the NCBI and RDP databases and linked this with a comparative study of several rumen 16S rRNA gene‐based surveys. In this way we have attempted to capture a snapshot of rumen bacterial diversity to examine the culturable fraction of the rumen bacterial microbiome. Our analyses have revealed that for cultured rumen bacteria, there are many genera without a reference genome sequence. Our examination of culture‐independent studies highlights that there are few novel but many uncultured taxa within the rumen bacterial microbiome. Taken together these results have allowed us to compile a list of cultured rumen isolates that are representative of abundant, novel and core bacterial species in the rumen. In addition, we have identified taxa, particularly within the phylum Bacteroidetes, where further cultivation efforts are clearly required.

This information is being used to guide the isolation efforts and selection of bacteria from the rumen microbiota for sequencing through the Hungate1000.
Multiple signals modulate the activity of the complex sensor kinase TodS
Authors: Silva‐Jiménez Hortencia , Ortega Álvaro , García‐Fontana Cristina , Ramos Juan Luis , Krell Tino
Published: July 2014

The reason for the existence of complex sensor kinases is little understood but thought to lie in the capacity to respond to multiple signals. The complex, seven‐domain sensor kinase TodS controls in concert with the TodT response regulator the expression of the toluene dioxygenase pathway in Pseudomonas putida F1 and DOT‐T1E. We have previously shown that some aromatic hydrocarbons stimulate TodS activity whereas others behave as antagonists. We show here that TodS responds in addition to the oxidative agent menadione. Menadione but no other oxidative agent tested inhibited TodS activity in vitro and reduced PtodX expression in vivo. The menadione signal is incorporated by a cysteine‐dependent mechanism. The mutation of the sole conserved cysteine of TodS (C320) rendered the protein insensitive to menadione. We evaluated the mutual opposing effects of toluene and menadione on TodS autophosphorylation. In the presence of toluene, menadione reduced TodS activity whereas toluene did not stimulate activity in the presence of menadione. It was shown by others that menadione increases expression of glucose metabolism genes. The opposing effects of menadione on glucose and toluene metabolism may be partially responsible for the interwoven regulation of both catabolic pathways. This work provides mechanistic detail on how complex sensor kinases integrate different types of signal molecules.
A follow‐up meeting post death is appreciated by family members of deceased patients
Authors: KOCK M. , BERNTSSON C. , BENGTSSON A.
Published: July 2014

Background

A practice with a follow‐up meeting post death (FUMPD) with physician and staff for family members of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU) was started as a quality project to improve the support of families in post‐ICU bereavement. A quality improvement control was conducted after 4 years.

Method

The quality improvement control was made retrospectively as an anonymous non‐coded questionnaire. Part A related to the FUMPD. Part B inquired if we could contact the family member again for a research project to evaluate family support post‐ICU bereavement. The questionnaires were sent to 84 family members of 56 deceased patients.

Results

Part A: 46 out of 84 family members answered and had attended a FUMPD. Ninety‐one percent of the family members thought that we should continue to offer FUMPD. Seventy‐eight percent were satisfied with their meeting. Eighty percent felt that they understood the cause of death. The majority wanted the meeting to take place within 6 weeks of death. Ninety‐one percent rated the physician as important to be present at the meeting. The social worker was rated more important to attend the meeting than the assistant nurse. Ninety‐one percent wanted to discuss the cause of death.Part B: 54 out of 84 family members answered. Twenty out of 54 did not want us to contact them again.

Conclusion

A routine with a Follow‐Up Meeting Post Death with the ICU team for the families of the patients who die in the ICU is appreciated. The presence of the physician is important.
The Contribution of Exports to the Mexican Economy During the First Globalisation (1870–1929)
Authors: Ficker Sandra Kuntz
Published: July 2014

This article provides an assessment of the contribution of exports to the Mexican economy during the first globalisation. This implies revisiting conventional explanations based on the tradition of structuralism and dependency theory, using a new, complete set of data on Mexico's foreign trade, and evaluating the direct contribution as well as the indirect benefits provided by export activities, through mechanisms that linked foreign trade to the rest of the economy. The most important among these were positive externalities, spillovers, and backward and forward linkages.
Multinational Corporations, Property Rights, and Legitimization Strategies: US Investors in the Argentine and Peruvian Oil Industries in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Bucheli Marcelo , Sommer Gonzalo Romero
Published: July 2014

Multinational corporations in the extractive sector have historically faced challenges to their property rights, particularly in oil. International business scholars argue that firms can decrease these challenges by approaching domestic legitimating actors or seeking home government support. Through a study of the operations of Standard Oil of New Jersey in Peru and Argentina in the twentieth century, we find that these legitimating strategies can backfire due to two main elements: first, the multinational might approach actors with a different agenda from those defining, delineating, and enforcing property rights. Second, host countries can use home government support to multinationals to delegitimise foreign firms' operations.
Olive, grass or both? Molecular diagnosis for the allergen immunotherapy selection in polysensitized pollinic patients
Authors: Moreno C. , Justicia J. L. , Quiralte J. , Moreno‐Ancillo Á. , Iglesias‐Cadarso A. , Torrecillas M. , Labarta N. , García M. A. , Dávila I.
Published: July 2014

Background

Grass and olive are the most frequently pollens that induce seasonal allergic rhinitis in Spain. Cross‐reactivity due to panallergens shared by them and overlapping pollination complicates the recognition of allergy‐causing agents, making it difficult to identify the most appropriate allergen immunotherapy (AIT) to use. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitization pattern to major grass and olive pollen allergens using component‐resolved diagnostics in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and positive skin prick test to grass and olive pollens and evaluate how knowledge of the sensitization patterns might influence AIT prescription.

Methods

After informed written consent, a total of 1263 patients were recruited. A serum determination of specific IgE levels to Ole e 1 and Phl p 1 + 5 was performed to all patients. A comparison was made before and after obtaining the specific IgE results, and differences in diagnosis were stated.

Results

At the 0.35 kU/l cut‐off point, 71.2% of patients were positive to Ole e 1 and Phl p 1 + 5, 14% were positive only to Phl p 1 + 5 and 12% were positive only to Ole e 1. Based on available clinical data and skin prick test results, 922 (73%) patients would have been indicated for a mixture of grass and olive pollens for AIT. In 56.8% of patients, there was non‐coincidence in the composition of AIT that would be selected before and after investigators received the in vitro data.

Conclusion

The diagnostic accuracy of the recombinant allergen‐specific IgE test could help to improve the selection of specific‐allergen immunotherapy in polysensitized patients.
Streamlining the assessment of haematuria: 3‐year outcomes of a dedicated haematuria clinic
Authors: Sapre Nikhil , Hayes Elizabeth , Bugeja Pat , Corcoran Niall M. , Costello Anthony J. , Anderson Paul D.
Published: July 2014

Background

Urgent assessment of haematuria is critical to exclude malignancy. The objective of this study is to report the outcomes of the first 3 years of a dedicated haematuria clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, a Victorian tertiary hospital.

Methods

All patients assessed in the haematuria clinic from April 2010 to April 2013 were included in the analysis. Outcomes were recorded prospectively and analysed retrospectively.

Results

A total of 643 patients were seen in the haematuria clinic with non‐visible (170, 26%) and visible haematuria (463, 72%) during this time period, all within 28 days of referral being triaged. Sixty‐five (10%) patients were diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma, 63 with lower tract disease and two with upper tract urothelial carcinoma and another five (1%) patients with other tumours. Thirty out of 63 (48%) of the bladder urothelial carcinomas were invasive or high‐grade. Two hundred and sixty‐seven (42%) patients were discharged from the clinic after a single point of contact. One hundred and fifty‐three (24%) patients were referred for further definitive management of suspected pathology. Two hundred and twenty‐three (34%) patients were referred to outpatients clinic for further investigations. Urothelial carcinoma was diagnosed more often in males, older patients and patients with visible haematuria.

Conclusion

The Royal Melbourne Hospital haematuria clinic has served as an effective tool for rapid, streamlined assessment of patients presenting with haematuria. Follow‐up of investigations by nurses and moving towards a ‘one‐stop’ approach are helping to further decrease the number of patients requiring a second clinic visit.
Effects of a New Sports Companion on Received Social Support and Physical Exercise: An Intervention Study
Authors: Rackow Pamela , Scholz Urte , Hornung Rainer
Published: July 2014

Background: The role of social support in physical exercise is well documented. However, the majority of studies that investigate the associations between social support and physical exercise target perceived instead of received social support. Moreover, most studies investigate the effects of received social support using a descriptive correlational design. Thus, our study aimed at investigating the effects of received social support by conducting an intervention study. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 118) or control group (n = 102). The intervention comprised regularly exercising with a new sports companion for eight weeks. To investigate the time course of physical exercise and received social support, growth curve modelling was employed. Results: Generally, both groups were able to improve their physical exercise. However, the control group tended to decrease again during the final point of measurement. Received social support, however, decreased slightly in the control group, but remained stable in the intervention group. Conclusions: The intervention was suitable to sustain received social support for physical exercise across a two‐month interval. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of further investigating social support for physical exercise applying an experimental approach.
Associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms in precursor-microRNA (miR)-125a and the expression of mature miR-125a with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases
Authors: Inoue Y , Watanabe M , Inoue N , Kagawa T , Shibutani S , Otsu H , Saeki M , Takuse Y , Hidaka Y , Iwatani Y
Published: July 2014

It is important to search the biomarker to predict the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) such as Hashimoto's disease (HD) and Graves' disease (GD). MicroRNA (miR) bind directly to the 3′ untranslated region of specific target mRNAs to suppress the expression of proteins, promote the degradation of target mRNAs and regulate immune response. miR-125a is known to be a negative regulator of regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), interleukin (IL)-6 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β; however, its association with AITDs remains unknown. To clarify the association between AITDs and miR-125a, we genotyped the rs12976445 C/T, rs10404453 A/G and rs12975333 G/T polymorphisms in the MIR125A gene, which encodes miR-125a, using direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) methods in 155 patients with GD, 151 patients with HD and 118 healthy volunteers. We also examined the expression of miR-125a in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 55 patients with GD, 79 patients with HD and 38 healthy volunteers using quantitative real-time PCR methods. We determined that the CC genotype and C allele of the rs12976445 C/T polymorphism were significantly more frequent in patients with HD compared with control subjects (P < 0·05) and in intractable GD compared with GD in remission (P < 0·05). The expression of miR-125a was correlated negatively with age (P = 0·0010) and down-regulated in patients with GD compared with control subjects (P = 0.0249). In conclusion, miR-125a expression in PBMCs and the rs12976445 C/T polymorphism were associated with AITD development and prognosis.
Evaluation of local cancellous bone amelioration by poly‐l‐dl‐lactide copolymers to improve primary stability of dental implants: a biomechanical study in sheep
Authors: Stübinger Stefan , Waser Jasmin , Hefti Thomas , Drechsler Anika , Sidler Michéle , Klein Karina , von Rechenberg Brigitte , Schlottig Falko
Published: July 2014

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of local cancellous bone amelioration by a 70:30 poly‐(l‐lactide‐co‐d,l‐Lacide) copolymer with two different implant designs on primary stability and after 4 and 12 weeks of healing time.

Material and methods

In six sheep, n = 36 implants (TH) with a conditioned, sandblasted, thermal acid‐etched micro‐rough surface and n = 36 implants (NB) with a highly crystalline and phosphate‐enriched anodized titanium oxide surface were placed in the pelvic bone. Using an ultrasound‐based process named Constant Amelioration Process (CAP), half of peri‐implant trabecular bone structures were locally tested with 70:30 poly‐(l‐lactide‐co‐d,l‐Lacide) copolymer in both implant groups, TH and NB. The CAP technology employs ultrasonic energy to liquefy 70:30 poly‐(l‐lactide‐co‐d,l‐Lacide) which enters the inter‐trabecular space, leading to local reinforcement of the cancellous bone structure after solidification of the copolymer. The CAP test group was compared with reference implants placed with the conventional site preparation according to the manufacturers' description. Primary stability was assessed by the measurement of torque‐in values and implant stability quotient (ISQ; n = 18 per group). Secondary stability was analyzed by biomechanical removal torque testing after 4 and 12 weeks (n = 9 per group).

Results

Insertion torque value (23.3 N cm ± 13.6) of reference TH implants demonstrated a statistically significant (P = 0.00) difference in comparison with test TH implants (41.9 N cm ± 19.5). Reference NB implants revealed a statistically significant (P = 0.03) lower insertion torque value (23.7 N cm ± 13.5) than test NB implants (39.7 N cm ± 18.6). ISQ values increased for all implants from initial implant placement until sacrifice at 12 weeks. Reference TH implants tended to result in an increase in torque values from 4 weeks (181.9 N cm ± 22.8) to 12 weeks (225.7 N cm ± 47.4). This trend could be also proven for implants of test sites (4 week: 176.8 N cm ± 24.1; 12 week: 201.5 N cm ± 53.4). For reference, NB implants a non‐significant increase in removal torque values from 4 weeks (146. 7 N cm ± 18.0) to 12 weeks (170.2 N cm ± 40.4) was observed. Removal torque values of test NB implants did not increase from 4 weeks (153.3 N cm ± 21.5) to 12 weeks (146.1 N cm ± 37.5).

Conclusion

Biomechanical data proved significantly enhanced primary stability of dental implants after local amelioration without long‐term sequelae and irrespective of implant design. After 4‐ and 12‐week healing time, removal torque of locally test implants was as high as for control implants, and osseointegration was therefore not influenced by the CAP process. No correlation between ISQ values and torque values was found.
Missing Value Imputation with Unsupervised Backpropagation
Authors: Gashler Michael S. , Smith Michael R. , Morris Richard , Martinez Tony
Published: July 2014

Many data mining and data analysis techniques operate on dense matrices or complete tables of data. Real‐world data sets, however, often contain unknown values. Even many classification algorithms that are designed to operate with missing values still exhibit deteriorated accuracy. One approach to handling missing values is to fill in (impute) the missing values. In this article, we present a technique for unsupervised learning called unsupervised backpropagation (UBP), which trains a multilayer perceptron to fit to the manifold sampled by a set of observed point vectors. We evaluate UBP with the task of imputing missing values in data sets and show that UBP is able to predict missing values with significantly lower sum of squared error than other collaborative filtering and imputation techniques. We also demonstrate with 24 data sets and nine supervised learning algorithms that classification accuracy is usually higher when randomly withheld values are imputed using UBP, rather than with other methods.
Situational and contextual factors that increase the risk of harm when students drink: Case–control and case‐crossover investigation
Authors: Connor Jennie , Cousins Kimberly , Samaranayaka Ari , Kypri Kypros
Published: July 2014

Introduction and Aims

Better understanding of the circumstances of alcohol‐related adverse events experienced by university students could identify opportunities for prevention. We aimed to identify situational and contextual factors associated with unintentional injury, assault, unsafe sex, sexual assault and drink‐driving/riding amongst university students.

Design and Methods

We conducted a Web‐based survey of full‐time students aged 17–25 years at five New Zealand universities (n = 2683) and carried out between‐ and within‐subjects comparisons (case–control and case‐crossover, respectively) of situational and contextual characteristics of events in the last seven days and control drinking occasions.

Results

The response fraction was 49%. For the seven days preceding the survey, 4.9% of women and 7.4% of men reported at least one of the defined events while they were drinking or soon after. The number of drinking locations and getting drunker than expected were strongly associated with risk of an event in both case–control and case‐crossover models, independent of consumption. Total number of drinks, drinking later and into the morning, and drinking with close friends were also associated with increased risk in the case–control analysis. No gender difference was seen after controlling for drinking and contextual factors.

Discussion and Conclusions

Strategies to reduce the duration and volume of alcohol consumption, including earlier closing of licensed premises, should be considered as countermeasures for alcohol‐related adverse events. The use of two different comparison groups for the circumstances of adverse events when drinking can strengthen inferences about the contribution of contextual factors.
Receipt of preconception care among women with prepregnancy and gestational diabetes
Authors: Kachoria R. , Oza‐Frank R.
Published: July 2014

Aims

To determine the extent of provision of preconception care among women with prepregnancy diabetes or women who develop gestational diabetes compared with women without diabetes and to examine the association between preconception care receipt and diabetes status, adjusting for maternal characteristics.

Methods

Data were collected from women who completed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System questionnaire in 10 US states (Hawaii, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia) in the period 2009 to 2010. Weighted, self‐reported receipt of preconception care by diabetes status was examined. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the association between preconception care receipt and diabetes status.

Results

Overall, 31% of women reported receiving preconception care. Women with prepregnancy diabetes (53%) reported the highest prevalence of preconception care, while women with gestational diabetes and women without diabetes reported a lower prevalence (32 and 31%, respectively). In the adjusted model, there was no difference in reported preconception care receipt between women with gestational diabetes and women without diabetes (odds ratio 1.1, 95% CI 0.9, 1.3), while women with prepregnancy diabetes were significantly more likely to report receipt of preconception care (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.5, 3.3) than women without diabetes.

Conclusions

Although all women of reproductive age should receive preconception care, it is vital that women with known risk factors, such as those with prepregnancy diabetes and with risk factors for gestational diabetes, are counselled before pregnancy to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes. It is encouraging that women with prepregnancy diabetes report receiving preconception care more often than women on average, but preconception care is still not reaching all women at high risk.
Metabolic effects of lifestyle intervention in obese pregnant women. Results from the randomized controlled trial ‘Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ (LiP)
Authors: Vinter C. A. , Jørgensen J. S. , Ovesen P. , Beck‐Nielsen H. , Skytthe A. , Jensen D. M.
Published: July 2014

Aims

The Lifestyle in Pregnancy intervention in obese pregnant women resulted in significantly lower gestational weight gain compared with the control group, but without improvement in rates of clinical pregnancy complications. The impact of the lifestyle intervention on metabolic measurements in the study participants is now reported.

Methods

The Lifestyle in Pregnancy study was a randomized controlled trial among 360 obese women (BMI 30–45 kg/m2) who were allocated in early pregnancy to lifestyle interventions with diet counselling and physical activities or to the control group. Fasting blood samples, including plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile and capillary blood glucose during a 2‐h oral glucose tolerance test were carried out three times throughout pregnancy. Insulin resistance was estimated with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.

Results

Three hundred and four women (84%) were followed until delivery. Women in the intervention group had a significantly lower change in insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) from randomization to 28–30 weeks’ gestation compared with control subjects (mean ± sd: 0.7 ± 1.3 vs. 1.0 ± 1.3, P = 0.02). Despite a significantly lower gestational weight gain in the intervention group, there was no difference between the groups with respect to total cholesterol, HDL, LDL or triglycerides.

Conclusions

Lifestyle intervention in obese pregnant women resulted in attenuation of the physiologic pregnancy‐induced insulin resistance. Despite restricted gestational weight gain, there were no changes in glucose or lipid metabolism between the groups.
LICENSING POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN STANDARD SETTING ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: Tarantino Emanuele
Published: July 2014

The standard setting organizations' decisions on licensing policy and standard's technological specification, and the ensuing implications for social welfare are analyzed. The author finds the conditions under which a licensing rule that grants monopoly power to the licensors whose technology is adopted in the standard can be employed by the members of the consortium (ex‐post licensing). Moreover, it is shown that the adoption of ex‐post licensing might lead to the inefficient exclusion of an efficient stand‐alone licensor. Finally, the author discusses the conditions under which a policy of ex‐ante licensing can be less efficient than ex‐post licensing. (JEL K21, L15, L24, L42)
Characteristic RNA foci of the abnormal hexanucleotide GGCCUG repeat expansion in spinocerebellar ataxia type 36 (Asidan)
Authors: Liu W. , Ikeda Y. , Hishikawa N. , Yamashita T. , Deguchi K. , Abe K.
Published: July 2014

Background and purpose

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 36 (SCA36), also called Asidan, is an autosomal‐dominant neurodegenerative disorder identified as a hexanucleotide GGCCTG repeat expansion in the first intron 1 of the NOP56 gene. In the present study, for the first time an autopsy sample from an Asidan patient was examined and cytoplasmic inclusions and (GGCCUG)n repeat RNA foci were detected.

Methods

Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to investigate the cytoplasmic inclusions of ubiquitin and p62 and the (GGCCUG)n repeat RNA foci.

Results

The present study showed both ubiquitin‐ and p62‐positive inclusions in the cytoplasm of the inferior olivary nucleus of the Asidan patient, (GGCCUG)n RNA foci in neuronal nuclei of the cerebrum, cerebellum, inferior olive, spinal cord and temporal muscle, and three types of RNA foci, i.e. single small, multiple small and giant. Of interest is that the giant RNA foci, nearly 10 μm in diameter, that were detected in Purkinje cells, spinal motor neurons and most frequently in the inferior olivary nucleus, may be responsible for pivotal clinical symptoms of Asidan.

Conclusions

The present study is the first report to show neuronal cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and giant RNA foci in an Asidan patient. The relationships between the giant RNA foci and neurodegeneration have yet to be studied.
First discovery of Stephanus Jurine (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) in Japan, with description of a new species from Anijima Island of Ogasawara Islands
Authors: Watanabe Kyohei , van Achterberg Cornelis
Published: July 2014

The genus Stephanus Jurine (in Panzer) is newly recorded from Japan and is represented by a new species. S. anijimensis sp. nov. from Anijima Island of the Ogasawara Islands. This species resembles S. tridentatus van Achterberg & Yang from the Oriental part of China, but can be distinguished by the combination of following characters: pronotum with a cavity under pronotal fold (cavity absent in S. tridentatus); hind femur comparatively slender, 4.8–5.1 times as long as maximum width (about 4.1 times in S. tridentatus); apical 0.5 of hind femur black or blackish‐brown (more or less yellowish in S. tridentatus). This new species was not found from other islands of the Ogasawara Islands, in which fauna is being severely endangered mainly due to predation by the introduced green anoles. Recently, it was introduced into Anijima Island in March 2013 and thus the extinction risk of this species is very high on this island.