bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ageing doctors
Authors: Lillis Steven , Milligan Eleanor
Published: January 2017

Doctors are neither more nor less susceptible than the general population to the effects of ageing. The relevance of deterioration with age depends on the nature of the work undertaken. Reduced muscle strength and visual and auditory deterioration can compromise clinical ability. Accumulation of chronic disease further reduces capacity. Cognitive decline is of particular importance, as good medical care requires considerable cognitive function. Patient safety is paramount, yet older doctors are an important part of the medical workforce and their value should be recognised. Changes in patient case mix, work place support systems and individual adjustments can assist safe practice. Deterioration in health should be acknowledged and requires proactive management. Current methods of ensuring competence are inadequate for supporting ageing doctors. A new initiative is recommended comprising collaboration between regulators, colleges and employing institutions to support the ageing doctor in providing safe and effective practice.
Abnormal peritoneal regulation of chemokine activation—The role of IL‐8 in pathogenesis of endometriosis
Authors: Sikora Justyna , Smycz‐Kubańska Marta , Mielczarek‐Palacz Aleksandra , Kondera‐Anasz Zdzisława
Published: January 2017

Problem

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with an impairment in immune response. Disorders in the peritoneal fluid and ectopic endometrium macrophage populations and their secretory products create a specific microenvironment inducing the development of the disease. The important factors involved in inflammation associated with endometriosis are chemokines, especially interleukin (IL)‐8. For this reason, the current study briefly reviews the role of IL‐8 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Method of study

A systematic review was done on all published studies that compared IL‐8 expression and concentration in patients with and without endometriosis to evaluate their potential as biomarkers for the disease.

Results

IL‐8 induces chemotaxis of neutrophils and other immune cells; also, it is a potent angiogenic agent. Most researchers pointed to the increased peritoneal and serum IL‐8 levels and showed correlation with the severity of the disease, size and number of the active lesions. IL‐8 takes part in all processes during the development of the disease: adhesion, invasion, and implantation of ectopic tissue. Additionally, the chemokine plays a role in growth and maintenance of ectopic endometrial tissue directly affecting endometrial cell proliferation. IL‐8 might also protect ectopic cells against death by apoptosis.

Conclusion

It may act as an autocrine growth factor in the endometrium and promotes the vicious circle of endometrial cell attachment and, in consequence, may lead to a transformation from acute to chronic inflammation stage.
Results of an allergy educational needs questionnaire for primary care
Authors: Ryan D. , Angier E. , Gomez M. , Church D. , Batsiou M. , Nekam K. , Lomidze N. , Gawlik R.
Published: January 2017

It is well recognized that knowledge of allergic conditions is suboptimal in primary care. The Primary Care Interest Group of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology undertook an educational needs survey to better understand what they were and how best to meet them, in the primary care environment. An electronic questionnaire was devised and distributed as widely as possible. A total of 2226 people from 63 countries opened the e‐questionnaire of which 692 provided evaluable responses. In total, 81% were medical doctors with 299 possessing additional qualifications. Self‐declared gaps in knowledge were expressed for most manifestations of allergy with a correspondingly high self‐expressed educational need. The preferred learning modalities were online guidelines (69.6%) and courses (68.8%) followed closely by workshops (68%), structured online modules (63.9%) and small local working groups (59.75%). Podcasts and webinars scored poorly with only 25% expressing these as preferred learning modes although there was an age gradient. The preferred electronic platform was the personal computer (82.6%). A better understanding of the needs of primary care should help guide the design of educational initiatives to meet those needs.
The role of toll‐like and protease‐activated receptors and associated intracellular signaling in Porphyromonas gingivalis‐infected gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Palm Eleonor , Demirel Isak , Bengtsson Torbjörn , Khalaf Hazem
Published: January 2017

Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is considered a keystone agent in periodontitis, has evolved elaborate mechanisms to grow and survive in a hostile milieu. The gingival fibroblast is the major cell type in the gingiva and is considered to be important in the periodontitis‐associated inflammation. As a part of the innate immune response, they produce cytokines such as CXCL8 and interleukin (IL)‐6 which are believed to contribute to the destruction of the tooth‐supporting tissues. This study investigates how the expression of protease‐activated receptors (PAR1, PAR2) and toll‐like receptors (TLR2, TLR4) changes with P. gingivalis exposure and how silencing of one receptor affects the expression of the other receptors. The importance of protein kinase C (PKC) and p38 in the regulation of CXCL8 and IL‐6 was also examined. Receptors were knockdown with small‐interfering RNA. PKC or p38 was blocked prior to stimulation with P. gingivalis. Fibroblasts were able to compensate for PAR1 knockdown with increased expression of PAR2. PKC and p38 were involved in the regulation of P. gingivalis‐induced CXCL8 and IL‐6. Our results indicate that PAR1 and PAR2 could be implicated in periodontitis and that PKC and P38 play a role in the inflammatory response in P. gingivalis‐infected gingival fibroblasts.
Protein kinase A inhibition facilitates the antitumor activity of xanthohumol, a valosin‐containing protein inhibitor
Authors: Shikata Yuki , Yoshimaru Tetsuro , Komatsu Masato , Katoh Hiroto , Sato Reiko , Kanagaki Shuhei , Okazaki Yasumasa , Toyokuni Shinya , Tashiro Etsu , Ishikawa Shumpei , Katagiri Toyomasa , Imoto Masaya
Published: January 2017

Xanthohumol (XN), a simple prenylated chalcone, can be isolated from hops and has the potential to be a cancer chemopreventive agent against several human tumor cell lines. We previously identified valosin‐containing protein (VCP) as a target of XN; VCP can also play crucial roles in cancer progression and prognosis. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms governing the contribution of VCP to the antitumor activity of XN. Several human tumor cell lines were treated with XN to investigate which human tumor cell lines are sensitive to XN. Several cell lines exhibited high sensitivity to XN both in vitro and in vivo. shRNA screening and bioinformatics analysis identified that the inhibition of the adenylate cyclase (AC) pathway synergistically facilitated apoptosis induced by VCP inhibition. These results suggest that there is crosstalk between the AC pathway and VCP function, and targeting both VCP and the AC pathway is a potential chemotherapeutic strategy for a subset of tumor cells.
New liposomal doxorubicin nanoformulation for osteosarcoma: Drug release kinetic study based on thermo and pH sensitivity
Authors: Haghiralsadat Fateme , Amoabediny Ghasem , Sheikhha Mohammad Hasan , Zandieh‐doulabi Behrouz , Naderinezhad Samira , Helder Marco N. , Forouzanfar Tymour
Published: January 2017

A novel approach was developed for the preparation of stealth controlled‐release liposomal doxorubicin. Various liposomal formulations were prepared by employing both thin film and pH gradient hydration techniques. The optimum formulation contained phospholipid and cholesterol in 1:0.43 molar ratios in the presence of 3% DSPE‐mPEG (2000). The liposomal formulation was evaluated by determining mean size of vesicle, encapsulation efficiency, polydispersity index, zeta potentials, carrier's functionalization, and surface morphology. The vesicle size, encapsulation efficiency, polydispersity index, and zeta potentials of purposed formula were 93.61 nm, 82.8%, 0.14, and −23, respectively. Vesicles were round‐shaped and smooth‐surfaced entities with sharp boundaries. In addition, two colorimetric methods for cytotoxicity assay were compared and the IC50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) of both methods for encapsulated doxorubicin was determined to be 0.1 μg/ml. The results of kinetic drug release were investigated at several different temperatures and pH levels, which showed that purposed formulation was thermo and pH sensitive.
Structure‐based derivation of peptide inhibitors to target TGF‐β1 receptor for the suppression of hypertrophic scarring fibroblast activation
Authors: Hu Huan , Yang Songlin , Zheng Jianghong , Mao Guangyu
Published: January 2017

The intermolecular recognition and interaction between human transforming growth factor β‐1 (TGF‐β1) and its cognate receptor TβRII have been implicated in the pathological condition of hypertrophic scarring (HS). Here, we attempted to rationally derive peptide inhibitors from the complex interface of TGF‐β1 with TβRII to disrupt such interaction for the suppression of fibroblast activation involved in HS. A synthetic strategy that integrated computational design and fluorescence‐based assay was described to examine the structural basis and energetic property of TGF‐β1–TβRII crystal structure, from which a small peptide segment in the complex binding site was stripped artificially. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the linear peptide possesses a large intrinsic disorder that would incur considerable entropy penalty upon binding to TβRII; the peptide segment was then extended and cyclized by introducing a disulfide bond across its terminal residues that were premutated to cysteine. Normal mode analysis indicated that, as expected, the peptide flexibility was largely reduced upon the cyclization, and thus, the entropy penalty was minimized substantially, consequently promoting the spontaneous binding of peptide to TβRII. Fluorescence polarization assay confirmed that all linear peptides are typical non‐binders of TβRII (Kd = ND), while the designed cyclic peptides exhibit moderate or high affinity with Kd at micromolar level.
Design, synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of nitric oxide‐releasing derivatives of isosteviol
Authors: Liu Yan , Wang Tingting , Ling Yong , Bao Na , Shi Wei , Chen Li , Sun Jianbo
Published: January 2017

Twenty‐six novel isosteviol derivatives coupled with two types of nitric oxide (NO) donors (furoxans and NONOates) were synthesized and screened for cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines with sunitinib as the positive control. The results showed that seven furoxan‐based derivatives (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 9e, and 9f) exhibited desirable cytotoxic activities, while NONOate‐based derivatives displayed poor potency because of unstability. Compared with sunitinib, compounds 8a and 8e were more active on all tested cell lines, especially in HCT116 (8a, IC50 = 0.48 ± 0.02 μm; 8e, IC50 = 0.94 ± 0.01 μm); compounds 8b and 8d were more potent on HCT116 (IC50 = 3.39 ± 0.06 and 3.29 ± 0.03 μm), HepG2 (IC50 = 1.05 ± 0.03 and 5.37 ± 0.08 μm), and SW620 (IC50 = 1.33 ± 0.02 and 4.11 ± 0.05 μm) cell lines, and 8c exhibited higher activities on HepG2 cells with an IC50 = 4.76 ± 0.14 μm. NO‐releasing experiment of compounds 8a–e, 17a, 18a, 19a, and 21a reminded us that NO‐releasing amount of this series of isosteviol derivatives positively correlates with their cytotoxic activities.
Early life travelling does not increase risk of atopic outcomes until 15 years: results fromGINIplus andLISAplus
Authors: Markevych I. , Baumbach C. , Standl M. , Koletzko S. , Lehmann I. , Bauer C.‐P. , Hoffmann B. , von Berg A. , Berdel D. , Heinrich J.
Published: January 2017

Background

Westernized lifestyle has been blamed for allergy epidemics. One of its characteristics is increased distances and frequency of travelling from early life onwards. Early life travelling to places which substantially differ from home environment in terms of climate, vegetation and food could increase the exposure to further unknown allergens and hence promote the development of allergies, but no epidemiological study has investigated this speculation.

Methods

Detailed data on travelling during the first 2 years of life as well as a range of atopic outcomes along with potential confounders up to age 15 years were collected prospectively within two large population‐based multicentre German birth cohorts –GINIplus andLISAplus. Farthest travelling destination (within Germany; middle/northern/eastern Europe; southern Europe; outside Europe), total number of trips and their combination were considered as exposures. Six atopic outcomes were used: (1) doctor‐diagnosed asthma, (2) doctor‐diagnosed allergic rhinitis, (3) nose and eye symptoms, (4) sensitization to food allergens, (5) sensitization to indoor and (6) outdoor inhalant allergens. Longitudinal associations between each exposure and health outcome pair were analysed using generalized estimation equations (GEEs).

Results

The results of our longitudinal analyses of 5674 subjects do not support the research hypothesis that travelling abroad to different regions in Europe or beyond Europe and frequency of travelling increase prevalence of doctor‐diagnosed asthma and allergic rhinitis, nose and eye symptoms and allergic sensitization up to 15 years of age. Furthermore, there was no indication of age‐varying effects.

Conclusions

Early life travelling does not seem to increase risk of atopic outcomes. Nevertheless, as we could not account for the type of visited environment or length of stay, these first findings should be interpreted with caution.
Information‐Theoretic Properties of Auditory Sequences Dynamically Influence Expectation and Memory
Authors: Agres Kat , Abdallah Samer , Pearce Marcus
Published: January 2017

A basic function of cognition is to detect regularities in sensory input to facilitate the prediction and recognition of future events. It has been proposed that these implicit expectations arise from an internal predictive coding model, based on knowledge acquired through processes such as statistical learning, but it is unclear how different types of statistical information affect listeners’ memory for auditory stimuli. We used a combination of behavioral and computational methods to investigate memory for non‐linguistic auditory sequences. Participants repeatedly heard tone sequences varying systematically in their information‐theoretic properties. Expectedness ratings of tones were collected during three listening sessions, and a recognition memory test was given after each session. Information‐theoretic measures of sequential predictability significantly influenced listeners’ expectedness ratings, and variations in these properties had a significant impact on memory performance. Predictable sequences yielded increasingly better memory performance with increasing exposure. Computational simulations using a probabilistic model of auditory expectation suggest that listeners dynamically formed a new, and increasingly accurate, implicit cognitive model of the information‐theoretic structure of the sequences throughout the experimental session.
Mantle cell lymphoma of the thyroid: The helpful role of cell‐blocks
Authors: Mengoli M. C. , Nasillo V. , Potenza L. , Piana S.
Published: January 2017

Cell‐block obtained from thyroid FNA is helpful in the diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma. Mantle cell lymphoma of the thyroid can be easily diagnosed on cell‐block. Immunohistochemistry on cell‐block specimen is helpful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma.
Assessment of left and right ventricular rotational interdependence: A speckle tracking echocardiographic study
Authors: Alizadehasl Azin , Sadeghpour Anita , Hali Reza , Bakhshandeh Abkenar Hooman , Badano Luigi
Published: January 2017

Objective

We sought to investigate the possible interdependence of the left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) rotational mechanics.

Background

Although myocardial fiber architecture and the effect of various pathologic conditions on LV torsional mechanics have already been investigated through multiple studies using different methods, there is still a significant debate about the actual presence and functional significance of RV rotational mechanics.

Methods

We perform a cross‐sectional prospective study of 118 subjects, including 19 normal subjects (NS, 35±7 years), 34 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS, 44±16 years), 26 patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM, 46±18), and 39 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM, 39±13 years). LV and RV rotational parameters were measured using velocity vector imaging. Total LV and RV apical segment rotations as well as the rotation of the free wall of RV apex were measured separately. Interdependence of the LV and RV rotational mechanics was assessed using the Spearman rho test.

Results

Both LV (7.3°±4.1° in NS, 11°±4.6° in AS, 7.7°±5.2° in HCM, and 1.9°±2° in DCM, P=<.0001) and RV apexes (4.7°±2° in NS, 6.1°±4° in AS, 3.2°±3.7° in HCM, and 2.4°±3.6° in DCM, P=<.0001) rotated counterclockwise in all the four study groups. Interventricular apical rotation interdependence was stronger in the AS (Spearman rho [ρ]: .716; P=.000) and in the HCM (ρ: .395; P=.04) subgroups than in the NS (ρ: .26; P=.27) and DCM (ρ: .215; P=.18). In DCM patients, RV apex rotation appeared to be independent of LV rotation. RV free wall apical rotation was larger than its corresponding value for the total apical segments in all studied groups. This difference was significant only in the AS (P=.007).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated a close correlation between RV and LV apical rotation parameters in different cardiac conditions as well as in normal subjects. However, in DCM patients, we also showed some independent rotation of the RV from the LV apex.
Effects of total dissolved solids on growth and mortality predict distributions of stream macroinvertebrates
Authors: Olson John R. , Hawkins Charles P.
Published: January 2017

Spatial distributions of many freshwater invertebrates are associated with the concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS) in streams (usually measured as specific electrical conductivity – EC). These patterns are presumably caused by taxon‐specific effects of TDS on the maintenance of ion and water balance, which is energetically expensive and thus could affect fitness. However, no studies have assessed if TDS‐related effects on fitness metrics, such as growth and survival, are predictive of distributions.

We used stream‐side, flow‐through microcosms to experimentally determine how TDS concentration influenced three life‐history performance measures (growth, mortality and emergence) of 13 species of aquatic insects. We then modelled the relationship between experimentally derived performance measures and both EC optima and minima estimated from field surveys.

In the streamside experiment, we exposed taxa to stream water with naturally low (<25 μS cm−1) and moderate (>125 μS cm−1) EC for 83 days, controlling for differences in habitat, temperature, food availability and pH. We measured performance as the differences in specific growth rates, survival and adult emergence between the two treatments.

Treatment effects on performance varied among taxa and with performance metric. Survival differences between treatments varied from 1 to 21 days, and specific growth rates differed by 0.07–1.5 day−1. Emergence success was less variable (>20% for only two taxa). Three taxa performed better in the low EC treatment, six in the moderate EC treatment, one had a mixed response and three taxa did not differ between treatments.

The best model predicting field‐derived EC optima included both survival and specific growth rate as predictors (R2 = 0.68). Estimates of EC minima were not as strongly related to performance measures as were optima estimates. Taxa with greater performance in the moderate EC treatment had the highest EC optima, indicating that low TDS concentrations could restrict the distributions of taxa adapted to higher TDS concentrations. In contrast to taxa with higher EC preferences, taxa that can tolerate low EC environments will likely be increasingly stressed as stream TDS increases in response to climate and land–use change expected this century.
Drought causes reduced growth of trembling aspen in western Canada
Authors: Chen Lei , Huang Jian‐Guo , Alam Syed Ashraful , Zhai Lihong , Dawson Andria , Stadt Kenneth J. , Comeau Philip G.
Published: January 2017

Adequate and advance knowledge of the response of forest ecosystems to temperature‐induced drought is critical for a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of global climate change on forest ecosystem structure and function. Recent massive decline in aspen‐dominated forests and an increased aspen mortality in boreal forests have been associated with global warming, but it is still uncertain whether the decline and mortality are driven by drought. We used a series of ring‐width chronologies from 40 trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) sites along a latitudinal gradient (from 52° to 58°N) in western Canada, in an attempt to clarify the impacts of drought on aspen growth by using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Results indicated that prolonged and large‐scale droughts had a strong negative impact on trembling aspen growth. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal variability of drought indices is useful for explaining the spatial heterogeneity in the radial growth of trembling aspen. Due to ongoing global warming and rising temperatures, it is likely that severer droughts with a higher frequency will occur in western Canada. As trembling aspen is sensitive to drought, we suggest that drought indices could be applied to monitor the potential effects of increased drought stress on aspen trees growth, achieve classification of eco‐regions and develop effective mitigation strategies to maintain western Canadian boreal forests.
Estimating River Conductance from Prior Information to Improve Surface‐Subsurface Model Calibration
Authors: Cousquer Yohann , Pryet Alexandre , Flipo Nicolas , Delbart Célestine , Dupuy Alain
Published: January 2017

Most groundwater models simulate stream‐aquifer interactions with a head‐dependent flux boundary condition based on a river conductance (CRIV). CRIV is usually calibrated with other parameters by history matching. However, the inverse problem of groundwater models is often ill‐posed and individual model parameters are likely to be poorly constrained. Ill‐posedness can be addressed by Tikhonov regularization with prior knowledge on parameter values. The difficulty with a lumped parameter like CRIV, which cannot be measured in the field, is to find suitable initial and regularization values. Several formulations have been proposed for the estimation of CRIV from physical parameters. However, these methods are either too simple to provide a reliable estimate of CRIV, or too complex to be easily implemented by groundwater modelers. This paper addresses the issue with a flexible and operational tool based on a 2D numerical model in a local vertical cross section, where the river conductance is computed from selected geometric and hydrodynamic parameters. Contrary to other approaches, the grid size of the regional model and the anisotropy of the aquifer hydraulic conductivity are also taken into account. A global sensitivity analysis indicates the strong sensitivity of CRIV to these parameters. This enhancement for the prior estimation of CRIV is a step forward for the calibration and uncertainty analysis of surface‐subsurface models. It is especially useful for modeling objectives that require CRIV to be well known such as conjunctive surface water‐groundwater use.
The governance of Ottonian Germany in historiographical perspective
Authors: Wangerin Laura
Published: January 2017

The historiographic tradition for the tenth‐century Saxon Ottonian dynasty has without doubt been influenced by Germany's more recent past. Events in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries shaped the worldviews of historians both within Germany and without. These events also had a direct effect on the methodologies employed by those historians in studying medieval Germany, and helped to suppress interest in the field by non‐German historians. But in the last decades of the twentieth century, there was a kind of watershed for Ottonian studies. Historians who remain influential yet today began to ask new questions and approach the field with new methodologies that took work on the Ottonians in new directions. Additionally, these new approaches have stimulated lively and often contentious debates. There is much about Ottonian government that continues to puzzle scholars. This article provides a sketch of some of the main institutions of Ottonian governance, using these as a way to introduce the reader to the historiography and historiographical debates in the field.
India's many Puritans: Connectivity and friction in the study of modern Hinduism
Authors: Hatcher Brian A.
Published: January 2017

Taking note of the widespread usage of terms such as puritan, puritanical, and puritanism in the study of modern religious movements in South Asia, this essay builds upon the work of J. Barton Scott and Anna Tsing to open up reflection on the trans‐colonial passage and critical operation of such terms. Learning that Max Weber's famous invocation of the Protestant ethic was preceded by colonial‐era reflections on puritanism in South Asia, we are led to explore patterns of connectivity and friction associated with the global circulation of discourse surrounding the puritan. By coining (after Scott) the concept of a puritan assemblage and considering how it shapes scholarship on the Swaminarayan Sampraday and the Brahmo Samaj, we call attention to the way processes of redescription and translation work to create enabling and exclusionary frames for understanding modern Hinduism.
The Unbelieved and Historians, Part II: Proposals and solutions
Authors: Clossey Luke , Jackson Kyle , Marriott Brandon , Redden Andrew , Vélez Karin
Published: January 2017

Taking a cue from their less‐than‐marginal place in scholarship today, we call supernatural beings the “Unbelieved” and the explicit or implicit denial of them “Dogmatic Secularism.” We argue that objective historians should not discount, in advance, evidence that points to the existence or involvement of the Unbelieved in history; instead, we should cultivate a sceptical attitude towards all sources. In this, the second half of a two‐part essay, we first highlight the work of recent scholars who have pioneered a trail beyond Dogmatic Secularism. We conclude with practical suggestions towards a more truly empirical attitude towards sources involving the Unbelieved.
Tumour budding activity and cell nest size determine patient outcome in oral squamous cell carcinoma: proposal for an adjusted grading system
Authors: Boxberg Melanie , Jesinghaus Moritz , Dorfner Christiane , Mogler Carolin , Drecoll Enken , Warth Arne , Steiger Katja , Bollwein Christine , Meyer Petra , Wolff Klaus D , Kolk Andreas , Weichert Wilko
Published: January 2017

Aims

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy with a variable clinical course. One of the established survival predictors in carcinomas in general is tumour grade; in OSCC, however, grading according to the World Health Organization (WHO) has no independent prognostic impact. Recently, a novel grading scheme associated with high impact on patient outcome has been proposed for squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Methods and results

To probe whether this scheme could be applied to the upper aerodigestive tract, we retrospectively evaluated 157 chemo‐ and radiotherapy‐naive OSCCs with complete clinical follow‐up data and standardized treatment for tumour budding activity (BA), cell nest size (CNS), extent of keratinization, stromal content, nuclear size and mitotic count. Histomorphological characteristics were correlated with clinicopathological data and patient outcome. As in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, high BA and small CNS were correlated significantly with shortened overall, disease‐specific and disease‐free survival. A three‐tiered grading system based on a sum score of these two prognostic markers proved to be a strong age‐, stage‐ and sex‐independent prognosticator for survival with a hazard ratio for overall survival of 2.1 for intermediately differentiated (G2) tumours and 3.4 for poorly differentiated (G3) tumours compared to well‐differentiated (G1) tumours (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

We recapitulated and validated almost exactly the strong prognostic impact of a grading algorithm proposed recently for squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in OSCC. Our data may pave the way for a prognostically highly relevant future squamous cell carcinoma grading system broadly applicable in the aerodigestive tract.
Identification of ecdysteroidogenic enzyme genes and their expression during pupal diapause in the cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae
Authors: Ogihara M. H. , Ikeda H. , Yamada N. , Hikiba J. , Nakaoka T. , Fujimoto Y. , Suzuki Y. , Saito K. , Mizoguchi A. , Kataoka H.
Published: January 2017

In this study, we identified ecdysteroidogenic enzymes in the cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae, and demonstrated reduced expression of these genes during diapause. Some insects employ a temporary developmental arrest, diapause, to survive in severe environments. The titres of the moulting hormone ecdysteroid were reduced in diapause pupae of M. brassicae; therefore, ecdysteroidogenesis might be suppressed by a diapause‐specific mechanism. To clarify expression changes of ecdysteroidogenic enzyme genes during diapause in M. brassicae, we first identified the genes for seven ecdysteroidogenic enzymes: Neverland, Non‐molting glossy (Nm‐g), CYP307A1 (Spook), CYP306A1 (Phantom), CYP302A1 (Disembodied), CYP315A1 (Shadow) and CYP314A1 (Shade). Enzymatic assays using heterologous expression in Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cells and analysis of mRNA distribution indicated that the identified genes were ecdysteroidogenic enzymes of M. brassicae. Expression levels of these ecdysteroidogenic enzyme genes were compared between prothoracic glands in different pupal stages throughout diapause. Immediately after pupation, diapause‐destined pupae showed similar expression levels of ecdysteroidogenic enzyme genes to those of nondiapause pupae. All of these genes showed reduced gene expression after diapause initiation. Expression was immediately increased in diapause‐destined pupae at the postdiapause quiescence phase. These results indicate that reduced expression of ecdysteroidogenic enzyme genes suppresses ecdysteroidogenesis and maintains developmental arrest during diapause.
Enterovirus D68 and other enterovirus serotypes identified in South African patients with severe acute respiratory illness, 2009–2011
Authors: Hellferscee Orienka , Treurnicht Florette K. , Tempia Stefano , Variava Ebrahim , Dawood Halima , Kahn Kathleen , Cohen Adam L. , Pretorius Marthi , Cohen Cheryl , Madhi Shabir A. , Venter Marietjie
Published: January 2017

Background

Human enteroviruses (EV) have been associated with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in South Africa.

Objectives

We aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology of EV serotypes among patients hospitalized with SARI during 2009‐2011.

Patients/Methods

Study samples from patients were tested for the presence of enterovirus using a polymerase chain reaction assay.

Results

8.2% (842/10 260) of SARI cases tested positive for enterovirus; 16% (7/45) were species EV‐A, 44% (20/45) EV‐B, 18% (8/45) EV‐C and 22% (10/45) EV‐D. Seventeen different EV serotypes were identified within EV‐A to EV‐D, of which EV‐D68 (22%; 10/45) and Echovirus 3 (11%; 5/45) were the most prevalent.

Conclusions

EV‐D68 should be monitored in South Africa to assess the emergence of highly pathogenic strains.
Perceptions about the sexuality of women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a phenomenological study
Authors: Matarín Jiménez Tamara María , Fernández‐Sola Cayetano , Hernández‐Padilla José Manuel , Correa Casado Matías , Antequera Raynal Laura Helena , Granero‐Molina José
Published: January 2017

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore and understand the perceptions and experiences of women with fibromyalgia syndrome regarding their sexuality.

Background

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic pathology, which compromises a woman's physical, mental and emotional health. Although concerns related to sexuality are commonly reported, research has tended to focus on the physical symptoms.

Design

An interpretive qualitative research methodology using Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics was carried out.

Methods

This qualitative study explores the sexuality of women with fibromyalgia syndrome. A focus group and semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 13 women with fibromyalgia syndrome. Data were collected between April ‐ June 2014. Participants were recruited until findings reached saturation.

Findings

Three themes define the perception of sexuality for these women: (i) Physical impact: don't touch, don't look; (ii) Sexuality and identity: fighting against their loss; (iii) Impact on the relationship: sexuality as a way of connecting the couple.

Conclusion

Despite limitations, sexuality is important for the identity and quality of life of women with fibromyalgia syndrome. Together with the physical symptomology, guilt, fear and a lack of understanding compromise the coping process. Women need the support of their partner, their socio‐family environment and health professionals. Nurses can aid the successful adjustment to sexual problems related to fibromyalgia syndrome.
Patterns of phylogenetic relatedness of angiosperm woody plants across biomes and life‐history stages
Authors: Qian Hong , Jin Yi , Ricklefs Robert E.
Published: January 2017

Aim

The tropical niche conservatism (TNC) hypothesis predicts that species in colder or drier climates should on average be more closely related to each other (more phylogenetically clustered) than those in warmer or wetter climates, but a global test of this prediction for local forest communities is lacking. In this study, we test this prediction by analysing a comprehensive dataset of forest communities that covers all forest biomes across the world. Furthermore, within a forest community, vegetation layers from understorey to canopy could be considered a gradient of biotic interaction, on one hand, and an environmental gradient, on the other hand. We assess trends of phylogenetic relatedness of tree species across strata of forests in different forest biomes across the world.

Location

Global.

Method

We analysed 186 forest plots, each being 0.1 ha in size. For each forest plot, we divided stems into three stem‐size classes. Net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) for angiosperm woody plant assemblages were calculated for each forest plot and for each stem‐size class of the plot. NRI and NTI of forest plots were related to temperature and precipitation in the framework of Whittaker's biome system.

Results

When both deep and shallow evolutionary histories of woody species were considered, angiosperm woody plants tended to be more closely related in colder and/or drier climates. Phylogenetic relatedness was greater (i.e. more phylogenetic clustering) among trees with larger stems than among trees with smaller stems at the global scale.

Main conclusions

Our finding that species are more closely related towards colder and/or dryer biomes is consistent with the prediction of the TNC hypothesis. The pattern of increasing phylogenetic relatedness towards the upper canopy layer of a forest is stronger in temperate compared to tropical regions, suggesting stronger environmental filtering in the more stressful canopy environment.
A functional variant in ST2 gene is associated with risk of hypertension via interfering MiR‐202‐3p
Authors: Wu Fangqin , Li Lu , Wen Qiang , Yang Jinhua , Chen Zhuyue , Wu Peng , He Meian , Zhang Xiaomin , Wu Tangchun , Cheng Longxian
Published: January 2017

Recent studies have suggested that interleukin 1 receptor‐like 1 (ST2) plays a critical role in pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disease conditions. In this study, we examined association of 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ST2 gene with essential hypertension (EH) risk in 1151 patients with EH and 1135 controls. Our study showed that variants rs11685424, rs12999364 and rs3821204 are highly associated with an increase in risk of EH, while rs6543116 is associated with a decrease risk of EH. Notably, in silico analyses suggested the G>C change of rs3821204, which located within the 3′UTR of soluble ST2 mRNA, disrupted a putative binding site for miR202‐3p. Functional analyses suggested that miR‐202‐3p significantly decreased soluble ST2‐G mRNA stability and inhibited its endogenous expression. Furthermore, we found increased plasma‐soluble ST2 (sST2) level was highly associated with CC genotype of rs3821204 in vivo. Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that genetic variants in ST2 gene are associated with EH risk and variant rs3821204 may influence the development of EH by controlling sST2 expression.
Shared familial risk factors between attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and overweight/obesity – a population‐based familial coaggregation study in Sweden
Authors: Chen Qi , Kuja‐Halkola Ralf , Sjölander Arvid , Serlachius Eva , Cortese Samuele , Faraone Stephen V. , Almqvist Catarina , Larsson Henrik
Published: January 2017

Background

Despite meta‐analytic evidence for the association between attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and overweight/obesity, the mechanisms underlying the association are yet to be fully understood.

Methods

By linking multiple Swedish national and regional registers, we identified 472,735 index males born during 1973–1992, with information on body weight and height directly measured before they were conscripted for military service. We further identified 523,237 full siblings born during 1973–2002 for the index males. All individuals were followed up from their third birthday to December 31, 2009 for ADHD diagnosis. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between overweight/obesity in index males and ADHD in their full siblings.

Results

Siblings of index males with overweight/obesity had increased risk for ADHD (overweight: OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05–1.24; obesity: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.24–1.63), compared with siblings of index males with normal weight. The results were adjusted for birth year of the index male and sex of the sibling. After further adjustment for ADHD status of the index male, the familial coaggregation remained significant (overweight: OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04–1.22; obesity: OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.21–1.57). The results were similar across sex of the siblings.

Conclusions

Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and overweight/obesity share familial risk factors, which are not limited to those causing overweight/obesity through the mediation of ADHD. Future research aiming at identifying family‐wide environmental risk factors as well as common pleiotropic genetic variants contributing to both traits is warranted.
French updated recommendations in Stage I to III melanoma treatment and management
Authors: Guillot B. , Dalac S. , Denis M.G. , Dupuy A. , Emile J.F. , De La Fouchardiere A. , Hindie E. , Jouary T. , Lassau N. , Mirabel X. , Piperno Neumann S. , De Raucourt S. , Vanwijck R.
Published: January 2017

As knowledge continues to develop, regular updates are necessary concerning recommendations for practice. The recommendations for the management of melanoma stages I to III were drawn up in 2005. At the request of the Société Française de Dermatologie, they have now been updated using the methodology for recommendations proposed by the Haute Autorité de Santé in France. In practice, the principal recommendations are as follows: for staging, it is recommended that the 7th edition of AJCC be used. The maximum excision margins have been reduced to 2 cm. Regarding adjuvant therapy, the place of interferon has been reduced and no validated emerging medication has yet been identified. Radiotherapy may be considered for patients in Stage III at high risk of relapse. The sentinel lymph node technique remains an option. Initial examination includes routine ultrasound as of Stage II, with other examinations being optional in stages IIC and III. A shorter strict follow‐up period (3 years) is recommended for patients, but with greater emphasis on imaging.
Use of natural preservatives in low sodium carne‐de‐sol beef
Authors: Campêlo Maria Carla da Silva , Medeiros Jovilma Maria Soares de , Rebouças Manoela de Oliveira , Pereira José Carlos da Silveira , Abrantes Maria Rociene , Oliveira Adriene Rosceli Menezes de , Lima Patrícia de Oliveira , Silva Jean Berg Alves da
Published: January 2017

The quality of meat produced with low sodium chloride and prepared with lactic acid and sodium lactate was evaluated. Meat samples were divided into the following groups according to the treatment: 1% lactic acid (MLA), 3% sodium lactate, a combination of both (MLA + SL) and without preservatives (MC). Samples were salted with 2% sodium chloride and then stored under refrigeration at 4 ± 1 °C for 12 days. Microbiological changes (coliforms at 35 and 45 ºC, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus spp., mesophilic, and psychotrophic aerobic bacteria) and physicochemical alterations (pH, color, WHC, CL, SF, and TBARS) were analyzed at three, six, and twelve. The meat treated with natural preservatives presented lower microbial counts when compared to the MC group. Excellent MLA, with a longer shelf life of up to 6 days in refrigerated storage. Regarding the physical–chemical parameters, it was verified that the introduction of preservatives did not significantly alter the quality of the product. Thus, natural preservatives may be viable alternatives for the production of meat with longer storage time and low NaCl content.

Practical applications

In this work, we report the addition of natural preservatives, lactic acid and sodium lactate to promote an increase in the shelf life of up to 6 days of beef and low sodium chloride. This is important because it allows the consumer to guarantee quality and safety in the consumption of the food for a longer period, thus reducing the possibility of developing diseases caused by the excessive consumption of NaCl. For the industry, the introduction of organic acids in beef, in addition to reducing the NaCl content, which makes the product more attractive to the consumer seeking a healthier diet, makes it possible to commercialize it without altering the sensorial characteristics.
Occurrence of food‐borne pathogens and process hygiene indicators in three Italian poultry slaughterhouses
Authors: Meloni Domenico , Consolati Simonetta Gianna , Mazza Roberta , Marceddu Marta , Mudadu Alessandro Graziano , Piras Francesca , Mazzette Rina
Published: January 2017

In this study, a total of 150 samples including cloacal, carcass swabs, and neck skin excisions were collected from 50 broiler chickens randomly selected in three Italian poultry slaughterhouses. All the samples were examined for the presence of food‐borne pathogens and process hygiene indicators. The efficacy of a destructive method and a non‐destructive method for recovering of bacteria was also evaluated. Fifteen Listeria monocytogenes isolates were subjected to serotyping and investigated for the presence of 10 virulence‐associated genes using multiplex PCR assays. The strains were further subjected to PFGE and investigated for their adhesion abilities. The average levels of the process hygiene indicators (total viable counts of aerobic bacteria, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli) were lower than other surveys carried out in Italy, on the contrary, we highlighted the occurrence of food‐borne pathogens as Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, and L. monocytogenes. The recovering of L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a involved in the majority of recent EU food‐borne outbreaks of human listeriosis should be considered a public health concern.

Practical applications

There are a few studies about the occurrence of the main food‐borne pathogens and the presumptive process hygiene indicators in Italian poultry slaughterhouses. In our study, we applied a combined microbiological and biomolecular approach to verify their occurrence, to evaluate the practical application of recovery methods and to characterize eventual Listeria monocytogenes isolates. The slaughterhouses included in our study were comparable for slaughter procedures: our results should be useful for Food Business Operators to demonstrate the effectiveness of the preventative measures.
Predictors of postoperative falls in the first and second postoperative years among older hip fracture patients
Authors: Yeh Hsiang‐Fen , Shao Jung‐Hua , Li Chia‐Lin , Wu Chi‐Chuan , Shyu Yea‐Ing L
Published: January 2017

Aims and objectives

To explore risk factors for a single fall and multiple falls in the first and second postoperative years among older hip fracture patients.

Background

Older hip fracture patients have a high probability of falling again after a fall incident. Risk factors for postoperative falls among older hip fracture patients in Taiwan remain to be confirmed.

Design

Secondary analysis.

Methods

Data collected from control groups of two clinical trials conducted during 2001–2004 and during 2005–2009 were selected. Overall, 181 older adults who underwent hip fracture surgery were assessed at predischarge and postdischarge. Participant data were collected through home visits.

Results

Decline in unaffected limb quadriceps muscle endurance was a crucial predictor of a single fall in the first postoperative year for older hip fracture patients. Advanced age and more severe depressive symptoms were the crucial predictor for multiple falls. Engagement in activities of daily living was the crucial predictor for falls during the first to second postoperative years among older hip fracture patients.

Conclusion

In Taiwan, postoperative falls that occur within 1–2 years of a hip fracture are associated with a high incidence of single and multiple falls in older people. The crucial predictors of falls in the first and second year after a hip fracture include unaffected limb quadriceps endurance, age, depression status and postdischarge activities of daily livings in older people.

Relevance to clinical practice

The identified factors associated with subsequent falls within one and two years of a hip fracture should be incorporated into clinical strategies and taught in nursing courses. Early postoperative lower extremity muscular endurance rehabilitation must be provided. Furthermore, as part of the healthcare plan before hospital discharge, it must be ensured that the community where the older adults live has nutritional education, cognitive screening and psychological support.