bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical guidelines for acute exposure to laser pointer radiation
Authors: Löfgren S. , Hengstler J. , Jans E.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To describe clinical decision guidelines for eye health care professionals meeting patients exposed to laser pointers.

Methods

The Eye Emergency Department at St. Erik Eye Hospital in Stockholm primarily serves the Stockholm Metro region with its 2.2 million people. Every week, on average one patient seeks help at the Eye Emergency after exposure to laser pointer light. The bulk of the patients are subway and bus drivers and police and security officers. Since no objective retinal damage so far has been documented and there is no proven treatment against laser pointer retinal damage we have instigated an information campaign in order to reduce the number of patients seeking emergency care. The information is spread to all public transportation services in Stockholm, police and security officers, aviation authorities, and to the general population.

Results

The information to all non‐medical staff is general, while the clinical guidelines details which procedures might be relevant and which may be inessential. The guidelines emphasize the importance of documenting a dynamic evolution of retinal damage before causality can be concluded. Within 2 months after the information campaign, there seems to be a decrease of patients seeking emergency eye care after laser pointer light exposure.

Conclusions

The clinical guidelines streamline the care of this patient group, and the information to the public should alleviate some of the worries that are associated to laser pointer light exposure.
Dry Eye Disease Therapy: who are the non‐responders?
Authors: Eidet J.R. , Ræder S. , Chen X. , Badian R. , Utheim Ø. , Utheim T.P.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To investigate the parameters that characterize the patients that responds or do not respond to dry eye disease (DED) therapy as recommended by the International Dry Eye WorkShop 2007.

Methods

217 DED patients were consecutively included at the Norwegian Dry Eye Disease Clinic in Oslo, Norway. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. The patients’ symptoms were reported by means of three self‐questionnaires (Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI], McMonnies Dry Eye Inventory [MDEIS] and the Sjögren's syndrome [SS] questionnaire [SSQ]). Patients were defined as treatment‐responders if their dry eye severity level (DESL) score had improved following 6 months of treatment, and non‐responders if their DESL score was unchanged or worse.

Results

Non‐responders were older (P = 0.019), had lower baseline DESL score (P < 0.001), had less pathological tear meniscus height (P = 0.007) and used fewer systemic prescription drugs (P = 0.046). Linear regression analysis showed that age, DESL and number of systemic prescription drugs used were independently associated with treatment response (P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients were more likely to respond to therapy if it was initiated during winter, which suggests a seasonal effect. Females and males, as well as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) patients and non‐MGD patients, were equally likely to respond to treatment.

Conclusions

As the recommended therapy for DED is based on the DESL score of the patient our results may either indicate that the therapy recommended for the higher levels of DESL are more effective than that recommended for the lower levels of DESL or that effect is easier to detect in patients with more pronounced DED. Future studies should investigate whether patients with mild DED should be treated more aggressively.
APMPPE as a window on systemic granulomatous inflammation
Authors: Labalette P. , Bouabane I. , Maurage C.A.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) an unfrequent posterior uveitis presumed to be caused by a general hypersensitivity vasculitis.

Methods

Eight patients aged from 12 to 33 years presented with AMPPE were studied. For each patient a systemic work‐up for systemic granulomatous disease was performed, including pathologic analysis of accessory salivary glands biopsies.

Results

A granulomatous infiltration of the accessory salivary glands biopsies was found in six cases, a feature consistent with a systemic involvement rather than an isolated eye disease. In addition two patients were diagnosed for systemic sarcoidosis.

Conclusions

In numerous cases, AMPPE seems to be the eye expression of a systemic granulomatous reaction.
Advancing age does not strongly correlate with symptoms and signs of Dry Eye Disease in a large Norwegian cohort
Authors: Badian R.A. , Eidet J.R. , Ræder S. , Utheim Ø. , Chen X. , Stojanovic A. , Utheim T.P.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship between age and signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in a Norwegian cohort of patients with DED

Methods

Clinical signs and symptoms were evaluated for 957 subjects at the Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic. All patients received an extensive ophthalmological work‐up, including tear meniscus height, blink rate, corneal sensibility, tear film break‐up time, Ocular Protection Index, vital staining, Schirmer I, meibum quality and meibum expressibility [CJ1], and in many cases osmolarity measurements. Pearson correlations between signs and symptoms were performed. P values below 0.05 were considered significant. [CJ1] This is not a real word, but may be in ophthalmology it is common

Results

No correlations above r2 = 0.28 were found between age and signs or symptoms. Increasing age was only correlated with lower protection index (0.13), lower Schirmer I values (0.22), lower corneal sensibility (0.15) and higher Meibum expressibility (0.28)

Conclusions

Advancing age did not correlate strongly with any parameters of dry eye disease. This is particularly interesting as advancing age is regarded as a considerable risk factor for the development of dry eye disease.
Spectral‐domain EDI‐OCT in small uveal melanoma and “pseudomelanomas”
Authors: Saakyan S. , Neroev V. , Myakoshina E. , Zaitseva O.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To reveal diagnostic symptoms of small uveal melanoma and “pseudomelanomas” by spectral‐domain EDI‐OCT.

Methods

The results of complex research (ophthalmoscopy, ultrasonography, spectral‐domain EDI‐OCT) of 230 patients (230 eyes) aged from 13 to 75 (mean 49 ± 1.1) years with diagnosis “small uveal melanoma” were analyzed.

Results

In 142 (61.7%) from 230 cases small uveal melanoma was diagnosed. The tomographycal symptoms were retinal thickness caused by neuroepithelium detachment, cystoid retinal edema; bow‐shaped choroidal profile; retinal thickness in contiguous zone caused by neuroepithelium detachment. In 88 cases (38.3%) “pseudomelanomas” were diagnosed. In age‐related macular degeneration (38) retinal pigment epithelium detachment, hyperreflective focus (subretinal membrane), equal choroidal profile; in subretinal hemorrhage (25) equal elevation of choroidal profile without retinal fluid; in peripheral retinal degeneration (12) retinal thinning, insignificant elevation of choroidal profile, hyperreflective foci on RPE level; in congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (13) equal choroidal profile, retinal thinning, thickness of retinal pigment epithelium were diagnosed.

Conclusions

Thus, spectral‐domain EDI‐OCT allow to reveal small uveal melanoma and “pseudomelanomas” symptoms for adequate treatment.
Treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy with EPI‐743: the Brazilian experience
Authors: Karanjia R. , Ganti A. , Chu E. , Wagschal T. , Belfort R. , Moraes‐Filho M. , Salomao S. , Chicani F. , Guy M. , Sadun A.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To determine the degree of visual improvement in a homogeneous Brazilian cohort of Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) 11778 receiving 18–24 months of therapy with the quinone EPI‐743

Methods

Six patients with severe vision loss from LHON were enrolled in an open label clinical trial. Each patient received 400 mg TID of EPI‐743. Two patients were treated at the time of conversion, while 4 patients had chronic disease (>5 years). Outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as measured by Optical Coherence Tomography and Humphrey Visual Fields (HVF) mean deviations. Mean deviations were calculated using the HVF algorithm (Stim III) or University of Iowa Visual Field Reading Center Algorithm (Stim V)

Results

VA declined or stabilized in the first 6 months, then improved gradually for all 6 patients and remained stable for 18–24 months with EPI‐743. VF increased marginally in one chronic and both acute patients, while 3 chronic patients remained at baseline. The acute patients showed continued bilateral progression for the first 6 months, consistent with the natural history of LHON. As expected, all eyes showed a decline in RNFL that stabilized after treatment

Conclusions

VA improvements continued beyond the initial 1 year period to 18–24 months of treatment, including 4 patients who had lost vision over 5 years prior to start of EPI‐743. This data is consistent with data from the United States where an EPI‐743.
Fisetin and Luteolin decrease inflammation and oxidative stress‐induced cytotoxicity in ARPE‐19 cells
Authors: Hytti M. , Piippo N. , Korhonen E. , Kaarniranta K. , Kauppinen A.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly in the western world. It represents not only a dramatic reduction in patients’ quality of life but also a significant burden to the general healthcare system. Yet, despite the severity of the disease much questions regarding the pathways of disease formation and progression are still unanswered and viable treatment options still undiscovered. Here, we evaluate the cytoprotective and anti‐inflammatory potential of fisetin and luteolin in human retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to increased oxidative stress.

Methods

ARPE‐19 cells were treated with 4‐Hydroxynonenal (HNE) to simulate high levels of oxidative stress. Thereafter, fisetin or luteolin were added to the culture medium. The MTT and the lactate dehydrogenase assays were used to assess cellular toxicity. Inflammatory cytokines, as well as activation of transcription factors were measured using the ELISA method and a DNA‐binding transcription factor assay. To analyze the importance of SIRT1 and related pathways, the experiments were repeated after specific SIRT1 knock‐out using siRNA. Levels of intracellular SIRT1 were measured using Western Blot.

Results

Fisetin and luteolin protected retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress‐induced cell death and exhibited potent anti‐inflammatory properties even after the initial insult. These effects seemed to be independent of NF‐κB or SIRT1.

Conclusions

Bioactive polyphenols, fisetin and luteolin are powerful anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidant agents and show potential for the development of drugs aimed at specific intracellular pathways that affect inflammation in AMD.
cis‐Urocanic acid prevents inflammation and cell death in UVB‐treated ARPE‐19 cells
Authors: Korhonen E. , Piippo N. , Hytti M. , Kaarniranta K. , Kauppinen A.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

cis‐Urocanic acid (cis‐UCA) is an endogenous ultraviolet (UV) absorbing chromophore that is mainly produced in the upper layers of epidermis. The aim of our study was to investigate the cytoprotective capacity of cis‐UCA in UVB‐irradiated ARPE‐19 cells.

Methods

ARPE‐19 cells were pretreated with IL‐1α and cis‐UCA and then exposed to UVB radiation. Secretion of IL‐1β and ‐18 was measured using the ELISA method. Moreover, the cells were observed under an inverted microscope and cell viability was measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The proper cis‐UCA concentration was evaluated comprehensively beforehand using MTT (3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide), neutral red, and LDH tests.

Results

Our results show that UVB after IL‐1α priming activates IL‐1β and ‐18 secretion in ARPE‐19 cells and cis‐UCA clearly alleviates that. cis‐UCA also improves cellular viability.

Conclusions

cis‐UCA shows anti‐inflammatory and cytoprotective properties in ARPE‐19 cells.
Ophthalmic insert for pupillary mydriasis in neonates
Authors: Bremond‐Gignac D. , Jacqz‐Aigrain E. , Abdoul H. , Beresniak A. , Baud O. , Alberti C.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To study efficacy and tolerance of ophthalmic insert Mydriasert® versus standard treatment phenylephrine and tropicamide eye drops for fundus examination in neonates.

Methods

Prospective, randomised, single‐blinded non‐inferiority study of 80 premature and full‐term babies and infants treated for fundus examination. Mydriasis was obtained with two groups randomly assigned. The eye drop group received three instillations of 2.5% phenylephrine and 0.5% tropicamide and the insert group received Mydriasert® containing phenylephrine and tropicamide. The mydriasis was evaluated 75 minutes after the introduction of the mydriatic agents.

Results

The mydriasis was successfully achieved in both eyes in 97.5% of infants in the insert group and 90% in the eye drop group at 75 minutes after dispensation. The efficacy of the insert was non‐inferior compared to the eye drops. To reach effective mydriasis, the insert group required fewer nursing interventions for one patient comparing to the eye drop group. Good general and local tolerance was observed in the two groups. However two patients reported an adverse event as bradycardia and gastro‐oesophageal reflux that could be related to neonate pathology.

Conclusions

Mydriasis obtained with the ophthalmic insert Mydriasert® was not inferior compared to standard eye drop treatment. Insert reduced the number of nursing interventions to obtain mydriasis for a fundus examination.
Choroidal Thickness and Systemic Examination in Diabetic Patients without Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Cardigos J. , Vicente A. , Costa L. , Crisóstomo S. , Marques N. , Cunha J.P. , Pinto L.A. , Ferreira J.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

The choroidal circulation receives nearly 95% of ocular blood flow and it is essential for a normal retinal structure and function. Recently, several clinical studies showed a variation in choroidal thickness (CT) even before the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), which the meaning remains uncertain and questionable. Our objective was to analyze and correlate the CT with the disease duration, systemic blood pressure (SBP) and analytic evaluation.

Methods

Prospective, observational case–control study. A complete ophthalmological examination was performed, including dynamic contour tonometry and axial length. CT was assessed by a non‐invasive procedure using an OCT (Spectralis Heidelberg Engineering) with an enhanced depth mode (EDI) at 13 different locations (subfoveal and 3 measurements 500 μm apart in all 4 directions – nasal, temporal, superior and inferior). The SBP was measured and an analytical evaluation was performed, including glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin – HbA1c, lipid parameters, renal function, ionogram and microalbuminuria. Correlation between variables was explored using Spearman correlations.

Results

The study included 65 diabetic patients without DR (36 females; mean age 67.23 ± 9.08 years), with an average disease duration of 90.42 ± 81.82 months. The CT didn't showed a correlation with disease duration, SBP, glycemia, HbA1c, renal function, lipid parameters, homocysteinemia, natremia or microalbuminuria. However, the CT was positively correlated with potassium and chlorine serum levels in 5 points, with statistic significance (r between 0.26 and 0.31, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

CT may be positively influenced by serum levels of potassium‐chlorine in diabetic patients but not in healthy controls. These abnormal CT relationships can be detected even with no visible DR. Further studies are needed to explore these differences.
Analysis of molecular mechanisms that predispose patients to develop post‐PRK haze
Authors: Rajiv Kumar N. , Ghosh A. , Shetty R. , Pahuja N.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Factors that predispose certain patients to develop post‐surgical haze remain unknown. We analyzed gene expression in corneal epithelium collected from patients prior to haze development following PRK. We further developed an in‐vitro model to study haze using TGFβ that mimics pre‐disposed and post haze conditions.

Methods

Corneal epithelium was collected intraoperatively from patients undergoing PRK. 4 eyes that developed haze postoperatively and 10 eyes of age matched controls without haze were analysed. Microarray analysis was followed by bioinformatics and validation. In vitro studies were performed on HCE cells on differential doses of TGFβ with or without wound for inflammatory markers, structural & pro‐fibrotic genes and regulators of signaling cascades.

Results

Microarray analysis revealed 1100 up regulated and 1700 down regulated genes in haze patients. ECM‐ Receptor interactions were elevated in patients prior to haze induction while Wnt signaling genes and CXC motif chemokines were reduced. Structural genes (Col I, Col IV, MMP2 and 14, TIMP1) were reduced in haze patients which correlated with in‐vitro model. Inflammatory factors TNFα, IL‐11 were elevated, but IL6 and IL1 did not show appreciable changes. Regulators of signaling cascades EGFR and Wnt3a were reduced in haze patients and in vitro. We propose a signal transduction network including few novel genes like PREX1, PXDN, SOX17, WNT3A, CXCL10 etc which can be factors that predispose patients to haze

Conclusions

Our study shows that molecular factors poise the cornea in some patients to developing corneal haze after surgery.
Assessment of the performances of a handheld in vivo confocal microscope for the analysis of human corneal innervation
Authors: Brehon A. , Perrot J.L. , Cinotti E. , Labeille B. , Grivet D. , Crouzet E. , Gain P. , Thuret G.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

We previously reported, for the first time, the use of a dermatological handheld in vivo confocal microscope (IVCM), VivaScope 3000 (Lucid, NY), for the imaging of the ocular surface and ocular adnexa (Am J Ophthalmol 2015;159:324).

Aim

To further assess its performances for qualitative and quantitative analysis of corneal innervation.

Methods

Clinical interventional prospective single‐center study comparing the first version of the handy handheld VivaScope 3000 with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRTIII‐RCM) as a reference. The right central subbasal plexus (SBP) of healthy corneas of non‐diabetic patients, diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy and diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy was analyzed the same day with both IVCMs by the same observer. The three best images were selected for each device and the nerve density, the number of nerves by frame, the number of branch per frame, and tortuosity of the nerves of the central SBP were calculated using NeuronJ. Analyzes were done on similar areas, blind to the IVCM type, then on full fields.

Results

The VivaScope provided 920 × 920 μm images versus 400 × 400 μm for the HRTIII‐RCM. Images of the SBP were easily obtained but the 4 parameters were significantly lower in the 3 populations with the VivaScope despite a larger field of view. Comparisons between populations are ongoing.

Conclusions

This handheld dermatological IVCM is able to image the SBP but is less informative than the static HRTIII‐RCM. For SBP, the larger field is not an advantage because most of the field is out of focus. Improvements of the IVCM objective are proposed. GRANT: project INNOVEYE GIRCI RAA.
Ghrelin inhibits choroid‐retinal cell migration, proliferation and in vitro angiogenesis, under a high glucose environment
Authors: Rocha De Sousa A. , Silva‐Gomes R. , Conceição G. , Moleiro A. , Santos C. , Leite‐Moreira A.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Ghrelin is a peptide expressed in many organs and tissues. Recently, ghrelin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of proliferative retinopathy, although its true involvement remains unclear. The aim of this study is to test the effect of ghrelin in the migration, proliferation, apoptosis and in vitro angiogenesis of primate choroid retinal endothelial cells (RF/6A), cultured under high glucose conditions.

Methods

RF/6A cells were incubated for 24 hours with different glucose concentrations (0‐300 mM). Cell migration was assessed using wound‐healing assay. Colorimetric immunoassay was used for the quantification of cell proliferation, based on the measurement of BrdU incorporation. Cell apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL technique. For each glucose concentration, the effect of ghrelin (10‐10 to 10‐5 nM) was determined after 24 hours of incubation. The in vitro angiogenesis was assessed by tube formation assay after exposure to the same glucose concentrations and ghrelin (10‐7 nM) for 4 hours.

Results

Ghrelin significantly inhibited RF/6A cell migration at every glucose concentrations, although this effect is more consistent under low glucose environment. Ghrelin, at the concentration of 10‐7 nM, significantly reduces cell proliferation at every glucose concentration. In vitro angiogenesis is decreased by ghrelin under a high glucose environment. No differences on the apoptosis assay were seen.

Conclusions

In conclusion, ghrelin significantly inhibits RF/6A cells migration, proliferation and in vitro angiogenesis, under high glucose environment.
A pilot study of survey on patient satisfaction and its meaning in an Glaucoma outpatient
Authors: Pourjavan S. , Vanhaecht K.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To assess the degree of patient satisfaction and its correlation with the subjective satisfactory score of the ophthalmologist.

Outcomes:

The % of satisfied patients.

The correlation between doctor‐patient perception of care.

The impact of the interpersonal chemistry and the mood of care provider.

Methods

A prospective, blind study. A simple and short questionnaire is given to the patients. Patients were asked to fill in the questionnaire including 4 questions with a 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest satisfaction) scores.

The score the “care”?

The ophthalmologist?

Recommend of the outpatient?

Recommend of the specialist?

The ophthalmologist gives her subjective score in three fields:

The quality of consultation (QoC).

The interpersonal “click” with the patient.

Her “mood”.

The consented patients will be called for more spontaneous explanation. 

Results

Patient's score: 98% gave high scores >3.

Ophthalmologists score: neg. click with 15%, natural: 48% and good click: 36%, her mood was 33% each in 3 scores (bad, natural and hyper), Her objective QoC was 95% high scores.

The click was significantly related with her mood and her mood was significantly related with QoC. The only correlation was between click & the high score on Q3.

On telephonic enquete were good outcome of the surgery, optimal care, location and their “like” for the specialist, important.

Conclusions

All patients had a high satisfaction score & not influenced “Mood” or “QoC”. Upon spontaneously explaining of the patients, the most important factors for their satisfaction were; good operation outcome, optimal care, correct diagnosis but the geographical location (nearby, parking space) and their affection for the specialist were also very important reason for their satisfaction.
The Osborne supremacy: Observing the new conservative political hegemony
Authors: Spours Ken
Published: September 2015

Ken Spours surveys the imposing ‘ramparts and earthworks’ of the political right's new and dominating position. What can be learned from the Conservative party's long return from years in the political wilderness, and where are the potential cracks in its defences today?
Review
Authors: Derbyshire Jonathan
Published: September 2015

Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future Paul Mason Allen Lane, 2015
Vertical stratification of moths across elevation and latitude
Authors: Ashton Louise A. , Nakamura Akihiro , Basset Yves , Burwell Chris J. , Cao Min , Eastwood Rodney , Odell Erica , de Oliveira Evandro Gama , Hurley Karen , Katabuchi Masatoshi , Maunsell Sarah , McBroom James , Schmidl Jürgen , Sun Zhenhua , Tang Yong , Whitaker Terry , Laidlaw Melinda J. , McDonald William J. F. , Kitching Roger L.
Published: September 2015

Aim

There is little consensus as to whether stratification of arthropods between canopy and understorey in tropical and subtropical forests is commonplace and if the magnitude of stratification changes across different elevations and latitudes. We investigated broad‐scale patterns of vertical stratification of moths collected from extensive cross‐continental fieldwork in a variety of forest types, climates, elevations, latitudes and areas with differing biogeographical history.

Location

Tropical and subtropical rain forest in eastern Australia; tropical, subtropical and subalpine forest in Yunnan Province, China; and tropical rain forest in Panama, Vietnam, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.

Methods

Night‐flying moths were trapped from the upper canopy and understorey. We generated a total of 64 data sets to quantify vertical stratification of moths in terms of their species richness, using coverage‐based rarefaction, and assemblage composition, using standardized hierarchical beta diversity. Based on the average temperature lapse rate, we incorporated latitudinal differences into elevation and generated ‘corrected’ elevation for each location, and analysed its relationships with the magnitude of stratification.

Results

We found consistent differences between canopy and understorey assemblages at almost all rain forest locations across corrected elevational gradients. The magnitude of vertical stratification in species richness did not change with increasing corrected elevation. In contrast, the difference in assemblage composition increased with increasing corrected elevation in the Northern Hemisphere, while the opposite, albeit weak, trend was found in the Southern Hemisphere.

Main conclusions

Clear vertical stratification was evident in moth assemblages regardless of elevation and latitude. However, the degree to which assemblages are stratified between canopy and understorey is not uniformly related to elevation and latitude. Inconsistencies in the magnitude of vertical stratification between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, may reflect, on one hand, deep‐time biogeographical differences between the land masses studied and, on the other, place‐to‐place differences in resource availability underpinning the observed moth assemblages.
Metabolomics as a diagnostic tool for idiopathic non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension
Authors: Seijo Susana , Lozano Juan Jose , Alonso Cristina , Miquel Rosa , Berzigotti Annalisa , Reverter Enric , Turon Fanny , Martínez‐Chantar Mari Luz , Castro Azucena , Mato Jose M. , Hernández‐Gea Virginia , Bosch Jaume , García‐Pagán Juan Carlos
Published: September 2015

Background

Idiopathic non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a rare life‐threatening liver disease that lacks a specific diagnostic test being frequently misdiagnosed as cryptogenic cirrhosis. Preliminary data from our group identified a plasma metabolomic profile able to differentiate INCPH from patients with cirrhosis (CH) and healthy volunteers (HV). However, the untargeted methodology applied was unable to identify all the specific metabolites, hampering the possibility of building‐up diagnostic models. This study applies a wide‐coverage of previously identified metabolites through a high‐throughput metabolomics technology, evaluating if there is a metabolomic profile that allows a non‐invasive diagnosis of INCPH.

Methods

We included 34 patients with INCPH, 34 with CH and 34 HV. We performed a targeted metabolomic analysis of serum samples using UPLC‐MS. The best combination of a set of specific metabolites was obtained using stepwise logistic regression (LR) and recursive partitioning analysis (RPA).

Results

After internal cross‐validation, LR analysis identified a subset of 5‐metabolites that clearly differentiate INCPH patients from CH and HV (average corrected optimism AUROC = 0.8871 [0.838–0.924]). Using high and low cut‐off values the model has an excellent capacity to respectively diagnose or exclude INCPH. The RPA analysis strategy used the 3‐metabolites signature differentiating INCPH from CH and the 2‐metabolites signature differentiating INCPH from HV. A decision tree applying sequentially these metabolic profiles diagnosed 88% of INCPH patients.

Conclusions

Different metabolomic profiles allow the diagnosis of INCPH with high specificity and sensibility and may represent excellent clinical tools for its diagnosis avoiding multiple and invasive tests.
Entry Regulation, Public Ownership and TFP Growth: Industry‐Level Evidence from South European Countries
Authors: Dimelis Sophia P. , Papaioannou Sotiris K.
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we investigate whether changes in the degree of entry regulation or in the degree of public ownership are associated with higher industry total factor productivity (TFP) growth of south European economies. We first estimate relative TFP levels and TFP growth rates across manufacturing and service industries of Greece, Italy and Spain using an endogenous growth accounting model. Then, we estimate the TFP growth impact of entry regulation and public ownership, within a productivity convergence framework. The empirical results indicate that a reduction in the degree of entry regulation is associated with higher industry TFP growth. On the other hand, the TFP growth impact of public ownership, although negative, is not statistically significant. The econometric estimates show that technology transfer and technological catch‐up are both important for higher productivity growth of south European industries.
The Aspergillus nidulans syntaxin PepAPep12 is regulated by two Sec1/Munc‐18 proteins to mediate fusion events at early endosomes, late endosomes and vacuoles
Authors: López‐Berges Manuel S. , Pinar Mario , Abenza Juan F. , Arst Herbert N. , Peñalva Miguel A.
Published: September 2015

Syntaxins are target‐SNAREs that crucially contribute to determine membrane compartment identity. Three syntaxins, Tlg2p, Pep12p and Vam3p, organize the yeast endovacuolar system. Remarkably, filamentous fungi lack the equivalent of the yeast vacuolar syntaxin Vam3p, making unclear how these organisms regulate vacuole fusion. We show that the nearly essential Aspergillus nidulans syntaxin PepAPep12, present in all endocytic compartments between early endosomes and vacuoles, shares features of Vam3p and Pep12p, and is capable of forming compositional equivalents of all known yeast endovacuolar SNARE bundles including that formed by yeast Vam3p for vacuolar fusion. Our data further indicate that regulation by two Sec1/Munc‐18 proteins, Vps45 in early endosomes and Vps33 in early and late endosomes/vacuoles contributes to the wide domain of PepAPep12 action. The syntaxin TlgBTlg2 localizing to the TGN appears to mediate retrograde traffic connecting post‐Golgi (sorting) endosomes with the TGN. TlgBTlg2 is dispensable for growth but becomes essential if the early Golgi syntaxin SedVSed5 is compromised, showing that the Golgi can function with a single syntaxin, SedVSed5. Remarkably, its pattern of associations with endosomal SNAREs is consistent with SedVSed5 playing roles in retrograde pathway(s) connecting endocytic compartments downstream of the post‐Golgi endosome with the Golgi, besides more conventional intra‐Golgi roles.
Law‐Abiding Citizen: Recent Fatwas on Muslim Minorities' Loyalty to Western Nations1
Authors: Hassan Said
Published: September 2015

Modernity constructed a different meaning of loyalty that seems to contradict Muslims' traditional position towards their affiliations that were mainly religious or religio‐tribal‐based. In modern nation‐states, loyalty requires certain convictions and practices that reveal the nature of one's relationship to the land, the state and the people of the locality where people live. This modern understanding of loyalty challenged Muslims' perception of their identities, especially in the context of Muslim minorities. For them, the question of loyalty became critical as they were portrayed, in certain circles, as disloyal subjects and a threat to the national unity of the non‐Muslim society. To respond to that claim, Muslim jurists attempted to provide an Islamic justification or rationale, not only to respond to the Islamophobic arguments on the threat of Muslims living “among us”, but also to empower the inner self of Muslims by showing that living and interacting with non‐Muslims is permitted, required and heavenly‐rewarded. How this rationale was articulated is the main focus of this paper.

Reviewing jurists' fatwas to the question of loyalty of a Muslim subject to a non‐Muslim polity reveals that there are at least three distinctive legal positions: the alienation position, the conciliatory position and the engaging position. The three positions constitute a spectrum from rejection to recognition to positive engagement and loyalty with the wider non‐Muslim society. The paper attempts to critically review these positions, to examine the legal precepts that led to these positions and to demonstrate how these positions reflect both the status quo of the questioner, i.e. context, and the Islamic legal tradition as it stands today.
Islamist Texts in Practice: Commemorating Qutb in Turkey before and after the Arab Spring1
Authors: Cakir Dunya D.
Published: September 2015

In the past two decades, scholars have shown increasing interest in unpacking the ideational content of Islamic revivalism. Amidst modern Islamist ideologues, Sayyid Qutb received special attention from regional experts, historians and most recently political theorists who have produced critical exegeses of his political thought. Most notably, some read Qutb's writings through a comparative theoretic lens, juxtaposing his work to Western and Islamic traditions of political thought. By contrast, in this paper I outline the lived hermeneutics of Qutb's thought among contemporary Islamist activist‐intellectuals affiliated with Özgür‐Der, an Islamist civil society organization that has been a principal agent of Islamic revivalism in Turkey since its establishment in 1999. To that end, I examine three instances of commemorating Qutb at public events organized by Özgür‐Der in 2001, 2009 and 2013 in Istanbul. Through these events, one can trace the continuities and novelties in how Islamist activists read Qutb in light of changing historical circumstances.

The paper argues that the Arab Spring uprising provides a rough turning point in occasioning different interpretations of Qutb's primary relevance to Islamist struggle in Turkey. What has been constant in Islamist readings of Qutb has been the emphasis upon the merging of faith and deed, working toward the rebuilding of a Qur'anic generation, the first followers of the Prophet. What changed in light of the Arab Spring have been the specific forms in which the integration of piety and praxis took shape. This analysis seeks to further our understanding of Qutb and Islamist politics in two ways: reading Qutb through the discursive practices of Qutbians helps recuperate the living and dynamic imprint of Qutb's political thought and flesh out the ways in which his intellectual legacy implicates Islamic activism in specific localities. Secondly, a micro‐analysis of the specific politics that are inspired by influential Islamist texts helps us refine the more formulaic descriptions of the political project of Islamism—such as rejecting secularism or submitting to sharī‘a. Attending to that lived and living hermeneutics is necessary for a more nuanced, contextualized understanding of contemporary Islamist thought and practice.
Celebrating Swahili New Year: A Performative Critique of Textual Islam in Coastal Kenya1
Authors: Ray Daren E.
Published: September 2015

Coastal East Africans began practicing Islam as early as the eighth century CE, yet debates over bid‘a (innovation) during the twentieth century recast several of their local practices as shirk (blasphemy). This article situates the celebration of Swahili New Year, now regarded by many East African Muslims as shirk, within the context of debates about maulidi, a celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birth introduced by Arab immigrants. Drawing on personal observations, a locally‐produced DVD of Swahili New Year, and interviews in Kenya, it compares celebrations of maulidi and Swahili New Year in 2010. This comparison demonstrates that the Swahili “Wamiji” community of Mombasa has adapted their variant of Swahili New Year to emphasize a repertoire of practices that it shares with maulidi and which many East African Muslims regard as intuitively Islamic. While Sufi tariqas, Salafi reformers, and Shi'a minorities focus on interpreting the texts of the Qur'an and ̣adith in their critiques of one another, the Swahili “Wamiji” community in Mombasa aims to rehabilitate Swahili New Year from charges of shirk through selective changes in practice. This adaptation seems to confirm the trend of deprecating African practices in favor of Arab ones. Yet, the practices of Swahili New Year also obscure the boundaries between religion and culture that are foundational to modern textual approaches to Islam in the region. Celebrating Swahili New Year thus offers a performative critique of textual Islam by arguing through practice, more so than discourse, against the assumption that African practices cannot be authentically Islamic. The article concludes by suggesting that research on performative critiques could illuminate histories of the majority of Muslims in Africa who did not engage in textual critique but have shaped Islamic celebrations and devotions through their innovations in practice.
Obesity and iron deficiency: a quantitative meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao L. , Zhang X. , Shen Y. , Fang X. , Wang Y. , Wang F.
Published: September 2015

Hypoferraemia (i.e. iron deficiency) was initially reported among obese individuals several decades ago; however, whether obesity and iron deficiency are correlated remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the putative association between obesity and iron deficiency by assessing the concentration of haematological iron markers and the risks associated with iron deficiency in both obese (including overweight) subjects and non‐overweight participants. We performed a systematic search in the databases PubMed and Embase for relevant research articles published through December 2014. A total of 26 cross‐sectional and case–control studies were analysed, comprising 13,393 overweight/obese individuals and 26,621 non‐overweight participants. Weighted or standardized mean differences of blood iron markers and odds ratio (OR) of iron deficiency were compared between the overweight/obese participants and the non‐overweight participants using a random‐effects model. Compared with the non‐overweight participants, the overweight/obese participants had lower serum iron concentrations (weighted mean difference [WMD]: −8.37 μg dL−1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −11.38 to −5.36 μg dL−1) and lower transferrin saturation percentages (WMD: 2.34%, 95% CI: −3.29% to −1.40%). Consistent with this finding, the overweight/obese participants had a significantly increased risk of iron deficiency (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.01–1.68). Moreover, subgroup analyses revealed that the method used to diagnose iron deficiency can have a critical effect on the results of the association test; specifically, we found a significant correlation between iron deficiency and obesity in studies without a ferritin‐based diagnosis, but not in studies that used a ferritin‐based diagnosis. Based upon these findings, we concluded that obesity is significantly associated with iron deficiency, and we recommend early monitoring and treatment of iron deficiency in overweight and obese individuals. Future longitudinal studies will help to test whether causal relationship exists between obesity and iron deficiency.
Contingency Anxiety and the Epistemology of Disagreement
Authors: Mogensen Andreas L.
Published: September 2015

Upon discovering that certain beliefs we hold are contingent on arbitrary features of our background, we often feel uneasy. I defend the proposal that if such cases ofcontingency anxietyinvolve defeaters, this is because of the epistemic significance of disagreement. I note two hurdles to our accepting thisDisagreement Hypothesis. Firstly, some cases of contingency anxiety apparently involve no disagreement. Secondly, the proposal may seem to make our awareness of the influence of arbitrary background factors irrelevant in determining whether to revise our beliefs. I show that each of these problems can be successfully accommodated by theDisagreement Hypothesis.
Efficacy and tolerability of budesonide/formoterol added to tiotropium compared with tiotropium alone in patients with severe or very severe COPD: A randomized, multicentre study in East Asia
Authors: Lee Sang‐Do , Xie Can‐mao , Yunus Faisal , Itoh Yohji , Ling Xia , Yu Wai‐cho , Kiatboonsri Sumalee
Published: September 2015

Background and objective

Triple combination therapy with tiotropium plus budesonide/formoterol has improved lung function and reduced exacerbation risk in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Western countries, but no such data exist for East Asian patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of adding budesonide/formoterol to tiotropium compared with tiotropium alone in East Asian patients with severe/very severe COPD.

Methods

This 12‐week, randomized, parallel‐group, multicentre, open‐label study was conducted in East Asia. After a 14‐day run‐in period during which patients received tiotropium 18 μg once daily, patients were randomized to tiotropium (18 μg once daily) + budesonide/formoterol (160/4.5 μg 2 inhalations twice daily) or tiotropium alone (18 μg once daily). The primary endpoint was change from baseline in pre‐dose forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to the mean of values measured at Weeks 1, 6 and 12.

Results

Pre‐dose FEV1 significantly increased from baseline with tiotropium plus budesonide/formoterol (n = 287) versus tiotropium alone (n = 291) (5.0% vs 0.6%; treatment difference: 4.4% (95% CI: 1.9–6.9), P = 0.0004). Triple therapy also reduced the COPD exacerbation rate by 40.7% (P = 0.0032) and prolonged time to first exacerbation (38.6% risk reduction, P = 0.0167) versus tiotropium alone and markedly improved health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), measured using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Incidence of adverse events was 26% for both groups.

Conclusions

In East Asian patients with severe/very severe COPD, adding budesonide/formoterol to tiotropium was associated with significant improvements in FEV1 and HRQoL and lower COPD exacerbation rates. Treatment was generally well tolerated.

Clinical trial registration: NCT01397890 at Clinicaltrials.gov
A Comparative Analysis of Financial Professionals’ Perception of the Level of Graduating Business Student Retirement Planning Familiarity, Motivation, and Preparedness
Authors: Power Mark , Hobbs Jonathan M.
Published: September 2015

Academic, government, employer, and individual interest in personal financial literacy have mushroomed as financial decision making has become more complex, costly, and less paternalistic. Financial illiteracy in America manifests in many ways, including low levels of personal saving, high levels of personal debt, negative financial wealth, a decline in standard of living, and increased demand on social safety networks. For college students, of particular concern is the high level of public and private debt accrued while working toward a degree. It is important to understand how prepared households are for retirement planning decisions and which factors can improve their preparedness. We show that financial education is impactful in reducing financial illiteracy, and provides evidence that taking a personal risk management and insurance course helps to prepare college students to make retirement decisions. Second, we provide evidence that life stage explains differences (similarities) in how professionals self‐rate the importance, familiarity, and motivation to plan and save for retirement versus their opinion on how vital the questions should be to students. Finally, additional evidence is provided showing that demographic characteristics explain differences in the importance and motivation to plan and save for retirement and in the familiarity that respondents have with retirement planning and saving products.
El efecto del comportamiento exportador sobre el compromiso del propietario-gerente con la innovación en Colombia: interpretaciones bajo el enfoque de aprendizaje
Authors: Martins Izaias , Gómez-Araujo Eduardo , Vaillant Yancy
Published: September 2015

El objetivo del artículo es investigar el efecto del comportamiento exportador de la empresa sobre el compromiso del propietario-gerente con la innovación. Para ello, se considera la teoría de aprendizaje como marco de referencia. El estudio utiliza información a partir de la encuesta de población adulta del GEM Colombia 2010 y 2011. Para verificar las hipótesis se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística considerando el efecto marginal. Los resultados indican que la propensión exportadora aumenta la probabilidad de compromiso del propietario-gerente con la innovación, corroborando la idea del aprendizaje organizacional a partir de la presencia en los mercados internacionales. Sin embargo, no se pudo confirmar el mismo efecto positivo cuando la variable explicativa ha sido la intensidad exportadora.
Adaptación y validación de la escala de intenciones futuras de comportamiento en usuarios de servicios deportivos
Authors: Nuviala Nuviala Alberto , García-Fernández Jerónimo , Bernal-García Ainara , Grao-Cruces Alberto , Teva-Villén María Rosario , Pérez-Ordás Raquel
Published: September 2015

La fidelización de usuarios en cualquier tipo de organización es un tema transcendente por la cascada de beneficios que se producen al incrementarla. Las organizaciones deportivas no son ajenas a esta realidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y validar una escala de intenciones futuras de comportamiento a servicios deportivos. Para la validación de la misma se utilizó una muestra compuesta por 2181 usuarios. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio, precedido del exploratorio. Se calculó la fiabilidad del instrumento resultante y su validez discriminante Los resultados permiten afirmar que se dispone de una herramienta válida y fiable compuesta por tres dimensiones y diez ítems, capaz de conocer las intenciones futuras de comportamiento de usuarios de servicios deportivos.
El maltrato y la violencia estrechan y aniquilan lo psíquico
Authors: Muñoz Vila Cecilia , Torres Calderón Nubia Esperanza
Published: September 2015

Se presenta los halagos conceptuales de un trabajo de investigación-intervención psicoanalítico elaborado a partir del acercamiento psicoterapéutico mujeres maltratadas, que fueron categorizadas y analizadas bajo el esquema de “revisión meditativa” de Bion. Los autores encuentran un estrechamiento psíquico como resultado de experiencias continuadas de violencia y maltrato, entendida ésta como la reducción de la profundidad psíquica, hacia adentro y hacia afuera, producto de la primacía del ello y los objetos sobre el yo; de la carencia de mundo interno que lleva a acciones-reacciones motrices sin pensamiento (unidimensionalidad); del predominio de lo perceptual sensorial en la relación con el mundo externo (bidimensionalidad); del uso alternante y permanente de supuestos básicos, todo lo cual conduce a una vida deshumanizada. Se recurre a desarrollos conceptuales que siguen la línea de Freud, Klein, Meltzer y Green