bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elderly patients' and nurses' assessment of traditional bed bath compared to prepacked single units – randomised controlled trial
Authors: Nøddeskou Lis Horstmann , Hemmingsen Lars E. , Hørdam Britta
Published: September 2014

Background

There are two types of bed baths: the traditional basin used with soap and water, and the disposable bath, which is prepacked in single‐use units and heated before use.

Objective

To compare the traditional basin bed bath to a disposable bed bath, there are four factors that need to be considered: (1) duration and quality of the bath, (2) cost, (3) nurse satisfaction and (4) patient satisfaction.

Methods

Fifty‐eight patients received bed baths on two consecutive days – a traditional bed bath on 1 day and a disposable bed bath on the other. The patients were bathed by the same nurse on both days. The baths were observed in relation to duration, use of supplies and quality. Nurses and patients were interviewed about their preferences.

Results

Both types of baths scored very highly in the area of quality. There was no difference in the cost of supplies. Significantly less time was used with the disposable baths (p < 0.001).

In terms of total expenditure, the disposable bath cost 11.84 DKK and the basin method cost 11.87 DKK, resulting in an insignificant difference (p > 0.05). Taking the nurses salaries into account, it was much cheaper to bathe patients using the disposable bath. Most patients preferred the disposable bath, while others preferred the basin method or were equally satisfied with both types of baths. There was no significant difference in these results (p > 0.22). There were 46 cases during the trial where nurses preferred the disposable bath method. The washbasin method was preferred in six cases. And there was one case where the nurse was equally satisfied with both types of baths. The nurses rated the disposable bath significantly higher than the basin method. In most cases, patients and nurses preferred the same type of bath (70%).

Conclusion

This study presents a comparison of the new method of bed bathing to the traditional basin method, in relation to cost, duration, quality and nurse and patient preference. In the case of disposable baths, the costs are lower as significantly less time is used. The nurses were very clear in their preference for disposable baths, and this was also the case for the majority of patients. There was consistency between the nurses and the patients in terms of their preference of bath type. When patients need assistance with personal hygiene, the nurse should inform the patient about the two methods and involve the patient in the decision.
Explicating the Air: The new Smokefree (and beyond)
Authors: Dennis Simone
Published: September 2014

In this paper, I examine how the explication of the air has figured environments, places, politics and the constitution of ‘the public’ in the era of smokefree. I argue in this paper that an especial imaginary of the air, one that recalls and revitalises much earlier notions of the air as bearer of miasmatic pollution, and even earlier ideas about the physical quality of the air and its relationship to the political state, has shaped how persons and places are formed and subject to inclusion and exclusion as part of the new politics of ‘the public’. I draw attention to the ways in which these configurations of persons and places have relied upon the explication of the air itself, and to the consequences of explicating the air.
Why Donors of Foreign Aid Do Not Coordinate: The Role of Competition for Export Markets and Political Support
Authors: Fuchs Andreas , Nunnenkamp Peter , Öhler Hannes
Published: September 2014

Development assistance has been criticised for a lack of coordination between aid donors. This paper argues that competition for export markets and political support prevents donor countries from coordinating their aid activities between one another. To test these hypotheses, we perform logit and fractional logit estimations for a large sample of recipient countries and aid activities since the early 1970s. Our empirical results reveal that export competition between donors is a major impediment to aid coordination. Although less conclusive, we also find some evidence that donors' competition over political support prevents them from coordinating aid activities more closely.
Unboundedness of fiber invariants of canonically fibered varieties of general type
Authors: Chen Meng , Jiang Zhi
Published: September 2014

We answer an open question concerning the boundedness of canonical fiber spaces in high dimensions and prove the following: for any set of integers , and , there exists a nonsingular projective ‐fold of general type so that is canonically fibered by ‐dimensional varieties with . This disproves the desired boundedness parallel to Beauville's boundedness theorem [‘L'application canonique pour les surfaces de type général’, Invent. Math. 55 (1979) 121–140] in the surface case.
Regulation of the skeletal muscle blood flow in humans
Authors: Mortensen Stefan P. , Saltin Bengt
Published: September 2014

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This review highlights recent advances in our knowledge about the control of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in humans.

What advances does it highlight?

In recent years, it has become evident that the control of skeletal muscle blood flow is an interaction between various vasodilator agents, including nitric oxide, prostaglandins and adenosine. Adenosine triphosphate could play multiple roles by inducing local vasodilatation, overriding local sympathetic vasoconstriction and stimulating the exercise pressor reflex.

In humans, skeletal muscle blood flow is regulated by an interaction between several locally formed vasodilators, including NO and prostaglandins. In plasma, ATP is a potent vasodilator that stimulates the formation of NO and prostaglandins and, very importantly, can offset local sympathetic vasoconstriction. Adenosine triphosphate is released into plasma from erythrocytes and endothelial cells, and the plasma concentration increases in both the feed artery and the vein draining the contracting skeletal muscle. Adenosine also stimulates the formation of NO and prostaglandins, but the plasma adenosine concentration does not increase during exercise. In the skeletal muscle interstitium, there is a marked increase in the concentration of ATP and adenosine, and this increase is tightly coupled to the increase in blood flow. The sources of interstitial ATP and adenosine are thought to be skeletal muscle cells and endothelial cells. In the interstitium, both ATP and adenosine stimulate the formation of NO and prostaglandins, but ATP has also been suggested to induce vasoconstriction and stimulate afferent nerves that signal to increase sympathetic nerve activity. Adenosine has been shown to contribute to exercise hyperaemia, whereas the role of ATP remains uncertain due to lack of specific purinergic receptor blockers for human use. The purpose of this review is to address the interaction between vasodilator systems and to discuss the multiple proposed roles of ATP in human skeletal muscle blood flow regulation.
Design of an Experimental Test System to Investigate Parameters Affecting Distal Tip Loads of Pacemaker and Defibrillator Leads
Authors: Stephen Elizabeth A. , Walsh Donna L. , Duraiswamy Nandini , Vesnovsky Oleg , Timmie Topoleski L. D.
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate a system to test the mechanical behavior of pacemaker and defibrillator leads. Over 300,000 pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) procedures are performed every year in the U.S. for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular dysrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. These procedures require implanting transvenous leads into the interior wall of the heart. A serious and sometimes fatal complication that may occur during or after lead implantation is perforation of the lead tip through the heart wall. The factors that lead to perforation are not fully understood. This illustrates that the mechanical interactions between the lead tip and the cardiac tissue need to be further investigated to improve the outcome for pacemaker and ICD patients. To improve the performance of lead tips, the testing protocols must reproduce physiological and clinically relevant tip-tissue interactions. As a first step toward this goal, testing parameters that influence those interactions must be identified. We investigated the effect of test system parameters, which reproduce potentially critical physiological constraints, on the load experienced at the distal tip of thirteen pacemaker and defibrillator active-fixation leads. We evaluated the use of a constraint to simulate the effect of the right ventricle (RV constraint) in vivo, how and where the lead was fixed in the test configuration, location of the load cell in the test system, rotation and frequency of the test protocol, and the effect of stylets. Results showed the RV constraint and load cell placement had the largest impact on lead tip load, while rotation of the test setup and test frequency had a minimal impact. Recommendations are made for a test system and protocol for in vitro testing of leads that take into consideration in vivo conditions. Better approximations of the in vivo environment may lead to improved product development. The potential of this system to more effectively evaluate new pacemaker and defibrillator lead designs will require further study.
Surface and grain boundary scattering in nanometric Cu thin films: A quantitative analysis including twin boundaries
Authors: Barmak Katayun , Darbal Amith , Ganesh Kameswaran J. , Ferreira Paulo J. , Rickman Jeffrey M. , Sun Tik , Yao Bo , Warren Andrew P. , Coffey Kevin R.
Published: September 2014

The relative contributions of various defects to the measured resistivity in nanocrystalline Cu were investigated, including a quantitative account of twin-boundary scattering. It has been difficult to quantitatively assess the impact twin boundary scattering has on the classical size effect of electrical resistivity, due to limitations in characterizing twin boundaries in nanocrystalline Cu. In this study, crystal orientation maps of nanocrystalline Cu films were obtained via precession-assisted electron diffraction in the transmission electron microscope. These orientation images were used to characterize grain boundaries and to measure the average grain size of a microstructure, with and without considering twin boundaries. The results of these studies indicate that the contribution from grain-boundary scattering is the dominant factor (as compared to surface scattering) leading to enhanced resistivity. The resistivity data can be well-described by the combined Fuchs–Sondheimer surface scattering model and Mayadas–Shatzkes grain-boundary scattering model using Matthiessen's rule with a surface specularity coefficient of p = 0.48 and a grain-boundary reflection coefficient of R = 0.26.
A New Microviridae Phage Isolated from a Failed Biotechnological Process Driven by Escherichia coli
Authors: Labrie Simon J. , Dupuis Marie-Ève , Tremblay Denise M. , Plante Pier-Luc , Corbeil Jacques , Moineau Sylvain
Published: September 2014

Bacteriophages are present in every environment that supports bacterial growth, including manmade ecological niches. Virulent phages may even slow or, in more severe cases, interrupt bioprocesses driven by bacteria.
Escherichia coli
is one of the most widely used bacteria for large-scale bioprocesses; however, literature describing phage-host interactions in this industrial context is sparse. Here, we describe phage MED1 isolated from a failed industrial process. Phage MED1 (
Microviridae
family, with a single-stranded DNA [ssDNA] genome) is highly similar to the archetypal phage phiX174, sharing >95% identity between their genomic sequences. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis of 52 microvirus genomes from public databases revealed three genotypes (alpha3, G4, and phiX174). Phage MED1 belongs to the phiX174 group. We analyzed the distribution of single nucleotide variants in MED1 and 18 other phiX174-like genomes and found that there are more missense mutations in genes G, B, and E than in the other genes of these genomes. Gene G encodes the spike protein, involved in host attachment. The evolution of this protein likely results from the selective pressure on phages to rapidly adapt to the molecular diversity found at the surface of their hosts.
The Fatty Acid Signaling Molecule
cis
-2-Decenoic Acid Increases Metabolic Activity and Reverts Persister Cells to an Antimicrobial-Susceptible State
Authors: Marques Cláudia N. H. , Morozov Aleksey , Planzos Penny , Zelaya Hector M.
Published: September 2014

Persister cells, which are tolerant to antimicrobials, contribute to biofilm recalcitrance to therapeutic agents. In turn, the ability to kill persister cells is believed to significantly improve efforts in eradicating biofilm-related, chronic infections. While much research has focused on elucidating the mechanism(s) by which persister cells form, little is known about the mechanism or factors that enable persister cells to revert to an active and susceptible state. Here, we demonstrate that
cis
-2-decenoic acid (
cis
-DA), a fatty acid signaling molecule, is able to change the status of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Escherichia coli
persister cells from a dormant to a metabolically active state without an increase in cell number. This cell awakening is supported by an increase of the persister cells' respiratory activity together with changes in protein abundance and increases of the transcript expression levels of several metabolic markers, including
acpP
, 16S rRNA,
atpH
, and
ppx
. Given that most antimicrobials target actively growing cells, we also explored the effect of
cis
-DA on enhancing antibiotic efficacy in killing persister cells due to their inability to keep a persister cell state. Compared to antimicrobial treatment alone, combinational treatments of persister cell subpopulations with antimicrobials and
cis
-DA resulted in a significantly greater decrease in cell viability. In addition, the presence of
cis
-DA led to a decrease in the number of persister cells isolated. We thus demonstrate the ability of a fatty acid signaling molecule to revert bacterial cells from a tolerant phenotype to a metabolically active, antimicrobial-sensitive state.
Internal Porosity of Mineral Coating Supports Microbial Activity in Rapid Sand Filters for Groundwater Treatment
Authors: Gülay Arda , Tatari Karolina , Musovic Sanin , Mateiu Ramona V. , Albrechtsen Hans-Jørgen , Smets Barth F.
Published: September 2014

A mineral coating develops on the filter grain surface when groundwater is treated via rapid sand filtration in drinking water production. The coating changes the physical and chemical properties of the filter material, but little is known about its effect on the activity, colonization, diversity, and abundance of microbiota. This study reveals that a mineral coating can positively affect the colonization and activity of microbial communities in rapid sand filters. To understand this effect, we investigated the abundance, spatial distribution, colonization, and diversity of all and of nitrifying prokaryotes in filter material with various degrees of mineral coating. We also examined the physical and chemical characteristics of the mineral coating. The amount of mineral coating correlated positively with the internal porosity, the packed bulk density, and the biologically available surface area of the filter material. The volumetric NH
4
+
removal rate also increased with the degree of mineral coating. Consistently, bacterial 16S rRNA and
amoA
abundances positively correlated with increased mineral coating levels. Microbial colonization could be visualized mainly within the outer periphery (60.6 ± 35.6 μm) of the mineral coating, which had a thickness of up to 600 ± 51 μm. Environmental scanning electron microscopic (E-SEM) observations suggested an extracellular polymeric substance-rich matrix and submicron-sized bacterial cells. Nitrifier diversity profiles were similar irrespective of the degree of mineral coating, as indicated by pyrosequencing analysis. Overall, our results demonstrate that mineral coating positively affects microbial colonization and activity in rapid sand filters, most likely due to increased volumetric cell abundances facilitated by the large surface area of internal mineral porosity accessible for microbial colonization.
Genetic Characterization and Comparison of Clostridium botulinum Isolates from Botulism Cases in Japan between 2006 and 2011
Authors: Kenri Tsuyoshi , Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Yamamoto Akihiko , Iwaki Masaaki , Komiya Takako , Hatakeyama Takashi , Nakajima Hiroshi , Takahashi Motohide , Kuroda Makoto , Shibayama Keigo
Published: September 2014

Genetic characterization was performed for 10 group I
Clostridium botulinum
strains isolated from botulism cases in Japan between 2006 and 2011. Of these, 1 was type A, 2 were type B, and 7 were type A(B) {carrying a silent
bont
/
B
[
bont
/
(B)
] gene} serotype strains, based on botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) production. The type A strain harbored the subtype A1 BoNT gene (
bont
/
A1
), which is associated with the
ha
gene cluster. The type B strains carried
bont
/
B5
or
bont
/
B6
subtype genes. The type A(B) strains carried
bont
/
A1
identical to that of type A(B) strain NCTC2916. However,
bont
/
(B)
genes in these strains showed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among strains. SNPs at 2 nucleotide positions of
bont
/
(B)
enabled classification of the type A(B) strains into 3 groups. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) also provided consistent separation results. In addition, the type A(B) strains were separated into 2 lineages based on their plasmid profiles. One lineage carried a small plasmid (5.9 kb), and another harbored 21-kb plasmids. To obtain more detailed genetic information about the 10 strains, we sequenced their genomes and compared them with 13 group I
C. botulinum
genomes in a database using whole-genome SNP analysis. This analysis provided high-resolution strain discrimination and enabled us to generate a refined phylogenetic tree that provides effective traceability of botulism cases, as well as bioterrorism materials. In the phylogenetic tree, the subtype B6 strains, Okayama2011 and Osaka05, were distantly separated from the other strains, indicating genomic divergence of subtype B6 strains among group I strains.
Glutathione Reductase-Mediated Synthesis of Tellurium-Containing Nanostructures Exhibiting Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Pugin Benoit , Cornejo Fabián A. , Muñoz-Díaz Pablo , Muñoz-Villagrán Claudia M. , Vargas-Pérez Joaquín I. , Arenas Felipe A. , Vásquez Claudio C.
Published: September 2014

Tellurium, a metalloid belonging to group 16 of the periodic table, displays very interesting physical and chemical properties and lately has attracted significant attention for its use in nanotechnology. In this context, the use of microorganisms for synthesizing nanostructures emerges as an eco-friendly and exciting approach compared to their chemical synthesis. To generate Te-containing nanostructures, bacteria enzymatically reduce tellurite to elemental tellurium. In this work, using a classic biochemical approach, we looked for a novel tellurite reductase from the Antarctic bacterium
Pseudomonas
sp. strain BNF22 and used it to generate tellurium-containing nanostructures. A new tellurite reductase was identified as glutathione reductase, which was subsequently overproduced in
Escherichia coli
. The characterization of this enzyme showed that it is an NADPH-dependent tellurite reductase, with optimum reducing activity at 30°C and pH 9.0. Finally, the enzyme was able to generate Te-containing nanostructures, about 68 nm in size, which exhibit interesting antibacterial properties against
E. coli
, with no apparent cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells.
Contribution of Lactococcus lactis Reducing Properties to the Downregulation of a Major Virulence Regulator in Staphylococcus aureus, the
agr
System
Authors: Nouaille Sébastien , Rault Lucie , Jeanson Sophie , Loubière Pascal , Le Loir Yves , Even Sergine
Published: September 2014

Staphylococcus aureus
is a major cause of food poisoning outbreaks associated with dairy products, because of the ingestion of preformed enterotoxins. The biocontrol of
S. aureus
using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) offers a promising opportunity to fight this pathogen while respecting the product ecosystem. We had previously established the ability of
Lactococcus lactis
, a lactic acid bacterium widely used in the dairy industry, to downregulate a major staphylococcal virulence regulator, the accessory gene regulator (
agr
) system, and, as a consequence,
agr
-controlled enterotoxins. In the present paper, we have shown that the oxygen-independent reducing properties of
L. lactis
contribute to
agr
downregulation. Neutralizing lactococcal reduction by adding potassium ferricyanide or maintaining the oxygen pressure constant at 50% released
agr
downregulation in the presence of
L. lactis
. This downregulation still occurred in an
S. aureus srrA
mutant, indicating that the staphylococcal respiratory response regulator SrrAB was not the only component in the signaling pathway. Therefore, this study clearly demonstrates the ability of
L. lactis
reducing properties to interfere with the expression of
S. aureus
virulence, thus highlighting this general property of LAB as a lever to control the virulence expression of this major pathogen in a food context and beyond.
Biofilm Formation Protects Escherichia coli against Killing by Caenorhabditis elegans and Myxococcus xanthus
Authors: DePas William H. , Syed Adnan K. , Sifuentes Margarita , Lee John S. , Warshaw David , Saggar Vinay , Csankovszki Györgyi , Boles Blaise R. , Chapman Matthew R.
Published: September 2014

Enteric bacteria, such as
Escherichia coli
, are exposed to a variety of stresses in the nonhost environment. The development of biofilms provides
E. coli
with resistance to environmental insults, such as desiccation and bleach. We found that biofilm formation, specifically production of the matrix components curli and cellulose, protected
E. coli
against killing by the soil-dwelling nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans
and the predatory bacterium
Myxococcus xanthus
. Additionally, matrix-encased bacteria at the air-biofilm interface exhibited ∼40-fold-increased survival after
C. elegans
and
M. xanthus
killing compared to the non-matrix-encased cells that populate the interior of the biofilm. To determine if nonhost
Enterobacteriaceae
reservoirs supported biofilm formation, we grew
E. coli
on media composed of pig dung or commonly contaminated foods, such as beef, chicken, and spinach. Each of these medium types provided a nutritional environment that supported matrix production and biofilm formation. Altogether, we showed that common, nonhost reservoirs of
E. coli
supported the formation of biofilms that subsequently protected
E. coli
against predation.
Effects and Mechanisms of Auricular Electroacupuncture on Visceral Pain Induced by Colorectal Distension in Conscious Rats
Authors: Li Han , Hu Shasha , Zhang Jianbin , Zhou Jingzhu , Ran Hongxing , Tang Yichun , Chen Jiande , Wang Yinping
Published: September 2014

Objective

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of auricular electroacupuncture (AEA) on visceral pain induced by colorectal distension (CRD).

Methods

Twenty-nine female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control; untreated CRD; CRD+AEA; and CRD+sham electroacupuncture (SEA). An electromyogram (EMG) was recorded for 120 min in the conscious state. After a 30 min baseline recording, CRD was performed in untreated CRD, AEA and SEA groups and lasted for 90 min. AEA and SEA were started at 30 min and lasted for 30 min. The EMG was recorded and analysed to evaluate the severity of visceral pain, indicated by the magnitude of the vasomotor response (VMR). mRNA expression of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1a (5-HT1a) receptor was measured separately in the colon and raphe nuclei using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

Results

No differences were seen in the baseline EMG among the four groups (p>0.05). During pre-stimulation, VMR magnitude in the CRD, AEA and SEA groups increased compared with that in the control group (p<0.05). During stimulation, the VMR magnitude was significantly decreased in AEA but not SEA groups relative to the (untreated) CRD group. Similarly, mRNA expression of the 5-HT1a receptor in both the colon and raphe nuclei was lower in AEA but not SEA groups compared with the CRD group (p<0.05).

Conclusions

AEA can ameliorate CRD-induced visceral pain in rats, and increase mRNA expression of the 5-HT1a receptor peripherally (in the colon) and centrally (in the raphe nuclei), suggesting a serotonergic mechanism of action.
The role of hospital managers in quality and patient safety: a systematic review
Authors: Parand Anam , Dopson Sue , Renz Anna , Vincent Charles
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To review the empirical literature to identify the activities, time spent and engagement of hospital managers in quality of care.

Design

A systematic review of the literature.

Methods

A search was carried out on the databases MEDLINE, PSYCHINFO, EMBASE, HMIC. The search strategy covered three facets: management, quality of care and the hospital setting comprising medical subject headings and key terms. Reviewers screened 15 447 titles/abstracts and 423 full texts were checked against inclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed on 19 included articles.

Results

The majority of studies were set in the USA and investigated Board/senior level management. The most common research designs were interviews and surveys on the perceptions of managerial quality and safety practices. Managerial activities comprised strategy, culture and data-centred activities, such as driving improvement culture and promotion of quality, strategy/goal setting and providing feedback. Significant positive associations with quality included compensation attached to quality, using quality improvement measures and having a Board quality committee. However, there is an inconsistency and inadequate employment of these conditions and actions across the sample hospitals.

Conclusions

There is some evidence that managers’ time spent and work can influence quality and safety clinical outcomes, processes and performance. However, there is a dearth of empirical studies, further weakened by a lack of objective outcome measures and little examination of actual actions undertaken. We present a model to summarise the conditions and activities that affect quality performance.
The effectiveness of community-based rehabilitation programmes: an impact evaluation of a quasi-randomised trial
Authors: Mauro Vincenzo , Biggeri Mario , Deepak Sunil , Trani Jean-Francois
Published: September 2014

Background

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes have been described as highly effective means of promoting the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities (PwD). Although CBR is often the main way in which PwD in low-income and middle-income countries access rehabilitation services, there is little literature providing rigorous evaluation of their impact on people's well-being.

Methods

Data were collected in the Mandya and Ramanagar districts (Karnataka state, India), between December 2009 and May 2010. In total 2540 PwD were interviewed using stratified random sampling: 1919 CBR beneficiaries (who joined the programme between 1997 and 2009) and 621 persons who were living in villages not covered by the programme. We controlled for the systematic differences between people joining and not joining the programme using the propensity score matching method controlling for covariates at individual and village level. We evaluated the impact of the programme on the subgroups of PwD who are disadvantaged on the dimensions of interest: access to pensions, use of aid appliances, access to paid jobs and improvement in personal-practical autonomy after 4 and 7 years of joining the CBR.

Results

We observed a positive and significant impact of the programme on access to services, rights and opportunities of PwD. The results indicate that compared with the control group access to pensions and allowances, aid appliances, access to paid jobs and personal-practical autonomy increased by 29.7%, 9.4%, 12.3% and 36.2%, respectively, after 7 years.

Conclusions

The CBR programme analysed has a positive impact on access to services and the well-being of PwD who are particularly deprived on outcomes of interest.
Reduced junctional Na+/Ca2+-exchanger activity contributes to sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak in junctophilin-2-deficient mice
Authors: Wang Wei , Landstrom Andrew P. , Wang Qiongling , Munro Michelle L. , Beavers David , Ackerman Michael J. , Soeller Christian , Wehrens Xander H. T.
Published: September 2014

Expression silencing of junctophilin-2 (JPH2) in mouse heart leads to ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2)-mediated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak and rapid development of heart failure. The mechanism and physiological significance of JPH2 in regulating RyR2-mediated SR Ca2+ leak remains elusive. We sought to elucidate the role of JPH2 in regulating RyR2-mediated SR Ca2+ release in the setting of cardiac failure. Cardiac myocytes isolated from tamoxifen-inducible conditional knockdown mice of JPH2 (MCM-shJPH2) were subjected to confocal Ca2+ imaging. MCM-shJPH2 cardiomyocytes exhibited an increased spark frequency width with altered spark morphology, which caused increased SR Ca2+ leakage. Single channel studies identified an increased RyR2 open probability in MCM-shJPH2 mice. The increase in spark frequency and width was observed only in MCM-shJPH2 and not found in mice with increased RyR2 open probability with native JPH2 expression. Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (NCX) activity was reduced by 50% in MCM-shJPH2 with no detectable change in NCX expression. Additionally, 50% inhibition of NCX through Cd2+ administration alone was sufficient to increase spark width in myocytes obtained from wild-type mice. Additionally, superresolution analysis of RyR2 and NCX colocalization showed a reduced overlap between RyR2 and NCX in MCM-shJPH2 mice. In conclusion, decreased JPH2 expression causes increased SR Ca2+ leakage by directly increasing open probability of RyR2 and by indirectly reducing junctional NCX activity through increased dyadic cleft Ca2+. This demonstrates two novel and independent cellular mechanisms by which JPH2 regulates RyR2-mediated SR Ca2+ leak and heart failure development.
In search of the elusive lipofibroblast in human lungs
Authors: Ahlbrecht Katrin , McGowan Stephen E.
Published: September 2014

Although the pulmonary interstitial lipofibroblast (LF) has been widely recognized in rat and mouse lungs, their presence in human lungs remains controversial. In a recent issue of the Journal, Tahedl and associates (Tahedl D, Wirkes A, Tschanz SA, Ochs M, Mühlfeld C. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 307: L386–L394, 2014) address this controversy and provide the most detailed stereological analysis of LFs in mammals other than rodents. Strikingly, their observations demonstrate that LFs were only observed in rodents, which contrasts with earlier reports. This editorial reviews the anatomical, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of the LF to better understand the significance of LFs for lung development and disease. Although lipid droplets are a signature of the LF cell type, it remains unclear whether lipid storage is the defining characteristic of LFs, or whether other less overt properties determine the importance of LFs. Are lipid droplets an adaptation to the neonatal environment, or are LFs a surrogate for other properties that promote alveolar development, and do lipid droplets modify physiology or disease in adults?
ALK-Dependent Control of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors Mediates Tumor Growth and Metastasis
Authors: Martinengo Cinzia , Poggio Teresa , Menotti Matteo , Scalzo Maria Stella , Mastini Cristina , Ambrogio Chiara , Pellegrino Elisa , Riera Ludovica , Piva Roberto , Ribatti Domenico , Pastorino Fabio , Perri Patrizia , Ponzoni Mirco , Wang Qi , Voena Claudia , Chiarle Roberto
Published: September 2014

Rearrangements involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene are defining events in several tumors, including anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) and non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In such cancers, the oncogenic activity of ALK stimulates signaling pathways that induce cell transformation and promote tumor growth. In search for common pathways activated by oncogenic ALK across different tumors types, we found that hypoxia pathways were significantly enriched in ALK-rearranged ALCL and NSCLC, as compared with other types of T-cell lymphoma or EGFR- and K-RAS–mutated NSCLC, respectively. Consistently, in both ALCL and NSCLC, we found that under hypoxic conditions, ALK directly regulated the abundance of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), which are key players of the hypoxia response in normal tissues and cancers. In ALCL, the upregulation of HIF1α and HIF2α in hypoxic conditions required ALK activity and its downstream signaling proteins STAT3 and C/EBPβ. In vivo, ALK regulated VEGFA production and tumor angiogenesis in ALCL and NSCLC, and the treatment with the anti-VEGFA antibody bevacizumab strongly impaired ALCL growth in mouse xenografts. Finally, HIF2α, but not HIF1α, was required for ALCL growth in vivo whereas the growth and metastasis potential of ALK-rearranged NSCLC required both HIF1α and HIF2α. In conclusion, we uncovered an ALK-specific regulation of the hypoxia response across different ALK+ tumor types and propose HIFs as a powerful specific therapeutic target in ALK-rearranged ALCL and NSCLC. Cancer Res; 74(21); 6094–106. ©2014 AACR.
Bra Wearing Not Associated with Breast Cancer Risk: A Population-Based Case–Control Study
Authors: Chen Lu , Malone Kathleen E. , Li Christopher I.
Published: September 2014

Despite the widespread use of bras among U.S. women and concerns in the lay media that bra wearing may increase breast cancer risk, there is a scarcity of credible scientific studies addressing this issue. The goal of the study was to evaluate the relationship between various bra-wearing habits and breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. We conducted a population-based case–control study of breast cancer in the Seattle–Puget Sound metropolitan area that compared 454 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) cases and 590 invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2004 with 469 control women between 55 to 74 years of age. Information on bra-wearing habits and other breast cancer risk factors was collected from study participants through in-person interviews. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using polytomous logistic regression. No aspect of bra wearing, including bra cup size, recency, average number of hours/day worn, wearing a bra with an underwire, or age first began regularly wearing a bra, was associated with risks of either IDC or ILC. Our results did not support an association between bra wearing and increased breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(10); 2181–5. ©2014 AACR.
Bisphosphonates Inhibit Stellate Cell Activity and Enhance Antitumor Effects of Nanoparticle Albumin–Bound Paclitaxel in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gonzalez-Villasana Vianey , Rodriguez-Aguayo Cristian , Arumugam Thiruvengadam , Cruz-Monserrate Zobeida , Fuentes-Mattei Enrique , Deng Defeng , Hwang Rosa F. , Wang Huamin , Ivan Cristina , Garza Raul Joshua , Cohen Evan , Gao Hui , Armaiz-Pena Guillermo N. , del C. Monroig-Bosque Paloma , Philip Bincy , Rashed Mohammed H. , Aslan Burcu , Erdogan Mumin Alper , Gutierrez-Puente Yolanda , Ozpolat Bulent , Reuben James M. , Sood Anil K. , Logsdon Craig , Lopez-Berestein Gabriel
Published: September 2014

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) have been recognized as the principal cells responsible for the production of fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Recently, PSCs have been noted to share characteristics with cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage (MML cells). Thus, we tested whether PSCs could be targeted with the nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBP; pamidronate or zoledronic acid), which are potent MML cell inhibitors. In addition, we tested NBPs treatment combination with nanoparticle albumin–bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) to enhance antitumor activity. In vitro, we observed that PSCs possess α-naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE) enzyme activity, a specific marker of MML cells. Moreover, NBPs inhibited PSCs proliferation, activation, release of macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and type I collagen expression. NBPs also induced PSCs apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in the G1 phase. In vivo, NBPs inactivated PSCs; reduced fibrosis; inhibited tumor volume, tumor weight, peritoneal dissemination, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation; and increased apoptosis in an orthotopic murine model of PDAC. These in vivo antitumor effects were enhanced when NBPs were combined with nab-paclitaxel but not gemcitabine. Our study suggests that targeting PSCs and tumor cells with NBPs in combination with nab-paclitaxel may be a novel therapeutic approach to PDAC. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(11); 2583–94. ©2014 AACR.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Is a Potential Preventive Agent for Recurrent Colon Cancer
Authors: Vasudevan Anita , Yu Yingjie , Banerjee Sanjeev , Woods James , Farhana Lulu , Rajendra Sindhu G. , Patel Aamil , Dyson Gregory , Levi Edi , Maddipati Krishna Rao , Majumdar Adhip P.N. , Nangia-Makker Pratima
Published: September 2014

Increasing evidence supports the contention that many malignancies, including sporadic colorectal cancer, are driven by the self-renewing, chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem/stem-like cells (CSC/CSLC), underscoring the need for improved preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs/CSLCs. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA), have been reported to inhibit the growth of primary tumors, but their potential as a preventive agent for recurring cancers is unexplored. The primary objectives of this investigation are (i) to examine whether eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; one of the ω-3 PUFA) synergizes with FuOx (5-FU+Oxaliplatin), the backbone of colon cancer chemotherapy, and (ii) whether EPA by itself or in combination with conventional chemotherapy prevents the recurrence of colon cancer via eliminating/suppressing CSCs/CSLCs. FuOx-resistant (chemoresistant; CR) colon cancer cells, highly enriched in CSCs, were used for this study. Although EPA alone was effective, combination of EPA and FuOx was more potent in (i) inhibiting cell growth, colonosphere formation, and sphere-forming frequency, (ii) increasing sphere disintegration, (iii) suppressing the growth of SCID mice xenografts of CR colon cancer cells, and (iv) decreasing proinflammatory metabolites in mice. In addition, EPA + FuOx caused a reduction in CSC/CSLC population. The growth reduction by this regimen is the result of increased apoptosis as evidenced by PARP cleavage. Furthermore, increased pPTEN, decreased pAkt, normalization of β-catenin expression, localization, and transcriptional activity by EPA suggests a role for the PTEN–Akt axis and Wnt signaling in regulating this process. Our data suggest that EPA by itself or in combination with FuOx could be an effective preventive strategy for recurring colorectal cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 7(11); 1138–48. ©2014 AACR.
What Discourse Can(not) Teach Us
Authors: Ariel Mira
Published: September 2014

This paper has two goals. First, it defends my circumbounded analysis for scalar quantifiers most (Ariel, 2004) and some, according to which the upper bound is lexically specified. Based on new questionnaire results, I here argue against discourse-based counter-arguments against the circumbounded analysis. At the same time, the paper also makes a more general, methodological point about the (mis)use of discourse patterns in linguistic analyses. I argue that discourse patterns directly reflect only discourse/pragmatic principles. Hence, we cannot simply argue for or against specific semantic analyses based on prevalent discourse patterns, for the correct account for the pattern may be pragmatic, rather than semantic.
Corpus Analysis and Lexical Pragmatics: An Overview
Authors: Kolaiti Patricia , Wilson Deirdre
Published: September 2014

Lexical pragmatics studies the processes by which lexically encoded meanings are modified in use; well-studied examples include lexical narrowing, approximation and metaphorical extension. Relevance theorists have been trying to develop a unitary account on which narrowing, approximation and metaphorical extension are all explained in the same way. While there have been several corpus-based studies of metaphor and a few of hyperbole or approximation, there has been no attempt so far to test the unitary account using corpus data. This paper reports the results of a corpus-based investigation of lexical-pragmatic processes, and discusses the theoretical issues and challenges it raises.
The Role of Statins in Preventing Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Akyuz Sukru , Yaylak Baris , Altay Servet , Kasikcioglu Hulya , Cam Nese
Published: September 2014

The incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is rising due to increased use of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. Many agents, including statins, have been evaluated in several studies for the prevention of CI-AKI. To date, there have been 14 prospective randomized studies regarding the efficacy of statins on the patient. Most of these studies and 3 recent meta-analyses have concluded that statins should be used for this purpose, even in patients with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. However, there are also conflicting results, most likely due to marked heterogeneity of patient characteristics, dosage and administration patterns of statins, definition of CI-AKI, and different statistical analyses. In conclusion, it is uncertain whether statins should be prescribed to prevent CI-AKI in the absence of other indications.
Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Serum Lipid Profiles Among Middle-Aged Population in China
Authors: Hao Guang , Wang Zengwu , Zhang Linfeng , Chen Zuo , Wang Xin , Guo Min , Tian Ye , Shao Lan , Zhu Manlu
Published: September 2014

We assessed the relationship between alcohol consumption and serum lipids in a middle-aged Chinese population. The overall prevalence of drinking among 10 154 participants was 34.07% in males and 3.61% in females. Heavy alcohol drinkers (≥ 30 g/d) tended to be older, smokers, hypertensive, do heavy physical activity, and have a lower body mass index. Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo) A1, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol–HDL-C ratio, and apo B–apo A1 ratio rose with increase in alcohol intake in males. An increase of 0.27 mmol/L in triglycerides and a decrease of 2.10 mg/dL in lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), were observed in male alcohol drinkers who consumed ≥30 g alcohol/d compared with abstainers after controlling for all confounders. Levels of total cholesterol, HDL-C, and apo A1 increased with increase in alcohol intake in both genders and Lp(a) decreased with the increase in alcohol intake in males.
Of “Lucky Loonies” and “Golden Pucks”
Authors: Bekkering Denis J.
Published: September 2014

This article re-examines the concept of Canadian civil religion through an analysis of three items of hockey memorabilia: the game-winning puck from the 1972 “Summit Series” between Canada and the former Soviet Union, the “Lucky Loonie” buried beneath the ice during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the “Golden Puck” scored by Sidney Crosby in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Born during exceptional moments of collective national attention, it is argued that the civil religiosity of these hockey relics lies in the tension between their status as a testament to the values and virtues of Canada’s hockey heroes, and their embodiment of a mysterious secular grace, colloquially referred to as “luck.”
Viviani and the others: Scarpetta, Pirandello, and Eduardo and Peppino De Filippo
Authors: Lezza Antonia
Published: September 2014

This article reconstructs Raffaele Viviani’s ties with some of the greatest representatives of 19th and 20th century Italian theater, dwelling in particular on his relationships with Scarpetta, Pirandello, and Eduardo and Peppino De Filippo. The tools for such an investigation are letters and theatrical reviews. In order to highlight Viviani’s relationship with the theatrical scene of his time and with the preceding dramaturgical tradition, the article illustrates Viviani’s close relationship with Luigi Pirandello. In the space of a 20-year period, Viviani performed and transposed into the Neapolitan dialect three of Pirandello’s plays: La patente (1924), Pensaci, Giacomino! (1933), and Bellavita (1943). The analysis of this relationship dwells not only on the novel and effective linguistic operation carried out by Viviani compared with the original texts (in the case of transpositions/rewritings), but also draws attention to the system of characters in Viviani’s theater that have a Pirandellian origin, such as Don Mario Augurio (from the play by the same name) and Giovanni Scardino ( Fuori l’autore). Moreover, the article examines Viviani’s interest in Eduardo Scarpetta; in 1940, Viviani staged Scarpetta’s indisputable masterpiece, Miseria e nobiltà. Finally, the article considers Viviani’s relationship with Eduardo and Peppino De Filippo. The unusual relationship Viviani had with Eduardo De Filippo, a kind of ‘relationship/non-relationship’ that had its basis in the different poetic choices of the two men, is analysed.
Establishing an online HIV peer helping programme: A review of process challenges and lessons learned
Authors: Harris Gregory E , Corcoran Valerie , Myles Adam , Lundrigan Philip , White Robert , Greidanus Elaine , Savage Stephanie L , Pope Leslie , McDonald James , Yetman Gerard
Published: September 2014

Background:

Online peer support can be a valuable approach to helping people living with HIV, especially in regions with large rural populations and relatively centralised HIV services.

Design:

This paper focuses on a community -university partnership aimed at developing an online peer support programme in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Setting:

Team members included community representatives and people living with HIV from the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador (ACNL) as well as academic researchers.

Objectives:

Goals and objectives of the programme included reaching disconnected people living with HIV, reducing isolation among people living with HIV and connecting people living with HIV with support, education and professional resources.

Method and Results:

Through a process orientated and iterative decision-making approach, the team established the website, peer helping training curriculum, a recruitment plan as well as other core considerations. The current paper emphasises several process challenges and lessons learned from the development stage of the online support programme.

Conclusion:

It is hoped that this information will assist others in avoiding or overcoming similar process challenges arising during such work.