bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causal recipes for high performance
Authors: Chandra Balodi Krishna , Prabhu Jaideep
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare causal recipes for high performance among young Indian and UK firms in high-tech industries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The traditional configuration approach suggests using the leadership, strategy, structure, and environment domains to identify configurations. In response to calls to improve causal linkages, and drawing on work on start-ups’ configurations, entrepreneurial orientation is used with these four domains to identify configurations. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis is used to analyze data collected via questionnaires from 70 Indian and 21 UK young firms.

Findings

– In all five configurations identified in UK context, firms adopt high external integration, and employ inorganic development strategies, exhibit high internal integration, or do not operate in a highly competitive industry. These firms carve out niches, enjoy strong linkages with supply chain partners, and have strong enough reputations that their environment is not highly competitive. Although employees are told what to do, autonomy is provided on how to do it. Among the nine Indian configurations, a large number of managers with high-growth experience is absent in eight, high internal integration is lacking in six, and high external integration is missing in five. These firms employ alternative recipes for success, as discussed in the paper.

Originality/value

– Comparing configurations in the Indian and UK contexts, the paper highlights similarities and differences across configurations, and that founders devise alternate pathways to achieve high performance. It also notes changes in relationships among variables across configurations.
Citation impact analysis of research papers that appear in oral and poster sessions
Authors: Ke Shih-Wen , Lin Wei-Chao , Tsai Chih-Fong , Hu Ya-Han
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– Conference publications are an important aspect of research activities. There are generally both oral presentations and poster sessions at large international conferences. One can hypothesise that, for the same conferences, the papers presented in oral sessions should have a higher research impact than the papers presented in poster sessions. However, there has been no related study examining the validity of this hypothesis. In other words, the difference of research impact between papers presented orally or during poster sessions has not been discussed in literature. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a citation analysis to compare the research impact of papers presented in oral and poster sessions.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, data from three leading conferences in the field of computer vision are examined, namely CVPR (2011 and 2012), ICCV (2011) and ECCV (2012). Several types of citation-related statistics are collected, including the number of highly cited papers (i.e. high number of citations) presented in oral and poster sessions, the total citations of both types of papers, the average citations of oral and poster papers, and the average citations of each frequently cited paper of both types.

Findings

– There are three main findings. First, a larger proportion of highly cited papers are from oral sessions than poster sessions. Second, the average number of citations per paper is larger for those presented in oral sessions than poster sessions. Third, the average number of citations for highly cited papers presented in oral sessions is not necessarily greater than for the ones presented in poster sessions.

Originality/value

– The originality of this paper is that it is the first attempt to examine the differences of citation impacts of conference papers presented in oral and poster sessions. The findings of this study will allow future bibliometrics research to further explore this related issue for longer periods and different fields.
Examining the antecedents of persuasive eWOM messages in social media
Authors: Teng Shasha , Wei Khong Kok , Wei Goh Wei , Yee Loong Chong Alain
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– Numerous electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) studies have been conducted to examine the effectiveness of persuasive eWOM messages. Despite the impact of eWOM messages in decision-making processes, few researches have directly tested potential antecedents of persuasive eWOM messages among message recipients in social media context. The purpose of this paper is to critically discuss and examine the determinants of persuasive eWOM messages when message recipients intend to accept and use eWOM messages.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors reviewed extant literature of eWOM and proposed hypotheses regarding persuasive eWOM messages in social media context. A survey of 78 respondents was conducted and the data were analysed using SmartPLS.

Findings

– This study found that argument quality, source credibility, source attractiveness, source perception and source style are critical antecedents of persuasive eWOM messages. The PLS results suggested that source credibility (trustworthiness), source perception (usefulness, social ties) and source style (visual cues, number) are main characteristics of credible eWOM messages in relation to users’ intention to accept and use online reviews. The variance of information acceptance and intention to use were also explained in the findings.

Practical implications

– This paper identified critical antecedents of persuasive eWOM messages and suggested eWOM messages as a credible source. An integrated conceptual framework was developed to illustrate comprehensive antecedents of persuasive eWOM messages, and the relationships between these messages, information acceptance and intention to use.

Originality/value

– The significance of the study is to identify the effectiveness of eWOM messages and its impact on intention to accept and use these messages. Moreover, this study will provide insightful guidelines for marketers with practical implications in approaching emerging markets via eWOM initiatives.
Drivers for the proactive online disclosure of information in the NGO sector: the Colombian case
Authors: del Mar Gálvez-Rodríguez María , Caba-Perez Carmen , López-Godoy Manuel
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze drivers for the proactive disclosure of information via the web in Colombian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a strategy for fostering their legitimacy and responding to the institutional pressure to which they are subjected.

Design/methodology/approach

– The web sites of 196 NGOs from Colombia have been analyzed, first, via an Online Transparency Index that is consistent with Cronbach α coefficient and later, by performing a Tobit regression analysis.

Findings

– The proactive online disclosure of information in Colombian NGOs is very low. In spite of the high distrust of the resource management they receive, the financial information is the least aspect disclosed in their web pages. In addition, the larger NGOs are the entities that most disclose information via their web site. Likewise, the factors of “internationalization”, “donations”, “community services” and “dependence on voluntary work” show a positive effect on certain aspects of the online disclosure of information analyzed.

Practical implications

– The lack of web use as a strategy for a proactive disclosure of information is clearly observed. Therefore, both obligatory and voluntary accountability mechanisms should be more aware of the need for fostering the benefits of a web site, as being transparent in a proactive manner will increase trust in this sector.

Originality/value

– As the majority of the research papers related to online disclosure are focused on the corporate and public sector, this study addresses the issue of the NGO sector and particularly aims to contribute to the scarce literature regarding web use of entities from developing countries.
Determinants of online corporate reporting in three Latin American markets
Authors: Fuertes-Callén Yolanda , Cuellar-Fernández Beatriz , Pelayo-Velázquez Marcela
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of online corporate reporting in three Latin American emerging markets, Argentina, Mexico and Chile, providing further evidence to test the mediation role of web presence development in the relationship between these determinants and e-disclosure. Web presence development measures the firm's efforts to archive web visibility, web usability and convenience.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a content analysis of corporate web sites, the extent of the information is measured by three internet disclosure indexes. Four constructs which are considered key drivers of a firm's disclosure strategy are identified. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess the research model. The sample contains publicly available data on listed companies’ web sites.

Findings

– The results reveal that the development of a firm's presence on the internet is as important as its characteristics in determining corporate transparency and in mediating the relationship between firm size and cross-listing and e-disclosure.

Practical implications

– Companies should be aware that investors are attaching increasing importance to corporate transparency. Consequently, managers should put more effort into improving web sites, which would increase corporate visibility and open up a direct communication channel with their stakeholders. They should also take advantage of web sites to provide information, above and beyond that required by local law. Not only do current and potential investors find this useful, it also increases their confidence in the company.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes an integrative model of the determinants of the level of online corporate reporting using constructs that reflect their multidimensional nature. A non-financial latent variable for web presence on the internet is proposed as a mediator in the relationship between e-disclosure and traditional determinants. The SEM approach simultaneously examines the direct and indirect relationships between the proposed latent variables and how these relationships influence the level of e-disclosure.
Hybrid content filtering and reputation-based popularity for recommending blog articles
Authors: Liu Duen-Ren , Liou Chuen-He , Peng Chi-Chieh , Chi Huai-Chun
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– Social bookmarking is a system which allows users to share, organise, search and manage bookmarks of web resources. However, with the rapid growth in the production of online documents, people are facing the problem of information overload. Social bookmarking web sites offer a solution to this by providing push counts, which are counts of users’ recommendations of articles, and thus indicate the popularity and interest thereof. In this way, users can use the push counts to find popular and interesting articles. A measure of popularity-based solely on push counts, however, cannot be considered a true reflection of popularity. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the authors propose to derive the degree of popularity of an article by considering the reputation of the users who push the article. Moreover, the authors propose a novel personalised blog article recommendation approach which combines reputation-based group popularity with content-based filtering (CBF), for the recommendation of popular blog articles which satisfy users’ personal preferences.

Findings

– The experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms conventional CBF, item-based and user-based collaborative filtering approaches. The proposed approach considering reputation-based group popularity scores on neighbouring articles indeed can improve the recommendation quality of traditional CBF method.

Originality/value

– The recommendation approach modifies CBF method by considering the target user's group preferences, to overcome the limitation of CBF which arises from the recommending only items similar to those the user has previously liked. Users with similar article preferences (profiles) may form a group of users with similar interests. A group's preferences may also reflect an individual's preferences. The reputation-based group preferences of the target user's group can be used to complement the target user's preferences.
The common welfare human resource management system
Authors: Chiva Ricardo
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a new generic human resource management (HRM) system linked to a novel and more developed social and organizational paradigm: the common welfare HRM system.

Design/methodology/approach

– This conceptual paper builds on the concept of individual consciousness to better understand the differences between the three generic HRM systems. It relates different levels of consciousness to one of the most cited HRM system typologies: the control and the commitment HRM systems. The control HRM system will be related to a low level of consciousness. The commitment HRM system will be related to a medium level of consciousness. And the highest level of consciousness is related to the proposed common welfare HRM system. This latter system of HRM practices will be supported by examples of three very innovative organizations.

Findings

– This paper presents a new HRM system that intends to foster innovation and creativity all around the organization, and represents a development on the traditional control and commitment. The common welfare HRM system implies a new approach in management and HRM, away from the primacy of the ego, competition and hierarchy.

Research limitations/implications

– The common welfare HRM system is related to highly innovative organizations and implies a paradigm shift in which a more humanistic view of individuals is offered.

Practical implications

– The paper clarifies the several HRM practices related to the three HRM systems: control, commitment and common welfare.

Originality/value

– The paper theoretically underpins the existence of a new and more developed HRM system through consciousness levels and analyzes the particular HRM practices of this new system.
Dining local: the microbial diet of a snail that grazes microbial communities is geographically structured
Authors: O'Rorke Richard , Cobian Gerald M. , Holland Brenden S. , Price Melissa R. , Costello Vincent , Amend Anthony S.
Published: October 2014

Achatinella mustelina is a critically endangered tree snail that subsists entirely by grazing microbes from leaf surfaces of native trees. Little is known about the fundamental aspects of these microbe assemblages: not taxonomic composition, how this varies with host plant or location, nor whether snails selectively consume microbes. To address these questions, we collected 102 snail faecal samples as a proxy for diet, and 102 matched‐leaf samples from four locations. We used Illumina amplicon sequencing to determine bacterial and fungal community composition. Microbial community structure was significantly distinct between snail faeces and leaf samples, but the same microbes occurred in both. We conclude that snails are not ‘picky’ eaters at the microbial level, but graze the surface of whatever plant they are on. In a second experiment, the gut was dissected from non‐endangered native tree snails in the same family as Achatinella to confirm that faecal samples reflect gut contents. Over 60% of fungal reads were shared between faeces, gut and leaf samples. Overall, location, sample type (faeces or leaf) and host plant identity all significantly explained the community composition and variation among samples. Understanding the microbial ecology of microbes grazed by tree snails enables effective management when conservation requires captive breeding or field relocation.
Adoption of Electronic Medical Record‐Based Decision Support for Otitis Media in Children
Authors: Fiks Alexander G. , Zhang Peixin , Localio A. Russell , Khan Saira , Grundmeier Robert W. , Karavite Dean J. , Bailey Charles , Alessandrini Evaline A. , Forrest Christopher B.
Published: October 2014

Objective

Substantial investment in electronic health records (EHRs) has provided an unprecedented opportunity to use clinical decision support (CDS) to increase guideline adherence. To inform efforts to maximize adoption, we characterized the adoption of an otitis media (OM) CDS system, the impact of performance feedback on adoption, and the effects of adoption on guideline adherence.

Study Setting

A total of 41,391 OM visits with 108 clinicians at 16 pediatric practices between February 2009 and August 2010.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study of EHR‐based CDS adoption during OM visits, comparing clinicians receiving performance feedback to none. CDS was available to all physicians; use was voluntary.

Data Collection

Extraction from a common EHR.

Principal Findings

Clinicians and practices used the CDS system for a mean of 21 percent (range: 0–85 percent) and 17 percent (0–51 percent) of eligible OM visits, respectively. Clinicians who received performance feedback reports summarizing CDS use and guideline adherence had a relative increase in CDS use of 9.0 percentage points compared to others (p = .001). CDS adoption was associated with increased OM guideline adherence. Effects were greatest among clinicians with the lowest adherence prior to the study.

Conclusions

Performance feedback increased CDS adoption, but additional strategies are needed to integrate CDS into primary care workflows.
Does internal podalic version of the non‐vertex second twin still have a place in obstetrics? A Danish national retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jonsdottir Fjola , Henriksen Lonny , Secher Niels J. , Maaløe Nanna
Published: October 2014

Objective

Investigate the rate of internal podalic version followed by breech extraction for a second non‐vertex twin with the first delivered vaginally, and compare neonatal outcome with emergency cesarean section.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

National Danish Registers.

Population

Twin pregnancies (1997–2012) with gestational age ≥34 weeks; first twin delivered vaginally, second by internal podalic version and breech extraction or cesarean section.

Methods

Data were collected from the Danish National Patient Register and the Danish National Birth Register.

Main outcome measures

Rates of delivery mode, 5‐min Apgar score, asphyxia, umbilical cord pH, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, treatment by mechanical ventilation, and experience level of obstetricians performing internal podalic version.

Results

457 births were available for analysis: 39 cases of internal podalic version and breech extraction and 418 cesarean section cases for second twin. Compared with the cesarean section group, the internal podalic version group had lower rates of asphyxia. Apgar scores and umbilical cord pH levels were not significantly different, although with a tendency to be higher in the internal version than the cesarean section group, however, fewer cases needed mechanical ventilation. Thirty internal versions and breech extractions were performed by obstetricians with >5 years clinical experience and three by trainees.

Conclusion

Cesarean sections for a second twin seem to have been frequent during the last 15 years while internal podalic version is a vanishing procedure. A slight tendency for better neonatal outcome was found in the internal podalic version and extraction group than cesarean section.
Oesophageal narrowing is common and frequently under‐appreciated at endoscopy in patients with oesophageal eosinophilia
Authors: Gentile N. , Katzka D. , Ravi K. , Trenkner S. , Enders F. , Killian J. , Kryzer L. , Talley N. J. , Alexander J.
Published: October 2014

Background

Estimation of the prevalence of oesophageal narrowing and its clinical relevance in patients with oesophageal eosinophilia is probably underestimated by endoscopy.

Aims

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for oesophageal narrowing when compared to a structured oesophagram.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review at Mayo Clinic, Rochester of adult patients with eosinophilic oesophageal infiltration of >15 eosinophils/hpf with symptomatic dysphagia, who underwent a structured barium oesophagram. The sensitivity and specificity of EGD were evaluated against the gold standard of oesophagram. Demographic and multiple clinical factors were evaluated as potential predictors of oesophageal narrowing.

Results

Of the 58 patients identified, 34 (58.6%) had a narrowed oesophageal diameter (<21 mm). EGD had poor sensitivity (14.7%, 95% CI 5.0–31.1%) for detection of a narrowed oesophagus and only modest specificity (79.2%, 95% CI 57.8–92.9%). Even at a cut‐off diameter of EDmax ≤ 15 mm, EGD had a sensitivity of only 25.0% (95% CI 5.5–57.2%) for narrowed oesophagus. A history of >5 food impaction episodes, endoscopic rings, and female sex were the best predictors of oesophageal narrowing. 86% (6/7) patients with persistent dysphagia despite remission of histological eosinophilia responded to oesophageal dilation all of whom had radiological oesophageal narrowing and 71% of whom had no perceived oesophageal narrowing at EGD.

Conclusions

Symptomatic oesophageal narrowing identified by barium oesophagography is common and under‐recognised at endoscopy in patients with oesophageal eosinophilia.
The pharmacokinetics of metformin and concentrations of haemoglobin A1C and lactate in Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Duong Janna K. , Kumar Shaun S. , Furlong Timothy J. , Kirkpatrick Carl M. , Graham Garry G. , Greenfield Jerry R. , Williams Ken M. , Day Richard O.
Published: October 2014

Aims

To compare the pharmacokinetics of metformin between diabetic Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) and non‐Indigenous patients.

Methods

An observational, cross‐sectional study was conducted on type 2 diabetic Indigenous and non‐Indigenous patients treated with metformin. Blood samples were collected to determine metformin, lactate, creatinine and vitamin B12 concentrations and glycosylated haemoglobin levels. A population model was used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters.

Results

The Indigenous patients (median age 55 years) were younger than the non‐Indigenous patients (65 years), with a difference of 10 years (95% confidence interval 6–14 years, P < 0.001). The median glycosylated haemoglobin was higher in the Indigenous patients (8.5%) than in the non‐Indigenous patients (7.2%), with a difference of 1.4% (0.8–2.2%, P < 0.001). Indigenous patients had a higher creatinine clearance (4.3 l h−1) than the non‐Indigenous patients (4.0 l h−1), with a median difference of 0.3 l h−1 (0.07–1.17 l h−1; P < 0.05). The ratio of the apparent clearance of metformin to the creatinine clearance in Indigenous patients (13.1, 10.2–15.2; median, interquartile range) was comparable to that in non‐Indigenous patients (12.6, 9.9–14.9). Median lactate concentrations were also similar [1.55 (1.20–1.88) vs. 1.60 (1.35–2.10) mmol l−1] for Indigenous and non‐Indigenous patients, respectively. The median vitamin B12 was 306 pmol l−1 (range 105–920 pmol l−1) for the Indigenous patients.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of metformin or plasma concentrations of lactate between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further studies are required in Indigenous patients with creatinine clearance <30 ml min−1.
Cerebral sinus venous thromboses in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a multicentre study from the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology
Authors: Ranta Susanna , Tuckuviene Ruta , Mäkipernaa Anne , Albertsen Birgitte K. , Frisk Tony , Tedgård Ulf , Jónsson Ólafur G. , Pruunsild Kaie , Gretenkort Andersson Nadine , Winther Gunnes Maria , Saulyte Trakymiene Sonata , Frandsen Thomas , Heyman Mats , Ruud Ellen , Helgestad Jon
Published: October 2014

We present a prospective multicentre cohort of 20 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT). The study covers a period of 5 years and comprises 1038 children treated according to the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL 2008 protocol. The cumulative incidence of CSVT was 2%. Sixteen of the thromboses were related to asparaginase and 16 to steroids. Most CSVTs occurred in the consolidation phase. Nearly all were treated with low molecular weight heparin without bleeding complications. Mortality related to CSVT directly or indirectly was 10%, emphasizing the importance of this complication.
Dissociation of rapid response learning and facilitation in perceptual and conceptual networks of person recognition
Authors: Valt Christian , Klein Christoph , Boehm Stephan G.
Published: October 2014

Repetition priming is a prominent example of non‐declarative memory, and it increases the accuracy and speed of responses to repeatedly processed stimuli. Major long‐hold memory theories posit that repetition priming results from facilitation within perceptual and conceptual networks for stimulus recognition and categorization. Stimuli can also be bound to particular responses, and it has recently been suggested that this rapid response learning, not network facilitation, provides a sound theory of priming of object recognition. Here, we addressed the relevance of network facilitation and rapid response learning for priming of person recognition with a view to advance general theories of priming. In four experiments, participants performed conceptual decisions like occupation or nationality judgments for famous faces. The magnitude of rapid response learning varied across experiments, and rapid response learning co‐occurred and interacted with facilitation in perceptual and conceptual networks. These findings indicate that rapid response learning and facilitation in perceptual and conceptual networks are complementary rather than competing theories of priming. Thus, future memory theories need to incorporate both rapid response learning and network facilitation as individual facets of priming.
Final safety and efficacy of erlotinib in the phase 4 POLARSTAR surveillance study of 10 708 Japanese patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Gemma Akihiko , Kudoh Shoji , Ando Masahiko , Ohe Yuichiro , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Johkoh Takeshi , Yamazaki Naoya , Arakawa Hiroaki , Inoue Yoshikazu , Ebina Masahito , Kusumoto Masahiko , Kuwano Kazuyoshi , Sakai Fumikazu , Taniguchi Hiroyuki , Fukuda Yuh , Seki Akihiro , Ishii Tadashi , Fukuoka Masahiro
Published: October 2014

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurrence and risk factors were investigated in the Japanese non‐small‐cell lung cancer, post‐marketing, large‐scale surveillance study, POLARSTAR. All patients with unresectable, recurrent/advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer who were treated with erlotinib in Japan between December 2007 and October 2009 were enrolled. Primary endpoints were patterns of ILD and risk factors for onset of ILD and ILD‐related death. Overall survival, progression‐free survival, and occurrence of adverse drug reactions were secondary endpoints. Interstitial lung disease was confirmed in 429 (4.3%) patients. Concurrent/previous ILD (hazard ratio, 3.19), emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (hazard ratio, 1.86), lung infection (hazard ratio, 1.55), smoking history (hazard ratio, 2.23), and period from initial cancer diagnosis to the start of treatment (<360 days; hazard ratio, 0.58) were identified as significant risk factors for developing ILD by Cox multivariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis identified Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 2–4 (odds ratio, 2.45 [95% confidence interval, 1.41–4.27]; P = 0.0016), ≤50% remaining normal lung area (odds ratio, 3.12 [1.48–6.58]; P = 0.0029), and concomitant honeycombing with interstitial pneumonia (odds ratio, 6.67 [1.35–32.94]; P = 0.02) as poor prognostic factors for ILD death. Median overall survival was 277 days; median progression‐free survival was 67 days. These data confirm the well‐characterized safety profile of erlotinib. Interstitial lung disease is still an adverse drug reaction of interest in this population, and these results, including ILD risk factors, give helpful information for treatment selection and monitoring. Erlotinib efficacy was additionally confirmed in this population. (POLARSTAR trial ML21590.)
Double‐strand break repair‐adox: Restoration of suppressed double‐strand break repair during mitosis induces genomic instability
Authors: Terasawa Masahiro , Shinohara Akira , Shinohara Miki
Published: October 2014

Double‐strand breaks (DSBs) are one of the severest types of DNA damage. Unrepaired DSBs easily induce cell death and chromosome aberrations. To maintain genomic stability, cells have checkpoint and DSB repair systems to respond to DNA damage throughout most of the cell cycle. The failure of this process often results in apoptosis or genomic instability, such as aneuploidy, deletion, or translocation. Therefore, DSB repair is essential for maintenance of genomic stability. During mitosis, however, cells seem to suppress the DNA damage response and proceed to the next G1 phase, even if there are unrepaired DSBs. The biological significance of this suppression is not known. In this review, we summarize recent studies of mitotic DSB repair and discuss the mechanisms of suppression of DSB repair during mitosis. DSB repair, which maintains genomic integrity in other phases of the cell cycle, is rather toxic to cells during mitosis, often resulting in chromosome missegregation and aberration. Cells have multiple safeguards to prevent genomic instability during mitosis: inhibition of 53BP1 or BRCA1 localization to DSB sites, which is important to promote non‐homologous end joining or homologous recombination, respectively, and also modulation of the non‐homologous end joining core complex to inhibit DSB repair. We discuss how DSBs during mitosis are toxic and the multiple safeguard systems that suppress genomic instability.
Photodynamic therapy using nanoparticle loaded with indocyanine green for experimental peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer
Authors: Tsujimoto Hironori , Morimoto Yuji , Takahata Risa , Nomura Shinsuke , Yoshida Kazumichi , Horiguchi Hiroyuki , Hiraki Shuichi , Ono Satoshi , Miyazaki Hiromi , Saito Daizo , Hara Isao , Ozeki Eiichi , Yamamoto Junji , Hase Kazuo
Published: October 2014

Although there have been multiple advances in the development of novel anticancer agents and operative procedures, prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer remains poor, especially in patients with peritoneal metastasis. In this study, we established nanoparticles loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) derivatives: ICG loaded lactosomes (ICGm) and investigated the diagnostic and therapeutic value of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using ICGm for experimental peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. Experimental peritoneal disseminated xenografts of human gastric cancer were established in nude mice. Three weeks after intraperitoneal injection of the cancer cells, either ICGm (ICGm‐treated mice) or ICG solution (ICG‐treated mice) was injected through the tail vein. Forty‐eight hours after injection of the photosensitizer, in vivo and ex vivo imaging was carried out. For PDT, 48 h after injection of the photosensitizer, other mice were irradiated through the abdominal wall, and the body weight and survival rate were monitored. In vivo imaging revealed that peritoneal tumors were visualized through the abdominal wall in ICGm‐treated mice, whereas only non‐specific fluorescence was observed in ICG‐treated mice. The PDT reduced the total weight of the disseminated nodules and significantly improved weight loss and survival rate in ICGm‐treated mice. In conclusion, ICGm can be used as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic nanodevice in peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.
Angiopoietin‐like protein 2 renders colorectal cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy by activating spleen tyrosine kinase–phosphoinositide 3‐kinase‐dependent anti‐apoptotic signaling
Authors: Horiguchi Haruki , Endo Motoyoshi , Miyamoto Yuji , Sakamoto Yasuo , Odagiri Haruki , Masuda Tetsuro , Kadomatsu Tsuyoshi , Tanoue Hironori , Motokawa Ikuyo , Terada Kazutoyo , Morioka Masaki Suimye , Manabe Ichiro , Baba Hideo , Oike Yuichi
Published: October 2014

Angiopoietin‐like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) plays an important role in inflammatory carcinogenesis and tumor metastasis by activating tumor angiogenesis and tumor cell chemotaxis and invasiveness. However, it is unclear whether ANGPTL2 expression has an effect on tumor cell survival. Here, we explored that possibility by determining whether ANGPTL2 expression altered survival of human colorectal cancer cell lines treated with antineoplastic drugs. To do so, we generated SW480 cells expressing ANGPTL2 (SW480/ANGPTL2) and control (SW480/Ctrl) cells. Apoptosis induced by antineoplastic drug treatment was significantly decreased in SW480/ANGPTL2 compared to control cells. Expression of anti‐apoptotic BCL‐2 family genes was upregulated in SW480/ANGPTL2 compared to SW480/Ctrl cells. To assess signaling downstream of ANGPTL2 underlying this effect, we carried out RNA sequencing analysis of SW480/ANGPTL2 and SW480/Ctrl cells. That analysis, combined with in vitro experiments, indicated that Syk‐PI3K signaling induced expression of BCL‐2 family genes in SW480/ANGPTL2 cells. Furthermore, ANGPTL2 increased its own expression in a feedback loop by activating the spleen tyrosine kinase–nuclear factor of activated T cells (Syk–NFAT) pathway. Finally, we observed a correlation between higher ANGPTL2 expression in primary unresectable tumors from colorectal cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy with a lower objective response rate. These findings suggest that attenuating ANGPTL2 signaling in tumor cells may block tumor cell resistance to antineoplastic therapies.
Reduced interferon-α production by dendritic cells in type 1 diabetes does not impair immunity to influenza virus
Authors: Kreuzer D , Nikoopour E , Au B C Y , Krougly O , Lee-Chan E , Summers K L , Haeryfar S M M , Singh B
Published: October 2014

The increased risk and persistence of infections in diabetic condition is probably associated with defects in the cellular immune responses. We have previously shown a decrease in the production of interferon (IFN)-α by dendritic cells (DCs) in diabetic subjects. The basal level of IFN-α in splenic plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) is also lower in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice compared to prediabetic mice. The objective of this study was to analyse the ability of diabetic mice to mobilize innate and CD8+T cell-mediated immune response to influenza A virus (IAV) with the live influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1 (PR8) strain or with its immunodominant CD8+T cell epitopes. We found that following immunization with IAV, the level of IFN-α in diabetic mice was increased to the level in prediabetic mice. Immunization of NOD mice with the immunodominant IAV PR8 peptide induced clonal expansion of IFN-γ-producing CD8+T cells similar to the response observed in prediabetic mice. Thus, diabetic and prediabetic NOD mice have a similar capacity for IFN-α and IFN-γ production by pDCs and CD8+T cells, respectively. Therefore, the DC-related immune defect in diabetic NOD mice does not impair their capacity to develop an effective immune response to IAV. Our results suggest that reduced IFN-α production by diabetic human and mouse DCs is not an impediment to an effective immunity to IAV in type 1 diabetic subjects vaccinated with live attenuated influenza vaccine.
Increased prevalence of MEFV exon 10 variants in Japanese patients with adult-onset Still's disease
Authors: Nonaka F , Migita K , Jiuchi Y , Shimizu T , Umeda M , Iwamoto N , Fujikawa K , Izumi Y , Mizokami A , Nakashima M , Ueki Y , Yasunami M , Kawakami A , Eguchi K
Published: October 2014

Autoinflammatory diseases include a large spectrum of monogenic diseases, e.g. familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), as well as complex genetic trait diseases, e.g. adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). In populations where FMF is common, an increased MEFV mutation rate is found in patients with rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine MEFV mutations in Japanese patients with AOSD. Genomic DNA was isolated from 49 AOSD patients and 105 healthy controls, and exons 1, 2, 3 and 10 of the MEFV gene genotyped by direct sequencing. MEFV mutation frequencies in AOSD patients were compared with controls. We found no significant difference in overall allele frequencies of MEFV variants between AOSD patients and controls. However, MEFV exon 10 variants (M694I and G632S) were significantly higher in AOSD patients than controls (6·1 versus 0%). In addition, there was no significant difference between MEFV variant carriers and non-carriers with clinical manifestations, but the monocyclic clinical course of the AOSD disease phenotype was observed less frequently in patients without MEFV variants. AOSD patients had significantly higher frequencies of MEFV exon 10 mutations, suggesting that low-frequency variants of MEFV gene may be one of the susceptibility factors of AOSD.
Intraocular pressure‐lowering medications and long‐term outcomes of selective laser trabeculoplasty
Authors: Woo David M , Healey Paul R , Graham Stuart L , Goldberg Ivan
Published: October 2014

Background

To investigate the effects of current intraocular pressure‐lowering medications on the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty.

Design

Retrospective chart review of records from an urban glaucoma clinic in Sydney, Australia.

Participants

Patients who received their first selective laser trabeculoplasty between 2002 and 2005 were studied (grouped from 0 to 3 according to the number of pre‐selective laser trabeculoplasty medications, and followed for 5 years). Those with previous argon laser therapy, trabeculectomy or angle‐closure were excluded.

Methods

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (Ellex) used to deliver 180 or 360 degree of treatment, under the same protocol.

Main Outcome Measures

Responders were defined by ≥20% reduction from baseline intraocular pressure. Data were censored when pressure‐lowering intervention was required. The mean intraocular pressure, survivor, response rate, number and type of medications were compared.

Results

There were 206 patients with ocular hypertension, primary, pseudo‐exfoliation, or pigmentary glaucoma who used none (n = 20), one (n = 33), two (n = 61) or three or more (n = 92) pre‐selective laser trabeculoplasty topical anti‐glaucoma medications. The mean baseline intraocular pressures for each group was 23.7, 22.2, 20.7 and 20.4 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.061). Post‐treatment mean intraocular pressure was 17.9, 17.7, 15.5, and 15.7 mmHg; percentage reduction was similar between groups (23.6–25.6%, P = 0.20). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed comparable survival rates across groups (P = 0.445). At 60 months, 11.1, 17.1, 30.5 and 11.5% of responders remained in each group. Higher proportions of patients in groups 2 and 3 required further laser or surgery.

Conclusion

The number of pre‐selective laser trabeculoplasty medications did not affect the intraocular pressure‐lowering effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty; however, groups on more medications required more pressure‐lowering interventions.
Contact sensitization to modern dressings: a multicentre study on 354 patients with chronic leg ulcers
Authors: Valois Aude , Waton Julie , Avenel‐Audran Martine , Truchetet François , Collet Evelyne , Raison‐Peyron Nadia , Cuny Jean Francois , Bethune Benjamin , Schmutz Jean Luc , Barbaud Annick ,   On behalf of the Dermatology and Allergy group (GAD) of the French Society of Dermatology
Published: October 2014

Background

Modern dressings (MDs) may have a low sensitization rate, but there is a lack of prospective studies in patients with chronic leg ulcers (CLUs) to evaluate this.

Objectives

To determine the rate of sensitization (contact allergy) to MDs and substances present in dressings.

Patients and methods

A prospective multicentre study was carried out in patients with CLUs at five French dermatology departments; patch tests were performed with the European baseline series and with an additional 27 individual allergens and 10 MDs.

Results

Among 354 patients (226 women and 128 men) with CLUs, 59.6% had at least one positive patch test reaction to an MD and 19% had at least one sensitization to an MD. The number of positive test reactions per patient was correlated with the duration of ulcerative disease, but not with ulcer duration, the cause of the ulcer, or the presence of surrounding eczematous lesions. For 11 of 45 patients sensitized to Ialuset cream®, more detailed information could be obtained with sensitization to sodium dehydroacetate (5 cases) or Lanette SX® (3 cases).

Conclusions

Sensitization to MDs is not rare. It is absolutely necessary to label all components of MDs on their packaging and to avoid some sensitizing molecules, such as colophonium derivatives or any strong sensitizers.
Improvement of quality of life in patients with steroid‐refractory chronic graft‐versus‐host disease treated with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus
Authors: Lutz Mathias , Kapp Markus , Einsele Hermann , Grigoleit Götz Ulrich , Mielke Stephan
Published: October 2014

Compromised quality of life (QoL) is a frequent consequence of treatment‐refractory chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (cGvHD). Here, we report on the assessment of QoL in a subgroup of 22 patients with a median age of 54 (17–70) yr receiving an everolimus‐based salvage therapy at a single center for their steroid‐refractory cGvHD. Five patients suffered from mild, 13 from moderate, and four from severe cGvHD according to NIH consensus criteria when everolimus was introduced. Median treatment duration was 390 d ranging from 86 to 814 d. We performed actual and retrospective assessments of QoL (EuroQol EQ‐5D questionnaire) and degree of bother experienced by cGvHD symptoms (Lee cGvHD Symptom Scale). Seventeen of 22 patients showed an improved QoL according to the EQ‐5D visual analog scale (37.5% vs. 70.0%; p < 0.001), and a decline in the median Lee cGvHD Symptom Scale was noted in 20 of 22 patients (28 vs. 17; p < 0.001). Furthermore, an improvement was noted in each of the five dimensions of the EQ‐5D descriptive system. These data even when limited by their retrospective nature suggest that beyond physical responses everolimus may have contributed to the rebuilding of patients' QoL.
Collagenous Fibroma of the Right Coronary Cusp: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Zhu Yanbo , Zhang Xiuhong , Guan Xin , Wang Lianqun
Published: October 2014

Collagenous fibroma (desmoplastic fibroblastoma) is a rare benign tumor. This type of tumor mostly occurs in the subcutaneous tissues or skeletal muscle, and to the best of our knowledge, there is no unique case report of it occurring in the cardiac valves. This is the first description of collagenous fibroma in a human heart.
Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion Is Reduced in Infants with Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Zakaria Dala , Sachdeva Ritu , Gossett Jeffrey M. , Tang Xinyu , O'Connor Matthew J.
Published: October 2014

Background

Right ventricular (RV) function is reduced in infants with pulmonary hypertension (PH) but echocardiographic assessment can be challenging. We sought to determine the role of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in infants with PH and compared it with other markers such as tricuspid annular S' and RV fractional area change (RVFAC).

Methods

Retrospective review of medical records of 30 infants treated for PH and 69 healthy controls from January 2012 to November 2012 was performed. Patients with significant congenital heart disease were excluded. Offline analysis of echocardiograms was performed to obtain TAPSE, tricuspid annular S', and RVFAC. TAPSE was indexed to body surface area (TAPSE/BSA). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relation between echocardiographic markers and PH.

Results

TAPSE and TAPSE/BSA were significantly lower in PH patients. PH patients were younger than controls; however, TAPSE was significantly lower in PH patients after matching with controls by age. Tricuspid annular S' was decreased in PH patients, but RVFAC was similar. On multivariate analysis, tricuspid S' did not have a significant effect on the probability of PH (P = 0.067). The odds of PH significantly increased with each 1 mm decrease in TAPSE (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.26–2.45). Inter‐observer agreement for TAPSE showed concordance correlation coefficient of 0.89.

Conclusions

TAPSE is a feasible and reproducible marker of RV systolic function in infants with PH and is superior to tricuspid annular S' and RVFAC. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the role of TAPSE in serial evaluation of PH.
Novel spatial analysis methods reveal scale‐dependent spread and infer limiting factors of invasion by Sahara mustard
Authors: Li Yue M. , Dlugosch Katrina M. , Enquist Brian J.
Published: October 2014

Multiple scale‐dependent ecological processes influence species distributions. Uncovering these drivers of dynamic range boundaries can provide fundamental ecological insights and vital knowledge for species management. We develop a transferable methodology that uses widely available data and tools to determine critical scales in range expansion and to infer dominating scale‐dependent forces that influence spread. We divide a focal geographic region into different sized square cells, representing different spatial scales. We then used herbarium records to determine the species' occupancy of cells at each spatial scale. We calculated the growth in cell occupancy across scales to infer the scale dependent expansion rate. This is the first time such a ‘box‐counting’ method is used to study range expansion. We coupled this multi‐scale analysis with species distribution models to determine the range and spatial scales where suitable climate allows the species to spread, and where other factors may be influencing the expansion. We demonstrate our methodology by assessing the spread of invasive Sahara mustard in North America. We detect critical scales where its spread is limited (100–500 km) or unconstrained (5–50 km) by climatic variables. Using climate‐based models to assess the similarity of climate envelopes in its native and invaded range, we find that the climate in the invaded range generally predicts the native distribution, suggesting that either there has been little local adaptation to climate occurring since introduction or the biological interaction experienced in the invaded range has not driven the species to occupy climatic conditions much different from its native range. Our novel method can be broadly utilized in other studies to generate critical insights into the scale dependency of different ecological drivers that influence the spread and distribution limits, as well as to help parameterizing predictions of future spread, and thus inform management decisions.