bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When is incomplete epigenetic resetting in germ cells favoured by natural selection?
Authors: Uller Tobias , English Sinead , Pen Ido
Published: July 2015

Resetting of epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, in germ cells or early embryos is not always complete. Epigenetic states may therefore persist, decay or accumulate across generations. In spite of mounting empirical evidence for incomplete resetting, it is currently poorly understood whether it simply reflects stochastic noise or plays an adaptive role in phenotype determination. Here, we use a simple model to show that incomplete resetting can be adaptive in heterogeneous environments. Transmission of acquired epigenetic states prevents mismatched phenotypes when the environment changes infrequently relative to generation time and when maternal and environmental cues are unreliable. We discuss how these results may help to interpret the emerging data on transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in plants and animals.
Modelling verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour after acquired brain injury
Authors: James Andrew I. W. , Böhnke Jan R. , Young Andrew W. , Lewis Gary J.
Published: July 2015

Understanding the underpinnings of behavioural disturbances following brain injury is of considerable importance, but little at present is known about the relationships between different types of behavioural disturbances. Here, we take a novel approach to this issue by using confirmatory factor analysis to elucidate the architecture of verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour using systematic records made across an eight-week observation period for a large sample (
n
= 301) of individuals with a range of brain injuries. This approach offers a powerful test of the architecture of these behavioural disturbances by testing the fit between observed behaviours and different theoretical models. We chose models that reflected alternative theoretical perspectives based on generalized disinhibition (Model 1), a difference between aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour (Model 2), or on the idea that verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour reflect broadly distinct but correlated clinical phenomena (Model 3). Model 3 provided the best fit to the data indicating that these behaviours can be viewed as distinct, but with substantial overlap. These data are important both for developing models concerning the architecture of behaviour as well as for clinical management in individuals with brain injury.
Fluctuating fitness shapes the clone size distribution of immune repertoires
Authors: Desponds Jonathan , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M.
Published: July 2015

The adaptive immune system relies on the diversity of receptors expressed on the surface of B and T-cells to protect the organism from a vast amount of pathogenic threats. The proliferation and degradation dynamics of different cell types (B cells, T cells, naive, memory) is governed by a variety of antigenic and environmental signals, yet the observed clone sizes follow a universal power law distribution. Guided by this reproducibility we propose effective models of somatic evolution where cell fate depends on an effective fitness. This fitness is determined by growth factors acting either on clones of cells with the same receptor responding to specific antigens, or directly on single cells with no regards for clones. We identify fluctuations in the fitness acting specifically on clones as the essential ingredient leading to the observed distributions. Combining our models with experiments we characterize the scale of fluctuations in antigenic environments and we provide tools to identify the relevant growth signals in different tissues and organisms. Our results generalize to any evolving population in a fluctuating environment.
Credit cycles: freewheeling, driving or driven?
Authors: Mouatt Simon
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The discourse on credit cycles has been reinvigorated following the global crisis. The purpose of this paper is to contrast the positions of mainstream, Marxist, Austrian and post-Keynesian (PK) schools of thought on these matters. It is posited that most notions underplay the significance of real economy factors in shaping the fluctuations of credit levels and relations. It is argued these ideas are best illustrated by Marx (as interpreted by the Temporal Single System Interpretation) and tendency for the profit rate to fall with accumulation. Empirical evidence on the UK profit rate is provided as supporting evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper explores the theoretical work on credit and business cycles from the relevant schools of thought and contrasts them. The aim is to consider which approach best describes the reality. Empirical work on the profit rate provides supporting evidence.

Findings

– It is argued that the mainstream view of monetary neutrality is an insufficient explanation of the financial reality associated with credit and business cycles. Instead, it is posited that the PK approach, which emphasizes productive and financial factors, is more preferable. This contrasts with the usual singular financialization commentary that is used to describe the financial crisis and real economy stagnation that followed. It is argued that Marx’s notion of falling profit and its ramifications best explain the reality of both the credit and business cycle. This is supported by the evidence.

Research limitations/implications

– It is problematic to calculate a Marxian rate of profit given the lack of suitable reported statistics. The research illustrates the significance of productive factors, especially the tendency for the profit rate to fall, in driving business cycles. There are, therefore, implications for government fiscal/monetary/industrial policies to reflect these factors when seeking to influence the business cycle.

Practical implications

– Policies that are designed to target levels of profitability are likely to be beneficial for capitalist sustainability.

Social implications

– The focus on profitability in the paper informs individuals working in business organizations of some of the imperatives facing corporations in a modern competitive environment.

Originality/value

– Whether financial factors drive the business cycle, or are themselves driven by it, is an important question given that policy prescriptions will differ depending on the answer. The recent financialization commentary, for instance, suggests that better regulation or reform of the financial sector will preclude unstable business cycles. The paper argues, in contrast, that the cause of the credit instability is rooted in production (following Marx) and that, therefore, a more production-focused policy response is required whilst recognizing the instabilities of the credit system. This latter point has a measure of originality in the current discourse.
University quality and emotional attachment of undergraduate students in a private higher education in Malaysia
Authors: Abdullah Aznur Hajar , Wasiuzzaman Shaista , Musa Rosidah
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure the influence of six university qualities, namely academic quality, academic staff quality, management quality, industrial linkage quality and facilities’ quality, on students’ total experience (STE) and emotional attachment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Judgmental sampling is used to collect data from a sample of 489 undergraduate students of a private higher academic institution. The data are then analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– This study finds that only management quality forms a significant direct relationship with emotional attachment, whereas facility quality and industrial linkage form a significant relationship with emotional attachment only when mediated with STE.

Originality/value

– The results provide important findings to researchers and management of higher education institutions for future research directions.
The impact of agricultural extension on households’ welfare in Ethiopia
Authors: Gebrehiwot Kidanemariam Gebregziabher
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the Integrated Household Extension Program (IHEP) on participant households’ welfare and see the policy effectiveness. The government of Ethiopia – in contrast to the majority of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa – invests heavily in agricultural extension but very little empirical evidence is available on the impact of the services on farm performance and household welfare that could justify these investments. The IHEP program is a particularly interesting case as it is an example on how agricultural extension systems in developing countries changed during the past two decades, from centralized top-down technology-transfer-orientated approaches to decentralized, participatory and more integrated approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use household survey data from 730 farm households (361 treated and 369 control) in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and propensity score matching methods to estimate the impact.

Findings

– The authors find that the extension program had a large positive impact on household welfare – increasing income with about 10 percent – and on investment but have not impacted on income diversification. In addition to the main variable of interest (extension), household characteristics, such as household head age, gender, adult labor availability in the household, asset holdings and social capital variables were found to have an influence on income, investment and income diversification.

Originality/value

– The paper has tried to assess the impact of a program which claiming substantial public money using primary data. Hence, the findings will serve to inform policy makers as how the program is running.
Determinants of health professionals’ migration in Africa: a WHO based assessment
Authors: Simplice Asongu
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– How do economic prosperity, health expenditure, savings, price-stability, demographic change, democracy, corruption control, press freedom, government effectiveness, human development, foreign aid, physical security, trade openness and financial liberalization play-out in the fight against health-worker crisis when existing emigration levels matter? Despite the acute concern of health-worker crisis in Africa owing to emigration, lack of relevant data has made the subject matter empirically void over the last decades. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantile regression approach is used to assess the determinants of health-worker emigration throughout the conditional distributions of health-worker emigration. This provides an assessment of the determinants when existing emigrations levels matter.

Findings

– Findings provide a broad range of tools for the fight against health-worker brain-drain. As a policy implication, blanket emigration-control policies are unlikely to succeed equally across countries with different levels of emigration. Thus to be effective, immigration policies should be contingent on the prevailing levels of the crisis and tailored differently across countries with the best and worst records on fighting health-worker emigration.

Originality/value

– This paper has examined the theoretical postulations of a World Health Organization report on determinants of health-worker migration.
Gender, trust and risk-taking: a literature review and proposed research model
Authors: Zeffane Rachid
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to review and discuss recent literature on gender, trust, risk-taking and entrepreneurship. On this basis, a hypothetical model as a basis for theoretical and hypothetical development in future research is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents a review of the literature on gender, trust, risk-taking and entrepreneurship. A hypothetical model that can form the basis of future research in the field of entrepreneurship is developed.

Findings

– In recent years, the issue of gender and its effect on entrepreneurship has been the subject of much debate and controversies. While some studies have shown that gender differences tend to affect intentions to become an entrepreneur, other studies deny any significant differences in this regard. Among these, a significant number of studies reveal that women are less likely to engage in entrepreneurial activities than their male counterparts. One of the major reasons provided for these gender disparities is the tendency of women to be less predisposed to taking risk than their male counterparts. This may in itself be the resultant of gender differences in their predisposition to trust.

Research limitations/implications

– The arguments and proposed model are in need of empirical testing and verifications. Future research may consider and test the validity of the model. Use of structural equation modeling in this regard may prove beneficial.

Practical implications

– The proposed model may also be considered by governments and stakeholders vested with tasks of promoting the participation of females in entrepreneurial activities in various contexts. This would entail that the factors of risk-taking/aversion and propensity to trust be considered and alleviated.

Originality/value

– In examining the underlying reasons for gender differences in entrepreneurial activities, the research to date has not incorporated the interplay of risk propensity and the propensity to trust. The proposed model incorporates these to help unravel the “enigma” of gender differences in entrepreneurship.
Those Who Knock on Europe’s Door Must Repent? Bilateral Border Disputes and EU Enlargement
Authors: Geddes Andrew , Taylor Andrew
Published: July 2015

This article explores a neglected aspect of the wider debate about EU enlargement: bilateral disputes between a member state and an applicant, where the former uses, or threatens to use its membership status to block the applicant’s progress in order to resolve a bilateral dispute. Through analysis of three cases – Italy and Slovenia, Slovenia and Croatia, and Greece and Macedonia – we show that the EU’s transformative power does not always flow ‘outwards’ towards the state seeking membership. This raises interesting questions about enlargement as a process of international bargaining between sovereign states filtered via a supranational entity formally responsible for negotiations. The cases suggest limits to the EU’s transformative power in the context of disputes that are linked to the meaning and significance of borders. It is not surprising that the European Commission prefers disputes to be resolved bilaterally or via a third party.
Immunocytochemical localization of GAD isoforms in the CNS ganglia of the cobweb spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum
Authors: Hwang Heejun , Kim Hoon , Moon Myung‐Jin
Published: July 2015

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is an enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of glutamate to γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and CO2. It has been discovered that the GAD has a restricted tissue distribution and it is highly expressed in the cytoplasm of GABAergic neurons in the CNS where GABA is used as a neurotransmitter. We have examined the microstructure of ganglionic neurons and nerves arising from the CNS and describe here the immunocytochemical localization of GAD isoforms to reveal the ecophysiological significance of GABA for the web‐building spider's behavior. In the CNS of the cobweb spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum, immunocytochemical localization of GAD isoforms can be detected in the neurons and neuropiles of the optic lobes. In addition, GAD‐like immunoreactive cell bodies are observed at the intrinsic cell bodies near the central body and the symmetric cell clusters of the protocerebrum. However, the fibrous masses within the protocerebral ganglion are not labeled at all. Based on its interconnection with other regions of the CNS, our findings suggest that the central body in the web‐building spider may act as an association center as well as a visual center.
Lower plasma pantoprazole level predicts Helicobacter pylori treatment failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Sapmaz Ferdane , Kalkan Ismail H , Suslu Incilay , Demirci Hüseyin , Atasoy Pinar , Guliter Sefa
Published: July 2015

Objective

We aimed to compare the plasma pantoprazole level (PPL) between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non‐diabetic patients during Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment and to explore the role of PPL in predicting the treatment success rates.

Methods

This study included 40 diabetic and 40 non‐diabetic treatment‐naive H. pylori‐infected patients. Bismuth‐based standard quadruple treatment for H. pylori eradication was used for 14 days in both groups. PPL was measured using the square‐wave voltammetry method.

Results

H. pylori eradication rate (60.0% vs 87.5%, P = 0.005) and PPL (0.25 ± 0.03 μg/mL vs 0.34 ± 0.03 μg/mL, P < 0.001) was significantly lower in the diabetic group compared with the controls. Patients with treatment failure had lower PPL than those with successful treatment (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristics curve demonstrated that PPL had a significant predictive value for the outcome of H. pylori eradication.

Conclusion

Type 2 diabetic patients had lower PPL than the non‐diabetic controls, which led to their lower H. pylori eradication rates.
Impella 5.0 Support in INTERMACS II Cardiogenic Shock Patients Using Right and Left Axillary Artery Access
Authors: Schibilsky David , Lausberg Henning , Haller Christoph , Lenglinger Matthias , Woernle Barbara , Haeberle Helene , Rosenberger Peter , Walker Tobias , Schlensak Christian
Published: July 2015

The catheter‐based Impella 5.0 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a powerful and less invasive alternative for patients in cardiogenic shock. The use of this device as a primary mechanical circulatory support strategy in INTERMACS II patients should be evaluated. From April 2014 to August 2014, eight Impella 5.0 devices were implanted in seven patients via the axillary artery access (six right and two left). We analyzed the outcome of the four patients in whom the Impella 5.0 device was implanted for the purpose of primary stabilization of cardiogenic shock (INTERMACS II). The remaining three patients had a contraindication for a permanent LVAD and received the device for prolonged weaning from extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system. The implantation of the Impella 5.0 was technically successful in all patients and resulted in the stabilization of the clinical situation. All four patients could be bridged to a long‐term device (n = 3) or to cardiac recovery (n = 1). In one patient, 2 days of ECLS support was necessary because of pump thrombosis after 31 days of Impella 5.0 support. One patient with bronchopneumonia had the Impella 5.0 exchanged from the right to the left axillary artery after 22 days of support because of the progressive loss of purge flow and the need for longer bridging to a permanent LVAD. The last patient was supported for giant‐cell myocarditis for 22 days and bridged to cardiac recovery. All patients were transferred to the intensive care unit with the Impella device in place. In INTERMACS II situations, the implantation of the Impella 5.0 via the right or left axillary access allowed additional time for decision making. Early patient mobilization, including walking with the Impella device in place, optimized the conditions for either weaning or the implantation of a permanent LVAD. This novel technique of left axillary approach leads to more flexibility in the case of anatomical‐ or device‐related contraindications to right‐side access, or when the device needs to be exchanged while continuous support is necessary.
Hemoglobin Concentration Affects Electroencephalogram During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: An Indication for Neuro‐Protective Values
Authors: Del Felice Alessandra , Tessari Maddalena , Formaggio Emanuela , Menon Tiziano , Petrilli Giuseppe , Gamba Gianluigi , Scarati Simona , Masiero Stefano , Bortolami Oscar , Faggian Giuseppe
Published: July 2015

Hemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is widely used to decrease transfusion and improve microcirculation but has drawbacks, such as diminished hemoblogin levels. Among others, reduced brain oxygenation accounts for neurological adverse outcomes after CPB. The aim of the present study was to ascertain if and how continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) during CPB is affected by hematocrit level and what should be the minimum value to avoid significant frequency band shifts on the EEG. A comparative study design was used with 16 subjects undergoing elective mitral valve repair/replacement. EEG was continuously recorded during the surgical procedure (from anesthesia induction to 20 min after CPB end). Data were marked at relevant time points (T0: before CPB start; T1: after 30 min from CPB beginning; T2: at CPB end), and the following 2 min EEG analyzed with a fast Fourier transform to obtain relative power for delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands. A general linear model for repeated measure was used to study interactions of time (T0, T1, and T2), EEG frequency band, and topographical distribution. The relative powers for each electrode were calculated and represented using topographic maps. Power spectrum differences between time points (T2‐T1; T2‐T0;T1‐T0) were calculated for each electrode, and differences >10%, considered indicative of neuronal sufferance, were included in further analysis. Cutoff hemoglobin values that maximize the proportion of correctly classified EEG band shifts were obtained by previous definition were obtained. At T2, diffuse EEG slowing in delta and theta bands was detected; a minor slowing over anterior regions was evident at T1 for the theta band. Decrements in EEG power greater than 10% were detected only for the delta band at T2. Hemoglobin concentration levels at which no slowing increase was evident were 9.4 mg/dL (Ht: 28.2%) at T1 and 9.2 mg/dL (Ht: 27.6%) at T2. EEG burst‐suppression pattern related to a lesser degree of slowing at T2. In conclusion, we propose hemoglobin cutoff levels that prevent EEG slowing indicative of neuronal sufferance. In addition, burst‐suppression EEG patterns offer higher central nervous system protection as measured on EEG.
Conjunctival and intraocular swabs for the microbiological assessment of donor corneas
Authors: Fuest Matthias , Plum Wolfgang , Salla Sabine , Walter Peter , Hermel Martin
Published: July 2015

Purpose

In this study, we investigated the associations between conjunctival (co) and intraocular (io) swabs and their implications for the contamination rates of organ‐cultured corneas.

Methods

A total of 4177 swabs from 1054 corneas of 527 donors were acquired from the conjunctiva, after disinfection with 5% polyvinylpyrrolidone–iodine solution, and also from the anterior chamber after corneoscleral trepanation (io). Samples were incubated at 22.5 ± 2.5°C and 32.5 ± 2.5°C in thioglycollate broth for 14 days. Donor corneas were cultured in a closed system at 31°C. Microbial differentiation was performed for positive cultures.

Results

A higher temperature (32.5°C) and the intraocular swab retrieving localization led to significantly higher swab positive rates (32.5°C versus 22.5°C, odds 1.65, p < 0.0001; io versus co, odds 1,53, p < 0.0001). Death‐to‐collection time and laterality (left or right eye) had no significant influence on swab positivity. The cause of death significantly influenced the positive rates (p < 0.0001). Detection at 32.5°C occurred significantly earlier than at 22.5°C (p < 0.0001). The overall comparison of detected species showed no significant differences in the variety between intraocular and conjunctival swabs. During the study period, six contaminations of organ‐cultured corneas occurred: four times Pseudomonas aeruginosa and once each Candida albicans and Staphylococcus hominis were found. Swap results and cornea contaminations were not significantly correlated.

Conclusions

Co and io swabs show high microbial colonization rates, even after standard disinfection. Io swabs generally reproduce the co microbial range, most likely due to a mobilization and diversion of microorganisms during the trepanation procedure. Swab results do not yield a valuable tool to predict contaminations of organ‐cultured corneas.
Likelihood-Based Inference for Discretely Observed Birth–Death-Shift Processes, with Applications to Evolution of Mobile Genetic Elements
Authors: Xu Jason , Guttorp Peter , Kato-Maeda Midori , Minin Vladimir N.
Published: July 2015

Continuous-time birth–death-shift (BDS) processes are frequently used in stochastic modeling, with many applications in ecology and epidemiology. In particular, such processes can model evolutionary dynamics of transposable elements—important genetic markers in molecular epidemiology. Estimation of the effects of individual covariates on the birth, death, and shift rates of the process can be accomplished by analyzing patient data, but inferring these rates in a discretely and unevenly observed setting presents computational challenges. We propose a multi-type branching process approximation to BDS processes and develop a corresponding expectation maximization algorithm, where we use spectral techniques to reduce calculation of expected sufficient statistics to low-dimensional integration. These techniques yield an efficient and robust optimization routine for inferring the rates of the BDS process, and apply broadly to multi-type branching processes whose rates can depend on many covariates. After rigorously testing our methodology in simulation studies, we apply our method to study intrapatient time evolution of IS6110 transposable element, a genetic marker frequently used during estimation of epidemiological clusters of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.
Comparative analysis of autoantibodies targeting peptidylarginine deiminase type 4, mutated citrullinated vimentin and cyclic citrullinated peptides in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with cytokine profiles, clinical and genetic features
Authors: Reyes-Castillo Z , Palafox-Sánchez C A , Parra-Rojas I , Martínez-Bonilla G E , del Toro-Arreola S , Ramírez-Dueñas M G , Ocampo-Bermudes G , Muñoz-Valle José F
Published: July 2015

Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) are widely used for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We performed a comparative analysis of antibodies targeting the citrullinating enzyme peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 (anti-PAD4) and mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) with anti-CCP autoantibodies in RA patients and examined their relationships with clinical parameters, cytokine profiles and the PADI4 gene. Autoantibodies were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera of 170 RA patients and 103 controls. Cytokine profiles were measured using a multiplex system. PADI4 polymorphisms (89G > A, 90T > C and 92G > C) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). Anti-PAD4, anti-MCV and anti-CCP autoantibodies were detected in 24, 61 and 74% of RA patients, respectively. Positive correlations were observed between anti-PAD4 and disease duration; anti-CCP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); anti-MCV and ESR and C-reactive protein. Anti-MCV antibodies were associated with high disease activity score 28 (DAS-28) in early RA. Concentrations of T helper type 1 (Th1) [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-2, IL-1β], Th2 (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13) and Th17 (IL-17) cytokines were higher in RA than in controls. Th2 and, to a lesser extent, Th1-related cytokines, showed positive correlations with anti-MCV and anti-CCP. The GTG haplotype in PADI4 was associated with anti-CCP and anti-MCV, but not anti-PAD4 antibodies. In conclusion, anti-PAD4 antibodies are detected mainly in established RA, which is in contrast to the early detection of antibodies against citrullinated peptide/proteins (ACPAs). Among autoantibodies, anti-MCV appear to perform better as markers of disease activity. Furthermore, anti-CCP and anti-MCV are associated genetically with the citrullinating enzyme PAD4 and are related strongly to Th1 and Th2 cytokines, suggesting a feed-forward loop between cytokines and ACPA production.
Relationship between tinnitus and suicidal behaviour in Korean men and women: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Seo J.H. , Kang J.M. , Hwang S.H. , Han K.D. , Joo Y.H.
Published: July 2015

Objectives

This study investigated the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviour in a representative sample of South Koreans with or without tinnitus.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Based on data from the 2010 to 2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Participants

The study included 17 446 Korean individuals.

Main outcome measures

Participants provided demographic, socio‐economic and behavioural information, as well as responses to questionnaires assessing the presence and severity of tinnitus, mental health status regarding stress, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts. In the univariate analysis, the Rao–Scott chi‐square test and logistic regression analysis were used to test the association between tinnitus and risk factors. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between tinnitus and mental status.

Results

A total of 20.9% and 1.2% of participants with tinnitus, and 12.2% and 0.6% of those without, reported suicidal ideation and attempts, respectively (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.001). Participants reporting suicide attempts showed a higher proportion of severe annoying (6.0%) and irritating (11.8%) tinnitus than those with suicidal ideation (1.4% and 10.2%, respectively). Risks for experiencing tinnitus were significantly associated with suicidal ideation and attempts after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusion

This study has important implications for enhanced screening and evaluation of mental health status and suicidal ideation/behaviour among tinnitus patients.
Evaluation of the antioxidant effects of melatonin on the larynx mucosa of rats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke
Authors: Donmez Z. , Yigit Ö. , Bilici S. , Dursun N. , Gul M. , Dastan S.D. , Uzun H.
Published: July 2015

Objectives

This study's aim was to investigate the effect of melatonin in terms of mitigating the effects of smoking on the laryngeal mucosa of rats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

Design

Rats were divided into four groups: Melatonin + Smoking group exposed to smoke with melatonin; Smoking group exposed to smoke without melatonin; Saline group not exposed to smoke without melatonin; Melatonin group not exposed to smoke with melatonin. CuZn‐superoxide dismutase (CuZn‐SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities were evaluated in plasma and tissues. Tissues were also examined the changes of squamous hyperplasia, keratosis, parakeratosis and epithelial hyperplasia by light microscope and the ultrastructural changes by electron microscope.

Results

Tissue SOD, CAT and GSH‐Px activities were significantly higher in Saline and Melatonin groups than Melatonin + Smoking and Smoking groups. Plasma CuZn‐SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in Saline and Melatonin groups than Smoking group. Plasma GSH‐Px showed no significant difference. The rate of epithelial hyperplasia was significantly higher in Smoking group than the other groups. The rate of parakeratosis was significantly higher in Smoking group than the other groups. The epithelial cells in Melatonin + Smoking group displayed, normal cell structure similar to those in Saline group under electron microscope.

Conclusions

The study shows that smoking induces substantial pathological changes in the laryngeal mucosa and melatonin may have some beneficial effects in partially reversing smoking‐induced laryngeal injury by inducing the expression of antioxidants; biochemical and histological outcomes also support these findings due to preventing tissue damage in laryngeal mucosa exposed to smoke.
Adiponectin enhances Imatinib anti‐tumour activity in human chronic myeloid leukaemia cells with serum levels associated with Imatinib efficacy in early chronic phase patients
Authors: Tan Guangshan , Shi Lei , Li Qiang , Wang Mingjun
Published: July 2015

Objectives

Adiponectin, a functional ligand of adiponectin receptor‐1 (AdipoR1) and adiponectin receptor‐2 (AdipoR2), has been found to be linked to risk of development of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Imatinib, as its first‐line therapy, exhibits striking activity in both chronic and accelerated phases of the condition. However, numerous clinical trials have shown that many patients become refractory or experience relapses. Thus, development of new, hopefully effective Imatinib‐based treatment strategies, are still needed.

Materials and methods

Effects of recombinant adiponectin protein, in enhancing Imatinib anti‐tumour activities, in K562 and MEG‐01 CML cells, were examined in vitro and in vivo. Forty‐eight consecutive newly diagnosed adult patients with Bcr‐Abl‐positive CML, in the early chronic phase (ECP), were enrolled in the study. Imatinib efficacy, plasma adiponectin levels and their correlations were analysed.

Results

Data presented here indicate that adiponectin enhanced Imatinib efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this augmented effect was due to inhibition of Bcr‐Abl tyrosine kinase activity in an AdipoR1‐dependent way, while AdipoR2 was not involved. Most importantly, additional clinical data revealed that adiponectin plasma levels in CML ECP patients, correlated with Imatinib efficacy.

Conclusions

Adiponectin enhanced Imatinib anti‐tumour activity in human chronic myeloid leukaemia cells and its serum levels were associated with Imatinib efficacy, in early chronic phase patients.
The role of latex agglutination test for the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusion in children and adolescents
Authors: Camargos Paulo , Fonseca Ana Cristina , Amantéa Sérgio , Oliveira Elizabeth , Benfica Maria das Graças , Chamone Chequer
Published: July 2015

Introduction

The etiological diagnosis of pleural effusion is a difficult task because the diagnostic tools can only establish a definitive etiological diagnosis in at most 76% of cases.

Objectives

To verify the diagnostic accuracy of the latex agglutination test (LAT) for the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusions caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Methods

After thoracocentesis, paired fresh samples of pleural fluid from 418 children and adolescents were included in this investigation. They were tested blindly and simultaneously through counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and LAT for both bacteria. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated taking CIE as a reference standard.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of LAT was 100% (95% confidence interval, 94.4%–100%) and 83.3% (95% confidence interval, 79.0%–87.0%), respectively, whereas the positive (calculated from Bayes’ theorem) and negative predictive values were, respectively, lower than 1% and 100% (95% confidence interval, 98.8%–100%). Positive and negative LR were 6.0 (95% confidence interval, 4.7–7.6) and zero, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that LAT is a useful tool for the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusion. It is a reliable, rapid, simple to perform and shows an excellent yield in our studied population, helping to prescribe appropriate antibiotics for this clinical condition.
Evaluation of the visit frequency and the use of questionnaires and indices for COPD: a national survey from the On‐Sint study
Authors: López Ramírez Cecilia , Calero Acuña Carmen , Represas Represas Cristina , Aballe Santos Luz , Casamor Ricard , Fernández‐Villar Alberto , López‐Campos José Luis
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Despite widespread recommendations to use standardized questionnaires and multidimensional indices for the assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), few data are available on the application of these tools in clinical practice. This study evaluates the attitude of physicians participating in the On‐Sint cohort toward the use of health status questionnaires and multidimensional indices, as well as toward the frequency of visits and spirometry in primary care and specialized care.

Methods

During the constitution of the On‐Sint cohort, the participating physicians were surveyed about their clinical practice. They were questioned on the frequency of spirometry and visits and on the use of various questionnaires and indices. The health status questionnaires assessed were St. George's respiratory questionnaire, chronic respiratory questionnaire, airways questionnaire 20 and COPD assessment test (CAT). Physicians were also asked about the use of the medical research council (MRC) dyspnea scale and multidimensional indices such as body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity (BODE).

Results

Of the 356 physicians who participated in the study, 258 (72.5 %) completed the investigator's questionnaire (185 primary care, 73 specialized care). Nonscheduled visits were inversely proportional to the severity of COPD. Overall, 34.1% reported using health status questionnaires, mainly CAT (20.9%). We found differences between primary and specialized care in the use of multidimensional indices (84.9% vs 47.6%; P < 0.001). Of all the participants, 33.3% reported using the MRC scale and 28.7% the BODE index.

Conclusions

Multidimensional indices and questionnaires are not commonly used with some differences between primary care and specialized care physicians. There is a considerable variability in the frequency of follow‐up visits and spirometry.
Genomewide effects of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma in macrophages and dendritic cells – revealing complexity through systems biology
Authors: Cuaranta‐Monroy Ixchelt , Kiss Mate , Simandi Zoltan , Nagy Laszlo
Published: July 2015

Background

Systems biology approaches have become indispensable tools in biomedical and basic research. These data integrating bioinformatic methods gained prominence after high‐throughput technologies became available to investigate complex cellular processes, such as transcriptional regulation and protein–protein interactions, on a scale that had not been studied before. Immunology is one of the medical fields that systems biology impacted profoundly due to the plasticity of cell types involved and the accessibility of a wide range of experimental models.

Materials and methods

In this review, we summarize the most important recent genomewide studies exploring the function of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ in macrophages and dendritic cells. PPARγ ChIP‐seq experiments were performed in adipocytes derived from embryonic stem cells to complement the existing data sets and to provide comparators to macrophage data. Finally, lists of regulated genes generated from such experiments were analysed with bioinformatics and system biology approaches.

Results

We show that genomewide studies utilizing high‐throughput data acquisition methods made it possible to gain deeper insights into the role of PPARγ in these immune cell types. We also demonstrate that analysis and visualization of data using network‐based approaches can be used to identify novel genes and functions regulated by the receptor.

Conclusions

The example of PPARγ in macrophages and dendritic cells highlights the crucial importance of systems biology approaches in establishing novel cellular functions for long‐known signaling pathways.
Feeding location affects demographic performance of cabbage aphids on winter canola
Authors: Cibils‐Stewart Ximena , Sandercock Brett K. , McCornack Brian P.
Published: July 2015

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a perennial pest that specializes on plants of the Brassicaceae family, attacking winter canola (Brassica napus L.) mainly during and after flowering. Under field conditions, cabbage aphid colonizes the upper flowering canopy. Population dynamics of aphids in the flowering canopy could be regulated by differences in either plant quality (bottom‐up) or predatory (top‐down) forces. The goal of our study was to determine the effect of feeding location on cabbage aphid demography. A stage‐structured matrix population model was constructed for aphids restricted to reproductive or vegetative plant tissues of canola. We found that feeding location had a large impact on demography of cabbage aphid; the finite rate of increase (λ ± SEM) was higher when aphids were restricted to reproductive tissues, compared to aphids feeding on vegetative tissues: 1.25 ± 0.01 vs. 1.17 ± 0.01 (leaves). Aphids confined to reproductive tissues with higher λ exhibited shorter generation times (T = 14.2 ± 0.2 days) and 53–75% higher net reproductive rates (R0 = 23.3 ± 1.7) than aphids feeding on vegetative tissues. Prospective analyses showed that there was a nymph‐skewed stable stage distribution, and elasticity values revealed that λ is most sensitive to changes in stasis of adults staying in the adult stage and to adult survival. Retrospective analyses indicated that variation in adult fecundity (value of 0.05) had the largest effect on population dynamics but collectively, growth of nymphal stage 2–3, 3–4, and 4 to adult accounted for most of the difference in λ between the treatments. Monitoring programs should target adults and penultimate instars colonizing reproductive tissues of canola plants in the field as aphids on these plant structures contribute most to population growth.
Early herbivore alert matters: plant‐mediated effects of egg deposition on higher trophic levels benefit plant fitness
Authors: Pashalidou Foteini G. , Frago Enric , Griese Eddie , Poelman Erik H. , van Loon Joop J. A. , Dicke Marcel , Fatouros Nina E.
Published: July 2015

Induction of plant defences, specifically in response to herbivore attack, can save costs that would otherwise be needed to maintain defences even in the absence of herbivores. However, plants may suffer considerable damage during the time required to mount these defences against an attacker. This could be resolved if plants could respond to early cues, such as egg deposition, that reliably indicate future herbivory. We tested this hypothesis in a field experiment and found that egg deposition by the butterfly Pieris brassicae on black mustard (Brassica nigra) induced a plant response that negatively affected feeding caterpillars. The effect cascaded up to the third and fourth trophic levels (larval parasitoids and hyperparasitoids) by affecting the parasitisation rate and parasitoid performance. Overall, the defences induced by egg deposition had a positive effect on plant seed production and may therefore play an important role in the evolution of plant resistance to herbivores.
Genetic programming for the minimum time swing up and balance control acrobot problem
Authors: Dracopoulos Dimitris C. , Nichols Barry D.
Published: July 2015

This work describes how genetic programming is applied to evolving controllers for the minimum time swing up and inverted balance tasks of the continuous state and action: limited torque acrobot. The best swing‐up controller is able to swing the acrobot up to a position very close to the inverted ‘handstand’ position in a very short time, shorter than that of Coulom (2004), who applied the same constraints on the applied torque values, and to take only slightly longer than the approach by Lai et al. (2009) where far larger torque values were allowed. The best balance controller is able to balance the acrobot in the inverted position when starting from the balance position for the length of time used in the fitness function in all runs; furthermore, 47 out of 50 of the runs evolve controllers able to maintain the balance position for an extended period, an improvement on the balance controllers generated by Dracopoulos and Nichols (2012), which this paper is extended from. The most successful balance controller is also able to balance the acrobot when starting from a small offset from the balance position for this extended period.
Very Short Paroxysms Account for More Than Half of the Cases of Atrial Fibrillation Detected after Stroke and TIA: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sposato Luciano A. , Cipriano Lauren E. , Riccio Patricia M. , Hachinski Vladimir , Saposnik Gustavo
Published: July 2015

Background

Guidelines suggest that only poststroke atrial fibrillation episodes lasting 30 s or longer should be considered for anticoagulation. However, little evidence supports this recommendation.

Aims

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the frequency of poststroke atrial fibrillation lasting less than 30 s in stroke and transient ischemic attack patients.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus from 1980 to June 30, 2014 for studies reporting the detection of poststroke atrial fibrillation of less than 30 s and of 30 s or longer. The primary endpoint was the proportion of screened patients diagnosed with poststroke atrial fibrillation lasting less than 30 s. The secondary endpoint was the proportion of patients diagnosed with poststroke atrial fibrillation shorter than 30 s among the overall number of patients in whom a poststroke atrial fibrillation was detected after stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Results

From 28 290 titles, we included nine studies in the random-effects meta-analysis. Among stroke and transient ischemic attack patients without a history of atrial fibrillation, 9·0% (95% confidence interval: 4·9–14·3) experienced episodes of poststroke atrial fibrillation shorter than 30 s. An additional 6·5% (95% confidence interval: 3·2–10·9) experienced episodes of poststroke atrial fibrillation longer than 30 s. Among all patients with poststroke atrial fibrillation, 56·3% (95% confidence interval: 37·7–74·0) had poststroke atrial fibrillation episodes shorter than 30 s during diagnostic evaluation. Conclusions The clinical and prognostic significance of poststroke atrial fibrillation episodes shorter than 30 s is unknown. The high frequency of poststroke atrial fibrillation episodes shorter than 30 s justify further investigation into the risk of stroke recurrence and the risk–benefit profile of anticoagulation for this patient population.