bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Achieving the Optimal Peri‐implant Soft Tissue Profile by the Selective Pressure Method via Provisional Restorations in the Esthetic Zone
Authors: Nam Jung , Aranyarachkul Prasit
Published: May 2015

For the successful single‐tooth implant therapy in the esthetics zone, achieving an ideal peri‐implant soft tissue profile is paramount. It can achieve by the manipulation of the provisional restorations. This clinical report demonstrate the selective pressure method and concave transmucosal profile of the provisional restorations to achieve the ideal and stable gingival profile in esthetic single tooth implant restorations.

Clinical Significance

The selective pressure method and the concave transmucosal profile in implant provisional restorations facilitate stable and harmonized peri‐implant gingival tissue in the esthetic zone.
Treatment with infliximab or azathioprine negatively impact the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in inflammatory bowel disease patients
Authors: Andrade Patrícia , Santos‐Antunes João , Rodrigues Susana , Lopes Susana , Macedo Guilherme
Published: May 2015

Background and Aim

Immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is recommended in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly in those under immunosuppressive therapy. Limited data are available about IBD patient's response to HBV vaccination. We assessed the response rate to HBV vaccination in IBD patients and evaluated the impact of different factors on the efficacy of HBV vaccination.

Methods

Anti‐HBs titers were measured in a cohort of IBD patients under treatment with infliximab and/or azathioprine. Vaccination was considered efficient when anti‐HBs titers were higher than 10 IU/L.

Results

We have identified 217 patients with IBD under infliximab who were vaccinated for hepatitis B, 172 (79%) with Crohn's Disease and the remaining with ulcerative colitis; 114 patients (53%) were male and mean age was 33 ± 11 years. Overall, HBV vaccine was successful in 164 (76%) patients. Only 14 patients were vaccinated after infliximab was initiated, and only two of them had antibody levels above 10 IU/L. Among the patients that received vaccination before the beginning of infliximab, 88% of those who were vaccinated before starting azathioprine developed antibodies in contrast to 55% who already were under azathioprine. In multivariable analysis, treatment with infliximab (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 17.642 [8.514–33.937]) and with azathioprine (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 3.344 [1.653–9.145]) were the only factors associated with weaker response to HBV vaccination.

Conclusion

The response rate to the standard HBV vaccination in IBD patients is low mainly in those treated with infliximab and/or azathioprine.
Serum diamine oxidase activity as a predictor of gastrointestinal toxicity and malnutrition due to anticancer drugs
Authors: Miyoshi Jinsei , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Goji Takahiro , Taniguchi Tatsuya , Tomonari Tetsu , Sogabe Masahiro , Kimura Tetsuo , Kitamura Shinji , Okamoto Koichi , Fujino Yasuteru , Muguruma Naoki , Okahisa Toshiya , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: May 2015

Background and Aim

Objective evaluation of intestinal mucosal damage due to anticancer drugs is generally difficult. Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity is reported to reflect the integrity and maturity of the small intestinal mucosa. Therefore, we investigated whether serum DAO activity is an indicator of gastrointestinal toxicity or nutritional status in patients receiving chemotherapy.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 20 patients with unresectable metastatic gastric cancer who received oral S‐1 (80 mg/m2) on days 1–14, and intravenous cisplatin (60 mg/m2) and docetaxel (50 mg/m2) on day 8 every 3 weeks. Serum DAO activity was measured by colorimetry. Gastrointestinal toxicity was evaluated by Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Endoscopic examination and biopsy of duodenal mucosa assessed mucosal damage. Malnutrition was evaluated by measuring serum total protein and albumin levels.

Results

Serum DAO activity decreased step‐by‐step significantly during anticancer drug treatment and recovered after drug holidays. In all 14 patients who experienced diarrhea, serum DAO activity significantly decreased prior to diarrhea onset. Percent decrease in DAO activity was significantly correlated with severity of diarrhea. Significant correlation was observed between percent decrease in DAO activity and percent decrease in duodenal villus height or surface area from baseline. There were also significant correlations between percent decrease in serum DAO activity at day 14 and percent decrease in serum total protein or albumin levels at day 21 from baseline.

Conclusion

Serum DAO activity sensitively indicates gastrointestinal damage prior to symptom onset and can be a useful predictor of intestinal mucosal damage and nutritional status in patients receiving chemotherapy.
Single‐day sodium picosulfate and magnesium citrate versus split‐dose polyethylene glycol for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy: A prospective randomized endoscopist‐blinded trial
Authors: Klare Peter , Poloschek Anne , Walter Benjamin , Rondak Ina‐Christine , Attal Soher , Weber Andreas , von Delius Stefan , Bajbouj Monther , Schmid Roland M , Huber Wolfgang
Published: May 2015

Background and Aim

The intake of polyethylene glycol (PEG) prior colonoscopy is frequently associated with nausea and abdominal discomfort. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sodium picosulfate and magnesium citrate (PMC) is superior to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) preparation in regard to patient acceptance. Furthermore, it investigates possible differences in efficiency and patient safety.

Methods

In a randomised, prospective, and endoscopist‐blinded study patients were 1:1 randomized to either use PMC or 4‐L PEG in order to prepare for colonoscopy. Cleansing regimes consisted of a split‐dose administration in the PEG arm and standard administration in the PMC arm. Primary end point was proportion of patients evaluating the bowel preparation procedure as “very distressing,” defined as ≥ 8 points on a 10‐point numeric rating scale (NRS). Secondary end points were quality of bowel preparation and electrolyte parameters.

Results

PMC bowel‐cleansing procedure was better tolerated compared with PEG (PMCNRS<8 = 89.9% vs PEGNRS<8 = 79.2%, P = 0.037). Mean declines in serum sodium (ΔSodiumPEG = −0.76 ± 3.07 vs ΔSodiumPMC = −3.38 ± 3.56 mmol/L; P < 0.001), chloride (ΔChloridePEG = −1.00 ± 3.22 vs ΔChloridePMC = −3.49 ± 3.51 mmol/L; P < 0.001), and osmolality (ΔOsmolalityPEG = −4.23 ± 6.82 vs ΔOsmolalityPMC = −8.83 ± 7.43 mosmol/kg; P < 0.001) were higher in the PMC arm than in the PEG arm. Hyponatremia after bowel preparation occurred more often in PMC (21.2%) than in PEG (4.0%) (P < 0.001). Successful preparation was achieved more frequently in the PEG arm (42.9% vs 82.2%; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Standard picosulfate/magnesium citrate is better accepted than a split‐dose PEG regimen. From the perspective of successful preparation and patients' safety, PEG is superior to PMC.
Constipation prophylaxis reduces length of stay in elderly hospitalized heart failure patients with home laxative use
Authors: Staller Kyle , Khalili Hamed , Kuo Braden
Published: May 2015

Background and Aim

Elderly, hospitalized patients suffer disproportionately from constipation; however, little data suggest that constipation prophylaxis reduces length of stay (LOS). We performed a retrospective analysis of elderly patients admitted to our hospital with congestive heart failure (CHF) to determine the effects of constipation prophylaxis on LOS.

Methods

Patients ≥ 65 years old admitted with the diagnosis of CHF in 2012 were evaluated for home and hospital laxative use on admission. Our primary outcome was LOS. We used linear regression modeling to independently evaluate the impact of constipation prophylaxis on LOS.

Results

Among 618 patients who were eligible for our study, 201 (32.5%) were using laxatives at home, whereas 254 (41.1%) were started on a prophylactic laxative on admission. There was no significant difference in LOS between patients receiving prophylaxis versus those who did not (P = 0.32). Patients with home laxative use had a 1 day longer LOS compared to those without laxative use (6 vs 5, P = 0.03). Among patients with home laxative use, there were 2 days longer LOS in those who were not given constipation prophylaxis on admission (8 vs 6, P = 0.002). After multivariate adjustment, failure to use constipation prophylaxis in patients with home laxative use was the only independent predictor of increased LOS (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Among elderly patients admitted for CHF exacerbations, failure to use constipation prophylaxis in patients with home laxative use is associated with a significantly longer LOS. Our data suggest that routine use of bowel prophylaxis for elderly CHF patients with preexisting constipation may reduce LOS.
Peptide aptamers: The versatile role of specific protein function inhibitors in plant biotechnology
Authors: Colombo Monica , Mizzotti Chiara , Masiero Simona , Kater Martin M. , Pesaresi Paolo
Published: May 2015

In recent years, peptide aptamers have emerged as novel molecular tools that have attracted the attention of researchers in various fields of basic and applied science, ranging from medicine to analytical chemistry. These artificial short peptides are able to specifically bind, track, and inhibit a given target molecule with high affinity, even molecules with poor immunogenicity or high toxicity, and represent a remarkable alternative to antibodies in many different applications. Their use is on the rise, driven mainly by the medical and pharmaceutical sector. Here we discuss the enormous potential of peptide aptamers in both basic and applied aspects of plant biotechnology and food safety. The different peptide aptamer selection methods available both in vivo and in vitro are introduced, and the most important possible applications in plant biotechnology are illustrated. In particular, we discuss the generation of broad‐based virus resistance in crops, “reverse genetics” and aptasensors in bioassays for detecting contaminations in food and feed. Furthermore, we suggest an alternative to the transfer of peptide aptamers into plant cells via genetic transformation, based on the use of cell‐penetrating peptides that overcome the limits imposed by both crop transformation and Genetically Modified Organism commercialization.
Olivine‐bearing symplectites in fractured garnet from eclogite, Moldanubian Zone (Bohemian Massif) – a short‐lived, granulite facies event
Authors: Faryad S. W. , Fišera M.
Published: May 2015

Recent petrological studies on high‐pressure (HP)–ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in the Moldanubian Zone, mainly utilizing compositional zoning and solid phase inclusions in garnet from a variety of lithologies, have established a prograde history involving subduction and subsequent granulite facies metamorphism during the Variscan Orogeny. Two temporally separate metamorphic events are developed rather than a single P–T loop for the HP–UHP metamorphism and amphibolite–granulite facies overprint in the Moldanubian Zone. Here further evidence is presented that the granulite facies metamorphism occurred after the HP–UHP rocks had been exhumed to different levels of the middle or upper crust. A medium‐temperature eclogite that is part of a series of tectonic blocks and lenses within migmatites contains a well‐preserved eclogite facies assemblage with omphacite and prograde zoned garnet. Omphacite is partly replaced by a symplectite of diopside + plagioclase + amphibole. Garnet and omphacite equilibria and pseudosection calculations indicate that the HP metamorphism occurred at relatively low temperature conditions of ~600 °C at 2.0–2.2 GPa. The striking feature of the rocks is the presence of garnet porphyroblasts with veins filled by a granulite facies assemblage of olivine, spinel and Ca‐rich plagioclase. These minerals occur as a symplectite forming symmetric zones, a central zone rich in olivine that is separated from the host garnet by two marginal zones consisting of plagioclase with small amounts of spinel. Mineral textures in the veins show that they were first filled mostly by calcic amphibole, which was later transformed into granulite facies assemblages. The olivine‐spinel equilibria and pseudosection calculations indicate temperatures of ~850–900 °C at pressure below 0.7 GPa. The preservation of eclogite facies assemblages implies that the granulite facies overprint was a short‐lived process. The new results point to a geodynamic model where HP–UHP rocks are exhumed to amphibolite facies conditions with subsequent granulite facies heating by mantle‐derived magma in the middle and upper crust.
CASPR2 forms a complex with GPR37 via MUPP1 but not with GPR37(R558Q), an autism spectrum disorder‐related mutation
Authors: Tanabe Yuko , Fujita‐Jimbo Eriko , Momoi Mariko Y. , Momoi Takashi
Published: May 2015

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental brain disorder. Mutations in synaptic components including synaptic adhesion molecules have been found in ASD patients. Contactin‐associated protein‐like 2 (CASPR2) is one of the synaptic adhesion molecules associated with ASD. CASPR2 forms a complex with receptors via interaction with multiple PDZ domain protein 1 (MUPP1). Little is known about the relationship between impaired CASPR2‐MUPP1‐receptor complex and the pathogenesis of ASD. GPR37 is a receptor for survival factors. We recently identified mutations including R558Q in the G‐protein‐coupled receptor 37 (GPR37) gene in ASD patients. The mutated GPR37s accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we show that GPR37 is a component of the CASPR2‐MUPP1 receptor complex in the mouse brain. CASPR2 and GPR37 mainly interacted with the PDZ3 and PDZ11 domains of MUPP1, respectively. Compared to GPR37, GPR37(R558Q) slightly interacted with MUPP1 and caused dendritic alteration. GPR37, but not GPR37(R558Q) nor GPR37‐deltaC which lacks its PDZ binding domain, was transported to the cell surface by MUPP1. In primary hippocampal neurons, GPR37 co‐localized with MUPP1 and CASPR2 at the synapse, but not GPR37(R558Q). Thus, ASD‐related mutation of GPR37 may cause the impaired CASPR2‐MUPP1‐GPR37 complex on the dendrites associated with one of the pathogenesis of ASD.

image

In this study, we identified that GPR37 is a component of the MUPP1 and CASPR2 receptor complex. Autism deleterious mutated GPR37(R558Q) slightly interacts with MUPP1 and retains in ER, resulting in dendritic alteration. In neuron, GPR37, but not GPR37(R558Q), is transported to the dendrite and synapse by MUPP1. Thus, ASD‐related mutation of GPR37 may cause the impaired CASPR2‐MUPP1‐GPR37 complex on the dendrites associated with one of the pathogenesis of ASD.
The Railway Switches of History: The Development of Disease Control in Britain and the United States in the 19th and early 20th Century
Authors: McCoy Charles Allan
Published: May 2015

When Britain and the United States began to respond to outbreaks of disease in the 19th century they developed two distinct systems of disease control. While not polar opposites, Britain focused primarily on sanitation, whereas the United States adopted policies of quarantine. Utilizing the approach of path dependency I argue that this divergence can be partly explained by the timing of disease control formation in each country. As Britain formed its system of disease control earlier, during the 1840s, it was influenced by a miasmatic understanding of disease (the belief that disease is caused by noxious gases that emanate from filthy environments), while as the United States formed its disease control system later, around the end of the 1870s, it was more influenced by new ideas about contagion and the rise of germ theory. Once formed, the public health system of each country began to travel down divergent historical paths; Britain came to connect disease control to the social problems of the working classes (e.g. poverty, working conditions, overcrowding) while the United States developed a militaristic approach that, at times, used quite coercive measures to isolate the contagious bodies of the sick. The origins of public health formation in each country helped shape the overall development of disease control in Britain and the United States over the long‐term.
Reconfiguring Sovereignty in Foucauldian Genealogies of Power: The Case of English Master and Servant Law and the Dispersion and the Exercise of Sovereignty in the Modern Age
Authors: Steinberg Marc W.
Published: May 2015

This paper is a critique and partial reconfiguration of the Foucauldian genealogy of sovereignty. Sovereignty is largely conceptualized as the antithesis of governmentality and disciplinary power in the modern age; presented as a negative case as a juridical and centralized power of interdiction and containment in the classical age. I argue that we can genealogically examine how sovereignty in the modern age underwent transformation and dispersion. My empirical focus is on how master and servant law in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, along with the development and transformations of local courts, led to the increasingly dispersal of sovereign power as it as practiced in specific industrial sites and regions.
Therapy for hepatitis C genotype 3: moving forward
Authors: Buti M. , Llaneras J. , Riveiro‐Barciela M. , Esteban R.
Published: May 2015

Until recently, the standard of care for hepatitis C virus genotype 3 infection was response‐guided therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for 16 to 48 or 72 weeks. The introduction of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin has revolutionized hepatitis C virus therapy. Nowadays, the recommend treatment regimen is a combination of sofosbuvir and a weight‐based ribavirin dose for 24 weeks. For easy to treat patients (e.g. naïve or previously treated patients without cirrhosis), this combination achieves high sustained virologic response rates and is well tolerated. However, in treatment‐experienced patients with cirrhosis, sustained virologic response is lower due to unknown reasons. The combination of two direct‐acting antiviral agents, sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, for 12 weeks is also associated with low sustained virologic response rates in this special population, for whom new drugs and different strategies are now under evaluation. Currently, the high cost of all these drugs limits access to treatment in many countries.
Nurse plant effects of a dominant shrub (Duma florulenta) on understorey vegetation in a large, semi‐arid wetland in relation to flood frequency and drying
Authors: James Cassandra S. , Capon Samantha J. , Quinn Gerry P.
Published: May 2015

Questions

Do nurse plant interactions significantly influence understorey vegetation diversity in a large, semi‐arid, shrub‐dominated wetland? How do the modes and net effects of nurse plant interactions vary spatially along a flood frequency gradient, and temporally in response to drying?

Location

Narran Lakes Ramsar site, New South Wales, Australia.

Methods

Microhabitat characteristics, understorey vegetation and germinable soil seed banks were investigated in shrub and open habitats across a flood frequency gradient in a large, semi‐arid wetland dominated by open shrubland under productive conditions following floodwater recession and again following 6 mo of drought. Split‐plot ANOVA and multivariate analyses were used to determine the effects of shrubs on microhabitat character, understorey vegetation cover, species diversity, richness and composition and germinable soil seed banks.

Results

Microhabitat characteristics, including canopy cover, litter cover and soil character, all differed between shrub and open habitats, especially in the most frequently flooded sites. Under productive conditions following flooding, lignum shrubs suppressed understorey vegetation cover but increased species richness at the site scale across the flood frequency gradient and, in the most frequently flooded sites, supported higher species density at a microhabitat scale. Under dry conditions, lignum shrubs had a positive effect on understorey vegetation cover, species richness and species density across the flood frequency gradient, but particularly in frequently flooded sites. A significant difference in soil seed bank composition between shrub and open habitats was only observed in frequently flooded sites.

Conclusions

Nurse plant interactions appear to play an important role in determining understorey vegetation diversity in the lignum shrubland of the Narran Lakes wetland system. The modes and net effects of these nurse plant interactions vary in space and time in relation to flood history and drying. Positive interactions, probably involving microhabitat amelioration, appear to be particularly important to plant diversity and abundance under dry conditions. Under more favourable wetter conditions, lignum shrubs also contribute to understorey vegetation diversity by facilitating the establishment of different species than those dominating open habitats. Our findings have implications for the management of perennial shrubs and hydrological regimes in such wetlands.
The Vernacular Mobilization of Human Rights in Myanmar's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Movement
Authors: Chua Lynette J.
Published: May 2015

This article examines how activists build a movement for sexual orientation and gender identity minorities in Myanmar, a country that is known for violent suppression of protests and is undergoing political reform. Based on original fieldwork, it finds that activists deploy a strategy of “vernacular mobilization of human rights” to persuade others to join their cause despite the risks to personal safety and to get around political constraints on collective organizing. Conceptualized at the intersection of the cultural study of human rights and social movements scholarship, “vernacular mobilization of human rights” theorizes the relationship between vernacularization—the translation and local adaptation of human rights—and movement micromobilization, specifying how the former unfolds as collective action framing processes. Through vernacularization activities, such as human rights workshops, movement leaders reframe grievances and shift the attribution of blame to empower and recruit new activists. Furthermore, with these framing processes, they generate a political community with a collective identity and social networks that they use to continue expanding the movement. The article enriches debates about the implications of implementing human rights and understandings of the relationship between human rights and movement mobilization, especially under repressive or uncertain political conditions.
A Neo-Institutional Account of Prison Diffusion
Authors: Rubin Ashley T.
Published: May 2015

Interest in legal innovations, particularly in the criminal law realm, often centers on an innovation's emergence, but not its subsequent diffusion. Typifying this trend, existing accounts of the prison's historical roots persuasively explain the prison's “birth” in Jacksonian-Era northern coastal cities, but not its subsequent rapid, widespread, and homogenous diffusion across a culturally, politically, and economically diverse terrain. Instead, this study offers a neo-institutional account of the prison's diffusion, emphasizing the importance of national, field-level pressures rather than local, contextual factors. This study distinguishes between the prison's innovation and early adoption, which can be explained by the need to replace earlier proto-prisons, and its subsequent adoption, particularly in the South and frontier states, which was driven by the desire to conform to increasingly widespread practices. This study further attributes the isomorphic nature of the diffusion to institutional pressures, including uncertainty surrounding the new technology, pseudoprofessional penal reformers and their claims about competing models of confinement, and contingent historical factors that reinforced these institutional pressures. This study illustrates the importance of distinguishing between the motivations that initiate criminal law innovations and those that advance their diffusion.
Shared Race/Ethnicity, Court Procedural Justice, and Self-Regulating Beliefs: A Study of Female Offenders
Authors: Baker Thomas , Pickett Justin T. , Amin Dhara M. , Golden Kristin , Dhungana Karla , Gertz Marc , Bedard Laura
Published: May 2015

Using survey data from a sample of white, black, and Hispanic incarcerated females (N = 554), we examine if the theoretically hypothesized and empirically demonstrated relationship between procedural justice and obligation to obey the law is substantiated among a sample of offenders and explore the impact that sharing the race/ethnicity of the defense attorney and prosecutor in their most recent conviction has on female inmates' perceptions of court procedural justice and their perceived obligation to obey the law. The findings reveal that female offenders who perceive the courts as more procedurally just report a significantly greater obligation to obey the law. In addition, white female inmates who had a white prosecutor were significantly more likely to perceive the courts as procedurally just. Non-whites, though, perceive the courts as more fair if they encountered a minority prosecutor regardless of whether the prosecutor was black or Hispanic.
If You Build It, They Will Fill It: The Consequences of Prison Overcrowding Litigation
Authors: Guetzkow Joshua , Schoon Eric
Published: May 2015

This article examines the consequences of prison overcrowding litigation for U.S. prisons. We use insights derived from the endogeneity of law perspective to develop expectations about the likely impact of overcrowding litigation on five outcomes: prison admissions, prison releases, spending on prison capacity, prison crowding, and incarceration rates. Using newly available data on prison overcrowding litigation cases joined with panel data on U.S. states from 1971 to 1996, we offer a novel and comprehensive analysis of the impact that overcrowding litigation has had on U.S. prisons. We find that it had no impact on admissions or release rates and did not lead to any reduction in prison crowding. Litigation did, however, lead to an increase in spending on prison capacity and incarceration rates. We discuss the implications of these results for endogeneity of law theory, attempts to achieve reform through litigation, and the politics of prison construction.
Photoluminescence of silicon‐vacancy defects in nanodiamonds of different chondrites
Authors: Shiryaev A. A. , Fisenko A. V. , Semjonova L. F. , Khomich A. A. , Vlasov I. I.
Published: May 2015

Photoluminescence spectra show that silicon impurity is present in lattice of some nanodiamond grains (ND) of various chondrites as a silicon‐vacancy (SiV) defect. The relative intensity of the SiV band in the diamond‐rich separates depends on chemical composition of meteorites and on size of ND grains. The strongest signal is found for the size separates enriched in small grains; thus, confirming our earlier conclusion that the SiV defects preferentially reside in the smallest (≤2 nm) grains. The difference in relative intensities of the SiV luminescence in the diamond‐rich separates of individual meteorites are due to variable conditions of thermal metamorphism of their parent bodies and/or uneven sampling of nanodiamond populations. Annealing of separates in air eliminates surface sp2‐carbon; consequently, the SiV luminescence is enhanced. Strong and well‐defined luminescence and absorption of the SiV defect is a promising feature to locate cold (<250 °C) nanodiamonds in space.
Imidacloprid impairs the post‐embryonic development of the midgut in the yellow fever mosquito Stegomyia aegypti (=Aedes aegypti)
Authors: FERNANDES K. M. , GONZAGA W. G. , PASCINI T. V. , MIRANDA F. R. , TOMÉ H. V. V. , SERRÃO J. E. , MARTINS G. F.
Published: May 2015

The mosquito Stegomyia aegypti (=Aedes aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector for the dengue and yellow fever viruses. As blood digestion occurs in the midgut, this organ constitutes the route of entry of many pathogens. The effects of the insecticide imidacloprid on the survival of St. aegypti were investigated and the sub‐lethal effects of the insecticide on midgut development were determined. Third instar larvae were exposed to different concentrations of imidacloprid (0.15, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 15.0 p.p.m.) and survival was monitored every 24 h for 10 days. Midguts from imidacloprid‐treated insects at different stages of development were dissected and processed for analyses by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) assays. Imidacloprid concentrations of 3.0 and 15.0 p.p.m. were found to affect midgut development similarly. Digestive cells of the fourth instar larvae (L4) midgut exposed to imidacloprid had more multilamellar bodies, abundantly found in the cell apex, and more electron‐lucent vacuoles in the basal region compared with those from untreated insects. Moreover, imidacloprid interfered with the differentiation of regenerative cells, dramatically reducing the number of digestive and endocrine cells and leading to malformation of the midgut epithelium in adults. The data demonstrate that imidacloprid can reduce the survival of mosquitoes and thus indicate its potentially high efficacy in the control of St. aegypti populations.
Tetanus after needle puncture for self‐monitoring of blood glucose: A case report
Authors: Horiuchi Kazuhiro , Uwatoko Hisashi , Houzen Hideki
Published: May 2015

We report a case of tetanus in a 77‐year‐old man with type 2 diabetes. His diabetes was being managed with insulin injections and self‐monitoring of blood glucose. He presented to our emergency department with a 2‐week history of worsening myalgia. On examination, he had trismus, severe spasms and opisthotonus. We diagnosed tetanus and started treatment with human tetanus immunoglobulin, ampicillin, and magnesium, but he required an artificial respirator. The muscle spasms continued for a long term, but gradually improved. He was weaned from the respirator after 6 weeks. The patient was discharged in an ambulatory status 3 months after admission. On review, the he reported gardening barehanded after carrying out needle puncture of a finger to monitor the blood glucose. We speculate that this needle puncture could have resulted in tetanus infection. The present case shows that tetanus infection can occur after needle puncture for self‐monitoring of blood glucose.
Improving compliance with central venous catheter care bundles using electronic records
Authors: Hermon Andrew , Pain Terina , Beckett Penelope , Jerrett Heather , Llewellyn Nicola , Lawrence Paul , Szakmany Tamas
Published: May 2015

Background

Health care associated infections are a major contributor to avoidable harm experienced by patients in modern health care settings. Recent reports suggest that electronic checklists for the documentation of a central line bundle may significantly enhance documented process compliance and help to reduce catheter‐related bloodstream infection rates.

Aims

This paper describes the use of our electronic tool to monitor and feedback process compliance in conjunction of introducing bespoke central line insertion packs to tackle catheter‐related bloodstream infections in our intensive care unit in a medium‐sized district general hospital.

Design and methods

Continuous quality improvement programme with ‘Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act’ cycles was implemented. The central venous catheter insertion and maintenance bundle was rolled out in 2007. To monitor compliance with the bundle elements, an electronic tool was designed as part of our bedside Clinical Information System. From 2009, regular quarterly feedback was provided on the number of central venous catheter lines inserted, compliance with the insertion and maintenance bundle and catheter‐related bloodstream infection rate using the data collected through the Clinical Information System. We have also introduced dedicated line insertion trolleys and factory‐prepared insertion packs. We used segmented regression analysis to assess the changes in the catheter‐related bloodstream infection rate before and after implementation of the central venous catheter bundle.

Results

Bundle compliance increased during the implementation period and reached over 95% within 6 months. We observed a significant reduction in the catheter‐related bloodstream infection rate from 15·6/1000 days to 0·4/1000 days. Regression analysis showed that only the compliance had significant effect on the number and prevalence of catheter‐related bloodstream infections.

Conclusion/Implications

Implementation of evidence‐based care bundles reinforced by real‐time feedback on the performance of caregivers can significantly reduce the rate of catheter‐related bloodstream infection in the intensive care unit. Ensuring that change processes are seamlessly integrated in the workflow with minimal administrative burden is crucial to the quality improvement process.
Mast cell degranulation inhibits motor patterns of human ileum and sigmoid colon in vitro: relevance for postoperative ileus
Authors: Rychter J. , Ortega O. , Berdun S. , Arenas C. , Lopez I. , Espin F. , Vergara P. , Clavé P.
Published: May 2015

Background

Local release of mast cell proteases during gastrointestinal surgery is associated with the inhibition of motility and postoperative ileus (POI). We determined whether activation of intramuscular mast cell affects the motor patterns of the human ileum and colon and whether proteases are involved.

Methods

Motor response of ileal and colonic circular muscle strips was measured in organ bath. Mast cell degranulation was induced by compound 48/80 (c48/80; 25–675 μg/mL). Motor response was quantified as tone, rhythmic phasic contractions (RPCs) and contractions to electric field stimulation (EFS; 40 Hz), and bethanechol‐evoked contractions. Ketotifen (10−6 mol/L) and a protease inhibitor cocktail (P8340) were used to evaluate the role of mast cell mediators.

Key Results

(a) c48/80 impaired the spontaneous and the electrically evoked motor response in small bowel and colonic strips (sigmoid colon EC50: 460.0 μg/mL for RPCs and 8.9 μg/mL for electrically evoked contraction amplitudes) and bethanechol‐evoked contractions. (b) Preincubation with ketotifen (10−6 mol/L, 1 h) prevented the impairment of RPCs and EFS‐evoked contractions in the sigmoid colon and ileum but not in the right colon. (c) Preincubation with P8340 also prevented the impairment of contractions in the sigmoid colon but not in the ileum or the right colon.

Conclusions & Inferences

Mast cell degranulation by c48/80 inhibits the spontaneous and the nerve‐mediated motor response in the human ileum and colon. The effect is partially mediated by mast cell proteases and could be relevant in the pathophysiology of POI.
Diet–demography relationships in a long‐lived predator: from territories to populations
Authors: Resano‐Mayor Jaime , Real Joan , Moleón Marcos , Sánchez‐Zapata José Antonio , Palma Luís , Hernández‐Matías Antonio
Published: May 2015

Understanding the mechanisms that shape animal population dynamics is of fundamental interest in ecology, evolution and conservation biology. Food supply is an important limiting factor in most animal populations and may have demographic consequences. Optimal foraging theory predicts greater consumption of preferred prey and less diet diversity when food is abundant, which may benefit key fitness parameters such as productivity and survival. Nevertheless, the correspondence between individual resource use and demographic processes in populations of avian predators inhabiting large geographic areas remains largely unexplored, particularly in complex ecosystems such as those of the Mediterranean basin. Based on a long‐term monitoring program of the diet and demography of Bonelli's eagleAquila fasciatain western Europe, here we test the hypothesis that a predator's diet is correlated to its breeding productivity and survival at both the territorial and population levels, and ultimately to its population growth rate. At the territorial level, we found that productivity increased with greater consumption of European rabbitsOryctolagus cuniculus, the Bonelli's eagle's preferred prey, and pigeons, an important alternative prey for this predator. The survival of territorial pairs was negatively affected by higher diet diversity, which probably reflected the inability to find sufficient high quality prey. Diet effects at the population level were similar but more noticeable than at the territorial level, i.e. a greater consumption of rabbits, together with lesser consumption of small‐to‐medium avian species (‘other birds’; non‐preferred prey), increased productivity, while greater diet diversity and lower consumption of rabbits was associated with reduced survival and population growth rate. Overall, our study illustrates how the diet of a predator species can be closely related to key individual vital rates, which, in turn, leave a measurable fingerprint on population dynamics within and among populations across large spatial scales.
Population pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modeling and dosing simulation of propofol maintenance anesthesia in severely obese adolescents
Authors: Chidambaran Vidya , Venkatasubramanian Raja , Sadhasivam Senthilkumar , Esslinger Hope , Cox Shareen , Diepstraten Jeroen , Fukuda Tsuyoshi , Inge Thomas , Knibbe Catherijne A.J. , Vinks Alexander A.
Published: May 2015

Background

Optimal dosing of propofol to maintain appropriate anesthetic depth is challenging in severely obese (SO) adolescents. We previously reported that total body weight (TBW) is predictive of propofol clearance. This study was aimed at characterizing pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of propofol in SO adolescents, using bispectral index (BIS), and toward developing PK/PD model‐based dosing guidelines.

Methods

A prospective PK/PD study was conducted in 26 SO children and adolescents aged 9–18 years (body mass index 31–69 kg·m−2), undergoing surgery with intravenous propofol anesthesia clinically titrated by providers blinded to BIS. BIS data and propofol infusion schemes were recorded. Venous blood samples collected during and after propofol infusion were assayed for propofol concentrations. A propofol PK/PD model was developed using NONMEM and model‐based simulations were performed to determine propofol dosing regimens targeting BIS of 50 ± 10.

Results

A three‐compartment PK model linked to a sigmoidal inhibitory Emax PD model by a first‐order rate constant, adequately described the propofol concentration (n = 375) and BIS (n = 3334) data. TBW was the most predictive covariate for propofol clearance [CL (l·min−1) = 1.65 × (TBW/70)0.75]. An effect‐site propofol concentration of 3.19 μg·ml−1 was estimated for half‐maximal effect, with no identifiable predictive covariates. The proposed maintenance dosing regimen targeted to a BIS of 50 ± 10, based on our PK/PD model, was able to predict desired propofol concentrations and BIS in a representative obese teen when used in conjunction with accepted PK/PD models for children/obese adults (PK:Eleveld/PD: Cortinez), further supporting evidence for the dosing based on TBW.

Conclusion

This is the first study to describe the PK/PD of propofol in SO adolescents. The proposed maintenance dosing regimen for propofol uses TBW in an allometric function as a dosing scalar, with an exponent of 0.75. Our results suggest no relevant effect of obesity on the propofol concentration–BIS relationship.
A Register‐Based Study of Diseases With an Autosomal Recessive Origin in Small Children in Denmark According to Maternal Country of Origin
Authors: Gundlund Anna , Hansen Anne Vinkel , Pedersen Grete Skøtt , Villadsen Sarah Fredsted , Mortensen Laust Hvas , Brøndum‐Nielsen Karen , Andersen Anne‐Marie Nybo
Published: May 2015

Background

Compared with children born of Danish mothers, the mortality of children, born and living in Denmark, is significantly increased in those with a mother from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Turkey. Consanguinity has been suggested to account for part of this disparity. Since information on consanguinity is lacking, this suggestion is difficult to test. With an indirect approach, we addressed this question by comparing the risk of diseases with autosomal recessive inheritance in children born in Denmark of Danish‐born women and of women born in these five countries, respectively.

Methods

All children born in Denmark (1994–2010) were followed until 5 years of age or end‐of‐study period for the risk of hospitalisation with diseases of autosomal recessive aetiology, and therefore considered consanguinity‐related. Diagnoses of autosomal recessive diseases were identified using two different methods: a literature review of consanguinity‐associated diseases and a search in the Online Catalogue of Human Genes and Genetic Disorders. Risks were also calculated for diseases with known non‐autosomal recessive aetiology (considered non‐consanguinity‐related). We estimated adjusted hazard ratios for the diseases in children of foreign‐born women compared with children of Danish‐born women.

Results

Compared with offspring of Danish‐born women, the risk of a consanguinity‐related disease was significantly increased in children of foreign‐born women, although the absolute risk was low. The risk of non‐consanguinity‐related diseases did not differ between the groups compared.

Conclusions

The findings support the hypothesis that consanguinity accounts for some, however a minor part, of the disparity in child mortality among migrants in Denmark.
When Partisans and Minorities Interact: Interpersonal Contact, Partisanship, and Public Opinion Preferences on Immigration Policy*
Authors: Pearson‐Merkowitz Shanna , Filindra Alexandra , Dyck Joshua J.
Published: May 2015

Objective

Many studies investigating contact theory have suggested that contact effects are not universal but rather conditional. In this article, we test one form of conditional contact effects. Our approach posits that contact with out‐groups produces support for pro‐minority public policies only when in‐group members are not subject to contrary messages from co‐partisans.

Methods

We use data from an original survey to test this theory in the immigration policy domain.

Results

We find strong confirmatory evidence that the emergence of contact effects on support for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is dependent on party identification.

Conclusion

When information from the social environment and that from the party coincide, they reinforce each other, producing more tolerant policy preferences. However, when the two are not congruent, individuals may use partisanship to help interpret contextual information, thus canceling out the positive effects of intergroup contact on policy opinions.
Assessment of the accuracy and precision of the i‐Smart 30 VET Electrolyte Analyzer in dogs, cats, cattle and pigs
Authors: Kim Han‐Jun , Lee Hye‐Rim , Park Yoon‐Seo , Kyung Soon‐Goo , Do Sun Hee
Published: May 2015

Background

Performance evaluation of point‐of‐care (POC) electrolyte analyzers is essential for determining their precision and accuracy in clinical practice.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to validate the i‐Smart 30 VET Electrolyte Analyzer for canine, feline, bovine, and porcine samples in comparison with the ion‐selective electrolyte analyzer Roche 9180 electrolyte analyzer.

Methods

A total of 400 heparinized whole blood samples were collected and analyzed by both instruments for sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations. Within‐run, between‐day, and total imprecision were evaluated. Statistical analyses included tests for correlation, regression, bias, and total error.

Results

The coefficients of variation (CV) of both within‐run and between‐day imprecisions in the i‐Smart 30 VET ranged from 0.4–1.6%. In addition, total CV (0.3–1.7%) and total error (0.7–3.7%) of the i‐Smart 30 VET were acceptable according to the ASVCP guidelines (< 5%). The correlation between the i‐Smart 30 VET and the Roche 9180 was excellent (r > .98). There was no proportional error according to the regression (slope ranges 0.92–1.00, 95% CI includes 1.00), but a constant error was detected for sodium concentration in dogs (interval = 0.5), cattle (interval = 3.0), and pigs (interval = 4.0), and for chloride concentration in cats (interval = 1.0). Most of the bias was within 95% CI, and the total error range (0.8–3.5%) was acceptable according to ASVCP guidelines.

Conclusion

The i‐Smart 30 VET Electrolyte Analyzer provides precise and accurate measurements of sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations in whole blood samples from dogs, cats, cattle, and pigs.
Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in three cases of canine naproxen overdose
Authors: Herring Jennifer M. , McMichael Maureen A. , Corsi Raffaella , Wurlod Virginie
Published: May 2015

Objective

To report a case series of canine naproxen overdoses successfully treated with intravenous lipid emulsion therapy (IVLE).

Series Summary

Three dogs were presented for acute ingestion of naproxen and were treated with IVLE. Baseline and post treatment serum naproxen concentrations were measured. The first exposure involved ingestion of 61 mg/kg of an over‐the‐counter naproxen formulation in a 7‐month‐old male intact Labrador Retriever. Pre‐IVLE toxin concentration assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was 73 μg/mL with a one‐hour post‐IVLE concentration decreasing to 30 μg/mL. The second and third exposures were 3‐year‐old female spayed Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs from the same family, presented for potential ingestion of up to 207 mg/kg of a prescription strength naproxen formulation. Pre‐IVLE naproxen concentration by HPLC for case 2 was 30 μg/mL with a reduction to 12 μg/mL and 7.2 μg/mL 1 and 3 hours post‐IVLE treatment, respectively. For case 3, pre‐IVLE naproxen concentration by HPLC was 86 μg/mL with post concentrations at 21 μg/mL one hour and 10 μg/mL 3 hours post‐IVLE administration.

New or Unique Information Provided

Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug with a long half‐life and narrow margin of safety in dogs. Ingestion of > 5 mg/kg has been associated with adverse gastrointestinal effects, including ulceration. At doses > 10–25 mg/kg, acute kidney failure has been reported, and at doses > 50 mg/kg, neurologic abnormalities occur. This is the first reported use of IVLE for treatment of naproxen overdose with documented decrease in serum toxin concentrations shortly after administration. No long‐standing gastrointestinal, renal, or neurologic effects occurred in these dogs.
Evaluation of Key Determinants of Fraud Free Financial Report: a Focus on Nigeria
Authors: Charles Nenyiaba Ile , I. Okoye Emma
Published: May 2015

The study evaluated the key determinants of fraud free financial reports. Descriptive research design was used. Two null hypotheses were tested using Z-test for proportion, F statistics and Microsoft excel 2010 toolpak. The study revealed that there is significant relationship amongst the following variables; Accounting Standards, Corporate Governance and Internal Controls in determining Fraud Free Financial Report. Furthermore, that in Nigeria to obtain Fraud Free Financial Report emphasis was on Accounting Standards, Internal Controls and Corporate Governance in this order and, Auditor’s Independence, Whistle Blowing and Accountants’ Education received little or no attention. It also revealed that from extant literature Accounting Standards are tools for combating 25% of the eight elements in fraud management cycle while 75% of them are within the purview of Forensic accounting. Hence it recommended that forensic accounting courses should be incorporated into the curriculum of professional accounting institutes in order to equip their members with sufficient skills that would enable them effectively perform their duties as public accountants.