bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post‐relapse outcomes after primary extended resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma: A report from the Trans‐Atlantic RPS Working Group
Authors: MacNeill Andrea J. , Miceli Rosalba , Strauss Dirk C. , Bonvalot Sylvie , Hohenberger Peter , Van Coevorden Frits , Rutkowski Piotr , Callegaro Dario , Hayes Andrew J. , Honoré Charles , Fairweather Mark , Cannell Amanda , Jakob Jens , Haas Rick L. , Szacht Milena , Fiore Marco , Casali Paolo G. , Pollock Raphael E. , Raut Chandrajit P. , Gronchi Alessandro , Swallow Carol J.
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND

Despite a radical surgical approach to primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), many patients experience locoregional and/or distant recurrence. The objective of this study was to analyze post‐relapse outcomes for patients with RPS who had initially undergone surgical resection of their primary tumor at a specialist center.

METHODS

All consecutive patients who underwent macroscopically complete resection for primary RPS at 8 high volume centers from January 2002 to December 2011 were identified, and those who developed local recurrence (LR) only, distant metastasis (DM) only, or synchronous local recurrence and distant metastasis (LR+DM) during the follow‐up period were included. Overall survival (OS) was calculated for all groups, as was the crude cumulative incidence of a second recurrence after the first LR. Multivariate analyses for OS were performed.

RESULTS

In an initial series of 1007 patients with primary RPS, 408 patients developed recurrent disease during the follow‐up period. The median follow‐up from the time of recurrence was 41 months. The median OS was 33 months after LR (n = 219), 25 months after DM (n = 146), and 12 months after LR+DM (n = 43), and the 5‐year OS rates were 29%, 20%, and 14%, respectively. Predictors of OS after LR were the time interval to LR and resection of LR, while histologic grade approached significance. For DM, significant predictors of OS were the time interval to DM and histologic subtype. The subgroup of patients who underwent resection of recurrent disease had a longer median OS than patients who did not undergo resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Relapse of RPS portends high disease‐specific mortality. Patients with locally recurrent or metastatic disease should be considered for resection. Cancer 2017;123:1971–1978. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Non‐Gradient Blue Native Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis
Authors: Luo Xiaoting , Wu Jinzi , Jin Zhen , Yan Liang‐Jun
Published: February 2017

Gradient blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN‐PAGE) is a well established and widely used technique for activity analysis of high‐molecular‐weight proteins, protein complexes, and protein‐protein interactions. Since its inception in the early 1990s, a variety of minor modifications have been made to this gradient gel analytical method. Here we provide a major modification of the method, which we call non‐gradient BN‐PAGE. The procedure, similar to that of non‐gradient SDS‐PAGE, is simple because there is no expensive gradient maker involved. The non‐gradient BN‐PAGE protocols presented herein provide guidelines on the analysis of mitochondrial protein complexes, in particular, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) and those in the electron transport chain. Protocols for the analysis of blood esterases or mitochondrial esterases are also presented. The non‐gradient BN‐PAGE method may be tailored for analysis of specific proteins according to their molecular weight regardless of whether the target proteins are hydrophobic or hydrophilic. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A wide temporal window for conjunctival papillae development ensures the formation of a complete sclerotic ring
Authors: Jourdeuil Karyn , Franz‐Odendaal Tamara Anne
Published: February 2017

Background: The conjunctival papillae are epithelial thickenings of the conjunctiva that are required for the induction of underlying bones (the scleral ossicles). These transient papillae develop and become inductively active over an extended temporal period (HH 30–36, 6.5–10 dpf). While their inductive capacity was discovered in the mid‐1900s, little is known about their development. Results: Through a series of timed surgical ablations followed by in situ hybridization for Bmp2, we show that the ring of conjunctival papillae is not altered if the conjunctival epithelium is ablated either prior to or shortly after papillae induction (i.e., HH 29–30, 6.5–7 dpf). A conjunctival papilla ablated at or prior to HH 34 (8 dpf), when the complete ring is present, regenerates and quickly becomes inductively active, inducing an underlying scleral condensation with only a slight delay. This regenerative capacity extends until HH 35.5, a full 36 hours beyond the normal timeline of papillae induction. As such, the period of epithelial competency for papilla induction is longer than previously identified. Conclusions: Papilla regeneration is a mechanism that ensures the formation of a complete sclerotic ring and provides another level of redundancy for the induction of a complete sclerotic ring during the normal inductive period. Developmental Dynamics 246:381–391, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Xenopus, an ideal model organism to study laterality in conjoined twins
Authors: Tisler Matthias , Schweickert Axel , Blum Martin
Published: January 2017

Conjoined twins occur at low frequency in all vertebrates including humans. Many twins fused at the chest or abdomen display a very peculiar laterality defect: while the left twin is normal with respect to asymmetric organ morphogenesis and placement (situs solitus), the organ situs is randomized in right twins. Although this phenomenon has fascinated already some of the founders of experimental embryology in the 19th and early 20th century, such as Dareste, Fol, Warynsky and Spemann, its embryological basis has remained enigmatic. Here we summarize historical experiments and interpretations as well as current models, argue that the frog Xenopus is the only vertebrate model organism to tackle the issue, and outline suitable experiments to address the question of twin laterality in the context of cilia‐based symmetry breakage.
Probing the biology of cell boundary conditions through confinement of Xenopus cell‐free cytoplasmic extracts
Authors: Bermudez Jessica G. , Chen Hui , Einstein Lily C. , Good Matthew C.
Published: January 2017

Cell‐free cytoplasmic extracts prepared from Xenopus eggs and embryos have for decades provided a biochemical system with which to interrogate complex cell biological processes in vitro. Recently, the application of microfabrication and microfluidic strategies in biology has narrowed the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies by enabling formation of cell‐size compartments containing functional cytoplasm. These approaches provide numerous advantages over traditional biochemical experiments performed in a test tube. Most notably, the cell‐free cytoplasm is confined using a two‐ or three‐dimensional boundary, which mimics the natural configuration of a cell. This strategy enables characterization of the spatial organization of a cell, and the role that boundaries play in regulating intracellular assembly and function. In this review, we describe the marriage of Xenopus cell‐free cytoplasm and confinement technologies to generate synthetic cell‐like systems, the recent biological insights they have enabled, and the promise they hold for future scientific discovery.
Diet of generalist predators reflects effects of cropping period and farming system on extra‐ and intraguild prey
Authors: Roubinet Eve , Birkhofer Klaus , Malsher Gerard , Staudacher Karin , Ekbom Barbara , Traugott Michael , Jonsson Mattias
Published: January 2017

The suppression of agricultural pests by natural enemies, including generalist arthropod predators, is an economically important regulating ecosystem service. Besides pests, generalist predators may also consume non‐pest extraguild and intraguild prey, which can affect their impact on pest populations. This may either reduce the impact of generalist predators on pest populations, because they are diverted from pest predation, or increase it, as it helps them survive periods of low pest availability. However, the availability of pest prey and alternative, non‐pest prey can vary over the crop growing season and between farming systems, potentially affecting predator–prey interactions and the levels of biological control. We have limited information about how farming systems and environmental variation over the crop growing season influence predator diets. This limits our ability to predict the importance of generalist predators as natural enemies of agricultural pests. Here we utilize molecular gut content analyses to assess detection frequencies of extra‐ and intraguild prey DNA in generalist predator communities in replicated organically and conventionally managed cereal fields at two key periods of the cropping season for aphid biological control. This is done in order to understand how farming system, crop season, prey availability and predator community composition determine the composition of predator diets. Aphid pests and decomposers (springtails) were equally important prey for generalist predators early in the growing season. Later in the season, the importance of aphid prey increased with increasing aphid densities while springtail predation rates were positively correlated to abundance of this prey at both early and late crop growth stages. Intraguild predation was unidirectional: carabids fed on spiders, whereas spiders rarely fed on carabids. Carabids had higher detection frequencies for the two most common spider families in organically compared to conventionally managed fields. Our study documents that predation by generalist predator communities on aphid pests increases with pest numbers independently of their generally widespread consumption of alternative, non‐pest prey. Therefore, conservation strategies in agricultural fields could promote biological control services by promoting high levels of alternative non‐pest prey for generalist predator communities.
Population‐based cost‐offset analyses for disorder‐specific treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in Germany
Authors: Bode Katharina , Götz von Olenhusen Nina Maria , Wunsch Eva‐Maria , Kliem Sören , Kröger Christoph
Published: February 2017

Previous research has shown that anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are expensive illnesses to treat. To reduce their economic burden, adequate interventions need to be established. Our objective was to conduct cost‐offset analyses for evidence‐based treatment of eating disorders using outcome data from a psychotherapy trial involving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and focal psychodynamic therapy (FPT) for AN and a trial involving CBT for BN. Assuming a currently running, ideal healthcare system using a 12‐month, prevalence‐based approach and varying the willingness to participate in treatment, we investigated whether the potential financial benefits of AN‐ and BN‐related treatment outweigh the therapy costs at the population level. We elaborated on a formula that allows calculating cost‐benefit relationships whereby the calculation of the parameters is based on estimates from data of health institutions within the German healthcare system. Additional intangible benefits were calculated with the aid of Quality‐Adjusted Life Years. The annual costs of an untreated eating disorder were 2.38 billion EUR for AN and 617.69 million EUR for BN. Independent of the willingness to participate in treatment, the cost‐benefit relationships for the treatment remained constant at 2.51 (CBT) and 2.33 (FPT) for AN and 4.05 (CBT) for BN. This consistency implies that for each EUR invested in the treatment, between 2.33 and 4.05 EUR could be saved each year. Our findings suggest that the implementation of evidence‐based psychotherapy treatments for AN and BN may achieve substantial cost savings at the population level.
Regional‐scale extremes in river discharge and localised spawning stock abundance influence recruitment dynamics of a threatened freshwater fish
Authors: Tonkin Zeb , Kearns Joanne , Lyon Jarod , Balcombe Stephen R. , King Alison J. , Bond Nick R.
Published: February 2017

Highly variable recruitment is common for many riverine fish species, governed by a wide range of biotic and abiotic drivers that operate at local and regional scales. The dynamics and drivers of recruitment for many Australian freshwater fish species, particularly those that are rare and long‐lived, are relatively undescribed. This study describes the recruitment dynamics of an endangered riverine fish, Macquarie perch Macquaria australasica, across 5 isolated populations from southeastern Australia, and relates these dynamics to drivers that vary at local and regional scales. We hypothesised large flow events occurring during the core egg, and larval period would be negatively associated with recruitment strength and that recruitment patterns across populations would fluctuate in synchrony in response to extremes in river discharge resulting from regional‐scale climatic patterns.

Discharge during the core egg and larval period, which was highly correlated across the region, and a local‐scale variable, spawning stock abundance, were the covariates most important in explaining recruitment strength. We also observed synchronised patterns in recruitment across our populations, thus conforming to predictions of the Moran effect (environmental synchrony). The findings suggest that most remnant populations of Macquarie perch, which are now predominantly isolated within small tributary systems characterised by highly variable flows, face a heightened risk of poor recruitment periods, particularly under climate change predictions. The synchronised patterns in recruitment suggest that threatened freshwater fishes such as Macquarie perch with highly fragmented isolated populations have an increased risk of the regional population becoming imperilled, thus the need for a coordinated multijurisdictional conservation approach.
The intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: Lack of electrographic seizure‐like events in sham controls
Authors: Twele Friederike , Schidlitzki Alina , Töllner Kathrin , Löscher Wolfgang
Published: January 2017

Objective

There is an ongoing debate about definition of seizures in experimental models of acquired epilepsy and how important adequate sham controls are in this respect. For instance, several mouse and rat strains exhibit high‐voltage rhythmic spike or spike‐wave discharges in the cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), which has to be considered when using such strains for induction of epilepsy by status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury, or other means. Mice developing spontaneous recurrent nonconvulsive and convulsive seizures after intrahippocampal injection of kainate are increasingly being used as a model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. We performed a prospective study in which EEG alterations occurring in this model were compared with the EEGs in appropriate sham controls, using hippocampal electrodes and video‐EEG monitoring.

Methods

Experiments with intrahippocampal kainate (or saline) injections started when mice were about 8 weeks of age. Continuous video‐EEG recording via hippocampal electrodes was performed 6 weeks after surgery in kainate‐injected mice and sham controls, that is, at an age of about 14 weeks. Three days of continuous video‐EEG monitoring were compared between kainate‐injected mice and experimental controls.

Results

As reported previously, kainate‐injected mice exhibited two types of highly frequent electrographic seizures: high‐voltage sharp waves, which were often monomorphic, and polymorphic hippocampal paroxysmal discharges. In addition, generalized convulsive clinical seizures were infrequently observed. None of these electrographic or electroclinical seizures were observed in sham controls. The only infrequently observed EEG abnormalities in sham controls were isolated spikes or spike clusters, which were also recorded in epileptic mice.

Significance

This study rigorously demonstrates, by explicit comparison with the EEGs of sham controls, that the nonconvulsive paroxysmal events observed in this model are consequences of the induced epilepsy and not features of the EEG expected to be seen in some experimental control mice or unintentionally induced by surgical procedures.
Steady‐state Semi‐empirical Model of a Single Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) at Varying Operating Conditions
Authors: Labach I. , Rallières O. , Turpin C.
Published: February 2017

The purpose of this paper is to develop a physically‐based macroscopic steady‐state model predicting the performances of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) at various operating conditions. The model is mostly mechanistic: the equation for the V–I curves holds 7 parameters, 6 of which have a physical significance. This work aims to quantify the main voltage losses (namely activation, ohmic and mass‐transport) thanks to their respective sensitivity to the operating variables. The model parameters are here obtained by fitting a set of 16 experimental V–I curves. First a full factorial plan of experiments is carried out on a single cell to characterize the influence of four factors: temperature, pressure, air relative humidity and stoichiometry. Polarization curves are measured by current steps; at the end of each step, a high‐frequency electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is achieved in order to extract the ohmic resistance. Cyclic voltammetries are also performed to measure hydrogen crossover. Then the whole experimental database constituted is used to parameterize the theoretical equation of the V–I curve. The maximal relative error between data and fit is 8.2% and the average relative error is 1%. The prediction capability of the single cell model is finally evaluated on three polarization curves.
Three‐Phase Segmentation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Materials Using Lab Based X‐ray Nano‐Computed Tomography
Authors: Heenan T. M. M. , Bailey J. J. , Lu X. , Robinson J. B. , Iacoviello F. , Finegan D. P. , Brett D. J. L. , Shearing P. R.
Published: February 2017

Triple‐phase boundaries are an important microstructural metric to assess the performance and durability of solid oxide fuel cell electrodes and are known to significantly influence the performance at cell level. In recent years many advancements have been made in the quantification of TPBs including the use of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes and synchrotron X‐ray tomography, although neither technique comes without limitation; the former being destructive and the latter having limited availability. This work demonstrates the first example of the application of lab‐based X‐ray nano‐CT for non‐destructive, microstructural characterization of a SOFC electrode, where three‐phase segmentation has been achieved. A SOFC anode cermet consisting of nickel and yttria‐stabilized zirconia was imaged under X‐ray using two fields of view: 64 µm × 64 µm and 16 µm × 16 µm, with compositional data displayed for several samples at the two resolutions. This work highlights the possibility of three‐phase segmentation using lab‐based equipment allowing non‐destructive quantification and mapping of triple‐phase boundaries without the need for synchrotron radiation.
Fe3+/− dual doped nano hydroxyapatite: A novel material for biomedical applications
Authors: Alshemary Ammar Z. , Engin Pazarceviren Ahmet , Tezcaner Aysen , Evis Zafer
Published: February 2017

Dual ions substituted hydroxyapatite (HA) received attention from scientists and researchers in the biomedical field owing to their excellent biological properties. This paper presents a novel biomaterial, which holds potential for bone tissue applications. Herein, we have successfully incorporated ferric (Fe3+)/selenate (
) ions into the HA structure (Ca10‐x‐yFey(PO4)6‐x(SeO4)x(OH)2‐x‐yOy) (Fe‐SeHA) through a microwave refluxing process. The Fe‐SeHA materials were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). XRD and FTIR analyses revealed that Fe‐SeHA samples were phase pure at 900°C. FESEM images showed that formation of rod‐like shaped particles was inhibited dramatically with increasing Fe3+ amount. The Vickers hardness (HV) test showed that hardness values increased with increasing Fe3+ concentrations. Optical spectra of Fe‐SeHA materials contained broadband over (200–600) nm. In vitro degradation and bioactivity tests were conducted in simulated body fluid (SBF). The incorporation of Fe3+/
ions into the HA structure resulted in a remarkably higher degradation rate along with intense growth of apatite granules on the surface of the Fe‐SeHA discs with Ca/P ratio of 1.35–1.47. In vitro protein adsorption assay was conducted in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and it was observed that the adsorption of serum proteins on Fe‐SeHA samples significantly increased with increasing Fe3+ concentration. In vitro cytotoxicity tests were performed with human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) cell line and the results demonstrated that hFOB cells attached and proliferated faster on the Fe‐SeHA materials compared to pure HA showing that Fe‐SeHA materials were cytocompatible. ALP activity and intracellular calcium of hFOB cells on 1Fe‐SeHA discs were statistically higher than pure HA, suggesting that presence of Fe3+ ion supported osteogenic differentiation of hFOB cells. Our results suggest that 1Fe‐SeHA (0.2M Fe3+/0.5M
co‐doped HA) material could be considered as a promising candidate material for orthopedic applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 340–352, 2018.
Structural analysis of fluorine‐containing bioactive glass nanoparticles synthesized by sol–gel route assisted by ultrasound energy
Authors: Lins Carolina E. C. , Oliveira Agda A. R. , Gonzalez Ismael , Macedo Waldemar A. A. , Pereira Marivalda M.
Published: February 2017

In the last decades, studies about the specific effects of bioactive glass on remineralization of dentin were the focus of attention, due to their excellent regenerative properties in mineralized tissues. The incorporation of Fluorine in bioactive glass nanoparticles may result in the formation of fluorapatite (FAP), which is chemically more stable than hydroxyapatite or carbonated hydroxyapatite, and therefore is of interest for dental applications. The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize a new system of Fluorine‐containing bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNPF). A sol‐gel route assisted by ultrasound was used for the synthesis of BGNPF. The particles obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), nitrogen adsorption, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM micrographs showed that the particles are quite uniform spherical nanostructures, occurring agglomeration or partial sinterization of the particulate system after heat treatment. XRD and XPS analysis results suggest the formation of fluorapatite crystals embedded within the matrix of the bioactive glass nanoparticles. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 360–366, 2018.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor improves proliferation of endometrial epithelial cells by inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress during early pregnancy
Authors: Lim Whasun , Bae Hyocheol , Bazer Fuller W. , Song Gwonhwa
Published: February 2017

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family binds to two transmembrane receptors; neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (NTRK2) with high affinity and p75 with low affinity. Although BDNF‐NTRK2 signaling in the central nervous system is known, signaling in the female reproductive system is unknown. Therefore, we determined effects of BDNF on porcine endometrial luminal epithelial (pLE) cells isolated from Day 12 of pregnancy, as well as expression of BDNF and NTRK2 in endometria of cyclic and pregnant pigs. BDNF‐NTRK2 genes were expressed in uterine glandular (GE) and luminal (LE) epithelia during early pregnancy. In addition, their expression in uterine GE and LE decreased with increasing parity of sows. Recombinant BDNF increased proliferation in pLE cells in a dose‐dependent, as well as expression of PCNA and Cyclin D1 in nuclei of pLE cells. BDNF also activated phosphorylation of AKT, P70S6K, S6, ERK1/2, JNK, P38 proteins in pLE cells. In addition, cell death resulting from tunicamycin‐induced ER stress was prevented when pLE cells were treated with the combination of tunicamycin and BDNF which also decreased cells in the Sub‐G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, tunicamycin‐induced unfolded protein response genes were mostly down‐regulated to the basal levels as compared to non‐treated pLE cells. Our finding suggests that BDNF acts via NTRK2 to induce development of pLE cells for maintenance of implantation and pregnancy by activating cell signaling via the PI3K and MAPK pathways and by inhibiting ER stress.
Relationship between aging and T1 relaxation time in deep gray matter: A voxel‐based analysis
Authors: Okubo Gosuke , Okada Tomohisa , Yamamoto Akira , Fushimi Yasutaka , Okada Tsutomu , Murata Katsutoshi , Togashi Kaori
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To investigate age‐related changes in T1 relaxation time in deep gray matter structures in healthy volunteers using magnetization‐prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE).

Materials and Methods

In all, 70 healthy volunteers (aged 20–76, mean age 42.6 years) were scanned at 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A MP2RAGE sequence was employed to quantify T1 relaxation times. After the spatial normalization of T1 maps with the diffeomorphic anatomical registration using the exponentiated Lie algebra algorithm, voxel‐based regression analysis was conducted. In addition, linear and quadratic regression analyses of regions of interest (ROIs) were also performed.

Results

With aging, voxel‐based analysis (VBA) revealed significant T1 value decreases in the ventral‐inferior putamen, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala, whereas T1 values significantly increased in the thalamus and white matter as well (P < 0.05 at cluster level, false discovery rate). ROI analysis revealed that T1 values in the nucleus accumbens linearly decreased with aging (P = 0.0016), supporting the VBA result. T1 values in the thalamus (P < 0.0001), substantia nigra (P = 0.0003), and globus pallidus (P < 0.0001) had a best fit to quadratic curves, with the minimum T1 values observed between 30 and 50 years of age.

Conclusion

Age‐related changes in T1 relaxation time vary by location in deep gray matter.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:724–731
BOLD‐fMRI with median nerve electrical stimulation predict hemodynamic improvement after revascularization in patients with moyamoya disease
Authors: Qiao Peng‐Gang , Han Cong , Qian Tianyi , Li Gong‐Jie , Yin Hong
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To assess the severity of cerebral hemodynamic impairment and hemodynamic improvements, after revascularization in moyamoya disease (MMD) by means of blood‐oxygen‐level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD‐fMRI).

Materials and Methods

BOLD‐fMRI with median nerve electrical stimulation based on echo planar imaging was performed in 73 volunteers with MMD and 15 healthy volunteers using a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Twenty‐four MMD patients were reexamined after encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis. Time‐signal intensity curves of the activated area of the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex were computed. Negative response time (Tnr) and peak (Pnr), positive response time (Tpr) and peak (Ppr), and time to negative peak (TTPn) and positive peak (TTPp) were measured.

Results

Compared with nonparesthesia group and the asymptomatic side of paresthesia group, the patients with paresthesia showed extended Tnr (22.04 ± 3.34 s versus 9.57 ± 2.27 s and 12.67 ± 2.69 s, P = 0.0096), decreased Pnr (–0.47 ± 0.06 versus –0.30 ± 0.09 and –0.33 ± 0.09, P = 0.010), delayed TTPn (9.04 ± 1.39 s versus 3.66 ± 0.79 s and 4.88 ± 1.10 s, P = 0.0064), shortened Tpr (22.75 ± 2.30 s versus 36.85 ± 2.68 s and 33 ± 2.49 s, P = 0.0010), and decreased Ppr (0.62 ± 0.08 versus 0.99 ± 0.15 and 0.97 ± 0.11, P = 0.0149) when subjected to median nerve electrical stimulation in the symptomatic side. After surgery, the patients with paresthesia showed shorter Tnr (1.53 ± 1.66 s versus 17.88 ± 22.61 s, P = 0.0002), increased Pnr (–0.14 ± 0.17 versus –0.44 ± 0.53, P = 0.0178), advanced TTPn (1.29 ± 1.21 s versus 7.29 ± 8.21 s, P = 0.0005), extended Tpr (36.94 ± 6.41 s versus 25.18 ± 15.51 s, P = 0.0091), increased Ppr (1.21 ± 0.87 versus 0.77 ± 0.60, P = 0.0201), and advanced TTPp (11.18 ± 4.70 s versus 27.29 ± 20.00 s, P = 0.0046).

Conclusion

Bold‐fMRI is useful to assess disease severity and surgical efficacy in MMD.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy: Stage 4

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1159–1166.
Assessment of segmental myocardial blood flow and myocardial perfusion reserve by adenosine‐stress myocardial arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging
Authors: Yoon Andrew J. , Do Hung Phi , Cen Steven , Fong Michael W. , Saremi Farhood , Barr Mark L. , Nayak Krishna S.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To determine the feasibility of measuring increases in myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) on a per‐segment basis using arterial spin labeled (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with adenosine vasodilator stress in normal human myocardium.

Materials and Methods

Myocardial ASL scans at rest and during adenosine infusion were incorporated into a routine 3T MR adenosine‐induced vasodilator stress protocol and were performed in 10 healthy human volunteers. Myocardial ASL was performed using single‐gated flow‐sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) tagging and balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) imaging at 3T. A T2‐prep blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) SSFP sequence was used to concurrently assess segmental myocardial oxygenation with BOLD signal intensity (SI) percent change in the same subjects.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between MBF measured by ASL at rest (1.75 ± 0.86 ml/g/min) compared to adenosine stress (4.58 ± 2.14 ml/g/min) for all wall segments (P < 0.0001), yielding a per‐segment MPR of 3.02 ± 1.51. When wall segments were divided into specific segmental myocardial perfusion territories (ie, anteroseptal, anterior, anterolateral, inferolateral, inferior, and inferoseptal), the differences between rest and stress regional MBF for each territory remained consistently statistically significant (P < 0.001) after correcting for multiple comparisons.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring MBF and MPR on a segmental basis by single‐gated cardiac ASL in normal volunteers. Second, this study demonstrates the feasibility of performing the ASL sequence and T2‐prepared SSFP BOLD imaging during a single adenosine infusion.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 1

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:413–420
Prediction of malignancy by a radiomic signature from contrast agent‐free diffusion MRI in suspicious breast lesions found on screening mammography.
Authors: Bickelhaupt Sebastian , Paech Daniel , Kickingereder Philipp , Steudle Franziska , Lederer Wolfgang , Daniel Heidi , Götz Michael , Gählert Nils , Tichy Diana , Wiesenfarth Manuel , Laun Frederik B. , Maier‐Hein Klaus H. , Schlemmer Heinz‐Peter , Bonekamp David
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To assess radiomics as a tool to determine how well lesions found suspicious on breast cancer screening X‐ray mammography can be categorized into malignant and benign with unenhanced magnetic resonance (MR) mammography with diffusion‐weighted imaging and T2‐weighted sequences.

Materials and Methods

From an asymptomatic screening cohort, 50 women with mammographically suspicious findings were examined with contrast‐enhanced breast MRI (ceMRI) at 1.5T. Out of this protocol an unenhanced, abbreviated diffusion‐weighted imaging protocol (ueMRI) including T2‐weighted, (T2w), diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), and DWI with background suppression (DWIBS) sequences and corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were extracted. From ueMRI‐derived radiomic features, three Lasso‐supervised machine‐learning classifiers were constructed and compared with the clinical performance of a highly experienced radiologist: 1) univariate mean ADC model, 2) unconstrained radiomic model, 3) constrained radiomic model with mandatory inclusion of mean ADC.

Results

The unconstrained and constrained radiomic classifiers consisted of 11 parameters each and achieved differentiation of malignant from benign lesions with a .632 + bootstrap receiver operating characteristics (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) of 84.2%/85.1%, compared to 77.4% for mean ADC and 95.9%/95.9% for the experienced radiologist using ceMRI/ueMRI.

Conclusion

In this pilot study we identified two ueMRI radiomics classifiers that performed well in the differentiation of malignant from benign lesions and achieved higher performance than the mean ADC parameter alone. Classification was lower than the almost perfect performance of a highly experienced breast radiologist. The potential of radiomics to provide a training‐independent diagnostic decision tool is indicated. A performance reaching the human expert would be highly desirable and based on our results is considered possible when the concept is extended in larger cohorts with further development and validation of the technique.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:604–616
Thermal dissociation of ions limits the degree of the gas‐phase H/D exchange at the atmospheric pressure
Authors: Kostyukevich Y. , Kononikhin A. , Popov I. , Nikolaev E.
Published: February 2017

We present the application of the extended desolvating capillaries for increasing the degree of the gas‐phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange reaction at atmospheric pressure. The use of the extended capillaries results in the increase of the time that ions spend in the high pressure region, what leads to the significant improvement of the efficiency of the reaction. For the small protein ubiquitin, it was observed that for the same temperature, the number of exchanges increases with the decrease of the charge state so that the lowest charge state can exchange twice the number of hydrogen than the highest one. With the increase of the temperature, the difference decreases, and eventually, the number of exchanges equalizes for all charge states. The value of this temperature and the corresponding number of exchanges depend on the geometric parameters of the capillary. Further increase of the temperature leads to the thermal dissociation of the protein ion. The observed b/y fragments are identical to those produced by collision‐induced dissociation performed in the ion trap. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changing pattern of biliary complications in an evolving liver transplant unit
Authors: Rammohan Ashwin , Govil Sanjay , Vargese Joy , Kota Venugopal , Reddy Mettu S. , Rela Mohamed
Published: February 2017

Biliary complications (BCs) remain a significant cause of morbidity following liver transplantation (LT). This series of 640 LT recipients with a blend of living and deceased donor transplants was analyzed to determine the incidence, risk factors, management protocol, and outcomes in these patients. Review of a prospectively collected database of transplant recipients operated between August 2009 and June 2016 was performed. Patients were divided into those with and without BCs and data analyzed. The 640 LT recipients from both living (n = 481) and deceased donors (n = 159) were evaluated for BCs. The overall incidence of BCs was 13.7%. It reduced from 23% to 5% (P = 0.003) over a 6‐year period. Risk factors for BCs on multivariate analysis were living donor liver transplantation, prolonged time to rearterialization, recipient age above 16 years, prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) after deceased donor liver transplantation, and biliary reconstruction performed by anyone but the senior author. One‐fifth of bile leaks progressed to strictures, and 40% of strictures followed leaks. Endoscopic therapy resolved 60% of the strictures. Surgical repair of strictures was successful in 90% of those in whom endoscopy failed, those who could not undertake the follow‐up schedules endoscopic therapy entails, and those presenting with late strictures. BCs significantly prolonged hospital stay but did not alter survival after LT. BCs affect 1 in 7 recipients, although they are not associated with increased mortality. The frequency of these complications is influenced by potentially modifiable factors like evolving surgical expertise and CIT. Liver Transplantation 23 478–486 2017 AASLD.
Manual MRI morphometry in Parkinsonian syndromes
Authors: Möller Leona , Kassubek Jan , Südmeyer Martin , Hilker Rüdiger , Hattingen Elke , Egger Karl , Amtage Florian , Pinkhardt Elmar H. , Respondek Gesine , Stamelou Maria , Möller Franz , Schnitzler Alfons , Oertel Wolfgang H. , Knake Susanne , Huppertz Hans‐Jürgen , Höglinger Günter U.
Published: February 2017

Background: Several morphometric magnetic resonance imaging parameters may serve for differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. The objective of this study was to identify which performs best in clinical routine.

Methods: We acquired multicentric magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient echo sequences in patients with Parkinson's disease (n=204), progressive supranuclear palsy (n=106), multiple system atrophy‐cerebellar, (n = 21); multiple system atrophy‐parkinsonian (n = 60), and healthy controls (n = 73), performed manual planimetric measurements, and calculated receiver operator characteristics with leave‐one‐out cross‐validation to propose cutoff values.

Results: The midsagittal midbrain area was reduced in PSP versus all other groups (P < 0.001). The midsagittal pons area was reduced in MSA‐cerebellar, MSA‐parkinsonian, and PSP versus PD patients and healthy controls (P < 0.001). The midbrain/pons area ratio was lower in PSP (P < 0.001) and higher in MSA‐cerebellar and MSA‐parkinsonian versus PD and PSP (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The midsagittal midbrain area most reliably identified PSP, the midsagittal pons area MSA‐cerebellar. The midbrain/pons area ratio differentiated MSA‐cerebellar and PSP better than the magnetic resonance‐Parkinson index. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Perinatal outcome of placental massive perivillous fibrin deposition: a case–control study
Authors: Devisme Louise , Chauvière Claire , Franquet‐Ansart Hélène , Chudzinski Anastasia , Stichelbout Morgane , Houfflin‐Debarge Véronique , Subtil Damien
Published: February 2017

Objective

The objectives of the study are to describe the obstetric outcomes associated with massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MFD) compared with a control series and to determine if outcome differs according to the extent of fibrin deposition.

Method

Retrospective case–control study based on placentas analyzed over a consecutive 12‐year period. MFD was considered severe if it extended over more than 50% of the placenta and moderate between 25% and 50%.

Results

During the study period, MFD was observed on 71 placentas, 39 severe and 32 moderate. Compared with the 142 control women, the 39 women with severe MFD more often had histories of autoimmune disease and intrauterine fetal death. The case women with MFD were associated with elevated levels of maternal alpha‐fetoprotein and with a high risk of severe growth restriction and/or intrauterine death. Compared with the infants with moderate MFD, those with severe MFD had also more abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry findings and more often intrauterine deaths and lower birthweights.

Conclusion

Regardless of their extent, MFD that covered at least 25% of the placenta was almost always accompanied by severe growth restriction and by a high risk of intrauterine fetal death. Moreover, severe MFD tend to be associated with autoimmune diseases of the mothers, and pregnancies show more often a pathologic Doppler of the umbilical arteries and more often intrauterine fetal death that the moderate form. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of smoothly distributed spatial outliers, with applications to identifying the distribution of parenchymal hyperinflation following an airway challenge in asthmatics
Authors: Thurman Andrew L. , Choi Jiwoong , Choi Sanghun , Lin Ching‐Long , Hoffman Eric A. , Lee Chang Hyun , Chan Kung‐Sik
Published: January 2017

Methacholine challenge tests are used to measure changes in pulmonary function that indicate symptoms of asthma. In addition to pulmonary function tests, which measure global changes in pulmonary function, computed tomography images taken at full inspiration before and after administration of methacholine provide local air volume changes (hyper‐inflation post methacholine) at individual acinar units, indicating local airway hyperresponsiveness. Some of the acini may have extreme air volume changes relative to the global average, indicating hyperresponsiveness, and those extreme values may occur in clusters. We propose a Gaussian mixture model with a spatial smoothness penalty to improve prediction of hyperresponsive locations that occur in spatial clusters. A simulation study provides evidence that the spatial smoothness penalty improves prediction under different data‐generating mechanisms. We apply this method to computed tomography data from Seoul National University Hospital on five healthy and ten asthmatic subjects. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perceived barriers that prevent high school students seeking help from teachers for bullying and their effects on disclosure intentions
Authors: Boulton Michael J. , Boulton Louise , Down James , Sanders Jessica , Craddock Helen
Published: January 2017

Many adolescents choose not to tell teachers when they have been bullied. Three studies with 12–16 year‐old English adolescents addressed possible reasons. In study 1, students (N = 411, 208 females/203 males) identified reasons with no prompting. Three perceived negative outcomes were common; peers would disapprove, disclosers would feel weak/undermined, and disclosers desired autonomy. In study 2, students (N = 297, 153 females/134 males/10 unspecified) indicated how much they believed that the perceived negative outcomes would happen to them, and a substantial proportion did so. Perceived negative outcomes significantly predicted intentions to disclose being bullied. Study 3 (N = 231, 100 females/131 males) tested if the perceived negative outcomes would be strong enough to stop participants from telling a teacher even though the teacher would stop the bullying. This was the case for many of them. Participants did not report disliking peers who disclosed bullying. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Prognosis biomarkers evaluation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Gomes Lorena Caixeta , Evangelista Fernanda Cristina Gontijo , de Sousa Lirlândia Pires , Araujo Sergio Schusterschitz da Silva , das Graças Carvalho Maria , Sabino Adriano de Paula
Published: February 2017

Objective/Background:

From clinical and biological points of view, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a progressive accumulation of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid organs. New prognostic markers in CLL may be useful to clinicians for predicting outcome and in clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential prognostic value of the apoptotic/survival- controlling proteins and protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 gene expression in CLL patients and control individuals, correlating such findings with patients’ clinical data.

Methods:

Fifty-three patients diagnosed with CLL attending the hematology service of a clinical hospital, and 24 healthy individuals with no history of leukemia (Control group) were enrolled in this study. Analyses of apoptotic/survival-controlling proteins were performed by western blot and ZAP-70 gene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Significant differences were observed for the p-p38, Mcl-1 long, and Mcl-1 short proteins when patients were compared with CLL and controls. A positive correlation between the results for Mcl-1 short and Mcl-1 long and lymphocyte count was observed, corroborating the hypothesis of an imbalance between proteins of cell survival pathways/ apoptosis in CLL.

Conclusion:

ZAP-70 gene expression was not detected as a discriminant biomarker in these CLL patients. An imbalance between apoptosis-related proteins was observed in the present study, corroborating the hypothesis of increased survival of lymphocytes in CLL patients.
The effect of the Rana Plaza disaster on shareholder wealth of retailers: Implications for sourcing strategies and supply chain governance⋆
Authors: Jacobs Brian W. , Singhal Vinod R.
Published: February 2017

Supply chain and reputational risks are often assumed to motivate firms to source production in developed, high‐cost countries rather than developing, low‐cost countries. To examine this assumption, we provide evidence from the collapse of the Rana Plaza building on April 24, 2013, which with its 1133 fatalities and 2438 injuries is seen as one of the worst industrial accidents in history. Do markets reactive negatively enough to such events to motivate firms to shift their sourcing strategy? We analyze the stock market reaction to the Rana Plaza disaster in the Bangladeshi ready‐made garment industry to address this question. Our analysis is based on a sample of 39 publicly traded global apparel retailers with significant garment sourcing in Bangladesh. Stock market reaction to retailers on the day of the Rana Plaza disaster is negative, but its magnitude and significance dissipate by the following day. We find no evidence of significant stock market reaction during the 11 trading days (approximately two weeks in calendar time) following the disaster. Retailers responded to the disaster by developing two different agreements to improve factory and worker safety in Bangladesh – the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (AFBSB), and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (ABWS). We find no evidence of significant stock market reaction to the announcements of the AFBSB and the ABWS. The insignificant negative economic impact from the Rana Plaza disaster suggests that retailers have little economic incentive to move sourcing out of Bangladesh or other low‐cost countries so as to reduce the risk of being involved in such events. We discuss the implications of our results for retailers, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), garment factory owners in Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi government, and academic researchers.
Strategies for Combating Opioid‐Induced Constipation: Targeted Mechanisms to Maintain Pain Control Without Compromise
Authors: Brennan Michael J. , Stanos Steven P.
Published: January 2017

Opioid‐induced constipation (OIC) is a common side effect of opioid use and can occur from the outset of opioid therapy (Online access: http://courses.elseviercme.com/aapmr2016/638e). OIC has been reported to interfere with pain management, increase health care costs, decrease work productivity and daily activities, and significantly affect patient quality of life. It can also lead to bowel obstruction. Assessing and managing OIC is important for establishing maximum function for patients. Several pharmacologic approaches, with different mechanisms of action, are available or in development.
Asymptotic behavior of solutions of a semilinear heat equation with subcritical nonlinearity
Authors: Kawanago Tadashi
Published: February 2017

We consider the Cauchy problem for

u_t = Δu + u^p

with

1 + 2/N < p

and

(N − 2)p < N + 2

. We give a complete description of the asymptotic behavior of the positive solution.

Nous considérons le problème de Cauchy pour

u_t = Δu + u^p

avec

1 + 2/N < p

et

(N − 2)p < N + 2

. On donne une description complète de comportement asymptotique de la solution positive.