bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does the length of uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy affect postoperative pain? Results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Menna Cecilia , Poggi Camilla , Andreetti Claudio , Maurizi Giulio , Ciccone Anna Maria , D'Andrilli Antonio , Vanni Camilla , Vestri Anna Rita , Fiorelli Alfonso , Santini Mario , Venuta Federico , Rendina Erino Angelo , Ibrahim Mohsen
Published: May 2020

Background

Uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has become a common approach for the treatment of early stage lung cancer. Here, we aimed to establish whether the length of uniportal incision could affect postoperative pain and surgical outcomes in consecutive patients undergoing uniportal VATS lobectomy for early stage lung cancer.

Methods

This was a unicenter Randomized Control Trial (NCT 03218098). Consecutive patients undergoing uniportal VATS lobectomy for Stage I lung cancer were randomly assigned to a Small Incision group or Long Incision group in 1:1 ratio based on whether patients received a 4 cm or 8 cm incision. The endpoints were to compare the intergroup difference regarding (i) postoperative pain measured by brief pain inventory (BPI) questionnaire (first endpoint); (ii) operative time; (iii) length of chest drainage; (iv) length of hospital stay; (v) postoperative complications; and (vi) pulmonary functional status (secondary endpoints).

Results

A total of 48 patients were eligible for the study. Four patients were excluded; the study population included 44 patients: 23 within the Small Incision group, and 21 within the Long Incision group. The 11 BPI scores between the two groups showed no significant difference. Small Incision group presented higher operative time than Long Incision group (138.69 vs. 112.14 minutes; P = 0.0001) while no significant differences were found regarding length of hospital stay (P = 0.95); respiratory complications (P = 0.92); FEV1% (P = 0.63), and 6‐Minute Walking Test (P = 0.77).

Conclusions

A larger incision for uniportal VATS lobectomy significantly reduced the operative time due to better exposure of the anatomical structures without increasing postoperative pain or affecting the surgical outcome.

Key points

A larger incision for uniportal VATS lobectomy significantly reduced the operative time due to better exposure of the anatomical structures without increasing postoperative pain or affecting the surgical outcome.

To perform a larger incision could be a valuable strategy, particularly in nonexpert hands or when the patient's anatomy or tumor size make exposure of anatomic structures through smaller incisions difficult.
Diagnostic inflammatory markers of acute cholangitis in liver transplant recipients
Authors: Beliaev Andrei M. , Bartlett Adam , Bergin Colleen
Published: May 2020

Background

Acute cholangitis (AC) after liver transplantation occurs in 8–12% patients and remains a significant cause of patients' morbidity and mortality. The 2018 Tokyo guidelines use white blood cell count and C‐reactive protein (CRP) as diagnostic criteria in AC. However, these and other common inflammatory markers have not been assessed in immunosuppressed liver transplant (LT) recipients with AC. The aims of this study were to compare the discriminative powers of common inflammatory markers, define the best inflammatory marker and determine the diagnostic cut‐off values for the inflammatory markers in LT recipients with AC.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. Over 16 years 212 LT recipients who underwent endoscopic biliary decompression were identified from hospital records. Thirty LT recipients with AC and 30 LT recipients without AC were randomly drawn in a 1:1 ratio.

Results

Among inflammatory markers, CRP had the highest discriminative power for diagnosing AC. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for CRP, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio were 95% (95% confidence interval (CI): 91–98), 59% (95% CI: 50–68), 65% (95% CI: 53–77) and 70% (95% CI: 59–80), respectively. The cut‐off value of CRP for diagnosing AC was equal to or above 9.5 mg/L.

Conclusion

CRP has the best discriminative power compared with other commonly used inflammatory markers for diagnosing AC in LT recipients. The optimal cut‐off value for CRP concentration in diagnosing AC is equal to or above 9.5 mg/L.
Solo single‐incision laparoscopic liver resection: a cohort series
Authors: Saad Mohamed Rabie , Choi YoungRok , Han Ho‐Seong , Yoon Yoo‐Seok , Cho Jai Young , Lee Jun Suh , Lee Bo Ram
Published: May 2020

Background

Single‐incision laparoscopic liver resection (SILLR) is still challenging due to the unstable surgical view, the crowding instruments and its crossover. In this study, we present a new option of solo SILLR for various liver tumours in order to overcome those difficulties.

Methods

Solo SILLR is indicated for liver tumours located in the left liver or in the superficial right liver. Data for 54 consecutive patients, who underwent solo SILLR between October 2015 and October 2018, were collected and analysed prospectively.

Results

A total of 30 patients (55.5%) underwent non‐anatomical resection. Left hemi‐hepatectomy was performed in 11 patients (20.4%) and left lateral was performed in 13 patients (24.1%). The median operative time was 114 (range 30–335) min with median blood loss of 400 (50–750) mL with no need of blood transfusion and no intraoperative complications. The median length of hospital stay was 3 (range 1–19) days. There was one case of post‐operative intra‐abdominal fluid collection and one case of incisional hernia during the follow‐up.

Conclusion

Solo SILLR is more feasible and safer for liver tumours located in the superficial right liver or in the left one. Therefore, solo surgery can be an option in SILLR.
Effect of bile duct clamping versus no clamping on surgical site infections in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Singh Harjeet , Krishnamurthy Gautham , Kumar Hemanth , Gorsi Ujjwal , Kumar‐M Praveen , Mandavdhare Harshal , Sharma Vishal , Yadav Thakur D.
Published: May 2020

Background

Infectious complications cause significant morbidity after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). The impact of uncontrolled spillage of bile during PD has not been systematically studied.

Methods

Patients undergoing PD for malignant lesions between March 2017 and May 2019 were considered for inclusion. All patients underwent standard pre‐operative preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis. After confirmation of resectability, the patients were randomized into one of the two groups: common hepatic duct clamping using atraumatic bulldog clamp after biliary division (Group I) or no clamping (Group II). Post‐operative outcomes including surgical site infection (SSI) were compared.

Results

Fifty‐two patients were assessed for eligibility and eventually 40 were randomized (median age: 53.5 years, 28 (70%) males). Twenty patients were randomized into each group and 14 in each group had undergone pre‐operative biliary drainage. Incidence of co‐morbidities, operative time and blood loss were comparable between the two groups. SSI was significantly lower in Group I (4 (20%) versus 11 (55%), P = 0.02). Number needed to treat to prevent one SSI was 3. Incidence of intra‐abdominal collections was higher in Group II, though, not statistically significant (2 (10%) versus 6 (30%), P = 0.23). The duration of post‐operative antibiotics was significantly higher in Group II (7 IQR 4 versus 11 IQR 7 days, P = 0.04). Among the risk factor evaluated in the entire population, higher incidence of SSI was seen in patients with positive bile culture (13 (65%) versus 2 (10%), P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Bile duct clamping during PD reduces risk of superficial SSI.
Effect of topical Phenylephrine on the upper eyelid crease position
Authors: Queirós Tatiana Sofia Monteiro , Won‐Kim Hae‐Ryung , Sales‐Sanz Andrea , Sales‐Sanz Marco
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To investigate the effect of Phenylephrine test on the upper eyelid crease position.

Material and Methods

This study follows a prospective and analytical design and included patients with unilateral acquired involutional ptosis recruited between January 2015 and January 2018. In the Phenylephrine test, 1 drop of Phenylephrine 10% was instilled on the inferior fornix of the ptotic eye and the eyelid crease position was evaluated 10 min after.

Results

A total of 60 patients were included in the final sample. The mean Margin‐to‐reflex distance 1 (MRD1) of the ptotic eye was 2.1 ± 1.0 and 3.8 ± 0.6 mm before and 10 min after the instillation of Phenylephrine, respectively. The difference between the means was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Ninety‐five per cent of the eyes had a positive Phenylephrine test result. Of this, 100% showed a decrease in the height of eyelid crease after the drop. There was a statistically significant decrease in the height of eyelid crease from 10.3 ± 2.5 to 7.8 ± 2.0 mm (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Phenylephrine test not only affects the eyelid position but also the eyelid crease height. We show a significative decrease in eyelid crease height to a symmetrical level with the contralateral lid in all patients that had a positive Phenylephrine test result. This effect is probably due to a posterior lamella shortening secondary to Müller’s muscle contraction and suggests that the eyelid crease is not only determined by the projections of levator aponeurosis, but also by the entire force vector of the upper eyelid retractors.
Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract improved reproduction capacity and behavioral activity in rats exposed to immobilization stress
Authors: Bagheri Yasin , Keshtmand Zahra , Rahbarghazi Reza , Gharamaleki Mehrdad N. , Barati Alireza , Bagheri Sara , Rezaie Jafar , Rezabakhsh Aysa , Ahmadi Mahdi , Delashoub Masoud
Published: May 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract on fertility capacity and behavioral features in rats exposed to immobilization stress. Male rats were randomly divided into five groups; Control; Stressed rats; and Stressed rats received 50, 100 and/or 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis hydroalcoholic extract. To induce stress, rats were immobilized for 49 days and received S. officinalis extract orally. On day 56, we analyzed behavioral tests and evaluated reproduction capacity by measuring LH, FSH, and testosterone. Sperm parameters such as motility, viability, and total count were also determined. Bodyweight changes were also calculated on day 56. Male rats from different groups were mated with healthy female rats. Data showed that the use of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis extract in stressed rats increased bodyweight gain and improved behavioral disorders compared to control‐matched groups (p < .05). Besides, administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis extract had the potential to improve sperm parameters and fertility capacity in stressed rats (p < .05). Decreased testosterone levels were blunted in the stressed rats that received plant extract coincided with the reduction of LH and FSH compared to control‐matched stressed rats (p < .05). We found neutral effects in stressed rats that received 50 mg/kg bw plant extract. Collectively, the hydroalcoholic extract of S. officinalis could improve the fertility capacity and behavioral features under stressful conditions in a dose‐dependent manner.
Not a journal about people with learning disabilities without people with learning disabilities
Authors: Nind Melanie
Published: May 2020

Accessible summary

This is my first editorial as chief editor. It is an honour to be editor. The journal supports the rights of people with learning disabilities. It works to improve their lives.

Editors before me helped to make the journal special. They encouraged people with learning disabilities to get involved in writing papers. One special issue of the journal was edited by researchers with learning disabilities in an inclusive research group.

Self‐advocates have said “if it's about us we should be able to write in it, otherwise what's the point?” Thanks to them we now have easy read guidance on how to write a paper and how to submit it to the journal.

I will make sure we have good guidance on how to review or quality check papers. We want papers that are good at involving and respecting people with learning disabilities. We want papers to be good research that says something new too.

I will also introduce In Response papers, where people with learning disabilities respond to the issues in other papers. This will help us to see where the papers are relevant to people's lives.

You can now write up to 7,000 words in papers for the journal. Before it was just 5,000 words.

There are new editors: Alex Kaley, Edurne Garcia Iriate, Elisabeth Olin, Lucy Series, Tim Stainton, Vasilis Strogilos, Iva Strnadová, Liz Tilley, Ben Simmons and Simo Vehmas.

I end with a word about COVID‐19. It means we need to hear the voices of people with learning disabilities like never before. We need to challenge the prejudice in who gets medical help. We should be proud of the great easy read information that people are sharing. And the creative ways people are finding to stay connected, and to stay safe and calm.
Literacy and Child Development in a Contemporary African Society
Authors: Serpell Robert
Published: May 2020

In this article, I propose a theoretical framework for understanding relations between literacy and child development: The literacy practices of a community map the cognitive affordances of script onto particular speech varieties in a sociocultural system. This leads to developmental goals and optimizing technologies situated in enabling institutional contexts. In many parts of Africa, institutionalized public basic schooling historically was imposed by Christian missionaries and sustained by colonial administration. Contemporary systems remain deeply infused with Western cultural hegemony. Most research on children’s literacy in Zambia has focused on individual literacy as a set of measurable competencies that can be assessed independently of context, construing language variety or instructional input as extraneous variables. A more integrated focus on literacy as a socially distributed practice in the context of a multilingual African society highlights cooperative learning and flexible communication across language boundaries. I suggest implications for bilingual education policy and planning for progressive social change.
Seeds of Success: A conservation and restoration investment in the future of U.S. lands
Authors: Barga Sarah C. , Olwell Peggy , Edwards Fred , Prescott Leah , Leger Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2020

Seeds of Success (SOS) is a national seed collection program led by the Bureau of Land Management. SOS represents the most comprehensive native seed repository in the United States, supporting native plant restoration, management, and research. Since inception in 2000, SOS has collected seeds from over 24,400 native plant populations from ~5,600 taxa from 43 states. Collections include species important to wildlife, pollinators, and indigenous people, and over 10,000 collections have been shared for restoration and research use. We asked how many SOS sites have burned since collection, and identified 662 fires at 631 sites. If fire continues at the pace observed since 2011, an estimated 14% of collection sites will burn by 2050 and over 24% by 2080, putting genetic diversity at risk in areas where fire is linked with invasion. Analysis of 14 native forb species from the western United States found that many collections were from the warmest and driest portions of their range, areas at the highest risk of wildfire, subsequent invasion, and local extinction. SOS provides an opportunity to understand change in natural populations, and represents a critical repository of native plant genetic resources for conservation and future use.
Fibrinogen/Albumin ratio: A more powerful prognostic index for patients with end‐stage renal disease
Authors: Zou Yaowei , Zhu Zhaohua , Zhou Jingxuan , Wu Xiaoyu , Li Hongying , Ning Xiaoqun , Shi Yue , Niu Hongxin
Published: May 2020

Background

Microinflammation is linked to an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Although the fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR), a novel inflammatory marker, has been shown to predict mortality in various diseases, limited evidence is available for its role in ESRD. The purpose of this study is to explore the prognostic value of the FAR in ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, we enrolled patients with ESRD who underwent PD therapy in our hospital between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017. The Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the contact between the FAR level and mortality.

Results

A total of 562 patients were enrolled in our research. The median FAR was 0.12, and patients were divided into two groups (low FAR group: FAR < 0.12, n = 250, and high FAR group: FAR ≥ 0.12, n = 312) according to the median FAR. Kaplan‐Meier curves showed that the cumulative incidences of both all‐cause mortality and CVD mortality were significantly higher in patients with FAR ≥ 0.12 (both P < .001). In multivariable analysis, the high FAR group had an important increased risk of all‐cause and CVD mortality (HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.03‐3.14, P = .038 and HR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.17‐4.59, P = .016, respectively).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a high baseline FAR value is an independent prognostic factor in ESRD patients on PD.
Systemic transsulfuration pathway thiol concentrations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Authors: Zinellu Angelo , Zinellu Elisabetta , Sotgiu Elisabetta , Fois Alessandro G. , Paliogiannis Panagiotis , Scano Valentina , Piras Barbara , Sotgia Salvatore , Mangoni Arduino A. , Carru Ciriaco , Pirina Pietro
Published: May 2020

Background

It is amply reported that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent evidence suggests that COPD patients have elevated concentrations of plasma homocysteine (Hcy), a transsulfuration pathway analyte that is commonly regarded as a CVD risk factor.

Design

We comprehensively investigated the plasma concentrations of transsulfuration pathway analytes, and their relationship with markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, to identify which low molecular thiols might play a pathophysiological role both in CVD and in COPD. Hcy, cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), cysteinylglycine (CysGly), glutamylcysteine (GluCys), taurine (Tau), oxidative stress markers (TBARS and protein‐SH, PSH) and the inflammation marker kynurenine/tryptophan (Kyn/Trp) ratio were measured in 54 COPD patients and 54 control subjects.

Results

We found increased concentrations of total Hcy (P < .01) and total CysGly (P < .05) in COPD patients when compared to controls. Total Hcy and CysGly were also significantly associated with abnormal lung function parameters and COPD severity. In COPD patients, total Hcy was significantly associated with the Kyn/Trp ratio (P = .0017) whereas total CysGly was significantly associated with both PSH (P = .0298) and the Kyn/Trp ratio (P = <.0001).

Conclusion

Both total Hcy and CysGly concentrations were significantly associated with the presence and severity of COPD and with markers of oxidative stress (total CysGly) and inflammation (total Hcy and CysGly). This suggests that specific low molecular mass thiols might play a role in the inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways involved in both CVD and COPD.
Usefulness of saliva for perampanel therapeutic drug monitoring
Authors: Kim Do‐Yong , Moon Jangsup , Shin Yong‐Won , Lee Soon‐Tae , Jung Keun‐Hwa , Park Kyung‐Il , Jung Ki‐Young , Kim Manho , Lee SeungHwan , Yu Kyung‐Sang , Jang In‐Jin , Song KaHeon , Chu Kon , Lee Sangkun
Published: May 2020

Objective

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) helps optimize drug management for patients with epilepsy. Salivary testing is both noninvasive and easy, and has several other advantages. Due to technical advances, salivary TDM has become feasible for several drugs, including AEDs, and its value has been investigated. Until recently, saliva TDM of perampanel (PER) had not been reported. The purpose of our study was to confirm whether saliva is a biological substitute for plasma in PER TDM.

Methods

Adult patients diagnosed with epilepsy who received PER from August 2018 to March 2019 at Seoul National University Hospital were enrolled. Total and free PER were measured in simultaneously obtained plasma and saliva samples using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) and high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC). We examined the correlations between saliva and plasma PER concentrations and whether the use of concomitant medications classified as cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 inducers affected the correlations.

Results

Thirty patients were enrolled, aged 16 to 60; 10 (33%) were women. Patients received 2 to 12 mg (mean, 6 mg) of PER. The average total and free concentrations of PER were 343.02 (46.6‐818.0) and 1.53 (0.51‐2.92) ng/mL in plasma and 9.74 (2.21‐33.0) and 2.83 (1.01‐6.8) ng/mL in saliva, respectively. A linear relationship was observed between the total PER concentrations in saliva and the total and free PER concentrations in plasma (both P < .001; r = .678 and r = .619, respectively). The change in the PER concentration caused by the CYP3A4 inducer did not affect the correlation between saliva and plasma concentrations (all P < .001).

Significance

The PER concentration in saliva was correlated with that in plasma. This correlation was not affected by CYP3A4 inducers. Our results demonstrate for the first time that PER is measurable in saliva and suggest the potential for the clinical application of the saliva PER TDM matrix.
Experimental investigation of fracture damage of notched granite beams under cyclic loading using DIC and AE techniques
Authors: Tang Jianhui , Chen Xudong , Dai Feng , Wei Mingdong
Published: May 2020

Fracture experiments of three‐point bending notched granite beams were performed under cyclic loading using digital image correlation (DIC) and acoustic emission (AE) techniques. The damage evolution process of the specimen under cyclic loading was analysed on the basis of AE ring count and b value. The strain and displacement fields and the fracture process zone (FPZ) ahead of the crack tip were revealed by DIC. The results showed that the AE characteristics of rock fracture indicated a noticeable Kaiser effect in the stage of cyclic loading and unloading. Moreover, when the loading force reached 70% of its peak value, the AE characteristics showed the Felicity effect. The damage produced during the loading‐unloading process contributed to the development of the cracks leading to the catastrophic fracture. Besides, a relatively high loading rate was found to help to suppress the development of the FPZ at the crack tip.
Specific antigen‐guiding exosomes inhibit food allergies by inducing regulatory T cells
Authors: Yu Dian , Liu Jiang‐Qi , Mo Li‐Hua , Luo Xiang‐Qian , Liu Zhi‐Qiang , Wu Gao‐Hui , Yang Li‐Teng , Liu Da‐Bo , Wang Shuai , Liu Zhi‐Gang , Yang Ping‐Chang
Published: May 2020

The therapies for food allergy (FA) need to be improved. The generation of inducible regulatory T cells (Tregs) can support immune tolerance in the body. This study aims to suppress experimental FA by inducing Tregs through the employment of modified exosomes (mExosomes). In this study, mExosomes were prepared by incubating dendritic cells with interleukin (IL)‐2 and ovalbumin (OVA, used as a specific antigen) in the culture. Exosomes were purified from culture supernatant and used as the mExosomes. A murine FA model was developed to test the effects of mExosomes on the generation of Tregs in the mouse intestinal tissues and inhibiting FA. The results showed that mExosomes, which carried IL‐2 and a complex of OVA peptide–major histocompatibility complex class II on the surface of exosomes, bound to OVA‐specific CD4+ T cells and induced CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Tregs. In the FA mouse intestinal tissues, we found low IL‐2 levels that were positively correlated with the number of Tregs. Depletion of IL‐2 in mice prevented the generation of Tregs. The levels of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ were increased in the FA intestinal tissues with inhibited IL‐2 production. Administration of mExosomes induced Tregs in the intestinal tissues and efficiently suppressed FA in mice. We conclude that the mExosomes can suppress FA in mice through inducing Tregs. The data suggest that the mExosomes have translational potential in the treatment of FA and other allergic disorders.
Bad Faith, Bad Behaviour, and Role Models
Authors: Howe Leslie A.
Published: May 2020

I argue that athletes should neither be taken as role models nor present themselves as such. Indeed, they should resist any attempt to take them as such on the grounds that seeing athletes (or other celebrities) as role models abrogates the existential and ethical responsibilities of both parties. Whether one takes on the role of being a model to others or whether one chooses to model one’s own behaviour on that of another, except in respect of the development of technical skill, one engages in bad faith and fails to act in an existentially ethical way. To this end, I consider the inclination to influence and admiration, as well as self‐respect, agency, motivation, and envy. I argue that while celebrity sportspersons and similar others do not have duties that others do not have just by virtue of their notoriety alone, they may have situational responsibilities commensurate with their social reach. More importantly, however, since social influence is not a transformation of inert matter, there are also responsibilities belonging to their audiences, those who merely observe and those who choose to imitate
The impact of short sleep on food reward processes in adolescents
Authors: Duraccio Kara M. , Krietsch Kendra N. , Zhang Nanhua , Whitacre Catharine , Howarth Taylor , Pfeiffer Megan , Beebe Dean W.
Published: May 2020

Short sleep has been linked to adolescent risk of obesity, but questions remain regarding the dietary mechanisms by which this occurs. We tested whether mildly shortening sleep influences how rewarding and appealing healthy adolescents find several kinds of foods. Eighty‐eight healthy adolescents completed a within‐subjects crossover sleep experiment comparing 5 days of Short Sleep (6.5 hr sleep opportunity) with 5 days of Healthy Sleep (9.5 hr sleep opportunity). Following each condition, adolescents completed measures of food appeal and reinforcing value of food across five food types: sweets/desserts, fruits/vegetables, lean meats/eggs, fast food and processed snacks. Adolescents averaged 2.2 hr/night longer sleep periods in Healthy Sleep versus Short Sleep. We observed a significant interaction of experimental order with sleep condition on three of four primary outcomes related to the appeal and reinforcing value of foods (p's < .005). When Short Sleep preceded Healthy Sleep, adolescents endorsed significantly greater appeal (p < .04) and rewarding value of food (p's ranging from <.01 to .048) during Short Sleep (compared to Healthy Sleep). However, when Healthy Sleep preceded Short Sleep, we did not observe a main effect of sleep condition on the same outcomes (p's > .05). This study provides evidence that restricting adolescents' sleep opportunity to 6.5 hr (compared to sleeping a healthy amount) increases the appeal and reinforcing value of a variety of foods, but this may occur only under protracted short sleep. Increased food reward may be one mechanism linking chronically shortened sleep with risk of obesity in adolescence.
Mesenchymal iron deposition is associated with adverse long‐term outcome in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Eder Sebastian K. , Feldman Alexandra , Strebinger Georg , Kemnitz Jana , Zandanell Stephan , Niederseer David , Strasser Michael , Haufe Heike , Sotlar Karl , Stickel Felix , Paulweber Bernhard , Datz Christian , Aigner Elmar
Published: May 2020

Background & Aims

Approximately one‐third of patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) show signs of mild‐to‐moderate iron overload. The impact of histological iron deposition on the clinical course of patients with NAFLD has not been established.

Methods & Results

For this retrospective study, 299 consecutive patients with biopsy‐proven NAFLD and a mean follow‐up of 8.4 (±4.1; range: 0.3‐18.0) years were allocated to one of four groups according to presence of hepatic iron in the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and/or hepatocytes (HC): 156 subjects (52%) showed no stainable iron (NONE), 58 (19%) exclusively reticuloendothelial (xRES), 19 (6%) exclusively hepatocellular (xHC) and 66 (22%) showed a mixed (HC/RES) pattern of iron deposition. A long‐term analysis for overall survival, hepatic, cardiovascular or extrahepatic‐malignant events was conducted. Based on multivariate Cox proportional hazards models any reticuloendothelial iron was associated with fatal and non‐fatal hepatic events. Specifically, xRES showed a cause‐specific hazard ratio (csHR) of 2.4 (95%‐CI, 1.0‐5.8; P = .048) for hepatic as well as cardiovascular fatal and non‐fatal events combined (csHR 3.2; 95%‐CI, 1.2‐8.2; P = .015). Furthermore, the mixed HC/RES iron pattern showed a higher rate of combined hepatic fatal and non‐fatal events (csHR 3.6; 95%‐CI, 1.4‐9.5; P = .010), while xHC iron deposition was not associated with any defined events.

Conclusions

The presence of reticuloendothelial‐accentuated hepatic iron distribution patterns is associated with detrimental long‐term outcomes reflected in a higher rate of both liver‐related and cardiovascular fatal and non‐fatal events.
A spotlight on the diagnostic methods of a fatal disease Visceral Leishmaniasis
Authors: Kumar Awanish , Pandey Satish Chandra , Samant Mukesh
Published: May 2020

Leishmaniadonovani(a causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis) poses a serious health threat to the human population which is fatal if left untreated. The life cycle ofLeishmaniaalternates between vertebrate host andPhlebotominefly as intermediate ones. Due to the difficulties linked to vector (sandfly) control and the lack of an effective vaccine, the control of leishmaniasis relies mostly on chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the prevalence of parasites becoming resistant to the first‐line drug pentavalent antimonial (SbV)/sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) and some other anti‐leishmanial drug is increasing in several parts of the world. With the alarming rise of drug resistance and other issues related to VL, there is an urgent need to focus on early detection and quick diagnosis of VL case. Therefore, we have reviewed most of the methods used in the diagnostic process of VL. Along with existing diagnostic methods, developing more effective and sensitive diagnostic methods and biomarkers is also vital for enhancing VL identification and control programs. This review gathers the comprehensive information on diagnostics methods of VL under a single umbrella that could be the prominent tools for the development of rapid, accurate and cost‐effective diagnostic kits for VL which can be used in field conditions.
The Spread of Anti‐Islamic Sentiment: A Comparison between the United States and Western Europe
Authors: Marinov Robert , Stockemer Daniel
Published: May 2020

Since the 1980s, anti‐Islamic sentiment has grown in both the United States and Western Europe. However, the political and electoral success of anti‐Islamic actors has been asymmetrical between these regions. In most countries in Western Europe, anti‐Islamic sentiment is still contained to the fringes. Conversely, it has become highly influential in decision‐making circles in the United States. In this article we show that the demand for anti‐Islamic sentiment and the rhetorical strategies of anti‐Islamic actors have been similar in both parts of the world, but differ in their organizational strength and opportunity structures. In Western Europe, such sentiments are contained to radical right‐wing parties, activists, and think tanks. In contrast, anti‐Islamic forces in the United States have formed a strong, well‐funded, and organized coalition capable of influencing the White House, most recently through Donald Trump's presidency. Using a supply and demand theoretical framework, we argue that these differing supply‐side organizational and opportunity structures help explain the relative differences in success between the two regions.

Related Articles

Antwi‐Boateng, Osman. 2017. “The Rise of Pan‐Islamic Terrorism in Africa: A Global Security Challenge.” Politics & Policy 45 (2): 253‐284. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12195

Maggio, Jim. 2007. “The Presidential Rhetoric of Terror: The (Re)Creation of Reality Immediately after 9/11.” Politics & Policy 35 (4): 810‐835. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00085.x

Stockemer, Daniel. 2016. “Is the Turnout Function in Democracies and Nondemocracies Alike or Different?” Politics & Policy 44 (5): 889‐915. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12174
Welfare States with Work: Government Partisanship and Policy Responsiveness in the Netherlands
Authors: Son Jung Wook
Published: May 2020

Existing studies of welfare regime generally consider that Christian democratic countries would face severe challenges in the transition to service economy due to its conservative cling to social insurance, breadwinner‐oriented employment, and familialism. In this article, I explain how Christian democratic countries overcame these challenges by focusing on the concept of policy responsiveness. I argue that Christian democratic parties could shift from labor shedding to employment‐friendly policies in transition by implementing a series of policies targeting the preference of unemployed workers. The historical root as the cross‐class coalition party makes it politically feasible and less costly for Christian democratic parties to focus on unemployed workers' interests at the possible expense of labor market insider's interests. To substantiate my argument, I investigate the policy trajectory in the Netherlands, a country that achieved the most prominent employment expansion in Christian Democratic regime.

Related Articles

Dekker, Fabian. 2010. “Self‐Employed without Employees: Managing Risks in Modern Capitalism.” Politics & Policy 38 (4): 765‐788. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00257.x

Flavin, Patrick, Alexander C. Pacek, and Benjamin Radcliff. 2011. “State Intervention and Subjective Well‐Being in Advanced Industrial Democracies.” Politics & Policy 29 (2): 251‐269. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00290.x

Wagle, Udaya R. 2014. “The Heterogeneity Politics of the Welfare State: Changing Population Heterogeneity and Welfare State Policies in High‐Income OECD Countries, 1980‐2005.” Politics & Policy 41 (6): 947‐984. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12053
A proposal of standardization for histopathological lesions to characterize fish diseases
Authors: Rey Alba Lucía , Asín Javier , Ruiz Zarzuela Imanol , Luján Lluís , Iregui Carlos A. , de Blas Ignacio
Published: May 2020

The use of histopathology in fish sciences is broadly extended, although it is currently devoid of standardization across the literature. There have been initiatives to standardize every step of the histological evaluation, including description, diagnosis, interpretation, data recording and reporting, and statistical analysis, but, in general, the histopathological systems applied to date present a series of limitations that hamper the reproducibility of the derived data. On top of these limitations, an agreed, organ‐by‐organ list of lesions to be recorded is currently lacking. Therefore, this communication proposes a validated and comprehensive list of features to record in skin, head, eye, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, gonads, kidney, and other organs of farmed red and Nile tilapias (Oreochromis sp. and Oreochromis niloticus L., respectively), white cachama (Piaractus brachypomus), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and other species. Once this list is agreed and accepted by fish pathologists and other fish scientists, it could be the cornerstone for the development of well‐established and reproducible histopathological scoring systems. This communication highlights the importance of standardization initiatives in fish histology to produce reliable and high‐quality data.
Stratified proportional subdistribution hazards model with covariate‐adjusted censoring weight for case‐cohort studies
Authors: Kim Soyoung , Xu Yayun , Zhang Mei‐Jie , Ahn Kwang‐Woo
Published: May 2020

The case‐cohort study design is widely used to reduce cost when collecting expensive covariates in large cohort studies with survival or competing risks outcomes. A case‐cohort study dataset consists of two parts: (a) a random sample and (b) all cases or failures from a specific cause of interest. Clinicians often assess covariate effects on competing risks outcomes. The proportional subdistribution hazards model directly evaluates the effect of a covariate on the cumulative incidence function under the non‐covariate‐dependent censoring assumption for the full cohort study. However, the non‐covariate‐dependent censoring assumption is often violated in many biomedical studies. In this article, we propose a proportional subdistribution hazards model for case‐cohort studies with stratified data with covariate‐adjusted censoring weight. We further propose an efficient estimator when extra information from the other causes is available under case‐cohort studies. The proposed estimators are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal. Simulation studies show (a) the proposed estimator is unbiased when the censoring distribution depends on covariates and (b) the proposed efficient estimator gains estimation efficiency when using extra information from the other causes. We analyze a bone marrow transplant dataset and a coronary heart disease dataset using the proposed method.
Challenges to Habitus: Scruffy Hedges and Weeds in the Irish Countryside
Authors: Burns Louise
Published: May 2020

It is established that, in many countries, farmers recognise displayed tidiness in farming practice as indicative of ‘good’ farming. This paper asks whether Irish farmers share this recognition, and considers how this may affect uptake of agri‐environmental schemes and the potential for alterations in farming practices associated with such schemes to become ‘culturally embedded’. Taking a Bourdieusian approach, this paper examines features which Irish farmers associate with tidy, ‘good’ farming practices and the resulting capital invested in them. It is found that the Irish participants do recognise displayed tidy practice as cultural capital, but that it is mainly male farmers who afford this capital sufficient value to recognise the display of tidiness as status‐conferring symbolic capital. This recognition results in inter‐farmer criticism and judgement, and in the questioning by many male farmers of the untidy farmer’s right to the ‘good farmer’ identity. This is not the case for female farmers, who generally dislike the culture of judgement and criticism. In light of this culture, it is suggested that tidiness is one reason why agri‐environmental schemes do not become culturally embedded, and that this issue may be exacerbated by the low representation of Irish women in farm ownership and management.
Locality Domains in Syntax: Evidence from Sentence Processing
Authors: Keine Stefan
Published: May 2020

One of the main discoveries of generative syntax is that long‐distance extraction proceeds in a successive‐cyclic manner, in that these dependencies are comprised of a sequence of local extraction steps. This article provides support for this general picture by presenting novel parsing evidence for intermediate landing sites created by successive‐cyclic movement, and it uses this parsing evidence to investigate the distribution of intermediate gaps. The central findings of this article are that (i) there is evidence that successive‐cyclic movement targets the edge of CPs and that (ii) there is no comparable evidence for an intermediate landing site at vP edges. These findings are fully consistent with the classical view of successive cyclicity, according to which only finite‐clause edges host intermediate landing sites. In the context of phase theory, these results receive a straightforward explanation if CPs are phases but vPs are not. The processing evidence presented here thus provides a novel diagnostic for the distribution of phases and new evidence for their active role in online sentence processing.
Human brown adipose tissue: Classical brown rather than brite/beige?
Authors: Cannon Barbara , de Jong Jasper M. A. , Fischer Alexander W. , Nedergaard Jan , Petrovic Natasa
Published: May 2020

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

It has been suggested that human brown adipose tissue (BAT) is more similar to the brite/beige adipose tissue of mice than to classical BAT of mice. The basis of this is discussed in relationship to the physiological conditions of standard experimental mice.

What advances does it highlight?

We highlight that, provided mouse adipose tissues are examined under physiological conditions closer to those prevalent for most humans, the gene expression profile of mouse classical BAT is more similar to that of human BAT than is the profile of mouse brite/beige adipose tissue. Human BAT is therefore not different in nature from classical mouse BAT.

Since the presence of brown adipose tissue (BAT) was established in adult humans some 13 years ago, its physiological significance and molecular characteristics have been discussed. In particular, it has been proposed that the mouse adipose tissue depot most closely resembling and molecularly parallel to human BAT is not classical mouse BAT. Instead, so‐called brite or beige adipose tissue, which is characteristically observed in the inguinal ‘white’ adipose tissue depot of mice, has been proposed to be the closest mouse equivalent of human BAT. We summarize here the published evidence examining this question. We emphasize the differences in tissue appearance and tissue transcriptomes from ‘standard’ mice [young, chow fed and, in effect semi‐cold exposed (20°C)] versus ‘physiologically humanized’ mice [middle‐aged, high‐fat diet‐fed mice living at thermoneutrality (30°C)]. We find that in the physiologically humanized mice, classical BAT displays molecular and cellular characteristics that are more akin to human BAT than are those of brite/beige adipose tissues from either standard or physiologically humanized mice. We suggest, therefore, that mouse BAT is the more relevant tissue for translational studies. This is an invited summary of a presentation given at Physiology 2019 (Aberdeen).
High-Frequency Ultrasonic Forceps for the In Vivo Detection of Cancer During Breast-Conserving Surgery
Authors: Doyle Timothy E. , Butler Audrey P. , Salisbury Michael J. , Bennett Michael J. , Wagner Garrett M. , Al-Ghaib Huda A. , Matsen Cindy B.
Published: May 2020

A major aim in the surgical management of soft tissue cancers is to detect and remove all cancerous tissues while ensuring noncancerous tissue remains intact. Breast-conserving surgery provides a prime illustration of this aim, since remaining cancer in breast margins results in multiple surgeries, while removal of too much unaffected tissue often has undesirable cosmetic effects. Similarly, resection of benign lymph nodes during sentinel lymph node biopsy can cause deleterious health outcomes. The objective of this study was to create an intraoperative, in vivo device to address these challenges. Instant diagnostic information generated by this device could allow surgeons to precisely and completely remove all malignant tissue during the first surgery. Surgical forceps based on Martin forceps were instrumented at the tips with high-frequency ultrasonic transducers composed of polyvinylidene difluoride, a thickness-sensing rotary potentiometer at the base, and a spring to provide the appropriate restoring force. Transducer wires within the forceps were connected to an external high-frequency pulser-receiver, activating the forceps' transmitting transducer at 50 MHz and amplifying through-transmission signals from the receiving transducer. The forceps were tested with tissue-mimicking agarose phantoms embedded with 58–550 μm polyethylene microspheres to simulate various stages of cancer progression and to provide a range of measurement values. Results were compared with measurements from standard 50 MHz immersion transducers. The results showed that the forceps displayed similar sensitivity for attenuation and increased accuracy for wave speed. The forceps could also be extended to endoscopes and laparoscopes.
Paperwork mistakes ensnare health data expert
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: May 2020

Georgia Tech professor faces sentencing—and may lose her job—for mishandling grant.
Supramolecular attack particles are autonomous killing entities released from cytotoxic T cells
Authors: Bálint Š. , Müller S. , Fischer R. , Kessler B. M. , Harkiolaki M. , Valitutti S. , Dustin M. L.
Published: May 2020

Supramolecular attack particles

Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) are at the front lines against cancer and chronic infection. T cells kill by secreting caspase-activating granzymes and the pore-forming protein perforin from dense core granules. However, the structural basis of lethal hit delivery has remained unknown. Balint
et al.
enriched the synaptic output of CTLs to investigate the released form of perforin and granzyme B. They found that CTLs released perforin and granzymes in stable particles called supramolecular attack complexes or SMAPs. The SMAPs were composed of a core shell structure and were assembled in the CTL dense secretory granules before release. The released SMAPs showed an innate ability to kill target cells.

Science
, this issue p.
897
Aerodynamic imaging by mosquitoes inspires a surface detector for autonomous flying vehicles
Authors: Nakata Toshiyuki , Phillips Nathan , Simões Patrício , Russell Ian J. , Cheney Jorn A. , Walker Simon M. , Bomphrey Richard J.
Published: May 2020

Sensing surfaces like a mosquito

Although sonar or lidar are used by autonomous vehicles to detect nearby objects, these approaches incur significant equipment and signal-processing costs. Nakata
et al.
show that mosquitos detect surfaces using the flow fields caused by the movement of their own wings (see the Perspective by Young and Garratt). Near surfaces, there are small changes in the pressure and velocity that mosquitos can detect using their sensitive antennae. The authors translated this process into a simple, low-cost approach for detecting surfaces near a flying quadcopter.

Science
, this issue p.
634
; see also p.
586
Microbial–host molecular exchange and its functional consequences in early mammalian life
Authors: Ganal-Vonarburg Stephanie C. , Hornef Mathias W. , Macpherson Andrew J.
Published: May 2020

Molecules from symbiotic microorganisms pervasively infiltrate almost every organ system of a mammalian host, marking the initiation of microbial–host mutualism in utero, long before the newborn acquires its own microbiota. Starting from in utero development, when maternal microbial molecules can penetrate the placental barrier, we follow the different phases of adaptation through the life events of birth, lactation, and weaning, as the young mammal adapts to the microbes that colonize its body surfaces. The vulnerability of early-life mammals is mitigated by maternal detoxification and excretion mechanisms, the protective effects of maternal milk, and modulation of neonatal receptor systems. Host adaptations to microbial exposure during specific developmental windows are critical to ensure organ function for development, growth, and immunity.