bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using human intestinal biopsies to study the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Nasser Y. , Boeckxstaens G. E. , Wouters M. M. , Schemann M. , Vanner S.
Published: February 2014

Background

Although animal models of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have provided important insights, there are no models that fully express the features of this complex condition. One alternative approach is the use of human intestinal biopsies obtained during endoscopic procedures to examine peripheral mechanisms in this disorder. These studies have served to confirm the existence of peripheral pathways in humans with IBS and have provided many new mechanistic insights. Two general approaches have been employed; one approach has been to examine the biological activity of mediators within the mucosal tissue of IBS patients and the other has been to examine changes in the structural properties of key signaling pathways contained within the biopsies. Using these approaches, important changes have been discovered involving the enteric nervous system and the extrinsic sensory pathway (dorsal root ganglia neurons), the immune system, and epithelial signaling in IBS patients compared to healthy subjects.

Purpose

This review will systematically explore these mechanistic pathways, highlight the implications of these novel findings and discuss some of the important limitations of this approach.
In search of salience: phenomenological analysis of moral distress
Authors: Manara Duilio F. , Villa Giulia , Moranda Dina
Published: February 2014

The nurse's moral competences in the management of situations which present ethical implications are less investigated in literature than other ethical problems related to clinical nursing. Phenomenology affirms that emotional warmth is the first fundamental attitude as well as the premise of any ethical reasoning. Nevertheless, it is not clear how and when this could be confirmed in situations where the effect of emotions on the nurse's decisional process is undiscovered. To explore the processes through which situations of moral distress are determined for the nurses involved in nursing situations, a phenomenological–hermeneutic analysis of a nurse's report of an experience lived by her as a moral distress situation has been conducted. Nursing emerges as a relational doctrine that requires the nurse to have different degrees of personal involvement, the integration between logical–formal thinking and narrative thinking, the perception of the salience of the given situation also through the interpretation and management of one's own emotions, and the capacity to undergo a process of co‐construction of shared meanings that the others might consider adequate for the resolution of her problem. Moral action requires the nurse to think constantly about the important things that are happening in a nursing situation. Commitment towards practical situations is directed to training in order to promote the nurse's reflective ability towards finding salience in nursing situations, but it is also directed to the management of nursing assistance and human resources for the initial impact that this reflexive ability has on patients' and their families' lives and on their need to be heard and assisted. The only case analysed does not allow generalizations. Further research is needed to investigate how feelings generated by emotional acceptance influence ethical decision making and moral distress in nursing situations.
Slavery and jouissance: analysing complaints of suffering in UK and Australian nurses' talk about their work
Authors: Traynor Michael , Evans Alicia
Published: February 2014

Nursing has a gendered and religious history where ideas of duty and servitude are present and shape its professional identity. The profession also promotes idealized notions of relationships with patients and of professional autonomy both of which are, in practice, highly constrained or even impossible. This paper draws on psychoanalytic concepts in order to reconsider nursing's professional identity. It does this by presenting an analysis of data from two focus group studies involving nurses in England and Australia held between 2010 and 2012. The studies gave rise to data where extremely negative talk about nursing work seemed to produce, or to be expressed with, a high degree of energy, and a particular kind of enjoyment. In our analysis, we focus on the nurses' apparent enjoyment derived from their expression of a position of powerlessness in which they describe themselves as ‘slaves’ or ‘martyrs’ in the health care system. We interpret this as jouissance and suggest that the positions of slave or martyr provide a possible response to what we argue is the impossibility of the nurse's role. We argue that a remnant of a quasi‐religious ethic within the profession makes it acceptable for nurses to talk about self‐sacrifice and powerlessness as part of their working subjectivity. We further argue that this analysis offers a new consideration of the issue of power and professional identity in nursing that goes beyond seeing nurses as simply overpowered by, or engaged in, a gendered power struggle with other professional groups. We suggest that powerlessness and victimhood hold particular attractions and advantages for nurses and are positions that are more available to nurses than to other occupational groups. This research shows how psychoanalytic theory can help produce new insights into the problems and complexity of nursing and extend existing study of the professions.
A method for neighborhood‐level surveillance of food purchasing
Authors: Buckeridge David L. , Charland Katia , Labban Alice , Ma Yu
Published: February 2014

Added sugar, particularly in carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), represents a considerable proportion of caloric intake in North America. Interventions to decrease the intake of added sugar have been proposed, but monitoring their effectiveness can be difficult due to the costs and limitations of dietary surveys. We developed, assessed the accuracy of, and took an initial step toward validating an indicator of neighborhood‐level purchases of CSDs using automatically captured store scanner data in Montreal, Canada, between 2008 and 2010 and census data describing neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics. Our indicator predicted total monthly neighborhood sales based on historical sales and promotions and characteristics of the stores and neighborhoods. The prediction error for monthly sales in sampled stores was low (2.2%), and we demonstrated a negative association between predicted total sales and median personal income. For each $10,000 decrease in median personal income, we observed a fivefold increase in predicted monthly sales of CSDs. This indicator can be used by public health agencies to implement automated systems for neighborhood‐level monitoring of an important upstream determinant of health. Future refinement of this indicator is possible to account for factors such as store catchment areas and to incorporate nutritional information about products.
A model of social influence on body mass index
Authors: Hammond Ross A. , Ornstein Joseph T.
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we develop an agent‐based model of social influence on body weight. The model's assumptions are grounded in theory and evidence from physiology, social psychology, and behavioral science, and its outcomes are tested against longitudinal data from American youth. We discuss the implementation of the model, the insights it generates, and its implications for public health policy. By explicating a well‐grounded dynamic mechanism, our analysis helps clarify important dependencies for both efforts to leverage social influence for obesity intervention and efforts to interpret clustering of BMI in networks.
Mechanisms of oncogenic chromosomal translocations
Authors: Byrne Michael , Wray Justin , Reinert Brian , Wu Yuehan , Nickoloff Jac , Lee Suk‐Hee , Hromas Robert , Williamson Elizabeth
Published: February 2014

Chromosome translocations are caused by inappropriate religation of two DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) in heterologous chromosomes. These DSBs can be generated by endogenous or exogenous sources. Endogenous sources of DSBs leading to translocations include inappropriate recombination activating gene (RAG) or activation‐induced deaminase (AID) activity during immune receptor maturation. Endogenous DSBs can also occur at noncanonical DNA structures or at collapsed replication forks. Exogenous sources of DSBs leading to translocations include ionizing radiation (IR) and cancer chemotherapy. Spatial proximity of the heterologous chromosomes is also important for translocations. While three distinct pathways for DNA DSB repair exist, mounting evidence supports alternative nonhomologous end joining (aNHEJ) as the predominant pathway through which the majority of translocations occur. Initiated by poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), aNHEJ is utilized less frequently in DNA DSB repair than other forms of DSB repair. We recently found that PARP1 is essential for chromosomal translocations to occur and that small molecule PARP1 inhibitors, already in clinical use, can inhibit translocations generated by IR or topoisomerase II inhibition. These data confirm the central role of PARP1 in aNHEJ‐mediated chromosomal translocations and raise the possibility of using clinically available PARP1 inhibitors in patients who are at high risk for secondary oncogenic chromosomal translocations.
Vitamin D supplementation and body weight status: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Pathak K. , Soares M. J. , Calton E. K. , Zhao Y. , Hallett J.
Published: February 2014

Vitamin D is anticipated to have many extra‐skeletal health benefits. We questioned whether supplementation with the vitamin influenced body weight and composition. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted on high‐quality, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that had supplemented vitamin D without imposing any caloric restriction. Eighteen trials reporting either body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), percentage fat mass (%FM) or lean body mass (LBM) met our criteria. Twelve studies provided the required data for the meta‐analysis. Vitamin D supplementation did not influence the standardized mean difference (SMD) for body weight, FM, %FM or LBM. A small but non‐significant decrease in BMI (SMD = −0.097, 95% confidence interval: [−0.210, 0.016], P = 0.092) was observed. Meta‐regression confirmed that neither the absolute vitamin D status achieved nor its change from baseline influenced the SMD of any obesity measure. However, increasing age of the subjects predicted a shift in the SMD for FM towards the placebo treatment, whereas a greater percentage of women in these studies favoured a decrease in FM following vitamin D. Vitamin D supplementation did not decrease measures of adiposity in the absence of caloric restriction. A potential confounding by age and gender was encountered.
Gender Differences in Psychological Distress and Quality of Life in Patients with an ICD 1‐Year Postimplant
Authors: STARRENBURG ANNEMIEKE , PEDERSEN SUSANNE , van den BROEK KRISTA , KRAAIER KARIN , SCHOLTEN MARCOEN , VAN DER PALEN JOB
Published: February 2014

Background

Gender differences in patient‐reported outcomes in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) have been researched, but findings are inconclusive and mostly based on cross‐sectional study designs. To gain a better insight into potential determinants of psychological distress and health‐related quality of life (HQOL), we examined the relationship between gender and patient‐reported outcomes in patients with an ICD in the first year after ICD implantation.

Methods

Consecutive patients (N = 300) receiving an ICD between September 2007 and February 2010 at Medisch Spectrum Twente hospital, the Netherlands, completed several questionnaires to assess psychological distress and HQOL prior to ICD implantation and at 2 months, 5 months, 8 months, and 12 months postimplantation.

Results

Correcting for clinical confounders (e.g., left ventricular ejection fraction, ICD indication, comorbidities, ICD shocks), women reported higher levels of anxiety (P = 0.021) and shock‐related anxiety (P = 0.047) than men in the course of a year. On most HQOL subscales, no gender differences were found, except for subscale Physical functioning, where women reported higher levels of improvement compared to men (P = 0.008). Gender was independently associated with poorer device‐related acceptance, but only on the Florida Patient Acceptance Scale domain Body image concerns (P = 0.043), with women expressing higher levels of concerns about their body image compared to men.

Conclusions

Women report higher levels of general and shock‐related anxiety, and higher levels of body image concerns than men. Women showed more improvement in physical functioning. Screening patients before and after ICD implantation for general and shock anxiety may help determine patients who could benefit from psychological counseling.
Visualization of the Antegrade Fast and Slow Pathway Inputs in Patients with Slow‐Fast Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia
Authors: SUZUKI ATSUSHI , YOSHIDA AKIHIRO , TAKEI ASUMI , FUKUZAWA KOJI , KIUCHI KUNIHIKO , TANAKA SATOKO , ITOH MITSUAKI , IMAMURA KIMITAKE , FUJIWARA RYUDO , NAKANISHI TOMOYUKI , YAMASHITA SOICHIRO , MATSUMOTO AKINORI , KONISHI HIROKI , ICHIBORI HIROTOSHI , HIRATA KEN‐ICHI
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Mapping of the antegrade fast pathway (A‐FP) exact sites and antegrade slow pathway (A‐SP) input locations has not been well described.

Methods

In 56 patients with slow‐fast atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (SF‐AVNRT), pacing during sinus rhythm and entrainment pacing during SF‐AVNRT were performed at various sites in the triangle of Koch and coronary sinus (CS) to identify the A‐FP and A‐SP inputs. User‐defined three‐dimensional electro‐anatomical mapping of the stimulus‐His potential (St‐H) interval and anatomical location was performed. The A‐FP input was defined as the site of the shortest St‐H interval, and A‐SP input as the site of the shortest St‐H interval and with a postpacing‐interval equal to the tachycardia cycle length. The locations of the A‐FP and A‐SP inputs were mapped as a ratio of the distance between the His bundle (HB) and CS orifice (CSO), and the HB‐CSO axis was divided into three zones: superior‐, mid‐, and inferior septum. The distance between the A‐SP and A‐FP inputs was calculated using the distance from each input to the HB and HB‐CSO axis.

Results

Only 30 patients were included in this study because the A‐SP mapping failed in 26. The A‐SP input was distributed to the superior septum in four, mid‐ or inferior septum in 25, and CS in one. An A‐SP input which was located less than 10 mm from the A‐FP input was observed in one of four patients with a superior septum A‐SP.

Conclusions

An A‐SP input at the superior septum seemed to be a potential risk for atrioventricular nodal injury during ablation.
Sensitivity of Transesophageal Electrophysiologic Study in Children with Supraventricular Tachycardia on Electrocardiography
Authors: AKIN ALPER , ÖZER SEMA , KARAGÖZ TEVFİK , AYKAN HAYRETTİN HAKAN , GÜLGÜN MUSTAFA , ÖZKUTLU SÜHEYLA , ALEHAN DURSUN , ÇELİKER ALPAY
Published: February 2014

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inducibility of tachycardia by transesophageal electrophysiologic study (TEEPS) in patients with documented supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) on electrocardiography and to investigate the accuracy of TEEPS records by comparing with intracardiac electrophysiologic study (IEPS).

Material and Methods

The TEEPS records of patients having documented electrocardiography during SVT were reviewed. The results of TEEPS in 43 of 85 patients were compared with results of IEPS for compatibility of diagnosis.

Results

A total 85 patients, 46 male and 39 female, mean weight 35.1 kg (36–87), aged 1 month–17 years, were included. Tachycardia was induced by TEEPS in 79 of 85 patients with documented electrocardiography (sensitivity 92.9%). IEPS for diagnosis or ablation was conducted in 40 patients having inducible tachycardia and three of six who had no inducible tachycardia by TEEPS. Tachycardia was induced by IEPS in 39 of 40 (97.5%) patients who had inducible tachycardia and two of three who had no inducible tachycardia by TEEPS. Mechanisms of tachycardias were similar in 97.5% of patients (37/39) who had inducible tachycardia in TEEPS and IEPS. One of the patients with atrioventricular reentry tachycardia by TEEPS was diagnosed as atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and the other one was diagnosed as atypical AVNRT and atrial tachycardia by IEPS.

Conclusion

The rates of inducibility and mechanisms of tachycardias by TEEPS in children having documented SVT were similar with those obtained from IEPS.
Effectiveness of Opioid Analgesics in Chronic Noncancer Pain
Authors: Ferrari Renata , Zanolin Maria E. , Duse Genni , Visentin Marco
Published: February 2014

Background

There is general agreement about the need to perform a screening test to assess the risk of opioid misuse prior to starting a long‐term opioid treatment for chronic noncancer pain. The evidence supporting the effectiveness of opioid long‐term treatment is weak, and no predictors of its usefulness have been assessed.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the effect on pain and quality of life of chronic opioid treatment, and detect the possible predictors of its effectiveness.

Methods

This observational, prospective study was conducted in 2 Italian Pain Relief Units on 77 patients affected by intractable chronic pain. Patients were submitted to psychological tests, investigating the individual pain experience, risk of opioid misuse, mood states, quality of life, and personality characteristics prior to starting treatment and at 2,4, and 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

Both maximum and habitual pain, as measured with VAS, underwent a statistically significant reduction at 2, 4, and 6‐month follow‐up. In multivariate analysis, lower scores in the Pain Medication Questionnaire (PMQ) were predictive of a major reduction in maximum VAS (P = 0.005). Both low PMQ and MMPI‐cynicism scores were predictive of habitual VAS decrease (P = 0.012 and P = 0.028, respectively).

Conclusion

The results indicate that pain relief significantly improved over a 6‐month period of opioid treatment, together with quality of life. The outcome was better in patients with a pretreatment low risk of opioid misuse, low scores in the Cynicism scale of MMPI‐2, and no aberrant drug behaviors at follow‐up. Therefore, a psychological screening and support is crucial for a good outcome of opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain patients.
Characterization of Somatosensory Profiles in Patients with Crohn's Disease
Authors: Münster Tino , Eckl Stefanie , Leis Stefan , Göhring‐Waldeck Gabriele , Ihmsen Harald , Maihöfner Christian
Published: February 2014

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) is a painful chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It primarily affects terminal ileum, but the involvement of large and small intestines or extraintestinal manifestations is very common. CD may go along with neurogenic inflammation, mediated by substance P and CGRP, which are also key players in pain transmission. This may in turn contribute to hyperalgesia and altered somatosensory function in CD.

Methods

One hundred and three (103) patients with CD and 80 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Patient characteristics and disease history were documented. We used quantitative sensory testing (QST) to investigate the somatosensory profile in patients and volunteers. We also calculated z‐scores for the QST results of the patients with CD based on the data of our control group. A 2‐step cluster analysis, using all QST data, was performed to find subgroups within patients and volunteers.

Results

Thresholds of warm detection, mechanical pain, and vibration detection did significantly differ between patients with CD and volunteers. Z‐scores indicated a general trend of sensory loss in CD patients with a significant relationship between patients with a sensory loss for cold and warm detection. In the hyposensitive cluster of the CD cohort, patients were more frequently male, had a higher incidence of extraintestinal manifestations, and suffered longer from CD.

Conclusions

Our findings are consistent with the presence of a subclinical small fiber neuropathy. The group of CD patients with pronounced neuropathy findings were predominantly males, had a higher incidence of extraintestinal manifestations, and tended to have a longer history of disease duration.
The nuclear protein Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 3 (AtPARP3) is required for seed storability in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Rissel D. , Losch J. , Peiter E.
Published: February 2014

The deterioration of seeds during prolonged storage results in a reduction of viability and germination rate. DNA damage is one of the major cellular defects associated with seed deterioration. It is provoked by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) even in the quiescent state of the desiccated seed. In contrast to other stages of seed life, DNA repair during storage is hindered through the low seed water content; thereby DNA lesions can accumulate. To allow subsequent seedling development, DNA repair has thus to be initiated immediately upon imbibition. Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are important components in the DNA damage response in humans. Arabidopsis thaliana contains three homologues to the human HsPARP1 protein. Of these three, only AtPARP3 was very highly expressed in seeds. Histochemical GUS staining of embryos and endosperm layers revealed strong promoter activity of AtPARP3 during all steps of germination. This coincided with high ROS activity and indicated a role of the nuclear‐localised AtPARP3 in DNA repair during germination. Accordingly, stored parp3‐1 mutant seeds lacking AtPARP3 expression displayed a delay in germination as compared to Col‐0 wild‐type seeds. A controlled deterioration test showed that the mutant seeds were hypersensitive to unfavourable storage conditions. The results demonstrate that AtPARP3 is an important component of seed storability and viability.
Contracting for Capacity under Renegotiation: Partner Preferences and the Value of Anticipating Renegotiation
Authors: Kemahlıoğlu‐Ziya Eda
Published: February 2014

This paper studies contract renegotiation in a stylized supply chain model. Two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) sign fixed‐quantity contracts with a contract manufacturer (CM) prior to demand realization. Contract renegotiation after demand realization allows the OEMs to use capacity that is more or less than what they contracted for. We assume that the extra profit due to efficient allocation of capacity is allocated to the supply chain parties according to the egalitarian rule and investigate when an OEM's expected post‐renegotiation profit is maximized. We aim to understand how an OEM's expected post‐renegotiation profit is affected by her ability to negotiate a low wholesale price in the initial contract as well as the ability of the other OEM to do the same. Regardless of whether renegotiation is anticipated or not at the time of the initial contract, we find that an OEM, who had weak buyer power vis‐a‐vis the CM and was unable to negotiate a low wholesale price in the initial contract, may benefit more from renegotiation than a stronger OEM. In addition, we show that how the expected post‐renegotiation profit of an OEM changes with demand variance or anticipating renegotiation depends on the strength of the OEM's buyer power. Finally, we numerically test the robustness of our results in a supply chain with three OEMs and also identify when the OEMs prefer to leave the CM out of the renegotiation.
POMS Initiatives for Promoting Practice‐Driven Research and Research‐Influenced Practice
Authors: Singhal Kalyan , Sodhi ManMohan S. , Tang Christopher S.
Published: February 2014

The Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) and Production and Operations Management ( POM) have developed new initiatives with these objectives: (1) to disseminate managerial insights of articles published in POM to practitioners, MBA students, and participants in executive development programs; (2) to solicit descriptions of current and emerging problems from practitioners and share them with academics; and (3) to recognize academic research based on direct work with practitioners.
High‐resolution melting analysis for rapid detection and characterization of Botrytis cinerea phenotypes resistant to fenhexamid and boscalid
Authors: Chatzidimopoulos M. , Ganopoulos I. , Madesis P. , Vellios E. , Tsaftaris A. , Pappas A. C.
Published: February 2014

A novel, high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis was developed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with resistance to fenhexamid (hydroxyanilides) and boscalid (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors) in Botrytis cinerea isolates. Thirty‐six single‐spore isolates arising from 13 phenotypes were selected and tested for fungicide sensitivity. Germ tube elongation assays showed two distinct sensitivity levels for each fungicide. Sequencing revealed that resistance to fenhexamid was due to a nucleotide change in the erg27 gene, resulting in an amino acid replacement of phenylalanine (F) with serine (S) or valine (V) at position 412 of the protein, whereas in isolates resistant to boscalid, a nucleotide change in the sdhB gene resulted in the replacement of histidine (H) with arginine (R) or tyrosine (Y) at position 272 of the respective protein. In each case, melting curve analysis generated three distinct profiles corresponding to the presence of each nucleotide in the targeted areas. HRM analysis successfully detected and differentiated the substitutions associated with resistance to both fungicides. In vitro bioassays, direct sequencing and high‐resolution melting analysis showed a 100% correlation with detection of resistance. The results demonstrate the utility of HRM analysis as a potential molecular tool for routine detection of fungicide resistance using known polymorphic genes of B. cinerea populations.
Cognition and psychopathology in nonagenarians and centenarians living in geriatric nursing homes in Switzerland: a focus on anosognosia
Authors: Mall Jean‐Frédéric , Chouiter Leila , Antonietti Jean‐Philippe , Ebbing Karsten , von Gunten Armin
Published: February 2014

Background

The number of nonagenarians and centenarians is rising dramatically, and many of them live in nursing homes. Very little is known about psychiatric symptoms and cognitive abilities other than memory in this population. This exploratory study focuses on anosognosia and its relationship with common psychiatric and cognitive symptoms.

Methods

Fifty‐eight subjects aged 90 years or older were recruited from geriatric nursing homes and divided into five groups according to Mini‐Mental State Examination scores. Assessment included the five‐word test, executive clock‐drawing task, lexical and categorical fluencies, Anosognosia Questionnaire‐Dementia, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Results

Subjects had moderate cognitive impairment, with mean ± SD Mini‐Mental State Examination being 15.41 ± 7.04. Anosognosia increased with cognitive impairment and was associated with all cognitive domains, as well as with apathy and agitation. Subjects with mild global cognitive decline seemed less anosognosic than subjects with the least or no impairment. Neither anosognosia nor psychopathological features were related to physical conditions.

Conclusions

Anosognosia in oldest‐old nursing home residents was mostly mild. It was associated with both cognitive and psychopathological changes, but whether anosognosia is causal to the observed psychopathological features requires further investigation.
Market Access, Export Performance and Survival: Evidence fromPeruvian Firms
Authors: Fugazza Marco , McLaren Alain
Published: February 2014

This paper explores the effect of market access on firms' export performance and their survival in foreign markets. The data used covers allPeruvian exporting firms between 2002 and 2008, a period during whichPeru was active in joining the global economy. This is done using two indices, one that summarizes the tariffs faced by exporters, the other that measures the preferential margin at the bilateral level. Results show that more than market access conditionsper se, it is market access conditions relative to those faced by competitors that significantly influences export performance and survival. About a fifth of the increase of exports directed to Mercosur countries is due to improvement in preference margins.
Sleep quality, use of hypnotics and sleeping habits in different age‐groups among older people
Authors: Hägg Miriam , Houston Britta , Elmståhl Sölve , Ekström Henrik , Wann‐Hansson Christine
Published: February 2014

Background

Sleep disturbances are common among older people (>65 years). Further, long‐term use of sedative‐hypnotics in older people is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, older people represent a large span of life years, and few studies have included the oldest‐old above 85 years.

Aim

To investigate and compare sleep quality, use of hypnotics and sleeping habits in different age groups of the older population in the Scania region, Sweden and in relation to sociodemographic‐ and functional status.

Design and participants

A cross‐sectional population‐based study including 2931 people aged 60–93 years from five different municipalities in Scania was performed during 2001–2004.

Method

The sample was divided into age groups, young‐old (60–72 years), old‐old (78–84 years) and oldest‐old (87–93) years. Data constitutes of sleep related questions, sociodemographic‐ and functional status from the study ‘Good Ageing in Skåne’. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sleep quality, hypnotics use and sleeping habits in relation to sociodemographic‐ and functional status. The aim was to investigate associations, not the magnitude of associations between variables.

Results

In all age groups, those who used hypnotics and were living alone had significantly poorer sleep quality and shortest sleeping time than nonhypnotic users and those who lived together. A significant increase of hypnotics and frequency of use was seen with increasing age. Frequency of napping increased significantly with degree of dependence in all age groups and with increasing age.

Conclusions

Insomnia is still a problem and hypnotic use has not improved sleep for a large number of older people. Hypnotics are effective as short‐term treatment, however, nonpharmacological interventions and psychological and behavioural therapies should be considered for treating older people with chronic insomnia.
Identification of Facilitators and Barriers to Home Dialysis Selection by Canadian Adults with ESRD
Authors: Osterlund Katherine , Mendelssohn David , Clase Catherine , Guyatt Gordon , Nesrallah Gihad
Published: February 2014

Home dialysis (home HD or home PD) remains underutilized in most jurisdictions. Physicians, advanced‐practice nurses, and policy makers working with chronic kidney disease populations can provide insights into patient, healthcare professional, and system‐level barriers to home dialysis selection by suitable patients. We used in‐depth interviews, with a purposive sampling strategy until informational redundancy was achieved, to elicit barriers and facilitators to home dialysis selection from thirteen informants. We triangulated these data against qualitative data collected in a related survey of nephrologist attitudes. We used a modified grounded theory approach to construct a taxonomy of barriers and facilitators. Informants included nephrologists (n = 11), an advanced‐practice nurse, and a health administrator with a provincial renal care organization. We constructed separate taxonomies of barriers and related facilitators that were specific to PD, specific to home HD, and common to both. We distinguished between factors favoring, modifiable factors opposing, and nonmodifiable factors opposing home dialysis selection. Several major themes emerged, including: medical factors, home physical environment, psychological and cognitive factors (knowledge, attitudes, coping styles), social factors (supports, lifestyle), dialysis program, local hospital or regional factors (expertise, resources, local culture), healthcare professional‐related factors (knowledge, attitudes, reimbursement), health system‐related factors (funding models), and exogenous factors (late referral, technology). We identified several modifiable practices at the level of patient, healthcare professional, dialysis facility, and healthcare system to increase appropriate use of home dialysis. We discuss potential facilitating factors, knowledge gaps, and priorities for future research, and propose potential applications for this novel taxonomy of determinants of dialysis modality choice.
The influence of materialism and ideal body internalization on body‐dissatisfaction and body‐shaping behaviors of young men and women: Support for the Consumer Culture Impact Model
Authors: Guðnadóttir Unnur , Garðarsdóttir Ragna B.
Published: February 2014

Exposure to media images of the ‘body‐perfect’ ideal has been partly blamed for the pursuit of thinness among women and muscularity among men. Research has largely overlooked the materialistic messages frequently associated with these images. We present findings from two studies with Icelandic students aged 18–21, one focusing on young women (n = 303) and one on young men (n = 226), which test associations of materialistic and body‐perfect ideals with body dissatisfaction and excessive body shaping behaviors. In both studies, the internalization of materialistic values is strongly linked to the internalization of body‐perfect ideals: the thin‐ideal for young women, and the muscular‐ideal for young men. A materialist value orientation also predicted body dissatisfaction in both studies, and was linked to body shaping behaviors, albeit differently for young women and men. Thus, the research identifies materialism as a further correlate of both body dissatisfaction and excessive body‐shaping behaviors. The findings support Dittmar's () Consumer Culture Impact Model, which proposes that the body‐perfect and ‘material good life’ ideals jointly impact well‐being.
Preventing Suicide at Suicide Hotspots: A Case Study from Australia
Authors: Lockley Anne , Cheung Yee Tak Derek , Cox Georgina , Robinson Jo , Williamson Michelle , Harris Meredith , Machlin Anna , Moffat Caitlin , Pirkis Jane
Published: February 2014

The Gap Park Self‐Harm Minimisation Masterplan project is a collaborative attempt to address jumping suicides at Sydney's Gap Park through means restriction, encouraging help‐seeking, and increasing the likelihood of third‐party intervention. We used various data sources to describe the Masterplan project's processes, impacts, and outcomes. There have been reductions in reported jumps and confirmed suicides, although the trends are not statistically significant. There has been a significant increase in police call‐outs to intervene with suicidal people who have not yet reached the cliff's edge. The collaborative nature of the Masterplan project and its multifaceted approach appear to be reaping benefits.
The Impact of Participating in Suicide Research Online
Authors: Gibson Susanne , Boden Zoe V. R. , Benson Outi , Brand Sarah L.
Published: February 2014

The impact of participation in online mixed‐methods suicide research was investigated. Participants, who described feeling suicidal, completed an 18‐item questionnaire before and after taking part (n = 103), and answered open‐ended questions about participation (n = 97). Overall, participation reduced negative experiences and had no effect on positive experiences. Feelings of calm increased, but participants felt less supported. Some participants did experience distress, but some also reported this distress to be manageable. Anonymously sharing experiences of suicidality was viewed as important, had therapeutic benefits, and engendered hopes for recovery. The findings suggest a need to ensure vulnerable participants in online studies are well supported while protecting their anonymity.
Is overweight a risk factor for sports injuries in children, adolescents, and young adults?
Authors: Kemler E. , Vriend I. , Paulis W. D. , Schoots W. , van Middelkoop M. , Koes B.
Published: February 2014

Physical activity and sports participation are promoted to counteract the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and young adults. Both high body mass index and physical activity level have been associated with an increased risk of sports injuries. The objective is to determine the relationship between sports injuries and overweight in sports participants (4–24 years), taking physical activity into account. Data were obtained from the 2006–2011 “Injuries and Physical Activity in the Netherlands” survey. Analyses were based on a representative sample of 3846 sports participants (4–24 years). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate the association between sports injury and weight status. Of all the sports participants, 14.7% were overweight. Compared with normal‐weight sports participants, the odds of sustaining a sports injury was 0.73 [confidence interval (CI): 0.53–1.00, P = 0.050] for overweight sports participants; the odds for underweight sports participants was 0.80 (CI: 0.56–1.15, P = 0.226). There is some evidence that overweight sports participants (4–24 years) do not have an increased injury risk compared with normal‐weight sports participants, even when the level of physical activity is taken into account. Additional research is recommended regarding overweight people who start to participate in a physically active lifestyle.
Investigation of the mechanical behaviour of the foot skin
Authors: Fontanella C. G. , Carniel E. L. , Forestiero A. , Natali A. N.
Published: February 2014

Background/purpose

The aim of this work was to provide computational tools for the characterization of the actual mechanical behaviour of foot skin, accounting for results from experimental testing and histological investigation. Such results show the typical features of skin mechanics, such as anisotropic configuration, almost incompressible behaviour, material and geometrical non linearity. The anisotropic behaviour is mainly determined by the distribution of collagen fibres along specific directions, usually identified as cleavage lines.

Methods

To evaluate the biomechanical response of foot skin, a refined numerical model of the foot is developed. The overall mechanical behaviour of the skin is interpreted by a fibre‐reinforced hyperelastic constitutive model and the orientation of the cleavage lines is implemented by a specific procedure. Numerical analyses that interpret typical loading conditions of the foot are performed. The influence of fibres orientation and distribution on skin mechanics is outlined also by a comparison with results using an isotropic scheme.

Results

A specific constitutive formulation is provided to characterize the mechanical behaviour of foot skin. The formulation is applied within a numerical model of the foot to investigate the skin functionality during typical foot movements. Numerical analyses developed accounting for the actual anisotropic configuration of the skin show lower maximum principal stress fields than results from isotropic analyses.

Conclusion

The developed computational models provide reliable tools for the investigation of foot tissues functionality. Furthermore, the comparison between numerical results from anisotropic and isotropic models shows the optimal configuration of foot skin.
The seasonal variation in skin hydration, sebum, scaliness, brightness and elasticity in Korean females
Authors: Nam G. W. , Baek J. H. , Koh J. S. , Hwang J.‐K.
Published: February 2014

Background/purpose

Age, gender, regional, and ethnic differences influence skin conditions. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of environments, especially the air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, duration of sunshine, and precipitation on skin, and the seasonal variation in skin hydration, sebum, scales, brightness, and elasticity in Korean females.

Methods

The study included 89 Korean subjects, aged 29.7 ± 6.2 years. The five skin biophysical parameters (skin hydration, sebum, scales, brightness, and elasticity) were measured at six sites: forehead, under the eye, frontal cheek, crow's foot, lateral cheek, and inner forearm. Skin hydration was measured using the Corneometer® CM 825. Skin sebum was measured with Sebumeter® SM 815. Skin scaliness was measured with Visioscan® VC 98. Skin brightness (L* value) was measured by using Spectrophotometer. A suction chamber device, Cutometer® MPA 580, was used to measure the skin elasticity. The measurements were performed every month for 13 months, from April 2007 to April 2008.

Results

There were significantly seasonal variations in environmental factors. The air temperature was the lowest in January (−1.7°C), and the highest in August (26.5°C). The relative humidity was the lowest in February (46%), and the highest in July and August (75%). There was a negative correlation between skin scaliness and three environmental factors such as air temperature, relative humidity, and highest precipitation. There was a positive correlation between skin scaliness and two environmental factors such as air pressure and duration of sunshine. Elasticity was correlated with air temperature positively and with air pressure negatively.

Conclusion

The correlations shown between the skin biophysical parameters and environmental factors demonstrate that the skin biophysical parameters are affected by environmental factors.
Correlation of optical coherence tomography and histology in microcystic adnexal carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Alawi S. A. , Batz S. , Röwert‐Huber J. , Fluhr J. W. , Lademann J. , Ulrich M.
Published: February 2014

Background/Aims

Herein, we report a case of microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC), which we correlated and evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and conventional H&E histology.

Methods

A commercially available OCT scanner was used for imaging. Several multi‐slice images were obtained from the central portion of the lesion. Correlation of OCT findings with histology was performed retrospectively.

Results

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma showed characteristic criteria, which were divided into superficial and sub‐epidermal findings.

Conclusion

The use of OCT can visualize characteristic criteria of MAC, thus enabling prompt diagnosis before surgery.
The effect of four different pasture species compositions on nitrate leaching losses under high N loading
Authors: Malcolm B. J. , Cameron K. C. , Di H. J. , Edwards G. R. , Moir J. L.
Published: February 2014

Nitrate () leaching can cause elevated concentrations of ‐N in water, which can have adverse impacts on water quality and human health. In grazed pasture systems, most of the ‐N leaching occurs beneath animal urine‐N deposits. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of four different pasture species compositions [perennial ryegrass/white clover (P. ryegrass WC), tall fescue/white clover (T. fescue WC), Italian ryegrass/white clover (It. ryegrass WC) and perennial ryegrass/Italian ryegrass/white clover/red clover/chicory/plantain (Diverse)] on ‐N leaching losses from animal urine patches, and to examine the relative importance of root system architecture and seasonal activity to reduce ‐N leaching losses. The results show that ‐N leaching losses were 24–54% lower beneath It. ryegrass WC than other pasture species. Total dry matter (DM) yield in the season following establishment was 11–58% greater in the It. ryegrass WC pasture, while average winter daily N uptake rate of It. ryegrass WC over the two seasons was on average 58% greater than P. ryegrass WC and T. fescue WC. In the second season, the P. ryegrass WC and T. fescue WC pastures had up to 140 and 82% more roots between 0 and 40 cm depth, respectively, than the other pasture species compositions. These results suggest that in grazed pasture systems, high plant winter activity (plant growth/root metabolic activity) is more important than specific root architecture (e.g. deep roots) to reduce ‐N leaching losses.
Regulation of plant immunity through ubiquitin‐mediated modulation of Ca2+–calmodulin–AtSR1/CAMTA3 signaling
Authors: Zhang Lei , Du Liqun , Shen Chenjia , Yang Yanjun , Poovaiah B.W.
Published: February 2014

Transient changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration are essential signals for activation of plant immunity. It has also been reported that Ca2+ signals suppress salicylic acid‐mediated plant defense through AtSR1/CAMTA3, a member of the Ca2+/calmodulin‐regulated transcription factor family that is conserved in multicellular eukaryotes. How plants overcome this negative regulation to mount an effective defense response during a stage of intracellular Ca2+ surge is unclear. Here we report the identification and functional characterization of an important component of ubiquitin ligase, and the associated AtSR1 turnover. The AtSR1 interaction protein 1 (SR1IP1) was identified by CytoTrap two‐hybrid screening. The loss‐of‐function mutant of SR1IP1 is more susceptible to bacterial pathogens, and over‐expression of SR1IP1 confers enhanced resistance, indicating that SR1IP1 acts as a positive regulator of plant defense. SR1IP1 and AtSR1 act in the same signaling pathway to regulate plant immunity. SR1IP1 contains the structural features of a substrate adaptor in cullin 3‐based E3 ubiquitin ligase, and was shown to serve as a substrate adaptor that recruits AtSR1 for ubiquitination and degradation when plants are challenged with pathogens. Hence, SR1IP1 positively regulates plant immunity by removing the defense suppressor AtSR1. These findings provide a mechanistic insight into how Ca2+‐mediated actions are coordinated to achieve effective plant immunity.
Normal root elongation requires arginine produced by argininosuccinate lyase in rice
Authors: Xia Jixing , Yamaji Naoki , Che Jing , Shen Ren Fang , Ma Jian Feng
Published: February 2014

Plant roots play an important role in the uptake of water and nutrients, structural support and environmental sensing, but the molecular mechanisms involved in root development are poorly understood in rice (Oryza sativa), which is characterized by a dense fibrous root system. Here we report a rice mutant (red1 for root elongation defect 1) with short roots. Morphological and physiological analyses showed that the mutant had a shorter length from the quiescent center (QC) to the starting point of the elongation zone but a similar cell size and number of lateral and crown roots compared with the wild type. Furthermore, the mutant had similar radial structure and nutrient uptake patterns to the wild type. Map‐based cloning revealed that the mutant phenotype was caused by a point mutation of a gene encoding an argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), catalyzing the last step of arginine biosynthesis. The OsASL1 gene has two distinct transcripts, OsASL1.1 and OsASL1.2, which result from different transcription start sites, but only OsASL1.1 was able to complement the mutant phenotype. OsASL1.1 was expressed in both the roots and shoots. The protein encoded by OsASL1.1 showed ASL activity in yeast. OsALS1.1 was localized to the plastid. The short root of the mutant was rescued by exogenous addition of arginine, but not by other amino acids. These results indicate that arginine produced by ASL is required for normal root elongation in rice.