bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population pharmacokinetic characterization of BAY 81‐8973, a full‐length recombinant factor VIII: lessons learned ‒ importance of including samples with factor VIII levels below the quantitation limit
Authors: Garmann D. , McLeay S. , Shah A. , Vis P. , Maas Enriquez M. , Ploeger B.A.
Published: February 2017

Introduction

The pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and efficacy of BAY 81‐8973, a full‐length, unmodified, recombinant human factor VIII (FVIII), were evaluated in the LEOPOLD trials.

Aim

The aim of this study was to develop a population PK model based on pooled data from the LEOPOLD trials and to investigate the importance of including samples with FVIII levels below the limit of quantitation (BLQ) to estimate half‐life.

Methods

The analysis included 1535 PK observations (measured by the chromogenic assay) from 183 male patients with haemophilia A aged 1‒61 years from the 3 LEOPOLD trials. The limit of quantitation was 1.5 IU dL−1 for the majority of samples. Population PK models that included or excluded BLQ samples were used for FVIII half‐life estimations, and simulations were performed using both estimates to explore the influence on the time below a determined FVIII threshold.

Results

In the data set used, approximately 16.5% of samples were BLQ, which is not uncommon for FVIII PK data sets. The structural model to describe the PK of BAY 81‐8973 was a two‐compartment model similar to that seen for other FVIII products. If BLQ samples were excluded from the model, FVIII half‐life estimations were longer compared with a model that included BLQ samples.

Conclusions

It is essential to assess the importance of BLQ samples when performing population PK estimates of half‐life for any FVIII product. Exclusion of BLQ data from half‐life estimations based on population PK models may result in an overestimation of half‐life and underestimation of time under a predetermined FVIII threshold, resulting in potential underdosing of patients.
Intellectual capital varieties in service‐based companies in Botswana
Authors: Brown Byron A. , Patel Afifa , Ofaletse Veronica
Published: February 2017

Although service‐based companies in developed nations have been valuing and utilising their intellectual capital to gain competitive advantages, many service‐oriented companies in developing states in Africa such as Botswana have not done the same. But the situation is changing because service‐oriented companies in Botswana are being encouraged by the government to contribute more to the economy – a decision triggered by changes in the external environment such as a decline in the country's mineral resources and government‐led efforts to diversify the economy. Many service‐based companies in Botswana are not capitalising on their intellectual capital to gain competitive advantage and to diversify their business because they have a weak understanding of it. This study investigated the varieties of intellectual capital disclosed by five service‐based companies operating in the Botswana context. Using an interpretive approach, with documents as data sources, we found all three varieties of intellectual capital disclosed: human, structural, and relational. The motives for disclosing these assets were linked to factors inside and others outside the companies. Even though intellectual capital was disclosed, reporting was sporadic and managers’ rhetoric on intellectual capital did not match what they practised. Various implications are discussed.
Progress towards flowering of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is more than photothermal
Authors: Lizarazo C. I. , Isotalo J. , Lindfors A. V. , Stoddard F. L.
Published: February 2017

Predicting and understanding the progress towards flowering in faba bean are important to achieve the adaptation and high productivity of the crop under varying environmental conditions. Traditional controlled‐environment experiments showed that the rate of progress towards flowering was dependent mainly on photoperiod and temperature. Here, we highlight the need to include measures of solar radiation and water deficit in order to achieve an adequate model for field conditions. The improved model was assessed in two steps: first with a “basic” model across all 20 cultivars and then with an “extended” model that included terms to fit exceptional cultivars. The two new parameters were necessary to achieve an acceptable fit of progress towards flowering and clearly separated two cultivars, “Kontu” and “Witkiem Manita,” that were significantly quicker to flower than the other 18, which fit a single line. As the regression coefficients of the two exceptional cultivars differed only in intercept, not slope, we conclude that flowering responses to day length, temperature, solar radiation and drought stresses were consistent in this set of germplasm and that the two cultivars differed in earliness “per se.” Growth‐chamber experiments added information about differing ceiling temperatures for progress to flowering in four cultivars and different sensitivities to supraoptimal temperatures.
Solid solution synthesis of tantalum carbide‐hafnium carbide by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Gupta Ankur , Seal Sudipta , Boesl Benjamin , Agarwal Arvind
Published: February 2017

Solid solutions of Tantalum carbide (TaC) and Hafnium carbide (HfC) were synthesized by spark plasma sintering. Five different compositions (pure HfC, HfC‐20 vol% TaC, HfC‐ 50 vol% TaC, HfC‐ 80 vol% TaC, and pure TaC) were sintered at 1850°C, 60 MPa pressure and a holding time of 10 min without any sintering aids. Near‐full density was achieved for all samples, especially in the HfC‐contained samples. The porosity in pure TaC samples was caused by the oxygen contamination (Ta2O5) on the starting powder surface. The addition of HfC increased the overall densification by transferring the oxygen contamination from TaC surface and forming ultrafine HfO2 and Hf‐O‐C grains. With the increasing HfC concentration, the overall grain size was reduced by 50% from HfC‐ 80 vol% TaC to HfC‐20 vol% TaC sample. The solid solution formation required extra energy, which restricted the grain growth. The lattice parameters for the solid solution samples were obtained using X‐ray diffraction which had an excellent match with the theoretical values computed using Vegard's Law. The mechanical properties of the solid solution samples outperformed the pure TaC and HfC carbides samples due to the increased densification and smaller grain size.
Follower moral reasoning influences perceptions of transformational leadership behavior
Authors: Naber Andrew M. , Moffett Richard G.
Published: February 2017

Transformational leadership reflects charismatic, but ethical, influence on followers. However, leadership ultimately occurs through the perceptual and attribution processes within followers. Accordingly, the perception and evaluation of transformational leadership is likely to be influenced by followers' moral reasoning, which is the ability that allows individuals to identify and interpret ethically‐salient issues in social environments. As predicted by social‐cognitive principles of self‐schemas, observers' moral reasoning positively related to the perception and positive evaluation of transformational leadership behavior, but not to positive affective reactions towards that behavior. These same relationships did not occur for the perception and evaluation of transactional leadership behavior. Implications for whistle‐blowing behavior, organizational ethics, and the measurement of transformational leadership are discussed.
Genetic trends for fertility, udder health and protein yield in Swedish red cattle estimated with different models
Authors: Eriksson S. , Johansson K. , Hansen Axelsson H. , Fikse W.F.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare genetic trends in Swedish Red cattle using a full multiple‐trait (MT) model and trait‐group‐wise models for female fertility, udder health and protein yield. Field data for maiden heifers from 1989 and cows with a first and second lactation between 1990 and 2007 were included. (Co)variance components were estimated prior to prediction of breeding values. The estimated genetic trends were clearly favourable for protein yield and udder conformation, and in most cases neutral to favourable for clinical mastitis and calving to first insemination. In maiden heifers, the trends were neutral for number of inseminations per service period. Unfavourable genetic trends were estimated for number of inseminations in the first two lactations, but the trends seemed less unfavourable from evaluations within trait groups compared with when using the full MT model. Excluding maiden heifer data affected genetic trends less than using trait‐group‐wise analyses instead of a full MT model. Unfavourable genetic trends in functional traits may be missed unless the traits are evaluated in a MT model including traits under strong selection.
Chloroplast phylogeography of New Zealand Sophora trees (Fabaceae): extensive hybridization and widespread Last Glacial Maximum survival
Authors: Shepherd Lara D. , de Lange Peter J. , Perrie Leon R. , Heenan Peter B.
Published: February 2017

Aim

To date, there have been few studies investigating the phylogeography of forest trees that are widely distributed in New Zealand. Our main objective was to examine the phylogeographic distribution of chloroplast DNA from New Zealand Sophora trees with respect to known biogeographical regions, proposed refugia and species boundaries. A second objective was to investigate the origins of the southern and Chatham Island populations of Sophora chathamica, which have been proposed to derive from Māori translocation.

Location

The New Zealand archipelago coastal and lowland forests.

Methods

We sequenced the chloroplast trnQ5′‐rps16 intergenic spacer from 416 samples of Sophora, representing all of the New Zealand species. A median‐joining network was used to analyse haplotype relationships. Phylogeographic structuring was assessed with GST and NST calculations and spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA). Analyses of molecular variance were used to test partitioning schemes including species divisions and proposed biogeographical boundaries.

Results

A total of 22 haplotypes were recovered. Moderate genetic differentiation was detected and it had a phylogeographic component but no higher level groupings were found with a SAMOVA. Very little of the chloroplast variation was partitioned by species boundaries or geography. Haplotype diversity decreased from north to south but was not higher in proposed major lowland forest glacial refugia. Populations of Sophora chathamica suggested to derive from Māori translocations contained a haplotype not detected from the proposed natural range of the species.

Main conclusions

Sophora survived the Last Glacial Maximum in widespread populations throughout much of the country, although our data did not provide evidence for survival in the southern South Island. Chloroplast sharing among New Zealand Sophora species likely results from hybridization and introgression. Our results indicate that the occurrence of S. chathamica in the southern North Island, northern South Island and Chatham Islands is likely to be natural, although the planting by Māori of some of the individuals in the southern North Island and Chatham Islands cannot be excluded.
‘The best app is the teacher’ Introducing classroom scripts in technology‐enhanced education
Authors: Montrieux H. , Raes A. , Schellens T.
Published: February 2017

A quasi‐experimental study was set up in secondary education to study the role of teachers while implementing tablet devices in science education. Three different classroom scripts that guided students and teachers' actions during the intervention on two social planes (group and classroom level) are compared. The main goal was to investigate which classroom script leads to the best results regarding progress in domain‐specific knowledge and inquiry skills. Besides student achievement, students' experiences towards the role of the teacher and students' perceptions towards learning with tablets within the three conditions were investigated.

In the first condition, the classroom script included learning activities that were balanced between the group and the classroom level. In the second condition, the learning activities occurred predominantly on the group level. The third condition entailed the classroom script as the control condition in which the learning activities were situated only on the classroom level, with the tablet used in a traditional way or as ‘book behind glass’. Results show that students perform better on domain‐specific knowledge in the conditions where the teacher intervened on the classroom level. Regarding the acquisition of inquiry skills, students performed best in the condition where the learning activities were balanced between the group and the classroom level. Moreover, students who perceived more structure achieved better. These results indicate that the role of the teacher cannot be ignored in technology‐enhanced learning. Moreover, these results seem to suggest that one of the best apps remains the teacher.
Daylight photodynamic therapy vs. Conventional photodynamic therapy as skin cancer preventive treatment in patients with face and scalp cancerization: an intra‐individual comparison study
Authors: Sotiriou E. , Apalla Z. , Vrani F. , Lazaridou E. , Vakirlis E. , Lallas A. , Ioannides D.
Published: February 2017

Background

Individuals with medical history of non‐melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) usually develop multiple and/or recurrent malignant lesions around the site of the primary neoplasm. The latter represents the clinical expression of the ‘field cancerization’ theory; supporting the presence of multiple malignant clones of dysplastic keratinocytes over the entire epithelium that potentially can progress into clinical lesions. Taking into consideration that the burden of NMSCs on public health and health‐care cost is high, adequate control of recurrences and management of field change is challenging.

Objectives

To compare the safety and efficacy of daylight photodynamic therapy (DL‐PDT) vs. conventional photodynamic therapy (C‐PDT) in the prevention of occurrence of new NMSCs in patients with clinical and histological signs of actinic field damage.

Methods

Twenty‐six patients, with personal history of NMSCs on the face or scalp and actinic keratosis (AK) on the same fields, were randomized for DL‐PDT on one side and C‐PDT on the other. For a 12‐month period, individuals were clinically evaluated for development of new NMSCs.

Results

The total number of new AKs and the mean time of their development did not significantly differ between the treated sides. Local adverse events were more intense with C‐PDT, and patients’ preference was more for DL‐PDT compared to C‐PDT.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest equal preventive potential of DL‐PDT vs. C‐PDT against the formation of new NMSCs in patients exhibiting actinic field damage.
Supporting patients with type 1 diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy: Difficulties, disconnections, and disarray
Authors: Perry Lin , James Steven , Gallagher Robyn , Dunbabin Janet , Steinbeck Katharine , Lowe Julia
Published: February 2017

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy in type 1 diabetes management is high. However, the incorporation of this technology into self‐care is not without challenges, and the support of an appropriately skilled health care team is recommended. This study aimed to examine the support context for patients using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy from the health care professional perspective, as well as contextual influences for health care professionals and their patients.

Methods

This ethnographic qualitative study was undertaken in New South Wales, Australia. Recruitment occurred using a snowball sampling technique, beginning with members of an established diabetes service group. Data were collected through the use of semistructured interviews undertaken by telephone and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Data were obtained from 26 interviews with staff from diverse professional backgrounds. An overarching theme of difficulties, disconnections, and disarray emerged, with findings indicating that participants perceived difficulties in relation to shortages of health care professional continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion–related expertise, and disconnected and disarrayed service structures and process, with barriers to access to these devices. Individual health care professionals were left to manage somehow or opted not to engage with related care.

Conclusions

Findings provide insights from health care professionals' perspectives into the complexity of providing support for patients using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy across diverse contexts, and provide a platform for further research and service development. The need for consistent and coordinated care, and the infrastructure to facilitate this, flags an opportunity to drive integration of care and teamworking across as well as within settings and disciplines.
A novel clinical framework: The use of dispositions in clinical practice. A person centred approach
Authors: Low Matthew
Published: February 2017

This paper explores a novel clinical framework that is underpinned by a specific philosophical perspective of causation and its utility in clinical practice. A dispositional theory of causation may overcome challenges that clinicians face in complex clinical presentations including those that are medically unexplained. Dispositionalism identifies causes not as regular events necessitating an effect but rather phenomena, which are highly complex, context‐sensitive, and which tend toward an effect. Diagnostic uncertainty and causal explanation are significant challenges in terms of clinical reasoning, communication, and the overall therapeutic outcome. This novel framework aims to facilitate improved collaborative clinical reasoning, enhanced patient‐practitioner interaction, and supported treatment planning. The paper uses a real case study of a patient with nonspecific spinal pain to demonstrate the clinical framework as used in clinical practice.
Real world evaluation of the smoking cessation services in the Rio de Janeiro municipality, Brazil
Authors: Casado Letícia , Thuler Luiz Claudio Santos
Published: February 2017

Introduction

In recent years, there has been a growing recommendation for process evaluation of the smoking cessation programmes in the world. This study sought to evaluate smoking cessation services, with special attention to the degree to which public health care facilities adhere to governmental standards of practice.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study examined smoking cessation services by using a key‐informant approach. All the services that delivered smoking cessation treatment in 2013 at the National Health System of the Rio de Janeiro municipality, Brazil, were included in the study. The treatment consists of group sessions and pharmacotherapy. Compliance with the standards of inputs, activities, and short‐term outcomes was analysed. A descriptive analysis was performed using means and standard deviations for the continuous variables and absolute and relative frequencies for the categorical variables.

Results

Of the 177 services performing smoking cessation treatment in 2013, a total of 81.9% answered the questionnaire. More than 90% of the services met the infrastructure standards. Behavioural approach and pharmacotherapy were available in more than 99% of the services. Of a total of 11 287 patients aged 18 years or older who registered for treatment, 77.6% received tobacco cessation interventions during the first group session. Among those who had access to treatment, 52.8% were not smoking at the fourth group session.

Conclusion

Even though more than 20% of the patients did not attend the first group session, the access to treatment was high, and it was observed that the success rate of those who attended the fourth group session was more than 50%.
Optimization of foraging and diet by the piscivorous Othos dentex (Serranidae)
Authors: French B. , Platell M. E. , Clarke K. R. , Potter I. C.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the dietary characteristics and mouth morphology of Othos dentex and to use these data, together with in situ observations of feeding behaviour, to elucidate how foraging and diet are optimized by this piscivorous serranid. Seasonal spear and line fishing over reefs in south‐western Australia yielded 426 O. dentex (total length, LT, 183–605 mm), among which the stomachs of 95 contained food. The food in the stomachs of 76 fish was sufficiently undigested to be seen to contain, almost invariably, a single fish prey, which was typically identifiable to family and often to species. The prey of O. dentex, which were measured (LT), represented 10 families, of which the Labridae and Pempheridae constituted nearly two‐thirds of the prey volume. Two‐way crossed analysis of similarities of volumetric data for stomach contents showed that the dietary compositions of the different length classes of O. dentex in the various seasons were significantly related to length class of prey, but not to prey family, length class within the various prey families or season. Furthermore, an inverse (Q‐mode) analysis, including one‐way analysis of similarities, showed that the patterns in the prey consumed by the different length classes of O. dentex in the various seasons were related more strongly to length class than prey family. The former trend is exemplified in a shade plot, by a marked diagonality of the length classes of prey with increasing predator size. The ingestion of typically a single teleost prey, whose body size increases as that of O. dentex increases, reduces the frequency required for seeking prey, thus saving energy and reducing the potential for intraspecific competition for food. The ability of O. dentex to ingest large prey is facilitated by its possession of a very large gape, prominent recurved teeth, dorsal and independently‐moveable eyes, cryptic colouration and effective ambush behaviour. Othos dentex has thus evolved very cost‐effective mechanisms for optimizing its foraging and diet.
Effect of ultra‐high‐pressure homogenization at moderate inlet temperatures on volatile profile of milk
Authors: Amador‐Espejo G. G. , Gallardo‐Chacón J. J. , Juan B. , Trujillo A. J.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this work was to evaluate the volatile profile of whole milk treated by ultra‐high‐pressure homogenization (UHPH) at 300 MPa with inlet temperature (Ti) = 65, 75, and 85 °C, comparing the results to Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk. From the results, in UHT milk, ketones and dimethyl thrisulfide concentration was higher than in any other sample. On the contrary, the concentration of aldehydes in UHPH‐treated milk samples was higher than the concentration detected in heat‐treated samples. Principal components analysis explained the variations in the observed responses, presenting well‐defined and separated groups. UHPH represents a suitable alternative to reduce cooked‐related compounds presented in heat‐treated milk.

Practical applications

This study provides more information regarding ultra‐high‐pressure homogenization (UHPH) as an emerging technology with industrial applications. In this case, the UHPH application was able to reduce the amount of volatile compounds such as ketones related to cooked flavor in heat treatments at high intensity, such as UHT processing. For this, several UHPH‐proved safety conditions were compared to the volatile profile obtained in UHT milk.
Modeling the effects of pressure, temperature, saccharide, pH, and protein content on the HHP inactivation of Escherichia coli
Authors: Yuan Long , Lu Li‐xin , Lu Wan‐qiu , Tang Ya‐li , Ge Changfeng
Published: February 2017

The influences of different food components on the high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) inactivation of Escherichia coli were tentatively investigated. New inactivation regression models for simulating the inactivation results of certain suspension were obtained by using the Box‐Behnken method. The results verified that acid could obviously promote the inactivation effect of HHP, while protein reduced the bactericidal action significantly at low pressure or temperature (p < 500 MPa, T < 60 °C). However, protein played a lesser role in high pressure or temperature (p ≥ 500 MPa, T ≥ 60 °C) because of denaturation. Saccharide had a low interference toward the inactivation of E. coli. The models established had a high accuracy (p < .0001) and could reveal the effect of key parameters (pressure, temperature, acid, and protein content) on the HHP inactivation results of E. coli.

Practical applications

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) inactivation technology can provide microbiologically safe and high‐quality food and has already become one of the most major topics of discussion over the last several decades. However, any research on effect of the food components on HHP inactivation is still limited. Furthermore, an improved understanding of the mechanism of how food ingredients affect HHP inactivation results and an effective kinetic model will be convenient and of great significance to help optimize the process of this technology.
Arctic ground squirrel hippocampus tolerates oxygen glucose deprivation independent of hibernation season even when not hibernating and after ATP depletion, acidosis, and glutamate efflux
Authors: Bhowmick Saurav , Moore Jeanette T. , Kirschner Daniel L. , Drew Kelly L.
Published: February 2017

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) triggers a cascade of uncontrolled cellular processes that perturb cell homeostasis. The arctic ground squirrel (AGS), a seasonal hibernator resists brain damage following cerebral I/R caused by cardiac arrest and resuscitation. However, it remains unclear if tolerance to I/R injury in AGS depends on the hibernation season. Moreover, it is also not clear if events such as depletion of ATP, acidosis, and glutamate efflux that are associated with anoxic depolarization are attenuated in AGS. Here, we employ a novel microperfusion technique to test the hypothesis that tolerance to I/R injury modeled in an acute hippocampal slice preparation in AGS is independent of the hibernation season and persists even after glutamate efflux. Acute hippocampal slices were harvested from summer euthermic AGS, hibernating AGS, and interbout euthermic AGS. Slices were subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro model of I/R injury to determine cell death marked by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. ATP was assayed using ENLITEN ATP assay. Glutamate and aspartate efflux was measured using capillary electrophoresis. For acidosis, slices were subjected to pH 6.4 or ischemic shift solution (ISS). Acute hippocampal slices from rats were used as a positive control, susceptible to I/R injury. Our results indicate that when tissue temperature is maintained at 36°C, hibernation season has no influence on OGD‐induced cell death in AGS hippocampal slices. Our data also show that tolerance to OGD in AGS hippocampal slices occurs despite loss of ATP and glutamate release, and persists during conditions that mimic acidosis and ionic shifts, characteristic of cerebral I/R.

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Response of trabecular bone, thyroid C and follicular cells to synthetic salmon calcitonin in middle‐aged orchidectomized male rats
Authors: Filipović Branko , Šošić‐Jurjević Branka , Ajdžanović Vladimir , Živanović Jasmina , Ristić Nataša , Trifunović Svetlana , Milošević Verica
Published: February 2017

In contrast to studies in women, male osteoporosis is poorly understood and strictly related to advancing age. Among the first antiresorptive substances used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is calcitonin (CT), a hypocalcemic hormone that potently inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption. Natural CT is produced and secreted by thyroid C‐cells. The other endocrine population of thyroid cells produces thyroid hormones (TH), which also affect bone turnover. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of salmon CT on trabecular bone microarchitecture with special reference to effects on the structure and function of both CT‐ and TH‐producing thyroid cells in orchidectomized (Orx) middle‐aged rats. Twenty‐four male Wistar rats aged 15 months were randomly divided into Orx and sham‐operated (SO) groups. One group of Orx animals received (s.c.) synthetic salmon CT (Orx + CT; 100 IU kg−1 b.w.) subcutaneously every second day for 6 weeks. The second Orx group and SO rats were given the same volume of vehicle alone by the same schedule. Trabecular bone histomorphometrical parameters were: cancellous bone area (B.Ar), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N) and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) were obtained with an ImageJ public‐domain image‐processing program. The peroxidase–antiperoxidase method was applied for localization of CT in C‐cells. Anti‐human CT antisera served as the primary antibodies. For immunohistochemical characterization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in thyroid tissue, rabbit antisera against human VEGF, served as primary antibodies. CT‐immunopositive thyroid C‐cells, thyroid follicular epithelium, interstitium and colloid were evaluated morphometrically. Blood serum samples were analyzed for CT, osteocalcin (OC), and thyroxine (T4), and calcium (Ca2+) concentration was determined in urine samples. Salmon CT application significantly increased B.Ar, TbTh and TbN, but markedly decreased Tb.Sp. Administration of exogenous CT significantly decreased mean volume (Vc) and relative volume density (Vv) of thyroid C‐cells in relation to both SO and Orx groups. The Vv of the colloid was higher, whereas the VV of the follicular epithelium was lower after CT treatment compared with Orx alone. CT treatment markedly elevated serum CT, whereas serum OC, T4 and urinary Ca2+ concentrations were lower than in the Orx group. These results indicate that salmon CT stimulates trabecular bone microarchitecture, strongly inhibits thyroid C‐cells and changes the structure of the thyroid gland, indicating hypoactivity.
The Head and Neck Cancer Patient Concern Inventory©: Patient Concerns’ Prevalence, Dental Concerns’ Impact, and Relationships of Concerns with Quality of Life Measures
Authors: Aguilar Maria L. , Sandow Pamela , Werning John W. , Brenneman Lia , Psoter Walter J.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The Patient Concern Inventory© (PCI) is a clinical tool of self‐reported patient concerns to be used by the clinician to structure the patient‐oncologist visit. It was developed in the United Kingdom to address the issues of quality of life (QOL) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the prevalence of PCI© items, the associations between PCI© items and QOL, and to explore the importance of oral/dental issues in the patient's well‐being.

Methods

The PCI© and the University of Washington (UW‐QOLv4) instruments were self‐administered by an HNC population in a cross‐sectional study. Following an a priori sample size estimate, consecutive HNC patients attending at the University of Florida's Oral Medicine and the ENT Clinics had the study described, eligibility assessed, and if eligible, were invited to participate in the study. Participants completed the PCI© and UW‐QOL. PCI© issues prevalence was determined, and for those with a ≥10% prevalence: 1) Fisher's exact test was used to test for statistical differences between treatments, and 2) multivariable regression was used to test each of the prevalent PCI© issues across four QOL measures, health in the last 7 days, overall QOL in the last 7 days, and the physical and social domain scores.

Results

Twenty of 45 PCI© issues had a prevalence ≥10%. Of the 15 prevalent items statistically associated with a QOL measure, four issues are the clinical responsibility of the dental profession: 1) chewing/eating, 2) dental health/teeth, 3) mouth opening, and 4) salivation. An additional four (eight total, 50%) are of clinical concern for dental clinicians: 5) pain in head/neck, 6) swallowing, 7) speech/voice/being understood, and 8) taste.

Conclusions

Dental concerns represent almost half of all PCI© concerns observed in 10% or more of the sample patients. Prosthodontists should support our maxillofacial prosthodontics specialists in joining other oral oncologists and advocate for comprehensive, integrated dental support for HNC patients by assuring dental involvement/inclusion with the multidisciplinary oncology team and a research agenda to established best patient‐centered outcomes.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metamizol in co-administration with morphine under acute and chronic treatments in arthritic rats
Authors: Carrillo-Calzadilla Patricia Esmeralda , López-Muñoz Francisco Javier , Moreno-Rocha Luis Alfonso , Medina-López José Raúl , Cortés-Arroyo Alma Rosa , Domínguez-Ramírez Adriana Miriam
Published: February 2017

Objective

To investigate the relationship between metamizol pharmacokinetics and the antinociceptive effect produced after subcutaneous administration of metamizol (177.8 mg/kg) alone or in combination with morphine (3.2 mg/kg), under acute and chronic treatments.

Methods

Antinociception was assessed using the pain-induced functional impairment model in rat (PIFIR). Serial blood samples were collected from the same animals to study the pharmacokinetics of metamizol.

Key findings

The co-administration of the drugs in single dose, confirmed the potentiation of their individual antinociceptive effects. When the drugs were administered alone following the chronic schedule, a pronounced tolerance development to their antinociceptive effects was found, whereas it was significantly attenuated when they were administered together. Metamizol pharmacokinetics was unaltered by the presence of morphine. Plasma concentrations of 4-methylaminoantipyrine, an active metabolite markedly decreased under chronic administration.

Conclusions

The mechanism involved in the potentiation of the antinociceptive effect produced by the combination, cannot be explained by the interaction of morphine on metamizol pharmacokinetics. Other pharmacokinetic interactions along with known pharmacodynamic interactions in which metamizol active metabolites contribute, should be considered. The frequency of administration enhances tolerance development and induces metamizol elimination process.
Sleep duration is associated with body fat and muscle mass and waist‐to‐height ratio beyond conventional obesity parameters in Korean adolescent boys
Authors: Nam Ga Eun , Han Kyungdo , Kim Do Hoon , Lee Jee Hyun , Seo Won Hee
Published: February 2017

While evidence has supported a strong association between sleep duration and obesity globally, results from studies of children and adolescents have been conflicting, and information about a sex‐specific association has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the association of sleep duration with various parameters of obesity among South Korean adolescents. This population‐based, cross‐sectional study analysed the data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) 2009 and 2010. Data of 990 adolescents were analysed. Sleep duration was based on a self‐reported questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), body fat percentage (BFP) and skeletal muscle index (SMI, appendicular skeletal muscle mass as a percentage of body weight) were assessed as parameters of obesity. Mean sleep duration in boys was associated inversely with BMI, WC, WHtR and BFP and positively with SMI. Proportions of the highest quartile of BMI, WC, WHtR and BFP and the lowest quartile of SMI increased significantly with increased sleep duration only in boys. Also, in boys, decreased sleep duration was associated significantly with the increased risk of the highest quartile of BMI, WC, WHtR and BFP and the lowest quartile of SMI, even after adjusting for confounding factors. However, in girls, there was no significant association between sleep duration and obesity parameters except WC. Periodic assessment of sleep duration in relation to body fat or muscle mass in male adolescents may be considered, especially in those who are at risk for obesity or related disorders.
Association between sleep duration, fat mass, lean mass and obesity in Korean adults: the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Authors: Kim Kyuwoong , Shin Doosup , Jung Go‐Un , Lee Donghoon , Park Sang Min
Published: February 2017

This study investigated the association between sleep duration, fat mass, lean mass and obesity. Participants of this cross‐sectional study were 16 905 adults included into the 4th and 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Sleep duration was assessed by self‐reported survey and categorized into ≤ 5, 6, 7, 8 and ≥ 9 h per day. The group reporting 7 h of sleep per day (comprised of those sleeping 7–8 h per day) was used as the reference group. Body composition was measured by dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Obesity was defined based on the criteria from the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Least‐squares means of fat mass index (FMI) and lean mass index (LMI) adjusted for age, employment status, comorbidities and physical activity were used to assess the relation between sleep duration and body composition. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of obesity according to sleep duration after adjusting for sociodemographic and health‐related factors. After adjustment, FMI increased with fewer hours of sleep (P for trend: < 0.001) and LMI decreased with more hours of sleep (P for trend: 0.011). Compared to the reference group, sleep‐deprived individuals were 1.22 times more likely to have general obesity (aOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.03–1.45) and 1.32 times more likely to have abdominal obesity (aOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.10–1.58). Our findings suggest that sleep deprivation might be related to an increase of fat mass and obesity, while oversleeping could be linked to a reduction of lean mass.
Sleep duration and falls: a systemic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Wu Lei , Sun Dali
Published: February 2017

Several epidemiological studies have linked sleep duration with falls; however, the findings yielded inconsistent results. No quantitative analysis has specifically assessed the influence of sleep duration on falls. PubMed and Embase were screened for observational studies from inception to 13 September 2016. A generic inverse‐variance method was used to pool the outcome data for sleep duration categories of the lowest category versus reference, and the highest category versus reference with a random‐effects model. Dose–response analysis was performed to evaluate the potential relationship of sleep duration with falls. Finally, seven eligible observational studies involving a total of 212 829 participants were included in the present meta‐analysis. Compared with the reference category, both short and long sleep duration were significantly associated with falls, and the pooled odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.32 (1.21, 1.46) and 1.35 (1.17, 1.56), respectively, both with evidence of significant heterogeneity. An approximately ‘U‐shaped’ curve was observed, and the lowest risk of falls was shown at 7–8 h day−1 of sleep duration. Further subgroup analysis found that the association of long sleep duration and falls was more pronounced among Caucasians. The present study is limited to its small number of included studies, considerable heterogeneity, observational study design and the large contribution of a single article. Further researches are still needed to confirm the causal association between sleep duration and falls in populations with different gender, age and ethnicity.
Differential expression of innate immune response genes in clinical phases of chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: Romani S. , Hosseini S. M. , Mohebbi S. R. , Boonstra A. , Sharifian A.
Published: February 2017

We investigated innate immune gene expression in clinical phases of chronic hepatitis B infection, including immune tolerant (IT), immune active (IA), inactive carrier (IC) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative phases, as well as healthy controls. Expression levels of interferon types I, II and III, their receptor subunits, IRFs, TLRs and other IFN‐induced genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were compared. Forty HBsAg‐positive treatment‐naïve subjects without co‐infection with HIV, HCV or HDV were enrolled. To complement the viral load, the expression levels of 37 innate immune genes were measured by qPCR. The highest response of the innate immune system was observed in the IT and HBeAg‐negative phases, and the IC phase had the lowest response; 31 of the 37 studied genes reached their maximum mRNA expression levels in the IT and HBeAg‐negative phases, and the minimum expression levels of 23 genes were found in the IC phase. The highest mRNA expression levels of IFNs, IFN receptor subunits, IRFs and TLRs genes in all clinical phases were IFN‐λ2 and 3, IFN‐γR2, IRF7 and TLR7, and the lowest levels of mRNA expression were observed for IFN‐α, IFN‐λR1, IRF8 and TLR2. We conclude that innate immune response genes are expressed differentially among chronic HBV phases, and this difference may help to develop new precise and noninvasive methods to determine the progression of disease in chronic HBV patients.
Applicability of 99mTc‐Labeled Human Serum Albumin Scintigraphy in Dogs With Protein‐Losing Enteropathy
Authors: Engelmann N. , Ondreka N. , von Pückler K. , Mohrs S. , Sicken J. , Neiger R.
Published: February 2017

Background

Diagnosis of protein loss into the gastrointestinal tract using noninvasive techniques is challenging. In people, scintigraphy not only is a sensitive tool to confirm protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE), but it also allows for localization of protein loss.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To investigate the feasibility of 99mTc‐labeled human serum albumin (HSA) scintigraphy in dogs with PLE in comparison with control dogs.

Animals

A total of 8 clinically healthy control research dogs and 7 client‐owned dogs with gastrointestinal clinical signs and hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin concentration <2.0 g/dL).

Methods

Prospective case–control study. After IV injection of 400 MBq freshly prepared 99mTc HSA (30 mg/dog), images of the abdomen were obtained 10, 60, 120, and 240 minutes postinjection. Additional images of the salivary and thyroid glands were obtained to rule out free 99mTc. A scan was considered positive for PLE when radiopharmaceutical exudation was detectable in the intestinal tract.

Results

Only 1 control dog showed exudation of the radiopharmaceutical into the intestinal tract. No free 99mTc was detected in any dog. In dogs with PLE, focal small intestinal and diffuse small intestinal radiopharmaceutical exudation into the bowel was detected in 2 and 3 dogs, respectively, whereas in 2 dogs, there was disagreement about whether radiopharmaceutical exudation was focal or diffuse.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

99mTc‐labeled HSA scintigraphy was feasible to diagnose PLE in dogs.
Agricultural history drives structure and tree species composition of second growth forest over 100 years in southeastern Ohio, USA
Authors: Holmes Marion A. , Matlack Glenn R.
Published: February 2017

Question

Most modern forest in eastern North America has recolonized after abandonment from agriculture. Cultivation and pasturing, historically the dominant forms of agriculture, differ in their environmental legacies and potentially influence stand development following abandonment. We ask how the legacy of agriculture plays out in development of second‐growth stands, and whether tree community composition and structure differ between sites with contrasting land‐use histories.

Location

Southeast Ohio, USA.

Methods

Thirty‐five second‐growth stands were sorted into a replicated chronosequence of formerly cultivated and pastured sites spanning 80 yr. Stand age and land‐use history were determined from historical aerial photographs and from site characteristics including microtopography and soil profiles. In addition, a control group was selected consisting of long‐established forest stands showing no signs of agricultural disturbance. At each site stand composition and structure were described using the point‐centred quarter method.

Results

Stand density declined and basal area increased through the chronosequence but neither pastured nor cultivated sites reached levels observed in the control group. Density decreased most dramatically between the 41–60‐ and 61–80‐yr age classes, consistent with competitive stand thinning. Tree community composition changed through time, reflecting a shift away from light‐demanding successional species and toward long‐lived, shade‐tolerant species characteristic of long‐established forests. Composition and structure did not differ significantly between cultivated and pastured sites, but individual species did show significant differences, with the greatest contrast evident shortly after abandonment.

Conclusions

Stand development following agriculture appears to be a process of convergence in species composition and density. Because most deciduous forest in eastern North America is <80‐yr‐old, these results suggest that most forest is still accruing biomass and has yet to reach a stable density and composition.
Are non‐invasive fibrosis markers for chronic hepatitis B reliable in sub‐Saharan Africa?
Authors: Desalegn Hailemichael , Aberra Hanna , Berhe Nega , Gundersen Svein G. , Johannessen Asgeir
Published: February 2017

Background

In the absence of liver biopsy, the World Health Organization recommends non‐invasive tests, such as aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index and FIB‐4, to assess liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, these tests are not well validated in sub‐Saharan Africa. Recently, a new marker, gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio, was found to be more accurate in an African setting, but this needs confirmation in other cohorts.

Methods

A treatment program for chronic hepatitis B was initiated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2015. Non‐invasive tests were compared with transient elastography (Fibroscan 402, Echosense, France) using the following thresholds: no fibrosis (≤7.9 kPa), significant fibrosis (>7.9 kPa) and cirrhosis (>11.7 kPa). The diagnostic accuracy was estimated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve.

Results

Of 582 treatment‐naïve patients, 141 (24.2%) had significant fibrosis and 90 (15.5%) had cirrhosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, FIB‐4 and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio was high both to diagnose significant fibrosis (0.79 [95% CI 0.75‐0.84], 0.79 [95% CI 0.75‐0.84], 0.80 [95% CI 0.75‐0.85]) and cirrhosis (0.86 [95% CI 0.81‐0.91], 0.86 [95% CI 0.81‐0.91], 0.87 [95% CI 0.82‐0.91]). The specificity was high for all tests (94%‐100%); however, the sensitivity was poor both to detect fibrosis (10%‐45%) and cirrhosis (10%‐36%).

Conclusions

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, FIB‐4 and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio had good diagnostic properties to detect liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B in East Africa. However, the sensitivity was low, and only 10% of patients with cirrhosis were detected using aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index at the World Health Organization recommended threshold.