bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Metabonomics of Mild Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Xu Hongmin , Zhang Lei , Kang Huan , Zhang Jiandong , Liu Jie , Liu Shuye
Published: May 2016

Background

Mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) is a common acute abdominal disease, and exhibits rising incidence in recent decades. As an important component of systemic biology, metabonomics is a new discipline developed following genomics and proteomics. In this study, the objective was to analyze the serum metabonomics of patients with MAP, aiming to screen metabolic markers with potential diagnostic values.

Methods

An analysis platform with ultra performance liquid chromatography‐high‐resolution mass spectrometry was used to screen the difference metabolites related to MAP diagnosis and disease course monitoring.

Results

A total of 432 endogenous metabolites were screened out from 122 serum samples, and 49 difference metabolites were verified, among which 12 difference metabolites were identified by nonparametric test. After material identification, eight metabolites exhibited reliable results, and their levels in MAP serum were higher than those in healthy serum. Four metabolites exhibited gradual downward trend with treatment process going on, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Metabonomic analysis has revealed eight metabolites with potential diagnostic values toward MAP, among which four metabolites can be used to monitor the disease course.
The synthesis of [14C]AZD5122. Incorporation of an IV 14C‐microtracer dose into a first in human study to determine the absolute oral bioavailability of AZD5122
Authors: Hickey Michael J. , Allen Paul H. , Kingston Lee P. , Wilkinson David J.
Published: May 2016

AZD5122, N‐(2‐(2,3‐difluorobenzylthio)‐6‐((2R,3R)‐3,4‐dihydroxybutan‐2‐ylamino)pyrimidin‐4‐yl)azetidine‐1‐sulfonamide was under investigation as a potential chemokine receptor CXCR2 antagonist for the treatment for inflammatory diseases. To gain a better understanding of the human pharmacokinetic profile, an exploratory phase I IV microtracer study was conducted using carbon‐14 radiolabelled AZD5122. [14C]AZD5122 was carbon‐14 labelled in the pyrimidine ring in five steps in an overall radiochemical yield of 19% from [14C]thiourea. The absolute oral bioavailability of AZD5122 was assessed in healthy subjects by an oral administration of AZD5122, followed by a concomitant intravenous [14C]AZD5122 microdose.
Simplified Bernoulli's method significantly underestimates pulmonary transvalvular pressure drop
Authors: Falahatpisheh Ahmad , Rickers Carsten , Gabbert Dominik , Heng Ee Ling , Stalder Aurelien , Kramer Hans‐Heiner , Kilner Philip J. , Kheradvar Arash
Published: May 2016

Purpose

To determine whether neglecting the flow unsteadiness in simplified Bernoulli's equation significantly affects the pulmonary transvalvular pressure drop estimation.

Materials and Methods

3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 4D velocity mapping was performed on four healthy volunteers, seven patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot, and thirteen patients with transposition of the great arteries repaired by arterial switch. Pulmonary transvalvular pressure drop was estimated based on two methods: General Bernoulli's Equation (GBE), ie, the most complete form; and Simplified Bernoulli's Equation (SBE), known as 4V2. More than 2300 individual pressure drop measurements were used to compare the simplified and the general Bernoulli's methods. A linear mixed‐effects model was employed for statistical analyses, fully accounting for clustering of observations among the methods and systolic phases.

Results

The simplified Bernoulli's method systematically underestimated the pressure drop compared to general Bernoulli's method during the entire systolic phase (P < 0.05), including the peak systole, where on average
.

Conclusion

The simplified Bernoulli method underestimated the pressure drop during all systolic phases in all the studied subjects. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the flow unsteadiness for more accurate estimation of the pressure drop. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:1313–1319.
Bias‐corrected data sets of climate model outputs at uniform space–time resolution for land surface modelling over Amazonia
Authors: Moghim Sanaz , McKnight Shawna L. , Zhang Ke , Ebtehaj Ardeshir M. , Knox Ryan G. , Bras Rafael L. , Moorcroft Paul R. , Wang Jingfeng
Published: May 2016

Developing high‐quality long‐term data sets at uniform space–time resolution is essential for improved climate studies. This article processes the outputs from two global and regional climate models, the Community Climate System Model (CCSM3) and the Regional Climate Model driven by the Hadley Centre Coupled Model (RegCM3). The results are bias‐corrected time series of atmospheric variables corresponding to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC's) historical (20C3M) and future (A2) climate scenarios over the Amazon Basin. We use a series of simple but effective interpolation approaches to produce hourly climate data sets at 1° by 1° grid cells. A quantile‐based mapping approach is used to reduce the biases of temperature and precipitation in CCSM3 and RegCM3. Adjustments are also made on specific humidity and downwelling longwave radiation to avoid inconsistency between those variables and bias‐corrected temperature values. We also interpolated an already bias‐corrected Parallel Climate Model data set (PCM1) from 3‐hourly to the hourly resolution. The final climate data sets can be used as forcing of ecosystem and hydrologic models to study climate changes and impact assessments over the Amazon Basin.
Stabilisation of red fruit‐based smoothies by high‐pressure processing. Part II: effects on sensory quality and selected nutrients
Authors: Hurtado Adriana , Guàrdia Maria Dolors , Picouet Pierre , Jofré Anna , Ros José María , Bañón Sancho
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUND

Non‐thermal pasteurisation by high‐pressure processing (HPP) is increasingly replacing thermal processing (TP) to maintain the properties of fresh fruit products. The resulting products need to be validated from a sensory and nutritional standpoint. The objective was to assess a mild HPP treatment to stabilise red fruit‐based smoothies in a wide (sensory quality and major nutrients) study.

RESULTS

HPP (350 MPa/ 10 °C/ 5 min) provided ‘fresh‐like’ smoothies, free of cooked‐fruit flavours, for at least 14 days at 4 °C, although their sensory stability was low compared with the TP‐smoothies (85 °C/ 7 min). In HPP‐smoothies, the loss of fresh fruit flavour and reduced sliminess were the clearest signs of sensory deterioration during storage. Furthermore, HPP permitted the higher initial retention of vitamin C, although this vitamin and, to a lesser extent, total phenols, had a higher degradation rate during storage. The content of sugar present was not affected by either processing treatment.

CONCLUSION

Mild HPP treatment did not alter the sensory and nutritional properties of smoothies. The sensory and nutritional losses during storage were less than might be expected, probably due to the high antioxidant content and the natural turbidity provided by red fruits. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Financial Disclosure in the Travel and Leisure Industry
Authors: Andrikopoulos Andreas , Merika Anna A. , Merikas Andreas G.
Published: May 2016

This study explores the determinants of Internet financial disclosure in the travel and leisure industry. Studying the case of the firms that are listed in the London Stock Exchange, we employ the generalized method of moments in order to investigate the cross‐sectional variation in the quantity of financial information, which is disclosed on corporate websites of travel and leisure firms. We find that disclosure is positively associated with corporate size, financial leverage, concentrated ownership, dual listing and profitability. We also discover that profitability is not only a determinant of financial disclosure in the travel and leisure industry but also its consequence: More profitable firms yield more requests for transparency among their stakeholders, and they also have the necessary resources to respond to these requests. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OCT for Efficient High Quality Laser Welding
Authors: Dupriez Nataliya Deyneka , Truckenbrodt Christian
Published: May 2016

High requirements for duration and quality of laser welding are the main topics in the line production nowadays, especially in the automotive industry. With acquisition rates up to 100 kHz and microseconds duration capture times, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful adaptive tool, with a few microns resolution, for real‐time direct non‐contact investigation of material processing. The measurement system used to acquire the workpiece topography enables high accuracy automatic seam tracking, process monitoring and quality assurance (QA), and these functions are executed simultaneously.
Effect of mass on the behavior of concrete columns under seismic load
Authors: Grgić N. , Radnić J. , Matešan D. , Buzov A.
Published: May 2016

The effect of mass on the behavior of the structure under earthquake load is firstly discussed. Then, the effect of the mass on the top of the small‐scale cantilever concrete columns on their behavior and limit bearing capacity was investigated with a shake‐table. A set of successive horizontal base accelerograms with increasing maximal accelerations up to the collapse of the columns was applied. It was concluded that the size of the mass has a great effect on the limit bearing capacity of the columns, but this effect is not linearly proportional to the mass size. At the end, the numerical model for the static and dynamic analysis of the planar concrete structure is briefly presented and verified with the performed experimental test. It was concluded that the numerical model can be useful in a seismic analysis of practical planar concrete structures, but further validation is necessary.
iPhos‐PseEvo: Identifying Human Phosphorylated Proteins by Incorporating Evolutionary Information into General PseAAC via Grey System Theory
Authors: Qiu Wang‐Ren , Sun Bi‐Qian , Xiao Xuan , Xu Dong , Chou Kuo‐Chen
Published: May 2016

Protein phosphorylation plays a critical role in human body by altering the structural conformation of a protein, causing it to become activated/deactivated, or functional modification. Given an uncharacterized protein sequence, can we predict whether it may be phosphorylated or may not? This is no doubt a very meaningful problem for both basic research and drug development. Unfortunately, to our best knowledge, so far no high throughput bioinformatics tool whatsoever has been developed to address such a very basic but important problem due to its extremely complexity and lacking sufficient training data. Here we proposed a predictor called iPhos‐PseEvo by (1) incorporating the protein sequence evolutionary information into the general pseudo amino acid composition (PseAAC) via the grey system theory, (2) balancing out the skewed training datasets by the asymmetric bootstrap approach, and (3) constructing an ensemble predictor by fusing an array of individual random forest classifiers thru a voting system. Rigorous jackknife tests have indicated that very promising success rates have been achieved by iPhos‐PseEvo even for such a difficult problem. A user‐friendly web‐server for iPhos‐PseEvo has been established at http://www.jci‐bioinfo.cn/iPhos‐PseEvo, by which users can easily obtain their desired results without the need to go through the complicated mathematical equations involved. It has not escaped our notice that the formulation and approach presented here can be used to analyze many other problems in protein science as well.
Repositioning of Endonuclear Receptors Binders as Potential Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents. Eptyloxìm: A Potential and Novel Gyrase B and Cytochrome Cyp51 Inhibitor
Authors: Carrieri Antonio , L'Abbate Maria , Di Chicco Mariangela , Rosato Antonio , Carbonara Giuseppe , Fracchiolla Giuseppe
Published: May 2016

A novel class of antibacterial and antifungal agents is here identified by means of dockings and virtual screening techniques. Biological data proved the initial effort, formulated on the structure similarity of nuclear receptors binders with known quinolones or thiazole derivatives, to reposition PPARs agonists as likely bacterial type II topoisomerases inhibitors.
New insights into the potentiation of the first and second phases of the M‐wave after voluntary contractions in the quadriceps muscle
Authors: Rodriguez‐Falces Javier , Place Nicolas
Published: May 2016

Introduction: We investigated the mechanisms underlying the potentiation of the first and second phases of the compound action potential (M‐wave) after conditioning contractions. Methods: M‐waves were evoked in the knee extensors before and after isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of 1 s, 3 s, 6 s, 10 s, 30 s, and 60 s. The amplitude, duration, and area of the M‐wave first and second phases were measured during the 10‐min period after each contraction. Results: The magnitude of the M‐wave first phase was enlarged only after MVCs of 30 s and 60 s, whereas the second phase increased after all MVCs, regardless of their duration. The enlargement of the first phase remained for longer than 2 min, whereas the potentiation of the second phase lasted only 20 s. Conclusions: Potentiation of the first phase is the result of fatigue‐induced membrane changes, whereas enlargement of the second phase is probably related to shortening of muscle fascicles. Muscle Nerve 55: 35–45, 2017
Status Rivalry and the Politics of Biculturalism in Contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Levine Hal
Published: May 2016

Could it be that despite a huge literature spanning decades from many disciplines, a corpus of writing that examines seemingly every twist and turn of a complex situation, we still are missing something basic and fundamental to a proper understanding of contemporary cultural politics in Aotearoa New Zealand? A thing so obvious and omnipresent, that it was characterized long ago in the anthropological literature as the fundamental dynamic of Polynesian culture, and acknowledged even further back by Maori in their ancestral sayings?

He tauranga uta, he toka tu moana (a resting place ashore, a firm rock at sea). ‘This metaphor describes the chief whose influence is unchallenged in his territory which extends from the land to the sea’ (Mead and Grove 2003:125). But surely real chiefs, those solid anchoring points, no longer exist as they did before the coming of the Pakeha. Be that as it may, the elements of social organization and associated cultural values of chiefly status continue to resonate in contemporary society. This paper argues that Goldman's concept of status rivalry is that crucial overlooked aspect of cultural politics necessary to a full understanding of what is happening today in the Waitangi Tribunal, Parliament, and so many other places where biculturalism and multiculturalism are debated and discussed, and that it is an aspect of Polynesian culture that has been part of the interrelationship between the Crown and te tangata whenua (the indigenous people) since their first encounters.
Fetal septum primum excursion (SPE) and septum primum excursion index (SPEI) as sonomarkers of fetal anemia: using hemoglobin Bart's fetuses as a study model
Authors: Sirilert Sirinart , Tongprasert Fuanglada , Srisupundit Kasemsri , Luewan Suchaya , Tongsong Theera
Published: May 2016

Objectives

The objectives the study are to evaluate the effectiveness of septum primum excursion (SPE) and SPEI (SPE index, a ratio of SPE to left atrial diameter) in predicting fetal hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's disease and to determine the correlation between Hb levels and SPE/SPEI

Methods

The database of Cardio‐STIC volume datasets (VDSs) of fetuses at risk of Hb Bart's disease at 18 to 22 weeks was assessed. The VDSs were blindly analyzed offline for measurements of SPE and SPEI.

Results

Of 180 VDSs recruited, 44 were acquired from fetuses with Hb Bart's disease, while 136 were derived from unaffected fetuses. SPE and SPEI was inversely correlated with Hb levels (p < 0.0001). The SPE and SPEI were significantly higher in the affected group (4.1 + 1.1 mm vs 3.0 + 0.8 mm and 0.61 + 1.1 vs 0.49.1 + 0.1, respectively). SPE, at cut‐off 1.3 multiple of median, gave a sensitivity and specificity of 75.0% and 72.7%, respectively, but less than a sensitivity (81.4%) and specificity (95.4%) of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity.

Conclusions

In anemic fetuses, SPE and SPEI was inversely correlated with Hb level. Additionally, SPE, better than SPEI, may be used as an adjunctive sonographic sign to predict Hb Bart's disease but its accuracy of prediction is not good enough to be used independently or as a diagnostic test. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic investigation of the secretome of Cellvibrio japonicus during growth on chitin
Authors: Tuveng Tina Rise , Arntzen Magnus Øverlie , Bengtsson Oskar , Gardner Jeffrey G. , Vaaje‐Kolstad Gustav , Eijsink Vincent G.H.
Published: May 2016

Studies of the secretomes of microbes grown on insoluble substrates are important for the discovery of novel proteins involved in biomass conversion. However, data in literature and this study indicate that secretome samples tend to be contaminated with cytoplasmic proteins. We have examined the secretome of the Gram‐negative soil bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus using a simple plate‐based culturing technique that yields samples with high fractions (60–75%) of proteins that are predicted to be secreted. By combining this approach with label‐free quantification using the MaxLFQ algorithm, we have mapped and quantified proteins secreted by C. japonicus during growth on α‐ and β‐chitin. Hierarchical clustering of the detected protein quantities revealed groups of up‐regulated proteins that include all five putative C. japonicus chitinases as well as a chitin‐specific lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (CjLPMO10A). A small set of secreted proteins were co‐regulated with known chitin‐specific enzymes, including several with unknown catalytic functions. These proteins provide interesting targets for further studies aimed at unraveling the enzymatic machineries used by C. japonicus for recalcitrant polysaccharide degradation. Studies of chitin degradation indicated that C. japonicus indeed produces an efficient chitinolytic enzyme cocktail. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with the dataset identifier PXD002843 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002843).
Refined Shacham–Waters ring signature scheme in Seo–Cheon framework
Authors: Laxman Das M. Prem , Rangasamy Jothi , Kabaleeshwaran R.
Published: May 2016

Composite order bilinear groups have some elegant structural characteristics that are useful in constructing advanced cryptographic schemes. However, they are computationally less efficient than their prime order counterparts thereby making them impractical. Thus, instantiating cryptographic schemes based on composite order bilinear groups in prime order setting while preserving all the structural properties has become an attractive area of research. Freeman identified two main properties, namely, projecting and cancelling that are useful in such conversions. Seo and Cheon constructed an asymmetric bilinear‐group generator that is both projecting and cancelling in the prime order setting. Nonetheless, for this special generator, they could not find any useful cryptographic application.

In this work, we instantiate Shacham–Waters ring signature scheme in the prime order setting. We emphasize that the converted scheme is instantiated in asymmetric setting. It is both elegant and efficient. Interestingly, with this conversion, we present the first cryptographic scheme based on the Seo–Cheon asymmetric bilinear‐group generator. We also observe that the Seo–Cheon definition of translating needs to be more specific, otherwise computational Deffie–Hellman problem becomes easy in general. We comment on standard ways for making the converted scheme more efficient in terms of computation and signature length. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Virus‐derived small RNAs: molecular footprints of host–pathogen interactions
Authors: Aguiar Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha , Olmo Roenick Proveti , Marques João Trindade
Published: May 2016

Viruses are obligatory intracellular parasites that require the host machinery to replicate. During their replication cycle, viral RNA intermediates can be recognized and degraded by different antiviral mechanisms that include RNA decay, RNA interference, and RNase L pathways. As a consequence of viral RNA degradation, infected cells can accumulate virus‐derived small RNAs at high levels compared to cellular molecules. These small RNAs are imprinted with molecular characteristics that reflect their origin. First, small RNAs can be used to reconstruct viral sequences and identify the virus from which they originated. Second, other molecular features of small RNAs such as size, polarity, and base preferences depend on the type of viral substrate and host mechanism of degradation. Thus, the pattern of small RNAs generated in infected cells can be used as a molecular footprint to identify and characterize viruses independent on sequence homology searches against known references. Hence, sequencing of small RNAs obtained from infected cells enables virus discovery and characterization using both sequence‐dependent strategies and novel pattern‐based approaches. Recent studies are helping unlock the full application of small RNA sequencing for virus discovery and characterization. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:824–837. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1361

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses In Vitro and In Silico
“Dual disorder with drugs”: Comparison of two French databases
Authors: Batisse A. , Taright N. , Chevallier C. , Marillier M. , Djezzar S.
Published: May 2016

Context

Dual diagnosis (substance used disorders (SUD) and mental illness) represents 3% of general population. Among United States population, 42.3% of SUD patients have psychiatric troubles (without tobacco). Moreover, SUD can concern all psychoactive substances (PAS) or illicit PAS only named “dual disorder with drugs” (DDD).

Methods

A quantitative analysis of DDD data from January 2013 to July 2014 of two epidemiological tools has been performed: PMSI database (Programme Médicalisé des Systeme d’Information) hospital discharge data is made up of data providing medical information for all patients discharged in Paris public hospital system (AP–HP) and NOT'S is a vigilance database of spontaneous NOTifications of drug abuse and dependence. We propose a descriptive analysis of DDD in Paris metropolitan area.

Results

With PMSI, 9.2% of SUD inpatients (n = 617) have DDD, with mean age of 46 years (62% of men). In comparison, NOT'S reports 36% of SUD with DDD (n = 302) with mean age of 39.5 years (68% of men). Suicide attempt is also listed and reach 23% of cases.

Conclusion

These two databases (Fig. 1) show the difficulty of DDD diagnosis with the discordance in results. DDD miss in PMSI database since addictovigilance database shows a first prevalence of DDD. Despite the high rates of DDD, the problem is often under diagnosed by clinicians practising. It is also important to promote the collaboration among health care workers (addictologist and psychiatrist) because these patients require intensive mental and substance abuse care.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Analysis of genetic polymorphisms, adverse drug reactions and targeted treatment
Authors: Stella E. , La Montagna M. , Seripa D. , Giuseppe M. , di Mauro L. , Greco A. , Rinaldi A. , Martone M.S. , Bellomo A. , Lozupone M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Bipolar disorders (BD) are chronic and recurrent psychopathological conditions characterized by therapeutic failures (TFs), regardless of the initial choice of psychiatric medication with a high prevalence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Cytochrome P450(CYP)2D6 genetics has been recently suggested to have a role in the response to treatment and extra-pyramidal symptoms (EPS) across several psychiatric conditions.

Objectives

To evaluate interindividual differences in CYP2D6 enzyme activities, TFs and ADRs rates in BDs patients.

Aims

To tailor psychiatric medication choice and dose based on pharmacogenetic test.

Methods

We analyzed 16 clinical relevant polymorphisms CYP2D6 genotype in Psychiatric Unit of Foggia using the InfinitiTM Analyzer; the Simpson Angus Scale (SAS) was used to measure drug-induced EPS and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-24 (BPRS-24) response to treatment.

Results

Ten drug-resistant patients were consecutively enrolled, and six of these experience major ADR during therapy with worsening of symptoms before screening for CYP polymorphism: BM (*2A/*5 genotype, BPRS-24 T0: 63, T14: 51), SR (*2A/*4, BPRS-24 T0: 66, T14: 59), LT (*4/*17 BPRS-24 T0: 72, T14: 64), DC (*2A/*4A BPRS-24 T0: 69, T14: 54), AL (*2A/*2A, BPRS-24 T0: 72, T14: 64), PA (*2A/*2A BPRS-24 T0: 52, T14: 46).

Conclusions

According to the specific CYP2D6 polymorphism, we personalized patients’ treatment considering that poor and extensive metabolizers have different rates of ADR and responses to treatment. CYP2D6 genotype's knowledge is useful for the reduction of therapeutic attempt during patient clinical history, thus reducing admission time and costs, and to guide clinicians toward a better patient management.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Sex differences in depressive symptomatology in patients with chronic hepatitis C during pegylated interferon alpha therapy: A 72-week prospective study
Authors: Pavlovic Z. , Jasovic-Gasic M. , Delic D. , Maric N. , Vukovic O. , Pejovic S.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Treatment with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α) is associated with depression more frequently in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients than with other inflammatory diseases.

Objectives

To prospectively asses sex differences in the prevalence of depression in CHC patients during the PEG-IFN-α, as well as in the CHC group with no therapy.

Methods

Sample consisted of 103 subjects with CHC on the PEG-IFN-α and 103 subjects with CHC without interferon therapy. The diagnosis of depressive disorder was established by using Structured Clinical Interview and Criteria of International Classification Disorder. The severity of depression was assessed by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD ≥ 8) prior to PEG-IFN-α (baseline) and at the follow-up visits (4th, 12th, 24th, 48th, 72nd week).

Results

During the course of PEG-IFN-α, 49.5% of subjects showed depressive symptomatology (HAMD ≥ 8). Except at baseline and in the 72nd week, on the all other follow-up visits the prevalence of depression was significantly higher in female subjects (*all Ps < 0.05). The strongest difference was observed in the 12th week: of all the subjects with HAMD ≥ 8, 68.8% were female and 32.7% were male (P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that female sex is a very strong predictor for the development of depression during the interferon treatment [Exp (B) = 6.729]. There were no significant sex differences in the prevalence of depression in the control group.

Conclusions

Our study (the longest study in this area) indicate that the prevalence of depression is significantly higher in female subjects with CHC during antiviral treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Gender and age differences in eating and drinking risk behaviors in Italian high school students
Authors: Deiana V. , Sanna L. , Milia P. , Pinna F. , Puddu L. , Fatteri F. , Lostia di Santa Sofia S. , Ghiani A. , Lai A. , Medda F. , Atzeni M.G. , Manca D. , Arzedi C. , Carpiniello B.
Published: May 2016

Drunkorexia, limiting food intake before alcohol consumption, increases teenagers and young adults’ risk for negative alcohol-related health consequences.

The purpose of the present study is to explore gender and age differences regarding weight management behaviors and alcohol consumption among 3004 students aged 13 to 24 years.

The following questionnaires were administered: Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS).

EDI-3 showed that 11.3% of the sample met the threshold on the “Drive for Thinness” (DT) scale, 28.9% on the “Bulimia” (B) scale, 17.2% on the “Body Dissatisfaction” (BD) scale. Females presented a higher risk at DT, B and BD scales (P < 0.001), and the risk of bulimia was higher in those aged ≤ 16 years (P = 0.028). AUDIT revealed a greater clinical risk of alcohol-related problems in males (P < 0.001) and in those aged > 16 years (P < 0.001). Drunkorexia was found in 44% of the sample, without significant difference in relation to gender and age.

Girls and younger students have more weight concerns, while boys and older students are at greater risk of alcohol use disorders. Therefore, no specific group should be considered risk-free with respect to drunkorexia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The prevalence and correlates of haematological abnormalities in adult inpatients with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Hopkins C. , Bruno A. , Jenkins P. , Ayton A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

There is only limited literature concerning haematological abnormalities in anorexia nervosa (AN), with little past investigation into these abnormalities in adult AN patients admitted to inpatient eating disorder (ED) units.

Objectives

This study sought to determine the prevalence and severity of haematological abnormalities in admitted AN patients, and to examine correlates of these abnormalities.

Methods

All adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of AN admitted to the Cotswold House specialist ED inpatient unit between November 2013 and December 2014 were included in the study. Demographic, anthropometric and haematological parameters were systematically recorded for the duration of each admission. The proportions of patients affected by haematological abnormalities (anaemia, leucocytopaenia, neutropaenia, thrombocytopaenia and pancytopaenia) were selected as primary outcomes, and binary logistic regression was performed using SPSS 22.0.

Results

A total of 37 AN patients (91.9% female; mean age: 29.7 years) were included in this study, with a mean admission BMI of 13.7 kg/m2 (SD: 1.8) and a mean admission duration of 128 days; 54.1% of patients were anaemic, 64.9% of patients experienced leucocytopaenia, 56.8% of patients developed neutropaenia, 16.2% of patients suffered thrombocytopaenia, and 8.1% of patients were pancytopaenic. Logistic regression identified low admission BMI (P = 0.009) and low serum albumin level (P = 0.017) as significant correlates of anaemia, and isolated increased age (P = 0.034) as a significant associate of leucocytopaenia.

Conclusions

Haematological abnormalities occur frequently in AN inpatients. Given the frequency at which abnormalities occurred in this cohort, further large-scale and prospective studies examining haematological abnormalities in inpatient AN populations are warranted.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Potential blood gene expression markers for postpartum psychosis
Authors: Fuste M.
Published: May 2016

Background

Postpartum psychosis (PP) is the most severe psychiatric disorder associated with childbirth. Previous evidence has shown gene expression alterations in immune profile in women with PP when compared with healthy postpartum women. However, no study has ever evaluated women at risk who do not develop the disorder.

We conducted an exploratory analysis of a gene expression profile that could distinguish women with PP episode (PPE) from women at risk who do not develop PP (NPPE) after delivery.

Methods

The sample was characterised by 24 women at risk of PP of which n = 12 with PPE and n = 12 with NPPE and 21 healthy women in the same postpartum period. Following Microarray analysis, we assessed gene expression signature across the 3 groups using ANOVA. We then studied Pathway analysis of genes differently expressed in PPE and PPE exploring canonical pathways and upstream regulators using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software.

Results

Following an exploratory gene expression analysis we identified 719 genes that are differently expressed across PPE and NPPE. The PPE presented upregulation of several genes involved in the inflammatory pathway and increased gene expression levels of GRIA4, AKT3, SP4 and NRG1 genes, which have been previously described in psychotic disorders. Moreover, 5 differently expressed canonical pathways were identified including ones relevant to development, mitochondrial formation and immune system.

Conclusion

These preliminary results reveal the presence of an immuno-neuro-endocrine dysregulation in postpartum psychosis, with an upregulation of the immune system specific to those women at risk who actually develop postpartum psychosis episodes.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Association between physical frailty and cognition in late-life depression
Authors: Arts M. , Collard R. , Comijs H. , Zuidersma M. , de Rooij S. , Naarding P. , Oude Voshaar R.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Cognitive frailty has recently been defined as the co-occurrence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment. Late-life depression is associated with both physical frailty and cognitive impairment, especially processing speed and executive functioning.

Aim and objectives

In this study, we investigated the association between physical frailty and cognitive functioning in depressed older persons.

Methods

In a total of 378 patients (> 60 years) with depression according to DSM-IV criteria and a MMSE score of 24 points or higher, the physical frailty phenotype as well as its individual criteria (weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, low activity) was studied. Cognitive functioning was examined in 4 domains: verbal memory, working memory, interference control, and processing speed.

Results

Of the 378 depressed patients (range 60–90 years; 66.1% women), 61 were classified as robust (no frailty criteria present), 214 as prefrail (1 or 2 frailty criteria present), and 103 as frail (> 3 criteria). Linear regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, showed that the severity of physical frailty was associated with poorer verbal memory, slower processing speed, and decreased working memory, but not with changes in interference control.

Conclusion

In late-life depression, physical frailty is associated with poorer cognitive functioning, although not consistently for executive functioning. Future studies should examine whether cognitive impairment in the presence of physical frailty belongs to cognitive frailty and is indeed an important concept to identify a specific subgroup of depressed older patients, who need multimodal treatment strategies integrating physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Diuretic medication use reduces incident dementia risk: A meta-analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Tully P. , Hanon O. , Cosh S. , Tzourio C.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Numerous observational studies suggest that blood pressure management with antihypertensive drugs may be effective in reducing dementia risk.

Objective

To quantify dementia risk in relation to diuretic medication use.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched until June 2015. Eligibility criteria: population, adults without dementia at baseline from primary care, community cohort, residential/institutionalized or randomized controlled trial (RCT); exposure, diuretic medication; comparison, no diuretic medication, other or no antihypertensive medication, placebo-control; outcome, incident dementia in accordance with standardized criteria. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled in fixed-effects models with RevMan 5.3. The overall quality and strength of evidence was rated with GRADE criteria.

Results

Fifteen articles were eligible comprising a pooled sample of 52,599 persons and 3444 incident dementia cases (median age 76.1 years, 40% male) with a median follow-up of 6.1 years. Diuretic use was associated with 17% reduction in dementia risk (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.75 to 0.90) and a 21% reduction in Alzheimer's disease risk (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.68 to 0.93). GRADE was rated as moderate. Risk estimates were consistent comparing monotherapy versus combination therapy, study design and follow-up. Meta-regression did not suggest that age, gender, systolic blood pressure, attrition, mortality rate, education, cognitive function, stroke, Apolipoprotein E allele, heart failure or diabetes altered the primary results.

Conclusions

Diuretic medication was associated with a consistent reduction in dementia and Alzheimer's disease risk and the absence of heterogeneity points to the generalizability of these findings.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Association between drug-induced hyperprolactinemia related adverse events on women schizophrenia patients with DRD2 Taq1 polymorphism
Authors: Moon J.J. , An J.M. , Shim J.C. , Jung D.U. , Kong B.G. , Kang J.W. , Jeon D.W. , Kim H.S.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

To observe the association between adverse effects of long-term use of antipsychotic drugs in female schizophrenic patients and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2), cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, estrogen receptor-α gene (ESR1).

Method

The subjects were 89 female schizophrenic patients (age range from 18 to 40) who had been taking the same medication for more than 3 months. The adverse effects with regard to hyperprolactinemia were studied through the blood collection at one point of the subjects. Furthermore, the effect of DRD2, CYP2D6, ESR1 on serum prolactin level and amenorrhea was analyzed.

Results

There was a lower concentration of E2 in patients with amenorrhea. In addition, an inverse correlation was found between prolactin level and E2 level. Hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) was commonly found in patients who had been using risperidone, amisulpride and paliperidone; in contrast, HPRL was found less in those who had been taking aripiprazole, olanzapine, ziprasidone, clozapine and quetiapine. Moreover, female schizophrenic patients who had DRD2 Taq1 A1 allele had twice the chance of developing amenorrhea than those who did not have A1 allele. Female schizophrenic patients who had Taq1 A1 allele also had 48% higher concentration level of prolactin than those who did not have A1 allele. There was no association found between prolactin and CYP2D6 or ESR1.

Conclusion

Female schizophrenic patients who had DRD2 Taq1 A1 allele showed high prolactin level and high-frequency of HPRL. Therefore, reducing the use of prolactin-elevating antipsychotics for female schizophrenic patients with DRD2 Taq1 A1 allele would be one method minimizing the adverse effects of drug-induced hyperprolactinemia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Electrophysiological mechanisms underlying ERP amplitude reduction in patients with schizophrenia: A time-frequency analysis
Authors: Marasco D.D. , Vignapiano A. , Di Lorenzo G. , Mucci A. , Altamura M. , Petito A. , Caroprese M. , Niolu C. , Bellomo A. , Galderisi S.
Published: May 2016

Background

It is hypothesized that the event-related potentials are generated by different electrophysiological mechanisms, i.e., event-related power increase and enhanced degree of phase-locking over trial. The study aimed to characterize the relative contribution of these mechanisms to the ERP in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ).

Materials and methods

One hundred and fifteen chronic stabilized SCZ and 62 healthy controls (HC) recruited to the study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses were included. Scalp potentials were recorded during a standard auditory oddball task. Stimulus-locked segments were extracted for all standard trials and correctly hit target trials. Trials contaminated by other artifacts were rejected. For each subject and stimulus type the event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) and the inter-trial-coherence (ITC) were computed to assess event-related power increase and inter-trial phase-locking. The two groups were compared using Student's t-test followed by Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results

SCZ presented a reduced amplitude of both N100 and P3b. For both standard and target stimuli, at Cz and Pz, ERSP was reduced in SCZ in the delta-theta band (from 0 up to 400 ms). The ITC index, at the same channels, was reduced in SCZ in the delta band for standard stimuli (from 0 to 300 ms), and in both delta and theta bands for target stimuli (from 300 to 400 ms).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that alterations of both mechanisms are involved in N100 and P3b amplitude reduction observed in SCZ. Inter-trial phase-locking abnormalities for N100 were limited to the delta band, while for P3b involved delta and theta frequencies.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Clinical symptomatology and theory of mind in schizophrenia: Which relationship?
Authors: Mrizak J. , Trabelsi R. , Arous A. , Aissa A. , Ben Ammar H. , El Hechmi Z.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Theory of mind (ToM) has repeatedly been shown to be compromised in many patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). It now seems to be quite well-established that patients with profound negative or disorganized symptoms perform poorly on ToM tasks. By contrast, findings in patients with predominant positive symptoms are much more ambiguous.

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between ToM deficits and different symptoms dimensions in SCZ.

Methods

Fifty-eight outpatients with stable SCZ completed the intention-inferencing task (IIT), in which the ability to infer a character's intentions from 28 short comic strip stories is assessed. Symptomatology evaluation comprised the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale Improvement and severity (CGI).

Results

The number of correct answers in the IIT negatively correlated with both the positive (P = 0.015) and negative (P < 0.0001) scales of the PANSS. ToM deficits were correlated with the conceptual disorganization, hallucinations and the suspiciousness/persecution items.

The patients who had more false answers in the IIT also had significantly higher scores at the positive (P = 0.005), negative (P < 0.0001) and general (P < 0.0001) scales of the PANSS. Worse IIT performance correlated with a higher severity index in the CGI. No correlations were found between IIT scores and CDSS scores.

Conclusions

Our results confirm the relationship between ToM deficits and negative symtomps and suggest that ToM may also be correlated to specific positive symptoms.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Basic symptoms as subjective cognitive deficit in schizophrenia: Cognitive, clinical and functional associations
Authors: Vargas M.L. , López-Lorenzo S. , Legascue I. , Nagore A. , Serrano P. , Jimeno-Bulnes N.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Basic symptoms are subjective complaints that present at the early states in psychotic disorders and persist in the long-term. They can be studied using hetero applied clinical instruments or self-administered questionnaires. Basic symptoms can be useful as screening tools in at risk populations.

Aims

To determine if basic symptoms (subjective cognitive deficits) are associated with the objectively measured cognitive deficit after controlling for functioning and symptomatology.

Methods

One observational, transversal, psychopathological and neuropsychological study was performed on a schizophrenia outpatients sample (n = 78). Correlations were measured by using Spearman's Rho coefficient. Basic symptoms were registered by using the Frankfurt Complaints Questionnaire (FCQ-3); cognitive status was assessed by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS); clinical status was assessed by PANSS and Clinical Global Impression (CGI); functional status was measured with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).

Results

All the dimensions were related to subjective complaints: cognitive functioning (r = −.38; P < .001); positive symptoms (r = .54; P < .001); negative symptoms (r = .26; P < .02); general symptoms (r = .41; P < .001); CGI (r = .57; P < .001); GAF (r = −.45; P < .001). The association between subjective and objective cognitive deficit remains significative after controlling for the clinical and functional variables, except when controlling for CGI.

Conclusions

The evaluation of basic symptoms with FCQ-3 is related with an objective cognitive deficit and could be useful as a screening tool.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Association between patient's personality traits and outcome of hospital treatment of opioid addiction
Authors: Delic M. , Kajdiž K. , Pregelj P.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Despite different treatment approaches many drug addicted patients continue to use drugs during and after treatment.

Objectives

Personality traits are considered risk factors for drug use, and, in turn, the psychoactive substances impact individuals’ traits.

Aims

To describe the sample of 186 opioid addicted patients entered hospital treatment and assessing the differences in personality traits between abstinent and non-abstinent after one year.

Methods

A cohort of 186 patients consecutively admitted to the detoxification unit was investigated. The research interview, the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP) were administered during the first week of admission to the detoxification unit. Urine test was administered on the day of admission and at each follow-up point in combination with the TOP (after three, six and twelve months). Illicit drugs abstinence during one year after intake was selected as a treatment outcome measure.

Results

Twelve months after admission 82 (44.9%) patients abstained completely. Agreeable patients remain in treatment longer (r = 0.20, P = 0.07). Extraversion and openness are negatively correlated with abstinence after six and twelve months (r = –0.15, P = 0.041; r = –0.15, P = 0.044). Neuroticism is in negative correlation with duration of treatment (r = –0.20, P = 0.006). Patients who are less open to new experiences are more likely to abstain from drugs 6 months after admission (r = –0.17, P = 0.021).

Conclusion

Personality measured with BFI correlates with treatment outcome poorly. At the same time personality could have an important role in responding to treatment, but personality traits could be at the same time protective as well as risk factors.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.