bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between trabecular bone architecture and early dental implant failure in the posterior region of the mandible
Authors: Nicolielo Laura Ferreira Pinheiro , Van Dessel Jeroen , Jacobs Reinhilde , Quirino Silveira Soares Mariana , Collaert Bruno
Published: October 2019

Objective

To investigate the relationship between preoperative trabecular bone structure and implant outcome based on bone morphometric bone parameters from CBCT scans.

Materials and Methods

Twenty consecutive cases with early implant failure in the posterior region of the mandible were matched with 20 control patients with a successful implant osseointegration selected. All patients had taken a preoperative CBCT image according to a standardized acquisition protocol. On these CBCT scans, the trabecular bone of each implantation site was selected and segmented, after which 3D morphometric bone parameters were calculated and used in a cluster analysis to objectively differentiate trabecular bone patterns. Fisher's exact test was used to determine whether there is a significant association between trabecular pattern and implant outcome.

Results

A sparse, intermediate, and dense trabecular bone pattern was distinguished by cluster analysis. The relationship between the trabecular bone pattern and early implant failure was significant (z = 9.6; p < .05). Early implant failure was more likely to occur in the sparse bone types, while implant survival was associated with intermediate bone types.

Conclusion

Prior to implant placement, attention should be given to extreme deviations in trabecular structure at the planned implant sites. Very sparse or very dense bone should be carefully evaluated at the potential implant site, while intermediate bone types seem favorable for implant survival.
Two‐year study on the application of the Paris system for urinary cytology in a cancer centre
Authors: de Paula Rafaela , Oliveira Andrea , Nunes Warley , Bovolim Graziele , Domingos Tabata , De Brot Louise , Bezerra Stephania , Cunha Isabela , Morini Mariane , Saieg Mauro
Published: October 2019

Introduction

The Paris system for reporting urinary cytology (TPS) was published in order to provide clear cytomorphological criteria for urine cytology specimens, focusing on high‐grade urothelial lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing TPS and to correlate with available concomitant histological samples, accessing overall sensitivity and specificity.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of urine cytology reports from 2017 to 2018 using TPS was carried out, with histological correlation to concomitant samples (up to 3 months). Statistical analysis was performed with calculation of sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values and risk of malignancy (ROM) for all TPS categories.

Results

A total of 1660 specimens were evaluated. Histological specimens were available for 611 (36.8%) cases. Urine cytology categorised by TPS had 2.4% non‐diagnostic cases, 87.1% negative for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC), 4.6% atypical urothelial cells, 2.7% suspicious for HGUC, 2.7% HGUC and 0.5% cases of other malignancies. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value were 40.0%, 99.3%, 88.2% and 92.3%, respectively. ROM of each category was 0% for non‐diagnostic, 11.1% for negative for HGUC, 32.4% for atypical, 64.9% for suspicious for HGUC and 87.9% for HGUC and other malignancies.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that implementation of TPS provided a high specificity and predictive positive value for the detection of high‐grade urothelial lesions, with proportionally increasing ROMs as categories progress from negative to positive.
A natural AKT inhibitor swertiamarin targets AKT‐PH domain, inhibits downstream signaling, and alleviates inflammation
Authors: Zhang Man , Ma Xiaoyao , Xu Honglei , Wu Wenbo , He Xin , Wang Xiaoying , Jiang Min , Hou Yuanyuan , Bai Gang
Published: October 2019

Swertiamarin (SW), a representative component in Flos Lonicerae Japonicae, has been reported to exert significant activity in preventing infections. In this research, we aim to clarify the details of SW and its target to explore SW's underlying anti‐inflammatory mechanisms. An azide labeled SW probe was synthesized for protein target fishing, and the results demonstrated that AKT could be captured specifically. Immunofluorescence colocalization with AKT was implemented by a click reaction of the SW probe and alkynyl CY5. The result showed that AKT was one of the targets of SW. Then, a competitive combination experiment using a set of AKT inhibitors and a membrane translocation experiment confirmed that SW might target the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of AKT. This specific binding directly deactivated the phosphorylation of AKT on both Ser473 and Thr308, which induced the dephosphorylation of IKK and NF‐κB. Finally, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐8) were suppressed both in cells and in acute lung injury animal model by targeting AKT‐PH domain. This study demonstrated that SW functions as a natural AKT inhibitor and presents significant anti‐inflammatory activity by directly regulating the AKT‐PH domain and inhibiting downstream inflammatory molecules.
In situ synchrotron ultrasonic fatigue testing device for 3D characterisation of internal crack initiation and growth
Authors: Messager Alexandre , Junet Arnaud , Palin‐Luc Thierry , Buffiere Jean‐Yves , Saintier Nicolas , Ranc Nicolas , El May Mohamed , Gaillard Yves , King Andrew , Bonnin Anne , Nadot Yves
Published: October 2019

This work presents a new ultrasonic fatigue testing device for studying the initiation and propagation mechanisms of internal microstructurally short fatigue cracks using in situ synchrotron tomography. Its principle is described as well as the method used for automatically detecting crack initiation and its subsequent growth. To promote internal crack initiation, specimens containing internal casting defects were tested between the high cycle and very high cycle fatigue regimes (107‐109cycles). Preliminary results show the ability of this new device to initiate an internal microstructurally short crack in a reasonable testing time and monitor its growth.
Report of the 20th Nationwide follow‐up survey of primary liver cancer in Japan
Authors: Kudo Masatoshi , Izumi Namiki , Kubo Shoji , Kokudo Norihiro , Sakamoto Michiie , Shiina Shuichiro , Tateishi Ryosuke , Nakashima Osamu , Murakami Takamichi , Matsuyama Yutaka , Takahashi Arata , Miyata Hiroaki , Takayama Tadatoshi
Published: October 2019

In the 20th Nationwide Follow‐up Survey of Primary Liver Cancer in Japan, data from 21 075 new patients and 40 769 previously followed patients were compiled from 544 institutions over a 2‐year period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009. Compared with the previous 19th survey, the population of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was older at the time of clinical diagnosis, included more female patients, included more patients with non‐B non‐C HCC, had smaller tumor diameters and more frequently received radiofrequency ablation as local ablation therapy. Cumulative survival rates were calculated for HCC, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (combined HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) by treatment type and by background characteristics for patients newly registered between 1998 and 2009 whose final outcome was survival or death. Cumulative survival rates for HCC were calculated by dividing patients by combinations of background factors (number of tumors, tumor diameter, and Child–Pugh grade) and by treatment types (hepatectomy, local ablation therapy, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization). Cumulative survival rates and median overall survival in patients treated by resection, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, and local ablation therapy were calculated. The same values were also calculated by the registration date by dividing patients newly registered between 1978 and 2009 into four time period groups . The results of the analysis show that the prognosis of HCC is improving dramatically. It is expected that the data obtained from this nationwide follow‐up survey will contribute to advancing clinical research, including the design of clinical trials, as well as the treatment strategy of primary liver cancer in the clinical practice setting.
Hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma in young adults: Efficacy of nationwide selective vaccination
Authors: Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi , Takano Tomoko , Tanaka Motofumi , Amano Keisuke , Imamura Michio , Ogawa Koji , Yasunaka Tetsuya , Yasui Yutaka , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Tanaka Yasuhito , Tajiri Hitoshi ,   for the Japanese adolescent HBV‐HCC study group
Published: October 2019

Aim

Hepatitis B vaccination in infancy was carried out in Japan only when the mother was persistently infected from 1986 to 2016. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the results of vaccination for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in young adults.

Methods

We studied the number of patients who had liver cancer and died from 1976 to 2017 using a national database. Furthermore, we carried out a nationwide survey focusing on patients with hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma who were diagnosed when aged <40 years from 2007 to 2016.

Results

The national database showed that the number of deaths of patients aged <40 years decreased from 337 in 1986 to 61 in 2016. Among the 122 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were registered in the survey, just three patients were born after the start of the vaccination in 1986. Liver cirrhosis, defined by a high Fib‐4 index (≥3.25), was found in just 12.5% of the patients at the time of the survey. HCC was incidentally diagnosed in 85 of the 122 (69%) patients. More than 60% of the patients (54/88) were dead at the time of the study, which may be attributed to the delay in diagnosis.

Conclusions

Selective vaccination was effective for the prevention of hepatitis B virus‐related HCC. In contrast, many young adults who missed the chance of hepatitis B vaccination and HCC surveillance developed HCC and died. Hepatitis B virus screening in young adults and careful follow up of infected patients are important to prevent HCC development.
‘Clinically unnecessary’ use of emergency and urgent care: A realist review of patients' decision making
Authors: O'Cathain Alicia , Connell Janice , Long Jaqui , Coster Joanne
Published: October 2019

Background

Demand is labelled ‘clinically unnecessary’ when patients do not need the levels of clinical care or urgency provided by the service they contact.

Objective

To identify programme theories which seek to explain why patients make use of emergency and urgent care that is subsequently judged as clinically unnecessary.

Design

Realist review.

Methods

Papers from four recent systematic reviews of demand for emergency and urgent care, and an updated search to January 2017. Programme theories developed using Context‐Mechanism‐Outcome chains identified from 32 qualitative studies and tested by exploring their relationship with existing health behaviour theories and 29 quantitative studies.

Results

Six mechanisms, based on ten interrelated programme theories, explained why patients made clinically unnecessary use of emergency and urgent care: (a) need for risk minimization, for example heightened anxiety due to previous experiences of traumatic events; (b) need for speed, for example caused by need to function normally to attend to responsibilities; (c) need for low treatment‐seeking burden, caused by inability to cope due to complex or stressful lives; (d) compliance, because family or health services had advised such action; (e) consumer satisfaction, because emergency departments were perceived to offer the desired tests and expertise when contrasted with primary care; and (f) frustration, where patients had attempted and failed to obtain a general practitioner appointment in the desired timeframe. Multiple mechanisms could operate for an individual.

Conclusions

Rather than only focusing on individuals' behaviour, interventions could include changes to health service configuration and accessibility, and societal changes to increase coping ability.
Weak asymmetric interspecific aggression and divergent habitat preferences at an elevational contact zone between tropical songbirds
Authors: Jones Samuel E. I. , Tobias Joseph A. , Freeman Robin , Portugal Steven J.
Published: October 2019

Closely related tropical bird species often occupy mutually exclusive elevational ranges, but the mechanisms generating and maintaining this pattern remain poorly understood. One hypothesis is that replacement species are segregated by interference competition (e.g. territorial aggression), but the extent to which competition combines with other key factors such as specialization to distinct habitats remains little studied. Using vegetation surveys and reciprocal playback experiments, we explored the dynamics of interspecific aggression between two Nightingale‐ThrushesCatharussp. in Central America. We show that lower‐elevation Black‐headed Nightingale‐ThrushesCatharus mexicanusare aggressive towards higher‐elevation Ruddy‐capped Nightingale‐ThrushesCatharus frantziiwhere they meet at contact zones. However, interspecific aggressive responses were weak and unidirectional, and the two species were associated with different habitats. We conclude that the contact zone is maintained and located primarily by habitat selection, and is probably reinforced by interspecific aggression. This has important implications for understanding how montane species will respond to climate change because the pace and extent of range shifts will not depend solely on habitat shifts or interspecific competition, but instead on interactions between these two factors.
Individual–resource networks reveal distinct fruit preferences of selective individuals from a generalist population of the Helmeted Manakin
Authors: Pires Luís Paulo , de Melo Celine
Published: October 2019

Ecological studies traditionally assume that generalist populations are homogeneous in the use of food resources, but empirical evidence supports that intraspecific differences in morphology, physiology and behaviour affect foraging decisions and promote diet variation among individuals. Furthermore, the temporal availability of resources may shape the dynamics of population trophic niche, which ultimately depends on individual niches. In this study, we investigated the seasonal changes in individual‐based networks between the Helmeted Manakin Antilophia galeata, a generalist frugivorous bird, and fruiting plants, following theoretical models of interindividual diet variation based on the Optimal Diet Theory. Selective individuals were the majority of the generalist population of the Helmeted Manakin. Our results suggest that the structure of the individual‐resource networks varied seasonally. We found that modularity was higher than expected by chance in the wet season, when fruit availability was also higher. In the dry season, modules disappeared and the network became more nested. These findings are consistent with the Distinct Preference Model of diet variation. We suggest that downscaling ecological networks to the individual level may reveal emergent properties that, albeit existent, are not evident in species–resources networks.
The extra domain A of fibronectin facilitates osteoclastogenesis in radicular cysts through vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Yang J. W. , Jiang J. H. , Wang H. C. , Li C. Y.
Published: October 2019

Aim

To analyse the effects of the alternatively spliced fibronectin (FN) gene and its isoforms on osteoclastogenesis in radicular cysts.

Methodology

Specimens of radicular cysts were collected surgically from 22 patients whose radiolucent periapical areas were measured on digital panoramic radiographs before surgery. The associations between the radiolucent areas and FN isoforms, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression or micro‐vessel density, as well as the relationships amongst them, were analysed by immunohistochemical staining using the antibodies IST‐9, BC‐1, P1F11, VEGF and CD34. Fibroblasts isolated from those specimens were used to induce Trap + MNCs, and the effects of induction were assessed by blocking FN containing extra domain A (EDA + FN), COX‐2 or VEGF in vitro. The effects of EDA exon knockout using CRISPR/Cas system were also assessed. Quantitative PCR was used to analyse relative expression of FN isoforms and osteoclastogenic genes. Data were analysed using linear regression, Spearman's rank correlation analysis, chi‐square test and Student's t‐test; P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Micro‐vessel density and EDA + FN staining were positively associated with the size of radiolucent periapical areas (mm2; P < 0.05), consistent with a positive association between Trap + MNCs and VEGF expression in fibroblasts (P < 0.05). Blocking the interaction between EDA + FN and fibroblasts inhibited Trap + MNC formation. In addition, EDA exon knockout decreased VEGF expression and inhibited Trap + MNC formation to the extent of blocking VEGF by bevacizumab, but osteoclastogenic induction was restored by recombinant VEGF. Using retrospective clinicopathological data, VEGF staining was shown to be positively associated with EDA + FN staining, micro‐vessel density and the size of radiolucent areas (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In fibrous capsules of radicular cysts, the alternatively spliced isoform EDA + FN generated by fibroblasts stimulated VEGF expression via an autocrine effect and then facilitated osteoclastogenesis. Both blockage of VEGF and EDA exon knockout could be used to inhibit bone destruction.
Reactions and emissivity of cerium oxide with phosphate binder coating on basic refractory brick
Authors: Juthapakdeeprasert Jindaporn , Gavalda Diaz Oriol , Lerdprom Wirat , De Sousa Meneses Domingos , Jayaseelan Doni D. , Lee William E.
Published: October 2019

High emissivity coatings which aim to help the cement industry reduce heat loss in its production process have been developed with different CeO2 and AlH6O12P3 ratios (1:3, 1:5, and 1:12 by volume). The coating slurries were shear thinning and after heat treatment in air at 1300°C, 1°C/min, dwell 3 hours, XRD revealed that CePO4 forms more easily as the Ce/P ratio decreases. The composition with a 1:5 ratio of CeO2:AlH6O12P3 was gun sprayed on basic refractory bricks, then heat treated under the same conditions as the slurries. SEM, (S)TEM and EDX were used to study thickness, microstructure, and chemical composition of the coatings which revealed that the coating was composed of pores, CeO2 grains, CePO4 grains, and M‐P‐O glass. SEM images show that CePO4 was nucleated from a reaction between CeO2 and AlH6O12P3. Consequently, CePO4 grains (~2 µm diameter) were smaller than CeO2 (~10 µm diameter). The emissivities of un‐coated and coated basic refractory bricks were measured at 1100 and 1300°C over the wave number range of 700‐12 000 cm−1. At both temperatures, the emissivity of the coated bricks was higher than the uncoated bricks and the emissivity was measured to be higher at a higher temperature for both samples. The coated bricks gave the highest emissivity of 0.81 from 1050 to 11 000 cm−1 which is about twice the un‐coated bricks for the same conditions. This demonstrates that the developed high emissivity coating has potential to be used with basic refractory brick.
Solving nonconvex nonlinear programs with reverse convex constraints by sequential linear programming
Authors: Drezner Zvi , Kalczynski Pawel
Published: October 2019

The sequential linear programming (SLP) method for solving nonlinear problems was introduced in the 1960s. Many papers that attempted to use SLP reported poor performance and convergence issues. We found that nonlinear programs with reverse convex constraints, which are the most difficult nonlinear programs with many local optima, are solved (heuristically) very well by SLP. We proved that for this type of problems, the solutions to the sequence of the linear programming problems converge to a local optimum. Since the final solution depends on the starting solution, we propose to apply SLP in a multistart approach starting from randomly generated solutions. This multistart SLP is very easy to implement. We recommend that the research community reconsiders the application of SLP for this type of problems.
Low‐temperature Maxwell‐Wagner relaxation in (Na + Nb) co‐doped rutile TiO2 colossal permittivity ceramics
Authors: Wang Chunchang , Li Tianyu , Xie Yuanmiao , Wang Jin
Published: October 2019

The exact mechanism of the stunning colossal permittivity behavior found in (donor‐acceptor) co‐doped TiO2 system still remains enigmatic. This behavior results from a thermally activated dielectric relaxation occurring below 50 K. Herein, thermally stimulated depolarization current analysis combined with dielectric investigation was used to disentangle this relaxation in (Na + Nb) co‐doped TiO2 ceramics. We find that this relaxation is related to frozen electrons and features the Vogel‐Fulcher behavior and negative dielectric tunability. Our results reveal that this low‐temperature relaxation is a new kind of Maxwell‐Wagner relaxation. Differences between the low‐temperature Maxwell‐Wagner relaxation and its high‐temperature counterpart are discussed. This study provides new insights into the physics of the eye‐catching dielectric properties in co‐doped TiO2 system.
3D printing of high‐purity silicon carbide
Authors: Terrani Kurt , Jolly Brian , Trammell Michael
Published: October 2019

A method for advanced manufacturing of silicon carbide offering complete freedom in geometric complexity in the three‐dimensional space is described. The method combines binder jet printing and chemical vapor infiltration in a process capable of yielding a high‐purity, fully crystalline ceramic—attributes essential for ideal performance in very high‐temperature applications or in the presence of displacement damage. Thermal conductivity and characteristic equibiaxial flexural strength of the resulting monolithic SiC at room temperature are 37 W·(m·K)−1 and 297 MPa, respectively.
STRIDE BP international initiative for accurate blood pressure measurement: Systematic review of published validation studies of blood pressure measuring devices
Authors: Stergiou George S. , O'Brien Eoin , Myers Martin , Palatini Paolo , Parati Gianfranco , Kollias Anastasios , Birmpas Dimos , Kyriakoulis Konstantinos , Bountzona Ioanna , Stambolliu Emelina , Anagnostopoulos Ioannis , Karpettas Nikos , Menti Ariadni ,   the STRIDE BP Scientific Advisory Board
Published: October 2019

Blood pressure (BP) is a vital sign, and its measurement is essential for diagnosing and treating hypertension. The accuracy of BP monitors is therefore essential, but unfortunately very few devices available on the market have been validated using an established protocol. STRIDE BP (www.stridebp.org) is an international nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the accuracy of BP measurement and the diagnosis of hypertension. It has a prestigious Scientific Advisory Board and operates in affiliation with the European Society of Hypertension, the International Society of Hypertension, and the World Hypertension League. STRIDE BP provides lists of accurate office, ambulatory, and home BP monitors. STRIDE BP performed a systematic review of 419 published validations (270 articles and 260 devices). In these publications, 50 (12%) of the validations were rejected compared with 129 (31%) rejected by STRIDE BP (P < .001). Of 79 validations approved in publications but rejected by STRIDE BP, 7 (9%) were rejected due to device inaccuracy and 72 (91%) due to inadequate study quality (execution, analysis, and reporting). Errors in conducting and reporting published validations must be avoided. Peer review must ascertain that a comprehensive checklist of all aspects of a validation study have been adhered to. The implementation of a Universal Standard for device validation and the global dissemination of information on accurate devices by STRIDE BP are expected to improve the quality and accuracy of BP measurement, which should have a positive impact on the diagnosis and management of hypertension globally.
Clinical evaluation of chairside‐fabricated partial crowns composed of zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate ceramics: 3‐year results of a prospective practice‐based study
Authors: Rinke Sven , Pfitzenreuter Theresia , Leha Andreas , Roediger Matthias , Ziebolz Dirk
Published: October 2019

Objectives

Prospective practice‐based clinical evaluation of chairside fabricated monolithic partial crowns composed of zirconia‐containing lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramic material.

Materials and Methods

Between October 2013 and September 2014, 71 patients were restored with 92 partial crowns on vital or sufficiently endodontically treated teeth. The monolithic restorations were fabricated chairside (Cerec SW 4.2/Cerec MC XL) from a glaze‐fired ZLS ceramic material (Celtra Duo, Dentsply Sirona, Bensheim, Germany). Adhesive cementation was performed using the total‐etch technique with one of two dual‐curing composite materials. Modified United States Public Health Service parameters were evaluated annually; moreover, the parameters “time‐dependent survival” (in situ criterion) and “success rates” (event‐free restorations) were evaluated according to Kaplan‐Meier analysis.

Results

Sixty‐nine patients with 17 premolar and 71 molar partial crowns attended annual follow‐up examinations (observational period: 36.0 ± 5.7 months). Two complete failures were recorded and were caused by a tooth fracture (at 30 months) and a restoration fracture (at 38 months), (3‐year survival rate: 99%; 95% confidence interval (CI 95%): [0.97;1]). One clinical intervention was necessary (endodontic treatment) to maintain function (3‐year success rate: 98%; (CI95%: [0.95:1]).

Conclusions

Chairside‐fabricated ZLS partial crowns show a good initial clinical performance. However, to further evaluate this new material, clinical data from studies with longer observational periods are required.

Clinical Significance

Based on this mid‐term evaluation, ZLS ceramics appear to be a promising alternative material for the chairside fabrication of adhesively luted monolithic posterior restorations with a low risk of material‐related complications.
Efficacy of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tang Xiaoqiong , Li Changchang , Ge Shuqi , Chen Zhiwei , Lu Liming
Published: October 2019

Background

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as the effective new method to treat acne vulgaris. However, no meta‐analysis has been published on PDT for acne vulgaris currently.

Objective

The current meta‐analysis and systematic review were carried out to assess the safety and effect of PDT on treating acne vulgaris.

Methods

The electronic databases, including EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE, were systemically retrieved to identify relevant articles for meta‐analysis. The primary outcome included mean percentage reduction in the inflammatory lesion count (MPRILC), while the secondary outcome included the total effective response (TER).

Results

Altogether 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 701 subjects had been enrolled into the current meta‐analysis. PDT had certain effect on acne vulgaris in terms of the outcomes of MPRILC (MD: 15.97, 95% CI: 11.93 to 20.00, P < .00001) and TER (RR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.38‐1.74, P < .00001). Totally, 6 articles had been evaluated to have a low bias risk overall. Results of sensitivity and subgroup analyses were similar to meta‐analysis results, reflecting the result reliability in this meta‐analysis.

Conclusions

PDT is beneficial for improving the clinical efficacy of inflammatory acne vulgaris, which can be widely used to treat inflammatory acne vulgaris in clinic.
Periauricular wrinkles removed with voltaic arc dermabrasion (Atmospheric Plasma technique)
Authors: Scarano Antonio , Carinci Francesco , Festa Felice , Candotto Valentina , Amore Roberto , Lorusso Felice
Published: October 2019

Background

In recent literature, different approaches have been proposed to improve the long‐lasting treatment of age‐related alterations on the human face with decreased invasiveness and side effects such as scar tissue. Voltaic arc dermabrasion is a minimally painful procedure that does not create discomfort to the patient and requires no anaesthesia.

Aims

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the voltaic arc technique for the treatment of skin wrinkles in the periauricular area.

Methods

A total of 80 patients were treated in this study, 56 females and 24 males. The population was visited at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months postoperative follow‐ups to evaluate the healing of the treated regions.

Results

All subjects showed evidence of tissue contraction related to the skin of the periauricular region with a cosmetic reduction of wrinkles in the treated area. No scars, complications, or pigmentary alterations were reported. At 1 month, all treated areas showed complete healing.

Conclusions

The voltaic arc dermabrasion can be considered a useful tool for a noninvasive treatment of wrinkles related to the periauricular skin, with no discomfort for the patient or complications related to the procedure.
Long non‐coding RNA BANCR promotes proliferation and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma via MAPK signaling pathway
Authors: Yao Chun , Kong Fanzhi , Zhang Senlin , Wang Guihua , She Peng , Zhang Qingqing
Published: October 2019

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be aberrantly expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but the biological role and function of BRAF‐activated long non‐coding RNA (BANCR) in OSCC remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that the expression of BANCR was upregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines compared to the negative control. The decreased expression of BANCR in vitro markedly inhibited OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while the opposite was observed for the overexpression of BANCR. The results also showed that the expression of MAPK signaling–related proteins (p‐erk, p‐akt, and p‐p‐38) was positively correlated with that of BANCR. Thus, BANCR may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of OSCC, as well as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC, and it may be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic factor in OSCC patients.
Exploring Malaysian mothers' plans on sleeping arrangement with their newborn
Authors: Chang Chee‐Tao , Shunmugam Pavithrah , Abdul Aziz Noor Azmatulakma , Abdul Razak Noor Shahizan , Johari Nurhidayatun , Mohamad Norazra , Ghazali Roswati , Rajagam Haymalatha , Hss Amar‐Singh
Published: October 2019

Aim

Bed sharing is defined as a newborn sleeping in the same bed with an adult. Bed sharing may put the newborn at risk of suffocation due to accidental smothering.

Methods

This was a quasi‐experimental study conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. Healthy post‐delivery Malaysian mothers were randomly selected and enrolled into the control or the intervention group. On the day of discharge, mothers in the intervention group were interviewed face‐to‐face in the post‐natal ward on their plans for sleeping arrangement with their newborn. After the interview, mothers were advised not to bed share with their newborn and were given an educational leaflet on safe sleeping practices. One week after discharge, mothers in both groups were interviewed over the telephone regarding their actual sleeping arrangements with their newborn using the same questionnaire. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with reduced bed sharing.

Results

A total of 94 mothers and 95 mothers were recruited to the control and intervention group, respectively. The baseline bed‐sharing prevalence was similar between groups: 60.6% in the control group and 61.1% in the interventional group. The proportion of mothers who bed shared with their newborn reduced from 61.1 to 37.9% after the intervention (P < 0.001). Most mothers in the control group opted for bed sharing to ease breastfeeding (68.4%). Mothers in the control group had a 5.9 times higher odds of bed sharing.

Conclusions

In this study, the majority of mothers practiced bed sharing at baseline. A significant proportion of mothers changed their sleeping practices after receiving the intervention in the form of an information leaflet.
Comparing interferon‐free with interferon‐based regimens in HCV patients: Rogers phenomenon and Simpson’s paradox
Authors: Carrat Fabrice , Nahon Pierre , Fontaine Hélène , Pol Stanislas , Hejblum Gilles
Published: October 2019

Comparisons of time‐to‐event clinical outcomes between patients with or without a sustained virological response (SVR) after treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection have been repeatedly reported in emphasizing the potential clinical impact of treatment. Combining recently published data from different therapeutic eras with simple examples, we show that comparisons of incidence rates by SVR status between patients treated with interferon‐based and interferon‐free regimens are flawed through confounding by prognosis. The relevant analysis for evaluating and comparing the clinical impact of these regimens should be a comparison between randomized treatment groups, irrespective of the SVR status.
Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease in a dog
Authors: Colopy Lydia J. , Shiu Kai‐Biu , Snyder Laura A. , Avery Anne C. , Rout Emily D. , Moore A R.
Published: October 2019

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD), which affects many organ systems, has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity in human medicine for just over a decade but has not been previously identified in dogs. In humans, IgG4‐RD is characterized by diffuse IgG4‐positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates that commonly lead to increased serum concentrations of IgG4 and IgE, peripheral eosinophilia, tumorous swellings that often include the parotid salivary glands, obliterative phlebitis, and extensive fibrosis. Herein we describe the diagnosis, clinical progression, and successful treatment of IgG4‐RD in an 8‐year‐old female spayed Husky mixed breed dog. Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with vague clinical signs, lymphoplasmacytic swellings, restricted polyclonal gammopathy, eosinophilia or some combination of these findings.
Improvement of Streptococcus suis glutamate dehydrogenase expression in Escherichia coli through genetic modification of acetate synthesis pathway
Authors: Wang J. , Shang Q. , Zhao C. , Zhang S. , Li Z. , Lin C. , Shen Z. , Cheng L.
Published: October 2019

Escherichia coli generates acetate as an undesirable by-product that has several negative effects on protein expression, and the reduction of acetate accumulation by modifying genes of acetate synthesis pathway can improve the expression of recombinant proteins. In the present study, the effect of phosphotransacetylase (pta) or/and acetate kinase (ackA) deletion on glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) expression was investigated. The results indicated that the disruptions of pta or/and ackA decreased the acetate accumulation and synthesis of per gram cell, and increased cell density, and GDH expression and synthesis of per gram cell. The pta gene was more important for acetate formation than the ackA gene. Using the strain with deletions of pta-ackA (SSGPA) for GDH expression, acetate accumulation (2·61 g l−1) and acetate synthesis of per gram cell (0·229 g g−1) were lowest, decreasing by 28·29 and 41·43% compared with those of the parental strain (SSG) respectively. The flux of acetate synthesis (6·6%) was decreased by 72·15% compared with that of SSG, and the highest cell density (11·38 g l−1), GDH expression (2·78 mg ml−1), and GDH formation of per gram cell (0·2442 mg mg−1) were obtained, which were 1·22-, 1·43- and 1·17-times higher than the parental strain respectively.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Significance and Impact of the Study: Acetate is the key undesirable by-product in Escherichia coli cultivation, and both biomass and production of desired products are increased by the reduction of acetate accumulation. In the present study, the strains with deletions of pta or/and ackA were constructed to reduce the acetate accumulation and improve the GDH expression, and the highest expression level of GDH was obtained using the strain with lesion in pta-ackA that was 1·17-times higher than that of the parental strain. The construction strategy of recombinant E. coli for decreasing the acetate excretion can be used for high expression level of other desired products.
Clinical outcome indicators in chronic hepatitis B and C: A primer for value‐based medicine in hepatology
Authors: Strazzabosco Mario , Cortesi Paolo A. , Conti Sara , Okolicsanyi Stefano , Rota Matteo , Ciaccio Antonio , Cozzolino Paolo , Fornari Carla , Gemma Marta , Scalone Luciana , Cesana Giancarlo , Fabris Luca , Colledan Michele , Fagiuoli Stefano , Ideo Gaetano , Zavaglia Claudio , Perricone Giovanni , Munari Luca M. , Mantovani Lorenzo G. , Belli Luca S.
Published: October 2019

Background & Aims

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are major health problems that require complex and costly treatments. Liver‐specific clinical outcome indicators (COIs) able to assist both clinicians and administrators in improving the value of care are presently lacking. The Value‐Based Medicine in Hepatology (VBMH) study aims to fill this gap, devising and testing a set of COIs for CLD, that could be easily collected during clinical practice. Here we report the COIs generated and recorded for patients with HBV or HCV infection at different stages of the disease.

Methods/Results

In the first phase of VBMH study, COIs were identified, based on current international guidelines and literature, using a modified Delphi method and a RAND 9‐point appropriateness scale. In the second phase, COIs were tested in an observational, longitudinal, prospective, multicentre study based in Lombardy, Italy. Eighteen COIs were identified for HBV and HCV patients. Patients with CLD secondary to HBV (547) or HCV (1391) were enrolled over an 18‐month period and followed for a median of 4 years. The estimation of the proposed COIs was feasible in the real‐word clinical practice and COI values compared well with literature data. Further, the COIs were able to capture the impact of new effective treatments like direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) in the clinical practice.

Conclusions

The COIs efficiently measured clinical outcomes at different stages of CLDs. While specific clinical practice settings and related healthcare systems may modify their implementation, these indicators will represent an important component of the tools for a value‐based approach in hepatology and will positively affect care delivery.
The importance of diversity in cognitive neuroscience
Authors: Dotson Vonetta M. , Duarte Audrey
Published: October 2019

The vast majority of what is known about the neural underpinnings of human cognition comes from studies limited to racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically homogeneous samples. Furthermore, although most studies include both males and females in their samples, sex differences in patterns of brain activity and performance are rarely evaluated. We discuss recent research suggesting that one's socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and sex contribute to individual differences in neural structure, function, and related cognitive performance across a variety of cognitive domains. These studies make it clear that findings from decades of cognitive neuroscience research are likely not generalizable to a population that is much more diverse than the samples tested. We argue that these demographics cannot be ignored if we want to understand the neural substrates of human cognition for the diverse, general population. Cognitive neuroscience has been, and continues to be, used to inform education policy and clinical practice. We argue that greater diversity in cognitive neuroscience research is needed to improve reproducibility and to serve the treatment needs of a diverse population. We discuss the challenges to achieving this goal, including consideration of confounding and correlated variables, recruitment, necessary costs, and best practices for dealing with them.
How Much is Too Much? The Effect of Offline Call Intensity on Online Purchase of Digital Services
Authors: Zhang Xingyue , Yao Yuliang
Published: October 2019

Use a unique dataset collected from a large classified ads website, we empirically examine the effect of the offline call intensity on the online consumer purchase probability of digital services and the carryover effect of the call intensity. We find that the online consumer purchase probability is increasing in the call intensity but at a decreasing rate. We further demonstrate that the decreasing rate is sizable enough that the relationship between the online consumer purchase probability and the call intensity is an inverted U‐shaped curve. In addition, there exists a strong carryover effect where the online call intensity in the past 4 weeks does not fade away but has a positive effect on recent consumer purchases. Our estimations show that both too much and too little call intensity will result in considerably worse outcomes. As compared with the call intensity at the optimal level, too much call intensity potentially reduces the online consumer purchase probability by 29.11%, and too little call intensity potentially reduces the online consumer purchase probability by 54.90%. Furthermore, making calls every week for 4 weeks can increase consumer purchase probability by 10.69 times as compared with just initiating calls with the consumers.
Identification of true Gloiopeltis furcata (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) and preliminary analysis of its biogeography
Authors: Hanyuda Takeaki , Yamamura Kensho , Boo Ga H. , Miller Kathy A. , Vinogradova Kira L. , Kawai Hiroshi
Published: October 2019

In the red algal genus Gloiopeltis, five species (G. complanata, G. dura, G. frutex, G. furcata and G. tenax) are currently recognized, but genetic analyses have suggested considerably greater species diversity. Gloiopeltis specimens formed nine highly supported clades, six of which are morphologically referable to G. furcata. In order to identify the clade corresponding to true G. furcata, we examined the morphology and genetics of the type specimen of Dumontia furcata Postels & Ruprecht, the basionym of G. furcata, housed in the Herbarium of V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute (LE). A clade comprising the type and specimens from the northwestern to northeastern Pacific Ocean was determined to correspond G. furcata. We concluded that the type locality of G. furcata is Sitka, Alaska, based on the identity of haplotypes. We investigated the genetic divergence of populations within this species, using specimens covering most of its distributional range. We confirmed the merger of G. minuta and G. dura with G. furcata.
miRNA sequencing reveals miRNA‐4508 from peripheral blood lymphocytes as potential diagnostic biomarker for silica‐related pulmonary fibrosis: A multistage study
Authors: Chu Minjie , Wu Shuangshuang , Wang Wei , Mao Liping , Yu Yuhui , Jiang Liying , Yuan Weiyan , Zhang Mingjiong , Sang Lingli , Huang Qiqing , Tian Tian , Han Lei , Zhuang Xun , Zhang Zuo‐Feng , Wu Jianqing
Published: October 2019

Background and objective

This study aimed to identify miRNA as potential diagnostic biomarkers for silica‐related pulmonary fibrosis (SPF).

Methods

We first performed a comprehensive miRNA‐seq screening in PBL of eight subjects exposed to silica dust (four individuals with SPF and four healthy controls). The promising miRNA were then evaluated in the first‐stage validation using an independent GEO data set (GSE80555) of 6 subjects (3 individuals with SPF and 3 healthy controls), followed by a second‐stage validation using 120 subjects exposed to silica dust (60 individuals with SPF and 60 healthy controls).

Results

Thirty‐five miRNA showed strong expression differences in miRNA‐seq screening, while miRNA‐4508 (P = 9.52 × 10−3) was retained as a candidate after the first‐stage validation (GSE80555), which was further confirmed in the second‐stage validation with similar and strong effect (P = 9.93 × 10−17). ROC analysis showed that miRNA‐4508 could distinguish SPF cases from healthy controls with high AUC (0.886), with sensitivity of 81.7% and specificity of 86.7%. In addition, the miRNA‐4508 upstream rs6576457 mutant A allele exhibited a strong association with susceptibility to SPF (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.20–2.23, P = 0.002), while eQTL analysis revealed a potential association between different genotypes of rs6576457 and miRNA‐4508 expression (P = 0.068) in 60 healthy subjects with silica dust exposure.

Conclusion

miRNA‐4508 may be a potential diagnostic marker for SPF, and rs6576457, a functional variant of miRNA‐4508, may affect SPF susceptibility. The detailed mechanism of action of this miRNA remains to be elucidated.
Tax havens compliance with international standards: A temporal perspective
Authors: Pieretti Patrice , Pulina Giuseppe , Zanaj Skerdilajda
Published: October 2019

This paper contributes to the debate centering on the fight against aggressive tax avoidance practices through the release of international standards. We develop a model in which identical tax havens decide upon their compliance date while competing for onshore capital. The timing of these decisions depends on the effects of two opposing forces. One force is linked to the tax sensitivity of international capital and the other to the reaction of nearby potential capital. When the former force dominates, asynchronous compliance arises, which occurs even with identical tax havens and perfect information. However, when the latter force dominates, tax havens comply simultaneously. In any case, the loss of tax base within the onshore region is minimized when compliance is simultaneous and occurs at the earliest possible date. Surprisingly, compliance of just one tax haven is not necessarily better than no compliance at all.
Association between eccentric knee flexor strength and hamstring injury risk in 185 elite Gaelic football players
Authors: Roe Mark , Delahunt Eamonn , McHugh Malachy , Gissane Conor , Malone Shane , Collins Kieran , Blake Catherine
Published: October 2019

Hamstring strains are the most common time‐loss injury in elite Gaelic football affecting over 20% of players per season. Thus, there is a need to identify factors contributing to the onset of hamstring injuries in order to inform injury risk management strategies. The current study investigated whether eccentric knee flexor strength and between‐limb imbalances were associated with increased risk of sustaining a time‐loss hamstring injury in elite Gaelic football players. A total of 185 elite male players (26.9 ± 2.7 years, 86.4 ± 6.2 kg, 183.4 ± 5.6) were prospectively followed for 12 weeks from the day of testing. Injury data were provided by the team medical staff. Twenty‐eight players (16%) sustained a time‐loss hamstring injury following testing. Players that did not sustain a hamstring injury had greater average between‐limb asymmetries (uninjured = 9.1%, 95% CI 7.8‐10.1; injured = 5.1%, 95% CI 3.7‐6.7; P = .001). Eccentric knee flexor strength profiles were not associated with increased or decreased risk of sustaining a hamstring injury and did not alter the post‐test probability of sustaining a hamstring injury across the investigation period. These findings do not support the use of eccentric knee flexor strength metrics in managing hamstring injury risk in elite male Gaelic football players.