bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with lifetime risk of open‐angle glaucoma blindness
Authors: Peters Dorothea , Bengtsson Boel , Heijl Anders
Published: July 2013

Purpose:  To investigate factors associated with bilateral glaucoma blindness, particularly factors available at the time of diagnosis.

Methods:  Retrospective chart review of all patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) followed at the Department of Ophthalmology or Low Vision Center of Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden, who died between January 2006 and June 2010. Disease stage at diagnosis was defined by a simplified version of Mills’ glaucoma staging system using perimetric mean deviation (MD) to define six stages of severity. Blindness was defined according to WHO criteria. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the association between risk factors and glaucoma blindness.

Results:  Four hundred and 23 patients were included; 60% POAG and 40% PEXG. Sixty‐four patients (15%) became blind from glaucoma. Blind patients had significantly longer mean duration with diagnosed disease than patients who did not go blind (14.8 years ± 5.8 versus 10.6 years ± 6.5, p < 0.001). The risk of blindness increased with higher intraocular pressure (IOP) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.13) and with each stage of more advanced field loss at time of diagnosis (OR 1.80 95% CI 1.34–2.41). Older age at death was also associated with an increased risk of blindness (OR 1.09 95% CI 1.03–1.14), while age at diagnosis was unimportant. PEXG was not an independent risk factor for blindness.

Conclusions:  Higher IOP and worse visual field status at baseline were important risk factors, as was older age at death.
Interaction between NO synthase and NADPH oxidase in control of sodium transport by the renal thick ascending limb during diabetes
Authors: De Miguel C. , Foster J. M. , Carmines P. K. , Pollock J. S.
Published: July 2013

Aim

During type 1 diabetes (T1D), the medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) displays an NADPH oxidase‐dependent increase in sodium transport, in concert with increased NO production by NO synthase 1 (NOS1) and NOS2. We hypothesized that NOS1‐ and/or NOS2‐derived NO blunts T1D‐induced activation of sodium transport in the mTAL.

Methods

T1D was induced by streptozotocin injection (STZ rats); sham rats received vehicle. Three‐to‐four weeks later, mTAL were isolated from both groups for assay of nitrite and superoxide production, and O2 consumption in the absence or presence of various inhibitors.

Results

Apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor) normalized superoxide production and ouabain‐sensitive O2 consumption and furosemide‐sensitive O2 consumption by mTALs from STZ rats, without altering O2 consumption by mTALs from sham rats. Apocynin also unmasked a T1D‐induced increase in nitrite production. NOS inhibition did not alter superoxide production in either group. In sham mTAL, total NOS inhibition, but not isoform‐specific inhibition of NOS1 or NOS2, increased ouabain‐ and furosemide‐sensitive O2 consumption, confirming a tonic inhibitory impact of NOS3 on sodium transport. In contrast, neither total nor isoform‐specific NOS inhibition altered O2 consumption by STZ mTAL. Apocynin treatment of STZ mTAL unveiled the ability of isoform‐specific NOS inhibition to significantly increase O2 consumption, without further increase in O2 consumption with total NOS inhibition.

Conclusion

Under normal conditions, NOS3‐derived NO inhibits sodium transport in the mTAL. T1D dismantles the impact of NOS‐mediated inhibition of sodium transport as a result of NADPH oxidase‐dependent NO scavenging. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase to preserve NO bioavailability reveals an inhibitory impact of NOS1‐ and NOS2‐derived NO on sodium transport in the mTAL.
Diatom‐based reconstruction of summer sea‐surface salinity in the South China Sea over the last 15 000 years
Authors: Jiang Hui , Knudsen Mads F. , Seidenkrantz Marit‐Solveig , Zhao Meixun , Sha Longbin , Ran Lihua
Published: July 2013

We present a new reconstruction of summer sea‐surface salinity (SSS) over the past 15 000 years based on a diatom record from piston core 17940, located on the northern slope of the South China Sea (SCS). The reconstructed diatom‐based summer SSS values for the modern period are in accord with instrumental observations of summer SSS in the area. Here, the modern summer SSS is primarily controlled by river runoff, in particular from the Pearl River. The reconstruction presented in this study shows that the summer SSS varied between 33.3 and 34.2 psu over the past 15 000 years. The long‐term summer SSS trend closely followed the trend of the orbitally controlled solar insolation at 20°N, suggesting that orbital forcing was the dominant driver of changes in summer SSS in this area. Comparisons to speleothem δ18O data and studies of surface hydrography in the region suggest that changes in solar insolation affected the summer SSS through changes in the East Asian Monsoon and sea‐level changes associated with the last deglaciation. Univariate spectral analyses indicate that centennial‐scale oscillatory variations in summer SSS were superimposed on the long‐term trend. During the deglacial period (c. 12 000–9000 cal. a BP), the dominant periodicity was centred around 230–250 years, whereas a ∼350‐year oscillation dominated in the period 2200–4500 cal. a BP. The balance of evidence suggests that these centennial‐scale changes in summer SSS may have been driven by solar‐induced changes in the East Asian Monsoon, but further evidence is needed to firmly establish this relationship.
High‐resolution imaging mass spectrometry reveals detailed spatial distribution of phosphatidylinositols in human breast cancer
Authors: Kawashima Masahiro , Iwamoto Noriko , Kawaguchi‐Sakita Nobuko , Sugimoto Masahiro , Ueno Takayuki , Mikami Yoshiki , Terasawa Kazuya , Sato Taka‐Aki , Tanaka Koichi , Shimizu Kazuharu , Toi Masakazu
Published: July 2013

High‐resolution matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) is an emerging application for lipid research that provides a comprehensive and detailed spatial distribution of ionized molecules. Recent lipidomic approach has identified several phospholipids and phosphatidylinositols (PIs) are accumulated in breast cancer tissues and are therefore novel biomarker candidates. Because their distribution and significance remain unclear, we investigated the precise spatial distribution of PIs in human breast cancer tissues using high‐resolution MALDI IMS. We evaluated tissues from nine human breast cancers and one normal mammary gland by negative ion MALDI IMS at a resolution of 10 μm. We detected 10 PIs with different fatty acid compositions, and their proportions were remarkably variable in the malignant epithelial regions. High‐resolution imaging enabled us to discriminate cancer cell clusters from the adjacent stromal tissue within epithelial regions; moreover, this technique revealed that several PIs were specifically localized to cancer cell clusters. These PIs were heterogeneously distributed within cancer cell clusters, allowing us to identify two different populations of cancer cells that predominantly expressed either PI(18:0/18:1) or PI(18:0/20:3). Tracing the expression level of PIs during cancer cell progression suggested that the latter population is associated with the invasion. Our study documents a novel model for phospholipid analysis of breast cancer tissues by using high‐resolution MALDI IMS and identifies candidate PIs that can describe a specific phenotype of cancer cells.
Role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia: A retrospective analysis of JALSG‐APL97
Authors: Fujita Hiroyuki , Asou Norio , Iwanaga Masako , Hyo Rie , Nomura Shosaku , Kiyoi Hitoshi , Okada Masaya , Inaguma Youko , Matsuda Mitsuhiro , Yamauchi Takahiro , Ohtake Shigeki , Izumi Tohru , Nakaseko Chiaki , Ishigatsubo Yoshiaki , Shinagawa Katsuji , Takeshita Akihiro , Miyazaki Yasushi , Ohnishi Kazunori , Miyawaki Shuichi , Naoe Tomoki ,   the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group
Published: July 2013

For patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), all‐trans retinoic acid‐based salvage regimens can achieve second complete remission (CR2), but the optimal post‐remission strategy for APL patients after CR2 remains unclear. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) during CR2 might be effective, but data on the role of HSCT for APL patients after CR2 are limited in Japan. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes for 57 relapsed APL patients who achieved CR2 in the JALSG APL97 study. Of those, six received autologous (auto)‐HSCT, 21 received allogeneic (allo)‐HSCT, and 30 received various regimens other than HSCT. The 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) rate, overall survival (OS) rate and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) were 50.7%, 77.4% and 51.0% in the non‐HSCT group, 41.7%, 83.3% and 58.3% in the auto‐HSCT group and 71.1%, 76.2% and 9.8% in the allo‐HSCT group, respectively. Both the EFS rate and CIR were significantly better in the allo‐HSCT group than in other groups. Allo‐HSCT appears effective in APL patients in CR2, with a low relapse rate beyond a relatively early transplantation‐related mortality (19%). Among older patients (age ≥40 years), the 5‐year OS was significantly better in the non‐HSCT group than in the HSCT group (78.0% vs 40.5%; P = 0.04). Further prospective studies with larger patient numbers are required to confirm the impact of HSCT alone and in combination with arsenic trioxide on outcomes for patients with APL in CR2.
Spanking and Child Development: We Know Enough Now to Stop Hitting Our Children
Authors: Gershoff Elizabeth T.
Published: July 2013

Spanking remains a common, if controversial, childrearing practice in the United States. In this article, I pair mounting research indicating that spanking is both ineffective and harmful with professional and human rights opinions disavowing the practice. I conclude that spanking is a form of violence against children that should no longer be a part of American childrearing.
Compromised approximate number system acuity in extremely preterm school‐aged children
Authors: Hellgren Kerstin , Halberda Justin , Forsman Lea , Ådén Ulrika , Libertus Melissa
Published: July 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the approximate number system acuity in children born extremely preterm aged 6 years 6 months and typically developing, age‐matched peers.

Method

This population‐based follow‐up study included 65 children born before 27 gestational weeks (35 males, 30 females; mean gestational age 25.4wks [SD 1.1wk]; mean birthweight 789g [SD 158g]) and 47 typically developing children (24 females, 23 males) at the age of 6 years 6 months. A battery of cognitive tests was administered, including a computerized test for measuring approximate number system acuity and tests for general cognition, working memory, processing speed, and visual attention. Approximate number system outcome measures were means of Weber fraction (w) values and response time in milliseconds.

Results

The 43 extremely preterm children in whom usable data were obtained performed significantly worse than the typically developing children on the approximate number system task (w=0.30 [SD 0.23] vs. 0.17 [SD 0.13]; p=0.003) and were significantly slower (response time=2934ms [SD 1102ms] vs 2376ms [SD 310ms]; p=0.002). The differences remained when adjusting for differences in other cognitive functions (p=0.03).

Interpretation

Preterm birth has a negative impact on an individual's ability to rapidly approximate and compare numbers of visually presented items. This deficiency is thought to be a consequence of dorsal stream dysfunction. Future studies will investigate whether this deficiency is correlated with lower mathematical proficiency in this group of children.
Clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia–associated pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Chen Yan‐Jun , Yang Qing‐Hui , Liu Dong , Liu Qian‐Qian , Eyries Mélanie , Wen Liang , Wu Wen‐Hui , Jiang Xin , Yuan Ping , Zhang Rui , Soubrier Florent , Jing Zhi‐Cheng
Published: July 2013

Background

Mutations in activin receptor‐like kinase‐1 (ACVRL‐1) or endoglin (ENG) are mostly identified in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH), but have not yet been studied in Chinese patients.

Material and methods

In this study, we investigated the clinical and molecular genetic features of Chinese patients with HHT‐associated PH and analysed genotype/phenotype correlations in 14 probands and their relatives. Mutation analyses in ACVRL‐1, bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) and ENG were performed in 14 Chinese Han patients with HHT‐associated PH.

Results

The overall mutation rate was 71·4%, including 8 ACVRL‐1 mutations and 2 ENG mutations, 6 of which were novel. Six patients were identified with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), including four patients with pulmonary AVMs and two patients with liver AVMs. Five of the patients with AVMs were identified with mutations. Most patients received targeted therapy for PH.

Conclusions

Our findings have revealed the clinical phenotype and molecular genetic features of HHT‐associated PH in Chinese Han patients and indicate that mutations of ACVRL‐1 and ENG are genetic predisposing factors in Chinese patients. Our data further addressed clinical management and have provided limited experience in treating this group of disorders.
Feeding behaviour and performance of different populations of the black currant‐lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri, on resistant and susceptible lettuce
Authors: ten Broeke Cindy J.M. , Dicke Marcel , van Loon Joop J.A.
Published: July 2013

When crops are bred for resistance to herbivores, these herbivores are under strong selection pressure to overcome this resistance, which may result in the emergence of virulent biotypes. This is a growing problem for crop species attacked by aphids. The Nr‐gene in lettuce confers near‐complete resistance against the black currant‐lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosely) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Since 2007, populations of N. ribisnigri have been reported in several locations in Europe to infest resistant lettuce varieties that possess the Nr‐gene. The objective of this study was to analyse the behaviour and level of virulence of several N. ribisnigri populations observed to have colonized Nr‐locus‐containing lettuce lines. We analysed the stylet penetration and feeding behaviour, and the performance of these N. ribisnigri populations on resistant and susceptible lettuce lines. Large variation in the degree of virulence to the Nr‐locus‐containing lettuce lines was found among populations of the Nr:1 biotype. The German population was highly virulent on the Nr‐containing resistant lettuce lines, and showed similar feeding behaviour and performance on both the susceptible and resistant lettuces. The French population from Paris was the second most virulent, though reproduction on the resistant lines was reduced. The French population from Perpignan and a population from Belgium, however, showed reduced performance and feeding rate on the resistant compared to the susceptible lettuces. The lettuce background in which the Nr‐gene is expressed influences the level of resistance to the various Nr:1 aphid populations, because the performance and feeding behaviour differed between the aphids on the cultivars (romaine lettuce) compared to the near‐isogenic lines (butterhead/iceberg lettuce). This study also shows that being able to feed on a plant not automatically implies that a population can successfully develop on that plant, because aphids showed phloem ingestion during the 8‐h recording period on resistant lettuce, but were not able to survive and reproduce on the same lettuce line.
Temperature, plankton and conspecific density influence dynamics of age‐0 gizzard shad: implications for a gape‐limited piscivore
Authors: Michaletz Paul H.
Published: July 2013

Age‐0 gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum are the main prey fish for white crappies Pomoxis annularis in many US reservoirs. However, these prey fish commonly outgrow their vulnerability to white crappie predation in some, but not all, northern Missouri reservoirs. Potential variables that could influence abundance, growth and mortality of age‐0 gizzard shad were examined in three reservoirs that differed with respect to age‐0 gizzard shad growth rates. Because of thermal effluent from a power plant, gizzard shad spawned earlier in Thomas Hill Lake and initial densities of larvae were greater than in the other reservoirs. Larval and juvenile gizzard shad grew slowest in Thomas Hill Lake, followed by Mark Twain Lake and Long Branch Lake. Growth rate of larvae increased with increasing water temperature and food abundance, but decreased with increasing conspecific density. Similar relationships were found for juvenile growth, except that growth declined with increasing temperature. The slower growth of larvae and juveniles in Thomas Hill Lake was probably a consequence of their greater densities relative to their food abundance and higher water temperatures during the juvenile stage. Conversely, both larvae and juvenile gizzard shad grew more rapidly and juveniles attained large sizes in Long Branch Lake owing to their lower densities relative to their available food. Mortality of larvae and juveniles was mostly similar among the reservoirs. Because of their greater abundance and slower growth, gizzard shad were available as prey for white crappies for a longer period in Thomas Hill Lake than in the other reservoirs.
Sleep disorders in myotonic dystrophy type 2: a controlled polysomnographic study and self‐reported questionnaires
Authors: Romigi A. , Albanese M. , Placidi F. , Izzi F. , Liguori C. , Marciani M. G. , Mercuri N. B. , Terracciano C. , Vitrani G. , Petrucci A. , Di Gioia B. , Massa R.
Published: July 2013

Background and purpose

There is a paucity of data available regarding the occurrence of sleep disorders in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). In this study the sleep–wake cycle and daytime sleepiness were investigated in DM2 patients and compared with results from healthy subjects and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients.

Methods

Twelve DM2 outpatients, 12 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls and 18 DM1 patients were recruited. Subjective quality of sleep was assessed by means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Both the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Daytime Sleepiness Scale were performed in order to evaluate excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). All participants underwent polysomnographic monitoring over 48 h as well as the Multiple Sleep Latency Test.

Results

Sleep efficiency was < 90% in 12/12 DM2 patients, and significantly reduced when compared with controls or with DM1. Decreased sleep efficiency was associated with sleep‐disordered breathing in seven out of 12 DM2 patients and/or periodic limbs movements of sleep (PLMS) in three out of eight patients. Six DM2 patients showed REM sleep without atonia, whereas none of the controls or DM1 patients showed REM sleep dysregulation. The global PSQI score was higher in DM2 patients than in controls and DM1 patients.

Conclusions

Sleep quality in DM2 patients is poorer than in DM1 patients and controls. Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder in DM2 patients. Obstructive sleep apnea and sleep fragmentation may represent the main cause of EDS, whereas PLMS is a frequent finding in DM1.
Because Muncie's Densities Are Not Manhattan's: Using Geographical Weighting in the Expectation–Maximization Algorithm for Areal Interpolation
Authors: Schroeder Jonathan P. , Van Riper David C.
Published: July 2013

Areal interpolation transforms data for a variable of interest from a set of source zones to estimate the same variable's distribution over a set of target zones. One common practice has been to guide interpolation by using ancillary control zones that are related to the variable of interest's spatial distribution. This guidance typically involves using source zone data to estimate the density of the variable of interest within each control zone. This article introduces a novel approach to density estimation, the geographically weighted expectation–maximization (GWEM), which combines features of two previously used techniques, the expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm and geographically weighted regression. TheEMalgorithm provides a framework for incorporating proper constraints on data distributions, and using geographical weighting allows estimated control‐zone density ratios to vary spatially. We assess the accuracy ofGWEMby applying it with land use/land cover (LULC) ancillary data to population counts from a nationwide sample of 1980U.S. census tract pairs. We find thatGWEMgenerally is more accurate in this setting than several previously studied methods. Because target‐density weighting (TDW)—using 1970 tract densities to guide interpolation—outperformsGWEMin many cases, we also consider twoGWEM–TDWhybrid approaches and find them to improve estimates substantially.

区域插值可通过变换一组源区感兴趣变量的数据得到目标区域同一变量的分布。采用与感兴趣变量空间分布密切相关的辅助控制区来引导插值是最常用的一种方法，通常涉及采用源区域数据估计每个控制区内感兴趣变量的密度值。本文引入了地理加权最大期望算法（GWEM）来进行密度估计，综合了过去常用的最大期望算法（EM）和地理加权回归（GWR）两种技术特征。EM算法为数据分布约束的集成提供框架，地理加权则允许估计估计控制区密度比例的空间变异。以美国1980年全国普查区域的土地利用/土地覆被数据种群统计为例，对该方法的精度进行了评估。结果显示，GWEM比多种现有方法准确性更高。采用目标密度加权法（TDW）以1970年束密度来进行插值在许多情况下优于GWEM，融合GWEM‐TDW两种方法可大幅改善估计结果。
Does implementing a development plan for user participation in a mental hospital change patients' experience? A non‐randomized controlled study
Authors: Rise Marit B. , Steinsbekk Aslak
Published: July 2013

Background

Governments in several countries attempt to strengthen user participation through instructing health‐care organizations to implement user participation initiatives. There is, however, little knowledge on the effect on patients' experience from comprehensive plans for enhancing user participation in whole health service organizations.

Objective

To investigate whether implementing a development plan intending to enhance user participation in a mental hospital had any effect on the patients' experience of user participation.

Design, setting and participants

A non‐randomized controlled study including patients in three mental hospitals in Central Norway, one intervention hospital and two control hospitals.

Interventions

A development plan intended to enhance user participation was implemented in the intervention hospital as a part of a larger reorganizational process. The plan included establishment of a patient education centre and a user office, purchase of user expertise, appointment of contact professionals for next of kin and improvement of the centre's information and the professional culture.

Main outcome measures

Perceptions of Care, Inpatient Treatment Alliance Scale and questions made for this study.

Results

A total of 1651 patients participated. Implementing a development plan in a mental hospital intending to enhance user participation had no significant effect on the patients' experience of user participation.

Discussions and conclusions

The lack of effect can be due to inappropriate initiatives or challenges in implementation processes. Further research should ensure that initiatives and implementation processes are appropriate to impact the patients' experience.
Antibodies are forever: a study using 12–26‐year‐old expired antibodies
Authors: Argentieri Maria C , Pilla Daniela , Vanzati Alice , Lonardi Silvia , Facchetti Fabio , Doglioni Claudio , Parravicini Carlo , Cattoretti Giorgio
Published: July 2013

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the shelf‐life of diagnostic antibodies is longer than the expiry date on the label.

Methods and results

Four independent laboratories tested a small number of diagnostic antibodies kept at +4°C for 12–26 years, and found them to work perfectly on routine histology sections.

Conclusions

Diagnostic antibodies may have a workable half‐life in excess of 10 years, and the emphasis on performance should shift to the preservation of antigenic targets in the tissue.
Continuum model of tendon pathology – where are we now?
Authors: McCreesh Karen , Lewis Jeremy
Published: July 2013

Chronic tendon pathology is a common and often disabling condition, the causes of which remain poorly understood. The continuum model of tendon pathology was proposed to provide a model for the staging of tendon pathology and to assist clinicians in managing this often complex condition (Br. J. Sports Med., 43, 2009, 409). The model presents clinical, histological and imaging evidence for the progression of tendon pathology as a three‐stage continuum: reactive tendinopathy, tendon disrepair and degenerative tendinopathy. It also provides clinical information to assist in identifying the stage of pathology, in addition to proposed treatment approaches for each stage. The usefulness of such a model is determined by its ability to incorporate and inform new and emerging research. This review examines the degree to which recent research supports or refutes the continuum model and proposes future directions for clinical and research application of the model.
Fatigue loading of tendon
Authors: Shepherd Jennifer H. , Screen Hazel R. C.
Published: July 2013

Tendon injuries, often called tendinopathies, are debilitating and painful conditions, generally considered to develop as a result of tendon overuse. The aetiology of tendinopathy remains poorly understood, and whilst tendon biopsies have provided some information concerning tendon appearance in late‐stage disease, there is still little information concerning the mechanical and cellular events associated with disease initiation and progression. Investigating thisin situis challenging, and numerous models have been developed to investigate how overuse may generate tendon fatigue damage and how this may relate to tendinopathy conditions. This article aims to review these models and our current understanding of tendon fatigue damage. We review the strengths and limitations of different methodologies for characterizing tendon fatigue, consideringin vitromethods that adopt both viable and non‐viable samples, as well as the range of differentin vivoapproaches. By comparing data across model systems, we review the current understanding of fatigue damage development. Additionally, we compare these findings with data from tendinopathic tissue biopsies to provide some insights into how these models may relate to the aetiology of tendinopathy. Fatigue‐induced damage consistently highlights the same microstructural, biological and mechanical changes to the tendon across all model systems and also correlates well with the findings from tendinopathic biopsy tissue. The multiple testing routes support matrix damage as an important contributor to tendinopathic conditions, but cellular responses to fatigue appear complex and often contradictory.
An investigation of the protective effect of alpha+‐thalassaemia against severe Plasmodium falciparum amongst children in Kumasi, Ghana
Authors: Opoku‐Okrah C. , Gordge M. , Kweku Nakua E. , Abgenyega T. , Parry M. , Robertson C. , Smith C. L.
Published: July 2013

Introduction

Several factors influence the severity of Plasmodium falciparum; here, we investigate the impact of alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype on P. falciparum parasitemia and prevalence of severe anaemia amongst microcytic children from Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods

Seven hundred and thirty‐two children (≤10 years) with P. falciparum were categorised into normocytic and microcytic (mean cell volume ≤76 fL). Microcytic individuals were genotyped for the −α3.7deletional thalassaemia mutation and parasite densities determined.

Results

Amongst microcytic patients both parasite densities and prevalence of severe malaria parasitemia (≥100 000/μL) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the presence of an alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype compared with non‐alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype. There was no evidence that alpha+‐thalassaemia protected against severe anaemia. The protection conferred by alpha‐thalassaemia genotype against severe P. falciparum parasitemia did not change with increasing age.

Conclusion

The severity of P. falciparum parasitemia was significantly lower in both the homozygous and heterozygous alpha+‐thalassaemia groups compared with microcytic individuals with non‐alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype. The protective effect, from severe malaria, of the alpha+‐thalassaemia allele does not alter with age.
Police officers' views of absconding from mental health units in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Martin Trish , Thomas Stuart D. M.
Published: July 2013

Patients regularly abscond from mental health units and at times the consequences for patients and for others can be serious. The police are involved with absconding events, but are rarely considered in the mental health literature. In most jurisdictions, the police can take missing person reports for involuntary patients whose whereabouts are unknown and there are genuine concerns for their safety or welfare. Those people remain active cases for the police until located. This paper presents extracts of 25 police officers' narratives from a qualitative research project. Officers viewed absconding as a regular event, and workload burden that was exacerbated when mental health staff rarely initiated any search for the absconded patient and abdicated responsibility too quickly to the police. The officers were concerned about communication with mental health services and reported that information about the absconded patient could be inadequate or not given to police, and police often were not informed when the patient was found or discharged. Improved liaison and cooperative working that promote effective communication could strengthen police and mental health nursing collaboration and ensure better outcomes for patients.
Age‐related changes in cellular electrophysiology and calcium handling for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Xu Guo‐Jun , Gan Tian‐Yi , Tang Bao‐Peng , Chen Zu‐Heng , Jiang Tao , Song Jian‐Guo , Guo Xia , Li Jin‐xin
Published: July 2013

This study was to investigate whether or not the dysfunction of atrial repolarization and abnormality of the intracellular Ca2+ handling protein was augmented with ageing. Four groups of dogs were studied, adult and aged dogs in sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial fibrillation (AF) induced by rapid atrial pacing. We used whole cell patch clamp recording techniques to measure L‐type Ca2+ current in cardiomyocytes dispersed from the left atria. Expressions of the Ca2+ handling protein were measured by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Western blot methods. Cardiomyocytes from old atria showed longer action potential (AP) duration to 90% repolarization, lower AP plateau potential and peak L‐type Ca2+ current densities at both age groups in SR. AF led to a higher maximum diastolic potential, an increase of amplitude of phase 0, decreases of AP duration to 90% repolarization, plateau potential and peak L‐type Ca2+ current densities. Compared to the adult group, mRNA and protein expressions of the L‐type calcium channel a1c were decreased, whereas expressions of calcium adenosine triphosphatase were increased in the aged group. Compared to SR group, expressions of Ca2+ handling protein except for phospholamban were significantly decreased in both age groups with AF. We conclude that these ageing‐induced electrophysiological and molecular changes showed that general pathophysiological adaptations might provide a substrate conducive to AF.
New and rare coastal fishes in the Azores islands: occasional events or tropicalization process?
Authors: Afonso P. , Porteiro F. M. , Fontes J. , Tempera F. , Morato T. , Cardigos F. , Santos R. S.
Published: July 2013

Seven coastal fish species are newly reported for the remote north Atlantic archipelago of the Azores: Mediterranean sand eel Gymnammodytes cicerelus, bar jack Caranx ruber, two‐banded seabream Diplodus vulgaris, bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus, unicorn leatherjacket filefish Aluterus scriptus and longspined porcupinefish Diodon holacanthus. The occurrence is also confirmed
for 19 species that had been hitherto cited occasionally for the region, totalling a list of two elasmobranchs and 23 teleosts. Diplodus vulgaris, which appears to have recently colonized the islands, as well as roughtail stingray Dasyatis centroura and golden grey mullet Liza aurata, re‐cited based on new records, are frequent or common coastal species in the Azores. The remaining 22 species, exceptional or rare in the region, are of tropical or subtropical affinity and find their northernmost distribution limit within the central and north‐east Atlantic Ocean precisely in the Azores. This biogeographical pattern contrasts with that of the Azorean coastal fish community and suggests a tropicalization process in the region in line with previous findings of similar patterns across the north‐east Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. These novel data from the most isolated archipelago of the North Atlantic Ocean, located in a biogeographic boundary area where colonization opportunities are reduced, reinforce the need for long‐term monitoring programmes of coastal fish communities and, in particular, of indicator species groups to improve understanding of the effects of climate change on marine communities.
Is Anisakis simplex s.l. a biological marker for stock identification of Strangomera bentincki from Chile?
Authors: Oliva M. E.
Published: July 2013

The absence of the larval Anisakis simplex s. l. in samples from central Chile but heavy infections in fish from southern localities suggest the existence of two stocks of Strangomera bentincki, one closely associated with the central coast of Chile (landing port San Antonio and Talcahuano, c. 33° 30′ S–36° 40′ S) and the other associated with southern Chile (landing port Puerto Montt, c. 41° 30′ S). Results confirm the usefulness of metazoan parasites, like A. simplex s. l. as biological markers.
Noncore Bank Liabilities and Financial Vulnerability
Authors: HAHM JOON‐HO , SHIN HYUN SONG , SHIN KWANHO
Published: July 2013

A lending boom is reflected in the composition of bank liabilities when traditional retail deposits (core liabilities) cannot keep pace with asset growth and banks turn to other funding sources (noncore liabilities) to finance their lending. We formulate a model of credit supply as the flip side of a credit risk model where a large stock of noncore liabilities serves as an indicator of the erosion of risk premiums and hence of vulnerability to a crisis. We find supporting empirical evidence in a panel probit study of emerging and developing economies.
What Is Systemic Risk?
Authors: ALLEN FRANKLIN , CARLETTI ELENA
Published: July 2013

The traditional view of risk in a financial system is that it is the summation of individual risks within the system. However, the financial crisis that started in 2007 has driven home that this view of risk is inadequate. It is the interactions of financial institutions and markets that determine the systemic risks that drive financial crises. We identify four types of systemic risk. These are (i) panics—banking crises due to multiple equilibria; (ii) banking crises due to asset price falls; (iii) contagion; and (iv) foreign exchange mismatches in the banking system.
Ratings Competition in the CMBS Market
Authors: COHEN ANDREW , MANUSZAK MARK D.
Published: July 2013

We consider the relationship between competition among credit rating agencies and the ratings of commercial mortgage‐backed securities (CMBS) using data from 2002 to 2007. We characterize competition using Fitch's aggregate share of CMBS ratings and a measure of Fitch's deal‐specific market share constructed as the probability of Fitch being hired for a specific transaction. Controlling for deal characteristics, we find that subordination levels were lower when Fitch's aggregate and deal‐specific market shares were higher, which suggests that ratings competition yielded less stringent ratings when Fitch was a more significant competitor, although this effect dissipates when Fitch's market shares were high.
Ethical leadership and job performance in China: The roles of workplace friendships and traditionality
Authors: Liu Jun , Kwan Ho Kwong , Fu Ping Ping , Mao Yina
Published: July 2013

This study examined the relationships between ethical leadership, as perceived by subordinates, and task performance as well as organizational citizenship behaviour towards the organization (OCBO) and towards individuals (OCBI), while lending consideration to the moderating roles of subordinates' workplace friendships and traditionality in China. The results, which were based on two‐phase data from a sample of 312 supervisor–subordinate dyads in a manufacturing firm, indicated that ethical leadership positively related to subordinates’ OCBO and OCBI. Moreover, subordinates’ workplace friendships strengthened the relationship between ethical leadership and task performance, whereas subordinates’ traditionality strengthened the relationships between ethical leadership and task performance, OCBO, and OCBI. The theoretical and managerial implications of these results were discussed.

Practitioner points

Findings provide evidence that enhancing ethical leadership promotes subordinates' OCBO and OCBI.

Encouraging employees to develop friendships can enhance the positive effects of ethical leadership on task performance.

Encouraging employees to hold traditional values can enhance the positive effects of ethical leadership on task performance, OCBO, and OCBI.
Expression of molecules related to AKT pathway as putative regulators of ameloblastoma local invasiveness
Authors: Cecim Rodolpho L. , Carmo Hicso A. F. , Kataoka Maria S. S. , Freitas Vanessa M. , de Melo Alves Júnior Sérgio , Pedreira Erick N. , Jaeger Ruy G. , Pinheiro Joao J. V.
Published: July 2013

Background

Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic neoplasm with local invasiveness and high recurrence. We previously suggested that growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and TIMPs influence ameloblastoma invasiveness (Pathol. Res. Pract., 208, 2012, 225; Oral. Surg. Oral. Med. Oral. Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod., 111, 2011, 474). Signals generated by this molecular network would be transduced by ERK 1/2 pathway (Oral. Surg. Oral. Med. Oral. Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod., 111, 2011, 474). Others signaling pathways may influence ameloblastoma biology. Here, we studied expression of AKT and related molecules in ameloblastoma.

Methods

Fourteen cases of solid/multicystic ameloblastomas were examined. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to detected AKT (phospho‐AKT), NF‐қB (phospho‐NF‐қB), β‐catenin, cyclin‐D1, and COX‐2 in ameloblastoma samples. These molecules were evaluated in neoplastic cells and stroma.

Results

All proteins were detected in ameloblastoma. Expression of these markers was quantified and compared. Spearman's rank test was carried out to address positive correlations between proteins (P < 0.05). Ameloblastoma had a significant positive correlation of AKT (phospho‐AKT) with β‐catenin. β‐catenin correlated with Cyclin‐D1 and COX‐2 in neoplastic cells. AKT (phospho‐AKT) correlated with β‐catenin; β‐catenin with Cyclin‐D1; AKT (phospho‐AKT) with NF‐қB (phospho‐NF‐қB); and NF‐қB (phospho‐NF‐қB) with COX‐2 in stromal cells.

Conclusions

Results suggest that proteins studied are present and probably involved in a functional pathway in neoplastic cells and stroma and may therefore influence the local invasiveness of ameloblastoma.
Centrally Mediated Erectile Dysfunction in Rats with Type 1 Diabetes: Role of Angiotensin II and Superoxide
Authors: Zheng Hong , Liu Xuefei , Patel Kaushik P.
Published: July 2013

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Apart from the peripheral actions, central mechanisms are also responsible for penile erection.

Aim

This study aims to determine the contribution of angiotensin (ANG) II in the dysfunction of central N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)- and nitric oxide (NO)-induced erectile responses in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic (T1D) rats.

Methods

Three weeks after streptozotocin injections, rats were randomly treated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-enalapril, or the ANG II type 1 receptor blocker, losartan, or the superoxide dismutase mimetic, tempol, or vehicle via chronic intracerebroventricular infusion by osmotic mini-pump for 2 weeks.

Main Outcome Measure

Central NMDA receptor stimulation or the administration of the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced penile erectile responses and concurrent behavioral responses were monitored in conscious rats.

Results

Two weeks of enalapril, losartan, or tempol treatment significantly improved the erectile responses to central microinjection of both NMDA and SNP in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of conscious T1D rats (NMDA responses—T1D+enalapril: 1.7±0.6, T1D+losartan: 2.0±0.3, T1D+tempol: 2.0±0.6 vs. T1D+vehicle: 0.6±0.3 penile erections/rat in the first 20 minutes, P <0.05; SNP responses—T1D+enalapril: 0.9±0.3, T1D+losartan: 1.3±0.3, T1D+tempol: 1.4±0.4 vs. T1D+vehicle: 0.4±0.2 penile erections/rat in the first 20 minutes, P <0.05). Concurrent behavioral responses including yawning and stretching, induced by central NMDA and SNP microinjections, were also significantly increased in T1D rats after enalapril, losartan, or tempol treatments. Neuronal NO synthase expression within the PVN was also significantly increased, and superoxide production was reduced in T1D rats after these treatments.

Conclusions

These data strongly support the contention that enhanced ANG II mechanism/s within the PVN of T1D rats contributes to the dysfunction of central NMDA-induced erectile responses in T1D rats via stimulation of superoxide.
Chronic Stress and Sexual Function in Women
Authors: Hamilton Lisa Dawn , Meston Cindy M.
Published: July 2013

Introduction

Chronic stress is known to have negative effects on reproduction, but little is known about how it affects the sexual response cycle. The present study examined the relationship between chronic stress and sexual arousal and the mechanisms that mediate this relationship.

Aim

The aim of this study is to test the relationship between chronic stress and sexual arousal and identify mechanisms that may explain this relationship. We predicted that women experiencing high levels of chronic stress would show lower levels of genital arousal and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) and higher levels of cortisol and cognitive distraction compared with women with average levels of stress.

Methods

Women who were categorized as high in chronic stress (high stress group; n = 15) or average in chronic stress (average stress group; n = 15) provided saliva samples and watched an erotic film while having their genital and psychological arousal measured.

Main Outcome Measures

Main outcome measures were vaginal pulse amplitude, psychological arousal, salivary cortisol, salivary DHEAS, and heart rate and compared them between women with high and average levels of chronic stress.

Results

Women in the high stress group had lower levels of genital, but not psychological arousal, had higher levels of cortisol, and reported more distraction during the erotic film than women in the average stress group. The main predictor of decreased genital sexual arousal was participants’ distraction scores.

Conclusions

High levels of chronic stress were related to lower levels of genital sexual arousal. Both psychological (distraction) and hormonal (increased cortisol) factors were related to the lower levels of sexual arousal seen in women high in chronic stress, but distraction was the only significant predictor when controlling for other variables.
Nationwide Emergency Department Visits for Priapism in the United States
Authors: Stein Daniel M. , Flum Andrew S. , Cashy John , Zhao Lee C. , McVary Kevin T.
Published: July 2013

Introduction

The epidemiology of priapism is not well characterized. A small number of studies based on inpatient data or small population samples have estimated the incidence to range from 0.34 to 1.5 cases per 100,000 males.

Aim

To estimate the current epidemiology and impact on resource utilization of priapism in the United States (US).

Main Outcome Measures

Rate of emergency department encounters for priapism in the US.

Methods

Emergency department (ED) visits for priapism were analyzed using discharge data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Priapism encounters were identified by ICD9 code. Priapism encounters were analyzed for patient and hospital characteristics, associated diagnoses, and hospital charge. Established weighting in the sample was used to calculate nationwide estimates.

Results

A total of 8,738 ED encounters for priapism were identified between 2006 and 2009 in the NEDS. This translated to an estimated 39,964 encounters out of a total of 496,195,793 ED visits, or 8.05 per 100,000 ED visits (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.59–8.51). 21.1% of patients had a concurrent diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SCD). 72.1% of all patients were discharged home from the ED, while only 49.6% of patients with SCD were discharged home. A concurrent diagnosis of SCD was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.84 (95% CI 3.65–4.05) for admission to the hospital when controlling for age, region, hospital and payer type. The mean hospital charge was $1,778 per encounter if discharged home and $41,909 per encounter if admitted. The estimated mean total annual charge for priapism was $123,860,432 with 86.8% of charges attributed to inpatient admissions.

Conclusions

Our estimate of the rate of ED visits for priapism was significantly higher than prior estimates with a SCD concurrence rate lower than previously estimated.
Comparison of Generated Parallel Capillary Arrays to Three‐Dimensional Reconstructed Capillary Networks in Modeling Oxygen Transport in Discrete Microvascular Volumes
Authors: Fraser Graham M. , Goldman Daniel , Ellis Christopher G.
Published: July 2013

Objective

We compare RMN to PCA under several simulated physiological conditions to determine how the use of different vascular geometry affects oxygen transport solutions.

Methods

Three discrete networks were reconstructed from intravital video microscopy of rat skeletal muscle (84 × 168 × 342 μm, 70 × 157 × 268 μm, and 65 × 240 × 571 μm), and hemodynamic measurements were made in individual capillaries. PCAs were created based on statistical measurements from RMNs. Blood flow and O2 transport models were applied, and the resulting solutions for RMN and PCA models were compared under four conditions (rest, exercise, ischemia, and hypoxia).

Results

Predicted tissue PO2 was consistently lower in all RMN simulations compared to the paired PCA. PO2 for 3D reconstructions at rest were 28.2 ± 4.8, 28.1 ± 3.5, and 33.0 ± 4.5 mmHg for networks I, II, and III compared to the PCA mean values of 31.2 ± 4.5, 30.6 ± 3.4, and 33.8 ± 4.6 mmHg. Simulated exercise yielded mean tissue PO2 in the RMN of 10.1 ± 5.4, 12.6 ± 5.7, and 19.7 ± 5.7 mmHg compared to 15.3 ± 7.3, 18.8 ± 5.3, and 21.7 ± 6.0 in PCA.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that volume matched PCA yield different results compared to reconstructed microvascular geometries when applied to O2 transport modeling; the predominant characteristic of this difference being an over estimate of mean tissue PO2. Despite this limitation, PCA models remain important for theoretical studies as they produce PO2 distributions with similar shape and parameter dependence as RMN.