bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Personality Traits as Predictors of Quality of Life and Body Image after Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Juhl Alexander Andersen , Damsgaard Tine Engberg , O’Connor Maja , Christensen Søren , Zachariae Robert 
Published: May 2017

Background:
It has been suggested that personality traits may influence patient-reported outcomes of breast reconstruction, but the research is limited. We investigated, in a prospective study, whether personality traits predict the achieved body image and quality of life (QoL) after breast reconstruction.

Methods:
Patients planning to undergo breast reconstruction at a University Hospital were consecutively recruited from January 2014 to January 2016. Participants completed validated measures of personality, body image, and QoL, before and 6 months after breast reconstruction. The influence of personality traits on achieved body image and QoL was explored with multivariate linear regression modelling, adjusting for baseline scores, demographics, and clinical variables.

Results:
Of 247 eligible patients, 208 (84%) participated. Twelve patients (6%) were excluded due to failed reconstruction. Of the remaining 196 patients, 180 (92%) completed the follow-up questionnaire. When adjusted for baseline QoL scores, higher trait Neuroticism, higher trait Openness, and higher body mass index measured at baseline showed to be independent and statistically significant predictors of deteriorating QoL scores from baseline to 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.45). When adjusted for body image scores at baseline, higher trait Neuroticism and immediate reconstruction were found to be independent predictors of poorer body image from baseline to 6-months follow-up (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.36).

Conclusions:
The present study suggests personality traits, in particular Neuroticism, as independent predictors of the achieved body image and QoL after breast reconstruction. Weighing in the personality traits of the patients may be an important adjunct in improving patient-reported outcomes after breast reconstructions.
Validation of EQ-5D and 15D in the assessment of health-related quality of life in chronic pain
Authors: Vartiainen Pekka , Mäntyselkä Pekka , Heiskanen Tarja , Hagelberg Nora , Mustola Seppo , Forssell Heli , Kautiainen Hannu , Kalso Eija 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Chronic pain has a significant impact on quality of life. Measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is essential in the assessment of pain management outcomes, but different instruments have produced varying results. We assessed the validity of 2 HRQoL instruments, EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) and 15-dimensional health-related quality of life measure (15D), in patients with challenging chronic pain. Three hundred ninety-one chronic noncancer pain patients referred to tertiary pain clinics completed EQ-5D, 15D, and a broad set of questionnaires mapping socioeconomic factors, self-rated health, pain intensity and interference, depression, pain acceptance, pain-related anxiety, and sleep. The 2 HRQoL instruments were compared with each other, and head-to-head comparisons were made with self-rated health and the symptom-specific questionnaires. 15D and EQ-5D showed moderate agreement (ρ = 0.66), but there were also considerable differences between the instruments. 15D correlated better with self-rated health than EQ-5D (ρ = −0.62 vs −0.45, P < 0.001). The EQ-5D appeared less sensitive than 15D especially in those patients with chronic pain who had a better health status. The principal component constructed from measures of pain intensity and interference, anxiety, pain acceptance, depression, and sleep had higher standardized beta coefficients with 15D than with EQ-5D (P = 0.038). The principal component explained more variance in the 15D (R
2 = 0.65) than in the EQ-5D (R
2 = 0.43). The study identified differences in the pain-related variables between the EQ-5D and the 15D. In patients with chronic pain, both instruments are valid, but 15D appears somewhat more sensitive than EQ-5D.
Gut microbiota and host defense in critical illness
Authors: Jacobs Max C. , Haak Bastiaan W. , Hugenholtz Floor , Wiersinga W. Joost 
Published: May 2017

Purpose of review
The review aims to discuss emerging evidence in the field of microbiome-dependent roles in host defense during critical illness with a focus on lung, kidney, and brain inflammation.

Recent findings
The gut microbiota of critical ill patients is characterized by lower diversity, lower abundances of key commensal genera, and in some cases overgrowth by one bacterial genera, a state otherwise known as dysbiosis. Increasing evidence suggests that microbiota-derived components can reach the circulatory system from the gut and modulate immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis might have greater consequences for the critically ill than previously imagined and could contribute to poor outcome. Preclinical studies suggest that impaired communication across the gut – organ axes is associated with brain, lung – and kidney failure.

Summary
In health, a diverse microbiome might enhance host defense, while during critical illness, the dysbiotic microbiome might contribute to comorbidity and organ dysfunction. Future research should be aimed at further establishing the causes and consequences of dysbiosis seen in the critically ill, which will provide perspective for developing new strategies of intervention.
Paired Comparison of PD-L1 Expression on Cytologic and Histologic Specimens From Malignancies in the Lung Assessed With PD-L1 IHC 28-8pharmDx and PD-L1 IHC 22C3pharmDx
Authors: Skov Birgit G. , Skov Torsten 
Published: May 2017

Background:
Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression is a predictive biomarker for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in non–small cell lung cancer. Different immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays have been developed on histologic material with different cutoffs for positivity. More than one third of the patients are diagnosed on cytology alone. We hypothesized that cytologic cell block material is suitable for PD-L1 analysis.

Materials and Methods:
Eighty-six paired samples of malignancies from the lung where cytologic cell block and histologic material were available from the same lesion were stained with PD-L1 IHC 28-8pharmDx and PD-L1 IHC 22C3pharmDx. Scorings of like material (cytology or histology) stained with different assays were analyzed in order to evaluate the analytical agreement between assays. Scoring of different materials stained with like assays were analyzed in order to evaluate the agreement between cytology and histology.

Results:
A high degree of agreement was found between 28-8pharmDx and 22C3pharmDx, whether applied to histologic or cytologic cell blocks, with Pearson R
2 of 0.95. The Pearson R
2 between 2 rounds of assessment of the same assay on the same type of material was also 0.95. The agreement between histologic and cytologic specimens was high with Pearson R
2 0.87 to 0.89 and overall agreement between 85% and 95%. There was no bias toward lower prevalence of positivity with cytology than with histology. Disagreement was related to heterogeneity of the histologic tumor sample.

Conclusion:
PD-L1 assessment is feasible on cytologic material with the tested assays using cutoffs for positivity similar to those used on histologic material.
Use of Elderly Donors in Liver Transplantation
Authors: Ghinolfi Davide , Lai Quirino , Pezzati Daniele , De Simone Paolo , Rreka Erion , Filipponi Franco 
Published: May 2017

Objective:
To evaluate the use of elderly donors in liver transplantation (LT) and identify risk factors associated with a worse outcome.

Summary Background Data:
Use of livers from very old donors could expand the donor pool but is not universally implemented.

Methods:
This is a retrospective, single-center medical record review. From January 2001 to December 2014, 1354 LTs were performed. After exclusion of donors <18 years, ABO-incompatible LT, re-LT and UNOS 1 status patients, LT recipients were stratified into 2 groups based on donor age: 18–69 (n=692) vs. ≥70 years (n=515) then matched using a propensity score approach. Two groups were finally matched (young group = 448 cases; old group = 515 cases).

Results:
The median (interquartile range [IQR]) follow-up was 5.0 (2.0–8.4) years. Comparing the 2 identified groups, no differences were observed regarding early retransplants (1.8 vs. 2.9; P = 0.3), HCV-related death (7.6 vs. 8.7%; P = 0.6), vascular (5.8 vs. 5.0%; P = 0.7), and biliary complications (16.5 vs. 18.6%; P = 0.4). On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for graft loss were: HCV-positive recipient (HR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.6–2.7; P < 0.001), donor age (HR = 1.0; 95% CI = 1.0–1.0; P < 0.001), cold ischemia time (HR = 1.0; 95% CI = 1.0–1.0; P = 0.042), and donor history of diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.03–2.13; P = 0.036).

Conclusions:
Use of elderly donors is not associated per se with an increased risk of vascular and biliary complications. In the presence of cold ischemia time and diabetes mellitus, appropriate donor-to-recipient matching is warranted.
RAS Mutation Clinical Risk Score to Predict Survival After Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: Brudvik Kristoffer W. , Jones Robert P. , Giuliante Felice , Shindoh Junichi , Passot Guillaume , Chung Michael H. , Song Juhee , Li Liang , Dagenborg Vegar J. , Fretland Åsmund A. , Røsok Bård , De Rose Agostino M. , Ardito Francesco , Edwin Bjørn , Panettieri Elena , Larocca Luigi M. , Yamashita Suguru , Conrad Claudius , Aloia Thomas A. , Poston Graeme J. , Bjørnbeth Bjørn A. , Vauthey Jean-Nicolas 
Published: May 2017

Objective:
To determine the impact of RAS mutation status on the traditional clinical score (t-CS) to predict survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM).

Background:
The t-CS relies on the following factors: primary tumor nodal status, disease-free interval, number and size of CLM, and carcinoembryonic antigen level. We hypothesized that the addition of RAS mutation status could create a modified clinical score (m-CS) that would outperform the t-CS.

Methods:
Patients who underwent resection of CLM from 2005 through 2013 and had RAS mutation status and t-CS factors available were included. Multivariate analysis was used to identify prognostic factors to include in the m-CS. Log-rank survival analyses were used to compare the t-CS and the m-CS. The m-CS was validated in an international multicenter cohort of 608 patients.

Results:
A total of 564 patients were eligible for analysis. RAS mutation was detected in 205 (36.3%) of patients. On multivariate analysis, RAS mutation was associated with poor overall survival, as were positive primary tumor lymph node status and diameter of the largest liver metastasis >50 mm. Each factor was assigned 1 point to produce a m-CS. The m-CS accurately stratified patients by overall and recurrence-free survival in both the initial patient series and validation cohort, whereas the t-CS did not.

Conclusions:
Modifying the t-CS by replacing disease-free interval, number of metastases, and CEA level with RAS mutation status produced an m-CS that outperformed the t-CS. The m-CS is therefore a simple validated tool that predicts survival after resection of CLM.
Excess Mortality Related to Chikungunya Epidemics in the Context of Co-circulation of Other Arboviruses in Brazil
Authors: Freitas André R. R. , Cavalcanti Luciano P. G. , von Zuben Andrea P. B. , Donalisio M. Rita 
Published: May 2017

AbstractChikungunya is an emerging arbovirus that reached the Western Hemisphere at the end of 2013. Studies conducted in Indie Ocean and India suggest that many of deaths associated with chikungunya cannot be recognized by passive surveillance system. The occurrence of these deaths can be inferred by an increase in the overall mortality observed during chikungunya epidemics. To evaluate the mortality associated with chikungunya epidemics in Brazil, we studied monthly mortality by age group comparing the pre-chikungunya period with the chikungunya epidemic period in the most affected states of Brazil. We obtained official data from National System of Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) and Mortality Information System (SIM), both maintained by the Ministry of Health. It was possible to identify a significant increase in all-cause mortality rate during chikungunya epidemics, there was no similar mortality in previous years, even during dengue epidemics. We estimated an excess of 4,842 deaths in Pernambuco during the chikungunya epidemics (51.4/100,000 inhabitants), the most affected age groups were the elderly and under 1 year of age, the same pattern occurred in all states. Further studies at other sites are needed to confirm the association between increased mortality and chikungunya epidemics. If these findings are confirmed, it will be necessary to revise guidelines to recognize the real mortality associated with chikungunya and to improve therapeutic approaches and protective measures in the most vulnerable groups.
Genome-wide analysis of the association of transposable elements with gene regulation suggests thatAluelements have the largest overall regulatory impact
Authors: Zeng Lu , Pederson Stephen M. , Cao Danfeng , Qu Zhipeng , Hu Zhiqiang , Adelson David L. , Wei Chaochun 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTNearly half of the human genome is made up of transposable elements (TEs) and there is evidence that TEs are involved in gene regulation. Here, we have integrated publicly available genomic, epigenetic and transcriptomic data to investigate this in a genome-wide manner. A bootstrapping statistical method was applied to minimize the confounder effects from different repeat types. Our results show that although most TE classes are primarily associated with reduced gene expression,Aluelements are associated with up regulated gene expression. Furthermore,Aluelements had the highest probability of any TE class of contributing to regulatory regions of any type defined by chromatin state. This suggests a general model where clade specific SINEs may contribute more to gene regulation than ancient/ancestral TEs. Finally, non-coding regions were found to have a high probability of TE content within regulatory sequences, most notably in repressors. Our exhaustive analysis has extended and updated our understanding of TEs in terms of their global impact on gene regulation, and suggests that the most recently derived types of TEs,i.e.clade or species specific SINES, have the greatest overall impact on gene regulation.
Software Application Profile: mrrobust - a tool for performing two-sample summary Mendelian randomization analyses
Authors: Spiller Wesley , Davies Neil M. , Palmer Tom M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractMotivationIn recent years Mendelian randomization analysis using summary data from genome-wide association studies has become a popular approach for investigating causal relationships in epidemiology. The mrrobust Stata package implements several of the recently developed methods.Implementationmrrobust is freely available as a Stata package.General FeaturesThe package includes inverse variance weighted estimation, as well as a range of median and MR-Egger estimation methods. Using mrrobust, plots can be constructed visualising each estimate either individually or simultaneously. The package also provides statistics such aswhich are useful in assessing attenuation bias in causal estimates.AvailabilityThe software is freely available from GitHub [https://raw.github.com/remlapmot/mrrobust/master/].
Detailed analyses of stall force generation inMycoplasma mobilegliding
Authors: Mizutani Masaki , Tulum Isil , Kinosita Yoshiaki , Nishizaka Takayuki , Miyata Makoto 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTMycoplasma mobileis a bacterium that uses a unique mechanism to glide on solid surfaces at a velocity of up to 4.5 µm/s. Its gliding machinery comprises hundreds of units that generate the force for gliding based on the energy derived from ATP; the units catch and pull on sialylated oligosaccharides fixed to solid surfaces. In the present study, we measured the stall force of wild-type and mutant strains ofM. mobilecarrying a bead manipulated using optical tweezers. The strains that had been enhanced for binding exhibited weaker stall forces than the wild-type strain, indicating that stall force is related to force generation rather than to binding. The stall force of the wild-type strain decreased linearly from 113 to 19 pN following the addition of 0–0.5 mM free sialyllactose (a sialylated oligosaccharide), with a decrease in the number of working units. Following the addition of 0.5 mM sialyllactose, the cells carrying a bead loaded using optical tweezers exhibited stepwise movements with force increments. The force increments ranged from 1 to 2 pN. Considering the 70-nm step size, this small unit force may be explained by the large gear ratio involved in theM. mobilegliding machinery.SIGNIFICANCEMycoplasmais a genus of bacteria that parasitizes animals. Dozens ofMycoplasmaspecies glide over the tissues of their hosts during infection. The gliding machinery ofMycoplasma mobile, the fastest species, includes intracellular motors and hundreds of legs on the cell surface. In the present study, we precisely measured force generation using a highly focused laser beam arrangement (referred to as optical tweezers) under various conditions. The measurements obtained in this study suggest that the rapid gliding exhibited byM. mobilearises from the large gear ratio of its gliding machinery.
Sequential eviction of crowded nucleoprotein complexes by the RecBCD molecular motor
Authors: Terakawa Tsuyoshi , Redding Sy , Silverstein Timothy D. , Greene Eric C. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn physiological settings, all nucleic acids motor proteins must travel along substrates that are crowded with other proteins. However, the physical basis for how motor proteins behave in these highly crowded environments remains unknown. Here we use real–time single molecule imaging, kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, and Molecular dynamics simulations to determine how the ATP-dependent translocase RecBCD travels along DNA occupied by tandem arrays of high affinity DNA–binding proteins. We demonstrate that RecBCD forces each protein into its nearest adjacent neighbor, causing rapid disruption of the underlying protein–nucleic acid interface. This mechanism is not simply the same way that RecBCD disrupts isolated nucleoprotein complexes on otherwise naked DNA. Instead, molecular crowding itself completely alters the mechanism by which RecBCD removes tightly bound protein obstacles from DNA.Significance statementChromosomes are crowded places, and any nucleic acid motor proteins that act upon DNA must function within these crowded environments. How crowded environments affect motor protein behaviors remains largely unexplored. Here, we use single molecule fluorescence microscopy visualize the ATP-dependent motor protein RecBCD as it travels along crowded DNA molecules bearing long tandem arrays of DNA-binding proteins. Our findings show that RecBCD can push through highly crowded protein arrays while evicting the proteins from DNA. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that RecBCD forces the proteins into once another, causing rapid disruption of the protein-DNA interface. These findings may provide insights into how other types of motor proteins travel along crowded nucleic acids.
Nanoscale imaging approaches to quantifying the electrical properties of pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Berthelot Ryan , Neethirajan Suresh 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBiofilms are natural, resilient films formed when microorganisms adhere to a surface and form a complex three-dimensional structure that allows them to persist in a wide variety of environments. Readily forming in hospitals and on medical equipment, biofilms are frequent causes of infections and their subsequent complications. Due to the complexity of these structures, systematically studying individual bacterial cells and their interactions with their surrounding environment will provide a deeper understanding of the processes occurring within the biofilm as whole versus bulk population based methods that do not differentiate individual cells or species. Methods based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) are particularly suited to the study of individual cells, but are underutilized for the study of bacterial electrical properties. The ability of electrical currents to impair bacterial attachment is well documented, but to utilize electrical current as an effective antibacterial treatment, it is important to understand the electrical properties of bacteria. Therefore, we used AFM, Kelvin probe force microscopy, and ResiScope to measure the surface potential and conductance ofPsuedomonas aeruginosaand methicillin resistanceStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) on gold and stainless steel. This is the first study to directly measure the electrical resistance of single bacterial cells using ResiScope. Our goal was to develop a framework for measuring biological molecules using conductive atomic force microscopy. We found that the average resistance forP. aeruginosawas 135.4±25.04 GΩ, while MRSA had an average of 173.4±16.28 GΩ. Using KPFM, the surface potential of MRSA shifted from −0.304 V to 0.153 V and from −0.280 V to 0.172 V forP. aeruginosaon gold versus stainless steel substrates, respectively. In an attempt to identify a potential charge carrier, peptidoglycan was also measured with the ResiScope module and shown to have a resistance of 105 GΩ.
Improving the turnover intention of tourist hotel employees
Authors: Chen Tso-Jen , Wu Chi-Min 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThis study aims to explore the high turnover intention issue in Taiwan’s tourist hotel industry. Due to a lack of empirical research regarding front-line employees’ psychological contract breach perceptions in tourism literature, this study develops an integrated model to examine the causal relationship among transformational leadership behaviors, leader–member exchange (LMX), psychological contract breach and turnover intentions.Design/methodology/approachData from the 226 frontline employees in Taiwan’s tourist hotel industry were employed to examine the proposed hypotheses by using a series of structural equation modeling analyses.FindingsStatistic results revealed that transformational leadership behaviors influence LMX and LMX in turn influences psychological contract breach, which consequently leads to lower turnover intention.Practical implicationThe results of this study suggest that hospitality organizations should recruit individuals who have the potential to exhibit transformational leadership skills, along with designing leadership training programs for middle- and high-level managers.Originality/valueThis study provides hospitality organization leaders with the necessary information to formulate a beneficial relationship with their front-line employees, which, in turn, weakens their perception of psychological contract breaches and reduces their willingness to leave the organization.