bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regression of cutaneous xerosis with emollient treatment in sub‐Saharan African patients
Authors: Boralevi Franck , Meledie N'Djong Alain‐Patrice , Yao Yoboue Pauline , Faye Ousmane , Dieng Mame Thierno , Coniquet Sophie , Atadokpede Félix , Niamba Pascal Antoine , Delarue Alain , Cazeau Christine 
Published: February 2017

AbstractEmollients have proven effective in improving cutaneous xerosis in various populations; however, no clinical data are available for African patients. The observational study “Xerafrica” was conducted by dermatologists in seven sub‐Saharan countries to assess the evolution of xerosis after an 8‐week treatment with an emollient. Patients were children above 3 years or adults. Secondary objectives were to assess pruritus, improvement in symptoms, quality of life, satisfaction, and tolerance. An analysis of 185 patients was made. After 8 weeks of emollient treatment, the relative reduction of the “Scaling Roughness Redness Cracks” (SRRC) score was −83.9% and −80.4% in children and adults, respectively. The effect was significantly stronger when topical steroids were co‐prescribed with the emollient and in patients with co‐dermatosis. To a lesser extent, the effect of emollient was also observed at week 4. Similarly, pruritus and quality of life strongly improved during follow‐up. Skin lesions improved in almost all patients, with a high level of satisfaction noted by both dermatologists and patients. The “Xerafrica” study addressed, for the first time, the treatment of xerosis by emollients in an African population. In this specific context, the emollient markedly reduced xerosis as soon as 4 weeks and resolved it almost totally by 8 weeks. The study confirms, under real‐life conditions, the efficacy and tolerability of an emollient in improving xerosis.
A framework for transition to specialty practice programmes
Authors: Morphet Julia , Plummer Virginia , Kent Bridie , Considine Julie 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimTo develop a framework for emergency nursing transition to specialty practice programmes.BackgroundTransition to Specialty Practice programmes were introduced to fill workforce shortages and facilitate the transition of nurses to specialty nursing practice. These programmes are recognized as an essential preparation for emergency nurses. Emergency nursing Transition to Specialty Practice programmes have developed in an ad hoc manner and as a result, programme characteristics vary. Variability in programme characteristics may result in inconsistent preparation of emergency nurses.DesignDonabedian's Structure‐Process‐Outcome model was used to integrate results of an Australian study of emergency nursing Transition to Specialty Practice programmes with key education, nursing practice and safety and quality standards to develop the Transition to Specialty Practice (Emergency Nursing) Framework.MethodsAn explanatory sequential design was used. Data were collected from 118 emergency departments over 10 months in 2013 using surveys. Thirteen interviews were also conducted. Comparisons were made using Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis and Chi‐square tests. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis.ResultsTransition to Specialty Practice programmes were offered in 80 (72·1%) emergency departments surveyed, to improve safe delivery of patient care. Better professional development outcomes were achieved in emergency departments which employed participants in small groups (Median = 4 participants) and offered programmes of 6 months duration. Written assessments were significantly associated with articulation to postgraduate study (Chi‐square Fisher's exact P = <0·001).ConclusionThe Transition to Specialty Practice (Emergency Nursing) Framework has been developed based on best available evidence to enable a standardized approach to the preparation of novice emergency nurses.
Professional values and competencies as explanatory factors for the use of evidence‐based practice in nursing
Authors: Skela‐Savič Brigita , Hvalič‐Touzery Simona , Pesjak Katja 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimTo establish the connection between values, competencies, selected job characteristics and evidence‐based practice use.BackgroundNurses rarely apply evidence‐based practice in everyday work. A recent body of research has looked at various variables explaining the use of evidence‐based practice, but not values and competencies.DesignA cross‐sectional, non‐experimental quantitative explorative research design.MethodsStandardized instruments were used (Nurse Professional Values Scale‐R, Nurse Competence Scale, Evidence‐Based Practice Beliefs and Implementation Scale). The sample included 780 nurses from 20 Slovenian hospitals. The data were collected in 2015.ResultsThe study identifies two new variables contributing to a better understanding of beliefs on and implementation of evidence‐based practice, thus broadening the existing research evidence. These are the values of activism and professionalism and competencies aimed at the development and professionalization of nursing. Values of caring, trust and justice and competencies expected in everyday practice do not influence the beliefs and implementation of evidence‐based practice. Respondents ascribed less importance to values connected with activism and professionalism and competencies connected with the development of professionalism. Nurses agree that evidence‐based practice is useful in their clinical work, but they lack the knowledge to implement it in practice. Evidence‐based practice implementation in nursing practice is low.ConclusionsStudy results stress the importance of increasing the knowledge and skills on professional values of activism and professionalism and competencies connected to nursing development. The study expands the current understanding of evidence‐based practice use and provides invaluable insight for nursing managers, higher education managers and the national nursing association.
Effects of mindfulness‐based intervention to improve task performance for children with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Kim Jeongil , Kwon Miyoung 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundTask performance is a critical factor for learning in individuals with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to examine mindfulness‐based intervention (MBI) to improve task performance for children with intellectual disability (ID).MethodsThree elementary school children with ID participated in the study. A multiple baseline design across subjects was used. The intervention was consisted of “understanding the necessary concept of mindfulness, practice of awareness and attention, and practice focusing on mindful behaviours.” Mediating materials including expressive arts supplies were used to help each subject to understand the content and the progress of the intervention programme.ResultsThe results showed that all of the three subjects showed an improvement in task performance and a decrease in task‐avoidance behaviours. The mothers reported that her children's daily life behaviours were distinctively improved as he/she participated in the intervention.ConclusionThe finding suggests that MBI would be a valuable adjunct to a wide range of applications to support individuals with ID to learn a variety of adaptive behaviour.
Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 inhibits periodontitis in non‐human primates and its gingival crevicular fluid levels can differentiate periodontal health from disease in humans
Authors: Kajikawa Tetsuhiro , Meshikhes Fatimah , Maekawa Tomoki , Hajishengallis Evlambia , Hosur Kavita B. , Abe Toshiharu , Moss Kevin , Chavakis Triantafyllos , Hajishengallis George 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimWe have previously shown that the secreted glycoprotein milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG‐E8) has anti‐inflammatory and anti‐osteoclastogenic properties. Our objective was to investigate the potential of MFG‐E8 as a diagnostic or therapeutic agent in periodontitis.Materials and MethodsPeriodontitis was induced in non‐human primates (NHPs) by placing ligatures around posterior teeth on both halves of the mandible for a split‐mouth design: one side was treated with MFG‐E8‐Fc and the other with Fc control. Disease was assessed by clinical periodontal examinations, radiographic analysis of bone loss, and analysis of cytokine mRNA expression in gingival biopsy samples. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected from human healthy volunteers or subjects with gingivitis, chronic moderate periodontitis, or chronic severe periodontitis. Additionally, GCF was collected from a subset of severe periodontitis patients following scaling and root planing (SRP) and after pocket reduction surgery. GCF was analysed to quantify MFG‐E8 and periodontitis‐relevant cytokines using multiplex assays.ResultsIn NHPs, sites treated with MFG‐E8‐Fc exhibited significantly less ligature‐induced periodontal inflammation and bone loss than Fc control‐treated sites. In humans, the GCF levels of MFG‐E8 were significantly higher in health than in periodontitis, whereas the reverse was true for the proinflammatory cytokines tested. Consistently, MFG‐E8 was elevated in GCF after both non‐surgical (SRP) and surgical periodontal treatment of periodontitis patients.ConclusionMFG‐E8 is, in principle, a novel therapeutic agent and biomarker of periodontitis.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the aggravation of periodontitis by diabetes
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Mao Yixin , Dai Panpan , Li Xumin , Gu Weiyan , Wang Huining , Wu Gang , Ma Jianfeng , Huang Shengbin 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimTo elucidate whether mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to aggravated periodontitis in diabetes.Materials and MethodsSixty‐four wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control, periodontitis, diabetes, and diabetic periodontitis. Two weeks after induction of diabetes, periodontitis was induced by silk ligation for 2 weeks and thereafter evaluated by assessing alveolar bone loss and apoptosis of periodontium cells. Mitochondrial oxidative stress was detected by MitoSOX staining. Mitochondrial function was determined by measuring ATP production, and by assessing mitochondrial DNA copy number, activities of electron transport chain complexes, and biogenesis with real‐time PCR.ResultsSignificantly severer bone loss, enhanced periodontium cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial oxidative stress were found in the rats with diabetic periodontitis than the others. Furthermore, diabetic rats with periodontitis presented severer mitochondrial dysfunction than lean rats with periodontitis, as reflected by compromised ATP production, decreased mitochondrial DNA copy number, reduced gene expression of electron transport chain complex I subunits, and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis further indicated a close correlation between these mitochondrial events and bone loss in diabetic periodontitis.ConclusionsMitochondrial dysfunction was positive correlated to aggravated periodontitis in diabetes and might represent a therapeutic target for diabetic periodontitis.
Advanced serious illness, multimorbidity, and multibeneficence: The role of communication
Authors: Cohn Jeffrey 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSturmberg et al write about multimorbidity as “several diagnosable diseases within the same individual.” They posit that this syndrome is the result of multiple interconnected disturbances reflecting scale‐free, fractal signs of pathology ranging from biochemical/hormonal alterations at one end of a spectrum to community and societal ills at the other. In this commentary, I will be focusing on 3 perspectives: 1) a preterminal phase of multimorbidity that is indicative of that loss of reparative or even homeokinetic properties, known by some as “advanced serious illness”; 2) the manifestations of advanced serious illness multimorbidity that, using the same networks that connect into the patient, are signs of this syndrome at the levels of the immediate family/friend social network, the broader community, and society at large; and 3) the potential for these same networks that transmit pathological forces to convey the positive effects of therapeutic interventions in a scale‐free manner, with a focus on how conversation can lead to what I'm calling “multibeneficence.”
The Effect of Treatment of Anemia with Blood Transfusion on Delirium: A Systematic Review
Authors: van der Zanden Vera , Beishuizen Sara J. , Swart Lieke M. , de Rooij Sophia E. , van Munster Barbara C. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectivesTreating the precipitating factors of delirium is the mainstay of the prevention and treatment of delirium. We aim to investigate the role of anemia and blood transfusion within the multicomponent prevention and treatment strategy of delirium.DesignSystematic review.SettingWe included cohort studies or Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) that considered blood transfusion as treatment for delirium or risk factor, and had delirium as outcome.ParticipantsHospitalized patients above 55 years old.MeasurementsWe searched MEDLINE from 1946 through November 2014. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed systematically.ResultsWe included 23 studies (n = 29,471). The majority of the studies (n = 22) had a limited quality and for one study quality was uncertain. Two studies evaluated the association between transfusion strategy and postoperative delirium and found no association. Twenty‐one studies investigated blood transfusion as a risk factor for delirium. In four of the 21 studies it could be assumed that delirium occurred after transfusion. One of these studies stated that transfusion was a significant risk factor for subsequent delirium (odds ratio (OR) = 3.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32–10.94). The other three studies found no association between transfusion and delirium. In the remaining 17 studies, it was not clear whether delirium occurred before or after transfusion, so no conclusion could be drawn on the role of transfusion in delirium development.ConclusionThe majority of the included studies was not suited to answer the research question properly as the time course of the beginning of delirium as to transfusion was lacking. Our review shows that there is no good quality evidence available for blood transfusion to be a risk factor for delirium or to be a preventive or treatment option.
Anatomy, histology, and ultrasonography of the normal adrenal gland in brown lemur: Eulemur fulvus
Authors: Raharison Fidiniaina , Bourges Abella Nathalie , Sautet Jean , Deviers Alexandra , Mogicato Giovanni 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe medical care currently to brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) is limited by a lack of knowledge of their anatomy. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomy and histology and obtain ultrasonographic measurements of normal adrenal glands in these animals.MethodsThe adrenal glands of four lemurs cadavers were used for the anatomical and histological studies, and those of 15 anesthetized lemurs were examined by ultrasonography.ResultsAnatomically, the adrenal glands of brown lemurs are comparable to those of other species. The histological findings showed that the cortex is organized into three distinct layers, whereas most domestic mammals have an additional zone. The surface area of the adrenal glands increased with body weight, and the area of the right adrenal was slightly larger than the left.ConclusionsWe suggest using ultrasonography to aid the etiological diagnosis of behavioral abnormalities that might be due to dysfunctions of the adrenal gland.
Prognostic Value and Development of a Scoring System in Horses With Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Authors: Roy M.‐F. , Kwong G.P.S. , Lambert J. , Massie S. , Lockhart S. 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundDespite its widespread use in equine medicine, the clinical value of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) concept in horses remains unknown.ObjectivesTo study the prognostic value of measures of SIRS in horses and identify the best model of severe SIRS to predict outcome.AnimalsA total of 479 consecutive adult horse emergency admissions to a private primary referral practice.MethodsProspective observational study. All adult horses admitted for emergency treatment over the study period were included. Multivariate logistic regression and stepwise model selection were used.ResultsEach of the 4 SIRS criteria was associated with outcome in this population. Thirty‐one percent of emergency cases had 2 or more abnormal SIRS criteria on admission and were defined as SIRS cases. SIRS was associated with increased odds of death (odds ratio [OR] = 8.22; 95% CI, 4.61–15.18;P< .001), an effect mainly found for acute gastrointestinal cases. SIRS cases were assigned a SIRS score of 2, 3, or 4, according to the number of abnormal SIRS criteria fulfilled on admission, and SIRS3 and SIRS4 cases had increased odds of death compared to SIRS2 cases (OR = 4.45; 95% CI, 1.78–11.15;P= .002). A model of severe SIRS including the SIRS score, blood lactate concentration, and color of the mucous membranes best predicted outcome in this population of horses.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSystemic inflammatory response syndrome is associated with an increased risk of death in adult horses presenting with acute gastrointestinal illnesses. The model of severe SIRS proposed in this study could be used to assess the status and prognosis of adult equine emergency admissions.
Pharmacokinetics of valnemulin after intravenous, intramuscular, and oral administration in layer chickens
Authors: Sun F. , Fan R. , Wang J. , Xiong L. , Shen J. , Zhang S. , Cao X. 
Published: February 2017

The pharmacokinetic characteristics of valnemulin in layer chickens were studied after single intravenous, intramuscular, and oral administration at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. Plasma samples at certain time points were collected and the drug concentrations in them by ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐MS). The concentration–time data for each individual were plotted by noncompartmental analysis for the whole three routes. Following intravenous administration, the plasma concentration showed tiny fluctuation. The elimination half‐life (), total body clearance (Cl), and area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) were 1.85 ± 0.43 h, 2.2 ± 0.9 L/h, and 7.52 ± 2.46 μg·h/mL, respectively. Following intramuscular administration, the peak concentration (Cmax, 1.40 ± 0.43 μg/mL) was achieved at the time of 0.34 h. A multiple‐peak phenomenon existed after oral administration, and the first peak and secondary peak were at 10 min and during 2–4 h, respectively, while the tertiary peak appeared during 5–15 h. The bioavailability (F %) for intramuscular and oral administration was 68.60% and 52.64%, respectively. In present study, the detailed pharmacokinetic profiles showed that this drug is widely distributed and rapidly eliminated, however has a low bioavailability, indicating that valnemulin is likely to be a favorable choice in the clinical practice.
Plasmid and clonal interference during post horizontal gene transfer evolution
Authors: Bedhomme S. , Perez Pantoja D. , Bravo I. G. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPlasmids are nucleic acid molecules that can drive their own replication in a living cell. They can be transmitted horizontally and can thrive in the host cell to high‐copy numbers. Plasmid replication and gene expression consume cellular resources and cells carrying plasmids incur fitness costs. But many plasmids carry genes that can be beneficial under certain conditions, allowing the cell to endure in the presence of antibiotics, toxins, competitors or parasites. Horizontal transfer of plasmid‐encoded genes can thus instantaneously confer differential adaptation to local or transient selection conditions. This conflict between cellular fitness and plasmid spread sets the scene for multilevel selection processes. We have engineered a system to study the short‐term evolutionary impact of different synonymous versions of a plasmid‐encoded antibiotic resistance gene. Applying experimental evolution under different selection conditions and deep sequencing allowed us to show rapid local adaptation to the presence of antibiotic and to the specific version of the resistance gene transferred. We describe the presence of clonal interference at two different levels: at the within‐cell level, because a single cell can carry several plasmids, and at the between‐cell level, because a bacterial population may contain several clones carrying different plasmids and displaying different fitness in the presence/absence of antibiotic. Understanding the within‐cell and between‐cell dynamics of plasmids after horizontal gene transfer is essential to unravel the dense network of mobile elements underlying the worldwide threat to public health of antibiotic resistance.
Assembly of the outermost spore layer: pieces of the puzzle are coming together
Authors: Stewart George C. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryCertain endospore‐forming soil dwelling bacteria are important human, animal or insect pathogens. These organisms produce spores containing an outer layer, the exosporium. The exosporium is the site of interactions between the spore and the soil environment and between the spore and the infected host during the initial stages of infection. The composition and assembly process of the exosporium are poorly understood. This is partly due to the extreme stability of the exosporium that has proven to be refractive to existing methods to deconstruct the intact structure into its component parts. Although more than 20 proteins have been identified as exosporium‐associated, their abundance, relationship to other proteins and the processes by which they are assembled to create the exosporium are largely unknown. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Terry, Jiang, and colleagues in Per Bullough's laboratory show that the ExsY protein is a major structural protein of the exosporium basal layer of B. cereus family spores and that it can self‐assemble into complex structures that possess many of the structural features characteristic of the exosporium basal layer. The authors refined a model for exosporium assembly. Their findings may have implications for exosporium formation in other spore forming bacteria, including Clostridium species.
Trametes polyzona, an emerging filamentous basidiomycete in Réunion Island
Authors: Gauthier Alexandre , Jaubert Julien , Traversier Nicolas , Lemant Jérôme , Balu Laurent , Garcia‐Hermoso Dea , Welti Stephane , Favel Anne , Picot Sandrine , Hoarau Gautier 
Published: February 2017

SummaryWe describe two serious Trametes polyzona pulmonary infections, which occurred in Réunion Island, in critically ill patients. The identification was performed using sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and D1/D2 region of 28S rDNA. In one case, the significance of T. polyzona in the pathological process was certain, proven by histopathological evidence of fungal lung infection. T. polyzona, an emerging filamentous basidiomycete, prevalent in tropical areas, has not been described so far in human infections.