bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in childhood, adolescence and adult food allergy: Patient and parent perspectives
Authors: Stensgaard A. , Bindslev‐Jensen C. , Nielsen D. , Munch M. , DunnGalvin A. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryBackgroundStudies of children with food allergy typically only include the mother and have not investigated the relationship between the amount of allergen needed to elicit a clinical reaction (threshold) and health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Our aims were (i) to compare self‐reported and parent‐reported HRQL in different age groups, (ii) to evaluate the impact of severity of allergic reaction and threshold on HRQL, and (iii) to investigate factors associated with patient‐reported and parent‐reported HRQL.MethodsAge‐appropriate Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQ) were completed by 73 children, 49 adolescents and 29 adults with peanut, hazelnut or egg allergy. Parents (197 mothers, 120 fathers) assessed their child's HRQL using the FAQLQ‐Parent form. Clinical data and threshold values were obtained from a hospital database. Significant factors for HRQL were investigated using univariate and multivariate regression.ResultsFemale patients reported greater impact of food allergy on HRQL than males did. Egg and hazelnut thresholds did not affect HRQL, but lower peanut threshold was associated with worse HRQL. Both parents scored their child's HRQL better than the child's own assessment, but whereas mother‐reported HRQL was significantly affected by limitations in the child's social life, father‐reported HRQL was affected by limitations in the family's social life. Severity of allergic reaction did not contribute significantly to HRQL.ConclusionThe risk of accidental allergen ingestion and limitations in social life are associated with worse HRQL. Fathers provide a unique perspective and should have a greater opportunity to contribute to food allergy research.
Balance between IL‐3 and type Iinterferons and their interrelationship with FasL dictates lifespan and effector functions of human basophils
Authors: Hagmann B. R. , Odermatt A. , Kaufmann T. , Dahinden C. A. , Fux M. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryBackgroundIn contrast to eosinophils and neutrophils, the regulation of the lifespan of human basophils is poorly defined, with the exception of the potent anti‐apoptotic effect of IL‐3 that also promotes pro‐inflammatory effector functions and phenotypic changes. Type I IFNs (IFN‐α, IFN‐β), which are well known for their anti‐viral activities, have the capacity to inhibit allergic inflammation.ObjectiveTo elucidate whether type I IFNs have the potential to abrogate the lifespan and/or effector functions of human basophils.MethodsWe cultured human basophils, and for comparison, eosinophils and neutrophils, with IL‐3, interferons, FasL and TRAIL, alone or in combination, and studied cell survival, effector functions and signalling pathways involved.ResultsDespite an identical pattern of early signalling in basophils, eosinophils and neutrophils in response to different types of interferons, only basophils displayed enhanced apoptosis after type I IFN treatment. IFN‐γ prolonged survival of eosinophils but did not affect the lifespan of basophils. IFN‐α‐mediated apoptosis required STAT1‐STAT2 heterodimers and the contribution of constitutive p38 MAPK activity. Whereas the death ligands FasL and TRAIL‐induced apoptosis in basophils per se, IFN‐α‐mediated apoptosis did neither involve autocrine TRAIL signalling nor did it sensitize basophils to FasL‐induced apoptosis. However, IFN‐α and FasL displayed an additive effect in killing basophils. Interestingly, IL‐3, which protected basophils from IFN‐α‐, TRAIL‐ or FasL‐mediated apoptosis, did not completely block the additive effect of combined IFN‐α and FasL treatment. Moreover, we demonstrate that IFN‐α suppressed IL‐3‐induced release of IL‐8 and IL‐13. In contrast to IFN‐α‐mediated apoptosis, these inhibitory effects of IFN‐α were not dependent on p38 MAPK signalling.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceOur study defines the unique and granulocyte‐type‐specific inhibitory and pro‐apoptotic function of type I IFNs and their cooperation with death ligands in human blood basophils, which may be relevant for the anti‐allergic properties of type I IFNs.
Decreased frequencies and impaired functions of the CD31+ subpopulation in Treg cells associated with decreased FoxP3 expression and enhanced Treg cell defects in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Huang L , Zheng Y , Yuan X , Ma Y , Xie G , Wang W , Chen H , Shen L 
Published: November 2016

Summary
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common types of organ lesions caused by atherosclerosis, in which CD4+CD25+forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+) regulatory T cells (Treg) play an atheroprotective role. However, Treg cell numbers are decreased and their functions are impaired in atherosclerosis; the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. CD31 plays an important part in T cell response and contributes to maintaining T cell tolerance. The immunomodulatory effects of CD31 are also implicated in atherosclerosis. In this study, we found that decreased frequencies of the CD31+ subpopulation in Treg cells (CD31+Tr cells) correlated positively with decreased FoxP3 expression in CHD patients. Cell culture in vitro demonstrated CD31+Tr cells maintaining stable FoxP3 expression after activation and exhibited enhanced proliferation and immunosuppression compared with the CD31− subpopulation in Treg cells (CD31−Tr cells). We also confirmed impaired secretion of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and interleukin (IL)-10 in CD31+Tr cells of CHD patients. Further analysis revealed reduced phospho-SHP2 (associated with CD31 activation) and phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (STAT-5) (associated with FoxP3 transcription) levels in CD31+Tr cells of CHD patients, suggesting that decreased FoxP3 expression in CD31+Tr cells might be because of attenuated SHP2 and STAT-5 activation. These data indicate that decreased frequencies and impaired functions of the CD31+Tr subpopulation associated with decreased FoxP3 expression give rise, at least in part, to Treg cell defects in CHD patients. Our findings emphasize the important role of the CD31+Tr subpopulation in maintaining Treg cell normal function and may provide a novel explanation for impaired immunoregulation of Treg cells in CHD.
Eosinophils from eosinophilic oesophagitis patients have T cell suppressive capacity and express FOXP3
Authors: Lingblom C , Wallander J , Ingelsten M , Bergquist H , Bove M , Saalman R , Welin A , Wennerås C 
Published: November 2016

Summary
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an antigen-driven T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory disease where food and environmental antigens are thought to have a role. Human eosinophils express the immunoregulatory protein galectin-10 and have T cell suppressive capacity similar to regulatory T cells (Tregs). We hypothesized that one function of eosinophils in EoE might be to regulate the T cell-driven inflammation in the oesophagus. This was tested by evaluating the suppressive capacity of eosinophils isolated from the blood of adult EoE patients in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. In addition, eosinophilic expression of forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), the canonical transcription factor of Tregs, was determined by conventional and imaging flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), confocal microscopy and immunoblotting. It was found that blood eosinophils from EoE patients had T cell suppressive capacity, and that a fraction of the eosinophils expressed FOXP3. A comparison of EoE eosinophils with healthy control eosinophils indicated that the patients' eosinophils had inferior suppressive capacity. Furthermore, a higher percentage of the EoE eosinophils expressed FOXP3 protein compared with the healthy eosinophils, and they also had higher FOXP3 protein and mRNA levels. FOXP3 was found in the cytosol and nucleus of the eosinophils from both the patients and healthy individuals, contrasting with the strict nuclear localization of FOXP3 in Tregs. To conclude, these findings suggest that the immunoregulatory function of eosinophils may be impaired in EoE.
The diagnostic accuracy of non‐imaging screening protocols for vestibular schwannoma in patients with asymmetrical hearing loss and/or unilateral audiovestibular dysfunction: a diagnostic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hentschel M. , Scholte M. , Steens S. , Kunst H. , Rovers M. 
Published: November 2016

BackgroundCurrently, all patients presenting with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss and/or unilateral audiovestibular dysfunction (i.e. tinnitus, dizziness) undergo MRI, leading to a substantial amount of MRIs with negative findings as the incidence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in this screening population varies between 1% and 4.7% (i.e. more than 95% of MRIs are negative for VS).Objective of reviewThe aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of different non‐imaging screening protocols that can be used prior to MRI to select patients at high risk of VS.Type of reviewDiagnostic review and meta‐analysis.Search strategyWe systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase and The Cochrane Library as from inception up to 28 July 2016. We included studies that compared non‐imaging screening protocols to MRI as gold reference standard.Evaluation methodMethodological quality was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Data necessary to complete 2 × 2 tables were obtained, and patient, study, screening and imaging characteristics were extracted. We calculated sensitivity and specificity of all tests and obtained pooled estimates using a bivariate random effects model.ResultsWe analysed 12 studies (4969 patients) of poor to moderate quality according to the quality assessment. Most studies tested diagnostic accuracy of multiple screening protocols. Five pure‐tone audiometry (PTA) protocols were studied by multiple authors; pooled estimates for sensitivity ranged from 88% [95% CI: 84–91] to 91% [95% CI: 52–99] and specificity from 31% [95% CI: 10–66] to 58% [95% CI: 49–65]. Due to heterogeneity, we were unable to pool other tests. In five studies testing auditory brainstem response, sensitivity values ranged from 37% [95% CI: 23–52] to 100% [95% CI: 40–100] and specificity from 57% to 96% [95% CI: 87–100]. Two authors studied PTA shape as a screening test. Presenting symptoms, electronystagmography, caloric irrigation and hyperventilation test were assessed by one study each. All reported low diagnostic accuracy.ConclusionsAll identified studies had a moderate‐to‐high risk of bias, and none of the currently available non‐imaging screening protocols appear to be accurate in detecting VSs.
Differences in the Evaluation of Generic Statements About Human and Non‐Human Categories
Authors: Tasimi Arber , Gelman Susan A. , Cimpian Andrei , Knobe Joshua 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGeneric statements (e.g., “Birds lay eggs”) express generalizations about categories. Current theories suggest that people should be especially inclined to accept generics that involve threatening information. However, previous tests of this claim have focused on generics about non‐human categories, which raises the question of whether this effect applies as readily to human categories. In Experiment 1, adults were more likely to accept generics involving a threatening (vs. a non‐threatening) property for artifacts, but this negativity bias did not also apply to human categories. Experiment 2 examined an alternative hypothesis for this result, and Experiments 3 and 4 served as conceptual replications of the first experiment. Experiment 5 found that even preschoolers apply generics differently for humans and artifacts. Finally, Experiment 6 showed that these effects reflect differences between human and non‐human categories more generally, as adults showed a negativity bias for categories of non‐human animals, but not for categories of humans. These findings suggest the presence of important, early‐emerging domain differences in people's judgments about generics.
The Transplant Palliative Care Clinic: An early palliative care model for patients in a transplant program
Authors: Wentlandt Kirsten , Dall'Osto Angela , Freeman Nicole , Le Lisa W. , Kaya Ebru , Ross Heather , Singer Lianne G. , Abbey Susan , Clarke Hance , Zimmermann Camilla 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAlthough patients within a transplant program are awaiting or have received disease modifying or curative treatment, they are also facing advanced illness and the possibility of death. The involvement of specialized palliative care services for these patients may improve symptom management and facilitate advance care planning. However, patients in organ transplantation programs have difficulty accessing palliative care resources and often do so only sporadically in the inpatient setting. Currently, there is little access to ambulatory palliative care for these patients and there have been no descriptions of programs delivering such care in the medical literature. We outline the development and structure of a Transplant Palliative Care Clinic within the University Health Network's Multi‐Organ Transplant Program, in Toronto, Canada. This information may be helpful for others aiming to provide early, integrated palliative care to patients awaiting and receiving organ transplantation.
Measuring the speed of newborn object recognition in controlled visual worlds
Authors: Wood Justin N. , Wood Samantha M.W. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractHow long does it take for a newborn to recognize an object? Adults can recognize objects rapidly, but measuring object recognition speed in newborns has not previously been possible. Here we introduce an automated controlled‐rearing method for measuring the speed of newborn object recognition in controlled visual worlds. We raised newborn chicks (Gallus gallus) in strictly controlled environments that contained no objects other than a single virtual object, and then measured the speed at which the chicks could recognize that object from familiar and novel viewpoints. The chicks were able to recognize the object rapidly, at presentation rates of 125 ms per image. Further, recognition speed was equally fast whether the object was presented from familiar viewpoints or novel viewpoints (30° and 60° azimuth rotations). Thus, newborn chicks can recognize objects across novel viewpoints within a fraction of a second. These results demonstrate that newborns are capable of both rapid and invariant object recognition at the onset of vision.
Neural activation patterns during retrieval of schema‐related memories: differences and commonalities between children and adults
Authors: Brod Garvin , Lindenberger Ulman , Shing Yee Lee 
Published: November 2016

AbstractSchemas represent stable properties of individuals’ experiences, and allow them to classify new events as being congruent or incongruent with existing knowledge. Research with adults indicates that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in memory retrieval of schema‐related information. However, developmental differences between children and adults in the neural correlates of schema‐related memories are not well understood. One reason for this is the inherent confound between schema‐relevant experience and maturation, as both are related to time. To overcome this limitation, we used a novel paradigm that experimentally induces, and then probes for, task‐relevant knowledge during encoding of new information. Thirty‐one children aged 8–12 years and 26 young adults participated in the experiment. While successfully retrieving schema‐congruent events, children showed less medial PFC activity than adults. In addition, medial PFC activity during successful retrieval correlated positively with children's age. While successfully retrieving schema‐incongruent events, children showed stronger hippocampus (HC) activation as well as weaker connectivity between the striatum and the dorsolateral PFC than adults. These findings were corroborated by an exploratory full‐factorial analysis investigating age differences in the retrieval of schema‐congruent versus schema‐incongruent events, comparing the two conditions directly. Consistent with the findings of the separate analyses, two clusters, one in the medial PFC, one in the HC, were identified that exhibited a memory × congruency × age group interaction. In line with the two‐component model of episodic memory development, the present findings point to an age‐related shift from a more HC‐bound processing to an increasing recruitment of prefrontal brain regions in the retrieval of schema‐related events.
Leisure participation–preference congruence of children with cerebral palsy: a Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment International Network descriptive study
Authors: Imms Christine , King Gillian , Majnemer Annette , Avery Lisa , Chiarello Lisa , Palisano Robert , Orlin Margo , Law Mary 
Published: November 2016

AimTo examine participation–preference congruence, regional differences in participation–preference congruence, and predictors of whether children with cerebral palsy participate in preferred activities.MethodThe sample (n=236) included 148 males and 88 females aged 10 to 13 years, living in Victoria, Australia (n=110), Ontario (n=80), or Quebec (n=46), Canada. Ninety‐nine (41.9%) were classed at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I; 89 (37.7%) at GMFCS level II/III; and 48 (20.3%) at GMFCS level IV/V. Participants completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activity of Children questionnaires. Regional comparisons were performed using one‐way analyses of variance and factors influencing participation–preference congruence were explored using multiple linear regression.ResultsThe proportion of children doing non‐preferred activities in each activity type was generally low (2–17%), with only one regional difference. Higher proportions were not doing preferred active physical (range 23.2–29.1% across regions), skill‐based (range 21.7–27.9% across regions), and social activities (range 12.8–14.5% across regions). GMFCS level was the most important predictor associated with not doing preferred activities.InterpretationChildren with cerebral palsy did not always participate in preferred active physical and skill‐based activities. Understanding discrepancies between preferences and actual involvement may allow families and rehabilitation professionals to address participation barriers.
Interdisciplinary approach to education: preparing general dentists to manage dental trauma
Authors: Townsend Janice , King Brett , Ballard Richard , Armbruster Paul , Sabey Kent 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe traditional dental curriculum presents limited opportunities for students to evaluate and treat patients with acute dental trauma. In an effort to increase student experiences, faculty at a dental school initiated and taught an interdisciplinary trauma course from 2014 to 2016. This course was elective, offered in the final year of dental school, and combined student‐led and faculty‐led case‐based discussions of management of traumatic dental injuries with hospital trauma call shadowing. Modifications of the course were made based on student feedback. Preliminary data from student surveys showed a favorable opinion of the course. Attendees were exposed to a higher number of acute traumatic injuries and they expressed greater confidence in their diagnosis and management abilities than their peers.
Novel forest decline triggered by multiple interactions among climate, an introduced pathogen and bark beetles
Authors: Wong Carmen M. , Daniels Lori D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNovel forest decline is increasing due to global environmental change, yet the causal factors and their interactions remain poorly understood. Using tree ring analyses, we show how climate and multiple biotic factors caused the decline of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) in 16 stands in the southern Canadian Rockies. In our study area, 72% of whitebark pines were dead and 18% had partially dead crowns. Tree mortality peaked in the 1970s; however, the annual basal area increment of disturbed trees began to decline significantly in the late 1940s. Growth decline persisted up to 30 years before trees died from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), Ips spp. bark beetles or non‐native blister rust pathogen (Cronartium ribicola). Climate–growth relations varied over time and differed among the healthy and disturbed subpopulations of whitebark pine. Prior to the 1940s, cool temperatures limited the growth of all subpopulations. Growth of live, healthy trees became limited by drought during the cool phase (1947 –1976) of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and then reverted to positive correlations with temperature during the subsequent warm PDO phase. In the 1940s, the climate–growth relations of the disturbed subpopulations diverged from the live, healthy trees with trees ultimately killed by mountain pine beetle diverging the most. We propose that multiple factors interacted over several decades to cause unprecedented rates of whitebark pine mortality. Climatic variation during the cool PDO phase caused drought stress that may have predisposed trees to blister rust. Subsequent decline in snowpack and warming temperatures likely incited further climatic stress and with blister rust reduced tree resistance to bark beetles. Ultimately, bark beetles and blister rust contributed to tree death. Our findings suggest the complexity of whitebark pine decline and the importance of considering multiway drought–disease–insect interactions over various timescales when interpreting forest decline.
Emerging climate‐driven disturbance processes: widespread mortality associated with snow‐to‐rain transitions across 10° of latitude and half the range of a climate‐threatened conifer
Authors: Buma Brian , Hennon Paul E. , Harrington Constance A. , Popkin Jamie R. , Krapek John , Lamb Melinda S. , Oakes Lauren E. , Saunders Sari , Zeglen Stefan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractClimate change is causing rapid changes to forest disturbance regimes worldwide. While the consequences of climate change for existing disturbance processes, like fires, are relatively well studied, emerging drivers of disturbance such as snow loss and subsequent mortality are much less documented. As the climate warms, a transition from winter snow to rain in high latitudes will cause significant changes in environmental conditions such as soil temperatures, historically buffered by snow cover. The Pacific coast of North America is an excellent test case, as mean winter temperatures are currently at the snow–rain threshold and have been warming for approximately 100 years post‐Little Ice Age. Increased mortality in a widespread tree species in the region has been linked to warmer winters and snow loss. Here, we present the first high‐resolution range map of this climate‐sensitive species, Callitropsis nootkatensis (yellow‐cedar), and document the magnitude and location of observed mortality across Canada and the United States. Snow cover loss related mortality spans approximately 10° latitude (half the native range of the species) and 7% of the overall species range and appears linked to this snow–rain transition across its range. Mortality is commonly >70% of basal area in affected areas, and more common where mean winter temperatures is at or above the snow–rain threshold (>0 °C mean winter temperature). Approximately 50% of areas with a currently suitable climate for the species (<−2 °C) are expected to warm beyond that threshold by the late 21st century. Regardless of climate change scenario, little of the range which is expected to remain suitable in the future (e.g., a climatic refugia) is in currently protected landscapes (<1–9%). These results are the first documentation of this type of emerging climate disturbance and highlight the difficulties of anticipating novel disturbance processes when planning for conservation and management.