bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Specificity of mannan antigen and anti‐mannan antibody screening in patients with haematological malignancies at risk for fungal infection
Authors: Duettmann Wiebke , Koidl Christoph , Krause Robert , Lackner Gertrude , Woelfler Albert , Hoenigl Martin 
Published: February 2016

SummaryCombination of mannan antigen and anti‐mannan antibody (Mn/A‐Mn) testing has been reported a useful and specific strategy for diagnosis of invasive Candida infections (ICIs). We evaluated Mn/A‐Mn as a screening tool in patients with haematological malignancies. This clinical prospective study was performed at the Division of Hematology, Medical University Graz, Austria between July and December 2012. Patients at risk for fungal infection were included into the study and twice weekly screened by Mn/A‐Mn testing, yielding 650 samples. Of overall 67 patients 66 had no evidence for ICI. From those, 153/640 serum samples (23.9%) were positive for mannan Ab, and nine (1.4%) for Ag. Most false positive Ab results were observed among 375 samples from patients without haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (34.9% resulted positive). Combined specificity of Mn/A‐Mn was 74.8%. Of 10 samples obtained in the single patient with candidemia, five were positive for mannan Ag (from the day of diagnosis up to 40 days after detection of candidemia) and none for Ab. In conclusion, mannan Ab screening yielded a high number of false positive results. While mannan Ag was found to be highly specific and may have potential for diagnostic driven testing, mannan Ab testing cannot be recommended based on our study results.
Allergy protection by cowshed bacteria – recent findings and future prospects
Authors: Kauth Marion , Heine Holger 
Published: February 2016

AbstractSince the first publication in 1999, numerous epidemiologic studies provided strong evidence that frequent contact to a traditional farm environment in early life protects children from the development of allergic airway diseases. These consistent findings prompted enormous efforts to identify and characterize the potential causative factors and the underlying immunologic mechanisms in experimental studies. The cumulating evidence for the role of the cowshed‐associated bacterial flora led to enhanced efforts not only to identify the relevant species but also to examine their specific immunomodulatory capacity, the bacterial components involved, and particularly the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their interaction with the immune system. We review here the methods applied to identify relevant bacterial species, the species which emerged thereof, and the similarities and differences in their mode of action as revealed so far. We further consider the impact of the current knowledge on worthwhile clinical application and reflect on the required next steps to foster the translation of the encouraging scientific progress which has been made in recent years.
Successful Graded Mirror Therapy in a Patient with Chronic Deafferentation Pain in Whom Traditional Mirror Therapy was Ineffective: A Case Report
Authors: Mibu Akira , Nishigami Tomohiko , Tanaka Katsuyoshi , Osumi Michihiro , Tanabe Akihito 
Published: February 2016

AbstractA 43‐year‐old man had deafferentation pain in his right upper extremity secondary to brachial plexus avulsion from a traffic accident 23 years previously. On our initial examination, he had severe tingling pain with numbness in the right fingers rated 10 on the numerical rating scale. The body perception of the affected third and fourth fingers was distorted in the flexed position. Although he performed traditional mirror therapy (TMT) for 4 weeks in the same methods as seen in previous studies, he could not obtain willed motor imagery and pain‐alleviation effect. Therefore, we modified the task of TMT: Graded mirror therapy (GMT). GMT consisted of five stages: (1) observation of the mirror reflection of the unaffected side without imagining any movements of the affected side; (2) observation of the mirror reflection of the third and fourth fingers changing shape gradually adjusted from a flexed position to a extended position; (3) observation of the mirror reflection of passive movement; (4) motor imagery of affected fingers with observation of the mirror reflection (similar to TMT); (5) motor imagery of affected fingers without mirror. Each task was performed for 3 to 4 weeks. As a result, pain intensity during mirror therapy gradually decreased and finally disappeared. The body perception of the affected fingers also improved, and he could imagine the movement of the fingers with or without mirror. We suggested that GMT starting from the observation task without motor imagery may effectively decrease deafferentation pain compared to TMT.
Effect of Perioperative Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion on Acute and Chronic Pain after Breast Surgery: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chang Yuan‐Ching , Liu Chien‐Liang , Liu Tsang‐Pai , Yang Po‐Sheng , Chen Ming‐Jen , Cheng Shih‐Ping 
Published: February 2016

AbstractObjectivesIntravenous lidocaine infusion has been shown to reduce postoperative pain among patients undergoing abdominal surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of perioperative lidocaine administration in breast surgery.MethodsA meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing lidocaine infusion vs. placebo/routine treatment was performed. Standardized mean difference (SMD) or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated from pooled data. Random‐effects models were used, and heterogeneity was assessed.ResultsA total of 4 reports (3 primary studies and 1 extension) with 84 patients randomized to the lidocaine group and 83 patients randomized to the control group were included. There was no difference in pain scores at rest or during activity between the 2 groups from postoperative 2 hours to 3 days. At postoperative 72 hours, the lidocaine group had fewer analgesics consumed (SMD, −0.479; 95% CI, −0.914 to −0.043; P = 0.031). Chronic pain was assessed 3 to 6 months after breast surgery in 51 patients of the lidocaine group and 46 patients of the control group. Patients in the lidocaine group had significantly lower risk for the development of chronic pain (RR, 0.332; 95% CI, 0.141 to 0.781; P = 0.012).ConclusionThe results indicate no significant benefits of intravenous lidocaine infusion in terms of acute postoperative pain. Although lidocaine seems to attenuate the risk of chronic pain after breast surgery, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that lidocaine infusion is of proved benefit because the results were based on a limited number of small trials.
New Insight into the Water‐Soluble Chlorophyll‐Binding Protein from Lepidium virginicum
Authors: Kell Adam , Bednarczyk Dominika , Acharya Khem , Chen Jinhai , Noy Dror , Jankowiak Ryszard 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis study describes new recombinant water‐soluble chlorophyll (Chl)‐binding proteins (WSCP) from Lepidium virginicum (LvWSCP). This complex binds four Chls (i.e. two dimers of Chls) per protein tetramer. We show that absorption, emission, hole‐burned (HB) spectra and the shape of the zero‐phonon hole (ZPH) action spectrum are consistent with the presence of uncorrelated excitation energy transfer between two Chl dimers. Thus, there is no need to include slow protein relaxation within the lowest excited state (as suggested in a previous analysis of cauliflower WSCP [Schmitt, F.‐J. et al. (2008) J. Phys. Chem. B, 112, 13951; Pieper, J. et al. (2011) J. Phys. Chem. B, 115, 4053]) in order to explain the large shift observed between the maxima of the ZPH action and emission spectra. Experimental evidence is provided which shows that electron exchange between lowest energy Chls and the protein may occur, i.e. electrons can be trapped at low temperature by nearby aromatic amino acids. The latter explains the shape of nonresonant HB spectra (i.e. the absence of antihole), demonstrating that the hole‐burning process in LvWSCP is largely photochemical in nature, though a small contribution from nonphotochemical hole burning (in resonant holes) is also observed.
A General Framework for Updating Belief Distributions
Authors: Bissiri P. G. , Holmes C. C. , Walker S. G. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryWe propose a framework for general Bayesian inference. We argue that a valid update of a prior belief distribution to a posterior can be made for parameters which are connected to observations through a loss function rather than the traditional likelihood function, which is recovered as a special case. Modern application areas make it increasingly challenging for Bayesians to attempt to model the true data-generating mechanism. For instance, when the object of interest is low dimensional, such as a mean or median, it is cumbersome to have to achieve this via a complete model for the whole data distribution. More importantly, there are settings where the parameter of interest does not directly index a family of density functions and thus the Bayesian approach to learning about such parameters is currently regarded as problematic. Our framework uses loss functions to connect information in the data to functionals of interest. The updating of beliefs then follows from a decision theoretic approach involving cumulative loss functions. Importantly, the procedure coincides with Bayesian updating when a true likelihood is known yet provides coherent subjective inference in much more general settings. Connections to other inference frameworks are highlighted.
Walking down ‘Via Dolorosa’ from primary health care to the specialty pain clinic – patient and professional perceptions of inequity in rehabilitation of chronic pain
Authors: Lehti Arja , Fjellman‐Wiklund Anncristine , Stålnacke Britt‐Marie , Hammarström Anne , Wiklund Maria 
Published: February 2016

ObjectiveTo analyse patient and professional perceptions about (in)equity of care and rehabilitation of chronic pain patients from primary health care to assessment at a specialty rehabilitation clinic.Setting and methodsThis qualitative study consists one focus group interview with eight general practitioners who refer patients to pain rehabilitation clinics, 10 individual interviews with patients who were assessed at a pain rehabilitation clinic and seven interviews with professionals participating in multimodal assessment teams at a pain rehabilitation clinic. Interview analysis was conducted by the grounded theory method.ResultsThe core category Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering and pain, captured how gender and sociocultural context may contribute to advantages and disadvantages during patient journeys from primary health care to a pain rehabilitation clinic. Patients and professionals perceived pain as a low‐ranking illness, and women and men used different gendered strategies to legitimise the pain and to be taken seriously. Being ‘a proper patient ready to change’ and having ‘likeness’ between patients and professionals were viewed as advantageous in rehabilitation of pain patients. Patients with higher educational levels were perceived as easier to interact with and had better access to health care. Professional thoughts about gender norms influenced the rehabilitation options. The rehabilitation programme was seen by several professionals to be better suited for women than men, which could lead to unequal care.ConclusionFrom an equity and gender perspective, our study highlights the complexity in rehabilitation of chronic pain patients – both from patient and professional perspectives. Awareness of gendered and the biased preconceptions and norms is crucial when professionals struggle to offer equitable health care and rehabilitation.
Significances of red cell bound immunoglobulin G as detected by flow cytometry in patients with Coombs‐negative immune hemolysis
Authors: Thedsawad A. , Taka O. , Wanachiwanawin W. 
Published: February 2016

SUMMARYObjectivesThis study was to investigate the use of flow cytometry for detection and quantitation of red blood cells (RBC) bound IgG in immune hemolysis of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (AIHA) and systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE).BackgroundTwo to ten percent of patients with warm‐autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (WAIHA) exhibit a negative direct Coombs test. Flow cytometry has been applied to detect RBC bound IgG with high accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity.MethodsIn this study 45 and 75 patients with AIHA and SLE, respectively were evaluated for RBC bound IgG by direct Coombs test and flow cytometry.ResultsSeventy‐one percent (32/45) and 31% (23/75) of patients with AIHA and SLE respectively, had laboratory evidence of hemolysis. A positive flow cytometry, as defined by mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) values >0·21 and IgG molecules >28, was found in 4 of 32 (12·5%) and 4 of 23 (17·4%) patients with AIHA and SLE who had hemolysis with a negative direct Coombs test. There were very strong and strong correlations between the strength of direct Coombs test with MFI values and IgG molecules in patients with AIHA and SLE, respectively.ConclusionFlow cytometry can be applied in the diagnosis of Coombs‐negative hemolytic anaemia in patients with AIHA and SLE.
Bone marrow donor‐related variables associated with harvest outcome inHLA‐haploidentical transplantation with postinfusion cyclophosphamide
Authors: Rimondo A. , Bramanti S. , Crocchiolo R. , Giordano L. , Sarina B. , Morabito L. , Perotti C. , Timofeeva I. , Capizzuto R. , Santoro A. , Castagna L. 
Published: February 2016

Background and objectivesSeveral transplantation outcomes have been shown to be associated with the infused bone marrow cell dose/kg of the recipient's body weight. The donor bone marrow density is directly related to the infused cell dose. The aim of the present study was to identify donor‐related variables that are associated with high donor bone marrow density.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analysed the predictive factors of high marrow density in 65 consecutiveHLA‐haploidentical bone marrow donors harvested at our centre between 2009 and 2013.ResultsBody mass index (BMI) and peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count were directly associated with bone marrow density (regression coefficientβ= 5·33 andβ= 2·93, respectively;P< 0·01). The likelihood of obtaining a collection with a high density was first predicted usingBMI(BMI≥30, mean density = 25·8TNC/ml × 106). Second, donors with aBMI<30 were split into two groups according to peripheralWBCcount (WBC<8 × 103/mm3: mean density = 18·4TNC/ml × 106;WBC≥8 × 103/mm3: mean density = 23·1TNC/ml × 106). We also observed that the density of the first collected bag directly correlated with the overall density (R2= 0·69,P< 0·01).ConclusionThe donor‐related featuresBMIandWBCcount affect the cell quantity obtainable with the harvest and should be taken into account when choosing the donor.
The impact of donor characteristics on the immune cell composition of second allografts in Chinese people
Authors: Chen L. , Chang Y‐J. , Xu L‐P. , Huang X‐J. 
Published: February 2016

BackgroundThe association of the donor characteristics with the immune cell composition in second allografts remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated retrospectively the effects of the donor characteristics on the immune cell composition in second allografts.Study design and methodsThe immune cell composition in second allografts of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) mobilized peripheral blood harvests from 100 healthy donors (male, 47, female, 53; median age, 39 years old) who underwent a second‐time donation were correlated with their donor characteristics.ResultsThe median counts ofCD3+T cells,CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,CD3+CD4−CD8−T cells and monocytes in allografts were 150·17 × 106/kg, 82·57 × 106/kg, 48·02 × 106/kg and 24·97 × 106/kg, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of lymphocytes and platelets pre‐first collection of G‐CSFmobilized blood (FM) was strongly associated with the number of total lymphocytes (for lymphocytes,P= 0·003; for platelets,P= 0·012),CD3+T cells (for lymphocytes,P= 0·009; for platelets,P= 0·004) andCD3+CD4+T cells (for lymphocytes,P= 0·035; for platelets,P= 0·004) in the second allograft. The donor'sBMIwas negatively related to the number ofCD3+T cells (P= 0·022) andCD3+CD4+T cells (P= 0·026) in the second allograft. The donor weight was negatively associated with the number ofCD3+CD4−CD8−T cells (P= 0·015) in the second allograft, while the pre‐FMwhite blood cell count showed a positive correlation (P= 0·009).ConclusionThe results demonstrate the impact of the donor characteristics, including pre‐FMplatelet count and lymphocyte count, donorBMIand weight, on the immune cell composition in the second allograft.
Prediction of time‐dependent local scour around bridge piers
Authors: Choi Sung‐Uk , Choi Byungwoong 
Published: February 2016

AbstractMost formulas for predicting the scour depth around bridge piers result in over‐predictions. This is partly due to ignoring the fact that the local scour is a time‐dependent process. Formulas that take into account time‐dependent local scour around bridge piers have been developed in the past. However, these formulas predict the scour process well, but only when applied to datasets from which they were constructed. Motivated by this, the present study proposes a relationship for time‐dependent local scour using dimensional analysis and nonlinear regression. Similarly, another relationship for the time to equilibrium is also developed. The findings indicate that the proposed relationship predicts time‐dependent local scour better than existing formulas. The proposed relationships are applicable to local scour around cylindrical bridge piers. It is assumed that the bed sediment is uniform and the bedform effect is minor and can be ignored.
Positive plant–soil feedbacks of the invasive Impatiens glandulifera and their effects on above‐ground microbial communities
Authors: Pattison Z , Rumble H , Tanner R A , Jin L , Gange A C 
Published: February 2016

SummaryImpatiens glandulifera is one of the most widespread invasive plant species in the UK. Although aspects of its biology are known, there is little information about its association with microbial communities, both above ground and below ground. Furthermore, it is unknown whether this species exhibits any form of plant–soil feedback (PSF), commonly seen in other invasive weeds. We conducted a PSF experiment, in which plants of I. glandulifera were grown in soil that supported the species and compared with plants grown in a control soil from the same locality. Soil nutrients were measured, and the soil and foliar microbial communities were assessed. Impatiens glandulifera grew larger and faster in conditioned soil compared with the control. Higher levels of phosphate were also found in conditioned soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonisation was lower in conditioned soils, suggesting that I. glandulifera may rapidly alter AMF communities in invaded areas. PSFs had a significant effect on the foliar endophyte community, with clear separation of species between conditioned and control soils. These results show that I. glandulifera displayed a positive PSF and the PSF mechanism extended beyond the soil microbial community to affect foliar endophytes. The observed increase in endophytes in plants grown in conditioned soil could enhance resistance to herbivory, thus further accentuating the invasive properties of this species.
Diverse roles for ionotropic glutamate receptors on inhibitory interneurons in developing and adult brain
Authors: Akgül Gülcan , McBain Chris J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractGlutamate receptor‐mediated recruitment of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons is a critical determinant of network processing. Early studies observed that many, but not all, interneuron glutamatergic synapses contain AMPA receptors that are GluA2‐subunit lacking and Ca2+ permeable, making them distinct from AMPA receptors at most principal cell synapses. Subsequent studies demonstrated considerable alignment of synaptic AMPA and NMDA receptor subunit composition within specific subtypes of interneurons, suggesting that both receptor expression profiles are developmentally and functionally linked. Indeed glutamate receptor expression profiles are largely predicted by the embryonic origins of cortical interneurons within the medial and caudal ganglionic eminences of the developing telencephalon. Distinct complements of AMPA and NMDA receptors within different interneuron subpopulations contribute to the differential recruitment of functionally divergent interneuron subtypes by common afferent inputs for appropriate feed‐forward and feedback inhibitory drive and network entrainment. In contrast, the lesser‐studied kainate receptors, which are often present at both pre‐ and postsynaptic sites, appear to follow an independent developmental expression profile. Loss of specific ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) subunits during interneuron development has dramatic consequences for both cellular and network function, often precipitating circuit inhibition–excitation imbalances and in some cases lethality. Here we briefly review recent findings highlighting the roles of iGluRs in interneuron development.
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