Medicine by Sfakianakis Alexandros: 02/02/16

Τρίτη 2 Φεβρουαρίου 2016

Personality and Social Networks in Organizations: A Review and Future Directions

Landis, BD; (2016) Personality and Social Networks in Organizations: A Review and Future Directions. Journal of Organizational Behavior , 37 (S1) S107-S121. 10.1002/job.2004 . Green open access

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Behavioural responses to cold thermal discomfort

Gauthier, S; Shipworth, D; (2015) Behavioural responses to cold thermal discomfort. Building Research & Information , 43 (3) pp. 355-370. 10.1080/09613218.2015.1003277 . Green open access

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High energy radiation effects in optical elements.

Dodd, S.C.G.; (2004) High energy radiation effects in optical elements. Masters thesis, University of London. Green open access

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Efficacy of DOPE/DC-cholesterol liposomes and GCPQ micelles as AZD6244 nanocarriers in a 3D colorectal cancer in vitro model

López-Dávila, V; Magdeldin, T; Welch, H; Dwek, MV; Uchegbu, I; Loizidou, M; (2016) Efficacy of DOPE/DC-cholesterol liposomes and GCPQ micelles as AZD6244 nanocarriers in a 3D colorectal cancer in vitro model. Nanomedicine , 11 (4) pp. 331-344. 10.2217/nnm.15.206 . Green open access

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Validity and reliability of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire in a UK population

Ni Riordain, R; Hodgson, T; Porter, S; Fedele, S; (2016) Validity and reliability of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire in a UK population. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine 10.1111/jop.12425 .

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Hloušek, Vít (ed.) Presidents above parties? Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, Their Formal Competencies and Informal Power (Brno: Muni Press, 2013)

Köker, P; (2014) Hloušek, Vít (ed.) Presidents above parties? Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, Their Formal Competencies and Informal Power (Brno: Muni Press, 2013). [Review]. CEU Political Science Journal , 9 (4)

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Transport and poverty: a review of the evidence

Titheridge, H; Mackett, RL; Christie, N; Oviedo Hernández, D; Ye, R; (2014) Transport and poverty: a review of the evidence. (UCLTI Publications ). UCL Transport Institute, University College London: London, UK. Green open access

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Implicit, view-invariant modelling of 3D non-rigid objects.

Dias, M.B.; (2004) Implicit, view-invariant modelling of 3D non-rigid objects. Doctoral thesis, University of London. Green open access

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β2-adrenergic agonists modulate TNF-α induced astrocytic inflammatory gene expression and brain inflammatory cell populations

Background: The NF-kappa B signaling pathway orchestrates many of the intricate aspects of neuroinflammation. Astrocytic beta(2)-adrenergic receptors have emerged as potential regulators in central nervous system inflammation and are potential targets for pharmacological modulation. The aim of this study was to elucidate the crosstalk between astrocytic beta(2)-adrenergic receptors and the TNF-alpha induced inflammatory gene program. Methods: Proinflammatory conditions were generated by the administration of TNF-alpha. Genes that are susceptible to astrocytic crosstalk between beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (stimulated by clenbuterol) and TNF-alpha were identified by qPCR-macroarray-based gene expression analysis in a human 1321 N1 astrocytoma cell line. Transcriptional patterns of the identified genes in vitro were validated by RT-PCR on the 1321 N1 cell line as well as on primary rat astrocytes. In vivo expression patterns were examined by intracerebroventricular administration of clenbuterol and/or TNF-alpha in rats. To examine the impact on the inflammatory cell content of the brain we performed extensive FACS analysis of rat brain immune cells after intracerebroventricular clenbuterol and/or TNF-alpha administration. Results: Parallel transcriptional patterns in vivo and in vitro confirmed the relevance of astrocytic beta(2)-adrenergic receptors as modulators of brain inflammatory responses. Importantly, we observed pronounced effects of beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists and TNF-alpha on IL-6, CXCL2, CXCL3, VCAM1, and ICAM1 expression, suggesting a role in inflammatory brain cell homeostasis. Extensive FACS-analysis of inflammatory cell content in the brain demonstrated that clenbuterol/TNF-alpha co-administration skewed the T cell population towards a double negative phenotype and induced a shift in the myeloid brain cell population towards a neutrophilic predominance. Conclusions: Our results show that astrocytic beta(2)-adrenergic receptors are potent regulators of astrocytic TNF-alpha-activated genes in vitro and in vivo, and ultimately modulate the molecular network involved in the homeostasis of inflammatory cells in the central nervous system. Astrocytic beta(2)-adrenergic receptors and their downstream signaling pathway may serve as potential targets to modulate neuroinflammatory responses.

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Correction: Catenane-based mechanically-linked block copolymers

Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC90059C, Correction

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.

B. Nisar Ahamed, Roland Duchene, Koen Robeyns, Charles-Andre Fustin
To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

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Modulation of cytokine production by cyclic adenosine monophosphate analogs in human leukocytes

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a well-known second messenger that operates through different signaling molecules, including protein kinase A (PKA) and guanine exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (EPAC). Cell-permeable cAMP analogs such as 8-(4-chloro-phenyl-thio)-cAMP (8-pCPT-cAMP) modulate cytokine secretion by different leukocyte subsets, including T cells and monocytes. Since cAMP-modulating drugs such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors are being tested in inflammatory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, it is important to obtain more insight into the regulation of cytokine production by cAMP. To address the signaling molecules involved in cAMP-mediated modulation of cytokine production, we used cAMP derivatives such as N(6)-benzoyladenosine-cAMP (6-Bnz-cAMP) and 8-pCPT-2-O-methyl cAMP (8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP), which selectively activate either PKA or EPAC, respectively. We show that in T cells, 6-Bnz-cAMP exerts similar globally inhibiting effects on cytokine secretion as 8-pCPT-cAMP, indicating that these effects are mediated by PKA. On the contrary, 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP specifically inhibits the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in lipopolysaccharide-activated T-cell-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells, whereas the production of IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-12 is not or hardly affected. Inhibition by 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP of IL-10 production was confirmed using purified monocytes. Further, in B cells 6-Bnz-cAMP, but not 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP, stimulated IL-10 production. In conclusion, cAMP stimulates IL-10 production via PKA in activated B cells, but inhibits IL-10 production in activated monocytes through EPAC. We speculate that selective effects of PKA and EPAC on cytokine production in leukocyte subsets open up therapeutic possibilities using selective activators or inhibitors of EPAC or PKA.

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Recombinant porcine IFN-γ potentiates the secondary IgG and IgA responses to an inactivated suid herpesvirus-1 vaccine and reduces postchallenge weight loss and fever in pigs

The effect of recombinant porcine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the immunogenicity in vivo of inactivated suid herpesvirus-1 (SHV-1, Phylaxia strain) was studied applying two successive i.m, immunizations. The animals were injected with inactivated virus alone or inactivated virus supplemented with 10(4) or 10(6) U IFN-gamma. After the first immunization, none of the animals responded with measurable virus-neutralizing antibody (VNAb), virus-specific IgG or IgA, Following a second immunization 4 weeks later, a significantly increased VNAb response was noted in animals that had received vaccine doses containing 10(4) U IFN-gamma (p < 0.05). These animals also had significantly augmented serum levels of IgG (p < 0.01) and IgA (p < 0.05). Inclusion of 10(6) U IFN-gamma in the vaccine preparation did not affect the antibody response. In one experiment, the pigs were challenged oronasally with 10(5) TCID(50) of the 75V19 strain of SHV-1, 7 weeks after administration of the second vaccine dose. Those that had received 10(4) U IFN-gamma in the vaccination developed less fever during the postchallenge period (p < 0.004). In all challenged pigs, growth performance was compromised during the first week after challenge. However, the only animals retaining an average net increase in body mass were those covaccinated with 104 U IFN-gamma (p < 0.05). Nasal excretion of virus was not significantly different between groups that had been vaccinated with or without IFN-gamma. Multiple linear regression analysis of variables from individual vaccinated animals revealed the VNAb response to be correlated with serum IgG levels (p < 0.025) and with postchallenge growth performance (p < 0.0001) but not with serum IgA levels (p > 0.5), On the other hand, serum IgA appeared to be inversely correlated with early nasal virus excretion after challenge (p < 0.006), Taken together, our data suggest that addition of IFN-gamma to inactivated SHV-1 vaccine may be a useful tool for enhancement of both mucosal and systemic immune responses in pigs.

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Concurrence of high levels of interferons α and β in cord and maternal blood and simultaneous presence of interferon in trophoblast in an African population

A high concentration of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) (>5 U/ml) in cord blood was used as the criterion for establishing our study group, In a collection from deliveries by 269 Kenyan women, 16 such cord samples with matching maternal blood and placental biopsies were identified, These 16 were studied in detail together with 23 randomly selected among those with low cord IFN-alpha levels, The levels of IFN- in retal blood correlated with levels in their mothers for both IFN-alpha and beta but not for IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha was furthermore demonstrated in villous and decidual trophoblast from 15 (94%) placentae from donors with high IFN-alpha in the cord blood but not in the placenta of any low IFN level donors, In contrast, IFN-beta was not demonstrated in any placenta. These observations suggest simultaneous IFN induction in the three compartments, transplacental IFN transport, or trophoblast production of IFN to both circulations. Looking for IFN inducers, we did serologic tests for nonspecific indicators of inflammation and for specific virus and protozoan infections, but these showed no relation to elevated IFN levels, Immunohistology also revealed no evidence of a number of placental infections, The cause of the high levels of IFN-alpha could still be infectious but remains unexplained and may be noninfectious.

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Diagnosis of Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

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Clinical Effect and Mechanism of Yisui Shengxue Granules in Thalassemia Patients with Mild, Moderate, or Severe Anemia

Yisui Shengxue granules, which is a Chinese traditional medicine, can increase hemoglobin, red blood cells, and Ret of thalassemia patients with mild, moderate, and severe anemia and thus relieve clinical anemia symptoms. Studies on mechanism found that Yisui Shengxue granules can increase the proliferation ability of hematopoietic stem cells. Emodin promoted colony forming of hematopoietic stem cells. Yisui Shengxue granules can increase the activity of GSH-PX in bone marrow blood and decreased the severity of inclusion bodies on the cytomembrane of RBCs. YSSXG attenuated anemia symptoms in patients with thalassemia mostly by increasing the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and decreasing the hemolysis of RBCs.

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MicroRNA miR-15a contributes abnormal immune response in myasthenia gravis by targeting CXCL10

Publication date: Available online 1 February 2016
Source:Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Xiao-Fang Liu, Run-Qi Wang, Bo Hu, Meng-Chuan Luo, Qiu-Ming Zeng, Hao Zhou, Kun Huang, Xiao-Hua Dong, Yue-Bei Luo, Zhao-Hui Luo, Huan Yang
MiR-15a is likely to be associated with autoimmunity. Here, we aimed to examine the expression of miR-15 cluster in PBMCs from myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and investigate the potential roles of miR-15a in MG. We found that the expression of all miR-15 cluster was decreased in MG, furthermore, miR-15a levels in ocular MG (oMG) were much lower, while CXCL10 production was increased in MG. We display that CXCL10 was a functional target gene of miR-15a in MG. Increasing miR-15a expression could reduce CXCL10 expression and alleviate the abnormal T cells activation in immune response, while decreasing miR-15a expression could activate immune response abnormally. Moreover, miR-15a expression was significantly decreased after stimulation, and prednisone treatment could upregulate miR-15a expression in steroid-responsive MG patients. Take together, our data suggest that decreased miR-15a expression facilitates proinflammatory cytokines production and contributes to immune response at least in part via regulating CXCL10 expression in MG.

Graphical abstract

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French Health Technology Assessment of Antineoplastic Drugs Indicated in the Treatment of Solid Tumours: Perspective for Future Trends

Abstract

Background

France is one of the European countries that spend the most on oncology drugs. To keep pharmaceutical expenditure under control, Health Authorities highly scrutinize market access of costly medicines.

Objective

To assess current and future trends in French health technology assessment (HTA) of antineoplastic drugs indicated in the treatment of solid tumours.

Methods

A review of the SMR and ASMR drivers of the Transparency Committee (CT) opinions issued for antineoplastic drugs indicated in the treatment of solid tumours and approved between 2009 and 2014 was performed to assess current trends in French health technology assessment (HTA), complemented by an expert board consultation to capture the critical issues on the future of antineoplastic drugs HTA.

Results

Thirty-one drugs indicated for the treatment of solid tumours were identified (77 % targeted therapies). Initial CT assessments were available for 26 drugs. Four key items in the CT assessment were identified: 1) Clinical trial methodology; 2) Acceptance of progression-free survival (PFS) as a valuable endpoint; 3) Transferability of clinical trials in clinical practice; 4) Unpredictability of CT decisions. Experts raised the important development of personalised medicines in oncology and key challenges for oncology products to generate information expected from HTA perspective.

Conclusion

The French system remains committed to its values and philosophy (access of all innovations for everybody) which are threatened by the increasing launch of innovative therapies and budget constraint. Both HTA decision framework evolution and revision of the current pricing process should be considered in France to cope with these new challenges.

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Clinicopathological features in anterior visual pathway in neuromyelitis optica

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Abstract

Objective: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOsd) is an autoimmune disorder of the CNS characterized by aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibodies. The aim of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of involvement of the anterior visual pathway (AVP) and neurodegeneration via glia-neuron interaction in NMOsd.

Methods: Thirty Japanese patients with serologically verified NMOsd were assessed with a neuro-ophthalmological study. Using 27 tissue blocks from 13 other cases of NMOsd, we performed neuropathological analysis of glial and neuroaxonal involvement in the AVP.

Results: The AVP involvement in NMOsd was characterized by the followings, compared to multiple sclerosis: 1) longitudinally extensive optic neuritis (ON); 2) more severe visual impairment and worse prognosis for ON; 3) unique AQP4 dynamics – (i) loss of AQP4 immunoreactivity on astrocytes with complement activation in ON lesions, (ii) loss of AQP4 immunoreactivity on Müller cells with no deposition of complement in the retinas, and (iii) densely packed AQP4 immunoreactivity on astrocytes in gliosis of secondary antero/retrograde degeneration in the optic nerves and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL); and 4) more severe neurodegeneration – (i) axonal accumulation of degenerative mitochondria and transient receptor potential melastatin 4 channel with complement-dependent astrocyte pathology in ON lesions, (ii) mild loss of horizontal cells, and (iii) RNFL thinning and loss of ganglion cells with abundance of AQP4⁺ astrocytes, indicating secondary retrograde degeneration after ON.

Interpretation: Severe and widespread neuroaxonal damage and unique dynamics of astrocytes/Müller cells with alterations of AQP4 was prominent in the AVP and may be associated with poor visual function and prognosis in NMOsd. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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[A Clinical Study of the Sclerotherapy for Large Venous Malformations of the Pharyngolarynx with Airway Stenosis].

[A Clinical Study of the Sclerotherapy for Large Venous Malformations of the Pharyngolarynx with Airway Stenosis].

Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 2015 Nov;118(11):1327-33

Authors: Mada Y, Koshitsuka K, Ueki Y, Konno A

Abstract
We treated four cases of airway stenosis associated with large venous malformations of the pharyngolarynx. The patients ranged in age from 33 to 53 years, and consisted of one male and three females. The venous malformation was located in the posterior wall of the oropharynx in two cases, in the hypopharynx in. one case, and in the anterior wall of the oropharynx in one case. All the patients complained of shortness of breath upon adopting the supine position. The patients were tracheotomized under general anesthesia and treated by sclerotherapy under videolaryngoscopic guidance. We used absolute ethanol, polidocanol or monoethanolamine oleate, as appropriate, depending on the case. In regard to the efficacy of the sclerotherapy, the venous malformation disappeared in one case and reduced in size in the remaining three cases, and no severe adverse events were recognized in any of the cases. All the patients were discharged from the hospital within two weeks and did not need tracheostomy. Sclerotherapy umder videolaryngoscopic guidance is effective for the treatment of large venous malformations in the pharyngolarynx.

PMID: 26827597 [PubMed - in process]

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[Aural Stimulation with Capsaicin Ointment Improved the Swallowing Function in Patients with Dysphagia: Evaluation by the SMRC Scale].

[Aural Stimulation with Capsaicin Ointment Improved the Swallowing Function in Patients with Dysphagia: Evaluation by the SMRC Scale].

Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 2015 Nov;118(11):1319-26

Authors: Kondo E, Jinnouchi O, Ohnishi H, Kawata I, Takeda N

Abstract
Cough and swallowing reflexes are important airway-protective mechanisms against aspiration. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, one of the side effects of which is cough, have been reported to reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in hypertensive patients with stroke. ACE inhibitors have also been reported to improve the swallowing function in post-stroke patients. On the other hand, stimulation of the Arnold nerve, the auricular branch of the vagus, triggers the cough reflex (Arnold's ear-cough reflex). Capsaicin, an agonist of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), has been shown to activate the peripheral sensory C-fibers. Stimulation of the sensory branches of the vagus in the laryngotracheal mucosa with capsaicin induces the cough reflex and has been reported to improve the swallowing function in patients with dysphagia. In our previous study, we showed that aural stimulation of the Arnold nerve with 0.025% capsaicin ointment improved the swallowing function, as evaluated by the endoscopic swallowing score, in 26 patients with dysphagia. In the present study, the video images of swallowing recorded in the previous study were re-evaluated using the SMRC scale by an independent otolaryngologist who was blinded to the information about the patients and the endoscopic swallowing score. The SMRC scale is used to evaluate four aspects of the swallowing function: 1) Sensory: the initiation of the swallowing reflex as assessed by the white-out timing; 2) Motion: the ability to hold blue-dyed water in the oral cavity and induce laryngeal elevation; 3) Reflex: glottal closure and the cough reflex induced by touching the epiglottis or arytenoid with the endoscope; 4) Clearance: pharyngeal clearance of the blue-dyed water after swallowing. Accordingly, we demonstrated that a single application of capsaicin ointment to the external auditory canal of patients with dysphagia significantly improved the R, but not the S, M or C scores, and this effect lasted for 60 min. After repeated aural stimulation with the ointment for 7 days, the R score improved significantly in patients with severe dysphagia. The present findings suggest that stimulation of the Arnold's branch of the vagus in the external auditory canal with capsaicin improves the glottal closure and cough reflex in patients with dysphagia. Thus, aural stimulation with capsaicin represents a novel treatment for dysphagia. It is also suggested that repeated alternative aural stimulation with capsaicin for a week, rather than a single application, is needed to improve the swallowing function in patients with severe dysphagia. By the same mechanism as that underlying the effect of ACE inhibitors, aural stimulation with capsaicin may reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in patients with dysphagia.

PMID: 26827596 [PubMed - in process]

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[Multicenter Clinical Study of Vibrant Soundbridge in Japan: Analysis of Subjective Questionnaires].

[Multicenter Clinical Study of Vibrant Soundbridge in Japan: Analysis of Subjective Questionnaires].

Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 2015 Nov;118(11):1309-18

Authors: Kumakawa K, Kanzaki S, Usami S, Iwasaki S, Yamanaka N, Doi K, Naito Y, Gyo K, Tono T, Takahashi H, Kanda Y

Abstract
The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is an active middle ear implant with the Floating Mass Transducer (FMT). We performed a multicenter study to study the efficacy of the VSB by means of "the 10 Questionnaire on Hearing 2002" and "the APHAB questionnaire" at 13 hospitals between 2011 and 2013. In all, 23 patients with mixed or conductive hearing loss received VSB implantation by the round window placement technique. These individuals were generally unable to use, or gained little from conventional hearing aids or bone conduction hearing aids. Two questionnaires were administrated before the surgery and 20 weeks after the VSB implantation. Scores on every item of "the 10 Questionnaire on Hearing 2002" showed significant improvement under noise after VSB implantation. On the APHAB, the scores for Ease of Communication, Reverberation, and Background subscales improved significantly after the VSB implantation, while the score for the Aversiveness subscale alone failed to show a positive improvement from the inexperience to the new sound. Analysis of the responses to these subjective questionnaires revealed better results after VSB implantation as compared to the preoperative data. In conclusion, RW vibroplasty with the use of VSB provided subjective benefit in patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss.

PMID: 26827595 [PubMed - in process]

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[A Clinical Study of Acute Epiglottitis].

[A Clinical Study of Acute Epiglottitis].

Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 2015 Nov;118(11):1301-8

Authors: Tanaka S, Kikuchi S, Ohata A, Tsutsumi T, Ohki M

Abstract
We carried out a retrospective review of 285 cases of acute epiglottitis (180 males, 105 females, mean age 49.6 years) that required inpatients hospital care between 1998 and 2014. All the patients complained of sore throat, and 62 patients complained of respiratory discomfort; 17 patients had severe dyspnea, and 27 patients required airway management (tracheotomy in 25, cricothyroidotomy in 2 patients). All the patients survived. As acute epiglottitis can cause rapidly progressive airway obstruction and death, emergent airway management should be undertaken in patients with dyspnea. However, it is difficult to determine the indications for prophylactic respiratory management in patients without dyspnea. Therefore, the disease severity of the epiglottitis was evaluated on a five-grade scale according to the degree of swelling of both the epiglottis and the arytenoids. Although prospective evaluation is necessary, this scoring system may be beneficial to determine the indication for airway management, because all of the patients who complained of severe dyspnea or underwent airway management had grade 4 or 5 disease, while none of the patients with grade 1-3 disease required tracheotomy or cricothyroidotomy. Moreover, we compared the white blood cell count, body temperature, serum CRP and the interval from the onset between the group that required airway management and the group that did not require airway management. The white blood-cell count and body temperature were significantly higher, and the interval from the onset was significantly shorter in the group that required airway management than in the group that did not require airway management; however, the serum CRP level did not differ between the two groups.

PMID: 26827594 [PubMed - in process]

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Ahead of print: Zeitpunkt und Durchführung der tierschutzkonformen Nottötung beim Rind

Die Nottötung von Rindern stellt in der Nutztierpraxis mitunter eine nicht zu unterschätzende Herausforderung dar, insbesondere wenn es gilt, zwischen der Weiterführung der Therapie oder einer Nottötung abzuwägen. Anamnese und Befunde der klinischen Untersuchung liefern dabei wertvolle prognostische Hinweise, die durch labordiagnostische Untersuchungen ergänzt werden können. Gegenwärtig liegen jedoch keine Laborparameter mit ausreichend hohem diagnostischem Wert vor, sodass die Entscheidung letztlich auf der Summe aller Informationen aus Anamnese, klinischem Zustand und Laborparametern sowie persönlicher Erfahrung zu treffen ist. Objektiv messbare Parameter können dabei aber Entscheidungs- und Argumentationshilfen gegenüber den Tierhaltern bieten. Neben den genannten Faktoren spielen die betrieblichen Möglichkeiten, die teilweise aufwendigen und zeitintensiven Pflegemaßnahmen bei schwerkranken Tieren durchzuführen, eine bedeutende Rolle. Zur Nottötung ist aus veterinärmedizinischer Sicht die medikamentöse Euthanasie anderen Tötungsmethoden vorzuziehen. Dazu stehen verschiedene Präparate mit dem Wirkstoff Pentobarbital sowie das Kombinationspräparat T61®- Injektionslösung (MSD Animal Health) zur Verfügung, die alle ausschließlich von Tierärzten angewendet werden dürfen. Vor der Pentobarbitalapplikation sollte eine tiefe Sedierung des Tieres erfolgen. T61® darf nur am bewusstlosen (narkotisierten) Tier und nicht bei trächtigen Tieren angewendet werden. Wenngleich Tierärzte mechanische Tötungsmethoden selten durchführen, sollten sie in der Lage sein, deren korrekte Durchführung zu beurteilen und gegebenenfalls zu korrigieren. Insbesondere bei der Tötung mittels Bolzen- oder Kugelschuss muss auf die korrekte Platzierung am Rinderkopf geachtet und im Falle des Bolzenschusses die anschließende Tötung mittels Entbluten oder Rückenmarkszerstörers sichergestellt werden. Die zentrale Aufgabe des betreuenden Tierarztes im Sinne des Tierschutzes, aber auch aus wirtschaftlicher Sicht, ist jedoch, gegebenenfalls die zeitnahe Entscheidung zur Nottötung und deren korrekte Durchführung herbeizuführen....

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Ahead of print: Rolle der Roten Vogelmilbe (Dermanyssus gallinae) bei der Übertragung von aviärem...

Ziel dieser Studie war, die Rolle der Roten Vogelmilbe (Dermanyssus [D.] gallinae) bei der horizontalen Übertragung von aviärem Influenza-A-Virus (AIV) zu untersuchen. Diese Milbe stellt weltweit den häufigsten Ektoparasiten beim Geflügel dar und könnte Bedeutung bei der Übertragung von Pathogenen inklusive AIV haben. Aktuell ist eine Bekämpfung der Milben schwierig, da sie Resistenzen gegen viele Akarizide entwickeln, nachtaktiv sind und für Monate ohne Blutaufnahme versteckt überdauern können. Material und Methoden: Die in einem Legehennenbetrieb gesammelten Milben wurden in selbstgebaute Boxen gesetzt. SPF-Hühner wurden intravenös mit dem AIV-Stamm A/turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 (H5N9) infiziert und die Virämie verfolgt. Zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt wurden ca. 1000 Milben zu den infizierten Hühnern gesetzt, um dort Blut aufzunehmen. Die Virus-Reisolierung wurde über 14 Tage täglich mittels Hühnerembryofibroblasten-Kulturen und embryonierten Hühnereiern versucht. Um festzustellen, ob virushaltige Milben das Virus übertragen, wurden sie in Boxen zu SPF-Hühnern gesetzt. Die mögliche Infektion der Hühner wurde durch klinisches Monitoring, Serologie, Sektionen, Histologie und Immunhistochemie überprüft. Ergebnisse: AIV-infizierte Hühner entwickelten eine dosisabhängige Virämie ab Tag 1 post infectionem (p. i.), der zur erstmaligen Blutaufnahme der Milben gewählt wurde. AIV wurde aus Milben nach dem Blutsaugen an Hühnern über 10 Tage isoliert. Naive Hühner konnten von AIV-positiven Milben durch Blutsaugen mit AIV infiziert werden. Virusisolate aus Milben und Hühnern ließen sich mittels RT-PCR nicht von dem Ausgangsisolat unterscheiden. Schlussfolgerung: Milben können AIV durch Blutsaugen aufnehmen und auf SPF-Hühner übertragen. Hiermit wurde die Rolle von D. gallinae als mechanischem Vektor für AIV nachgewiesen. Die Milbe ist daher an der Zirkulation des Virus in einem Betrieb beteiligt, wobei das infektiöse Virus in der Milbe eine begrenzte Überlebenszeit hat. Klinische Relevanz: Die bestätigte AIV-Übertragung erhöht die Wichtigkeit der Bekämpfung dieses Ektoparasiten zum Erhalt der Gesundheit und Produktivität von Geflügel. Die belegte Vektorfunktion von D. gallinae hat große Bedeutung für Geflügelhaltungen weltweit....

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New directions: Time for a new approach to modeling surface-atmosphere exchanges in air quality models?

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): Rick D. Saylor, Bruce B. Hicks

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Indoor air quality scenario in India—An outline of household fuel combustion

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): Himanshi Rohra, Ajay Taneja
Most of the research around the world has been on outdoor air pollution, but in India we have a more severe problem of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). The foremost factor cited for is burning of fossil fuels for cooking. Among the 70% of the country's rural population, about 80% households rely on biomass fuel making India to top the list of countries with largest population lacking access to cleaner fuel for cooking. 4 million deaths and 5% disability-adjusted life-years is an upshot of exposure to IAP from unhealthy cooking making it globally the most critical environmental risk factor. India alone bears the highest burden (28% needless deaths) among developing countries. Moreover, about ¼ of ambient PM2.5 in the country comes from household cookfuels. These considerations have prompted the discussion of the present knowledge on the disastrous health effects of pollutants emitted by biomass combustion in India. Additionally, Particulate Matter as an indoor air pollutant is highlighted with main focus on its spatial temporal variation and some recent Indian studies are further explored. As there are no specific norms for IAP in India, urgent need has arisen for implementing the strategies to create public awareness. Moreover improvement in ventilation and modification in the pattern of fuel will also contribute to eradicate this national health issue.

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Atmospheric deposition as an important nitrogen load to a typical agro-ecosystem in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. 2. Seasonal and inter-annual variations and their implications (2008–2012)

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): Ping Huang, Jiabao Zhang, Donghao Ma, Zhaofei Wen, Shengjun Wu, Gina Garland, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira, Anning Zhu, Xiuli Xin, Congzhi Zhang
Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, an important N source to agro-ecosystems, has increased intensively in China during recent decades. However, knowledge on temporal variations of total N deposition and their influencing factors is limited due to lack of systematic monitoring data. In this study, total N deposition, including dry and wet components, was monitored using the water surrogate surface method for a typical agro-ecosystem with a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain from May 2008 to April 2012. The results indicated that annual total N deposition ranged from 23.8 kg N ha⁻¹ (2009–2010) to 40.3 kg N ha⁻¹ (2008–2009) and averaged 31.8 kg N ha⁻¹. Great inter-annual variations were observed during the sampling period, due to differences in annual rainfall and gaseous N losses from farmlands. Monthly total N deposition varied greatly, from less than 0.6 kg N ha⁻¹ (January, 2010) to over 8.0 kg N ha⁻¹ (August, 2008), with a mean value of 2.6 kg N ha⁻¹. In contrast to wet deposition, dry portions generally contributed more to the total, except in the precipitation-intensive months, accounting for 65% in average. NH4+-N was the dominant species in N deposition and its contribution to total deposition varied from 6% (December, 2009) to 79% (July, 2008), averaging 53%. The role of organic N (O–N) in both dry and wet deposition was equal to or even greater than that of NO3−-N. Influencing factors such as precipitation and its seasonal distribution, reactive N sources, vegetation status, field management practices, and weather conditions were responsible for the temporal variations of atmospheric N deposition and its components. These results are helpful for reducing the knowledge gaps in the temporal variations of atmospheric N deposition and their influencing factors in different ecosystems, to improve the understandings on N budget in the typical agro-ecosystem, and to provide references and recommendations for field nutrient management in this region.

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Data-driven analysis of the effectiveness of evaporative emissions control systems of passenger cars in real world use condition: Time and spatial mapping

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): Michele De Gennaro, Elena Paffumi, Giorgio Martini
This paper assesses the effectiveness of the evaporative emissions control systems of European passenger cars on the basis of real-world activity data. The study relies on two large datasets of driving patterns from conventional fuel vehicles collected by means of on-board GPS systems, consisting of 4.5 million trips and parking events recorded by monitoring 28,000 vehicles over one month. Real world evaporative emissions are estimated using a model that associates a carbon canister desorption event to each trip and a fuel vapour generation event to each parking. The mass of volatile organic compounds released into the air is calculated taking into account the hot-soak, permeation and breathing emission mechanisms. The analysis is based on 36 scenarios, defined by varying the climate conditions, the fuel vapour pressure, the tank material, the tank headspace volume, the purging volume flow rate and the mass of the activated carbon contained in the canister. The results show that in May 4 out of the 18 scenarios considered for Modena and 6 out of the 18 scenarios considered for Firenze lead to evaporative emissions values above the current type approval limit (i.e. 2 [g/day] per vehicle). In July, these numbers increase to 10 out of the 18 scenarios for Modena and to 12 out of the 18 scenarios for Firenze. Looking at the fleet distribution a share of approximately 20% of the fleet is characterised by evaporative emissions higher than the limit in May, increasing to 48% in July, with a peak value of 98%. The emission peak value is estimated to be approximately 4 [g/day] in May and 8 [g/day] in July, while the time-dependent results show emission rates up to nearly 15 [g/s] in Modena and 30 [g/s] in Firenze, with a respective cumulative value in July up to 0.4 and 0.8 tons of VOCs per day. The space-dependent results show a value of the emissions in July of approximately 4-to-8 [kg/km²/day] in the city areas. These results confirm previous findings from the authors, highlighting how the evaporative emissions control system currently used in passenger cars might not be effective under real-world use condition, calling for a revision of the type-approval test procedure.

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Public health in China: An environmental and socio-economic perspective

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): Wenjing Song, Yonghua Li, Zhe Hao, Hairong Li, Wuyi Wang
Despite the large literature on public health, few studies have examined the associations between public health outcomes and environmental and socio-economic factors. This study bridges this gap by demonstrating the relationships between public health and 10 selected environmental and socio-economic factors from the spatial perspective. In particular, three public health outcomes in China are investigated, namely the number of centenarians per 100,000 people (termed the centenarian ratio), the proportion of nonagenarians of the 65 years and older population (termed the longevity index), and life expectancy at birth. We base our analysis on stepwise regression and geographically weighted regression models, with study areas of 31 provinces in China. Our results show that SO2 (sulfur dioxide) concentration decreases the centenarian ratio; PM10 (particles with diameters of 10 μm or less) concentration and coal consumption (CC) per capita decrease the longevity index, and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita prolongs life expectancy at birth, while energy consumption (EC) per capita decreases life expectancy at birth. Further, our findings demonstrate that public health outcomes show clear regional differences in China.

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Multiyear in-situ measurements of atmospheric aerosol absorption properties at an urban coastal site in western Mediterranean

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): S. Segura, V. Estellés, A.R. Esteve, C.R. Marcos, M.P. Utrillas, J.A. Martínez-Lozano
In-situ aerosol absorption properties measured in Valencia (Spain) for four years, from February 2011 to February 2015, have been analysed. Spectral absorption properties have been obtained using a seven-wavelength Aethalometer AE-31 which covers the range from UV (370 nm) to IR (950 nm). In order to obtain the absorption coefficients, compensation parameters have been calculated for the Aethalometer considering seasonal and spectral differences. For this multiyear measurement period, seasonal site-specific calibration parameters have been obtained. Furthermore, estimations of the absorption Ångström Exponent (αabs) have been calculated using the seven Aethalometer wavelengths. The averaged absorption coefficients (plus/minus the standard deviation) obtained for the seven channels range between 9 ± 4 Mm⁻¹ at 950 nm and 33 ± 18 Mm⁻¹ at 370 nm. These results are typical of a moderate polluted environment. The obtained absorption Ångström Exponent (plus/minus the standard deviation) is 1.42 ± 0.08, which suggests the presence of brown carbon or black carbon coated by non-absorbing particles in our site. Seasonal and daily variations, together with the effect of both the boundary layer height and traffic, have been also studied. Strong seasonal differences in the absorption coefficient are found, mainly due to seasonal variation of the mixing layer height. On the opposite, the study of the diurnal variations of the absorption Ångström Exponent proves that this parameter is more affected by traffic emissions than by the evolution of the mixing layer height.

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Lead isotopic fingerprinting of aerosols to characterize the sources of atmospheric lead in an industrial city of India

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 129
Author(s): Indra S. Sen, Michael Bizimis, Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Debajyoti Paul
Anthropogenic Pb in the environment is primarily sourced from combustion of fossil fuel and high-temperature industries such as smelters. Identifying the sources and pathways of anthropogenic Pb in the environment is important because Pb toxicity is known to have adverse effects on human health. Pb pollution sources for America, Europe, and China are well documented. However, sources of atmospheric Pb are unknown in India, particularly after leaded gasoline was phased out in 2000. India has a developing economy with a rapidly emerging automobile and high temperature industry, and anthropogenic Pb emission is expected to rise in the next decade. In this study, we report on the Pb-isotope compositions and trace metal ratios of airborne particulates collected in Kanpur, a large city in northern part of India. The study shows that the PM10 aerosols had elevated concentration of Cd, Pb, Zn, As, and Cu in the Kanpur area, however their concentrations are well below the United States Environmental Protection Agency chronic exposure limit. Lead isotopic and trace metal data reveal industrial emission as the plausible source of anthropogenic Pb in the atmosphere in Kanpur. However, Pb isotopic compositions of potential source end-members are required to fully evaluate Pb contamination in India over time. This is the first study that characterizes the isotopic composition of atmospheric Pb in an Indian city after leaded gasoline was phased out by 2000.

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Characteristics of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 at the Shangdianzi regional background station in China

Publication date: April 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 131
Author(s): Shuang-xi Fang, Pieter P. Tans, Fan Dong, Huaigang Zhou, Tian Luan
Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 have been continuously measured at the Shangdianzi regional background station (SDZ) in China from 2009 to 2013. Based on the influences of local surface wind and long-distance transport, the observed records were flagged into locally influenced, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) influenced, and Russia, Mongolia, and Inner Mongolia autonomous region influenced (RMI). ∼ 81.4% of CO2 and ∼75.6% of CH4 mole fractions were flagged as locally representative, indicating that the atmospheric CO2 and CH4 at SDZ were strongly influenced by local sources and sinks. Cluster analysis of back trajectories proved that the atmospheric CO2 and CH4 were influenced by air masses from northwest (RMI) or from south and southeast (BTH). The CO2 and CH4 mole fractions in BTH are always higher than in RMI, with the largest difference of 11.5 ± 0.3 ppm for CO2 and 102 ± 1 ppb for CH4 in July. The annual growth rates of CO2 and CH4 in BTH are 3.8 ± 0.01 ppm yr⁻¹ and 10 ± 0.1 ppb yr⁻¹, respectively, which are apparently higher than those of the RMI and the global means. The long-term trends of CO2 and CH4 in BTH are deviating from those in RMI, with ratios of ∼1.0 ppm yr⁻¹ for CO2 and ∼2 ppb yr⁻¹ for CH4, indicating the strengths of CO2 and CH4 emission in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plain increased more than 20% every year.