PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Decoupling social status and status certainty effects on health in macaques: a network approach
items: Microbial diversity of extreme habitats in human homes
items: Talk the talk and walk the walk. Evaluation of autonomy in aging and Alzheimer disease by simulating instrumental activities of daily living: the S-IADL
items: Spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical properties explains differences in microbial composition in arid soils from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico
items: Impact of exposure to tobacco smoke, arsenic, and phthalates on locally advanced cervical cancer treatment—preliminary results
items: The HOSPITAL score as a predictor of 30 day readmission in a retrospective study at a university affiliated community hospital
items: Genetic structure and diversity of the selfing model grass Brachypodium stacei (Poaceae) in Western Mediterranean: out of the Iberian Peninsula and into the islands
items: Patchiness of forest landscape can predict species distribution better than abundance: the case of a forest-dwelling passerine, the short-toed treecreeper, in central Italy
items: Is there any effect of pneumoperitoneum pressure on coagulation and fibrinolysis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
items: Improved cartilage regeneration by implantation of acellular biomaterials after bone marrow stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies

Decoupling social status and status certainty effects on health in macaques: a network approach
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Although a wealth of literature points to the importance of social factors on health, a detailed understanding of the complex interplay between social and biological systems is lacking. Social status is one aspect of social life that is made up of multiple structural (humans: income, education; animals: mating system, dominance rank) and relational components (perceived social status, dominance interactions). In a nonhuman primate model we use novel network techniques to decouple two components of social status, dominance rank (a commonly used measure of social status in animal models) and dominance certainty (the relative certainty vs. ambiguity of an individual’s status), allowing for a more complex examination of how social status impacts health. Methods Behavioral observations were conducted on three outdoor captive groups of rhesus macaques (N = 252 subjects). Subjects’ general physical health (diarrhea) was assessed twice weekly, and blood was drawn once to assess biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP)). Results Dominance rank alone did not fully account for the complex way that social status exerted its effect on health. Instead, dominance certainty modified the impact of rank on biomarkers of inflammation. Specifically, high-ranked animals with more ambiguous status relationships had higher levels of inflammation than low-ranked animals, whereas little effect of rank was seen for animals with more certain status relationships. The impact of status on physical health was more straightforward: individuals with more ambiguous status relationships had more frequent diarrhea; there was marginal evidence that high-ranked animals had less frequent diarrhea. Discussion Social status has a complex and multi-faceted impact on individual health. Our work suggests an important role of uncertainty in one’s social status in status-health research. This work also suggests that in order …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jessica J. Vandeleest
creator: Brianne A. Beisner
creator: Darcy L. Hannibal
creator: Amy C. Nathman
creator: John P. Capitanio
creator: Fushing Hsieh
creator: Edward R. Atwill
creator: Brenda McCowan
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Statistics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2394
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Vandeleest et al.
abstract: Background Although a wealth of literature points to the importance of social factors on health, a detailed understanding of the complex interplay between social and biological systems is lacking. Social status is one aspect of social life that is made up of multiple structural (humans: income, education; animals: mating system, dominance rank) and relational components (perceived social status, dominance interactions). In a nonhuman primate model we use novel network techniques to decouple two components of social status, dominance rank (a commonly used measure of social status in animal models) and dominance certainty (the relative certainty vs. ambiguity of an individual’s status), allowing for a more complex examination of how social status impacts health. Methods Behavioral observations were conducted on three outdoor captive groups of rhesus macaques (N = 252 subjects). Subjects’ general physical health (diarrhea) was assessed twice weekly, and blood was drawn once to assess biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP)). Results Dominance rank alone did not fully account for the complex way that social status exerted its effect on health. Instead, dominance certainty modified the impact of rank on biomarkers of inflammation. Specifically, high-ranked animals with more ambiguous status relationships had higher levels of inflammation than low-ranked animals, whereas little effect of rank was seen for animals with more certain status relationships. The impact of status on physical health was more straightforward: individuals with more ambiguous status relationships had more frequent diarrhea; there was marginal evidence that high-ranked animals had less frequent diarrhea. Discussion Social status has a complex and multi-faceted impact on individual health. Our work suggests an important role of uncertainty in one’s social status in status-health research. This work also suggests that in order …
bibliographic citation: Vandeleest et al. (2016) Decoupling social status and status certainty effects on health in macaques: a network approach. PeerJ 4:e2394 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2394
date submitted: 2016-03-09
date accepted: 2016-07-29
issued: 2016-09-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Vandeleest
  given name: Jessica J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Beisner
  given name: Brianne A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hannibal
  given name: Darcy L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Nathman
  given name: Amy C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Capitanio
  given name: John P.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hsieh
  given name: Fushing
author list: Agent
  family name: Atwill
  given name: Edward R.
author list: Agent
  family name: McCowan
  given name: Brenda
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2394
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-13
copyright: © 2016 Vandeleest et al.
attribution name: Vandeleest et al.

Microbial diversity of extreme habitats in human homes
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: High-throughput sequencing techniques have opened up the world of microbial diversity to scientists, and a flurry of studies in the most remote and extreme habitats on earth have begun to elucidate the key roles of microbes in ecosystems with extreme conditions. These same environmental extremes can also be found closer to humans, even in our homes. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques to assess bacterial and archaeal diversity in the extreme environments inside human homes (e.g., dishwashers, hot water heaters, washing machine bleach reservoirs, etc.). We focused on habitats in the home with extreme temperature, pH, and chemical environmental conditions. We found a lower diversity of microbes in these extreme home environments compared to less extreme habitats in the home. However, we were nonetheless able to detect sequences from a relatively diverse array of bacteria and archaea. Habitats with extreme temperatures alone appeared to be able to support a greater diversity of microbes than habitats with extreme pH or extreme chemical environments alone. Microbial diversity was lowest when habitats had both extreme temperature and one of these other extremes. In habitats with both extreme temperatures and extreme pH, taxa with known associations with extreme conditions dominated. Our findings highlight the importance of examining interactive effects of multiple environmental extremes on microbial communities. Inasmuch as taxa from extreme environments can be both beneficial and harmful to humans, our findings also suggest future work to understand both the threats and opportunities posed by the life in these habitats.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Amy M. Savage
creator: Justin Hills
creator: Katherine Driscoll
creator: Daniel J. Fergus
creator: Amy M. Grunden
creator: Robert R. Dunn
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2376
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Savage et al.
abstract: High-throughput sequencing techniques have opened up the world of microbial diversity to scientists, and a flurry of studies in the most remote and extreme habitats on earth have begun to elucidate the key roles of microbes in ecosystems with extreme conditions. These same environmental extremes can also be found closer to humans, even in our homes. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques to assess bacterial and archaeal diversity in the extreme environments inside human homes (e.g., dishwashers, hot water heaters, washing machine bleach reservoirs, etc.). We focused on habitats in the home with extreme temperature, pH, and chemical environmental conditions. We found a lower diversity of microbes in these extreme home environments compared to less extreme habitats in the home. However, we were nonetheless able to detect sequences from a relatively diverse array of bacteria and archaea. Habitats with extreme temperatures alone appeared to be able to support a greater diversity of microbes than habitats with extreme pH or extreme chemical environments alone. Microbial diversity was lowest when habitats had both extreme temperature and one of these other extremes. In habitats with both extreme temperatures and extreme pH, taxa with known associations with extreme conditions dominated. Our findings highlight the importance of examining interactive effects of multiple environmental extremes on microbial communities. Inasmuch as taxa from extreme environments can be both beneficial and harmful to humans, our findings also suggest future work to understand both the threats and opportunities posed by the life in these habitats.
bibliographic citation: Savage et al. (2016) Microbial diversity of extreme habitats in human homes. PeerJ 4:e2376 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2376
date submitted: 2016-03-16
date accepted: 2016-07-29
issued: 2016-09-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Savage
  given name: Amy M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hills
  given name: Justin
author list: Agent
  family name: Driscoll
  given name: Katherine
author list: Agent
  family name: Fergus
  given name: Daniel J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Grunden
  given name: Amy M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Dunn
  given name: Robert R.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2376
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-13
copyright: ©2016 Savage et al.
attribution name: Savage et al.

Talk the talk and walk the walk. Evaluation of autonomy in aging and Alzheimer disease by simulating instrumental activities of daily living: the S-IADL
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective The autonomy of individuals is linked to the achievement of instrumental activities of daily living that require complex behavior. In the elderly, the assessment of autonomy is usually based on questionnaires that have strong subjective constraints. Considering this fact, we tested elderly healthy adults and Alzheimer disease patients using a new measure, the S-IADL (Simulation of Instrumental Activities for Daily Living), to assess the ability to perform effectively activities of daily living. Method The S-IADL shares many items with the well-known IADL questionnaire proposed by Lawton & Brody (1969). However, as opposed to the IADL, the assessment of autonomy is not based on the completion of a questionnaire but requires the realization or simulation of various activities of daily living. Eighty-three participants (69 healthy elderly, and 14 Alzheimer Disease patients) completed the IADL and performed the S-IADL assessment. Results Results revealed that, like the IADL, the S-IADL is able to identify AD patients who are likely to encounter difficulties in performing everyday activities, and no major differences were found between the IADL and the S-IADL. Conclusions We outlined some advantages for prefering, in certain situation, this new tool based on simulation of activities in functional evaluation. Finally, we discuss the main limits of the S-IADL that should be investigated prior to its utilization by clinicians.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Véronique Quaglino
creator: Yannick Gounden
creator: Emilie Lacot
creator: Frédérique Couvillers
creator: Amandine Lions
creator: Mathieu Hainselin
subject: Neurology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2351
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Quaglino et al.
abstract: Objective The autonomy of individuals is linked to the achievement of instrumental activities of daily living that require complex behavior. In the elderly, the assessment of autonomy is usually based on questionnaires that have strong subjective constraints. Considering this fact, we tested elderly healthy adults and Alzheimer disease patients using a new measure, the S-IADL (Simulation of Instrumental Activities for Daily Living), to assess the ability to perform effectively activities of daily living. Method The S-IADL shares many items with the well-known IADL questionnaire proposed by Lawton & Brody (1969). However, as opposed to the IADL, the assessment of autonomy is not based on the completion of a questionnaire but requires the realization or simulation of various activities of daily living. Eighty-three participants (69 healthy elderly, and 14 Alzheimer Disease patients) completed the IADL and performed the S-IADL assessment. Results Results revealed that, like the IADL, the S-IADL is able to identify AD patients who are likely to encounter difficulties in performing everyday activities, and no major differences were found between the IADL and the S-IADL. Conclusions We outlined some advantages for prefering, in certain situation, this new tool based on simulation of activities in functional evaluation. Finally, we discuss the main limits of the S-IADL that should be investigated prior to its utilization by clinicians.
bibliographic citation: Quaglino et al. (2016) Talk the talk and walk the walk. Evaluation of autonomy in aging and Alzheimer disease by simulating instrumental activities of daily living: the S-IADL. PeerJ 4:e2351 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2351
date submitted: 2016-03-01
date accepted: 2016-07-20
issued: 2016-09-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Quaglino
  given name: Véronique
author list: Agent
  family name: Gounden
  given name: Yannick
author list: Agent
  family name: Lacot
  given name: Emilie
author list: Agent
  family name: Couvillers
  given name: Frédérique
author list: Agent
  family name: Lions
  given name: Amandine
author list: Agent
  family name: Hainselin
  given name: Mathieu
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2351
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-13
copyright: ©2016 Quaglino et al.
attribution name: Quaglino et al.

Spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical properties explains differences in microbial composition in arid soils from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Arid ecosystems are characterized by high spatial heterogeneity, and the variation among vegetation patches is a clear example. Soil biotic and abiotic factors associated with these patches have also been well documented as highly heterogeneous in space. Given the low vegetation cover and little precipitation in arid ecosystems, soil microorganisms are the main drivers of nutrient cycling. Nonetheless, little is known about the spatial distribution of microorganisms and the relationship that their diversity holds with nutrients and other physicochemical gradients in arid soils. In this study, we evaluated the spatial variability of soil microbial diversity and chemical parameters (nutrients and ion content) at local scale (meters) occurring in a gypsum-based desert soil, to gain knowledge on what soil abiotic factors control the distribution of microbes in arid ecosystems. We analyzed 32 soil samples within a 64 m2 plot and: (a) characterized microbial diversity using T-RFLPs of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, (b) determined soil chemical parameters, and (c) identified relationships between microbial diversity and chemical properties. Overall, we found a strong correlation between microbial composition heterogeneity and spatial variation of cations (Ca2, K+) and anions (HCO ${}_{3}^{-}$ 3 − , Cl−, SO ${}_{4}^{2-}$ 4 2 − ) content in this small plot. Our results could be attributable to spatial differences of soil saline content, favoring the patchy emergence of salt and soil microbial communities.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Silvia Pajares
creator: Ana E. Escalante
creator: Ana M. Noguez
creator: Felipe García-Oliva
creator: Celeste Martínez-Piedragil
creator: Silke S. Cram
creator: Luis Enrique Eguiarte
creator: Valeria Souza
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Soil Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2459
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Pajares et al.
abstract: Arid ecosystems are characterized by high spatial heterogeneity, and the variation among vegetation patches is a clear example. Soil biotic and abiotic factors associated with these patches have also been well documented as highly heterogeneous in space. Given the low vegetation cover and little precipitation in arid ecosystems, soil microorganisms are the main drivers of nutrient cycling. Nonetheless, little is known about the spatial distribution of microorganisms and the relationship that their diversity holds with nutrients and other physicochemical gradients in arid soils. In this study, we evaluated the spatial variability of soil microbial diversity and chemical parameters (nutrients and ion content) at local scale (meters) occurring in a gypsum-based desert soil, to gain knowledge on what soil abiotic factors control the distribution of microbes in arid ecosystems. We analyzed 32 soil samples within a 64 m2 plot and: (a) characterized microbial diversity using T-RFLPs of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, (b) determined soil chemical parameters, and (c) identified relationships between microbial diversity and chemical properties. Overall, we found a strong correlation between microbial composition heterogeneity and spatial variation of cations (Ca2, K+) and anions (HCO ${}_{3}^{-}$ 3 − , Cl−, SO ${}_{4}^{2-}$ 4 2 − ) content in this small plot. Our results could be attributable to spatial differences of soil saline content, favoring the patchy emergence of salt and soil microbial communities.
bibliographic citation: Pajares et al. (2016) Spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical properties explains differences in microbial composition in arid soils from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. PeerJ 4:e2459 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2459
date submitted: 2016-04-07
date accepted: 2016-08-17
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Pajares
  given name: Silvia
author list: Agent
  family name: Escalante
  given name: Ana E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Noguez
  given name: Ana M.
author list: Agent
  family name: García-Oliva
  given name: Felipe
author list: Agent
  family name: Martínez-Piedragil
  given name: Celeste
author list: Agent
  family name: Cram
  given name: Silke S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Eguiarte
  given name: Luis Enrique
author list: Agent
  family name: Souza
  given name: Valeria
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2459
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: ©2016 Pajares et al.
attribution name: Pajares et al.

Impact of exposure to tobacco smoke, arsenic, and phthalates on locally advanced cervical cancer treatment—preliminary results
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Cancer research is a national and international priority, with the efficiency and effectiveness of current anti-tumor therapies being one of the major challenges with which physicians are faced. Objective To assess the impact of exposure to tobacco smoke, arsenic, and phthalates on cervical cancer treatment. Methods We investigated 37 patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma who underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We determined cotinine and five phthalate metabolites in urine samples collected prior to cancer treatment, by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and urinary total arsenic by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation. We used linear regression to evaluate the effects of cotinine, arsenic, and phthalates on the change in tumor size after treatment, adjusted for confounding variables. Results We detected no significant associations between urinary cotinine, arsenic, or phthalate monoesters on change in tumor size after treatment, adjusted for urine creatinine, age, baseline tumor size, and cotinine (for arsenic and phthalates). However, higher %mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (%MEHP), a putative indicator of phthalate diester metabolism, was associated with a larger change in tumor size (β = 0.015, 95% CI [0.003–0.03], P = 0.019). Conclusion We found no statistically significant association between the urinary levels of arsenic, cotinine, and phthalates metabolites and the response to cervical cancer treatment as measured by the change in tumor size. Still, our results suggested that phthalates metabolism may be associated with response to treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. However, these observations are preliminary and will require confirmation in a larger, more definitive investigation.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Iulia A. Neamtiu
creator: Michael S. Bloom
creator: Irina Dumitrascu
creator: Carmen A. Roba
creator: Cristian Pop
creator: Claudia Ordeanu
creator: Ovidiu Balacescu
creator: Eugen S. Gurzau
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Oncology
subject: Public Health
subject: Women's Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2448
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Neamtiu et al.
abstract: Background Cancer research is a national and international priority, with the efficiency and effectiveness of current anti-tumor therapies being one of the major challenges with which physicians are faced. Objective To assess the impact of exposure to tobacco smoke, arsenic, and phthalates on cervical cancer treatment. Methods We investigated 37 patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma who underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We determined cotinine and five phthalate metabolites in urine samples collected prior to cancer treatment, by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and urinary total arsenic by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation. We used linear regression to evaluate the effects of cotinine, arsenic, and phthalates on the change in tumor size after treatment, adjusted for confounding variables. Results We detected no significant associations between urinary cotinine, arsenic, or phthalate monoesters on change in tumor size after treatment, adjusted for urine creatinine, age, baseline tumor size, and cotinine (for arsenic and phthalates). However, higher %mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (%MEHP), a putative indicator of phthalate diester metabolism, was associated with a larger change in tumor size (β = 0.015, 95% CI [0.003–0.03], P = 0.019). Conclusion We found no statistically significant association between the urinary levels of arsenic, cotinine, and phthalates metabolites and the response to cervical cancer treatment as measured by the change in tumor size. Still, our results suggested that phthalates metabolism may be associated with response to treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. However, these observations are preliminary and will require confirmation in a larger, more definitive investigation.
bibliographic citation: Neamtiu et al. (2016) Impact of exposure to tobacco smoke, arsenic, and phthalates on locally advanced cervical cancer treatment—preliminary results. PeerJ 4:e2448 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2448
date submitted: 2016-04-02
date accepted: 2016-08-12
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Neamtiu
  given name: Iulia A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bloom
  given name: Michael S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Dumitrascu
  given name: Irina
author list: Agent
  family name: Roba
  given name: Carmen A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Pop
  given name: Cristian
author list: Agent
  family name: Ordeanu
  given name: Claudia
author list: Agent
  family name: Balacescu
  given name: Ovidiu
author list: Agent
  family name: Gurzau
  given name: Eugen S.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2448
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: ©2016 Neamtiu et al.
attribution name: Neamtiu et al.

The HOSPITAL score as a predictor of 30 day readmission in a retrospective study at a university affiliated community hospital
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Introduction Hospital readmissions are common, expensive, and a key target of the Medicare Value Based Purchasing (VBP) program. Risk assessment tools have been developed to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission so they can be targeted for interventions aimed at reducing the rate of readmission. One such tool is the HOSPITAL score that uses seven readily available clinical variables to predict the risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge. The HOSPITAL score has been internationally validated in large academic medical centers. This study aims to determine if the HOSPITAL score is similarly useful in a moderate sized university affiliated hospital in the midwestern United States. Materials and Methods All adult medical patients discharged from the SIU-SOM Hospitalist service from Memorial Medical Center (MMC) from October 15, 2015 to March 16, 2016, were studied retrospectively to determine if the HOSPITAL score was a significant predictor of hospital readmission within 30 days. Results During the study period, 998 discharges were recorded for the hospitalist service. The analysis includes data for the 931 discharges. Patients who died during the hospital stay, were transferred to another hospital, or left against medical advice were excluded. Of these patients, 109 (12%) were readmitted to the same hospital within 30 days. The patients who were readmitted were more likely to have a length of stay greater than or equal to 5 days (55% vs. 41%, p = 0.005) and were more likely to have been admitted more than once to the hospital within the last year (100% vs. 49%, p < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristic evaluation of the HOSPITAL score for this patient population shows a C statistic of 0.77 (95% CI [0.73–0.81]), indicating good discrimination for hospital readmission. The Brier score for the HOSPITAL score in this setting was 0.10, indicating good overall performance. The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test shows a χ2 value of 1.63 with a…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Robert Robinson
subject: Evidence Based Medicine
subject: Health Policy
subject: Internal Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2441
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Robinson
abstract: Introduction Hospital readmissions are common, expensive, and a key target of the Medicare Value Based Purchasing (VBP) program. Risk assessment tools have been developed to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission so they can be targeted for interventions aimed at reducing the rate of readmission. One such tool is the HOSPITAL score that uses seven readily available clinical variables to predict the risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge. The HOSPITAL score has been internationally validated in large academic medical centers. This study aims to determine if the HOSPITAL score is similarly useful in a moderate sized university affiliated hospital in the midwestern United States. Materials and Methods All adult medical patients discharged from the SIU-SOM Hospitalist service from Memorial Medical Center (MMC) from October 15, 2015 to March 16, 2016, were studied retrospectively to determine if the HOSPITAL score was a significant predictor of hospital readmission within 30 days. Results During the study period, 998 discharges were recorded for the hospitalist service. The analysis includes data for the 931 discharges. Patients who died during the hospital stay, were transferred to another hospital, or left against medical advice were excluded. Of these patients, 109 (12%) were readmitted to the same hospital within 30 days. The patients who were readmitted were more likely to have a length of stay greater than or equal to 5 days (55% vs. 41%, p = 0.005) and were more likely to have been admitted more than once to the hospital within the last year (100% vs. 49%, p < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristic evaluation of the HOSPITAL score for this patient population shows a C statistic of 0.77 (95% CI [0.73–0.81]), indicating good discrimination for hospital readmission. The Brier score for the HOSPITAL score in this setting was 0.10, indicating good overall performance. The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test shows a χ2 value of 1.63 with a…
bibliographic citation: Robinson (2016) The HOSPITAL score as a predictor of 30 day readmission in a retrospective study at a university affiliated community hospital. PeerJ 4:e2441 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2441
date submitted: 2016-06-01
date accepted: 2016-08-13
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Robinson
  given name: Robert
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2441
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: ©2016 Robinson
attribution name: Robinson

Genetic structure and diversity of the selfing model grass Brachypodium stacei (Poaceae) in Western Mediterranean: out of the Iberian Peninsula and into the islands
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Annual Mediterranean species of the genus Brachypodium are promising model plants for energy crops since their selfing nature and short-life cycles are an advantage in breeding programs. The false brome, B. distachyon, has already been sequenced and new genomic initiatives have triggered the de-novo genome sequencing of its close relatives such as B. stacei, a species that was until recently mistaken for B. distachyon. However, the success of these initiatives hinges on detailed knowledge about the distribution of genetic variation within and among populations for the effective use of germplasm in a breeding program. Understanding population genetic diversity and genetic structure is also an important prerequisite for designing effective experimental populations for genomic wide studies. However, population genetic data are still limited in B. stacei. We therefore selected and amplified 10 nuclear microsatellite markers to depict patterns of population structure and genetic variation among 181 individuals from 19 populations of B. stacei occurring in its predominant range, the western Mediterranean area: mainland Iberian Peninsula, continental Balearic Islands and oceanic Canary Islands. Our genetic results support the occurrence of a predominant selfing system with extremely high levels of homozygosity across the analyzed populations. Despite the low level of genetic variation found, two different genetic clusters were retrieved, one clustering all SE Iberian mainland populations and the island of Minorca and another one grouping all S Iberian mainland populations, the Canary Islands and all Majorcan populations except one that clustered with the former group. These results, together with a high sharing of alleles (89%) suggest different colonization routes from the mainland Iberian Peninsula into the islands. A recent colonization scenario could explain the relatively low levels of genetic diversity and low number of alleles found in the Canary Islands populations…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Valeriia Shiposha
creator: Pilar Catalán
creator: Marina Olonova
creator: Isabel Marques
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Genetics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2407
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Shiposha et al.
abstract: Annual Mediterranean species of the genus Brachypodium are promising model plants for energy crops since their selfing nature and short-life cycles are an advantage in breeding programs. The false brome, B. distachyon, has already been sequenced and new genomic initiatives have triggered the de-novo genome sequencing of its close relatives such as B. stacei, a species that was until recently mistaken for B. distachyon. However, the success of these initiatives hinges on detailed knowledge about the distribution of genetic variation within and among populations for the effective use of germplasm in a breeding program. Understanding population genetic diversity and genetic structure is also an important prerequisite for designing effective experimental populations for genomic wide studies. However, population genetic data are still limited in B. stacei. We therefore selected and amplified 10 nuclear microsatellite markers to depict patterns of population structure and genetic variation among 181 individuals from 19 populations of B. stacei occurring in its predominant range, the western Mediterranean area: mainland Iberian Peninsula, continental Balearic Islands and oceanic Canary Islands. Our genetic results support the occurrence of a predominant selfing system with extremely high levels of homozygosity across the analyzed populations. Despite the low level of genetic variation found, two different genetic clusters were retrieved, one clustering all SE Iberian mainland populations and the island of Minorca and another one grouping all S Iberian mainland populations, the Canary Islands and all Majorcan populations except one that clustered with the former group. These results, together with a high sharing of alleles (89%) suggest different colonization routes from the mainland Iberian Peninsula into the islands. A recent colonization scenario could explain the relatively low levels of genetic diversity and low number of alleles found in the Canary Islands populations…
bibliographic citation: Shiposha et al. (2016) Genetic structure and diversity of the selfing model grass Brachypodium stacei (Poaceae) in Western Mediterranean: out of the Iberian Peninsula and into the islands. PeerJ 4:e2407 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2407
date submitted: 2016-04-11
date accepted: 2016-08-04
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Shiposha
  given name: Valeriia
author list: Agent
  family name: Catalán
  given name: Pilar
author list: Agent
  family name: Olonova
  given name: Marina
author list: Agent
  family name: Marques
  given name: Isabel
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2407
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: © 2016 Shiposha et al.
attribution name: Shiposha et al.

Patchiness of forest landscape can predict species distribution better than abundance: the case of a forest-dwelling passerine, the short-toed treecreeper, in central Italy
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Environmental heterogeneity affects not only the distribution of a species but also its local abundance. High heterogeneity due to habitat alteration and fragmentation can influence the realized niche of a species, lowering habitat suitability as well as reducing local abundance. We investigate whether a relationship exists between habitat suitability and abundance and whether both are affected by fragmentation. Our aim was to assess the predictive power of such a relationship to derive advice for environmental management. As a model species we used a forest specialist, the short-toed treecreeper (Family: Certhiidae; Certhia brachydactyla Brehm, 1820), and sampled it in central Italy. Species distribution was modelled as a function of forest structure, productivity and fragmentation, while abundance was directly estimated in two central Italian forest stands. Different algorithms were implemented to model species distribution, employing 170 occurrence points provided mostly by the MITO2000 database: an artificial neural network, classification tree analysis, flexible discriminant analysis, generalized boosting models, generalized linear models, multivariate additive regression splines, maximum entropy and random forests. Abundance was estimated also considering detectability, through N-mixture models. Differences between forest stands in both abundance and habitat suitability were assessed as well as the existence of a relationship. Simpler algorithms resulted in higher goodness of fit than complex ones. Fragmentation was highly influential in determining potential distribution. Local abundance and habitat suitability differed significantly between the two forest stands, which were also significantly different in the degree of fragmentation. Regression showed that suitability has a weak significant effect in explaining increasing value of abundance. In particular, local abundances varied both at low and high suitability values. The study lends support to the concept…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Marco Basile
creator: Francesco Valerio
creator: Rosario Balestrieri
creator: Mario Posillico
creator: Rodolfo Bucci
creator: Tiziana Altea
creator: Bruno De Cinti
creator: Giorgio Matteucci
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2398
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Basile et al.
abstract: Environmental heterogeneity affects not only the distribution of a species but also its local abundance. High heterogeneity due to habitat alteration and fragmentation can influence the realized niche of a species, lowering habitat suitability as well as reducing local abundance. We investigate whether a relationship exists between habitat suitability and abundance and whether both are affected by fragmentation. Our aim was to assess the predictive power of such a relationship to derive advice for environmental management. As a model species we used a forest specialist, the short-toed treecreeper (Family: Certhiidae; Certhia brachydactyla Brehm, 1820), and sampled it in central Italy. Species distribution was modelled as a function of forest structure, productivity and fragmentation, while abundance was directly estimated in two central Italian forest stands. Different algorithms were implemented to model species distribution, employing 170 occurrence points provided mostly by the MITO2000 database: an artificial neural network, classification tree analysis, flexible discriminant analysis, generalized boosting models, generalized linear models, multivariate additive regression splines, maximum entropy and random forests. Abundance was estimated also considering detectability, through N-mixture models. Differences between forest stands in both abundance and habitat suitability were assessed as well as the existence of a relationship. Simpler algorithms resulted in higher goodness of fit than complex ones. Fragmentation was highly influential in determining potential distribution. Local abundance and habitat suitability differed significantly between the two forest stands, which were also significantly different in the degree of fragmentation. Regression showed that suitability has a weak significant effect in explaining increasing value of abundance. In particular, local abundances varied both at low and high suitability values. The study lends support to the concept…
bibliographic citation: Basile et al. (2016) Patchiness of forest landscape can predict species distribution better than abundance: the case of a forest-dwelling passerine, the short-toed treecreeper, in central Italy. PeerJ 4:e2398 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2398
date submitted: 2016-05-13
date accepted: 2016-08-02
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Basile
  given name: Marco
author list: Agent
  family name: Valerio
  given name: Francesco
author list: Agent
  family name: Balestrieri
  given name: Rosario
author list: Agent
  family name: Posillico
  given name: Mario
author list: Agent
  family name: Bucci
  given name: Rodolfo
author list: Agent
  family name: Altea
  given name: Tiziana
author list: Agent
  family name: De Cinti
  given name: Bruno
author list: Agent
  family name: Matteucci
  given name: Giorgio
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2398
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: ©2016 Basile et al.
attribution name: Basile et al.

Is there any effect of pneumoperitoneum pressure on coagulation and fibrinolysis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) are generally performed in a 12 mmHg-pressured pneumoperitoneum in a slight sitting position. Considerable thromboembolism risk arises in this operation due to pneumoperitoneum, operation position and risk factors of patients. We aim to investigate the effect of pneumoperitoneum pressure on coagulation and fibrinolysis under general anesthesia. Material and Methods Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) I–III patients who underwent elective LC without thromboprophlaxis were enrolled in this prospective study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the pneumoperitoneum pressure during LC: the 10 mmHg group (n = 25) and the 14 mmHg group. Prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and blood levels of d-dimer and fibrinogen were measured preoperatively (pre), one hour (post1) and 24 h (post24) after the surgery. Moreover, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and lactate dehydrogenase were measured before and after the surgery. These parameters were compared between and within the groups. Results PT, TT, aPTT, INR, and D-dimer and fibrinogen levels significantly increased after the surgery in both of the groups. D-dimer level was significantly higher in 14-mmHg group at post24. Conclusion Both the 10-mmHg and 14-mmHg pressure of pneumoperitoneum may lead to affect coagulation tests and fibrinogen and D-dimer levels without any occurrence of deep vein thrombosis, but 14-mmHg pressure of pneumoperitoneum has a greater effect on D-dimer. However, lower pneumoperitoneum pressure may be useful for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Turgut Donmez
creator: Sinan Uzman
creator: Dogan Yildirim
creator: Adnan Hut
creator: Huseyin Imam Avaroglu
creator: Duygu Ayfer Erdem
creator: Erdinc Cekic
creator: Fazilet Erozgen
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
subject: Hematology
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2375
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Donmez et al.
abstract: Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) are generally performed in a 12 mmHg-pressured pneumoperitoneum in a slight sitting position. Considerable thromboembolism risk arises in this operation due to pneumoperitoneum, operation position and risk factors of patients. We aim to investigate the effect of pneumoperitoneum pressure on coagulation and fibrinolysis under general anesthesia. Material and Methods Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) I–III patients who underwent elective LC without thromboprophlaxis were enrolled in this prospective study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the pneumoperitoneum pressure during LC: the 10 mmHg group (n = 25) and the 14 mmHg group. Prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and blood levels of d-dimer and fibrinogen were measured preoperatively (pre), one hour (post1) and 24 h (post24) after the surgery. Moreover, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and lactate dehydrogenase were measured before and after the surgery. These parameters were compared between and within the groups. Results PT, TT, aPTT, INR, and D-dimer and fibrinogen levels significantly increased after the surgery in both of the groups. D-dimer level was significantly higher in 14-mmHg group at post24. Conclusion Both the 10-mmHg and 14-mmHg pressure of pneumoperitoneum may lead to affect coagulation tests and fibrinogen and D-dimer levels without any occurrence of deep vein thrombosis, but 14-mmHg pressure of pneumoperitoneum has a greater effect on D-dimer. However, lower pneumoperitoneum pressure may be useful for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis.
bibliographic citation: Donmez et al. (2016) Is there any effect of pneumoperitoneum pressure on coagulation and fibrinolysis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy?. PeerJ 4:e2375 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2375
date submitted: 2016-03-29
date accepted: 2016-07-28
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Donmez
  given name: Turgut
author list: Agent
  family name: Uzman
  given name: Sinan
author list: Agent
  family name: Yildirim
  given name: Dogan
author list: Agent
  family name: Hut
  given name: Adnan
author list: Agent
  family name: Avaroglu
  given name: Huseyin Imam
author list: Agent
  family name: Erdem
  given name: Duygu Ayfer
author list: Agent
  family name: Cekic
  given name: Erdinc
author list: Agent
  family name: Erozgen
  given name: Fazilet
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2375
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: ©2016 Donmez et al.
attribution name: Donmez et al.

Improved cartilage regeneration by implantation of acellular biomaterials after bone marrow stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Microfracture surgery may be applied to treat cartilage defects. During the procedure the subchondral bone is penetrated, allowing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to migrate towards the defect site and form new cartilage tissue. Microfracture surgery generally results in the formation of mechanically inferior fibrocartilage. As a result, this technique offers only temporary clinical improvement. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine may improve the outcome of microfracture surgery. Filling the subchondral defect with a biomaterial may provide a template for the formation of new hyaline cartilage tissue. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the current evidence for the efficacy of cartilage regeneration in preclinical models using acellular biomaterials implanted after marrow stimulating techniques (microfracturing and subchondral drilling) compared to the natural healing response of defects. The review aims to provide new insights into the most effective biomaterials, to provide an overview of currently existing knowledge, and to identify potential lacunae in current studies to direct future research. A comprehensive search was systematically performed in PubMed and EMBASE (via OvidSP) using search terms related to tissue engineering, cartilage and animals. Primary studies in which acellular biomaterials were implanted in osteochondral defects in the knee or ankle joint in healthy animals were included and study characteristics tabulated (283 studies out of 6,688 studies found). For studies comparing non-treated empty defects to defects containing implanted biomaterials and using semi-quantitative histology as outcome measure, the risk of bias (135 studies) was assessed and outcome data were collected for meta-analysis (151 studies). Random-effects meta-analyses were performed, using cartilage regeneration as outcome measure on an absolute 0–100% scale. Implantation of acellular biomaterials significantly im…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Michiel W. Pot
creator: Veronica K. Gonzales
creator: Pieter Buma
creator: Joanna IntHout
creator: Toin H. van Kuppevelt
creator: Rob B.M. de Vries
creator: Willeke F. Daamen
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Rheumatology
subject: Translational Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2243
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2016 Pot et al.
abstract: Microfracture surgery may be applied to treat cartilage defects. During the procedure the subchondral bone is penetrated, allowing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to migrate towards the defect site and form new cartilage tissue. Microfracture surgery generally results in the formation of mechanically inferior fibrocartilage. As a result, this technique offers only temporary clinical improvement. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine may improve the outcome of microfracture surgery. Filling the subchondral defect with a biomaterial may provide a template for the formation of new hyaline cartilage tissue. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the current evidence for the efficacy of cartilage regeneration in preclinical models using acellular biomaterials implanted after marrow stimulating techniques (microfracturing and subchondral drilling) compared to the natural healing response of defects. The review aims to provide new insights into the most effective biomaterials, to provide an overview of currently existing knowledge, and to identify potential lacunae in current studies to direct future research. A comprehensive search was systematically performed in PubMed and EMBASE (via OvidSP) using search terms related to tissue engineering, cartilage and animals. Primary studies in which acellular biomaterials were implanted in osteochondral defects in the knee or ankle joint in healthy animals were included and study characteristics tabulated (283 studies out of 6,688 studies found). For studies comparing non-treated empty defects to defects containing implanted biomaterials and using semi-quantitative histology as outcome measure, the risk of bias (135 studies) was assessed and outcome data were collected for meta-analysis (151 studies). Random-effects meta-analyses were performed, using cartilage regeneration as outcome measure on an absolute 0–100% scale. Implantation of acellular biomaterials significantly im…
bibliographic citation: Pot et al. (2016) Improved cartilage regeneration by implantation of acellular biomaterials after bone marrow stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies. PeerJ 4:e2243 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2243
date submitted: 2016-02-26
date accepted: 2016-06-21
issued: 2016-09-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Pot
  given name: Michiel W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Gonzales
  given name: Veronica K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Buma
  given name: Pieter
author list: Agent
  family name: IntHout
  given name: Joanna
author list: Agent
  family name: van Kuppevelt
  given name: Toin H.
author list: Agent
  family name: de Vries
  given name: Rob B.M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Daamen
  given name: Willeke F.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2243
volume: 4
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2016-09-08
copyright: ©2016 Pot et al.
attribution name: Pot et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359