bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oesophageal narrowing on barium oesophagram is more common in adult patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis than PPI‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia
Authors: Podboy A. , Katzka D. A. , Enders F. , Larson J. J. , Geno D. , Kryzer L. , Alexander J.
Published: March 2016

Background

To date there have been no clear features that aid in differentiating patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) from PPI‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI‐REE). However, barium swallow roentgenography is a more sensitive and specific measure to detect subtle fibrostenotic remodeling changes present in EoE. We aim to characterise any clinical, endoscopic, histiological or barium roentgenographic differences between EoE and PPI‐REE.

Aim

To characterise any clinical, endoscopic, histiological or barium roentgenographic differences between EoE and PPI‐REE.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis on data collected from a tertiary referral centre population from 2010 to 2015. Data from 66 patients with EoE and 28 patients with PPI‐REE were analysed. Cases were adults who met consensus guidelines for EOE, and had a barium swallow study within 6 months of the index endoscopy. Clinical, endoscopic, histiological and barium swallow findings were collected.

Results

Patients with EoE reported similar characteristics as PPI‐REE patients, except EoE patients were younger (35.6 vs. 46.6 years; P = 0.011), had earlier symptom onset (29.0 vs. 38.0 years; P = 0.026), and smaller oesophageal diameters on barium swallow (19.5 mm vs. 20; P = 0.042). Patients with EoE were more likely to have distal strictures (EoE 77% vs. 25%; P = 0.02) and, importantly, a greater likelihood of small calibre oesophagus (51.5% vs. 17.9%; P = 0.002). Moreover, EoE patients had a higher probability of developing small calibre oesophagus after 20 years of symptoms (72.3% vs. 30.2%; P = 0.074) compared to PPI‐REE patients.

Conclusions

When compared with eosinophilic oesophagitis, PPI‐REE patients demonstrate findings that suggest PPI‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia to be a later onset, less aggressive form of oesophageal stricturing disease than eosinophilic oesophagitis.
mTOR Inhibition improves anaemia and reduces organ damage in a murine model of sickle cell disease
Authors: Wang Jintao , Tran Jennifer , Wang Hui , Guo Chiao , Harro David , Campbell Andrew D. , Eitzman Daniel T.
Published: March 2016

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been shown to play an important role in red blood cell physiology, with inhibition of mTOR signalling leading to alterations in erythropoiesis. To determine if mTOR inhibition would improve anaemia in sickle cell disease (SCD), mice with SCD were treated with the dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor, INK128. One week after daily oral drug treatment, erythrocyte count, haemoglobin, and haematocrit were all significantly increased while reticulocyte counts were reduced. These parameters remained stable during 3 weeks of treatment. Similar effects were observed following oral treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor, sirolimus. Sirolimus treatment prolonged the lifespan of sickle cell erythrocytes in circulation, reduced spleen size, and reduced renal and hepatic iron accumulation in SCD mice. Following middle cerebral artery occlusion, stroke size was reduced in SCD mice treated with sirolimus. In conclusion, mTOR inhibition is protective against anaemia and organ damage in a murine model of SCD.
Awawanenitakik: The spatial politics of recognition and relational geographies of Indigenous self‐determination
Authors: Daigle Michelle
Published: March 2016

Key Messages

The spatial politics of recognition constrains Indigenous self‐determination to colonial territorial boundaries as opposed to Indigenous relationships with and responsibilities to their kinship networks, including their kin the land.

Indigenous ontologies and the everyday practices in which they are learned and transmitted, cultivate an alternative politics for Indigenous self‐determination.

Further dialogue is needed in geography on the ways Indigenous peoples think about and live self‐determination outside and/or alongside formal state and intergovernmental institutions.
Predicting the Onset of Alcohol Use and the Development of Alcohol Use Disorder Among Indigenous Adolescents
Authors: Armenta Brian E. , Sittner Kelley J. , Whitbeck Les B.
Published: March 2016

Empirical efforts to identify the predictors of drinking behavior among North American Indigenous adolescents are relatively limited. Using longitudinal data, this study considers perceived discrimination, positive drinker prototypes, and peer drinking behavior as risk factors for the onset of alcohol use and development of an alcohol use disorder among 674 Indigenous adolescents as they progressed from early to late adolescence (M age at baseline = 11.11, SD = 0.83). Results showed that positive drinker prototypes and associations with peers who drink increased the risk for the onset of drinking, while perceived discrimination and associations with peers who drink increased the risk for the development of an alcohol use disorder. The theoretical and practical implications of our results are discussed.
Children's Family Drawings as Expressions of Attachment Representations Across Cultures: Possibilities and Limitations
Authors: Gernhardt Ariane , Keller Heidi , Rübeling Hartmut
Published: March 2016

The present study explored the cross‐cultural appropriateness of children's family drawings as a measure for attachment quality. The sample consisted of 63 children aged 6 years from two diverse ecosocial contexts: middle‐class families from Berlin, Germany (n = 32) and rural farming families from small villages around Kumbo, Cameroon (n = 31). The analysis of drawings with two classical attachment procedures, the Checklist of Drawing Signs (Kaplan & Main, 1986) and the Global Rating Scales (Fury, 1996), revealed substantial cultural differences. The results thus substantiated children's drawings as important cultural documents. Implications of the findings, however, are discussed in consideration of culture‐specific conceptions of attachment relationships as indicated by cultural variations in mother's socialization goals.
Rivastigmine Patch in Chinese Patients with Probable Alzheimer's disease: A 24‐week, Randomized, Double‐Blind Parallel‐Group Study Comparing Rivastigmine Patch (9.5 mg/24 h) with Capsule (6 mg Twice Daily)
Authors: Zhang Zhen‐Xin , Hong Zhen , Wang Yan‐Ping , He Li , Wang Ning , Zhao Zhong‐Xin , Zhao Gang , Shang Lan , Weisskopf Marianne , Callegari Francesca , Strohmaier Christine
Published: March 2016

Aims

To compare the once‐daily rivastigmine patch 9.5 mg/24 h (10 cm2) versus twice‐daily capsule (12 mg/day) in Chinese patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) (mini‐mental state examination [MMSE] scores of 10–20).

Methods

The primary objective was to demonstrate the noninferiority of patch to capsule in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐Cognitive subscale (ADAS‐Cog) change from baseline to 24 week. Secondary endpoints included cognition (MMSE), overall clinical response (Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study‐Clinical Global Impression of Change [ADCS‐CGIC]), activities of daily living (Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study‐Activities of Daily Living [ADCS‐ADL]), behavior (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI‐12]), and safety.

Results

Similar cognitive improvement was observed in both patch (n = 248) and capsule (n = 253) groups. Statistical noninferiority for ADAS‐Cog was not established (least‐square means difference, 0.1; 95% confidence interval, −1.2; 1.5). Considering all efficacy parameters into account, both treatments showed similar performance at Week 24. Treatment‐related adverse events (AEs) were lower for patch (39.7%) compared with capsule (49.8%). Application site pruritus was reported in 10.9% of patients receiving patch; most cases were mild. Gastrointestinal AEs including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occurred less frequently in the patch group (15.8% vs. 28.7%).

Conclusion

Rivastigmine patch 9.5 mg/24 h is effective and well tolerated in Chinese patients with probable AD.
Addressing mental health through sport: a review of sporting organizations' websites
Authors: Liddle Sarah K. , Deane Frank P. , Vella Stewart A.
Published: March 2016

Aim

Mental health is a major concern among adolescents. Most mental illnesses have their onset during this period, and around 14% of all young people aged 12 to 17 years experience a mental illness in a 12‐month period. However, only 65% of these adolescents access health services to address their mental health problems. Approximately 70% of all Australian adolescents participate in sport, and this presents an opportunity for mental health promotion.

Methods

This paper reviewed current approaches by sporting organizations to mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention by searching peak body websites, as well as the wider Internet.

Results

Findings revealed many of the sport organizations reviewed acknowledged the importance of mental components of their sport to increase competitiveness, but few explicitly noted mental health problems or the potential of their sport to promote good mental health. Although some had participated in mental health promotion campaigns, there was no evaluation or reference to the evidence base for these campaigns.

Conclusions

We describe a framework for integrating mental health promotion into sports organizations based on the MindMatters programme for schools.
A Kv7.2 mutation associated with early onset epileptic encephalopathy with suppression‐burst enhances Kv7/M channel activity
Authors: Devaux Jérôme , Abidi Affef , Roubertie Agathe , Molinari Florence , Becq Hélène , Lacoste Caroline , Villard Laurent , Milh Mathieu , Aniksztejn Laurent
Published: March 2016

Mutations in the KCNQ2 gene encoding the voltage‐gated potassium channel subunit Kv7.2 cause early onset epileptic encephalopathy (EOEE). Most mutations have been shown to induce a loss of function or to affect the subcellular distribution of Kv7 channels in neurons. Herein, we investigated functional consequences and subcellular distribution of the p.V175L mutation of Kv7.2 (Kv7.2V175L) found in a patient presenting EOEE. We observed that the mutation produced a 25–40 mV hyperpolarizing shift of the conductance–voltage relationship of both the homomeric Kv7.2V175L and heteromeric Kv7.2V175L/Kv7.3 channels compared to wild‐type channels and a 10 mV hyperpolarizing shift of Kv7.2V175L/Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels in a 1:1:2 ratio mimicking the patient situation. Mutant channels also displayed faster activation kinetics and an increased current density that was prevented by 1 μm linopirdine. The p.V175L mutation did not affect the protein expression of Kv7 channels and its localization at the axon initial segment. We conclude that p.V175L is a gain of function mutation. This confirms previous observations showing that mutations having opposite consequences on M channels can produce EOEE. These findings alert us that drugs aiming to increase Kv7 channel activity might have adverse effects in EOEE in the case of gain‐of‐function variants.
Longitudinal stability of interictal spikes in benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes
Authors: Tenney Jeffrey R. , Glauser Tracy , Altaye Mekibib , Szaflarski Jerzy P. , Spencer Caroline , Morita Diego , Vannest Jennifer
Published: March 2016

Objective

To describe the natural history of electroencephalography (EEG) changes in patients with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) over 1 year.

Methods

Centrotemporal spikes were visually evaluated based on 24‐h ambulatory EEG studies to determine the total, left, right, and bilateral centrotemporal spikes patients were awake and asleep. These spike rates were then used to compare the entire night of sleep to the first 2 h of sleep, the repeatability of spike frequency over two recordings (done within days to weeks), and longitudinal changes in spike rate over 6 and 12 months.

Results

Nineteen children with newly diagnosed and untreated BECTS were included in this analysis. An excellent correlation was found between the centrotemporal spike rate during the entire duration of sleep and the first 2 h of sleep (intraclass correlation [ICC] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–0.95). In addition, an excellent correlation was found between two recordings completed an average of 23 days apart while patients were asleep (ICC 0.92, 95% CI 0.80–0.97) and good correlation while patients were awake (ICC 0.70, 95% CI 0.39–0.87). The average change in spike rate between recordings at baseline and at 6 months was a decrease of 64.7% (range −100% to +51.5%, p = 0.01) and the average change in rate between recordings at baseline and at 12 months was a decrease of 57.7% (range −100% to +29.1%, p = 0.01). In addition, within 6 months, most children had decreased centrotemporal rates, with 30% of children being spike‐free. This absence of spikes did not continue in all children, since the majority (60%) had some spikes at 1 year following diagnosis.

Significance

Centrotemporal spike rates during sleep are stable when compared over days to weeks; however, when comparing spike rates over months there is a larger degree of variability.
Strangles and its complications
Authors: Boyle A. G.
Published: March 2016

Strangles, caused by the Gram‐positive bacteriaStreptococcus equisubspeciesequi(S. equi), is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection in horses. The infection is transmitted by inhalation or direct contact with mucopurulent discharge from an infected animal, resulting in fever, depression, and submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph node enlargement that can lead to respiratory distress. Complications include secondary cellulitis at external abscessation sites, guttural pouch empyema and its persistence into the carrier state, purpura haemorrhagica, metastatic abscessation, emergency tracheostomies and rarely secondaryS. equipneumonia or myositis. Control of outbreaks requires strict isolation protocols and hygiene measures. Detection methods of the index case and carrier state are constantly being refined to assist in the identification and prevention of disease perpetuation.
Metabolic network architecture and carbon source determine metabolite production costs
Authors: Waschina Silvio , D'Souza Glen , Kost Christian , Kaleta Christoph
Published: March 2016

Metabolism is essential to organismal life, because it provides energy and building block metabolites. Even though it is known that the biosynthesis of metabolites consumes a significant proportion of the resources available to a cell, the factors that determine their production costs remain less well understood. In this context, it is especially unclear how the nutritional environment affects the costs of metabolite production. Here, we use the amino acid metabolism of Escherichia coli as a model to show that the point at which a carbon source enters central metabolic pathways is a major determinant of individual metabolite production costs. Growth rates of auxotrophic genotypes, which in the presence of the required amino acid save biosynthetic costs, were compared to the growth rates that prototrophic cells achieved under the same conditions. The experimental results showed a strong concordance with computationally estimated biosynthetic costs, which allowed us, for the first time, to systematically quantify carbon source‐dependent metabolite production costs. Thus, we demonstrate that the nutritional environment in combination with network architecture is an important but hitherto underestimated factor influencing biosynthetic costs and thus microbial growth. Our observations are highly relevant for the optimization of biotechnological processes as well as for understanding the ecology of microorganisms in their natural environments.
Benthic algae compensate for phytoplankton losses in large aquatic ecosystems
Authors: Brothers Soren , Vadeboncoeur Yvonne , Sibley Paul
Published: March 2016

Anthropogenic activities can induce major trophic shifts in aquatic systems, yet we have an incomplete understanding of the implication of such shifts on ecosystem function and on primary production (PP) in particular. In recent decades, phytoplankton biomass and production in the Laurentian Great Lakes have declined in response to reduced nutrient concentrations and invasive mussels. However, the increases in water clarity associated with declines in phytoplankton may have positive effects on benthic PP at the ecosystem scale. Have these lakes experienced oligotrophication (a reduction of algal production), or simply a shift in autotrophic structure with no net decline in PP? Benthic contributions to ecosystem PP are rarely measured in large aquatic systems, but our calculations based on productivity rates from the Great Lakes indicate that a significant proportion (up to one half, in Lake Huron) of their whole‐lake production may be benthic. The large declines (5–45%) in phytoplankton production in the Great Lakes from the 1970s to 2000s may be substantially compensated by benthic PP, which increased by up to 190%. Thus, the autotrophic productive capacity of large aquatic ecosystems may be relatively resilient to shifts in trophic status, due to a redirection of production to the near‐shore benthic zone, and large lakes may exhibit shifts in autotrophic structure analogous to the regime shifts seen in shallow lakes.
SPF and UVA‐PF sunscreen evaluation: are there good correlations among results obtained in vivo, in vitro and in a theoretical Sunscreen Simulator? A real‐life exercise
Authors: Santos Caetano J. P. , Abarca A. P. , Guerato M. , Guerra L. , Schalka S. , Perez Simão D. C. , Vila R.
Published: March 2016

Objective

Strategies to optimize the development of sunscreens include the use of theoretical sunscreen simulators to predict sun protection factor (SPF) and UVA protection factor (UVA‐PF) and in vitro measurements of UVA‐PF. The aims of this study were to assess the correlations between (1) SPF and UVA‐PF results obtained in a theoretical sunscreen simulator with those observed in vivo (SPF and UVA‐PF) and in vitro (UVA‐PF) and (2) the results of UVA‐PF observed in vitro and in vivo for products in different galenic forms containing or not pigments.

Methods

BASF Sunscreen Simulator software was used to evaluate the theoretical performance of formulations regarding SPF and UVA protection. In vitroUVA‐PF and in vivoSPF were determined for all formulations. UVA‐PFin vivo measurements were carried out only on products for which the galenic forms (compact foundations and lip balms) or the presence of dye or pigments could make the results of UVA‐PFin vitro less reliable (due to a possible uneven film formation).

Results

The results of the SPF calculated by the BASF Sunscreen Simulator presented a very good correlation with SPF observed in vivo in the absence of pigments (r = 0.91; P < 0.05) and a good correlation in the presence of pigments (r = 0.70; P < 0.05). The UVA‐PF calculated by the BASF Sunscreen Simulator also exhibited a very good correlation with UVA‐PF measured in vitro (r = 0.88; P < 0.05) for the formulations not containing pigment and a good correlation (r = 0.75; P < 0.05) for the formulations containing pigment. The correlation of same UVA‐PF calculated by BASF Sunscreen Simulator with UVA‐PF measured in vivo for the formulations containing pigment was r = 0.74 (P < 0.05), which is considered good. In addition, the measurements of UVA‐PFin vivo presented a good correlation with the values obtained in vitro (r = 0.74; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In the present study, the use of BASF Sunscreen Simulator and in vitroUVA tests showed good correlations with in vivo results and could be considered as valuable resources in the development of sunscreens.
Cooking and texture properties of gluten‐free fettuccine processed from defatted flaxseed flour and rice flour
Authors: de Moura Camila M. A. , Soares Júnior Manoel S. , Fiorda Fernanda A. , Caliari Márcio , Vera Rosângela , Grossmann Maria V. E.
Published: March 2016

Nonconventional raw materials have been applied in gluten‐free pasta, to meet the demand of people with coeliac disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cooking properties and texture of pasta formulated with rice flour, defatted flaxseed flour and pregelatinised mixed flour of rice and flaxseed (80:20). For this experiment, simplex design was used. Cooking properties and texture were found within the quality limits established for this type of product. The pasta with the most desirable properties (short optimum cooking time (OCT), less solid loss (SL) and intermediate mass increase (MI)) was that one formulated with 43 g 100 g−1 of pregelatinised flour, 47 g 100 g−1 of rice flour and 10 g 100 g−1 of defatted flaxseed flour. This formulation can be characterised as a food rich in dietary fibre and of high nutritional value.
Clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐mediated mutagenesis and phenotype rescue by piggyBac transgenesis in a nonmodel Drosophila species
Authors: Tanaka R. , Murakami H. , Ote M. , Yamamoto D.
Published: March 2016

How behavioural diversity emerged in evolution is an unexplored subject in biology. To tackle this problem, genes and circuits for a behaviour need to be determined in different species for phylogenetic comparisons. The recently developed clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated protein9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system made such a challenge possible by providing the means to induce mutations in a gene of interest in any organism. Aiming at elucidating diversification in genetic and neural networks for courtship behaviour, we attempted to generate a genetic tool kit in Drosophila subobscura, a nonmodel species distantly related to the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster. Here we report the generation of yellow (y) and white mutations with the aid of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and the rescue of the y mutant phenotype by germline transformation of the newly established y mutant fly line with a y+‐marked piggyBac vector. This successful mutagenesis and transformation in D. subobscura open up an avenue for comprehensive genetic analyses of higher functions in this and other nonmodel Drosophila species, representing a key step toward systematic comparisons of genes and circuitries underlying behaviour amongst species.
The concept of stigma in mental illness as applied to Haitian Americans
Authors: Dieujuste Colette
Published: March 2016

Aim

To report on the analysis of the concept of the stigma of mental illness within the Haitian American community.

Background

Mental illness is a highly stigmatized condition within certain communities making it challenging for individuals to seek effective treatment. The consequences of such stigma can have lifelong corollaries for the individuals, the families and the communities.

Introduction

The concept of stigma is not fully developed in nursing; clarity of the concept of stigma of mental illness is still needed in the nursing literature. In order to assist patients in accessing mental health services, the concept of stigma must first be clarified.

Methods

The method used for this concept analysis was that of Walker and Avant.

Findings

Five attributes were identified, creating the following definition: labelling, stereotype, negative attitude, emotional response, and discrimination. The antecedents for stigma of mental illness are lack of knowledge about mental illness, emotional state and cultural beliefs and values.

Implications for nursing and health policy

The origins of stigmatization of mental illness among Haitian Americans need to be understood. Mental health illnesses are stigmatized within the Haitian culture, which presents as a barrier to accessing help for many Haitian American women suffering from mental illness. The defining attributes can be used to develop tools to help clinicians identify patients being stigmatized. Once stigma is recognized, nurses can develop strategies and policies that can mitigate the effects of stigmatization of mental illness among this patient population.

Conclusion

Further research is essential to examine the ways in which this concept impacts the Haitian American community, as well as effective strategies to help minimize its effects.
Viral etiology of severe acute respiratory infections in hospitalized children in Cameroon, 2011–2013
Authors: Kenmoe Sebastien , Tchendjou Patrice , Vernet Marie‐Astrid , Moyo‐Tetang Suzie , Mossus Tatiana , Njankouo‐Ripa Mohamadou , Kenne Angeladine , Penlap Beng Véronique , Vabret Astrid , Njouom Richard
Published: March 2016

Background

Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) is recognized as an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization among children in developing countries. Little is known, however, in tropical countries like Cameroon about the cause and seasonality of respiratory infections, especially in hospitalized settings.

Objectives: Our study investigates the viral etiology and seasonality of SARI in hospitalized children in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Methods

Prospective clinic surveillance was conducted to identify hospitalized children aged ≤15 years presenting with respiratory symptoms ≤5‐day duration. Demographic and clinical data, and respiratory specimens were collected. Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for 17 respiratory viruses using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The viral distribution and demographic data were statistically analyzed.

Results

From September 2011 through September 2013, 347 children aged ≤15 years were enrolled. At least one virus was identified in each of 65·4% children, of which 29·5% were coinfections; 27·3% were positive for human adenovirus (hAdV), 13·2% for human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), 11·5% for rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV), 10·6% for human bocavirus (hBoV), 9·8% for influenza virus (Inf), 6·6% for human parainfluenza virus (hPIV), 5·7% for human coronavirus (hCoV), and 2·3% for human metapneumovirus (hMPV). While hRSV showed seasonal patterns, hAdV and RV/EV were detected throughout the year and no evident temporal patterns were observed for the remaining viruses.

Conclusion

Respiratory viruses were associated with a high burden of hospitalizations among children in Cameroon. Nevertheless, additional studies evaluating asymptomatic Cameroonian children will be important in understanding the relationship between viral carriage and disease.
NaB5C–B5/C Composite Ceramics Prepared by Reaction Sintering in Na Vapor
Authors: Morito Haruhiko , Kimura Takuma , Yamane Hisanori
Published: March 2016

Reaction sintering of sodium carbaboride (NaB5C) was performed by heating compacts of mixtures of amorphous boron (B) and carbon black (C) powders (B/C molar ratio, 5/1) at 1173 K in Na vapor. The ceramics obtained from the compacts of B5/C powder mixed with a ball mill (compact density, 1.67 Mg/m3) were the composites of NaB5C (74 mass%) and unreacted B5/C (26 mass%). The bulk density and bending strength of the composite ceramics were 2.04 ± 0.03 Mg/m3 and 320.9 ± 10.4 MPa, respectively. Transmission electron microscope observation revealed that nanometer‐size amorphous grains of B or C were included in the matrix of NaB5C.
Association Between Uric Acid and Renal Hemodynamics: Pathophysiological Implications for Renal Damage in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Geraci Giulio , Mulè Giuseppe , Mogavero Manuela , Geraci Calogero , Nardi Emilio , Cottone Santina
Published: March 2016

The role of vascular renal changes in mediating the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and renal damage is unclear. The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between SUA and renal resistive index (RRI), assessed by duplex Doppler ultrasonography, and to assess whether hemodynamic renal changes may explain the association between SUA and renal damage in hypertensive patients. A total of 530 hypertensive patients with and without chronic kidney disease were enrolled and divided into SUA tertiles based on sex‐specific cutoff values. RRI and albuminuria were greater and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was lower in the uppermost SUA tertile patients when compared with those in the lowest tertiles (all P<.001). Moreover, SUA strongly correlated with RRI (P<.001) in all patients. However, RRI did not seem to explain the relationship between SUA and renal damage, and GFR significantly related with SUA in the overall population (P<.001) even after adjustment for RRI.
The ubiquitin proteasomal system: a potential target for the management of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Gadhave Kundlik , Bolshette Nityanand , Ahire Ashutosh , Pardeshi Rohit , Thakur Krishan , Trandafir Cristiana , Istrate Alexandru , Ahmed Sahabuddin , Lahkar Mangala , Muresanu Dafin F. , Balea Maria
Published: March 2016

The cellular quality control system degrades abnormal or misfolded proteins and consists of three different mechanisms: the ubiquitin proteasomal system (UPS), autophagy and molecular chaperones. Any disturbance in this system causes proteins to accumulate, resulting in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and prion or polyglutamine diseases. Alzheimer's disease is currently one of the most common age‐related neurodegenerative diseases. However, its exact cause and pathogenesis are unknown. Currently approved medications for AD provide symptomatic relief; however, they fail to influence disease progression. Moreover, the components of the cellular quality control system represent an important focus for the development of targeted and potent therapies for managing AD. This review aims to evaluate whether existing evidence supports the hypothesis that UPS impairment causes the early pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. The first part presents basic information about the UPS and its molecular components. The next part explains how the UPS is involved in neurodegenerative disorders. Finally, we emphasize how the UPS influences the management of AD. This review may help in the design of future UPS‐related therapies for AD.
The relationship between vasculogenic mimicry and epithelial‐mesenchymal transitions
Authors: Liu Qiqi , Qiao Lili , Liang Ning , Xie Jian , Zhang Jingxin , Deng Guodong , Luo Hui , Zhang Jiandong
Published: March 2016

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a vascular‐like structure which can mimic the embryonic vascular network pattern to nourish the tumour tissue. As a unique perfusion way, VM is correlated with tumour progression, invasion, metastasis and lower 5‐year survival rate. Notably, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators and EMT‐related transcription factors are highly up‐regulated in VM‐forming tumour cells, which demonstrated that EMT may play a crucial role in VM formation. Therefore, the up‐regulation of EMT‐associated adhesion molecules and other factors can also make a contribution in VM‐forming process. Depending on these discoveries, VM and EMT can be utilized as therapeutic target strategies for anticancer therapy. The purpose of this article is to explore the advance research in the relationship of EMT and VM and their corresponding mechanisms in tumorigenesis effect.
Population differentiation in the context of Holocene climate change for a migratory marine species, the southern elephant seal
Authors: Corrigan L. J. , Fabiani A. , Chauke L. F. , McMahon C. R. , de Bruyn M. , Bester M. N. , Bastos A. , Campagna C. , Muelbert M. M. C. , Hoelzel A. R.
Published: March 2016

Understanding observed patterns of connectivity requires an understanding of the evolutionary processes that determine genetic structure among populations, with the most common models being associated with isolation by distance, allopatry or vicariance. Pinnipeds are annual breeders with the capacity for extensive range overlap during seasonal migrations, establishing the potential for the evolution of isolation by distance. Here, we assess the pattern of differentiation among six breeding colonies of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, based on mtDNA and 15 neutral microsatellite DNA markers, and consider measures of their demography and connectivity. We show that all breeding colonies are genetically divergent and that connectivity in this highly mobile pinniped is not strongly associated with geographic distance, but more likely linked to Holocene climate change and demographic processes. Estimates of divergence times between populations were all after the last glacial maximum, and there was evidence for directional migration in a clockwise pattern (with the prevailing current) around the Antarctic. We discuss the mechanisms by which climate change may have contributed to the contemporary genetic structure of southern elephant seal populations and the broader implications.
Color Properties of Demineralized Enamel Surfaces Treated with a Resin Infiltration System
Authors: Hallgren Kevin , Akyalcin Sercan , English Jeryl , Tufekci Eser , Paravina Rade D.
Published: March 2016

Objective

To assess color properties of white spot lesions (WSLs) following resin infiltration treatment in vitro.

Materials and Method

WSLs were artificially created on 30 extracted human teeth. Two groups were formed: (a) control, and (b) resin infiltrant group (n = 15, each). Instrumental color measurements were performed using a spectrophotometer and visual color evaluation was performed by three independent evaluators. Color assessment was determined at three time points: baseline (T0), after WSL formation (T1), and after resin infiltrant or control treatment (T2). CIELAB color coordinates were determined and the resultant color difference (ΔE*) was calculated between the time points. Two‐way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and One‐way ANOVA analyses were used to evaluate the color changes. Pearson chi‐square analysis was performed to evaluate the visual ratings between treatment and control groups. Level of significance was set p <0.05.

Results

After treatment of WSLs there was a significant color change (ΔE*) between treatment and control groups (p <0.05). Resin infiltration group showed a regression of all values toward the pretreatment levels. There was a significant difference in visual evaluation ratings between groups after treatment; treatment group had all surfaces receive a rating of being clinically acceptable, with 73% of these surfaces having no perceptible color difference to adjacent sound enamel. Meanwhile, control group received ratings of all surfaces having a visual color difference that was deemed as unacceptable (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In‐vitro resin infiltration for the treatment of enamel WSLs produced a significant improvement in color, reverting L*, a*, and b* values back toward baseline values.

Clinical Significance

Resin infiltration of enamel white spot lesions on teeth is capable of managing the esthetic problem by reverting the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates back to their baseline values. (J Esthet Restor Dent 28:339–346, 2016)
Role of splenic reservoir monocytes in pulmonary vascular monocyte accumulation in experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome
Authors: Wu Wei , Zhang Junlan , Yang Wenli , Hu Bingqian , Fallon Michael B
Published: March 2016

Background and Aim

Pulmonary monocyte infiltration plays a significant role in the development of angiogenesis in experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) after common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Hepatic monocytes are also increased after CBDL, but the origins remain unclear. Splenic reservoir monocytes have been identified as a major source of monocytes that accumulate in injured tissues. Whether splenic monocytes contribute to monocyte alterations after CBDL is unknown. This study evaluates monocyte distributions and assesses effects of splenectomy on monocyte levels and pulmonary vascular and hepatic abnormalities in experimental HPS.

Methods

Splenectomy was performed in CBDL animals. Monocyte levels in different tissues and circulation were assessed with CD68. Pulmonary alterations of HPS were evaluated with vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) levels, angiogenesis, and alveolar–arterial oxygen gradient (AaPO2). Liver abnormalities were evaluated with fibrosis (Sirius red), bile duct proliferation (CK‐19), and enzymatic changes.

Results

Monocyte levels increased in the lung and liver after CBDL and were accompanied by elevated circulating monocyte numbers. Splenectomy significantly decreased monocyte accumulation, VEGF‐A levels, and angiogenesis in CBDL animal lung and improved AaPO2 levels. In contrast, hepatic monocyte levels, fibrosis, and functional abnormalities were further exacerbated by spleen removal.

Conclusions

Splenic reservoir monocytes are a major source for lung monocyte accumulation after CBDL, and spleen removal attenuates the development of experimental HPS. Liver monocytes may have different origins, and accumulation is exacerbated after depletion of splenic reservoir monocytes. Tissue specific monocyte alterations, influenced by the spleen reservoir, have a significant impact on pulmonary complications of liver disease.
Diagnostic criteria for inclusion body myositis
Authors: Hilton‐Jones D. , Brady S.
Published: March 2016

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) was first identified as a specific disorder about 40 years ago and is now recognized to be the most frequently presenting primary myopathy in middle age and beyond. Initial characterization was based on the observation of specific pathological features distinguishing it from polymyositis. It was soon appreciated that there were also distinguishing clinical features. The earliest diagnostic criteria were heavily biased towards pathological features, but over time revised criteria have given increasing importance to certain clinical features. Until the specific cause of IBM is determined, and the basic pathogenetic mechanisms are better understood, there can be no diagnostic gold‐standard against which to compare the sensitivity and specificity of any proposed diagnostic criteria, but such criteria are essential to ensure that patients entering clinical, epidemiological, genetic, pathological or therapeutic studies represent a homogeneous population. It is likely that any currently accepted diagnostic criteria will, once a gold‐standard is eventually established, be shown to have ‘missed’ patients with atypical features, but that has to be accepted to make certain that current studies are not contaminated by patients who do not have IBM. In other words, in everyday clinical practice there will be the occasional patient who an experienced myologist strongly suspects has IBM, but does not meet current criteria – the criteria lack sensitivity. But if the criteria are so broad as to include all such atypical cases, they would be likely to include patients who do not in fact have IBM – they would lack specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of existing criteria have been reviewed recently, in so far as it is possible to do so, and found to have high specificity but variable sensitivity.
Expression of Apoptosis‐regulating Proteins Bcl‐2 and Bax in Lymph Node Aspirates from Dogs with Lymphoma
Authors: Meichner K. , Fogle J.E. , English L. , Suter S.E.
Published: March 2016

Background

Dysregulated apoptosis is a hallmark of tumorigenesis, and is also involved in resistance to cytotoxic treatment, and might be relevant in lymphoma in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

That Bcl‐2/Bax expression patterns differ between lymphoma immunophenotypes, and that Bcl‐2/Bax ratio is correlated with prognosis.

Animals

Fifty‐five client‐owned dogs with multicentric lymphoma and 5 healthy dogs.

Methods

Prospective, case–control study. We compared 3 methods (flow cytometry,qRT‐PCR, Western blot) for Bcl‐2 and Bax quantification in a subset of dogs. The effect of time on Bcl‐2/Bax ratios measured by flow cytometry was assessed in lymphoma cell lines. Immunophenotype and Bcl‐2/Bax expression by flow cytometry were determined inLNaspirates from all dogs with multicentric lymphoma compared to healthy dogs. Progression‐free survival (PFS) was retrospectively evaluated in a group of dogs all receiving similar treatment.

Results

Bcl‐2/Bax ratios remain consistent for at least 5 days after sample collection. Bcl‐2/Bax ratio was higher in dogs with T‐cell lymphoma (TCL; median 0.97, range 0.37–1.36) compared to B‐cell lymphoma (BCL; median 0.36, range 0.07–1.45) (P< .0001) and normal dogs (median 0.36, range 0.21–0.48) (P= .0006), respectively. Dogs with Bcl‐2/Bax ratios higher than the median of the group experienced a medianPFSof 101 days and dogs with ratios equal and lower than the median hadPFSof 130 days (P= .19).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Higher intrinsic resistance to apoptosis following cytotoxic treatment might contribute to the less favorable prognosis associated with multicentricTCLin dogs. Whether Bcl‐2/Bax will be helpful to identify canineBCLandTCLwith more aggressive and more indolent behavior, respectively, should be evaluated in larger prospective clinical studies.
International comparison of liver transplant programmes: differences in indications, donor and recipient selection and outcome between Italy andUK
Authors: Carbone Marco , Nardi Alessandra , Marianelli Tania , Martin Kate , Hudson Alex , Collett David , Romagnoli Renato , Pinna Antonio , Gimson Alexander , Neuberger James M. , Angelico Mario ,   The Liver Match Investigators for Italian Association for the Study of the Liver – National Transplant Centre and the National Health System Blood and Transplant
Published: March 2016

Background & Aims

Comparing liver transplant (LT) programmes internationally can improve outcomes by stimulating cross‐national learning. Yet, comparison of crude outcomes, by using registry data, is limited by missing data, not allowing proper risk‐adjustment for donor‐ and recipient‐related factors. The objective of this study was to compare two EuropeanLTprogrammes based on high‐quality national longitudinal databases prospectively collected in Italy andUKrespectively.

Methods

We undertook a multicentre, international cohort study including all adults who underwent a first single organLTin Italy (N = 1480) and theUK(N = 1003) between June 2007 and May 2009.

Results

Italian donors were much older compared to theUKones. Hepatitis C virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma had higher prevalence in the Italian cohort compared to theUKone (47.5% vs. 23.1%, and 47.2% vs. 17.1% respectively). Centres' volume differed significantly, with five centres out of seven inUKvs. only two out of 20 in Italy performing >60 transplants per year. No national strategies to drive the donor–recipient matching were identified in both countries. After appropriate adjustment, a higher risk of early transplant loss was identified in the Italian cohort, whereas no differences were found in the 3‐year survival rates.

Conclusions

International comparison ofLTprogrammes provides the opportunity for benchmarking between heterogeneous healthcare systems and should ideally become a vital part of national quality assurance programmes. This requires the implementation of a standardized methodology for data collection to appropriately weigh each country's patient case‐mix and donor and recipients risk factors.
Macrophage activation marker, soluble CD163, is an independent predictor of short‐term mortality in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infection
Authors: Tornai Tamas , Vitalis Zsuzsanna , Sipeki Nora , Dinya Tamas , Tornai David , Antal‐Szalmas Peter , Karanyi Zsolt , Tornai Istvan , Papp Maria
Published: March 2016

Background & Aims

Innate immune system dysfunction is common in advanced cirrhosis, with a central role of the monocyte/macrophage system. Monocytes and macrophages express the scavenger receptor CD163, which is regulated by inflammatory mediators. Cleavage of the receptor leads to the formation of soluble (s)CD163 that represents an anti‐inflammatory response. We aimed to study the clinical importance of sCD163 in cirrhosis.

Methods

Sera of 378 patients were assayed for sCD163 by ELISA [193 outpatients and 185 patients with acute decompensation (AD)]. A 5‐year follow‐up observational study was conducted to assess the possible association between sCD163 level and poor disease outcomes.

Results

sCD163 level was associated with disease severity, but not with the presence of varices or prior variceal bleeding. In outpatients, sCD163 level did not predict the development of disease‐specific complications or the long‐term mortality. In patients with AD episode, sCD163 level was significantly higher compared to outpatients but only in the presence of bacterial infection (INF) (AD‐INF:4586, AD‐NON‐INF:3792 and outpatients: 3538 ng/ml, P < 0.015 and P = 0.001, respectively). sCD163 level gradually increased according to severity of infection. During bacterial infections, high sCD163 level (>7000 ng/ml) was associated with increased mortality rate (42% vs. 17%, P < 0.001) and was identified as an independent predictor of 28‐day mortality (hazard ratio:2.96, 95% confidence intervals:1.27–6.95) in multivariate Cox‐regression model comprising aetiology, co‐morbidity, model for end‐stage liver disease score and leucocyte count as covariates.

Conclusions

High sCD163 level is useful to identify patients with high‐risk of death during an AD episode complicated by bacterial infection. This finding serves as an additional hint towards the significance of anti‐inflammatory response during bacterial infection.
History repeats itself: genomic divergence in copepods
Authors: Renaut Sébastien , Dion‐Côté Anne‐Marie
Published: March 2016

Press stop, erase everything from now till some arbitrary time in the past and start recording life as it evolves once again. Would you see the same tape of life playing itself over and over, or would a different story unfold every time? The late Steven Jay Gould called this experiment replaying the tape of life and argued that any replay of the tape would lead evolution down a pathway radically different from the road actually taken (Gould 1989). This thought experiment has puzzled evolutionary biologists for a long time: how repeatable are evolutionary events? And if history does indeed repeat itself, what are the factors that may help us predict the path taken? A powerful means to address these questions at a small evolutionary scale is to study closely related populations that have evolved independently, under similar environmental conditions. This is precisely what Pereira et al. () set out to do using marine copepods Tigriopus californicus, and present their results in this issue of Molecular Ecology. They show that evolution can be repeatable and even partly predictable, at least at the molecular level. As expected from theory, patterns of divergence were shaped by natural selection. At the same time, strong genetic drift due to small population sizes also constrained evolution down a similar evolutionary road, and probably contributed to repeatable patterns of genomic divergence.