bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Work outcomes and their predictors in the Redesigning Daily Occupations (ReDO) rehabilitation programme for women with stress‐related disorders
Authors: Eklund Mona , Wästberg Birgitta A. , Erlandsson Lena‐Karin
Published: December 2012

Background/Aim

Previous research has shown that the Redesigning Daily Occupations programme reduced the degree of sick leave and increased return to work rates among women on sick leave for stress‐related disorders when compared with “care as usual”. To further investigate the Redesigning Daily Occupations intervention, this study explored changes in the work situation from baseline to a 12‐month follow‐up in the Redesigning Daily Occupations group compared with the “care as usual” group and analysed any predictors of change.

Methods

A matched‐control design was used and 84 women were recruited. Objective (return to work and sick leave) and subjective work outcomes (perceptions of the worker role and the work environment) were explored. Potential predictors were clinical and demographic variables and an anxiety–depression factor.

Results

In both groups, large positive effect sizes from baseline to follow‐up were found regarding the objective outcomes, a moderate positive effect size was found for perceived work environment, whereas perceived worker role remained unaffected. Previous work rehabilitation predicted objective work outcomes in both groups. Higher education and older age were predictors of subjective outcomes in the Redesigning Daily Occupations group, whereas a more severe anxiety–depression rating was negative for work environment ratings in the “care as usual” group.

Conclusions

Return to work seemed possible without a change in the women's perceptions of the worker role; rather they renegotiated their view of the work environment. The Redesigning Daily Occupations programme was found to be promising, with a positive effect on return to work and sick leave reduction. It seemed more suitable for the higher educated and older women.
Conjugal transfer of the Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 symbiotic plasmid is governed through the concerted action of one‐ and two‐component signal transduction regulators
Authors: Nogales Joaquina , Blanca‐Ordóñez Helena , Olivares José , Sanjuán Juan
Published: December 2012

Conjugal transfer of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium etli symbiotic plasmids are repressed by the transcriptional regulator RctA. Here we report on new key players in the signal transduction cascade towards S. meliloti pSym conjugation. We have identified S. meliloti pSymA gene SMa0974 as an orthologue of the R. etli rctB gene which is required to antagonize repression by RctA. In S. meliloti two additional genes, rctR and rctC participate in control of rctB expression. rctR (SMa0955) encodes a protein of the GntR family of transcriptional regulators involved in repression of rctB. A rctR mutant promotes pSymA conjugal transfer and displays increased transcription of tra, virB and rctB genes even in presence of wild‐type rctA gene. Among genes repressed by RctR, rctC (SMa0961) encodes a response regulator required to activate rctB transcription and therefore for derepression of plasmid conjugative functions. We conclude that in both R. etli and S. meliloti pSym conjugal transfer is derepressed via rctB, however the regulatory cascades to achieve activation of rctB are probably different. Upstream of rctB, the S. meliloti pSym conjugal transfer is regulated through the concerted action of genes representing one‐ (rctR) and two‐component (rctC) signal transduction systems in response to yet unidentified signals.
Structural Change in Current Account and Real Exchange Rate Dynamics: Evidence from the G7 Countries
Authors: Shibamoto Masahiko , Kitano Shigeto
Published: December 2012

Previous studies decompose the current account and the real exchange rate into temporary and permanent shocks and argue that a temporary shock creates the combination of a current account surplus (deficit) and real exchange rate depreciation (appreciation). The present paper extends their framework by examining a possible structural break in current account and real exchange rate dynamics. Using G7 country data for 1980–2007, we find structural changes in two‐variable dynamics for all G7 countries during the 1990s. Temporary shocks have not been the main source of fluctuation in the current account since the 1990s. Our empirical results imply that the conventional mechanism has played a limited role in explaining the dynamics of the two variables.
Income Heterogeneity in the Voluntary Provision of Dynamic Public Goods
Authors: Seçilmiş İ. Erdem , Güran M. Cahit
Published: December 2012

This paper explores the effect of income inequality on the voluntary contributions to a dynamic public good. We find that income heterogeneity has a significant impact both on contributions and welfare. The results show that the often observed decay of cooperation does not carry over to the asymmetric environment considered in this study. Our results also suggest that subjects in each income class make different contribution amounts in an absolute sense and give the same percentage of their income. Moreover, we find that contributions of individuals with the same endowment are sensitive to how heterogeneous the environment is.
The evolutionary strategies of plant defenses have a dynamic impact on the adaptations and interactions of vectors and pathogens
Authors: Huot Ordom Brian , Nachappa Punya , Tamborindeguy Cecilia
Published: December 2012

Plants have evolved and diversified to reduce the damages imposed by infectious pathogens and herbivorous insects. Living in a sedentary lifestyle, plants are constantly adapting to their environment. They employ various strategies to increase performance and fitness. Thus, plants developed cost‐effective strategies to defend against specific insects and pathogens. Plant defense, however, imposes selective pressure on insects and pathogens. This selective pressure provides incentives for pathogens and insects to diversify and develop strategies to counter plant defense. This results in an evolutionary arms race among plants, pathogens and insects. The ever‐changing adaptations and physiological alterations among these organisms make studying plant–vector–pathogen interactions a challenging and fascinating field. Studying plant defense and plant protection requires knowledge of the relationship among organisms and the adaptive strategies each organism utilize. Therefore, this review focuses on the integral parts of plant–vector–pathogen interactions in order to understand the factors that affect plant defense and disease development. The review addresses plant–vector–pathogen co‐evolution, plant defense strategies, specificity of plant defenses and plant–vector–pathogen interactions. Improving the comprehension of these factors will provide a multi‐dimensional perspective for the future research in pest and disease management.
Lean production, employee learning and workplace outcomes: a case analysis through the ability‐motivation‐opportunity framework
Authors: Sterling Amanda , Boxall Peter
Published: December 2012

This study examines an implementation of lean production in fast‐moving consumer goods manufacturing, analysing how it has affected employee learning and job quality. We find major variation in these outcomes. Where line managers have relinquished significant control, and workers have had the requisite levels of literacy, more powerful forms of learning have occurred, and the outcomes are mutually beneficial. However, deeper learning has yet to take hold where production pressures are high, line managers are not enabling and workers lack self‐efficacy because of low literacy. Better outcomes depend on greater investments in the development and ongoing support of front‐line managers and in literacy development. The study shows how the ability‐motivation‐opportunity framework can be used to organise relevant theory and throw light on the systemic nature of workplace learning.
Anticoagulation in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Low Ejection Fraction, and Sinus Rhythm: Back to the Drawing Board
Authors: Mischie Alexandru Nicolae , Chioncel Valentin , Droc Ionel , Sinescu Crina
Published: December 2012

Heart failure patients present an important thrombo‐embolic risk, including symptomatic or silent peripheral arterial embolism, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. Patients in sinus rhythm who have concomitant depressed (<35%) left ventricular ejection fraction have a 4% rate of embolic events. Several prospective randomized trials of anticoagulation in this group of patients were either underpowered or had a short period of follow‐up. Even though in two studies warfarin had a slight advantage over aspirin (in the WATCH and WARCEF trials), it was at the cost of an increased risk in major hemorrhage. To decrease bleeding rates and to improve anticoagulant effect, new treatment strategies have to be tested. Novel anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban) seem to be a promising alternative.
Potato purple top phytoplasma‐induced disruption of gibberellin homeostasis in tomato plants
Authors: Ding Y. , Wu W. , Wei W. , Davis R.E. , Lee I.‐M. , Hammond R.W. , Sheng J.P. , Shen L. , Jiang Y. , Zhao Y.
Published: December 2012

Phytoplasmas are phloem‐inhabiting, cell wall‐less bacteria that cause numerous plant diseases worldwide. Plants infected by phytoplasmas often exhibit various symptoms indicative of hormonal imbalance. In this study, we investigated the effects of potato purple top (PPT) phytoplasma infection on gibberellin homeostasis in tomato plants. We found that PPT phytoplasma infection caused a significant reduction in endogenous levels of gibberellic acid (GA3). The decrease in GA3 content in diseased plants was correlated with down regulation of genes responsible for biosynthesis of bioactive GAs ( GA20ox1 and GA3ox1) and genes involved in formation of GA precursors [geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPS) and copalyldiphosphate synthase (CPS)]. Exogenous application of GA3 at 200 µmol L−1 was able to restore the GA content in infected plants to levels comparable to those in healthy controls, and to attenuate the characteristic ‘big bud’ symptoms induced by the phytoplasma. The interesting observation that PPT phytoplasma‐infected plants had prolonged low expression of key GA biosynthesis genes GA20ox1 and GA3ox1 under GA deficiency conditions led us to hypothesise that there was a diminished sensitivity of the GA metabolism feedback regulation, especially GA biosynthesis negative feedback regulation, in those affected plants, and such diminished sensitization in early stages of infection may represent a central element of the phytoplasma‐induced disruption of GA homeostasis and pathogenesis.
Histology and immunochemistry evaluation of autologous translocation of retinal pigment epithelium‐choroid graft in porcine eyes
Authors: Fernandez‐Bueno Ivan , Rodriguez de la Rua Enrique , Hileeto Denise , Parrado Maria Luisa , Regueiro‐Purriños Marta , Sala‐Puigdollers Anna , Srivastava Girish K. , Gonzalo‐Orden Jose Manuel , Pastor Jose Carlos
Published: December 2012

Purpose:  To evaluate structure and cellular functionality of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)‐choroid grafts after autologous translocation in porcine eyes.

Methods:  Retinal pigment epithelium‐choroid grafts were obtained from the nasal midperiphery donor site and translocated to the central area in 12 pigs (12 eyes). Grafts were placed under the central retina through a retinotomy. Ophthalmoscopic and pathological evaluations were performed immediately (n = 1) and at 15 (n = 3) and 30 (n = 3) days after surgery. Untranslocated nasal RPE‐choroid grafts were obtained at time of surgery and used as controls. Specimens were evaluated by standard histology and by immunochemical studies of RPE65, CRALBP and GFAP.

Results:  Five animals were lost to follow‐up owing to surgery or anaesthesia complications. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed that the grafts remained in place at all time‐points studied. Fifteen and thirty days postsurgery, some areas of the transplanted RPE maintained a monolayered structure. Retinal pigment epithelium cells were firmly attached to Bruch’s membrane and predominantly preserved polarity and pigment distribution. However, RPE65, CRALBP and GFAP patterns of expression and distribution were diminished and modified during follow‐up. Ophthalmoscopic retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), confirmed by microscopic evaluation, complicated all cases at 30 days of follow‐up.

Conclusion:  Autologous RPE‐choroid grafts survived up to 30 days in porcine eyes. Histological and immunochemical evaluation revealed preserved transplanted RPE cells morphology accompanied by alterations in the immunoreactivity expression of functional proteins, and development of significant PVR. The data presented in this manuscript provide insights into the fate, viability and cellular functionality of the transplanted RPE‐choroid graft, serving as foundation for further knowledge and improvement of this technique.
Social Relations, Health Behaviors, and Health Outcomes: A Survey and Synthesis
Authors: Tay Louis , Tan Kenneth , Diener Ed , Gonzalez Elizabeth
Published: December 2012

The primary goal of this paper is to summarise current evidence on social relations and health, specifically how social integration and social support are related to health behaviors and health outcomes, using results from published reviews. Our analysis revealed that social relations are beneficial for health behaviors such as chronic illness self‐management and decreased suicidal tendency. The salutary effects of general measures of social relations (e.g. being validated, being cared for, etc.) on health behaviors (e.g. healthy diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol abuse) are weaker, but specific measures of social relations targeting corresponding health behaviors are more predictive. There is growing evidence that social relations are predictive of mortality and cardiovascular disease, and social relations play an equally protective role against both the incidence and progression of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, evidence was mixed for the association between social relations and cancer. We discuss these findings and potential areas for future research such as other dimensions of social relations, support–receiver interactions, and observer ratings of social relations.
The Promise and Peril of the Pharmacological Enhancer Modafinil
Authors: Tannenbaum Julie
Published: December 2012

The neuro‐enhancement Modafinil promises to dramatically increase users' waking hours without much sacrifice to clarity of thought and without serious side effects (inducing addiction). For Modafinil to be advantageous, its usage must enable access to goods that themselves improve the quality of one's life. I draw attention to a variety of conditions that must be met for an experience, activity or object to improve the quality of one's life, such as positional, relational, and saturation conditions, as well as it's being good for its own sake. I discuss and describe the contexts in which widespread usage (legal or not) of Modafinil would undermine these conditions being met, and thus users would fail to significantly improve the quality of their lives and would in fact potentially make both themselves and nonusers worse off in important respects thus far overlooked by critics. In the right contexts, where free time is protected and prolonged, Modafinil does have a variety of potential benefits including, most interestingly, a distinctive form of agency possible only in free time. The potential disadvantages and advantages highlighted in this article are relevant not only to public institutions deciding whether to legalize Modafinil's use as an enhancement but also to individuals deciding whether to use it illegally, as well as to the questions of how and whether to alter key features of one's context (e.g. regulating work hours or extending social services) rather than, or in addition, to regulating the use of enhancement drugs such as Modafinil.
Further exploration of theYoungCarersPerceivedStressScale: Identifying a benefit‐finding dimension
Authors: Cassidy Tony , Giles Melanie
Published: December 2012

Objectives

A substantial number of children are involved in informal caregiving and make a significant contribution to health care delivery. While this places high levels of demand on their coping resources, there is some evidence that these children find benefit in their caring role. TheYoungCarersPerceivedStressScale (YCPSS) (Earlyet al., 2006,J.ChildFam.Stud.,15, 169) identified a positive dimension of caring, which appears to have potential in terms of measuring benefit finding in this group. The current study aimed to further exploreYCPSSto clarify this dimension.

Design

A survey design using questionnaire data collection was used with a sample of 329 children between the ages of 12 and 16.

Methods

A pool of 52 items based on theYCPSSwas administered along with measures of support, coping, and psychological distress to 329 young carers attending organized support groups.

Results

Factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction identified six factors including one 8‐item dimension labelledbenefit finding, which had good internal reliability and produced a pattern of correlations with support, coping, and psychological distress indicating initial evidence of validity.

Conclusions

The study produced initial evidence for reliability and validity of an 8‐itembenefit‐findingmeasure, as well as a clearer set of dimensions for the originalYCPSS. The resulting measures should prove useful in further explorations of benefit finding and resilience in young carers.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?There is some emerging evidence that child caregivers experience some positive effects or benefits from their caring in spite of the demands of the role. We could find only one scale (of 18 items) reported by Pakenham, Chiu, Bursnall, and Cannon (2007) in one study and not subsequently reported in any other research. The current study provides a short (8‐item) scale. To more fully understand the conditions in which benefit finding occurs to support the health and well‐being of this group, a measure is needed.

What does this study add?This study provides a reliable and valid measure and some preliminary evidence for benefit finding in young carers.
Cancer metabolism: Key players in metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Soga Tomoyoshi
Published: December 2012

Over 80 years ago, Warburg discovered that cancer cells generate ATP through the glycolytic pathway, even in the presence of oxygen. The finding of this phenomenon, termed the “Warburg effect,” stimulated much research on tumorigenesis, but few explanations were forthcoming to explain the observation. Recently, advanced developments in molecular biology and high‐throughput molecular analyses have revealed that many of the signaling pathways altered by gene mutations regulate cell metabolism in cancer. Furthermore, mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 were shown to elevate 2‐hydroxyglutarate, which led to changes in α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase enzyme activity, resulting in an increased risk of malignant tumors. Although these findings led to a renewed interest in cancer metabolism, our knowledge on the specifics of tumor metabolism is still fragmented. This paper reviews recent findings related to key transcription factors and enzymes that play an important role in the regulation of cancer metabolism.
Is the cluster risk model of parental adversities better than the cumulative risk model as an indicator of childhood physical abuse?: findings from two representative community surveys
Authors: Fuller‐Thomson E. , Sawyer J.‐L.
Published: December 2012

Background

Screening strategies for childhood physical abuse (CPA) need to be improved in order to identify those most at risk. This study uses two regionally representative community samples to examine whether a cluster or cumulative model of risk indicators (i.e. parental divorce, parental unemployment, and parental addictions) explains a larger proportion of the variation in CPA.

Methods

Data were drawn from Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey (1994–1995) and Canadian Community Health Survey 3.1 (2005). Response rates were greater than 80% in both samples. Each survey had approximately 13 000 respondents aged 18 and over who answered questions about the above adverse childhood experiences.

Results

A gradient was shown with similar outcomes in each data set. Only 3.4% of adults who experienced none of the three risk indicators reported they had been physically abused during childhood or adolescence. The prevalence of CPA was greater among those who experienced parental divorce alone (8.3%–10.7%), parental unemployment alone (8.9%–9.7%) or parental addictions alone (18.0%–19.5%). When all three risk indicators were present, the prevalence of CPA ranged from 36.0%–41.0% and the age‐sex‐race adjusted odds were greater than 15 times that of individuals with none of the three risk indicators. The cluster model explained a statistically significantly larger proportion of the variation than the cumulative model although the difference between the two models was modest. For the purposes of parsimony, the cumulative model may be the better alternative.

Conclusions

Adults who were exposed to two or more childhood risk indicators were much more likely to report that they were physically abused during their childhood than those with only one or no risk factors. Medical professionals may use this information on cumulative risk factors to more effectively target screening for potential CPA. Future research should include prospective studies.
Role Models and the Psychological Characteristics That Buffer Low‐Socioeconomic‐Status Youth From Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Chen Edith , Lee William K. , Cavey Lisa , Ho Amanda
Published: December 2012

Little is understood about why some youth from low‐socioeconomic‐status (SES) environments exhibit good health despite adversity. This study tested whether role models and “shift‐and‐persist” approaches (reframing stressors more benignly while persisting with future optimism) protect low‐SES youth from cardiovascular risk. A total of 163 youth, ages 13–16, completed role model interviews and shift‐and‐persist measures while cholesterol and inflammatory markers, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and C‐reactive protein were assessed. Low‐SES youth with supportive role models had lower IL‐6. Low‐SES youth high in shift‐and‐persist also had lower IL‐6. Shift‐and‐persist partially mediated the interaction of SES and role models on IL‐6. Benefits were not found among high‐SES youth. Identifying psychological buffers in low‐SES youth has implications for health disparities.
The effect of oral‐like environment on dental implants’ fatigue performance
Authors: Shemtov‐Yona Keren , Rittel Daniel , Levin Liran , Machtei Eli E.
Published: December 2012

Aim and Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of fluid environment mimicking intra‐oral conditions on fatigue performance of standard diameter, 3.75‐mm implants. Dental implants placed intra‐orally are repeatedly submitted to mastication loads in the oral environment, which differ substantially from room‐air standard laboratory conditions. Several studies that examined fracture surfaces of intra‐orally fractured dental implants have identified corrosion fatigue as the main failure mechanism. Yet, fatigue performance of dental implants has been essentially studied in room air, based on the premise that the implant material is relatively resistant to corrosion in the intra‐oral environment.

Material and methods

Thirty‐two 3.75‐mm titanium alloy implants were tested under cyclic compressive loading. The tests were performed in artificial saliva substitute containing 250 ppm of fluoride. The loading machine stopped running when the implant structure collapsed or when it completed 5 × 106 cycles without apparent failure. The load vs. number of cycles was plotted as curve for biomechanical fatigue analysis (S–N curve). The S–N curve plotted for the artificial saliva test was compared to the curve obtained previously for the same implants tested in a room‐air environment. Failure analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results

A comparison of the S–N curves obtained in artificial saliva and in room air showed a considerable difference. The S–N curve obtained in the artificial saliva environment showed a finite life region between 535N and 800N. The transition region was found below 465N, with a probability of survival of 50%, while in room air, the transition region was between 810N and 620N and an infinite life region below 620N was identified.

Conclusions

The results of this study show that environmental conditions adversely affect implants' fatigue performance. This fact should be taken into account when evaluating the mechanical properties of dental implants.
Prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of ulinastatin for prevention of hyperenzymemia after double balloon endoscopy via the antegrade approach
Authors: Itaba Soichi , Nakamura Kazuhiko , Aso Akira , Tokunaga Shoji , Akiho Hirotada , Ihara Eikichi , Iboshi Yoichiro , Iwasa Tsutomu , Akahoshi Kazuya , Ito Tetsuhide , Takayanagi Ryoichi
Published: December 2012

Background

Double balloon endoscopy (DBE) allows the entire small intestine to be viewed using a combination of antegrade and retrograde approaches. Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of antegrade DBE with no effective prophylactic treatment currently available. Ulinastatin has been shown to be effective for the prevention of pancreatitis following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We therefore assessed the efficacy of ulinastatin for hyperenzymemia after antegrade DBE.

Patients and methods

Forty‐four patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Patients in the ulinastatin group received 150 000 U ulinastatin by i.v. drip infusion for 2 h from the start of the procedure. Serum concentrations of pancreatic amylase and lipase were measured before and 3 and 18 h after antegrade DBE.

Results

The study was terminated after interim analysis. Of the 44 patients, 23 were randomized to ulinastatin and 21 to placebo.The groups were similar with regard to sex ratio, age, type of endoscope, insertion time, total procedure time, number of endoscope pull‐back procedures, and baseline pancreaticamylase and lipase concentrations. Post‐DBE hyperenzymemia was observed in 35.0% and 47.8% of patients in the placebo and ulinastatin groups, respectively. The higher frequency of hyperenzymemia in the ulinastatin group was unexpected, but the difference was not statistically significant. One patient in the placebo group (5.0%) and none in the ulinastatin group experienced acute pancreatitis, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The results of this trial suggest that ulinastatin does not prevent hyperenzymemia following antegrade DBE.
Multisensory and unisensory neurons in ferret parietal cortex exhibit distinct functional properties
Authors: Foxworthy W. Alex , Allman Brian L. , Keniston Leslie P. , Meredith M. Alex
Published: December 2012

Despite the fact that unisensory and multisensory neurons are comingled in every neural structure in which they have been identified, no systematic comparison of their response features has been conducted. Towards that goal, the present study was designed to examine and compare measures of response magnitude, latency, duration and spontaneous activity in unisensory and bimodal neurons from the ferret parietal cortex. Using multichannel single‐unit recording, bimodal neurons were observed to demonstrate significantly higher response levels and spontaneous discharge rates than did their unisensory counterparts. These results suggest that, rather than merely reflect different connectional arrangements, unisensory and multisensory neurons are likely to differ at the cellular level. Thus, it can no longer be assumed that the different populations of bimodal and unisensory neurons within a neural region respond similarly to a given external stimulus.
Plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in previously laminitic ponies
Authors: Wray H. , Elliott J. , Bailey S. R. , Harris P. A. , Menzies‐Gow N. J.
Published: December 2012

Reasons for performing study

The mechanisms underlying individual animal predisposition to pasture‐associated laminitis remain unclear; however, chronic inflammation is implicated.

Objectives

To identify differences in the inflammatory profile of a group of previously laminitic ponies compared with control animals at pasture in late spring and winter.

Methods

Previously laminitic (PL; n = 38 and 42) and nonlaminitic control ponies (NL; n = 41 and 39) were sampled in late spring and winter. Body condition score, height, weight and crest height and thickness were measured. Plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor‐α, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, insulin, adiponectin, triglyceride, fibrinogen, interleukin‐17, interleukin‐4 and interferon‐γ were assayed by validated/standard methods. Factors independently associated with each cytokine were determined by multivariate analysis.

Results

Plasma [adiponectin] was significantly influenced by laminitis status, being lower in PL (median [interquartile range] 2.1[1.4–3.2] μg/l) than in NL ponies (3.4 [2.6–4.1] μg/l; P<0.0001). No other cytokines or inflammatory markers were associated with laminitis status. Plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A concentrations were significantly (P = 0.04 and P = 0.01) higher in geldings (3.5 [3.0–4.0] g/l; 2.2 [0.5–3.6] mg/l) than in mares (3.0 [3.0–4.0] g/l; 1.5 [0.4–2.1] mg/l) and significantly (P = 0.04 and P<0.001) higher in winter (3.5 [3.0–4.0] g/l; 2.5 [0.9–3.6] mg/l) than in late spring (3.0 [3.0–3.5] g/l; 1.1 [0.3–1.9] mg/l). Serum haptoglobin concentration showed the same significant (P<0.001) seasonal difference (winter 2.1 [1.6–2.6 g/l; late spring 1.8 1.4–2.4 g/l) and was significantly (P = 0.01) inversely associated with weight. Serum interleukin‐4 concentration was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in winter (2.0 [1.2–3.0] ng/l) than in late spring (0.0 [0.0–0.0] ng/l). Serum insulin concentration was significantly (P = 0.02) influenced by season (winter 31.7 [9.6–43.5] miu/l; late spring 84.0 [7.0–131.0] miu/l). Plasma triglyceride concentration was significantly (P = 0.02) higher in PL (0.5 [0.3–0.7] mmol/l) than in NL ponies (0.4 [0.2–0.5] mmol/l).

Conclusions

There were significant effects of season, gender and bodyweight on a number of proinflammatory mediators or markers of inflammation. The only marker influenced by laminitis status was adiponectin, and concentrations of this anti‐inflammatory marker were lower in previously laminitic animals.

Potential relevance

Recurrent laminitis may be associated with reduced anti‐inflammatory capacity rather than a proinflammatory state.
Comparison of glycopyrrolate and atropine in ameliorating the adverse effects of imidocarb dipropionate in horses
Authors: Donnellan C. M. B. , Page P. C. , Nurton J. P. , van den Berg J. S. , Guthrie A. J.
Published: December 2012

Reasons for performing study

Imidocarb, an effective treatment for piroplasmosis, may cause colic and diarrhoea in horses. Atropine and glycopyrrolate are anticholinergics that could reduce the adverse effects of imidocarb. However, atropine and glycopyrrolate inhibit gastrointestinal motility, potentially causing ileus and colic.

Objectives

To compare glycopyrrolate and atropine in ameliorating the adverse effects of imidocarb dipropionate in horses and to determine the effect of combinations of these drugs on the gastrointestinal tract.

Methods

A blinded, randomised, crossover study was performed in 8 healthy horses. Each horse received 0.9% saline i.m and i.v. (CON), and imidocarb 2.4 mg/kg bwt i.m. with one of 3 treatments i.v.: 0.9% saline (IMI), atropine 0.02 mg/kg bwt (IMATROP) and glycopyrrolate 0.0025 mg/kg bwt (IMGLYCO). Clinical data, gastrointestinal motility via borborygmi and frequency of contractions in the duodenum, caecum and right dorsal colon assessed with transabdominal ultrasound, and faecal data were measured.

Results

After imidocarb/saline treatment colic and diarrhoea were noted in 3 and 4 horses, respectively, faecal production and defaecation were increased for 3 h and faecal water percentage for 6 h. Colic was noted after atropine treatment in 4 horses, borborygmi and frequency of right dorsal colon contractions were significantly decreased for 2 h 15 min, and faecal production was not significantly different fromCON. After glycopyrrolate treatment, colic was seen in one horse, frequency of intestinal contractions and faecal data were not significantly different fromCON, and borborygmi was significantly decreased fromCONat 1 h 15 min.

Conclusions

Results of this study suggest that glycopyrrolate is superior to atropine in ameliorating the adverse effects of imidocarb.

Potential relevance

Glycopyrrolate could be administered with imidocarb in horses with piroplasmosis to reduce the adverse effects of imidocarb.
HLA‐E*0103X is associated with susceptibility to Pemphigus vulgaris
Authors: Bhanusali Dhaval G. , Sachdev Amit , Rahmanian Abootaleb , Gerlach John A. , Tong Joo Chaun , Seiffert‐Sinha Kristina , Sinha Animesh A.
Published: December 2012

Non‐classical human leucocyte antigen‐E (HLA‐E) mediates natural killer and CD8+ T‐cell activity, suggesting a role in the regulation of autoimmunity. HLA‐E*0103X/*0103X has been associated with Behcet's disease and HLA‐E *0101/*0103X with childhood onset diabetes. We investigated HLA‐E allele status in 52 Caucasian and Ashkenazi Jewish Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patients and 51 healthy controls by restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction and amplification refractory mutation system. Associations were determined via chi‐square test, Fisher's exact test and logistical regression analysis. HLA‐E outcomes included presumed homozygous *0101/*0101 or *0103X/*0103X genotype status or *0101/*0103X heterozygous status. PV did not significantly associate with either *0101/*0101 or *0101/*0103X genotypes. HLA‐E*0103X/*0103X (presumed homozygote) is significantly increased in patients with PV versus controls (P = 0.0146, OR = 3.730, 95%CI = 1.241–11.213). Our data provide the first evidence that HLA‐E*0103X is a marker for genetic risk in PV.
Response of three lotic assemblages to riparian and catchment‐scale land use: implications for designing catchment monitoring programmes
Authors: FELD CHRISTIAN K.
Published: December 2012

1. Although many studies have focussed on the effects of catchment land use on lotic systems, the importance of broad (catchment) and fine (segment/reach) scale effects on stream assemblages remain poorly understood.

2. Nine biological metrics for macrophytes (498 sites), benthic macroinvertebrates (491) and fish (478) of lowland and mountain streams in four ecoregions of France and Germany were related to catchment and riparian buffer land use using partial Redundancy Analysis and Boosted Regression Trees (BRTs).

3. Lotic fauna was better correlated (mean max., r = 0.450) than flora (r = 0.277) to both scales of land use: the strongest correlations were noted for mountain streams. BRTs revealed strong non‐linear relationships between mountain assemblage metrics and land use. Correlations increased with increasing buffer lengths, suggesting the importance of near‐stream land use on biotic assemblages.

4. Several metrics changed markedly between 10–20% (mountain ecoregions) and 40–45% (lowland) of arable land use, irrespective of the buffer size. At mountain sites with >10% catchment arable land use, metric values differed between sites with <30% and sites with >30% forest in the near‐stream riparian area.

5. These findings support the role of riparian land use in catchment management; however, differences between mountain and lowland ecoregions support the need for ecoregion‐specific management.
Inhibitors: our greatest challenge. Can we minimize the incidence?
Authors: Kruse‐Jarres R.
Published: December 2012

Development of alloantibodies against infused factor VIII (FVIII) is the most significant complication of haemophilia care today. Antibodies inactivate the procoagulant activity of FVIII and inhibit patients' response to replacement therapy. As inhibitors tend to develop early in the course of FVIII treatment, the challenge is to bring patients through the critical early phase of FVIII exposure without inhibitor development as the subsequent risk is much lower. Disease severity, major FVIII gene defects, family history and non‐Caucasian race are major risk factors for inhibitor development. Other variables thought to play a role in inhibitor formation include age at first treatment, intensity of early treatment, use of prophylaxis and product choice [especially recombinant vs. plasma‐derived von Willebrand factor (VWF)‐containing concentrates]. As these treatment‐related variables are modifiable, they provide opportunity to minimize inhibitor incidence at the clinical level. At present, most data regarding inhibitor development derive from retrospective studies, registry reviews, small case series and uncontrolled studies. Findings have often been conflicting, which precludes drawing definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, some clarity is beginning to emerge. Intensity of early treatment appears to be a stronger risk factor for inhibitor development than timing of first treatment. Controlled early antigen presentation via prophylaxis looks promising, particularly in conjunction with strategies to avoid immunological danger signals, but the timing of introduction and optimal regimen are not yet known. Several reports suggest that plasma‐derived VWF‐containing FVIII concentrates are less immunogenic than recombinant or VWF‐free plasma‐derived concentrates, but this is awaiting confirmation in the ongoing prospective Survey of Inhibitors in Plasma‐Product Exposed Toddlers study.
The immune tolerance induction (ITI) dose debate: does the International ITI Study provide a clearer picture?
Authors: Ettingshausen C. Escuriola , Kreuz W.
Published: December 2012

Among the proposed predictors for immune tolerance induction (ITI) outcome, the therapeutic regimen – specifically the dose and frequency of administered factor VIII (FVIII) as well as FVIII product type – is intensely debated. Are there any advantages for low‐dose regimens (50 IU FVIII kg−1 three times a week) over high‐dose regimens (200 IU FVIII kg day−1) or vice versa? Are von Willebrand factor (VWF)‐containing plasma‐derived concentrates superior to recombinant FVIII concentrates for tolerance induction? A review of the available literature indicates that patients with good prognostic factors can achieve success with either low‐dose or high‐dose ITI regimens. Retrospective data suggest that patient characteristics such as maximum historical inhibitor titres and pre‐ITI inhibitor titres are better predictors of treatment success than dose. Results of the prospective International ITI Study have recently become available. In inhibitor patients with good prognosis, success rates were similar between low‐dose (50 IU FVIII kg−1 three times a week) and high‐dose (200 IU FVIII kg−1 daily) regimens. However, patients receiving low‐dose ITI took longer to achieve various ITI milestones and had a significantly higher bleed rate per month compared with the high‐dose group (0.62 vs. 0.28; P = 0.00024), findings with important clinical implications. Inhibitor patients with poor prognostic features should be treated with a high‐dose protocol. This conclusion is supported by a meta‐analysis of the International Immune Tolerance Registry and North American Immune Tolerance Registry and by data from Germany showing good success rates with the high‐dose, high‐frequency Bonn protocol in poor prognosis patients. Type of concentrate also appears to have an influence on ITI success rates in this patient subgroup, with evidence suggesting an advantage for VWF‐containing plasma‐derived FVIII concentrates over recombinant or VWF‐free concentrates. The ongoing prospective studies REScue Immunotolerance STudy and Observational Immune Tolerance Induction are evaluating ITI outcome with respect to product type and are expected to answer this important clinical question as well as provide greater insight into patient‐ and therapy‐related variables in inhibitor patients with poor prognostic features.
An α‐l‐rhamnosidase from Aspergillus awamori MTCC‐2879 and its role in debittering of orange juice
Authors: Yadav Sarita , Yadav Rama S. S. , Yadav Kapil D. S.
Published: December 2012

The extracellular α‐l‐rhamnosidase has been purified by growing a new fungal strain Aspergillus awamori MTCC‐2879 in the liquid culture growth medium containing orange peel. The purification procedure involved ultrafiltration using PM‐10 membrane and anion‐exchange chromatography on diethyl amino ethyl cellulose. The purified enzyme gave single protein band in SDS‐PAGE analysis corresponding to molecular mass 75.0 kDa. The native PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme also gave a single protein band, confirming the purity of the enzyme. The Km and Vmax values of the enzyme for p‐nitrophenyl‐α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside were 0.62 mm and 27.06 μmole min−1 mg−1, respectively, yielding kcat and kcat/km values 39.90 s−1 and 54.70 mm−1 s−1, respectively. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 7.0 and optimum temperature of 60 °C. The activation energy for the thermal denaturation of the enzyme was 35.65 kJ−1 mol−1 K−1. The purified enzyme can be used for specifically cleaving terminal α‐l‐rhamnose from the natural glycosides, thereby contributing to the preparation of pharmaceutically important compounds like prunin and l‐rhamnose.
Can tamsulosin facilitate expulsion of ureteral stones? A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Fan Bo , Yang Deyong , Wang Jianbo , Che Xiangyu , Li Xiancheng , Wang Lina , Chen Feng , Wang Tiezheng , Song Xishuang
Published: December 2012

Objectives

To determine the efficacy and safety of the adrenergic alpha‐antagonist tamsulosin in facilitating ureteral stones expulsion.

Methods

A literature search was carried out using the PubMed database, Medline via Ovid, Embase and the Cochrane Library database to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficiency of tamsulosin in the treatment of ureteral stones. Meta‐analysis and forest plots were carried out by use of Review Manager version 5.1 software (Cochrane Collaboration).

Results

Compared with the control group, the tamsulosin group had an increase in expulsion rate of 51% and a decrease in expulsion time of 2.63 days. Furthermore, tamsulosin was found to reduce the risk of ureteral colic during treatment by 40% and also the risk of requirement of auxiliary procedures during follow up by 60%. In terms of safety, the tamsulosin group had a 117% increase in the incidence of side‐effects compared with the control group, especially for incidence of dizziness.

Conclusion

Tamsulosin facilitates the expulsion of ureteral calculi by providing a higher expulsion rate, a shorter expulsion time, a lower incidence of ureteral colic during treatment and a lower requirement of auxiliary procedures. However, the incidence of dizziness occurring during tamsulosin treatment is significantly higher in this setting.
Super‐resolution characterization of TCR‐dependent signaling clusters
Authors: Sherman Eilon , Barr Valarie , Samelson Lawrence E.
Published: December 2012

Multi‐molecular signaling complexes drive the earliest events of immune cell activation via immunoreceptors with unexplained specificity and speed. Fluorescence microscopy has shown that these complexes form microclusters at the plasma membrane of activated T cells upon engagement of their antigen receptors (TCRs). Although crucial for cell function, much remains to be learned about the molecular content, fine structure, formation mechanisms, and function of these microclusters. Recent advancements in super‐resolution microscopy have enabled the study of signaling microclusters at the single molecule level with resolution down to approximately 20 nm. These techniques have now helped to characterize the size distributions of signaling clusters at the plasma membrane of intact cells and to shed light on the formation mechanisms that govern their assembly. Surprisingly, dynamic and functional nanostructures have been identified within the signaling clusters. We expect that these novel methodologies, combined with older techniques, will shed new light on the nature of signaling clusters and their critical role in T‐cell activation.
The function of sub‐synaptic vesicles during T‐cell activation
Authors: Purbhoo Marco A.
Published: December 2012

The immune synapse is central to the regulation of T‐cell activation and effector functions. Vesicular compartments dynamically interact with the immune synapse. Here they take part in the trafficking of signaling components to and from the synaptic cleft, as well as in the directed delivery and release of T‐cell effector compounds. In addition to ferrying cargo, emerging evidence indicates that vesicular compartments at the immune synapse are actively involved in the signaling processes which underlie T‐cell activation, specifically that they productively interact with signaling microclusters at the synapse, or become sites of signaling themselves. How different classes of sub‐synaptic vesicular compartments associate with the immune synapse and to what extent they influence the processes there remains only partially understood. I here discuss the mechanisms underlying the interactions between vesicular compartments and the immune synapse and the contributions such interactions have on T‐cell activity, with particular focus on the advantages to the regulation of T‐cell signaling.
Building tolerance by dismantling synapses: inhibitory receptor signaling in natural killer cells
Authors: Huse Morgan , Catherine Milanoski S. , Abeyweera Thushara P.
Published: December 2012

Cell surface receptors bearing immunotyrosine‐based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) maintain natural killer (NK) cell tolerance to normal host tissues. These receptors are difficult to analyze mechanistically because they block activating responses in a rapid and comprehensive manner. The advent of high‐resolution single cell imaging techniques has enabled investigators to explore the cell biological basis of the inhibitory response. Recent studies using these approaches indicate that ITIM‐containing receptors function at least in part by structurally undermining the immunological synapse between the NK cell and its target. In this review, we discuss these new advances and how they might relate to what is known about the biochemistry of inhibitory signaling in NK cells and other cell types.