bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H MRS) in Patients with Sporadic Cerebellar Degeneration
Authors: Terakawa Haruhiko , Abe Kazuo , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Nakamura Masaichi , Fujita Norihiko , Hirabuki Norio , Yanagihara Takehiko
Published: February 2016

The authors studied 23 patients with cerebellar degeneration including multiple systemic atrophy (MSA) and cerebellar cortical atrophy (CCA) by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy C HMRS). 1H‐MRS allowed noninvasive measurement of the signal intensities derived from N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine+phosphocreatine (CRE), and choline‐containing compounds (CHO). There was significant reduction of the NAA/CRE level in the frontal cortex, putamen, cerebellar hemisphere and cerebellar vermis of patients with MSA, and in the frontal cortex, cerebellar hemisphere and cerebellar vermis of patients with CCA as compared with those of normal controls. There was significant reduction of the NAA/CRE level also in the putamen of patients with MSA as compared with that of patients with CCA. These results indicated the presence of a degenerative process and/or functional impairment in the frontal cortex and putamen of patients with MSA and in the frontal cortex of patients with CCA, in addition to a degenerative process in the cerebellum. There was a significant correlation between the NAA/CRE level and the severity of clinical signs. 1H‐MRS is valuable in providing information regarding the pathophysiology and the progress of cerebellar degenerative diseases. Key words: proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, cerebellar cortical atrophy, multiple system atrophy, N‐acetylaspartate.
Diagnosis of MCA‐Occlusion and Monitoring of Systemic Thrombolytic Therapy With Contrast Enhanced Transcranial Duplex‐Sonography
Authors: Mäurer M. , Müllges W. , Becker G.
Published: February 2016

A case of a successful systemic thrombolysis of an acute middle carotid artery occlusion is reported. The case underlines the role of contrast‐enhanced transcranial color‐coded duplex sonography as a noninvasive technique for rapid diagnosis of vessel occlusion in acute stroke. The diagnostic potential of transcranial color‐coded duplex sonography for indication and monitoring of intravenous systemic thrombolytic therapy is demonstrated.
Transcranial Doppler Findings During Balloon Test Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery
Authors: Bhattacharjee Abesh Kumar , Tamaki Norihiko , Wada Taro , Hara Yoshie , Ehara Kazumasa
Published: February 2016

The authors performed transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) during internal carotid artery (ICA) balloon test occlusion (BTO) and observed changes in mean flow velocity (Vm) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and pulsatility index (PI) while monitoring the stump pressure (Sp) of the internal carotid artery (ICA), and neurologic findings. A group of 17 patients requiring possible temporary or permanent occlusion of the ICA in the course of planned procedures first underwent BTO. A patient who either developed neurologic changes or maintained less than 60% of preocclusion Sp or Vm in the ipsilateral MCA during BTO was considered to have a positive test. Eleven patients had negative results, while in six patients, tests were positive. Mean flow velocity showed a decrease after occlusion in all cases but not to a remarkable extent in some patients. Stump pressure decreased in all negative cases after balloon inflation and than tended to increase progressively during 15 minutes of BTO. Pulsatility index tended to decrease gradually during BTO in all negative patients. However, in positive cases, PI and Sp fell steeply. Only one positive case had a neurologic symptom of severe headache. The decreased PI in the MCA reflected autoregulatory dilation of cerebral vessels to compensate for decreased absolute cerebral blood volume following ICA occlusion. Changes in PI are a good indicator for evaluating blood flow during BTO.
Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Shen Yeh‐You , Kao Chia‐Hung , Ho Yung‐Jen , Lee Jong‐Kang
Published: February 2016

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without definite neuropsychiatric symptoms/signs were studied. Technetium‐99m (Tc‐99m) hexamethylpropylenamine (HMPAO) brain images were used to detect basal ganglion and cerebral cortex regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with SLE with brain involvement. One hundred nine female patients with SLE were investigated using Tc‐99m HMPAO brain images with fan‐beam single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and surface three‐dimensional (3D) display. These patients were separated into 2 subgroups: group 1, 74 cases with definite neuropsychiatric symptoms/signs; and group 2, 35 cases without any neuropsychiatric symptoms/signs. Fan‐beam SPECT demonstrated unilateral or bilateral hypoperfusion of basal ganglia or thalamus in 22% and 9% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Local hypoactivity anomalies were found in the brain cortex of 89% and 20% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively, using surface 3D display of the brain. In either group 1 or group 2 patients, parietal and frontal lobes are the most common areas and cerebellum and thalamus are the least common areas of brain involvement, respectively. This study suggests that in comparison with traditional brain imaging techniques, Tc‐99m HMPAO brain imaging with fan‐beam SPECT in combination with surface 3D display may provide objective information for detection of anomalies of rCBF in patients with SLE.
Single‐Photon Emission Computed Tomography of the Dopamine Transporter in Parkinsonism
Authors: Seibyl John P.
Published: February 2016

The known dopaminergic abnormalities in Parkinson's disease have facilitated the development of radiolabeled biomarkers for diagnostic and research applications in humans. Presynaptic, intrasynaptic, and postsynaptic imaging now is possible using single‐photon emission computed tomography. In particular, the development of new radiotracers that target the dopamine transporter located on degenerating dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease and related disorders is directly relevant to improved clinical diagnosis, disease monitoring, and assessment of putative neuroprotective strategies in patients. In addition, the ability to characterize in vivo neuronal degeneration in these disorders provides a powerful research tool to better understand the natural course of these disorders and could provide clues to etiology.
Development and Applications of 4‐D Ultrasound (Dynamic 3‐D) in Neurosonology
Authors: Delcker Andreas , Schürks Markus , Polz Hans
Published: February 2016

The development and application of color‐coded data in three‐dimensional (3‐D) reconstruction or four‐dimensional (4‐D) imaging (equal to dynamic 3‐D) are demonstrated. In 4‐D imaging, electrocardiography‐triggered data acquisition of consecutive phases during the heart cycle are stored to form a multiphase 3‐D data set. The option of color‐coded data gives a new insight into such hemodynamic information. In the past, 3‐D reconstructions were simple unicolor images, as in power mode, and the color‐coded hemodynamic information was lost. These new options are presented here, along with color‐coded data in examples of angiographically controlled pathologic results in extracranial and intracranial vessels.
Monitoring of the Extracrania I and Intracranial Course of Single Emboli of Cardiac Origin: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Telman Gregory , Reisner Shimon A. , Sprecher Elliot , Hemli Jeshaiachu A. , Yarnitsky David
Published: February 2016

Simultaneous monitoring of emboli in extracranial and intracranial arteries recorded with identical probes, in a patient with an artificial cardiac valve, allowed the identification and characterization of pairs of signals, which most likely represent single emboli flowing through the common carotid artery into the middle cerebral artery. This technique offers new insights into emboligenesis with obvious therapeutic implications.
Color‐Coded Duplex Ultrasonography of the Origin of the Vertebral Artery: Normal Values of Flow Velocities
Authors: Kuhl Valerio , Tettenborn Barbara , Eicke B. Martin , Visbeck Anke , Meckes Stefanie
Published: February 2016

The introduction of color‐coded duplex ultrasonography has improved the ease of performing ultrasound investigations of the vertebral arteries. So far, normal values of flow velocities have been reported only for the intertransverse region of the vertebral artery (V2 segments). Atherosclerotic disease at the origin of the vertebral arteries (VO segment) is frequent and is one of the risk factors for vertebrobasilar ischemic disease. Normal values of flow velocities of the vertebral artery origin are needed to assess pathologic findings, such as vertebral artery origin stenosis or dissection. The aim of this study was to describe the normal flow velocities of vertebral artery origin (VO segment) and the pre‐ (V1 segment) and intertransverse (V2 segment) part in 50 age‐matched neurologic patients (mean age 54) without ischemic cerebral disease. The VO segment could be visualized in 46 persons (92%) on the right side and in 43 (86%) on the left. The peak systolic blood velocity ranged from 30 to 100 cm/s (mean 63.6 ± 17.5 cm/s), and end‐diastolic blood velocity ranged from 10 to 35 cm/s (mean 16.1 ± 5.1 cm/s). Analysis of side‐to‐side differences showed no significant differences of flow velocities in all subjects. It is concluded that color duplex ultrasonography is a feasible method to insonate the origin of the vertebral artery, and that nomogram data could be established. It is suggested that color‐coded duplex ultrasonography of the vertebral artery origin should be performed in all patients with clinical symptoms or signs of vertebrobasilar ischemic disease. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine the normal and pathologic values of flow velocities of the vertebral artery origin and their reproducibility.
Magnetic Resonance and Positron Emission Tomography Changes During the Clinical Progression of Rasmussen Encephalitis
Authors: Kaiboriboon Kitti , Cortese Cherise , Edward Hogan R
Published: February 2016

The authors describe serial positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in a patient with pathologically confirmed Rasmussen Encephalitis (RE) Results of initial PET and MRI studies were normal. Subsequent studies showed involvement of the precentral and postcentral gyri and the putamen on PET, and the precentral and postcentral gyri on MRI. Coregistration of PET and MR images showed good correlation between the precentral and postcentral gyri involvement. However, subcortical involvement occurred earlier on PET than on MRI. The authors demonstrate the evolution of changes on PET and MR images in a patient with RE. Despite early pathologic confirmation of RE, there were no definite structural or functional imaging changes on PET or MRI until 3 years after symptom onset. These findings demonstrate the variability of imaging changes in RE, and the need to carefully correlate electrophysiologic and clinical findings to confirm the diagnosis of RE.
Extracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection Causing Cervical Root Lesion
Authors: Fournier Jean‐Yves , Amsler Urs , Weder Bruno , Heilbronner Raoul , Hildebrandt Gerhard
Published: February 2016

The authors report an unusual manifestation of extracranial vertebral artery dissection (VAD), presenting with a predominantly motor radicular manifestation. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the intramural hematoma in the dissected vessel wall, compressing mainly the segmental motor root and, to a lesser degree, the sensory ganglion. In the digital subtraction angiography (DSA), a circumscribed narrowing of the incriminated vessel was demonstrated. Color‐coded Duplex imaging (CDDI) revealed complete recanalization after a few days of anticoagulation treatment. Complete neurologic recovery was seen after 3 months. Considering the MRI data, the likely pathogenetic mechanism was compression of the nerve root by the intramural hematoma. The synopsis with similar cases in the literature points to the characteristic features, i.e., the association of neck pain with radicular motor deficit and the absence of degenerative disk disease. The respective syndrome should raise the suspicion of vertebral artery dissection, especially in young individuals.
Spin‐Lock Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Muscle in Patients With Autosomal Recessive Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Franczak Malgorzata B , Ulmer John L , Jaradeh Safwan , McDaniel James D , Mark Leighton P , Prost Robert W
Published: February 2016

Spin‐lock imaging is a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used to reflect the microstructural integrity of muscle. The purpose of this study was to characterize spin‐lock contrast (SLC) of calf muscles in limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). The calf muscles of 5 patients with LGMD and 10 healthy volunteers were imaged with an off‐resonance magnetic resonance (MR) spin‐lock suppression pulse. Spin‐lock suppression ratios were calculated for anterior tibialis, posterior tibialis, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. Clinical assessments of muscle strength were compared to the spin‐lock suppression ratios in the LGMD group. Strong SLC was observed in healthy muscles, with mean (±SD) suppression ratios ranging from 51.2% (±3.6%) to 56.3% (± 1.3%). In diseased muscle, spin‐lock signal suppression was reduced by 8%–70%, demonstrating an inverse correlation between symptom duration and suppression ratios. Spinlock contrast in the patients with LGMD, as a reflection of tissue integrity, was best preserved in posterior tibialis, anterior tibialis, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles in descending order. Clinical assessments did a poorer job of differentiating than SLC did and were in poor agreement with spin‐lock suppression ratios. Spinlock MRI can quantify microstructural changes in LGMD and appears to provide information not obtainable from clinical evaluations. This suggests that this noninvasive technique may be useful in evaluating the extent, progression, and response to therapy of LGMD.
Double‐Shot Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cerebral Lesions: Fast Spin‐Echo Versus Echo Planar Sequences
Authors: Wolansky Leo J. , Sheth Milan P. , Axen Rafael , Prasad Vandna
Published: February 2016

The authors compared two new rapid MRI techniques: doubleshot echo‐planar imaging (DS‐EPI) versus double‐shot fast spinecho (DS‐FSE) in the evaluation of cerebral lesions. The authors examined 35 patients with 37 lesions, which were hyperintense on long TR images. Patients were scanned with both DS‐EPI and DS‐FSE with a time of repetition (TR) of 10,000 milliseconds and an echo time (TE) of 80 milliseconds. Conspicuity was determined from region of interest measurements to calculate contrast to noise ratio (C/N). Visual comparisons between DS‐EPI and DS‐FSE, and between DS‐EPI and T2‐weighted conventional spin‐echo (CSE) were also performed to evaluate the sequences' ability to depict hemorrhage. The mean C/N for both sequences was comparable: 36.7 for DS‐FSE and 35.6 for DS‐EPI, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0. 77). With regards to depicting blood products, DS‐EPI proved far more effective than DS‐FSE and comparable to CSE. Also, DS‐EPI proved to be more time‐efficient, requiring 1.67 seconds per section, while DS‐FSE required 3.33 seconds per section. Whereas DS‐FSE and DS‐EPI are comparable in their ability to depict hyperintense cerebral pathology, DS‐EPI is more time‐efficient, and therefore appears preferable. Because of the high magnetic susceptibility of DSEPI, geometric distortion degrades visualization of lesions in the posterior fossa or near the sinuses. On the other hand, the high magnetic susceptibility results in high conspicuity of blood products.
Central Pontine Myelinolysis: Delayed Changes on Neuroimaging
Authors: Kumar Sandhya R. , Mone Andrew P. , Gray L. Carter , Troost B. Todd
Published: February 2016

The authors report two cases, a 44‐year‐old woman and a 6‐year‐old girl who had mental status changes and hyponatremia. Serum sodium levels in both of these cases were corrected quickly with further decline in their mental status, and the patients became quadriparetic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed then did not reveal any abnormalities, whereas a repeat imaging study performed 10‐14 days after the shift in serum sodium revealed evidence for central pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine demyelination. The clinical manifestations and distribution of lesions seen on the imaging studies demonstrated that the above presentation of neurologic illness is the result of hyponatremia and its correction. The authors conclude that imaging studies performed early during the illness may be unremarkable, but still a diagnosis of central pontine myelinolysis should be suspected and, most importantly, a repeat imaging study might be required in 10‐14 days to establish the diagnosis of central pontine myelinolysis.
Imaging the Basilar Artery by Contrast‐Enhanced Color‐Coded Ultrasound
Authors: lglseder Bernhard , Huemer Michael , Staffen Wolfgang , Ladurner Gunther
Published: February 2016

Conventional transcranial color‐coded real‐time sonography of the vertebrobasilar system is limited by imaging problems of the distal segment of the basilar artery. Lung‐stable contrastenhancing agents may overcome this problem by enhancing the quality of Doppler signals by as much as 20%. Fourty‐two patients underwent sonographic evaluation of the vertebrobasilar system before and after receiving intravenously administered galactose‐based contrast‐enhancing agent Levovist by transforaminal and transtemporal routes. Imaging quality was classified into five categories depending on the length of visible colorflow by transforaminal approach: 1‐no signal, 2‐1–9.9 mm, 3‐10‐19.9 mm, 4–20–29.9 mm, 5‐≥30 mm. For transtemporal insonation, imaging quality was classified either as no color flow or sufficient color flow of the basilar tip. By unenhanced investigation, average signal length of color flow was 16 ± 8 mm for transforaminal investigation; application of Levovist improved this value to 26.6 ± 6 mm. For unenhanced transforaminal approach, 4.8% were assigned to category 1, 11.9% to category 2, 54.8% to category 3, 23.8% to category 4 and 4.8% to category 5. After signal enhancement with Levovist, category 1 covered 0%, category 2 2.4%, category 3 7.14%, category 4 59.5% and category 5 30.9% (p < 0.001). Unenhanced transtemporal approach allowed identification of the basilar tip in 78.6% with an average length of 6.3 ± 2 mm; contrast enhancement improved this values to 92.9% and 8.3 ± 3.3 mm respectively (p < 0.05). The application of transpulmonary contrast‐enhancing agents improves the reliability of transcranial color‐coded duplex sonography of the basilar artery.
Cortical Reorganization in Linear Nevus Sebaceous Syndrome: A Multimodality Neuroimaging Study
Authors: Reis Igor Levy‐ , Casasanto Daniel J. , Gonzalez Julio B. , Alsop David C. , Glosser Guila , Maldjan Joseph A. , French Jacqueline , Detre John A.
Published: February 2016

The authors report the findings of multimodal structural, functional, and metabolic imaging in a patient with linear nevus sebaceous syndrome, intractable seizures, and right megalencephaly. Despite nearly continuous paroxysmal electrical activity from the mega/encephalic region, imaging studies suggested nonfunctional tissue in this region with reorganization of cortical function to the unaffected ipsilateral hemisphere. Hemispherectomy has been successfully performed in previous patients; however, it could have led to marked left hemiparesis with significant functional morbidity in this patient because of ipsilateral reorganization of the primary motor cortex.
Rapidly Progressive Stroke in a Young Adult With Very Low High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Authors: Zivkovic Sasa A. , Lopez Oscar L. , Zaretsky Marina , Wechsler Lawrence R.
Published: February 2016

Ischemic strokes can affect young adults (15–45 years old). Most such strokes are caused by cardioembolic events, small vessel disease, or illicit drug use, and less frequently by large vessel atherosclerosis. Large vessel cerebral atherosclerosis is usually associated with high levels of lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but a low level of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) is also a risk factor for ischemic strokes. The magnitude of increased risk is unclear, particularly with extremely low HDL levels found only in various genetic and inherited disorders. Advanced atherosclerosis developed in the patient in this study, with HDL of 3 mg/dL, leading to rapidly progressive stroke with a fatal outcome. The disease primarily affected the posterior circulation. The course of this case illustrates that very low HDL may be associated with advanced cerebrovascular atherosclerosis and fatal stroke, and as such should be considered in young individuals with stroke.
False Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Anoxic Encephalopathy With Brain Swelling
Authors: Phan Thanh G. , Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Worrell Gregory A. , Fulgham Jimmy R.
Published: February 2016

The authors present two comatose patients with brain swelling from anoxic encephalopathy. Nonenhanced computed tomography (CT) images showed increased density on the falx, on the tentorium, and in the basal cisterns, all of which falsely suggested subarachnoid hemorrhage. Autopsy in both patients failed to show subarachnoid hemorrhage. In rare circumstances, anoxic encephalopathy can mimic subarachnoid hemorrhage on nonenhanced CT.
Three‐Dimensional Bioprinting Materials with Potential Application in Preprosthetic Surgery
Authors: Fahmy Mina D. , Jazayeri Hossein E. , Razavi Mehdi , Masri Radi , Tayebi Lobat
Published: February 2016

Current methods in handling maxillofacial defects are not robust and are highly dependent on the surgeon's skills and the inherent potential in the patients’ bodies for regenerating lost tissues. Employing custom‐designed 3D printed scaffolds that securely and effectively reconstruct the defects by using tissue engineering and regenerative medicine techniques can revolutionize preprosthetic surgeries. Various polymers, ceramics, natural and synthetic bioplastics, proteins, biomolecules, living cells, and growth factors as well as their hybrid structures can be used in 3D printing of scaffolds, which are still under development by scientists. These scaffolds not only are beneficial due to their patient‐specific design, but also may be able to prevent micromobility, make tension free soft tissue closure, and improve vascularity. In this manuscript, a review of materials employed in 3D bioprinting including bioceramics, biopolymers, composites, and metals is conducted. A discussion of the relevance of 3D bioprinting using these materials for craniofacial interventions is included as well as their potential to create analogs to craniofacial tissues, their benefits, limitations, and their application.
The History of Articulators: The Contributions of Rudolph L. Hanau and His Company—Part II
Authors: Engelmeier Robert L. , Belles Donald M. , Starcke Edgar N.
Published: February 2016

This article is an historical overview of the Hanau Engineering Company from the time of Rudolph Hanau's death in 1930 to the present. It explores the development of many articulators intended both for removable and fixed prosthodontic restorations. The article is divided into the eras of the company's corporate history, and it reviews articulator designs and major improvements made during each of those periods.
Application of An Eating Motivation Survey to Study Eating Occasions
Authors: Phan Uyen T.X. , Chambers Edgar
Published: February 2016

This pilot study applied an eating motivation survey to explore motivations behind eating occasions by looking at specific choices of foods and beverages people consumed at various meal times. This study was conducted online with 198 people. The survey included questions about demographics, the most recent meal including specific food choices and an eating motivation questionnaire which contained 50 subscales to measure 17 motivations using Check‐All‐That‐Apply procedures. Data were analyzed by Correspondence Analysis. Liking was the strongest motivation that drove people to select certain foods, regardless of eating occasions. Need and Hunger, Habits, Price and Convenience were the main motivations for breakfast, lunch and dinner while Health and Weight Control were found to be the main driving factors for daytime snacking. Late‐night snacks were linked to Pleasure and Visual appeal. For dinner, people were additionally motivated by Variety Seeking and Traditional Eating.

Practical Applications

Daily food choice is a complex decision influenced by various factors and eating context is one of those. Food selection and the motivations of those selections are dependent on liking, but other motivators differed across eating occasions. This suggests that the intended meal time is a key factor that should be considered when testing food and beverage products.
Evaluating the suitability of maggot meal as a partial substitute of soya bean on the productive traits, digestibility indices and organoleptic properties of broiler meat
Authors: Khan S. , Khan R. U. , Sultan A. , Khan M. , Hayat S. U. , Shahid M.S.
Published: February 2016

This study was conducted to replace soya bean meal with maggot meal at difference percentages. A total of 120 one‐day‐old broiler chicks were divided into four groups. Four diets were formulated with maggot meal to replace soya bean meal at the rate of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% designated as A, B, C and D respectively. Feed and water were offered ad libitum during the study which lasted for 28 days. Feed intake decreased significantly in treated groups while body weight, Feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage increased significantly in group D. Apparent metabolizable energy increased significantly in the group fed 30% maggot meal; however, no significant difference was found in dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract between the control and treated groups. The result of sensory evaluation revealed that tenderness and juiciness increased significantly in group C and B respectively. The colour and flavour were most accepted in group B and C. The results indicate that replacement of soya bean meal at the rate of 30% in broiler feed produced most favourable results.
Exploratory transcriptomic analysis in muscle tissue of broilers fed a phytase‐supplemented diet
Authors: Schmeisser J. , Séon A.‐A. , Aureli R. , Friedel A. , Guggenbuhl P. , Duval S. , Cowieson A.J. , Fru‐Nji F.
Published: February 2016

The effect of phytase on phosphorus retention, broiler (Gallus gallus) performance and bone mineralization in diets with reduced inorganic phosphate concentration is well documented. Furthermore, so‐called ‘extra‐phosphoric’ effects of phytase have been described in the literature that may be associated with changes in mineral and amino acid partitioning and requirements per se. In particular, the role of myo‐inositol in phytase responses is implied but not well elucidated. It was the purpose of the experiment reported herein to explore the effect of phytase on broiler growth, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemistry and gene expression. A 5‐week broiler floor pen trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of a moderately phosphorus‐deficient diet with 1000 U/kg of a 6‐microbial phytase. Parameters measured were growth performance, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and myo‐inositol plasma concentrations, apparent ileal P digestibility, bone mineralization, breast meat weight and Pectoralis major muscle transcriptome. Supplementation of the diet with phytase improved weight gain during the starter period (18%) and the whole period (24%) compared with animals that received the control diet (p < 0.05). Improved feed conversion ratio, increased myo‐inositol plasma concentration, tibia ash contents and breast meat weight were also observed in animals fed phytase. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that some differentially expressed genes (DEG) in broilers, receiving phytase in comparison with animals fed reduced phosphorus diet without phytase, were part of pathways involved in muscle development, via calmodulin/calcineurin and insulin‐like growth factor. Microarray data confirmation was performed on six genes by quantitative PCR (qPCR): PI3K regulatory and catalytic subunit, Phospholipase C beta, Myocyte Enhancer Factors 2A and 2C, and calcineurin A. The results suggested that dietary supplementation with this phytase could generate low molecular weight phytate esters and indirectly myo‐inositol, and could help us to understand how muscle metabolism may be affected at a gene level.
Personality Change from Life Experiences: Moderation Effect of Attachment Security
Authors: Kawamoto Tetsuya
Published: February 2016

This study focused on effects of life experiences on change in personality and moderation effects of attachment security on the life experience influences. With a sample of Japanese university students (N = 1,000; 679 female; M = 19.72; SD = 1.26; age range, 18–25 years), the Big Five personality traits were assessed twice. The assessment interval was 20 weeks. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses revealed that there were large between‐individual differences in change and stability of the Big Five personality traits, which were accounted for by the amount of daily positive and negative life experiences during the interval period. Moreover, multi‐group HLM analyses indicated that the life experience effects were moderated by participants' attachment security at Time 1. These findings suggest that the accumulation of small daily experiences may work for the personality development of university students and that environmental influences may vary by individual susceptibility to experiences, like attachment security.
Methylglyoxal and methylglyoxal‐modified collagen as inducers of cellular injury in gingival connective tissue cells
Authors: Retamal I. N. , Hernández R. , González‐Rivas C. , Cáceres M. , Arancibia R. , Romero A. , Martínez C. , Tobar N. , Martínez J. , Smith P. C.
Published: February 2016

Background and Objectives

Methylglyoxal is a toxic product derived from glucose metabolism that plays a role in inflammation, diabetes and aging. In addition, the periodontal pathogen Tannerella forsythensis may also generate this compound. However, the effects of methylglyoxal on gingival cells are still poorly understood. In the present study, we have explored whether methylglyoxal or methylglyoxal‐treated collagen may modulate cell viability, death and proliferation in gingival connective tissue cells. In addition, we have searched for inflammatory mediators secreted by cells upon exposure to these conditions.

Material and Methods

Primary cultures of human gingival fibroblasts were stimulated with soluble methylglyoxal or cultured over a collagen matrix glycated by this agent. Cell viability was evaluated through the MTS assay. Cell death was assessed through DAPI nuclear staining, annexin V and propidium iodide assays. Cell proliferation was evaluated through double immunofluorescence for DAPI and Ki67. Protein levels of matrix metalloproteinases and cytokines were assessed through antibody arrays, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskall–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests.

Results

Soluble methylglyoxal, but not culture of gingival fibroblasts over a methylglyoxal‐modified collagen matrix, induced a reduction on cell viability. Moreover, soluble methylglyoxal induced apoptotic cell death as indicated by DAPI nuclear staining, annexin V and propidium iodide assays. Neither soluble methylglyoxal, nor methylglyoxal‐modified collagen modified cell proliferation. Using an antibody array, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence assays, we determined that both, soluble methylglyoxal and methylglyoxal‐modified collagen stimulated an increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1 protein levels.

Conclusions

Soluble methylglyoxal is a highly cytotoxic compound that induces cell death through apoptosis in gingival fibroblasts. TIMP‐1 is induced in these cells upon direct exposure to methylglyoxal or after culture of gingival fibroblasts over methylglyoxal‐treated collagen. As TIMP‐1 has been implicated in cell survival and matrix remodeling, we propose that increased TIMP‐1 protein levels may be part of a protective response of gingival connective tissue cells upon exposure to methylglyoxal or after the interaction with the collagen matrix that has been modified by this agent.
The role of non‐rapid eye movement slow‐wave activity in prefrontal metabolism across young and middle‐aged adults
Authors: Wilckens Kristine A. , Aizenstein Howard J. , Nofzinger Eric A. , James Jeffrey A. , Hasler Brant P. , Rosario‐Rivera Bedda L. , Franzen Peter L. , Germain Anne , Hall Martica H. , Kupfer David J. , Price Julie C. , Siegle Greg J. , Buysse Daniel J.
Published: February 2016

Electroencephalographic slow‐wave activity (0.5–4 Hz) during non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is a marker for cortical reorganization, particularly within the prefrontal cortex. Greater slow wave activity during sleep may promote greater waking prefrontal metabolic rate and, in turn, executive function. However, this process may be affected by age. Here we examined whether greater NREM slow wave activity was associated with higher prefrontal metabolism during wakefulness and whether this relationship interacted with age. Fifty‐two participants aged 25–61 years were enrolled into studies that included polysomnography and a 18[F]‐fluoro‐deoxy‐glucose positron emission tomography scan during wakefulness. Absolute and relative measures of NREM slow wave activity were assessed. Semiquantitative and relative measures of cerebral metabolism were collected to assess whole brain and regional metabolism, focusing on two regions of interest: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex. Greater relative slow wave activity was associated with greater dorsolateral prefrontal metabolism. Age and slow wave activity interacted significantly in predicting semiquantitative whole brain metabolism and outside regions of interest in the posterior cingulate, middle temporal gyrus and the medial frontal gyrus, such that greater slow‐wave activity was associated with lower metabolism in the younger participants and greater metabolism in the older participants. These results suggest that slow‐wave activity is associated with cerebral metabolism during wakefulness across the adult lifespan within regions important for executive function.
Sleep mediates the link between resiliency and behavioural problems in children at high and low risk for alcoholism
Authors: Hairston Ilana S. , Conroy Deirdre A. , Heitzeg Mary M. , Akbar Nasreen Z. , Brower Kirk J. , Zucker Robert A.
Published: February 2016

Children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk for developing substance use problems. Having a parent with any mental illness increases the risk for sleep disorders in children. Using actigraphy, this study characterized sleep in children of alcoholics and community controls over a period of 1 week. This study further examined whether sleep characteristics of the children mediated the relationship between self‐regulation indices (i.e. undercontrol and resiliency) and outcome measures of function (e.g. problem behaviours and perceived conflict at home). Eighty‐two children (53 boys, 29 girls, 7.2–13.0 years old) were recruited from the ongoing Michigan Longitudinal Study. Seventeen participants had no parental history of alcohol abuse or dependence family history negative (FH−), 43 had at least one parent who was a recovered alcoholic, and 22 had at least one parent who met diagnostic criteria within the past 3 years. Sleep was assessed with actigraphy and sleep diaries for 1 week, and combined with secondary analysis of data collected for the longitudinal study. FH− children had more objectively measured total sleep time. More total sleep time was associated with greater resiliency and behavioural control, fewer teacher‐reported behavioural problems, and less child‐reported conflict at home. Further, total sleep time partially mediated the relationship between resiliency and perceived conflict, and between resiliency and externalizing problems. These findings suggest that in high‐risk homes, the opportunity to obtain sufficient sleep is reduced, and that insufficient sleep further exacerbates the effects of impaired dispositional self‐regulatory capacity on behavioural and emotional regulation.
Home dim light melatonin onsets with measures of compliance in delayed sleep phase disorder
Authors: Burgess Helen J. , Park Margaret , Wyatt James K. , Fogg Louis F.
Published: February 2016

The dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) assists with the diagnosis and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Home DLMOs are attractive for cost savings and convenience, but can be confounded by home lighting and sample timing errors. We developed a home saliva collection kit with objective measures of light exposure and sample timing. We report on our first test of the kit in a clinical population. Thirty‐two participants with delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD; 17 women, aged 18–52 years) participated in two back‐to‐back home and laboratory phase assessments. Most participants (66%) received at least one 30‐s epoch of light >50 lux during the home phase assessments, but for only 1.5% of the time. Most participants (56%) collected every saliva sample within 5 min of the scheduled time. Eighty‐three per cent of home DLMOs were not affected by light or sampling errors. The home DLMOs occurred, on average, 10.2 min before the laboratory DLMOs, and were correlated highly with the laboratory DLMOs (r = 0.93, P < 0.001). These results indicate that home saliva sampling with objective measures of light exposure and sample timing, can assist in identifying accurate home DLMOs.
Mapping changes in cortical activity during sleep in the first 4 years of life
Authors: Novelli Luana , D'atri Aurora , Marzano Cristina , Finotti Elena , Ferrara Michele , Bruni Oliviero , De Gennaro Luigi
Published: February 2016

A coherent body of evidence supports the notion that sleep is a local and use‐dependent process. Significant changes in brain morphology and function occur in the first years of life, revealing a postero–anterior trajectory of cortical maturation. On this basis, a recent study demonstrated that regional cortical maturation between early childhood and late adolescence is reflected in regional changes of sleep slow wave activity (SWA) during non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Our hypothesis is that changes of electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms during sleep from birth to childhood are also mirrored by parallel regional changes in the EEG rhythms of sleep according to the assumption of a postero–anterior gradient in cortical maturation. We studied all‐night EEG of 39 healthy, full‐term, infants and children aged between 0 and 48 months, evaluating regional differences in NREM sleep. We confirmed the strictly local nature of sleep with frequency‐specific regional differences. Specifically, we found a general shift of maxima of the upper alpha activity from occipital to prefrontal regions, expressed mainly by the ~11 Hz frequency. This shift corresponds to a postero–anterior trajectory of the so‐called ‘slow spindles’. The theta and alpha EEG activity of the frontal cortex exhibits a clear, positive, correlation with age. We conclude that specific local differences during NREM sleep, parallel cortical maturation also in the first 4 years of life.
A quest for species‐level indicator values for disturbance
Authors: Herben Tomáš , Chytrý Milan , Klimešová Jitka
Published: February 2016

Question

Is it possible to construct indicator values that would place individual species on gradients of disturbance frequency and severity? We suggest that such indicator values could be defined on the basis of the disturbance regimes under which individual species occur, to be independent of their traits. They should also separate disturbance frequency from disturbance severity.

Location

Czech Republic.

Methods

We used a stratified set of 30 115 vegetation‐plot records sampled over the whole country and classified into 39 phytosociological vegetation classes. Each class was assigned values of disturbance frequency and severity by expert judgement. A Disturbance Frequency Index for each species was calculated as the mean of the common logarithm of the disturbance frequency of all vegetation classes weighted by occurrence frequencies of this species in those classes. A Disturbance Severity Index was defined as mean disturbance severity of all vegetation classes weighted by occurrence frequencies of this species in those classes. For forest vegetation, indices were computed separately for the whole community and for the herb layer, which experiences different types of disturbance. Further, we constructed a disturbance index from vegetation structural parameters, viz. summed covers and community‐weighted mean of height at maturity of species recorded in each plot for each vegetation class. We assessed all indices by comparing their values with data on functional traits of the species.

Results

We calculated values of the indices for 1248 species. The Disturbance Frequency Index and Disturbance Severity Index were correlated, but still described different responses of individual species to disturbance. The index based on vegetation structure was correlated mainly with the Disturbance Frequency Index. All indices showed strong relationships to plant traits: species with high values of all disturbance indices tended to have small seeds, to be annual and non‐clonal or able to spread clonally over large distances.

Conclusions

Constructing species disturbance indices based on vegetation characteristics, not plant traits, is feasible and provides meaningful scores. A similar approach can be used in any region where sufficient vegetation data are available. Disturbance indices can be used to address a number of questions in plant evolution and community or landscape ecology.
Grass abundance shapes trait distributions of forbs in an experimental grassland
Authors: Mitchell Rachel M. , Bakker Jonathan D.
Published: February 2016

Questions

During community assembly, plant functional traits are hypothesized to be filtered both by prevailing abiotic conditions and by competition from the surrounding community. While trait responses to abiotic conditions are well documented, whether and how traits respond to the biotic community is less studied. We investigated trait responses in specific leaf area (SLA) and plant height for eight forb species in response to increasing grass abundance. We asked: (1) do species’ trait distributions respond predictably to increased grass presence; (2) do functionally similar species respond similarly in terms of trait means to increased grass presence; and (3) at the community level, does increasing grass presence drive change in functional diversity among forbs?

Location

Glacial Heritage Preserve, Thurston County, Washington, USA.

Methods

Eight forb species were grown in communities that differed in the proportion of grass seed sown into the plot (grass‐rich, mixed and forb‐rich) in an experimental grassland established under uniform abiotic conditions. SLA and height were measured for 29–33 individuals per species per treatment, and differences among species and treatments were tested using PERMANOVA and PERMDISP. To assess how Festuca abundance impacted trait distributions for the entire suite of forbs, functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve) and functional dispersion (FDis) were calculated for each seeding treatment and compared using ANOVA.

Results

Trait means and/or dispersion of most species responded to grass abundance, but the direction and magnitude differed among species. FEve was lowest in the grass‐rich treatment for SLA, and FRic was significantly lower in the grass‐rich treatment for both SLA and height. FDis for the combined traits was lowest in the grass‐rich treatment.

Conclusions

This study provides clear evidence that the biotic community can shape plant trait expression within and across species, and supports the idea that at the species level, trait values are not fixed, but rather can vary in response to biotic factors. This variation can impact functional diversity as well as community‐level trait estimates and therefore also affect our understanding of ecosystem functions that are reliant on those estimates.
Community variation in plant traits along copper and cobalt gradients
Authors: Delhaye Guillaume , Violle Cyrille , Séleck Maxime , Ilunga wa Ilunga Edouard , Daubie Isaline , Mahy Grégory , Meerts Pierre
Published: February 2016

Questions

How do resource acquisition‐related traits and stress tolerance‐related traits shift along Cu and Co gradients? What are the relative contributions of species turnover and intraspecific variation in driving these shifts?

Location

Fungurume V hill, Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Methods

We measured five functional traits (vegetative height, leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf Cu and leaf Co concentration) related to resource acquisition, competitive ability and metal tolerance strategy for 37 of the most abundant species from 32 plots along natural Cu and Co gradients (from 92 to 6737 mg·kg−1 and 10 to 655 mg·kg−1, respectively). Linear regression was applied to analyse species‐level and community‐level changes in these traits along the study gradients. Using variance decomposition, we evaluated the relative contribution of intraspecific variation and species turnover to the total community variation along the Cu gradient.

Results and Conclusions

At the community level, plant height and leaf area decreased while SLA and leaf metal concentrations increased with increasing soil metal concentration. At the species level, patterns were often idiosyncratic and lacked generality. As a result, species turnover was the predominant factor explaining community‐level variation along the study gradients, which was particularly clear for variation in leaf Cu concentration. This reflects the constitutive ability of some species to exclude metal, while other species can tolerate high metal concentrations in their leaves. The study emphasizes the importance of evaluating the origin of phenotypic variations observed at the community level.
New therapies for chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Bitton Alaluf Maya , Shlomai Amir
Published: February 2016

Approximately 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), representing a significant public health challenge. Nucleos/tide analogues (NUCs) and interferon alpha (IFNα), the current standard of care for chronic infection, aim at preventing progression of the disease to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death. However, in contrast to the case of hepatitis C virus infection, in which novel antiviral drugs cure the vast majority of treated patients, in regard to HBV, cure is rare due to the unusual persistence of viral DNA in the form of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) within the nucleus of infected cells. Available therapies for HBV require lifelong treatment and surveillance, as reactivation frequently occurs following medication cessation and the occurrence of HCC is decreased but not eliminated, even after years of successful viral suppression. Progress has been made in the development of new therapeutics, and it is likely that only a combination of immune modulators, inhibitors of gene expression and replication and cccDNA‐targeting drugs will eradicate chronic infection. This review aims to summarize the state of the art in HBV drug research highlighting those agents with the greatest potential for success based on in vitro as well as on data from clinical studies.