bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Assays for Measurement of Serum (Anti)oxidants in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ruskovska Tatjana , Jansen Eugene H. J. M. , Antarorov Risto
Published: May 2014

Background. Various biomarkers and assays have been used for assessment of (anti)oxidant status in hemodialysis patients, including those intended for measurement of serum total (anti)oxidants, most often as a part of panel biomarkers.Methods. Serum (anti)oxidant status was measured in 32 chronically hemodialyzed patients and in 47 healthy persons, using two oxidations and three antioxidant assays.Results. The patients before the hemodialysis session have had higher values of total oxidants in comparison to the healthy persons, with a further increase during the hemodialysis. These findings were confirmed with both oxidation assays, but they differ in the percentage of increase and the statistical significance. All three antioxidant assays showed significantly higher values of the total serum antioxidants in the patients before the hemodialysis session in comparison to the healthy persons, and their significant decrease during the hemodialysis. However, the assays differ in the percentage of decrease, its statistical significance, and the correlations with uric acid.Conclusion. The variability of results of total (anti)oxidants which are obtained using different assays should be taken into account when interpreting data from clinical studies of oxidative stress, especially in complex pathologies such as chronic hemodialysis.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas in a Patient with GermlineBRCA2Mutation-Response to Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy
Authors: Schultheis Anne M. , Nguyen Gia Phuong , Ortmann Monika , Kruis Wolfgang , Büttner Reinhard , Schildhaus Hans-Ulrich , Markiefka Birgid
Published: May 2014

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare malignant neoplasia, accounting for approximately 0.5–2% of all malignant pancreatic tumors. These lesions are characterized by poor prognosis. Here we report on a case of a 57-year-old female patient with knownBRCA2germline mutation presenting with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas as the only malignancy. The tumor was locally advanced at the first presentation but responded almost completely to neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy. Our case highlights the facts (i) that pancreatic carcinomas belong to the tumor spectrum of patients with theBRCA2-associated hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) and (ii) that tumors of the pancreas can represent the first or even the only manifestation of HBOC. Furthermore, this case of a nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma indicates that HBOC-associated carcinomas of the pancreas might be characterized by a broader morphological spectrum than was previously thought. SinceBRCAmutations cause deficiency of DNA double-strand breakage repair in tumors, neoadjuvant treatment regimens might become a reasonable option in HBOC-associated pancreatic carcinomas. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a primary pancreatic squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with this particular genetic background ofBRCA2-associated HBOC.
Crystal Structure, Spectral Studies, and Hirshfeld Surfaces Analysis of 5-Methyl-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine and 5-(4-Methylbenzyl)-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine
Authors: Shankar Madan Kumar , Manjunath Basavapattana C. , Vinay Kumar Koravangala Shivakumar , Pampa Kudigana J. , Sadashiva Marilinganadoddi P. , Lokanath Neartur K.
Published: May 2014

The compounds, 5-methyl-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine (1) and 5-(4-methylbenzyl)-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine (2), were synthesized and characterized by spectral studies, and finally confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system in Pca21 space group, having cell parameters a=11.5681 (18) Å, b=11.8958 (18) Å, c=8.0342 (13) Å, and Z=4 and V=1105.6 (3) Å3. And the compound 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system and space group Pbca, with cell parameters a=16.5858 (5) Å, b=8.4947 (2) Å, c=23.1733 (7) Å, and Z=8 and V=3264.92 (16) Å3. The azepine ring of both molecules 1 and 2 adopts boat conformation with nitrogen atom showing maximum deviations of 0.483 (2) Å and 0.5025 (10) Å, respectively. The C–H⋯π short contacts were observed. The dihedral angle between fused benzene rings to the azepine motif is 47.1 (2)° for compound 1 and 52.59 (6)° for compound 2, respectively. The short contacts were analyzed and Hirshfeld surfaces computational method for both molecules revealed that the major contribution is from C⋯H and H⋯H intercontacts.
The Role of Histone Ubiquitination during Spermatogenesis
Authors: Sheng Kai , Liang Xiaotong , Huang Sizhou , Xu Wenming
Published: May 2014

Protein ubiquitin-proteasome (ubiquitin-proteasome) system is the major mechanism responsible for protein degradation in eukaryotic cell. During spermatogenesis, the replacement of histone by protamine is vital for normal sperm formation, which is involved in ubiquitination enzymes expressed in testis. Recently, histone ubiquitin ligases have been shown to play critical roles in several aspects of spermatogenesis, such as meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI), DNA damage response, and spermiogenesis. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the discovery of several histone ubiquitin ligases and elaborate mechanisms of how these enzymes are involved in these processes through knockout mouse model. Using Huwe1, UBR2, and RNF8 as examples, we emphasized the diverse functions for each enzyme and the broad involvement of these enzymes in every stage, from spermatogonia differentiation and meiotic division to spermiogenesis; thus histone ubiquitin ligases represent a class of enzymes, which play important roles in spermatogenesis through targeting histone for ubiquitination and therefore are involved in transcription regulation, epigenetic modification, and other processes essential for normal gametes formation.
The Role of TWIST in Angiogenesis and Cell Migration in Giant Cell Tumor of Bone
Authors: Singh Shalini , Mak Isabella W. Y. , Handa Divya , Ghert Michelle
Published: May 2014

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) is a bone tumor consisting of numerous multinucleated osteoclastic giant cells involved in bone resorption and neoplastic osteoblast-like stromal cells responsible for tumor growth. The tumor occasionally metastasizes to the lung; however, factors leading to metastasis in this tumor are unknown. The TWIST-1 protein (also referred to as TWIST) has been suggested to be involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor progression in some cancers. In this study we investigated the functional role of TWIST in GCT cell angiogenesis and migration. Overexpression of TWIST in neoplastic GCT stromal cells significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and VEGFR1 in vitro, whereas knockdown of TWIST resulted in decreased VEGF and VEGFR1 expression. A stable cell line with TWIST overexpression resulted in features of EMT including increased cell migration and downregulation of E-cadherin. The results of our study indicate that TWIST may play an important role in angiogenesis and cell migration in GCT.
Humoral and Haemocytic Responses ofLitopenaeus vannameito Cd Exposure
Authors: Bautista-Covarrubias Juan C. , Velarde-Montes Germán J. , Voltolina Domenico , García-de la Parra Luz M. , Soto-Jiménez Martín F. , Frías-Espericueta Martín G.
Published: May 2014

White shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei, subadults were exposed to four dilutions of the 96 h cadmium LC50reported for postlarvae (PL12) of this species, and the effects were evaluated after 5, 48, and 96 h of exposure. While treatments did not affect survival and hemolymph clotting time increased with time, but not as a response to Cd exposure, the intensity of other responses was related to concentration, to time of exposure, and to their interaction. Hemocyanin decreased with time in all metal concentrations but increased in the control treatment, and an almost similar trend was observed with hemocyte numbers. As an initial response, phenoloxidase activity decreased with all metal concentrations, but it increased later to values similar or higher than the control treatment.
Autoantibody Response to Murine Double Minute 2 Protein in Immunodiagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Mei , Zheng Su-jun , Chen Yu , Li Ning , Ren Peng-fei , Dai Li-ping , Duan Zhong-ping , Zhang Jian-Ying
Published: May 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. Although new therapeutic strategies have been continuously developed and applied to clinical treatment for HCC, the prognosis is still very poor. Thus, early detection of HCC may enhance effective and curative management. In this study, autoantibody responses to MDM2 protein in HCC patient’s serum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and part sera were evaluated by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) over tissue array slides was also performed to analyze protein expression of MDM2 in HCC and control tissues. The prevalence of autoantibodies against MDM2 was significantly higher than that in liver cirrhosis (LC), chronic hepatitis (CH), and normal human sera (NHS). The average titer of autoantibodies against MDM2 in HCC serum was higher compared to that in LC, CH, and NHS. A high titer of autoantibodies against MDM2 in ELISA could be observed in the serum in 6 to 9 months before the clinical diagnosis of HCC in the serum of several HCC patients with serial bleeding samples. Our preliminary data indicate that MDM2 and anti-MDM2 system may be a potential biomarker for early stage HCC screening and immunodiagnosis.
Corrosion Behavior of Pure Cr, Ni, and Fe Exposed to Molten Salts at High Temperature
Authors: Sotelo-Mazón O. , Cuevas-Arteaga C. , Porcayo-Calderón J. , Salinas Bravo V.M. , Izquierdo-Montalvo G.
Published: May 2014

Corrosion resistance of pure Fe, Cr, and Ni materials exposed in NaVO3molten salt at 700°C was evaluated in static air during 100 hours. The corrosion resistance was determined using potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential, and lineal polarization resistance. The conventional weight loss method (WLM) was also used during 100 hours. The electrochemical results showed that Fe and Cr have a poor corrosion resistance, whereas pure Ni showed the best corrosion performance, which was supported by the passive layer of NiO formed on the metallic surface and the formation of Ni3V2O8during the corrosion processes, which is a refractory compound with a higher melting point than that of NaVO3, which reduces the corrosivity of the molten salt. Also, the behavior of these materials was associated with the way in which their corresponding oxides were dissolved together with their type of corrosion attack. Through this study, it was confirmed that when materials suffer corrosion by a localized processes such as pitting, the WLM is not reliable, since a certain amount of corrosion products can be kept inside the pits. The corroded samples were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy.
An Unusual Case of Ascending Pancreatitis with Mediastinal Involvement: A Case Report with CT and MRI Findings
Authors: Di Cesare Ernesto , Di Sibio Alessandra , Gennarelli Antonio , Felli Valentina , Vellucci Valentina , Casazza Ines , Masciocchi Carlo
Published: May 2014

Fluid collections are common findings of pancreatitis and spread, more often, along preferential drainage pathways in the abdomen. In some rare cases, fluid collections may spread towards extra-abdominal sites like the mediastinum leading to the formation of mediastinal collections. We present the case of a 52-years-old man with pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and mid-epigastrium lasting for some hours. Laboratory tests suggested a diagnosis of pancreatitis. CT and subsequent MRI revealed changes consistent with acute exacerbation on chronic pancreatitis spreading to the mediastinum and to the greater omentum. The patient received medical treatment and reported gradual improvement in his laboratory results and CT findings.
𝒬KSpaces of Several Real Variables
Authors: Bao Guanlong , Wulan Hasi
Published: May 2014

We introduce a new space,𝒬K(ℝn)space, of several real variables with nondecreasing functionsK. By giving basic properties of the weighted functionK, by establishing a Stegenga-type estimate, and by introducing theK-Carleson measure onℝ+n+1, we obtain various characterizations of𝒬K(ℝn)space.
Microbiological Quality of Salads Served along with Street Foods of Hyderabad, India
Authors: Sabbithi Alekhya , Naveen Kumar R. , Kashinath L. , Bhaskar V. , Sudershan Rao V.
Published: May 2014

A study has been done to analyse the microbiological quality of salads served along with street foods of Hyderabad. A total of 163 salad samples, 53 of carrot and 110 of onion samples, were collected from four different zones of Hyderabad. About 74% and 56% hadStaphylococcus aureusin carrots and onions, respectively. Fifty-eight percent of carrots and forty-five percent of onions samples containedSalmonella, 68% of carrots and 24% of onions hadYersinia. HACCP study was carried out with 6 street food vendors to identify the source ofSalmonellacontamination in salads. Food handlers were found to be responsible forSalmonellacontamination in salads. The present study revealed the potential hazards of street vended salad vegetables, considering the handling practice usually carried out by vendors. Ninety-eight percent of the vendors did not wash the vegetables before processing and serving while about 56.6% of the vendors did not peel the vegetables. Majority of street vendors’ nails were uncut. A significant difference (P<0.01) was observed inYersiniaspp. andSalmonellaspp. in wet-dirty chopping board when compared to clean-dry chopping board. A significant difference (P<0.05) ofStaphylococcusspp. was observed when the status of cleaning cloth was neat/untidy.
The Spectrum and Eigenvectors of the Laplacian Matrices of the Brualdi-Li Tournament Digraphs
Authors: Chen Xiaogen
Published: May 2014

Letm≥1be an integer, letℬ2mdenote the Brualdi-Li matrix of order2m, and letℒℬ2mdenote the Laplacian matrices of Brualdi-Li tournament digraphs. We obtain the eigenvalues and eigenvectors ofℒℬ2m.
Antiviral Activity of Total Flavonoid Extracts from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron against Coxsackie Virus B3 In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Yin Dan , Li Juan , Lei Xiang , Liu Yimei , Yang Zhanqiu , Chen Keli
Published: May 2014

The antiviral activity of total flavonoid extracts from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron and its main constituents amentoflavone were investigated against coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). When added during or after viral infection, the extracts and amentoflavone prevented the cytopathic effect (CPE) of CVB3, as demonstrated in a 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) from 19 ± 1.6 to 41 ± 1.2 μg/mL and 25 ± 1.2 to 52 ± 0.8 μg/mL, respectively. KM mice were used as animal models to test the extracts′ activity in vivo. Oral administration of the total flavonoid extracts at 300 mg/kg/day significantly reduced mean viral titers in the heart and kidneys as well as mortality after infection for 15 days. The experimental results demonstrate that in vitro and in vivo the model mice infected with CVB3 can be effectively treated by the total flavonoid extracts from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron.
A Support Vector Data Description Approach to NLOS Identification in UWB Positioning
Authors: Tian Shiwei , Zhao Luwen , Li Guangxia
Published: May 2014

Non‐line‐of‐sight (NLOS) propagation is one of the most important challenges in radio positioning, and, in recent years, significant attention has been drawn to the identification and mitigation of NLOS signals. This paper focuses on the identification of NLOS signals. The authors consider the NLOS identification problem as a one‐class classification problem and apply the support vector data description (SVDD), providing accurate data descriptions utilizing kernel techniques, to perform NLOS identification in ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) positioning. Our work is based on the fact that some features extracted from the received signal waveforms, such as the kurtosis, the mean excess delay spread, and the root mean square delay spread, are different between line‐of‐sight (LOS) and NLOS signals. Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the performance, using a dataset derived from a measurement campaign.
An Analysis of Performance in a Hierarchical Structured Vehicular Ad Hoc Network
Authors: Zhu Wanting , Gao Deyun , Fong A. C. M. , Tian Feng
Published: May 2014

With the rapid development of vehicle technology and wireless communication technology, a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) has come into sight as a vehicular application of the well-known mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). In this paper, we consider the performance issue of a large-scale VANET and extend the technology of Mobile IP used in a MANET into the VANET. In our considered hierarchical structured VANET, each roadside gateway deployed on the roadside is responsible for forming a small-scale local VANET by clustering a number of vehicles nearby. We apply the destination-sequenced distance-vector (DSDV) routing protocol and the Mobile IP to support intra- and intercommunications of local VANETs. Our studies focus on the feasibility of the proposed architecture and evaluate its network performance through an analysis of connectivity. Moreover, we investigate the influence of main network configuration parameters on performance measures such as the mobility of node, the network density, and the number of gateways and demonstrate that the architecture we proposed can achieve good performance with proper configuration parameters.
Stratification of Gene Coexpression Patterns and GO Function Mining for a RNA-Seq Data Series
Authors: Zhao Hui , Cao Fenglin , Gong Yonghui , Xu Huafeng , Fei Yiping , Wu Longyue , Ye Xiangmei , Yang Dongguang , Liu Xiuhua , Li Xia , Zhou Jin
Published: May 2014

RNA-Seq is emerging as an increasingly important tool in biological research, and it provides the most direct evidence of the relationship between the physiological state and molecular changes in cells. A large amount of RNA-Seq data across diverse experimental conditions have been generated and deposited in public databases. However, most developed approaches for coexpression analyses focus on the coexpression pattern mining of the transcriptome, thereby ignoring the magnitude of gene differences in one pattern. Furthermore, the functional relationships of genes in one pattern, and notably among patterns, were not always recognized. In this study, we developed an integrated strategy to identify differential coexpression patterns of genes and probed the functional mechanisms of the modules. Two real datasets were used to validate the method and allow comparisons with other methods. One of the datasets was selected to illustrate the flow of a typical analysis. In summary, we present an approach to robustly detect coexpression patterns in transcriptomes and to stratify patterns according to their relative differences. Furthermore, a global relationship between patterns and biological functions was constructed. In addition, a freely accessible web toolkit “coexpression pattern mining and GO functional analysis” (COGO) was developed.
Chromium (VI) Uptake and Tolerance Potential in Cotton Cultivars: Effect on Their Root Physiology, Ultramorphology, and Oxidative Metabolism
Authors: Daud M. K. , Mei Lei , Variath M. T. , Ali Shafaqat , Li Cheng , Rafiq M. T. , Zhu S. J.
Published: May 2014

Chromium (Cr) is present in our environment as a toxic pollutant, which needs to be removed using phytoremediation technology. In present study, two transgenic cotton cultivars (J208, Z905) and their hybrid line (ZD14) were used to explore their Cr uptake and tolerance potential using multiple biomarkers approach. Four different levels of Cr (CK, 10, 50, and 100 μM) were applied. Cr caused a significant reduction in root/shoot length, number of secondary roots, and root fresh and dry biomasses at 100μM. Cr accumulated more in roots and was found higher in hybrid line (ZD14) as compared with its parent lines (J208, Z905) at all Cr stress levels (10, 50, and 100 μM). Cr translocation was less than 1 in all cultivars. Ultrastructural studies at 100 μM Cr showed an increase in number of nuclei and vacuoles and presence of Cr dense granules in dead parts of the cell (vacuoles/cell wall). Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total soluble proteins, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) as a whole were upregulated with elevated levels of Cr. Higher Cr uptake by roots, accelerated metabolism, and Cr sequestration in dead parts of the cell indicate that these cotton cultivars can be useful for Cr accumulation and tolerance.
Prenatal Diagnosis of a Placental Infarction Hematoma Associated with Fetal Growth Restriction, Preeclampsia and Fetal Death: Clinicopathological Correlation
Authors: Aurioles-Garibay Alma , Hernandez-Andrade Edgar , Romero Roberto , Qureshi Faisal , Ahn Hyunyoung , Jacques Suzanne M. , Garcia Maynor , Yeo Lami , Hassan Sonia S.
Published: May 2014

The lesion termed ‘placental infarction hematoma' is associated with fetal death and adverse perinatal outcome. Such a lesion has been associated with a high risk of fetal death and abruption placentae. The fetal and placental hemodynamic changes associated with placental infarction hematoma have not been reported. This paper describes a case of early and severe growth restriction with preeclampsia, and progressive deterioration of the fetal and placental Doppler parameters in the presence of a placental infarction hematoma.
Successful Treatment of Refractory Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Alemtuzumab in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Tzachanis Dimitrios , Hamdan Ayad , Uhlmann Erik J. , Joyce Robin M.
Published: May 2014

This is the case of a 79-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome with features overlapping with the Miller Fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis and positive antiganglioside GQ1b antibody about 6 months after treatment with bendamustine and rituximab. His clinical and neurologic condition continued to deteriorate despite sequential treatment with corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis, but in the end, he had a complete and durable response to treatment with alemtuzumab.
Ultrasonographic Study of Initial Size and Postnatal Growth of Kidneys in Preterm Infants
Authors: Lim Yun-Jung , Kim Woo Sun , Kim Han-Suk , Choi Young Hun , Cheon Jung-Eun , Shin Su-Mi , Kim In-One , Choi Jung-Hwan
Published: May 2014

Background: Preterm birth is known to be associated with risks of impaired nephrogenesis. Objectives: To determine the normal range of renal sizes at birth in preterm infants as well as their short-term postnatal renal growth, to assess the correlation between initial renal size and growth parameters at birth and to compare the initial and serial renal sizes between appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) preterm infants. Methods: Initial ultrasonography (US) was prospectively performed in 125 preterm infants within the first 72 h of life and every 2 weeks thereafter until a postmenstrual age (PMA) of 37 weeks was reached. Correlation between renal size and growth parameters was investigated. Renal lengths of AGA and SGA preterm infants were compared with those of age-matched fetuses described in the literature. Results: The renal sizes at birth in preterm infants are presented. Multiple regression analysis showed the strongest correlation between initial renal size and birth weight (p < 0.0001). Initial renal lengths of AGA infants were not significantly different from those of age-matched fetuses at ≥30 weeks' gestational age (GA), whereas those of SGA infants were significantly smaller at ≥28 weeks' GA. Serial renal lengths of SGA infants were significantly smaller than fetal renal lengths at ≥30 weeks' GA. Conclusion: With US, the normal range of initial renal sizes of AGA preterm infants was defined according to GA. In contrast to AGA infants, SGA infants showed smaller initial renal sizes and no significant catch-up growth until a PMA of 37 weeks.
Dimensions of Religious/Spiritual Well-Being and the Dark Triad of Personality
Authors: Kämmerle Monika , Unterrainer Human-Friedrich , Dahmen-Wassenberg Phoebe , Fink Andreas , Kapfhammer Hans-Peter
Published: May 2014

Background: In general, religious/spiritual dimensions are found to be negatively correlated with all kinds of psychiatric disorders such as depression, suicidal ideation and substance abuse. Contrary to these findings, the goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between dimensions of religious/spiritual well-being (RSWB) and less favorable aspects of personality - the so-called ‘dark triad' of personality traits, i.e. narcissism, machiavellianism and psychopathy - together with general deficits in personality structure. Sampling and Methods: A total of 312 college students (220 females) completed the Multidimensional Inventory for RSWB, the revised Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Machiavellianism Inventory and the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale along with the 16-item Inventory of Personality Organization. Results: RSWB was confirmed to be negatively correlated with these negative aspects of personality, in particular with subclinical psychopathy. More specifically, there were several notable overlaps; narcissism, for instance, was found to be significantly positively associated with some RSWB subdimensions such as ‘hope' or ‘connectedness'. Conclusions: First deductions can be made from these data concerning an ambivalent role of spirituality in impaired personality structure. These associations might be further investigated especially in psychiatric patients diagnosed with personality disorders in order to describe potential psychopathological facets of religion and spirituality more adequately.
Kidney Regeneration in Mammals
Authors: Yang Hai-Chun , Liu Shao-Jun , Fogo Agnes B.
Published: May 2014

Background: Several organs such as the skin and liver have a great capacity for regeneration. However, many approaches only delay the progression of end-stage kidney disease and do not achieve efficient long-term stabilization, let alone regeneration. Summary: In mammals, the kidney has an innate but limited capacity for regeneration which can only modify the nephron structure and function but not increase the nephron number. Several clinical and animal studies have indicated that functional improvements and/or structural regression can occur in chronic kidney disease. Cell reconstitution, matrix remodeling, and tissue reorganization are major mechanisms for kidney regeneration. Current approaches achieve only partial kidney regeneration, but this does not occur in all animals and is not sustained in the long term. Multipronged and early interventions are future choices for the induction of kidney regeneration. Key Messages: Kidney regeneration in mammals is feasible but limited and may be enhanced by multitargeting key mechanisms.
Glomerular Regeneration: When Can the Kidney Regenerate from Injury and What Turns Failure into Success
Authors: Peired Anna , Lazzeri Elena , Lasagni Laura , Romagnani Paola
Published: May 2014

Background: For many years, the glomerulus was considered incapable of regeneration. However, experimental and clinical evidence challenged this concept and showed that glomerular injury and even glomerulosclerosis can undergo regression under certain circumstances. The problem with glomerular regeneration is centered around the podocyte, a highly specialized cell that is the critical constituent of the glomerular filtration barrier. Summary: Podocytes are characterized by a complex cytoskeleton that makes them unable to proliferate. Thus, once their depletion reaches a specific threshold, it is considered to be irreversible. The discovery of cells with the aptitude to differentiate into podocytes in the adult kidney, i.e. renal progenitor cells (RPCs), was a critical step in understanding the mechanisms of glomerular repair. Accumulating evidence suggests that a tight regulation of many different signaling pathways, such as Notch, Wnt, and microRNA, is involved in a correct regenerative process and that an altered regulation of these same signaling pathways in RPCs triggers the generation of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis lesions. In particular, regeneration is severely impaired by proteinuria, when albumin sequesters retinoic acid and blocks RPC differentiation in podocytes. Key Messages: RPC maintenance and differentiating potential are regulated by complex mechanisms that can be implemented following glomerular injury and can be manipulated to activate regeneration for therapeutic purposes. A better understanding of the phenomenon of glomerular regeneration paves the way for the prevention and treatment of glomerular diseases.
Restoring the Function of a Diseased Kidney via Its Microvasculature
Authors: Fine Leon G.
Published: May 2014

Background: Based upon observations which indicate that chronic intrarenal hypoxia and microvascular obliteration play an important role in the pathogenesis of renal scarring and loss of function, the idea is presented that restoration of kidney structure and function by arresting microvascular drop-out and restoring the interstitial capillary network could be a feasible approach to regeneration of a diseased kidney. This paper addresses the reasoning behind this possibility. Summary: A ‘unifying vasculogenic hypothesis' is discussed which proposes that, in hypoxic nephrons which retain poorly functioning vascular and epithelial elements, the disease process can be slowed or arrested, and nephrons regenerated, by adoptive transfer of endothelial progenitor cells to restore interstitial and glomerular vascular integrity. It is suggested that no other cell types are required to achieve this end. Improved differentiation, proliferation, and function of surviving nephrons could be achieved by restoring adequate oxygen delivery via this approach. Key Messages: It is hypothesized that, to regenerate the function of a chronically diseased kidney, it is not plausible to create new nephrons. Restoration of function of surviving nephrons could be achieved by regeneration of the renal microvasculature alone. Based upon observations that have demonstrated the feasibility of adoptive endothelial progenitor cell transfer into the kidney, this hypothesis is worthy of being tested.
Can Kidney Regeneration Be Visualized
Authors: Peti-Peterdi János , Burford James L. , Hackl Matthias J.
Published: May 2014

Background: Various cell types, including podocytes and parietal epithelial cells, play important roles in the development and progression of glomerular kidney diseases, albuminuria, and glomerulosclerosis. Besides their role in renal pathologies, glomerular cells have emerging new functions in endogenous repair mechanisms. A better understanding of the dynamics of the glomerular environment and cellular composition in an intact living kidney is critically important for the development of new regenerative therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases. However, progress in this field has been hampered by the lack of in vivo research tools. Summary: This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in the application of the unique intravital imaging technology of multiphoton fluorescence microscopy for the dynamic visualization of glomerular structure and function over time in the intact, living kidney. Recently, this imaging approach in combination with transgenic mouse models allowed tracking of the fate of individual glomerular cells in vivo over several days and depicted the highly dynamic nature of the glomerular environment, particularly in disease conditions. Key Messages: The technology is ready and available for future intravital imaging studies investigating new glomerular regenerative approaches in animal models.
Renal Bioengineering with Scaffolds Generated from Rat and Pig Kidneys
Authors: Figliuzzi Marina , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Remuzzi Andrea
Published: May 2014

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue with an estimated prevalence of 8-16% worldwide. End-stage renal disease eventually develops every year in 0.15-0.2% of patients with overt CKD, and renal replacement therapy (RRT) with dialysis or transplantation is required. Although approximately 2 million people worldwide are currently on RRT to sustain life, this likely represents less than 10% of those who need it. The kidney transplant approach is also seriously impaired by limited graft survival and by the scarce availability of donors. Innovative tissue-engineering strategies have been recently proposed to overcome these challenges. It is anticipated that these novel approaches will also be cost-effective in the long term. Although the initial setup of these innovative technologies could be quite expensive, there would be a single application for each patient, with no additional costs thereafter, compared to the lifelong costs of dialysis or immunosuppressive medications required for transplantation. One of the most innovative tools currently being investigated in experimental models is based on the idea of using decellularized kidneys to engineer a new functional organ as a potential future treatment option for end-stage renal disease. Summary: In the last 5 years, several interesting observations have been reported regarding the possibility of using an acellular matrix from the whole kidney and the attempt to recellularize this scaffold using stem or differentiated cells. This review provides an overview of the decellularization methods tested so far and their effects on the resulting extracellular matrix structure and composition. In addition, we also discuss methods recently described by us and others for the perfusion of kidney scaffolds for recellularization. Key Messages: Despite difficulties in achieving the import goal of kidney engineering in the laboratory, we discuss the problems with and limits of the experimental results obtained so far and point out the strategies that need to be adopted in order for this line of research to advance.
Specific Antibodies in Oral Immunotherapy for Cow's Milk Allergy: Kinetics and Prediction of Clinical Outcome
Authors: Savilahti Emma M. , Kuitunen Mikael , Savilahti Erkki , Mäkelä Mika J.
Published: May 2014

Background: Methods for predicting the clinical outcome of specific oral immunotherapy (OIT) would improve the safety of the therapy. Methods: We investigated 40 children aged 6-17 years with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA) who either successfully completed OIT (n = 32) or discontinued the therapy due to adverse reactions (n = 8). From sera drawn before and after OIT, we analyzed specific IgA, IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 to cow's milk (CM), casein, β-lactoglobulin and ovalbumin (with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and IgE to CM and hen's egg white [with enzymatic fluoroimmunoassay (Phadia ThermoFisher Scientific CAP system)]. As a reference, we also analyzed serum samples from 8- to 9-year-old children who either had no history of CMA (n = 76) or who had spontaneously recovered from IgE-mediated CMA (n = 56). Results: Levels of specific IgA, IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 to CM and casein, and CM-specific IgE prior to OIT were higher in children who discontinued the therapy than in those who achieved desensitization (p < 0.05). Adverse reactions in the entire population were associated with low IgG and IgG4, but high IgG1 levels to ovalbumin (p < 0.05). Specific IgA, IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 to CM proteins significantly increased and IgE to CM decreased during OIT in children who achieved desensitization (p < 0.01). In those who discontinued OIT, only IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 to CM increased significantly (p < 0.03) and CM IgE remained unchanged. Conclusions: High specific IgE, IgA and IgG-class antibodies to CM proteins appear to predict failure to achieve desensitization in CM OIT. Specific IgA and IgG-class antibodies to CM increase and CM IgE decreases during desensitization.
Pericyte Dynamics during Angiogenesis: New Insights from New Identities
Authors: Stapor Peter C. , Sweat Richard S. , Dashti Derek C. , Betancourt Aline M. , Murfee Walter Lee
Published: May 2014

Therapies aimed at manipulating the microcirculation require the ability to control angiogenesis, defined as the sprouting of new capillaries from existing vessels. Blocking angiogenesis would be beneficial in many pathologies (e.g. cancer, retinopathies and rheumatoid arthritis). In others (e.g. myocardial infarction, stroke and hypertension), promoting angiogenesis would be desirable. We know that vascular pericytes elongate around endothelial cells (ECs) and are functionally associated with regulating vessel stabilization, vessel diameter and EC proliferation. During angiogenesis, bidirectional pericyte-EC signaling is critical for capillary sprout formation. Observations of pericytes leading capillary sprouts also implicate their role in EC guidance. As such, pericytes have recently emerged as a therapeutic target to promote or inhibit angiogenesis. Advancing our basic understanding of pericytes and developing pericyte-related therapies are challenged, like in many other fields, by questions regarding cell identity. This review article discusses what we know about pericyte phenotypes and the opportunity to advance our understanding by defining the specific pericyte cell populations involved in capillary sprouting.
Factors in Relation to Bone Mineral Density in Korean Middle-Aged and Older Men: 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Yang Yoon Jung , Kim Jihye
Published: May 2014

Background/Aims: Studies on determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) among Asian middle-aged and older men are very limited. The aim of this study was to investigate general determinants and dietary factors influencing BMD in Korean middle-aged and older men. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 2,305 male subjects aged 50-79 years were included. Whole-body, total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMDs were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was estimated by 24-hour dietary recall. A food frequency questionnaire for 63 food items was also administered. Results: Proportions of osteoporosis at the total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine were 0.7, 3.3 and 7.0%, respectively. Age, height, weight, body mass index, fat mass, lean body mass, waist circumference, serum vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and exercise were related to BMD, but the relationships were site specific. Diet quality and intake of vegetables, fruits, and calcium were associated with BMD. Conclusions: These results suggest that a high-quality diet, an adequate intake of fruits, vegetables, and calcium, as well as exercise, high serum vitamin D and weight maintenance might be determinants of BMD among middle-aged and older Asian men.
Atorvastatin Improves Survival of Implanted Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Cai Jieru , Yu Xiaofang , Zhang Bingying , Zhang Hui , Fang Yi , Liu Shaopeng , Liu Tongqiang , Ding Xiaoqiang
Published: May 2014

Aims: To investigate the impacts of combinatorial atorvastatin (Ator) perioperative administration and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) implantation on therapeutic effects in the rat experimental acute kidney injury. Methods: The model of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was induced by the release of bilateral renal pedicle clamps following 45 min of occlusion. Immediately after reperfusion, CM-Dil-labeled MSCs (1 × 106 cells) or vehicles only were administered through the carotid artery of the animals pretreated with or without Ator. Results: The combined treatment with Ator and MSCs (Ator+MSCs) markedly reduced the elevated levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, as well as the severity of renal damage 24 h after I/R injury. In addition, we also observed inhibition of renal tubular cell apoptosis and promotion of proliferation in the Ator+MSCs group compared with the other groups. Consistent with the improvement in renal function and morphology, Ator pretreatment significantly ameliorated oxidative stress, inhibited inflammation response, and increased the viability of implanted MSCs. With regard to the further mechanism, we found that the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and high-mobility group box 1, potential mediators of innate immunity, was significantly decreased in the Ator-treated groups. Conclusion: Ator treatment may protect the kidney undergoing I/R injury through suppression of TLR4 signaling, creating a better environment for the survival of grafted MSCs. The extra benefit of the Ator+MSCs combined therapy may result from the Ator-mediated inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation in the ischemic kidney.
A Candidate Gene Association Study Further Corroborates Involvement of Contactin Genes in Autism
Authors: Poot Martin
Published: May 2014

Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows a high degree of heritability, only a few mutated genes and mostly de novo copy number variations (CNVs) with a high phenotypic impact have as yet been identified. In families with multiple ASD patients, transmitted CNVs often do not appear to cosegregate with disease. Therefore, also transmitted single nucleotide variants which escape detection if genetic analyses were limited to CNVs may contribute to disease risk. In several studies of ASD patients, CNVs covering at least one gene of the contactin gene family were found. To determine whether there is evidence for a contribution of transmitted variants in contactin genes, a cohort of 67 ASD patients and a population-based reference of 117 healthy individuals, who were not related to the ASD families, were compared. In total, 1,648 SNPs, spanning 12.1 Mb of genomic DNA, were examined. After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, the strongest signal was found for a SNP located within the CNTN5 gene (rs6590473 [G], p = 4.09 × 10-7; OR = 3.117; 95% CI = 1.603-6.151). In the ASD cohort, a combination of risk alleles of SNPs in CNTN6 (rs9878022 [A]; OR = 3.749) and in CNTNAP2 (rs7804520 [G]; OR = 2.437) was found more frequently than would be expected under random segregation, albeit this association was not statistically significant. The latter finding is consistent with a polygenic disease model in which multiple mutagenic mechanisms, operating concomitantly, elicit the ASD phenotype. Altogether, this study corroborates the possible involvement of contactins in ASD, which has been indicated by earlier studies of CNVs.
A new species of Goeppertia (Marantaceae) from the northeast Brazil and an identification key for species from the state of Sergipe
Authors: SAKA MARIANA N. , LOMBARDI JULIO A.
Published: May 2014

Marantaceae is a family with approximately 550 species distributed throughout the tropics, with the exception of Australia (Andersson 2003). Calathea Meyer (1818: 6) used to be the largest genus in the family, previously including ca. 300 species. After the molecular study on the genus by Borchsenius et al. (2012), which confirmed the genus as polyphyletic, Goeppertia Nees (1831: 337) was resurrected to include all the species (approximately 245) that were not in the former subgenus Calathea Körnicke (1862: 112), the Calathea lanicaulis group (Kennedy et al. 1988) and the synonymized genus Sanblasia Andersson (1984: 21). Goeppertia thus became the most representative genus of Marantaceae, in Brazil represented by ca. 100 species (Braga 2013). It is found chiefly in rainforest habitats at elevations, below 1500m (Kennedy et al. 1988). However, the number of species may yet be underestimated due to unknown diversity of Brazilian species occurring in drier areas.
A new mountain lizard from Montes de León (NW Iberian Peninsula): Iberolacerta monticola astur ssp. nov. (Squamata: Lacertidae)
Authors: ARRIBAS OSCAR J. , GALÁN PEDRO , REMÓN NÚRIA , NAVEIRA HORACIO
Published: May 2014

Iberolacerta populations from the Northern Montes de León (NML) were studied by means of external morphology (scalation and biometry), osteology and genetics (mtDNA and microsatellites), searching for their homogeneity (“intrazonal analysis”) and, once verified, comparing them with Iberolacerta monticola s. str. (from Central Cantabrian Mountains) and I. galani (from Southern Montes de León) (“extrazonal analysis”) from neighboring areas.
First record of the family Ithonidae (Neuroptera) from Baltic amber
Authors: Makarkin Vladimir N. , Wedmann Sonja , Weiterschan Thomas
Published: May 2014

Elektrithone expectata gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Ithonidae) is described from Eocene Baltic amber and represents the first record of this family from Baltic amber. The forewing venation of the new genus is characterized by a small number of crossveins as found in some ‘polystoechotid’-like genera, and by the absence of the distal nygma and the strong reduction of the anal area which are characteristic of ‘rapismatid’-like ithonids.
The ANDEEP Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) revisited
III: the family Akanthophoreidae
Authors: LARSEN KIM , ARAÚJO-SILVA CATARINA L.
Published: May 2014

A restricted phylogenetic analysis is conducted to test if the family Akanthophoreidae is monophyletic. The family was found to be monophyletic with a Bremer support of 11 and is redefined to include the genera Akanthophoreus, Chauliopleona, Mimicarhaphura, Parakanthophoreus gen. nov., Paraleptognathia, Stenotanais, and Tumidochelia, while Gejavis is removed. Akanthophoreus and Paraleptognathia are redefined and now consist of only four and two species respectively. The remaining species previously assigned to these genera are transferred to a new genus Parakanthophoreus. A key to the genera of the family is presented. Two new species of Chauliopleona, C. ciimari and C. andeepi, and one of Parakanthophoreus, P. greenwichius, are described from the ANDEEP I–III and ANDEEP-SYSTCO material.
Review of the genus Thliptoceras Warren, 1890 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Pyraustinae) from the Oriental region of China
Authors: ZHANG DANDAN , XU JIAWEN , LI JINWEI
Published: May 2014

The species of the genus Thliptoceras Warren, 1890 from the Oriental region of China are reviewed, and a description of the genus is given. Five new species, T. bicuspidatum sp. nov., T. semicirculare sp. nov., T. bisulciforme sp. nov., T. filamentosum sp. nov. and T. impube sp. nov. are described. T. fulvimargo (Warren, 1895) is newly recorded for China. A key to the species of the Oriental region of China is provided, along with diagnoses for previously described species. Illustrations of external features and genitalia are presented.
The Larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera)
Authors: BADANO DAVIDE , PANTALEONI ROBERTO ANTONIO
Published: May 2014

The larvae of all the European genera of Ascalaphidae are compared for the first time, highlighting the differential characters for identification purposes. The larva of the genus Ascalaphus is described for the first time while those of Puer, Bubopsis and Deleproctophylla are deeply revised. Actually, the larvae of Ascalaphus festivus (Rambur), Puer maculatus (Olivier), Bubopsis agrionoides (Rambur), Deleproctophylla australis (Rambur), Libelloides latinus (Lefebvre), Libelloides corsicus (Rambur) and Libelloides siculus (Angelini) are described or accurately depicted for the first time. The known larvae of the genus Libelloides are reviewed.