bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Abbreviated Indirect Calorimetry Protocols for Energy Expenditure Measurement in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Smallwood Craig D. , Mehta Nilesh M.
Published: April 2012

Background: Accurate measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE) using indirect calorimetry (IC) facilitates optimal energy prescription. Steady‐state (SS) REE obtained using a 5‐minute protocol (SS5) has been used as a surrogate for 24‐hour REE measurement. However, SS5 conditions are difficult to achieve in critically ill children on mechanical ventilatory support. Methods: The authors prospectively examined factors associated with successful IC testing using the standard SS5 protocol in mechanically ventilated children. They examined the agreement of REE between SS5 and 2 abbreviated SS protocols: 4‐minute (SS4) and 3‐minute (SS3) protocols as well as the Schofield prediction equation, using Bland‐Altman analysis. Results: IC testing (n = 45) was completed in 34 children. SS was achieved during 25 (56%), 31 (69%), and 42 (93%) tests, using the SS5, SS4, and SS3 protocols, respectively. Intratest variability in respiratory rate, endotracheal tube leak, and inspiratory time was associated with failed IC by the SS5 protocol. The mean bias (limits of agreement) for REE was 2.8 (–47 to 65), 5.8 (–71 to 72), and −127 (–418 to 1176) kcal/d using SS4, SS3, and Schofield, respectively. A stronger agreement was observed when means of all abbreviated SS REE values during a 30‐minute test were used. Conclusion: In mechanically ventilated children, 4‐minute and 3‐minute SS protocols allowed REE measurements to be obtained in most patients with reasonable accuracy. Abbreviated protocols may decrease the need to rely on inaccurate equations when assessing energy expenditure in children who fail IC testing by standard SS criteria.
Molecular features of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma unravels potential novel therapeutic targets
Authors: Travert Marion , Huang Yenlin , de Leval Laurence , Martin-Garcia Nadine , Delfau-Larue Marie-Helene , Berger Françoise , Bosq Jacques , Brière Josette , Soulier Jean , MacIntyre Elizabeth , Marafioti Teresa , de Reyniès Aurélien , Gaulard Philippe
Published: April 2012

The pathogenesis of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTL), a rare entity mostly derived from γδ T cells and usually with a fatal outcome, remains largely unknown. In this study, HSTL samples (7γδ and 2αβ) and the DERL2 HSTL cell line were subjected to combined gene-expression profiling and array-based comparative genomic hybridization. Compared with other T-cell lymphomas, HSTL had a distinct molecular signature irrespective of TCR cell lineage. Compared with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified and normal γδ T cells, HSTL overexpressed genes encoding NK-cell–associated molecules, oncogenes (FOS and VAV3), the sphingosine-1-phosphatase receptor 5 involved in cell trafficking, and the tyrosine kinase SYK, whereas the tumor-suppressor gene AIM1 (absent in melanoma 1) was among the most down-expressed. We found highly methylated CpG islands of AIM1 in DERL2 cells, and decitabine treatment induced a significant increase in AIM1 transcripts. Syk was present in HSTL cells and DERL2 cells contained phosphorylated Syk and were sensitive to a Syk inhibitor in vitro. Genomic profiles confirmed recurrent isochromosome 7q (n = 6/9) without alterations at the SYK and AIM1 loci. Our results identify a distinct molecular signature for HSTL and highlight oncogenic pathways that offer rationale for exploring new therapeutic options such as Syk inhibitors and demethylating agents.
Bacteria in sputum of stable severe asthma and increased airway wall thickness
Authors: Zhang Qingling , Illing Rowland , Hui Christopher K , Downey Kate , Carr Denis , Stearn Martin , Alshafi Khalid , Menzies-Gow Andrew , Zhong Nanshan , Fan Chung Kian
Published: April 2012

Background

Patients with chronic asthma have thicker intrapulmonary airways measured on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). We determined whether the presence of lower airway bacteria was associated with increased airway wall thickness.

Methods

In 56 patients with stable severe asthma, sputum specimens obtained either spontaneously or after induction with hypertonic saline were cultured for bacteria and thoracic HRCT scans obtained. Wall thickness (WT) and area (WA) expressed as a ratio of airway diameter (D) and total area, respectively, were measured at five levels.

Results

Positive bacterial cultures were obtained in 29 patients, with H. influenzae, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus being the commonest strains. Logistic regression analysis showed that this was associated with the duration of asthma and the exacerbations during the past year. In airways > 2 mm, there was no significant difference in WA (67.5 ± 5.4 vs 66.4 ± 5.4) and WT/D (21.6 ± 2.7 vs 21.3 ± 2.4) between the culture negative versus positive groups. Similarly, in airways (≤ 2 mm), there were no significant differences in these parameters. The ratio of √wall area to Pi was negatively correlated with FEV1% predicted (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Bacterial colonization of the lower airways is common in patients with chronic severe asthma and is linked to the duration of asthma and having had exacerbations in the past year, but not with an increase in airway wall thickness.
An optimal search filter for retrieving systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors: Lee Edwin , Dobbins Maureen , DeCorby Kara , McRae Lyndsey , Tirilis Daiva , Husson Heather
Published: April 2012

Background

Health-evidence.ca is an online registry of systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions. Extensive searching of bibliographic databases is required to keep the registry up to date. However, search filters have been developed to assist in searching the extensive amount of published literature indexed. Search filters can be designed to find literature related to a certain subject (i.e. content-specific filter) or particular study designs (i.e. methodological filter). The objective of this paper is to describe the development and validation of the health-evidence.ca Systematic Review search filter and to compare its performance to other available systematic review filters.

Methods

This analysis of search filters was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL. The performance of thirty-one search filters in total was assessed. A validation data set of 219 articles indexed between January 2004 and December 2005 was used to evaluate performance on sensitivity, specificity, precision and the number needed to read for each filter.

Results

Nineteen of 31 search filters were effective in retrieving a high level of relevant articles (sensitivity scores greater than 85%). The majority achieved a high degree of sensitivity at the expense of precision and yielded large result sets. The main advantage of the health-evidence.ca Systematic Review search filter in comparison to the other filters was that it maintained the same level of sensitivity while reducing the number of articles that needed to be screened.

Conclusions

The health-evidence.ca Systematic Review search filter is a useful tool for identifying published systematic reviews, with further screening to identify those evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions. The filter that narrows the focus saves considerable time and resources during updates of this online resource, without sacrificing sensitivity.
Chemical constituents and free radical scavenging activity of corn pollen collected from Apis mellifera hives compared to floral corn pollen at Nan, Thailand
Authors: Chantarudee Atip , Phuwapraisirisan Preecha , Kimura Kiyoshi , Okuyama Masayuki , Mori Haruhide , Kimura Atsuo , Chanchao Chanpen
Published: April 2012

Background

Bee pollen is composed of floral pollen mixed with nectar and bee secretion that is collected by foraging honey (Apissp.) and stingless bees. It is rich in nutrients, such as sugars, proteins, lipids, vitamins and flavonoids, and has been ascribed antiproliferative, anti-allergenic, anti-angiogenic and free radical scavenging activities. This research aimed at a preliminary investigation of the chemical constituents and free radical scavenging activity inA. melliferabee pollen.

Methods

Bee pollen was directly collected fromA. melliferacolonies in Nan province, Thailand, in June, 2010, whilst floral corn (Zea maysL.) pollen was collected from the nearby corn fields. The pollen was then sequentially extracted with methanol, dichloromethane (DCM) and hexane, and each crude extract was tested for free radical scavenging activity using the DPPH assay, evaluating the percentage scavenging activity and the effective concentration at 50% (EC50). The most active crude fraction from the bee pollen was then further enriched for bioactive components by silica gel 60 quick and adsorption or Sephadex LH-20 size exclusion chromatography. The purity of all fractions in each step was observed by thin layer chromatography and the bioactivity assessed by the DPPH assay. The chemical structures of the most active fractions were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance.

Results

The crude DCM extract of both the bee corn pollen and floral corn pollen provided the highest active free radical scavenging activity of the three solvent extracts, but it was significantly (over 28-fold) higher in the bee corn pollen (EC50 = 7.42 ± 0.12 μg/ml), than the floral corn pollen (EC50 = 212 ± 13.6% μg/ml). After fractionation to homogeneity, the phenolic hydroquinone and the flavone 7-O-R-apigenin were found as the minor and major bioactive compounds, respectively. Bee corn pollen contained a reasonably diverse array of nutritional components, including biotin (56.7 μg/100 g), invert sugar (19.9 g/100 g), vitamin A and β carotene (1.53 mg/100 g).

Conclusions

Bee pollen derived from corn (Z. mays), a non-toxic or edible plant, provided a better free radical scavenging activity than floral corn pollen.
Preeclampsia serum upregulates CD40/CD40L expression and induces apoptosis in human umbilical cord endothelial cells
Authors: Wu Chun-feng , Huang Fu-dan , Sui Ren-fang , Sun Jing-xia
Published: April 2012

Background

The endothelial cell dysfunction observed in preeclampsia (PE) may be induced by CD40/CD40L signaling. This study investigated the role of CD40/CD40L in the pathogenesis of PE by comparing the effect of maternal serum obtained from healthy pregnant women and PE patients on HUVEC cell growth, apoptosis and CD40/CD40L expression.

Methods

Maternal serum was obtained from 20 patients with PE (PE group) as well as 20 healthy pregnant women (control group). The human umbilical endothelial cell line, CRL1730, was cultured in the presence of maternal serum for 24, 48, and 72 h after which cell growth and apoptosis were assessed by MTT and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. CD40/CD40L expression was determined using flow cytometry and RT-PCR analyses.

Results

As compared to CRL1730 cells treated with control sera, those treated with PE sera had altered morphology, decreased cell growth, increased apoptosis and greater CD40/CD40L protein and mRNA expression. Stimulation of CD40/CD40L protein and mRNA expression by PE sera was greatest at 24 h.

Conclusions

PE sera may induce endothelial cell damage possibly through increased CD40/CD40L expression in early-onset PE. Further studies are necessary to determine the factor(s) in PE sera responsible for the observed changes in endothelial cell viability.
Bone morphogenetic protein-2-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation through enhanced low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 catabolic activity contributes to hypertrophy in osteoarthritic chondrocytes
Authors: Papathanasiou Ioanna , Malizos Konstantinos N , Tsezou Aspasia
Published: April 2012

Introduction

Events normally taking place in the terminal chondrocyte differentiation in the growth plate are also observed during osteoarthritis (OA) development, suggesting that molecules, such as Wnts and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) regulating chondrocyte activity in the growth plate, may play a key role in osteoarthritis pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible cross-talk between BMP-2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in OA progression.

Methods

Low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP-5) and 6, BMP-2, -4, and -7, bone morphogenetic protein receptor-IA and IB (BMPR-IA and BMPR-IA), lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1), and transcription factor 4 (TCF-4) expression levels were investigated in normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes. LRP-5, β-catenin (phospho and active form), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 7, 9, 13, 14, ADAMTS-4, 5, as well as collagen X (COL10A1) expression levels were evaluated after LRP-5 silencing in BMP-2-treated chondrocytes. The investigation of Smad1/5/8 binding to LRP-5 promoter was assessed with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of experimental activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with LiCl and LEF-1 silencing, in LiCl-treated chondrocytes, on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 7, 9, 13, 14, ADAMTS-4, 5, and collagen X (COL10A1) expression, as well as possible interactions between LEF-1 and MMPs and COL10A1 promoters by using a ChIP assay.

Results

LRP-5, BMP-2, BMP-4, BMPR-IA, and LEF-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were found to be significantly upregulated in osteoarthritic chondrocytes compared with normal. We showed that treatment of cultured chondrocytes with BMP-2 resulted in increased β-catenin nuclear translocation and LRP-5 expression and that the BMP-2-induced LRP-5 upregulation is mediated through Smad1/5/8 binding on LRP-5 promoter. LRP-5 silencing reduced nuclear β-catenin protein levels, MMPs and collagen X expression, whereas increased phospho-β-catenin protein levels in BMP-2-treated chondrocyte. Furthermore, we demonstrated that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by LiCl and LEF-1 downregulation by using siRNA regulates MMP-9, 13, 14, ADAMTS-5, and COL10A1 expression, evidenced by the observed strong binding of LEF-1 to MMP-9, 13, 14, ADAMTS-5 and COL10A promoters.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest, for the first time to our knowledge, that BMP-2-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation through LRP-5 may contribute to chondrocyte hypertrophy and cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.
Regulation of transcriptome, translation, and proteome in response to environmental stress in fission yeast
Authors: Lackner Daniel H , Schmidt Michael W , Wu Shuangding , Wolf Dieter A , Bähler Jürg
Published: April 2012

Background

Gene expression is controlled globally and at multiple levels in response to environmental stress, but the relationships among these dynamic regulatory changes are not clear. Here we analyzed global regulation during different stress conditions in fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, combining dynamic genome-wide data on mRNA, translation, and protein profiles.

Results

We observed a strong overall concordance between changes in mRNAs and co-directional changes in translation, for both induced and repressed genes, in response to three conditions: oxidative stress, heat shock, and DNA damage. However, approximately 200 genes each under oxidative and heat stress conditions showed discordant regulation with respect to mRNA and translation profiles, with genes and patterns of regulation being stress-specific. For oxidative stress, we also measured dynamic profiles for 2,147 proteins, comprising 43% of the proteome. The mRNAs induced during oxidative stress strongly correlated with increased protein expression, while repressed mRNAs did not relate to the corresponding protein profiles. Overall changes in relative protein expression correlated better with changes in mRNA expression than with changes in translational efficiency.

Conclusions

These data highlight a global coordination and fine-tuning of gene regulation during stress that mostly acts in the same direction at the levels of transcription and translation. In the oxidative stress condition analyzed, transcription dominates translation to control protein abundance. The concordant regulation of transcription and translation leads to the expected adjustment in protein expression only for up-regulated mRNAs. These patterns of control might reflect the need to balance protein production for stress survival given a limited translational capacity.
Generation of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with different karyotypes of Down syndrome
Authors: Mou Xiaoning , Wu Yuanbo , Cao Henghua , Meng Qingzhang , Wang Qihui , Sun Chengchao , Hu Shengshou , Ma Yue , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2012

Introduction

Down syndrome (DS), a major cause of mental retardation, is caused by trisomy of some or all of human chromosome 21 and includes three basic karyotypes: trisomy 21, translocation, and mosaicism. The derivation of DS-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides us novel DS models that can be used to determine the DS mechanism and to devise therapeutic approaches for DS patients.

Methods

In the present study, fibroblasts from patients with DS of various karyotypes were reprogrammed into iPSCs via the overexpression of four factors: OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC, by using lentiviral vectors. The abilities of the iPSC-DS in the self-renewal and pluripotency in vitro and in vivo were then examined.

Results

The iPSC-DS showed characteristics similar to those of human embryonic stem cells, particularly the morphology, surface marker (SSEA4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81) expression, pluripotent-specific transcription-factor expression levels, and methylation status of the OCT4 promoter. The pluripotency of iPSC-DS was also tested in vitro and in vivo. Embryoid bodies were formed and showed the expression of differentiated markers for three germ layers. Furthermore, iPSC-DS formed classic teratomas when injected into nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice.

Conclusions

iPSCs were generated from patients with DS. The iPSCs derived from different types of DS may be used in DS modeling, patient-care optimization, drug discovery, and eventually, autologous cell-replacement therapies.
3D scalar-wave absorbing boundary conditions with optimal coefficients in the frequency-space domain
Authors: Xu Kun , McMechan George A.
Published: April 2012

To improve the computational efficiency for the solution of the 3D Helmholtz equation in the frequency-space domain, high-order compact forms of finite differences are preferred. We applied a pointwise Padé approximation to develop a 3D 27-point fourth-order compact finite-difference (FD) stencil in the grid interior, with a space-differentiated source term, for the scalar-wave equation; this has similar high-accuracy (4–5 grid points per the shortest wavelength) to another 27-point fourth-order FD stencil using a parsimonious mixed-grid and staggered-grid combination, but is much simpler. For absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs), a damping zone is expensive, and a perfectly matched layer can not be straightforwardly introduced into the compact FD form for the second-order wave equation. Thus, we developed 3D one-way wave equation (OWWE) ABCs with adjustable coefficients. They have different angle approximations and FD forms for the six faces, twelve edges, and eight corners in 3D models to fit with the interior compact FD form. By adjusting the coefficients to the optimum, the OWWE ABCs have wider-angle absorbing ability than those without optimal coefficients. Finally, all the interior and boundary FD forms were combined into a sparse complex-valued impedance matrix of the frequency-space modeling equation, and solved for each frequency. Because the storage of the sparse impedance matrix was determined by the 3D discrete grid size, the OWWE ABCs with only one outer layer needed the minimum grid size compared with other ABCs, thus were the most efficient for the solution of the impedance matrix. The modeling algorithm was performed on multicore processors using a MPI parallel direct solver. Numerical tests on homogeneous and heterogeneous models gave satisfactory absorbing effects.
Receptor-type guanylyl cyclase Gyc76C is required for development of the Drosophila embryonic somatic muscle
Authors: Patel Unisha , Davies Shireen A. , Myat Monn Monn
Published: April 2012

Guanylyl cyclases mediate a number of physiological processes, including smooth muscle function and axonal guidance. Here, we report a novel role for Drosophila receptor-type guanylyl cyclase at 76C, Gyc76C, in development of the embryonic somatic muscle. In embryos lacking function of Gyc76C or the downstream cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK), DG1, patterning of the somatic body wall muscles was abnormal with ventral and lateral muscle groups showing the most severe defects. In contrast, specification and elongation of the dorsal oblique and dorsal acute muscles of gyc76C mutant embryos was normal, and instead, these muscles showed defects in proper formation of the myotendinous junctions (MTJs). During MTJ formation in gyc76C and pkg21D mutant embryos, the βPS integrin subunit failed to localize to the MTJs and instead was found in discrete puncta within the myotubes. Tissue-specific rescue experiments showed that gyc76C function is required in the muscle for proper patterning and βPS integrin localization at the MTJ. These studies provide the first evidence for a requirement for Gyc76C and DG1 in Drosophila somatic muscle development, and suggest a role in transport and/or retention of integrin receptor subunits at the developing MTJs.
Memory Deficits of British Dementia Knock-In Mice Are Prevented by Aβ-Precursor Protein Haploinsufficiency
Authors: Tamayev Robert , D'Adamio Luciano
Published: April 2012

Familial British Dementia (FBD) is caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in theBRI2/ITM2Bgene (Vidal et al., 1999). FBDKImice are a model of FBD that is genetically congruous to the human disease, because they carry one mutant and one wild-typeBri2/Itm2ballele. Analysis of these mice has shown that the British mutation causes memory impairments due to loss of Bri2 function (Tamayev et al., 2010b). BRI2 is a physiologic inhibitor of processing of the Aβ-precursor protein (APP; Matsuda et al., 2008), a gene associated with Alzheimer's disease (Bertram et al., 2010). Here we show thatAPPhaploinsufficiency prevents memory dysfunctions seen in FBDKImice. This genetic suppression is consistent with a role for APP in the pathogenesis of memory deficits. Moreover, it provides compelling evidence that the memory dysfunctions caused by the British BRI2 mutant are dependent on endogenous APP and that BRI2 and APP functionally interact. This evidence establishes a mechanistic connection between Familial British and Alzheimer's dementias.
Social-Cognitive Deficits in Normal Aging
Authors: Moran Joseph M. , Jolly Eshin , Mitchell Jason P.
Published: April 2012

A sizeable number of studies have implicated the default network (e.g., medial prefrontal and parietal cortices) in tasks that require participants to infer the mental states of others (i.e., to mentalize). Parallel research has demonstrated that default network function declines over the lifespan, suggesting that older adults may show impairments in social-cognitive tasks that require mentalizing. Older and younger human adults were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing three different social-cognitive tasks. Across three mentalizing paradigms, younger and older adults viewed animated shapes in brief social vignettes, stories about a person's moral actions, and false belief stories. Consistent with predictions, older adults responded less accurately to stories about others' false beliefs and made less use of actors' intentions to judge the moral permissibility of behavior. These impairments in performance during social-cognitive tasks were accompanied by age-related decreases across all three paradigms in the BOLD response of a single brain region, the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest specific task-independent age-related deficits in mentalizing that are localizable to changes in circumscribed subregions of the default network.
Preclinical Retinal Neurodegeneration in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Fairless Richard , Williams Sarah K. , Hoffmann Dorit B. , Stojic Aleksandar , Hochmeister Sonja , Schmitz Frank , Storch Maria K. , Diem Ricarda
Published: April 2012

Neurodegeneration plays a major role in multiple sclerosis (MS), in which it is thought to be the main determinant of permanent disability. However, the relationship between the immune response and the onset of neurodegeneration is still a matter of debate. Moreover, recent findings in MS patients raised the question of whether primary neurodegenerative changes can occur in the retina independent of optic nerve inflammation. Using a rat model of MS that frequently leads to optic neuritis, we have investigated the interconnection between neurodegenerative and inflammatory changes in the retina and the optic nerves with special focus on preclinical disease stages. We report that, before manifestation of optic neuritis, characterized by inflammatory infiltration and demyelination of the optic nerve, degeneration of retinal ganglion cell bodies had already begun and ultrastructural signs of axon degeneration could be detected. In addition, we observed an early activation of resident microglia in the retina. In the optic nerve, the highest density of activated microglia was found within the optic nerve head. In parallel, localized breakdown in the integrity of the blood–retinal barrier and aberrations in the organization of the blood–brain barrier marker aquaporin-4 in the optic nerves were observed during the preclinical phase, before onset of optic neuritis. From these findings, we conclude that early and subtle inflammatory changes in the retina and/or the optic nerve head reminiscent of those suggested for preclinical MS lesions may initiate the process of neurodegeneration in the retina before major histopathological signs of MS become manifest.
Desert Hedgehog Links Transcription Factor Sox10 to Perineurial Development
Authors: Küspert Melanie , Weider Matthias , Müller Jana , Hermans-Borgmeyer Irm , Meijer Dies , Wegner Michael
Published: April 2012

Schwann cells are the main glial cell type in the PNS. They develop along nerves during embryogenesis and rely on the HMG domain containing Sox10 transcription factor for specification, lineage progression, and terminal differentiation.Sox10deletion in immature Schwann cells caused peripheral nerve defects in mice that were not restricted to this glial cell type, although expression in the nerve and gene loss were. Formation of the perineurium as the protecting sheath was, for instance, heavily compromised. This resembled the defect observed after loss ofDesert hedgehog(Dhh) in mice. Here we show that Sox10 activatesDhhexpression in Schwann cells via an enhancer that is located in intron 1 of theDhhgene. Sox10 binds this enhancer in monomeric form via several sites. Mutation of these sites abolishes both Schwann-cell-specific activity and Sox10 responsivenessin vitroand in transgenic mouse embryos. This argues that Sox10 activatesDhhexpression by direct binding to the enhancer and by increasing Dhh levels promotes formation of the perineurial sheath. This represents the first mechanism for a non-cell-autonomous function of Sox10 during peripheral nerve development.
Individual Differences in Nucleus Accumbens Activity to Food and Sexual Images Predict Weight Gain and Sexual Behavior
Authors: Demos Kathryn E. , Heatherton Todd F. , Kelley William M.
Published: April 2012

Failures of self-regulation are common, leading to many of the most vexing problems facing contemporary society, from overeating and obesity to impulsive sexual behavior and STDs. One reason that people may be prone to engaging in unwanted behaviors is heightened sensitivity to cues related to those behaviors; people may overeat because of hyperresponsiveness to food cues, addicts may relapse following exposure to their drug of choice, and some people might engage in impulsive sexual activity because they are easily aroused by erotic stimuli. An open question is the extent to which individual differences in neural cue reactivity relate to actual behavioral outcomes. Here we show that individual differences in human reward-related brain activity in the nucleus accumbens to food and sexual images predict subsequent weight gain and sexual activity 6 months later. These findings suggest that heightened reward responsivity in the brain to food and sexual cues is associated with indulgence in overeating and sexual activity, respectively, and provide evidence for a common neural mechanism associated with appetitive behaviors.
Controlling Human Striatal Cognitive Function via the Frontal Cortex
Authors: van Schouwenburg Martine R. , O'Shea Jacinta , Mars Rogier B. , Rushworth Matthew F. S. , Cools Roshan
Published: April 2012

Cognitive flexibility is known to depend on the striatum. However, the striatum does not act in isolation to bias cognitive flexibility. In particular, cognitive flexibility also implicates the frontal cortex. Here we tested the hypothesis that the human frontal cortex controls cognitive flexibility by regulating striatal function via topographically specific frontostriatal connections. To this end, we exploited a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol over frontal cortex that is known to increase dopamine release in the striatum. This intervention was combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine the functional and topographic specificity of its consequences at the whole brain level. Participants were scanned both before and after off-line TMS while performing a cognitive switching task that is known to depend on a specific striatal substructure, the putamen. Frontal stimulation perturbed task-specific functional signals in the putamen, while reducing fronto-striatal functional connectivity. There were no such effects of TMS over the medial parietal cortex. These data strengthen the hypothesis that cognitive flexibility involves topographic frontal control of striatal function.
Application of natural and synthetic polyamines as growth regulators to improve the freezing tolerance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Todorova D. , Sergiev I. , Alexieva V.
Published: April 2012

Wheat cultivars were grown as soil culture under normal growth conditions. Twoweek- old seedlings were exposed to 4°C for 6 h and then transferred to −12°C for 24 h in the dark. Twenty-four hours before freezing stress, some of the plants were sprayed with aqueous solutions of spermine, spermidine, putrescine, 1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-DAP) and diethylenetriamine (DETA). The data showed that freezing stress caused a decrease in the fresh weight, chlorophyll content and plant survival rate, accompanied by a simultaneous accumulation of free proline and the enhanced leakage of electrolytes. Preliminary treatment with polyamines caused a decline in electrolyte leakage and a considerable augmentation in proline quantity, indicating that the compounds are capable of preventing frost injury. Additionally, the foliar application of polyamines retarded the destruction of chlorophyll, and lessened fresh weight losses due to freezing stress. The synthetic triamine DETA was the most effective, having the most pronounced action in all the experiments, followed by the tetraamine spermine. The application of polyamines to wheat crops could be a promising approach for improving plant growth under unfavourable growth conditions, including freezing temperatures. The results demonstrate that treatment with polyamines could protect winter wheat by reducing the stress injuries caused by subzero temperatures.
Influence of zinc supply on the phytotoxicity of cadmium in maize (Zea mays L.) grown on cadmium-contaminated soil
Authors: Khurana M. , Kansal B.
Published: April 2012

Zinc and cadmium have been found to interact with each other differently under different conditions. The zinc supply may enhance or offset the phytotoxicity of Cd. Therefore, in a pot experiment, a sandy loam soil (Typic Ustipsamments) was treated with cadmium at rates of 0, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg−1and with zinc at rates of 0 and 20 mg kg−1soil to assess their effect on dry matter yield and the concentrations of Cd and micronutrients. There was a significant decrease in dry matter yield due to the phytotoxic effect of Cd. The dry matter yield was not affected by the application of zinc at any rate of Cd application. The concentration and uptake of Cd in the crop increased gradually at increasing rates of cadmium application. The increase in cadmium concentration was greater in the presence of zinc than in its absence. This suggests that the effect of soilapplied Zn is reflected in the enhancement of the Cd content in plants. Thus, zinc application cannot offset the toxic effect of Cd. The relationship of Cd with Zn and Fe was synergistic at all rates of Cd application, whereas Mn and Cu exhibited an antagonistic relationship.
Nasal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae among Hungarian children before the wide use of the conjugate vaccine
Authors: Tóthpál Adrienn , Kardos Szilvia , Hajdú Edit , Nagy Károly , Linden Mark , Dobay Orsolya
Published: April 2012

Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for a significant amount of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially among children <5 years. Healthy carriers are the most important sources of infections and the carriage also peaks in the first years of life, especially among children attending communities. In this study, for the first time in Hungary, we surveyed the nasal carriage of healthy children, just before the use of the conjugate vaccine started increasing.Nasal specimens of 358 children were cultured and pneumococci isolated. The strains were serotyped with antisera and PCR, genotyped by PFGE and their antibiotic sensitivity determined by agar dilution method.The carriage rate was 37.71%. The isolates were sensitive to most tested antibiotics, except for macrolides. In this cohort of specimens still the widespread, so-called “pediatric serotypes” dominated (14, 19F, 23F, 6A, 6B in ranking order), but three of the previously rare types: 15B, 11A and 13 were represented already by 21.5% of all strains and also a few other rare non-vaccine types (e.g. 10A or 37) were detected.The calculated vaccine coverage was 55.6% for PCV-7, 69.6% for PCV-13 and 86.7% for Pneumovax. In this cohort, only 15.9% of the children (n = 57) were vaccinated. The carriage rate of PCV-7 vaccinated children was significantly lower (30.4%) than that of the non-vaccinated group (39.2%). The clonality of the isolates was significant within each group, revealing the extensive bacterium exchange among children.
Are we protected? Imported measles — On the way to eradication
Authors: Rigó Zita , Szomor Katalin , Nagy Orsolya , Takács Mária
Published: April 2012

In accordance with the 2015 regional goal for measles and rubella elimination of the WHO European Region, only a few imported cases have been documented of both diseases in Hungary for years.This paper presents a case of a Hungarian woman, born in 1975, who received measles vaccination at age of 12 months and later at age of 11 years, according to her certificate of vaccination. In 2009, after arriving home from a vacation in Ireland, she developed acute measles infection with clinical symptoms. It was confirmed by the detection of measles specific IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies, and by detection of viral nucleic acid from throat swab in virus transport medium.Additionally, an outbreak occurred in December of 2011 among a family emigrated from Romania to Hungary. No new measles cases were diagnosed among the contact persons of neither the young Hungarian woman returning from Ireland, nor the family emigrated from Romania. This observation refers to the effectiveness of the Hungarian vaccination program.
Evaluation of fungaemia infections in a Hungarian university hospital between 1996 and 2009
Authors: Dóczi Ilona , Pető Zoltán , Fodor Eleonóra , Bereczki László , Nagy Elisabeth , Hajdú Edit
Published: April 2012

The incidence ofCandidaspecies causing bloodstream infections in the University Hospital of Szeged, Hungary, between 1996 and 2009, and the susceptibilities of these isolates to antifungal agents were evaluated.Automated blood culture systems (Vital, bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Etoile, France; and BACTEC 9120, Becton-Dickinson Diagnostic Systems, Sparks, USA) were used. Thein vitrosusceptibilities of the yeast isolates to antifungal agents were determined by the Etest method (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden).Bloodstream infections were caused by yeast strains in 231 cases during this period, and 226Candidastrains were cultured from 216 candidaemia patients. Bloodstream infections caused by multipleCandidaspp. were diagnosed almost every year. Of the 216 patients, 67 were children; and 55 infants needed intensive care. In 2005,C. glabratacaused an increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The PFGE analysis of 12 isolates distinguished 4 different karyotypes. The incidence of bloodstream infections caused by fungi did not change during the 14-year study period. The most frequent species cultured from blood samples wereC. albicansandC. glabrata. The incidence of resistant isolates remained constant. The local trends of fungaemia must be monitored and compared with global reports.
Neuropathy in the gut. Gut motility disorders in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wittmann Tibor
Published: April 2012

The extent and severity of motility disorders remains heterogeneous in the different parts of the gut, and in most cases failures in gut motility do not correspond with the severity of the symptoms. If diarrhea or fecal incontinence is the leading symptom, or the blood glucose level varies frequently and considerably despite the treatment efforts, the motility of the stomach and bowels is seriously disturbed. The clinical aspects, detailed pathogenesis, diagnostic approach and treatment modalities of gastrointestinal motility disorders in diabetes mellitus are reviewed to help and improve the everyday medical practice. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 607–614.
Effect of active layer morphology on recombination mechanism in polymer: fullerene organic bulk heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Dutta Pavel , Kumar Mukesh , Rathi Monika , Ahrenkiel Phil , Galipeau David , Bommisetty Venkat
Published: April 2012

The effect of phase separation of the donor-acceptor (DA) blend on the dominant recombination mechanism in polymer-fullerene [(poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)] based bulk heterojunction (BHJ) cells has been investigated. Coarse (70-150 nm) and fine (20-25 nm) phase separated blends and corresponding devices were prepared using chlorobenzene (CB) and ortho-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) as spin casting solvents respectively. Nanoscale mobility measurements indicated highly unbalanced charge transport in coarse morphology based (CB cast) devices. Linear dependence of short circuit current (Jsc) vs. light intensity (I) suggested first order monomolecular (MR) recombination in the fine phase separated devices (1,2-DCB cast) whereas sub-linearity suggested dominant role of bimolecular (BR) recombination in coarse phase separated devices (CB cast). Improved device efficiency of 1,2-DCB based devices (η ≈ 2.54 %) compared to CB (η ≈ 0.9 %) may be attributed to reduced BR recombination as a result of finer phase separation.
Metal slanted columnar thin film THz optical sensors
Authors: Hofmann T. , Schmidt D. , Boosalis A. , Kühne P. , Herzinger C.M. , Woollam J.A. , Schubert E. , Schubert M.
Published: April 2012

We demonstrate that the anisotropic optical response of metal (cobalt) slanted columnar thin films (STF) at THz frequencies strongly depends on the dielectric properties of the dielectric ambient surrounding the slanted columnar thin films. An effective medium dielectric function approach is used to describe the combined optical response of metal slanted columnar thin film and dielectric ambient. Our observations indicate that metal (cobalt) slanted columnar thin films can be used as sensors which will enable detection and characterization of minute amounts of dielectrics at THz frequencies, such as for flow-based detection of liquid chemical constituents.
Eletroconvulsoterapia no tratamento da psicose puerperal
Authors: Madeira Nuno , Santos Tiago , Relvas João Santos , Abreu José Luís Pio , Oliveira Cristina Villares
Published: April 2012

A psicose puerperal (PP) é um quadro clínico exuberante, com uma frequência estimada de 1 caso por cada 1.000 puerpérios, e que tem sido associado com maior consistência ao espectro bipolar. A evidência científica disponível é escassa, nomeadamente no respeitante à orientação terapêutica. Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de uma mulher primípara de 28 anos, sem antecedentes psiquiátricos, que iniciou nas primeiras semanas de puerpério um quadro psicótico florido, composto por agitação psicomotora, confusão, desorganização do pensamento e comportamento, sintomatologia psicótica e insônia grave. Por ausência de resposta ao tratamento farmacológico, houve recurso à eletroconvulsoterapia (ECT), com melhoria clínica rápida e evidente. Nesse contexto, os autores realizaram uma apreciação da literatura e evidência referentes ao uso de ECT na psicose puerperal.
Effects of environment on quality of tomato transplanting plants
Authors: Minami Keigo , Lucchesi Antonio Augusto , Victoria Filho Ricardo
Published: April 2012

In order to study the effects of shading and unshading combined with N fertilizing on tomato transplanting plants, an experiment in greenhouse conditions was carried on. It was concluded that N is important to produce healthy and strong plants. Under shading plus N fertilization, plants are taller and have high nitrate contents, while under unshading plus N fertilization, plants have higher diameter and more developed root system.
Action of growth regulators on production of soybean cultivar Davis
Authors: Castro Paulo R.C. , Moraes Roberto S.
Published: April 2012

This research deals with the effects of exogenous growth regulators on production of soybean plant (Glycine max cv.. Davis) under greenhouse conditions, At the flower anthesis, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) 20 ppm was applied. Other two applications with TiBA, with intervals of four days, were realized. Before flowering, Agrostemin (1 g/10 ml/3 1), gibberellic acid (GA) 100 ppm, and (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) 2,000 ppm were applied. It was observed that CCC and TIBA reduced stem dry weight. Soybean plants treated with TIBA reduced weight of pods without seeds , seed number and seed weight.
Influence of aluminum on growth and mineral composition of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Oliveira I.P. , Malavolta E.
Published: April 2012

Seven cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. were grown in nutrient solution in the presence and absence of aluminum. Da ta obtained herewith allowed for the following conclusions to be drawn: (1) plant height, root lenght and total dry weight decreased with increase of aluminum levels in the nutrient solution; (2) aluminum concentration in plant tissue increased with higher levels of aluminum in the substrate; decreases pf calcium and magnesium concentration in the dry matter in the presence of higher aluminum concentration in the nutrient solution were observed.
Peanut (Araohis hypogaea cv. Tatu-53) productivity under nutrient foliar sprays containing growth regulators
Authors: Castro Paulo R.C. , Nascimben Antonio N.
Published: April 2012

Two nutrient foliar sprays, namely Ferti-Foliage (21-21 -21) and Wuxal (9-9-7), were applied to peanut plants under field conditions. Both were applied 23 days after germination of seeds, at the beginning of flowering, and during flowering. Other treatments were application of NPK fertilizer (9-30-16, 250 kg/ha) into the soil and check (no fertilizer). The experiment was carried out on a latosolic B "Terra Roxa" soil, sowing being made on March 6th and harvest on July 10th. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences amongst treatments. However, certain treatments had better yields. For instance, application of Ferti-Foliage showed a tendency to increasing number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod. Same product when applied at the beginning of flowering had a tendency to increase production of seeds and of forage. Application of NPK (9-30-16) into the soil showed similar results.
Nutrient extraction and exportation by castor bean hybrid lyra
Authors: Nascimento Martha Santana do , Crusciol Carlos Alexandre Costa , Fernandes Adalton Mazetti , Zanotto Maurício Dutra
Published: April 2012

Information about nutrient extraction and exportation by crops, as well as the periods of highest nutrient demand is important for an adequate fertilization management. However, there are no studies on the nutrient uptake of short-stature hybrid castor bean. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate nutrient extraction and exportation by short-stature castor bean hybrid Lyra, in the spring-summer and fall-winter growing seasons. The experiments were conducted in the 2005/2006 spring-summer and 2006 fall-winter growing seasons on an Oxisol, in Botucatu, SP, in a randomized block design, with four replications. The plots consisted of plant samplings, which occurred 17, 31, 45, 59, 73, 97 and 120 days after emergence (DAE) in the spring-summer and 17, 31, 45, 59, 80, 100 and 120 DAE in fall-winter growing season. The growth of hybrid Lyra was slow and nutrient uptake lowest between emergence and the beginning of flowering. The period of highest dry matter (DM) accumulation rates and highest nutrient demand were observed 40 to 80 DAE, in both growing seasons. The order of nutrient extraction by the plants in the spring-summer growing season was: N>K>Ca>Mg>S>P>Fe>Mn>Zn>B>Cu>Mo. In fall-winter, S was more absorbed than Mg. Seed yield was higher in the spring-summer (2.995 kg ha-1), but nutrient extraction and exportation per ton of seed were similar in both growing seasons. Around 58 % of N and 84 % of P, and approximately half of the S and B absorbed throughout the cycle were exported with the seeds. However, most of the other nutrients accumulated in the plants returned to the soil in plant residues.