bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Age Structure Transition and Health Expenditure in Southern States of India
Authors: Lakshmana C.M.
Published: July 2013

Increasing population, poverty and low status of socio-economic development have put more pressure on available resources in India. It has also posed several policy implications, in which the basic need of healthcare provision is one of the prime administrative tasks for the respective state governments in India. Higher proportion of child and elderly population in total, and the resultant higher dependency ratio in a particular area/region, will necessitate a commensurate increase in public healthcare facilities and hence higher monetary allocation. If a province has comparatively higher fertility rate it would necessitate higher allocation for maternal and child healthcare services. In this paper an attempt is made to examine the relationship between dependency ratio and healthcare expenditure (medical, public health and family welfare), as well as the proportion of healthcare expenditure in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in select four southern states of India. The analysis is based on available secondary data for various years.
Analysis of Nursing Job Characteristics in Public Sector Hospitals
Authors: Mariappan M.
Published: July 2013

Background:

Significance of any job depends on the strong presence of job characteristics which can positively improve motivation, performance and job satisfaction.

Methodology:

A structured interview scheduled was administered among 317 nurses in five BMC hospitals. The data were analyzed with the help of SPSS by using simple statistical tools.

Results:

Overall 66 per cent of the nursing staff found that the job is meaningful to them; 64.5 per cent of the staff feels that job design supports job satisfaction significantly.

Conclusion:

Nursing job contributes to well-being of human hence, it is treated as significant however the present job design did not make any positive support to their motivation and performance. This is due to inadequate presence of job characteristics.
Enhancing Contraceptive Usage by Post-placental Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) Insertion: Safety, Efficacy, and Expulsion
Authors: Divakar Hema , Vajpyee Jyoti , Joshi Ritu , Kabadi Y. M. , Kittur Sahaja
Published: July 2013

More than 100 million women in developing countries would prefer to avoid a pregnancy; but they may not be using any form of contraception. Objective: The study was conducted to assess the safety incidence of perforation/pain/bleeding/foul discharge and expulsion rates at 6 week follow-up and willingness to continue when Copper T 380A (Cu T 380A) inserted within 10 minutes of placental expulsion both in vaginal and C-section deliveries. Methods: This was an open label, prospective, and multicentric longitudinal study. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of FOGSI. Results: The insertion of Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) was easy in 98.76 per cent of subjects after normal delivery, and 100 per cent in all subjects after assisted vaginal and c-section deliveries. The position of the Cu T was in situ in 97.61 per cent of subjects, ultra sonogram was used in 1 per cent to confirm location of IUCD and in 1 per cent of subjects the IUCD was in the cervix. There was no case of perforation in this series and no other major complications. Conclusion: Inserting Cu T 380A at 10 minutes after placental delivery is safe leading to the expanding of the usage of IUCD meeting the unmet needs. The expulsion rates would be minimal if it was inserted by a trained provider and placed at the fundus.
Congruent Validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to Screen for Comorbidities in Children With ADHD
Authors: Bekker Joshua , Bruck Dorothy , Sciberras Emma
Published: July 2013

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is an effective screening tool for identifying comorbid mental health difficulties in children with ADHD. Method: Parents of children with ADHD (5-13 years) completed the SDQ and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV–Parent Version (ADIS-C/P-IV). Data from both the measures were compared to determine congruent validity. Results: Analyses revealed that significant relationships exist between the SDQ total score and the total number of comorbidities on the ADIS-C/P-IV. The SDQ emotional problem and conduct problem scales were significantly related to internalizing and externalizing comorbidities on the ADIS-C/P-IV, respectively. Conclusion: While significant relationships were found between the SDQ and ADIS-C/P-IV across various domains, this relationship was stronger for externalizing comorbidities. Additional screening questions are required to effectively screen for less common internalizing comorbidities in children with ADHD, for example, major depression and panic disorder.
Environmental and Institutional Influences on Police Agency Responses to Human Trafficking
Authors: Farrell Amy
Published: July 2013

In response to domestic and international concern about individuals being exploited for labor or commercial sex, the U.S. Government passed legislation in 2000, creating a new crime of human trafficking and devoting resources to the identification of victims and prosecution of perpetrators. Since that time, all 50 states have passed legislation criminalizing trafficking of persons, yet law enforcement responses to these new legal mandates have been uneven. Recent research suggests police agencies are generally unprepared to identify and respond to human trafficking incidents in local communities and, as a result, relatively few cases have been identified. Using data from medium-to-large municipal police agencies in the United States, this research examines competing explanations for the adoption of responses in the wake of new human trafficking laws. The findings suggest the importance of institutional explanations including organizational experience with change.
Reflections on the evolution of the Jigsaw visual analytics system
Authors: Görg Carsten , Liu Zhicheng , Stasko John
Published: July 2013

Analyzing and understanding collections of textual documents is an important task for professional analysts and a common everyday scenario for nonprofessionals. We have developed the Jigsaw visual analytics system to support these types of sensemaking activities. Jigsaw’s development benefited significantly from the existence of the VAST Contest/Challenge that provided (1) diverse document collections to use as examples, (2) controlled exercises with a set of analytic tasks and solutions for judging results, and (3) visibility and publicity to help communicate our ideas to others. This article describes our participation in a series of VAST Contest/Challenge efforts and how this participation helped influence Jigsaw’s design and development. We describe how the system’s capabilities have evolved over time, and we identify the particular lessons that we learned by participating in the challenges.
Testing the incremental predictive accuracy of new markers
Authors: Begg Colin B , Gonen Mithat , Seshan Venkatraman E
Published: July 2013

Background

It has become commonplace to use receiver operating curve (ROC) methodology to evaluate the incremental predictive accuracy of new markers in the presence of existing predictors. However, concerns have been raised about the validity of this practice. We have evaluated this issue in detail.

Results

Simulations have been used that show clearly that use of risk predictors from nested models as data in subsequent tests comparing areas under the ROC curves of the models leads to grossly invalid inferences. Careful examination of the issue reveals two major problems: (1) the data elements are strongly correlated from case to case and (2) the model that includes the additional marker has a tendency to interpret predictive contributions as positive information regardless of whether observed effect of the marker is negative or positive. Both of these phenomena lead to profound bias in the test.

Conclusions

We recommend strongly against the use of ROC methods derived from risk predictors from nested regression models to test the incremental information of a new marker.
Human Response to Natural Disasters
Authors: Nix-Stevenson Dara
Published: July 2013

This study elaborates on the connection between socioeconomic status, education, and the ability to respond to natural disasters. Using the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters as teachable moments, I foreground how uneven access to resources and capital leave some people more vulnerable than others to natural disasters and how marginal communities inevitably bear the accompanying repercussions of who gets what, when, and how much in the postdisaster emergency relief and reconstruction phase. This occurs not necessarily and merely through a “natural” disaster, as the Boxer Day Tsunami or Hurricane Katrina, but through processes of social, political, and economic disempowerment associated with prior racialized histories and inequitable access to cultural capital.
Self-Reported Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV+ Colombian Population
Authors: Remor Eduardo
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this study was to assess psychometric properties of the CEAT-VIH (“Cuestionario para la Evaluación de la Adhesión al Tratamiento Antirretroviral en Personas con Infección por VIH y Sida” in the original) questionnaire applied to 652 HIV+ adult Colombian population and identify perceived psychological barriers to self-reported adherence. Questionnaire items analysis showed that most items were expectedly skewed toward reporting adherence. Corrected homogeneity index for the 20 items varied between 0.08 and 0.70. However, none of the items would considerably improve the reliability if deleted. Total score on CEAT-VIH ranged from 42 to 89 (median 83, mean 80.5, SD 8.1). Mean adherence scores varied across cities. No floor (0%) or ceiling (0.8%) effects was observed for the CEAT-VIH adherence score, and 85% of respondents scored 87 or below (cutoff score ≥ 87 = strict adherence). The instrument showed good reliability (Cronbach’s α = .86) and evidences of criterion-related validity. Adherence behaviors seemed to be particularly at risk when the patients felt physically better or worse or emotionally distressed, if they perceived adherence as difficult and requiring time and effort, if they had less confidence in their ability to comply with medications, if they felt less satisfied with their treatment and consultant, if they had low information about the treatment and if they experienced burden side effects. The application of the CEAT-VIH to Colombian HIV+ adult population shows to be useful, reliable, and valid, and it allows recommending the instrument for research and clinical practice assessment in this population.
Group Problem-Solving Therapy for Postnatal Depression among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Mothers in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chibanda Dixon , Shetty Avinash K. , Tshimanga Mufuta , Woelk Godfrey , Stranix-Chibanda Lynda , Rusakaniko Simbarashe
Published: July 2013

Postnatal depression (PND) is a major problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A total of 210 postpartum mothers attending primary care urban clinics were screened for PND at 6 weeks postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition; DSM-IV) criteria for major depression. The HIV prevalence was 14.8%. Of the 210 enrolled postpartum mothers, 64 (33%) met DSM IV criteria for depression. Using trained peer counselors, mothers with PND (n = 58) were randomly assigned to either group problem-solving therapy (PST, n = 30) or amitriptyline (n = 28). Of the 58 mothers with PND, 49 (85%) completed 6 weeks of group PST (n = 27) or pharmacotherapy (n = 22). At baseline, the mean EPDS score for participants randomized to group PST was 17.3 (standard deviation [SD] 3.7), while the group randomized to amitriptyline had a mean EPDS score of 17.9 (SD 3.9; P = .581). At 6 weeks postintervention, the drop in mean EPDS score was greater in the PST group (8.22, SD 3.6) compared to the amitriptyline group (10.7, SD 2.7; P = .0097). Group PST using peer counselors is feasible, acceptable, and more effective compared to pharmacotherapy in the treatment of PND. Group PST could be integrated into maternal and child health clinics and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV programs in LMICs.
Loss of the F-BAR protein CIP4 reduces platelet production by impairing membrane-cytoskeleton remodeling
Authors: Chen Yolande , Aardema Jorie , Kale Sayali , Whichard Zakary L. , Awomolo Arinola , Blanchard Elisabeth , Chang Brian , Myers David R. , Ju Lining , Tran Reginald , Reece David , Christensen Hilary , Boukour Siham , Debili Najet , Strom Ted S. , Rawlings David , Vázquez Francisco X. , Voth Gregory A. , Zhu Cheng , Kahr Walter H. A. , Lam Wilbur A. , Corey Seth J.
Published: July 2013

Key Points

CIP4 affects the remodeling of both plasma membrane and cortical cytoskeleton in megakaryocytes. CIP4 in platelet biogenesis involves cortical tension, as does WASP, and WASP-independent plasma membrane reorganization.
DEPTOR regulates vascular endothelial cell activation and proinflammatory and angiogenic responses
Authors: Bruneau Sarah , Nakayama Hironao , Woda Craig B. , Flynn Evelyn A. , Briscoe David M.
Published: July 2013

Key Points

DEPTOR is expressed in vascular endothelial cells and serves as an endogenous inhibitor of mTORC1, ERK1/2, and STAT1 activity. DEPTOR is potent to regulate endothelial cell expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules, leukocyte-endothelial adhesion, and endothelial migratory responses.
Retracted Article: On the Kirchhoff matrix, a new Kirchhoff index and the Kirchhoff energy
Authors: Maden Ayse Dilek , Cevik Ahmet Sinan , Cangul Ismail Naci , Das Kinkar C
Published: July 2013

The main purpose of this paper is to define and investigate the Kirchhoff matrix, a new Kirchhoff index, the Kirchhoff energy and the Kirchhoff Estrada index of a graph. In addition, we establish upper and lower bounds for these new indexes and energy. In the final section, we point out a new possible application area for graphs by considering this new Kirchhoff matrix. Since graph theoretical studies (including graph parameters) consist of some fixed point techniques, they have been applied in the fields such as chemistry (in the meaning of atoms, molecules, energy etc.) and engineering (in the meaning of signal processing etc.), game theory, and physics.

MSC: 05C12, 05C50, 05C90.
Reannotation and extended community resources for the genome of the non-seed plant Physcomitrella patens provide insights into the evolution of plant gene structures and functions
Authors: Zimmer Andreas D , Lang Daniel , Buchta Karol , Rombauts Stephane , Nishiyama Tomoaki , Hasebe Mitsuyasu , Van de Peer Yves , Rensing Stefan A , Reski Ralf
Published: July 2013

Background

The moss Physcomitrella patens as a model species provides an important reference for early-diverging lineages of plants and the release of the genome in 2008 opened the doors to genome-wide studies. The usability of a reference genome greatly depends on the quality of the annotation and the availability of centralized community resources. Therefore, in the light of accumulating evidence for missing genes, fragmentary gene structures, false annotations and a low rate of functional annotations on the original release, we decided to improve the moss genome annotation.

Results

Here, we report the complete moss genome re-annotation (designated V1.6) incorporating the increased transcript availability from a multitude of developmental stages and tissue types. We demonstrate the utility of the improved P. patens genome annotation for comparative genomics and new extensions to the cosmoss.org resource as a central repository for this plant “flagship” genome. The structural annotation of 32,275 protein-coding genes results in 8387 additional loci including 1456 loci with known protein domains or homologs in Plantae. This is the first release to include information on transcript isoforms, suggesting alternative splicing events for at least 10.8% of the loci. Furthermore, this release now also provides information on non-protein-coding loci. Functional annotations were improved regarding quality and coverage, resulting in 58% annotated loci (previously: 41%) that comprise also 7200 additional loci with GO annotations. Access and manual curation of the functional and structural genome annotation is provided via the http://www.cosmoss.org model organism database.

Conclusions

Comparative analysis of gene structure evolution along the green plant lineage provides novel insights, such as a comparatively high number of loci with 5’-UTR introns in the moss. Comparative analysis of functional annotations reveals expansions of moss house-keeping and metabolic genes and further possibly adaptive, lineage-specific expansions and gains including at least 13% orphan genes.
Outcomes following renal transplantation in older people: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dempster Niall J , Ceresa Carlo DL , Aitken Emma , Kingsmore David
Published: July 2013

Background

The mean age of renal transplant recipients is rising, with age no longer considered a contraindication. Outcomes in older patients have not, however, been fully defined. The aim of our study is to evaluate outcomes in older people following renal transplantation at a Scottish regional transplant unit.

Methods

All renal transplants from January 2001 to December 2010 were analysed (n = 762). Outcomes following renal transplantation in people over 65 years old were compared to those in younger patients. Outcome measures were: delayed graft function (DGF), primary non-function (PNF), biopsy proven acute rejection (BPAR), serum creatinine at 1 year and graft and recipient survival. Lengths of initial hospital stay and re-admission rates were also assessed. Student’s T-Test was used to analyse continuous variables, Pearson’s Chi-Squared test for categorical variables and the Kaplan-Meier estimator for survival analysis.

Results

Older recipients received proportionately more kidneys from older donors (27.1% vs. 6.3%; p  <  0.001). Such kidneys were more likely to have DGF (40.7% vs. 16.9%; p < 0.001). Graft loss at 1 year was higher in kidneys from older donors (15.3% vs. 7.6%; p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in patient survival at 1 year based on the age of the donor kidney. Recipient age did not affect DGF (16.9% vs. 18.5%; p = 0.77) or graft loss at 1 year (11.9% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.28). Older recipients were, however, more likely to die in the first year post transplant (6.8% vs. 2.1%; p = 0.03). BPAR was less common in older patients (6.8% vs. 22%; p < 0.01). Older recipients were more likely to be readmitted to hospital (31.8% vs. 10.9%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Older patients experience good outcomes following renal transplantation and donor or recipient age alone should not preclude this treatment. An awareness of this in clinicians managing older patients is important since the prevalence of End Stage Renal Disease is increasing in this age group.
Addition of host genetic variants in a prediction rule for post meningitis hearing loss in childhood: a model updating study
Authors: Sanders Marieke S , de Jonge Rogier CJ , Terwee Caroline B , Heymans Martijn W , Koomen Irene , Ouburg Sander , Spanjaard Lodewijk , Morré Servaas A , van Furth A Marceline
Published: July 2013

Background

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common sequela in survivors of bacterial meningitis (BM). In the past we developed a validated prediction model to identify children at risk for post-meningitis hearing loss. It is known that host genetic variations, besides clinical factors, contribute to severity and outcome of BM. In this study it was determined whether host genetic risk factors improve the predictive abilities of an existing model regarding hearing loss after childhood BM.

Methods

Four hundred and seventy-one Dutch Caucasian childhood BM were genotyped for 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven different genes involved in pathogen recognition. Genetic data were added to the original clinical prediction model and performance of new models was compared to the original model by likelihood ratio tests and the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

Addition of TLR9-1237 SNPs and the combination of TLR2 + 2477 and TLR4 + 896 SNPs improved the clinical prediction model, but not significantly (increase of AUC’s from 0.856 to 0.861 and from 0.856 to 0.875 (p = 0.570 and 0.335, respectively). Other SNPs analysed were not linked to hearing loss.

Conclusions

Although addition of genetic risk factors did not significantly improve the clinical prediction model for post-meningitis hearing loss, AUC’s of the pre-existing model remain high after addition of genetic factors. Future studies should evaluate whether more combinations of SNPs in larger cohorts has an additional value to the existing prediction model for post meningitis hearing loss.
Clinical course of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock in a cohort of infected patients from ten Colombian hospitals
Authors: León Alba Luz , Hoyos Natalia Andrea , Barrera Lena Isabel , De La Rosa Gisela , Dennis Rodolfo , Dueñas Carmelo , Granados Marcela , Londoño Dario , Rodríguez Ferney Alexander , Molina Francisco José , Ortiz Guillermo , Jaimes Fabián Alberto
Published: July 2013

Background

Sepsis has several clinical stages, and mortality rates are different for each stage. Our goal was to establish the evolution and the determinants of the progression of clinical stages, from infection to septic shock, over the first week, as well as their relationship to 7-day and 28-day mortality.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter cohort of inpatients hospitalized in general wards or intensive care units (ICUs). The general estimating equations (GEE) model was used to estimate the risk of progression and the determinants of stages of infection over the first week. Cox regression with time-dependent covariates and fixed covariates was used to determine the factors related with 7-day and 28-day mortality, respectively.

Results

In 2681 patients we show that progression to severe sepsis and septic shock increases with intraabdominal and respiratory sources of infection [OR = 1,32; 95%IC = 1,20-1,46 and OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1,11-1,33 respectively], as well as according to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) [OR = 1,03; 95%CI = 1,02-1,03] and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) [OR = 1,16; 95%CI = 1,14-1,17] scores. The variables related with first-week mortality were progression to severe sepsis [HR = 2,13; 95%CI = 1,13-4,03] and septic shock [HR = 3,00; 95%CI = 1,50-5.98], respiratory source of infection [HR = 1,76; 95%IC = 1,12-2,77], APACHE II [HR = 1,07; 95% CI = 1,04-1,10] and SOFA [HR = 1,09; 95%IC = 1,04-1,15] scores.

Conclusions

Intraabdominal and respiratory sources of infection, independently of SOFA and APACHE II scores, increase the risk of clinical progression to more severe stages of sepsis; and these factors, together with progression of the infection itself, are the main determinants of 7-day and 28-day mortality.
Parallel analysis of finite element model controlled trial and retrospective case control study on percutaneous internal fixation for vertical sacral fractures
Authors: Chen Hongwei , Wu Lijun , Zheng Rongmei , Liu Yan , Li Yang , Ding Zihai
Published: July 2013

Background

Although percutaneous posterior-ring tension-band metallic plate and percutaneous iliosacral screws are used to fix unstable posterior pelvic ring fractures, the biomechanical stability and compatibility of both internal fixation techniques for the treatment of Denis I, II and III type vertical sacral fractures remain unclear.

Methods

Using CT and MR images of the second generation of Chinese Digitized Human “male No. 23”, two groups of finite element models were developed for Denis I, II and III type vertical sacral fractures with ipsilateral superior and inferior pubic ramus fractures treated with either a percutaneous metallic plate or a percutaneous screw. Accordingly, two groups of clinical cases that were fixed using the above-mentioned two internal fixation techniques were retrospectively evaluated to compare postoperative effect and function. Parallel analysis was performed with a finite element model controlled trial and a case control study.

Results

The difference of the postoperative Majeed standards and outcome rates between two case groups was no statistically significant (P > 0.05). Accordingly, the high values of the maximum displacements/stresses of the plate-fixation model group approximated those of the screw-fixation model group. However, further simulation of Denis I, II and III type fractures in each group of models found that the biomechanics of the plate-fixation models became increasingly stable and compatible, whereas the biomechanics of the screw-fixation models maintained tiny fluctuations. When treating Denis III fractures, the biomechanical effects of the pelvic ring of the plate-fixation model were better than the screw-fixation model.

Conclusions

Percutaneous plate and screw fixations are both appropriate for the treatment of Denis I and II type vertical sacral fractures; whereas percutaneous plate fixation appears be superior to percutaneous screw fixation for Denis III type vertical sacral fracture. Biomechanical evidence of finite element evaluations combined with clinical evidence will contribute to our ability to distinguish between indications that require plate or screw fixation for vertical sacral fractures.
Cost of illness of the stomach cancer in Japan - a time trend and future projections
Authors: Haga Kayoko , Matsumoto Kunichika , Kitazawa Takefumi , Seto Kanako , Fujita Shigeru , Hasegawa Tomonori
Published: July 2013

Background

Stomach cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Japan. The objectives of this study were to estimate and project the economic burden associated with stomach cancer in Japan, and to identify the key factors that drive the economic burden of stomach cancer.

Methods

We calculated Cost of illness (COI) of 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2020 by using government office statistics and the COI method. We calculated direct cost and indirect cost (morbidity cost and mortality cost), and estimated the COI by summing them up.

Results

The number of deaths remained at approximately 50,000 in 1996–2008. COI was in downward trend from 1,293.5 billion yen in 1996 to 1,114.2 billion yen in 2008. Morbidity cost was 85.6 billion yen and 54.0 billion yen, mortality cost was 972.3 billion yen and 806.4 billion yen, and mortality cost per person was 19.4 million yen and 16.1 million yen in 1996 and 2008, respectively. Decrease of mortality cost that accounted for a large part of the COI (72.4% in 2008) was the major contributing factor. COI is predicted to decrease if the trend of health related indicators continues (442.8-1,056.1 billion yen depending on the model in 2020). Mortality cost per person is also predicted to decrease (9.5-12.5 million yen depending on the model in 2020).

Conclusions

If the trend of health related indicators continues, it is estimated that COI of stomach cancer would decrease. “Aging”, “change of the healthcare providing system” and “new medical technology” are considered as contributing factors of COI.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid relatively decreases cholesterol content in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cell: partly correlates with expression profile of CIDE and PAT members
Authors: Song Yue , Zhang Li-Jun , Li Hang , Gu Yu , Li Fan-Fan , Jiang Li-Na , Liu Fang , Ye Jing , Li Qing
Published: July 2013

Background

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have positive effect on the regulation of plasma lipids. But the mechanism for them to modulate lipid homeostasis in macrophage is still unclear. In this study, we employed PUFA to pretreat macrophages and evaluated the variations of lipid droplet (LD) content, lipid composition, and expressions of LD-associated genes in macrophage-derived foam cells.

Method

THP-1-derived macrophages or human peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages were pre-treated with four non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) separately: saturated fatty acid (SFA)-palmitic acid (PA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)-oleic acid (OA), PUFAs-linoleic acid (LA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Intracellular lipid content and cholesterol efflux were analyzed in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Related gene expressions were detected by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

PUFA pre-treatment reduced cholesterol content in foam cells and increased cholesterol efflux to lipid-free apoAI in conditioned medium compared with PA or OA group. Cell death-inducing DFF45 like effector (CIDE) and Perilipin-Adipophilin-TIP47 (PAT) family members, as LD-associated proteins, showed specific gene expression profiles after PUFA pre-treatment. These results may help to explain the process of lipid metabolism within foam cells.

Conclusion

PUFA (LA or EPA) had a potential protective effect against cholesterol accumulation. The specific expressions of CIDE and PAT genes may provide clues to explore the protective mechanism of PUFA in foam cells.
Shrink pattern of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its correlation with clinical pathological factors
Authors: Wang Shushu , Zhang Yi , Yang Xinhua , Fan Linjun , Qi Xiaowei , Chen Qingqiu , Jiang Jun
Published: July 2013

Background

Breast conservation therapy (BCS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) can improve patients’ quality of life. Currently used intraoperative examination for negative margins may not be sufficient to detect microresidual foci, which are a risk factor for local recurrence. This study was conducted to investigate the shrinking pattern of breast cancer and residual tumors as a risk factor for BCS after NCT.

Methods

Ninety women with stage II or III invasive ductal carcinoma who achieved partial response after NCT with paclitaxel and epirubicin were enrolled. All patients had undergone modified radical mastectomy. One-half of the surgical specimens were subjected to subserial sectioning. Pathological changes of tumor bed and pericancerous tissues were examined with an optical microscope. The levels of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 were analyzed by immnohistochemical staining.

Results

The residual tumors were classified into three types according to their microscopic morphology: solitary lesion, multifocal and patchlike lesions, and main residual tumor with satellite lesions. Type I residual tumors were found in 55 patients (61%), type II in 30 patients (33%) and type III in 5 patients (6%). Types II and III were often associated with larger primary tumors. The types of residual tumors were not correlated with the status of hormone receptors or HER2.

Conclusion

Three types of residual tumors were observed after NCT. The solitary residual tumor is most common, but main residual tumors with satellite lesions are most likely to cause local recurrence after BCS. Subserial sectioning would improve the identification of microfoci and patient survival after BCS.
Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) is expressed in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines and expression is differentially regulated in vitroby ghrelin
Authors: Seim Inge , Jeffery Penny L , de Amorim Laura , Walpole Carina M , Fung Jenny , Whiteside Eliza J , Lourie Rohan , Herington Adrian C , Chopin Lisa K
Published: July 2013

Background

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide hormone that is expressed in the stomach and a range of peripheral tissues, where it frequently acts as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor. Ghrelin is modified by a unique acylation required for it to activate its cognate receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), which mediates many of the actions of ghrelin. Recently, the enzyme responsible for adding the fatty acid residue (octanoyl/acyl group) to the third amino acid of ghrelin, GOAT (ghrelin O-acyltransferase), was identified.

Methods

We used cell culture, quantitative real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and immunohistochemistry to demonstrate the expression of GOAT in prostate cancer cell lines and tissues from patients. Real-time RT-PCR was used to demonstrate the expression of prohormone convertase (PC)1/3, PC2 and furin in prostate cancer cell lines. Prostate-derived cell lines were treated with ghrelin and desacyl ghrelin and the effect on GOAT expression was measured using quantitative RT-PCR.

Results

We have demonstrated that GOAT mRNA and protein are expressed in the normal prostate and human prostate cancer tissue samples. The RWPE-1 and RWPE-2 normal prostate-derived cell lines and the LNCaP, DU145, and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines express GOAT and at least one other enzyme that is necessary to produce mature, acylated ghrelin from proghrelin (PC1/3, PC2 or furin). Finally, ghrelin, but not desacyl ghrelin (unacylated ghrelin), can directly regulate the expression of GOAT in the RWPE-1 normal prostate derived cell line and the PC3 prostate cancer cell line. Ghrelin treatment (100nM) for 6 hours significantly decreased GOAT mRNA expression two-fold (P < 0.05) in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line, however, ghrelin did not regulate GOAT expression in the DU145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that GOAT is expressed in prostate cancer specimens and cell lines. Ghrelin regulates GOAT expression, however, this is likely to be cell-type specific. The expression of GOAT in prostate cancer supports the hypothesis that the ghrelin axis has autocrine/paracrine roles. We propose that the RWPE-1 prostate cell line and the PC3 prostate cancer cell line may be useful for investigating GOAT regulation and function.
Acetylation at lysine 346 controls the transforming activity of the HTLV-1 Tax oncoprotein in the Rat-1 fibroblast model
Authors: Lodewick Julie , Sampaio Carla , Boxus Mathieu , Rinaldi Anne-Sophie , Coulonval Katia , Willems Luc , Roger Pierre P , Bex Françoise
Published: July 2013

Background

Transformation by the Tax oncoprotein of the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is governed by actions on cellular regulatory signals, including modulation of specific cellular gene expression via activation of signaling pathways, acceleration of cell cycle progression via stimulation of cyclin-dependent kinase activity leading to retinoblastoma protein (pRb) hyperphosphorylation and perturbation of survival signals. These actions control early steps in T cell transformation and development of Adult T cell leukemia (ATL), an aggressive malignancy of HTLV-1 infected T lymphocytes. Post-translational modifications of Tax by phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation and acetylation have been implicated in Tax-mediated activation of the NF-κB pathway, a key function associated with Tax transforming potential.

Results

In this study, we demonstrate that acetylation at lysine K346 in the carboxy-terminal domain of Tax is modulated in the Tax nuclear bodies by the acetyltransferase p300 and the deacetylases HDAC5/7 and controls phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor pRb by Tax-cyclin D3-CDK4-p21CIP complexes. This property correlates with the inability of the acetylation deficient K346R mutant, but not the acetylation mimetic K346Q mutant, to promote anchorage-independent growth of Rat-1 fibroblasts. By contrast, acetylation at lysine K346 had no effects on the ability of Tax carboxy-terminal PDZ-binding domain to interact with the tumor suppressor hDLG.

Conclusions

The identification of the acetyltransferase p300 and the deacetylase HDAC7 as enzymes modulating Tax acetylation points to new therapeutic targets for the treatment of HTLV-1 infected patients at risk of developing ATL.
Preliminary evaluation of a robotic apparatus for the analysis of passive glenohumeral joint kinematics
Authors: Rosso Claudio , Müller Andreas M , Entezari Vahid , Dow William A , McKenzie Brett , Stanton Stacey K , Li Daniel , Cereatti Andrea , Ramappa Arun J , DeAngelis Joseph P , Nazarian Ara , Croce Ugo Della
Published: July 2013

Background

The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body. This is due, in part, to the complex interplay between the glenohumeral (GH) joint and the scapulothoracic (ST) articulation. Currently, our ability to study shoulder kinematics is limited, because existing models isolate the GH joint and rely on manual manipulation to create motion, and have low reproducibility. Similarly, most established techniques track shoulder motion discontinuously with limited accuracy.

Methods

To overcome these problems, we have designed a novel system in which the shoulder girdle is studied intact, incorporating both GH and ST motions. In this system, highly reproducible trajectories are created using a robotic actuator to control the intact shoulder girdle. High-speed cameras are employed to track retroreflective bone markers continuously.

Results

We evaluated this automated system’s capacity to reproducibly capture GH translation in intact and pathologic shoulder conditions. A pair of shoulders (left and right) were tested during forward elevation at baseline, with a winged scapula, and after creation of a full thickness supraspinatus tear.

Discussion

The system detected differences in GH translations as small as 0.5 mm between different conditions. For each, three consecutive trials were performed and demonstrated high reproducibility and high precision.
Epstein Barr virus DNA analysis in blood predicts disease progression in a rare case of plasmablastic lymphoma with effusion
Authors: Friis Anna , Åkerlund Börje , Christensson Birger , Gyllensten Katarina , Aleman Anna , Zou Jie-Zhi , Ernberg Ingemar
Published: July 2013

Background

In HIV-1-infected patients a long lasting CD4+ cell decline influences the host-EBV balance and thereby increases the risk for EBV related malignancies. In spite of a world-wide access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) there are still a considerable number of HIV-1-infected patients who will develop severe immunodeficiency. These undiagnosed HIV-1 infected patients, so called late testers, demonstrate an increased lymphoma risk, compared to patients diagnosed early. Consecutive individual screening for EBV DNA-load in late testers might be a useful predictor of emerging EBV-malignancy.

Methods

Patient biopsies and ascites were analyzed morphologically, by immuncyto-histochemistry and in-situ hybridization. Viral DNA and RNA load were quantified by PCR. Cell lines from primary tumor and from ascites, were establishedin vitroand further analyzed.

Result

We here report on a case of EBV-positive lymphoma in an AIDS patient, first presenting with pleural effusion and ascites and was thus initially considered a primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) but was later diagnosed as a plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL). The patient had responded to cART with undetectable HIV-RNA and increased CD4 cell count one year prior to lymphoma presentation. At the time of lymphoma diagnosis the HIV-RNA values were <50 RNA-copies per mL blood (undetectable) and the CD4-positive cell count 170 ×106/L. The lymphoma was CD45-negative and weakly CD22- and CD30-positive. The patient had a history of Kaposi sarcoma and HHV-8 seropositivity. The lymphoma biopsies, and three cell lines derived on different occasions from the tumor cell effusion, were all EBV-positive but HHV-8 negative.

A noticeable EBV-DNA load decline was observed during the remission of the lymphoma following CHOP-therapy. The EBV-DNA load increased dramatically at the time of recurrence.

Conclusion

EBV DNA load might be useful in monitoring the effect of lymphoma treatment as well as in estimating the risk of EBV-associated lymphoma in HIV-1 infected patients with pronounced immunosuppression.
Relationship between herd-level incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, general risk factors and claw lesions in individual dairy cows recorded at maintenance claw trimming
Authors: Nielsen Christel , Stengärde Lena , Bergsten Christer , Emanuelson Ulf
Published: July 2013

Background

Laminitis and energy-related postpartum diseases share several risk factors, indicating a common etiology. Thus, a herd’s incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, such as displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis, might reflect the likelihood of cows to suffer from laminitis-related claw lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between herd-level incidence rate of displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis, general risk factors, and claw lesions in individual cows recorded at maintenance claw trimming.

Methods

The dataset consisted of 6773 trimmings, performed between 2004 and 2006 by professional trimmers, from 3607 Swedish Red and Swedish Holstein cows in 26 herds. The herds were classified as having a high, inconsistent-high or low incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, based on the number of recorded cases of veterinary-diagnosed displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis in the Swedish national animal disease recording system during 2002 to 2006, and observations and interviews in connections with herd visits. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the association between herd-level incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases and laminitis-related lesions including sole ulcer and sole hemorrhage; and hygiene-related lesions including interdigital dermatitis, digital dermatitis, heel-horn erosion, verrucose dermatitis, and interdigital hyperplasia; and absence of any claw lesion. Systematic effects, including first-order interactions, with P < 0.05 were included in the models. Herd classification was forced into the models, and a random effect of herd was included.

Results

In comparison to herds with a high incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, low-incidence herds showed a lower odds ratio (OR; 0.2) for laminitis-related lesions in cows trimmed during the summer months. Low-incidence herds also showed numerically lower OR estimates for laminitis-related lesions in all parity classes and a numerically lower OR for hygiene-related lesions. In addition, low-incidence herds showed tendencies towards a numerically higher OR for absence of any lesion, irrespective of trimming season or parity.

Conclusions

Only a few statistically significant associations were found, but several tendencies pointed towards better claw health in herds with low as compared with high incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases.
Osteopontin genetic variants are associated with overall survival in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients and bone metastasis
Authors: Chen Yunzhen , Liu Haichun , Wu Wenliang , Li Yi , Li Jianmin
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Osteopontin (OPN) plays important roles in the modulation of apoptosis, angiogenesis, immune response, and tumor invasion. Elevated osteopontin expression has been reported in the lung cancer tissues compared to counterpart normal tissues. This study examined whether genetic variations in the osteopontin gene are associated with survival of lung cancer patients and occurrence rate of bone metastasis.

Experimental design

Three hundred and sixty patients with stages I to IV between 2003 and 2007 were recruited in this study and same number of healthy persons were used as control. Three promoter osteopontin polymorphisms, OPN-66 T/G, -156G/GG, and -443C/T variants were genotyped using DNA from blood lymphocytes. Chi-square test and a Fisher’s exact test were used to analyze the genotype distribution among TNM stages and incidence of bone metastasis and lymph mode metastasis. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare survival by different genotypes.

Results

For the variant at nt −443 (CC), there was a significant difference between the number of patients with stage IV and those with all other stages of lung cancer (p < 0.01). Patients with −443 (CC) variant had significant higher incidence of bone metastasis development compared to other genotypes. For the variant at nt −443 (CT), there was a significant difference between the number of lung cancer patients with stage III + IV and those with stage I + II (P < 0.01). The survival rates for patients with the C/C genotype were significantly lower than for patients with the other two genotypes (C/T, T/T).

Conclusion

OSTEOPONTIN −443C/T polymorphism is a potential predictive marker of survival in lung cancer patients, it is correlated with bone metastasis significantly.
Probing horseradish peroxidase catalyzed degradation of azo dye from tannery wastewater
Authors: Preethi Sadhanandam , Anumary Ayyappan , Ashokkumar Meiyazhagan , Thanikaivelan Palanisamy
Published: July 2013

Biocatalysis based effluent treatment has outclassed the presently favored physico-chemical treatments due to nil sludge production and monetary savings. Azo dyes are commonly employed in the leather industry and pose a great threat to the environment. Here, we show the degradation of C. I. Acid blue 113 using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) assisted with H2O2 as a co-substrate. It was observed that 0.08 U HRP can degrade 3 mL of 30 mg/L dye up to 80% within 45 min with the assistance of 14 μL of H2O2 at pH 6.6 and 30°C. The feasibility of using the immobilized HRP for dye degradation was also examined and the results show up to 76% dye degradation under similar conditions to that of free HRP with the exception of longer contact time of 240 min. Recycling studies reveal that the immobilized HRP can be recycled up to 3 times for dye degradation. Kinetics drawn for the free HRP catalyzed reaction marked a lower K
m and higher V
max values, which denotes a proper and faster affinity of the enzyme towards the dye, when compared to the immobilized HRP. The applicability of HRP for treating the actual tannery dye-house wastewater was also demonstrated.
Testing cognitive navigation in unknown territories: homing pigeons choose different targets
Authors: Blaser N. , Dell'Omo G. , Dell'Ariccia G. , Wolfer D. P. , Lipp H.-P.
Published: July 2013

Homing pigeons (Columba livia) are believed to adopt a map-and-compass strategy to find their way home. Surprisingly, to date a clear demonstration of the use of a cognitive map in free-flight experiments is missing. In this study, we investigated whether homing pigeons use a mental map in which – at an unknown release site – their own position, the home loft and a food loft are represented simultaneously. In order to test this, homing pigeons were trained to fly to a 25–30 km distant food loft. A total of 131 hungry and satiated pigeons were then released from an unfamiliar site equidistant from the food loft and the home loft. Their vanishing bearings and homing times were assessed conventionally at four sites, and also their flight tracks from one release site by means of GPS loggers. The vanishing bearings of fed and hungry birds differed significantly at all release sites and a highly significant proportion of hungry birds flew to the food loft, while the fed birds headed home. The GPS experiment revealed a number of pigeons flying very precisely to the food loft, others correcting their flight direction after topography-induced detours. This implies that the pigeons knew their geographical position in relation to the targets, and chose a flight direction according to their locally manipulated needs – clearly the essence of a cognitive navigational map.