bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes, traffic‐related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and breast cancer incidence
Authors: Mordukhovich Irina , Beyea Jan , Herring Amy H. , Hatch Maureen , Stellman Steven D. , Teitelbaum Susan L. , Richardson David B. , Millikan Robert C. , Engel Lawrence S. , Shantakumar Sumitra , Steck Susan E. , Neugut Alfred I. , Rossner Pavel , Santella Regina M. , Gammon Marilie D.
Published: March 2016

Vehicular traffic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been associated with breast cancer incidence in epidemiologic studies, including our own. Because PAHs damage DNA by forming adducts and oxidative lesions, genetic polymorphisms that alter DNA repair capacity may modify associations between PAH‐related exposures and breast cancer risk. Our goal was to examine the association between vehicular traffic exposure and breast cancer incidence within strata of a panel of nine biologically plausible nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER) genotypes. Residential histories of 1,508 cases and 1,556 controls were assessed in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project between 1996 and 1997 and used to reconstruct residential traffic exposures to benzo[a]pyrene, as a proxy for traffic‐related PAHs. Likelihood ratio tests from adjusted unconditional logistic regression models were used to assess multiplicative interactions. A gene‐traffic interaction was evident (p = 0.04) for ERCC2 (Lys751); when comparing the upper and lower tertiles of 1995 traffic exposure estimates, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 2.09 (1.13, 3.90) among women with homozygous variant alleles. Corresponding odds ratios for 1960–1990 traffic were also elevated nearly 2–3‐fold for XRCC1(Arg194Trp), XRCC1(Arg399Gln) and OGG1(Ser326Cys), but formal multiplicative interaction was not evident. When DNA repair variants for ERCC2, XRCC1 and OGG1 were combined, among women with 4–6 variants, the odds ratios were 2.32 (1.22, 4.49) for 1995 traffic and 2.96 (1.06, 8.21) for 1960–1990 traffic. Our study is first to report positive associations between traffic‐related PAH exposure and breast cancer incidence among women with select biologically plausible DNA repair genotypes.
Fiber bragg grating sensor based device for simultaneous measurement of respiratory and cardiac activities
Authors: Chethana K. , Guru Prasad A. S. , Omkar S. N. , Asokan S.
Published: March 2016

This paper reports a novel optical ballistocardiography technique, which is non‐invasive, for the simultaneous measurement of cardiac and respiratory activities using a Fiber Bragg Grating Heart Beat Device (FBGHBD). The unique design of FBGHBD offers additional capabilities such as monitoring nascent morphology of cardiac and breathing activity, heart rate variability, heart beat rhythm, etc., which can assist in early clinical diagnosis of many conditions associated with heart and lung malfunctioning. The results obtained from the FBGHBD positioned around the pulmonic area on the chest have been evaluated against an electronic stethoscope which detects and records sound pulses originated from the cardiac activity.

In order to evaluate the performance of the FBGHBD, quantitative and qualitative studies have been carried out and the results are found to be reliable and accurate, validating its potential as a standalone medical diagnostic device. The developed FBGHBD is simple in design, robust, portable, EMI proof, shock proof and non‐electric in its operation which are desired features for any clinical diagnostic tool used in hospital environment.

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Clinical features and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia‐induced acute pancreatitis during pregnancy: A retrospective study
Authors: Huang Chunlan , Liu Jie , Lu Yingying , Fan Junjie , Wang Xingpeng , Liu Jun , Zhang Wei , Zeng Yue
Published: March 2016

Aim: To analyze the features and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia‐induced acute pancreatitis (HTGP) during pregnancy. Methods: A retrospective study of 21 pregnant women diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (AP) was performed. Patients were divided into acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP), HTGP, and idiopathic groups according to etiology. Results: 95% of the patients were in the third trimester of gestation. The percentage of patients with HTGP was higher than that of ABP (48% vs.14%). The percentage of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in the HTGP group was higher than that in the ABP group (40.0% vs.0%). The Ranson scores for moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) and SAP in the HTGP group were significantly different (2.50 ± 0.58 vs.3.60 ± 0.89, P < 0.05, respectively). The mean serum triglyceride (TG) levels in the MSAP and SAP HTGP groups were not significantly different (18.81 ± 11.13 vs. 30.53 ± 24.20 mmol/L, P > 0.05, respectively). In the HTGP group, there were five patients given plasma exchange therapy and five not. Plasmapheresis decreased the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) from 100% to 28.6% and the TG level from 20.36 ± 7.41 mmol/L to 5.23 ± 3.62 mmol/L (P < 0.05). The length of hospitalization of the plasmapheresis group was shorter than that of the nonplasmapheresis group (17.3 ± 6.7 days vs. 37.0 ± 20.8 days). Conclusions: Plasma exchange may be safe and effectively administered for HTGP patients during pregnancy with SIRS or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). J. Clin. Apheresis 31:571–578, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Crosstalk Between K ras (Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homologue) and Adherence Molecular Complex Leads to Disassociation of Cells—A Possible Contribution Towards Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Murtaza Bibi Nazia , Doak Shareen , Morgan Claire , Nadeem Muhammad Shahid , Al‐Ghanim Khalid A. , Shakoori Abdul Rauf
Published: March 2016

Constitutive activation of mutant K ras (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue) and disassembly of E‐cadherin–catenin complex (E‐cadherin, α‐catenin, β‐catenin, and γ‐catenin) play an important role in apoptosis, differentiation, and cell proliferation. In this study, the expression pattern of K ras and E‐cadherin–catenin complex has been evaluated in normal and mutant colorectal cancer cell lines with an object to determine its impact on disassociation of cells from one another. We addressed the expression analysis of K ras with reference to its association with adherence molecules in two colorectal cancer cell lines, that is, Caco‐2 (wild type K ras served as a control) and DLD1 (heterozygous mutation at codon 13) at message level by qRT‐PCR and translational level by western blotting. Compared to the control Caco‐2 cell lines, the K ras in DLD1 cell lines showed slightly higher values while α‐catenin showed a slight lower (1.3‐folds), β‐catenin and E‐cadherin showed significantly lower expression (4.2‐fold decrease). It can be inferred that a possible cross talk exists between K ras and adherent junction mediated signalling. Mutation at codon 13 (G to D) leads to the overexpression of K ras and reduced expression of adherent junction complex resulting in metastasis. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2340–2345, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Single institution outcomes in the first 3 years of pancreas transplantation from brain dead donors
Authors: Ito Taihei , Kenmochi Takashi , Ono Shinichiro , Oshima Minoru , Aida Naohiro , Suzuki Atsushi , Hasegawa Midori , Kusaka Mamoru , Hoshinaga Kiyotaka
Published: March 2016

Background

A total of 26 pancreas transplants from brain dead donors, including 21 simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantation procedures, have been performed at Fujita Health University Hospital since the new pancreas transplant program was initiated in August 2012. The objective of this study is to investigate the outcomes of pancreatic transplantation in our facility in first 3 years of the program.

Methods

The background characteristics of the donors and the outcomes of 26 pancreas transplant recipients were analyzed.

Results

The mean age of the recipients was 44.0 years, and all recipients had a long‐term history of diabetes (mean: 30.2 years). In the SPK cases, the patients also had a long history of hemodialysis (mean: 6.3 years). Although the average donor age was 41.0 years and more than half of the donors were marginal donors (defined according to Kapur's criteria and Troppmann's criteria), the patient survival and pancreatic graft survival rates were 100% and 91.7%, respectively. Unfortunately, two recipients experienced graft failure due to graft thrombosis, which resulted in graft loss.

Conclusions

The new pancreas transplant program at Fujita Health University has provided excellent outcomes for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Comprehensive outcomes of on‐ and off‐antiviral prophylaxis in hepatitis B patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy: A competing risks analysis
Authors: An Jihyun , Shim Ju Hyun , Kim Seon‐Ok , Choi Jonggi , Kim Sang‐We , Lee Danbi , Kim Kang Mo , Lim Young‐Suk , Lee Han Chu , Chung Young‐Hwa , Lee Yung Sang , Suh Dong Jin
Published: March 2016

Although antiviral prophylaxis is essential in hepatitis B patients in the context of cancer chemotherapy, there is little evidence‐based consensus regarding the appropriate prevention strategy depending on the underlying type of cancer and viral status. This retrospective study included a comprehensive cohort of 302 hepatitis B surface antigen‐positive patients with various cancers undergoing chemotherapy and antiviral prophylaxis. The rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during antiviral therapy (>1 log10IU/mL increase or positive conversion of serum HBV DNA) and relapse when off antivirals ([re]appearance of HBV DNA >2,000 IU/ml with related alanine aminotransferase elevation) were evaluated, together with the associated risk factors, in a competing risks analysis where cancer death was considered as the competing event. During antiviral prophylaxis, HBV was reactivated in six patients (1.9%), who had leukemia (n = 4) or lymphoma (n = 2) and were treated with lamivudine (n = 4) or entecavir (n = 2). The incidence rate of HBV relapse in 127 off‐prophylaxis patients was 21.3% during a median post‐antiviral period of 11.7 months. Lymphoma, pre‐prophylactic HBV DNA ≥2,000 IU/ml, and age ≥50 years were independent predictors of off‐treatment HBV relapse (adjusted hazard ratios 5.25, 3.07, and 0.34, respectively; Ps < 0.05). Antiviral and anticancer drugs, duration of consolidation on antiviral prophylaxis, and HBeAg positivity were not independent predictors. In conclusion, hepatitis B flare‐ups are not rare in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy during and after anti‐HBV prophylaxis, even when potent antivirals are used. Patients with hematopoietic or lymphoid neoplasms or high viral burdens should receive prolonged and powerful HBV prophylaxis. J. Med. Virol. 88:1576–1586, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial and temporal variability of precipitation over the Mediterranean Basin based on 32‐year satellite Global Precipitation Climatology Project data, part I: evaluation and climatological patterns
Authors: Hatzianastassiou Nikolaos , Papadimas Christos D. , Lolis Christos J. , Bartzokas Aristides , Levizzani Vincenzo , Pnevmatikos John D. , Katsoulis Basil D.
Published: March 2016

The precipitation regime over the Mediterranean basin is investigated for the period 1979–2010 using monthly mean satellite data from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCPv2). The results show that a clear contrast exists between the more rainy northern part of the study region (Southern Europe) and the drier southern area (North Africa, Iberian Peninsula) and between the western sides (rainsides) of the Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas and their eastern sides (rainshadows). The mean annual precipitation averaged over the study area is P = 593 ± 203 mm year−1, but it has a strong spatial variability ranging from 20 mm year−1 (North Africa) to 1500 mm year−1 (Alps). A significant seasonal variability exists, with the early winter and late autumn months (November and December) being the wettest with precipitation amounts larger than 60 mm month−1. The GPCPv2 satellite precipitation data are satisfactorily correlated with rain gauge measurements from 433 stations within the study area (correlation coefficient R = 0.78 for all stations on a yearly basis, with values ranging between 0.72 and 0.82, depending on the season) with a slight overestimation. They also compare well with the higher spatial and temporal resolution Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data, which supports the validity of the present study.
Associations of radiographic degeneration and pain with daily cumulative hip loading in patients with secondary hip osteoarthritis
Authors: Tateuchi Hiroshige , Koyama Yumiko , Tsukagoshi Rui , Akiyama Haruhiko , Goto Koji , So Kazutaka , Kuroda Yutaka , Ichihashi Noriaki
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of radiographic and clinical variables of hip osteoarthritis (OA) with alterations in gait and joint loading in patients with secondary hip OA. Fifty females with secondary hip OA were participated. The minimum joint space width (mJSW) of the hip as a degenerative sign and Sharp and center edge (CE) angles as morphological variables were measured radiographically. Hip joint pain was assessed using a visual analog scale. As gait variables, walking speed, range of hip motion, hip moment peak, and hip moment impulse were calculated. Daily cumulative hip loading was calculated as the hip moment impulse multiplied by the mean number of steps per day. After bivariate correlation analyses between dependent (mJSW and pain) and independent variables (age, body mass index, sharp/CE angles, steps per day, and gait variables), separate forward‐backward stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed for each dependent variable. Daily cumulative hip loading in the sagittal plane (β = 0.30, p = 0.021) and age (β = −0.36, p = 0.007) were significantly associated with the mJSW. Walking speed (β = −0.36, p = 0.008) and age (β = 0.29, p = 0.031) were significantly associated with hip joint pain. Decrease in daily cumulative hip loading in the sagittal plane was associated with mJSW independently of age. Although the causal relationship was not clear, patients with hip OA reduced total exposure to hip joint loading adaptively rather than lowering the hip moment peak concerning worsening of hip degeneration. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1977–1983, 2016.
Maternal oral administration of osteocalcin protects offspring from metabolic impairment in adulthood
Authors: Kawakubo‐Yasukochi Tomoyo , Kondo Akihiko , Mizokami Akiko , Hayashi Yoshikazu , Chishaki Sakura , Nakamura Seiji , Takeuchi Hiroshi , Hirata Masato
Published: March 2016

Objective

Maternal diet during pregnancy has been found to influence the health of offspring. However, strategies for modulation of maternal energy metabolism without an adverse effect on the fetus have remained limited. It was recently shown that oral administration of uncarboxylated osteocalcin (GluOC) improves metabolic status in adult female mice. Whether maternal GluOC administration during gestation might improve the metabolic status of offspring was investigated.

Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or high‐fat, high‐sucrose diet (HFS) and were given saline or GluOC by oral administration during pregnancy. The resulting offspring were in turn assigned to ND‐ or HFS‐fed groups immediately after weaning, and their body weight, glucose metabolism, serum lipid parameters, and level of adipose tissue inflammation were subsequently assessed.

Results

Maternal HFS feeding during gestation had adverse effects on glucose and lipid parameters, body weight, and adipose tissue inflammation in female offspring fed the same diet, and these effects were attenuated by maternal oral GluOC administration.

Conclusions

Maternal oral administration of GluOC protects HFS‐fed female offspring from metabolic disorders induced by maternal obesity.
Experimental study and progressive failure analysis of stitched foam‐core sandwich composites subjected to low‐velocity impact
Authors: Han Fengyu , Yan Ying , Ma Jian
Published: March 2016

The effects of the impact energy and stitch density on low‐velocity impact (LVI) damage in sandwich structures composed of a stitched foam core and woven face sheets have been investigated both experimentally and numerically. In the LVI experiment, force–time curves are recorded and analyzed to study the impact response of stitched foam core sandwich structures. In the numerical investigation, a progressive damage model for the composite structures is developed based on the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) approach in which the damage forms of the composites are predicted by the strain‐based Hashin criteria. The damage evolution is simulated by the stiffness degradation procedure in exponential form. Interface elements are established between the panels and foam core to simulate the initiation and propagation of inter‐laminar damage. The stitching region is simplified as glass fiber reinforced resin columns, and its mechanical parameters are estimated by a mixed series‐parallel model. The numerical and experimental results are in good agreement, which demonstrates the validity of the progressive failure analysis method. The energy absorption is discussed using a numerical method, and the results help to characterize the damage mechanisms of LVI on stitch foam‐core sandwich composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:624–635, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Model‐Based Assessment of Plasma Citrate Flux Into the Liver: Implications for NaCT as a Therapeutic Target
Authors: Li Z , Erion DM , Maurer TS
Published: March 2016

Cytoplasmic citrate serves as an important regulator of gluconeogenesis and carbon source for de novo lipogenesis in the liver. For this reason, the sodium‐coupled citrate transporter (NaCT), a plasma membrane transporter that governs hepatic influx of plasma citrate in human, is being explored as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic disorders. As cytoplasmic citrate also originates from intracellular mitochondria, the relative contribution of these two pathways represents critical information necessary to underwrite confidence in this target. In this work, hepatic influx of plasma citrate was quantified via pharmacokinetic modeling of published clinical data. The influx was then compared to independent literature estimates of intracellular citrate flux in human liver. The results indicate that, under normal conditions, <10% of hepatic citrate originates from plasma. Similar estimates were determined experimentally in mice and rats. This suggests that NaCT inhibition will have a limited impact on hepatic citrate concentrations across species.
Energy‐dependent effects of resveratrol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Madrigal‐Perez Luis Alberto , Canizal‐Garcia Melina , González‐Hernández Juan Carlos , Reynoso‐Camacho Rosalia , Nava Gerardo M. , Ramos‐Gomez Minerva
Published: March 2016

The metabolic effects induced by resveratrol have been associated mainly with the consumption of high‐calorie diets; however, its effects with standard or low‐calorie diets remain unclear. To better understand the interactions between resveratrol and cellular energy levels, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model. Herein it is shown that resveratrol: (a) decreased cell viability in an energy‐dependent manner; (b) lessening of cell viability occurred specifically when cells were under cellular respiration; and (c) inhibition of oxygen consumption in state 4 occurred at low and standard energy levels, whereas at high energy levels oxygen consumption was promoted. These findings indicate that the effects of resveratrol are dependent on the cellular energy status and linked to metabolic respiration. Importantly, our study also revealed that S. cerevisiae is a suitable and useful model to elucidate the molecular targets of resveratrol under different nutritional statuses. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Twostriped Walkingstick Targets Human Eye With Chemical Defense Spray
Authors: Ferrara Ashley N. , Luck John B. , Chappell Mark C.
Published: March 2016

Stick insects are commonly known for their fascinating and functional shape, which allows them to blend with their surroundings. However, many may not be aware of another, more threatening protective feature, a toxic spray. Anisomorpha buprestoides, one of two stick insect types in the United States to use this defense, targets the eyes and can cause ocular injury, with cases ranging from conjunctivitis to corneal ulceration. We present the case of an older woman exposed to the walkingstick’s painful venom while in her home. The patient presented to an Orlando emergency department with conjunctival injection and tearing that improved with water irrigation.
Fast and inexpensive detection of bacterial viability and drug effectiveness through metabolic monitoring
Authors: Ayyash Sondos , Wu Wen-I , Selvaganapathy P.Ravi
Published: March 2016

Conventional methods for the detection of bacterial infection such as DNA or immunoassays are either expensive, time consuming, or not definitive; thus may not provide all the information sought by the medical professionals. In particular, it is difficult to obtain information about viability or drug effectiveness, which are crucial to formulate a treatment. Bacterial culture test is the “gold standard” because it is inexpensive and does not require extensive sample preparation, and most importantly, provides all the necessary information sought by healthcare professionals, such as bacterial presence, viability and drug effectiveness. These conventional culture methods, however, have a long turnaround time: anywhere between 1 day to 4 weeks. Here, we solve this problem by monitoring the growth of bacteria in thousands of nanowells simultaneously to identify its presence in the sample and its viability, faster. The segmentation of a sample with low bacterial concentration into thousands of nanoliter wells digitizes the samples and increases the effective concentration in those wells that contain bacteria. We monitor the metabolism of aerobic bacteria by using an oxygen sensitive fluorophore, ruthenium tris (2,2’-diprydl) dichloride hexahydrate (RTDP) that allows us to monitor the dissolved oxygen concentration in the nanowells. UsingE.ColiK12 as a model pathogen, we demonstrate that the detection time ofE.colican be as fast as 35-60 minutes with sample concentrations varying from 104(62 minutes for detection), 106(42 minutes) and 108cells/mL (38 minutes). More importantly, we also demonstrate that reducing the well size can reduce the time of detection. Finally we show that drug effectiveness information can be obtained in this format by loading the wells with the drug and monitoring the metabolism of the bacteria. The method that we have developed is low cost, simple, requires minimal sample preparation and can potentially be used with a wide variety of samples in resource poor setting to detect bacterial infections such as Tuberculosis.
Inherited ichthyosis: Non‐syndromic forms
Authors: Takeichi Takuya , Akiyama Masashi
Published: March 2016

Inherited ichthyoses are a group of genetic disorders characterized by generalized dry skin, scaling and hyperkeratosis, and often associated with erythroderma. These manifestations are due to mutations in genes mostly involved in skin barrier formation. Inherited ichthyoses consist of non‐syndromic ichthyoses and ichthyosis syndromes. Non‐syndromic ichthyoses are characterized by the phenotypic expression of the disorder being seen only in the skin. Non‐syndromic ichthyoses include ichthyosis vulgaris, recessive X‐linked ichthyosis, autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis, keratinopathic ichthyosis and other forms. This review focuses on updates for each type of non‐syndromic ichthyosis, highlighting molecular mechanisms and phenotype/genotype correlations. Included in autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis are three of the major phenotypes (harlequin ichthyosis, lamellar ichthyosis and congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma) and three of the minor subtypes (self‐healing collodion baby, acral self‐healing collodion baby and bathing suit ichthyosis). Keratinopathic ichthyosis is proposed as an umbrella term for ichthyoses caused by mutations in keratin genes. Next‐generation sequencing technologies have become powerful tools for the diagnosis of inherited ichthyoses and the discovery of their genetic causes. This article reviews the current understanding of molecular pathomechanisms for non‐syndromic ichthyoses and explores future perspectives.
Effects of systemic propranolol treatment on physical growth of patients with infantile hemangiomas
Authors: Hu Li , Zhou Bingrui , Huang Huizhen , Chang Lei , Qiu Yajing , Ma Gang , Chen Hui , Jin Yunbo , Xu Xiu , Lin Xiaoxi , Li Wei
Published: March 2016

Propranolol has been widely used in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas since 2008. This study aimed to investigate complications of systemic propranolol therapy for infantile hemangiomas, especially its effect on infants' physical growth. In this study, propranolol was given at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day. Abnormal symptoms and growth parameters were recorded in detail during the therapy. Follow‐up visits were arranged to continue at least through the age of 2 years. A total of 76 patients with complete growth parameters were enrolled into the study. Complications of propranolol were minor, and mainly included sleeping disorders, diarrhea, decrease in fasting glucose, bronchial hyperactivity and hyperkalemia. Four (5.26%) patients' growth curve dropped off more than 20 percentiles during therapy and half of them returned to normal after withdrawal of the medications. None of them suffered from underweight, wasting or stunning when medication was stopped. Systemic propranolol was proved to be a safe treatment for problematic infantile hemangiomas and did not affect the physical growth.
Increasing age is not associated with toxicity leading to discontinuation of treatment in patients with urothelial non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer randomised to receive 3 years of maintenance bacille Calmette–Guérin: results from European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genito‐Urinary Group study 30911
Authors: Oddens Jorg R. , Sylvester Richard J. , Brausi Maurizio A. , Kirkels Wim J. , van de Beek Cees , van Andel George , de Reijke Theo M. , Prescott Stephen , Alfred Witjes J. , Oosterlinck Willem
Published: March 2016

Objective

To determine the relationship of age to side‐effects leading to discontinuation of treatment in patients with stage Ta–T1 non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with maintenance bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG).

Patients and Methods

We evaluated toxicity for 487 eligible patients with intermediate‐ or high‐risk Ta–T1 (without carcinoma in situ) NMIBC randomised to receive 3 years of maintenance BCG therapy (247 BCG alone and 240 BCG + isoniazid) in European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genito‐Urinary Group trial 30911. The percentage of patients who stopped for toxicity and the number of treatment cycles that they received were compared in four age groups, ≤60, 61–70, 71–75 and >75 years, using the Mantel–Haenszel chi‐square test for trend.

Results

The percentage of patients stopping BCG for toxicity was 17.9% in patients aged ≤60 years, 21.9% in patients aged 61–70 years, 22.9% in patients aged 71–75 years, and 16.4% in patients aged >75 years (P = 0.90). For both systemic and local side‐effects, there was likewise no significant difference.

Conclusion

In patients with intermediate‐ and high‐risk Ta–T1 NMIBC treated with BCG, no differences in toxicity as a reason for stopping treatment were detected based on patient age.
Clostridium difficile infection after restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis
Authors: Martinez Ugarte M. L. , Lightner A. L. , Colibaseanu D. , Khanna S. , Pardi D. S. , Dozois E. J. , Mathis K. L.
Published: March 2016

Aim

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) of the ileal pouch following restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) is becoming increasingly recognized. We aimed to understand better (i) the associated risk factors, (ii) treatment practices and (iii) the pouch diversion and failure rate in patients who developed CDI of the pouch after RPC for ulcerative colitis (UC).

Method

Patients who tested positive for C. difficile of the pouch between 2007 and 2010 were included in the analysis. Data collected included patient demographics, time from RPC to documented CDI, the treatment of CDI and rate of excision of the pouch.

Results

Of 2785 patients recorded in the hospital CDI database, 15 had had an RPC with ileal pouch anal anastomosis. The median age was 44 years and the median interval from RPC to first documented episode of CDI was 3 years. Thirteen (81%) patients had had multiple episodes of pouchitis before and after CDI infection, and all were symptomatic at the time of testing for CDI. Within 30 days of the diagnosis of CDI, six (40%) patients were taking immunosuppressive medication, seven (47%) were taking a proton pump inhibitor and 12 (80%) had received antibiotics. Five patients required hospitalization for CDI and four had severe infections characterized by a serum creatinine more than 1.5 times baseline (n = 3) and a white cell count above 15 000 (n = 1). Six patients who underwent endoscopy had severe inflammation of the pouch including the presence of a pseudomembrane in one case. Ten patients were treated with metronidazole alone and five with vancomycin. Two patients had recurrent CDI of the pouch during a median follow‐up period of 2.9 years and one had CDI refractory to medical management. This patient required diversion of the pouch with an ileostomy for refractory CDI but no patient required excision of the pouch.

Conclusion

All 15 patients developing CDI of the pouch were successfully treated with antibiotics and only one required surgery in the form of an ileostomy.
Few multiyear precipitation–reduction experiments find a shift in the productivity–precipitation relationship
Authors: Estiarte Marc , Vicca Sara , Peñuelas Josep , Bahn Michael , Beier Claus , Emmett Bridget A. , Fay Philip A. , Hanson Paul J. , Hasibeder Roland , Kigel Jaime , Kröel‐Dulay Gyorgy , Larsen Klaus Steenberg , Lellei‐Kovács Eszter , Limousin Jean‐Marc , Ogaya Romà , Ourcival Jean‐Marc , Reinsch Sabine , Sala Osvaldo E. , Schmidt Inger Kappel , Sternberg Marcelo , Tielbörger Katja , Tietema Albert , Janssens Ivan A.
Published: March 2016

Well‐defined productivity–precipitation relationships of ecosystems are needed as benchmarks for the validation of land models used for future projections. The productivity–precipitation relationship may be studied in two ways: the spatial approach relates differences in productivity to those in precipitation among sites along a precipitation gradient (the spatial fit, with a steeper slope); the temporal approach relates interannual productivity changes to variation in precipitation within sites (the temporal fits, with flatter slopes). Precipitation–reduction experiments in natural ecosystems represent a complement to the fits, because they can reduce precipitation below the natural range and are thus well suited to study potential effects of climate drying. Here, we analyse the effects of dry treatments in eleven multiyear precipitation–manipulation experiments, focusing on changes in the temporal fit. We expected that structural changes in the dry treatments would occur in some experiments, thereby reducing the intercept of the temporal fit and displacing the productivity–precipitation relationship downward the spatial fit. The majority of experiments (72%) showed that dry treatments did not alter the temporal fit. This implies that current temporal fits are to be preferred over the spatial fit to benchmark land‐model projections of productivity under future climate within the precipitation ranges covered by the experiments. Moreover, in two experiments, the intercept of the temporal fit unexpectedly increased due to mechanisms that reduced either water loss or nutrient loss. The expected decrease of the intercept was observed in only one experiment, and only when distinguishing between the late and the early phases of the experiment. This implies that we currently do not know at which precipitation–reduction level or at which experimental duration structural changes will start to alter ecosystem productivity. Our study highlights the need for experiments with multiple, including more extreme, dry treatments, to identify the precipitation boundaries within which the current temporal fits remain valid.
Comparison of phytochemical profiles, antioxidant and cellular antioxidant activities of seven cultivars of Aloe
Authors: Lai Qinrun , Wang Hong , Guo Xinbo , Abbasi Arshad Mehmood , Wang Taixia , Li Tong , Fu Xiong , Li Jingyuan , Liu Rui Hai
Published: March 2016

A comparative assessment of the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of seven cultivars of Aloe was conducted to evaluate the potential health benefits of Aloe. Aloe arborescens contained the highest levels of phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity by the oxygen radical scavenging capacity assay and cellular antioxidant activity assay. Aloe vera showed the highest levels of flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity by the peroxyl radical scavenging capacity assay. Aloe greenii had the highest CAA value with a PBS wash before adding ABAP. There were no significant differences observed between Aloe arborescens and Aloe greenii. Aloin, aloe‐emodin‐8‐O‐beta‐D‐glucopyranoside, catechin, epicatechin, sinapic acid and chlorogenic acid were identified in Aloe samples by the HPLC analysis. Aloin, aloe‐emodin‐8‐O‐beta‐D‐glucopyranoside and catechin showed strong relationships with antioxidant activity. Significant levels of aloin, aloe‐emodin‐8‐O‐beta‐D‐glucopyranoside and catechin were determined in Aloe greenii, Aloe vera and Aloe saponaria, respectively.
Democracy for realists: Holding up a mirror to the electorate
Authors: Achen Christopher , Bartels Larry
Published: March 2016

Conventional accounts of how democracy works are flawed on a fundamental level, argue Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels. By accounting for the ways social identities shape voting behaviour, they present a new model that not only offers greater intellectual clarity but could make genuine political change possible.
Compensation for liberty lost: Left libertarianism and unconditional basic income
Authors: Steiner Hillel
Published: March 2016

The case for an unconditional basic income often founders on moral questions of distribution and reciprocity. But as Hillel Steiner explains, left libertarianism offers not only a robust justification of a basic income as compensation for private ownership of our natural inheritance, but a practical account of how it can be funded.
Economic democracy: Reclaiming public ownership as the pragmatic left alternative
Authors: Cumbers Andrew
Published: March 2016

Across the globe, new and innovative forms of public ownership of key utilities and services are proving themselves effective and popular alternatives to a failing privatised orthodoxy. Why, asks Andrew Cumbers, are UK politicians lagging so insistently behind the curve?
Democracy, Epistemology and the Problem of All‐White Juries
Authors: Lever Annabelle
Published: March 2016

Does it matter that almost all juries in England and Wales are all‐White? Does it matter even if this result is the unintended and undesired result of otherwise acceptable ways of choosing juries? Finally, does it matter that almost all juries are all‐White if this has no adverse effect on the treatment of non‐White defendants and victims of crime? According to Cheryl Thomas, there is no injustice in a system of jury selection which predictably results in juries with no minority members so long as this result is not deliberate, and does not adversely affect the treatment of minority defendants and victims of crime. My view is different. In and of itself, I believe, something is wrong with a system of jury selection that predictably results in all‐White juries in a diverse society, such as our own. Absent reason to believe that we lack a better alternative to current modes of jury selection, a commitment to democratic government and to the equality of citizens – or so I will argue – condemns existing arrangements as unjust, whether or not they have adverse effects on jury decisions, or on the ways in which our society approaches issues of race and crime.
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among inland residents in China (2000–2014): A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Lili , Shao Jing , Bian Yaoyao , Wu Huiqun , Shi Lili , Zeng Li , Li Wenlin , Dong Jiancheng
Published: March 2016

Aims/Introduction

Besides the aging population in China, the following have become serious public health problems: increasing urban population, lifestyle changes and diabetes. We assessed the epidemiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China between 2000 and 2014, and analyzed time trends to better determine the prevalence status of diabetes in China and to provide a basis for prevention and decision‐making.

Materials and Methods

In our systematic review, we searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP Information, Wanfang and PubMed databases for studies on type 2 diabetes mellitus between 2000 and 2014 in China. Two investigators extracted the data and assessed the quality of the included literature independently. We excluded studies that did not use 1999 World Health Organization criteria for diabetes. We also excluded reviews and viewpoints, studies with insufficient data, studies that were not carried out in mainland China and studies on troops, community, schools or physical examination people. We used stata 12.0 to combine the prevalence of all studies, calculated the pooled prevalence and its 95% confidence interval, and analyzed the differences among men/women, urban/rural areas and year of study. We calculated the prevalence of seven geographic areas of China, respectively, and mapped the distribution in the whole country to estimate the pooled prevalence of each area.

Results

Our search returned 4,572 studies, 77 of which satisfied the inclusion criteria. The included studies had a total of 1,287,251 participants, in which 680,574 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus were recorded. The overall prevalence (9.1%) has been increasing since the 1970s, and it increased rapidly with age. The prevalence of the 65–74 years group was as high as 14.1%. Meanwhile, the prevalence among men/women and urban/rural areas was significantly different. The prevalence was 9.9% for men and 11.6% for women, which were significantly higher than the average at the end of the last century and the beginning of this century. The prevalence rate in urban areas (11.4%) was significantly higher than that in rural areas and in urban‐rural fringe areas, and the prevalence in rural areas (8.2%) was slightly higher than that in urban‐rural fringe areas (7.5%). In addition, the prevalence in each geographic area were estimated and mapped, which showed a large imbalance in the map.

Conclusions

Our analysis suggested that type 2 diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in China. These results underscore the urgent need for the government to vigorously strengthen the management of diabetes prevention and control.
Accumulation of Indole‐3‐Acetic Acid in Rice sl Mutant Leaves Infected with Bipolaris oryzae
Authors: Ishihara Atsushi , Fukami Arisa , Matsuda Yoko , Nakajima Hiromitsu , Miyagawa Hisashi
Published: March 2016

Rice leaves accumulate serotonin in response to infection by Bipolaris oryzae. The leaves of the sl mutant, which is deficient in the gene encoding tryptamine 5‐hydroxylase, accumulate tryptamine instead of serotonin upon infection by B. oryzae. Because tryptamine is a possible precursor of indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), we investigated the accumulation of IAA in sl leaves infected with B. oryzae. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis indicated that IAA accumulated at approximately 1.5 μmol/gFW in the leaves of sl mutant. This accumulation was suppressed by 95% by the treatment with the tryptamine decarboxylase inhibitor, (S)‐α‐(fluoromethyl)tryptophan, at 100 μm, indicating that tryptamine served as the precursor of IAA. The accumulation of IAA was not reproduced by treatment with CuCl2 or by exogenous feeding of tryptamine. Furthermore, inoculation of Magnaporthe grisea induced only a lower level of IAA accumulation. On the other hand, B. oryzae produced IAA in culture media containing tryptamine. These findings strongly suggested that the metabolism of tryptamine by B. oryzae was responsible for IAA accumulation in the leaves of the sl mutant. Serotonin added to the culture media was also converted into 5‐hydroxyindole‐3‐acetic acid (5HIAA) at a rate similar to that of tryptamine. Considering that wild‐type rice leaves accumulate serotonin for defensive purposes, reducing the concentration of serotonin by conversion into 5HIAA may be significant as a detoxification process in the interaction between B. oryzae and rice.
A Rapid and Efficient Method for In Vitro Screening of Taro for Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Phytophthora colocasiae
Authors: Nath Vishnu Sukumari , Basheer Shyni , Jeeva Muthulekshmi Lajapathy , Hegde Vinayaka Mahabaleswar , Devi Asha , Misra Raj Shekar , Veena Syamala Swayamvaran , Raj Mithun
Published: March 2016

Taro leaf blight caused by Phytophthora colocasiae presents the single biggest constraint for taro cultivation globally. To accelerate breeding and selection for disease resistance to leaf blight, it is important to develop bioassays which could differentiate resistant and susceptible cultivars efficiently. In this study, thirty taro accessions and four released cultivars were evaluated for resistance to leaf blight using a modified floating leaf disc assay. A novel method for mass production of P. colocasiae zoospores was developed and used as inoculum for the assay. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences among accessions in their response to P. colocasiae infection in the detached leaf assay. The accessions could be efficiently classified into various resistance groups based on a 0–4 score. Also, the assay results were consistent with the field evaluation scores of taro accessions. Thus, this study reports the development of a rapid, simple and repeatable assay that can be used to screen large numbers of taro cultivars for resistance to P. colocasiae.
Tropisetron inhibits high glucose-induced calcineurin/NFAT hypertrophic pathway in H9c2 myocardial cells
Authors: Asadi Firouzeh , Razmi Ali , Dehpour Ahmad Reza , Shafiei Massoumeh
Published: March 2016

Objectives

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is an important structural feature of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tropisetron, a novel calcineurin inhibitor, on high glucose (HG)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and its underlying mechanism.

Methods

H9c2 myocardial cells were treated with tropisetron or cyclosporine A 1 h before exposure to HG for 48 h.

Key findings

Exposure to HG resulted in enhanced cell size, protein content and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) protein expression. HG significantly increased Ca2+ level, calcineurin expression and nuclear translocation of NFATc4. Both tropisetron and cyclosporine A markedly prevented the hypertrophic characteristic features, calcineurin overexpression and nuclear localization of NFATc4 while intracellular Ca2+ was not affected.

Conclusion

Our results showed that tropisetron may have protective effects against HG-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The mechanism responsible for this beneficial effect seems to be, at least in part, blockade of calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathway.
Nocturama gen. nov., Nothocladus s. lat. and other taxonomic novelties resulting from the further resolution of paraphyly in Australasian members of Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta)
Authors: Entwisle Timothy J. , Johnston Emily T. , Lam Daryl W. , Stewart Sarah A. , Vis Morgan L.
Published: March 2016

The informal “Australasica Group” was established in 2009 to include several Australasian endemic Batrachospermum species, a few species of the cosmopolitan Batrachospermum section Setacea, and the South American endemic Petrohua bernabei. Although useful for communication purposes, no formal taxonomic designation was proposed due to weakly supported basal nodes. The present research took a two‐pronged approach of adding more taxa (29 additional specimens) as well as more sequence data (LSU, cox1, psaA, and psbA markers added to rbcL data) to provide better resolution. The resulting tree showed improved statistical support values (Bayesian posterior probability and maximum likelihood bootstrap) for most nodes providing a framework for taxonomic revision. Based on our well‐resolved phylogeny, a new genus, Nocturama, is proposed for a clade of Batrachospermum antipodites specimens. The circumscription of Nothocladus is expanded to include Batrachospermum section Setacea and four additional sections composed of at least 10 species, mostly from Australia and New Zealand. One new species added to the data set, N. diatyches, did not form a clade with the other species of section Setaceus, where it was classified previously, rendering that section paraphyletic. To resolve this, N. diatyches and the morphologically similar species N. latericius are included with N. theaquus, in the new section Theaquus within Nothocladus s. lat. A specimen from Australia unaligned to these clades was sister to the Australia–New Zealand genus Psilosiphon and the cosmopolitan B. cayennense, but lacked statistical support. This specimen has the gross morphology of Batrachospermum s. lat. and is here provisionally assigned to that genus, as B. serendipidum sp. nov.
The chloroplast genome of Phacus orbicularis (Euglenophyceae): an initial datum point for the phacaceae
Authors: Kasiborski Beth A. , Bennett Matthew S. , Linton Eric W.
Published: March 2016

The Euglenophyceae chloroplast was acquired when a heterotrophic euglenoid engulfed a green alga and subsequently retained the algal chloroplast, in a process known as secondary endosymbiosis. Since this event, Euglenophyceae have diverged widely and their chloroplast genomes (cpGenomes) have as well. Changes to the cpGenome include extensive gene rearrangement and the proliferation of introns, the analyses of which have proven to be useful in examining cpGenome changes throughout the Euglenophyceae. The Euglenales fall into two families, Euglenaceae and Phacaceae. Euglenaceae contains eight genera and at least one cpGenome has been published for each genus. Phacaceae, on the other hand, contains three genera, none of which have had a representative chloroplast genome sequenced. Members of this family have many small disk‐shaped chloroplasts that lack pyrenoids. We sequenced and annotated the cpGenome of Phacus orbicularis in order to fill in the large gap in our understanding of Euglenophyceae cpGenome evolution, especially in regard to intron number and gene order. We compared this cpGenome to those of species from both the Euglenaceae and Eutreptiales of the Euglenophyceae phylogenetic tree. The cpGenome showed characteristics that were more derived than that of the basal species Eutreptia viridis, with extensive gene rearrangements and nearly three times as many introns. In contrast, it contained fewer introns than all but one of the previously reported Euglenaceae cpGenomes, had a smaller estimated genome size, and shared greater synteny with two main branches of that family.