bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in autism across the lifespan: A meta-analysis
Authors: van Heijst Barbara FC , Geurts Hilde M
Published: January 2014

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, with a known impact on quality of life. Yet the developmental trajectory of quality of life is not well understood. First, the effect of age on quality of life was studied with a meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis included 10 studies (published between 2004 and 2012) with a combined sample size of 486 people with autism and 17,776 controls. Second, as there were no studies on quality of life of the elderly with autism, we conducted an empirical study on quality of life of the elderly (age range 53–83) with autism ( N = 24) and without autism ( N = 24). The meta-analysis showed that quality of life is lower for people with autism compared to people without autism, and that the mean effect is large (Cohen’s d = −0.96). Age did not have an effect on quality of life. The study concerning the elderly with autism showed that the difference in quality of life is similar in the elderly. Age, IQ and symptom severity did not predict quality of life in this sample. Across the lifespan, people with autism experience a much lower quality of life compared to people without autism. Hence, the quality of life seemed to be independent of someone’s age.
Contextualising eating problems in individual diet counselling
Authors: Kristensen Søren T , Køster Allan
Published: January 2014

Health professionals consider diet to be a vital component in managing weight, chronic diseases and the overall promotion of health. This article takes the position that the complexity and contextual nature of individual eating problems needs to be addressed in a more systematic and nuanced way than is usually the case in diet counselling, motivational interviewing and health coaching. We suggest the use of narrative practice as a critical and context-sensitive counselling approach to eating problems. Principles of externalisation and co-researching are combined within a counselling framework that employs logistic, social and discursive eating problems as analytic categories. Using cases from a health clinic situated at the Metropolitan University College in Copenhagen, we show that even if the structural conditions associated with eating problems may not be solvable through individual counselling sessions, exploration of the complex structures of food and eating with the client can provide agency by helping them navigate within the context of the problem. We also exemplify why a reflexive and critical approach to the way health is perceived by clients should be an integrated part of diet counselling.
Impairment effects, disability and dry mouth: Exploring the public and private dimensions
Authors: Owens Janine , Gibson Barry John , Periyakaruppiah Karthik , Baker Sarah Ruth , Robinson Peter Glen
Published: January 2014

Existing accounts of dry mouth concentrate on the medical dimensions and almost completely neglect to consider its social dimensions. Simultaneously, debates on disability have highlighted an apparent split between the individual (medical) and social models of disability. The concept of ‘impairment effects’ aims to address this dichotomised approach. Impairment effects consider the everyday impact of people’s impairments on their lives in conjunction with the disabling impacts encountered through their relations with society, and society’s relations with them. This study indicates that identity and self became entangled with impairment effects and a form of disablism. The authors argue that impairment effects are, at times, a useful concept, but in some instances may actually overcomplicate things. By analysing the public and private dimensions of a chronic condition such as dry mouth, we have been enabled to explore the boundary between public and private lives. As a consequence, using public and private accounts may assist us to better locate the point where impairment ends and disability begins.
Development and refinement of new statistical methods for enhanced syndromic surveillance during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Authors: Morbey Roger A , Elliot Alex J , Charlett Andre , Andrews Nick , Verlander Neville Q , Ibbotson Sue , Smith Gillian E
Published: January 2014

Prior to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, new statistical methods had to be developed for the enhanced syndromic surveillance during the Games. Different methods were developed depending on whether or not historical data were available. Practical solutions were needed to cope with the required daily reporting and data quality issues. During the Games, nearly 4800 signals were tested on average each day, generating statistical alarms that were assessed to provide information on areas of potential public health concern and reassurance that no major adverse incident had occurred.

Graphical abstract
A new quasi-static multi-degree of freedom tapered roller bearing model to accurately consider non-Hertzian contact pressures in time-domain simulations
Authors: Kabus S , Hansen MR , Mouritsen OØ
Published: January 2014

The accuracy of the fatigue life calculations in rolling bearing simulations is highly dependent on the precision of the roller-raceway contact simulations and the ability to accurately include structural deflections of the supporting structure. Several different methods exist to simulate the pressure distributions, and in time-domain bearing simulations, where many contacts need evaluation, the simple and time efficient methods are more popular. These methods underestimate the fatigue life reduction due to roller end effects, overload and misalignments. Furthermore, existing time-domain rolling bearing models assume that the bearing rings remain circular, which can be a poor approximation, especially for large and flexible supported bearings. This paper presents a new multi-degree of freedom frictionless quasi-static time-domain tapered roller bearing model that uses high precision elastic half-space theory to simulate the contact pressures and allows for an arbitrary stiffness of the outer ring supporting structure. The potentially higher computational demand using the advanced contact calculations is addressed by pre-processing series of contacts at different centreline approaches and roller tilt angles, which are used for interpolating contact results during time-domain simulations. The stiffness of the outer ring supporting structure is included by condensing a FE-model using an assumed modes method also known as modal flexibility. It is demonstrated that this new model allows for simulation of bearing misalignments and structural deflections, and that the effect of these conditions is directly evaluated in a detailed fatigue life analysis.
Race, transformative planning, and the just city
Authors: Song Lily K
Published: January 2014

Among the thorniest dilemmas stemming transformative planning practice in the context of American cities is the problem of race. While “just city” and neo-pragmatist perspectives have recently theorized progressive policy and planning efforts to create viable alternatives to the dominant neoliberal urban and local economic development model, they have paid less attention to the relationship between race, urban political economy, and transformative planning. This article seeks to bridge this gap by elaborating a conception of race that incorporates W.E.B. DuBois’ notion of “double consciousness” with neo-pragmatist planning perspectives to illuminate potential synergies between the situated perspectives of socially marginalized groups and differentially situated, resourced, and abled allies in illuminating systemic problems and directing deeper modes of urban policy and planning recourse. Drawing from two empirical cases, it examines how progressive urban coalitions might use race as a diagnostic and dialogic tool in undertaking provisional and contextual inquiry and praxis in the urban economic sphere toward realization of the “just city.”
Philosophy of education and other educational sciences
Authors: Howe Kenneth R.
Published: January 2014

This article largely agrees with John White’s characterizations of the relationships among philosophy of education, philosophy more generally, and the conventional world. It then extends what White identifies as the fundamental problem that should now be occupying philosophy of education – the irreconcilable opposition between education for Smithian efficiency and education for Deweyian democracy – to an analysis of the relationship between philosophy of education and education policy and research. It concludes that philosophers of education committed to realizing a Deweyian form of democratic education will most likely be stymied.
Impaired left ventricular function and myocardial blood flow reserve in patients with long-term type 1 diabetes and no significant coronary artery disease: Associations with protein glycation
Authors: Sveen Kari Anne , Nerdrum Tone , Hanssen Kristian F , Brekke Magne , Torjesen Peter A , Strauch Christopher M , Sell David R , Monnier Vincent M , Dahl-Jørgensen Knut , Steine Kjetil
Published: January 2014

Our aims were to study left ventricular (LV) function and myocardial blood flow reserve (MBFR) in long-term type 1 diabetes and associations with advanced glycation end products (AGEs). A total of 20 type 1 diabetes patients from the Oslo Study without significant stenosis on coronary angiography were compared with 26 controls. LV systolic and diastolic functions were assessed by two-dimensional strain and the ratio between pulsed Doppler transmitral early (E) velocity and tissue Doppler velocity (E′), respectively. MBFR was evaluated by contrast echocardiography. The AGE methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone was analysed in serum. Glyoxal hydroimidazolone in skin collagen was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Strain was significantly reduced (−19.5% ± 1.9% vs −21.4% ± 3.5%, p < 0.05), and E/E′ increased in the diabetes patients compared to controls, 7.3 ± 2 versus 6.0 ± 1.5, p < 0.05. Significant lower MBFR was present in the diabetes patients, 3.4 (2.1, 5.3) versus 5.9 (3.9, 9.6), p < 0.01. Both AGEs correlated significantly with E/E′. The impaired LV function with correlation to AGEs in concert with reduced MBFR in diabetics without coronary artery disease may indicate possible mechanisms for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Development, Theoretical Framework, and Evaluation of a Parent and Teacher–Delivered Intervention on Adolescent Vaccination
Authors: Gargano Lisa M. , Herbert Natasha L. , Painter Julia E. , Sales Jessica M. , Vogt Tara M. , Morfaw Christopher , Jones LaDawna M. , Murray Dennis , DiClemente Ralph J. , Hughes James M.
Published: January 2014

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended immunization schedule for adolescents includes three vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis [Tdap]; human papillomavirus [HPV] vaccine; and meningococcal conjugate vaccine [MCV4]) and an annual influenza vaccination. Given the increasing number of recommended vaccines for adolescents and health and economic costs associated with nonvaccination, it is imperative that effective strategies for increasing vaccination rates among adolescents are developed. This article describes the development, theoretical framework, and initial first-year evaluation of an intervention designed to promote vaccine acceptance among a middle and high school–based sample of adolescents and their parents in eastern Georgia. Adolescents, parents, and teachers were active participants in the development of the intervention. The intervention, which consisted of a brochure for parents and a teacher-delivered curriculum for adolescents, was guided by constructs from the health belief model and theory of reasoned action. Evaluation results indicated that our intervention development methods were successful in creating a brochure that met cultural relevance and the literacy needs of parents. We also demonstrated an increase in student knowledge of and positive attitudes toward vaccines. To our knowledge, this study is the first to extensively engage middle and high school students, parents, and teachers in the design and implementation of key theory-based educational components of a school-based, teacher-delivered adolescent vaccination intervention.
Social Marketing and Social Change
Authors: Olson Sarah J.
Published: January 2014

Social Marketing and Social Change: Strategies and Tools for Health, Well-Being, and the Environment is a text by one of the most experienced and respected national and international leaders in social marketing, Craig Lefebvre. He depicts social marketing as a discipline and demonstrates its depth through the discussion of its principles, and relevant theories, research, case studies and his personal experiences. Lefebvre provides detailed guidance on planning and implementing social marketing programs. The book goes beyond the theoretical steps of social marketing to address the larger questions of how social marketing can help solve the most urgent and complex social and public health issues of today.
Evolution of Postanesthesia Care Units: A Legacy of Politics, Funding, and Patient Safety Concerns
Authors: Cutugno Christine
Published: January 2014

Postanesthesia care units or PACUs (earlier called recovery rooms) flourished after World War II as social, political, and economic influences advanced enormous changes in health care expectations and delivery in the United States. Innovations in science and technology, facilitated by increased federal funding of scientific research in the years preceding and during the war, heralded a postwar need for greater complexity of hospital care safely delivered by trained personnel. PACUs began to open in new and modernized postwar hospitals as a means to safely provide more complex postoperative care during a time of persistent nursing shortages. PACUs proved to be an effective and cost-efficient means of decreasing the significantly high incidence of contemporary postoperative morbidity and mortality. Continuous and skilled observation by the recovery room nurses was credited with the improved patient outcomes. Once firmly established, PACUs have remained vital to the delivering of safe and cost-effective postoperative and postprocedural care.
Off-label use of a reversed flared endurant iliac limb stengraft for the management of a life-threatening internal iliac artery aneurysm rupture
Authors: Gemayel Gino , Murith Nicolas , Kalangos Afksendiyos
Published: January 2014

We report a case of a life-threatening internal iliac artery aneurysm rupture managed successfully with an on-table reversed flared iliac limb stentgraft and embolization. This easily off-the-shelf reproducible technique avoids using a more complex and expensive bifurcated aorto-iliac graft and could be a good solution in emergency situation where a custom graft is not available.
Collapse fragility curve development using Monte Carlo simulation and artificial neural network
Authors: Khojastehfar Ehsan , Beheshti-Aval Seyed Bahram , Zolfaghari Mohammad Reza , Nasrollahzade Kourosh
Published: January 2014

Seismic fragility curves represent likelihood of structures meeting various damage stages. Epistemic as well as aleatory uncertainties associated with seismic loads and structural behaviors are usually taken into account in order to analytically develop such curves. Such structural analyses are time-consuming, demanding extensive computational efforts. In this study, in order to reduce this endeavor, artificial neural network method is applied to develop structural seismic fragility curves under collapse damage state, considering effects of record-to-record variability and modeling parameter uncertainties. Structural analyses are performed for a limited number of scenarios of structures under a limited number of recorded strong ground motion records. Probability distribution for each modeling parameter was used to simulate each structure scenario. Incremental dynamic analysis was used to assess spectral acceleration associated with collapse limit state for each structure scenario. The results of the analyses were used to train and validate a three-layered artificial neural network, and Monte Carlo simulation is implemented based on trained neural network for a sample moment-resisting steel frame in order to derive collapse fragility curve. Application of the proposed method enhances accuracy of identical computational run time compared with response surface–based method.
Diabetes education
Authors: Steven Dr Kathryn
Published: January 2014

The rising incidence and cost of diabetes is a problem on a worldwide scale. Currently, the World Health Organization estimates that 347 000 000 people worldwide have diabetes and require two to three times the healthcare resources compared with patients who are not diabetic. In the UK, it has been estimated that 1 in 20 people have diabetes. Diabetes accounts for approximately 10% of the NHS budget, this equates to approximately £1 000 000 per hour. Researchers, practitioners and patients must therefore work together to improve both prevention and management of this chronic condition.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation
Authors: Wright Rick W. , Haas Amanda K. , Anderson Joy , Calabrese Gary , Cavanaugh John , Hewett Timothy E. , Lorring Dawn , McKenzie Christopher , Preston Emily , Williams Glenn ,   the MOON Group, Amendola Annunziato , Andrish Jack T. , Brophy Robert H. , Cox Charles L. , Dunn Warren R. , Flanigan David C. , Hettrich Carolyn M. , Huston Laura J. , Jones Morgan H. , Kaeding Christopher C. , Lattermann Christian , Magnussen Robert A. , Marx Robert G. , Matava Matthew J. , McCarty Eric C. , Parker Richard D. , Reinke Emily K. , Smith Matthew V. , Spindler Kurt P. , Vidal Armando F. , Wolcott Michelle L. , Wolf Brian R.
Published: January 2014

Context:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction rehabilitation has evolved over the past 20 years. This evolution has been driven by a variety of level 1 and level 2 studies.

Evidence Acquisition:

The MOON Group is a collection of orthopaedic surgeons who have developed a prospective longitudinal cohort of the ACL reconstruction patients. To standardize the management of these patients, we developed, in conjunction with our physical therapy committee, an evidence-based rehabilitation guideline.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2.

Results:

This review was based on 2 systematic reviews of level 1 and level 2 studies. Recently, the guideline was updated by a new review. Continuous passive motion did not improve ultimate motion. Early weightbearing decreases patellofemoral pain. Postoperative rehabilitative bracing did not improve swelling, pain range of motion, or safety. Open chain quadriceps activity can begin at 6 weeks.

Conclusion:

High-level evidence exists to determine appropriate ACL rehabilitation guidelines. Utilizing this protocol follows the best available evidence.
Qualitative Investigation of the Influence of STEM Mentors on Youth With Disabilities
Authors: Powers Laurie E. , Schmidt Jessica , Sowers Jo-Ann , McCracken Kasey
Published: January 2014

Very little systematic research has been conducted on mentoring of youth with disabilities, especially science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mentoring. This article describes findings from a qualitative study, conducted as a component of an explanatory, sequential mixed-methods investigation of the outcomes and processes of a STEM mentoring intervention for high school–aged youth with disabilities, provided by mentors with and without disabilities. Focus groups were conducted with 30 youth, 30 parents, and 28 mentors following their participation in a randomized trial of a mentoring intervention. Key themes include the benefits of mentoring for STEM career development, especially for older youth; the importance of relationship development, encouraging guidance, and participation in experiential activities; and personality and interest compatibility in successful mentor–mentee matching.
The effect of desmopressin on platelet function: a selective enhancement of procoagulant COAT platelets in patients with primary platelet function defects
Authors: Colucci Giuseppe , Stutz Monika , Rochat Sophie , Conte Tiziana , Pavicic Marko , Reusser Marianne , Giabbani Evelyne , Huynh Anh , Thürlemann Charles , Keller Peter , Alberio Lorenzo
Published: January 2014

Key Points

DDAVP is the drug of choice for mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease and (by unclear mechanisms) for platelet function disorders. In vivo DDAVP selectively and markedly enhances the ability to form procoagulant platelets by enhancing intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ fluxes.
Tracing retinal vessel trees by transductive inference
Authors: De Jaydeep , Li Huiqi , Cheng Li
Published: January 2014

Background

Structural study of retinal blood vessels provides an early indication of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and hypertensive retinopathy. These studies require accurate tracing of retinal vessel tree structure from fundus images in an automated manner. However, the existing work encounters great difficulties when dealing with the crossover issue commonly-seen in vessel networks.

Results

In this paper, we consider a novel graph-based approach to address this tracing with crossover problem: After initial steps of segmentation and skeleton extraction, its graph representation can be established, where each segment in the skeleton map becomes a node, and a direct contact between two adjacent segments is translated to an undirected edge of the two corresponding nodes. The segments in the skeleton map touching the optical disk area are considered as root nodes. This determines the number of trees to-be-found in the vessel network, which is always equal to the number of root nodes. Based on this undirected graph representation, the tracing problem is further connected to the well-studied transductive inference in machine learning, where the goal becomes that of properly propagating the tree labels from those known root nodes to the rest of the graph, such that the graph is partitioned into disjoint sub-graphs, or equivalently, each of the trees is traced and separated from the rest of the vessel network. This connection enables us to address the tracing problem by exploiting established development in transductive inference. Empirical experiments on public available fundus image datasets demonstrate the applicability of our approach.

Conclusions

We provide a novel and systematic approach to trace retinal vessel trees with the present of crossovers by solving a transductive learning problem on induced undirected graphs.
Bidirectional promoters are the major source of gene activation-associated non-coding RNAs in mammals
Authors: Uesaka Masahiro , Nishimura Osamu , Go Yasuhiro , Nakashima Kinichi , Agata Kiyokazu , Imamura Takuya
Published: January 2014

Background

The majority of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in mRNA metabolism in mammals have been believed to downregulate the corresponding mRNA expression level in a pre- or post-transcriptional manner by forming short or long ncRNA-mRNA duplex structures. Information on non-duplex-forming long ncRNAs is now also rapidly accumulating. To examine the directional properties of transcription at the whole-genome level, we performed directional RNA-seq analysis of mouse and chimpanzee tissue samples.

Results

We found that there is only about 1% of the genome where both the top and bottom strands are utilized for transcription, suggesting that RNA-RNA duplexes are not abundantly formed. Focusing on transcription start sites (TSSs) of protein-coding genes revealed that a significant fraction of them contain switching-points that separate antisense- and sense-biased transcription, suggesting that head-to-head transcription is more prevalent than previously thought. More than 90% of head-to-head type promoters contain CpG islands. Moreover, CCG and CGG repeats are significantly enriched in the upstream regions and downstream regions, respectively, of TSSs located in head-to-head type promoters. Genes with tissue-specific promoter-associated ncRNAs (pancRNAs) show a positive correlation between the expression of their pancRNA and mRNA, which is in accord with the proposed role of pancRNA in facultative gene activation, whereas genes with constitutive expression generally lack pancRNAs.

Conclusions

We propose that single-stranded ncRNA resulting from head-to-head transcription at GC-rich sequences regulates tissue-specific gene expression.
Integrated transcriptome analysis of mouse spermatogenesis
Authors: Margolin Gennady , Khil Pavel P , Kim Joongbaek , Bellani Marina A , Camerini-Otero R Daniel
Published: January 2014

Background

Differentiation of primordial germ cells into mature spermatozoa proceeds through multiple stages, one of the most important of which is meiosis. Meiotic recombination is in turn a key part of meiosis. To achieve the highly specialized and diverse functions necessary for the successful completion of meiosis and the generation of spermatozoa thousands of genes are coordinately regulated through spermatogenesis. A complete and unbiased characterization of the transcriptome dynamics of spermatogenesis is, however, still lacking.

Results

In order to characterize gene expression during spermatogenesis we sequenced eight mRNA samples from testes of juvenile mice from 6 to 38 days post partum. Using gene expression clustering we defined over 1,000 novel meiotically-expressed genes. We also developed a computational de-convolution approach and used it to estimate cell type-specific gene expression in pre-meiotic, meiotic and post-meiotic cells. In addition, we detected 13,000 novel alternative splicing events around 40% of which preserve an open reading frame, and found experimental support for 159 computational gene predictions. A comparison of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) ChIP-Seq signals with RNA-Seq coverage shows that gene expression correlates well with Pol II signals, both at promoters and along the gene body. However, we observe numerous instances of non-canonical promoter usage, as well as intergenic Pol II peaks that potentially delineate unannotated promoters, enhancers or small RNA clusters.

Conclusions

Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of gene expression throughout mouse meiosis and spermatogenesis. Importantly, we find over a thousand of novel meiotic genes and over 5,000 novel potentially coding isoforms. These data should be a valuable resource for future studies of meiosis and spermatogenesis in mammals.
Genome sequence of Anopheles sinensis provides insight into genetics basis of mosquito competence for malaria parasites
Authors: Zhou Dan , Zhang Donghui , Ding Guohui , Shi Linna , Hou Qing , Ye Yuting , Xu Yang , Zhou Huayun , Xiong Chunrong , Li Shengdi , Yu Jing , Hong Shanchao , Yu Xinyou , Zou Ping , Chen Chen , Chang Xuelian , Wang Weijie , Lv Yuan , Sun Yan , Ma Lei , Shen Bo , Zhu Changliang
Published: January 2014

Background

Anopheles sinensis is an important mosquito vector of Plasmodium vivax, which is the most frequent and widely distributed cause of recurring malaria throughout Asia, and particularly in China, Korea, and Japan.

Results

We performed 454 next-generation sequencing and obtained a draft sequence of A. sinensis assembled into scaffolds spanning 220.8 million base pairs. Analysis of this genome sequence, we observed expansion and contraction of several immune-related gene families in anopheline relative to culicine mosquito species. These differences suggest that species-specific immune responses to Plasmodium invasion underpin the biological differences in susceptibility to Plasmodium infection that characterize these two mosquito subfamilies.

Conclusions

The A. sinensis genome produced in this study, provides an important resource for analyzing the genetic basis of susceptibility and resistance of mosquitoes to Plasmodium parasites research which will ultimately facilitate the design of urgently needed interventions against this debilitating mosquito-borne disease.
Massive deregulation of miRNAs from nuclear reprogramming errors during trophoblast differentiation for placentogenesis in cloned pregnancy
Authors: Hossain Md Munir , Tesfaye Dawit , Salilew-Wondim Dessie , Held Eva , Pröll Maren J , Rings Franca , Kirfel Gregor , Looft Christian , Tholen Ernst , Uddin Jasim , Schellander Karl , Hoelker Michael
Published: January 2014

Background

Low efficiency of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (NT) has been widely addressed with high incidence of placental abnormalities due to genetic and epigenetic modifications. MiRNAs are shown to be major regulators of such modifications. The present study has been carried out to identify the expression patterns of 377 miRNAs, their functional associations and mechanism of regulation in bovine placentas derived from artificial insemination (AI), in vitro production (IVP) and NT pregnancies.

Results

This study reveals a massive deregulation of miRNAs as chromosomal cluster or miRNA families without sex-linkage in NT and in-vitro derived IVP placentas. Cell specific localization miRNAs in blastocysts and expression profiling of embryos and placentas at different developmental stages identified that the major deregulation of miRNAs exhibited in placentas at day 50 of pregnancies is found to be less dependent on global DNA methylation, rather than on aberrant miRNA biogenesis molecules. Among them, aberrant AGO2 expression due to hypermethylation of its promoter was evident. Along with other factors, aberrant AGO2 expression was observed to be associated with multiple defects in trophoblast differentiation through deregulation of miRNAs mediated mechanisms.

Conclusion

These aberrant miRNA activities might be associated with genetic and epigenetic modifications in abnormal placentogenesis due to maldifferentiation of early trophoblast cell lineage in NT and IVP pregnancies. This study provides the first insight into genome wide miRNA expression, their role in regulation of trophoblast differentiation as well as abnormal placental development in Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer pregnancies to pave the way to improve the efficiency of cloning by nuclear transfer.
Food items contributing most to variation in antioxidant intake; a cross-sectional study among Norwegian women
Authors: Qureshi Samera Azeem , Lund Annette Christin , Veierød Marit Bragelien , Carlsen Monica Hauger , Blomhoff Rune , Andersen Lene Frost , Ursin Giske
Published: January 2014

Background

Fruit and vegetable intake has been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer and diabetes mellitus. It is possible that antioxidants play a large part in this protective effect. However, which foods account for the variation in antioxidant intake in a population is not very clear. We used food frequency data from a population-based sample of women to identify the food items that contributed most to the variation in antioxidant intake in Norwegian diet.

Methods

We used data from a study conducted among participants in the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), the national program which invites women aged 50–69 years to mammographic screening every 2 years. A subset of 6514 women who attended the screening in 2006/2007 completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Daily intake of energy, nutrients and antioxidant intake were estimated. We used multiple linear regression analysis to capture the variation in antioxidant intake.

Results

The mean (SD) antioxidant intake was 23.0 (8.5) mmol/day. Coffee consumption explained 54% of the variation in antioxidant intake, while fruits and vegetables explained 22%. The twenty food items that contributed most to the total variation in antioxidant intake explained 98% of the variation in intake. These included different types of coffee, tea, red wine, blueberries, walnuts, oranges, cinnamon and broccoli.

Conclusions

In this study we identified a list of food items which capture the variation in antioxidant intake among these women. The major contributors to dietary total antioxidant intake were coffee, tea, red wine, blueberries, walnuts, oranges, cinnamon and broccoli. These items should be assessed in as much detail as possible in studies that wish to capture the variation in antioxidant intake.
Genistein inhibits tumor invasion by suppressing multiple signal transduction pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Wang Shulhn-Der , Chen Bor-Chyuan , Kao Shung-Te , Liu Ching-Ju , Yeh Chia-Chou
Published: January 2014

Background

Genistein (Gen) exhibits anti-mutagenic and anti-metastatic activities in hepatoma cell lines. Gen has suppressive effects on tumor growth and angiogenesis in nude mice. Gen suppresses the enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9; however, the mechanism underlying its anti-invasive activity on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is unclear.

Methods

In this study, the possible mechanisms underlying Gen-mediated reduction of 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced cell invasion and inhibition of secreted and cytosolic MMP-9 production in human hepatoma cells (HepG2, Huh-7, and HA22T) and murine embryonic liver cells (BNL CL2) were investigated.

Results

Gen suppressed MMP-9 transcription by inhibiting activator protein (AP)-1 and nuclear factor-κ B (NF-κB) activity. Gen suppressed TPA-induced AP-1 activity through inhibitory phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, and TPA-stimulated inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation through IκB inhibitory signaling pathways. Moreover, Gen suppressed TPA-induced activation of ERK/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt upstream of NF-κB and AP-1.

Conclusions

Gen and its inhibition of multiple signal transduction pathways can control the invasiveness and metastatic potential of HCC.
Neuronal and astrocytic interactions modulate brain endothelial properties during metabolic stresses of in vitro cerebral ischemia
Authors: Chaitanya Ganta Vijay , Minagar Alireza , Alexander Jonathan S
Published: January 2014

Neurovascular and gliovascular interactions significantly affect endothelial phenotype. Physiologically, brain endothelium attains several of its properties by its intimate association with neurons and astrocytes. However, during cerebrovascular pathologies such as cerebral ischemia, the uncoupling of neurovascular and gliovascular units can result in several phenotypical changes in brain endothelium. The role of neurovascular and gliovascular uncoupling in modulating brain endothelial properties during cerebral ischemia is not clear. Specifically, the roles of metabolic stresses involved in cerebral ischemia, including aglycemia, hypoxia and combined aglycemia and hypoxia (oxygen glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation, OGDR) in modulating neurovascular and gliovascular interactions are not known. The complex intimate interactions in neurovascular and gliovascular units are highly difficult to recapitulate in vitro. However, in the present study, we used a 3D co-culture model of brain endothelium with neurons and astrocytes in vitro reflecting an intimate neurovascular and gliovascular interactions in vivo. While the cellular signaling interactions in neurovascular and gliovascular units in vivo are much more complex than the 3D co-culture models in vitro, we were still able to observe several important phenotypical changes in brain endothelial properties by metabolically stressed neurons and astrocytes including changes in barrier, lymphocyte adhesive properties, endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression and in vitro angiogenic potential.
Preparation and evaluation of poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide)-hexadecylamine-iron oxide for MR imaging of lymph nodes
Authors: Ha Dae Chul , Lee Ha Young , Son Yeo Won , Yuk Soon Hong , Choi Youn Woong , Kwak Byung Kook , Shin Byung Cheol , Cho Cheong-Weon , Cho Sun Hang
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this study was to synthesize biocompatible poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide)–C16-iron oxide (PHEA-C16-iron oxide) nanoparticles and to evaluate their efficacy as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of lymph nodes. The PHEA-C16-iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by coprecipitation method. The core size of the PHEA-C16-iron oxide nanoparticles was about 5 to 7 nm, and the overall size of the nanoparticles was around 20, 60, and 150 nm in aqueous solution. The size of the nanoparticles was controlled by the amount of C16. The 3.0-T MRI signal intensity of a rabbit lymph node was effectively reduced after intravenous administration of PHEA-C16-iron oxide with the size of 20 nm. The in vitro and in vivo toxicity tests revealed the high biocompatibility of PHEA-C16-iron oxide nanoparticles. Therefore, PHEA-C16-iron oxide nanoparticles with 20-nm size can be potentially useful as T2-weighted MR imaging contrast agents for the detection of lymph nodes.
The midterm outcome and MACE of robotically enhanced grafting of left anterior descending artery with left internal mammary artery
Authors: Casula Roberto , Khoshbin Espeed , Athanasiou Thanos
Published: January 2014

Background

We assessed the midterm outcome and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in UK’s largest Da Vinci assisted robotic coronary revascularisation cohort. This study was set up at the Imperial College NHS Trust, St. Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Method

Benchmarking approach through retrospective audit of the regional outcomes against standards in the published literature. Data was collected from the patient’s records, communication with the primary care physicians and the national strategic tracing service. The results were compared with the published literature. Patients who underwent robotic assisted coronary revascularisation were included. Other robotic procedures or minimally invasive revascularisation without the use of the Da Vinci robot were excluded. The main outcome measure was the midterm survival up to five years and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) up to three years.

Results

Since April 2002, one hundred consecutive patients underwent either off pump robotic assisted single vessel small thoracotomy (SVST, n = 88), or off pump total endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TCAB, n = 12). All patients were operated on by the same primary surgeon but different assisting surgeons. All patients received a left internal mammary arterial (LIMA) graft as planned. The primary outcome of total one month and three years MACE and up to five year survival was 0, 9 and 96% respectively.

Conclusions

The procedural success rates in terms of morbidity and mortality up to five years are compatible to the outcomes observed outside the United Kingdom. These results are not inferior to that of conventional off pump single vessel coronary surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention to the LAD.
Protein interaction networks as metric spaces: a novel perspective on distribution of hubs
Authors: Fadhal Emad , Gamieldien Junaid , Mwambene Eric C
Published: January 2014

Background

In the post-genomic era, a central and overarching question in the analysis of protein-protein interaction networks continues to be whether biological characteristics and functions of proteins such as lethality, physiological malfunctions and malignancy are intimately linked to the topological role proteins play in the network as a mathematical structure. One of the key features that have implicitly been presumed is the existence of hubs, highly connected proteins considered to play a crucial role in biological networks. We explore the structure of protein interaction networks of a number of organisms as metric spaces and show that hubs are non randomly positioned and, from a distance point of view, centrally located.

Results

By analysing how the human functional protein interaction network, the human signalling network, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Arabidopsis thaliana and Escherichia coli protein-protein interaction networks from various databases are distributed as metric spaces, we found that proteins interact radially through a central node, high degree proteins coagulate in the centre of the network, and those far away from the centre have low degree. We further found that the distribution of proteins from the centre is in some hierarchy of importance and has biological significance.

Conclusions

We conclude that structurally, protein interaction networks are mathematical entities that share properties between organisms but not necessarily with other networks that follow power-law. We therefore conclude that (i) if there are hubs defined by degree, they are not distributed randomly; (ii) zones closest to the centre of the network are enriched for critically important proteins and are also functionally very specialised for specific 'house keeping’ functions; (iii) proteins closest to the network centre are functionally less dispensable and may present good targets for therapy development; and (iv) network biology requires its own network theory modelled on actual biological evidence and that simply adopting theories from the social sciences may be misleading.
A national population-based assessment of 2007–2008 election-related violence in Kenya
Authors: Johnson Kirsten , Scott Jennifer , Sasyniuk Treny , Ndetei David , Kisielewski Michael , Rouhani Shada , Bartels Susan , Mutiso Victoria , Mbwayo Anne , Rae David , Lawry Lynn
Published: January 2014

Background

Following the contested national elections in 2007, violence occurred throughout Kenya. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and health consequences of the 2007–2008 election-related violence.

Methods

A cross-sectional, national, population-based cluster survey of 956 Kenyan adults aged ≥ 18 years was conducted in Kenya in September 2011 utilizing a two-stage 90 x 10 cluster sample design and structured interviews and questionnaires. Prevalence of all forms of violence surrounding the 2007 election period, symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and morbidity related to sexual and physical violence were assessed.

Results

Of 956 households surveyed, 916 households participated (response rate 95.8%). Compared to pre-election, election-related sexual violence incidents/1000 persons/year increased over 60-fold (39.1-2370.1; p < .001) with a concurrent 37-fold increase in opportunistic sexual violence (5.2-183.1; p < .001). Physical and other human rights violations increased 80-fold (25.0-1987.1; p < .001) compared to pre-election. Overall, 50% of households reported at least one physical or sexual violation. Households reporting violence were more likely to report violence among female household members (66.6% vs. 58.1%; p = .04) or among the Luhya ethnic group (17.0% vs. 13.8%; p = 0.03). The most common perpetrators of election-related sexual violence were reported to be affiliated with government or political groups (1670.5 incidents/1000 persons per year); the Kalenjin ethnic group for physical violations (54.6%). Over thirty percent of respondents met MDD and PTSD symptom criteria; however, symptoms of MDD (females, 63.3%; males, 36.7%; p = .01) and suicidal ideation (females, 68.5%; males, 31.5%; p = .04) were more common among females. Substance abuse was more common among males (males, 71.2%; females, 28.8%; p < .001).

Conclusion

On a national level in Kenya, politically-motivated and opportunistic sexual and physical violations were commonly reported among sampled adults with associated health and mental health outcomes.
Evaluating the composition and processing potential of novel sources of Brazilian biomass for sustainable biorenewables production
Authors: Lima Marisa A , Gomez Leonardo D , Steele-King Clare G , Simister Rachael , Bernardinelli Oigres D , Carvalho Marcelo A , Rezende Camila A , Labate Carlos A , deAzevedo Eduardo R , McQueen-Mason Simon J , Polikarpov Igor
Published: January 2014

Background

The search for promising and renewable sources of carbohydrates for the production of biofuels and other biorenewables has been stimulated by an increase in global energy demand in the face of growing concern over greenhouse gas emissions and fuel security. In particular, interest has focused on non-food lignocellulosic biomass as a potential source of abundant and sustainable feedstock for biorefineries. Here we investigate the potential of three Brazilian grasses (Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum and Brachiaria brizantha), as well as bark residues from the harvesting of two commercial Eucalyptus clones (E. grandis and E. grandis x urophylla) for biofuel production, and compare these to sugarcane bagasse. The effects of hot water, acid, alkaline and sulfite pretreatments (at increasing temperatures) on the chemical composition, morphology and saccharification yields of these different biomass types were evaluated.

Results

The average yield (per hectare), availability and general composition of all five biomasses were compared. Compositional analyses indicate a high level of hemicellulose and lignin removal in all grass varieties (including sugarcane bagasse) after acid and alkaline pretreatment with increasing temperatures, whilst the biomasses pretreated with hot water or sulfite showed little variation from the control. For all biomasses, higher cellulose enrichment resulted from treatment with sodium hydroxide at 130°C. At 180°C, a decrease in cellulose content was observed, which is associated with high amorphous cellulose removal and 5-hydroxymethyl-furaldehyde production. Morphological analysis showed the effects of different pretreatments on the biomass surface, revealing a high production of microfibrillated cellulose on grass surfaces, after treatment with 1% sodium hydroxide at 130°C for 30 minutes. This may explain the higher hydrolysis yields resulting from these pretreatments, since these cellulosic nanoparticles can be easily accessed and cleaved by cellulases.

Conclusion

Our results show the potential of three Brazilian grasses with high productivity yields as valuable sources of carbohydrates for ethanol production and other biomaterials. Sodium hydroxide at 130°C was found to be the most effective pretreatment for enhanced saccharification yields. It was also efficient in the production of microfibrillated cellulose on grass surfaces, thereby revealing their potential as a source of natural fillers used for bionanocomposites production.
Brief screening questions for depression in chiropractic patients with low back pain: identification of potentially useful questions and test of their predictive capacity
Authors: Kongsted Alice , Aambakk Benedicte , Bossen Sanne , Hestbaek Lise
Published: January 2014

Background

Depression is an important prognostic factor in low back pain (LBP) that appears to be infrequent in chiropractic populations. Identification of depression in few patients would consequently implicate screening of many. It is therefore desirable to have brief screening tools for depression. The objective of this study was to investigate if one or two items from the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) could be a reasonable substitute for the complete scale.

Methods

The MDI was completed by 925 patients consulting a chiropractor due to a new episode of LBP. Outcome measures were LBP intensity and activity limitation at 3-months and 12-months follow-up. Single items on the MDI that correlated strongest and explained most variance in the total score were tested for associations with outcome. Finally, the predictive capacity was compared between the total scale and the items that showed the strongest associations with outcome measures.

Results

In this cohort 9% had signs of depression. The total MDI was significantly associated with outcome but explained very little of the variance in outcome. Four single items performed comparable to the total scale as prognostic factors. Items 1 and 3 explained the most variance in all outcome measures, and their predictive accuracies in terms of area under the curve were at least as high as for the categorised complete scale.

Conclusions

Baseline depression measured by the MDI was associated with a worse outcome in chiropractic patients with LBP. A single item (no. 1 or 3) was a reasonable substitute for the entire scale when screening for depression as a prognostic factor.