bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Rated Health in Children at Risk for Obesity: Associations of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and BMI
Authors: Herman Katya M. , Sabiston Catherine M. , Tremblay Angelo , Paradis Gilles
Published: April 2014

Background:

Self-rated health (SRH) is a common indicator of health-related quality of life; however, little is known about SRH in children. This study explored the associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SED), and BMI with SRH in children at risk for obesity.

Methods:

Participants were 527 children aged 8–10 years in the Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth study (inclusion criteria: ≥ 1 parent clinically obese). PA and SED were measured by accelerometer, specific SED behaviors by self-report, and height and weight measured.

Results:

About 40% of children were overweight or obese; 48% reported lessthan- excellent health. The odds of reporting less-than-excellent health were higher among obese girls (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4–5.2) and boys (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–6.1) versus healthy weight children. Boys not meeting PA guidelines and boys in the lowest moderate-to-vigorous PA tertile were at 2 and 6 times higher odds of less-than-excellent SRH, respectively, versus more active boys. In girls, higher computer/video time and reading time were associated with higher and lower odds of less-than-excellent SRH, respectively.

Conclusions:

Obesity is inversely associated with SRH in boys and girls, PA is positively associated with SRH in boys, and SED behaviors are associated with SRH in girls.
The Costs of Physical Inactivity in the Czech Republic in 2008
Authors: Maresova Katerina
Published: April 2014

Background:

Several scientific studies estimate the burden of physical inactivity in different countries, yet in the Czech Republic, this kind of research is still missing. This paper represents one of the first attempts to quantify the costs of physical inactivity in the Czech Republic for 2008.

Methods:

The analysis, based on scientific literature review, uses the comparative risk assessment methodology and applies it on data available in the Czech Republic.

Results:

In 2008, the financial cost of physical inactivity to public health insurance companies was almost 700 million Kč, or 0.4%, of total healthcare costs. Furthermore, physical inactivity caused 2442, or 2.3%, of all deaths in 2008 and 18,065, or 1.2%, of all disability-adjusted life years in 2004.

Conclusions:

The costs of physical inactivity in the Czech Republic are considerable, yet slightly smaller than in other comparable studies. The obtained results could be used as an argument for policymakers when conceiving public or private health policy.
Utilizing the National Physical Activity Plan to Create a Disease-Specific Approach: Environmental and Policy Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Adults With Arthritis
Authors: Waterman Mary B. , White Patience H.
Published: April 2014

The Environmental and Policy Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Adults with Arthritis report focuses on the ways to make physical activity more convenient and accessible for adults with arthritis. The report is designed to engage 6 important sectors, which were adapted from the National Physical Activity Plan, as partners with a mutual interest in increasing physical activity among adults with arthritis using environmental and policy strategies. It serves as a call to action for each of these sectors to collaborate and focus more attention on helping people live well with arthritis and be a productive part of our society.
A Qualitative Investigation of the Sibling Sport Achievement Experience
Authors: Blazo Jordan A. , Czech Daniel R. , Carson Sarah , Dees Windy
Published: April 2014

Sibling relationships are often regarded as among the longest lasting connections in a person’s life (Conger & Kramer, 2010). Sibling research has addressed topics such as socialization, support, and similarities and differences of siblings (e.g., Eaton, Chipperfield, & Singbeil, 1989; Horn & Horn, 2007; Whiteman, McHale, & Crouter, 2007). Scant attention has been given to how a younger sibling may be influenced by an older sibling’s sport involvement. The current study explored the lived experience of an older sibling’s sport achievement from the perspective of a younger sibling. An open-ended phenomenological approach (Kvale, 1983) was used to gain a description of the experience of sibling achievements in sport. Participant interviews revealed an overall thematic structure consisting of both positive and negative experiences: family influence, social influence, fondness, identity, abandonment, and jealousy. These findings broaden both sibling and sport literature, while providing valuable information for researchers and practitioners.
Exploring Experiences of Running an Ultramarathon
Authors: Holt Nicholas L. , Lee Homan , Kim Youngoh , Klein Kyra
Published: April 2014

The overall purpose of this study was to examine individuals’ experiences of running an ultramarathon. Following pilot work data were collected with six people who entered the 2012 Canadian Death Race. Participants were interviewed before the race, took photographs and made video recordings during the race, wrote a summary of their experience, and attended a focus group after the race. The research team also interviewed participants during the race. Before the race participants had mixed emotions. During the race they experienced numerous stressors (i.e., cramping and injuries, gastrointestinal problems, and thoughts about quitting). They used coping strategies such as making small goals, engaging in a mental/physical battle, monitoring pace, nutrition, and hydration, and social support. After the race, nonfinishers experienced dejection or acceptance whereas finishers commented on the race as a major life experience. These findings provide some insights into factors involved in attempting to complete ultramarathons and offer some implications for applied sport psychology.
A Case Study of Excellence in Elite Sport: Motivational Climate in a World Champion Team
Authors: Hodge Ken , Henry Graham , Smith Wayne
Published: April 2014

This case study focused on the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team during the period from 2004 to 2011, when Graham Henry (head coach) and Wayne Smith (assistant coach) coached and managed the team. More specifically, this case study examined the motivational climate created by this coaching group that culminated in winning the Rugby World Cup in 2011. In-depth interviews were completed with Henry and Smith in March 2012. A collaborative thematic content analysis revealed eight themes, regarding motivational issues and the motivational climate for the 2004–2011 All Blacks team: (i) critical turning point, (ii) flexible and evolving, (iii) dual-management model, (iv) “Better People Make Better All Blacks,” (v) responsibility, (vi) leadership, (vii) expectation of excellence, and (viii) team cohesion. These findings are discussed in light of autonomy-supportive coaching, emotionally intelligent coaching, and transformational leadership. Finally, practical recommendations are offered for coaches of elite sports teams.
Parasitic Worms Stimulate Host NADPH Oxidases to Produce Reactive Oxygen Species That Limit Plant Cell Death and Promote Infection
Authors: Siddique Shahid , Matera Christiane , Radakovic Zoran S. , Shamim Hasan M. , Gutbrod Philipp , Rozanska Elzbieta , Sobczak Miroslaw , Torres Miguel Angel , Grundler Florian M. W.
Published: April 2014

Reactive oxygen species restrict cell death at sites of parasitic nematode infection and support nurse cell formation in plant roots.
ROS Open Roads to Roundworm Infection
Authors: Feng Baomin , Shan Libo
Published: April 2014

Parasitic worms use plant reactive oxygen species to establish a feeding site.
A More Responsive Clock
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: April 2014

Inhibition of casein kinase 1ε allows the circadian clock to recover more quickly after changes in environmental stimuli.
Nutritional Supplementation Increases Rifampin Exposure among Tuberculosis Patients Coinfected with HIV
Authors: Jeremiah Kidola , Denti Paolo , Chigutsa Emmanuel , Faurholt-Jepsen Daniel , PrayGod George , Range Nyagosya , Castel Sandra , Wiesner Lubbe , Hagen Christian Munch , Christiansen Michael , Changalucha John , McIlleron Helen , Friis Henrik , Andersen Aase Bengaard
Published: April 2014

Nutritional supplementation to tuberculosis (TB) patients has been associated with increased weight and reduced mortality, but its effect on the pharmacokinetics of first-line anti-TB drugs is unknown. A cohort of 100 TB patients (58 men; median age, 35 [interquartile range {IQR}, 29 to 40] years, and median body mass index [BMI], 18.8 [17.3 to 19.9] kg/m
2
) were randomized to receive nutritional supplementation during the intensive phase of TB treatment. Rifampin plasma concentrations were determined after 1 week and 2 months of treatment. The effects of nutritional supplementation, HIV, time on treatment, body weight, and
SLCO1B1 rs4149032
genotype were examined using a population pharmacokinetic model. The model adjusted for body size via allometric scaling, accounted for clearance autoinduction, and detected an increase in bioavailability (+14%) for the patients in the continuation phase. HIV coinfection in patients not receiving the supplementation was found to decrease bioavailability by 21.8%, with a median maximum concentration of drug in serum (
C
max
) and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC
0–24
) of 5.6 μg/ml and 28.6 μg · h/ml, respectively. HIV-coinfected patients on nutritional supplementation achieved higher
C
max
and AUC
0–24
values of 6.4 μg/ml and 31.6 μg · h/ml, respectively, and only 13.3% bioavailability reduction. No effect of the
SLCO1B1 rs4149032
genotype was observed. In conclusion, nutritional supplementation during the first 2 months of TB treatment reduces the decrease in rifampin exposure observed in HIV-coinfected patients but does not affect exposure in HIV-uninfected patients. If confirmed in other studies, the use of defined nutritional supplementation in HIV-coinfected TB patients should be considered in TB control programs. (This study has the controlled trial registration number ISRCTN 16552219.)
Rifaximin Modulates the Vaginal Microbiome and Metabolome in Women Affected by Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Laghi Luca , Picone Gianfranco , Cruciani Federica , Brigidi Patrizia , Calanni Fiorella , Donders Gilbert , Capozzi Francesco , Vitali Beatrice
Published: April 2014

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal disorder characterized by the decrease of lactobacilli and overgrowth ofGardnerella vaginalisand resident anaerobic vaginal bacteria. In the present work, the effects of rifaximin vaginal tablets on vaginal microbiota and metabolome of women affected by BV were investigated by combining quantitative PCR and a metabolomic approach based on1H nuclear magnetic resonance. To highlight the general trends of the bacterial communities and metabolomic profiles in response to the antibiotic/placebo therapy, a multivariate statistical strategy was set up based on the trajectories traced by vaginal samples in a principal component analysis space. Our data demonstrated the efficacy of rifaximin in restoring a health-like condition in terms of both bacterial communities and metabolomic features. In particular, rifaximin treatment was significantly associated with an increase in the lactobacillus/BV-related bacteria ratio, as well as with an increase in lactic acid concentration and a decrease of a pool of metabolites typically produced by BV-related bacteria (acetic acid, succinate, short-chain fatty acids, and biogenic amines). Among the tested dosages of rifaximin (100 and 25 mg for 5 days and 100 mg for 2 days), 25 mg for 5 days was found to be the most effective.
Sulfur Mobilization for Fe-S Cluster Assembly by the Essential SUF Pathway in the Plasmodium falciparum Apicoplast and Its Inhibition
Authors: Charan Manish , Singh Nidhi , Kumar Bijay , Srivastava Kumkum , Siddiqi Mohammad Imran , Habib Saman
Published: April 2014

The plastid of the malaria parasite, the apicoplast, is essential for parasite survival. It houses several pathways of bacterial origin that are considered attractive sites for drug intervention. Among these is the sulfur mobilization (SUF) pathway of Fe-S cluster biogenesis. Although the SUF pathway is essential for apicoplast maintenance and parasite survival, there has been limited biochemical investigation of its components and inhibitors of
Plasmodium
SUFs have not been identified. We report the characterization of two proteins,
Plasmodium falciparum
SufS (
Pf
SufS) and
Pf
SufE, that mobilize sulfur in the first step of Fe-S cluster assembly and confirm their exclusive localization to the apicoplast. The cysteine desulfurase activity of
Pf
SufS is greatly enhanced by
Pf
SufE, and the
Pf
SufS-
Pf
SufE complex is detected
in vivo
. Structural modeling of the complex reveals proximal positioning of conserved cysteine residues of the two proteins that would allow sulfide transfer from the PLP (pyridoxal phosphate) cofactor-bound active site of
Pf
SufS. Sulfide release from the
l
-cysteine substrate catalyzed by
Pf
SufS is inhibited by the PLP inhibitor
d
-cycloserine, which forms an adduct with
Pf
SufS-bound PLP.
d
-Cycloserine is also inimical to parasite growth, with a 50% inhibitory concentration close to that reported for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, against which the drug is in clinical use. Our results establish the function of two proteins that mediate sulfur mobilization, the first step in the apicoplast SUF pathway, and provide a rationale for drug design based on inactivation of the PLP cofactor of
Pf
SufS.
Killing of Mycobacterium avium by Lactoferricin Peptides: Improved Activity of Arginine- and
d
-Amino-Acid-Containing Molecules
Authors: Silva Tânia , Magalhães Bárbara , Maia Sílvia , Gomes Paula , Nazmi Kamran , Bolscher Jan G. M. , Rodrigues Pedro N. , Bastos Margarida , Gomes Maria Salomé
Published: April 2014

Mycobacterium avium
causes respiratory disease in susceptible individuals, as well as disseminated infections in immunocompromised hosts, being an important cause of morbidity and mortality among these populations. Current therapies consist of a combination of antibiotics taken for at least 6 months, with no more than 60% overall clinical success. Furthermore, mycobacterial antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide, urging the need to develop novel classes of antimicrobial drugs. One potential and interesting alternative strategy is the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMP). These are present in almost all living organisms as part of their immune system, acting as a first barrier against invading pathogens. In this context, we investigated the effect of several lactoferrin-derived AMP against
M. avium
. Short peptide sequences from both human and bovine lactoferricins, namely, hLFcin1-11 and LFcin17-30, as well as variants obtained by specific amino acid substitutions, were evaluated. All tested peptides significantly inhibited the axenic growth of
M. avium
, the bovine peptides being more active than the human. Arginine residues were found to be crucial for the display of antimycobacterial activity, whereas the all-
d
-amino-acid analogue of the bovine sequence displayed the highest mycobactericidal activity. These findings reveal the promising potential of lactoferricins against mycobacteria, thus opening the way for further research on their development and use as a new weapon against mycobacterial infections.
Clostridium difficile Toxin A Attenuates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Bezerra Lima Bruno , Faria Fonseca Bárbara , da Graça Amado Nathália , Moreira Lima Débora , Albuquerque Ribeiro Ronaldo , Garcia Abreu José , de Castro Brito Gerly Anne
Published: April 2014

Clostridium difficile
toxins A and B (TcdA and TcdB) are homologous glycosyltransferases that inhibit a group of small GTPases within host cells, but several mechanisms underlying their pathogenic activity remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of TcdA on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, the major driving force behind the proliferation of epithelial cells in colonic crypts. IEC-6 and RKO cells stimulated with Wnt3a-conditioned medium were incubated with 10, 50, and 100 ng/ml of TcdA for 24 h, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition of the Wnt signaling, as demonstrated by a T-cell factor (TCF) reporter assay. This was further confirmed by immunofluorescence staining for nuclear localization of β-catenin and Western blotting for β-catenin and c-Myc (encoded by a Wnt target gene). Moreover, our Western blot analysis showed a decrease in the β-catenin protein levels, which was reversed by z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor. Nonetheless, TcdA was still able to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway even in the presence of z-VAD-fmk, lithium chloride (a GSK3β inhibitor), or constitutively active β-catenin, as determined by a TCF reporter assay. Furthermore, preincubation of RKO cells with TcdA for 12 h also attenuated Wnt3a-mediated activation of Wnt signaling, suggesting that inactivation of Rho GTPases plays a significant role in that inhibition. Taken together, these findings suggest that attenuation of the Wnt signaling by TcdA is important for TcdA antiproliferative effects.
Interaction of Prevotella intermedia Strain 17 Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain Protein AdpF with Eukaryotic Cells Promotes Bacterial Internalization
Authors: Sengupta Dipanwita , Kang Dae-Joong , Anaya-Bergman Cecilia , Wyant Tiana , Ghosh Arnab K. , Miyazaki Hiroshi , Lewis Janina P.
Published: April 2014

Prevotella intermedia
is an oral bacterium implicated in a variety of oral diseases. Although internalization of this bacterium by nonphagocytic host cells is well established, the molecular players mediating the process are not well known. Here, the properties of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain protein, designated AdpF, are described. This protein contains a leucine-rich region composed of 663 amino acid residues, and molecular modeling shows that it folds into a classical curved solenoid structure. The cell surface localization of recombinant AdpF (rAdpF) was confirmed by electron and confocal microscopy analyses. The recombinant form of this protein bound fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the protein was internalized by host cells, with the majority of the process accomplished within 30 min. The internalization of rAdpF was inhibited by nystatin, cytochalasin, latrunculin, nocodazole, and wortmannin, indicating that microtubules, microfilaments, and signal transduction are required for the invasion. It is noteworthy that preincubation of eukaryotic cells with AdpF increased
P. intermedia
17 internalization by 5- and 10-fold for HeLa and NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell lines, respectively. The addition of the rAdpF protein was also very effective in inducing bacterial internalization into the oral epithelial cell line HN4, as well as into primary cells, including human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Finally, cells exposed to
P. intermedia
17 internalized the bacteria more readily upon reinfection. Taken together, our data demonstrate that rAdpF plays a role in the internalization of
P. intermedia
17 by a variety of host cells.
Role of Class 1 Serine Protease Autotransporter in the Pathogenesis of Citrobacter rodentium Colitis
Authors: Vijayakumar Vidhya , Santiago Araceli , Smith Rachel , Smith Mark , Robins-Browne Roy M. , Nataro James P. , Ruiz-Perez Fernando
Published: April 2014

A growing family of virulence factors called serine protease autotransporters of
Enterobacteriaceae
(SPATEs) are secreted by
Shigella
,
Salmonella
, and
Escherichia coli
pathotypes. SPATEs are subdivided into class 1 and class 2 based on structural features and phylogenetics. Class 1 SPATEs induce cytopathic effects in numerous epithelial cell lines, and several have been shown to cleave the cytoskeletal protein spectrin
in vitro
. However, to date the
in vivo
role of class 1 SPATEs in enteric pathogenesis is unknown.
Citrobacter rodentium
, a natural mouse pathogen, has recently been shown to harbor class 1 and class 2 SPATEs. To better understand the contribution of class 1 SPATEs in enteric infection, we constructed a class 1 SPATE null mutant (Δ
crc1
) in
C. rodentium
. Upon infection of C57BL/6 mice, the Δ
crc1
mutant exhibited a hypervirulent, hyperinflammatory phenotype compared with its parent, accompanied by greater weight loss and a trend toward increased mortality in young mice; the effect was reversed when the
crc1
gene was restored. Using flow cytometry, we observed increased infiltration of T cells, B cells, and neutrophils into the lamina propria of the distal colon in mice fed the Δ
crc1
mutant, starting as early as 5 days after infection. No significant difference in epithelial cytotoxicity was observed. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis of distal colonic tissue on day 10 postinfection showed significant increases in mRNA encoding cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-1β, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) but not in mRNA encoding IL-17, IL-4, or IL-10 in the Δ
crc1
mutant-infected mice. Our data suggest a previously unsuspected role for class 1 SPATEs in enteric infection.
CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−Immature Myeloid Cells Recruited in Response to Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Infection Exhibit Protective and Immunosuppressive Properties
Authors: Tam Jason W. , Kullas Amy L. , Mena Patricio , Bliska James B. , van der Velden Adrianus W. M.
Published: April 2014

Immature myeloid cells in bone marrow are a heterogeneous population of cells that, under normal conditions, provide tissues with protective cell types such as granulocytes and macrophages. Under certain pathological conditions, myeloid cell homeostasis is altered and immature forms of these cells appear in tissues. Murine immature myeloid cells that express CD11b and Ly6C or Ly6G (two isoforms of Gr-1) have been associated with immunosuppression in cancer (in the form of myeloid-derived suppressor cells) and, more recently, infection. Here, we found that CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−and CD11b+Ly6CintLy6G+cells accumulated and persisted in tissues of mice infected withSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Recruitment of CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−but not CD11b+Ly6CintLy6G+cells from bone marrow into infected tissues depended on chemokine receptor CCR2. The CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−cells exhibited a mononuclear morphology, whereas the CD11b+Ly6CintLy6G+cells exhibited a polymorphonuclear or band-shaped nuclear morphology. The CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−cells differentiated into macrophage-like cells followingex vivoculture and could present antigen to T cellsin vitro. However, significant proliferation of T cells was observed only when the ability of the CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−cells to produce nitric oxide was blocked. CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−cells recruited in response toS. Typhimurium infection could also present antigen to T cellsin vivo, but increasing their numbers by adoptive transfer did not cause a corresponding increase in T cell response. Thus, CD11b+Ly6ChiLy6G−immature myeloid cells recruited in response toS. Typhimurium infection exhibit protective and immunosuppressive properties that may influence the outcome of infection.
Lipid A Is More than Acyl Chains
Authors: Apicella Michael A.
Published: April 2014

The acyl chain length, number, and distribution have been considered the major factors contributing to this biological activity of lipid A. The charged head groups on the dihexosamine backbone have also been implicated in contributing to this biology. InNeisseria, it has now been shown that loss of the 4′ phosphoethanolamine has an impact on virulence in an animal model and on the organism's susceptibility to cationic antimicrobial peptides. Such studies offer potential insight into targets for novel antimicrobial agents.
Persisting weakness after withdrawal of a statin
Authors: Mygland Åse , Ljøstad Unn , Krossnes Bård Kronen
Published: April 2014

An 81-year-old woman treated with simvastatin for several years followed by atorvastatin for about 1 year presented with fatigue, weakness and unsteady gait. The finding of elevated creatine kinase (CK) and symmetric muscle weakness around shoulders and hips led to suspicion of a toxic statin-associated myopathy. Atorvastatin was withdrawn, but her weakness persisted. Owing to persisting weakness, an autoimmune myopathy (myositis) was suspected, but initially disregarded since a muscle biopsy showed necrotic muscle fibres without inflammatory cell infiltrates and myositis-specific autoantibodies were absent. After 18 months with slowly progressive weakness and increasing CK values, awareness of new knowledge about autoimmunity as a cause of necrotic myopathy, led to a successful treatment trial with intravenous immunoglobulines, followed by steroids and metothrexate. Antibodies to the target enzyme of statins (HMGCR (3-hydroksy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase)) were detected in her serum, and she was diagnosed with autoimmune necrotic myositis probably triggered by atorvastatin.
Coeliac disease in an adult presenting as intussusception without a lead point
Authors: Mitchell Andrew , Heyen Françoise , Dubé Serge
Published: April 2014

A case of adult intussusception is presented in which previously undiagnosed coeliac disease was the cause. The diagnosis was made following microscopic examination of a resected segment of small intestine containing multiple intussusception sites. Adult intussusception is rare and in most cases associated with a ‘lead point’ lesion, often a tumour. As illustrated here, intussusception without a lead point in the adult patient may be the presenting sign of coeliac disease. Recognition of such may allow correct diagnosis and thus prevent unnecessary surgery.
Pulmonary intravascular talcosis mimicking miliary tuberculosis in an intravenous drug addict
Authors: Altraja Alan , Jürgenson Katre , Roosipuu Retlav , Laisaar Tanel
Published: April 2014

Pulmonary foreign body granulomatosis following intravenous administration of medications meant for oral use among drug addicts has been occasionally reported. This condition is often misdiagnosed because of its rarity, but rather due to its similarity to other pulmonary diseases that are more common. Here we report a case of pulmonary intravascular talcosis mimicking miliary tuberculosis in a young male intravenous drug addict from North-Eastern Estonia, known as a hotspot for tuberculosis and drug misuse. The condition was caused by intravenous administration of crushed tablets of diphenhydramine, but miliary tuberculosis was misdiagnosed on patient's demographical, clinical and radiological grounds and a decision to start treatment with four first-line antituberculosis drugs followed. The current report refers to the importance of considering rare causes of pulmonary disseminations with attempts to identify the causative agent and warns against the use of antituberculosis treatment without confirmation of microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial
Authors: ten Brinke Lisanne F , Bolandzadeh Niousha , Nagamatsu Lindsay S , Hsu Chun Liang , Davis Jennifer C , Miran-Khan Karim , Liu-Ambrose Teresa
Published: April 2014

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a well-recognised risk factor for dementia and represents a vital opportunity for intervening. Exercise is a promising strategy for combating cognitive decline by improving brain structure and function. Specifically, aerobic training (AT) improved spatial memory and hippocampal volume in healthy community-dwelling older adults. In older women with probable MCI, we previously demonstrated that resistance training (RT) and AT improved memory. In this secondary analysis, we investigated: (1) the effect of RT and AT on hippocampal volume and (2) the association between change in hippocampal volume and change in memory.

Methods

86 women aged 70–80 years with probable MCI were randomly assigned to a 6-month, twice-weekly programme of: (1) AT, (2) RT or (3) balance and tone training (BAT; ie, control). At baseline and trial completion, participants performed a 3T MRI scan to determine hippocampal volume. Verbal memory and learning were assessed by Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test.

Results

Compared with the BAT group, AT significantly improved left, right and total hippocampal volumes (p≤0.03). After accounting for baseline cognitive function and experimental group, increased left hippocampal volume was independently associated with reduced verbal memory and learning performance as indexed by loss after interference (r=0.42, p=0.03).

Conclusions

Aerobic training significantly increased hippocampal volume in older women with probable MCI. More research is needed to ascertain the relevance of exercise-induced changes in hippocampal volume on memory performance in older adults with MCI.

Trail registration number

NCT00958867.
The effect of funding sources on donepezil randomised controlled trial outcome: a meta-analysis
Authors: Killin Lewis O J , Russ Tom C , Starr John M , Abrahams Sharon , Della Sala Sergio
Published: April 2014

Objective

To investigate whether there is a difference in the treatment effect of donepezil on cognition in Alzheimer disease between industry-funded and independent randomised controlled trials.

Design

Fixed effects meta-analysis of standardised effects of donepezil on cognition as measured by the Mini Mental State Examination and the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale.

Data sources

Studies included in the meta-analyses reported in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technical appraisal 217 updated with new studies through aPubMedsearch.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria were double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of any length comparing patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer disease (according to the NINCDS-ADRDA/DSM-III/IV criteria) taking any dosage of donepezil. Studies of combination therapies (eg, donepezil and memantine) were excluded, as were studies that enrolled patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease associated with other disorders (eg, Parkinson's disease and Down's syndrome).

Results

Our search strategy identified 14 relevant trials (4 independent) with suitable data. Trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies reported a larger effect of donepezil on standardised cognitive tests than trials published by independent research groups (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.46, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.55 vs SMD=0.33, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.48, respectively). This difference remained when only data representing change up to 12 weeks from baseline were analysed (industry SMD=0.44, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.53 vs independent SMD=0.35, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.52). Analysis revealed that the effect of funding as a moderator variable of study heterogeneity was not statistically significant at either time point.

Conclusions

The effect size of donepezil on cognition is larger in industry-funded than independent trials and this is not explained by the longer duration of industry-funded trials. The lack of a statistically significant moderator effect may indicate that the differences are due to chance, but may also result from lack of power.
Keeping children safe at home: protocol for a matched case-control study of modifiable risk factors for poisoning
Authors: Majsak-Newman Gosia , Benford Penny , Ablewhite Joanne , Clacy Rose , Coffey Frank , Cooper Nicola , Coupland Carol , Hayes Mike , Kay Bryony , McColl Elaine , Reading Richard , Sutton Alex , Stewart Jane , Watson Michael Craig , Kendrick Denise
Published: April 2014

Background

Childhood unintentional and suspected poisonings are a serious public health problem. Evidence from systematic reviews demonstrates that home safety education in combination with safety equipment provision increases the safe storage of medicines and other products. There is lack of evidence that poisoning prevention practices reduce poisoning rates.

Objectives

To estimate ORs for medically attended poisonings in children aged 0–4 years for items of safety equipment, home hazards and parental safety practices aimed at preventing poisoning, and to explore differential effects by child and family factors.

Design

Multicentre case-control study in UK hospitals with validation of parent-reported exposures using home observations. Cases are aged 0–4 years with a medically attended poisoning occurring at home, matched on age and sex with community controls. Children attending hospital for other types of injury will serve as unmatched hospital controls. Matched analyses will use conditional logistic regression; unmatched analyses will use unconditional logistic regression to adjust for confounding variables. The study requires 266 poisoning cases and 1064 matched controls to detect an OR of 0.64 for safe storage of medicinal products and of 0.65 for non-medicinal products, with 80% power, a 5% significance level and a correlation between exposures in cases and controls of 0.1.

Main outcome measures

Unintentional childhood poisoning.

Discussion

This will be the largest study to date exploring modifiable risk factors for poisoning in young children. Findings will inform: policy makers developing poison prevention strategies, practitioners delivering poison prevention interventions, parents to reduce the risk of poisoning in their homes.
Pathology reporting of bone marrow biopsy in myelofibrosis; application of the Delphi consensus process to the development of a standardised diagnostic report
Authors: Raya José M , Montes-Moreno Santiago , Acevedo Agustín , Ferrández Antonio , Fraga Máximo , García Juan F , García Mar , Mayordomo-Aranda Empar , Menárguez Javier , Besses Carlos , Calzada Reyes , Rozman María
Published: April 2014

Aims

The diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) strongly relies on the bone marrow biopsy findings, but a report model has not been standardised. Our aim was to establish general recommendations for bone marrow evaluation and standardised reporting in a case suspicious of PMF.

Methods

The Delphi method was employed to obtain expert consensus. An advisory panel of 10 leading members identifies a total of 37 haematopathology experts to participate. The first Delphi round included a questionnaire with three main groups of items: minimal clinical and laboratory data considered necessary before reporting, minimal descriptive aspects to record and main histological differential diagnosis. The final report content was based on consensus obtained after the second Delphi round.

Results

The minimal data considered necessary were age, splenomegaly, haemoglobin, leucocyte and platelet counts, differential blood cell count, leucoerythroblastic blood picture, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level,BCR-ABLandJAK2mutational status, reticulin stain and the internal control for the reticulin staining. The minimal descriptive aspects to report were cellularity, osteosclerosis, megakaryocytic morphology and localisation, dense megakaryocytic clusters, quantity of granulocytic precursors, grade of myelofibrosis in a scale of 4, and a proposed final diagnostic approach. The entities to be considered for differential diagnosis were mainly the other classical chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Conclusions

The Delphi method is a robust tool to determine essential information to be included in a pathology report. A standardised good-quality histopathological report form may help to homogenise PMF diagnosis. A close collaboration between the pathologist and the haematologist is desirable according to our survey.
Petroleum generation and expulsion characteristics of Lower and Middle Jurassic source rocks on the southern margin of Junggar Basin, northwest China: implications for unconventional gas potential
Authors: Guo Jigang , Pang Xiongqi , Guo Fengtao , Wang Xulong , Xiang Caifu , Jiang Fujie , Wang Pengwei , Xu Jing , Hu Tao , Peng Weilong
Published: April 2014

Jurassic strata along the southern margin of Junggar Basin are important petroleum system elements for exploration in northwest China. The Lower and Middle Jurassic source rock effectiveness has been questioned as exploration progresses deeper into the basin. These source rocks are very thick and are distributed widely. They contain a high total organic carbon composed predominantly of Type III kerogen, with some Type II kerogen. Our evaluation of source rock petroleum generation characteristics and expulsion history, including one-dimensional basin modeling, indicates that Jurassic source rocks are gas prone at deeper depths. They reached peak oil generation during the Early Cretaceous and began to generate gas in the Late Cretaceous. Gas generation peaked in the Paleogene–Neogene. Source rock shales and coals reached petroleum expulsion thresholds at thermal maturities of 0.8% and 0.75% vitrinite reflectance, respectively, when the petroleum expulsion efficiency was ∼40%. The petroleum generated and expelled from these source rocks are 3788.75 × 108 and 1507.55 × 108 t, respectively, with a residual 2281.20 × 108 t retained in the source rocks. In these tight reservoirs, a favorable stratigraphic relationship (where tight sandstone reservoirs directly overlie the source rocks) indicates short vertical and horizontal migration distances. This indicates the potential for a large, continuous, tight-sand gas resource in the Lower and Middle Jurassic strata. The in-place natural gas resources in the Jurassic reservoirs are up to 5.68 × 1012 − 15.14 × 1012 m3. Jurassic Badaowan and Xishanyao coals have geological characteristics that are favorable for coal-bed methane resources, which have an in-place resource potential between 3.60 × 1012 and 11.67 × 1012 m3. These Lower and Middle Jurassic strata have good shale gas potential compared with active US shale gas, and the inferred in-place shale gas resources in Junggar Basin are between 20.73 × 1012 and 113.89 × 1012 m3. This rich inferred conventional and unconventional petroleum resource in tight-sand, coal-bed, and shale gas reservoirs makes the deeper Jurassic strata along the southern margin of Junggar Basin a prospective target for future exploration.
Ethanol accumulation during severe drought may signal tree vulnerability to detection and attack by bark beetles
Authors: Kelsey Rick G. , Gallego D. , Sánchez-García F.J. , Pajares J.A.
Published: April 2014

Tree mortality from temperature-driven drought is occurring in forests around the world, often in conjunction with bark beetle outbreaks when carbon allocation to tree defense declines. Physiological metrics for detecting stressed trees with enhanced vulnerability prior to bark beetle attacks remain elusive. Ethanol, water, monoterpene concentrations, and composition were examined in the phloem and sapwood of drought-stressed Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) freshly attacked by mature Mediterranean pine shoot beetles (Tomicus destruens (Wollaston, 1865)) and in neighboring unattacked trees. The attacked trees were more water-stressed and contained, on average, 2.1 and 2.4 times more ethanol in the phloem and sapwood, respectively, than the neighboring attack-free trees. This response is consistent with the known attraction of T. destruens to ethanol. Most monoterpene concentrations in the phloem, but not sapwood, were greater in tissues of attacked trees, whereas compositional differences were minor between the two tree groups for both tissues. Tissue water content explained much of the variation in phloem monoterpene concentrations, which increased as water in the phloem declined, suggesting that higher constitutive quantities existed in the more stressed trees prior to the attacks. Monoterpenes may have contributed to host tree selection by T. destruens, but their potential influence is considered less important than that of ethanol based on beetle responses to these compounds in previous trapping studies. This is the first report of elevated ethanol concentrations in tissues of trees experiencing natural drought stress and suggests that ethanol measurements in severely water-stressed trees may allow early detection of those most vulnerable to bark beetle attack.
Impact of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on adriamycin-induced chronic nephropathy
Authors: Sarhan Mohamed , El Serougy Hanaa , Hussein Abdelaziz M. , El-dosoky Mohamed , Sobh Mohamed A. , Fouad Samah A. , Sobh Mohamed , Elhusseini Fatma
Published: April 2014

Objectives: To study the effects of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on adriamycin (ADR)-induced chronic nephropathy in rats. Methods: 60 male Sprague–Dawley rats were distributed among 3 groups (20 rats each): (i) the negative control group, which was normal rats that received saline (vehicle); (ii) the positive control (ADR) group, which was rats that received 2 intravenous injections of ADR into the penile vein at 14 day intervals without treatment, and (iii) the MSC group, which were rats treated as for the ADR group that were also given 2 intravenous injections of MSCs (5 days after each ADR injection). Results: ADR caused a significant reduction in animal body mass, survival rate, hemoglobin (Hb) content, serum albumin, and renal GSH, and significantly increased serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, urinary protein excretion and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), renal MDA, as well as caspase-3 expression and glomerular and tubulointerstitial damage compared with the negative control group. MSC treatment failed to improve animal survival rate, body mass, Hb level, proteinuria, or hypoalbuminemia; however, it mildly improved the serum BUN, hyperlipidemia, caspase-3 expression, urinary levels of KIM-1, renal oxidative stress markers, and glomerular and tubulointerstitial damage score. Conclusion: administration of BM-MSCs during induction of ADR nephropathy provides partial protection, which could be due to improvements in the levels of of endogenous antioxidants, reduction of apoptosis, and maintenance of the integrity of the glomerular membrane.
Influence of repulsion zone in the directional alignment of self-propelled particles
Authors: Cambui Dorilson
Published: April 2014

Collective behavior in animal groups such as schools of fish, swarms of insects or flocks of birds, although a phenomenon widely studied in biological systems, is subject of great interdisciplinary interest. An important tool to describe the dynamics of collective motion and ordered live organisms is the concept of self-propelled particles. Proposed by Vicsek and collaborators, it was considered in this model only as an (single) interaction rule, set as alignment, where particles align to motion the nearest neighbors. In this paper, we have considered a variant of this model by adding a second rule called repulsion zone, where particles repel each other at short distances, in order to investigate the influence of this zone on directional order of the particles.
Synthesis and characterization of 3D Cu0.45Mn0.55O2 nanoflowers with novel photoluminescence and magnetic properties
Authors: Toufiq Arbab Mohammad , Wang Fengping , Javed Qurat-ul-ain , Li Quanshui , Li Yan
Published: April 2014

In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) Cu 0.45 Mn 0.55 O 2 nanoflowers self-assembled by interconnecting dense stacked single-crystalline nanoplates have been prepared using the template-free hydrothermal growth method. The morphology, phase structure and composition of the as-prepared nanomaterial were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). FESEM and TEM analyses show that the size of 3D Cu 0.45 Mn 0.55 O 2 nanoflowers is in the range of 1–1.5 μm and the thickness of interconnected nanoplates is about 40 nm on the average. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the as-prepared Cu 0.45 Mn 0.55 O 2 nanostructures at room temperature exhibits prominent emission bands located in red–violet spectral region. Moreover, magnetic investigations revealed the weak ferromagnetic behavior of the as-prepared Cu 0.45 Mn 0.55 O 2 nanoflowers and reported for the first time using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).
Constraints on cosmological models from Hubble parameters measurements
Authors: Zheng Wei , Li Hong , Xia Jun-Qing , Wan You-Ping , Li Si-Yu , Li Mingzhe
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we study the cosmological constraints from the measurements of Hubble parameters — H(z) data. Here, we consider two kinds of H(z) data: the direct H0 probe from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of Cepheid variables with H0 = 73.8 ± 2.4 km s-1 Mpc-1 and several measurements on the Hubble parameter at high redshifts H(z). Employing Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, we also combine the WMAP nine-year data (WMAP9), the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and type Ia supernovae (SNIa) Union2.1 compilation to determine the cosmological parameters, such as the equation of state (EoS) of dark energy w, the curvature of the universe Ωk, the total neutrino mass ∑mν, the effective number of neutrinos N eff and the parameters associated with the power spectrum of primordial fluctuations. These H(z) data provide extra information on the accelerate rate of our universe at high redshifts. Therefore, adding these H(z) data significantly improves the constraints on cosmological parameters, such as the number of relativistic species. Moreover, we find that direct prior on H0 from HST can also give good constraints on some parameters, due to the degeneracies between these parameters and H0.
Confronting electron and neutrino–nucleus interactions: Can the axial mass anomaly be resolved?
Authors: Benhar Omar
Published: April 2014

Comparison between electron– and neutrino–nucleus scattering data suggests that the so-called axial mass anomaly — i.e., the large disagreement between the value of the nucleon axial mass extracted from the analysis of neutrino interactions with carbon and oxygen and that obtained from deuteron data — is a manifestation of the difficulties in the interpretation of the flux averaged neutrino cross-sections. In this short review, I discuss the role of reaction mechanisms leading to the excitation of two particle–two hole final states of the target nucleus, which are believed to be responsible for the observed excess of quasielastic events, and argue that taking into account their effect may help to reconcile the sizeably different values of the axial mass reported by the MiniBooNe and NOMAD Collaborations.
Quantum correlations — Spin supercurrents
Authors: Boldyreva Liudmila B.
Published: April 2014

The paper concerns some optical phenomena where quantum correlations take place: two-photon and three-photon interference, the photon antibunching, squeezed vacuum. The main properties of quantum correlations are: they do not depend on the distance, do not consume energy, take place for quantum entities both with zero and with nonzero rest mass, take place in the physical vacuum, that is, it is not necessary for the quantum entities to be detected simultaneously. A physical process is discussed which is responsible for quantum correlations in such macrosystem as superfluid 3 He – B . An analogy is shown between the properties of spin supercurrents in superfluid 3 He – B and the above properties of quantum correlations for quantum entities. The important feature of spin supercurrents is that they are not accompanied by any mass transfer.