bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, is associated with higher glucose and insulin concentrations but not higher blood pressure in obese men
Authors: Asferg C. L. , Andersen U. B. , Linneberg A. , Goetze J. P. , Jeppesen J. L.
Published: February 2014

Aim

To explore the putative associations of plasma copeptin, the C‐terminal portion of provasopressin and a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, with obesity‐related health problems, such as hyperlipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure and an android fat distribution.

Methods

In 103 obese men (mean age ± standard deviation: 49.4 ± 10.2 years) and 27 normal weight control men (mean age: 51.5 ± 8.4 years), taking no medication, we measured 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure, fasting blood concentrations of copeptin, lipids, glucose and insulin, and determined body composition by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry scanning.

Results

The obese men had higher [median (interquartile range)] plasma copeptin concentrations [6.6 (4.6–9.5) vs. 4.9 (3.5–6.8) pmol/l, P = 0.040] compared with the normal weight men. In the obese men, plasma copeptin was not related to 24‐h systolic blood pressure (r = 0.11, P = 0.29), 24‐h diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.11, P = 0.28), BMI (r = 0.09, P = 0.37), total body fatness percentage (r = 0.10, P = 0.33), android fat mass percentage (r = 0.04, P = 0.66) or serum triglyceride concentrations (r = 0.04; P = 0.68). In contrast, plasma copeptin was associated with higher serum insulin concentrations (r = 0.26, P = 0.0085) and insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostasis assessment model (r = 0.28, P = 0.0051).

Conclusions

Plasma copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, is higher in obese men compared with normal weight men, and is associated with abnormalities in glucose and insulin metabolism, but not with higher blood pressure or an android fat distribution in obese men.
Erectile dysfunction is a strong predictor of poor quality of life in men with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Malavige L. S. , Jayaratne S. D. , Kathriarachchi S. T. , Sivayogan S. , Ranasinghe P. , Levy J. C.
Published: February 2014

Aims

To identify predictors of poor quality of life among men with diabetes from a comprehensive set of sexual, clinical, socio‐economic and lifestyle variables.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional observational‐study of 253 men with Type 2 diabetes, randomly selected from a clinic in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Erectile dysfunction was assessed using the five‐item International Index of Erectile Function and quality of life was assessed using the Sri Lankan version of the 36‐item short form health survey questionnaire and the disease‐specific Psychological Impact of Erectile Dysfunction scale. The presence of premature ejaculation, reduced libido, socio‐demographic and lifestyle data was obtained using an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Significant predictors of quality of life were identified by stepwise multivariate linear regression models for short form‐36 subscales, summary scales and two scales of Psychological Impact of Erectile Dysfunction.

Results

Significant predictors on the physical summary scale of the 36‐item short form were erectile dysfunction (β  =  7.93, 95% CI 3.70–12.17, P < 0.001) and reduced libido (β  =  5.20, 95% CI 0.82–9.59, P < 0.05). Predictors on the mental health summary scale of the 36‐item short form were erectile dysfunction (β = 5.82, 95% CI 2.26–9.37, P < 0.01), BMI > 27.5 kg/m2 (β  =  9.12, 95% CI 1.38–17.44, P < 0.05), ischaemic heart disease (β  =  6.39, 95% CI 0.74–12.04, P < 0.05) and insulin therapy (β  =  5.28, 95% CI 0.34–10.22, P < 0.05). Significant predictors in the sexual experience scale of the Psychological Impact of Erectile Dysfunction were erectile dysfunction (β = 6.57, 95% CI 4.63–8.51, P < 0.001), reduced libido (β =4.33, 95% CI 2.34–6.32, P < 0.001) and postural hypotension (β = 3.99, 95% CI 0.13–7.85, P < 0.05). Predictors on the emotional life scale of the Psychological Impact of Erectile Dysfunction were erectile dysfunction (β = 2.96, 95% CI 1.37–4.58, P < 0.001), reduced libido 2.75 (β = 2.75, 95% CI 1.12–4.40, P < 0.01), younger age (β  =  1.05, 95% CI 0.35–1.75, P < 0.01) and postural hypotension (β  =  3.39, 95% CI 0.35–6.45, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Erectile dysfunction was a strong predictor of poor generic and disease‐specific quality of life among other sexual and clinical variables in men with diabetes.
Does higher quality of primary healthcare reduce hospital admissions for diabetes complications? A national observational study
Authors: Calderón‐Larrañaga A. , Soljak M. , Cecil E. , Valabhji J. , Bell D. , Prados Torres A. , Majeed A.
Published: February 2014

Aim

To determine if hospital admission rates for diabetes complications (acute complications, chronic complications, no complications and hypoglycaemia) were associated with primary care diabetes management.

Methods

We performed an observational study in the population in England during the period 2004–2009 (54 741 278 people registered with 8140 general practices). We used multivariable negative binomial regression to model the associations between indirectly standardized hospital admission rates for complications and primary healthcare quality, supply and access indicators, diabetes prevalence and population factors.

Results

In multivariate regression models, increasing deprivation (incidence rate ratio: 1.0154; P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.0141–1.0166) and diabetes prevalence (incidence rate ratio: 1.0956; P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.0677–1.1241) were risk factors for admission, while most healthcare covariates, i.e. a larger practice population (incidence rate ratio 0.9999, P = 0.013, 95% CI 0.9999–0.9999), better patient‐perceived urgent and non‐urgent access to primary care (incidence rate ratio: 0.9989, P = 0.023; 95% CI 0.9979–0.9998 and incidence rate ratio: 0.9988; P = 0.003, 95% CI 0.9980–0.9996, respectively) and better HbA1c target achievement (incidence rate ratio: 0.9971; P < 0.001, 95% CI 0.9958–0.9984), were protective. Diabetes admissions decreased significantly during the period 2004–2009.

Conclusions

After controlling for population factors, better scheduled primary care access and glycaemic control were associated with lower hospital admission rates across most complications. There is little rationale to restrict primary care‐sensitive condition definitions to acute complications. They should be revised to improve the usefulness of hospital admission data as an outcome measure, and to facilitate international comparisons. The risk of emergency hospital admission should be monitored routinely.
Multiple Giant Aneurysms and Stenoses of the Coronary and Systemic Arteries in an Infant with Kawasaki Disease at the Early Stage of Convalescent Period
Authors: Ekici Filiz , Varan Birgül , Kocabaş Abdullah , Erdoğan İlkay , Eminoğlu Sancar , Aktaş Doğukan
Published: February 2014

Myocardial infarction and systemic arterial aneurysms are rarely seen during the course of the Kawasaki disease (KD). Herein, we report the case of a 4‐month‐old Turkish infant who was diagnosed with KD on the 17th day of the illness. On admission, echocardiogram showed multiple coronary arterial aneurysms (CAAs) and massive pericardial effusion. He was given intravenous immunoglobulin, aspirin and anticoagulant drugs. However, the aneurysms progressed to “super giant” CAAs, multiple huge coronary arterial thromboses developed recurrently and caused myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, the conventional angiography revealed multiple giant aneurysms and stenoses in the subclavian, celiac, and iliac arteries, besides CAAs.
Stay cool, travel far: cold‐acclimated oriental fruit moth females have enhanced flight performance but lay fewer eggs
Authors: Ferrer Aurélie , Mazzi Dominique , Dorn Silvia
Published: February 2014

Acclimation to a particular environment may provide organisms with advantages in that environment. In species with multiple generations per year, acclimation may cause life‐history traits to vary with season and between generations. We investigated flight performance, lifetime egg production, and longevity in relation to the temperature experienced during development and adulthood in the invasive moth pestGrapholita molesta(Busck) (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae). We found that females that developed at low temperature had good flight abilities when they were flown at low, intermediate, and high temperatures. At high temperature, females that developed at high temperature did not outperform females that developed at low temperature. Flight performance was generally poor at low ambient temperature. Our findings suggest a beneficial acclimation effect, occurring at low temperature. Nonetheless, there were potential costs of development at low temperature: development took longer, resulting in smaller females, which laid fewer eggs. Given temporal and spatial temperature variability in the field, dispersal potential should not be considered homogeneous within populations or across generations. Our results suggest that the most favourable time periods for female dispersal are at the beginning and towards the end of the host crop growing season, which has potential implications for monitoring the occurrence and range expansion of this invasive pest species.
Screening for resistant clones of Casuarina equisetifolia to bacterial wilt and the analysis of AFLP markers in resistant clones
Authors: Sun S. , Shu C. W. , Chen J. L. , Wang J. , Zhou E. X.
Published: February 2014

Bacteria wilt (BW) of Casuarina equisetifolia L. Johnson, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (E. F. Smith) Yabuuchi, is one of the most important diseases of C. equisetifolia L. Johnson, the main coastal protective forest tree in southeast China. The resistance of 33 C. equisetifolia L. Johnson clones to BW was determined by means of hydroponic and pot inoculation methods with the suspension of R  solanacearum (E. F. Smith) Yabuuchi as inocula in the two‐step procedure. The results showed that clones FJ11 and FJ13 were highly resistant to BW with the lowest disease incidences of 10.8 and 15.8%, respectively, whereas clones FJ9 and GD15 were the most susceptible ones with the highest disease incidences of 100.0%. The analysis of AFLP markers was performed on clones FJ11, FJ13, FJ9 and GD15, and the results indicated that three DNA fragments E‐AAA/M‐CCG, E‐AAG/M‐CGC and E‐AGG/M‐CAA were found to be linked to the BW resistance. BLAST searches revealed that the first two fragments (GenBank accession numbers: KC111411 and KC135871) had no identities to any sequences, and the third one showed a high similarity to some sequences which code for heat shock protein. Taken together, the two resistant clones screened in our research were undoubtedly the valuable resistant resources of C. equisetifolia L. Johnson, and the three AFLP markers could be used in marker‐assisted selection of C. equisetifolia L. Johnson in the future.
The undergraduate degree project – preparing dental students for professional work and postgraduate studies?
Authors: Franzén C.
Published: February 2014

Objectives

The undergraduate degree project is a requisite part of higher education in Sweden, designed to prepare students for professional work and postgraduate studies. This article examines the extent to which the degree project in Swedish dental education helps students achieve these purposes. The focus was on the students' choice of topics and research methods as well as their ability to reflect on the implications of their results for dental practice.

Methods

Degree projects from three of the four Swedish dental schools were analysed using content analysis.

Results

The students' topics concerned clinical dentistry, biomedicine, educational issues and public oral health. Quantitative research methods were used more often than qualitative ones. Some of the degree projects were based on literature reviews. Students demonstrated shortcomings in their reflections on the implications of their results for dental practice. The level of reflection was particularly low in one of the schools; this may be because the students in this school were not expected to reflect on the results.

Conclusions

The degree project gives the students an opportunity to develop their knowledge on a topic relevant to dentistry, to be trained in conducting research and to reflect on scientific knowledge in relation to dentistry. However, this study shows the need of assessment criteria that urge the students to reflect on the link between science and clinical work and motivate them to learn to reflect so they become critical thinkers. It is also suggested that dental students should learn more about qualitative research methods.
Similar outcomes of peripheral blood stem cells vs. bone marrow for human leukocyte antigen‐matched unrelated donor transplantation in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia using risk‐adapted graft‐versus‐host disease prophylaxis
Authors: Shin Seung‐Hwan , Kim Jung‐Ho , Jeon Young‐Woo , Yoon Jae‐Ho , Yahng Seung‐Ah , Lee Sung‐Eun , Cho Byung‐Sik , Eom Ki‐Sung , Kim Yoo‐Jin , Lee Seok , Min Chang‐Ki , Cho Seok‐Goo , Kim Dong‐Wook , Lee Jong‐Wook , Min Woo‐Sung , Park Chong‐Won , Kim Hee‐Je
Published: February 2014

Background

In unrelated donor allogeneic stem cell transplantation (URD‐SCT), most studies reported that peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) resulted in higher incidence of acute and/or chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) without survival benefits compared with bone marrow (BM). To overcome these shortcomings of PBSC, we have used a risk‐adapted GVHD prophylaxis for patients that received HLA‐matched URD‐SCT, which was adding low‐dose rabbit antithymocyte globulin (Thymoglobulin®, 1.25 mg/kg for 2 d) to conditioning in the transplants with PBSC and not BM.

Methods

To determine whether this strategy is effective, we analyzed 115 adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia who received HLA‐matched URD‐SCT with PBSC (n = 70) or BM (n = 45) using our risk‐adapted GVHD prophylaxis strategy.

Results

The PBSC group showed faster neutrophil (11 d vs. 13 d; P < 0.01) and platelet (12 d vs. 18 d; P < 0.01) engraftment compared with the BM group. No difference was observed in the incidence of acute GVHD grade II–IV at 100 d (54.3% vs. 64.4%; P = 0.38) and chronic GVHD at 4 yr (65.1% vs. 60.0%; P = 0.83). Other outcomes including the incidence of relapse (30.8% vs. 31.2%; P = 0.53), non‐relapse mortality (13.5% vs. 6.9%; P = 0.24), disease‐free survival (55.7% vs. 61.9%; P = 0.68), and overall survival (62.2% vs. 63.2%; P = 0.96) at 4 yr were not significantly different.

Conclusion

Our risk‐adapted GVHD prophylaxis strategy resulted in similar transplant outcomes including comparable incidence of GVHD between the PBSC and BM groups in HLA‐matched URD‐SCT.
Sustained brain activation supporting stop‐signal task performance
Authors: Hughes M. E. , Budd T. W. , Fulham W. R. , Lancaster S. , Woods W. , Rossell S. L. , Michie P. T.
Published: February 2014

Stop‐signal paradigms operationalize a basic test of goal‐directed behaviour whereby an overarching stop goal that is performed intermittently must be maintained throughout ongoing performance of a reaction time go task (go goal). Previous studies of sustained brain activation during stop‐signal task performance in humans did not observe activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) that, in concert with the parietal cortex, is known to subserve goal maintenance. Here we explored the hypothesis that a DLPFC and parietal network has a key role in supporting ongoing stop‐signal task performance. We used a blocked functional magnetic resonance imaging design that included blocks of trials containing typical stop‐signal paradigm stimuli that were performed under three conditions: Stop condition, which required reaction time responding to go stimuli and inhibition of cued responses upon presentation of a stop signal; Go condition, identical except that the tone was ignored; and Passive condition, which required only quiescent attention to stimuli. We found that, whereas a distributed corticothalamic network was more active in Stop compared with Go, only the right DLPFC and bilateral parietal cortex survived after masking that contrast with Stop compared with Passive. These findings indicate that sustained activation of a right dominant frontoparietal network supports stop goal processes during ongoing performance of the stop‐signal task.
Molecular phylogenetic and divergence time estimation analyses of the sawfly subfamily Selandriinae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)
Authors: Isaka Yuichi , Sato Toshiyuki
Published: February 2014

Selandriinae, a subfamily of family Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), comprises multiple tribes, each of which has a relationship with specific plant group. The host specificity of the Selandriinae taxa provides a good model to examine the coevolution between hosts and insects. However, few phylogenetic studies for the Selandriinae obscure the evolutionary scenario with their host‐plants. The present study is a molecular phylogenetic analysis of 19 selandriine species based on mitochondrial genes (12S: 461 sites, 16S: 262sites and COI: 495 sites) and nuclear genes (18S: 773 sites and 28S: 495 sites). The results suggested three of six studied tribes are genetically isolated. Moreover, estimation of the time of molecular divergence showed that the Selandriinae clearly diverged at the same time as their host‐plants (monocots and ferns). These results suggested that the Selandriinae species might have codiversified with their hosts.
Diurnal butterfly pollination in the orchid Habenaria radiata
Authors: Suetsugu Kenji , Tanaka Koji
Published: February 2014

Habenaria is one of the largest orchid genera, with its main centers of diversity in Brazil, eastern Asia and central and southern Africa. In spite of its diversity, the pollinators of few Habenaria spp. have been studied, while most published reports indicate that Habenaria spp. are mainly pollinated by moths. Here we report that the diurnal skipper Parnara guttata can be at least one of the pollinators of Habenaria radiata. Skippers have generally been thought of as nectar thieves, transferring few pollen grains. However, orchids transmit their pollen grains in large groups within pollinia. Such innovation can probably render the skipper a pollinator of H. radiata.
Effects of abdominocentesis technique on peritoneal fluid and clinical variables in horses
Authors: Duesterdieck‐Zellmer K. F. , Riehl J. H. , McKenzie E. C. , Firshman A. M , Payton M. E. , Gorman M. E.
Published: February 2014

Eleven healthy horses underwent 5 repeated abdominocenteses, with either a sharp‐tipped spinal needle or a blunt‐tipped teat cannula to investigate possible differences in success rate, sample volume, depth at which a sample was obtained, length of procedure, complications and cytological variables. Variables were analysed with a repeated‐measuresANOVAor Fisher's exact test (α = 0.05). Success rate, sample volume, length of procedure, occurrence of haemorrhage during the procedure and incidence of grossly visible blood contamination were not different between techniques or over time. Depth at which samples were obtained was greater using a cannula than a needle (P<0.02), and samples were obtained with either technique at a greater depth than abdominal wall thickness assessed via ultrasound (P<0.014). Peritoneal fluid total and differential nucleated cell counts, and total protein concentration did not differ between techniques or over time. Red blood cell count in the least blood contaminated fraction of each sample was not affected by time, but it was lower after needle abdominocentesis than after cannula abdominocentesis (P = 0.04). Swelling of abdominocentesis sites increased with both techniques over time (P<0.05) and was more severe in horses undergoing cannula abdominocentesis (P<0.05). Enterocentesis occurred with a spinal needle in one horse, but no subsequent complications were noted. Both techniques appear to be safe and reliable for abdominocentesis in healthy horses. Using a blunt‐tipped cannula, as opposed to a needle, is likely to result in greater subcutaneous swelling. Both the cannula and needle must be long enough to penetrate well beyond the thickness of the abdominal wall to achieve successful peritoneal fluid collection.
Racing performance following prosthetic laryngoplasty using a polyurethane prosthesis combined with a laser‐assisted ventriculocordectomy for treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in 78Thoroughbred racehorses
Authors: Raffetto J. A. , Wearn J. G. , Fischer A. T.
Published: February 2014

Reasons for performing study

Recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) causes airway obstruction and adversely affects racing performance inThoroughbred racehorses. Prosthetic laryngoplasty (PL) is the preferred treatment ofRLNas it returns variables of airway mechanics to baseline. A number of materials have been evaluated as prostheses; however, the application of Lycra has not been rigorously investigated.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy ofPLusing aLycra prosthesis, in combination with transendoscopic, laser‐assisted ventriculocordectomy, to restore racing performance inThoroughbredracehorses withRLN.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

Medical records, preoperative and post operative racing performance indices from 78Thoroughbred racehorses that underwent surgical treatment forRLNwere evaluated. Medical records, preoperative and post operative racing performance indices were evaluated. Case history, post operative complications andPLfailure were recorded. Racing performance was analysed usingBeyerSpeedFigures (BSF), earnings and a performance index (PI), with comparisons made between the 3 races before and after surgery. Factors associated with return to racing and racing performance were analysed.

Results

Eighty‐two per cent (46/56) of horses that raced prior to surgery and 75% (15/20) of horses that had not raced prior to surgery competed in at least one race post operatively. Horses had a lowerBSFandPIin the final race before surgery. Following surgery,PIandBSFvalues were restored to preoperative values in 73% and 78% of horses respectively. Surgical failure rate and immediate post operative complication rate were lower than, or comparable with, other reported prosthesis materials.

Conclusions

Thoroughbred racehorses withRLNhave a good prognosis for racing successfully afterPLusing aLycra prosthesis. The described surgical technique is associated with a low post operative complication rate and an increase in indicators of racing performance (PIandBSF) post operatively.Lycra offers an attractive option for application as a prosthetic forPLwith a low complication rate and similar efficacy to reported rigid prostheses.
Water intake, faecal output and intestinal motility in horses moved from pasture to a stabled management regime with controlled exercise
Authors: Williams S. , Horner J. , Orton E. , Green M. , McMullen S. , Mobasheri A. , Freeman S. L.
Published: February 2014

Reasons for performing study

A change in management from pasture to stabling is a risk factor for equine colic.

Objectives

To investigate the effect of a management change from pasture with no controlled exercise to stabling with light exercise on aspects of gastrointestinal function related to large colon impaction. The hypothesis was that drinking water intake, faecal output, faecal water content and large intestinal motility would be altered by a transition from a pastured to a stabled regime.

Study design

Within‐subject management intervention trial involving changes in feeding and exercise using noninvasive techniques.

Methods

Seven normal horses were evaluated in a within‐subjects study design. Horses were monitored while at pasture 24 h/day, and for 14 days following a transition to a stabling regime with light controlled exercise. Drinking water intake, faecal output and faecal dry matter were measured. Motility of the caecum, sternal flexure and left colon (contractions/min) were measured twice daily by transcutaneous ultrasound. Mean values were pooled for the pastured regime and used as a reference for comparison with stabled data (Days 1–14 post stabling) for multilevel statistical analysis.

Results

Drinking water intake was significantly increased (mean ± s.d. pasture 2.4 ± 1.8 vs. stabled 6.4 ± 0.6 l/100 kg bwt/day), total faecal output was significantly decreased (pasture 4.62 ± 1.69 vs. stabled 1.81 ± 0.5 kg/100 kg bwt/day) and faecal dry matter content was significantly increased (pasture 18.7 ± 2.28 vs. stabled 27.2 ± 1.93%DM/day) on all days post stabling compared with measurements taken at pasture (P<0.05). Motility was significantly decreased in all regions of the large colon collectively onDay 2 post stabling (‐0.76 contractions/min), and in the left colon only onDay 4 (‐0.62 contractions/min;P<0.05).

Conclusions

There were significant changes in large intestinal motility patterns and parameters relating to gastrointestinal water balance during a transition from pasture to stabled management, particularly during the first 5 days.
Angling for endangered fish: conservation problem or conservation action?
Authors: Cooke Steven J , Hogan Zeb S , Butcher Paul A , Stokesbury Michael J W , Raghavan Rajeev , Gallagher Austin J , Hammerschlag Neil , Danylchuk Andy J
Published: February 2014

Recreational angling has been implicated in population declines of some marine and freshwater fish, but this activity is rarely considered as a threat or even halted when endangered species are targeted. Indeed, in some cases, anglers are drawn to fish for rare or endangered species. Conservation‐oriented behaviours such as catch‐and‐release are often practiced voluntarily due to the ethics of anglers, yet even in these cases, some fishing mortality occurs. Nonetheless, there are many indirect conservation benefits associated with recreational angling. Here, we present a series of case‐studies and consider whether catch‐and‐release angling for endangered fish is a conservation problem or a conservation action. If recreational angling activities contribute to population‐level consequences that are contrary to recovery strategies, then angling for endangered species would seem to be a poor option. However, as revealed by several case‐studies, there is much evidence that anglers are vocal and effective proponents of fish and habitat conservation, and for endangered species, they are often the only voice when other stakeholders are not engaged. Anglers may contribute directly to conservation actions via user fees (e.g. licences), philanthropic donations or by volunteering in research, education and restoration activities. However, it is important to quantify post‐release mortality as well as understand the full suite of factors influencing a given population or species to know the potential risks. A risk assessment approach outlined in the paper may be used by managers to determine when the benefits of angling for endangered species outweigh the risks.
Homeopathy is faith healing without religion
Authors: Shaw David M
Published: February 2014

Faith healing is recognised as a sham treatment and is not available in most healthcare systems. In contrast, homeopathic ‘remedies’ are provided in most countries. This article argues that homeopathy is very similar to faith healing: it is based on ritual, there is no evidence that it works, and it deceives and can cause harm to patients.
From physical bodies to astral bodies – theoretical problems in anthroposophic medicine
Authors: Puustinen Raimo
Published: February 2014

Switzerland has recently adopted anthroposophic medicine into its health insurance system. This decision was partly based on the 2006 Health Technology Assessment Report on anthroposophic medicine, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office, which claimed that anthroposophic treatments seem to be safe and, in terms of patient satisfaction, beneficial for the patients receiving them. The report does not, however, discuss the theoretical basis of anthroposophic medicine apart from noting that there are, according to anthroposophic thinking, formative forces acting in nature that are not acknowledged by contemporary natural science. This article discusses the theoretical fundamentals in anthroposophic theory such as astral bodies, incarnation and clairvoyance and their role in medical diagnosis and treatment. Politicians making decisions on spending public money on anthroposophic medicine should be fully aware of its theoretical basis, which is incompatible with contemporary scientific thinking.
MicroRNA expression and regulation in the uterus during embryo implantation in rat
Authors: Xia Hong‐Fei , Jin Xiao‐Hua , Cao Zong‐Fu , Hu Yi , Ma Xu
Published: February 2014

Embryo implantation is a complex initial step in establishment of a successful pregnancy. Many mRNAs have been shown to be differentially expressed in the rat uterus during embryo implantation. However, the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs), a key post‐transcriptional regulator of gene expression, in the rat uterus between the pre‐receptive and receptive phases are still unknown. Here, an miRNA microarray was used to examine differential expression of miRNAs in the rat uterus between the pre‐receptive and receptive phases. Twenty‐eight miRNAs were up‐regulated and 29 miRNAs were down‐regulated at least twofold during the receptive phase in rat uterus; these results were confirmed by Northern blotting. miR‐29a was only highly expressed in rat uterus during the implantation period, and activation of delayed implantation and artificial decidualization enhanced the miR‐29a level. Further investigation revealed that both the pro‐apoptotic factor genes Bak1 and Bmf and the anti‐apoptotic factor gene Bcl‐w are targets of miR‐29a. There was weak binding between miR‐29a and the 3′ UTR of the anti‐apoptotic factor gene Mcl1. Over‐expression of miR‐29a inhibited the late apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells, which may be due to the stronger binding capacity between miR‐29a and the 3′ UTR of pro‐apoptotic factors than that between miR‐29a and the 3′ UTR of anti‐apoptotic factors. Collectively, miR‐29a plays an important role during embryo implantation by regulating both pro‐apoptotic and anti‐apoptotic factors. miR‐29a may predominantly bind pro‐apoptotic factors, leading to inhibition of cell apoptosis.
Role of activating transcription factor 3 protein ATF3 in necrosis and apoptosis induced by 5‐fluoro‐2′‐deoxyuridine
Authors: Sato Akira , Nakama Kentaro , Watanabe Hiroki , Satake Akito , Yamamoto Akihiro , Omi Takuya , Hiramoto Akiko , Masutani Mitsuko , Wataya Yusuke , Kim Hye‐Sook
Published: February 2014

Necrosis and apoptosis are the two major forms of cell death. We have studied the mechanisms that regulate the cell death observed during treatment of mouse cancer cell line FM3A with the anticancer drug 5‐fluoro‐2′‐deoxyuridine (FUdR). To detect causal differences between necrosis and apoptosis, we exploited the necrosis in original clone F28‐7 and the apoptosis in its variant F28‐7‐A that occur on treatment with FUdR. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) was strongly induced during necrosis but not apoptosis. In addition, we found that ATF3 expression is regulated by heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) at the mRNA stage. Knockdown of Atf3 by siRNA in the F28‐7 cells resulted in apoptotic morphology rather than necrotic morphology. These results suggest that ATF3 is a cell‐death regulator in necrosis and apoptosis.
Glucose de‐repression by yeast AMP‐activated protein kinase SNF1 is controlled via at least two independent steps
Authors: García‐Salcedo Raúl , Lubitz Timo , Beltran Gemma , Elbing Karin , Tian Ye , Frey Simone , Wolkenhauer Olaf , Krantz Marcus , Klipp Edda , Hohmann Stefan
Published: February 2014

The AMP‐activated protein kinase, AMPK, controls energy homeostasis in eukaryotic cells but little is known about the mechanisms governing the dynamics of its activation/deactivation. The yeast AMPK, SNF1, is activated in response to glucose depletion and mediates glucose de‐repression by inactivating the transcriptional repressor Mig1. Here we show that overexpression of the Snf1‐activating kinase Sak1 results, in the presence of glucose, in constitutive Snf1 activation without alleviating glucose repression. Co‐overexpression of the regulatory subunit Reg1 of the Glc‐Reg1 phosphatase complex partly restores glucose regulation of Snf1. We generated a set of 24 kinetic mathematical models based on dynamic data of Snf1 pathway activation and deactivation. The models that reproduced our experimental observations best featured (a) glucose regulation of both Snf1 phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, (b) determination of the Mig1 phosphorylation status in the absence of glucose by Snf1 activity only and (c) a regulatory step directing active Snf1 to Mig1 under glucose limitation. Hence it appears that glucose de‐repression via Snf1‐Mig1 is regulated by glucose via at least two independent steps: the control of activation of the Snf1 kinase and directing active Snf1 to inactivating its target Mig1.
Fatigue crack growth and damage tolerance
Authors: Jones R.
Published: February 2014

The problems arising as a result of aging aircraft, rail and civil infrastructure have focused attention on tools for predicting the growth of cracks from small naturally occurring material discontinuities. To this end, the present paper discusses on the difference between the analysis tools needed for ab initio design and sustainment, modelling of cracks that grow from small naturally occurring material discontinuities and ways to determine the short crack da/dN versus ΔK data from long crack American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) tests. It also discusses how existing equations can be used to predict short crack growth and how to account for the variations seen in crack growth histories. Attention is also focused on the recent Federal Aviation Administration limit of validity ruling and the effect of the environment on widespread fatigue damage in civil transport aircraft.
Effects of climate‐induced increases in summer drought on riparian plant species: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Garssen Annemarie G. , Verhoeven Jos T. A. , Soons Merel B.
Published: February 2014

Frequency and duration of summer droughts are predicted to increase in the near future in many parts of the world, with considerable anticipated effects on riparian plant community composition and species richness. Riparian plant communities along lowland streams are characterised by high species richness due to their system‐specific environmental gradients. As these streams and their hydrological gradients are mainly rain‐fed, they are sensitive to precipitation changes.

We conducted a literature survey and meta‐analysis to examine the effects of an increase in summer drought on: (i) riparian plant biomass; (ii) riparian seedling survival and (iii) riparian plant species composition and richness. We also aimed to determine whether hydrological thresholds related to drought tolerance can be distinguished for riparian plant species.

ISI Web of Knowledge was searched for relevant peer‐reviewed studies, and 23 papers were found that met our criteria and contained quantitative study results. To detect overall responses of biomass and seedling survival, a random‐effects model was applied using Comprehensive Meta‐analysis™ software. Regression curves were then fitted to response ratio data relating the effects on drought‐impacted groups to those on control groups.

Our results showed that a drought duration of approximately >30 days strongly reduces riparian plant biomass and that a duration of approximately >30–35 days and high drought intensities (starting from 3 to 4 cm water table decline per day) can be detrimental for riparian seedling survival. Especially Populus and Salix seedlings showed a reduced survival in response to drought, in contrast to Tamarix seedlings, which have the ability to rapidly and expansively elongate their roots. The data also revealed that an increase in drought conditions rapidly leads to a decline of riparian species richness and an increased presence of species adjusted to drier conditions.

Riparian groundwater level, surface water permanence and certain plant traits, especially plasticity in rooting depth, were mentioned most frequently as factors determining species responses. Very few studies mentioned hydrological thresholds, such as critical values for ground‐ and/or surface water levels, and so far these results have proved difficult to generalise.

Our meta‐analysis has shown that the projected increase in the duration and intensity of drought periods, especially intense droughts lasting more than 30 days, can be expected to narrow the riparian wetland zone with typical hydric species and accelerate riparian wetland species losses in the near future. This may require extra efforts in terms of management and restoration of species‐rich riparian areas.
Predation and disease: understanding the effects of predators at several trophic levels on pathogen transmission
Authors: Orlofske Sarah A. , Jadin Robert C. , Hoverman Jason T. , Johnson Pieter T. J.
Published: February 2014

Predators can directly and indirectly influence host–parasite interactions by consuming infected individuals, by removing infectious parasite stages and by changing host traits (e.g. behaviour). Because such effects can affect infection positively or negatively, understanding the net effects of predation on pathogen transmission under natural conditions is important.

We conducted a mesocosm experiment to examine the effects of predators on interactions between tadpole hosts (Pseudacris regilla) and trematode parasites (Ribeiroia ondatrae). We manipulated the presence of (non‐lethal, i.e., caged) predators of tadpoles (dragonfly larvae) and (potentially lethal) parasite predators (damselfly larvae) to evaluate their individual and combined effects on host infection. We expected that dragonflies would reduce tadpole activity and thereby increase parasite infection through a reduction in antiparasite behaviour. Because damselflies can consume parasites in the laboratory, we predicted that damselflies would lower infection by consuming parasites before they infected tadpoles. Our goal was to evaluate the net consequences of these predator‐mediated effects for host/prey infection.

The presence of caged dragonflies reduced tadpole activity, resulting in a ˜50% increase in average infection load compared to treatments without predators. In contrast to our prediction that damselflies would reduce infection, damselflies elicited behavioural and morphological changes in hosts similar to dragonflies, with a comparable increase in parasite transmission. Thus, predator‐mediated effects were evident predominantly through changes in host/prey behaviour, rather than through changes in the abundance of parasites. The lack of a direct effect of predators on infection (i.e. via consumption of parasites) could be the result of the presence of alternative prey (zooplankton) or a mismatch in timing between visual predators feeding during the day and parasites released from the first intermediate host and infecting amphibians at night.

The presence of predators also stimulated morphological defences in their tadpole prey, including increased tail and body depth. Interestingly, we found that parasite infection also induced morphological changes in tadpole tail and body depth, similar to changes produced by (non‐lethal) cues from predators. Parasites caused malformations in tadpoles, but there were no effects on tadpole growth or development from either parasites or predators.

This research has key implications for linking predation and infectious disease in aquatic ecosystems. Our results emphasise the importance of indirect effects of predators on infection and highlight possible trade‐offs in mitigating the concurrent risks of predation and disease. Parasites can also alter host morphology through trait‐mediated effects similar to predators, supporting a broader inclusion of parasites in the study of the ecology of natural enemies.
Earlier and warmer springs increase cyanobacterial (Microcystis spp.) blooms in subtropical Lake Taihu, China
Authors: Deng Jianming , Qin Boqiang , Paerl Hans W. , Zhang Yunlin , Ma Jianrong , Chen Yuwei
Published: February 2014

We examined the effects of regional warming and water quality on phytoplankton community succession, focussing on the bloom‐forming cyanobacterial genus Microcystis in subtropical Lake Taihu, China. Daily air temperatures from 1991 to 2010 indicated that onset of the Microcystis growing season has advanced by approximately 20 days over the last two decades, and accumulated air temperature (from 1 March to 31 May) has increased significantly.

Since 2005, Microcystis blooms have begun in May more frequently than in June. An increase in degree days for growth indicated that the early warming trend in spring would have benefitted Microcystis populations that overwintered on the sediment surface, by allowing them to grow, gain buoyancy and float into water column earlier in the year.

Results of canonical correspondence analysis showed that both water quality (i.e. nutrient loading) and water temperature have affected phytoplankton community succession in spring over the past two decades. When nutrient concentrations are adequate to support Microcystis blooms, rising temperature promotes their earlier onset and proliferation, a phenomenon previously documented for temperate regions, and now demonstrated for this subtropical lake.
Niche differentiation among invasive crayfish and their impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning
Authors: Jackson Michelle C. , Jones Tabitha , Milligan Maaike , Sheath Danny , Taylor Jeff , Ellis Adam , England Judy , Grey Jonathan
Published: February 2014

Many aquatic ecosystems sustain multiple invasive species and interactions among them have important implications for ecosystem structure and functioning. Here, we examine interactions among two pairs of invasive crayfish species because of their close proximity and thus chance of sympatric populations in the near future within the Thames catchment, U.K. (signal, Pacifastacus leniusculus and virile crayfish, Orconectes virilis within a river system; red swamp, Procambarus clarkii and Turkish crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus found within a suite of ponds). We address two questions: do sympatric invasive crayfish occupy a smaller niche than their allopatric counterparts due to potential resource competition? and do interactions among invasive species amplify or mitigate one another's impacts on the ecosystem?

Two fully factorial mesocosm experiments (one for each crayfish pair) were used to investigate crayfish diet and their impact on benthic invertebrate community structure, benthic algal standing stock and leaf litter decomposition rates in allopatric and sympatric populations, compared with a crayfish‐free control. We used stable isotope analysis to examine crayfish diet in the mesocosms and in allopatric populations of each species in the Thames catchment.

Isotopic niche width did not vary significantly between allopatric and sympatric populations of crayfish in the mesocosm experiments, and isotopic niche partitioning in all the wild populations suggests the invaders can coexist.

All four species altered benthic invertebrate community structure but with differing functional effects, often mediated via trophic cascades. Red swamp crayfish predation upon snails evidently promoted benthic algal standing stock via reduction in grazing pressure. However, a trophic cascade whereby the crayfish consumed native invertebrate shredders, causing a reduction in net leaf litter decomposition, was decoupled by red swamp and signal crayfish since they consumed leaf litter directly and thus moderated the cascade to a trickle when in sympatry with Turkish or virile crayfish, respectively.

Benthic invertebrate predator abundance was significantly reduced by sympatric red swamp and Turkish crayfish but not independently when in allopatry, indicating an amplified effect overall when in sympatry.

Our results suggest that the combined effect of multiple invasions on the ecosystem can reflect either an additive effect of their independent impacts or an amplified effect, which is greater than the sum of their independent impacts. A lack of general pattern in their effects makes any potential management strategy more complex.
A variant in ANKK1 modulates acute subjective effects of cocaine: a preliminary study
Authors: Spellicy C. J. , Harding M. J. , Hamon S. C. , Mahoney J. J. , Reyes J. A. , Kosten T. R. , Newton T. F. , De La Garza R. , Nielsen D. A.
Published: February 2014

This study aimed to evaluate whether functional variants in the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain‐containing 1 (ANKK1) gene and/or the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) gene modulate the subjective effects (reward or non‐reward response to a stimulus) produced by cocaine administration. Cocaine‐dependent participants (N = 47) were administered 40 mg of cocaine or placebo at time 0, and a subjective effects questionnaire (visual analog scale) was administered 15 min prior to cocaine administration, and at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min following administration. The influence of polymorphisms in the ANKK1 and DRD2 genes on subjective experience of cocaine in the laboratory was tested. Participants with a T allele of ANKK1 rs1800497 experienced greater subjective ‘high’ (P = 0.00006), ‘any drug effect’ (P = 0.0003) and ‘like’ (P = 0.0004) relative to the CC genotype group. Although the variant in the DRD2 gene was shown to be associated with subjective effects, linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that this association was driven by the ANKK1 rs1800497 variant. A participant's ANKK1 genotype may identify individuals who are likely to experience greater positive subjective effects following cocaine exposure, including greater ‘high’ and ‘like’, and these individuals may have increased vulnerability to continue using cocaine or they may be at greater risk to relapse during periods of abstinence. However, these results are preliminary and replication is necessary to confirm these findings.
Productivity, 15N dynamics and water use efficiency in low‐ and high‐input switchgrass systems
Authors: Pedroso Gabriel M. , van Kessel Chris , Six Johan , Putnam Daniel H. , Linquist Bruce A.
Published: February 2014

Sustainable and environmentally benign switchgrass production systems need to be developed for switchgrass to become a large‐scale dedicated energy crop. An experiment was conducted in California from 2009 to 2011 to determine the sustainability of low‐ and high‐input irrigated switchgrass systems as a function of yield, irrigation requirement, crop N removal, N translocation from aboveground (AG) to belowground (BG) biomass during senescence, and fertilizer 15N recovery (FNR) in the AG and BG biomass (0–300 cm), and soil (0–300 cm). The low‐input system consisted of a single‐harvest (mid‐fall) irrigated until flowering (early summer), while the high‐input system consisted of a two‐harvest system (early summer and mid‐fall) irrigated throughout the growing season. Three N fertilization rates (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1 yr−1) were applied as subtreatments in a single application in the spring of each year. A single pulse of 15N enriched fertilizer was applied in the first year of the study to micro‐plots within the 100 kg N ha−1 subplots. Average yields across years under optimal N rates (100 and 200 kg ha−1 yr−1 for low‐ and high‐input systems, respectively) were 20.7 and 24.8 Mg ha−1. However, the low input (372 ha mm) required 47% less irrigation than the high‐input system (705 ha mm) and achieved higher irrigation use efficiency. In addition, the low‐input system had 46% lower crop N removal, 53% higher N stored in BG biomass, and a positive N balance, presumably due to 49% of 15N translocation from AG to BG biomass during senescence. Furthermore, at the end of 3 years, the low‐input system had lower fertilizer 15N removed by harvest (26%) and higher FNR remaining in the system in BG biomass plus soil (31%) than the high‐input system (45% and 21%, respectively). Based on these findings, low‐input systems are more sustainable than high‐input systems in irrigated Mediterranean climates.