bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presentation and Publication Rates among Women and Men at AAO-HNS Meetings
Authors: Cohen Marc A. , Mirza Natasha , Dow Kristel , Abboud Soo Kim
Published: January 2013

Objective: We attempted to assess the percentages of abstracts submitted to annual American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) meetings from 2000 to 2004 by both women and men. We sought to determine the subsequent peer-reviewed overall publication rates for all submissions. We also studied trends of submission among female presenters and compared them to males. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary academic medical center. Methods: 2,463 total abstracts presented between 2000 and 2004 were searched in the computerized databases Medline and Pubmed in 2008. The published articles were examined by reviewers to assess publication rate, time to publication, gender of authorship and subspecialty of publication. Results: 1,413 (57.35%) posters and 1,051 (42.65%) oral presentations were presented from 2000 to 2004. Of the 1,413 posters presented, 275 (19.46%) were presented by female first authors. The female first-author poster publication rate was 33.81%, while the male first-author poster publication rate was 36.99% (p = 0.353). Of 1,051 oral presentations, 154 (14.65%) were presented by female first authors. The male first-author oral presentation publication rate was 60.98%, while the female first-author oral presentation publication rate was 59.09% (p = 0.657). There were no statistical differences in time to publication for posters (p = 0.796) or oral presentations (p = 0.737) between the genders. The majority of female first-author submissions involved pediatric (29.94%) and general (17.88%) otolaryngology. Conclusion: While women are increasingly drawn to otolaryngology, they represented less than 20% of total submissions at the annual AAO-HNS meetings from 2000 to 2004. Women more commonly submit poster than oral presentations. The eventual publication rates of abstracts and the average time to publication of presentations are equal between the genders.
Further Evidence of Contrasting Phenotypes Caused by Reciprocal Deletions and Duplications: Duplication of NSD1 Causes Growth Retardation and Microcephaly
Authors: Rosenfeld J.A. , Kim K.H. , Angle B. , Troxell R. , Gorski J.L. , Westemeyer M. , Frydman M. , Senturias Y. , Earl D. , Torchia B. , Schultz R.A. , Ellison J.W. , Tsuchiya K. , Zimmerman S. , Smolarek T.A. , Ballif B.C. , Shaffer L.G.
Published: January 2013

Microduplications of the Sotos syndrome region containing NSD1 on 5q35 have recently been proposed to cause a syndrome of microcephaly, short stature and developmental delay. To further characterize this emerging syndrome, we report the clinical details of 12 individuals from 8 families found to have interstitial duplications involving NSD1, ranging in size from 370 kb to 3.7 Mb. All individuals are microcephalic, and height and childhood weight range from below average to severely restricted. Mild-to-moderate learning disabilities and/or developmental delay are present in all individuals, including carrier family members of probands; dysmorphic features and digital anomalies are present in a majority. Craniosynostosis is present in the individual with the largest duplication, though the duplication does not include MSX2, mutations of which can cause craniosynostosis, on 5q35.2. A comparison of the smallest duplication in our cohort that includes the entire NSD1 gene to the individual with the largest duplication that only partially overlaps NSD1 suggests that whole-gene duplication of NSD1 in and of itself may be sufficient to cause the abnormal growth parameters seen in these patients. NSD1 duplications may therefore be added to a growing list of copy number variations for which deletion and duplication of specific genes have contrasting effects on body development.
Ex vivo effects of low-dose rivaroxaban on specific coagulation assays and coagulation factor activities in patients under real life conditions
Authors: Hesse Christian , Stratmann Gertrud , Lindhoff-Last Edelgard , Mani Helen
Published: January 2013

Global coagulation assays display variable effects at different concentrations of rivaroxaban. The aim of this study is to quantify the ex vivo effects of low-dose rivaroxaban on thrombophilia screening assays and coagulation factor activities based on the administration time, and to show how to mask possible interferences. Plasma samples from 40 patients receiving rivaroxaban 10 mg daily were investigated to measure activities of clotting factor II, V, VII, VIII, IX, XI, XII and XIII; protein C- and protein S-levels; lupus anticoagulants; anticardiolipin IgG and IgM; D-dimer, heparin-platelet factor 4 (HPF4) antibodies and screening tests for von Willebrand disease (VWD). Two hours after rivaroxaban administration, the activities of clotting factors were significantly decreased to different extents, except for factor XIII. Dilution of plasma samples resulted in neutralisation of these interferences. The chromogenic protein C activity assay was not affected by rivaroxaban. Depending on the timing of tablet intake in relation to blood sampling protein S activity was measured falsely high when a clotting assay was used. False-positive results for lupus anticoagulants were observed depending on the assay system used and the administration time of rivaroxaban. ELISA-based assays such as anticardiolipin IgG and IgM, D-dimer, HPF4-antibodies and the turbidimetric assays for VWD were not affected by rivaroxaban. Specific haemostasis clotting tests should be performed directly prior to rivaroxaban intake. Assay optimisation in the presence of rivaroxaban can be achieved by plasma dilution. Immunologic assays are not influenced by rivaroxaban, while chromogenic assays can be used, when they do not depend on factor Xa.
Evidence on the Accuracy of Merger Simulations
Authors: Weinberg Matthew C. , Hosken Daniel
Published: January 2013

This paper evaluates the efficacy of a structural model of oligopoly used for merger review. Using premerger data, we estimate several demand systems and use a static Bertrand model to simulate the price effects of two mergers. Using pre- and postmerger data, we directly estimate the price effects. The direct estimates imply that one merger resulted in moderate price increases, while the second left prices essentially unchanged. While some simulations are similar to the directly estimated price effects, overall simulations overstate the price effects in one case and understate them in the other. Explanations for the discrepancies are explored.
Signification, Essence, and Meno’s Paradox: A Reply to David Charles’s ‘Types of Definition in the Meno’
Authors: Fine Gail
Published: January 2013

According to David Charles, in the Meno Socrates fleetingly distinguishes the signification from the essence question, but, in the end, he conflates them. Doing so, Charles thinks, both leads to Meno’s paradox and prevents Socrates from answering it satisfactorily. I argue that Socrates doesn’t conflate the two questions, and that his reply to Meno’s paradox is more satisfactory than Charles allows.
Overseas Chinese and Merchant Philanthropy in China: From Culturalism to Nationalism
Authors: Peterson Glen
Published: January 2013

This article discusses how and why the cultural and political significance of China as ancestral home was transformed during the half century between 1850, which marked the start of mass migration from China, and the turn of the twentieth century when modern nationalist ideologies first appeared in China and then spread rapidly to Chinese emigrant communities in Southeast Asia and beyond. This phenomenon is examined by looking at the role of merchant philanthropy, which is a crucial site for the construction and articulation of emigrant discourses of native place attachment. The article first examines the rise of philanthropy as a merchant strategy for claiming elite status and community leadership and for negotiating with political power in late Imperial China. It then looks at how and why homeland philanthropy was embraced by merchants in overseas Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaya beginning in the late nineteenth century. The final section studies the shift in the ideological underpinning of merchant philanthropy from Confucian culturalism to modern nationalism, and considers the implications of this shift for merchants' role in native place society and politics.
Activists on the Fringe: Chinese Intelligentsia in Penang in the Early 20th Century
Authors: Tan Soon Cheng
Published: January 2013

From the early days when the Chinese immigrants started to arrive in Penang, until as recently as the first part of the 20th century, the Chinese had participated actively in the economic, social and political development of Penang. Among these pioneer immigrants, there was a group which was small and little noticed, compared to the commercially active traders, planters and laborers. Although not much written about, this group of individuals who contributed significantly to the educational and cultural development of the Chinese community in Penang was remarkably well captured in the book, Nanyang yingshu haixia zhimindi zhilüe (Gazetteer of the Nanyang British Straits Settlements), compiled by Song Yunpu, a Minguo (Republican period) merchant, and published around 1930. This article aims to study this particular group of Chinese in Penang by examining their aspirations and actions, to bring about an awareness of their influence and contribution.
Description of larvae of four Haliplus species from Australia (Coleoptera: Haliplidae)
Authors: van Vondel Bernhard J.
Published: January 2013

The third instar larvae of Haliplus fortescueensis Watts & McRae, 2010, H. halsei Watts & McRae, 2010, H. pilbaraensis Watts & McRae, 2010 and H. pinderi Watts & McRae, 2010 are described, together with the first instar larva of H. halsei Watts & McRae, 2010. A key to the six known third stage larvae of Australian Haliplidae is given and notes are given on subgeneric placement of the species.
Taxonomy of Papuasian Onthophagus: twenty new species and their relatives (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Authors: Krikken J. , Huijbregts J.
Published: January 2013

The species composition of the genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 in Papuasia (New Guinea and adjacent islands) is discussed. Twenty new species from Papuasia are described and illustrated, several being accommodated in multi-species operational groups; a synoptic guide and keys to the species are given. The following new species are proposed: Onthophagus (eliptaminus group): O. kokoiorus, O. solomonensis; Onthophagus (pedisequus group): O. mokwamensis; Onthophagus (quadripustulatus group): O. tarasovi; Onthophagus (tauroides group): O. opacotaurus, O. pseudocostifer; Onthophagus (coprimorphus group): O. ioranus, O. ubaidillahi; Onthophagus (declivis group): O. francoisgenieri; Onthophagus (labdacus group): O. alaindrumonti, O. andrewsmithi; Onthophagus (platalea group): O. yifer; Onthophagus (asper group): O. papurugosus. The following new species have no obvious close Papuasian relatives: Onthophagus hagenmontis, O. ioramaculatus, O. papuater, O. papuplicatus, O. peotoxus, O. sylvipapuanus, O. toxopeus. A lectotype is designated for Onthophagus costifer Gillet, 1930, in the tauroides group. A list of all named Papuasian species of Onthophagus is given.
Kyphosus gladius, a new species of sea chub from Western Australia (Teleostei: Kyphosidae), with comments on Segutilum klunzingeri Whitley
Authors: KNUDSEN STEEN WILHELM , CLEMENTS KENDALL D.
Published: January 2013

Two morphologically distinct forms of the nominal species Kyphosus sydneyanus (Günther, 1886) (Kyphosidae) were discerned while collecting off Western Australia near Perth in 2009. A morphological comparison with recognized species of Kyphosus and an analysis of mtDNA (Cytochrome b, control region, 12S and 16S) and three nDNA markers (RAG1, RAG2 and Tmo-4C4) demonstrated that the more elongate of these forms was an undescribed species of Kyphosus. It differs from congeners in the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the combination of the following characters: green bar on the operculum, 11–12 dorsal soft fin rays, depth of caudal peduncle 9.9–11.8 % SL, body depth 33.3–41.6 % SL, 55–63 scales in lateral line, 12–16 interorbital scales, 44–55 pored scales in the lateral line, 3–5 gill rakers on upper limb of first gill arch internally, 11–15 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch internally, 15–19 total gill rakers on first gill arch, and by having 10 precaudal vertebrae and 16 caudal vertebrae. Examination of museum specimens and available underwater photographs suggests that the new species is restricted to Western Australia, and to date it has been recorded between the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and Albany. Discrepancies between the type specimen and original description of Segutilum klunzingeri Whitley made it impossible to determine the relationship between this taxon and the new species from Western Australia, and thus we consider S. klunzingeri a nomen dubium.
Pacificulla gen. nov. of Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea) from New Guinea, with descriptions of six new species
Authors: PARK KYU-TEK , LEE SANGMI
Published: January 2013

Pacificulla Park, gen. nov. related to Crocanthes Meyrick is described from New Guinea, based on the type species P. flaviagra Park, sp. nov. Five additional species are described: P. esdiparki Park, sp. nov., P. searsi Park, sp. nov., P. callisomata Park, sp. nov., P. cervicalis Park, sp. nov., and P. kekamatana Park, sp. nov. The following six new combinations are proposed, the species of which were formerly included in Crocanthes: Pacificulla thrasydora (Meyrick, 1910), comb. nov.; P. philotima (Diakonoff, 1954), comb. nov.; P. miltina (Durrant, 1915), comb. nov.; P. ignigera (Meyrick, 1938), comb. nov.; P. zonias (Meyrick, 1904), comb. nov.; and P. geniola (Meyrick, 1931), comb. nov. C. xanthorrhoea Diakonoff is synonymized with P. philotima (Diakonoff). The upper surface of adults, labial palpi, and genitalia of all described species are illustrated, including the wing venation of two representative species.
A new species of the highland frog genus Holoaden (Amphibia, Strabomantidae) from cloud forests of southeastern Brazil
Authors: MARTINS ITAMAR A. , ZAHER HUSSAM
Published: January 2013

A new species of the genus Holoaden is described from the Atlantic forest of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, being restricted to primary or slightly disturbed high altitude cloud forests along the northeastern portion of the Serra do Mar. The typelocality is determined as Estação Ecológica de Bananal, in the Municipality of Bananal, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The new species is characterized by its moderate body size (female 42.6–44.2 mm SVL; male 37.2–38.5 mm SVL) with long and slender limbs, a head wider than long, a highly glandular dorsum, covered by well developed macroglands that extend to the internasal region, thigh and tibia, and an intense dark brown dorsal coloration and dark grey ventral surface.
Redescription of Cis taurus (Reitter, 1878) (Coleoptera: Ciidae)
Authors: OLIVEIRA ESTER H. , LOPES-ANDRADE CRISTIANO
Published: January 2013

Cis taurus (Reitter) is the type-species of Macrocis Reitter, a genus subsequently synonymized with Cis Latreille. It names a diversified but barely studied species-group of Cis, the taurus group. The objective of the present work is to redescribe C. taurus, designate a lectotype and provide the first description of male abdominal terminalia of the species. We also provide new data on its geographic distribution, restricted to three major Mexico mountain ranges: the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (Sierra Nevada). This is a first and important step in the ongoing revision of the taurus species-group.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis as a Risk Factor of Papillary Thyroid Cancer May Improve Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Lun Yu , Wu Xiaoyu , Xia Qian , Han Yanshuo , Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Zhimin , Wang Fengyi , Duan Zhiquan , Xin Shijie , Zhang Jian
Published: January 2013

Objective

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) has been associated with an elevated risk of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). To investigate the possible influence of HT on the prognosis of PTC patients, we assessed the related clinical factors linking these conditions, especially serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration.

Study Design

Case‐control study.

Setting

The First Hospital of China Medical University.

Subjects and Methods

The demographic and histological characteristics of 2478 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at our center from 2004 to 2012 were analyzed.

Results

Compared with patients with benign thyroid nodular disease, patients with PTC showed a significantly higher prevalence of HT (18.8% vs 7.2%, P <. 001), mean TSH concentrations (2.02 ± 1.76 vs 1.46 ± 1.21 mIU/L, P <. 001), and positivity rates for anti–thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAB; 40.0% vs 20.4%, P <. 001) and anti–thyroid peroxidase antibodies (24.8% vs 12.5%, P <. 001). These differences remained after excluding all HT patients. The TSH concentrations were significantly higher in PTC patients with HT than in those without HT (2.54 ± 2.06 vs 1.90 ± 1.66 mIU/L, P =. 001). Patients with PTC and HT were younger, with a female predominance, and had smaller sized tumors with less advanced TNM stage compared with those without HT, indicating a better prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that HT, higher TSH concentration, male sex, and TGAB positivity were independent risk factors for PTC development.

Conclusion

Histologically confirmed HT is associated with a significantly higher risk of PTC, due primarily to the higher serum TSH concentrations resulting from the tendency to hypothyroidism in HT. Autoimmunity is another independent risk factor for PTC but may be associated with a better prognosis.
Whose awakening is it? Youth and the geopolitics of civic engagement in the ‘Arab Awakening’
Authors: Staeheli Lynn , Nagel Caroline R
Published: January 2013

The ‘Arab Awakening’ in 2011 witnessed a series of uprisings that had many different influences and motivations, but that collectively unsettled governing and rule in the region. Amongst the influences on the uprisings are geopolitical interests and strategies on the part of international organisations and programmes that promote civic engagement and citizenship on the part of young people in the region. These programmes had multiple goals, including improving the image of the West amongst people in the Middle East who might otherwise be suspicious of the West and training young people to enact democratic change through civil society. Such programmes are often accused of importing values and practices associated with the West and of depoliticising activism. The events of 2011, however, suggest the indeterminacy of the programmes and the unpredictable ways in which youth use the skills they learned. Given this, the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes of the programmes – and indeed of the protests in 2011 – remain uncertain.
Piet Mondrian’s trees and the evolution in understanding multiple sclerosis, Charcot Prize Lecture 2011
Authors: Steinman Lawrence , Axtell Robert C , Barbieri Donald , Bhat Roopa , Brownell Sara E , de Jong Brigit A , Dunn Shannon E , Grant Jacqueline L , Han May H , Ho Peggy P , Kuipers Hedwich F , Kurnellas Michael P , Ousman Shalina S , Rothbard Jonathan B
Published: January 2013

Four questions were posed about multiple sclerosis (MS) at the 2011 Charcot Lecture, Oct. 22, 2011. 1. The Male/Female Disparity: Why are women developing MS so much more frequently than men? 2. Neuronal and Glial Protection: Are there guardian molecules that protect the nervous system in MS? 3. Predictive Medicine: With all the approved drugs, how can we rationally decide which one to use? 4. The Precise Scalpel vs. the Big Hammer for Therapy: Is antigen-specific therapy for demyelinating disease possible? To emphasize how our views on the pathogenesis and treatment of MS are evolving, and given the location of the talk in Amsterdam, Piet Mondrian’s progressive interpretations of trees serve as a heuristic.
Allostatic load in parents of children with developmental disorders: Moderating influence of positive affect
Authors: Song Jieun , Mailick Marsha R , Ryff Carol D , Coe Christopher L , Greenberg Jan S , Hong Jinkuk
Published: January 2013

This study examines whether parents of children with developmental disorders are at risk of elevated allostatic load relative to control parents and whether positive affect moderates difference in risk. In all, 38 parents of children with developmental disorders and 38 matched comparison parents were analyzed. Regression analyses revealed a significant interaction between parent status and positive affect: parents of children with developmental disorders had lower allostatic load when they had higher positive affect, whereas no such association was evident for comparison parents. The findings suggest that promoting greater positive affect may lower health risks among parents of children with developmental disorders.
The crystal structure of kraisslite, [4]Zn3(Mn, Mg)25(Fe3+,Al)(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]10(OH)16, from the Sterling Hill mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey,
USA
Authors: Cooper M. A. , Hawthorne F. C.
Published: January 2013

The crystal structure of kraisslite, orthorhombic (pseudo-hexagonal), a = 8.1821(1), b = 14.1946(3), c = 43.9103(8) Å, V = 5099.8(2) Å3, Z = 4 and dcalc = 4.083 g cm–3, has been solved by direct methods and refined in the space group C2221 to an R1 index of 1.68% for 7432 observed (|Fo| > 4σ|F|) reflections. Electron-microprobe analysis gave the following chemical composition: As2O510.86, As2O36.18, SiO213.39, Al2O30.25, Fe2O32.06, MnO 51.14, ZnO 7.39, MgO 2.13, CaO 0.05, H2Ocalc = 4.50, sum 97.95 wt.%; and empirical formula: Zn2.91(Mn23.07Mg1.69Ca0.03)Σ=24.79(Fe0.833+Al0.16)Σ=0.99(As3+O3)2[(Si0.71As0.305+)O4]10(OH)16 calculated on the basis of 62 anions with (OH) = 16 and As3+/(As3+ + As5+) taken from the refined crystal structure. The general formula, [4]Zn3(Mn,Mg)25(Fe3+,Al)(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]10(OH)16, differs from those given previously.

There is one As3+ site with a  distance of 1.780 Å and a stereochemistry typical of a stereoactive lone-pair of electrons. There are five tetrahedrally coordinated T sites with  distances from 1.635 to 1.692 Å; the T(1) site is fully occupied by As5+, and the T(2)–T(5) sites are occupied by both Si and As5+. There are two tetrahedrally coordinated Zn sites with  distances of ∼1.996 Å, both of which are occupied by dominant Zn and minor Mn2+. There are thirteen octahedrally coordinated M sites, twelve of which are occupied by dominant Mn2+ with lesser Mg and minor Zn;  distances are in the range 2.197–2.284 Å. The  distance is 2.083 Å and its lower site scattering indicates occupancy by Fe3+, Mn2+, Mg and Al. The structure consists of five crystallographically distinct layers of polyhedra, labelled m = 0 – 4. Layer m = 0 consists of corner-sharing Zn and (Si, As5+) tetrahedra, and layers m = 1–4 each consist of trimers of Mn2+ octahedra linked by (Si, As5+) tetrahedra and intrasheet hydrogen bonds (m = 1, 3) or (Si, As5+) tetrahedra and (Fe3+,Al) octahedra (m = 2) or (As5+) tetrahedra and (As3+O3) triangular pyramids and intrasheet hydrogen bonds (m = 4). The layers stack along [001] with reversals of the sequence m = 1, 2, 3, 4 at z = 0, ¼, ½ and ¾. Kraisslite is a member of the mcgovernite family.
A note on the Analogue of Lebesgue-Radon-Nikodym theorem with respect to weighted p-adic q-measure on "Equation missing"
Authors: Pak Hong Kyung , Rim Seog Hoon , Jeong Joohee
Published: January 2013

We give the analogue of the Lebesgue-Radon-Nikodym theorem with respect to a weighted p-adic q-measure on

Z
p

. In a special case, when the weight

q
x

is 1, we can derive the same result as Kim et al. (Abstr. Appl. Anal. 2011:637634, 2011). And if

q
=
1

, we have the same result as Kim (Russ. J. Math. Phys. 19:193-196, 2012).

MSC:11B68, 11S80.
Differential proteomics and physiology of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 under filament-inducing conditions
Authors: Crabbé Aurélie , Leroy Baptiste , Wattiez Ruddy , Aertsen Abram , Leys Natalie , Cornelis Pierre , Van Houdt Rob
Published: January 2013

Background

Pseudomonas putidaexerts a filamentous phenotype in response to environmental stress conditions that are encountered during its natural life cycle. This study assessed whetherP. putidafilamentation could confer survival advantages. Filamentation ofP. putidawas induced through culturing at low shaking speed and was compared to culturing in high shaking speed conditions, after which whole proteomic analysis and stress exposure assays were performed.

Results

P. putidagrown in filament-inducing conditions showed increased resistance to heat and saline stressors compared to non-filamented cultures. Proteomic analysis showed a significant metabolic change and a pronounced induction of the heat shock protein IbpA and recombinase RecA in filament-inducing conditions. Our data further indicated that the associated heat shock resistance, but not filamentation, was dependent of RecA.

Conclusions

This study provides insights into the altered metabolism ofP. putidain filament-inducing conditions, and indicates that the formation of filaments could potentially be utilized byP. putidaas a survival strategy in its hostile, recurrently changing habitat.
Severe hypovitaminosis D correlates with increased inflammatory markers in HIV infected patients
Authors: Ansemant Thiphaine , Mahy Sophie , Piroth Christine , Ornetti Paul , Ewing Stephanie , Guilland Jean-Claude , Croisier Delphine , Duvillard Laurence , Chavanet Pascal , Maillefert Jean-Francis , Piroth Lionel
Published: January 2013

Background

Even though it has been suggested that antiretroviral therapy has an impact on severe hypovitaminosis D (SHD) in HIV infected patients, it could be speculated that the different levels of residual inflammation on HAART (Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy) could contribute to SHD and aggravate bone catabolism in these patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in an unselected cohort of 263 HIV infected outpatients consulting during Spring 2010. Clinical examinations were performed and medical history, food habits, sun exposure and addictions were collected. Fasting blood samples were taken for immunological, virological, inflammation, endocrine and bone markers evaluations.

Results

Ninety-five (36%) patients had SHD. In univariate analysis, a significant and positive association was found between SHD and IL6 (p = 0.001), hsCRP (p = 0.04), increased serum C-Telopeptides X (CTX) (p = 0.005) and Parathyroid Hormon (PTH) (p < 0.0001) levels. In multivariate analysis, SHD deficiency correlated significantly with increased IL-6, high serum CTX levels, lower mean daily exposure to the sun, current or past smoking, hepatitis C, and functional status (falls), but not with the time spent on the current HAART (by specific drug or overall).

Conclusions

SHD is frequent and correlates with inflammation in HIV infected patients. Since SHD is also associated with falls and increased bone catabolism, it may be of interest to take into account not only the type of antiretroviral therapy but also the residual inflammation on HAART in order to assess functional and bone risks. This finding also suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in these HIV-infected patients.
Chemopreventive effect of Copaifera langsdorffii leaves hydroalcoholic extract on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced DNA damage and preneoplastic lesions in rat colon
Authors: Senedese Juliana Marques , Alves Jacqueline Morais , Lima Ildercílio Mota de Souza , de Andrade Erick Augusto Pedroso , Furtado Ricardo Andrade , Bastos Jairo Kenupp , Tavares Denise Crispim
Published: January 2013

Background

Natural antioxidants present in common foods and beverages have drawn great attention to cancer prevention due to its health benefits, remarkable lack of toxicity and side effects. Copaifera langsdorffii, known as “copaiba”, “capaiva”, or “pau-de-óleo“, belongs to the Leguminosae family and occurs in fields and grasslands in the northern and northeastern parts of Brazil. Biological studies of Copaifera corroborate its widespread use by the population. This paper describes the effects of C. langsdorffii leaves hydroalcoholic extract on the 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced DNA damage and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon of male Wistar rats.

Methods

The hydroalcoholic extract of C. langsdorffii was administered to rats by gavage at daily doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight. To evaluate DNA damage by the comet assay, animals received the C. langsdorffii extract for seven days and a single subcutaneous injection (sc) of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) at a dose of 40 mg/kg on day 7. Animals were sacrificed 4 h after injection of DMH, to assess DNA damage. For the ACF assay, animals were acclimatized for one week (week 1) and then treated with the C. langsdorffii extract five times a week for four weeks (weeks 2 to 5). The rats received sc injections of DMH (40 mg/kg) on days 2 and 5 of weeks 2 and 3, to induce ACF. Animals were euthanized at week 5; i.e., four weeks after the first DMH treatment.

Results

Animals treated with different doses of the C. langsdorffii extract combined with DMH had significantly lower frequency of DNA damage as compared with the positive control (animals treated with DMH only). The percentage of reduction in the frequency of DNA damage ranged from 14.30% to 38.8%. The groups treated with 40 and 80 mg/kg C. langsdorffii extract during and after DMH treatment presented significantly lower numbers of ACF and aberrant crypts compared with the control.

Conclusion

The C. langsdorffii extract significantly reduced the extent of DNA damage and ACF induced by DMH, suggesting that the extract has a protective effect against colon carcinogenesis.
Dietary grape polyphenol resveratrol increases mammary tumor growth and metastasis in immunocompromised mice
Authors: Castillo-Pichardo Linette , Cubano Luis A , Dharmawardhane Suranganie
Published: January 2013

Background

Resveratrol, a polyphenol from grapes and red wine has many health beneficial effects, including protection against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. However, our group and others have provided evidence for a dual cancer promoting or inhibitory role for resveratrol in breast cancer, dependent on estrogenic or antiestrogenic activities. Moreover, much of the inhibitory effects of resveratrol have been reported from studies with high non-physiological concentrations.

Methods

We investigated the effects of a range of concentrations (0.5, 5, 50 mg/kg body weight) of resveratrol on mammary tumor development post-initiation, using immunocompromised mice.

Results

Our findings suggest promotion of mammary tumor growth and metastasis by resveratrol at all concentrations tested in tumors derived from the low metastatic estrogen receptor (ER)α(-), ERβ(+) MDA-MB-231 and the highly metastatic ER(-) MDA-MB-435 cancer cell lines. Additionally, the activity of the migration/invasion regulator Rac, which we have previously shown to be regulated by resveratrol in vitro, was measured in tumors from resveratrol treated mice. Our results show a significant induction of tumoral Rac activity and a trend in increased expression of the Rac downstream effector PAK1 and other tumor promoting molecules following resveratrol treatment.

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings implicate low concentrations of resveratrol in potential promotion of breast cancer. Therefore, this study illuminates the importance of further delineating resveratrol’s concentration dependent effects, particularly in breast cancer, before it can be tested in the clinic or used as a dietary supplement for breast cancer patients.
Plasma cytokines, chemokines and cellular immune responses in pre-school Nigerian children infected with Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Noone Cariosa , Parkinson Michael , Dowling David J , Aldridge Allison , Kirwan Patrick , Molloy Síle F , Asaolu Samuel O , Holland Celia , O’Neill Sandra M
Published: January 2013

Background

Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with over one million deaths annually, particularly in children under five years. This study was the first to examine plasma cytokines, chemokines and cellular immune responses in pre-school Nigerian children infected withPlasmodium falciparumfrom four semi-urban villages near Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Methods

Blood was obtained from 231 children (aged 39–73 months) who were classified according to meanP. falciparumdensity per μl of blood (uninfected (n = 89), low density (<1,000, n = 51), medium density (1,000-10,000, n = 65) and high density (>10,000, n = 22)). IL-12p70, IL-10, Nitric oxide, IFN-γ, TNF, IL-17, IL-4 and TGF-β, C-C chemokine RANTES, MMP-8 and TIMP-1 were measured in plasma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained and examined markers of innate immune cells (CD14, CD36, CD56, CD54, CD11c AND HLA-DR). T-cell sub-populations (CD4, CD3 and γδTCR) were intracellularly stained for IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF following polyclonal stimulation or stimulated with malaria parasites.Ascaris lumbricoideswas endemic in these villages and all data were analysed taking into account the potential impact of bystander helminth infection. All data were analysed using SPSS 15 for windows and in all tests,p<0.05 was deemed significant.

Results

The level ofP. falciparumparasitaemia was positively associated with plasma IL-10 and negatively associated with IL-12p70. The percentage of monocytes was significantly decreased in malaria-infected individuals while malaria parasitaemia was positively associated with increasing percentages of CD54+, CD11c+and CD56+cell populations. No association was observed in cytokine expression in mitogen-activated T-cell populations between groups and no malaria specific immune responses were detected. AlthoughA. lumbricoidesis endemic in these villages, an analysis of the data showed no impact of this helminth infection onP. falciparumparasitaemia or on immune responses associated withP. falciparuminfection.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that Nigerian children infected withP. falciparumexhibit immune responses associated with active malaria infection and these responses were positively associated with increasedP. falciparumparasitaemia.
Calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation facilitated Fat loss in overweight and obese college students with very-low calcium consumption: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhu Wei , Cai Donglian , Wang Ying , Lin Ning , Hu Qingqing , Qi Yang , Ma Shuangshuang , Amarasekara Sidath
Published: January 2013

Background

Recent evidence suggests that higher calcium and/or vitamin D intake may be associated with lower body weight and better metabolic health. Due to contradictory findings from intervention trials, we investigated the effect of calcium plus vitamin D3 (calcium+D) supplementation on anthropometric and metabolic profiles during energy restriction in healthy, overweight and obese adults with very-low calcium consumption.

Methods

Fifty-three subjects were randomly assigned in an open-label, randomized controlled trial to receive either an energy-restricted diet (−500 kcal/d) supplemented with 600 mg elemental calcium and 125 IU vitamin D3 or energy restriction alone for 12 weeks. Repeated measurements of variance were performed to evaluate the differences between groups for changes in body weight, BMI, body composition, waist circumference, and blood pressures, as well as in plasma TG, TC, HDL, LDL, glucose and insulin concentrations.

Results

Eighty-one percent of participants completed the trial (85% from the calcium + D group; 78% from the control group). A significantly greater decrease in fat mass loss was observed in the calcium + D group (−2.8±1.3 vs.-1.8±1.3 kg; P=0.02) than in the control group, although there was no significant difference in body weight change (P>0.05) between groups. The calcium + D group also exhibited greater decrease in visceral fat mass and visceral fat area (P<0.05 for both). No significant difference was detected for changes in metabolic variables (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation for 12 weeks augmented body fat and visceral fat loss in very-low calcium consumers during energy restriction.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01447433, http://clinicaltrials.gov/).
Resection of an intra-operative ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma with continuous pringle maneuver and in situ hypothermic perfusion through the inferior mesenteric vein - a case report
Authors: Lin Yueh-Ming , Chiang Li-Wei , Wang Shih-Ho , Lin Chih-Che , Chen Chao-Long , Millan Carlos A , Wang Chih-Chi
Published: January 2013

Intra-operative tumor rupture is a serious complication during resection of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leading to more blood loss. We report our experience in applying continuous Pringle maneuver with in situ hypothermic perfusion via inferior mesenteric vein catheterization to the portal vein of the remnant liver for resection during an extended left lobectomy of a large HCC which ruptured intraoperatively. Using this method, we successfully managed the patient without any further morbidity. This technique provides easier accessibility of in situ perfusion, decreases operative blood loss and prevents warm ischemic injury to the remnant liver during parenchymal transection. This method could be effective for the resection of large ruptured HCC.
Chemokine CXCL14 is associated with prognosis in patients with colorectal carcinoma after curative resection
Authors: Zeng Jun , Yang Xudan , Cheng Lin , Liu Rui , Lei Yunlong , Dong Dandan , Li Fanghua , Lau Quek Choon , Deng Longfei , Nice Edouard C , Xie Ke , Huang Canhua
Published: January 2013

Background

The chemokine CXCL14 has been reported to play an important role in the progression of many malignancies such as breast cancer and papillary thyroid carcinoma, but the role of CXCL14 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains to be established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression pattern and significance of CXCL14 in CRC progression.

Method

265 colorectal carcinoma specimens and 129 matched adjacent normal colorectal mucosa specimens were collected. Expression of CXCL14 in clinical samples was examined by immunostaining. The effect of CXCL14 on colorectal carcinoma cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay, BrdU incorporation assay and colony formation assay. The impact of CXCL14 on migration and invasion of colorectal carcinoma cells was determined by transwell assay and Matrigel invasion assay, respectively.

Results

CXCL14 expression was significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent nontumorous mucosa tissues (P < 0.001). Tumoral CXCL14 expression levels were significantly correlated with TNM (Tumor-node-metastasis) stage, histodifferentiation, and tumor size. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, high CXCL14 expression in tumor specimens (n = 91) from stage I/II patients was associated with increased risk for disease recurrence (risk ratio, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.15-7.40;P = 0.024). Elevated CXCL14 expression in tumor specimens (n = 135) from stage III/IV patients correlated with worse overall survival (risk ratio, 3.087; 95% CI, 1.866-5.107;P < 0.001). Functional studies demonstrated that enforced expression of CXCL14 in SW620 colorectal carcinoma cells resulted in more aggressive phenotypes. In contrast, knockdown of CXCL14 expression could mitigate the proliferative, migratory and invasive potential of HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, CXCL14 might be a potential novel prognostic factor to predict the disease recurrence and overall survival and could be a potential target of postoperative adjuvant therapy in CRC patients.
Multi-scale numerical simulations of thermal expansion properties of CNT-reinforced nanocomposites
Authors: Alamusi  , Hu Ning , Qiu Jianhui , Li Yuan , Chang Christiana , Atobe Satoshi , Fukunaga Hisao , Liu Yaolu , Ning Huiming , Wu Liangke , Li Jinhua , Yuan Weifeng , Watanabe Tomonori , Yan Cheng , Zhang Yajun
Published: January 2013

In this work, the thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced nanocomposites with CNT content ranging from 1 to 15 wt% were evaluated using a multi-scale numerical approach, in which the effects of two parameters, i.e., temperature and CNT content, were investigated extensively. For all CNT contents, the obtained results clearly revealed that within a wide low-temperature range (30°C ~ 62°C), thermal contraction is observed, while thermal expansion occurs in a high-temperature range (62°C ~ 120°C). It was found that at any specified CNT content, the thermal expansion properties vary with temperature - as temperature increases, the thermal expansion rate increases linearly. However, at a specified temperature, the absolute value of the thermal expansion rate decreases nonlinearly as the CNT content increases. Moreover, the results provided by the present multi-scale numerical model were in good agreement with those obtained from the corresponding theoretical analyses and experimental measurements in this work, which indicates that this multi-scale numerical approach provides a powerful tool to evaluate the thermal expansion properties of any type of CNT/polymer nanocomposites and therefore promotes the understanding on the thermal behaviors of CNT/polymer nanocomposites for their applications in temperature sensors, nanoelectronics devices, etc.
Polymicrobial endophthalmitis: prevalence, causative organisms, and visual outcomes
Authors: Jindal Animesh , Moreker Mayur R , Pathengay Avinash , Khera Manav , Jalali Subhadra , Majji Ajit , Mathai Annie , Sharma Savitri , Das Taraprasad , Flynn Harry W
Published: January 2013

Background

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the prevalence, causative organisms, and visual acuity outcome in patients with culture-proven polymicrobial endophthalmitis. The method used in this study is the non-comparative, consecutive case series using a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with polymicrobial endophthalmitis for the period 2000 to 2010.

Results

Polymicrobial endophthalmitis was identified in 43/1,107 (3.88%) patients. Forty-two patients had two isolates, and one patient had grown three isolates, yielding a total of 87 isolates. Gram-positive cocci were the most common isolate (n = 53; 60.9%) including Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 14/53; 16.1%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 13/53; 13.8%). The etiologies included posttraumatic (n = 31/43; 72.1%) and postoperative (n = 9/43; 20.9%) endophthalmitis. Antibiotic susceptibilities among Gram-positive bacteria were vancomycin (100%) and chloramphenicol (96%). Susceptibilities among Gram-negative bacteria were ciprofloxacin (86.4%) and ofloxacin (81.2%). A maximum number of secondary interventions were done in traumatic cases (38.7%) and cases having coinfection with Gram-negative bacteria and fungus (66.7%). Visual acuity (VA) < 20/200 was more frequently observed in posttraumatic cases (n = 27/31; 87.1%) as compared with postoperative cases (n = 4/9; 44.4%). Of the 43 patients, only 9 patients (20.9%) achieved a VA ≥ 20/200 on final follow-up. Four out of twelve patients (33.3%), with fungus as one of the isolates, had a VA ≥ 20/200.

Conclusions

Although polymicrobial infection in endophthalmitis is uncommon, it is generally associated with poor visual acuity outcomes especially in eyes with open-globe injuries. Coinfection with Gram-negative bacteria or fungi was associated with most unfavorable visual outcome.
Proteomic analysis of a disease-resistance-enhanced lesion mimic mutant spotted leaf 5 in rice
Authors: Chen Xifeng , Fu Shufang , Zhang Pinghua , Gu Zhimin , Liu Jianzhong , Qian Qian , Ma Bojun
Published: January 2013

Background

A lesion-mimic mutant in rice (Oryza sativaL.),spotted leaf 5(spl5), displays a disease-resistance-enhanced phenotype, indicating that SPL5 negatively regulates cell death and resistance responses. To understand the molecular mechanisms ofSPL5mutation-induced cell death and resistance responses, a proteomics-based approach was used to identify differentially accumulated proteins between thespl5mutant and wild type (WT).

Results

Proteomic data from two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that 14 candidate proteins were significantly up- or down-regulated in thespl5mutant compared with WT. These proteins are involved in diverse biological processes including pre-mRNA splicing, amino acid metabolism, photosynthesis, glycolysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, and defense responses. Two candidate proteins with a significant up-regulation inspl5– APX7, a key ROS metabolism enzyme and Chia2a, a pathogenesis-related protein – were further analyzed by qPCR and enzyme activity assays. Consistent with the proteomic results, both transcript levels and enzyme activities of APX7 and Chia2a were significantly induced during the course of lesion formation inspl5leaves.

Conclusions

Many functional proteins involving various metabolisms were likely to be responsible for the lesion formation ofspl5mutant. Generally, inspl5, the up-regulated proteins involve in defense response or PCD, and the down-regulated ones involve in amino acid metabolism and photosynthesis. These results may help to gain new insight into the molecular mechanism underlyingspl5-induced cell death and disease resistance in plants.
MMP13 is a critical target gene during the progression of osteoarthritis
Authors: Wang Meina , Sampson Erik R , Jin Hongting , Li Jia , Ke Qiao H , Im Hee-Jeong , Chen Di
Published: January 2013

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease affecting a large population of people. The mechanism of this highly prevalent disease is not fully understood. Currently there is no effective disease-modifying treatment for OA. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to investigate the role of MMP13 in the development of OA; and 2) to evaluate the efficacy of the MMP13 inhibitor CL82198 as a pharmacologic treatment for preventing OA progression.

Methods

To investigate the role of the endogenous Mmp13 gene in OA development, tamoxifen was administered to two-week-old Col2CreER;Mmp13
fx/fx
(Mmp13
Col2ER
) and Cre-negative control mice for five days. OA was induced by meniscal-ligamentous injury (MLI) when the mice were 10 weeks old and MLI or sham-operated joints were harvested 4, 8, 12, or 16 weeks after surgery. To evaluate the efficacy of CL82198, MLI surgery was performed on 10-week-old wild type mice. CL82198 or saline was administered to the mice daily beginning immediately after the surgery for up to 16 weeks. The joint tissues collected from both experiments were evaluated by cartilage grading, histology/histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The ability of CL82198 to inhibit MMP13 activity in vitro was confirmed by ELISA.

Results

The OA progression was decelerated in Mmp13
Col2ER
mice 8, 12, and 16 weeks post-surgery. Cartilage grading by blinded observers confirmed decreased articular cartilage degeneration in Mmp13
Col2ER
mice at 8, 12 and 16 weeks compared to Cre-negative mice. Histomorphometric analysis demonstrated that Mmp13
Col2ER
mice had a higher articular cartilage area and thickness at 12 and 16 weeks post-surgery compared to the control mice. Results of IHC revealed greater type II collagen and proteoglycan expression in Mmp13
Col2ER
mice. Chondrocyte apoptosis, as determined by TUNEL staining, was higher in control mice compared to Mmp13
Col2ER
mice. CL82198 inhibited MMP13 activity in conditioned media from vehicle (> 85%) or bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)-treated (> 90%) primary murine sternal chondrocytes. Intraperitoneal injection of CL82198 decelerated MLI-induced OA progression, increased type II collagen and proteoglycan levels, and inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis compared to saline treatment as determined by OA grading, histology, histomorphometry, IHC, and TUNEL staining, respectively.

Conclusions

Mmp13 is critical for OA progression and pharmacologic inhibition of MMP13 is an effective strategy to decelerate articular cartilage loss in a murine model of injury-induced knee OA.