bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive analysis of dyslipidaemia management in a large health care system
Authors: Khatana Sameed Ahmed Mustafa , Jiang Lan , Wu Wen‐Chih
Published: October 2013

Rationale, aims and objectives

Dyslipidaemia is a cardiovascular risk factor, and national screening and treatment guidelines have been established, but achievement of these remains inadequate. Multidisciplinary approaches, such as the chronic care model, have been applied to other chronic diseases and likely would be applicable to the management of dyslipidaemia. We therefore aimed to comprehensively study the different components of a multidisciplinary management approach to dyslipidaemia in a large health care system for patients at a high risk for cardiovascular events.

Methods

All patients at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the United States over 3 years with diabetes and/or coronary artery disease were included. Various clinical and demographic variables were collected and achievement of national cholesterol goals was determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the association of different health care variables with improved patient cholesterol guideline achievement.

Results

There were 3559 patients in the study population and 51.0% had achieved national cholesterol goals. Multivariate analyses showed that patients who had achieved goals were more likely to have attended cardiology clinic [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3–2.01] and nutrition clinic (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.04–1.7) and were more likely to have primary care providers who were nurse practitioners (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.0), practicing full‐time (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.5–2.1) and at the main hospital‐based clinics (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3–1.9).

Conclusions

Our study identifies different components of a multidisciplinary approach to management of dyslipidaemia that are efficacious and these results may help guide future investment in this area.
Why tuberculosis service providers do not follow treatment guideline in Ethiopia: a qualitative study
Authors: Mala George , Moser Albine , Dinant Geert‐Jan , Spigt Mark
Published: October 2013

Aim

Little is known about the reasons why tuberculosis (TB) service providers do not follow TB treatment guidelines. A better understanding of their real‐world experiences associated with non‐compliance with guideline may highlight opportunities for enhanced TB care. Whether the problem is actual or perceived may also affect the type of intervention needed to overcome the barrier. This study aimed to explore TB service providers' reasons for not complying with TB treatment guidelines.

Method

A descriptive qualitative design was used. Focus group discussions were held with 39 service providers involved in TB care. The study was carried out in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, in four of the six zonal hospitals. Data were analysed using content analysis.

Results

The main reasons for non‐compliance with TB treatment guidelines were: (1) insufficient diagnostic modalities, limiting the capacity to correctly diagnose TB and provide the right regimen; (2) ambiguity in guideline recommendations especially for specific subgroups of patients, making it difficult to prioritize them to the right regimen; and (3) poor documentation concerning referred patients, with no appropriate examination and difficulty obtaining information from previously treated patients.

Conclusion

Non‐compliance may reflect valid questions about the applicability of guideline recommendations in the local context of health care. Special consideration should be given to previously treated patients, as an important factor influencing guideline compliance. Guideline compliance may also be improved by a better strategy to retest those patients whose initial tests are negative in health care contexts where TB is frequently missed.
Medical specialists' views on the impact of reducing alcohol consumption on prognosis of, and risk of, hospital admission due to specific medical conditions: results from a Delphi survey
Authors: Mdege Noreen D. , Raistrick Duncan , Johnson Graham
Published: October 2013

Rationale, aims and objectives

To find consensus, or lack thereof, on the impact of reducing alcohol consumption on prognosis and the risk of hospital admissions for a number of alcohol‐attributable disorders.

Methods

A modified two‐round Delphi survey utilizing web‐based questionnaires to collect quantitative and qualitative data was used. Alcohol treatment experts from cardiology, emergency medicine, gastroenterology and oncology in the United Kingdom were invited to participate. The main outcomes were median impact ratings (on a scale of 1–9) and consensus (unanimous, strong, moderate, weak or no consensus).

Results

Of 192 experts invited to participate, 59 completed first questionnaires. The overall retention rate to the second questionnaires was about 51% (30/59). There was strong support that reducing alcohol consumption could result in improvement in prognosis for gastroenterology and emergency medicine patients; but uncertainty on the benefits for cardiology and oncology patients. Overall, the responses from the expert panel did not reflect the assumption that reducing alcohol consumption would result in benefits on hospital admissions for any of the specialties. The specialists viewed the severity of disorders as important when considering the impact of reducing alcohol consumption.

Conclusions

The highest impact of treatment for problem drinking in hospitals is considered to be for alcohol‐related disorders associated with gastroenterology and emergency medicine. At policy level, if targeted screening for alcohol problems by presenting disease or condition is the strategy of choice, it would be logical to implement screening and easily accessible interventions or addiction specialists within these areas where alcohol treatment is considered as having a high impact.
Tissue distribution of hepatopancreatic parvo‐like virus of shrimp in freshwater rice‐field crab, Paratelphusa hydrodomous (Herbst)
Authors: Madan N , Rajkumar T , Sundar Raj N , Farook M A , Nambi K S N , Abdul Majeed S , Sahul Hameed A S
Published: October 2013

An attempt was made to determine the replication efficiency of hepatopancreatic parvo‐like virus (HPV) of shrimp in different organs of freshwater rice‐field crab Paratelphusa hydrodomous (Herbst) using bioassay, PCR, RT‐PCR, ELISA, Western blot and q‐PCR analyses. Another attempt was made to use this crab as an alternative to penaeid shrimp for the large‐scale production of HPV. This crab was found to be highly susceptible to HPV by intramuscular injection. The systemic HPV infection was confirmed by PCR and Western blot analyses in freshwater crab. The expression of capsid protein gene in different organs of infected crab was revealed by RT‐PCR analysis. Indirect ELISA was used to quantify the capsid protein in different organs of the crab. The copy number of HPV in different organs of the infected crab was quantified by q‐PCR. The results revealed a steady decrease in CT values in different organs of the infected crab during the course of infection. The viral inoculum that was prepared from different organs of the infected crab caused significant mortality in post‐larvae of tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius). The results revealed that this rice‐field crab could be used as an alternative host for HPV replication and also for large‐scale production of HPV.
The flood risk management plan: towards spatial water governance
Authors: Hartmann T. , Driessen P.
Published: October 2013

The flood risk management plan challenges both water engineers and spatial planners. It calls for a new mode of governance for flood risk management. This contribution analyses how this mode of governance distinguishes from prevalent approaches. Spatial planning and water management in Europe are explored in terms of their actor relation, their institutional context, and their approach to the object. These three characteristics of the modes of governance are compared with the governance requirements that flood risk management demands. It is concluded that the governance of flood risk management in Europe should strike a balance between comprehensive and hierarchical planning on the one hand, and interactive planning on the other hand, leading to a spatial water governance.
Occurrence and Virulence Characteristics of Aeromonas Species in Meat, Milk and Fish in India
Authors: Manna Sanjib Kumar , Maurye Praveen , Dutta Chandraval , Samanta Gopal
Published: October 2013

Aeromonas‐induced gastroenteritis is common in India. The incidence of Aeromonas in meat, milk and fish in Kolkata, India and their enterotoxic potentiality have been evaluated here. Aeromonas contamination was detected in all or most of the meat and fish with average load of 1.1 × 102, 3.5 × 103, 1.1 × 103, 2.1 × 103 and 1.6 × 104 cfu/g of red meats, chicken, Indian major carps, tilapia and shrimp, respectively; the levels were at least one order higher on fish skin and meat surface. Aeromonas was also detected in milk and ready‐to‐eat foods. About 59% of the isolates were β‐hemolytic, and 66–92% of them produced phospholipase, caseinase and enterotoxicity. Fish and shrimp isolates produced significantly higher levels of gelatinase (102.73–120.6 U/mL), hemolysin (causing >80% erythrocyte lysis) and enteric fluid accumulation (0.86–0.89 mL/cm ileum length) compared with those from meat and milk indicating their serious pathogenic potentiality. Phenotypically, 43.2, 12.2 and 12.2% of β‐hemolytic strains were identified as recognized human pathogenic species, viz. Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae and Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria, respectively, which also expressed higher levels of virulence factors than other Aeromonas species detected. The ubiquitous presence of enterotoxigenic Aeromonas in different raw as well as ready‐to‐eat foods poses serious threat to human health.

Practical Applications

Ubiquitous presence of enterotoxigenic Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae and Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria in raw and ready‐to‐eat meat, milk and fish poses a serious human health risk in Indian subcontinent. Heavy bacterial load, combined with higher expression of virulence factors by the isolates, makes fish and shellfish as the most potential sources of Aeromonas infection. Different Aeromonas spp. differed in quantitative expression of different virulence factors. Qualitative and quantitative expression studies showed low positive correlations among gelatinase, hemolysin and ileal enterotoxicity, suggesting requirement of studying multiple virulence factors for identifying the virulent strains. A higher distribution of the bacterium on meat or fish surface and in unhygienically processed or stored food items indicates that adoption of standard practices of cleaning and sanitation would substantially improve safety of food products.
Effects of treatment with hydrogen sulfide on methionine‐choline deficient diet‐induced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in rats
Authors: Luo Zhu‐Lin , Tang Li‐Jun , Wang Tao , Dai Rui‐Wu , Ren Jian‐Dong , Cheng Long , Xiang Ke , Tian Fu‐Zhou
Published: October 2013

Background and Aim

Oxidative stress and inflammation play important roles in the progression from simple fatty liver to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this work was to investigate whether treatment with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) prevented NASH in rats through abating oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation.

Methods

A methionine‐choline‐deficient (MCD) diet rat model was prepared. Rats were divided into three experimental groups and fed for 8 weeks as follows: (i) control rats; (ii) MCD‐diet‐fed rats; (iii) MCD‐diet‐fed rats treated with NaHS (intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mL/kg/day of 0.28 mol/L NaHS, a donor of H2S).

Results

MCD diet impaired hepatic H2S biosynthesis in rats. Treatment with H2S prevented MCD‐diet‐induced NASH, as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin staining, reduced apoptosis and activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and attenuated hepatic fat accumulation in rats. Treatment with H2S abated MCD‐diet‐induced oxidative stress through reducing cytochrome p4502E1 expression, enhancing heme oxygenase‐1 expression, and suppressing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species formation, and suppressed MCD‐diet‐induced inflammation through suppressing activated nuclear factor κB signaling and reducing interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor α expressions. In addition, treatment of MCD‐diet fed rats with H2S had a beneficial modulation on expression profiles of fatty acid metabolism genes in livers.

Conclusions

Treatment with H2S prevented NASH induced by MCD diet in rats possibly through abating oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation.
Gastro 2013 APDW/WCOG Shanghai Working Party Report: Chronic diarrhea: Definition, classification, diagnosis
Authors: Schiller Lawrence R , Pardi Darrell S , Spiller Robin , Semrad Carol E , Surawicz Christina M , Giannella Ralph A , Krejs Guenter J , Farthing Michael J G , Sellin Joseph H
Published: October 2013

Diarrhea is best defined as passage of loose stools often with more frequent bowel movements. For clinical purposes, the Bristol Stool Form Scale works well to distinguish stool form and to identify loose stools. Laboratory testing of stool consistency has lagged behind. Acute diarrhea is likely to be due to infection and to be self‐limited. As diarrhea becomes chronic, it is less likely to be due to infection; duration of 1 month seems to work well as a cut‐off for chronic diarrhea, but detailed scientific knowledge is missing about the utility of this definition. In addition to duration of diarrhea, classifications by presenting scenario, by pathophysiology, and by stool characteristics (e.g. watery, fatty, or inflammatory) may help the canny clinician refine the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea. In this regard, a careful history remains the essential part of the evaluation of a patient with diarrhea. Imaging the intestine with endoscopy and radiographic techniques is useful, and biopsy of the small intestine and colon for histological assessment provides key diagnostic information. Endomicroscopy and molecular pathology are only now being explored for the diagnosis of chronic diarrhea. Interest in the microbiome of the gut is increasing; aside from a handful of well‐described infections because of pathogens, little is known about alterations in the microbiome in chronic diarrhea. Serological tests have well‐defined roles in the diagnosis of celiac disease but have less clearly defined application in autoimmune enteropathies and inflammatory bowel disease. Measurement of peptide hormones is of value in the diagnosis and management of endocrine tumors causing diarrhea, but these are so rare that these tests are of little value in screening because there will be many more false‐positives than true‐positive results. Chemical analysis of stools is of use in classifying chronic diarrhea and may limit the differential diagnosis that must be considered, but interpretation of the results is still evolving. Breath tests for assessment of carbohydrate malabsorption, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, and intestinal transit are fraught with technical limitations that decrease sensitivity and specificity. Likewise, tests of bile acid malabsorption have had limited utility beyond empirical trials of bile acid sequestrants.
Endoscopic resection therapies for rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhou Xin , Xie Haiting , Xie Lingduo , Li Jing , Cao Weihua , Fu Wei
Published: October 2013

Background and Aim

Among various endoscopic resection therapies, including conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) only with a snare after submucosal injection, modified EMR (m‐EMR) with other assistant devices such as a ligation band or a suction cap, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), we aimed to study which is the best choice for rectal neuroendocrine tumors.

Methods

A broad literature research was performed, and a systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted.

Results

Ten retrospective studies with 650 patients were included. Complete resection rates were significantly higher in the ESD group compared with the EMR group (relative risk [RR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.79, 0.99]), in the m‐EMR group compared with the conventional EMR group (RR 0.72, 95% CI [0.60, 0.86]), and was comparable between the ESD group and the m‐EMR group (RR 1.03, 95% CI [0.95, 1.11]). Procedure time was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the EMR group (standard mean differences −1.37, 95% CI [−1.99, −0.75]), but there was no significant difference between that of the m‐EMR group and ESD group (standard mean differences −1.50, 95% CI [−3.14, 0.14]). Local recurrence occurred in five cases in the EMR group (5/328) and did not occur in the ESD group (0/209).

Conclusions

ESD or m‐EMR techniques could be applied to rectal neuroendocrine tumors with indications for endoscopic treatment. m‐EMR procedures appear to be comparable with ESD in the treatment of rectal neuroendocrine tumors. However, the findings have to be carefully interpreted due to the lower level of evidence.
Impact of IL28B polymorphisms on 24‐week telaprevir‐based combination therapy for Asian chronic hepatitis C patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b
Authors: Tsubota Akihito , Shimada Noritomo , Atsukawa Masanori , Abe Hiroshi , Kato Keizo , Ika Makiko , Matsudaira Hiroshi , Nagatsuma Keisuke , Matsuura Tomokazu , Aizawa Yoshio
Published: October 2013

Background and Aim

The aim of this study was to clarify which or how factors could influence the probability of sustained virological response (SVR) in 24‐week telaprevir‐based triple combination therapy for East Asian chronic hepatitis C patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b.

Methods

Of 140 patients who were enrolled in this study, 137 received 12‐week telaprevir combined with 24‐week pegylated interferon alpha‐2b plus ribavirin and were subjected to the analysis. Factors associated with SVR were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

Of the 137 patients, 112 (82%) achieved SVR. Of 87 patients with IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism rs8099917 genotype TT, 84 (97%) achieved SVR. By contrast, 28 of 50 (56%) patients with the genotype TG/GG had SVR (P = 3.29 × 10−9). Fifty‐three of 60 (88%) naïve patients and 50 of 54 (93%) prior relapsers achieved SVR. Nine of 13 (69%) prior partial responders and none of 10 (0%) prior null responders achieved SVR. Multivariable analysis identified four independent factors that were significantly associated with SVR: IL28B SNP rs8099917 genotype (P = 6.90 × 10−5), pre‐existence of cirrhosis (P = 3.99 × 10−3), prior treatment response (P = 0.0126), and rapid virological response (P = 0.0239).

Conclusions

The IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism still remained informative as a predictor of SVR to 24‐week telaprevir‐based triple combination therapy for East Asian patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b.
Prevention and risk factors of hepatitis B recurrence after living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Na Gun Hyung , Kim Dong Goo , Han Jae Hyun , Kim Eun Young , Lee Soo Ho , Hong Tae Ho , You Young Kyoung , Choi Jong Young
Published: October 2013

Background and Aim

Without effective prophylaxis, liver transplantation (LT) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver disease is frequently complicated by severe and rapidly progressive HBV recurrence. The combination of low‐dose hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the new nucleos(t)ide analog, entecavir, as prophylaxis for HBV recurrence after living‐donor LT (LDLT) were analyzed.

Methods

A total of 315 patients with positive hepatitis B surface antigen underwent LDLT at our transplant center between July 2003 and December 2011. Our protocol for post‐transplantation HBV prophylaxis was a combination of low‐dose HBIG and nucleos(t)ide analog.

Results

During a median follow‐up period of 49 months post‐transplant, 10 patients (3.2%) had HBV recurrence, which was significantly related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at transplantation (P = 0.041) and post‐LT antiviral agent (P < 0.001) in multivariate analysis. The level of HBV DNA and hepatitis B e antigen state at transplantation were not significant factors for HBV recurrence (P = 0.342 and P = 0.802, respectively). In 170 patients with HCC at LDLT, HCC recurrence was significantly related to HBV recurrence (P < 0.001). Among 10 patients with HBV recurrence, three are alive and two had lost hepatitis B surface antigen. The remaining seven patients died of HCC recurrence.

Conclusions

The combination of low‐dose HBIG and nucleos(t)ide analogs is safe and effective for HBV prophylaxis after LDLT. As a post‐LT antiviral treatment, entecavir is more effective than lamivudine. HCC at transplantation was significantly associated with HBV recurrence. HBV‐related HCC patients who undergo LDLT require close virological monitoring.
Skilled Nursing Facility Admissions of Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia
Authors: Givens Jane L. , Mitchell Susan L. , Kuo Sylvia , Gozalo Pedro , Mor Vince , Teno Joan
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To describe the extent to which hospitalized nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia were admitted to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after a qualifying hospitalization and to identify resident and nursing home characteristics associated with a greater likelihood of SNF admissions.

Design

Cohort study using data from the Minimum Data Set, Medicare claims, and the On‐line Survey Certification of Automated Records.

Setting

United States, 2000–2006.

Participants

Nursing home residents with advanced dementia aged 65 and older with a 3‐day hospitalization (N = 4,177).

Measurements

The likelihood of SNF admission after hospitalization was calculated. Resident and nursing home factors associated with SNF admission were identified using hierarchical multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Sixty‐one percent of residents with advanced dementia were admitted to a SNF after their hospitalization. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement during hospitalization was strongly associated with SNF admission (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.85–2.88), as was better functional status (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.05–1.38). The presence of diabetes mellitus was associated with lower likelihood of SNF admission (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.73–0.99). Facility features significantly associated with SNF admission included more than 100 beds (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07–1.46), being part of a chain (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.14–1.50), urban location (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.03–1.41), and for‐profit status (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.09–1.51).

Conclusion

The majority of nursing home residents with advanced dementia are admitted to SNFs after a qualifying hospitalization. SNF admission is strongly associated with PEG tube insertion during hospitalization and with nursing home factors. Efforts to optimize appropriate use of SNF services in individuals with advanced dementia should focus on these factors.
Tea Consumption and Depressive Symptoms in Older People in Rural China
Authors: Feng Lei , Yan Zhongrui , Sun Binglun , Cai Chuanzhu , Jiang Hui , Kua Ee‐Heok , Ng Tze‐Pin , Qiu Chengxuan
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To examine the association between tea consumption and depressive symptoms in Chinese older people and to explore the mediating role of cerebrovascular disease in the association.

Design

Population‐based cross‐sectional study.

Setting

A rural community near Qufu in Shandong, China.

Participants

Community‐dwelling individuals aged 60 and older (mean 68.6; 59.3% female) from the Confucius Hometown Aging Project (N = 1,368).

Measurments

Data were collected through interviews, clinical examinations, and psychological testing, following a standard procedure. Presence of high depressive symptoms was defined as a score of 5 or greater on the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale.

Results

Of the 1,368 participants, 165 (12.1%) were weekly and 489 (35.7%) were daily tea consumers. Compared with no or irregular tea consumption, controlling for age, sex, education, leisure activities, number of comorbidities, and Mini‐Mental State Examination score, the odds ratios of having high depressive symptoms were 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.56–1.32) for weekly and 0.59 (95% CI = 0.43–0.81) for daily tea consumption (P for linear trend = .001); the linear trend of the association remained statistically significant when further controlling for history of stroke, transient ischemic attacks, and presence of carotid plaques.

Conclusions

Daily tea consumption is associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms in Chinese older people living in a rural community. The association appears to be independent of cerebrovascular disease and atherosclerosis.
Adverse Drug Events After Hospital Discharge in Older Adults: Types, Severity, and Involvement of Beers Criteria Medications
Authors: Kanaan Abir O. , Donovan Jennifer L. , Duchin Nerissa P. , Field Terry S. , Tjia Jennifer , Cutrona Sarah L. , Gagne Shawn J. , Garber Lawrence , Preusse Peggy , Harrold Leslie R. , Gurwitz Jerry H.
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To characterize adverse drug events (ADEs) occurring within the high‐risk 45‐day period after hospitalization in older adults.

Design

Clinical pharmacists reviewed the ambulatory records of 1,000 consecutive discharges.

Setting

A large multispecialty group practice closely aligned with a Massachusetts‐based health plan.

Participants

Hospitalized individuals aged 65 and older discharged home.

Measurements

Possible drug‐related incidents occurring during the 45‐day period after hospitalization were identified and presented to a pair of physician‐reviewers who classified incidents as to whether an ADE was present, whether the event was preventable, and the severity of the event. Medications implicated in ADEs were further characterized according to their inclusion in the 2012 Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.

Results

At least one ADE was identified during the 45‐day period in 18.7% (n = 187) of the 1,000 discharges. Of the 242 ADEs identified, 35% (n = 84) were deemed preventable, of which 32% (n = 27) were characterized as serious, and 5% (n = 4) as life threatening. More than half of all ADEs occurred within the first 14 days after hospitalization. The percentage of ADEs in which Beers Criteria medications were implicated was 16.5% (n = 40). Beers criteria medications with both a high quality of evidence and strong strength of recommendation were implicated in 6.6% (n = 16) of the ADEs.

Conclusion

ADEs are common and often preventable in older adults after hospital discharge, underscoring the need to address medication safety during this high‐risk period in this vulnerable population. Beers criteria medications played a small role in these events, suggesting that efforts to improve the quality and safety of medication use during this critical transition period must extend beyond a singular focus on Beers criteria medications.
Material and Energy Flows and Environmental Impacts of the Internet in Switzerland
Authors: Müller Esther , Widmer Rolf , Coroama Vlad C. , Orthlieb Amélie
Published: October 2013

The Internet leads to material and energy consumption as well as various environmental impacts on both the regional and global scale. Yet, assessments of the Internet's energy consumption and resulting greenhouse gas emissions are still rare, and assessments of material flows and further environmental impacts are virtually non‐existent. This article investigates material flows, the direct energy consumption during the use phase, as well as environmental impacts linked to the service, “Internet in Switzerland.” In our model, the service, Internet in Switzerland, is divided into various Internet participant categories. All devices used to access or provide Internet services are merged in a limited number of equipment families and, as such, included in an inventory of the existing infrastructure (stock). Based on this inventory, a material flow analysis (MFA) is performed, which includes the current stock as well as flows resulting from growth and disposal. The direct energy consumption for the operation of the infrastructure is quantified. Environmental impacts are calculated with a life cycle assessment approach, using the ecoinvent database and the software, SimaPro, applying four different methods. The MFA results in a 2009 stock of 98,100 tonnes. Approximately 4,130 gigawatt hours per year, or 7% of the total Swiss electricity consumption, were used in 2009 to operate the Swiss infrastructure. The environmental impacts caused during the production and use phases vary significantly depending on the assessment method chosen. The disposal phase had mainly positive impacts as a result of material recovery.
Iron deprivation results in a rapid but not sustained increase of the expression of genes involved in iron metabolism and sulfate uptake in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings
Authors: Paolacci Anna Rita , Celletti Silvia , Catarcione Giulio , Hawkesford Malcolm J. , Astolfi Stefania , Ciaffi Mario
Published: October 2013

Characterization of the relationship between sulfur and iron in both Strategy I and Strategy II plants, has proven that low sulfur availability often limits plant capability to cope with iron shortage. Here it was investigated whether the adaptation to iron deficiency in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants was associated with an increased root sulfate uptake and translocation capacity, and modified dynamics of total sulfur and thiols accumulation between roots and shoots. Most of the tomato sulfate transporter genes belonging to Groups 1, 2, and 4 were significantly upregulated in iron‐deficient roots, as it commonly occurs under S‐deficient conditions. The upregulation of the two high affinity sulfate transporter genes, SlST1.1 and SlST1.2, by iron deprivation clearly suggests an increased root capability to take up sulfate. Furthermore, the upregulation of the two low affinity sulfate transporter genes SlST2.1 and SlST4.1 in iron‐deficient roots, accompanied by a substantial accumulation of total sulfur and thiols in shoots of iron‐starved plants, likely supports an increased root‐to‐shoot translocation of sulfate. Results suggest that tomato plants exposed to iron‐deficiency are able to change sulfur metabolic balance mimicking sulfur starvation responses to meet the increased demand for methionine and its derivatives, allowing them to cope with this stress.
Microscopic characterization of defect structure in RDX crystals
Authors: BOUMA R.H.B. , DUVALOIS W. , VAN DER HEIJDEN A.E.D.M.
Published: October 2013

Three batches of the commercial energetic material RDX, as received from various production locations and differing in sensitivity towards shock initiation, have been characterized with different microscopic techniques in order to visualize the defect content in these crystals. The RDX crystals are embedded in an epoxy matrix and cross‐sectioned. By a treatment of grinding and polishing of the crystals, the internal defect structure of a multitude of energetic crystals can be visualized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy. Earlier optical micrographs of the same crystals immersed in a refractive index matched liquid could visualize internal defects, only not in the required detail. The combination of different microscopic techniques allows for a better characterization of the internal defects, down to inclusions of approximately 0.5 μm in size. The defect structure can be correlated to the sensitivity towards a high‐amplitude shock wave of the RDX crystals embedded in a polymer bonded explosive. The obtained experimental results comprise details on the size, type and quantity of the defects. These details should provide modellers with relevant and realistic information for modelling defects in energetic materials and their effect on the initiation and propagation of shock waves in PBX formulations.
Statistical tests for measures of colocalization in biological microscopy
Authors: MCDONALD JOHN H. , DUNN KENNETH W.
Published: October 2013

Colocalization analysis is the most common technique used for quantitative analysis of fluorescence microscopy images. Several metrics have been developed for measuring the colocalization of two probes, including Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) and Manders’ correlation coefficient (MCC). However, once measured, the meaning of these measurements can be unclear; interpreting PCC or MCC values requires the ability to evaluate the significance of a particular measurement, or the significance of the difference between two sets of measurements. In previous work, we showed how spatial autocorrelation confounds randomization techniques commonly used for statistical analysis of colocalization data. Here we use computer simulations of biological images to show that the Student's one‐sample t‐test can be used to test the significance of PCC or MCC measurements of colocalization, and the Student's two‐sample t‐test can be used to test the significance of the difference between measurements obtained under different experimental conditions.
Nicotine induces dendritic spine remodeling in cultured hippocampal neurons
Authors: Oda Akira , Yamagata Kanato , Nakagomi Saya , Uejima Hiroshi , Wiriyasermkul Pattama , Ohgaki Ryuichi , Nagamori Shushi , Kanai Yoshikatsu , Tanaka Hidekazu
Published: October 2013

Cholinergic neurons in the CNS are involved in synaptic plasticity and cognition. Both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) influence plasticity and cognitive function. The mechanism underlying nAChR‐induced plasticity, however, has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate morphological changes in dendritic spines following activation of α4β2* nAChRs, which are expressed on glutamatergic pre‐synaptic termini of cultured hippocampal neurons. Exposure of the neurons to nicotine resulted in a lateral enlargement of spine heads. This was abolished by dihydro‐β‐erythroidine, an antagonist of α4β2* nAChRs, but not by α‐bungarotoxin, an antagonist of α7 nAChRs. Tetanus toxin or a mixture of 2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovaleric acid and 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione, antagonists of NMDA‐ and AMPA‐type glutamate receptors, blocked the nicotine‐induced spine remodeling. In addition, nicotine exerted full spine‐enlarging response in the post‐synaptic neuron whose β2 nAChR expression was knocked down. Finally, pre‐treatment with nicotine enhanced the Ca2+‐response of the neurons to glutamate. These data suggest that nicotine influences the activity of glutamatergic neurotransmission through the activation of pre‐synaptic α4β2 nAChRs, resulting in the modulation of spinal architecture and responsiveness. The present findings may represent one of the cellular mechanisms underlying cholinergic tuning of brain function.

image

Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in brain influences plasticity and cognition. Here, activation of α4β2* nAChRs, which are expressed on glutamatergic presynaptic termini, results in the enlargement of dendritic spines through the modulation of the glutamatergic neurotransmission. The remodeled spinal architecture might be responsible for the change in responsiveness of neural circuitry, leading to cholinergic tuning of brain function.
Critical role of peripheral drug actions in experience‐dependent changes in nucleus accumbens glutamate release induced by intravenous cocaine
Authors: Wakabayashi Ken T. , Kiyatkin Eugene A.
Published: October 2013

Recent studies reveal that cocaine experience results in persistent neuroadaptive changes within glutamate (Glu) synapses in brain areas associated with drug reward. However, it remains unclear whether cocaine affects Glu release in drug‐naive animals and how it is altered by drug experience. Using high‐speed amperometry with enzyme‐based and enzyme‐free biosensors in freely moving rats, we show that an initial intravenous cocaine injection at a low self‐administering dose (1 mg/kg) induces rapid, small and transient Glu release in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAc), which with subsequent injections rapidly becomes a much stronger, two‐component increase. Using cocaine‐methiodide, cocaine's analog that does not cross the blood–brain barrier, we confirm that the initial cocaine‐induced Glu release in theNAc has a peripheral neural origin. Unlike cocaine, Glu responses induced by cocaine‐methiodide rapidly habituate following repeated exposure. However, after cocaine experience this drug induces cocaine‐like Glu responses. Hence, the interoceptive actions of cocaine, which essentially precede its direct actions in the brain, play a critical role in experience‐dependent alterations in Glu release, cocaine‐induced neural sensitization and may contribute to cocaine addiction.

image

Using high‐speed amperometry with enzyme‐based biosensors in freely moving rats, we show that initial intravenous cocaine induces rapid, transient glutamate (Glu) release in the Nac (Nucleus accumbens), rapidly becoming a stronger, two‐component increase with subsequent injections. We show that the peripheral actions of cocaine, which precedes its direct central actions, play a critical role in experience‐dependent alterations in Glu release, possibly contributing to cocaine addiction.
Corticosterone targets distinct steps of synaptic transmission via concentration specific activation of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors
Authors: Chatterjee Sreejata , Sikdar Sujit K.
Published: October 2013

Hippocampal neurons are affected by chronic stress and have a high density of cytoplasmic mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors (MR and GR). Detailed studies on the genomic effects of the stress hormone corticosterone at physiologically relevant concentrations on different steps in synaptic transmission are limited. In this study, we tried to delineate how activation of MR and GR by different concentrations of corticosterone affects synaptic transmission at various levels. The effect of 3‐h corticosterone (25, 50, and 100 nM) treatment on depolarization‐mediated calcium influx, vesicular release and properties of miniature excitatory post‐synaptic currents (mEPSCs) were studied in cultured hippocampal neurons. Activation of MR with 25 nM corticosterone treatment resulted in enhanced depolarization‐mediated calcium influx via a transcription‐dependent process and increased frequency of mEPSCs with larger amplitude. On the other hand, activation of GR upon 100 nM corticosterone treatment resulted in increase in the rate of vesicular release via the genomic actions of GR. Furthermore, GR activation led to significant increase in the frequency of mEPSCs with larger amplitude and faster decay. Our studies indicate that differential activation of the dual receptor system of MR and GR by corticosterone targets the steps in synaptic transmission differently.

image

The stress hormone corticosterone has multiple effects on neuronal physiology and function. In this study we show corticosterone differentially targets the steps of synaptic transmission depending on the genomic effects of its cognate receptors namely mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors (MR and GR), within its physiological range. Increasing concentrations of corticosterone enhanced synaptic transmission at distinct levels.
In vivo quantification of neuro‐glial metabolism and glial glutamate concentration using 1H‐[13C] MRS at 14.1T
Authors: Lanz Bernard , Xin Lijing , Millet Philippe , Gruetter Rolf
Published: October 2013

Astrocytes have recently become a major center of interest in neurochemistry with the discoveries on their major role in brain energy metabolism. An interesting way to probe this glial contribution is given by in vivo 13C NMR spectroscopy coupled with the infusion labeled glial‐specific substrate, such as acetate. In this study, we infused alpha‐chloralose anesthetized rats with [2‐13C]acetate and followed the dynamics of the fractional enrichment (FE) in the positions C4 and C3 of glutamate and glutamine with high sensitivity, using 1H‐[13C] magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 14.1T. Applying a two‐compartment mathematical model to the measured time courses yielded a glial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle rate (Vg) of 0.27 ± 0.02 μmol/g/min and a glutamatergic neurotransmission rate (VNT) of 0.15 ± 0.01 μmol/g/min. Glial oxidative ATP metabolism thus accounts for 38% of total oxidative metabolism measured by NMR. Pyruvate carboxylase (VPC) was 0.09 ± 0.01 μmol/g/min, corresponding to 37% of the glial glutamine synthesis rate. The glial and neuronal transmitochondrial fluxes (Vxg and Vxn) were of the same order of magnitude as the respective TCA cycle fluxes. In addition, we estimated a glial glutamate pool size of 0.6 ± 0.1 μmol/g. The effect of spectral data quality on the fluxes estimates was analyzed by Monte Carlo simulations.

image

In this 13C‐acetate labeling study, we propose a refined two‐compartment analysis of brain energy metabolism based on 13C turnover curves of acetate, glutamate and glutamine measured with state of the art in vivo dynamic MRS at high magnetic field in rats, enabling a deeper understanding of the specific role of glial cells in brain oxidative metabolism. In addition, the robustness of the metabolic fluxes determination relative to MRS data quality was carefully studied.
Reproductive Experience Alters Neural and Behavioural Responses to Acute Oestrogen Receptor α Activation
Authors: Byrnes E. M. , Casey K. , Carini L. M. , Bridges R. S.
Published: October 2013

Reproductive experience (i.e. parturition and lactation) leads to persistent alterations in anxiety‐like behaviour that are influenced by the oestrous cycle. We recently found that repeated administration of the selective oestrogen receptors (ER)α agonist propyl‐pyrazole triol (PPT) results in anxiolytic‐like behaviours on the elevated plus maze (EPM) in primiparous (but not nulliparous) female rats. The present study examined the effects of the acute administration of PPT on EPM behaviour in primiparous and aged‐matched, nulliparous female rats. In addition, corticosterone secretion, corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression and expression of the immediate early gene product Fos in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and amygdala were measured either after EPM testing or in home cage controls. Acute PPT administration significantly modified EPM behaviour as a function of reproductive experience, with nulliparous females tending toward increased anxiety‐like behaviours and primiparous females tending toward decreased anxiety‐like behaviours. In home cage controls, PPT increased corticosterone secretion in all females; however, both vehicle‐ and PPT‐treated, primiparous females had reduced corticosterone levels compared to their nulliparous counterparts. Significant effects of PPT on CRH mRNA within the PVN were observed after the administration of PPT but only in primiparous females tested on the EPM. PPT also increased Fos expression within the PVN of EPM‐exposed females; however, both vehicle‐ and PPT‐treated primiparous females had reduced Fos expression compared to nulliparous females. In the amygdala, PPT increased Fos immunoreactivity in the central but not the medial or basolateral amygdala, although these effects were only observed in home cage females. Additionally, both vehicle‐ and PPT‐treated home cage, primiparous females had increased Fos in the central nucleus of the amygdala compared to nulliparous controls. Overall, these data demonstrate that reproductive experience alters the behavioural response to acute ERα activation. Moreover, the findings suggest that central regulation of the hypothalamic‐adrenal‐pituitary axis is modified as a consequence of reproductive experience.
Three‐dimensional moment arms and architecture of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) leg musculature
Authors: Holowka Nicholas B. , O'Neill Matthew C.
Published: October 2013

The muscular and skeletal morphology of the chimpanzee ankle and foot differs from that of humans in many important respects. However, little information is available on the moment arms and architecture of the muscles that function around chimpanzee ankle and foot joints. The main goals of this study were to determine the influence of changes in leg and foot position on the moment arms of these muscle–tendon units (MTUs), and provide new measurements of their architecture. Three‐dimensional moment arm data were collected from two adult, cadaveric Pan troglodytes specimens for 11 MTUs that cross the ankle and foot joints. Tendon‐excursion measurements were made throughout the full range of plantarflexion–dorsiflexion (PF–DF) and eversion–inversion (EV–IN), including repeated measurements for mm. gastrocnemius at 0 °, 45 °, 90 ° and 135 ° of knee flexion. The total range of motion was calculated from three‐dimensional joint motion data while ensuring that foot movement was restricted to a single plane. Measurements of muscle mass, fascicle length, pennation angle and physiological cross‐sectional area were then collected for each MTU. Our results demonstrate that joint position has a significant effect on moment arm lengths, and that in some cases this effect is counterintuitive. These new data contribute to filling a significant gap in previously published chimpanzee moment arm data, providing a comprehensive characterization of the MTUs that move the chimpanzee ankle and foot joints. They also provide empirical support to the notion that chimpanzees have larger ranges of motion at these joints than humans. Comparison of osteometric estimates of moment arm lengths to direct tendon‐excursion measures provides some guidance for the use of skeletal features in estimations of PF–DF moment arms. Finally, muscle architecture data are consistent with the findings of previous studies, and increase the sample size of the chimpanzee data that are currently available.
Immunolocalisation of fibrillin microfibrils in the calf metacarpal and vertebral growth plate
Authors: Yu Jing , Urban Jill
Published: October 2013

Overgrowth of limbs and spinal deformities are typical clinical manifestations of Marfan syndrome (MFS) and congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA), caused by mutations of the genes encoding fibrillin‐1 (FBN1) and fibrillin‐2 (FBN2), respectively. FBN1 mutations are also associated with acromicric (AD) and geleophysic dysplasias (GD), and with Weill–Marchesani syndrome (WMS), which is characterised by short stature. The mechanisms leading to such abnormal skeletal growth and the involvement of the fibrillins are not understood. Postnatal longitudinal bone growth mainly occurs in the epiphyseal growth plate. Here we investigated the organisation of fibrillin microfibrils in the growth plate of the long bone and vertebra immunohistochemically. Fibrillin‐1 was dual‐immunostained with elastin, with fibrillin‐2 or with collagen X. We report that fibrillin microfibrils are distributed throughout all regions of the growth plate, and that fibrillin‐1 and fibrillin‐2 were differentially organised. Fibrillin‐1 was more abundant in the extracellular matrix of the resting and proliferative zones of the growth plate than in the hypertrophic zone. More fibrillin‐2 was found in the calcified region than in the other regions. No elastin fibres were observed in either the proliferative or hypertrophic zones. This study indicates that, as fibrillin microfibrils are involved in growth factor binding and may play a mechanical role, they could be directly involved in regulating bone growth. Hence, mutations of the fibrillins could affect their functional role in growth and lead to the growth disorders seen in patients with MFS, CCA, AD, GD and WMS.