bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics and preliminary safety evaluation of azithromycin in adult horses
Authors: LECLERE M. , MAGDESIAN K. G. , COLE C. A. , SZABO N. J. , RUBY R. E. , RHODES D. M. , EDMAN J. , VALE A. , WILSON W. D. , TELL L. A.
Published: December 2011

Leclere, M., Magdesian, K. G., Cole, C. A., Szabo, N. J., Ruby, R. E., Rhodes, D. M., Edman, J., Vale, A., Wilson, W. D., Tell, L. A. Pharmacokinetics and preliminary safety evaluation of azithromycin in adult horses. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 35, 541–549.

Azithromycin is widely used in foals but has not been studied in adult horses. The goals of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and to make a preliminary assessment of the safety of azithromycin in adult horses. Azithromycin was administered intravenously (5 mg/kg) and intragastrically (10 mg/kg) to six healthy mares in a crossover design. Serial plasma samples, blood neutrophils, and pulmonary macrophages were collected for the measurement of azithromycin concentrations. Azithromycin was also administered orally (10 mg/kg) once a day for 5 days to five healthy mares for preliminary evaluation of safety in adult horses. The bioavailability of azithromycin following intragastric administration was 45 ± 12%. Concentrations within peripheral neutrophils and bronchoalveolar macrophages were several fold higher than that of plasma. Mild decreases in appetite (n = 3) and alterations in fecal consistency (n = 3) were noted following repeated oral administration. The pharmacokinetic profiles of azithromycin in adult horses, especially the slow elimination rate and intraneutrophil and intrapulmonary macrophage accumulation, demonstrate that it is conducive to use in this age group. Because of the gastrointestinal alterations noted, further studies are warranted before azithromycin can be recommended for use in adult horses.
Conservation genetics of South American aquatic mammals: an overview of gene diversity, population structure, phylogeography, non‐invasive methods and forensics
Authors: de OLIVEIRA Larissa Rosa , LOIZAGA DE CASTRO Rocio , CÁRDENAS‐ALAYZA Susana , BONATTO Sandro Luis
Published: December 2011

Most aquatic mammals have high dispersal potential, and there are often severe conservation concerns related to their legal or illegal harvesting. Therefore, economic, social and forensic factors often arise in decisions relating to their population management. Molecular markers are essential tools in modern conservation genetics, revealing previously unknown aspects of aquatic mammal behaviour, natural history, population structure and demography. Molecular markers also have been used to define management units, to recognize taxonomic units, to conduct forensic analyses and to control illegal wildlife trade, providing valuable information for decision‐making in wildlife conservation and management.

We review studies published in peer‐reviewed journals between 1993 and 2010, in which genetic approaches have been applied to conservation‐related issues involving natural populations of 25 species of aquatic mammals in South America. These studies cover just 34% of the 70 aquatic mammal species recorded in South America.

Most of the studies are related to population structure, phylogeography, gene flow and dispersal movements. In addition, recent findings relate to evolutionarily significant units, management units, forensics and conservation policy.

Finally, we look to the future and, based on numbers of studies and conservation concerns, suggest which species, geographic areas and genetic studies should be prioritized. Moreover, we discuss constraints on research and suggest collaborative works that would provide critical information towards the effective conservation and management of aquatic mammals in South America.
H3K36 methylation is critical for brassinosteroid‐regulated plant growth and development in rice
Authors: Sui Pengfei , Jin Jing , Ye Sheng , Mu Chen , Gao Juan , Feng Haiyang , Shen Wen‐Hui , Yu Yu , Dong Aiwu
Published: December 2011

Methylation of histone lysine residues plays an essential role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Enzymes involved in establishment of the repressive H3K9 and H3K27 methylation marks have been previously characterized, but the deposition and function of H3K4 and H3K36 methylation remain uncharacterized in rice. Here, we report that rice SDG725 encodes a H3K36 methyltransferase, and its down‐regulation causes wide‐ranging defects, including dwarfism, shortened internodes, erect leaves and small seeds. These defects resemble the phenotypes previously described for some brassinosteroid‐knockdown mutants. Consistently, transcriptome analyses revealed that SDG725 depletion results in down‐regulation by more than two‐fold of over 1000 genes, including D11, BRI1 and BU1, which are known to be involved in brassinosteroid biosynthesis or signaling pathways. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showed that levels of H3K36me2/3 are reduced in chromatin at some regions of these brassinosteroid‐related genes in SDG725 knockdown plants, and that SDG725 protein is able to directly bind to these target genes. Taken together, our data indicate that SDG725‐mediated H3K36 methylation modulates brassinosteroid‐related gene expression, playing an important role in rice plant growth and development.
Prednisolone therapy for atopic dermatitis is less effective in dogs with lower pretreatment serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations
Authors: Kovalik Marcel , Thoday Keith L. , Berry Jacqueline , van den Broek Adri H. M. , Mellanby Richard J.
Published: December 2011

Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were measured in 20 dogs with atopic dermatitis prior to treatment with a standard therapeutic dosage of prednisolone (0.93–1.06 mg/kg) every other day for 5 weeks after 7 days of treatment with the same dosage once daily. The severity of their physical signs was scored before and 6 weeks after prednisolone treatment by the canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index version 3 (CADESI‐03) and the Edinburgh Pruritus Scale (EPS). The 20 dogs with atopic dermatitis that were treated with prednisolone did not have significantly lower serum concentrations of 25(OH)D than a group of 36 healthy dogs, and the physical severity of the atopic dermatitis was not correlated to pretreatment serum 25(OH)D concentrations. However, dogs which had a marked improvement of their physical signs, defined by a post‐treatment EPS score of 0 and/or an 85% reduction in CADESI‐03 score, had significantly higher pretreatment serum 25(OH)D concentrations than dogs with a suboptimal response (P = 0.003 and P = 0.03, respectively). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were also measured in a previously published cohort of atopic dogs that were treated with ciclosporin. This cohort of dogs was recruited in a similar time frame to the prednisolone‐treated dogs, and all samples were handled in the same way. In contrast to the prednisolone‐treated dogs, there was no significant difference in 25(OH)D concentrations in dogs that responded optimally to ciclosporin compared with suboptimal responders. Additional studies are required to establish whether vitamin D has a synergistic therapeutic effect with prednisolone in dogs with atopic dermatitis.
Consistency of GINA criteria and childhood asthma control test on the determination of asthma control
Authors: Erkoçoğlu Mustafa , Akan Ayşegül , Civelek Ersoy , Kan Rojdan , Azkur Dilek , Kocabaş Can N.
Published: December 2011

To cite this article: Erkoçoğlu M, Akan A, Civelek E, Kan R, Azkur D, Kocabaş CN. Consistency of GINA criteria and childhood asthma control test on the determination of asthma control. Pediatric Allergy Immunology 2012: 23: 34–39.

Background:  Reliable assessment of asthma control is essential for effective treatment. Although several methods are used to assess asthma control, it is still suboptimal all over the world. Childhood asthma control test (C‐ACT) is a widely used complementary test in determining the level of asthma control in conjunction with GINA guidelines.

Objective:  To evaluate the consistency between the childhood asthma control test (C‐ACT) and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guideline–based asthma control measure in children with asthma and, if present, to investigate the reasons for any discrepancy.

Methods:  Patients and their caregivers filled a C‐ACT and a socioeconomic status survey before the physician visit. Asthma control level was also assessed according to GINA criteria by a pediatric allergist who was blinded to C‐ACT scores.

Results:  The mean age of the total 314 patients was 9.0 ± 1.9 yr, ranging between 4.3 and 11.8 yr, of whom 56.1% (n = 176) were men. Regarding the study group, 54.8% of patients were controlled according to GINA, and 51.0% of patients were controlled according to C‐ACT (score ≥20). There was inconsistency between GINA and C‐ACT in 26.7% (84/314) of the study group when the patients were evaluated individually (κ = 0.464). There was not any significant variable that could predict the consistency and inconsistency between these methods.

Conclusion:  Consistency between GINA and C‐ACT is not as to be expected. Using only one method for determining the control level of asthma does not seem to be reliable and accurate.
Monitoring honeybee venom immunotherapy in children with the basophil activation test
Authors: Žitnik Simona E. K. , Vesel Tina , Avčin Tadej , Šilar Mira , Košnik Mitja , Korošec Peter
Published: December 2011

To cite this article:Žitnik SEK, Vesel T, Avčin T, Šilar M, Košnik M, Korošec P. Monitoring honeybee venom immunotherapy in children with the basophil activation test. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011 Doi: 10.1111/j.1399‐3038.2011.01233.x

Background:  New in vitro methods are essential for developing better follow‐up criteria for venom immunotherapy (VIT).

Methods:  Thirty‐one children with a history of honeybee venom–induced systemic anaphylaxis were included in this prospective, single‐blinded study. The basophil CD63 activation test (BAT) was assessed before starting VIT, at the end of the build‐up phase (day 5), 6 months later, and after 2–4 yr of VIT.

Results:  Basophil CD63 activation test allowed identification of the culprit insect in 74% of honeybee venom–allergic children. In comparison, IgE reactivity was single positive in only 52% of children. Five days after starting VIT, BAT was highly comparable to before VIT. However, after 6 months and further after 2–4 yr of VIT, a significant and approximately fourfold decrease was demonstrated in CD63 response at sub‐maximal 0.1 μg/ml allergen concentration, which mainly represents cellular sensitivity. No such differences were found at a higher 1 μg/ml of allergen concentration. Person‐to‐person analyses showed that after 2–4 yr of VIT, a marked CD63 decrease was evident in 85% of children. In addition, elevated basophil sensitivity measured before VIT was associated with the appearance of side effects observed during the build‐up phase of VIT.

Conclusion:  Basophil CD63 allergen–specific sensitivity seems to be a promising tool for monitoring protective immune response in honeybee VIT.
Inadvertent exposures in children with peanut allergy
Authors: Nguyen‐Luu Nha Uyen , Ben‐Shoshan Moshe , Alizadehfar Reza , Joseph Lawrence , Harada Laurie , Allen Mary , St‐Pierre Yvan , Clarke Ann
Published: December 2011

To cite this article: Nguyen‐Luu NU, Ben‐Shoshan M, Alizadehfar R, Joseph L, Harada L, Allen M, St‐Pierre Y, Clarke A. Inadvertent exposures in children with peanut allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: Doi: 10.1111/j.1399‐3038.2011.01235.x

Objectives:  To determine the annual incidence, characterize the severity and management, and identify predictors of accidental exposure among a cohort of children with peanut allergy.

Methods:  From 2004 to November 2009, parents of Canadian children with a physician‐confirmed peanut allergy completed entry and follow‐up questionnaires about accidental exposures over the preceding year. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine potential predictors.

Results:  A total of 1411 children [61.3% boys, mean age 7.1 yr (SD, 3.9)] participated. When all children were included, regardless of length of observation, 266 accidental exposures occurred over 2227 patient‐years, yielding an annual incidence rate of 11.9% (95% CI, 10.6–13.5). When all accidental exposures occurring after study entry and patients providing <1 yr of observation were excluded, 147 exposures occurred over a period of 1175 patient‐years, yielding a rate of 12.5% (95% CI, 10.7–14.5). Only 21% of moderate and severe reactions were treated with epinephrine. Age ≥13 yr at study entry (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.20–4.53) and a severe previous reaction to peanut (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.44–2.91) were associated with an increased risk of accidental exposure, and increasing disease duration (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83–0.92) with a decreased risk.

Conclusion:  The annual incidence rate of accidental exposure for children with peanut allergy is 12.5%. Children with a recent diagnosis and adolescents are at higher risk. Hence, education of allergic children and their families is crucial immediately after diagnosis and during adolescence. As many reactions were treated inappropriately, healthcare professionals require better education on anaphylaxis management.
Analysis of BK viral infection after alemtuzumab induction for renal transplant
Authors: Cannon R.M. , Brock G. , Marvin M.R. , Eng M. , Buell J.F.
Published: December 2011

Induction immunosuppression has provided great advances in reducing the incidence of acute rejection (AR) following kidney transplantation. Despite this success, there has been recent concern over possible increased rates of viral complications when such powerful immunosuppressive therapy is used. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of BK viral infection following kidney transplantation under alemtuzumab induction therapy.

Methods

With institutional review board approval, a retrospective study was performed of all patients undergoing kidney transplantation under alemtuzumab induction at a single center. The incidence of BK viremia was determined, and univariate analysis was performed to determine factors associated with the development of BK viremia. Further analysis was undertaken, using standard statistical methods, to determine the rates of graft survival and hazard ratio (HR) for AR in patients with and without BK viremia.

Results

There were 456 patients in the current study, with a mean age of 51 years. The majority of these (61.8%) were male, and 73.5% were Caucasian. The overall incidence of BK viremia identified on routine screening was 6.6%. Univariate analysis failed to identify any significant predictors of BK viremia. One‐, 3‐, and 5‐year graft survival for patients who developed BK viremia was 96.6%, 91.7%, and 91.7%, respectively, compared with 94.1%, 87.8%, and 80.2% for patients without BK viremia (P = 0.860). BK viremia was associated with a significantly increased risk for AR (HR 3.48, 95% confidence interval 1.24–9.76; P = 0.018).

Conclusion

The incidence of BK viremia following alemtuzumab induction appears to be in concordance with the published literature, with satisfactory graft survival rates. BK viremia is, however, associated with an increased risk for AR.
Impact of laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, on xylem function in avocado, Persea americana
Authors: Inch S. A. , Ploetz R. C.
Published: December 2011

Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, is a lethal, vascular disease of avocado, Persea americana. Its impact on xylem function was examined in artificially inoculated plants of the ‘Simmonds’ cultivar. Three, 7, 14, 21 and 42 days after inoculation (dai), plants were rated externally and internally for disease severity on a subjective one (asymptomatic) to 10 (dead or 100% symptomatic) scale. Stems were then cut under water, 15 cm below the inoculation point, and placed in 0.1% aqueous solutions of acid fuschin in a greenhouse. After 48 h, the percentage of functional xylem was estimated 10 and 5 cm above and below the inoculation point by quantifying acid fuschin‐stained portions of digitized stem cross‐sections. Hydraulic conductivity was determined by placing the proximal end of 5‐cm‐long stem sections, harvested between 5 and 10 cm above the inoculation point, in water and quantifying the volume of water that was drawn over time through the distal end under partial pressure (350 mm Hg). Functional xylem decreased by 3 dai, well before the development of vascular discoloration (7 dai) and wilting of foliage (14 dai). By 14 dai, extensive vascular discoloration had developed and there was a dramatic reduction in functional xylem; plants with internal disease severities of 7 or greater had <20% functional xylem. Hydraulic conductivity decreased exponentially as non‐functional xylem and disease severity increased. In plants with internal severities >7, mean flow rates of water were 0.07 ml−1 min−1 cm−2vs. 42 ml−1 min−1 cm−2 in mock‐inoculated plants. The rapid development of these changes suggests that it may be difficult to manage laurel wilt in avocado once plants are infected by R. lauricola. Better understanding of the temporal and spatial development of infection and how the host responds to infection may assist efforts to select laurel wilt‐tolerant avocado cultivars.
Asthma phenotypes: Consistency of classification using induced sputum
Authors: HANCOX ROBERT J. , COWAN DOUGLAS C. , ALDRIDGE RUTH E. , COWAN JAN O. , PALMAY ROCHELLE , WILLIAMSON AVIS , TOWN G. IAN , TAYLOR D. ROBIN
Published: December 2011

Background and objective:  Asthma can be classified as eosinophilic or non‐eosinophilic based on the cell profile of induced sputum. This classification can help determine whether corticosteroid treatment is indicated. We assessed the stability of these phenotypes over time and with different treatment regimens.

Methods:  Clinically stable, non‐smoking, asthmatic adults were enrolled in one of two studies. In study one, induced sputum cell counts from 28 subjects were analysed after 4 weeks without corticosteroid treatment and after 6 week treatments with placebo, regular inhaled beta‐agonist, inhaled corticosteroid, and combined beta‐agonist and corticosteroid. In study two, sputum from 26 subjects with non‐eosinophilic asthma was analysed after 12 weeks of placebo and after four 2‐week corticosteroid washouts. Sputum with <2% eosinophils was classified as non‐eosinophilic.

Results:  Sputum classification changed frequently in both studies. In study one, only one of eight participants with non‐eosinophilic sputum after placebo treatment remained non‐eosinophilic throughout. In study two, all of participants had at least one eosinophilic sputum sample, despite the fact that all had been non‐eosinophilic at recruitment. Neutrophilic asthma was uncommon in both studies and was also inconsistent.

Conclusions:  The phenotypic classification of asthma changes frequently. A diagnosis of non‐eosinophilic asthma should not be based on a single sputum sample.
Screening for lung cancer: Is this the way forward?
Authors: SPIRO STEPHEN G. , NAVANI NEAL
Published: December 2011

While low‐dose CT scans have been shown to detect greater numbers of early lung cancers than conventional CXR, the first randomized trial of CT versus CXR screening in more than 50 000 subjects has shown a 20% reduction in mortality with CT. There are several other randomized trials in progress. CT scanning may be a useful technique for identifying lung cancer at an earlier stage and may reduce mortality. However, before it can be used on a wider scale, issues such as overdiagnosis bias, cost‐effectiveness, false positive findings of multiple noncalcified nodules and the willingness of the relevant population to accept CT scanning need to be evaluated. There is still very little information on the cost per life‐year saved as a result of CT scanning, as the data to date is very imprecise. There is no evidence that screening programs influence smoking rates despite the inclusion of cessation programs in many trials. Furthermore, if CT screening is adopted, much work is needed to persuade individuals at high risk, mostly current or former heavy smokers with some airflow obstruction, to participate in a screening program.
Association between soft drink consumption and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults in Australia
Authors: SHI ZUMIN , DAL GRANDE ELEONORA , TAYLOR ANNE W. , GILL TIFFANY K. , ADAMS ROBERT , WITTERT GARY A.
Published: December 2011

Background and objective:  The aim of this study was to examine the association between soft drink consumption and self‐reported doctor‐diagnosed asthma and COPD among adults living in South Australia.

Methods:  Data were collected using a risk factor surveillance system. Each month a representative random sample of South Australians were selected from the electronic White Pages and interviews were conducted using computer‐assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).

Results:  Among 16 907 participants aged 16 years and older, 11.4% reported daily soft drink consumption of more than half a litre. High levels of soft drink consumption were positively associated with asthma and COPD. Overall, 13.3% of participants with asthma and 15.6% of those with COPD reported consuming more than half a litre of soft drink per day. By multivariate analysis, after adjusting for socio‐demographic and lifestyle factors, the odds ratio (OR) for asthma was 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.58) and the OR for COPD was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.32–2.43), comparing those who consumed more than half a litre of soft drink per day with those who did not consume soft drinks.

Conclusions:  There was a positive association between consumption of soft drinks and asthma/COPD among adults living in South Australia.
Characteristics of insulin secretion patterns in Japanese women with overt diabetes and gestational diabetes defined according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria
Authors: Morikawa Mamoru , Yamada Takashi , Yamada Takahiro , Akaishi Rina , Koyama Takahiro , Takeda Masamitsu , Nishida Ryutaro , Cho Kazutoshi , Minakami Hisanori
Published: December 2011

Aim:  To characterize patterns of insulin secretion in women with overt diabetes and gestational diabetes (GDM) defined by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria.

Material and Methods:  A total of 228 Japanese women were examined retrospectively. All 228 women had a positive 50‐g glucose challenge test (GCT) result at 25.2 ± 1.2 weeks of gestation and underwent a 75‐g glucose tolerance test (GTT) at 27.4 ± 1.8 weeks of gestation. The immunoreactive insulin levels were determined during the GTT in four groups of pregnant women: five with overt diabetes, 20 with GDM according to both the previous Japan Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (JSOG) and current IADPSG criteria (traditional GDM group), 43 with GDM according to only the IADPSG criteria (new GDM group), and 160 with non‐ GDM, but with a positive GCT result.

Results:  Attenuated and slow rise in plasma insulin in concert with prolonged hyperglycemia were characteristic in women with overt diabetes, compared with women with GDM in whom excessive insulin secretion in the presence of hyperglycemia was characteristic. The new GDM group did not differ significantly from the traditional GDM group with respect to scores of such indices as the insulinogenic index, the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index.

Conclusion:  Women with overt diabetes have both an impaired capacity for insulin secretion and elevated insulin resistance, while women with GDM exhibit a maintained insulin secretory capacity with an elevated insulin resistance.
Alteration of HGF and TSP‐1 expression in ovarian carcinoma associated with clinical features
Authors: Wei Wei , Kong Beihua , Qu Xun
Published: December 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1) with the clinical pathological factors in ovarian cancer, and the correlation between HGF and TSP‐1 expression at the protein level.

Material and Methods:  Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the location and expression of HGF and TSP‐1 protein in ovarian cancer and benign ovarian tumor tissue. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect HGF and TSP‐1 gene mRNA expression in ovarian cancer and benign ovarian tumor tissue.

Results:  The level and positive expression rate of HGF mRNA in ovarian cancer tissue was significantly higher than in ovarian adenoma tissues. The positive expression of HGF protein in ovarian cancer was related with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and lymph node metastasis. The level and positive expression rate of TSP‐1 mRNA in ovarian cancer tissue was lower than in ovarian adenoma. The absence expression of TSP‐1 protein in ovarian cancer was significantly related with FIGO stage and histological grade. The intensity of these positive expressions in ovarian cancer tissues were significant negatively associated with each other.

Conclusion:  Abnormal expression of HGF and TSP‐1 may be related to malignant progression of ovarian cancer and associated in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer.
Recalcitrance of bacterial vaginosis among herpes‐simplex‐virus‐type‐2‐seropositive women
Authors: Stoner Kevin A. , Reighard Seth D. , Miguel Rodolfo D. Vicetti , Landsittel Douglas , Cosentino Lisa A. , Kant Jeffrey A. , Cherpes Thomas L.
Published: December 2011

Aim:  The multifactorial etiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV) impedes development of effective treatment and prevention strategies. Herein, we evaluated the effects of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2), a suspected BV risk factor, on vaginal flora composition.

Materials and Methods:  Correlations between HSV‐2 infection and BV were prospectively explored among 12 HSV‐2‐seropositive women with asymptomatic BV who were asked to collect daily vaginal swab specimens for Gram stain analysis of vaginal flora and determination of HSV‐2 shedding frequencies during the 1 month before and after metronidazole therapy.

Results:  Unlike prior longitudinal studies that reported rapid fluctuations in vaginal flora composition and frequent episodes of spontaneously resolving BV, we found that 99.4% (310/312) of vaginal smears collected before initiation of metronidazole were consistent with a diagnosis of BV. Effectiveness of metronidazole therapy was also much lower than previously reported in studies not restricting enrollment to HSV‐2‐seropositive women; we observed a BV recurrence rate of 89% in the first month after completion of therapy while the median time to this recurrence occurred only 14 days after treatment.

Conclusions:  Our study demonstrates BV recalcitrance among HSV‐2‐infected women and provides additional evidence for a linkage between this chronic viral infection and abnormal vaginal flora. Additional work will be needed to define mechanisms responsible for this correlation and to determine if vaginal flora health of HSV‐2‐infected women is improved by medications that suppress HSV‐2 shedding.
Global assessment of experimental climate warming on tundra vegetation: heterogeneity over space and time
Authors: Elmendorf Sarah C. , Henry Gregory H. R. , Hollister Robert D. , Björk Robert G. , Bjorkman Anne D. , Callaghan Terry V. , Collier Laura Siegwart , Cooper Elisabeth J. , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Day Thomas A. , Fosaa Anna Maria , Gould William A. , Grétarsdóttir Járngerður , Harte John , Hermanutz Luise , Hik David S. , Hofgaard Annika , Jarrad Frith , Jónsdóttir Ingibjörg Svala , Keuper Frida , Klanderud Kari , Klein Julia A. , Koh Saewan , Kudo Gaku , Lang Simone I. , Loewen Val , May Jeremy L. , Mercado Joel , Michelsen Anders , Molau Ulf , Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Oberbauer Steven F. , Pieper Sara , Post Eric , Rixen Christian , Robinson Clare H. , Schmidt Niels Martin , Shaver Gaius R. , Stenström Anna , Tolvanen Anne , Totland Ørjan , Troxler Tiffany , Wahren Carl‐Henrik , Webber Patrick J. , Welker Jeffery M. , Wookey Philip A.
Published: December 2011

Ecology Letters (2011)

Understanding the sensitivity of tundra vegetation to climate warming is critical to forecasting future biodiversity and vegetation feedbacks to climate. In situ warming experiments accelerate climate change on a small scale to forecast responses of local plant communities. Limitations of this approach include the apparent site‐specificity of results and uncertainty about the power of short‐term studies to anticipate longer term change. We address these issues with a synthesis of 61 experimental warming studies, of up to 20 years duration, in tundra sites worldwide. The response of plant groups to warming often differed with ambient summer temperature, soil moisture and experimental duration. Shrubs increased with warming only where ambient temperature was high, whereas graminoids increased primarily in the coldest study sites. Linear increases in effect size over time were frequently observed. There was little indication of saturating or accelerating effects, as would be predicted if negative or positive vegetation feedbacks were common. These results indicate that tundra vegetation exhibits strong regional variation in response to warming, and that in vulnerable regions, cumulative effects of long‐term warming on tundra vegetation – and associated ecosystem consequences – have the potential to be much greater than we have observed to date.
Microbial methane cycling in a terrestrial mud volcano in eastern Taiwan
Authors: Chang Yung‐Hsin , Cheng Ting‐Wen , Lai Wen‐Jing , Tsai Wen‐Yu , Sun Chih‐Hsien , Lin Li‐Hung , Wang Pei‐Ling
Published: December 2011

Microbial communities responsible for methane cycling in mud volcanoes onshore are poorly characterized. This study analysed bubbling fluids and cored sediments retrieved from a mud volcano in eastern Taiwan. The pore water profiles revealed that methane concentrations generally increased with depth and changed dramatically at different depth intervals at different sites. The methane concentrations were inversely correlated with Fe2+/Mn2+ concentrations and δ13C values of methane, marking iron/manganese‐methane transition zones in the sediment cores. Archaeal communities were dominated by ANME‐2a members and methylotrophic methanogens, whereas bacterial communities consisted primarily of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The 16S rRNA gene copy numbers of ANME‐2a and Desulfuromonas/Pelobacter populations varied by two to three orders of magnitude along the profile and exhibited a pattern comparable with those of Fe2+ and δ13C values of methane. These lines of evidence suggest a coupling between anaerobic methanotrophy and metal reduction in the metal‐methane transition zones under sulfate‐deficient conditions, a metabolic scheme contrasting with that observed in marine cold seeps. Anaerobic methanotrophs proliferate by removing methane produced from in situ methanogenesis and originating from the deep source. Methane finally emitted into the atmosphere is quantitatively and isotopically altered by various microbial processes compartmentalized at different depth intervals.
Metabolic control and risk of hypoglycaemia during the first year of intensive insulin treatment in type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pontiroli A. E. , Miele L. , Morabito A.
Published: December 2011

Aim: Aim of this study was to analyse clinical correlates of HbA1c, and of overall, nocturnal, and severe hypoglycaemia, through direct‐weighted regressions, as well as the effect of different insulin regimens and insulin analogues, through meta‐analysis.

Methods: Appropriate methodology (PRISMA statement) was used. Sixty‐seven randomized studies, published as full papers were analysed to identify predictors of both HbA1c and hypoglycaemia; studies were included in a meta‐analysis to study the effect of different insulin regimens or insulin analogues on HbA1c and hypoglycaemia during the first year of insulin treatment in type 2 diabetes patients.

Results: Final HbA1c, change of HbA1c, hypoglycaemia, nocturnal hypoglycaemia and severe hypoglycaemia were associated with intensity of treatment. Final HbA1c was higher with basal than with twice‐a‐day or prandial, and with twice‐a‐day than with prandial regimen, with opposite figures for hypoglycaemia. Within basal regimens, detemir and glargine were similar to NPH insulin on HbA1c, with less hypoglycaemia and nocturnal hypoglycaemia; within prandial regimens, new analogues were more effective than regular insulin on HbA1c, and induced less hypoglycaemia. The effect of glargine on HbA1c and on hypoglycaemia vanished with increasing number of insulin injections.

Conclusion: Metabolic control and hypoglycaemia are associated with intensity of treatment. Basal regimens have a reduced effect on metabolic control, but are associated with lower frequency of hypoglycaemia. Newer analogues, short‐ and long‐acting, yield better control and less hypoglycaemia than older analogues.
Ureteroscopy assisted retrograde nephrostomy: a new technique for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
Authors: Kawahara Takashi , Ito Hiroki , Terao Hideyuki , Yoshida Minoru , Ogawa Takehiko , Uemura Hiroji , Kubota Yoshinobu , Matsuzaki Junichi
Published: December 2011

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Retrograde nephrostomy was first developed by Lawson et al. in 1983, and Hunter et al. reported 30 cases of retrograde nephrostomy in 1987. This procedure uses less radiation exposure and has a shorter duration compared with the previous percutaneous nephrostomy techniques. Retrograde nephrostomy using Lawson's procedure was reported in the late 1980s by several authors. But since then, few studies have been reported about this procedure due to the development of ultrasonography assisted percutaneous nephrostomy. With the arrival and development of the flexible ureteroscope (URS) both observation and manipulation in the renal pelvis are now easily achieved.

The present procedure provides less radiation exposure, less bleeding, and a shorter procedure than previous percutaneous nephrostomy techniques. Using this procedure, after the needle has exited through the skin, no further steps are required in preparation for dilatation. In the present study, we continuously visualised from puncture to inserting the nephron‐access sheath with the URS.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a technique for ureteroscopy assisted retrograde nephrostomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Under general and epidural anaesthesia, the patient is placed in a modified‐Valdivia position. Flexible ureteroscopy is carried out, and a Lawson retrograde nephrostomy puncture wire is placed in the ureteroscope (URS).

After the needle has exited through the skin, no further steps are required in preparation for dilatation.

RESULTS

After informed consent was obtained, two patients (a 43‐year‐old man with left renal stones and a 57‐year‐old woman with right renal stones) underwent this procedure.

The URS was positioned in the middle posterior calyx and punctured toward the skin.

CONCLUSIONS

This procedure involves less radiation exposure and shorter surgery than the previous percutaneous nephrostomy technique.

Our technique represents another new option for percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with a non‐dilated intrarenal collecting system.
TIME UNDER AUTOCRATIC RULE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Authors: CARDEN ART , JAMES HARVEY S.
Published: December 2011

We investigate how the length of time a country's regime was autocratic between 1920 and 2000 is correlated with economic growth and per capita income. We find that the longer a country was within an autocracy, the lower is the country's economic performance, even after controlling for other factors. We also find the length of time a country is not autocratic is positively related to growth and income. We claim this evidence is consistent with the thesis that one reason why some countries have had difficulty adjusting to life after autocracy is that the human and social capital necessary to make markets “work” eroded under autocratic regimes and take time to develop afterward. (JEL O17, O43, P0)
COPYRIGHT AND BRANDS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: INTERNALIZING THE EXTERNALITIES OF MEANING
Authors: BOMSEL OLIVIER P.
Published: December 2011

The adoption of binary code as the universal standard for globalized communications generates highly positive externalities of the kind often referred to as “network effects.” But what about meaning? What are the externalities associated with the formatting and circulation of meaning, and are they all positive? Within the digital paradigm, is it really possible to separate the notion of expression—covered by copyright—from the meanings conveyed? Isn't meaning closely related to the concept of brand? And on that assumption, how do copyright and trademark institutions work together to stimulate and promote the generation of meaningful information?

To answer these questions, we will look at how the meaningful forms of expression—the “works”—that have historically been covered by copyright generate specific types of externality, both positive and negative, giving rise to both incentive and censorship mechanisms. We will then show how the institutions of copyright and author's rights that allow the appropriation of a meaning‐dependent good also confer a brand on it by identifying its sources. This leads to cross‐externalities between works of expression and publishing brands, with the result that copyright and trademark institutions cannot be completely separated from each other. (JEL K11, L5, L82, B25)
Retracted: Dynamics of Unclosed Triangles in Alliance Networks: Disappearance of Brokerage Positions and Performance Consequences
Authors: Min Jungwon , Mitsuhashi Hitoshi
Published: December 2011

abstract 

We depart from previous research on brokerage advantages in interorganizational networks by shifting focus to the dynamics of brokerage positions. We investigate causes of the disappearance of these positions and its influence on organizational performance. Using a subnetwork consisting of a broker and its two partners as the unit of analysis, we postulate that the brokerage position disappears either when the two partners develop ties or when the ties between the broker and the partners dissolve. We predict that the patterns of interactions in which this subnetwork is embedded exert multilevel influences on the disappearance, and that embedded structures promoting persistence constrain brokerage advantages. Our analysis of codeshare alliance data in the global airline industry supports the theory and demonstrates that the persistence of brokerage positions decreases broker performance. The findings explain why brokerage positions rarely persist and why the persistence of brokerage positions does not benefit brokers.
Images of Blood in the Historia Albigensis of Pierre des Vaux‐de‐Cernay
Authors: CASSIDY‐WELCH MEGAN
Published: December 2011

This article will provide an analysis of the various ways in which blood appears in the Historia Albigensis of the Cistercian historian, Pierre des Vaux‐de‐Cernay. This history, written between 1213 and 1218, is well‐known for both its narrative of the first stage of the crusade against the heretics of Languedoc and for its eulogistic treatment of Simon de Montfort. Historians have also mined this chronicle for information about the various heretical sects purported to exist in the Languedoc. Less attention has been paid to the narrative means by which Pierre linked heresy and the activities of heretics, the unique nature of the crusade, and the enormous violence which characterized the first phase of the crusade. I suggest that blood provided a useful set of concepts with which Pierre could both construct an understanding of the danger of heresy and argue for an appropriate means to deal with that danger. In the Historia, blood appears as the corruptible fluid that runs between and connects generations of heretics; as a miraculous fluid which portends the coming of the crusaders; and as a salvific fluid which destroys evil and creates martyrs. This article will explore these three manifestations of blood in the context of the Historia's narrative structures.
Montaillou: Cosmology and Social Structure
Authors: DAVIDSON LOLA SHARON
Published: December 2011

This is an interdisciplinary article which brings an anthropological perspective to the problem of the social basis of southern French Catharism. The exceptionally detailed inquistorial records concerning the Pyrennean village of Montaillou make it an ideal case study of a community torn, like much of the rest of southern France, between Catharism and Catholicism, heresy and orthodoxy. Using a sociological model developed by Mary Douglas, the article attempts to demonstrate that heretical beliefs are not simply the power claims of particular groups but rather themselves the expression of confused social relations during a period of accelerated social change.
Bonas Femnas and the Consolamen
Authors: DEBERGUE YVETTE
Published: December 2011

My recently completed doctoral dissertation examines gender relations in the communities of the Lauragais in the thirteenth century that adhered to heresy. I focus here on the ways that the socially constructed gender identities of women and men influenced their involvement with the amicx de Dieu, or friends of God, also known as the Good Christians. I hope to show the extent to which women who embraced heretical thoughts and practices were still considered by society as less worthy than men to receive the gesture of respect known as the melhoramen. Despite often being drawn from the nobility, most women who underwent the consolamen and became bonas femnas still failed to transcend the gender boundaries of their day. Despite long held beliefs that women were empowered beyond the traditional gender boundaries when they adhered to heretical beliefs and practices, and further to studies that have proven that women did not embrace the heretical lifestyle as extensively as was previously thought, I will examine here the reasons for this subjugation of the religious rights of women who embraced heresy.
Twenty‐four‐week efficacy and safety of switching virologically suppressed HIV‐1‐infected patients from nevirapine immediate release 200 mg twice daily to nevirapine extended release 400 mg once daily (TRANxITION)
Authors: Arasteh K , Ward D , Plettenberg A , Livrozet JM , Orkin C , Cordes C , Guo J , Wang E , Yong CL , Robinson P , Quinson A
Published: December 2011

Objectives

Once‐daily (qd) antiretroviral therapies improve convenience and adherence. If found to be effective, nevirapine extended release (NVP XR) will confer this benefit. The TRANxITION trial examined the efficacy and safety of switching virologically suppressed patients from NVP immediate release (NVP IR) 200 mg twice daily to NVP XR 400 mg qd.

Methods

An open‐label, parallel‐group, noninferiority, randomized (2:1 NVP XR:NVP IR) study was performed. Adult HIV‐1‐infected patients receiving NVP IR plus a fixed‐dose nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) combination of lamivudine (3TC)/abacavir (ABC), tenofovir (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) or 3TC/zidovudine (ZDV) with undetectable viral load (VL) were enrolled in the study. The primary endpoint was continued virological suppression with VL < 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL up to week 24 (calculated using a time to loss of virological response algorithm). Cochran's statistic (background regimen adjusted) was used to test noninferiority. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded.

Results

Among 443 randomized patients, continued virological suppression was observed in 93.6% (276 of 295) of NVP XR‐ and 92.6% (137 of 148) of NVP IR‐treated patients, an observed difference of 1% [95% confidence interval (CI) −4.3, 6.0] at 24 weeks of follow‐up. Noninferiority (adjusted margin of −10%) of NVP XR to NVP IR was robust and further supported by SNAPSHOT analysis. Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (DAIDS) grade 3 and 4 events were similar for the NVP XR and NVP IR groups (3.7 vs. 4.1%, respectively), although overall AEs were higher in the NVP XR group (75.6 vs. 60.1% for the NVP‐IR group).

Conclusions

NVP XR administered once daily resulted in continued virological suppression at week 24 that was noninferior to that provided by NVP IR, with similar rates of moderate and severe AEs. The higher frequency of overall AEs with NVP XR may be a consequence of the open‐label design.
Adverse life event and risk of cognitive impairment: a 5‐year prospective longitudinal study in Chongqing, China
Authors: Deng J. , Lian Y. , Shen C. , Chen Y. , Zhang M. , Wang Y.‐J. , Zhou H.‐D.
Published: December 2011

Background and purpose:  Current knowledge of factors that increase or decrease the risk of cognitive impairment in elderly people is limited. Recently adverse life events appeared to be associated with the increased risk of cognitive impairment in elderly people. However, this is less studied. We conducted a 5‐year prospective study to evaluate the association between adverse life events and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese elderly people.

Methods:  Of 9167 community residents aged 55 years and over, 5262 were enrolled into the study and followed up annually for 5 years. At baseline demographic data, smoking and drinking status, medical history, adverse life events, clinical, functional and cognitive status, depressive symptom, and complementary data were collected. The cognitive status was assessed using a structured battery of neuropsychological tests. Subjects were followed‐up annually to assess the cognitive function during follow‐up.

Results:  Over the follow‐up period of 5 years, cognitive impairment developed in 569 subjects. Among the adverse life events, the death of the spouse and a financial crisis were associated with the increased risk of cognitive impairment. These associations persisted after adjusting for the subjects with possible baseline pre‐clinical cognitive impairment, depressive symptom, stroke and vascular risk factors respectively.

Conclusions:  Adverse life events, such as the death of a spouse and a financial crisis, are associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment. Further in‐depth longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to confirm the causal relationship between adverse life events and risk of cognitive impairment in the future.
Multiple sclerosis and cognitive dysfunction: how accurate are patients’ self‐assessments?
Authors: Feinstein A.
Published: December 2011

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