bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rosiglitazone treatment restores renal responsiveness to atrial natriuretic peptide in rats with congestive heart failure
Authors: Goltsman Ilia , Khoury Emad E. , Aronson Doron , Nativ Omri , Feuerstein Giora Z. , Winaver Joseph , Abassi Zaid 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma agonists has restricted clinical use for diabetes mellitus due to fluid retention and potential cardiovascular risks. These side effects are attributed in part to direct salt‐retaining effect of TZDs at the renal collecting duct. A recent study from our group revealed that prolonged rosiglitazone (RGZ) treatment caused no Na+/H2O retention or up‐regulation of Na+ transport‐linked channels/transporters in experimental congestive heart failure (CHF) induced by surgical aorto‐caval fistula (ACF). The present study examines the effects of RGZ on renal and cardiac responses to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), Acetylcholine (Ach) and S‐Nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP‐NO donor). Furthermore, we assessed the impact of RGZ on gene expression related to the ANP signalling pathway in animals with ACF. Rats subjected to ACF (or sham) were treated with either RGZ (30 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 4 weeks. Cardiac chambers pressures and volumes were assessed invasively via Miller catheter. Kidney excretory and renal hemodynamic in response to ANP, Ach and SNAP were examined. Renal clearance along with cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), gene expression of renal CHF‐related genes and ANP signalling in the kidney were determined. RGZ‐treated CHF rats exhibited significant improvement in the natriuretic responses to ANP infusion. This ‘sensitization’ to ANP was not associated with increases in neither urinary cGMP nor in vitro cGMP production. However, RGZ caused down‐regulation of several genes in the renal cortex (Ace, Nos3 and Npr1) and up‐regulation of ACE2, Agtrla, Mme and Cftr along down‐regulation of Avpr2, Npr1,2, Nos3 and Pde3 in the medulla. In conclusion, CHF+RGZ rats exhibited significant enhancement in the natriuretic responses to ANP infusion, which are known to be blunted in CHF. This ‘sensitization’ to ANP is independent of cGMP signalling, yet may involve post‐cGMP signalling target genes such as ACE2, CFTR and V2 receptor. The possibility that TZD treatment in uncomplicated CHF may be less detrimental than thought before deserves additional investigations.
Review of autoimmune blistering diseases: the Pemphigoid diseases
Authors: Daniel B.S. , Murrell D.F. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAutoimmune Blistering Diseases of the Pemphigoid type is characterised by sub‐epidermal blisters (SEB) with circulating autoantibodies against components of the basement membrane zone (BMZ). The main disorders to date include bullous pemphigoid (BP), pemphigoid gestationis, mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), linear IgA disease (LABD), dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), lichen planus pemphigoides and bullous lupus. This is in contrast to pemphigus and related disorders, which demonstrate intraepidermal acantholysis and a positive Nikolsky sign. The classification and management is based on clinical, histological and direct and indirect immunofluorescence findings. There are, however, overlapping clinical and histological features between the conditions and clinical heterogeneity within each disease.
Lower dietary fibre intake, but not total water consumption, is associated with constipation: a population‐based analysis
Authors: Shen L. , Huang C. , Lu X. , Xu X. , Jiang Z. , Zhu C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundAssociations between constipation and dietary fibre and water intake, as well as various lifestyle factors, have not been fully evaluated. The present study aimed to investigate associations between fibre and water intake and constipation, as well as other possible risk factors for constipation, in a large adult population.MethodsData obtained from 14 024 adults aged ≥20 years from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2010, who had completed a bowel health questionnaire, were included in this cross‐sectional population‐based study. Variables included demographics, lifestyle and dietary factors, comorbidities and laboratory parameters. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations between potential risk factors and constipation.ResultsAmong 17 132 participants ≥20 years, 2401 (14%) did not complete bowel health questionnaires and were excluded, along with pregnant women (n = 461) and participants without dietary sample weight on day 1 (n = 246), leaving data from 14 024 participants available for analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that black race/ethnicity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.380, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.054–1.809], a lower than 12th grade education (OR = 1.420, 95% CI = 1.154–1.749) or high school education (OR = 1.339, 95% CI = 1.057–1.697), lower income/poverty ratios (1.3–3.49 versus ≥3.5: OR = 1.261, 95% CI = 1.015–1.567), normal weight (OR = 1.913, 95% CI = 1.534–2.386) or overweight (OR = 1.536, 95% CI = 1.207–1.955), depression (OR = 1.610, 95% CI = 1.119–2.315) and poor teeth (OR = 1.441, 95% CI = 1.100–1.888) were associated with an increased risk for constipation. Lower dietary fibre intake was associated with a greater risk of constipation. Total water consumption was significantly associated an with an increased risk of constipation in univariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsLower dietary fibre intake, but not poor water consumption, was associated with a greater risk of constipation in US adults.
Could dental school teaching clinics provide better care than regular private practices?
Authors: Nalliah Romesh P. 
Published: May 2019

SummaryDental school clinics (DSC) consist of unlicensed dental students delivering care under the supervision of licensed dental professionals. Care delivery is slow due to inexperience of the provider and the series of supervisory checks that are necessary. Cost of care to the patient is less. To date, there has been no evaluation of the benefits of receiving care in a DSC beyond reduced fees. Research has shown the value of teaching hospitals in medicine, and the purpose of this article was to evaluate the total sum of benefits (the value proposition) of receiving dental care in a DSC.
Tasselseed5 encodes a cytochrome C oxidase that functions in sex determination by affecting jasmonate catabolism in maize
Authors: Wang Fei , Yuan Zhenjiang , Zhao Zhiwei , Li Caixia , Zhang Xin , Liang Huafeng , Liu Yawen , Xu Qian , Liu Hongtao 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMaize (Zea mays L.) is a monoecious grass plant in which mature male and female florets form the tassel and ear, respectively. Maize is often used as a model plant to study flower development. Several maize tassel seed mutants, such as the recessive mutants tasselseed1 (ts1) and tasselseed2 (ts2), exhibit a reversal in sex determination, which leads to the generation of seeds in tassels. The phenotype of the dominant mutant, Tasselseed5 (Ts5), is similar to that of ts2. Here, we positionally cloned the underlying gene of Ts5 and characterized its function. We show that the GRMZM2G177668 gene is overexpressed in Ts5. This gene encodes a cytochrome C oxidase, which catalyzes the transformation of jasmonoyl‐L‐isoleucine (JA‐Ile) to 12OH‐JA‐Ile during jasmonic acid catabolism. Consistent with this finding, no JA‐Ile peak was detected in Ts5 tassels during the sex determination period, unlike in the wild type. Transgenic maize plants overexpressing GRMZM2G177668 exhibited a tassel‐seed phenotype similar to that of Ts5. These results indicate that the JA‐Ile peak in tassels is critical for sex determination and that the Ts5 mutant phenotype results from the disruption of this peak in tassels during sex determination.
Individual factors associated with masticatory performance of complete denture wearers: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Leles Cláudio Rodrigues , Oliveira Talitha Maria Cabral , de Araújo Sara Cristina , Nogueira Túlio Eduardo , Schimmel Martin 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to assess whether differences in inter‐individual clinical and prosthodontic variables affect masticatory performance (MP) of edentulous subjects who received new complete dentures.Materials and methodsThere were 204 edentulous participants who received new maxillary and mandibular complete dentures between October 2014 and March 2018 at a university clinic. MP was measured by a mixing ability test with a two‐coloured chewing gum for 20 and 50 chewing cycles. The outcome variable was the degree of colour mixing of the chewed gum, expressed by the variation of hue (VOH) and measured by electronic colourimetric analysis. Explanatory variables included gender and age, quality of the dentures, classification of edentulous ridges and prognostic features, time since the insertion of the new dentures and patient‐reported outcomes related to complete denture treatment. Bivariate correlation tests, multiple linear regression and a linear mixed model were used for data analysis.ResultsMean VOH values were 0.57 (±0.13) and 0.43 (±0.16) for 20 and 50 chewing cycles, respectively. Mixing ability was higher in females than in males for 20 (P = 0.036) and 50 (P = 0.006) chewing cycles. No effects on the patient‐reported outcome measures were observed. The time since denture delivery, gender, age and Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index (PDI) score were independently associated with masticatory performance at 20 and/or 50 chewing cycles. Overall masticatory performance tested by the linear mixed‐effect model confirmed that VOH value was negatively influenced by male gender, older age and shorter time since denture delivery.ConclusionMasticatory performance seems to be improved with the continuous use of newly inserted dentures and negatively influenced by advanced age.
The Influence of Health Education Teacher Characteristics on Students' Health‐Related Knowledge Gains
Authors: Murray Colleen C. , Sheremenko Ganna , Rose India D. , Osuji Thearis A. , Rasberry Catherine N. , Lesesne Catherine A. , Parker J. T. , Roberts Georgi 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDStudies have examined relationships between teacher characteristics and student achievement in courses such as math and science. This study is among the first to examine effects of teacher characteristics on student knowledge in a health course.METHODSStudent (N = 6143) pretest and posttest data were linked to teacher (N = 67) data. Changes in student knowledge scores from pre‐ to postcourse were explored using mixed‐effects linear models. Teacher characteristics included professional development (PD) attendance, having a dedicated classroom, certification type, educational background, years' experience, and athletic coaching status.RESULTSTeacher characteristics associated with greater student knowledge gains included: being certified to teach health versus not certified (p < .001), having a dedicated classroom versus no classroom (p = .017), and for middle school teachers, having attended ≥3 PD sessions versus ≤2 (p = .023). Less knowledge gain was associated with teachers that coached versus noncoaches (p = .040) and having a health degree versus no health degree (p = .049). Post hoc analyses revealed the negative effect of health degree was only significant among coaches (p = .026).CONCLUSIONSFindings suggest opportunities for maximizing student knowledge gains through tailored selection of health teachers and provision of appropriate teaching support.
Food Safety Education Needs of High‐School Students: Leftovers, Lunches, and Microwaves
Authors: Diplock Kenneth J. , Jones‐Bitton Andria , Leatherdale Scott T. , Rebellato Steven , Hammond David , Majowicz Shannon E. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDWe explored priority areas of food safety education needed by high‐school students within Ontario, Canada.METHODSWe analyzed transcripts from semistructured interviews with 20 experts in food safety, food safety education in youth, and high‐school education in Ontario. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify priority food safety education needs.RESULTSWe identified 4 priority action areas for food safety education targeting students: how to safely do the things they typically do with food; how to keep themselves and their kitchens clean and safe; how microorganisms grow and how they can result in foodborne disease; and how to keep food out of the “danger zone” 4°C to 60°C (40° F to 140° F). The results indicate that students need specific education around the use of microwaves, consumption of convenience meals, preparing and handling foods at school events, and safe transportation of food for lunches, school trips, and sporting events.CONCLUSIONSHigh‐school students need food safety education specific to their usual interactions with food, including the foods, tools, and settings students regularly encounter. Delivery of food safety education should emphasize sequences of safe food‐handling behaviors for specific food interactions, such as reheating a meal in the microwave, rather than traditional food safety concepts, such as temperature abuse.
Analysis of the influence of low birth weight on the time of eruption of dental caries in children in early childhood
Authors: da Silva Castro Cristiane R. , de Sousa Cabral Maria B. B. , Mota Eduardo L. A. , Cangussu Maria C. T. , Vianna Maria I. P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the time, in days, from the beginning of the monitoring until the occurrence of dental caries and its association with low birth weight in early childhood.MethodsThis longitudinal study, dynamic cohort type with a study population of 1,109 children from public, private, and philanthropic daycares in Salvador, Bahia. The independent variables considered were sociodemographic, perinatal, and behavioral, such as the type of breastfeeding. Survival analysis was used to estimate the time for the development of caries with the Kaplan–Meier method. The Cox Regression was used on the multivariate analysis to assess the association with low birth weight (LBW).ResultsOut of the total of 1,109 children, 419 developed the disease and the median time to the occurrence of caries was approximately 18 months. District of origin, type of daycare, age, skin color, maternal education, family income, living in a home with less than four rooms, breastfeeding habits, the presence of biofilm and of active white spot, and previous caries experience were identified as potential determinants of the time until the occurrence of caries. It was found a positive association between LBW and the time to the development of caries in both the not adjusted (RF = 1.21, 95 percent CI 0.88–1.65) and adjusted model (adjusted RF = 1.52, 95 percent CI 1.01–2.28).ConclusionLBW was associated with dental caries.
Dietary probiotic form modulates broiler gut microbiota indices and expression of gut barrier genes including essential components for gut homeostasis
Authors: Mountzouris Konstantinos C. , Palamidi Irida , Paraskeuas Vasileios , Griela Eirini , Fegeros Konstantinos 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe probiotic form (PF) type and its dietary administration in combination or not with avilamycin (AV) were investigated for their effects on broiler gut microbiota and expression of genes relevant for gut barrier and gut homeostasis. Depending on PF type (i.e. no addition, viable, inactivated) and AV addition (no/yes), 450 one‐day‐old Cobb male broilers were allocated in 6 treatments (CON, CON + A, ViP, ViP + A, InP and InP + A) according to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 5 replicates of 15 broilers each for 42 days. Significant interactions (PPF × AV ≤ 0.05) between PF and AV administration were shown for the ileal mucosa‐associated bacteria, the caecal digesta Lactobacillus spp., the molar ratio of the sum of valeric, hexanoic and heptanoic acids and the gene expressions of ileal and caecal IgA and ileal claudin 1. Avilamycin suppressed ileal digesta Lactobacillus spp. (PAV < 0.001) and caecal digesta Clostridium perfringens subgroup (PAV = 0.018) and modulated the intestinal fermentation intensity and pattern. The viable PF had the higher levels of ileal digesta Bacteroides spp. (PPF = 0.021) and caecal digesta Lactobacillus spp. (PPF = 0.038) compared with the other two PF. Probiotic form modulated the microbial metabolic activity in the ileum and caeca with the viable PF being the most noteworthy in terms of effects regarded as beneficial. Furthermore, the viable PF resulted in reduced expression of caecal Toll‐like receptors TLR2B (PPF = 0.026) and TLR4 (PPF = 0.011) and transcription factor NFΚΒ1 (PPF = 0.002), which could be considered as essential for limiting inflammation and preserving gut homeostasis. In conclusion, under non‐challenge conditions, probiotic function was shown to depend on PF type and to a lesser degree on co‐administration with AV. The importance of probiotic viability for the beneficial modulation of important gut components towards a reduced state of physiological inflammation has been highlighted.
Efficacy of antepartum administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin in preventing mother‐to‐child transmission of hepatitis B virus
Authors: Zhao Mengyu , Zou Huaibin , Chen Yu , Zheng Sujun , Duan Zhongping 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of antepartum administration of three doses of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in interrupting mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). In this trial, a total of 728 HBeAg‐positive pregnant women with chronic HBV infection who had an HBV DNA level higher than 6log10 copies/mL were enrolled. They were divided into three groups based on individual preference. Subjects in group A and group B received 200 IU (unit) HBIG and 400 IU (unit) HBIG intramuscularly once a month at the third, second and first month before delivery, respectively. Subjects in the control group (C) received no special treatment. All the infants received passive‐active immunoprophylaxis. The HBsAg‐positive rate of all infants at 7‐12 months of age was 5.1% (37/728). Specifically, the HBsAg‐positive rate of infants was comparable in all three groups (5.3% vs 5.1% vs 5%, P = 0.988). No significant difference was found in anti‐HBs levels between the infants aged 7‐12 months in the three groups (P = 0.469). HBV DNA levels of the umbilical cord blood in the HBV‐infected group were higher than those in the uninfected group (5.2 vs 3.4log10 copies/mL, P < 0.001), and these with family history of HBV infection were also higher (45.9% vs 28.5%, P = 0.034). To conclude, administration of passive‐active immunoprophylaxis to infants contributed to effective prevention of the MTCT of HBV; extra antepartum administration of HBIG during pregnancy could not decrease the rate of MTCT or increase the anti‐HBs levels of infants born to HBsAg‐positive mothers with HBV DNA higher than 6log10 copies/mL.
Sweepstakes reproductive success is absent in a New Zealand snapper (Chrysophrus auratus) population protected from fishing despite “tiny” Ne/N ratios elsewhere
Authors: Jones Andrew T. , Lavery Shane D. , Le Port Agnès , Wang You‐Gan , Blower Dean , Ovenden Jennifer 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA landmark study published in 2002 estimated a very small Ne/N ratio (around 10–5) in a population of pink snapper (Chrysophrys auratus, Forster, 1801) in the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand. It epitomized the tiny Ne/N ratios (<10–3) reported in marine species due to the hypothesized operation of sweepstakes reproductive success (SRS). Here we re‐evaluate the occurrence of SRS in marine species and the potential effect of fishing on the Ne/N ratio by studying the same species in the same region, but in a population that has been protected from fishing since 1975. We combine empirical, simulation and model‐based approaches to estimate Ne (and Nb) from genotypes of 1,044 adult fish and estimate N using recapture‐probabilities. The estimated Ne/N ratio was much larger (0.33, SE: 0.14) than expected. The magnitude of estimates of population‐wide variance in individual lifetime reproductive success (10–18) suggested that the sweepstakes effect was negligible in the study population. After evaluating factors that could explain the contrast between studies – experimental design, life history differences, environmental effects and the influence of exploitation on the Ne/N ratio – we conclude that the low Ne of the Hauraki Gulf population is associated with demographic instability in the harvested compared to the protected population despite circumstantial evidence that the 2002 study may have underestimated Ne. This study has broad implications for the prevailing view that reproductive success in the sea is largely driven by chance, and for genetic monitoring of populations using the Ne/N ratio and Nb.
Natural variations in the MYB transcription factor MYB31 determine the evolution of extremely pungent peppers
Authors: Zhu Zhangsheng , Sun Binmei , Cai Wen , Zhou Xin , Mao Yanhui , Chen Chengjie , Wei Jianlang , Cao Bihao , Chen Changming , Chen Guoju , Lei Jianjun 
Published: May 2019

Summary

Plants produce countless specialized metabolites crucial for their development and fitness, and many are useful bioactive compounds. Capsaicinoids are intriguing genus‐specialized metabolites that confer a pungent flavor to Capsicum fruits, and they are widely applied in different areas. Among the five domesticated Capsicum species, Capsicum chinense has a high content of capsaicinoids, which results in an extremely hot flavor. However, the species‐specific upregulation of capsaicinoid‐biosynthetic genes (CBGs) and the evolution of extremely pungent peppers are not well understood.

We conducted genetic and functional analyses demonstrating that the quantitative trait locus Capsaicinoid1 (Cap1), which is identical to Pun3 contributes to the level of pungency.

The Cap1/Pun3 locus encodes the Solanaceae‐specific MYB transcription factor MYB31. Capsicum species have evolved placenta‐specific expression of MYB31, which directly activates expression of CBGs and results in genus‐specialized metabolite production. The capsaicinoid content depends on MYB31 expression. Natural variations in the MYB31 promoter increase MYB31 expression in C. chinense via the binding of the placenta‐specific expression of transcriptional activator WRKY9 and augmentation of CBG expression, which promotes capsaicinoid biosynthesis.

Our findings provide insights into the evolution of extremely pungent C. chinense, which is due to natural variations in the master regulator, and offers targets for engineering or selecting flavor in Capsicum.