bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The proportion of different interleukin‐17‐producing T‐cell subsets is associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Cachem Fabio C. O. F. , Dias Aleida S. , Monteiro Clarice , Castro José Roberto , Fernandes Gabriel , Delphim Letícia , Almeida Adilson J. , Tavares Felipe , Maciel Alessandra M. A. , Amendola‐Pires Marcia M. , Brandão‐Mello Carlos E. , Bento Cleonice A. M. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryStudies have suggested the pivotal role of T helper type 1 (Th1) ‐related cytokines on the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Nevertheless, the role of different interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) ‐secreting T cells on chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is less clear. Here, the in vivo IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐17 levels were positively correlated with both alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and hepatic lesions. When compared with the control group, CHC patients showed a lower proportion of IL‐17‐secreting (CD4+ and CD8+) T cells capable of simultaneously producing IL‐21. Moreover, the percentage of IL‐10‐secreting Th17 cells was also lower in CHC patients. Notably, advanced liver lesions were observed among those patients with lower percentage levels of IL‐17‐producing T cells positive for IL‐21, interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and IL‐10. In contrast, the severity of hepatic damage was associated with peripheral single IL‐17+ T cells. The percentage of IL‐17+ IL‐21– IFN‐γ+ (CD4+ and CD8+) T‐cell phenotypes was positively associated with plasma CD14 levels. Finally, elevated levels of circulating CD14 were detected among CHC patients with extensive liver damage. In summary, although preliminary, our results suggest that a balance between different IL‐17‐producing T cells, associated with peripheral levels of CD14, may be a progress marker for liver disease in chronically HCV‐infected patients.
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on the Interpretation and Expression of Emotions in Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Leppanen J. , Cardi V. , Ng K. W. , Paloyelis Y. , Stein D. , Tchanturia K. , Treasure J. 
Published: January 2017

Altered social‐emotional functioning is considered to play an important role in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN). Recently, there has been increasing interest in investigating the role of intranasal oxytocin in social‐emotional processing. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin on the interpretation and expression of emotions among people with AN. Thirty women with AN and 29 age‐matched healthy women took part in the present study, which used a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over design. The participants received a single dose of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in one session and a placebo spray in the other. Fifteen minutes after administration, the participants completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test to assess the interpretation of complex emotions and mental states followed by a video task, which assessed expressions of facial affect when they were viewing humorous and sad film clips. The intranasal oxytocin did not significantly influence the expression or interpretation of emotions in the AN or healthy comparison groups. The AN group expressed significantly less positive emotion, spent more time looking away and reported experiencing a significantly more negative affect in response to the film clips. The finding that intranasal oxytocin had little to no effect on the interpretation or expression of emotions in either group supports the notion that the effects of oxytocin on social‐emotional processing are not straightforward and may depend on individual and environmental differences, as well as the emotion being processed. Replication of these findings is necessary to explore the effect of timing on the effects of oxytocin before firm conclusions can be drawn. Nonetheless, these findings add to the steady accumulation of evidence that people with AN have reduced emotional expression and avoidance of emotionally provoking stimuli.
The slip extrusion test: A novel method to characterise bolus properties
Authors: Ng G. C. F. , Gray‐Stuart E. M. , Morgenstern M. P. , Jones J. R. , Grigg N. P. , Bronlund J. E. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe role of mastication is to prepare a bolus for safe swallowing. The Swallow Safe model defines deformability, slippiness, and cohesiveness as key properties that influence whether a bolus is safe to swallow. Defining these properties numerically is difficult and current instruments used for bolus analysis have limitations. The slip extrusion test (SET) was developed to objectively measure the swallowability of the bolus through determination of its resistance to deformation and slip. The test measures the force needed to extrude a bolus through a bag as it is pulled through a pair of rollers, imitating the swallowing action of a bolus. Three food model systems were used to evaluate the SET: (a) viscous solutions with varying viscosity, (b) gels with varying hardness, and (c) particulate systems of varying cohesion. The test was applied to peanut boluses produced in vivo to demonstrate its potential in characterizing boluses. The deformation and slip resistance measurements correlated well with the hardness and viscosity measurements of the gels and viscous solutions respectively (correlation coefficient r = .94 between deformation resistance and hardness; r = .85 for slip resistance and hardness in gels; r = .98 for deformation resistance and viscosity; r = .93 for slip resistance and viscosity in solutions). The advantage of the SET is it can evaluate the swallowability of a wide range of foods of different structure and composition. It could potentially be used to investigate the properties of boluses throughout oral processing and help in establishing the criteria for a safe to swallow bolus in a quantitative way.Practical applicationsThe test could be used to measure bolus properties from the initial stages of breakdown to the point of swallow for all types of food. The ability to measure the changes in bolus properties through all stages of breakdown using the same instrument is a significant development. The resistance to deformation and slip are quantitative measurements that could potentially be used to further develop the Swallow Safe model by providing numerical limits to the identified properties. This could be of interest to the development of foods for dysphagia sufferers.
Staphylococcus aureus biofilm: a complex developmental organism
Authors: Moormeier Derek E. , Bayles Kenneth W. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryChronic biofilm‐associated infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus often lead to significant increases in morbidity and mortality, particularly when associated with indwelling medical devices. This has triggered a great deal of research attempting to understand the molecular mechanisms that control S. aureus biofilm formation and the basis for the recalcitrance of these multicellular structures to antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this review is to summarize our current understanding of S. aureus biofilm development, focusing on the description of a newly‐defined, five‐stage model of biofilm development and the mechanisms required for each stage. Importantly, this model includes an alternate view of the processes involved in microcolony formation in S. aureus and suggests that these structures originate as a result of stochastically regulated metabolic heterogeneity and proliferation within a maturing biofilm population, rather than a subtractive process involving the release of cell clusters from a thick, unstructured biofilm. Importantly, it is proposed that this new model of biofilm development involves the genetically programmed generation of metabolically distinct subpopulations of cells, resulting in an overall population that is better able to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions.
Glutamate synthase MoGlt1‐mediated glutamate homeostasis is important for autophagy, virulence and conidiation in the rice blast fungus
Authors: Zhou Wei , Shi Wei , Xu Xiao‐Wen , Li Zhi‐Gang , Yin Chang‐Fa , Peng Jun‐Bo , Pan Song , Chen Xiao‐Lin , Zhao Wen‐Sheng , Zhang Yan , Yang Jun , Peng You‐Liang 
Published: January 2017

SummaryGlutamate homeostasis plays a vital role in central nitrogen metabolism and coordinates several key metabolic functions. However, its function in fungal pathogenesis and development has not been investigated in detail. In this study, we identified and characterized a glutamate synthase gene MoGLT1 in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae that was important to glutamate homeostasis. MoGLT1 was constitutively expressed, but showed the highest expression level in appressoria. Deletion of MoGLT1 resulted in a significant reduction in conidiation and virulence. The ΔMoglt1 mutants were defective in appressorial penetration and the differentiation and spread of invasive hyphae in penetrated plant cells. The addition of exogenous glutamic acid partially rescued the defects of the ΔMoglt1 mutants in conidiation and plant infection. Assays for MoAtg8 expression and localization showed that the ΔMoglt1 mutants were defective in autophagy. The ΔMoglt1 mutants were delayed in the mobilization of glycogens and lipid bodies from conidia to developing appressoria. Taken together, our results show that glutamate synthase MoGlt1‐mediated glutamate homeostasis is important for pathogenesis and development in the rice blast fungus, possibly via the regulation of autophagy.
Changes in body mass index during childhood and risk of various asthma phenotypes: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Chastang Julie , Baiz Nour , Parnet Laure , Cadwallader Jean Sébastien , De Blay Frédéric , Caillaud Denis , Charpin Denis André , Dwyer John , Lavaud François , Raherison Chantal , Ibanez Gladys , Annesi‐Maesano Isabella 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundIt is known that asthma is related to obesity but also to small birthweight. The objective of this study was to clarify this issue by assessing the putative relationship between the changes in corpulence between birth and childhood as assessed by body mass index (BMI) and asthma phenotypes.MethodsThe following status in corpulence was assessed in 7781 schoolchildren using quartile of BMI at birth and at around 10 (9–11 years): underweight at birth and at around 10, underweight at birth and overweight at around 10, overweight at birth and underweight at around 10, overweight at birth and at around 10, and the reference group constituted by all the other children in whom corpulence changes were not extreme. Determination of asthma phenotypes (allergic, non‐allergic, and exercise‐induced asthma) was based on a clinical examination including skin prick tests, an exercise challenge test, and a questionnaire.ResultsThe risk of allergic asthma was higher in children with persistent underweight, children with persistent overweight, and children becoming markedly more corpulent. In boys, the risk of allergic asthma was significantly higher for the less corpulent children at birth, regardless of whether they remained so or become overweight. In girls, the risk of allergic asthma was significantly higher in those with persistent overweight. There were no significant associations between BMI changes and non‐allergic and exercise‐induced asthma.ConclusionsWe observed that some extreme changes in BMI, persistent underweight, and persistent overweight in childhood increased the risk of allergic asthma.
Detection of ovomucoid‐specific low‐affinity IgE in infants and its relationship to eczema
Authors: Kawamoto Norio , Kamemura Norio , Kido Hiroshi , Fukao Toshiyuki 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundAllergen‐specific low‐affinity IgE was previously detected in cord blood by a highly sensitive densely carboxylated protein (DCP) chip, but not by ImmunoCAP. Here, we investigated the presence of low‐affinity IgE during the early life of infants and observed its relationship with eczema.MethodsWe conducted a birth cohort study, collecting sera at birth and 6 and 14 months of age (n = 110). We monitored the ovomucoid (OM)‐ and egg white (EW)‐specific IgE (sIgE) by ImmunoCAP or DCP chip and analyzed the antigen affinity of sIgE by binding inhibition assays in the presence or absence of a mild chaotropic agent, diethyl amine (DEA). The low‐ and high‐affinity OM‐sIgEs and sensitization risk factors were analyzed by a multivariate logistic analysis.ResultsThe OM‐sIgE measured by DCP chip significantly correlated with that measured by ImmunoCAP, but some samples assessed as OM‐sIgE positive by DCP chip were considered OM‐sIgE negative by ImmunoCAP. Binding inhibition analysis after DEA treatment was performed for participants judged as OM‐sIgE positive by DCP chip at 14 M. The group assessed as negative for OM‐ and EW‐sIgE by ImmunoCAP at 6 and 14 months showed a larger binding inhibition curve shift after DEA treatment than did the group assessed as positive at these times, indicating the presence of low‐affinity sIgE antibodies at 14 months. The logistic regression analysis found that persistent eczema from 6 to 14 months is a significant risk factor for developing high‐affinity, but not low‐affinity, sIgE.ConclusionsHuman infant peripheral blood contains allergen‐specific low‐affinity sIgE. Persistent eczema is related to the development of high‐affinity, but not low‐affinity, IgE.
Use of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and Birth Outcomes in Women Conceiving through In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Xiong Xu , Dickey Richard P. , Buekens Pierre , Shaffer Jeffrey G. , Pridjian Gabriella 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundDespite questionable evidence of benefits over conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) use has markedly increased in recent decades among couples without male factor infertility. We assessed the frequency of ICSI use and its effect on birth outcomes.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted in 141 030 women conceiving through IVF using 2006–2010 data from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART).ResultsBetween 2006 and 2010, overall ICSI use in women conceiving through IVF increased from 68.9% to 73.1%. This increase was greater among women without male factor infertility (53.0–59.2%) than in women with male factor infertility (92.0–93.4%). Women conceiving through IVF with and without ICSI had similar rates of multiple pregnancy, preterm delivery, stillbirth, and neonatal death. However, ICSI pregnancies were associated with an increased risk of birth defects over conventional IVF (3.0% for ICSI vs. 2.5% for conventional IVF; adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2, 1.3). These increases were observed in both women conceiving through ICSI with male factor infertility (3.2% vs. 2.5%; OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3, 1.5) and without male factor infertility (2.7% vs. 2.5%; OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1, 1.2).ConclusionsHigher rates of birth defects were observed among women conceiving through ICSI. Since approximately half of all ICSI procedures are performed in couples without male factor infertility, ICSI may be overused in practice.
Receipt of Formal and Informal Help with Specific Care Tasks among Older People Living in their Own Home. National Trends over Two Decades
Authors: Dahlberg Lena , Berndt Hanna , Lennartsson Carin , Schön Pär 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSweden is seen as a typical example of a social democratic welfare regime, with universal and generous welfare policies. However, in the last decades, there have been substantial reductions in the Swedish provision of care for older people. This study aimed to examine trends in sources of care‐receipt in older people (77+) living in their own home and with a perceived need for help with two specific tasks: house cleaning and/or food shopping. Trends in care‐receipt were examined in relation to gender, living alone, having children and socio‐economic position. Data from the 1992, 2002 and 2011 data collection waves of the national study, Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD), were used. Response rates varied between 86 and 95 per cent, and the sample represents the population well. Trends and differences between groups were explored in bivariate and logistic regression analyses. There was a reduction in formal care‐receipt regarding house cleaning and food shopping over the study period. It was more common for women than men to receive formal care, and more common for men than women to receive informal care. Reductions in formal care have affected older women more than older men. Still, living alone was the most influential factor in care‐receipt, associated with a greater likelihood of formal care‐receipt and a lower likelihood of informal care‐receipt. It can be concluded that public responsibility for care is becoming more narrowly defined in Sweden, and that more responsibility for care is placed on persons in need of care and their families.
Soil organic carbon changes after seven years of conservation agriculture in a rice–wheat system of the eastern Indo‐Gangetic Plains
Authors: Sapkota T. B. , Jat R. K. , Singh R. G. , Jat M. L. , Stirling C. M. , Jat M. K. , Bijarniya D. , Kumar M. ,   Yadvinder‐Singh , Saharawat Y. S. , Gupta R. K. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important strategy to improve soil quality and to mitigate climate change. To investigate changes in SOC under conservation agriculture (CA), we measured SOC concentrations after seven years of rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotations in the eastern Indo‐Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India under various combinations of tillage and crop establishment methods. The six treatments were as follows: conventional till transplanted rice followed by conventional till wheat (CTR‐CTW), CTR followed by zero‐till wheat (CTR‐ZTW), ZT direct‐seeded rice followed by CTW (ZTDSR‐CTW), ZTDSR followed by ZT wheat both on permanent raised beds with residue (PBDSR‐PBW+R), and ZTDSR followed by ZTW both with (ZTDSR‐ZTW+R) and without residues (ZTDSR‐ZTW). We hypothesized that CA systems (i.e. ZT with residue retention) would sequester more carbon (C) than CT. After seven years, ZTDSR‐ZTW+R and PBDSR‐PBW+R increased SOC at 0–0.6 m depth by 4.7 and 3.0 t C/ha, respectively, whereas the CTR‐CTW system resulted in a decrease in SOC of 0.9 t C/ha. Over the same soil depth, ZT without residue retention (ZTDSR‐ZTW) only increased SOC by 1.1 t C/ha. There was no increase in SOC where ZT in either rice or wheat was followed by CT in the next crop (i.e. CTR‐ZTW and ZTDSR‐CTW), most likely because the benefit of ZT is lost when followed by tillage. Tillage and crop establishment methods had no significant effect on the SOC stock below the 0.15‐m soil layer. Over the seven years, the total carbon input from above‐ground residues was ca. 14.5 t/ha in ZTDSR‐ZTW+R and PBDSR‐PBW+R, almost sixfold greater than in the other systems. Our findings suggest that the increased biomass production achieved through a combination of ZT and partial residue retention offers an opportunity to increase SOC whilst allowing residues to be used for other purposes.
Detection of adverse events of transfusion in a teaching hospital in Ghana
Authors: Owusu‐Ofori A. K. , Owusu‐Ofori S. P. , Bates I. 
Published: January 2017

SUMMARYBackground and ObjectivesMonitoring the whole chain of events from the blood donors to recipients, documenting any undesirable or untoward effects and introducing measures to prevent their recurrence if possible are components of haemovigilance systems. Only few sub‐Saharan African countries have haemovigilance systems, and there are very little data on adverse events of transfusion. Adverse events monitoring is an integral part of a haemovigilance system. Our study aimed to establish the incidence and types of adverse events of transfusions in Ghana and to identify interventions to improve effectiveness.Materials and MethodsThis prospective observational 1‐year study enrolled 372 recipients of 432 transfusions in a Ghanaian teaching hospital. Vital signs were monitored at 15, 30 and 60 min intervals during the transfusion, then 8 h until 24 h post‐transfusion. Three investigators independently classified any new signs and symptoms according to Serious Hazards of Transfusion definitions.ResultsThe adverse events incidence was 21·3% (92/432), predominantly mild acute transfusion reactions (84%). A total of 20 transfusions (4·6%) were stopped before completion, 60% of them for mild febrile reactions, which could have been managed with transfusion in situ.ConclusionThis prospective study indicates a high incidence of adverse events of transfusion in Kumasi, Ghana. The significant numbers of discontinued transfusions suggest that guidelines on how to manage transfusion reactions would help preserve scarce blood stocks. Gradual implementation of a haemovigilance system, starting with monitoring adverse transfusion events, is a pragmatic approach in resource‐limited settings.
Absence of OsβCA1 causes a CO2 deficit and affects leaf photosynthesis and the stomatal response to CO2 in rice
Authors: Chen Taiyu , Wu Huan , Wu Jiemin , Fan Xiaolei , Li Xianghua , Lin Yongjun 
Published: January 2017

SummaryPlants always adjust the opening of stomatal pores to adapt to the environment, for example CO2 concentration ([CO2]), humidity and temperature. Low [CO2] will trigger the opening of stomatal pores to absorb extra CO2. However, little is known about how CO2 supply affects the carbon fixation and opening of stomatal pores in rice. Here, a chloroplast‐located gene coding for β‐carbonic anhydrase (βCA) was found to be involved in carbon assimilation and the CO2‐mediated stomatal pore response in rice. OsβCA1 was constitutively expressed in all tissues and its transcripts were induced by high [CO2] in leaves. Both T‐DNA mutant and RNA interference lines showed phenotypes of lower biomass and CA activities. Knockout of OsβCA1 obviously decreased photosynthetic capacity, as demonstrated by the increased CO2 compensation point and decreased light saturation point in the mutant, while knockout increased the opening ratio of stomatal pores and the rate of water loss. Moreover, the mutant showed a delayed response to low [CO2], and stomatal pores could not be closed to the same degree as those of wild type even though the stomatal pores could rapidly respond to high [CO2]. Genome‐wide gene expression analysis via RNA sequencing demonstrated that the transcript abundance of genes related to Rubisco, photosystem compounds and the opening of stomatal pores was globally upregulated in the mutant. Taken together, the inadequate CO2 supply caused by the absence of OsβCA1 reduces photosynthetic efficiency, triggers the opening of stomatal pores and finally decreases their sensitivity to CO2 fluctuation.