bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound of the salivary glands is a strong predictor of labial gland biopsy histopathology in patients with sicca symptoms
Authors: Astorri Elisa , Sutcliffe Nurhan , Richards Polly S. , Suchak Krishna , Pitzalis Costantino , Bombardieri Michele , Tappuni Anwar R. 
Published: December 2015

BackgroundThe international classification criteria for Sjögren's syndrome necessitate the presence of either extractable nuclear antibody or a characteristic focal inflammatory infiltrate in a minor salivary gland. Thus, patients who are extractable nuclear antibody‐negative will need to have a labial salivary gland biopsy, which is an invasive procedure associated with morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of ultrasound imaging of the major salivary glands as a predictor of the histology to explore whether ultrasound can help in stratifying Sjögren's patients and reduce the need for biopsy.MethodsThe records of 85 patients suspected of having Sjögren's syndrome and who have had biopsy and ultrasound were analysed retrospectively. The histology and the ultrasound were reported by experts independently. The reporting was impartial as the examiners were blinded to the results of the other investigations and to the diagnosis.ResultsOut of the 85 patients, 34 had positive ultrasound, 29 of whom also had positive histology. Fifty‐one patients had negative ultrasound, of whom 49 were also negative for histological features of Sjögren's syndrome. The results show that the ultrasound had a positive predictive value of 85% and a striking negative predicative value of 96% of the histology results. The overall concordance between the ultrasound and the histology was 91% (Kappa = 0.826).ConclusionsOur study shows that potentially the ultrasound has a role in stratifying patients who are extractable nuclear antibody‐negative and can help to prioritize the biopsy for those who have sonographic evidence of SS.
Evaluation of prolidase activity and oxidative stress in patients with oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid contact reactions
Authors: Batu Şule , Ofluoğlu Duygu , Ergun Sertan , Warnakulasuriya Saman , Uslu Ezel , Güven Yegane , Tanyeri Hakkı 
Published: December 2015

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate prolidase activity and oxidative stress in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid contact reactions (OLCR) using serum and salivary samples and to compare these biomarkers with each other as well as with a group of healthy subjects in order to be able to opine their role in the estimation of OLP and OLCR.Patients and MethodsEighteen recently diagnosed patients with OLP, 32 patients with OLCR and 18 healthy controls with matched periodontal status were recruited to the study. Prolidase activity, lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), sialic acid (SA), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) levels in both serum and saliva were determined. Additionally, salivary flow rate and its buffering capacity were estimated. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi‐square test, t‐test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and Spearman's rho correlation coefficient.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were observed between the study groups and the control group regarding to the basic characteristics and the periodontal status (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between OLP and OLCR groups regarding to the distribution of lesions' type, severity, and location (P > 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two study groups with regard to Prolidase activity, MDA, SA, and AOPPs (P ˃ 0.05), whereas statistically significant differences were found between the two study groups and the control group with regard to all evaluated parameters except of serum prolidase (P ˂ 0.01). Moderate correlation was found between salivary MDA and the OLP/OLCR lesion severity, whereas a weak correlation was observed between serum SA and the OLP/OLCR lesion severity (P ˂ 0.05).ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest an increased prolidase activity and oxidative stress and imbalance in the antioxidant defense system in biological fluids of patients with OLP and OLCR when compared with the healthy subjects. Both OLP and OLCR patients revealed almost similar prolidase activity and oxidative stress levels although these two conditions have different etiopathogenesis.
Genomic aberrations of MDM2, MDM4, FGFR1 and FGFR3 are associated with poor outcome in patients with salivary gland cancer
Authors: Ach Tobias , Schwarz‐Furlan Stephan , Ach Stephanie , Agaimy Abbas , Gerken Michael , Rohrmeier Christian , Zenk Johannes , Iro Heinrich , Brockhoff Gero , Ettl Tobias 
Published: December 2015

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and 3 (FGFR1, FGFR3) impact on tissue homoeostasis, embryonic development and carcinogenesis. Murine double minute protein 4 (MDM4) and mouse double minute 2 homologue (MDM2) are regulators of p53‐protein and may be the origin of an apoptosis overpowering cascade.A collective of 266 carcinomas of salivary glands were investigated for MDM2, MDM4, FGFR1 and FGFR3 aberrations by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The results were matched with clinicopathological parameters and with expression of PTEN and p53.MDM2 gene amplification (n = 9) and chromosomal aberrations (trisomy, n = 47; high polysomy, n = 7) are linked to high‐grade malignancy (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), advanced tumour size (P = 0.013) and stage (P < 0.001), gender (P = 0.002) and age (P = 0.001). MDM4 gene amplification (n = 19) and chromosomal aberrations (trisomy, n = 34; high polysomy, n = 31) are correlated to high‐grade malignancy (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.008), advanced tumour size (P = 0.039), stage (P = 0.004) and loss of PTEN (P < 0.001). Only, high‐grade malignancy (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.036) and advanced tumour stage (P = 0.025) are associated with FGFR3 amplification (n = 1) or chromosomal aberrations (low polysomy, n = 61; high polysomy, n = 55) but not with MDM4 alterations.FGFR1 amplifications (n = 5) and chromosomal aberrations (trisomy, n = 38; high polysomy, n = 30) are associated with high‐grade malignancy (P < 0.001), advanced tumour size (P = 0.026) and stage (P = 0.004), gender (P = 0.016) and age (P = 0.023).Aberrations of MDM2, MDM4, FGFR1 and FGFR3 correlate with aggressive tumour growth and nodal metastasis. MDM2 (P < 0.001), MDM4 (P = 0.005) and FGFR3 (P = 0.006) alterations are associated with worse overall survival of patients with salivary gland cancer.
GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PERMIAN–TRIASSIC TRANSITION AT OUTCROP, CENTRAL SAUDI ARABIA
Authors: Eltom H. A. , Abdullatif O. M. , Babalola L. O. , Bashari M. A. , Yassin M. , Osman M. S. , Abdulraziq A. M. 
Published: December 2015

This study presents the results of chemostratigraphic analyses and spectral gamma‐ray logging integrated with sedimentological data across the Permian‐Triassic boundary at a measured outcrop section in central Saudi Arabia. The studied section encompasses the uppermost part of the Midhnab Member and the Lower and Upper Khartam Members of the Khuff Formation. Lithofacies were interpreted to have been deposited in subtidal, tidal to supratidal, lacustrine and meandering fluvial / flood plain, marginal marine and lagoonal depositional environments. Integration of bulk geochemical and carbon isotope (δ13C) data allowed the identification of a stratigraphic interval with a negative shift in δ13C ratio values, which was interpreted to correspond to the end‐Permian mass extinction event. The end of this “first negative shift in δ13C values” is taken to mark the Permian‐Triassic boundary. Above this boundary and just below an interval containing scattered thrombolites, a second negative shift in δ13C ratios was observed, and corresponds to an interval with long‐term uranium depletion as indicated by the bulk sediment geochemical and spectral gamma‐ray uranium data.The Permian‐Triassic boundary (PTrB) was placed at the transition between marginal‐marine and subtidal deposits. This stratigraphic position corresponds to the end of the “first negative δ13C shift” and the point of greatest uranium depletion. Although previous studies on outcrops of the Khuff Formation in Saudi Arabia identified a major sequence boundary between the Lower and Upper Khartam Members and interpreted it as the P TrB, no evidence is presented in this study for exposure and dissolution at this surface. Accordingly, the Permian‐Triassic transition is placed in the transgressive portion of the Upper Khartam Member, while the sequence boundary below is interpreted to correspond to the end‐Permian extinction.Correlation of Khuff time‐equivalent units in the Arabian Plate is challenging, and this study will contribute to an improved understanding of this important stratigraphic unit, which contains prolific non‐associated gas reservoirs. The identification of the Permian‐Triassic boundary in central Saudi Arabia will help in the construction of a sequence‐stratigraphic scheme for the Khuff, and with the correlation of lithofacies within this heterogeneous reservoir unit.
Investigation of physical properties and stability of indomethacin–cimetidine and naproxen–cimetidine co-amorphous systems prepared by quench cooling, coprecipitation and ball milling
Authors: Lim Ai Wei , Löbmann Korbinian , Grohganz Holger , Rades Thomas , Chieng Norman 
Published: December 2015

Abstract

Objectives
The objective was to characterize the structural behaviour of indomethacin–cimetidine and naproxen–cimetidine co-amorphous systems (1 : 1 molar ratio) prepared by quench cooling, co-evaporation and ball milling.

Methods
Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and DSC were used to characterise the samples. Structural relaxation (i.e. molecular mobility) behaviour was obtained from the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts (KWW) relationship.

Key findings
A glass transition temperature (Tg), on average 20 °C higher than the predicted Tg (calculated from the Fox equation), was observed in all samples. The structural relaxation was dependent on the preparative methods. At a storage temperature of 40 °C, a comparatively higher molecular mobility was observed in indomethacin–cimetidine samples prepared by ball milling (ln τβ = 0.8), while similar molecular mobility was found for the same sample prepared by quench cooling (ln τβ = 2.4) and co-evaporation (ln τβ = 2.5). In contrast, molecular mobility of the naproxen–cimetidine samples followed the order co-evaporation (ln τβ = 0.8), quench cooling (ln τβ = 1.6) and ball milling (ln τβ = 1.8).

Conclusion
The estimated relaxation times by the DSC-KWW method suggest that different preparative methods resulted in a variation of structural characteristics. Despite the differences in molecular mobility, all sample remained co-amorphous for up to 7 months.
Effects of high peanut meal with different crude protein level supplemented with amino acids on performance, carcass traits and nitrogen retention of Chinese Yellow broilers
Authors: Gou Z. Y. , Jiang S. Q. , Jiang Z. Y. , Zheng C. T. , Li L. , Ruan D. , Chen F. , Lin X. J. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThis study assessed the effects of feeding high peanut meal diets of reduced crude protein (CP) content supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) on growth performance, carcass traits, biochemical indices in plasma, and nitrogen (N) retention of male and female Lingnan Yellow broilers from day 22 to day 42 of age. Each of four dietary treatments (19%, 18%, 17% or 16% CP, dietary CP level reduced by the reduced dietary peanut meal) contained six replicate pens with 35 birds of each sex (males and females with equal number), separately (1680 in total). The three diets with reduced CP were supplemented with 5 EAA to meet the requirements and provide the same levels as in the 19% CP diet. Average daily gain decreased and feed:gain ratio was worse in both sexes with reduced CP% (linear, p < 0.05). Dressing percentage increased as CP% decreased in males (linear, p < 0.05) and thigh muscle percentage reduced slightly in females (linear, p < 0.05). Abdominal fat percentage of males fed the 17% CP was the lowest (quadratic, p < 0.05). The plasma metabolic indices, concentrations of triglycerides and malondialdehyde, showed linear responses to reduced CP% (p < 0.05) with triglycerides increasing while malondialdehyde decreased. Plasma uric acid increased in females (linear, p < 0.05), but not in males, as CP% decreased. Efficiency of N retention increased and N excretion strikingly decreased with lower CP diets (p < 0.001), and both variables showed significant (p < 0.05) linear and quadratic effects. It is concluded that there was a limit to which dietary CP of broilers could be reduced without adverse effects. Dietary CP could be reduced to 17% for males and 18% for females (or 18% when fed together) between day 22 and day 42, if diets are supplemented with synthetic EAA.
Putative Androgen Exposure and Sexual Orientation: Cross-Cultural Evidence Suggesting a Modified Neurohormonal Theory
Authors: Ellis Lee , Lykins Amy , Hoskin Anthony , Ratnasingam Malini 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT

Introduction
According to neurohormonal theory, prenatal androgens are key determinants of sexual orientation. As a reputed marker for prenatal androgens, the 2D:4D finger length ratio has been used in more than a dozen studies to test the hypothesis that prenatal androgens influence sexual orientation. Findings have been very inconsistent.

Aim
The present study sought to retest the hypothesis that 2D:4D and sexual orientation are related is a manner consistent with neurohormonal theory.

Methods
A 2D:4D measure (of the right hand) along with four additional somatic markers of androgen exposure (height, physical strength, muscularity, and athletic ability) with samples of college students in Malaysia (N = 2,058) and the United States (N = 2,511). The five androgen measures were factor analyzed, resulting in a two-factor solution: Factor 1 consisted of strength, muscularity, and athletic ability (the muscular coordination factor), and Factor 2 was comprised of the r2D:4D and adult height (the bone growth factor).

Main Outcome Measures
Sexual orientation was measured by asking each respondent the extent to which they were sexually attracted to males and the extent to which they were sexually attracted to females, both on 11-point scales.

Results
When the countries and sexes were analyzed separately, neither the r2D:4D measure nor Factor 2 correlated with sexual orientation to significant degrees. Instead, it was the muscular coordination factor that correlated the best. Support was found for the hypothesis that prenatal androgens influence sexual orientation, but the nature of these influences was more complex than neurohormonal theory predicted.

Conclusion
A modified theory is needed and presented to accommodate the results from this study.
Epidemiological characteristics of the carriers with coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs based on a community cohort study
Authors: Pu Z. , Li D. , Wang A. , Su H. , Shao Z. , Zhang J. , Ji Z. , Gao J. , Choi B. C. K. , Yan Y. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs is an atypical serological pattern in HBV infection. There is no epidemiological characteristics of this serological pattern in the community and there is controversy over the molecular mechanisms underlying this pattern. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the carriers with HBsAg and anti‐HBs in a longitudinal community cohort study. The prevalence of this atypical serological pattern was 2.93% (122/4169) in HBsAg‐positive populations. The prevalence progressively increased with age from 40 to 70 years old. The rate of HBeAg positive and detectable HBV DNA were both significantly higher in carriers with this pattern than in carriers who were HBsAg positive but anti‐HBs negative (26/122 verse 598/4047, P = 0.046; 86/122 verse 275/529,P < 0.001). After 1 year of follow‐up, 85.19% of the carriers still had coexistence HBsAg and anti‐HBs, 14.81% of the carriers lost their anti‐HBs. Viral sequencing showed that carriers with coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs had higher numbers of residue changes within the S gene than carriers who were HBsAg positive but anti‐HBs negative (2.42 verse 1.33 changes per 100 residues, P < 0.05). Hence, the coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs is a unique serological pattern which may be associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcome and may be related to HBsAg immune variants which have genotypic heterogeneity.
Molecular and Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Photobacterium damselae Subspecies piscicida During Naturally Occurring Disease in Egypt
Authors: Abu‐Elala Nermeen M. , Abd‐Elsalam Reham M. , Marzouk Mohamed S. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIn the marine aquaculture industry, photobacteriosis caused by the Photobacterium damselae subspecies piscicida, Phdp is a globally significant disease. A number of clinical photobacteriosis outbreaks among yearling cultured and broodstocks of gilthead sea bream were sampled and submitted to our laboratory during the summer and autumn of 2013. The tissues of infected fish were subjected to an ordinary bacteriological identification and were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry techniques. The results indicated that the selective primers that have been designed for detecting the gene encoding the apoptotic‐induced protein, AIP56, represent a powerful tool for sensitive and specific detection of virulent strains of Phdp. AIP56 toxin triggers apoptosis of host macrophages and neutrophils, contributing to the lesions observed during the pathological investigation. Immunohistochemistry allows bacterial identification and antigen expression to be directly correlated to the disease; the immune‐positive bacteria were detected in gills, liver, kidneys, spleen, and brain tissues in acute photobacteriosis. These also appeared in the necrotic areas of the granulomas of chronically infected fish. Molecular and immunohistochemical methods were useful as research and diagnostic tools in different stages of the disease; moreover, they appear to have enormous potential in retrospective epidemiological investigations.
Myostatin: A Potential Growth‐Regulating Gene in Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Authors: P. E. Sarasvathi , Bhassu Subha , Maningas Mary B. B. , Othman Rofina Y. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractGrowth retardation and diseases hindering growth are constraints faced by Macrobrachium rosenbergii and thus urge an in‐depth study on the growth and growth‐related genes to improve this species. This study focused on molecular cloning and characterization of the myostatin gene in M. rosenbergii (MrMSTN) followed by mRNA transcription in different life stages and upon infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) infection. We have characterized a full‐length MrMSTN gene encoding 1619 base pairs (bp) with an open reading frame of 945 bp that encodes for 315 amino acid residues. MrMSTN retains all the conserved characteristics belonging to TGF‐β superfamily including propeptide and mature peptide domain, cysteine residues and a proteolytic cleavage site, RXXR where “XX” denotes Asparagine and Arginine. MrMSTN gene is ubiquitously expressed in all the tissues of healthy adults, with the highest expression observed in muscle. Moreover, the MrMSTN transcripts showed significant (P < 0.05) changes in different life stages of M. rosenbergii and IHHNV‐challenged prawns. The results indicate the possible functional role of MrMSTN as a negative growth regulator. Thus, MrMSTN can be exploited further to enhance the growth and can be used as a biomarker to address the growth deficiency‐related problems in M. rosenbergii.
Species‐specific photosynthetic responses of symbiotic zoanthids to thermal stress and ocean acidification
Authors: Graham Erin R. , Sanders Robert W. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIncreasing sea‐surface temperatures and ocean acidification (OA) are impacting physiologic processes in a variety of marine organisms. Many sea anemones, corals and jellies in the phylum Cnidaria form endosymbiotic relationships with Symbiodinium spp. (phylum Dinoflagellata) supply the hosts with fixed carbon from photosynthesis. Much work has focused on the generally negative effects of rising temperature and OA on calcification in Symbiodinium‐coral symbioses, but has not directly measured symbiont photosynthesis in hospite or fixed carbon translocation from symbiont to host. Symbiodinium species or types vary in their environmental tolerance and photosynthetic capacity; therefore, primary production in symbiotic associations can vary with symbiont type. However, symbiont type has not been identified in a large portion of Symbiodinium−cnidarian studies. Future climate conditions and OA may favor non‐calcifying, soft‐bodied cnidarians, including zoanthids. Here we show that two zoanthid species, Palythoa sp. and Zoanthus sp., harboring different symbiont types (C1 and A4), had very different responses to increased temperature and increased partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), or dissolved CO2, and low pH. Thermal stress did not affect carbon fixation or fixed carbon translocation in the Zoanthus sp./A4 association, and high pCO2/low pH increased carbon fixation. In contrast, both thermal stress and high pCO2/low pH greatly inhibited carbon fixation in the Palythoa sp./C1 association. However, the combined treatment of high temperature and high pCO2 increased carbon fixation relative to the treatment of high temperature alone. Our observations support the growing body of evidence that demonstrates that the response of symbiotic cnidarians to thermal stress and OA must be considered on a host‐specific and symbiont‐specific basis. In addition, we show that the effects of increased temperature and pCO2 on photosynthesis may change when these two stressors are combined. Understanding how carbon fixation and translocation varies among different host−symbiont combinations is critical to predicting which Symbiodinium associations may persist in warm, acidified oceans.
Community‐based grain banks using local foods for improved infant and young child feeding in Ethiopia
Authors: Roche Marion L. , Sako Binta , Osendarp Saskia J.M. , Adish Abdul A. , Tolossa Azeb L. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe first thousand days of a child's life are critical for ensuring adequate nutrition to enable optimal health, development and growth. Inadequate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices likely contribute to Ethiopia's concerning malnutrition situation. Development partners in four regions of Ethiopia implemented community production of complementary food with women's groups processing local grains and legumes at grain banks to improve availability, accessibility, dietary diversity and timely introduction of complementary foods. The objective of this study was to establish the acceptability, perceived impact, feasibility and required inputs to sustain local grain bank interventions to improve IYCF. A subsidized barter system was used by mothers in the rural communities, and flour was sold in the semi‐urban context. Purposive sampling guided the qualitative study design and selection of project stakeholders. A total of 51 key informant interviews and 33 focus group discussions (n = 237) were conducted. The grain bank flour was valued for its perceived diverse local ingredients; while the project was perceived as creating labour savings for women. The grain bank flour offered the potential to contribute to improved IYCF; however, further dietary modification or fortification is needed to improve the micronutrient content. Dependence upon external inputs to subsidize the barter model and the reliance on volunteer labour from women's groups in the rural context are the greatest risks to sustainability. This intervention illustrates how integrated agricultural and health interventions leveraging local production can appeal to diverse stakeholders as an acceptable approach to improve IYCF.