bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The changing pattern of contraceptive use and pregnancies in four generations of young women
Authors: Lindh Ingela , Hognert Helena , Milsom Ian 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to describe contraceptive use and pregnancies and their relationship to socio‐economic status (SES) in four generations of young Swedish women.Material and methodsQuestionnaires regarding contraceptive use and pregnancies were sent to random samples of 19‐year‐old women in 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 (n = 4732).ResultsCurrent contraceptive use was higher in 2001 (78%) (p < 0.01) and 2011 (69%) (p < 0.05) compared with 1981 (60%) and 1991 (62%). Combined hormonal contraception (CHC) was the most common form of contraception throughout (p < 0.0001). The use of long‐acting reversible contraception (LARC = implants, intrauterine contraception) and progestogen‐only pills increased over time (p < 0.01). Mental side effects as a reason for CHC cessation increased over time and was the most common reason for cessation of CHC in 2011 (p < 0.001). Contraceptive use was lower in women from low SES areas (p < 0.05) in 2011. The percentage of young women who had been pregnant at ≤19 years of age was lower (p < 0.05) in the assessment from 2001 (7%) than in that in 1991 (13%) and 2011 (12%). The proportion of teenage mothers decreased from 4.4% (1981) to 1.6% (2011) (p < 0.01). More women had been pregnant at ≤19 years of age in low SES areas than in middle and high SES areas (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe lowest pregnancy rate was in the cohort with the highest contraceptive use. Term pregnancies declined over time. A greater number of pregnancies in low SES areas and a change towards lower contraceptive use in low SES areas was recorded in 2011.
Subtypes of hypoxia‐responsive cells differentiate into neurons in spinal cord of zebrafish embryos after hypoxic stress
Authors: Zeng Chih‐Wei , Kamei Yasuhiro , Wang Chih‐Tien , Tsai Huai‐Jen 
Published: August 2016

Background InformationNeuron stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) of zebrafish central nervous system (CNS) are known to thrive during oxygen recovery after hypoxia, but not all cell types have been fully characterised due to their heterogeneities. In addition, an in vivo model system is not available that can help us to identify what type‐specific cell populations that are involved in neural regeneration and to track their cell fate after regeneration. To solve these issues, we employed a zebrafish transgenic line, huORFZ, which harbours an inhibitory upstream open reading frame of human chop mRNA fused downstream with GFP reporter and driven by cytomegalovirus promoter. When huORFZ embryos were exposure to hypoxic stress, followed by oxygen recovery, GFP was exclusively expressed in some particular cells of CNS. Unlike GFP‐negative cells, all GFP‐expressing cells were not apoptotic, indicating that cell populations that are able to survive after hypoxia can be identified through this approach.ResultsWhen GFP‐expressing cells of spinal cord were studied, we found mostly NSPCs and radial glia cells (RGs), along with a few oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and oligodendrocytes, all termed as hypoxia‐responsive recovering cells (HrRCs). After hypoxic stress, these GFP‐positive HrRCs did not undergo apoptosis, but GFP‐negative neurons did. Prolonged recovery time after hypoxia was correlated with higher proportions of GFP(+)‐NSPCs and GFP(+)‐RGs, in contrast to lower proportions of proliferating/differentiating GFP(–)‐NSPCs and GFP(–)‐RGs. Among HrRCs subtypes, only GFP(+)‐NSPCs and GFP(+)‐RGs proliferated, migrated and differentiated into functional neurons during oxygen recovery. When some HrRCs were ablated in the spinal cord of hypoxia‐exposed huORFZ embryos, swimming performance was impaired, suggesting that HrRCs are involved in neuronal regeneration.ConclusionWe demonstrated type‐specific cell populations able to respond sensitively to hypoxic stress in the spinal cord of zebrafish embryos and that these type‐specific populations play a role in neural regeneration.SignificanceAmong heterogeneous cell types that exist in the spinal cord of zebrafish embryos after hypoxia, the particular cells that are resistant to hypoxia and also involved in neuronal regeneration can be clearly identified and dynamically traced using a transgenic model fish.
The pharmacology of palmitoylethanolamide and first data on the therapeutic efficacy of some of its new formulations
Authors: Petrosino Stefania , Di Marzo Vincenzo 
Published: August 2016

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has emerged as a potential nutraceutical, because this compound is naturally produced in many plant and animal food sources, as well as in cells and tissues of mammals, and endowed with important neuroprotective, anti‐inflammatory and analgesic actions. Several efforts have been made to identify the molecular mechanism of action of PEA and explain its multiple effects both in the central and the peripheral nervous system. Here, we provide an overview of the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of PEA in neurodegenerative disorders, pain perception and inflammatory diseases. The current knowledge of new formulations of PEA with smaller particle size (i.e. micronized and ultra‐micronized) when given alone or in combination with antioxidant flavonoids (i.e. luteolin) and stilbenes (i.e. polydatin) is also reviewed.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc
From Poachers to Protectors: Engaging Local Communities in Solutions to Illegal Wildlife Trade
Authors: Cooney Rosie , Roe Dilys , Dublin Holly , Phelps Jacob , Wilkie David , Keane Aidan , Travers Henry , Skinner Diane , Challender Daniel W. S. , Allan James R. , Biggs Duan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCombating the surge of illegal wildlife trade (IWT) devastating wildlife populations is an urgent global priority for conservation. There are increasing policy commitments to take action at the local community level as part of effective responses. However, there is scarce evidence that in practice such interventions are being pursued and there is scant understanding regardinghowthey can help. Here we set out a conceptual framework to guide efforts to effectively combat IWT through actions at community level. This framework is based on articulating the net costs and benefits involved in supporting conservation versus supporting IWT, and how these incentives are shaped by anti‐IWT interventions. Using this framework highlights the limitations of an exclusive focus on "top‐down," enforcement‐led responses to IWT. These responses can distract from a range of other approaches that shift incentives for local people toward supporting conservation rather than IWT, as well as in some cases actually decrease the net incentives in favor of wildlife conservation.
Age‐dependent increase in Kalirin‐9 and Kalirin‐12 transcripts in human orbitofrontal cortex
Authors: Grubisha Melanie J. , Lin Chien‐Wei , Tseng George C. , Penzes Peter , Sibille Etienne , Sweet Robert A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractKALRN (KAL) is a Rho GEF that is highly involved in regulation of the actin cytoskeleton within dendrites. There are several isoforms of the protein that arise from differential splicing of KALRN's 66 exons. KAL isoforms have different functions in development. For example, overexpression of the KAL9 and KAL12 isoforms induce dendritic elongation in early development. However, in mature neurons KAL9 overexpression reduces dendritic length, a phenotype also observed in normal human ageing. We therefore hypothesized that KAL9 would have increased expression with age, and undertook to evaluate the expression of individual KALRN exons throughout the adult lifespan. Postmortem human brain grey matter from Brodmann's area (BA) 11 and BA47 derived from a cohort of 209 individuals without psychiatric or neurodegenerative disease, ranging in age from 16 to 91 years, were analysed for KALRN expression by Affymetrix exon array. Analysis of the exon array data in an isoform‐specific manner, as well as confirmatory isoform‐specific qPCR studies, indicated that the longer KAL9 and KAL12 isoforms demonstrated a statistically significant, but modest, increase with age. The small magnitude of the age effect suggests that inter‐individual factors other than age likely contribute to a higher degree to KAL9 and KAL12 expression. In contrast to KAL9 and KAL12, global KALRN expression did not increase with age. Our work suggests that global measures of KALRN gene expression may be misleading and future studies should focus on isoform‐specific quantification.
Does melanin matter in the dark?
Authors: Płonka Przemysław M. , Picardo Mauro , Slominski Andrzej T. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn living cells, melanin pigment is formed within melanosomes, which not only protect the cells from autodestruction, but also serve as second messenger organelles regulating important skin functions, with melanocytes acting as primary sensory and regulatory cells of the epidermis. Yet, one can argue that skin melanin, which may negatively affect cellular homeostasis in melanoma, really exerts protective functions. Consequently, the actual functions of melanin and the melanogenic pathway in skin biology remains enigmatic. Yet, the solution of this riddle seems simple ‐ to check the actual influence of natural melanin on skin cells in the dark. Since many interesting hypotheses and theories put forward in this respect did not survive confrontation with the experiment, a leading pigment research group from Naples was brave to “jump off the cliff” by confronting theory with experimental reality. They showed that, in the dark, human hair‐derived melanin promotes inflammatory responses in keratinocytes, lowers their viability, promotes oxidative stress, and that pheomelanin does so more strongly than eumelanin. Thus, pheomelanin hardly protects red‐haired individuals, even when avoiding the sun. Black hairs do not do much better either, unless they undergo graying.
Rising plant‐mediated methane emissions from arctic wetlands
Authors: Andresen Christian G. , Lara Mark J. , Tweedie Craig E. , Lougheed Vanessa L. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPlant‐mediated CH4 flux is an important pathway for land–atmosphere CH4 emissions, but the magnitude, timing, and environmental controls, spanning scales of space and time, remain poorly understood in arctic tundra wetlands, particularly under the long‐term effects of climate change. CH4 fluxes were measured in situ during peak growing season for the dominant aquatic emergent plants in the Alaskan arctic coastal plain, Carex aquatilis and Arctophila fulva, to assess the magnitude and species‐specific controls on CH4 flux. Plant biomass was a strong predictor of A. fulva CH4 flux while water depth and thaw depth were copredictors for C. aquatilis CH4 flux. We used plant and environmental data from 1971 to 1972 from the historic International Biological Program (IBP) research site near Barrow, Alaska, which we resampled in 2010–2013, to quantify changes in plant biomass and thaw depth, and used these to estimate species‐specific decadal‐scale changes in CH4 fluxes. A ~60% increase in CH4 flux was estimated from the observed plant biomass and thaw depth increases in tundra ponds over the past 40 years. Despite covering only ~5% of the landscape, we estimate that aquatic C. aquatilis and A. fulva account for two‐thirds of the total regional CH4 flux of the Barrow Peninsula. The regionally observed increases in plant biomass and active layer thickening over the past 40 years not only have major implications for energy and water balance, but also have significantly altered land–atmosphere CH4 emissions for this region, potentially acting as a positive feedback to climate warming.
Organic–inorganic rock–fluid interactions in stylolitic micro‐environments of carbonate rocks: a FIB‐TEM study combined with a hydrogeochemical modelling approach
Authors: Schulz H.‐M. , Wirth R. , Schreiber A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractStylolites and the interfaces to the host limestone have been investigated by means of a multidisciplinary analytical approach (thin section microscopy, FIB‐TEM, organic geochemistry and petrography). Carbonate dissolution assuming different boundary conditions was simulated by applying a generic hydrogeochemical modelling approach. It is the conceptual approach to characterize and quantify traceable organic–inorganic interactions in stylolites dependent on organic matter type and its thermal maturity, and to follow stylolite formation in carbonates as result of organic matter reactivity rather than pressure solution as a main control. The investigated stylolite samples are of Upper Permian (Lopingian, Zechstein), Middle Triassic (Muschelkalk) and Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age and always contain marine organic matter. The thermal maturity of the organic matter ranges from the pre‐oil generation zone (0.4–0.5% Rr) to the stage of dry gas generation (>1.3% Rr). The results of the generic hydrogeochemical modelling indicate a sharp increase of calcite dissolution and the beginning of stylolite formation at approximately 40°C, which is equivalent to a depth of less than 800 m under hydrostatic conditions considering a geothermal gradient of 30°C and a surface mean temperature of 20°C. This temperature corresponds to the pre‐oil window when kerogens release an aqueous fluid enriched in carbon dioxide and organic acids. This aqueous fluid may change the existing pore water pH or alkalinity and causes dissolution of carbonate, feldspar and quartz, and clay mineral precipitation along the stylolite. Dissolution of limestone and dolostone leads to reprecipitation of calcite or dolomite opposite of the dissolution side, which indicates only localized mass redistribution. All these integrated hydrogeochemical processes are coupled to the generation of water during organic matter maturation. In all of the calculated hydrogeochemical scenarios, H2O is a reaction product and its formation supports the suggested hypothesis.
Sexual healing: mating induces a protective immune response in bumblebees
Authors: Barribeau S. M. , Schmid‐Hempel P. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe prevalence of sexual, as opposed to clonal, reproduction given the many costs associated with sexual recombination has been an enduring question in evolutionary biology. In addition to these often discussed costs, there are further costs associated with mating, including the induction of a costly immune response, which leaves individuals prone to infection. Here, we test whether mating results in immune activation and susceptibility to a common, ecologically important, parasite of bumblebees. We find that mating does result in immune activation as measured by gene expression of known immune genes, but that this activation improves resistance to this parasite. We conclude that although mating can corrupt immunity in some systems, it can also enhance immunity in others.
Integrated oral health care for stroke patients – a scoping review
Authors: Ajwani Shilpi , Jayanti Sumedh , Burkolter Nadia , Anderson Craig , Bhole Sameer , Itaoui Rhonda , George Ajesh 
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectivesTo identify current evidence on the role of nurses and allied health professionals in the oral health management of stroke patients, detailing their current knowledge, attitudes and practices and the potential benefits of an integrated oral care programme.BackgroundStroke has disabling oral health effects, such as dysphagia and hindered brushing due to upper limb hemiparesis. Together, these can increase bacterial load, increasing risk of pneumonia. In general management of stroke, nurses play a key role in early identification, assessment and referral, while occupational therapists, dieticians and speech pathologists are important in rehabilitation. While this should logically apply to the oral care of stroke patients, there is currently limited information, especially in Australia.DesignScoping review.MethodA literature search was conducted using multiple databases regarding the oral health management of stroke patients by nondental professionals, and 26 articles were reviewed.ResultsThe Australian National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke accentuate the need for oral care following stroke and suggest how hospital staff need to be involved. Currently, there are no Australian studies. However, international literature suggests that lack of oral health knowledge by nurses and poor patient attitude are reflected in infrequent assistance with stroke patient oral hygiene. There is limited information regarding the benefits of nursing‐driven oral hygiene programme in reducing pneumonia incidence, and only few studies show that involving nurses in assisted oral care reduces plaque. There are some suggestions that involving nurses and speech pathologists in oral rehabilitation can improve dysphagia outcomes.ConclusionManaging oral health poststroke is vital, and there is a need for an appropriate integrated oral care service in Australia.Relevance to clinical practiceNondental professionals, especially nurses, can play a key role in the poststroke oral health management of stroke patients to reduce complications, especially pneumonia.
Changes in food bolus texture during mastication
Authors: Wada Sachie , Goto Takaharu , Fujimoto Keiko , Watanabe Megumi , Nagao Kan , Nakamichi Atsuko , Ichikawa Tetsuo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to survey the changes that occur in bolus texture from intake to swallowing during the mastication process for four types of food materials and to identify how texture is related to the number of chews. We recruited 15 young Japanese participants for this study. The subjects were asked to spit the food bolus just before swallowing when eating four different foods: cracker, boiled rice, hard gelatine gel, and soft gelatine gel. Three physical properties (hardness, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness) were measured in the bolus after being chewed for 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of the normal number of chews. Occlusal force and pressure as well as stimulated whole saliva volume were also measured. Extensive variation in the number of chews existed between subjects, but minimal intra‐subject variation was observed. Hardness was observed to decrease, whereas cohesiveness and adhesiveness increased in a chew‐dependent manner for the cracker, soft gelatine gel, and hard gelatine gel, but not boiled rice. Bolus texture appears to be largely related to the number of chews. Hardness also tended to be influenced by occlusion. The adhesiveness and hardness of the boiled rice were also greatly influenced by saliva volume and occlusal force, respectively. Hardness is an important rheological factor in food bolus texture and likely plays a significant role in determining the appropriate number of chews. Adhesiveness and cohesiveness appear to be secondary factors in this process.Practical applicationsWe propose a model of oral processing for application in determining the appropriate number of chews for an individual. Hardness appears to be an important rheological factor in food bolus texture, with adhesiveness and cohesiveness being secondary aspects. When food is hard or difficult to swallow, chewing behavior will likely be more influenced by the perception of bolus texture.
Concurrent extrahepatic autoimmunity in autoimmune hepatitis: implications for diagnosis, clinical course and long‐term outcomes
Authors: Wong Guan‐Wee , Yeong Tian , Lawrence David , Yeoman Andrew D. , Verma Sumita , Heneghan Michael A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackgroundConcurrent extrahepatic autoimmune disease (CEHAID) associated with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have been incorporated into the diagnostic criteria stipulated by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG). Large comprehensive cohort data on the extrahepatic autoimmunity in AIH remain scanty.AimTo systematically assess features and clinical impact of CEHAID on AIH.MethodsClinical records of 562 patients with AIH from two tertiary centres in the UK were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsPrevalence of CEHAID in patients with AIH was 42%. Autoimmune thyroid disease was the commonest CEHAID associated with AIH (101/562, 18%). Autoimmune skin diseases were more prevalent in AIH‐2 than AIH‐1 (21.9% vs 7%, P=.009). Personal history of CEHAID was more commonly found in AIH patients with than without first‐degree family history of CEHAID [48/86 (55.8%) vs 169/446 (37.9%), P=.002]. AIH patients with CEHAID were more often women (85.2% vs 76.1%, P=.008), had higher post‐treatment IAIHG score (22 vs 20, P<.001), less reactivity to smooth muscle antibodies (49.8% vs 65%, P<.001), more likely to have mild fibrosis at diagnosis (20.9% vs 6.5%, P<.001) and less often had ascites (6.3% vs 13.6%, P=.008) and coagulopathy (1.18 vs 1.27, P=.013) at presentation. Presence of CEHAID, however, did not significantly affect disease progression, prognosis and survival in AIH.ConclusionsOur study confirms the strong association of CEHAID with AIH. Association between personal and familial extrahepatic autoimmunity especially among first‐degree relatives was evident. Presence of CEHAID may influence clinical phenotype of AIH at presentation, but without notable impact on the long‐term clinical outcomes.
The Aspergillus fumigatus SchASCH9 kinase modulates SakAHOG1 MAP kinase activity and it is essential for virulence
Authors: Alves de Castro Patrícia , dos Reis Thaila Fernanda , Dolan Stephen K. , Oliveira Manfiolli Adriana , Brown Neil Andrew , Jones Gary W. , Doyle Sean , Riaño‐Pachón Diego M. , Squina Fábio Márcio , Caldana Camila , Singh Ashutosh , Del Poeta Maurizio , Hagiwara Daisuke , Silva‐Rocha Rafael , Goldman Gustavo H. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryThe serine‐threonine kinase TOR, the Target of Rapamycin, is an important regulator of nutrient, energy and stress signaling in eukaryotes. Sch9, a Ser/Thr kinase of AGC family (the cAMP‐dependent PKA, cGMP‐ dependent protein kinase G and phospholipid‐dependent protein kinase C family), is a substrate of TOR. Here, we characterized the fungal opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus Sch9 homologue (SchA). The schA null mutant was sensitive to rapamycin, high concentrations of calcium, hyperosmotic stress and SchA was involved in iron metabolism. The ΔschA null mutant showed increased phosphorylation of SakA, the A. fumigatus Hog1 homologue. The schA null mutant has increased and decreased trehalose and glycerol accumulation, respectively, suggesting SchA performs different roles for glycerol and trehalose accumulation during osmotic stress. The schA was transcriptionally regulated by osmotic stress and this response was dependent on SakA and MpkC. The double ΔschA ΔsakA and ΔschA ΔmpkC mutants were more sensitive to osmotic stress than the corresponding parental strains. Transcriptomics and proteomics identified direct and indirect targets of SchA post‐exposure to hyperosmotic stress. Finally, ΔschA was avirulent in a low dose murine infection model. Our results suggest there is a complex network of interactions amongst the A. fumigatus TOR, SakA and SchA pathways.