bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supplementation with nutrients modulating insulin‐like growth factor‐1 negatively correlated with changes in the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in community‐dwelling elderly people at risk of undernutrition
Authors: Kim M. , Kim M. , Lee Y. J. , Song H. J. , Shim J. K. , Chang D. H. , Yu W. K. , Lee S.‐H. , Lee J. H. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundSuboptimal nutrition accompanied by chronic low‐grade increases in circulating cytokine levels is more common in elderly people. We explored the improvement in nutritional status, especially in the level of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and its relationship with changes in circulating cytokine levels, after providing extra protein and energy content to community‐dwelling older adults at risk of undernutrition.MethodsSixty nondiabetic subjects, aged ≥65 years and living independently in a community for elderly people, with a serum pre‐albumin level ≤30 mg dL−1 and a body mass index <25 kg m−2, were recruited. The subjects were followed for a 2‐week pre‐intervention period, during which they maintained routine dietary habits. This was followed by an intervention period, during which they received oral nutritional supplementation for 2 weeks.ResultsFollowing 2 weeks of intervention, there were significant increases in total lymphocyte count (TLC) and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1, pre‐albumin and transferrin compared to baseline. Body weight and mid‐arm circumference significantly increased without alteration of tricep skinfold thickness at the end of the intervention. There was a significant reduction in interleukin (IL)‐6 levels and a trend toward a decrease in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α levels. At baseline, age was negatively correlated with IGF‐1 levels and positively correlated with IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels. The change (▵, from baseline) in IGF‐1 level was positively correlated with age and negatively correlated with ▵IL‐6 and ▵TNF‐α.ConclusionsA 2‐week intervention with oral nutritional supplementation improved nutritional status and decreased circulating cytokine levels. Specifically, ▵IGF‐1 was negatively correlated with changes in pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels in community‐dwelling elderly people at risk of undernutrition. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02656186).
The effect of slow‐paced breathing on stress management in adolescents with intellectual disability
Authors: Laborde S. , Allen M. S. , Göhring N. , Dosseville F. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundIntellectual disabilities often create a state of chronic stress for both the person concerned and their significant others (family, caregivers). The development of stress management methods is therefore important for the reduction of stress in persons with intellectual disability. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of slow‐paced breathing on stress symptoms experienced by adolescents with intellectual disabilities during a cognitive task under time pressure.MethodFourteen adolescents with intellectual disabilities (Mage = 17.39 years, range 15–19 years) took part in two laboratory sessions – a slow‐paced breathing session (experimental condition) and an audiobook session (control condition) – the order of which was counterbalanced across participants. Vagal tone was measured through heart rate variability to index stress management.ResultsNo difference in vagal tone was observed at baseline between experimental and control conditions. Compared with the control condition, vagal tone was significantly higher during the experimental condition.ConclusionsThe slow‐paced breathing task enhanced stress management to a greater extent than did listening to an audiobook. Slow‐paced breathing seems to be an easy to learn stress management technique that appears as an effective auxiliary method of lowering stress in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
Therapeutic concentrations of varenicline in the presence of nicotine increase action potential firing in human adrenal chromaffin cells
Authors: Hone Arik J. , Michael McIntosh J. , Rueda‐Ruzafa Lola , Passas Juan , de Castro‐Guerín Cristina , Blázquez Jesús , González‐Enguita Carmen , Albillos Almudena 
Published: December 2016

AbstractVarenicline is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist used to treat nicotine addiction, but a live debate persists concerning its mechanism of action in reducing nicotine consumption. Although initially reported as α4β2 selective, varenicline was subsequently shown to activate other nAChR subtypes implicated in nicotine addiction including α3β4. However, it remains unclear whether activation of α3β4 nAChRs by therapeutically relevant concentrations of varenicline is sufficient to affect the behavior of cells that express this subtype. We used patch‐clamp electrophysiology to assess the effects of varenicline on native α3β4* nAChRs (asterisk denotes the possible presence of other subunits) expressed in human adrenal chromaffin cells and compared its effects to those of nicotine. Varenicline and nicotine activated α3β4* nAChRs with EC50 values of 1.8 (1.2–2.7) μM and 19.4 (11.1–33.9) μM, respectively. Stimulation of adrenal chromaffin cells with 10 ms pulses of 300 μM acetylcholine (ACh) in current‐clamp mode evoked sodium channel‐dependent action potentials (APs). Under these conditions, perfusion of 50 or 100 nM varenicline showed very little effect on AP firing compared to control conditions (ACh stimulation alone), but at higher concentrations (250 nM) varenicline increased the number of APs fired up to 436 ± 150%. These results demonstrate that therapeutic concentrations of varenicline are unlikely to alter AP firing in chromaffin cells. In contrast, nicotine showed no effect on AP firing at any of the concentrations tested (50, 100, 250, and 500 nM). However, perfusion of 50 nM nicotine simultaneously with 100 nM varenicline increased AP firing by 290 ± 104% indicating that exposure to varenicline and nicotine concurrently may alter cellular behavior such as excitability and neurotransmitter release.image
Antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10‐pretreated mouse pre‐antral follicles derived from vitrified ovaries
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Elmira , Zavareh Saeed , Lashkarbolouki Taghi 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimThis study evaluated the antioxidant status of pre‐antral follicles derived from vitrified ovaries pretreated with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).MethodsMouse pre‐antral follicles derived from fresh and vitrified warmed ovarian tissue were cultured with or without CoQ10 (50 μmol/L). Follicular growth, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) activity during cultivation were assessed.ResultsThe growth rate of the fresh pre‐antral follicles was higher compared with the vitrified groups, especially in the CoQ10‐treated than non‐treated groups. MDA increased while TAC decreased at 96 h of the cultivation period. TAC was higher while MDA was lower in the fresh pre‐antral follicles than in the vitrified groups. These rates were higher in the CoQ10‐treated than non‐treated groups. The vitrified and fresh CoQ10‐pretreated groups had significantly higher SOD, GPX, and CAT activity compared with the CoQ10 non‐treated groups.ConclusionCoQ10‐supplemented maturation medium can increase antioxidant enzyme activity and decrease lipid peroxidation in cultured pre‐antral follicles derived from fresh and vitrified mouse ovaries.
Clinical phenotype of recurrent aphthous stomatitis and interleukin‐1β genotype in a Polish cohort of patients
Authors: Ślebioda Zuzanna , Krawiecka Ewa , Rozmiarek Marta , Szponar Elżbieta , Kowalska Anna , Dorocka‐Bobkowska Barbara 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between a clinical profile and the interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) genotype in a Polish cohort of patients with RAS.MethodsOne hundred and four patients with RAS were enrolled in the study and all were subject to an oral examination. The severity of RAS was assessed according to the clinical type of the disease, the number of lesions per flare‐up and the length of intervals between the episodes. The genotyping of two SNPs of the IL‐1β gene, IL‐1β c.‐511 T>C (rs16944) and IL‐1β c.+3954 C>T (rs1143634), was carried out by genomic DNA isolated from blood samples and by using the PCR‐RFLP approach. The results were statistically analysed with chi‐square and Fisher's tests and Spearman's rank correlation, with P < 0.05 assumed to be a significance level (Statistica 10; StatSoft®, Kraków, Poland).ResultsNo statistically significant associations or correlations were found between the presence of *2 allele and minor, major or herpetiform RAS nor after the stratification using the RAS severity score and the classification based on the number of lesions per one flare‐up. A weak correlation was found between the number of lesions per one flare‐up and heterozygosity promoting the A type of RAS, characterized by a low number of eruptions.ConclusionsThe presence of IL‐1 β *2 allele within the c.+3954 and c.‐511 SNPs was found to be neither a significant risk factor for a higher incidence of any type of RAS, nor did it influence the disease severity and mode of recurrences.
Differences in survival outcome between oropharyngeal and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in relation to HPV status
Authors: Lai Kenneth , Killingsworth Murray , Matthews Slade , Caixeiro Nicole , Evangelista Carlyn , Wu Xiao , Wykes James , Samakeh Alan , Forstner Dion , Niles Navin , Hong Angela , Lee Cheok Soon 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundThis study examined the prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with oropharyngeal and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodsTissue microarrays were constructed from oropharyngeal and oral cavity SCC (n = 143). The presence of functional HPV in tumour was determined by combined assessments of p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV in situ hybridisation.ResultsOropharyngeal SCC patients presented with more advanced disease in comparison with oral cavity SCC patients (P = 0.001). HPV is present in 60% and 61% of oropharyngeal and oral cavity SCC patients, respectively. HPV‐positive oropharyngeal SCC patients with advanced TNM stages displayed better overall and disease‐free survival outcomes than HPV‐negative patients (P = 0.022 and 0.046, respectively). Such survival differences were not observed in oral cavity SCC.ConclusionsHPV is common in both oropharyngeal and oral cavity SCC and is associated with better survival outcome in oropharyngeal SCC but not in oral cavity SCC patients.
Effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir‐based regimens plus an NS5A inhibitor for patients with HCV genotype 3 infection and cirrhosis. Results of a multicenter real‐life cohort
Authors: Alonso S. , Riveiro‐Barciela M. , Fernandez I. , Rincón D. , Real Y. , Llerena S. , Gea F. , Olveira A. , Fernandez‐Carrillo C. , Polo B. , Carrión J. A. , Gómez A. , Devesa M. J. , Baliellas C. , Castro Á. , Ampuero J. , Granados R. , Pascasio J. M. , Rubín A. , Salmeron J. , Badia E. , Planas J. M. M. , Lens S. , Turnes J. , Montero J. L. , Buti M. , Esteban R. , Fernández‐Rodríguez C. M. 
Published: December 2016

SummaryPatients with HCV genotype 3 (GT3) infection and cirrhosis are currently the most difficult to cure. We report our experience with sofosbuvir+daclatasvir (SOF+DCV) or sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV), with or without ribavirin (RBV) in clinical practice in this population. This was a multicenter observational study including cirrhotic patients infected by HCV GT3, treated with sofosbuvir plus an NS5A inhibitor (May 2014‐October 2015). In total, 208 patients were included: 98 (47%) treatment‐experienced, 42 (20%) decompensated and 55 (27%) MELD score >10. In 131 (63%), treatment was SOF+DCV and in 77 (37%), SOF/LDV. Overall, 86% received RBV. RBV addition and extension to 24 weeks was higher in the SOF/LDV group (95% vs 80%, P=.002 and 83% vs 72%, P=.044, respectively). A higher percentage of decompensated patients were treated with DCV than LDV (25% vs 12%, P=.013). Overall, SVR12 was 93.8% (195/208): 94% with SOF+DCV and 93.5% with SOF/LDV. SVR12 was achieved in 90.5% of decompensated patients. Eleven treatment failures: 10 relapses and one breakthrough. RBV addition did not improve SVR (RR: 1.08; P=.919). The single factor associated with failure to achieve SVR was platelet count <75×10E9/mL (RR: 3.50, P=.019). In patients with MELD <10, type of NS5A inhibitor did not impact on SVR12 (94% vs 97%; adjusted RR: 0.49). Thirteen patients (6.3%) had serious adverse events, including three deaths (1.4%) and one therapy discontinuation (0.5%), higher in decompensated patients (16.7% vs 3.6%, P<.006). In patients with GT3 infection and cirrhosis, SVR12 rates were high with both SOF+DCV and SOF/LDV, with few serious adverse events.
Probing bacterial cell biology using image cytometry
Authors: Cass Julie A. , Stylianidou Stella , Kuwada Nathan J. , Traxler Beth , Wiggins Paul A. 
Published: December 2016

SummaryAdvances in automated fluorescence microscopy have made snapshot and time‐lapse imaging of bacterial cells commonplace, yet fundamental challenges remain in analysis. The vast quantity of data collected in high‐throughput experiments requires a fast and reliable automated method to analyze fluorescence intensity and localization, cell morphology and proliferation as well as other descriptors. Inspired by effective yet tractable methods of population‐level analysis using flow cytometry, we have developed a framework and tools for facilitating analogous analyses in image cytometry. These tools can both visualize and gate (generate subpopulations) more than 70 cell descriptors, including cell size, age and fluorescence. The method is well suited to multi‐well imaging, analysis of bacterial cultures with high cell density (thousands of cells per frame) and complete cell cycle imaging. We give a brief description of the analysis of four distinct applications to emphasize the broad applicability of the tool.
Efficacy of self‐monitoring of blood glucose versus retrospective continuous glucose monitoring in improving glycaemic control in diabetic kidney disease patients
Authors: Yeoh Ester , Lim Boon Khim , Fun Sharon , Tong Julia , Yeoh Lee Ying , Sum Chee Fang , Subramaniam Tavintharan , Lim Su Chi 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimsPatients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) on anti‐diabetic agents, are at greater risk of glycemic variations, both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. We aimed to compare glycemic control (using HbA1c) and hypoglycemia incidence in patients with Stage 3 DKD (eGFR 30–60 mL/min per 1.73 m2), receiving retrospective CGM‐guided anti‐diabetic therapy versus self‐monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) over 3 months.MethodsThirty patients with HbA1c >8% were randomized to 6‐day retrospective CGM or SMBG. In the CGM group, CGM was worn at the beginning and 6 weeks. HbA1c, assessment of hypoglycaemia events (self‐reported and BG < 4 mmol/L from CGM/SMBG data) and medication adjustment were performed at baseline and 3 months. All patients received education on hypoglycaemia avoidance.ResultsFourteen patients were allocated to CGM and 16 to SMBG. Mean (±SD) eGFR was 42.9 ± 10.3 mL/min. Majority (86.7%) of patients had diabetes duration >10 years and on insulin therapy (90%). HbA1c improved significantly from baseline 9.9 ± 1.2 to 9.0 ± 1.5% (P < 0.001) at 3 months, with no difference between CGM (9.8 ± 1.2 to 8.8 ± 1.8%, P = 0.009) or SMBG (9.9 ± 1.3 to 9.1 ± 1.1%, P = 0.007) groups (P = 0.869 between groups). In the CGM group, percentage duration in hyperglycaemia (BG > 10 mmol/L) reduced from baseline 65.4 ± 22.4% to 54.6 ± 23.6% (P = 0.033) at 6 weeks, with a non‐significant rise in percentage duration in hypoglycaemia from 1.2 ± 2.2% to 4.0 ± 7.0% (P = 0.176). There was no difference in self‐reported and documented hypoglycaemia events.ConclusionIn a pilot study of DKD patients, short‐term episodic use of CGM reduced time spent in hyperglycaemia range without significantly increasing time‐exposure to hypoglycaemia. However, both CGM and SMBG were equally effective in improving glycaemic control.
Height‐related scaling of phloem anatomy and the evolution of sieve element end wall types in woody plants
Authors: Liesche Johannes , Pace Marcelo R. , Xu Qiyu , Li Yongqing , Chen Shaolin 
Published: December 2016

Summary

In the sieve elements (SEs) of the phloem, carbohydrates are transported throughout the whole plant from their site of production to sites of consumption or storage. SE structure, especially of the pore‐rich end walls, has a direct effect on translocation efficiency. Differences in pore size and other features were interpreted as an evolutionary trend towards reduced hydraulic resistance. However, this has never been confirmed.

Anatomical data of 447 species of woody angiosperms and gymnosperms were used for a phylogenetic analysis of end wall types, calculation of hydraulic resistance and correlation analysis with morphological and physiological variables. end wall types were defined according to pore arrangement: either grouped into a single area (simple) or into multiple areas along the end wall (compound).

Convergent evolution of end wall types was demonstrated in woody angiosperms. In addition, an optimization of end wall resistance with plant height was discovered, but found to be independent of end wall type. While physiological factors also showed no correlation with end wall types, the number of sieve areas per end wall was found to scale with SE length.

The results exclude the minimization of hydraulic resistance as evolutionary driver of different end wall types, contradicting this long‐standing assumption. Instead, end wall type might depend on SE length.
AvrPm2 encodes an RNase‐like avirulence effector which is conserved in the two different specialized forms of wheat and rye powdery mildew fungus
Authors: Praz Coraline R. , Bourras Salim , Zeng Fansong , Sánchez‐Martín Javier , Menardo Fabrizio , Xue Minfeng , Yang Lijun , Roffler Stefan , Böni Rainer , Herren Gerard , McNally Kaitlin E. , Ben‐David Roi , Parlange Francis , Oberhaensli Simone , Flückiger Simon , Schäfer Luisa K. , Wicker Thomas , Yu Dazhao , Keller Beat 
Published: December 2016

Summary

There is a large diversity of genetically defined resistance genes in bread wheat against the powdery mildew pathogen Blumeria graminis (B. g.) f. sp. tritici. Many confer race‐specific resistance to this pathogen, but until now only the mildew avirulence gene AvrPm3a2/f2 that is recognized by Pm3a/f was known molecularly.

We performed map‐based cloning and genome‐wide association studies to isolate a candidate for the mildew avirulence gene AvrPm2. We then used transient expression assays in Nicotiana benthamiana to demonstrate specific and strong recognition of AvrPm2 by Pm2.

The virulent AvrPm2 allele arose from a conserved 12 kb deletion, while there is no protein sequence diversity in the gene pool of avirulent B. g. tritici isolates. We found one polymorphic AvrPm2 allele in B. g. triticale and one orthologue in B. g. secalis and both are recognized by Pm2. AvrPm2 belongs to a small gene family encoding structurally conserved RNase‐like effectors, including Avra13 from B. g. hordei, the cognate Avr of the barley resistance gene Mla13.

These results demonstrate the conservation of functional avirulence genes in two cereal powdery mildews specialized on different hosts, thus providing a possible explanation for successful introgression of resistance genes from rye or other grass relatives to wheat.
Intransitive competition and its effects on community functional diversity
Authors: Gallien Laure 
Published: December 2016

Can competitive interactions be inferred from the analysis of community functional diversity patterns? Originally, at the scale of a community, competitive interactions were supposed to generate trait overdispersion patterns due to limiting similarity process. More recently, by highlighting the importance of competitive hierarchies, it has been shown that when only one resource limits species coexistence, competition can also lead to patterns of trait clustering. However, these two expectations (overdispersion and clustering) ignore potential multi‐species indirect competitive interactions, and especially intransitive competition. Indeed, little is yet known about intransitive competition and its influence on community's functional diversity.Here I propose a brief appraisal of empirical evidence for intransitive competition in nature, and an overview of the current understanding of this mechanism and its properties. I then demonstrate with a theoretical model that intransitive competitive interactions can actually generate random‐like functional diversity patterns.The variety of diversity patterns (overdispersion, clustering, randomness) that can emerge from diverse types of competitive interactions makes it difficult to identify the presence of competition in nature, potentially leading to an underestimation of its importance as a structuring force. New methodologies able to capture both simple and complex competition mechanisms are thus urgently needed.
Heart transplantation in children with intellectual disability: An analysis of the UNOS database
Authors: Goel Alexander N. , Iyengar Amit , Schowengerdt Kenneth , Fiore Andrew C. , Huddleston Charles B. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractHeart transplantation in children with intellectual disability (ID) is an issue of debate due to the shortage of available donor organs. We sought to perform the first large‐scale retrospective cohort study describing the prevalence and outcomes of heart transplantation in this population. The United Network of Organ Sharing database was queried from 2008 to 2015 for pediatric patients (age <19 years) receiving first, isolated heart transplant. Recipients were divided into three subgroups: definite ID, probable ID, and no ID. The chi‐square test was used to compare patients’ baseline characteristics. Kaplan‐Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to estimate the association between ID and death‐censored graft failure and patient survival. Over the study period, 565 pediatric patients with definite (131) or probable (434) ID received first heart transplant, accounting for 22.4% of all first pediatric heart transplants (n=2524). Recipients with definite ID did not significantly differ from those without ID in terms of gender, ethnicity, ischemia time, severity of pretransplant condition (waitlist status, mechanical ventilation, inotrope dependence, ECMO, VAD, PVRI, infection prior to transplant), or incidents of acute rejection within the first year. ID was associated with prolonged waitlist time (P<.001). Graft and patient survival at 3 years was equivalent between children with and without ID (P=.811 and .578, respectively). We conclude that intellectual disability is prevalent in children receiving heart transplants, with 22.4% of recipients over the study period having definite or probable ID. ID does not appear to negatively affect transplantation outcomes. Future studies are needed to assess long‐term outcomes of transplantation in this population.