bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diffusion‐weighted imaging predicts upgrading of Gleason score in biopsy‐proven low grade prostate cancers
Authors: Park Sung Yoon , Oh Young Taik , Jung Dae Chul , Cho Nam Hoon , Choi Young Deuk , Rha Koon Ho , Hong Sung Joon 
Published: January 2016

ObjectiveTo analyse whether diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) predicts Gleason score (GS) upgrading in biopsy‐proven low grade prostate cancer (PCa).Patients and MethodsA total of 132 patients who had biopsy‐proven low grade (GS < 7) PCa, 3T DWI results, and surgical confirmation were retrospectively included in the study. Clinical variables (prostate‐specific antigen, greatest percentage of cancer in a biopsy core and percentage of positive cores) and DWI variables (minimum apparent diffusion coefficient [ADCmin] and mean ADC [ADCmean]) were evaluated. ADCmin was measured, by two independent, blinded readers, using a region of interest (ROI) of 5–10 mm2 at the area of lowest ADC value within a cancer, while ADCmean was measured using an ROI covering more than half of a cancer. Logistic regression and receiver‐operating characteristic curve analyses were performed.ResultsThe rate of GS upgrading was 46.1% (61/132). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, ADCmin and ADCmean were persistently significant for predicting GS upgrading (P < 0.05), whereas clinical variables were not (P > 0.05). In both readers’ results, the area under the curve (AUC) of ADCmin was significantly greater than that of ADCmean (reader 1: AUC 0.760 vs 0.711; P < 0.001; reader 2: AUC 0.752 vs 0.714; P = 0.003).ConclusionOur results showed that DWI may predict GS upgrading of biopsy‐proven low grade PCa. The variable ADCmin in PCa may perform better than ADCmean.
Neuroprotective Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide Against Early Brain Injury and Secondary Cognitive Deficits Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Li Tong , Liu Hansen , Xue Hao , Zhang Jinsen , Han Xiao , Yan Shaofeng , Bo Shishi , Liu Song , Yuan Lin , Deng Lin , Li Gang , Wang Zhen 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAlthough the neuroprotective effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been demonstrated in several studies, whether H2S protects against early brain injury (EBI) and secondary cognitive dysfunction in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model remains unknown. This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of H2S on both acute brain injury and neurobehavioral changes as well as the underlying mechanisms after SAH. The H2S donor, NaHS, was administered via an intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 5.6 mg/kg at 2 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 46 h after SAH in rat model. The results showed that NaHS treatment significantly improved brain edema and neurobehavioral function, and attenuated neuronal cell death in the prefrontal cortex, associated with a decrease in Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and suppression of caspase‐3 activation at 48 h after SAH. NaHS also promoted phospho‐Akt and phospho‐ERK levels. Furthermore, NaHS treatment significantly enhanced the levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phospho‐CREB. Importantly, NaHS administration improved learning and memory performance in the Morris water maze test at 7 days post‐SAH in rats. These results demonstrated that NaHS, as an exogenous H2S donor, could significantly alleviate the development of EBI and cognitive dysfunction induced by SAH via Akt/ERK‐related antiapoptosis pathway, and upregulating BDNF‐CREB expression.
SLC20A2 Deficiency in Mice Leads to Elevated Phosphate Levels in Cerbrospinal Fluid and Glymphatic Pathway‐Associated Arteriolar Calcification, and Recapitulates Human Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification
Authors: Wallingford Mary Catherine , Chia Jia Jun , Leaf Elizabeth M. , Borgeia Suhaib , Chavkin Nicholas W. , Sawangmake Chenphop , Marro Ken , Cox Timothy C. , Speer Mei Y. , Giachelli Cecilia M. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIdiopathic basal ganglia calcification is a brain calcification disorder that has been genetically linked to autosomal dominant mutations in the sodium‐dependent phosphate co‐transporter, SLC20A2. The mechanisms whereby deficiency of Slc20a2 leads to basal ganglion calcification are unknown. In the mouse brain, we found that Slc20a2 was expressed in tissues that produce and/or regulate cerebrospinal fluid, including choroid plexus, ependyma and arteriolar smooth muscle cells. Haploinsufficient Slc20a2 +/− mice developed age‐dependent basal ganglia calcification that formed in glymphatic pathway‐associated arterioles. Slc20a2 deficiency uncovered phosphate homeostasis dysregulation characterized by abnormally high cerebrospinal fluid phosphate levels and hydrocephalus, in addition to basal ganglia calcification. Slc20a2 siRNA knockdown in smooth muscle cells revealed increased susceptibility to high phosphate‐induced calcification. These data suggested that loss of Slc20a2 led to dysregulated phosphate homeostasis and enhanced susceptibility of arteriolar smooth muscle cells to elevated phosphate‐induced calcification. Together, dysregulated cerebrospinal fluid phosphate and enhanced smooth muscle cell susceptibility may predispose to glymphatic pathway‐associated arteriolar calcification.
Mutational randomness as conditional independence and the experimental vindication of mutationalLamarckism
Authors: Razeto‐Barry Pablo , Vecchi Davide 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACTTheModernSynthesis enshrined natural selection as the driver of adaptive evolution mainly by eliminating competing explanations. One of the eliminated competitors wasLamarckism, particularly ‘mutationalLamarckism’, a hypothesis according to which mutations may be directed towards producing phenotypes that improve the performance of the organism in a particular environment. Contrary to this hypothesis, theModernSynthesis' view claims that mutations are ‘random’, even though the precise meaning of the term was never formally explicated. Current evidence seemingly in favour of the existence of legitimate cases of mutationalLamarckism has revitalized interest to seek a clarification of the meaning of the term ‘random’ in this context. Herein we analyse previous definitions of random mutations and show that they are deficient in three ways: either they are too wide, or too narrow, or dyadic. We argue that the linguistic expression ‘random mutation’ refers to a triadic rather than a dyadic relationship, propose a new, formal and precise definition based on the probabilistic concept of conditional independence, and finally provide examples of its application. One important consequence of our analysis is that the genomic specificity of the mutational process is not a necessary condition for the existence of mutationalLamarckism.
Local and Landscape Factors Driving the Structure of Tropical Anuran Communities: Do Ephemeral Ponds have a Nested Pattern?
Authors: Almeida‐Gomes Mauricio , Rocha Carlos F. D. , Vieira Marcus V. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe sets of species in animal and plant communities often comprise nested subsets of the species in broader communities. Although most mechanisms causing nested patterns are known and have been demonstrated for different environments and taxa, how amphibian communities are structured in ephemeral ponds in tropical disturbed landscapes remains unknown. We investigated if pond size, duration, presence of trees (local factors), and the proportion of forest cover surrounding ponds (landscape factor) affect anuran species richness and composition, and if pond assemblages showed a nested pattern. We sampled 11 ephemeral ponds in a pasture matrix near a large Atlantic Forest remnant in Brazil and measured local and landscape variables inside two buffer zones around each pond (100 and 500 m). We marked 1514 individuals from 23 anuran species, and found that richness in ponds ranged from 3–14 species. Both local and landscape factors explained frog species richness in the sampled ponds, and seemed to affect community composition. Frog communities occurred in a non‐nested pattern, contrary to our expectations: species found in poor subsets were not found in larger, more complex ponds. Local and landscape characteristics create a variety of environments in ephemeral ponds, even in impoverished ones; these characteristics restrict pond occupancy for some species, and result in a non‐nested pattern.
Facing complexity in tropical conservation: how reduced impact logging and climatic extremes affect beta diversity in tropical amphibian assemblages
Authors: Hölting Monique , Bovolo C. Isabella , Ernst Raffael 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBiodiversity in pristine forest biomes is increasingly disturbed by human activity. Drivers such as logging and climate extremes are thought to collectively erode diversity, but their interactions are not well understood. However, ignoring such complexities may result in poor conservation management decisions. Here, we present the first study dealing with the complexity arising from the effects of interactions of two increasingly important disturbance factors (selective logging and climatic extreme events) on beta diversity patterns at different scales. Specifically, we examined extensive amphibian assemblage datasets obtained within a quasi‐experimental pre‐/post‐harvesting scheme in the lowland rainforests of Central Guyana. Changes in small‐scale patterns of beta diversity were not detectable at the higher landscape level, indicating that local‐scale dynamics are more informative for evaluating disturbance impacts. The results also underscore the importance of including abundance data when investigating homogenization or heterogenization effects, which should be considered when designing post‐logging impact assessments and selecting impact indicators. Moreover, logging should be regarded as a multifaceted driver that contributes to changes in biodiversity patterns in different ways, depending on interactions with other drivers. The effects of extreme climate events were significantly more pronounced in unlogged forest, while logged forest assemblages appeared buffered due to the presence of novel habitats. Imprudent post‐logging renaturation measures may thus counteract conservation targets. These findings highlight the fact that indicator bias and unaccounted interactions between multiple drivers can lead to misguided management strategies.
Caregiver perceptions of childhood weight: demographic moderators and correlates
Authors: Miller D. , Johnson W. , Miller M. , Miller J. , Sutin A. R. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundTo examine whether ethnicity moderates the association between caregiver characteristics and perceptions of childhood weight and whether these perceptions are associated with their child's obesity status.MethodsCaregivers recruited from paediatricians' offices (n = 453) completed a survey about childhood health; nurses weighed and measured the children. Caregivers reported their own weight and height, demographic information about their family and made ratings of healthy weight for children in general and for their own child in particular.ResultsAfrican American caregivers were more likely to view heavier girls as healthier, but this association held only for lower income families or caregivers with higher body mass index. Hispanic caregivers were more likely to misperceive their own child's weight if either the caregiver or the child had a higher body mass index. Parents who perceived heavier weight as healthier or misperceived their own child's weight were more likely to have a child with obesity. This latter association held regardless of ethnicity.ConclusionThe association between ethnicity and perceptions of healthy childhood weight are complex. The relation between caregivers' perceptions of healthy weight and their own child's obesity status, however, was similar regardless of ethnicity.
Middle Childhood Support‐Seeking Behavior During Stress: Links With Self‐Reported Attachment and Future Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Dujardin Adinda , Santens Tara , Braet Caroline , De Raedt Rudi , Vos Pieter , Maes Bea , Bosmans Guy 
Published: January 2016

This study tested whether children's more anxious and avoidant attachment is linked to decreased support‐seeking behavior toward their mother during stress in middle childhood, and whether children's decreased support‐seeking behavior enhances the impact of experiencing life events on the increase of depressive symptoms 18 months later. Ninety‐eight 8‐ to 12‐year‐old children filled out questionnaires assessing their level of anxious and avoidant attachment and depressive symptoms. Children's support‐seeking behavior was observed through measuring the time children waited before calling for their mother's help while carrying out a stressful task. Results supported the hypothesis that more anxiously or avoidantly attached children waited longer before seeking maternal support. Moreover, waiting longer was related to increased depressive symptoms at follow‐up in children who reported more experienced life events.
Is insulin‐like growth factor‐I a good marker for treatment adherence in growth hormone deficiency in adulthood?
Authors: Auer Matthias K. , Stieg Mareike R. , Hoffmann Janis , Stalla Günter K. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryObjectiveThere is a paucity of studies on adherence to growth hormone treatment in growth hormone deficient (GHD) adults. Therefore, this study reports on adherence to GH‐replacement therapy in adults with GHD, with a special focus on the course and potential predictors of nonadherence.DesignRetrospective single‐centre cohort study.PatientsFrom the local patient database, 179 suitable patients with GHD were identified.MeasurementsThe primary outcome was adherence assessed by calculating the percentage of available prescription data in comparison with recommended GH dosages over a mean follow‐up period of 92·4 months. Patients were categorized into five adherence categories ranging from <20% to >80%.ResultsMean overall adherence was 74·0%, with 52·9% of patients falling into the adherence group of >80% and 8·8% of <20%. There was a significant drop in adherence (9·8%) between the first and second years of treatment (P < 0·001). Patients with childhood‐onset GHD were significantly less adherent to GH treatment than patients with adult‐onset GHD (62·0% vs 77·0%, P = 0·012); however, this finding was no longer significant after including age as a covariate. Frequency of IGF‐1 levels lying outside the age‐ and sex‐specific reference range was not a good indicator for adherence.ConclusionAlthough overall adherence was relatively high in our study sample, there is a significant amount of patients who should be regarded as nonadherent. This applies in particular to younger patients. Treating physicians should be aware of the fact that IGF‐1 levels do not seem to be a good indicator for adherence.
Comparison of clinical and radiographic status of platform‐switched implants placed in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 24‐month follow‐up longitudinal study
Authors: Al Amri Mohammad D. , Abduljabbar Tariq S. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the present 24‐month follow‐up longitudinal study was to compare the clinical and radiographic status of platform‐switched implants placed in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Material and methodsIn total, 45 male non‐smokers were included. In Group‐1, there were 23 patients with T2DM, and patients in Group‐2 comprised of 22 self‐reported non‐diabetic controls. Under local anesthesia, platform‐switched implants were placed in the mandible. Peri‐implant bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), marginal bone loss (MBL) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were measured at 12 and 24 months of follow‐up. Participants were also enrolled in a biannual oral hygiene maintenance program.ResultsThe mean age of participants in groups 1 and 2 were 42.4 years (40–46 years) and 41.8 years (39–44 years), respectively. In Group‐1, the mean duration of T2DM was 14.5 ± 0.7 months. At 12 and 24 months of follow‐up, there was no significant difference in the mean HbA1c levels among patients in groups 1 and 2. At 12 and 24 months of follow‐up, there was no significant difference in peri‐implant BOP, PD and MBL in both groups.ConclusionsPlatform‐switched implants can remain clinically and radiographically stable in patients with T2DM in a manner similar to non‐diabetic individuals. However, it is emphasized that bone loss around implants is influenced by several factors (such as oral hygiene status, glycemic control and tobacco smoking) and not merely platform switching.
Determinants of epoxy allergy in the construction industry: a case–control study
Authors: Spee Ton , Timmerman Johan G. , Rühl Reinhold , Kersting Klaus , Heederik Dick J. J. , Smit Lidwien A. M. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryBackgroundWorkers exposed to epoxy products are at risk of developing allergic contact dermatitis.ObjectivesTo compare workers throughout the German construction industry with and without skin allergy to epoxy resins, hardeners, and/or reactive diluents, and to investigate which determinants are related to the development of epoxy allergy.MethodsA questionnaire was completed by 179 epoxy allergy cases, and 151 epoxy workers as controls. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by the use of backwards stepwise logistic regression analysis. A multiple imputation approach was used to deal with missing data.ResultsEpoxy allergy was associated with an unusually high level of exposure to epoxy products [OR 2.13 (95%CI: 1.01–4.51)], wearing short sleeves or short trousers [OR 2.38 (95%CI: 1.03–5.52)], and not always using the correct type of gloves [OR 2.12 (95%CI: 1.12–4.01)]. A monotonic increasing risk was found with increasing exposure hours per week [OR 1.72 (95%CI: 1.39–2.14)]. Not using skin cream was inversely associated with epoxy allergy [OR 0.22 (95%CI: 0.08–0.59)]. Years working with epoxy products were inversely associated with epoxy allergy [OR 0.41 (95%CI: 0.27–0.61) per 10‐year increase], suggesting a healthy worker survivor effect.ConclusionsOccupational epoxy allergy may be prevented by improving occupational hygiene behaviour and personal protection.
Dothistroma needle blight, weather and possible climatic triggers for the disease's recent emergence
Authors: Woods A. J. , Martín‐García J. , Bulman L. , Vasconcelos M. W. , Boberg J. , La Porta N. , Peredo H. , Vergara G. , Ahumada R. , Brown A. , Diez J. J. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryDothistroma needle blight (DNB), caused by the two fungiDothistroma septosporumandD. pini,is a major disease of pines with a worldwide distribution. Increases in the incidence and severity of disease in areas where the disease has long been established and notable range expansions have both recently been observed. The aim of this review was to assess the relationship betweenDNB, weather factors and climate to better understand possible underlying causes of this recent intensification in disease. A substantial body of literature shows that the life cycles of the fungi are closely related to weather factors such as precipitation and temperature. Given the rapid response ofDNBto favourable weather conditions, it seems plausible that changes in disease behaviour could be due to changes in climate. The recurrent El Niño‐Southern oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon influences patterns of temperature and precipitation in many regions of the world, often resulting in warmer and wetter conditions than normal. We found that since the 1950s, four of the past five strong El Niño events appear to have coincided with reports of increasedDNBactivity on an intercontinental scale. The lack of long‐term standardized data records limits our ability to fully interpret this relationship, but the projected future climatic conditions in the Northern Hemisphere appear to be increasingly favourable for the disease. Still, other areas of the world may become less favourable, and further research is required to be able to accurately predictDNBoutbreaks and their impact on pine forests in the future.
Temporal evolution of collar lesions associated with ash dieback and the occurrence of Armillaria in Belgian forests
Authors: Chandelier A. , Gerarts F. , San Martin G. , Herman M. , Delahaye L. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryAsh dieback, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has been observed in Europe for several years. In Belgium, the disease was first reported in 2010. Besides crown defoliation and dieback, collar lesions have sometimes been reported. To evaluate the prevalence and the progression of collar lesions and crown defoliation in ash dieback‐affected stands of various ages, a survey was conducted in 2013 and 2014 on 268 ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) originating from 17 Walloon forest stands. The results showed that the proportion of trees with collar lesions greatly increased between June 2013 and September 2014 and that there appeared to be no significant link between a tree's diameter‐at‐breast height (DBH) and collar lesion occurrence. The mean percentage of defoliation increased in each forest stand across time, with observations conducted in September 2013 and 2014 showing a positive correlation with the mean percentage of trees with collar lesions. Molecular tests were carried out on 103 additional trees originating from 12 of the 17 stands to evaluate the occurrence of H. fraxineus and Armillaria spp. at the collar level. Most of the trees (98%) were infected by H. fraxineus. In contrast, only 41% of the samples were infected with Armillaria spp., most commonly A. gallica and A. cepistipes. This study discusses the role of Armillaria spp. and the rapid increase in the number of trees with collar lesions within the context of the evolution of ash dieback in Europe.
Polyphyllin I induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human myeloma cells via modulating β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Liang Yun , Li Xian , He Xin , Qiu Xi , Jin Xue‐li , Zhao Xiao‐ying , Xu Rong‐zhen 
Published: January 2016

AbstractMultiple myeloma (MM) is an indolent B‐cell disease characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells. Multiple myeloma remains incurable despite new targeted drugs and development of drug resistance or intolerable toxicity emerges as a major problem. Therefore, design, identification, and validation of novel chemicals with therapeutic potential are clearly needed for MM treatment. Here, we explore polyphyllin I (PPI), a major active constituent extracted from Paris polyphyllin, its inhibitory effects and its mechanisms in MM cells in vitro. We found that PPI inhibited the proliferation of myeloma cells. The combination of PPI with dexamethasone, doxorubicin, arsenic trioxide, or bortezomib enhanced the inhibition of cell growth. As analyzed by flow cytometry, MM cells were arrested at G2/M phase and apoptotic cells increased in a time‐dependent manner. Morphological changes of cells undergoing apoptosis were observed under light microscope. To explore the mechanism of apoptosis induced by PPI, we next examined whether the Wingless‐Int (Wnt)/β‐catenin signaling pathway played a role in the PPI‐induced growth inhibition in MM cells. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is activated in MM cells through constitutively active β‐catenin, a messenger molecule relevant to growth, survival, and migration of MM cells. Western blotting was used to measure the protein levels of β‐catenin, and PPI treatment led to downregulating the expression of β‐catenin protein and was followed by inhibition of β‐catenin nuclear localization. As a result, β‐catenin downstream targets, such as cyclin D1 and survivin, were downregulated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report identifying anti‐proliferative potency of PPI against myeloma cells. PPI blocks β‐catenin nuclear translocation and decreasing expression of the downstream targets of β‐catenin. Our results suggest that PPI is a novel inhibitor of β‐catenin activity with potential anti‐myeloma efficacy.