bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of HIF‐1α decreases expression of pro‐inflammatory IL‐6 and TNF‐α in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Gao Xiuhua , Li Yonghua , Wang Hongxia , Li Chuanbao , Ding Jianguang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPurposeRecent studies demonstrate that pro‐inflammatory cytokines (PICs, i.e. IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α) in retinal tissues are likely involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). In this report, we particularly examined contributions of hypoxia inducible factor subtype 1α (HIF‐1α) to the expression of PICs and their receptors in diabetic retina.MethodsStreptozotocin (STZ) was systemically injected to induce hyperglycaemia in rats. ELISA and Western blot analysis were employed to determine the levels of HIF‐1α and PICs as well as PIC receptors in retinal tissues of control rats and STZ rats.ResultsThe levels of retinal HIF‐1α were significantly increased in STZ rats 4–10 weeks after induction of hyperglycaemia as compared with control animals. With increasing HIF‐1α retinal PICs including IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α, their respective receptors, namely IL‐1R, IL‐6R and TNFR1, were also elevated in STZ rats. Moreover, inhibition of HIF‐1α by injection of 2‐methoxyestradiol (2‐MET) significantly decreased the amplified expression IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐6R and TNFR1 in diabetic retina, but did not modify IL‐1β pathway. In addition, we examined protein expression of Caspase‐3 indicating cell apoptosis in the retina of STZ rats after infusing 2‐MET, demonstrating that 2‐MET attenuated an increase in Caspase‐3 evoked by STZ.ConclusionHypoxia inducible factor subtype 1α (HIF‐1α) activated in diabetic retina is likely to play a role in regulating pathophysiological process via IL‐6 and TNF‐α mechanism. This has pharmacological implications to target specific HIF‐1α, IL‐6 and TNF‐α signalling pathway for dysfunction and vulnerability related to DR.
Silencing Op18/stathmin by RNA Interference Promotes the Sensitivity of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells to Taxol and High‐Grade Differentiation of Xenografted Tumours in Nude Mice
Authors: Lin Xuechi , Yu Ting , Zhang Lingxi , Chen Sangyan , Chen Xian , Liao Ying , Long Dan , Shen Fang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a refractory tumour, and chemotherapy is one of the primary treatment modalities. Oncoprotein 18 (Op18)/stathmin is a conserved small cytosolic phosphoprotein and highly expressed in tumours, which plays a vital role in maintaining the malignant phenotype of tumours. Taxol is a clinically widely used chemotherapeutic agent for a broad range of taxol‐resistant tumours. This study showed that Op18/stathmin silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) combined taxol cooperatively improved cellular apoptosis in CNE1 cells mainly via initiating endogenous death receptor pathway, impaired the capabilities of cellular proliferation and cellular migration and down‐regulated the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of taxol, meanwhile decreased the expression of the upstream extracellular regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) in vitro. Evidence also showed that taxol cytotoxicity was markedly augmented for Op18/stathmin RNAi in other NPC cells. In vivo animal experiments have demonstrated that early combination of Op18/stathmin silencing and taxol evidently inhibited tumourigenicity of CNE1 cells and growth of xenografted tumours in nude mice. Remarkably, silencing Op18/stathmin by RNAi still promoted transformation of late‐stage CNE1 cells in NPC‐xenografted tumours from moderately to highly differentiated and inhibited the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) autocrine by transplanted tumours. These findings suggest that silencing Op18/stathmin by RNAi promotes chemosensitization of NPC to taxol and reverses malignant phenotypes of NPC, which provides a new clue for treating drug‐resistant tumours.
Controversies in the management of deep neck space infection in children: an evidence‐based review
Authors: Lawrence R. , Bateman N. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundDeep neck space infection (DNSI) is defined as infection in the potential spaces and fascial planes of the neck. Early recognition of DNSI can be challenging due to the complex head and neck anatomy; hence, a high index of suspicion is required to prevent a delay in diagnosis and appropriate management.Objective of reviewThere remains a lack of consensus on the management of paediatric DNSI with many advocating a more aggressive approach with immediate surgical drainage, while others favour a more conservative approach with medical management in the first instance. The current literature on the management of paediatric DNSI is reviewed.Type of review and search strategyA literature review performed in November 2015 searched PubMed using the terms ‘deep neck space’, ‘infection’, ‘paediatric’, ‘pediatric’, ‘children’, ‘imaging’, ‘conservative’, ‘antibiotic’ and ‘surgery’. Articles not in the English language were excluded.Results(i) Clinical presentation: Management of a compromised airway is the priority. Clinical history and examination enables the identification of the primary source of infection and presence of complications. (ii) Investigations: Laboratory and microbiological investigations should be appropriately targeted, and CT imaging is the modality utilised in most cases. The presence of specific complications may warrant other imaging modalities. (iii) Antibiotics: An evidence‐based antibiotic regime is proposed. (iv) Conservative treatment: In children lacking indications for surgical intervention, a trial 48 h of intravenous antibiotics (IV Abx) should be commenced. v) Surgical intervention: Indications include signs of airway compromise, presence of complications, no clinical improvement after 48 h of IV Abx, abscess >2.2 cm on CT imaging, age <4 years and ITU admission.ConclusionsAn appreciation of head and neck anatomy is vital to understanding disease pathology and potential complications of DNSI, which may be life threatening. Both conservative and surgical approaches are viable treatment options and may compliment each other. Current evidence suggests that clinical management should be targeted towards the individual patient as factors such as age of the child may influence the balance of a conservative versus a surgical approach.
The Drinking Motives Questionnaire among Swedish psychiatric patients: An exploration of the four‐factor structure
Authors: Öster Caisa , Arinell Hans , Nehlin Christina 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIntroduction and AimsAlcohol use above hazardous limits is common among persons with psychiatric disorders, and there is limited knowledge about motives for drinking. The objective of this study was to explore the adequacy of the four‐factor structure of drinking motives in an adult psychiatric outpatient population in Sweden by confirming the factor structure in the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ‐R) and in alternative models.Design and MethodsIn total, 371 patients responded to the DMQ‐R along with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). AUDIT was used to assess frequency of alcohol consumption, number of drinks consumed on a typical occasion and binge drinking frequency. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the construct validity of the DMQ‐R and alternative models, including the short form, DMQ‐R SF.ResultsFit statistics suggested that the original four‐factor model had questionable fit (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.10, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.89, standardised root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.08). The model with the best fit indices was the DMQ‐R SF (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.04). When using DMQ‐R SF in further analyses enhancement, the most strongly endorsed motives were related to quantity and AUDIT sum score. Coping motives were most strongly related to AUDIT sum score, frequency and binge drinking. Social motives were only related to binge drinking, whereas conformity motives were not statistically associated with any motives.Discussion and ConclusionsThe study implies that the 12‐item short form, DMQ‐R SF, could be more appropriate than the original DMQ‐R in this group. [Öster C, Arinell H, Nehlin C. The Drinking Motives Questionnaire among Swedish psychiatric patients: An exploration of the four‐factor structure. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:400–407]
Alcohol's involvement in an array of harms to intimate partners
Authors: Laslett Anne‐Marie , Jiang Heng , Room Robin 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIntroductionHarms from intimate partners' (IP) drinking range from frustration because the partner has not performed their role to assault.AimTo describe the prevalence and persistence of alcohol‐related harms to IPs and assess which respondents are more likely to report discontinuation of this harm.Design and methodsCross‐sectional (n = 2649) and follow‐up (n = 1106) alcohol's harm to others telephone surveys in 2008 and 2011 (response rates of 35% and 15% of the original sample respectively) were used to elicit harms to respondents from their IP's drinking (by gender and relationship). To examine discontinuation, a sub‐sample of 83 respondents was analysed in detail.ResultsA total of 6.7% of Australians were negatively affected by an IP's drinking in 2008. Women were more likely to report harm than men from an IP's drinking. Of the 1106 respondents who completed both surveys, the majority (90%) reported no harm from IPs although 3% reported harm in both surveys. No significant correlates of discontinuation of harm were identified.DiscussionMany Australian relationships are affected in a range of ways because of the drinking of their IPs. A minority of respondents were affected by their IP's drinking, yet over half (57%) of those harmed in 2008 continued to experience harm in 2011. Additionally, half (46.9%) of those who were not harmed in 2008 but did live with a heavy drinking IP did go on to be harmed in 2011. More research on the role of alcohol‐related harm from IPs with larger samples is required to examine predictors of change. [Laslett A‐M, Jiang H, Room R. Alcohol's involvement in an array of harms to intimate partners. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:72–79]
Napping reduces emotional attention bias during early childhood
Authors: Cremone Amanda , Kurdziel Laura B.F. , Fraticelli‐Torres Ada , McDermott Jennifer M. , Spencer Rebecca M.C. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractSleep loss alters processing of emotional stimuli in preschool‐aged children. However, the mechanism by which sleep modifies emotional processing in early childhood is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that a nap, compared to an equivalent time spent awake, reduces biases in attention allocation to affective information. Children (n = 43; M = 55.40 months, SD = 8.05 months) completed a Dot Probe task, which provides a measure of attention biases to emotional stimuli, following a mid‐day nap and an equivalent interval spent awake. No emotional attention biases emerged when children napped. However, when nap‐deprived, children exhibited biases towards negative and positive stimuli. This emotional bias after wake was greater in children who napped habitually. Gender differences also emerged such that females were more attentive to positive emotional stimuli whereas males showed heightened attention to negative emotional stimuli, regardless of having napped or not. Moreover, greater slow wave activity (SWA) during the nap was associated with faster responding, which suggests that SWA may promote efficiency of attention allocation. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIoZ8mzxQgg
Glanders and the risk for its introduction through the international movement of horses
Authors: Kettle A. N. B. , Wernery U. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryGlanders is the contagious zoonotic disease caused by infection with Burkholderia mallei. It affects primarily horses, donkeys and mules. The disease was eradicated from large areas of the Western world in the early 20th century, but, over the last 10–20 years, has emerged and re‐emerged in areas in which it was previously unknown or had been eradicated. Although glanders was previously thought to manifest in only acute or chronic presentations, it now appears that B. mallei can produce latent infections similar to those caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. These latent infections may or may not be detectable by current diagnostic tests. The diagnostic test currently recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties [OIE]) for international trade in equids is the complement fixation test (CFT). This test has been shown to have varying sensitivities and specificities depending on the antigen and methodology used. False positives are problematic for the horse‐owner and veterinary authority, whereas false negatives may allow the reintroduction of B. mallei into B. mallei‐free areas. These gaps in knowledge of the epidemiology of glanders, and weaknesses in its diagnosis, coupled with the increased movement of equids, indicate that infection with B. mallei remains a major risk in the context of international movement of equids.
Clinicopathological characteristics of non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma without past hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Kimura Takefumi , Kobayashi Akira , Tanaka Naoki , Sano Kenji , Komatsu Michiharu , Fujimori Naoyuki , Yamazaki Tomoo , Shibata Soichiro , Ichikawa Yuki , Joshita Satoru , Umemura Takeji , Matsumoto Akihiro , Horiuchi Akira , Mori Hiromitsu , Wada Shuichi , Kiyosawa Kendo , Miyagawa Shin‐ichi , Tanaka Eiji 
Published: June 2016

AimPast hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is considered a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis, but the clinicopathological characteristics of non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC‐HCC) excluding past HBV infection have not been investigated. This study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological features of strictly defined NBNC‐HCC.MethodsAmong HCC patients who underwent surgical resection at our affiliated hospitals in Nagano prefecture, Japan, between 1996 and 2012, 77 were negative for serum anti‐HBV core/surface antibodies in addition to HBV surface antigen and anti‐hepatitis C virus antibody without signs of autoimmune liver disease, Wilson disease, or hemochromatosis. These patients were divided into the alcohol intake‐positive group (ethanol intake >20 g/day, n = 31), non‐alcoholic fatty liver group (steatosis >5% and ethanol intake <20 g/day, n = 30), and cryptogenic group (no ethanol intake or steatosis, n = 16). Preoperative clinical parameters, tumor and background liver pathology, and prognosis were analyzed.ResultsAdvanced fibrosis and steatosis were detected in 64% and 60% of all patients, respectively. Approximately 85% of the alcohol intake‐positive patients had advanced fibrosis. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver HCC subjects had the highest body mass index and prevalence of diabetes, but 30–40% had none to mild fibrosis. The cryptogenic group of HCC patients had the lowest incidence of accompanying hepatic inflammation/fibrosis but the largest tumor size. Recurrence/survival rates were comparable among the groups.ConclusionsLiver fibrosis and steatosis are risk factors of HCC regardless of past HBV infection and ethanol consumption. The present results also indicate the possibility of hepatocarcinogenesis independent of hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, ethanol intake, and past HBV infection.
High conservation value forests for burn‐associated saproxylic beetles: an approach for developing sustainable post‐fire salvage logging in boreal forest
Authors: Boucher Jonathan , Hébert Christian , Ibarzabal Jacques , Bauce Éric 
Published: June 2016

Abstract

Fire‐killed timber is considered as a loss of potential revenues and is thus increasingly salvaged, though not without concerns for biodiversity conservation. Indeed, a large diversity of burn‐associated saproxylic beetles use recently burned trees.

This study intends to reduce potential impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity by identifying high conservation value forests (HCVFs) for burn‐associated beetles, which are considered the most at risk.

In five burns ignited naturally in 2010 in the eastern Canadian boreal forest, we selected 31 and 29 stands of black spruce and jack pine respectively. Three 50‐cm bole segments were retrieved from each stand and placed in emergence cages to measure tree utilisation by saproxylic beetles. This yielded 7235 beetles from 103 taxa, of which 67 were considered rare (<5% occurrence in logs) and 36 as common taxa (>5% occurrence in logs).

Among the common taxa, we identified six groups of ecologically related species using co‐occurrence‐based hierarchical clustering, among which three were mainly formed by opportunistic species that are currently of little concern in a post‐fire logging context. The three other groups were formed by burn‐associated species that could be affected by salvage logging.

HCVFs include jack pine stands and large trees of either tree species of low‐ to mid‐range burn severity. We also recommend retaining the periphery of burned stands, as ecotones are rich habitats used by several burn‐associated species that are found in low numbers in green forests but they benefit from burned habitats by increasing their populations significantly.
Crushing oral solid drugs: Assessment of nursing practices in health‐care facilities in Auvergne, France
Authors: Clauson Hélène , Rull Françoise , Thibault Magali , Ordekyan Audrey , Tavernier Jérôme 
Published: June 2016

Iatrogenic harm from crushing oral drugs, a common but hazardous practice, can be largely avoided by following recommendations for good practice. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequency of tablet crushing and opening capsules in hospitals and to compare the nursing practices with national recommendations.From 46 health facilities in Auvergne, 1110 nurses answered an anonymous self‐completed questionnaire between September and November 2014 regarding general medication issues, prescription, preparation and administration of crushed medications.Crushing tablets or opening capsules was reported as a daily practice for 28% (increasing to 67% in geriatric units). While most best practice recommendations were followed by most nurses, scope for improvement remained: pharmacists were rarely contacted, rationales for change of medication formulation were seldom recorded in patients' files and medications were often crushed and administered together, risking drug interactions.Study data were used to inform recommendations for practice improvement. As findings bear similarities to those from other countries, this may be a widespread issue and study recommendations may be widely relevant. Practice will be reviewed again once practice improvement has been completed.
The engagement of oral‐associated lymphoid tissues during oral versus gastric antigen administration
Authors: Bankvall Maria , Östberg Anna‐Karin , Jontell Mats , Wold Agnes , Östman Sofia 
Published: June 2016

SummaryThe role of oral‐associated lymphoid tissues during induction of oral tolerance still remains elusive. Therefore, the aim was to compare T‐cell activation and induction of tolerance to ovalbumin (OVA) presented through either of two routes; deposited into the oral cavity, or the stomach, thereby bypassing the oral cavity. OVA was administered by the oral or gastric route to BALB/c mice that had received OVA‐specific DO11.10+ CD4+ T cells, stained with CellTrace™ Violet dye, through intravenous injection. Proliferating OVA‐specific T cells were detected in the nose‐associated lymphoid tissues (NALT) and the cervical, mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes at different time‐points following OVA exposure. OVA‐specific T‐cell proliferation was initially observed in the NALT 1 hr after oral, but not gastric, administration. However, at day 1, proliferation at this site was also detected after gastric administration and profound proliferation was observed at all sites by day 4. For the oral route the degree of proliferation observed was lower in the peripheral lymph nodes by day 4 compared with the other sites. These results demonstrate a similar activation pattern achieved by the two routes. However, the NALT distinguishes itself as a site of rapid T‐cell activation towards fed antigens irrespective of feeding regimen. To evaluate induction of tolerance a semi‐effective OVA dose was used, to detect differences in the degree of tolerance achieved. This was performed in a model of OVA‐induced airway hypersensitivity. No differences in tolerance induction were observed between the two administration routes.
Lot‐sizing model with advance payment pricing and disruption in supply under planned partial backordering
Authors: Taleizadeh Ata Allah 
Published: June 2016

AbstractInventory management is a group of policies used to enhance company efficiencies in using the inventory and decrease its related costs. Inventory management policies operate efficiently only in the normal market environment. When the manager faces disruption, the common decisions do not lead to optimality. In this paper, a lot‐sizing model for when the retailer may face disruption is developed. A portion of purchasing cost should be spent before delivery by several predetermined equal‐sized advanced payments; shortage is permitted and will be partially back‐ordered. The total cost function includes purchasing, holding, capital, backordering, and lost sale costs. The optimal decisions are obtained after proving the convexity of the expected total cost function. Finally, a solution algorithm is presented and several numerical examples and analysis are provided to show that the developed model and derived results can be applied to real‐world problems.
A new method for measuring process flexibility of product design
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Wu Desheng , Fu Chao , Baron Claude , Peng Zhanglin 
Published: June 2016

AbstractProcess flexibility enables product designers to accommodate changing requirements in a timely and cost‐effective way. However, in order to effectively guide process flexibility in terms of investment in product design, one must be able to objectively measure process flexibility. Hence, this paper introduces a new quantitative method to measure the process flexibility of product design. Instead of directly measuring the available process flexibility, this method introduces a surrogate value (i.e., the reduced project cost resulting from process flexibility) to indirectly measure process flexibility, with consideration of requirement variations. Then, the relationships between process flexibility and impact factors of requirement variations are investigated based on the proposed method. A set of simulation experiments indicates that the method proposed and related propositions are also suitable for complex product design.