bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do intracoelomic telemetry transmitters alter the post‐release behaviour of migratory fish?
Authors: Wilson Alexander D.M. , Hayden Todd A. , Vandergoot Christopher S. , Kraus Richard T. , Dettmers John M. , Cooke Steven J. , Krueger Charles C. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractElectronic tags have become a common tool in fish research, enhancing our understanding of how fish interact with their environment and move among different habitats, for estimating mortality and recording internal physiological states. An often‐untested assumption of electronic tagging studies is that tagged fish are representative of untagged conspecifics and thus show ‘normal’ behaviour (e.g. movement rates, swimming activity, feeding). Here, we use a unique data set for potamadromous walleye (Sander vitreus) in Lake Huron and Lake Erie tributaries to assess whether the lack of appropriate controls in electronic tagging could seriously affect behavioural data. We used fish tagged in previous years and compared their migratory behaviour during the spawning season to fish tagged in a current year at the same location. The objective of the study was to determine whether intracoelomic acoustic tag implantation altered downstream movement of walleye after spawning. Fish tagged in a given season travelled slower downstream from two river spawning sites than fish tagged in previous years. Fish tagged one or two years earlier showed no differences between each other in downstream travel time, in contrast to fish tagged in a given year. Our results support notions that standard collection and intracoelomic tagging procedures can alter short‐term behaviour (i.e. days, weeks, months), and as such, researchers should use caution when interpreting data collected over such time periods. Further, whenever possible, researchers should also explicitly evaluate post‐tagging effects on behaviour as part of their experimental objectives.
Risk of early relapse following the switch from injectables to oral agents for multiple sclerosis
Authors: Spelman T. , Mekhael L. , Burke T. , Butzkueven H. , Hodgkinson S. , Havrdova E. , Horakova D. , Duquette P. , Izquierdo G. , Grand'Maison F. , Grammond P. , Barnett M. , Lechner‐Scott J. , Alroughani R. , Trojano M. , Lugaresi A. , Granella F. , Pucci E. , Vucic S. ,   the MSBase Study Group
Published: January 2016

Background and PurposeEarly relapse outcomes in long‐term stable patients switching from interferon β/glatiramer acetate (IFNβ/GA) to oral therapy are unknown.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare early relapse and progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients switching to oral therapy following a period of stable disease onIFNβ/GA, relative to a propensity‐matched comparator of patients remaining onIFNβ/GA.MethodsTheMSBase cohort study is a global, longitudinal registry for MS. Time to first 6‐month relapse in previously stableMSpatients switching from platform injectables (‘switchers’) to oral agents were compared with propensity‐matched patients remaining onIFNβ/GA(‘stayers’) using a Cox marginal model.ResultsThree‐hundred and ninety‐six switchers were successfully matched to 396 stayers on a 1:1 basis. There was no difference in the proportion of patients recording at least one relapse in the first 1−6 months by treatment arm (7.3% switchers, 6.6% stayers;P= 0.675). The mean annualized relapse rate (P= 0.493) and the rate of first 6‐month relapse by treatment arm (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.70, 2.11) were also comparable. There was no difference in the rate of disability progression by treatment arm (hazard ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 0.63, 3.26).ConclusionThis is the first study to compare early relapse switch probability in the period immediately following switch to oral treatment in a population previously stable on injectable therapy. There was no evidence of disease reactivation within the first 6 months of switching to oral therapy.
Clinical implication of serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac‐2‐binding protein level on hepatitis B e‐antigen loss or seroconversion in hepatitis B e‐antigen positive patients
Authors: Nishikawa Hiroki , Enomoto Hirayuki , Iwata Yoshinori , Kishino Kyohei , Shimono Yoshihiro , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Nakano Chikage , Takata Ryo , Nishimura Takashi , Yoh Kazunori , Ishii Akiio , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Ikeda Naoto , Takashima Tomoyuki , Iijima Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei 
Published: January 2016

Aim: To examine the impact of pretreatment Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac‐2‐binding protein (WFA+‐M2BP) level on hepatitis B e‐antigen (HBeAg) loss or HBeAg seroconversion (SC) for patients with nucleoside/nucleotide analog (NUC) therapy naive HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).MethodsA total of 57 patients were analyzed. All subjects were initially treated with NUC. We examined the impact of pretreatment WFA+‐M2BP level on HBeAg loss and HBeAg SC using univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsThere were 36 men and 21 women (median age, 39 years). The WFA+‐M2BP cut‐off index (COI) level ranged 0.43–12.9 (median, 1.55). WFA+‐M2BP level in patients with F3 or F4 was significantly higher than that with F0–F2. WFA+‐M2BP level in patients with A2 or 3 was significantly higher than that with A0 or 1. For all cases, the 1‐ and 3‐year cumulative HBeAg loss rates were 10.5% and 34.4% and the corresponding cumulative HBeAg SC rates were 8.8% and 29.0%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, in terms of HBeAg loss, pretreatment HBV DNA of 5 log copies/mL or more and pretreatment WFA+‐M2BP level of more than 1.55 COI tended to be significant factors linked to loss of HBeAg, while in terms of HBeAg SC, pretreatment HBV DNA of 5 log copies/mL or more was an independent predictor and pretreatment WFA+‐M2BP level of more than 1.55 COI tended to be a significant factor.ConclusionPretreatment WFA+‐M2BP level may be a useful predictor for HBeAg loss or SC after NUC therapy for patients with HBeAg positive CHB.
The independent predictors of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and its individual histological features.
Authors: Ballestri Stefano , Nascimbeni Fabio , Romagnoli Dante , Lonardo Amedeo 
Published: January 2016

AimThe diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is based on the individual histological features: steatosis, lobular inflammation and ballooning. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS ≥ 5) is used in clinical trials. Fibrosis dictates long‐term NAFLD prognosis. Recently, more‐than‐mild portal inflammation has raised interest as a marker of NAFLD severity. We assessed the independent predictors of: (I) individual histological lesions of NASH; (II) diagnosis of NASH; (III) significant (stage ≥2) and advanced (stage ≥3) fibrosis; and (IV) more‐than‐mild portal inflammation.MethodsData from 118 consecutive biopsy‐proven NAFLD patients observed at our institution were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAt stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses, independent predictors were as follows. For the individual histological features of NASH: insulin resistance (IR), assessed with Homeostasis Model Assessment‐IR (HOMA‐IR), serum uric acid (SUA) and serum total cholesterol (TCH) for moderate‐to‐severe steatosis; waist circumference (waist), HOMA‐IR and TCH for lobular inflammation; waist, HOMA‐IR, metabolic syndrome (MS), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), SUA and TCH for ballooning. For NASH diagnosis: waist, HOMA‐IR, MS, ALT, SUA and TCH (Brunt et al.'s classification); ALT, SUA and TCH for NAS ≥ 5. For significant and advanced fibrosis, respectively: waist, MS and ALT; age, platelets, HOMA‐IR, diabetes and TCH. For more‐than‐mild portal inflammation: serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum iron, NAS ≥ 5 and significant liver fibrosis.ConclusionHOMA‐IR, SUA, MS, ALT and TCH are independent predictors of NASH and its individual histological lesions, notably including fibrosis. Based on our findings, these factors should be considered major pathogenic drivers of NASH and, by inference, potential targets for treatment.
Characterization of lesion formation in marmosets following inhalational challenge with different strains of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Nelson Michelle , Nunez Alejandro , Ngugi Sarah A. , Sinclair Adam , Atkins Timothy P. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryThe marmoset model of melioidosis was used to explore whether there was any difference in the disease presentation and/or the lesion formation following inhalational challenge with one of four strains of Burkholderia pseudomallei (K96243, 1026b, HBPUB10303a and HBPUB10134a). Marmosets were challenged with a range of bacterial doses and bacterial load, histological and physiological features were determined temporally following lethal disease. Melioidosis presented as an acute, febrile disease with bacteraemia, bacterial dissemination, necrotizing hepatitis, splenitis and pneumonia which was independent of the challenge strain. Generally, there were no major differences in the manifestation of melioidosis following challenge by the different strains of B. pseudomallei; however, there were some differences in the time to death and the severity of the pathological features. The pathological features observed in the liver and spleen of animals challenged with B. pseudomallei strain 1026b were statistically less severe (P < 0.05) and less frequent. However, more severe foci of disease were evident in the lungs of animals challenged with strain 1026b. In all cases, the lesions developed from small areas of bacteria‐infected macrophages surrounded by non‐infected neutrophils into large lesions with both immune cell types infected. The marmoset model was a useful tool enabling the distinction of subtle difference in the pathological response to B. pseudomallei.
miR‐1, regulated by LMP1, suppresses tumour growth and metastasis by targeting K‐ras in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Chen Xi , Shi Jingxuan , Zhong Jianwen , Huang Zhenyun , Luo Xi , Huang Yaping , Feng Shuang , Shao Jianbo , Liu Dabo 
Published: January 2016

SummaryThere is evidence to show that downregulation of miR‐1 expression is closely related to cancer progression, including in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying miR‐1 downregulation in NPC remain largely unknown, especially its association with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). In this study we found that restoration of miR‐1 dramatically inhibited cell invasion in vitro, together with tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. Importantly, we found that LMP1, an Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated protein, suppressed miR‐1 expression. Furthermore, we identified K‐ras as a novel direct target of miR‐1. Our results demonstrated for the first time that miR‐1 was suppressed by LMP1 and its tumour‐suppressive effects were mediated chiefly by repressing K‐ras expression. We propose that miR‐1 could serve as an independent biomarker to identify patients with different clinical characteristics.
DNA methylation of miRNA coding sequences putatively associated with childhood obesity
Authors: Mansego M.L. , Garcia‐Lacarte M. , Milagro F.I. , Marti A. , Martinez J.A. ,   GENOI members
Published: January 2016

SummaryBackgroundEpigenetic mechanisms may be involved in obesity onset and its consequences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether DNA methylation status in microRNA (miRNA) coding regions is associated with childhood obesity.Material and MethodsDNA isolated from white blood cells of 24 children (identification sample: 12 obese and 12 non‐obese) from the Grupo Navarro de Obesidad Infantil study was hybridized in a 450 K methylation microarray. Several CpGs whose DNA methylation levels were statistically different between obese and non‐obese were validated by MassArray® in 95 children (validation sample) from the same study.ResultsMicroarray analysis identified 16 differentially methylated CpGs between both groups (6 hypermethylated and 10 hypomethylated). DNA methylation levels in miR‐1203, miR‐412 and miR‐216A coding regions significantly correlated with body mass index standard deviation score (BMI‐SDS) and explained up to 40% of the variation of BMI‐SDS. The network analysis identified 19 well‐defined obesity‐relevant biological pathways from the KEGG database. MassArray® validation identified three regions located in or near miR‐1203, miR‐412 and miR‐216A coding regions differentially methylated between obese and non‐obese children.ConclusionsThe current work identified three CpG sites located in coding regions of three miRNAs (miR‐1203, miR‐412 and miR‐216A) that were differentially methylated between obese and non‐obese children, suggesting a role of miRNA epigenetic regulation in childhood obesity.
Contingent Capital, Real Options, and Agency Costs
Authors: Song Dandan , Yang Zhaojun 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis paper aims to clarify how contingent convertible bond (CoCo) as a debt financing instrument affects a firm's investment policy, agency cost of debt, and capital structure. We consider endogenous and exogenous conversion thresholds, respectively. Under the exogenous case, there is an explicit optimal fraction of equity allocated to CoCo holders upon conversion, such that the agency cost reaches zero. Numerical analysis demonstrates that under an endogenous conversion threshold, CoCo induces overinvestment, a higher leverage, a possible bigger agency cost, and a stronger incentive to increase risk. But if the conversion threshold is exogenously determined, almost the opposite holds true.
Decellularization of porcine skeletal muscle extracellular matrix for the formulation of a matrix hydrogel: a preliminary study
Authors: Fu Yuehe , Fan Xuejiao , Tian Chunxiang , Luo Jingcong , Zhang Yi , Deng Li , Qin Tingwu , Lv Qing 
Published: January 2016

AbstractExtracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels are used as scaffolds to facilitate the repair and reconstruction of tissues. This study aimed to optimize the decellularization process of porcine skeletal muscle ECM and to formulate a matrix hydrogel scaffold. Five multi‐step methods (methods A–E) were used to generate acellular ECM from porcine skeletal muscle [rinsing in SDS, trypsin, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Triton X‐100 and/or sodium deoxycholate at 4–37°C]. The resulting ECM was evaluated using haematoxylin and eosin, 4‐6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and DNA quantification. Acellular matrix was dissolved in pepsin and gelled at 37°C. Hydrogel response to temperature was observed in vivo and in vitro. ECM components were assessed by Masson, Sirius red, and alcian blue staining, and total protein content. Acellular porcine skeletal muscle exhibited a uniform translucent white appearance. No intact nuclear residue was detected by haematoxylin and eosin staining, while DAPI staining showed a few nuclei in the matrixes produced by methods B, C, and D. Method A generated a gel that was too thin for gelation. However, the matrix obtained by rinsing in 0.2% trypsin/0.1% EDTA, 0.5% Triton X‐100, and 1% Triton X‐100/0.2% sodium deoxycholate was nuclei‐free and produced a viscous solution that formed a structurally stable white jelly‐like hydrogel. The residual DNA content of this solution was 49.37 ± 0.72 ng/mg, significantly less than in fresh skeletal muscle, and decreased to 19.22 ± 0.85 ng/mg after gelation (P < 0.05). The acellular matrix was rich in collagen and glycosaminoglycan, with a total protein concentration of 64.8 ± 6.9%. An acellular ECM hydrogel from porcine skeletal muscle was efficiently produced.
Optimization of Ultrasound‐Assisted Extraction of β‐Carotene from Chlorella Biomass (MCC7) and its Use in Fortification of Apple Jam
Authors: Singh Yashneeil , Mazumder Anupriya , Giri Apurba , Mishra Hari Niwas 
Published: January 2016

AbstractUltrasound‐assisted extraction with three independent variables (sonication time, ethanol concentration and sonication amplitude) was optimized by plotting response surface graphs with β‐carotene yield as the dependent variable. At optimum conditions (7.03 min extraction time, 62.03% ethanol concentration and 83.7% amplitude) β‐carotene yield of 55 µg/g of Chlorella biomass were obtained. The functional apple jam was prepared by fortifying it with the Chlorella extract at optimized conditions (5, 7.5 and 10 mg/100 g apple jam) and with whole Chlorella biomass powder (1, 2 and 3% w/w). The samples fortified with the β‐carotene extract had over 10 times more vitamin A content as compared with the samples to which whole Chlorella biomass were added. A comparative study of different forms and rate of fortification was carried out, and it was found that the extract added samples have higher nutritive value and overall acceptability as a functional food.Practical ApplicationsUltrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) is a novel extraction method that is postulated to enable a more efficient commercial extraction of bioactives from different sources by causing minimal loss of activity, as compared with conventional solvent extraction. Among the carotenes, β‐carotene is the most important and has been shown to have many health benefits. The majority of the commercial β‐carotene productions is through the synthetic process. Of late it has been noticed that consumer acceptability toward products derived from natural sources is much higher as compared with the ones manufactured synthetically. The results of this work contribute to exploring the commercial application of the ultrasound extraction method to produce a product fortified with the β‐carotene extract from Chlorella biomass. To demonstrate this, apple jam fortified with the β‐carotene extract from Chlorella biomass was produced. Two fortification methods (biomass addition and extract addition) have been studied and compared.
Does a Depression Management Program Decrease Mortality in Older Adults with Specific Medical Conditions in Primary Care? An Exploratory Analysis
Authors: Bogner Hillary R. , Joo Jin H. , Hwang Seungyoung , Morales Knashawn H. , Bruce Martha L. , Reynolds Charles F. , Gallo Joseph J. 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo determine whether treating depression decreases mortality from various chronic medical conditions.DesignLong‐term follow‐up of multisite‐practice randomized controlled trial (Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial).SettingTwenty primary care practices randomized to intervention or usual care.ParticipantsIndividuals aged 60 and older identified through depression screening of random patients (N = 1,226).InterventionFor 2 years, a depression care manager worked with primary care physicians in intervention practices to provide algorithm‐based care for depression.MeasurementsMortality risk based on a median follow‐up of 98 months (range 0.8–116.4 months) through 2008; chronic medical conditions ascertained through self‐report.ResultsFor heart disease, persons with major depression were at greater risk of death, whether in usual‐care or intervention practices. Older adults with major depression and diabetes mellitus in practices randomized to the intervention condition (hazard ratio = 0.47, 95% confidence interval = 0.24–0.91) were less likely to die. For other medical conditions, the point estimates for risk of death in persons with major depression were all in the direction of indicating lower risk in intervention practices but did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionOlder adults with depression and medical comorbidity pose a significant clinical and public health challenge. Evidence was found of a statistically significant intervention effect on mortality for diabetes mellitus in persons with major depression.
Periodontitis Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Koreans: Results from the Yangpyeong Cohort Study
Authors: Shin Hye‐Sun , Shin Myung‐Seop , Ahn Yoo‐Been , Choi Bo‐Youl , Nam Jung‐Hyun , Kim Hyun‐Duck 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between periodontitis and cognitive impairment in elderly Koreans.DesignCross‐sectional study with age‐ and sex‐matched case–control selection.SettingThe Yangpyeong cardiovascular cohort (YCC), a part of the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study (KoGES), Yangpyeong, South Korea.ParticipantsIndividuals with cognitive impairment (n = 65) and cognitively normal controls (n = 124) aged 60 and older from the YCC.MeasurementsAlveolar bone loss was assessed on dental panoramic radiographs to categorize the cumulative history of periodontitis (HOP) into three groups: normal, moderate periodontitis, severe periodontitis. The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to categorize participants as cognitively normal or cognitively impaired. Age‐ and sex‐matched conditional logistic regression models were used for analysis. Confounders considered in the analysis were age, sex, drinking, smoking, exercise, total cholesterol, total protein, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, intima‐media thickness, hypertension medication, and depression.ResultsParticipants with HOP were more likely to have cognitive impairment than those without (odds ratio = 2.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.04–4.41). The interaction effect of smoking and exercise on periodontitis highlighted the link.ConclusionPeriodontitis was independently associated with cognitive impairment after controlling for various confounders. Further longitudinal research is needed to determine whether periodontitis plays a role in cognitive decline in older adults.
Effects of Changes in Number of Medications and Drug Burden Index Exposure on Transitions Between Frailty States and Death: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project Cohort Study
Authors: Jamsen Kris M. , Bell J. Simon , Hilmer Sarah N. , Kirkpatrick Carl M. J. , Ilomäki Jenni , Le Couteur David , Blyth Fiona M. , Handelsman David J. , Waite Louise , Naganathan Vasi , Cumming Robert G. , Gnjidic Danijela 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of number of medications and Drug Burden Index (DBI) on transitions between frailty stages and death in community‐dwelling older men.DesignCohort study.SettingSydney, Australia.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling men aged 70 and older (N = 1,705).MeasurementsSelf‐reported questionnaires and clinic visits were conducted at baseline and 2 and 5 years. Frailty was assessed at all three waves according to the modified Fried frailty phenotype. The total number of regular prescription medications and DBI (a measure of exposure to sedative and anticholinergic medications) were calculated over the three waves. Data on mortality over 9 years were obtained. Multistate modeling was used to characterize the transitions across three frailty states (robust, prefrail, frail) and death.ResultsEach additional medication was associated with a 22% greater risk of transitioning from the robust state to death (adjusted 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–1.41). Every unit increase in DBI was associated with a 73% greater risk of transitioning from the robust state to the prefrail state (adjusted 95% CI = 1.30–2.31) and a 2.75 times greater risk of transitioning from the robust state to death (adjusted 95% CI = 1.60–4.75). There was no evidence of an adjusted association between total number of medications or DBI and the other transitions.ConclusionAlthough the possibility of confounding by indication cannot be excluded, additional medications were associated with greater risk of mortality in robust community‐dwelling older men. Greater DBI was also associated with greater risk of death and transitioning from the robust state to the prefrail state.