bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anticipation of thermal pain in diverticular disease
Authors: Smith J. K. , Marciani L. , Humes D. J. , Francis S. T. , Gowland P. , Spiller R. C. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe relative importance of peripheral nerve injury or central pain processing in painful diverticular disease (DD) is unclear. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has demonstrated that dysfunctional central pain processing predominates in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study aims to identify anticipatory changes in symptomatic DD (SDD) compared to asymptomatic DD (ADD) and IBS patients.MethodsGastrointestinal symptoms and somatization were evaluated via the Patient Health Question‐12 Somatic Symptom and the SDD group divided into low (≤6 [LSDD]) and high (≥7 [HSDD]) somatization. Cued painful cutaneous thermal stimuli were delivered to the left hand and foot during fMRI. Fixed effect group analysis of the ‘cued’ anticipatory phase was performed.Key ResultsWithin the right posterior insula, greater deactivation was found in the ADD compared to other groups. In emotion processing centers, anterior and middle insula, greater activation was identified in all patient compared to the ADD group, and in LSDD compared to IBS and HSDD groups. In comparison, amygdala deactivation was greater in ADD than the IBS and HSDD groups, and in LSDD vs HSDD groups. Descending nociceptive control centers, such as the superior medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortex, also showed greater deactivation in the ADD and LSDD compared to the HSDD and IBS groups.Conclusions & InferencesThe HSDD group have altered anticipatory responses to thermal pain, similar to IBS group. The LSDD are similar to ADD group. This suggests underlying differences in pain pathophysiology, and the need for individualized treatment strategies to target the cause of their chronic pain.
Potential association of VAMP5 polymorphisms with total colonic aganglionosis in Hirschsprung disease
Authors: Shin J.‐G. , Kim D.‐Y. , Seo J.‐M. , Oh J.‐T. , Park K.‐W. , Kim H.‐Y. , Park B. L. , Kim J.‐H. , Shin H. D. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundHirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital bowel disease caused by the absence of nerve cells in portions of the intestine. Our recent genome‐wide association study has identified a variant (rs1254900) of vesicle‐associated membrane protein 5 (VAMP5) as a potential risk locus for total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) in HSCR. In addition, VAMP5 is a member of the VAMP/synaptobrevin protein complex, which participates in nerve signal transduction by regulating the vesicular fusion of the neurotransmitter in synaptic transmission.MethodsA total of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including those in the functionally important coding region, were selected on the basis of linkage disequilibrium and genotyped in 187 HSCR patients and 283 unaffected controls by using a TaqMan assay. Logistic analysis was conducted to investigate the possible association between VAMP5 SNPs and the risk of HSCR.Key ResultsGenetic variants of VAMP5 showed increased association signals in the TCA subgroup of HSCR patients (minimum p = 9.69 × 10−5, OR = 3.93 at rs10206961) compared to other subgroups, even after Bonferroni correction (pcorr = 0.002). In haplotype analysis, three haplotypes (BL1_ht1, BL2_ht1, and BL2_ht2) were associated with the risk of TCA (minimum pcorr = 0.005). In additional combined analysis after imputation based on our previous GWAS, five SNPs still retained significant associations with the TCA subtype (minimum pcorr = 0.006 at rs10206961).Conclusions & InferencesConsidering that differential genetic effects on the development of the enteric nervous system, our results suggest that VAMP5 may be associated with the TCA of HSCR. However, further replications and functional evaluations are required.
Stimulus‐induced pacemaker activity in interstitial cells of Cajal associated with the deep muscular plexus of the small intestine
Authors: Zhu Y. F. , Wang X.‐Y. , Parsons S. P. , Huizinga J. D. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe ICC‐DMP have been proposed to generate stimulus‐dependent pacemaker activity, rhythmic transient depolarizations, that take part in orchestrating segmentation and clustered propulsive motor patterns in the small intestine. However, little is known about the fundamental properties of ICC‐DMP.MethodsThis study was undertaken to increase our understanding of intrinsic properties of the ICC‐DMP through calcium imaging and intracellular electrical recordings.Key ResultsWithout stimulation, most ICC‐DMP were quiescent. In some preparations ICC‐DMP generated rhythmic low‐frequency calcium oscillations (<10 cpm) with or without high frequency activity superimposed (>35 cpm). Immunohistochemistry proved the existence of NK1R on the ICC‐DMP and close contacts between ICC‐DMP and substance P‐positive nerves. Substance P (25 nM) induced low‐frequency calcium oscillations that were synchronized across the ICC‐DMP network. Substance P also induced low frequency rhythmic transient depolarizations (<10cpm) in circular muscle cells close to the ICC‐DMP. An intracellular recording from a positively identified ICC‐DMP showed rhythmic transient depolarizations with superimposed high frequency activity. To investigate if quiescent ICC‐DMP were chronically inhibited by nitrergic activity, nNOS was inhibited, but without effect.Conclusions & InferencesSubstance P changes non‐synchronized high frequency flickering or quiescence in ICC‐DMP into strong rhythmic calcium transients that are synchronized within the network; they are associated with rhythmic transient depolarizations within the same frequency range. We hypothesize that Substance P, released from nerves, can evoke rhythmicity in ICC‐DMP, thereby providing it with potential pacemaker activity.
Role of 5‐HT1A receptor in insular cortex mediating stress – induced visceral sensory dysfunction
Authors: Sun H. , Xu S. , Yi L. , Chen Y. , Wu P. , Cao Z. , Zhou L. , Jiang Y. , Zhang D. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackground5‐HT1A receptors (HTR1As) in the insular cortex are thought to be related with the generation of stress‐induced functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), but its mechanism is not clear. Visceral hypersensitivity is one important pathophysiological mechanism of FGIDs. This study aimed to explore the role of HTR1As in mediating stress‐induced visceral hypersensitivity and its mechanism in the insular cortex.MethodsVisceral hypersensitivity rat model was established by water avoidance stress (WAS) and the visceral sensitivity was measured by electromyogram. The activities of HTR1As were regulated by microinjecting the HTR1A agonist and antagonist into the insular cortex. The expression levels of 5‐HT, HTR1A, N‐methyl‐d‐aspartic acid receptor subtype 2B (NR2B) and c‐fos were observed by RT‐PCR, Western Blot and immunohistochemical staining.Key ResultsIn WAS rats, the expression levels of 5‐HT and HTR1As in the insular cortex were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in sham WAS and normal rats, but the levels of c‐fos and NR2B were significantly higher (p < 0.05). After microinjecting HTR1As agonist into the insular cortex of WAS rats, the visceral sensitivity and the expression levels of NR2B and c‐fos in insular cortex significantly decreased (p < 0.05).Conclusions & InferencesThe HTR1As‐NR2B signal pathway of insular cortex plays an important role in regulating stress‐induced visceral hypersensitivity.
Dispersal and diversity in experimental metacommunities: linking theory and practice
Authors: Grainger Tess Nahanni , Gilbert Benjamin 
Published: March 2016

There has been a recent rise in the number of experiments investigating the effect of dispersal on diversity, with many of the predictions for these tests derived from metacommunity theory. Despite the promise of linking observed relationships between dispersal and diversity to underlying metacommunity processes, empirical studies have faced challenges in providing robust tests of theory. We review experimental studies that have tested how dispersal affects metacommunity diversity to determine why shortcomings emerge, and to provide a framework for empirical tests of theory that capture the processes structuring diversity in natural metacommunities. We first summarize recent experimental work to outline trends in results and to highlight common methods that cause a misalignment between empirical studies and the processes described by theory. We then identify the undesired implications of three widely used experimental methods that homogenize metacommunity structure or species traits, and present alternative methods that have been used to successfully integrate experiments and theory in a biologically relevant way. Finally, we present methodological and theoretical insights from three related ecological fields (coexistence, food web and priority effects theory) that, if integrated into metacommunity experiments, could help isolate the independent and joint effects of local interactions and dispersal on diversity, and reveal the mechanisms underlying observed dispersal–diversity patterns. Together, these methods can provide stronger tests of existing theory and stimulate new theoretical explorations.SynthesisAlthough metacommunity experiments offer a unique opportunity to test classic and emerging theory on the relationship between dispersal and diversity, several common challenges have hindered robust tests of theory. We outline how emerging theory on the invasion criterion, food webs and priority effects could be help clarify when and how dispersal affects metacommunity diversity, and identify when experimental approaches that homogenize metacommunities fail to test existing theory. By forging better links between theoretical and empirical work, we hope to motivate novel and improved experimental approaches to understanding the joint effects of local and regional processes on diversity.
Estimating the Risks and Benefits of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Generator Replacement: A Systematic Review
Authors: LEWIS KRYSTINA B. , STACEY DAWN , CARROLL SANDRA L. , BOLAND LAURA , SIKORA LINDSEY , BIRNIE DAVID 
Published: March 2016

BackgroundEvery 4–7 years an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) pulse generator must be replaced surgically. This procedure is not without risk. In some cases, the risk versus benefit ratio may be against replacement. We aimed to synthesize the evidence on risks, benefits, and costs related to ICD replacement.MethodsA systematic review was conducted using electronic databases from 2000 onward. Literature screening, quality appraisal, and data extraction were independently conducted by two reviewers. Outcomes included major and minor complications, ICD therapies, and costs, which were synthesized descriptively.ResultsOf 1,483 citations, 17 nonrandomized studies met criteria. Median rate of major complications was 4.05% (range 0.55–7.37%) and minor complications was 3.50% (range 0.36–7.37%). Without non‐ICD control groups, the true risk reduction provided by the ICD following replacement is unknown. Following ICD replacement, annualized rate of appropriate ICD therapy was 10.52% (range 2.42–75.00%). Of these, patients without therapies during their first generator life and those no longer meeting ICD criteria received appropriate therapies at nontrivial rates.ConclusionRates of complications associated with ICD replacement are substantial. No study had nonreplacement groups, hence the true risk reduction provided by the ICD following replacement is unknown. Our analysis did not identify a subgroup at low risk of therapies following replacement. Shared discussions should occur with patients about the evidence, healthcare goals, risk tolerances, and feelings about life and death trade‐offs to enable high‐quality decisions about ICD replacement.
Implied weighting and its utility in palaeontological datasets: a study using modelled phylogenetic matrices
Authors: Congreve Curtis R. , Lamsdell James C. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractImplied weighting, a method for phylogenetic inference that actively seeks to downweight supposed homoplasy, has in recent years begun to be widely utilized in palaeontological datasets. Given the method's purported ability at handling widespread homoplasy/convergence, we investigate the effects of implied weighting on modelled phylogenetic data. We generated 100 character matrices consisting of 55 characters each using a Markov Chain morphology model of evolution based on a known phylogenetic tree. Rates of character evolution in these datasets were variable and generated by pulling from a gamma distribution for each character in the matrix. These matrices were then analysed under equal weighting and four settings of implied weights (k = 1, 3, 5, and 10). Our results show that implied weighting is inconsistent in its ability to retrieve a known phylogenetic tree. Equally weighted analyses are found to generally be more conservative, retrieving higher frequency of polytomies but being less likely to generate erroneous topologies. Implied weighting is found to generally resolve polytomies while also propagating errors, resulting in an increase in both correctly and incorrectly resolved nodes with a tendency towards higher rates of error compared to equal weighting. Our results suggest that equal weights may be a preferable method for parsimony analysis.
Genetic diversity and population structure of Indian melon (Cucumis melo L.) landraces with special reference to disease and insect resistance loci
Authors: Reddy D. C. Lakshamana , Venkat Sudarshini K , Reddy Anand C , Aswath C. , Avinash K. N. , Nandini H. , Sreenivasa Rao E. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThis study was aimed to examine the genetic diversity and population structure of Indian melon landraces with special reference to disease and insect resistance loci. Thirty‐six simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers along with seven markers at disease and insect resistance loci were used for this purpose on a panel of 91 accessions available at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India. Model‐based structure analysis revealed the presence of four groups that were consistent with the results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). The delineation of populations was mostly based on geography with improved varieties as a separate group. Ten accessions have been identified to possess beneficial alleles at all the selected disease resistance loci and shall be useful for incorporating multiple disease resistance after phenotypic validation. The results obtained in the current study demonstrate the importance of the Indian melon group as a valuable genetic reservoir and the need to plan strategies for its conservation and utilization in breeding programmes.
Biological aspects and candidate biomarkers for psychotic bipolar disorder: A systematic review
Authors: Buoli Massimiliano , Caldiroli Alice , Cumerlato Melter Claudia , Serati Marta , de Nijs Jessica , Altamura A. Carlo 
Published: March 2016

AimWe carried out a systematic review of the available literature about potential biomarkers of psychotic bipolar disorder (BD‐P), a specific subset presenting worse outcome and greater risk of relapse than non‐psychotic bipolar disorder (BD‐NP).MethodsWe searched the main psychiatric databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo). Only original articles with the main topic of BD‐P compared to schizophrenia/BD‐NP/healthy controls (HC) written in English from 1994 to 2015 were included.Results
BD‐P patients presented higher kynurenic acid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, elevated anti‐
S

accharomyces cerevisiae antibodies levels, and lower serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and progesterone than BD‐NP/HC. Event‐related potentials abnormalities have been identified in BD‐P with respect to BD‐NP. BD‐P patients also presented bigger ventricles but similar hippocampal volumes compared to BD‐NP/HC. Although the results are contrasting, some cognitive deficits seemed to be related to the psychotic dimension of bipolar affective disorder, such as impairment in verbal/logical memory, working memory, verbal and semantic fluency and executive functioning. Finally, polymorphisms of genes, such as NRG1, 5HTTLPR (s), COMT, DAOA and some chromosome regions (16p12 and 13q), were positively associated with BD‐P.ConclusionData about the identification of specific biomarkers for BD‐P are promising, but most of them have not yet been replicated. They could lead the clinicians to an early diagnosis and proper treatment, thus ameliorating outcome of BD‐P and reducing the biological changes associated with a long duration of illness. Further studies with bigger samples are needed to detect more specific biological markers of the psychotic dimension of bipolar affective disorder.
Physical and chemical properties of primary defences in Tenebrio molitor
Authors: Silva Farley W. S. , Araujo Lucimar S. , Azevedo Dihego O. , Serrão José E. , Elliot Simon L. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPrevention and reaction are the foundation for any defence system. In insects, the primary defences against pathogens and parasites limit invasion; the secondary ones (e.g. immune system) act when the cuticle and other primary defences fail. Because investment in both aspects of defence may be costly, they should be regulated in a plastic or variable way in accordance with the risk of infection. The mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor L. changes cuticle colour and its resistance to fungal infection when subject to high population density, although such resistance is a result of the primary (cuticle) defences rather than the secondary (immunological) ones. The present study tests the hypothesis that the physical and chemical properties of the primary defences in T. molitor change with cuticular darkness. Beetles expressing black phenotypes (or with darker cuticle) have a thicker cuticle, with four well organized layers (epi‐, exo‐, endocuticle and formation zone) and more melanin than tan beetles. The cuticle properties investigated in the present study are likely to be the underlying mechanisms of pathogen resistance in black beetles, including the content of carbonylated proteins, which in black beetles was almost half that of tan beetles after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It is proposed that, in polyphenic insects (such as mealworm beetles), primary and secondary defences are regulated pleiotropically, with the genes responsible for the expression of one defence having a positive effect on others, whereas, in polymorphic insects, there is no such link and so investment in one defence may impair others.
Public Health Nurses in Israel: A Case Study on a Quality Improvement Project of Nurse's Work Life
Authors: Kagan Ilya , Shachaf Sara , Rapaport Zofia , Livne Tzipi , Madjar Batya 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPublic health nurses (PHNs) working in Well Baby Clinic in Israel's Haifa district were voicing great distress to inspectors—the impossibility of meeting their workload, feeling overwhelmed, poor physical, and technological conditions. They were feeling tired and frustrated and burn‐out was rising. The district's nursing management took the decision, together with Tel Aviv University's nursing research unit, to conduct a quality improvement project based on issues that arose from meetings with focus groups on the nurses’ difficulties. This paper is a case study of a quality improvement project targeting nurses daily working life. One of its chief contributions is as a study of meeting PHNs’ frustration by integrating focus groups and round‐table brainstorming (involving nurses, clinic managers and nursing inspectors) in order to identify targets for practical intervention. This strategy has been very successful. It has provided the district's nursing management a battery of forcefully argued and realistically grounded proposals for making the work of Well Baby clinics more relevant to their communities and giving nurses (a) the conditions to meet their assignments and (b) greater professional self‐respect.
Prevalence and diversity of plant parasitic nematodes in Northern Ireland grassland and cereals, and the influence of soils and rainfall
Authors: Fleming T. R. , McGowan N. E. , Maule A. G. , Fleming C. C. 
Published: March 2016

The prevalence and diversity of plant parasitic nematodes in Northern Ireland cereal and grassland was determined from 191 agricultural fields. A total of 18 nematode genera were detected, including economically important pests, Meloidogyne spp., Heterodera spp. and Pratylenchus spp., each of which were above economic damage thresholds in a significant proportion of the sites (92.4%, 70% and 28.6%, respectively). The detection of the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne minor (6% prevalence), was significant given its recent emergence across the turf grass sector and the prospect of M. minor becoming a common agricultural pest. Analyses of nematode prevalence and abundance highlighted significant associations with grass and cereals, soil types, soil grade (proxy for soil quality) and rainfall levels. Specifically, nematode populations varied between the two major soils (brown earths and gleys), while significant trends for increased nematode diversity and greater prevalence of both Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus with increasing rainfall were also observed. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine interactive effects and the relative importance of the factors affecting nematode populations. Notably, rainfall, in combination with either crop type or soil grade, had a significant effect on nematode abundance and diversity. The findings suggest significant changes in nematode populations have occurred over the last several decades and the possibility that these are linked to changing climate and cropping practices are discussed, as well as future concerns for plant parasitic nematode management.
Cardiorespiratory interactions: Noncontact assessment using laser Doppler vibrometry
Authors: Sirevaag Erik J. , Casaccia Sara , Richter Edward A. , O'Sullivan Joseph A. , Scalise Lorenzo , Rohrbaugh John W. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe application of a noncontact physiological recording technique, based on the method of laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV), is described. The effectiveness of the LDV method as a physiological recording modality lies in the ability to detect very small movements of the skin, associated with internal mechanophysiological activities. The method is validated for a range of cardiovascular variables, extracted from the contour of the carotid pulse waveform as a function of phase of the respiration cycle. Data were obtained from 32 young healthy participants, while resting and breathing spontaneously. Individual beats were assigned to four segments, corresponding with inspiration and expiration peaks and transitional periods. Measures relating to cardiac and vascular dynamics are shown to agree with the pattern of effects seen in the substantial body of literature based on human and animal experiments, and with selected signals recorded simultaneously with conventional sensors. These effects include changes in heart rate, systolic time intervals, and stroke volume. There was also some evidence for vascular adjustments over the respiration cycle. The effectiveness of custom algorithmic approaches for extracting the key signal features was confirmed. The advantages of the LDV method are discussed in terms of the metrological properties and utility in psychophysiological research. Although used here within a suite of conventional sensors and electrodes, the LDV method can be used on a stand‐alone, noncontact basis, with no requirement for skin preparation, and can be used in harsh environments including the MR scanner.