bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ablation of ceramide synthase 2 exacerbates dextran sodium sulphate‐induced colitis in mice due to increased intestinal permeability
Authors: Kim Ye‐Ryung , Volpert Giora , Shin Kyong‐Oh , Kim So‐Yeon , Shin Sun‐Hye , Lee Younghay , Sung Sun Hee , Lee Yong‐Moon , Ahn Jung‐Hyuck , Pewzner‐Jung Yael , Park Woo‐Jae , Futerman Anthony H. , Park Joo‐Won 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCeramides mediate crucial cellular processes including cell death and inflammation and have recently been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease. Ceramides consist of a sphingoid long‐chain base to which fatty acids of various length can be attached. We now investigate the effect of alerting the ceramide acyl chain length on a mouse model of colitis. Ceramide synthase (CerS) 2 null mice, which lack very‐long acyl chain ceramides with concomitant increase of long chain bases and C16‐ceramides, were more susceptible to dextran sodium sulphate‐induced colitis, and their survival rate was markedly decreased compared with that of wild‐type littermates. Using mixed bone‐marrow chimeric mice, we showed that the host environment is primarily responsible for intestinal barrier dysfunction and increased intestinal permeability. In the colon of CerS2 null mice, the expression of junctional adhesion molecule‐A was markedly decreased and the phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2 was increased.In vitroexperiments using Caco‐2 cells also confirmed an important role of CerS2 in maintaining epithelial barrier function; CerS2‐knockdownviaCRISPR‐Cas9 technology impaired barrier function.In vivomyriocin administration, which normalized long‐chain bases and C16‐ceramides of the colon of CerS2 null mice, increased intestinal permeability as measured by serumFITC‐dextran levels, indicating that alteredSLs including deficiency of very‐long‐chain ceramides are critical for epithelial barrier function. In conclusion, deficiency of CerS2 influences intestinal barrier function and the severity of experimental colitis and may represent a potential mechanism for inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis.
microRNA let‐7g suppresses PDGF‐induced conversion of vascular smooth muscle cell into the synthetic phenotype
Authors: Wang Tzu‐Ming , Chen Ku‐Chung , Hsu Po‐Yuan , Lin Hsiu‐Fen , Wang Yung‐Song , Chen Chien‐Yuan , Liao Yi‐Chu , Juo Suh‐Hang H. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPlatelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) can promote vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to switch from the quiescent contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype, which contributes to atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the role of microRNA let‐7g in phenotypic switching. Bioinformatics prediction was used to find let‐7g target genes in the PDGF/mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1)/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)/Krüppel‐like factor‐4 (KLF4) signalling pathway that affects VSMC phenotypic switching. The luciferase reporter assay and let‐7g transfection were used to confirm let‐7g target genes. Two contractile proteins alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and calponin were VSMC‐specific genes and were measured as the indicators for VSMC phenotype. Lentivirus carrying the let‐7g gene was injected to apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE−/−) mice to confirm let‐7g's effect on preventing atherosclerosis. Through the PDGF/MEKK1/ERK/KLF4 signalling pathway, PDGF‐BB can inhibit α‐SMA and calponin. The PDGFB and MEKK1 genes were predicted to harbour let‐7g binding sites, which were confirmed by our reporter assays. Transfection of let‐7g to VSMC also reduced PDGFB and MEKK1 levels. Moreover, we showed that let‐7g decreased phosphorylated‐ERK1/2 while had no effect on total ERK1/2. KLF4 can reduce VSMC‐specific gene expression by preventing myocardin–serum response factor (SRF) complex from associating with these gene promoters. The immunoprecipitation assay showed that let‐7g decreased the interaction between KLF4 and SRF. Further experiments demonstrated that let‐7g can increase α‐SMA and calponin levels to maintain VSMC in the contractile status. Injection of lentivirus carrying let‐7g gene increased let‐7g's levels in aorta and significantly decreased atherosclerotic plaques in the apoE−/− mice. We demonstrated that let‐7g reduces the PDGF/MEKK1/ERK/KLF4 signalling to maintain VSMC in the contractile status, which further reduce VSMC atherosclerotic change.
Effects of calycosin against high‐fat diet‐induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice
Authors: Duan Xingping , Meng Qiang , Wang Changyuan , Liu Zhihao , Sun Huijun , Huo Xiaokui , Sun Pengyuan , Ma Xiaodong , Peng Jinyong , Liu Kexin 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackground and AimNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major health concern worldwide. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of calycosin against high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced NAFLD in mice.MethodsC57BL/6 J male mice were fed with HFD to induce NAFLD model and treated with or without calycosin for 12 weeks. The levels of ALT, AST, insulin, and adiponectin were measured using biochemical methods. Hemotoxylin and eosin staining and Oil Red O staining were used to determine the liver histopathology changes and measure the degree of lipid accumulation respectively. Glucose tolerance tests and insulin tolerance tests were performed followed by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index determination. Western blot and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction were used to explore the potential mechanism involved in the beneficial effects of calycosin.ResultsCalycosin effectively decreased the levels of ALT and AST, increased the levels of adiponectin and insulin. Hemotoxylin and eosin staining indicated calycosin treatment remarkably improved liver injury. Oil Red O staining indicated calycosin treatment remarkably improved lipid accumulation. Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index in HFD fed mice was significantly lower than in the standard chow fed mice. Further, calycosin suppressed phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glucose‐6‐phosphatase, sterol‐regulatory element binding protein 1c, and FASN involved in gluconeogenesis and triglyceride synthesis. Calycosin increased glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, glucose transporter 4, and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 expressions involved in glucose metabolism. The aforementioned beneficial effects of calycosin against HFD‐induced NAFLD may be attributed to farnesoid X receptor activation.ConclusionCalycosin could produce the favorable effects against HFD‐induced NAFLD in mice.
Burning and Rebuilding Bridges: Forensic Infrastructures in War and its Aftermath
Authors: Parish Erin 
Published: July 2017

ResumenEl 20 de febrero del año 2002, las FARC destruyeron el puente Danticas en la región colombiana del oriente antioqueño. Tres personas murieron, incluyendo una mujer en labor de parto. Durante la próxima década, el puente destruido era una metáfora material de la debilidad del gobierno frente las negociaciones con las FARC y la reparación de la infraestructura destruida. Basado en los campos de antropología forense y arquitectura forense, este artículo propone el concepto de “infraestructura forense” para investigar la importancia simbólica y política de la destrucción y reconstrucción del puente Danticas. Utilizo el marco conceptual de Eyal Weizman que entiende forense como el conocimiento de materiales como evidencia y foro donde se discute y se crea la verdad. Sugiero que el performance, la fisicalidad y el lúdico—cuando se los entiende como un foro—puedan apoyar la creación de formas incorporadas de justicia y reparación en las posguerras. [Colombia, conflicto, ecología, medio ambiente]
Short‐term high‐fat diet increases the presence of astrocytes in the hypothalamus of C57BL6 mice without altering leptin sensitivity
Authors: Balland E. , Cowley M. A. 
Published: July 2017

Diet‐induced obesity is associated with hypothalamic inflammation and this phenomenon has been proposed to explain leptin resistance. In the present study, we used a short‐term high‐fat diet (HFD) paradigm for 10 days and analysed the cellular and physiological responses to leptin administration in C57BL6 mice. In parallel, we performed glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining to measure the presence of astrocytes in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) after 10 days and 20 weeks of HFD. Interestingly, the results obtained demonstrate that the presence of star‐like astrocytes is significantly increased after 10 days of HFD, although this is not associated with the absence of cellular and physiological response to leptin administration in mice. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that star‐like astrocytes rapidly increase in numbers in the ARH in response to HFD, although this phenomenon cannot explain the development of leptin resistance by itself.
Enhancement of the luteinising hormone surge by male olfactory signals is associated with anteroventral periventricular Kiss1 cell activation in female rats
Authors: Watanabe Y. , Ikegami K. , Ishigaki R. , Ieda N. , Uenoyama Y. , Maeda K. I. , Tsukamura H. , Inoue N. 
Published: July 2017

Olfactory stimuli play an important role in regulating reproductive functions in mammals. The present study investigated the effect of olfactory signals derived from male rats on kisspeptin neuronal activity and luteinising hormone (LH) secretion in female rats. Wistar‐Imamichi strain female rats were ovariectomised (OVX) and implanted with preovulatory levels of 17β‐oestradiol (E2). OVX+E2 rats were killed 1 hour after exposure to either: clean bedding, female‐soiled bedding or male‐soiled bedding. Dual staining for Kiss1 mRNA in situ hybridisation and c‐Fos immunohistochemistry revealed that the numbers of Kiss1‐expressing cells and c‐Fos‐immunopositive Kiss1‐expressing cells in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) were significantly higher in OVX+E2 rats exposed to male‐soiled bedding than those of the other groups. No significant difference was found with respect to the number of c‐Fos‐immunopositive Kiss1‐expressing cells in the arcuate nucleus and c‐Fos‐immunopositive Gnrh1‐expressing cells between the groups. The number of c‐Fos‐immunopositive cells was also significantly higher in the limbic system consisting of several nuclei, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the cortical amygdala and the medial amygdala, in OVX+E2 rats exposed to male‐soiled bedding than the other groups. OVX+E2 rats exposed to male‐soiled bedding showed apparent LH surges, and the peak of the LH surge and area under the curve of LH concentrations in the OVX+E2 group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups. These results suggest that olfactory signals derived from male rats activate AVPV kisspeptin neurones, likely via the limbic system, resulting in enhancement of the peak of the LH surge in female rats. Taken together, the results of the present study suggests that AVPV kisspeptin neurones are a target of olfactory signals to modulate LH release in female rats.
Nonlinear Analysis to Detect if Excellent Nursing Work Environments Have Highest Well‐Being
Authors: Casalicchio Giuseppe , Lesaffre Emmanuel , Küchenhoff Helmut , Bruyneel Luk 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPurposeTo detect potentially nonlinear associations between nurses’ work environment and nurse staffing on the one hand and nurse burnout on the other hand.DesignA cross‐sectional multicountry study for which data collection using a survey of 33,731 registered nurses in 12 European countries took place during 2009 to 2010.MethodsA semiparametric latent variable model that describes both linear and potentially nonlinear associations between burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment) and work environment (Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index: managerial support for nursing, doctor–nurse collegial relations, promotion of care quality) and staffing (patient‐to‐nurse ratio).FindingsSimilar conclusions are reached from linear and nonlinear models estimating the association between work environment and burnout. For staffing, an increase in the patient‐to‐nurse ratio is associated with an increase in emotional exhaustion. At about 15 patients per nurse, no further increase in emotional exhaustion is seen.ConclusionsAbsence of evidence for diminishing returns of improving work environments suggests that continuous improvement and achieving excellence in nurse work environments pays off strongly in terms of lower nurse‐reported burnout rates. Nurse staffing policy would benefit from a larger number of studies that identify specific minimum as well as maximum thresholds at which inputs affect nurse and patient outcomes.Clinical RelevanceNurse burnout is omnipresent and has previously been shown to be related to worse patient outcomes. Additional increments in characteristics of excellent work environments, up to the highest possible standard, correspond to lower nurse burnout.
Contextual Factors Impacting a Pain Management Intervention
Authors: Alaloul Fawwaz , Williams Kimberly , Myers John , Jones Kayla Dlauren , Sullivan Katelyn , Logsdon M. Cynthia 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPurposeTo determine if findings from our preliminary study related to patient and nursing satisfaction with a pain management intervention could be replicated in a changed environment, and if contextual factors could impact the effectiveness of a pain management intervention on patient satisfaction with nursing staff's management of pain.MethodsA prospective, experimental design was used with six monthly assessments before, during, and after the intervention. Data were collected from 540 patients admitted to eight medical surgical and progressive care units and nurses that worked in these units at an academic health sciences center in the southern United States, from March to July 2015. The script‐based, pain management communication intervention included three specific tactics: script‐based communication, use of white boards, and hourly rounding. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey was used to assess two items: “pain is well controlled” and “staff did everything they could to help with pain.” Contextual factors focused on the practice setting.FindingsBoth scores for “pain is well controlled” (β = .028, p = 0.651) and scores for “staff did everything they could to help with pain” (β = .057,p = .385) did not change initially but then increased significantly and were sustained over time. Nurses had high levels of satisfaction with the intervention (M = 7.9, SD = 2.1) and compliance with the intervention (M = 8.0, SD = 1.9), and had little difficulty in implementing the intervention (M = 8.3, SD = 1.4). In terms of contextual factors, the number of beds on the unit and the number of patients being discharged negatively impacted scores for “pain is well controlled” and “staff did everything they could to help with pain.” Hospital length of stay positively impacted scores for “pain is well controlled” by staff.ConclusionsDespite challenging contextual variables, the study extended the findings of an early preliminary study in showing the effectiveness of pain management intervention on patient satisfaction with staff's management of pain. In evaluating the impact of an intervention, it is essential to examine the contextual environment.Clinical RelevanceUsing simple, clear, and consistent communication between patients and nurses related to pain can positively impact patient satisfaction with pain management over time. The health care environment can enhance nursing practice and patients’ outcomes.
High‐resolution anorectal manometry: An expensive hobby or worth every penny?
Authors: Basilisco G. , Bharucha A. E. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroduced approximately 10 years ago, high‐resolution manometry catheters have fostered interest in anorectal manometry. This review, which accompanies two articles in this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, reviews the methods, clinical indications, utility, and pitfalls of anorectal manometry and revisits the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Medical Position Statement on Anorectal Testing Techniques, which was last published in 1999. High‐resolution manometry provides a refined assessment of the anorectal pressure profile, obviates the need for station pull‐through maneuvers, and minimizes movement artifacts. In selected cases, this refined assessment may be useful for identifying structural abnormalities or anal weakness. However, many manometry patterns that were previously regarded as abnormal are also observed in a majority of healthy patients, which substantially limits the utility of manometry for identifying defecatory disorders. It is our impression that most conclusions of the AGA medical position statement from 1999 remain valid today. High‐resolution techniques have not substantially affected the number of publications on or management of anorectal disorders. The ongoing efforts of an international working group to standardize techniques for anorectal manometry are welcome. Although high‐resolution manometry is more than an expensive hobby, improvements in catheter design and further research to rigorously define and evaluate these techniques are necessary to determine if they are worth every penny.
The pharyngeal contractile integral is a useful indicator of pharyngeal swallowing impairment
Authors: O'Rourke A. , Humphries K. , Lazar A. , Martin‐Harris B. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundA limitation to the expanded use of high‐resolution pharyngeal manometry (HRPM) in clinical practice is the lack of useful pharyngeal parameters that are easy to interpret, generalizable between patients, and do not require specialized software. In this study, we sought to test the relationship between the pharyngeal contractile integral (PhCI) with videofluoroscopic abnormalities as assessed with the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile©™.MethodsAdult dysphagic patients were recruited to undergo simultaneous HRPM and videofluoroscopy during a standardized swallowing protocol.Key ResultsThirty‐six patients were included in the study. The mean PhCI was 247 mm Hg·cm·s (range 2‐488 mm Hg·cm·s). The lower pharyngeal total (PT) group (N=20; mean PT=3.9) had a mean PhCI of 299 mm Hg·cm·s, while the higher PT group (N=16; mean PT=12.7) had a mean PhCI score of 188 mm Hg·cm·s (P=.01). There was also a significant negative correlation between normalized PhCI to PT scores (r=−.47; P=.004). Patients with higher PhCIs exhibited less severe penetration‐aspiration scores on thin liquids (1.44 vs 3.78; P=.03) and all consistencies combined (1.21 vs 1.99; P=.03).Conclusions & InferencesThe PhCI is a useful indicator of the presence of pharyngeal swallowing impairment and is technically simple to calculate with currently available software programs. Advancement of software is necessary to refine the clinical value of this parameter. High‐resolution pharyngeal manometry has the potential to be a valuable adjunct procedure for the evaluation and treatment of dysphagic individuals.
Comparing Domain-specific Physical Activity Efficacy Level between Turkish Adolescent Girls and Boys
Authors: Çatikkaş Fatih 
Published: July 2017

The adolescence period is a very critical developmental period for personality, socializing and promotion of physical activity. In this regard, the aim of this study was to compare domain-specific physical activity efficacy level between adolescent boys and girls. A total of 219 girls (body weight: 57.50± 10.44 kg, height: 160.30± 7.40 cm, age 16.15±0.96 years) and 145 high school boys (body weight: 63.45± 10.10 kg, height: 173.71± 5.49cm, age 16.20±3.49) participated in this study. Physical activity efficacy level was evaluated by the Domain Specific Physical Activity Efficacy Questionnaire (DSPAEQ) which was adapted into Turkish by Saygın et al. (2017). Statistical analysis has shown DSPAEQ score differences between girls and boys (p<0.05). Scores for the school activity (p<0.05), transportation activity (p<0.05) and leisure activity (p<0.05) sub-dimensions were higher in boys than in girls. However, the household activity sub-dimension score was higher in girls than in boys (p<0.05). The results from this study indicated that adolescent girls should be encouraged towards more physical activity both at school and out of school. However, comprehensive studies with larger samples are needed for a better understanding of the participation of adolescents in physical activity.
One session of remote ischemic preconditioning does not improve vascular function in acute normobaric and chronic hypobaric hypoxia
Authors: Rieger Mathew G. , Hoiland Ryan L. , Tremblay Joshua C. , Stembridge Mike , Bain Anthony R. , Flück Daniela , Subedi Prajan , Anholm James D. , Ainslie Philip N. 
Published: July 2017

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
It is suggested that remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) might offer protection against ischaemia–reperfusion injuries, but the utility of RIPC in high‐altitude settings remains unclear.

What is the main finding and its importance?
We found that RIPC offers no vascular protection relative to pulmonary artery pressure or peripheral endothelial function during acute, normobaric hypoxia and at high altitude in young, healthy adults. However, peripheral chemosensitivity was heightened 24 h after RIPC at high altitude.

Application of repeated short‐duration bouts of ischaemia to the limbs, termed remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC), is a novel technique that might have protective effects on vascular function during hypoxic exposures. In separate parallel‐design studies, at sea level (SL; n = 16) and after 8–12 days at high altitude (HA; n = 12; White Mountain, 3800 m), participants underwent either a sham protocol or one session of four bouts of 5 min of dual‐thigh‐cuff occlusion with 5 min recovery. Brachial artery flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD; ultrasound), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP; echocardiography) and internal carotid artery (ICA) flow (ultrasound) were measured at SL in normoxia and isocapnic hypoxia (end‐tidal maintained at 50 mmHg) and during normal breathing at HA. The hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) was measured at each location. All measures at SL and HA were obtained at baseline (BL) and at 1, 24 and 48 h post‐RIPC or sham. At SL, RIPC produced no changes in FMD, PASP, ICA flow, end‐tidal gases or HVR in normoxia or hypoxia. At HA, although HVR increased 24 h post‐RIPC compared with BL [2.05 ± 1.4 versus 3.21 ± 1.2 l min−1 (% arterial O2 saturation)−1, P < 0.01], there were no significant differences in FMD, PASP, ICA flow and resting end‐tidal gases. Accordingly, a single session of RIPC is insufficient to evoke changes in peripheral, pulmonary and cerebral vascular function in healthy adults. Although chemosensitivity might increase after RIPC at HA, this did not confer any vascular changes. The utility of a single RIPC session seems unremarkable during acute and chronic hypoxia.