bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body composition and bone health in adolescents after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass for severe obesity
Authors: Beamish A. J. , Gronowitz E. , Olbers T. , Flodmark C.‐E. , Marcus C. , Dahlgren J. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryBackgroundLaparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) causes changes in body composition and bone metabolism, yet little is known about effects in adolescents.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to report dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry measures and serum bone markers, hypothesizing that bone turnover increases after surgery.MethodsInclusion criteria included the following: age 13–18 years and body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2. Seventy‐two adolescents (22 boys; mean age 16.5 years; BMI 44.8 kg/m2) undergoing RYGB underwent dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and serum bone marker analyses preoperatively and annually for 2 years.ResultsMean BMI reduction at 2 years was 15.1 kg/m2. Body composition changes included a reduction in fat mass (51.8% to 39.6%, p < 0.001) and relative increase in lean mass (47.0% to 58.1%, p < 0.001). In contrast to previous studies in adults, adolescent boys lost a greater percentage of their body fat than girls (−17.3% vs. −9.5%, p < 0.001). Individual bone mineral density Z‐scores (BMD‐Z) at baseline were within or above the normal range. The mean (SD) BMD‐Z was 2.02 (1.2) at baseline, decreasing to 0.52 (1.19) at 2 years.Higher concentrations of serum CTX (p < 0.001) and osteocalcin (p < 0.001) were observed in boys throughout the study period. Levels rose in the first year, before decreasing modestly in the second. Levels of serum markers of bone synthesis and resorption were higher in boys, whose skeletal maturity occurs later than girls'.ConclusionsDifferences in body fat and lean mass proportions were observed according to sex following RYGB. Bone turnover increased, and BMD decreased to levels approaching a norm for age. Long‐term outcome will determine the clinical relevance.
Multifaceted community‐based intervention reduces rate of BMI growth in obese Mexican‐origin boys
Authors: Sadeghi B. , Kaiser L. L. , Schaefer S. , Tseregounis I. E. , Martinez L. , Gomez‐Camacho R. , de la Torre A. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryBackgroundLatino children and youth have some of the highest rates of overweight and obesity. Early intervention is important to prevent future obesity and illness in this population.MethodsA 3‐year, multifaceted intervention was designed to reduce the rate of growth of body mass index (BMI) among Mexican‐origin children. Two communities in California's agricultural Central Valley were targeted for intervention and comparison. To assess impact, anthropometric measures of participating children (N = 422) were collected and analysed at baseline and after 1 year of intervention.ResultsAfter 1 year of intervention, triceps skin‐fold thickness in girls showed a significant decrease in unadjusted analysis between children in the two communities. In multivariate analysis, a reduction in BMI growth was seen among obese boys in the intervention community (ß‐coefficient = −1.94, P = 0.05). Obese boys in the intervention community also had a smaller increase in waist circumference (ß‐coefficient = −5.2, P = 0.04) than the comparison community.ConclusionsThese early findings indicate the intervention's effectiveness for preventing BMI growth among obese boys. Longitudinal follow‐up is needed to determine the sustainability of results and whether similar results extend to obese girls and overweight boys or girls.
Longitudinal fat mass and visceral fat during the first 6 months after birth in healthy infants: support for a critical window for adiposity in early life
Authors: Breij Laura M. , Kerkhof Gerthe F. , De Lucia Rolfe Emanuella , Ong Ken K. , Abrahamse‐Berkeveld Marieke , Acton Dennis , Hokken‐Koelega Anita C.S. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryIntroductionBody composition in early life influences the development of obesity during childhood and beyond. It is, therefore, important to adequately determine longitudinal body composition during the first months of life.Patients and methodsIn 203 healthy term infants, we investigated longitudinal body composition, including fat mass percentage (FM%) and fat‐free mass (FFM), by air‐displacement plethysmography, at 1, 3 and 6 months of age and abdominal visceral fat and abdominal subcutaneous fat, by ultrasound, at 3 and 6 months.ResultsWe found a significant increase in FM% between 1 and 3 months but not between 3 and 6 months (p < 0.001, p = 0.098, respectively). Girls had higher FM% than boys at 1 and 6 months (p = 0.05, p < 0.001 respectively) and less FFM than boys at 1, 3 and 6 months (p = 0.02, p = 0.02, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a large variation in FM% at all ages even between infants with similar weight standard deviation scores. Visceral fat and abdominal subcutaneous fat did not change between 3 and 6 months. FM% was highly correlated with abdominal subcutaneous fat but not with visceral fat.ConclusionChanges in FM% occur mainly in the first 3 months of life, and FM%, visceral and abdominal subcutaneous fat do not change between 3 and 6 months, supporting the concept of a critical window for adiposity development in the first three months of life. In addition, our study provides longitudinal reference data of FM%, FFM, visceral fat and abdominal subcutaneous fat during the first 6 months of life.
Scaffolding wiki‐supported collaborative learning for small‐group projects and whole‐class collaborative knowledge building
Authors: Lin C‐Y. , Reigeluth C.M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWhile educators value wikis' potential, wikis may fail to support collaborative constructive learning without careful scaffolding. This article proposes literature‐based instructional methods, revised based on two expert instructors' input, presents the collected empirical evidence on the effects of these methods and proposes directions for future refinements. The instructional methods were implemented by an expert instructor teaching a 12‐week 68‐student undergraduate design class in Canada. Data were collected from observations, interviews and content analysis of wikis. The findings revealed that in small‐group project (SGP), the wiki instructional methods enhanced collaborative learning with most instructional methods derived from cooperative learning, but in whole‐class collaborative knowledge building (CKB), the wiki instructional mehtods failed to turn the class into a self‐sustained learning community after the scaffolding faded. We conclude that the genre of wikis should be different for SGP and CKB. While the students easily adopted the ‘reproduced’ genre of wikis for SGP with familiar tasks, they felt overwhelmed or resistant to the unfamiliar ‘emergent’ genre of wikis for CKB in massive collaborative constructive learning. Therefore, we propose that future refinements for wiki‐supported CKB should focus on providing students scaffolding for intersubjectivity (understanding collaborative constructive learning) and transfer of responsibility (developing autonomy).
Vimentin, colon cancer progression and resistance to butyrate and other HDACis
Authors: Lazarova Darina L. , Bordonaro Michael 
Published: April 2016

AbstractDietary fibre protects against colorectal cancer (CRC) most likely through the activity of its fermentation product, butyrate. Butyrate functions as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) that hyperactivates Wnt signalling and induces apoptosis of CRC cells. However, individuals who consume a high‐fibre diet may still develop CRC; therefore, butyrate resistance may develop over time. Furthermore, CRC cells that are resistant to butyrate are cross‐resistant to clinically relevant therapeutic HDACis, suggesting that the development of butyrate resistance in vivo can result in HDACi‐resistant CRCs. Butyrate/HDACi‐resistant CRC cells differ from their butyrate/HDACi‐sensitive counterparts in the expression of many genes, including the gene encoding vimentin (VIM) that is usually expressed in normal mesenchymal cells and is involved in cancer metastasis. Interestingly, vimentin is overexpressed in butyrate/HDACi‐resistant CRC cells although Wnt signalling is suppressed in such cells and that VIM is a Wnt activity‐targeted gene. The expression of vimentin in colonic neoplastic cells could be correlated with the stage of neoplastic progression. For example, comparative analyses of LT97 microadenoma cells and SW620 colon carcinoma cells revealed that although vimentin is not detectable in LT97 cells, it is highly expressed in SW620 cells. Based upon these observations, we propose that the differential expression of vimentin contributes to the phenotypic differences between butyrate‐resistant and butyrate‐sensitive CRC cells, as well as to the differences between early‐stage and metastatic colorectal neoplastic cells. We discuss the hypothesis that vimentin is a key factor integrating epithelial to mesenchymal transition, colonic neoplastic progression and resistance to HDACis.
China, the European Union and the Fragile World Order
Authors: Chen Zhimin 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe EU (European Union) and China are the two arguably most unusual powers in today's world: the EU as the most integrated regional association of states and China as the largest developing great power. As the post‐Cold War American‐led liberal world order is facing challenges from forces unleashed by the power transition and power diffusion in the international system, this article will look into the order‐shaping roles of the EU and China, to identify their respective visions of a desirable world order and to conceptualize how the EU and China can make themselves ‘building blocks’ of a working world order through parallel, complementary and concerted order‐shaping.
Cold‐water vibriosis. The current status of knowledge
Authors: Kashulin A , Seredkina N , Sørum H 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe current review for the first time summarizes the findings of the 30 years of research on cold‐water vibriosis (CWV). The diseased caused by Aliivibrio salmonicida (earlier known as Vibrio salmonicida) was for the first time described in 1986 and became one of the most important bacterial diseases in salmon aquaculture. The lack of appropriate vaccine hampered development of Atlantic salmon aquaculture until the late 1980s when a novel vaccine allowed dramatic increase in the Atlantic salmon farming. In December 2007, the genus Vibrio was split into two genera and several bacterial species including V. salmonicida were transferred to genus Aliivibrio. The change of the names create significant difficulties with the designation of the CWV disease agent since its abbreviation A. salmonicida became similar to another well‐known salmon pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida (A. salmonicida). The disease was considered as controlled by vaccination, but reappeared at Atlantic salmon farms in 2011, this time affecting vaccinated Atlantic salmon. The current review summarizes the knowledge on pathogenesis, vaccination and treatment of CWV and proposes further directions for studying the disease.
A structured physical activity and fitness programme for older adults with intellectual disabilities: results of a cluster‐randomised clinical trial
Authors: van Schijndel‐Speet M. , Evenhuis H.M. , van Wijck R. , van Montfort K. C. A. G. M. , Echteld M. A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe physical activity level of older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) is extremely low, and their fitness levels are far beneath accepted norms for older people with normal intelligence and comparable with frail older people. A physical activity programme, including an education programme, was developed for older adults with ID using behaviour change techniques. The programme aimed at improving or maintaining adequate levels of physical activity (primary outcome measure) and motor fitness, cardio respiratory fitness, morphologic and metabolic fitness, activities of daily living, cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms (secondary outcome measures).MethodThe programme's efficacy was evaluated in a cluster‐randomised clinical trial among people aged 43 years and over with mild–moderate levels of ID. Five day‐activity centres were randomised to the participation group. In these centres, 81 older adults participated in groups of 8 to 10 in the programme, three times a week during 8 months. The programme was executed by physical activity instructors and staff of day‐activity centres. Five other day‐activity centres were randomised to the control group; 70 older adults in these centres received care as usual. The generalised linear model with mixed effects was used to test the programme's effectiveness.ResultsSignificant effects were found on physical activity, muscle strength, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol level and cognitive functioning, in favour of the programme's participants. No significant improvements were found on balance, serum glucose, weight, waist circumference, walking speed, mobility, depression or instrumental activities of daily living.ConclusionsThe physical activity and fitness programme has established small but significant effects in this sample, but generalising the findings to other settings is difficult due to significant participant dropout. Implementation of evidence‐based physical activity programmes among older adults with ID is recommended. Further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of physical activity on daily life functioning and the development on chronic diseases in the long run.
Illness Representations of Injury: A Comparison of Patients and Their Caregivers
Authors: Lee Bih‐O , Fan Jun‐Yu , Hung Chang‐Chiao , Pai Hsiang‐Chu , Chou Pi‐Ling 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPurposeThis study examined the differences between illness representations of injured patients and those of their caregivers.DesignA comparative descriptive survey was used.MethodsThe study setting was the surgical wards of a teaching hospital in Taiwan. Data were collected at 3 to 6 months after hospital discharge. Participants were 127 pairs of injured patients and their caregivers. The participants completed sociodemographic data and completed the Chinese Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised‐Trauma, which is composed of eight subscales. Clinical data of the injured patients was obtained from medical records.ResultsInjured patients and their caregivers were pessimistic about the injury. Patients perceived significantly more physical symptoms than caregivers did. Caregivers for patients who were severely injured or admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) had more negative perceptions than did those who were providing care for moderately injured patients or those not admitted to an ICU. Caregivers who did not share their caring responsibilities had more negative perceptions than did those who shared their caring responsibilities with others.ConclusionsThis study found that patients and caregivers had negative illness representations several months after injury. Caregivers who provided care for severely injured patients or who did not share caring responsibilities perceived different extents of illness perceptions about the injury. The interventions should highlight the need to assist patients and caregivers after injury.Clinical RelevanceExploring the discrepancies in illness perceptions between injured patients and their caregivers can help clinicians to provide individualized care, and to design interventions that meet patients’ and caregivers’ needs.
Molecular genetics and epigenetics of nonfamilial (sporadic) parathyroid tumours
Authors: Westin G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPrimary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is a common endocrine disease characterized by excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone and an increased level of serum calcium. Overall, 80–85% of pHPT cases are due to a benign, single parathyroid adenoma (PA), and 15% to multiglandular disease (multiple adenomas/hyperplasia). Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is rare, accounting for <0.5–1% of pHPT cases. Secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is a complication of renal failure, with the development of parathyroid tumours and hypercalcaemia. Recurrent mutations in the MEN1 gene have been confirmed by the whole‐exome sequencing in 35% of PAs, suggesting that non‐protein‐coding genes, regulatory elements or epigenetic derangements may also have roles in the majority of PAs. DNA translocations with cyclin D1 overexpression occur in PAs (8%). In PCs, mutations in CDC73/HRPT2 are common. Activation of the WNT/β‐catenin signalling pathway (accumulation of nonphosphorylated β‐catenin) by an aberrantly truncated LRP5 receptor has been seen for the majority of investigated PAs and sHPT tumours, and possibly by APC inactivation through promoter methylation in PCs. Promoter methylation of several other genes and repressive histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation by EZH2 of the HIC1 gene may also contribute to parathyroid tumorigenesis. It is possible that a common pathway exists for parathyroid tumour development. CCND1 (cyclin D1) and EZH2 overexpression, accumulation of nonphosphorylated β‐catenin and repression of HIC1 have all been observed to occur in PAs, PCs and sHPT tumours. In addition, hypermethylation has been observed for the same genes in PAs and PCs (e.g. SFRP1, CDKN2A and WT1). Whether β‐catenin represents a ‘hub’ in parathyroid tumour development will be discussed.
The Dynamics of Growth and Income Inequality under Progressive Taxation
Authors: KOYUNCU MURAT , TURNOVSKY STEPHEN J. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis paper develops an endogenous growth model having a progressive income tax structure in which heterogeneous agents, who differ in terms of their rates of time preference, supply labor elastically. We analyze the dynamic adjustment to an increase in progressivity and show that the economy will converge to an equilibrium growth path with nondegenerate distributions of both income and wealth. The role of the endogeneity of labor supply is emphasized and shown to have a major impact on the nature of the transitional path, as a result of the impact of the progressive tax on agents’ work incentives. Our theoretical analysis is supplemented with, and supported by, numerical simulations, which generally match the empirical evidence rather closely. We also show that the responses of the different income groups contrast sharply from one another so that focusing on the economy‐wide average provides an incomplete picture.
Discovery of a novel periplasmic protein that forms a complex with a trimeric autotransporter adhesin and peptidoglycan
Authors: Ishikawa Masahito , Yoshimoto Shogo , Hayashi Ayumi , Kanie Junichi , Hori Katsutoshi 
Published: April 2016

SummaryTrimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs), fibrous proteins on the cell surface of Gram‐negative bacteria, have attracted attention as virulence factors. However, little is known about the mechanism of their biogenesis. AtaA, a TAA of Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5, confers nonspecific, high adhesiveness to bacterial cells. We identified a new gene, tpgA, which forms a single operon with ataA and encodes a protein comprising two conserved protein domains identified by Pfam: an N‐terminal SmpA/OmlA domain and a C‐terminal OmpA_C‐like domain with a peptidoglycan (PGN)‐binding motif. Cell fractionation and a pull‐down assay showed that TpgA forms a complex with AtaA, anchoring it to the outer membrane (OM). Isolation of total PGN‐associated proteins showed TpgA binding to PGN. Disruption of tpgA significantly decreased the adhesiveness of Tol 5 because of a decrease in surface‐displayed AtaA, suggesting TpgA involvement in AtaA secretion. This is reminiscent of SadB, which functions as a specific chaperone for SadA, a TAA in Salmonella species; however, SadB anchors to the inner membrane, whereas TpgA anchors to the OM through AtaA. The genetic organization encoding the TAA–TpgA‐like protein cassette can be found in diverse Gram‐negative bacteria, suggesting a common contribution of TpgA homologues to TAA biogenesis.
Reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships in dermatomycete genus Trichophyton Malmsten 1848 based on ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region, partial 28S rRNA and beta‐tubulin genes sequences
Authors: Pchelin Ivan M. , Zlatogursky Vasily V. , Rudneva Mariya V. , Chilina Galina A. , Rezaei‐Matehkolaei Ali , Lavnikevich Dmitry M. , Vasilyeva Natalya V. , Taraskina Anastasia E. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryTrichophyton spp. are important causative agents of superficial mycoses. The phylogeny of the genus and accurate strain identification, based on the ribosomal ITS region sequencing, are still under development. The present work is aimed at (i) inferring the genus phylogeny from partial ITS, LSU and BT2 sequences (ii) description of ribosomal ITS region polymorphism in 15 strains of Trichophyton interdigitale. We performed DNA sequence‐based species identification and phylogenetic analysis on 48 strains belonging to the genus Trichophyton. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred by maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods on concatenated ITS, LSU and BT2 sequences. Ribosomal ITS region polymorphisms were assessed directly on the alignment. By phylogenetic reconstruction, we reveal major anthropophilic and zoophilic species clusters in the genus Trichophyton. We describe several sequences of the ITS region of T. interdigitale, which do not fit in the traditional polymorphism scheme and propose emendations in this scheme for discrimination between ITS sequence types in T. interdigitale. The new polymorphism scheme will allow inclusion of a wider spectrum of isolates while retaining its explanatory power. This scheme was also found to be partially congruent with NTS typing technique.
Impact of electrical stimulation of the stomach on gastric distension‐induced emesis in the musk shrew
Authors: Horn C. C. , Zirpel L. , Sciullo M. G. , Rosenberg D. M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundGastric electrical stimulation (GES) is implicated as a potential therapy for difficult‐to‐treat nausea and vomiting; however, there is a lack of insight into the mechanisms responsible for these effects. This study tested the relationship between acute GES and emesis in musk shrews, an established emetic model system.MethodsUrethane‐anesthetized shrews were used to record emetic responses (monitoring intra‐tracheal pressure and esophageal contractions), respiration rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, and gastrointestinal electromyograms. We investigated the effects of acute GES pulse duration (0.3, 1, 5, and 10 ms), current amplitude (0.5, 1, and 2 mA), pulse frequency (8, 15, 30, and 60 Hz), and electrode placement (antrum, body, and fundus) on emesis induced by gastric stretch, using a balloon.Key ResultsThere were four outcomes: (i) GES did not modify the effects of gastric stretch‐induced emesis; (ii) GES produced emesis, depending on the stimulation parameters, but was less effective than gastric stretch; (iii) other physiological changes were closely associated with emesis and could be related to a sub‐threshold activation of the emetic system, including suppression of breathing and rise in blood pressure; and (iv) a control experiment showed that 8‐OH‐DPAT, a reported 5‐HT1A receptor agonist that acts centrally as an antiemetic, blocked gastric stretch‐induced emesis.Conclusions and InferencesThese results do not support an antiemetic effect of acute GES on gastric distension‐induced emesis within the range of conditions tested, but further evaluation should focus on a broader range of emetic stimuli and GES stimulation parameters.