bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An assessment of left atrial function in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy before and 1 year after septal ablation by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography
Authors: Fang Hui , Tang Hailin , Li Peng , Xiong Li , Hu Gongpai , Li Li , Yu Yonghong , Zhao Bowen 
Published: January 2017

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess left atrial (LA) function with two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) in addition to standard echocardiographic assessments in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) before and 1 year after septal ablation (SA).MethodsThe study included 31 patients with HOCM, who underwent SA. Each patient with HOCM underwent a complete two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography before and 1 year after the SA. The measurements included basal septal thickness, left ventricular outflow trace (LVOT) gradient, mitral regurgitation (MR) grade, LA dimensions, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, and tissue Doppler parameters of lateral mitral annular e′ and septal mitral annular e′. The LA wall was tracked on a frame‐by‐frame basis using 2DSTE, and LA volume waveforms were generated. The maximum LA volume (LAVmax), minimal LA volume (LAVmin), and the LA volume before atrial contraction (LAVpre‐a) were measured. The LA reservoir function was calculated as the expansion index and diastolic emptying index. The LA conduit function was calculated as the passive emptying percentage of total emptying (PE) and the passive emptying index (PEI). The LA booster function was calculated as the active emptying percentage of total emptying (AE) and the active emptying index (AEI).ResultsThe LVOT gradient, end‐diastolic septal base thickness, the grade of MR, and LA end‐diastolic size were significantly decreased in patients with HOCM before and 1 year after the SA (All P<.05). The lateral mitral annular e′ was significantly increased (P<.05), and the E/lateral e′ ratio was significantly decreased (P<.05), whereas septal mitral annular e′ was significantly decreased (P<.05), and the E/septal e′ ratio was significantly increased (P<.05). LAVImax, LAVImin, and LAVIpre‐a were significantly decreased 1 year after the SA (All P<.05). The expansion and diastolic emptying indices were significantly increased (All P<.05) at 1 year after the SA. PE and PEI were significantly increased (All P<.05). The AE and AEI were significantly decreased (All P<.05). LAVImax, LAVImin, and LAVIpre‐a of the responders group were significantly lower than those of the nonresponders group (All P<.05). The expansion and diastolic emptying indices of the responders group were significantly higher than those of the nonresponders group (All P<.05). The PE and PEI of the responders were significantly higher than those of the nonresponders group (All P<.05). The AE and AEI of the responders were significantly lower than those of the nonresponders group (All P<.05).ConclusionsWe found an improvement in the LA reservoir and conduit function but a reduction in LA booster pump function 1 year after the SA in the responders.
Testosterone‐induced neuroendocrine changes in the medial preoptic area precede song activation and plasticity in song control nuclei of female canaries
Authors: Shevchouk Olesya T. , Ghorbanpoor Samar , Ball Gregory F. , Cornil Charlotte A. , Balthazart Jacques 
Published: January 2017

AbstractTestosterone plays a key role in the control of seasonal changes in singing behavior and its underlying neural circuitry. After administration of exogenous testosterone, song quality and song control nuclei volumes change over the course of weeks, but song rate increases within days. The medial preoptic nucleus (POM) controls sexual motivation and testosterone action in POM increases sexually motivated singing. In this study, we investigated the time course of testosterone action in the song control nuclei and POM, at the gross anatomical and cellular level. Photosensitive female canaries were injected with BrdU to label newborn neurons. One day later they were transferred to a long‐day photoperiod and implanted with testosterone‐filled or empty implants. Brains and blood were collected 1, 2, 9 or 21 days later. Testosterone increased POM volume within 1 day, whereas the volume of song control nuclei increased significantly only on day 21 even if a trend was already observed for HVC on day 9. The density of newborn neurons in HVC, labeled by Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and doublecortin, was increased by testosterone on days 9 and 21 although a trend was already detectable on day 2. In POM, testosterone increased the number and size of aromatase‐immunoreactive neurons already after 1 day. This rapid action of testosterone in POM supports its proposed role in controlling singing motivation. Although testosterone increased the number of newborn neurons in HVC rapidly (9, possibly 2 days), it is unlikely that these new neurons affect singing behavior before they mature and integrate into functional circuits.
Towards a critical geography of disaster recovery politics: Perspectives on crisis and hope
Authors: Cretney Raven Marie 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAs disasters increasingly affect a greater proportion of the population with growing strength and frequency it is becoming even more important to comprehend how recovery from these events is mediated and managed by society. Emerging from several decades of concerted work on the social determinants of disaster, vulnerability and risk, research is now being established that underlies the importance of the politics and power in shaping the processes and outcomes of disaster recovery. In particular, there is a need to situate the central role of neoliberal capitalism in shaping the values and practices of reconstruction and recovery, particularly through engagements with crisis politics. At the same time, disasters may open up space for contestation and resistance that allows for alternative and transformative forms of recovery politics. In this paper I draw on geographies of crisis and hope to frame a theoretical perspective that encapsulates both the capitalist dynamics of disaster recovery and the radical potential of post capitalist politics for facilitating transformative action at the community scale.
Milk yield and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows grazing binary and multispecies pastures
Authors: Bryant R. H. , Miller M. E. , Greenwood S. L. , Edwards G. R. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThree grazing experiments were carried out in late spring (early lactation), summer (mid‐lactation) and autumn (late lactation) to compare the effects of perennial ryegrass cultivar or grass species, sown in binary or multispecies mixtures, on milk yield and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows. Replicated groups of multiparous Holstein Friesian × Jersey cows were offered either a control or high‐sugar perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) base grass in a binary mixture with white clover (Trifolium repens) or in a multispecies mixture with additional legumes, bromegrass (Bromus willdenowii) and forbs. During each 9‐day experiment, botanical composition, milk production and faecal and urine composition were measured. Milk solid (MS) yield for the control ryegrass, high‐sugar ryegrass and tall fescue grass types averaged, respectively, 1.53, 1.64 and 1.70 kg MS cow−1 day−1 for a binary mixture sward, compared with 1.65, 1.54 and 1.53 kg MS cow−1 day−1 for a multispecies sward. Legume content influenced milk production more than the number of species present in a mixture. There was lower urine N concentration from a multispecies sward compared with a binary mixture. Urine N concentration of cows grazing the control ryegrass, high‐sugar ryegrass and tall fescue grass types averaged, respectively, 4.6, 5.3 and 6.8 g N L−1 for a binary mixture, compared with 4.1, 3.9 and 3.9 g N L−1 for a multispecies mixture. Feeding dairy cows on multispecies swards containing forbs presents an opportunity to reduce N losses without compromising milk yield.
Clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical evidence that small‐cell carcinoma of the ovary of hypercalcaemic type (SCCOHT) may be a primitive germ‐cell neoplasm
Authors: McCluggage W Glenn , Witkowski Leora , Clarke Blaise A , Foulkes William D 
Published: January 2017

AimsThe histogenesis and cell lineage of small‐cell carcinoma of the ovary of hypercalcaemic type (SCCOHT) is unknown. We aim to provide evidence that this may be a primitive germ‐cell neoplasm arising from a teratoma.Methods and resultsFollowing the identification of two cases of SCCOHT associated with germ‐cell tumours (one dermoid cyst, one immature teratoma with a focus of yolk sac tumour), we undertook a literature review to look for any prior reports of SCCOHT in association with other neoplasms or elements. This revealed two cases associated with immature teratomas, one arising in an ovary where a cystectomy had been undertaken previously for a teratoma and another in association with a mucinous borderline tumour. Mucinous elements have also been reported in SCCOHT, this type of epithelium potentially being of teratomatous derivation. We stained whole tissue sections of nine cases of SCCOHT and a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 34 different SCCOHT with germ‐cell markers SALL4, OCT3/4, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and glypican 3. All except one of the whole tissue sections and approximately half the TMA cases were positive with SALL4, while all cases were OCT3/4‐, AFP‐ and glypican 3‐negative, except for focal glypican 3 staining in an occasional case.ConclusionsOur findings provide additional evidence to that proposed by others that SCCOHT is a primitive germ‐cell neoplasm arising from a teratoma.
Cytotoxicity of peracetic acid: evaluation of effects on metabolism, structure and cell death
Authors: Viola K. S. , Rodrigues E. M. , Tanomaru‐Filho M. , Carlos I. Z. , Ramos S. G. , Guerreiro‐Tanomaru J. M. , Faria G. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAimTo evaluate the cytotoxicity and the mechanism of cell aggression of peracetic acid (PA) in comparison with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).MethodologyL929 fibroblasts were exposed to 1% PA and 2.5% NaOCl, at several dilutions for 10 min. The following parameters were evaluated: cell metabolism by methylthiazol tetrazolium assay, external morphology by scanning electron microscopy, ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy, the cytoskeleton by means of actin and α‐tubulin labelling, and the type of cell death by flow cytometry (apoptosis/necrosis). The data were analysed by two‐way anova and the Bonferroni post‐test (α = 0.05).ResultsThe PA group had lower cell viability and a higher percentage of necrotic cells than the NaOCl group (P < 0.05). Both solutions diminished cell metabolism, led to destructuring of the cytoskeleton, created changes in the external morphology, resulted in the accumulation of proteins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and induced cell death predominantly by necrosis. However, these changes were observed in lower doses of PA when compared with NaOCl.ConclusionsAlthough they had the same mechanism of cytotoxicity, 1% PA had greater cytotoxic potential than 2.5% NaOCl.
Cost‐effective approach to the diagnostic workup of B cell lymphoproliferative disorders via optimal integration of flow cytometric data
Authors: Mason E. F. , Morgan E. A. , Pinkus G. S. , Pozdnyakova O. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryIntroductionThe workup of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) involves the combined use of flow cytometry (FC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). This often results in duplicate immunophenotypic testing and adds costs that may not be eligible for reimbursement based on the Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative. We aimed to establish a cost‐effective diagnostic algorithm based on initial FC categorization to reduce repetitive immunophenotyping.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 242 cases of suspected LPDs with concurrent FC and IHC testing over a 12‐month period. We correlated FC with surgical diagnoses and evaluated the frequency of repeat IHC testing.ResultsRepetitive immunophenotyping was common; overall, 85% of cases had at least one marker repeated. Concordant cases were significantly less likely to have markers repeated than discordant cases. Of concordant B cell malignancies, 57% represented recurrent disease; however, repeat marker usage was not decreased as compared to new diagnoses. The most frequently repeated markers were CD3, CD5, CD10, and CD20.ConclusionsWe propose that in concordant cases, CD5 and CD10 should not be repeated by IHC; this would decrease the use of these markers by 80% and 76%, respectively. We developed an algorithmic approach to IHC usage that has improved incorporation of FC data at our institution and may reduce healthcare costs.
Development of a novel automated screening method for detection of FVIII Inhibitors
Authors: Evans M. S. , Donaldson K. J. , Eyster M. E. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryIntroductionFactor VIII activity is routinely determined by measuring the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of a patient plasma sample and determining percent activity from a standard curve. To maximize the detection of a clotting factor inhibitor, a subjective assessment of parallelism of a patient curve compared with a standard curve is performed. We developed and validated an automated objective method to assess parallelism as a rapid screening tool for detection of an inhibitor to factor VIII during routine FVIII assays.MethodsWe performed FVIII assays on a subset of FVIII‐deficient patients with hemophilia A with and without inhibitors. Utilizing a ratio of the slopes from parallelism curves obtained by an independent Microsoft excel program in patients compared with a normal standard curve, we determined a cutoff ratio predictive for presence of an inhibitor.ResultsA cutoff ratio of patient to control slopes of <0.45 for the detection of an inhibitor to FVIII was 100% sensitive and 91.6% specific, with a positive predictive value of 92.3% and a negative predictive value of 100%.ConclusionUtilizing a ratio of the slopes from parallelism curves in patients with and without an inhibitor, we developed and validated a rapid, automated, and objective method to assess parallelism as an added screening tool for detection of an inhibitor to factor VIII during routine FVIII assays on a STAGO‐based coagulation platform. This simple automated method has the potential to detect inhibitors to other clotting factors.
Host controls of HIV broadly neutralizing antibody development
Authors: Kelsoe Garnett , Haynes Barton F. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryInduction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is a major goal of HIV vaccine development. BNAbs are made during HIV infection by a subset of individuals but currently cannot be induced in the setting of vaccination. Considerable progress has been made recently in understanding host immunologic controls of bNAb induction and maturation in the setting of HIV infection, and point to key roles for both central and peripheral immunologic tolerance mechanisms in limiting bnAb development. Immune tolerance checkpoint inhibition has been transformative in promotion of anti‐tumor CD8 T‐cell responses in the treatment of certain malignancies. Here, we review the evidence for host controls of bNAb responses, and discuss strategies for the transient modulation of immune responses with vaccines toward the goal of enhancing germinal center B‐cell responses to favor bNAb B‐cell lineages and to foster their maturation to full neutralization potency.
Tfh cells and HIV bnAbs, an immunodominance model of the HIV neutralizing antibody generation problem
Authors: Havenar‐Daughton Colin , Lee Jeong Hyun , Crotty Shane 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThe generation of HIV bnAbs may be one of the greatest feats of the human immune system and our best hope of finally creating an HIV vaccine. The striking amount of somatic hypermutation in HIV bnAbs led to the hypothesis that T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and germinal centers (GC) play a critical role in the ability of the immune system to generate these uncommon antibodies. In this review, we first summarize what is known about the immunological process of HIV bnAb development, the challenges of eliciting bnAbs via immunizations, and the putative central roles of Tfh cells and GC in the generation of HIV bnAbs. Next, we explore factors that have impeded our understanding of the GC and Tfh‐cell processes involved in bnAb generation, including the difficulty of quantifying antigen‐specific GC Tfh cells and the difficulty of tracking GC in human and non‐human primate vaccine studies. Finally, we discuss antibody immunodominance pertaining to neutralizing antibody generation and the GC response, propose models to explain the negative effects of immunodominance on neutralizing antibody generation, and consider means of optimizing Tfh and GC responses to potentially overcome these problems.
The modeling of time to enterotoxin detection of Staphylococcus aureus in chicken meat
Authors: Chaves Rafael D. , Silva Alessandra R. , Alvarenga Verônica O. , Pereira José L. , Mousavi Khaneghah Amin 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis study was aimed to model the Time to Enterotoxin Detection (TED) in chicken meat as a function of temperature and salt concentration (NaCl) using a polynomial response surface model. The standard strain of Staphylococcus (ATCC 13565) as the producer of enterotoxin A producer was inoculated into 25 g of chicken meat sample. The samples were prepared according to proposed combinations of NaCl concentration, pH, and temperature with consider to the experimental design. At intervals of time, (1–24 hours), the approved enterotoxin extraction protocol and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin (SE) detection techniques (mini VIDAS, BioMérieux) were applied. Four hours was determined as the lowest detection time among the experiments at 37 and 41 °C treated with 0.8 or 1% and 1% salt, respectively. Following the linear and quadratic temperature patterns, the temperature often found in kitchen (tropical countries) is able to reduce TED even in high concentrations of salt.Practical applicationsThe proposed models could be applied to calculate the Time to Enterotoxin Detection (TED) in similar chicken meat products with consider to defined variables. An acceptable prediction for TED (R2 = 0.83, bias = 0.81) was provided by the established model as the result of variations in salt concentration and temperature. Hence, the introduced model can be approached to guaranty the proposed level of food safety.
DNA ploidy and cell cycle protein expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas with and without lymph node metastases
Authors: Zargoun Ibtisam M. , Bingle L. , Speight P. M. 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most frequently occurring malignant tumour in the oral cavity. OSCC arises because of multiple genetic alterations. Cell cycle aberrations and aneuploidy are reportedly among the main characteristics of cancer cells and are associated with aggressive growth and poor prognosis.MethodsThe study sample included 47 non‐metastasised and 39 metastasised primary OSCC, with matched positive cervical lymph nodes and 17 normal oral mucosa samples. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were prepared with a minimum of three cores from each case. TMA sections were cut and immunostained with MCM2, Ki‐67, geminin and cyclin D1 antibodies. DNA image analysis was performed on the whole tissue section before TMAs were created.ResultsThe results revealed that there were no differences in cell cycle protein expression in different areas of the tumours or between the metastatic and non‐metastatic carcinomas. None of the cell cycle proteins showed significant differences between the lymph node metastasis and the primary OSCC, except for Ki‐67. Geminin/Ki‐67 ratio showed significant difference between metastatic and non‐metastatic tumours. Aneuploidy was detected in all (100%) cases of OSCC. Similarly, all lymph node samples (39 cases) were aneuploid.ConclusionThe results suggest that although there was dysregulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins, only Ki‐67 and the MCM2/Ki‐67 and geminin/Ki‐67 ratios may have prognostic significance in oral cancer. DNA ploidy alone was not specific and may not be a good tool to evaluate prognosis or metastatic progression in oral cavity carcinomas.
Fucosterol, isolated from Ecklonia stolonifera, inhibits adipogenesis through modulation of FoxO1 pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Authors: Lee Ji-Hyun , Jung Hyun Ah , Kang Min Jae , Choi Jae Sue , Kim Gun-Do 
Published: January 2017

Abstract

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fucosterol on adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods
Fucosterol, isolated from brown algae, Ecklonia stolonifera. We investigated the levels of lipid accumulation using Oil Red O staining. We conducted Western blot analysis to investigate regulatory effects of fucosterol on expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), forkhead box protein O 1 (FoxO1) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Key findings
Fucosterol significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes at concentrations of 25 and 50 μm. Fucosterol downregulated insulin-triggered PI3K/Akt, and ERK pathways. It subsequently decreased expression of adipogenic transcription factors, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and SREBP-1. In addition, fucosterol enhanced SirT1 expression while decreased phospho-FoxO1 expression which resulted in the activation of FoxO1.

Conclusions
We revealed that fucosterol inhibited adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through modulation of FoxO signalling pathway. Therefore, our results suggest that fucosterol may be used for novel agents for the treatment of obesity.
In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of the modulatory effects of the multitarget compound ASS234 on the monoaminergic system
Authors: Esteban Gerard , Van Schoors Jolien , Sun Ping , Van Eeckhaut Ann , Marco-Contelles José , Smolders Ilse , Unzeta Mercedes 
Published: January 2017

Abstract

Objectives
To evaluate the in-vitro and in-vivo effects on monoaminergic neurotransmission of ASS234, a promising multitarget-directed ligand (MTDL), for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy.

Methods
In vitro was explored the effect of ASS234 on the monoaminergic metabolism in SH-SY5Y and PC12 cell lines, and remaining activity of both monoamine oxidase (MAO) isoforms was assessed. The corresponding dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and noradrenaline (NA) levels were determined by HPLC-ED. In-vivo experiments were carried out Wistar rats and intracerebral guide cannulas were implanted in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex by sterotaxic coordinates. The day after microdialysis samples were collected and levels of 5-HT, DA and NA were determined by (UHPLC) with electrochemical detector.

Key findings
ASS234 induced a significant increase in serotonin (5-HT) levels in SH-SY5Y cells. In PC12 cells, ASS234 increased significantly the ratio of dopamine (DA)/(HVA + DOPAC), although no apparent differences in (NA) were observed. By in-vivo microdialysis, ASS234 showed a significant increase in the extracellular levels of 5-HT and NA in hippocampus whereas in the prefrontal cortex, DA and NA also increased significantly.

Conclusions
This study reveals the ability of ASS234 a MTDL compound, to enhance the monoaminergic neurotransmission supporting its potential use in AD therapy.