bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Traffic-Related Air Pollution, Blood Pressure, and Adaptive Response of Mitochondrial Abundance
Authors: Zhong Jia , Cayir Akin , Trevisi Letizia , Sanchez-Guerra Marco , Lin Xinyi , Peng Cheng , Bind Marie-Abèle , Prada Diddier , Laue Hannah , Brennan Kasey J.M. , Dereix Alexandra , Sparrow David , Vokonas Pantel , Schwartz Joel , Baccarelli Andrea A. 
Published: December 2015

Background—
Exposure to black carbon (BC), a tracer of vehicular-traffic pollution, is associated with increased blood pressure (BP). Identifying biological factors that attenuate BC effects on BP can inform prevention. We evaluated the role of mitochondrial abundance, an adaptive mechanism compensating for cellular-redox imbalance, in the BC-BP relationship.

Methods and Results—

At ≥1 visits among 675 older men from the Normative Aging Study (observations=1252), we assessed daily BP and ambient BC levels from a stationary monitor. To determine blood mitochondrial abundance, we used whole blood to analyze mitochondrial-to-nuclear DNA ratio (mtDNA/nDNA) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Every standard deviation increase in the 28-day BC moving average was associated with 1.97 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–2.72;
P
<0.0001) and 3.46 mm Hg (95% CI, 2.06–4.87;
P
<0.0001) higher diastolic and systolic BP, respectively. Positive BC-BP associations existed throughout all time windows. BC moving averages (5-day to 28-day) were associated with increased mtDNA/nDNA; every standard deviation increase in 28-day BC moving average was associated with 0.12 standard deviation (95% CI, 0.03–0.20;
P
=0.007) higher mtDNA/nDNA. High mtDNA/nDNA significantly attenuated the BC-systolic BP association throughout all time windows. The estimated effect of 28-day BC moving average on systolic BP was 1.95-fold larger for individuals at the lowest mtDNA/nDNA quartile midpoint (4.68 mm Hg; 95% CI, 3.03–6.33;
P
<0.0001), in comparison with the top quartile midpoint (2.40 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.81–3.99;
P
=0.003).

Conclusions—
In older adults, short-term to moderate-term ambient BC levels were associated with increased BP and blood mitochondrial abundance. Our findings indicate that increased blood mitochondrial abundance is a compensatory response and attenuates the cardiac effects of BC.
Incidence, Time Trends, and Predictors of Intracranial Hemorrhage During Long‐Term Follow‐up After Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Graipe Anna , Binsell‐Gerdin Emil , Söderström Lars , Mooe Thomas 
Published: December 2015

Background

To address the lack of knowledge regarding the long‐term risk of intracranial hemorrhage (
ICH
) after acute myocardial infarction (
AMI
), the aims of this study were to: (1) investigate the incidence, time trends, and predictors of
ICH
in a large population within 1 year of discharge after
AMI
; (2) investigate the comparative 1‐year risk of
ICH
in
AMI
patients and a reference group; and (3) study the impact of previous ischemic stroke on
ICH
risk in patients treated with various antithrombotic therapies.

Methods and Results

Data about patients whose first
AMI
occurred between 1998 and 2010 were collected from the Swedish Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart‐Intensive‐Care Admissions (
RIKS
‐
HIA
). Patients with an
ICH
after discharge were identified in the National Patient Register. Risk was compared against a matched reference population. Of 187 386 patients, 590 had an
ICH
within 1 year. The 1‐year cumulative incidence (0.35%) was approximately twice that of the reference group, and it did not change significantly over time. Advanced age, previous ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, and reduced glomerular filtration rate were associated with increased
ICH
risk, whereas female sex was associated with a decreased risk. Previous ischemic stroke did not increase risk of
ICH
associated with single or dual antiplatelet therapy, but increased risk with anticoagulant therapy.

Conclusion

The 1‐year incidence of
ICH
after
AMI
remained stable, at ≈0.35%, over the study period. Advanced age, decreased renal function, and previous ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke are predictive of increased
ICH
risk.
Heart Retransplant Recipients Have Better Survival With Concurrent Kidney Transplant Than With Heart Retransplant Alone
Authors: Savla Jill , Lin Kimberly Y. , Pradhan Madhura , Ruebner Rebecca L. , Rogers Rachel S. , Haskins Somaly S. , Owens Anjali T. , Abt Peter , Gaynor J. William , Shaddy Robert E. , Rossano Joseph W. 
Published: December 2015

Background

Heart retransplant (
HRT
) recipients represent a growing number of transplant patients. The impact of concurrent kidney transplants (
KTs
) in this population has not been well studied. We tested the hypothesis that recipients of HRT with concurrent KT (
HRT
‐
KT
) would have worse survival than recipients of
HRT
alone.

Methods and Results

A retrospective analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing database was performed for all patients undergoing
HRT
from 1987 to 2011. There were 1660
HRT
patients, of which 116 (7%) received concurrent
KT
. Those who received
HRT
‐
KT
had older age, longer wait‐list time, worse kidney function, and more known diabetes. Survival among recipients of
HRT
‐
KT
was significantly better than that of recipients of
HRT
alone (
P
=0.005). A subgroup of 323
HRT
patients with severe kidney dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
or on dialysis) was studied in more detail, and 76 (24%) received concurrent
KT
. Those on dialysis at the time of
HRT
had better survival with versus without concurrent
KT
(
P
<0.0001). On multivariable analysis, concurrent
KT
was independently associated with better outcomes for all patients with
HRT
and for the subgroup of patients with severe kidney dysfunction.

Conclusions

Recipients of
HRT
‐
KT
have better survival than recipients of
HRT
alone. Further research is needed to determine which
HRT
patients may benefit the most from concurrent
KT
.
Development of a Fire Weather Index Using Meteorological Observations within the Northeast United States
Authors: Erickson Michael J. , Charney Joseph J. , Colle Brian A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA fire weather index (FWI) is developed using wildfire occurrence data and Automated Surface Observing System weather observations within a subregion of the northeastern United States (NEUS) from 1999 to 2008. Average values of several meteorological variables, including near-surface temperature, relative humidity, dewpoint, wind speed, and cumulative daily precipitation, are compared on observed wildfire days with their climatological average (“climatology”) using a bootstrap resampling approach. Average daily minimum relative humidity is significantly lower than climatology on wildfire occurrence days, and average daily maximum temperature and average daily maximum wind speed are slightly higher on wildfire occurrence days. Using the potentially important weather variables (relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed) as inputs, different formulations of a binomial logistic regression model are tested to assess the potential of these atmospheric variables for diagnosing the probability of wildfire occurrence. The FWI is defined using probabilistic output from the preferred binomial logistic regression configuration. Relative humidity and temperature are the only significant predictors in the binomial logistic regression. The binomial logistic regression model is reliable and has more probabilistic skill than climatology using an independent verification dataset. Using the binomial logistic regression output probabilities, an FWI is developed ranging from 0 (minimum potential) to 3 (high potential) and is verified independently for two separate subdomains within the NEUS. The climatology of the FWI reproduces observed fire occurrence probabilities between 1999 and 2008 over a subdomain of the NEUS.
Atmospheric Moisture Sources, Paths, and the Quantitative Importance to the Eastern Asian Monsoon Region
Authors: Li Lintao , Dolman Albertus J. , Xu Zongxue 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
A Lagrangian model [Flexible Particle dispersion model (FLEXPART)] was used to calculate the back trajectories of air parcels residing over the East Asian monsoon region (EAM) for a 4-yr period (2009–12). To detect the moisture source–sink relationships to the EAM, the moisture budgets [evaporation minus precipitation (E − P)] were evaluated by diagnosing the changes of specific humidity along the trajectories. A circulation constraint method was proposed to define the moisture sources of the EAM, to quantify their importance, to depict the moisture transport processes, and to reveal the fate of the moisture from different sources. The results indicated that in winter the largest airmass inflow is through the dry westerlies, but they do not form net precipitation. The much smaller contribution of the tropical oceans is more relevant to winter precipitation. In summer, the main contribution was through the southwest monsoon, with a mean specific humidity of 9.8 g kg−1 when entering the EAM, providing more than 40% of the moisture to the EAM and making the southwest monsoon the most humid and abundant moisture source of the EAM. Local evaporation plays an important role as a moisture source for the EAM both in summer and winter.
Process evaluation of the Restore4stroke Self-Management intervention ‘Plan Ahead!’: a stroke-specific self-management intervention
Authors: Tielemans Nienke S , Schepers Vera PM , Visser-Meily Johanna MA , van Haastregt Jolanda CM , van Veen Wendy JM , van Stralen Haike E , van Heugten Caroline M 
Published: December 2015

Objective: To investigate whether the self-management intervention was implemented as intended. Additionally, we studied involvement in and satisfaction with the intervention among patients, their partners and therapists. Design: Mixed method, prospective study. Setting: Outpatient facilities of hospitals/rehabilitation centres. Participants: Stroke patients, their partners and therapists from the experimental arm of the Restore4Stroke Self-Management study. Intervention: ‘Plan Ahead!’ is a 10-week self-management intervention for stroke patients and partners, consisting of seven two-hour group sessions. Proactive action planning, education and peer support are main elements of this intervention. Main measures: Session logs, questionnaires for therapists, patients and their partners, and focus groups. Data analysis: Qualitative data were analysed with thematic analysis supplemented by quasi-statistics. Quantitative data were reported as descriptive statistics. Results: The study sample consisted of 53 patients and 26 partners taking part in the intervention, and all therapists delivering the intervention ( N = 19). At least three-quarters of the intervention sessions were attended by 33 patients and 24 partners. On a scale from 1 to 10, patients, partners and therapists rated the intervention with mean scores of 7.5 (SD1.6), 7.8 (SD.7) and 7.4 (SD.7), respectively. Peer support was the most frequently appreciated element for participants and therapists. The proactive action planning tool was adequately applied in 76 of the 96 sessions. Conclusion: Although the target audience was reached and both participants and therapists were satisfied with the intervention, the proactive action planning tool that distinguishes the current intervention from existing stroke-specific self-management interventions was only partly implemented according to protocol.
Effect on Patient-Reported Outcomes of Debridement or Microfracture of Concomitant Full-Thickness Cartilage Lesions in Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Reconstructed Knees
Authors: Røtterud Jan Harald , Sivertsen Einar Andreas , Forssblad Magnus , Engebretsen Lars , Årøen Asbjørn 
Published: December 2015

Background: The treatment of concomitant cartilage lesions in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)–injured knees is debatable. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of debridement or microfracture (MF) compared with no treatment of concomitant full-thickness (International Cartilage Repair Society [ICRS] grades 3-4) cartilage lesions on patient-reported outcomes after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Six hundred forty-four patients who underwent primary unilateral ACL reconstruction and had a concomitant full-thickness cartilage lesion treated simultaneously by debridement (n = 129) or MF (n = 164), or underwent no treatment (n = 351) of the cartilage lesion, registered in the Norwegian and Swedish National Knee Ligament Registries from 2005 to 2008 were included. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was used to measure patient-reported outcomes. At a mean follow-up of 2.1 ± 0.2 years after surgery, 357 (55%) patients completed the KOOS. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of debridement or MF on the KOOS. Results: No significant effects of debridement were detected in the unadjusted or adjusted regression analyses on any of the KOOS subscales at 2-year follow-up. The MF treatment of the cartilage lesions had significant negative effects at 2-year follow-up on the KOOS Sport and Recreation (Sport/Rec) (regression coefficient [β] = −8.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], −15.1 to −1.5) and Knee-Related Quality of Life (QoL) (β = −8.1; 95% CI, −14.1 to −2.1) subscales in the unadjusted analyses. When adjusting for confounders, MF had significant negative effects on the same KOOS subscales of Sport/Rec (β = −8.6; 95% CI, −16.4 to −0.7) and QoL (β = −7.2; 95% CI, −13.6 to −0.8). For the remaining KOOS subscales of Pain, Symptoms, and Activities of Daily Living, there were no significant unadjusted or adjusted effects of MF. Conclusion: MF of concomitant full-thickness cartilage lesions showed adverse effects on patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up after ACL reconstruction. Debridement of concomitant full-thickness cartilage lesions showed neither positive nor negative effects on patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up after ACL reconstruction.
Feline paraneoplastic alopecia associated with metastasising intestinal carcinoma
Authors: Grandt Lisa-Maria , Roethig Anja , Schroeder Sabrina , Koehler Kernt , Langenstein Judith , Thom Nina , Neiger Reto 
Published: December 2015

Case summary A 10-year-old male neutered British Shorthair cat was presented with a 6 month history of lethargy, weight loss and alopecia. Clinical examination revealed widespread alopecia of the ventral abdomen and hindlimbs. The skin in these areas was smooth and shiny and hairs could be easily epilated. Spontaneous pruritus was observed. Cytological examination of superficial impression smears showed a severe Malassezia species dermatitis and pyoderma. Ectoparasites could not be detected and no sign of dermatophytosis was visible in trichograms and Wood’s lamp analysis. Abdominal ultrasound found a focally thickened wall of the large intestine and multiple nodules in the liver. Fine-needle aspirates from lymph nodes, liver and altered colonic wall were consistent with an undifferentiated malignant neoplasia. The cat was euthanased at the owners’ request, owing to potential neoplasia with metastatic spread. At necropsy a metastasising carcinoma of the colonic wall was found, as well as a paraneoplastic alopecia. Relevance and novel information Feline paraneoplastic alopecia has been reported in association with pancreatic carcinoma, bile duct carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as with neuroendocrine pancreatic carcinoma and hepatosplenic plasma cell tumour. This is the first reported case of feline paraneoplastic alopecia associated with a colon carcinoma.
Mitochondrial group I and group II introns in the sponge orders Agelasida and Axinellida
Authors: Huchon Dorothée , Szitenberg Amir , Shefer Sigal , Ilan Micha , Feldstein Tamar 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Background
Self-splicing introns are present in the mitochondria of members of most eukaryotic lineages. They are divided into Group I and Group II introns, according to their secondary structure and splicing mechanism. Being rare in animals, self-splicing introns were only described in a few sponges, cnidarians, placozoans and one annelid species. In sponges, three types of mitochondrial Group I introns were previously described in two demosponge families (Tetillidae, and Aplysinellidae) and in the homoscleromorph family Plakinidae. These three introns differ in their insertion site, secondary structure and in the sequence of the LAGLIDADG gene they encode. Notably, no group II introns have been previously described in sponges.

Results
We report here the presence of mitochondrial introns in the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene of three additional sponge species from three different families: Agelas oroides (Agelasidae, Agelasida), Cymbaxinella
p
verrucosa (Hymerhabdiidae, Agelasida) and Axinella polypoides (Axinellidae, Axinellida). We show, for the first time, that sponges can also harbour Group II introns in their COI gene, whose presence in animals’ mitochondria has so far been described in only two phyla, Placozoa and Annelida. Surprisingly, two different Group II introns were discovered in the COI gene of C. verrucosa. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Group II introns present in C. verrucosa are related to red algae (Rhodophyta) introns.

Conclusions
The differences found among intron secondary structures and the phylogenetic inferences support the hypothesis that the introns originated from independent horizontal gene transfer events. Our results thus suggest that self-splicing introns are more diverse in the mitochondrial genome of sponges than previously anticipated.
Transplantation of hESC-derived hepatocytes protects mice from liver injury
Authors: Tolosa Laia , Caron Jérôme , Hannoun Zara , Antoni Marc , López Silvia , Burks Deborah , Castell Jose Vicente , Weber Anne , Gomez-Lechon Maria-Jose , Dubart-Kupperschmitt Anne 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Background
Hepatic cell therapy has become a viable alternative to liver transplantation for life-threatening liver diseases. However, the supply of human hepatocytes is limited due to the shortage of suitable donor organs required to isolate high-quality cells. Human pluripotent stem cells reflect a potential renewable source for generating functional hepatocytes. However, most differentiation protocols use undefined matrices or factors of animal origin; as such, the resulting hepatocytes are not Good Manufacturing Practice compliant. Moreover, the preclinical studies employed to assess safety and function of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived hepatocytes are generally limited to immunodeficient mice. In the present study, we evaluate the generation of hepatocytes under defined conditions using a European hESC line (VAL9) which was derived under animal-free conditions. The function capacity of VAL9-derived hepatocytes was assessed by transplantation into mice with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure, a clinically relevant model.

Methods
We developed a protocol that successfully differentiates hESCs into bipotent hepatic progenitors under defined conditions, without the use of chromatin modifiers such as dimethyl sulphoxide. These progenitors can be cryopreserved and are able to generate both committed precursors of cholangiocytes and neonate-like hepatocytes.

Results
Thirty days post-differentiation, hESCs expressed hepatocyte-specific markers such as asialoglycoprotein receptor and hepatic nuclear factors including HNF4α. The cells exhibited properties of mature hepatocytes such as urea secretion and UGT1A1 and cytochrome P450 activities. When transplanted into mice with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure, a model of liver damage, the VAL9-derived hepatocytes efficiently engrafted and proliferated, repopulating up to 10 % of the liver. In these transplanted livers, we observed a significant decrease of liver transaminases and found no evidence of tumourigenicity. Thus, VAL9-derived hepatocytes were able to rescue hepatic function in acetaminophen-treated animals.

Conclusions
Our study reveals an efficient protocol for differentiating VAL9 hESCs to neonatal hepatocytes which are then able to repopulate livers in vivo without tumour induction. The human hepatocytes are able to rescue liver function in mice with acetaminophen-induced acute toxicity. These results provide proof-of-concept that replacement therapies using hESC-derived hepatocytes are effective for treating liver diseases.
Ototoxicity of acetic acid on the guinea pig cochlea
Authors: Yamano Takafumi , Higuchi Hitomi , Nakagawa Takashi , Morizono Tetsuo 
Published: December 2015

Background To evaluate the ototoxicity of acetic acid solutions. Methods Compound action potentials (CAPs) of the eighth nerve were measured in guinea pigs before and after the application of acetic acid in the middle ear cavity. The pH values of the acetic acid solutions were pH 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0, and the application times were 30 min, 24 h, and 1 week. Results Acetic acid solution (pH 3.0, N = 3) for 30 min caused no significant elevation in CAP threshold at 4 kHz, but a significant elevation in the threshold was noted for 8 kHz and clicks. Acetic acid solutions (pH 4.0  N = 6, 5.0  N = 5) for 30 min caused no significant elevation in CAP. Acetic acid solution (pH 4.0) for 24 h ( N = 5) caused significant elevations of the CAP threshold for 8 kHz, 4 kHz, and for clicks. Acetic acid (pH 5.0) for 24 h ( N = 3) caused a significant elevation of the CAP threshold for 4 kHz, but not for 8 kHz or clicks. Acetic acid (pH 5.0) for 1 week ( N = 3) caused a small but significant elevation CAP the threshold for 8 kHz and 4 kHz tone bursts, but no significant change was noted for clicks. Conclusions We found a significant toxic effect of acetic acid in guinea pigs on eighth-nerve compound action potentials when the pH was 5.0 or lower. Clearly, the stronger the acidity, and longer the exposure time, the more the CAP threshold was elevated.