bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatic progenitor cells in metastatic liver carcinomas
Authors: Delladetsima Ioanna , Sakellariou Stratigoula , Govaere Olivier , Poulaki Elpida , Felekouras Evangelos , Tiniakos Dina 
Published: December 2017

AimsHepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are activated in various liver diseases, but their role in the carcinomatous environment remains unknown. We aimed to identify the possible presence and topography of HPCs in liver metastases.Methods and resultsWe examined 14 liver resection specimens for colorectal adenocarcinoma (n = 13) and anal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1) metastases. Immunohistochemical markers of colonic origin (keratin 20 and CDX2) and squamous cell origin (p63), HPC [keratin 19 (K19) and CD56] and stem cell (CD44) markers, and the biliary marker keratin 7 (K7), which may also highlight HPCs, were applied on routinely processed tissue sections. Double immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (K7/CDX2) and confocal microscopy were used on selected sections. K7‐positive, Κ19‐positive and CD56‐positive ductular structures were encountered within the metastatic tumour (tumour interior and periphery), and in the immediate peritumoral area. Hybrid structures composed of HPCs and metastatic adenocarcinoma cells were recognised and confirmed by double immunostaining (K7/CDX2). Carcinoma cells were also observed singly or in groups within the epithelium of interlobular bile ducts and/or ductules in portal tracts without evidence of carcinomatous infiltration and at a distance from the metastatic foci.ConclusionsHPCs are observed at the periphery and in the interior of liver metastatic carcinomas. Bile ductules and small interlobular bile ducts may attract carcinoma cells serving as a potential ‘metastatic niche’, in line with their recognised role as HPC niches in non‐neoplastic liver.
Invasive mucinous carcinoma of the breast and response patterns after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC)
Authors: Didonato Rosemarie , Shapiro Nella , Koenigsberg Tova , D'Alfonso Timothy , Jaffer Shabnam , Fineberg Susan 
Published: December 2017

AimsNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is often used to treat localised invasive breast cancer. Invasive mucinous carcinoma (IMC) is considered to be an indolent form of invasive breast cancer, and is rarely treated with NAC. We report the largest series of IMCs treated with NAC, and report a characteristic, but not well recognised, pattern of pathological response.Methods and resultsOur series included seven patients with IMC treated with NAC. Three patients presented with locally advanced disease, three patients had tumours that were HER‐2/neu‐positive, and four patients had tumours with admixed mucinous and micropapillary features. Clinical and imaging assessment of response showed persistent and, in some cases, progressive disease, despite evidence of significant pathological response in these cases. Pathological assessment after NAC demonstrated marked reduction in tumour cellularity, but persistent space‐occupying mucin pools, showing acellular mucin in one case, <1% tumour cellularity in three cases, and 5–10% cellularity in three cases in both the treated breast and axillary lymph nodes.ConclusionsPersistent mass‐forming low‐cellular or acellular mucin pools can result in discordant clinical, imaging and pathological findings in IMC treated with NAC.
Digital image analysis of Ki67 in hot spots is superior to both manual Ki67 and mitotic counts in breast cancer
Authors: Stålhammar Gustav , Robertson Stephanie , Wedlund Lena , Lippert Michael , Rantalainen Mattias , Bergh Jonas , Hartman Johan 
Published: December 2017

AimsDuring pathological examination of breast tumours, proliferative activity is routinely evaluated by a count of mitoses. Adding immunohistochemical stains of Ki67 provides extra prognostic and predictive information. However, the currently used methods for these evaluations suffer from imperfect reproducibility. It is still unclear whether analysis of Ki67 should be performed in hot spots, in the tumour periphery, or as an average of the whole tumour section. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical relevance of mitoses, Ki67 and phosphohistone H3 in two cohorts of primary breast cancer specimens (total n = 294).Methods and resultsBoth manual and digital image analysis scores were evaluated for sensitivity and specificity for luminal B versus A subtype as defined by PAM50 gene expression assays, for high versus low transcriptomic grade, for axillary lymph node status, and for prognostic value in terms of prediction of overall and relapse‐free survival. Digital image analysis of Ki67 outperformed the other markers, especially in hot spots. Tumours with high Ki67 expression and high numbers of phosphohistone H3‐positive cells had significantly increased hazard ratios for all‐cause mortality within 10 years from diagnosis. Replacing manual mitotic counts with digital image analysis of Ki67 in hot spots increased the differences in overall survival between the highest and lowest histological grades, and added significant prognostic information.ConclusionsDigital image analysis of Ki67 in hot spots is the marker of choice for routine analysis of proliferation in breast cancer.
Africa's Contextual Realities: Foundation for the Church's Holistic Mission
Authors: Nkansah‐Obrempong James 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis article discusses Africa's contextual realities and argues why these realities should inform the church's mission agenda. The article explores the nature, role, and purpose of the church. It argues that the church is people. It is made up of the community of God's people, who have been reconciled to God through the atoning death of Jesus Christ. They are salt and light to the world. The characterization of the church as salt and light relates to the church's mission. The church's mission, the article argues, is summed up in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19‐20 and the Great Commandment in Mark 12:30‐31. The mission of the church, therefore, has a dual purpose: outreach and social responsibility or service. Both are critical for the church's mission activities. Giving the contextual realities in Africa, the article asserts the mission of the church in Africa must be holistic to address effectively the needs of the continent. The article asserts this mission model has its grounding in the scriptures. It further argues that the mission of the church is grounded in and determined by God's mission in the world. God's approach to mission was holistic. Furthermore, this was the mission model Jesus and the apostles used. The article suggests integral or holistic mission for the church's mission agenda if it wants to see transformation in Africa. The article concludes that using an integral or holistic approach will help the church to address the many challenges – moral, spiritual, material, psychological, and emotional – facing humanity and the world today. That way, the church will fulfil the three‐fold mission approach of Jesus: evangelism or outreach; discipleship; and service to humanity and God's creation. In doing this, the church will glorify God.
Contextual Challenges to African Women in Mission
Authors: Ayanga Hazel O. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWhen the first missionaries came to Africa, they described it as the Dark Continent: a continent whose people were steeped in savagery and superstition. These descriptions were unjustifiable, yet not altogether unreasonable. The Western Christian missionaries were responding to a “difference” they could not readily comprehend. They found themselves in a context incredibly different from their own. But rather than look for answers that would help them understand their missiological context and environment, they judged all that was not European as pagan, superstitious, and primitive. However, the situation has dramatically changed, mainly as the result of the rapid social‐economic and political developments that Africa is experiencing. These developments, both positive and negative, have far‐reaching implications for missiology and mission. They require critical analysis and understanding, particularly for those who would be involved in mission. This paper describes some of the results of the rapid change that Africa is experiencing, results that in one way or another affect missiology and the missiological context in Africa. There is socio‐economic development, yet there are still alarming levels of poverty leading to the development of other challenging situations and teachings. These include the mushrooming of prosperity gospel churches and movements, human trafficking and modern‐day slavery, and information and communication technologies. Further, the paper seeks to describe how these developments enhance or hinder the involvement of African women in mission. Since mission of necessity requires an understanding and appreciation of the context of mission or the mission field, the paper suggests that relevant theological education of African women is of paramount importance if they are to be effectively involved in mission. Finally, the paper does not seek to provide answers to the challenges described. This is because mission and missiology are of necessity very context specific. Thus would‐be missionaries need to understand the issues and respond to them in context‐appropriate ways without compromising the integrity of the message of the gospel.
Monocytic myeloid‐derived suppressor cells as prognostic factor in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients treated with dasatinib
Authors: Giallongo Cesarina , Parrinello Nunziatina L. , La Cava Piera , Camiolo Giuseppina , Romano Alessandra , Scalia Marina , Stagno Fabio , Palumbo Giuseppe A. , Avola Roberto , Li Volti Giovanni , Tibullo Daniele , Di Raimondo Francesco 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMyeloid suppressor cells are a heterogeneous group of myeloid cells that are increased in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) inducing T cell tolerance. In this study, we found that therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) decreased the percentage of granulocytic MDSC, but only patients treated with dasatinib showed a significant reduction in the monocytic subset (M‐MDSC). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between number of persistent M‐MDSC and the value of major molecular response in dasatinib‐treated patients. Serum and exosomes from patients with CML induced conversion of monocytes from healthy volunteers into immunosuppressive M‐MDSC, suggesting a bidirectional crosstalk between CML cells and MDSC. Overall, we identified M‐MDSC as prognostic factors in patients treated with dasatinib. It might be of interest to understand whether MDSC may be a candidate predictive markers of relapse risk following TKI discontinuation, suggesting their potential significance as practice of precision medicine.
Impact of anti‐infective periodontal therapy on parameters of vascular health
Authors: Jockel‐Schneider Yvonne , Bechtold Markus , Haubitz Imme , Störk Stefan , Fickl Stefan , Harks Inga , Eigenthaler Martin , Vollrath Oliver , Baulmann Johannes , Schlagenhauf Ulrich 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimThis study assessed the impact of anti‐infective periodontal therapy on the status of vascular health.Materials and MethodsPeriodontal and vascular health of 55 patients with severe untreated chronic periodontitis was evaluated before and 12 months after anti‐infective periodontal therapy. Observed parameters were bleeding on probing (BoP), pocket probing depth (PPD), periodontal inflamed surface area index (PISA), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), central pulse pressure (PPao) and peripheral systolic pressure (RRsys).ResultsΔPISA (baseline‐12 months) correlated with ΔPWV (τ 0.21; p < .03), ΔAIx (τ 0.29; p < .002) and ΔPPao (τ 0.23; p < .02). ΔBoP% (baseline‐12 months) correlated with ΔPWV (τ 0.18; p < .05) and ΔAIx (τ 0.25; p < .01), while mean ΔPPD (baseline‐12 months) correlated with ΔPWV (τ 0.24; p < .01) and ΔAIx (τ 0.21; p < .03). Grouping patients evenly into three groups based on tertiles of BoP resolution after 12 months revealed a significant decrease in the observed PWV median value by −0.6 m/s (p < .04) in the best response tertile (ΔBoP ≥ 88%). In the worst response tertile (ΔBoP ≤ 66%), by contrast, significant increase in PPao (+10.5 mmHg; p < .02) and AIx (+5.5; p < .02) was observed.ConclusionEfficacious resolution of periodontal inflammation may beneficially impact on vascular health.
Caught in the Act: States Doing Some Things Right in Juvenile Justice
Authors: Howell James C. , Wilson John J. , Sickmund Melissa H. , Hodges Nancy J. , Howell Megan Q. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBashing of juvenile justice systems in the United States is commonplace. We wondered if this is justified. As a product of our everyday practice and academic assessment, this article draws attention to salutary developments on several fronts, including reduced confinement, systematic assessment of child risks and needs, including use of structured decision‐making tools, evidence based services, and construction of comprehensive service plans. Our goal is to draw attention to best practices such as these that can lead to further advancements in juvenile justice systems.
Morphological and molecular identification of Colletotrichum species associated with cassava anthracnose in Thailand
Authors: Sangpueak Rungthip , Phansak Piyaporn , Buensanteai Natthiya 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe objective of this study was to identify the causal agent of anthracnose disease of cassava in Thailand. The study was carried out by collecting cassava samples with anthracnose symptoms from various planting areas including 10 districts of eight provinces in Thailand. One hundred and thirty‐six Colletotrichum samples were isolated from cassava anthracnose lesions on leaves, petioles and stems. Thirty‐eight single‐spore isolates were subsequently obtained and cultured on half potato dextrose agar for morphological and molecular characterizations. All 38 isolates were pathogenic with varying degrees of virulence when tested on detached leaves of Kasetsart 50, a susceptible cassava cultivar. Based on their growth habit, colony morphology, conidial morphology and the internal transcribed spacer sequences similarity to that of Colletotrichum accessions in the GenBank, one isolate was identified as C. capsici, one as C. lindemuthianum, two as C. aeschynomene, four as C. boninense and 28 C. gloeosporioides species complex. Geographically, the cosmopolitan C. gloeosporioides species complex was found in all regions, but other species were found only in particular regions. This is, so far, the first report of Colletotrichum complex species associated with cassava anthracnose in Thailand.
Prevalence of foot disorders in captive Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) as useful indicators of fitness to natural environment
Authors: Cappai M. G. , Abd El‐Wahab A. , Arru G. , Muzzeddu M. , Pinna W. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryFoot health represents an issue in wild avifauna breeding practices. In particular, prevalence of digital ulceration (DU) and foot pad dermatitis (FPD) are valid indicators of welfare in wildlife conservation centres and may be interpreted as to fitness for bird's reintroduction into the wild. This study meant to test the effects of raising practices on foot pad health in captive Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) reared for biodiversity conservation, to assess welfare and fitness to reintroduction into nature. A total of 22 couples were allotted into two experimental groups. In one group, 10 couples were housed in 10 cages for breeding partridges, consisting of two animals each, with metal wire flooring system, above trays where droppings were collected. The remaining 12 couples were housed in six aviaries, consisting of four animals each, on natural (earth and stones) ground. In both groups, partridges were fed identical diets. No significant differences of food pad scoring were found between birds housed in cages (2.3 ± 0.4) and those reared in aviaries on natural ground (2.5 ± 0.6). Moreover, scores of male foot pads for both groups (2.4 ± 0.6) had no significant differences in comparison with female foot pads, independently on housing (2.5 ± 0.4). Body mass (BM) was higher (+4.36%) than average BM reported for wild Sardinian partridges. Digital ulceration was found in the 20% of females, exclusively from the cage group. Body mass of females in cages with metal wire flooring appeared to be significantly (p < .001) and negatively correlated (r = −.528) with DU prevalence. These results suggest that housing conditions impacts differently on behaviour of females and males in one same couple, and this relates to foot health, in particular as to DU prevalence.
Balancing selection maintains cryptic colour morphs
Authors: Wellenreuther Maren 
Published: December 2017

Animals display incredibly diverse colour patterns, a testament to evolution's endless innovation in shaping life. In many species, the interplay between males and females in the pursuit of mates has driven the evolution of a myriad of colour forms, from the flashy peacock tail feathers to the tiniest colour markings in damselflies. In others, colour provides crypsis by allowing to blend into the background and to escape the eyes of predators. While the obvious benefits of this dazzling diversity for reproduction and survival seem straightforward, its maintenance is not. Theory predicts that genetic drift and various forms of selection reduce variation over time, making the persistence of colour variants over generations a puzzle. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Lindtke et al. () study the cryptic colour morphs of Timema cristinae walking sticks to shed light on the genetic architecture and mechanisms that allow colour polymorphism maintenance over long timescales. By combining genome‐wide data with phenotyping information from natural populations, they were able to map the green and melanistic colour to one genomic region with highly reduced effective recombination rate between two main chromosomal variants, consistent with an inversion polymorphism. These two main chromosomal variants showed geographically widespread heterozygote excess, and genomic signatures consistent with long‐term balancing selection. A younger chromosomal variant was detected for the third morph, the green‐striped colour morphs, in the same genomic regions as the melanistic and the green‐unstriped morphs. Together, these results suggest that the genetic architecture of cryptic T. cristinae morphs is caused by nonrecombining genomic blocks that have been maintained over extended time periods by balancing selection making this study one of the few available empirical examples documenting that balancing selection of various forms may play an important role in maintaining adaptive genetic variation in nature.
Population transcriptomics in Daphnia: The role of thermal selection
Authors: Herrmann Maike , Ravindran Suda Parimala , Schwenk Klaus , Cordellier Mathilde 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe complex interplay of forces influencing genetic divergence among populations complicates the discovery of the genetic basis underlying local adaptation. Here, we utilized for the first time a combined reverse ecology and population transcriptomic approach to assess the contribution of thermal selection to population differentiation, thereby considering transcriptome‐wide variation in both gene expression profiles and DNA sequences. We compared transcriptomes among four Daphnia galeata populations and identified transcripts potentially responding to local thermal selection based on an extensive literature search for candidate genes possibly under thermal selection in arthropods. Over‐representation of temperature‐relevant candidate genes among transcripts strongly contributing to sequence divergence among two populations indicates that local thermal selection acted on the coding sequence level. We identified a large number of transcripts, which may contribute to local thermal adaptation based on outlier tests and distinctive expression profiles. However, among these, temperature‐relevant candidate genes were not over‐represented compared to the global gene set, suggesting that thermal selection played a minor role in divergence among Daphnia populations. Interestingly, although the majority of genes contributing strongly to sequence divergence did not contribute strongly to divergence at the expression level and vice versa, the affected gene functions were largely consistent between the two data sets. This suggests that genetic and regulatory variation constitutes alternative routes for responses to natural selection. Our combined utilization of a population transcriptomics approach and literature‐based identification of ecologically informative candidate genes represents a useful and powerful methodology with a wide range of applications in evolutionary biology.
Host miRNAs are involved in hormonal regulation of HaSNPV‐triggered climbing behaviour in Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Zhang Songdou , An Shiheng , Hoover Kelli , Li Zhen , Li Xiangrui , Liu Xiaoming , Shen Zhongjian , Fang Haibo , Ros Vera I. D. , Zhang Qingwen , Liu Xiaoxia 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBaculoviruses manipulate host climbing behaviour to ensure that the hosts die at elevated positions on host plants to facilitate virus proliferation and transmission, which is a process referred to as tree‐top disease. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying tree‐top disease has not been elucidated. Using transcriptome analysis, we showed that two hormone signals, juvenile hormone (JH) and 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E), are key components involved in HaSNPV‐induced tree‐top disease in Helicoverpa armigera larvae. RNAi‐mediated knockdown and exogenous hormone treatment assays demonstrated that 20E inhibits virus‐induced tree‐top disease, while JH mediates tree‐top disease behaviour. Knockdown of BrZ2, a downstream signal of JH and 20E, promoted HaSNPV‐induced tree‐top disease. We also found that two miRNAs target BrZ2 and are involved in the cross‐talk regulation between 20E and JH manipulating HaSNPV replication, time to death and HaSNPV‐induced tree‐top disease.
The effects of pastoral intensification on the feeding interactions of generalist predators in streams
Authors: Pearson C. E. , Symondson W. O. C. , Clare E. L. , Ormerod S. J. , Iparraguirre Bolaños E. , Vaughan I. P. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLand‐use change can alter trophic interactions with wide‐ranging functional consequences, yet the consequences for aquatic food webs have been little studied. In part, this may reflect the challenges of resolving the diets of aquatic organisms using classical gut contents analysis, especially for soft‐bodied prey. We used next‐generation sequencing to resolve prey use in nearly 400 individuals of two predatory invertebrates (the Caddisfly,Rhyacophila dorsalis,and the StoneflyDinocras cephalotes) in streams draining land with increasingly intensive livestock farming.Rhyacophila dorsalisoccurred in all streams, whereasD. cephaloteswas restricted to low intensities, allowing us to test whether: (i) apparent sensitivity to agriculture in the latter species reflects a more specialized diet and (ii) diet inR. dorsalisvaried between sites with and withoutD. cephalotes.DNAwas extracted from dissected gut contents, amplified without blocking probes and sequenced using Ion Torrent technology. Both predators were generalists, consuming 30 prey taxa with a preference for taxa that were abundant in all streams or that increased with intensification. Where both predators were present, their diets were nearly identical, andR. dorsalis's diet was virtually unchanged in the absence ofD. cephalotes. The loss ofD. cephalotesfrom more intensive sites was probably due to physicochemical stressors, such as sedimentation, rather than to dietary specialization, although wider biotic factors (e.g., competition with other predatory taxa) could not be excluded. This study provides a uniquely detailed description of predator diets along a land‐use intensity gradient, offering new insights into how anthropogenic stressors affect stream communities.