bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia‐induced relaxation of porcine retinal arterioles in vitro depends on inducible NO synthase and EP4 receptor stimulation in the perivascular retina
Authors: Oversø Hansen Pernille , Kringelholt Sidse , Simonsen Ulf , Bek Toke 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPurposeHypoxia‐induced relaxation of porcine retinal arterioles has been shown to be reduced during inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The purpose of this study was to identity the specific prostaglandin receptor(s) and source(s) of NO mediating this effect.MethodsPorcine retinal arterioles with preserved perivascular retinal tissue were mounted in a myograph and were exposed to hypoxia in the presence of one of the following: the general NO synthase inhibitor L‐NAME, the selective iNOS inhibitor 1400W, the selective nNOS inhibitor 7‐nitroindazole, the general cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor ibuprofen or an antagonist to the FP‐ (AL 8810), DP‐ (BWA868C), EP1‐ (SC‐19220), EP2‐ (PF‐044189) or EP4 receptors (GW627368X). The experiments were repeated after removal of the perivascular retinal tissue.ResultsHypoxia induced relaxation of retinal arterioles with preserved perivascular retinal tissue. This relaxation was significantly reduced in the presence of L‐NAME, 1400W, ibuprofen and the EP4 receptor antagonist GW627368X. The simultaneous addition of L‐NAME or 1400W in combination with ibuprofen, but not GW627368X, reduced hypoxia‐induced vasorelaxation additively as compared to the effect of the compounds individually.ConclusionHypoxia‐induced vasorelaxation of porcine retinal arterioles is mediated by inducible NOS and stimulation of EP4 receptors acting through separate pathways, but mechanisms unrelated to the studied prostaglandin receptors and NOS products are also involved.
Infants Learn Baby Signs From Video
Authors: Dayanim Shoshana , Namy Laura L. 
Published: January 2015

There is little evidence that infants learn from infant‐oriented educational videos and television programming. This 4‐week longitudinal experiment investigated 15‐month‐olds' (N = 92) ability to learn American Sign Language signs (e.g., patting head for hat) from at‐home viewing of instructional video, either with or without parent support, compared to traditional parent instruction and a no‐exposure control condition. Forced‐choice, elicited production, and parent report measures indicate learning across all three exposure conditions, with a trend toward more robust learning in the parent support conditions, regardless of medium. There were no differences between experimental and control conditions in the acquisition of corresponding verbal labels. This constitutes the first experimental evidence of infants' ability to learn expressive communication from commercially available educational videos.
Fetal cytomegalovirus infection manifesting as transient pancytopenia
Authors: Kiyokoba Ryo , Hidaka Nobuhiro , Sakata Yukiyo , Hachisuga Kazuhisa , Fukushima Kotaro , Kato Kiyoko 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWe encountered a patient with a fetal cytomegalovirus infection manifesting as pancytopenia and thoracic hypoplasia. The fetal anemia was treated by transfusion via the umbilical cord, and did not progress after 22 weeks' gestation. The neutropenia resolved spontaneously, and only thrombocytopenia was persistent at birth. The severe thoracic hypoplasia led to pulmonary hypertension and required intensive postnatal respiratory management. Our experience suggests that pancytopenia is a possible manifestation in fetuses infected with cytomegalovirus. This may be transient, resolving spontaneously during fetal life; however, caution should be taken with blood counts, particularly platelet counts, after delivery. In addition, clinicians should carefully follow the thoracic volume in cytomegalovirus‐infected fetuses and consider the possibility of postnatal severe respiratory insufficiency.
Hepatitis C as a risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis – a systematic review
Authors: Olubamwo Olubunmi O. , Onyeka Ifeoma N. , Miettola Juhani , Kauhanen Jussi , Tuomainen Tomi‐Pekka 
Published: January 2015

SummaryBackgroundObservational studies on the association of chronic hepatitis C with carotid atherosclerosis have yielded varying results. In addition, previous related systematic reviews were limited in synthesis. By more careful selection and further synthesis, we summarize current body of evidence on the relationship between chronic hepatitis C and carotid atherosclerosis.MethodsAll published observational studies related to the topic identified by systematic searches of PubMed and Scopus were screened based on diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C and diagnosis and estimation of the risk of a carotid atherosclerosis‐related outcome. Selected studies were subjected to quality assessment, and eligible studies were used in subsequent narrative and quantitative syntheses.ResultsThe initial search identified 190 unique publications, which were narrowed by preliminary review to 16 potentially relevant original articles. After quality assessment, seven studies were eligible and were used in narrative synthesis. Five studies assessed the risk of increased carotid intimal media thickening using B mode ultrasonography; five studies assessed the risk of carotid plaque formation using B mode ultrasonography. Five of these studies were used in subsequent meta‐analysis. The risk of a person with chronic hepatitis C developing carotid intimal media thickening is about 4·03 times the risk of an uninfected person. The risk of a person with chronic hepatitis C developing carotid plaque is about 3·94 times the risk of an uninfected person.ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that hepatitis C virus (HCV) or factors associated with HCV infection can promote the occurrence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis.
Gender differences in muscle blood volume reduction in the tibialis anterior muscle during passive plantarflexion
Authors: Otsuki Aki , Muraoka Yoshiho , Fujita Emi , Kubo Sayaka , Yoshida Misaki , Komuro Yuko , Ikegawa Shigeki , Ohta Yuji , Kuno‐Mizumura Mayumi 
Published: January 2015

SummaryPhysical flexibility, such as joint range of motion and muscle extension, may influence muscle blood volume. Women have been shown to have a greater degree of flexibility than men. We examined whether there is a gender difference in the relationship between fascicle length and muscle blood volume or oxygenation in untrained men and women. In 16 untrained men and thirteen untrained women, we measured the total‐[haemoglobin (Hb) + myoglobin (Mb)] (total‐[Hb + Mb]) and relative oxy‐[Hb + Mb] after calibrating baseline and arterial occlusion deoxygenation levels with near‐infrared spectroscopy. Also, fascicle length was measured with B‐mode ultrasonography at the tibialis anterior muscle during passive plantarflexion. Increases in fascicle length from baseline (ankle joint angle 120°, composed from the caput fibulae, the malleolus (pivot), and the distal epiphysis of the fifth metatarsal bone) were greater in women than in men during plantarflexion of 140° and 160° and the maximal angle without pain. However, the decreases in total‐[Hb + Mb] and relative oxy‐[Hb + Mb] from baseline were not different between women and men at any degree of plantarflexion. Moreover, fascicle length and total‐[Hb + Mb]/muscle thickness (men > women) showed a similar relationship, with muscle thickness increasing capillary compression. These findings indicate the possibility of a mechanical function underlying muscle blood volume during muscle stretching, which is greater in women than in men.
The tracheobronchial foreign body in welder without the history of allotriophagy and foreign body aspiration
Authors: Sun Yi‐Lan , Bao Zhang , Wang Xue‐Fen , Wang Li‐Hong , Zhou Jian‐Ying 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe typical chest computed tomography (CT) finding of the arc welders is ill‐defined micronodules diffusely distributed in the lung. We report a rare case of tracheobronchial foreign body in welder without the history of allotriophagy and foreign body aspiration. We used the CT and mineralogical analysis in diagnosis and the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope in therapy. The CT showed bronchiectasis with pulmonary infiltration of the right lower lobe and high‐density shadow in the basal bronchus of the right lower lobe. The foreign bodies were removed by a fibreoptic bronchoscope. Semiquantitative chemical analyses showed that the constituent of foreign body was similar to the dregs which were collected in the same garage. This is an unusual case of the welding‐related respiratory diseases, which is different from Welder's siderosis and broncholith.
Initial empirical treatment based on clinical feature of chronic cough
Authors: Deng Hai‐yan , Luo Wei , Zhang Min , Xie Jia‐xing , Fang Zhi‐ye , Lai Ke‐fang 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundAn empirical therapy based on the clinical characteristics of cough had not been reported. We evaluated this strategy of empirical therapy on chronic cough.MethodsPatients with chronic cough were initially diagnosed with corticosteroid‐responsive cough (CRC), postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS) and gastroesophageal reflux‐related cough (GERC) based on their medical history and clinical presentation, and received a sequential three‐step empirical therapy. A successful response was required for final diagnosis.ResultsA total of 96 patients were recruited with a median duration of cough for 4 months (range, 2–100). The primary diagnosis based on history and clinical presentation was CRC in 53 patients (55.2%), PNDS in 36 (37.5%) and GERC in 7 (7.3%). Cough improved in 60 patients (62.5%) at the first step with mean time of 6.2 ± 3.3 days. Three‐step empirical therapy was beneficial in 78 of 96 (81.2%) patients at last. The final spectrum and frequency of causes of cough based on therapeutic response were as follows: CRC (46.7%), PNDS (27.5%) and GERC (10.8%). Eighteen cases (18.8%) were not responsive to empirical treatment, seven of whom were identified as other causes by diagnostic tests.ConclusionsThe empirical therapy aimed at primary diagnosis on the basis of history and clinical characteristics is a more targeted approach, and leads to improvement of chronic cough more quickly in most patients. CRC is the most common cause of chronic cough.
Identification of suitable genes contributes to lung adenocarcinoma clustering by multiple meta‐analysis methods
Authors: Yang Ze‐Hui , Zheng Rui , Gao Yuan , Zhang Qiang 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundWith the widespread application of high‐throughput technology, numerous meta‐analysis methods have been proposed for differential expression profiling across multiple studies.ObjectivesWe identified the suitable differentially expressed (DE) genes that contributed to lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) clustering based on seven popular multiple meta‐analysis methods.MethodsSeven microarray expression profiles of ADC and normal controls were extracted from the ArrayExpress database. The Bioconductor was used to perform the data preliminary preprocessing. Then, DE genes across multiple studies were identified. Hierarchical clustering was applied to compare the classification performance for microarray data samples. The classification efficiency was compared based on accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.ResultsAcross seven datasets, 573 ADC cases and 222 normal controls were collected. After filtering out unexpressed and noninformative genes, 3688 genes were remained for further analysis. The classification efficiency analysis showed that DE genes identified by sum of ranks method separated ADC from normal controls with the best accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 0.953, 0.969 and 0.932, respectively. The gene set with the highest classification accuracy mainly participated in the regulation of response to external stimulus (P = 7.97E‐04), cyclic nucleotide‐mediated signaling (P = 0.01), regulation of cell morphogenesis (P = 0.01) and regulation of cell proliferation (P = 0.01).ConclusionsEvaluation of DE genes identified by different meta‐analysis methods in classification efficiency provided a new perspective to the choice of the suitable method in a given application. Varying meta‐analysis methods always present varying abilities, so synthetic consideration should be taken when providing meta‐analysis methods for particular research.
Temperature variations in unfrozen soils with variable hydrothermal properties
Authors: Nikoosokhan S. , Nowamooz H. , Chazallon C. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryA comprehensive understanding of the hydrothermal properties of soil is required to model heat distribution in unsaturated soils. In this study, we aim to model heat distribution throughout the profile of unfrozen soil while its thermal diffusivity varies with time and depth. The proposed model is based on the fundamental solution of the one‐dimensional transient heat conduction equation using the decomposition method. We calibrate our model using experimental data from soils of different textures in the literature. The new model can estimate soil thermal diffusivity at different depths and times and uses easily accessible characteristics such as the degree of saturation and the texture of the soil. In this study, the performance of the new model is compared to the performance of the simplified model in which constant thermal diffusivity is considered throughout the profile. Moreover, the model is validated by comparing it with in‐situ temperature measurements within depth of soil profiles with different textures. The results show a very good agreement between the predicted and the measured temperature throughout the soil profiles. Such a validation shows that with increasing degree of soil saturation, depletions in temperature for fine‐textured soils are more significant than those for coarse‐textured soils. Finally, the new model is applied to a double‐layer soil in the Alsace region to define temperature variation in the profile of soil with different characteristics in each layer. For a double‐layer profile, the continuity of the temperature as well as the heat flux is verified at the interface between the two layers.
Experiences and preferences of patients visiting an otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic: a qualitative study
Authors: van Leijen‐Zeelenberg Janneke E. , Huismans Geert Willem , Bisschop Jeroen A.S. , Brunings Jan Wouter , van Raak Arno J.A. , Ruwaard Dirk , Vrijhoef Hubertus J.M. , Kremer Bernd 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundPatient‐centred care has received considerable attention in the last few decades, but the patients’ perspective remains underexposed. This study reports on an in‐depth evaluation of patients’ experiences and preferences at an otorhinolaryngology outpatient department.MethodsQualitative research was conducted on patients’ experiences and preferences at an otorhinolaryngology outpatient department in an academic hospital. The study comprised two phases. First, semi‐structured interviews were held with 22 patients. Second, results from the interviews were verified and deepened in a focus group (N = 7).ResultsOverall, experience with patient‐centred care was positive at the outpatient department. Three of the six dimensions of patient‐centred care predominated in the interviews and the focus group: information, communication and education; coordination and integration of care; and respect for patients’ values, preferences and expressed needs. The negative experiences were mostly in these dimensions. The dimensions physical comfort and involvement of family and friends were of lesser significance. Opinion on emotional support – relieving fear and anxiety differed as to whether this was the responsibility of the doctor or the patient.ConclusionQualitative research provided a deeper understanding of patients’ experiences and preferences at an otorhinolaryngology outpatient department. Such an in‐depth evaluation can be useful in the transition towards patient‐centred care.
Non‐contact low‐frequency ultrasound therapy compared with UK standard of care for venous leg ulcers: a single‐centre, assessor‐blinded, randomised controlled trial
Authors: White Judith , Ivins Nicola , Wilkes Antony , Carolan‐Rees Grace , Harding Keith G 
Published: January 2015

Abstract‘Hard‐to‐heal’ wounds are those which fail to heal with standard therapy in an orderly and timely manner and may warrant the use of advanced treatments such as non‐contact low‐frequency ultrasound (NLFU) therapy. This evaluator‐blinded, single‐site, randomised controlled trial, compared NLFU in addition to UK standard of care [SOC: (NLFU + SOC)] three times a week, with SOC alone at least once a week. Patients with chronic venous leg ulcers were eligible to participate. All 36 randomised patients completed treatment (17 NLFU + SOC, 19 SOC), and baseline demographics were comparable between groups. NLFU + SOC patients showed a −47% (SD: 38%) change in wound area; SOC, −39% (38%) change; and difference, −7·4% [95% confidence intervals (CIs) −33·4–18·6; P = 0·565]. The median number of infections per patient was two in both arms of the study and change in quality of life (QoL) scores was not significant (P = 0·490). NLFU + SOC patients reported a substantial mean (SD) reduction in pain score of −14·4 (14·9) points, SOC patients' pain scores reduced by −5·3 (14·8); the difference was −9·1 (P = 0·078). Results demonstrated the importance of high‐quality wound care. Outcome measures favoured NLFU + SOC over SOC, but the differences were not statistically significant. A larger sample size and longer follow‐up may reveal NLFU‐related improvements not identified in this study.
Redox halopriming: A Promising Strategy for Inducing Salt Tolerance in Bread Wheat
Authors: Maswada H.F. , Abd El‐Kader N.I.K. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractNew strategies to enhance growth and productivity of food crops in saline soils represent important research priorities. This study has investigated the role of certain priming techniques to induce salt tolerance of bread wheat. Wheat grains were soaked in 0.2 mm sodium nitroprusside as nitric oxide donor (redox priming), diluted sea water (halopriming) and the combination of both (redox halopriming). Grains were also soaked in distilled water (hydropriming); in addition, untreated grains were taken as control. Our results indicated that priming treatments significantly improved all growth traits and increased leaf pigments concentration as compared to the control. Priming treatments markedly enhanced membrane stability index, proline, total soluble sugars and K+ concentration with simultaneous decrease in the concentration of Na+ and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, yield and yield‐related traits such as plant height, spike length, total number of tillers, 1000‐grain weight, straw and grain yield considerably affected by priming treatments. Moreover, the grain yield of both genotypes was positively affected by redox halopriming treatment. However, the extent of enhancement was more prominent in Gemmiza‐9 (salt sensitive) than that in Sakha‐93 (salt‐tolerant). Overall, this study clearly indicated that redox halopriming treatment is a promising and handy technique to induce salinity tolerance of wheat genotypes.
Polynomial order selection in random regression models via penalizing adaptively the likelihood
Authors: Corrales J.D. , Munilla S. , Cantet R.J.C. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryOrthogonal Legendre polynomials (LP) are used to model the shape of additive genetic and permanent environmental effects in random regression models (RRM). Frequently, the Akaike (AIC) and the Bayesian (BIC) information criteria are employed to select LP order. However, it has been theoretically shown that neither AIC nor BIC is simultaneously optimal in terms of consistency and efficiency. Thus, the goal was to introduce a method, ‘penalizing adaptively the likelihood’ (PAL), as a criterion to select LP order in RRM. Four simulated data sets and real data (60 513 records, 6675 Colombian Holstein cows) were employed. Nested models were fitted to the data, and AIC, BIC and PAL were calculated for all of them. Results showed that PAL and BIC identified with probability of one the true LP order for the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, but AIC tended to favour over parameterized models. Conversely, when the true model was unknown, PAL selected the best model with higher probability than AIC. In the latter case, BIC never favoured the best model. To summarize, PAL selected a correct model order regardless of whether the ‘true’ model was within the set of candidates.
Persistent DNA damage‐induced premature senescence alters the functional features of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Minieri Valentina , Saviozzi Silvia , Gambarotta Giovanna , Lo Iacono Marco , Accomasso Lisa , Cibrario Rocchietti Elisa , Gallina Clara , Turinetto Valentina , Giachino Claudia 
Published: January 2015

AbstractHuman mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are adult multipotent stem cells located in various tissues, including the bone marrow. In contrast to terminally differentiated somatic cells, adult stem cells must persist and function throughout life to ensure tissue homeostasis and repair. For this reason, they must be equipped with DNA damage responses able to maintain genomic integrity while ensuring their lifelong persistence. Evaluation of hMSC response to genotoxic insults is of great interest considering both their therapeutic potential and their physiological functions. This study aimed to investigate the response of human bone marrow MSCs to the genotoxic agent Actinomycin D (ActD), a well‐known anti‐tumour drug. We report that hMSCs react by undergoing premature senescence driven by a persistent DNA damage response activation, as hallmarked by inhibition of DNA synthesis, p21 and p16 protein expression, marked Senescent Associated β‐galactosidase activity and enlarged γH2AX foci co‐localizing with 53BP1 protein. Senescent hMSCs overexpress several senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) genes and promote motility of lung tumour and osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro. Our findings disclose a multifaceted consequence of ActD treatment on hMSCs that on the one hand helps to preserve this stem cell pool and prevents damaged cells from undergoing neoplastic transformation, and on the other hand alters their functional effects on the surrounding tissue microenvironment in a way that might worsen their tumour‐promoting behaviour.