bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body fat in children does not adversely influence bone development: a 7‐year longitudinal study (EarlyBird 18)
Authors: Streeter A. J. , Hosking J. , Metcalf B. S. , Jeffery A. N. , Voss L. D. , Wilkin T. J. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject
Both negative and positive associations have been reported between body fat and bone density.
Extra mechanical loading from excess fat may lead to greater bone mass.
Excess ectopic fat may lead to bone demineralisation through inflammatory pathways.
What this study adds
Longitudinally collected data from narrow‐angle beam densitometry gives a novel insight into bone growth through adolescence.
There is no evidence of a deleterious effect of body fat on children's growing bones after adjustment for height and age.
Body fat, mediated by puberty, is associated with larger bones in boys and bones that are both denser and larger in girls.
ObjectiveBone growth is an important determinant of peak bone mass and fracture risk, but there is limited data on the impact of fat‐on‐bone development at a time when childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Accordingly, we explored the effect of body fat (BF) on bone growth over time in the context of age, pubertal tempo and gender.MethodA cohort of 307 children was measured biannually from 9–16 years for height and weight, and every 12 months for percent BF, bone area (BA), bone mineral content and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Pubertal tempo was determined quantitatively by age at peak height velocity.ResultsPercent BF increased and then fell in the boys, but increased throughout in the girls. aBMD and BA increased in both genders (P < 0.001). Greater BF was associated with higher aBMD and BA in girls (P < 0.001), but only BA in boys (P < 0.001). The extra aBMD associated with increased BF was greater in older girls. The rise in aBMD and BA was associated with earlier puberty in both genders (P < 0.001). The impact of BF on aBMD was greater in later puberty in girls (0.0025 g cm−2 per 10% BF at 10 years versus 0.016 g cm−2 per 10% BF at 14 years, P < 0.001).ConclusionGreater BF is associated with larger bones, but also denser bones in girls. The effects of fat and puberty are complex and gender specific, but BF of contemporary UK children does not appear to be deleterious to bone quality.
Use of a simple liquid meal test to evaluate insulin sensitivity and beta‐cell function in children
Authors: Chandler‐Laney P. C. , Higgins P. B. , Granger W. , Alvarez J. , Casazza K. , Fernandez J. R. , Dalla Man C. , Cobelli C. , Gower B. A. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject
The assessment of insulin sensitivity and secretion provides useful information about the metabolic health of an individual.
Invasive methods are needed to assess insulin sensitivity and secretion but these are difficult to perform in young children.
What this study adds
The relatively less invasive liquid meal test provided an estimate of insulin sensitivity in a pediatric population that was comparable to that obtained via a more invasive frequently‐sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT).
Both meal‐ and FSIGT‐derived estimates of insulin sensitivity were inversely associated with children's adiposity.
The meal‐derived estimate of insulin sensitivity, but not that derived by the FSIGT, was associated with fasting insulin and triglyceride concentrations.
Insulin sensitivity and β‐cell function are useful indices of metabolic disease risk but are difficult to assess in young children because of the invasive nature of commonly used methodology. A meal‐based method for assessing insulin sensitivity and β‐cell function may at least partially alleviate concerns. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the association of insulin sensitivity assessed by liquid meal test with that determined by an insulin‐modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT); (ii) examine the association of insulin sensitivity derived from each test with measures of body composition, fat distribution and metabolic health (lipids, fasting insulin and glucose, and surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity); and (iii) examine the associations of indices of β‐cell function derived from each test with total and regional adiposity. Forty‐seven children (7–12 years) underwent both a liquid meal test and an FSIGT. The insulin sensitivity index derived from the meal test (SI‐meal) was positively associated with that from the FSIGT (SI‐FSIGT; r = 0.63; P < 0.001), and inversely with all measures of insulin secretion derived from the meal test. Both SI‐meal and SI‐FSIGT were associated with measures of total and regional adiposity. SI‐meal, but not SI‐FSIGT, was associated with triglycerides and fasting insulin, after adjusting for ethnicity, gender, pubertal stage and fat mass. Basal insulin secretion measured during the meal test was positively associated with all measures of adiposity, independent of insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, a liquid meal offers a valid and sensitive means of assessing insulin sensitivity and β‐cell responsivity in young children.
Morphology, seasonality and phylogeny of Zschokkella soleae sp. n. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea) parasite of Solea solea (L.) (Pleuronectiformes, Soleidae) from Ghar El Melh Lagoon, Tunisia
Authors: Yemmen C , Marton S , Bahri S , Eszterbauer E 
Published: March 2013

AbstractA new Myxosporea, Zschokkella soleae sp. n., was found in the gall bladder and the bile of common sole, Solea solea (L.), from Ghar El Melh Lagoon in north‐east Tunisia. This is the first record for the presence of Zschokkella species in Tunisian waters. The parasite's plasmodia are polysporic with variable size and shape. Some plasmodia appeared attached to the gall bladder epithelium while others were found free in bile. Mature spores are ellipsoidal in frontal view 13.8 ± 0.38 μm long and 10.86 ± 0.40 μm wide with two equal size spherical polar capsules 3.6 ± 0.43 μm in size. The prevalence of infection seems to correlate with host size and changes over the year with maximum percentage in summer. Based on the 18S rDNA sequence data, Z. soleae sp. n. is readily distinguishable from other myxozoan DNA sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetically, the new species is placed in the freshwater Myxidium clade including several Zschokkella spp. infecting the gall bladder. Morphology, histology as well as DNA sequence analysis indicate that the examined species differs from all previously described Zschokkella species.
Relaxant effect of chloroquine in rat ileum: possible involvement of nitric oxide and BKCa
Authors: Jing Fangmiao , Liu Ming , Yang Ning , Liu Yinglu , Li Xiaoyu , Li Jingxin 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Objectives
Bitter perception has a particularly important role in host defence. However, to date, direct effects of bitter compounds on small intestinal motility have not been shown. This study investigated the effects of bitter compounds on the spontaneous contraction of longitudinal smooth muscle strips of rat ileum.

Methods
Isolated longitudinal smooth muscle strips of rat ileum were used for tension recording in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify the localization of TAS2R10 receptors.

Key findings
The spontaneous contraction of rat ileum was decreased after chloroquine administration. Other bitter compounds, such as quinine, denatonium and saccharin, exhibited similar effects. Chloroquine-induced relaxation was not blocked by tetrodotoxin, but was partially reversed by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME or the large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channel antagonist iberiotoxin. By surgically removing the small intestinal mucosa or bathing in Ca2+-free Krebs solution, the chloroquine-induced relaxation was largely attenuated. The immunofluorescence staining showed that TAS2R10 receptors were expressed in rat ileum.

Conclusions
The results indicate that bitter receptor agonists induce relaxation of longitudinal smooth muscle strips of rat ileum, which is mediated by nitric oxide and BKCa channels.
Nonlinear Identification of a Magneto‐Rheological Damper Based on Dynamic Neural Networks
Authors: Khalid Marzuki , Yusof Rubiyah , Joshani Majid , Selamat Hazlina , Joshani Mohamad 
Published: March 2013

AbstractSemi‐active control of dynamic response of civil structures with magneto‐rheological (MR) fluid dampers has emerged as a novel revolutionary technology in recent years for designing “smart structures.” A small‐scale MR damper model with the valve mode mechanism has been examined in this research using dynamic recurrent neural network modeling approach to reproduce its hysteretic nonlinear behavior. Modified Bouc–Wen model based on nonlinear differential equations has not only been employed as the reference model to provide a comprehensive training data for the neural network but also for comparison purposes. A novel frequency and amplitude varying displacement input signal (modulated chirp signal) associated with a random supply voltage has been introduced for persistent excitation of the damper in such a way to cover almost all of its operating conditions. Finally a series of validation tests were conducted on the proposed model which proved the appropriate performance of the model in terms of accuracy and capability for realization.
Role of interstitial inflammation in the pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Ta Michelle HT , Harris David CH , Rangan Gopala K 
Published: March 2013

AbstractInterstitial infiltrates, consisting of macrophages and other inflammatory cells, have been consistently reported in human and animal models of polycystic kidney diseases (PKD). However, the mechanisms underlying this inflammation are not well defined. Evidence suggests that interstitial inflammation in PKD is driven by pro‐inflammatory chemoattractants such as monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), and cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α. Putative upregulated inflammatory pathways include JAK‐STAT and nuclear factor (NF)‐κB signalling. In addition, the genetic mutations of PKD may further complicate the relationship between inflammation and cystic disease, by increasing the susceptibility to inflammatory injury, and facilitating interactions between the genetically determined cystoproteins and biological mediators of inflammation. Moreover, the roles of interstitial inflammation in promoting cyst growth and progression to kidney failure in PKD are not clearly understood. Although anti‐inflammatory therapies have attenuated cystogenesis in animal models, inflammatory cells may also have reparative actions. Thus, in developing therapies for PKD, it is prudent to consider the potential negative outcomes of ablating inflammation, and whether it is more viable to target certain inflammatory pathways over others.
Detoxification of α‐tomatine by Cladosporium fulvum is required for full virulence on tomato
Authors: Ökmen Bilal , Etalo Desalegn W. , Joosten Matthieu H. A. J. , Bouwmeester Harro J. , de Vos Ric C. H. , Collemare Jérôme , de Wit Pierre J. G. M. 
Published: March 2013

Summary

α‐Tomatine is an antifungal glycoalkaloid that provides basal defense to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). However, tomato pathogens overcome this basal defense barrier by the secretion of tomatinases that degrade α‐tomatine into the less fungitoxic compounds β‐tomatine and tomatidine. Although pathogenic on tomato, it has been reported that the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum is unable to detoxify α‐tomatine.

Here, we present a functional analysis of the glycosyl hydrolase (GH10), CfTom1, which is orthologous to fungal tomatinases.

We show that C. fulvum hydrolyzes α‐tomatine into tomatidine in vitro and during the infection of tomato, which is fully attributed to the activity of CfTom1, as shown by the heterologous expression of this enzyme in tomato. Accordingly, ∆cftom1 mutants of C. fulvum are more sensitive to α‐tomatine and are less virulent than the wild‐type fungus on tomato. Although α‐tomatine is thought to be localized in the vacuole, we show that it is also present in the apoplast, where it is hydrolyzed by CfTom1 on infection. The accumulation of tomatidine during infection appears to be toxic to tomato cells and does not suppress defense responses, as suggested previously.

Altogether, our results show that CfTom1 is responsible for the detoxification of α‐tomatine by C. fulvum, and is required for full virulence of this fungus on tomato.
Sequence divergence in the Treponema denticola FhbB protein and its impact on factor H binding
Authors: Miller D.P. , McDowell J.V. , Rhodes D.V. , Allard A. , Caimano M. , Bell J.K. , Marconi R.T. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryTreponema denticola is an anaerobic spirochete whose abundance in the subgingival crevice correlates with the development and severity of periodontal disease. The ability of T. denticola to survive and thrive in the hostile environment of the periodontal pocket is due, at least in part, to its ability to bind factor H (FH), a negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway. The FH binding protein of T. denticola has been identified as FhbB and its atomic structure has been determined. The interaction of FH with T. denticola is unique in that FH bound to the cell surface is cleaved by the T. denticola protease, dentilisin. It has been postulated that FH cleavage by T. denticola leads to immune dysregulation in periodontal pockets. In this study, we conduct a comparative assessment of the sequence, properties, structure and ligand binding kinetics of the FhbB proteins of strains 33521 and 35405. The biological outcome of the interaction of these strains with FH could differ significantly as 33521 lacks dentilisin activity. The data presented here offer insight into our understanding of the interactions of T. denticola with the host and its potential to influence disease progression.
The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in SP110 associated veno‐occlusive disease with immunodeficiency syndrome
Authors: Ganaiem Hammam , Eisenstein Eli M. , Tenenbaum Ariel , Somech Raz , Simanovsky Natalia , Roscioli Tony , Weintraub Michael , Stepensky Polina 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundVeno‐occlusive disease with immunodeficiency (VODI) is an autosomal recessive disorder of combined immunodeficiency (CID) and hepatic injury. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) – the only definitive treatment for CID – appeared to have a high rate of complications in a previous report. In this study, we describe a new group of patients with VODI highlighting further clinical and immunologic aspects of this disease and re‐evaluating the effectiveness of HSCT for the treatment of this disorder.Patients and methodsReview of clinical data, immunologic features, molecular studies, treatment, and final outcome of eight kindred members with VODI.ResultsThe patients described had clinical and immunologic findings consistent with VODI. The molecular studies revealed a new mutation in the SP110 gene. HSCT was carried out in five patients and was successful in three.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of VODI should be considered in all patients regardless of ethnicity with a severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)‐like presentation, especially with a normal mitogen response, or with signs of hepatic injury. VODI is a primary immune deficiency, which can be successfully corrected by bone marrow transplantation if applied early in the course of disease using appropriate conditioning.
A new endotracheal tube for infants – laboratory and clinical assessment: a preliminary study
Authors: Stankiewicz Barbara , Darowski Marek , Glapiński Jarosław , Rawicz Marcin , Michnikowski Marcin , Guć Maciej , Kuraszkiewicz Bożena 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBackgroundConventional endotracheal pediatric tubes offer high resistance due to their small diameters and relatively high flow during ventilation. Any increase of the diameter of the tube lumen decreases the airway resistance and subsequently, the work of breathing (WOB). We compared ventilation mechanics using a new, cone‐shaped endotracheal tube of our design to the Cole and standard tubes.MethodsThe study has been divided into three parts: (i) preliminary laboratory tests, (ii) in vitro study with infant lung model, and (iii) clinical study in infants. Flow resistance and WOB were compared, using standard, Cole (in experimental phase only) and cone tubes.ResultsWe proved that inspiratory (Ri) and expiratory (Re) resistance, and WOB, were significantly lower in patients ventilated via a cone tube. Mean Ri decreased by 37%, compared with the baseline values, Re – by 35%, and total WOB – by 12%.ConclusionThe cone tube offers lower resistance to gas flow than the standard, used nowadays in clinical practice. It can be especially beneficial to spontaneously breathing patients reducing WOB and improving gas exchange.
A randomized study of surgical site infiltration with bupivacaine or ketamine for pain relief in children following cleft palate repair
Authors: Jha Ajay Kumar , Bhardwaj Neerja , Yaddanapudi Sandhya , Sharma Ramesh Kumar , Mahajan Jai Kumar 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBackgroundWound infiltration with ketamine reduces postoperative pain after tonsillectomy by NMDA receptor blockade and local anesthetic effect.ObjectivesTo evaluate the postoperative analgesia after surgical site infiltration with bupivacaine or ketamine in children undergoing cleft palate surgery.Materials and methodsAfter institutional ethics committee approval and parental consent, 50 ASA‐1 children of age 1–6 years undergoing palatoplasty were included in this prospective randomized double‐blind study. A standardized technique of general anesthesia was used. The surgical site was infiltrated with either 2 mg·kg−1 of bupivacaine (Group B) or 0.5 mg·kg−1 of ketamine (Group K). Pain (Children Hospital Eastern Ontario Pain Score), sedation, dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, and sleep pattern were assessed postoperatively up to 24 h.ResultsCHEOPS scores were similar in both the groups up to 12 h but were lower with ketamine compared with bupivacaine at 24 h postoperatively (P = 0.01). Fewer children required rescue analgesics in Group K (28%) than in Group B (64%; P < 0.01). The time to first rescue analgesic and the amount of analgesics used in 24 h were similar in the two groups. Fewer children suffered from dysphagia in Group K (52%) than in Group B (88%; P < 0.01). More children in Group B had disturbed sleep than in Group K at 6 (88% vs 56%; P = 0.012) and 12 h (60% vs 24%; P = 0.01) postoperatively. None of the children had deep sedation, desaturation or respiratory depression.ConclusionSurgical site infiltration with either bupivacaine or ketamine provides adequate analgesia and is devoid of major side effects. Ketamine is superior to bupivacaine in terms of requirement of rescue analgesic, peaceful sleep pattern and early resumption of feeding.
Laboratory detection of strongyloidiasis: IgG‐, IgG4‐ and IgE‐ELISAs and cross‐reactivity with lymphatic filariasis
Authors: Norsyahida A. , Riazi M. , Sadjjadi S. M. , Muhammad Hafiznur Y. , Low H. C. , Zeehaida M. , Noordin R. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryEnzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of IgG, IgG4 and IgE antibodies against Strongyloides stercoralis. A commercial ELISA (IVD Research, USA) was also used, and the sensitivities and specificities of the four assays were determined. Serum samples from 26 patients with S. stercoralis infection and 55 patients with other infections or no infection were analysed. Sensitivities of the IgG4, IgG, IgE and IgG (IVD) assays were 76·9%, 84·6%, 7·7% and 84·6%, respectively, while the specificities were 92·7%, 81·8%, 100% and 83·6%, respectively. If filariasis samples were excluded, the specificities of the IgG4‐ELISA and both IgG‐ELISAs increased to 100% and 98%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between IgG‐ and IgG4‐ELISAs (r = 0·4828; P = 0·0125). IgG‐ and IgG‐ (IVD) ELISAs (r = 0·309) were positively correlated, but was not significant (P = 0·124). Meanwhile there was no correlation between IgG4‐ and IgG‐ (IVD) ELISAs (r = 0·0042; P = 0·8294). Sera from brugian filariasis patients showed weak, positive correlation between the titres of antifilarial IgG4 and the optical densities of anti‐Strongyloides IgG4‐ELISA (r = 0·4544, P = 0·0294). In conclusion, the detection of both anti‐Strongyloides IgG4 and IgG antibodies could improve the serodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis. Furthermore, patients from lymphatic filariasis endemic areas who are serologically diagnosed with strongyloidiasis should also be tested for filariasis.
Infection of mungbean seed by Macrophomina phaseolina is more likely to result from localized pod infection than from systemic plant infection
Authors: Fuhlbohm M. J. , Ryley M. J. , Aitken E. A. B. 
Published: March 2013

The ubiquitous fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina is best known as causing charcoal rot and premature death when host plants are subject to post‐flowering stress. Overseas reports of M. phaseolina causing a rapid rot during the sprouting of Australian mungbean seed resulted in an investigation of the possible modes of infection of seed. Isolations from serial portions of 10 mungbean plants naturally infected with the pathogen revealed that on most plants there were discrete portions of infected tissue separated by apparently healthy tissue. The results from these studies, together with molecular analysis of isolates collected from infected tissue on two of the plants, suggested that aerial infection of aboveground parts by different isolates is common. Inoculations of roots and aboveground parts of mungbean plants at nine temperature × soil moisture incubation combinations and of detached green pods strongly supported the concept that seed infection results from infection of pods by microsclerotia, rather than from hyphae growing systemically through the plant after root or stem infection. This proposal is reinforced by anecdotal evidence that high levels of seed infection are common when rainfall occurs during pod fill, and by the isolation of M. phaseolina from soil peds collected on pods of mungbean plants in the field. However, other experiments showed that when inoculum was placed within 130 mm of a green developing pod and a herbicide containing paraquat and diquat was sprayed on the inoculated plants, M. phaseolina was capable of some systemic growth from vegetative tissue into the pods and seeds.
Imagining the truth and the moon: An electrophysiological study of abstract and concrete word processing
Authors: Gullick Margaret M. , Mitra Priya , Coch Donna 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPrevious event‐related potential studies have indicated that both a widespread N400 and an anterior N700 index differential processing of concrete and abstract words, but the nature of these components in relation to concreteness and imagery has been unclear. Here, we separated the effects of word concreteness and task demands on the N400 and N700 in a single word processing paradigm with a within‐subjects, between‐tasks design and carefully controlled word stimuli. The N400 was larger to concrete words than to abstract words, and larger in the visualization task condition than in the surface task condition, with no interaction. A marked anterior N700 was elicited only by concrete words in the visualization task condition, suggesting that this component indexes imagery. These findings are consistent with a revised or extended dual coding theory according to which concrete words benefit from greater activation in both verbal and imagistic systems.