bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is it time to think about the sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 sympathetically?
Authors: Elliott Rosemary H , Matthews Vance B , Rudnicka Caroline , Schlaich Markus P 
Published: September 2015

AbstractDisturbances in glucose homeostasis are a key feature of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Renal glucose reabsorption is an important factor in glycaemic control. Glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubules is mediated by the sodium glucose co‐transporter 2. The capacity for glucose reabsorption is increased in type 2 diabetes and contributes significantly to hyperglycaemia and impaired glucose control. Understanding the mechanisms underpinning the regulation of the sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 is therefore of high clinical relevance. However, despite recent advances in the field and the availability of pharmacological inhibitors of this glucose transporter for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the mechanisms that regulate sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 expression are not fully understood. The sympathetic nervous system is an important modulator of glucose homeostasis, and sympathetic hyperactivity is a characteristic feature of obesity, the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Sympathetic inhibition either achieved pharmacologically or by renal sympathetic denervation has been associated with improved glucose control. Importantly, sympathetic nerves innervate the proximal tubules of the kidney where they have been shown to regulate the expression of other transporters such as the sodium hydrogen exchanger 3. This review aims to explore the evidence for the regulation of sodium glucose co‐transporter 2‐mediated glucose reabsorption by the sympathetic nervous system.
Hydration status measured by BCM: A potential modifiable risk factor for peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Santhakumaran Territa , Samad Nasreen , Fan Stanley L 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAimPeritoneal dialysis peritonitis and fluid overhydration (OH) are frequent problems in peritoneal dialysis. The latter can cause gut wall oedema or be associated with malnutrition. Both may lead to increased peritonitis risk. We wished to determine if OH is an independent risk factor for peritonitis (caused by enteric organisms).MethodsRetrospectively study of patients with >2 bioimpedance assessments (Body Composition Monitor). We compared peritonitis rates of patients with above or below the median time‐averaged hydration parameter (OH/extracellular water, OH/ECW). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for peritonitis by enteric organism.ResultsWe studied 580 patients. Peritonitis was experienced by 28% patients (followed up for an average of 17 months). The overall peritonitis rate was 1:34 patient months. Patients with low OH/ECW values had significantly lower rates of peritonitis from enteric organisms than overhydrated patients (incident rate ratio 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.38–1.70, P < 0.001). Hydration remained an independent predictor of peritonitis from enteric organisms when multivariate model included demographic parameters (odds ratio for a 1% increment of OH/ECW was 1.05; 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.10, P < 0.02). However, including biochemical parameters of malnutrition reduced the predictive power of overhydration.ConclusionWe found an association between overhydration and increased rates of peritonitis. While this may partly be due to the high co‐morbidity of patients (advanced age and diabetes), on multivariate analysis, only inclusion of nutritional parameters reduced this association. It remains to be determined if overhydration will prove to be a modifiable risk factor for peritonitis or whether malnutrition will prove to be more important.
An aquaporin PvTIP4;1 from Pteris vittata may mediate arsenite uptake
Authors: He Zhenyan , Yan Huili , Chen Yanshan , Shen Hongling , Xu Wenxiu , Zhang Haiyan , Shi Lei , Zhu Yong‐Guan , Ma Mi 
Published: September 2015

Summary

The fern Pteris vittata is an arsenic hyperaccumulator. The genes involved in arsenite (As(III)) transport are not yet clear. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a new P. vittata aquaporin gene, PvTIP4;1, which may mediate As(III) uptake.

PvTIP4;1 was identified from yeast functional complement cDNA library of P. vittata. Arsenic toxicity and accumulating activities of PvTIP4;1 were analyzed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis. Subcellular localization of PvTIP4;1–GFP fusion protein in P. vittata protoplast and callus was conducted. The tissue expression of PvTIP4;1 was investigated by quantitative real‐time PCR. Site‐directed mutagenesis of the PvTIP4;1 aromatic/arginine (Ar/R) domain was studied.

Heterologous expression in yeast demonstrates that PvTIP4;1 was able to facilitate As(III) diffusion. Transgenic Arabidopsis showed that PvTIP4;1 increases arsenic accumulation and induces arsenic sensitivity. Images and FM4‐64 staining suggest that PvTIP4;1 localizes to the plasma membrane in P. vittata cells. A tissue location study shows that PvTIP4;1 transcripts are mainly expressed in roots. Site‐directed mutation in yeast further proved that the cysteine at the LE1 position of PvTIP4;1 Ar/R domain is a functional site.

PvTIP4;1 is a new represented tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) aquaporin from P. vittata and the function and location results imply that PvTIP4;1 may be involved in As(III) uptake.
Evidence for extensive parallelism but divergent genomic architecture of adaptation along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients in Populus trichocarpa
Authors: Holliday Jason A. , Zhou Lecong , Bawa Rajesh , Zhang Man , Oubida Regis W. 
Published: September 2015

Summary

Adaptation to climate across latitude and altitude reflects shared climatic constraints, which may lead to parallel adaptation. However, theory predicts that higher gene flow should favor more concentrated genomic architectures, which would lead to fewer locally maladapted recombinants.

We used exome capture to resequence the gene space along a latitudinal and two altitudinal transects in the model tree Populus trichocapra. Adaptive trait phenotyping was coupled with FST outlier tests and sliding window analysis to assess the degree of parallel adaptation as well as the genomic distribution of outlier loci.

Up to 51% of outlier loci overlapped between transect pairs and up to 15% of these loci overlapped among all three transects. Genomic clustering of adaptive loci was more pronounced for altitudinal than latitudinal transects. In both altitudinal transects, there was a larger number of these ‘islands of divergence’, which were on average longer and included several of exceptional physical length.

Our results suggest that recapitulation of genetic clines over latitude and altitude involves extensive parallelism, but that steep altitudinal clines generate islands of divergence. This suggests that physical proximity of genes in coadapted complexes may buffer against the movement of maladapted alleles from geographically proximal but climatically distinct populations.
The state of UK pediatric anesthesia: a survey of National Health Service activity
Authors: Sury Michael R. J. , Arumainathan Renuka , Belhaj Alla M. , MacG Palmer James H. , Cook Tim M. , Pandit Jaideep J. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThis secondary analysis of the 2013 United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) Anaesthesia Activity Survey of the Fifth National Audit Project (of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland) shows pediatric anesthesia activity in detail. A local coordinator (LC) in every NHS hospital collected data on patients undergoing any procedure managed by an anesthetist. Questionnaires had 30 question categories. Each LC was randomized to a 2‐day period. The pediatric age groups were infants, (<1 year), preschool age (1–5 year), and school age children (6–15 year). The median questionnaire return rate was 98%. The annual caseload was estimated to be 486 900 children: 36 500 infants, 184 700 preschool age, and 265 800 school age children. Almost 90% of children (1–15 year) were ASA 1 or 2 and the substantial majority underwent routine nonurgent ear nose and throat, dental, orthopaedics, or general surgery procedures; 65% were ‘day cases’. One in six children were managed outside operating theater sites compared with one in 12 adults. Forty one per cent was in district general hospitals. Almost all ASA 4 and 5 children (89%) and infants (92%) were managed in specialist hospitals. ‘Awake’ cases and sedation accounted for only 2% of cases. There were notable differences in demography and anesthetic care compared with adults and between different age groups of children. These data enable analysis of the current state of UK pediatric anesthetic practice and highlight differences between pediatric and adult services.
The development and status of Bt rice in China
Authors: Li Yunhe , Hallerman Eric M. , Liu Qingsong , Wu Kongming , Peng Yufa 
Published: September 2015

SummaryMultiple lines of transgenic rice expressing insecticidal genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been developed in China, posing the prospect of increases in production with decreased application of pesticides. We explore the issues facing adoption of Bt rice for commercial production in China. A body of safety assessment work on Bt rice has shown that Bt rice poses a negligible risk to the environment and that Bt rice products are as safe as non‐Bt control rice products as food. China has a relatively well‐developed regulatory system for risk assessment and management of genetically modified (GM) plants; however, decision‐making regarding approval of commercial production has become politicized, and two Bt rice lines that otherwise were ready have not been allowed to enter the Chinese agricultural system. We predict that Chinese farmers would value the prospect of increased yield with decreased use of pesticide and would readily adopt production of Bt rice. That Bt rice lines may not be commercialized in the near future we attribute to social pressures, largely due to the low level of understanding and acceptance of GM crops by Chinese consumers. Hence, enhancing communication of GM crop science‐related issues to the public is an important, unmet need. While the dynamics of each issue are particular to China, they typify those in many countries where adoption of GM crops has been not been rapid; hence, the assessment of these dynamics might inform resolution of these issues in other countries.
Plant artificial chromosome technology and its potential application in genetic engineering
Authors: Yu Weichang , Yau Yuan‐Yeu , Birchler James A. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryGenetic engineering with just a few genes has changed agriculture in the last 20 years. The most frequently used transgenes are the herbicide resistance genes for efficient weed control and the Bt toxin genes for insect resistance. The adoption of the first‐generation genetically engineered crops has been very successful in improving farming practices, reducing the application of pesticides that are harmful to both human health and the environment, and producing more profit for farmers. However, there is more potential for genetic engineering to be realized by technical advances. The recent development of plant artificial chromosome technology provides a super vector platform, which allows the management of a large number of genes for the next generation of genetic engineering. With the development of other tools such as gene assembly, genome editing, gene targeting and chromosome delivery systems, it should become possible to engineer crops with multiple genes to produce more agricultural products with less input of natural resources to meet future demands.
The impact of the Tekay chromoviral elements on genome organisation and evolution of Anemone s.l. (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Mlinarec J. , Franjević D. , Harapin J. , Besendorfer V. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractWe studied the highly abundant chromoviral Tekay clade in species from three sister genera – Anemone, Pulsatilla and Hepatica (Ranunculaceae). With this clade, we performed a concomitant survey of its phylogenetic diversity, chromosomal organisation and transcriptional activity in Anemone s.l. in order to investigate dynamics of the Tekay elements at a finer scale than previously achieved in this or any other flowering clade. The phylogenetic tree built from Tekay sequences conformed to expected evolutionary relationships of the species; exceptions being A. nemorosa and A. sylvestris, which appeared more closely related that expected, and we invoke hybridisation events to explain the observed topology. The separation of elements into six clusters could be explained by episodic bursts of activity since divergence from a common ancestor at different points in their respective evolutionary histories. In Anemone s.l. the Tekay elements do not have a preferential position on chromosomes, i.e. they can have a: (i) centromeric/pericentromeric position; (ii) interstitial position in DAPI‐positive AT‐rich heterochromatic regions; can be (iii) dispersed throughout chromosomes; or even (iv) be absent from large heterochromatic blocks. Widespread transcriptional activity of the Tekay elements in Anemone s.l. taxa indicate that some copies of Tekay elements could still be active in this plant group, contributing to genome evolution and speciation within Anemone s.l. Identification of Tekay elements in Anemone s.l. provides valuable information for understanding how different localisation patterns might help to facilitate plant genome organisation in a structural and functional manner.
A patient with Alzheimer's disease complicated by elderly‐onset Cushing's syndrome who had undergone surgical treatment for adrenocorticotropic hormone‐independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Haraguchi Yoshinori , Mizoguchi Yoshito , Noguchi Tomoyuki , Arai Takeo , Fukuyama Junko , Kato Takahiro A. , Kawashima Toshiro , Monji Akira 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare disorder, especially in older people. Loss of brain volume and neurocognitive impairment of varying degrees has been demonstrated in patients with CS. However, there is a large difference between the median age of presentation of CS and that of Alzheimer's disease. We herein report a case of a patient with Alzheimer's disease complicated by elderly‐onset CS who had undergone surgical treatment for adrenal hyperplasia. Surgical correction of hypercortisolism seems to have slowed the progression of brain volume loss and cognitive dysfunction and improved psychiatric symptoms such as visual hallucination, restlessness, and psychomotor excitement. These improvements have remarkably reduced the burden on the patient's caregivers. The present case suggests that subclinical CS may be present, particularly in rapidly progressive dementia, and that surgical treatment of CS for neuropsychiatric symptoms is useful.
Determining the Effect of Strategic Voting on Election Results
Authors: Herrmann Michael , Munzert Simon , Selb Peter 
Published: September 2015

Summary
Speculations about whether strategic voting made a difference to the outcome of an election regularly whip up the passions of pundits, party strategists, electoral reformers and scholars alike. Yet, research on strategic voting's political effect has been hampered by the scarcity of data on district level party preferences. We propose the use of Bayesian small area estimation to predict district level preferences from just a handful of survey responses per district and comparing these predictions against election results to estimate how many voters switched sides in each district. We apply the approach to estimate how many seats changed hands as a result of strategic voting at the 1997 and 2001 UK general elections. Despite similar rates of strategic voting in both elections, the number of seats that were affected was markedly greater in 1997. Interestingly, the Liberal Democrats turn out to win the most seats because of strategic voting. We also estimate how many votes went in the ‘wrong’ direction—away from otherwise viable candidates. We validate our results by using journalistic sources and compare them with previous published estimates.
Growth mechanisms and geochemistry of carbonate concretions from the Cambrian Wheeler Formation (Utah, USA)
Authors: Gaines Robert R. , Vorhies John S. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCarbonate concretions provide unique records of ancient biogeochemical processes in marine sediments. Typically, they form in organic‐rich mudstones, where a significant fraction of the bicarbonate required for carbonate precipitation is supplied from the decomposition of organic matter in the sediments. As a result, carbonates that comprise concretions are usually characterized by broad ranges in δ13C and include values that are significantly depleted relative to seawater. This article reports results from a physical, petrographic and geochemical analysis of 238 concretions from the Wheeler Formation (Cambrian Series 3), Utah, USA, which are unusual in several respects. Most prominently, they formed in organic‐poor mudstones (total organic carbon = 0·1 to 0·5%) and are characterized by a narrow range of δ13C that onlaps the range of contemporaneous seawater values. Subtle centre to edge trends in δ13C demonstrate that concretion precipitation was initiated by local chemical gradients set up by microbial activity in the sediments, but was sustained during growth by a large pool of inorganic bicarbonate probably derived from alkaline bottom waters. The large inorganic pool appears to have been important in facilitating rapid precipitation of the concretion matrix, which occurred via both displacive and replacive carbonate precipitation during early diagenesis. Stable isotope data from cogenetic pyrite (δ34S) and silica (δ18O) phases provide insight into the evolution of biogeochemical processes during concretion growth, and suggest that concretions were formed almost entirely during sulphate reduction, with only minor modification thereafter. Concretions of the Wheeler Formation appear to represent an end‐member system of concretion formation in which rapid growth was promoted by ions supplied from sea‐water. As such, they offer insight into the spectrum of processes that may influence the growth of carbonate concretions in marine sediments.
Efficacy of once‐weekly dapsone dosing for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis post transplantation
Authors: Evans R.A. , Clifford T.M. , Tang S. , Au T. , Fugit A.M. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundPneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) remains a concern after organ transplantation. In 2005, the University of Kentucky (UK) Transplant Center implemented a novel dosing regimen of weekly dapsone as an alternative for patients with contraindications or intolerability to trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMP‐SMZ), which remains the drug of choice. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of weekly dapsone with TMP‐SMZ in preventing PCP post transplantation.MethodsA single‐center, cohort, retrospective review of kidney and liver transplant patients from January 2005 to December 2012 was conducted. Patients who were identified as dapsone cases were matched in a 1:1 ratio with TMP‐SMZ controls based on type of transplant, age, primary diagnosis, and gender. The primary endpoint assessed was the diagnosis of PCP at 6 and 12 months post transplant.ResultsA total of 158 patients were included in the study. No documented cases of PCP occurred in either study group at 6 or 12 months (P = 1.0). In dapsone patients 35 (44%) cases of breakthrough infection occurred, compared to 24 (30%) in the TMP‐SMZ group (P = 0.07) within 12 months post transplant. In the dapsone group, 52 (65%) patients were hospitalized within 6 months post transplant compared to 36 (46%) patients in the TMP‐SMZ group (P = 0.01). Similar results were seen in patients hospitalized within 12 months post transplant; 49% of patients were switched from TMP‐SMZ to dapsone owing to renal dysfunction.ConclusionNo documented cases of PCP occurred in either study group. Future studies are warranted to show the efficacy of weekly dapsone dosing compared to other PCP prophylaxis regimens.
Genotypic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus schleiferi in clinical samples from dogs in different geographic regions of the United States
Authors: Kunder Darcie A. , Cain Christine L. , O'Shea Kathleen , Cole Stephen D. , Rankin Shelley C. 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundStaphylococcus schleiferi is a known pathogen that can cause canine skin and ear infections. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical veterinary isolates from different geographic regions in the United States.HypothesisIt was hypothesized that S. schleiferi would maintain genotypic homogeneity across the different geographic regions and that meticillin‐resistant (MR) isolates of S. schleiferi would predominate.MethodsIsolates were identified as S. schleiferi by a commercial microbiology identification system and confirmed by nuc gene PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility data were collected and PBP2a latex agglutination testing was performed on MR isolates. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed and clonal clusters were identified with a Dice coefficient similarity of >80%.ResultsThere were 116 isolates from the Mid‐Atlantic region and 101 from across the United States. Of these 217 isolates, 209 (96%) were obtained from cutaneous sites. Of the Mid‐Atlantic isolates, 62% (72 of 116) were MR and 16% (18 of 116) were multidrug‐resistant (MDR). Of the isolates from the other geographic regions, 73% (74 of 101) were MR and 24% (24 of 101) were MDR. All MR isolates were positive by PBP2a latex agglutination. PFGE identified 155 individual pulsed‐field profiles and three major pulsed‐field types (PFT) that contained 61% (133 of 217) of the isolates. These pulsed‐field types were geographically heterogeneous.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the dissemination of successful MR pulsed‐field types of S. schleiferi across the United States.
Canine epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: a retrospective study of 20 cases
Authors: Bizikova Petra , Linder Keith E. , Wofford Jessica A. , Mamo Lisa B. , Dunston Stanley M. , Olivry Thierry 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundEpidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease of dogs and humans.ObjectivesOur objectives were to describe clinical phenotypes, histopathology and treatment outcomes of canine EBA.AnimalsTwenty dogs diagnosed with EBA based on a subepidermal blister formation and collagen VII autoreactivity.ResultsMost dogs were young (median: 1.2‐year‐old) with a male‐to‐female ratio of 2.3:1. Nine of 20 dogs (45%) developed lesions before one year of age and 11 of 20 dogs (55%) were great danes. Tense vesicles and bullae (18 of 20; 90%) and deep erosions and ulcers (20 of 20; 100%) were the most common lesions and these affected predominantly the oral cavity (19 of 20; 95%), pinnae (16 of 20; 80%), axillae (15 of 20; 75%) and footpads (14 of 20; 70%). Histopathology identified neutrophilic perivascular dermatitis (17 of 17; 100%) without or with (12 of 17; 71%) eosinophils, which occasionally equalled (four cases) or outnumbered neutrophils (two cases). Subepidermal vesicles were either devoid of inflammation or contained neutrophils with or without eosinophils, fibrin and/or haemorrhage. A complete remission of skin lesions was obtained in 14 dogs with a median time of 58 days. Glucocorticoids were used in these dogs either as a monotherapy (3 of 14; 21%) or in combination with other immunomodulating drugs (11 of 14; 79%). The median dose of prednisone was 3 mg/kg/day. The remaining six dogs were euthanized.Conclusions and clinical importanceCanine EBA is a rare subepidermal blistering disease with an inflammatory phenotype and a predilection for young great danes and male dogs. The outcome of treatment appears more favourable than assumed previously.