bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simeprevir (TMC435) once daily with peginterferon‐α‐2b and ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection: The CONCERTO‐4 study
Authors: Kumada Hiromitsu , Hayashi Norio , Izumi Namiki , Okanoue Takeshi , Tsubouchi Hirohito , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Kato Mai , Rito Ki , Komada Yuji , Seto Chiharu , Goto Shoichiro 
Published: June 2014

AimThe efficacy and safety of simeprevir in combination with peginterferon‐α‐2b and ribavirin (PEG IFN‐α‐2b/RBV) were investigated in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who were treatment‐naïve or had previously received interferon (IFN)‐based therapy.MethodsCONCERTO‐4 (NCT01366638) was an open‐label, non‐comparative, multicenter study of once‐daily simeprevir (TMC435) 100 mg in combination with PEG IFN‐α‐2b/RBV in treatment‐naïve and ‐experienced patients (prior relapsers or non‐responders to IFN‐based therapy) with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. Twelve‐week combination treatment was followed by 24/48‐week response‐guided PEG IFN‐α‐2b/RBV therapy for treatment‐naïve patients and prior relapsers, and 48‐week PEG IFN‐α‐2b/RBV therapy for prior non‐responders. Patients were followed for 72 weeks after treatment initiation. The proportions of patients with sustained viral response (SVR; undetectable HCV RNA) at treatment end and 12 weeks after the last treatment (SVR12) were among the major efficacy end‐points. Safety, including adverse events (AE), was monitored.ResultsOf the 79 patients treated, the proportion achieving SVR12 was highest among treatment‐naïve patients (91.7%) and prior relapsers (100%) versus 38.5% of prior non‐responders. All treatment‐naïve patients and prior non‐responders who achieved SVR12 also achieved SVR at treatment end and 24 weeks after last dose; 96.6% of prior relapsers achieved both end‐points. Most AE were of grade 1 or 2 severity. Grade 3 AE occurred in 17 patients, most frequently neutropenia (6.3%).ConclusionSimeprevir combined with PEG IFN‐α‐2b/RBV was effective in patients infected with HCV genotype 1, both for initial treatment of naïve patients and for retreatment of patients in whom previous IFN‐based therapy had failed.
Histological characteristics of the abdominal aortic wall in patients with vascular chronic Q fever
Authors: Hagenaars Julia C. J. P. , Koning Olivier H. J. , van den Haak Ronald F. F. , Verhoeven Bart A. N. , Renders Nicole H. M. , Hermans Mirjam H. A. , Wever Peter C. , van Suylen Robert Jan 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe aim of this study was to describe specific histological findings of the Coxiella burnetii‐infected aneurysmal abdominal aortic wall. Tissue samples of the aneurysmal abdominal aortic wall from seven patients with chronic Q fever and 15 patients without evidence of Q fever infection were analysed and compared. Chronic Q fever was diagnosed using serology and tissue PCR analysis. Histological sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin staining, Elastica van Gieson staining and immunohistochemical staining for macrophages (CD68), T lymphocytes (CD3), T lymphocyte subsets (CD4 and CD8) and B lymphocytes (CD20). Samples were scored by one pathologist, blinded for Q fever status, using a standard score form. Seven tissue samples from patients with chronic Q fever and 15 tissue samples from patients without Q fever were collected. Four of seven chronic Q fever samples showed a necrotizing granulomatous response of the vascular wall, which was characterized by necrotic core of the arteriosclerotic plaque (P = 0.005) and a presence of high numbers of macrophages in the adventitia (P = 0.007) distributed in typical palisading formation (P = 0.005) and surrounded by the presence of high numbers of T lymphocytes located diffusely in media and adventitia. Necrotizing granulomas are a histological finding in the C. burnetii‐infected aneurysmal abdominal aortic wall. Chronic Q fever should be included in the list of infectious diseases with necrotizing granulomatous response, such as tuberculosis, cat scratch disease and syphilis.
Transition of Rituals in the Nagasaki City Atomic Bomb Memorial Ceremony
Authors: Fukuda Yu 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis article focuses on rituals in the wake of a disaster, particularly those rituals that concern the dead. Previous studies have paid little attention to such rituals, which have developed and evolved over a long period of time. A diachronic case study of the Nagasaki atomic bomb memorial ceremony shows that memorial rituals gradually shift their attention from the dead to the living. The characteristics observed in this ceremony that orient towards the living can be distinguished from folk rituals, whose central object is to appease or comfort the dead, and also from political rituals, whose aim is to honor the dead and acknowledge the tragic past within a political framework. In addition to economic as well as political factors, the broadcasting of the Nagasaki ceremony on television is instrumental in the changes in these rites and the inclusion of the third‐person plural subject: the “we”, appears to be vital in apprehending the experience of violent death. Relying on historical materials, photographs, and data collected by participatory observation and interviews, this article aims to show how people use symbolic practices to make meaning out of violent death.
Deep sequencing of small RNA libraries reveals dynamic expression patterns of microRNAs in multiple developmental stages of Bactrocera dorsalis
Authors: Huang Y. , Dou W. , Liu B. , Wei D. , Liao C. Y. , Smagghe G. , Wang J.‐J. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn eukaryotes, microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, conserved, noncoding RNAs that have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression. The oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis is one of the most economically important fruit fly pests in East Asia and the Pacific. Although transcriptome analyses have greatly enriched our knowledge of its structural genes, little is known about post‐transcriptional regulation by miRNAs in this dipteran species. In this study, small RNA libraries corresponding to four B. dorsalis developmental stages (eggs, larvae, pupae and adults) were constructed and sequenced. Approximately 30.7 million reads of 18–30 nucleotides were obtained, with 123 known miRNAs and 60 novel miRNAs identified amongst these libraries. More than half of the miRNAs were stage‐specific during the four developmental stages. A set of miRNAs was found to be up‐ or down‐regulated during development by comparison of their reads at different developmental stages. Moreover, a small part of miRNAs owned both miR‐#‐3p and miR‐#‐5p types, with enormously variable miR‐#‐3p/miR‐#‐5p ratios in the same library and amongst different developmental stages for each miRNA. Taking these findings together, the current study has uncovered a number of miRNAs and provided insights into their possible involvement in developmental regulation by expression profiling of miRNAs. Further analyses of the expression and function of these miRNAs could increase our understanding of regulatory networks in this insect and lead to novel approaches for its control.
Matheuristics for the capacitated p‐median problem
Authors: Stefanello Fernando , de Araújo Olinto C. B. , Müller Felipe M. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe improvement in the performance of computers and mathematical programming techniques has led to the development of a new class of algorithms called matheuristics. Associated with an improvement of Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) solvers, these methods have successfully solved plenty of combinatorial optimization problems. This paper presents a matheuristic approach that hybridizes local search based metaheuristics and mathematical programming techniques to solve the capacitated p‐median problem. The proposal considers reduced mathematical models obtained by a heuristic elimination of variables that are unlikely to belong to a good or optimal solution. In addition, a partial optimization algorithm based on the reduction is proposed. All mathematical models are solved by an MIP solver. Computational experiments on five sets of instances confirm the good performance of our approach.
Acute Effects of an Oral Nitric Oxide Supplement on Blood Pressure, Endothelial Function, and Vascular Compliance in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Houston Mark , Hays Laurie 
Published: June 2014

This blinded placebo‐controlled crossover study evaluated the acute effects of an orally disintegrating lozenge that generates nitric oxide (NO) in the oral cavity on blood pressure (BP) response, endothelial function, and vascular compliance in unmedicated hypertensive patients. Thirty patients with clinical hypertension were recruited and enrolled in a blinded placebo‐controlled clinical trial in an outpatient setting. Average baseline BP in 30 patients was 144±3/91±1 mm Hg. NO supplementation resulted in a significant decrease of 4 mm Hg in resting systolic BP (P<.003) and a significant decrease of 5 mm Hg in diastolic BP (P<.002) from baseline and placebo after 20 minutes. In addition, there was a further statistically significant reduction by 6 mm Hg in both systolic and diastolic pressure after 60 minutes (P<.0001 vs baseline). After a half hour of a single dose, there was a significant improvement in vascular compliance as measured by augmentation index and, after 4 hours, a statistically significant improvement in endothelial function as measured by the EndoPAT (Itamar Medical, Franklin, MA). A single administration of an oral active NO supplement appears to acutely lower BP, improve vascular compliance, and restore endothelial function in patients with hypertension.
Exploration of Nuclear DNA Markers for Population Structure Assessment in the Desmid Micrasterias rotata (Zygnematophyceae, Streptophyta)
Authors: Jurdíková Katarína , Kulichová Jana , Bestová Helena , Leliaert Frederik , Škaloud Pavel 
Published: June 2014

AbstractFreshwater green microalgae are diverse and widely distributed across the globe, yet the population structuring of these organisms is poorly understood. We assessed the degree of genetic diversity and differentiation of the desmid species, Micrasterias rotata. First, we compared the sequences of four nuclear regions (actin, gapC1, gapC2, and oee1) in 25 strains and selected the gapC1 and actin regions as the most appropriate markers for population structure assessment in this species. Population genetic structure was subsequently analyzed, based on seven populations from the Czech Republic and Ireland. Hudson's Snn statistics indicated that nearest‐neighbor sequences occurred significantly more frequently within geographical populations than within the wider panmictic population. Moreover, Irish populations consistently showed higher genetic diversity than the Czech samples. These results are in accordance with the unbalanced distribution of alleles in many land plant species; however, the large genetic diversity in M. rotata differs from levels of genetic diversity found in most land plants.
Recent insights into host–pathogen interaction in white spot syndrome virus infected penaeid shrimp
Authors: Shekhar M S , Ponniah A G 
Published: June 2014

AbstractViral disease outbreaks are a major concern impeding the development of the shrimp aquaculture industry. The viral disease due to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) observed in early 1990s still continues unabated affecting the shrimp farms and cause huge economic loss to the shrimp aquaculture industry. In the absence of effective therapeutics to control WSSV, it is important to understand viral pathogenesis and shrimp response to WSSV at the molecular level. Identification and molecular characterization of WSSV proteins and receptors may facilitate in designing and development of novel therapeutics and antiviral drugs that may inhibit viral replication. Investigations into host–pathogen interactions might give new insights to viral infectivity, tissue tropism and defence mechanism elicited in response to WSSV infection. However, due to the limited information on WSSV gene function and host immune response, the signalling pathways which are associated in shrimp pathogen interaction have also not been elucidated completely. In the present review, the focus is on those shrimp proteins and receptors that are potentially involved in virus infection or in the defence mechanism against WSSV. In addition, the major signalling pathways involved in the innate immune response and the role of apoptosis in host–pathogen interaction is discussed.
Electron microscopy of Ag–(Ni–O) core–shell nanowires
Authors: SINGH M. PRATAP , M Y REKHA , RAGHUPATHY Y. , SRIVASTAVA C. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThis report provides information about an electrodeposition‐based two‐step synthesis methodology for producing core–shell Ag–(Ni–O) nanowires and their detailed structural and compositional characterization using electron microscopy technique. Nanowires were produced by employing anodic alumina templates with a pore diameter of 200 nm. In the first step of the synthesis process, nanocrystalline Ni–O was electrodeposited in a controlled manner such that it heterogeneously nucleated and grew only on the template pore walls without filling the pores from bottom upwards. This alumina template with pore walls coated with Ni–O was then utilized as a template during the electrodeposition of Ag in the second step. Electrodeposited Ag filled the template pores to finally produce Ag–(Ni–O) core–shell nanowires with an overall diameter of 200 nm.
Stabilization of a Computer‐Aided Implant Surgical Guide Using Existing Dental Implants with Conversion of an Overdenture to a Fixed Prosthesis
Authors: Rathi Nakul , Scherer Michael D. , McGlumphy Edwin 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis clinical report describes a technique to stabilize a computer‐aided dental implant surgical guide to existing implants. A patient requested conversion of her existing mandibular implant‐assisted overdenture into a fixed complete denture. The surgical procedure was planned virtually, and the two existing dental implants were integrated into the surgical plan as a means to fixate the surgical guide. The implants were placed, and the patient's prosthesis was converted into an interim fixed complete denture.
Genetic Diversities of Cymbidium mosaic virus and Odontoglossum ringspot virus Isolates Based on the Coat Protein Genes from Orchids in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Rao Xueqin , Li Yuan , Sun Jie , Li Xia , Li Menghan , Xiang Meimei 
Published: June 2014

AbstractOrchids are some of the most important ornamental flowers. Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) and Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) are the most prevalent and economically important viruses affecting orchids in China. In this study, 20 CymMV and 28 ORSV isolates were selected for genetic diversity analysis. The CymMV isolates shared 84.6–100% and 89.5–100% identities of coat protein (CP) at the nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) levels, respectively. The identities of ORSV isolates were 96.4–100% (nt) and 92.5–99.4% (aa). The CP genes of CymMV were found to have genetic diversity, and the CP genes of ORSV were genetically conservative. These results can aid in designing effective disease‐control strategies.
Learning from caries‐free children in a high‐caries American Indian population
Authors: Albino Judith , Tiwari Tamanna , Henderson William G. , Thomas Jacob , Bryant Lucinda L. , Batliner Terrence S. , Braun Patricia A. , Wilson Anne , Quissell David O. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to identify salutogenic patterns of parental knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that may support resistance to early childhood caries (ECC) among a high caries population of preschool American Indian (AI) children.MethodParticipants were 981 child–parent dyads living on a Southwestern reservation who completed baseline assessments for an ongoing randomized clinical trial. T‐tests were used to assess differences between reported knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs of parents whose children were caries‐free (10.7 percent) and those whose children had caries (89.3 percent). Chi‐square analyses were used for categorical variables.ResultsAlthough there were no socio‐demographic differences, parents of caries‐free children viewed oral health as more important and reported more oral health knowledge and adherence to caries‐preventing behaviors for their children. Parents of caries‐free children were more likely to have higher internal locus of control, to perceive their children as less susceptible to caries, and to perceive fewer barriers to prevention. These parents also had higher sense of coherence scores and reported lower levels of personal distress and community‐related stress.ConclusionsEffective interventions for ECC prevention in high‐caries AI populations may benefit from approaches that support and model naturally salutogenic behaviors.
Effects of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor evacetrapib on lipoproteins, apolipoproteins and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in healthy adults
Authors: Suico Jeffrey G , Wang Ming-Dauh , Friedrich Stuart , Cannady Ellen A , Konkoy Christopher S , Ruotolo Giacomo , Krueger Kathryn A 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Objectives
We investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of evacetrapib.

Methods
Healthy volunteers received multiple daily doses of evacetrapib (10–600 mg) administered for up to 15 days in a placebo-controlled study.

Key findings
Mean peak plasma concentrations of evacetrapib occurred at 4–6 h and terminal half-life ranged 24–44 h. Steady state was achieved at approximately 10 days; all subjects had undetectable levels of evacetrapib 3 weeks after their last dose. The trough inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was 65 and 84% at 100 and 300 mg, respectively. At the highest dose (600 mg), evacetrapib significantly inhibited CETP activity (91%), increased HDL-C (87%) and apo AI (42%), and decreased LDL-C (29%) and apo B (26%) relative to placebo. For the highest dose tested, levels of evacetrapib, CETP activity, CETP mass, HDL-C and LDL-C returned to levels at or near baseline after a 2-week washout period. Evacetrapib at the highest dose tested did not produce any significant effect on 24-h ambulatory systolic or diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusions
Multiple doses of evacetrapib potently inhibited CETP activity, leading to substantial elevations in HDL-C and lowering of LDL-C. Evacetrapib was devoid of clinically relevant effects on blood pressure and mineralocorticoid levels.
Angiotensin-(1-7) Reverses Angiogenic Dysfunction in Corpus Cavernosum by Acting on the Microvasculature and Bone Marrow–Derived Cells in Diabetes
Authors: Singh Neha , Vasam Goutham , Pawar Rahul , Jarajapu Yagna P.R. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Introduction
Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) is a recently identified vasoprotective heptapeptide, and it appears to activate the reparative functions of bone marrow–derived stem/progenitor cells (BMPCs).

Aim
This study evaluated the effect of Ang-(1-7) in the angiogenic function of cavernosum in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and delineated the role of BMPCs in this protective function.

Methods
T1D was induced by streptozotocin in mice, and mice with 20–24 weeks of diabetes were used for the study. Ang-(1-7) was administered subcutaneously by using osmotic pumps. Cavernosa, and BMPCs from peripheral blood and bone marrow were evaluated in different assay systems.

Main Outcome Measures
Angiogenic function was determined by endothelial tube formation in matrigel assay. Circulating BMPCs were enumerated by flow cytometry and proliferation was determined by BrdU incorporation. Cell-free supernatant of BMPCs were collected and tested for paracrine angiogenic effect. Expression of angiogenic factors in BMPCs and cavernosa were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results
Ang-(1-7) (100 nM) stimulated angiogenesis in mouse cavernosum that was partially inhibited by Mas1 receptor antagonist, A779 (10 μM) (P &lt; 0.05). In cavernosa of T1D, the angiogenic responses to Ang-(1-7) (P &lt; 0.005) and VEGF (100 nM) (P &lt; 0.03) were diminished. Ang-(1-7) treatment for 4 weeks reversed T1D-induced decrease in the VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. Ang-(1-7) treatment increased the circulating number of BMPCs and proliferation that were decreased in T1D (P &lt; 0.02). Paracrine angiogenic function of BMPCs was reduced in diabetic BMPCs, which was reversed by Ang-(1-7). In diabetic BMPCs, SDF and angiopoietin-1 were upregulated by Ang-(1-7), and in cavernosum, VEGFR1, Tie-2, and SDF were upregulated and angiopoietin-2 was down-regulated.

Conclusions
Ang-(1-7) stimulates angiogenic function of cavernosum in diabetes via its stimulating effects on both cavernosal microvasculature and BMPCs.
Echocardiographic Findings in 11 Cats with Acromegaly
Authors: Myers J.A. , Lunn K.F. , Bright J.M. 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundInformation regarding cardiac changes in domestic cats with acromegaly is limited.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to describe the echocardiographic findings in cats with acromegaly.AnimalsEighteen cats diagnosed with acromegaly at Colorado State University between 2008 and 2012. Of these 18 cats, 11 had echocardiography performed.MethodsA retrospective review of medical records was made to identify cats with acromegaly that also had echocardiography performed.ResultsOf the 11 cats identified, 7 had left ventricular concentric hypertrophy, 6 had left atrial enlargement, and 7 had evidence of abnormal diastolic function. All 11 cats had evidence of structural or functional cardiac disease.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceCardiovascular abnormalities frequently are present in cats with acromegaly, and a complete cardiac evaluation should be considered in these patients.
Hepatic Hepcidin Gene Expression in Dogs with a Congenital Portosystemic Shunt
Authors: Frowde P.E. , Gow A.G. , Burton C.A. , Powell R. , Lipscomb V.J. , House A.K. , Mellanby R.J. , Tivers M.S. 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundMicrocytic anemia is common in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) and typically resolves after surgical attenuation of the anomalous vessel. However, the pathophysiology of the microcytic anemia remains poorly understood. Hepcidin has been a key role in controlling iron transport in both humans and animals and in mediating anemia of inflammatory disease in humans. The role of hepcidin in the development of microcytic anemia in dogs with acPSShas not been examined.HypothesisTo determine whether hepatic hepcidinmRNAexpression decreases, while red blood cell count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increase in dogs after surgical attenuation of acPSS.AnimalsEighteen client‐owned dogs with confirmedcPSSundergoing surgical attenuation.MethodProspective study. Red blood cell count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), together with hepatic gene expression of hepcidin, were measured in dogs before and after partial attenuation of acPSS.ResultsThere was a significant increase in both RBC (median pre 6.17 × 1012/L, median post 7.08 × 1012/L,P < .001) andMCV(median pre 61.5fl, median post 65.5fl,P = .006) after partial surgical attenuation of thecPSS. Despite the increase in both measured red blood cell parameters, hepatic gene expression of hepcidin remained unchanged.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThis study found no evidence that dysregulated production of hepcidin was associated with anemia in dogs with acPSS.