bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postnatal xenogeneic B‐cell tolerance in swine following in utero intraportal antigen exposure
Authors: Navarro Alvarez Nalu , Zhu Alexander , Arellano Ronald S. , Randolph Mark A. , Duggan Michael , Scott Arn John , Huang Christene A. , Sachs David H. , Vagefi Parsia A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study was to investigate the humoral immune response to xenogeneic antigens administered during the fetal state utilizing a baboon‐to‐pig model.MethodsNine fetuses from an alpha‐1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene knockout (GalT‐KO) MGH‐miniature swine sow underwent transuterine ultrasound‐guided intraportal injection of T‐cell depleted baboon bone marrow (B‐BM) at mid‐gestation. Two juvenile GalT‐KO swine undergoing direct B‐BM intraportal injection were used as controls.ResultsPostnatal humoral tolerance was induced in the long‐term surviving piglets as demonstrated by the absence of any antibody response to baboon donor cells. In addition, a second intraportal B‐BM administration at 2.5 months post‐birth led to no antibody formation despite re‐exposure to xenogeneic antigens. This B‐cell unresponsiveness was abrogated only when the animal was exposed subcutaneously to third‐party xenogeneic and allogeneic antigens, suggesting that the previously achieved humoral non‐responsiveness was donor specific. In comparison, the two juvenile GalT‐KO control swine demonstrated increasing anti‐baboon IgM and IgG levels following intraportal injection.ConclusionsIn summary, xenogeneic B‐cell tolerance was induced through in utero intraportal exposure to donor cells and this tolerance persisted following postnatal rechallenge with donor B‐BM, but was lost on exposure to third‐party antigen, possibly as a result of cross‐reactive antibody formation.
Energy metabolism and the high‐altitude environment
Authors: Murray Andrew J. 
Published: August 2015

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?
This report describes changes in cardiac and skeletal muscle energy metabolism that occur with exposure to high altitude and considers possible underlying mechanisms.

What advances does it highlight?
In the human heart, sustained hypoxia at high altitude or shorter‐term normobaric hypoxia result in a loss of cardiac energetic reserve. In the hypoxic rat heart, fatty acid oxidation and respiratory capacity fall. In skeletal muscle, prolonged exposure to extreme high altitude results in the loss of mitochondrial density, but even at more moderate high altitude the respiratory capacity may be suppressed. Evidence from cells, genetically modified mice and high‐altitude‐adapted Tibetans suggests a possible mechanistic role for the hypoxia‐inducible factor pathway.

At high altitude the barometric pressure falls, challenging oxygen delivery to the tissues. Thus, whilst hypoxia is not the only physiological stress encountered at high altitude, low arterial is a sustained feature, even after allowing adequate time for acclimatization. Cardiac and skeletal muscle energy metabolism is altered in subjects at, or returning from, high altitude. In the heart, energetic reserve falls, as indicated by lower phosphocreatine‐to‐ATP ratios. The underlying mechanism is unknown, but in the hypoxic rat heart fatty acid oxidation and respiratory capacity are decreased, whilst pyruvate oxidation is also lower after sustained hypoxic exposure. In skeletal muscle, there is not a consensus. With prolonged exposure to extreme high altitude (>5500 m) a loss of muscle mitochondrial density is seen, but this was not observed in a simulated ascent of Everest in hypobaric chambers. At more moderate high altitude, decreased respiratory capacity may occur without changes in mitochondrial volume density, and fat oxidation may be downregulated, although this is not seen in all studies. The underlying mechanisms, including the possible role of hypoxia‐signalling pathways, remain to be resolved, particularly in light of confounding factors in the high‐altitude environment. In high‐altitude‐adapted Tibetan natives, however, there is evidence of natural selection centred around the hypoxia‐inducible factor pathway, and metabolic features in this population (e.g. low cardiac phosphocreatine‐to‐ATP ratios, increased cardiac glucose uptake and lower muscle mitochondrial densities) share similarities with those in acclimatized lowlanders, supporting a possible role for the hypoxia‐inducible factor pathway in the metabolic response of cardiac and skeletal muscle energy metabolism to high altitude.
Local control of blood flow during active hyperaemia: what kinds of integration are important?
Authors: Murrant Coral L. , Sarelius Ingrid H. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe focus of this review is on local mechanisms modifying arteriolar resistance to match blood flow to metabolism. In skeletal muscle many local mediators are known, including K+, nitric oxide (NO), purines and prostaglandins. Each accounts for about 30% of the response; it is widely held that these act redundantly: this concept awaits systematic testing. Understanding signal integration also requires consideration of microvascular network morphology in relation to local communication pathways between endothelial and smooth muscle cells (which are critical for many local responses, including dilatation to skeletal muscle contraction) and in relation to the spread of vasodilator signals up‐ and downstream throughout the network. Mechanisms mediating the spread of dilatation from local to remote sites have been well studied using acetylcholine (ACh), but remote dilatations to contraction of skeletal muscle fibres also occur. Importantly, these mechanisms clearly differ from those initiated by ACh, but much remains undefined. Furthermore, capillaries contribute to metabolic dilatation as they dilate arterioles directly upstream in response to vasoactive agents or contraction of adjacent muscle fibres. Given the dispersed arrangement of motor units, precise matching of flow to metabolism is not attainable unless signals are initiated only by ‘active’ capillaries. As motor units are recruited, signals that direct blood flow towards these active fibres will eventually be supported by local and spreading responses in the arterioles associated with those fibres. Thus, mechanisms of integration of vasodilator signalling across elements of the microvasculature remain an important area of focus for new studies.
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Heart failure induces changes in acid‐sensing ion channels in sensory neurons innervating skeletal muscle
Authors: Gibbons David D. , Kutschke William J. , Weiss Robert M. , Benson Christopher J. 
Published: August 2015

Key points
Heart failure is characterized by an elevated sympathetic state and exercise intolerance, which is partially driven by exaggerated autonomic reflexes triggered by skeletal muscle afferents.
Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) are highly expressed in skeletal muscle afferents and contribute to exercise mediated reflexes.
Here we show that ASIC currents recorded from isolated skeletal muscle sensory neurons display diminished pH sensitivity, altered desensitization kinetics, and faster recovery from desensitization in a mouse model of heart failure.
These results indicate ASICs in muscle afferents are altered in heart failure, and may contribute to the associated sympathoexcitation and exercise intolerance.
AbstractHeart failure is associated with diminished exercise capacity, which is driven, in part, by alterations in exercise‐induced autonomic reflexes triggered by skeletal muscle sensory neurons (afferents). These overactive reflexes may also contribute to the chronic state of sympathetic excitation, which is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality of heart failure. Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) are highly expressed in muscle afferents where they sense metabolic changes associated with ischaemia and exercise, and contribute to the metabolic component of these reflexes. Therefore, we tested if ASICs within muscle afferents are altered in heart failure. We used whole‐cell patch clamp to study the electrophysiological properties of acid‐evoked currents in isolated, labelled muscle afferent neurons from control and heart failure (induced by myocardial infarction) mice. We found that the percentage of muscle afferents that displayed ASIC‐like currents, the current amplitudes, and the pH dose–response relationships were not altered in mice with heart failure. On the other hand, the biophysical properties of ASIC‐like currents were significantly different in a subpopulation of cells (40%) from heart failure mice. This population displayed diminished pH sensitivity, altered desensitization kinetics, and very fast recovery from desensitization. These unique properties define these channels within this subpopulation of muscle afferents as being heteromeric channels composed of ASIC2a and ‐3 subunits. Heart failure induced a shift in the subunit composition of ASICs within muscle afferents, which significantly altered their pH sensing characteristics. These results might, in part, contribute to the changes in exercise‐mediated reflexes that are associated with heart failure.
High‐frequency focal repetitive cerebellar stimulation induces prolonged increases in human pharyngeal motor cortex excitability
Authors: Vasant Dipesh H. , Michou Emilia , Mistry Satish , Rothwell John C , Hamdy Shaheen 
Published: August 2015

Key points
Neurostimulation is a rapidly emerging approach to swallowing rehabilitation, but cerebellar stimulation has not been explored as a treatment. Such proposed therapies for post‐stroke dysphagia have required confirmation of physiological effects and optimisation of parameters in healthy humans prior to translational progression into patient groups.
There is strong evidence for a role of the cerebellum in swallowing physiology, but this relationship has been under‐explored.
Recently, single pulses of cerebellar magnetic stimulation have been shown to directly evoke responses from pharyngeal musculature and produce short‐term enhancement of cortico‐pharyngeal motor evoked potentials, suggesting the feasibility of a cerebellar approach to neurostimulation in the swallowing system.
We therefore examined multiple parameters of repetitive cerebellar magnetic stimulation and have described the optimal settings to provoke longer‐lasting changes in swallowing neurophysiology. Based on evidence from the post‐stroke dysphagia neurostimulation literature, these changes may have a therapeutic potential for swallowing rehabilitation.
AbstractBrain neurostimulation has been shown to modulate cortical swallowing neurophysiology in post‐stroke dysphagia with therapeutic effects which are critically dependent on the stimulation parameters. Cerebellar neurostimulation is, however, a novel, unexplored approach to modulation of swallowing pathways as a prelude to therapy for dysphagia. Here, we randomised healthy human subjects (n = 17) to receive one of five cerebellar repetitive TMS (rTMS) interventions (Sham, 1 Hz, 5 Hz, 10 Hz and 20 Hz) on separate visits to our laboratory. Additionally, a subset of subjects randomly received each of three different durations (50, 250, 500 pulses) of optimal frequency versus sham cerebellar rTMS. Prior to interventions subjects underwent MRI‐guided single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to co‐localise pharyngeal and thenar representation in the cortex and cerebellum (midline and hemispheric) before acquisition of baseline motor evoked potential (MEP) recordings from each site as a measure of excitability. Post‐interventional MEPs were recorded for an hour and compared to sham using repeated measures ANOVA. Only 10 Hz cerebellar rTMS increased cortico‐pharyngeal MEP amplitudes (mean bilateral increase 52%, P = 0.007) with effects lasting 30 min post‐intervention with an optimal train length of 250 pulses (P = 0.019). These optimised parameters of cerebellar rTMS can produce sustained increases in corticobulbar excitability and may have clinical translation in future studies of neurogenic dysphagia.
Draft Genome Sequence of Aquamicrobium defluvii Strain W13Z1, a Psychrotolerant Halotolerant Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterium
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Jin Decai , Zhou Lisha , Zhang Zhuo 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Aquamicrobium defluvii
W13Z1 was isolated from petroleum-contaminated drill cuttings from the Bohai Sea and could degrade petroleum hydrocarbon with 5% NaCl at 15°C. Here, we present the 4.8-Mb draft genome sequence of this strain, which may provide useful information about the mechanism of petroleum degradation in drill cuttings.
How reliable are Functional Movement Screening scores? A systematic review of rater reliability
Authors: Moran Robert W , Schneiders Anthony G , Major Katherine M , Sullivan S John 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundSeveral physical assessment protocols to identify intrinsic risk factors for injury aetiology related to movement quality have been described. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a standardised, field-expedient test battery intended to assess movement quality and has been used clinically in preparticipation screening and in sports injury research.AimTo critically appraise and summarise research investigating the reliability of scores obtained using the FMS battery.Study designSystematic literature review.MethodsSystematic search of Google Scholar, Scopus (including ScienceDirect and PubMed), EBSCO (including Academic Search Complete, AMED, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition), MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus. Studies meeting eligibility criteria were assessed by 2 reviewers for risk of bias using the Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies checklist. Overall quality of evidence was determined using van Tulder's levels of evidence approach.Results12 studies were appraised. Overall, there was a ‘moderate’ level of evidence in favour of ‘acceptable’ (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.6) inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for composite scores derived fromlivescoring. For inter-rater reliability of composite scores derived fromvideorecordings there was ‘conflicting’ evidence, and ‘limited’ evidence for intra-rater reliability. For inter-rater reliability based onlivescoring of individual subtests there was ‘moderate’ evidence of ‘acceptable’ reliability (κ≥0.4) for 4 subtests (Deep Squat, Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight-leg Raise, Trunk Stability Push-up) and ‘conflicting’ evidence for the remaining 3 (Hurdle Step, In-line Lunge, Rotary Stability).ConclusionsThis review found ‘moderate’ evidence that raters can achieve acceptable levels of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of composite FMS scores when usingliveratings. Overall, there were few high-quality studies, and the quality of several studies was impacted by poor study reporting particularly in relation to rater blinding.
Changing trends of hospitalisation of liver cirrhosis in Beijing, China
Authors: Bao Xiao-Yuan , Xu Bei-Bei , Fang Kai , Li Yan , Hu Yong-Hua , Yu Guo-Pei 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo examine if the hospitalisation trends of liver cirrhosis are changing with the changes of risk factors of the disease in China.DesignSecondary analysis of hospitalisation records in the 31 top-ranking hospitals in Beijing.ResultsBetween 2006 and 2010, hospitalisation from viral hepatitis cirrhosis (VHC) decreased by 10% (95% CI=5–14%, p<0.001), but non-viral hepatitis cirrhosis (NVHC) and alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) increased by 35% (26–46%, p<0.001) and 33% (19%– 47%, p<0.001), respectively. The age patterns of hospitalisation varied with different types of liver cirrhosis. The hospitalisation risks for patients with VHC and AC were significantly high in the age groups 40–49 and 50–59 years, but risks for those with NHVC were high in all age groups of 40 years or above. Overall male-to-female hospitalisation ratios for VHC, NVHC and AC were 2.71, 1.14 and 59.9, respectively. The sex ratio became smaller with time from 2006 to 2010 in hospitalised patients with VHC, but it substantially increased in those with NVHC during the same period.ConclusionsHospitalisation rates for liver cirrhosis in Beijing are changing with time. The changes of viral hepatitis infection and alcohol consumption in the general population may cause these changes.
Association between probable postnatal depression and increased infant mortality and morbidity: findings from the DON population-based cohort study in rural Ghana
Authors: Weobong Benedict , ten Asbroek Augustinus H A , Soremekun Seyi , Gram Lu , Amenga-Etego Seeba , Danso Samuel , Owusu-Agyei Seth , Prince Martin , Kirkwood Betty R 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of probable depression in the immediate postnatal period on subsequent infant mortality and morbidity.DesignCohort study nested within 4 weekly surveillance of all women of reproductive age to identify pregnancies and collect data on births and deaths.SettingRural/periurban communities within the Kintampo Health Research Centre study area of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana.Participants16 560 mothers who had a live singleton birth reported between 24 March 2008 and 11 July 2009, who were screened for probable postnatal depression (pPND) between 4 and 12 weeks post partum (some of whom had also had depression assessed at pregnancy), and whose infants survived to this point.Primary/secondary outcome measuresAll-cause early infant mortality expressed per 1000 infant-months of follow-up from the time of postnatal assessment to 6 months of age. The secondary outcomes were (1) all-cause infant mortality from the time of postnatal assessment to 12 months of age and (2) reported infant morbidity from the time of the postnatal assessment to 12 months of age.Results130 infant deaths were recorded and singletons were followed for 67 457.4 infant-months from the time of their mothers’ postnatal depression assessment. pPND was associated with an almost threefold increased risk of mortality up to 6 months (adjusted rate ratio (RR), 2.86 (1.58 to 5.19); p=0.001). The RR up to 12 months was 1.88 (1.09 to 3.24; p=0.023). pPND was also associated with increased risk of infant morbidity.ConclusionsThere is new evidence for the association between maternal pPND and infant mortality in low-income and middle-income countries. Implementation of the WHO's Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) to scale up packages of care integrated with maternal health is encouraged as an important adjunct to child survival efforts.
Development of a multivariable model to predict vulnerability in older American patients hospitalised with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Bell Susan P , Schnelle John , Nwosu Samuel K , Schildcrout Jonathan , Goggins Kathryn , Cawthon Courtney , Mixon Amanda S , Vasilevskis Eduard E , Kripalani Sunil 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo identify vulnerable cardiovascular patients in the hospital using a self-reported function-based screening tool.ParticipantsProspective observational cohort study of 445 individuals aged ≥65 years admitted to a university medical centre hospital within the USA with acute coronary syndrome and/or decompensated heart failure.MethodsParticipants completed an inperson interview during hospitalisation, which included vulnerable functional status using the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13), sociodemographic, healthcare utilisation practices and clinical patient-specific measures. A multivariable proportional odds logistic regression model examined associations between VES-13 and prior healthcare utilisation, as well as other coincident medical and psychosocial risk factors for poor outcomes in cardiovascular disease.ResultsVulnerability was highly prevalent (54%) and associated with a higher number of clinic visits, emergency room visits and hospitalisations (all p<0.001). A multivariable analysis demonstrating a 1-point increase in VES-13 (vulnerability) was independently associated with being female (OR 1.55, p=0.030), diagnosis of heart failure (OR 3.11, p<0.001), prior hospitalisations (OR 1.30, p<0.001), low social support (OR 1.42, p=0.007) and depression (p<0.001). A lower VES-13 score (lower vulnerability) was associated with increased health literacy (OR 0.70, p=0.002).ConclusionsVulnerability to functional decline is highly prevalent in hospitalised older cardiovascular patients and was associated with patient risk factors for adverse outcomes and an increased use of healthcare services.
Geospatial patterns of human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in Minnesota
Authors: Nelson Erik J , Hughes John , Oakes J Michael , Pankow James S , Kulasingam Shalini L 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo identify factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and to determine the geographic distribution of vaccine uptake while accounting for spatial autocorrelation.DesignThis study is cross-sectional in design using data collected via the Internet from the Survey of Minnesotans About Screening and HPV study.Setting and participantsThe sample consists of 760 individuals aged 18–30 years nested within 99 ZIP codes surrounding the downtown area of Minneapolis, Minnesota.ResultsIn all, 46.2% of participants had received≥1 dose of HPV vaccine (67.7% of women and 13.0% of men). Prevalence of HPV vaccination was found to exhibit strong spatial dependence () across ZIP codes. Accounting for spatial dependence, age (OR=0.76, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.83) and male gender (OR=0.04, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.07) were negatively associated with vaccination, while liberal political preferences (OR=4.31, 95% CI 2.32 to 8.01), and college education (OR=2.58, 95% CI 1.14 to 5.83) were found to be positively associated with HPV vaccination.ConclusionsStrong spatial dependence and heterogeneity of HPV vaccination prevalence were found across ZIP codes, indicating that spatial statistical models are needed to accurately identify and estimate factors associated with vaccine uptake across geographic units. This study also underscores the need for more detailed data collected at local levels (eg, ZIP code), as patterns of HPV vaccine receipt were found to differ significantly from aggregated state and national patterns. Future work is needed to further pinpoint areas with the greatest disparities in HPV vaccination and how to then access these populations to improve vaccine uptake.
Resolving complex communication beyond geological and geophysical data resolution: an example from an underground gas storage facility in the Austrian Molasse Basin
Authors: Thürschmid G. , Harrer A. , Gruber W. , Griess B. 
Published: August 2015

A fully integrated reservoir modelling approach aiming for the best conditioned static model for an underground gas storage facility (UGSF) in a complex structural and depositional setting is presented.
The Nussdorf UGSF is a depleted gas field characterized by typical deep-water depositional environment settings including sediment mass-flow systems being shed off the emerging Alpine thrust front during the Neogene. The key challenge in assessing this specific storage performance is the communication within the individual stacked sandstone layers, as well as determining the existing cross-flow between such layers through wells and due to juxtaposition across faults.
Highly heterogeneous reservoir facies, representing thin-layered, stacked sandy fans embedded in marly shale, were realized by joining object-based and Gaussian simulations constrained by a gross depositional environment model. Modelling known pressure communication across intrareservoir faults required fault throws to be adjusted at scales below the limit of seismic resolution. Scoping simulation runs on a best-guess model led to a full back-loop of the geological modelling. Several loops revealed that iterations limited to property realizations were insufficient, requiring additional modifications of the structural model. Only via this expensive approach could a geologically consistent and ‘fit for purpose’ reservoir model for the UGSF be achieved.