bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional visualization of mixed species biofilm formation together with its substratum
Authors: Inaba Tomohiro , Ichihara Takahiro , Yawata Yutaka , Toyofuku Masanori , Uchiyama Hiroo , Nomura Nobuhiko 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTBiofilms, such as dental plaque, are aggregates of microorganisms attached to a surface. Thus, visualization of biofilms together with their attached substrata is important in order to understand details of the interaction between them. However, so far there is limited availability of such techniques. Here, non‐invasive visualization of biofilm formation with its attached substratum by applying the previously reported technique of continuous‐optimizing confocal reflection microscopy (COCRM) is reported. The process of development of oral biofilm together with its substratum was sequentially visualized with COCRM. This study describes a convenient method for visualizing biofilm and its attached surface.
Novel human H7N9 influenza virus in China
Authors: WANG Chengmin , LUO Jing , WANG Jing , SU Wen , GAO Shanshan , ZHANG Min , XIE Li , DING Hua , LIU Shelan , LIU Xiaodong , CHEN Yu , JIA Yaxiong , HE Hongxuan 
Published: May 2013

AbstractOutbreaks of H7N9 avian influenza in humans in 5 provinces and 2 municipalities of China have reawakened concern that avian influenza viruses may again cross species barriers to infect the human population and thereby initiate a new influenza pandemic. Evolutionary analysis shows that human H7N9 influenza viruses originated from the H9N2, H7N3 and H11N9 avian viruses, and that it is as a novel reassortment influenza virus. This article reviews current knowledge on 11 subtypes of influenza A virus from human which can cause human infections.
Genetic analysis of group composition and relatedness in white‐headed langurs
Authors: LIU Zhijin , HUANG Chengming , ZHOU Qihai , Li Youbang , WANG Yuefeng , LI Ming , TAKENAKA Osamu , TAKENAKA Akiko 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWe collected fecal samples of white‐headed langurs from 3 of the 4 remaining habitat fragments (Fa, Fb and CZ) located in southwestern Guangxi, China in Nov 2005, and used 5 microsatellite loci and the SRY gene to assess the relatedness between 46 langurs within and between groups. We observed 2 forms of group structure: one‐male/multi‐female groups (OMGs) and all‐male groups (AMGs). One AMG in Fa was composed of 2 generations, included a father, 2 sons and 1 unrelated male, and all OMGs in all 3 habitats included 1 resident male, several adult females and offspring. Of the 21 identified father‐offspring cases, the resident male fathered 20 (95%) and the non‐resident male sired 1 (5%), suggesting that adult males had overwhelming priority of access to females as the resident male in an OMG, while the non‐resident male may also have the opportunity to adopt surreptitious mating strategies.
Long‐term results of a randomized, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled phase III trial: Endostar (rh‐endostatin) versus placebo in combination with vinorelbine and cisplatin in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Sun Yan , Wang Jin Wan , Liu Yong Yu , Yu Qi Tao , Zhang Yi Ping , Li Kai , Xu Li Yan , Luo Su Xia , Qin Feng Zhan , Chen Zheng Tang , Liu Wen Chao , Zhou Qing Hua , Chen Qiang , Nan Ke Jun , Liu Xiao Qing , Liu Wei , Liang Hou Jie , Lu Hui Shan , Wang Xiu Wen , Wang Jie Jun , Song Shu Ping , Tu Yuan Rong , Zhou Jing Min , Li Wei Lian , Yao Chen ,   Endostar Phase III NSCLC Study Group
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackground: Phase II‐III trials in patients with untreated and previously treated locally advanced or non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suggested that Endostar was able to enhance the effect of platinum‐based chemotherapy (NP regimen) with tolerable adverse effects.MethodsFour hundred and eighty six patients were randomized into two arms: study arm A: NP plus Endostar (n = 322; vinorelbine, cisplatin, Endostar), and study arm B: NP plus placebo (n = 164; vinorelbine, cisplatin, 0.9% sodium chloride). Patients were treated every third week for two to six cycles.Results: Overall response rates were 35.4% in arm A and 19.5% in arm B (P = 0.0003). The median time to progression was 6.3 months for arm A and 3.6 months for B, respectively (P < 0.001). The clinical benefit rates were 73.3% in arm A and 64.0% in arm B (P = 0.035). Grade 3/4 neutropenia, anemia, and nausea/vomiting were 28.5%, 3.4%, and 8.0%, respectively, in Arm A compared with 28.2%, 3.0%, and 6.6%, respectively, in Arm B (P > 0.05). There were two treatment related deaths in arm A and one in arm B (P > 0.05). The median overall survival was longer in arm A than in arm B (P < 0.0001).Conclusion: Long‐term follow‐up revealed that the addition of Endostar to an NP regimen can result in a significant clinical and survival benefit in advanced NSCLC patients, compared with NP alone.
Simple recessive mutation in ENAM is associated with amelogenesis imperfecta in Italian Greyhounds
Authors: Gandolfi Barbara , Liu Hongwei , Griffioen Layle , Pedersen Niels C. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryWe report a familial enamel hypoplasia in Italian Greyhounds resembling non‐syndromic autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) of humans. The condition uniformly affects deciduous and permanent teeth and is manifested by enamel roughening/thinning and brownish mottling. Affected teeth are often small and pointed with increased gaps. However, basic tooth structure is usually maintained throughout life, and fractures and dental cavities are not a serious problem as in humans. No tissues or organs other than teeth were affected by this mutation, and there was no relationship between enamel hypoplasia and either autoimmunity or periodontal disease, which also are prevalent in the breed. The enamel hypoplasia was associated with a 5‐bp deletion in exon 10 of the enamelin (ENAM) gene. The prevalence of the enamel defect in Italian Greyhounds was 14%, and 30% of dogs with normal teeth were carriers. Genome analyses suggest that the trait is under inadvertent positive selection. Based on the deletion detected in the ENAM gene, a genetic test was developed for identifying mutation carriers, which would enable breeders to manage the trait.
Gene‐Specific Effect of Beta‐Adrenergic Blockade on Corrected QT Interval in the Long QT Syndrome
Authors: Extramiana Fabrice , Maison‐Blanche Pierre , Denjoy Isabelle , De Jode Patrick , Messali Anne , Labbé Jean‐Philippe , Leenhardt Antoine 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundIn the long QT syndrome (LQTS) the effects of beta‐blocker treatment on prevention of cardiac events differs according to the genotype. We aimed to assess the effect of beta‐blocker treatment on QT/QTc duration in Type 1 LQTS (LQT1) and Type 2 LQTS (LQT2) patients.Methods24‐hour digital Holter ECG were recorded before and after beta‐blocking therapy initiation in LQT1 (n = 30) and LQT2 patients (n = 16). QT duration was measured on consecutive 1‐minute averaged QRS‐T complexes leading to up to 1440 edited QT‐RR pairs for each recording. We computed subject‐ and treatment‐specific log/log QT/RR relationships which were used to correct the QT intervals. The QT duration was also evaluated at predefined heart rates and after correction using Bazett and Fridericia coefficients.ResultsAt baseline, individual QT/RR coefficients were higher in LQT2 than in LQT1 patients (0.53 ± 0.10 vs. 0.40 ± 0.11, P < 0.001) and QT1000 was longer in LQT2 than in LQT1 patients (521 ± 38 vs. 481 ± 39 ms, P < 0.01). Beta‐blockers significantly prolonged the mean RR interval (from 827 ± 161 to 939 ± 197 ms, P < 0.0001). The individual QT/RR coefficients were not significantly modified by beta‐blockers. Beta‐blocker treatment was associated with a prolongation of the QT1000 interval (from 481 ± 39 to 498 ± 43 ms, P < 0.01) in LQT1 patients but with a shortening in LQT2 patients (from 521 ± 38 to 503 ± 32 ms, P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe effect of beta‐adrenergic blockade on QTc duration is different in LQT1 and LQT2 patients. Our data suggest that, in LQT1 patients, the well‐known positive effect of beta‐blockade might be associated with a prolongation of QTc duration. The mechanisms of beta‐blockade protection may be different in LQT1 and in LQT2 patients.
Oral Contraceptive Use and the ECG: Evidence of an Adverse QT Effect on Corrected QT Interval
Authors: Sedlak Tara , Shufelt Chrisandra , Iribarren Carlos , Lyon Liisa L. , Bairey Merz C. Noel 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundA prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval is a marker for an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. We evaluated the relationship between oral contraceptive (OC) use, type of OC, and QTc interval.MethodsWe identified 410,782 ECGs performed at Northern California Kaiser Permanente on female patients between 15 and 53 years from January, 1995 to June, 2008. QT was corrected for heart rate using log‐linear regression. OC generation (first, second and third) was classified by increasing progestin androgenic potency, while the fourth generation was classified as antiandrogenic.ResultsAmong 410,782 women, 8.4% were on OC. In multivariate analysis after correction for comorbidities, there was an independent shortening effect of OCs overall (slope = −0.5 ms; SE = 0.12, P < 0.0002). Users of first and second generation progestins had a significantly shorter QTc than nonusers (P < 0.0001), while users of fourth generation had a significantly longer QTc than nonusers (slope = 3.6 ms, SE = 0.35, P < 0.0001).ConclusionOverall, OC use has a shortening effect on the QTc. Shorter QTc is seen with first and second generation OC while fourth generation OC use has a lengthening effect on the QTc. Careful examination of adverse event rates in fourth generation OC users is needed.
T‐Wave Alternans and ST Depression Assessment Identifies Low Risk Individuals with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy in the Absence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Authors: Friedman Daniel J. , Bender Seth R. , Markowitz Steven M. , Lerman Bruce B. , Okin Peter M. 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundAlthough ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by Cornell product (CP) predicts increased mortality in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), those without CP LVH remain at relatively high risk. We examined whether T‐wave alternans (TWA) testing and ST depression can improve risk stratification in these patients.Methods and ResultsThis study examined 317 patients with ICM, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and a resting ECG in sinus rhythm, who presented for electrophysiology and TWA testing, and potential implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. LVH was defined by CP :[(RaVL + SV3) +6 mm in women] × QRS duration > 2440 mm * msec. ST depression was examined as a categorical variable using an established threshold of depression of ≥50 μV in V5 or V6. In Cox multivariate models, abnormal TWA testing and ST depression were independent predictors of mortality in patients without CP LVH (HR 2.52, CI 1.09–5.80, P = 0.030 and HR 2.87, CI 1.41–5.81, P = 0.004, respectively). Individuals with no LVH by CP, normal TWA, and no significant ST depression, comprised 23% of the study population and had a 5.6% 3‐year mortality, compared to an overall 20% mortality.ConclusionsTWA and ST depression testing are strong predictors of mortality among ICM patients without CP LVH, with normal testing conversely predicting low 3‐year mortality. Thus, risk assessment with TWA testing and a resting ECG can identify ICM patients at low risk who may be less likely to benefit from ICD implantation.
Positive Brugada Challenge Test in V1R–V3R as a Predictor of Malignant Prognosis in Brugada Patients
Authors: Hashemi Arash , Shahrzad Shahab , Shahrzad Sorayya , Saber Siamak , Taban Samira , Aslani Amir , Emkanjoo Zahra 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundThe Brugada syndrome is a heterogeneous genetic disease that predisposes to life‐threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The only proven way to prolong the survival of patients with Brugada syndrome is to implant an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD). This should be implanted for high‐risk patients only.MethodThe patients with type 2 or 3 Brugada ECG pattern were selected for the study. We evaluated 126 patients with Brugada type ECG patterns. Nineteen patients had positive response. Those who had positive result in right side located leads had poorer prognosis.ConclusionPositive flecainide challenge test in right side located pericordial leads can be used as a predictor of poor prognosis in Brugada patients. This can be evaluated in another research for its role in the implantation of ICD. Also, the oral flecainide is not sensitive enough to rule out the presence of Brugada syndrome and it should not be trusted as a screening test for suspected cases.
Effects of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antagonist and Temperature on Prolonged Cardioplegic Arrest in Neonatal Rat Myocytes
Authors: Lucchese Gianluca , Cambi Giulia Elisa , De Rita Fabrizio , Franzoi Mauro , Faggian Giuseppe , Mazzucco Alessandro , Modesti Pietro Amedeo , Luciani Giovanni Battista 
Published: May 2013

AbstractCardioplegic arrest is a model of ischemia/reperfusion injury and results in the death of irreplaceable cardiac myocytes by a programmed cell death or apoptosis. Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways play an important role in the modulation of apoptosis after ischemia and reperfusion. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist added to cardioplegia could represent an additional modality for enhancing myocardial protection during cardioplegic arrest. To test that hypothesis, we studied the effect of AT1 receptor antagonism and cardioplegia temperature perfusion on STATs modulation during cardioplegic arrest in neonatal rat hearts. Isolated, nonworking hearts (n = 4 per group) from neonatal rats were perfused aerobically in the Langendorff mode according to the following scheme: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium solution (Group 1); cold (4°C) modified St. Thomas' Hospital no. 2 (MSTH2) cardioplegic solution (Group 2); cold (4°C) MSTH2 cardioplegic solution plus AT1 antagonist (Valsartan) (Group 3); and warm (34°C) MSTH2 cardioplegic solution (Group 4). Thus, myocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion, and STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, and STAT5 were investigated in Western blot studies. Times to arrest after cardioplegia were 6–10 s for all groups with the exception of Group 1 (spontaneous arrest after 12–16 s). Total cardioplegia delivery volume was about 300 mL in 15 min. Perfusion with cold MSTH2 supplemented with AT1 receptor antagonist (Group 3) induced a significant reduction in STAT1, STAT2, and STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation versus other groups (P < 0.05). The decreased activation of STAT1, STAT2, and STAT5 observed in Group 3 was accompanied by reduction of interleukin‐1β (P < 0.05). On the other hand, STAT3 activation was significantly reduced in Groups 1 and 4 (P < 0.05). Only perfusion with AT1 receptor antagonist supplemented with cold MSTH2 significantly decreases the inflammatory response of the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes without affecting antiapoptotic influence provided by activation of STAT3. Therefore, AT1 receptor antagonist could play a pivotal role in cytoprotective effect and cardiac recovery in neonates and infants.
A new method for determining gastric acid output using a wireless pH‐sensing capsule
Authors: Weinstein D. H. , deRijke S. , Chow C. C. , Foruraghi L. , Zhao X. , Wright E. C. , Whatley M. , Maass‐Moreno R. , Chen C. C. , Wank S. A. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryBackgroundGastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastric acid hypersecretion respond well to suppression of gastric acid secretion. However, clinical management and research in diseases of acid secretion have been hindered by the lack of a non‐invasive, accurate and reproducible tool to measure gastric acid output (GAO). Thus, symptoms or, in refractory cases, invasive testing may guide acid suppression therapy.AimTo present and validate a novel, non‐invasive method of GAO analysis in healthy subjects using a wireless pH sensor, SmartPill (SP) (SmartPill Corporation, Buffalo, NY, USA).MethodsTwenty healthy subjects underwent conventional GAO studies with a nasogastric tube. Variables impacting liquid meal‐stimulated GAO analysis were assessed by modelling and in vitro verification. Buffering capacity of Ensure Plus was empirically determined. SP GAO was calculated using the rate of acidification of the Ensure Plus meal. Gastric emptying scintigraphy and GAO studies with radiolabelled Ensure Plus and SP assessed emptying time, acidification rate and mixing. Twelve subjects had a second SP GAO study to assess reproducibility.ResultsMeal‐stimulated SP GAO analysis was dependent on acid secretion rate and meal‐buffering capacity, but not on gastric emptying time. On repeated studies, SP GAO strongly correlated with conventional basal acid output (BAO) (r = 0.51, P = 0.02), maximal acid output (MAO) (r = 0.72, P = 0.0004) and peak acid output (PAO) (r = 0.60, P = 0.006). The SP sampled the stomach well during meal acidification.ConclusionsSP GAO analysis is a non‐invasive, accurate and reproducible method for the quantitative measurement of GAO in healthy subjects. SP GAO analysis could facilitate research and clinical management of GERD and other disorders of gastric acid secretion.
Naloxone increases maturation rate and ratio of inner cell mass to total cells in blastocysts in pigs
Authors: Dang‐Nguyen Thanh Quang , Viet Linh Nguyen , Minoia Rosa , Kaneda Masahiro , Somfai Tamas , Haraguchi Seiki , Akagi Satoshi , Kikuchi Kazuhiro , Nakai Michiko , Tajima Atsushi , Nagai Takashi 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe purposes of the present study were to examine the effect of naloxone, a mu‐opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist, on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development. MOR gene was expressed in germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (M‐II) porcine oocytes, one‐, four‐cell stage embryos and blastocysts. In blastocysts, MOR gene was mainly expressed in inner cell mass (ICM) cells. Supplementation of 10−8 mol/L naloxone in in vitro maturation (IVM) medium increased the maturation rate (P < 0.05). However, 10−4 mol/L naloxone reduced the maturation rate (P < 0.05) compared with the control. The presence of naloxone during IVM had no effects on fertilization status and subsequent embryonic development after in vitro culture (IVC). The addition of 10−3 mol/L dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP), and 10−8 mol/L naloxone together into IVM medium increased nuclear maturation (P < 0.05) compared with the addition of either dbcAMP or naloxone alone. Supplementation with naloxone in IVC medium did not improve embryonic development. However, at the concentrations of 10−6 mol/L and 10−8 mol/L, naloxone increased the ratio of ICM to total cells in blastocysts (P < 0.05). In conclusion, at low concentration, naloxone increases maturation rate and the ratio of ICM to total cells in blastocysts. Naloxone and cAMP have a synergistic effect on oocyte maturation.
Effect of bromochloromethane and fumarate on phylogenetic diversity of the formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase gene in bovine rumen
Authors: Mitsumori Makoto , Matsui Hiroki , Tajima Kiyoshi , Shinkai Takumi , Takenaka Akio , Denman Stuart E. , McSweeney Christopher S. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractEffect of the methane inhibitor, bromochloromethane (BCM) and dietary substrate, fumarate, on microbial community structure of acetogen bacteria in the bovine rumen was investigated through analysis of the formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase gene (fhs). The fhs sequences obtained from BCM‐untreated, BCM‐treated, fumarate‐untreated and fumarate‐treated bovine rumen were categorized into homoacetogens and nonhomoacetogenic bacteria by homoacetogen similarity scores. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that most of the fhs sequences categorized into homoacetogens were divided into nine clusters, which were in close agreement with a result shown in a self‐organizing map. The diversity of the fhs sequences from the BCM‐treated rumen was significantly different from those from BCM‐non‐treated rumen. Principal component analysis also showed that addition of BCM to the rumen altered the population structure of acetogenic bacteria significantly but the effect of fumarate was comparatively minor. These results indicate that BCM affects diversity of actogens in the bovine rumen, and changes in acetogenic community structure in response to methane inhibitors may be caused by different mechanisms.
Distribution of radioactive cesium in edible parts of cattle
Authors: Okada Keiji , Sato Itaru , Deguchi Yoshitaka , Morita Shigeru , Yasue Takeshi , Yayota Masato , Takeda Ken‐ichi , Sato Shusuke 
Published: May 2013

AbstractAfter the disastrous incident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, various agricultural, livestock and fishery products have been inspected for radioactive contamination with cesium in Japan. In this study, radioactive cesium was measured in various edible parts of cattle to verify the current inspection method for cattle, in which the neck tissues are generally used as samples. Radioactive cesium concentration in the short plate, diaphragm, liver, lung, omasum, abomasum and small intestine were lower and sirloin, tenderloin, top round meat and tongue were higher than that in the neck. There was no significant difference between the other organs (heart, kidney, lumen and reticulum) and the neck. Ninety‐five percent upper tolerance limits of the relative concentration to the neck were 1.88 for sirloin, 1.74 for tenderloin, 1.87 for top round and 1.45 for tongue. These results suggest that a safety factor of 2 is recommended for the radioactivity inspection of cattle to prevent a marketing of meat with higher cesium than the legal limit. Re‐inspection should be conducted using another part of muscle, for example, top round, when suspicious levels of 50–100 Bq/kg are detected in the neck.
Vitamin D analogue TX 527 down‐regulates the NF‐κB pathway and controls the proliferation of endothelial cells transformed by Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus
Authors: González‐Pardo V , Verstuyf A , Boland R , Russo de Boland A 
Published: May 2013

Background and PurposeThe Kaposi sarcoma (KS)‐associated herpesvirus GPCR (vGPCR) is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of KS, where it increases NF‐κB gene expression and activates the NF‐κB pathway. We investigated whether the less calcemic vitamin D analogue TX 527 inhibited the proliferation of endothelial cells transformed by vGPCR by modulation of the NF‐κB pathway.Experimental ApproachEndothelial cells transformed by vGPCR (SVEC‐vGPCR) were treated with TX 527. Proliferation was measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) and cell cycle by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein levels were measured by real‐time quantitative reverse transcriptase‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) and immunoblot analysis respectively.Key ResultsTX 527, similar to bortezomib (0.5 nM), a proteasome inhibitor that inhibits the activation of NF‐κB, reduced proliferation and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in SVEC‐vGPCR. TX 527 like 1α,25(OH)2D3, biological active form of vitamin D, decreased the activity of NF‐κB comparable with the effect of bortezomib. Time‐response studies showed that TX 527 significantly decreased NF‐κB and increased IκBα mRNA and protein levels. The increase of IκBα was accompanied by a reduction in p65/NF‐κB translocation to the nucleus. These responses were abolished when vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression was suppressed by stable transfection of shRNA against VDR. In parallel with NF‐κB inhibition, there was a down‐regulation of inflammatory genes such as IL‐6, CCL2/MCP and CCL20/MIP3α.Conclusions and ImplicationsThese results suggest that the anti‐proliferative effects of the vitamin D analogue TX 527 in SVEC‐vGPCR occur by modulation of the NF‐κB pathway and are VDR dependent.