bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leaf mechanics and herbivory defence: How tough tissue along the leaf body deters growing insect herbivores
Authors: Malishev Matthew , Sanson Gordon D. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractResearch on herbivory defence often focuses on leaf chemistry but less on how plant mechanical properties like leaf veins deter herbivores. Herbivores often eat tough, complex plant tissue, yet how mechanical properties affect feeding performance as the consumer grows is unclear. We measured the toughness and strength of five types of leaf tissue – the midrib, the secondary and marginal veins and the lamina inside (inner) and outside (outer) the marginal vein – in mature Eucalyptus viminalis and Eucalyptus ovata leaves with punch tests. Leaf veins were, on average, 6.2 times tougher than lamina. Marginal veins were uniformly strong and tough along the leaf body, while midribs were less strong and secondary veins less tough toward leaf tips. We correlated the force required to puncture leaf tissue with the feeding performance of a chewing insect herbivore (the spiny leaf insect, Extatosoma tiaratum (Phasmida)) across four instar stages to explore the role of tough leaf veins as potential feeding barriers. Larvae more often ate less tough leaf tips and tougher tissue as they grew. However, younger larvae were capable of penetrating the tough marginal vein when starved. We suggest tough leaf veins and consumer position along the leaf body influence insect herbivore feeding performance over their lifetime.
Cataract surgery and age‐related macular degeneration. An evidence‐based update
Authors: Kessel Line , Erngaard Ditte , Flesner Per , Andresen Jens , Tendal Britta , Hjortdal Jesper 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPurposeAge‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract often coexist in patients and concerns that cataract surgery is associated with an increased risk of incidence or progression of existing AMD has been raised. This systematic review and meta‐analysis is focused on presenting the evidence concerning progression of AMD in patients undergoing cataract surgery.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature search in the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases. Two randomized trials and two case–control trials were identified. Quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, data were extracted, and meta‐analyses were performed. Quality of the available evidence was evaluated using the GRADE system.ResultsWe found that visual acuity at 6–12 months follow‐up was significantly better (6.5–7.5 letters) in eyes that had undergone cataract surgery than in unoperated eyes, but the included number of subjects was small, and hence, the quality of evidence was downgraded to moderate. We did not find an increased risk of progression to exudative AMD 6–12 months after cataract surgery [RR 3.21 (0.14–75.68)], but the included number of subjects was small, and thus, the quality of the evidence was moderate.ConclusionCataract surgery increases visual acuity without an increased risk of progression to exudative AMD, but further research with longer follow‐up is encouraged.
Transcriptome profiling of the hypothalamus during prelaying and laying periods in Sichuan white geese (Anser cygnoides)
Authors: Gao Guangliang , Li Qin , Zhao Xianzhi , Ding Ning , Han Qing , Su Jian , Wang Qigui 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe Sichuan White goose is a Chinese breed well known for the quality of its meat. However, reproductive performance in this goose is not ideal, and little information is available regarding the abundance of transcripts. To better understand the molecular mechanism(s) underpinning prelaying and laying periods in the Sichuan white goose, high‐throughput RNA sequencing was performed to analyze the transcriptome in the hypothalamus. After sequencing and annotation, 26 921 unigenes were obtained, with 48 transcripts up‐regulated in the prelaying period and 180 transcripts up‐regulated during the laying period. These transcripts were primarily related to diseases, cancers, signaling molecules and interactions, the nervous system and the immune system. Eight transcripts were selected for further analyses with quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The qRT‐PCR results were mostly consistent with those from the high‐throughput RNA sequencing. Among these transcripts, serine/threonine‐protein kinase (AMPK), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) were differentially expressed during the prelaying and laying periods. The results of this study provide a useful resource for future studies examining the hypothalamus in geese.
Relationships between postnatal plasma oxytocin concentrations and social behaviors in cattle
Authors: Yayou Ken‐ichi , Ito Shuichi , Yamamoto Naoyuki 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWe examined the associations between natural individual variations in basal oxytocin (OXT) in postnatal cattle and social behavioral traits. At 1, 2 and 6 weeks of age, the basal OXT exhibited individual variability in 20 Holstein heifer calves. Cluster analysis of mean OXT for these time periods obtained two subgroups: high OXT (HOXT; n = 9) and low OXT (LOXT; n = 11). Social behaviors were observed for 2 days at week 6 after introduction into a four‐peer group, and at 10–14 months of age (10 months) immediately and 1 week, 1 month and 5 months after introduction into 11–15 heifers. At week 6, the main effect of the OXT groups was not significant for all social behaviors. At 10 months, there tended to be interactions between the OXT groups and time periods with respect to the frequency of escape behaviors. LOXT heifers exhibited more escape behaviors than HOXT heifers on the first day of the second sociality tests. At 10 months, HOXT heifers exhibited both attacking and affiliative behavior for peers more than LOXT heifers during 5 months after the second social introduction. This suggests that postnatal OXT concentrations may have long‐lasting effects on individual differences among social behavioral traits in cattle.
A Penalized Likelihood Approach for Investigating Gene–Drug Interactions in Pharmacogenetic Studies
Authors: Neely Megan L. , Bondell Howard D. , Tzeng Jung-Ying 
Published: January 2015

SummaryPharmacogenetics investigates the relationship between heritable genetic variation and the variation in how individuals respond to drug therapies. Often, gene–drug interactions play a primary role in this response, and identifying these effects can aid in the development of individualized treatment regimes. Haplotypes can hold key information in understanding the association between genetic variation and drug response. However, the standard approach for haplotype-based association analysis does not directly address the research questions dictated by individualized medicine. A complementary post-hoc analysis is required, and this post-hoc analysis is usually under powered after adjusting for multiple comparisons and may lead to seemingly contradictory conclusions. In this work, we propose a penalized likelihood approach that is able to overcome the drawbacks of the standard approach and yield the desired personalized output. We demonstrate the utility of our method by applying it to the Scottish Randomized Trial in Ovarian Cancer. We also conducted simulation studies and showed that the proposed penalized method has comparable or more power than the standard approach and maintains low Type I error rates for both binary and quantitative drug responses. The largest performance gains are seen when the haplotype frequency is low, the difference in effect sizes are small, or the true relationship among the drugs is more complex.
Complications following artificial urinary sphincter placement after radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Bates Anthony S. , Martin Richard M. , Terry Tim R. 
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement after radical prostatectomy (RP) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).Patients and MethodsThere were 1 886 patients available for analysis of surgical revision outcomes and 949 for persistent urinary incontinence (UI) outcomes from 15 and 11 studies, respectively. The mean age (sd) was 66.9 (1.4) years and the number of patients per study was 126.6 (41.7). The mean (sd, range) follow‐up was 36.7 (3.9, 18–68) months. A systematic database search was conducted using keywords, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Published series of AUS implantations were retrieved, according to the inclusion criteria. The Newcastle–Ottawa Score was used to ascertain the quality of evidence for each study. Surgical results from each case series were extracted. Data were analysed using CMA® statistical software.ResultsAUS revision was higher in RP + EBRT vs RP alone, with a random effects risk ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–2.72; P < 0.050; I2 = 82.0%) and a risk difference of 16.0% (95% CI 2.05–36.01; P < 0.080). Infection/erosion contributed to the majority of surgical revision risk compared with urethral atrophy (P = 0.020). Persistent UI after implantation was greater in patients treated with EBRT (P < 0.001).ConclusionsMen receiving RP + EBRT appear at increased risk of infection/erosion and urethral atrophy, resulting in a greater risk of surgical revision compared with RP alone. Persistent UI is more common with RP + EBRT.
The current use of active surveillance in an Australian cohort of men: a pattern of care analysis from the Victorian Prostate Cancer Registry
Authors: Weerakoon Mahesha , Papa Nathan , Lawrentschuk Nathan , Evans Sue , Millar Jeremy , Frydenberg Mark , Bolton Damien , Murphy Declan G. 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivesTo ascertain the treatment trends and patterns of care, for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance (AS) in Victoria, Australia.Patients and MethodsDe‐identified data was obtained for 6424 men from the Victorian Prostate Cancer Registry. Men included in this study were diagnosed with prostate cancer from 2008 to August 2012 with ≥12‐months of follow‐up. Patients were stratified using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk grouping system and those who were not actively treated were identified. Data was acquired to describe the trends and uptake of AS according to public vs private hospital sector, and regional vs metropolitan regions.ResultsIn all, 1603/6424 (24.9%) men received no treatment with curative intent at 12‐months follow‐up. This cohort included patients in whom the chosen management plan was recorded as AS (980/1603, 61.1%), watchful waiting (341/1603, 21.3%), or no management plan (282/1603, 17.6%). From this, 980/6424(15.3%) of the patients were recorded as being on AS across all NCCN categories at 12 months after diagnosis. This included 653/1816 (35.9%) of very low‐ and low‐risk men, and 251/2820 (8.9%) of intermediate‐risk men. Of our patients on AS, 169/980 (17.2%) progressed onto active treatment after 12 months. This active treatment included radical prostatectomy in 116 (68.6%), 32 (18.9%) undergoing external beam radiation therapy, 12 (7.1%) undergoingt brachytherapy and nine (5.3%) undergoing androgen‐deprivation therapy. Overall, 629/979 (64.2%) of the AS patients were notified from a private hospital, with 350/979 (35.7%) of the patients notified from a public hospital (one patient unclassified). Of these, 202/652 (30.9%) of the AS patients with very low‐/low‐risk disease were managed in the public sector, vs 450/652 (69%) of very low‐/low‐risk AS patients being managed in the private sector. In our cohort, patients with very low‐ and low‐risk disease, managed in a private hospital, were more likely to be on AS (P = 0.005). AS patients in the private sector were also a median of 2.8 years younger (median 65.6 vs 68.4 years, P < 0.001); had a lower median PSA level (5.3 vs 6.7 ng/mL, P < 0.001); and had lower biopsy Gleason score and clinical staging. There was no significant difference in the uptake of AS demographically, in our cohort of men between metropolitan and regional areas.ConclusionIn this contemporary registry‐based population, AS is being used in a significant proportion of patients. The proportion of men progressing to intervention is lower than that reported in the current literature. Patients are more likely to be on AS if they are managed in a private hospital, with no differences in the uptake of AS, from metropolitan to regional areas.
Sexually transmitted infections, benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptom‐related outcomes: results from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Authors: Breyer Benjamin N. , Huang Wen‐Yi , Rabkin Charles S. , Alderete John F. , Pakpahan Ratna , Beason Tracey S. , Kenfield Stacey A. , Mabie Jerome , Ragard Lawrence , Wolin Kathleen Y. , Grubb Robert L. , Andriole Gerald L. , Sutcliffe Siobhan 
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveTo examine whether a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or positive STI serology is associated with prevalent and incident benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)‐related outcomes in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.MethodsSelf‐reported history of STIs (gonorrhoea, syphilis) was ascertained at baseline, and serological evidence of STIs (Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, human papillomavirus (HPV)‐16, HPV‐18, herpes simplex virus type 2, human herpesvirus type 8 and cytomegalovirus) was detected in baseline serum specimens. We used data collected on the baseline questionnaire, as well as results from the baseline prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination (DRE), to define prevalent BPH/LUTS‐related outcomes as evidence of LUTS (self‐reported diagnosis of an enlarged prostate/BPH, BPH surgery or nocturia [waking ≥2 times/night to urinate]) and evidence of prostate enlargement (PSA > 1.4 ng/mL or prostate volume ≥30 mL) in men without prostate cancer. We created a similar definition of incident BPH using data from the follow‐up questionnaire completed 5–13 years after enrolment (self‐reported diagnosis of an enlarged prostate/BPH or nocturia), data on finasteride use during follow‐up, and results from the follow‐up PSA tests and DREs. We used Poisson regression with robust variance estimation to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) in our cross‐sectional analysis of self‐reported (n = 32 900) and serologically detected STIs (n = 1 143) with prevalent BPH/LUTS, and risk ratios in our prospective analysis of self‐reported STIs with incident BPH/LUTS (n = 5 226).ResultsGenerally null results were observed for associations of a self‐reported history of STIs and positive STI serologies with prevalent and incident BPH/LUTS‐related outcomes, with the possible exception of T. vaginalis infection. This STI was positively associated with prevalent nocturia (PR 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–1.65), prevalent large prostate volume (PR 1.21 95% CI 1.02–1.43), and any prevalent BPH/LUTS (PR 1.32 95% CI 1.09–1.61); too few men had information on both STI serologies and incident BPH/LUTS to investigate the associations between T. vaginalis infection and incident BPH/LUTS‐related outcomes.ConclusionsOur findings do not support associations of several known STIs with BPH/LUTS‐related outcomes, although T. vaginalis infection may warrant further study.
Management of sexual dysfunction due to central nervous system disorders: a systematic review
Authors: Lombardi Giuseppe , Musco Stefania , Kessler Thomas M. , Marzi Vincenzo Li , Lanciotti Michele , Del Popolo Giulio 
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveTo systematically review the management of sexual dysfunction due to central nervous system (CNS) disorders.Patients and MethodsThe review was done according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Studies were identified independently by two reviewers using electronic searches of MEDLINE and OVID (from January 2004 to August 2014) and hand searches of reference lists and review articles.ResultsIn patients with CNS disorders, neuro‐urological assessment is recommended for both genders before starting any treatment for sexual dysfunction. For men, blood sexual hormones evaluation is the main investigation performed before phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) treatment, whereas there is no consensus on routine laboratory tests for women. PDE5Is are the first‐line medical treatment for men, with the most robust data derived from patients with spinal cord injury assessed by validated questionnaires, mainly the International Index of Erectile Function‐15. There is no effective medical treatment for sexual dysfunction in women. Sacral neuromodulation for lower urinary tract dysfunction may improve sexual dysfunction in both genders.ConclusionsAlthough sexual dysfunction is a major burden for patients with CNS disorders, high‐evidence level studies are rare and only available for PDE5Is treating erectile dysfunction. Well‐designed prospective studies are urgently needed for both genders.
Neotropical fish–fruit interactions: eco‐evolutionary dynamics and conservation
Authors: Correa Sandra Bibiana , Costa‐Pereira Raul , Fleming Theodore , Goulding Michael , Anderson Jill T. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTFrugivorous fish play a prominent role in seed dispersal and reproductive dynamics of plant communities in riparian and floodplain habitats of tropical regions worldwide. In Neotropical wetlands, many plant species have fleshy fruits and synchronize their fruiting with the flood season, when fruit‐eating fish forage in forest and savannahs for periods of up to 7 months. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to examine the evolutionary origin of fish–fruit interactions, describe fruit traits associated with seed dispersal and seed predation, and assess the influence of fish size on the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish (ichthyochory). To date, 62 studies have documented 566 species of fruits and seeds from 82 plant families in the diets of 69 Neotropical fish species. Fish interactions with flowering plants are likely to be as old as 70 million years in the Neotropics, pre‐dating most modern bird–fruit and mammal–fruit interactions, and contributing to long‐distance seed dispersal and possibly the radiation of early angiosperms. Ichthyochory occurs across the angiosperm phylogeny, and is more frequent among advanced eudicots. Numerous fish species are capable of dispersing small seeds, but only a limited number of species can disperse large seeds. The size of dispersed seeds and the probability of seed dispersal both increase with fish size. Large‐bodied species are the most effective seed dispersal agents and remain the primary target of fishing activities in the Neotropics. Thus, conservation efforts should focus on these species to ensure continuity of plant recruitment dynamics and maintenance of plant diversity in riparian and floodplain ecosystems.
Infant gut microbiota and food sensitization: associations in the first year of life
Authors: Azad M. B. , Konya T. , Guttman D. S. , Field C. J. , Sears M. R. , HayGlass K. T. , Mandhane P. J. , Turvey S. E. , Subbarao P. , Becker A. B. , Scott J. A. , Kozyrskyj A. L. ,   the CHILD Study Investigators
Published: January 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe gut microbiota is established during infancy and plays a fundamental role in shaping host immunity. Colonization patterns may influence the development of atopic disease, but existing evidence is limited and conflicting.ObjectiveTo explore associations of infant gut microbiota and food sensitization.MethodsFood sensitization at 1 year was determined by skin prick testing in 166 infants from the population‐based Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study. Faecal samples were collected at 3 and 12 months, and microbiota was characterized by Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing.ResultsTwelve infants (7.2%) were sensitized to ≥ 1 common food allergen at 1 year. Enterobacteriaceae were overrepresented and Bacteroidaceae were underrepresented in the gut microbiota of food‐sensitized infants at 3 months and 1 year, whereas lower microbiota richness was evident only at 3 months. Each quartile increase in richness at 3 months was associated with a 55% reduction in risk for food sensitization by 1 year (adjusted odds ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.23–0.87). Independently, each quartile increase in Enterobacteriaceae/Bacteroidaceae ratio was associated with a twofold increase in risk (2.02, 1.07–3.80). These associations were upheld in a sensitivity analysis among infants who were vaginally delivered, exclusively breastfed and unexposed to antibiotics. At 1 year, the Enterobacteriaceae/Bacteroidaceae ratio remained elevated among sensitized infants, who also tended to have decreased abundance of Ruminococcaceae.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceLow gut microbiota richness and an elevated Enterobacteriaceae/Bacteroidaceae ratio in early infancy are associated with subsequent food sensitization, suggesting that early gut colonization may contribute to the development of atopic disease, including food allergy.
Neutrophil extracellular trap formation is associated with autophagy-related signalling in ANCA-associated vasculitis
Authors: Tang S , Zhang Y , Yin S-W , Gao X-J , Shi W-W , Wang Y , Huang X , Wang L , Zou L-Y , Zhao J-H , Huang Y-J , Shan L-Y , Gounni A S , Wu Y-Z , Zhang J-B 
Published: January 2015

Summary
Increasing evidence indicates that aberrant neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation could contribute to the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Recent research has provided evidence that a novel type of ANCA autoantibody, anti-lysosomal membrane protein-2 (LAMP-2) antibody, may have a pathogenic role in AAV. We have shown previously that anti-LAMP-2 antibody-stimulated NET formation contains autoantigens and anti-microbial peptides. The current study sought to determine whether LAMP-2, as a novel antigen of ANCA, was present on NETs in AAV patients, the influence of the anti-LAMP-2 antibody on the neutrophil apoptosis rate and the role of autophagy in anti-LAMP-2 antibody-induced NET formation. NET formation was assessed using immunofluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy or live cell imaging. The neutrophil apoptosis rate was analysed using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Autophagy was detected using LC3B accumulation and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that enhanced NET formation, which contains LAMP-2, was observed in kidney biopsies and neutrophils from AAV patients. The apoptosis rate decreased significantly in human neutrophils stimulated with anti-LAMP-2 antibody, and this effect was attenuated by the inhibitors of autophagy 3-methyladenine (3MA) and 2-morpholin-4-yl-8-phenylchromen-4-one (LY294002). The anti-LAMP-2 antibody-stimulated NET formation was unaffected by benzyloxycarbonyl-Val- Ala-Asp (OMe)-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk) and necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), which are inhibitors of apoptosis and necrosis, respectively, but was inhibited by 3MA and LY294002. Moreover, the proportion of LC3BI that was converted to LC3BII increased significantly (P = 0·0057), and massive vacuolizations that exhibited characteristics typical of autophagy were detected in neutrophils stimulated with anti-LAMP-2 antibody. Our results provide further evidence that autophagy is involved in ANCA-induced NET formation in human neutrophils.