bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Fluorescence-mediated Tomography Imaging Demonstrates Atorvastatin-mediated Reduction of Lesion Macrophages in ApoE-/- Mice
Authors: Larmann Jan , Frenzel Tim , Schmitz Martina , Hahnenkamp Anke , Demmer Philipp , Immenschuh Stephan , Tietge Uwe J.F. , Bremer Christoph , Theilmeier Gregor 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background:
Macrophage recruitment into atherosclerotic plaques drives lesion progression, destabilization, and rupture. Chronic statin treatment reduces macrophage plaque content. Information on dynamics of macrophage recruitment would help assessing plaque vulnerability and guiding therapy. Techniques to image macrophage homing to vulnerable plaques in vivo are scarcely available. The authors tested if noninvasive fluorescence-mediated tomography (FMT) can assess plaque-stabilizing effects of short-term high-dosage atorvastatin.

Methods:
Macrophages from green-fluorescent-protein-transgenic mice were labeled with a near-infrared fluorescent dye and were injected IV in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (n = 9) on Western diet 7 days after guidewire-injury of the carotid artery. FMT-scans, 2 and 7 days thereafter, quantified macrophage recruitment into carotid artery plaques. Atorvastatin was tested for macrophage adhesion, proliferation, and viability (n = 5 to 6) in vitro. Fourteen mice received atorvastatin or vehicle for 4 days after 16 weeks on Western diet. FMT assessed macrophage recruitment into aortic and innominate artery lesions. Means (±SD)% are reported.

Results:
Double-labeled macrophages were recruited into carotid artery lesions. FMT resolved fluorescence projecting on the injured carotid artery and detected a signal increase to 300% (±191) after guidewire injury. Atorvastatin reduced macrophage adhesion to activated endothelial cells by 36% (±19). In a clinically relevant proof-of-concept intervention, FMT-imaging detected that 4 days atorvastatin treatment reduced macrophage recruitment by 57% (±8) indicating plaque stabilization. Immunohistochemistry confirmed reduced macrophage infiltration.

Conclusions:
FMT optical imaging proved its high potential for clinical applicability for tracking recruitment of near-infrared fluorescent-labeled macrophages to vulnerable plaques in vivo. FMT-based quantification of macrophage recruitment demonstrated rapid plaque stabilization by 4-day atorvastatin treatment in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
Increased EHD1 in non‐small cell lung cancer predicts poor survival
Authors: Lu Hailing , Meng Qingwei , Wen Yuan , Hu Jing , Zhao Yanbin , Cai Li 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundOne of the main challenges of lung cancer research is identifying patients at high risk for recurrence after surgical resection. We evaluated the prognostic power of four proteins in the endocytic pathway in 114 non‐small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC).MethodsWe tested the four proteins (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], RAB11FIP3, EHD1, and caveolin‐1), critical nodes in the endocytosis/recycling pathway, by immunohistochemistry in paraffin sections from 114 non‐small cell lung cancer patients. We analyzed the correlation between our target proteins and clinical variables. Within these variables, an overall survival (OS) prediction model was constructed using Cox proportional hazard regression.ResultsEHD1 expression correlated with gender (P = 0.001), histology type (P < 0.001), and EGFR expression (P = 0.008), but not with any of the other clinical parameters. Statistical correlation analysis showed that the expression of EHD1 positively correlated with high level of EGFR (P < 0.001) and RAB11FIP3 (P < 0.001), and the expression of caveolin‐1 positively correlated with high level of EGFR (P < 0.001) in the NSCLC samples. EHD1 expression was an OS prognostic factor for all of the patients (P = 0.009), for the group of adjuvant chemotherapy‐treated patients (P = 0.006), and for the EGFR positive patients (P = 0.034).ConclusionsWe identified EHD1 as a strong prognostic predictive factor in NSCLC. The expression level of EHD1 would potentially be useful in developing customized strategies for managing lung cancer, such as the selection of patients eligible for chemotherapy.
Reinstatement in a cocaine versus food choice situation: reversal of preference between drug and non‐drug rewards
Authors: Tunstall Brendan J. , Kearns David N. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractRecent studies show that when given a mutually exclusive choice between cocaine and food, rats almost exclusively choose food. The present experiment investigated potential shifts in preference between levers associated with either food or cocaine that might occur during extinction (food and cocaine no longer available) and during footshock‐induced, cocaine‐primed and food‐primed reinstatement. During self‐administration sessions where food and cocaine were simultaneously available, rats demonstrated a stable food preference, choosing food over cocaine on 83% of trials. During extinction when neither reinforcer was available, no preference between levers was evident and responding decreased until rats responded on the previously food‐ and cocaine‐associated levers at equally low rates. Footshock resulted in a non‐specific reinstatement of responding upon both levers, while cocaine priming resulted in a significant preference for cocaine seeking over food seeking. This suggests that the mechanism underlying footshock‐induced reinstatement is distinct from that of cocaine‐primed reinstatement. Food priming engendered a mild, non‐specific increase in responding on both levers. Although rats generally prefer food over cocaine when presented with a choice between these primary reinforcers, the present results suggest that in certain situations, cocaine‐seeking behavior prevails over food‐seeking behavior.
Congenital Malformations of the Vertebral Column in Ancient Amphibians
Authors: Witzmann F. , Rothschild B. M. , Hampe O. , Sobral G. , Gubin Y. M. , Asbach P. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryTemnospondyls, the largest group of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic amphibians, primitively possess rhachitomous vertebrae with multipartite centra (consisting of one horse‐shoe‐shaped inter‐ and paired pleurocentra). In a group of temnospondyls, the stereospondyls, the intercentra became pronounced and disc‐like, whereas the pleurocentra were reduced. We report the presence of congenital vertebral malformations (hemi, wedge and block vertebrae) in Permian and Triassic temnospondyls, showing that defects of formation and segmentation in the tetrapod vertebral column represent a fundamental failure of somitogenesis that can be followed throughout tetrapod evolution. This is irrespective of the type of affected vertebra, that is, rhachitomous or stereospondylous, and all components of the vertebra can be involved (intercentrum, pleurocentrum and neural arch), either together or independently on their own. This is the oldest known occurrence of wedge vertebra and congenital block vertebra described in fossil tetrapods. The frequency of vertebral congenital malformations in amphibians appears unchanged from the Holocene.
Genome‐Wide Association Study of Pre‐Eclampsia Detects Novel Maternal Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Copy‐Number Variants in Subsets of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study Cohort
Authors: Zhao Linlu , Bracken Michael B. , DeWan Andrew T. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryA genome‐wide association study was undertaken to identify maternal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy‐number variants (CNVs) associated with pre‐eclampsia. Case‐control analysis was performed on 1070 Afro‐Caribbean (n = 21 cases and 1049 controls) and 723 Hispanic (n = 62 cases and 661 controls) mothers and 1257 mothers of European ancestry (n = 50 cases and 1207 controls) from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study. European ancestry subjects were genotyped on Illumina Human610‐Quad and Afro‐Caribbean and Hispanic subjects were genotyped on Illumina Human1M‐Duo BeadChip microarrays. Genome‐wide SNP data were analyzed using PLINK. CNVs were called using three detection algorithms (GNOSIS, PennCNV, and QuantiSNP), merged using CNVision, and then screened using stringent criteria. SNP and CNV findings were compared to those of the Study of Pregnancy Hypertension in Iowa (SOPHIA), an independent pre‐eclampsia case‐control dataset of Caucasian mothers (n = 177 cases and 116 controls). A list of top SNPs were identified for each of the HAPO ethnic groups, but none reached Bonferroni‐corrected significance. Novel candidate CNVs showing enrichment among pre‐eclampsia cases were also identified in each of the three ethnic groups. Several variants were suggestively replicated in SOPHIA. The discovered SNPs and copy‐number variable regions present interesting candidate genetic variants for pre‐eclampsia that warrant further replication and investigation.
L‐Amino Acid Oxidase Isolated from Bothrops pirajai Induces Apoptosis in BCR‐ABL‐Positive Cells and Potentiates Imatinib Mesylate Effect
Authors: Burin Sandra M. , Ayres Lorena R. , Neves Renata P. , Ambrósio Luciana , de Morais Fabiana R. , Dias‐Baruffi Marcelo , Sampaio Suely V. , Pereira‐Crott Luciana S. , de Castro Fabíola A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractChronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the presence of Philadelphia chromosome and by BCR‐ABL1, which encodes the BCR‐ABL oncoprotein. Although imatinib mesylate (IM) is effective for CML treatment, patients in accelerated and blastic phases of the disease are often refractory to this therapy, and there are also cases of IM resistance in patients in the chronic phase. Therefore, potential new drugs are being investigated to improve the efficiency of the therapy of CML such as snake venoms and their compounds. In this investigation, Bothrops pirajai L‐amino acid oxidase (BpirLAAO‐I) effect on normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and on BCR‐ABL+ cell line was assessed to explore its potential against leukaemic cells. MTT viability assay, lymphocyte subsets quantification and cell activation markers expression were performed to evaluate BpirLAAO‐I effect on normal PBMC. The effect of BpirLAAO‐I on HL‐60 and HL‐60.BCR‐ABL cell lines was assessed by apoptosis detection. BpirLAAO‐I was able to induce apoptosis in HL‐60 and HL‐60.BCR‐ABL cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner, promoted caspases 3, 8 and 9 activation and enhanced IM effect while not affecting the viability of normal cells. In addition, BpirLAAO‐I promoted immune cells activation and lymphocytes subsets changes on normal PBMC. The results indicate that BpirLAAO‐I induces apoptosis and potentiates IM effect on BCR‐ABL+ cells.
Infant temperament and childhood psychiatric disorder: longitudinal study
Authors: Sayal K. , Heron J. , Maughan B. , Rowe R. , Ramchandani P. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundTemperamental characteristics emerge early in life and can shape children's development, adjustment and behaviour. We aimed to investigate the association between early infant temperament and later childhood psychiatric disorder in a community sample.MethodsThis prospective, population‐based study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). In a sample of 7318 children, we investigated whether temperamental characteristics assessed at the ages of 6 months and 24 months are associated with an independent diagnosis of psychiatric disorder ascertained at age 7 years.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, temperamental characteristics assessed at 6 and 24 months of age were associated with psychiatric disorder at age 7 years. In particular, intensity of emotional reaction at age 6 months was associated with later disorder (adjusted odds ratio = 1.56; 95% confidence interval 1.19, 2.04; P = 0.002). These associations were stronger in girls and in those children with high levels of intensity at both 6 and 24 months of age.ConclusionsTemperamental characteristics involving high levels of emotional intensity within the first year of life are longitudinally associated with psychiatric disorder in mid‐childhood, suggesting that the roots of psychiatric disorder may, in some cases, lie very early in life.
Longitudinal changes in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular events in older adults
Authors: Araujo Andre B. , Chiu Gretchen R. , Christian Jennifer B. , Kim Hae Young , Evans William J. , Clark Richard V. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryObjectiveWhile low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events, there are limited data evaluating the association of longitudinal change in HDL‐C with CV event risk in older populations. The aim of this study was to examine the association between within‐subject changes in HDL‐C levels and CV events in an older population.DesignObservational cohort study.Patients1293 men and 1422 women age ≥50 years, with ≥2 consecutive HDL measurements, and no prior CVD as part of Framingham Offspring Study.MeasurementsA clinical CV event was defined as the first occurrence of any of the following: coronary heart disease (coronary death, myocardial infarction, coronary insufficiency and angina), cerebrovascular event, peripheral artery disease or heart failure.ResultsMedian total follow‐up time across subjects was 9·6 years. Change in HDL‐C was evaluated as between‐exam (approximately 3·5 years) percentage change in HDL‐C, categorized as ≥10% decrease, <10% change (stable) and ≥10% increase. Crude and adjusted sex‐specific Cox hazards regression models with change in HDL‐C as a time‐dependent covariate quantified the association with CV events. Mean baseline age of the analysis sample was 53 years. There were 233 and 111 CV events among men and women, respectively. Change in HDL‐C was not significantly associated with CVD incidence in men or women, without or with adjustment for confounders including baseline HDL‐C or use of relevant medications.ConclusionIn conclusion, relatively short‐term (3·5 years) changes in HDL‐C levels do not affect CV events in men and women.
The associations between peak O2 consumption and leptin in 10‐ to 12‐year‐old boys
Authors: Cicchella Antonio , Stefanelli Claudio , Purge Priit , Lätt Evelin , Saar Meeli , Jürimäe Toivo 
Published: April 2013

SummaryThe aim of this study was to assess the associations of circulating levels of leptin with the peak O2 consumption (VO2peak) in 10‐ to 12‐year‐old boys of different BMI selected by Cole et al. (BMJ, 320,2000,1–6): total group (n = 248), normal (n = 190), overweight (n = 34) and obese (n = 24). We hypothesized that there is a close relationship in overweight and obese subgroups of boys with relative VO2peak kg−1(ml min−1 kg−1) and leptin. Most of the subjects were Tanner stage 2. Peak O2 consumption was measured directly using an increasing incremental protocol until volitional exhaustion on an electronically braked cycle ergometer. The expired gas was sampled continuously breadth‐by‐breadth mode for the measurement of oxygen consumption (MetaMax, Germany). Blood samples were obtained after an overnight fast from an antecubital vein for leptin measurements. Peak O2 consumption (l min−1) was higher or lower (ml min−1 kg−1) in overweight and obese groups, compared with normal BMI group. Leptin was higher in overweight and obese groups, compared with normal BMI group. Peak O2 consumption (l min−1) correlated significantly with leptin only in total group (n = 248, r = 0·196). Contrary, relative VO2peak kg−1 correlated significantly and negatively with leptin. The relationship was highest on the total group (r = −0·674). We can conclude that leptin first of all correlated negatively with relative peak O2 consumption. Absolute VO2peak correlated with leptin only in total group.
Hypogammaglobulinemia in the early period after liver transplantation in children
Authors: Mozer‐Glassberg Yael , Shamir Raanan , Steinberg Ran , Kadmon Gili , Har‐Lev Efrat , Mor Eytan , Shapiro Rivka , Schonfeld Tommy , Nahum Elhanan 
Published: April 2013

AbstractData, on the kinetic and serum levels of immunoglobulins in the immediate post‐liver transplantation (LTx) period, are sparse with existing studies limited to adults or case reports of children. The aim of this study is to describe the phenomenon of hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) in the immediate post‐transplantation period among children undergoing LTx. A retrospective 10‐yr chart review was conducted of all children who underwent LTx at a fourth‐level pediatric medical center. Fifty‐seven, of the 76 children who underwent LTx, were included in the study. Seventeen (29.8%) (mean age, 6.8 ± 5.2 yr) had HGG (11‐IgG, 1‐IgG+IgA, 1‐IgG+IgM, 4‐IgG+IgA+IgM), detected at 2 to 25 d after transplantation. Abdominal fluid was drained for 5 to 42 d; the amount drained until detection of HGG measured 27–668 mL/kg. HGG was associated with increased infection rate 0.9 episodes/patient vs. 0.17 episodes/patient (p < 0.01) in children without detected HGG. In conclusion, HGG is not rare in the immediate post‐LTx period in children, and it may place patients at increased risk of infection. Further studies are needed to delineate the rate of occurrence, risk factors, and clinical implications of hypogammaglobulinemia in this patient population.
Circadian rhythms in acute intermittent porphyria – a pilot study
Authors: Larion Sebastian , Caballes Frederick R. , Hwang Sun‐Il , Lee Jin‐Gyun , Rossman Whitney E. , Parsons Judy , Steuerwald Nury , Li Ting , Maddukuri Vinaya , Groseclose Gale , Finkielstein Carla V. , Bonkovsky Herbert L. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundAcute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an inherited disorder of haem synthesis wherein a partial deficiency of porphobilinogen (PBG) deaminase (PBGD) with other factors may give rise to biochemical and clinical manifestations of disease. The biochemical hallmarks of active AIP are relative hepatic haem deficiency and uncontrolled up‐regulation of hepatic 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase‐1 (ALAS1) with over‐production of ALA and PBG. The treatment of choice is intravenous haem, which restores the deficient regulatory haem pool of the liver and represses ALAS1. Recently, haem has been shown to influence circadian rhythms by controlling their negative feedback loops. We evaluated whether subjects with AIP exhibited an altered circadian profile.Materials and methodsOver a 21‐h period, we measured levels of serum cortisol, melatonin, ALA, PBG and mRNA levels (in peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of selected clock‐controlled genes and genes involved in haem synthesis in 10 Caucasian (European‐American) women who were either postmenopausal or had been receiving female hormone therapy, six of whom have AIP and four do not and are considered controls.ResultsFour AIP subjects with biochemical activity exhibited higher levels of PBG and lower levels and dampened oscillation of serum cortisol, and a trend for lower levels of serum melatonin, than controls or AIP subjects without biochemical activity. Levels of clock‐controlled gene mRNAs showed significant increases over baseline in all subjects at 5 a.m. and 11 p.m., whereas mRNA levels of ALAS1, ALAS2 and PBGD were increased only at 11 p.m. in subjects with active AIP.ConclusionsThis pilot study provides evidence for disturbances of circadian markers in women with active AIP that may trigger or sustain some common clinical features of AIP.
Vigilance as a Response to White Complicity
Authors: Applebaum Barbara 
Published: April 2013

AbstractCalls for vigilance have been a recurrent theme in social justice education. Scholars making this call note that vigilance involves a continuous attentiveness, that it presumes some type of criticality, and that it is transformative. In this essay Barbara Applebaum expands upon some of these attributes and calls attention to three particular features of vigilance that, while they may be alluded to in the aforementioned discussions, are rarely made explicit. These three features are critique, staying in the anxiety of critique, and vulnerability. Using the lens of Judith Butler's recent work and the discussions that her work has provoked, Applebaum examines these three features of vigilance and demonstrates how they are crucial for white people interrogating their complicity in systemic racism. Finally, she discusses how the expanded three features of vigilance can offer guidance to one of the enormously thorny questions that arises in the social justice classroom.
Genetic and environmental influences on the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of Goniozus wasps
Authors: Khidr Sahand K. , Linforth Robert S.T. , Hardy Ian C.W. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of insects are well known to be variable. This variation may be due to genetic influences, environmental influences, or both. Most prior studies have focused on social insects, mainly those in the Hymenoptera, and have shown that hydrocarbons play an important role mediating social behaviour, particularly via kin recognition. Here, we assess the CHC profiles of three species of parasitoid wasps in the genus Goniozus (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), some of which are known to attune their behaviour according to both environmentally based and genetically based recognition of kin. We find that CHC profiles vary according to both the genetic background (wasp species) and the developmental environment (host species) of individual parasitoids. This indicates that kin recognition could be based on CHC profiles in these parasitoids, as it is in social Hymenoptera. Because the CHC profiles of species within the genus Goniozus are dissimilar, we also conclude that chemical analysis could be used as a taxonomic tool alongside morphological and molecular genetic identification for Goniozus and other species.
Cone survival and preservation of visual acuity in an animal model of retinal degeneration
Authors: Piano Ilaria , Novelli Elena , Gasco Paolo , Ghidoni Riccardo , Strettoi Enrica , Gargini Claudia 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe prevention of cone loss during retinal degeneration is a major goal of most therapeutic strategies in retinal degenerative diseases. An intriguing issue in the current research in this field is to understand why a genetic mutation that affects rods eventually leads to cone death. The main objective of the present study was to investigate to what extent rescuing rods from degeneration affects the survival of cones and prevents functional impairment of the visual performance. To this purpose, we compared rod and cone viabilities by both ex vivo and in vivo determinations in the rd10 mutant mouse, a validated model of human retinitis pigmentosa. The ex vivo experiments included morphological and biochemical tests, whereas in vivo studies compared the rod‐mediated scotopic with the cone‐mediated photopic electroretinogram. We also determined the overall visual performance by behaviorally testing the visual acuity (VA). The electroretinogram measurements showed that the kinetics of the photopic response in rd10 mice was slowed down with respect to the age‐paired wild‐type at a very early stage of the disease, when rods were still present and responsive. We then tested cone viability and function under a pharmacological scheme previously shown to prolong rod survival. The treatment consisted of eye drop administration of myriocin, an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of ceramide, a powerful proapoptotic messenger. The results of biochemical, morphological and functional assays converged to show that, in treated rd10 mice cone photoreceptors, the inner retina and overall visual performance were preserved well after rod death.