bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of different training modes on skeletal muscle microvascular density and endothelial enzymes controlling NO availability
Authors: Cocks Matthew , Wagenmakers Anton J. M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIt is becoming increasingly apparent that a high vasodilator response of the skeletal muscle microvasculature to insulin and exercise is of critical importance for adequate muscle perfusion and long‐term microvascular and muscle metabolic health. Previous research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and ageing lead to impairments in the vasodilator response, while a physically active lifestyle keeps both microvascular density and vasodilator response high. To investigate the molecular mechanisms behind these impairments and the benefits of exercise training interventions, our laboratory has recently developed quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy methods to measure protein content of eNOS and NAD(P)Hoxidase specifically in the endothelial layer of capillaries and arterioles of human skeletal muscle. As eNOS produces nitric oxide (NO) and NAD(P)Hoxidase produces superoxide anions (O2−, quenching NO) we propose that the eNOS/NAD(P)Hoxidase protein ratio is a marker of vasodilator capacity. The novel methods show that endurance training (ET) and high intensity interval training (HIT), generally regarded as a time‐efficient alternative to ET, increase eNOS protein content and the eNOS/NADP(H)oxidase protein ratio in previously sedentary lean and obese young men. Resistance exercise training had smaller but qualitatively similar effects. Western blot data of other laboratories suggest that endurance exercise training leads to similar changes in sedentary elderly men. Future research will be required to investigate the relative importance of other sources and tissues in the balance between NO and O2− production seen by the vascular smooth muscle layer of terminal arterioles.
Sublethal Exposure to Commercial Formulations of the Herbicides Dicamba, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, and Glyphosate Cause Changes in Antibiotic Susceptibility in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Kurenbach Brigitta , Marjoshi Delphine , Amábile-Cuevas Carlos F. , Ferguson Gayle C. , Godsoe William , Gibson Paddy , Heinemann Jack A. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

Biocides, such as herbicides, are routinely tested for toxicity but not for sublethal effects on microbes. Many biocides are known to induce an adaptive multiple-antibiotic resistance phenotype. This can be due to either an increase in the expression of efflux pumps, a reduced synthesis of outer membrane porins, or both. Exposures of
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium to commercial formulations of three herbicides—dicamba (Kamba), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and glyphosate (Roundup)—were found to induce a changed response to antibiotics. Killing curves in the presence and absence of sublethal herbicide concentrations showed that the directions and the magnitudes of responses varied by herbicide, antibiotic, and species. When induced, MICs of antibiotics of five different classes changed up to 6-fold. In some cases the MIC increased, and in others it decreased. Herbicide concentrations needed to invoke the maximal response were above current food maximum residue levels but within application levels for all herbicides. Compounds that could cause induction had additive effects in combination. The role of
soxS
, an inducer of the AcrAB efflux pump, was tested in β-galactosidase assays with
soxS-lacZ
fusion strains of E. coli. Dicamba was a moderate inducer of the
sox
regulon. Growth assays with Phe-Arg β-naphtylamide (PAβN), an efflux pump inhibitor, confirmed a significant role of efflux in the increased tolerance of E. coli to chloramphenicol in the presence of dicamba and to kanamycin in the presence of glyphosate. Pathways of exposure with relevance to the health of humans, domestic animals, and critical insects are discussed.

IMPORTANCE
Increasingly common chemicals used in agriculture, domestic gardens, and public places can induce a multiple-antibiotic resistance phenotype in potential pathogens. The effect occurs upon simultaneous exposure to antibiotics and is faster than the lethal effect of antibiotics. The magnitude of the induced response may undermine antibiotic therapy and substantially increase the probability of spontaneous mutation to higher levels of resistance. The combination of high use of both herbicides and antibiotics in proximity to farm animals and important insects, such as honeybees, might also compromise their therapeutic effects and drive greater use of antibiotics. To address the crisis of antibiotic resistance requires broadening our view of environmental contributors to the evolution of resistance.
In vivoUltrasonographic Evaluation of Patellar Tendon Stiffness after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Patellar Tendon Autograft
Authors: Liu Hsin-Yi , Blackburn Troy , Padua Darin , Creighton R. Alexander , Weinhold Paul 
Published: March 2015

Background:Tendon mechanical properties have been used to evaluate the effects of therapies on the healing of animal tendons, but these measures have not been convenient to record in vivo in humans due to their invasive nature. The aims of this study were to assess the capability of an ultrasonography technique to track the change in stiffness of the healing human patellar tendon and to assess the correlation between stiffness parameters and clinical recovery measurements.Method:Ten subjects undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a patellar tendon autograft were recruited for the study as well as 10 healthy control subjects. The surgical tendons' mechanical properties were evaluated at 2 and 6 months after surgery with a two-scan ultrasonography technique. A paired sign-rank test was performed to compare the change in biomechanical parameters and clinical recovery measurements across time between surgical and control groups.Results:Tendon stiffness of the surgical group increased from ~71% to ~94% when compared to the stiffness of the contralateral tendons at the first visit; however, the difference was not significant (P= 0.18). Significant improvements were shown in all the clinical recovery outcomes. Poor correlation was found between the clinical recovery measurements and tendon stiffness.Conclusions:No significant change in patellar tendon stiffness with healing was detected over the 2–6 month period after surgery, suggesting the tendon stiffness recovery in humans proceeds more slowly than other clinical measures.
A Bone Remodelling Model Based on Generalised Thermodynamic Potentials and Optimisation Applied to a Trabecula with Cyclic Loading
Authors: Tormena F. V. , Mercuri E. G. F. , Hecke M. B. 
Published: March 2015

Background: Bone diseases caused by an imbalance of bone turnover represent a major public health concern worldwide. Studies involving bone remodelling mechanisms can assist in the treatment of osteoporosis, osteopenia and in cases of fractures. In recent decades several authors have developed bone remodelling models.Aim: The aim of this study is to propose a model based on the thermodynamic framework to describe the process of bone remodelling. A secondary aim is to model a trabecula subjected to cyclic loading and calibrate the model with experimental data.Methods: Thermodynamic potentials are used to generate the functions of state based on internal scalar variables. The evolution of the variables in time is determined by dissipation potentials, which are created through the use of convex analysis. Constitutive equations are solved with mathematical programming algorithms and the numerical implementation of this theory uses the Finite Elements Method for spatial discretization.Results: The proposed theory was applied to a one-dimensional example, and two situations (an undamaged material and an initially damaged material) were simulated. The one-dimensional example shows a microscopic view of a trabecula under the influence of a growing load cycle throughout 1200 days. This dynamic process may represent the rehabilitation of an athlete, starting with light exercises up to a very heavy physical activity.Conclusions: The model was able to represent one bone remodelling cycle in the trabecula. Although it is not yet possible to obtain an experimental curve of a traction testin vivo, thein silicomodel showed a process of damage that is similar to the static test of the literature. The results also suggest a modification in the equation adopted for the Helmholtz potential shown here. This study presents a consistent thermodynamic formalism for bone remodelling, which may allow further contributions as the incorporation of chemical reactions, mass transference and anisotropic damage.
Development of a Novel Fully Passive Treadmill Training Paradigm for Lower Limb Therapeutic Intervention
Authors: Huq M. Saiful , Tokhi M. O. 
Published: March 2015

A simulation based study of a completely new form of body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) technique which is fully passive in nature is presented in this paper. The approach does not require any powered means at the lower limbs and is implemented using a combination of coordinated joint locking/unlocking and flexible torque transfer mechanisms. The hip extension pertaining to the stance phase of the gait cycle is achieved through the stance foot being literally dragged by the treadmill belt while the required manoeuvring of the trunk is expected to be accomplished by the voluntary arm-support from the subject. The swing phase, on the other hand, is initiated through appropriately coupling the swing knee with the contralateral extending hip and eventually achieve full knee extension through switching the treadmill speed to a lower value. Considering adequate support from the able arms, the process effectively turns the frictional force at the foot-treadmill belt interface into an agent causing the required whole body mechanical energy fluctuation during the gait cycle.The simulation platform consists of a dynamic planer (sagittal) full body humanoid model along with the treadmill model developed within a CAD based software environment interfaced with passive viscoelastic joint properties implemented in Simulink. The voluntary upper body effort as well as control of the gait cycle are also developed within MATLAB/Simulink environment. The gait cycle generated using the new concept is thoroughly investigated through this simulation study.
Multimodality Management of High‐Risk Head and Neck Basal Cell Carcinoma Requiring Free‐Flap Reconstruction
Authors: Burch M. Benjamin , Chung Thomas K. , Rosenthal Eben L. , Schmalbach Cecelia E. 
Published: March 2015

Objectives(1) Investigate overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) for high‐risk head and neck basal cell carcinoma (HNBCC) requiring large extirpation with free‐flap reconstruction. (2) Determine impact of prognostic features—tumor size, subsite, number of high‐risk features, perineural invasion, and bony invasion—on high‐risk HNBCC survival. (3) Determine survival benefit of adjuvant radiation for high‐risk HNBCC.Study DesignCase series with chart review (2002‐2013).SettingAcademic tertiary care center.Subjects and MethodsConsecutive head and neck patients (N = 431) required free‐flap reconstruction following tumor extirpation, 38 for aggressive HNBCC. All cases were high risk. DFS and OS were examined using Kaplan‐Meier analysis. Prognostic variables and adjuvant radiation were analyzed utilizing Student’s t test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact testing for categorical dependent variables. Complications were reported.ResultsMean tumor diameter was 5.17 cm (range, 1.2‐15.0 cm). Mean follow‐up was 19.9 months. Overall 2‐year survival was 80%, falling to 66% at 5 years. Two‐year disease‐free survival was 72%. Six patients recurred (n = 5 local, 1 distant). Adjuvant radiotherapy improved DFS (P <. 01) but not OS (P =. 66). Tumors >2.5 cm did not affect OS (P =. 61), regardless of subsite. Bone involvement (44.7% cases) did not affect DFS (P =. 39) or OS (P =. 18).ConclusionsLarger HNBCC warranting free tissue transfer do not confer worse outcomes, independent of subsite. Adjuvant radiotherapy does not improve OS but significantly affected DFS, allowing for 13.7 additional months of DFS. Bone involvement does not influence DFS or OS and should not preclude surgery, even in advanced cases requiring free‐flap reconstruction.
Comparison of preferences for end-of-life care among patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers: A discrete choice experiment
Authors: Malhotra Chetna , Farooqui Muhammad Assad , Kanesvaran Ravindran , Bilger Marcel , Finkelstein Eric 
Published: March 2015

Background: Patients with advanced cancer often have to make difficult decisions, such as how much to spend on moderately life-extending treatments. This and other end-of-life decisions are also influenced by their informal caregivers. Understanding the relative value that patients and their caregivers place on various aspects of end-of-life care can help clinicians tailor treatments to best meet the preferences of their patients. Aim: To quantify willingness to pay of patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers to extend the patients’ life by 1 year and to compare this result to their willingness to pay for other end-of-life improvements. Design: Cross-sectional survey using a discrete choice experiment. Participants: A total of 211 patients with stage IV cancer and their informal caregivers. Results: The willingness to pay of patients to extend their life by 1 year (S$18,570; 95% confidence interval: S$6687–S$30,542) was not statistically different from their willingness to pay to avoid severe pain (S$22,199; S$11,648–S$32,450), to die at home (S$31,256; S$21,249–S$41,391), not be a burden on family and friends (S$4051; −S$3543 to S$11,568), or to receive a high-quality health-care experience (S$16,191; S$9266–S$23,037). Consistent with our hypothesis, caregivers had a greater willingness to pay than patients to extend life (S$61,368; S$37,030–S$86,210) and for most other end-of-life improvements. Conclusion: Results highlight the importance of pain management, supporting home deaths, and addressing other end-of-life concerns, in addition to efforts to extend life. Differences in willingness to pay of patients and caregivers suggest the need for eliciting patient preferences during treatment decision making as opposed to relying on caregiver input.
Medication overuse, healthy lifestyle behaviour and stress in chronic headache: Results from a population-based representative survey
Authors: Westergaard Maria Lurenda , Glümer Charlotte , Hansen Ebba Holme , Jensen Rigmor Højland 
Published: March 2015

Aim This cross-sectional study investigated associations between chronic headache (CH) with and without medication overuse, healthy lifestyle behaviour, and stress. Methods Questionnaires were sent to 129,150 adults. Those with headache ≥15 days per month for three months were classified as having CH then further described as having medication-overuse headache (MOH) or CH without medication overuse. Associations between headache and daily smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, excessive drinking, illicit drug use, and high stress were analysed by logistic regression. Results CH with and without medication overuse (prevalence 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively) had strong, graded associations with stress. Associations with daily smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity were significant only for MOH. Odds for MOH were highest among people who had all three factors compared to those who had none (OR 2.8 in women and 5.1 in men). High stress plus any of these three factors had synergistic effects in MOH but not clearly in those who had CH without overuse. Associations between CH subtypes and excessive drinking or illicit drug use were not statistically significant. Conclusion Results suggest strong links between healthy lifestyle behaviour and stress in MOH. Stress reduction and promoting healthy behaviour are highly relevant in MOH management.
A systematic review of contemporary models of shared HIV care and HIV in primary care in high-income settings
Authors: Mapp Fiona , Hutchinson Jane , Estcourt Claudia 
Published: March 2015

Summary HIV shared care is uncommon in the UK although shared care could be a beneficial model of care. We review the literature on HIV shared care to determine current practice and clinical, economic and patient satisfaction outcomes. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, NICE Evidence, Cochrane collaboration, Google and websites of the British HIV Association, Aidsmap, Public Health England, World Health Organization and Terrence Higgins Trust using relevant search terms in August 2014. Studies published after 2000, from healthcare settings comparable to the UK that described links between primary care and specialised HIV services were included and compared using principles of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance frameworks. Three of the nine included models reported clinical or patient satisfaction outcomes but data collection and analyses were inadequate. None reported economic outcomes although some provided financial costings. Facilitators of shared care included robust clinical protocols, training and timely communication. Few published examples of HIV shared care exist and quality of evidence is poor. There is no consistent association with improved clinical outcomes, cost effectiveness or acceptability. Models are context specific, driven by local need, although some generalisable features could inform novel service delivery. Further evaluative research is needed to determine optimal components of shared HIV care.
Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile tear gas exposure
Authors: Brvar M 
Published: March 2015

Objective: Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) is the tear gas used by the police. The aim was to evaluate an amphoteric, hypertonic, and chelating rinsing solution in CS exposure. Methods: The first (CS) group of six police officers was exposed to CS only. The second (preexposure) group of eight sprayed their faces with an aqueous, hypertonic, amphoteric, and chelating solution before CS exposure. The third (postexposure) group of eight sprayed their faces with an aqueous, hypertonic, amphoteric, and chelating solution after CS exposure. The time between exiting the CS cloud and arriving at the “ready for action” checkpoint was measured. Their facial pain both inside the CS cloud and at the checkpoint was assessed (0–10 points). Results: The pain level inside the CS cloud was significantly lower in the preexposed group (5.6 ± 1.1; p = 0.01) than in the CS group (9.7 ± 0.5) and in the postexposure group (9.1 ± 0.4) where it was similar. The time interval between CS exposure and arrival at the checkpoint in the preexposure group (1:26 ± 0:44 min) was significantly shorter than both in the CS group (2:28 ± 0:25 min; p = 0.04) and postexposure group (2:30 ± 0:48 min; p = 0.02) where it was not different. The residual pain at the checkpoint in the preexposure (1.1 ± 0.4) and postexposure (1.4 ± 0.7) groups was similar with a significant lower pain level than in the CS group (2.3 ± 0.5; p = 0.02). Conclusion: CS decontamination with an aqueous, hypertonic, amphoteric, and chelating solution reduces facial pain, whereas prevention with it reduces pain and recovery time.
Within field spatial variation in methane emissions from lowland rice in Myanmar
Authors: Oo Aung Zaw , Win Khin Thuzar , Bellingrath-Kimura Sonoko Dorothea 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
An assessment of within field spatial variations in grain yield and methane (CH4) emission was conducted in lowland rice fields of Myanmar. Two successive rice fields (1st field and 2nd field) were divided into fertilized and non-fertilized parts and CH4 measurements were conducted at the inlet, middle and outlet positions of each field. The results showed that CH4 emissions at non-fertilized parts were higher than those at fertilized part in both rice fields. The average CH4 emissions ranged from 8.7 to 26.6 mg m-2 h-1 in all positions in both rice fields. The spatial variation in CH4 emission among the positions was high in both rice fields with the highest emissions in the outlet of the 1st field and the inlet of the 2nd field. The CH4 emissions at these two positions showed 2 - 2.5 times higher than those at other positions in both rice fields. Stepwise regression analysis indicates that soil total carbon content is the primary factor for CH4 emission. The average CH4 emissions during rice growing season were 13.5 mg m-2 h-1 for the 1st field and 15.7 mg m-2 h-1 for the 2nd field. Spearman rank order correlation analysis showed that CH4 emission was significantly and positively correlated with soil temperature, surface water depth and negatively correlated with soil redox potential. The result indicated that high within field spatial variation in CH4 emissions required different site specific management practices to mitigate CH4 emissions in lowland paddy rice soil.
Bisphenol A Exposure Disrupts Metabolic Health Across Multiple Generations in the Mouse
Authors: Susiarjo Martha , Xin Frances , Bansal Amita , Stefaniak Martha , Li Changhong , Simmons Rebecca A. , Bartolomei Marisa S. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Accumulating evidence has suggested that a suboptimal early life environment produces multigenerational developmental defects. A proposed mechanism is stable inheritance of DNA methylation. Here we show that maternal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in C57BL/6 mice produces multigenerational metabolic phenotypes in their offspring. Using various methods including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analyses, glucose tolerance tests, and perifusion islet studies, we showed that exposure to 10 μg/kg/d and 10 mg/kg/d BPA in pregnant F0 mice was associated with higher body fat and perturbed glucose homeostasis in F1 and F2 male offspring but not female offspring. To provide insight into the mechanism of the multigenerational metabolic abnormalities, we investigated the maternal metabolic milieu and inheritance of DNA methylation across generations. We showed that maternal glucose homeostasis during pregnancy was altered in the F0 but not F1 female mice. The results suggested that a compromised maternal metabolic milieu may play a role in the health of the F1 offspring but cannot account for all of the observed multigenerational phenotypes. We further demonstrated that the metabolic phenotypes in the F1 and F2 BPA male offspring were linked to fetal overexpression of the imprinted Igf2 gene and increased DNA methylation at the Igf2 differentially methylated region 1. Studies in H19Δ3.8/+ mouse mutants supported the role of fetal Igf2 overexpression in altered adult glucose homeostasis. We conclude that early life BPA exposure at representative human exposure levels can perturb metabolic health across multiple generations in the mouse through stable inheritance of DNA methylation changes at the Igf2 locus.
Structural Determination of Ulvan from Green Seaweed Ulva reticulata Collected at Central Coast of Vietnam
Authors: Thu Quach Thi Minh , Bang Truong Hai , Nu Nguyen Thi , Luong Đang Vu , Ly Bui Minh , Van Tran Thi Thanh , Thuy Thanh Thi Thu 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
We extracted ulvan from the green seaweed Ulva reticulata collected from the Nha-Trang bay, central coast of Vietnam. The ulvan is composed of rhamnose, galactose, xylose, mannose, and glucose with molar ratio Rha:Gal:Xyl:Man:Glu = 1:0.1:0.11:0.01:0.21, uronic acid content of 19.3 wt %, and sulfate content of 14.3 wt %. Chemical structure determination using NMR and ESI-MS techniques showed that ulvan is composed of mainly two disaccharides β-d-GlcAp(1→2)-α-l-Rhap and α-l-IdoAp(1→4)-α-l-Rhap. Branching point is at O-2 of uronic acid. Sulfate groups were attached at C-2, C-3, and C-4 of the rhamnose residues.