bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long non‐coding RNA HOTAIR is an independent prognostic marker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression and survival
Authors: Nie Yan , Liu Xiang , Qu Shaohua , Song Erwei , Zou Hua , Gong Chang 
Published: January 2013

Identification of new nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biomarkers is of great clinical value for the diagnosis and treatment of NPC. HOTAIR, a cancer‐related long non‐coding RNA, was tested and its prognostic value for NPC was evaluated. As determined using in situ hybridization (ISH), 91 of 160 (56.87%) paraffin‐embedded NPC biopsies showed high expression levels of HOTAIR (staining index score ≥ 6). HOTAIR was upregulated in tumors with a large size (P = 0.021), more advanced clinical stage (P = 0.012) and increased lymph node tumor burden (P = 0.005). Quantified using real‐time PCR, HOTAIR expression levels in fresh tissue and paraffin‐embedded samples were 5.2 ~ 48.4‐fold higher compared with non‐cancer tissue samples. Moreover, HOTAIR expression levels increased with clinical stage progression, which was consistent with ISH findings in the paraffin‐embedded tissue. Most importantly, NPC patients with higher HOTAIR levels had a poor prognosis for overall survival using univariate and multivariate analysis. In addition, HOTAIR mediated the migration, invasion and proliferation of NPC cells in vitro. HOTAIR is a potential biomarker for the prognosis of NPC, and dysregulation of HOTAIR might play an important role in NPC progression.
Hosting strangers: hospitality and family practices in fostering unaccompanied refugee young people
Authors: Sirriyeh Ala 
Published: January 2013

AbstractRefugee young people entering foster care face transitions as they settle into life in a new country and household. Drawing on findings from a study on foster care for refugee young people in England, this paper examines encounters and negotiations with the public worlds of the asylum system and foster care delivery within the intimate setting of the household and everyday domestic practices in foster care. The paper considers Derrida's neologism ‘hostipitality’ to explore challenges in hospitality in this context. The framework of ‘family practices’ is then applied to explore how foster carers and young people ‘did’ family in foster care. It was found that family practices were inhibited by tensions and challenges in the notion of ‘hospitality’, but family practices also offered opportunities to respond and promote young people's sense of belonging in the family in this environment. It concludes that hospitality at the threshold is necessary, but that the most successful foster care relationships were able to move through and beyond hospitality to relationships of family‐like intimacy.
Assessment of management options for Chilean needle grass in sheep‐grazing systems
Authors: Grech C. J. , McLaren D. A. , Lowien J. , McWhirter L. , Butler K. L. , Sindel B. M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractChilean needle grass [Nassella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth; CNG] is a perennial spear grass that has invaded pastures in south‐eastern Australia and can lead to a substantial reduction of stockcarrying capacity during the summer months. This study examined a range of grazing, herbicide and pasture resowing options, alone or in combination, on CNG and introduced pasture grass basal cover, for several CNG‐infested sites in south‐eastern Australia. At each site, options were chosen on the basis that they were most likely to control the CNG infestation while maintaining a productive sheep‐grazing enterprise on grass pastures. After 2 years of management, the reduction in CNG basal cover in set stock plots that were sprayed with flupropanate, versus those not sprayed, ranged from non‐detectable to a reduction of 80%, depending on site location. After 5 years of management, the reduction ranged from zero to 50%. Grazing management or sowing of competitive pastures did not generally reduce CNG basal cover to low levels. None of the management options maintained reasonable levels of desirable perennial species by the end of 4–5 years. We conclude that, because of the persistence of CNG, the need for regular spraying of herbicide, and the relative ineffectiveness of other control methods, management systems may need to be developed that utilize CNG while minimizing its input to the soil seedbank.
Quality of life after adult living donor liver transplantation: A longitudinal prospective follow‐up study
Authors: Togashi Junichi , Sugawara Yasuhiko , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Tamura Sumihito , Yamashiki Noriyo , Kaneko Junichi , Sakamoto Yoshihiro , Aoki Taku , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Kokudo Norihiro 
Published: January 2013

AimPatient survival after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has improved, but improvement of the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of LDLT recipients is also an important issue. The aim of this study was to assess the HRQOL of LDLT recipients from the preoperative period to 18 months following transplantation by prospectively evaluating Short Form‐36 Version 2 (SF‐36v2) scores.MethodsComplete longitudinal SF‐36v2 scores were collected from 35 consecutive LDLT recipients prior to surgery and at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after transplantation.ResultsHRQOL scores were severely impaired in all dimensions preoperatively. Although the scores improved significantly up to 18 months after transplantation, they remained lower than those of healthy controls in the majority of domains. Impaired scores preoperatively were significantly associated with severity of liver disease represented by a higher Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and Child–Turcotte–Pugh class C, and scores in such patients improved significantly after LDLT in every dimension at 12 months, indicating that the greater the impairment at the pretransplant stage, the greater the improvement in both physical and mental conditions. Preoperative lower HRQOL scores and higher MELD scores were independently associated with significant physical and mental score gains during the first year after LDLT.ConclusionThe findings of the present study may facilitate the development of measures aimed at improving recipient's post‐transplant life and establishing realistic expectations for LDLT recipients.
Genomic evaluations using similarity between haplotypes
Authors: Hickey J.M. , Kinghorn B.P. , Tier B. , Clark S.A. , van der Werf J.H.J. , Gorjanc G. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryLong‐range phasing and haplotype library imputation methodologies are accurate and efficient methods to provide haplotype information that could be used in prediction of breeding value or phenotype. Modelling long haplotypes as independent effects in genomic prediction would be inefficient due to the many effects that need to be estimated and phasing errors, even if relatively low in frequency, exacerbate this problem. One approach to overcome this is to use similarity between haplotypes to model covariance of genomic effects by region or of animal breeding values. We developed a simple method to do this and tested impact on genomic prediction by simulation. Results show that the diagonal and off‐diagonal elements of a genomic relationship matrix constructed using the haplotype similarity method had higher correlations with the true relationship between pairs of individuals than genomic relationship matrices built using unphased genotypes or assumed unrelated haplotypes. However, the prediction accuracy of such haplotype‐based prediction methods was not higher than those based on unphased genotype information.
You are where you live: parasitic nematode mitochondrial genome size is associated with the thermal environment generated by hosts
Authors: Lagisz M. , Poulin R. , Nakagawa S. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThere exists remarkable interspecific variation in mitochondrial sequence evolution rates and in mitochondrial genome sizes. A number of hypotheses based on the forces of mutation and selection have been proposed to explain this variation. Among such hypotheses, we test three: 1) the ‘longevity‐dependent selection’, 2) the ‘functional constraints’ and 3) the ‘race for replication’ hypotheses, using published mtDNA genomic sequences of 47 Nematoda species. We did not find any relationship between body size (used as a proxy for longevity) and genome size or the substitution rate of protein sequences, providing little evidence for the first hypothesis. Parasitic species from different thermal habitats, as determined by their definitive host type (ectothermal vs. endothermal), did not differ in their rates of protein evolution. Therefore, little support was obtained for the second hypothesis. However, we revealed that mitogenomes of parasites of endotherms were significantly smaller than those of parasites of ectotherms, supporting the race for replication hypothesis. As mitochondrial genomes of endothermal animals are usually more compact than those of ectothermal animals, intriguingly, nematode parasites of endotherms and ectotherms exhibit similar patterns of mtDNA length variation to their hosts.
CHF5074 restores visual memory ability and pre‐synaptic cortical acetylcholine release in pre‐plaque Tg2576 mice
Authors: Giuliani Alessandro , Beggiato Sarah , Baldassarro Vito A. , Mangano Chiara , Giardino Luciana , Imbimbo Bruno P. , Antonelli Tiziana , Calzà Laura , Ferraro Luca 
Published: December 2012

AbstractCHF5074, a new microglial modulator, attenuates memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. In this study, the effect of an acute or subacute CHF5074 treatment on in vivo novel object recognition test and on [3H]Acetylcholine (ACh) and GABA release in pre‐plaque (7‐month‐old) Tg2576 mice have been compared with those induced by the γ‐secretase inhibitor LY450139 (semagacestat). Vehicle‐treated Tg2576 mice displayed an impairment of recognition memory compared with wild‐type animals. This impairment was recovered in transgenic animals acutely treated with CHF5074 (30 mg/kg), while LY450139 (1, 3, 10 mg/kg) was ineffective. In frontal cortex synaptosomes from vehicle‐treated Tg2576 mice, K+‐evoked [3H]ACh release was lower than that measured in wild‐type mice. This reduction was absent in transgenic animals subacutely treated with CHF5074 (30 mg/kg daily for 8 days), while it was slightly, not significantly, amplified by LY450139 (3 mg/kg daily for 8 days). There were no differences between the groups on spontaneous [3H]ACh release as well as spontaneous and K+‐evoked GABA release. These results suggest that CHF5074 has beneficial effects on visual memory and cortical cholinergic dysfunctions in pre‐plaque Tg2576 mice. Together with previous findings, these data suggest that CHF5074 could be a possible candidate for early Alzheimer's disease therapeutic regimens.
Clinical evaluation of a pre‐tied ligating loop for liver biopsy and liver lobectomy
Authors: Cuddy L. C. , Risselada M. , Ellison G. W. 
Published: December 2012

ObjectivesThe aim of this prospective case series was to evaluate the suitability of a pre‐tied ligating loop for liver biopsy or partial or complete liver lobectomy via midline coeliotomy for diagnosis or treatment of hepatic disease.MethodsNine client‐owned animals (six dogs and three cats) in which liver biopsy or partial or complete liver lobectomy was performed using a 2–0 Polysorb™ pre‐tied ligating loop (SurgiTie™; Covidien) via midline coeliotomy were included. The fit of the loop, space for incision and presence and character of bleeding from the incised surface were assessed. Pre‐ and postoperative haematocrit and peri‐operative complications were noted. Dimensions, histopathology and mineral analysis of acquired specimens were reviewed.ResultsThe pre‐tied ligating loop was successfully employed for liver biopsy and resection of torsed liver lobes and neoplastic tissue. Dirty margins were obtained in one case in which complete resection of neoplastic tissue was the primary goal. Few perioperative complications were noted, the most common being generalised oozing from the cut surface in four cases, effectively controlled with local haemostasis.Clinical SignificanceThe pre‐tied ligating loop is a versatile and safe method for liver biopsy or lobectomy. As with other surgical techniques, alternative methods of haemostasis should always be available.
Retrospective evaluation of doxorubicin–piroxicam combination for the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma in dogs
Authors: Robat C. , Burton J. , Thamm D. , Vail D. 
Published: January 2013

ObjectivesTo determine whether doxorubicin–piroxicam combination is safe and has activity against transitional cell carcinoma in dogs.MethodsData was collected retrospectively from 34 dogs from two institutions over a 6‐year period. Signalment, clinical presentation, treatment specifics, adverse events, response, progression‐free survival and overall survival time were evaluated.ResultsDogs received doxorubicin every 3 weeks and daily piroxicam; 17 dogs (50%) had surgery. Clinical presentations were those typically reported for transitional cell carcinoma. Mean number of doses administered was 3·5. Of the 23 dogs with measurable disease, 14 (60·5%) had stable disease, 7 (30·5%) had progressive disease and 2 (9%) a partial response. Adverse events were generally manageable, and gastrointestinal in origin; one dog died of treatment‐related complications. Overall median progression‐free survival and overall survival were 103 and 168 days, respectively. Cytoreductive surgery did not result in prolongation of progression‐free survival, but significantly prolonged overall survival. All dogs but one died as a result of disease progression.Clinical SignificanceDoxorubicin–piroxicam combination therapy is well‐tolerated in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma although progression‐free survival, overall survival and biological response rates appear modest. Combination with surgery appears to offer a survival advantage; however, this may reflect tumour location and volume. Prospective studies are necessary to compare activity of combination doxorubicin–piroxicam to currently applied therapies.
Phylogeography of an alpine plant (Bupleurum smithii, Apiaceae) endemic to the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions inferred from chloroplastDNAsequence variation
Authors: ZHAO Cai , MA Xiang‐Guang , LIANG Qian‐Long , WANG Chang‐Bao , HE Xing‐Jin 
Published: January 2013

AbstractTo obtain a better understanding of how Quaternary climatic oscillations influenced range distributions and intraspecific split of alpine plants on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and in adjacent regions, we investigated the extant phylogeographical structure ofBupleurum smithiiin this area based on 22 populations and 103 individuals spanning the entire distribution region of this species using chloroplast DNA sequences. Two major haplotype lineages were identified, and at least two corresponding glacial refugia maintaining in the northeastern and eastern edge of the QTP during the Last Glacial Maximum were revealed. Secondary contact between populations and efficient gene flow were also found between two major haplotype lineages. In addition, based on the geographic distribution of haplotypes, we found that populations on the platform derived from individuals that recolonized this area from refugia situated at the northeastern and eastern edges of the QTP, and thatB. smithiirecolonized from southern to northern China during inter‐ and post‐glacial periods.
The role of HBsAg quantification for monitoring natural history and treatment outcome
Authors: Martinot‐Peignoux Michelle , Lapalus Martine , Asselah Tarik , Marcellin Patrick 
Published: January 2013

AbstractSince its discovery by Blumberg in 1965, the hepatitis B virus antigen (HBsAg) is used as the fingerprint of hepatitis B infection. The HBsAg level is a reflection of the transcriptional activity of cccDNA. It is an important marker that not only indicates active hepatitis B infection but can also predict clinical and treatment outcomes. Assays for HBsAg quantification are fully automated and have high output. HBsAg titres are higher in HBe antigen (HBeAg)(+) than in HBeAg(−) patients and are negatively correlated with liver fibrosis in HBeAg(+) patients. In HBeAg(−) chronic hepatitis B, an HBsAg level <1000 IU/ml and an HBV DNA titre <2000 IU/ml accurately identify inactive carriers. During PEG‐IFN treatment, HBsAg quantification is used to identify patients who will not benefit from therapy as early as week 12 on therapy, so that treatment may be stopped or switched‐ ‘week 12 stopping rule’. With nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA), the role of HBsAg quantification must be clarified. Several studies show that baseline and on‐treatment HBsAg levels might identify patients that can be treated with no subsequent risk of reactivation. In clinical practice, HBsAg quantification is a simple and reproducible tool that can be used in association with HBV DNA to classify patients during the natural history of HBV and to monitor therapy.
Contrasting patterns of genome‐wide polymorphism in the native and invasive range of the marine mollusc Crepidula fornicata
Authors: Riquet Florentine , Daguin‐Thiébaut Claire , Ballenghien Marion , Bierne Nicolas , Viard Frédérique 
Published: January 2013

AbstractSelection processes are believed to be an important evolutionary driver behind the successful establishment of nonindigenous species, for instance through adaptation for invasiveness (e.g. dispersal mechanisms and reproductive allocation). However, evidence supporting this assumption is still scarce. Genome scans have often identified loci with atypical patterns of genetic differentiation (i.e. outliers) indicative of selection processes. Using microsatellite‐ and AFLP‐based genome scans, we looked for evidence of selection following the introduction of the mollusc Crepidula fornicata. Native to the northwestern Atlantic, this gastropod has become an emblematic invader since its introduction during the 19th and 20th centuries in the northeastern Atlantic and northeastern Pacific. We examined 683 individuals from seven native and 15 introduced populations spanning the latitudinal introduction and native ranges of the species. Our results confirmed the previously documented high genetic diversity in native and introduced populations with little genetic structure between the two ranges, a pattern typical of marine invaders. Analysing 344 loci, no outliers were detected between the introduced and native populations or in the introduced range. The genomic sampling may have been insufficient to reveal selection especially if it acts on traits determined by a few genes. Eight outliers were, however, identified within the native range, underlining a genetic singularity congruent with a well‐known biogeographical break along the Florida. Our results call into question the relevance of AFLP genome scans in detecting adaptation on the timescale of biological invasions: genome scans often reveal long‐term adaptation involving numerous genes throughout the genome but seem less effective in detecting recent adaptation from pre‐existing variation on polygenic traits. This study advocates other methods to detect selection effects during biological invasions—for example on phenotypic traits, although genome scans may remain useful for elucidating introduction histories.
A randomized controlled trial of three orthodontic retention methods in Class I four premolar extraction cases – stability after 2 years in retention
Authors: Edman Tynelius G. , Bondemark L. , Lilja‐Karlander E. 
Published: January 2013

Structured AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate three different retention methods in compliant patients after 2 years of retention.DesignThree group randomized controlled trial.Materials and MethodsThe sample was recruited from patients having their fixed appliance treatment between 2001 and 2007. Seventy‐five patients (45 girls and 30 boys with a mean age of 14.4 years at start of retention) were randomized into three retention methods: vacuum‐formed retainer in the maxilla and bonded canine‐to‐canine retainer in the mandible (Group V‐CTC), vacuum‐formed retainer in the maxilla combined with stripping of the 10 proximal surfaces of the lower mandibular anterior teeth (Group V‐S) and prefabricated positioner covering the teeth in the maxilla and the mandible (Group P). The following linear measurements were performed: Little′s irregularity index (LII), intercanine width, intermolar width, arch length, overjet, overbite and body height growth. Registrations were made before orthodontic treatment, at start of retention, after 12 and finally 24 months in retention. Differences in means between groups were tested by one‐way analysis of variance (SPSS).ResultsAfter 2 years all three retention methods were successful in retaining orthodontic treatment results. The major part of relapse took place during the 1st year of retention.ConclusionsAll 3 types of retention methods were equally effective in controlling relapse to a clinically acceptable level.
Randomized trial of success of pediatric anesthesiologists learning to use two video laryngoscopes
Authors: Lees Mackenzie , Seal Robert F. , Spady Don , Csanyi‐Fritz Yvonne , Robinson Joan L. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryObjectivesThe primary purpose of this study was to establish the ability of pediatric anesthesiologists to learn to use two video laryngoscopes ‐ the GlideScope® system (GS) and the Karl Storz Direct Coupled Interface, DCI®, (KS).BackgroundThe number of intubation attempts required to attain proficiency with a video laryngoscope is not known.MethodsBaseline intubation times, using direct laryngoscopy, were determined for each anesthesiologist on 20 children. Anesthesiologists were then randomized to perform 20 intubations with the GS or KS before crossing over to the other device.ResultsThere were 193 successful intubations and eight failed intubations (4.0%) with the GS. Median time‐to‐intubation with the GS for each anesthesiologist ranged from 24.5 to 32.8 s. There were 193 successful intubations and three failed intubations (1.5%) with the KS (P > 0.05 vs failed attempts with GS). Median time‐to‐intubation with the KS ranged from 21.9 to 31.1 s. For both the GS and KS, five of eight anesthesiologists met the study definition of ‘Success’. There was no correlation between median time‐to‐intubation with all laryngoscopes combined and years since completion of training. The distribution of Cormack and Lehane scores was almost identical for the GS and KS; there were fewer grade III or IV scores than with direct laryngoscopy (P = 0.03; Fischer's exact test). Mean and median times on intubation no. 16–20 were shorter for the KS than for the GS.ConclusionsAlthough only 65% of anesthesiologists attained the stringent study definition of ‘Success’, all rapidly leaned to use both video laryngoscopes.