bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in Erectile Dysfunction Over Time in Relation to Framingham Cardiovascular Risk in the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey
Authors: Fang Shona C. , Rosen Raymond C. , Vita Joseph A. , Ganz Peter , Kupelian Varant 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the association between change in ED status over time and future underlying CVD risk is unclear.

Aim
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between change in ED status and Framingham CVD risk, as well change in Framingham risk.

Methods
We studied 965 men free of CVD in the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey, a longitudinal cohort study with three assessments. ED was assessed with the five-item International Index of Erectile Function at BACH I (2002–2005) and BACH II (2007–2010) and classified as no ED/transient ED/persistent ED. CVD risk was assessed with 10-year Framingham CVD risk algorithm at BACH I and BACH III (2010–2012). Linear regression models controlled for baseline age, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, as well as baseline Framingham risk. Models were also stratified by age (≥/&lt; 50 years).

Main Outcome Measures
Framingham CVD risk and change in Framingham CVD risk were the main outcome measures.

Results
Transient and persistent ED was significantly associated with increased Framingham risk and change in risk over time in univariate and age-adjusted models. In younger men, persistent ED was associated with a Framingham risk that was 1.58 percentage points higher (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11, 3.06) and in older men, a Framingham risk that was 2.54 percentage points higher (95% CI: −1.5, 6.59), compared with those without ED. Change in Framingham risk over time was also associated with transient and persistent ED in men &lt;50 years, but not in older men.

Conclusions
Data suggest that even after taking into account other CVD risk factors, transient and persistent ED is associated with Framingham CVD risk and a greater increase in Framingham risk over time, particularly in younger men. Findings further support clinical assessment of CVD risk in men presenting with ED, especially those under 50 years.
Effects of probiotic Lactobacillus brevis KB290 on incidence of influenza infection among schoolchildren: an open-label pilot study
Authors: Waki N. , Matsumoto M. , Fukui Y. , Suganuma H. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
We investigated the efficacy of dietary consumption of Lactobacillus brevis KB290 (KB290) against influenza in humans by a preliminary intervention study on elementary schoolchildren, using a commercially available probiotic drink. Subjects were divided into Groups A and B, and an open-label, parallel-group trial was conducted in two 8-week periods at a 1-month interval in winter 2013/2014. Group A was provided with a bottle of the test drink containing KB290 (about 6 billion colony-forming units) every school day in the first period and had no treatment in the second period, and vice versa for Group B. Epidemic influenza was not observed during the first period and only two of 1783 subjects were diagnosed. In the second period, the incidence of influenza in Groups A (no treatment) and B (provided the test drink) was 23·9 and 15·7%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P &lt;0·001). The reduction in the incidence of influenza by KB290 consumption was especially remarkable in unvaccinated individuals. This is believed to be the first study to show a probiotic food reducing the incidence of influenza in schoolchildren, although further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the probiotic strain KB290.

Significance and Impact of the Study
We demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of influenza in 1089 schoolchildren by continual intake of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus brevis KB290 (KB290), isolated from a traditional Japanese pickle ‘Suguki’. The effect was especially evident in subjects not inoculated with influenza vaccine. This is believed to be the first report to show reduced incidence of influenza in schoolchildren taking a probiotic food. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the probiotic strain KB290, which may be useful in the development of potential anti-influenza agents derived from common foods.
Effects of Silodosin and Tamsulosin on the Seminal Vesicle Contractile Response
Authors: HAYASHI Tokumasa , TAKEYA Mitsue , NAKAMURA Kei‐ichiro , MATSUOKA Kei 
Published: October 2014

ObjectivesTo understand the mechanisms underlying ejaculation dysfunction caused by α1A‐adrenocetor (AR) antagonists, the effects of α1A‐AR antagonists on the contractile responses of the seminal vesicle were investigated.MethodsIsolated seminal vesicles from guinea pigs were cannulated and pressurized, and the changes in the intraluminal pressure were recorded. Periodic applications of electrical stimulation (ES) caused biphasic increase in the intraluminal pressure, that is, initial and subsequent contractions. The effects of silodosin and tamsulosin, α1A‐AR antagonists, on the contractile responses were examined.ResultsThe ES‐induced biphasic contractions were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX). Silodosin and tamsulosin suppressed the initial contractions in a dose‐dependent manner, while also exerting various inhibitory effects on the subsequent contractions. Increases in the intraluminal pressure facilitated spontaneous phasic contractions. The spontaneous contractions were not affected by TTX or α1A‐AR antagonists, but were abolished by nifedipine.ConclusionsThe initial contractions triggered by neuronal excitations were suppressed by silodosin and tamsulosin, suggesting that the ejaculation dysfunction may be attributed to the α1A‐AR antagonist‐mediated suppression of nerve‐evoked contractions in the seminal vesicle. The subsequent contractions may be induced by mechanical stimulation associated with the initial, nerve‐evoked contractions. Alternatively, other transmitters may be involved to various degrees in the neuromuscular transmission of the seminal vesicle.
Efficacy of Transurethral Vesical Deafferentation with Mid‐Urethral Sling Operation for Female Mixed Urinary Incontinence: Preliminary Results
Authors: KIM Sang Jin , PARK Jung Soo , LIM Kyoung Taek , MOON Hong Sang , KIM Yong Tae 
Published: October 2014

ObjectivesIn female patients with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), a mid‐urethral sling operation (MUS) is an effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) frequently persists. We developed a novel transurethral vesical deafferentation procedure and assessed its efficacy in these patients.MethodsFrom December 2009 to December 2012, 41 female patients with MUI were enrolled prospectively. After baseline evaluation including urodynamic study and symptom questionnaires (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Overactive Bladder [ICIQ‐OAB]), patients in the study group underwent both the deafferentation procedure and MUS, and those in the control group underwent MUS alone. The outcome was assessed 3 months after the operation by subjective assessment of SUI and OABSS.ResultsAt 3 months, the treatment response rate of UUI was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group; UUI was improved in 80 and 57.1% of patients, respectively. SUI was cured in most patients. There were no serious complications, such as voiding symptom and urinary retention.ConclusionsThe transurethral vesical deafferentation procedure combined with MUS is effective for the treatment of MUI. The procedure is simple, safe and efficacious in treating urgency and UUI without affecting voiding function.
Cooperative Solutions for Large Economies with Asymmetric Information
Authors: Meo Claudia 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA proof of the existence of private core allocations is provided for an exchange economy ε where consumers and commodities are both infinite in number, supposing however that only finitely many types can be distinguished among traders. It is obtained passing through the Edgeworth equilibrium notion considered for a suitably associated discrete setting. For this setting a preliminary result—which is interesting in itself—is proved: in every discrete economy E with asymmetric information and unequal numbers of traders with the same characteristics there is a private core allocation which treats agents of the same type equally.
Gene expression plasticity resulting from parental leaf damage in Mimulus guttatus
Authors: Colicchio Jack M. , Monnahan Patrick J. , Kelly John K. , Hileman Lena C. 
Published: October 2014

Summary

Leaf trichome density in Mimulus guttatus can be altered by the parental environment. In this study, we compared global gene expression patterns in progeny of damaged and control plants. Significant differences in gene expression probably explain the observed trichome response, and identify additional responsive pathways.

Using whole transcriptome RNA sequencing, we estimated differential gene expression between isogenic seedlings whose parents had, or had not, been subject to leaf damage.

We identified over 900 genes that were differentially expressed in response to parental wounding. These genes clustered into groups involved in cell wall and cell membrane development, stress response pathways, and secondary metabolism.

Gene expression is modified as a consequence of the parental environment in a targeted way that probably alters multiple developmental pathways, and may increase progeny fitness if they experience environments similar to that of their parents.
Have We Gone From a Post‐War to a Pre‐War World?
Authors: MEAD WALTER RUSSELL 
Published: October 2014

In 1990, right after the Berlin Wall fell, NPQ published our Spring edition, titled “The New World Disorder,” about the nationalistic chaos and up‐in‐theair sensibility of that fraught new historical moment.Nearly a quarter of a century later, the regime of globalization that had supplanted the Cold War world of blocs is itself coming apart at the seams. Even Henry Kissinger these days says “the world order is crumbling.”Will this New World Disorder 2.0 revert to a system of conflicting blocs, as during the Cold War, or will we be mature enough to save the interdependence of plural identities that is the foundation of a new global civilization?In this section our contributors offer their perspectives on what the future holds.
Altered endothelial nitric oxide synthesis in preterm and small for gestational age infants
Authors: Huseynova Saadat Arif , Panakhova Nushaba Farkhad , Orujova Pusta Ali , Hasanov Safikhan Shamil , Guliyev Mehman Rustam , Yagubova Vafa Ilyas 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBackgroundPreterm infants are often exposed to neuronal and endothelial damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between endothelial dysfunction and neuronal injury in preterm infants.MethodsWe compared serum nitric oxide (NO), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuron‐specific enolase (NSE) concentrations in 33 moderate preterm (MP) and 47 late preterm (LP) infants using standard ELISA. Each group was classified as appropriate for gestational age (AGA) or small for gestational age (SGA).ResultsCompared to the AGA infants, the SGA infants had higher NO on day 1 (MP: mean, 72.3 ng/mL, range, 50.9–99.5 ng/mL vs 52.2 ng/mL, range, 28.1–68.2 ng/mL, P < 0.05; LP: mean, 58.4 ng/mL, range, 25.7–66.4 ng/mL vs 43.7 ng/mL, range, 21.2–60.6 ng/mL, P < 0.05), lower eNOS concentration on day 3 in the MP group (mean, 5.8 IU/mL, range, 1.2–7.9 IU/mL vs 8.9 IU/mL, range, 4.2–14.6 IU/mL, P < 0.05), and on day 1 in the LP group (mean, 5.5 IU/mL, range, 1.5–8.1 IU/mL vs 7.7 IU/mL, range, 4.4–13.8 IU/mL, P < 0.05). The NO/eNOS ratio was higher in SGA infants compared with the AGA subgroups (MP: mean, 13.8, range, 9.9–20.2 vs mean, 9.9, range, 4.7–13.1, P < 0.05; LP: mean, 12.2, range, 9.2–19.9 vs mean, 9.9, range, 5.4–14.4, P < 0.05). AGA infants had lower NSE concentration compared with the SGA infants on day 1 in the LP group (mean, 27.4 ng/mL, range, 20–43 ng/mL vs mean, 40.89 ng/mL, range, 34–51 ng/mL, P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between NO/eNOS ratio and NSE concentration (r = 0.75, P < 0.05 and r = 0.64, P < 0.05 on days 1 and 3, respectively).ConclusionHigh NO concentration in the context of low eNOS activity suggests a possible role of NO in the development of neuronal injury in SGA infants.
A longitudinal retrospective analysis of left ventricular mass in a cohort of pediatric kidney transplant recipients
Authors: McLaughlin Robyn , Hamiwka Lorraine , Samuel Susan , Fruitman Deborah , Grisaru Silviu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractChildhood end‐stage kidney disease is associated with increased risk for early adulthood cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Increased LVM is an early indicator of CV disease. Previous studies have suggested that LVM decreases after kidney transplantation; however, trends have been inconsistent. A single center retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis of LVM, documented annually, starting before kidney transplantation for up to 10 yr after transplantation was performed. BP documented by annual 24‐h ambulatory monitoring studies, and BMI values were also reviewed. Twenty‐seven children followed for a mean period of 5.3 yr were included. Depending on definition of LVH, its prevalence pretransplant and in the first years post‐transplant was up to 33% dropping to 0–25% thereafter. Individual longitudinal LVM z‐score trends were highly variable but generally trended toward the mean immediately after transplant and toward negative values in the following years. BP was stable during the follow‐up period while mean annual BMI increased in the first‐year post‐transplant but declined thereafter. In a cohort of pediatric renal transplant recipients, prevalence of LVH decreased after transplant; however, individual longitudinal LVM trends were highly variable among patients. Prospective studies are needed to correlate individual LVM trends with outcomes.
Pro‐girl Bias in Intra‐household Allocation in the Rural Philippines: Revisiting the “Adult Goods” Approach
Authors: Fuwa Nobuhiko 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis paper detects pro‐girl (age 5–15) bias in intra‐household allocation of consumption budget in the rural Philippines using Deaton's “adult goods” method. Based on additional checks (including those for endogeneity), the results appear to be robust. The paper also finds that a larger share of girls among household members is positively associated with a larger budget share on transportation, suggesting that parents pay more for girls' transportation, possibly because of safety concerns. The results also suggest that, despite some earlier results in the literature, the adult goods method is capable of detecting gender bias, although alcohol and tobacco may not be suitable for detecting gender bias.
Export Competition between Landlocked and Coastal Countries: An Analysis of Strategic Export Policies
Authors: Normizan Bakar , Yasunori Ishii 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis paper analyzes economic rivalry between two firms using an international Cournot duopoly model, where a firm from a landlocked country (LC) and a firm from a coastal country (CC) compete in a third‐country market. It is assumed that the landlocked country firm adopts a transport‐cost reducing R&D subsidized by its government, while the CC government imposes a toll fee on the LC firm. The findings show since a change in the LC's transport‐cost reducing R&D subsidy has a positive effect on its export and a negative effect on the CC's export, both measures have effective strategic export policies.
Union Organizing and Labor Outreach in the Contemporary United States
Authors: Dixon Marc 
Published: October 2014

AbstractDespite their long decline, labor unions increasingly find themselves in the news. From the spirited debate over income inequality, to fights over minimum wage and the unlikely mobilization of fast food workers at the very bottom of the American labor market, labor issues are of great public interest. In this article, I review scholarship on contemporary union organizing and outreach activity. This work suggests that while innovative organizing and outreach strategies, sometimes lumped together under the rubric of “social movement unionism” and “alt‐labor,” are demonstrated to be effective in advancing union causes, only a handful of unions appear to have the will and resources to utilize them. Moreover, while the implementation of new organizing and outreach strategies has been uneven and has not boosted union membership nationally, organized resistance to unions, from court rooms to state legislatures, has increased substantially.
Impact of intraoperatively salvaged and washed blood on stimulated cytokine release in vitro
Authors: Schneider Sven Oliver , Rensing Hauke , Hartmann Lisa , Grundmann Ulrich , Volk Thomas , Biedler Andreas 
Published: October 2014

BackgroundIntraoperative blood salvage and processing it with commercially available devices is a widespread standard procedure to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of such processed blood on the immune system by measuring pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines.Study Design and MethodsSalvaged blood from 20 patients undergoing hip arthroplasty was processed with a continuous autotransfusion system. One part of the processed blood was left without further treatment, one part was additionally leukoreduced, one part was irradiated, and one part was separated into its cellular and soluble fraction by centrifugation. Specimens from each part were mixed in vitro with venous blood from the patient in ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 and incubated with endotoxin for 24 hours. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐10 were measured in cell culture supernatants by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsAll parts of the salvaged blood were without a significant influence on TNF‐α release. In contrast, IL‐10 was significantly increased, independently of the admixtured salvaged blood being plain, additionally irradiated, or additionally leukoreduced. This IL‐10 increase was also found with the cellular fraction of the plain salvaged blood, whereas the soluble fraction had no influence on IL‐10 release.ConclusionIntraoperative salvaged blood is not immunologically inert. We observed a significant increase in the anti‐inflammatory IL‐10 response without affecting the proinflammatory TNF‐α release. Neither leukofiltration nor gamma irradiation eliminated this effect that was limited only to the cellular fraction of the salvaged blood, suggesting red blood cells to be responsible for the observed immunomodulation.
Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Favor Conversion of Arginine into Ornithine despite a Widespread Genetic Potential for Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity
Authors: Sánchez Mainar María , Weckx Stefan , Leroy Frédéric 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT

Within ecosystems that are poor in carbohydrates, alternative substrates such as arginine may be of importance to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). However, the versatility of arginine conversion in CNS remains largely uncharted. Therefore, a set of 86 strains belonging to 17 CNS species was screened for arginine deiminase (ADI), arginase, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities, in view of their ecological relevance. In fermented meats, for instance, ADI could improve bacterial competitiveness, whereas NOS may serve as an alternative nitrosomyoglobin generator to nitrate and nitrite curing. About 80% of the strains were able to convert arginine, but considerable inter- and intraspecies heterogeneity regarding the extent and mechanism of conversion was found. Overall, ADI was the most commonly employed pathway, resulting in mixtures of ornithine and small amounts of citrulline. Under aerobic conditions, which are more relevant for skin-associated CNS communities, several strains shifted toward arginase activity, leading to the production of ornithine and urea. The obtained data indeed suggest that arginase occurs relatively more in CNS isolates from a dairy environment, whereas ADI seems to be more abundant in strains from a fermented meat background. With some exceptions, a reasonable match between phenotypic ADI and arginase activity and the presence of the encoding genes (
arcA
and
arg
) was found. With respect to the NOS pathway, however, only one strain (
Staphylococcus haemolyticus
G110) displayed phenotypic NOS-like activity under aerobic conditions, despite a wide prevalence of the NOS-encoding gene (
nos
) among CNS. Hence, the group of CNS displays a strain- and condition-dependent toolbox of arginine-converting mechanisms with potential implications for competitiveness and functionality.
Molecular Epidemiology of Cases of Mycoplasma californicum Infection in Japan
Authors: Hata Eiji , Suzuki Kan-ichiro , Hanyu Hideki , Itoh Megumi , Higuchi Hidetoshi , Kobayashi Hideki 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTBovine mastitis due toMycoplasmacalifornicumis often accompanied by huge economic losses, and the disease spreads very quickly. An appropriate molecular epidemiological analysis is needed to prevent and control infectious disease, but molecular epidemiological analysis methods forM. californicumhave not yet been reported. Here we developed a combination of multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) methods, which are common genotyping methods for various bacteria, forM. californicum. The MLVA is based on four interspersed repeat units that were found in theM. californicumgenome data. The MLVA using these repeat units showed sufficient discriminatory power for a molecular epidemiological analysis; i.e., a Hunter-Gaston diversity index (HGDI) of 0.949, againstM.californicumstrains in Japan andM. californicumstrain ATCC 33461. The PFGE forM. californicumalso showed sufficient discriminatory power, with an HGDI of 0.985. Strain ATCC 33461 showed MLVA profiles and pulsotypes that differed greatly from those of strains from Japan. These results indicate that MLVA and PFGE are good tools for identifyingM. californicumtransmission events more accurately. Our combined MLVA and PFGE analysis suggests the persistence ofM.californicuminfection among herds in a specific area for a long period of time, as well as the movement of cows and heifers accompanying the expansion ofM. californicuminfection. Failure to identify asymptomatic infected cows is suspected as one of the central causes of the presentM.californicuminfection scenario in Japan.