bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contralateral dissociation between neural activity and cerebral blood volume during recurrent acute focal neocortical seizures
Authors: Harris Sam , Boorman Luke , Bruyns‐Haylett Michael , Kennerley Aneurin , Ma Hongtao , Zhao Mingrui , Overton Paul G. , Schwartz Theodore H. , Berwick Jason 
Published: July 2014

SummaryObjectiveWhether epileptic events disrupt normal neurovascular coupling mechanisms locally or remotely is unclear. We sought to investigate neurovascular coupling in an acute model of focal neocortical epilepsy, both within the seizure onset zone and in contralateral homotopic cortex.MethodsNeurovascular coupling in both ipsilateral and contralateral vibrissal cortices of the urethane‐anesthetized rat were examined during recurrent 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP, 15 mm, 1 μl) induced focal seizures. Local field potential (LFP) and multiunit spiking activity (MUA) were recorded via two bilaterally implanted 16‐channel microelectrodes. Concurrent two‐dimensional optical imaging spectroscopy was used to produce spatiotemporal maps of cerebral blood volume (CBV).ResultsRecurrent acute seizures in right vibrissal cortex (RVC) produced robust ipsilateral increases in LFP and MUA activity, most prominently in layer 5, that were nonlinearly correlated to local increases in CBV. In contrast, contralateral left vibrissal cortex (LVC) exhibited relatively smaller nonlaminar specific increases in neural activity coupled with a decrease in CBV, suggestive of dissociation between neural and hemodynamic responses.SignificanceThese findings provide insights into the impact of epileptic events on the neurovascular unit, and have important implications both for the interpretation of perfusion‐based imaging signals in the disorder and understanding the widespread effects of epilepsy.A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Multiple Lines of Egg Defense in a Neotropical Arachnid with Temporary Brood Desertion
Authors: Chelini Marie‐Claire , Machado Glauco 
Published: July 2014

AbstractEgg predation is the one of the main costs of brood desertion in many ectothermic animals. When stressful environmental conditions constrain parental activities to only some periods of the day, the combination of physical or chemical defenses may attenuate the costs related to egg loss during periods of temporary parental absence. Females of the harvestman Neosadocus maximus periodically abandon their clutches to shelter or forage. They also cover their eggs with a hygroscopic mucus coat and seem to lose fewer eggs to predation than other syntopic harvestmen whose eggs lack the mucus coat. Using two species of N. maximus egg predators, we demonstrate that eggs whose mucus coat was experimentally removed suffered higher predation rate than eggs whose mucus coat was left intact. We argue that this mucus provides physical protection against egg predators, especially small arthropods. A similar mucus coat has independently evolved in other two clades of Neotropical harvestman in which males care for the eggs and typically leave their clutches unattended for several hours a day. We propose that the presence of multiple lines of egg defense may have evolved as a way of lowering the costs imposed by intra‐ and interspecific egg predation during periods of temporary brood desertion.
The ecology of rivers with contrasting flow regimes: identifying indicators for setting environmental flows
Authors: Warfe Danielle M. , Hardie Scott A. , Uytendaal Adam R. , Bobbi Chris J. , Barmuta Leon A. 
Published: July 2014

Summary

The scientific basis for setting environmental flows is still hampered by our incomplete understanding of flow–ecology relationships and how river ecology varies with flow regime.

We conducted a study of six rivers in Tasmania (Australia), three perennial and three intermittent, measuring a range of abiotic, biotic and ecosystem process attributes over 2 years. Our intentions were to identify: (i) whether they had an ecology characteristic of their flow regime and (ii) whether certain ecological attributes were more responsive to flow regime than others, and therefore represented candidate indicators (for environmental flows or flow alteration) specific to each flow regime.

Only a few abiotic variables showed any relationship with flow regime: banks were higher, pools shallower and sediments finer in perennial rivers, and water temperature was generally lower in perennial rivers. Although rarely measured, we found that productivity and net ecosystem metabolism were strongly related to flow regime, whereas food chain length did not vary between perennial and intermittent rivers. Multivariate, rather than univariate, metrics of biotic assemblages were more effective at distinguishing perennial and intermittent flow regimes, and this was consistent among riparian and instream vegetation, biofilm and macroinvertebrate assemblages. In contrast to expectations from the literature, fish assemblages were not strong indicators of flow regime, largely due to the relatively low diversity and abundance of the Tasmanian fish fauna.

Our findings demonstrate that rivers with different flow regimes can support a distinctive ecology, and conventional metrics of ecological character may not be the most sensitive to flow regime. We provide a set of ecological attributes that can: (i) support extrapolation of flow–ecology relationships across rivers to regional scales, (ii) provide benchmarks for environmental flow and flow restoration objectives, (iii) indicate alterations to natural or existing flow regimes and (iv) be used to monitor and evaluate flow management actions.
Ecological tracers reveal resource convergence among prey fish species in a large lake ecosystem
Authors: Paterson Gord , Rush Scott A. , Arts Michael T. , Drouillard Ken G. , Haffner Gordon Doug , Johnson Tim B. , Lantry Brian F. , Hebert Craig E. , McGoldrick Daryl J. , Backus Sean M. , Fisk Aaron T. 
Published: July 2014

Summary

We measured stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) and fatty acid profiles in Lake Ontario alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) collected from 1982 to 2008 to investigate how temporal variability in these ecological tracers can relate to ecosystem‐level changes associated with the establishment of highly invasive dreissenid mussels.

Prey fish δ15N values remained relatively constant, with only slimy sculpin exhibiting a temporal increase in δ15N. In contrast, δ13C values for alewife, rainbow smelt and, especially, slimy sculpin became less negative over time and were consistent with the benthification of the Lake Ontario food web associated with dreissenids.

Principal components analysis revealed higher contributions of 14:0 and 16:1n‐7 fatty acids and increasingly negative δ13C values in older samples in agreement with the greater historical importance of pelagic production for alewife, rainbow smelt and slimy sculpin.

Temporal declines in fatty acid unsaturation indices and Σn‐3/Σn‐6 ratios, and also increased 24:0/14:0 ratios for alewife, rainbow smelt and slimy sculpin, indicated the increasing importance of nearshore production pathways for more recently collected fish and resulted in values more similar to those for round goby.

These results indicate a temporal convergence of the food niche, whereas food partitioning has historically supported the coexistence of prey fish species in Lake Ontario. This convergence is consistent with changes in food‐web processes associated with the invasion of dreissenid mussels.
Modeling Coastal Salinity in Quasi 2D and 3D Using a DUALEM‐421 and Inversion Software
Authors: Davies Gareth , Huang Jingyi , Monteiro Santos Fernando Acacio , Triantafilis John 
Published: July 2014

AbstractRising sea levels, owing to climate change, are a threat to fresh water coastal aquifers. This is because saline intrusions are caused by increases and intensification of medium‐large scale influences including sea level rise, wave climate, tidal cycles, and shifts in beach morphology. Methods are therefore required to understand the dynamics of these interactions. While traditional borehole and galvanic contact resistivity (GCR) techniques have been successful they are time‐consuming. Alternatively, frequency‐domain electromagnetic (FEM) induction is potentially useful as physical contact with the ground is not required. A DUALEM‐421 and EM4Soil inversion software package are used to develop a quasi two‐ (2D) and quasi three‐dimensional (3D) electromagnetic conductivity images (EMCI) across Long Reef Beach located north of Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The quasi 2D models discern: the dry sand (<10 mS/m) associated with the incipient dune; sand with fresh water (10 to 20 mS/m); mixing of fresh and saline water (20 to 500 mS/m), and; saline sand of varying moisture (more than 500 mS/m). The quasi 3D EMCIs generated for low and high tides suggest that daily tidal cycles do not have a significant effect on local groundwater salinity. Instead, the saline intrusion is most likely influenced by medium‐large scale drivers including local wave climate and morphology along this wave‐dominated beach. Further research is required to elucidate the influence of spring‐neap tidal cycles, contrasting beach morphological states and sea level rise.
Blockade of CD40–TRAF2,3 or CD40–TRAF6 is sufficient to inhibit pro‐inflammatory responses in non‐haematopoietic cells
Authors: Portillo Jose‐Andres C. , Greene Jennifer A. , Schwartz Isaac , Subauste Maria Cecilia , Subauste Carlos S. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryInhibition of the CD40–CD154 pathway controls inflammatory disorders. Unfortunately, administration of anti‐CD154 monoclonal antibodies causes thromboembolism. Blockade of signalling downstream of CD40 may represent an approach to treat CD40‐driven inflammatory disorders. Blocking tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 6 (TRAF6) signalling downstream of CD40 in MHC II+ cells diminishes inflammation. However, CD40–TRAF6 blockade may cause immunosuppression. We examined the role of CD40–TRAF2,3 and CD40–TRAF6 signalling in the development of pro‐inflammatory responses in human non‐haematopoietic and monocytic cells. Human aortic endothelial cells, aortic smooth muscle cells, renal proximal tubule epithelial cells, renal mesangial cells and monocytic cells were transduced with retroviral vectors that encode wild‐type CD40, CD40 with a mutation that prevents TRAF2,3 recruitment (ΔT2,3), TRAF6 recruitment (ΔT6) or both TRAF2,3 plus TRAF6 recruitment (ΔT2,3,6). Non‐haematopoietic cells that expressed CD40 ΔT2,3 exhibited marked inhibition in CD154‐induced up‐regulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP‐1), tissue factor and matrix metalloproteinase 9. Similar results were obtained with cells that expressed CD40 ΔT6. Although both mutations impaired ICAM‐1 up‐regulation in monocytic cells, only expression of CD40 ΔT6 reduced MCP‐1 and tissue factor up‐regulation in these cells. Treatment of endothelial and smooth muscle cells with cell‐permeable peptides that block CD40–TRAF2,3 or CD40–TRAF6 signalling impaired pro‐inflammatory responses. In contrast, while the CD40–TRAF2,3 blocking peptide did not reduce CD154‐induced dendritic cell maturation, the CD40–TRAF6 blocking peptide impaired this response. Hence, preventing CD40–TRAF2,3 or CD40–TRAF6 interaction inhibits pro‐inflammatory responses in human non‐haematopoietic cells. In contrast to inhibition of CD40–TRAF6 signalling, inhibition of CD40–TRAF2,3 signalling did not impair dendritic cell maturation. Blocking CD40–TRAF2,3 signalling may control CD40–CD154‐dependent inflammatory disorders.
Clinical implications of interferon‐γ genetic and epigenetic variants
Authors: Smith Nicola L. D. , Denning David W. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryInterferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) is an integral and critical molecule of the immune system, with multiple functions, mostly related to the T helper type 1 (Th1) response to infection. It is critical for defence against mycobacterial infection and is of increasing interest in defence against fungi. In this article, we review the genetic and epigenetic variants affecting IFN‐γ expression and investigate its role in disease, with an emphasis on fungal diseases such as invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Over 347 IFN‐γ gene variants have been described, in multiple ethnic populations. Many appear to confer a susceptibility to disease, especially tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis, but also some non‐infectious conditions such as aplastic anaemia, cervical cancer and psoriasis. Several epigenetic modifications are also described, increasing IFN‐γ expression in Th1 lymphocytes and reducing IFN‐γ expression in Th2 lymphocytes. Recombinant IFN‐γ administration is licensed for the prophylaxis of infection (bacterial and fungal) in patients with the phagocyte functional deficiency syndrome chronic granulomatous disease, although the benefits appear limited. Interferon‐γ therapy is given to patients with profound defects in IFN‐γ and interleukin‐12 production and appears to be beneficial for patients with invasive aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitis, but the studies are not definitive. A high proportion of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis are poor producers of IFN‐γ in response to multiple stimuli and could also benefit from IFN‐γ administration. The investigation and management of patients with possible or demonstrated IFN‐γ deficiency in adulthood is poorly studied and could be greatly enhanced with the integration of genetic data.
The efficacy and safety of Grafix® for the treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers: results of a multi‐centre, controlled, randomised, blinded, clinical trial
Authors: Lavery Lawrence A , Fulmer James , Shebetka Karry Ann , Regulski Matthew , Vayser Dean , Fried David , Kashefsky Howard , Owings Tammy M , Nadarajah Janaki ,   The Grafix Diabetic Foot Ulcer Study Group
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn a randomised, controlled study, we compared the efficacy of Grafix®, a human viable wound matrix (hVWM) (N = 50), to standard wound care (n = 47) to heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with complete wound closure by 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints included the time to wound closure, adverse events and wound closure in the crossover phase. The proportion of patients who achieved complete wound closure was significantly higher in patients who received Grafix (62%) compared with controls (21%, P = 0·0001). The median time to healing was 42 days in Grafix patients compared with 69·5 days in controls (P = 0·019). There were fewer Grafix patients with adverse events (44% versus 66%, P = 0·031) and fewer Grafix patients with wound‐related infections (18% versus 36·2%, P = 0·044). Among the study subjects that healed, ulcers remained closed in 82·1% of patients (23 of 28 patients) in the Grafix group versus 70% (7 of 10 patients) in the control group (P = 0·419). Treatment with Grafix significantly improved DFU healing compared with standard wound therapy. Importantly, Grafix also reduced DFU‐related complications. The results of this well‐controlled study showed that Grafix is a safe and more effective therapy for treating DFUs than standard wound therapy.
Chronic Tophaceous Gout Presenting as Hyperpigmented Nodules in the Limbs of a Patient with Coexisting Psoriasis
Authors: Cho Soyun , Koh Gwang‐Jin , Choi Jee‐Ho , Sung Kyung‐Jeh , Moon Kee‐Chan , Koh Jai‐Kyoung 
Published: July 2014

AbstractWe describe a 53‐year‐old male renal transplant recipient with hypertension and triglyceridemia, who showed rare manifestations of gout presenting as brownish nodules on the arms and legs as well as chronic tophaceous gouty arthritis of the hands and feet mimicking rheumatoid arthritis, in association with subsequently developed psoriasis of the palms. In elderly Asian men, hypertension and renal insufficiency may be risk factors predisposing to the development of multiple hyperpigmented nodules of tophi in the more proximal extremities.
Detection of Species of the Subgenus Leishmania Parasites Using Polymerase Chain Reaction and Southern Blotting
Authors: Uezato Hiroshi , Takei Kimiko , Maruno Motoyoshi , Khaskhely Noor Mohammad , Nonaka Shigeo , Oshiro Minoru , Kariya Ken‐ichi , Katakura Ken , Mimori Tatsuyuki , Gomez L. Eduardo A. , Furuya Masato , Shamsuzzaman S.M. , Hashiguchi Yoshihisa 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn this study, an attempt was made to identify different Leishmania species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fourteen Leishmania strains from stock were tested by PCR and Southern blotting. A pair of primers were employed that anneal to the kinetoplast DNA sequence conserved among subgenus Leishmania. Of the 14 Leishmania strains used in this study, six showed strong bands of approximately 170 bp, and all the positive strains belonged to the species of the subgenus Leishmania viz., Leishmania (Leishmania) garnhami, L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (L.) pifanoi, L. (L.) mexicana, L. (L.) chagasi, and L. (L.) major. All the species belonging to the subgenus Viannia used in this study were negative by PCR. These results suggest that the primer pair may be useful for identification of the species belonging to the subgenus Leishmania of the New World as well as to distinguish subgenus Leishmania from subgenus Viannia.
Oral Ivermectin in Scabies Patients: A Comparison with 1% Topical Lindane Lotion
Authors: Madan Vishaal , Jaskiran Kaur , Gupta Usha , Gupta Devendra Kumar 
Published: July 2014

AbstractScabies, which constitutes a significant proportion of the outpatient attendance in tropical dermatology clinics, has so far been treated with lindane, crotamiton, sulphur, permethrin, etc. Ivermectin, an orally administered drug, was tried in scabies patients and compared with 1% topical lindane lotion to evaluate its effects and toxicity profile. Two hundred scabies patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group received oral invermectin in a single dose of 200 micrograms/kg body weight. The other received 1% lindane lotion for topical application overnight. Patients were assessed after 48 hours, two weeks and four weeks. After a period of four weeks, 82.6% of the patients in the ivermectin group showed marked improvement; only 44.44% of the patients in the lindance group showed a similar response. A side effects in the form of severe headache were noted in one patient in group A. Oral ivermectin is an easy drug to administer. It is given as a single oral dose, unlike lindane, which has to be applied topically. The compliance is accordingly increased. Moreover, ivermectin induces an early and effective improvement in signs and symptoms. Thus, it may be a better option for scabies than the traditional topical lindane lotion.
A Case of Acral Lentginous Melanoma: The Correlation between CD95L Expression on Melanoma Cells and Apoptosis of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Authors: Maeda Akira , Aragane Yoshinori , Kawada Akira , Isogai Rieko , Orita Tomoaki , Tezuka Tadashi 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThere is an increasing amount of evidence that melanoma cells express the ligand for CD95 (CD95L), a potent inducer of apoptosis, which contributes to creating the immune privileged circumstances of tumor sites. However, it still remains to be demonstrated whether the capacity of melanoma cells to express CD95L is acquired during the progression. We addressed this question with a case of acral lentiginous melanoma by employing immunostaining using an antibody directed against CD95L as well as by in situ TUNEL staining. H&E‐staining of tumor specimens revealed that there were two different growth patterns. The central part of the tumor showed a deeper invasion into the dermis (Breslow thickness>4‐mm). The horizontally growing edge of the tumor proliferated more superficially (Breslow thickness<3‐mm). Relatively fewer lymphocytes were observed around the melanoma nests in central areas, which expressed detectable amounts of CD95L. In contrast, more lymphocytes were observed among the melanoma cells in the peripheral lesion, where CD95L was not detected. To evaluate the relevance of the CD95L expression, in situ TUNEL staining was performed. This indicated a significant correlation of lymphocyte apoptosis with CD95L expression on melanoma cells. Together, the data suggest that expression of CD95L is turned on depending on the level of melanoma, and that it may contribute to creating immune privileged circumstances by initiating apoptosis of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.
Repigmentation after Autologous Miniature Punch Grafting in Segmental Vitiligo in North Indian Patients
Authors: Sarkar Rashmi , Mehta Swami Dass , Kanwar Amrinder J. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractSegmental vitiligo is rather refractory to medical treatment. The paucity of literature on the results of autologous miniature punch grafting in segmental vitiligo in dark‐skinned patients led us to conduct such a study in 15 dark‐skinned patients of North Indian origin to observe the repigmentation response to this technique at different sites. The age range was 16–42 years (mean 23.08 years). There were four males and eleven females (M:F ratio being 1:2.75) who had the disease for 3–15 years. After autologous miniature punch grafting, a remarkable repigmentation was obtained in 12 (80%) cases with 90% to 100% improvement. About 40–60% repigmentation was observed within 3–6 months in the majority (66.6%) of cases and near total to total repigmentation was observed within 2 years. The maximum pigment spread was observed over the face (cheeks) and neck, and the minimum pigment spread was observed over the left arm and right upper eyelid. Complications were minimal. The present study demonstrates that autologous miniature punch grafting is a safe and easy technique, that produces good cosmetic results in the unsightly depigmenting lesions of segmental vitiligo, especially on the face and exposed areas, even in dark‐skinned races if patients are selected carefully. This can be of great benefit to patients who are psychologically disturbed by their disease.
The Occurrence of Various Collagen Diseases in One Family: A Sister with ISSc, PBC, APS, and SS and a Brother with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Tanaka Asayo , Igarashi Masaru , Kakinuma Miwa , Oh‐i Tsunao , Koga Michiyuki , Okuda Tomoki 
Published: July 2014

AbstractWe encountered siblings who had collagen diseases and related symptoms. Case 1 was a 53‐year‐old woman who had limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (ISSc) associated with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), and subclinical Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Case 2 was a 48‐year‐old man, her younger brother, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that developed at 32 years of age. Investigation of their family revealed that their mother had Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis, and subclinical Sjögren's syndrome, and that another younger brother of Cases 1 and 2 had Raynaud's phenomenon and general fatigue. HLA analysis revealed that the sister and brother had some identical HLA antigens in common, including A2, A33 (19), B67, B44 (12), Cw7, DR2, DR6, DR52, and DQ1. The sister, brother and their mother had common HLA antigens including A2, B67, Cw7, DR2, and DQ1. Although Cases 1 and 2 shared the same HLA system, they presented different phenotypes of collagen disease.
Contact Leukoderma of the Scalp or an Unusual Variant of Vitiligo?
Authors: Verma Shikha , Kumar Bhushan 
Published: July 2014

AbstractContact leukoderma due to hair dyes is strongly suspected in patients presenting with depigmented patches sharply localized to the scalp. We describe three patients with a striking pattern of depigmentation, which stopped abruptly at the hair margins. However, no definite correlation with the use of hair dyes could be made in any of them. Our cases represent an unusual pattern of vitiligo of the scalp, which seems to have been previously attributed mainly to hair colorants. Careful examination of the lesions on the scalp may reveal more cases with this pattern.