bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dissecting pollinator responses to a ubiquitous ultraviolet floral pattern in the wild
Authors: Koski Matthew H. , Ashman Tia‐Lynn 
Published: December 2013

Summary

Colour patterns on flowers can increase pollinator visitation and enhance foraging behaviour. Flowers uniform in colour to humans, however, can appear patterned to insects due to spatial variation in UV reflectance on petals. A UV ‘bullseye’ pattern that is common among angiosperms – UV‐absorbing petal bases and UV‐reflective apices – purportedly functions as a nectar guide, enhancing pollinator orientation and experimental evidence suggests that UV reflectance increases floral apparency to pollinators.

We test the pollinator‐attracting and pollinator‐orienting functions of floral UV pattern and UV reflectance under natural conditions. Specifically, we address whether UV reflection alone, or UV pattern influences small bee and syrphid fly attraction rates (approaching, landing and foraging visits), foraging rates, and likelihood of foraging and orienting to the centre of flowers, using Argentina anserina, a species whose flowers exhibit variability in the size of the UV bullseye. We manipulated UV properties while maintaining uniformly yellow petals to create three phenotypes – uniformly UV‐absorptive, uniformly UV‐reflective, and inversed bullseye (reflective bases and absorptive apices) and compared insect visitation and behaviour to control flowers with the common UV bullseye phenotype.

The presence of UV pattern increased attraction rates by both bees and syrphid flies relative to either fully UV reflective or absorptive flowers. However, only in the inverse array did the bullseye phenotype elicit higher foraging rates than the test flower. Neither the presence of pattern, nor the reversal of the common pattern influenced the likelihood of pollinator foraging or orientating to the flowers' centre during a visit.

We provide some of the first evidence to suggest that flowers with spatial variation in UV reflectance may be more conspicuous to insects than those with petals that uniformly absorb or reflect UV, all of which are naturally occurring phenotypes. Further, we verify that the most common UV pattern in nature increases insect attraction and foraging rate relative to the inverse pattern. Results confirm a distance apparency function of the UV bullseye, but we argue for reconsideration of the notion that pollinators benefit from this ubiquitous floral motif through enhanced foraging efficiency.
The pursuit of preventive care for chronic illness: turning healthy people into chronic patients
Authors: Kreiner Meta J. , Hunt Linda M. 
Published: December 2013

Abstract Preventive health care has become prominent in clinical medicine in the US, emphasising risk assessment and control, rather than addressing the signs and symptoms of pathology. Current clinical guidelines, reinforced by evidence‐based decision aids and quality of care assessment, encourage clinicians to focus on maintaining rigid test thresholds that are based on population norms. While achieving these goals may benefit the total population, this may be of no benefit or even harmful to individual patients. In order to explore how this phenomenon is manifested in clinical care and consider some factors that promote and sustain this trend, we analysed observations of over 100 clinical consultations, and open‐ended interviews with 58 primary care clinicians and 70 of their patients. Both clinicians and patients equated at‐risk states with illness and viewed the associated interventions not as prevention, but as treatment. This conflation of risk and disease redefines clinical success such that reducing the threat of anticipated future illness requires the acceptance of aggressive treatments and any associated adverse effects in the present. While the expanding emphasis on preventive medicine may improve the health profile of the total population, the implications of these innovations for the wellbeing of individual patients merits careful reconsideration.
Organisational innovation and control practices: the case of public–private mix in tuberculosis control in India
Authors: Engel Nora , van Lente Harro 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPartnerships between public and private healthcare providers are often seen as an important way to improve health care in resource‐constrained settings. Despite the reconfirmed policy support for including private providers into public tuberculosis control in India, the public–private mix (PPM) activities continue to face apprehension at local implementation sites. This article investigates the causes for those difficulties by examining PPM initiatives as cases of organisational innovation. It examines findings from semi‐structured interviews, observations and document analyses in India around three different PPM models and the attempts of innovating and scaling up. The results reveal that in PPM initiatives underlying problem definitions and different control practices, including supervision, standardisation and culture, continue to clash and ultimately hinder the scaling up of PPM. Successful PPM initiatives require organisational control practices which are rooted in different professions to be bridged. This entails difficult balancing acts between innovation and control. The innovators handle those differently, based on their own ideas of the problem that PPM should address and their own control practices. We offer new perspectives on why collaboration is so difficult and show a possible way to mitigate the established apprehensions between professions in order to make organisational innovations, such as PPM, sustainable and scalable.
Neurotoxicological Profile Assessment of Lobeline after Acute Treatment in Mice
Authors: Verde Rodrigues Laise C. Lima , Decker Natália , Picada Jaqueline N. , Pereira Patrícia 
Published: December 2013

AbstractLobeline is a natural alkaloid with high affinity for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and it is a promising candidate for addiction treatment in human beings. This work evaluated the toxicological profile of lobeline with different behavioural models and investigated its effect on DNA damage (comet assay and micronucleus test) in mice. Acute administration of lobeline (5 or 10 mg/kg; i.p.) did not impair the parameters measured in the habituation and inhibitory avoidance test, suggesting that it has no effect on memory acquisition in these tasks. Lobeline did not affect the number or the latency to the first head‐dip in the hole board test, indicating that it was not anxiolytic/anxiogenic in this model. No genotoxic effects were observed in blood, liver and brain tissues collected 24 hr after the single injection of lobeline (both doses). There was no increase in micronucleus frequency in mice treated with lobeline, indicating the absence of toxicity in bone marrow of the animals. Therefore, the acute treatment with high doses of lobeline did not impair the behavioural parameters measured in this work. Additionally, the drug was not able to produce DNA damage.
Pilot investigation of isradipine in the treatment of bipolar depression motivated by genome‐wide association
Authors: Ostacher Michael J , Iosifescu Dan V , Hay Aleena , Blumenthal Sarah R , Sklar Pamela , Perlis Roy H 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivesMotivated by genetic association data implicating L‐type calcium channels in bipolar disorder liability, we sought to estimate the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of isradipine in the adjunctive treatment of bipolar depression.MethodsA total of 12 patients with bipolar I or II depression entered this pilot, proof‐of‐concept eight‐week investigation and 10 returned for at least one post‐baseline visit. They were initiated on isradipine at 2.5 mg and titrated up to 10 mg daily, with blinded assessments of depression using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as well as adverse effects.ResultsAmong the 10 patients, three had bipolar II disorder; all but two reported current episode duration longer than six months. In all, four of 10 completed the study; no significant adverse events were observed, although one subject discontinued treatment per protocol because of possible hypomanic symptoms which had resolved prior to study visit. In a mixed‐effects model, mean improvement in depression severity, assessed by MADRS, was 2.1 (standard error = 0.36) points/week (p < 0.001). Two of the 10 subjects remitted and four of the 10 subjects experienced 50% or greater symptomatic improvement with treatment.ConclusionsIsradipine merits further investigation for the treatment of bipolar depression. This preliminary trial illustrates the potential utility of genetic investigation in identifying psychiatric treatment targets.
G6PD deficiency: a classic example of pharmacogenetics with on‐going clinical implications
Authors: Luzzatto Lucio , Seneca Elisa 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThat primaquine and other drugs can trigger acute haemolytic anaemia in subjects who have an inherited mutation of the glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene has been known for over half a century: however, these events still occur, because when giving the drug either the G6PD status of a person is not known, or the risk of this potentially life‐threatening complication is under‐estimated. Here we review briefly the genetic basis of G6PD deficiency, and then the pathophysiology and the clinical features of drug‐induced haemolysis; we also update the list of potentially haemolytic drugs (which includes rasburicase). It is now clear that it is not good practice to give one of these drugs before testing a person for his/her G6PD status, especially in populations in whom G6PD deficiency is common. We discuss therefore how G6PD testing can be done reconciling safety with cost; this is once again becoming of public health importance, as more countries are moving along the pathway of malaria elimination, that might require mass administration of primaquine. Finally, we sketch the triangular relationship between malaria, antimalarials such as primaquine, and G6PD deficiency: which is to some extent protective against malaria, but also a genetically determined hazard when taking primaquine.
Complement and cytokine response in acute Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Authors: Westwood John‐Paul , Langley Kathryn , Heelas Edward , Machin Samuel J. , Scully Marie 
Published: December 2013

SummaryComplement dysregulation is key in the pathogenesis of atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS), but no clear role for complement has been identified in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). We aimed to assess complement activation and cytokine response in acute antibody‐mediated TTP. Complement C3a and C5a and cytokines (interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, tumour necrosis factor, interferon‐γ and IL‐17a) were measured in 20 acute TTP patients and 49 remission cases. Anti‐ADAMTS13 immunoglobulin G (IgG) subtypes were measured in acute patients in order to study the association with complement activation. In acute TTP, median C3a and C5a were significantly elevated compared to remission, C3a 63·9 ng/ml vs. 38·2 ng/ml (P < 0·001) and C5a 16·4 ng/ml vs. 9·29 ng/ml (P < 0·001), respectively. Median IL‐6 and IL‐10 levels were significantly higher in the acute vs. remission groups, IL‐6: 8 pg/ml vs. 2 pg/ml (P = 0·003), IL‐10: 6 pg/ml vs. 2 pg/ml (P < 0·001). C3a levels correlated with both anti‐ADAMTS13 IgG (rs = 0·604, P = 0·017) and IL‐10 (rs = 0·692, P = 0·006). No anti‐ADAMTS13 IgG subtype was associated with higher complement activation, but patients with the highest C3a levels had 3 or 4 IgG subtypes present. These results suggest complement anaphylatoxin levels are higher in acute TTP cases than in remission, and the complement response seen acutely may relate to anti‐ADAMTS13 IgG antibody and IL‐10 levels.
An essential role for dendritic cells in vernal keratoconjunctivitis: analysis by laser scanning confocal microscopy
Authors: Liu M. , Gao H. , Wang T. , Wang S. , Li S. , Shi W. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundCD4+ T helper type 2 cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), and antigen‐presenting cells are required for the cell activation. In this study, we aimed to survey the density, distribution, and morphology of dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with VKC by in vivo confocal microscopy.MethodsThirty‐five patients (mean, 12.4 ± 5.3 years) affected by VKC were included. All patients were treated with 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops and 0.5% cyclosporine A eye drops. The density and morphological and distributional characteristics of DCs in each right eye were evaluated by in vivo confocal microscopy before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Thirty‐five age‐matched normal subjects (mean, 16.5 ± 1.8 years) were studied as controls.ResultsThere was significant difference in age between the VKC group and the control group (F = 18.17, P < 0.05). Compared with normal eyes, increased numbers of DCs were found in patients with VKC, with mean cell densities of 244.09 ± 59.76 cells/mm2 at the bulbar conjunctiva, 574.53 ± 87.34 cells/mm2 at the limbus, and 403.32 ± 106.59 cells/mm2 at the peripheral cornea before treatment. These DCs exhibited a typical dendritic shape. At 3 months after treatment, the DC density at the conjunctiva decreased significantly (P < 0.05), approximating that in the controls. At 3 and 6 months, the DC densities at the limbus and peripheral cornea also decreased significantly (P < 0.05), but were still statistically higher than those in the controls. These DCs, with small dendritic processes or irregular shapes, were observed to gradually locate at the epithelial basal membrane and subbasal nerve plexus.ConclusionsIn vivo confocal microscopy appears to be a valuable tool in evaluating the dynamic change of DCs at the conjunctiva and cornea. DCs play an essential role in VKC and therefore may constitute a target for therapeutic intervention for VKC.
Two novel HSD3B2 missense mutations with diverse residual enzymatic activities for Δ5‐steroids
Authors: Takasawa Kei , Ono Makoto , Hijikata Atsushi , Matsubara Yohei , Katsumata Noriyuki , Takagi Masatoshi , Morio Tomohiro , Ohara Osamu , Kashimada Kenichi , Mizutani Shuki 
Published: December 2013

SummaryContextClassical 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD) deficiency (3β‐HSDD) is caused by loss‐of‐function mutations in the HSD3B2 gene encoding type II 3β‐HSD, which has a key role in steroid biosynthesis, converting Δ5‐steroids to Δ4‐steroids in adrenal glands and gonads.PatientA patient (46, XX) was found to have elevated 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OHP) [203 nmol/l (normal range: 2·94 ± 0·9 nmol/l)] by newborn screening. Endocrinological examination revealed dramatically increased Δ5‐steroids [e.g. 17‐OH pregnenolone: 910 nmol/l (normal range: 12·6 ± 10·5 nmol/l)]. The patient had virilization of external genitalia with labial fusion, suggesting classical 3β‐HSDD.Methods and ResultsConsistent with the endocrinological data, the patient was a compound heterozygote for two novel missense mutations (p.Y190C and p.S218P) that were identified in HSD3B2. Both Y190 and S218 are conserved among mammals. The mutant proteins had severely impaired residual enzymatic activity in vitro, although both mutants retained higher activity for 17‐OH pregnenolone than for the other Δ5‐steroids. In a three‐dimensional model of the enzyme based on the known structures of similar proteins, both mutations were located extremely close to the predicted substrate‐binding pocket. This suggests that the mutations can cause a local conformational change in the substrate‐binding pocket, leading to alterations of the binding affinities for Δ5‐steroids.ConclusionsWe identified two novel missense mutations of HSD3B2 that resulted in unbalanced residual enzymatic activities for Δ5‐steroids. As a potential novel mechanism, we propose that the mutations, which differently affect the activity towards different substrates, the effects of these mutations provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of 3β‐HSDD.
Mutation spectrum and prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in patients with familial and early‐onset breast/ovarian cancer from Tunisia
Authors: Riahi A. , Kharrat M. , Ghourabi M. E. , Khomsi F. , Gamoudi A. , Lariani I. , May A. E. , Rahal K. , Chaabouni‐Bouhamed H. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe contribution of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations to hereditary breast cancer in the Tunisian population has not been accurately estimated. The purpose of our study was to estimate the incidence and spectrum of pathogenic mutations in BRCA1/2 genes in early onset and familial breast/ovarian cancer among Tunisian women. To identify predictive factors for BRCA1/2 mutations, we screened the entire coding sequences and intron/exon boundaries of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes in 48 patients by direct sequencing. Twelve pathogenic mutations were detected (25%); three in BRCA1 (c.211dupA in four families, c.5266dupC in three families and c.1504_1508delTTAAA in one family) and two novel mutations in BRCA2 (c.1313dupT in two families and c.7654dupT in two families). We also identified 23 different polymorphisms and unclassified variants. These results indicate that our population has a spectrum of recurrent BRCA mutations.
Fresh Frozen versus Autogenous Iliac Bone for the Rehabilitation of the Extremely Atrophic Maxilla with Onlay Grafts and Endosseous Implants: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Comparative Study
Authors: Chiapasco Matteo , Di Martino Giuseppe , Anello Tommaso , Zaniboni Marco , Romeo Eugenio 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare (1) the clinical outcome of the reconstruction of extremely atrophic edentulous maxillae with fresh frozen allogeneic bone (FFB) (group A) and autogenous bone (AB) (group B) iliac blocks; and (2) the peri‐implant bone resorption and the survival rate of implants in the two groups.Materials and MethodsIn a 1‐year period, eight patients were treated with FFB and seven with AB iliac grafts. Five to seven months afterward, 108 implants were inserted (59 in group A and 49 in group B). Four to five months afterward, patients were rehabilitated with implant‐supported prostheses. The mean follow‐up was 24 months.ResultsPrior to implant placement, graft exposure occurred in two patients in group A and in one patient in group B. The mean graft resorption prior to implant placement was 0.78 mm and 0.54 mm in group A and B, respectively. After implant placement, bone graft exposures with partial loss of the graft occurred in six out of eight patients in group A and in none of the group B patients. The survival rate of implants was 90.1% and 100% in group A and B, respectively. The mean values of peri‐implant bone resorption at the end of the follow‐up period were 1.64 mm and 0.92 mm in group A and B, respectively.ConclusionResults of this study seem to demonstrate that FFB does not represent a reliable alternative to AB blocks because of the higher rate of bone exposure and partial loss of the grafts, the lower implant survival, and the higher peri‐implant bone resorption in FFB patients.
Technique to Obtain a Predictable Aesthetic Result through Appropriate Placement of the Prosthesis/Soft Tissue Junction in the Edentulous Patient with a Gingival Smile
Authors: Demurashvili Georgy , Davarpanah Keyvan , Szmukler‐Moncler Serge , Davarpanah Mithridade , Raux Didier , Capelle‐Ouadah Nedjoua , Rajzbaum Philippe 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundTreating the edentulous patient with a gingival smile requires securing the prosthesis/soft tissue junction (PSTJ) under the upper lip.PurposeTo present a simple method that helps achieve a predictable aesthetic result when alveoplasty of the anterior maxilla is needed to place implants apical to the presurgical position of the alveolar ridge.Materials and MethodsThe maximum smile line of the patient is recorded and carved on a thin silicone bite impression as a soft tissue landmark. During the three‐dimensional radiographic examination, the patient wears the silicone guide loaded with radiopaque markers. The NobelClinician® software is then used to bring the hard and soft tissue landmarks together in a single reading. Using the software, a line is drawn 5 mm apical to the smile line; it dictates the position of the crestal ridge to be reached following the alveoplasty. Subsequently, the simulated implant position and the simulated residual bone height following alveoplasty can be simultaneously evaluated on each transverse section.ResultsAn alveoplasty of the anterior maxilla was performed as simulated on the software, and implants were placed accordingly. The PSTJ was always under the upper lip, even during maximum smile events. The aesthetic result was, therefore, fully satisfactory.ConclusionThis simple method permits the placement of the PSTJ under the upper lip with a predictable outcome; it ensures a reliable aesthetic result for the edentulous patient with a gingival smile.
Evaluation of a Novel Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scanner for Bone Density Examinations in Preoperative 3D Reconstructions and Correlation with Primary Implant Stability
Authors: Sennerby Lars , Andersson Peter , Pagliani Luca , Giani Claudio , Moretti Giacomo , Molinari Massimo , Motroni Alessandro 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundBone density examination (BDE) using preoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) might be used to predict primary implant stability in implant patients.PurposeThe aim of the study was to validate a novel CBCT scanner in vitro with regard to BDE in preoperative scans and to analyze the in vivo correlation of CBCT scan results with primary implant stability measurements.Materials and MethodsA CBCT scanner was validated in vitro with regard to spatial uniformity and linearity of CT numbers (Hounsfield units, HU) by using a series of phantoms and plastic and hydroxyapatite specimens of various densities. Forty‐nine patients (27 female and 22 male, mean age 55.6 ± 9.8) were scanned prior to and 1 to 6 months after the placement of 155 dental implants of different lengths and diameters. Mean and peak insertion torque (IT) in Ncm were registered during implant placement. Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) measurements in ISQ units were performed after placement. The second scan was used to export and superimpose the exact positions of bone and implants into the first scan. Virtual probes with the same length as the actual implant were automatically placed at the implant sites, and mean HU values were measured in a 1 mm–wide circular corridor from the tip of the threads and out.ResultsThe in vitro validation showed high uniformity and linearity of CT numbers (HU). The clinical study showed significant correlations between bone density and ISQ, mean IT, and peak IT, respectively.ConclusionsThe WhiteFox CBCT scanner measures bone density with high accuracy. There is a correlation between bone density and primary implant stability as assessed with IT and RFA measurements. The findings suggest that BDE may be used as an additional feature in treatment‐planning software to estimate primary stability at predetermined implant sites.