bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of asthma control and activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis
Authors: Sneeboer M. M. S. , Fens N. , van de Pol M. A. , Majoor C. J. , Meijers J. C.M. , Kamphuisen P. W. , Lutter R. , Sterk P. J. , Bel E. H.D. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundEpidemiologic studies have shown that patients with severe asthma have increased risk of pulmonary embolism, in particular patients with frequent asthma exacerbations. Therefore, we hypothesized that asthma exacerbations are associated with increased haemostatic activity.ObjectiveTo investigate whether induced loss of asthma control is associated with changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in peripheral blood.MethodsWe performed a prospective, inhaled steroid withdrawal study in 23 patients with moderate to moderately severe asthma, consisting of a baseline visit and a visit after loss of asthma control. During the visits, we measured asthma control questionnaire (ACQ), atopy, lung function, inflammatory markers (eosinophils and neutrophils), and haemostatic parameters in plasma.ResultsComplete cessation of inhaled corticosteroids led to a loss of asthma control in 22 of 23 patients. We found increased asthma symptoms (ACQ 0.9 vs. 2.9, P < 0.01), significantly reduced lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 3.51L vs. 3.13L, P < 0.01) and increased levels of eosinophils in plasma (0.26 × 10E9/L vs. 0.16 × 10E9/L, P = 0.03) in patients after loss of asthma control. However, we observed no significant changes in the coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters.ConclusionLoss of asthma control after cessation of inhaled corticosteroids does not lead to increased haemostatic activation in patients with moderate to moderately severe asthma. This suggests that more severe inflammation or additional risk factors are required for activation of coagulation or reduction of fibrinolysis in asthma.
GLI3 mutations in syndromic and non‐syndromic polydactyly in two Indian families
Authors: Patel Rashmi , Singh Chandra Bhan , Bhattacharya Visweswar , Singh Subodh Kumar , Ali Akhtar 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe GLI3 protein is a zinc finger transcription factor, expressed early in development. The GLI3 gene exhibits allelic heterogeneity as mutations in this gene are associated with several developmental syndromic and non‐syndromic polydactyly. The present study reports two cases: first, a familial case of Greig Cephalopolysyndactyly Syndrome (GCPS); the second is a sporadic case with both postaxial polydactyly (PAP) type A and B. Resequencing of GLI3 gene reveals a previously reported nonsense truncation mutation g.42007251G > A (p.R792X; rs121917714) in the GCPS family and a novel single nucleotide insertion g.42004239_42004240insA (p.E1478X) in the sporadic case of postaxial polydactyly (PAP). Both nonsense truncation mutations; p.R792X (GCPS) and p.E1478X (PAP) introduce a premature stop codon leading to loss of C‐terminal domains.
Correlation of external ear auricle formation with staging of human embryos
Authors: Ozeki‐Sato Maimi , Yamada Shigehito , Uwabe Chigako , Ishizu Koichi , Takakuwa Tetsuya 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe formation of auricles in human embryos was evaluated between Carnegie stage (CS)19 and CS23, and the findings were correlated across the stages. The auricle was categorized into 11 steps according to Streeter's criteria with modifications. Mesenchyme cell condensation was observed at Step 7, and two layers of cartilage consisting of the auricle were recognized at Step11. The representative steps at each CS shifted from Step 3 to Step11 during CS16 and CS23, although several steps overlapped between adjacent CSs. These results indicate that observations of the auricle between CS19 and CS23 may be utilized for determining embryo staging as convincing supportive evidence of external features reflecting the internal histological structure, although other findings should also be taken into account.
Addition of a Synthetically Fabricated Osteoinductive Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Bone Graft to BMP2 Improves New Bone Formation
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Yang Shuang , Zhou Wei , Fu Hang , Qian Li , Miron Richard J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundBone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP2) has been successfully utilized in dentistry to promote new bone formation because of its osteoinductive ability to recruit mesenchymal progenitor cells and induce their differentiation to bone‐forming osteoblasts. Recently, novel biphasic calcium phosphate scaffolds have been developed with similar osteoinductive properties capable of forming ectopic bone formation.PurposeThe aim of the present study was to assess whether the combination of BMP2 with this novel Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) scaffold may additionally promote new bone regeneration.Materials and MethodsCylindrical bone defects measuring 2.5 mm were created bilaterally in the femurs of 18 Wistar rats. After 4 weeks, the following six groups were assessed for new bone formation by micro‐computed tomography (CT) as well as histological assessment: 1) collagen scaffolds + 20 μg of BMP2; 2) collagen scaffolds + 50 μg of BMP2; 3) collagen scaffolds + 100 μg of BMP2; 4) BCP scaffolds + 20 μg of BMP2; 5) BCP scaffolds + 50 μg of BMP2; and 6) BCP scaffolds + 100 μg of BMP2. Furthermore, tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was utilized to assess osteoclast activity and osteoclast number. The release kinetics of BMP2 from both BCP and collagen scaffolds was investigated over a 14‐day period.ResultsThe results from present study demonstrate that BMP2 is able to promote new bone formation in a concentration dependant manner when loaded with either a collagen scaffolds or BCP scaffolds. Micro‐CT analysis demonstrated significantly higher levels of new bone formation in groups containing BCP + BMP2 when compared with collagen scaffolds + BMP2. BMP2 had little effect on osteoclast activity; however, less TRAP staining and osteoclast number was observed in the defects receiving collagen scaffolds when compared with BCP scaffolds. The release of BMP2 over time was rapidly released after 1 day on BCP scaffolds whereas a gradually release over time was observed for collagen scaffolds up to 14 days.ConclusionThe osteoinductive properties of BMP2 may further be enhanced by its combination with a novel synthetically fabricated osteoinductive BCP scaffold. Future clinical testing is required to further assess these preliminary findings.
A role of Heat Shock Protein 70 in Photoreceptor Cell Death: Potential as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Retinal Degeneration
Authors: Furukawa Ayako , Koriyama Yoshiki 
Published: October 2015

SummaryRetinal degenerative diseases (RDs) such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by night blindness and peripheral vision loss, which caused by the dysfunction and death of photoreceptor cells. Although many causative gene mutations have been reported, the final common end stage is photoreceptor cell death. Unfortunately, no effective treatments or therapeutic agents have been discovered. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is highly conserved and has antiapoptotic activities. A few reports have shown that HSP70 plays a role in RDs. Thus, we focused on the role of HSP70 in photoreceptor cell death. Using the N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea (MNU)‐induced photoreceptor cell death model in mice, we could examine two stages of the novel cell death mechanism; the early stage, including HSP70 cleavage through protein carbonylation by production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and Ca2+ influx/calpain activation, and the late stage of cathepsin and/or caspase activation. The upregulation of intact HSP70 expression by its inducer is likely to protect photoreceptor cells. In this review, we focus on the role of HSP70 and the novel cell death signaling process in RDs. We also describe candidate therapeutic agents for RDs.
Results of efforts by the Convention on Biological Diversity to describe ecologically or biologically significant marine areas
Authors: Bax Nicholas J. , Cleary Jesse , Donnelly Ben , Dunn Daniel C. , Dunstan Piers K. , Fuller Mike , Halpin Patrick N. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn 2004, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) addressed a United Nations (UN) call for area‐based planning, including for marine‐protected areas that resulted in a global effort to describe ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs). We summarized the results, assessed their consistency, and evaluated the process developed by the Secretariat of the CBD to engage countries and experts in 9 regional workshops held from 2011 to 2014. Experts from 92 countries and 79 regional or international bodies participated. They considered 250 million km2 of the world's ocean area (two‐thirds of the total). The 204 areas they examined in detail differed widely in area (from 5.5 km2 to 11.1 million km2). Despite the initial focus of the CBD process on areas outside national jurisdiction, only 31 of the areas examined were solely outside national jurisdiction. Thirty‐five extended into national jurisdictions, 137 were solely within national jurisdictions, and 28 included the jurisdictions of more than 1 country (1 area lacked precise boundaries). Data were sufficient to rank 88–99% of the areas relative to each of the 7 criteria for EBSAs agreed to previously by Parties to the CBD. The naturalness criterion ranked high for a smaller percentage of the EBSAs (31%) than other criteria (51–70%), indicating the difficulty in finding relatively undisturbed areas in the ocean. The highly participatory nature of the workshops, including easy and consistent access to the relevant information facilitated by 2 technical teams, contributed to the workshop participants success in identifying areas that could be ranked relative to most criteria and areas that extend across jurisdictional boundaries. The formal recognition of workshop results by the Conference of Parties to the CBD resulted in these 204 areas being identified as EBSAs by the 196 Parties. They represent the only suite of marine areas recognized by the international community for their greater importance for biodiversity it is their importance for biodiversity itself not conservation as process explicitly excluded management issues than their surroundings. This comes at a critical juncture in negotiations at the UN that will consider developing a new implementation agreement under UN Convention of the Law of the Sea to support the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction. The EBSA description process is a good example of how to bring the international community together to build a shared understanding of which ocean areas are particularly valuable to biodiversity.
816 & 817. WISTERIA BRACHYBOTRYS
Authors: Compton James A. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryWisteria brachybotrys Siebold & Zucc., the silky wisteria, is described and illustrated. The history of its introduction into cultivation from Japan to Europe is discussed along with its known cultivars. A dextrorsely climbing hybrid between W. brachybotrys and W. floribunda commemorating the Wisteria enthusiast Peter Valder is described here as Wisteria x valderi J. Compton.
FURTHER NOTES ON VARIATION WITHIN THE JAPANESE SPECIES, WISTERIA FLORIBUNDA
Authors: Compton James A. , Thijsse Gerard 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThe history of cultivated white, pink and double flowered variants of the polymorphic species Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. is discussed in order to preserve and standardise current usage of cultivar names within W. floribunda worldwide. The new combination Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. f. microphylla (Makino) J. Compton is made here for a plant with very small leaflets.
Psychometric properties of a revised version of the Assisting Hand Assessment (Kids‐AHA 5.0)
Authors: Holmefur Marie M , Krumlinde‐Sundholm Lena 
Published: October 2015

AimThe aim of this study was to scrutinize the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) version 4.4 for possible improvements and to evaluate the psychometric properties regarding internal scale validity and aspects of reliability of a revised version of the AHA.MethodIn collaboration with experts, scoring criteria were changed for four items, and one fully new item was constructed. Twenty‐two original, one new, and four revised items were scored for 164 assessments of children with unilateral cerebral palsy aged 18 months to 12 years. Rasch measurement analysis was used to evaluate internal scale validity by exploring rating‐scale functioning, item and person goodness‐of‐fit, and principal component analysis. Targeting and scale reliability were also evaluated.ResultsAfter removal of misfitting items, a 20‐item scale showed satisfactory goodness‐of‐fit. Unidimensionality was confirmed by principal component analysis. The rating scale functioned well for the 20 items, and the item difficulty was well suited to the ability level of the sample. The person reliability coefficient was 0.98, indicating high separation ability of the scale. A conversion table of AHA scores between the previous version (4.4) and the new version (5.0) was constructed.InterpretationThe new, 20‐item version of the Kids‐AHA (version 5.0), demonstrated excellent internal scale validity, suggesting improved responsiveness to changes and shortened scoring time. For comparison of scores from version 4.4 to 5.0, a transformation table is presented.
Genetic variants in the renin–angiotensin system predict response to bevacizumab in cancer patients
Authors: Moreno‐Muñoz Diana , de la Haba‐Rodríguez Juan R. , Conde Francisco , López‐Sánchez Laura M. , Valverde Araceli , Hernández Vanessa , Martínez Antonio , Villar Carlos , Gómez‐España Auxiliadora , Porras Ignacio , Rodríguez‐Ariza Antonio , Aranda Enrique 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundCurrently, there are no predictive biomarkers for anti‐angiogenic strategies in cancer, but response to anti‐angiogenic drugs is associated with development of hypertension secondary to treatment. Therefore, this study explored the clinical relevance of genetic polymorphisms in some components of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS).Material and methodsGenomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood from 95 metastatic breast or colorectal cancer patients treated with bevacizumab, and AGTR1‐A1166C (rs5186), AGT‐M235T (rs699) SNPs and ACE I/D (rs4646994) polymorphisms were genotyped using RT‐PCR. Circulating vascular endothelial grow factor and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were analysed using ELISA kits. The antitumoral activity of bevacizumab was assayed in mice orthotopically xenografted with AGTR1‐overexpressing breast cancer cells.ResultsThe ACE IN/IN genotype was associated with a higher rate of disease progression compared to DEL/IN and DEL/DEL genotypes (36% vs. 11·1% P < 0·05). Similarly, AGTR1‐1166A/A genotype was also associated with a higher rate of disease progression compared to AGTR1‐1166A/C and AGTR1‐1166C/C genotypes (24·4% vs. 2·7% P < 0·01). ACE IN/IN genotype was also found to be associated with shorter time to treatment failure compared to ACE IN/DEL and ACE DEL/DEL genotypes (14 weeks vs. 41·71, P = 0·033), whereas circulating ACE levels were found to be associated with a better response to bevacizumab treatment. Besides, in vivo experiments showed a significantly higher antitumoral activity of bevacizumab in tumours derived from AGTR1‐overexpressing breast cancer cells.ConclusionsA higher activity of ACE‐angiotensin‐II‐AGTR1 axis is associated with a better response to bevacizumab, supporting that the RAS can be an important source of potential predictive markers of response to anti‐angiogenic drugs.
Differential processing of immediately repeated verbal and non‐verbal stimuli: an evoked‐potential study
Authors: Manuel Aurélie L. , Schnider Armin 
Published: October 2015

AbstractStimuli are better retained in memory if they are repeated after a delay than if they are immediately repeated. This effect is called the spacing effect (SE). Recent electroencephalographic (EEG) studies showed that delayed repetition of meaningful designs in a continuous recognition task induces an evoked response very similar to new presentations. In contrast, immediately repeated designs induced circumscribed, stronger activation of the left medio‐temporal lobe (MTL) at 200–300 ms. In amnesic subjects, this signal was missing, indicating that it has a memory‐protective effect. Here, high‐density EEG was used in humans to explore whether meaningless verbal (non‐words) and non‐verbal (geometric designs) stimuli also have a SE associated with such lateralized, temporally limited activation of the left MTL upon immediate repetition. The results revealed a SE for both materials. Timing and localization of brain activity differed as a function of stimulus material. Specific responses to immediate repetitions occurred at 200–285 ms for non‐verbal stimuli and at 285–380 ms for verbal material. Source estimations revealed increased activity in right inferior frontal areas for immediate non‐verbal repetitions and in left fronto‐parietal areas for immediate verbal repetition in comparison to new presentations. These findings show that, while the SE is a ubiquitous phenomenon, the neural processes underlying it vary according to stimulus material.
Brain tumors in patients with myotonic dystrophy: a population‐based study
Authors: Gadalla S. M. , Pfeiffer R. M. , Kristinsson S. Y. , Björkholm M. , Landgren O. , Greene M. H. 
Published: October 2015

Background and purposePatients with myotonic dystrophy (DM) are at high risk of brain cancer. This study describes the spectrum of brain neoplasms in DM patients.MethodsData from 1119 DM patients identified from the National Swedish Patient Register between 1987 and 2007 were linked to the National Cancer and the Cause of Death Registers. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and cumulative incidence to quantify the relative and absolute risks of brain neoplasms were calculated and the Kaplan–Meier estimator was used for survival analysis. Patient follow‐up started at birth or the age at the start of Swedish cancer registration (1 January 1958) and ended at the age of brain neoplasm diagnosis, death or on 31 December 2007.ResultsTwenty patients developed brain neoplasm during follow‐up {median age 53, range 2–76 years, accounting for a five‐fold excess risk of brain tumors during the patient lifetime [SIR = 5.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4–8.1, P = 1 × 10−5]}. Astrocytoma was the most common histological subtype (n = 16, 80%), and almost all cases (n = 19) developed after age 20. No statistically significant differences in gender‐specific risks (SIR in men 6.3 and in women 3.8, P‐heterogeneity 0.46) were observed. After accounting for competing mortality related to DM, the cumulative incidence of brain neoplasms reached 2.9% (95% CI 1.8%–4.7%) by age 70. Five‐year survival after brain tumor diagnosis was 52% (95%CI 29%–75%) overall (number at risk 8) and 34% (95% CI 26%–47%) for malignant neoplasms (number at risk 5).ConclusionDespite the high relative risk of DM‐related brain tumors, the absolute risk is modest. Nonetheless, careful evaluation of DM patients with new central nervous system symptoms is warranted.
Preference for shelter and additional heat in horses exposed to Nordic winter conditions
Authors: Jørgensen G. H. M. , Aanensen L. , Mejdell C. M. , Bøe K. E. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyHorses may adapt to a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Owners often interfere with this natural thermoregulation ability by clipping and use of blankets.ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of different winter weather conditions on shelter seeking behaviour of horses and their preference for additional heat.Study designObservational study in various environments.MethodsMature horses (n = 22) were given a free choice test between staying outdoors, going into a heated shelter compartment or into a nonheated shelter compartment. Horse location and behaviour was scored using instantaneous sampling every minute for 1 h. Each horse was tested once per day and weather factors were continuously recorded by a local weather station.ResultsThe weather conditions influenced time spent outdoors, ranging from 52% (of all observations) on days with mild temperatures, wind and rain to 88% on days with <0°C and dry weather. Shivering was only observed during mild temperatures and rain/sleet. Small Warmblood horses were observed to select outdoors less (34% of all observations) than small Coldblood horses (80%). We found significant correlations between hair coat sample weight and number of observations outdoors (ρ = 0.23; P = 0.004).ConclusionsHorses selected shelters the most on days with precipitation and horses changed from a nonheated compartment to a heated compartment as weather changed from calm and dry to wet and windy. Horse breed category affected the use of shelter and body condition score and hair coat weight were associated with voluntary shelter selection.
Equine disease events resulting from international horse movements: Systematic review and lessons learned
Authors: Dominguez M. , Münstermann S. , de Guindos I. , Timoney P. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyAn analysis of the factors leading to equine disease events was used to support the development of international recommendations for mitigating the risk of disease dissemination through sport horse movements (high health, high performance – ‘HHP' horses).ObjectivesA review was undertaken to identify the factors resulting in equine disease events following international movement of horses to draw lessons in support of the development of international recommendations for the safe movements of a specific subpopulation of horses: the HHP sport horses.Study designSystematic review carried out in accordance with the PRISMA statement.MethodsThe review covered disease events that occurred from 1995 to 2014, identified from the databases of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and international surveillance reports.ResultsOverall, 54 disease events were identified, of which 7 were contained in post arrival quarantine and the others resulted in the introduction of pathogens into importing countries. For 81% of the introductions, the OIE recommendations applicable to the diseases involved had not been complied with. Subclinical infections are a challenge for international trade: 88% of the regulated movements that resulted in introductions involved infected horses that showed no clinical signs at the time of import. Biosecurity and management practices in resident equine populations were identified as important mitigating factors in preventing disease spread to the local horse population.ConclusionsThe global increase in international horse movements, if not appropriately regulated and supervised by competent veterinary authorities and respective equine industry partners, could potentially lead to increased global spread of infectious equine diseases. Appropriate mitigation measures and compliance with OIE import recommendations for specific diseases can significantly reduce this risk. The recommendations proposed under the HHP approach take into account the mitigation measures identified by this review as important factors in preventing pathogen introduction and spread.