bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is Colposcopy necessary at twelve months after large loop excision of the transformation zone? A clinical audit
Authors: Thompson Valerie , Marin Raymond 
Published: December 2013

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to review outcomes from LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone) procedures carried out for high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), in particular findings at colposcopy, cytology and HR‐HPV(high‐risk human papilloma virus) result to assess whether colposcopy provides any additional information in the management of women at 12 months.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed 252 patients who had a LLETZ procedure for a HSIL (high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) between January 2005 and December 2010.ResultsEighty per cent of women who had a LLETZ procedure for HSIL were reviewed in our colposcopy clinic at 12 months after the procedure. Colposcopy at 12 months after LLETZ was documented as unsatisfactory for 30% of these women. The sensitivity of colposcopy at 12 months after LLETZ was 0.47, and the specificity was 0.95.ConclusionColposcopy examination is an insensitive tool for detection of persisting HPV‐related change after excision of high‐grade CIN. Its usefulness to investigate persistent or recurrent HSIL is further reduced by the high rate of unsatisfactory colposcopy examinations after a LLETZ procedure. Papanicolaou smear and HRHPV tests may be adequate follow‐up at 12 months after LLETZ for women at low risk of recurrence of HSIL.
Carers' express positive views on the acceptability, efficacy and safety of buccal midazolam for paediatric status epilepticus
Authors: Khan Arif , Baheerathan Aravindhan , Setty Gururaj , Hussain Nahin 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimBuccal midazolam has emerged as an effective alternative to rectal diazepam in the management of paediatric status epilepticus. This study aimed to identify carers' views on the safety, efficacy and acceptability of buccal midazolam in the management of this common neurological emergency.MethodsCommunity‐based, face‐to‐face interviews were carried out with 34 carers to evaluate the effectiveness, adverse effects and convenience of buccal midazolam as a rescue treatment for prolonged seizures. All children received 2.5 to 10 mg of Epistatus, a proprietary oral solution (10 mg/mL). We evaluated therapeutic success, time taken for seizures to cease and the need to attend the emergency department, together with the development of side effects, namely respiratory depression and sedation.ResultsMost of the families (91%) found that buccal midazolam was always, or usually, effective in stopping seizures and it prevented hospital admission in 65% of cases. The majority (96%) of those who had used both buccal midazolam and rectal diazepam preferred the former as it was easier to administer, more socially acceptable and did not sedate the child as much.ConclusionCarers felt that buccal midazolam was an effective, safe and more acceptable alternative to rectal diazepam in the management of paediatric status epilepticus.
A pilot randomized controlled trial to increase smoking cessation by maintaining National Health Service Stop Smoking Service attendance
Authors: Matcham Faith , McNally Lisa , Vogt Florian 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivesTheNational Health Service (NHS) Stop Smoking Service (SSS) is an extremely cost‐effective method of enabling smoking cessation. However, theSSSis only used by a minority of smokers. Developing interventions to maintain service attendance may help to increase the number of quitters. This study pilots an intervention aimed at maintaining attendance by (1) increasing motivation to attend through a booklet providing evidence of service effectiveness and (2) strengthening the link between motivation to attend and attendance through forming an implementation intention.DesignA factorial randomized controlled trial.MethodsA total of 160 newly enrolled smokers at the SurreyNHS SSSwere recruited and randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) standard care (SC), (2)SC + effectiveness booklet, (3)SC + implementation intention, and (4)SC + effectiveness booklet + implementation intention. The outcome measures included attendance at theSSSand the 4‐week quit rate.ResultsThe booklet increased service attendance (OR = 2.93,p < .01, 95%CI = 1.45–5.93; Number Needed to Treat = 3.3) but had no impact on the 4‐week quit rate (OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 0.75–3.21). Forming an implementation intention had no impact on service attendance or the 4‐week quit rate. Attending the service was associated with a higher 4‐week quit rate (ρ = 87.52,p < .001).ConclusionsPresenting information about the effectiveness of the service improved service attendance. A larger trial now needs to evaluate whether this intervention can also increase the quit rate.Statement of contributionWhat is already known on this subject?TheNHSStop Smoking Service is an effective yet underused method of enabling smoking cessation. Low uptake levels may be due to smokers’ misconception that the service will not improve their chances of quitting successfully. Improving smokers’ perceptions of service efficacy may be valuable for maintaining service attendance, and subsequently improving smoking cessation levels in theUnited Kingdom.What does this study add?This pilot randomized controlled trial is the first to target service attendance rather than cessation levels.The results demonstrate that providing evidence of service efficacy in a simple icon array format can significantly improve service attendance.
Vitamin D‐binding protein haplotype is associated with hospitalization for RSV bronchiolitis
Authors: Randolph A. G. , Yip W.‐K. , Falkenstein‐Hagander K. , Weiss S. T. , Janssen R. , Keisling S. , Bont L. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundBetween 75 000 and 125 000 U.S. infants are hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis every year. Up to half will be diagnosed with asthma in later childhood. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with susceptibility to asthma and respiratory infections. Measured vitamin D is largely bound to vitamin D‐binding protein (VDBP); VDBP levels are influenced by its gene (GC) haplotype.ObjectiveWe assessed the relationship between polymorphisms rs7041 and rs4588, which define haplotypes GC1s, GC1f, and GC2, and RSV bronchiolitis susceptibility and subsequent asthma.MethodsWe retrospectively recruited 198 otherwise healthy children (93% White) hospitalized for severe RSV bronchiolitis in Boston and 333 parents into a follow‐up study to assess asthma diagnosis. Data were analysed using family‐based genetic association tests. We independently validated our results in 465 White children hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis and 930 White population controls from the Netherlands.ResultsThe rs7041_C allele (denoting haplotype GC1s) was overtransmitted (P = 0.02, additive model) in the entire Boston cohort, in Whites (P = 0.03), and especially in children subsequently diagnosed with asthma (P = 0.006). The GC1f haplotype was undertransmitted in the asthma subgroups (all races and White, both P < 0.05). The rs7041_C allele was also more frequent in the RSV bronchiolitis group compared with controls (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02, 1.4, P = 0.03) in the Netherlands, especially in mechanically ventilated patients (P = 0.009).Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceGC1s haplotype carriage may increase the risk of RSV bronchiolitis in infancy and subsequent asthma development. The GC1s haplotype is associated with higher VDBP levels, resulting in less freely available vitamin D.Key MessagesVitamin D‐binding protein (VDBP) haplotypes influence free vitamin D levels. We report an association between a VDBP haplotype and hospitalization for RSV bronchiolitis in infancy in two independent cohorts.
Valproic Acid Reduces Neuritic Plaque Formation and Improves Learning Deficits in APPSwe/PS1A246E Transgenic Mice via Preventing the Prenatal Hypoxia‐Induced Down‐Regulation of Neprilysin
Authors: Wang Zheng , Zhang Xiao‐Jie , Li Ting , Li Jia , Tang Yu , Le Weidong 
Published: December 2013

SummaryAimsPreviously, we have documented that prenatal hypoxia can aggravate the cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology in APPSwe/PS1A246E (APP/PS1) transgenic mice, and valproic acid (VPA) can prevent hypoxia‐induced down‐regulation of β‐amyloid (Aβ) degradation enzyme neprilysin (NEP) in primary neurons. In this study, we have investigated the molecular mechanisms of VPA's anti‐AD effects and found that VPA can reduce the prenatal hypoxia‐induced neuritic plaque formation and improve the learning deficits in the AD mouse model.MethodsThe pregnant APP/PS1 transgenic mice were exposed in a hypobaric chamber. Neuritic plaque staining, Morris water maze, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the effects of VPA on Aβ neuropathology, learning, and memory. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) were used to determine the effect of VPA on the histone3 acetylation (H3‐Ace).ResultsWe found that VPA can inhibit neuritic plaque formation and improve the learning and memory in the prenatal hypoxic APP/PS1 transgenic mice. In addition, VPA treatment can decrease the soluble and insoluble Aβ42 levels and increase the NEP expression via up‐regulation of H3‐Ace in the APP/PS1 transgenic mice.ConclusionValproic acid is able to attenuate the prenatal hypoxia‐induced Aβ neuropathology and learning and memory deficits via inhibiting the activation of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), preventing the decrease in H3‐Ace in the NEP promoter regions and reducing the down‐regulation of NEP.
Structuring Decisions for Managing Threatened and Endangered Species in a Changing Climate
Authors: GREGORY ROBIN , ARVAI JOSEPH , GERBER LEAH R. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe management of endangered species under climate change is a challenging and often controversial task that incorporates input from a variety of different environmental, economic, social, and political interests. Yet many listing and recovery decisions for endangered species unfold on an ad hoc basis without reference to decision‐aiding approaches that can improve the quality of management choices. Unlike many treatments of this issue, which consider endangered species management a science‐based problem, we suggest that a clear decision‐making process is equally necessary. In the face of new threats due to climate change, managers’ choices about endangered species require closely linked analyses and deliberations that identify key objectives and develop measurable attributes, generate and compare management alternatives, estimate expected consequences and key sources of uncertainty, and clarify trade‐offs across different dimensions of value. Several recent cases of endangered species conservation decisions illustrate our proposed decision‐focused approach, including Gulf of Maine Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) recovery framework development, Cultus Lake sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) management, and Upper Columbia River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) recovery planning.Estructuración de Decisiones para Manejar Especies Amenazadas y en Peligro en un Clima Cambiante
Incorporating Climate Science in Applications of the U.S. Endangered Species Act for Aquatic Species
Authors: MCCLURE MICHELLE M. , ALEXANDER MICHAEL , BORGGAARD DIANE , BOUGHTON DAVID , CROZIER LISA , GRIFFIS ROGER , JORGENSEN JEFFREY C. , LINDLEY STEVEN T. , NYE JANET , ROWLAND MELANIE J. , SENEY ERIN E. , SNOVER AMY , TOOLE CHRISTOPHER , VAN HOUTAN KYLE 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAquatic species are threatened by climate change but have received comparatively less attention than terrestrial species. We gleaned key strategies for scientists and managers seeking to address climate change in aquatic conservation planning from the literature and existing knowledge. We address 3 categories of conservation effort that rely on scientific analysis and have particular application under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA): assessment of overall risk to a species; long‐term recovery planning; and evaluation of effects of specific actions or perturbations. Fewer data are available for aquatic species to support these analyses, and climate effects on aquatic systems are poorly characterized. Thus, we recommend scientists conducting analyses supporting ESA decisions develop a conceptual model that links climate, habitat, ecosystem, and species response to changing conditions and use this model to organize analyses and future research. We recommend that current climate conditions are not appropriate for projections used in ESA analyses and that long‐term projections of climate‐change effects provide temporal context as a species‐wide assessment provides spatial context. In these projections, climate change should not be discounted solely because the magnitude of projected change at a particular time is uncertain when directionality of climate change is clear. Identifying likely future habitat at the species scale will indicate key refuges and potential range shifts. However, the risks and benefits associated with errors in modeling future habitat are not equivalent. The ESA offers mechanisms for increasing the overall resilience and resistance of species to climate changes, including establishing recovery goals requiring increased genetic and phenotypic diversity, specifying critical habitat in areas not currently occupied but likely to become important, and using adaptive management.Incorporación de las Ciencias Climáticas en las Aplicaciones del Acta Estadunidense de Especies en Peligro para Especies Acuáticas
Sex‐Biased Inbreeding Effects on Reproductive Success and Home Range Size of the Critically Endangered Black Rhinoceros
Authors: CAIN BRADLEY , WANDERA ANTONY B. , SHAWCROSS SUSAN G. , EDWIN HARRIS W. , STEVENS‐WOOD BARRY , KEMP STEPHEN J. , OKITA‐OUMA BENSON , WATTS PHILLIP C. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractA central premise of conservation biology is that small populations suffer reduced viability through loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding. However, there is little evidence that variation in inbreeding impacts individual reproductive success within remnant populations of threatened taxa, largely due to problems associated with obtaining comprehensive pedigree information to estimate inbreeding. In the critically endangered black rhinoceros, a species that experienced severe demographic reductions, we used model selection to identify factors associated with variation in reproductive success (number of offspring). Factors examined as predictors of reproductive success were age, home range size, number of nearby mates, reserve location, and multilocus heterozygosity (a proxy for inbreeding). Multilocus heterozygosity predicted male reproductive success (p< 0.001, explained deviance >58%) and correlated with male home range size (p < 0.01, r2 > 44%). Such effects were not apparent in females, where reproductive success was determined by age (p < 0.01, explained deviance 34%) as females raise calves alone and choose between, rather than compete for, mates. This first report of a 3‐way association between an individual male's heterozygosity, reproductive output, and territory size in a large vertebrate is consistent with an asymmetry in the level of intrasexual competition and highlights the relevance of sex‐biased inbreeding for the management of many conservation‐priority species. Our results contrast with the idea that wild populations of threatened taxa may possess some inherent difference from most nonthreatened populations that necessitates the use of detailed pedigrees to study inbreeding effects. Despite substantial variance in male reproductive success, the increased fitness of more heterozygous males limits the loss of heterozygosity. Understanding how individual differences in genetic diversity mediate the outcome of intrasexual competition will be essential for effective management, particularly in enclosed populations, where individuals have restricted choice about home range location and where the reproductive impact of translocated animals will depend upon the background distribution in individual heterozygosity.Efectos de la Endogamia Sesgada por el Sexo sobre el Éxito Reproductivo y el Rango del Tamaño de Hábitat del Rinoceronte Negro, Especie en Peligro Crítico
Dependence of the Endangered Black‐Capped Vireo on Sustained Cowbird Management
Authors: WILSEY CHAD B. , LAWLER JOSHUA J. , CIMPRICH DAVID , SCHUMAKER NATHAN H. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractConservation‐reliant species depend on active management, even after surpassing recovery goals, for protection from persistent threats. Required management may include control of another species, habitat maintenance, or artificial recruitment. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine whether sustained management is required. We used nonspatial stochastic population projection matrix simulation and a spatially explicit population model to estimate the effects of parasitism by a brood parasite, the Brown‐headed Cowbird (Moluthrus ater), on a population of endangered Black‐capped Vireos (Vireo atricapilla). We simulated parasitism as a percentage of breeding vireo pairs experiencing decreased fecundity due to cowbirds. We estimated maximum sustainable parasitism (i.e., highest percentage of parasitized vireo breeding pairs for which population growth is ≥1) with the nonspatial model under multiple scenarios designed to assess sensitivity to assumptions about population growth rate, demographic effects of parasitism, and spatial distribution of parasitism. We then used the spatially explicit model to estimate cumulative probabilities of the population falling below the population recovery target of 1000 breeding pairs for a range of parasitism rates under multiple scenarios. We constructed our models from data on vireos collected on the Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas (U.S.A.). Estimates of maximum sustainable parasitism rates ranged from 9–12% in scenarios with a low (6%) vireo population growth rate to 49–60% in scenarios with a high (24%) growth rate. Sustained parasitism above 45–85%, depending on the scenario, would likely result in the Fort Hood Vireo population dropping below its recovery goal within the next 25 years. These estimates suggest that vireos, although tolerant of low parasitism rates, are a conservation‐reliant species dependent on cowbird management.Dependencia de Vireo atricapilla, Especie en Peligro, hacia el Manejo Sostenido de Moluthurs ater
Effect of Rotational Shepherding on Demographic and Genetic Connectivity of Calcareous Grassland Plants
Authors: RICO YESSICA , BOEHMER HANS JUERGEN , WAGNER HELENE H. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractResponse to habitat fragmentation may not be generalized among species, in particular for plant communities with a variety of dispersal traits. Calcareous grasslands are one of the most species‐rich habitats in Central Europe, but abandonment of traditional management has caused a dramatic decline of calcareous grassland species. In the Southern Franconian Alb in Germany, reintroduction of rotational shepherding in previously abandoned grasslands has restored species diversity, and it has been suggested that sheep support seed dispersal among grasslands. We tested the effect of rotational shepherding on demographic and genetic connectivity of calcareous grassland specialist plants and whether the response of plant populations to shepherding was limited to species dispersed by animals (zoochory). Specifically, we tested competing dispersal models and source and focal patch properties to explain landscape connectivity with patch‐occupancy data of 31 species. We fitted the same connectivity models to patch occupancy and nuclear microsatellite data for the herb Dianthus carthusianorum (Carthusian pink). For 27 species, patch connectivity was explained by dispersal by rotational shepherding regardless of adaptations to zoochory, whereas population size (16% species) and patch area (0% species) of source patches were not important predictors of patch occupancy in most species. [Correction made after online publication, February 25, 2014: Population size and patch area percentages were mistakenly inverted, and have now been fixed.] Microsite diversity of focal patches significantly increased the model variance explained by patch occupancy in 90% of the species. For D. carthusianorum, patch connectivity through rotational shepherding explained both patch occupancy and population genetic diversity. Our results suggest shepherding provides dispersal for multiple plant species regardless of their dispersal adaptations and thus offers a useful approach to restore plant diversity in fragmented calcareous grasslands.Efectos del Pastoreo Rotacional sobre la Conectividad Genética y Demográfica de Plantas de Pastizales Calcáreos
Role of caspase‐9 in the effector caspases and genome expressions, and growth of bovine skeletal myoblasts
Authors: Van Ba Hoa , Hwang Inho 
Published: December 2013

Caspase‐9 has been reported as the key regulator of apoptosis, however, its role in skeletal myoblast development and molecular involvements during cell growth still remains unknown. The current study aimed to present the key role of caspase‐9 in the expressions of apoptotic caspases and genome, and cell viability during myoblast growth using RNA interference mediated silencing. Three small interference RNA sequences (siRNAs) targeting caspase‐9 gene was designed and ligated into pSilencer plasmid vector to construct shRNA expression constructs. Cells were transfected with the constructs for 48 h. Results indicated that all three siRNAs could silence the caspase‐9 mRNA expression significantly. Particularly, the mRNA expression level of caspase‐9 in the cells transfected by shRNA1, shRNA2 and shRNA3 constructs were reduced by 37.85%, 68.20% and 58.14%, respectively. Suppression of caspase‐9 led to the significant increases in the mRNA and protein expressions of effector caspase‐3, whereas the reduction in mRNA and protein expressions of caspase‐7. The microarray results showed that the suppression of caspase‐9 resulted in significant upregulations of cell proliferation‐, adhesion‐, growth‐, development‐ and division‐regulating genes, whereas the reduction in the expressions of cell death program‐ and stress response‐regulating genes. Furthermore, cell viability was significantly increased following the transfection. These data suggest that caspase‐9 could play an important role in the control of cell growth, and knockdown of caspase‐9 may have genuine potential in the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy.