bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short‐ and long‐term effects of real‐time medication monitoring with short message service (SMS) reminders for missed doses on the refill adherence of people with Type 2 diabetes: evidence from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vervloet M. , van Dijk L. , de Bakker D. H. , Souverein P. C. , Santen‐Reestman J. , van Vlijmen B. , van Aarle M. C. W. , van der Hoek L. S. , Bouvy M. L. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimsTo investigate short‐ and long‐term effects of real‐time monitoring medication use combined with short message service (SMS) reminders for missed doses on refill adherence to oral anti‐diabetic medication.MethodsA randomized controlled trial with two intervention groups and one control group involving 161 participants with Type 2 diabetes with suboptimal adherence. For 6 months, participants in the SMS group (n = 56) were monitored and received SMS reminders if they missed their medication. Participants in the non‐SMS group (n = 48) were only monitored. The control group (n = 57) was not exposed to any intervention. Primary outcome measure was refill adherence to oral anti‐diabetic medication. Multi‐level regression analyses were performed to examine intervention effects on adherence between and within groups after 1 and 2 years of follow‐up.ResultsAt baseline, mean refill adherence was comparable between the groups. After 1 year, adherence in the SMS group was significantly higher than in the control group (79.5% vs. 64.5%; P < 0.001) and showed a significant improvement from baseline (+16.3%; P < 0.001). Mean adherence in the non‐SMS group reached 73.1% (+7.3%; P < 0.05), but did not differ from the control group (P = 0.06). After 2 years, the improved adherence in the SMS group persisted and remained significantly higher than in the control group (80.4% vs. 68.4%; P < .01), contrary to the non‐SMS group whose adherence approached baseline level again (65.5%).ConclusionsThis study shows the long‐term effectiveness of real‐time medication monitoring combined with SMS reminders in improving refill adherence. This new reminder system can strengthen the self‐management of people with diabetes.
Iatrogenic External Pudendal Artery Pseudoaneurysm with a Communicating Arteriovenous Fistula–A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Pitfall
Authors: Lønnebakken Mai Tone , Larsen Terje H. , Gerdts Eva , Pedersen Ole Martin 
Published: March 2014

Mini‐AbstractUltrasound is the preferred imaging modality in evaluation of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms (PAs). This case illustrates that when a PA originating from the external pudendal artery, a side branch of the common femoral artery, is combined with a communicating arteriovenous fistula the diagnosis, having important therapeutic implications, may be misinterpreted by ultrasound.
Left Ventricular Twist and Ventricular–Arterial Coupling in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Shin Hong‐Won , Kim Hyungseop , Lee Jeong‐Eun , Kim In‐Cheol , Yoon Hyuck‐Jun , Park Hyoung‐Seob , Cho Yun‐Kyeong , Nam Chang‐Wook , Hur Seung‐Ho , Kim Yoon‐Nyun , Kim Kwon‐Bae 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundLeft ventricular (LV) twist is usually influenced by LV hypertrophy resulting from hypertension or vascular stiffness. Vascular stiffness would increase arterial elastance (Ea), whereas LV end‐systolic stiffness (Ees) could be influenced by LV hypertrophy. Therefore, in hypertensive patients, we assessed the extent to which ventricular–arterial coupling (VAC; Ea/Ees) affects LV twist, which may be a compensatory mechanism for systolic dysfunction.MethodsHypertensive patients (n = 128) and healthy controls (n = 40) underwent conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography including LV twist. Ea and Ees were estimated noninvasively by echocardiography. Patients were divided into 3 tertiles according to the twist angle. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to test the influence of VAC on twist.ResultsPatients in the lowest LV twist tertile had larger LV end‐systolic volume, lower ejection fraction, lesser mid‐wall fractional shortening (MWFS), and higher LV mass index (LVMI), compared to those with the highest tertile. They showed the lower septal tissue Doppler velocity, and global longitudinal and circumferential strain. With regard to VAC, Ea was similar among 3 groups, but Ees was significantly decreased in patient with lower tertile, resulting in increased VAC (1.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1 vs. 0.7 ± 0.1, P < 0.001). While LV twist showed significant correlations with Ees, MWFS, and LVMI, VAC (β = −14.92, P < 0.001) was most associated with twist in a multivariate analysis.ConclusionsLV twist was significantly associated with VAC in accordance with LV function; LV twist and VAC decreased progressively as LV systolic function deteriorated, while being enhanced during the well‐compensated phase.
Right Superior Vena Cava to Left Atrium: Importance of “Bubbling It Right”
Authors: Shetkar Sudhir Suryakant , Gupta Saurabh Kumar , Gulati Gurpreet Singh , Juneja Rajnish 
Published: March 2014

Mini‐AbstractBubble contrast echocardiogram is conventionally done through left hand while evaluating patients with unexplained cyanosis. We hereby report a case of anomalous drainage of superior vena cava to left atrium in child and highlight the importance of doing bubble contrast echocardiogram through right hand.
Chemosensory cues affect amygdaloid neurogenesis and alter behaviors in the socially monogamous prairie vole
Authors: Liu Y. , Lieberwirth C. , Jia X. , Curtis J. T. , Meredith M. , Wang Z. X. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe current study examined the effects of pheromonal exposure on adult neurogenesis and revealed the role of the olfactory pathways on adult neurogenesis and behavior in the socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Subjects were injected with a cell proliferation marker [5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU)] and then exposed to their own soiled bedding or bedding soiled by a same‐ or opposite‐sex conspecific. Exposure to opposite‐sex bedding increased BrdU labeling in the amygdala (AMY), but not the dentate gyrus (DG), of female, but not male, voles, indicating a sex‐, stimulus‐, and brain region‐specific effect. The removal of the main olfactory bulbs or lesioning of the vomeronasal organ (VNOX) in females reduced BrdU labeling in the AMY and DG, and inhibited the male bedding‐induced BrdU labeling in the AMY, revealing the importance of an intact olfactory pathway for amygdaloid neurogenesis. VNOX increased anxiety‐like behavior and altered social preference, but it did not affect social recognition memory in female voles. VNOX also reduced the percentage of BrdU‐labeled cells that co‐expressed the neuronal marker TuJ1 in the AMY, but not the DG. Together, our data indicate the importance of the olfactory pathway in mediating brain plasticity in the limbic system as well as its role in behavior.
Different forms of locomotion in the spinal lamprey
Authors: Hsu Li‐Ju , Orlovsky Grigori N. , Zelenin Pavel V. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractForward locomotion has been extensively studied in different vertebrate animals, and the principal role of spinal mechanisms in the generation of this form of locomotion has been demonstrated. Vertebrate animals, however, are capable of other forms of locomotion, such as backward walking and swimming, sideward walking, and crawling. Do the spinal mechanisms play a principal role in the generation of these forms of locomotion? We addressed this question in lampreys, which are capable of five different forms of locomotion – fast forward swimming, slow forward swimming, backward swimming, forward crawling, and backward crawling. To induce locomotion in lampreys spinalised at the second gill level, we used either electrical stimulation of the spinal cord at different rostrocaudal levels, or tactile stimulation of specific cutaneous receptive fields from which a given form of locomotion could be evoked in intact lampreys. We found that any of the five forms of locomotion could be evoked in the spinal lamprey by electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, and some of them by tactile stimulation. These results suggest that spinal mechanisms in the lamprey, in the absence of phasic supraspinal commands, are capable of generating the basic pattern for all five forms of locomotion observed in intact lampreys. In spinal lampreys, the direction of swimming did not depend on the site of spinal cord stimulation, but on the stimulation strength. The direction of crawling strongly depended on the body configuration. The spinal structures presumably activated by spinal cord stimulation and causing different forms of locomotion are discussed.
Interneuron firing precedes sequential activation of neuronal ensembles in hippocampal slices
Authors: Sasaki Takuya , Matsuki Norio , Ikegaya Yuji 
Published: March 2014

AbstractNeuronal firing sequences that occur during behavioral tasks are precisely reactivated in the neocortex and the hippocampus during rest and sleep. These precise firing sequences are likely to reflect latent memory traces, and their reactivation is believed to be essential for memory consolidation and working memory maintenance. However, how the organized repeating patterns emerge through the coordinated interplay of distinct types of neurons remains unclear. In this study, we monitored ongoing spatiotemporal firing patterns using a multi‐neuron calcium imaging technique and examined how the activity of individual neurons is associated with repeated ensembles in hippocampal slice cultures. To determine the cell types of the imaged neurons, we applied an optical synapse mapping method that identifies network connectivity among dozens of neurons. We observed that inhibitory interneurons exhibited an increase in their firing rates prior to the onset of repeating sequences, while the overall activity level of excitatory neurons remained unchanged. A specific repeating sequence emerged preferentially after the firing of a specific interneuron that was located close to the neuron first activated in the sequence. The times of repeating sequences could be more precisely predicted based on the activity patterns of inhibitory cells than excitatory cells. In line with these observations, stimulation of a single interneuron could trigger the emergence of repeating sequences. These findings provide a conceptual framework that interneurons serve as a key regulator of initiating sequential spike activity.
Extensive umbilical herniation of the large colon in a foal
Authors: Bodaan C. J. , Panizzi L. , Stewart A. J. , Cypher E. , Whitfield L. , Riley C. B. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryA 5‐month‐oldWarmblood cross colt was presented with focal swelling of the ventral abdomen extending from the umbilicus to the scrotum in the absence of colic signs. Palpation and ultrasound examination revealed the presence of incarcerated large intestine within the subcutaneous space adjacent to the caudal ventral abdomen and prepuce. Surgery was performed and revealed that the umbilical hernia sac had ruptured, and confirmed that the left dorsal and ventral colon were present in the subcutaneous space. The mild degree of vascular compromise of the large colon did not necessitate resection and so it was replaced within the abdomen. The abdominal wall defect was closed and the subcutaneous dead space was reduced by using a walking suture pattern. Herniation of the large colon through the umbilicus with dissection through the subcutaneous tissues of the ventral abdominal wall and prepuce has not been previously reported in foals. Ultrasonography permits differentiation of herniated small intestine from large intestine.
Surgical repair of a congenital lateral abdominal wall hernia in a neonatal foal
Authors: Hill J. A. , Story M. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryA 16‐hour‐old Quarter Horse filly presented for evaluation of a soft mass in the right caudoventral lateral abdominal wall. Radiography and ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a nonreducible lateral abdominal wall hernia with small intestine located between the skin and body wall. The size of the defect itself could not be imaged and the filly was taken to surgery. A 4 cm vertical defect that appeared congenital was found in the transverse abdominal muscle and was repaired by primary apposition. This case report describes the repair and outcome of this unusual type of congenital hernia.
Reduction in DNA methyltransferases and alteration of DNA methylation pattern associate with mouse skin ageing
Authors: Qian Hong , Xu Xiangru 
Published: March 2014

AbstractUnderstanding molecular mechanisms of skin ageing is critical for developing effective anti‐ageing strategies. Recently, it has been suggested that epigenetics maybe be involved in tissue ageing and age‐related diseases; however, the evidence regarding skin ageing has been very limited. We ran a pilot study in mouse skin to test whether DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), DNA demethylases such as ten‐eleven translocation enzymes (Tets) and DNA methylation of gene promoters change with age by quantitative RT‐PCR and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)‐chip. We discovered that the expression of Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b and Tet2 declines significantly with skin ageing. The genome‐wide DNA methylation analysis indicates that both hypermethylation and hypomethylation in promoters of genes are taken place. Functional category of those genes suggests that inhibition of cell proliferation and activation of immune response are important adaptations likely induced by skin ageing. These findings shed new light on epigenetic regulation of skin ageing.
Structural insights into bacterial resistance to cerulenin
Authors: Trajtenberg Felipe , Altabe Silvia , Larrieux Nicole , Ficarra Florencia , de Mendoza Diego , Buschiazzo Alejandro , Schujman Gustavo E. 
Published: March 2014

Cerulenin is a fungal toxin that inhibits both eukaryotic and prokaryotic ketoacyl‐acyl carrier protein synthases or condensing enzymes. It has been used experimentally to treat cancer and obesity, and is a potent inhibitor of bacterial growth. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of resistance to cerulenin and similar compounds is thus highly relevant for human health. We have previously described a Bacillus subtilis cerulenin‐resistant strain, expressing a point‐mutated condensing enzyme FabF (FabF[I108F]) (i.e. FabF with isoleucine 108 substituted by phenylalanine). We now report the crystal structures of wild‐type FabF from B. subtilis, both alone and in complex with cerulenin, as well as of the FabF[I108F] mutant protein. The three‐dimensional structure of FabF[I108F] constitutes the first atomic model of a condensing enzyme that remains active in the presence of the inhibitor. Soaking the mycotoxin into preformed wild‐type FabF crystals allowed for noncovalent binding into its specific pocket within the FabF core. Interestingly, only co‐crystallization experiments allowed us to trap the covalent complex. Our structure shows that the covalent bond between Cys163 and cerulenin, in contrast to that previously proposed, implicates carbon C3 of the inhibitor. The similarities between Escherichia coli and B. subtilis FabF structures did not explain the reported inability of ecFabF[I108F] (i.e. FabF from Escherichia coli with isoleucine 108 substituted by phenylalanine) to elongate medium and long‐chain acyl‐ACPs. We now demonstrate that the E. coli modified enzyme efficiently catalyzes the synthesis of medium and long‐chain ketoacyl‐ACPs. We also characterized another cerulenin‐insensitive form of FabF, conferring a different phenotype in B. subtilis. The structural, biochemical and physiological data presented, shed light on the mechanisms of FabF catalysis and resistance to cerulenin.DatabaseCrystallographic data (including atomic coordinates and structure factors) have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession codes 4LS5, 4LS6, 4LS7 and 4LS8.
Influence of notch severity on thermomechanical fatigue life of a directionally solidified Ni‐base superalloy
Authors: Fernandez‐Zelaia P. , Neu R. W. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe aim of this work is to understand the influence of notches under thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) in a directionally solidified Ni‐base superalloy. Experiments were performed utilizing linear out‐of‐phase and in‐phase TMF loadings on longitudinally oriented smooth and cylindrically notched specimens. Several notch severities were considered with elastic stress concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 3.0. The local response of the notched specimens was determined using the finite element method with a transversely isotropic viscoplastic constitutive model. Comparing the analysis to experiments, the locations observed for crack nucleation in the notch, which are offset from the notch root in directionally solidified alloys, are consistent with the maximum von Mises stress. Various local and nonlocal methods are evaluated to understand the life trends under out‐of‐phase TMF. The results show that a nonlocal invariant area‐averaging method is the best approach for collapsing the TMF lives of specimens with different notch severities.
Fatigue crack growth property of laser beam welded 6156 aluminium alloy
Authors: Liu H. , Shang D.‐G. , Guo Z.‐K. , Zhao Y.‐G. , Liu J.‐Z. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTFatigue crack growth behaviours in different welding zones of laser beam welded specimens were investigated using central crack tension specimens for 6156 aluminium alloy under constant amplitude loading at nominal applied stress ratio R = 0.5, 0.06, −1. The experimental results showed that base metal (BM) exhibited superior fatigue crack resistance compared to weld metal (WM) and heat‐affected zone (HAZ). Crack growth resistance of WM was the lowest. The exponent m values for BM and HAZ at different stress ratios are close and around 2.6, while m for WM at different stress ratio is around 4.7. The discrepancy between crack growth rates for WM and BM is more evident with increasing stress ratio, while it is a little change for HAZ and BM. Change of the microstructure in WM deteriorates the resistance of fatigue crack growth compared to BM. It was mainly due to grain boundary liquation and dissolving of second‐phase particles in the weld region. It was also found that the variety of fatigue crack resistance for different welding zones is in conformity with the change of hardness. BM with the highest hardness exhibited the maximum resistance for fatigue crack, and WM with the lowest hardness exhibited the minimum fatigue crack resistance.
Does denture‐wearing status in edentulous South Korean elderly persons affect their nutritional intakes?
Authors: Han Sun Young , Kim Cheoul Sin 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveThe aim of this cross‐sectional study was to determine whether denture‐wearing status in edentulous South Korean elders affected their nutritional intakes, using the 2008–2010 data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).BackgroundGood nutritional status is a requirement for healthy aging in the elders. Tooth loss is the key to lead to low masticatory ability and alterative food choice, which may increase the risks of systemic disease. Therefore, denture treatment is important to improve general health of edentulous persons.Materials and methodsFrom KNHANES data, 1168 edentulous older people were selected as the participants of the present study. Nutrient intake data collected via participants' 24‐h dietary recalls were used to determine the ratio of nutrient intake to the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Koreans, the percentage of individuals with inadequate nutrient and the effects of denture wearing on the risk of undernourishment.ResultsThe results showed that compared to denture wearers, edentulous persons without dentures had lower intakes of potassium, niacin and vitamin C. In addition, the distribution of inadequate nutrient intake among participants without dentures was higher than among participants with dentures; the risk of undernourishment was 1.89 times that of denture wearers. [Correction made on 21 March 2014, after first online publication: “[…] participants with dentures was higher than among participants without dentures” was corrected to “[…] participants without dentures was higher than among participants with dentures”]ConclusionDenture wearing was seen to have a significant effect on the level of nutrient intake in edentulous elders.
Impact of inflammation on anti‐oxidative effects of vitamin E‐coated membrane dialyzer in patients on chronic hemodialysis
Authors: Kirmizis Dimitrios , Papagianni Aikaterini , Efstratiadis Georgios , Memmos Dimitrios 
Published: March 2014

AbstractHemodialysis (HD) with the use of vitamin E‐coated membrane (VEM) dialyzers is shown to exert anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative effects in patients with end‐stage renal disease on HD. However, the association of baseline inflammatory status with the antioxidative effects of VEM has not been investigated thus far. Thirty‐five stable end‐stage renal disease patients treated with VEM for 6 months were enrolled in the present prospective, observational cohort study. For the previous 3 months minimum, 17 (48%) patients were dialyzed with a cellulose, eight (23%) patients with a hemophane, and 10 (29%) patients with a polysulfone 1.2 to 1.5 m2 hollow fiber dialyzer. The effects of treatment on oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were stratified according to half percentiles of baseline serum logC‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6, and the association between treatment goal, arbitrarily defined as a minimum 30% decrease in baseline oxLDL, was assessed with the use of logistic regression analysis. The higher C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 half percentiles were independently and additively associated with a higher odds ratio for achieving treatment goal. Adjustment for baseline oxLDL, age, sex, HD duration, smoking, and body mass index did not attenuate the odds ratios, whereas the history of diabetes, as primary renal disease, significantly decreased the odds ratio for achieving treatment goal. Increased baseline C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 are independent, additive factors associated with the effect of VEM on oxLDL in HD patients.
Modelling clinical progression and health care utilization of HIV‐positive patients in British Columbia prior to death
Authors: Cui Z , Grafstein E , Yip B , Hogg R , Montaner JSG , Lima VD 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesThe extent to which clinical progression of HIV‐positive patients leads to an increase in health care utilization, especially prior to their death, is unknown. Thus, we modelled trends in CD4 cell count and emergency department utilization and the likelihood of an emergency department visit leading to a transfer to an acute care‐level facility prior to a patient's death from nonaccidental causes.MethodsEligible patients initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in British Columbia between August 1996 and June 2006 (n = 457). Patients were followed until their death, which occurred on or before 30 June 2007 (period in which the emergency department visit data were available). Trends were modelled using generalized mixed effects.ResultsPatients experienced a significantly steep decline in CD4 cell count and a corresponding increase in the number of emergency department visits and transfers to acute‐level facilities in the 5 years prior to death. For every 6‐month interval prior to death, the CD4 cell count decreased by 13.22 cells/μL, the risk of experiencing an emergency department visit increased by 9%, and among those ever admitted, the odds ratio of being transferred to an acute care‐level facility increased by 3%.ConclusionsWe showed that patients experienced a steep decline in CD4 cell count, which was associated with an increase in health care utilization prior to their death. These findings highlight the substantial residual avoidable burden that unsuccessfully managed HIV disease poses, even in the HAART era. Further strategies to enhance sustained and successful engagement in care are urgently needed to mitigate high health care utilization.