bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diet and exercise in management of obesity and overweight
Authors: Fock Kwong Ming , Khoo Joan 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAccording to World Health Organization, in 2010 there were over 1 billion overweight adults worldwide with 400 million adults who were obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, and cancers (prostate, colorectal, endometrial, and breast). Obese people may present to the gastroenterologists with gastroesophageal reflux, non‐alcoholic fatty liver, and gallstones. It is important, therefore, to recognize and treat obesity.The main cause of obesity is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended, although in a small number of cases, genetics and diseases such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, depression, and use of medications such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants are responsible for fat accumulation in the body.The main treatment for obesity is dieting, augmented by physical exercise and supported by cognitive behavioral therapy. Calorie‐restriction strategies are one of the most common dietary plans. Low‐calorie diet refers to a diet with a total dietary calorie intake of 800–1500, while very low‐calorie diet has less than 800 calories daily. These dietary regimes need to be balanced in macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Fifty‐five percent of the dietary calories should come from carbohydrates, 10% from proteins, and 30% from fats, of which 10% of total fat consist of saturated fats. After reaching the desired body weight, the amount of dietary calories consumed can be increased gradually to maintain a balance between calories consumed and calories expended. Regular physical exercise enhances the efficiency of diet through increase in the satiating efficiency of a fixed meal, and is useful for maintaining diet‐induced weight loss. A meta‐analysis by Franz found that by calorie restriction and exercise, weight loss of 5–8.5 kg was observed 6 months after intervention. After 48 months, a mean of 3–6 kg was maintained.In conclusion, there is evidence that obesity is preventable and treatable. Dieting and physical exercise can produce weight loss that can be maintained.
Ischemic neurons activate astrocytes to disrupt endothelial barrier via increasing VEGF expression
Authors: Li Ying‐Na , Pan Rong , Qin Xu‐Jun , Yang Wei‐Lin , Qi Zhifeng , Liu Wenlan , Liu Ke Jian 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBlood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption occurring within the first few hours of ischemic stroke onset is closely associated with hemorrhagic transformation following thrombolytic therapy. However, the mechanism of this acute BBB disruption remains unclear. In the neurovascular unit, neurons do not have direct contact with the endothelial barrier; however, they are highly sensitive and vulnerable to ischemic injury, and may act as the initiator for disrupting BBB when cerebral ischemia occurs. Herein, we employed oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) and an in vitro BBB system consisting of brain microvascular cells and astrocytes to test this hypothesis. Neurons (CATH.a cells) were exposed to OGD for 3‐h before co‐culturing with endothelial monolayer (bEnd 3 cells), or endothelial cells plus astrocytes (C8‐D1A cells). Incubation of OGD‐treated neurons with endothelial monolayer alone did not increase endothelial permeability. However, when astrocytes were present, the endothelial permeability was significantly increased, which was accompanied by loss of occludin and claudin‐5 proteins as well as increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion into the conditioned medium. Importantly, all these changes were abolished when VEGF was knocked down in astrocytes by siRNA. Our findings suggest that ischemic neurons activate astrocytes to increase VEGF production, which in turn induces endothelial barrier disruption.
imageLittle is known about the contribution of neurons to blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury following cerebral ischemia. Using co‐culture model of neurons, astrocytes and endothelial cells, we found that ischemic neurons activated astrocytes to increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion that in turns acted on tight junction proteins to increase BBB permeability. These results clearly suggest an important role of neurons in ischemic BBB damage.
Lived experience of Hispanic new graduate nurses – a qualitative study
Authors: Morales Esther G 
Published: November 2013

Aims and objectivesTo seek understanding of lived experience from the voice of Hispanic new graduate nurses.BackgroundNurse educators and leaders have called for a more diverse nursing workforce while the body of the literature and knowledge about Hispanic registered nurses in the United States appears underdeveloped.DesignA qualitative approach with a phenomenological methodology was used.MethodsA purposive sampling of Hispanic new graduate nurses (n = 7) completed a demographic questionnaire and semi‐structured interviews. The study setting was within the Midwest and the south‐west of the United States.ResultsThere were seven general themes: (1) being an employee, (2) an orientation with or without preceptors, (3) a transition, (4) shadows of doubt, (5) being Hispanic, (6) being bilingual and being pulled, and (7) blessed. Hispanic new graduates would prefer Hispanic preceptors and anticipated that their first employment would be in a hospital setting.ConclusionHispanic new graduate nurses anticipate, desire and expect orientation programmes and preceptors in acute care and outpatient healthcare settings to aid in their transition from student to professional nurse. Hispanic new graduate nurses described an experience of transition typical of new graduate nurses in the United States, but with added dimensions such as cultural understandings and language proficiency with Spanish.Relevance to clinical practiceAppropriate support and interventions for all new graduate nurses across multiple employment settings may retain a diverse nursing workforce appropriately positioned to serve vulnerable populations.
Green tea extract inhibits the onset of periodontal destruction in rat experimental periodontitis
Authors: Yoshinaga Y. , Ukai T. , Nakatsu S. , Kuramoto A. , Nagano F. , Yoshinaga M. , Montenegro J. L. , Shiraishi C. , Hara Y. 
Published: November 2013

Background and ObjectiveGreen tea extract exerts a variety of biological effects, including anti‐inflammatory activities. However, there has been no report on the effect of green tea extract on loss of attachment, which is an important characteristic of periodontitis. Here, we examined the inhibitory effects of green tea extract on the onset of periodontitis in a rat model.Material and MethodsRats were immunized intraperitoneally with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The LPS group (n = 12) received a topical application of LPS onto the palatal gingival sulcus every 24 h. The green tea extract group (n = 12) received a topical application of LPS mixed with green tea extract, sunphenon BG, every 24 h. The phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) group (n = 6) received a topical application of PBS every 24 h. The levels of anti‐LPS immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum were determined using ELISA. Rats in the LPS and green tea extract groups were killed after the 10th and 20th applications. Rats in the PBS group were killed after the 20th application. Loss of attachment, level of alveolar bone and inflammatory cell infiltration were investigated histopathologically and histometrically. RANKL‐positive cells and the formation of immune complexes were evaluated immunohistologically.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the serum levels of anti‐LPS IgG between the LPS group and the green tea extract group. In contrast, loss of attachment, level of alveolar bone, inflammatory cell infiltration and RANKL expression in the green tea extract group were significantly decreased compared with those in the LPS group.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that green tea extract suppresses the onset of loss of attachment and alveolar bone resorption in a rat model of experimental periodontitis.
Neonatal anesthesia with limited resources
Authors: Bösenberg Adrian T. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryNeonates are the most vulnerable age group in terms of anesthetic risk and perioperative mortality, especially in the developing world. Prematurity, malnutrition, delays in presentation, and sepsis contribute to this risk. Lack of healthcare workers, poorly maintained equipment, limited drug supplies, absence of postoperative intensive care, unreliable water supplies, or electricity are further contributory factors.Trained anesthesiologists with the skills required for pediatric and neonatal anesthesia as well as basic monitoring equipment such as pulse oximetry will go a long way to improve the unacceptably high anesthetic mortality.
The sporangiophore of Phycomyces blakesleeanus: a tool to investigate fungal gravireception and graviresponses
Authors: Galland P. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe giant sporangiophore of the single‐celled fungus, Phycomyces blakesleeanus, utilises light, gravity and gases (water and ethylene) as environmental cues for spatial orientation. Even though gravitropism is ubiquitous in fungi (Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau, 1996, 49, 174), the underlying mechanisms of gravireception are far less understood than those operating in plants. The amenability of Phycomyces to classical genetics and the availability of its genome sequence makes it essential to fill this knowledge gap and serve as a paradigm for fungal gravireception. The physiological phenomena describing the gravitropism of plants, foremost adherence to the so‐called sine law, hold even for Phycomyces. Additional phenomena pertaining to gravireception, specifically adherence to the novel exponential law and non‐adherence to the classical resultant law of gravitropism, were for the first time investigated for Phycomyces. Sporangiophores possess a novel type of gravisusceptor, i.e. lipid globules that act by buoyancy rather than sedimentation and that are associated with a network of actin cables (Plant Biology, 2013). Gravitropic bending is associated with ion currents generated by directed Ca2+ and H+ transport in the growing zone (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2005, 1048, 487; Planta, 2012, 236, 1817). A set of behavioural mutants with specific defects in gravi‐ and/or photoreception allowed dissection of the respective transduction chains. The complex phenotypes of these mutants led to abandoning the concept of simple linear transduction chains in favour of interacting networks with molecular modules of physically interacting proteins.
Pulmonary vascular limitation to exercise and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: van der Plas Mart N. , van Kan Coen , Blumenthal Judith , Jansen Henk M. , Wells Athol U. , Bresser Paul 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackground and objectivePulmonary hypertension is frequently observed in advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is associated with poor prognosis. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can be used to detect less advanced pulmonary vascular impairment, and therefore may be of prognostic use. We studied the predictive value of non‐invasive exercise parameters that were associated with elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) for survival in IPF patients.MethodsFrom our interstitial lung disease database, we reviewed records of consecutive patients with IPF in whom CPET and echocardiography were performed within 2 weeks (n = 38).ResultsEleven patients (29%) had increased sPAP (≥40 mm Hg). From all non‐invasive CPET parameters, only the ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (V'E/V'CO2) at anaerobic threshold differed significantly between patients with and without sPAP ≥ 40 mm Hg. The receiver‐operator characteristic curve for V'E/V'CO2 resulted in areas under the curve of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.569–0.970; P = 0.026), with a cut‐off value for predicting sPAP ≥ 40 mm Hg of >45.0. Patients with V'E/V'CO2 > 45.0 had significantly worse survival compared with patients with V'E/V'CO2 ≤ 45.0 (P = 0.001). In contrast, sPAP did not predict survival.ConclusionsV'E/V'CO2, the only CPET parameter associated with elevated sPAP, appears a potentially useful non‐invasive marker for early detection of pulmonary vascular impairment, and therefore may be of use for a more accurate prognostic assessment in IPF patients.
Understanding “Green Germany” through Images and Film: A Critical Literacy Approach
Authors: Ryshina‐Pankova Marianna 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis article reports on the ways of incorporating paintings, posters, and film into an advanced German content‐ and language‐integrated course calledGreen Germany. It demonstrates how these visual media can be employed for enriching the exploration of various aspects of the course's environmental themes. In line with the research on the development of visual literacies (Cope & Kalantzis,; Unsworth,), the approach helps equip German learners with the tools to analyze the socially and culturally constructed nature of, in this instance, German public discourse on the environment, and thus develop their critical literacy abilities. In particular, it is demonstrated how leading learners towards interpretation of the visual media within a genre‐based and systemic‐functional framework (Halliday,; Kress and van Leeuwen,; Martin,,) facilitates critical distance from the solely referential information in these examples of public discourse. The article concludes with a brief examination of an analysis by one of the class participants, showing how she applies the proposed critical literacy tools.
Rapid Intrinsic Fluorescence Method for Direct Identification of Pathogens in Blood Cultures
Authors: Walsh John D. , Hyman Jay M. , Borzhemskaya Larisa , Bowen Ann , McKellar Caroline , Ullery Michael , Mathias Erin , Ronsick Christopher , Link John , Wilson Mark , Clay Bradford , Robinson Ron , Thorpe Thurman , van Belkum Alex , Dunne W. Michael 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACT
A positive blood culture is a critical result that requires prompt identification of the causative agent. This article describes a simple method to identify microorganisms from positive blood culture broth within the time taken to perform a Gram stain (<20 min). The method is based on intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy (IFS) of whole cells and required development of a selective lysis buffer, aqueous density cushion, optical microcentrifuge tube, and reference database. A total of 1,121 monomicrobial-positive broth samples from 751 strains were analyzed to build a database representing 37 of the most commonly encountered species in bloodstream infections or present as contaminants. A multistage algorithm correctly classified 99.6% of unknown samples to the Gram level, 99.3% to the family level, and 96.5% to the species level. There were no incorrect results given at the Gram or family classification levels, while 0.8% of results were discordant at the species level. In 8/9 incorrect species results, the misidentified isolate was assigned to a species of the same genus. This unique combination of selective lysis, density centrifugation, and IFS can rapidly identify the most common microbial species present in positive blood cultures. Faster identification of the etiologic agent may benefit the clinical management of sepsis. Further evaluation is now warranted to determine the performance of the method using clinical blood culture specimens.

IMPORTANCE
Physicians often require the identity of the infective agent in order to make life-saving adjustments to empirical therapy or to switch to less expensive and/or more targeted antimicrobials. However, standard identification procedures take up to 2 days after a blood culture is signaled positive, and even most rapid molecular techniques take several hours to provide a result. Other techniques are faster (e.g., matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight [MALDI-TOF] mass spectrometry) but require time-consuming manual processing steps and expensive equipment. There remains a clear need for a simple, inexpensive method to rapidly identify microorganisms directly from positive blood cultures. The promising new method described in this research article can identify microorganisms in minutes by optical spectroscopy, thus permitting the lab to simultaneously report the presence of a positive blood culture and the organism’s identity.
Association between parenteral fluids and symptoms in hospital end-of-life care: an observational study of 280 patients
Authors: Fritzson Anna , Tavelin Björn , Axelsson Bertil 
Published: November 2013

ObjectivesTo investigate whether dying patients receiving parenteral fluids (PF) suffer from more or less symptoms than patients who do not receive PF. Today's evidence on how PF affects palliative patients’ symptoms is very scarce. Nevertheless, 40% of the patients who die expectedly in Swedish hospitals receive PF during their last 24 h of life.MethodsA historical cohort study of medical records was performed. Of the 530 patients who were reported to have died expectedly at hospital in Västerbotten county (Sweden) between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2012, 140 cases who had received PF and 140 controls who had not received PF were identified by stratified randomisation and matched by age, sex and main disease. The groups were compared regarding documented presence of dyspnoea, respiratory secretions, anxiety, nausea and confusion during the last 24 h and the last week of life.ResultsThe prevalence of documented dyspnoea in the PF groups was higher than in the non-PF groups (51% vs 22% last 24 h, p<0.0001; 70% vs 45% last 7 days, p<0.001). The proportions of patients suffering from dyspnoea increased with larger administered volume. Although our main hypothesis—that the prevalence of respiratory secretions would be higher in the PF group—was not confirmed, we found a tendency in that direction (63% vs 50% last week, p=0.072). No clinically significant differences in anxiety, nausea or confusion were found.ConclusionsThere is an association between PF administration and increased frequency of documented dyspnoea for terminally ill patients in their last week of life.
Proteomics of Cancer Cell Lines Resistant to Microtubule-Stabilizing Agents
Authors: Albrethsen Jakob , Angeletti Ruth H. , Horwitz Susan Band , Yang Chia-Ping Huang 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Despite the clinical success of microtubule-interacting agents (MIA), a significant challenge for oncologists is the inability to predict the response of individual patients with cancer to these drugs. In the present study, six cell lines were compared by 2D DIGE proteomics to investigate cellular resistance to the class of MIAs known as microtubule-stabilizing agents (MSA). The human lung cancer cell line A549 was compared with two drug-resistant daughter cell lines, a taxol-resistant cell line (AT12) and an epothilone B (EpoB)-resistant cell line (EpoB40). The ovarian cancer cell line Hey was compared with two drug-resistant daughter cell lines, an EpoB-resistant cell line (EpoB8) and an ixabepilone-resistant cell line (Ixab80). All 2D DIGE results were validated by Western blot analyses. A variety of cytoskeletal and cytoskeleton-associated proteins were differentially expressed in drug-resistant cells. Differential abundance of 14-3-3σ, galectin-1 and phosphorylation of stathmin are worthy of further studies as candidate predictive biomarkers for MSAs. This is especially true for galectin-1, a β-galactose–binding lectin that mediates tumor invasion and metastasis. Galectin-1 was greatly increased in EpoB- and ixabepilone-resistant cells and its suppression caused an increase in drug sensitivity in both drug-sensitive and -resistant Hey cells. Furthermore, the growth medium from resistant Hey cells contained higher levels of galectin-1, suggesting that galectin-1 could play a role in resistance to MSAs. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(1); 260–9. ©2013 AACR.
Hemodynamic Response to Intravenous Adenosine and Its Effect on Fractional Flow Reserve Assessment
Authors: Tarkin Jason M. , Nijjer Sukhjinder , Sen Sayan , Petraco Ricardo , Echavarria-Pinto Mauro , Asress Kaleab N. , Lockie Tim , Khawaja Muhammed Z. , Mayet Jamil , Hughes Alun D. , Malik Iqbal S. , Mikhail Ghada W. , Baker Christopher S. , Foale Rodney A. , Redwood Simon , Francis Darrel P. , Escaned Javier , Davies Justin E. 
Published: November 2013

Background—
We studied the hemodynamic response to intravenous adenosine on calculation of fractional flow reserve (FFR). Intravenous adenosine is widely used to achieve conditions of stable hyperemia for measurement of FFR. However, intravenous adenosine affects both systemic and coronary vascular beds differentially.

Methods and Results—

A total of 283 patients (310 coronary stenoses) underwent coronary angiography with FFR using intravenous adenosine 140 mcg/kg per minute via a central femoral vein. Offline analysis was performed to calculate aortic (Pa), distal intracoronary (Pd), and reservoir (Pr) pressure at baseline, peak, and stable hyperemia. Seven different hemodynamic patterns were observed according to Pa and Pd change at peak and stable hyperemia. The average time from baseline to stable hyperemia was 68.2±38.5 seconds, when both ΔPa and ΔPd were decreased (ΔPa, −10.2±10.5 mm Hg; ΔPd, −18.2±10.8 mm Hg;
P
<0.001 for both). The fall in Pa closely correlated with the reduction in peripheral Pr (ΔPr, −12.9±15.7 mm Hg;
P
<0.001;
r
=0.9;
P
<0.001). ΔPa and ΔPd were closely related under conditions of peak (
r
=0.75;
P
<0.001) and stable hyperemia (
r
=0.83;
P
<0.001). On average, 56% (10.2 mm Hg) of the reduction in Pd was because of fall in Pa. FFR lesion classification changed in 9% using an FFR threshold of ≤0.80 and 5.2% with FFR threshold <0.75 when comparing Pd/Pa at peak and stable hyperemia.

Conclusions—
Intravenous adenosine results in variable changes in systemic blood pressure, which can lead to alterations in FFR lesion classification. Attention is required to ensure FFR is measured under conditions of stable hyperemia, although the FFR value at this point may be numerically higher.
Determinants of Erythrocyte Omega‐3 Fatty Acid Content in Response to Fish Oil Supplementation: A Dose–Response Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Flock Michael R. , Skulas‐Ray Ann C. , Harris William S. , Etherton Terry D. , Fleming Jennifer A. , Kris‐Etherton Penny M. 
Published: November 2013

Background

The erythrocyte membrane content of eicosapentaenoic acid (
EPA
) and docosahexaenoic acid (
DHA
), which constitutes the omega‐3 index (O3I), predicts cardiovascular disease mortality. The amount of
EPA
+
DHA
needed to achieve a target O3I is poorly defined, as are the determinants of the O3I response to a change in
EPA
+
DHA
intake. The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model of the O3I response to
EPA
+
DHA
supplementation in healthy adults, specifically identifying factors that determine the response.

Methods and Results

A randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, parallel‐group study was conducted in 115 healthy men and women. One of 5 doses (0, 300, 600, 900, 1800 mg) of
EPA
+
DHA
was given daily as placebo or fish oil supplements for ≈5 months. The O3I was measured at baseline and at the end of the study. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics between the groups at baseline. The O3I increased in a dose‐dependent manner (
P
<0.0001), with the dose of
EPA
+
DHA
alone accounting for 68% (quadratic,
P
<0.0001) of the variability in the O3I response. Dose adjusted per unit body weight (g/kg) accounted for 70% (linear,
P
<0.0001). Additional factors that improved prediction of treatment response were baseline O3I, age, sex, and physical activity. Collectively, these explained 78% of the response variability (
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings validate the O3I as a biomarker of
EPA
+
DHA
consumption and identify additional factors, particularly body weight, that can be used to tailor
EPA
+
DHA
recommendations to achieve a target O3I.