bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic opioid analgesic usage post‐kidney transplantation and clinical outcomes
Authors: Kulshrestha Satyarth , Barrantes Fidel , Samaniego Milagros , Luan Fu L. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractChronic opioid usage (COU) is common among patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) qualified for kidney transplantation and associated with inferior post‐transplant outcomes. The magnitude of COU after kidney transplantation and its impact on transplant outcomes remain unknown. We performed a single‐center retrospective study aimed to describe the prevalence of COU during the first year, to identify the predictors of COU and to determine the impact of COU on post‐transplant outcomes including the rates of hospitalization and acute rejection during the first year, as well as long‐term patient and graft survival. Among 1045 kidney transplant patients, 119 (11.4%) had required continued outpatient prescription of opioid analgesics during the first year after kidney transplantation, mostly for non‐surgery‐related pain (85%). A positive history of COU prior to transplantation was the strongest predictor of COU in the first year post‐transplantation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.31, p < 0.001). Patients with COU had more often hospital admission during the first year (AOR 2.48, p = 0.001, for 1 or 2 admissions, and AOR 6.03, p < 0.001 for ≥3 admissions), but similar rate of acute rejection (19.3% vs. 15.7%, p = 0.31). During long‐term follow‐up, however, the patient and/or death‐censored kidney survival was not different. COU early post‐kidney transplantation, when clinically indicated and properly supervised, does not appear to affect the risk of death and death‐censored graft failure.
IQ is an independent predictor of glycated haemoglobin level in young and middle‐aged adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Yano T. , Miki T. , Itoh T. , Ohnishi H. , Asari M. , Chihiro S. , Yamamoto A. , Aotsuka K. , Kawakami N. , Ichikawa J. , Hirota Y. , Miura T. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAimsHere we examined whether intellectual disability is independently associated with hyperglycaemia.MethodsWe recruited 233 consecutive young and middle‐aged adults with intellectual disability. After exclusion of subjects on medication for metabolic diseases or with severe intellectual disability (IQ < 35), 121 subjects were divided by IQ into a group with moderate intellectual disability (35≤IQ≤50), a mild intellectual disability group (51≤IQ≤70) and a borderline group (IQ > 70).ResultsHbA1c level was higher in subjects with moderate intellectual disability (42 ± 9 mmol/mol; 6.0 ± 0.8%) than those in the borderline group (36 ± 4 mmol/mol; 5.5 ± 0.3%) and mild intellectual disability group (37 ± 5 mmol/mol; 5.5 ± 0.5%) groups. HbA1c level was correlated with age, BMI, blood pressure, serum triglycerides and IQ in simple linear regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis indicated that IQ, age, BMI and diastolic blood pressure were independent explanatory factors of HbA1c level.ConclusionsAn unfavourable effect of intellectual disability on lifestyle and untoward effect of hyperglycaemia on cognitive function may underlie the association of low IQ with hyperglycaemia.
Global mismatch between species richness and vulnerability of reef fish assemblages
Authors: Parravicini Valeriano , Villéger Sébastien , McClanahan Tim R. , Arias‐González Jesus Ernesto , Bellwood David R. , Belmaker Jonathan , Chabanet Pascale , Floeter Sergio R. , Friedlander Alan M. , Guilhaumon François , Vigliola Laurent , Kulbicki Michel , Mouillot David 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe impact of anthropogenic activity on ecosystems has highlighted the need to move beyond the biogeographical delineation of species richness patterns to understanding the vulnerability of species assemblages, including the functional components that are linked to the processes they support. We developed a decision theory framework to quantitatively assess the global taxonomic and functional vulnerability of fish assemblages on tropical reefs using a combination of sensitivity to species loss, exposure to threats and extent of protection. Fish assemblages with high taxonomic and functional sensitivity are often exposed to threats but are largely missed by the global network of marine protected areas. We found that areas of high species richness spatially mismatch areas of high taxonomic and functional vulnerability. Nevertheless, there is strong spatial match between taxonomic and functional vulnerabilities suggesting a potential win–win conservation‐ecosystem service strategy if more protection is set in these locations.
Crystal structures of apparent saccharide sensors from histidine kinase receptors prevalent in a human gut symbiont
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Liu Qun , Hendrickson Wayne A. 
Published: July 2014

The adult human gut is a complicated ecosystem in which host–bacterium symbiosis plays an important role. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is a predominant member of the gut microflora, providing the human digestive tract with a large number of glycolytic enzymes. Expression of many of these enzymes appears to be controlled by histidine kinase receptors that are fused into unusual hybrid two‐component systems that share homologous periplasmic sensor domains. These sensor domains belong to the third most populated (HK3) family based on a previous unpublished bioinformatics analysis of predicted histidine kinase sensors. Here, we present the crystal structures of two sensor domains representative of the HK3 family. Each sensor is folded into three domains: two‐seven‐bladed β‐propeller domains and one β‐sandwich domain. Both sensors form dimers in crystals, and one sensor appears to be physiologically relevant. The folding characteristics in the individual domains, the domain organization, and the oligomeric architecture are all unique to HK3 sensors. Sequence analysis of the HK3 sensors indicates that these sensor domains are shared among other signaling molecules, implying combinatorial molecular evolution.DatabaseThe structural data for the crystallographic results for HK3 BT4673S and HK3 BT3049S have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession numbers 3OTT and 3V9F, respectively.Structured digital abstract

HK3BT3049S and HK3BT3049S bind by x-ray crystallography (View interaction)

HK3BT3049S and HK3BT3049S bind by molecular sieving (View interaction)

HK3BT3049S and HK3BT3049S bind by cosedimentation through density gradient (View interaction)

HK3BT4673s and HK3BT4673s bind by cosedimentation through density gradient (View interaction)

HK3BT4673s and HK3BT4673s bind by molecular sieving (View interaction)
Experiences of UK health‐care services for people with Multiple Sclerosis: a systematic narrative review
Authors: Methley Abigail M. , Chew‐Graham Carolyn , Campbell Stephen , Cheraghi‐Sohi Sudeh 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative condition with an estimated UK prevalence of 100 000. Contact with health‐care services is frequent and long‐term; however, little research has investigated the experiences of health care for MS in the UK.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic narrative review was to critically review qualitative studies reporting patients' experiences of health‐care services in the UK.Search strategyEMBASE, CINAHL, Medline, psychINFO and MS Society databases were searched with no date restrictions using search terms denoting ‘Multiple Sclerosis’, ‘health‐care services’, ‘patient’, ‘experience’ and ‘qualitative research’. Snowballing and hand searching of journals were used.Inclusion criteriaStudies were included if they used qualitative methods of data collection and analysis to investigate adult patient's experiences of health‐care services for MS in the UK.Data extraction and synthesisData were extracted independently and analysed jointly by two reviewers. Studies were appraised for the quality of evidence described using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme's qualitative tool. Due to the breadth of areas covered, the data were too heterogeneous for a synthesis and are presented as a narrative review.Main results and discussionFive studies were included. Studies primarily investigated diagnosis or palliative care. Themes of importance were the emotional experience of health care, continuity of care and access to services, and support from health‐care professionals. Studies were mainly poor quality and focussed on a homogenous sample.ConclusionsThis study provides the first review of the UK evidence base of experiences of health care for MS. Future research should investigate experiences of care after diagnosis in a more varied sample of participants.
Sulfide Glass‐Ceramic Electrolytes for All‐Solid‐State Lithium and Sodium Batteries
Authors: Tatsumisago Masahiro , Hayashi Akitoshi 
Published: July 2014

Sulfide glass‐ceramic electrolytes with Li+ or Na+ ion conduction have been developed in last decade. High‐temperature phases of Li7P3S11 and cubic Na3PS4 are precipitated from mother glasses, and the obtained glass‐ceramics show higher conductivity than the mother glasses. It is difficult to synthesize those high‐temperature phases by conventional solid‐state reaction, and glass electrolytes are thus important as a precursor for forming high‐temperature phases. The highest conductivities at 25°C of 1.1 × 10−2 S/cm for Li+ ion conductor (Li7P3S11) and 7.4 × 10−4 S/cm for Na+ ion conductor (Na3.06P0.94Si0.06S4) are achieved in sulfide glass‐ceramic electrolytes. All‐solid‐state batteries with sulfide glass‐ceramic electrolytes were fabricated by cold press at room temperature. Sulfide electrolytes have favorable mechanical properties to form favorable solid–solid contacts in solid‐state batteries by pressing without heat treatment. All‐solid‐state Li‐In/S and Na‐Sn/TiS2 cells using sulfide glass‐ceramic electrolytes operate as secondary batteries and exhibit good cycle performance at room temperature.
Application of synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy with multivariate data analysis for determination of butter adulteration
Authors: Dankowska Anna , Małecka Maria , Kowalewski Wojciech 
Published: July 2014

SummaryThe potential of fluorescence spectroscopy for detection of butter adulteration with palm and coconut oils was investigated. Synchronous fluorescence spectra were collected in the range of 240–700 nm with wavelength intervals (∆λ) of 10, 30, 60 and 80 nm. The applied technique was used to detect the addition of palm and coconut oils to butter, and the lowest limit of detection for adulteration (LOD – 5.5%) was observed after applying the wavelength interval of 60 nm. The multiple linear regression (MLR) models were used to calculate the level of adulteration with the lowest root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) and root mean square error of validation (RMSEV) of 3.8 and 3.9%, respectively, for the measurements acquired at the wavelength interval of 60 nm.
Predictors of erythropoietin use in patients with cardiorenal anaemia syndrome
Authors: Jackevicius Cynthia A , Co Mary Joana , Warner Alberta L 
Published: July 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia are common in patients with heart failure (HF) – these 3 conditions have been coined the Cardiorenal Anemia Sydrome (CRAS). The National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-K/DOQI) guidelines do not specifically address patients with CRAS, creating uncertainty in erythropoietin (EPO) prescribing. We sought to determine predictors of EPO use in patients with CRAS.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study at the Veteran’s Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS), a 300+ bed facility that provides primary and tertiary inpatient, and ambulatory care services, between January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006. A multiple logistic regression model was constructed to identify predictors of EPO use among CRAS patients.

Key findings
Of 2058 patients with CRAS, 213 (10.3%) were prescribed EPO. There were significant differences in baseline characteristics between the EPO and non-EPO groups. The following predictors were found to be associated with EPO prescription: iron supplementation (odds ratio [OR] 52.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.70–237.46), renal clinic appointment (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.79–3.76), malignancy (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.07–2.16) and use of hydralazine/nitrates (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.03–1.92). There was an inverse association found between EPO prescription and baseline hemoglobin (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.53–0.70) and eGFR (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.97).

Conclusion
A small proportion of patients eligible for EPO therapy according to guidelines at the time of the study were prescribed the indicated therapy. Markers of declining renal function or those suggesting need for anemia therapy were identified as EPO predictors.
Conditions Governing the Pressor Response to Ventilation Hypoxia in Isolated Perfused Rat Lungs
Authors: Hauge Anton 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAn isolated perfused and ventilated lung preparation from the rat is described. After perfusion for 16–30 min the preparation responded with a reversible increase in pulmonary vascular resistence to short (3–4 min) periods of ventilation hypoxia (gas mixtures containing 2–7% O2). This pressor response to hypoxia reached a maximum 45 to 140 min after start of the perfusion. The response then declined and disappeared, whereas the preparation did still respond well to vasoactive drugs. This vulnerability of the pressor response to hypoxia is in agreement with the findings in isolated lung preparations from other species. In this preparation the disappearance of the response could be shown to be due to changes within the lungs themselves, and not to changes in the perfusate blood. None, or very slight, pressor responses to ventilation hypoxia could be elicited in preparations where platelet‐poor plasma was used as a perfusate. If, however, the formed elements of the blood were added to the plasma perfusate, good responses to ventilation hypoxia appeared, provided that the addition was done during the first hour of perfusion.
Glucose Tolerance in the Period Preceding the Appearance of the Manifest Obese‐Hyperglycemic Syndrome in Mice
Authors: Danielsson ÅKe , Hellman Bo , TÄLJEDAL Inge‐Bert 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAfter intraperitoneal glucose injections in suckling mice there was a higher frequency of glucosuria in those animals which later developed the obese‐hyperglycemic syndrome. The experimental design had a particular advantage in screening for the early identification of mice which are homozygous for the obese‐hyperglycemic gene. The observations also suggested that impairment of glucose metabolism represents a primary lesion in the obese‐hyperglycemic syndrome. The hypothesis that the accumulation of fat later in life only reflects an adaptation of the adipose tissue to the high circulating levels of insulin in the obese‐hyperglycemic mice deserves further attention.
Comparison of Dipeptidase Activity in Different Tissues of the Pig
Authors: Josefsson Lars , Norén Ove , Sjöström Hans 
Published: July 2014

AbstractA comparative investigation of three dipeptidase activities (L‐alanyl‐L‐glutamic acid, L‐alanyl‐L‐proline and glycyl‐L‐leucine dipeptidase activity) of the trachea, the tuba uterina, the uterus and the small intestine of the pig has been made to study if the intestinal dipeptidases differ in their characteristics from the dipeptidases of other tissues. No indication was obtained supporting the idea that the intestinal dipeptidases would be different and constitute a group of enzymes, particularly adapted for intestinal digestion.
Mechanism of Escape of Skeletal Muscle Resistance Vessels from the Influence of Sympathetic Cholinergic Vasodilator Fibre Activity
Authors: Djojosugito A. M. , Folkow B. , Lisander B. , Sparks H. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractExperiments on the calf muscle circulation of cats and dogs indicate that the return of muscle blood flow to control level during sympathetic vasodilator fibre stimulation (the “escape” phenomenon) occurs only when autoregulation of flow in response to pressure changes is well developed, i.e. when vascular smooth muscle “reactivity” is pronounced. When this is not the case, sustained vasodilatation is induced by prolonged activation of these fibres. The “escape” is therefore dependent on a counterregulation of the vascular effectors themselves. Precapillary sphincter activity is increased by, but does not significantly affect, the neurogenically reduced flow resistance. Further, sphincter activity returns to control when the “escape” develops, showing that this phenomenon is a property of smooth muscle located upstream of the sphincters, in the precapillary resistance vessels proper. The combined evidence suggests a very restricted site of action of the sympathetic cholinergic vasodilator fibres, directly suppressing only “pacemaker” smooth muscle cells and/or key sites of the upstream myogenic propagation of excitation from such pacemakers. Since pacemaker activity seems to be best developed in the smallest precapillary resistance vessels, neurogenic inhibitory action at this site would lead to dilatation of proximally situated resistance sections, which for their basal tone are dependent on propagated excitation. “Escape” would then occur if latent pacemarkers in this resistance section gradually became dominant and reestablished myogenic tone. This is a mechanism very similar to the “vagus escape” phenomenon of the heart.
Nervous Control of Urinary Bladder in Cats
Authors: Edvardsen Per 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIntravesical pressure under isometric conditions was studied in anesthetized cats after operative canalization of the bladder. Records were obtained after selective transection at the peripheral and at the intraspinal level of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves supplying the bladder, after rhizotomy of the thoraco‐lumbar and sacral nerves to the bladder, and after transection of the spinal cord at various levels. With small bladder volumes no change in pressure was observed after the various lesions, but as the volume increased, the concomitant rise in bladder pressure was progressively inhibited by sympathetic nervous impulses. In particular was this inhibition marked during the last one‐third of the cystometrogram. The sympathetic influence is maintained by a spinal reflex with the afferent path through the posterior sacral roots, its stimulus being stretching of the bladder wall. The effect of this spinal adaptation reflex is thus to permit increasing bladder volumes with only moderate increases in bladder pressure. ‘Nonspecific’ bladder responses consisted in an increase in motility caused by the laparotomy, and an inhibition of motility caused by any intraspinal procedure. This inhibitory effect was found to be due to discharge through the sympathetic nerves on manipulation of spinal structures, regardless of their relation to the segments supplying the bladder.
Tonic Supraspinal Mechanisms Influencing the Intestino — — Intestinal Inhibitory Reflex
Authors: Johansson BÖRJE , Jonsson Olof , Ljung Bengt 
Published: July 2014

AbstractSupraspinal control mechanisms acting on the spinal intestino‐intestinal inhibitory reflex have been studied with regard to their possible tonic influence. The experiments which were done on chloralose or chloralose‐urethane anesthetized, vagotomized cats involved acute experimental lesions at the mesencephalic and cervical spinal levels of the CNS. The results indicate that the autonomic reflex is subjected to facilitation from suprabulbar areas and to strong tonic suppression from bulbar structures.
The Mechanical Parameters of Myocardial Contraction Studied at a Constant Length of the Contractile Element
Authors: Edman K. A. P. , Nilsson E. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe time course of the active state, the force‐velocity relation and the series compliance were investigated in isolated papillary muscles of the rabbit.—The force‐velocity curve defined at a precise length state of the contractile element and at a given time after the stimulus could be fitted by Hill's equation. The shape of the curve remained constant during the activity period, indicating that the ability to produce motion and the ability to produce tension undergo parallel changes during a myocardial contraction cycle.—The active state, at a given length of the contractile unit, had a slow onset (1/3–1/2 of the entire activity period being needed for attainment of the maximum) and did not form a distinct plateau. The time course of the active state was critically dependent on the degree of extension of the contractile unit. Evidence is presented that the duration of the active state is not definitely programmed at the start of the contraction; its final outcome is determined by the amount of shortening of the contractile element during the activity period.—The stiffness of the series elastic element, at a given tension, was independent of the intensity of the active state. This fact supports the view that the active, force‐producing structures in the cell do not contribute substantially to the series compliance of the cardiac muscle.
Spontaneous Afferent Discharges and Spontaneous Intrafusal Contractions in Isolated Muscle Spindles of the Frog
Authors: Jahn Samia Al Azharia 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIntrafusal recordings from isolated muscle spindles of the frog showed spontaneous afferent discharges and action potentials from intrafusal muscle fibres accompanied by contractions. Spontaneous discharges were also recorded from a spindle in situ on the surface of an extensor muscle with intact nerve and vascular supply. The afferent discharge were probably recorded from intrafusal myelinated nerve branches. Spontaneous intrafusal contractions (0.2–0.4/sec) evoked single and repetitive afferent discharges. Most of the spontaneous afferent discharges (minimum rate: 5–6/sec) occurred independently of preceding action potentials from intrafusal muscle fibres and did not disappear when intrafusal contractions were abolished by d‐Tubocurarine or injury. The rate of afferent discharges increased with the initial elongation and with the temperature, whereas the rate of spontaneous intrafusal contractions remained unchanged. The transequatorial conduction rate of the spontaneous discharges from single intrafusal muscle fibres was 0.24–0.38 m/sec (18–20° C) increasing with the fibre diameter. Conduction failed when the amplitude of the action potential was below a critical size. In the pre‐paralytical state high concentrations of d‐Tubocurarine prolonged the time course of the spontaneous intrafusal contractions and initiated bursts of afferent discharges.