bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Metric‐Based System for Evaluating the Productivity of Preclinical Faculty at an Academic Medical Center in the Era of Clinical and Translational Science
Authors: Wiegers Susan E. , Houser Steven R. , Pearson Helen E. , Untalan Ann , Cheung Joseph Y. , Fisher Susan G. , Kaiser Larry R. , Feldman Arthur M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAcademic medical centers are faced with increasing budgetary constraints due to a flat National Institutes of Health budget, lower reimbursements for clinical services, higher costs of technology including informatics and a changing competitive landscape. As such, institutional stakeholders are increasingly asking whether resources are allocated appropriately and whether there are objective methods for measuring faculty contributions and engagement. The complexities of translational research can be particularly challenging when trying to assess faculty contributions because of team science. For over a decade, we have used an objective scoring system called the Matrix to assess faculty productivity and engagement in four areas: research, education, scholarship, and administration or services. The Matrix was developed to be dynamic, quantitative, and able to insure that a fully engaged educator would have a Matrix score that was comparable to a fully engaged investigator. In this report, we present the Matrix in its current form in order to provide a well‐tested objective system of performance evaluation for nonclinical faculty to help academic leaders in decision making.
Diagnostic power of the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test in detecting glycogenosis type V
Authors: Hogrel J.‐Y. , van den Bogaart F. , Ledoux I. , Ollivier G. , Petit F. , Koujah N. , Béhin A. , Stojkovic T. , Eymard B. , Voermans N. , Laforêt P. 
Published: March 2015

Background and purposeThis was a retrospective study to assess the diagnostic value of the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test in detecting McArdle's disease.MethodsThe study is a retrospective diagnostic study over 15 years (1999–2013) on a referred sample of patients suffering from exercise intolerance and various muscle complaints, generally with elevated creatine kinase (CK). In all, 1226 patients underwent the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test. Blood lactate, ammonia and CK levels were analyzed. DNA analyses and/or muscle biopsies were assessed to confirm the diagnosis of McArdle's disease. The results of 60 volunteers were used to compare with the results of study subjects.ResultsIn this cohort, 40 patients were finally diagnosed with McArdle's disease. Absolute values of lactate and ammonia rise were used to discriminate all McArdle patients from healthy patients. A sensitivity and specificity of respectively 100% and 99.7% were calculated. The 24‐h CK level showed no significant difference from the CK level at the day of the test and confirms the safety of the test.ConclusionsThis study has formally assessed the diagnostic value of the non‐ischaemic forearm exercise test in the detection of McArdle's disease. Very high sensitivity and specificity were observed. Furthermore, the test is easy to set up and to perform, it is non‐traumatic and cost effective. It may circumvent a muscle biopsy in McArdle patients presenting the most common mutations. Hence, it is a perfect and safe screening instrument to detect patients with McArdle's disease. Glycogen storage disease type III patients, however, may show similar patterns to McArdle patients.
Pathologic substrates of focal epilepsy influence the generation of high‐frequency oscillations
Authors: Ferrari‐Marinho Taissa , Perucca Piero , Mok Kelvin , Olivier Andre , Hall Jeffery , Dubeau Francois , Gotman Jean 
Published: March 2015

SummaryObjectiveAlthough a clear correlation has been observed between high‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) and the seizure‐onset zone in distinct lesions, the role of the underlying pathologic substrates in the generation of HFOs is not well established. We aimed to investigate HFO correlates of different pathologic substrates in patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy, and to examine the relation of HFOs with the anatomic location of the dysplastic lesion and surrounding tissue in patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).MethodsWe studied consecutive patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy who underwent intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) investigations with depth electrodes at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, between November 2004 and May 2013. Inclusion criteria were the following: a focal lesion documented by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); EEG recording at a 2,000 Hz sampling rate; and seizures starting from depth electrode contacts placed in lesion and perilesional tissue.ResultsThirty‐seven patients (13 FCD, 12 mesial temporal sclerosis, five cortical atrophy, three polymicrogyria, three nodular heterotopia, and one tuberous sclerosis) were included; 18 were women (median age 34). Ripples and fast ripples were found in all lesion types, except tuberous sclerosis, which showed no fast ripples. There was a significant difference in rates of ripples and fast ripples across different lesions (p < 0.001), with higher rates in FCD, mesial temporal sclerosis, and nodular heterotopia than in atrophy, polymicrogyria, and tuberous sclerosis. Regarding patients with FCD, HFOs rates differed significantly across the three types of tissue (lesional, perilesional, and nonlesional; p < 0.001), being higher within the borders of the MRI‐visible dysplastic lesion, followed by the surrounding area, and rare in the remote cortex.SignificanceOur findings suggest that in patients who are all intractable, the HFO rates vary with different pathologies, and reflect different types of neuronal derangements. Our results also emphasize the potential usefulness of HFOs as an additional method to better define the extent of the epileptogenic dysplastic tissue in FCD.
Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor‐1α and CD271 inversely correlate with melanoma invasiveness
Authors: Marconi Alessandra , Borroni Riccardo G. , Truzzi Francesca , Longo Caterina , Pistoni Federica , Pellacani Giovanni , Pincelli Carlo 
Published: March 2015

AbstractMelanoma is characterized, among other features, by microenvironmental factors and by an altered apoptotic machinery. Melanoma cell response to a hypoxic environment is transcriptionally regulated by the Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor (HIF)‐1α. p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), also called CD271, mediates apoptosis in several cell systems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of HIF‐1α and CD271 in melanomas at different phases of progression, as evaluated by histology and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). By RCM, 41.67% tumors were characterized by the presence of a population of dendritic and pleomorphic cells (D+P), corresponding to in situ melanoma; 25% exhibited a predominantly round‐cell (RN) proliferation with histologic features of superficial melanoma, and 33.33% showed the presence of cells aggregated in nests (DN), typical of invasive melanoma. HIF‐1α was scarcely detected in D+P and in RN melanomas, while it was highly expressed in DN tumors. By contrast, CD271 positive cells were mostly detected in D+P population, and barely observed in the other subtypes. This work demonstrates that CD271 expression inversely correlates with hypoxia in melanoma, and that the two markers may be used in the future as diagnostic/prognostic tools for this neoplasm.
Heat shock protein 90 is required for ex vivo neutrophil‐driven autoantibody‐induced tissue damage in experimental epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
Authors: Tukaj Stefan , Hellberg Lars , Ueck Christopher , Hänsel Martin , Samavedam Unni , Zillikens Detlef , Ludwig Ralf J. , Laskay Tamás , Kasperkiewicz Michael 
Published: March 2015

AbstractA broad range of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory effects of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) blockade has been described in models of autoimmune bullous diseases, but the direct contribution of this chaperone to neutrophil effector pathways in the context of autoantibody‐driven blistering is generally unknown. Therefore, this has been addressed in the current study on the basis of the subepidermal blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) characterized by autoantibodies against type VII collagen, in which a crucial role of neutrophils and both their reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinases in mediating tissue injury has been established. First, the Hsp90 antagonist 17‐DMAG dose‐dependently inhibited dermal‐epidermal separation ex vivo in cryosections of human skin induced by co‐incubation of EBA patient autoantibodies with neutrophils from healthy blood donors. Next, 17‐DMAG dose‐dependently suppressed production and release of reactive oxygen species by human neutrophils induced by both fMLP ± LPS and EBA‐specific immune complexes. In addition, co‐immunoprecipitation studies revealed that extracellular Hsp90 interacted with secreted matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 12 in sera of EBA patients, suggesting that these basement membrane‐degrading proteolytic enzymes are client proteins of Hsp90 and dependent on its chaperone function. Our findings add to the knowledge of the multimodal anti‐inflammatory effects of Hsp90 blockade and implicate that Hsp90 is closely involved in the effector mechanisms of neutrophil‐driven autoantibody‐induced tissue damage, thus being a relevant therapeutic target in patients with neutrophil‐mediated autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory types of EBA.
Medicinal species with gastroprotective activity found in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Martins José L. R. , Rodrigues Oscar R. L. , de Sousa Fábio B. , Fajemiroye James O. , Galdino Pablinny M. , Florentino Iziara F. , Costa Elson A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPeptic and/or duodenal ulcers are characterized by diverse acute and chronic ulcerative lesions that commonly arise in any portion of the gastric mucosa that is exposed to the aggressive action of gastric acid. The pathophysiology of peptic ulcers has been attributed to an imbalance between aggressive and protective factors. In Brazil, medicinal plants are commonly used to treat this ailment. A country with great biodiversity, Brazil is considered a rich source of therapeutic products. There have been popular and pharmacological reports on the medicinal relevance of the Brazilian cerrado plant species, including Ananas ananassoides, Celtis iguanaea, Encholirium spectabile, Hymenaea stigonocarpa, Lafoensia pacari, Qualea grandiflora, Qualea parvifora, Mouriri pusa, Solanum lycocarpum, Solanum paniculatum, Serjania erecta, and Vochysia tucanorum, in the treatment of stomach disorders. The aim of the present review was to report on some of the Brazilian cerrado plants that are used in folk medicine because of their gastroprotective potential and to encourage novel studies in the search and preservation of plants with this therapeutic potential.
Effects of conducting media and gender on an electric pulp test
Authors: Chunhacheevachaloke E. , Ajcharanukul O. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAims(1) To determine the pulpal sensory thresholds in human teeth obtained from using various EPT conducting media and (2) to determine whether there are gender differences.MethodologyOne intact maxillary central incisor was randomly selected from each of 40 participants (20 male, 20 female) aged 19–24 year. A constant‐current electrical stimulator (University of Bristol, UK) was used to apply electrical stimuli with different conducting media at intervals of 1 min on the middle of the crown to evaluate the sensory threshold of the tooth. The tip of the electrode was coated with a thin layer of test media. The sensory thresholds and the pain scores were measured simultaneously after applying stimuli twice a second and gradually increasing the intensity until felt by the participants. Test media included water‐based gels (K‐Y UltraGel; Xylocaine 2% Jelly, electrode gel, fluoride gel) and toothpastes (Colgate Total; Sensodyne Repair & Protect; Dentiste' Plus White; Sparkle White). The sensory threshold data were evaluated using two‐way anova followed by the Tukey test.ResultsXylocaine 2% Jelly and fluoride gel evoked significantly lower threshold values when compared with Sensodyne Repair & Protect (P < 0.001). With all test media, the mean sensory threshold from the female group was significantly lower than that of the male group (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe sensory thresholds to electrical stimuli in human teeth was influenced by the type of conducting media and gender.
High expression of CD26 accurately identifies human bacteria‐reactive MR1‐restricted MAIT cells
Authors: Sharma Prabhat K. , Wong Emily B. , Napier Ruth J. , Bishai William R. , Ndung'u Thumbi , Kasprowicz Victoria O. , Lewinsohn Deborah A. , Lewinsohn David M. , Gold Marielle C. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryMucosa‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells express the semi‐invariant T‐cell receptor TRAV1–2 and detect a range of bacteria and fungi through the MHC‐like molecule MR1. However, knowledge of the function and phenotype of bacteria‐reactive MR1‐restricted TRAV1–2+ MAIT cells from human blood is limited. We broadly characterized the function of MR1‐restricted MAIT cells in response to bacteria‐infected targets and defined a phenotypic panel to identify these cells in the circulation. We demonstrated that bacteria‐reactive MR1‐restricted T cells shared effector functions of cytolytic effector CD8+ T cells. By analysing an extensive panel of phenotypic markers, we determined that CD26 and CD161 were most strongly associated with these T cells. Using FACS to sort phenotypically defined CD8+ subsets we demonstrated that high expression of CD26 on CD8+ TRAV1–2+ cells identified with high specificity and sensitivity, bacteria‐reactive MR1‐restricted T cells from human blood. CD161hi was also specific for but lacked sensitivity in identifying all bacteria‐reactive MR1‐restricted T cells, some of which were CD161dim. Using cell surface expression of CD8, TRAV1–2, and CD26hi in the absence of stimulation we confirm that bacteria‐reactive T cells are lacking in the blood of individuals with active tuberculosis and are restored in the blood of individuals undergoing treatment for tuberculosis.
Knowledge transfer and exchange frameworks in health and their applicability to palliative care: scoping review protocol
Authors: Prihodova Lucia , Guerin Suzanne , Kernohan W. George 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimTo review knowledge transfer and exchange frameworks used in health, to analyse the core concepts of these frameworks and appraise their potential applicability to palliative care.BackgroundAlthough there are over 60 different models of knowledge transfer and exchange designed for various areas of the fields of health care, many remain largely unrefined and untested. There is a lack of studies that create guidelines for scaling‐up successful implementation of research findings and of proven models ensuring that patients have access to optimal health care, guided by current research.DesignThe protocol for this scoping review was devised according to the guidelines proposed by Arksey and O'Malley () and Levac et al. ().MethodsThe protocol includes decisions about the review objectives, inclusion criteria, search strategy, study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, data synthesis and plans for dissemination.DiscussionThe review will allow us to identify the currently used models of knowledge transfer and exchange in healthcare setting and analyse their applicability to the complex demands of palliative care. Results from this review will identify effective way of translating different types of knowledge to different PC providers and could be used in hospital, community and home based PC and future research.
Revising the American dream: how Asian immigrants adjust after an HIV diagnosis
Authors: Chen Wei‐Ti , Guthrie Barbara , Shiu Cheng‐Shi , Wang Lixuan , Weng Zhongqi , Li Chiang‐Shan , Lee Tony Szu‐Hsien , Kamitani Emiko , Fukuda Yumiko , Luu Binh Vinh 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimWe explored how acculturation and self‐actualization affect depression in the HIV‐positive Asians and Pacific Islanders immigrant population.BackgroundAsians and Pacific Islanders are among the fastest growing minority groups in the USA. Asians and Pacific Islanders are the only racial/ethnic group to show a significant increase in HIV diagnosis rate.DesignA mixed‐methods study was conducted.MethodsThirty in‐depth interviews were conducted with HIV‐positive Asians and Pacific Islanders in San Francisco and New York. Additionally, cross‐sectional audio computer‐assisted self‐interviews were conducted with a sample of 50 HIV‐positive Asians and Pacific Islanders. Content analysis was used to analyse the in‐depth interviews. Also, descriptive, bivariate statistics and multivariable regression analysis was used to estimate the associations among depression, acculturation and self‐actualization. The study took place from January–June 2013.DiscussionMajor themes were extracted from the interview data, including self‐actualization, acculturation and depression. The participants were then divided into three acculturation levels correlating to their varying levels of self‐actualization. For those with low acculturation, there was a large discrepancy in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores between those who had totally lost their self‐actualization and those who believed they could still achieve their ‘American dreams’. Among those who were less acculturated, there was a significant difference in depression scores between those who felt they had totally lost their ability to self‐actualize and those who still believed they could ‘make their dreams come true.’ConclusionAcculturation levels influence depression and self‐actualization in the HIV‐positive Asians and Pacific Islanders population. Lower acculturated Asian Americans achieved a lower degree of self‐actualization and suffered from depression. Future interventions should focus on enhancing acculturation and reducing depression to achieve self‐actualization.
Paediatric end‐of‐life care needs in Switzerland: current practices, and perspectives from parents and professionals. A study protocol
Authors: Bergstraesser Eva , Zimmermann Karin , Eskola Katri , Luck Patricia , Ramelet Anne‐Sylvie , Cignacco Eva 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimTo present a protocol for a multi‐phase study about the current practice of end‐of‐life care in paediatric settings in Switzerland.BackgroundIn Switzerland, paediatric palliative care is usually provided by teams, who may not necessarily have specific training. There is a lack of systematic data about specific aspects of care at the end of a child's life, such as symptom management, involvement of parents in decision‐making and family‐centred care and experiences and needs of parents, and perspectives of healthcare professionals.DesignThis retrospective nationwide multicentre study, Paediatric End‐of‐LIfe CAre Needs in Switzerland (PELICAN), combines quantitative and qualitative methods of enquiry.MethodsThe PELICAN study consists of three observational parts, PELICAN I describes practices of end‐of‐life care (defined as the last 4 weeks of life) in the hospital and home care setting of children (0‐18 years) who died in the years 2011–2012 due to a cardiac, neurological or oncological disease, or who died in the neonatal period. PELICAN II assesses the experiences and needs of parents during the end‐of‐life phase of their child. PELICAN III focuses on healthcare professionals and explores their perspectives concerning the provision of end‐of‐life care.ConclusionThis first study across Switzerland will provide comprehensive insight into the current end‐of‐life care in children with distinct diagnoses and the perspectives of affected parents and health professionals. The results may facilitate the development and implementation of programmes for end‐of‐life care in children across Switzerland, building on real experiences and needs.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01983852.
Degradation Kinetics of Gamma Amino Butyric Acid in Monascus‐Fermented Rice
Authors: Khan Washim , Bhatt Prakash C. , Panda Bibhu P. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe present study investigated the effect of heat on the reaction kinetics of γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) degradation in Monascus‐fermented rice (MFR). At pH 8.0 and 121C temperature, the GABA content decreased rapidly (from 57.1 ± 0.2 to 6.9 ± 0.2) as the time interval was increased from 15 to 120 min. The thermal degradation of GABA follows the first‐order reaction kinetics. The temperature dependence of rate constants follows the Arrhenius relationship, with an activation energy value of 101.5 kJ/mol (80–121C, r2 = 0.96). GABA is easily degraded when MFR is heated to a temperature of 121C. More than 70% of the GABA content can be salvaged by limiting the heat treatment of MFR to below 80C.Practical ApplicationsMonascus‐fermented rice is being used as a nutraceutical due to the presence of different heart healthy ingredients like monacolin K or lovastatin, GABA and dimerumic acid. However, during processing of Monascus food, there may be degradation of bioactive ingredients. The present research data are given information about how different processing parameters affect the ingredient quality and will find applications in industries and researchers involved in formulating and processing Monascus nutraceuticals.
Neuroprotective effects of vildagliptin in rat rotenone Parkinson's disease model: role of RAGE‐NFκB and Nrf2‐antioxidant signaling pathways
Authors: Abdelsalam Rania M. , Safar Marwa M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractGliptins have been recently shown to conquer neuronal degeneration in cell cultures via modulating glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1. This peptide produced in the gut not only crosses the blood–brain barrier but is also synthesized in the brain and acts on GLP‐1R exerting central anti‐inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects, thus impeding neuronal damage. This study investigated the antiparkinsonian effect of vildagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)‐4 inhibitor in a rat rotenone model targeting mainly the RAGE‐NFκB/Nrf2‐signaling pathways, to judge the potential anti‐inflammatory/antioxidant effects of the drug. Vildagliptin markedly improved the motor performance in the open field and rotarod tests, effects that were emphasized by the accompanied reduction in striatal dopamine content. It modified the striatal energy level (ADP/ATP) associated with partial antagonism of body weight reduction. This incretin enhancer suppressed nuclear factor (NF)κB and, consequently, the downstream inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor‐α. Normalization of receptor for advanced glycated end product (RAGE) is a main finding which justifies the anti‐inflammatory effects of vildagliptin, together with hampering striatal inducible nitric oxide synthase, intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 as well as myeloperoxidase. The antioxidant potential of vildagliptin was depicted as entailing reduction in thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances and the transcriptional factor Nrf‐2 level. Vildagliptin guarded against neuronal demise through an antiapoptotic effect as reflected by the reduction in the mitochondrial matrix component cytochrome c and the key downstream executioner caspase‐3. In conclusion, vildagliptin is endowed with various neuroprotective effects and thus can be a promising candidate for the management of Parkinson's disease.
imageIn the rat rotenone model of Parkinson's disease (PD), striatal RAGE/NFκB signaling was up‐regulated associated with elevated levels of inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptotic mediators resulting in dopaminergic neurons death and hence motor impairment. Vildagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)‐4 inhibitor, blocked the RAGE/NFκB cascade exerting a potential antiparkinsonian effect. RAGE, receptor for advanced glycation end product; NFκB, nuclear factor κB; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor alpha; ICAM, intracellular adhesion molecule; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; MPO, myeloperoxidase.