bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Paediatric sunburn: The experience of an Australian paediatric burns unit
Authors: Mah Latifa , Di Giovine Paul , Quinn Linda , Sparnon Anthony 
Published: July 2013

AimThe number of hospital presentations and admissions for treatment of sunburn remains significant, despite efforts to educate the public regarding sun protection. Current literature chiefly examines public health campaigns and sun protection behaviours and attitudes. There are very few articles that explore paediatric sunburn requiring hospital presentation. This study was therefore undertaken to provide a snapshot of this issue and to identify patterns and causative factors in the development of severe sunburn requiring hospital presentation.MethodsData were collected for retrospective analysis from case records of patients who presented with sunburn and were registered on the Burns Service database at the Women's and Children's Hospital in South Australia. This study includes patients who presented during the period of October 2006 to March 2011.ResultsThere were 81 cases identified over the period of 2006–2011 from the Burns database that had sufficient information for the purpose of this study. Factors such as outdoor activity and water sports were predictably apparent, with patients being burned on days with extremely high ultraviolet ratings. Key patterns that emerged were location of sunburn and sun protection use, which were gender and age specific.ConclusionLarger‐scale studies are warranted to further delineate the contributing factors and to identify the specific populations of children at risk of sunburn. Future educational programmes can therefore target these subgroups and behaviours for effective prevention of sunburn. Tailored campaigns that address these factors may be of greater impact in reducing hospital presentations and admissions of significant sunburn.
Follicular dendritic cell‐secreted protein is decreased in experimental periodontitis concurrently with the increase of interleukin‐17 expression and the Rankl/Opg mRNA ratio
Authors: Takahashi S. , Fukuda M. , Mitani A. , Fujimura T. , Iwamura Y. , Sato S. , Kubo T. , Sugita Y. , Maeda H. , Shinomura T. , Noguchi T. 
Published: July 2013

Background and ObjectiveT‐helper type 17 (Th17) cells produce interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) and help to protect against inflammation and infection in periodontal disease. Furthermore, while follicular dendritic cell‐secreted protein (FDC‐SP) may be involved in the inflammation of periodontal tissue, the biological role of FDP‐SP in periodontal disease is still unknown. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the expression of IL‐17 and FDC‐SP in experimental periodontitis in rats.Material and MethodsSeven‐week‐old male Wistar rats were divided into baseline control, sham and test groups. Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing a ligature in the mesiopalatal area, and untreated rats served as a baseline control group. Morphological changes in alveolar bone were investigated 7, 14 and 28 d after treatment. Expression of the Rankl, osteoprotegerin (Opg) and Il17 genes was analyzed 5 and 7 d after the induction of experimental periodontitis.ResultsAlveolar bone resorption progressed in the test group for 7 d, but not thereafter. At 5 d after the induction of periodontitis, the Rankl/Opg mRNA ratio and the expression of IL‐17 in the test group were significantly increased compared with the respective values in the baseline control group; however, there were no significant differences between the test and control groups at 7 d. The expression of FDC‐SP was significantly decreased in the test group compared with the baseline control group at 5 and 7 d after the induction of periodontitis, and this value had returned to normal levels at 14 and 28 d.ConclusionThese results suggest that both IL‐17 and FDC‐SP could be involved in the inflammatory response, and FDC‐SP in the junctional epithelium might play an important role in the Th17 cell‐related immune response.
Rural Women Veterans Demographic Report: Defining VA Users’ Health and Health Care Access in Rural Areas
Authors: Brooks Elizabeth , Dailey Nancy , Bair Byron , Shore Jay 
Published: July 2013

AbstractPurposeWhile many women choose to live in rural areas after retiring from active military duty, a paucity of studies examine rural women veterans’ health care needs. This report is the first of its kind to describe the population demographics and health care utilization of rural female veteran patients enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).MethodsUsing the National Patient Care Datasets (n = 327,785), we ran adjusted regression analyses to examine service utilization between (1) urban and rural and (2) urban and highly rural women veterans.FindingsRural and highly rural women veterans were older and more likely to be married than their urban counterparts. Diagnostic rates were generally similar between groups for several mental health disorders, hypertension, and diabetes, with the exception of nonposttraumatic stress anxiety that was significantly lower for highly rural women veterans. Rural and highly rural women veterans were less likely to present to the VA for women's specific care than urban women veterans; highly rural women veterans were less likely to present for mental health care compared to urban women veterans. Among the users of primary care, mental health, women's specific, and all outpatient services, patients’ annual utilization rates were similar.ConclusionsImproved service options for women's specific care and mental health visits may help rural women veterans access care. Telehealth technologies and increased outreach, perhaps peer‐based, should be considered. Other recommendations for VA policy and planning include increasing caregiver support options, providing consistency for mental health services, and revising medical encounter coding procedures.
Evaluation of Hair Cortisol in the Diagnosis of Hypercortisolism in Dogs
Authors: Corradini S. , Accorsi P.A. , Boari A. , Beghelli V. , Mattioli M. , Famigli‐Bergamini P. , Fracassi F. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundMeasurement of hair cortisol is a noninvasive technique used for several purposes in humans and in animals.ObjectivesTo measure hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism (HC) and determine whether it can represent a useful diagnostic test for this syndrome.AnimalsTwenty‐two dogs with spontaneous HC before treatment, 28 sick control dogs (SCD), and 40 healthy dogs.MethodsIn this prospective, observational clinical study, the HCC was measured by an RIA assay after extraction in HC dogs, in dogs with other chronic diseases, and in healthy dogs. The diagnostic accuracy of HCC was evaluated by subjecting data from dogs with HC and dogs with other chronic diseases to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsMedian (range) cortisol concentration in dogs with HC was 4.53 pg/mg (0.32–74.62 pg/mg) and was significantly higher than in SCD (1.49 pg/mg, 0.13–14.19 pg/mg) and healthy dogs (1.28 pg/mg, 0.34–5.38 pg/mg). Within the 3 groups, there was a large overlap of HCC. The area under the ROC curve was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.67–0.92). A cut‐off value of HCC of 1.93 pg/mg revealed 91% sensitivity and 61% specificity to diagnose HC.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceHair cortisol concentrations are higher in dogs with HC compared to SCD and healthy dogs. It is a noninvasive technique that should be further investigated as a possible diagnostic procedure for the diagnosis of HC in dogs.
Postmortem Evaluation of 435 Cases of Intracranial Neoplasia in Dogs and Relationship of Neoplasm with Breed, Age, and Body Weight
Authors: Song R.B. , Vite C.H. , Bradley C.W. , Cross J.R. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundIntracranial neoplasia of dogs is frequently encountered in veterinary medicine, but large‐scale studies on prevalence are lacking.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of intracranial neoplasia in a large population of dogs examined postmortem and the relationship between breed, age, and weight with the presence of primary intracranial neoplasms.AnimalsAll dogs that underwent postmortem examination from 1986 through 2010 (n = 9,574), including dogs with a histopathologic diagnosis of primary (n = 227) and secondary (n = 208) intracranial neoplasia.MethodsRetrospective evaluation of medical records from 1986 through 2010.ResultsOverall prevalence of intracranial neoplasia in this study's population of dogs was 4.5%. A statistically significant higher prevalence of primary intracranial neoplasms was found in dogs with increasing age and body weights. Dogs ≥15 kg had an increased risk of meningioma (odds ratio 2.3) when compared to dogs <15 kg. The Boxer, Boston Terrier, Golden Retriever, French Bulldog, and Rat Terrier had a significantly increased risk of primary intracranial neoplasms while the Cocker Spaniel and Doberman Pinscher showed a significantly decreased risk of primary intracranial neoplasms.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIntracranial neoplasia in dogs might be more common than previous estimates. The study suggests that primary intracranial neoplasia should be a strong differential in older and larger breed dogs presenting with signs of nontraumatic intracranial disease. Specific breeds have been identified with an increased risk, and others with a decreased risk of primary intracranial neoplasms. The results warrant future investigations into the role of age, size, genetics, and breed on the development of intracranial neoplasms.
Stomach Gas Analyses in Canine Acute Gastric Dilatation with Volvulus
Authors: Van Kruiningen H.J. , Gargamelli C. , Havier J. , Frueh S. , Jin L. , Suib S. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundThe origin of the gas in the stomachs of dogs with acute gastric dilatation or gastric dilatation with volvulus (GDV) often is disputed.HypothesisWe tested the hypothesis that gaseous distention resulted from aerophagia.AnimalsTen cases of GDV that were submitted to an emergency clinic were sampled intraoperatively.MethodsWith the abdomen open, the needle of a vacutainer blood collection set was inserted into the distended stomach, and gas was collected into 10 mL glass vacutainer vials with rubber stoppers. These were stored at room temperature for 1–7 days and then analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy.ResultsCO2 composition ranged from 13 to 20%. One dog had an H2 concentration of 29%.ConclusionsBecause the CO2 content of atmospheric air is less than 1%, these findings suggest that the gaseous gastric distention in GDV is not the result of aerophagia.
Plant Defensin type 1 (PDF1): protein promiscuity and expression variation within the Arabidopsis genus shed light on zinc tolerance acquisition in Arabidopsis halleri
Authors: Shahzad Zaigham , Ranwez Vincent , Fizames Cécile , Marquès Laurence , Le Martret Bénédicte , Alassimone Julien , Godé Cécile , Lacombe Eric , Castillo Teddy , Saumitou‐Laprade Pierre , Berthomieu Pierre , Gosti Françoise 
Published: July 2013

Summary

Plant defensins are recognized for their antifungal properties. However, a few type 1 defensins (PDF1s) were identified for their cellular zinc (Zn) tolerance properties after a study of the metal extremophile Arabidopsis halleri. In order to investigate whether different paralogues would display specialized functions, the A. halleri PDF1 family was characterized at the functional and genomic levels.

Eleven PDF1s were isolated from A. halleri. Their ability to provide Zn tolerance in yeast cells, their activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonii, and their level of expression in planta were compared with those of the seven A. thaliana PDF1s. The genomic organization of the PDF1 family was comparatively analysed within the Arabidopsis genus.

AhPDF1s and AtPDF1s were able to confer Zn tolerance and AhPDF1s also displayed antifungal activity. PDF1 transcripts were constitutively more abundant in A. halleri than in A. thaliana. Within the Arabidopsis genus, the PDF1 family is evolutionarily dynamic, in terms of gain and loss of gene copy.

Arabidopsis halleri PDF1s display no superior abilities to provide Zn tolerance. A constitutive increase in AhPDF1 transcript accumulation is proposed to be an evolutionary innovation co‐opting the promiscuous PDF1 protein for its contribution to Zn tolerance in A. halleri.
Cardiac considerations in the operative management of the patient with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy
Authors: Cripe Linda H. , Tobias Joseph D. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryDuchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is a progressive multisystem neuromuscular disorder. In addition to the skeletal muscle, the myocardium in the DMD/BMD patient is dystrophin deficient which results in a progressive cardiomyopathy. The myopathic myocardium poses significant risk of increased morbidity and mortality at the time of major surgical procedures. Careful attention must be given to the DMD/BMD patient during the intraoperative and postoperative period. Anesthesia selection is critical and anesthetics should be avoided which have been shown to be harmful in this patient population. Preanesthesia assessment should include cardiac consultation and detailed preoperative evaluation. Intraoperative management needs to insure that the weakened myocardium is not compromised by physiologic changes such as hypotension or major fluid shifts. Finally, attention to the cardiac status of the patient must continue into the postoperative period. The surgical care of the DMD/BMD patient requires a multispecialty approach to insure operative success.
Oxygen‐Dependent Photochemistry and Photophysics of “MiniSOG,” a Protein‐Encased Flavin
Authors: Pimenta Frederico M. , Jensen Rasmus L. , Breitenbach Thomas , Etzerodt Michael , Ogilby Peter R. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractSelected photochemical and photophysical parameters of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) have been examined under conditions in which FMN is (1) solvated in a buffered aqueous solution, and (2) encased in a protein likewise solvated in a buffered aqueous solution. The latter was achieved using the so‐called “mini Singlet Oxygen Generator” (miniSOG), an FMN‐containing flavoprotein engineered from Arabidopsis thaliana phototropin 2. Although FMN is a reasonably good singlet oxygen photosensitizer in bulk water (ϕΔ = 0.65 ± 0.04), enclosing FMN in this protein facilitates photoinitiated electron‐transfer reactions (Type‐I chemistry) at the expense of photosensitized singlet oxygen production (Type‐II chemistry) and results in a comparatively poor yield of singlet oxygen (ϕΔ = 0.030 ± 0.002). This observation on the effect of the local environment surrounding FMN is supported by a host of spectroscopic and chemical trapping experiments. The results of this study not only elucidate the behavior of miniSOG but also provide useful information for the further development of well‐characterized chromophores suitable for use as intracellular sensitizers in mechanistic studies of reactive oxygen species.
Optimal immune defence in the light of variation in lifespan
Authors: Boots M. , Donnelly R. , White A. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryThere is good evidence for costs to both the uses of immune defences and their development and maintenance. The optimal defence will be a balance of these costs with the risk of infection and the virulence of the disease. It is therefore clear that the life‐history characteristics of both host and parasite will impact the optimal level of defence, and that this may in part explain the variation in immune defence against different pathogens and parasites. For instance, it has traditionally been suggested that long‐lived hosts should invest in immune memory. Ecological evolutionary theory can be used to examine in detail how different host characteristics will affect the optimal immune response that evolves. Here, we review theoretical studies on the impact of host lifespan on various immune defence characteristics including acquired immunity and highlight the importance of population‐level epidemiological feedbacks on the outcome. In particular, we discuss when longer‐lived hosts may invest less in acquired immunity and develop new theory to highlight the importance of the mechanism of host population regulation to the outcome. We finish by discussing where more theory is needed and how comparative and experimental studies may test the theory.
Diversity of virulence phenotypes among annual populations of wheat leaf rust in Israel from 1993 to 2008
Authors: Kosman E. , Ben‐Yehuda P. , Manisterski J. 
Published: July 2013

Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina, is the most common rust disease of wheat in wheat‐producing areas worldwide. The Israeli population of wheat leaf rust has been consistently monitored since 1993. A total of 840 single urediniospore isolates from Triticum aestivum (567), T. dicoccoides (119) and T. durum (154) were analysed during 1993–2008. The structure of the pathogen population has changed to a large extent since 1993. The annual populations of P. triticina were separated into two distinct groups: 1993–1999 and 2000–2008. Differentiation among the annual pathogen populations, as well as between the overall populations of the 1990s and 2000s, could be mainly attributed to the following forces: (i) migration of leaf rust urediniospores from neighbouring regions; and (ii) selection pressure of new yellow rust‐resistant wheat cultivars that have been introduced into Israel since 1997. Genetic multiplicity of wild emmer contributes to P. triticina variability in Israel. Leaf rust populations collected from common wheat, wild emmer and durum wheat differed. The population that originated from T. durum was rather stable during the years of the survey, whereas that from T. aestivum changed significantly from the 1990s to the 2000s. Diversity within the annual populations of P. triticina was highest in 1994 when many new pathotypes and associations between virulences were observed. Single‐step derivatives of the new pathotypes became dominant after 2000. Significant changes in virulence frequency to a number of Lr genes (e.g. Lr2a, Lr15, Lr17, Lr21, Lr26) were also registered in 2000–2008.
The effect of silicon on antioxidant metabolism of wheat leaves infected by Pyricularia oryzae
Authors: Debona D. , Rodrigues F. A. , Rios J. A. , Nascimento K. J. T. , Silva L. C. 
Published: July 2013

This study investigated whether the increase in wheat resistance to blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, potentiated by silicon (Si) is linked to changes in the activity of antioxidative enzymes. Wheat plants (cv. BR 18) were grown in hydroponic culture with either 0 (–Si) or 2 mm (+Si) Si and half of the plants in each group were inoculated with P. oryzae. Blast severity in the +Si plants was 70% lower compared to the −Si plants at 96 h after inoculation (hai). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activities were higher in the leaves of the −Si plants compared with the +Si plants at 96 hai. This indicates that other mechanisms may have limited P. oryzae infection in the +Si plants restricting the generation of reactive oxygen species, obviating the need for increased antioxidative enzyme activity. In contrast, glutathione reductase (GR) activity at 96 hai was higher in the +Si plants than in the −Si plants. Although the inoculated plants showed significantly higher concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) than the non‐inoculated plants, lower MDA concentrations were observed in the +Si plants compared with the −Si plants. The lower MDA concentration associated with decreased activities of SOD, CAT, POX, APX and GST, suggest that the amount of reactive oxygen species was lower in the +Si plants. However, GR appears to play a pivotal role in limiting oxidative stress caused by P. oryzae infection in +Si plants.
Striae distensae are characterized by distinct microstructural features as measured by non‐invasive methods in vivo
Authors: Bertin C. , Lopes‐DaCunha A. , Nkengne A. , Roure R. , Stamatas G. N. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundStretch marks or striae distensae (SD) are characterized by epidermal atrophy following repeated over‐stretching of the skin tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate the skin texture and microstructure of SD lesions compared to those of normal adjacent skin in vivo using non‐invasive methods.MethodsA population of 26 women and 3 men with SD were examined after giving written informed consent. Following clinical grading, skin replicas were collected, confocal microscopy was performed on SD lesions and healthy neighboring skin. Skin surface texture parameters were calculated using 3D image analysis of the skin replicas and epidermal and dermal microstructure were evaluated by analysis of the confocal images. In a parallel study, histological analysis was performed on 6 skin biopsies taken from abdominal reduction surgeries in areas where skin exhibited SD.ResultsAnalysis of the skin surface texture showed that the SD area was more anisotropic and with higher skin roughness than the adjacent skin in terms of directions of skin microglyphics. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that SD were characterized by shallower dermal papillae (P < 0.05) and that dermal papillae height inversely correlated to the intensity of collagen alignment on the SD sites (P < 0.05). The histology findings confirmed the in vivo confocal microscopy findings.ConclusionsThe skin structure of SD is qualitatively and quantitatively different compared to healthy skin. Altered skin relief reflects structural modifications in the dermis. Flattening of the dermal–epidermal junction maybe functionally related to the observed collagen fiber alignment. Observations by non‐invasive methods were in line with the histological findings and therefore relevant in studies assessing the efficacy of SD treatment options.
Impact of various color LED flashlights and different lighting source to skin distances on the manual and the computer‐aided detection of basal cell carcinoma borders
Authors: Bakht Mohamadreza K. , Pouladian Majid , Mofrad Farshid B. , Honarpisheh Hamid 
Published: July 2013

Background/aimsQuantitative analysis based on digital skin image has been proven to be helpful in dermatology. Moreover, the borders of the basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions have been challenging borders for the automatic detection methods. In this work, a computer‐aided dermatoscopy system was proposed to enhance the clinical detection of BCC lesion borders.MethodsFifty cases of BCC were selected and 2000 pictures were taken. The lesion images data were obtained with eight colors of flashlights and in five different lighting source to skin distances (SSDs). Then, the image‐processing techniques were used for automatic detection of lesion borders. Further, the dermatologists marked the lesions on the obtained photos.ResultsConsiderable differences between the obtained values referring to the photographs that were taken at super blue and aqua green color lighting were observed for most of the BCC borders. It was observed that by changing the SSD, an optimum distance could be found where that the accuracy of the detection reaches to a maximum value.ConclusionThis study clearly indicates that by changing SSD and lighting color, manual and automatic detection of BCC lesions borders can be enhanced.
Can Indispensability‐Driven Platonists Be (Serious) Presentists?
Authors: Baron Sam 
Published: July 2013

AbstractIn this articleIconsider what it would take to combine a certain kind of mathematicalPlatonism with serious presentism.Iargue that a Platonist moved to accept the existence of mathematical objects on the basis of an indispensability argument faces a significant challenge if she wishes to accept presentism. This is because, on the one hand, the indispensability argument can be reformulated as a new argument for the existence of past entities and, on the other hand, if one accepts the indispensability argument for mathematical objects then it is hard to resist the analogous argument for the existence of the past.