bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supplementation of carnitine leads to an activation of the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway and down regulates the E3 ligase MuRF1 in skeletal muscle of rats
Authors: Keller Janine , Couturier Aline , Haferkamp Melanie , Most Erika , Eder Klaus 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Recently, it has been shown that carnitine down-regulates genes involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in muscle of pigs and rats. The mechanisms underlying this observation are yet unknown. Based on the previous finding that carnitine increases plasma IGF-1 concentration, we investigated the hypothesis that carnitine down-regulates genes of the UPS by modulation of the of the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway which is an important regulator of UPS activity in muscle.

Methods
Male Sprague–Dawley rats, aged four weeks, were fed either a control diet with a low native carnitine concentration or the same diet supplemented with carnitine (1250 mg/kg diet) for four weeks. Components of the UPS and IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in skeletal muscle were examined.

Results
Rats fed the diet supplemented with carnitine had lower mRNA and protein levels of MuRF1, the most important E3 ubiquitin ligase in muscle, decreased concentrations of ubiquitin-protein conjugates in skeletal muscle and higher IGF-1 concentration in plasma than control rats (P < 0.05). Moreover, in skeletal muscle of rats fed the diet supplemented with carnitine there was an activation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, as indicated by increased protein levels of phosphorylated (activated) Akt1 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion
The present study shows that supplementation of carnitine markedly decreases the expression of MuRF1 and concentrations of ubiquitinated proteins in skeletal muscle of rats, indicating a diminished degradation of myofibrillar proteins by the UPS. The study moreover shows that supplementation of carnitine leads to an activation of the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway which in turn might contribute to the observed down-regulation of MuRF1 and muscle protein ubiquitination.
Determination of the α/β ratio for the normal liver on the basis of radiation-induced hepatic toxicities in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Son Seok Hyun , Jang Hong Seok , Lee Hyochun , Choi Byung Ock , Kang Young Nam , Jang Jeong Won , Yoon Seung Kew , Kay Chul Seung 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
The purpose of this study was to determine the α/β ratio for normal liver with hepatitis by analyzing the toxicity data from patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with helical tomotherapy.

Methods
Between March 2006 and February 2012, 98 patients were eligible for this study. 66 patients received 45–50 Gy in 4.5-5 Gy fractions (Group A) and 32 patients received 36–60 Gy in 2.5-3 Gy fractions (Group B). Radiation-induced hepatic toxicity was defined as an increase of at least 2 points in the Child-Pugh score within 4 months of completing helical tomotherapy. We attempted to find the statistically significant parameters in the 2 groups using α/β ratios of 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10, and compared the estimated probability curves of each significant parameter. We hypothesized that the α/β ratio associated with the best matches for the curves between the 2 groups would be equivalent to the α/β ratio for the normal liver.

Results
When using an α/β ratio of 2 or 4, different parameters were found to be statistically significant in a multivariate analysis (Group A: VBED30 for α/β ratio = 2 and VBED25 for α/β ratio = 4, Group B: VBED25 for α/β ratio = 2 and VBED20 for α/β ratio = 4). When using an α/β ratio of 6, 8, or 10, VBED20 was found to be a statistically significant parameter in both groups. Comparison of the estimated probability curve of each significant parameter between the groups revealed that an α/β ratio of 8 resulted in the best matches.

Conclusions
We suggest that the α/β ratio of the normal liver with hepatitis is 8. We hope that previously reported parameters and their values can be effectively used in different fractionation schemes by calculating the biologically effective dose using an α/β ratio of 8.
Right lower lobectomy eight years after left pneumonectomy for a second primary lung cancer
Authors: Liu Yunpeng , Cui Peipeng , Yang Zhiguang , Zhang Peng , Guo Rui , Shao Guoguang 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Lobectomy for second primary lung cancer in a patient with previous pneumonectomy is seldom done because most such patients either have inadequate pulmonary reserve or metastatic disease at other sites. This is different than when this type of surgery is done for benign disease where the lobe to be resected is already non functional. We report a case where successful right lower lobectomy for a second primary lung cancer was carried out in a 53 year old man who had had a left pneumonectomy eight years before. We conclude that, although this type of approach can be worthwhile, surgeons must be cautious and selective before doing so.
The effect of vasopressin on the hemodynamics in CABG patients
Authors: Yimin Hu , Xiaoyu Liu , Yuping Hu , Weiyan Li , Ning Li 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Vasopressin is widely used to treat various type of hypotension, but the effect of vasopressin on coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) patients is not clear. This study was to investigate the effect of vasopressin on the hemodynamics in CABG patients.

Methods
Twenty coronary artery disease (CAD) patients were randomly divided into two groups: norepinephrine group and vasopressin group. During the anesthesia and the operation, the central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were maintained to 8-10cmH2O, and the hemocrit was maintained above 30% through lactate ringer’s mixture, artifact colloid and red blood cells. The invasive artery blood pressure (IBP) was maintained by appropriate anesthetic depth and norepinephrine or vasopressin respectively. The target IBP was 70 mmHg, and heart rate (HR) was 60 bpm. The MAP (mean artery pressure), HR, ST-T, CVP, PAP (pulmonary artery pressure), PCWP, SVR (systemic vascular resistance), PVR (pulmonary vascular resistance), CO (cardiac output), urine output, blood gas analysis, surgery duration and blood loss were monitored.

Results
The MAP, HR, and ST-T were stable in either group during the operation. CVP, PCWP and SVR increased but CI deceased during the posterior descending artery (PDA) was grafted in both groups and without any significant difference between them. PAP increased during PDA was grafted in either group and there was significant difference between the two groups. PVR increased during ADA and PDA being grafted in norepinephrine group but not in vasopressin group. Metoprolol usage was 11.2 mg and 5.9 mg in norepinephrine group and vasopressin group respectively.

Conclusion
Vasopressin was better than norepinephrine.to keep the hemodynamics stability of patients undergoing CABG surgery.
Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) predict clinical outcome in platinum- and toxal-based chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients: a system review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Yanlong , Xie Yuanliang , Xian Lei 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
The recent studies have evaluated the relationship between BRCA1 expression and clinical outcome of chemotherapy (mainly focused on platinum-based and toxal-based treatment) in NSCLC patients, but the results were inconclusive and controversial. Our aim of this study was to evaluate this association by literature based system review and meta-analysis.
PubMed, EMBASE and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were used to retrieve the relevant articles. The interested outcome included objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS). The pooled odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) ware estimated.
After specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 23 studies fulfilled the criteria and were included in our analysis. In 17 platinum-based studies, low/negative BRCA1 was in favor of better ORR (OR = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.32-2.18), longer OS and EFS (HR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.27-1.97, and HR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.07-2.39 for OS and EFS, respectively). In 4 toxal-based chemotherapy studies, the patients with high/positive BRCA1 had better ORR (OR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.26-0.64), OS and EFS were not evaluated as the insufficient data available.
Overall, BRCA1 might be a useful biomarker to predict clinical outcome for personal chemotherapy in NSCLC patients in the future.
Interleukin-15 is required for maximal lipopolysaccharide-induced abortion
Authors: Lee Amanda J , Kandiah Nalaayini , Karimi Khalil , Clark David A , Ashkar Ali A 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
IL-15 mediates LPS-induced abortion partially through its effects on NK cells.
The maternal immune response during pregnancy is critical for the survival of the fetus yet can be detrimental during infection and inflammation. Previously, IL-15 has been observed to mediate inflammation during LPS-induced sepsis. Therefore, we sought to determine whether IL-15 mediates the inflammatory process during LPS-induced abortion through the use of IL-15−/− and WT mice. Administration of 2.5 μg LPS i.p. on gd 7.5 drastically reduced fetal viability in WT mice, whereas it had a minimal effect on fetal survival in IL-15−/− mice. The uteroplacental sites of LPS-treated WT mice were characterized by vast structural degradation and inflammation compared with treated IL-15−/− and untreated controls. This suggests that IL-15 may mediate the inflammation responsible for LPS-induced resorption. As IL-15−/− mice are deficient in NK cells and resistant to LPS-induced abortion, these effects suggest that IL-15 may mediate abortion through their homeostatic and/or activation effects on NK cells. WT uteroplacental units exposed to LPS had an increase in the overall number and effector number of NK cells compared with their control counterparts. Furthermore, NK cell depletion before administration of LPS in WT mice partially restored fetal viability. Overall, this paper suggests that IL-15 mediates the inflammatory environment during LPS-induced fetal resorption, primarily through its effects on NK cells.
Nuclear Receptor LRH-1 Induces the Reproductive Neuropeptide Kisspeptin in the Hypothalamus
Authors: Atkin Stan D. , Owen Bryn M. , Bookout Angie L. , Cravo Roberta M. , Lee Charlotte , Elias Carol F. , Elmquist Joel K. , Kliewer Steven A. , Mangelsdorf David J. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
The differential expression and secretion of the neuropeptide kisspeptin from neurons in the arcuate (Arc) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei of the hypothalamus coordinate the temporal release of pituitary gonadotropins that control the female reproductive cycle. However, the molecular basis for this differential regulation is incompletely understood. Here, we report that liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is expressed in kisspeptin neurons in the Arc but not in the AVPV in female mice. LRH-1 binds directly to the kisspeptin (Kiss1) promoter and stimulates Kiss1 transcription. Deletion of LRH-1 from kisspeptin neurons in mice decreased Kiss1 expression in the Arc, leading to reduced plasma FSH levels, dysregulated follicle maturation, and prolongation of the estrous cycle. Conversely, overexpression of LRH-1 in kisspeptin neurons increased Arc Kiss1 expression and plasma FSH concentrations. These studies provide a molecular basis for the differential regulation of basal kisspeptin expression in Arc and AVPV neurons and reveal a prominent role for LRH-1 in hypothalamus in regulating the female reproductive axis.
Interplay between vesicoureteric reflux and kidney infection in the development of reflux nephropathy in mice
Authors: Bowen Samantha E. , Watt Christine L. , Murawski Inga J. , Gupta Indra R. , Abraham Soman N. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryVesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is a common congenital defect of the urinary tract that is usually discovered after a child develops a urinary tract infection. It is associated with reflux nephropathy, a renal lesion characterized by the presence of chronic tubulointersitial inflammation and fibrosis. Most patients are diagnosed with reflux nephropathy after one or more febrile urinary tract infections, suggesting a potential role for infection in its development. We have recently shown that the C3H mouse has a 100% incidence of VUR. Here, we evaluate the roles of VUR and uropathogenic Escherichia coli infection in the development of reflux nephropathy in the C3H mouse. We find that VUR in combination with sustained kidney infection is crucial to the development of reflux nephropathy, whereas sterile reflux alone fails to induce reflux nephropathy. A single bout of kidney infection without reflux fails to induce reflux nephropathy. The host immune response to infection was examined in two refluxing C3H substrains, HeN and HeJ. HeJ mice, which have a defect in innate immunity and bacterial clearance, demonstrate more significant renal inflammation and reflux nephropathy compared with HeN mice. These studies demonstrate the crucial synergy between VUR, sustained kidney infection and the host immune response in the development of reflux nephropathy in a mouse model of VUR.
Low Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Tobacco-Related Cancer
Authors: Afzal Shoaib , Bojesen Stig E , Nordestgaard Børge G 
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND
Tobacco smoke chemicals may influence vitamin D metabolism and function, and conversely vitamin D may modify the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke chemicals. We tested the hypothesis that lower plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is associated with a higher risk of tobacco-related cancer in the general population.

METHODS
A prospective population-based cohort of 9791 individuals from the Copenhagen City Heart Study who were free of cancer at baseline was followed from 1981–1983 until December 2008 with 100% complete follow-up.

RESULTS
During up to 28 years of follow-up, 1081 participants developed a tobacco-related cancer and 1506 developed other cancers. Decreasing 25(OH)D concentrations, subdivided by clinical categories or by seasonally adjusted percentile categories, were associated with increasing cumulative incidence of tobacco-related cancer (log-rank trend P = 2 × 10−6 and P = 5 × 10−9). Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios of tobacco-related cancer were 1.75 (95% CI, 1.33–2.30) for 25(OH)D &lt;5 vs ≥20 ng/mL, and 2.07 (1.63–2.62) for ≤5th vs &gt;66th percentile. Also, multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for a 50% reduction in 25(OH)D were 1.20 (1.13–1.28) for any tobacco-related cancer, 1.19 (95% CI, 1.09–1.31) for lung cancer, 1.44 (1.19–1.73) for head and neck cancer, 1.28 (1.06–1.54) for bladder cancer, 1.34 (1.04–1.73) for kidney cancer, and 0.95 (0.89–1.01) for other cancers.

CONCLUSIONS
Lower plasma 25(OH)D was associated with higher risk of tobacco-related cancers, but not with risk of other cancers.
Defects Associated with Mitochondrial DNA Damage Can Be Mitigated by Increased Vacuolar pH in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Garipler Görkem , Dunn Cory D 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
While searching for mutations that alleviate detrimental effects of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage, we found that disrupting vacuolar biogenesis permitted survival of a sensitized yeast background after mitochondrial genome loss. Furthermore, elevating vacuolar pH increases proliferation after mtDNA deletion and reverses the protein import defect of mitochondria lacking DNA.
Mapping Degrading Hydrocarbon Plumes with Self Potentials: Investigation on Causative Mechanisms using Field and Modeling Data
Authors: Forté Sarah A. , Bentley Laurence R. 
Published: March 2013

Organic contaminants in ground water, such as those in landfill leachate or hydrocarbon spills, are of concern when they impact drinking water. Self potentials have been proposed as a rapid, simple and inexpensive method for mapping a plume from the ground surface as it is hypothesized they may be sensitive to gradients in the redox potential that develop around such plumes in some cases. We conducted self potential and resistivity surveys on two sites with hydrocarbon contaminant plumes in ground water and did not find a correlation between redox and self potentials, even after the electrical measurements were corrected for anthropogenic noise. To further explore the relationship between contaminant plumes and self potentials, we undertook modeling based on coupled fluxes. We used a finite element code and, as input, simulation results from a kinetic reactive transport model of a hypothetical hydrocarbon spill. Two types of source currents were tested. The first type is sources caused by diffusion, modeled using the Nernst-Plank equation. The diffusion model does not produce anomalies at the ground surface greater than 2 mV, which would be in the range of measurement error and within normal background variations in the field. The second type is sources caused by redox potential gradients, using an equation that assumes a transition zone where charge transfer is through a hypothetical electronic conductor, perhaps microbial nanowires or bioprecipitated minerals. For the case of the electronic conductor transition zone, the strength of the surface SP signal is affected by the electrical conductivity of the transition zone. The only scenarios that produced measureable self potential anomalies at the ground surface were those using the redox hypothesis with a transition zone that did not have very large electrical conductivity compared to background and strong Eh gradients.
A GPR Agricultural Drainage Pipe Detection Case Study: Effects of Antenna Orientation Relative to Drainage Pipe Directional Trend
Authors: Allred Barry J. 
Published: March 2013

Locating buried drainage pipes is a difficult task confronting farmers and land improvement contractors, especially in the Midwest U.S., where the removal of excess soil water using subsurface drainage systems is a common farm practice. Enhancing the efficiency of soil water removal on land containing a functioning subsurface drainage system typically involves installing new drain lines between the old ones. Before this approach can be attempted, the older drain lines have to be mapped. Previous research supports the feasibility of using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to find buried agricultural drainage pipes. However, one aspect of GPR drainage pipe location and assessment needing further investigation is the GPR pipe response effects associated with GPR antenna orientation relative to drainage pipe directional trend. A field research study was carried out at a specially designed test plot to evaluate the effect on GPR drainage pipe detection caused by the antenna-to-pipe orientation. Antenna orientations perpendicular and parallel to drain lines were tested using 250 MHz antennas. The GPR data were collected under moderately dry and very wet soil conditions. Overall study results indicated that there can be substantial differences in the strength of the GPR drainage pipe response for an antenna orientation perpendicular to a drain line versus an antenna orientation parallel to a drain line. Under moderately dry soil conditions, a GPR antenna orientation perpendicular to the drain line provided the best GPR drainage pipe response. Conversely, under very wet soil conditions, a GPR antenna orientation parallel to a drain line provided the best GPR drainage pipe response. Consequently, the findings indicated that on-site assessment of soil moisture conditions and knowledge of general drain line directional trend can guide the GPR system antenna set-up and formulation of a GPR survey plan to improve GPR drainage pipe detection and assessment capabilities.
Evaluation of Seismic-Acoustic Analysis Methods for a Real-time UXO Monitoring System
Authors: VanDeMark Thomas F. , Johnson Lars B. , Pitarka Arben , Bennett Hollis H , Simms Janet E. , Yule Don E. 
Published: March 2013

The Department of Defense (DoD) uses over two million rounds of high-explosive (HE) munitions per year ( Defense Science Board Task Force, 2003 ). A small percentage does not explode, thus generating unexploded ordnance (UXO) in current range areas at a substantial rate. As these ranges are closed, the DoD becomes responsible for the environmental restoration of the affected properties. Current methods of UXO remediation are costly because of high false alarm rates. Our current research is to develop a complementary technology that will alleviate false alarm rate by detecting, classifying, and locating UXO in near real time (less than 1 minute) as a munition impacts the range. This technology will utilize an array of buried seismic sensors in a calibrated range area, along with a set of algorithms based on theoretical and applied seismology and statistical analysis.Initial field tests at three sites focused on developing concepts of the seismic and acoustic location of ordnance impacts. Our research program developed from these initial field tests has four primary objectives: 1) fully implement a wired seismic-acoustic ordnance impact location system for live fire ranges; 2) develop a system capability to discriminate high-order (HE), low-order (partially exploded), and zero-order (UXO) events; 3) reduce location error to a stringent program metric of 1–2 m; and 4) investigate the feasibility of developing a wireless implementation of the technology.This paper describes the procedures and results from follow-on tests that were conducted in two locations at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. These tests were used to evaluate potential seismic-acoustic methods and system configurations for a Seismic-Acoustic Impact Monitoring Assessment (SAIMA) system for mitigating UXO hazards. Significant results from this work include: 1) seismic impulses from low-order impacts were detected at distances up to 1,000 meters; 2) classification features based on measurements of the amplitude of acoustic and seismic phases produce clear discrimination between HE and UXO impacts; 3) calculated location solutions for HE and UXO impacts yield an average location error of 10–20 meters; and 4) empirical observation and waveform modeling demonstrated that surface waves dominate the signal at all distances and therefore should be the primary phase used for all components of analysis. Furthermore, these tests demonstrated the current system design, allowing further enhancements, is capable of meeting the initial research objectives (1) and (2). Future research will focus on improving system performance with refinement of the sensor-layout geometry and the detection and location algorithms through system error analyses and follow-on field testing.