bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of socioeconomic position with smoking and mortality: the contribution of early life circumstances in the 1946 birth cohort
Authors: Giesinger Ingrid , Goldblatt Peter , Howden-Chapman Philippa , Marmot Michael , Kuh Diana , Brunner Eric 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundA large part of the socioeconomic mortality gradient can be statistically accounted for by social patterning of adult health behaviours. However, this statistical explanation does not consider the early life origins of unhealthy behaviours and increased mortality risk.MethodsAnalysis is based on 2132 members of the MRC National Survey of Health and Development with mortality follow-up and complete data. Smoking behaviour was summarised by pack-years of exposure. Socioeconomic circumstances were measured in childhood (father's social class (age 4), maternal education (age 6)) and age 26 (education attainment, home ownership, head of household social class). We estimated the direct effect of early circumstances, the indirect effect through smoking and the independent direct effect of smoking on inequality in all-cause mortality from age 26 to 66.ResultsMortality risk was higher in those with lower socioeconomic position at age 26, with a sex-adjusted HR (relative index of inequality) of 1.97 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.28). Smoking and early life socioeconomic indicators together explained 74% of the socioeconomic gradient in mortality (the gradient). Early life circumstances explained 47% of the gradient, 23.5% directly and 23.0% indirectly through smoking. The explanatory power of smoking behaviour for the gradient was reduced from 50.8% to 28% when early life circumstances were added to the model.ConclusionsEarly life socioeconomic circumstances contributed importantly to social inequality in adult mortality. Our life-course model focusing on smoking provides evidence that social inequalities in health will persist unless prevention strategies tackle the intergenerational transmission of disadvantage and risk.
Growth Properties of Cardiac Stem Cells Are a Novel Biomarker of Patients’ Outcome After Coronary Bypass Surgery
Authors: D’Amario Domenico , Leone Antonio M. , Iaconelli Antonio , Luciani Nicola , Gaudino Mario , Kannappan Ramaswamy , Manchi Melissa , Severino Anna , Shin Sang Hun , Graziani Francesca , Biasillo Gina , Macchione Andrea , Smaldone Costantino , De Maria Giovanni Luigi , Cellini Carlo , Siracusano Andrea , Ottaviani Lara , Massetti Massimo , Goichberg Polina , Leri Annarosa , Anversa Piero , Crea Filippo 
Published: November 2013

RETRACTION
This article has been retracted:

Circulation
. 2019;139:e3. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000642
Precipitation Seasonality and Variability over the Tibetan Plateau as Resolved by the High Asia Reanalysis*
Authors: Maussion Fabien , Scherer Dieter , Mölg Thomas , Collier Emily , Curio Julia , Finkelnburg Roman 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBecause of the scarcity of meteorological observations, the precipitation climate on the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions (TP) has been insufficiently documented so far. In this study, the characteristics and basic features of precipitation on the TP during an 11-yr period (2001–11) are described on monthly-to-annual time scales. For this purpose, a new high-resolution atmospheric dataset is analyzed, the High Asia Reanalysis (HAR), generated by dynamical downscaling of global analysis data using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The HAR precipitation data at 30- and 10-km resolutions are compared with both rain gauge observations and satellite-based precipitation estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM). It is found that the HAR reproduces previously reported spatial patterns and seasonality of precipitation and that the high-resolution data add value regarding snowfall retrieval, precipitation frequency, and orographic precipitation. It is demonstrated that this process-based approach, despite some unavoidable shortcomings, can improve the understanding of the processes that lead to precipitation on the TP. Analysis focuses on precipitation amounts, type, seasonality, and interannual variability. Special attention is given to the links between the observed patterns and regional atmospheric circulation. As an example of an application of the HAR, a new classification of glaciers on the TP according to their accumulation regimes is proposed, which illustrates the strong spatial variability of precipitation seasonality. Finally, directions for future research are identified based on the HAR, which has the potential to be a useful dataset for climate, glaciological, and hydrological impact studies.
A case of pneumoperitoneum and retropneumoperitoneum without bowel perforation due to extensive intestinal necrosis as a complication to chemotherapy: CT evaluation
Authors: Antonopoulos Petros , Siaperas Petros , Troumboukis Nikos , Demonakou Maria , Alexiou Kostas , Economou Nikos 
Published: November 2013

Acute intestinal ischemia continues to be a challenging diagnostic problem with high mortality. We describe a rare case of acute intestinal necrosis, due to vasculitis, related with chemotherapy. A patient was examined in our emergency department, presenting with abdominal pain. Three months before he had undergone an operation for lung carcinoma (lobectomy) and received chemotherapy. CT of the abdomen demonstrated free air in 10 different locations: hepatic part of the portal vein, branches of mesenteric veins, femoral and iliac veins, the bowel wall, peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneal space, abdominal muscles, inguinal canals, meso-sigmoid space, and in the para-rectal space. Moreover, pathological findings revealed that the free air in the peritoneum and retropneumoperitoneum occurred without intestinal perforation, but with transudation through the necrotic bowel wall. This is a rare complication of chemotherapy. This case refers to the unusual CT findings which appeared in this patient. The key to a better outcome is early diagnosis of this condition and the CT examination of the abdomen plays an important role.
Regulation of the expression level of transcription factor XylS reveals new functional insight into its induction mechanism at the Pmpromoter
Authors: Zwick Friederike , Lale Rahmi , Valla Svein 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
XylS is the positive regulator of the inducible Pm promoter, originating from Pseudomonas putida, where the system controls a biochemical pathway involved in degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons, which also act as inducers. The XylS/Pm positive regulator/promoter system is used for recombinant gene expression and the output from Pm is known to be sensitive to the intracellular XylS concentration.

Results
By constructing a synthetic operon consisting of xylS and luc, the gene encoding luciferase, relative XylS expression levels could be monitored indirectly at physiological concentrations. Expression of XylS from inducible promoters allowed control over a more than 800-fold range, however, the corresponding output from Pm covered only an about five-fold range. The maximum output from Pm could not be increased by introducing more copies of the promoter in the cells. Interestingly, a previously reported XylS variant (StEP-13), known to strongly stimulate expression from Pm, caused the same maximum activity from Pm as wild-type XylS at high XylS expression levels. Under uninduced conditions expression from Pm also increased as a function of XylS expression levels, and at very high concentrations the maximum activity from Pm was the same as in the presence of inducer.

Conclusion
According to our proposed model, which is in agreement with current knowledge, the regulator, XylS, can exist in three states: monomers, dimers, and aggregates. Only the dimers are active and able to induce expression from Pm. Their maximum intracellular concentration and the corresponding output from Pm are limited by the concentration-dependent conversion into inactive aggregates. Maximization of the induction ratio at Pm can be obtained by expression of XylS at the level where aggregation occurs, which might be exploited for recombinant gene expression. The results described here also indicate that there might exist variants of XylS which can exist at higher active dimer concentrations and thus lead to increased expression levels from Pm.
Exosomes are natural carriers of exogenous siRNA to human cells in vitro
Authors: Shtam Tatyana A , Kovalev Roman A , Varfolomeeva Elena Yu , Makarov Evgeny M , Kil Yury V , Filatov Michael V 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles of endocytic origin that are involved in cell-to-cell communication including shuttle RNA, mainly mRNA and microRNA. As exosomes naturally carry RNA between cells, these particles might be useful in gene cancer therapy to deliver therapeutic short interfering RNA (siRNA) to the target cells. Despite the promise of RNA interference (RNAi) for use in therapy, several technical obstacles must be overcome. Exogenous siRNA is prone to degradation, has a limited ability to cross cell membranes and may induce an immune response. Naturally occurring RNA carriers, such as exosomes, might provide an untapped source of effective delivery strategies.

Results
This study demonstrates that exosomes can deliver siRNA to recipient cells in vitro. The different strategies were used to introduce siRNAs into human exosomes of various origins. The delivery of fluorescently labeled siRNA via exosomes to cells was confirmed using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Two different siRNAs against RAD51 and RAD52 were used to transfect into the exosomes for therapeutic delivery into target cells. The exosome-delivered siRNAs were effective at causing post-transcriptional gene silencing in recipient cells. Moreover, the exosome-delivered siRNA against RAD51 was functional and caused the massive reproductive cell death of recipient cancer cells.

Conclusions
The results strongly suggest that exosomes effectively delivered the siRNA into the target cells. The therapeutic potential of exosome-mediated siRNA delivery was demonstrated in vitro by the strong knockdown of RAD51, a prospective therapeutic target for cancer cells. The results give an additional evidence of the ability to use human exosomes as vectors in cancer therapy, including RNAi-based gene therapy.
Worldwide Trends in Incidence Rates for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers
Authors: Chaturvedi Anil K. , Anderson William F. , Lortet-Tieulent Joannie , Curado Maria Paula , Ferlay Jacques , Franceschi Silvia , Rosenberg Philip S. , Bray Freddie , Gillison Maura L. 
Published: November 2013

PurposeHuman papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the cause of the increasing oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) incidence in some countries. To investigate whether this represents a global phenomenon, we evaluated incidence trends for OPCs and oral cavity cancers (OCCs) in 23 countries across four continents.MethodsWe used data from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents database Volumes VI to IX (years 1983 to 2002). Using age-period-cohort modeling, incidence trends for OPCs were compared with those of OCCs and lung cancers to delineate the potential role of HPV vis-à-vis smoking on incidence trends. Analyses were country specific and sex specific.ResultsOPC incidence significantly increased during 1983 to 2002 predominantly in economically developed countries. Among men, OPC incidence significantly increased in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Slovakia, despite nonsignificant or significantly decreasing incidence of OCCs. In contrast, among women, in all countries with increasing OPC incidence (Denmark, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, and United Kingdom), there was a concomitant increase in incidence of OCCs. Although increasing OPC incidence among men was accompanied by decreasing lung cancer incidence, increasing incidence among women was generally accompanied by increasing lung cancer incidence. The magnitude of increase in OPC incidence among men was significantly higher at younger ages (< 60 years) than older ages in the United States, Australia, Canada, Slovakia, Denmark, and United Kingdom.ConclusionOPC incidence significantly increased during 1983 to 2002 predominantly in developed countries and at younger ages. These results underscore a potential role for HPV infection on increasing OPC incidence, particularly among men.
Genesis of Arsenic‐Rich Groundwater and the Search for Alternative Safe Aquifers in the Gangetic Plain, India
Authors: Saha Dipankar , Shukla R.R. 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACT: Distribution and mobilization of groundwater arsenic from a 1580‐km2 area in the Gangetic Plain was studied. A two‐tier aquifer system made up of Quaternary sand layers exists within 300 m below ground. Arsenic concentration exceeding >50 μg/L is confined within the active floodplain of the Ganga River, affecting the top aquitard and upper 5‐ to 20‐m slice of the underlying shallow aquifer. The genesis of arsenic was investigated by principal component analyses involving total dissolved solids, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, HCO3‐, Cl−1, SO4−2, NO3‐, Fetotal, and Astotal and analyzed for 57 groundwater samples, hydrochemical facies analyses, aquifer‐aquitard configuration, and water‐level behaviour. A 20‐ to 25‐m thick deeper aquifer, appearing at 190 to 205 m below ground and separated from the shallow aquifer by a thick clay sequence, was low in arsenic load (<2 μg/L). Hydrostratigraphy and pumping tests revealed that the deeper aquifer can be used for community drinking in contaminated areas.
Effectiveness of adjuvant trastuzumab in daily clinical practice
Authors: Matos Erika , Zakotnik Branko , Kuhar Cvetka Grasic 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Background. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer is an entity with aggressive behaviour. One year of adjuvant trastuzumab significantly improves the disease free survival in the range of 40-50% and reduces the risk of dying from HER2 positive breast cancer by one third. Adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab became available in Slovenia in 2005 and the aim of this study is to explore, if the exceptional results reported in adjuvant clinical trials are achieved also in daily clinical practice.
Patients and methods. An analysis of tumour and patient characteristics, type of treatment and outcome (relapse free and overall survival) of 313 patients (median age 52 years) treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana in years 2005-2009 was performed.
Results. Median follow-up was 4.4 years. Sixty-one patients relapsed and 24 died. Three and four years relapse free survival was 84.2% and 80.8% and the overall survival was 94.4% and 92.5%, respectively. Independent prognostic factors for relapse were tumour grade (HR 2.10; 95% CI 1.07-4.14; p = 0.031) and nodal stage (HR 1.35; 1.16-1.56; p < 0.0001) and for the overall survival nodal stage only (HR 1.36; 1.05-1.78; p = 0.021).
Conclusions. The outcome in patients with adjuvant trastuzumab in daily clinical practice, treated by medical oncologists, is comparable to results obtained in international adjuvant studies.
Long-term remission of a Her2/neu positive primary breast cancer under double monoclonal antibody therapy with trastuzumab and bevacizumab
Authors: Königsberg Robert , Maierhofer Julia , Steininger Tanja , Kienzer Gabriele , Dittrich Christian 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Background. The attempt to act on several signalling pathways involved in tumour development simultaneously appears to be more attractive than attacking a single target structure alone. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) over-expression is frequently observed in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/neu) positive patients with breast cancer and over-expression of the proto-oncogene Her2/neu is associated with an up-regulation of VEGF.
Case report. The case of a Her2/neu positive patient with breast cancer who refused cytotoxic chemotherapy with its potential side effects as well as mastectomy is presented. Our patient has been receiving the combined double administration of bevacizumab and trastuzumab for more than 4 years.
Conclusions. This case report shows that (a) the combined double administration of bevacizumab and trastuzumab was be clinically effective. (b) The combination of bevacizumab and trastuzumab is safe and non-toxic. (c) Bevacizumab and trastuzumab can be used as a long-term application
Melphalan-Induced Apoptosis of EBV-Transformed B Cells through Upregulation of TAp73 and XAF1 and Nuclear Import of XPA
Authors: Park Ga Bin , Kim Yeong-Seok , Kim Daejin , Kim Seonghan , Lee Hyun-Kyung , Cho Dae-Ho , Lee Wang Jae , Hur Dae Young 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Melphalan (Mel) is widely used to treat patients with hematologic cancer, including multiple myeloma, but its mechanism of action in EBV-transformed B cells is poorly described. In this study, we demonstrate a novel mechanism by which transcriptionally active p73 (TAp73) induces translocation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein–associated factor 1 (XAF1) and xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XPA) during apoptosis caused by Mel treatment. We observed that Mel induced significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent apoptosis, as well as an early phosphorylation of p38 MAPK that preceded expression of the mitochondria membrane potential disruption–related molecules and the cleavage of caspases. In particular, Mel led to upregulation of TAp73, XAF1, and Puma and induced XPA nuclear import and translocation of Bax into mitochondria. Mel-induced apoptosis was inhibited by pretreatment with the ROS scavenger 4-amino-2,4-pyrrolidine-dicarboxylic acid (APDC) and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. We supposed that ROS generation might be the first event in Mel-induced apoptosis, because APDC blocked the increase in ROS, p38 MAPK, and TAp73, but SB203580 did not block ROS generation. Moreover, Mel elicited activation of ATR, and APDC inhibited phosphorylation of ATR but not SB203580. APDC and SB203580 completely blocked XPA and Bax translocation. We conclude that Mel promotes TAp73-mediated XAF1 and Puma expression via ROS generation and ATR/p38 MAPK pathway activation, thereby triggering apoptosis. Our results provide evidence of a novel alternate regulatory mechanism of TAp73 and reveal that Mel may be a therapeutic drug for curing EBV-related malignancies.
Alveolar Macrophages Are Critical for the Inhibition of Allergic Asthma by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Mathias Louisa J. , Khong Sacha M. L. , Spyroglou Lisa , Payne Natalie L. , Siatskas Christopher , Thorburn Alison N. , Boyd Richard L. , Heng Tracy S. P. 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess reparative and immunoregulatory properties, making them attractive candidates for cellular therapy. However, the majority of MSCs administered i.v. encounter a pulmonary impasse and soon disappear from the lungs, raising the question of how they induce such durable immunosuppressive effects. Using a mouse model of allergic asthma, we show that administration of MSCs isolated from human bone marrow, umbilical cord, or adipose tissue provoked a pronounced increase in alveolar macrophages and inhibited hallmark features of asthma, including airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilic accumulation, and Th2 cytokine production. Importantly, selective depletion of this macrophage compartment reversed the therapeutic benefit of MSC treatment on airway hyperresponsiveness. Our data demonstrate that human MSCs exert cross-species immunosuppressive activity, which is mediated by alveolar macrophages in allergic asthma. As alveolar macrophages are the predominant immune effector cells at the air–tissue interface in the lungs, this study provides a compelling mechanism for durable MSC effects in the absence of sustained engraftment.
Anthropogenic aerosols increasing over India
Authors: Balcerak Ernie 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAerosol particles in the Earth's atmosphere scatter and absorb light differently at different wavelengths, thereby affecting the amount of incoming sunlight that reaches the planet's surface and the amount of heat that escapes, potentially altering the planet's climate. Most recent regional studies of aerosol trends have used satellite data to examine aerosol levels over ocean regions; fewer regional studies have measured aerosol over land.
Sovereign Default, Domestic Banks, and Financial Institutions
Authors: GENNAIOLI NICOLA , MARTIN ALBERTO , ROSSI STEFANO 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTWe present a model of sovereign debt in which, contrary to conventional wisdom, government defaults are costly because they destroy the balance sheets of domestic banks. In our model, better financial institutions allow banks to be more leveraged, thereby making them more vulnerable to sovereign defaults. Our predictions: government defaults should lead to declines in private credit, and these declines should be larger in countries where financial institutions are more developed and banks hold more government bonds. In these same countries, government defaults should be less likely. Using a large panel of countries, we find evidence consistent with these predictions.
Twin Picks: Disentangling the Determinants of Risk‐Taking in Household Portfolios
Authors: CALVET LAURENT E. , SODINI PAOLO 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates risk‐taking in the liquid portfolios held by a large panel of Swedish twins. We document that the portfolio share invested in risky assets is an increasing and concave function of financial wealth, leading to different risk sensitivities across investors. Human capital, which we estimate directly from individual labor income, also affects risk‐taking positively, while internal habit and expenditure commitments tend to reduce it. Our microfindings lend strong support to decreasing relative risk aversion and habit formation preferences. Furthermore, heterogeneous risk sensitivities across investors help reconcile individual preferences with representative‐agent models.
Association of Metabolite Concentrations and Water Diffusivity in Normal Appearing Brain Tissue with Glioma Grade
Authors: Maudsley Andrew A. , Roy Bhaswati , Gupta Rakesh K. , Sheriff Sulaiman , Awasthi Rishi , Gu Meng , Husain Nuzhat , Mohakud Sudipa , Behari Sanjay , Spielman Daniel M. 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEStudies of brain tumors have identified altered tissue metabolism and water diffusion in MRI normal appearing tissue regions. In this retrospective study the relationship of these imaging measures with tumor grade in gliomas was investigated.METHODSMR spectroscopic imaging of whole brain and mean diffusivity (MD) measurements were obtained in subjects with untreated glioma and from normal control subjects. Mean metabolite values for N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatine (Cre), and total choline (Cho) were obtained in gray‐ and white‐matter regions for the hemisphere contralateral to the tumor location, and MD values were obtained from contralateral normal‐appearing white matter. Analyses tested for differences in mean values between subject groups while accounting for age.RESULTSAnalysis demonstrated increased NAA/Cre and MD, and decreased Cho/NAA for all tumor grades relative to control values. Differences between tumor grades were also observed for NAA, NAA/Cre, and Cho/NAA. Abnormal values of water diffusion were also observed, but with only a weak association between alterations in diffusion and tissue metabolites.CONCLUSIONSThis study supports previous observations of altered tissue metabolism and water diffusion in normal‐appearing white matter while additionally finding differences of metabolite values in gray matter and an association with tumor grade.