bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre-consultation educational group intervention to improve shared decision-making in postmastectomy breast reconstruction: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Platt Jennica , Baxter Nancy , Jones Jennifer , Metcalfe Kelly , Causarano Natalie , Hofer Stefan OP , ONeill Anne , Cheng Terry , Starenkyj Elizabeth , Zhong Toni 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
The Pre-Consultation Educational Group Intervention pilot study seeks to assess the feasibility and inform the optimal design for a definitive randomized controlled trial that aims to improve the quality of decision-making in postmastectomy breast reconstruction patients.

Methods/design
This is a mixed-methods pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial that will follow a single-center, 1:1 allocation, two-arm parallel group superiority design.
Setting: The University Health Network, a tertiary care cancer center in Toronto, Canada.
Participants: Adult women referred to one of three plastic and reconstructive surgeons for delayed breast reconstruction or prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction.
Intervention: We designed a multi-disciplinary educational group workshop that incorporates the key components of shared decision-making, decision-support, and psychosocial support for cancer survivors prior to the initial surgical consult. The intervention consists of didactic lectures by a plastic surgeon and nurse specialist on breast reconstruction choices, pre- and postoperative care; a value-clarification exercise led by a social worker; and discussions with a breast reconstruction patient.
Control: Usual care includes access to an informational booklet, website, and patient volunteer if desired.
Outcomes: Expected pilot outcomes include feasibility, recruitment, and retention targets. Acceptability of intervention and full trial outcomes will be established through qualitative interviews. Trial outcomes will include decision-quality measures, patient-reported outcomes, and service outcomes, and the treatment effect estimate and variability will be used to inform the sample size calculation for a full trial.

Discussion
Our pilot study seeks to identify the (1) feasibility, acceptability, and design of a definitive RCT and (2) the optimal content and delivery of our proposed educational group intervention. Thirty patients have been recruited to date (8 April 2013), of whom 15 have been randomized to one of three decision support workshops. The trial will close as planned in May 2013.

Trial registration

NCT01857882
Wax ester profiling of seed oil by nano-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Iven Tim , Herrfurth Cornelia , Hornung Ellen , Heilmann Mareike , Hofvander Per , Stymne Sten , Zhu Li-Hua , Feussner Ivo 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Wax esters are highly hydrophobic neutral lipids that are major constituents of the cutin and suberin layer. Moreover they have favorable properties as a commodity for industrial applications. Through transgenic expression of wax ester biosynthetic genes in oilseed crops, it is possible to achieve high level accumulation of defined wax ester compositions within the seed oil to provide a sustainable source for such high value lipids. The fatty alcohol moiety of the wax esters is formed from plant-endogenous acyl-CoAs by the action of fatty acyl reductases (FAR). In a second step the fatty alcohol is condensed with acyl-CoA by a wax synthase (WS) to form a wax ester. In order to evaluate the specificity of wax ester biosynthesis, analytical methods are needed that provide detailed wax ester profiles from complex lipid extracts.

Results
We present a direct infusion ESI-tandem MS method that allows the semi-quantitative determination of wax ester compositions from complex lipid mixtures covering 784 even chain molecular species. The definition of calibration prototype groups that combine wax esters according to their fragmentation behavior enables fast quantitative analysis by applying multiple reaction monitoring. This provides a tool to analyze wax layer composition or determine whether seeds accumulate a desired wax ester profile. Besides the profiling method, we provide general information on wax ester analysis by the systematic definition of wax ester prototypes according to their collision-induced dissociation spectra. We applied the developed method for wax ester profiling of the well characterized jojoba seed oil and compared the profile with wax ester-accumulating Arabidopsis thaliana expressing the wax ester biosynthetic genes MaFAR and ScWS.

Conclusions
We developed a fast profiling method for wax ester analysis on the molecular species level. This method is suitable to screen large numbers of transgenic plants as well as other wax ester samples like cuticular lipid extracts to gain an overview on the molecular species composition. We confirm previous results from APCI-MS and GC-MS analysis, which showed that fragmentation patterns are highly dependent on the double bond distribution between the fatty alcohol and the fatty acid part of the wax ester.
Potentiometric detection and removal of copper using porphyrins
Authors: Vlascici Dana , Popa Iuliana , Chiriac Vlad A , Fagadar-Cosma Gheorghe , Popovici Horia , Fagadar-Cosma Eugenia 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundCopper is an essential trace element with a great importance in industry, environment and biological systems. The great advantage of ion-selective sensors in comparison with other proposed techniques is that they are measuring the free metal ion activity which is responsible for their toxicity. Porphyrins are known to be among the best ionophores in formulation of ion-selective sensors.ResultsA symmetrically substitutedmeso-porphyrin, namely: 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-allyloxyphenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) was used in the construction of a new copper selective-sensor and was also tested for the removal of copper from waste waters. The potentiometric response characteristics (slope and selectivity) of copper-selective electrodes based on TAPP ino-nitrophenyloctylether (o-NPOE), dioctyl phtalate (DOP) and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) plasticized with poly(vinyl chloride) membranes are compared.ConclusionsThe best results were obtained for the membrane plasticized with DOP. The sensor has linear response in the range 1x10-7– 1x10-1M with 28.4 ± 0.4 mV/decade near-Nernstian slope towards copper ions and presents good selectivity. Due to its chelating nature, the same porphyrin was also tested for the retention of copper from synthetic copper samples, showing a maximum adsorption capacity of 280 mg/g.
S100B levels are affected by older age but not by alcohol intoxication following mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Calcagnile Olga , Holmén Anders , Chew Michelle , Undén Johan 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Introduction
Biomarkers of brain damage and head injury are potentially useful tools in the management of afflicted patients. Particularly S100B has received much attention and has been adapted into clinical guidelines. Alcohol intoxication and higher age (65 years and over) have been used as risk factors for serious complications following head injury. The effect of these factors on S100B levels has not been fully established in a relevant patient cohort.

Methods
We prospectively included 621 adult patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and S100B sampling. Mild TBI was defined as Glasgow Come Scale 14–15 with loss of consciousness and/or amnesia, but without high-risk factors for intracranial complications. These patients would normally require CT scanning according to local and most international guidelines. S100B was sampled within 3 hours following trauma.

Results
280 patients (45%) were intoxicated by alcohol. Alcohol intoxication had no effect on S100B levels (p = 0.65) and the performance of S100B remained unchanged in these patients. 115 patients (22%) were 65 years or older with elevated S100B levels being more common in this group compared to patients under 65 (p = 0.029). Although the sensitivity of S100B was unchanged in older patients, the specificity was poorer.

Conclusion
S100B can be used reliably in mild TBI patients with alcohol intoxication. The clinically utility of S100B in older patients may be limited by very poor specificity leading to only a small decrease in CT scanning.
The unfolded protein response is activated in disease-affected brain regions in progressive supranuclear palsy and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Stutzbach Lauren D , Xie Sharon X , Naj Adam C , Albin Roger , Gilman Sid ,   PSP Genetics Study Group, Lee Virginia M Y , Trojanowski John Q , Devlin Bernie , Schellenberg Gerard D 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder pathologically characterized by intracellular tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein distributed throughout the neocortex, basal ganglia, and brainstem. A genome-wide association study identified EIF2AK3 as a risk factor for PSP. EIF2AK3 encodes PERK, part of the endoplasmic reticulum’s (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR). PERK is an ER membrane protein that senses unfolded protein accumulation within the ER lumen. Recently, several groups noted UPR activation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple system atrophy, and in the hippocampus and substantia nigra of PSP subjects. Here, we evaluate UPR PERK activation in the pons, medulla, midbrain, hippocampus, frontal cortex and cerebellum in subjects with PSP, AD, and in normal controls.

Results
We found UPR activation primarily in disease-affected brain regions in both disorders. In PSP, the UPR was primarily activated in the pons and medulla and to a much lesser extent in the hippocampus. In AD, the UPR was extensively activated in the hippocampus. We also observed UPR activation in the hippocampus of some elderly normal controls, severity of which positively correlated with both age and tau pathology but not with Aβ plaque burden. Finally, we evaluated EIF2AK3 coding variants that influence PERK activation. We show that a haplotype associated with increased PERK activation is genetically associated with increased PSP risk.

Conclusions
The UPR is activated in disease affected regions in PSP and the genetic evidence shows that this activation increases risk for PSP and is not a protective response.
Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency combined with type 1 diabetes mellitus - a challenge in clinical and dietary management
Authors: Grünert Sarah C , Villavicencio-Lorini Pablo , Wermuth Bendicht , Lehnert Willy , Sass Jörn Oliver , Schwab K Otfried 
Published: July 2013

AbstractOrnithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is the most common urea cycle defect. The clinical presentation in female manifesting carriers varies both in onset and severity. We report on a female with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and recurrent episodes of hyperammonemia. Since OTC activity measured in a liver biopsy sample was within normal limits, OTC deficiency was initially excluded from the differential diagnoses of hyperammonemia. Due to moderately elevated homocitrulline excretion, hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria-syndrome was suggested, but further assays in fibroblasts showed normal ornithine utilization. Later, when mutation analysis of the OTC gene became available, a known pathogenic missense mutation (c.533C>T) in exon 5 leading to an exchange of threonine-178 by methionine (p.Thr178Met) was detected. Skewed X-inactivation was demonstrated in leukocyte DNA. In the further clinical course the girl developed marked obesity. By initiating physical activities twice a week, therapeutic control of both diabetes and OTC deficiency improved, but obesity persisted. In conclusion, our case confirms that normal hepatic OTC enzyme activity measured in a single liver biopsy sample does not exclude a clinical relevant mosaic of OTC deficiency because of skewed X-inactivation. Mutation analysis of the OTC gene in whole blood may be a simple way to establish the diagnosis of OTC deficiency. The joint occurrence of OTC deficiency and diabetes in a patient has not been reported before.
The action of aminoguanidine on the liver of trained diabetic rats
Authors: e Nico Edmara Tereza Meira , de Oliveira Patrícia Rosa , de Souza Leonardo Peres , Pereira Franco Dani Campos , Delbin Maria Andréia , Zanesco Angelina , Camargo-Mathias Maria Izabel 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Background
This study evaluated the effect of aminoguanidine on liver of diabetic rats subject to physical exercises using histological and histochemical techniques.

Methods
The rats used in this study were divided into five groups: sedentary control, sedentary diabetic, trained diabetic, sedentary diabetic and treated with aminoguanidine, trained diabetic and treated with aminoguanidine.

Results
The results showed no effect of aminoguanidine on the liver tissue, although there was improvement with exercise training showing cytological, morpho-histological and histochemical alterations in liver cells of animals from groups trained diabetic and/or treated diabetic compared to those individuals in the sedentary control and sedentary diabetic. These changes included: hepatocytes hypertrophy, presence and distribution of polysaccharides in the hepatocytes cytoplasm and, especially, congestion of the liver blood vessels.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that aminoguanidine is not hepatotoxic, when used at dosage of 1 g/L for the treatment of diabetes complications, and confirmed that the practice of moderate physical exercise assuaged the damage caused by diabetes without the use of insulin.
Study of Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Its Relation to the Subsequent Probability of Pregnancy in 112 Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Exposed or Not to Cyclophosphamide
Authors: Morel Nathalie , Bachelot Anne , Chakhtoura Zeina , Ghillani-Dalbin Pascale , Amoura Zahir , Galicier Lionel , Aumaitre Olivier , Piette Jean-Charles , Pourrat Jacques , Boutin Du , Sacre Karim , Kahn Jean-Emmanuel , Duhaut Pierre , Farge Dominique , Francès Camille , Guettrot-Imbert Gaëlle , Harlé Jean-Robert , Lambotte Olivier , Le Guern Véronique , Sène Damien , Trad Salim , Vidal Elisabeth , Sarrot-Reynauld Francoise , Gompel Anne , Tanguy Marie-Laure , Touraine Philippe , Lacorte Jean-Marc , Costedoat-Chalumeau Nathalie ,   on behalf of the PLUS group
Published: July 2013

Context:
Cyclophosphamide is used for renal and major extrarenal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is associated with a risk of premature ovarian failure. There are no data available about the relation between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum levels and the probability of subsequent pregnancy in SLE patients.

Objective:
We analyzed AMH levels and the probability of pregnancy in SLE women exposed to cyclophosphamide.

Design and Setting:
We conducted a matched cohort study in referral centers for SLE.

Patients:
Fifty-six cyclophosphamide-exposed SLE women younger than 40 years of age and 56 control SLE women matched for age within 6 months participated in the study.

Main Outcome Measures:
AMH was measured in samples from the PLUS study (ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00413361). All patients were interviewed in May 2012 regarding their obstetric status.

Results:
The mean age ± SD of the 112 patients was 31.6 ± 5.8 years. The mean AMH level was low (1.21 ± 1.01 ng/mL) and was significantly lower in patients exposed to cyclophosphamide (P = .03) and in patients older than 30 years (P = .02). During a median follow-up (interval between sampling and the interview) period of 4.2 (range, 2.5–4.8) years, 38 patients sought to become pregnant, and 32 (84.2%) succeeded. In the univariate analysis, the risk of failure was associated with cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (P = .007) and older age (P = .02), but not with AMH.

Conclusion:
We confirmed that AMH levels are low in SLE patients and decrease significantly with age and cyclophosphamide exposure. Nonetheless, the risk of failure to conceive was low and was predicted by cyclophosphamide exposure and age, but not by AMH levels.
Patch-Based Inpainting for Object Removal and Region Filling in Images
Authors: Borole Rajesh Pandurang , Bonde Sanjiv Vedu 
Published: July 2013

AbstractA large number of articles have been devoted to the application of “texture synthesis” for large regions and “inpainting” algorithms for small cracks in an image. A new approach that allows the simultaneous filling in of different structures and textures is discussed in this present study. The combination of structure inpainting and patch-based texture synthesis carried out (termed as “patch-based inpainting”) for filling and updating the target region shows additional advantages over earlier approaches. The algorithm discussed here uses the patch-based inpainting with isophote-driven patch-based texture synthesis at the core. In this algorithm, once the user selects the regions to be restored, the algorithm automatically searches and fills in these regions with the best matching information surrounding them. We have assigned high priorities to the pixels on the boundary and the structure by computing data terms D(p), and the texture and corners are prioritized by computing the confidence C(p) of the pixel. We also regularized and weighted the confidence of the pixels, RC(p), to achieve a balance of the two. The patch search area near the pixel patch to be filled is bounded for algorithm speed improvement. Patch-based filling significantly improve execution speed compared with pixel-based filling. Filling in is done in such a way that the structure information arriving at the region boundaries is propagated inside. A number of examples on real and synthetic images are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm. Robustness with respect to the shape of the selected target region is also demonstrated.
Oral low-dose testosterone administration induces whole-body protein anabolism in postmenopausal women: a novel liver-targeted therapy
Authors: Birzniece Vita , Umpleby Margot A , Poljak Anne , Handelsman David J , Ho Ken K Y 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveIn hypopituitary men, oral delivery of unesterified testosterone in doses that result in a solely hepatic androgen effect enhances protein anabolism during GH treatment. In this study, we aimed to determine whether liver-targeted androgen supplementation induces protein anabolism in GH-replete normal women.DesignEight healthy postmenopausal women received 2-week treatment with oral testosterone at a dose of 40 mg/day (crystalline testosterone USP). This dose increases portal concentrations of testosterone, exerting androgenic effects on the liver without a spillover into the systemic circulation.Outcome measuresThe outcome measures were whole-body leucine turnover, from which leucine rate of appearance (LRa, an index of protein breakdown) and leucine oxidation (Lox, a measure of irreversible protein loss) were estimated, energy expenditure and substrate utilization. We measured the concentration of liver transaminases as well as of testosterone, SHBG and IGF1.ResultsTestosterone treatment significantly reduced LRa by 7.1±2.5% and Lox by 14.6±4.5% (P<0.05). The concentration of liver transaminases did not change significantly, while that of serum SHBG fell within the normal range by 16.8±4.0% and that of IGF1 increased by 18.4±7.7% (P<0.05). The concentration of peripheral testosterone increased from 0.4±0.1 to 1.1±0.2 nmol/l (P<0.05), without exceeding the upper normal limit. There was no change in energy expenditure and fat and carbohydrate utilization.ConclusionsHepatic exposure to unesterified testosterone by oral delivery stimulates protein anabolism by reducing protein breakdown and oxidation without inducing systemic androgen excess in women. We conclude that a small oral dose of unesterified testosterone holds promise as a simple novel treatment of protein catabolism and muscle wasting.
Molecular Determinants of Sporulation in Ashbya gossypii
Authors: Wasserstrom Lisa , Lengeler Klaus B , Walther Andrea , Wendland Jürgen 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Regulation of development and entry into sporulation is critical for fungi to ensure survival of unfavorable environmental conditions. Here we present an analysis of gene sets regulating sporulation in the homothallic ascomycete Ashbya gossypii. Deletion of components of the conserved pheromone/starvation MAP kinase cascades, e.g., STE11 and STE7, results in increased sporulation. In kar3 mutants sporulation is severely reduced, while deletion of KAR4 as well as of homologs of central Saccharomyces cerevisiae regulators of sporulation, IME1, IME2, IME4, and NDT80, abolishes sporulation in A. gossypii. Comparison of RNAseq transcript profiles of sporulation-deficient mutants identified a set of 67 down-regulated genes, most of which were up-regulated in the oversporulating ste12 mutant. One of these differentially expressed genes is an endoglucanase encoded by ENG2. We found that Eng2p promotes hyphal fragmentation as part of the developmental program of sporulation, which generates single-celled sporangia. Sporulation-deficient strains are arrested in their development but form sporangia. Supply of new nutrients enabled sporangia to return to hyphal growth, indicating that these cells are not locked in meiosis. Double-strand break (DSB) formation by Spo11 is apparently not required for sporulation; however, the absence of DMC1, which repairs DSBs in S. cerevisiae, results in very poor sporulation in A. gossypii. We present a comprehensive analysis of the gene repertoire governing sporulation in A. gossypii and suggest an altered regulation of IME1 expression compared to S. cerevisiae.
Coupling Unbiased Mutagenesis to High-throughput DNA Sequencing Uncovers Functional Domains in the Ndc80 Kinetochore Protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Tien Jerry F , Fong Kimberly K , Umbreit Neil T , Payen Celia , Zelter Alex , Asbury Charles L , Dunham Maitreya J , Davis Trisha N 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
During mitosis, kinetochores physically link chromosomes to the dynamic ends of spindle microtubules. This linkage depends on the Ndc80 complex, a conserved and essential microtubule-binding component of the kinetochore. As a member of the complex, the Ndc80 protein forms microtubule attachments through a calponin homology domain. Ndc80 is also required for recruiting other components to the kinetochore and responding to mitotic regulatory signals. While the calponin homology domain has been the focus of biochemical and structural characterization, the function of the remainder of Ndc80 is poorly understood. Here, we utilized a new approach that couples high-throughput sequencing to a saturating linker-scanning mutagenesis screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We identified domains in previously uncharacterized regions of Ndc80 that are essential for its function in vivo. We show that a helical hairpin adjacent to the calponin homology domain influences microtubule binding by the complex. Furthermore, a mutation in this hairpin abolishes the ability of the Dam1 complex to strengthen microtubule attachments made by the Ndc80 complex. Finally, we defined a C-terminal segment of Ndc80 required for tetramerization of the Ndc80 complex in vivo. This unbiased mutagenesis approach can be generally applied to genes in S. cerevisiae to identify functional properties and domains.