bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cancer cachexia update in head and neck cancer: Pathophysiology and treatment
Authors: Couch Marion E. , Dittus Kim , Toth Michael J. , Willis Monte S. , Guttridge Denis C. , George Jonathan R. , Chang Eric Y. , Gourin Christine G. , Der‐Torossian Hirak 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe pathophysiology of cancer cachexia remains complex. A comprehensive literature search was performed up to April 2013 using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Google search engine. In this review, we focus on the different mediators of impaired anabolism and upregulated catabolism that alter the skeletal muscle homeostasis resulting in the wasting of cancer cachexia. We present recent evidence of targeted treatment modalities from clinical trials along with their potential mechanisms of action. We also report on the most current evidence from randomized clinical trials using multimodal treatments in patients with cancer cachexia, but also the evidence from head and neck cancer‐specific trials. A more complete understanding of the pathophysiology of the syndrome may lead to more effective targeted therapies and improved outcomes for patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1057–1072, 2015
Long‐term trends of the ‘Koshava’ wind during the period 1949–2010
Authors: Romanić Djordje , Ćurić Mladjen , Jovičić Ilija , Lompar Miloš 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTIn this study, a comprehensive analysis of long‐term trends of the Koshava wind during the period between 1949 and 2010 is carried out. Koshava is a strong wind that blows from southeast quadrant over Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. The Siberian high and West‐Mediterranean cyclones, together with the orography of the eastern Balkan, are the main drivers of the Koshava wind. The trend analyses are performed on wind data sets from five synoptic weather stations, all situated in the region where the Koshava wind is fully developed. Koshava wind speeds are divided into two categories: (1) all wind speeds and (2) wind speeds above 5 ms−1. Two homogeneity tests are used to inspect the quality of wind speed and wind direction time series. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator are used to analyze trends of the Koshava wind speeds and the annual number of days with the Koshava wind. Statistically significant negative trends of the Koshava wind speeds and wind activity are observed at all five weather stations and are more pronounced for wind speeds above 5 ms−1. The negative trends of the Koshava wind are mostly related to the changes in the synoptic circulation, temperature and weakening of the Siberian high and West‐Mediterranean cyclones. It is shown that the observed decline of the Koshava wind has a significant impact on reducing the wind energy potential in the region.
Understanding South Australian rainfall trends and step changes
Authors: Chowdhury Rezaul K. , Beecham Simon , Boland John , Piantadosi Julia 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTRainfall is the key hydroclimatic variable that plays a vital role in the development of regional water management policies. Assessment of observed rainfall behaviour and its spatial and temporal variations are therefore important for climate change adaptation measures. This study assessed trends and step changes in observed annual and seasonal rainfalls across the South Australian region. More than 100 years of high‐quality rainfall data from 53 rainfall stations were analyzed using robust statistical techniques. The results are presented according to the eight South Australian natural resource management regions. Increasing annual rainfall trends were observed for the Arid Lands, Alinytjara Wilinara and Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges regions whereas decreasing trends were found for the Murray Darling Basin, Eyre Peninsula and South East regions. Both upward and downward trends were identified in the Northern and Yorke region. Seasonally, austral spring and summer rainfalls exhibited increasing trends in most of the regions whereas autumn and winter rainfalls showed decreasing trends. Most of the rainfall step changes were observed to happen in the 1960s and 1970s. The study also includes a discussion on possible mechanisms of South Australian rainfall variability and changes that may have links to the observed trends and step changes.
Unique Cold‐Crystallization Behavior and Kinetics of Biodegradable Poly[(butylene succinate)‐co adipate] Nanocomposites: A High Speed Differential Scanning Calorimetry Study
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Jayita , Al‐Thabaiti Shaeel A. , Ray Suprakas Sinha , Basahel Sulaiman Nassir , Mokhtar Mohamed 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe poly[(butylene succinate)‐co‐adipate] (PBSA) nanocomposites (PBSANCs) with five different loadings of organoclay were prepared by melt‐blending. The morphological investigation revealed that the degree of dispersion of silicate layers in the PBSANCs changes from well‐delaminated to intercalated and subsequently to stacked intercalated‐flocculated when the organoclay loading increased from 3 to 6 wt.‐%. This observation was supported by the melt‐state rheological property measurements. The effect of such structural changes on the cold‐crystallization behavior and kinetics of PBSANCs were investigated using a high‐speed DSC. Surprisingly, the DSC thermograms revealed that the characteristic cold‐crystallization peak of neat PBSA shifts towards higher temperatures for the PBSANCs and that the kinetics for the crystallization of the matrix retarded in the PBSANCs. This is not consistent with the general understanding of the role of dispersed silicate layers towards semicrystalline polymer cold‐crystallization. The presence of well‐dispersed intercalated silicate layers explains the observed cold‐crystallization behavior and the retarded non‐isothermal cold‐crystallization kinetics of the PBSANCs.
Ramping Glucosuria for Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Emerging Cynosure
Authors: Malla Priyanka , Kumar Rajnish , Mahapatra Manoj K. , Kumar Manoj 
Published: March 2014

AbstractChronic hyperglycemia is a characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The kidney plays a vital role in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis by recovering glucose from glomerular filtrate which is controlled by SGLT2 cotransporters expressed mainly in proximal tubule. In T2DM patients, inhibition of SGLT2 normalizes glycemic levels by preventing glucose from being reabsorbed through SGLT2 and re‐entering the circulation. Thus, SGLT2 inhibition seems to be a logical approach and pose a novel insulin‐independent mechanism of action for management of T2DM by promoting urinary glucose excretion in the body. Canagliflozin is the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved by US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) followed by dapagliflozin while empagliflozin is under FDA review. Various other drug candidates in late‐stage clinical developments are also expected to hit the global markets in the coming years. In this review, studies on various early‐ and late‐stage SGLT2 inhibitors have been investigated and recent clinical developments summarized.
Tonic hyper‐connectivity of reward neurocircuitry in obese children
Authors: Black William R. , Lepping Rebecca J. , Bruce Amanda S. , Powell Joshua N. , Bruce Jared M. , Martin Laura E. , Davis Ann M. , Brooks William M. , Savage Cary R. , Simmons W. Kyle 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveObese children demonstrate less activation in prefrontal regions associated with self‐control and inhibition when presented with food cues and advertisements. This study evaluates the differences between obese and healthy weight children in resting‐state functional connectivity to these brain regions.MethodsSeed regions in bilateral middle frontal gyri were chosen based on previous task‐based analysis showing differences between obese and healthy weight children's responses to food‐associated stimuli. Functional connectivity to these seed regions was measured in resting‐state scans collected in obese and lean children undergoing fMRI.ResultsObese children exhibited greater resting‐state functional connectivity than healthy weight children between the left middle frontal gyrus and reward‐related regions in the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex, as well as the left lateral OFC.ConclusionPreviously published results demonstrated that obese children exhibit less activity in brain regions associated with self‐control when viewing motivationally salient food advertisements. Here, it is shown that the obese children also have tonically greater input to these self‐control regions from reward neurocircuitry. The greater functional connectivity between reward and self‐control regions, in conjunction with weaker activation of self‐control neurocircuitry, may render these children more susceptible to food advertisements, placing them at elevated risk for over‐feeding and obesity.
Study of the Association Between Hip Fracture and Acid‐Suppressive Drug Use in a UK Primary Care Setting
Authors: Cea Soriano Lucia , Ruigómez Ana , Johansson Saga , García Rodríguez Luis A. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesWe aimed to clarify the nature of the association between hip fracture risk and use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine2‐receptor antagonists (H2RAs).MethodsWe identified patients 40–89 years of age with a recorded hip fracture diagnosis in 2000–2008 using The Health Improvement Network, a UK primary care research database. Computerized records were reviewed and questionnaires sent to primary care physicians to validate hip fracture cases. A cohort study with a nested case‐control analysis was performed to estimate the association between the use of acid‐suppressive drugs and hip fracture.ResultsOverall incidence of hip fracture per 1000 person‐years was 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–1.33). There was a modest increased risk of hip fracture after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratios [OR] during current use of PPIs and H2RAs: 1.09 [95% CI 1.01–1.17] and 1.04 [95% CI 0.90–1.19], respectively). Relative to nonuse, an increased risk of fracture was observed with medium and high doses of PPIs (OR 1.11 [95% CI 1.01–1.22] and OR 1.31 [95% CI 1.06–1.61], respectively) and high doses of H2RAs (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.21–6.37). No duration response was observed (ORs for current PPI use less than 1 month and 5 years or longer: 1.16 [95% CI 0.94–1.43] and 1.02 [95% CI 0.87–1.20], respectively).ConclusionsPatients treated with PPIs showed a modest increased risk of hip fracture after adjustment for potential cofounders. Any remaining association between PPI use and hip fracture risk may be attributable to residual confounding.
Selective antinociceptive effects of a combination of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor peptide antagonist [Ser1]histogranin and morphine in rat models of pain
Authors: Hama Aldric , Sagen Jacqueline 
Published: March 2014

AbstractNumerous rather than a few analgesic endogenous neuropeptides are likely to work in concert in vivo in ameliorating pain. Identification of effective neuropeptide combinations would also facilitate the development of gene or cell‐based analgesics. In this study, opioid peptides endomorphin‐1 (EM‐1) and endomorphin‐2 (EM‐2) and the peptide histogranin analogue [Ser1]histogranin (SHG), which possess activity as an N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, were intrathecally (i.t.) injected alone and in combination in rat models of acute and persistent pain. None of the peptides when injected alone altered hind paw responses of uninjured rats to acute noxious stimulation. EM‐1 and EM‐2 showed divergent efficacies in the persistent pain models. For example, EM‐1 injected alone was antinociceptive in rats with neuropathic pain, whereas EM‐2 demonstrated no efficacy. Demonstration of synergism was also divergent across the models. For example, while SHG combined with EM‐1 did not alter the efficacy of EM‐1 in rats with neuropathic pain, SHG significantly increased the efficacy of EM‐1 in the formalin test. By contrast, the potency and efficacy of the peptides alone and combinations were much less than those of the reference analgesic morphine. Furthermore, morphine combined with the clinically used NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine showed synergism across a broad range of pain states. While the current set of neuropeptides could serve as a basis for analgesic therapeutics, there could be other neuropeptides with greater efficacy and potency and broader therapeutic application.
A clinical therapeutic protein drug–drug interaction study: coadministration of denosumab and midazolam in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
Authors: Jang Graham , Kaufman Allegra , Lee Edward , Hamilton Lisa , Hutton Shauna , Egbuna Ogo , Padhi Desmond 
Published: March 2014

AbstractDrug–disease interactions involving therapeutic proteins that target cytokines and potentially impact cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes have been of increased interest to drug regulatory agencies and industry sponsors in recent years. This parallel‐group open‐label study evaluated the effects of the monoclonal antibody denosumab, an inhibitor of the cytokine RANKL, on the pharmacokinetics of the probe CYP3A4 substrate midazolam in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The pharmacokinetics of a 2 mg oral dose of midazolam was evaluated on days 1 and 16. Subjects in Group A received a 60 mg subcutaneous dose of denosumab on day 2, 2 weeks before the second midazolam dose, while subjects in Group B did not. For Group A (n = 17), point estimates for the ratio of least square means for midazolam exposures based on maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) and areas under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUCs) on day 16 versus day 1 ranged from 1.02 to 1.04 and 90% confidence intervals were within 0.80–1.25. No period effect was observed for Group B (n = 8). Midazolam and denosumab coadministration was safe and well tolerated. Inhibition of the cytokine RANKL by denosumab does not affect CYP3A4 in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and will not alter the pharmacokinetics of drugs metabolized by this enzyme. These results are consistent with data suggesting that RANKL does not impact markers of inflammation and represent the first clinical data demonstrating a lack of effect on CYP3A4 of a therapeutic protein that is a cytokine modulator.
Application of a Bayesian weighting for short‐range lagged ensemble forecasting at the convective scale
Authors: Raynaud Laure , Pannekoucke Olivier , Arbogast Philippe , Bouttier François 
Published: March 2014

AbstractEnsemble prediction systems at the convective scale are often under‐dispersive. In order to alleviate this problem, a time‐lagged ensemble can be created from ensemble forecasts initialized at different production times. While an equal‐weight combination of lagged forecasts generally provides competitive results, this article introduces and discusses the efficiency of an objective weighting. The proposed approach is based on nonlinear Bayesian filtering, and the weights are determined online for each member according to the observation likelihood.The method is illustrated with short‐range ensemble forecasts provided by the cloud‐resolving AROME‐France model. A time‐lagged ensemble is then constructed from the current ensemble forecasts combined with older ensemble forecasts started 6 and 12 h earlier. It is first shown that the weighting scheme provides reasonable results, in particular it is able to detect differences in forecast quality due to different production times.The question whether these unequal flow‐dependent weights can be successfully applied to the members of the time‐lagged ensemble is then examined. Results indicate that the weighting does not lead to a noticeable gain in forecast quality. Possible reasons for this limited impact are discussed.
A Comprehensive Water Management Program for Multicampus Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Krageschmidt Dale A. , Kubly Allen F. , Browning Mark S. , Wright Alan J. , Lonneman Jon D. , Detmer Martin J. , McCoy William F. 
Published: March 2014

Objective.Develop and implement an effective program for hazard analysis and control of waterborne pathogens at a multicampus hospital with clinics.Design.A longitudinal study. Several-year study including analysis of results from monitoring and tests of 26 building water systems.Setting.Outpatient and inpatient healthcare facilities network.Methods.The hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) process was used to develop a water management program (WMP) for the hospital campuses. The HACCP method systematically addressed 3 questions: (1) What are the potential waterborne hazards in the building water systems of these facilities? (2) How are the hazards being controlled? (3) How do we know that the hazards have been controlled? Microbiological and chemical tests of building water samples were used to validate the performance of the WMP; disease surveillance data further validated effective hazard control.Results.Hazard analysis showed that waterborne pathogens were generally in good control and that the water quality was good in all facilities. The hospital network has had several legionellosis cases that were identified as presumptive hospital acquired, but none was confirmed or substantiated by water testing in follow-up investigations. Building water system studies unrelated to these cases showed that pressure tanks and electronic automatic faucets required additional hazard control.Conclusions.Application of the HACCP process for long-term building water systems management was practical and effective. The need for critical control point management of temperature, flow, and oxidant (chlorine) residual concentration was emphasized. The process resulted in discovery of water system components requiring additional hazard control.
Optimal body weight for health and longevity: bridging basic, clinical, and population research
Authors: Fontana Luigi , Hu Frank B. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryExcess body weight and adiposity cause insulin resistance, inflammation, and numerous other alterations in metabolic and hormonal factors that promote atherosclerosis, tumorigenesis, neurodegeneration, and aging. Studies in both animals and humans have demonstrated a beneficial role of dietary restriction and leanness in promoting health and longevity. Epidemiological studies have found strong direct associations between increasing body mass index (BMI) and risks of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several types of cancer, beginning from BMI of 20–21 kg m−2. Although a recent meta‐analysis suggests that overweight individuals have significantly lower overall mortality than normal‐weight individuals, these data are likely to be an artifact produced by serious methodological problems, especially confounding by smoking, reverse causation due to existing chronic disease, and nonspecific loss of lean mass and function in the frail elderly. From a clinical and public health point of view, maintaining a healthy weight through diet and physical activity should remain the cornerstone in the prevention of chronic diseases and the promotion of healthy aging.
Effects of acclimation on the thermal tolerance of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)
Authors: Piyaphongkul Jiranan , Pritchard Jeremy , Bale Jeffrey 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

The influence of acclimation on the cold and heat tolerance of Nilaparvata lugens was determined by measurements of the critical thermal minimum and maximum (CTmin and CTmax), chill and heat coma temperature (CCT and HCT) and lower and upper lethal temperature (LLT50 and ULT50).
First‐instar nymphs were acclimated for 5 days at 15 °C and for 2 days at 30 °C and compared with a population maintained at 23 °C; for the adult comparisons, first‐instar nymphs were reared at 15, 23 and 30 °C until adult emergence, requiring development periods of 50–55, 30–35 and 18–20 days, respectively.
The thermal tolerance limits of both age groups changed significantly with acclimation and were correlated with rearing temperature.
Across the 48 separate measurements of thermal tolerance (CTmin, CCT, CTmax, HCT, LLT50 and ULT50 of nymphs and adult males and females), the temperature differential across the three indices of cold tolerance after acclimation at 15 °C compared with a population maintained at 23 °C were between 0.5–2.8 and 2.9–5.0 °C for nymphs and adults, respectively. By comparison, acclimation at 30 °C increased heat tolerance in terms of changes in the CTmax, HCT and ULT50, and the temperature differentials compared with the 23 °C population were between 1.1–3.3 °C for nymphs and 0.3–1.6 °C for adults.
These data indicate that, under the acclimation regimes applied to N. lugens, increases in cold tolerance were greater than heat tolerance.
Manual small incision extracapsular cataract surgery in Australia
Authors: van Zyl Lourens , Kahawita Shyalle , Goggin Michael 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundExamination of the results and describing the technique of manual small incision extracapsular cataract extraction on patients with advanced cataracts in urban Australia.DesignA descriptive case series.ParticipantsThirty‐eight patients at three public hospitals, one tertiary and two secondary ophthalmic units in urban Australia.MethodsForty eyes with dense mature cataracts with hand movement vision or worse underwent a planned manual small incision extracapsular cataract extraction instead of traditional phaco‐emulsification.Main Outcome MeasuresPostoperative visual aquity, surgically induced astigmatism and complications.ResultsSeventy‐eight per cent of patients had an uncorrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better on the first postoperative day. Eighty‐three per cent of patients had a distance corrected visual acuity of 6/9 or better 3 months postoperatively. One case was complicated by a posterior capsule rupture. No cases of endophthalmitis were reported. The summated vector mean of the surgically induced astigmatism was 0.089D at 93°.ConclusionManual small incision extracapsular cataract extraction is an efficacious cataract surgery technique with good visual outcome and is a safe alternative to phaco‐emulsification in suitable cases in a first‐world setting.
Improving Conservation Outcomes with Insights from Local Experts and Bureaucracies
Authors: HAENN NORA , SCHMOOK BIRGIT , REYES YOL , CALMÉ SOPHIE 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe describe conservation built on local expertise such that it constitutes a hybrid form of traditional and bureaucratic knowledge. Researchers regularly ask how local knowledge might be applied to programs linked to protected areas. By examining the production of conservation knowledge in southern Mexico, we assert local expertise is already central to conservation. However, bureaucratic norms and social identity differences between lay experts and conservation practitioners prevent the public valuing of traditional knowledge. We make this point by contrasting 2 examples. The first is a master's thesis survey of local experts regarding the biology of the King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) in which data collection took place in communities adjacent to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. The second is a workshop sponsored by the same reserve that instructed farmers on how to monitor endangered species, including the King Vulture. In both examples, conservation knowledge would not have existed without traditional knowledge. In both examples, this traditional knowledge is absent from scientific reporting. On the basis of these findings, we suggest conservation outcomes may be improved by recognizing the knowledge contributions local experts already make to conservation programming.Mejorando los Resultados de la Conservación con la Percepción de Expertos y Burócratas Locales Haenn et al.