bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The big night out: What happens on the most recent heavy drinking occasion among young Victorian risky drinkers?
Authors: Dietze Paul M. , Livingston Michael , Callinan Sarah , Room Robin 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIntroduction and AimsIn spite of the major focus on risky, single‐occasion drinking by young people in Australia, little is known about the specific circumstances of risky drinking occasions. This study examines drinking behaviours and drinking contexts for the most recent risky, single‐occasion drinking episode in a representative sample of young risky drinkers in Victoria, Australia.Design and MethodsA representative sample of 802 young risky drinkers was recruited across metropolitan Melbourne and surveyed about their drinking and related behaviours. Specific questions focused on participants' most recent high‐risk (>10 Australian standard drinks for males, >7 Australian standard drinks for females) drinking occasion in terms of self‐reported amount drunk, alcohol expenditure (including buying rounds) and drinking partners for up to 10 different drinking settings.ResultsParticipants reported drinking a mean of 13 Australian standard drinks on their last episode of risky, single‐occasion drinking; for half of the participants, this occurred less than 20 days prior to being surveyed. The majority (62%) of risky single occasion drinking sessions commenced at private homes in the company of close friends (81%). Around 40% of the sample reported going to one (42%) or two (37%) drinking locations, and only 5% reported going to more than three drinking locations.Discussion and ConclusionsContrary to public portrayals, a significant amount of risky drinking by young people occurs in private settings. These contexts are rarely mentioned except in relation to underage drinking. Further work is needed to understand how these drinking behaviours and contexts link to harm. [Dietze PM, Livingston M, Callinan S, Room R. The big night out: what happens on the most recent heavy drinking occasion among young Victorian risky drinkers? Drug Alcohol Rev 2014;33:346–353]
Research in practice: The impact of interferon‐α therapy on immune tolerance
Authors: Raker Verena , Steinbrink Kerstin 
Published: March 2014

SummaryInterferon‐α (IFN‐α) is the only drug approved for adjuvant therapy of malignant melanoma and is also used in the treatment of hematological and solid tumors. Along with its proven clinical efficacy, IFN‐α produces several side effects, particularly with regard to autoimmune disorders. Curious about symptoms of autoimmunity during IFN‐α therapy, we asked whether IFN‐α directly impacts on immune tolerance. We found that IFN‐α does alter the function of tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC) as well as of induced and naturally occurring T‐regulatory cells (nTregs). IFN‐α blocks the tolerogenic phenotype of DC by inducing maturation and thus preventing the induction of inducible Tregs by DC. It also has direct effects on nTregs. IFN‐α reduces cAMP in Tregs via ERK/phosphodiesterase‐mediated pathways. Since cAMP is essentially involved in suppression by nTregs, the IFN‐α‐dependent reduction of cAMP levels abolishes the suppressive capacity of nTregs. Therefore, Tregs are incapable of suppressing the activity of effector T cells and natural killer cells, resulting in tumor rejection. Thus, IFN‐α overcomes immunological tolerance processes, leading to an improved immunostimulation and efficient tumor rejection, but also increases the risk of autoimmunity.
Azacitidine and low‐dose cytarabine in palliative patients with acute myeloid leukemia and high bone marrow blast counts – a retrospective single‐center experience
Authors: Radujkovic Aleksandar , Dietrich Sascha , Bochtler Tilmann , Krämer Alwin , Schöning Tilman , Ho Anthony D. , Dreger Peter , Luft Thomas 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe retrospectively analyzed and compared the efficacy and toxicity of azacitidine (AZA) and low‐dose cytarabine (LD‐Ara‐C) in 65 palliative patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) showing high bone marrow blast counts (≥30%) before start of treatment. Twenty‐seven and 38 patients received AZA and LD‐Ara‐C, respectively. The median patient age was 71 yr. Patient and disease characteristics did not differ between the treatment groups, except for BM blast counts, and peripheral leukocyte and blast counts which were significantly higher in the LD‐Ara‐C group. AZA and LD‐Ara‐C were first‐line treatment in 12 (44%) and 17 patients (45%), respectively. Response and hematologic improvement rates were low and similar in both treatment groups. In both treatment groups, most common non‐hematologic toxicities included febrile neutropenia, pneumonia, and bleedings without significant differences regarding frequencies. Estimated 1‐yr survival rates were 15% (95% CI 8–22) and 13% (95% CI 7–19) in the AZA and LD‐Ara‐C groups, respectively, without statistically significant difference. In multivariate analysis (n = 65), previous treatment (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.00–5.22, P = 0.05) and adverse cytogenetics (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.20–5.22, P = 0.02) were independent predictors of poor survival. In our center and within the limitations of a retrospective study, both treatment regimens showed similar but limited efficacy in palliative patients with AML and high BM blast counts.
The bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment is impaired in iron‐overloaded mice
Authors: Okabe Hiroshi , Suzuki Takahiro , Uehara Eisuke , Ueda Masuzu , Nagai Tadashi , Ozawa Keiya 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjectivesIncreasing numbers of reports have described hematopoietic improvement after iron chelation therapy in iron‐overloaded patients. These observations indicate that excess iron could affect hematopoiesis unfavorably. To investigate how excess iron affects hematopoiesis in vivo, we generated iron‐overloaded mice and examined hematopoietic parameters in these mice.MethodsWe generated iron‐overloaded mice by injecting 200 mg of iron dextran into C57BL/6J mice, and immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow were evaluated by flow cytometric analyses, colony‐forming assays, and bone marrow transplantation analyses. We also examined changes in molecular profiles of the hematopoietic microenvironment.Results and ConclusionsIron‐overloaded (IO) mice did not show significant defects in the hematopoietic data of the peripheral blood. Myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow were increased in IO mice, but the number and function of the erythroid progenitors and hematopoietic stem cells were not significantly affected. However, bone marrow transplantation from normal donors to IO recipients showed delayed hematopoietic reconstitution, which indicates that excess iron impacts the hematopoietic microenvironment negatively. Microarray and quantitative RT‐PCR analyses on the bone marrow stromal cells demonstrated remarkably reduced expression of CXCL12, VCAM‐1, Kit‐ligand, and IGF‐1 in the iron‐overloaded mice. In addition, erythropoietin and thrombopoietin levels were significantly suppressed, and increased oxidative stress was observed in the IO bone marrow and liver. Consequently, our findings indicate that excess iron can damage bone marrow stromal cells and other vital organs, disrupting hematopoiesis presumably by increased oxidative stress.
The role of the substantia nigra in posture control
Authors: Barter Joseph W. , Castro Stephen , Sukharnikova Tatyana , Rossi Mark A. , Yin Henry H. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractDisorders implicating the basal ganglia are often characterized by postural deficits, but little is known about the role of the basal ganglia in posture control. Using wireless multi‐electrode recording, we measured single unit activity from GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra as unrestrained mice stood on an elevated platform while introducing continuous postural disturbances in the roll plane. We found two major types of neurons – those activated by tilt to the left side of the body and suppressed by tilt to the right side, and others activated by tilt to the right side and suppressed by tilt to the left side. Contrary to the prevailing view that the basal ganglia output from the substantia nigra pars reticulata either inhibits or disinhibits downstream structures in an all or none fashion, we showed that it continuously sends anti‐phase signals to their downstream targets. We also demonstrated for the first time that nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission is modulated by postural disturbances.
Subthalamic nucleus lesion improves cell survival and functional recovery following dopaminergic cell transplantation in parkinsonian rats
Authors: Cordeiro Karina Kohn , Cordeiro Joacir Graciolli , Furlanetti Luciano Lopes , Garcia Salazar Joanna Alejandra , Tenório Sérgio Bernardo , Winkler Christian , Döbrössy Máté Daniel , Nikkhah Guido 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSubthalamic nucleus (STN) modulation is currently the gold standard in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) cases refractory to medication. Cell transplantation is a tissue‐restorative approach and is a promising strategy in the treatment of PD. One of the obstacles to overcome in cell therapy is the poor dopaminergic cell survival. Our experiment investigates the impact of a partial subthalamotomy prior to ventral mesencephalic (VM) embryonic cell transplantation on dopaminergic cell survival and functional outcome. Unilateral dopamine depletion was carried out in rats, via medial forebrain bundle (MFB) injection of 6‐hydroxydopamine, and half of the animals went on to receive unilateral excitotoxic lesions of the STN/Zone Incerta (ZI) causing partial lesion of these structures on the same side as the MFB lesion. All MFB‐lesioned animals, with or without the STN/ZI lesion, received striatal ipsilateral embryonic VM cell grafts. The data suggest that the STN/ZI lesion could boost the dopamine cell survival in the grafts by 2.6‐fold compared with the control grafted‐only group. Moreover, performance on the drug‐induced rotation and the spontaneous behavior tests were ameliorated on the STN/ZI‐lesioned group to a significantly greater extent than the grafted‐only group. These data suggest that the STN/ZI partial lesion optimized the striatal environment, promoting an improvement in cell survival. Further studies are needed to see whether the synergy between STN modulation via deep brain stimulation and cell therapy might have clinical applications in the management of PD.
Low free testosterone is associated with loss of appendicular muscle mass in Japanese community‐dwelling women
Authors: Yuki Atsumu , Ando Fujiko , Otsuka Rei , Shimokata Hiroshi 
Published: March 2014

AimSarcopenia accelerates frailty syndrome, and adversely affects activities of daily living and quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess longitudinal relationships between baseline androgen and muscle mass changes in Japanese women.MethodsData were collected from 539 community‐dwelling, Japanese women aged 40–79 years at baseline who participated in both baseline and follow‐up examinations of a longitudinal study of aging (mean duration 8.3 years). Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry at baseline and follow‐up examinations. The cut‐off point for sarcopenia was a skeletal muscle index (appendicular skeletal muscle mass/height2) <5.46 kg/m2. Participants with sarcopenia at baseline were excluded. Thus, 430 women were included. Total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate were measured by radioimmunoassay at baseline. The androgens were categorized into three groups by serum levels. Multiple logistic regression models were fit to determine the associations between androgens and sarcopenia while controlling for baseline age, body mass index, leisure‐time physical activity, nutritional intakes (total energy, total protein, vitamin D), serum C‐reactive protein levels, medical histories (heart disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis), menopause and smoking habit.ResultsThe fully adjusted odds ratio of sarcopenia for the low‐free testosterone group (<0.7 pg/mL) compared with the high‐free testosterone group (≥1.2 pg/mL) was 3.59 (95% confidence interval 1.25–10.34). Sarcopenia was not significantly related to total testosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate.ConclusionA low‐free testosterone level appears to be a significant predictor of the risk for loss of appendicular muscle in Japanese women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15 326–333.
Mental Disorder, Criminality and the Literary Imagination
Authors: Prins Herschel 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis contribution attempts to explore the use of a variety of literary sources as aids or ‘prompts’ to understanding those offenders and offender‐patients whose mental states often raise considerable anxieties in those charged with their management. The word ‘prompt’ is borrowed from the work of my friend, the late doctor Murray Cox, and his co‐worker Alice Theilgaard in their seminal work Shakespeare as Prompter (1994). The author of the present article hopes that its content will enable readers to focus more clearly on why we sometimes fail our offenders and offender‐patients; in particular, through the mechanism of denial. The use of dramatic presentation when proffered with a unique blend of force and sensitivity can permit us to view puzzlement and horror from a safe distance and, at the same time, encourage us to increase our empathic understanding and professional practice. Most of the examples cited are brief allusions but, because her history is so compellingly applicable to our concerns in the present contribution, the ‘case’ of Lady Macbeth is considered in more detail. Finally, I would note some very wise words by Cox and Theilgaard (1994) in a caveat note to the reader: ‘Should the focus on therapy ever become occluded by preoccupation with poetic association, clinical skills would be diminished, distraction ensue and therapeutic contact deteriorate’ (not numbered). In the material that follows readers should bear such a cautionary note in mind.
ICSH guidelines for the verification and performance of automated cell counters for body fluids
Authors: Bourner G. , De la Salle B. , George T. , Tabe Y. , Baum H. , Culp N. , Keng T. B. ,   the International Committee for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH)
Published: March 2014

SummaryOne of the many challenges facing laboratories is the verification of their automated Complete Blood Count cell counters for the enumeration of body fluids. These analyzers offer improved accuracy, precision, and efficiency in performing the enumeration of cells compared with manual methods. A patterns of practice survey was distributed to laboratories that participate in proficiency testing in Ontario, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan to determine the number of laboratories that are testing body fluids on automated analyzers and the performance specifications that were performed. Based on the results of this questionnaire, an International Working Group for the Verification and Performance of Automated Cell Counters for Body Fluids was formed by the International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) to prepare a set of guidelines to help laboratories plan and execute the verification of their automated cell counters to provide accurate and reliable results for automated body fluid counts. These guidelines were discussed at the ICSH General Assemblies and reviewed by an international panel of experts to achieve further consensus.
Migration Policy and Development in Chile
Authors: Doña Reveco Cristián , Mullan Brendan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCurrent and prospective migration law and policy in Chile does not adequately incorporate the causes, content, and consequences of international migration to and from Chile. We describe and examine migration in‐flows, out‐flows, migration‐related policies, and how those policies drive, and are driven by, notions of development in Chile. We explore contradictions in Chilean nascent migration policy currently under legislative review. We argue that it is imperative that migration, migration policy, and their relationship to development be discussed inclusively and transparently and be explicitly incorporated into the Chilean government's nascent migration and development legal policies and frameworks.
Evaluation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor agonists on interleukin‐5‐induced eosinophil differentiation
Authors: Smith Steven G. , Hill Mike , Oliveria John‐Paul , Watson Brittany M. , Baatjes Adrian J. , Dua Benny , Howie Karen , Campbell Heather , Watson Rick M. , Sehmi Roma , Gauvreau Gail M. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryPeroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) agonists have been suggested as novel therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory lung disease, such as allergic asthma. Treatment with PPAR agonists has been shown to inhibit airway eosinophilia in murine models of allergic asthma, which can occur through several mechanisms including attenuated generation of chemoattractants (e.g. eotaxin) and decreased eosinophil migrational responses. In addition, studies report that PPAR agonists can inhibit the differentiation of several cell types. To date, no studies have examined the effects of PPAR agonists on interleukin‐5 (IL‐5) ‐induced eosinophil differentiation from haemopoietic progenitor cells. Non‐adherent mononuclear cells or CD34+ cells isolated from the peripheral blood of allergic subjects were grown for 2 weeks in Methocult® cultures with IL‐5 (10 ng/ml) and IL‐3 (25 ng/ml) in the presence of 1–1000 nm PPARα agonist (GW9578), PPARβ/δ agonist (GW501516), PPARγ agonist (rosiglitazone) or diluent. The number of eosinophil/basophil colony‐forming units (Eo/B CFU) was quantified by light microscopy. The signalling mechanism involved was assessed by phosphoflow. Blood‐extracted CD34+ cells cultured with IL‐5 or IL‐5 + IL‐3 formed Eo/B CFU, which were significantly inhibited by rosiglitazone (100 nm, P < 0·01) but not GW9578 or GW501516. In addition, rosglitazone significantly inhibited IL‐5‐induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2. We observed an inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone on eosinophil differentiation in vitro, mediated by attenuation of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 signalling pathway. These findings indicate that the PPARγ agonist can attenuate tissue eosinophilia by interfering with local differentiative responses.
Time‐varying Integration in European Government Bond Markets
Authors: Abad Pilar , Chuliá Helena , Gómez‐Puig Marta 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBond market integration clearly changes in response to economic and financial conditions, since the level of risk aversion changes and investors require time‐varying compensation for accepting a risky payoff from financial assets. In this paper we examine the dynamic behaviour of European Government bond market integration using an asset pricing model based on that of Bekaert and Harvey (). Our sample period begins in 2004, after a period of calm and tranquillity, and ends in 2009, with a significant widening of sovereign bond spreads. Our results show evidence of time‐varying level of integration for all European countries and suggest that, from the beginning of the financial market tensions in August 2007, markets moved towards higher segmentation, and the differentiation of country risk factors increased substantially across countries. However, the impact of the financial and economic crisis has been much more harmful for EMU members’ sovereign bond markets, since it has prompted an important backward step in their integration process.
Pyrethroid insecticide exposure and reproductive hormone levels in healthy Japanese male subjects
Authors: Yoshinaga J. , Imai K. , Shiraishi H. , Nozawa S. , Yoshiike M. , Mieno M. N. , Andersson A.‐M. , Iwamoto T. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe associations between serum levels of reproductive hormones (follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin, inhibin B and calculated free testosterone) and urinary metabolite concentration of pyrethroid insecticides [3‐phenoxybenzoic acid (3‐PBA)] were explored in 322 male university students in suburban Tokyo. The subjects constituted part of a large cross‐sectional survey on the reference value of semen quality of Japanese men. Urinary 3‐PBA was detectable in 91% of the subjects demonstrating ubiquitous exposure among the general population. However, there were no associations between urinary 3‐PBA and serum hormone levels. This result was inconsistent with those reported in China and the USA for subjects who had similar levels of urinary 3‐PBA to the present subjects. One of the possible reasons of the inconsistency might be different composition of pyrethroid insecticides to which the subjects were exposed; 3‐PBA is a common metabolite of a number of pyrethroids and thus lacks specificity to compounds that may have different potentials of reproductive toxicity. Another reason might be related to the fact that our subjects were university students who were not aware of their own fertility, whereas the previous study subjects were infertility patients. However, the multiple regression models could explain only a limited fraction of total variance in serum levels of hormones. Identification of other contributors is warranted.
FOXM1 mediates resistance to docetaxel in gastric cancer via up‐regulating Stathmin
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Yao Ruyong , Yue Lu , Qiu Wensheng , Qi Weiwei , Liu Shihai , Yao Yasai , Liang Jun 
Published: March 2014

AbstractDocetaxel is commonly used as an effective chemotherapeutic drug for gastric cancer patients recently. With the increasing emergence of docetaxel resistance nowadays, identification of suitable biomarkers for predicting chemosensitivity to docetaxel may be a key role for improving therapeutic effects for gastric cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the expression of transcription factor forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) and chemotherapy response to docetaxel in gastric cancer, the possible mechanism for which was further explored. As a result, FOXM1 overexpression was shown to mediate resistance to docetaxel in gastric cancers. It altered microtubule dynamics to protect tumour cells from docetaxel‐induced apoptosis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that tubulin‐destabilizing protein Stathmin, which mediated docetaxel resistance in FOXM1‐silenced gastric cancer cells, is a direct down‐stream target of FOXM1, whereas another microtubule dynamics protein mitotic centromere–associated kinesin (MCAK), shown to be related to docetaxel resistance in gastric cancer cells, is not associated with FOXM1 expression significantly. These results were further provided by immunohistochemical analysis, indicating that FOXM1 and Stathmin expression levels were correlated in 103 post‐operational gastric cancer specimens. Moreover, when we attenuated FOXM1 expression with FOXM1 inhibitor thiostrepton, docetaxel resistance in gastric cancers was found to be reversed, simultaneously with the down‐regulation of FOXM1 and Stathmin. Therefore, FOXM1 can be a useful marker for predicting and monitoring docetaxel response. Through the inhibition of FOXM1, docetaxel resistance can be reversed, and thus FOXM1 could be a new therapeutic target in docetaxel‐resistant gastric cancer.