bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CCR4 and its ligands: from bench to bedside
Authors: Yoshie Osamu , Matsushima Kouji 
Published: August 2014

AbstractChemokines and chemokine receptors orchestrate cell migration and homing in the body. Humans have at least 44 chemokines that are further classified into four subfamilies based on the N-terminal conserved cysteine motifs: CXC, CC, C and CX3C. All the known chemokine receptors are seven transmembrane-type receptors. Humans have 18 chemotactic and 5 atypical non-chemotactic (recycling or scavenging) receptors. CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is the receptor for two CC chemokine ligands (CCLs)—CCL17 (also called thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine) and CCL22 (macrophage-derived chemokine). Among the various T-cell subsets, CCR4 is predominantly expressed by Th2 cells, cutaneous lymphocyte antigen-positive skin-homing T cells and Treg cells. Thus, CCR4 attracts much attention for its possible clinical applications in diseases involving these T-cell subsets. Furthermore, CCR4 is often highly expressed by mature T-cell neoplasms such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs). This article is a brief overview of basic and clinical research on CCR4 and its ligands, which has eventually led to the development of a humanized defucosylated anti-CCR4 antibody ‘Mogamulizumab’ for treatment of relapsed/refractory ATL and CTCLs.
Prospective longitudinal assessment of sensorineural hearing loss with hyperfractionated radiation therapy alone in patients with average-risk medulloblastoma
Authors: Gupta Tejpal , Mohanty Sarthak , Kannan, Sadhana , Jalali Rakesh 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundTo report on sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in a cohort of patients treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) without upfront platinum-based chemotherapy in average-risk medulloblastoma.MethodsHearing thresholds were assessed by ear-specific pure-tone audiograms at stimulus frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kilohertz. Audiometric assessments were done serially longitudinally at baseline, between 6–12 months after HFRT, and annually thereafter. Pure-tone audiograms were analyzed and graded according to Brock pediatric ototoxicity grading criteria.ResultsFive of 20 (25%) children had communicatively and developmentally significant SNHL (Brock grade 2 or worse) even before starting radiotherapy. On follow-up, new-onset Brock grade 2 or worse ototoxicity was documented in 6 previously normal ears. Eleven patients had preserved hearing in both ears on last audiometric follow-up. Compared with baseline testing, post-HFRT audiometry at 2–3 years showed modest decline in hearing threshold across all frequencies. Age at diagnosis and sex did not significantly impact hearing, while higher cochlear doses trended towards worse hearing outcomes. Tumors that extended more towards one side expectedly showed significant worsening in the ipsilateral ear. There was a differential impact of treatment on the right and left ears with the right ear (and not the left ear) showing significantly worse hearing thresholds in the low-to-intermediate speech frequency range over time.ConclusionThe use of HFRT for craniospinal irradiation and conformal tumor bed boost without upfront platinum-based chemotherapy in children with average-risk medulloblastoma results in preserved hearing in a large proportion of patients in the audible speech range.
Evolutionary ecology of microsporidia associated with the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Authors: Vilcinskas Andreas , Schmidtberg Henrike , Estoup Arnaud , Tayeh Ashraf , Facon Benoit , Vogel Heiko 
Published: August 2014

AbstractInvasive species are characterized by the rapid growth and spread of their populations after establishing a foothold in new habitats, and there are now many examples of such species negatively affecting biodiversity and the economy. It is unclear why some species can become successful invaders, whereas most (even if closely related) remain noninvasive. We previously proposed a hypothesis that parasites associated with invading species can promote their invasive success if they are harmless toward the invaders but harmful to their competitors and/or predators in the newly colonized habitat. Here we discuss whether microsporidia that have recently been discovered in the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis contribute to its invasive success. We show that all H. axyridis beetles sourced from diverse collection sites all over the world carry abundant microsporidia. This suggests that both native and invasive H. axyridis populations are associated with these tolerated parasites, which were likely to have existed in native populations before expansion rather than being acquired in newly colonized areas. We describe the pathogenesis of the microsporidia during different developmental stages of H. axyridis and we address the possibility that the predation of its infected eggs and larvae by competing native ladybird species may lead to their infection and ultimately to their decline. Finally, we discuss our initial hypothesis: microsporidia that are tolerated by an invasive vector insect can be active against susceptible native competitors and/or predator species.
Application of the complete‐data likelihood to estimate juvenile and adult survival for the endangered Hawaiian stilt
Authors: Reed J. M. , Field C. R. , Silbernagle M. D. , Nadig A. , Goebel K. , Dibben‐Young A. , Donaldson P. , Elphick C. S. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractApplied ecologists routinely use demographic models to predict population trajectories. Survival rates throughout the life cycle, which are required for these models, are often difficult to obtain, especially for long‐lived or mobile species. Detailed information for pre‐adult age classes in particular is often lacking. Using a 20‐year dataset from several hundred individuals, we used Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to fit hierarchical models that describe survival rates for both adult and sub‐adult Hawaiian stilts Himantopus mexicanus knudseni, an endangered island endemic. We constructed the complete‐data likelihood and used data augmentation to estimate missing values and incorporate data that were not collected during formal sampling. Survival estimates were lower and more uncertain during the first 2 months of life compared with the remainder of the first year. The probability of first‐year survival averaged 0.55 (95% credibility interval: 0.07–0.90), but varied considerably among cohorts from different years and islands. Probability of adult annual survival differed little between females (0.79; 0.71–0.86) and males (0.80; 0.72–0.87), but increased as birds aged from 1 to 20 years (0.77–0.85). Our analysis confirms that earlier work, despite being based on few data, provided good point estimates for survival rates. Our new analysis, however, provides the first comprehensive assessment of uncertainty in survival rates and detailed information on the nature of variation in first‐year and adult survival. This information will help inform new demographic models and can be used to guide management actions.
Toll-like receptor 3 stimulation promotes Ro52/TRIM21 synthesis and nuclear redistribution in salivary gland epithelial cells, partially via type I interferon pathway
Authors: Kyriakidis N C , Kapsogeorgou E K , Gourzi V C , Konsta O D , Baltatzis G E , Tzioufas A G 
Published: August 2014

Summary
Up-regulated expression of Ro52/tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21), Ro60/TROVE domain family, member 2 (TROVE2) and lupus LA protein/Sjögren's syndrome antigen B (La/SSB) autoantigens has been described in the salivary gland epithelial cells (SGEC) of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). SGECs, the key regulators of autoimmune SS responses, express high levels of surface functional Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3, whereas Ro52/TRIM21 negatively regulates TLR-3-mediated inflammation. Herein, we investigated the effect of TLR-3-signalling on the expression of Ro52/TRIM21, as well as Ro60/TROVE2 and La/SSB autoantigens, by SGECs. The effect of TLR-3 or TLR-4 stimulation on autoantigen expression was evaluated by polyI:C or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, respectively, of SGEC lines (10 from SS patients, 12 from non-SS controls) or HeLa cells, followed by analysis of mRNA and protein expression. PolyI:C, but not LPS, resulted in a two-step induction of Ro52/TRIM21 mRNA expression by SGECs, a 12-fold increment at 6 h followed by a 2·5-fold increment at 24–48 h, whereas it induced a late two-fold up-regulation of Ro60/TROVE2 and La/SSB mRNAs at 48 h. Although protein expression levels were not affected significantly, the late up-regulation of Ro52/TRIM21 mRNA was accompanied by protein redistribution, from nucleolar-like pattern to multiple coarse dots spanning throughout the nucleus. These late phenomena were mediated significantly by interferon (IFN)-β production, as attested by cognate secretion and specific inhibition experiments and associated with IFN regulatory factor (IRF)3 degradation. TLR-3-signalling had similar effects on SGECs obtained from SS patients and controls, whereas it did not affect the expression of these autoantigens in HeLa cells. TLR-3 signalling regulates the expression of autoantigens by SGECs, implicating innate immunity pathways in their over-expression in inflamed tissues and possibly in their exposure to the immune system.
Maternal thyrotropin is independently related to Small for Gestational Age neonates at term
Authors: Monen L. , Kuppens S.M. , Hasaart T.H. , Oosterbaan H.P. , Oei S.G. , Wijnen H. , Hutton E.K. , Vader H.L. , Pop V.J. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryObjectiveSmall for gestational age (SGA) newborns constitute still a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Overt thyroid disease is a known cause of preterm birth and low birthweight but in its untreated condition it is rare today. In this study, we investigated the possible relation between maternal thyroid function assessed in euthyroid women at each trimester and the incidence of term born SGA neonates.DesignA prospective cohort study was performed.PatientsThyroid function was assessed at 12, 24 and 36 weeks gestation in 1051 healthy Caucasian women who delivered at ≥37 weeks gestation.MeasurementsOne‐way anova was used to compare mean TSH and FT4 levels between women with SGA neonates and controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for known risk factors of SGA.ResultsSeventy (6·7%) SGA neonates were identified and they were significantly more often born to women with a TSH ≥ 97·5th at first and third trimester. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that smoking (OR: 4·4, 95% CI: 2·49–7·64), pre‐eclampsia (OR: 2·8, 95% CI: 1·19–6·78) and TSH ≥ 97·5th percentile (OR 3·3, 95% CI 1·39–7·53) were significantly related to SGA. Maternal FT4 levels and TPO‐Ab status were not associated with SGA offspring.ConclusionsOur data show that TSH levels in the upper range of the reference interval at different trimesters (3·0–3·29 mIU/l) are independently related to an increased risk of delivering SGA neonates at term.
Local Painting and Deformation of Meshes on the GPU
Authors: Schäfer H. , Keinert B. , Nießner M. , Stamminger M. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe present a novel method to adaptively apply modifications to scene data stored in GPU memory. Such modifications may include interactive painting and sculpting operations in an authoring tool, or deformations resulting from collisions between scene objects detected by a physics engine. We only allocate GPU memory for the faces affected by these modifications to store fine‐scale colour or displacement values. This requires dynamic GPU memory management in order to assign and adaptively apply edits to individual faces at runtime. We present such a memory management technique based on a scan‐operation that is efficiently parallelizable. Since our approach runs entirely on the GPU, we avoid costly CPU–GPU memory transfer and eliminate typical bandwidth limitations. This minimizes runtime overhead to under a millisecond and makes our method ideally suited to many real‐time applications such as video games and interactive authoring tools. In addition, our algorithm significantly reduces storage requirements and allows for much higher resolution content compared to traditional global texturing approaches. Our technique can be applied to various mesh representations, including Catmull–Clark subdivision surfaces, as well as standard triangle and quad meshes. In this paper, we demonstrate several scenarios for these mesh types where our algorithm enables adaptive mesh refinement, local surface deformations and interactive on‐mesh painting and sculpting.
Comparative biochemical analysis of the major yolk protein in the sea urchin egg and coelomic fluid
Authors: Dev Shemul , Robinson John J. 
Published: August 2014

The major yolk protein (MYP) is localized to the egg and coelomic fluid of the adult sea urchin. While the egg‐localized MYP has been extensively studied, much less is known about the coelomic fluid‐localized protein. Therefore, we have conducted a comparative biochemical analysis of these proteins. Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation revealed unique elution profiles for the MYP species present in the egg, 170‐ and 240 kDa, and the coelomic fluid, 180‐ and 250 kDa. Fractionation in polyacrylamide gels revealed that under reducing conditions both species were present in each location. However, in the absence of reducing agent only one species was present in each fraction: 240 kDa in the egg and 250 kDa in the coelomic fluid. In addition, V8 peptide mapping indicated that all four species have very similar primary structures. Circular dichroic spectral analysis and endogenous tryptophan measurements of the purified 170‐ and 180 kDa species revealed distinctive secondary and tertiary structural features with notable differences in their responses to calcium: apparent Kds of 245‐ and 475 μmol/L were measured for the 170‐ and 180 kDa species, respectively. Further analysis revealed that both species have differing calcium requirements for binding to membranes as well as protein‐dependent, membrane‐membrane interaction. We discuss the functional implications arising from the structural differences which exist between the egg and coelomic fluid resident MYPs.
The implication of periodontitis in vascular endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Gurav Abhijit N. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundPeriodontitis is the most common oral infection seen in humans worldwide. It is characterized by gradual destruction of tooth supporting tissues, eventually leading to loss of tooth. The periodontal biofilm associated with periodontitis comprises of gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, instrumental for the initiation and progression of periodontitis. Evidence‐based literature has identified the nature of periodontal infection as a possible causative condition in the inducement of ‘low‐grade systemic inflammation and infection’. The periodontal pathogens exert systemic effects via the haematogenous route.AimThe present review provides an insight into the pathophysiology of the endothelial dysfunction with reference to periodontal infection and highlights the association between periodontitis and endothelial dysfunction. Various studies addressing the implication of periodontitis on endothelial dysfunction will be described, with a focus of periodontal treatment on improvement of endothelial function.Materials and methodsStudies examining the effects of periodontitis on vascular endothelial function were segregated. Studies conducted on both animal and human models were identified using MEDLINE database search with key search terms such as ‘Periodontitis’, ‘vascular endothelium’, ‘endothelial dysfunction’, ‘periodontal bacteria’ and ‘periodontal therapy’. Systematic reviews and meta‐analysis were also screened. Only studies published in English language were considered. The review has been prepared by screening MEDLINE database from 1989 to 2012.Results and conclusionsChronic periodontitis results in altered vascular response, increased expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules inducing vascular endothelial dysfunction. Periodontal therapy may ameliorate the perturbed vascular endothelial function.
Prediction of traditionally utilised wheat dough technological quality parameters from Mixolab values: development and evaluation of regression models
Authors: Mastilović Jasna , Kevrešan Žarko , Torbica Aleksandra , Janić Hajnal Elizabet , Živančev Dragan 
Published: August 2014

SummaryThe research was conducted with the aim to investigate the possibility of Farinograph, Extensograph and Amylograph values prediction with linear and/or multiple Mixolab regression models. In total, 163 flour samples were divided based on Machalanobis distances into three sets: prediction, validation and external sample set. Determination coefficients ranged from 0.145 to 0.640 for linear regression models and from 0.279 to 0.739 for multiple regression models. Internal and external validation of developed regression models was conducted. Testing of developed models resulted in a high share of samples for which predicted values were out of the ranges of method official reproducibility and a high share of samples for which predicted values were out of the quality level range obtained by analytical measurement. It was concluded that it is impossible to develop applicable regression models for prediction of Farinograph, Extensograph and Amylograph parameters on the basis of Mixolab values from standard protocol.
Abiraterone acetate and prednisolone for metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer failing androgen deprivation and docetaxel‐based chemotherapy: A phase II bridging study in Korean and Taiwanese patients
Authors: Kwak Cheol , Wu Tony Tong Lin , Lee Hyun Moo , Wu Hsi Chin , Hong Sung Joon , Ou Yen Chuan , Byun Seok Soo , Rhim Hyou Young , Kheoh Thian , Wan Ying , Yeh Howard , Yu Margaret K , Kim Choung Soo 
Published: August 2014

ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of abiraterone acetate and prednisolone in Korean and Taiwanese patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer not responding to docetaxel‐based chemotherapy.MethodsIn this single‐arm study, 82 metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer patients who failed docetaxel‐based chemotherapy were treated with abiraterone (1000 mg, once daily) and prednisolone (5 mg, twice daily). Patients achieving a prostate‐specific antigen decline ≥50% were considered as responding.ResultsA total of 35 patients (43%) achieved prostate‐specific antigen response (95% confidence interval 32–54). The median time to prostate‐specific antigen progression was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval 3.7–8.3); the median overall survival was 11.8 months. Two (4%) of 50 patients with measurable disease achieved partial response. The median testosterone concentration was in the castration range (1.21 nmol/L) throughout the treatment period. Median dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate decreased from 0.725 μmol/L (baseline) to 0.080 μmol/L (cycle 4). The most common adverse event was bone pain (20%); grade 3/4 adverse event of special interest were hypokalemia (7%), fluid retention and liver function abnormalities (5% each), hypertension (2%), and cardiac disorders (1%).ConclusionsA combination of abiraterone acetate and prednisolone appears to be a favorable second‐line treatment in Taiwanese and Korean patients with advanced metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer after failed docetaxel‐based chemotherapy.
Improved Fracture Behavior of Alumina Microstructural Composites with Highly Textured Compressive Layers
Authors: Chang Yunfei , Bermejo Raul , Messing Gary L. 
Published: August 2014

Alumina‐based microstructural composites combining equiaxed and textured layers were fabricated to examine how cracks propagate and the mechanical properties are affected as a function of the residual stress and volume fraction of texture in a multilayer structure. By combining equiaxed and highly textured alumina layers of varying thermal expansion, the embedded textured layers were placed under compressive residual stresses as high as −670 MPa. Composites with a near constant maximum failure stress of up to 300 MPa were shown to be almost independent of the initial defect size as result of the compressive residual stress in the textured layers. An apparent fracture toughness of up to 10.1 MPa·m1/2 was obtained for composites with an equiaxed to textured volume ratio of 7.4:1. The high compressive stress in the textured layers arrested cracks, whereas the weak bonding parallel to the basal surfaces of the textured alumina grains caused cracks to deflect within the textured layers. The coupling of these two mechanisms resulted in crack arrest and a maximum work of fracture of ~1200 J/m2 or almost 50 times higher than equiaxed alumina. We believe that embedding textured layers having compressive stresses below the surface of multilayer composites represent an important strategy for designing flaw‐tolerant materials with pronounced crack growth resistance and a high work of fracture.
Genetic evaluation of calf and heifer survival in Iranian Holstein cattle using linear and threshold models
Authors: Forutan M. , Ansari Mahyari S. , Sargolzaei M. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryCalf and heifer survival are important traits in dairy cattle affecting profitability. This study was carried out to estimate genetic parameters of survival traits in female calves at different age periods, until nearly the first calving. Records of 49 583 female calves born during 1998 and 2009 were considered in five age periods as days 1–30, 31–180, 181–365, 366–760 and full period (day 1–760). Genetic components were estimated based on linear and threshold sire models and linear animal models. The models included both fixed effects (month of birth, dam's parity number, calving ease and twin/single) and random effects (herd‐year, genetic effect of sire or animal and residual). Rates of death were 2.21, 3.37, 1.97, 4.14 and 12.4% for the above periods, respectively. Heritability estimates were very low ranging from 0.48 to 3.04, 0.62 to 3.51 and 0.50 to 4.24% for linear sire model, animal model and threshold sire model, respectively. Rank correlations between random effects of sires obtained with linear and threshold sire models and with linear animal and sire models were 0.82–0.95 and 0.61–0.83, respectively. The estimated genetic correlations between the five different periods were moderate and only significant for 31–180 and 181–365 (rg = 0.59), 31–180 and 366–760 (rg = 0.52), and 181–365 and 366–760 (rg = 0.42). The low genetic correlations in current study would suggest that survival at different periods may be affected by the same genes with different expression or by different genes. Even though the additive genetic variations of survival traits were small, it might be possible to improve these traits by traditional or genomic selection.
Necessary stem cell transplantation using myeloablative therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome with progression of genotypic abnormalities and TP53 dysfunction in a young adult
Authors: Sato Yuya , Kurosawa Hidemitsu , Fukushima Keitaro , Okuya Mayuko , Yabe Hiromasa , Arisaka Osamu 
Published: August 2014

AbstractA 14‐yr‐old male was admitted to our hospital with MDS and the chromosomal abnormality 45,XY,der(5;17)(p10;q10). He rapidly developed karyotype abnormalities, accompanied by the loss of tumor suppressor gene TP53 function. He suffered an early relapse after reduced‐intensity‐conditioning SCT and ultimately required myeloablative therapy before a second SCT. We consider that the analysis of TP53 mutations is essential when planning the treatment of patients with MDS.