bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation between hyperglycemia and retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Ahmadpour‐Kacho Mousa , Jashni Motlagh Alireza , Rasoulinejad Seyed Ahmad , Jahangir Tahereh , Bijani Ali , Zahed Pasha Yadollah 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundSeveral risk factors are attributed to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study was done to determine any association between hyperglycemia and ROP in premature infants.MethodsIn a retrospective case–control analysis, all infants with a gestational age (GA) < 34 weeks and a birthweight (BW) < 2000 g admitted and treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Amirkola Children's Hospital, Iran, during March 2007–September 2010 were included. Hyperglycemia was defined as a plasma glucose level of >150 mg/dL during the hospital stay. The duration of being hyperglycemic was also recorded. All of these neonates were examined for ROP by a retinologist unaware of group assignment. The difference in the ROP incidence and also the severity of ROP was compared between the hyperglycemic and non‐hyperglycemic infants. Matching was done for GA, BW, and also Clinical Risk Index for Babies score. The data were analyzed by t‐test, χ2‐test and logistic regression test and a P < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsIn total, 155 neonates were examined. Seventy (45.2%) of them developed ROP but 85 (54.8%) did not show any evidence of ROP. The frequency of hyperglycemia in patients with ROP was 33 (47.2%), but in those without ROP, hyperglycemia occurred in five (5.9%) (P = 0.0001). The severity of ROP showed no significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.35). The logistic regression for GA and BW showed a significant correlation between hyperglycemia and ROP (P = 0.0001).ConclusionsHyperglycemia is an important risk factor for ROP that can be prevented along with other risk factors by accurate supervision.
Recurrence of idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after kidney transplantation: Experience of a Korean tertiary center
Authors: Lee Se Eun , Min Sang Il , Kim Yon Su , Ha JongWon , Ha Il‐ Soo , Cheong Hae Il , Kim Sang Joon , Choi Yong , Kang Hee Gyung 
Published: May 2014

AbstractFSGS is the second most common cause of idiopathic NS in children. It often progresses to ESRD and commonly recurs after KT. To investigate the risk factors and the prognosis of recurrence in pediatric idiopathic FSGS in Korea, retrospective review of 43 KT in 38 children with idiopathic FSGS of last two decades was conducted. The patients presented at the median age of 5.1 yr (range 1.1–13.8 yr) and received KT 5.7 yr later (range 1.3–17.6 yr). FSGS recurred in 20 allografts immediately after transplantation, only in those who presented with NS but not in those who presented with AUA. The risk factors for recurrence were age of onset >5 yr and progression to ESRD within six yr but not sooner than 18 months. CR was achieved in 13 patients with FSGS recurrence and sustained in nine without subsequent relapse over a median of six and a half yr (0.6–20.7 yr). Pediatric idiopathic FSGS presenting with NS recurred in more than half of patients after transplantation. Interestingly, more rapid progression within less than 18 months did not predict recurrence. To identify high‐risk patients of recurrence, an international cooperative study would be necessary.
Gross hematuria as a sign of acute rejection
Authors: Winnicki Erica , Nguyen Stephanie , Butani Lavjay 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIn the contemporary era of potent immunosuppressive regimens, previously encountered signs of renal allograft rejection such as fever and hematuria are rarely encountered. We report a teenager with severe recurrent acute humoral and cellular rejection whose presenting feature was gross hematuria with the presence of blood clots in the urine. We want to highlight that severe rejection even in the setting of modern immunosuppressive drugs can present as gross hematuria. Contrary to conventional wisdom that gross hematuria with the presence of blood clots in the urine is indicative of pathology in the renal collecting system, a parenchymal disease process should also be considered in renal transplant recipients.
Hemorrhage requiring surgical intervention among children on pulsatile ventricular assist device support
Authors: Byrnes Jonathan W. , Frazier Elizabeth , Tang Xinyu , Eble Brian , McKamie Alyssa , Gomez Alberto , Imamura Michiaki , Prodhan Parthak 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBleeding complications are a source of morbidity after Berlin EXCOR VAD implantation yet remain poorly characterized. We evaluated our experience to describe the bleeding complications among pediatric VAD recipients. We hypothesized that those with bleeding requiring exploration had abnormal coagulation profile compared with those without bleeding. The retrospective study included 43 consecutive patients with end‐stage heart failure supported on pediatric mechanical cardiac support as a bridge to transplantation. Day‐/event‐based analysis on factors below associated with (i) bleeding and (ii) bleeding in next 48 h. Cases with bleeding were compared with day‐matched patients without bleeding complications. Among 43 subjects bleeding occurred in 47% of cases, which necessitated exploration or chest tube placement. Twenty of 34 interventions for bleeding occurred in the first seven post‐operative days. No differences in coagulation parameters or use of antiplatelet agents were noted among those who had bleeding vs. those who did not. Our results indicate that (i) re‐bleeding requiring re‐exploration was common, (ii) most of the bleeding occurred early post‐implantation, (iii) there were no differences in coagulation parameters or the use of antiplatelet agents within 48 h of bleeding compared with those who did not bleed on each successive post‐operative day.
A universal protocol for the combined isolation of metabolites, DNA, long RNAs, small RNAs, and proteins from plants and microorganisms
Authors: Valledor Luis , Escandón Mónica , Meijón Mónica , Nukarinen Ella , Cañal María Jesús , Weckwerth Wolfram 
Published: May 2014

SummaryHere, we describe a method for the combined metabolomic, proteomic, transcriptomic and genomic analysis from one single sample as a major step for multilevel data integration strategies in systems biology. While extracting proteins and DNA, this protocol also allows the separation of metabolites into polar and lipid fractions, as well as RNA fractionation into long and small RNAs, thus allowing a broad range of transcriptional studies. The isolated biomolecules are suitable for analysis with different methods that range from electrophoresis and blotting to state‐of‐the‐art procedures based on mass spectrometry (accurate metabolite profiling, shot‐gun proteomics) or massive sequencing technologies (transcript analysis). The low amount of starting tissue, its cost‐efficiency compared with the utilization of commercial kits, and its performance over a wide range of plant, microbial, and algal species such as Chlamydomonas, Arabidopsis, Populus, or Pinus, makes this method a universal alternative for multiple molecular isolation from plant tissues.
Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides from Rosa cell cultures are boron‐bridged in the plasma membrane and form complexes with rhamnogalacturonan II
Authors: Voxeur Aline , Fry Stephen C. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryBoron (B) is essential for plant cell‐wall structure and membrane functions. Compared with its role in cross‐linking the pectic domain rhamnogalacturonan II (RG‐II), little information is known about the biological role of B in membranes. Here, we investigated the involvement of glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs), major components of lipid rafts, in the membrane requirement for B. Using thin‐layer chromatography and mass spectrometry, we first characterized GIPCs from Rosa cell culture. The major GIPC has one hexose residue, one hexuronic acid residue, inositol phosphate, and a ceramide moiety with a C18 trihydroxylated mono‐unsaturated long‐chain base and a C24 monohydroxylated saturated fatty acid. Disrupting B bridging (by B starvation in vivo or by treatment with cold dilute HCl or with excess borate in vitro) enhanced the GIPCs' extractability. As RG‐II is the main B‐binding site in plants, we investigated whether it could form a B‐centred complex with GIPCs. Using high‐voltage paper electrophoresis, we showed that addition of GIPCs decreased the electrophoretic mobility of radiolabelled RG‐II, suggesting formation of a GIPC–B–RG‐II complex. Last, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we showed that added GIPCs facilitate RG‐II dimerization in vitro. We conclude that B plays a structural role in the plasma membrane. The disruption of membrane components by high borate may account for the phytotoxicity of excess B. Moreover, the in‐vitro formation of a GIPC–B–RG‐II complex gives the first molecular explanation of the wall–membrane attachment sites observed in vivo. Finally, our results suggest a role for GIPCs in the RG‐II dimerization process.
ABA signaling is necessary but not sufficient for RD29B transcriptional memory during successive dehydration stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Virlouvet Laetitia , Ding Yong , Fujii Hiroaki , Avramova Zoya , Fromm Michael 
Published: May 2014

SummaryPlants subjected to a prior dehydration stress were seen to have altered transcriptional responses during a subsequent dehydration stress for up to 5 days after the initial stress. The abscisic acid (ABA) inducible RD29B gene of Arabidopsis thaliana was strongly induced after the first stress and displayed transcriptional memory with transcript levels nine‐fold higher during the second dehydration stress. These increased transcript levels were due to an increased rate of transcription and are associated with an altered chromatin template during the recovery interval between the dehydration stresses. Here we use a combination of promoter deletion/substitutions, mutants in the trans‐acting transcription factors and their upstream protein kinases, and treatments with exogenous ABA or dehydration stress to advance our understanding of the features required for transcriptional memory of RD29B. ABA Response Elements (ABREs) are sufficient to confer transcriptional memory on a minimal promoter, although there is a context effect from flanking sequences. Different mutations in Snf1 Related Protein Kinase 2 (SnRK2) genes positively and negatively affected the response, suggesting that this effect is important for transcriptional memory. Although exogenous ABA treatments could prime transcriptional memory, a second ABA treatment was not sufficient to activate transcriptional memory. Therefore, we concluded that transcriptional memory requires ABA and an ABA‐independent factor that is induced or activated by a subsequent dehydration stress and directly or indirectly results in a more active RD29B chromatin template. These results advance our knowledge of the cis‐ and trans‐acting factors that are required for transcriptional memory of RD29B.
Function and expression of sulfonylurea, adrenergic, and glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptors in isolated porcine islets
Authors: Kelly Amy C. , Steyn Leah V. , Kitzmann Jenna P. , Anderson Miranda J. , Mueller Kate R. , Hart Nathaniel J. , Lynch Ronald M. , Papas Klearchos K. , Limesand Sean W. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe scarcity of human cadaveric pancreata limits large‐scale application of islet transplantation for patients with diabetes. Islets isolated from pathogen‐free pigs provide an economical and abundant alternative source assuming immunologic barriers are appropriate. Membrane receptors involved in insulin secretion that also have potential as imaging targets were investigated in isolated porcine islets. Quantitative (q)PCR revealed that porcine islets express mRNA transcripts for sulfonylurea receptor 1 (Sur1), inward rectifying potassium channel (Kir6.2, associated with Sur1), glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R), and adrenergic receptor alpha 2A (ADRα2A). Receptor function was assessed in static incubations with stimulatory glucose concentrations, and in the presence of receptor agonists. Glibenclamide, an anti‐diabetic sulfonylurea, and exendin‐4, a GLP‐1 mimetic, potentiated glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion >2‐fold. Conversely, epinephrine maximally reduced insulin secretion 72 ± 9% (P < 0.05) and had a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 60 nm in porcine islets (95% confidence interval of 45–830 nm). The epinephrine action was inhibited by the ADRα2A antagonist yohimbine. Our findings demonstrate that porcine islets express and are responsive to both stimulatory and inhibitory membrane localized receptors, which can be used as imaging targets after transplantation or to modify insulin secretion.
Aquaporin 3 knockdown suppresses tumour growth and angiogenesis in experimental non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xia Hui , Ma Yong‐Fu , Yu Chang‐Hai , Li Ying‐Jie , Tang Jian , Li Jing‐Bo , Zhao Ying‐Nan , Liu Yang 
Published: May 2014

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Aquaporins have been shown to play an important role in tumour development. It is not known whether short‐hairpin RNA targeting aquaporin 3 (AQP3) shows antitumour effects in experimental non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
What is the main finding and its importance?
Knockdown of AQP3 suppressed tumour growth and reduced angiogenesis in human NSCLS xenografts. Aquaporin 3 could thus be envisaged as a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common diseases encountered in medical oncology practice. The aim of the present study was to test the antitumour effects of short‐hairpin RNA targeting aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in experimental NSCLC. Expression of AQP3 was suppressed in human A549 and H1299 NSCLC cell lines by short‐hairpin RNA‐mediated silencing. Therapeutic effects were assessed by examining tumorigenicity using a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model of NSCLC. Aquaporin 3 knockdown inhibited tumour growth and prolonged survival of mice with tumours. Aquaporin 3 knockdown suppressed tumour proliferation, marked by enhanced expression of p53, an increased ratio of cleaved caspase 3 to pro‐caspase 3 and reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (bcl‐2). Aquaporin 3 knockdown inhibited tumour angiogenesis, marked by decreased CD31 immunostaining and reduced expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐2α and vascular endothelial growth factor. Aquaporin 3 knockdown reduced cellular glycerol content and suppressed mitochondrial ATP formation. Aquaporin 3 knockdown in vitro significantly suppressed activities of matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9, reduced AKT phosphorylation and decreased cell invasiveness of A549 and H1299 cells. In conclusion, AQP3 knockdown suppressed tumour growth and reduced angiogenesis in human NSCLS xenografts. Aquaporin 3 could thus be envisaged as a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Systematic Review of Interventions Aiming to Improve Involvement in Physical Activity Among Adults With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Brooker Katie , van Dooren Kate , McPherson Lyn , Lennox Nick , Ware Robert 
Published: May 2014

Background:Evidence suggests that most adults with intellectual disability do not participate in sufficient amounts of physical activity (PA). A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies that reported an intervention aiming to improve PA levels of adults with intellectual disability was conducted.Methods:Keywords related to intellectual disability and physical activity were used to search relevant databases. Studies were excluded if they did not measure PA as an outcome for adults with intellectual disability, were non-English, and were not peer-reviewed. All relevant studies were included in the review regardless of methodological quality and design.Results:Six articles met the inclusion criteria. These included health education or health promotion programs with PA, nutrition, and weight loss components. The quality of studies included in this review was generally poor. Most studies used a prepost design, sample sizes were small, and measurement tools were used that are not valid and reliable for the population assessed.Conclusions:PA interventions have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability, a vulnerable group who require attention from public health practitioners and researchers. Given the health inequities that exist, public health researchers should target efforts to improve PA levels among this group.
“How Hard Could it Be?” A Descriptive Analysis of Errors Made on a Validated Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire
Authors: Anderton Natalie , Newhouse Megan E. , Ainsworth Barbara E. , Nygaard Ingrid E. , Egger Marlene J. , Shaw Janet M. 
Published: May 2014

Background:Measuring historical physical activity in epidemiologic research depends on self-report. We aimed to describe data reporting errors women made in completing 2 validated questionnaires: Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire (LPAQ) and Occupational Questionnaire (OQ).Methods:Participants—229 women aged 38 to 65 years—completed questionnaires on paper (n = 160) or by web interface (n = 69). One research assistant collected questionnaire data, identified potential errors and contacted participants to trouble-shoot errors.Results:Women made mean 9.7 (SD 11.2) errors on paper and 7.1 (SD 6.2) errors on electronic versions of the LPAQ and 2.6 (SD 3.8) and 1.1 (SD 1.4) errors on paper and electronic versions of the OQ, respectively. Fewer mistakes were made on electronic versions of both questionnaires combined (8.5 ± 6.1) when compared with the paper versions (12.7 ± 13.1). Only ~2% of the sample completed all questionnaires without detectable errors. The most common errors were reporting activities or frequencies inconsistently between past year survey and the current age epoch, reporting more years than allowed by age epoch and missing information.Conclusions:Despite the implications of “self-report” questionnaires, we recommend researchers provide participants with additional instructions, either verbally or as written tip sheet or both, and follow-up after questionnaire completion to correct mistakes as needed.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Bioinformatically Predicted Microcin C-Like Compounds Encoded by Diverse Bacteria
Authors: Bantysh Olga , Serebryakova Marina , Makarova Kira S. , Dubiley Svetlana , Datsenko Kirill A. , Severinov Konstantin 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACT

The Trojan horse
Escherichia coli
antibiotic microcin C (McC) consists of a heptapeptide attached to adenosine through a phosphoramidate linkage. McC is synthesized by the MccB enzyme, which terminally adenylates the ribosomally synthesized heptapeptide precursor MccA. The peptide part is responsible for McC uptake; it is degraded inside the cell to release a toxic nonhydrolyzable aspartyl-adenylate. Bionformatic analysis reveals that diverse bacterial genomes encoding
mccB
homologues also contain adjacent short open reading frames that may encode MccA-like adenylation substrates. Using chemically synthesized predicted peptide substrates and recombinant cognate MccB protein homologs, adenylated products were obtained
in vitro
for predicted MccA peptide-MccB enzyme pairs from
Helicobacter pylori
,
Streptococcus thermophilus
,
Lactococcus johnsonii
,
Bartonella washoensis
,
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
, and Synechococcus sp. Some adenylated products were shown to inhibit the growth of
E. coli
by targeting aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, the target of McC.

IMPORTANCE
Our results prove that McC-like adenylated peptides are widespread and are encoded by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and by cyanobacteria, opening ways for analyses of physiological functions of these compounds and for creation of microcin C-like antibiotics targeting various bacteria.
Chromosome Segregation Proteins of Vibrio cholerae as Transcription Regulators
Authors: Baek Jong Hwan , Rajagopala Seesandra V. , Chattoraj Dhruba K. 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACT

Bacterial ParA and ParB proteins are best known for their contribution to plasmid and chromosome segregation, but they may also contribute to other cell functions. In segregation, ParA interacts with ParB, which binds to
parS
centromere-analogous sites. In transcription, plasmid Par proteins can serve as repressors by specifically binding to their own promoters and, additionally, in the case of ParB, by spreading from a
parS
site to nearby promoters. Here, we have asked whether chromosomal Par proteins can likewise control transcription. Analysis of genome-wide ParB1 binding in
Vibrio cholerae
revealed preferential binding to the three known
parS1
sites and limited spreading of ParB1 beyond the
parS1
sites. Comparison of wild-type transcriptomes with those of Δ
parA1
, Δ
parB1
, and Δ
parAB1
mutants revealed that two out of 20 genes (VC0067 and VC0069) covered by ParB1 spreading are repressed by both ParB1 and ParA1. A third gene (VC0076) at the outskirts of the spreading area and a few genes further away were also repressed, particularly the gene for an outer membrane protein,
ompU
(VC0633). Since ParA1 or ParB1 binding was not evident near VC0076 and
ompU
genes, the repression may require participation of additional factors. Indeed, both ParA1 and ParB1 proteins were found to interact with several
V. cholerae
proteins in bacterial and yeast two-hybrid screens. These studies demonstrate that chromosomal Par proteins can repress genes unlinked to
parS
and can do so without direct binding to the cognate promoter DNA.

IMPORTANCE
Directed segregation of chromosomes is essential for their maintenance in dividing cells. Many bacteria have genes (
par
) that were thought to be dedicated to segregation based on analogy to their roles in plasmid maintenance. It is becoming clear that chromosomal
par
genes are pleiotropic and that they contribute to diverse processes such as DNA replication, cell division, cell growth, and motility. One way to explain the pleiotropy is to suggest that Par proteins serve as or control other transcription factors. We tested this model by determining how Par proteins affect genome-wide transcription activity. We found that genes implicated in drug resistance, stress response, and pathogenesis were repressed by Par. Unexpectedly, the repression did not involve direct Par binding to cognate promoter DNA, indicating that the repression may involve Par interactions with other regulators. This pleiotropy highlights the degree of integration of chromosomal Par proteins into cellular control circuitries.