bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A phase I trial of mushroom powder in patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer: Roles of cytokines and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells for Agaricus bisporus–induced prostate‐specific antigen responses
Authors: Twardowski Przemyslaw , Kanaya Noriko , Frankel Paul , Synold Timothy , Ruel Christopher , Pal Sumanta K. , Junqueira Maribel , Prajapati Manisha , Moore Tina , Tryon Pamela , Chen Shiuan 
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUNDEach year in the United States, nearly 50,000 prostate cancer patients exhibit a rise in prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels, which can indicate disease recurrence. For patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, we evaluated the effects of white button mushroom (WBM) powder on serum PSA levels and determined the tolerability and biological activity of WBM.METHODSPatients with continuously rising PSA levels were enrolled in the study. Dose escalation was conducted in cohorts of 6; this ensured that no more than 1 patient per cohort experienced dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT). The primary objective was to evaluate treatment feasibility and associated toxicity. The secondary objectives were to determine WBM's effect on serum PSA/androgen levels; myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs); and cytokine levels.RESULTSThirty‐six patients were treated; no DLTs were encountered. The overall PSA response rate was 11%. Two patients receiving 8 and 14 g/d demonstrated complete response (CR): their PSA declined to undetectable levels that continued for 49 and 30 months. Two patients who received 8 and 12 g/d experienced partial response (PR). After 3 months of therapy, 13 (36%) patients experienced some PSA decrease below baseline. Patients with CR and PR demonstrated higher levels of baseline interleukin‐15 than nonresponders; for this group, we observed therapy‐associated declines in MDSCs.CONCLUSIONSTherapy with WBM appears to both impact PSA levels and modulate the biology of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer by decreasing immunosuppressive factors. Cancer 2015;121:2942–2950. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Differences in CART expression and cell cycle behavior discriminate sympathetic neuroblast from chromaffin cell lineages in mouse sympathoadrenal cells
Authors: Hei Chan Wing , Gonsalvez David G. , Young Heather M. , Michelle Southard‐Smith E. , Cane Kylie N. , Anderson Colin R. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTAdrenal medullary chromaffin cells and peripheral sympathetic neurons originate from a common sympathoadrenal (SA) progenitor cell. The timing and phenotypic changes that mark this lineage diversification are not fully understood. The present study investigated the expression patterns of phenotypic markers, and cell cycle dynamics, in the adrenal medulla and the neighboring suprarenal ganglion of embryonic mice. The noradrenergic marker, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), was detected in both presumptive adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglion cells, but with significantly stronger immunostaining in the former. There was intense cocaine and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) peptide immunostaining in most neuroblasts, whereas very few adrenal chromaffin cells showed detectable CART immunostaining. This phenotypic segregation appeared as early as E12.5, before anatomical segregation of the two cell types. Cell cycle dynamics were also examined. Initially, 88% of Sox10 positive (+) neural crest progenitors were proliferating at E10.5. Many SA progenitor cells withdrew from the cell cycle at E11.5 as they started to express TH. Whereas 70% of neuroblasts (TH+/CART+ cells) were back in the cell cycle at E12.5, only around 20% of chromaffin (CART negative) cells were in the cell cycle at E12.5 and subsequent days. Thus, chromaffin cell and neuroblast lineages showed differences in proliferative behavior from their earliest appearance. We conclude that the intensity of TH immunostaining and the expression of CART permit early discrimination of chromaffin cells and sympathetic neuroblasts, and that developing chromaffin cells exhibit significantly lower proliferative activity relative to sympathetic neuroblasts. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 137–149, 2016
Public concerns about violent video games are moral concerns—How moral threat can make pacifists susceptible to scientific and political claims against violent video games
Authors: Rothmund Tobias , Bender Jens , Nauroth Peter , Gollwitzer Mario 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPublic discussions about the harmfulness of violent media are often held in the aftermath of violent felony. At the same time, we know little about whether and how experiencing real‐life violence impacts the way laypersons perceive and evaluate debates about virtual violence. In Study 1, we provided data indicating that both real‐life violence and violent video games are perceived as morally threatening by people who regard nonviolence to be an important moral value (i.e., pacifists). In Study 2, we hypothesized and found that when pacifists perceive threat from the presence of real‐life violence, they are especially susceptible to scientific and political claims indicating that violent video games are harmful. Our findings are in line with the value protection model and research on the psychological consequences of threat. Implications of the present findings are discussed with regard to a better understanding of the violent video games debate in the general public.
An assessment of fiscal space for health in Bhutan
Authors: Sharma Jayendra 
Published: May 2015

SummarySeveral factors are expected to put a strain on health financing in Bhutan. In a predominantly public‐financed healthcare, ensuring that the health system gains sufficient fiscal space to ensure the sustainability of its financing is a critical policy concern. This fiscal space assessment bases its analysis on national surveys and statistics, international databases and review of official documents and reports. Assuming that the government health spending will continue to respond in the same way to growth as in the period 2002–2012, Bhutan can expect to see a robust increase in government investments in health. If elasticity of health expenditure with respect to GDP does not change significantly, projections indicate that per‐capita government spending for health could more than double in the period 2012 to 2019. This increase from Ngultrum 2632 in 2012 to Ngultrum 6724 in 2019 could correspond to government health spending from 2.65% of GDP to 3.98% of GDP in the respective years. The country, however, needs to closely monitor and ensure that government investment in healthcare keeps pace with the growth of the national economy. Along with this, supplementary resources for healthcare could be explored through earmarked taxes and by generating efficiency gains. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gut metabolites and bacterial community networks during a pilot intervention study with flaxseeds in healthy adult men
Authors: Lagkouvardos Ilias , Kläring Karoline , Heinzmann Silke S. , Platz Stefanie , Scholz Birgit , Engel Karl‐Heinz , Schmitt‐Kopplin Philippe , Haller Dirk , Rohn Sascha , Skurk Thomas , Clavel Thomas 
Published: May 2015

ScopeFlaxseeds contain the phytoestrogens lignans that must be activated to enterolignans by intestinal bacteria. We investigated the impact of flaxseeds on fecal bacterial communities and their associations with fecal and blood metabolites.Methods and resultsNine healthy male adult subjects ingested 0.3 g/kg/day flaxseeds during 1 week. Gut bacteria as well as blood and fecal metabolites were analyzed. Ingestion of flaxseeds triggered a significant increase in the blood concentration of enterolignans, accompanied by fecal excretion of propionate and glycerol. Overall diversity and composition of dominant fecal bacteria remained individual specific throughout the study. Enterolactone production was linked to the abundance of two molecular species identified as Ruminococcus bromii and Ruminococcus lactaris. Most dominant species of the order Bacteroidales were positively associated with fecal concentrations of either acetic, isovaleric, or isobutyric acid, the latter being negatively correlated with blood levels of triglycerides. The relative sequence abundance of one Gemmiger species (Ruminococcaceae) and of Coprococcus comes (Lachnospiraceae) correlated positively with blood levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, respectively.ConclusionFlaxseeds increase enterolignan production but do not markedly alter fecal metabolome and dominant bacterial communities. The data underline the possible role of members of the family Ruminococcaceae in the regulation of enterolignan production and blood lipids.
Single‐breath clinical imaging of hyperpolarized 129xe in the airspaces, barrier, and red blood cells using an interleaved 3D radial 1‐point Dixon acquisition
Authors: Kaushik S. Sivaram , Robertson Scott H. , Freeman Matthew S. , He Mu , Kelly Kevin T. , Roos Justus E. , Rackley Craig R. , Foster W. Michael , McAdams H. Page , Driehuys Bastiaan 
Published: May 2015

PurposeWe sought to develop and test a clinically feasible 1‐point Dixon, three‐dimensional (3D) radial acquisition strategy to create isotropic 3D MR images of 129Xe in the airspaces, barrier, and red blood cells (RBCs) in a single breath. The approach was evaluated in healthy volunteers and subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).MethodsA calibration scan determined the echo time at which 129Xe in RBCs and barrier were 90° out of phase. At this TE, interleaved dissolved and gas‐phase images were acquired using a 3D radial acquisition and were reconstructed separately using the NUFFT algorithm. The dissolved‐phase image was phase‐shifted to cast RBC and barrier signal into the real and imaginary channels such that the image‐derived RBC:barrier ratio matched that from spectroscopy. The RBC and barrier images were further corrected for regional field inhomogeneity using a phase map created from the gas‐phase 129Xe image.ResultsHealthy volunteers exhibited largely uniform 129Xe‐barrier and 129Xe‐RBC images. By contrast, 129Xe‐RBC images in IPF subjects exhibited significant signal voids. These voids correlated qualitatively with regions of fibrosis visible on CT.ConclusionsThis study illustrates the feasibility of acquiring single‐breath, 3D isotropic images of 129Xe in the airspaces, barrier, and RBCs using a 1‐point Dixon 3D radial acquisition. Magn Reson Med 75:1434–1443, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A fully automatic reference deconvolution strategy to increase the accuracy of in vivo lipid signal quantification
Authors: Mauch Lukas , Steidle Günter , Machann Jürgen , Yang Bin , Schick Fritz 
Published: May 2015

PurposeLipid signals measured by 1H MR spectroscopy cannot be adequately quantified by common fitting routines like VARPRO or AMARES, if lipid spectra are distorted by irregular spatial and temporal inhomogeneities of the static magnetic field during readout. A fully automatic reference deconvolution algorithm is presented that eliminates these distortions before application of fitting routines.MethodsThe measured signal of the dominant methyl resonance is isolated with aid of a spectral estimator (estimation of parameters via rotational invariance techniques) and used as reference signal for estimation of distortions. A Wiener filter is applied to deconvolve those distortions in the lipid spectrum. Performance of the algorithm is assessed for different bandwidths and shapes of distortions, using artificially distorted as well as measured data.ResultsApplication of the fully automatic reference deconvolution algorithm on simulated spectra yields a distinct increase in quantification accuracy. Deconvolved in vivo spectra of subcutaneous fat indicate reduced spectral overlap after application of the proposed strategy.ConclusionThe proposed method is helpful for in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy of adipose tissue to correct for effects of field inhomogeneities within the voxel and for inevitable eddy current effects. Quantification accuracy is improved by eliminating distortions before application of fitting routines. Magn Reson Med 75:1391–1401, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of emotions in time to presentation for symptoms suggestive of cancer: a systematic literature review of quantitative studies
Authors: Balasooriya‐Smeekens Chantal , Walter Fiona M. , Scott Suzanne 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundEmotions may be important in patients' decisions to seek medical help for symptoms suggestive of cancer.ObjectivesThe aim of this systematic literature review was to examine quantitative literature on the influence of emotion on patients' help‐seeking for symptoms suggestive of cancer. The objectives were to identify the following: (a) which types of emotions influence help‐seeking behaviour, (b) whether these form a barrier or trigger for seeking medical help and (c) how the role of emotions varies between different cancers and populations.MethodsWe searched four electronic databases and conducted a narrative synthesis. Inclusion criteria were studies that reported primary, quantitative research that examined any emotion specific to symptom appraisal or help‐seeking for symptoms suggestive of cancer.ResultsThirty‐three papers were included. The studies were heterogeneous in their methods and quality, and very few had emotion as the main focus of the research. Studies reported a limited range of emotions, mainly related to fear and worry. The impact of emotions appears mixed, sometimes acting as a barrier to consultation whilst at other times being a trigger or being unrelated to time to presentation. It is plausible that different emotions play different roles at different times prior to presentation.ConclusionsThis systematic review provides some quantitative evidence for the role of emotions in help‐seeking behaviour. However, it also highlighted widespread methodological, definition and design issues among the existing literature. The conflicting results around the role of emotions on time to presentation may be due to the lack of definition of each specific emotion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma mimicking as a posterior mediastinal tumor
Authors: Wethasinghe James , Sood Jaideep , Walmsley Russell , Milne David , Jafer Ali , Gordon‐Glassford Noel 
Published: May 2015

AbstractA 41‐year‐old man with no previous asbestos exposure presented with 6 months of dull right lower chest pain and weight loss. The initial computed tomography (CT) scan was reported as showing a soft tissue thickening in the posterior mediastinum with non‐specific nodules in the horizontal and oblique fissures. An endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration from the 12 × 25 mm heterogeneous posterior mediastinal mass was suspicious for a ganglioneuroma. The procedure was complicated by a large hemothorax requiring drainage. A subsequent positron emission tomographic CT revealed a moderately fluorodeoxyglucose avid area of pleural thickening extending from the sixth to ninth thoracic vertebral body in the paraspinal region along with nodules along the right horizontal and oblique fissures. A thoracoscopic biopsy of the pleural lesion confirmed a pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. There was a 5‐mm reduction in tumor thickness and improvement in his pain following 54 Gy of radiotherapy.
Perception of Genetic Testing for Deafness and Factors Associated with Interest in Genetic Testing Among Deaf People in a Selected Population in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Adedokun Babatunde O. , Yusuf Bidemi O. , Lasisi J. Taye , Jinadu A. A. , Sunmonu M. T. , Ashanke A. F. , Lasisi O. Akeem 
Published: May 2015

AbstractUnderstanding the perceptions of genetic testing by members of the deaf community may help in planning deafness genetics research, especially so in the context of strong adherence to cultural values as found among native Africans. Among Yorubas in Nigeria, deafness is perceived to be caused by some offensive actions of the mother during pregnancy, spiritual attack, and childhood infections. We studied attitudes towards, and acceptance of genetic testing by the deaf community in Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to individuals sampled from the Vocational Training Centre for the Deaf, the religious Community, and government schools, among others. The main survey items elicited information about the community in which the deaf people participate, their awareness of genetic testing, whether or not they view genetic testing as acceptable, and their understanding of the purpose of genetic testing. There were 150 deaf participants (61.3 % males, 38.7 % females) with mean age of 26.7 years ±9.8. A majority of survey respondents indicated they relate only with other members of the deaf community (78 %) and reported believing genetic testing does more good than harm (79.3 %); 57 % expressed interest in genetic testing. Interest in genetic testing for deafness or in genetic testing in pregnancy was not related to whether respondents relate primarily to the deaf or to the hearing community. However, a significantly higher number of male respondents and respondents with low education reported interest in genetic testing.
Nondestructive Estimation of Fat Constituents of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Seeds by Near‐Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Yan‐yang , Mei Hong‐xian , Du Zhen‐wei , Wu Ke , Zhang Hai‐yang , Zheng Yong‐zhan 
Published: May 2015

AbstractA rapid and efficient method for oil constituent estimation in intact sesame seeds was developed through near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and was used to evaluate a sesame germplasm collection conserved in China. A total of 342 samples were scanned by reflectance NIR in a range of 950–1650 nm, and the reference values for oil content and fatty acid (FA) profiles were measured by Soxhlet and gas chromatograph methods. Useful chemometric models were developed using partial least squares regression with full cross‐validation. The equations had low standard errors of cross‐validation, and high coefficient of determination of cross‐validation (Rc2) values (>0.8) except for stearic acid (0.794). In external validation, r2 values of oil and FA composition equations ranged from 0.815 (arachidonic acid) to 0.877 (linoleic acid). The relative predictive determinant (RPDv) values for all equations were more than 2.0. The whole‐seed NIR spectroscopy equations for oil content and FA profiles can be used for sesame seed quality rapid evaluation. The background information of the 4399 germplasm resources and accessions with high linoleic acid content identified in this study should be useful for developing new sesame cultivars with desirable FA compositions in future breeding programs.
The effect of moderate to severe endometriosis on expression of growth differentiation factor‐9 mRNA in human granulosa cells under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation
Authors: Kawabe Sachiko , Yamashita Yoshiki , Saito Natsuho , Kokunai Kana , Hayashi Atsushi , Hayashi Masami , Terai Yoshito , Miyazaki Kazunori , Ohmichi Masahide 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the effect of moderate to severe endometriosis on mRNA expression of growth differentiation factor‐9 (GDF‐9) in the granulosa cells of mature follicles.MethodsFollicular fluid (FF) was obtained from 13 patients with moderate to severe endometriosis and 11 without endometriosis, as a control group, and GDF‐9 protein levels in both were assayed by western blotting. mRNA expression by GDF‐9 and LH receptor (LHR) in granulosa cells obtained from all patients in the study were investigated by StepOne Real‐Time PCR.ResultsAlthough GDF‐9 in FF from patients with endometriosis was no different from that of controls, GDF‐9 mRNA expression in granulosa cells of patients with endometriosis was statistically significantly lower than for the control group. The number of oocytes and high‐quality embryos was positively correlated with GDF‐9 mRNA expression in controls but not in patients with endometriosis Moreover, a negative correlation was identified between GDF‐9 mRNA expression and serum estrogen and progesterone levels in the control group, whereas no correlation was observed for the endometriosis group.ConclusionsModerate to severe endometriosis can significantly reduce GDF‐9 mRNA expression in the granulosa cells of patients with the disease compared with those without, thus causing poor oocyte maturation and lower embryo quality.
Quantifying Search Dog Effectiveness in a Terrestrial Search and Rescue Environment
Authors: Greatbatch Ian , Gosling Rebecca J. , Allen Sophie 
Published: May 2015

Objective There is widespread and longstanding use of dogs in land search and rescue (SAR) operations, and their effectiveness is well accepted within the SAR community. However, very little published research exists that quantifies that effectiveness within a realistic SAR environment. Methods This study included 25 experiments, conducted between October 2013 and February 2014 with 10 dog/handler pairs, using randomized target placement to calculate the ratio of hits, misses, and false positives per dog. Each dog was fitted with a GPS receiver to record their paths and ambient temperature. Wind strength and humidity were recorded throughout each run. Results There was no identifiable correlation between humidity, temperature, or wind speed and effectiveness, but the age of the dog has a small positive correlation. Using a standard effectiveness formula, basic descriptive statistics were generated, which showed that the dogs tested were 76.4% successful overall, with an effectiveness of 62.9%. Dogs covered a mean distance 2.4 times greater than their human handlers but travelled at roughly average human walking speed. Conclusions This work represents a first attempt to quantify and understand levels of performance in lowland search dogs, and these results need to be understood within that context. A repeatable experimental framework has been demonstrated and provides a foundation for further work in this area.
Numerical Methods for the Photoelastic Technique using Phase Shifting
Authors: Magalhaes C. A. , Neto P. S. , Magalhaes P. A. A. , de Barcellos C. S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe objective of this research is to find new equations for a novel phase-shifting method in digital photoelasticity. Some innovations are proposed. In terms of phase-shifting, only the analyzer is rotated, and the other equations are deduced by applying a new numerical technique instead of the usual algebraic techniques. This approach can be used to calculate a larger sequence of images. Each image represents a pattern and a measurement of the stresses present in the object. A reduction in the difference between the theoretical and experimental values of stresses was obtained by increasing the number of images in the equations for calculating phase. Every photographic image has errors and random noise, but the uncertainties due to these effects can be reduced with a larger number of observations.