bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antipredator defences of young are independently determined by genetic inheritance, maternal effects and own early experience in mouthbrooding cichlids
Authors: Stratmann Ariane , Taborsky Barbara 
Published: November 2013

Summary

Predation is a prime force of natural selection. Vulnerability to predation is typically highest early in life, hence effective antipredator defences should work already shortly after birth. Such early defences may be innate, transmitted through non‐genetic parental effects or acquired by own early experience.

To understand potential joint effects of these sources of antipredator defences on phenotypic expression, they should be manipulated within the same experiment. We investigated innate, parental and individual experience effects within a single experiment. Females of the African cichlid Simochromis pleurospilus were exposed to the offspring predator Ctenochromis horei or a benign species until spawning. Eggs and larvae were hand‐reared, and larvae were then exposed to odour cues signalling the presence or absence of predators in a split‐brood design.

Shortly after independence of maternal care, S. pleurospilus undergo a habitat shift from a deeper, adult habitat to a shallow juvenile habitat, a phase where young are thought to be particularly exposed to predation risk. Thus, maternal effects induced by offspring predators present in the adult habitat should take effect mainly shortly after independence, whereas own experience and innate antipredator responses should shape behaviour and life history of S. pleurospilus during the later juvenile period.

We found that the manipulated environmental components independently affected different offspring traits. (i) Offspring of predator‐exposed mothers grew faster during the first month of life and were thus larger at termination of maternal care, when the young migrate from the adult to the juvenile habitat. (ii) The offspring's own experience shortly after hatching exerted lasting effects on predator avoidance behaviour. (iii) Finally, our results suggest that S. pleurospilus possess a genetically inherited ability to distinguish dangerous from benign species.

In S. pleurospilus, maternal effects were limited to a short but critical time window, when young undergo a niche shift. Instead, own environmental sampling of predation risk combined with an innate predisposition to correctly identify predators appears to prepare the young best for the environment, in which they grow up as juveniles.
Health‐Related Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Concept Analysis
Authors: Mouser April L. 
Published: November 2013

AimThe purpose of this concept analysis is to examine the health‐related quality of life in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).BackgroundCOPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with moderate to severe COPD has not been clearly defined.DesignWalker and Avant's concept analysis methodology was employed.Review MethodsThe author examined articles focusing on QoL, HRQoL, and HRQoL in COPD.ResultsThe concept analysis explores the negative consequences related to COPD while defining HRQoL and the characteristics of positive HRQoL.ConclusionPatients living with COPD should be assessed for HRQoL status.
A Research Agenda for Acute Care Services Delivery in Low‐ and Middle‐income Countries
Authors: Moresky Rachel T. , Bisanzo Mark , Rubenstein Beth L. , Hubbard Stephanie J. , Cohen Hillary , Ouyang Helen , Duber Herbert C. , Marsh Regan H. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractDelivery of acute care services at every level of the health system is essential to ensure appropriate evaluation and management of emergent illness and injury in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The health services breakout group at the 2013 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference developed recommendations for a research agenda along the following themes: infrastructure, implementation, and sustainable provision of acute care services. Based on these recommendations, a set of priorities was created to promote and guide future research on acute care services.
Making Recording and Analysis of Chief Complaint a Priority for Global Emergency Care Research in Low‐income Countries
Authors: Mowafi Hani , Dworkis Daniel , Bisanzo Mark , Hansoti Bhakti , Seidenberg Phil , Obermeyer Ziad , Hauswald Mark , Reynolds Teri A. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe chief complaint is a patient's self‐reported primary reason for presenting for medical care. The clinical utility and analytical importance of recording chief complaints have been widely accepted in highly developed emergency care systems, but this practice is far from universal in global emergency care, especially in limited‐resource areas. It is precisely in these settings, however, that the use of chief complaints may have particular benefit. Chief complaints may be used to quantify, analyze, and plan for emergency care and provide valuable information on acute care needs where there are crucial data gaps. Globally, much work has been done to establish local practices around chief complaint collection and use, but no standards have been established and little work has been done to identify minimum effective sets of chief complaints that may be used in limited‐resource settings. As part of theAcademic Emergency Medicineconsensus conference, “Global Health and Emergency Care: A Research Agenda,” the breakout group on data management identified the lack of research on emergency chief complaints globally—especially in low‐income countries where the highest proportion of the world's population resides—as a major gap in global emergency care research. This article reviews global research on emergency chief complaints in high‐income countries with developed emergency care systems and sets forth an agenda for future research on chief complaints in limited‐resource settings.
MicroRNA‐143 regulates collagen type III expression in stromal fibroblasts of scirrhous type gastric cancer
Authors: Naito Yutaka , Sakamoto Naoya , Oue Naohide , Yashiro Masakazu , Sentani Kazuhiro , Yanagihara Kazuyoshi , Hirakawa Kosei , Yasui Wataru 
Published: November 2013

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In particular, scirrhous type GC is highly metastatic and is characterized clinically by rapid disease progression and poor prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. In the present study, we identified several miRNAs that are expressed at higher levels in scirrhous type GC than in non‐scirrhous type GC by miRNA microarray analysis. Among these, microRNA‐143 (miR‐143) expression was higher in scirrhous type GC than in non‐scirrhous types of GC. In situ hybridization and quantitative RT‐PCR analysis showed that miR‐143 is expressed by stromal fibroblasts but not by cancer cells. In stromal cells, miR‐143 enhanced collagen type III expression in normal gastric fibroblasts and cancer‐associated fibroblasts through activation of transforming growth factor‐β)/SMAD signaling. Furthermore, high miR‐143 expression in GC was associated with worse cancer‐specific mortality (P = 0.0141). Multivariate analysis revealed that miR‐143 was an independent prognostic factor. Treatment of GC cell lines with 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine restored the expression of miR‐143, and precursor miR‐143 caused the inhibition of cancer cell invasion. These data suggest that miR‐143 regulates fibrosis of scirrhous type GC through induction of collagen expression in stromal fibroblasts and that miR‐143 expression serves as a prognostic marker of GC.
Clinical relevance is associated with allergen‐specific wheal size in skin prick testing
Authors: Haahtela T. , Burbach G. J. , Bachert C. , Bindslev‐Jensen C. , Bonini S. , Bousquet J. , Bousquet‐Rouanet L. , Bousquet P. J. , Bresciani M. , Bruno A. , Canonica G. W. , Darsow U. , Demoly P. , Durham S. R. , Fokkens W. J. , Giavi S. , Gjomarkaj M. , Gramiccioni C. , Kowalski M. L. , Losonczy G. , Orosz M. , Papadopoulos N. G. , Stingl G. , Todo‐Bom A. , von Mutius E. , Köhli A. , Wöhrl S. , Järvenpää S. , Kautiainen H. , Petman L. , Selroos O. , Zuberbier T. , Heinzerling L. M. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryBackgroundWithin a large prospective study, the Global Asthma and Allergy European Network (GA2LEN) has collected skin prick test (SPT) data throughout Europe to make recommendations for SPT in clinical settings.ObjectiveTo improve clinical interpretation of SPT results for inhalant allergens by providing quantitative decision points.MethodsThe GA2LEN SPT study with 3068 valid data sets was used to investigate the relationship between SPT results and patient‐reported clinical relevance for each of the 18 inhalant allergens as well as SPT wheal size and physician‐diagnosed allergy (rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergy). The effects of age, gender, and geographical area on SPT results were assessed. For each allergen, the wheal size in mm with an 80% positive predictive value (PPV) for being clinically relevant was calculated.ResultsDepending on the allergen, from 40% (blatella) to 87–89% (grass, mites) of the positive SPT reactions (wheal size ≥ 3 mm) were associated with patient‐reported clinical symptoms when exposed to the respective allergen. The risk of allergic symptoms increased significantly with larger wheal sizes for 17 of the 18 allergens tested. Children with positive SPT reactions had a smaller risk of sensitizations being clinically relevant compared with adults. The 80% PPV varied from 3 to 10 mm depending on the allergen.ConclusionThese ‘reading keys’ for 18 inhalant allergens can help interpret SPT results with respect to their clinical significance. A SPT form with the standard allergens including mm decision points for each allergen is offered for clinical use.
Gene‐Wide Tagging Study of the Association Between KCNT1 Polymorphisms and the Susceptibility and Efficacy of Genetic Generalized Epilepsy in Chinese Population
Authors: Qu Jian , Zhang Ying , Yang Zhi‐Quan , Mao Xiao‐Yuan , Zhou Bo‐Ting , Yin Ji‐Ye , He Hui , Li Xiang‐Ping , Long Hong‐Yu , Lv Nan , Xu Xiao‐Jing , Xiao Bo , Zhang Yu , Tang Qiang , Hu Dong‐Li , Zhou Hong‐Hao , Liu Zhao‐Qian 
Published: November 2013

SummaryAimsThe causes of genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) are still uncertain now. Some studies found that the human potassium channel, subfamily T, member 1 (KCNT1) is the candidate gene causing malignant migrating partial seizures of infancy and autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy which are all rare genetic generalized epilepsies. The aims of this study were going to evaluate the association between KCNT1 common variations and the susceptibility and drug resistance of genetic generalized epilepsies in Chinese population.MethodsThe allele‐specific MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry method was used to assess 17 tagSNPs (tagged single‐nucleotide polymorphisms) of KCNT1 in 284 healthy Chinese controls and 483 Chinese GGEs patients including 279 anti‐epileptic drug‐responsive patients and 204 drug‐resistant patients.ResultsGenotype distributions of all the selected tagSNPs were consistent with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in GGEs and healthy controls. None of the all 17 tagSNPs alleles were found to be related with the susceptibility and drug resistance of genetic generalized epilepsies. The frequencies of haplotype 5 and haplotype 1 were significantly lower in GGEs than that in healthy controls (2% vs. 4%, OR = 0.47 [0.27–0.94], P = 0.03) and obviously higher in drug‐resistant patients than that in drug‐response patients (6% vs. 3%, OR = 2.56 [1.23–5.35], P = 0.01). However, after the correction of multiple comparisons with Bonferroni's method, we found that the above two haplotypes were not associated with the susceptibility and drug resistance in GGEs and healthy controls.ConclusionThis gene‐wide tagging study revealed no association between KCNT1 17 common variations and susceptibility of GGEs or AEDs (anti‐epileptic drugs) efficacy of genetic generalized epilepsies in Chinese population.
Surgery for Primary Filum Terminale Ependymomas: Outcome and Prognostic Factors
Authors: Xie Tian‐Hao , Chen Xian‐Zhen , Qian Jun , Lu Yi‐Cheng , Jiang Yi‐Kun , Zhang Lei , Hu Guo‐Han , Ding Xue‐Hua , Luo Chun 
Published: November 2013

SummaryIntroductionPrimary filum terminale ependymoma (PFTE) is a unique type of ependymomas and locates on extramedullary site. However, the clinical features and prognostic factors of PFTE are still unknown due to its rarity.AimThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors of PFTE in the largest series of cases.ResultThirty‐eight patients were included in this study. Gross total removal (GTR) of the tumors was achieved in 33(87%) patients. Five (13%) patients had subtotal resection (STR). For the residual tumors, postoperative radiotherapy increased the interval between the first surgery and tumor regrowth (P = 0.063). Six patients had local recurrence/progression. Univariate analysis identified STR(P = 0.001), unencapsulated tumor (P = 0.018), tumor involving more than two vertebral columns (P = 0.005), and tumor invading sacral canal(P < 0.001) as predictors of tumor recurrence. In addition, 36 (95%) patients had stable or improved neurological status directly after surgery. Klekamp–Samii score was better correlated with the symptoms than McCormick scale.ConclusionExtent of surgical removal, tumor size, tumor location, and the integrity of tumor capsule are the prognostic factors of PFTEs, and the intrasacral PFTEs always have a poor prognosis.
Increased Activation of Synapsin 1 and Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinases/Extracellular Signal‐Regulated Kinase in the Amygdala of Maternal Separation Rats
Authors: Park Hae‐Jeong , Kim Su‐Kang , Kang Won‐Sub , Chung Joo‐Ho , Kim Jong‐Woo 
Published: November 2013

SummaryBackgroundEarly life stress (ELS) causes alterations in emotionality and anxiety levels as a significant risk factor for psychiatric problems, and these alterations have been associated with amygdala activity.AimsTo elucidate the molecular mechanism on the development of psychiatric problems following ELS, we identified the alteration of molecules in the amygdala using maternal separation (MS; pnd 14–21) rats through gene expression and DNA methylation microarray analysis, and studied the involvement of candidate genes using a Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis.ResultsThrough a microarray analysis, in the amygdala of MS rats, we found a downregulation of mRNA expression of synapsin 1 (Syn1) gene with hypermethylation of its transcription start site (TSS), and the alterations of mRNA expressions of Syn1 activation‐related kinase genes including mitogen‐activated protein kinases (Mapks) with change of their TSS methylation. In addition, MS increased not only Syn1 phosphorylation at the phosphorylation sites by Mapk/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (Erk), but also Mapk/Erk phosphorylation in the amygdala. Furthermore, double immunofluorescence staining showed that MS could elevate phospho‐Mapk/Erk immunoreactivity (IR) in Syn1‐expression puncta.ConclusionThese findings indicated that the activation of Mapk/Erk and Syn1 may be a key mechanism modulating synaptic neurotransmition in the amygdala of MS rats.
Taxonomic Uncertainty and the Loss of Biodiversity on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean
Authors: ELDRIDGE MARK D. B. , MEEK PAUL D. , JOHNSON REBECCA N. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe taxonomic uniqueness of island populations is often uncertain which hinders effective prioritization for conservation. The Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura attenuata trichura) is the only member of the highly speciose eutherian family Soricidae recorded from Australia. It is currently classified as a subspecies of the Asian gray or long‐tailed shrew (C. attenuata), although it was originally described as a subspecies of the southeast Asian white‐toothed shrew (C. fuliginosa). The Christmas Island shrew is currently listed as endangered and has not been recorded in the wild since 1984–1985, when 2 specimens were collected after an 80‐year absence. We aimed to obtain DNA sequence data for cytochrome b (cytb) from Christmas Island shrew museum specimens to determine their taxonomic affinities and to confirm the identity of the 1980s specimens. The Cytb sequences from 5, 1898 specimens and a 1985 specimen were identical. In addition, the Christmas Island shrew cytb sequence was divergent at the species level from all available Crocidura cytb sequences. Rather than a population of a widespread species, current evidence suggests the Christmas Island shrew is a critically endangered endemic species, C. trichura, and a high priority for conservation. As the decisions typically required to save declining species can be delayed or deferred if the taxonomic status of the population in question is uncertain, it is hoped that the history of the Christmas Island shrew will encourage the clarification of taxonomy to be seen as an important first step in initiating informed and effective conservation action.
Prevalence of asthmatic smokers: Turkish experience (PASTE Study)
Authors: Yildiz Fusun , Dursun Adile Berna , Disçi Rian ,   PASTE Study Group
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundAlthough both asthma and smoking are major health problems worldwide, smokers are often excluded from asthma studies.ObjectivesIt was aimed to verify the prevalence of asthmatic smokers in Turkey and assess the effects of smoking based on clinical parameters, exacerbations and hospitalizations because of lack of national data about the prevalence of smoking among asthmatics.MethodsThe study protocol was comprised of a retrospective questionnaire. The asthmatic patients were followed in the outpatient clinics of 18 tertiary hospitals selected from seven different geographical regions in Turkey. We evaluated demographic data, smoking habits, asthma‐related diseases, respiratory function and emergency visits.ResultsThe study population included 1385 patients (M/F: 343/1042), and the mean age was 45.1 ± 14.0 years. Current and former smoking prevalence was 11.4% and 15.1%, respectively. Smoker rates were higher in males and younger asthmatics compared with females and older asthmatics (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Smoking history ranged from 0.20 to 90 pack‐years (the mean was 12.9), and smokers had a higher level of education compared with nonsmokers (P < 0.01). Socioeconomically, the most developed region had the highest rate of smoker asthmatics (33.9%; P = 0.014). There was an increase in the number of exacerbations in smoker asthmatics during the previous year, but it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).ConclusionWe showed that the smoking prevalence in Turkey was lower in asthmatics (11.4%) compared with the general population (44.5%). Nevertheless, every effort should be made to encourage asthmatics to stop smoking because smoking is a modifiable risk factor for adverse asthma health outcomes.
Safety and efficacy of Nasya/Prevalin in reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Stoelzel Katharina , Bothe Gordana , Chong Pee Win , Lenarz Minoo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundNasya/Prevalin is a natural, drug‐free nasal spray for treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis. Because of its thixotropic property, it forms a barrier on the nasal mucosa, preventing allergen contact. This study assesses the clinical efficacy and safety of Nasya/Prevalin in a nasal provocation test with house dust mite allergens.Methodology/PrincipalIn this randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial, 20 subjects suffering from allergic rhinitis because of house dust mite allergens received a single dose of Nasya/Prevalin or saline spray before allergen challenge. Total nasal symptom score and total ocular symptom score were assessed 15, 30, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 240 min after challenge. Further, the appearance of the mucosa was examined by rhinoscopy.ResultsA single treatment with Nasya/Prevalin led to a significant reduction of TNSS at 60, 75 and 90 min after dust mite allergen challenge as compared with placebo (pVCAS = 0.021, pVCAS = 0.035, pVCAS = 0.036, respectively). Mucosa changes assessed by the rhinoscopic score (on swelling, secretion and colour) were significantly worse in the placebo group compared with the Nasya/Prevalin group (P = 0.033). Nasya/Prevalin was well tolerated, and the safety was comparable with placebo.ConclusionsTreatment with Nasya/Prevalin was effective in preventing allergic reactions induced by dust mite allergen challenge.
First record of the drumming signals of stoneflies Capnopsis Morton, 1896 and Protonemura Kempny, 1898 genera (Plecoptera, Capniidae and Nemouridae)
Authors: Tierno de Figueroa J. Manuel , Luzón‐Ortega Julio M. , López‐Rodríguez Manuel J. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe male drumming signal of Capnopsis schilleri is studied for the first time. It is a monophasic call composed of 4–8 beats with a decreasing frequency. In the present paper, the drumming signals of some Protonemura species are also recorded and described for the first time both in males (Protonemura alcazaba, Protonemura meyeri and Protonemura navacerrada) and females (P. meyeri, P. navacerrada and Protonemura pyrenaica). The male call is very homogeneous in all the studied species and they consist of a repetition of 2–11 sequences of 6–31 beats, with an inter‐beat interval ranging from 0.034 to 0.088 s. The females have monophasic long signals consisting of a repetition of 5 to 109 beats with an inter‐beat interval of 0.061 to 0.159 s. It is extraordinary that females produced signals when males were absent, and so the female signal can be also considered as a call and not only an answer, as usually pointed out in stoneflies.
Sexual dimorphism and intraspecific variation in wing size and shape of Tongeia fischeri (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Authors: Jeratthitikul Ekgachai , Yago Masaya , Hikida Tsutomu 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWing morphological variations are described here for the lycaenid butterfly Tongeia fischeri. A landmark‐based geometric morphometric approach based on wing venation of 197 male and 187 female butterflies collected in Japan was used to quantify wing size and shape variations between sexes and among populations. Sexual dimorphism in wing size and shape was detected. Females had significantly larger wings than males, while males showed a relatively elongated forewing with a longer apex and narrower wing tornus in comparison to females. Intraspecific variations in wing morphology among populations were revealed for the wing shape, but not wing size. Distinct wing shape differences were found in the vein intersections area around the distal part of the discal cell where median veins originated in the forewing and around the origin of the CU1 vein in the hindwing. In addition, phenotypic relationships inferred from wing shape variations grouped T. fischeri populations into three groups, reflecting the subspecies classification of the species. The spatial variability and phenotypic relationships between conspecific populations of T. fischeri detected here are generally in agreement with the previous molecular study based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequences, suggesting the presence of a phylogenetic signal in the wing shape of T. fischeri, and thus having taxonomic implications.