bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lymphatic Filariasis: Perspectives on Lymphatic Remodeling and Contractile Dysfunction in Filarial Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Chakraborty Sanjukta , Gurusamy Manokaran , Zawieja David C. , Muthuchamy Mariappan 
Published: December 2012

AbstractLymphatic filariasis, one of the most debilitating diseases associated with the lymphatic system, affects over a hundred million people worldwide and manifests itself in a variety of severe clinical pathologies. The filarial parasites specifically target the lymphatics and impair lymph flow, which is critical for the normal functions of the lymphatic system in maintenance of body fluid balance and physiological interstitial fluid transport. The resultant contractile dysfunction of the lymphatics causes fluid accumulation and lymphedema, one of the major pathologies associated with filarial infection. In this review, we take a closer look at the contractile mechanisms of the lymphatics, its altered functions, and remodeling during an inflammatory state and how it relates to the severe pathogenesis underlying a filarial infection. We further elaborate on the complex host–parasite interactions, and molecular mechanisms contributing to the disease pathogenesis. The overall emphasis is on elucidating some of the emerging concepts and new directions that aim to harness the process of lymphangiogenesis or enhance contractility in a dysfunctional lymphatics, thereby restoring the fluid imbalance and mitigating the pathological conditions of lymphatic filariasis.
New measures of upper esophageal sphincter distensibility and opening patterns during swallowing in healthy subjects using EndoFLIP®
Authors: Regan J. , Walshe M. , Rommel N. , Tack J. , McMahon B. P. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground  This paper aims to measure upper esophageal sphincter (UES) distensibility and extent and duration of UES opening during swallowing in healthy subjects using EndoFLIP®.Methods  Fourteen healthy subjects (20–50 years) were recruited. An EndoFLIP® probe was passed trans‐orally and the probe balloon was positioned across the UES. Two 20‐mL ramp distensions were completed and UES cross‐sectional area (CSA) and intra‐balloon pressure (IBP) were evaluated. At 12‐mL balloon volume, subjects completed dry, 5‐ and 10‐mL liquid swallows and extent (mm) and duration (s) of UES opening and minimum IBP (mmHg) were analyzed across swallows.Key Results  Thirteen subjects completed the study protocol. A significant change in UES CSA (P < .001) and IBP (P < .000) was observed during 20‐mL distension. UES CSA increased up to 10‐mL distension (P < .001), from which point IBP raised significantly (P = 0.004). There were significant changes in UES diameter (mm) (P < .000) and minimum IBP (mmHg) (P < .000) during swallowing events. Resting UES diameter (4.9 mm; IQR 0.02) and minimum IBP (18.8 mmHg; IQR 2.64) changed significantly during dry (9.6 mm; IQR 1.3: P < .001) (3.6 mmHg; IQR 4.1: P = 0.002); 5 mL (8.61 mm; IQR 2.7: P < .001) (4.8 mmHg; IQR 5.7: P < .001) and 10‐mL swallows (8.3 mm; IQR 1.6: P < 0.001) (3 mmHg; 4.6: P < .001). Median duration of UES opening was 0.5 s across dry and liquid swallows (P = 0.91). Color contour plots of EndoFLIP® data capture novel information regarding pharyngo‐esophageal events during swallowing.Conclusions & Inferences  Authors obtained three different types of quantitative data (CSA, IBP, and timing) regarding UES distensibility and UES opening patterns during swallowing in healthy adults using only one device (EndoFLIP®). This new measure of swallowing offers fresh information regarding UES dynamics which may ultimately improve patient care.
Gastrointestinal peptides, gastrointestinal motility, and anorexia of aging in frail elderly persons
Authors: Serra‐Prat M. , Mans E. , Palomera E. , Clavé P. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground  The mechanisms involved in anorexia in frail elderly people remain unclear. The objective of this study was to establish whether fasting and postprandial levels of gastrointestinal peptides, gastrointestinal motility, and hunger are modified by age and frailty.Methods  Three groups of subjects were studied: (a) frail elderly (>70 years) persons, (b) non‐frail elderly (>70 years) persons, and (c) healthy adults (aged 25–65 years). After an overnight fast, participants ingested a 400 Kcal liquid meal and appetite, hormonal, and gastrointestinal responses were monitored during early (0–60 min) and late (60–240 min) postprandial periods.Key Results  Frail persons showed poor nutritional status, sarcopenia, and almost absence of hunger during fasting and postprandial periods. Older persons presented higher levels of glucose and insulin during fasting, enhanced postprandial CCK release in early postprandial period and postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, but similar ghrelin levels than younger adults. Ultrasound scan showed that the fasting antral area was higher and antral compliance lower in old persons. The paracetamol absorption test showed enhanced postprandial gastric emptying in the frail. Non‐gallbladder contractors showed no CCK peak in younger and non‐frail groups, but the same high CCK peak as contractors in the frail.Conclusions & Inferences  Frailty was associated with anorexia, risk of malnutrition, and sarcopenia. Frail persons showed impaired gastric motility (larger antral area at rest, impaired antral compliance, and enhanced postprandial emptying), impaired gallbladder motility, and fasting and/or postprandial alterations in CCK, glucose, and insulin release. Further studies are needed to determine if these factors may contribute to anorexia of aging in frail persons.
Drought response strategies define the relative contributions of hydraulic dysfunction and carbohydrate depletion during tree mortality
Authors: Mitchell Patrick J. , O'Grady Anthony P. , Tissue David T. , White Donald A. , Ottenschlaeger Maria L. , Pinkard Elizabeth A. 
Published: December 2012

Summary

Plant survival during drought requires adequate hydration in living tissues and carbohydrate reserves for maintenance and recovery. We hypothesized that tree growth and hydraulic strategy determines the intensity and duration of the ‘physiological drought’, thereby affecting the relative contributions of loss of hydraulic function and carbohydrate depletion during mortality.

We compared patterns in growth rate, water relations, gas exchange and carbohydrate dynamics in three tree species subjected to prolonged drought.

Two Eucalyptus species (E. globulus, E. smithii) exhibited high growth rates and water‐use resulting in rapid declines in water status and hydraulic conductance. In contrast, conservative growth and water relations in Pinus radiata resulted in longer periods of negative carbon balance and significant depletion of stored carbohydrates in all organs. The ongoing demand for carbohydrates from sustained respiration highlighted the role that duration of drought plays in facilitating carbohydrate consumption.

Two drought strategies were revealed, differentiated by plant regulation of water status: plants maximized gas exchange, but were exposed to low water potentials and rapid hydraulic dysfunction; and tight regulation of gas exchange at the cost of carbohydrate depletion. These findings provide evidence for a relationship between hydraulic regulation of water status and carbohydrate depletion during terminal drought.
Ventricular Fibrillation Conduction through an Isthmus of Preserved Myocardium between Radiofrequency Lesions
Authors: CHORRO FRANCISCO J. , IBAÑEZ‐CATALÁ XAVIER , TRAPERO ISABEL , SUCH‐MIQUEL LUIS , PELECHANO FRANCISCA , CÁNOVES JOAQUÍN , MAINAR LUIS , Tormos Álvaro , CERDÁ JOSE M. , ALBEROLA ANTONIO , SUCH LUIS 
Published: December 2012

BackgroundSelective local acceleration of myocardial activation during ventricular fibrillation (VF) contributes information on the interactions between neighboring zones during the arrhythmia. This study analyzes these interactions, centering the observations on an isthmus of myocardium between two radiofrequency (RF) lesions.MethodsIn nine isolated rabbit hearts, a gap of preserved myocardium was established between two RF lesions in the anterolateral left ventricle (LV) wall. Before, during, and after increasing the spatial heterogeneity of VF by local myocardial stretching, VF epicardial recordings were obtained.ResultsLocal stretch in the anterior LV wall decreased the excitable window (17 ± 7 ms vs 26 ± 7 ms; P < 0.05) and increased the dominant frequency (DFr; 18.9 ± 5.0 Hz vs 15.2 ± 3.6 Hz; P < 0.05) in this zone, without changes in the non‐stretched posterolateral zone (25 ± 4 ms vs 27 ± 6 ms, ns and 14.1 ± 2.7 Hz vs 14.3 ± 3.0 Hz, ns). The DFr ratio at both sides of the gap was inversely correlated to the excitable window ratio (R = −0.57; P = 0.002). Before (31% vs 26%), during (29% vs 22%), and after stretch suppression (35% vs 25%), the wavefronts passing through the gap from the posterolateral to the anterior LV wall were seen to predominate. The number of wavefronts that passed from the anterior to the posterolateral LV wall was related to the excitable window in this zone (R = 0.41; P = 0.03).ConclusionsThe VF acceleration induced in the stretched zone does not increase the flow of wavefronts toward the non‐stretched zone in the adjacent gap of preserved myocardium. The absence of significant changes in the electrophysiological parameters of the non‐stretched myocardium limits the arrival of wavefronts in this zone.
Fine mapping of a QTL for the number of spikelets per panicle by using near‐isogenic lines derived from an interspecific cross between Oryza sativa and Oryza minuta
Authors: Balkunde Sangshetty , Le Hung‐Linh , Lee Hyun‐Sook , Kim Dong‐Min , Kang Ju‐Won , Ahn Sang‐Nag 
Published: December 2012

AbstractWe constructed a high‐resolution physical map for the qSPP7 QTL for spikelets per panicle (SPP) on rice chromosome 7 across a 28.6‐kb region containing four predicted genes. Using a series of BC7F4 near‐isogenic lines (NILs) derived from a cross between the Korean japonica cultivar ‘Hwaseongbyeo’ and Oryza minuta (IRGC Acc. No. 101144), three QTLs for the number of SPP, grains per panicle and primary branches were identified in the cluster (P ≤ 0.01). All three QTLs were additive, and alleles from the O. minuta parent were beneficial in the ‘Hwaseongbyeo’ background. qSPP7 was mapped to a 28.6‐kb region between the two simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers RM4952 and RM21605. The additive effect of the O. minuta allele at qSPP7 was 23 SPP, and 43.6% of the phenotypic variance was explained by the segregation of the SSR marker RM4952. Colocalization of the three QTLs suggested that this locus was associated with panicle structure and had pleiotropic effects. The NIL populations and molecular markers are useful for cloning qspp7.
Interleukin‐17A is involved in bacteria‐related acute pleural inflammation
Authors: Kollintza Androniki , Magkouta Sofia , Psallidas Ioannis , Moschos Charalampos , Stratiki Magdalini , Esquerda Aureli , Porcel José M. , Kalomenidis Ioannis 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground and objectiveThe role of pro‐inflammatory interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A), in pleural diseases is unknown. We sought to investigate IL‐17A expression and its clinical implications in patients with pleural effusion (PE) and IL‐17A involvement in the pathobiology of pleural inflammation elicited by bacterial products.MethodsPleural and blood IL‐17A content was examined in 84 patients with PE of different aetiologies, and the diagnostic value of pleural IL‐17A was explored in 92 patients with neutrophil‐predominant PE. IL‐17A contribution in pleural inflammation was evaluated in mice injected intrapleurally with either IL‐17A or bacterial products with or without IL‐17A‐neutralizing antibodies.ResultsIL‐17A was upregulated in the pleural space of patients with parapneumonic PE. It was detected in a minority of patients with tuberculous PE and very uncommonly in patients with malignant or other pleural exudates. Pleural fluid (PF) IL‐17A levels were correlated with markers of acute pleural inflammation, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor and IL‐8 levels. Among patients with neutrophil‐predominant PE, PF IL‐17A was detected only in those with parapneumonic PE, although the sensitivity of the test was low (<50%). Intrapleural injection of IL‐17A elicited a neutrophil‐predominant inflammatory response in mice, and IL‐17A neutralization partially blocked pleural neutrophilia induced by intrapleural administration of bacterial products.ConclusionsIL‐17A is involved in pleural inflammation related to bacterial infection. Moreover, pleural IL‐17A levels may be helpful in uncovering an infectious aetiology among patients with neutrophil‐predominant PE.
Spectacular Youth Cultures and Ageing: Beyond Refusing to Grow Up
Authors: Hodkinson Paul 
Published: December 2012

AbstractFor decades, research on the subject of music and style subcultures has presented participation in such groups as a temporary manifestation of adolescence. More recently, sociologists have begun to examine the lives and identities of those who remain involved in so‐called ‘youth’ subcultures beyond their teens and early twenties. This article examines the ways such work has begun to illuminate the role of enduring subcultural identities as part of the developing lives of older participants. Such work, I suggest, rejects simplistic understandings of older participation as a refusal to grow up in favour of a detailed focus on the relationships between continuing participation and other aspects of developing adult life, including career, family and the ageing body. Identifying core themes and debates while identifying areas for further work, I argue that this developing field of research addresses one of the primary criticisms of youth cultural research in the past, which is that such research has tended to examine leisure related affiliations in a fixed period of time and in isolation from the rest of participants’ lives.
Cytomegalovirus disease in lung transplantation: impact of recipient seropositivity and duration of antiviral prophylaxis
Authors: Hammond S.P. , Martin S.T. , Roberts K. , Gabardi S. , Fuhlbrigge A.L. , Camp P.C. , Goldberg H.J. , Marty F.M. , Baden L.R. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundA recent randomized trial demonstrated that 1 year of antiviral prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus (CMV) after lung transplantation is superior to 3 months of treatment for prevention of CMV disease. However, it is uncertain if a shorter duration of prophylaxis might result in a similar rate of CMV disease among select lung transplant (LT) recipients who are at lower risk for CMV disease, based on baseline donor (D) and recipient (R) CMV serologies.MethodsWe retrospectively assessed incidence, cumulative probability, and predictors of CMV disease and viremia in LT recipients transplanted between July 2004 and December 2009 at our center, where antiviral CMV prophylaxis for 6–12 months is standard.ResultsOf 129 LT recipients, 94 were at risk for CMV infection based on donor CMV seropositivity (D+) or recipient seropositivity (R+); 14 developed CMV disease (14.9%): 11 with CMV syndrome, 2 with pneumonitis, and 1 with gastrointestinal disease by the end of follow‐up (October 2010); 17 developed asymptomatic CMV viremia (18.1%). The cumulative probability of CMV disease was 17.4% 18 months after transplantation. CMV D+/R− recipients who routinely received 1 year of prophylaxis were more likely to develop CMV disease compared with D+/R+ or D−/R+ recipients, who routinely received 6 months of prophylaxis (12/45 vs. 2/25 vs. 0/24, P = 0.005). Recipients who stopped CMV prophylaxis before 12 months (in D+/R− recipients) and 6 months (in R+ recipients) tended to develop CMV disease more than those who did not (9/39 vs. 3/41, P = 0.06).ConclusionsOn a 6‐month CMV prophylaxis protocol, few R+ recipients developed CMV disease in this cohort. In contrast, despite a 12‐month prophylaxis protocol, D+/R− LT recipients remained at highest risk for CMV disease.
Apple SEPALLATA1/2‐like genes control fruit flesh development and ripening
Authors: Ireland Hilary S. , Yao Jia‐Long , Tomes Sumathi , Sutherland Paul W. , Nieuwenhuizen Niels , Gunaseelan Kularajathevan , Winz Robert A. , David Karine M. , Schaffer Robert J. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryFlowering plants utilize different floral structures to develop flesh tissue in fruits. Here we show that suppression of the homeologous SEPALLATA1/2‐like genes MADS8 and MADS9 in the fleshy fruit apple (Malus x domestica) leads to sepaloid petals and greatly reduced fruit flesh. Immunolabelling of cell‐wall epitopes and differential staining showed that the developing hypanthium (from which the apple flesh develops) of MADS8/9‐suppressed apple flowers lacks a tissue layer, and the remaining flesh tissue of fully developed apples has considerably smaller cells. From these observations, it is proposed that MADS8 and MADS9 control the development of discrete zones within the hypanthium tissue, and therefore fruit flesh, and also act as foundations for development of different floral organs. At fruit maturity, the MADS8/9‐suppressed apples do not ripen in terms of both developmentally controlled ripening characters, such as starch degradation, and ethylene‐modulated ripening traits. Transient assays suggest that, like the RIN gene in tomato, the MADS9 gene acts as a transcriptional activator of the ethylene biosynthesis enzyme, 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate (ACC) synthase 1. The existence of a single class of genes that regulate both flesh formation and ripening provides an evolutionary tool for controlling two critical aspects of fleshy fruit development.
The effect of a preoperative erythropoietin protocol as part of a multifaceted blood management program in daily clinical practice (CME)
Authors: Doodeman Hieronymus J. , van Haelst Ingrid M.M. , Egberts Toine C.G. , Bennis Martin , Traast Han S. , van Solinge Wouter W. , Kalkman Cor J. , van Klei Wilton A. 
Published: December 2012

BackgroundThe effectiveness of a preoperative erythropoietin (EPO) protocol to reduce allogeneic blood transfusions (ABTs) in daily clinical practice has been insufficiently studied. This study evaluated the effect of such a protocol, as part of a multifaceted blood management program, in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).Study Design and MethodsThis retrospective observational study was designed as an interrupted time series (1999‐2010). The intervention was the introduction of an EPO protocol in THA patients in 2003. Patients were classified according to preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) level: 10 to 13 g/dL (eligible patients for EPO) and more than 13 g/dL. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients receiving an ABT. Segmented regression analysis was used to estimate changes in outcome after the intervention.ResultsA total of 4568 THA patients were included. The absolute reductions in ABTs after the intervention were 17% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6%‐29%) for the total study population and 25% (95% CI, 11%‐39%) and 8% (95% CI, −5% to 21%) for the Hb groups 10 to 13 and more than 13 g/dL, respectively. In the postintervention period, 46% of the eligible patients (Hb level, 10‐13 g/dL) actually received EPO. The transfusion rate in the EPO group was lower compared to the non‐EPO group: 14 and 50%, respectively (p < 0.01).ConclusionIntroduction of a preoperative EPO protocol reduced the transfusion rate in THA patients in daily clinical practice. The reduction must be seen as part of a multifaceted blood management program, in which increased awareness of blood transfusion contributes simultaneously and substantially to the reduction in transfusion rate.
Anti‐Ge3 causes late‐onset hemolytic disease of the newborn: the fourth case in three Hispanic families
Authors: Pate Lisa Lee , Myers Jessica C. , Palma Jonathan P. , Viele Maurene , Galel Susan A. , Ferrer Zenaida , Gonzalez Christopher L. , Benitz William E. , Garratty George , Fontaine Magali J. 
Published: December 2012

BackgroundThe Gerbich (Ge) blood group system consists of 11 antigens carried on red blood cell (RBC) membrane glycophorins C and D; of these, Ge:3 antigen is of high prevalence, and the anti‐Ge3 is found to be clinically significant.Case ReportA 34‐week neonate born to a Hispanic mother with anti‐Ge3 developed late‐onset hemolysis with hyperbilirubinemia and was successfully treated with transfusions from her mother. Relevant clinical findings and laboratory results for this case are summarized and compared to three other previously reported cases; all babies were born from a mother of Hispanic ethnicity.ConclusionHemolytic disease of the fetus and new born associated with anti‐Ge3 is rare but should be considered when working up a broadly reactive RBC antibody screen in women of Hispanic ethnicity. Early identification of pregnant women with anti‐Ge3 is recommended for prenatal transfusion planning and close monitoring of the newborn infant for evidence of late‐onset anemia.
The utility of staging in canine mast cell tumours
Authors: Warland J. , Amores‐Fuster I. , Newbury W. , Brearley M. , Dobson J. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractCurrent staging of canine mast cell tumours (MCTs) practiced by many veterinarians involves a minimum of lymph node (LN) assessment, abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiography. Historically, some have advocated buffy coat and bone marrow evaluation. Two hundred and twenty dogs withMCTseen at a referral clinic were staged usingLNpalpation/cytology, thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasound. The utility of each method was evaluated by considering prevalence of spread and future behaviour. At presentation, 30.9% of dogs had metastases to the localLN; 6.8% of all the dogs also had distant metastases. No dog had or developed distant metastasis in the absence ofLNmetastasis. No dog had convincing evidence of pulmonary metastasis. In this series, the localLNwas sentinel to metastasis and in the absence of localLNmetastasis, the utility of further staging was low. Thoracic radiography was not useful in the staging of canineMCT.
External beam pulsed low dose radiotherapy using volumetric modulated arc therapy: Planning and delivery
Authors: Tyagi Neelam , Yang Kai , Sandhu Raminder , Yan Di , Park Sean S. , Chen Peter Y. , Marples Brian 
Published: December 2012

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility of planning and delivering pulsed low dose radiotherapy (PLRT) using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) on Elektalinacs.Methods:Ten patients previously treated for glioblastomamultiforme (GBM) were replanned using PLRT VMAT to deliver ten 0.2 Gy pulses separated by 3 min intervals with an effective dose rate of 0.067 Gy/min. VMAT parameters such as leaf speed and arc length were investigated to deliver 2 Gy/fraction to a total of 60 Gy to the target volume in ten subfractions or pulses. Plan quality was assessed using conformity and homogeneity indices. Absolute dose distribution for individual pulses was measured using ArcCHECK diode array. Individual pulses were analyzed for reproducibility and stability using machine log files. Machine characteristics at low monitor units and low dose rate were also investigated.Results:An optimal arc length of 140°–160° and a leaf speed of 0.18–0.25 cm/° were sufficient to provide equivalent plan coverage and stable delivery. The average time and dose rate required to deliver a single 0.2 Gy pulse was 39.5 ± 2.3 s and 49 ± 32.3 cGy/min. Average reductions in MUs for the VMAT PLRT plan compared to IMRT for PTV was 16% (Range: −5.5%–36.1%) and 10.9% (Range: −18.4%–32.3%) for the initial and boost plan. A significant improvement was seen in maximum doses to all sensitive structures when planned with VMAT PLRT. The average absolute dose gamma passing rate for the 10 pulses combined and 2 Gy plan were 91.6 ± 2.5% and 97.3 ± 1.2%, respectively. Cumulative monitor units, dose rate, gantry angles, and leaf positions evaluated using machine log files were within 2% for all pulses.Conclusions:Elekta linacs are capable of delivering reproducible and stable PLRT plans. A prospective clinical study employing PLRT is currently in development.