bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of methodological quality and outcome measures of acute stroke randomized controlled trials in China in recent 15 years
Authors: He Sha , Wu Simiao , Zeng Quantao , Zhang Shihong , Lin Sen , Zhang Canfei , Cui Xiaoyang , Liu Ming 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the most important evidence to guide clinical practice in the treatment of acute stroke. This study aims to evaluate the changes of quantity and methodological quality of acute stroke RCTs in Mainland China published in recent 15 years.Method: We included un‐confounded RCTs on acute stroke from eight databases published in Chinese or English from 1996 to 2010. General characteristics, design methodology, and outcome measures of studies were assessed.Results: Totally, 9061 RCTs were identified. The number of acute stroke RCTs had increased by years, the total of trials published in 2010 was 20 times of that published in 1996. Three thousand four hundred eighty‐eight trials (38.5%) used western drugs in the treatment, 3026 (33.4%) trials used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and 1933 (22.0%) trials used physical therapy. Ischemic stroke was the most common research subject among all trials (65.1%, 5,989). There were 541 (6.0%) RCTs using adequate randomization methods, 34 (0.4%) RCTs using adequate allocation concealment, and 195 (2.2%) using adequate blinding methods. Thirty‐three (0.4%) RCTs adopted both adequate randomization methods and allocation concealment. Only 23 (0.3%) trials used all three methods of adequate randomization methods, allocation concealment, and blinding. During the 15 years, only the number of trials using adequate randomized methods and reporting adverse events had significantly increased (both P < 0.001). As for these RCTs, only the number of trials using adequate blinding method in pharmaceutical intervention was statistical differences compared with that of nondrug intervention trials (P = 0.043). Outcomes were assessed blindly in 72 trials. Death was reported by 14.2% of trials, impairment by 85.1%, disability by 22.5%, and handicap or quality of life by 0.4%. 99.7% trials reported positive results. Larger trials were more likely to use adequate randomized methods, allocation concealment and blinding methods, as well as to measure disability. Only 14 large‐sample high‐quality RCTs were found.Conclusion: During 15 years, the number of acute stroke RCTs has increased dramatically, but the quality of trials improves slowly. Most acute stroke trials used inadequate outcome measures in terms of their content, reliability, validity, blinding assessment.
Adjunctive antidepressant prescriptions for hospitalized patients with schizophrenia in Asia (2001–2009)
Authors: Xiang Yu‐Tao , Ungvari Gabor S. , Wang Chuan‐Yue , Si Tian‐Mei , Lee Edwin H.M. , Chiu Helen F.K. , Lai Kelly Y.C. , He Yan‐Ling , Yang Shu‐Yu , Chong Mian‐Yoon , Tan Chay‐Hoon , Kua Ee‐Heok , Fujii Senta , Sim Kang , Yong Michael K.H. , Trivedi Jitendra K. , Chung Eun‐Kee , Udomratn Pichet , Chee Kok‐Yoon , Sartorius Norman , Shinfuku Naotaka 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIntroductionLittle is known about the prescription patterns of adjunctive antidepressants in Asian schizophrenia patients. This study aimed to examine trends in the use of antidepressants and their demographic and clinical correlates in the treatment of schizophrenia in Asia between 2001 and 2009.MethodsA total of 6,761 hospitalized schizophrenia patients in nine Asian countries and territories were examined: 2,399 in 2001, 2,136 in 2004 and 2,226 in 2009. Patients' socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics and prescriptions of psychotropic drugs were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure.ResultsThe proportion of antidepressant prescription was 6.8% in the whole sample; 5.3% in 2001, 6.5% in 2004 and 8.7% in 2009. There were wide inter‐country variations at each survey ranging from 0.9% in Hong Kong to 15.3% in Singapore in 2001; from 1.9% in Korea to 15.4% in Singapore in 2004; and from 2.7% in Japan to 22.0% in Singapore in 2009. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample revealed that patients on antidepressants were younger, more likely to receive benzodiazepines and have significant extrapyramidal side‐effects and less likely to have significant positive symptoms.DiscussionUnlike findings in Western countries, adjunctive antidepressant prescription for schizophrenia was not common in Asia. The frequency of antidepressant prescription varied among countries and territories, suggesting that a host of clinical and socio‐cultural factors played a role in determining antidepressant use in Asia.
Cognitive impairment in diabetic patients: Can diabetic control prevent cognitive decline?
Authors: Kawamura Takahiko , Umemura Toshitaka , Hotta Nigishi 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIt is well recognized that the prevalence of dementia is higher in diabetic patients than non‐diabetic subjects. The incidence of diabetes has been increasing because of dramatic changes in lifestyles, and combined with longer lifespans as a result of advances in medical technology, this has brought about an increase in the number of elderly diabetic patients. Together, aging and diabetes have contributed to dementia becoming a serious problem. Progression to dementia reduces quality of life, and imposes a burden on both patients themselves and the families supporting them. Therefore, preventing the complication of dementia will become more and more important in the future. Although many mechanisms have been considered for an association between diabetes and cognitive dysfunction, glucose metabolism abnormalities such as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, and insulin action abnormalities such as insulin deficiency and insulin resistance can be causes of cognitive impairment. Recent large‐scale longitudinal studies have found an association between glycemic control and cognitive decline, although it is still unclear how cognitive decline might be prevented by good glycemic control. However, at an early stage, it is necessary to detect moderate cognitive dysfunction and try to reduce the risk factors for it, which should result in prevention of dementia, as well as vascular events. In the present review, in addition to outlining an association between diabetes and cognitive function, we discuss how glycemic control and cognitive decline are related.
Paired‐pulse facilitation of multivesicular release and intersynaptic spillover of glutamate at rat cerebellar granule cell–interneurone synapses
Authors: Satake Shin’Ichiro , Inoue Tsuyoshi , Imoto Keiji 
Published: August 2012

Key points
Paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF) is a widely observed form of presynaptically originated short‐term plasticity.
Here, we report that, in rat cerebellar cortex, paired‐pulse activation of glutamatergic granule cell axon fibres causes not only a facilitation in the peak amplitude (PPFamp) but also a prolongation in the decay‐time constant (PPPdecay) of the EPSCs recorded from molecular‐layer interneurones (INs).
PPFamp is elicited, in part, by an increase in the number of released vesicles (that is, multivesicular release), whereas PPPdecay results from extrasynaptic spillover of the transmitter glutamate and its intersynaptic pooling among active synapses, as well as from delayed release as has been explained.
PPFamp and PPPdecay play unique roles in determining excitability of the INs.
These findings help us understand the mechanisms underlying encoding and processing of the neuronal information in the cerebellar cortex.
Abstract  A simple form of presynaptic plasticity, paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF), has been explained as a transient increase in the probability of vesicular release. Using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique to record synaptic activity in rat cerebellar slices, we found different forms of presynaptically originated short‐term plasticity during glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission from granule cells (GCs) to molecular‐layer interneurones (INs). Paired‐pulse activation of GC axons at short intervals (30–100 ms) elicited not only a facilitation in the peak amplitude (PPFamp), but also a prolongation in the decay‐time constant (PPPdecay) of the EPSCs recorded from INs. The results of pharmacological tests and kinetics analyses suggest that the mechanisms underlying the respective types of short‐term plasticity were different. PPFamp was elicited by a transient increase in the number of released vesicles. On the other hand, PPPdecay was caused not only by delayed release as has been reported but also by extrasynaptic spillover of the GC transmitter and the subsequent intersynaptic pooling. Both PPFamp and PPPdecay closely rely on repetitive‐activation‐induced multivesicular release. Using a dynamic clamp technique, we further examined the physiological significance of different presynaptic plasticity, and found that PPFamp and PPPdecay can differentially encode and process neuronal information by influencing the total synaptic charge transferred to postsynaptic INs to reflect activation frequency of the presynaptic GCs.
Neurogliaform cells of amygdala: a source of slow phasic inhibition in the basolateral complex
Authors: Mańko Mirosława , Bienvenu Thomas C.M. , Dalezios Yannis , Capogna Marco 
Published: August 2012

Key points
The amygdala is a key brain structure implicated in processing emotions and is thought to underlie anxiety‐related behaviours.
Interneurons of the basolateral amygdala provide constant silencing of principal cells, and are proven to be active cellular elements during emotional processing.
We report here a novel interneuron type of the amygdala, termed neurogliaform cell (NGFC), and study its function by a combination of in vivo and in vitro techniques.
NGFCs provide a peculiar cell‐to‐cell form of communication via volume transmission of GABA.
In‐depth analysis of specific neuron type is likely to improve the understanding of amygdala circuits in health and disease.
Abstract  Synaptic inhibition in the amygdala actively participates in processing emotional information. To improve the understanding of interneurons in amygdala networks it is necessary to characterize the GABAergic cell types, their connectivity and physiological roles. We used a mouse line expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the neuropeptide Y (NPY) promoter. Paired recordings between presynaptic NPY‐GFP‐expressing (+) cells and postsynaptic principal neurons (PNs) of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were performed. The NPY‐GFP+ neurons displayed small somata and short dendrites embedded in a cloud of highly arborized axon, suggesting a neurogliaform cell (NGFC) type. We discovered that a NPY‐GFP+ cell evoked a GABAA receptor‐mediated slow inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) in a PN and an autaptic IPSC. The slow kinetics of these IPSCs was likely caused by the low concentration and spillover of extracellular GABA. We also report that NGFCs of the BLA fired action potentials phase‐locked to hippocampal theta oscillations in anaesthetized rats. When this firing was re‐played in NPY+‐NGFCs in vitro, it evoked a transient depression of the IPSCs. Presynaptic GABAB receptors and functional depletion of synaptic vesicles determined this short‐term plasticity. Synaptic contacts made by recorded NGFCs showed close appositions, and rarely identifiable classical synaptic structures. Thus, we report here a novel interneuron type of the amygdala that generates volume transmission of GABA. The peculiar functional mode of NGFCs makes them unique amongst all GABAergic cell types of the amygdala identified so far.
Activation of IGF‐2R stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in the late gestation sheep fetus
Authors: Wang Kimberley C. W. , Brooks Doug A. , Thornburg Kent L. , Morrison Janna L. 
Published: August 2012

Key points
This study investigates the impact that insulin‐like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF‐2R) activation has on the fetal heart, by infusing Leu27IGF‐2 into the left circumflex coronary artery of the sheep fetus, to specifically activate IGF‐2R and it's downstream signalling pathway.
Activation of cardiac IGF‐2R resulted in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, but with no changes in heart weight, cardiomyocyte proliferation, binucleation or apoptosis. This hypertrophy was mediated via protein kinase A activation.
Infusion of Leu27IGF‐2 increases atrial natriuretic peptide abundance, a marker of cardiac pathological hypertrophy.
Cardiac IGF‐2R activation may alter important regulators of cardiac contractility and relaxation by decreasing sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase and phospho‐troponin I abundance.
This study places the interaction between the IGF‐2R and Gαs signalling pathway as a potential mechanism that can contribute to cardiomyocyte growth in fetal life, but which may result in pathological cardiac hypertrophy in postnatal life.
Abstract In vitro studies using rat and fetal sheep cardiomyocytes indicate that, in addition to its role as a clearance receptor, the insulin‐like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF‐2R) can induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In the present study, we have determined the effect of specific activation of the IGF‐2R in the heart of the late gestation fetus on cardiomyocyte development. Leu27IGF‐2, an IGF‐2R agonist, was infused into the fetal left circumflex coronary artery for 4 days beginning at 128.1 ± 0.4 days gestation. Ewes were humanely killed at 132.2 ± 1.2 days gestation (term, 150 days). Fetuses were delivered and hearts dissected to isolate the cardiomyocytes and to collect and snap‐freeze tissue. Leu27IGF‐2 infusion into the left circumflex coronary artery of fetal sheep increased the area of binucleated cardiomyocytes in the left, but not the right, ventricle. However, this infusion of Leu27IGF‐2 did not change fetal weight, heart weight, blood pressure, blood gases or cardiomyocyte proliferation/binucleation. The increase in cardiomyocyte size in the Leu27IGF‐2‐infused group was associated with increased expression of proteins in the Gαs, but not the Gαq, signalling pathway. We concluded that infusion of Leu27IGF‐2 into the left circumflex coronary artery causes cardiac IGF‐2R activation in the left ventricle of the heart, and this stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a Gαs‐dependent manner.
Differences in predicted and actually absorbed doses in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy
Authors: Kletting Peter , Müller Berthold , Erentok Bahar , Schmaljohann Jörn , Behrendt Florian F. , Reske Sven N. , Mottaghy Felix M. , Glatting Gerhard 
Published: August 2012

Purpose:An important assumption in dosimetry prior to radionuclide therapy is the equivalence of pretherapeutic and therapeutic biodistribution. In this study the authors investigate if this assumption is justified in sst2‐receptor targeting peptide therapy, as unequal amounts of peptide and different peptides for pretherapeutic measurements and therapy are commonly used.Methods:Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models were developed. Gamma camera and serum measurements of ten patients with metastasizing neuroendocrine tumors were conducted using111In‐DTPAOC. The most suitable model was selected using the corrected Akaike information criterion. Based on that model and the estimated individual parameters, predicted and measured 90Y‐DOTATATE excretions during therapy were compared. The residence times for the pretherapeutic (measured) and therapeutic scenarios (simulated) were calculated.Results:Predicted and measured therapeutic excretion differed in three patients by 10%, 31%, and 7%. The measured pretherapeutic and therapeutic excretion differed by 53%, 56%, and 52%. The simulated therapeutic residence times of kidney and tumor were 3.1 ± 0.6 and 2.5 ± 1.2 fold higher than the measured pretherapeutic ones.Conclusions:To avoid the introduction of unnecessary inaccuracy in dosimetry, using the same substance along with the same amount for pretherapeutic measurements and therapy is recommended.
Intranasal Vaccination with Replication-Defective Adenovirus Type 5 Encoding Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Elicits Protective Immunity to Homologous Challenge and Partial Protection to Heterologous Challenge in Pigs
Authors: Braucher Douglas R. , Henningson Jamie N. , Loving Crystal L. , Vincent Amy L. , Kim Eun , Steitz Julia , Gambotto Andrea A. , Kehrli Marcus E. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTInfluenza A virus (IAV) is widely circulating in the swine population and causes significant economic losses. To combat IAV infection, the swine industry utilizes adjuvanted whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines, using a prime-boost strategy. These vaccines can provide sterilizing immunity toward homologous virus but often have limited efficacy against a heterologous infection. There is a need for vaccine platforms that induce mucosal and cell-mediated immunity that is cross-reactive to heterologous viruses and can be produced in a short time frame. Nonreplicating adenovirus 5 vector (Ad5) vaccines are one option, as they can be produced rapidly and given intranasally to induce local immunity. Thus, we compared the immunogenicity and efficacy of a single intranasal dose of an Ad5-vectored hemagglutinin (Ad5-HA) vaccine to those of a traditional intramuscular administration of WIV vaccine. Ad5-HA vaccination induced a mucosal IgA response toward homologous IAV and primed an antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response against both challenge viruses. The Ad5-HA vaccine provided protective immunity to homologous challenge and partial protection against heterologous challenge, unlike the WIV vaccine. Nasal shedding was significantly reduced and virus was cleared from the lung by day 5 postinfection following heterologous challenge of Ad5-HA-vaccinated pigs. However, the WIV-vaccinated pigs displayed vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD) following heterologous challenge, characterized by enhanced macroscopic lung lesions. This study demonstrates that a single intranasal vaccination with an Ad5-HA construct can provide complete protection from homologous challenge and partial protection from heterologous challenge, as opposed to VAERD, which can occur with adjuvanted WIV vaccines.
Draft Genome Sequence of Aspergillus oryzae Strain 3.042
Authors: Zhao Guozhong , Yao Yunping , Qi Wei , Wang Chunling , Hou Lihua , Zeng Bin , Cao Xiaohong 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Aspergillus oryzae
is the most important fungus for the traditional fermentation in China and is particularly important in soy sauce fermentation. We report the 36,547,279-bp draft genome sequence of
A. oryzae
3.042 and compared it to the published genome sequence of
A. oryzae
RIB40.
Peritonitis and Technique Failure Caused by Roseomonas mucosa in an Adolescent Infected with HIV on Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Boyd Mary Adetinuke , Laurens Matthew B. , Fiorella Paul D. , Mendley Susan R. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

We report the first case of peritonitis caused by
Roseomonas mucosa
which led to technique failure in an adolescent patient with HIV receiving peritoneal dialysis. Identification of the causative organism by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis is described.
Fast Assessment of Resistance to Carbapenems and Ciprofloxacin of Clinical Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Bou Germán , Otero Fátima María , Santiso Rebeca , Tamayo María , Fernández María del Carmen , Tomás María , Gosálvez Jaime , Fernández José Luis 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
constitute a major life-threatening problem worldwide, and early adequate antibiotic therapy is decisive for success. For these reasons, rapid detection of antibiotic susceptibility in this pathogen is a clinical challenge. Two variants of the Micromax kit were evaluated for a rapid detection
in situ
of susceptibility or resistance to meropenem or ciprofloxacin, separately, in 322 clinical isolates. Release of the nucleoid is the criterion of susceptibility to the beta-lactams (carbapenems), whereas diffusion of DNA fragments emerging from the nucleoid characterizes the quinolone activity. All the susceptible and resistant strains were correctly categorized in 100 min according to the MIC results and CLSI criteria. Thus, our technology is a promising tool for rapid identification of carbapenem and quinolone resistance of
A. baumannii
strains in hospital settings.
The Human Metapneumovirus Fusion Protein Mediates Entry via an Interaction with RGD-Binding Integrins
Authors: Cox Reagan G. , Livesay S. Brent , Johnson Monika , Ohi Melanie D. , Williams John V. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
Paramyxoviruses use a specialized fusion protein to merge the viral envelope with cell membranes and initiate infection. Most paramyxoviruses require the interaction of two viral proteins to enter cells; an attachment protein binds cell surface receptors, leading to the activation of a fusion (F) protein that fuses the viral envelope and host cell plasma membrane. In contrast, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) expressing only the F protein is replication competent, suggesting a primary role for HMPV F in attachment and fusion. We previously identified an invariant arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) motif in the HMPV F protein and showed that the RGD-binding integrin αVβ1-promoted HMPV infection. Here we show that both HMPV F-mediated binding and virus entry depend upon multiple RGD-binding integrins and that HMPV F can mediate binding and fusion in the absence of the viral attachment (G) protein. The invariant F-RGD motif is critical for infection, as an F-RAE virus was profoundly impaired. Further, F-integrin binding is required for productive viral RNA transcription, indicating that RGD-binding integrins serve as receptors for the HMPV fusion protein. Thus, HMPV F is triggered to induce virus-cell fusion by interactions with cellular receptors in a manner that is independent of the viral G protein. These results suggest a stepwise mechanism of HMPV entry mediated by the F protein through its interactions with cellular receptors, including RGD-binding integrins.
Modification of One Epitope-Flanking Amino Acid Allows for the Induction of Friend Retrovirus-Specific CD8+T Cells by Adenovirus-Based Immunization
Authors: Gödel Philipp , Windmann Sonja , Dietze Kirsten K. , Dittmer Ulf , Bayer Wibke 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTWhile Friend retrovirus-infected mice readily mount a vigorous CD8+T cell response to the leader-gag-derived peptide GagL85–93, no GagL85–93-specific T cells were detectable in mice immunized against Friend virus (FV) with viral vectors or DNA vaccines. By exchanging one epitope-flanking amino acid or using a scaffold protein we were able to demonstrate for the first time the induction of GagL85–93-specific CD8+T cells by genetic vaccination and show their high protective effect against FV challenge infection.