bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preliminary evaluation on digestibility and the relation to morphology and water content of Brachiaria spp. and their heritability
Authors: Thaikua Sarayut , Ebina Masumi , Kouki Kaori , Inafuku Masahito , Akamine Hikaru , Shimoda Katsuhisa , Suenaga Kazuhiro , Kawamoto Yasuhiro 
Published: February 2015

AbstractIn vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) is one of the most important traits for grass quality improvement. Analysis of IVDMD in laboratory with a large number of breeding populations is very laborious. The objectives of this study were to evaluate IVDMD of brachiariagrass germplasm as material in breeding program, and also to determine the appropriate selection criteria for high digestibility. IVDMD (pepsin‐cellulase method), morphology traits and water content of 17 genotypes of Brachiaria spp. (B. brizantha, B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis and Brachiaria hybrid) were evaluated at two harvesting times, winter and early summer seasons. The correlations among traits were determined, and their heritability were also estimated. IVDMD ranged from 48.9 to 59.0% in winter, and 42.9 to 54.4% in early summer. Among morphological traits, leaf‐stem index (ratio of leaf width/stem diameter) showed the highest correlation with whole plant IVDMD (r = 0.74) followed by leaf‐shape ratio (leaf width/leaf length; r = 0.72), and leaf water content also highly correlated with whole plant IVDMD (r = 0.79). The broad sense heritability of IVDMD and the related traits of two harvests combination were high with the range of 0.75–0.93. The results demonstrate that leaf‐stem index, leaf‐shape ratio and water content could be the useful selection criteria for the breeding of brachiariagrass for high digestibility.
Outcomes of a 1‐year randomized controlled trial to evaluate a behavioral ‘stepped‐down’ weight loss intervention for adolescent patients with obesity
Authors: Norman G. , Huang J. , Davila E. P. , Kolodziejczyk J. K. , Carlson J. , Covin J. R. , Gootschalk M. , Patrick K. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryBackgroundStepped‐care approaches to weight loss have shown some success among adults. A ‘stepped‐down’ version of the stepped‐care approach to adolescent weight loss has never been evaluated.ObjectivesWe conducted a one‐year randomized controlled trial to compare a stepped‐down weight loss intervention versus enhanced usual care (EUC).MethodsStudy participants were obese adolescents age 11–13 (N = 106, 51% girls, and 82% Hispanic) recruited from primary care clinics in San Diego, California. The stepped‐down intervention was delivered through clinician and health educator counseling (in‐person and by phone) and mailed content. The intervention consisted of four‐month ‘steps’ beginning with the most intensive contact followed by reduced contact if treatment goals were met. The EUC group received an initial physician visit, one session with a health counselor, and monthly mailed materials. Body mass index (BMI kg/m2) was measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months. Mixed‐model regression analyses were stratified by sex.ResultsResults indicated a clinically significant treatment effect for boys on BMI (p < 0.001) but not girls. No between group differences were found for adiposity and biometric outcomes. Only 13% of intervention participants succeeded in stepping down from step 1 to step 2 or step 3.ConclusionsA stepped‐down approach to weight loss showed some evidence of efficacy for weight loss in boys but not girls. The findings suggest the program as designed was not intensive enough to result in weight loss in this population segment.
Acquired immunodeficiencies and tuberculosis: focus on HIV/AIDS and diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ronacher Katharina , Joosten Simone A. , van Crevel Reinout , Dockrell Hazel M. , Walzl Gerhard , Ottenhoff Tom H. M. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryThe spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection within Africa led to marked increases in numbers of cases of tuberculosis (TB), and although the epidemic peaked in 2006, there were still 1.8 million new cases in 2013, with 29.2 million prevalent cases. Half of all TB cases in Africa are in those with HIV co‐infection. A brief review of the well‐documented main immunological mechanisms of HIV‐associated increased susceptibility to TB is presented. However, a new threat is facing TB control, which presents itself in the form of a rapid increase in the number of people living with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly in areas that are already hardest hit by the TB epidemic. T2DM increases susceptibility to TB threefold, and the TB burden attributable to T2DM is 15%. This review addresses the much smaller body of research information available on T2DM‐TB, compared to HIV‐TB comorbidity. We discuss the altered clinical presentation of TB in the context of T2DM comorbidity, changes in innate and adaptive immune responses, including lymphocyte subsets and T‐cell phenotypes, the effect of treatment of the different comorbidities, changes in biomarker expression and genetic predisposition to the respective morbidities, and other factors affecting the comorbidity. Although significant gains have been made in improving our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of T2DM‐associated increased susceptibility, knowledge gaps still exist that require urgent attention.
Immunology studies in non‐human primate models of tuberculosis
Authors: Flynn JoAnne L. , Gideon Hannah P. , Mattila Joshua T. , Lin Philana Ling 
Published: February 2015

SummaryNon‐human primates, primarily macaques, have been used to study tuberculosis for decades. However, in the last 15 years, this model has been refined substantially to allow careful investigations of the immune response and host‐pathogen interactions in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Low‐dose challenge with fully virulent strains in cynomolgus macaques result in the full clinical spectrum seen in humans, including latent and active infection. Reagents from humans are usually cross‐reactive with macaques, further facilitating the use of this model system to study tuberculosis. Finally, macaques develop the spectrum of granuloma types seen in humans, providing a unique opportunity to investigate bacterial and host factors at the local (lung and lymph node) level. Here, we review the past decade of immunology and pathology studies in macaque models of tuberculosis.
The onset of adaptive immunity in the mouse model of tuberculosis and the factors that compromise its expression
Authors: Robinson Richard T. , Orme Ian M. , Cooper Andrea M. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has been evolving with its human host for over 50 000 years and is an exquisite manipulator of the human immune response. It induces both a strong inflammatory and a strong acquired immune response, and Mtb then actively regulates these responses to create an infectious lesion in the lung while maintaining a relatively ambulatory host. The CD4+ T cell plays a critical yet contradictory role in this process by both controlling disseminated disease while promoting the development of the lesion in the lung that mediates transmission. In light of this manipulative relationship between Mtb and the human immune response, it is not surprising that our ability to vaccinate against tuberculosis (TB) has not been totally successful. To overcome the current impasse in vaccine development, we need to define the phenotype of CD4+ T cells that mediate protection and to determine those bacterial and host factors that regulate the effective function of these cells. In this review, we describe the initiation and expression of T cells during TB as well as the fulminant inflammatory response that can compromise T‐cell function and survival.
Mycobacteria, metals, and the macrophage
Authors: Neyrolles Olivier , Wolschendorf Frank , Mitra Avishek , Niederweis Michael 
Published: February 2015

SummaryMycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen that thrives inside host macrophages. A key trait of M. tuberculosis is to exploit and manipulate metal cation trafficking inside infected macrophages to ensure survival and replication inside the phagosome. Here, we describe the recent fascinating discoveries that the mammalian immune system responds to infections with M. tuberculosis by overloading the phagosome with copper and zinc, two metals which are essential nutrients in small quantities but are toxic in excess. M. tuberculosis has developed multi‐faceted resistance mechanisms to protect itself from metal toxicity including control of uptake, sequestration inside the cell, oxidation, and efflux. The host response to infections combines this metal poisoning strategy with nutritional immunity mechanisms that deprive M. tuberculosis from metals such as iron and manganese to prevent bacterial replication. Both immune mechanisms rely on the translocation of metal transporter proteins to the phagosomal membrane during the maturation process of the phagosome. This review summarizes these recent findings and discusses how metal‐targeted approaches might complement existing TB chemotherapeutic regimens with novel anti‐infective therapies.
B cells and antibodies in the defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Achkar Jacqueline M. , Chan John , Casadevall Arturo 
Published: February 2015

SummaryBetter understanding of the immunological components and their interactions necessary to prevent or control Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in humans is critical for tuberculosis (TB) vaccine development strategies. Although the contributory role of humoral immunity in the protection against Mtb infection and disease is less defined than the role of T cells, it has been well‐established for many other intracellular pathogens. Here we update and discuss the increasing evidence and the mechanisms of B cells and antibodies in the defense against Mtb infection. We posit that B cells and antibodies have a variety of potential protective roles at each stage of Mtb infection and postulate that such roles should be considered in the development strategies for TB vaccines and other immune‐based interventions.
A personal appreciation
Authors: Monks Lord John 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAs a senior official of the TUC and then the General Secretary, the author worked with Bill McCarthy from the late 1970s and was able to observe Bill's creativity and agility as a mediator in industrial disputes. In this appreciation, he tells some stories of Bill's career which evoke the memories of an era when industrial disputes were front page news and Bill was often asked to help resolve them.
A qualitative study of older and middle‐aged adults' perception and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction
Authors: Kim Sarang , Sargent‐Cox Kerry A. , Anstey Kaarin J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimTo investigate perceptions of dementia and dementia risk reduction held by people without dementia.BackgroundDementia does not only affect individuals with dementia, but also has an impact on family and friends, society and healthcare professionals. Recent research has identified modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia. However, it is unclear what knowledge people without dementia have about these risk factors and their attitudes towards addressing these risk factors to achieve dementia risk reduction are not known.DesignQualitative descriptive study using focus group methodology.MethodA focus group study was conducted in February 2011 with 34 older adults aged between 52‐90 years. The long‐table approach was used to identify themes and categorize data on dementia knowledge, risk and attitudes.FindingsParticipants correctly identified dementia risk factors as a group. Participants' responses about their perceived likelihood of developing dementia could be classified into three distinctive themes; fear, rational and cynical perceptions. Both fear of developing dementia and the need to improve dementia knowledge were considered major motivators towards adopting healthier lifestyle and health behaviours. Lack of knowledge on risk factors for dementia was identified as a major barrier for behavioural and lifestyle change.ConclusionThese findings can be used to develop effective and personalized interventions that increase motivators and reduce barriers by tailoring interventions to individual's dementia risk reduction literacy and motivations to change behaviours. Greater public‐health promotion and education about risk and protective factors for dementia are also necessary to increase dementia health literacy and to reduce overall dementia prevalence.
Genetic conditions of joint Nordic genetic evaluations of lifetime competition performance in warmblood sport horses
Authors: Viklund Å. , Furre S. , Eriksson S. , Vangen O. , Philipsson J. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryBreeding programmes for warmblood sport horses are similar in the Nordic countries Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, and stallions of same origin are used. The aim was to investigate whether a joint Nordic genetic evaluation based on lifetime competition performance is feasible and beneficial for breeding competitive sport horses in the Nordic countries. Results for almost 45 000 horses in show jumping and 30 000 horses in dressage were available. The larger populations in Sweden and Denmark contributed with 85% of the results. Heritabilities and genetic correlations between performances in the different countries were estimated, and comparisons of accuracies of estimated breeding values (EBVs) and number of stallions with EBVs based on national or joint data were studied. The heritabilities ranged between 0.25 and 0.42 for show jumping and between 0.14 and 0.55 for dressage. The genetic correlations between competition performances in the Nordic countries were estimated to 0.63–1.00. EBVs based on joint data increased accuracies for EBVs for stallions by 38–81% and increased the number of available stallions with EBVs by 40–288%, compared to EBVs based on national data only. A joint Nordic genetic evaluation for sport horses is recommended.
A Novel Toolkit to Improve Percutaneous Subxiphoid Needle Access to the Healthy Pericardial Sac
Authors: LUDWIG DANIEL R. , MENON PRAHLAD G. , FILL BRIAN , GARTNER MARK , SCHWARTZMAN DAVID 
Published: February 2015

Pericardial Access ToolkitIntroductionThe current practice of percutaneous subxiphoid needle access to the “healthy” pericardial sac has significant limitations. We sought to examine the feasibility of a novel toolkit designed to improve this procedure.Methods and ResultsThe toolkit included a pericardial access needle and a virtual imaging platform. The needle had a 0.036 inch outer diameter, abbreviated 25° bevel, and was electrically insulated except for two small surfaces recessed from the tip. Radiofrequency energy was delivered via these surfaces to facilitate pericardial perforation. The virtual imaging system demonstrated the needle in real time and in its entirety within the thoracic anatomy of the individual animal, which was reconstructed from computed tomographic images obtained preoperatively and registered to the operative field. In five large (40–60 kg) healthy pigs, percutaneous subxiphoid access to the sac using both anterior and posterior approaches was performed. Spatial inaccuracy was measured as the distance between the pericardial puncture site and the anterior or posterior descending coronary artery, the pericardium contiguous to which had been targeted by the needle. In each animal, pericardial access was gained at 4 discrete sites (2 anterior, 2 posterior). Inaccuracy was 4.2 ± 2.2 millimeters (range 0–8 millimeters) and did not differ significantly between anterior and posterior approaches. No damage to the epicardium or coronary arteries was observed.ConclusionsPercutaneous subxiphoid access to the pericardial sac utilizing this toolkit was feasible, including safety and reasonable accuracy.
Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry imaging of metals in experimental and clinical Wilson's disease
Authors: Boaru Sorina Georgiana , Merle Uta , Uerlings Ricarda , Zimmermann Astrid , Flechtenmacher Christa , Willheim Claudia , Eder Elisabeth , Ferenci Peter , Stremmel Wolfgang , Weiskirchen Ralf 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder in which the liver does not properly release copper into bile, resulting in prominent copper accumulation in various tissues. Affected patients suffer from hepatic disorders and severe neurological defects. Experimental studies in mutant mice in which the copper‐transporting ATPase gene (Atp7b) is disrupted revealed a drastic, time‐dependent accumulation of hepatic copper that is accompanied by formation of regenerative nodes resembling cirrhosis. Therefore, these mice represent an excellent exploratory model for Wilson's disease. However, the precise time course in hepatic copper accumulation and its impact on other trace metals within the liver is yet poorly understood. We have recently established novel laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry protocols allowing quantitative metal imaging in human and murine liver tissue with high sensitivity, spatial resolution, specificity and quantification ability. By use of these techniques, we here aimed to comparatively analyse hepatic metal content in wild‐type and Atp7b deficient mice during ageing. We demonstrate that the age‐dependent accumulation of hepatic copper is strictly associated with a simultaneous increase in iron and zinc, while the intrahepatic concentration and distribution of other metals or metalloids is not affected. The same findings were obtained in well‐defined human liver samples that were obtained from patients suffering from Wilson's disease. We conclude that in Wilson's disease the imbalances of hepatic copper during ageing are closely correlated with alterations in intrahepatic iron and zinc content.
Aurantiamide acetate suppresses the growth of malignant gliomas in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting autophagic flux
Authors: Yang Yi , Zhang Li‐hui , Yang Bing‐xian , Tian Jin‐kui , Zhang Lin 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWe aim to investigate the effect of aurantiamide acetate isolated from the aerial parts of Clematis terniflora DC against gliomas. Human malignant glioma U87 and U251 cells were incubated with different concentrations (0–100 μM) of aurantiamide acetate. Aurantiamide acetate greatly decreased the cell viability in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. It induced moderate mitochondrial fragmentation and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. No significant difference was found in the alternation of other intracellular organelles, although F‐actin structure was slightly disturbed. Apparent ultrastructure alternation with increased autophagosome and autolysosome accumulation was observed in aurantiamide acetate‐treated cells. The expression of LC3‐II was greatly up‐regulated in cells exposed to aurantiamide acetate (P < 0.05 compared with control). The cytoplasmic accumulation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes induced by aurantiamide acetate treatment was confirmed by fluorescent reporter protein labelling. Administration of chloroquine (CQ), which inhibits the fusion step of autophagosomes, further increased the accumulation of autophagosomes in the cytoplasm of U87 cells. Autophagy inhibition by 3‐methyladenine, Bafilomycin A1 or CQ had no influence on aurantiamide acetate‐induced cytotoxicity, whereas autophagy stimulator rapamycin significantly suppressed aurantiamide acetate‐induced cell death. The anti‐tumour effects of aurantiamide acetate were further evaluated in tumour‐bearing nude mice. Intratumoural injection of aurantiamide acetate obviously suppressed tumour growth, and increased number of autophagic vacuoles was observed in tumour tissues of animals receiving aurantiamide acetate. Our findings suggest that aurantiamide acetate may suppress the growth of malignant gliomas by blocking autophagic flux.
Synthesis, development, characterization and effectiveness of bovine pure platelet gel‐collagen‐polydioxanone bioactive graft on tendon healing
Authors: Moshiri Ali , Oryan Ahmad , Meimandi‐Parizi Abdolhamid 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBovine platelet gel (BPG) is an accessible and cost‐effective source of growth factors which may have a value in tendon regenerative medicine. We produced a collagen implant (CI) as a tendon proper, covered it with polydioxanone (PDS) sheath to simulate paratenon and finally embedded the BPG as an active source of growth factor within the bioimplant to test whether BPG would be able to accelerate and enhance tendon regeneration and repair. After in vitro characterization of the bioactive grafts, the grafts were implanted in rabbit large tendon defect model. Untreated tendons and tendons treated with either CI or CI‐PDS were served as controls for the CI‐PDS‐BPG. The animals were investigated clinically, ultrasonographically and haematologically for 120 days. After euthanasia, dry matter content, water uptake and delivery characteristics and also gross morphological, histopathological and scanning electron microscopic features of the healing tendons were assessed. In vitro, the activated platelets in the scaffold, released their growth factors significantly more than the controls. BPG also increased cell viability, and enhanced cellular differentiation, maturation and proliferation inside the CI‐PDS compared with the controls. In vivo, the BPG modulated inflammation, increased quality and rate of fibroplasia and produced a remodelled tendon that had significantly higher collagen content and superior collagen fibril and fibre differentiation than controls. Treatment also significantly improved tendon water uptake and delivery characteristics, animals’ serum PDGF level, CI‐PDS biocompatibility and biodegradability and reduced peritendinous adhesions, muscle fibrosis and atrophy. BPG was effective on tendon healing and CI‐PDS‐BPG may be a valuable bioscaffold in tendon reconstructive surgery.
Lipocalin‐2 released in response to cerebral ischaemia mediates reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: Wang Guona , Weng Yi‐Chinn , Han Xiqian , Whaley James D. , McCrae Keith R. , Chou Wen‐Hai 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThrombolysis remains the only effective therapy to reverse acute ischaemic stroke. However, delayed treatment may cause serious complications including hemorrhagic transformation and reperfusion injury. The level of lipocalin‐2 (LCN2) is elevated in the plasma of ischaemic stroke patients, but its role in stroke is unknown. Here, we show that LCN2 was acutely induced in mice after ischaemic stroke and is an important mediator of reperfusion injury. Increased levels of LCN2 were observed in mouse serum as early as 1 hr after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), reaching peak levels at 23 hrs. LCN2 was also detected in neutrophils infiltrating into the ipsilateral hemisphere, as well as a subset of astrocytes after tMCAO, but not in neurons and microglia. Stroke injury, neurological deficits and infiltration of immune cells were markedly diminished in LCN2 null mice after tMCAO, but not after permanent MCAO (pMCAO). In vitro, recombinant LCN2 protein induced apoptosis in primary cultured neurons in a dose‐dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that LCN2 is a neurotoxic factor secreted rapidly in response to cerebral ischaemia, suggesting its potential usage as an early stroke biomarker and a novel therapeutic target to reduce stroke‐reperfusion injury.