bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation between global genome methylation and mutation at CpG codons of p53 gene
Authors: Najjar Sadeghi Rouhallah , Vahedi Mohsen , Zojaji Homayon , Zali Mohamad Reza 
Published: March 2013

ObjectiveHypomethylation within the body of the p53 gene, which is normally methylated, has been found in neoplasms. Also, the CG → TA transition was not detected in the CpG codons of the p53 gene in gastritis lesions in Iranian patients. Therefore, an evaluation of the probable correlation between global genome methylation and alteration at CpG codons of p53 gene was needed.MethodsFor defining the genotypes of CpG codons, DNA sequencing was performed on 90 paired samples of gastritis and normal tissues. To measure global genome methylation status, the extracted DNA was digested with HpaII (methylation sensitive) and MspI (insensitive). Then, enzymatic digestion was quantitated using Pyrosequencing as peak height. By calculating the HpaII/ MspI peak ratio it is possible to evaluate the methylation level of normal and gastritis tissues.ResultsCodons 9, 245 and 248 underwent a CG → AT transversion but not a CG → TA transition. In addition, the mean methylation level was significantly different between the patients with GG and GT genotypes at codon 245 (P = 0.019).ConclusionsAs CG → AT transversion at codon 245 is associated with global genome methylation, GG hypomethylation may induce different pattern of mutations, for example, C → A instead of C → T at the CpG codons of the p53 gene during gastritis development in Iranian patients.
MeCP2 regulates ethanol sensitivity and intake
Authors: Repunte‐Canonigo Vez , Chen Jihuan , Lefebvre Celine , Kawamura Tomoya , Kreifeldt Max , Basson Oan , Roberts Amanda J. , Sanna Pietro Paolo 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWe have investigated the expression of chromatin‐regulating genes in the prefrontal cortex and in the shell subdivision of the nucleus accumbens during protracted withdrawal in mice with increased ethanol drinking after chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor exposure and in mice with a history of non‐dependent drinking. We observed that the methyl‐CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) was one of the few chromatin‐regulating genes to be differentially regulated by a history of dependence. As MeCP2 has the potential of acting as a broad gene regulator, we investigated sensitivity to ethanol and ethanol drinking in MeCP2308/Y mice, which harbor a truncated MeCP2 allele but have a milder phenotype than MeCP2 null mice. We observed that MeCP2308/Y mice were more sensitive to ethanol's stimulatory and sedative effects than wild‐type (WT) mice, drank less ethanol in a limited access 2 bottle choice paradigm and did not show increased drinking after induction of dependence with exposure to CIE vapors. Alcohol metabolism did not differ in MeCP2308/Y and WT mice. Additionally, MeCP2308/Y mice did not differ from WT mice in ethanol preference in a 24‐hour paradigm nor in their intake of graded solutions of saccharin or quinine, suggesting that the MeCP2308/Y mutation did not alter taste function. Lastly, using the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis algorithm, we found a significant overlap in the genes regulated by alcohol and by MeCP2. Together, these results suggest that MeCP2 contributes to the regulation of ethanol sensitivity and drinking.
Characterization of different courses of atopic dermatitis in adolescent and adult patients
Authors: Garmhausen D. , Hagemann T. , Bieber T. , Dimitriou I. , Fimmers R. , Diepgen T. , Novak N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) starts most often during the first years of life and goes into remission in a high proportion of cases during childhood. However, in severe cases, AD persists until adulthood or starts and relapses later in life. So far, studies investigating the natural course of AD during adolescence and adulthood are rare. The aim of our study was to classify different courses of AD and to correlate these with specific risk factors for severe variants of AD.MethodsA detailed clinical examination and retrospective evaluation of the history of the disease were performed in a collective of 725 adolescent and adult patients with AD. Laboratory data including total and specific IgE were evaluated.ResultsSix hundred and seven patients of 725 patients could be classified into course types. Of these 607 patients 85.7% could be classified into five main different course types of all 31 course types recorded. The highest differences in the number of sensitizations, total immunoglobulin E serum levels and predilection of the skin lesions were observed between patients with an early type of onset of AD and a chronic persisting course until adulthood and patients with a late type of onset of AD, that is, after the 20th year of life.ConclusionOur data show that the natural course of AD can be divided into subgroups that display different clinical features. The data support the assumption of a broad heterogeneity of AD in adolescence and adulthood and emphasize the future need for careful stratification of patients with AD.
Attenuated allergic airway inflammation in Cd39 null mice
Authors: Idzko M. , K. Ayata C. , Müller T. , Dürk T. , Grimm M. , Baudiß K. , Vieira R. P. , Cicko S. , Boehlke C. , Zech A. , Sorichter S. , Pelletier J. , Sévigny J. , Robson S. C. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundExtracellular Adenosine‐5′‐Triphosphate (ATP) is known to accumulate in the lung, following allergen challenge, and contributes via activation of purinergic receptors on dendritic cells (DC), to the development of allergic airway inflammation (AAI). Extracellular ATP levels in the airways are normally tightly regulated by CD39. This ectonucleotidase is highly expressed by DC purified from skin (Langerhans cells) and bone marrow, and has been shown to modulate DC adaptive/haptenic immune responses. In this study, we have evaluated the impact of Cd39 deletion and associated perturbation of purinergic signaling in AAI.MethodsStandard ovalbumin (OVA)–alum and house dust mite (HDM) bone marrow‐derived DC (BMDC)‐dependent models of AAI were used to study effects of Cd39. Migration assays, time lapse microscopy, and T‐cell priming assays were further used to determine functional relevance of Cd39 expression on BMDC in the setting of immune and Th2‐mediated responses in these models.ResultsCd39−/− mice exhibited marked increases in BALF ATP levels but paradoxically exhibited limited AAI in both OVA–alum and HDM models. These pathophysiological abnormalities were associated with decreased myeloid DC activation and chemotaxis toward ATP, and were linked to purinergic receptor desensitization responses. Further, Cd39−/− DCs exhibited limited capacity to both prime Th2 responses and form stable immune synaptic interactions with OVA‐transgenic naïve T cells.ConclusionsCd39‐deficient DCs exhibit limited capacity to induce Th2 immunity in a DC‐driven model of AAI in vivo. Our data demonstrate a role of CD39 and perturbed purinergic signaling in models of AAI.
Changes in exhaled breath condensate pH in healthy and asthmatic pregnant women
Authors: Eszes Noémi , Bikov András , Lázár Zsófia , Bohács Anikó , Müller Veronika , Stenczer Balázs , Rigó János , Losonczy György , Horváth Ildikó , Tamási Lilla 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectiveAsthma is a common chronic disease complicating pregnancy with a risk for perinatal complications. Control of airway inflammation in the asthmatic pregnancy improves pregnancy outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate pH of exhaled breath condensate (EBC), a non‐invasive method for the assessment of asthmatic airway inflammation, in healthy and asthmatic pregnancies.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingHungarian university clinics.PopulationSeventeen healthy pregnant women, 21 asthmatic pregnant women, 23 healthy non‐pregnant women and 22 asthmatic non‐pregnant women.MethodsEBC samples were collected using a portable condenser, EBC pH was measured after argon deaeration.Main outcome measureEBC pH.ResultsEBC pH (mean ± SD) of healthy non‐pregnant and asthmatic non‐pregnant women was similar (7.75 ± 0.27 vs. 7.54 ± 0.57; p = 0.118), probably indicating an optimal control of airway inflammation in asthmatic women. On the other hand, EBC pH was higher in healthy pregnant women compared with healthy non‐pregnant women (8.02 ± 0.43 vs. 7.75 ± 0.27; p = 0.017). Higher EBC pH accompanying healthy pregnancy was absent in asthmatic pregnant patients whose EBC pH was lower (7.65 ± 0.38) than that of healthy pregnant women (p = 0.006), and it was similar to that in asthmatic and healthy non‐pregnant women (p = 0.470 and p = 0.300, respectively). The EBC pH in asthmatic pregnant women correlated positively with birthweight (r = 0.49, p = 0.047) and negatively with forced vital capacity (r = 0.45, p = 0.039). EBC pH was not related to blood pH.ConclusionsEBC pH is higher in healthy pregnant women but not in asthmatic pregnant women compared with data from healthy non‐pregnant women, indicating that oxidative inflammatory processes induced by asthma may compromise the regulatory mechanisms causing alkaline pH in the airways during pregnancy.
Diagnostic accuracy of risk of malignancy index in predicting complete tumor removal at primary debulking surgery for ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Fagö‐Olsen Carsten L. , Håkansson Fanny , Antonsen Sofie L. , Høgdall Estrid , Lundvall Lene , Nedergaard Lotte , Engelholm Svend A. , Høgdall Claus 
Published: March 2013

AbstractOvarian cancer patients in whom complete tumor removal is impossible with primary debulking surgery (PDS) may benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery. However, the task of performing a pre‐operative evaluation of the feasibility of PDS is difficult. We aimed to investigate whether the risk of malignancy index (RMI) was a useful marker for this evaluation. RMI and surgical outcome were investigated in 164 patients, 49 of whom had no residual tumor after PDS. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed an area under the curve of 0.72 (confidence interval: 0.64–0.80). The possibility of complete tumor removal decreased with increasing RMI and there was a tendency towards higher RMI in patients with residual tumor after PDS, but no single cut‐off value of RMI produced useful clinical predictive values. In conclusion, RMI alone is not an optimal method to determine whether complete tumor removal is possible with PDS.
Assessing does not mean threatening: The purpose of assessment as a key determinant of girls' and boys' performance in a science class
Authors: Souchal Carine , Toczek Marie‐Christine , Darnon Céline , Smeding Annique , Butera Fabrizio , Martinot Delphine 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundIs it possible to reach performance equality between boys and girls in a science class? Given the stereotypes targeting their groups in scientific domains, diagnostic contexts generally lower girls' performance and non‐diagnostic contexts may harm boys' performance.AimThe present study tested the effectiveness of a mastery‐oriented assessment, allowing both boys and girls to perform at an optimal level in a science class.SampleParticipants were 120 boys and 72 girls (all high‐school students).MethodsParticipants attended a science lesson while expecting a performance‐oriented assessment (i.e., an assessment designed to compare and select students), a mastery‐oriented assessment (i.e., an assessment designed to help students in their learning), or no assessment of this lesson.ResultsIn the mastery‐oriented assessment condition, both boys and girls performed at a similarly high level, whereas the performance‐oriented assessment condition reduced girls' performance and the no‐assessment condition reduced boys' performance.ConclusionsOne way to increase girls' performance on a science test without harming boys' performance is to present assessment as a tool for improving mastery rather than as a tool for comparing performances.
Employment Change after Takeovers: The Role of Executive Ownership
Authors: Kuvandikov Azimjon , Pendleton Andrew , Higgins David 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe article examines the impact of executive ownership and other ownership and governance factors on employment change after takeovers. Drawing on a dataset of 235 takeovers, the results show that there is a reduction in employment in just over 50 per cent of the sample. Higher levels of executive share ownership are associated with lower probabilities of employee layoffs post‐takeover, and there is a positive relationship between executive ownership and employment growth. The effect of executive options on employment change is generally insignificant, as are the effects of other features of ownership and governance. The evidence suggests that executives with higher levels of ownership tend to mount takeovers of better‐performing firms and to implement takeovers aimed at growth.
Current clinical practice gaps in the treatment of intermediate‐ and high‐risk non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with emphasis on the use of bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG): results of an international individual patient data survey (IPDS)
Authors: Witjes J. Alfred , Palou Joan , Soloway Mark , Lamm Donald , Kamat Ashish M. , Brausi Maurizio , Persad Raj , Buckley Roger , Colombel Marc , Böhle Andreas 
Published: March 2013

Objectives
To examine the management of intermediate‐ and high‐risk non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), particularly with regard to the use of bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) therapy, in North America and Europe.
To compare NMIBC management practices to European Association of Urology (EAU) and American Urological Association (AUA) guideline recommendations for the management of intermediate‐ and high‐risk NMIBC.
Patients and Methods
In all, 102 urologists from Europe and North America participated in this retrospective on‐line chart review, which was conducted between 1 April 2011 and 30 April 2012.
Participants selected the charts of the first 10 intermediate‐ (defined as multiple or recurrent low‐grade tumours) or high‐risk (defined as any T1 and/or high‐grade/G3 tumours and/or carcinoma in situ) patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour in 2009.
Physicians retrospectively reviewed the charts and completed an on‐line survey consisting of questions related to diagnosis, planned treatment, treatment status and follow‐up.
In all, 971 patients (197 intermediate‐risk; 774 high‐risk) were included in the analysis; frequency counts and associated percentages were used to analyse treatment variables.
Results
In all, 47% of intermediate‐risk patients received EAU or AUA guideline‐recommended intravesical therapy: intravesical chemotherapy, BCG induction therapy or BCG induction plus maintenance.
Of the high‐risk patients, 50% received maintenance BCG as recommended by the EAU and the AUA; although not recommended for high‐risk NMIBC, 12.5% received intravesical chemotherapy.
Of patients prescribed maintenance BCG, 93% were scheduled for at least 1 year of therapy.
Notably, only 15% discontinued BCG maintenance and, of these discontinuations, 65% were due to reasons unrelated to BCG‐associated adverse events.
Conclusions
There is significant non‐adherence to EAU and AUA guideline recommendations for BCG use in intermediate‐ and high‐risk NMIBC.
However, most of those patients prescribed BCG maintenance therapy are scheduled for at least 1 year of therapy, as recommended by current guidelines for NMIBC management, and BCG maintenance discontinuation is low.
The Parental Dental Concerns Scale (PDCS): its development and initial psychometric properties
Authors: Chambers Stephanie , Humphris Gerry , Freeman Ruth 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the validity and reliability of a Parental Dental Concerns Scale (PDCS) to identify parents unable to access preventive dental care for their children.MethodsTwo studies were conducted. In Study One, a purposive convenience sample of 399 Scottish parents answered questions on going to the dentist, family life and demographics. Parents were retested eight weeks later. In Study Two, 574 Scottish parents participating in a preventive oral health programme were posted the same questionnaire. Information on child dental attendance was gained from dental records. Data were analysed using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis. Internal consistency and test–retest correlations provided reliability estimates. Validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis, correlations and independent t‐tests.ResultsEFA indicated that the PDCS had a four factor structure, supported by a subsequent CFA. The PDCS and its four subscales had good internal consistency, concurrent validity and test–retest reliability. Further work is required to confirm the scale's predictive validity in discriminating between children and parents who did and did not attend the dental practice.ConclusionsThe PDCS is a reliable scale, which demonstrates good construct validity. Further testing is required to confirm its predictive validity.
Assessing the contribution of 38 genetic loci to the risk of type 2 diabetes in the Saudi Arabian Population
Authors: Al‐Daghri Nasser M. , Alkharfy Khalid M. , Alokail Majed S. , Alenad Amal M. , Al‐Attas Omar S. , Mohammed Abdul Khader , Sabico Shaun , Albagha Omar M. E. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBackgroundPrevious genome‐wide association studies have identified multiple type 2 diabetes (T2D) genetic risk loci in many populations. However, the contribution of these loci to T2D in the Middle Eastern populations with high T2D prevalence is unknown.MethodsHere, we investigated the association of 38 T2D risk loci in the Saudi Arabian population (1166 patients with T2D and 1235 healthy controls), which has one of the world's highest prevalence of T2D.ResultsEight common genetic variants showed a significant association with T2D in our study population. The effect sizes of these loci were comparable to those previously identified in other populations with the exception of HNF4A, which showed a trend for larger effect size in our study population (OR = 1·27) compared to that reported in South Asian populations (OR = 1·09; I2 = 65·9). Analysis of risk allele scores (RASs) defined by the 8 loci showed that subjects in the top RAS quintile (n = 480) had 2·5‐fold increase in disease risk compared to those in the bottom quintile (n = 480; P = 9·5 × 10−12). RASs were also associated with fasting glucose level (β = 0·12; P = 2·2 × 10−9), but not with BMI (P = 0·19). Analysis of a subgroup of subjects with BMI≤30 resulted in two additional loci (SLC30A8; P = 0·03, HMG20A; P = 0·02) showing significant association with T2D.ConclusionsWe have shown for the first time that variants at WFS1, JAZF1, SLC30A8, CDKN2A/B, TCF7L2, KCNQ1, HMG20A, HNF4A and DUSP9 are associated with T2D in the Saudi population. Our findings also suggest substantial overlap of T2D risk loci across many ethnic groups regardless of disease prevalence.
Prospective association of 25(OH)D with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Kayaniyil Sheena , Harris Stewart B. , Retnakaran Ravi , Vieth Reinhold , Knight Julia A. , Gerstein Hertzel C. , Perkins Bruce A. , Zinman Bernard , Hanley Anthony J. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryContextVitamin D may play a role in the aetiology of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), yet the majority of previous studies have been cross‐sectional, and the limited number of prospective studies has yielded inconsistent results.ObjectiveTo examine the prospective association of vitamin D [25‐hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D] with MetS in a multi‐ethnic cohort of adults in Ontario, Canada.DesignNondiabetic individuals with pre‐existing MetS risk factors were recruited for participation in the PROspective Metabolism and ISlet cell Evaluation (PROMISE) cohort study, a longitudinal study of the determinants of insulin resistance and MetS.MethodsOf the 654 participants enrolled at baseline, 489 attended a 3‐year follow‐up visit. There were 301 participants eligible for the analysis of 25(OH)D with incident MetS (age 49·2 ± 9·3 years old, 75·4% female), after excluding 188 (38·5%) prevalent MetS cases at baseline. Longitudinal change in MetS components was assessed in the entire follow‐up cohort.ResultsThere were 76 (15·5%) participants who developed MetS over the 3‐years of follow‐up. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated a decreased risk of MetS at follow‐up per standard deviation increase in baseline 25(OH)D after adjustment for sociodemographics, season, baseline and change in supplement use and physical activity and insulin resistance (OR = 0·63, 95% CI 0·44–0·90). Multivariate linear regression analyses revealed a significant inverse association of baseline 25(OH)D with fasting glucose at follow‐up (β = −0·0005, P = 0·025).ConclusionsThere was a significant inverse association of baseline 25(OH)D with incident MetS, which may be partly driven by its association with glucose homoeostasis.
Accounting for uncertainty in oil and gas development impacts to wildlife in Alaska
Authors: Wilson Ryan R. , Liebezeit Joseph R. , Loya Wendy M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAround the world, oil and gas exploration and development are moving into areas previously undisturbed by industrial development. These activities and associated infrastructure can significantly impact wildlife populations and their habitat. Uncertainty in the location of oil and gas accumulations, however, makes it difficult to assess potential impacts to wildlife populations from future development. We present a modeling approach that takes this uncertainty into account by randomly sampling the locations of oil and gas accumulations across the landscape and building out simulated infrastructure. We evaluated four management alternatives outlined for the National Petroleum Reserve‐Alaska to demonstrate how this model can quantify the relative impacts to caribou (Rangifer tarandus) calving habitat and passerine nest survival. We were able to identify clear differences in impacts for wildlife under the four alternatives and highlighted the range of variability in how development might proceed under each scenario.
Acting Optimally for Biodiversity in a World Obsessed with REDD+
Authors: Venter Oscar , Hovani Lex , Bode Michael , Possingham Hugh 
Published: March 2013

AbstractREDD+ presents novel options for conservation in the tropics, yet it is unclear how biodiversity‐focused organizations or actors should react to these carbon‐focused opportunities. Here, we critically assess for the first time the expected outcomes of five contrasting scenarios of engagement between a biodiversity actor and REDD+. We discover that in the Berau regency, Indonesia, it is usually beneficial for a biodiversity actor to react in some way to REDD+, but the preferred reaction depends on whether a REDD+ project is already developing in the region, and the scale and type of conservation objectives. In general, from a strict biodiversity perspective, the most cost efficient reaction to the presence of REDD+ is to use biodiversity funds to protect areas neglected by REDD+. Our results demonstrate that if biodiversity actors fail to adapt the way they pursue conservation in the tropics, REDD+ opportunities could go largely untapped.