bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What do we really know about the signalling role of plumage colour in blue tits? A case study of impediments to progress in evolutionary biology
Authors: Parker Timothy H. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractEvolutionary biologists seek to explain the origin and maintenance of phenotypes, and a substantial portion of this research is accomplished by thorough study of individual species. For instance, many researchers study individual species to understand evolution of ornamental traits which appear to be products of sexual selection. I explored our understanding of sexual ornaments in a well‐studied vertebrate species that may serve as a case study for research programs in evolutionary biology. I attempted to located all published papers examining plumage colour and variables related to sexual selection hypotheses in a common European songbird, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Researchers have estimated over 1200 statistical relationships with plumage colour of blue tits in 52 studies. However, of the approximately 1000 main‐effect relationships from the 48 studies that are candidates for inclusion in this meta‐analysis, more than 400 were reported without details of strength and direction. Circumstantial evidence suggests that an unknown number of other estimated effects remain unpublished. Missing information is a substantial barrier to interpretation of these papers and to meta‐analytic synthesis. Examination and analysis of funnel plots indicated that unpublished effects may be a biased sample of all effects, especially for comparisons of plumage colour to age and individual quality, and possibly also to measures of mate choice. Further, type I error was likely elevated by the large number of statistical comparisons evaluated, the frequent use of iterative model‐building procedures, and a willingness to interpret a wide variety of results as support for a hypothesis. Type I errors were made more problematic because blue tit plumage researchers only rarely have attempted to replicate important findings in their own work or that of others. Replication is essential to drawing robust scientific conclusions, especially in probabilistic systems with moderate to weak effects or a likelihood of bias. Last, researchers studying blue tit plumage have often developedad hocexplanations for deviations of results from their predictions. Revising hypotheses in light of data is appropriate, but these revised hypotheses were rarely tested with new data. The only highly robust conclusion supported by meta‐analysis is that male blue tits have plumage that reflects more light in the ultraviolet and yellow wavelengths than the plumage of females. Various other effects, including condition‐dependence of plumage colour expression and a tendency for females to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring in response to male colour, remain uncertain. These obstacles to progress in the blue tit plumage literature are likely common in evolutionary biology, and so I recommend changes to incentive structures which may improve progress towards scientific understanding in this discipline.
Factors related to advanced stages of change in a clinical sample of adolescents
Authors: Taylor Andrew , Zaitsoff Shannon L. , Paterson Ashley 
Published: December 2012

BackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to examine the factors predicting a greater motivation to change in a clinical sample of adolescents.MethodA total of 107 adolescents participated in this research prior to beginning outpatient treatment. Participants completed a modified version of the Motivational Stages of Change for Adolescents Recovering from an ED, the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children–Self‐Report.ResultsMore advanced stages of change were associated with better parent–adolescent relationships and better emotional regulation.ConclusionIncorporating parents in treatment to enhance parent–adolescent relationships and instructing parents in emotional regulation techniques to assist the adolescent may enhance their motivation to recover.
Genes of detoxification are important modulators of hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma risk
Authors: Barbieri R. B. , Bufalo N. E. , Cunha L. L. , Assumpção L. V. M. , Maciel R. M. B. , Cerutti J. M. , Ward L. S. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryContextDifferent inherited profiles of genes involved in cellular mechanisms of activation and detoxification of carcinogenic products can provide specific protection or determine the risk for cancer. Low‐penetrance polymorphic genes related to the biotransformation of environmental toxins have been associated with susceptibility to and the phenotype of, human tumours.ObjectiveTo investigate the role of germline inheritance of polymorphisms in CYP1A2*F, CYP1A1 m1, GSTP1, NAT2 and TP53 genes in hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (HMTC) patients.DesignThis study was developed in University of Campinas (Unicamp).PatientsWe studied 132 patients with HMTC, 88 first‐degree relatives of HMTC patients and 575 control individuals.MeasurementsAll patients with MTC and their relatives were sequenced for the RET gene and five genes were genotyped using TaqMan® system.ResultsWe observed that the inheritance of CYP1A2*F (OR = 2·10; 95% CI = 1·11–3·97; P = 0·022), GSTP1 (OR = 4·41; 95% CI = 2·47–7·88; P < 0·001) and NAT2 (OR = 2·54; 95% CI = 1·16–5·58; P = 0·020) variants increased the risk for HMTC. In addition, multiple regression analysis showed that the inheritance of GSTP1 polymorphisms was associated with the diagnosis in older patients (B = 8·0229; 95% IC = ± 5·5735; P = 0·0054). Concerning the group of HTMC relatives, CYP1A2*F (OR = 2:40; 95% CI = 1·19–4·86; P = 0·015), CYP1A1 m1 (OR = 2·79; 95% CI = 1:04–7·51; P = 0·042), GSTP1 (OR = 2·86; 95% IC = 1·53–5·32; P < 0·001) and NAT2 (OR = 2·25; 95% IC = 1·20–4·22; P = 0·012) were associated with HMTC risk.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated that the inheritance of specific genes determining the individual response to environmental toxins may contribute to the risk and phenotypic variability that exists in patients with HMTC. Moreover, we identified a group at risk in relatives of HMTC patients.
Assessment of the fatty liver index as an indicator of hepatic steatosis for predicting incident diabetes independently of insulin resistance in a Korean population
Authors: Jung C. H. , Lee W. J. , Hwang J. Y. , Yu J. H. , Shin M. S. , Lee M. J. , Jang J. E. , Leem J. , Park J.‐Y. , Kim H.‐K. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAimsFatty liver disease, especially non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, is considered to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, both closely associated with insulin resistance. Furthermore, fatty liver disease assessed by ultrasonography is known to be a predictor of the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it remains unclear whether fatty liver disease plays a role in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes independently of insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated whether fatty liver disease assessed by the fatty liver index can predict the development of Type 2 diabetes independently of systemic insulin resistance.MethodsWe examined the clinical and laboratory data of 7860 subjects without diabetes who underwent general routine health evaluations at the Asan Medical Center in 2007 and had returned for follow‐up examinations in 2011. Fatty liver index was calculated using an equation that considers serum triglyceride levels, γ‐glutamyltransferase, waist circumference and BMI.ResultsDuring a 4‐year period, 457 incident diabetes cases (5.8%) were identified. The odds ratios for the development of Type 2 diabetes were significantly higher in the group with a fatty liver index ≥ 60 (fatty liver index‐positive) than in the group with a fatty liver index < 20 (fatty liver index‐negative) after adjusting for various confounding variables including homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Odds ratios were significant regardless of the insulin resistance status at baseline.ConclusionsOur results suggest that fatty liver index as a simple surrogate indicator of hepatic steatosis is valuable in identifying subjects at high risk for Type 2 diabetes. In addition, fatty liver disease itself contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes independently of systemic insulin resistance.
Barriers to self‐management of diabetes
Authors: Ahola A. J. , Groop P.‐H. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPeople with diabetes hold major responsibility for the day‐to‐day management of their chronic condition. The management that, amongst others, includes blood glucose monitoring, medication taking, diet and physical activity, aims at normalizing blood glucose levels. In many individuals, the level of glycaemia, however, frequently exceeds the recommendations. This observation, together with patients' and practitioners' reports, suggests that active self‐management is suboptimal. Various reasons, both individual and environment related, contribute to the suboptimal concordance with treatment regimen. The aim of this review is to discuss some of the barriers to optimal diabetes self‐management.
Retracted: Effects of fasting blood glucose, diabetes treatment, blood pressure and anti‐hypertension treatment on cardiovascular disease incidence: a 30‐year follow‐up study of 740 incident patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Jansson S. P. O. , Andersson D. K. G. , Svärdsudd K. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAimsTo analyse the effects of hyperglycaemia and blood pressure, diabetes and anti‐hypertension treatment on total and various types of cardiovascular disease incidence in patients with Type 2 diabetes followed for 30 years.MethodsA total of 740 incident patients with Type 2 diabetes were registered at the Laxå Primary Health Care Centre, Sweden between 1972 and 2001. Information on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, mean fasting blood glucose, type of diabetes and anti‐hypertension treatment was obtained from the patient records, and information on cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and stroke events from National Registers.ResultsDuring the follow‐up period the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular disease increased significantly with male sex (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25–1.85), age (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.07), year of diabetes onset (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05), BMI, (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.07), mean arterial blood pressure (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.05) and number of previous cardiovascular disease events (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10–1.21), and decreased significantly with sulfonylurea treatment (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49–0.84), insulin (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.98) and calcium channel blocker treatment (HR, 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–0.99). Cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction increased significantly with male sex, age, BMI, mean arterial blood pressure, number of previous myocardial infarction events and diuretic treatment, and decreased with metformin treatment. Cumulative incidence of stroke increased with age, year of diabetes onset, mean arterial blood pressure, and previous number of stroke events.ConclusionsCumulative cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and incidence of stroke increased with number of previous events and presence of hypertension and decreased with pharmacological anti‐diabetic treatment and, to a lesser extent, with anti‐hypertension treatment.
The clinical significance of overt diabetes in pregnancy
Authors: Wong T. , Ross G. P. , Jalaludin B. B. , Flack J. R. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAimTo explore clinical implications of overt diabetes in pregnancy on antenatal characteristics, adverse neonatal outcome and diabetes risk post‐partum.MethodsRetrospective audit of prospectively collected data for all patients with gestational diabetes mellitus from 1993 to 2010. We defined overt diabetes in pregnancy as an HbA1c ≥ 8 mmol/mol (6.5%) or a fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l, or a 2‐h glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmo/L on a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test as a surrogate for a random glucose ≥ 11.1 mmo/l.ResultsOur audit identified 1579 women with gestational diabetes and 254 with overt diabetes in pregnancy. Women with overt diabetes in pregnancy were diagnosed earlier in pregnancy, had a higher number of risk factors for gestational diabetes, higher antenatal HbA1c, fasting and 2‐h glucose levels, higher pre‐pregnancy BMI and higher insulin use and dosage requirements than those with gestational diabetes. Overt diabetes in pregnancy was associated with an increased rate of large‐for‐gestational‐age infant, neonatal hypoglycaemia and shoulder dystocia. Of the 133 patients with overt diabetes in pregnancy who attended a follow‐up oral glucose tolerance test at 6–8 weeks post‐partum, 21% had diabetes, 37.6% had impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, whilst 41.4% returned to normal glucose tolerance.ConclusionIn this patient cohort, overt diabetes in pregnancy significantly increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and post‐partum impaired glucose regulation, but should not be regarded as synonymous with underlying diabetes. Two‐hour glucose following a 75‐g glucose load is a poor predictor of post‐partum diabetes.
Autonomic dysfunction and circadian blood pressure variations in people with impaired glucose tolerance
Authors: Putz Z. , Németh N. , Istenes I. , Martos T. , Gandhi R. A. , Körei A. E. , Hermányi Z. , Szathmári M. , Jermendy G. , Tesfaye S. , Tabák Á. G. , Kempler P. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAimsTo assess circadian blood pressure variability in people with impaired glucose tolerance and a healthy control population.MethodsSeventy‐five people with impaired glucose tolerance and 40 healthy volunteers (frequency matched on 10‐year age bands and sex) underwent a detailed neurological assessment. Autonomic neuropathy was detected by the five standard cardiovascular autonomic tests and heart rate variability was characterized by the triangle index. Diurnal indices were assessed by 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Systolic and diastolic diurnal indices were defined as: (mean daytime blood pressure – mean night‐time blood pressure) × 100/mean daytime blood pressure.ResultsMean 24‐h systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the group with impaired glucose tolerance compared with the control group [126 ± 12 (mean ± sd) vs. 117 ± 10, 75 ± 7 vs. 71 ± 6 mmHg, both P < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic diurnal indices and heart rate variability triangular index were significantly lower in people with impaired glucose tolerance compared with control subjects (9.1 ± 7.8 vs. 13.2 ± 5.4, 14.5 ± 9.7 vs. 18.4 ± 7.1 mmHg, 28.0 ± 8.4 vs. 39.5 ± 9.3, all P < 0.05). Differences in mean diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability triangular index and the frequency of non‐dippers between those with impaired glucose tolerance and control subjects seemed to be independent of BMI and the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, as simultaneous adjustment for BMI and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy had no major effect on the results.ConclusionOur data suggest that people with impaired glucose tolerance have increased diastolic blood pressure and abnormal circadian blood pressure regulation, independent of obesity and the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy.
Reversal of ophthalmic artery flow as a predictor of intracranial hemodynamic compromise: implication for prognosis of severe carotid stenosis
Authors: Tsai C.‐L. , Lee J.‐T. , Cheng C.‐A. , Liu M.‐T. , Chen C.‐Y. , Hu H.‐H. , Peng G.‐S. 
Published: December 2012

Background and purposeHigh‐grade cervical carotid stenosis (70–99%) or occlusion often accompanies reversed ophthalmic artery flow (ROAF), but its potential clinical significances remain poor understood. This study assessed ROAF and the related variables caused by carotid hemodynamic compromise in patients with unilateral severe cervical carotid stenosis.MethodsThe study consisted of 200 patients diagnosed as unilateral high‐grade cervical carotid stenosis/occlusion using ultrasonography. The hemodynamic parameters of 152 patients, excluding 48 with cervical carotid occlusion, were compared based on the presence of ROAF. Out of 200 patients, 159 underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and were analysed for risk factors impacting functional outcomes including ROAF.ResultsThe patients (n = 48) with internal carotid artery occlusion had significantly higher incidence (62.5%) of ROAF compared with that of 25.0% in those patients (n = 152) with unilateral high‐grade carotid stenosis (P < 0.001). In ROAF patients (n = 38) with the unilateral high‐grade stenosis, a significant retrobulbar arteries hemodynamic difference was observed between the stenotic and non‐stenotic vessels. The patients (n = 159) with history of stroke (P = 0.035), ROAF (P = 0.023) and intracranial stenosis (P < 0.001) exhibited significantly higher incidence of poor functional outcome compared with the corresponding control groups. In the same patients (n = 159), those with both cervical and intracranial stenosis showed sevenfold higher risk (OR, 7.60; 95% CI, 3.44–16.81) for ROAF than those with only cervical stenosis.ConclusionsROAF may result from intracranial hemodynamic compromise. Patients with unilateral high‐grade cervical carotid stenosis/occlusion in combination with intracranial stenosis appear to be a significant risk factor for poor functional outcome and increased incidence of ROAF.
Recognition of facial and musical emotions in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Saenz A. , Doé de Maindreville A. , Henry A. , de Labbey S. , Bakchine S. , Ehrlé N. 
Published: December 2012

Background and purposePatients with amygdala lesions were found to be impaired in recognizing the fear emotion both from face and from music. In patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), impairment in recognition of emotions from facial expressions was reported for disgust, fear, sadness and anger, but no studies had yet investigated this population for the recognition of emotions from both face and music.MethodsThe ability to recognize basic universal emotions (fear, happiness and sadness) from both face and music was investigated in 24 medicated patients with PD and 24 healthy controls. The patient group was tested for language (verbal fluency tasks), memory (digit and spatial span), executive functions (Similarities and Picture Completion subtests of the WAIS III, Brixton and Stroop tests), visual attention (Bells test), and fulfilled self‐assessment tests for anxiety and depression.ResultsResults showed that the PD group was significantly impaired for recognition of both fear and sadness emotions from facial expressions, whereas their performance in recognition of emotions from musical excerpts was not different from that of the control group. The scores of fear and sadness recognition from faces were neither correlated to scores in tests for executive and cognitive functions, nor to scores in self‐assessment scales.ConclusionWe attributed the observed dissociation to the modality (visual vs. auditory) of presentation and to the ecological value of the musical stimuli that we used. We discuss the relevance of our findings for the care of patients with PD.
Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Verona, Italy: an epidemiological and genetic study
Authors: Gajofatto A. , Stefani A. , Turatti M. , Bianchi M. R. , Lira M. G. , Moretto G. , Salviati A. , Benedetti M. D. 
Published: December 2012

Background and purposeRecent multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence studies classify Italy as a high‐risk area without intra‐regional latitude effect.ObjectivesTo determine MS prevalence in Verona, Italy, and frequency of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) gene G511C polymorphism and HLA‐DRB1*15 locus in a sample of cases and healthy controls.MethodsThe study area population on the prevalence date (31 December 2001) was 253 208 (133 508 women, 119 700 men). Multiple case sources were examined. Patients fulfilling McDonald's criteria (2001) were included. Crude, age‐ and sex‐specific prevalence rates were computed. MOG G511C polymorphism and HLA‐DRB1*15 were determined by standard methods.ResultsWe identified 270 cases of MS yielding a crude prevalence rate of 106.6/100 000 (95% CI: 94–120). Prevalence was higher in women (140.8/100 000) than in men (68.5/100 000). The age‐adjusted prevalence rate standardized to the European population was 96.0/100 000. MOG G511C polymorphism did not differ between cases and controls. HLA‐DRB1*15 frequency was 58/155 (37%) in cases and 24/157 (15%) in controls (P < 0.001). There was no HLA‐DRB1*15 influence on susceptibility to other autoimmune disorders.ConclusionsThe high MS prevalence in Verona confirms Italy as a high‐risk area with a homogenous distribution across the country. HLA‐DRB1*15 is a relevant MS susceptibility locus in the Italian population, possibly with little influence on the occurrence of concomitant autoimmune disorders.
Somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold may help to differentiate patients with multiple system atrophy from patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Rocchi L. , Conte A. , Nardella A. , Li Voti P. , Di Biasio F. , Leodori G. , Fabbrini G. , Berardelli A. 
Published: December 2012

Background and purposeSomatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT) is defined as the threshold at which two tactile stimuli applied to the skin are perceived as clearly distinct.The aim of the study was to investigate whether the extent of STDT alterations differs between patients with parkinsonian type multiple system atrophy (MSA‐P) and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Possible differences between the two groups may help to differentiate MSA‐P from PD.MethodsSTDT was investigated in 20 patients with MSA‐P, 21 patients with PD and 18 age‐matched healthy subjects. The clinical evaluation included the Mini‐Mental State Examination, Hoehn and Yahr Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery, Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale for patients with MSA‐P, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale for patients with PD. STDT was investigated by delivering paired electrical stimuli starting with an inter‐stimulus interval (ISI) of 0 ms (simultaneous pair), and progressively increasing the ISIs in 10‐ms steps.ResultsBetween‐group anova showed that STDT statistically differed in MSA‐P versus patients with PD and healthy subjects. Post hoc showed that STDT values in patients with MSA‐P were significantly higher than those in patients with PD and healthy subjects. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that STDT testing yielded high diagnostic specificity and sensitivity.ConclusionsSTDT is abnormal in patients with MSA‐P and PD. The degree of STDT abnormalities is higher in patients with MSA‐P than in patients with PD.