bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Combination of Neostigmine and Anisodamine Protects against Ischemic Stroke by Activating α7nAChR
Authors: Qian Jiao , Zhang Jing-Ming , Lin Li-Li , Dong Wen-Zhe , Cheng Yan-Qiong , Su Ding-Feng , Liu Ai-Jun 
Published: March 2015

Background Increasing endogenous acetylcholine by neostigmine decreased the ischemic cerebral injury. The off-target action on muscarinic receptor produced a variety of adverse effects and limited the clinical application on stroke. Aim We combined neostigmine with anisodamine and investigated the neuroprotection and mechanism. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Neuroprotective action of neostigmine in combination with anisodamine at varying ratios was examined to determine the optimal combination as well as ideal therapeutic window. Potential involvement of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was examined by measuring the infarct size, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the biomarkers of apoptosis in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. A set of in vitro experiments was conducted in RAW264.7 cells to probe into potential molecular mechanisms. Results The neostigmine/anisodamine combination conferred neuroprotection. The protection was most potent at a ratio of 1 : 500. At such a ratio, the combination increased the binding of acetylcholine to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and reduced proinflammatory cytokines. The neuroprotection was evident only in wild-type and not in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. The combination significantly decreased the expression of Bad and Bax, and increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor wild-type mice but not in knockout mice. The combination did not affect caspase-8, cleaved caspase-8, or caspase-12. Conclusions Current study identified the optimal combination of neostigmine and anisodamine against ischemic stroke, and indicated that the acetylcholine-α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is involved in the protective effects.
‘With Him in Heavenly Realms’: Lombard and Calvin on Merit and the Exaltation of Christ
Authors: Baylor T. Robert 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPeter Lombard argued that Christ merited his own exaltation. Since all humans attain their end by merit, and since Christ was true man, it follows that Christ merited exaltation for himself. Calvin repeatedly rejects this idea, arguing that Lombard obscures the fully benevolent character of Christ's mission because he abstracts Christ's humanity from his divinity. Calvin's polemic against Lombard leverages his anti‐Pelagian critique against medieval theologies of merit that reduce Christ's capacity as a representative and restrict the church's full participation in Christ's atonement. Instead, Calvin attempts to establish the substitutionary character of Christ's work by rooting Christ's merits in more strictly christological grounds.
Association of onabotulinum toxin A treatment with salivary pH and dental caries of neurologically impaired children with sialorrhea
Authors: Ferraz dos Santos Beatriz , Dabbagh Basma , Daniel Sam J , Schwartz Stephane 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundSialorrhea is a common manifestation of several neurological disorders. The use of intraglandular onabotulinum toxin A (OBTXA) injection has been recognized to effectively treat sialorrhea. As OBTXA injection reduces salivary flow rate and alters salivary quality, its use may have a detrimental effect on oral health.AimTo examine the effect of OBTXA injection on caries experience and salivary pH of neurologically impaired children with sialorrhea.DesignTwenty‐five children receiving OBTXA treatment and 25 control children were enrolled in the study. Whole saliva was collected to determine salivary pH. All participants underwent an interview on their dietary habits. Dental clinical examinations were carried out to evaluate caries experience and oral hygiene level.ResultsOverall, mean salivary pH value was significantly lower in the OBTXA group (6.92 ± 0.77) compared with the control group (7.36 ± 0.70). Caries activity was significantly higher in the OBTXA group (P = 0.01). The regression analyses showed a significant association between OBTXA treatment and salivary pH value (P = 0.03). Results from the logistic regression show that dental caries was significantly associated with OBTXA treatment (OR = 1.73, CI = 1.14–27.3).ConclusionsThe study showed an intricate relationship between OBTXA treatment and oral findings. Hence, special dental care should be given to children receiving OBTXA treatment.
Exploring the association between oral health problems and oral health‐related quality of life in Peruvian 11‐ to 14‐year‐old children
Authors: Pulache Jhonatan , Abanto Jenny , Oliveira Luciana Butini , Bönecker Marcelo , Porras Jacqueline Céspedes 
Published: March 2015

SummaryBackgroundThis is the first study that tested a Spanish version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11–14) in a population‐based sample.AimTo assess the impact of oral health problems on OHRQoL in 11‐ to 14‐year‐old children.DesignData from 473 11‐ to 14‐year‐old children were analysed. They were interviewed using the CPQ11–14. Examinations included dental caries, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injuries. Adjusted Poisson regression was used to associate different clinical conditions to the outcome.ResultsOverall, 100% of children reported oral impacts (total CPQ11–14 score ≥ 1). Children aged 12‐ to 14 years old experienced a negative impact on all domains and total CPQ11–14 scores (P < 0.05); the increase in DMFT index showed a negative impact on the oral symptoms domain (RR = 1.01; P = 0.05, whereas Class III malocclusion showed a positive impact on the emotional well‐being domain (RR = 0.71; P < 0.01). TDI (RR = 1.11; P = 0.01) and crown discoloration (RR = 1.23; P < 0.01) showed a negative impact on the emotional social well‐being domain.ConclusionChildren aged 12‐ to 14 years old had a negative impact on all domains and total CPQ11–14 scores compared with those who are 11 years old. The increase in dental caries experience, presences of TDI and crown discoloration have a negative impact on some aspects of the children's OHRQoL. Class III malocclusion showed a positive impact on the emotional well‐being domain.
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Women with Recurrent Abortion Exhibit an Aberrant Reaction to Release Cytokines upon the Direct Contact of Human Leukocyte Antigen‐G‐Expressing Cells
Authors: HAMAI YOKO , FUJII TOMOYUKI , YAMASHITA TAKAHIRO , MIKI AKINORI , KOZUMA SHIRO , GERAGHTY DANIEL E. , TAKETANI YUJI 
Published: March 2015

PROBLEM: In search for pathogenesis of recurrent abortion, we examined whether lymphocytes/macrophages from women with recurrent abortion exhibited an aberrant ability to release cytokines upon the direct contact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G.METHOD OF STUDY: The amounts of cytokines released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from women with recurrent abortion were compared with those from normal multiparous women or normal nulligravidous women when cocultured with or without HLA‐G‐expressing target cells.RESULTS: When cocultured with HLA‐G‐expressing target cells, the amount of interleukin‐1β released from PBMCs was increased in recurrent aborters whereas it decreased in both normal multiparous and nulligravidous women. The amount of interleukin‐3 released from PBMCs did not differ with or without HLA‐G‐expressing cells in recurrent aborters, whereas it increased in the presence of HLA‐G‐expressing cells in normal controls. The amount of tumor necrosis factor‐α released from PBMCs was decreased in the presence of HLA‐G‐expressing cells in both recurrent aborters and normal controls.CONCLUSION: The aberrant reaction of maternal lymphocytes/macrophages in releasing cytokines upon the contact of HLA‐G expressed on trophoblasts may impact negatively on trophoblastic growth, which may be pathogenic in recurrent abortion.
Efficient Vocational Skills Training for People with Cognitive Disabilities: An Exploratory Study Comparing Computer‐Assisted Instruction to One‐on‐One Tutoring
Authors: Larson James R. , Juszczak Andrew , Engel Kathryn 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundThis study compared the effectiveness of computer‐assisted instruction to that of one‐on‐one tutoring for teaching people with mild and moderate cognitive disabilities when both training methods are designed to take account of the specific mental deficits most commonly found in cognitive disability populations.MethodFifteen participants (age 22–71) received either computer‐assisted instruction or one‐on‐one tutoring in three content domains that were of functional and daily relevance to them: behavioural limits, rights and responsibilities (two modules) and alphabetical sorting. Learning was assessed by means of a series of pretests and four learning cycle post‐tests. Both instructional conditions maintained time‐on‐task and teaching material equivalence, and both incorporated a set of best‐practices and empirically supported teaching techniques designed to address attentional deficits, stimulus processing inefficiencies and cognitive load limitations.ResultsStrong evidence of learning was found in both instructional method conditions. Moreover, in all content domains the two methods yielded approximately equivalent rates of learning and learning attainment.ConclusionsThese findings offer tentative evidence that a repetitive, computer‐assisted training program can produce learning outcomes in people with mild and moderate cognitive disabilities that are comparable to those achieved by high‐quality one‐on‐one tutoring.
Quality of Diagnosis and Treatment Plans After Using the ‘Diagnostic Guideline for Anxiety and Challenging Behaviours’ in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparative Multiple Case Study Design
Authors: Pruijssers Addy , van Meijel Berno , Maaskant Marian , Keeman Noortje , van Achterberg Theo 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundPeople with intellectual disabilities often have a multitude of concurrent problems due to the combination of cognitive impairments, psychiatric disorders (particularly anxiety) and related challenging behaviours. Diagnoses in people with intellectual disabilities are complicated. This study evaluates the quality of the diagnoses and treatment plans after using a guideline that was developed to support professionals in their diagnostic tasks.Materials and MethodsA comparative multiple case study with an experimental and control condition, applying deductive analyses of diagnoses and treatment plans.ResultsThe analyses revealed that the number of diagnostic statements and planned treatment actions in the experimental group was significantly larger and more differentiated than in the control condition. In the control group, consequential harm and protective factors were hardly mentioned in diagnoses and treatment plans.ConclusionsWorking with the ‘Diagnostic Guideline for Anxiety and CB’ leads to improved diagnoses and treatment plans compared with care as usual.
A retrospective analysis of allele frequency changes of major genes during 20 years of selection in the Italian Large White pig breed
Authors: Fontanesi L. , Schiavo G. , Scotti E. , Galimberti G. , Calò D.G. , Samorè A.B. , Gallo M. , Russo V. , Buttazzoni L. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryIn this study, we investigated whether a selection programme based on boar genetic evaluation obtained with a classical BLUP animal model can change allele frequencies in a pig population. All Italian Large White boars born from 1992 to 2012 with estimated breeding value reliability >0.85 (n = 200) were selected among all boars of this breed. Boars were genotyped with markers in major genes (IGF2 intron3‐g.3072G>A, MC4R p.D298N, VRTN PRE1 insertion, PRKAG3 p.I199V and FTO g.276T>G). Genotyping data were analysed grouping boars in eight classes according to their year of birth. To evaluate the influence of time on allele frequencies of the genotyped markers, multinomial logistic regression models were computed. Four of five polymorphic sites (IGF2, MC4R, VRTN and FTO) showed significant (p < 0.01) changes in allele frequencies over time due to a progressive and continuous increase of one allele (associated with higher lean meat content, higher average daily gain and favourable feed: gain ratio) and, consequently, decrease of the other one, following the directional selection of the selection programme of this pig breed. The retrospective analysis that was carried out in Italian Large White boars suggests that selection based on methodologies assuming the infinitesimal model is able to modify in a quite short period of time allele frequencies in major genes, increasing the frequency of alleles explaining a relevant (non‐infinitesimal) fraction of the overall genetic variability for production traits.
Estimates of genetic variance and variance of predicted genetic merits using pedigree or genomic relationship matrices in six Brown Swiss cattle populations for different traits
Authors: Loberg A. , Dürr J. W. , Fikse W.F. , Jorjani H. , Crooks L. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryThe amount of variance captured in genetic estimations may depend on whether a pedigree‐based or genomic relationship matrix is used. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variance as well as the variance of predicted genetic merits (PGM) using pedigree‐based or genomic relationship matrices in Brown Swiss cattle. We examined a range of traits in six populations amounting to 173 population‐trait combinations. A main aim was to determine how using different relationship matrices affect variance estimation. We calculated ratios between different types of estimates and analysed the impact of trait heritability and population size. The genetic variances estimated by REML using a genomic relationship matrix were always smaller than the variances that were similarly estimated using a pedigree‐based relationship matrix. The variances from the genomic relationship matrix became closer to estimates from a pedigree relationship matrix as heritability and population size increased. In contrast, variances of predicted genetic merits obtained using a genomic relationship matrix were mostly larger than variances of genetic merit predicted using pedigree‐based relationship matrix. The ratio of the genomic to pedigree‐based PGM variances decreased as heritability and population size rose. The increased variance among predicted genetic merits is important for animal breeding because this is one of the factors influencing genetic progress.
Climate change expected to drive habitat loss for two key herbivore species in an alpine environment
Authors: Parida M. , Hoffmann A. A. , Hill M. P. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimOur first aim was to determine the environmental factors associated with two native Australian Lepidoptera species, Lomera caespitosae and Oncopera alpina, key herbivores of alpine and subalpine Poa grasses. Both species have been associated with areas of extensive grass death in Australian alpine regions, possibly affecting vegetation succession and recovery. Our second aim was to generate and evaluate potential distributional changes for both these moths and their host plants under scenarios of climate change.LocationAlpine regions in south‐eastern Australia.MethodsWe surveyed alpine regions in south‐eastern Australia to compile presence–absence datasets for both moth species. We constructed ecological niche models from our survey data, in addition to predicting distributions of suitable host‐plant species for the moths. Grass damage sites attributed to the moths were used additionally as independent test datasets to validate model performance. Future effects on species distributions under climate change scenarios were then investigated.ResultsThe environmental factors affecting distributions differed between the moth species; for example, precipitation variables appeared to be important for L. caespitosae, while low winter–spring temperatures were expected to limit O. alpina. The findings were related to the presence of grass damage, which was greater in areas where species distributions overlapped. A declining trend in suitability was predicted for both herbivore species under climate change, while Poa spp. distributions were expected to be less influenced by climate change.Main conclusionsThe distributions of both moth species are more likely to be restricted by climate than host‐plant availability. Predicted climate change effects are likely to put L. caespitosae under greater immediate risk of local extinction than O. alpina as a result of large areas of habitat loss by 2050.
Incongruent evolutionary histories of two parasitoids in the Mediterranean Basin: influence of host specialization and ecological characteristics
Authors: Auger‐Rozenberg Marie‐Anne , Torres‐Leguizamon Magally , Courtin Claudine , Rossi Jean‐Pierre , Kerdelhué Carole 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimThe pine processionary moth (PPM) is a species complex containing two congeneric taxa, namely Thaumetopoea pityocampa and Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni, with a circum‐Mediterranean distribution and a strong geographical structure. We developed comparative phylogeographies for two of the main natural enemies of the PPM, the egg parasitoids Baryscapus servadeii and Ooencyrtus pityocampae, to determine to what extent their Quaternary histories were parallel and mirrored that of their host.LocationPine and cedar forests around the Mediterranean Basin.MethodsEgg masses of the PPM were sampled from its whole range and parasitoids allowed to emerge in the laboratory. We sequenced one mitochondrial fragment from 303 individuals of B. servadeii and 239 of O. pityocampae, and the nuclear ITS2 for a subset of the samples. The distribution of genetic diversity, network of alleles and AMOVAs were analysed to decipher the phylogeographical structures, and PPM and host plant effects.ResultsResults differed drastically between the two parasitoid species. We found 87 haplotypes and five ITS alleles for B. servadeii, which showed a strong phylogeographical structure over its distribution range. We identified four divergent clades, one of them further forming four haplogroups. Refugial areas were similar to those of the host. AMOVA showed that over 40% of the variance could be explained by the insect host structure. In contrast, O. pityocampae showed 16 closely related haplotypes, one corresponding to 60% of the individuals. PPM structure explained only 15% of the variance. The effects of the pine host were limited in both parasitoid species.Main conclusionsBaryscapus servadeii probably survived Quaternary climatic oscillations in long‐term refugia where the PPM host was also continuously present. Although not strictly parallel, its history showed high degrees of similarity with that of the host. Conversely, results suggest that O. pityocampae had different climatic requirements and experienced severe bottleneck(s) during the Quaternary. Yet, it efficiently recolonized its main host range, probably helped by its parthenogenetic reproduction and possibly also by local host shifts.
Remission of CVB3‐induced myocarditis with Astragaloside IV treatment requires A20 (TNFAIP3) up‐regulation
Authors: Gui Jun , Chen Ruizhen , Xu Wei , Xiong Sidong 
Published: March 2015

AbstractViral myocarditis (VMC) most prevalently caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection is characterized by severe cardiac inflammation. Therapeutic options for the disease are still limited. Astragaloside IV (AST‐IV), a purified small molecular saponin (C41H68O14, MW 784), is the main active component of Chinese medical herb Astragalus which has been empirically prescribed for the treatment of heart dysfunction for centuries. In this study, we investigated the effect of AST‐IV on CVB3‐induced myocarditis and explored its possible mechanism involved. The results showed that AST‐IV administration alleviated the severity of myocarditis and attenuated cardiac inflammation, which was mediated by inhibition of nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) signalling. Importantly, we further identified that the inhibitory effect of AST‐IV on NF‐κB signalling was through increasing A20 (TNFAIP3) expression. Moreover, we validated that A20 was critical for the therapeutic efficacy of AST‐IV on CVB3‐induced myocarditis. Finally, we revealed that AST‐IV enhanced A20 expression at post‐transcriptional level by stabilization of mRNA. Our findings uncover a previously unknown mechanism for AST‐IV in the treatment of VMC because of modulating inflammatory response via increasing A20 expression, which provide a potential target for screening new drugs and are helpful for optimization of the therapeutic strategies for VMC.
Strength training and risk of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese working population: A cohort study
Authors: Kuwahara Keisuke , Honda Toru , Nakagawa Tohru , Yamamoto Shuichiro , Nanri Akiko , Kurotani Kayo , Hayashi Takeshi , Mizoue Tetsuya 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAims/IntroductionMuscle strength training has been suggested to improve glucose metabolism; however, epidemiological evidence regarding strength training's effects on diabetes risk is scarce. We prospectively examined the association between strength training and the risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men and women.Materials and MethodsThe sample included health checkups on 26,630 Japanese male and female workers aged 30–64 years without diabetes at baseline. Weekly time spent on strength training was elicited using a self‐reported questionnaire. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed based on hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, random plasma glucose and self‐report in an annual health checkup. Hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident diabetes was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsDuring a mean follow up of 5.2 years with 139,748 person‐years, 1,770 individuals developed diabetes. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted HR for diabetes was 0.58 (95% CI 0.42–0.79) in those who engaged in strength training compared with those who engaged in no strength training. After further adjusting for potential confounders, the corresponding HR was 0.66 (95% CI 0.48–0.90). Additional adjustment for body mass index did not materially change the result; the HR was 0.70 (95% CI 0.51–0.96). The association was more pronounced in individuals aged 50 years or older than those aged <50 years, although the difference in the association by age was not significant.ConclusionsThese results suggest that engagement in strength training could help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese working population.