bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pigmented extramammary Paget disease of the thigh mimicking a melanocytic tumor: report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: De la Garza Bravo Maria M. , Curry Jonathan L. , Torres‐Cabala Carlos A. , Ivan Doina S. , Drucker Carol , Prieto Victor G. , Tetzlaff Michael T. 
Published: March 2014

ImportanceExtramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is an uncommon tumor that presents in apocrine‐rich skin as an irregular, pruritic plaque. Histopathologically, EMPD consists of an intraepidermal proliferation of atypical epithelioid cells. Rarely, the tumor cells contain intracytoplasmic melanin pigment, and the lesion clinically and histopathologically can mimic a melanocytic proliferation.ObservationsA 51‐year‐old female with a history of breast carcinoma presented with a pigmented patch on her right thigh of 6 months duration. The clinical impression was an atypical melanocytic nevus. Histopathologic examination revealed an intraepidermal proliferation of epithelioid cells along the dermal–epidermal junction with pagetoid migration. The tumor cells exhibited increased cytoplasm containing conspicuous melanin pigment and enlarged oval‐irregular nuclei. Immunohistochemical studies showed the tumor cells to be strongly and diffusely positive for cytokeratin 8/18, cytokeratin 7 and p63; focally and weakly positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), but negative for cytokeratin 5/6, Cam5.2, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), human melanoma black 45 (HMB‐45), tyrosinase and Sox‐10, supporting the diagnosis of pigmented EMPD. The lesion was subsequently excised, and the patient is free of disease after 24 months.ConclusionWe present this unusual case of pigmented EMPD arising on the thigh to draw attention to the entity and to underscore the potentially misleading clinical, histopathologic and immunophenotypic features that mimic other cutaneous intraepidermal lesions.
Metamorphic labral axis patterning in the beetle Tribolium castaneum requires multiple upstream, but few downstream, genes in the appendage patterning network
Authors: Smith Frank W. , Angelini David R. , Gaudio Matthew S. , Jockusch Elizabeth L. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYThe arthropod labrum is an anterior appendage‐like structure that forms the dorsal side of the preoral cavity. Conflicting interpretations of fossil, nervous system, and developmental data have led to a proliferation of scenarios for labral evolution. The best supported hypothesis is that the labrum is a novel structure that shares development with appendages as a result of co‐option. Here, we use RNA interference in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum to compare metamorphic patterning of the labrum to previously published data on ventral appendage patterning. As expected under the co‐option hypothesis, depletion of several genes resulted in similar defects in the labrum and ventral appendages. These include proximal deletions and proximal‐to‐distal transformations resulting from depletion of the leg gap genes homothorax and extradenticle, large‐scale deletions resulting from depletion of the leg gap gene Distal‐less, and smaller distal deletions resulting from knockdown of the EGF ligand Keren. However, depletion of dachshund and many of the genes that function downstream of the leg gap genes in the ventral appendages had either subtle or no effects on labral axis patterning. This pattern of partial similarity suggests that upstream genes act through different downstream targets in the labrum. We also discovered that many appendage axis patterning genes have roles in patterning the epipharyngeal sensillum array, suggesting that they have become integrated into a novel regulatory network. These genes include Notch, Delta, and decapentaplegic, and the transcription factors abrupt, bric à brac, homothorax, extradenticle and the paralogs apterous a and apterous b.
Ontogenetic allometry in the thoracolumbar spine of mammal species with differing gait use
Authors: Jones Katrina E. , German Rebecca Z. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYVertebrae are serially homologous structures with tight integration through their evolution and development. However, in mammals, the thoracic and lumbar regions are morphologically and functionally differentiated. We test the hypothesis that locomotor specialization is associated with altered post‐natal growth patterns in vertebrae from different vertebral regions. We use longitudinal data to examine thoracolumbar growth in two specialized half‐bounding (Oryctolagus cuniculusandChinchilla lanigera) and two non‐specialized (Cavia porcellusandMonodelphis domestica) species with similar body sizes. Lateral X‐rays of 38 individuals were the source of centrum length, centrum height and intervertebral space length measures for 19–20 thoracolumbar vertebrae. The repeated measurements design included the same individuals soon after birth and again at adult size. Data from columns with different vertebral counts were compared by either summing (length) or averaging (height) within regions, and individual vertebrae were directly compared at the first and last five vertebral positions. Specialized half‐bounders had longer lumbar regions than generalists, which was attributable to positively allometric growth of the lumbar centra. Lumbar centrum length was more variable both ontogenetically and interspecifically than the other variables, suggesting heterochrony may be generating lumbar variation. Craniocaudal patterns of centrum growth correlate with expression of regionalizing genes (i.e.,Hox).
Temporary preservation of avulsed tooth in oral submucosal tissue: an experimental study in cat
Authors: Jamalpour Mohammad Reza , Soltanian Ali Reza , Tootunchi Amir Sasan , Roshanipaian Milad 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the ability of oral submucosal tissue to serve as a temporary storage medium for the maintenance of periodontal ligament (PDL) cell viability of avulsed teeth.Materials and methodsThirty cats were divided into five groups. After extraction of three teeth in each cat, one tooth was put in the depth of cat's oral submucosal tissue and the other two teeth were put in Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS) and tap water. The teeth were removed after 8, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h from their mediums and sent for laboratory processing and counting of vital periodontal cells.ResultsStatistical analysis demonstrated that submucosal tissue kept PDL cells viable as good as HBSS.ConclusionThis animal study showed that the efficacy of oral submucosal tissue in maintaining the viability of human PDL cells is similar to that of HBSS.
Variation in resistance of loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) families againstLeptographiumandGrosmanniaroot fungi
Authors: Singh A. , Anderson D. , Eckhardt L. G. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryPine decline poses a serious threat to forest sustainability in the south‐easternUnitedStates. Complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors are involved in the decline and include root‐feeding bark beetles and their associated fungal genera,LeptographiumandGrosmannia. A study was conducted to determine the relative tolerance of loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) families when challenged with eitherLeptographiumorGrosmanniaspecies. In the first study, bare root seedlings from 23 loblolly pine families were screened withL. procerum,L. terebrantis,G. huntiiandG. alacrisusing an artificial inoculation method. In a second study, containerized seedlings from 27 loblolly pine families were screened withG. huntiiandL. terebrantis. Measured seedling responses to the inoculations included lesion length, lesion width and occlusion of vascular tissues, measured 8 weeks after inoculations. The most common host response was dark brown lesions and resinous occluded stem tissue. Seedling families had a wide range of host responses to the differentLeptographiumandGrosmanniaspecies and showed that it could be possible to select the families that may be tolerant toLeptographiumandGrosmanniafungal species based on these results.
Restless legs syndrome and multiple sclerosis: a population based case−control study in Catania, Sicily
Authors: Bruno E. , Nicoletti A. , Messina S. , Lo Fermo S. , Raciti L. , Quattrocchi G. , Dibilio V. , Paradisi V. ,   the SIMG General Practitioners, Maimone D. , Patti F. , Zappia M. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purposeA population‐based case−control study in the city of Catania, Sicily, was carried out to determine restless legs syndrome (RLS) prevalence and its association with multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsPatients were randomly selected from a cohort of MS patients resident in the study area and a group of age and sex matched controls was enrolled from the general population. RLS was diagnosed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria.ResultsIn total, 152 MS patients and 431 controls were included in the study. A significantly higher prevalence of RLS amongst MS patients (14.5%) compared with controls (6.0%) was detected, corresponding to an almost threefold increased risk (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4–5.0) of developing RLS. Spinal cord lesions in MS patients were associated with a higher risk of RLS (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1–13.5).ConclusionRLS was strongly associated with MS, with a significantly higher risk in patients presenting spinal cord lesions.
Effects of Acute and Chronic Exposure to Predatory Cues on Spatial Learning Capabilities in the Subterranean Rodent Ctenomys talarum (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae)
Authors: Brachetta Valentina , Schleich Cristian E. , Zenuto Roxana R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSpatial learning, the cognitive ability that allows animals to efficiently locate food, partners or avoid predators, can be affected by various factors such as stress. Stressors represent a threat to the animal's homeostasis and trigger a set of physiological and behavioral changes known as stress response. The herbivorous rodent Ctenomys talarum (tuco‐tuco) inhabits underground complex gallery systems. Dispersal as well as food collection occurs on the surface, where they are exposed to terrestrial and aerial predators. We evaluated the effect of a natural stress factor, predation, on spatial learning of C. talarum. Additionally, we collected data on neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, hematocrit, blood glucose, and plasma cortisol to assess physiological levels of stress. The acute exposure to direct cues indicating the presence of a predator (immobilization + cat urine) increased the time needed to reach the goal in a longitudinal labyrinth. The number of errors also increased albeit the difference was only marginally significant. The chronic exposure to predator cues (immobilization, cat urine, and cat fur) presented in an unpredictable order significantly increased both time and errors committed by tuco‐tucos during learning trials in the labyrinth. Results show the strong impact of predatory stress on the spatial abilities of C. talarum, a key cognitive process involved in most of their vital activities. They also highlight the importance of investigating wild species as regards the development of antipredatory defensive behaviors that contribute both to the avoidance of deleterious consequences of a direct attack and the influence on food search and mate localization performance.
Liberation upon Hearing: Voice, Morality, and Death in a Buddhist World
Authors: Desjarlais Robert 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis essay considers morally salient dimensions of dying, death, and mourning among Yolmo Buddhists of Nepal. It attends in particular to certain procedures of speech, touch, vision, and bodily and vocal guidance and copresence in times of dying and grief. An ethics of care informs the ways in which people comfort the dying and console the grief stricken. The moral responsibility that people observe here is a question of support and guidance, of providing attendant rhythms, and of a subtle “liberation upon hearing.” Through words and prayers, people create a gentle space for dying and accompany a person up to the moment of death. They also try to draw people back from the despair of grief. With these culturally informed arrangements of care and mourning, it is clear that language, prayer, music, and bodily presence serve as vehicles of moral support, attunement, and alteration.
Benzodiazepines increase the reward effects of buprenorphine in a conditioned place preference test in the mouse
Authors: Ma Lin‐Lin , Freret Thomas , Lange Mathilde , Bourgine Joanna , Coquerel Antoine , Lelong‐Boulouard Véronique 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBuprenorphine (BPN) is widely used as a substitution treatment for opioid addiction. Some cases of abuse and misuse, especially associated with various benzodiazepines (BZDs), have been described, and a previous study has shown that BZDs increase the sedative effect of BPN and decrease its anxiogenic properties. To investigate the reward effect that may lead to the abusive combination of BPN and BZD, we studied the influence of different doses of three BZDs extensively used with BPN by drug addicts on conditioned place preference behavior in mice. BPN (0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously into male mice alone or in combination with a BZD administered intraperitoneally: dipotassium clorazepate (CRZ; 1, 4, 16 mg/kg), diazepam (DAZ; 0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg), or bromazepam (BMZ; 0.5, 1, 3 mg/kg). Amphetamine (8 mg/kg) was used as a reference drug. Reward effects of BPN alone or in combination were measured in a conditioned place preference paradigm using an unbiased procedure. Our results showed that groups treated with BPN associated with different doses of diazepam and clorazepate, but not bromazepam, spent significantly more time in the drug‐paired compartment compared to the group treated with BPN alone. Our study shows that joint consumption of diazepam and clorazepate, but not bromazepam, can increase the reward properties of BPN alone in mice. These results could help to explain the use of this type of drug combination in the drug addict population.
The missing link: tidal‐influenced activity a likely candidate to close the migration triangle in brown shrimp Crangon crangon (Crustacea, Decapoda)
Authors: Hufnagl Marc , Temming Axel , Pohlmann Thomas 
Published: March 2014

AbstractLife cycle closure for species inhabiting areas with daily varying currents but directed net water transport requires specific behavior to minimize losses due to advection of passive drifting life stages. Variations in swimming activity of different‐sized Crangon crangon (15–65 mm total length) were therefore monitored under constant laboratory conditions immediately after being caught in the German Wadden Sea. Activity of shrimps of different sizes, caught at different seasons, always peaked at times corresponding with ebb tide in the habitat from where they were taken. This behavior was maintained for several days if no external stimuli were present but shifted to night activity if a light–dark cycle was provided. The observed behavior/activity pattern was included in a coupled hydrodynamic and individual‐based model (IBM) and the shift in the location of a shrimp cohort was monitored over time. Performance of ebb tide activity not only allowed the shrimps to reach the preferred deeper winter and spawning areas but also allowed them to migrate against the dominating current from eastern nurseries to more western located spawning areas. Passively drifting larvae released at these locations and later larval and juvenile stages that perform flood tide transport can reach the nurseries again. This links the nurseries and adult spawning grounds and closes the migration triangle.
Pathological features and clinical outcomes of breast cancer according to levels of oestrogen receptor expression
Authors: Zhang Zhang , Wang Jianmin , Skinner Kristin A , Shayne Michelle , Hajdu Steven I , Bu Hong , Hicks David G , Tang Ping 
Published: March 2014

AimsHistorically, nuclear staining of ≥10% of invasive tumour cells has been used for oestrogen receptor (ER) positivity. In 2010, ASCO/CAP guidelines recommended the cut‐off value be changed to nuclear staining of ≥1%. This study will analyse the relationships between levels of ER expression and clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes, with an emphasis on the ER 1–10% subgroup.Methods and resultsWe analysed clinicopathological features in five subgroups based on ER expression levels in 1700 consecutive invasive breast cancer patients diagnosed and treated at our institution between 2000 and 2011. Of the cases, 24% had ER expression <1%, 2% were ER 1–10%, 5% were 11–50%, 5% were 51–70% and 64% were 71–100%. We observed four subgroups of patient cohorts (ER <1%, 1–10%, 11–70% and 71–100%) that were unique in Nottingham grade, nuclear grade, progesterone receptor expression and disease‐free survival. Of the 341 patients with follow‐up data, we found no significant differences in pathological features between patients in the ER 11–50% and ER 51–70% subgroups.ConclusionThese data support the important role of ER in breast cancer, and the importance of accurate testing and quantitative reporting for ER. Tumours with ER 1–10% are not common, and further studies are needed to understand more clearly this subgroup of breast cancer.
Poverty Reduction and Effects of Pro‐poor Policies in Rural China
Authors: Li Shi 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe present paper describes changes in poverty reduction in recent decades and the effects of income growth and inequality on poverty reduction in rural China. The paper also examines the main poverty alleviation policies implemented in rural areas over the past 10 years and assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of these policies from the perspective of targeting accuracy. It is found that China has achieved significant progress in rural poverty reduction in recent decades, although the speed of poverty reduction has varied from one period to another. The largest contribution to rural poverty reduction has been economic growth, which has been increasingly offset by the inequality effect on poverty reduction. In addition, poverty alleviation policies are effective, but not efficient.
Correlation between expression of CatSper family and sperm profiles in the adult mouse testis following Iranian Kerack abuse
Authors: Amini M. , Shirinbayan P. , Behnam B. , Roghani M. , Farhoudian A. , Joghataei M. T. , Koruji M. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryIllicit drug use can be an important cause of male infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an Iranian illicit drug, Kerack, on sperm parameters, testicular structure and CatSper genes expression of mice. In this study, 25 male mice were divided into five groups consisting of control, sham and three experimental groups. All animal in experimental groups were addicted to Kerack for 7 days. These experimental groups include experimental I which was given Kerack at a dose of 5 mg/kg, experimental II, 35 mg/kg and experimental III, 70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally twice a day for a period of 35 days. Mice were then sacrificed and spermatozoas were removed from cauda epididymis and analyzed for count, motility, morphology (normal/abnormal) and viability. Right testes were removed, weighed and processed for light microscopic studies whereas left testes removed were subjected to total mRNA extraction for using in real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR). The results were analyzed by performing anova (Tukey's tests) and Pearson correlation coefficient. Sperm parameters and seminiferous epithelium thickness were decreased in experimental groups (dose‐dependently) vs. sham and control groups (p < 0.05). RT‐PCR results showed that CatSper 2, 3, 4 genes expressions were reduced with 35 and 70 mg/kg injected Kerack when compared with control testes (p ≤ 0.05). However, CatSper1 expression was only reduced with high dose injected Kerack (70 mg/kg) in comparison to control testes (p ≤ 0.05). This study shows the deleterious effects of Kerack used in Iran on testis structure and sperm parameters in general, and particularly sperm morphology in adult mouse. It could down‐regulate the expression of CatSper genes, resulting in depression of sperm motility.
Development of children's creativity and manual skills within digital game‐based learning environment
Authors: Hsiao H‐S. , Chang C‐S. , Lin C‐Y. , Hu P‐M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn this study, we developed a digital game‐based learning (DGBL) system, called the ToES, to foster students’ creativity. Fifty‐one fifth‐grade students from two classes in a public school in Taipei, Taiwan, were recruited and consented to participate. Both classes consisted of students with mixed abilities studying a foundation unit entitled “Electrical Science” in a natural science course. One class was chosen to be the experimental group (EG) and the other class was the control group (CG). The goal of this study was to examine how different instructional strategies (i.e., traditional instruction and instruction using digital games) affected the students’ creativity and their performance on manual skills. The analytical results indicated that the students’ creativity and their performance on manual skills displayed positive growth when they were involved in acquiring knowledge and resolving tasks in a DGBL environment, which fostered their creativity and facilitated the generation of flow experiences. Moreover, there were three interesting findings related to the use of DGBL: (1) the ToES was an effective learning tool for cultivating the students’ creativity; (2) there was a positive effect of creativity and their performance of manual skills; and (3) the ToES accelerated the improvement of practical behaviors regarding manual skills.HighlightsWe design a digital game with creativity called the ToES. We prove differences in creativity and manual skills between traditional classroom and digital game‐based environment. Students were able to achieve better learning performances in DGBL environment. DGBL facilitates the generation of flow experience.
Efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the management of chronic periodontitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Betsy Joseph , Prasanth Chandra S. , Baiju Kamalasanan V. , Prasanthila Janam , Subhash Narayanan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimTo evaluate the potential of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.Material and MethodsIn a single‐centred randomized and controlled clinical trial, 90 patients (51 females and 39 males) with untreated chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to receive SRP with aPDT (test group) or SRP alone (control group). Clinical parameters and halitosis were recorded for 6 months after treatment by a periodontist who was blinded to the procedure.ResultsInter‐group and intra‐group statistical analyses were performed. Significant difference between the two groups with respect to each variable was assessed using non‐parametric Rank Order ancova. Probing pocket depth and clinical attachment levels showed statistically significant reduction in the test group on evaluation at 3 months and 6 months as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). A statistically significant improvement in gingival index and gingival bleeding index was seen for the test group after 2 weeks and 1 month of aPDT (p < 0.01), whereas the improvement in gingival index and gingival bleeding index at 3 months and in plaque index at 2 weeks after aPDT was less (p < 0.05). Also, a significant difference was detected for the test group at 1 month in terms of halitosis (p < 0.05), which did not persist for long.ConclusionsAntimicrobial photodynamic therapy acts as a beneficial adjunct to SRP in non‐surgical treatment and management of chronic periodontitis in short‐term. Further studies are required to assess the long‐term effectiveness of aPDT.