bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feeding plasticity in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus is influenced by sex and social context and is linked to developmental speed
Authors: Serobyan Vahan , Ragsdale Erik J. , Müller Manuela R. , Sommer Ralf J. 
Published: April 2013

SUMMARYThe increasing evidence for a role of developmental plasticity in evolution offers exciting prospects for testing interactions between ecological and developmental genetic processes. Recent advances with the model organism Pristionchus pacificus have provided inroads to a mechanistic understanding of a developmental plasticity. The developmental plasticity of P. pacificus comprises two discontinuous adult mouth‐forms, a stenostomatous (“narrow mouthed”) and a eurystomatous (“wide mouthed”) form, the latter of which is structurally more complex and associated with predatory feeding. Both forms are consistently present in populations, but fundamental properties guiding fluctuations in their appearance have been poorly understood. Here, we provide a systematic characterization of the mouth plasticity in P. pacificus, quantifying a strong sexual dimorphism and revealing that, in an inbred genetic background, maternal phenotype is linked to that of male offspring. Furthermore, cues from conspecifics influenced the developmental decision in juvenile nematodes. Separating individuals from a population resulted in a lower eurystomatous frequency, which decreased incrementally with earlier isolation. Finally, the time to the reproductively mature stage was, in the presence of an abundant bacterial food supply, less for stenostomatous than for eurystomatous individuals, suggesting the potential for a fitness trade‐off between developmental time and breadth of diet. This study provides a baseline understanding of the mouth dimorphism in P. pacificus as a necessary reference point for comparative analysis.
Expression patterns of Oct4, Cdx2, Tead4, and Yap1 proteins during blastocyst formation in embryos of the marsupial, Monodelphis domestica Wagner
Authors: Morrison J. T. , Bantilan N. S. , Wang V. N. , Nellett K. M. , Cruz Y. P. 
Published: April 2013

SUMMARYThe marsupial blastocyst forms in an entirely different manner from its eutherian counterpart, involving cell–zona rather than cell–cell adhesion during the 8‐ to‐16‐cell transition. While the eutherian blastocyst consists of a spherical trophoblast completely enveloping a pluripotent inner cell mass, or pluriblast, the marsupial blastocyst forms initially as a bowl‐shaped monolayer of cells lining the zona pellucida at the embryonic pole (ep). This monolayer contains a small patch of centrally positioned pluriblast cells edged with trophoblast cells that later coalesce at the abembryonic pole. Using immunocytochemistry, we examined the localization of the proteins Oct4, Cdx2, Tead4, Sox2, and Yap1 in opossum embryos to determine if their temporal expression pattern differed from that in the mouse, given the important differences in cell behavior preceding blastocyst formation in these mammals. Our results indicate that these proteins are expressed in similar temporal patterns despite the topological differences between mouse and opossum cleavage‐stage embryos and blastocysts. That the Hippo‐pathway protein Yap1 localized specifically around the approximately 128‐cell stage to opossum trophoblast nuclei but remained in the cytoplasm of pluriblast cells suggests that this transcriptional regulator participates in allocating cells to the trophoblast lineage, as it does in mouse. Interestingly, in both mouse and opossum embryos, expression of the pluripotency marker Oct4 persisted after Cdx2, which signals trophoblast specification, began to be expressed in trophoblast cells. This and the observation that Cdx2 is present in opossum embryos well before blastomere–zona adhesion even occurs suggests that the proteins studied may have other roles in early mammalian embryonic development.
Geographic structure in metabolome and herbivore community co‐occurs with genetic structure in plant defence genes
Authors: Bernhardsson Carolina , Robinson Kathryn M. , Abreu Ilka N. , Jansson Stefan , Albrectsen Benedicte R. , Ingvarsson Pär K. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPlant–herbivore interactions vary across the landscape and have been hypothesised to promote local adaption in plants to the prevailing herbivore regime. Herbivores that feed on European aspen (Populus tremula) change across regional scales and selection on host defence genes may thus change at comparable scales. We have previously observed strong population differentiation in a set of inducible defence genes in Swedish P. tremula. Here, we study the geographic patterns of abundance and diversity of herbivorous insects, the untargeted metabolome of the foliage and genetic variation in a set of wound‐induced genes and show that the geographic structure co‐occurs in all three data sets. In response to this structure, we observe local maladaptation of herbivores, with fewer herbivores on local trees than on trees originated from more distant localities. Finally, we also identify 28 significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs from defence genes and a number of the herbivore traits and metabolic profiles.
The adverse event profile of perampanel: meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zaccara G. , Giovannelli F. , Cincotta M. , Verrotti A. , Grillo E. 
Published: April 2013

Background and purposeTo identify adverse events (AEs) significantly associated with perampanel treatment in double‐blind clinical studies (RCTs). SeriousAEs, study withdrawals due toAEs and dose–effect responses of individualAEs were also investigated.MethodsAll placebo controlled, double‐blindRCTs investigating therapeutic effects of oral perampanel were searched.AEs were assessed for their association with perampanel after exclusion of synonyms, rareAEs and non‐assessableAEs. Risk difference (RD) was used to evaluate the association of anyAE(99% confidence intervals) and withdrawals or serious AEs (95% confidence intervals) with perampanel.ResultsNineRCTs (five in pharmacoresistant epilepsy and four inParkinson's disease) were included in our study. Almost 4000 patients had been recruited, 2627 of whom were randomized to perampanel and treated with drug doses of 0.5 mg/day (n = 68), 1 mg/day (n = 65), 2 mg/day (n = 753), 4 mg/day (n = 1017), 8 mg/day (n = 431) or 12 mg/day (n = 293). SeriousAEs were not significantly associated with perampanel treatment. The experimental drug was significantly associated with an increased risk ofAE‐related study withdrawals at 4 mg/day [RD(95% confidence interval) 0.03 (0.00, 0.06)] and 12 mg/day [RD(95% confidence interval) 0.13 (0.07, 0.18)]. Of 15 identifiedAEs, five (dizziness, ataxia, somnolence, irritability and weight increase) were found to be significantly associated with perampanel and one (seizure worsening) was significantly associated with placebo.ConclusionsVestibulocerebellarAEs (dizziness, ataxia), sedative effects (somnolence), irritability and weight increase were significantly associated with perampanel treatment.
Plant diversity does not buffer drought effects on early‐stage litter mass loss rates and microbial properties
Authors: Vogel Anja , Eisenhauer Nico , Weigelt Alexandra , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael 
Published: April 2013

AbstractHuman activities are decreasing biodiversity and changing the climate worldwide. Both global change drivers have been shown to affect ecosystem functioning, but they may also act in concert in a non‐additive way. We studied early‐stage litter mass loss rates and soil microbial properties (basal respiration and microbial biomass) during the summer season in response to plant species richness and summer drought in a large grassland biodiversity experiment, the Jena Experiment, Germany. In line with our expectations, decreasing plant diversity and summer drought decreased litter mass loss rates and soil microbial properties. In contrast to our hypotheses, however, this was only true for mass loss of standard litter (wheat straw) used in all plots, and not for plant community‐specific litter mass loss. We found no interactive effects between global change drivers, that is, drought reduced litter mass loss rates and soil microbial properties irrespective of plant diversity. High mass loss rates of plant community‐specific litter and low responsiveness to drought relative to the standard litter indicate that soil microbial communities were adapted to decomposing community‐specific plant litter material including lower susceptibility to dry conditions during summer months. Moreover, higher microbial enzymatic diversity at high plant diversity may have caused elevated mass loss of standard litter. Our results indicate that plant diversity loss and summer drought independently impede soil processes. However, soil decomposer communities may be highly adapted to decomposing plant community‐specific litter material, even in situations of environmental stress. Results of standard litter mass loss moreover suggest that decomposer communities under diverse plant communities are able to cope with a greater variety of plant inputs possibly making them less responsive to biotic changes.
Impact of HLA alleles and cytokine polymorphisms on inhibitors development in children with severe haemophilia A
Authors: Pergantou H. , Varela I. , Moraloglou O. , Economou M. , Spanou K. , Kapsimali Z. , Constantinidou N. , Platokouki H. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryHuman Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles, cytokine polymorphisms and the type of factor VIII (FVIII) gene mutation are among predisposing factors for inhibitors (inh) development in children with severe haemophilia A (HA). The aim was to investigate the correlations among (i) FVIII gene intron‐22 inversion, (ii) HLA alleles and haplotypes and (iii) certain cytokine polymorphisms, with the risk for FVIII inhibitors development in 52 Greek severe HA children, exclusively treated with recombinant concentrates. We performed Long‐Range PCR for detection of intron‐22 inversion and PCR‐SSP, PCR‐SSO for genotyping of HLA‐A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1 alleles and also for cytokine polymorphisms of TNF‐α, TGF‐β1, IL‐10, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ. Chi‐squared test and Fischer's exact test were used for statistical analysis. A total of 28 children had developed inhibitors (Group I), 71.4% high responding, while 24 had not (Group II). No statistically increased intron‐22 inversion prevalence was found in Group I compared with Group II (P = 0.5). Comparison of HLA allele frequencies between the two groups showed statistically significant differences in the following genotypes (i) promoting inhibitors development: DRB1*01(P = 0.014), DRB1*01:01(P = 0.011) and DQB1*05:01 (P = 0.005) and (ii) possibly protecting from inhibitors development: DRB1*11 (P = 0.011), DRB1*11:01 (P = 0.031), DQB1*03 (P = 0.004) and DQB1*03:01 (P = 0.014). Analysis of cytokines revealed a higher incidence of inhibitor detection only in homozygotes of the haplotypes ACC and ATA for IL‐10 polymorphisms (P = 0.05). There is evidence that HLA alleles and cytokine polymorphisms play an important role in FVIII inh development. On the contrary, no statistically significant results were obtained for intron‐22 inversion and its impact on FVIII inhibitors formation.
Experiences of family carers of older people with mental health problems in the acute general hospital: a qualitative study
Authors: Clissett Philip , Porock Davina , Harwood Rowan H. , Gladman John R.F. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAimsTo explore the experiences of family carers of people with cognitive impairment during admission to hospital.BackgroundProviding appropriate care in acute hospitals for people with co‐morbid cognitive impairment, especially dementia or delirium or both, is challenging to healthcare professionals. One key element is close working with family members.DesignQualitative interview study.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews with family carers of 34 older people who had been admitted to a UK general hospital and had co‐morbid cognitive impairment. Interviews conducted in 2009 and 2010. Analysis was undertaken using Strauss and Corbin's framework.FindingsThe findings elaborate a core problem, ‘disruption from normal routine’ and a core process, ‘gaining or giving a sense of control to cope with disruption’. Family carers responded to disruption proactively by trying to make sense of the situation and attempting to gain control for themselves or the patient. They tried to stay informed, communicate with staff about the patient and plan for the future. The interaction of the core problem and the core process resulted in outcomes where family members either valued the support of hospital staff and services or were highly critical of the care provided.ConclusionFamily carers are not passive in the face of the disruption of hospitalization and respond both by trying to involve themselves in the care and support of their relative and by trying to work in partnership with members of staff. Nurses need to foster this relationship conscientiously.
The Gap in Transition Between Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and General Adult Psychiatry
Authors: Lindgren Eva , Söderberg Siv , Skär Lisa 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundDuring transition from child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) to general adult psychiatry (GenP) young adults with mental illness face multilevel transitions along with a risk for disruption in continuity of care. The aim of this study was to describe professionals' experiences and views of the transition process from CAP to GenP.MethodData were collected through six focus group discussions with professionals from both CAP and GenP and analyzed by content analysis.ResultsThe results showed a gap in transition between CAP and GenP when different perspectives and care cultures meet in a complex process.ConclusionsCooperation, transition planning, and a mutual understanding of care can support young adults in transition from CAP to GenP.
Adolescent Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury (NSSI) Interventions
Authors: Gonzales Ariel Henrie , Bergstrom Linda 
Published: April 2013

TopicEvidence‐based treatment of non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) in adolescents.PurposeTo review the evidence base supporting current interventions for NSSI.Sources UsedPubMed searches and ancestry analysis.ConclusionsAll treatments studied—developmental group therapy, individual cognitive‐behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy for adolescents—were found to be comparable to the typical treatments offered in the treatment settings where the research was conducted. Additional strategies such as harm reduction have very limited evidence suggesting they may be helpful. A few common interventions including relaxation techniques have extremely limited evidence suggesting they may be perceived as harmful by clients.
Impact of interleukin 28B polymorphisms on spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Ming , Rao Hui‐Ying , Feng Bo , Zhang Wei , Wei Lai 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground and AimRecent studies suggested that interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms may affect spontaneous clearance (SC) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our purpose was to update the meta‐analysis to reevaluate the impact of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms on SC in patients infected with HCV.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to February 2013. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by fixed‐ or random‐effects models. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also assessed.ResultsSeventeen eligible papers were involved in this study. The SC rate was higher in patients with the rs12979860 CC (vs CT/TT OR = 2.98, 95% CI 2.53–3.50) and rs8099917 TT (vs GT/GG OR = 2.80, 95% CI 2.23–3.51) in the IL28B polymorphisms. Ethnicity stratification revealed that rs12979860 CC was associated with SC for Caucasians (vs CT/TT OR = 3.05, 95% CI 2.67–3.49), Asians (vs CT/TT OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.33–2.66), and Africans (vs CT/TT OR = 3.15, 95% CI 2.39–4.15); rs8099917 TT was associated with SC for Caucasians (vs GT/GG OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.96–3.15).ConclusionsIL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 single nucleotide polymorphisms are significantly associated with SC of HCV infection. The predictive value of rs12979860 CC was stronger in Caucasians and Africans than in Asians.
Food habits, socioeconomic status and body mass index among premenopausal and post‐menopausal women in Mauritius
Authors: Bhurosy T. , Jeewon R. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundAlthough many health disparities arise as a result of socioeconomic inequalities, less is known about the diet quality of women after menopause. The present study aimed to determine the factors affecting food habits and body mass index (BMI) among premenopausal and post‐menopausal Mauritian working women.MethodsThe study was conducted as a cross‐sectional survey in different workplaces located in the nine districts of Mauritius. Mauritian women (n = 400; 215 premenopausal, 185 post‐menopausal) were recruited using stratified random sampling. Participants completed a self‐reported questionnaire comprising a food frequency questionnaire previously constructed and used to address dietary guidelines that assess the intake of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, cereals, high‐ and low‐fat protein sources, fats and sweetened beverages, as well as questions aiming to elicit socioeconomic profile, menopausal status, physical activity level and demographic data. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured. An independent sample t‐test, chi‐squared test and one‐way analysis of variance were used for the statistical analyses.ResultsThe mean dietary guideline score was significantly higher for post‐menopausal than premenopausal women, (P = 0.017). Each socioeconomic status (SES) category of post‐menopausal women also demonstrated a higher dietary guideline score than that of premenopausal women (P > 0.05). A high BMI was significantly associated with a low SES of participants (P = 0.042) and post‐menopausal stage (P = 0.001).ConclusionsLow SES and post‐menopausal stage are risk factors for obesity among female workers in Mauritius. Although post‐menopausal women ate a better diet, their mean BMI was higher than that of premenopausal women.
High density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are an independent predictor of the progression of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Baragetti A. , Norata G. D. , Sarcina C. , Rastelli F. , Grigore L. , Garlaschelli K. , Uboldi P. , Baragetti I. , Pozzi C. , Catapano A. L. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractObjectivesPatients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often present with reduced plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels. Whether this reduction in an epiphenomenon or is involved in disease progression is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between HDL‐C levels/function and CKD progression in patients with different degrees of disease.DesignA total of 176 patients with CKD [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 50.3 ± 29.1 mL min−1] were recruited and followed for up to 84 months. Lipid profile, metabolic status and kidney function were evaluated at predetermined times. Age‐matched control subjects were selected from the PLIC study (n = 453). Scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR‐BI) and ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA‐1)‐dependent efflux of cholesterol were measured in CKD patients and in age‐matched control subjects.ResultsLow HDL‐C levels, diabetes and hypertension were associated with reduced GFR. At follow‐up, low HDL‐C levels were associated with earlier entry in dialysis or doubling of the plasma creatinine level (P = 0.017); HDL‐C levels were the only lipid parameter that affected the progression of CKD (hazard ratio 0.951, 95% confidence interval 0.917–0.986, P = 0.007), independently of the presence of diabetes. Only SR‐BI‐mediated serum cholesterol efflux was significantly reduced in the group of CKD patients with low HDL‐C levels compared to the control group.ConclusionsCKD patients with low levels of plasma HDL‐C have a poor prognosis. HDL functionality is also impaired in renal dysfunction. These data support the relevance of HDL in influencing CKD progression.
Alterations in bile acid synthesis in carriers of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α mutations
Authors: Ekholm E. , Nilsson R. , Groop L. , Pramfalk C. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractObjectivesHeterozygous mutations in hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) cause maturity onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3), an autosomal dominant form of diabetes. Deficiency of HNF1α in mice results in diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and increased bile acid (BA) and cholesterol synthesis. Little is known about alterations in lipid metabolism in patients with MODY3. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with MODY3 have altered cholesterol and BA synthesis and intestinal cholesterol absorption. A secondary aim was to investigate the effects of HNF1α mutations on the transcriptional regulation of BA metabolism.MethodsPlasma biomarkers of BA and cholesterol synthesis and intestinal cholesterol absorption were measured in patients with MODY3 (n = 19) and in matched healthy control subjects (n = 15). Cotransfection experiments were performed with several promoters involved in BA metabolism along with expression vectors carrying the mutations found in these patients.ResultsPlasma analysis showed higher levels of BA synthesis in patients with MODY3. No differences were observed in cholesterol synthesis or intestinal cholesterol absorption. Cotransfection experiments showed that one of the mutations (P379A) increased the induction of the cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase promoter compared with HNF1α, without further differences in other studied promoters. By contrast, the other four mutations (L107I, T260M, P291fsinsC and R131Q) reduced the induction of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) promoter, which was followed by reduced repression of the small heterodimer partner promoter. In addition, these mutations also reduced the induction of the apical sodium‐dependent bile salt transporter promoter.ConclusionsBA synthesis is increased in patients with MODY3 compared with control subjects. Mutations in HNF1α affect promoters involved in BA metabolism.
Customised birthweight models: Do they increase identification of at‐risk infants?
Authors: Gibbons Kristen , Chang Allan , Flenady Vicki , Mahomed Kassam , Gardener Glenn , Gray Peter H , Beckmann Michael , Rossouw Dominique 
Published: April 2013

AimThe study aims to describe the cohort of women and babies who are classified as small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) at term by both an Australian customised birthweight model (CBM) and a commonly used population‐based standard, and to investigate and compare the utility of these models in identifying babies at risk of experiencing adverse outcomesMethodsRoutinely collected data on 54 890 singleton‐term births at the Mater Mothers' Hospitals, Brisbane, with birthweight less than 4000 g between January 1997 and December 2008, was extracted. Each birth was classified as SGA (<10th centile) or not SGA by either and/or both methods: population‐based standards (SGApop) and CBM (SGAcust). Babies classified as SGApop, SGAcust or SGAboth were compared with those not classified as SGA by both methods using relative risk and 95% confidence interval, and those only classified as SGAcust were compared with those only classified as SGApop. Maternal demographics, maternal risk factors for fetal growth restriction, pregnancy and labour complications and adverse neonatal outcomes are reported.Results A total of 4768 (8.7%) births were classified as SGApop, while 6479 (11.8%) were SGAcust of whom 4138 (63.9%) were also classified as SGApop. Maternal risk factors such as smoking and hypertension were statistically higher for the SGAcust group when compared with SGApop. For the majority of adverse neonatal outcomes, a trend was noted to increased identification using the CBM.ConclusionThe CBM provides a modest improvement when compared to a population‐based standard to identity term infants at birth who are at risk of adverse neonatal outcomes.