bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum level and immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor for the prediction of postoperative recurrence in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Fujita Naoyuki , Okegawa Takatsugu , Terado Yuichi , Tambo Mitsuhiro , Higashihara Eiji , Nutahara Kikuo 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Background
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in angiogenesis. One of the functions of VEGF is to regulate neovascularization in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). The objective of our study was to examine whether before nephrectomy serum levels of VEGF or expression of VEGF using immunohistochemistry (IHC) could predict postoperative recurrence in nonmetastatic CCRCC.

Results
Twelve patients (14.5%) had recurrence during a mean follow-up of 52.6 ± 31.2 months. The serum VEGF level was significantly higher in patients with recurrence than in those without recurrence (P = 0.038). High serum VEGF levels were above 416 pg/mL; this value was chosen based on a receiver operating characteristic analysis. The recurrence-free survival rate in patients with a high serum VEGF level was significantly lower than in those with a low serum VEGF level (P = 0.003). In total, tumors from 26 patients (31.3%) showed overexpression of VEGF using IHC. The recurrence-free survival rate in the IHC-positive group was significantly lower than that in the IHC-negative group (P = 0.044). Multivariate analysis indicated that preoperative serum VEGF levels (P = 0.013) and female gender (P = 0.004) were independent predictors of postoperative recurrence in nonmetastatic CCRCC.

Conclusions
Preoperative serum VEGF levels is a useful predictor compared with IHC analysis of VEGF of postoperative recurrence in nonmetastatic CCRCC.
Effectiveness of Screening With Annual Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Mammography: Results of the Initial Screen From the Ontario High Risk Breast Screening Program
Authors: Chiarelli Anna M. , Prummel Maegan V. , Muradali Derek , Majpruz Vicky , Horgan Meaghan , Carroll June C. , Eisen Andrea , Meschino Wendy S. , Shumak Rene S. , Warner Ellen , Rabeneck Linda 
Published: June 2014

Purpose The Ontario Breast Screening Program expanded in July 2011 to screen women age 30 to 69 years at high risk for breast cancer with annual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital mammography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first organized screening program for women at high risk for breast cancer. Patients and Methods Performance measures after assessment were compared with screening results for 2,207 women with initial screening examinations. The following criteria were used to determine eligibility: known mutation in BRCA1, BRCA2, or other gene predisposing to a markedly increased risk of breast cancer, untested first-degree relative of a gene mutation carrier, family history consistent with hereditary breast cancer syndrome and estimated personal lifetime breast cancer risk ≥ 25%, or radiation therapy to the chest (before age 30 years and at least 8 years previously). Results The recall rate was significantly higher among women who had abnormal MRI alone (15.1%; 95% CI, 13.8% to 16.4%) compared with mammogram alone (6.4%; 95% CI, 5.5% to 7.3%). Of the 35 breast cancers detected (16.3 per 1,000; 95% CI, 11.2 to 22.2), none were detected by mammogram alone, 23 (65.7%) were detected by MRI alone (10.7 per 1,000; 95% CI, 6.7 to 15.8), and 25 (71%) were detected among women who were known gene mutation carriers (30.8 per 1,000, 95% CI, 19.4 to 43.7). The positive predictive value was highest for detection based on mammogram and MRI (12.4%; 95% CI, 7.3% to 19.3%). Conclusion Screening with annual MRI combined with mammography has the potential to be effectively implemented into an organized breast screening program for women at high risk for breast cancer. This could be considered an important management option for known BRCA gene mutation carriers.
Involvement of PIT-1-Reactive Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Anti-PIT-1 Antibody Syndrome
Authors: Bando Hironori , Iguchi Genzo , Fukuoka Hidenori , Yamamoto Masaaki , Hidaka-Takeno Ryoko , Okimura Yasuhiko , Matsumoto Ryusaku , Suda Kentaro , Nishizawa Hitoshi , Takahashi Michiko , Tojo Katsuyoshi , Takahashi Yutaka 
Published: June 2014

Context:
Anti-pituitary-specific transcriptional factor 1 (PIT-1) antibody syndrome is characterized by acquired growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiencies associated with circulating anti-PIT-1 antibodies. Although autoimmunity to PIT-1 has been suggested as a pathogenesis, the precise mechanism of the syndrome remains unclarified.

Objective:
To elucidate the involvement of antibody- or cell-mediated immunity in anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome.

Materials and Methods:
To investigate a direct effect of anti-PIT-1 antibody on pituitary cells, cell proliferation, and cytotoxicity detection assays were performed using patient serum. Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay was performed to evaluate the involvement of PIT-1-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). An immunohistochemical analysis using anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibody was performed to examine tissue infiltration by CTLs.

Results:
Patient serum did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and secretion of GH and PRL in GH3 cells. In addition, complement-dependent cytotoxicity was not detected in patient serum on GH3 cells or primary pituitary cells. The ELISpot assay revealed the presence of CTLs that specifically reacted to the recombinant PIT-1 protein in the patient's peripheral lymphocytes. CD8+ cell infiltrations, which is the characteristic of CTLs, were observed in the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, stomach, thyroid gland, liver, and pancreas of the patient with anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome.

Conclusions:
These results suggest that the anti-PIT-1 antibody is not a cause but a marker of anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome, in which CTLs play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis.
Two different motor learning mechanisms contribute to learning reaching movements in a rotated visual environment
Authors: Chu Virginia Way Tong , Sanger Terence David 
Published: June 2014

Practice of movement in virtual-reality and other artificially altered environments has been proposed as a method for rehabilitation following neurological injury and for training new skills in healthy humans. For such training to be useful, there must be transfer of learning from the artificial environment to the performance of desired skills in the natural environment. Therefore an important assumption of such methods is that practice in the altered environment engages the same learning and plasticity mechanisms that are required for skill performance in the natural environment. We test the hypothesis that transfer of learning may fail because the learning and plasticity mechanism that adapts to the altered environment is different from the learning mechanism required for improvement of motor skill. In this paper, we propose that a model that separates skill learning and environmental adaptation is necessary to explain the learning and aftereffects that are observed in virtual reality experiments. In particular, we studied the condition where practice in the altered environment should lead to correct skill performance in the original environment. Our 2-mechanism model predicts that aftereffects will still be observed when returning to the original environment, indicating a lack of skill transfer from the artificial environment to the original environment. To illustrate the model prediction, we tested 10 healthy participants on the interaction between a simple overlearned motor skill (straight hand movements to targets in different directions) and an artificially altered visuomotor environment (rotation of visual feedback of the results of movement). As predicted by the models, participants show adaptation to the altered environment and after-effects on return to the baseline environment even when practice in the altered environment should have led to correct skill performance. The presence of aftereffect under all conditions that involved changes in environment demonstrates separation of environmental adaptation and skill learning. Our results support the existence of two distinct learning modules with different adaptation properties. Therefore we suggest that adaptation to an altered environment may not be useful for training new skills.
Readable workflows need simple data
Authors: Pfaff Claas-Thido , Nadrowski Karin , Ratcliffe Sophia , Wirth Christian , Bruelheide Helge 
Published: June 2014

Sharing scientific analyses via workflows has great potential to improve the reproducibility of science as well as communicating research results. This is particularly useful for trans-disciplinary research fields such as biodiversity - ecosystem functioning (BEF), where syntheses need to merge data ranging from genes to the biosphere. Here we argue that enabling simplicity in the very beginning of workflows, at the point of data description and merging, offers huge potentials in reducing workflow complexity and in fostering data and workflow reuse. We illustrate our points using a typical analysis in BEF research, the aggregation of carbon pools in a forest ecosystem. We introduce indicators for the complexity of workflow components including data sources. We show that workflow complexity decreases exponentially during the course of the analysis and that simple text-based measures help to identify bottlenecks in a workflow and group workflow components according to tasks. We thus suggest that focusing on simplifying steps of data aggregation and imputation will greatly improve workflow readability and thus reproducibility. Providing feedback to data providers about the complexity of their datasets may help to produce better focused data that can be used more easily in further studies. At the same time, providing feedback about the complexity of workflow components may help to exchange shorter and simpler workflows for easier reuse. Additionally, identifying repetitive tasks informs software development in providing automated solutions. We discuss current initiatives in software and script development that implement quality control for simplicity and social tools of script valuation. Taken together we argue that focusing on simplifying data sources and workflow components will improve and accelerate data and workflow reuse and simplify the reproducibility of data-driven science.
Lung transplantation in an intensive care patient with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis - a case report
Authors: Güçyetmez Bülent , Ogan Aylin , Çimet Ayyıldız Aylin , Yalçın Güder Berrin , Klepetko Walter 
Published: June 2014

Introduction: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the deposition of phosphate and calcium in the alveoli. The disease progresses asymptomatically until later stages. When it becomes symptomatic, lung transplantations performed before the onset of right heart failure may improve life expectancy and quality. Here we present a case report concerning the very first Turkish PAM patient to have undergone lung transplantation surgery.Patient information: A 52 year-old female, Caucasian patient, already diagnosed with PAM in infancy, was admitted to the intensive care unit, diagnosed with pneumonia and hospitalized for 20 days. We decided to refer the patient to a specialized center for lung transplantation. Bilateral lung transplantation was performed in Vienna 14 months later and no recurrence was observed during the first postoperative year.Conclusion: Bilateral lung transplantation may improve both the life expectancy and the quality of life of PAM diagnosed patients with severe respiratory failure who do not suffer from right heart failure. The risk of recurrence should not be considered as a justifying reason to avoid transplantation as a treatment method.
Low and stable rates of antenatal syphilis and HIV in migrant and refugee women on the Thai-Myanmar border: a descriptive study
Authors: McGready Rose , Kang Joy , Watts Isabella , Tyrosvoutis Mary Ellen G , Torchinsky Miriam B. , Htut Aung Myo , Tun Nay Win , Keereecharoen Lily , Wangsing Chirapat , Hanboonkunupakarn Borimas , Nosten François H. 
Published: June 2014

Objective: The antenatal prevalence of syphilis and HIV/AIDS in migrants and refugees is poorly documented. The aim of this study was to audit the first year of routine syphilis screening in migrant and refugee women on the Thai Myanmar border.Methods: From August 2012 to July 2013, 3600 pregnant women were screened for HIV (ELISA) and syphilis (VDRL with TPHA confirmation) at clinics along the Thai-Myanmar border.Results: Seroprevalence for HIV 0.47% (95% CI 0.30-0.76) (17/3,599), and syphilis 0.39% (95% CI 0.23-0.65) (14/3,592), were low. Syphilis was significantly lower in refugees (0.07% 95% CI 0.01-0.38) (1/1,469), than in migrants (0.61% 95% CI 0.36-1.04) (13/2,123). The three active (VDRL≥1:8 and TPHA reactive) syphilis cases with VDRL titres of 1:32 were easy to counsel and treat. Women with low VDRL titres (>75% were < 1:8) and TPHA reactive results, in the absence of symptoms and both the woman and her husband having only one sexual partner in their lifetime, and the inability to determine the true cause of the positive results presented ethical difficulties for counsellors.Conclusion: As HIV and syphilis testing becomes available in more and more settings, the potential impact of false positive results should be considered, especially in populations with low prevalence for these diseases. This uncertainty must be considered in order to counsel patients and partners accurately and safely about the results of these tests, without exposing women to increased risk for abuse or abandonment. Our findings highlight the complexities of counselling patients about these tests and the global need for more conclusive syphilis testing strategies.
The assessment of CD146-based cell sorting and telomere length analysis for establishing the identity of mesenchymal stem cells in human umbilical cord
Authors: Kouroupis Dimitrios , Churchman Sarah M. , McGonagle Dennis , Jones Elena A. 
Published: June 2014

Adult stem cells are characterised by longer telomeres compared to mature cells from the same tissue. In this study, candidate CD146+ umbilical cord (UC) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were purified by cell sorting from UC tissue digests and their telomere lengths were measured in comparison to donor-matched CD146-negative fraction.UC tissue fragments were enzymatically treated with collagenase and the cells were used for cell sorting, colony-forming fibroblast (CFU-F) assay or for long-term MSC cultivation. Telomere lengths were measured by qPCR in both culture-expanded MSCs and candidate native UC MSCs. Immunohistochemistry was undertaken to study the topography of CD146+ cells.Culture-expanded UC MSCs had a stable expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105, whereas CD146 declined in later passages which correlated with the shortening of telomeres in the same cultures. In three out of four donors, telomeres in candidate native UC MSCs (CD45-CD235α-CD31-CD146+) were longer compared to donor-matched CD146- population (CD45-CD235α-CD31-CD146-). The frequency of CD45-CD235α-CD31-CD146+ cells measured by flow cytometry was ~1000-fold above that of donor-matched CFU-Fs (means 10.4% and 0.01%, respectively). CD146+ cells were also abundant in situ having a broad topography including high levels of positivity in muscle areas in addition to vessels.
CETP inhibitors and cardiovascular disease: Time to think again
Authors: Miller Norman E 
Published: June 2014

Inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) lowers plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, suggesting it might prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). From the outset, however, the concept has been controversial owing to uncertainty about its effects on HDL function and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Although there has long been good evidence that CETP inhibition reduces atherosclerosis in rabbits, the first information on CETP as a CVD risk factor in a prospectively followed cohort was not published until after the first Phase 3 trial of a CETP inhibitor had begun. The worrying finding that CVD incidence was related inversely to plasma CETP has since been reproduced in each of five further prospective cohort studies. Similar results were obtained in subjects on or off statin therapy, for first and second CVD events, and for mortality as well as CVD morbidity. Additionally, two recent studies have found alleles of theCETPgene that lower hepatic CETP secretion to be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. Meanwhile,CETPgene transfer in mice was found to increase RCT from peripheral macrophagesin vivo, and human plasma with high CETP activity was shown to have a greater capacity to remove cholesterol from cultured cells than plasma with low activity. This mounting evidence for a protective function of CETP has been given remarkably little attention, and indeed was not mentioned in several recent reviews. It appears to show that CETP inhibition does not test the HDL hypothesis as originally hoped, and raises a pressing ethical issue regarding two Phase 3 trials of inhibitors, involving more than forty thousand subjects, which are currently in progress. As the weight of evidence now clearly supports an adverse effect of CETP inhibition on CVD, an urgent review is needed to determine if these trials should be discontinued.
Neuroglobin – recent developments
Authors: Qiu Xin Yao , Chen Xiao Qian 
Published: June 2014

AbstractNeuroglobin (Ngb), a monomeric hexacoordinated heme protein of 17 kDa, was identified in 2000 in the nervous system. Accumulative evidence has proved that Ngb is an endogenous neuroprotective molecule against ischemic/hypoxic insults and oxidative stresses, and in most ischemic conditions, Ngb is up-regulated. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not fully clarified. Here we review the recent experimental findings, mainly focusing on the mechanisms of Ngb’s protection and induction during ischemic/hypoxic conditions, the roles of Ngb in astrocytes and tumors, as well as Ngb’s function in neurite outgrowth.
Kinetic Models of Evaporation and Total Phenolics Degradation during Pomegranate Juice Concentration
Authors: Goula Athanasia M. , Tzika A. , Adamopoulos K.G. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Pomegranate juice was concentrated by conventional heating at different temperatures (45, 50, 55, 60, and 65°C), and the effect of temperature on evaporation rate and on thermal degradation of total phenolics was investigated. Concentration kinetics modeling was developed based on thin-layer drying models. The logarithmic model was found to give better predictions than the others. The temperature dependence of the model constants was expressed by polynomial relationships. In addition, a first-order decay model, with an Arrhenius and a polynomial dependency on temperature and water content, respectively, was used to describe the joint influence of temperature and moisture content on the thermal degradation of total phenolics in a concentration process of pomegranate juice.
Predicting fetal growth deviation in parous women: combining the birth weight of the previous pregnancy and third trimester ultrasound scan
Authors: Papastefanou Ioannis , Souka Athena P. , Eleftheriades Makarios , Pilalis Athanasios , Chrelias Charalambos , Kassanos Dimitrios 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the value of the birth weight of the previous pregnancy (BW1) alone and combined with the third trimester ultrasonographically estimated fetal weight (EFW) and Doppler studies in the prediction of small (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) neonates in the index pregnancy (BW2).

Method: Some 1298 parous women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies who had a third trimester ultrasound scan were considered as samples in this retrospective cohort study. Maternal and pregnancy characteristics, BW1, EFW, umbilical artery, and middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices were investigated as predictors of SGA and LGA.

Results: BW1, maternal weight, mode of conception, and smoking status were associated with BW2 (R
2=0.39) with BW1 being the strongest predictor (R
2=0.37). The addition of EFW conferred significant improvement (R
2=0.63), whereas the addition of the Doppler indices did not. The sensitivity of BW1 alone in the prediction of SGA was 75% for 25% screen positive rate and increased to 92% with the addition of EFW. The equivalent figures for LGA were 68% and 93%, respectively.

Conclusions: BW1 used as a continuous variable is predictive of growth deviations in the index pregnancy. Incorporating EFW enhanced the sensitivity for the detection of both conditions.
Evaluation of an extraction chromatographic resin containing CMPO and ionic liquid for actinide ion uptake from acidic feeds: Part
II. Batch actinide sorption, radiolytic degradation and column studies
Authors: Ansari Seraj Ahmed , Mohapatra Prasanta Kumar 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Extraction chromatographic resin prepared by impregnating CMPO-RTIL (C8mim+·NTf2
−) on Chromosrob-W for
the removal of trivalent actinides and lanthanides from aqueous solutions showed a significant improvement over the previously
reported CMPO-n-dodecane resin. The resin was characterized by thermal analysis, for surface area by BET and for surface
morphology by SEM. The K
d value of Am(III) by CMPO-RTIL resin was found to be 5805 and 3.8E4 with
3 M and 0.01 M HNO3, respectively. The high K
d values at lower acidity
suggested metal ion uptake following a cation exchange mechanism usually seen with ionic liquid based solvents and use of
0.01 M EDTA resulted in a K
d value of 0.11 which was subsequently used as the strippant. Uptake of other
actinide ions such as UO2
2+, Pu4+, Np4+ and fission product element ions such as Eu3+, Sr2+ and
Cs+ was also studied. Column studies using a feed containing 1 g/L Eu(III) in 3 M HNO3
suggested complete uptake of the metal ion up to passing 7 mL of the feed solution which corresponded to a column
capacity of 7 mg of Eu. The loaded Eu(III) from the columns could be efficiently eluted with 0.01 M
EDTA. The column capacity for Eu(III) was measured in the successive cycles of loading and elution and was found to be stable
up to 60 d. The results suggested the possible application of the resins in the treatment of dilute laboratory
radioactive waste.
The relationship between geotechnical index properties and the pore-size distribution of compacted clayey silts
Authors: Ural Nazile 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
In this study, the relationships between geotechnical index properties and the pore-size distribution of compacted natural silt and artificial soil mixtures, namely, silt with two different clays and three different clay percentages (10%, 20%, and 40%), were examined and compared. Atterberg’s limit tests, standard compaction tests, mercury intrusion porosimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface analysis were conducted. The results show that the liquid limit, the cumulative pore volume, and specific surface area of artificially mixed soils increase with an increase in the percentage of clay. The cumulative pore volume and specific surface area with geotechnical index properties were compared. High correlation coefficients were observed between the specific areas and both the liquid limit and the plasticity index, as well as between the cumulative pore volume and both the clay percentage and the S coefficient. In addition, qualitative SEM analyses were conducted.
The Genetics of Immunity
Authors: Lazzaro Brian P , Schneider David S 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
In this commentary, Brian P. Lazzaro and David S. Schneider examine the topic of the Genetics of Immunity as explored in this month's issues of GENETICS and G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. These inaugural articles are part of a joint Genetics of Immunity collection (ongoing) in the GSA journals.