bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meeting challenges related to the dietary assessment of ethnic minority populations
Authors: Garduño‐Diaz S. D. , Husain W. , Ashkanani F. , Khokhar S. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundMigrants from the Indian subcontinent comprise the largest minority group in the UK. With the process of migration come alterations in lifestyle and eating habits. The present study aimed to disseminate the valuable information, experiences and challenges faced by researchers who conduct studies with ethnic minority groups in the area of diet and nutritional surveys, with an emphasis on migrant South Asians.MethodsThe findings reported are the result of research carried out during 2008–2012, involving 1100 face‐to‐face dietary recalls conducted in the UK among South Asian children (aged 1.5–11 years; n = 300) and adults (≥30 years; n = 100).ResultsFactors to consider when planning and carrying out diet and nutrition survey studies among migrant South Asians were identified and include the employment of culture‐specific tools, visual aid reinforcement and the involvement of key community members and translators to facilitate recruitment and data collection. One of the best practices found when working with minority groups was the use of incentives and tangible benefits to reward study participants. It was also found that constant communication and follow‐up of the study participants improved the quality of the data and the likelihood of maintaining links with community members for future studies.ConclusionsFrom the results of in‐house studies and a revision of practices reported in earlier literature, two 24‐h face‐to‐face dietary recalls are recommended as the optimal method for the dietary assessment of migrant South Asians. To complement this assessment, ethnic‐specific food frequency questionnaires such as that developed and successfully implemented among South Asians in the present study must be employed.
Changes in reported food intake in adults with type 2 diabetes in response to a nonprescriptive dietary intervention
Authors: England C. Y. , Andrews R. , Jago R. , Thompson J. L. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectivesThere is a lack of published data about the food intake of patients with type 2 diabetes and the changes that they make in response to patient‐centred dietary advice. The present study describes the changes reported in response to a nonprescriptive dietary intervention based upon UK dietary guidelines.MethodsTwo hundred and sixty‐two patients (87 women and 175 men) from the Early ACTivity in Diabetes (ACTID) trial who received the dietary intervention returned 4 days food diaries at baseline and 6 months. Nonparametric tests were used to examine changes in meal patterns, total energy intake and energy from food groups between baseline and 6 months.ResultsMean (SD) number of reported meals day–1 was 3.0 (0.3) and mean (SD) number of snacks was 1.1 (0.6) at both baseline and 6 months for men and women. Men reported decreasing energy intake by a mean (SD) of 912 (1389) KJ/day [218 (332) kcal day–1] (P < 0.001) and women by 515 (1130) KJ/day [123 (270) kcal day–1] (P < 0.001). Men reported reducing energy from alcoholic drinks [−234 (527) KJ day–1; P < 0.001], white bread [−113 (402) KJ day–1; P = 0.001], biscuits [i.e. cookies −67 (205) KJ day–1; P < 0.001] and cakes [−50 (410) KJ day–1; P = 0.0012]. Women reported reducing energy from mixed main meals [−134 (456) KJ day–1; P = 0.036], pasta and rice [−79 (326) KJ day–1; P = 0.019], high‐energy drinks [−59 (159) KJ day–1; P = 0.001] and white bread [−59 (368) KJ day–1; P = 0.042].ConclusionsMen and women in the Early ACTID study reported small changes in higher‐energy and lower‐fibre foods and drinks in response to patient‐centred dietary advice.
Neuron‐specific specificity protein 4 bigenomically regulates the transcription of all mitochondria‐ and nucleus‐encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit genes in neurons
Authors: Johar Kaid , Priya Anusha , Dhar Shilpa , Liu Qiuli , Wong‐Riley Margaret T. T. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractNeurons are highly dependent on oxidative metabolism for their energy supply, and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is a key energy‐generating enzyme in the mitochondria. A unique feature of COX is that it is one of only four proteins in mammalian cells that are bigenomically regulated. Of its thirteen subunits, three are encoded in the mitochondrial genome and ten are nuclear‐encoded on nine different chromosomes. The mechanism of regulating this multisubunit, bigenomic enzyme poses a distinct challenge. In recent years, we found that nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (NRF‐1 and NRF‐2) mediate such bigenomic coordination. The latest candidate is the specificity factor (Sp) family of proteins. In N2a cells, we found that Sp1 regulates all 13 COX subunits. However, we discovered recently that in primary neurons, it is Sp4 and not Sp1 that regulates some of the key glutamatergic receptor subunit genes. The question naturally arises as to the role of Sp4 in regulating COX in primary neurons. The present study utilized multiple approaches, including chromatin immunoprecipitation, promoter mutational analysis, knockdown and over‐expression of Sp4, as well as functional assays to document that Sp4 indeed functionally regulate all 13 subunits of COX as well as mitochondrial transcription factors A and B.
imageThe present study discovered that among the specificity family of transcription factors, it is the less known neuron‐specific Sp4 that regulates the expression of all 13 subunits of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) enzyme in primary neurons. Sp4 also regulates the three mitochondrial transcription factors (TFAM, TFB1M, and TFB2M) and a COX assembly protein SURF‐1 in primary neurons.
Differential regulation of CaMKIIα interactions with mGluR5 and NMDA receptors by Ca2+ in neurons
Authors: Jin Dao‐Zhong , Guo Ming‐Lei , Xue Bing , Mao Li‐Min , Wang John Q. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractTwo glutamate receptors, metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), and ionotropic NMDA receptors (NMDAR), functionally interact with each other to regulate excitatory synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain. In exploring molecular mechanisms underlying their interactions, we found that Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) may play a central role. The synapse‐enriched CaMKIIα directly binds to the proximal region of intracellular C terminal tails of mGluR5 in vitro. This binding is state‐dependent: inactive CaMKIIα binds to mGluR5 at a high level whereas the active form of the kinase (following Ca2+/calmodulin binding and activation) loses its affinity for the receptor. Ca2+ also promotes calmodulin to bind to mGluR5 at a region overlapping with the CaMKIIα‐binding site, resulting in a competitive inhibition of CaMKIIα binding to mGluR5. In rat striatal neurons, inactive CaMKIIα constitutively binds to mGluR5. Activation of mGluR5 Ca2+‐dependently dissociates CaMKIIα from the receptor and simultaneously promotes CaMKIIα to bind to the adjacent NMDAR GluN2B subunit, which enables CaMKIIα to phosphorylate GluN2B at a CaMKIIα‐sensitive site. Together, the long intracellular C‐terminal tail of mGluR5 seems to serve as a scaffolding domain to recruit and store CaMKIIα within synapses. The mGluR5‐dependent Ca2+ transients differentially regulate CaMKIIα interactions with mGluR5 and GluN2B in striatal neurons, which may contribute to cross‐talk between the two receptors.
image
We show that activation of mGluR5 with a selective agonist triggers intracellular Ca2+ release in striatal neurons. Released Ca2+ dissociates preformed CaMKIIα from mGluR5 and meanwhile promotes active CaMKIIα to bind to the adjacent NMDAR GluN2B subunit, which enables CaMKIIα to phosphorylate GluN2B at a CaMKIIα‐sensitive site. This agonist‐induced cascade seems to mediate crosstalk between mGluR5 and NMDA receptors in neurons.
Exercise and sleep in community‐dwelling older adults: evidence for a reciprocal relationship
Authors: Dzierzewski Joseph M. , Buman Matthew P. , Giacobbi Peter R. , Roberts Beverly L. , Aiken‐Morgan Adrienne T. , Marsiske Michael , McCrae Christina S. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryExercise behaviour and sleep are both important health indicators that demonstrate significant decreases with age, and remain modifiable well into later life. The current investigation examined both the chronic and acute relationships between exercise behaviour and self‐reported sleep in older adults through a secondary analysis of a clinical trial of a lifestyle intervention. Seventy‐nine community‐dwelling, initially sedentary, older adults (mean age = 63.58 years, SD = 8.66 years) completed daily home‐based assessments of exercise behaviour and sleep using daily diary methodology. Assessments were collected weekly and continued for 18 consecutive weeks. Multilevel models revealed a small positive chronic (between‐person mean‐level) association between exercise and wake time after sleep onset, and a small positive acute (within‐person, day‐to‐day) association between exercise and general sleep quality rating. The within‐person exercise and general sleep quality rating relationship was found to be reciprocal (i.e. sleep quality also predicted subsequent exercise behaviour). As such, it appears exercise and sleep are dynamically related in older adults. Efforts to intervene on either sleep or exercise in late‐life would be wise to take the other into account. Light exposure, temperature regulation and mood may be potential mechanisms of action through which exercise can impact sleep in older adults.
Randomized controlled trial of daily interruption of sedatives in critically ill children
Authors: Verlaat Carin W. M. , Heesen Ger P. , Vet Nienke J. , de Hoog Matthijs , van der Hoeven Johannes G. , Kox Matthijs , Pickkers Peter 
Published: August 2013

SummaryAimTo study the feasibility of daily interruption of sedatives in critically ill children.MethodsProspective randomized controlled open‐label trial, performed in a pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching and referring hospital. 30 children (0–12 years) receiving mechanically ventilation for >24 h were included. In the intervention group, all sedatives were stopped daily and restarted when COMFORT‐behavior score ≥17. The control group received standard care. Primary end points were amounts of sedatives and number of bolus medications in the first 3 days after enrollment and number of (near) incidents. Secondary end points were duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in pediatric intensive care, and changes in COMFORT‐behavior score.ResultsMidazolam and morphine use were lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (P = 0.007 and P = 0.02, respectively), whereas the number of bolus medications did not differ between groups. Two complications were recorded: one patient (intervention group) lost his intravenous line, and one patient (control group) had an unplanned extubation. Duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter in the intervention group compared with the control group (median [interquartile range] of 4 [3–8] and 9 [4–10] days, respectively, P = 0.03). Length of stay in the PICU in the intervention group was significantly shorter than in the control group (median [interquartile range] of 6 [4–9] and 10 [7–15] days, respectively, P = 0.01).ConclusionsDaily interruption of sedatives in critically ill children is feasible, results in decreased use of sedation, earlier extubation, and shorter length of stay.
Spanish version of the Investment Model Scale
Authors: VANDERDRIFT LAURA E. , AGNEW CHRISTOPHER R. , WILSON JUAN E. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractVoluminous work has catalogued the utility of Rusbult's (1980) investment model of commitment processes in understanding why some relationships persist whereas others fail. To date this work has been conducted almost exclusively with samples of English‐speaking individuals. To facilitate testing novel hypotheses among Spanish‐speaking populations as well examining various cross‐cultural questions, we present a Spanish version of the Investment Model Scale (Rusbult, Martz, & Agnew, 1998). With a sample of Spanish‐speaking individuals from Chile, we demonstrate that our translation has the same structural properties as the English version (Study 1) and has good predictive validity (Study 2). The Spanish version of the Investment Model Scale will enable researchers to sample a larger subset of the population and allow for the examination of cultural influences on relationship processes.
Married Black men's opinions as to why Black women are disproportionately single: A qualitative study
Authors: HURT TERA R. , McELROY STACEY E. , SHEATS KAMERON J. , LANDOR ANTOINETTE M. , BRYANT CHALANDRA M. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis study's purpose was to explore the reasons Black women are disproportionately single according to the unique viewpoint of married Black men. The sample comprises 52 married Black men who resided in northeast Georgia (mean age = 43). Qualitative interviews were conducted in 2010 as part of the Pathways to Marriage study. The authors analyzed the data in a collaborative fashion and utilized content analyses to explore the relationships in the data, which were derived from qualitative interviews with the men. Findings on the reasons for the disproportionality of singlehood among Black women reflected these four themes: gender relations, marriage education and socialization, individual development, and a preference for gay/lesbian relationships. Recommendations for future research are discussed.
Implication of ultraviolet light in the etiology of uveal melanoma: A review
Authors: Mallet Justin D. , Gendron Sébastien P. , Drigeard Desgarnier Marie‐Catherine , Rochette Patrick J. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractUveal melanoma is the most frequent intraocular cancer and the second most common form of melanoma. It metastasizes in half of the patients and the prognostic is poor. Although ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven risk factor for skin melanoma, the role of UV light in the etiology of uveal melanoma is still contradictory. We have compared epidemiological and genetic evidences of the potential role of UV radiation in uveal melanoma with data on cutaneous melanoma. Even though frequently mutated genes in skin melanoma (e.g. BRAF) differ from those found in uveal melanoma (i.e. GNAQ, GNA11), their mutation pattern bears strong similarities. Furthermore, we provide new results showing that RAC1, a gene recently found harboring UV‐hallmark mutation in skin melanoma, is also mutated in uveal melanoma. This article aims to review the work done in the last decades to understand the etiology of uveal melanoma and discuss new avenues, which shed some light on the potential role of UV exposure in uveal melanoma.
Blood lead concentrations in sub‐Saharan African children below 6 years: systematic review
Authors: Ngueta Gerard , Ndjaboue Ruth 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the geometric mean of blood lead levels in children aged below 6 years living in sub‐Saharan Africa.MethodsSearch strategies were developed in MEDLINE, Web of Science and Google scholar system, supplemented by screening of references from included papers and review articles. Studies including children younger than 6 years residing in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) were eligible. The studies were assessed for quality of methods for blood collection, for participants’ recruitment and for quality control for lead analyses. Data were extracted and synthetised by estimating the mean weighted by sample size.ResultsA total of 11 148 published papers were identified with only 16 studies conducted in SSA. Only nine of them were relevant of inclusion criteria. The weighted mean of blood lead levels was 13.1 μg/dl. Five of included studies were classified as being less likely to present selection bias, having performed venipuncture and adequate quality control for lead analyses. The weighted mean from analyses involving only these studies was 16.2 μg/dl. Six of the included studies reported the prevalence of blood lead levels ≥10 μg/dl; levels ranged from 7.0% to 70.9%. Only one study reported the prevalence of blood lead levels ≥5 μg/dl (50%).ConclusionsThe geometric mean of blood lead levels in sub‐Saharan African children is still elevated relative to the US children. The new standard from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (5 μg/dl) implies that important efforts should be directed towards the initiation (or reinforcement) of prevention programmes and thorough research studies in sub‐Saharan Africa.
Effect of voluntary hyperventilation with supplemental CO2 on pulmonary O2 uptake and leg blood flow kinetics during moderate‐intensity exercise
Authors: Chin Lisa M. K. , Heigenhauser George J. F. , Paterson Donald H. , Kowalchuk John M. 
Published: August 2013

New findings
What is the central question of this study?Voluntary hyperventilation that induces hypocapnic alkalosis (HYPO) is associated with slowed adaptation of O2 uptake and leg blood flow during moderate exercise; however, it is unknown whether hypocapnia, alkalosis and/or the hyperventilation manoeuvre is related to these observations.
What is the main finding and its importance?We included a condition with the same work of breathing as HYPO, but the fall in CO2 was prevented by the addition of higher CO2 to the inspirate (normocapnia). This condition demonstrated that hypocapnia/alkalosis was responsible for the slower leg blood flow response; however, the act of hyperventilation itself also had a role to play in the slower O2 uptake kinetics.
Pulmonary O2 uptake () and leg blood flow (LBF) kinetics were examined at the onset of moderate‐intensity exercise, during hyperventilation with and without associated hypocapnic alkalosis. Seven male subjects (25 ± 6 years old; mean ± SD) performed alternate‐leg knee‐extension exercise from baseline to moderate‐intensity exercise (80% of estimated lactate threshold) and completed four to six repetitions for each of the following three conditions: (i) control [CON; end‐tidal partial pressure of CO2 () ∼40 mmHg], i.e. normal breathing with normal inspired CO2 (0.03%); (ii) hypocapnia (HYPO; ∼20 mmHg), i.e. sustained hyperventilation with normal inspired CO2 (0.03%); and (iii) normocapnia (NORMO; ∼40 mmHg), i.e. sustained hyperventilation with elevated inspired CO2 (∼5%). The was measured breath by breath using mass spectrometry and a volume turbine. Femoral artery mean blood velocity was measured by Doppler ultrasound, and LBF was calculated from femoral artery diameter and mean blood velocity. Phase 2 kinetics (τ) was different (P < 0.05) amongst all three conditions (CON, 19 ± 7 s; HYPO, 43 ± 17 s; and NORMO, 30 ± 8 s), while LBF kinetics (τLBF) was slower (P < 0.05) in HYPO (31 ± 9 s) compared with both CON (19 ± 3 s) and NORMO (20 ± 6 s). Similar to previous findings, HYPO was associated with slower and LBF kinetics compared with CON. In the present study, preventing the fall in end‐tidal (NORMO) restored LBF kinetics, but not kinetics, which remained ‘slowed’ relative to CON. These data suggest that the hyperventilation manoeuvre itself (i.e. independent of induced hypocapnic alkalosis) may contribute to the slower kinetics observed during HYPO.
Non‐quantal release of acetylcholine in rat atrial myocardium is inhibited by noradrenaline
Authors: Borodinova Anastasia A. , Abramochkin Denis V. , Sukhova Galina S. 
Published: August 2013

New findings
What is the central question of this study?Is non‐quantal release of ACh in the heart regulated by noradrenaline or does it represent uncontrolled leakage of ACh from cardiac cholinergic fibres?
What is the main finding and its importance?Cardiac non‐quantal ACh release can be negatively regulated by noradrenaline. This finding suggests that non‐quantal release has physiological relevance and is also important in the context of cholinergic–adrenergic interactions in the heart.
In the mammalian myocardium, ACh, which is the main neurotransmitter of cardiac parasympathetic postganglionic fibres, can be released via both quantal (vesicular) and non‐quantal (non‐vesicular) mechanisms of secretion. Non‐quantal release is continuous and independent of vagus activity and exocytosis of ACh‐containing vesicles. During the incubation of myocardium in the presence of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, non‐quantal ACh release leads to accumulation of ACh in the myocardium and cholinergic effects, which are proportional to the intensity of non‐quantal secretion. The aim of the present study was to reveal whether non‐quantal release of ACh can be modulated by another major cardioregulator, noradrenaline, or whether it represents uncontrolled leakage of ACh from cholinergic fibres. Cholinergic changes of electrical activity induced by the AChE inhibitor paraoxon (5 × 10−6 m) in isolated rat right atrial preparations were determined by means of a standard microlectrode technique and used as a measure of the intensity of non‐quantal release. Noradrenaline (10−7 and 10−6 m) substantially suppressed, but did not abolish, effects of paraoxon via stimulation of α‐adrenoceptors, because all experiments were conducted in the presence of the β‐blocker propranolol (5 × 10−6 m). A blocker of ganglionic transmission, hexamethonium bromide (10−4 m), failed to alter the inhibitory effect of noradrenaline, indicating that only non‐quantal ACh release is suppressed by this neurotransmitter. The effects of noradrenaline could be reduced by the α2‐antagonist yohimbine (10−6 m). However, both the α1‐agonist phenylephrine (10−6 m) and the α2‐agonist clonidine (10−6 m) significantly inhibited the cholinergic effects of paraoxon, indicating the possible involvement of both α‐adrenoceptor subtypes in mediation of the adrenergic inhibition of non‐quantal ACh release. Thus, cardiac non‐quantal ACh release can be negatively regulated by noradrenaline, providing another facet of sympathetic–parasympathetic interaction in the heart.