bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adherence to treatment in a Western European paediatric population with haemophilia: reliability and validity of theVERITAS‐Pro scale
Authors: Lock J. , Raat H. , Duncan N. , Shapiro A. , Beijlevelt M. , Peters M. , Tamminga R. Y. J. , Leebeek F. W. G. , Moll H. A. , Cnossen M. H. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryTreatment adherence in haemophilia is strongly associated with quality of life and the cost–benefit of treatment. Therefore, it is important to quantify and monitor it. This study aimed to validate a translation of theVERITAS‐Pro cross‐culturally and analyse treatment adherence in a Dutch population of paediatric haemophilia patients. Children aged 1–18 years with haemophilia were included from three Haemophilia Treatment Centres, on prophylactic clotting factor replacement therapy for more than 1 year. Parents and adolescents were analysed separately. The adherence scale for prophylactic therapy (VERITAS‐Pro) was translated according to international guidelines. This instrument contains a total of six subscales (‘Time’, ‘Dose’, ‘Plan’, ‘Remember’, ‘Skip’ and ‘Communicate’) each with four items. Lower scores reflecthigheradherence. Overall response rate was 85%, leading to a study population of 60 children. Mean age was 10 years (SD4.1).Internal consistency reliability: Mean Cronbach's alphas were adequate (>0.70) for total score and the subscales ‘Skip’ and ‘Communicate’. Item‐own subscale correlations were stronger than most item‐other subscale correlations.Convergent validity: Total scores were higher for non‐adherent participants compared with adherent participants according to patient infusion logs (n = 48;P < 0.05). Test–retest correlations:Significant for all scales except ‘Dose’ (n = 58;P < 0.01). This study demonstrates applicability ofVERITAS‐Pro outside the United States, as total score and most subscales effectively quantified treatment adherence in a Dutch paediatric population on prophylactic therapy. Non‐adherent respondents’ total scores were significantly higher, demonstrating the ability ofVERITAS‐Pro to identify non‐adherent individuals.
Salvage of grafts with vascular thrombosis during live donor renal allotransplantation: A critical analysis of successful outcome
Authors: Harraz Ahmed M , Shokeir Ahmed A , Soliman Shady A , Osman Yasser , El‐Hefnawy Ahmed S , Zahran Mohamed H , Kamal Ahmed I , Kamal Mohamed M , Ali‐El‐Dein Bedeir 
Published: May 2014

ObjectivesTo report a high‐volume institution experience with salvage techniques for vascular accidents during live donor renal allotransplantation.MethodsBetween March 1976 and January 2011, 2208 recipients underwent live donor renal allotransplantation. A retrospective review of recipients with vascular accidents – renal artery thrombosis and renal vein thrombosis – was carried out. Salvage procedures were recorded and their outcomes were assessed.ResultsA total of 23 (1%) vascular accidents occurred, including renal artery thrombosis and renal vein thrombosis in 19 (0.8%) and four (0.18%) recipients, respectively. All renal artery thrombosis patients were treated by open revascularization and the graft was salvaged in 12 patients (63%). Two renal vein thrombosis events were resolved by percutaneous catheter‐directed thrombolytic therapy. Of the other two allografts, one was salvaged by thrombectomy and revascularization, and the other was lost. On univariable analysis, older recipients (P = 0.003), pretransplant hypertension (P = 0.001), more human leukocyte antigen mismatches (≥3; P = 0.036), shorter ischemia time (≤45 min; P = 0.004) and longer time to diagnosis (>3.5 days; P = 0.013) were significantly associated with non‐salvage of the graft after vascular accidents. Nevertheless, none of these variables were significant on the multivariable analysis. Over a median follow up of 35 months, the median (range) serum creatinine was 2 mg/dL (range 0.8–8.8 mg/dL), and 11 (79%) recipients were living with functioning grafts.ConclusionsDespite the devastating complications, vascular accidents are salvageable and revascularization is crucial for graft salvage. Angiographic percutaneous techniques are viable alternatives for renal vein thrombosis.
Mutation profile of differentiated thyroid tumours in an Australian urban population
Authors: Mond M. , Alexiadis M. , Fuller P. J. , Gilfillan C. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe majority of differentiated thyroid cancers are characterised by one of several point mutations or gene rearrangements. Limited data are available on the prevalence and clinical correlations of these mutations in the Australian population.AimsThe aim of the present study was to characterise the mutation profile of differentiated thyroid tumours in the local population.MethodsThe study involved 148 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. The following tumours were examined: 109 papillary carcinomas (PTC), 27 follicular carcinomas (FC) and 12 Hurthle cell carcinomas (HCC). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for BRAF and RAS mutations (RNA and DNA) as well as for RET/PTC rearrangements and PAX8‐PPARγ translocations (RNA). Clinicopathological parameters and outcome data were analysed according to BRAFV600E status in PTC and RAS mutation status in FC.ResultsBRAFV600E was identified in 74/109 (68%) PTC. BRAFV600E was not significantly correlated with clinicopathological features of aggressive disease. At a median follow up of 48 months, there was no significant difference between BRAFV600E and wild‐type BRAF PTC with respect to the rates of nodal recurrence, distant metastases or disease‐specific death. In FC, RAS mutations (five NRAS and three HRAS) were present in 8/27 (30%) tumours. RAS mutation was significantly associated with widely invasive histology (P = 0.01) and distant metastases (P = 0.01) on follow up.ConclusionIn the present study, BRAF mutation was not associated with negative prognostic indicators or adverse outcomes in PTC. RAS mutation was positively correlated with aggressive features in FC suggesting potential prognostic utility, although confirmation is required from larger studies.
Lean mass modulates glomerular filtration rate in males of normal and extreme body composition
Authors: Chew‐Harris J. S.C. , Florkowski C. M. , Elmslie J. L. , Livesey J. , Endre Z. H. , George P. M. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding determinants of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is important in aiding prediction and interpretation of kidney function. Body composition is known to affect GFR but is not included in current screening of kidney disease. We investigated the association between GFR and body composition in healthy young men with differing body mass but without known diabetes or kidney injury.MethodsThree groups were recruited: normal BMI (n = 22) with a body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, muscular (n = 23) with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and bioelectrical impedance body fat ≤20% and obese (n = 22) with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and bioelectrical impedance body fat ≥30%. Dietary analyses, GFR clearance by 99m Tc‐DTPA, urine protein and body composition by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry were measured in all participants. Linear and nonlinear associations of constituents of body composition with GFR were assessed.ResultsMuscular men had a higher GFR (mean 186.4 mL/min; 95% CI 171.7–201.1) than normal BMI and obese groups (P = 0.0007). Urine protein and albumin excretion were not elevated in any participants. On multiple regression analysis (r2 = 0.60), the variables with strong associations with GFR were age (P = 0.0009) and lean mass (P = 0.0001). Fat mass, protein intake and smoking status were not associated. Skeletal muscle mass correlated significantly with GFR in all subgroups.ConclusionAge and lean mass were strong determinants of GFR. Estimates of GFR should therefore be indexed to an estimate of lean mass.
Interactive Effects of Sudden and Gradual Drought Stress and Foliar‐applied Glycinebetaine on Growth, Water Relations, Osmolyte Accumulation and Antioxidant Defence System in Two Maize Cultivars Differing in Drought Tolerance
Authors: Zhang L.‐X. , Lai J.‐H. , Liang Z.‐S. , Ashraf M. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractInfluence of sudden and gradual drought stress (DS) and foliar‐applied glycinebetaine (GB) on growth, water relations, osmolyte accumulation and antioxidant defence system were investigated in the plants of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, that is, drought‐tolerant Shaandan 9 (S9) and drought‐sensitive Shaandan 911 (S911). Sudden DS caused less accumulation of GB and free proline, but a more accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), which resulted in a greater reduction in leaf relative water content (RWC) and dry matter (DM) in both cultivars compared with the gradual DS. Exogenous GB application caused a rise in DM, RWC, contents of GB and free proline as well as the activities of SOD, CAT and POD along with a decline in MDA content to various extent in both cultivars under both types of DS. A more pronounced effectiveness of GB application was observed in S911 than that in S9 under the same type of DS. It seemed that the more serious damage of DS was on maize plants, and the better positive role of GB was observed in terms of mitigating the adverse effects of DS. From this study, it was possible to propose that hardening for drought resistance by gradual DS treatment and GB application are effective to make plants robust to thrive under water‐deficit conditions.
‘To move or not to move’: a national survey among professionals on beliefs and considerations about the place of end‐of‐life care for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Bekkema N. , de Veer A. J. E. , Wagemans A. M. A , Hertogh C. M. P. M. , Francke A. L. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this article was to investigate the beliefs and considerations of professionals concerning an appropriate environment for end‐of‐life care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID).MethodA survey questionnaire was composed based on a scan of relevant literature and the results of group interviews with professionals, family members and people with ID. The questionnaire focused on the respondents' general beliefs about an appropriate environment for end‐of‐life care and their specific considerations regarding the place of care of the last client for whom the respondent provided end‐of‐life care. The questionnaire was sent to 294 care staff members recruited from a nationally representative panel of nurses and social workers, 273 ID physicians recruited from the members list of the Dutch professional association of ID physicians, and 1000 general practitioners (GPs) recruited from a nationally representative sample from a national registration of GPs.ResultsThe overall response was 46%. Professionals predominantly believe that all efforts should be made to ensure that a person with ID receives end‐of‐life care in their own home environment, and that 24/7 care is available. Respondents indicated that most of the clients (79%) who had last received end‐of‐life care from an ID care service were able to stay in their own home environment. Decisions to keep the client in their own home environment were primarily based on the familiarity of the environment and the expertise of the team in end‐of‐life care. Insufficient expertise and a lack of adequate equipment were the main considerations in decisions to move a client. Despite the belief of care staff in particular that the wishes of the person with ID should always be leading when deciding on the place of end‐of‐life care, only 8% of the care staff and ID physicians explicitly mentioned that the client's wishes were taken into account in actual decision‐making.ConclusionsProfessionals agree that end‐of‐life care for people with ID should preferably take place in the client's home environment, even when nursing expertise, experience and adequate equipment are not (yet) in place. Nonetheless, a lack of expertise in end‐of‐life care is the foremost consideration in decisions to move a client. If ID care services want to promote end‐of‐life care in the client's own home, we recommend formulating a policy on how to realise end‐of‐life care in the client's own home environment and provide sufficient training and support for staff. To involve people with ID as much as possible, we recommend that professionals integrate more collaborative principles in decision‐making about the place of end‐of‐life care.
Neurokinin B Receptor Antagonism Decreases Luteinising Hormone Pulse Frequency and Amplitude and Delays Puberty Onset in the Female Rat
Authors: Li S. Y. , Li X. F. , Hu M. H. , Shao B. , Poston L. , Lightman S. L. , O'Byrne K. T. 
Published: May 2014

The neural mechanisms controlling puberty onset remain enigmatic. Humans with loss of function mutations in TAC3 or TACR3, the genes encoding neurokinin B (NKB) or its receptor, neurokinin‐3 receptor (NK3R), respectively, present with severe congenital gonadotrophin deficiency and pubertal failure. Animal studies have shown ambiguous actions of NKB‐NK3R signalling with respect to controlling puberty onset. The present study aimed to determine the role of endogenous NKB‐NK3R signalling in the control of pulsatile luteinising hormone (LH) secretion and the timing of puberty onset, and also whether precocious pubertal onset as a result of an obesogenic diet is similarly regulated by this neuropeptide system. Prepubertal female rats, chronically implanted with i.c.v. cannulae, were administered SB222200, a NK3R antagonist, or artificial cerebrospinal fluid via an osmotic mini‐pump for 14 days. SB222200 significantly delayed the onset of vaginal opening and first oestrus (as markers of puberty) compared to controls in both normal and high‐fat diet fed animals. Additionally, serial blood sampling, via chronic indwelling cardiac catheters, revealed that the increase in LH pulse frequency was delayed and that the LH pulse amplitude was reduced in response to NK3R antagonism, regardless of dietary status. These data suggest that endogenous NKB‐NK3R signalling plays a role in controlling the timing of puberty and the associated acceleration of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone pulse generator frequency in the female rat.
Looking Attractive until You Sell: Earnings Management, Lockup Expiration, and Venture Capitalists
Authors: Nam Dae‐il , Park Haemin Dennis , Arthurs Jonathan D. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractEarnings management occurs when managerial discretion allows managers to influence reported earnings and thus mislead some investors about the underlying economic performance and quality of the firm. This study considers how potential investors may guard against earnings management by observing negative stock price reaction at the lockup expiration period of initial public offering (IPO) firms as a negative signal. Findings from a sample of 160 newly public firms show that earnings management behaviour is stronger inIPOfirms backed by venture capitalists (VCs). Moreover,VCreputation negatively moderates this relationship such thatIPOfirms backed by reputableVCs are less likely to manage earnings, suggesting that reputableVCs serve an auditing function following anIPO. Overall, we provide insights into signalling theory by examining negative signals arising from the behaviour of multiple agents in anIPOfirm.
Melatonin prevents maternal fructose intake‐induced programmed hypertension in the offspring: roles of nitric oxide and arachidonic acid metabolites
Authors: Tain You‐Lin , Leu Steve , Wu Kay L. H. , Lee Wei‐Chia , Chan Julie Y. H. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractFructose intake has increased globally and is linked to hypertension. Melatonin was reported to prevent hypertension development. In this study, we examined whether maternal high fructose (HF) intake causes programmed hypertension and whether melatonin therapy confers protection against the process, with a focus on the link to epigenetic changes in the kidney using next‐generation RNA sequencing (NGS) technology. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats received regular chow or chow supplemented with HF (60% diet by weight) alone or with additional 0.01% melatonin in drinking water during the whole period of pregnancy and lactation. Male offspring were assigned to four groups: control, HF, control + melatonin (M), and HF + M. Maternal HF caused increases in blood pressure (BP) in the 12‐wk‐old offspring. Melatonin therapy blunted the HF‐induced programmed hypertension and increased nitric oxide (NO) level in the kidney. The identified differential expressed gene (DEGs) that are related to regulation of BP included Ephx2, Col1a2, Gucy1a3, Npr3, Aqp2, Hba‐a2, and Ptgs1. Of which, melatonin therapy inhibited expression and activity of soluble epoxide hydrolase (SEH, Ephx2 gene encoding protein). In addition, we found genes in arachidonic acid metabolism were potentially involved in the HF‐induced programmed hypertension and were affected by melatonin therapy. Together, our data suggest that the beneficial effects of melatonin are attributed to its ability to increase NO level in the kidney, epigenetic regulation of genes related to BP control, and inhibition of SEH expression. The roles of DEGs by the NGS in long‐term epigenetic changes in the adult offspring kidney require further clarification.
Melatonin improves mitochondrial function in inguinal white adipose tissue of Zücker diabetic fatty rats
Authors: Jimenéz‐Aranda Aroa , Fernández‐Vázquez Gumersindo , Mohammad A‐Serrano María , Reiter Russel J. , Agil Ahmad 
Published: May 2014

AbstractMitochondrial dysfunction in adipose tissue may contribute to obesity‐related metabolic derangements such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Because mitochondria are a target for melatonin action, the goal of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on mitochondrial function in white (WAT) and beige inguinal adipose tissue of Zücker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a model of obesity‐related T2DM. In this experimental model, melatonin reduces obesity and improves the metabolic profile. At 6 wk of age, ZDF rats and lean littermates (ZL) were subdivided into two groups, each composed of four rats: control (C‐ZDF and C‐ZL) and treated with oral melatonin in the drinking water (10 mg/kg/day) for 6 wk (M‐ZDF and M‐ZL). After the treatment period, animals were sacrificed, tissues dissected, and mitochondrial function assessed in isolated organelles. Melatonin increased the respiratory control ratio (RCR) in mitochondria from white fat of both lean (by 26.5%, P < 0.01) and obese (by 34.5%, P < 0.01) rats mainly through a reduction of proton leaking component of respiration (state 4) (28% decrease in ZL, P < 0.01 and 35% in ZDF, P < 0.01). However, melatonin treatment lowered the RCR in beige mitochondria of both lean (by 7%, P < 0.05) and obese (by 13%, P < 0.05) rats by maintaining high rates of uncoupled respiration. Melatonin also lowered mitochondrial oxidative status by reducing nitrite levels and by increasing superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, melatonin treatment also caused a profound inhibition of Ca‐induced opening of mPTP in isolated mitochondria from both types of fat, white and beige, in both lean and obese rats. These results demonstrate that chronic oral melatonin improves mitochondrial respiration and reduces the oxidative status and susceptibility to apoptosis in white and beige adipocytes. These melatonin effects help to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and thereby to improve obesity‐related metabolic disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidemia of ZDF rats.
Syntactic Memory in the Comprehension of Reflexive Dependencies: an Overview
Authors: Dillon Brian 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe distribution of reflexive anaphors has long been of central importance in the development of syntactic theory. In a parallel fashion, research on the comprehension of reflexive anaphors is increasingly influential for theories of syntactic comprehension. In this article, I present the problem of selecting a reflexive's antecedent as a memory retrieval problem and illustrate why the comprehension of reflexives is of special interest for theories of the memory architecture of the sentence processor. I review a range of influential findings on reflexive comprehension, focusing on results that concern the speed and grammatical accuracy of antecedent retrieval. An emerging empirical generalization is that reflexives are relatively immune to retrieval interference, a property that sets them apart from superficially similar syntactic dependencies like subject–verb agreement. Existing data, across languages and across methodologies, suggest that comprehenders retrieve a reflexive's antecedent primarily on the basis of its syntactic position.
Teleosemantics: Intentionality, Productivity, and the Theory of Meaning
Authors: Leahy Brian 
Published: May 2014

AbstractSince the publication of Ruth Millikan's Language, Thought, and Other Biological Categories in 1984, a great deal of literature has discussed her so‐called teleosemantic or biosemantic solution to the problem of intentionality. Only recently, though, has much attention been paid to her co‐ordinated solution to the problem of productivity. This article, first, clearly describes the problems of intentionality, productivity, and compositionality, and describes their relationships and their relevance for the theory of meaning. It then describes Millikan's proposal with respect to the problem of intentionality and shows how this buys her a novel solution to the problem of productivity. The article closes by discussing some alternative teleosemantic theories and some issues that will contribute to deciding between them.
A Meloidogyne incognita effector is imported into the nucleus and exhibits transcriptional activation activity in planta
Authors: Zhang Lei , Davies Laura J. , Elling Axel A. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryRoot‐knot nematodes are sedentary biotrophic endoparasites that maintain a complex interaction with their host plants. Nematode effector proteins are synthesized in the oesophageal glands of nematodes and secreted into plant tissue through a needle‐like stylet. Effectors characterized to date have been shown to mediate processes essential for nematode pathogenesis. To gain an insight into their site of action and putative function, the subcellular localization of 13 previously isolated Meloidogyne incognita effectors was determined. Translational fusions were created between effectors and EGFP‐GUS (enhanced green fluorescent protein‐β‐glucuronidase) reporter genes, which were transiently expressed in tobacco leaf cells. The majority of effectors localized to the cytoplasm, with one effector, 7H08, imported into the nuclei of plant cells. Deletion analysis revealed that the nuclear localization of 7H08 was mediated by two novel independent nuclear localization domains. As a result of the nuclear localization of the effector, 7H08 was tested for the ability to activate gene transcription. 7H08 was found to activate the expression of reporter genes in both yeast and plant systems. This is the first report of a plant‐parasitic nematode effector with transcriptional activation activity.