bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The cytoprotective peptide humanin is induced and neutralizes Bax after pro‐apoptotic stress in the rat testis
Authors: Jia Y. , Lue Y.‐H. , Swerdloff R. , Lee K.‐W. , Cobb L. J. , Cohen P. , Wang C. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryWe have previously demonstrated that the mitochondria‐derived cytoprotective peptide humanin (HN), when administered intratesticularly to rats, rescues germ cells from apoptosis secondary to testicular stress of hormonal deprivation induced by gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH‐A). To decipher the cellular mechanisms of HN action in the amelioration of GnRH‐A‐induced germ cell apoptosis, adult male rats received the following treatments for 5 days: (i) daily intratesticular (IT) injections with saline (control); (ii) a single subcutaneous injection of GnRH‐A on Day 1 and daily IT injection of saline; (iii) daily IT injection of synthetic HN; and (iv) GnRH‐A injection on Day 1 and daily IT injection of HN (GnRH‐A+HN). HN alone had no effect on germ cell apoptosis. GnRH‐A increased germ cell apoptosis and BAX in the testicular mitochondrial fractions. Synthetic HN decreased germ cell apoptosis induced by GnRH‐A and BAX in the mitochondria. We deduced that the cytoprotective action of synthetic HN on GnRH‐A‐induced germ cell apoptosis was mediated by attenuating p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase activity and increasing STAT3 phosphorylation. The effect of synthetic HN on the expression of endogenous rat HN in the testis was studied using rat HN specific antibody. GnRH‐A treatment increased, but concomitant treatment with synthetic HN reduced endogenous rat HN expression in both cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions in testis. Co‐immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the increased rat HN was physically associated with BAX in the cytosolic testicular fractions after GnRH‐A treatment. Double‐immunofluorescence staining confirmed the co‐localization of BAX and rat HN in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells and spermatocytes after GnRH‐A treatment. We conclude that the cytoprotective effect of exogenously administered synthetic HN is mediated by interactions of endogenous rat HN with BAX in the cytoplasm preventing the entry of BAX to the mitochondria to govern the fate of germ cell survival or death during pro‐apoptotic stress to the testis in rats.
Cardiovascular risk and bone loss in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for non‐metastatic prostate cancer: implementation of standardized management guidelines
Authors: Cheung A. S. , Pattison D. , Bretherton I. , Hoermann R. , Lim Joon D. , Ho E. , Jenkins T. , Hamilton E. J. , Bate K. , Chan I. , Zajac J. D. , Grossmann M. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryOur objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing standardized guidelines to mitigate metabolic and bone side effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with non‐metastatic prostate cancer. We conducted a 2‐year prospective cohort study at a tertiary referral teaching hospital. Overall, 236 men (mean age 69.8 ± 7.1) commencing ADT for non‐metastatic prostate cancer attended a baseline clinic visit between 2007 and 2011, and 153 men were eligible for follow‐up after 2 years of continuous ADT. Of these, 113 men had data available for analysis at 2 years. At baseline, 87% of the men were overweight or obese, 61% had hypertension, 56% had hypercholesterolaemia, 27% prior cardiovascular disease, 11% osteoporosis and 40% osteopaenia. After 2 years of ADT, there was an increase in waist circumference (+2.8 ± 6.3 cm, p = 0.002), and, in men without diabetes, in HbA1c (+0.13 ± 0.34%, p = 0.019). Despite this, due to treatment, there were significant reductions in total cholesterol (−0.35 ± 1.00 mmol/L, p < 0.001), and blood pressure (systolic −7.6 ± 19.3 mmHg; diastolic −4.7 ± 11.6 mmHg, p < 0.001). After 2 years, men not receiving anti‐resorptive therapy experienced a significant decline in lumbar spine (−0.042 ± 0.134 g/cm2, p = 0.012) and total hip bone mineral density (BMD) (−0.026 ± 0.036 g/cm2, p < 0.001), whereas bisphosphonate treatment maintained stable BMD. Prevalence of anaemia increased from 13.8 to 32.5%. Older age independently predicted a greater drop in haemoglobin (p = 0.005). We conclude that a structured approach to assess and treat men undergoing ADT effectively improves cardiovascular risk factors and prevents bone decay. Larger studies are needed to determine effects on cardiovascular outcomes, fracture prevention and survival.
Retracted: Impact of polymorphisms in the oestrogen receptors alpha and beta (ESR1, ESR2) genes on risk of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction
Authors: Safarinejad M. R. , Taghva A. , Shafiei N. , Safarinejad S. 
Published: May 2013

RetractionThe above article from Andrology, ‘Impact of polymorphisms in the oestrogen receptors alpha and beta (ESR1, ESR2) genes on risk of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction’ by M. R. Safarinejad, A. Taghva, N. Shafiei and S. Safarinejad published online on 20 May 2013 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editors‐in‐Chief, Douglas Carrell and Ewa Rajpert‐De Meyts and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. The retraction has been decided due to failure by the lead author to verify the data contained in the study, and to provide evidence of the role of co‐authors and their institutional affiliations.
Characterization of the Evolution and Properties of Silicon Carbide Derived From a Preceramic Polymer Precursor
Authors: Zunjarrao Suraj C. , Rahman Arif , Singh Raman P. 
Published: May 2013

This study reports on the fabrication and characterization of polymer‐derived amorphous and nano‐grained SiC, by controlled pyrolysis of allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS) under inert atmosphere. Processing temperatures and hold times at final temperatures are varied to study the influence of processing parameters on the structure and resulting properties. Chemical changes, phase transformations, and microstructural changes occurring during the pyrolysis process are studied. Polymer cross‐linking and polymer to ceramic conversion is studied using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) are performed to monitor the mass loss and phase change as a function of temperature. X‐ray diffraction studies are performed to study the intermediate phases and microstructural changes. Hardness and modulus measurements are carried out using instrumented nanoindentation to establish processing‐property‐structure relationship for SiC derived from the polymer precursor. It is seen that the presence of nanocrystalline domains in amorphous SiC significantly influences the modulus and hardness. A nonlinear relationship is observed in these properties with optimal mechanical properties observed for SiC processed to 1150°C for 1 h hold duration, having average grain size of 3 nm. In addition, bulk mechanical characterization, in terms of biaxial flexure strength, is done for SiC–SiC particulate composites purely derived from the polymer precursor.
Perceived stress and burnout among volunteer caregivers working in AIDS care in South Africa
Authors: Akintola Olagoke , Hlengwa Wellington Mthokozisi , Dageid Wenche 
Published: May 2013

AbstractAimsTo conduct a quantitative investigation of stress and the relationship with burnout among AIDS care volunteers.BackgroundVolunteer caregivers experience stress that could lead to burnout. Yet, very few studies quantify stress and its relationship with burnout among AIDS care volunteers.DesignThis study uses a cross‐sectional, exploratory survey design.MethodsFace‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 126 volunteer caregivers working in 13 semi‐rural communities (townships) in Durban, South Africa in April 2009. All participants were women, Christian and with low levels of education. A 22‐item instrument was drawn from Pearlin et al.'s role overload and role captivity scales, Van Dyk's stress factor scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory.ResultsMost of the volunteers had moderate‐to‐high levels of stress. ‘Role/work overload’ ‘lack of support’ and ‘overwhelming nature of the disease’ explained most of the variance in stress. Volunteers’ age and number of patients in their care were predictors of stress. Caring for only AIDS patients, lack of support, stress emanating from perceived stigma and lack of training; and the overwhelming nature of AIDS were predictors of burnout.ConclusionHigh levels of stress could negatively impact volunteers’ health and well‐being and on‐the‐job performance. Policy makers must develop and fund home‐based care models that take into account the stressors associated with AIDS care, by reducing the work load, providing ongoing psychosocial support and recruiting nurses to assist volunteers. The small non‐probability sample used in this study highlights the need to treat the findings with caution.
Listening to the patient's self‐reported testimony: the authentic hermeneutical witness to the compassionate nurse?
Authors: Bradshaw Ann 
Published: May 2013

AbstractAimThis paper considers whether the patient's self‐reported testimony of nursing care provides an authentic basis for nursing knowledge. An international nursing and philosophical literature gives international relevance.BackgroundUnited Kingdom reports detail patients' complaints about nursing care. Many are personal self‐reported testimonies published in the media, but discounted by the nursing profession.DesignDiscussion paper.Data SourcesData sources 1873–2012 include policy documents, nursing studies involving grounded theory, phenomenology and narrative inquiry, nursing textbooks 1882–1971 and the interpretive paradigms of Glaser and Strauss, Heidegger, Ricoeur and Gadamer.DiscussionNursing researchers use qualitative methodologies to understand the patient's experience of nursing. Three exemplars reveal epistemological and ontological problems. Epistemologically, researchers are controlling data, their selection and interpretation. Ontologically, the researcher's present horizon dominates because no consideration is given to the historical horizon and context where the tradition of nursing developed and defined the nurse. Arguably, patients' expectations of compassionate nurses bear witness to this past horizon.Implications for NursingPatients' self‐reported testimonies should be taken seriously as an evidence base for understanding and improving nursing care. Nursing researchers using qualitative methods should be transparent about their pre‐judgements. Connections with the past horizon of nursing history should be made to cast light on the present horizon.ConclusionPatients' self‐reported testimonies are more congruent with methods of narrative inquiry than data solicited and filtered by the interviewer's undeclared pre‐judgement. They bear witness to the horizon of the past and the meaning and purpose of nursing, its values and ethos.
Serum osteoprotegerin and periodontal destruction in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Antonoglou Georgios , Knuuttila Matti , Nieminen Pentti , Vainio Olli , Hiltunen Liisa , Raunio Taina , Niemelä Onni , Hedberg Pirjo , Karttunen Riitta , Tervonen Tellervo 
Published: May 2013

AbstractAimBesides their role in bone metabolism, receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are also known to be associated with inflammation. We explored associations between the extent/severity of periodontitis and circulating levels of sRANKL and OPG and their ratio using a cross‐sectional study design.Subjects & methodsThe extent of periodontal inflammation and tissue destruction and the serum levels of sRANKL (pg/ml) and OPG (pg/ml) were determined in 80 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Plaque‐, age‐, gender‐, smoking‐, HbA1c‐ and body mass index‐adjusted associations between periodontal parameters and serum sRANKL, OPG and their ratio were studied using multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsAdjusted regression analyses of all the subjects indicated a significant positive association between AL ≥ 4 mm and severity of periodontitis and the level of serum OPG. A major drop in the strength and statistical significance of the above association was observed when the analyses included only non‐smokers. Serum sRANKL level and sRANKL/OPG ratio were not associated with periodontitis.ConclusionOur observations suggest that serum OPG may be an indicator of periodontal tissue destruction in T1DM.
The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post‐partum period
Authors: Gizlenti S. , Ekmekci T.R. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundIn pregnancy, increased numbers of hair follicles remain in the anagen phase for longer periods due to hormonal changes and return to the telogen phase within 3–6 months of delivery with a sudden drop in hormone levels. This results in excessive shedding of hair known as post‐partum telogen effluvium.ObjectiveTo determine the changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post‐partum period.MethodsWe included 116 women in this study; 28 women at the 24th week of pregnancy, 30 pregnant women at term gestation, 29 women in the 4th post‐partum month, and 29 in the first post‐partum year. The number of breastfeeding mothers in the post‐partum period and the month in which they were examined were also recorded. The ratios of anagen and telogen were measured using Trichoscan.ResultsA statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the anagen and telogen ratios (P = 0.042, P = 0.042). In the inter‐group comparisons, the mean anagen rate in the 4th post‐partum month was significantly lower than that in the 6th and 9th month of pregnancy (P = 0.045, P = 0.038), while the average telogen rate was significantly higher (P = 0.045, P = 0.038). The mean anagen rate in the 4th post‐partum month in the breastfeeding group was significantly higher than that in the non‐ breastfeeding group (P = 0.014), while the mean telogen rate was significantly lower (P = 0.014). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (the breastfeeding and non‐breastfeeding groups) in terms of the mean anagen and mean telogen ratios in the first post‐partum year (P = 0.385).ConclusionThe anagen rate increases during pregnancy and the telogen rate rises after delivery, however, there is no exaggeration in these changes in most women.
The Timing Hypothesis and Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Paradigm Shift in the Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. Part 2: Comparative Risks
Authors: Hodis Howard N. , Mack Wendy J. 
Published: May 2013

A major misperception concerning postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is that the associated risks are large in magnitude and unique to HRT, but over the past 10 years, sufficient data have accumulated so that the magnitude and perspective of risks associated with the primary coronary heart disease prevention therapies of statins, aspirin, and postmenopausal HRT have become more fully defined. Review of randomized controlled trials indicates that the risks of primary prevention therapies and other medications commonly used in women's health are of similar type and magnitude, with the majority of these risks categorized as rare to infrequent (<1 event per 100 treated women). Evidence‐based data show that the risks of postmenopausal HRT are predominantly rare (<1 event per 1,000 treated women) and certainly no greater than other commonly used medications in women's health, including statins and aspirin. These risks, including breast cancer, stroke, and venous thromboembolism are common across medications and are rare, and even rarer when HRT is initiated in women younger than 60 or who are less than 10 years since menopause. In Part 1 of this series, the sex‐specificity of statins and aspirin and timing of initiation of HRT as modifiers of efficacy in women were reviewed. Herein, the comparative risks of primary prevention therapies in women are discussed.
Analyzing the Practice of Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Saunders Christi L. , Landis Amy E. , Mecca Laurel P. , Jones Alex K. , Schaefer Laura A. , Bilec Melissa M. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryLife cycle assessment (LCA) is a quantitative tool used to evaluate the environmental impacts of products or processes. With respect to buildings, LCA can be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of an entire building's life cycle. Currently LCA in the building area is used in a limited capacity, primarily to select building products. In order to determine the causality for the lack of whole‐building LCAs, focus groups with members of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) communities were held. This article investigates the current level of knowledge of LCA in the AEC community and then discusses the benefits and barriers to the practice of LCA. In summary, the goal of the research was to identify why LCA is not used to its fullest potential in a whole‐building LCA.In an open forum and moderated setting, focus group participants were asked individually to self‐identify their experience with LCA, a brief education session on LCA was held, and then benefits and barriers to LCA were discussed. The focus group sessions were transcribed and systematically coded by social researchers in order to analyze the results. Hybrid flow and radar charts were developed. From the focus group results, the most important benefit to LCA was “provides information about environmental impacts.” The results did not identify a prominent barrier; however, building‐related metrics were ascertained to be one of the more crucial barriers. The benefits and barriers classified by this analysis will be utilized to develop a subsequent online survey to further understand the LCA and AEC community.
Validation and Characterization of Ghd7.1, a Major Quantitative Trait Locus with Pleiotropic Effects on Spikelets per Panicle, Plant Height, and Heading Date in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Liu Touming , Liu Haiyang , Zhang Huang , Xing Yongzhong 
Published: May 2013

AbstractA quantitative trait locus (QTL) that affects heading date (HD) and the number of spikelets per panicle (SPP) was previously identified in a small region on chromosome 7 in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In order to further characterize the QTL region, near isogenic lines (NILs) were quickly obtained by self‐crossing recombinant inbred line 189, which is heterozygous in the vicinity of the target region. The pleiotropic effects of QTL Ghd7.1 on plant height (PH), SPP, and HD, were validated using an NIL‐F2 population. Ghd7.1 explained 50.2%, 45.3%, and 76.9% of phenotypic variation in PH, SPP, and HD, respectively. Ghd7.1 was precisely mapped to a 357‐kb region on the basis of analysis of the progeny of the NIL‐F2 population. Day‐length treatment confirmed that Ghd7.1 is sensitive to photoperiod, with long days delaying heading up to 12.5 d. Identification of panicle initiation and development for the pair of NILs showed that Ghd7.1 elongated the photoperiod‐sensitive phase more than 10 d, but did not change the basic vegetative phase and the reproductive growth phase. These findings indicated that Ghd7.1 regulates SPP by controlling the rate of panicle differentiation rather than the duration of panicle development.
Phase‐retrieved pupil function and coherent transfer function in confocal microscopy
Authors: FOREMAN M.R. , GIUSCA C.L. , TÖRÖK P. , LEACH R.K. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryThis work reports on the retrieval of the pupil function and coherent transfer function of a coherent reflection type confocal microscope from simulated measurements of the intensity point spread function. Two phase retrieval algorithms are presented in this vein, which incorporate the multiple pupil dependence of image formation in confocal microscopy. Verification of the algorithms follows by numerical simulations.
A versatile sample holder for single plane illumination microscopy
Authors: DESMAISON ANNAÏCK , LORENZO CORINNE , ROUQUETTE JACQUES , DUCOMMUN BERNARD , LOBJOIS VALÉRIE 
Published: May 2013

SummarySingle Plane Illumination Microscopy is an emerging and powerful technology for live imaging of whole living organisms. However, sample handling that relies on specimen embedding in agarose or gel is often a key limitation, especially for time‐lapse monitoring. To address this issue, we developed a new concept for a holder device allowing us to prepare a sample container made of hydrogel. The production process of this holder is based on 3D printing of both a frame and casting devices. The simplicity of production and the advantages of this versatile new sample holder are shown with time‐lapse recording of multicellular tumour spheroid growth. More importantly, we also show that cell division is not impaired in contrast to what is observed with gel embedding. The benefit of this new holder for other sample types, applications and experiments remains to be evaluated, but this innovative concept of fully customizable sample holder preparation potentially represents a major step forward to facilitate the large diffusion of single plane illumination microscopy technology.
Pre‐synaptic kainate receptor‐mediated facilitation of glutamate release involves PKA and Ca2+‐calmodulin at thalamocortical synapses
Authors: Andrade‐Talavera Yuniesky , Duque‐Feria Paloma , Sihra Talvinder S. , Rodríguez‐Moreno Antonio 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWe have investigated the mechanisms underlying the facilitatory modulation mediated by kainate receptor (KAR) activation in the cortex, using isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) and slice preparations. In cortical nerve terminals, kainate (KA, 100 μM) produced an increase in 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP)‐evoked glutamate release. In thalamocortical slices, KA (1 μM) produced an increase in the amplitude of evoked excitatory post‐synaptic currents (eEPSCs) at synapses established between thalamic axon terminals from the ventrobasal nucleus onto stellate neurons of L4 of the somatosensory cortex. In both, synaptosomes and slices, the effect of KA was antagonized by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione, and persisted after pre‐treatment with a cocktail of antagonists of other receptors whose activation could potentially have produced facilitation of release indirectly. Mechanistically, the observed effects of KA appear to be congruent in synaptosomal and slice preparations. Thus, the facilitation by KA of synaptosomal glutamate release and thalamocortical synaptic transmission were suppressed by the inhibition of protein kinase A and occluded by the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. Dissecting this G‐protein‐independent regulation further in thalamocortical slices, the KAR‐mediated facilitation of synaptic transmission was found to be sensitive to the block of Ca2+ permeant KARs by philanthotoxin. Intriguingly, the synaptic facilitation was abrogated by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin, or inhibition of Ca2+‐induced Ca2+‐release by ryanodine. Thus, the KA‐mediated modulation was contingent on both Ca2+ entry through Ca2+‐permeable KARs and liberation of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Finally, sensitivity to W‐7 indicated that the increased cytosolic [Ca2+] underpinning KAR‐mediated regulation of synaptic transmission at thalamocortical synapses, requires downstream activation of calmodulin. We conclude that neocortical pre‐synaptic KARs mediate the facilitation of glutamate release and synaptic transmission by a Ca2+‐calmodulin dependent activation of an adenylyl cyclase/cAMP/protein kinase A signalling cascade, independent of G‐protein involvement.
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Ca2+/calmodulin involvement in pre‐synaptic kainate receptors facilitation of glutamate release at thalamocortical synapses. We determined the mechanism by which kainate receptors (KARs) mediate a facilitation of glutamate release at thalamo‐L4 cortical cell synapses. We find that an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, contingent on extra‐ and intra‐cellular sources, in the pre‐synaptic thalamic neuron, operates through the formation of Ca2+‐calmodulin complexes to activate an AC/cAMP/PKA signalling pathway. This action of KARs may support learning and memory processes.