bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modulation of esophageal afferent pathways by 5‐HT3 receptor inhibition
Authors: Szczesniak M. M. , Fuentealba S. E. , Zhang T. , Cook I. J. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground  The study aims were to investigate whether neural pathways involving 5‐HT3 receptors mediate: (i) distension‐induced upper esophageal sphincter (UES) relaxation reflex, (ii) esophageal sensitivity to acid and electrical stimuli, and (iii) viserosomatic sensitization following acid exposure.Methods  In Study I, in a double‐blind crossover trial (n = 9) esophageal sensory and pain thresholds to electrical stimulation were measured in the esophagus, midsternum, and the foot, before subjects were randomized to receive either Ondansetron (8 mg i.v.) or NaCl (0.9% w/v). HCl (0.15 mol L−1) was then infused into distal esophagus and electrical thresholds were reassessed. Following electrical sensory threshold testing, subjects received a second esophageal infusion of HCl to evaluate esophageal sensitivity to acid. In Study II (N = 10), frequencies of distension‐induced UES relaxation responses were scored before and after treatment with Ondansetron and NaCl in a double‐blind crossover trial.Key Results  In Study I, ondansetron had no effect on esophageal sensitivity to HCl or acid‐induced sensitization. However, blockade of 5‐HT3 receptors did reduce midsternum somatic pain thresholds. Sixty minutes after esophageal acid exposure, pain thresholds were significantly lower in the ondansetron arm (mean Δ−1.36 ± 0.4 mA) when compared with NaCl (mean Δ−0.14 ± 0.58 mA) (P < 0.05). In Study II, 5‐HT3 receptor blockade had no significant effect on UES relaxation reflex.Conclusions & Inferences  This study does not support the hypothesis that in health, 5‐HT3 receptors play a significant role in esophago‐UES distention‐induced relaxation reflex and esophageal sensitivity to acid or electrical stimulation. It does provide new evidence for involvement of 5‐HT3 receptors in viscerosomatic sensitization.
Vagus nerve stimulation: from epilepsy to the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway
Authors: Bonaz B. , Picq C. , Sinniger V. , Mayol J. F. , Clarençon D. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground  The brain and the gut communicate bidirectionally through the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The vagus nerve (VN), a major component of the ANS, plays a key role in the neuro‐endocrine‐immune axis to maintain homeostasia through its afferents (through the activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and the central ANS) and through its efferents (i.e. the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway; CAP). The CAP has an anti‐TNF effect both through the release of acetylcholine at the distal VN acting on macrophages and through the connection of the VN with the spleen through the splenic sympathetic nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) of vagal afferents at high frequency (20–30 Hz) is used for the treatment of drug‐resistant epilepsy and depression. Low‐frequency (5 Hz) VNS of vagal efferents activates the CAP for an anti‐inflammatory effect that is as an anti‐TNF therapy in inflammatory diseases were TNF is a key cytokine as represented by experimental sepsis, postoperative ileus, burn‐induced intestinal barrier injury, colitis. However, both vagal afferents and efferents are activated by VNS.Purpose  The objective of this review was to explore the following: (i) the supporting evidence for the importance of VNS in epilepsy (and depression) and its mechanisms of action, (ii) the anti‐inflammatory characteristics of the VN, (iii) the experimental evidence that VNS impact on inflammatory disorders focusing on the digestive tract, and (iv) how VNS could potentially be harnessed therapeutically in human inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, postoperative ileus, rheumatoid arthritis as an anti‐inflammatory therapy.
Classification of normal and abnormal colonic motility based on cross‐correlations of pancolonic manometry data
Authors: Wiklendt L. , Mohammed S. D. , Scott S. M. , Dinning P. G. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground Manual analysis of data acquired from manometric studies of colonic motility is laborious, subject to laboratory bias and not specific enough to differentiate all patients from control subjects. Utilizing a cross‐correlation technique, we have developed an automated analysis technique that can reliably differentiate the motor patterns of patients with slow transit constipation (STC) from those recorded in healthy controls.Methods Pancolonic manometric data were recorded from 17 patients with STC and 14 healthy controls. The automated analysis involved calculation of an indicator value derived from cross‐correlations calculated between adjacent recording sites in a manometric trace. The automated technique was conducted on blinded real data sets (observed) and then to determine the likelihood of positive indicator values occurring by chance, the channel number within each individual data set were randomized (expected) and reanalyzed.Key Results In controls, the observed indicator value (3.2 ± 1.4) was significantly greater than that predicted by chance (0.8 ± 1.5;P < 0.0001). In patients, the observed indicator value (−2.7 ± 1.8) did not differ from that predicted by chance (−3.5 ± 1.6;P = 0.1). The indicator value for controls differed significantly from that of patients (P < 0.0001), withallindividual patients falling outside of the range of indicator values for controls.Conclusions & Inferences Automated analysis of colonic manometry data using cross‐correlation separated all patients from controls. This automated technique indicates that the contractile motor patterns in STC patients differ from those recorded in healthy controls. The analytical technique may represent a means for defining subtypes of constipation.
Parental thoughts and actions regarding their child's first febrile seizure
Authors: Kanemura Hideaki , Sano Fumikazu , Mizorogi Sonoko , Tando Tomoko , Sugita Kanji , Aihara Masao 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about what parents think and how they act when their child experiences febrile seizure (FS). This study therefore surveyed parents of 78 children who had experienced a first FS regarding their thoughts and actions.MethodsThe questionnaire was divided into three parts: details of the child and their family; medical management of the child before reaching hospital; and parental thoughts and actions when the child experienced convulsions.ResultsParents without prior knowledge of FS showed a higher rate of thinking that FS were harmful than parents with prior knowledge (P < 0.03). Parents with prior knowledge were aware that their child was having an FS at a higher rate than parents without prior knowledge (P < 0.001). Moreover, parents without prior knowledge managed the convulsions less appropriately than parents with prior knowledge (P < 0.03).ConclusionsParental fears that the death of their child was imminent and the misperception of FS as a serious, life‐threatening condition indicate a lack of knowledge regarding FS. Organizing parental support groups and effective educational intervention programs for parents should be given priority in the care of children with FS.
Association study of STAT4 polymorphisms and type 1 diabetes in Northeastern Chinese Han population
Authors: Bi C. , Li B. , Cheng Z. , Hu Y. , Fang Z. , Zhai A. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractType 1 diabetes (T1D) is an organ‐specific, T‐cell‐mediated disease resulting from the selective destruction of pancreatic β cells. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) gene is one of the most interesting genes for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including T1D. In this study, a case–control study was conducted in a Han population in northeastern China comparing the genotypes of T1D patients to healthy controls for the presence of two single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the STAT4 gene. The study population comprised of 410 T1D patients and 407 healthy individuals. Two SNPs (rs7574865 and rs3024866) of STAT4 were genotyped with Multiplex SNaPShot method. Data were analyzed with spss 13.0 to determine if a statistical association existed between these genotypes and T1D. One of the two SNPs (rs7574865) was strongly associated with T1D in Northeastern Chinese population compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05), whereas the other tested SNP (rs3024866) demonstrated no significant relationship. In conclusion, the STAT4 gene may play an important role in facilitating susceptibility to T1D in this Han Chinese population.
Measurements of human herpesvirus 8 viral load in blood before and after leukoreduction filtration
Authors: Dollard Sheila C. , Roback John D. , Gunthel Clifford , Amin Minal M. , Barclay Sheilagh , Patrick Ericka , Kuehnert Matthew J. 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundHuman herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) is likely transmitted through blood transfusion in high‐prevalence areas. The efficacy of leukoreduction filtration for reducing HHV‐8 in blood has not been reported.Study Design and MethodsBlood was drawn from 45 human immunodeficiency virus–positive men either with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS; n = 21) or without KS (n = 24) and subject to leukoreduction filtration. HHV‐8 viral load was measured in plasma and in blood before and after filtration.ResultsTwelve subjects, all with KS, had detectable HHV‐8 viremia before filtration with viral loads of 102 to 105 copies/mL (mean, 3 × 104 copies/mL). After filtration, seven of 12 subjects no longer had detectable HHV‐8 in their blood, and five of 12 subjects had detectable HHV‐8 that was 90% reduced on average from prefiltration levels. The presence of HHV‐8 in the blood after filtration was strongly associated with prefiltration viral loads greater than 1000 copies/mL and the presence of cell‐free virus in plasma. None of the subjects without KS had detectable levels of HHV‐8 virus in blood before or after filtration.ConclusionCell‐associated HHV‐8 appeared to be effectively removed by leukoreduction filtration. Cell‐free HHV‐8 was present in 42% of subjects as 1% to 20% of the total virus which was not removed by filtration.
Presumptive central nervous system cuterebriasis and concurrent protein‐losing nephropathy in a dog
Authors: Thawley Vincent J. , Suran Jantra N. , Boller Elise M. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the clinical course and successful management of a dog suspected to have central nervous system (CNS) Cuterebra larval migration and concurrent protein‐losing nephropathy (PLN).Case SummaryA 1‐year‐old castrated male mixed breed dog was diagnosed with presumptive CNS cuterebriasis based on history, progressively deteriorating mentation, seizures, and magnetic resonance images showing a tubular lesion consistent with a migrating Cuterebra tract. Additionally, serum biochemistry and urine analyses revealed the development of a severe PLN. Surgical removal of the Cuterebra was attempted unsuccessfully, and subsequently, the dog was treated with ivermectin, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, and a tapering dose of glucocorticoids. Over several weeks the dog's neurologic status improved and the PLN resolved completely.New or Unique Information ProvidedThis case describes successful management of presumptive CNS cuterebriasis in a dog. It is also, to our knowledge, the first report of PLN associated with cuterebriasis in the veterinary literature.
Quantifying Pathogen Surveillance Using Temporal Genomic Data
Authors: Chan Joseph M. , Rabadan Raul 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT

With the advent of deep sequencing, genomic surveillance has become a popular method for detection of infectious disease, supplementing information gathered by classic clinical or serological techniques to identify host-determinant markers and trace the origin of transmission. However, two main factors complicate genomic surveillance. First, pathogens exhibiting high genetic diversity demand higher levels of scrutiny to obtain an accurate representation of the entire population. Second, current systems of detection are nonuniform, with significant gaps in certain geographic locations and animal reservoirs. Despite past unforeseen pandemics like the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus, there is no standardized way of evaluating surveillance. A more complete surveillance system should capture a greater proportion of pathogen diversity. Here we present a novel quantitative method of assessing the completeness of genomic surveillance that incorporates the time of sequence collection, as well as the pathogen’s evolutionary rate. We propose the
q
2 coefficient, which measures the proportion of sequenced isolates whose closest neighbor in the past is within a genetic distance equivalent to 2 years of evolution, roughly the median time of changing strain selection for influenza A vaccines. Easily interpretable and significantly faster than other methods, the
q
2 coefficient requires no full phylogenetic characterization or use of arbitrary clade definitions. Application of the
q
2 coefficient to influenza A virus confirmed poor sampling of swine and avian populations and identified regions with deficient surveillance. We demonstrate that the
q
2 coefficient can not only be applied to other pathogens, including dengue and West Nile viruses, but also used to describe surveillance dynamics, particularly the effects of different public health policies.

IMPORTANCE
Surveillance programs have become key assets in determining the emergence or prevalence of pathogens circulating in human and animal populations. Genomic surveillance, in particular, provides comprehensive information on the history of isolates and potential molecular markers for infectivity and pathogenicity. Current techniques for evaluating genomic surveillance are inaccurate, ignoring the pathogen’s evolutionary rate and biodiversity, as well as the timing of sequence collection. Using sequence data, we propose the
q
2 coefficient as a quantitative measure of surveillance completeness that combines elements of time and evolution without defining arbitrary criteria for clades or species. Through several case studies of influenza A, dengue, and West Nile viruses, we employed the
q
2 coefficient to identify sampling deficiencies in different host species and locations, as well as examine the effects of different public health policies through historical records of the
q
2 coefficient. These results can guide public health agencies to focus resource allocation and virus collection to bolster specific problems in surveillance.
Identifying attributes required by Foundation Year 1 doctors in multidisciplinary teams: a tool for performance evaluation
Authors: McGettigan Patricia , McKendree Jean , Reed Nick , Holborow Sarah , Walsh Charlotte Devereaux , Mace Thomas 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundEffective working in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) is promoted as essential in ensuring good healthcare outcomes, suggesting that an understanding exists of the relationship between outcomes and the attributes needed by individuals to function effectively in the MDT. While the characteristics of effective teamwork have been described, the attributes needed by individual MDT members have not been investigated. To address this, the study focuses on newly qualified Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors, creating and testing a tool to evaluate their performance in the MDT.MethodsRepertory grid technique was used to elicit attributes needed by FY1 doctors to function effectively in the MDT. Study participants (all experienced MDT members) used these to evaluate MDT working by FY1 doctor colleagues. Data on 57 FY1 doctors were collected from 95 MDT members working in five hospitals. Participants also ranked the attributes in terms of importance for effective team functioning and rated an ‘Ideal’ FY1 doctor.ResultsThe repertory grid permitted differentiation between groups of FY1 doctors’ MDT performance. FY1 doctors who undertook interprofessional training were rated no differently than UK-trained graduates without such training. UK-trained graduates were rated significantly higher on all attributes than non-UK-trained graduates. Overall, FY1 doctors were rated lower than the ‘Ideal’. Factor analysis and rankings suggested tensions between clinical attributes needed for good team functioning and more ‘social’ attributes.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the potential of repertory grid methodology in eliciting attributes that are important for effective teamworking, and using these to evaluate MDT working by FY1 doctors.
Matching identifiers in electronic health records: implications for duplicate records and patient safety
Authors: McCoy Allison B , Wright Adam , Kahn Michael G , Shapiro Jason S , Bernstam Elmer Victor , Sittig Dean F 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveTo quantify the percentage of records with matching identifiers as an indicator for duplicate or potentially duplicate patient records in electronic health records in five different healthcare organisations, describe the patient safety issues that may arise, and present solutions for managing duplicate records or records with matching identifiers.MethodsFor each institution, we retrieved deidentified counts of records with an exact match of patient first and last names and dates of birth and determined the number of patient records existing for the top 250 most frequently occurring first and last name pairs. We also identified methods for managing duplicate records or records with matching identifiers, reporting the adoption rate of each across institutions.ResultsThe occurrence of matching first and last name in two or more individuals ranged from 16.49% to 40.66% of records; inclusion of date of birth reduced the rates to range from 0.16% to 15.47%. The number of records existing for the most frequently occurring name at each site ranged from 41 to 2552. Institutions varied widely in the methods they implemented for preventing, detecting and removing duplicate records, and mitigating resulting errors.ConclusionsThe percentage of records having matching patient identifiers is high in several organisations, indicating that the rate of duplicate records or records may also be high. Further efforts are necessary to improve management of duplicate records or records with matching identifiers and minimise the risk for patient harm.
SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS ON BOUNDED QUERY COMPUTATIONS OVER THE REALS
Authors: MEER KLAUS 
Published: January 2013

A classical theme in recursion theory is the question whether for a set A and n given elements x1,…,xn, an oracle machine having access to an oracle B can determine which of the elements xi belong to A. And if yes, how many queries are necessary? Here, B = A is possible and leads to interesting special cases of the general question In the present paper we adapt classical notions in this area of bounded query computations to real number algorithms as formalized by Blum, Shub, and Smale and analyze them in the new framework. Among the results obtained we find: A real version of a non-speedup theorem based on real quantifier elimination, some basic properties about selective real sets, and a way to construct natural terse sets in ℝ by applying the implicit function theorem. The purpose of the paper is on presenting some interesting questions and basic results as an appertizer to intensify research into this direction.
Cranial remains of
Poposaurus gracilis
(Pseudosuchia: Poposauroidea) from the Upper Triassic, the distribution of the taxon, and its implications for poposauroid evolution
Authors: Parker William G. , Nesbitt Sterling J. 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

The partial postcrania of
Poposaurus gracilis
, a bipedal poposauroid convergent with theropod dinosaurs, has been known for nearly a century, but the skull of
P. gracilis
has proven elusive.
P. gracilis
is part of a clade of morphologically divergent pseudosuchians (poposauroids) whose members are sometimes bipedal, lack dentition (i.e. beaks) and some have elongated neural spines (i.e. sails). However, the timing and acquisition of these character states is unknown given the uncertainty of the skull morphology of the ‘mid-grade’ poposauroid
P. gracilis.
Here, we present the first confirmed skull remains of
P. gracilis
directly associated with diagnostic pelvic elements that overlap with the holotype. The incomplete skeleton (PEFO 34865) from the Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona, USA) includes a left maxilla with a large, mediolaterally compressed tooth, left dentary, right prearticular and a partial postcranium. The character states of
P. gracilis
(bipedal, ‘sail-less’ and toothed) demonstrate that the evolution of bipedalism, the origin/loss of a dorsal ‘sail’ and the shift to an edentulous beak are complex in poposauroids.
P. gracilis
is widespread in the Upper Triassic formations in the western USA and is restricted temporally prior to the Adamanian–Revueltian faunal turnover during the Norian.
Inhibition of Rapamycin-Induced AKT Activation Elicits Differential Antitumor Response in Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Radhakrishnan Padhma , Baraneedharan Ulaganathan , Veluchamy Subhadra , Dhandapani Muthu , Pinto Dency D. , Thiyagarajan Saravanan , Thayakumar Allen , Prasath Arun , A Kamal , Velu Ayyappan , Jain Misti , Brijwani Nilesh , Narayanan Prasad , Kekatpure Vikram D. , Majumder Biswanath , Majumder Pradip K. 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an important signaling axis that is perturbed in majority of cancers. Biomarkers such as pS6RP, GLUT1, and tumor FDG uptake are being evaluated in patient stratification for mTOR pathway inhibitors. In the absence of a clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms in tumor signaling, the biomarker strategy for patient stratification is of limited use. Here, we show that no discernible correlation exists between FDG uptake and the corresponding Ki67, GLUT1, pS6RP expression in tumor biopsies from patients with head and neck cancer. Correlation between GLUT1 and pS6RP levels in tumors was observed but elevated pS6RP was noticed even in the absence of concomitant AKT activation, suggesting that other downstream molecules of PI3K/AKT and/or other pathways upstream of mTOR are active in these tumors. Using an ex vivo platform, we identified putative responders to rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor in these tumors. However, rapamycin did not induce antitumor effect in the majority of tumors with activated mTOR, potentially attributable to the observation that rapamycin induces feedback activation of AKT. Accordingly, treatment of these tumors with an AKT inhibitor and rapamycin uniformly resulted in abrogation of mTOR inhibition-induced AKT activation in all tumors but failed to induce antitumor response in a subset. Phosphoproteomic profiling of tumors resistant to dual AKT/mTOR inhibitors revealed differential activation of multiple pathways involved in proliferation and survival. Collectively, our results suggest that, in addition to biomarker-based segregation, functional assessment of a patient's tumor before treatment with mTOR/AKT inhibitors may be useful for patient stratification. Cancer Res; 73(3); 1118–27. ©2013 AACR.