bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rectal cancer threatening or affecting the prostatic plane: is partial prostatectomy oncologically adequate? Results of a multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Frasson M. , Garcia‐Granero E. , Parajó A. , Garcia‐Mayor L. , Flor B. , Garcia‐Granero A. , Lavery I. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimThe management of rectal cancer threatening or affecting the prostatic plane is still under debate. The role of preoperative chemo radiotherapy and the extent of prostatectomy seem to be key points in the treatment of these tumours. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pathological circumferential margin status and the local recurrence rate following different therapeutic options.MethodA multicentre, retrospective study was conducted of patients with rectal cancer threatening or affecting the prostatic plane, but not the bladder, judged by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The use of preoperative chemoradiotherapy and the type of urologic resection were correlated with the status of the pathological circumferential resection margin (CRM) and local recurrence.ResultsA consecutive series of 126 men with rectal cancer threatening (44) or affecting (82) the prostatic plane on preoperative staging and operated with local curative intent between 1998 and 2010 was analysed. In patients who did not have chemoradiotherapy but had a preoperative threatened anterior margin the CRM‐positive rate was 25.0%. In patients who did not have preoperative chemoradiotherapy but did have an affected margin, the CRM‐positive rate was 41.7%. When preoperative radiotherapy was given, the respective CRM infiltration rates were 7.1 and 20.7%. In patients having preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by prostatic resection the rate of CRM positivity was 2.4%. Partial prostatectomy after preoperative chemoradiotherapy resulted in a free anterior CRM in all cases, but intra‐operative urethral damage occurred in 36.4% of patients who underwent partial prostatectomy, resulting in a postoperative urinary fistula in 18.2% of patients.ConclusionPreoperative chemoradiation is mandatory in male patients with a threatened or affected anterior circumferential margin on preoperative MRI. In patients with preoperative prostatic infiltration, prostatic resection is necessary. In this group of patients partial prostatectomy seems to be oncologically safe.
Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion and Its Association with Mortality in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Gajanana Deepakraj , Seetha Rammohan Harish , Alli Oluseun , Romero‐Corral Abel , Purushottam Bhaskar , Ponamgi Shiva , Figueredo Vincent M. , Pressman Gregg S. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundTransient left ventricular dysfunction can occur under conditions of extreme emotional or physiological stress. There is little data on right ventricular function in such situations.MethodsOne hundred twenty patients admitted to an ICU with a noncardiac illness were studied. Those with documented coronary disease, ejection fraction <40%, sepsis, or intracranial hemorrhage were excluded. Echocardiograms were performed within 24 hours of admission. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was measured to assess right ventricular systolic function. Plasma catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) were measured on admission. Clinical and demographic data were collected, along with data on ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and in‐hospital and long‐term mortality. TAPSE was tested for correlation with adverse outcomes and length of stay.ResultsMean TAPSE for the group was 2.05 ± 0.66 cm. Based on area under the ROC curve analysis, TAPSE <2.4 cm was the best cutoff for predicting in‐hospital and long‐term mortality. There were 13 in‐hospital deaths, 12 in the group with TAPSE <2.4 cm and one among those with TAPSE ≥2.4 cm. On multivariate analysis, TAPSE <2.4 cm was a significant predictor of in‐hospital mortality (χ2 = 4.6, P = 0.03). When tested against hospital LOS, an inverse correlation was found (P = 0.04). No association was found between TAPSE and catecholamine levels.ConclusionsRight ventricular systolic function, as assessed by TAPSE, has important prognostic value in critically ill patients. Mean values were lower in patients who died in‐hospital versus those who survived to discharge. In addition, patients with TAPSE <2.4 cm had a longer hospital length of stay.
Interatrial Dyssynchrony May Contribute to Heart Failure Symptoms in Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Sanchis Laura , Vannini Luca , Gabrielli Luigi , Duchateau Nicolas , Falces Carles , Andrea Rut , Bijnens Bart , Sitges Marta 
Published: March 2015

PurposeHeart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is the most prevalent type of HF in nonhospitalized patients, but its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. The aim of our study was to assess the existence of interatrial dyssynchrony (IAD), a potentially treatable condition, in the development of HF symptoms.MethodsConsecutive patients with new onset of shortening of breath, referred for suspected HF, were screened. In all cases, a transthoracic echocardiography, ECG, and determination of plasma BNP level were performed at initial consultation. Patients were diagnosed according to current guidelines. Patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction were excluded. Later, the time from P‐wave onset on the ECG to peak negative strain (atrial contraction) was determined using speckle tracking echocardiography; the time difference between both atria (ms) was used as an index of IAD.ResultsSixty‐six patients were included. Mean age was 74 ± 8 years (74% female, 77% hypertensive). HFPEF patients (n = 32) showed an increased IAD as compared to subjects with non‐HF (n = 34; interatrial time difference 72.7 ± 27 vs. 28 ± 7 ms, P < 0.001). IAD showed a significant correlation with BNP levels, diastolic pattern, and echocardiographic parameters indicative of elevated LV filling pressures. LA function assessed by LA strain rate was not significantly different between HPPEF patients with and without IAD > 60 ms.ConclusionsWe showed that IAD was present at initial stages of symptomatic HFPEF. It might be an important mechanism involved in the development of symptoms in HFPEF and a potential target amenable to be treated with device therapy.
Preference for ethanol in feeding and oviposition in temperate and tropical populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Zhu Jing , Fry James D. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe natural habitat of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is fermenting fruits, which can be rich in ethanol. For unknown reasons, temperate populations of this cosmopolitan species have higher ethanol resistance than tropical populations. To determine whether this difference is accompanied by a parallel difference in preference for ethanol, we compared two European and two tropical African populations in feeding and oviposition preference for ethanol‐supplemented medium. Although females of all populations laid significantly more eggs on medium with ethanol than on control medium, preference of European females for ethanol increased as ethanol concentration increased from 2 to 6%, whereas that of African females decreased. In feeding tests, African females preferred control medium over medium with 4% ethanol, whereas European females showed no preference. Males of all populations strongly preferred control medium. The combination of preference for ethanol in oviposition, and avoidance or neutrality in feeding, gives evidence that adults choose breeding sites with ethanol for the benefit of larvae, rather than for their own benefit. The stronger oviposition preference for ethanol of temperate than tropical females suggests that this benefit may be more important in temperate populations. Two possible benefits of ethanol for which there is some experimental evidence are cryoprotection and protection against natural enemies.
The auditory cortex and tinnitus – a review of animal and human studies
Authors: Eggermont Jos J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractTinnitus is the sound heard in the absence of physical sound sources external or internal to the body. Tinnitus never occurs in isolation; it typically develops after hearing loss, and not infrequently for losses at the higher frequencies not tested in clinical audiology. Furthermore, tinnitus is often accompanied by hyperacusis, i.e. increased loudness sensitivity, which may reflect the central gain change in the auditory system that occurs after hearing loss. I will first review the electrophysiological findings in the thalamus and cortex pertaining to animal research into tinnitus. This will comprise the changes in tonotopic maps, spontaneous firing rates and changes in pairwise neural cross‐correlation induced by tinnitus‐inducing agents that are commonly used in animal experiments. These are systemic application of sodium salicylate, and noise exposure at levels ranging from those that do not cause a hearing loss, to those that only cause a temporary threshold shift, to those that cause a permanent hearing loss. Following this, I will review neuroimaging and electrophysiological findings in the auditory cortex in humans with tinnitus. The neural substrates of tinnitus derived from animal data do not apply universally, as neither hearing loss nor hyperacusis appear to be necessary conditions for tinnitus to occur in humans. Finally, I will relate the findings in humans to the predictions from animal models of tinnitus. These comparisons indicate that neural correlates of tinnitus can be studied successfully both at the level of animal models and in humans.
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging evidence for altered structural remodeling of the temporal lobe in West syndrome
Authors: Fosi Tangunu , Chu Carlton , Chong Wui Khean , Clark Chris , Scott Rod C. , Boyd Stewart , De Haan Michelle , Neville Brian 
Published: March 2015

SummaryObjectiveTo explore the structure–function relation of the temporal lobe in newly diagnosed West syndrome of unknown cause (uWS).MethodsQuantitative magnetic resonance imaging (three‐dimensional [3D] structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]) was analyzed using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) and tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) in 22 patients and healthy age‐matched controls. The electrophysiologic responsiveness of the temporal lobe was measured using the N100 auditory event‐related potential (aERP) to a repeated 1,000 Hz tone. Neurocognitive function was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID‐II). Tests followed first‐line treatment with vigabatrin (17 patients) or high‐dose oral prednisolone (5 patients).ResultsTotal temporal lobe volume was similar in patients and controls. Patients had a smaller temporal stem (TS) (p < 0.0001) and planum temporale (PT) (p = 0.029) bilaterally. TS width asymmetry with a larger right‐sided width in controls was absent in patients (p = 0.033). PT asymmetry was present in both groups, being larger on the right (p = 0.048). VBM gray matter volume was increased at the left temporal lobe (superior and middle temporal gyri, the peri‐rhinal cortex, and medial temporal lobe) (p < 0.005, family wise error‐corrected). VBM gray matter volume correlated with the duration of infantile spasms (Pearson's r = −0.630, p = 0.009). DTI metrics did not differ between patients and controls on TBSS. Mean BSID‐II scores were lower (p < 0.001) and auditory N100 ERP attenuated less in patients than in controls (p = 0.002).SignificanceThe functional networking and white matter development of the temporal lobe are impaired following infantile spasms. Treatment may promote structural plasticity within the temporal lobe following infantile spasms, manifest as increased gray matter volume on VBM. It remains to be investigated further whether this predicts patients' long‐term cognitive difficulties.
New Ways of Using Well Construction Reports for Hydrostratigraphic Analyses
Authors: Dunkle Kallina M. , Anderson Mary P. , Hart David 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHydrostratigraphic models require subsurface data. Those data can be gleaned from Well Construction Reports (WCRs) if the reports are properly reviewed and processed. In the United States, WCRs or similar documents are generally required to be submitted to a state agency. The quality of those reports varies considerably and depends on the water well contractor's level of geologic knowledge. Nevertheless, these types of reports are usually the largest available subsurface data set. We present two examples from Wisconsin, each of which had approximately 2000 WCRs, to demonstrate a variety of new applications of WCRs including obtaining information about the depositional environment; selecting sites to perform surface geophysical measurements; and creating three‐dimensional hydrostratigraphic models for groundwater modeling.
Supplementing factual information with patient narratives in the cancer screening context: a qualitative study of acceptability and preferences
Authors: Bennett Kirsty F. , von Wagner Christian , Robb Kathryn A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo explore people's responses to narrative information in the context of colorectal cancer screening.DesignNineteen in‐depth interviews were conducted with men and women (aged 45–59). Participants were given two types of colorectal screening information to read: factual and narrative. Participants gave their views on both types of information. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis.ResultsThe most frequent responses to the narrative information were that they were reassuring, made colorectal screening more vivid, participants could relate to the people in the stories and they liked the range of narratives presented. Despite the narrative information being seen as more persuasive by some, this was not regarded as manipulative or negative. Both types of information were seen as equally credible. Participants felt a combination of facts and narratives would be useful when considering an offer of colorectal cancer screening.ConclusionOverall, participants were positive about the addition of narrative information to the currently provided factual information about colorectal cancer screening. Supplementing existing factual information with narrative information may provide participants with a more complete understanding of participation in colorectal cancer screening when considering an offer to be screened.
Separation of angiotensin I‐converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from bovine connective tissue and their stability towards temperature, pH and digestive enzymes
Authors: Fu Yu , Young Jette F. , Dalsgaard Trine K. , Therkildsen Margrethe 
Published: March 2015

SummaryBovine collagen was isolated from connective tissue, a by‐product in the meat processing industry and characterised by SDS‐PAGE. Alcalase and papain were employed to generate collagen hydrolysates with different degree of hydrolysis (DH). In vitro angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities were evaluated and the two most potent hydrolysates from each enzyme were separated by two‐step purification. Both alcalase‐catalysed and papain‐catalysed hydrolysates exhibited strong ACE inhibitory capacities with IC50 values of 0.17 and 0.35 mg mL−1, respectively. Purification by ion‐exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography revealed higher ACE inhibitory activities in one fraction from each enzyme with IC50 values of 3.95 and 7.29 μg mL−1. These peptide fractions were characterised as 6‐12 amino acid residues by MALDI‐TOF/MS. The peptides retained their activity (>90%) after exposure to processing temperature and pH and in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The present results demonstrated that collagen peptides can be utilised for developing high value‐added ingredients, for example ACE inhibitory peptides.
In Vitro Modulation of Activation Antigens on Human Lymphocytes by β‐Estradiol
Authors: KOMLOS L. , ZAHAVI Z. , DICKER D. , LURIA D. , SALMAN H. , ZAHAVI I. 
Published: March 2015

PROBLEM: The possible in vitro immunomodulating effect of β‐estradiol on phytohemagglutinin‐stimulated human lymphocyte cultures was studied.METHOD OF STUDY: Lymphocyte cultures from 12 healthy men and women aged 25–35 years were set up for 12 hr in the presence and in the absence of β‐estradiol, and the expression of the activation markers CD25, CD69, and CD71 was examined by flow cytometric analysis with specific fluorescent conjugated antibodies.RESULTS: Although the number of cases is small, in 10 of 12 cases in the presence of β‐estradiol in two different concentrations, a significantly decreased expression of CD69 could be observed. A slight decrease could also be observed for the Interleukin‐2 receptor expression; however, the difference, in the presence or absence of β‐estradiol, was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that in vitro addition of β‐estradiol can inhibit, to a certain degree, specific activation markers on phytohemagglutinin‐stimulated lymphocytes from young men and women. The present study could not define the role of sex differences because of the small number of samples. A comparison between men and women at various ages in a greater number of cases, as well as studies on activation markers after treatments with estrogens, would be useful.
Induction of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis by Transvaginal Pituitary Transplantation in Mice with and without Natural Killer Cell Activity
Authors: KOUJYO TSUNEMARO , HATAKEYAMA SHIGETSUGU , YAMADA HIDETO , IWABUCHI KAZUYA , KAJINO KIICHI , OGASAWARA KAZUMASA , ONOE KAZUNORI , FUJIMOTO SEIICHIRO 
Published: March 2015

PROBLEM: The aims of this study were to establish a mouse model of endometriosis and adenomyosis and to elucidate the necessity of reduced natural killer (NK)‐cell and T‐cell activities in the establishment of endometriosis and adenomyosis.METHOD OF STUDY: Pituitary glands, submandibular glands, or hypothalami were transvaginally inoculated into the uteri of syngeneic female mice. Twenty weeks later, the recipient mice were sacrificed and examined.RESULTS: Cysts, adhesion of the uteri to surrounding tissues, and adenomyosis had formed in the uteri of 7 (29.2%), 14 (58.3%), and 22 (91.7%) mice, respectively, out of 24 BALB/c mice after the transplantation of pituitary glands. Similar findings were obtained by experiments with C3H/He and C57BL/6 mice. In NK‐cell‐deficient C57BL/6‐bgJ and T‐cell‐deficient BALB/c nu/nu mice, an increase in the formation of cysts, adhesion, and adenomyosis was not observed.CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that transvaginal pituitary transplantation specifically induces cysts, adhesion, and adenomyosis. Reduced NK‐cell activities may not be necessary in the primary development of endometriosis and adenomyosis.
Epiphytic lichen diversity along elevational gradients: biological traits reveal a complex response to water and energy
Authors: Nascimbene Juri , Marini Lorenzo 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimPatterns of epiphytic lichen diversity along elevational gradients covering the range of Norway spruce forests were analysed. The roles of water and energy variables in shaping the observed species–elevation relationship were tested, as well as how growth form and photobiont type distribution varied along the gradient.LocationSouth Tyrol, northern Italy.MethodsEight sites were selected spanning the elevational range of spruce forests (900–1900 m a.s.l.) and the regional rainfall gradient. At each site, a pair of forest stands (one mature even‐aged and one multilayered) was selected at three elevation steps. Epiphytic lichens were surveyed according to European guidelines for lichen diversity monitoring. Explanatory variables indicative of both forest structure and climate were included in the models.ResultsA positive relationship was found between number of species and elevation. This reflected the physiological response of epiphytic lichens to the main climatic factors, trait selection being the mechanism that determined the response at community level. Nonlinear species–temperature and trait–temperature relationships predicted that major changes may be expected in the intermediate part of the gradient. Lichens with a Trentepohlia algal partner were more frequent at lower elevations and proved to be sensitive to environmental factors indicative of forest structure. Lichen growth forms had contrasting patterns related to temperature, crustose species richness being enhanced by increasing values, and alectorioid and foliose lichens by decreasing values. Alectorioid lichens were also negatively influenced by rainfall.Main conclusionsIn a climate change scenario, lichen diversity in alpine regions will probably not benefit from an increase in air temperature in the same way as flowering plants. Monitoring variations in the proportions of growth form and photobiont type may represent a tool for detecting the effects of climate change on lichen species.
Attention bias and anxiety in young children exposed to family violence
Authors: Briggs‐Gowan Margaret J. , Pollak Seth D. , Grasso Damion , Voss Joel , Mian Nicholas D. , Zobel Elvira , McCarthy Kimberly J. , Wakschlag Lauren S. , Pine Daniel S. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundAttention bias toward threat is associated with anxiety in older youth and adults and has been linked with violence exposure. Attention bias may moderate the relationship between violence exposure and anxiety in young children. Capitalizing on measurement advances, this study examines these relationships at a younger age than previously possible.MethodsYoung children (mean age 4.7, ±0.8) from a cross‐sectional sample oversampled for violence exposure (N = 218) completed the dot‐probe task to assess their attention biases. Observed fear/anxiety was characterized with a novel observational paradigm, the Anxiety Dimensional Observation Scale. Mother‐reported symptoms were assessed with the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment and Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children. Violence exposure was characterized with dimensional scores reflecting probability of membership in two classes derived via latent class analysis from the Conflict Tactics Scales: Abuse and Harsh Parenting.ResultsFamily violence predicted greater child anxiety and trauma symptoms. Attention bias moderated the relationship between violence and anxiety.ConclusionsAttention bias toward threat may strengthen the effects of family violence on the development of anxiety, with potentially cascading effects across childhood. Such associations may be most readily detected when using observational measures of childhood anxiety.