bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two Japanese cases of dermatitis herpetiformis associated each with lung cancer and autoimmune pancreatitis but showing no intestinal symptom or circulating immunoglobulin A antibodies to any known antigens
Authors: Shigeta Mika , Saiki Minoru , Tsuruta Daisuke , Ohata Chika , Ishii Norito , Ono Fumitake , Hamada Takahiro , Dainichi Teruki , Furumura Minao , Zone John J. , Karpati Sarolta , Sitaru Cassian , Hashimoto Takashi 
Published: September 2012

AbstractDermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is common in some Caucasian populations but extremely rare in Japanese, probably because of different immunogenetic backgrounds. We report two Japanese DH cases with typical clinical, histological and direct immunofluorescence features. However, no symptom of gluten‐sensitive enteropathy was shown. The diagnosis was confirmed by eliminating other autoimmune blistering diseases by indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblotting. However, circulating immunoglobulin (Ig)A anti‐endomysium, reticulin and gliadin antibodies were not detected. IgA antibodies to tissue and epidermal transglutaminases were also negative. One case was associated with lung cancer and the other one with autoimmune pancreatitis. On review of 17 cases of DH reported in Japan over the previous 10 years, including our cases, one case was associated with gluten‐sensitive enteropathy, four with malignant neoplasms, two with autoimmune systemic disorders and one with psoriasis. Although our cases were typical of DH in clinical, histopathological and IgA deposit features, they showed different human leukocyte antigen haplotypes, no gluten‐sensitive enteropathy and no DH‐specific IgA antibodies, including those to epidermal and tissue transglutaminases. These results suggest that studies of unique characteristics in Japanese DH patients should facilitate further understanding of pathogenesis in DH.
Novel treatment using thioglycolic acid for pincer nails
Authors: Okada Kikuzo , Okada Eijiro 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe authors developed a novel treatment using thioglycolic acid (TGA) to chemically soften pincer nails. The objective was to describe a new treatment method for pincer nails by applying TGA to soften the nail and then fix it in the correct position. A total of 104 patients (nine men and 95 women; mean age, 56 years) with 106 pincer nails underwent our treatment. A small hole was made on the markedly incurvated side of the pincer nail, and a super‐elastic wire was inserted into the hole and bent backwards; 5% TGA was then applied for 6–7 h prior to reduction. Favorable reduction was achieved in 66% of patients within 1 day of the procedure, in 30% within 2–4 days and in 4% 5 days or more later. No patient required surgery. No post‐procedure infection, rash, continuous pain or nail cut out was evident. In eight cases, recurrences of nail deformity were observed within the 1‐year follow‐up period. Our novel method, which consists of administrating TGA via a hole in the nail plate, is a useful treatment for pincer nails.
The dominant exploiters of the fig/pollinator mutualism vary across continents, but their costs fall consistently on the male reproductive function of figs
Authors: SEGAR SIMON T. , COOK JAMES M. 
Published: September 2012

1. Fig trees (Moraceae: Ficus) are keystone species, whose ecosystem function relies on an obligate mutualism with wasps (Chalcidoidea: Agaonidae) that enter fig syconia to pollinate. Each female flower produces one seed (fig female reproductive function), unless it also receives a wasp egg, in which case it supports a wasp. Fig male reproductive function requires both male flowers and pollinator offspring, which are the only vectors of fig pollen.2. The mutualism is exploited by other wasps that lay eggs but provide no pollination service. Most of these non‐pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs) do not enter syconia, but lay eggs through the wall with long ovipositors. Some are gall‐makers, while others are parasitoids or lethal inquilines of other wasps.3. Ficus is pan‐tropical and contains >750 fig species. However, NPFW communities vary across fig lineages and continents and their effects on the mutualism may also vary. This provides a series of natural experiments to investigate how the costs to a keystone mutualism vary geographically.4. We made the first detailed study of the costs of NPFWs in a fig (Ficus obliqua G. Forst) from the endemic Australasian section Malvanthera. In contrast to the communities associated with section Americana in the New World, wasps from the subfamily Sycoryctinae (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) dominated this community.5. These sycoryctine wasps have a negative impact on pollinator offspring numbers, but not on seed production. Consequently, while the NPFW fauna varies greatly at high taxonomic levels across continents, we show that the consistent main effect of locally dominant exploiters of the mutualism is to reduce fig male reproductive function.
Sodium‐specific foraging by leafcutter ant workers (Atta cephalotes, Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: CHAVARRIA PIZARRO LAURA , MCCREERY HELEN F. , LAWSON SARAH P. , WINSTON MAX E. , O’DONNELL SEAN 
Published: September 2012

1. Sodium is often a limiting nutrient for terrestrial animals, and may be especially sought by herbivores. Leafcutter ants are dominant herbivores in the Neotropics, and leafcutter foraging may be affected by nutritional demands of the colony and/or the demands of their symbiotic fungal mutualists. We hypothesized that leafcutter colonies are sodium limited, and that leafcutter ants will therefore forage specifically for sodium.2. Previous studies demonstrated that leafcutter Atta cephalotes Linnaeus workers preferentially cut and remove paper baits treated with NaCl relative to water control baits. Atta cephalotes colonies in this study were presented with baits offering NaCl, Na2SO4, and KCl to test whether leafcutters forage specifically for sodium. Sucrose and water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively.3. Atta foragers removed significantly more of the baits treated with NaCl and Na2SO4 than the KCl treatment, which did not differ from water. The NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments were collected at similar rates. We conclude A. cephalotes forage specifically for sodium rather than for anions (chloride) or solutes in general. This study supports the hypothesis that leafcutter ants are limited by, and preferentially forage for, sodium.
Higher gregarine parasitism often in sibling species of host damselflies with smaller geographical distributions
Authors: MLYNAREK JULIA J. , HASSALL CHRISTOPHER , FORBES MARK R. 
Published: September 2012

1. This study investigated inter‐specific variation in parasitism by gregarines (Eugregarinorida: Actinocephalidae), among sibling species of damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera), in relation to relative size of geographical ranges of host species.2. Gregarines are considered generalist parasites, particularly for taxonomically related host species collected at the same sites or area. Prevalence and median intensity of gregarine parasitism was obtained for 1338 adult damselflies, representing 14 species (7 sibling species pairs) across 3 families within the suborder Zygoptera. Damselflies were collected at three local sites in Southeastern Ontario, during the same periods over the season.3. Five out of seven species pairs had significant differences in parasitism between sibling species. The less widespread host species was the more parasitised for three species pairs with significant differences in gregarine prevalence, and for two species pairs with differences in median intensity. The more widespread host had a higher intensity of infection as expected, in two species pairs.4. Future studies on ecological determinants of parasitism among related species should examine robust measures of abundance of species and representation of species regionally.
Habitat overlap between predatory benthic fish and their invertebrate prey in streams: the relative influence of spatial and temporal factors on predation risk
Authors: WORISCHKA SUSANNE , KOEBSCH CHRISTOPH , HELLMANN CLAUDIA , WINKELMANN CAROLA 
Published: September 2012

Summary1. The spatial heterogeneity of ecosystems as well as temporal activity patterns of organisms can have far‐reaching effects on predator–prey relationships. We hypothesised that spatiotemporal constraints in mesohabitat use by benthic fish predators would reduce habitat overlap with benthic invertebrates and lead to mesohabitat‐specific predation risks.2. We analysed the spatiotemporal activity patterns of two small‐bodied benthivorous fishes, gudgeon (Gobio gobio) and stone loach (Barbatula barbatula), and of benthic invertebrates in a small temperate stream during three 24‐h field experiments. By applying a novel method of field video observation, we monitored the spatiotemporal foraging behaviour of the fish in their natural environment. A parallel analysis of invertebrate mesohabitat use by means of small area Hess sampling allowed a direct estimation of habitat overlap at a pool–riffle scale.3. Gudgeon showed a dominant spatial activity pattern preferring pools at all times of day, whereas stone loach used both mesohabitats but with a distinct temporal (nocturnal) activity pattern. The patterns of residence were not identical with those of active foraging. Invertebrate community composition differed significantly between mesohabitats but not between times of day. More than half of the total dissimilarity between pools and riffles was accounted for by six invertebrate taxa. Five of these were subject to higher fish predation in pools than in riffles. The total prey consumption of the two fish species together in pools was about three times as high as in riffles. Trophic niche breadth of stone loach and thus its predation range was broader than that of gudgeon.4. These results indicate that the potential predation risk for stream invertebrates depends on the combination of spatial and temporal patterns of both predator and prey. Given the distinct differences in predation risk found between pools and riffles, we conclude that spatial heterogeneity at the mesohabitat scale can influence mechanisms and consequences of selective predation. We also suggest that the analysis of spatiotemporal predator–prey relationships should not be based on the premise that the main residence habitat and active foraging habitat of a predator are identical.
Quantifying the cost of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair
Authors: Smart Philip , Castles Lindsay 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundLaparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has been widely adopted. While the clinical advantages and disadvantages are well‐quantified, the economic cost is less well‐studied.MethodsA retrospective audit and case review of a single‐centre public hospital consecutive case series was performed using data captured from real‐time stock usage tracking technology and review of electronic medical records.ResultsLaparoscopic inguinal hernia repair requires 11‐min (21%) extra theatre time and costs $1268 (370%) more for single‐use disposable equipment and prostheses.ConclusionsLaparoscopic inguinal hernia repair does not require significantly more theatre time, but has a higher short‐term in‐hospital cost. Repair technique should be tailored according to patient factors.
Evaluation of a Japanese “Prevention of Long‐term Care” project for the improvement in oral function in the high‐risk elderly
Authors: Sakayori Takaharu , Maki Yoshinobu , Hirata SoIchiro , Okada Mahito , Ishii Takuo 
Published: September 2012

Aim:  The purpose of this study was to analyze the improvement in oral function and environment in high‐risk elderly persons participating in a program to improve oral function organized by their local government.Methods:  Participants comprised 36 high‐risk elderly and the mean age was 77.11 ± 7.24 years. The program involved training sessions carried out five or six times every 2–3 weeks for 3 months. Oral function and environment was evaluated before and after the program. The research period extended from 2008 to 2010.Results:  The effects of intervention were clearly observed in oral diadochokinesis score in the high‐risk elderly. Persons with a lower repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST) and oral diadochokinesis score before intervention showed a tendency toward even greater improvement. No significant changes were observed in saliva secretion or total amounts of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacilli, Candida or total microorganisms.Conclusions:  The effects of intervention were clearly recognized in regards to oral diadochokinesis. Improvement in RSST and oral diadochokinesis scores was marked in those persons showing a lower number of articulations before intervention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 451–457.
Intensified rehabilitation therapy and transitions to skilled nursing facilities in community‐living seniors with acute medical illnesses
Authors: Yoo Ji Won , Kim Sulgi , Choi Jai Hyun , Ryu Woo Sang 
Published: September 2012

Aim:  To examine whether rehabilitation therapy type would be associated with transitions to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) in community‐living seniors with acute medical illnesses.Methods:  Using administrative and clinical data, multivariate regression analysis examined the relationship between the extent of rehabilitation therapy and transitions to SNF in all participants, as well as participants by physical function at admission.Results:  In all participants (n = 929), the intensified rehabilitation therapy was associated with a lower probability of transitions to SNF (14% vs 21%; odds ratio [OR] 0.59; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.22–0.96; P = 0.02). In participants with mild physical limitations (n = 270), less frequent transitions to SNF occurred when patients received intensified rehabilitation therapy [16% vs 23%; OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.17–0.94; P = 0.01]. In participants with moderate to severe physical limitations (n = 265), the decreased frequency of transitions to SNF associated with rehabilitation therapy became more pronounced (18% vs 28%; OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.07–0.89; P = 0.004). By contrast, in participants without physical limitation (n = 394), the number of transitions to SNF did not change significantly when they received intensified rehabilitation therapy (P = 0.53).Conclusions:  We found a significant relationship between intensified rehabilitation therapy and the decrease of transitions to SNF in community‐living seniors with acute medical illness. The magnitude of this relationship increased in participants with more physical limitations, but not in participants without physical limitations at admission. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 547–554.
Rate of progression of Alzheimer's disease in younger versus older patients: A longitudinal single photon emission computed tomography study
Authors: Sakai Minoru , Hanyu Haruo , Kume Kazumasa , Sato Tomohiko , Hirao Kentaro , Kanetaka Hidekazu , Abe Shine , Kanaya Kiyoshi , Sakurai Hirofumi , Iwamoto Toshihiko 
Published: September 2012

Aim:  Although several researchers have examined the effect of age on disease progression in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the results are controversial. We investigated the effect of age on the rate of progression of cognitive impairment and on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) deficits using longitudinal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies.Methods:  We divided 75 patients with AD who were followed up for 24–90 months into the younger AD group (n = 32, age at initial examination ≤75 years) and the older AD group (n = 43, age at initial examination >75 years). We assessed changes in Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and rCBF between initial and final examinations.Results:  The change in the annual MMSE score was greater in the younger AD group than in the older AD group. The mean annual MMSE score changes correlated significantly with age at the initial examination. The initial and follow‐up SPECT studies showed more severe and extensive rCBF deficits in the younger AD group than in the older AD group.Conclusion:  Our longitudinal SPECT study showed that the rate of progression of cognitive impairment and the rCBF deficits were higher in younger patients with AD than in older patients with AD. Therefore, age is an important factor to consider, not only in the diagnosis, but also in the treatment and prognosis of patients with AD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 555–562.
Wzx flippase‐mediated membrane translocation of sugar polymer precursors in bacteria
Authors: Islam Salim T. , Lam Joseph S. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryBacterial cell surface polysaccharides confer resistance to external stress and promote survival in biotic and abiotic environments. Glycan assembly often occurs at the periplasmic leaflet of the inner membrane (IM) from undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (UndPP)‐linked polysaccharide units via the Wzx/Wzy‐dependent pathway. Wzx is an integral IM protein found in Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria that mediates IM translocation of UndPP‐linked sugar repeats from the cytoplasmic to the periplasmic leaflet; interaction of Wzx with other assembly proteins is indirectly supported by genetic evidence. Topological mapping has indicated 12 α‐helical transmembrane segments (TMS), with the number of charged TMS residues fluctuating based on the mapping method used. A novel Wzx tertiary structure model has been built, allowing for substrate‐binding or energy‐coupling roles to be proposed for functionally important charged and aromatic TMS residues. It has also led to a proposed antiport‐like mechanism of Wzx function. Exquisite substrate specificity of Wzx proteins was recently revealed in distinguishing between UndPP‐linked substrates with identical main‐chain sugar repeats, but differing in the chemical composition of a terminal sugar side‐branch cap. The objective of this review is to synthesize the most up‐to‐date knowledge concerning Wzx flippases and to provide perspective for future investigations in this burgeoning field.
Oxygen minimum zones harbour novel viral communities with low diversity
Authors: Cassman Noriko , Prieto‐Davó Alejandra , Walsh Kevin , Silva Genivaldo G. Z. , Angly Florent , Akhter Sajia , Barott Katie , Busch Julia , McDole Tracey , Haggerty J. Matthew , Willner Dana , Alarcón Gadiel , Ulloa Osvaldo , DeLong Edward F. , Dutilh Bas E. , Rohwer Forest , Dinsdale Elizabeth A. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryOxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are oceanographic features that affect ocean productivity and biodiversity, and contribute to ocean nitrogen loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Here we describe the viral communities associated with the Eastern Tropical South Pacific (ETSP) OMZ off Iquique, Chile for the first time through abundance estimates and viral metagenomic analysis. The viral‐to‐microbial ratio (VMR) in the ETSP OMZ fluctuated in the oxycline and declined in the anoxic core to below one on several occasions. The number of viral genotypes (unique genomes as defined by sequence assembly) ranged from 2040 at the surface to 98 in the oxycline, which is the lowest viral diversity recorded to date in the ocean. Within the ETSP OMZ viromes, only 4.95% of genotypes were shared between surface and anoxic core viromes using reciprocal BLASTn sequence comparison. ETSP virome comparison with surface marine viromes (Sargasso Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Kingman Reef, Chesapeake Bay) revealed a dissimilarity of ETSP OMZ viruses to those from other oceanic regions. From the 1.4 million non‐redundant DNA sequences sampled within the altered oxygen conditions of the ETSP OMZ, more than 97.8% were novel. Of the average 3.2% of sequences that showed similarity to the SEED non‐redundant database, phage sequences dominated the surface viromes, eukaryotic virus sequences dominated the oxycline viromes, and phage sequences dominated the anoxic core viromes. The viral community of the ETSP OMZ was characterized by fluctuations in abundance, taxa and diversity across the oxygen gradient. The ecological significance of these changes was difficult to predict; however, it appears that the reduction in oxygen coincides with an increased shedding of eukaryotic viruses in the oxycline, and a shift to unique viral genotypes in the anoxic core.
Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Cognitive Dysfunction Questionnaire: Instrument refinement and measurement invariance across age and sex
Authors: VESTERGREN PETER , RÖNNLUND MICHAEL , NYBERG LARS , NILSSON LARS‐GÖRAN 
Published: September 2012

Vestergren, P., Rönnlund, M., Nyberg, L. & Nilsson, L.‐G. (2012). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis of the Cognitive Dysfunction Questionnaire: Instrument refinement and measurement invariance across age and sex. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 53, 390–400.The study adopted Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to investigate the factorial structure and reduce the number of items of the Cognitive Dysfunction Questionnaire (CDQ). The analyses were based on data for a total of 1,115 participants from population based samples (mean age: 63.0 ± 14.5 years, range: 25–95) randomly split into a refinement (N = 569) and a cross‐validation (N = 546) sample. Equivalence of the measurement and structural portions of the refined model was demonstrated across the refinement and cross‐validation samples. Among competing models the best fitting and parsimonious model had a hierarchical factor structure with five first‐order and one second‐order general factor. For the final version of the CDQ, 20 items within five domains were selected (Procedural actions, Semantic word knowledge, Face recognition, Temporal orientation, and Spatial navigation). Internal consistency reliabilities were adequate for the total scale and for the subscales. Multigroup CFAs indicated measurement invariance across age and sex up to the scalar level. Finally, higher levels of cognitive dysfunction as reflected by CDQ scores were predicted by advancing age, fewer years of education, and with deficits in general cognitive functioning as reflected by scores on the Mini‐Mental State Examination. In conclusion, the CDQ appears to be psychometrically sound and shows the expected relationships with variables known to be associated with cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Future studies should apply it among clinical groups to further test its usefulness.
High‐tech Clusters, Innovation Capabilities and Technological Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Ireland
Authors: Ryan Paul , Giblin Majella 
Published: September 2012

AbstractUnderpinned theoretically by the capabilities perspective, the purpose of this study is to identify capabilities in high‐technology activity within the Irish economy. A deeper understanding of the capabilities that underscore the economy at present is needed to determine the strengths to build on and how they can be cultivated for future economic growth. In particular, this study focuses on the evolution of capabilities, both technological and those that are more intangible, such as managerial expertise and their source of development. The argument underpinning this study is that analysing industrial dynamics using aggregate data on employment, trade and numbers of firms in distinct sectors provides an incomplete picture. Such an approach fails to capture evolving technologies that may cross sectoral boundaries. Therefore, in this study, a unique methodological approach that uses an analysis of highly specified products and services produced in the economy is employed to identify high‐tech capabilities. More specifically, the approach is applied to the case of medical technology activity in Ireland. The evolution and nature of capabilities is examined using an exploratory analysis of the medical technology cluster in the West of Ireland in particular.