bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using a social marketing framework to evaluate recruitment of a prospective study of genetic counseling and testing for the deaf community
Authors: Kobayashi Yoko , Boudreault Patrick , Hill Karin , Sinsheimer Janet S , Palmer Christina GS 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Recruiting deaf and hard-of-hearing participants, particularly sign language-users, for genetics health service research is challenging due to communication barriers, mistrust toward genetics, and researchers’ unfamiliarity with deaf people. Feelings of social exclusion and lack of social cohesion between researchers and the Deaf community are factors to consider. Social marketing is effective for recruiting hard-to-reach populations because it fosters social inclusion and cohesion by focusing on the targeted audience’s needs. For the deaf population this includes recognizing their cultural and linguistic diversity, their geography, and their systems for information exchange. Here we use concepts and language from social marketing to evaluate our effectiveness to engage a U.S. deaf population in a prospective, longitudinal genetic counseling and testing study.

Methods
The study design was interpreted in terms of a social marketing mix of Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Price addressed linguistic diversity by including a variety of communication technologies and certified interpreters to facilitate communication; Place addressed geography by including community-based participation locations; Promotion addressed information exchange by using multiple recruitment strategies. Regression analyses examined the study design’s effectiveness in recruiting a culturally and linguistically diverse sample.

Results
271 individuals were enrolled, with 66.1% American Sign Language (ASL)-users, 19.9% ASL + English-users, 12.6% English-users. Language was significantly associated with communication technology, participation location, and recruitment. Videophone and interpreters were more likely to be used for communication between ASL-users and researchers while voice telephone and no interpreters were preferred by English-users (Price). ASL-users were more likely to participate in community-based locations while English-users preferred medically-based locations (Place). English-users were more likely to be recruited through mass media (Promotion) while ASL-users were more likely to be recruited through community events and to respond to messaging that emphasized inclusion of a Deaf perspective.

Conclusions
This study design effectively engaged the deaf population, particularly sign language-users. Results suggest that the deaf population’s cultural and linguistic diversity, geography, and forms of information exchange must be taken into account in study designs for successful recruitment. A social marketing approach that incorporates critical social determinants of health provides a novel and important framework for genetics health service research targeting specific, and hard-to-reach, underserved groups.
Restoration of WNT4 inhibits cell growth in leukemia-derived cell lines
Authors: García-Castro Beatriz , Alvarez-Zavala Monserrat , Riveros-Magaña Alma R , Ortíz-Lazareno Pablo C , Ratkovich-González Sarah , Hernández-Flores Georgina , Bravo-Cuellar Alejandro , Jave-Suarez Luis F , Aguilar-Lemarroy Adriana 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
WNT signaling pathways are significantly altered during cancer development. Vertebrates possess two classes of WNT signaling pathways: the “canonical” WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, and the “non-canonical” pathways including WNT/Ca2+ and WNT/Planar cell polarity [PCP] signaling. WNT4 influences hematopoietic progenitor cell expansion and survival; however, WNT4 function in cancer development and the resulting implications for oncogenesis are poorly understood.
The aim of this study was twofold: first, to determine the expression of WNT4 in mature peripheral blood cells and diverse leukemia-derived cells including cell lines from hematopoietic neoplasms and cells from patients with leukemia; second, to identify the effect of this ligand on the proliferation and apoptosis of the blast-derived cell lines BJAB, Jurkat, CEM, K562, and HL60.

Methods
We determined WNT4 expression by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T- and B-lymphocytes from healthy individuals, as well as from five leukemia-derived cell lines and blasts derived from patients with leukemia. To analyze the effect of WNT4 on cell proliferation, PBMCs and cell lines were exposed to a commercially available WNT4 recombinant human protein. Furthermore, WNT4 expression was restored in BJAB cells using an inducible lentiviral expression system. Cell viability and proliferation were measured by the addition of WST-1 to cell cultures and counting cells; in addition, the progression of the cell cycle and the amount of apoptosis were analyzed in the absence or presence of WNT4. Finally, the expression of WNT-pathway target genes was measured by qRT-PCR.

Results
WNT4 expression was severely reduced in leukemia-derived cell lines and blasts derived from patients with leukemia. The exposure of cell lines to WNT4 recombinant protein significantly inhibited cell proliferation; inducing WNT4 expression in BJAB cells corroborated this observation. Interestingly, restoration of WNT4 expression in BJAB cells increased the accumulation of cells in G1 phase, and did not induce activation of canonical WNT/β-catenin target genes.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that the WNT4 ligand plays a role in regulating the cell growth of leukemia-derived cells by arresting cells in the G1 cell cycle phase in an FZD6-independent manner, possibly through antagonizing the canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) efficacy in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunctions: a systematic review
Authors: Gaziev Gabriele , Topazio Luca , Iacovelli Valerio , Asimakopoulos Anastasios , Di Santo Angelo , De Nunzio Cosimo , Finazzi-Agrò Enrico 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) has been proposed for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), non-obstructive urinary retention (NOUR), neurogenic bladder, paediatric voiding dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain/painful bladder syndrome (CPP/PBS). Despite a number of publications produced in the last ten years, the role of PTNS in urinary tract dysfunctions remains unclear. A systematic review of the papers on PTNS has been performed with the aim to better clarify potentialities and limits of this technique in the treatment of OAB syndrome and in other above mentioned urological conditions.

Methods
A literature search using MEDLINE and ISI web was performed. Search terms used were “tibial nerve” and each of the already mentioned conditions, with no time limits. An evaluation of level of evidence for each paper was performed.

Results
PTNS was found to be effective in 37-100% of patients with OAB, in 41-100% of patients with NOUR and in up to 100% of patients with CPP/PBS, children with OAB/dysfunctional voiding and patients with neurogenic pathologies. No major complications have been reported.
Randomized controlled trials are available only for OAB (4 studies) and CPP/PBS (2 studies). Level 1 evidence of PTNS efficacy for OAB is available. Promising results, to be confirmed by randomized controlled studies, have been obtained in the remaining indications considered.

Conclusions
PTNS is an effective and safe option to treat OAB patients. Further studies are needed to assess the role of PTNS in the remaining indications and to evaluate the long term durability of the treatment. Further research is needed to address several unanswered questions about PTNS.
In vitro anti-mycobacterial activity of nine medicinal plants used by ethnic groups in Sonora, Mexico
Authors: Robles-Zepeda Ramón Enrique , Coronado-Aceves Enrique Wenceslao , Velázquez-Contreras Carlos Arturo , Ruiz-Bustos Eduardo , Navarro-Navarro Moisés , Garibay-Escobar Adriana 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Sonoran ethnic groups (Yaquis, Mayos, Seris, Guarijíos, Pimas, Kikapúes and Pápagos) use mainly herbal based preparations as their first line of medicinal treatment. Among the plants used are those with anti-tuberculosis properties; however, no formal research is available.

Methods
Organic extracts were obtained from nine medicinal plants traditionally used by Sonoran ethnic groups to treat different kinds of diseases; three of them are mainly used to treat tuberculosis. All of the extracts were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the Alamar Blue redox bioassay.

Results
Methanolic extracts from Ambrosia confertiflora, Ambrosia ambrosioides and Guaiacum coulteri showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 200, 790 and 1000 μg/mL, respectively, whereas no effect was observed with the rest of the methanolic extracts at the concentrations tested. Chloroform, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate extracts from Ambrosia confertiflora showed a MIC of 90, 120 and 160 μg/mL, respectively.

Conclusions

A. confertiflora and A. ambrosioides showed the best anti-mycobacterial activity in vitro. The activity of Guaiacum coulteri is consistent with the traditional use by Sonoran ethnic groups as anti-tuberculosis agent.
For these reasons, it is important to investigate a broader spectrum of medicinal plants in order to find compounds active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Economic benefits of safety-engineered sharp devices in Belgium - a budget impact model
Authors: Hanmore Emma , Maclaine Grant , Garin Fiona , Alonso Alexander , Leroy Nicolas , Ruff Lewis 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Measures to protect healthcare workers where there is risk of injury or infection from medical sharps became mandatory in the European Union (EU) from May 2013. Our research objective was to estimate the net budget impact of introducing safety-engineered devices (SEDs) for prevention of needlestick injuries (NSIs) in a Belgian hospital.

Methods
A 5-year incidence-based budget impact model was developed from the hospital inpatient perspective, comparing costs and outcomes with SEDs and prior-used conventional (non-safety) devices. The model accounts for device acquisition costs and costs of NSI management in 4 areas of application where SEDs are currently used: blood collection, infusion, injection and diabetes insulin administration. Model input data were sourced from the Institut National d’Assurance Maladie-Invalidité, published studies, clinical guidelines and market research. Costs are discounted at 3%.

Results
For a 420-bed hospital, 100% substitution of conventional devices by SEDs is estimated to decrease the cumulative 5-year incidence of NSIs from 310 to 75, and those associated with exposure to blood-borne viral diseases from 60 to 15. Cost savings from managing fewer NSIs more than offset increased device acquisition costs, yielding estimated 5-year overall savings of €51,710. The direction of these results is robust to a range of sensitivity and model scenario analyses. The model was most sensitive to variation in the acquisition costs of SEDs, rates of NSI associated with conventional devices, and the acquisition costs of conventional devices.

Conclusions
NSIs are a significant potential risk with the use of sharp devices. The incidence of NSIs and the costs associated with their management can be reduced through the adoption of safer work practices, including investment in SEDs. For a Belgian hospital, the budget impact model reports that the incremental acquisition costs of SEDs are offset by the savings from fewer NSIs. The availability of more robust data for NSI reduction rates, and broadening the scope of the model to include ancillary measures for hospital conversion to SED usage, outpatient and paramedic device use, and transmission of other blood-borne diseases, would strengthen the model.
Fixed points of multivalued mappings in partial metric spaces
Authors: Ahmad Jamshaid , Azam Akbar , Arshad Muhammad 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
We use the notion of Hausdorff metric on the family of closed bounded subsets of a partial metric space and establish a common fixed point theorem of a pair of multivalued mappings satisfying Mizoguchi and Takahashi’s contractive condition. Our result extends some well-known recent results in the literature.

MSC:46S40, 47H10, 54H25.
New insights of aquaporin 5 in the pathogenesis of high altitude pulmonary edema
Authors: She Jun , Bi Jing , Tong Lin , Song Yuanlin , Bai Chunxue 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundHigh altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) affects individuals and is characterized by alveolar flooding with protein-rich edema as a consequence of blood-gas barrier disruption. In this study, we hypothesized that aquaporin 5 (AQP5) which is one kind of water channels may play a role in preservation of alveolar epithelial barrier integrity in high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).MethodsTherefore, we established a model in Wildtype mice and AQP5 −/− mice were assingned to normoxic rest (NR), hypoxic rest (HR) and hypoxic exercise (HE) group. Mice were produced by training to walk at treadmill for exercising and chamber pressure was reduced to simulate climbing an altitude of 5000 m for 48 hours. Studies using BAL in HAPE mice to demonstrated that edema is caused leakage of albumin proteins and red cells across the alveolarcapillary barrier in the absence of any evidence of inflammation.ResultsIn this study, the Lung wet/dry weight ratio and broncholalveolar lavage protein concentrations were slightly increased in HE AQP5 −/− mice compared to wildtype mice. And histologic evidence of hemorrhagic pulmonary edema was distinctly shown in HE group. The lung Evan’s blue permeability of HE group was showed slightly increased compare to the wildtype groups, and HR group was showed a medium situation from normal to HAPE development compared with NR and HE group.ConclusionsDeletion of AQP5 slightly increased lung edema and lung injury compared to wildtype mice during HAPE development, which suggested that the AQP5 plays an important role in HAPE formation induced by high altitude simulation.
Immune response profiling in early rheumatoid arthritis: discovery of a novel interaction of treatment response with viral immunity
Authors: Davis John M , Knutson Keith L , Strausbauch Michael A , Green Abigail B , Crowson Cynthia S , Therneau Terry M , Matteson Eric L , Gabriel Sherine E 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Introduction
It remains challenging to predict the outcomes of therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to identify immune response signatures that correlate with clinical treatment outcomes in patients with RA.

Methods
A cohort of 71 consecutive patients with early RA starting treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) was recruited. Disease activity at baseline and after 21 to 24 weeks of follow-up was measured using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). Immune response profiling was performed by analyzing multi-cytokine production from peripheral blood cells following incubation with a panel of stimuli, including a mixture of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lysates. Profiles identified via principal components analysis (PCA) for each stimulus were then correlated with the ΔDAS28 from baseline to follow-up. A clinically meaningful improvement in the DAS28 was defined as a decrease of ≥1.2.

Results
A profile of T-cell cytokines (IL-13, IL-4, IL-5, IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ) produced in response to CMV/EBV was found to correlate with the ΔDAS28 from baseline to follow-up. At baseline, a higher magnitude of the CMV/EBV immune response profile predicted inadequate DAS28 improvement (mean PCA-1 scores: 65.6 versus 50.2; P = 0.029). The baseline CMV/EBV response was particularly driven by IFN-γ (P = 0.039) and IL-4 (P = 0.027). Among patients who attained clinically meaningful DAS28 improvement, the CMV/EBV PCA-1 score increased from baseline to follow-up (mean +11.6, SD 25.5), whereas among patients who responded inadequately to DMARD therapy, the CMV/EBV PCA-1 score decreased (mean -12.8, SD 25.4; P = 0.002). Irrespective of the ΔDAS28, methotrexate use was associated with up-regulation of the CMV/EBV response. The CMV/EBV profile was associated with positive CMV IgG (P <0.001), but not EBV IgG (P = 0.32), suggesting this response was related to CMV exposure.

Conclusions
A profile of T-cell immunity associated with CMV exposure influences the clinical response to DMARD therapy in patients with early RA. Because CMV latency is associated with greater joint destruction, our findings suggest that changes in T-cell immunity mediated by viral persistence may affect treatment response and possibly long-term outcomes of RA.
Eco-physiological adaptation of dominant tree species at two contrasting karst habitats in southwestern China
Authors: Zhang Shouren , Fan Dayong , Wu Qian , Yan Hui , Xu Xinwu 
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eco-physiological adaptation of indigenous woody species to their habitats in karst areas of southwestern China. Two contrasting forest habitats were studied: a degraded habitat in Daxiagu and a well-developed habitat in Tianlongshan, and the eco-physiological characteristics of the trees were measured for three growth seasons. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) of the tree species in Daxiagu were 2-3 times higher than those in Tianlongshan under ambient conditions. However, this habitat effect was not significant when measurements were taken under controlled conditions. Under controlled conditions, Pn, gs, and Tr of the deciduous species were markedly higher than those for the evergreen species. Habitat had no significant effect on water use efficiency (WUE) or photochemical characteristics of PSII. The stomatal sensitivity of woody species in the degraded habitat was much higher than that in the well-developed habitat. Similarly, the leaf total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents expressed on the basis of either dry mass or leaf area were also much higher in Daxiagu than they were in Tianlongshan. The mass-based leaf total N content of deciduous species was much higher than that of evergreen species, while leaf area-based total N and P contents of evergreens were significantly higher than those of deciduous species. The photosynthetic nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiencies (PNUE and PPUE) of deciduous species were much higher than those of evergreens. Further, the PPUE of the woody species in Tianlongshan was much higher than that of the woody species in Daxiagu.The results from three growth seasons imply that the tree species were able to adapt well to their growth habitats. Furthermore, it seems that so-called “temporary drought stress” may not occur, or may not be severe for most woody plants in karst areas of southwestern China.
Polymorphic gene markers ILRA and IL2: population distinctions in association with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kopylova Olga Igorevna , Kuraeva Tamara Leonidovna , Lavrikova Elena Yur'evna , Titovich Elena Vital'evna , Nikitin Aleksey Georgievich , Peterkova Valentina Alexandrovna , Nosikov Valery Vyacheslavovich , Dedov Ivan Ivanovich 
Published: November 2013

AIMS: In order to study type 1 diabetes mellitus associations, we conducted a comparative analysis of allele and genotype frequencydistribution of polymorphic markers rs41295061 and rs11594656 of IL2RA gene, which encodes -chain of interleukin-2 receptor, - and rs2069762, a marker of IL2, gene, encoding interleukin-2.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental group included 451 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM); control group consistedof 306 healthy subjects (both groups were represented by ethnic Russians). Alleles and polymorphic markers were identified byreal-time amplification method.
RESULTS: A comparative analysis of patients with type 1 DM and healthy control group did not show statistically significant differencesfrom the viewpoint of allele and genotype frequency distribution of polymorphic markers rs41295061, rs11594656 and rs2069762. This makes Russian patients considerably different from European ones where markers in question show substantialassociation with type 1 DM.
CONCLUSIONS: A comparative analysis of allele and genotype frequency distribution of IL2-RA and IL2 genes polymorphic markersshowed population differences in association of these markers in Russian and European patients.
Viroid-induced DNA methylation in plants
Authors: Dalakouras Athanasios , Dadami Elena , Wassenegger Michael 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn eukaryotes, DNA methylation refers to the addition of a methyl group to the fifth atom in the six-atom ring of cytosine residues. At least in plants, DNA regions that become de novo methylated can be defined by homologous RNA molecules in a process termed RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). RdDM was first discovered in viroid-infected plants. Viroids are pathogenic circular, non-coding, single-stranded RNA molecules. Members of the Pospiviroidae family replicate in the nucleus through double-stranded RNA intermediates, attracting the host RNA silencing machinery. The recruitment of this machinery results in the production of viroid-derived small RNAs (vd-sRNAs) that mediate RNA degradation and DNA methylation of cognate sequences. Here, we provide an overview of the cumulative data on the field of viroid-induced RdDM and discuss three possible scenarios concerning the mechanistic details of its establishment.
Separable convolution-elliptic operators with parameters
Authors: Shakhmurov Veli B. 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
The maximal regularity properties of parameter dependent abstract
convolution-elliptic equations are investigated. Here find sufficient
conditions that guarantee the uniform separability of these problems in Lp
spaces. It is established that the corresponding convolution-elliptic
operator is sectorial and is also a generator of an analytic semigroup.
Finally, these results applied to obtain the uniform maximal regularity for
the Cauchy problem for abstract parabolic equation in mixed

L
𝐩

${L_{\mathbf {p}}}$

norms, boundary value problems for anisotropic integro-differential
equations and infinite systems of elliptic integro-differential equations
with parameters.
Synthesis and biological activities of maleated rosin-based dithiourea compounds
Authors: Lin Gui-Shan , Dong Su-Qiu , Duan Wen-Gui , Cen Bo , Xu Xue-Tang , Yang Zhang-Qi 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In search of new bioactive compounds, a series of maleated rosin-based dithiourea compounds were designed and synthesised with rosin as starting material. All the title compounds were characterised by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR). The preliminary bioassay showed that the target compounds exhibited a certain fungicidal activity against Physalospora piricola at a concentration of 50 μg ml-1 and a certain growth herbicidal activity against the root of rape (Brassica campestris L.) at a concentration of 100 μg ml-1.
On the intersection of certain maximal subgroups of a
finite group
Authors: Ballester-Bolinches Adolfo , Beidleman James C. , Heineken Hermann , Ragland Matthew F. , Schmidt Jack 
Published: November 2013

Abstract.
Let

Δ
(
G
)

${\Delta (G)}$

denote the intersection of all
non-normal maximal subgroups of a group G. We introduce
the class of
T
2-groups which are defined as the groups G for
which

G
/
Δ
(
G
)

${G/\Delta (G)}$

is a T-group, that is, a group in
which normality is a transitive relation. Several
results concerning the class T
2 are discussed. In
particular, if G is a
solvable group, then Sylow permutability is a transitive relation in G if and only if every subgroup H of G
is a T
2-group such that the nilpotent residual of
H is a Hall
subgroup of H.