bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A von Willebrand factor fragment containing the D′D3 domains is sufficient to stabilize coagulation factor VIII in mice
Authors: Yee Andrew , Gildersleeve Robert D. , Gu Shufang , Kretz Colin A. , McGee Beth M. , Carr Keisha M. , Pipe Steven W. , Ginsburg David 
Published: May 2014

Key PointsThe D′D3 domains of VWF are sufficient to stabilize FVIII in vivo. The prolongation of VWF D′D3 survival in vivo by Fc fusion elevates FVIII levels in the setting of VWF but not FVIII deficiency.
Interaction of TIF-90 and filamin A in the regulation of rRNA synthesis in leukemic cells
Authors: Nguyen Le Xuan Truong , Chan Steven M. , Ngo Tri Duc , Raval Aparna , Kim Kyeong Kyu , Majeti Ravindra , Mitchell Beverly S. 
Published: May 2014

Key PointsAkt/FLNA/TIF-90 signaling regulates rRNA synthesis in acute myelogenous leukemia cells. Direct targeting of Akt has potential therapeutic applications in acute myelogenous leukemia treatment.
Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and clinical management of Erdheim-Chester disease
Authors: Diamond Eli L. , Dagna Lorenzo , Hyman David M. , Cavalli Giulio , Janku Filip , Estrada-Veras Juvianee , Ferrarini Marina , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Heaney Mark L. , Scheel Paul J. , Feeley Nancy K. , Ferrero Elisabetta , McClain Kenneth L. , Vaglio Augusto , Colby Thomas , Arnaud Laurent , Haroche Julien 
Published: May 2014

AbstractErdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare, non-Langerhans histiocytosis. Recent findings suggest that ECD is a clonal disorder, marked by recurrent BRAFV600E mutations in >50% of patients, in which chronic uncontrolled inflammation is an important mediator of disease pathogenesis. Although ∼500 to 550 cases have been described in the literature to date, increased physician awareness has driven a dramatic increase in ECD diagnoses over the last decade. ECD frequently involves multiple organ systems and has historically lacked effective therapies. Given the protean clinical manifestations and the lack of a consensus-derived approach for the management of ECD, we provide here the first multidisciplinary consensus guidelines for the clinical management of ECD. These recommendations were outlined at the First International Medical Symposium for ECD, comprised of a comprehensive group of international academicians with expertise in the pathophysiology and therapy of ECD. Detailed recommendations on the initial clinical, laboratory, and radiographic assessment of ECD patients are presented in addition to treatment recommendations based on critical appraisal of the literature and clinical experience. These formalized consensus descriptions will hopefully facilitate ongoing and future research efforts in this disorder.
Delivery, immediate newborn and cord care practices in Pemba Tanzania: a qualitative study of community, hospital staff and community level care providers for knowledge, attitudes, belief systems and practices
Authors: Dhingra Usha , Gittelsohn Joel , Suleiman Atifa Moh’d , Suleiman Shekhia Moh’d , Dutta Arup , Ali Said Mohammed , Gupta Shilpi , Black Robert E , Sazawal Sunil 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Deaths during the neonatal period account for almost two-thirds of all deaths in the first year of life and 40 percent of deaths before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented through proven cost-effective interventions. Although there are some recent data from sub-Saharan Africa, but there is paucity of qualitative data from Zanzibar and cord care practices data from most of East Africa. We undertook a qualitative study in Pemba Island as a pilot to explore the attitudes, beliefs and practices of the community and health workers related to delivery, newborn and cord care with the potential to inform the main chlorhexidine (CHX) trial.

Methods
80 in-depth interviews (IDI) and 11 focus group discussions (FGD) involving mothers, grandmothers, fathers, traditional birth attendants and other health service providers from the community were undertaken. All IDIs and FGDs were audio taped, transcribed and analyzed using ATLAS ti 6.2.

Results
Poor transportation, cost of delivery at hospitals, overcrowding and ill treatment by hospital staff are some of the obstacles for achieving higher institutional delivery. TBAs and health professionals understand the need of using sterilized equipments to reduce risk of infection to both mothers and their babies during delivery. Despite this knowledge, use of gloves during delivery and hand washing before delivery were seldom reported. Early initiation of breastfeeding and feeding colostrum was almost universal. Hospital personnel and trained TBAs understood the importance of keeping babies warm after birth and delayed baby’s first bath. The importance of cord care was well recognized in the community. Nearly all TBAs counseled the mothers to protect the cord from dust, flies and mosquitoes or any other kind of infections by covering it with cloth. There was consensus among respondents that CHX liquid cord cleansing could be successfully implemented in the community with appropriate education and awareness.

Conclusion
The willingness of community in accepting a CHX cord care practice was very high; the only requirement was that a MCH worker needs to do and demonstrate the use to the mother.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01528852
Protective effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice on testes against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats
Authors: Al-Olayan Ebtesam M , El-Khadragy Manal F , Metwally Dina M , Abdel Moneim Ahmed E 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Pomegranate fruit has been extensively used as a natural medicine in many cultures. The present study was aimed at evaluating the protective effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and testes injury in adult Wistar rats.

Methods
Twenty eight Wistar albino male rats were divided equally into 4 groups for the assessment of protective potential of pomegranate juice. Rats of group I (control) received only vehicles and had free access to food and water. Rats of groups II and IV were treated with CCl4 (2 ml/kg bwt) via the intraperitoneal route once a week for ten weeks. The pomegranate juice was supplemented via drinking water 2 weeks before and concurrent with CCl4 treatment to group IV. Group III was supplemented with pomegranate juice for twelve weeks. The protective effects of pomegranate on serum sex hormones, oxidative markers, activities of antioxidant enzymes and histopathology of testes were determined in CCl4-induced reproductive toxicity in rats.

Results
Pomegranate juice showed significant elevation in testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) those depleted by the injection of CCl4. Activity levels of endogenous testesticular antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione (GSH) contents were increased while lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) were decreased with pomegranate juice. Moreover, degeneration of germ and Leydig cells along with deformities in spermatogenesis induced after CCl4 injections were restored with the treatment of pomegranate juice.

Conclusion
The results clearly demonstrated that pomegranate juice augments the antioxidant defense mechanism against carbon tetrachloride-induced reproductive toxicity and provides evidence that it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.
Quality of life in rectal cancer patients after radical surgery: a survey of Chinese patients
Authors: Li Xinxin , Song Xinming , Chen Zhihui , Li Mingzhe , Lu Lifeng , Xu Ying , Zhan Wenhua , He Yulong , Xu Kaiwu 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
We aimed to investigate the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in disease-free survivors after radical surgery for rectal cancer in a Chinese mainland population.

Methods
We performed a cross-sectional survey from August 2002 to February 2011 by use of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 questionnaires of 438 patients who underwent curative surgery for rectal cancer. Patients who were followed up for a minimum of 6 months, had no relevant major comorbidities and whose disease had not recurred were asked to complete both questionnaires. The impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on HRQoL were compared by univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Results
In total, 285 patients responded to the survey (response rate, 65.1%). Psychological-related HRQoL variables such as emotional function (P = 0.021) and future perspectives (P = 0.044) were poorer for younger patients than for older patients; and physiological-related HRQoL was reflected by physical function (P = 0.039), which was poorer for older patients than for younger patients. In terms of physiologic function and symptoms concerning HRQoL, such as pain (P = 0.002) and insomnia (P = 0.018), females had lower values than males. Low education and unemployment were associated with a worse HRQoL. HRQoL was worse for patients with stomas compared to those without, especially in psychosocial areas such as role function (P = 0.025), social function (P <0.001) and body image (P = 0.004). Financial HRQoL was worse for younger patients and patients with stoma.

Conclusions
HRQoL aspects and degrees to which they were impaired after curative surgery for rectal cancer were different when compared by many sociodemographic and clinical factors in Chinese mainland patients.
Blind spectrum sensing for cognitive radio over time-variant multipath flat-fading channels
Authors: Zhao Chenglin , Sun Mengwei , Li Bin , Zhao Long , Peng Xiao 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Cognitive radio has more extensive application in recent years, and it may operate in complex wireless environmental condition such as communication systems with time-variant multipath flat-fading channel. As an essential technology for cognitive radio, most existing spectrum sensing methods are designed for time-invariant propagation channel; thus, it could be extremely difficult to achieve acceptable sensing performance when we apply them to deal with time-variant multipath fading channel. In order to overcome this obstacle, we design a novel spectrum sensing method in this investigation. Firstly, a dynamic state-space model is proposed in which two different hidden Markov models are employed to abstract the evolution of primary user state and time-variant multipath flat-fading channel gain. Based on the dynamic state-space model, the spectrum sensing problem is formulated as blind estimation problem. Relying on maximum a posteriori probability criterion and particle filtering technology, a joint estimation algorithm of the time-variant channel gain and primary user state is presented. Experimental simulations demonstrate the superior performance of our presented sensing scheme, which could be used potentially in realistic cognitive radio systems.
Pluripotent muse cells derived from human adipose tissue: a new perspective on regenerative medicine and cell therapy
Authors: Simerman Ariel A , Dumesic Daniel A , Chazenbalk Gregorio D 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIn 2010, Multilineage Differentiating Stress Enduring (Muse) cells were introduced to the scientific community, offering potential resolution to the issue of teratoma formation that plagues both embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells. Isolated from human bone marrow, dermal fibroblasts, adipose tissue and commercially available adipose stem cells (ASCs) under severe cellular stress conditions, Muse cells self‐renew in a controlled manner and do not form teratomas when injected into immune‐deficient mice. Furthermore, Muse cells express classic pluripotency markers and differentiate into cells from the three embryonic germ layers both spontaneously and under media‐specific induction. When transplanted in vivo, Muse cells contribute to tissue generation and repair. This review delves into the aspects of Muse cells that set them apart from ES, iPS, and various reported adult pluripotent stem cell lines, with specific emphasis on Muse cells derived from adipose tissue (Muse‐AT), and their potential to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy.
Pre- and postoperative alcohol consumption in breast cancer patients: impact on early events
Authors: Simonsson Maria , Markkula Andrea , Bendahl Pär-Ola , Rose Carsten , Ingvar Christian , Jernström Helena 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the association between pre- and postoperative alcohol consumption and risk for early breast cancer events, since the association between alcohol consumption and prognosis in breast cancer patients is unclear.

Methods
Alcohol consumption was recorded for 934 primary breast cancer patients who underwent breast cancer surgery in Lund, Sweden, between 2002 and 2011 and were followed until December 31st 2012. Clinical data were obtained from medical records and population registries. Pre- and postoperative alcohol consumption was analyzed in relation to risk for early events.

Results
Median follow-up time was 3.03 years and 100 breast cancer events, 65 distant metastases, and 76 deaths occurred. Compared to no consumption, any preoperative alcohol consumption was weakly associated with lower risk for early events, adjusted HR 0.69 (0.45-1.04), distant metastases, 0.60 (0.36-1.00) and death, 0.62 (0.38-1.01). In the 572 patients without axillary lymph node involvement, any alcohol consumption was not associated with risk for early events. However, in the 360 patients with axillary lymph node involvement, preoperative alcohol consumption was associated with lower risk for early events (adjusted HR 0.43 0.24-0.77; P
interaction = 0.01).

Conclusion
Pre- and postoperative alcohol consumption was weakly associated with lower risk for early breast cancer events. The data does not support recommending that all breast cancer patients abstain from low to moderate alcohol consumption.
Insight into the impact of diabetes mellitus on the increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: mini-review
Authors: Ali Kamkar Maisa Mahmoud , Ahmad Rasheed , Alsmadi Osama , Behbehani Kazem 
Published: May 2014

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma is a multifactorial disease which is associated with a background of many causal risk factors. Diabetes mellitus however is one of the most common co-morbid illnesses found in hepatocellular carcinoma patients that are significantly associated with worsening of hepatocellular carcinoma development, patient prognosis and survival. Therefore, efforts have been focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying progression of hepatocellular carcinoma onset and development especially in diabetic patients. To our knowledge, there are no reports which address the impact of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) along with epigenetic regulations associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma confounded by diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this mini-review focuses on the possible intermediary mechanisms involved in worsening the onset and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma development confounded by diabetes mellitus. The first approach is to look at the role of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and IL-6) in apoptosis and inflammation during hepatocarcinogenesis through monitoring levels of apoptotic regulators, B-cell lymphoma 2 protein which is encoded by BCL2 gene and apoptosis regulator BAX known as bcl-2-like protein 4 which is encoded by the BAX gene. The second approach is to focus on the possible epigenomic reprogramming that drives hepatocellular transformation since epigenetic modification of DNA is a key feature in the pathogenesis of hepatocarcinogenesis. Both approaches may suggest role of using Bcl2 and Bax as apoptotic and inflammatory markers for hepatocellular carcinoma detection as well as the importance impact of DNA methylation, hypomethylation or histone modifications as attractive candidates for early-detection biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes mellitus of ayurveda Hospital
Authors: Dixit Amit Kumar , Dey Ranjit , Suresh Aela , Chaudhuri Siddhartha , Panda Ashok Kumar , Mitra Achintya , Hazra Jayram 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundDyslipidemia is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus. Early detection and treatment of dyslipidemia in type-2 diabetes mellitus can prevent risk for atherogenic cardiovascular disorder. The rationale of this study was to detect the lipid abnormality in diabetic patients.MethodsNecessary data was collected from the medical archives of 150 patients (73 female and 77 male) with diabetes mellitus registered in Department of pathology and biochemistry of a Ayurveda hospital established at Kolkata, India.ResultsThe mean ages of female and male subjects were 51.8 ± 10.8 and 53.2 ± 11.3 years respectively. The range and mean value of FBS in females were 113–342 mg/dl and 157.7 ± 6.3 mg/dl, while the range and mean value of PPBS in females were 135–560 mg/dl and 275.5 ± 12.3 mg/dl respectively. Results showed that range and mean value of FBS in males were 111–462 mg/dl and 160.8 ± 7.4 mg/dl, while the range and mean value of PPBS in males were 136–598 mg/dl and 302.1 ± 12.6 mg/dl respectively. Results of serum lipids showed that the mean values for total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in female patients were 202.2 ± 5.9 mg/dl, 168.3 ± 8.2 mg/dl, 44.9 ± 1.3 mg/dl, 123.6 ± 5.2 mg/dl and 33.7 ± 1.7 mg/dl respectively. The mean values for TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C in male patients were 182.5 ± 4.8 mg/dl, 128.1 ± 10.8 mg/dl, 40.8 ± 1.2 mg/dl, 105.4 ± 4.8 mg/dl and 36.2 ± 2.2 respectively. FBS showed significant positive correlation with PPBS, cholesterol, TG, and VLDL-C. PPBS also demonstrated direct and significant correlations with TG and VLDL-C.ConclusionsThe study showed common lipid abnormalities during diabetes induced dyslipidemia i.e., hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and elevated LDL-C. This study suggests the dominance of hyperlipidemia over increased prevalence of dyslipidemia.
Type 1 regulatory T cells specific for collagen type II as an efficient cell-based therapy in arthritis
Authors: Asnagli Hélène , Martire Delphine , Belmonte Nathalie , Quentin Julie , Bastian Hervé , Boucard-Jourdin Mathilde , Fall Papa Babacar , Mausset-Bonnefont Anne-Laure , Mantello-Moreau Amélie , Rouquier Sandrine , Marchetti Irène , Jorgensen Christian , Foussat Arnaud , Louis-Plence Pascale 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a crucial role in preventing autoimmune diseases and are an ideal target for the development of therapies designed to suppress inflammation in an antigen-specific manner. Type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells are defined by their capacity to produce high levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10), which contributes to their ability to suppress pathological immune responses in several settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of collagen type II–specific Tr1 (Col-Treg) cells in two models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in mice.

Methods
Col-Treg clones were isolated and expanded from collagen-specific TCR transgenic mice. Their cytokine secretion profile and phenotype characterization were studied. The therapeutic potential of Col-Treg cells was evaluated after adoptive transfer in collagen-antibody– and collagen-induced arthritis models. The in vivo suppressive mechanism of Col-Treg clones on effector T-cell proliferation was also investigated.

Results
Col-Treg clones are characterized by their specific cytokine profile (IL-10highIL-4negIFN-γint) and mediate contact-independent immune suppression. They also share with natural Tregs high expression of GITR, CD39 and granzyme B. A single infusion of Col-Treg cells reduced the incidence and clinical symptoms of arthritis in both preventive and curative settings, with a significant impact on collagen type II antibodies. Importantly, injection of antigen-specific Tr1 cells decreased the proliferation of antigen-specific effector T cells in vivo significantly.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Col-Treg cells in two models of RA, providing evidence that Col-Treg could be an efficient cell-based therapy for RA patients whose disease is refractory to current treatments.
Effect of short-term water deficit stress on antioxidative systems in cucumber seedling roots
Authors: Fan Huai-Fu , Ding Ling , Du Chang-Xia , Wu Xue 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Cucumber is one of the most popular vegetables, and have little tolerance for water stress. The antioxidant defense system is one of major drought defense and adaptive mechanisms in plants, however, relatively few data are available regarding antioxidant systems in responses of cucumber to water deficit. The effect of short-term drought stress on the antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation and water content in cucumber seedlings roots was investigated.

Results
The results showed that polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced water stress markedly decreased water content of cucumber seedling roots after treatment of 36 h, and caused excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide (O2
.−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Meanwhile, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased. Antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidases (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities increased in different time and different extent under water stress, while ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) activities all decreased when compared to control.

Conclusions
Therefore, it can be concluded that water stress strongly disrupted the normal metabolism of roots and restrained water absorption, and seemingly enzymatic system played more important roles in protecting cucumber seedling roots against oxidative damage than non-enzymatic system in short-term water deficit stress.
Parent–child interaction and oxytocin production in pre-schoolers with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Feldman Ruth , Golan Ofer , Hirschler-Guttenberg Yael , Ostfeld-Etzion Sharon , Zagoory-Sharon Orna 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with genetic risk on the oxytocin system, suggesting oxytocin involvement in ASD; yet oxytocin functioning in young children with ASD is unknown.AimsTo assess baseline oxytocin in pre-schoolers with ASD and test whether oxytocin production may be enhanced by parent–child contact.MethodForty pre-schoolers with high-functioning ASD were matched with 40 typically developing controls. Two home visits included an identical 45-minute social battery once with the mother and once with the father. Four saliva oxytocin samples were collected from each parent and the child during each visit.ResultsChildren with ASD had lower baseline oxytocin. Following 20 min of parent–child interactions, oxytocin normalised and remained high during social contact. Fifteen minutes after contact, oxytocin fell to baseline. Oxytocin correlated with parent–child social synchrony in both groups.ConclusionsOxytocin dysfunction in ASD is observed in early childhood. The quick improvement in oxytocin production following parent–child contact underscores the malleability of the system and charts future directions for attachment-based behavioural and pharmacological interventions.