bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corticosterone primes the neuroinflammatory response to DFP in mice: potential animal model of Gulf War Illness
Authors: O'Callaghan James P. , Kelly Kimberly A. , Locker Alicia R. , Miller Diane B. , Lasley Steve M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractGulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi‐symptom disorder with features characteristic of persistent sickness behavior. Among conditions encountered in the Gulf War (GW) theater were physiological stressors (e.g., heat/cold/physical activity/sleep deprivation), prophylactic treatment with the reversible AChE inhibitor, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), the insect repellent, N,N‐diethyl‐meta‐toluamide (DEET), and potentially the nerve agent, sarin. Prior exposure to the anti‐inflammatory glucocorticoid, corticosterone (CORT), at levels associated with high physiological stress, can paradoxically prime the CNS to produce a robust proinflammatory response to neurotoxicants and systemic inflammation; such neuroinflammatory effects can be associated with sickness behavior. Here, we examined whether CORT primed the CNS to mount neuroinflammatory responses to GW exposures as a potential model of GWI. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with chronic (14 days) PB/ DEET, subchronic (7–14 days) CORT, and acute exposure (day 15) to diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), a sarin surrogate and irreversible AChE inhibitor. DFP alone caused marked brain‐wide neuroinflammation assessed by qPCR of tumor necrosis factor‐α, IL6, chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2, IL‐1β, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M. Pre‐treatment with high physiological levels of CORT greatly augmented (up to 300‐fold) the neuroinflammatory responses to DFP. Anti‐inflammatory pre‐treatment with minocycline suppressed many proinflammatory responses to CORT+DFP. Our findings are suggestive of a possible critical, yet unrecognized interaction between the stressor/environment of the GW theater and agent exposure(s) unique to this war. Such exposures may in fact prime the CNS to amplify future neuroinflammatory responses to pathogens, injury, or toxicity. Such occurrences could potentially result in the prolonged episodes of sickness behavior observed in GWI.image
Gulf War (GW) veterans were exposed to stressors, prophylactic medicines and, potentially, nerve agents in theater. Subsequent development of GW Illness, a persistent multi‐symptom disorder with features characteristic of sickness behavior, may be caused by priming of the CNS resulting in exaggerated neuroinflammatory responses to pathogens/insults. Nerve agent, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), produced a neuroinflammatory response that was exacerbated by pre‐treatment with levels of corticosterone simulating heightened stressor conditions. While prophylactic treatments reduced DFP‐induced neuroinflammation, this effect was negated when those treatments were combined with corticosterone.
Treatment Outcome with Delayed Maxillary Obturator Prosthesis: Case Series of Four Patients
Authors: Kar Sushil , Tripathi Arvind 
Published: March 2015

AbstractA series of four patients is presented to indicate the possibility of success with delayed prosthodontic rehabilitation of acquired maxillary defects. Four patients with a history of hemi‐maxillectomy in the past 3 to 5 years were rehabilitated with definitive obturator prostheses. All had partial maxillectomy on the right side. Because of delayed referral to the prosthodontic facility, immediate surgical and interim obturation was not planned. Definitive obturator prostheses were fabricated following the necessary steps and delivered to the patients. Prosthesis function was subsequently reassessed in these patients every fortnight for the first 3 months then once every quarter for the next 3 years, followed by once a year. Individual patient responses were evaluated at regular intervals. Components of prosthesis function assessed were esthetics, speech, mastication, and salivary control, all of which were restored to satisfactory levels by the definitive obturators. Thus, optimal restoration of esthetics and function is achievable despite a time lag in prosthodontic therapy after surgery.
Melatonin attenuates methamphetamine‐induced inhibition of proliferation of adult rat hippocampal progenitor cells in vitro
Authors: Ekthuwapranee Kasima , Sotthibundhu Areechun , Govitrapong Piyarat 
Published: March 2015

AbstractMethamphetamine (METH) is an extremely addictive stimulatory drug. A recent study suggested that METH may cause an impairment in the proliferation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells, but the underlying mechanism of this effect remains unknown. Blood and cerebrospinal levels of melatonin derive primarily from the pineal gland, and that performs many biological functions. Our previous study demonstrated that melatonin promotes the proliferation of progenitor cells originating from the hippocampus. In this study, hippocampal progenitor cells from adult Wistar rats were used to determine the effects of METH on cell proliferation and the mechanisms underlying these effects. We investigated the effects of melatonin on the METH‐induced alteration in cell proliferation. The results demonstrated that 500 μm METH induced a decrease (63.0%) in neurosphere cell proliferation and altered the expression of neuronal phenotype markers in the neurosphere cell population. Moreover, METH induced an increase in the protein expression of the tumor suppressor p53 (124.4%) and the cell cycle inhibitor p21CIP1 (p21) (128.1%), resulting in the accumulation of p21 in the nucleus. We also found that METH altered the expression of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits NR2A (79.6%) and NR2B (126.7%) and Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII) (74.0%). In addition, pretreatment with 1 μm melatonin attenuated the effects induced by METH treatment. According to these results, we concluded that METH induces a reduction in cell proliferation by upregulating the cell cycle regulators p53/p21 and promoting the accumulation of p21 in the nucleus and that melatonin ameliorates these negative effects of METH.
Serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels are associated with severe chronic periodontitis
Authors: Caúla A. L. , Lira‐Junior R. , Tinoco E. M. B. , Fischer R. G. 
Published: March 2015

Background and objectivePeriodontitis may alter systemic homeostasis and influence creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between severe chronic periodontitis and serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels.Material and MethodsOne hundred patients were evaluated, 66 with severe chronic periodontitis (test group) and 34 periodontally healthy controls (control group). Medical, demographic and periodontal parameters were registered. Blood sample was collected after an overnight fast and serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels were determined.ResultsThere were significant differences between test and control groups in ethnicity, gender and educational level (p < 0.05). Patients with periodontitis showed a lower mean creatinine level (p < 0.05) and higher mean alkaline phosphatase level (p < 0.001) than the control group. There were significant correlations between periodontal parameters and serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels.ConclusionSevere chronic periodontitis was associated to lower creatinine and higher alkaline phosphatase levels.
Pretreatment platelet count early predicts extrahepatic metastasis of human hepatoma
Authors: Lee Chern‐Horng , Lin Yu‐Jr , Lin Chen‐Chun , Yen Cho‐Li , Shen Chien‐Heng , Chang Chee‐Jen , Hsieh Sen‐Yung 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsThrombocytosis is associated with metastasis in many human cancers. Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) develop in cirrhotic livers, which are characterized by thrombocytopenia. We aimed to elucidate the pretreatment platelet count in prediction of extrahepatic metastasis of HCC during the follow‐up.MethodsThree cohorts containing 1660, 480 and 965 HCC patients enrolled from three hospitals were used for discovery and validation respectively. Pretreatment clinical factors associated with extrahepatic metastasis during follow‐up up to 5 years were identified using multivariate Cox regression model.ResultsIn early‐stage HCC (BCLC stage 0‐A), pretreatment platelet count (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04 per 10,000/μl; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07; P = 0.010) and serum alpha‐foetoprotein (AFP) >100 ng/ml (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.04–2.78; P = 0.033) were the only two independent factors associated with extrahepatic metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic evidenced that pretreatment platelet count predicted metastasis better than AFP did. Survival tree analysis identified platelet counts <118,000/μl (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.38–0.63; P < 0.001) or >212,000/μl (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.67–2.70; P < 0.001) to categorize patients into low and high risk of metastasis subgroups, which were verified using both validation cohorts.ConclusionsPretreatment platelet count is a reliable marker to predict extrahepatic metastasis of early‐stage HCC following curative treatment. Cirrhotic thrombocytopenia contributes to relatively low metastasis incidence of HCC than many other cancers. High platelet count identifies a subgroup of HCC patients at high risk of metastasis, who might benefit from adjuvant therapies following initial curative treatment.
Achievement of developmental milestones in young adults after liver transplantation in childhood
Authors: Lind Robert C. , Sze Yuk‐Kueng , de Vries Willemien , Hulscher Jan B. F. , Sieders Egbert , Scheenstra Rene , Peeters Paul M. J. G. , Porte Robert J. , Hoekstra‐Weebers Josette E. H. M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractLittle is known about the achievement of developmental milestones (i.e., COL) after pediatric liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to examine the COL of young adults who underwent a liver transplantation during childhood and to compare it to healthy peers. Furthermore, we studied factors possibly related to their COL. COL was assessed using the CLQ, which assesses the achievement of developmental milestones (autonomy, psychosexual, social, and antisocial development) and risk behavior (substance abuse and gambling). Sociodemographic characteristics and clinical data were collected using the prospective institutional liver transplantation database. A total of 39 young adults who underwent a liver transplantation at the UMCG in their childhood completed the CLQ. They achieved fewer milestones with regard to autonomy, psychosexual, and social development compared to healthy peers, and they reported less risk behavior. Neither age at the time of study nor age at the time of transplantation was significantly correlated with any of the COL subscales. Young adults show delay in reaching developmental milestones in every dimension after a liver transplantation during their childhood.
Sociology of Debt: States, Credit Markets, and Indebted Citizens
Authors: Kus Basak 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWithin the context of the recent financial crisis, the causes and implications of mounting levels of household indebtedness have begun to be examined from a variety of angles: Why have nations differed so drastically, historically speaking, in terms of the level of debt that their citizens carry? Why have patterns converged over the past few decades, with levels of indebtedness increasing across the board? This paper considers these questions from a sociological perspective. I first consider the role of political, institutional, economic, and cultural factors, as well as individual characteristics, in shaping the demand for and supply of credit and the degree and nature of household indebtedness in and across nations. I then attempt to explain the cross‐national convergence towards rising indebtedness over the past few decades by situating the transformation of these various demand and supply side factors under the neoliberal regime.
Exploring Cosmopolitanity and Connectivity in The Polycentric German Urban System
Authors: Growe Anna , Volgmann Kati 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis paper investigates the theoretical concept that a city is always influenced by the relations it has to its hinterland and to other cities. Taylor and colleagues point out that city‐city relations and city‐hinterland relations can be understood as two sides of a coin. Using this conception the polycentric structure and dynamics of the German urban system can be described through: (i) metropolitan functions representing city‐hinterland relations (cosmopolitanity) and (ii) a network of cities representing city‐city relations (connectivity). Measuring separately the degrees of cosmopolitanity and connectivity, we look at whether the German urban system after reunification has grown together, becoming one balanced urban system, and what role Berlin – as the new capital in the overall system – now has. The results of the two perspectives are compared and analysed.
Marr's Attacks: On Reductionism and Vagueness
Authors: Eliasmith Chris , Kolbeck Carter 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIt has been suggested that Marr took the three levels he famously identifies to be independent. In this paper, we argue that Marr's view is more nuanced. Specifically, we show that the view explicitly articulated in his work attempts to integrate the levels, and in doing so results in Marr attacking both reductionism and vagueness. The result is a perspective in which both high‐level information‐processing constraints and low‐level implementational constraints play mutually reinforcing and constraining roles. We discuss our recent work on Spaun—currently the world's largest functional brain model—that demonstrates the positive impact of this kind of unifying integration of Marr's levels. We argue that this kind of integration avoids his concerns with both reductionism and vagueness. In short, we suggest that the methods behind Spaun can be used to satisfy Marr's explicit interest in combining high‐level functional and detailed mechanistic explanations.
Myocardial insult and arrhythmias after acute hemorrhage in horses
Authors: Navas de Solis Cristobal , Dallap Schaer Barbara L. , Boston Ray , Slack JoAnn 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe objectives of this investigation were to: (1) Determine if acute hemorrhage is associated with increased plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration or cardiac arrhythmias, (2) to describe the types of arrhythmias and their clinical course in horses following acute hemorrhage, (3) to determine the ability of clinical or clinicopathological variables to predict an increase in cTnI concentration and the presence of arrhythmias, and (4) to determine the associations of cTnI and cardiac arrhythmias with outcome.DesignProspective observational study.SettingLarge animal veterinary teaching hospital.AnimalsEleven client‐owned adult horses admitted for treatment of acute hemorrhage (HG) and 4 adult horses undergoing controlled blood collection (BDG).MethodsSerial cTnI concentrations were measured and continuous ECGs were obtained from the HG and BDG groups. Statistical tests were used to determine associations among acute hemorrhage and plasma cTnI concentrations, the presence of cardiac arrhythmias, clinicopathologic data (heart rate [HR], packed cell volume [PCV], total plasma protein [TPP], plasma lactate, and plasma creatinine concentrations), and outcome.ResultsPlasma cTnI concentration and ECG were within reference intervals at all time points in the BDG. All horses in the HG had increased cTnI (ranging from 0.1–29.9 ng/mL). Arrhythmias were detected in 8 of these horses. There was an association between acute hemorrhage and increased cTnI (P = 0.004, ρ = 0.77), and the presence of arrhythmias (P = 0.026, ρ = 0.64). There were associations among plasma cTnI concentration and the presence of arrhythmias (P = 0.005), arrhythmias requiring treatment (P = 0.036), and poor outcome (P = 0.024).ConclusionsAcute hemorrhage results in myocardial injury that can be detected by measuring cTnI concentration. Arrhythmias were frequent in hospitalized horses following acute hemorrhage.
Impaired increases in skin sympathetic nerve activity contribute to age‐related decrements in reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction
Authors: Greaney Jody L. , Stanhewicz Anna E. , Kenney W. Larry , Alexander Lacy M. 
Published: March 2015

Key points
The reduction in skin blood flow during whole‐body cooling is impaired in healthy older adults. However, the relative contributions of altered skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA), transduction of this efferent neural outflow to the cutaneous vasculature, and peripheral vascular responsiveness to adrenergic stimuli to the impaired reflex vasoconstrictor response to whole‐body cooling in human ageing remain unclear.
We report that the SSNA response to whole‐body cooling is blunted in healthy older adults, and this attenuated sympathetic response is related to a marked impairment in reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction. Further, the reflex SSNA response to a non‐thermoregulatory stimulus was preserved in older adults during cooling.
We additionally show that cutaneous vascular responsiveness to adrenergic stimuli is not reduced in older adults.
These results further our understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying impaired thermal‐cardiovascular integration in healthy ageing.
AbstractReflex cutaneous vasoconstriction is impaired in older adults; however, the relative roles of altered skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA) and end‐organ peripheral vascular responsiveness are unclear. We hypothesized that in older adults whole‐body cooling would elicit a blunted SSNA response and cutaneous adrenergic responsiveness would be reduced. Twelve young adults (Y; 24 ± 1 years) and 12 older adults (O; 57 ± 2 years) participated in two protocols. In Protocol 1, SSNA (peroneal microneurography) and red cell flux in the affected dermatome (laser Doppler flowmetry; dorsum of foot) were measured during whole‐body cooling (mean skin temperature (Tsk) 30.5°C; water‐perfused suit). Mental stress was performed at mean Tsk 34.0°C (thermoneutral) and at 30.5°C. In Protocol 2, an intradermal microdialysis fibre was placed in the skin of the lateral calf for graded infusions of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) (NA; 10−12 to 10−2 m). Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC = flux/mean arterial pressure) was expressed as a change from baseline (ΔCVCbase). Vasoconstriction was attenuated in O. SSNA increased significantly during cooling in Y (+184 ± 37%; P < 0.05) but not O (+51 ± 12%; P > 0.05). Mental stress at Tsk 30.5°C further increased SSNA in both groups. There was no age‐related difference in adrenergic responsiveness to exogenous NA (logEC50: −6.41 ± 0.24 in Y, −6.37 ± 0.25 in O; P > 0.05). While the SSNA response to whole‐body cooling is impaired with ageing, SSNA can be further increased by a non‐thermoregulatory stimulus. Cutaneous adrenergic sensitivity is not reduced in O. These findings suggest that alterations in afferent signalling or central processing likely contribute to blunted SSNA responses to cooling and subsequent impairments in reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction in ageing.
Molecular and Clinical Characteristics of Hospital and Community Onset Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Associated with Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Wang Shu-Hua , Hines Lisa , van Balen Joany , Mediavilla José R. , Pan Xueliang , Hoet Armando E. , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Pancholi Preeti , Stevenson Kurt B. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSI) are classified epidemiologically as health care-associated hospital onset (HAHO)-, health care-associated community onset (HACO)-, or community-associated (CA)-MRSA. Clinical and molecular differences between HAHO- and HACO-MRSA BSI are not well known. Thus, we evaluated clinical and molecular characteristics of MRSA BSI to determine if distinct features are associated with HAHO- or HACO-MRSA strains. Molecular genotyping and medical record reviews were conducted on 282 MRSA BSI isolates from January 2007 to December 2009. MRSA classifications were 38% HAHO-, 54% HACO-, and 8% CA-MRSA. Comparing patients with HAHO-MRSA to those with HACO-MRSA, HAHO-MRSA patients had significantly higher rates of malignancy, surgery, recent invasive devices, and mortality and longer hospital stays. Patients with HACO-MRSA were more likely to have a history of renal failure, hemodialysis, residence in a long-term-care facility, long-term invasive devices, and higher rate of MRSA relapse. Distinct MRSA molecular strain differences also were seen between HAHO-MRSA (60% staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
type II [SCC
mec
II], 30% SCC
mec
III, and 9% SCC
mec
IV) and HACO-MRSA (47% SCC
mec
II, 35% SCC
mec
III, and 16% SCC
mec
IV) (
P
< 0.001). In summary, our study reveals significant clinical and molecular differences between patients with HAHO- and HACO-MRSA BSI. In order to decrease rates of MRSA infection, preventive efforts need to be directed toward patients in the community with health care-associated risk factors in addition to inpatient infection control.
Descending Mediastinitis in Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Authors: Geerts J. W. , van Driel E. M. , Janssen M. J. F. M. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT
Our case report describes a previously healthy 34-year-old male who develops a descending mediastinitis as a complication of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The mediastinitis was suspected to have developed by a breakthrough of a peritonsillar abscess through the space between the alar and prevertebral space.
Simulated Driving Assessment (SDA) for teen drivers: results from a validation study
Authors: McDonald Catherine C , Kandadai Venk , Loeb Helen , Seacrist Thomas S , Lee Yi-Ching , Winston Zachary , Winston Flaura K 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundDriver error and inadequate skill are common critical reasons for novice teen driver crashes, yet few validated, standardised assessments of teen driving skills exist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the construct and criterion validity of a newly developed Simulated Driving Assessment (SDA) for novice teen drivers.MethodsThe SDA’s 35 min simulated drive incorporates 22 variations of the most common teen driver crash configurations. Driving performance was compared for 21 inexperienced teens (age 16–17 years, provisional license ≤90 days) and 17 experienced adults (age 25–50 years, license ≥5 years, drove ≥100 miles per week, no collisions or moving violations ≤3 years). SDA driving performance (Error Score) was based on driving safety measures derived from simulator and eye-tracking data. Negative driving outcomes included simulated collisions or run-off-the-road incidents. A professional driving evaluator/instructor (DEI Score) reviewed videos of SDA performance.ResultsThe SDA demonstrated construct validity: (1) teens had a higher Error Score than adults (30 vs 13, p=0.02); (2) For each additional error committed, the RR of a participant's propensity for a simulated negative driving outcome increased by 8% (95% CI 1.05 to 1.10, p<0.01). The SDA-demonstrated criterion validity: Error Score was correlated with DEI Score (r=−0.66, p<0.001).ConclusionsThis study supports the concept of validated simulated driving tests like the SDA to assess novice driver skill in complex and hazardous driving scenarios. The SDA, as a standard protocol to evaluate teen driver performance, has the potential to facilitate screening and assessment of teen driving readiness and could be used to guide targeted skill training.