bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel Simple Approach for Detection of Regional Perturbations of Cardiac Function in Mouse Models of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Shao Yangzhen , Redfors Bjorn , Tang Margareta Scharin , Assarsson Ulf , Omerovic Elmir 
Published: January 2013

AimsTransthoracic murine echocardiography is a cornerstone of small animal research, but conventional methods cannot detect regional perturbations in cardiac function. Reliable assessment of regional cardiac function would be of value in transgenic models of myocardial disease. Until now automatized algorithms for achieving this suffers from a number of drawbacks. We developed a simple algorithm for rapidly assessing the relative myocardial radial thickening that occurs between end‐diastole and end‐systole, that is, regional radial transmural end‐systolic strain (RTESS).Methods and ResultsEchocardiographic assessment was performed in mice at baseline (n = 8), 2 hours postintraperitoneal isoprenaline (ISO) injection (n = 8), and 10 days postmyocardial infarction (post‐MI) (n = 6). A >1000 frames/sec cine loop was acquired by the ECG‐gated Kilohertz visualization technique in the parasternal short‐axis projection at 3 mm below the mitral annulus. Endo‐ and epicardial borders were traced at end‐diastole and end‐systole and RTESS was calculated for each of n segments by the algorithm. The intra‐ and inter‐observer coefficients of variation for segmental RTESS assessment were 5.11 and 7.32, respectively. At baseline, average segmental RTESS was 56.75% and RTESS was similar in all cardiac segments regardless of how many segments the heart was divided into. In the akinetic myocardium of MI and ISO mice, 47.36% and 26.22% length of the endocardium, respectively, RTESS was near zero and significantly different from the remaining myocardium.ConclusionWe describe a simple and straightforward approach to quantify regional myocardial deformation in mouse models of cardiovascular disease.
Testing manual dexterity using a virtual reality simulator: reliability and validity
Authors: Ben‐Gal G. , Weiss E. I. , Gafni N. , Ziv A. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractVirtual reality dental training simulators, unlike traditional human‐based assessment, have the potential to enable consistent and reliable assessment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a haptic simulator (IDEA Dental®) could provide a reliable and valid assessment of manual dexterity. A total of 106 participants were divided into three groups differing in dental manual dexterity experience: (i) 63 dental students, (ii) 28 dentists, (iii) 14 non‐dentists. The groups, which were expected to display various performance levels, were required to perform virtual drilling tasks in different geometric shapes. The following task parameters were registered: (i) Time to completion (ii) accuracy (iii) number of trials to successful completion and (iv) score provided by the simulator. The reliability of the tasks was calculated for each parameter. The simulator and its scoring algorithm showed high reliability in all the parameters measured. The simulator was able to differentiate between non‐professionals and dental students or non‐professionals and dentists. Our study suggests that for improved construct validity, shorter working times and more difficult tasks should be introduced. The device should also be designed to provide greater sensitivity in measuring the accuracy of the task.
Clinical, biochemical, and molecular studies in pyridoxine‐dependent epilepsy. Antisense therapy as possible new therapeutic option
Authors: Pérez Belén , Gutiérrez‐Solana Luis González , Verdú Alfonso , Merinero Begoña , Yuste‐Checa Patricia , Ruiz‐Sala Pedro , Calvo Rocio , Jalan Anil , Marín Laura López , Campos Oscar , Ruiz Maria Ángeles , Miguel Marta San , Vázquez Maria , Castro Margarita , Ferrer Isaac , Navarrete Rosa , Desviat Lourdes Ruiz , Lapunzina Pablo , Ugarte Magdalena , Pérez‐Cerdá Celia 
Published: January 2013

SummaryPurposePyridoxine‐dependent epilepsy seizure (PDE;OMIM266100) is a disorder associated with severe seizures that can be controlled pharmacologically with pyridoxine. In the majority of patients withPDE, the disorder is caused by the deficient activity of the enzyme α‐aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (antiquitin protein), which is encoded by theALDH7A1gene. The aim of this work was the clinical, biochemical, and genetic analysis of 12 unrelated patients, mostly fromSpain, in an attempt to provide further valuable data regarding the wide clinical, biochemical, and genetic spectrum of the disease.MethodsThe disease was confirmed based on the presence of α‐aminoadipic semialdehyde (α‐AASA) in urine measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) and pipecolic acid (PA) in plasma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/MS/MSand by sequencing analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) and genomicDNAofALDH7A1.Key FindingsMost of the patients had seizures in the neonatal period, but they responded to vitaminB6 administration. Three patients developed late‐onset seizures, and most patients showed mild‐to‐moderate postnatal developmental delay. All patients had elevatedPAand α‐AASAlevels, even those who had undergone pyridoxine treatment for several years. The clinical spectrum of our patients is not limited to seizures but many of them show associated neurologic dysfunctions such as muscle tone alterations, irritability, and psychomotor retardation. The mutational spectrum of the present patients included 12 mutations, five already reported (c.500A>G, c.919C>T, c.1429G>Cc.1217_1218delAT, and c.1482‐1G>T) and seven novel sequence changes (c.75C>T, c.319G>T, c.554_555delAA, c.757C>T, c.787 + 1G>T, c.1474T>C, c.1093‐?_1620+?). Only one mutation, p.G477R(c.1429G>C), was recurrent; this was detected in four different alleles. Transcriptional profile analysis of one patient's lymphoblasts and ex vivo splicing analysis showed the silent nucleotide change c.75C>Tto be a novel splicing mutation creating a new donor splice site inside exon 1. Antisense therapy of the aberrantmRNAsplicing in a lymphoblast cell line harboring mutation c.75C>Twas successful.SignificanceThe present results broaden our knowledge ofPDE, provide information regarding the genetic background ofPDEinSpain, afford data of use when making molecular‐based prenatal diagnosis, and provide a cellular proof‐of concept for antisense therapy application.
The isomerase and hydratase reaction mechanism of the crotonase active site of the multifunctional enzyme (type‐1), as deduced from structures of complexes with 3S‐hydroxy‐acyl‐CoA
Authors: Kasaragod Prasad , Schmitz Werner , Hiltunen Jukka K. , Wierenga Rik K. 
Published: January 2013

The multifunctional enzyme, type‐1 (MFE1) is involved in several lipid metabolizing pathways. It catalyses: (a) enoyl‐CoA isomerase and (b) enoyl‐CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17) reactions in its N‐terminal crotonase part, as well as (3) a 3S‐hydroxy‐acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (HAD; EC 1.1.1.35) reaction in its C‐terminal 3S‐hydroxy‐acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase part. Crystallographic binding studies with rat peroxisomal MFE1, using unbranched and branched 2E‐enoyl‐CoA substrate molecules, show that the substrate has been hydrated by the enzyme in the crystal and that the product, 3S‐hydroxy‐acyl‐CoA, remains bound in the crotonase active site. The fatty acid tail points into an exit tunnel shaped by loop‐2. The thioester oxygen is bound in the classical oxyanion hole of the crotonase fold, stabilizing the enolate reaction intermediate. The structural data of these enzyme product complexes suggest that the catalytic base, Glu123, initiates the isomerase reaction by abstracting the C2‐proton from the substrate molecule. Subsequently, in the hydratase reaction, Glu123 completes the catalytic cycle by reprotonating the C2 atom. A catalytic water, bound between the OE1‐atoms of the two catalytic glutamates, Glu103 and Glu123, plays an important role in the enoyl‐CoA isomerase and the enoyl‐CoA hydratase reaction mechanism of MFE1. The structural variability of loop‐2 between MFE1 and its monofunctional homologues correlates with differences in the respective substrate preferences and catalytic rates.DatabaseThe structures have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession numbers: 3ZW8 (MFE1 apo), 3ZW9 (MFE1 2S‐methyl‐3S‐hydroxy‐butanoyl‐CoA complex), 3ZWA (MFE1 3S‐hydroxy‐hexanoyl‐CoA complex), 3ZWB (MFE1‐E123A 2E‐hexenoyl‐CoA complex) and 3ZWC (MFE1 3S‐hydroxy‐decanoyl‐CoA complex).Structured digital abstractMFE1 and MFE1 bind by x-ray crystallography (View interaction)
Drought characteristics' role in widespread aspen forest mortality across Colorado, USA
Authors: Anderegg Leander D. L. , Anderegg William R. L. , Abatzoglou John , Hausladen Alexandra M. , Berry Joseph A. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractGlobally documented widespread drought‐induced forest mortality has important ramifications for plant community structure, ecosystem function, and the ecosystem services provided by forests. Yet the characteristics of drought seasonality, severity, and duration that trigger mortality events have received little attention despite evidence of changing precipitation regimes, shifting snow melt timing, and increasing temperature stress. This study draws upon stand level ecohydrology and statewide climate and spatial analysis to examine the drought characteristics implicated in the recent widespread mortality of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). We used isotopic observations of aspen xylem sap to determine water source use during natural and experimental drought in a region that experienced high tree mortality. We then drew upon multiple sources of climate data to characterize the drought that triggered aspen mortality. Finally, regression analysis was used to examine the drought characteristics most associated with the spatial patterns of aspen mortality across Colorado. Isotopic analysis indicated that aspens generally utilize shallow soil moisture with little plasticity during drought stress. Climate analysis showed that the mortality‐inciting drought was unprecedented in the observational record, especially in 2002 growing season temperature and evaporative deficit, resulting in record low shallow soil moisture reserves. High 2002 summer temperature and low shallow soil moisture were most associated with the spatial patterns of aspen mortality. These results suggest that the 2002 drought subjected Colorado aspens to the most extreme growing season water stress of the past century by creating high atmospheric moisture demand and depleting the shallow soil moisture upon which aspens rely. Our findings highlight the important role of drought characteristics in mediating widespread aspen forest mortality, link this aspen die‐off to regional climate change trends, and provide insight into future climate vulnerability of these forests.
Tidal marsh plant responses to elevated CO2, nitrogen fertilization, and sea level rise
Authors: Adam Langley J. , Mozdzer Thomas J. , Shepard Katherine A. , Hagerty Shannon B. , Patrick Megonigal J. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractElevated CO2 and nitrogen (N) addition directly affect plant productivity and the mechanisms that allow tidal marshes to maintain a constant elevation relative to sea level, but it remains unknown how these global change drivers modify marsh plant response to sea level rise. Here we manipulated factorial combinations of CO2 concentration (two levels), N availability (two levels) and relative sea level (six levels) using in situ mesocosms containing a tidal marsh community composed of a sedge, Schoenoplectus americanus, and a grass, Spartina patens. Our objective is to determine, if elevated CO2 and N alter the growth and persistence of these plants in coastal ecosystems facing rising sea levels. After two growing seasons, we found that N addition enhanced plant growth particularly at sea levels where plants were most stressed by flooding (114% stimulation in the + 10 cm treatment), and N effects were generally larger in combination with elevated CO2 (288% stimulation). N fertilization shifted the optimal productivity of S. patens to a higher sea level, but did not confer S. patens an enhanced ability to tolerate sea level rise. S. americanus responded strongly to N only in the higher sea level treatments that excluded S. patens. Interestingly, addition of N, which has been suggested to accelerate marsh loss, may afford some marsh plants, such as the widespread sedge, S. americanus, the enhanced ability to tolerate inundation. However, if chronic N pollution reduces the availability of propagules of S. americanus or other flood‐tolerant species on the landscape scale, this shift in species dominance could render tidal marshes more susceptible to marsh collapse.
Minimum resection margin should be based on tumor size in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatoviral infection patients
Authors: Sasaki Kazunari , Matsuda Masamichi , Ohkura Yu , Kawamura Yusuke , Hashimoto Masaji , Ikeda Kenji , Kumada Hiromitsu , Watanabe Goro 
Published: January 2013

AimIn patients with hepatoviral infection, although a wide resection margin can eradicate the microsatellite lesions around hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a large‐volume hepatectomy may diminish remaining liver function and become an obstacle for treating recurrent HCC. The optimal width of the resection margin for these patients is still controversial. This study was conducted to investigate the optimal resection margin in hepatectomy for hepatoviral infection patients.MethodsWe retrospectively investigated the influences of the resection margin status on recurrence patterns and long‐term prognosis in a group of 311 HCC patients with hepatoviral infection who had a solitary HCC without perioperative anti‐HCC treatment.ResultsThe resection margin status did not statistically influence the postoperative recurrence‐free and overall survival rates (3‐year recurrence‐free survival of 61.0% vs 55.1%, P = 0.33; 5‐year overall survival of 74.9% vs 81.5%, P = 0.77 in without a margin vs with a margin, respectively), although resection without a margin increased the local recurrence with marginal significance (P = 0.055). Regarding the width of the resection margin, in 30‐mm or smaller HCC, resection margin did not significantly improve the prognosis among hepatoviral infection patients. However, for tumors larger than 30 mm, a resection margin wider than 3 mm showed significant impacts on the prevention of recurrence in spite of the influence of multicentric carcinogenesis.ConclusionThe resection margin used for eradication of microsatellite lesions showed differences that were dependent on tumor size in hepatoviral infection patients. Resection margin should be based on not only background liver function but also tumor characteristics.
Quality of life of patients with vitiligo attending the Regional Dermatology Training Center in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Kiprono Samson , Chaula Baraka , Makwaya Cyprian , Naafs Bernard , Masenga John 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground  Vitiligo is an acquired, predominantly asymptomatic, depigmenting disorder with profound psychological effects.Methods  This was a cross‐sectional study conducted at the Regional Dermatology Training Center in Moshi, Tanzania. All 88 patients with vitiligo older than 15 years of age who attended the skin clinic from October 2009 to April 2010 were recruited. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (DLQI), and Vitiligo European Task Force form.Results  Vitiligo moderately affects patient’s quality of life, as indicated by a DLQI mean score of 7.2 ± 4.8. The mean age was 41 years with a male/female ratio of 1:1.7. The mean age of disease onset was 33.5 years (range 16–83 years); vitiligo vulgaris was the most common disease form seen (n = 49). None of the factors considered were found to be significantly associated with impaired quality of life on multivariate analysis. The majority of patients (73.8%) perceived that their disease was moderate to severe in contrast to the clinical grading in which only 49.2% patients were classified as having mild disease. This difference in classification of disease severity was statistically significant (Fishers exact test = 0.001).Conclusion  Patients with vitiligo of African descent have a moderate impairment of quality of life.
Long‐term outcome of small, organ‐confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not always favourable
Authors: Shindo Tetsuya , Masumori Naoya , Kobayashi Ko , Fukuta Fumimasa , Hirobe Megumi , Tonooka Akiko , Hasegawa Tadashi , Kitamura Hiroshi , Tsukamoto Taiji 
Published: January 2013

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Small, organ‐confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC) generally has favourable pathological characteristics and a good prognosis. However, late recurrence is a known characteristic of the biological behaviour of RCC and no consensus has been established for surveillance protocols from 5 years after radical or partial nephrectomy.
In the present study with long‐term follow‐up of patients with small RCCs, 18 of 172 patients (10.5%) with pT1a RCC developed recurrence and eight of these (4.7%) died from cancer. Patients with microvascular invasion had a higher risk for cancer death than those without (P < 0.001, Log‐rank test). Therefore long‐term follow‐up is required after surgery, particularly when the disease has microvascular invasion.
Objectives
To identify the long‐term clinical course of small, organ‐confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
To detect the risk factors of recurrence and of cancer death in small RCC.
Patients and Methods
Retrospectively reviewed 172 patients who were pathologically diagnosed as having pT1a RCC without metastasis at our institution from 1980 to 2005.
All pathology slides were re‐reviewed by a single experienced pathologist.
Associations of microvascular invasion (MVI), development of metastasis, and cancer death were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards analysis.
Results
During a median (range) follow‐up of 104.5 (8–308) months, 18 patients (10.5%) developed progression and eight patients (4.7%) died from cancer.
Kaplan–Meier curves showed higher cancer‐specific survival (CSS) in patients without MVI (P < 0.001).
In multivariate analysis, MVI was the only factor that reached statistical significance (P = 0.006).
The 10‐year CSS rates were 85.1% and 96.5% in patients with and without MVI, respectively.
Conclusions
Patients with MVI have worse survival than those without MVI.
This suggests that long‐term follow‐up of patients with small RCCs is needed because of the risk of recurrence and cancer death even 10 years after surgery, particularly when the disease has apparent MVI.
Occupational stereotypes: activation of male bias in a gender‐neutral world
Authors: Lassonde Karla A. , O'Brien Edward J. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe goal of the present study was to determine whether gender‐neutral language, used to replace male‐biased language, carries an implicit male bias. Participants read passages in which a target occupation was introduced using either male‐biased or gender‐neutral nouns. A target sentence followed defining the gender of the occupational character. In Experiment 1, participants read target sentences defining the character as a woman more slowly following passages that contained male‐biased nouns and gender‐neutral nouns. In Experiment 2, an additional sentence was added that defined the occupational character as a woman. This information eliminated the reading disruption in Experiment 1 demonstrating that gender‐neutral language can moderate against activation of gender stereotypes when combined with an explicit mention that the occupational character is female.
Fire regimes of Australia: a pyrogeographic model system
Authors: Murphy Brett P. , Bradstock Ross A. , Boer Matthias M. , Carter John , Cary Geoffrey J. , Cochrane Mark A. , Fensham Roderick J. , Russell‐Smith Jeremy , Williamson Grant J. , Bowman David M. J. S. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractAimComparative analyses of fire regimes at large geographical scales can potentially identify ecological and climatic controls of fire. Here we describe Australia's broad fire regimes, and explore interrelationships and trade‐offs between fire regime components. We postulate that fire regime patterns will be governed by trade‐offs between moisture, productivity, fire frequency and fire intensity.LocationAustralia.MethodsWe reclassified a vegetation map of Australia, defining classes based on typical fuel and fire types. Classes were intersected with a climate classification to derive a map of ‘fire regime niches’. Using expert elicitation and a literature search, we validated each niche and characterized typical and extreme fire intensities and return intervals. Satellite‐derived active fire detections were used to determine seasonal patterns of fire activity.ResultsFire regime characteristics are closely related to the latitudinal gradient in summer monsoon activity. Frequent low‐intensity fires occur in the monsoonal north, and infrequent, high‐intensity fires in the temperate south, demonstrating a trade‐off between frequency and intensity: that is, very high‐intensity fires are only associated with very low‐frequency fire regimes in the high biomass eucalypt forests of southern Australia. While these forests occasionally experience extremely intense fires (> 50,000 kW m−1), such regimes are exceptional, with most of the continent dominated by grass fuels, typically burning with lower intensity (< 5000 kW m−1).Main conclusionsAustralia's fire regimes exhibit a coherent pattern of frequent, grass‐fuelled fires in many differing vegetation types. While eucalypts are a quintessential Australian entity, their contribution as a dominant driver of high‐intensity fire regimes, via their litter and bark fuels, is restricted to the forests of the continent's southern and eastern extremities. Our analysis suggests that the foremost driver of fire regimes at the continental scale is not productivity, as postulated conceptually, but the latitudinal gradient in summer monsoon rainfall activity.