bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Yellow nail syndrome presenting with postpartum massive pleural effusion
Authors: Günbatar Hülya , Sertogullarindan Bunyamin , Ekin Selami , Arisoy Ahmet , Özkol Hatice Uce 
Published: November 2013

AbstractYellow nail syndrome (YNS) is an uncommon clinical syndrome characterized by yellow‐green discoloration of nails and recurrent respiratory tract lesions, pleural effusions and lymphedema.A 38‐year‐old woman was referred to the emergency complaining of chronic cough and increasing dyspnea within last 2 weeks. She had given birth 1 month ago. On examination, the patient exhibited dystrophic yellowish nails and mild peripheral lymphedema. A chest roentgenogram revealed a large right pleural effusion and a small left pleural effusion.YNS is a rare clinical entity but should be taken into consideration in patients with massive pleural effusions and persistent lymphedemas on the postpartum period.
Gender differences revealed by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Pesut Dragica , Raskovic Sanvila , Tomic‐Spiric Vesna , Bulajic Milica , Bogic Mirjana , Bursuc Bogdana , Peric‐Popadic Aleksandra 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe increasing prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is reported worldwide. Illness perception (IP) assessment is warranted in current routine clinical practice to assist communication between patients and medical staff, and improve adherence to treatment and disease outcome.ObjectiveTo investigate a group of patients with AR in terms of their IP by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) and to correlate the findings with demographic and clinical features.MethodsIn this observational questionnaire‐based study, a successive series of patients treated for AR at the Allergology and Immunology Teaching Hospital, Clinical Centre of Serbia in Belgrade, were enrolled from September 2010 to January 2011, and 93 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Each item of the BIPQ assessed one dimension of IP like the consequences, timeline, personal control, treatment control, identity, coherence, emotional representation and concern.ResultsThe patients' average age: 35.25 ± 12.42; male/female ratio: 0.79; the overall BIPQ score = 34.69 ± 11.89. The highest item‐related scores were found for treatment control (8.17 ± 2.28), illness understanding (7.34 ± 2.96) and emotional representation (6.30 ± 3.45), and the lowest for identity (4.8 ± 2.78) and affection (4.83 ± 2.65). Women compared with men perceive AR as a significantly more threatening disease (P = 0.04). No significant correlation between the BIPQ total or item‐related scores was found for any other demographic or clinical feature.ConclusionThe BIPQ, which allows rapid assessment of IP and reveals gender differences in AR, is a convenient tool for use in routine clinical practice. Further investigation is needed to demonstrate how IP may influence patients' behavior in AR, treatment adherence and disease outcome.
Parietal blood oxygenation level‐dependent response evoked by covert visual search reflects set‐size effect in monkeys
Authors: Atabaki A. , Marciniak K. , Dicke P. W. , Karnath H.‐O. , Thier P. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractDistinguishing a target from distractors during visual search is crucial for goal‐directed behaviour. The more distractors that are presented with the target, the larger is the subject's error rate. This observation defines the set‐size effect in visual search. Neurons in areas related to attention and eye movements, like the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) and frontal eye field (FEF), diminish their firing rates when the number of distractors increases, in line with the behavioural set‐size effect. Furthermore, human imaging studies that have tried to delineate cortical areas modulating their blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) response with set size have yielded contradictory results. In order to test whether BOLD imaging of the rhesus monkey cortex yields results consistent with the electrophysiological findings and, moreover, to clarify if additional other cortical regions beyond the two hitherto implicated are involved in this process, we studied monkeys while performing a covert visual search task. When varying the number of distractors in the search task, we observed a monotonic increase in error rates when search time was kept constant as was expected if monkeys resorted to a serial search strategy. Visual search consistently evoked robust BOLD activity in the monkey FEF and a region in the intraparietal sulcus in its lateral and middle part, probably involving area LIP. Whereas the BOLD response in the FEF did not depend on set size, the LIP signal increased in parallel with set size. These results demonstrate the virtue of BOLD imaging in monkeys when trying to delineate cortical areas underlying a cognitive process like visual search. However, they also demonstrate the caution needed when inferring neural activity from BOLD activity.
EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and lapatinib ameliorate epidermal blistering in pemphigus vulgaris in a non‐linear, V‐shaped relationship
Authors: Sayar Beyza S. , Rüegg Simon , Schmidt Enno , Sibilia Maria , Siffert Myriam , Suter Maja M. , Galichet Arnaud , Müller Eliane J. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractNovel insights into intra‐cellular signalling involved in pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune blistering disease of skin and mucous membranes, are now revealing new therapeutic approaches such as the chemical inhibition of PV‐associated signals in conjunction with standard immunosuppressive therapy. However, extensive inhibition of signalling molecules that are required for normal tissue function and integrity may hamper this approach. Using a neonatal PV mouse model, we demonstrate that epidermal blistering can be prevented in a dose‐dependent manner by clinically approved EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and lapatinib, but only up to approximately 50% of normal EGFR activity. At lower EGFR activity, blisters again aggravated and were highly exacerbated in mice with a conditional deletion of EGFR. Statistical analysis of the relation between EGFR activity and the extent of skin blistering revealed the best fit with a non‐linear, V‐shaped curve with a median break point at 52% EGFR activity (P = 0.0005). Moreover, lapatinib (a dual EGFR/ErbB2 inhibitor) but not erlotinib significantly reduced blistering in the oral cavity, suggesting that signalling mechanisms differ between PV predilection sites. Our results demonstrate that future clinical trials evaluating EGFR/ErbB2 inhibitors in PV patients must select treatment doses that retain a specific level of signal molecule activity. These findings may also be of relevance for cancer patients treated with EGFR inhibitors, for whom skin lesions due to extensive EGFR inhibition represent a major threat.
Farm‐scale method for producing high‐quality rice grain silage
Authors: Inoue Hidehiko , Tohno Masanori , Matsuo Morinobu , Kojima Yoichiro , Ibuki Toshihiko , Uegaki Ryuichi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe examined three types of ensiling container and two storage periods with respect to the fermentation quality of rice grain silage, and our findings confirmed that a method previously identified as optimal for silage production at the laboratory scale was also appropriate for farm‐scale production. Crushed rice grain was adjusted to 30% moisture content, inoculated with lactic acid bacteria and ensiled in plastic pouches (200 g), plastic drums (15 kg) and flexible containers (100 kg). Samples of silage from the surface layer in the flexible containers had the pH value >5 and fungal growth was observed, but all internal samples had low pH (<4). Extending storage in the drums from 60 to 365 days reduced the lactic acid content of the internal samples, but pH remained at an acceptable level of <4.2. Overall, the production method outlined is appropriate at the farm scale.
Immunohistochemical expression of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in penile squamous cell carcinomas: a tissue microarray study of 112 cases
Authors: Chaux Alcides , Munari Enrico , Cubilla Antonio L , Hicks Jessica , Lecksell Kristen , Burnett Arthur L , Netto George J 
Published: November 2013

AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway‐related biomarkers in penile carcinomas, and to assess associations with histological type, histological grade, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.Methods and resultsWe built four tissue microarrays from 112 invasive penile squamous cell carcinomas, and evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of PTEN, phospho‐AKT, phospho‐mTOR, and phospho‐S6. We found decreased or loss of PTEN expression in 87% of cases. Warty and/or basaloid carcinomas had a higher proportion of PTEN loss (P = 0.02), whereas keratinizing tumours showed higher levels of phospho‐S6 (P = 0.009); phospho‐AKT and phospho‐mTOR levels were not significantly different between warty/basaloid and keratinizing carcinomas (P = 0.75 and P = 0.77, respectively). PTEN was not associated with histological grade (P = 0.18). Expression levels of phospho‐S6 were significantly higher in low‐grade tumours (P = 0.001), whereas expression levels of phospho‐AKT and phospho‐mTOR were slightly higher in high‐grade tumours (P = 0.01 and P = 0.35, respectively). We did not find any association between HPV infection and mTOR markers (P ≥ 0.2 in all cases).ConclusionsOur results provide evidence of dysregulation of the mTOR pathway in penile carcinomas independently of HPV infection. Future clinical studies should further evaluate the prognostic and predictive usefulness of these markers in patients with penile cancer.
Selection of mature and old stands byCorsicanNuthatchSitta whiteheadiin harvested forests
Authors: Villard Pascal , Besnard Aurélien , Thibault Jean‐Claude , Recorbet Bernard , Prodon Roger 
Published: November 2013

In harvested forests, the bird community is largely determined by stand structure, which itself is determined by forestry practices. This study aimed to identify habitat variables determining the presence ofCorsicanNuthatchSitta whiteheadi– a threatened island endemic – in harvestedCorsicanPinePinus nigra lariciowoods, with the aim of mitigating the impact of timber harvest on the bird. Comparison of occupied and unoccupied plots showed that this bird is found mostly in pureCorsicanPine stands, and is absent when more than 50% of trees are not this species. Nests were built in decaying pine snags between 20 and 100 cm diameter at breast height (dbh), but birds avoided stands with live pines < 70 cm dbh, and selected stands with pines > 80 cm dbh. Conservation ofCorsicanNuthatch therefore depends on maintaining harvest rotations of more than 200 years, reducing the size of felling coupes in clear‐cutting systems or, preferably, practising selective cutting, maintaining a sufficient density of old trees and snags, and checking the encroachment of other tree species intoCorsicanPine stands.
Effects of ischaemic post‐conditioning on the early and late testicular damage after experimental testis ischaemia–reperfusion
Authors: Minutoli L. , Irrera N. , Squadrito F. , Marini H. , Nicotina P. A. , Arena S. , Romeo C. , Antonuccio P. , Altavilla D. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryIschaemic post‐conditioning (IPostC) might represent an innovative surgical approach to protect organs from ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the contrasting effects of IPostC on the early and late damage induced by testicular I/R injury. Testis I/R was induced by occluding the right testicular vessels using a clip. Male rats were divided into the following groups: sham, I/R and I/R + IPostC. In the I/R group, the clip was removed after 60 min of ischaemia, and reperfusion was allowed for 30 min, 1 and 30 days. In the I/R + IPostC group, three cycles of 30‐sec reperfusion and 30‐sec ischaemia were performed after 60 min of ischaemia and then reperfusion followed up for 30 min, 1 and 30 days. Following 30‐min reperfusion, there was an increase in mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in I/R rats; after 1 day of reperfusion, interleukin‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐α and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) expression were significantly increased; IκB‐α expression reduced; and a marked damage in both testes was observed. IPostC inhibited MAPKs, cytokines and NF‐κB expression, augmented IκB‐α expression and decreased histological damage in testes subjected to I/R. After 30 days of reperfusion, I/R injury activated the apoptosis machinery, caused severe histological damage and reduced spermatogenic activity. By contrast, IPostC did not modify the apoptotic markers, the histological alterations as well as spermatogenic activity following 30 days of reperfusion. Our data demonstrate that IPostC protects the testis from the early damage induced by I/R injury, but it does not protect against the late damage.
Chronic psychological stress activates BMP4‐dependent extramedullary erythropoiesis
Authors: Vignjević Sanja , Budeč Mirela , Marković Dragana , Đikić Dragoslava , Mitrović Olivera , Mojsilović Slavko , Đurić Sanja Vranješ , Koko Vesna , Čokić Bojana Beleslin , Čokić Vladan , Jovčić Gordana 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPsychological stress affects different physiological processes including haematopoiesis. However, erythropoietic effects of chronic psychological stress remain largely unknown. The adult spleen contains a distinct microenvironment favourable for rapid expansion of erythroid progenitors in response to stressful stimuli, and emerging evidence suggests that inappropriate activation of stress erythropoiesis may predispose to leukaemic transformation. We used a mouse model to study the influence of chronic psychological stress on erythropoiesis in the spleen and to investigate potential mediators of observed effects. Adult mice were subjected to 2 hrs daily restraint stress for 7 or 14 consecutive days. Our results showed that chronic exposure to restraint stress decreased the concentration of haemoglobin in the blood, elevated circulating levels of erythropoietin and corticosterone, and resulted in markedly increased number of erythroid progenitors and precursors in the spleen. Western blot analysis revealed significantly decreased expression of both erythropoietin receptor and glucocorticoid receptor in the spleen of restrained mice. Furthermore, chronic stress enhanced the expression of stem cell factor receptor in the red pulp. Moreover, chronically stressed animals exhibited significantly increased expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) in the red pulp as well as substantially enhanced mRNA expression levels of its receptors in the spleen. These findings demonstrate for the first time that chronic psychological stress activates BMP4‐dependent extramedullary erythropoiesis and leads to the prolonged activation of stress erythropoiesis pathways. Prolonged activation of these pathways along with an excessive production of immature erythroid cells may predispose chronically stressed subjects to a higher risk of leukaemic transformation.
Overexpression of OsPIL15, a phytochrome‐interacting factor‐like protein gene, represses etiolated seedling growth in rice
Authors: Zhou Jinjun , Liu Qianqian , Zhang Fang , Wang Yingying , Zhang Shiyong , Cheng Huimin , Yan Lihua , Li Li , Chen Fan , Xie Xianzhi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPhytochrome‐interacting factors (PIFs) regulate an array of developmental responses ranging from seed germination to vegetational architecture in Arabidopsis. However, information regarding the functions of the PIF family in monocots has not been widely reported. Here, we investigate the roles of OsPIL15, a member of the rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) PIF family, in regulating seedling growth. OsPIL15 encodes a basic helix‐loop‐helix factor localized in the nucleus. OsPIL15‐OX seedlings exhibit an exaggerated shorter aboveground part and undeveloped root system relative to wild‐type seedlings, suggesting that OsPIL15 represses seedling growth in the dark. Microarray analysis combined with gene ontology analysis revealed that OsPIL15 represses a set of genes involved in auxin pathways and cell wall organization or biogenesis. Given the important roles of the auxin pathway and cell wall properties in controlling plant growth, we speculate that OsPIL15 represses seedling growth likely by regulating the auxin pathway and suppressing cell wall organization in etiolated rice seedlings. Additionally, exposure to red light or far‐red light relieved growth retardation and promoted seedling elongation in the OsPIL15‐OX lines, despite higher levels of OsPIL15 transcripts under red light and far‐red light than in the dark. These results suggest that light regulation of OsPIL15 expression is probably involved in photomorphogenesis in rice.
Radiation Injury to the Normal Brain Measured by 3D‐Echo‐Planar Spectroscopic Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging: Initial Experience
Authors: Chawla Sanjeev , Wang Sumei , Kim Sungheon , Sheriff Sulaiman , Lee Peter , Rengan Ramesh , Lin Alexander , Melhem Elias , Maudsley Andrew , Poptani Harish 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEWhole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) may cause cognitive and neuropsychological impairment and hence objective assessment of adverse effects of radiation may be valuable to plan therapy. The purpose of our study was to determine the potential of echo planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in detecting subacute radiation induced injury to the normal brain.MATERIALS AND METHODSFour patients with brain metastases and three patients with lung cancer underwent cranial irradiation. These patients were subjected to 3D‐EPSI and DTI at two time points (pre‐radiation, and 1 month post‐irradiation). Parametric maps of N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) were generated and co‐registered to post‐contrast T1‐weighted images. Normal appearing gray‐matter and white‐matter regions were compared between the two time points to assess sub‐acute effects of radiation using independent sample t‐tests.RESULTSSignificantly increased MD (P = .02), Cho/Cr (P = .02) and a trend towards a decrease in NAA/Cr (P = .06) was observed from the hippocampus. Significant decrease in FA (P = .02) from the centrum‐semiovale and a significant increase in MD (P = .04) and Cho/Cr (P = .02) from genu of corpus‐callosum was also observed.CONCLUSIONSOur preliminary findings suggest that 3D‐EPSI and DTI may provide quantitative measures of radiation induced injury to the normal brain.
Lactococcus lactis YfiA is necessary and sufficient for ribosome dimerization
Authors: Puri Pranav , Eckhardt Thomas H. , Franken Linda E. , Fusetti Fabrizia , Stuart Marc C. A. , Boekema Egbert J. , Kuipers Oscar P. , Kok Jan , Poolman Bert 
Published: November 2013

SummaryDimerization and inactivation of ribosomes in Escherichia coli is a two‐step process that involves the binding of ribosome modulation factor (RMF) and hibernation promotion factor (HPF). Lactococcus lactis MG1363 expresses a protein, YfiALl, which associates with ribosomes in the stationary phase of growth and is responsible for dimerization of ribosomes. We show that full‐length YfiALl is necessary and sufficient for ribosome dimerization in L. lactis but also functions heterologously in vitro with E. coli ribosomes. Deletion of the yfiA gene has no effect on the growth rate but diminishes the survival of L. lactis under energy‐starving conditions. The N‐terminal domain of YfiALl is homologous to HPF from E. coli, whereas the C‐terminal domain has no counterpart in E. coli. By assembling ribosome dimers in vitro, we could dissect the roles of the N‐ and C‐terminal domains of YfiALl. It is concluded that the dimerization and inactivation of ribosomes in L. lactis and E. coli differ in several cellular and molecular aspects. In addition, two‐dimensional maps of dimeric ribosomes from L. lactis obtained by single particle electron microscopy show a marked structural difference in monomer association in comparison to the ribosome dimers in E. coli.
Paediatric intensive care nurses' and doctors' perceptions on nurse‐led protocol‐directed ventilation weaning and extubation
Authors: Tume Lyvonne N , Scally Alison , Carter Bernie 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTBackgroundNurse‐led (protocol‐directed) ventilation weaning (NLVW) is utilized in adult intensive care and has shown to be safe and reduce ventilation times. Our paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) implemented a NLVW (and extubation) protocol in 2004, yet it was observed that some NLVW‐trained nurses were not undertaking the role in practice.AimsTo explore PICU nurses' and doctors' perceptions of and barriers to NLVW on a UK PICU, with the aim of facilitating more NLVW on our PICU by reducing these barriers.MethodsA cross‐sectional electronic survey was used to collect data from both nurse ventilation weaners and all medical staff and advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) on one PICU.ResultsOur survey response rates were 90% (36/40) nursing and 54% (20/37) medical. The four top reasons cited for nurses not being able to wean by protocol were not being allocated to a ‘weanable’ patient, being in an in‐charge or runner role, high clinical workload and a perceived lack of support from medical staff/ANPs. The restrictive nature of our protocol also emerged as a key issue by all staff. The medical survey revealed an overwhelming positive response to NLVW with 90% believing that experienced PICU nurses should be allowed to wean ventilation. In contrast to the nurses perceived lack of support or encouragement for NLVW, medical staff rated their encouragement for the nurses to undertake this role as high.ConclusionsNLVW is a complex process, and factors that impair or facilitate this process relate not only to the weaning protocol itself, but also organizational processes and structural factors in a PICU.Relevance to clinical practiceThis paper highlights the complexities involved in instituting and establishing a nurse‐led, protocol‐driven ventilation weaning process within a PICU. Further, in depth research is required to examine both PICU nurses and doctors attitudes to NLVW both in the UK and across Europe.
A novel plant–fungus symbiosis benefits the host without forming mycorrhizal structures
Authors: Kariman Khalil , Barker Susan J. , Jost Ricarda , Finnegan Patrick M. , Tibbett Mark 
Published: November 2013

Summary

Most terrestrial plants form mutually beneficial symbioses with specific soil‐borne fungi known as mycorrhiza. In a typical mycorrhizal association, fungal hyphae colonize plant roots, explore the soil beyond the rhizosphere and provide host plants with nutrients that might be chemically or physically inaccessible to root systems.

Here, we combined nutritional, radioisotopic (33P) and genetic approaches to describe a plant growth promoting symbiosis between the basidiomycete fungus Austroboletus occidentalis and jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), which has quite different characteristics.

We show that the fungal partner does not colonize plant roots; hyphae are localized to the rhizosphere soil and vicinity and consequently do not transfer nutrients located beyond the rhizosphere. Transcript profiling of two high‐affinity phosphate (Pi) transporter genes (EmPHT1;1 and EmPHT1;2) and hyphal‐mediated 33Pi uptake suggest that the Pi uptake shifts from an epidermal to a hyphal pathway in ectomycorrhizal plants (Scleroderma sp.), similar to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses, whereas A. occidentalis benefits its host indirectly. The enhanced rhizosphere carboxylates are linked to growth and nutritional benefits in the novel symbiosis.

This work is a starting point for detailed mechanistic studies on other basidiomycete–woody plant relationships, where a continuum between heterotrophic rhizosphere fungi and plant beneficial symbioses is likely to exist.