bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reading for pleasure in paradise: paired reading in Antigua and Barbuda
Authors: Warrington Molly J. , George Patricia 
Published: February 2014

AbstractReading for pleasure is essential in the development of literacy. This paper reports on findings from a paired reading strategy introduced into primary schools in Antigua and Barbuda in order to foster children's pleasure in reading. This programme of cross‐age peer tutoring intervention began with the training of teachers in a small group of seven schools and was extended to all the schools on the islands in the following year. Qualitative research data from children and teachers showed that children were enthusiastic about the experience, with some evidence to show that their wider interest in reading was stimulated. Although for the pupils, particularly the younger ones, the main benefit of shared reading was perceived to be an improvement in reading skills, for teachers, it was the increase in children's confidence in reading that was cited as the most positive outcome. Although resource constraints in some schools did limit the scope of the programme, the paper argues that it boosted the reading development of a number of children and may have acted as a catalyst for stimulating a lasting pleasure and joy in reading.
Occult HBV infection in Morocco: from chronic hepatitis to hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kitab Bouchra , Ezzikouri Sayeh , Alaoui Rhimo , Nadir Salwa , Badre Wafaa , Trepo Christian , Chemin Isabelle , Benjelloun Soumaya 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsMorocco is one of low to intermediate endemic areas for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but no reports have been published on Occult HBV infection (OBI). To determine the prevalence of OBI and its clinical impact among patients with cryptogenic and HCV‐related chronic liver disease in Morocco.MethodsA total of 152 HBsAg‐negative patients (60 patients with cryptogenic hepatitis and 92 HCV carriers) were enrolled in this study. Sera collected from all patients were tested for anti‐HBc and anti‐HBs antibodies. OBI was assessed in serum and liver tissue samples using highly sensitive PCR assays targeting Surface, X and core regions of the HBV genome and confirmed by Southern blot hybridization.ResultsA high rate of anti‐HBc positivity was found among patients with HCV infection (57/92, 61.95%) compared to those with cryptogenic hepatitis (24/60, 40%) (P = 0.034). A high prevalence of OBI was found among patients with HCV infection (42/92, 45.65%) compared to those with cryptogenic hepatitis (17/60, 28.3%) (P = 0.013). In both groups, the prevalence of OBI increased in parallel with advancing stage of liver disease (χ2 = 6.73; P = 0.0095). The highest proportion of OBI was reached among HCV‐related HCC cases (62.5%). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that older age (≥56 years), positivity for anti‐HBc and presence of OBI were independent risk factors for the development of HCC in HCV‐infected patients.ConclusionThis study helps to understand the current status of OBI and its impact on the severity of liver disease in Moroccan patients.
Isolation, Purification, and Cultivation of Primary Retinal Microvascular Pericytes: A Novel Model Using Rats
Authors: Liu Guanghui , Meng Chun , Pan Mingdong , Chen Meng , Deng Ruzhi , Lin Ling , Zhao Li , Liu Xiaoling 
Published: February 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo isolate, purify, and cultivate primary retinal microvascular pericytes (RMPs) from rats to facilitate the study of their properties in vitro.MethodsPrimary RMPs were isolated from weanling rats by mechanical morcel and collagenase digestion, and purified by a step‐wise combination of selective medium with different glucose concentrations, medium exchange, and partial enzymatic digestion. Morphology of RMPs was assessed by phase contrast microscopy. Further characterization was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Functional assay was evaluated by the pericytes‐ endothelial cells (ECs) coculture system.ResultsRetinal microvascular pericytes migrated out of microvascular fragments after 24–48 hours of plating and reached subconfluence on days 14–16. The cells showed typical pericyte morphology with large irregular triangular cell bodies and multiple long processes, and uniformly expressed the cellular markers α‐SMA, PDGFR‐β, NG2 and desmin, but were negative for vWF, GS, GFAP and SMMHC. Ninety‐nine percent of the cell population had double positive staining for α‐SMA and PDGFR‐β. In the coculture system, RMPs can directly contact ECs and move together to form the capillary‐like cords.ConclusionsRetinal microvascular pericytes can be readily obtained by our method. We report the first cultivation of primary RMPs from rats and establish a simple method for their isolation and purification.
Wound and insect‐induced jasmonate accumulation in carnivorous Drosera capensis: two sides of the same coin
Authors: Mithöfer A. , Reichelt M. , Nakamura Y. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractCarnivorous sundew plants catch and digest insect prey for their own nutrition. The sundew species Drosera capensis shows a pronounced leaf bending reaction upon prey capture in order to form an ‘outer stomach’. This formation is triggered by jasmonates, phytohormones typically involved in defence reactions against herbivory and wounding. Whether jasmonates still have this function in D. capensis in addition to mediating the leaf bending reaction was investigated here. Wounded, insect prey‐fed and insect‐derived oral secretion‐treated leaves of D. capensis were analysed for jasmonates (jasmonic acid, JA; jasmonic acid‐isoleucine conjugate, JA‐Ile) using LC‐MS/MS. Prey‐induced jasmonate accumulation in D. capensis leaves was persistent, and showed high levels of JA and JA‐Ile (575 and 55.7 pmol·g·FW−1, respectively), whereas wounding induced a transient increase of JA (maximum 500 pmol·g·FW−1) and only low (3.1 pmol·g·FW−1) accumulation of JA‐Ile. Herbivory, mimicked with a combined treatment of wounding plus oral secretion (W+OS) obtained from Spodoptera littoralis larvae induced both JA (4000 pmol·g·FW−1) and JA‐Ile (25 pmol·g·FW−1) accumulation, with kinetics similar to prey treatment. Only prey and W+OS, but not wounding alone or OS, induced leaf bending. The results indicate that both mechanical and chemical stimuli trigger JA and JA‐Ile synthesis. Differences in kinetics and induced jasmonate levels suggest different sensing and signalling events upon injury and insect‐dependent challenge. Thus, in Drosera, jasmonates are still part of the response to wounding. Jasmonates are also employed in insect‐induced reactions, including responses to herbivory and carnivory.
Assessing the Approach to a Thrombosed AV Graft
Authors: Ponce Pedro , Carvalho Telmo , Messias Humberto , Neves Fernando ,   the Lisbon VAC Interventional Nephrology Team
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe patency of the vascular access (VA) is a fight for the attending nephrologist. A retrospective observational study was conducted to compare the success rate of surgical versus endovascular technique percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for graft thrombosis treatment. Of 3008 patients, 22.1% patients were dialyzed through grafts. Forty‐five percent of all prevalent patients referred due to VA malfunction had a graft. For 18 months, 336 thrombosed grafts were submitted to surgery in 228 cases and to PTA in 126. PTA for thrombolysis included the Pharmaco‐Mechanical Technique and the Arrow‐Trerotola Device. Procedures were performed as outpatient, with an average delay of 1 day. Immediate success was 100% for surgery and 87.3% for PTA. The unassisted patency for thrombosed grafts for surgery/PTAwas 265.12 ± 15.30/230.59 ± 19.83 days respectively, favoring surgery. The primary patency for thrombosed grafts treated by surgery/PTA at 30, 90, and 180 days was, respectively, 74.1%/81%, 63.2%/67.5%, and 53.9%/55.6% all in favor of PTA. AV grafts have a much higher rate of thrombosis than fistulas. Graft thrombosis can be dealt either by surgery or PTA, with identical success.
Construction and Immunogenicity of the DNA Vaccine of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Dormancy Antigen Rv1733c
Authors: Zhang W. , Jiang H. , Bai Y.‐l. , Kang J. , Xu Z.‐K. , Wang L.‐M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe aimed to construct the DNA vaccine encoding Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mtb) dormancy antigen Rv1733c and investigate its immunogenicity in mice. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA‐Rv1733c was transfected into P815 cells and its product was detected by indirect immunofluorescence. The mice were immunized once every 2 weeks by intramuscular injection of pcDNA‐Rv1733c plasmid for a total of three times. The specific antibodies in the serum of the immunized mice were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay at the indicted time. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent spot was applied to determine the levels of IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐4 secreted by splenic lymphocytes. Total cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) active of the splenic lymphocytes was detected by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Additionally, we analysed the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in splenic lymphocytes using flow cytometry. The specific antibody was detected at 2 weeks after the first immunization, and the antibody titre was increased with time which was reached to 1:1600 at 8 weeks. The stimulation index of spleen lymphocytes and the levels of IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐4 of pcDNA‐Rv1733c‐immunized mice were both higher than those of saline‐immunized mice (P < 0.05). However, no difference was found in the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the activity of CTL between the pcDNA‐Rv1733c‐ and saline‐immunized mice (P > 0.05). So we got the conclusion that the plasmid pcDNA‐Rv1733c DNA could induce specific humoral and cellular immunity in mice. Improving the immune effect of Rv1733c by several strategies, such as choosing appropriate immunization route and adjuvant, would be significant for Rv1733c as new tuberculosis vaccine.
Influence of the Gut Microbiota on Blood Acute‐Phase Proteins
Authors: Schroedl W. , Kleessen B. , Jaekel L. , Shehata A. A. , Krueger M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractLittle is known about the bovine intestinal microbiota influence on systemic innate immune responses. The objective of the present study was to determine relationships between acute‐phase proteins in blood serum of cows [C‐reactive protein (CRP), LPS‐binding protein (LBP) and haptoglobin (Hp)] and the faecal microbiota. Fifty‐two healthy cows (2–8 years old) were investigated. Faecal bacteria were determent characterized by in situ hybridization with 16S/23S rRNA‐targeted probes and by conventional culture methods. The population of Gram‐negative faecal bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) was correlated negatively with CRP and positively with LBP in blood plasma, independent of the method used. Similar results were observed with Clostridium perfringens. No correlation was found between the faecal population of intestinal bacteria and Hp levels in blood plasma. This datum indicates that intestinal bacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae and C. perfringens, may influence the level of CRP and LBP in blood plasma. These findings can be very important for diagnostic evaluations of the intestinal microbiota and provide specific information about its regulation.
Emotional Mimicry: Why and When We Mimic Emotions
Authors: Hess Ursula , Fischer Agneta 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe goal of this review was to provide a brief overview of recent developments in the domain of emotional mimicry research. We argue that emotional signals are intrinsically meaningful within a social relationship, which is crucial for understanding the functionality and boundary conditions of emotional mimicry. On the basis of a review of the literature on facial mimicry of emotion displays, we conclude that the classic matched motor hypothesis does not hold for emotional mimicry. We alternatively propose a contextual view of emotional mimicry, which states that emotional mimicry depends on the social context: we only mimic emotional signals that are interpreted to promote affiliation goals and not necessarily what we see. As a further consequence, we are less likely to mimic strangers and we do not mimic people we do not like nor emotions that signal antagonism.
Nephrotoxicity of concomitant use of tacrolimus and teicoplanin in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Mori T. , Shimizu T. , Kato J. , Kikuchi T. , Kohashi S. , Koda Y. , Toyama T. , Saburi M. , Iketani O. , Okamoto S. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBoth tacrolimus and glycopeptide antibiotics are known to be nephrotoxic, and are often concomitantly given after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplantation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nephrotoxicity of concomitant use of tacrolimus and glycopeptide antibiotics in HSCT recipients. We retrospectively evaluated 67 patients who received intravenous tacrolimus and teicoplanin concomitantly for >4 days after allogeneic HSCT for hematologic diseases. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) was performed in all patients for both tacrolimus and teicoplanin. The median age of the patients was 48 years (range: 16–62), and the median duration of the co‐administration of tacrolimus and teicoplanin was 11 days (range: 4–40). The mean serum creatinine (sCr) level tended to be elevated after the co‐administration (from 0.69 ± 0.26 to 0.75 ± 0.30 mg/dL; P = 0.08); however, a 2‐fold or greater increase in sCr was observed only in 2 (3.0%) patients. Increased sCr was reversible, and no patient required hemodialysis. These results suggest that the incidence of clinically significant nephrotoxicity can be minimized if the TDM of each drug is properly applied.
Dose impact in radiographic lung injury following lung SBRT: Statistical analysis and geometric interpretation
Authors: Yu Victoria , Kishan Amar U. , Cao Minsong , Low Daniel , Lee Percy , Ruan Dan 
Published: February 2014

Purpose:To demonstrate a new method of evaluating dose response of treatment‐induced lung radiographic injury post‐SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy) treatment and the discovery of bimodal dose behavior within clinically identified injury volumes.Methods:Follow‐up CT scans at 3, 6, and 12 months were acquired from 24 patients treated with SBRT for stage‐1 primary lung cancers or oligometastic lesions. Injury regions in these scans were propagated to the planning CT coordinates by performing deformable registration of the follow‐ups to the planning CTs. A bimodal behavior was repeatedly observed from the probability distribution for dose values within the deformed injury regions. Based on a mixture‐Gaussian assumption, an Expectation‐Maximization (EM) algorithm was used to obtain characteristic parameters for such distribution. Geometric analysis was performed to interpret such parameters and infer the critical dose level that is potentially inductive of post‐SBRT lung injury.Results:The Gaussian mixture obtained from the EM algorithm closely approximates the empirical dose histogram within the injury volume with good consistency. The average Kullback‐Leibler divergence values between the empirical differential dose volume histogram and the EM‐obtained Gaussian mixture distribution were calculated to be 0.069, 0.063, and 0.092 for the 3, 6, and 12 month follow‐up groups, respectively. The lower Gaussian component was located at approximately 70% prescription dose (35 Gy) for all three follow‐up time points. The higher Gaussian component, contributed by the dose received by planning target volume, was located at around 107% of the prescription dose. Geometrical analysis suggests the mean of the lower Gaussian component, located at 35 Gy, as a possible indicator for a critical dose that induces lung injury after SBRT.Conclusions:An innovative and improved method for analyzing the correspondence between lung radiographic injury and SBRT treatment dose has been demonstrated. Bimodal behavior was observed in the dose distribution of lung injury after SBRT. Novel statistical and geometrical analysis has shown that the systematically quantified low‐dose peak at approximately 35 Gy, or 70% prescription dose, is a good indication of a critical dose for injury. The determined critical dose of 35 Gy resembles the critical dose volume limit of 30 Gy for ipsilateral bronchus in RTOG 0618 and results from previous studies. The authors seek to further extend this improved analysis method to a larger cohort to better understand the interpatient variation in radiographic lung injury dose response post‐SBRT.
A quality assurance framework for the fully automated and objective evaluation of image quality in cone‐beam computed tomography
Authors: Steiding Christian , Kolditz Daniel , Kalender Willi A. 
Published: February 2014

Purpose:Thousands of cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners for vascular, maxillofacial, neurological, and body imaging are in clinical use today, but there is no consensus on uniform acceptance and constancy testing for image quality (IQ) and dose yet. The authors developed a quality assurance (QA) framework for fully automated and time‐efficient performance evaluation of these systems. In addition, the dependence of objective Fourier‐based IQ metrics on direction and position in 3D volumes was investigated for CBCT.Methods:The authors designed a dedicated QA phantom 10 cm in length consisting of five compartments, each with a diameter of 10 cm, and an optional extension ring 16 cm in diameter. A homogeneous section of water‐equivalent material allows measuring CT value accuracy, image noise and uniformity, and multidimensional global and local noise power spectra (NPS). For the quantitative determination of 3D high‐contrast spatial resolution, the modulation transfer function (MTF) of centrally and peripherally positioned aluminum spheres was computed from edge profiles. Additional in‐plane and axial resolution patterns were used to assess resolution qualitatively. The characterization of low‐contrast detectability as well as CT value linearity and artifact behavior was tested by utilizing sections with soft‐tissue‐equivalent and metallic inserts. For an automated QA procedure, a phantom detection algorithm was implemented. All tests used in the dedicated QA program were initially verified in simulation studies and experimentally confirmed on a clinical dental CBCT system.Results:The automated IQ evaluation of volume data sets of the dental CBCT system was achieved with the proposed phantom requiring only one scan for the determination of all desired parameters. Typically, less than 5 min were needed for phantom set‐up, scanning, and data analysis. Quantitative evaluation of system performance over time by comparison to previous examinations was also verified. The maximum percentage interscan variation of repeated measurements was less than 4% and 1.7% on average for all investigated quality criteria. The NPS‐based image noise differed by less than 5% from the conventional standard deviation approach and spatially selective 10% MTF values were well comparable to subjective results obtained with 3D resolution pattern. Determining only transverse spatial resolution and global noise behavior in the central field of measurement turned out to be insufficient.Conclusions:The proposed framework transfers QA routines employed in conventional CT in an advanced version to CBCT for fully automated and time‐efficient evaluation of technical equipment. With the modular phantom design, a routine as well as an expert version for assessing IQ is provided. The QA program can be used for arbitrary CT units to evaluate 3D imaging characteristics automatically.
Improving hospital weekend handover: a user-centered, standardised approach
Authors: Mehra Avi , Henein Christin 
Published: February 2014

AbstractClinical Handover remains one of the most perilous procedures in medicine (1). Weekend handover has emerged as a key area of concern with high variability in handover processes across hospitals (1,2,4,5-10).Studying weekend handover processes within medicine at an acute teaching hospital revealed huge variability in documented content and structure. A total of 12 different pro formas were in use by the medical day-team to handover to the weekend team on-call. A Likert-survey of doctors revealed 93% felt the current handover system needed improvement with 71% stating that it did not ensure patient safety (Chi-squared, p-value <0.001, n=32). Semi-structured interviews of doctors identified common themes including “a lack of consistency in approach” “poor standardization” and “high variability”.Seeking to address concerns of standardization, a standardized handover pro forma was developed using Royal College of Physician (RCP) guidelines (2), with direct end-user input. Results following implementation revealed a considerable improvement in documented ceiling of care, urgency of task and team member assignment with 100% uptake of the new proforma at both 4-week and 6-month post-implementation analyses. 88% of doctors surveyed perceived that the new proforma improved patient safety (p<0.01, n=25), with 62% highlighting that it allowed doctors to work more efficiently. Results also revealed that 44% felt further improvements were needed and highlighted electronic solutions and handover training as main priorities.Handover briefing was subsequently incorporated into junior doctor induction and education modules delivered, with good feedback. Following collaboration with key stakeholders and with end-user input, integrated electronic handover software was designed and funding secured. The software is currently under final development.Introducing a standardized handover proforma can be an effective initial step in improving weekend handover. Handover education and end-user involvement are key in improving the process. Electronic handover solutions have been shown to significantly increase the quality of handover and are worth considering (9, 10).
Osteopontin induces ductular reaction contributing to liver fibrosis
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Lopategi Aritz , Ge Xiaodong , Lu Yongke , Kitamura Naoto , Urtasun Raquel , Leung Tung-Ming , Fiel Maria Isabel , Nieto Natalia 
Published: February 2014

ObjectiveIn human chronic liver disease, there is association between ductular reaction (DR) and fibrosis; yet, the mechanism triggering its onset and its role in scar formation remains unknown. Since we previously showed that osteopontin (OPN) is highly induced during drug-induced liver fibrosis, we hypothesised that OPN could drive oval cells (OC) expansion and DR and signal to hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to promote scarring.ResultsIn vivo studies demonstrated increased OPN expression in biliary epithelial cells (BEC) and in OC in thioacetamide (TAA)-treated mice. OPN ablation protected mice from TAA and bile duct ligation-induced liver injury, DR and scarring. This was associated with greater hepatocyte proliferation, lower OC expansion and DR along with less fibrosis, suggesting that OPN could activate the OC compartment to differentiate into BEC, which could then signal to HSC to enhance scarring. Since TAA-treated wild-type mice and cirrhotic patients showed TGF-β+BEC, which were lacking in TAA-treatedOpn−/−mice and in healthy human explants, this suggested that OPN could regulate TGF-β, a profibrogenic factor. In vitro experiments confirmed that recombinant OPN (rOPN) decreases hepatocyte proliferation and increases OC and BEC proliferation. To evaluate how BEC regulate collagen-I production in HSC, co-cultures were established. Co-cultured BEC upregulated OPN and TGF-β expression and enhanced collagen-I synthesis by HSC. Lastly, recombinant TGF-β (rTGFβ) and rOPN promoted BEC proliferation and neutralisation of OPN and TGF-β reduced collagen-I expression in co-cultured HSC.ConclusionsOPN emerges as a key matricellular protein driving DR and contributing to scarring and liver fibrosis via TGF-β.