bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutritional Therapy in Pediatric Crohn Disease
Authors: Suskind David L. , Wahbeh Ghassan , Gregory Nila , Vendettuoli Heather , Christie Dennis 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACTObjectives:Crohn disease is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation in the absence of a recognized etiology. Nutritional therapy in the form of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has an established role within pediatric Crohn disease. Following exclusive enteral nutrition's success, many dietary therapies focusing on the elimination of specific complex carbohydrates have been anecdotally reported to be successful.Methods:Many of these therapies have not been evaluated scientifically; therefore, we reviewed the medical records of our patients with Crohn disease on the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD).Results:Seven children with Crohn disease receiving the SCD and no immunosuppressive medications were retrospectively evaluated. Duration of the dietary therapy ranged from 5 to 30 months, with an average of 14.6 ± 10.8 months. Although the exact time of symptom resolution could not be determined through chart review, all symptoms were notably resolved at a routine clinic visit 3 months after initiating the diet. Each patient's laboratory indices, including serum albumin, C‐reactive protein, hematocrit, and stool calprotectin, either normalized or significantly, improved during follow‐up clinic visits.Conclusions:This chart review suggests that the SCD and other low complex carbohydrate diets may be possible therapeutic options for pediatric Crohn disease. Further prospective studies are required to fully assess the safety and efficacy of the SCD, or any other low complex SCDs in pediatric patients with Crohn disease.
Distinct Roles of LAFL Network Genes in Promoting the Embryonic Seedling Fate in the Absence of VAL Repression
Authors: Jia Haiyan , McCarty Donald R. , Suzuki Masaharu 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe transition between seed and seedling phases of development is coordinated by an interaction between the closely related ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2; AFL) and VIVIPAROUS1/ABI3-LIKE (VAL) clades of the B3 transcription factor family that respectively activate and repress the seed maturation program. In the val1 val2 double mutant, derepression of the LEC1, LEC1-LIKE (L1L), and AFL (LAFL) network is associated with misexpression of embryonic characteristics resulting in arrested seedling development. We show that while the frequency of the embryonic fate in val1 val2 seedlings depends on the developmental timing of seed rescue, VAL proteins repress LAFL genes during germination, but not during seed development. Quantitative analysis of LAFL mutants that suppress the val1 val2 seedling phenotype revealed distinct roles of LAFL genes in promoting activation of the LAFL network. LEC2 and FUS3 are both essential for coordinate activation of the network, whereas effects of LEC1, L1L, and ABI3 are additive. Suppression of the val1 val2 seedling phenotype by the B3 domain-deficient abi3-12 mutation indicates that ABI3 activation of the LAFL network requires the B3 DNA-binding domain. In the VAL-deficient background, coordinate regulation of the LAFL network is observed over a wide range of genetic and developmental conditions. Our findings highlight distinct functional roles and interactions of LAFL network genes that are uncovered in the absence of VAL repressors.
Feedback Inhibition of Starch Degradation in Arabidopsis Leaves Mediated by Trehalose 6-Phosphate
Authors: Martins Marina Camara Mattos , Hejazi Mahdi , Fettke Joerg , Steup Martin , Feil Regina , Krause Ursula , Arrivault Stéphanie , Vosloh Daniel , Figueroa Carlos María , Ivakov Alexander , Yadav Umesh Prasad , Piques Maria , Metzner Daniela , Stitt Mark , Lunn John Edward 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
Many plants accumulate substantial starch reserves in their leaves during the day and remobilize them at night to provide carbon and energy for maintenance and growth. In this paper, we explore the role of a sugar-signaling metabolite, trehalose-6-phosphate (Tre6P), in regulating the accumulation and turnover of transitory starch in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves. Ethanol-induced overexpression of trehalose-phosphate synthase during the day increased Tre6P levels up to 11-fold. There was a transient increase in the rate of starch accumulation in the middle of the day, but this was not linked to reductive activation of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. A 2- to 3-fold increase in Tre6P during the night led to significant inhibition of starch degradation. Maltose and maltotriose did not accumulate, suggesting that Tre6P affects an early step in the pathway of starch degradation in the chloroplasts. Starch granules isolated from induced plants had a higher orthophosphate content than granules from noninduced control plants, consistent either with disruption of the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle that is essential for efficient starch breakdown or with inhibition of starch hydrolysis by β-amylase. Nonaqueous fractionation of leaves showed that Tre6P is predominantly located in the cytosol, with estimated in vivo Tre6P concentrations of 4 to 7 µm in the cytosol, 0.2 to 0.5 µm in the chloroplasts, and 0.05 µm in the vacuole. It is proposed that Tre6P is a component in a signaling pathway that mediates the feedback regulation of starch breakdown by sucrose, potentially linking starch turnover to demand for sucrose by growing sink organs at night.
Rent Management – The Heart of Green Industrial Policy
Authors: Schmitz Hubert , Johnson Oliver , Altenburg Tilman 
Published: September 2013

SummaryAt the heart of green industrial policy is rent management: government creating and withdrawing opportunities for highly profitable investment. This paper asks what the key factors are for rent management to succeed. Drawing on a range of literatures the paper first deals with the critical success factors for ‘normal’ rent management and then turns to one of the most pressing and controversial issues of our time: how to bring about the transition to renewable energy. This is extra challenging because technological uncertainties are high, time horizons for investment are long, yet action is required now. The paper suggests that responding to these challenges requires above all a political approach to rent management. The critical success factors for managing such policy rents are those that enable it to mitigate four risks: political capture by private investors and allied policy makers; choosing the wrong instruments; targeting the wrong sectors or technologies; and doing too little. The paper concludes that a public‐private‐civic alliance is needed to deal with the most fundamental risk of governments doing too little and not achieving the scaling up of green investment.
Evaluation of the robustness of the preprocessing technique improving reversible compressibility of CT images: Tested on various CT examinations
Authors: Jeon Chang Ho , Kim Kil Joong , Lee Kyoung Ho , Kim Bohyoung , Kim Tae Ki , Gu Bon Seung , Lee Jong Min 
Published: September 2013

Purpose:To modify the preprocessing technique, which was previously proposed, improving compressibility of computed tomography (CT) images to cover the diversity of three dimensional configurations of different body parts and to evaluate the robustness of the technique in terms of segmentation correctness and increase in reversible compression ratio (CR) for various CT examinations.Methods:This study had institutional review board approval with waiver of informed patient consent. A preprocessing technique was previously proposed to improve the compressibility of CT images by replacing pixel values outside the body region with a constant value resulting in maximizing data redundancy. Since the technique was developed aiming at only chest CT images, the authors modified the segmentation method to cover the diversity of three dimensional configurations of different body parts. The modified version was evaluated as follows. In randomly selected 368 CT examinations (352 787 images), each image was preprocessed by using the modified preprocessing technique. Radiologists visually confirmed whether the segmented region covers the body region or not. The images with and without the preprocessing were reversibly compressed using Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), JPEG2000 two‐dimensional (2D), and JPEG2000 three‐dimensional (3D) compressions. The percentage increase in CR per examination (CRI) was measured.Results:The rate of correct segmentation was 100.0% (95% CI: 99.9%, 100.0%) for all the examinations. The median of CRI were 26.1% (95% CI: 24.9%, 27.1%), 40.2% (38.5%, 41.1%), and 34.5% (32.7%, 36.2%) in JPEG, JPEG2000 2D, and JPEG2000 3D, respectively.Conclusions:In various CT examinations, the modified preprocessing technique can increase in the CR by 25% or more without concerning about degradation of diagnostic information.
Light wavelength effects in submicrometer phosphor materials using Mie scattering and Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Liaparinos P. F. 
Published: September 2013

Purpose:Phosphor materials provide challenges to both fundamental research and breakthrough development of technologies in research areas. In recent years, with the development of science and technology in the field of materials, a number of physical or chemical synthesis methods have been developed and successfully used for the preparation of submicrometer‐sized phosphors. The present paper provides a rigorous analysis of light diffusion capabilities of phosphor materials in submicrometer‐scale investigating the effect of light wavelength.Methods:Mie scattering theory and Monte Carlo simulation techniques were used for the optical diffusion performance providing numerical calculations. The Monte Carlo model included: (i) phosphor layers composed of different thickness (200, 500, 1000μm) and (ii) different light wavelength values (420, 545, 610 nm) corresponding to different types of activators, such as Ce, Tb, and Eu activators, respectively.Results:Based on Mie calculations, it was found that for low values of refractive index (e.g., 1.4) and for particle radius from 250 up to 500 nm no significant variations occurred on optical parameters. Monte Carlo simulations showed that the resolution increases as light wavelength decreases, respectively, however, this increase is more obvious at lower thickness values (i.e., at 200μm). In particular, as light wavelength decreases from 610 down to 545 and 420 nm, the resolution increases 4.4% and 13.9%, respectively (at 200 μm layer thickness). In addition, as layer thickness increases from 200 up to 500 μm the resolution decreases 50.2% while an increase up to 1000 μm causes a decrease of 70.2% (at 420 nm light wavelength).Conclusions:The goal of the authorˈs study was to investigate the optical diffusion characteristics of submicrometer phosphor materials using Mie scattering theory and Monte Carlo simulation. The present investigation indicated that a key parameter on resolution improvement was the amount of light loss which depends on the choice of activator and affects the lateral spreading.
Effects of Body Size and Gender on the Population Pharmacokinetics of Artesunate and Its Active Metabolite Dihydroartemisinin in Pediatric Malaria Patients
Authors: Morris Carrie A. , Tan Beesan , Duparc Stephan , Borghini-Fuhrer Isabelle , Jung Donald , Shin Chang-Sik , Fleckenstein Lawrence 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT
Despite the important role of the antimalarial artesunate and its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in malaria treatment efforts, there are limited data on the pharmacokinetics of these agents in pediatric patients. This study evaluated the effects of body size and gender on the pharmacokinetics of artesunate-DHA using data from pediatric and adult malaria patients. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was used to obtain a base model consisting of first-order artesunate absorption and one-compartment models for artesunate and for DHA. Various methods of incorporating effects of body size descriptors on clearance and volume parameters were tested. An allometric scaling model for weight and a linear body surface area (BSA) model were deemed optimal. The apparent clearance and volume of distribution of DHA obtained with the allometric scaling model, normalized to a 38-kg patient, were 63.5 liters/h and 65.1 liters, respectively. Estimates for the linear BSA model were similar. The 95% confidence intervals for the estimated gender effects on clearance and volume parameters for artesunate fell outside the predefined no-relevant-clinical-effect interval of 0.75 to 1.25. However, the effect of gender on apparent DHA clearance was almost entirely contained within this interval, suggesting a lack of an influence of gender on this parameter. Overall, the pharmacokinetics of artesunate and DHA following oral artesunate administration can be described for pediatric patients using either an allometric scaling or linear BSA model. Both models predict that, for a given artesunate dose in mg/kg of body weight, younger children are expected to have lower DHA exposure than older children or adults.
Tissue Pharmacokinetics of Cefazolin in Patients with Lower Limb Infections
Authors: Bhalodi Amira A. , Housman Seth T. , Shepard Ashley , Nugent James , Nicolau David P. 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT

Cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
and streptococci, is often used to treat lower limb infections caused by these pathogens. Antimicrobial penetration is often limited in these patients due to compromised vasculature. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the exposure profile of cefazolin in serum and tissue in patients with lower limb infections. An
in vivo
microdialysis catheter was inserted into the tissue near the margin of the wound and constantly perfused with lactated Ringer's solution. Steady-state serum and tissue samples were simultaneously collected over a dosing interval. Serum protein binding was also assessed. Serum concentrations were analyzed by noncompartmental analysis. Tissue concentrations were corrected for percent
in vivo
recovery by using the retrodialysis technique. Seven patients with a mean weight of 95.45 ± 18.51 kg and a mean age of 54 ± 19 years were enrolled. Six patients received 1 g every 8 h, and one patient received 2 g every 24 h due to acute kidney injury. The free area under the curve from 0 to 8 h (
f
AUC
0–8
) values for serum and wound were 48.0 ± 18.66 and 56.35 ± 41.17 μg · h/ml, respectively, for the patients receiving 1 g every 8 h. The
f
AUC
0–24
values for serum and wound were 1,326.1 and 253.9 μg · h/ml, respectively, for the single patient receiving 2 g every 24 h. The mean tissue penetration ratio (tissue/serum
f
AUC ratio) was 1.06. These data suggest that the amount of time that free-drug concentrations remain above the MIC (
fT
>MIC) for cefazolin in wound tissue is adequate to treat patients with lower limb infections.
National Prevalence of Resistance to Third-Generation Cephalosporins in Escherichia coli Isolates from Layer Flocks in France
Authors: Chauvin Claire , Le Devendec Laetitia , Jouy Eric , Le Cornec Maena , Francart Sylvie , Marois-Créhan Corinne , Kempf Isabelle 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT

Resistance of
Escherichia coli
to third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) in fecal samples representative of French egg production was studied. The susceptibility to cefotaxime of
E. coli
isolates obtained by culture on nonselective media was determined. Twenty-two nonsusceptible isolates were obtained (7.51%; 95% confidence interval, 4.49 to 10.54%), the majority of which came from young birds. Most isolates carried a
bla
CTX-M-1
group gene, and a few carried a
bla
CMY-2
-like gene. Control of 3GC resistance in laying hens is needed.
In Vitro
Cross-Linking of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Peptidoglycan by
l
,
d
-Transpeptidases and Inactivation of These Enzymes by Carbapenems
Authors: Cordillot Mathilde , Dubée Vincent , Triboulet Sébastien , Dubost Lionel , Marie Arul , Hugonnet Jean-Emmanuel , Arthur Michel , Mainardi Jean-Luc 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT

The
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
peptidoglycan is cross-linked mainly by
l
,
d
-transpeptidases (LDTs), which are efficiently inactivated by a single β-lactam class, the carbapenems. Development of carbapenems for tuberculosis treatment has recently raised considerable interest since these drugs, in association with the β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, are uniformly active against extensively drug-resistant
M. tuberculosis
and kill both exponentially growing and dormant forms of the bacilli. We have purified the five
l
,
d
-transpeptidase paralogues of
M. tuberculosis
(Mt1 to -5) and compared their activities with those of peptidoglycan fragments and carbapenems. The five LDTs were functional
in vitro
since they were active in assays of peptidoglycan cross-linking (Mt5), β-lactam acylation (Mt3), or both (Mt1, Mt2, and Mt4). Mt3 was the only LDT that was inactive in the cross-linking assay, suggesting that this enzyme might be involved in other cellular functions such as the anchoring of proteins to peptidoglycan, as shown in
Escherichia coli
. Inactivation of LDTs by carbapenems is a two-step reaction comprising reversible formation of a tetrahedral intermediate, the oxyanion, followed by irreversible rupture of the β-lactam ring that leads to formation of a stable acyl enzyme. Determination of the rate constants for these two steps revealed important differences (up to 460-fold) between carbapenems, which affected the velocity of oxyanion and acyl enzyme formation. Imipenem inactivated LDTs more rapidly than ertapenem, and both drugs were more efficient than meropenem and doripenem, indicating that modification of the carbapenem side chain could be used to optimize their antimycobacterial activity.
Comparison of Cytokine Immune Responses to Brucella abortus and Yersinia enterocolitica Serotype O:9 Infections in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Gu Wenpeng , Wang Xin , Qiu Haiyan , Cui Buyun , Zhao Shiwen , Zheng Han , Xiao Yuchun , Liang Junrong , Duan Ran , Jing Huaiqi 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACTBrucella abortusandYersinia enterocoliticaserotype O:9 serologically cross-react in the immune response with the host; therefore, our aim was to compare the immune responses to these two pathogens. We selected typicalB. abortusandY. enterocoliticaO:9 strains to study the cytokine immune response and the histopathological changes in livers and spleens of BALB/c mice. The data showed the cytokine responses to the two strains of pathogens were different, where the average levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were higher withB. abortusinfections than withY. enterocoliticaO:9 infections, especially for IFN-γ, while the IL-10 level was lower and the levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 were similar. The histopathological effects in the livers and spleens of the BALB/c mice withB. abortusandY. enterocoliticaO:9 infections were similar; however, the pathological changes in the liver were greater withB. abortusinfections, while damage in the spleen was greater withY. enterocoliticaO:9 infections. These observations show that different cytokine responses and histopathological changes occur withB. abortusandY. enterocoliticaO:9 infections.
Interleukin-10 (IL-10) Inhibits Borrelia burgdorferi-Induced IL-17 Production and Attenuates IL-17-Mediated Lyme Arthritis
Authors: Hansen Emily S. , Medić Velinka , Kuo Joseph , Warner Thomas F. , Schell Ronald F. , Nardelli Dean T. 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACTPrevious studies have shown that cells and cytokines associated with interleukin-17 (IL-17)-driven inflammation are involved in the arthritic response toBorrelia burgdorferiinfection. Here, we report that IL-17 is a contributing factor in the development of Lyme arthritis and show that its production and histopathological effects are regulated by interleukin-10 (IL-10). Spleen cells obtained fromB. burgdorferi-infected, “arthritis-resistant” wild-type C57BL/6 mice produced low levels of IL-17 following stimulation with the spirochete. In contrast, spleen cells obtained from infected, IL-10-deficient C57BL/6 mice produced a significant amount of IL-17 following stimulation withB. burgdorferi. These mice developed significant arthritis, including erosion of the bones in the ankle joints. We further show that treatment with antibody to IL-17 partially inhibited the significant hind paw swelling and histopathological changes observed inB. burgdorferi-infected, IL-10-deficient mice. Taken together, these findings provide additional evidence of a role for IL-17 in Lyme arthritis and reveal an additional regulatory target of IL-10 following borrelial infection.
Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: clinicopathological and molecular characterisation with emphasis on variant histomorphology
Authors: Kao Yu-Chien , Lan Jui , Tai Hui-Chun , Li Chien-Feng , Liu Kai-Wen , Tsai Jen-Wei , Fang Fu-Min , Yu Shih-Chen , Huang Hsuan-Ying 
Published: September 2013

AimsAngiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is histologically typified by nodules of histiocytoid spindle cells with pseudoangiomatoid spaces, fibrous pseudocapsules and lymphocytic cuffs. The principal goal was to expand the spectrum of AFHs through clinicopathological and molecular characterisation.MethodsThirteen AFHs, including 11 with confirmed hallmark translocation, were reappraised for classic features, reactive osteoclasts, mitoses and stromal, architectural and cytomorphological variations, with CD99, desmin and EMA stained in available cases.ResultsSeven male and six female patients ranged in age from 4 to 63 years (median, 13), including 4 older than 20 years. Tumours were located on the extremities (n=6), trunk (n=4) and scalp (n=3). Although fibrous pseudocapsules were observed in all cases, four showed solid histology without pseudoangiomatoid spaces and another one lacked peripheral lymphoid infiltrates. Nuclear pleomorphism was striking in two cases, moderate in seven and absent in four, with osteoclasts seen in two cases. In three AFHs with sclerotic matrix, one exhibited perivascular hyalinisation and nuclear palisading, reminiscent of a schwannoma. In three varyingly myxoid tumours, one closely resembled a myoepithelioma with prominent reticular arrangement of spindle cells in an abundant myxoid stroma. BesidesEWSR1gene rearrangement detected in four cases by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH),EWSR1-CREB1fusion was confirmed in nine cases, including a schwannoma-like AFH, andEWSR1-ATF1fusion detected in a myoepithelioma-like AFH. Immunohistochemically, 56% of AFHs were positive for EMA, 78% for desmin and 100% for CD99.ConclusionsMolecular testing is diagnostic of variant AFHs displaying diverse histomorphological alterations in the architectural patterns, cytomorphology and extracellular matrix.