bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of adipokine concentrations in paediatric non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Fitzpatrick E. , Dew T. K. , Quaglia A. , Sherwood R. A. , Mitry R. R. , Dhawan A. 
Published: September 2012

Summary
What is already known on this subject
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children and the rising prevalence is closely associated with the rise in obesity.
Adipokines, inflammatory mediators which arise from adipocytes or inflammatory cells infiltrating fatty tissue, are likely to be involved in the evolution of steatohepatitis from simple steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

What this study adds
Certain adipokines are differentially expressed with different severity of disease in paediatric NAFLD.
Plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and resistin decrease with increasing severity of steatohepatitis.
Plasma plasminogen activator 1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 are increased in severe fibrotic NAFLD.
BackgroundNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in children. It is important to distinguish children with more severe disease or steatohepatitis (NASH) from those with the less severe simple steatosis (SS) as prognosis differs. The importance of adipokines in the evolution of NASH is well recognized.ObjectiveAs adipokines are important in mediating inflammation, they may also be useful biomarkers of disease.MethodsPlasma from 40 children (30 boys), median age 13.4 years, with liver biopsy‐proven NAFLD was analysed. Liver biopsies were scored using the NAFLD activity score and compared with adipokine concentrations.ResultsMedian body mass index z‐score was 2.12 with a median homeostasis model of assessment‐ insulin resistance of 4.08. Resistin was lower in NASH than in SS (P = 0.03). Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1) was also lower in NASH (P = 0.04). MCP‐1 was higher in children with severe fibrosis (P = 0.008) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.76. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‐1) was also higher in this group (P = 0.011) with an AUROC of 0.78. There were no significant differences in leptin, adiponectin, adipsin, interleukin (IL) 6, IL10 or tumour necrosis factor α between groups.ConclusionPAI‐1 MCP‐1 and resistin were differentially expressed with increasing severity of NAFLD. Though it is unlikely that this profile alone would serve as a biomarker of disease, differences found may contribute to understanding the role of these mediators in NAFLD.
Increase in prevalence of adiposity between the ages of 7 and 11 years reflects lower remission rates during this period
Authors: von Kries R. , Reulen H. , Bayer O. , Riedel C. , Diethelm K. , Buyken A. E. 
Published: September 2012

Summary
What is already known about this subject?
A considerable increase in the prevalence of overweight during the primary school years (7–11 years) has been reported.

What this study adds?
This reflects lower remission rates of excess body fat (i.e. the proportion of shifts from excess to normal body fat) between the ages of 7 and 11 years as compared with nearly balanced incidence and remission rates of excess body fat between the ages of 3 and 7 years.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the age‐specific balance between incidence and remission of excess body fat between the ages of 3–7 and 7–11 years using the data from a longitudinal study.DesignLongitudinal analysis based on the data from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) Study, an ongoing, open cohort study in healthy children, conducted in Dortmund, Germany. Excess body fat was defined by the sum of triceps and subscapular skin‐fold measurements above the 90th reference percentile of the new German standard; overweight was defined using different national and international standards. The main outcome parameters were incidence and remission rates of excess body fat (n = 496) and overweight (n = 518) between the ages of 3 and 7 years and between the ages of 7 and 11 years.ResultsThe incidence rates of excess skin‐fold thickness between the ages of 3 and 7 years (4.2 [2.4, 6.2]%) and between the ages of 7 and 11 years (4.3 [2.6, 6.2]%) were almost identical. By contrast, remission rates were significantly lower during the age period of 7–11 years (primary school age) than during the age period of 3–7 years (pre‐school age): 37.5 (21.9, 53.1%) compared with 72.3 (59.6, 85.1%).ConclusionsThese data point to the low remission of excess body fat as an important driving force for the increasing prevalence of excess body fat in children between the ages of 7 and 11 years. Public health initiatives in children should encompass both primary prevention and interventions targeted at children already overweight at school entry.
Recommended levels of physical activity to avoid adiposity in Spanish children
Authors: Laguna M. , Ruiz J. R. , Lara M. T. , Aznar S. 
Published: September 2012

Summary
What is already known about this subject
There is an association between adiposity levels and physical activity guidelines for adolescents.
Achieving physical activity recommendations helps adolescents to prevent obesity status.

What this study adds
This paper presents an association between physical activity levels and obesity status.
This paper supports physical activity recommendations to avoid children's obesity levels.
This paper emphasizes vigorous physical activity for this matter.
BackgroundThere is no information about physical activity (PA) recommendations to avoid children's obesity levels and how much of vigorous PA (VPA) is included into the ‘60 minutes of MVPA 5 days a week’ recommendation for children.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the association between PA and adiposity in children and to examine whether the current PA guidelines are associated with a low risk of having excess of body fat in children, with special focus on sex differences, and PA intensity.MethodsA sample of 439 Spanish children aged 8–10 years from the European Youth Heart Study participated in the study. The variables measured were anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, body mass index [BMI], skin‐folds and waist circumference) and PA was measured during 6 consecutive days using the GT1M accelerometer.ResultsReceiver operating characteristic analysis showed significant cut‐off points associated with non‐overweight: 45 min d−1 of VPA and 67 min d−1 of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (using BMI categories); and non‐fat: 41 min d−1 of VPA and 67 min d−1 of MVPA (using percentage of body fat) and 38 min d−1 of VPA and 47 min d−1 of MVPA (using waist circumference categories) for boys. For girls, the optimal cut‐offs of moderate‐to‐vigorous activity and MVPA associated with non‐overweight were 24 and 57 min d−1, respectively (BMI). Boys who did not meet 67 min in MVPA had an increased risk of being overweight + obese and overfat + obese (odds ratio [OR] = 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36, 4.53, and OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.12, 5.82).ConclusionsThe findings support current PA recommendations (60 min d−1 of MVPA) to avoid excess of body fat in Spanish children. However, VPA appears to be an important component for the prevention of obesity, and our findings suggest that PA recommendations should specify the dose of VPA required for optimal health. Therefore, public health PA recommendations should incorporate specifically a greater dose of VPA into the total amount of MVPA in 8‐ to 10‐year‐old boys.
Importance of cholesterol in dopamine transporter function
Authors: Jones Kymry T. , Zhen Juan , Reith Maarten E. A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe conformation and function of the dopamine transporter (DAT) can be affected by manipulating membrane cholesterol, yet there is no agreement as to the impact of cholesterol on the activity of lipid‐raft localized DATs compared with non‐raft DATs. Given the paucity of information regarding the impact of cholesterol on substrate efflux by the DAT, this study explores its influence on the kinetics of DAT‐mediated DA efflux induced by dextroamphetamine, as measured by rotating disk electrode voltammetry (RDEV). Treatment with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (mβCD), which effectively depletes total membrane cholesterol––uniformly affecting cholesterol–DAT interactions in both raft and non‐raft membrane domains––reduced both DA uptake and efflux rate. In contrast, disruption of raft‐localized DAT by cholesterol chelation with nystatin had no effect, arguing against a vital role for raft‐localized DAT in substrate uptake or efflux. Supranormal repletion of cholesterol‐depleted cells with the analog desmosterol, a non‐raft promoting sterol, was as effective as cholesterol itself in restoring transport rates. Further studies with Zn2+ and the conformationally biased W84L DAT mutant supported the idea that cholesterol is important for maintaining the outward‐facing DAT with normal rates of conformational interconversions. Collectively, these results point to a role for direct cholesterol–DAT interactions in regulating DAT function.
MANAGING THE PROCESS OF REMOVING CAPITAL CONTROLS: WHAT DOES THE LITERATURE SUGGEST?
Authors: Moore Winston 
Published: September 2012

AbstractEconomic theory suggests that opening the capital account should allow a country to diversify away economic shocks, increase capital inflows, expand economic growth and efficiency as well as encourage governments to pursue good policies. The empirical evidence with regard to these theoretical predictions, however, are in some instances debatable. Many studies, for example, have reported mixed results as it relates to the impact of capital account integration on growth, exchange rates, trade and policy discipline. This paper provides a review of this literature as well as some recommendations for policymakers in relation to managing the process of removing capital controls.
Masticatory performance and taste perception in patients submitted to cancer treatment
Authors: Caputo J. B. , Campos S. S. , Pereira S. M. , Castelo P. M. , Gavião M. B. D. , Marques L. S. , Pereira L. J. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe aim of this study was to analyse mastication and the sense of taste in 39 patients submitted to cancer treatment in different areas of the body and to compare these variables with those of 44 control individuals within the same age range. The following aspects were assessed: dental status (DMFT); stimulated and non‐stimulated salivary flow; sense of taste (salty, sweet, bitter and sour); and masticatory performance (MP), through the calculation of X50. Logistic regression models were established to test the association between the independent variables and cancer treatment. Cancer patients had lesser stimulated salivary flow, a smaller number of teeth and occlusal units, worse MP, higher salty, sweet and sour taste scores and a lower bitter taste score (P < 0·05). A significant positive correlation was found between MP and the DMFT index in both groups (P < 0·05), meaning that a lower DMFT index value denoted a smaller X50 value (better masticatory performance). The logistic regression model revealed that patients who had undergone cancer treatment had a greater probability of exhibiting a smaller number of teeth, higher salty and smaller bitter taste scores (P < 0·05). It was concluded that patients who were submitted to cancer treatment presented oral physiology alterations when compared with control subjects at the same age range.
A high serum interleukin‐12p40 level prior to Kasai surgery predict a favourable outcome in children with biliary atresia
Authors: Wu Jia‐Feng , Kao Pei‐Chi , Chen Huey‐Ling , Lai Hong‐Shiee , Hsu Hong‐Yuan , Chang Mei‐Hwei , Ni Yen‐Hsuan 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundBiliary atresia (BA) is a paediatric cholestatic disease characterized by a progressive fibro‐inflammation of the biliary tree. Current treatment of choice is to establish good bile flow via the Kasai operation.AimsWe aimed to identify outcome‐predictive serum biomarkers in BA infant.MethodsThirty‐three BA children recruited from 1986 to 2007 served as the baseline‐study group. An additional 11 children recruited from 2008 to 2011 served as the validation group. Serum samples were collected immediately before and 6 months after the Kasai operation for the assessment of serum cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), IL‐10, IL‐12p40 and IL‐12p70 as the candidate biomarkers.ResultsIncreased serum TGF‐β levels indicated a lower Knodell hepatitis activity index at Kasai operation. The serum TGF‐β levels declined after the operation. Serum IL‐12p40 levels before the Kasai operation were higher in the subjects with a 3‐month jaundice‐free status than in others (P = 0.001). A serum pre‐operative IL‐12p40 level of 33 pg/ml was predictive of a 3‐month jaundice‐free status after surgery (positive predictive value=81.0%; negative predictive value=83.3%). This biomarker was also predictive of a better outcome, in terms of 3‐year survival with native liver (risk ratio [RR = 4.00]; P < 0.001), and 3‐year jaundice‐free survival with native liver (RR = 12.00; P < 0.001). We confirmed the predictive power of a high pre‐operative IL‐12p40 level on 3‐month jaundice‐free status in the validation group.ConclusionsThe pre‐operative IL‐12p40 level was a good predictive biomarker of clinical outcome in children with BA undergoing the Kasai operation.
The transferrin–iron import system from pathogenic Neisseria species
Authors: Noinaj Nicholas , Buchanan Susan K. , Cornelissen Cynthia Nau 
Published: September 2012

SummaryTwo pathogenic species within the genus Neisseria cause the diseases gonorrhoea and meningitis. While vaccines are available to protect against four N. meningitidis serogroups, there is currently no commercial vaccine to protect against serogroup B or against N. gonorrhoeae. Moreover, the available vaccines have significant limitations and with antibiotic resistance becoming an alarming issue, the search for effective vaccine targets to elicit long‐lasting protection against Neisseria species is becoming more urgent. One strategy for vaccine development has targeted the neisserial iron import systems. Without iron, the Neisseriae cannot survive and, therefore, these iron import systems tend to be relatively well conserved and are promising vaccine targets, having the potential to offer broad protection against both gonococcal and meningococcal infections. These efforts have been boosted by recent reports of the crystal structures of the neisserial receptor proteins TbpA and TbpB, each solved in complex with human transferrin, an iron binding protein normally responsible for delivering iron to human cells. Here, we review the recent structural reports and put them into perspective with available functional studies in order to derive the mechanism(s) for how the pathogenic Neisseriae are able to hijack human iron transport systems for their own survival and pathogenesis.
Modulation of DNA damage tolerance in Escherichia colirecG and ruv strains by mutations affecting PriB, the ribosome and RNA polymerase
Authors: Mahdi Akeel A. , Briggs Geoffrey S. , Lloyd Robert G. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryRecG is a DNA translocase that helps to maintain genomic integrity. Initial studies suggested a role in promoting recombination, a possibility consistent with synergism between recG and ruv null alleles and reinforced when the protein was shown to unwind Holliday junctions. In this article we describe novel suppressors of recG and show that the pathology seen without RecG is suppressed on reducing or eliminating PriB, a component of the PriA system for replisome assembly and replication restart. Suppression is conditional, depending on additional mutations that modify ribosomal subunit S6 or one of three subunits of RNA polymerase. The latter suppress phenotypes associated with deletion of priB, enabling the deletion to suppress recG. They include alleles likely to disrupt interactions with transcription anti‐terminator, NusA. Deleting priB has a different effect in ruv strains. It provokes abortive recombination and compromises DNA repair in a manner consistent with PriB being required to limit exposure of recombinogenic ssDNA. This synergism is reduced by the RNA polymerase mutations identified. Taken together, the results reveal that RecG curbs a potentially negative effect of proteins that direct replication fork assembly at sites removed from the normal origin, a facility needed to resolve conflicts between replication and transcription.
One if by land, two if by sea: signalling to the ranks with CSP and XIP
Authors: Federle Michael J. , Morrison Donald A. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryIn many streptococci, quorum sensing utilizes secreted, linear peptides that engage cognate receptors to coordinate gene expression among members of a local population. Streptococcus mutans employs the secreted peptides CSP and XIP to stimulate production of antimicrobial bacteriocins and to induce development of competence for genetic transformation. Recent progress in the field reveals that these pathways not only monitor the presence of signal emitters but also sense environmental factors. Both kinds of information are integrated by regulatory networks that then generate multiple outcomes, even among parallel cells growing in identical conditions. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Son and co‐workers investigate how two medium types shape cellular responses to CSP and XIP pheromones in individuals across a population. Their findings characterize restrictive properties of media differing in peptidic fragment content and reveal unusual signalling properties that contribute to bimodal responses of gene expression.
Influence of gender and stress on the volatile sulfur compounds and stress biomarkers production
Authors: Lima PO , Calil CM , Marcondes FK 
Published: September 2012

BackgroundStress and menstrual cycle have been described as factors influencing bad breath, as they can alter oral homeostasis and contribute to the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC).ObjectiveConsidering that the experimenter's and volunteer's gender may influence the volunteer's responses to stress, the aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of stress and gender on the production of VSC and salivary biomarkers.MethodsThe experimental acute stress was induced by the Video‐Recorded Stroop Color‐Word Test (VRSCWT). The VSC, salivary proteins, and cardiovascular parameters were measured before and after VRSCWT.ResultsThe VRSCWT induced significant increase in total VSC, hydrogen sulfide, and blood pressure values in men and women. Women presented higher values of both these compounds than men. The increase in systolic blood pressure was more pronounced when subjects were evaluated by an experimenter of the opposite gender. When women were evaluated by a member of the opposite gender, they showed significant increases in salivary alpha‐amylase and cortisol compared with baseline values.ConclusionThus, the results showed that VRSCWT induced acute stress, which increased VSC production, and these effects were shown to be influenced by the gender.
Aberrations in the micro‐RNA biogenesis machinery and the emerging roles of micro‐RNAs in the pathogenesis of cutaneous malignant melanoma
Authors: Leibowitz‐Amit Raya , Sidi Yechezkel , Avni Dror 
Published: September 2012

SummaryMicro‐RNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play roles in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Since the seminal discovery that aberrant miRNA expression has a causative role in leukemogenesis, the involvement of miRNAs in cancer initiation, propagation, and metastasis has been widely studied. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the literature on miRNAs in melanoma, specifically focusing on aberrations in cellular miRNA biogenesis and processing. These aberrations include genetic and epigenetic changes at the chromosomal level, alterations in the level of the miRNA‐processing enzyme DICER, and the existence of competitive endogenous RNAs that serve as decoys for miRNAs and thus modulate their effective intracellular concentrations. We also discuss miRNA profiling in melanoma, review several miRNAs implicated in invasion, metastasis, proliferation, and apoptosis, and briefly summarize the cross talk between miRNAs and microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor, the master transcriptional regulator of the melanocyte lineage. Finally, we summarize recent studies of miRNA expression as prognostic and predictive biomarkers, as well as initial experiments on the use of miRNAs and small interfering RNAs as therapeutic agents in melanoma.
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Vancomycin‐Resistant Enterococcus faecium from Swine in Michigan, USA
Authors: Gordoncillo M. J. N. , Donabedian S. , Bartlett P. C. , Perri M. , Zervos M. , Kirkwood R. , Febvay C. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryIn 2008, we identified vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE) in Michigan swine, which was the first report of VRE in livestock from North America. Continued sampling in 2009 and 2010 was conducted to determine whether VRE persisted in Michigan. In 2009, swine faecal and feed samples (n = 56), county fair pig barn manure samples (n = 9) and pooled Michigan State Fair pig barn manure samples (n = 18) were screened for VRE. In 2010, swine faecal samples were collected from 26 county fairs (n = 73) and nine commercial swine farms in six states (n = 28). Recovered VRE isolates were molecularly evaluated by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), S1 nuclease digestion and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Six VRE isolates were identified in 2009 from the State Fair, and another six (8.2%) were recovered from the five county fairs in 2010. All 12 isolates were highly related to the first‐reported VRE from Michigan swine: all were confirmed to be vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREf) carrying vanA gene on Tn1546 (Type D), were negative for IS1251, hyl and esp gene, carried a 150–160 kb megaplasmid, and have closely similar PFGE patterns with >80% similarity. Classified as ST5, ST6 or ST185 by MLST, all belong to the clonal complex 5, a strain recognized to be circulating among European pigs. This study reveals that VREf are widespread in Michigan swine and persist in the historical absence of the use of agricultural glycopeptides.