bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of chromium malate on glycometabolism, glycometabolism‐related enzyme levels and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats: A dose–response and curative effects study
Authors: Feng Weiwei , Mao Guanghua , Li Qian , Wang Wei , Chen Yao , Zhao Ting , Li Fang , Zou Ye , Wu Huiyu , Yang Liuqing , Wu Xiangyang 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAims/IntroductionThe present study was designed to evaluate the effect of chromium malate on glycometabolism, glycometabolism‐related enzyme levels and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats, and dose–response and curative effects.Materials and MethodsThe model of type 2 diabetes rats was developed, and daily treatment with chromium malate was given for 4 weeks. A rat enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to assay glycometabolism, glycometabolism‐related enzyme levels and lipid metabolism changes.ResultsThe results showed that the antihyperglycemic activity increased with administration of chromium malate in a dose–dependent manner. The serum insulin level, insulin resistance index and C‐peptide level of the chromium malate groups at a dose of 17.5, 20.0 and 20.8 μg chromium/kg bodyweight were significantly lower than that of the model, chromium trichloride and chromium picolinate groups. The hepatic glycogen, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase and glucokinase levels of the chromium malate groups at a dose of 17.5, 20.0 and 20.8 μg chromium/kg bodyweight were significantly higher than that of the model, chromium trichloride and chromium picolinate groups. Chromium malate at a dose of 20.0 and 20.8 μg chromium/kg bodyweight significantly changed the total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels compared with the chromium trichloride and chromium picolinate groups.ConclusionsThe results showed that chromium malate exhibits greater benefits in treating type 2 diabetes, and the curative effect of chromium malate is superior to chromium trichloride and chromium picolinate.
Ten years experience with oral immunosuppressive treatment in adult patients with atopic dermatitis in two academic centres
Authors: Garritsen F.M. , Roekevisch E. , van der Schaft J. , Deinum J. , Spuls P.I. , de Bruin‐Weller M.S. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundThere is a lack of information on the use oral immunosuppressive drugs in atopic dermatitis (AD) daily practice.ObjectiveA 10‐years overview of the use of oral immunosuppressive drugs in patients with severe AD.MethodsMedical charts of patients with AD, who received oral immunosuppressive drugs at the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam and in the University Medical Center Utrecht between January 2001 and January 2011, were analysed. Particular attention was paid to patient characteristics, prior treatment, prescribed oral immunosuppressive drugs, the order of use, doses and treatment durations and reasons for discontinuation of treatment.ResultsOf 334 patients [53% male, mean age at start of an oral immunosuppressive drug 36.9 years (SD 13.6)] with AD received oral immunosuppressive treatment of which 102 (31%) participated in clinical trials. Cyclosporine A (CyA) was given in 80% of the patients, mycophenolate mofetil or enteric‐coated mycophenolate (MMF/EC‐MPS) in 31%, azathioprine (AZA) in 14%, methotrexate (MTX) in 11%, systemic glucocorticosteroids in 7% and systemic tacrolimus in 5%. In these academic centra, CyA was the first choice oral immunosuppressive in 252 patients. Reasons for discontinuation of oral immunosuppressive drugs were controlled AD disease, ineffectiveness and adverse events.ConclusionVarious types of oral immunosuppressive drugs have been used over the past 10 years for the treatment of severe AD with a prominent first choice for CyA. Adverse events and ineffectiveness were frequent reasons for discontinuation. A prospective database of patients using oral immunosuppressive treatments in daily practice will give more insight in the effectiveness and safety and may help to formulate future recommendations.
How the creative use of analogies can shape medical practice
Authors: Prasad G V Ramesh 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAnalogical reasoning is central to medical progress, and is either creative or conservative. According to Hofmann et al., conservative analogy relates concepts from old technology to new technologies with emphasis on preservation of comprehension and conduct. Creative analogy however brings new understanding to new technology, brings similarities existing in the source domain to a target domain where they previously had no bearing, and imports something entirely different from the content of the analogy itself. I defend the claim that while conservative analogies are useful by virtue of being comfortable to use from familiarity and experience, and are more easily accepted by society, they only lead to incremental advances in medicine. However, creative analogies are more exciting and productive because they generate previously unexpected associations across widely separated domains, emphasize relations over physical similarities, and structure over superficiality. I use kidney transplantation and anti‐rejection medication development as an exemplar of analogical reasoning used to improve medical practice. Anti‐rejection medication has not helped highly sensitized patients because of their propensity to rejecting most organs. I outline how conservative analogical reasoning led to anti‐rejection medication development, but creative analogical reasoning helped highly sensitized and blood type incompatible patients through domino transplants, by which they obtain a kidney to which they are not sensitized. Creative analogical reasoning is more likely than conservative analogical reasoning to lead to revolutionary progress. While these analogies overlap and creative analogies eventually become conservative, progress is best facilitated by combining conservative and creative analogical reasoning.
Quality Characteristics of Wheat Germ Oil Obtained by Innovative Subcritical Butane Experimental Equipment
Authors: Xu Bin , Han Jihua , Zhou Shilong , Wu Qifei , Ding Fen 
Published: March 2015

AbstractSubcritical butane extraction (SBE) was used to extract oil from wheat germ and was compared with conventional n‐hexane extraction (CHE) and supercritical CO2 extraction (SC‐CO2E) methods. By analyzing the extraction yield, composition of fatty acids and characteristic functional contents such as VE, phytosterols and phospholipids in wheat germ oil (WGO), the selective extraction characteristics of subcritical butane were evaluated. The results indicated that compared with SC‐CO2E and CHE, SBE had no significant difference in oil yield, fatty acid compositions, acid value and peroxide value of WGO. However, the content of phytosterols in the oil extracted by SBE (2,326 mg/100 g) was higher than that extracted by CHE (921 mg/100 g) or SC‐CO2E (1,381 mg/100 g). The VE content of WGO extracted by SBE (359 mg/100 g) was equivalent to that extracted by CHE (357 mg/100 g) and slightly less than that extracted by SC‐CO2E (374 mg/100 g). And the content of phospholipids in WGO extracted by SBE (12.41 mg/g) was lower than that extracted by CHE (17.78 mg/g). In conclusion, SBE was able to retain the bioactive compounds in WGO when compared with CHE.Practical ApplicationsWheat germ oil is a type of functional oil enriched with bioactive compounds that have great latent capacity for further exploitation. However, conventional extraction methods of edible oil lead to oil oxidation and degradation or loss of bioactive components after desolvation and refinement (Pradhan et al. 2010). In addition, due to the shortcomings of supercritical CO2 extraction technology such as costly equipment investment, low productivity and high cost of production, subcritical fluid extraction technology can be applied to industrial production owing to its use of low pressure and room temperature for extraction. The present study demonstrates that subcritical butane has better extracting power for bioactive compounds in wheat germ oil than conventional n‐hexane. Choosing subcritical butane extraction technology can help the fats and oils industry to improve the quality of high value‐added oil while lowering production costs.
Thermal Inactivation of Shiga Toxin‐Producing Escherichia coli Cells within Veal Cordon Bleu
Authors: Kulas Megan , Porto‐Fett Anna C.S. , Swartz Richard S. , Shane Laura E. , Strasser Hannah , Munson Madison , Shoyer Bradley A. , Luchansky John B. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractVeal cutlets were surface inoculated with ca. 6.6 cfu/g of an eight‐strain rifampicin‐resistant cocktail of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (O26:H11, O45:H2, O103:H2, O104:H4, O111:H‐, O121:H19, O145:NM and O157:H7). Cutlets were mechanically tenderized and cordon bleu was prepared by adding slices of ham and cheese between two cutlets prior to batter/breading and cooking. Fully assembled cordon bleu were cooked in preheated (191.5C) extra virgin olive oil (45 mL) on a griddle. Cooking for 4, 5 or 6 min per side reduced STEC levels by ca. 1.3, 2.2 or 3.4 log cfu/g, respectively, whereas cooking for 7–10 min per side resulted in reductions of ca. ≥6.2 log cfu/g. These data validated that cooking tenderized veal cordon bleu for at least 7 min per side in 45 mL of olive oil on a griddle maintained at ca. 191.5C is sufficient to achieve an internal cordon bleu temperature of 69.0 ± 3.3C and a ≥5‐log reduction of STEC.Practical ApplicationsVeal cordon bleu is a popular meal prepared by placing a slice of cheese and a slice of cured pork between two cutlets and then coating/breading the resulting turnover‐type product. We evaluated time and temperature cooking regimens for lethality toward Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) inoculated onto mechanically tenderized multicomponent veal cordon bleu. Our results confirmed that a 5‐log reduction of STEC was achieved by cooking veal cordon bleu to an internal temperature of 69.0 ± 3.3C for at least 7 min per side on a griddle maintained at 191.5C. Reductions of ca. 1.5–3.5 log cfu/g were also achieved following cooking for 4 to 6 min per side. These data establish guidelines for cooking veal cordon bleu, which, in turn, may decrease the potential risk of STEC illnesses associated with this product if pathogens are present and if these products are undercooked or mishandled.
Oral health‐related quality of life among an Australian sample of people who inject drugs
Authors: Truong Arthur , Higgs Peter , Cogger Shelley , Jamieson Lisa , Burns Lucinda , Dietze Paul 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectivesPeople who inject drugs (PWID) have poor oral health. However, their oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) is unknown. Our study was designed to measure the OHRQoL of PWID.MethodsThe Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 (OHIP‐14) was administered to 794 PWID recruited in Australian capital cities as part of the 2013 Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Three OHIP‐14 summary indicators were examined: “Prevalence” (proportion reporting ≥1 item at least “fairly often”), “severity” (mean total OHIP‐14 score), and “extent” (number of impacts reported at least “fairly often”). Associations between “prevalence” and “extent” and variables drawn from the health, drug use, and social domains were investigated.ResultsAll OHIP‐14 summary indicators among IDRS participants were significantly higher than in the general Australian population. In multivariate analysis, the “prevalence” indicator was significantly and positively associated with female gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.75, 95% CI 1.27‐2.38], those born in Australia (AOR = 2, 95% CI 1.25‐3.23), not completing Year 10 compared with those who had completed Year 12 or a higher qualification (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.03‐2.44), and methadone treatment (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.14‐2.29). The “extent” indicator was significantly and positively associated with female gender [adjusted incidence rate ratio (AIRR) = 1.56, 95% CI 1.19‐2.08], unemployment (AIRR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.01‐2.44), and having an injecting career of 10‐20 years (AIRR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.03‐3.01).ConclusionsPWID have poorer OHRQoL than the Australian general population. Poor OHRQoL was particularly common in female PWID and those with longer injecting careers. Interventions to improve the oral health of PWID may improve their OHRQoL.
Narrative therapy with an emotional approach for people with depression: Improved symptom and cognitive‐emotional outcomes
Authors: Seo M. , Kang H. S. , Lee Y. J. , Chae S. M. 
Published: March 2015

Accessible summary
Narrative therapy is a useful approach in the treatment of depression that allows that person to ‘re‐author’ his/her life stories by focusing on positive interpretations, and such focus on positive emotions is a crucial component of treatment for depression.
This paper evaluates narrative therapy with an emotional approach (NTEA) as a therapeutic modality that could be used by nurses for persons with depression.
A nurse‐administered NTEA intervention for people with depression appears effective in increasing cognitive‐emotional outcomes, such as hope, positive emotions and decreasing symptoms of depression. Thus, NTEA can be a useful nursing intervention strategy for people with depression.
AbstractNarrative therapy, which allows a person to ‘re‐author’ his/her life stories by focusing on positive interpretations, and emotion‐focused therapy, which enables the person to realize his/her emotions, are useful approaches in the treatment of depression. Narrative therapy with an emotional approach (NTEA) aims to create new positive life narratives that focus on alternative stories instead of negative stories. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the NTEA programme on people with depression utilizing a quasi‐experimental design. A total of 50 patients (experimental 24, control 26) participated in the study. The experimental group completed eight sessions of the NTEA programme. The effects of the programme were measured using a self‐awareness scale, the Nowotny Hope Scale, the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression Scale. The two groups were homogeneous. There were significant differences in hope, positive and negative emotions, and depression between the experimental and control group. The results established that NTEA can be a useful nursing intervention strategy for people with depression by focusing on positive experiences and by helping depressed patients develop a positive identity through authoring affirmative life stories.
Formalized classification of species‐poor vegetation: a proposal of a consistent protocol for aquatic vegetation
Authors: Landucci Flavia , Tichý Lubomír , Šumberová Kateřina , Chytrý Milan 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimsMost vegetation classification systems developed for large areas include various inconsistencies. Therefore, we (1) propose a new consistent Cocktail‐based approach to redefine the traditional phytosociological classification of species‐poor vegetation; (2) apply it to create a classification protocol for aquatic vegetation; (3) implement this protocol in a computer expert system; and (4) test it with a data set previously classified using an older version of the Cocktail method.MethodsThe new approach uses formal logic to provide formal definitions of vegetation units. In the classification protocol for aquatic vegetation we defined consistent criteria for delimitation of associations according to the concepts that are predominantly used in phytosociology, based on species cover, dominance patterns and functional species groups. We applied these criteria in a computer expert system running in the JUICE 7.0 program, and applied them to a test data set of 12 171 vegetation plots from the Czech Republic containing at least one aquatic species. The new classification was compared with (1) the previous national Cocktail classification based on species cover values and in few cases on sociological species groups, and (2) a non‐formalized expert‐based classification.ResultsThirteen functional species groups were created to build logical formulas of 64 aquatic associations and 5297 (44% of the total data set) vegetation plots were assigned to these associations, i.e. by 4% and 12% more than in the previous Cocktail and expert‐based classifications, respectively. There was 94% and 83% classification agreement with the previous Cocktail and expert‐based classification.ConclusionsThe new approach produces a formal, consistent and unequivocal classification of species‐poor vegetation with several advantages over similar approaches. It provides not only a set of formal definitions of vegetation units, but also a set of rules for building such definitions. All associations with common characteristics are defined by structurally identical formulas, ensuring consistency of the classification. While similar approaches for species‐rich vegetation use sociological species groups, which are not applicable to species‐poor vegetation, the new approach introduces the use of functional species groups, which reflect vegetation physiognomy and spatial structure and, in combination with species dominance, enable the classification of species‐poor vegetation in a similar manner as in traditional phytosociology.
Temperature‐dependent lipid metabolism in the blow fly Lucilia sericata
Authors: MUNTZER A. , MONTAGNE C. , ELLSE L. , WALL R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAn understanding of how arthropods use energy is fundamental to explaining their diverse life histories and adaptation to specific environments. It is also of importance when attempting to predict the impacts of environmental change on patterns of development and phenology. Here, lipid use by the economically important agent of ovine myiasis, Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae), was quantified at a range of temperatures. During pupation, at temperatures above the minimum temperature required for development (9 °C), pupae depleted an average of 30% of their total lipid over the course of pupation regardless of temperature. There was no detectable loss of lipid during pupation at temperatures below 9 °C. In general, larger individuals had the same relative amounts of lipid as smaller individuals. Newly emerged adults metabolized about 16% of the lipid reserves with which they emerged in the first 24 h during flight‐related activity. Starved adults, with access to water but without sucrose or protein, depleted their lipid reserves and died within about 4 days of emergence. However, adults with access to protein and/or carbohydrate were able to maintain a stored lipid content of about 2.38% of their total body mass for at least 14 days after emergence, irrespective of sex. This finding is similar to that in field‐caught individuals, in which lipid content was found to be a mean of 3% of body mass. The data suggest that warmer environmental conditions, within the temperature limits tested here, although shortening the time required for development and altering the patterns of seasonal abundance of L. sericata, are unlikely to impact on fly survival because of greater metabolic demands during non‐feeding stages of the lifecycle.
Epidemiology of chronic fungal rhinosinusitis in rural India
Authors: Chakrabarti Arunaloke , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash M. , Panda Naresh , Das Ashim , Singh Amarjeet 
Published: March 2015

SummaryA descriptive epidemiological study of fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) was conducted in rural north India in the form of house‐to‐house survey of villages of two districts each of Punjab and Haryana provinces using a clinical case definition of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The suspected cases were investigated further in the laboratory to confirm FRS. Air and environment were sampled in different seasons to find Aspergillus spore count. The prevalence of chronic FRS cases was at 0.11% of the population and Aspergillus flavus was the predominant (97.6%) agent of all types of chronic FRS. The chronic FRS patients were classified as allergic FRS 41 (56.1%), chronic granulomatous FRS 13 (17.8%), eosinophilic FRS 11 (15.0%), fungal ball 7 (9.5%) and chronic invasive FRS 1 (1.3%). Aspergillus spores were present in large numbers (~20%) in air with significantly higher counts of A. flavus during winter months in the wheat‐thrashing areas of Punjab as compared to Haryana (P = 0.0079). The present study identified high prevalence (27.5% of CRS cases) of chronic FRS cases in rural north India and its possible association with wheat harvesting seasons.
Efficient strategies to find diagnostic test accuracy studies in kidney journals
Authors: Rogerson Thomas E , Ladhani Maleeka , Mitchell Ruth , Craig Jonathan C , Webster Angela C 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimNephrologists looking for quick answers to diagnostic clinical questions in MEDLINE can use a range of published search strategies or Clinical Query limits to improve the precision of their searches. We aimed to evaluate existing search strategies for finding diagnostic test accuracy studies in nephrology journals.MethodsWe assessed the accuracy of 14 search strategies for retrieving diagnostic test accuracy studies from three nephrology journals indexed in MEDLINE. Two investigators hand searched the same journals to create a reference set of diagnostic test accuracy studies to compare search strategy results against.ResultsWe identified 103 diagnostic test accuracy studies, accounting for 2.1% of all studies published. The most specific search strategy was the Narrow Clinical Queries limit (sensitivity: 0.20, 95% CI 0.13–0.29; specificity: 0.99, 95% CI 0.99–0.99). Using the Narrow Clinical Queries limit, a searcher would need to screen three (95% CI 2–6) articles to find one diagnostic study. The most sensitive search strategy was van der Weijden 1999 Extended (sensitivity: 0.95; 95% CI 0.89–0.98; specificity 0.55, 95% CI 0.53–0.56) but required a searcher to screen 24 (95% CI 23–26) articles to find one diagnostic study. Bachmann 2002 was the best balanced search strategy, which was sensitive (0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.94), but also specific (0.74, 95% CI 0.73–0.75), with a number needed to screen of 15 (95% CI 14–17).ConclusionDiagnostic studies are infrequently published in nephrology journals. The addition of a strategy for diagnostic studies to a subject search strategy in MEDLINE may reduce the records needed to screen while preserving adequate search sensitivity for routine clinical use.
Local adaptation in migrated interior Douglas‐fir seedlings is mediated by ectomycorrhizas and other soil factors
Authors: Pickles Brian J. , Twieg Brendan D. , O'Neill Gregory A. , Mohn William W. , Simard Suzanne W. 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Separating edaphic impacts on tree distributions from those of climate and geography is notoriously difficult. Aboveground and belowground factors play important roles, and determining their relative contribution to tree success will greatly assist in refining predictive models and forestry strategies in a changing climate.

In a common glasshouse, seedlings of interior Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) from multiple populations were grown in multiple forest soils. Fungicide was applied to half of the seedlings to separate soil fungal and nonfungal impacts on seedling performance. Soils of varying geographic and climatic distance from seed origin were compared, using a transfer function approach.

Seedling height and biomass were optimized following seed transfer into drier soils, whereas survival was optimized when elevation transfer was minimised. Fungicide application reduced ectomycorrhizal root colonization by c. 50%, with treated seedlings exhibiting greater survival but reduced biomass.

Local adaptation of Douglas‐fir populations to soils was mediated by soil fungi to some extent in 56% of soil origin by response variable combinations. Mediation by edaphic factors in general occurred in 81% of combinations. Soil biota, hitherto unaccounted for in climate models, interacts with biogeography to influence plant ranges in a changing climate.