bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral ethinylestradiol in castration‐resistant prostate cancer: A 10‐year experience
Authors: Sciarra Alessandro , Gentile Vincenzo , Cattarino Susanna , Gentilucci Alessandro , Alfarone Andrea , D'Eramo Giuseppe , Salciccia Stefano 
Published: September 2014

ObjectivesTo describe our 10‐year experience with the use of oral ethinylestradiol in the treatment of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer.MethodsFrom February 2000 to April 2010, 116 patients with a metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer were prospectively submitted to oral ethinylestradiol monotherapy. Inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of castration‐resistant prostate cancer after failure of at least two lines of androgen deprivation therapy and radiological evidence of metastases. Exclusion criteria were: symptomatic cases with a European Cooperative Oncology Group score >2 and severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular diseases. At inclusion in the study, all patients discontinued the previous androgen deprivation therapy and started oral ethinylestradiol at the daily dose of 1 mg. Aspirin (100 mg/daily) was concomitantly given.ResultsThe median ethinylestradiol therapy duration was 15.9 months (range 8–36 months), whereas the median follow up of patients was 28 months (range 13–36 months). During ethinylestradiol therapy, a confirmed prostate‐specific antigen response was found in 79 patients (70.5%). The median time to prostate‐specific antigen progression was 15.10 months (95% confidence interval 13.24–18.76 months). A toxicity requiring treatment cessation was observed in 26 patients (23.2%) at a median time of 16 months (mainly thromboembolism).ConclusionsOur 10‐year experience shows that ethinylestradiol provides a prostate‐specific antigen response in a high percentage of patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer. Cardiovascular toxicity can be managed through accurate patient selection, close follow up and a concomitant anticoagulation therapy.
Cdc42 and p190RhoGAP activation by CCN2 regulates cell spreading and polarity and induces actin disassembly in migrating keratinocytes
Authors: Kiwanuka Elizabeth , Lee Cameron CY , Hackl Florian , Caterson Edward J , Junker Johan PE , Gerdin Bengt , Eriksson Elof 
Published: September 2014

AbstractCell migration requires spatiotemporal integration of signals that regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. In response to a migration‐promoting agent, cells begin to polarise and extend protrusions in the direction of migration. These cytoskeletal rearrangements are orchestrated by a variety of proteins, including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the Rho family of GTPases. CCN2, also known as connective tissue growth factor, has emerged as a regulator of cell migration but the mechanism by which CCN2 regulates keratinocyte function is not well understood. In this article, we sought to elucidate the basic mechanism of CCN2‐induced cell migration in human keratinocytes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to demonstrate that treatment with CCN2 induces a migratory phenotype through actin disassembly, spreading of lamellipodia and re‐orientation of the Golgi. In vitro assays were used to show that CCN2‐induced cell migration is dependent on FAK, RhoA and Cdc42, but independent of Rac1. CCN2‐treated keratinocytes displayed increased Cdc42 activity and decreased RhoA activity up to 12 hours post‐treatment, with upregulation of p190RhoGAP. An improved understanding of how CCN2 regulates cell migration may establish the foundation for future therapeutics in fibrotic and neoplastic diseases.
Expression of a mitochondrial progesterone receptor in human spermatozoa correlates with a progestin‐dependent increase in mitochondrial membrane potential
Authors: Tantibhedhyangkul J. , Hawkins K. C. , Dai Q. , Mu K. , Dunn C. N. , Miller S. E. , Price T. M. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe hyperactivation of human spermatozoa necessary for fertilization requires a substantial increase in cellular energy production. The factors responsible for increasing cellular energy remain poorly defined. This article proposes a role for a novel mitochondrial progesterone receptor (PR‐M) in modulation of mitochondrial activity. Basic science studies demonstrate a 38 kDa protein with western blot analysis, consistent with PR‐M; whereas imaging studies with confocal and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrate a PR on the mitochondria. Treatment with a PR‐specific progestin shows increased mitochondrial membrane potential, not related to induction of an acrosome reaction. The increase in mitochondrial membrane potential was inhibited by a specific PR antagonist, but not affected by an inhibitor to the progesterone‐dependent Catsper voltage‐activated channel. In conclusion, these studies suggest expression of a novel mitochondrial PR in human spermatozoa with a progestin‐dependent increase in mitochondrial activity. This mechanism may serve to enhance cellular energy production as the spermatozoa traverse the female genital tract being exposed to increasing concentrations of progesterone.
The Aging of America's Reservoirs: In‐Reservoir and Downstream Physical Changes and Habitat Implications
Authors: Juracek Kyle E. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractReservoirs are important for various purposes including flood control, water supply, power generation, and recreation. The aging of America's reservoirs and progressive loss of water storage capacity resulting from ongoing sedimentation, coupled with increasing societal needs, will cause the social, economic, environmental, and political importance of reservoirs to continually increase. The short‐ and medium‐term (<50 years) environmental consequences of reservoir construction and operation are well known and include an altered flow regime, lost connectivity (longitudinal, floodplain), an altered sediment regime, substrate compositional change, and downstream channel degradation. In general, reservoir‐related changes have had adverse consequences for the natural ecosystem. Longer term (>50 years) environmental changes as reservoirs enter “old” age are less understood. Additional research is needed to help guide the future management of aging reservoir systems and support the difficult decisions that will have to be made. Important research directions include assessment of climate change effects on aging and determination of ecosystem response to ongoing aging and various management actions that may be taken with the intent of minimizing or reversing the physical effects of aging.
Pre‐Development Groundwater Conditions Surrounding Memphis, Tennessee: Controversy and Unexpected Outcomes
Authors: Waldron Brian , Larsen Daniel 
Published: September 2014

AbstractReliance on groundwater resources by differing governing bodies can create transboundary disputes raising questions of ownership and apportionment as the resource becomes strained through overuse or threatened by contamination. Transboundary disputes exist at varying scales, from conflicts between countries to smaller disputes between intrastate jurisdictions. In 2005 within the United States, the State of Mississippi filed a lawsuit against its political neighbor and their utility, the City of Memphis and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, for groundwater deemed owned by the State of Mississippi to be wrongfully diverted across the state line and into Tennessee by the defendants. The basis of the lawsuit was potentiometric maps of groundwater levels for the Memphis aquifer that showed under suggested pre‐development conditions no flow occurring across the Mississippi‐Tennessee state line, but subsequent historic potentiometric maps show a cone of depression under the City of Memphis with a clear northwesterly gradient from Mississippi into Tennessee. The suggested pre‐development conditions were derived from limited groundwater level observations between 41 and 74 years post‐development. A new pre‐development map is constructed using historic records that range 0‐17 years post‐development that shows the natural flow is northwesterly from Mississippi into Tennessee and transboundary groundwater quantities have actually decreased since pre‐development conditions.
The development of a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity appropriate for use in primary care health settings
Authors: Prime Heather , Browne Dillon , Akbari Emis , Wade Mark , Madigan Sheri , Jenkins Jennifer M. 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundParental responsivity is important to children's cognitive and socioemotional development, yet is under‐represented in primary healthcare, because the measurement is specialized and time‐consuming.MethodsThe current study developed a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity (CS), which uses impressionistic ratings based on brief observations of parent–child interaction when children are 3 years old.ResultsUsing data from a longitudinal cohort (Time 1, N = 501), the CS measure had good psychometric properties, was significantly related to a gold‐standard maternal responsivity measure, and was predicted by the same socio‐demographic factors predictive of other measures of parental responsivity. Finally, a well‐established pathway from socioeconomic risk (child age 2 months) to compromised parenting (child age 3 years) to negative child outcome (child age 4.5 years) was demonstrated with CS as the mediator.ConclusionThe maternal CS measure is brief, can be easily trained, and takes 8 min to administer and code, making it potentially useful in primary healthcare settings.
Avocado and soybean extracts as active principles in the treatment of mild‐to‐moderate vulvar lichen sclerosus: results of efficacy and tolerability
Authors: Borghi A. , Corazza M. , Minghetti S. , Toni G. , Virgili A. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractObjectiveLimited evidence is available on the effectiveness of treatments alternative to corticosteroids for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of avocado and soybean extracts (ASE) as active principles of both a topical product and a nutritional supplement in the treatment of active mild‐to‐moderate VLS.Materials and methodsTwenty‐three patients were enrolled. Treatment consisted of a topical product containing ASE and other lenitive and anti‐oxidant principles administered twice daily for 24 weeks, in association with a dietary supplement containing ASE, vitamin E and para‐aminobenzoic acid for the first 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of patients achieving an improvement from baseline in global subjective score (GSS) and global objective score (GOS) of ≥ 75%. Secondary efficacy endpoint was the rate of patients achieving GSS50 and GOS50. Tertiary efficacy endpoint was the mean reduction in subjective and objective scores throughout the treatment.ResultsBy the end of the 24‐week treatment, 12 (70.5% of symptomatic patients) and 13 patients (72.2%) achieved an improvement of at least 75% in subjective and objective global scores, respectively; 100% and 88.9% reached GSS50 and GOS50, respectively. Mean symptom and sign scores decreased significantly after treatment. The treatment was well tolerated.ConclusionsOur results provide evidence that the topical and dietary supplements used in the study, which contain active principles exerting anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fibrotic, emollient and lenitive actions, are effective alternatives in the treatment of symptoms and signs of mild‐to‐moderate VLS.
Temporal triangular alopecia: significance of trichoscopy in differential diagnosis
Authors: Karadağ Köse Ö. , Güleç A.T. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundThere are only two case reports in literature regarding the trichoscopic features of temporal triangular alopecia (TTA). Differential diagnosis of other types of localized alopecia such as alopecia areata is necessary in some cases.ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential benefit of trichoscopy in the clinical diagnosis of TTA.MethodsNine patients with a clinical diagnosis of TTA were included in the study. Trichoscopic examination was performed by a polarized‐light handheld dermatoscope with a 10‐fold magnification. The images were obtained by a digital camera that produced imagery with a 3‐fold optical zoom.ResultsShort vellus hairs, vellus hair length diversity and white hairs were encountered in all subjects, while white dots, honeycomb pigment pattern, arborising red lines and epidermal scale were noted in 22%–33% of them. None of the cases showed trichoscopic features such as tapering hairs, yellow dots or loss of follicular openings.ConclusionWe suggest that it seems possible to differentiate TTA by a handheld dermatoscope. Short vellus hairs with length diversity and white hairs in the absence of diagnostic features of other types of localized alopecia should be considered in favour of TTA.
THE EUROPE–U.S. PRODUCTIVITY GAP IN A REAR‐VIEW MIRROR: WILL MEASUREMENT DIFFERENCES IN THE SERVICES SECTOR OUTPUT PLEASE RISE?
Authors: Harchaoui Tarek M. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe deterioration in 1995 of Europe's productivity performance relative to the U.S. coincided with the ‘renaissance’ of the U.S. statistical system, which can be regarded, by now, as the frontier in official statistics. This paper raises the natural question whether the European statistical system was ‘left at the station’ while its U.S. counterpart ‘departed’, making it possible for measurement differences to become the primary suspect for the existing productivity gap. My retrospective review of the development path in the services sector productivity statistics suggests that Europe lags significantly behind the U.S. in the services producer price index program, both in terms of scope and timing of its implementation. Accordingly, the role of these measurement differences in the post‐1995 Europe–U.S. productivity story cannot reasonably be ruled out. The paper concludes with a ‘structured guess’ that provides a circumstantial evidence on the benefits generated by the upgrades in the U.S. services sector statistics. The results show that these enhancements led to two kinds of benefits during the post‐1995 period – a considerable reduction in the contribution of industries that traditionally dampened the aggregate productivity trend combined with a larger contribution of those that generally lifted it. This contrasts markedly with Europe where the contribution of these two sources remained unchanged in the meantime.
END‐OF‐LIFE CARE IN ADVANCED KIDNEY DISEASE: ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES AND KEY CHALLENGES FOR BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS
Authors: Cronin Antonia J. 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYAdvances in modern medical technology have gone so far that it is now possible for machinery to keep people alive. To some extent this has led to a misperception in society that death can almost always be postponed because life‐sustaining extracorporeal machinery of some sort or another, for example a dialysis machine, can prevent it. However, for some, being kept alive connected to a dialysis machine for four hours three times a week does not represent or even come close to an existence or quality of life they consider valuable. It may even cause unnecessary distress. This may be because they have reached a point at the end of their lives where they would like the focus of their treatment or care to become that which enables them to live as well as possible until they die. In these circumstances treatment and care should properly be that which enables the supportive and palliative care needs of both patient and family to be identified and met throughout the last phase of life and into bereavement. Identifying and acknowledging the importance of such a paradigm shift in the delivery of healthcare, and above all facilitating it, includes taking on the responsibility, incumbent upon us all, to address the ethical issues that are brought into focus. In this paper, I examine some of these issues. I consider the ways in which underlying theoretical ethical principles have informed the development of professional guidance and highlight the dynamic relationship this guidance has with the law. Finally, I demonstrate the ways in which it can be usefully applied to inform and assist clinical decision‐making. Key challenges for BAME groups are addressed.
Daytime physical activity and sleep in pre‐schoolers with developmental disorders
Authors: Tatsumi Yukako , Mohri Ikuko , Shimizu Sachiko , Tachibana Masaya , Ohno Yuko , Taniike Masako 
Published: September 2014

AimThis study aims to investigate the association between daytime physical activity (PA) and sleep in pre‐schoolers with or without autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).MethodThirty‐one pre‐school children with ASD and 16 age‐matched controls were recruited. Sleep and PA patterns were measured with an Actiwatch for 7 days. After average PA values were calculated for three periods (morning, afternoon and evening) of each day for each child, the days with maximum (active) and minimum (inactive) PA values for these three periods were determined. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used to compare sleep following active mornings, afternoons and evenings with that following inactive time periods.ResultsIn control children, sleep onset time following active mornings/afternoons did not differ from that following inactive mornings/afternoons. In contrast, sleep onset following the most inactive morning (median sleep onset time: 9:57 pm) and the most inactive afternoon (median sleep onset time: 10:24 pm) began significantly later than that following the most active mornings (median sleep onset time: 9:21 pm) and the most active afternoons (median sleep onset time: 9:39 pm) in children with ASD. The percentage of sleep for control children following active mornings was significantly higher (median: 93.2%) than that following inactive ones (median: 91.7%). Significant associations were not found between evening PA and sleep in either ASD or control children.ConclusionsA high level of morning and afternoon PA can advance the sleep phase in children with ASD.
Context‐dependent stress responses and their connections to fitness in a landscape of fear
Authors: Jaatinen K. , Seltmann M. W. , Öst M. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe acute glucocorticoid stress response is presumed to facilitate escape from life‐threatening situations such as predation and thus it is assumed to be linked to fitness. However, the fitness effects of glucocorticoid reactivity remain controversial, as these effects may be context‐dependent. Individuals differing in their emphasis on current versus future reproduction may differ in their risk‐taking under threat of predation; this variation in risk‐taking may be mediated by variations in stress reactivity. We set out to test whether predation risk (island‐ and year‐specific proportion of depredated nests) modified the relationships between stress responsiveness and current reproductive investment (clutch weight) and between stress responsiveness and reproductive success (viable proportion of the clutch) in the long‐lived female eider Somateria mollissima. This study system shows large spatial and annual fluctuations in predation risk, indexed by the annual island‐specific proportion of depredated nests. The capture stress‐related corticosterone output was attenuated with increasing clutch weight under low predation pressure but elevated under severe predation pressure, and females in well‐concealed nests had lower stress responsiveness. The viable proportion of the clutch decreased with increasing corticosterone reactivity under low to moderate predation pressure, but slightly increased under severe predation pressure. The acute stress response may thus mediate adaptive plasticity; dampened stress reactivity may ensure successful reproduction under low predation threat or in nest sites reducing detection by visual predators, whereas preparing for potential attacks may be favoured under elevated predation risk.
Distribution across tissue layers of extrinsic nerves innervating the mouse colorectum – An in vitro anterograde tracing study
Authors: Brumovsky Pablo R. , La Jun‐Ho , Gebhart Gerald F. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundAnterograde in vitro tracing of the pelvic nerve (PN) and visualization in the horizontal plane in whole mount preparations has been fundamental in the analysis of distribution of peripheral nerves innervating the colorectum. Here, we performed a similar analysis, but in cryostat sections of the mouse colorectum, allowing for a more direct visualization of nerve distribution in all tissue layers.MethodsColorectum with attached PNs was dissected from adult male BalbC mice. Presence of active afferents was certified by single fiber recording of fine PN fibers. This was followed by ‘bulk’ (all fibers) anterograde tracing using biotinamide (BTA). Histo‐ and immunohistochemical techniques were used for visualization of BTA‐positive nerves, and evaluation of co‐localization with calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), respectively. Tissue was analyzed using confocal microscopy on transverse or longitudinal colorectum sections.Key ResultsAbundant BTA‐positive nerves spanning all layers of the mouse colorectum and contacting myenteric plexus neurons, distributing within the muscle layer, penetrating deeper into the organ and contacting blood vessels, submucosal plexus neurons or even penetrating the mucosa, were regularly detected. Several traced axons co‐localized CGRP, supporting their afferent nature. Finally, anterograde tracing of the PN also exposed abundant BTA‐positive nerves in the major pelvic ganglion.Conclusions & InferencesWe present the patterns of innervation of extrinsic axons across layers in the mouse colorectum, including the labile mucosal layer. The proposed approach could also be useful in the analysis of associations between morphology and physiology of peripheral nerves targeting the different layers of the colorectum.
New insights into plant salt acclimation: the roles of vesicle trafficking and reactive oxygen species signalling in mitochondria and the endomembrane system
Authors: Garcia de la Garma Jesus , Fernandez‐Garcia Nieves , Bardisi Enas , Pallol Beatriz , Asensio‐Rubio Jose Salvador , Bru Roque , Olmos Enrique 
Published: September 2014

Summary

In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate salt acclimation. The main objective was to obtain new insights into the molecular mechanisms that control salt acclimation. Therefore, we carried out a multidisciplinary study using proteomic, transcriptomic, subcellular and physiological techniques.

We obtained a Nicotiana tabacum BY‐2 cell line acclimated to be grown at 258 mM NaCl as a model for this study. The proteomic and transcriptomic data indicate that the molecular response to stress (chaperones, defence proteins, etc.) is highly induced in these salt‐acclimated cells.

The subcellular results show that salt induces sodium compartmentalization in the cell vacuoles and seems to be mediated by vesicle trafficking in tobacco salt‐acclimated cells. Our results demonstrate that abscisic acid (ABA) and proline metabolism are crucial in the cellular signalling of salt acclimation, probably regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the mitochondria. ROS may act as a retrograde signal, regulating the cell response.

The network of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus is highly altered in salt‐acclimated cells. The molecular and subcellular analysis suggests that the unfolded protein response is induced in salt‐acclimated cells. Finally, we propose that this mechanism may mediate cell death in salt‐acclimated cells.