bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adult left liver transplantation from split livers and living donors: a 14‐year single‐center experience
Authors: Boillot Olivier , Sagnard Pierre , Guillaud Olivier , Ber Charles‐Eric , Pouyet Michel , Dumortier Jérôme 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundIn an era of organ scarcity, the use of left liver grafts for adult recipients could increase the access to liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the results in a single‐center series of adult left LT over a 14‐yr period.Patients and methodsBetween March 1996 and March 2010, 30 adult patients underwent LT with a left liver obtained from 16 split cadaveric livers and 14 living donors (LD). Portal vein inflow modulation was performed in selected cases.ResultsA total of 19 (63.3%) grafts had early dysfunction leading to graft failure in six cases (20%). One third of the grafts developed small‐for‐size syndrome (SFSS). One‐yr patient and graft survival was 80% and 76.7%, respectively. Regarding two successive periods, one‐yr patient and graft survival dramatically increased from 62.5% to 100% (p = 0.01) and 56.2% to 100% (p = 0.002), respectively. Multivariate analysis disclosed that completion of a portosystemic shunt and the occurrence of post‐operative ascites were significantly associated with graft failure.ConclusionsOur results support that improved surgical techniques and careful patient selection can lead to a safe use of left livers for transplantation in adult recipients. Inflow modulation could be performed in very selected cases.
Understanding the relationship between trust in health care and attitudes toward living donor transplant among African Americans with end‐stage renal disease
Authors: McDonald Evangeline L. , Powell C. Lamonte , Perryman Jennie P. , Thompson Nancy J. , Jacob Arriola Kimberly R. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractTransplantation is the favored therapy for patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Unfortunately, demand for available organs far outpaces the supply. African Americans are disproportionately affected by the ever‐widening gap between organ supply and demand. Additionally, structural, biological, and social factors contribute to feelings of unease some African Americans may feel regarding living donor transplant (LDT). The present research examines the relationship between trust in health care and attitudes toward LDT among African American ESRD patients. We hypothesized that lower trust in health care would be significantly associated with negative attitudes toward LDT, and that this relationship would be moderated by patient attitudes toward dialysis. Data were collected from August 2011 to April 2012 as part of a larger study. Measures included trust (of doctors, racial equity of treatment, and hospitals) and attitudes toward both LDT and dialysis. Bivariate analysis revealed that trust in one's doctor, hospital, and in racial equity in health care was significantly correlated with attitudes toward LDT (r = 0.265; r = 0.131; and r = 0.202, respectively). Additionally, attitudes toward dialysis moderated the relationships between Trust in Doctors/Attitudes toward LDT and Trust in Racial equity of treatment/Attitudes toward LDT. Findings suggest a strong relationship between trust in health care and attitudes toward LDT. These findings also shed light on how dialysis experiences are related to the relationship between trust in health care and attitudes toward LDT.
Detection and characteristics of individuals with a very long duration of untreated psychosis in an early intervention for psychosis service
Authors: O'Donoghue Brian , Lyne John , Kinsella Anthony , Turner Niall , O'Callaghan Eadbhard , Clarke Mary 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAimEarly intervention (EI) services for psychosis aim to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) with intensive large‐scale multi‐focus initiatives, including public awareness campaigns. As a consequence of this approach, individuals with a very long DUP who might have otherwise remained undiagnosed may come to medical attention. The aim of this study was to investigate if an EI service detected additional cases of individuals with a first‐episode psychosis (FEP) with a very long DUP and identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with a very long DUP.MethodsWe compared the distribution of the DUP in cases with FEP in a cohort from an EI service in a geographically defined catchment area with a historical control group. Participants were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) diagnoses and the Beiser scale to determine the DUP.ResultsA total of 172 individuals were included in the EI service and 151 were included from the historical control. There was no difference in the distribution of the DUP in the EI service compared with the historical control group (χ2 = 3.77, degrees of freedom (d.f.) = 3, P = 0.29). In the EI service, 7.6% of cases had a DUP between 24 and 35.9 months compared to 3.3% in the historical control, and 13.4% of cases in the EI service had a DUP of greater than three years compared to 10.6% in the historical control. A very long DUP was associated with unemployment, less insight and involuntary treatment.ConclusionFurther examination of the pathways to care in cases with a long DUP may clarify the contribution of help‐seeking and health system delays for these individuals.
Pairing as an instructional strategy to promote soft skills amongst clinical dental students
Authors: Abu Kasim N. H. , Abu Kassim N. L. , Razak A. A. A. , Abdullah H. , Bindal P. , Che' Abdul Aziz Z. A. , Sulaiman E. , Farook M. S. , Gonzalez M. A. G. , Thong Y. L. , Ahmad N. A. , Naimie Z. , Abdullah M. , Lui J. L. , Abdul Aziz A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractTraining dentists today is challenging as they are expected to provide a wide range of dental care. In the provision of good dental care, soft skills are equally important as clinical skills. Therefore in dental education the development of soft skills are of prime concern. This study sought to identify the development of soft skills when dental students are paired in their clinical training. In this perception study, four open‐ended items were used to elicit students' feedback on the appropriateness of using clinical pairing as an instructional strategy to promote soft skills. The most frequently cited soft skills were teamwork (70%) and communication (25%) skills. However, both negative and positive behaviours were reported. As for critical thinking and problem solving skills, more positive behaviours were reported for abilities such as to explain, analyze, find ideas and alternative solutions, and make decisions. Leadership among peers was not evident as leading without legitimate authority could be a hindrance to its development. If clinical pairing is to be used as an effective instructional strategy to promote soft skills amongst students, clear guidelines need to be developed to prepare students to work in a dental team and the use of appropriate assessment tools can facilitate the development of these soft skills.
When condition trumps location: seed consumption by fruit‐eating birds removes pathogens and predator attractants
Authors: Fricke Evan C. , Simon Melissa J. , Reagan Karen M. , Levey Douglas J. , Riffell Jeffrey A. , Carlo Tomás A. , Tewksbury Joshua J. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSeed ingestion by frugivorous vertebrates commonly benefits plants by moving seeds to locations with fewer predators and pathogens than under the parent. For plants with high local population densities, however, movement from the parent plant is unlikely to result in ‘escape’ from predators and pathogens. Changes to seed condition caused by gut passage may also provide benefits, yet are rarely evaluated as an alternative. Here, we use a common bird‐dispersed chilli pepper (Capsicum chacoense) to conduct the first experimental comparison of escape‐related benefits to condition‐related benefits of animal‐mediated seed dispersal. Within chilli populations, seeds dispersed far from parent plants gained no advantage from escape alone, but seed consumption by birds increased seed survival by 370% – regardless of dispersal distance – due to removal during gut passage of fungal pathogens and chemical attractants to granivores. These results call into question the pre‐eminence of escape as the primary advantage of dispersal within populations and document two overlooked mechanisms by which frugivores can benefit fruiting plants.
High resolution MRI difference between moyamoya disease and intracranial atherosclerosis
Authors: Kim Y. J. , Lee D.H. , Kwon J. Y. , Kang D. W. , Suh D. C. , Kim J. S. , Kwon S. U. 
Published: June 2013

Background and purposeAlong with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), moyamoya disease (MMD) is the most common cause of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in Asians. Although they have differing vascular wall pathologies, conventional angiographic evaluation methods cannot easily differentiate MMD from ICAD in certain situations, such as in young patients with atherosclerotic risk factors. High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR‐MRI) findings for the diseased segments of MCAs in MMD and symptomatic ICAD were compared to further elucidate differences in arterial wall changes.MethodsAngiographically confirmed patients, 12 MMD and 20 ICAD, who suffered a stroke due to MCA occlusion were recruited and underwent HR‐MRI. The size of the outer diameter and other stenotic vessel wall characteristics revealed by HR‐MRI, including enhancement, eccentricity and other lesion patterns, were analyzed by two independent reviewers in a blind fashion.ResultsMMD patients were younger than ICAD patients (32.92 ± 11.08 years vs. 51.85 ± 11.97 years; mean ± SD) and displayed a smaller outer diameter in the stenotic portion (1.61 ± 0.43 mm for MMD vs. 3.03 ± 0.53 mm for ICAD, P < 0.0001). Eccentric lesions (three of 12 in MMD vs. 19 of 20 in ICAD, P < 0.0001) and focal enhancements in diseased areas (two of seven in MMD vs. 13 of 17 in ICAD, P = 0.061) were less common in MMD cases.ConclusionsOur HR‐MRI findings show that MMD is associated with smaller, concentric occlusive lesions which are rarely enhanced compared with symptomatic ICAD, consistent with the results of previous pathological reports. HR‐MRI may therefore have utility in differentiating MMD from ICAD.
Biomarkers of delirium as a clue to diagnosis and pathogenesis of Wernicke−Korsakoff syndrome
Authors: Wijnia J. W. , Oudman E. 
Published: June 2013

Background and purposeWernicke's encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff's syndrome are considered to be different stages of the same disorder due to thiamine deficiency, which is called Wernicke−Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). The earliest biochemical change is the decrease of α‐ketoglutarate‐dehydrogenase activity in astrocytes. According to autopsy‐based series, mental status changes are present in 82% of WE cases. The objective of the present review is to identify possible underlying mechanisms relating the occurrence of delirium to WKS.MethodsStudies involving delirium in WKS, however, are rare. Therefore, first, a search was done for candidate biomarkers of delirium irrespective of the clinical setting. Secondly, the results were focused on identification of these biomarkers in reports on WKS.ResultsIn various settings, 10 biochemical and/or genetic biomarkers showed strong associations with the occurrence of delirium. For WKS three of these candidate biomarkers were identified, namely brain tissue cell counts of CD68 positive cells as a marker of microglial activation, high cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels, and MHPG, a metabolite of norepinephrine. Based on current literature, markers of microglial activation may present an interesting patho‐etiological relationship between thiamine deficiency and delirium in WKS.ConclusionsIn WKS cases, changes in astroglia and microglial proliferation were reported. The possible loss‐of‐function mechanisms following thiamine deficiency in WKS are proposed to come from microglial activation, resulting in a delirium in the initial phase of WKS.
Forehead Patch Size Predicts the Outcome of Male–Male Competition in the Pied Flycatcher
Authors: Järvistö Pauliina E. , Laaksonen Toni , Calhim Sara 
Published: June 2013

AbstractMales of many animal species express ornaments that affect their reproduction opportunities through male–male competition or female mate choice. Such ornaments can, for example, inform conspecifics about the fighting ability, condition or territory ownership of the bearer. Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) males have a conspicuous white forehead patch that varies greatly in size. We examined whether the white forehead patch is an intrasexually selected trait in aFinnish population. We artificially manipulated forehead patch size to represent two naturally occurring extremes and competed males against each other in the presence of a female. Males with a large forehead patch were more aggressive than males with a small patch, whereas the original patch size of the male had no influence on aggression. Neither manipulated nor original patch size influenced resource dominance (over female or nest box). These results indicate that forehead patch signals fighting ability of the bearer in the pied flycatcher. The next step is to find out what kind of costs may maintain the honesty of this signal.
Clinical and pharmacokinetic effects of regional or general anaesthesia on intravenous regional limb perfusion with amikacin in horses
Authors: Mahne A. T. , Rioja E. , Marais H. J. , Villarino N. F. , Rubio‐Martinez L. M. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryReasons for performing studyAntimicrobial i.v. regional limb perfusion (IV‐RLP) is clinically performed on anaesthetised or sedated horses with or without regional anaesthesia. To date, no scientific data are available on the clinical and pharmacokinetic effects of these anaesthetic protocols on antimicrobial IV‐RLP, which is believed to result in better tourniquet efficiency due to decreased movement.ObjectiveTo determine the effects of regional or general anaesthesia on the clinical and synovial pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin administered by IV‐RLP to horses.Study designExperimental crossover study.MethodsEight healthy horses received 4 treatments of amikacin IV‐RLP in a randomised, blinded, crossover design: standing sedation without regional anaesthesia (CNT); standing sedation with i.v. regional anaesthesia; standing sedation with perineural regional anaesthesia (PNA); or general anaesthesia. Synovial fluid amikacin concentrations were measured over 24 h and regional pharmacokinetic parameters calculated. Heart and respiratory rates, visual analogue scale of discomfort, number of times the limb was lifted and number of additional sedations administered were recorded. Analysis of variance crossover analysis was applied with significance level at P<0.05.ResultsAmikacin concentrations and regional pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly among treatments. Visual analogue scores (mean ± s.d.) were significantly lower with PNA (19 ± 15) vs. i.v. regional anaesthesia (69 ± 36) or CNT (81 ± 13; P<0.001). Significantly less lifting of the limb (mean ± s.d.) occurred with PNA (20 ± 20) vs. CNT (54 ± 22; P<0.04).ConclusionsPerineural regional anaesthesia before IV‐RLP was most effective in providing comfort to standing, sedated horses without significantly affecting the regional pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin. High variability of synovial amikacin concentrations was present. The use of general anaesthesia for IV‐RLP is not justified based on this study.
Rotenone induces neuronal death by microglial phagocytosis of neurons
Authors: Emmrich Julius V. , Hornik Tamara C. , Neher Jonas J. , Brown Guy C. 
Published: June 2013

Rotenone, a common pesticide and inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, induces microglial activation and loss of dopaminergic neurons in models of Parkinson's disease. However, the mechanisms of rotenone neurotoxicity are still poorly defined. Here, we used primary neuronal/glial cultures prepared from rat cerebella to investigate the contribution of microglia to neuronal cell death induced by low concentrations of rotenone. Rotenone at 2.5 nm induced neuronal loss over several days without increasing the numbers of necrotic or apoptotic neurons, and neuronal loss/death could be prevented by selective removal of microglia. Rotenone increased microglial proliferation and phagocytic activity, without increasing tumour necrosis factor‐α release. Rotenone‐induced neuronal loss/death could be prevented by inhibition of phagocytic signalling between neurons and microglia with: cyclo(Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐d‐Phe‐Val) (to block the microglial vitronectin receptor); MRS2578 (to block the microglial P2Y6 receptor); or either annexin V or an antibody against phosphatidylserine (to block exposed phosphatidylserine, a well‐characterized neuronal ‘eat‐me’ signal). As inhibition of phagocytosis by five different means prevented neuronal loss without increasing neuronal death, these data indicate that rotenone neurotoxicity is at least partially mediated by microglial phagocytosis of otherwise viable neurons (phagoptosis). Thus, neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease and other neurological diseases might be prevented by blocking phagocytic signalling.
Mineralisation of dissolved organic matter by heterotrophic stream biofilm communities in a large boreal catchment
Authors: Franke Doreen , Bonnell E. Jennifer , Ziegler Susan E. 
Published: June 2013

Summary

Boreal headwater streams typically receive large contributions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from wetland and forest soils and can exhibit high CO2 effluxes, but little is known about how stream biofilm respiration of DOM responds to carbon and nutrient substrates in boreal catchments.

The aim of this study was to assess (i) the response of heterotrophic biofilms to increased availability of labile carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and (ii) how this response varies across sites differing in the source of catchment organic matter.

Normalised biofilm respiration rates (RBiofilm) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of DOM sources derived from wetland, deciduous forest and ponds were up to 10 times greater than for coniferous forest DOM. Experimental additions of bog‐ and pond‐derived DOM stimulated RBiofilm in coniferous forest sites (1.5–2.5 times), adding further weight to the evidence for differing responses to stream DOM sources in this boreal catchment.

Mineralisation of added glucose by the biofilms was only increased by added N and P, coinciding with a reduction in mineralisation of the extant stream DOM. These findings suggest that increases in labile C, N and P can reduce biofilm mineralisation of stream dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus, perhaps due to the greater energy required to access the more complex DOM.

In 15 of 19 experiments, the addition of glucose had no effect on biofilm mineralisation of stream DOC (RDOC). In the presence of added N and P, however, RDOC decreased by 30 to 38% with the addition of glucose at sites with the most active biofilms in summer. When glucose was added alone, conversely, RDOC was stimulated (40–50%) at these same sites in autumn, when biofilm respiration was lower and DOM more aromatic and less carbohydrate‐rich. Combined, these results suggest labile C sources, such as algal exudates, may (i) compete as a source of energy and/or stimulate the incorporation rather than mineralisation of the more N‐ and P‐rich stream DOM or (ii) stimulate the mineralisation of stream DOM, potentially depending upon nutrient availability and the composition of stream DOM.
Filamentous sulfur bacteria preserved in modern and ancient phosphatic sediments: implications for the role of oxygen and bacteria in phosphogenesis
Authors: Bailey J. V. , Corsetti F. A. , Greene S. E. , Crosby C. H. , Liu P. , Orphan V. J. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractMarine phosphate‐rich sedimentary deposits (phosphorites) are important geological reservoirs for the biologically essential nutrient phosphorous. Phosphorites first appear in abundance approximately 600 million years ago, but their proliferation at that time is poorly understood. Recent marine phosphorites spatially correlate with the habitats of vacuolated sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria that store polyphosphates under oxic conditions to be utilized under sulfidic conditions. Hydrolysis of the stored polyphosphate results in the rapid precipitation of the phosphate‐rich mineral apatite—providing a mechanism to explain the association between modern phosphorites and these bacteria. Whether sulfur bacteria were important to the formation of ancient phosphorites has been unresolved. Here, we present the remains of modern sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria that are partially encrusted in apatite, providing evidence that bacterially mediated phosphogenesis can rapidly permineralize sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria and perhaps other types of organic remains. We also describe filamentous microfossils that resemble modern sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria from two major phosphogenic episodes in the geologic record. These microfossils contain sulfur‐rich inclusions that may represent relict sulfur globules, a diagnostic feature of modern sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria. These findings suggest that sulfur bacteria, which are known to mediate the precipitation of apatite in modern sediments, were also present in certain phosphogenic settings for at least the last 600 million years. If polyphosphate‐utilizing sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria also played a role in the formation of ancient phosphorites, their requirements for oxygen, or oxygen‐requiring metabolites such as nitrate, might explain the temporal correlation between the first appearance of globally distributed marine phosphorites and increasing oxygenation of Neoproterozoic oceans.
Efficient expression and purification of recombinant human μ‐calpain using an Escherichia coli expression system
Authors: Hata Shoji , Kitamura Fujiko , Sorimachi Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2013

Calpains comprise a superfamily of Ca2+‐regulated cysteine proteases that are indispensable for the regulation of various cellular functions. Of these, the mammalian μ‐ and m‐calpains are the best characterized isoforms. They are ubiquitously expressed and form heterodimers consisting of a distinct 80‐kDa catalytic subunit (CAPN1 for μ‐calpain and CAPN2 for m‐calpain) and a common 30‐kDa regulatory subunit (CAPNS1). To date, various expression systems have been developed for producing recombinant calpains for structural and functional studies; however, no low‐cost, simple and efficient bacterial expression system for μ‐calpain has been available, because the protein forms aggregates. Here, we established an efficient method for producing active recombinant human μ‐calpain using an Escherichia coli expression system. This was achieved by co‐expressing CAPN1 and CAPNS1 lacking the N‐terminal Gly‐rich domain (CAPNS1ΔGR) in the SoluBL21 strain. From 1 L of E. coli culture, over 2 and 6 mg, respectively, of μ‐calpain and its active‐site mutant μ‐calpain:C115S (CAPN1:C115S+CAPNS1ΔGR) were purified by two successive column chromatographies. Compared to the native enzyme, the purified μ‐calpain showed almost identical properties, demonstrating its suitability for use in structural and functional studies. This is the first report of the bacterial expression and the simple and efficient purification of active recombinant μ‐calpain.