bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Children and Adolescents in Japan
Authors: Komatsu Haruki , Inui Ayano , Sogo Tsuyoshi , Tsunoda Tomoyuki , Fujisawa Tomoo 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTBackground:Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is an important event in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to clarify the outcome of long‐term follow‐up of chronic HBV infection and the factors affecting HBeAg seroconversion in children in Japan.Methods:Patients who were first examined at our institution between 1980 and 2012, who were <20 years of age at the time of this initial visit, and who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen for at least 6 months were identified retrospectively. Sex, age at diagnosis, HBV genotype, maximum serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level, occurrence of hepatitis flare‐ups (yes/no), and transmission route were evaluated to identify the predictors of HBeAg seroconversion.Results:A total of 205 children with chronic HBV were enrolled. Among them, 192 were positive for HBeAg upon diagnosis of chronic HBV infection. Out of this group, 95 (49%) achieved HBeAg seroconversion and 43 (21%) received treatment during the follow‐up period. Only the maximum serum ALT level was significantly associated with the achievement of HBeAg seroconversion by multivariate analysis (P < 0.05). Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed that the median times to HBeAg seroconversion (50% achievement of HBeAg seroconversion) of the treated and untreated children were 10.2 and 12.0 years, respectively. The cumulative proportion of HBeAg seroconversion was significantly higher in the treated children than in the untreated children (P = 0.02).Conclusions:A higher serum ALT level was a predictor for HBeAg seroconversion. Antiviral treatment could accelerate the achievement of HBeAg seroconversion in HBV‐infected children.
Peroxisomal Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases Peroxin2 and Peroxin10 Have Distinct But Synergistic Roles in Matrix Protein Import and Peroxin5 Retrotranslocation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Burkhart Sarah E. , Kao Yun-Ting , Bartel Bonnie 
Published: September 2014

AbstractPeroxisomal matrix proteins carry peroxisomal targeting signals (PTSs), PTS1 or PTS2, and are imported into the organelle with the assistance of peroxin (PEX) proteins. From a microscopy-based screen to identify Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants defective in matrix protein degradation, we isolated unique mutations in PEX2 and PEX10, which encode ubiquitin-protein ligases anchored in the peroxisomal membrane. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), PEX2, PEX10, and a third ligase, PEX12, ubiquitinate a peroxisome matrix protein receptor, PEX5, allowing the PEX1 and PEX6 ATP-hydrolyzing enzymes to retrotranslocate PEX5 out of the membrane after cargo delivery. We found that the pex2-1 and pex10-2 Arabidopsis mutants exhibited defects in peroxisomal physiology and matrix protein import. Moreover, the pex2-1 pex10-2 double mutant exhibited severely impaired growth and synergistic physiological defects, suggesting that PEX2 and PEX10 function cooperatively in the wild type. The pex2-1 lesion restored the unusually low PEX5 levels in the pex6-1 mutant, implicating PEX2 in PEX5 degradation when retrotranslocation is impaired. PEX5 overexpression altered pex10-2 but not pex2-1 defects, suggesting that PEX10 facilitates PEX5 retrotranslocation from the peroxisomal membrane. Although the pex2-1 pex10-2 double mutant displayed severe import defects of both PTS1 and PTS2 proteins into peroxisomes, both pex2-1 and pex10-2 single mutants exhibited clear import defects of PTS1 proteins but apparently normal PTS2 import. A similar PTS1-specific pattern was observed in the pex4-1 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme mutant. Our results indicate that Arabidopsis PEX2 and PEX10 cooperate to support import of matrix proteins into plant peroxisomes and suggest that some PTS2 import can still occur when PEX5 retrotranslocation is slowed.
Refining the range of an importance index
Authors: Mingo Antonio 
Published: September 2014

Summary

An index measuring interaction importance (Iimp) was proposed in a paper published on 2010 by the Journal of Ecology. This index, now widely used by researchers, has been claimed to symmetrically range in the interval (−1, 1), with negative values for competition and positive values for facilitation.

Here, the index properties are carefully analysed, and it is demonstrated that Iimp can never exceed the value of 0.5 in facilitation.

Several years have passed since its publication, yet nobody has corrected the inexact index range, and several researchers continue to inaccurately refer to it. Overlooking this lack of symmetry could potentially lead to biased conclusions.

Synthesis. Iimp cannot be treated as a symmetric index for negative and positive interactions. This is only the last of several concerns discussed in literature: current approaches to measuring interaction importance still need to be debated and analysed in depth.
Conserved features and major differences in the outer membrane protein composition of chlamydiae
Authors: Aistleitner Karin , Anrather Dorothea , Schott Thomas , Klose Julia , Bright Monika , Ammerer Gustav , Horn Matthias 
Published: September 2014

SummaryChlamydiae are a highly successful group of obligate intracellular bacteria infecting a variety of eukaryotic hosts. Outer membrane proteins involved in attachment to and uptake into host cells, and cross‐linking of these proteins via disulfide bonds are key features of the biphasic chlamydial developmental cycle. In this study, we used a consensus approach to predict outer membrane proteins in the genomes of members of three chlamydial families. By analysing outer membrane protein fractions of purified chlamydiae with highly sensitive mass spectrometry, we show that the protein composition differs strongly between these organisms. Large numbers of major outer membrane protein‐like proteins are present at high abundance in the outer membrane of Simkania negevensis and Waddlia chondrophila, whereas yet uncharacterized putative porins dominate in Parachlamydia acanthamoebae. Simkania represents the first case of a chlamydia completely lacking stabilizing cysteine‐rich proteins in its outer membrane. In agreement with this, and in contrast to Parachlamydia and Waddlia, the cellular integrity of Simkania is not impaired by conditions that reduce disulfide bonds of these proteins. The observed differences in the protein composition of the outer membrane among members of divergent chlamydial families suggest different stabilities of these organisms in the environment, probably due to adaption to different niches or transmission routes.
Anthropometric indices in a community‐dwelling Australian population aged 70–90 years: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
Authors: Arcot Jayashree , Kim Jihee , Trollor Julian , Brodaty Henry , Crawford John , Sachdev Perminder 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAimTo evaluate the anthropometric indices in community‐dwelling people aged 70–90 years in Sydney, Australia.MethodCross‐sectional data were collected during the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study from two federal government electoral areas from 2005–2007. Participants with no dementia were recruited to the study (n = 1037). The anthropometric parameters including body weight, standing height, waist circumference and hip circumference were obtained with the average participation rate of 97%. The study population was then stratified by gender and age groups.ResultsWith increasing age, the body weight and standing height decreased, while waist circumference and waist to hip ratio showed different patterns. With reference to the World Health Organization classification for body mass index, overweight and obesity were found in 75.3% of men and 61.2% of women. In particular, the result revealed that 23% of the study cohort was obese. While all men had mean waist to hip ratios exceeding the cut‐off value (≥0.90), only 53.7% of women were categorised as having a condition leading to increased risk of mortality (≥0.85). The mean waist to hip ratio in men and women was 0.96 ± 0.06 and 0.86 ± 0.07, respectively (±standard deviation).ConclusionsThis study provides gender‐ and age‐specific distributions for six anthropometric measurements for older Australians to identify individuals with potentially greater risk of disease. Overweight and obesity are common in the older population. However, more data from across Australia are needed to confirm the findings from this study.
Smilax China Root Extract Detoxifies Nicotine by Reducing Reactive Oxygen Species and Inducing CYP2A6
Authors: Kim Kyeong‐Mu , Suh Joo‐Won , Yang Seung‐Hwan , Kim Bo‐Rahm , Park Tae‐Sik , Shim Soon‐Mi 
Published: September 2014

AbstractResveratrol has a beneficial effect of lowering reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces cellular oxidative stress. We hypothesized that ethanol extract of Smilax china root (EESC) rich in resveratrol (RES) and oxyresveratrol (OXY) could reduce ROS caused by nicotine and promoting nicotine turnover by induction of CYP2A6. The amount of cotinine converted from nicotine was quantified by the direct barbiturate assay method. Expression of CYP2A6 was unregulated by RES, OXY, or EESC, respectively. Pretreatment of RES (50, 100, and 250 μM), OXY (50, 100, and 250 μM), and RES+OXY (50 and 100 μM) inhibited cytotoxicity and ROS production caused by nicotine in a dose‐dependent manner. EESC pretreatment (1.8 mg/mL) increased cell viability by 1.5‐fold higher than the control (nicotine only), and lowered cellular ROS levels. A significant amount of the conversion of nicotine to cotinine was observed in EESC pretreatment by CYP2A6 induction in HepG2 cells. These results suggested that hepatic induction of CYP2A6 and ROS reduction by EESC activate nicotine metabolism and reduce cellular oxidative stress.
Consumer Attitudes and Preferences for Fresh Market Tomatoes
Authors: Oltman A.E. , Jervis S.M. , Drake M.A. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThis study established attractive attributes and consumer desires for fresh tomatoes. Three focus groups (n = 28 participants) were conducted to explore how consumers perceived tomatoes, including how they purchased and consumed them. Subsequently, an Adaptive Choice Based Conjoint (ACBC) survey was conducted to understand consumer preferences toward traditional tomatoes. The ACBC survey with Kano questions (n = 1037 consumers in Raleigh, NC) explored the importance of color, firmness, size, skin, texture, interior, seed presence, flavor, and health benefits. The most important tomato attribute was color, then juice when sliced, followed by size, followed by seed presence, which was at parity with firmness. An attractive tomato was red, firm, medium/small sized, crisp, meaty, juicy, flavorful, and with few seeds. Deviations from these features resulted in a tomato that was rejected by consumers. Segmentations of consumers were determined by patterns in utility scores. External attributes were the main drivers of tomato liking, but different groups of tomato consumers exist with distinct preferences for juiciness, firmness, flavor, and health benefits.
The Influence of Herbs, Spices, and Regular Sausage and Chicken Consumption on Liking of Reduced Fat Breakfast and Lunch Items
Authors: Polsky Sarit , Beck Jimikaye , Stark Rebecca A. , Pan Zhaoxing , Hill James O. , Peters John C. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAdults often consume more fat than is recommended. We examined factors that may improve liking of reduced fat and reduced saturated fat foods, including the addition of herbs and spices and habitual consumption of different high‐fat and low‐fat food items. We randomized adults to taste 3 different conditions: full fat (FF), reduced fat with no added spice (RF), and reduced fat plus spice (RFS). Subjects rated their liking of French toast, sausage and the overall meal, or chicken, vegetables, pasta, and the overall meal on a 9‐point hedonic Likert scale. Overall liking of the RF breakfast and lunch meals were lower than the FF and RFS versions (breakfast: 6.50 RF compared with 6.84 FF, P = 0.0061; 6.50 RF compared with 6.82 RFS, P = 0.0030; lunch: 6.35 RF compared with 6.94 FF, P < 0.0001; 6.35 RF compared with 6.71 RFS, P = 0.0061). RFS and FF breakfast and lunch meals, French toast, chicken, and vegetable likings were similar. FF and RFS conditions were liked more than RF for the breakfast and lunch meals, French toast, chicken entrée, and vegetables. Liking of all 3 sausage conditions was similar. FF pasta was liked more than RFS and RF (7.47 FF compared with 6.42 RFS, P < 0.0001; 7.47 FF compared with 6.47 RF, P < 0.0001). Habitual consumption of roasted chicken was associated with reduced liking of FF chicken (r = −0.23, P = 0.004) and FF pasta (r = −0.23, P = 0.005). Herbs and spices may be useful for improving the liking of lower fat foods and helping Americans maintain a diet consistent with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.
A biochemical approach for identifying plastics exposure in live wildlife
Authors: Hardesty Britta D. , Holdsworth Daniel , Revill Andrew T. , Wilcox Chris 
Published: September 2014

Summary

Plastic pollution is a long‐standing ubiquitous issue. Global use of plastics is continuing to rise, and there is increasing interest in understanding the prevalence and risk associated with exposure of wildlife to plastics, particularly in the marine environment.

In order To facilitate an assessment of ingestion of plastics in seabird populations, we developed a minimally invasive tool that allows for detection of exposure to plastics.

Using a simple swabbing technique in which the waxy preen oil is expressed from the uropygial gland of birds, we successfully tested for the presence of three common plasticizers: dimethyl, dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalate [dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and bis(2‐ethylhexyl)‐phthalate, respectively]. These plasticizers are prevalent in the manufacturing of plastic end‐user items which often end up in the marine environment.

Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and protocols to reduce background contamination, we were confidently able to detect targeted plasticizers at low levels.

The method described has broad applicability for detecting plastics exposure in wildlife at individual, population and species levels. Furthermore, the approach can be readily modified as needed to survey for plastics exposure in taxa other than seabirds.

Applying the simple, minimally invasive approach we describe here is particularly appealing for detecting plastics exposure at population and species levels, it shows promise for quantification and it has no observed detrimental impacts to wildlife.
Quantifying levels of animal activity using camera trap data
Authors: Rowcliffe J. Marcus , Kays Roland , Kranstauber Bart , Carbone Chris , Jansen Patrick A. 
Published: September 2014

Summary

Activity level (the proportion of time that animals spend active) is a behavioural and ecological metric that can provide an indicator of energetics, foraging effort and exposure to risk. However, activity level is poorly known for free‐living animals because it is difficult to quantify activity in the field in a consistent, cost‐effective and non‐invasive way.

This article presents a new method to estimate activity level with time‐of‐detection data from camera traps (or more generally any remote sensors), fitting a flexible circular distribution to these data to describe the underlying activity schedule, and calculating overall proportion of time active from this.

Using simulations and a case study for a range of small‐ to medium‐sized mammal species, we find that activity level can reliably be estimated using the new method.

The method depends on the key assumption that all individuals in the sampled population are active at the peak of the daily activity cycle. We provide theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting that this assumption is likely to be met for many species, but may be less likely met in large predators, or in high‐latitude winters. Further research is needed to establish stronger evidence on the validity of this assumption in specific cases; however, the approach has the potential to provide an effective, non‐invasive alternative to existing methods for quantifying population activity levels.
Predicting subsequent relapse by drug‐related cue‐induced brain activation in heroin addiction: an event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Li Qiang , Li Wei , Wang Hanyue , Wang Yarong , Zhang Yi , Zhu Jia , Zheng Ying , Zhang Dongsheng , Wang Lina , Li Yongbin , Yan Xuejiao , Chang Haifeng , Fan Min , Li Zhe , Tian Jie , Gold Mark S. , Wang Wei , Liu Yijun 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAbnormal salience attribution is implicated in heroin addiction. Previously, combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a drug cue‐reactivity task, we demonstrated abnormal patterns of subjective response and brain reactivity in heroin‐dependent individuals. However, whether the changes in cue‐induced brain response were related to relapse was unknown. In a prospective study, we recruited 49 heroin‐dependent patients under methadone maintenance treatment, a gold standard treatment (average daily dose 41.8 ± 16.0 mg), and 20 healthy subjects to perform the heroin cue‐reactivity task during fMRI. The patients' subjective craving was evaluated. They participated in a follow‐up assessment for 3 months, during which heroin use was assessed and relapse was confirmed by self‐reported relapse or urine toxicology. Differences between relapsers and non‐relapsers were analyzed with respect to the results from heroin‐cue responses. Compared with healthy subjects, relapsers and non‐relapsers commonly demonstrated significantly increased brain responses during the processing of heroin cues in the mesolimbic system, prefrontal regions and visuospatial‐attention regions. However, compared with non‐relapsers, relapsers demonstrated significantly greater cue‐induced craving and the brain response mainly in the bilateral nucleus accumbens/subcallosal cortex and cerebellum. Although the cue‐induced heroin craving was low in absolute measures, the change in craving positively correlated with the activation of the nucleus accumbens/subcallosal cortex among the patients. These findings suggest that in treatment‐seeking heroin‐dependent individuals, greater cue‐induced craving and greater specific regional activations might be related to reward/craving and memory retrieval processes. These responses may predict relapse and represent important targets for the development of new treatment for heroin addiction.
High‐ and low‐dose allergen challenges in asthmatic patients using inhaled corticosteroids
Authors: Lee Wha‐Yong , Southworth Thomas , Booth Steven , Singh Dave 
Published: September 2014

AimsThe inhaled allergen challenge model has been used previously to investigate the effects of novel anti‐inflammatory drugs in inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)‐naïve asthmatics. The aim of this study was to characterize high‐ and low‐dose allergen challenges in asthmatic patients using ICS.MethodsTwenty‐eight asthmatic patients taking ICS (beclomethasone equivalent <1000 μg day−1) were recruited for high‐dose allergen challenge, of whom 10 subsequently also had a repeat low‐dose challenge comprising seven allergen challenges. Induced sputum was collected for measurements of cell counts and supernatant biomarkers.ResultsThe high‐dose allergen challenge caused an early and late asthmatic response in 19 of 28 patients; the mean maximal fall in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was 29.1% (SD 6.2%) and 25.1% (SD 9.6%), respectively. There was also an increase in sputum eosinophils of 6.2% (P = 0.0004), as well as supernatant eosinophil cationic protein levels. The low‐dose allergen challenge caused an acute fall in FEV1, but had no effect on FEV1 at 24 h after challenge or sputum measurements.ConclusionsThe high‐dose allergen challenge in asthmatics using ICS induces a late asthmatic response associated with an increase in eosinophilic airway inflammation. This may be a suitable model for studying the effects of novel anti‐inflammatory drugs added to maintenance ICS treatment.
Elimination of Ascorbic Acid After High‐Dose Infusion in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Pharmacokinetic Evaluation
Authors: Nielsen Torben K. , Højgaard Martin , Andersen Jon T. , Poulsen Henrik E. , Lykkesfeldt Jens , Mikines Kári J. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractTreatment with high‐dose intravenous (IV) ascorbic acid (AA) is used in complementary and alternative medicine for various conditions including cancer. Cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines has been observed with millimolar concentrations of AA. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of high‐dose IV AA. The purpose of this study was to assess the basic kinetic variables in human beings over a relevant AA dosing interval for proper design of future clinical trials. Ten patients with metastatic prostate cancer were treated for 4 weeks with fixed AA doses of 5, 30 and 60 g. AA was measured consecutively in plasma and indicated first‐order elimination kinetics throughout the dosing range with supra‐physiological concentrations. The target dose of 60 g AA IV produced a peak plasma AA concentration of 20.3 mM. Elimination half‐life was 1.87 hr (mean, S.D. ± 0.40), volume of distribution 0.19 L/kg (S.D. ±0.05) and clearance rate 6.02 L/hr (100 mL/min). No differences in pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between weeks/doses. A relatively fast first‐order elimination with half‐life of about 2 hr makes it impossible to maintain AA concentrations in the potential cytotoxic range after infusion stop in prostate cancer patients with normal kidney function. We propose a regimen with a bolus loading followed by a maintenance infusion based on the calculated clearance.
Oxidative decolorisation of Eriochrome Black T with Chloramine‐T: kinetic, mechanistic, and spectrophotometric approaches
Authors: Manjunatha Adalagere S , Sukhdev Anu , Puttaswamy  
Published: September 2014

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidative decolorisation of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) with sodium N‐chloro‐p‐toluenesulfonamide or Chloramine‐T (CAT), catalysed by osmium tetroxide [Os(VIII)] in alkaline medium and uncatalysed in acid medium, have been spectrophotometrically investigated at 303 K. The reaction exhibited a first‐order dependence of rate on [CAT]0 and [EBT]0 in both media, and also with respect to [H+]. The order with respect to [OH‐] and [Os(VIII)] was fractional. Activation parameters were deduced. It was observed that the uncatalysed decolorisation reaction was ca. eightfold faster in acid medium in comparison with alkaline medium, while the Os(VIII)‐catalysed reaction was ca. sevenfold faster than the uncatalysed reaction. Mechanisms and rate laws were determined. The chemical oxygen demand of Eriochrome Black T dye was also determined. Importantly, the developed oxidative decolorisation method is simple, efficient, inexpensive, requires less time, and is environmentally benign. Hence, it can be adapted for treating Eriochrome Black T present in industrial and laboratory wastewater.