bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maximum Incident Erythemally EffectiveUVExposure Received by Construction Workers, in Valencia, Spain
Authors: Giménez Vicente Blanca , Ysasi Gonzalo Gurrea , Moreno Juan Carlos , Serrano María Antonia 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis article analyzes the influence of Ultraviolet Erythematic Radiation (UVER) dose received by construction workers in Valencia highlighting the upper limit of the dose received for a worker in different periods of a year. Building construction usually implies workers to stand for several hours outdoors while working until roof top is finished. In Valencia, construction carried out near the coastline has been very intense in the last few years with the construction of a great amount of summer flats. This article focuses on the maximum valuesUVERcan reach in different seasons of the year for cities with similar latitude to Valencia (39°28′N, 0°22′W), as an important way of warning construction workers about the necessity of taking preventive actions. Viospor dosimeters placed on a mannequin have been used in this study. The measurements took place between 2012 December and 2013 July.
Interactions between the intestinal microbiome and helminth parasites
Authors: Zaiss M. M. , Harris N. L. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThroughout evolution, both helminths and bacteria have inhabited our intestines. As intestinal helminths and bacteria inhabit the same environmental niche, it is likely that these organisms interact with, and impact on, each other. In addition, intestinal helminths are well known to alter intestinal physiology, permeability, mucous secretion and the production of antimicrobial peptides – all of which may impact on bacterial survival and spatial organization. Yet despite rapid advances in our understanding of host–intestinal bacteria interactions, the impact of helminths on this relationship has remained largely unexplored. Moreover, although intestinal helminths are generally accepted to possess potent immuno‐modulatory activity, it is unknown whether this capacity requires interactions with intestinal bacteria. We propose that this ‘ménage à trois’ situation is likely to have exerted a strong selective pressure on the development of our metabolic and immune systems. Whilst such pressures remain in developing countries, the eradication of helminths in industrialized countries has shifted this evolutionary balance, possibly underlying the increased development of chronic inflammatory diseases. Thus, helminth–bacteria interactions may represent a key determinant of healthy homoeostasis.
Upregulation of Soluble HLA‐G5 and HLA‐G6 Isoforms in the Milder Histopathological Stages of Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Role for Subverting Immune Responses?
Authors: Oliveira Souza D. M. B. , Genre J. , Alves Silva T. G. , Soares C. P. , Borges Ferreira Rocha K. , Nunes Oliveira C. , Nunes Jatobá C. A. , Marco de Leon Andrade J. , Moreau P. , da Cunha Medeiros A. , Donadi E. A. , de Oliveira Crispim J. C. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe subversion mechanisms employed by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to escape from immune surveillance and to establish persistent infection are poorly understood. Growing evidence indicates that expression of HLA‐G, a non‐classical major histocompatibility complex molecule, negatively regulates immune responses in pathological conditions, including infectious diseases. In this context, we aimed to evaluate HLA‐G expression in the gastric microenvironment of individuals harbouring H. pylori and to correlate it with histological variables. Fifty‐four gastric specimens from patients harbouring H. pylori infection were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti‐HLA‐G monoclonal antibody. As a result, HLA‐G expression was detected in 43 of 54 specimens harbouring H. pylori. The presence of HLA‐G was significantly associated with milder colonization by H. pylori (P < 0.02), milder inflammatory activity (P < 0.02) and bacterium histological location in the gastric antrum. This study is the first to explore HLA‐G expression in the context of bacterial infection. Whether the biological role of HLA‐G during H. pylori infection is beneficial or hazardous for patients remains to be defined.
The Plasma Level of Proprotein Convertase FURIN in Patients with Suspected Infection in the Emergency Room: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ranta N. , Turpeinen H. , Oksanen A. , Hämäläinen S. , Huttunen R. , Uusitalo‐Seppälä R. , Rintala E. , Aittoniemi J. , Pesu M. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThere is an increasing need for novel biomarkers that enable better diagnostic and prognostic stratification of patients with suspected infection. A proprotein convertase enzyme FURIN is upregulated upon immune cell activation, and it promotes infectivity by cleaving and activating pathogens. In this study, we determined FURIN levels in plasma using ELISA from 537 patients that were admitted to emergency room with suspected infection. Patients were sorted to high‐ and low‐level FURIN groups with a cut‐off level of 370 pg/ml. The study cohort included five diagnostic groups: Group 1, no systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS, n = 59 patients); Group 2, bacterial infection without SIRS (n = 67); Group 3, SIRS, but no bacterial infection (n = 308); Group 4, sepsis without organ failure (n = 308); and Group 5, severe sepsis (n = 49). Statistically significant associations were not found between the plasma level of FURIN and the prevalence of sepsis (P = 0.957), diagnostic group of a patient (P = 0.737) or the bacteria in blood culture (P = 0.499). Additionally, the concentration of FURIN did not predict the severity or case fatality of the infectious disease. However, statistically significant associations were found between high plasma level of FURIN and diagnosed rheumatic disease (P < 0.001) as well as with the prevalence of non‐smokers (P = 0.034). Thus, albeit the plasma level of FURIN does not predict the severity of infectious disease, it may be of use in the diagnostics of autoimmune diseases.
Emotional Climate in Families Experiencing Homelessness: Associations with Child Affect and Socioemotional Adjustment in School
Authors: Labella Madelyn H. , Narayan Angela J. , Masten Ann S. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis study examined associations among family‐level risks, emotional climate, and child adjustment in families experiencing homelessness. Emotional climate, an indirect aspect of emotion socialization, was indexed by parents’ expressed emotion while describing their children. Sociodemographic risk and parent internalizing distress were hypothesized to predict more negativity and less warmth in the emotional climate. Emotional climate was expected to predict observer‐rated child affect and teacher‐reported socioemotional adjustment, mediating effects of risk. Participants were 138 homeless parents (64 percent African‐American) and their four‐ to six‐year‐old children (43.5 percent male). During semi‐structured interviews, parents reported demographic risks and internalizing distress and completed a Five Minute Speech Sample about their child, later rated for warmth and negativity. Children's positive and negative affect were coded from videotapes of structured parent‐child interaction tasks. Socioemotional adjustment (externalizing behavior, peer acceptance, and prosocial behavior) was reported by teachers a few months later. Hypotheses were partially supported. Parent internalizing distress was associated with higher parent negativity, which was linked to more negative affect in children, and parent warmth was associated with children's positive affect. Neither emotional climate nor child affect predicted teacher‐reported externalizing behavior or peer acceptance, but parental negativity and male sex predicted lower prosocial behavior in the classroom. Future research directions and clinical implications are discussed.
In multiple situational light settings, visual observation for skin colour assessment is comparable with colorimeter measurement
Authors: Wright C. Y. , Wilkes M. , du Plessis J. L. , Reeder A. I. , Albers P. N. 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundFinding inexpensive and reliable techniques for assessing skin colour is important, given that it is related to several adverse human health outcomes. Visual observation is considered a subjective approach assessment and, even when made by trained assessor, concern has been raised about the need for controlled lighting in the study venue. The aim of this study is to determine whether visual skin colour assessments correlate with objective skin colour measurements in study venues with different lighting types and configurations.MethodsTwo trained investigators, with confirmed visual acuity, visually classified the inner, upper arm skin colour of 556 adults using Munsell® colour classifications converted to Individual Typology Angle (°ITA) values based on published data. Skin colour at the same anatomic site was also measured using a colorimeter. Each participant was assessed in one of 10 different buildings, each with a different study day. Munsell®‐derived °ITA values were compared to colorimeter °ITA values for the full sample and by building/day.ResultsWe found a strong positive, monotonic correlation between Munsell® derived °ITA values and colorimeter °ITA values for all participants (Spearman ρ = 0.8585, P < 0.001). Similar relationships were found when Munsell® and colorimeter °ITA values were compared for participants assessed in the same building for all 10 buildings (Spearman ρ values ranged from 0.797 to 0.934, all correlations were statistically significant at P < 0.001).ConclusionIt is possible to visually assess individual skin colour in multiple situational lighting settings and retrieve results that are comparable with objective measurements of skin colour. This was true for individuals of varying population groups and skin pigmentation.
Rutin increases critical wavelength of systems containing a single UV filter and with good skin compatibility
Authors: Peres D. A. , de Oliveira C. A. , da Costa M. S. , Tokunaga V. K. , Mota J. P. , Rosado C. , Consiglieri V. O. , Kaneko T. M. , Velasco M. V. R. , Baby A. R. 
Published: September 2015

Background/purposeUltraviolet (UV) radiation is responsible for sunburns, skin cancer, photoaging, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The awareness on preventing these deleterious effects made the use of anti‐UVB formulations an important part of population habits; however, despite the availability of several antioxidants capable of ROS scavenging, the pharmaceutical market lacks products associating UV filters with natural compounds of proven efficacy. Here, we investigated the effect of rutin, a flavonoid with antioxidant activity, associated with UVB filters in dermocosmetic preparations.MethodsFormulations were assessed through its antioxidant activity, in vitro photoprotective effectiveness, photostability, and in vivo skin tolerance (hydration, transepidermal water loss, and erythema).ResultsSamples containing rutin were compatible with the human skin and presented a pronounced antioxidant potential, with scavenging activity values 75% higher than the ones containing only UVB filters. Although rutin could not prevent the sunscreens photodegradation post‐irradiation, the bioactive compound significantly increased the formulations critical wavelengths, showing a photoprotective gain, especially in the UVA range.ConclusionIn conclusion, the absorption in the UVA range, coupled with ROS scavenging potential, proved the positive effect of rutin applied to anti‐UVB formulations, making this bioactive compound a promising candidate for photoprotection improvement.
Efficient propagation of variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease prion protein using the cell‐protein misfolding cyclic amplification technique with samples containing plasma and heparin
Authors: Oshita Masatoshi , Yokoyama Takashi , Takei Yumiko , Takeuchi Atsuko , Ironside James W. , Kitamoto Tetsuyuki , Morita Masanori 
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUNDTo prevent the iatrogenic spread of variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD) between humans via blood products or transfusion, highly sensitive in vitro screening tests are necessary. Protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) is one such candidate test. However, plasma has been reported to inhibit the PMCA reaction. Therefore, we investigated the cell‐PMCA conditions that permit vCJD prion amplification in the presence of plasma.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSCell‐PMCA of vCJD samples was performed by adding various final concentrations of pooled plasma, citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose (CPD), albumin, globulin, or pooled plasma treated with ion exchangers. After heparin and plasma concentrations were optimized, multiround cell‐PMCA was performed.RESULTSWhen 1% to 50% of pooled plasma was added to heparinized cell‐PMCA, amplification efficiency showed a double‐peaked profile at less than 1% and 40% final plasma concentrations, indicating that plasma contains not only PMCA inhibitors but also promoters. Intravenous globulin did not inhibit cell‐PMCA, but the protein G–bound fraction did. CPD, albumin‐depleted plasma, and the unbound fraction of anion‐exchange chromatography inhibited cell‐PMCA, but albumin and the unbound fraction of the cation‐exchange chromatography did not. The detection limit of abnormal prion protein in multiround cell‐PMCA, when maintaining the final plasma concentration at 40% at each round, was 10−10 dilutions of a vCJD brain specimen.CONCLUSIONWe have established a novel cell‐PMCA format in the presence of plasma without any pretreatment, where vCJD prion protein was amplified at comparable levels to that found without plasma. Our data suggest the feasibility of cell‐PMCA as a practical blood test for vCJD prions.
Long‐Term Outcome of Zürich Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty in 439 Cases
Authors: Vezzoni Luca , Vezzoni Aldo , Boudrieau Randy J. 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveTo review complications in dogs with the Zürich cementless total hip arthroplasty (Z‐THA) with ≥2 year followup, and compare complications between juvenile and adult dogs classified by age (≤11 and >11 months) at the time of original surgery.Study DesignRetrospective case series.AnimalsThree hundred and twenty‐one dogs with 439 total hip arthroplasties.MethodsMedical records were reviewed from January 2002 to December 2007. Signalment, body weight and body condition score, implant size and positioning, and any complications were recorded. A step‐up logistic regression analysis was performed for an outcome of any complication (yes/no). Predictors included were implant size, implant position, weight and body condition score before surgery, weight and body condition score change after surgery, breed, sex, and age.ResultsFour hundred and thirty‐nine Z‐THA were performed in 321 dogs. Mean (standard deviation) age was 8.5 (1.5) months, range 4.5–11 and 53.3 (31.2) months, range 12–132, for juvenile and adult dogs, respectively. Followup extended for a mean 47.8 (20.0) and 42.0 (13.5) months for juvenile and adults dogs, respectively, with complications recorded in 20% and 13% of Z‐THA, respectively. All hips were successfully revised except for 2 explants in juvenile dogs and 2 in adult dogs. There were no statistical differences in the frequency of complications between juveniles or adult dogs, but the type of complication did appear to be different.From the logistic model, the probability of a complication increased with an increase in body condition score after surgery (P < .0001) and with an increase in the pre‐surgery body condition score (P = .05), and decreased with an increase in weight after surgery (P = .05).ConclusionThe frequency of complications was less than 20% in juvenile and adult dogs and the frequency was not different across age groups. Complications were primarily related to the change (increase) in body condition score after surgery. Revision was successful in almost all dogs.
Acute bout of resistance exercise increases vitamin D receptor protein expression in rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Makanae Yuhei , Ogasawara Riki , Sato Koji , Takamura Yusuke , Matsutani Kenji , Kido Kohei , Shiozawa Naruhiro , Nakazato Koichi , Fujita Satoshi 
Published: September 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
Does an acute bout of exercise alter vitamin D receptor expression in rat skeletal muscle?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Resistance exercise but not endurance exercise increased intramuscular vitamin D receptor expression. Thus, resistance exercise may be an effective way to increase muscle vitamin D receptor expression.

Vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) are involved in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass and function. Although resistance exercise is well known to enhance muscle growth and improve muscle function, the effect of resistance exercise on VDR has been unclear. We investigated intramuscular VDR expression in response to an acute bout of resistance exercise or endurance exercise. Male adult Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to either resistance exercise (isometrically exercised via percutaneous electrical stimulation for five sets of ten 3 s contractions, with a 7 s interval between contractions and 3 min rest intervals between sets) or endurance exercise (treadmill at 25 m min−1 for 60 min). Rats were killed immediately or 1, 3, 6 or 24 h after completion of the resistance or endurance exercise, and gastrocnemius muscles were removed. Non‐exercised control animals were killed in a basal state (control group). Intramuscular VDR expression was significantly higher immediately after resistance exercise and elevated for 3 h after exercise compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and the resistance exercise significantly increased phosphorylated ERK1/2 and Mnk1 expression (P < 0.05), which may be associated with VDR expression, immediately after exercise. Additionally, intramuscular expression of cytochrome P450 27B1, an enzyme related to vitamin D metabolism, was significantly higher at 1 and 3 h after exercise (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. In contrast, endurance exercise had no effect on any of the measured proteins. Our results indicate that resistance exercise may be an efficient way to increase intramuscular VDR and related enzyme expression.
Long-Term Effects of Acupuncture Treatment on Airway Smooth Muscle in a Rat Model of Smoke-Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Li Jia , Wu Song , Tang Hongtu , Huang Wei , Wang Lushan , Zhou Huanjiao , Zhou Miao , Wang Hua , Li Jing 
Published: September 2015

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It is a chronic inflammatory process characterised by airway obstruction and progressive lung inflammation, associated with difficulty breathing and insensitivity to corticosteroid therapy. Although there is some preliminary evidence to suggest a beneficial effect of acupuncture on COPD, its mechanism of action has not been investigated. Our aim was to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture in a rat model of COPD induced by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). Methods Sixty Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to the smoke of 15 cigarettes for 1 h/day, 6 days/week for 3 months to induce COPD and treated with acupuncture at BL13 ( Feishu), BL23 ( Shenshu) and Dingchuan (COPD+Acupuncture, n=15), sham acupuncture (COPD+Sham, n=15) or left untreated (n=15). Exposed rats were compared with controls not exposed to CS (control, n=15). Pulmonary function was measured, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by ELISA. Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) protein and mRNA expression were examined in lung tissue and in bronchus. Results Acupuncture treatment appeared to protect pulmonary function and reduce the COPD-induced inflammatory response by decreasing cell inflammation and the production of TNF-α and IL-8. Acupuncture also enhanced HDAC2 mRNA and protein expression, suggesting a possible direct effect on protein structure through post-translational modifications. Conclusions Our results suggest that acupuncture regulates inflammatory cytokines and contributes to lung protection in a rat model of smoke-induced COPD by modulating HDAC2.
Children with oral clefts are at greater risk for persistent low achievement in school than classmates
Authors: Wehby George L , Collett Brent R , Barron Sheila , Romitti Paul , Ansley Timothy 
Published: September 2015

ObjectivesTo examine trajectories in academic achievement for children with oral clefts versus unaffected classmates and explore predictors of persistently low achievement among children with oral clefts.DesignLongitudinal cohort study of academic achievement in a population-based sample.Setting and participantsChildren born from 1983 through 2003 with oral clefts were identified from the Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders and matched to unaffected classmates by sex, school/school district and month and year of birth.Main outcome measuresAcademic achievement was measured from Iowa Testing Programs data. Outcomes included achievement scores in reading, language and mathematics.ResultsAcademic achievement data were available for 586 children with oral clefts and 1873 unaffected classmates. Achievement trajectories were stable for both groups. Children with oral clefts were more likely than their classmates to be classified into persistent low achievement trajectories, including when adjusting for socioeconomic differences: OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.16 for reading; OR=1.73, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.31 for language; OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.99 for math. Predictors of low achievement were cleft palate only (vs other cleft types), adolescent mothers, low maternal education and less frequent use of prenatal care.ConclusionsMost children have steady academic trajectories and children with oral clefts are at greater risk for persistent low achievement in school than unaffected classmates. These findings support the need for routine, early screening for academic deficits in this population. Cleft palate only, low parental education and adolescent mothers are associated with increased risk for persistent low achievement.
Negative symptoms in schizophrenia: a study in a large clinical sample of patients using a novel automated method
Authors: Patel Rashmi , Jayatilleke Nishamali , Broadbent Matthew , Chang Chin-Kuo , Foskett Nadia , Gorrell Genevieve , Hayes Richard D , Jackson Richard , Johnston Caroline , Shetty Hitesh , Roberts Angus , McGuire Philip , Stewart Robert 
Published: September 2015

ObjectivesTo identify negative symptoms in the clinical records of a large sample of patients with schizophrenia using natural language processing and assess their relationship with clinical outcomes.DesignObservational study using an anonymised electronic health record case register.SettingSouth London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM), a large provider of inpatient and community mental healthcare in the UK.Participants7678 patients with schizophrenia receiving care during 2011.Main outcome measuresHospital admission, readmission and duration of admission.Results10 different negative symptoms were ascertained with precision statistics above 0.80. 41% of patients had 2 or more negative symptoms. Negative symptoms were associated with younger age, male gender and single marital status, and with increased likelihood of hospital admission (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.39), longer duration of admission (β-coefficient 20.5 days, 7.6–33.5), and increased likelihood of readmission following discharge (OR 1.58, 1.28 to 1.95).ConclusionsNegative symptoms were common and associated with adverse clinical outcomes, consistent with evidence that these symptoms account for much of the disability associated with schizophrenia. Natural language processing provides a means of conducting research in large representative samples of patients, using data recorded during routine clinical practice.