bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of late‐night carbohydrate intake with glucose tolerance among pregnant African American women
Authors: Chandler‐Laney Paula C. , Schneider Camille R. , Gower Barbara A. , Granger Wesley M. , Mancuso Melissa S. , Biggio Joseph R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObesity and late‐night food consumption are associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Late‐night carbohydrate consumption may be particularly detrimental during late pregnancy because insulin sensitivity declines as pregnancy progresses. Further, women who were obese (Ob) prior to pregnancy have lower insulin sensitivity than do women of normal weight (NW). The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that night‐time carbohydrate consumption is associated with poorer glucose tolerance in late pregnancy and that this association would be exacerbated among Ob women. Forty non‐diabetic African American women were recruited based upon early pregnancy body mass index (NW, <25 kg m−2; Ob, ≥30 kg m−2). Third trimester free‐living dietary intake was assessed by food diary, and indices of glucose tolerance and insulin action were assessed during a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. Women in the Ob group reported greater average 24‐h energy intake (3055 kcal vs. 2415 kcal, P < 0.05). Across the whole cohort, night‐time, but not day‐time, carbohydrate intake was positively associated with glucose concentrations after the glucose load and inversely associated with early phase insulin secretion (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression modelling within each weight group showed that the associations among late‐night carbohydrate intake, glucose concentrations and insulin secretion were present only in the Ob group. This is the first study to report an association of night‐time carbohydrate intake specifically on glucose tolerance and insulin action during pregnancy. If replicated, these results suggest that late‐night carbohydrate intake may be a potential target for intervention to improve metabolic health of Ob women in late pregnancy.
Case of dermatophyte abscess caused by Trichophyton rubrum: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Inaoki Makoto , Nishijima Chihiro , Miyake Miho , Asaka Toshiyuki , Hasegawa Youichi , Anzawa Kazushi , Mochizuki Takashi 
Published: March 2015

SummaryA 54‐year‐old Japanese man without apparent immunosuppression presented with nodules with purulent drainage on the right lower leg. He had ringworm of the right leg and tinea unguium. A biopsy specimen of the nodule showed intradermal abscesses with fungal elements, and Trichophyton rubrum was cultured from both the pus and the biopsy specimen. Treatment with oral terbinafine resolved the nodules. Dermatophyte abscess is a rare, deep and invasive dermatophytosis, which is often associated with immunocompromised conditions. We provide a review of the literature including Japanese cases.
Ethnicity and patient satisfaction with tuberculosis care: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Mukasa Jean P. , Glass Nel , Mnatzaganian George 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPatients presenting in major tuberculosis (TB) centres in two Australian metropolitan hospitals and three central hospitals in Malawi were interviewed for health and other information, including their satisfaction with nursing care. The main objective of the study was to investigate differences in satisfaction rates among ethnically similar and different patients coming from two dissimilar health systems. A multivariable Generalized Estimating Equations model was constructed to identify sociodemographic and health‐related factors associated with dissatisfaction, while focusing on ethnic differences between and within each country. The Australian and Malawian patients were similar in age, gender, marital status, and employment. However, the Malawians were mostly inpatients, with recurrent TB episodes, and were more seriously ill with impaired physical and mental wellbeing. Nonetheless, being Australian was more associated with dissatisfaction observed in all components of care. However, Australian ethnic minorities were less dissatisfied than their Anglo‐Saxon or European counterparts, being more similar to Malawian patients irrespective of the health care provided. Our study suggests that patients coming from similar ethnic backgrounds may express similar satisfaction irrespective of the health system they belong to.
Estimating the predictive validity of diabetic animal models in rosiglitazone studies
Authors: Varga O. E. , Zsíros N. , Olsson I. A. S. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryFor therapeutic studies, predictive validity of animal models – arguably the most important feature of animal models in terms of human relevance – can be calculated retrospectively by obtaining data on treatment efficacy from human and animal trials. Using rosiglitazone as a case study, we aim to determine the predictive validity of animal models of diabetes, by analysing which models perform most similarly to humans during rosiglitazone treatment in terms of changes in standard diabetes diagnosis parameters (glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1c] and fasting glucose levels). A further objective of this paper was to explore the impact of four covariates on the predictive capacity: (i) diabetes induction method; (ii) drug administration route; (iii) sex of animals and (iv) diet during the experiments. Despite the variable consistency of animal species‐based models with the human reference for glucose and HbA1c treatment effects, our results show that glucose and HbA1c treatment effects in rats agreed better with the expected values based on human data than in other species. Induction method was also found to be a substantial factor affecting animal model performance. The study concluded that regular reassessment of animal models can help to identify human relevance of each model and adapt research design for actual research goals.
Prevalence of visual impairment and refractive errors among different ethnic groups in schoolchildren in Turpan, China
Authors: Chin Man Pan , Siong Kar Ho , Chan Ka Ho , Do Chi Wai , Chan Henry Ho Lung , Cheong Allen Ming Yan 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundThere is currently limited information about ethnic differences in myopia prevalence within mainland China, especially in rural or semi‐rural areas. We examined the prevalence of refractive errors, visual impairment and spectacle coverage in school children of varying ethnicity in Turpan, Xinjiang province.MethodsA community eye care service was provided for five schools. Presenting monocular distance and near visual acuity (VA), and ocular alignment were assessed. Retinoscopy and cycloplegic subjective refraction were performed for participants with presenting visual impairment (distance VA worse than 0.3 logMAR; Snellen 6/12 or 20/40) or abnormal binocular vision. Questionnaires administered prior to the eye examinations were used to collect information regarding personal lifestyle and parental myopia.ResultsA total of 646 out of 690 (94%) subjects aged four to 19 years (11.9 ± 2.6; mean ± S.D.) completed the eye examination. Three hundred and eighty‐two (59%) of participants were of Uyghur ethnicity, followed by Han, 176 (27%) and Hui, 74 (12%). The mean age of Uyghur, Han and Hui students was 12.3 ± 2.7, 11.4 ± 2.6 and 11.4 ± 2.3 years respectively, in which the Uyghur students were significantly older than the Han and Hui students (F(3,631) = 5.58 p < 0.001). In total, 170 (27%) and 85 (13%) subjects failed the screening examination for one eye or both eyes, respectively. The prevalence of presenting visual impairment was not significantly different among the ethnic groups (p = 0.26). After cycloplegic refraction, most subjects' VA (98%) improved to better than 0.3 logMAR (Snellen 6/12 or 20/40). The prevalence of “clinically‐significant myopia” (≤−0.50 dioptres) was 27%, 18% and 13% in Han, Hui and Uyghur children, respectively (p < 0.001). In contrast, Uyghur students had the highest prevalence of astigmatism (Uyghur 12%, Han 5%, Hui 4%). The overall spectacle coverage was 36%, while spectacle coverage among ethnic groups were similar (Han, 41%; Uyghur, 32%; Hui, 41%; χ2 = 2.23, df = 2, p = 0.33).ConclusionThe prevalence of clinically significant myopia varied markedly with ethnicity in school children sampled from a semi‐rural region of mainland China (Han > Hui > Uyghur). As reported previously, uncorrected/under‐corrected refractive error was the main cause of presenting visual impairment.
Decline in admissions for childhood asthma, a 26‐year period population‐based study
Authors: Mikalsen Ingvild Bruun , Skeiseid Liliane , Tveit Line Merete , Engelsvold David Hugo , Øymar Knut 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of childhood asthma has increased, although the rate of hospitalization for asthma seems to decrease. In Norway, the rate of hospital admission for childhood asthma from 1984 to 2000 increased. The aim of this study was to assess further trends in hospital admissions for childhood asthma up to 2010.MethodsA population‐based study including children 1–13 yrs of age hospitalized for asthma during six periods from 1984/1985 to 2009/2010 in Rogaland, Norway, was performed. Medical records from 1536 admissions (1050 children) were studied; and gender, age, number of admissions, length of hospital stay, medications and symptoms were recorded.ResultsFor all age groups, the rate of admissions per 10.000 increased from 20.1 in 1984/85 to 33.7 in 1989/90, but declined to 14.4 in 2009/2010. Rates were highest in boys (OR 1.87; 95% CI: 1.69, 2.09), younger age groups (OR 2.51; 2.38, 2.64) and decreased from 1984 to 2010 (OR 0.92; 0.88, 0.94). The rates of readmissions were higher than for primary admissions (OR 1.33; 1.19, 1.47). From 1984 to 2010, there was an increased use of inhaled corticosteroids prior to admission (6 to 51%) and started at discharge (7 to 37%), and systemic steroids given during admission (19 to 83%).ConclusionThere has been a substantial decline in the rate of hospital admissions for childhood asthma after 1989/1990, with major differences between age groups and genders. The decline could be due to improved care of children with asthma or a real reduction in asthma exacerbations.
Jasmonoyl isoleucine accumulation is needed for abscisic acid build‐up in roots of Arabidopsis under water stress conditions
Authors: de Ollas Carlos , Arbona Vicent , GóMez‐Cadenas Aurelio 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPhytohormones are central players in sensing and signalling numerous environmental conditions like drought. In this work, hormone profiling together with gene expression of key enzymes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonate biosynthesis were studied in desiccating Arabidopsis roots. Jasmonic acid (JA) content transiently increased after stress imposition whereas progressive and concomitant ABA and Jasmonoyl Isoleucine (JA‐Ile) accumulations were detected. Molecular data suggest that, at least, part of the hormonal regulation takes place at the biosynthetic level. These observations also point to a possible involvement of jasmonates on ABA biosynthesis under stress. To test this hypothesis, mutants impaired in jasmonate biosynthesis (opr3, lox6 and jar1‐1) and in JA‐dependent signalling (coi1) were employed. Results showed that the early JA accumulation leading to JA‐Ile build up was necessary for an ABA increase in roots under two different water stress conditions. Signal transduction between water stress‐induced JA‐Ile accumulation and COI1 is necessary for a full induction of the ABA biosynthesis pathway and subsequent hormone accumulation in roots of Arabidopsis plants. The present work adds a level of interaction between jasmonates and ABA at the biosynthetic level.
Environmental Justice and Community‐Based Research in Texas Borderland Colonias
Authors: Cantu Adelita , Graham Margaret A. , Millard Ann V. , Flores Isidore , Mugleston Meaghan K. , Reyes Iris Y. , Carbajal Ester S. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveAn innovative academic‐community partnership studied daily decisions in communities of mostly Spanish‐speaking, low‐income residents of colonias in Hidalgo County, TX, about risk of exposure to fish contaminated by PCBs at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site.Design and SampleThe team used focus group interviews with colonia residents and content analysis to assess knowledge of risk related to the Superfund site, the Donna Reservoir and Canal System.Results(1) many lacked knowledge of the Superfund site contamination; (2) a few participants fished at the lake, knew people who did so, and consumed the catch, but most participants feared going there; (3) some participants remember receiving messages saying not to fish at the site, although they recalled nothing about contamination, but most participants knew of no such messages; (4) many use cell phones to get local information through personal networks and several Spanish‐language news sources, but they have no consistent, culturally tailored local information source.ConclusionsThe findings indicate the need for further efforts to design culturally tailored means of communication and messages to inform local communities widely about the dangers related to the Superfund site and thus decrease health disparities resulting from consuming fish from the site.
Arginase activity in peripheral blood of patients with intestinal schistosomiasis, Wonji, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Getaneh A. , Tamrat A. , Tadesse K. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryMorbidity and mortality caused by schistosomiasis usually results from immunopathology. But the underlying mechanisms are not yet clearly understood. Th2‐type immune response is thought to be dominant during chronic schistosomiasis, and upregulation of arginase‐I is one component of this milieu. A cohort study was conducted to assess arginase activity in peripheral blood of humans with intestinal schistosomiasis in Wonji‐Shoa Sugar Estate, Central Ethiopia. Laboratory‐confirmed 30 Schistosoma mansoni‐infected patients and 18 apparently healthy controls were recruited. Faecal egg count was carried out by Kato‐Katz technique. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood. Activity of arginase in plasma and PBMC lysates was measured, and results were compared with that of controls. Twenty‐one of 30 patients had light infection, whereas moderate and heavy intensity infections were observed in eight and only one patient(s), respectively. A significant increase in both PBMC (patients: 59·96 + 82·99, controls: 25·44 + 24·6 mU/mg protein, P < 0·0001) and plasma (patients: 1·61 + 2·19, controls: 0·31 + 0·73 mU/mL plasma, P < 0·0001) arginase activity was observed during human S. mansoni infection. Arginase activity increases in peripheral blood of patients with intestinal schistosomiasis.
An Advanced Systematic Literature Review on Spatiotemporal Analyses of Twitter Data
Authors: Steiger Enrico , de Albuquerque João Porto , Zipf Alexander 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe objective of this article is to conduct a systematic literature review that provides an overview of the current state of research concerning methods and application for spatiotemporal analyses of the social network Twitter. Reviewed papers and their application domains have shown that the study of geographical processes by using spatiotemporal information from location‐based social networks represent a promising and still underexplored field for GIScience researchers.
The Role of Contextual Info‐Marks in Navigating a Virtual Rural Environment
Authors: Rousell Adam , Jarvis Claire , Brunsdon Chris 
Published: March 2015

AbstractNavigation is a task performed in both large and small scale environments. Landmarks within an environment are of great benefit to these navigational tasks, but in large rural environments such landmarks may be sparse. It has been shown that landmarks need not be purely visual and that a change in context for a feature can make it become a landmark against its surroundings (such as being provided with significant meaning). Such meaning could be added through personal experience or by informing the observer via some form of communication. To investigate the effects of providing such contextual information on navigational performance, experiments were conducted in a large rural virtual environment where the delivery method of the information was varied between onscreen and PDA display. Users were instructed to perform a route tracing navigation task. In some instances users were presented with textual information about specific locations within the environment which appeared when they were in the vicinity of the location. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed, with results indicating that although the actual performance in the task was not significantly improved, users felt that their performance was better and the task easier when they were presented with the contextual information.
Extemporaneous benznidazole oral suspension prepared from commercially available tablets for treatment of Chagas disease in paediatric patients
Authors: García Mónica C. , Manzo Ruben H. , Jimenez‐Kairuz Alvaro F. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo develop an extemporaneous 1% benznidazole (BNZ) suspension, with masked taste and adequate stability starting from available commercial tablets. The quality of compounding was evaluated through content uniformity measurement and physical and microbiological stability evaluation, under different storage conditions during 90 days.MethodsSix batches of 1% BNZ suspension were prepared using safe excipients currently available in a galenic area of Hospital Pharmacy and then stored at 5 and 25 °C for 90 days. The BNZ content was determined by UV spectrophotometry. Physical stability was defined as the absence of colour, odour and/or flavour changes and the re‐suspension of solid phase by a reasonable amount of simple 15‐s shaking. The compliance with microbiological attributes of non‐sterile pharmaceutical products was also evaluated.ResultsAn oral liquid suspension, containing 1% of BNZ, was developed from commercially available BNZ tablets. The formulations stored for 90 days were easily re‐dispersed after a simple 15‐s shaking, ensuring the pouring of a liquid volume containing the desired dose of BNZ. All samples were within the acceptable range of BNZ concentration with minimal standard deviations. There were no detectable changes in colour, odour, viscosity, pH and microbial growth, complying with official quality requirements. The quality attributes were not affected by storage, room or refrigeration conditions or by the frequent opening or closing of the multidose containers.ConclusionPaediatric oral liquid suspension containing 1.0% of BNZ was easily prepared starting from commercial tablets, being an interesting alternative for optimising the paediatric treatment of Chagas disease.
Is zidovudine first‐line therapy virologically comparable to tenofovir in resource‐limited settings?
Authors: Labhardt Niklaus D. , Bader Joëlle , Lejone Thabo Ismael , Ringera Isaac , Puga Daniel , Glass Tracy R. , Klimkait Thomas 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo compare virologic success between adult patients on tenofovir (TDF) and zidovudine (AZT)‐containing first‐line antiretroviral (ART) regimens in 10 rural clinics in Lesotho, Southern Africa.MethodsMulticentre cross‐sectional study, patients ≥16 years, on first‐line ART ≥6 months, receiving AZT/lamivudine (3TC) or TDF/3TC combined with efavirenz (EFV) or nevirapine (NVP). Patient characteristics and clinical/therapeutic history were collected on the day of blood draw for viral load (VL). Analysis was stratified for non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (EFV or NVP). A logistic regression model weighted for patients' baseline characteristics was used to assess the likelihood of virologic success (<80 copies/ml) in patients with TDF‐ as compared to AZT‐backbones.ResultsIn total 1539 patients were included in the analysis. Most were clinically and immunologically stable (clinical failure: 2.7% (AZT) and 2.8% (TDF); immunological failure: 4.6% (AZT) and 4.8% (TDF)). In EFV‐based regimens (n = 1162), TDF was significantly associated with higher rates of virologic suppression than AZT (93.8% vs. 88.1%; weighted odds ratio: 2.15 (95% CI: 1.29–3.58; P = 0.003)). In NVP‐based regimens, a similar trend was observed, but not significant (89.4% vs. 86.7%; 1.99 (0.83–4.75, P = 0.121)).ConclusionThese findings support the WHO recommendation to use TDF/3TC/EFV as first‐line regimen. They do, however, not support the recommendation that patients who are clinically stable on AZT should continue on this first‐line regimen.
Inhibitory effects of relaxin on cardiac fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transition: an electrophysiological study
Authors: Squecco Roberta , Sassoli Chiara , Garella Rachele , Chellini Flaminia , Idrizaj Eglantina , Nistri Silvia , Formigli Lucia , Bani Daniele , Francini Fabio 
Published: March 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
Fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transition is a key mechanism in the reparative response to tissue damage, but myofibroblast persistence in the wound leads to fibrosis and organ failure. The role of relaxin as an antifibrotic agent capable of counteracting the acquisition of biophysical features of differentiated myofibroblasts deserves further investigation.

What is the main finding and its importance?
Electrophysiological analysis showed that relaxin, administered during profibrotic treatment, hyperpolarizes the membrane potential and attenuates delayed rectifier and inwardly rectifying K+ currents, which usually increase in the transition to myofibroblasts. These findings provide further clues to the therapeutic potential of relaxin in fibrosis.

The hormone relaxin (RLX) is produced by the heart and may be involved in endogenous mechanisms of cardiac protection against ischaemic injury and fibrosis. Recent findings in cultured cardiac stromal cells suggest that RLX can inhibit fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transition, thereby counteracting fibrosis. In order to explore its efficiency as an antifibrotic agent further, we designed the present study to investigate whether RLX may influence the electrophysiological events associated with differentiation of cardiac stromal cells to myofibroblasts. Primary cardiac proto‐myofibroblasts and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were induced to myofibroblasts by transforming growth factor‐β1, and the electrophysiological features of both cell populations were investigated by whole‐cell patch clamp. We demonstrated that proto‐myofibroblasts and myofibroblasts express different membrane passive properties and K+ currents. Here, we have shown, for the first time, that RLX (100 ng ml−1) significantly reduced both voltage‐ and Ca2+‐dependent delayed‐rectifier and inward‐rectifying K+ currents that are typically increased in myofibroblasts compared with proto‐myofibroblasts, suggesting that this hormone can antagonize the biophysical effects of transforming growth factor‐β1 in inducing myofibroblast differentiation. These newly recognized effects of RLX on the electrical properties of cardiac stromal cell membrane correlate well with its well‐known ability to suppress myofibroblast differentiation, further supporting the possibility that RLX may be used for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.