bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aquaporin-4 expression in the cerebrospinal fluid in congenital human hydrocephalus
Authors: Castañeyra-Ruiz Leandro , González-Marrero Ibrahim , González-Toledo Juan M , Castañeyra-Ruiz Agustin , de Paz-Carmona Héctor , Castañeyra-Perdomo Agustín , Carmona-Calero Emilia M 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background
Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water channel mainly located in the ventricular ependymal cells (brain-CSF barrier), the sub-ependymal glia, glia limitans and in end-feet of astrocytes in at the blood–brain barrier (BBB).

Methods
In the present work, the expression of AQP4 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in control and congenital human hydrocephalus infants (obstructive and communicating), was analysed by Western-blot and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Results
AQP4 was found to be high compared to the control in the CSF in congenital hydrocephalus patients. Western-blot showed higher values for AQP4 than controls in communicating hydrocephalus (communicating: 38.3%, control: 6.9% p < 0.05) although the increase was not significant in obstructive hydrocephalus (obstructive: 14.7%). The AQP4 quantification by ELISA also showed that, the mean concentration of AQP4 in CSF was significantly higher in communicating hydrocephalus (communicating: 11.32 ± 0.69 ng/ml, control: 8.61 ± 0.31 ng/ml; p < 0.05). However, there was no increase over control in obstructive hydrocephalus (obstructive: 8.65 ± 0.80 ng/ml).

Conclusions
AQP4 has a modulatory effect on ependyma stability and acts in CSF production and reabsorption. Therefore, the increase of AQP4 in the CSF in congenital hydrocephalus could be due to the fact that AQP4 passes from the parenchyma to the CSF and this AQP4 movement may be a consequence of ependyma denudation.
Derived Patterns in Binocular Rivalry Networks
Authors: Diekman Casey O , Golubitsky Martin , Wang Yunjiao 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Binocular rivalry is the alternation in visual perception that can occur when the two eyes are presented with different images. Wilson proposed a class of neuronal network models that generalize rivalry to multiple competing patterns. The networks are assumed to have learned several patterns, and rivalry is identified with time periodic states that have periods of dominance of different patterns. Here, we show that these networks can also support patterns that were not learned, which we call derived. This is important because there is evidence for perception of derived patterns in the binocular rivalry experiments of Kovács, Papathomas, Yang, and Fehér. We construct modified Wilson networks for these experiments and use symmetry breaking to make predictions regarding states that a subject might perceive. Specifically, we modify the networks to include lateral coupling, which is inspired by the known structure of the primary visual cortex. The modified network models make expected the surprising outcomes observed in these experiments.
A possible approach for gel-based proteomic studies in recalcitrant woody plants
Authors: Sebastiana Mónica , Figueiredo Andreia , Monteiro Filipa , Martins Joana , Franco Catarina , Coelho Ana Varela , Vaz Fátima , Simões Tânia , Penque Deborah , Pais Maria Salomé , Ferreira Sílvia 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Woody plants are particularly difficult to investigate due to high phenolic, resin, and tannin contents and laborious sample preparation. In particular, protein isolation from woody plants for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) is challenging as secondary metabolites negatively interfere with protein extraction and separation. In this study, three protein extraction protocols, using TCA, phenol and ethanol as precipitation or extraction agents, were tested in order to select the more efficient for woody recalcitrant plant gel-based proteomics. Grapevine leaves, pine needles and cork oak ectomycorrhizal roots were used to represent woody plant species and tissues. The phenol protocol produced higher quality 2-DE gels, with increased number of resolved spots, better spot focusing and representation of all molecular mass and isoelectric point ranges tested. In order to test the compatibility of the phenol extracted proteomes with protein identification several spots were excised from the phenol gels and analyzed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). Regardless the incomplete genome/protein databases for the plant species under analysis, 49 proteins were identified by Peptide Mass Fingerprint (PMF). Proteomic data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000224. Our results demonstrate the complexity of protein extraction from woody plant tissues and the suitability of the phenol protocol for obtaining high quality protein extracts for efficient 2-DE separation and downstream applications such as protein identification by mass spectrometry.
Sorption of aspartic and glutamic aminoacids on calcined hydrotalcite
Authors: Silvério Fabiano , dos Reis Márcio José , Tronto Jairo , Valim João Barros 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Sorption of aspartic and glutamic aminoacids by regeneration of calcined hydrotalcite is reported. Hydrotalcite was synthesized by coprecipitation and calcined at 773 K. Sorption experiments were performed at 298 K and 310 K, and the results reveal that at low aminoacids equilibrium concentrations, intercalation of hydroxyl anions takes place while at high equilibrium concentrations, the sorption process occur by means re-hydration and aminoacids intercalation of hydrotalcite. The results also suggested that Asp and Glu sorption is a temperature dependent process. The amount of sorbed amino acid decreases as the temperature increase. The effect is more pronounced for Glu sorption probably due to its higher hydrophobic character, which makes the sorption more difficult in comparison with sorption of Asp at higher temperature.
Ankylosis of the hips and knees due to sickle cell disease
Authors: Al Elayan Saad Saleh Abdullah , Al Hamdan Abdullah 
Published: May 2013

This is a case report of a 29-year-old Saudi male with sickle cell disease (SCD) with severe stiffness of his joints, mainly both knees and hips, secondary to complications of SCD. He was severely crippled: unable to sit, stand or walk, and was bedridden for 8 years when he was presented to us. Radiographs showed fusion of both knees and hips. There was no evidence of active osteomyelitis by Gallium scan. The patient’s hemoglobin S decreased to levels below 30% by exchange transfusion. Bilateral total hip replacement, as well as unilateral total knee replacement, was carried out to improve his level of function. There is only one reported case of such severe and multiple joint complications in a single patient suffering from SCD.The increased life expectancy that medical advances have offered to the sickle-cell patients has led to the appearance of sickle-cell-related complications, which were previously only seen rarely. These complications were successfully managed and the patient was able to move and transfer using a wheel chair.
Effect of storage levels of nitric oxide derivatives in blood components
Authors: Qazi Melissa A , Rizzatti Fabiola , Piknova Barbora , Sibmooh Nathawut , Stroncek David F , Schechter Alan N 
Published: May 2013

Background: Potential deleterious effects of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, especially from blood kept at length, have been ascribed to biochemical changes during storage, including those of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism.Study methods and design: In this study, NO metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, were quantified in RBCs and whole blood with time of storage. Whole blood (WB), leukoreduced (LR), and non-leukoreduced (NLR) components were obtained from healthy volunteer donors and stored in polyvinyl chloride bags for 42 days. Nitrite and nitrate were measured using reductive gas-phase chemiluminescence.Results: Nitrite concentrations initially decreased rapidly from about 150nmol/L, but stabilized at about 44nmol/L in room air for up to 42 days. Nitrate concentrations remained stable during storage at about 35µmol/L. Cells from bags maintained in an argon chamber showed decreased nitrite levels compared to those maintained in room air. Inhibition of enzymes implicated in the NO cycle did not alter nitrite levels.Conclusion: As erythrocytes may contribute to the control of blood flow and oxygen delivery through reduction of nitrite to NO under hypoxic conditions, the present findings provide insight into possible effects of blood transfusion. These measurements may explain some adverse effects of RBC transfusion and suggest ways of optimizing the preservation of stored blood.
Prediction of post-operative pain following arthroscopic subacromial decompression surgery: an observational study
Authors: Davis Anthony , Chinn David J , Sharma Sunil 
Published: May 2013

Background: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is increasingly performed as a day case procedure. Optimal post-operative pain relief remains a challenge due to considerable variations in the level of pain experienced between individuals. Our aim was to examine whether the preoperative electrical pain threshold was a strong predictor of elevated postoperative pain levels following arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) surgery. Methods: Forty consenting patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 1-2 presenting for elective ASD surgery were recruited. Patients’ electrical pain thresholds were measured preoperatively using a PainMatcher® (Cefar Medical AB, Lund, Sweden) device. Following surgery under general anaesthesia, the maximum pain experienced at rest and movement was recorded using a visual analogue scale until the end of postoperative day four. Results: In univariate analyses (t-test), the postoperative pain experienced (Area Under Curve) was significantly greater in patients with a low pain threshold as compared with a high pain threshold at both rest (mean 12.5, S.E. 1.7 v mean 6.5, S.E.1.2. P=0.008) and on movement (mean 18.7, S.E. 1.5 v mean 14.1, S.E.1.4. P=0.031). In multivariate analyses, adjusting for additional extra analgesia, the pain experienced postoperatively was significantly greater in the low pain threshold group both at rest (mean difference 4.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.4, P=0.007) and on movement (mean difference 4.1, 95%CI 0.03 to 8.2, P=0.049). Conclusions: Preoperative pain threshold can predict postoperative pain level following ASD of the shoulder. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01351363 Level of Evidence: II
Mobile phones affect multiple sperm quality traits: a meta-analysis
Authors: Dama Madhukar Shivajirao , Bhat M Narayana 
Published: May 2013

As mobile phone usage is growing rapidly, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the literature to inform scientific debates about the adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm quality traits. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the eligible published research studies on human males of reproductive age. Eleven studies were eligible for this analysis. Based on the meta-analysis, mobile phone use was significantly associated with deterioration in semen quality (Hedges’s g = -0.547; 95% CI: -0.713, -0.382; p < 0.001). The traits particularly affected adversely were sperm concentration, sperm morphology, sperm motility, proportion of non-progressive motile sperm (%), proportion of slow progressive motile sperm (%), and sperm viability. Direct exposure of spermatozoa to mobile phone radiation with in vitro study designs also significantly deteriorated the sperm quality (Hedges’s g = -2.233; 95% CI: -2.758, -1.708; p < 0.001), by reducing straight line velocity, fast progressive motility, Hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test score, major axis (µm), minor axis (µm), total sperm motility, perimeter (µm), area (µm2), average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, motile spermatozoa, and acrosome reacted spermatozoa (%). The strength of evidence for the different outcomes varied from very low to very high. The analysis shows that mobile phone use is possibly associated with a number of deleterious effects on the spermatozoa.
Ranibizumab: The First Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitor Approved for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Evoy Kirk E , Abel Steven R 
Published: May 2013

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data available for ranibizumab and compare the drug to other therapeutic options for diabetic macular edema (DME) to determine its likely role in therapy. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed search was initially used to identify all trials pertaining to the use of ranibizumab for DME. This search was conducted in February 2013 without a time frame for exclusion of older trials (all references included were published between January 1987 and February 2013). Following a review of the references of these articles, additional sources were obtained from PubMed, the manufacturer's website, and clinicaltrials.gov. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Trials conducted in animals and those written in a language other than English were excluded. Abstracts of remaining trials were reviewed for determination of relevance to this review. Preference was given to randomized controlled trials. Additional information sources were obtained from a review of references as deemed necessary by the authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Six Phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials studying the effects of ranibizumab in patients with DME were identified. Within these trials, ranibizumab consistently produced significantly greater gains in mean best corrected visual acuity than focal/grid laser photocoagulation or sham (7.4-12.5 letter improvement with ranibizumab vs 0.5-3 letters following focal/grid laser photocoagulation monotherapy) with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Ranibizumab was also studied in combination with focal/grid laser photocoagulation, showing no additional gains in vision versus ranibizumab monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The identified trials provide support for the safety and efficacy of ranibizumab in the treatment of vision loss due to DME and present a strong case for the shift to first-line treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors from focal/grid laser photocoagulation, the standard of care since the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study of 1985.
Formulaicity in an agglutinating language: the case of Turkish
Authors: Durrant Philip 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis study examines the extent to which complex inflectional patterns found in Turkish, a language with a rich agglutinating morphology, can be described as formulaic. It is found that many prototypically formulaic phenomena previously attested at the multi-word level in English – frequent co-occurrence of specific elements, fixed ‘bundles’ of elements, and associations between lexis and grammar – also play an important role at the morphological level in Turkish. It is argued that current psycholinguistic models of agglutinative morphology need to be complexified to incorporate such patterns. Conclusions are also drawn for the practice of Turkish as a Foreign Language teaching and for the methodology of Turkish corpus linguistics.
Noun-Noun sequences and the complement-modifier distinction: a corpus-based study
Authors: Portero Muñoz Carmen 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to question the relevance of the complement-modifier distinction in Noun-Noun sequences. It will be argued that neither syntactic nor semantic criteria provide a completely reliable basis for the distinction between complement and modifier in the context of post-head complements or modifiers and even less so in the case of nominal complements or modifiers in pre-head position, i.e. in Noun-Noun sequences. More specifically, it will be contended that the distinction between complements and modifiers in Noun-Noun sequences cannot be held on cognitive grounds either. With this aim it will firstly be shown that there are different types of associations between the two nouns in Noun-Noun sequences, namely thematic-relation associations (e.g. food shopping) and peripheral associations (e.g. strip shopping). Secondly, evidence will be provided to show that, in spite of the fact that these various associations may correspond to our intuitions about the complement-modifier distinction, they manifest a similar degree of semantic bondedness and combination frequency. In order to measure the semantic bondedness and frequency of the different types of relations in Noun-Noun sequences a pilot study on a sample of Noun-Noun sequences will be conducted using corpus data. The relative frequency with which two nouns are combined correlates with different degrees of ‘semantic bonding’, which can be seen as a sign of cognitive relevance. As a result of this, it will be shown that, even in the case of relational nouns, the most frequent combinations are not always thematic-relation ones. In addition, some sequences where nouns are combined with other nouns denoting peripheral relations show a higher degree of semantic bonding than others in which they are combined with thematic-relation nouns. Finally, the distinction between complements and modifiers in Noun-Noun sequences will be addressed from the point of view of interpretation. In spite of the fact that thematic relation interpretations are assumed to have priority over property interpretations, this priority may be reversed by different factors.
Characterization of interface quality between various low-temperature oxides and Si using room-temperature-photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Jang Jian Shiu-Ko , Jeng Chih-Cherng , Wang Ting-Chun , Huang Chih-Mu , Wang Ying-Lang , Yoo Woo Sik 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
First-Line Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With HER2-Positive and Hormone Receptor-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer From registHER
Authors: Tripathy Debu , Kaufman Peter A. , Brufsky Adam M. , Mayer Musa , Yood Marianne Ulcickas , Yoo Bongin , Quah Cheng , Yardley Denise , Rugo Hope S. 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background.
Limited data are available describing the natural history of patients with HER2-positive and hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We examined first-line treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with HER2-positive, HR-positive MBC in a real-world setting.

Methods.
registHER is a prospective, observational cohort of 1,023 patients with HER2-positive MBC diagnosed within 6 months of enrollment and followed until death, disenrollment, or June 2009 (median follow-up time: 27 months). Demographics, first-line treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes were examined for 530 HER2-positive, HR-positive patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were examined. Multivariate analyses adjusted for baseline demographic and prognostic factors.

Results.
HER2-positive, HR-positive patients receiving first-line trastuzumab plus hormonal therapy had significantly longer PFS times than patients who received hormonal therapy only (13.8 vs. 4.8 months; adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.60); a nonsignificant reduction in OS time was observed (adjusted HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.27–1.14). Compared with patients who received first-line trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, patients who received first-line trastuzumab plus chemotherapy and hormonal therapy had longer median PFS times (20.4 months vs. 9.5 months; adjusted HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42–0.68); a statistically significant reduction in risk of death was observed (adjusted HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.36–0.70). Sequential use of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy was associated with improved OS times when compared with concurrent use (adjusted PFS HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.54–1.21; adjusted OS HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26–0.89).

Conclusions.
These real-world data in patients with HER2-positive/HR-positive MBC provide evidence that, with or without chemotherapy, dual targeting of HRs and HER2 receptors is associated with significantly prolonged PFS and OS times.
Maxillary Sinus Augmentation With Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐2 and Particulate Allograft Without an Absorbable Sponge: A Case Report
Authors: Barnett Andrew S. , Soardi Carlo Maria , Wang Hom‐Lay 
Published: May 2013

Introduction: Recently, biologic agents have been added to bone graft materials in sinus‐augmentation surgeries to accelerate the rate of regeneration. One such agent is recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP‐2) using an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) as a carrier. Researchers have previously shown that, not only can rhBMP‐2 be successfully added to an allograft, but that the amount of ACS used is directly related to an increase in future graft shrinkage. There are limited data on adding rhBMP‐2 to an allograft mixture without any ACS. Hence, the objective of this case report is to provide the first histomorphometric analysis using rhBMP‐2 with allograft mixture without an ACS in an effort to reduce graft shrinkage.Case Presentation: A patient presented requiring implants in the right posterior, but maxillary sinus pneumatization and ridge resorption resulted in inadequate bone height. A sinus‐augmentation procedure was completed using rhBMP‐2 with allograft mixture without an ACS in an effort to reduce graft shrinkage; bone core biopsies were trephined at implant placement 6 months later and underwent histologic analysis. The graft regenerated as viable, mature, mineralized bone, and implant placement was successful.Conclusions: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report indicating that directly adding rhBMP‐2 to an allograft mixture without an ACS carrier is a viable supplementation to a sinus‐augmentation procedure. However, long‐term randomized controlled trials are needed for proper quantitative analysis and to determine its long‐term predictability and efficacy.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Prevalence of Resistance Genes of Obligate Anaerobes Isolated From Periodontal Abscesses
Authors: Xie Yi , Chen Jiazhen , He Junlin , Miao Xinyu , Xu Meng , Wu Xingwen , Xu Beiyun , Yu Liying , Zhang Wenhong 
Published: May 2013

Background: This study attempts to determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles of obligate anaerobic bacteria that were isolated from a periodontal abscess and to evaluate the prevalence of resistance genes in these bacteria.Methods: Forty‐one periodontal abscess samples were cultivated on selective and non‐selective culture media to isolate the oral anaerobes. Their antibiotic susceptibilities to clindamycin, doxycycline, amoxicillin, imipenem, cefradine, cefixime, roxithromycin, and metronidazole were determined using the agar dilution method, and polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to detect the presence of the ermF, tetQ, nim, and cfxA drug resistance genes.Results: A total of 60 different bacterial colonies was isolated and identified. All of the isolates were sensitive to imipenem. Of the strains, 6.7%, 13.3%, 16.7%, and 25% were resistant to doxycycline, metronidazole, cefixime, and amoxicillin, respectively. The resistance rate for both clindamycin and roxithromycin was 31.7%. Approximately 60.7% of the strains had the ermF gene, and 53.3% of the amoxicillin‐resistant strains were found to have the cfxA gene. Two nim genes that were found in eight metronidazole‐resistant strains were identified as nimB.Conclusions: In the present study, the Prevotella species are the most frequently isolated obligate anaerobes from periodontal abscesses. The current results show their alarmingly high resistance rate against clindamycin and roxithromycin; thus, the use of these antibiotics is unacceptable for the empirical therapy of periodontal abscesses. A brief prevalence of four resistance genes in the anaerobic bacteria that were isolated was also demonstrated.