bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity and specificity of the Eating Assessment Tool and the Volume‐Viscosity Swallow Test for clinical evaluation of oropharyngeal dysphagia
Authors: Rofes L. , Arreola V. , Mukherjee R. , Clavé P. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundOropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is an underdiagnosed digestive disorder that causes severe nutritional and respiratory complications. Our aim was to determine the accuracy of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10) and the Volume‐Viscosity Swallow Test (V‐VST) for clinical evaluation of OD.MethodsWe studied 120 patients with swallowing difficulties and 14 healthy subjects. OD was evaluated by the 10‐item screening questionnaire EAT‐10 and the bedside method V‐VST, videofluoroscopy (VFS) being the reference standard. The V‐VST is an effort test that uses boluses of different volumes and viscosities to identify clinical signs of impaired efficacy (impaired labial seal, piecemeal deglutition, and residue) and impaired safety of swallow (cough, voice changes, and oxygen desaturation ≥3%). Discriminating ability was assessed by the AUC of the ROC curve and sensitivity and specificity values.Key ResultsAccording to VFS, prevalence of OD was 87%, 75.6% with impaired efficacy and 80.9% with impaired safety of swallow including 17.6% aspirations. The EAT‐10 showed a ROC AUC of 0.89 for OD with an optimal cut‐off at 2 (0.89 sensitivity and 0.82 specificity). The V‐VST showed 0.94 sensitivity and 0.88 specificity for OD, 0.79 sensitivity and 0.75 specificity for impaired efficacy, 0.87 sensitivity and 0.81 specificity for impaired safety, and 0.91 sensitivity and 0.28 specificity for aspirations.Conclusions & InferencesClinical methods for screening (EAT‐10) and assessment (V‐VST) of OD offer excellent psychometric proprieties that allow adequate management of OD. Their universal application among at‐risk populations will improve the identification of patients with OD at risk for malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia.
Oxygen isotope signatures of transpired water vapor: the role of isotopic non‐steady‐state transpiration under natural conditions
Authors: Dubbert Maren , Cuntz Matthias , Piayda Arndt , Werner Christiane 
Published: June 2014

Summary

The oxygen isotope signature of water is a powerful tracer of water movement from plants to the global scale. However, little is known about the short‐term variability of oxygen isotopes leaving the ecosystem via transpiration, as high‐frequency measurements are lacking.

A laser spectrometer was coupled to a gas‐exchange chamber directly estimating branch‐level fluxes in order to evaluate the short‐term variability of the isotopic composition of transpiration (δE) and to investigate the role of isotopic non‐steady‐state transpiration under natural conditions in cork‐oak trees (Quercus suber) during distinct Mediterranean seasons.

The measured δ18O of transpiration (δE) deviated from isotopic steady state throughout most of the day even when leaf water at the evaporating sites was near isotopic steady state. High agreement was found between estimated and modeled δE values assuming non‐steady‐state enrichment of leaf water.

Isoforcing, that is, the influence of the transpirational δ18O flux on atmospheric values, deviated from steady‐state calculations but daily means were similar between steady state and non‐steady state. However, strong daytime isoforcing on the atmosphere implies that short‐term variations in δE are likely to have consequences for large‐scale applications, for example, partitioning of ecosystem fluxes or satellite‐based applications.
Stacking of a stearoyl‐ACP thioesterase with a dual‐silenced palmitoyl‐ACP thioesterase and ∆12 fatty acid desaturase in transgenic soybean
Authors: Park Hyunwoo , Graef George , Xu Yixiang , Tenopir Patrick , Clemente Tom E. 
Published: June 2014

SummarySoybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) is valued for both its protein and oil, whose seed is composed of 40% and 20% of each component, respectively. Given its high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, soybean oil oxidative stability is relatively poor. Historically food processors have employed a partial hydrogenation process to soybean oil as a means to improve both the oxidative stability and functionality in end‐use applications. However, the hydrogenation process leads to the formation of trans‐fats, which are associated with negative cardiovascular health. As a means to circumvent the need for the hydrogenation process, genetic approaches are being pursued to improve oil quality in oilseeds. In this regard, we report here on the introduction of the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) stearoyl‐ACP thioesterase into soybean and the subsequent stacking with an event that is dual‐silenced in palmitoyl‐ACP thioesterase and ∆12 fatty acid desaturase expression in a seed‐specific fashion. Phenotypic analyses on transgenic soybean expressing the mangosteen stearoyl‐ACP thioesterase revealed increases in seed stearic acid levels up to 17%. The subsequent stacked with a soybean event silenced in both palmitoyl‐ACP thioesterase and ∆12 fatty acid desaturase activity, resulted in a seed lipid phenotype of approximately 11%–19% stearate and approximately 70% oleate. The oil profile created by the stack was maintained for four generations under greenhouse conditions and a fifth generation under a field environment. However, in generation six and seven under field conditions, the oleate levels decreased to 30%–40%, while the stearic level remained elevated.
Synergistic effect of cyclodextrins and methyl jasmonate on taxane production in Taxus x media cell cultures
Authors: Sabater‐Jara Ana‐Belén , Onrubia Miriam , Moyano Elisabeth , Bonfill Mercedes , Palazón Javier , Pedreño María A. , Cusidó Rosa M. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryMethyl jasmonate and cyclodextrins are proven effective inducers of secondary metabolism in plant cell cultures. Cyclodextrins, which are cyclic oligosaccharides, can form inclusion complexes with nonhydrophilic secondary products, thus increasing their excretion from the producer cells to the culture medium. In the present work, using a selected Taxus x media cell line cultured in a two‐stage system, the relationship between taxane production and the transcript profiles of several genes involved in taxol metabolism was studied to gain more insight into the mechanism by which these two elicitors regulate the biosynthesis and excretion of taxol and related taxanes. Gene expression was not clearly enhanced by the presence of cyclodextrins in the culture medium and variably induced by methyl jasmonate, but when the culture was supplemented with both elicitors, a synergistic effect on transcript accumulation was observed. The BAPT and DBTNBT genes, which encode the last two transferases involved in the taxol pathway, appeared to control limiting biosynthetic steps. In the cell cultures treated with both elicitors, the produced taxanes were found mainly in the culture medium, which limited retroinhibition processes and taxane toxicity for the producer cells. The expression level of a putative ABC gene was found to have increased, suggesting it played a role in the taxane excretion. Taxol biosynthesis was clearly increased by the joint action of methyl jasmonate and cyclodextrins, reaching production levels 55 times higher than in nonelicited cultures.
The Light‐Induced FOS Response in Melanopsin Expressing HEK‐293 Cells is Correlated with Melanopsin Quantity and Dependent on Light Duration and Irradiance
Authors: Georg Birgitte , Rask Lene , Hannibal Jens , Fahrenkrug Jan 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWe established a cell line (HEK‐hMel) expressing melanopsin in a tetracycline dependent manner to elucidate new aspects of melanopsin's light response. Different light stimuli were evaluated using FOS expression as response parameter. Immunoblotting was used to evaluate expression of melanopsin and FOS and qPCR to quantify FOS mRNA responses. The magnitude of the FOS response was found to correlate with the amount of melanopsin expressed by the cells, and a transient FOS mRNA induction followed by FOS protein still elevated after 24 h of illumination was revealed. Exposing the cells to darkness after light resulted in reduction of the response compared to exposure to light solely showing dependency on continuous light. Increasing irradiances of blue light (480 nm) up to 1011 quanta cm−2 s−1 elicited steep increases in FOS mRNA, while increases between 1012 and 5 × 1013 quanta cm−2 s−1 resulted in equally high FOS expression. The HEK‐hMel cells were used to characterize facets of melanopsin's light‐induced FOS response not approachable in vivo. Novel information such as dependency of the FOS response on both melanopsin amount and light intensity in addition to a detailed time‐course of both FOS mRNA and protein were revealed.
Speech‐perception training for older adults with hearing loss impacts word recognition and effort
Authors: Kuchinsky Stefanie E. , Ahlstrom Jayne B. , Cute Stephanie L. , Humes Larry E. , Dubno Judy R. , Eckert Mark A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe current pupillometry study examined the impact of speech‐perception training on word recognition and cognitive effort in older adults with hearing loss. Trainees identified more words at the follow‐up than at the baseline session. Training also resulted in an overall larger and faster peaking pupillary response, even when controlling for performance and reaction time. Perceptual and cognitive capacities affected the peak amplitude of the pupil response across participants but did not diminish the impact of training on the other pupil metrics. Thus, we demonstrated that pupillometry can be used to characterize training‐related and individual differences in effort during a challenging listening task. Importantly, the results indicate that speech‐perception training not only affects overall word recognition, but also a physiological metric of cognitive effort, which has the potential to be a biomarker of hearing loss intervention outcome.
Comparative study of ex vivo probe‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy and light microscopy in lung cancer diagnostics
Authors: Sorokina Anastasia , Danilevskaya Olesya , Averyanov Alexander , Zabozlaev Fedor , Sazonov Dmitry , Yarmus Lonny , Lee Hans J. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground and objectiveProbe‐based confocal laser endoscopy (pCLE) allows for real‐time non‐invasive histological imaging via bronchoscopy. Interpreting CLE images and correlating with traditional histopathology remains challenging. We performed an ex vivo study to evaluate the correlation between light microscopy findings and pCLE imaging of primary lung carcinoma.MethodsPost‐lobectomy specimens for lung cancer nodules were examined ex vivo by pCLE. The examined areas were marked with brilliant green dye, and the surrounding tissues were stained by methylene blue dye. Lung tissue segments were resected and histopathological specimens were generated with 50‐μm thickness from the marked areas and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Pathologists and pulmonologists reviewed the images for correlating features.ResultsEighteen lobectomy specimens from 18 different patients were collected. Three primary features were observed in all samples using pCLE in the cancer surroundings: alveolar dystelectasis with thickening of alveolar walls, alveolar edema and a large amount of macrophages. The stromal and parenchymal components of the studied subtypes of non‐small‐cell lung cancer differed from each other. The stromal component for all nine adenocarcinoma specimens had a highly fluorescent field penetrated by dark hollows. All six squamous cell carcinoma specimens had the stromal component appeared as ‘biparously’ branching, highly fluorescent fibres. No stromal component was observed in any small‐cell carcinoma specimen, and at low power field, the cellular component was dominant with an observed light scattering pattern.ConclusionspCLE can identify lung carcinoma in ex vivo samples. Certain light microscopy features of lung carcinoma can be visualized with pCLE.
CD3G Gene Defects in Familial Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Authors: Gokturk B. , Keles S. , Kirac M. , Artac H. , Tokgoz H. , Guner S. N. , Caliskan U. , Caliskaner Z. , van der Burg M. , van Dongen J. , Morgan N. V. , Reisli I. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe patients with CD3γ deficiency can present with different clinical findings despite having the same homozygous mutation. We report three new CD3gamma‐deficient siblings from a consanguineous family with a combined T−B+NK+ immunodeficiency and their variable clinical and cellular phenotypes despite the same homozygous mutation of the CD3G gene (c.80‐1G>C). We also re‐evaluate a previously reported non‐consanguineous family with two CD3gamma‐deficient siblings with the same mutation. The median age at diagnosis was 11 years (14 months–20 years). We found all five patients to display autoimmunity: autoimmune thyroiditis (n = 5), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (n = 2), immune thrombocytopenia (n = 1), autoimmune hepatitis (n = 1), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (n = 1), vitiligo (n = 1) and positive antinuclear antibodies (n = 3) as well as high IgE (n = 2) and atopic eczema (n = 2). While CD3+TCRαβ+T cell percentages were low in all patients, only one had lymphopenia and 3 had CD3+T cell lymphopenia. Strikingly, we report frequent and multiple autoimmunity in tested heterozygous carriers in both families (n = 6; in 67%), and frequent autoimmunity in family members not available for testing (n = 5, in 80%). The results suggest that CD3G should be studied as a candidate gene for autoimmunity and that CD3gamma deficiency should be considered among other primary immunodeficiencies with predominantly autoimmune manifestations.
Mitigated Tregs and Augmented Th17 Cells and Cytokines are Associated with Severity of Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis
Authors: Wang X. , Zheng X.‐Y. , Ma C. , Wang X.‐K. , Wu J. , Adem A. , Zhu J. , Zhang H.‐L. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractExperimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), an animal model of human Guillain–Barré syndrome, has long been considered as a T helper (Th) 1 cell–mediated autoimmune disorder. However, deficiency of IFN‐γ, a signature Th1 cytokine, aggravated EAN, with features of elevated production of IL‐17A, despite an alleviated systemic Th1 immune response. We hypothesized that Th17 cells and their cytokines might play a pathogenic role in EAN. To further clarify the roles of these Th and regulatory T cell (Treg) cytokines in the pathogenesis of EAN and their interrelationship, we investigated the expression of Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cytokines in EAN in this study. We found that the levels of Th17 cells and IL‐17A in cauda equina (CE)‐infiltrating cells and splenic mononuclear cells (MNCs) as well as in serum paralleled the disease evolution, which increased progressively during the initiation stage and reached higher value at the peak of EAN. The same pattern was also noticed for the expression of IL‐22. The diverse expression profiles of FoxP3, IL‐17 receptors A and C were seen in CE‐infiltrating cells and splenic MNCs in EAN. These findings indicate a major pro‐inflammatory role of Th17 cells and IL‐17A in the pathogenesis of EAN. Therapeutic interventions may be focused upon inhibiting Th17 cells and their cytokines in the early phase of EAN, so as to delay and suppress clinical signs of the disease, which has relevance for future studies on pathogenesis and treatment of GBS in humans.
Accepting and Negotiating Service Users' Choices in Mental Health Transition Meetings
Authors: Juhila Kirsi , Hall Christopher , Günther Kirsi , Raitakari Suvi , Saario Sirpa 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAcross Western welfare regimes, policies emphasize that service users should have more choices regarding their services. This article examines how service choices are presented, responded to and decided in interactions between service users and professionals in mental health transition meetings. Choice is often associated with consumerist user involvement ideas, but in mental health choice also relates to the democratic user involvement approach and to shared decision making between professionals and service users. The results of the study show that professionals construct service users as consumers by offering service options in choice making sequences, expecting users to make appropriate choices. Service users mostly act like consumers by responding to these choice options. However, the study also demonstrates that the professionals do not always accept the user's first choice but respond to them as non‐preferred. Sometimes, they also suggest choices on behalf of the users. In these ‘non‐accepting’ sequences, choices are negotiated in interaction between the parties, rather than users acting as autonomous choice makers. The sequences are based on two kinds of professional reasoning: first, the professional‐led needs assessment and, second, the structure of the service package that the user is being offered. This negotiation has elements of shared decision making and the ‘logic of care’. But it also has elements of paternalist control which challenge both consumerist and democratic service user involvement and suggests consideration of more collectively oriented service user actions.
Research to policy and practice change: is capacity building in operational research delivering the goods?
Authors: Zachariah Rony , Guillerm Nathalie , Berger Selma , Kumar Ajay M. V. , Satyanarayana Srinath , Bissell Karen , Edginton Mary , Hinderaker Sven Gudmund , Tayler‐Smith Katie , Van den Bergh Rafael , Khogali Mohammed , Manzi Marcel , Reid Anthony J. , Ramsay Andrew , Reeder John C. , Harries Anthony D. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractObjectivesBetween 2009 and 2012, eight operational research capacity building courses were completed in Paris (3), Luxembourg (1), India (1), Nepal (1), Kenya (1) and Fiji (1). Courses had strict milestones that were subsequently adopted by the Structured Operational Research and Training InitiaTive (SORT IT) of the World Health Organization. We report on the numbers of enrolled participants who successfully completed courses, the number of papers published and their reported effect on policy and/or practice.DesignRetrospective cohort study including a survey.MethodsParticipant selection criteria ensured that only those proposing specific programme‐related and relevant operational research questions were selected. Effects on policy and/or practice were assessed in a standardised manner by two independent reviewers.ResultsOf 93 enrolled participants from 31 countries (14 in Africa, 13 in Asia, two in Latin America and two in South Pacific), 83 (89%) completed their courses. A total of 96 papers were submitted to scientific journals of which 89 (93%) were published and 88 assessed for effect on policy and practice. There was a reported effect in 65 (74%) studies including changes to programme implementation (27), adaptation of monitoring tools (24) and changes to existing guidelines (20).ConclusionThree quarters of published operational research studies from these structured courses had reported effects on policy and/or practice. It is important that this type of tracking becomes a standard component of operational research and research in general.
Clinical efficacy of low‐level laser therapy on localized canine atopic dermatitis severity score and localized pruritic visual analog score in pedal pruritus due to canine atopic dermatitis
Authors: Stich Ashley N. , Rosenkrantz Wayne S. , Griffin Craig E. 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundCanine atopic dermatitis is a genetically predisposed inflammatory skin disease often requiring multimodal treatment. There is a need to find further low‐risk adjunctive therapies.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo evaluate the localized effect of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on the paws of dogs with atopic dermatitis using a localized canine atopic dermatitis severity score (LCADSS) and owner localized pruritic visual analog score (LPVAS) in comparison to treatment with a placebo.AnimalsThirty client‐owned dogs with symmetrical pedal pruritus due to canine atopic dermatitis.MethodsDogs were randomly assigned into two groups. In each group, one paw was treated with LLLT and one paw treated with a placebo laser (comparing either both fore‐ or hindpaws). Treatments were administered at 4 J/cm2 (area from carpus/tarsus to distal aspect of digit 3) three times per week for the first 2 weeks and two times per week for the second 2 weeks. Scores were assessed for each paw at weeks 0, 2, 4 and 5.ResultsThere were no significant differences in LCADSS or LPVAS between LLLT and placebo treatments between weeks 0 and 5 (P = 0.0856 and 0.5017, respectively). However, LCADSS and LPVAS significantly decreased from week 0 at weeks 2, 4 and 5 in both LLLT and placebo groups (P < 0.0001 for all).Conclusions and clinical importanceLow‐level laser therapy is not an effective localized treatment for pedal pruritus in canine atopic dermatitis.
Reptile‐Associated Salmonellosis in Minnesota, 1996–2011
Authors: Whitten T. , Bender J. B. , Smith K. , Leano F. , Scheftel J. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryReptile‐associated salmonellosis (RAS) occurs when Salmonella is transmitted from a reptile to a human. This study describes the epidemiology of RAS in Minnesota during 1996–2011. All Minnesotans with confirmed Salmonella infections are reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Case patients are interviewed about illness characteristics and risk factors, including foods eaten, drinking and recreational water exposures, contact with ill people, and animal contact. Willing RAS case patients can submit stool from the reptile for culture. Serotype and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtype of Salmonella isolates from reptiles and case patients are compared. Of 8389 sporadic (not associated with an outbreak) non‐typhoidal salmonellosis case patients in Minnesotans during 1996–2011, 290 (3.5%) reported reptile exposure. The median age of case patients with reptile exposure was 11 years, 31% were under the age of 5 years and 67% were under the age of 20 years; 50% were female. The median illness duration was 8 days; 23% required hospitalization. The most commonly reported reptile exposures were lizard (47%), snake (20%), turtle (19%) and a combination of reptile types (14%). Eighty‐four per cent of isolates from case patients who reported reptile exposure were Salmonella enterica subspecies I. The three most common serotypes were Typhimurium (15%), Enteritidis (7%) and subspecies IV serotypes (7%). Of 60 reptiles testing positive for Salmonella, 36 (60%) yielded the same Salmonella serotype as the human isolate. Twenty‐six of 27 reptile isolates that were subtyped by PFGE were indistinguishable from the human isolate. Of these, 88% were subspecies I; the most common serotypes were Enteritidis (12%), Typhimurium (8%), and Bareilly (8%). RAS accounts for approximately 3.5% of salmonellosis cases in Minnesota, primarily affecting children. The majority of isolates from case patients and reptiles belonged to Salmonella subspecies I, suggesting that reptiles are a source of human infection with serotypes not traditionally considered to be reptile‐associated.