bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How I manage cerebral vasculopathy in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Brousse Valentine , Kossorotoff Manoelle , de Montalembert Mariane 
Published: May 2015

SummarySickle cell disease induces specific brain alterations that involve both the macrocirculation and the microcirculation. The main overt neurovascular complications in children are infarctive stroke, transient ischaemic attack and cerebral haemorrhage. Silent cerebral infarction, cognitive dysfunction and recurrent headache are also common. Cerebrovascular disease selectively affects children with the HbSS or HbS‐β0 genotypes (i.e. sickle cell anaemia). The incidence of stroke peaks between 2 and 5 years of age (1·02/100 patient‐years) and increases with the severity of the anaemia. Most strokes can be prevented by annual transcranial Doppler screening from 2 to 16 years of age and providing chronic blood transfusion when this investigation shows elevated blood‐flow velocities. The role for hydroxycarbamide in children with abnormal transcranial Doppler findings is under investigation. After a stroke, chronic blood transfusion is very strongly recommended, unless haematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be performed. Routine magnetic resonance imaging shows that more than one‐third of children have silent cerebral infarction, which is associated with cognitive impairments. Screening for silent infarcts seems legitimate, since their presence may lead to supportive treatments. The role for more aggressive interventions such as hydroxycarbamide or chronic blood transfusion is debated.
Attenuation of experimental asthma by mycobacterial protein combined with CpG requires a TLR9‐dependent IFN‐γ‐CCR2 signalling circuit
Authors: Prado R. Q. , Bertolini T. B. , Piñeros A. R. , Gembre A. F. , Ramos S. G. , Silva C. L. , Borges M. C. , Bonato V. L. D. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBackgroundAllergic asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease characterized by a Th2 inflammatory response. The modulation of a Th2 immune response based on immune deviation to a Th1 pattern or induction and migration of regulatory T cells to the lungs constitutes one of the major therapeutic approaches that is being investigated for the treatment of allergic asthma. The potentials of Mycobacterium leprae 65‐kD heat‐shock protein or Toll‐like receptor 9 ligand (CpG oligodeoxynucleotides) as immune modulators for the treatment of airway allergic disease have been studied individually.ObjectiveMycobacterial protein combined with CpG was used as immunotherapy for airway allergy.MethodsUsing an ovalbumin‐induced asthma model, mice were sensitized and challenged, and then treated with mycobacterial heat‐shock protein (Hsp65) combined with CpG.ResultsThe treatment of mice with established allergy led to the attenuation of eosinophilia, Th2 cytokines and airway hyperresponsiveness. Hsp65 plus CpG treatment also induced an increase in OVA‐specific IFN‐γ levels and in the frequency of lung inflammatory monocytes. Moreover, we show that the reduction of eosinophilia and the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes to the lungs required early triggering of TLR9, IFN‐γ and CCR2 by immunotherapy components.ConclusionIn addition to immune deviation to a Th1 response in the modulation of Th2 allergic inflammation, our findings also attribute an important role to the innate response mediated by TLR9, associated with the recruitment of CCR2‐dependent monocytes.Clinical RelevanceOur findings show that the Hsp65/CpG treatment is a promising strategy for consideration in translational studies.
Bone density and microarchitecture in endogenous hypercortisolism
Authors: dos Santos Camila V. , Vieira Neto Leonardo , Madeira Miguel , Alves Coelho Maria Caroline , de Mendonça Laura Maria Carvalho , Paranhos‐Neto Francisco de Paula , Lima Inayá Corrêa Barbosa , Gadelha Mônica R. , Farias Maria Lucia Fleiuss 
Published: May 2015

SummaryObjectiveOsteoporosis is a serious and underestimated complication of endogenous hypercortisolism that results in an increased risk of fractures, even in patients with normal or slightly decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Alterations in bone microarchitecture, a very important component of bone quality, may explain bone fragility. The aim of this study was to investigate bone density and microarchitecture in a cohort of patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS).DesignCross‐sectional study.PatientsThirty patients with endogenous active CS and fifty‐one age‐, sex‐ and body mass index‐matched controls were included.MeasurementsParticipants were studied for areal BMD (dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry) of the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), total femur (TF) and radius (33%), and for volumetric bone density (vBMD) and structure using high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR‐pQCT) of the distal radius and distal tibia.ResultsPatients with active CS exhibited lower areal BMD and Z‐score values in the LS, FN and TF (P < 0·003 for all comparisons). At HR‐pQCT, the patients with CS also had lower cortical area (P = 0·009 at the radius and P = 0·002 at the tibia), lower cortical thickness (P = 0·02 at the radius and P = 0·002 at the tibia), lower cortical density (P = 0·008 at the tibia) and lower total vBMD (P = 0·002 at the tibia). After the exclusion of hypogonadal individuals, the patients with CS maintained the same microarchitectural and densitometric alterations described above.ConclusionsEndogenous hypercortisolism has deleterious effects on bone, especially on cortical bone microstructure. These effects seem to be a more important determinant of bone impairment than gonadal status.
Comparison of perioperative and short‐term oncological outcomes after single‐ or multiport surgery for colorectal cancer
Authors: Tei M. , Wakasugi M. , Akamatsu H. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimThe aim of this retrospective study was to compare the short‐term surgical results of single‐port surgery (SPS) with those of multiport surgery (MPS) for colorectal cancer.MethodWe studied 673 consecutive patients who underwent SPS or MPS for colorectal cancer in our department from January 2008 to December 2013. The operative parameters and oncological outcome were analysed and compared between the SPS and the MPS groups retrospectively.ResultsThe SPS and MPS groups did not differ significantly in terms of preoperative evaluation. The median operative time was significantly shorter with SPS than with MPS (176 min vs 193 min; P < 0.001). The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of postoperative complications. Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter with SPS than with MPS (8 days vs 10 days; P < 0.001). Oncological resection was similar in the two groups. The disease‐free survival rates at 2 years according to the TNM stage did not differ significantly between the two groups (Stage I, 98.5% vs 94.7%; Stage II, 93.4% vs 90.7%; and Stage III, 70.8% vs 68.4%).ConclusionOur experience demonstrates that SPS is safe and can provide oncological outcomes equal to those of MPS in patients with colorectal cancer.
Infants’ grip strength predicts mu rhythm attenuation during observation of lifting actions with weighted blocks
Authors: Upshaw Michaela B. , Bernier Raphael A. , Sommerville Jessica A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractResearch has established that the body is fundamentally involved in perception: bodily experience influences activation of the shared neural system underlying action perception and production during action observation, and bodily characteristics influence perception of the spatial environment. However, whether bodily characteristics influence action perception and its underlying neural system is unknown, particularly in early ontogeny. We measured grip strength in 12‐month‐old infants and investigated relations with mu rhythm attenuation, an electroencephalographic correlate of the neural system underlying action perception, during observation of lifting actions performed with differently weighted blocks. We found that infants with higher grip strength exhibited significant mu attenuation during observation of lifting actions, whereas infants with lower grip strength did not. Moreover, a progressively strong relation between grip strength and mu attenuation during observation of lifts was found with increased block weight. We propose that this relation is attributable to differences in infants’ ability to recognize the effort associated with lifting objects of different weights, as a consequence of their developing strength. Together, our results extend the body's role in perception by demonstrating that bodily characteristics influence action perception by shaping the activation of its underlying neural system.
Three‐year‐olds express suspense when an agent approaches a scene with a false belief
Authors: Moll Henrike , Kane Sarah , McGowan Luke 
Published: May 2015

AbstractResearch on early false belief understanding has entirely relied on affect‐neutral measures such as judgments (standard tasks), attentional allocation (looking duration, preferential looking, anticipatory looking), or active intervention. We used a novel, affective measure to test whether preschoolers affectively anticipate another's misguided acts. In two experiments, 3‐year‐olds showed more expressions of suspense (by, e.g. brow furrowing or lip biting) when they saw an agent approach a scene with a false as opposed to a true belief (Experiment 1) or ignorance (Experiment 2). This shows that the children anticipated the agent's surprise and disappointment when encountering reality. The findings suggest that early implicit knowledge of false beliefs includes anticipations of the affective implications of erring. This vital dimension of beliefs should no longer be ignored in research on early theory of mind.
Phosphorylcholine antibodies are diminished in ANCA‐associated vasculitis
Authors: Wilde Benjamin , Slot Marjan , van Paassen Pieter , Theunissen Ruud , Kemna Michael , Witzke Oliver , Cohen Tervaert Jan Willem 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground/AimANCA‐associated (AAV) vasculitis is an autoimmune small‐vessel vasculitis and may be associated with accelerated atherosclerosis as suggested by current literature. Antibodies against oxidized lipoproteins (OxLDL) and phosphorylcholine (Pc) protect from atherosclerosis. This study characterizes these antibodies in AAV.MethodsPc‐ and anti‐OxLDL antibodies were determined in sera of 39 AAV patients and 44 healthy controls (HC). Intima‐media thickness (IMT, carotids) and pulse wave velocity (PWV, A. femoralis) were measured.ResultsPc‐/OxLDL IgM antibodies were significantly reduced in AAV. IMT and PWV were negatively associated with anti‐Pc antibodies in HC only.ConclusionAtheroprotective anti‐Pc/anti‐OxLDL antibodies are significantly reduced in AAV possibly explaining accelerated atherosclerosis in vasculitis patients.
Suppressed inflammatory gene expression during human hypertrophic scar compared to normotrophic scar formation
Authors: van den Broek Lenie J. , van der Veer Willem M. , de Jong Etty H. , Gibbs Susan , Niessen Frank B. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHypertrophic scar formation is a result of adverse cutaneous wound healing. The pathogenesis of hypertrophic scar formation is still poorly understood. A problem next to the lack of suitable animal models is that often normal skin is compared to hypertrophic scar (HTscar) and not to normotrophic scar (NTscar) tissue. Another drawback is that often only one time period after wounding is studied, while scar formation is a dynamic process over a period of several months. In this study, we compared the expression of genes involved in inflammation, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and also macrophage infiltration in biopsies obtained before and up to 52 weeks after standard surgery in five patients who developed HTscar and six patients who developed NTscar. It was found that HTscar formation coincided with a prolonged decreased expression of inflammatory genes (TNFα, IL‐1α, IL‐1RN, CCL2, CCL3, CXCL2, CXCR2, C3 and IL‐10) and an extended increased expression of ECM‐related genes (PLAU, Col3A1, TGFβ3). This coincided with a delayed but prolonged infiltration of macrophages (type 2) in HTscar tissue compared to NTscar tissue. These findings were supported by immunohistochemical localization of proteins coding for select genes named above. Our study emphasizes that human cutaneous wound healing is a dynamic process that is needed to be studied over a period of time rather than a single point of time. Taken together, our results suggest innate immune stimulatory therapies may be a better option for improving scar quality than the currently used anti‐inflammatory scar therapies.
The effect of biochar management on soil and plant community properties in a boreal forest
Authors: Gundale Michael J. , Nilsson Marie‐Charlotte , Pluchon Nathalie , Wardle David A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBiochar management has been proposed as a possible tool to mitigate anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and thus far its impacts in forested environments remain poorly understood. We conducted a large‐scale, replicated field experiment using 0.05‐ha plots in the boreal region in northern Sweden to evaluate how soil and vegetation properties and processes responded to biochar application and the disturbance associated with burying biochar in the soil. We employed a randomized block design, where biochar and soil mixing treatments were established in factorial combination (i.e., control, soil mixing only, biochar only, and biochar and soil mixing; n = 6 plots of each). After two growing seasons, we found that biochar application enhanced net soil N mineralization rates and soil concentrations regardless of the soil mixing treatment, but had no impact on the availability of , the majority of soil microbial community parameters, or soil respiration. Meanwhile, soil mixing enhanced soil concentrations, but had negative impacts on net N mineralization rates and several soil microbial community variables. Many of the effects of soil mixing on soil nutrient and microbial community properties were less extreme when biochar was also added. Biochar addition had almost no effects on vegetation properties (except for a small reduction in species richness of the ground layer vegetation), while soil mixing caused significant reductions in graminoid and total ground layer vegetation cover, and enhanced seedling survival rates of P. sylvestris, and seed germination rates for four tree species. Our results suggest that biochar application can serve as an effective tool to store soil C in boreal forests while enhancing availability. They also suggest that biochar may serve as a useful complement to site preparation techniques that are frequently used in the boreal region, by enhancing soil fertility and reducing nutrient losses when soils are scarified during site preparation.
Formulation and evaluation of tacrolimus-loaded galactosylated Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for liver targeting
Authors: Mistry Nishita P , Desai Jagruti L , Thakkar Hetal P 
Published: May 2015

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this investigation was to formulate liver targeted tacrolimus-loaded nanoparticles for reducing renal distribution and thereby decreasing nephrotoxicity.

Method
Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was galactosylated, and confirmation of galactosylation was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Tacrolimus-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (Tac-PLGA NP) and galactosylated PLGA nanoparticles (Tac-Gal-PLGA NPs) were prepared by ultrasonic emulsification solvent evaporation technique and characterized.

Key findings
The size of both the formulations was below 150 nm and negative zeta potential indicated the stability and reticuloendothelial system targeting efficiency. The in-vitro release and pharmacokinetics showed sustained release of tacrolimus from nanoparticles in comparison to plain drug solution. The biodistribution studies revealed the potential of both the nanoparticulate systems to target tacrolimus to the liver for prolonged periods of time compared with the plain drug solution. However, significantly higher liver and spleen targeting efficiency of Tac-Gal-PLGA NPs compared with Tac-PLGA NPs was evident indicating its active targeting. Significantly lower distribution in the kidney from nanoparticles indicated the possibility of reduced nephrotoxicity – the principal reason for patient non-compliance. Both nanoparticles showed stability at refrigerated condition (5°C ± 3°C) upon storage for 1 month.

Conclusion
Galactosylated PLGA nanoparticles seem to be a promising carrier for liver targeting of tacrolimus.
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphisms and Erectile Dysfunction: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Chunhui , Lu Kai , Tao Tao , Zhang Lei , Zhang Xiaowen , Jiang Liang , Huang Yeqing , Guan Han , Chen Ming , Xu Bin 
Published: May 2015

Abstract

Introduction and Aims
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent disorder in men and has a serious impact on the quality of the patient's life. Recent studies have examined the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms and ED. However, the results remain inconclusive. The present study aimed to offer an actual view of estimating the correlation between eNOS polymorphisms and ED.

Methods
We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the association between eNOS polymorphisms and ED risk. Databases employed for data mining until December 1, 2014 included PubMed, Web of Science, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure. Two study investigators independently conducted a literature search and data extraction. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals for the risk were calculated by using a random effects model or fixed effects model.

Results
A total of 20 studies in 13 publications were included in the meta-analysis. In the overall comparison, the eNOS G984T polymorphism was associated with an increased ED risk in allele contrast, dominant, heterozygote, and homozygote models (allele contrast: OR = 1.514, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.019–2.248). For 4 VNTR polymorphisms, the overall analysis showed a significant association between homozygote comparison and recessive genetic model (homozygote comparison: OR = 1.917, CI: 1.073–3.424). The eNOS T786C polymorphism increased ED risk in allele contrast, homozygote, and recessive models (allele contrast: OR = 1.588, CI: 1.316–1.915). Significant heterogeneity was mainly observed in studies on the G894T polymorphism. No publication bias was detected in all of the variants.

Conclusion
The eNOS polymorphisms G894T, 4 VNTR, and T786C were associated with an increased risk for ED. However, these results are still preliminary. Further studies based on different confounders and using a large population size should be conducted to generate more accurate and reliable conclusions.
The interferon receptor‐1 promoter polymorphisms affect the outcome of Caucasians with HBeAg‐negative chronic HBV infection
Authors: Karamitros Timokratis , Papatheodoridis George , Dimopoulou Eleni , Papageorgiou Maria‐Vasiliki , Paraskevis Dimitrios , Magiorkinis Gkikas , Sypsa Vana , Hatzakis Angelos 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsThe outcome of HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients who may remain in the inactive carrier state (IC) or progress to HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B may be affected by the host genetic profile. Genetic polymorphisms within not only the promoter but also the coding sequence of the interferon receptor 1 (INFAR1) gene have been associated with susceptibility to chronic HBV infection, but their role on the outcomes of HBeAg‐negative patients has not been evaluated. We examined the association of INFAR1 promoter polymorphisms with the phase of chronic HBV infection in a demographically characterized Caucasian cohort of 183 consecutive HBeAg‐negative chronic HBV patients.MethodsUsing a combination of conventional and allele‐specific polymerase chain reactions, bidirectional sequencing and DNA‐fragment analysis, we performed typing of three Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs ‐568G/C, ‐408C/T, ‐3C/T) and one Variable Number Tandem Repeat [VNTR ‐77(GT)n] within the INFR1 promoter sequence.ResultsThe genetic polymorphisms examined were found to be associated with the phase of HBeAg‐negative chronic HBV patients. Using a multiple logistic regression model adjusting for age, gender and origin of the individuals, we found that patients with linked genotypes ‐408CT_‐3CT were more likely to be ICs (OR = 2.42 vs. CC, P = 0.036). Also, given the partial linkage between SNP ‐568G/C and VNTR ‐77(GT)n, we found that linked genotypes ‐77(GT)n ≤ 8/≤8_‐568GC and ‐77(GT)n ≤ 8/≤8_‐568CC were detected more frequently among ICs (OR = 11.69, P = 0.005 and OR = 7.56, P = 0.001 vs. ‐77(GT)n >8/>8_‐568GG respectively).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that these genetic variations represent important factors associated with the clinical phase of HBeAg‐negative chronic HBV infection.
Cell type‐specific responses to salinity – the epidermal bladder cell transcriptome of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Authors: Oh Dong‐Ha , Barkla Bronwyn J. , Vera‐Estrella Rosario , Pantoja Omar , Lee Sang‐Yeol , Bohnert Hans J. , Dassanayake Maheshi 
Published: May 2015

Summary

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (ice plant) exhibits extreme tolerance to salt. Epidermal bladder cells (EBCs), developing on the surface of aerial tissues and specialized in sodium sequestration and other protective functions, are critical for the plant's stress adaptation. We present the first transcriptome analysis of EBCs isolated from intact plants, to investigate cell type‐specific responses during plant salt adaptation.

We developed a de novo assembled, nonredundant EBC reference transcriptome. Using RNAseq, we compared the expression patterns of the EBC‐specific transcriptome between control and salt‐treated plants.

The EBC reference transcriptome consists of 37 341 transcript‐contigs, of which 7% showed significantly different expression between salt‐treated and control samples. We identified significant changes in ion transport, metabolism related to energy generation and osmolyte accumulation, stress signalling, and organelle functions, as well as a number of lineage‐specific genes of unknown function, in response to salt treatment.

The salinity‐induced EBC transcriptome includes active transcript clusters, refuting the view of EBCs as passive storage compartments in the whole‐plant stress response. EBC transcriptomes, differing from those of whole plants or leaf tissue, exemplify the importance of cell type‐specific resolution in understanding stress adaptive mechanisms.