bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Second‐trimester discordance and adverse perinatal outcome in twins: the STORK multiple pregnancy cohort
Authors: D'Antonio F , Khalil A , Thilaganathan B ,   on behalf of the Southwest Thames Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK)
Published: December 2013

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the association between biometry discordance at the time of the anomaly scan and adverse perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingNine hospitals in the Southwest Thames Region of London Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK).Population or samplePopulation multicentre retrospective study of all twin pregnancies booked for antenatal care in nine hospitals over a period of 10 years. Methods Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to evaluate the association between abdominal circumference (AC) and estimated fetal weight (EFW) discordance, recorded between 20 and 22 weeks of gestation, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Main outcome measuresStillbirth, neonatal mortality, preterm birth (PTB) at <34 weeks of gestation, and birthweight (BW) discordance ≥25%.ResultsA total of 2399 twin pregnancies [457 monochorionic (MC) and 1942 dichorionic (DC)] were included in the study. The predictive accuracy of the EFW discordance was poor for fetal loss after 22 weeks of gestation (area under the curve, AUC 0.54, 95% CI 0.46–0.64), fetal loss beyond 28 weeks of gestation (AUC 0.42, 95% CI 0.31–0.52), perinatal loss (AUC 0.51, 95% CI 0.44–0.57), BW discordance (AUC 0.63, 95% CI 0.56–0.65), and PTB before 34 weeks of gestation (AUC 0.52, 95% CI 0.49–0.55). There was no significant difference in the prediction of these outcomes when using EFW discordance or AC discordance.ConclusionsOnce structural malformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome have been excluded, second‐trimester EFW and AC discordance have poor predictive value for adverse perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancy.
Associative Learning of Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera:Pteromalidae) to Methyldisulfanylmethane
Authors: Frederickx Christine , Verheggen François J. , Brostaux Yves , Haubruge Eric 
Published: December 2013

AbstractTraditional methods of volatile detection used by police typically consist of reliance on canine olfaction. However, dogs have some limitations such as cost of training and time of conditioning. The possibility of using parasitic wasps for detecting explosives and narcotics has been developed. Moreover, wasps are cheap to produce and can be conditioned with impressive speed for a specific chemical detection task. We examined the ability of Nasonia vitripennis Walker to learn and respond to methyldisulfanylmethane (DMDS), a volatile discriminator of cadaver. The training aimed to form an association between an unconditioned stimulus (pupae) and the conditioned stimulus (odor source). After the training, the time spent by conditioned wasps in the DMDS chamber was measured. Statistical analysis showed that the increasing concentrations involved an increase in the time spent in the chamber containing DMDS. This study indicates that N. vitripennis can respond to DMDS, which provide further support for its development as a biological sensor.
Eye‐Catching Eyebrows: Training and Evaluating Humans for Periocular Image Verification
Authors: Hollingsworth Karen P. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractHigh‐quality periocular images have sufficient variability between people that they can be used for automated recognition. However, there are no standards for training people to compare periocular images in a forensic context. Potential methods for training people to compare eyebrow images are investigated in this article. Pairs of images were presented to volunteers who decided whether the images showed the same person or different people. A control group with minimal instruction and no training responded with 87.6% accuracy. A second group viewed 100 training pairs before the test and achieved 94.2% accuracy. A third group rated specific features in the images and had 0.1% improvement over the second group. Experimental results show that actively comparing at least thirty training images and receiving immediate feedback improves trainees’ performance six to seven percent. If a quantitative quality score is needed, a linear combination of similarity ratings on different features may be used.
The Forensic Implications of Turner's Syndrome
Authors: Power Theresa , Langlois Neil E. I. , Byard Roger W. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractTurner's syndrome, the most common sex chromosome disorder of females, is caused by complete or partial loss of one X chromosome and is associated with a wide range of internal and external manifestations and increased mortality rates (three to nine times the background population). While individuals with Turner's syndrome may survive for many decades, premature and unexpected deaths can occur that bring decedents to the attention of forensic examiners. Causes of death in Turner's syndrome are often linked to underlying cardiovascular conditions such as aortic dissection, congenital cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart, and cerebrovascular disease, but deaths due to noncardiac causes also occur with increased frequency. The latter include epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, pneumonia, chronic liver disease, and malignancy. Thus, the autopsy evaluation of these cases requires careful examination of all major organ systems, with the consideration of confirmatory cytogenetic testing.
Accuracy of Identifying Juvenile/Adult Status from Third Molar Development using Prediction Probabilities Derived from Logistic Regression Analysis
Authors: Acharya Ashith B. , Bhowmik Biyas , Naikmasur Venkatesh G. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe use of third molars in predicting juvenile/adult status (</≥ 18 years) has important legal ramifications. Third molar development was assessed using Köhler's grading on 268 orthopantomograms of Indian subjects. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine allocation accuracy of juvenile/adult status and the level of probability that is “reliable” in predicting juvenile/adult status. Allocation accuracies ranged between 75.8% and 78.2% for the sexes combined, with minimal male‐female differences. Adults were categorized more accurately than juveniles, suggesting that Köhler's grading puts Indian juveniles at greater risk of unwarranted punishment. In both sexes, juvenile/adult status was “reliably” predicted when the probability was >80% using individual third molars (excepting the lower right third molar in males); combining upper and lower third molars on the left/right sides, “reliable” predictions were possible when the probability was >80% and >90% for females and males, respectively. Overall, “reliable” juvenile/adult status prediction was achieved in c. 36% of subjects.
Diversity of epothilone producers among Sorangium strains in producer‐positive soil habitats
Authors: Li Shu‐guang , Zhao Lin , Han Kui , Li Peng‐fei , Li Zhi‐feng , Hu Wei , Liu Hong , Wu Zhi‐hong , Li Yue‐zhong 
Published: December 2013

SummaryLarge‐scale surveys show that the anti‐tumour compounds known as epothilones are produced by only a small proportion of Sorangium strains, thereby greatly hampering the research and development of these valuable compounds. In this study, to investigate the niche diversity of epothilone‐producing Sorangium strains, we re‐surveyed four soil samples where epothilone producers were previously found. Compared with the < 2.5% positive strains collected from different places, epothilone producers comprised 25.0–75.0% of the Sorangium isolates in these four positive soil samples. These sympatric epothilone producers differed not only in their 16S rRNA gene sequences and morphologies but also in their production of epothilones and biosynthesis genes. A further exploration of 14 soil samples collected from a larger area around a positive site showed a similar high positive ratio of epothilone producers among the Sorangium isolates. The present results suggest that, in an area containing epothilone producers, the long‐term genetic variations and refinements resulting from selective pressure form a large reservoir of epothilone‐producing Sorangium strains with diverse genetic compositions.
Transcriptional profile of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Weltevreden during alfalfa sprout colonization
Authors: Brankatschk Kerstin , Kamber Tim , Pothier Joël F. , Duffy Brion , Smits Theo H. M. 
Published: December 2013

SummarySprouted seeds represent a great risk for infection by human enteric pathogens because of favourable growth conditions for pathogens during their germination. The aim of this study was to identify mechanisms of interactions of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Weltevreden with alfalfa sprouts. RNA‐seq analysis of S. Weltevreden grown with sprouts in comparison with M9‐glucose medium showed that among a total of 4158 annotated coding sequences, 177 genes (4.3%) and 345 genes (8.3%) were transcribed at higher levels with sprouts and in minimal medium respectively. Genes that were higher transcribed with sprouts are coding for proteins involved in mechanisms known to be important for attachment, motility and biofilm formation. Besides gene expression required for phenotypic adaption, genes involved in sulphate acquisition were higher transcribed, suggesting that the surface on alfalfa sprouts may be poor in sulphate. Genes encoding structural and effector proteins of Salmonella pathogenicity island 2, involved in survival within macrophages during infection of animal tissue, were higher transcribed with sprouts possibly as a response to environmental conditions. This study provides insight on additional mechanisms that may be important for pathogen interactions with sprouts.
A genome‐wide association study reveals a quantitative trait locus for age at first calving in delta/notch‐like EGF repeat containing on chromosome 2 in Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Sasaki Shinji , Ibi Takayuki , Ikeda Shogo , Sugimoto Yoshikazu 
Published: December 2013

SummaryAge at first calving (AFC) is an important trait for achieving earlier reproductive performance in cattle. To identify quantitative trait loci for AFC in Japanese Black cattle, we conducted a genome‐wide association study using 866 animals with extreme AFC values selected from a larger group of 52 009 animals. We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on bovine chromosome 2 that were associated with AFC. These SNPs were located within 112.8‐kbp intronic region of delta/notch‐like EGF repeat containing (DNER) and proved to be in a state of high linkage disequilibrium. The association was replicated in an independent sample of 2963 animals. In the replicated population, the frequency of the reduced AFC allele (Q) was 0.463, and the allele accounts for 8% of the total genetic variance. The effect of allele substitution on AFC was a decrease of 11.54 days. The results suggest that the Q allele could serve as a useful marker in Japanese Black cattle to select animals with superior AFC performance.
Von Willebrand Factor as a new marker for non‐invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Maieron A. , Salzl P. , Peck‐Radosavljevic M. , Trauner M. , Hametner S. , Schöfl R. , Ferenci P. , Ferlitsch M. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundStaging of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is recommended prior to anti‐viral therapy. As vWF‐Ag was shown as a predictor of portal hypertension, decompensation and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis, we performed this study to investigate if vWF‐Ag is able to predict different fibrosis stages and if it is comparable to other fibrosis scores.AimTo investigate if vWF‐Ag is able to predict different fibrosis stages and if it is comparable to other fibrosis scores.MethodsWe analysed 294 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent biopsy. We assessed stage of liver fibrosis according to Metavir, measured vWF‐Ag and calculated different fibrosis scores (APRI, FCI, FORNS, FI, Fib‐4) and compared them by AUCs. We also calculated a new score: vWF‐Ag/thrombocytes (VITRO score) for prediction of fibrosis.ResultsvWF‐Ag levels were increasing with stage of fibrosis: F0: vWF‐Ag was median 136.5%, FI 140.6%, FII 157.5%, FIII 171.0%, FIV 252.0%; P < 0.001. vWF‐Ag and VITRO score produced AUCs of 0.7 and 0.72 for ≥F2, comparable to the AUCs of APRI, Fib‐4, FORNS with 0.75, 0.65 and 0.64 (P > 0.05). For ≥F3 AUCs were 0.79 and 0.86 for vWF‐Ag and VITRO score, comparable with AUCs of 0.79, 0.86 and 0.87 for APRI, Fib‐4 and FORNS. Cirrhosis shows AUCs of 0.84 and 0.89 for vWF‐Ag and VITRO score, APRI, Fib‐4 and FORNS showed similar results with AUCs of 0.82, 0.88 and 0.87.ConclusionsvWF‐Ag and VITRO score offer an easy possibility to evaluate the stage of fibrosis to diagnose subclinical cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Both vWF‐Ag and VITRO score show equal performance in comparison to other fibrosis scores assessed in our study.
Characteristics of functional bowel disorder patients: a cross‐sectional survey using the Rome III criteria
Authors: Ford A. C. , Bercik P. , Morgan D. G. , Bolino C. , Pintos‐Sanchez M. I. , Moayyedi P. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundThere is some evidence that, despite attempts to classify them separately, functional bowel disorders are not distinct entities and that such divisions are artificial.AimTo examine this issue in a large cohort of secondary care patients.MethodsConsecutive, unselected adults with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms attending out‐patient clinics at two hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario were recruited. Demographic data, symptoms and presence of anxiety, depression or somatisation were collected prospectively. We used validated questionnaires, including the Rome III questionnaire, with patients categorised as having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional diarrhoea or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). We compared data between these disorders, and measured degree of overlap between them by suspending their mutual exclusivity.ResultsOf 3656 patients providing complete lower GI symptom data, 1551 (42.4%) met criteria for a functional bowel disorder. Diarrhoea‐predominant IBS (IBS‐D) patients were younger, and more were female, met criteria for anxiety, and reported somatisation‐type behaviour, compared with functional diarrhoea. Only loose, mushy or watery stools were more common in functional diarrhoea. When mutual exclusivity was suspended, overlap occurred in 27.6%. Constipation‐predominant IBS (IBS‐C) patients were younger, and more were female, had never married, reported anxiety type symptoms and exhibited somatisation‐type behaviour. One in five CIC patients reported abdominal pain or discomfort. All constipation symptoms were more common in IBS‐C. When the mutual exclusivity was suspended, overlap occurred in 18.1%.ConclusionsThere were significant differences in demographics between individuals with functional bowel disorders. Despite this, the Rome III classification system falls short of describing unique entities.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the association between human papillomavirus infection and oesophageal cancer
Authors: Li X. , Gao C. , Yang Y. , Zhou F. , Li M. , Jin Q. , Gao L. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection might be one of the potential risk factors for oesophageal cancer. However, the previous epidemiological findings were heterogeneous.AimTo explore the association between HPV infection and oesophageal cancer risk by means of meta‐analysis.MethodsStudies on HPV infection and oesophageal cancer were identified, the prevalence of HPV infection and its association with oesophageal cancer risk were quantitatively summarised by meta‐analysis.ResultsA total of 8990 oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients and 174 oesophageal adenocarcinomas patients were evaluated from 76 included studies. Summarised HPV prevalence in oesophageal SCC was 22.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 18.3–26.7%], HPV‐16 was the most frequently observed subtype with a summarised prevalence of 11.4% (95% CI: 8.2–15.7%). With respect to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, HPV prevalence was 35.0% (95% CI, 13.2–65.7%) and HPV‐16 prevalence was 11.4% (95% CI: 8.2–15.7%). Due to the limited number of included studies on oesophageal adenocarcinoma, association analyses were performed to oesophageal SCC only. Significant association was observed between HPV infection and oesophageal SCC with a summarised odds ratio of 3.32 (95% CI, 2.26–4.87). According to HPV‐16, the strength of the association was found to be 3.52 (95% CI, 2.04–6.07).ConclusionsHuman papillomavirus infection was observed to be associated with an increased risk of oesophageal SCC in this meta‐analysis. However, due to the evident heterogeneity observed between the included studies and the strength of the association not as strong as observed for cervical cancer and laryngeal cancer, further studies are needed to clarify the relation and its underlying mechanisms.
Lactose intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome patients with diarrhoea: the roles of anxiety, activation of the innate mucosal immune system and visceral sensitivity
Authors: Yang J. , Fox M. , Cong Y. , Chu H. , Zheng X. , Long Y. , Fried M. , Dai N. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome patients with diarrhoea (IBS‐D) often report intolerance to milk; however, the mechanism underlying these symptoms is unknown.AimTo assess the role of psychological factors, immune activation and visceral sensitivity on the development of lactose intolerance (LI) in IBS‐D patients.MethodsFifty‐five IBS‐D patients and 18 healthy controls (HCs) with lactase deficiency underwent a 20‐g lactose hydrogen breath test (LHBT). Patients were categorised as lactose malabsorption (LM; malabsorption only) or LI [malabsorption plus increase in total symptom score (TSS). Measurements included (i) psychological status; (ii) enteric biopsies with quantification of mast cells (MCs), T‐lymphocytes and enterochromaffin cells; (iii) serum cytokines; (iv) rectal sensitivity before and after lactose ingestion.ResultsLI was more prevalent in IBS‐D patients than HCs [25/55 (46%) vs. 3/18 (17%), P = 0.029]. IBS‐D patients with LI had (i) higher levels of anxiety than those with LM (P = 0.017) or HCs (P = 0.006); (ii) increased mucosal MCs compared with LM (P = 0.006) and HCs (P < 0.001); (iii) raised serum TNF‐α compared with LM (P = 0.034) and HCs (P < 0.001) and (iv) increased rectal sensitivity after lactose ingestion compared with LM (P < 0.001) or HCs (P < 0.001). Severity of abdominal symptoms after lactose ingestion was associated with the increase in visceral sensitivity after lactose intake (r = 0.629, P < 0.001), MCs (r = 0.650, P < 0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.519, P < 0.001).ConclusionsIBS‐D patients with lactose intolerence are characterised by anxiety, mucosal immune activation and increased visceral sensitivity after lactose ingestion. The presence of these biomarkers may indicate an IBS phenotype that responds to dietary therapy and/or mast cell stabilisers (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01286597).
LE135, a retinoid acid receptor antagonist, produces pain through direct activation of TRP channels
Authors: Yin Shijin , Luo Jialie , Qian Aihua , Yu Weihua , Hu Hongzhen 
Published: December 2013

Background and PurposeRetinoids, through their activation of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors, regulate diverse cellular processes, and pharmacological intervention in their actions has been successful in the treatment of skin disorders and cancers. Despite the many beneficial effects, administration of retinoids causes irritating side effects with unknown mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that LE135 [4‐(7,8,9,10‐tetrahydro‐5,7,7,10,10‐pentamethyl‐5H‐benzo[e]naphtho[2,3‐b][1,4]diazepin‐13‐yl)benzoic acid], a selective antagonist of RARβ, is a potent activator of the capsaicin (TRPV1) and wasabi (TRPA1) receptors, two critical pain‐initiating cation channels.Experimental ApproachWe performed to investigate the excitatory effects of LE135 on TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels expressed in HEK293T cells and in dorsal root ganglia neurons with calcium imaging and patch‐clamp recordings. We also used site‐directed mutagenesis of the channels to determine the structural basis of LE135‐induced activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels and behavioural testing to examine if pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of the channels affected LE135‐evoked pain‐related behaviours.Key ResultsLE135 activated both the capsaicin receptor (TRPV1) and the allyl isothiocyanate receptor (TRPA1) heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells and endogenously expressed by sensory nociceptors. Mutations disrupting the capsaicin‐binding site attenuated LE135 activation of TRPV1 channels and a single mutation (K170R) eliminated TRPA1 activity evoked by LE135. Intraplantar injection of LE135 evoked pain‐related behaviours. Both TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels were involved in LE135‐elicited pain‐related responses, as shown by pharmacological and genetic ablation studies.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis blocker of retinoid acid signalling also exerted non‐genomic effects through activating the pain‐initiating TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels.
Anti‐inflammatory effects of cannabinoid CB2 receptor activation in endotoxin‐induced uveitis
Authors: Toguri J T , Lehmann C , Laprairie R B , Szczesniak A M , Zhou J , Denovan‐Wright E M , Kelly M E M 
Published: December 2013

Background and PurposeCannabinoid CB2 receptors mediate immunomodulation. Here, we investigated the effects of CB2 receptor ligands on leukocyte‐endothelial adhesion and inflammatory mediator release in experimental endotoxin‐induced uveitis (EIU).Experimental ApproachEIU was induced by intraocular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20 ng·μL−1). Effects of the CB2 receptor agonist, HU308 (1.5% topical), the CB2 receptor antagonist, AM630 (2.5 mg·kg−1 i.v.), or a combination of both compounds on leukocyte‐endothelial interactions were measured hourly for 6 h in rat iridial vasculature using intravital microscopy. Anti‐inflammatory actions of HU308 were compared with those of clinical treatments for uveitis ‐ dexamethasone, prednisolone and nepafenac. Transcription factors (NF‐κB, AP‐1) and inflammatory mediators (cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules) were measured in iris and ciliary body tissue.Key ResultsLeukocyte‐endothelium adherence was increased in iridial microvasculature between 4–6 h after LPS. HU308 reduced this effect after LPS injection and decreased pro‐inflammatory mediators: TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, CCL5 and CXCL2. AM630 blocked the actions of HU‐308, and increased leukocyte‐endothelium adhesion. HU‐308 decreased levels of the transcription factors NF‐κB and AP‐1, while AM630 increased levels of NF‐κB. Topical treatments with dexamethasone, prednisolone or nepafenac, failed to alter leukocyte adhesion or mitigate LPS‐induced increases in inflammatory mediators during the 6 h of EIU.Conclusion and ImplicationsActivation of CB2 receptors was anti‐inflammatory in a model of acute EIU and involved a reduction in NF‐κB, AP‐1 and inflammatory mediators. CB2 receptors may be promising drug targets for the development of novel ocular anti‐inflammatory agents.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids 2013. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue‐6