bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retracted: Effects of multiple collections on spermatozoa quality of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus: motility, density and seminal plasma composition
Authors: Aramli M. S. , Kalbassi M. R. , Gharibi M. R. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryIn this study, we investigated the effects of multiple collections of sperm on the endangered Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, in terms of a number of sperm functional parameters (percentage of motile spermatozoa, total time period of motility and sperm concentration) as well as on the ionic composition, protein concentration and osmolality of seminal plasma. Semen samples were collected from 12 induced male fish in three experimental groups that had been injected intramuscularly with LHRH‐A2, at dosages of 5 μg/kg body weight, at a number of time regimes: at 12 h, 17 h and 24 h after spawning induction (1); at 24, 29 and 34 h after spawning induction (2); and at 36, 41 and 46 h after spawning induction (3). The percentage of motile spermatozoa and the period of sperm motility decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the second and third collections. The concentration of spermatozoa decreased after the third collection, but this decline was not significant. No significant effect of multiple collections on protein concentration and ionic content (with exception of the Cl− ion) of seminal plasma was observed. In all experimental groups, a moderate impact of sequential collection on the osmolality (p < 0.05) of seminal plasma was observed. This study provides new data on the effects of multiple collections on spermatological characteristics in the Persian sturgeon. Our results confirm that sequential stripping after the third collections has a negative effect on a number of functional parameters associated with sperm.
Ribavirin dose reduction during telaprevir/ribavirin/peg‐interferon therapy overcomes the effect of the ITPA gene polymorphism
Authors: Akamatsu S. , Hayes C. N. , Tsuge M. , Murakami E. , Hiraga N. , Abe H. , Miki D. , Imamura M. , Ochi H. , Chayama K. ,   Hiroshima Liver Study Group
Published: June 2014

SummaryTreatment success of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection has improved with the advent of telaprevir plus peg‐interferon/ribavirin triple combination therapy. However, the effect of inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) polymorphism on dose reduction during triple therapy, especially during the postmarketing phase, has not been sufficiently evaluated. We analysed 273 patients with genotype 1 infection who were treated with triple therapy and assessed the effect of the ITPA polymorphism on dose reduction. ITPA and IFNL4 SNP genotypes were determined by the Invader assay. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with outcome of the therapy. The overall sustained viral response (SVR) rate 12 weeks after the end of therapy was 80.2% (219/273). Decline of haemoglobin was significantly faster, and ribavirin was more extensively reduced in patients with ITPA SNP rs1127354 genotype CC than CA/AA. Extensive reduction of ribavirin resulted in mild reduction of telaprevir and peg‐interferon, but no significant increase in viral breakthrough. Although the amount of telaprevir given was slightly higher in CA/AA patients, the total dose of peg‐interferon and the SVR rate did not differ between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that IFNL4 but not ITPA SNP genotype, platelet count and peg‐interferon adherence were significantly associated with outcome of therapy. Postmarketing‐phase triple therapy resulted in a high SVR rate in spite of extensive ribavirin dose reduction in a diverse patient population, indicating the importance of treatment continuation and appropriate management of adverse events.
Liver stiffness‐based model for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: comparison with histological fibrosis
Authors: Shin Seung Hwan , Kim Seung Up , Park Jun Yong , Kim Do Young , Ahn Sang Hoon , Han Kwang‐Hyub , Kim Beom Kyung 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsLiver stiffness (LS) value using transient elastography is a reliable, non‐invasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis. LS‐based prediction model, LSPS (=LS value × spleen diameter/platelet count) is well correlated with the risk of developing portal hypertension‐related cirrhotic complications. Here, we assessed the prognostic performance of LSPS in predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).MethodsBetween 2006 and 2010, we recruited 227 patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy and LS measurement. The major end point was HCC development.ResultsMedian age was 45 years and 156 (68.7%) patients were male. During the follow‐up period (median, 61 months), HCC developed in 18 patients. Patient with HCC had a higher LS value, a longer spleen, and lower platelet counts (all P < 0.05) than those without HCC. On multivariate analysis, LSPS was identified as an independent predictor of HCC development [hazard ratio (HR) 1.541, P < 0.001] after adjusting for age, serum albumin level and histological fibrosis stage. When patients were stratified into three groups (LSPS <1.1, 1.1–2.5 and >2.5), the 5‐year cumulative risk of HCC increased significantly in association with a higher LSPS value (4.0, 13.8, 36.2%, respectively, P < 0.001). Patients with LSPS 1.1–2.5 (HR 2.0, P = 0.032) and LSPS > 2.5 (HR 8.7, P = 0.002) had a higher risk of developing HCC than those with LSPS < 1.1.ConclusionsLS value‐spleen diameter to platelet ratio score is useful for assessing the risk of HCC development and careful surveillance strategies are required in an individual manner.
First assessment of the ecological status of Karaoun reservoir, Lebanon
Authors: Fadel Ali , Lemaire Bruno J. , Atoui Ali , Vinçon‐Leite Brigitte , Amacha Nabil , Slim Kamal , Tassin Bruno 
Published: June 2014

AbstractMany reservoirs have been constructed throughout the world during the 20th century, with many also suffering from eutrophication. The resulting increased phytoplankton biomass in reservoirs impairs their use. Except for Lake Kinneret, the environmental status of lakes and reservoirs in the Middle East is poorly documented. Karaoun reservoir, also known as Qaroun, Qaraoun or Qarun, is the largest water body in Lebanon, having been constructed for irrigation and hydropower production. This present study reviews Karaoun reservoir, including its characteristics, uses, water quality and phytoplankton succession, to assess the environmental status of the reservoir on the basis of the few existing previous publications about the reservoir. Since 2004, which is 39 years after its construction, the reservoir is considered to be hypereutrophic, with low phytoplankton biodiversity and regular blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. The nutrient and trace metal concentrations would not prevent use of the reservoir for a drinking water supply for Beirut, as is currently being planned, although not all the micropollutants in the lake were documented. Karaoun reservoir is compared to other monitored lakes and reservoirs around the Mediterranean Sea. They share annual toxic cyanobacteria blooms of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum and of Microcystis aeruginosa. The phytoplankton composition and succession of Karaoun reservoir is more similar to El Gergal reservoir (Spain) than nearby natural lakes such as Lake Kinneret (Israel) and Lake Trichonis (Greece). Phytoplankton diversity in Karaoun reservoir was the lowest, due to higher nutrient concentrations and a larger decrease in water level in the dry season. Karaoun reservoir represents an interesting example of the potential response of the phytoplankton community in other lakes and reservoirs during the drought periods expected to occur as a result of global climate change.
Catch per Unit Effort and yields as indicators of exploited fish communities: application to two West African reservoirs
Authors: Kantoussan Justin , Ecoutin Jean M. , Fontenelle Guy , de Morais Luis Tito , Laë Raymond 
Published: June 2014

AbstractTwo indicators of fish exploitation, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and yield per unit area, were used with surveys of small‐scale fishery landings to compare two African reservoirs that differ in their level of fish exploitation, being high for Selingue Reservoir and low for Manantali Reservoir, both located in West Africa. The heavy exploitation in Selingue Reservoir induced a decline in catches per fishing trip (9.5 kg trip−1), whereas the catch remained high at Manantali Reservoir (17.0 kg trip−1). Moreover, the annual fish yield per unit area was lower for Manantali Reservoir (19 kg ha−1) than for Selingue Reservoir (79 kg ha−1). There was no relationship between the Morphoedaphic Index and catches for the two reservoirs. Rather, only the fishing effort and annual water‐level variations defined the reservoir fish yields. Based on the results of the present study, it appears that CPUE and fish yield per unit area represent simple and robust indicators for describing the impacts of fishing intensity in aquatic ecosystems.
Abundance of native fishes, wild‐introduced salmonids and escaped farmed rainbow trout in a Patagonian reservoir
Authors: Cussac Victor , Becker Leandro , Aigo Juana , Conte‐Grand Cecilia , Blasetti Guillermo , Cordero Pedro , Crichigno Sonia , Nabaes Diego 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe introduction of salmonids in Patagonia has resulted in significant impacts on its lakes, as well as a major impact on streams, in which native fishes seem to have been displaced almost completely by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Another perspective is that the introduced salmonid species have resulted in wild fish populations that sustain an economically important sport fishery. The wide distribution and high abundance of escaped farmed rainbow trout, and a clear decrease in the abundance of native and successfully introduced salmonid species in Alicura Reservoir were all observed, based on comparison of recent data and data from 1993 to 1995 corresponding to littoral gillnet captures. Thus, both native fish and introduced salmonid populations seem to have been drastically reduced in the presence of farmed fish escapees. The results of the present study regarding fish escapes deserve major consideration when making decisions about fish cage culture activities for other Patagonian reservoirs.
All models are wrong
Authors: Hickerson Michael J. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAs the field of phylogeography has continued to move in the model‐based direction, researchers continue struggling to construct useful models for inference. These models must be both simple enough to be tractable yet contain enough of the complexity of the natural world to make meaningful inference. Beyond constructing such models for inference, researchers explore model space and test competing models with the data on hand, with the goal of improving the understanding of the natural world and the processes underlying natural biological communities. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) has increased in recent popularity as a tool for evaluating alternative historical demographic models given population genetic samples. As a thorough demonstration, Pelletier & Carstens () use ABC to test 143 phylogeographic submodels given geographically widespread genetic samples from the salamander species Plethodon idahoensis (Carstens et al. ) and, in so doing, demonstrate how the results of the ABC model choice procedure are dependent on the model set one chooses to evaluate.
Cytosolic Calreticulin Inhibits Microwave Radiation‐Induced Microvascular Endothelial Cell Injury Through the Integrin‐Focal Adhesion Kinase Pathway
Authors: Xu Fei‐Fei , Tao Tian‐Qi , Wang Xiao‐Reng , Li Yu‐Zhen , Song Dan‐Dan , Liu Mi , Liu Xiu‐Hua 
Published: June 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the effects of cytosolic CRT on MR‐induced MMEC injury, and the underlying mechanism.MethodsMMECs were randomized into eight groups: control, AdCRT (infected with pAdCMV/V5‐DEST‐CRT adenovirus), stCRT (transfected with rCRT‐siRNAs), Mock (transfected with scrambled siRNAs), MR (exposed to MR for six minutes), AdCRT + MR, stCRT + MR, and Mock + MR. The magnitude of cell injury were assessed by Annexin V‐PI staining, LDH activity in culture medium, MMEC migration ability, ultrastructure and cytoskeletal stability. Subcellular colocalization of CRT and ConA or integrin were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of target genes were examined by qRT‐PCR and western blotting, respectively.ResultsMR‐induced cytotoxicity was dose‐dependent. Overexpression of cytosolic CRT suppressed MR injury, shown as decreased cell apoptosis, reduced LDH activity, enhanced cell migration capability, and maintenance of ultrastructure and cytoskeleton integrity. Conversely, CRT deficiency aggravated MR‐induced injury. Exposure of AdCRT MMECs to MR promoted membrane translocation of CRT and the interaction of CRT‐integrin‐α. Correlation analysis revealed that integrin‐α expression or FAK phosphorylation was positively associated with cytosolic CRT expression.ConclusionsCytosolic CRT inhibits MR‐induced MMEC injury through activation of the integrin‐FAK pathway.
What can and cannot be willed: how politicians talk about national identity and immigrants
Authors: Jensen Kristian Kriegbaum 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe ethnic‐civic framework remains widely used in nationalism research. However, in the context of European immigrant integration politics, where almost all ‘nation talk’ is occurring in civic and liberal registers, the framework has a hard time identifying how conceptions of national identity brought forth in political debate differ in their exclusionary potential. This leads some to the conclusion that national identity is losing explanatory power. Building on the insights of Oliver Zimmer, I argue that we may find a different picture if we treat cultural content and logic of boundary construction – two parameters conflated in the ethnic‐civic framework – as two distinct analytical levels. The framework I propose focuses on an individual and collective dimension of logic of boundary construction that together constitute the inclusionary/exclusionary core of national identity. The framework is tested on the political debate on immigrant integration in Denmark and Norway in selected years. Indeed, the framework enables us to move beyond the widespread idea that Danish politicians subscribe to an ethnic conception of the nation, while Norwegian political thought is somewhere in between an ethnic and civic conception. The true difference is that Danish politicians, unlike their Norwegian counterparts, do not acknowledge the collective self‐understanding as an object of political action.
Extended high cut‐off haemodialysis for myeloma cast nephropathy in Auckland, 2008–2012
Authors: Tan Jasmine , Lam‐Po‐Tang Michael , Hutchison Colin A , de Zoysa Janak R 
Published: June 2014

AbstractMyeloma cast nephropathy contributes to high morbidity and early mortality associated with the development of end‐stage renal disease. Treatment with extended high cut‐off haemodialysis coupled with novel anti‐myeloma therapies enables significant reduction of serum‐free light chains and has been shown to improve renal outcomes. In this case series, medical records of 6 patients who received high cut‐off haemodialysis for biopsy‐proven cast nephropathy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients received a total of 344 hours of high cut‐off haemodialysis and concurrent chemotherapy. Only 50% became dialysis independent following treatment. One patient who achieved sustained remission remained dialysis dependent. The added benefit of high cut‐off haemodialysis in the light of novel anti‐myeloma therapies requires further evaluation.
A new model of the role of psychological and emotional distress in promoting obesity: conceptual review with implications for treatment and prevention
Authors: Hemmingsson E. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe lack of significant treatment and prevention progress highlights the need for a more expanded strategy. Given the robust association between socioeconomic factors and obesity, combined with new insights into how socioeconomic disadvantage affects both behaviour and biology, a new causal model is proposed. The model posits that psychological and emotional distress is a fundamental link between socioeconomic disadvantage and weight gain. At particular risk are children growing up in a disharmonious family environment, mainly caused by parental socioeconomic disadvantage, where they are exposed to parental frustrations, relationship discord, a lack of support and cohesion, negative belief systems, unmet emotional needs and general insecurity. Without adequate resilience, such experiences increase the risk of psychological and emotional distress, including low self‐esteem and self‐worth, negative emotions, negative self‐belief, powerlessness, depression, anxiety, insecurity and a heightened sensitivity to stress. These inner disturbances eventually cause a psycho‐emotional overload, triggering a cascade of weight gain‐inducing effects including maladaptive coping strategies such as eating to suppress negative emotions, chronic stress, appetite up‐regulation, low‐grade inflammation and possibly reduced basal metabolism. Over time, this causes obesity, circular causality and further weight gain. Tackling these proposed root causes of weight gain could potentially improve both treatment and prevention outcomes.
Successful lung transplant in a child with cystic fibrosis and persistent Blastobotrys rhaffinosifermentans infection
Authors: Wong J. Y. , Chambers A. L. , Fuller J. , Lacson A. , Mullen J. , Lien D. , Humar A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractFungal respiratory infections in patients with CF are a significant concern both pre‐ and post‐lung transplantation (LTx). Fungal infection is associated with increased mortality post‐LTx, and in the past decade, the prevalence of fungal colonization in Canadian pediatric patients with CF has increased. The emergence of novel fungal pathogens is particularly challenging to the transplant community, as little is known regarding their virulence and optimal management. We present a case of a successful double‐lung transplant in a pediatric patient with CF who was infected pretransplantation with a novel yeast, Blastobotrys rhaffinosifermentans. This patient was treated successfully with aggressive antifungal therapy post‐transplantation, followed by extended fungal prophylaxis. The significance of fungal colonization and infection in children with CF pre‐ and post‐LTx is reviewed.
Immune cell function assay does not identify biopsy‐proven pediatric renal allograft rejection or infection
Authors: Ryan C. M. , Chaudhuri A. , Concepcion W. , Grimm P. C. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractManagement of pediatric renal transplant patients involves multifactorial monitoring modalities to ensure allograft survival and prevent opportunistic infection secondary to immunosuppression. An ICFA, which utilizes CD4 T‐cell production of ATP to assess immune system status, has been used to monitor transplant recipients and predict susceptibility of patients to rejection or infection. However, the validity of this assay to reflect immune status remains unanswered. In a two‐yr retrospective study that included 31 pediatric renal transplant recipients, 42 patient blood samples were analyzed for immune cell function levels, creatinine, WBC (white blood cell) count, immunosuppressive drug levels, and viremia, concurrent with renal biopsy. T‐cell ATP production as assessed by ICFA levels did not correlate with allograft rejection or with the presence or absence of viremia. ICFA levels did not correlate with serum creatinine or immunosuppressive drug levels, but did correlate with WBC count. The ICFA is unreliable in its ability to reflect immune system status in pediatric renal transplantation. Further investigation is necessary to develop methods that will accurately predict susceptibility of pediatric renal transplant recipients to allograft rejection and infection.
Novel protocol including liver biopsy to identify and treat CD8+ T‐cell predominant acute hepatitis and liver failure
Authors: McKenzie Rebecca B. , Berquist William E. , Nadeau Kari C. , Louie Christine Y. , Chen Sharon F. , Sibley Richard K. , Glader Bertil E. , Wong Wendy B. , Hofmann Lawrence V. , Esquivel Carlos O. , Cox Kenneth L. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn the majority of children with ALF, the etiology is unknown and liver transplantation is often needed for survival. A patient case prompted us to consider that immune dysregulation may be the cause of indeterminate acute hepatitis and liver failure in children. Our study includes nine pediatric patients treated under a multidisciplinary clinical protocol to identify and treat immune‐mediated acute liver injury. Patients with evidence of inflammation and no active infection on biopsy received treatment with intravenous immune globulin and methylprednisolone. Seven patients had at least one positive immune marker before or after treatment. All patients had a CD8+ T‐cell predominant liver injury that completely or partially responded to immune therapy. Five of the nine patients recovered liver function and did not require liver transplantation. Three of these patients subsequently developed bone marrow failure and were treated with either immunosuppression or stem cell transplant. This series highlights the importance of this tissue‐based approach to diagnosis and treatment that may improve transplant‐free survival. Further research is necessary to better characterize the immune injury and to predict the subset of patients at risk for bone marrow failure who may benefit from earlier and stronger immunosuppressive therapy.
Immune cell function assay in pediatric heart transplant recipients
Authors: Wong Man‐Shun , Boucek Robert , Kemna Mariska , Rutledge Joe , Law Yuk 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe ImmuKnow® ICFA reports ex vivo CD4 lymphocyte activation to quantify immunosuppression. Limited organ and age‐specific data exist for pediatric heart transplant recipients. We sought to examine their normative values and ICFA's association with rejection/infection. A total of 380 ICFAs from 58 heart transplant recipients (6.5/recipient) were studied retrospectively. The median age at the time of their first ICFA was 5.3 yr (IQR 2.4–12.1 yr). ICFA levels during immunologic stability (n = 311) were a median of 305 (IQR: 172–483) and mean of 353 (s.d. ± 224) ng ATP/mL. ICFA levels trended lower with advancing age. ICFA levels during immunologic stability increased over time from transplant after the first six months but were not correlated with calcineurin inhibitor levels or the type used. There is no association between ICFA values during stability and rejection (median 368 ATP ng/mL; IQR 153–527) or infection (median 293 ATP ng/mL; IQR 198–432). In contrast to the manufacturer's suggested ranges, the immunologic stable ranges in pediatric cardiac recipients were very different. ICFA values during immunologic stability are related to time from transplant in pediatric heart recipients. ICFA's ability to discriminate rejection or infection from immunologic stability was not demonstrated.
Pediatric transplantation and tolerance: Past, present, and future
Authors: Kamran Hejazi Kenari Seyed , Mirzakhani Hooman , Saidi Reza F. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractSolid organ transplantation is the treatment of choice in children with end‐stage organ failure. With improving methods of transplant surgery and post‐transplant care, transplantation is more frequently performed worldwide. However, lifelong and non‐specific suppression of the recipient's immune system is a cause of significant morbidity in children, including infection, diabetes, and cancer. There is a great need to develop IS minimization/withdrawal and tolerance induction approaches.