bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Remaining vigilant for the exotic: cases of imported canine leishmaniosis in Australia 2000–2011
Authors: Cleare E , Mason K , Mills J , Gabor M , Irwin PJ 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundCanine leishmaniosis (CL) caused by Leishmania infantum is a disease of worldwide importance, not only because it causes severe and potentially fatal disease in dogs, but also because of its zoonotic relevance. The parasite is the causative agent of human visceral leishmaniosis, a severe, debilitating disease that causes an estimated 59,000 deaths annually. Australia is considered to be free of zoonotic leishmaniosis.MethodsA retrospective case series of five imported dogs diagnosed with CL between 2000 and 2011. Cases were identified by word‐of‐mouth and by referral.ResultsThe dogs were diagnosed with CL between 2000 and 2011; clinical, clinicopathological, and serological data are presented, together with a review of the disease and its biosecurity implications for Australia.ConclusionsBecause of the unique immunopathology and diagnostic challenges associated with CL, the importance of obtaining a travel history is reinforced because some dogs imported prior to 2006 may develop clinical signs of this disease and present for veterinary examination. Furthermore, it is possible for leishmaniosis to become established within Australia under certain circumstances.
Prevalence and risk factors for hyperinsulinaemia in ponies in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Morgan RA , McGowan TW , McGowan CM 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of hyperinsulinaemia in a population of ponies in Queensland, Australia, and identify associated factors.MethodsBreeders or traders of ponies within a 100 km radius of Gatton, Queensland, were recruited for study using an internet database. Clinical and management details were obtained, including body condition score, fat deposition and history or evidence of laminitis. Blood samples were analysed for serum insulin and triglyceride concentrations and plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and leptin concentrations following short‐term removal from pasture and withholding of supplementary food for at least 12 h.ResultsOf 23 pony studs identified, 22 were available for visit. The study population consisted of 208 ponies: 70 Australian Ponies; 67 Welsh Mountain Ponies or Cobs; 51 Connemara Ponies; 20 Shetland ponies. We excluded 20 with suspected pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (>15 years, ACTH >50 pg/mL). In total, 27% of the ponies (51/188) were hyperinsulinaemic (insulin >20 μIU/mL). The final multivariable model revealed increasing age, supplementary feeding and increased leptin and triglyceride concentrations to be associated with hyperinsulinaemia.ConclusionsHyperinsulinaemia was prevalent and associated with age and evidence of metabolic disturbance, including elevated leptin and triglyceride concentrations, in this population. A significant number of ponies were at risk of hyperinsulinaemia, which has implications for strategies to reduce the risk of laminitis in this population.
Prognostic significance of soft tissue extension, International Prognostic Index, and multifocality in primary bone lymphoma: a single institutional experience
Authors: Wu Huanwen , Zhang Ling , Shao Haipeng , Sokol Lubomir , Sotomayor Eduardo , Letson Douglas , Bui Marilyn M. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryPrimary bone lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease. The literature is inconsistent in regard to definition, stage and prognostic factors. We examined the PBL cases seen at the Moffitt Cancer Center between 1998 and 2013 using the 2013 World Health Organization criteria for bone/soft tissue tumours. Seventy PBL patients were included, of whom 53 (75·7%) patients were histologically classified as primary bone diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (PB‐DLBCL). Femur was the most commonly involved site in PBLs with unifocal bone lesions, whereas PBLs with multifocal bone lesions most frequently presented with spine disease. Further analysis of the PB‐DLBCL subgroup showed that these patients had 3‐ and 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) of 61·2% and 46·9%, respectively and 5‐ and 10‐year overall survival (OS) of 81·1% and 74·7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified soft tissue extension and International Prognostic Index (IPI) score as the most important unfavourable prognostic factors for both PFS and OS. Multifocality was also highly significantly associated with a worse PFS (P = 0·002) and OS (P < 0·001), although it was not identified in multivariate analysis due to its incorporation into the IPI. The results warrant further investigation regarding whether PBL with multifocal bone lesions could be considered as a systemic and more aggressive disease rather than a conventional PBL.
Temporal definition of haematopoietic stem cell niches in a large animal model of in utero stem cell transplantation
Authors: Jeanblanc Christine , Goodrich Angelina Daisy , Colletti Evan , Mokhtari Saloomeh , Porada Christopher D. , Zanjani Esmail D. , Almeida‐Porada Graça 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe fetal sheep model has served as a biologically relevant and translational model to study in utero haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (IUHSCT), yet little is known about the ontogeny of the bone marrow (BM) niches in this model. Because the BMmicroenvironment plays a critical role in the outcome of haematopoietic engraftment, we have established the correlation between the fetal‐sheep and fetal‐human BM niche ontogeny, so that studies addressing the role of niche development at the time of IUHSCT could be accurately performed. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopic analysis of sheep fetal bone from gestational days (gd) 25–68 showed that the BM microenvironment commences development with formation of the vascular niche between 25 and 36 gd in sheep; correlating with the events at 10–11 gestational weeks (gw) in humans. Subsequently, between 45 and 51 gd in sheep (c. 14 gw in humans), the osteoblastic/endosteal niche started developing, the presence of CD34+ CD45+ cells were promptly detected, and their number increased with gestational age. IUHSCT, performed in sheep at 45 and 65 gd, showed significant haematopoietic engraftment only at the later time point, indicating that a fully functional BM microenvironment improved engraftment. These studies show that sheep niche ontogeny closely parallels human, validating this model for investigating niche influence/manipulation in IUHSCT engraftment.
Impact of surgeon volume on the morbidity and costs of radical cystectomy in the USA: a contemporary population‐based analysis
Authors: Leow Jeffrey J. , Reese Stephen , Trinh Quoc‐Dien , Bellmunt Joaquim , Chung Benjamin I. , Kibel Adam S. , Chang Steven L. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo evaluate the relationship between surgeon volume of radical cystectomy (RC) and postoperative morbidity, and to assess the economic burden of bladder cancer in the USA.MethodsWe captured all patients who underwent RC (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, code 57.71) between 2003 and 2010, using a nationwide hospital discharge database. Patient, hospital and surgical characteristics were evaluated. The annual volume of RCs performed by the surgeons was divided into quintiles. Multivariable regression models were developed, adjusting for clustering and survey weighting, to evaluate the outcomes, including 90‐day major complications (Clavien grade III–V) and direct patient costs. We adjusted for clustering and weighting to achieve a nationally representative analysis.ResultsThe weighted cohort included 49 792 patients who underwent RC, with an overall 90‐day major complication rate of 16.2%. Compared with surgeons performing one RC annually, surgeons performing ≥7 RCs each year had 45% lower odds of major complications (odds ratio [OR] 0.55; P < 0.001) and lower costs by $1690 (P = 0.02). Results were consistent when we analysed surgeon volume as a continuous variable and when we examined the surgeons with the highest volumes (≥28 cases annually), which showed markedly lower odds of major complications compared with the surgeons with the lowest volumes (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31–0.67; P < 0.001). Compared with patients who did not have any complications, those who had a major complication were associated with significantly higher 90‐day median direct hospital costs ($43 965 vs $24 341; P < 0.001).ConclusionsWe showed that there was an inverse relationship between surgeon volume and the development of postoperative 90‐day major complication rates as well as direct hospital costs. Centralisation of RC to surgeons with higher volumes may reduce the development of postoperative major complications, thereby decreasing the burden of bladder cancer on the healthcare system.
Flux‐Limited Diffusion for Multiple Scattering in Participating Media
Authors: Koerner D. , Portsmouth J. , Sadlo F. , Ertl T. , Eberhardt B. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractFor the rendering of multiple scattering effects in participating media, methods based on the diffusion approximation are an extremely efficient alternative to Monte Carlo path tracing. However, in sufficiently transparent regions, classical diffusion approximation suffers from non‐physical radiative fluxes which leads to a poor match to correct light transport. In particular, this prevents the application of classical diffusion approximation to heterogeneous media, where opaque material is embedded within transparent regions. To address this limitation, we introduce flux‐limited diffusion, a technique from the astrophysics domain. This method provides a better approximation to light transport than classical diffusion approximation, particularly when applied to heterogeneous media, and hence broadens the applicability of diffusion‐based techniques. We provide an algorithm for flux‐limited diffusion, which is validated using the transport theory for a point light source in an infinite homogeneous medium. We further demonstrate that our implementation of flux‐limited diffusion produces more accurate renderings of multiple scattering in various heterogeneous datasets than classical diffusion approximation, by comparing both methods to ground truth renderings obtained via volumetric path tracing.
The nickel dose–response relationship by filaggrin genotype (FLG)
Authors: Ross‐Hansen Katrine , Johansen Jeanne D. , Vølund Aage , Menné Torkil , Thyssen Jacob P. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryBackgroundOn skin contact, nickel accumulates in the stratum corneum, where it is probably bound to proteins and amino acids. One probable contributor is filaggrin, which binds nickel avidly. Filaggrin gene (FLG) null mutations lead to a complete lack of filaggrin production from the affected allele, and have been associated with an increased risk of nickel contact sensitization in German and Danish adults.ObjectivesTo investigate whether the experimental nickel elicitation threshold level differed between heterozygous FLG mutation and non‐mutation carriers.MethodThirteen nickel‐sensitized female patients, seven heterozygous mutation carriers and six non‐mutation carriers (genotyped for R501X, 2282del4, or R2447X), were patch tested and performed a repeated open application test (ROAT) with a nickel sulfate dilution series. Logistic threshold dose–response analyses were used to test for differences between the two groups.ResultsNo difference was found in the dose–response relationship between FLG mutation and non‐mutation carriers.ConclusionsOn the basis of this small patient study, it appears that the elicitation threshold level for nickel is independent of FLG null mutation single‐allele carrier status.
The allergic emergency – management of severe allergic reactions
Authors: Werner‐Busse Alexandra , Zuberbier Torsten , Worm Margitta 
Published: March 2014

SummaryAnaphylaxis is characterized by the sudden onset of acute allergic symptoms involving two or more organ systems. An acute allergic emergency is a challenge for physicians due to its life‐threatening potential. The incidence of anaphylactic reactions has increased in recent years. Most frequent elicitors of mast cell and primarily histamine dependent anaphylactic reactions are food, insect venom or drugs. Allergic ­reactions are graded into four groups according to the classification by Ring and Messmer; grade I is defined by the onset of cutaneous symptoms only whereas grade IV is characterized by cardiovascular shock as well as cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.The treatment of allergic reactions should be guided by the severity of the reaction. Initially an intramuscular epinephrine injection into the lateral thigh should be given if cutaneous, mucosal and cardiovascular/respiratory symptoms occur. Additionally, the patient should receive intravenous antihistamines and corticosteroids. For self‐treatment in the case of an allergic emergency, oral antihistamines and corticosteroids should be prescribed to the patient.
Video capsule endoscopy is successful and effective in outpatients with implantable cardiac devices
Authors: Stanich Peter P. , Kleinman Bryan , Betkerur Kavita , Mehta Oza Nishaki , Porter Kyle , Meyer Marty M. 
Published: March 2014

Background and AimImplantable cardiac devices are a relative contraindication to video capsule endoscopy (VCE) because of concerns regarding interference. As a result of a lack of alternatives, some centers have adopted protocols to allow for VCE in these patients. There are minimal published descriptions of the gastrointestinal outcomes of these procedures. We investigated the completion rate and diagnostic yield of VCE carried out in outpatients with implantable cardiac devices.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective review of all VCE from April 2010 through March 2013 at our center. Patients that underwent VCE through a specialized protocol for outpatients with implantable cardiac devices were identified. The protocol used telemetry for cardiac monitoring during battery lifespan of the VCE. Demographic data, procedure indications, results and any procedural events were collected.ResultsTwenty‐one patients met the study criteria, with 16 (76%) pacemakers, four (19%) implantable cardioverter defibrilla tors and one (5%) implantable hemodynamic monitor. Two (10%) devices were adjusted prior to VCE. Twenty (95%) were completed to the colon, with a median gastric transit time of 18 min and a small bowel transit time of 216 min. The procedure was diagnostic in 13 (62%) patients. One (5%) capsule retention event occurred. No cardiac events or video capture disturbances occurred.ConclusionsVideo capsule endoscopy done on outpatients with implantable cardiac devices through a cardiac monitoring protocol resulted in a satisfactory completion rate and high diagnostic yield with no adverse cardiac events. A large prospective trial is needed to confirm these novel results.
Salvage therapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory myeloma patients
Authors: Romano Alessandra , Chiarenza Annalisa , Conticello Concetta , Cavalli Maide , Vetro Calogero , Di Raimondo Cosimo , Cunsolo Rosario , Palumbo Giuseppe Alberto , Di Raimondo Francesco 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjectivesIn vitro studies have shown synergistic anti‐myeloma effects of bortezomib combined with alkylating agents or anthracycline. We tested safety and efficacy of the combination of bortezomib, doxorubicin cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (ABCD) in the treatment of relapsed/refractory myeloma.MethodsABCD consisted of bortezomib given intravenous (IV) at dosage 1.3 mg/m2, dexamethasone 40 mg IV on days 1, 4, 8, and 15, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) 20 mg IV on days 1 and 15, plus cyclophosphamide 100 mg/d per os for 15 d. Between January 2008 and February 2009, 24 patients received a median of four 28‐d ABCD cycles (range 1–6). All patients had been already treated with a median of two previous lines of treatment (range 1–6): 38% were resistant to previous therapies and 62% were relapsed.ResultsClinical response was observed in 12 patients (50%), including 29% of very good partial remissions or better. Side effects included hematological toxicity (31% any grade), grades 3–4 thrombocytopenia (9%), grades 3–4 anemia (17%). Non‐hematological toxicity affected 32% of administered cycles and included gastrointestinal disturbances (54%), peripheral neuropathy (8%), and infections (8%). After a median follow‐up of 21.5 months (range 2–44 months), median of progression‐free survival (PFS) was 8.7 months and median overall survival was 22.5 months. Achieving at least partial response within the second cycle was associated with a better PFS (19.5 months vs. 3.5 months), P = 0.03, HR 0.35 (CI 95% 0.13–0.90).ConclusionABCD is safe and effective for relapsed/refractory MM subjects previously treated with novel agents.
PML‐RARA fusion resulting from a cryptic insertion of RARA gene into PML gene without the reciprocal RARA‐PML fusion: clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular characterization and prognosis
Authors: Fan Hongxin , Ortega Veronica , Fanasch Hilal M. , Wang Yao , Holder Kenneth N. , Higgins Russell A. , Mendiola Christina , Mohamed Gihan , Vadlamudi Kumari , Velagaleti Gopalrao 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe describe a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia in a 61‐yr‐old woman with a cryptic insertion of RARA gene into PML gene. Using a combination of cytogenetic and molecular methods, we confirmed the insertion and presence of the PML‐RARA transcript and lack of the reciprocal RARA‐PML transcript. Although such cryptic insertions leading to a PML‐RARA fusion have been previously reported, we show that such variant insertions, based on our case, appear to have the same prognostic significance as the classical t(15;17)(q22;q21).
β‐Catenin regulates membrane potential in muscle cells by regulating the α2 subunit of Na,K‐ATPase
Authors: Zhao Congying , Zhang Jing , Li Kexin , Yang Jianming , Yu Huimin , Duan Shumin , Jiang Kewen , Li Xiaoming 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMuscle β‐catenin has been shown to play a role in the formation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Our previous studies showed that muscle‐specific conditional knockout of β‐catenin (HSA‐β‐cat−/−) results in early postnatal death in mice. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the electrophysiological properties of muscle cells from HSA‐β‐cat−/− and control mice, and found that, in the absence of muscle β‐catenin, the resting membrane potential (RMP) depolarised in muscle cells from the diaphragm, gastrocnemius and extensor digitorum longus muscles. Furthermore, in a primary line of mouse myoblasts (C2C12 cells) transfected with small‐interfering RNAs targeting β‐catenin, the RMP was depolarised as well. Finally, the expression levels of the α2 subunit of sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase were reduced by β‐catenin knockdown in vitro or deletion in vivo. These results suggest a possible mechanism underlying the depolarised RMP in the absence of muscle β‐catenin, and provide additional evidence supporting a role for β‐catenin in the development of NMJs.
Staying awake – a genetic region that hinders α2adrenergic receptor agonist‐induced sleep
Authors: Gelegen Cigdem , Gent Thomas C. , Ferretti Valentina , Zhang Zhe , Yustos Raquel , Lan Fei , Yang Qianzi , Overington Dorothy W. U. , Vyssotski Alexei L. , van Lith Hein A. , Wisden William , Franks Nicholas P. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractHow external stimuli prevent the onset of sleep has been little studied. This is usually considered to be a non‐specific type of phenomenon. However, the hypnotic drug dexmedetomidine, an agonist at α2adrenergic receptors, has unusual properties that make it useful for investigating this question. Dexmedetomidine is considered to produce an ‘arousable’ sleep‐like state, so that patients or animals given dexmedetomidine become alert following modest stimulation. We hypothesized that it might be more difficult to make mice unconscious with dexmedetomidine if there was a sufficient external stimulus. Employing a motorized rotating cylinder, which provided a continuous and controlled arousal stimulus, we quantitatively measured the ability of such a stimulus to prevent dexmedetomidine loss of righting reflex in two inbred strains of mice (C57BL/6 and 129X1). We found that whereas the C57BL/6 strain required a strong stimulus to prevent dexmedetomidine‐induced hypnosis, the 129X1 strain stayed awake even with minimal stimuli. Remarkably, this could be calibrated as a simple threshold trait, i.e. a binary ‘yes–no’ response, which after crossing the two mouse strains behaved as a dominant‐like trait. We carried out a genome‐wide linkage analysis on the F2progeny to determine if the ability of a stimulus to prevent dexmedetomidine hypnosis could be mapped to one or more chromosomal regions. We identified a locus on chromosome 4 with an associated Logarithm of Odds score exceeding the pre‐established threshold level. These results show that complex traits, such as the ability of a stimulus to reverse drug‐induced hypnosis, may have precise genetic determinants.
Phenotypic variation and selective mortality as major drivers of recruitment variability in fishes
Authors: Johnson Darren W. , Grorud‐Colvert Kirsten , Sponaugle Su , Semmens Brice X. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAn individual's phenotype will usually influence its probability of survival. However, when evaluating the dynamics of populations, the role of selective mortality is not always clear. Not all mortality is selective, patterns of selective mortality may vary, and it is often unknown how selective mortality compares or interacts with other sources of mortality. As a result, there is seldom a clear expectation for how changes in the phenotypic composition of populations will translate into differences in average survival. We address these issues by evaluating how selective mortality affects recruitment of fish populations. First, we provide a quantitative review of selective mortality. Our results show that most of the mortality during early life is selective, and that variation in phenotypes can have large effects on survival. Next, we describe an analytical framework that accounts for variation in selection, while also describing the amount of selective mortality experienced by different cohorts recruiting to a single population. This framework is based on reconstructing fitness surfaces from phenotypic selection measurements, and can be employed for either single or multiple traits. Finally, we show how this framework can be integrated with models of density‐dependent survival to improve our understanding of recruitment variability and population dynamics.