bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel associations of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B gene variants with prostate cancer risk in a multiethnic study
Authors: Vidal Adriana C , Tucker Cocoa , Schildkraut Joellen M , Richardson Ricardo M , McPhail Megan , Freedland Stephen J , Hoyo Cathrine , Grant Delores J 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
We have previously shown that a functional polymorphism of the UGT2B15 gene (rs1902023) was associated with increased risk of prostate cancer (PC). Novel functional polymorphisms of the UGT2B17 and UGT2B15 genes have been recently characterized by in vitro assays but have not been evaluated in epidemiologic studies.

Methods
Fifteen functional SNPs of the UGT2B17 and UGT2B15 genes, including cis-acting UGT2B gene SNPs, were genotyped in African American and Caucasian men (233 PC cases and 342 controls). Regression models were used to analyze the association between SNPs and PC risk.

Results
After adjusting for race, age and BMI, we found that six UGT2B15 SNPs (rs4148269, rs3100, rs9994887, rs13112099, rs7686914 and rs7696472) were associated with an increased risk of PC in log-additive models (p < 0.05). A SNP cis-acting on UGT2B17 and UGT2B15 expression (rs17147338) was also associated with increased risk of prostate cancer (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.00-2.70); while a stronger association among men with high Gleason sum was observed for SNPs rs4148269 and rs3100.

Conclusions
Although small sample size limits inference, we report novel associations between UGT2B15 and UGT2B17 variants and PC risk. These associations with PC risk in men with high Gleason sum, more frequently found in African American men, support the relevance of genetic differences in the androgen metabolism pathway, which could explain, in part, the high incidence of PC among African American men. Larger studies are required.
Perseverant, non-indicated treatment of obese patients for obstructive lung disease
Authors: Fortis Spyridon , Kittah Joseph , De Aguirre Manuel , Plataki Maria , Wolff Armand , Amoateng-Adjepong Yaw , Manthous Constantine A 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Bronchodilators are a mainstay of treatment for patients with airflow obstruction. We hypothesized that patients with obesity and no objective documentation of airflow obstruction are inappropriately treated with bronchodilators.

Methods
Spirometric results and medical records of all patients with body mass index >30 kg/m2 who were referred for testing between March 2010 and August 2011 were analyzed.

Results
155 patients with mean age of 52.6 ± (SE)1.1 y and BMI of 38.7 ± 0.7 kg/m2 were studied. Spirometry showed normal respiratory mechanics in 62 (40%), irreversible airflow obstruction in 36 (23.2%), flows suggestive of restriction in 35 (22.6%), reversible obstruction, suggestive of asthma in 11 (7.1%), and mixed pattern (obstructive and restrictive) in 6 (3.9%). Prior to testing, 45.2% (28 of 62) of patients with normal spirometry were being treated with medications for obstructive lung diseases and 33.9% (21 of 62) continued them despite absence of airflow obstruction on spirometry. 60% (21 of 35) of patients with a restrictive pattern in their spirometry received treatment for obstruction prior to spirometry and 51.4% (18 of 35) continued bronchodilator therapy after spirometric testing. There was no independent association of non-indicated treatment with spirometric results, age, BMI, co-morbidities or smoking history. All patients with airflow obstruction on testing who were receiving bronchodilators before spirometry continued to receive them after testing.

Conclusion
A substantial proportion of patients with obesity referred for pulmonary function testing did not have obstructive lung disease, but were treated nonetheless, before and after spirometry demonstrating absence of airway obstruction.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: α-santalol inhibits the angiogenesis and growth of human prostate tumor growth by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2-mediated AKT/mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway
Authors: Saraswati Sarita , Kumar Shakti , Alhaider Abdulqader A 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundVEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibitors, as efficient antiangiogenesis agents, have been applied in the cancer treatment. However, recently, most of these anticancer drugs have some adverse effects. Discovery of novel VEGFR2 inhibitors as anticancer drug candidates is still needed.MethodsWe used α-santalol and analyzed its inhibitory effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and Prostate tumor cells (PC-3 or LNCaP)in vitro. Tumor xenografts in nude mice were used to examine thein vivoactivity of α-santalol.Resultsα-santalol significantly inhibits HUVEC proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation. Western blot analysis indicated that α-santalol inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 kinase and the downstream protein kinases including AKT, ERK, FAK, Src, mTOR, and pS6K in HUVEC, PC-3 and LNCaP cells. α-santalol treatment inhibitedex vivoandin vivoangiogenesis as evident by rat aortic and sponge implant angiogenesis assay. α-santalol significantly reduced the volume and the weight of solid tumors in prostate xenograft mouse model. The antiangiogenic effect by CD31 immunohistochemical staining indicated that α-santalol inhibited tumorigenesis by targeting angiogenesis. Furthermore, α-santalol reduced the cell viability and induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells, which were correlated with the downregulation of AKT, mTOR and P70S6K expressions. Molecular docking simulation indicated that α-santalol form hydrogen bonds and aromatic interactions within the ATP-binding region of the VEGFR2 kinase unit.Conclusionα-santalol inhibits angiogenesis by targeting VEGFR2 regulated AKT/mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway, and could be used as a potential drug candidate for cancer therapy.
Polarizing cytoskeletal tension to induce leader cell formation during collective cell migration
Authors: Rausch Sebastian , Das Tamal , Soiné Jérôme RD , Hofmann Tobias W , Boehm Christian HJ , Schwarz Ulrich S , Boehm Heike , Spatz Joachim P 
Published: November 2013

The collective migration of cells is fundamental to epithelial biology. One of the hallmarks of collective behavior in migrating cohesive epithelial cell sheets is the emergence of so called leader cells. These cells exhibit a distinct morphology with a large and highly active lamellipodium. Although it is generally accepted that they play a crucial part in collective migration, the biophysical factors that regulate their formation remain unknown.
Here we show that a geometry-based cue like local variation of curvature of the collective’s perimeter is capable of triggering leader cell formation and promoting enhanced motility at defined positions. Remarkably, the extent of this effect scales with the magnitude of the curvature.
Cytoskeletal tension was found to be important for geometry induced leader cell formation, as cells treated with tension reducing agents appeared less sensitive to local curvature variation. Accordingly, traction force microscopy revealed an increased level of shear stress at highly curved positions even before the cell migration had actually started, indicating the presence of a collective polarization induced by the geometry of the confinement.
Together our findings suggest that high curvature leads to locally increased stress accumulation, mediated via cell-substrate interaction as well as via cytoskeleton tension. The stress accumulation in turn enhances the probability of leader cell formation as well as cell motility. This work defines the importance of geometric cue such as local curvature in the collective migration dynamics of epithelial cells and thus shows implications for the biophysical regulation of epithelium during wound healing, embryonic development, and oncogenesis.
A Schauder fixed point theorem in semilinear spaces and applications
Authors: Agarwal Ravi P , Arshad Sadia , O’Regan Donal , Lupulescu Vasile 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In this paper we present existence and uniqueness results for a class of fuzzy fractional integral equations. To prove the existence result, we give a variant of the Schauder fixed point theorem in semilinear Banach spaces.

MSC:34A07, 34A08.
Algorithms for treating equilibrium and fixed point problems
Authors: Qin Xiaolong , Cho Sun Young , Wang Lin 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In this paper, a common solution problem is investigated based on a projection algorithm. Strong convergence theorems for common solutions of a system of equilibrium problems and a family of asymptotically quasi-ϕ-nonexpansive mappings are established in a uniformly smooth and strictly convex Banach space which also enjoys the Kadec-Klee property.
General exponential dichotomies on time scales and parameter dependence of roughness
Authors: Zhang Jimin , Song Yajun , Zhao Zhitao 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
This paper focuses on a new notion called the general exponential dichotomy on time scales, which is more general and contains as special cases most versions of dichotomies on the continuous systems and discrete systems. We establish the existence of parameter dependence of roughness for the general exponential dichotomy on time scales under sufficiently small linear perturbation. Moreover, we also show that the stable and unstable subspaces of general exponential dichotomies for the perturbed system are Lipschitz continuous for the parameters.

MSC:34N05, 34D09.
Combining de novo and reference-guided assembly with scaffold_builder
Authors: Silva Genivaldo GZ , Dutilh Bas E , Matthews T David , Elkins Keri , Schmieder Robert , Dinsdale Elizabeth A , Edwards Robert A 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Genome sequencing has become routine, however genome assembly still remains a challenge despite the computational advances in the last decade. In particular, the abundance of repeat elements in genomes makes it difficult to assemble them into a single complete sequence. Identical repeats shorter than the average read length can generally be assembled without issue. However, longer repeats such as ribosomal RNA operons cannot be accurately assembled using existing tools. The application Scaffold_builder was designed to generate scaffolds – super contigs of sequences joined by N-bases – based on the similarity to a closely related reference sequence. This is independent of mate-pair information and can be used complementarily for genome assembly, e.g. when mate-pairs are not available or have already been exploited. Scaffold_builder was evaluated using simulated pyrosequencing reads of the bacterial genomes Escherichia coli 042, Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi str. P-stx-12. Moreover, we sequenced two genomes from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 G455 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SDT1291 and show that Scaffold_builder decreases the number of contig sequences by 53% while more than doubling their average length. Scaffold_builder is written in Python and is available at http://edwards.sdsu.edu/scaffold_builder. A web-based implementation is additionally provided to allow users to submit a reference genome and a set of contigs to be scaffolded.
Total solids content: a key parameter of metabolic pathways in dry anaerobic digestion
Authors: Motte Jean-Charles , Trably Eric , Escudié Renaud , Hamelin Jérôme , Steyer Jean-Philippe , Bernet Nicolas , Delgenes Jean-Philippe , Dumas Claire 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
In solid-state anaerobic digestion (AD) bioprocesses, hydrolytic and acidogenic microbial metabolisms have not yet been clarified. Since these stages are particularly important for the establishment of the biological reaction, better knowledge could optimize the process performances by process parameters adjustment.

Results
This study demonstrated the effect of total solids (TS) content on microbial fermentation of wheat straw with six different TS contents ranging from wet to dry conditions (10 to 33% TS). Three groups of metabolic behaviors were distinguished based on wheat straw conversion rates with 2,200, 1,600, and 1,400 mmol.kgVS
-1 of fermentative products under wet (10 and 14% TS), dry (19 to 28% TS), and highly dry (28 to 33% TS) conditions, respectively. Furthermore, both wet and dry fermentations showed acetic and butyric acid metabolisms, whereas a mainly butyric acid metabolism occurred in highly dry fermentation.

Conclusion
Substrate conversion was reduced with no changes of the metabolic pathways until a clear limit at 28% TS content, which corresponded to the threshold value of free water content of wheat straw. This study suggested that metabolic pathways present a limit of TS content for high-solid AD.
Nitrogen starvation-induced transcriptome alterations and influence of transcription regulator mutants in Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Jeßberger Nadja , Lu Yinhua , Amon Johannes , Titgemeyer Fritz , Sonnewald Sophia , Reid Stephen , Burkovski Andreas 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
As other bacteria, Mycobacterium smegmatis needs adaption mechanisms to cope with changing nitrogen sources and to survive situations of nitrogen starvation. In the study presented here, transcriptome analyses were used to characterize the response of the bacterium to nitrogen starvation and to elucidate the role of specific transcriptional regulators.

Results
In response to nitrogen deprivation, a general starvation response is induced in M. smegmatis. This includes changes in the transcription of several hundred genes encoding e.g. transport proteins, proteins involved in nitrogen metabolism and regulation, energy generation and protein turnover. The specific nitrogen-related changes at the transcriptional level depend mainly on the presence of GlnR, while the AmtR protein controls only a small number of genes.

Conclusions

M. smegmatis is able to metabolize a number of different nitrogen sources and nitrogen control in M. smegmatis is similar to control mechanisms characterized in streptomycetes, while the master regulator of nitrogen control in corynebacteria, AmtR, is plays a minor role in this regulatory network.
The plant life-cycle of the average wage of employees in U.S. manufacturing
Authors: Dinlersoz Emin , Hyatt Henry R , Nguyen Sang V 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
This paper explores the evolution of the average wage of employees over the life-cycle of a manufacturing plant. The average wage starts out low for a new plant and increases along with labor productivity as the plant ages. As a plant approaches exit, its average wage falls, but more slowly than it rises in the case of growing plants. Moreover, the average wage does not fall as fast as productivity does. A dynamic model of labor quality and quantity choice by plants is estimated to assess the costs of altering labor quality and quantity over the plant life-cycle.

JEL codes

J31, J21, J24, L60, L23, L11, D24
Immigration and careers of European workers: effects and the role of policies
Authors: Cattaneo Cristina , Fiorio Carlo V , Peri Giovanni 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In this paper we analyze the response of career, employment and wage of native Europeans to immigration. We then ask how individual country’s policies affect these responses. We use data on 11 EU countries, over the period 1995–2001. We also use the 1991 distribution of immigrants by nationality across European labor markets to construct a version of the enclave-based instrument to proxy for the flow of immigrants, that is exogenous to local demand shocks. We find that native Europeans are more likely to upgrade to more skilled and better paid occupations, when a larger number of immigrants enter their labor market. We find no evidence of an increased likelihood of non-employment or geographical mobility. We find that more flexible labor markets in a country are a key factor to have employment upgrading in response to immigration.

JEL Codes

J61; O15
Cost-effectiveness of cognitive–behavioural therapy as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy for treatment-resistant depression in primary care: economic evaluation of the CoBalT Trial
Authors: Hollinghurst Sandra , Carroll Fran E. , Abel Anna , Campbell John , Garland Anne , Jerrom Bill , Kessler David , Kuyken Willem , Morrison Jill , Ridgway Nicola , Thomas Laura , Turner Katrina , Williams Chris , Peters Tim J. , Lewis Glyn , Wiles Nicola 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundDepression is expensive to treat, but providing ineffective treatment is more expensive. Such is the case for many patients who do not respond to antidepressant medication.AimsTo assess the cost-effectiveness of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) plus usual care for primary care patients with treatment-resistant depression compared with usual care alone.MethodEconomic evaluation at 12 months alongside a randomised controlled trial. Cost-effectiveness assessed using a cost-consequences framework comparing cost to the health and social care provider, patients and society, with a range of outcomes. Cost-utility analysis comparing health and social care costs with quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).ResultsThe mean cost of CBT per participant was £910. The difference in QALY gain between the groups was 0.057, equivalent to 21 days a year of good health. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £14 911 (representing a 74% probability of the intervention being cost-effective at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence threshold of £20 000 per QALY). Loss of earnings and productivity costs were substantial but there was no evidence of a difference between intervention and control groups.ConclusionsThe addition of CBT to usual care is cost-effective in patients who have not responded to antidepressants. Primary care physicians should therefore be encouraged to refer such individuals for CBT.
Association between pre- and perinatal exposures and Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder in the ALSPAC cohort
Authors: Mathews Carol A. , Scharf Jeremiah M. , Miller Laura L. , Macdonald-Wallis Corrie , Lawlor Debbie A. , Ben-Shlomo Yoav 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundTourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder are heritable but aetiologically complex. Although environment plays a role in their development, existing studies of non-genetic risk factors are inconsistent.AimsTo examine the association between pre- and perinatal exposures and Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective longitudinal pre-birth cohort.MethodRelationships between exposures and Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder were examined in 6090 children using logistic regression.ResultsMaternal alcohol and cannabis use, inadequate maternal weight gain and parity were associated with Tourette syndrome or Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder. Other previously reported exposures, including birth weight and prenatal maternal smoking, were not associated with Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder.ConclusionsThis study supports previously reported relationships between Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder and prenatal alcohol exposure, and identifies additional previously unexplored potential prenatal risk factors.
The developmental trajectory of bipolar disorder
Authors: Duffy Anne , Horrocks Julie , Doucette Sarah , Keown-Stoneman Charles , McCloskey Shannon , Grof Paul 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundBipolar disorder is highly heritable and therefore longitudinal
observation of children of affected parents is important to mapping the
early natural history.AimsTo model the developmental trajectory of bipolar disorder based on the
latest findings from an ongoing prospective study of the offspring of
parents with well-characterised bipolar disorder.MethodA total of 229 offspring from families in which 1 parent had confirmed
bipolar disorder and 86 control offspring were prospectively studied for
up to 16 years. High-risk offspring were divided into subgroups based on
the parental long-term response to lithium. Offspring were clinically
assessed and DSM-IV diagnoses determined on masked consensus review using
best estimate procedure. Adjusted survival analysis and generalised
estimating equations were used to calculate differences in lifetime
psychopathology. Multistate models were used to examine the progression
through proposed clinical stages.ResultsHigh-risk offspring had an increased lifetime risk of a broad spectrum of
disorders including bipolar disorder (hazard ratio (HR) = 20.89;
P = 0.04), major depressive disorder (HR = 17.16;
P = 0.004), anxiety (HR = 2.20; P =
0.03), sleep (HR = 28.21; P = 0.02) and substance use
disorders (HR = 2.60; P = 0.05) compared with controls.
However, only offspring from lithium non-responsive parents developed
psychotic disorders. Childhood anxiety disorder predicted an increased
risk of major mood disorder and evidence supported a progressive
transition through clinical stages, from non-specific psychopathology to
depressive and then manic or psychotic episodes.ConclusionsFindings underscore the importance of a developmental approach in
conjunction with an appreciation of familial risk to facilitate earlier
accurate diagnosis in symptomatic youth.
CACNA1C, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder in the Han Chinese population
Authors: He Kuanjun , An Zhiguo , Wang Qingzhong , Li Tao , Li Zhiqiang , Chen Jianhua , Li Wenjin , Wang Ti , Ji Jue , Feng Guoyin , Lin He , Yi Qizhong , Shi Yongyong 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundCommon psychiatric disorders are highly heritable, indicating that genetic factors play an important role in their aetiology. TheCACNA1Cgene, which codes for subunit alpha-1C of the Cav1.2 voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel, has been consistently found to be the shared risk gene for several kinds of mental disorder.AimsTo investigate whetherCACNA1Cis a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder in the Han Chinese population.MethodWe carried out a case–control study of 1235 patients with schizophrenia, 1045 with major depressive disorder and 1235 healthy controls. A tag single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1006737 along with another 10 tag SNPs in theCACNA1Cgene were genotyped in all samples.ResultsWe found that rs1006737 was associated with both schizophrenia (Pallele= 0.0014,Pgenotype= 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 1.384, 95% CI 1.134–1.690) and major depressive disorder (Pallele= 0.0007,Pgenotype= 0.003, OR = 1.425, 95% CI 1.160–1.752).ConclusionsOur findings supportCACNA1Cbeing a risk gene for both schizophrenia and major depressive disorder in the Han Chinese population.
Beyond the zebrafish: diverse fish species for modeling human disease
Authors: Schartl Manfred 
Published: November 2013

SummaryIn recent years, zebrafish, and to a lesser extent medaka, have become widely used small animal models for human diseases. These organisms have convincingly demonstrated the usefulness of fish for improving our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to pathological conditions, and for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Despite the usefulness of zebrafish and medaka in the investigation of a wide spectrum of traits, there is evidence to suggest that other fish species could be better suited for more targeted questions. With the emergence of new, improved sequencing technologies that enable genomic resources to be generated with increasing efficiency and speed, the potential of non-mainstream fish species as disease models can now be explored. A key feature of these fish species is that the pathological condition that they model is often related to specific evolutionary adaptations. By exploring these adaptations, new disease-causing and disease-modifier genes might be identified; thus, diverse fish species could be exploited to better understand the complexity of disease processes. In addition, non-mainstream fish models could allow us to study the impact of environmental factors, as well as genetic variation, on complex disease phenotypes. This Review will discuss the opportunities that such fish models offer for current and future biomedical research.