bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A simple experimental set‐up to disentangle the effects of altered temperature and moisture regimes on soil organisms
Authors: Krab Eveline J. , Cornelissen Johannes H.C. , Berg Matty P. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryClimate manipulation experiments in the field and laboratory incubations are common methods to study the impact of climate change on soils and their biota. However, both types of methods have drawbacks either on their mechanistic interpretation or ecological relevance.We propose an experimental set‐up that combines the best of both methods and can be easily obtained by modifying widely available Tullgren soil fauna extractors. This set‐up creates or alters temperature and moisture gradients within intact field soil cores, after which soil biota, their activity and vertical movements can be studied. We assessed the performance and demonstrated the applicability of this set‐up through a case study on Collembola response to changes in microclimatic gradients in peat bogs.Warming created a vertical temperature gradient of 14°C in peat cores without varying soil moisture conditions, while at a given temperature regime, precipitation and drought treatments shifted natural soil moisture gradients to ‘wetter’ and ‘drier’, respectively. This allowed for disentangling interacting warming and moisture effects on soil fauna. In our case study, Collembola communities showed peat layer‐specific responses to these climate treatments. Warming decreased Collembola density and altered community composition in the shallowest layer, whereas precipitation increase affected Collembola community composition in the deepest layer.We showed that climate change can have layer‐specific effects on soil organisms that are ‘hidden’ by not taking microclimatic vertical gradients into account. This experimental set‐up facilitates studying (multitrophic) organism responses to climate changes, with only a small adjustment of equipment that is often already present in soil ecology laboratories. Moreover, this set‐up can be easily customized to study many more other research questions related to wide‐ranging organisms and ecosystems.
Atraumatic restorative technique: case report on dental management of a patient with Moebius syndrome
Authors: Pradhan A , Gryst M 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundClinical challenges associated with Moebius syndrome, a rare congenital neuromuscular disorder, include orofacial anomalies like microstomia, limited mouth opening and severe gag reflex.MethodsThis case report presents the dental management of an anxious female with Moebius syndrome. For restorations, atraumatic restorative technique (ART), using glass ionomer cement was used with hand instruments.ResultsAll necessary dental treatment was completed in the dental chair, thus avoiding the need for a general anaesthetic, and associated complications with airway management due to orofacial abnormalities.ConclusionsART is an appropriate technique for people with microstomia and/or limited mouth opening, such as those with Moebius syndrome. The application of ART can be extended to other special needs patients (people with physical and intellectual disabilities, extreme anxiety, needle phobia and the frail elderly in aged care facilities), where access or cooperation is difficult or limited.
Diagnostic value of panoramic radiography in predicting inferior alveolar nerve injury after mandibular third molar extraction: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu W , Yin W , Zhang R , Li J , Zheng Y 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of panoramic radiography on inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury after extraction of the mandibular third molar.MethodsRelevant studies up to 1 June 2014 that discussed the association of panoramic radiography signs and post‐mandibular third molar extraction IAN injury were systematically retrieved from the databases of PubMed, Embase, Springerlink, Web of Science and Cochrane library. The effect size of pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios (PLR), negative likelihood ratios (NLR) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were statistically analysed with Meta‐disc 1.4 software.ResultsNine articles were included in this meta‐analysis. The pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity were 0.56 (95% CI: 0.50–0.61) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.84–0.87), respectively. The overall PLR was 3.46 (95% CI: 2.02–5.92) and overall NLR was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.45–0.73). The pooled estimate of DOR was 6.49 (95% CI: 2.92–14.44). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.7143 ± 0.0604.ConclusionsThe meta‐analysis indicated that interpretation of panoramic radiography based on darkening of the root had a high specificity in predicting IAN injury after mandibular third molar extraction. However, the ability of this panoramic radiography marker to detect true positive IAN injury was not satisfactory.
Curing Slums: The Jane Jacobs Way and the Henry George Way
Authors: Rybeck Walter 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHenry George and Jane Jacobs were both self‐taught public figures who shared an appreciation of the density, productivity, diversity, and cultural creativity of big cities. A century separated them, during which architects and planners designed cities according to abstract principles, but George and Jacobs expected the creative potential of a city to emerge from its inhabitants, not from a central planner. Although the interests and concerns of George and Jacobs overlapped on only a few topics, they both believed that slum dwellers could solve their own problems, given the right tools. For Jacobs, the solution to dilapidated housing lay not in bulldozing neighborhoods, but in rehabilitating them through a process she called “unslumming,” a gradual process of self‐improvement that has at times been accused of being gentrification. Henry George offered a different solution, involving taxation of land values, one that did not focus on particular neighborhoods and thus avoided the paradox that local improvements would raise the price of real estate too high for local residents to stay. An example is given of how George's solution actually worked in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. In this case, no change in tax policy was needed to bring about a local economic renaissance in the 1960s, merely the realignment of property assessments that correctly reflected the actual value of land.
Choroidal abnormalities in neurofibromatosis type 1 detected by near‐infrared reflectance imaging in paediatric population
Authors: Vagge Aldo , Camicione Paola , Capris Cristina , Sburlati Carlo , Panarello Simona , Calevo Maria Grazia , Traverso Carlo Enrico , Capris Paolo 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPurposeTo investigate choroidal abnormalities in paediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) detected by near‐infrared reflectance (NIR) retinography in order to evaluate diagnostic accuracy.MethodsSeventy‐eight paediatric patients with NF1, diagnosed according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria, and 96 healthy control subjects matched for age were examined. Enrolled patients were under 16 years old. The presence of choroidal abnormalities was investigated by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Main outcome measure was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy in paediatric patients compared with the NIH criteria.ResultsSeventy‐eight patients with NF1 (41 female, 37 male; mean age 8.1 ± 3.5 years) were compared with 96 healthy control subjects (42 female, 54 male; mean age 8 ± 3 years). Choroidal abnormalities were observed in 54 (69.2%) of the patients with NF1. As regards the fundus topographical distribution, choroidal abnormalities were more frequent at the posterior pole with a statistically significant correlation between patient age and the number of involved choroidal areas (Spearman r = 0.23; p < 0.04). No choroidal abnormalities were present in the control group. Detection accuracy of choroidal nodules was 70%.ConclusionChoroidal abnormalities appearing as bright patchy regions detected by NIR imaging occurred very frequently in paediatric patients affected by NF1. The present study appears to show that NIR used to detect choroidal involvement allows for elevated diagnostic accuracy.
Safety and efficacy of the switch to generic mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus in heart transplant patients
Authors: Söderlund Carl , Rådegran Göran 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundGeneric immunosuppressants may offer economic advantages, but their use is still controversial. At our center, 55 heart transplant patients were switched from CellCept® to Myfenax Teva® (MT) (n = 51, 18% female, 8.1 ± 6.6 yr post‐transplantation) and/or Prograf® to Tacrolimus Sandoz® (TS) (n = 17, 41% female, 6.6 ± 5.8 yr post‐transplantation).MethodsWe conducted an acute monitoring and a retrospective follow‐up with regard to safety and efficacy. Acute cellular rejections (ACRs) on endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) four wk after the MT switch were specifically compared to a matched retrospective control group.ResultsTacrolimus C0 levels (TS switch) as well as hemoglobin, leukocytes, and thrombocytes (MT switch) did not change (p = NS) during the three wk after each respective switch (8.7 ± 2.9 vs. 8.4 ± 1.9 μg/L, 129.1 ± 12.6 vs. 130.1 ± 12.8 g/L, 6.3 vs. 6.2 × 109/L, and 217.4 ± 56.6 vs. 219.3 ± 61.8 × 109/L, respectively). 0% of the EMBs in the MT switch vs. 3% of the EMBs in the control group showed ACR>grade 1R (p = NS). After six months, survival was 96% (MT switch) and 100% (TS switch), and the frequency of severe ACR was low. Safety parameters measured at the next annual follow‐up were also stable following each switch.ConclusionSwitching to MT and/or TS several years after heart transplantation appeared safe in the short‐term perspective, showing no detectable changes in tacrolimus C0 levels, safety or efficacy, during an average follow‐up of six months.
Cardiac response to early conversion from calcineurin inhibitor to everolimus in renal transplant recipients – a three‐yr serial echocardiographic substudy of the randomized controlled CENTRAL trial
Authors: Murbraech Klaus , Massey Richard , Undset Liv H. , Midtvedt Karsten , Holdaas Hallvard , Aakhus Svend 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundIn transplant recipients, calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are associated with adverse cardiac effects while mTOR inhibitors have been reported to be beneficial. We performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in de novo renal transplant recipients examining cardiac responses of everolimus vs. CNI.MethodsThis was a substudy of the three‐yr CENTRAL study, an RCT on safety and efficacy of early (week 7 post‐engraftment) conversion from cyclosporine A (CsA) to everolimus vs. continued CsA. Thirty‐nine recipients [median age 64 yr, (range 31–81)] completed echocardiographic evaluations at baseline, one, and three yr.ResultsAfter three yr, there was no difference between groups in left ventricle (LV) diastolic function, LV systolic function, LV morphology, and blood pressure response. We observed a relevant decrease in LV mass (CsA; 9.6%, p = 0.008, vs. everolimus; 7.0% reduction, p = 0.15), stabilized LV diastolic function, and a trend toward lower systolic blood pressure with 6 mmHg decrease in both arms (CsA, p = 0.08; everolimus, p = 0.14). Diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced (8 mmHg decrease, p = 0.002) only in everolimus patients.ConclusionsAfter three‐yr follow‐up, no clinically relevant effect on cardiac function of an early conversion from CsA to an everolimus‐based immunosuppressive regimen was detected in de novo renal transplant recipients.
DNA methylation analysis for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules – a pilot study with reference to BRAFV600E mutation and cytopathology results
Authors: Chang H. , Shin B. K. , Kim A. , Kim H. K. , Kim B. H. 
Published: May 2015

ObjectivePromoter hypermethylation and the BRAFV600E mutation are both involved in thyroid tumorigenesis. We conducted a pilot study on the diagnosis of thyroid nodules by analysis of promoter hypermethylation status with reference to BRAFV600E mutation and cytopathology results using formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues and liquid‐based preparation (LBP) thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples to predict more reliably the possibility of papillary carcinoma.MethodsWe initially performed MethyLight analysis for 30 genes that are known to be hypermethylated in malignancies using 164 papillary carcinomas and 77 benign tissue samples. Five genes selected from the tissue analysis were subsequently analysed in 75 surgically proven benign and 66 surgically proven papillary carcinoma LBP FNA samples. Samples that showed two or more positive results among the five genes were classified as methylation positive. We also analysed the BRAFV600E mutation status of the FNA samples.ResultsWe identified five genes that were significantly hypermethylated in malignant tissues: PTGS2, HOXA1, TMEFF2, p16 and PTEN. With respect to diagnostic potential, results obtained using the BRAFV600E mutation test combined with cytological examination were not significantly different from those obtained with cytological examination only. Combining methylation analyses with cytological examination or performing all three tests for diagnoses did not improve significantly the negative predictive values and sensitivity, but a significant decrease in positive predictive value and specificity was observed.ConclusionFurther studies are needed on larger samples to assess the potential value of methylation analysis of thyroid FNA.
The duodenal glucose load impacts the oral disposition index in healthy subjects
Authors: Marathe C. S. , Feinle‐Bisset C. , Pilichiewicz A. , Lange K. , Jones K. L. , Rayner C. K. , Kahn S. E. , Horowitz M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimIn healthy subjects, the oral disposition index (ratio of insulin response to insulin sensitivity) is predictive of the development of Type 2 diabetes. Gastric emptying, which exhibits a substantial interindividual variation, is a major determinant of postprandial glycaemia in health and diabetes. We sought to determine whether the rate of intraduodenal glucose delivery affects the disposition index in people without diabetes.MethodsNineteen Caucasian males received glucose infusions via an intraduodenal catheter at either 2 kcal/min (ID2) or 4 kcal/min (ID4) for 120 min, on two separate days with measurements of blood glucose (G) and plasma insulin (I) at frequent intervals. The insulin response was estimated by the ratio of the change in insulin to that of change in glucose at 30 min (∆I0–30/∆G0–30) and 60 min (∆I0–60/∆G0–60). Insulin sensitivity was estimated as 1/fasting insulin. The oral disposition index (DI) was calculated as ∆I0–30/∆G0–30 × 1/fasting insulin and ∆I0–60/∆G0–60 × 1/fasting insulin.ResultsThe overall glycaemic response was comparable on both days, but the insulin response was much greater at ID4 when calculated at either 30 or 60 min (P < 0.05). DI was also greater (P < 0.05) in response to ID4 than ID2.ConclusionsThe rate of duodenal glucose delivery has a major impact on insulin release and, thereby, DI. This suggests that the rate of gastric emptying, which determines duodenal glucose delivery, is a determinant of DI.
Is skin autofluorescence a marker of metabolic memory in pregnant women with diabetes?
Authors: Maury E. , Savel J. , Grouthier V. , Rajaobelina K. , Corvo L. , Lorrain S. , Gonzalez C. , Gin H. , Barberger‐Gateau P. , Rigalleau V. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimTo determine whether skin autofluorescence can help to detect those who have previously had abnormal glucose levels among women referred for diabetes during pregnancy.MethodsUsing an advanced glycation end product reader (AGE Readertm; DiagnOptics BV, Groningen, the Netherlands), we measured forearm skin autofluorescence at 24–30 weeks of gestation in all women who were referred to our Nutrition Diabetology unit for diabetes during pregnancy.ResultsThe study included 230 women (200 with gestational diabetes and 30 with pre‐gestational diabetes, of whom 21 had Type 1 and nine had Type 2 diabetes) and a reference group of 22 normoglycaemic non‐pregnant women. Skin autofluorescence was significantly higher in women with pre‐gestational diabetes (1.97 ± 0.44 arbitary units) compared with gestational diabetes (1.77 ± 0.32 arbitary units; P = 0.003) and lower in the reference group (1.60 ± 0.32 arbitary units; P = 0.009 vs all pregnant women). Among women with gestational diabetes, 71 had a history of hyperglycaemia (i.e. gestational diabetes or macrosomia in a previous pregnancy or discovery of diabetes before 24th gestational week in the present pregnancy). These women had higher levels of skin autofluorescence (1.83 ± 0.35 arbitary units) than women with gestational diabetes without previous history of hyperglycaemia (1.73 ± 0.30 arbitary units; P = 0.04, non‐significant, adjusted for age). Skin autofluorescence increased with the number of criteria present for previous hyperglycaemia (P for trend = 0.008) and was significantly associated with having two or three criteria for hyperglycaemia after adjusting for age (P = 0.02).ConclusionsSkin autofluorescence could reflect previous long‐term hyperglycaemia in pregnant women, and could therefore be a marker of metabolic memory.
Elevated serum monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 levels and its genetic polymorphism is associated with diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Jiang Z. , Hennein L. , Xu Y. , Bao N. , Coh P. , Tao L. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimPrevious studies have reported that monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 (MCP–1) is involved in inflammatory and metabolic diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of MCP–1 in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Han Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes.MethodsSerum levels of MCP–1 protein in patients classified as diabetic without retinopathy (DWR) and DR, including NPDR and PDR, were assayed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Genomic DNA from 198 DWR patients, 176 NPDR patients and 143 PDR patients were genotyped by using a PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) assay.ResultsMCP–1 serum levels were significantly higher in NPDR and PDR patients than in the DWR patients. The frequencies of the GG genotype and G allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were significantly increased in DR patients compared with DWR patients. Further subgroup analysis was performed to test whether there was an association between the PDR or NPDR and DWR groups. Significantly higher frequencies of the GG genotype and G allele were observed in PDR and NPDR patients compared with DWR patients. Furthermore, the 25 patients with PDR were divided into three groups according to the genotype of the tested SNP. The expression of the MCP–1 gene was higher in the GG genotype group compared with the other two groups.ConclusionsThe results suggested that the –2518 GG genotype and G allele of MCP–1 are associated with an increased risk of PDR in the Chinese Han population. This polymorphism may influence the expression of the MCP–1 gene, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DR.
Type 1 diabetes is not associated with an increased prevalence of hepatic steatosis
Authors: Petit J.‐M. , Pedro L. , Guiu B. , Duvillard L. , Bouillet B. , Jooste V. , Habchi M. , Crevisy E. , Fourmont C. , Buffier P. , Hillon P. , Cercueil J.‐P. , Verges B. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes. Recently, it has been suggested that NAFLD is also frequently associated with Type 1 diabetes and diabetic complications. In this study, we set out to determine whether Type 1 diabetes was associated with liver fat content measured using magnetic resonance imaging.MethodsOne hundred and twenty‐eight patients with Type 1 diabetes, 264 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 67 participants without diabetes were included in this study. Hepatic steatosis was defined as a liver fat content > 5.5%.ResultsPeople with Type 1 diabetes and controls were similar for age and BMI. Liver fat content was significantly higher in patients with Type 2 diabetes than in patients with Type 1 diabetes and controls. In the control group, nine people (13.4%) had steatosis compared with six (4.7%) patients with Type 1 diabetes (P = 0.04). Among patients with Type 2 diabetes group, 166 (62.8%) had steatosis. In multivariate analysis that included patients with Type 1 diabetes and participants without diabetes, steatosis was associated only with BMI, whereas age, sex, statin therapy and Type 1 diabetes were not. In patients with Type 1 diabetes, there was no correlation between liver fat content and estimated glomerular filtration rate or carotid intima media thickness.ConclusionsOur data showed that Type 1 diabetes was not associated with an increased prevalence of steatosis. Moreover, our study provided no specific arguments concerning a link between liver fat content and diabetic complications in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
Ethnicity and risk of lower limb amputation in people with Type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Robinson T. E. , Kenealy T. , Garrett M. , Bramley D. , Drury P. L. , Elley C. R. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimLower limb amputation is a serious complication of diabetic foot disease and there are unexplained ethnic variations in incidence. This study investigates the risk of amputation among different ethnic groups after adjusting for demographic, socio‐economic status and clinical variables.MethodsWe used primary care data from a large national multi‐ethnic cohort of patients with Type 2 diabetes in New Zealand and linked hospital records. The primary outcome was time from initial data collection to first lower limb amputation. Demographic variables included age of onset and duration since diabetes diagnosis, gender, ethnicity and socio‐economic status. Clinical variables included smoking status, height and weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, total cholesterol/HDLratio and albuminuria. Cox proportional hazards models were used.ResultsThere were 892 lower limb amputations recorded among 62 002 patients (2.11 amputations per 1000 person‐years), followed for a median of 7.14 years (422 357 person‐years). After adjusting for demographic and socio‐economic variables and compared with Europeans, Māori had the highest risk [hazard ratio (HR) 1.84 (95%CI:1.54–2.19)], whereas East Asians [HR0.18, (0.08–0.44)] and South Asians [HR0.39 (0.22–0.67)] had the lowest risk. Adjusting for available clinical variables reduced the differences but they remained substantial [HR1.61 (1.35–1.93), 0.23 (0.10–0.56) and 0.48 (0.27–0.83), respectively].ConclusionsEthnic groups had significantly different risk of lower limb amputation, even after adjusting for demographic and some major clinical risk factors. Barriers to care should be addressed and intensive prevention strategies known to reduce the incidence of lower limb amputations could be prioritized to those at greatest risk.