bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of standardized Bacopa monniera extract in sodium fluoride-induced behavioural, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in mice
Authors: Balaji Bhaskar , Kumar Ekambaram Prem , Kumar Anil 
Published: December 2012

Effect of standardized Bacopa monniera (BM; family: Scrophulariaceae) extract (100 and 300 mg/kg) against sodium fluoride (NaF; 100 and 200 ppm)-induced behavioural, biochemical, and neuropathological alterations in mice was evaluated. Akinesia, rotarod (motor coordination), forced swim test (depression), open field test (anxiety), transfer latency (memory), cholinesterase (ChE), and oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation) were determined in mice treated with NaF for 30 days alone and in combination with BM. NaF induced motor incoordination, depression, and memory impairment, and these were prevented by coadministration of BM in mice. However, NaF did not alter the weight gain, feed/water consumption, and anxiety profile. Suppression of ChE levels and increased oxidative stress were observed in mice treated with NaF. Coadministration of BM significantly improved the memory, ChE levels, and antioxidant enzymes but failed to alter the fluoride levels in NaF-treated mice. Histopathological studies revealed that BM protected the neuropathological alterations induced by NaF.
The use of endemic Iranian plant, Echium amoenum, against the ethyl methanesulfonate and the recovery of mutagenic effects
Authors: Uysal Handan , Kızılet Halit , Ayar Arif , Taheri Arash 
Published: December 2012

In this study, potential genotoxic effects of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) that caused mutagenicity in a variety of organisms were tried to resolve by the methanol and chloroform extract of Echium amoenum (EAmet and EAchl) Fisch. & C.A. Mey. from the family of Boraginaceae, which is an endemic plant, and is used as an alternative treatment among public in Iran. Somatic mutation and recombination test with Drosophila wing was used to determine the genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects in our investigations. For this purpose, 3-day-old transheterozygous larvae of mwh/flr3 genotype of Drosophila melanogaster were used in all our experiments. The larvae were fed chronically on the Drosophila instant medium (DIM) including 1 ppm EMS. However, in another application group, different concentrations (1, 2 and 4 ppm) of EAmet and EAchl were added to DIM including 1 ppm EMS (EMS + EAmet and EMS + EAchl). Then, for the matured individuals, wing preparates were prepared within the mediums that include control group that has only DIM, negative control group that contains dimethyl sulfoxide and application groups in different concentrations that contain EMS, EMS + EAmet and EMS + EAchl. Clone induction frequency for the normal wing phenotype of EMS application group was observed to be 2.00. In the EMS + EAmet application group, the value of 1 ppm EAmet is 1.49, value of 2 ppm EAmet is 1.08 and value of 4 ppm EAmet is 0.72; in the EMS + EAchl application group, the value of 1 ppm is EAchl 1.33, value of 2 ppm EAchl is 0.67 and value of 4 ppm EAchl is 0.56 were determined. This decrease observed between EMS and all application groups in terms of total induction frequency is statistically significant ( p < 0.05). These results concluded that chloroform extracts were more effective than the methanol extracts of E. amoenum.
Wear of surface-engineered metal-on-metal bearings for hip prostheses under adverse conditions with the head loading on the rim of the cup
Authors: Leslie Ian , Williams Sophie , Isaac Graham , Hatto Peter , Ingham Eileen , Fisher John 
Published: December 2012

Clinical studies have found high wear rates, elevated ion levels and high revision rates of large-diameter metal-on-metal surface replacement bearings in some patients, which have been associated with edge loading of the head on the rim of the cup. We have simulated increased wear and ion levels in metal-on-metal bearings in vitro by introducing variations in translational and rotational positioning of the components, which reproduces stripe wear on the femoral head, cup rim wear and clinically relevant large as well as small wear particles. There is interest in technologies such as surface engineering, which might reduce metal wear and the release of wear particles and ions. Reduced wear with surface-engineered surface replacements compared to metal-on-metal controls has been reported under standard walking conditions with correctly aligned and concentric components. In this in vitro study, the wear of chromium nitride surface-engineered metal-on-metal bearings under conditions of microseparation associated with translational and rotational malpositioning of the components was investigated and the results were compared with a previously reported study of metal-on-metal bearings under the same conditions. Simulations were conducted using our unique hip simulation microseparation methodologies, which reproduce accelerated wear in metal-on-metal bearings and have previously been clinically validated with ceramic-on-ceramic bearings. Four of the six surface-engineered bearings had evidence of head contact on the rim of the cup, which produced stripe wear on the femoral head. Four of the six surface-engineered bearings (two without stripe and two with stripe wear) had lower wear than the previously reported high wearing metal-on-metal bearings. At 2 million cycles, two of the surface-engineered bearings had substantially increased wear rates, four times higher than the high wear rates previously reported for metal-on-metal bearings under the same conditions. There was wear through and cohesive failure of the thick atomic emission physical vapour deposition (AEPVD) chromium nitride (CrN) coating. At this point, the study was stopped to investigate the failure mode. This study highlights the need to pre-clinically investigate the tribology of new bearings under a wide set of clinical conditions as demonstrated by our stratified approach for enhanced reliability (SAFER) simulation methods. In adopting this SAFER approach to pre-clinical simulation testing of new bearings, it is important to communicate the failures as well as successes of technologies arising from the research, in order that the wider community can benefit from the analysis of the pre-clinical failure modes.
Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade inhibits accelerated atherosclerosis induced by a low sodium diet in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice
Authors: Raz-Pasteur Ayelet , Gamliel-Lazarovich Aviva , Gantman Anna , Coleman Raymond , Keidar Shlomo 
Published: December 2012

Introduction: A low-sodium diet (LSD) was shown to increase both angiotensin II (AngII) and aldosterone levels, and to accelerate atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (E0) mice. The aim of the present study was to examine whether accelerated atherosclerosis in E0 mice fed a LSD is mediated by aldosterone, using the mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, eplerenone (Epl). Methods and Results: Mice were divided into three groups: normal diet (ND), LSD and LSD treated with Epl at 100 mg/kg per day (LSD+Epl) for 10 weeks. LSD significantly enhanced plasma renin and aldosterone levels, which were further increased in mice fed LSD+Epl. The aortic lesion area increased three-fold with LSD, while LSD+Epl significantly reduced the lesion area to values similar to ND. Serum and peritoneal macrophages obtained from LSD-fed mice exhibited pro-atherogenic properties including increased inflammation, oxidation and cholesterol accumulation, which were inhibited in mice fed LSD+Epl. In a J774A.1 macrophage-like cell line stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, Epl was shown to have a direct anti-inflammatory effect. Conclusion: In E0 mice, Epl inhibited LSD-accelerated atherosclerosis, despite the elevation of renin and aldosterone levels. It is therefore suggested that the atherogenic action of LSD could be mediated, at least in part, by activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor. In addition, eplerenone may have direct anti-inflammatory actions.
Repeatability and bronchodilator reversibility of lung function in young children
Authors: Sonnappa Samatha , Bastardo Cristina M. , Wade Angie , Bush Andrew , Stocks Janet , Aurora Paul 
Published: December 2012

Knowledge of short- and longer-term repeatability of lung function in health and disease is essential to determine bronchodilator reversibility thresholds and to recognise if changes in lung function represent disease progression, therapeutic intervention or normal variability.Multiple-breath washout indices (lung clearance index, conductive ventilation inhomogeneity (Scond)) and specific airway resistance (sRaw) were measured in healthy children and stable wheezers. Measurements were performed at baseline and after 20 min without intervention to assess repeatability and determine bronchodilator reversibility thresholds. Bronchodilator reversibility was assessed by repeating baseline measurements 20 min after inhaled salbutamol.28 healthy controls, mean±sdage 6.1±0.7 years and 62 wheezers 5.4±0.6 years were tested. Baseline variability in multiple-breath washout indices andsRawwas not significantly different between wheezers and healthy controls. Significant bronchodilator reversibility was only observed in wheezers forScond(16%), but in both wheezers (37%) and healthy controls (20%) for sRaw. Some wheezers and healthy controls demonstrated increases in multiple-breath washout indices post-bronchodilator.Lung clearance index and sRawdemonstrate low baseline variability in healthy and diseased subjects. Neither multiple-breath washout indices nor sRaware ideal for assessing bronchodilator reversibility in young children with stable wheeze. These findings will help to interpret the effect of therapeutic interventions in children with respiratory diseases.
Auto-servoventilation in heart failure with sleep apnoea: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Arzt Michael , Schroll Stephan , Series Frederic , Lewis Keir , Benjamin Amit , Escourrou Pierre , Luigart Ruth , Kehl Victoria , Pfeifer Michael 
Published: December 2012

We tested the hypotheses that in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) auto-servoventilation (ASV) improves cardiac function and quality of life.Between March 2007 and September 2009, patients with stable CHF (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%) and SDB (apnoea/hypopnoea index ≥20 events·h−1) were randomised to receive either ASV (BiPAP ASV (Philips Respironics, Murrysville, PA, USA), n=37) and optimal medical management, or optimal medical management alone (n=35). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks.The apnoea/hypopnoea index assessed with polysomnography scored in one core laboratory was significantly more reduced in the ASV group (-39±16versus-1±13 events·h−1; p<0.001) with an average use of 4.5±3.0 h·day−1. Both groups showed similar improvements of the primary end-point LVEF (+3.4±5versus+3.5±6%; p=0.915) assessed with echocardiography. In the ASV group, reduction of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was significantly greater (-360±569versus+135±625 ng·mL−1; p=0.010). No differences were observed between the groups in subjective quality of life.In patients with CHF and SDB, ASV reduced NT-proBNP levels, but improvement of LVEF or quality of life was not greater than in the control group. The data support that such patients can be randomised in large-scale, long-term trials of positive airway pressure therapyversuscontrol to determine effects on cardiovascular outcome.
Clinical phenotypes of Italian and Spanish patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency
Authors: Piras Barbara , Ferrarotti Ilaria , Lara Beatriz , Martinez Maria Teresa , Bustamante Ana , Ottaviani Stefania , Pirina Pietro , Luisetti Maurizio , Miravitlles Marc 
Published: December 2012

With the aim of providing better clinical characterisation of patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), we analysed the data of adult patients with severe AATD enrolled in the Spanish and Italian national registries.We assessed 745 subjects, 416 of whom were enrolled in the Spanish registry and 329 in the Italian registry. 57.2% were male and 64.9% were smokers or former smokers with a mean±sdage of 49.9±13.8 years. Most (81.2%) were index cases, mainly having the PI*ZZ genotype (73.4%), and the mean±sddiagnostic delay was 9.0±12.1 years.Patients with chronic bronchitis were younger, had better preserved lung function and lower tobacco consumption. Overlap patients (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with asthma) were mainly females, more frequently never-smokers and received respiratory medications more often. 48% of emphysema, 27.5% of chronic bronchitis and 44.8% of overlap subjects were receiving augmentation therapy. Compared with PI*ZZ patients (n=547), the PI*SZ (n=124) subjects were older at diagnosis and had more preserved lung function, despite a higher mean smoking consumption.Early diagnosis of AATD is still an unmet need. Augmentation therapy is administered to similar proportions of patients with different clinical phenotypes. PI*ZZ patients in both registries had more severe respiratory disease than those with PI*SZ, despite lower smoking levels.
Periodontitis is related to lung volumes and airflow limitation: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Holtfreter Birte , Richter Stefanie , Kocher Thomas , Dörr Marcus , Völzke Henry , Ittermann Till , Obst Anne , Schäper Christoph , John Ulrich , Meisel Peter , Grotevendt Anne , Felix Stephan B. , Ewert Ralf , Gläser Sven 
Published: December 2012

This study aimed to assess the potential association of periodontal diseases with lung volumes and airflow limitation in a general adult population.Based on a representative population sample of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), 1463 subjects aged 25–86 years were included. Periodontal status was assessed by clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth and number of missing teeth. Lung function was measured using spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Linear regression models using fractional polynomials were used to assess associations between periodontal disease and lung function. Fibrinogen and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were evaluated as potential intermediate factors.After full adjustment for potential confounders mean CAL was significantly associated with variables of mobile dynamic and static lung volumes, airflow limitation and hyperinflation (p<0.05). Including fibrinogen and hs-CRP did not change coefficients of mean CAL; associations remained statistically significant. Mean CAL was not associated with total lung capacity and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Associations were confirmed for mean probing depth, extent measures of CAL/probing depth and number of missing teeth.Periodontal disease was significantly associated with reduced lung volumes and airflow limitation in this general adult population sample. Systemic inflammation did not provide a mechanism linking both diseases.
A cutting hyperplane method for solving pseudomonotone non-Lipschitzian equilibrium problems
Authors: Anh Pham N , Kim Jong K , Hien Nguyen D 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
We present a new method for solving equilibrium problems, where the underlying function is continuous and satisfies a pseudomonotone assumption. First, we construct an appropriate hyperplane which separates the current iterative point from the solution set. Then the next iterate is obtained as the projection of the current iterate onto the intersection of the feasible set with the half-space containing the solution set. We also analyze the global convergence of the method under minimal assumptions.

MSC: 65K10, 90C25.
Dyspeptic symptoms and delayed gastric emptying of solids in patients with inactive Crohn’s disease
Authors: Nóbrega Ana Carolina Mello , Ferreira Bruno Roberto Silva , Oliveira Graciela Josué , Sales Kamila Maria Oliveira , Santos Armênio Aguiar , Nobre e Souza Miguel Ângelo , Braga Lúcia Libanês Bessa Campelo , de Almeida Troncon Luizde Almeida Ernesto , Souza Marcellus Henrique Loiola Ponte 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
Patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) have been shown to present dyspeptic symptoms more frequently than the general population. Some of these symptoms could be related to motility disorders to some degree. Then, we propose to investigate whether gastric emptying of solids in patients with inactive CD is delayed and to determine the relationships between gastric emptying and dyspeptic symptoms in inactive CD.

Methods
Twenty-six patients with inactive Crohn’s disease, as defined by a Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) < 150, underwent a gastric emptying test by breath test using 13C octanoic acid coupled to a solid meal and answered a validated questionnaire (The Porto Alegre Dyspeptic Symptoms Questionnaire) to assess dyspeptic symptoms. Patients with scores ≥ 6 were considered to have dyspepsia. The control group was composed by 19 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers.

Results
Patients with CD had a significantly longer t 1/2 and t lag (p<0.05) than the controls. CD patients with dyspepsia had significantly (p<0.05) prolonged gastric emptying when compared to patients without dyspeptic symptoms. When the individual symptom patterns were analyzed, only vomiting was significantly associated with delayed gastric emptying (p<0.05). There was no difference between the subgroups of patients with respect to gender, CDAI scores, disease location, clinical behavior (obstructive/obstructive) or previous gastrointestinal surgery.

Conclusion
Delayed gastric emptying in inactive Crohn’s disease patients seems to be associated with dyspeptic symptoms, particularly vomiting, even without any evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction.
Sleep hygiene intervention for youth aged 10 to 18 years with problematic sleep: a before-after pilot study
Authors: Tan Evan , Healey Dione , Gray Andrew R , Galland Barbara C 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
The current study aimed to examine the changes following a sleep hygiene intervention on sleep hygiene practices, sleep quality, and daytime symptoms in youth.

Methods
Participants aged 10–18 years with self-identified sleep problems completed our age-appropriate F.E.R.R.E.T (an acronym for the categories of Food, Emotions, Routine, Restrict, Environment and Timing) sleep hygiene programme; each category has three simple rules to encourage good sleep. Participants (and parents as appropriate) completed the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale (ASHS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS), and wore Actical® monitors twice before (1 and 2 weeks) and three times after (6, 12 and 20 weeks) the intervention. Anthropometric data were collected two weeks before and 20 weeks post-intervention.

Results
Thirty-three youths (mean age 12.9 years; M/F = 0.8) enrolled, and retention was 100%. ASHS scores significantly improved (p = 0.005) from a baseline mean (SD) of 4.70 (0.41) to 4.95 (0.31) post-intervention, as did PSQI scores [7.47 (2.43) to 4.47 (2.37); p < 0.001] and SDSC scores [53.4 (9.0) to 39.2 (9.2); p < 0.001]. PDSS scores improved from a baseline of 16.5 (6.0) to 11.3 (6.0) post- intervention (p < 0.001). BMI z-scores with a baseline of 0.79 (1.18) decreased significantly (p = 0.001) post-intervention to 0.66 (1.19). Despite these improvements, sleep duration as estimated by Actical accelerometry did not change. There was however a significant decrease in daytime sedentary/light energy expenditure.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest the F.E.R.R.E.T sleep hygiene education programme might be effective in improving sleep in children and adolescents. However because this was a before and after study and a pilot study with several limitations, the findings need to be addressed with caution, and would need to be replicated within a randomised controlled trial to prove efficacy.

Trial registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000649819
IL1B, IL4R, IL12RB1 and TNF gene polymorphisms are associated with Plasmodium vivax malaria in Brazil
Authors: Sortica Vinicius A , Cunha Maristela G , Ohnishi Maria Deise O , Souza Jose M , Ribeiro-dos-Santos Ândrea KC , Santos Ney PC , Callegari-Jacques Sídia M , Santos Sidney EB , Hutz Mara H 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
Malaria is among the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide. In Brazil, malaria is concentrated in the northern region, where Plasmodium vivax accounts for 85% disease incidence. The role of genetic factors in host immune system conferring resistance/susceptibility against P. vivax infections is still poorly understood.

Methods
The present study investigates the influence of polymorphisms in 18 genes related to the immune system in patients with malaria caused by P. vivax. A total of 263 healthy individuals (control group) and 216 individuals infected by P. vivax (malaria group) were genotyped for 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL4R, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12A, IL12B, IL12RB1, SP110, TNF, TNFRSF1A, IFNG, IFNGR1, VDR, PTPN22 and P2X7 genes. All subjects were genotyped with 48 ancestry informative insertion-deletion polymorphisms to determine the proportion of African, European and Amerindian ancestry. Only 13 SNPs in 10 genes with differences lower than 20% between cases and controls in a Poisson Regression model with age as covariate were further investigated with a structured population association test.

Results
The IL1B gene -5839C > T and IL4R 1902A > G polymorphisms and IL12RB1 -1094A/-641C and TNF -1031 T/-863A/-857 T/-308 G/-238 G haplotypes were associated with malaria susceptibility after population structure correction (p = 0.04, p = 0.02, p = 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

Plasmodium vivax malaria pathophysiology is still poorly understood. The present findings reinforce and increase our understanding about the role of the immune system in malaria susceptibility.
Adult primary retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma: a case report
Authors: He Hang , Du Zunguo , Hao Sijie , Yao Lie , Yang Feng , Di Yang , Li Ji , Jiang Yongjian , Jin Chen , Fu Deliang 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Primary retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma (PRCH) in an adult is extremely rare. We report on the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with PRCH with subtle clinical features and atypical findings on imaging scans. A 38-year-old man was admitted to hospital with a 5-day history of epigastralgia after alcohol drinking. Using various imaging methods, we found a giant cyst-like retroperitoneal mass compressing the surrounding organs. Surgical resection of the tumor was performed, and the mass was found to be a cavernous hemangioma measuring 90 × 80 × 60 mm, with a thick fibrotic wall and extensive intracystic hemorrhage. Physicians should be aware that PRCH may mimic a cystic neoplasm, and that a large tumor size probably indicates intracystic hemorrhage. Surgical resection is a curative approach for PRCH.