bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized Trial of Treadmill Training to Improve Walking in Community-Dwelling People after Stroke: The AMBULATE Trial
Authors: Ada Louise , Dean Catherine M , Lindley Richard 
Published: March 2013

Background Residual walking deficits are common in community-dwelling people after stroke. Aims The aim of this study was to determine if a four-month treadmill and overground walking program is more effective than a two-month program, compared with control, at improving walking in community-dwelling people with stroke who walk slowly. Method A three-arm randomized trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis involving 102 people with stroke living in the community who walked slowly was undertaken. Experimental group 1 undertook 30 min of treadmill and overground walking thrice per week for four-months, experimental group 2 undertook training for two-months, while the control group had no intervention. The primary outcome was walking measured as the distance covered during the six-min walk test. Other outcomes were walking speed, step length and cadence, health status, community participation, self-efficacy and falls. Results By two-months, the experimental groups, who were both undergoing training, had improved their six-min walk distance compared with the control group. The four-month training group continued training beyond two-months and improved further so that by four months they walked 38 m (95% confidence interval 15–60) more than the control group and 29 m (95% confidence interval 4–53) more than the two-month training group. However, by 12 months, well after the cessation of training, both experimental groups had returned to near baseline levels, and there was no difference between the groups. Conclusion Four months of treadmill training results in better walking. However, these effects disappear once training ceases. Therefore, training should be ongoing.
ALMOST ANYONE CAN HAVE HOME THERAPY BUT CAN WE OVERCOME THE BARRIERS?
Authors: Muroma‐Karttunen Riitta 
Published: March 2013

SUMMARYBackgroundHome dialysis, including both peritoneal and haemodialysis, has been shown to improve patient wellbeing as well as being an economically beneficial alternative to hospital‐based therapies.ObjectivesThis paper discusses the major barriers to home therapies, particularly in relation to home haemodialysis (HHD) and systems that can be used to overcome them.ResultsThe use of HHD varies considerably between and within countries. The major limitation is lack of experience and education. A well‐planned pre‐dialysis education programme seems to be one essential key to the growth of home therapies.ConclusionsKey points in providing a successful home therapy programme are a highly motivated multidisciplinary team including a dedicated nephrologist and high‐level nursing expertise. In addition, an effective pre‐dialysis education programme for identifying suitable patients is required.
Characteristics and Future Cardiovascular Risk of Patients With Not‐At‐Goal Hypertension in General Practice in France: The AVANT'AGE Study
Authors: Zhang Yi , Lelong Hélène , Kretz Sandrine , Agnoletti Davide , Mourad Jean‐Jacques , Safar Michel E. , Blacher Jacques 
Published: March 2013

Although many studies focus on patients with resistant hypertension, general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to face patients in clinical practice with not‐at‐goal hypertension, whose antihypertensive treatment needs to be modified. However, information regarding such patients is limited. In the present study, 710 GPs in France each included their first 10 not‐at‐goal hypertensive patients, ie, the patients for whom they decided to modify antihypertensive treatment. The study population was composed of 7032 patients (58% men, mean age 62.4±11.5 years). Anthropometric and biologic measurements and clinical data were collected, and vascular age and 10‐year cardiovascular risk were estimated by standard formula. Of 7032 participants, cardiovascular risk factors were prevalent, with 15.1% current smokers, 26.1% obese, 22.8% with diabetes mellitus, 35.1% with dyslipidemia, 12.0% with left ventricular hypertrophy, and 4.9% with renal insufficiency. In the subgroup (n=4697) of patients aged between 30 and 74 years and undergoing primary cardiovascular prevention, vascular age was superior (13 to 28 years) when compared with chronological age in different subgroups. The patients' estimated 10‐year cardiovascular global risk was 25.3±13.6%, with 16.0±10.5% for coronary heart disease, 8.7±6.8% for myocardial infarction, 5.8±4.5% for stroke, and 6.8±6.6% for cardiovascular mortality. Patients with not‐at‐goal hypertension in primary care bear a heavy burden of cardiovascular diseases.
Disease characteristics in patients with and without psoriatic arthritis treated with etanercept
Authors: Papp K. , Poulin Y. , Vieira A. , Shelton J. , Poulin‐Costello M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundPatients with psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have functional disability, pain and emotional problems, and experience lower quality of life (QoL) than patients with PsO alone.ObjectivesExamine effectiveness of etanercept (ETN) in patients with PsO alone, and with PsA, and determine whether PsA patients onETNexperience rapid QoL improvement.MethodsData from three phaseIIItrials usingETNin adults with moderate‐to‐severe PsO were pooled. Patients with (n = 523) and without (n = 1330) PsA receivedETN25 mg once weekly to 50 mg twice weekly or placebo for 12–24 weeks. Assessments included Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), EuroQoL‐5D (EQ‐5D), Study 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D).ResultsBaselinePASI,EQ‐5D andSF‐36 physical component summary scores were worse for PsA patients. WithETN,PASIfor PsA and non‐PsA groups improved as early as week 2. Scores for both groups converged by week 12.EQ‐5D andSF‐36 physical component improved faster in PsA patients, withEQ‐5D scores converged by week 2. For totalDLQIand most components, both groups had similar baseline scores and improved over 24 weeks onETN. While the PsA group had more depressed patients at baseline, after 24 weeks onETNit showed a greater reduction in the number of depressed patients than the non‐PsA group.ConclusionsIn patients with PsO involving ≥10% of body surface area, skin disease and QoL are worse in PsA patients. WithETN, QoL improved rapidly in PsA patients.
Vitamin C in Blanched Vegetables: Effect of Chlorine Dioxide and Peracetic Acid Used as Disinfectants during Cooling
Authors: Jooken Etienne , Smedts Annelies , Desmidt Evelyn , Monballiu Annick , Amery Ruis , Meesschaert Boudewijn 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe production of frozen vegetables generally includes a heat treatment (a blanching) to denaturate cellular enzymes. The water used for cooling after this blanching is disinfected to prevent microbial growth and to ensure a microbiologically qualitative end product. In this study, the possible influence of the disinfectants chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and peracetic acid (PAA) on the vitamin C content of the processed vegetables was investigated. The vitamin C content was measured using a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique coupled with a fluorescence detector. Besides a decrease, resulting from the blanching of the vegetables, a concentration‐dependent effect was seen with PAA. This effect was not noticed when using lower concentrations, e.g., 30 parts per million (ppm) of PAA or 3 ppm chlorine dioxide. The major conclusion of our work is about spinach and we can conclude that it makes no sense to use concentrations higher than 40 ppm of PAA in the cooling water of the blancher since this only results in a supplementary decrease of the vitamin C content and this without a substantial additional antimicrobial effect.Practical ApplicationsThis work clearly demonstrates that disinfection with chlorine dioxide or PAA of the water used for cooling blanched vegetables, does not affect the vitamin C content of the frozen vegetables on condition that the concentration of the disinfectant is not too large. If a larger concentration is used, then the microbial quality of the vegetables will not improve, but there will be additional breakdown of vitamin C. For spinach, this safe concentration limit of disinfectant is about 40 ppm for PAA or 3 ppm for chlorine dioxide. For snap beans, carrots and sprouts the “safe” PAA concentrations, which will not provoke additional vitamin C breakdown are respectively 50, 40 and 30 ppm.
The Efficacy of Satureja khuzistanica Essential Oil Treatment in Reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Load on Alfalfa Seeds Prior to Sprouting
Authors: Taban Azin , Rahimi Mohammad Javad , Saharkhiz Mohammad Jamal , Hadian Javad , Zomorodian Kamiar 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAlong with the popularity of raw sprouts in the food baskets, the outbreaks associated with the consumption of the contaminated sprouts increased. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of the essential oil of Satureja khuzistanica in reducing the Escherichia coli O157:H7 population on alfalfa seeds prior to sprouting was evaluated.The essential oil (EO) was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7. The inoculated seeds were then treated with different concentrations of the essential oil of S. khuzistanica. The surviving populations of E. coli O157:H7 were enumerated by direct plating of the seeds on tryptic soy agar.The oil was rich in carvacrol. Direct surface‐plating on selective media showed the treatment resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction of E. coli O157:H7 population in a dose‐dependent manner. Increasing the washing time revealed a significant effect on reduction of E. coli O157:H7 population.The considerable antibacterial activity of the oil might be due to the high concentration of carvacrol. As the S. khuzistanica EO did not adversely affect alfalfa seed germination and had a strong antibacterial activity, the oil might be used as a natural antimicrobial product to overcome bacterial contamination of sprouts without compromising the viability.Practical ApplicationDuring the past decades, existing of chemical antibacterial has become increasingly unpopular in food industries. Consumers presume that these chemicals are threats to human health, because of their carcinogenicity, allergenicity, toxicity and environmental contaminations. For these reasons, nowadays, using of organic products is becoming more popular. Moreover, many foodborne pathogens are genetically adapted to synthetic antimicrobial compounds, thereby reducing the efficacy of such preventatives.It has been known that EOs have antimicrobial activities, rendering these natural products as good alternatives to synthetic bactericides. S. khuzistanica, with high concentration of carvacrol which is classified as GRAS (generally regarded as safe), could be one of these potential alternatives. This antimicrobial property favors its application in food industries as a reasonably safe agent.The confirmed antibacterial activities of S. khuzistanica, recommends its possible application in the field of food preservation for prolonging the shelf life of sprouts during postharvest and marketing processes.
The role of MAC1 in diesel exhaust particle‐induced microglial activation and loss of dopaminergic neuron function
Authors: Levesque Shannon , Taetzsch Thomas , Lull Melinda E. , Johnson Jo Anne , McGraw Constance , Block Michelle L. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIncreasing reports support that air pollution causes neuroinflammation and is linked to central nervous system (CNS) disease/damage. Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are a major component of urban air pollution, which has been linked to microglial activation and Parkinson's disease‐like pathology. To begin to address how DEP may exert CNS effects, microglia and neuron‐glia cultures were treated with either nanometer‐sized DEP (< 0.22 μM; 50 μg/mL), ultrafine carbon black (ufCB, 50 μg/mL), or DEP extracts (eDEP; from 50 μg/mL DEP), and the effect of microglial activation and dopaminergic (DA) neuron function was assessed. All three treatments showed enhanced ameboid microglia morphology, increased H2O2 production, and decreased DA uptake. Mechanistic inquiry revealed that the scavenger receptor inhibitor fucoidan blocked DEP internalization in microglia, but failed to alter DEP‐induced H2O2 production in microglia. However, pre‐treatment with the MAC1/CD11b inhibitor antibody blocked microglial H2O2 production in response to DEP. MAC1−/− mesencephalic neuron‐glia cultures were protected from DEP‐induced loss of DA neuron function, as measured by DA uptake. These findings support that DEP may activate microglia through multiple mechanisms, where scavenger receptors regulate internalization of DEP and the MAC1 receptor is mandatory for both DEP‐induced microglial H2O2 production and loss of DA neuron function.
Job‐Related Stress, Emotional Labor, and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Nurses
Authors: Yoon Saunjoo L. , Kim Jeong‐Hee 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose was to examine the relationship between job‐related stress, emotional labor, and depressive symptoms among South Korean nurses in order to suggest practical methods for their management, prevention, and reduction.DesignA cross‐sectional, descriptive study design was used to conduct the study. A convenience sample of 441 nurses who were employed in five general hospitals in four provinces of Korea was used in the study.MethodsA self‐reported questionnaire was used to collect data, which included demographic and job characteristics, job‐related stress, emotional labor, and depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi‐squared testing, and multivariate logistic regression.FindingsApproximately 38% of South Korean nurses experience depressive symptoms, and young or single nurses in particular have high levels of depressive symptoms. Marital status (odds ratio [OR] = 2.88), surface acting (OR = 2.46), job insecurity (OR = 1.99), and lack of reward (OR = 1.60) are strongly related depressive symptoms that result from job‐related stress.ConclusionsFindings indicate that programs for nurses need to be created that will help reduce expectations for surface acting and control job‐related stress, thus preventing the development of depressive symptoms.Clinical RelevanceThis study has implications for human resources management in nursing organizations. If nursing administrators understand that nurses may suffer from depressive symptoms, they can strive to improve stressful work conditions, develop programs that ease job‐related stress, and reduce the chances that depressive symptoms will occur.
Direct and size‐dependent effects of climate on flowering performance in alpine and lowland herbaceous species
Authors: Meineri Eric , Skarpaas Olav , Spindelböck Joachim , Bargmann Tessa , Vandvik Vigdis 
Published: March 2013

AbstractQuestionsEffects of climate on flowering performance are often investigated independently of plant size. We ask how temperature and precipitation impact flowering probability and flower production: via direct effects, size‐dependent indirect effects, changes in minimum size for flowering and/or changes in reproductive investment.LocationTwelve calcareous grasslands in western Norway (4°50′–8°45′ E, 60°20′–61°50′ N).MethodsThe investigations were carried out at the rear temperature edge of alpine plants and at the leading temperature edge of lowland plants to capture the variety of climate responses occurring in different parts of species climate niches within our study landscape. The study was conducted within a natural ‘climatic grid’ consisting of temperature gradients replicated along a precipitation gradient. In each study site, we sampled populations of two alpine (Viola biflora, Veronica alpina) and two lowland (Viola palustris, Veronica officinalis) species. The relative importance of each effect was assessed under a 2 °C increase in mean summer temperature and a 10% increase in annual precipitation.ResultsFlowering was climate‐ and size‐dependent in all species except Viola palustris. Both direct climate effects and climate‐driven variation in reproductive investment were detected for the three other species. Indirect climate effects were detected for Veronica officinalis, and climate‐driven variation in minimum size for flowering in Viola biflora. Climatic responses were not consistent within or between distributional types (alpine vs lowland) or genera. A temperature increase of 2 °C was predicted to increase flower production by 22% for Veronica alpina and by 74% for Veronica officinalis. A precipitation increase of 10% had a limited impact on Viola biflora flowering probability (0.08% increase) and increased Veronica officinalis flower production by 1.7%.ConclusionsOur study shows that climate affects flowering performance both directly and through size dependence. Understanding such size‐dependent responses to climate is important for our understanding of how climate change will affect flowering performance and recruitment in plant populations.
Anti‐ribosomal P protein: a novel antibody in autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Calich Ana L. , Viana Vilma S. T. , Cancado Eduardo , Tustumi Francisco , Terrabuio Débora R. B. , Leon Elaine P. , Silva Clovis A. , Borba Eduardo F. , Bonfa Eloisa 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundAutoantibodies to ribosomal P proteins (anti‐rib P) are specific serological markers for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are associated with liver involvement in this disease. The similarity in autoimmune background between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and SLE‐associated hepatitis raises the possibility that anti‐rib P antibodies might also have relevance in AIH.AimsTo evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of anti‐rib P antibodies in a large AIH cohort.MethodsSera obtained at diagnosis of 96 AIH patients and of 82 healthy controls were tested for IgG anti‐ribosomal P protein by ELISA. All of the sera were also screened for other lupus‐specific autoantibodies, three patients with the presence of anti‐dsDNA (n = 1) and anti‐Sm (n = 2) were excluded.ResultsModerate to high titres (>40 U) of anti‐rib P antibody were found in 9.7% (9/93) of the AIH patients and none of the controls (P = 0.003). At presentation, AIH patients with and without anti‐rib P antibodies had similar demographic/clinical features, including the frequency of cirrhosis (44.4 vs. 28.5%, P = 0.44), hepatic laboratorial findings (P > 0.05). Importantly, at the final observation (follow‐up period 10.2 ± 4.9 years), the AIH patients with anti‐rib P had a significantly higher frequency of cirrhosis compared with the negative group (100 vs. 60%, P = 0.04).ConclusionThe novel demonstration of anti‐rib P in AIH patients without clinical or laboratory evidence of SLE suggests a common underlying mechanism targeting the liver in these two diseases. In addition, this antibody appears to predict the patients with worse AIH prognoses.
The one‐component system ArnR: a membrane‐bound activator of the crenarchaeal archaellum
Authors: Lassak Kerstin , Peeters Eveline , Wróbel Sandra , Albers Sonja‐Verena 
Published: March 2013

SummaryLinking the motility apparatus to signal transduction systems enables microbes to precisely control their swimming behaviour according to environmental conditions. Bacteria have therefore evolved a complex chemotaxis machinery, which has presumably spread through lateral gene transfer into the euryarchaeal subkingdom. By contrast Crenarchaeota encode no chemotaxis‐like proteins but are nevertheless able to connect external stimuli to archaellar derived motility. This raises fundamental questions about the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Recently, we reported that the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius becomes motile upon nutrient starvation by promoting transcription of flaB encoding the filament forming subunits. Here we describe two transcriptional activators as paralogous one‐component‐systems Saci_1180 and Saci_1171 (ArnR and ArnR1). Deletions of arnR and arnR1 resulted in diminished flaB expression and accordingly the deletion mutants revealed impaired swimming motility. We further identified two inverted repeat sequences located upstream of the flaB core promoter of S. acidocaldarius. These cis‐regulatory elements were shown to be critical for ArnR and ArnR1 mediated flaB gene expression in vivo. Finally, bioinformatic analysis revealed ArnR to be conserved not only in Sulfolobales but also in the crenarchaeal order of Desulfurococcales and thus might represent a more general control mechanism of archaeal motility.
Synthetic biology: lessons from engineering yeast MAPK signalling pathways
Authors: Furukawa Kentaro , Hohmann Stefan 
Published: March 2013

SummaryAll living cells respond to external stimuli and execute specific physiological responses through signal transduction pathways. Understanding the mechanisms controlling signalling pathways is important for diagnosing and treating diseases and for reprogramming cells with desired functions. Although many of the signalling components in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been identified by genetic studies, many features concerning the dynamic control of pathway activity, cross‐talk, cell‐to‐cell variability or robustness against perturbation are still incompletely understood. Comparing the behaviour of engineered and natural signalling pathways offers insight complementary to that achievable with standard genetic and molecular studies. Here, we review studies that aim at a deeper understanding of signalling design principles and generation of novel signalling properties by engineering the yeast mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. The underlying approaches can be applied to other organisms including mammalian cells and offer opportunities for building synthetic pathways and functionalities useful in medicine and biotechnology.
Light and scanning electron microscopy studies of the early infection stages of Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus on Fraxinus excelsior
Authors: Cleary M. R. , Daniel G. , Stenlid J. 
Published: March 2013

The ontogeny and morphology of infection structures associated with the early stages of infection of Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus on common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) leaves and leaf petioles were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Ascospores were produced in mature ascocarps and infections on ash leaves were first observed 2 weeks later. Ascospores developed germ tubes, followed by appressorium formation and penetration of epidermal cells on ash leaves and petioles. Chalara fraxinea spores, the anamorph of H. pseudoalbidus, appeared and were arranged in chains, surrounded by a membranous sheath, and varied considerably in size and shape. Host invasion and colonization of all cell types of leaves and petioles were observed using light microscopy. The role of leaves and petioles as sites of infection in the life cycle of H. pseudoalbidus and the disease cycle of ash dieback is discussed.
The Dark Triad of Personality: A 10 Year Review
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Richards Steven C. , Paulhus Delroy L. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractTen years ago Paulhus and Williams (2002) called attention to the ‘Dark Triad’, a constellation of three conceptually distinct but empirically overlapping personality variables. The three members ‐‐ Machiavellianism, narcissism and subclinical psychopathy ‐‐ often show differential correlates but share a common core of callous‐manipulation. There are now dozens of studies on the triad and, according to Google Scholar, over 350 citations. The goal of this review is to update and critically evaluate this rapidly expanding literature. The standard measures of each Dark Triad member are reviewed along with newer combination measures. The Dark Triad members are located in in mainstream structural models, namely, the interpersonal circumplex as well as Five‐ and Six‐Factor Models. Key issues and controversies are addressed.