bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel luminescence-based method for the detection of functionally active antibodies to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of the M3 type (mAchR3) in patients' sera
Authors: Preuss B , Tunaru S , Henes J , Offermanns S , Klein R 
Published: March 2014

Summary
In different bioassays, functional antibodies reacting with the human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3(mAchR3) have been detected in sera from patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and there is strong evidence that those antibodies may have pathogenetic relevance. However, depending on the method of detection, their prevalence varied. Furthermore, those bioassays are difficult to standardize. We report on the development and optimization of a novel test system based on a luminometric method to determine downstream signalling of mAchR3 which produces specific and reproducible results. Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells were transfected with plasmids encoding mAchR3 and a green fluorescence protein (GFP)/aequorin fusion protein. Incubation of cells with carbachol resulted in an increase in intracellular [Ca2+], which was detected by measuring light emission with a luminometer, and the effect of incubation with patients' immunoglobulins (Ig) was evaluated. Optimal cell density, Ig preparation and time of incubation with patients' sera were determined. Sera from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS; n = 40), systemic sclerosis (SSc; n = 47), myasthenia gravis (MG; n = 133) and 50 blood donors were analysed. Optimal assay conditions were obtained with a cell density of 100 000 cells/ml, isolation of Ig by ammonium sulphate precipitation and short-term incubation. Based on this highly reliable assay, 50% of the pSS patients had antibodies which inhibited carbachol-induced activation of mAchR3; none of the SSc patients, 6% of the patients with MG and 12% of the blood donors had antibodies which reacted with the mAchR3. This method facilitates the determination of functional anti-mAchR3 antibodies in patients' sera, confirmed their high prevalence in pSS patients and may, therefore, help to analyse their pathogenetic and clinical relevance in more detail.
Diagnostic potential of antibody titres against Candida cell wall β-glucan in Kawasaki disease
Authors: Ishibashi K , Fukazawa R , Miura N N , Adachi Y , Ogawa S , Ohno N 
Published: March 2014

Summary
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis syndrome of unknown aetiology in children. The administration of Candida cell wall antigens induced KD-like coronary vasculitis in mice. However, the responses of KD patients to Candida cell wall antigen are unknown. In this study, we examined the response of KD patients to β-glucan (BG), one of the major fungal cell wall antigens, by measuring the anti-BG titre. In KD patients, the anti-C. albicans cell wall BG titre was higher than that in normal children. The anti-BG titre was also higher in KD patients compared to children who served as control subjects. The efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in KD is well established. We categorized the KD patients into three groups according to the therapeutic efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and compared the anti-BG titre among these groups. Anti-BG titres were similar in the control group and the non-responsive group. In the fully responsive group, the anti-BG titre showed higher values than those in the normal children. This study demonstrated clinically that KD patients have high antibody titres to Candida cell wall BG, and suggested the involvement of Candida cell wall BG in the pathogenesis of KD. The relationship between IVIG therapy and anti-BG titre was also shown. These results provide valuable insights into the therapy and diagnosis of KD.
Inordinate Glucose Variation Poststroke is Associated with Poor Neurological Improvement in Patients Without History of Diabetes
Authors: Yu Jian , Zhang Cheng‐Guo , Zhang Su‐Ping , Xiao Wei‐Min , Pan Xiao‐Ping , Liu Zhen‐Hua , Chu Xiao‐Fan , Gao Qing‐Chun , Xu An‐Ding , Xu Zhi‐Qiang , Zeng Jin‐Sheng 
Published: March 2014

SummaryIntroductionGlucose variation is an important risk factor for the complications of diabetes mellitus. The plasma glucose level poststroke is in continuous fluctuation. However, whether the variation influences neurological improvement remains unknown.AimsThis observational study aimed to investigate the association of glucose variation with neurological improvement poststroke.MethodsWe consecutively enrolled 216 ischemic stroke patients with no history of diabetes mellitus within 72 h of onset, with instant blood glucose <11.1 mmol/L at admission. The glucometabolic status was evaluated by an oral glucose tolerance test 1 day after admission and 14 days after stroke, respectively. The severity of neurological deficit was assessed with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).ResultsFourteen days after stroke, 31% patients were found to have impaired glucose tolerance and 30.6% were newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus by oral glucose tolerance test. A higher level of instant blood glucose at admission or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at 1 day correlated with a less neurological improvement. The number of patients with no <20% decrease in NIHSS was significantly decreased in patient group with higher than 30% variation of either FPG or 2‐h postprandial glucose. Similar correlation between glucose variation and neurological improvement was also found in 117 patients with 2‐h postprandial glucose ≥7.8 mmol/L at 1 day.ConclusionsInordinate glucose variation correlated with less neurological improvement poststroke, giving the evidence that the fluctuation of glucose levels in stroke patients should be taken into consideration during glucose modulation.
Longitudinal measurement of physical activity following kidney transplantation
Authors: Dontje M. L. , de Greef M. H. G. , Krijnen W. P. , Corpeleijn E. , Kok T. , Bakker S. J. L. , Stolk R. P. , van der Schans C. P. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe purpose of this longitudinal observational study was to (i) examine the change of daily physical activity in 28 adult kidney transplant recipients over the first 12 months following transplantation; and (ii) to examine the change in metabolic characteristics and renal function. Accelerometer‐based daily physical activity and metabolic‐ and clinical characteristics were measured at six wk (T1), three months (T2), six months (T3) and 12 months (T4) following transplantation. Linear mixed effect analyses showed an increase in steps/d (T1 = 6326 ± 2906; T4 = 7562 ± 3785; F = 3.52; p = 0.02), but one yr after transplantation only 25% achieved the recommended 10 000 steps/d. There was no significant increase in minutes per day spent on moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity physical activity (T1 = 80.4 ± 63.6; T4 = 93.2 ± 55.1; F = 1.71; p = 0.17). Body mass index increased over time (T1 = 25.4 ± 3.2; T4 = 27.2 ± 3.8; F = 12.62; p < 0.001), mainly due to an increase in fat percentage (T1 = 30.3 ± 8.0; T4 = 34.0 ± 7.9; F = 14.63; p < 0.001). There was no significant change in renal function (F = 0.17; p = 0.92). Although the recipients increased physical activity, the majority did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity after one yr. In addition to the weight gain, this may result in negative health consequences. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies to support kidney transplant recipients to comply with healthy lifestyle recommendations, including regular physical activity.
WHAT DO UNIONS DO TO PENSION PERFORMANCE?
Authors: EVEN WILLIAM E. , MACPHERSON DAVID A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractUnions can have either positive or negative effects on risk‐adjusted returns in pension plans. On the positive side, a union can improve monitoring of pension advisors and asset managers. On the negative side, the union may sacrifice returns by making investments that promote union goals. This paper discusses how the structure of the pension plan affects the union's ability and willingness to sacrifice returns to promote union goals. Using panel data on over 38,000 pension plans drawn from IRS Form 5500 filings between 1988 and 2008, we find the lowest performing plans are unionized multi‐employer plans. Among defined contribution plans, the underperformance of multi‐employer union plans disappears when the pension is controlled by individual participants. (JEL J32, J51)
Transformed aggressive γδ‐variant T‐cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia with acquired copy neutral loss of heterozygosity at 17q11.2q25.3 and additional aberrations
Authors: Zhang Ling , Ramchandren Radhakrishnan , Papenhausen Peter , Loughran Thomas P. , Sokol Lubomir 
Published: March 2014

AbstractT‐cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T‐LGLL) is a rare indolent lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by cytopenias, splenomegaly, and various degrees of T‐cell lymphocytosis, due to a clonal expansion of CD8‐positive cytotoxic T‐cells. Phenotypic variants of T‐LGLL include CD4+/CD8− T‐cells, with dual CD4−/CD8−/γδ+ T‐cells being even rarer. Cytogenetic abnormalities in T‐LGLL have rarely been reported, and there is scientific debate regarding the existence of aggressive or transformed variants of T‐LGLL. We report a patient with T‐LGLL, γδ variant, with nearly 20‐year‐long duration of cytopenias before transformation to an unusual clinical scenario, manifesting with marked lymphocytosis >100 × 109/L and infiltration of lymph nodes, tonsils, and subcutaneous tissue. Single‐nucleotide polymorphism assays revealed acquired copy neutral loss of heterozygosity at 17q and deletion of 3p21.31, in addition to trisomy 5, monosomy X, and monosomy 21. These genetic abnormalities provided a better understanding of the molecular nature and the potentiality of disease transformation.
Rituximab plus liposomal pegylated doxorubicin in the treatment of primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Fabbri Alberto , Cencini Emanuele , Alterini Renato , Rubegni Pietro , Rigacci Luigi , Delfino Chiara , Puccini Benedetta , Fimiani Michele , Bosi Alberto , Bocchia Monica , Pimpinelli Nicola ,   the Gruppo Italiano Linfomi Cutanei (GILC)
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundIn primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas (PCBCL), radiotherapy – or surgery in a minority of cases – is the first‐line treatment in follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL) and marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma (PCMZL). Conversely, patients with multifocal skin involvement or relapsed/refractory disease deserve a systemic chemotherapy. In diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, leg type (PCLBCL‐LT), due its poorer outcome, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP)‐like regimens are the most commonly used frontline, although hard to propose in elderly patients. In this regard, the association of rituximab (R) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) can be considered a promising, alternative approach.AimsBased on the favorable results reported with R and PLD in several recent trials, we decided to test efficacy and safety of this combination.MethodsTwelve patients with PCBCL were treated with R plus PLD, and 7 had relapsed disease. Treatment plan consisted of 2 monthly cycles of R 375 mg/m2 and PLD 20 mg/m2 day 1;15, followed (in responders) by two cycles given only at day 1. All patients received prophylactic pyridoxine to prevent palmar‐plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE).ResultsTen of 12 patients had a response (eight complete; two partial), remarkably 2/3 with PCLBCL‐LT. Two patients did not respond (one progressive disease, PD, and one stable disease). Three patients died after a median follow‐up of 56 months, two patients due to PD, and 1 due to a second neoplasm. Two out of 10 responders relapsed after 31 and 32 months, respectively. Hematological toxicity was negligible (one case of grade 2 neutropenia), as well as extra‐hematological toxicity (two cases of grade 2 PPE).ConclusionsThese preliminary data suggest that R‐PLD is effective and well tolerated in all subsets of PCBCL and may be offered frontline in indolent cases unsuitable for radiotherapy or surgery as well as in more aggressive cases with contraindications to CHOP‐like regimens.
β‐Amyloid pathology alters neural network activation during retrieval of contextual fear memories in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Lelos Mariah J. , Good Mark A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAlthough episodic memory deficits are the most conspicuous cognitive change in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), patients also display alterations in emotional expression, including anxiety and impaired conditioned fear behaviours. The neural circuitry underlying emotional learning is known to involve the amygdala and hippocampus, although the precise impact of amyloid pathology on the interaction between these brain regions remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that Tg2576 mice, which express a human amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutation associated with early‐onset AD, demonstrate normal acquisition of conditioned freezing to auditory and contextual stimuli paired with footshock. However, examination of the expression of c‐Fos revealed altered neural network activity in transgenic mice. In the present study we examined the effects of the APP mutation on the expression of c‐Fos following the retrieval of emotional memories. To this end, stimulus‐induced cellular activity was measured by analysing expression of the immediate‐early gene c‐Fos after the retrieval of auditory or contextual fear memories. To characterize regional interdependencies of c‐Fos expression, structural equation modelling was used to compare patterns of neural network activity. Consistent with previous findings, Tg2576 mice displayed reduced freezing elicited by the auditory stimulus but not by the conditioning context. Interestingly, the analysis of c‐Fos expression revealed that the APPswe mutation disrupted dentate gyrus and amygdala function, as well as altering the influence of these regions on the neural network dynamics activated during context memory retrieval. These results provide novel insight into the influence of excess amyloid production on neural network activity during memory retrieval.
Knowledge about post‐anoxic somatosensory evoked potentials − present or not?
Authors: Jaeger B. , Bouwes A. , Binnekade J. M. , Hilgevoord A. A. , Horn J. , van Rootselaar A.‐F. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purposeMedian nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recordings play an important role in outcome algorithms in comatose patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Knowledge of technical difficulties, clinical implications and uniform interpretation of SEP recordings is crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the skills of neurologists to interpret SEP recordings in post‐anoxic patients.MethodsNationwide Dutch clinical neurophysiology examinations from 2007, 2008 and 2011, containing SEP related questions, were analysed. Participants were classified as neurology residents, neurologists with less than 10 years of experience, neurologists with more than 10 years of experience and clinical neurophysiologists. End‐points were the knowledge of all participants about SEP recordings per year as well as improvement in knowledge over the years, as reflected by the test scores.ResultsA total of 194 participants completed the examination in 2007, 200 in 2008 and 263 in 2011. Between 2007 and 2008, all groups of respondents showed a significant increase in percentage of correct answers to SEP questions. Sixty‐six participants completed all three examinations. The SEP score of this group improved in 2008 [75%, interquartile range (IQR) 50–75, P < 0.001] compared with 2007 (38%, IQR 38−50); there was no further improvement in 2011 (69%, IQR 54−77).ConclusionContinuing education about technical knowledge, possible pitfalls and interpretation of SEP recordings remains of utmost importance.
Stratifying herbivore fisheries by habitat to avoid ecosystem overfishing of coral reefs
Authors: Mumby Peter J 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe problem of ecosystem overfishing has mostly focused on the function of forage fish as prey for apex predators. Here, I consider another ecosystem function, herbivory, that affects habitat quality. Parrotfish are an important fishery in many parts of the Caribbean and the dominant herbivorous fish on its coral reefs. Herbivory helps to control macroalgae which compete with coral and can impede reef resilience if allowed to bloom. Thus, long‐term maintenance of reef habitat quality, which underpins fisheries, requires sufficient parrotfish stock. Ecosystem models predict that reductions in parrotfish grazing could have deleterious impacts on reef habitat yet the determination of ecologically sustainable levels of parrotfish harvest remains elusive. An initial solution to this dilemma is proposed for areas where an outright ban on herbivore exploitation is considered infeasible. Fisheries management has tended to consider coral reefs as a single habitat such that regulations apply evenly throughout exploitable areas. But reef habitats are not equally susceptible to ecosystem overfishing and some do not appear to have a strong requirement for parrotfish grazing. One habitat, Orbicella reef, has a high dependence on herbivory, whereas the state of another dominant habitat – gorgonian plain – appears to be driven by environmental factors (e.g. wave exposure). Ecosystem‐based fisheries management could be improved by restricting parrotfish harvest on Orbicella reefs yet allowing exploitation on gorgonian plain. Management could then focus on achieving a sustainable yield on gorgonian plains without the added complexity of estimating catch levels that avoid ecosystem overfishing.
The response of stream periphyton toPacific salmon: using a model to understand the role of environmental context
Authors: Bellmore J. Ryan , Fremier Alexander K. , Mejia Francine , Newsom Michael 
Published: March 2014

SummaryIn stream ecosystems,Pacific salmon deliver subsidies of marine‐derived nutrients and disturb the stream bed during spawning. The net effect of this nutrient subsidy and physical disturbance on biological communities can be hard to predict and is likely to be mediated by environmental conditions. For periphyton, empirical studies have revealed that the magnitude and direction of the response to salmon varies from one location to the next. Salmon appear to increase periphyton biomass and/or production in some contexts (a positive response), but decrease them in others (a negative response).To reconcile these seemingly conflicting results, we constructed a system dynamics model that links periphyton biomass and production to salmon spawning. We used this model to explore how environmental conditions influence the periphyton response to salmon.Our simulations suggest that the periphyton response to salmon is strongly mediated by both background nutrient concentrations and the proportion of the stream bed suitable for spawning. Positive periphyton responses occurred when both background nutrient concentrations were low (nutrient limiting conditions) and when little of the stream bed was suitable for spawning (because the substratum is too coarse). In contrast, negative responses occurred when nutrient concentrations were higher or a larger proportion of the bed was suitable for spawning.Although periphyton biomass generally remained above or below background conditions for several months following spawning, periphyton production returned quickly to background values shortly afterwards. As a result, based upon our simulations, salmon did not greatly increase or decrease overall annual periphyton production. This suggests that any increase in production by fish or invertebrates in response to returning salmon is more likely to occur via direct consumption of salmon carcasses and/or eggs, rather than the indirect effects of greater periphyton production.Overall, our simulations suggest that environmental factors need to be taken into account when considering the effects of spawning salmon on aquatic ecosystems. Our model offers researchers a framework for testing periphyton response to salmon across a range of conditions, which can be used to generate hypotheses, plan field experiments and guide data collection.
Consequences of inferring diet from feeding guilds when estimating and interpreting consumer–resource stoichiometry
Authors: Lauridsen Rasmus B. , Edwards Francois K. , Cross Wyatt F. , Woodward Guy , Hildrew Alan G. , Jones J. Iwan 
Published: March 2014

Summary

Imbalances between the supply of elements from resources and their demand from consumers may constrain key ecological processes, such as growth and production. Most previous studies have estimated such stoichiometric imbalances between consumers and resources by inferring the diet of the former from functional classifications rather than by direct assessments of the diet. However, this does not allow for potentially plastic responses of consumers to a restricted supply of elemental resources.

Here, for three streams of very contrasting nutrient availability, we calculated elemental imbalances between consumers and resources using diets derived from empirical gut contents analysis and compared them with those inferred for the functional feeding guilds of the species concerned.

In almost every case, elemental imbalances (C:P and N:P) based on the realised diet differed significantly from those expected from the inferred diet, the former revealing greater alignment between the elemental composition of consumers and their resources, particularly for P.

Simply inferring the diet, as is commonly done, results in erroneous estimates of elemental imbalances and misleading conclusions about stoichiometric constraints on consumers.
Meiotic recombination cold spots in chromosomal cohesion sites
Authors: Ito Masaru , Kugou Kazuto , Fawcett Jeffrey A. , Mura Sachiko , Ikeda Sho , Innan Hideki , Ohta Kunihiro 
Published: March 2014

Meiotic chromosome architecture called ‘axis–loop structures’ and histone modifications have been shown to regulate the Spo11‐dependent formation of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) that trigger meiotic recombination. Using genome‐wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses followed by deep sequencing, we compared the genome‐wide distribution of the axis protein Rec8 (the kleisin subunit of meiotic cohesin) with that of oligomeric DNA covalently bound to Spo11, indicative of DSB sites. The frequency of DSB sites is overall constant between Rec8 binding sites. However, DSB cold spots are observed in regions spanning ±0.8 kb around Rec8 binding sites. The axis‐associated cold spots are not due to the exclusion of Spo11 localization from the axis, because ChIP experiments showed that substantial Spo11 persists at Rec8 binding sites during DSB formation. Spo11 fused with Gal4 DNA binding domain (Gal4BD‐Spo11) tethered in close proximity (≤0.8 kb) to Rec8 binding sites hardly forms meiotic DSBs, in contrast with other regions. In addition, H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) remarkably decreases at Rec8 binding sites. These results suggest that reduced histone H3K4me3 in combination with inactivation of Spo11 activity on the axis discourages DSB hot spot formation.