bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the characterization of pancreatic masses: Experience from tropics
Authors: Santhosh Sampath , Mittal Bhagwant Rai , Bhasin Deepak , Srinivasan Radhika , Rana Surinder , Das Ashim , Nada Ritambhra , Bhattacharya Anish , Gupta Rajesh , Kapoor Rakesh 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground and AimEarly detection and differentiation of malignant from benign pancreatic tumors is very essential as mass‐forming pancreatitis is a frequently encountered problem. Positron emission tomography (PET) has a role in establishing the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma when the conventional imaging modalities or biopsies are nondiagnostic. In this prospective study, the utility of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐PET/computed tomography (CT) in the characterization of mass‐forming lesions of the pancreas was reported.Methods18F‐FDG‐PET/CT was prospectively performed in 87 patients diagnosed to have periampullary or pancreatic mass. Lesions with focally increased FDG uptake in PET/CT were considered malignant, whereas those with diffuse or no FDG uptake were considered benign. Semiquantitative analysis with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was also calculated. The PET/CT results were compared with histopathological results in all patients.ResultsBased on the FDG uptake pattern, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for FDG‐PET/CT in characterizing the periampullary and pancreatic masses into benign and malignant lesions were 93%, 90%, 95%, 87%, and 92% respectively. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis of the SUVmax of the lesions yielded a cut‐off value of 2.8, with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 45% respectively.ConclusionThe FDG uptake pattern in PET/CT can differentiate malignant from benign mass‐forming lesions of the pancreas with high accuracy and a discrete cut‐off value of SUVmax could not be defined for the same as even lesions with pancreatic tuberculosis showed very high FDG uptake. Hence, in patients with a suspicion of malignancy in the pancreas, a focally increase FDG uptake in PET/CT suggests the diagnosis of malignancy.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare Use, Delayed Care, and Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults in California
Authors: Kim Giyeon , Ford Katy L. , Chiriboga David A. , Sorkin Dara H. 
Published: November 2012

This study examined racial and ethnic differences in healthcare use, delayed care, and management of care of older adults with a self‐reported diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Drawing on the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the sample included 3,003 adults (representative of N = 998,795) aged 60 and older from five racial and ethnic groups: non‐Hispanic white (n = 2,153), African American (n = 213), Hispanic (n = 336), Asian (n = 306), and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) (n = 59). All self‐reported a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using weighted data. Results from adjusted logistic regressions indicated significant racial and ethnic differences between non‐Hispanic white elderly and the other groups examined. Specifically, African Americans were significantly less likely than whites to see a doctor and to have a usual source of care, and were more likely to visit the emergency department (ED) for diabetes mellitus and to have their feet examined by a provider. Hispanics were significantly less likely to take medicine to lower cholesterol but were more likely to test their blood glucose regularly (following ADA guidelines). Asians were significantly less likely than whites to test their blood glucose regularly or have a foot examination. AI/ANs were significantly less likely than whites to see a doctor, visit an ED, and take medication to reduce heart attack risk but were more likely to use insulin, oral diabetic medication, or both. The findings suggest the need for racial‐ and ethnic‐specific interventions for managing diabetes mellitus to help reduce existing racial and ethnic disparities among elderly adults.
Validity and test–retest reliability of a short dietary questionnaire to assess intake of saturated fat and free sugars: a preliminary study
Authors: Francis H. , Stevenson R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation of the validity and reliability of a short dietary questionnaire designed to assess dietary intake of saturated fat and free sugars.MethodsForty students at Macquarie University, aged 17–46 years, completed the Dietary Fat and free Sugar – Short Questionnaire (DFS), a full‐length food frequency questionnaire (C‐FFQ) and a 4‐day diet diary (DD). After a mean (SD) follow‐up time of 158 (10) days, 29 participants completed a second administration of the DFS.ResultsCorrelation coefficients comparing DFS scores with the percentage energy from saturated fat and free sugar assessed by the C‐FFQ and DD ranged from 0.35 to 0.71. The intraclass correlation (0.83) was high, indicating good reliability.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the DFS is a valid and reliable measure of saturated fat and free sugar intake. Because it is quick to administer and score, in the public domain, and easy to interpret, it maybe useful as a screener, simple self‐check tool or for large‐scale epidemiological studies.
Degree of Chinese ancestry affects behavioral characteristics of infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Jiang J. , Kanthaswamy S. , Capitanio J.P. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe use of Chinese‐origin macaques in biomedical research is problematic for some scientists because of the reported behavioral and physiological differences from those of Indian origin. However, few studies have examined the effects of varying degrees of Chinese ancestry (DCA) on behavior, and they were typically based on small sample sizes and unusual rearing conditions.MethodsUsing data from a colony‐wide program, we examined whether DCA was related to behavior and temperament ratings reflecting emotionality (fearfulness, aggression, and anxiety) and activity. The 249 subjects, born and reared in an outdoor social environment, were separated from their groups for a 25‐h period of indoor testing. Their DCA (range: 0.6–99.4%) was determined by analyzing the frequency of short tandem repeat alleles.Results and ConclusionsThe major effect of DCA was on fearfulness, with the more hybridized animals scoring lowest and the more pure Indian‐ and Chinese‐origin macaques resembling each other.
Incidence and Predictors of Radial Artery Spasm at the Beginning of a Transradial Coronary Procedure
Authors: GORGULU SEVKET , NORGAZ TUGRUL , KARAAHMET TANSU , DAGDELEN SINAN 
Published: November 2012

ObjectivesOur aim was to establish the frequency of radial artery spasm (RAS) and its predictors at the beginning of a transradial approach (TRA).MethodsThis was a single‐center prospective study. A total of 1,722 consecutive patients undergoing their first transradial coronary procedure were recruited. After radial artery puncture, a hydrophilic sheath was used to complete arterial puncture, then 500 μg glycerol trinitrate and 2.5 mg verapamil were injected into radial artery along the sheath. After retrograde radial arteriography spasm was defined angiographically as a stenosis greater than 25%. Patient demographics, procedural data such as total procedural duration, the number of catheters and guidewires used, the amount of contrast media usage, dose area product (DAP) and fluoroscopy time, and vascular complications were recorded.ResultsThe overall spasm incidence was 10.3%. The procedural success rate was lower in patients with spasm than in patients without spasm (80% vs. 95.7%, P < 0.001). The patients with spasm were older (mean age 63.9 ± 9.4 years vs. 60.0 ± 11.2 years, P < 0.001) and more commonly female (51.3% vs. 34.4%, P < 0.001). Spasm was more common in hypertensive patients (66% vs. 56%, P < 0.009). Surprisingly, smoking was less common in patients with spasm (17% vs. 29%, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (OR = 1,524, 95% CI: 1.033–2.248, P = 0.034) was the only independent predictor of RAS at the beginning of the procedure.ConclusionsThe incidence of RAS was 10,3%, and female gender was the sole independent predictor of RAS at the very beginning of the procedure in patients undergoing a TRA. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:208–213)
Hepatitis C virus diversity and hepatic steatosis
Authors: Roingeard P. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely associated with lipid metabolism defects throughout the viral lifecycle, with hepatic steatosis frequently observed in patients with chronic HCV infection. Hepatic steatosis is most common in patients infected with genotype 3 viruses, possibly due to direct effects of genotype 3 viral proteins. Hepatic steatosis in patients infected with other genotypes is thought to be mostly due to changes in host metabolism, involving insulin resistance in particular. Specific effects of the HCV genotype 3 core proteins have been observed in cellular models in vitro: mechanisms linked with a decrease in microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity, decreases in the levels of peroxisome proliferator‐activating receptors, increases in the levels of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins, and phosphatase and tensin homologue downregulation. Functional differences between the core proteins of genotype 3 viruses and viruses of other genotypes may reflect differences in amino acid sequences. However, bioclinical studies have failed to identify specific ‘steatogenic’ sequences in HCV isolates from patients with hepatic steatosis. It is therefore difficult to distinguish between viral and metabolic steatosis unambiguously, and host and viral factors are probably involved in both HCV genotype 3 and nongenotype 3 steatosis.
Mhc‐linked survival and lifetime reproductive success in a wild population of great tits
Authors: Sepil Irem , Lachish Shelly , Sheldon Ben C. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractMajor histocompatibility complex (Mhc) genes are frequently used as a model for adaptive genetic diversity. Although associations between Mhc and disease resistance are frequently documented, little is known about the fitness consequences of Mhc variation in wild populations. Further, most work to date has involved testing associations between Mhc genotypes and fitness components. However, the functional diversity of the Mhc, and hence the mechanism by which selection on Mhc acts, depends on how genotypes map to the functional properties of Mhc molecules. Here, we test three hypotheses that relate Mhc diversity to fitness: (i) the maximal diversity hypothesis, (ii) the optimal diversity hypothesis and (iii) effect of specific Mhc types. We combine mark–recapture methods with analysis of long‐term breeding data to investigate the effects of Mhc class I functional diversity (Mhc supertypes) on individual fitness in a wild great tit (Parus major) population. We found that the presence of three different Mhc supertypes was associated with three different components of individual fitness: survival, annual recruitment and lifetime reproductive success (LRS). Great tits possessing Mhc supertype 3 experienced higher survival rates than those that did not, whereas individuals with Mhc supertype 6 experienced higher LRS and were more likely to recruit offspring each year. Conversely, great tits that possessed Mhc supertype 5 had reduced LRS. We found no evidence for a selective advantage of Mhc diversity, in terms of either maximal or optimal supertype diversity. Our results support the suggestion that specific Mhc types are an important determinant of individual fitness.
The cell biology of peritrichous flagella in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Guttenplan Sarah B. , Shaw Sidney , Kearns Daniel B. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryBacterial flagella are highly conserved molecular machines that have been extensively studied for assembly, function and gene regulation. Less studied is how and why bacteria differ based on the number and arrangement of the flagella they synthesize. Here we explore the cell biology of peritrichous flagella in the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis by fluorescently labelling flagellar basal bodies, hooks and filaments. We find that the average B. subtilis cell assembles approximately 26 flagellar basal bodies and we show that basal body number is controlled by SwrA. Basal bodies are assembled rapidly (< 5 min) but the assembly of flagella capable of supporting motility is rate limited by filament polymerization (> 40 min). We find that basal bodies are not positioned randomly on the cell surface. Rather, basal bodies occupy a grid‐like pattern organized symmetrically around the midcell and that flagella are discouraged at the poles. Basal body position is genetically determined by FlhF and FlhG homologues to control spatial patterning differently from what is seen in bacteria with polar flagella. Finally, spatial control of flagella in B. subtilis seems more relevant to the inheritance of flagella and motility of individual cells than the motile behaviour of populations.
Identifying how bacterial cells find their middle: a new perspective
Authors: Monahan L.G. , Harry E.J. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryBacterial cell division begins with the polymerization of the FtsZ protein to form a Z ring at the division site. This ring subsequently recruits the division machinery to allow cytokinesis. How the Z ring is positioned correctly remains a challenging question in biology and our knowledge in this area has been restricted to a few model species. Spatial regulation of division in these bacteria has been considered to be negatively controlled, with Z rings assembling in the area of least inhibition: the cell centre. An article in this issue of Molecular Microbiology reports the discovery of a new protein in Myxococcus xanthus, called PomZ (Positioning at midcell of FtsZ), that is required for the efficient recruitment of the Z ring to the division site. PomZ is a member of the Mrp/Min family of P loop ATPases that includes a diverse range of proteins involved in spatial regulation in bacteria. PomZ is the first positive regulator of Z ring positioning to be identified in vegetatively growing bacterial cells. Positive spatial regulation of division has previously been observed during sporulation in Streptomyces coelicolor and has been suggested to occur in Bacillus subtilis. Perhaps this will emerge as a common theme in the future.
The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis influences sulfur starvation responses of Medicago truncatula
Authors: Sieh Daniela , Watanabe Mutsumi , Devers Emanuel A. , Brueckner Franziska , Hoefgen Rainer , Krajinski Franziska 
Published: November 2012

Summary

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction that occurs between the large majority of vascular plants and fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota. In addition to other nutrients, sulfur compounds are symbiotically transferred from AM fungus to host plants; however, the physiological importance of mycorrhizal‐mediated sulfur for plant metabolism has not yet been determined.

We applied different sulfur and phosphate fertilization treatments to Medicago truncatula and investigated whether mycorrhizal colonization influences leaf metabolite composition and the expression of sulfur starvation‐related genes.

The expression pattern of sulfur starvation‐related genes indicated reduced sulfur starvation responses in mycorrhizal plants grown at 1 mM phosphate nutrition. Leaf metabolite concentrations clearly showed that phosphate stress has a greater impact than sulfur stress on plant metabolism, with no demand for sulfur at strong phosphate starvation. However, when phosphate nutrition is high enough, mycorrhizal colonization reduces sulfur stress responses, probably as a result of symbiotic sulfur uptake.

Mycorrhizal colonization is able to reduce sulfur starvation responses in M. truncatula when the plant's phosphate status is high enough that sulfur starvation is of physiological importance. This clearly shows the impact of mycorrhizal sulfur transfer on plant metabolism.
A pair of transposons coordinately suppresses gene expression, independent of pathways mediated by siRNA in Antirrhinum
Authors: Uchiyama Takako , Hiura Satoshi , Ebinuma Izuru , Senda Mineo , Mikami Tetsuo , Martin Cathie , Kishima Yuji 
Published: November 2012

Summary

Our knowledge is limited regarding mechanisms by which transposable elements control host gene expression. Two Antirrhinum lines, HAM2 and HAM5, show different petal colors, pale‐red and white, respectively, although these lines contain the same insertion of transposon Tam3 in the promoter region of the nivea (niv) locus encoding chalcone synthase.

Among 1000 progeny from HAM5 grown under the preferred conditions for the Tam3 transposition, a few showed an intermediate petal color between HAM2 and HAM5. Transposon tagging using these progeny identified a causative insertion of Tam3 for the HAM5 type (white) petal color, which was found 1.6 kb downstream of the niv gene.

Insertion of Tam3 at the position 1.6 kb downstream of niv alone showed nearly wildtype petal pigmentation, and the niv expression reduced by only 50%. Severe suppression of niv observed in HAM5 required interaction of two Tam3 copies on either side of the niv coding sequence. DNA methylation and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were not associated with the suppression of niv expression in HAM5.

Insertion of a pair of transposons in close proximity can interfere with the expression of gene located between the two copies, and also provide evidence that this interference is not directly associated with pathways mediated by siRNAs.
Seasonal dynamics and age of stemwood nonstructural carbohydrates in temperate forest trees
Authors: Richardson Andrew D. , Carbone Mariah S. , Keenan Trevor F. , Czimczik Claudia I. , Hollinger David Y. , Murakami Paula , Schaberg Paul G. , Xu Xiaomei 
Published: November 2012

SummaryNonstructural carbohydrate reserves support tree metabolism and growth when current photosynthates are insufficient, offering resilience in times of stress.We monitored stemwood nonstructural carbohydrate (starch and sugars) concentrations of the dominant tree species at three sites in the northeastern United States. We estimated the mean age of the starch and sugars in a subset of trees using the radiocarbon (14C) bomb spike. With these data, we then tested different carbon (C) allocation schemes in a process‐based model of forest C cycling.We found that the nonstructural carbohydrates are both highly dynamic and about a decade old. Seasonal dynamics in starch (two to four times higher in the growing season, lower in the dormant season) mirrored those of sugars. Radiocarbon‐based estimates indicated that the mean age of the starch and sugars in red maple (Acer rubrum) was 7–14 yr.A two‐pool (fast and slow cycling reserves) model structure gave reasonable estimates of the size and mean residence time of the totalNSCpool, and greatly improved model predictions of interannual variability in woody biomass increment, compared with zero‐ or one‐pool structures used in the majority of existing models. This highlights the importance of nonstructural carbohydrates in the context of forest ecosystem carbon cycling.
Coping in relation to perceived threat of the risk of graft rejection andHealth‐RelatedQuality ofLife of organ transplant recipients
Authors: Nilsson Madeleine , Forsberg Anna , Lennerling Annette , Persson Lars‐Olof 
Published: November 2012

The most serious risk connected with transplantations besides infection is graft rejection. Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) perceive graft rejection as a stress factor and a threat. The primary aim of the present study was to examine types of coping used to handle the threat of the risk of graft rejection amongOTRs and to investigate relations between coping and perceived threat as well as Health‐Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). A second aim was to test theGeneralCopingQuestionnaire (GCQ) for reliability in relation to the threat of the risk of graft rejection. Three different questionnaires, the Perceived Threat of theRisk ofGraftRejection (PTGR),GCQand theSF‐36, were mailed to 229OTRs between 19 and 65 years old. Patients were transplanted with a kidney, a liver or a heart and/or a lung. All patients with follow‐up time of 1 year ± 3 months and 3 years ± 3 months were included. With an 81% response rate, the study comprised of 185OTRs. The differences between the transplanted organ groups in their use of coping were small. Likewise, coping related weakly with sex, age, time since transplantation and whether they had experienced graft rejections or not. The respondents tended in general to use more of the ‘positive’ coping (strategies related to positive well‐being). The measured coping in relation to the perceived threat of the risk of graft rejection seem to be relatively stable over time and quite independent of demographic and clinical variables.
Evolutionary Role of Interspecies Hybridization and Genetic Exchanges in Yeasts
Authors: Morales Lucia , Dujon Bernard 
Published: November 2012

SUMMARY
Forced interspecific hybridization has been used in yeasts for many years to study speciation or to construct artificial strains with novel fermentative and metabolic properties. Recent genome analyses indicate that natural hybrids are also generated spontaneously between yeasts belonging to distinct species, creating lineages with novel phenotypes, varied genetic stability, or altered virulence in the case of pathogens. Large segmental introgressions from evolutionarily distant species are also visible in some yeast genomes, suggesting that interspecific genetic exchanges occur during evolution. The origin of this phenomenon remains unclear, but it is likely based on weak prezygotic barriers, limited Dobzhansky-Muller (DM) incompatibilities, and rapid clonal expansions. Newly formed interspecies hybrids suffer rapid changes in the genetic contribution of each parent, including chromosome loss or aneuploidy, translocations, and loss of heterozygosity, that, except in a few recently studied cases, remain to be characterized more precisely at the genomic level by use of modern technologies. We review here known cases of natural or artificially formed interspecies hybrids between yeasts and discuss their potential importance in terms of genome evolution. Problems of meiotic fertility, ploidy constraint, gene and gene product compatibility, and nucleomitochondrial interactions are discussed and placed in the context of other known mechanisms of yeast genome evolution as a model for eukaryotes.