bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extended treatment with selective phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase and mTOR inhibitors has effects on metabolism, growth, behaviour and bone strength
Authors: Smith Greg C. , Ong Wee‐Kiat , Costa Jessica L. , Watson Maureen , Cornish Jillian , Grey Andrew , Gamble Greg D. , Dickinson Michelle , Leung Sophie , Rewcastle Gordon W. , Han Weiping , Shepherd Peter R. 
Published: July 2013

The class I phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinases (PtdIns3Ks) mediate the effects of many hormones and growth factors on a wide range of cellular processes, and activating mutations or gene amplifications of class I PtdIns3K isoforms are known to contribute to oncogenic processes in a range of tumours. Consequently, a number of small‐molecule PtdIns3K inhibitors are under development and in clinical trial. The central signalling role of PtdIns3K in many cellular processes suggests there will be on‐target side effects associated with the use of these agents. To gain insights into what these might be we investigated the effect of extended daily dosing of eight small‐molecule inhibitors of class Ia PtdIns3Ks. Animals were characterized in metabolic cages to analyse food intake, oxygen consumption and movement. Insulin tolerance and body composition were analysed at the end of the experiment, the latter using EchoMRI. Bone volume and strength was assessed by micro‐CT and three‐point bending, respectively. Surprisingly, after sustained dosing with pan‐PtdIns3K inhibitors and selective inhibitors of the p110α isoform there was a resolution of the impairments in insulin tolerance observed in drug‐naïve animals treated with the same drugs. However, pan‐PtdIns3K inhibitors and selective inhibitors of the p110α have deleterious effects on animal growth, animal behaviour and bone volume and strength. Together, these findings identify a range of on target effects of PtdIns3K inhibitors and suggest use of these drugs in humans may have important adverse effects on metabolism, body composition, behaviour and skeletal health.
Expression of micro‐RNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from primary biliary cirrhosis patients
Authors: Katsushima Fumiko , Takahashi Atsushi , Sakamoto Natsumi , Kanno Yukiko , Abe Kazumichi , Ohira Hiromasa 
Published: July 2013

AimThe aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the expression of micro‐RNAs (miRNAs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and clinical presentation in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).MethodsThis study involved 58 patients with PBC, patients with control diseases including 25 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), six patients with PBC‐AIH overlap syndrome, 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 30 healthy controls. After miRNA was extracted from PBMCs, the expressions of miR‐26a, miR‐328, miR‐299‐5p, miR‐146a, miR‐155, miR‐16, miR‐132 and let7a were quantified by real‐time PCR. The relationships between all miRNA expressions and clinical test parameters were also examined.ResultsIn PBC, the expressions of miR‐155 and miR‐146a were significantly increased compared to those in healthy controls. For miR‐26a, miR‐299‐5p, miR‐328 and let‐7a, although no significant difference was observed in expression between patients and healthy controls, expressions were significantly increased in PBC compared to those in AIH. Expressions of miR‐299‐5p were significantly increased in PBC patients resistant to treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (n = 18) compared to those in healthy controls. In the evaluation of the relationship between miRNA expression and clinical test parameters, significant and positive correlations were found for miR‐299‐5p with alkaline phosphatase, gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin and immunoglobulin M levels.ConclusionThe preset results suggest the existence of miRNAs that exhibit disease‐specific increases in expression and miRNAs closely correlated with clinical test values in PBC. Further analyses of these miRNAs may contribute to the elucidation of the pathology of PBC.
The Determinants of Dementia after Stroke (DEDEMAS) Study: Protocol and Pilot Data
Authors: Wollenweber Frank A. , Zietemann Vera , Rominger Axel , Opherk Christian , Bayer-Karpinska Anna , Gschwendtner Andreas , Andrews Lisa Coloma , Bürger Katharina , Duering Marco , Dichgans Martin 
Published: July 2013

Rationale About 20% of stroke patients develop dementia within a few months after their event, but the determinants and mechanisms of poststroke dementia are insufficiently understood. Aims To identify and characterize the determinants of cognitive impairment poststroke. Design Observational prospective study in patients with acute stroke and no prior dementia. Six hundred subjects will be characterized by detailed interview, standardized clinical examinations, biometric measures (intima-media thickness, waist-hip ratio, and ankle-brachial index), multimodal imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), amyloid-positron emission tomography (amyloid-PET), and retinal imaging), analysis of biomarkers derived from blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and detailed cognitive testing at repeat time points. Patients will be followed for five-years with a total of five personal visits and three telephone interviews. Study Outcomes Primary end-point is the occurrence of post-stroke dementia. Secondary end-points include poststroke cognitive impairment–no dementia, stroke recurrence, and death. Predictive factors for poststroke dementia will be identified by multiple Cox proportional-hazards model. Results Baseline characteristics of the first 71 patients (study inclusion between May 2011 and August 2012) are as follows: median age, 70 years (interquartile range, 65–75); female gender, 25 (35%); median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at admission, 2 ( 1 – 4 ); and etiological stroke subtypes according to TOAST classification, 15% large artery disease, 18% small vessel disease, 35% cardioembolic, and 32% undetermined or multiple competing etiologies. Discussion This study will provide insights into the mechanisms of poststroke dementia and hold the potential to identify novel diagnostic markers and targets for preventive therapies. The study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01334749) and will be extended as a multicenter study starting 2013.
Topical negative pressure coupled with split‐thickness skin grafting for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa: a case report
Authors: Jianbing Tang , Biao Cheng , Qin Li , Yanhong Wu 
Published: July 2013

AbstractHidradenitis suppurativa is a cutaneous, chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease. Here, we report the case of a 66‐year‐old man who had hidradenitis suppurativa in the buttocks. He suffered from diabetes mellitus. In the past, he had perianal abscesses. Because of improper treatment of furuncle infections in the buttocks, skin ulcers formed, which worsened and resulted in multiple fistulas. The skin lesion surface was large and the infection was severe. After wound debridement treatment, topical negative pressure and nutritional support were given. After one and a half months, the wound healed with split‐thickness skin grafting. In a 2‐year follow‐up, there was no evidence of hidradenitis suppurativa recurrence.
Severe hidradenitis suppurativa treatment using platelet‐rich plasma gel and Hyalomatrix
Authors: Nicoli Fabio , Balzani Alberto , Lazzeri Davide , Gentile Pietro , Chilgar Ram M , Di Pasquali Camilla , Nicoli Marzia , Bocchini Ilaria , Agovino Annarita , Cervelli Valerio 
Published: July 2013

AbstractHidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be a debilitating chronic disease. The underlying cause of the disease is still not clear. HS may be managed through numerous different medical or surgical procedures. Surgical treatment may consist of local excisions and reconstruction using a variety of methods: perforator flaps, skin grafts, local flaps, primary closure or secondary wound healing with vacuum and other devices. This report describes our experience with surgical excision and closure using platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) gel and Hyalomatrix PA (HPA) in a patient with severe HS involving most of the body surface. We treated the patient with resection of severe HS of the nuchae and closure with PRP gel prepared with the RegenKit® to promote neovascularisation and HPA, a delivery system for hyaluronic acid, to induce a neodermis at the wound bed and to stimulate regeneration in a humid and protected environment. Complete wound healing was achieved after 2 months. The obtained result proved the efficacy of this treatment without complications. No recurrence was observed during the 1 year after the surgical procedure. Severe HS can be safely and effectively managed with wide excision, PRP gel and Hyalomatrix to achieve a successful outcome.
Effective management of patients with diabetes foot ulcers: outcomes of an Interprofessional Diabetes Foot Ulcer Team
Authors: Ogrin Rajna , Houghton Pamela E , Thompson G William 
Published: July 2013

AbstractA longitudinal observational study on a convenience sample was conducted between 4 January and 31 December of 2010 to evaluate clinical outcomes that occur when a new Interprofessional Diabetes Foot Ulcer Team (IPDFUT) helps in the management of diabetes‐related foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients living in a small urban community in Ontario, Canada. Eighty‐three patients presented to the IPDFUT with 114 DFUs of average duration of 19·5 ± 2·7 weeks. Patients were 58·4 ± 1·4 years of age and 90% had type 2 diabetes, HbA1c of 8·3 ± 2·0%, with an average diabetes duration of 22·3 ± 3·4 years; in 69% of patients, 78 DFUs healed in an average duration of 7·4 ± 0·7 weeks, requiring an average of 3·8 clinic visits. Amputation of a toe led to healing in three patients (4%) and one patient required a below‐knee amputation. Six patients died and three withdrew. Adding a skilled IPDFUT that is trained to work together resulted in improved healing outcomes. The rate of healing, proportion of wounds closed and complication rate were similar if not better than the results published previously in Canada and around the world. The IPDFUT appears to be a successful model of care and could be used as a template to provide effective community care to the patients with DFU in Ontario, Canada.
Effect of blended learning environment on transfer of learning: an experimental study
Authors: Demirer V. , Sahin I. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe main purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of the blended learning and face‐to‐face learning on students' academic achievements and transfer of learning. The first aim of the study is to analyse the students' academic achievements to determine the change of theoretical knowledge in terms of the instructional method applied in this study. However, students' performances during the learning process are not always a good indicator. Therefore, the second aim of the study is to examine transferring students' theoretical knowledge to their educational multimedia projects. For this purpose, 14 weeks of pre‐ and post‐test experimental study is designed. The study is administered through an educational technology course in which students learn how to develop educational multimedia materials. The participants are undergraduate pre‐service teachers; they are assigned randomly to the experimental and control group. While the experimental group has both online and classroom sessions, the control group has only face‐to‐face classroom sessions. Although there is no significant difference between the groups in terms of academic achievement, the students in the blended group are more successful in transferring their knowledge to their projects than the ones in the face‐to‐face group. In conclusion, the results show that the blended learning approach has a positive effect on the transfer of learning.
Biased sex‐ratio and sex‐biased heterozygote disadvantage affect the maintenance of a genetic polymorphism and the properties of hybrid zones
Authors: Nouvellet P. , Gourbière S. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe evolution of biodiversity is a major issue of modern biology, and it is becoming increasingly topical as the ongoing erosion of diversity puts serious threats on human well‐being. An elementary mechanism that allows maintaining diversity is the interplay between dispersal and heterozygote selective disadvantage, which can lead to self‐sustainable spatial genetic structures and is central to the stability of hybrid zones. Theoretical studies supporting the importance of this mechanism assume a balanced sex‐ratio and a heterozygote disadvantage equally affecting both sexes, despite the multiplicity of empirical evidence that (i) adult sex‐ratio is usually biased towards either male or female and that (ii) heterozygote disadvantage often affects a single sex. We expanded the existing theory by weighting the strength of selection against heterozygote according to the biased in sex‐ratio and in heterozygote disadvantage. The range of conditions allowing for the maintenance of polymorphism can then either double or vanish. We discuss the implications of such finding for birds, mammals and insects diversity. Finally, we provide simple analytical predictions about the effect of those biased on the width and speed of hybrid zones and on the time for the spread of beneficial mutations through such zones.
Bioecology of some key cashew insect pests and diseases in diverse habitats and landscapes in Tanzania
Authors: Agboton B. V. , Salifu D. , Seguni Z. , Sijaona M. E. , Shomari S. , Ekesi S. , Maniania N. K. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractCashew (Anacardium occidentale) is an economically important cash crop for many rural households in Tanzania. However, its production is constrained by some insect pests and diseases. As a prerequisite for the development of a more sustainable integrated insect pest and disease management strategy for cashew, information on the biology and ecology of the key insect pests and diseases in a changing environment, and on influencing biotic and abiotic factors, is needed. Surveys were conducted in the major cashew nut‐producing areas of Tanzania for two seasons: August to December, 2009, and August to December, 2010. Data on number of infested and infected shoots by key insect pests and diseases, natural enemies and associated farmer practices, namely synthetic pesticide use and intercropping systems, were collected from different subzones within agroecological zones. Our data showed that abundance and diversity of key cashew insect pests and diseases were influenced by agroecological zones and subzones. Intercropping was more commonly practised in the northern than in the southern zone. Agrochemicals were most frequently used in the southern agroecological zone and affected the occurrence of natural enemies, notably the weaver ant that was more abundant in the northern zone. Furthermore, our findings revealed that Helopeltis sp. and the powdery mildew remained the major constraints to cashew nut production in Tanzania.
Localization, morphology and transcriptional profile of Aspergillus flavus during seed colonization
Authors: Dolezal Andrea L. , Obrian Gregory R. , Nielsen Dahlia M. , Woloshuk Charles P. , Boston Rebecca S. , Payne Gary A. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryAspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that infects maize kernels pre‐harvest, creating major human health concerns and causing substantial agricultural losses. Improved control strategies are needed, yet progress is hampered by the limited understanding of the mechanisms of infection. A series of studies were designed to investigate the localization, morphology and transcriptional profile of A. flavus during internal seed colonization. Results from these studies indicate that A. flavus is capable of infecting all tissues of the immature kernel by 96 h after infection. Mycelia were observed in and around the point of inoculation in the endosperm and were found growing down to the germ. At the endosperm–germ interface, hyphae appeared to differentiate and form a biofilm‐like structure that surrounded the germ. The exact nature of this structure remains unclear, but is discussed. A custom‐designed A. flavus Affymetrix GeneChip® microarray was used to monitor genome‐wide transcription during pathogenicity. A total of 5061 genes were designated as being differentially expressed. Genes encoding secreted enzymes, transcription factors and secondary metabolite gene clusters were up‐regulated and considered to be potential effector molecules responsible for disease in the kernel. Information gained from this study will aid in the development of strategies aimed at preventing or slowing down A. flavus colonization of the maize kernel.
Production of Oocytes of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for In Vitro Fertilization via Hormonal Treatments
Authors: Fernandes AFA , Alvarenga ÉR , Oliveira DAA , Aleixo CG , Prado SA , Luz RK , Sarmento NLAF , Teixeira EA , Luz MR , Turra EM 
Published: July 2013

ContentsOnly a few studies have described hormonal treatments for induction of synchronicity and gamete collection in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), both important for assortative matings in breeding programmes and essential for polyploidy technologies. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of carp pituitary extract (CPE), Nile tilapia pituitary extract (TPE), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) protocols on the induction of spawning and egg production in Nile tilapia. Among the hormonal treatments analysed, only hCG was effective for producing viable gametes for in vitro fertilization. To verify the viability of this hormonal treatment, hCG was tested using different doses (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 IU/kg) in a large number of females (208 animals) from two Nile tilapia lines. The results indicated that hCG doses between 1000 and 5000 IU/kg could be used to induce final oocyte maturation in Nile tilapia with collection of stripped oocytes. This is the first study to report differential reproductive responses to hormonal treatment between tilapia lines: line 1 was more efficient at producing eggs and post‐hatching larvae after hCG induction than line 2. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the hCG protocol may be applied on a large scale to induce final oocyte maturation in Nile tilapia. The development of a protocol for in vitro fertilization in Nile tilapia may aid in breeding programmes and biotechnological assays for the development of genetically modified lines of Nile tilapia.
Frequent Hemodialysis: A Critical Review
Authors: Diaz‐Buxo Jose A. , White Sarah A. , Himmele Rainer 
Published: July 2013

AbstractConventional, thrice‐weekly hemodialysis (CHD) is the most commonly prescribed dialysis regimen. Despite widespread acceptance of CHD, long‐term analyses of registry data have revealed an increased risk for mortality during the long 2‐day interdialytic interval of thrice‐weekly therapies. High mortality rates during this period suggest that there may be a role for more frequent HD in improving patient outcomes and survival through elimination of the long interdialytic period. Several regimens have been investigated including: short, daily HD, frequent nocturnal HD, and alternate‐day HD. In this review, we provide an in‐depth summary of current data comparing the effects of frequent and CHD modalities on survival, hospitalizations, vascular access complications, burden of therapy, quality of life, residual renal function, cardiovascular parameters, bone mineral metabolism, and anemia. Limitations of the data as well as the role of frequent dialysis in clinical practice are also discussed.
Health of mobile pastoralists in theSahel – assessment of 15 years of research and development
Authors: Montavon A. , Jean‐Richard V. , Bechir M. , Daugla D. M. , Abdoulaye M. , Bongo Naré R. N. , Diguimbaye‐Djaibé C. , Alfarouk I. O. , Schelling E. , Wyss K. , Tanner M. , Zinsstag J. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractIn theSahel, betweenMauritania and Somalia includingNorthernKenya, about 20–30 million people live as mobile pastoralists. The rhythm of their migration follows the seasons and the availability of resources such as water, pasture and salt. Despite their high exposure to zoonoses and problems caused by extreme climatic conditions, mobile pastoralists are virtually excluded from health services because the provision of social services adapted to their way of life is challenging. In cooperation with various partners in the region, theSwissTropical andPublicHealthInstitute has been active in research and development in theSahel for 15 years. Based on the perceived needs of mobile pastoralists and the necessities of development, interdisciplinary research has considerably contributed to better understanding of their situation and their problems. Close contact between humans and livestock necessitates close cooperation between human and animal health specialists. Such useful approaches should be continued and extended.
A galactosyltransferase acting on arabinogalactan protein glycans is essential for embryo development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Geshi Naomi , Johansen Jorunn N. , Dilokpimol Adiphol , Rolland Aurélia , Belcram Katia , Verger Stéphane , Kotake Toshihisa , Tsumuraya Yoichi , Kaneko Satoshi , Tryfona Theodora , Dupree Paul , Scheller Henrik V. , Höfte Herman , Mouille Gregory 
Published: July 2013

SummaryArabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are a complex family of cell‐wall proteoglycans that are thought to play major roles in plant growth and development. Genetic approaches to studying AGP function have met limited success so far, presumably due to redundancy within the large gene families encoding AGP backbones. Here we used an alternative approach for genetic dissection of the role of AGPs in development by modifying their glycan side chains. We have identified an Arabidopsis glycosyltransferase of CAZY family GT31 (AtGALT31A) that galactosylates AGP side chains. A mutation in the AtGALT31A gene caused the arrest of embryo development at the globular stage. The presence of the transcript in the suspensor of globular‐stage embryos is consistent with a role for AtGALT31A in progression of embryo development beyond the globular stage. The first observable defect in the mutant is perturbation of the formative asymmetric division of the hypophysis, indicating an essential role for AGP proteoglycans in either specification of the hypophysis or orientation of the asymmetric division plane.