bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of posterior hypothalamus region deep brain stimulation on sleep
Authors: Kovac Stjepana , Wright Mary-Anne , Eriksson Sofia H , Zrinzo Ludvic , Matharu Manjit , Walker Matthew C 
Published: September 2013

Background Early observations by von Economo showed that the posterior part of the hypothalamus (PH) plays a prominent role in sleep-wake regulation. The PH is a candidate area involved in cluster headaches and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) and is targeted for deep brain stimulation (DBS). Case reports Sleep studies in two men, 69- and 39-years-old, with pre-existing sleep disorders, before and after PH-DBS for pharamacoresistant cluster headache and SUNCT syndrome showed that PH-DBS led to a dramatic alteration of the patients’ sleep patterns. This coincided with an improvement of the predominantly diurnal TACs, suggesting a PH-DBS-induced change in sleep patterns. Hypnograms after DBS demonstrated disrupted sleep and a prolonged period of wakefulness after midnight in both patients, which was reproduced the second night. Conclusions PH-DBS, a promising treatment for severe refractory TACs, affects sleep quality and pre-existing sleep disorders. This needs to be considered when treating patients with PH-DBS.
Factors Associated With Meniscal Tears and Chondral Lesions in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Kluczynski Melissa A. , Marzo John M. , Bisson Leslie J. 
Published: September 2013

Background: Increased time from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to surgery is known to be associated with increased medial meniscal tears. Few studies have examined the predictors of meniscal tears and chondral lesions, including instability episodes. Purpose: To examine the predictors of meniscal tears and chondral injuries in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 541 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for predictors of meniscal tears, tear management, and chondral injuries. Predictors included age, sex, body mass index (25-29.99 and ≥30 vs ≤24.99 kg/m2), mechanism (contact vs noncontact) and type (high-impact sports [basketball, football, soccer, and skiing] and other sports vs not sports related) of injury, interval from injury to surgery (≤6 vs >6 weeks and ≤12 vs >12 weeks), and instability episodes (vs none). Results: A total of 211 lateral meniscal tears (35.3% untreated, 48.3% meniscectomized, 16.4% repaired), 197 medial meniscal tears (25% untreated, 52% meniscectomized, 23% repaired), and 82 chondral injuries occurred. Age predicted chondral injuries. Male sex predicted more lateral meniscal tears overall, untreated lateral tears, and lateral meniscectomies as well as predicting medial meniscal tears overall and medial meniscectomies. Obesity predicted more chondral injuries. Sports-related injuries predicted fewer medial meniscal tears overall and medial meniscectomies. Injuries ≤6 weeks from surgery predicted more lateral meniscal repairs but fewer medial meniscectomies. Injuries ≤12 weeks from surgery predicted more chondral injuries. More instability episodes predicted medial meniscal tears overall, untreated medial tears, medial meniscectomies, and medial repairs. Conclusion: Male sex predicted lateral meniscal tears and management. Male sex, sports, injuries ≤6 weeks from surgery, and preoperative episodes of instability predicted medial meniscal tears and management. Age predicted chondral injuries. This was one of the first studies to examine the number of instability episodes as a predictor of an intra-articular injury.
Effects of nicotine on the testicular toxicity of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat
Authors: Kushwaha S , Jena GB 
Published: September 2013

The aim of the present study is to investigate whether nicotine augmented the testicular toxicity and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril, can ameliorate the effects in diabetic rat. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into five groups: control, nicotine, diabetic, Diab + Nico, and Diab + Nico + Enal. Animals were made diabetic by single injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg/intraperitoneally). Nicotine dissolved in drinking water at a concentration of 100 µg/ml was given ad libitum and enalapril was given orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for four consecutive weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, animals were killed and biochemical parameters glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cotinine, and the testosterone levels were measured. Testicular toxicity was evaluated using sperm count, sperm comet assay, histology, and immunohistochemical staining of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and the proinflammatory markers (nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), and tissue necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α)) evaluated by western blotting. Results showed that nicotine did not alter the blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin level, significantly decreased the sperm count and increased the sperm DNA damage. These changes were accompanied by significant increases in the 8-oxo-dG, NF-κB, COX-2, and TNF-α expression. Furthermore, the intervention of enalapril in nicotine-treated diabetic rat attenuated the testicular damage and restored sperm count, sperm DNA damage, as well as reduced the expression of NF-κB, COX-2, and TNF-α. These findings clearly suggest that nicotine not only augmented the testicular toxicity in the diabetic rat but also increases the risk of germ cell toxicity effects that were attenuated by enalapril treatment.
Patient attitudes towards faecal immunochemical testing for haemoglobin as an alternative to colonoscopic surveillance of groups at increased risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Bowyer Harriet L , Vart Gemma , Kralj-Hans Ines , Atkin Wendy , Halloran Stephen P , Seaman Helen , Wardle Jane , Wagner Christian von 
Published: September 2013

Objectives To examine attitudes towards an annual faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin (FIT) versus three-yearly colonoscopic surveillance of individuals at intermediate risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Setting A London hospital. Methods Five semi-structured discussion groups were conducted with 28 adults (aged 60–74, 61% female) with different levels of CRC risk and experience of colonoscopy or colonoscopic surveillance. Information was presented sequentially using a step-by-step discussion guide. Results were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results When evaluating FIT in the context of a surveillance programme, all respondents readily made comparisons with related tests that they had been exposed to previously. Those with no experience of surveillance were enthusiastic about an annual FIT to replace three-yearly colonoscopy, because they felt that the higher testing frequency could improve detection of advanced lesions. Those with experience of colonoscopic surveillance did not perceive FIT to be as accurate as colonoscopy, and therefore either preferred colonoscopy on its own or wanted an annual FIT in addition to three-yearly colonoscopy. Conclusions FIT may be well-received as an additional method of surveillance for new patients at intermediate risk of CRC. More research is required to better understand potential barriers associated with FIT surveillance for patients with experience of colonoscopic surveillance.
Activation of liver X receptor suppresses the production of the IL-12 family of cytokines by blocking nuclear translocation of NF-κBp50
Authors: Canavan Mary , McCarthy Ciara , Larbi Nadia Ben , Dowling Jennifer K , Collins Laura , O’Sullivan Finbarr , Hurley Grainne , Murphy Carola , Quinlan Aoife , Moloney Gerry , Darby Trevor , MacSharry John , Kagechika Hiroyuki , Moynagh Paul , Melgar Silvia , Loscher Christine E 
Published: September 2013

There is now convincing evidence that liver X receptor (LXR) is an important modulator of the inflammatory response; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of LXR on the IL-12 family of cytokines and examined the mechanism by which LXR exerted this effect. We first demonstrated that activation of murine-derived dendritic cells (DC) with a specific agonist to LXR enhanced expression of LXR following activation with LPS, suggesting a role in inflammation. Furthermore, we showed LXR expression to be increased in vivo in dextrane sulphate sodium-induced colitis. LXR activation also suppressed production of IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-27 and IL-23 in murine-derived DC following stimulation with LPS, and specifically targeted the p35, p40 and EBI3 subunits of the IL-12 cytokine family, which are under the control of the NF-κB subunit p50 (NF-κBp50). Finally, we demonstrated that LXR can associate with NF-κBp50 in DC and that LXR activation prevents translocation of the p50 subunit into the nucleus. In summary, our study indicates that LXR can specifically suppress the IL-12 family of cytokines though its association with NF-κBp50 and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory diseases.
A prospective observational study on different poisoning cases and their outcomes in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Mittal Niti , Shafiq Nusrat , Bhalla Ashish , Pandhi Promila , Malhotra Samir 
Published: September 2013

Objectives: Poisonings and snake bites constitute major health-care problems worldwide. This observational study was conducted to identify factors associated with outcomes in such cases and to suggest strategies to improve them. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in the emergency medicine department of a tertiary care hospital. The study included 102 poisoning and 64 snake bite cases. Data regarding demographics, mode of poisoning, lag time in treatment, first aid, outside and indoor treatment, co-morbid illness, duration of hospitalisation and final outcome were collected in a prestructured proforma. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 68 years and incidence was more common among males (69.9%) compared to females (30.1%). The major types of poisonings included organophosphorus compounds (16.3%), aluminium phosphide (12%), drug overdose (10.8%) and corrosives (6%). There were 18 (18.6%) and 1 (1.6%) deaths in poisoning and snake bite cases, respectively. In poisoning cases, the duration of hospitalisation was significantly decreased if patient received outside treatment ( p = 0.02) and if he or she had lesser lag time in reaching the hospital ( p = 0.009). Conclusions: Measures to reduce lag time and provide immediate treatment at initial encounter may be effective in reducing duration of hospitalisation and possibly mortality in poisoning and snake bite cases.
FishMicrosat: a microsatellite database of commercially important fishes and shellfishes of the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Nagpure Naresh Sahebrao , Rashid Iliyas , Pati Rameshwar , Pathak Ajey Kumar , Singh Mahender , Singh Shri Prakash , Sarkar Uttam Kumar 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
Microsatellite DNA is one of many powerful genetic markers used for the construction of genetic linkage maps and the study of population genetics. The biological databases in public domain hold vast numbers of microsatellite sequences for many organisms including fishes. The microsatellite data available in these data sources were extracted and managed into a database that facilitates sequences analysis and browsing relevant information. The system also helps to design primer sequences for flanking regions of repeat loci for PCR identification of polymorphism within populations.

Description
FishMicrosat is a database of microsatellite sequences of fishes and shellfishes that includes important aquaculture species such as Lates calcarifer, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Penaeus monodon, Labeo rohita, Oreochromis niloticus, Fenneropenaeus indicus and Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The database contains 4398 microsatellite sequences of 41 species belonging to 15 families from the Indian subcontinent. GenBank of NCBI was used as a prime data source for developing the database. The database presents information about simple and compound microsatellites, their clusters and locus orientation within sequences. The database has been integrated with different tools in a web interface such as primer designing, locus finding, mapping repeats, detecting similarities among sequences across species, and searching using motifs and keywords. In addition, the database has the ability to browse information on the top 10 families and the top 10 species, through record overview.

Conclusions
FishMicrosat database is a useful resource for fish and shellfish microsatellite analyses and locus identification across species, which has important applications in population genetics, evolutionary studies and genetic relatedness among species. The database can be expanded further to include the microsatellite data of fishes and shellfishes from other regions and available information on genome sequencing project of species of aquaculture importance.
Efficient utilization of aerobic metabolism helps Tibetan locusts conquer hypoxia
Authors: Zhao Dejian , Zhang Zhenyu , Cease Arianne , Harrison Jon , Kang Le 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
Responses to hypoxia have been investigated in many species; however, comparative studies between conspecific geographical populations at different altitudes are rare, especially for invertebrates. The migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, is widely distributed around the world, including on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau (TP) and the low-altitude North China Plain (NP). TP locusts have inhabited Tibetan Plateau for over 34,000 years and thus probably have evolved superior capacity to cope with hypoxia.

Results
Here we compared the hypoxic responses of TP and NP locusts from morphological, behavioral, and physiological perspectives. We found that TP locusts were more tolerant of extreme hypoxia than NP locusts. To evaluate why TP locusts respond to extreme hypoxia differently from NP locusts, we subjected them to extreme hypoxia and compared their transcriptional responses. We found that the aerobic metabolism was less affected in TP locusts than in NP locusts. RNAi disruption of PDHE1β, an entry gene from glycolysis to TCA cycle, increased the ratio of stupor in TP locusts and decreased the ATP content of TP locusts in hypoxia, confirming that aerobic metabolism is critical for TP locusts to maintain activity in hypoxia.

Conclusions
Our results indicate that TP and NP locusts have undergone divergence in hypoxia tolerance. These findings also indicate that insects can adapt to hypoxic pressure by modulating basic metabolic processes.
Partial loss of Smad signaling during in vitroprogression of HPV16-immortalized human keratinocytes
Authors: Altomare Diego , Velidandla Rupa , Pirisi Lucia , Creek Kim E 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
Disruption of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is observed in many cancers, including cervical cancer, resulting in TGF-β resistance. While normal human keratinocytes (HKc) and human papillomavirus type 16-immortalized HKc (HKc/HPV16) are sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-β, HKc/HPV16 develop resistance to TGF-β1 as they progress in vitro to a differentiation resistant phenotype (HKc/DR). The loss of sensitivity to the antiproliferative effects of TGF-β1 in HKc/DR is due, at least partially, to decreased expression of the TGF-β receptor type I. In the present study, we explored in detail whether alterations in Smad protein levels, Smad phosphorylation, or nuclear localization of Smads in response to TGF-β could contribute to the development of TGF-β resistance during in vitro progression of HKc/HPV16, and whether TGF-β induction of a Smad-responsive reporter gene was altered in HKc/DR.

Methods
Western blot analysis was used to assess Smad protein levels. In order to study Smad nuclear localization we performed indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, we determined Smad-mediated TGF-β signaling using a luciferase reporter construct.

Results
We did not find a decrease in protein levels of Smad2, Smad3 or Smad4, or an increase in the inhibitory Smad7 that paralleled the loss of sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-β1 observed in HKc/DR. However, we found diminished Smad2 phosphorylation, and delayed nuclear Smad3 localization in response to TGF-β1 in HKc/DR, compared to normal HKc and TGF-β sensitive HKc/HPV16. In addition, we determined that TGF-β1 induction of a Smad responsive promoter is reduced by about 50% in HKc/DR, compared to HKc/HPV16.

Conclusions
These results demonstrate that alterations in Smad protein levels are not associated with the loss of response to the antiproliferative effects of TGF-β in HKc/DR, but that diminished and delayed Smad phosphorylation and nuclear localization, and decreased Smad signaling occur in response to TGF-β in HKc/DR.
Optimizing expectations to prevent side effects and enhance quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: von Blanckenburg Pia , Schuricht Franziska , Albert Ute-Susann , Rief Winfried , Nestoriuc Yvonne 
Published: September 2013

AbstractBackgroundAdjuvant endocrine therapy can improve disease-free survival and time before recurrence in breast cancer patients. However, it is associated with considerable side effects that negatively affect patients’ quality of life and cause non-adherence. The recently demonstrated effect of individual expectations on side-effect development (nocebo effect) suggests that psychological factors play a role in the prevention of side effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate cognitive-behavioral side-effect prevention training (SEPT) for breast cancer patients. This article describes the study protocol and applied research methods.Methods/DesignIn a randomized controlled trial, 184 female breast cancer patients are assigned to receive either SEPT, standard medical care or a manualized supportive therapy at the start of adjuvant endocrine treatment. SEPT consists of three sessions of cognitive-behavioral training including psychoeducation to provide a realistic view of endocrine therapy, imagination-training to integrate positive aspects of medication into daily life, and side-effect management to enhance expectations about coping ability. Side effects three months after the start of endocrine therapy serve as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, coping ability and patients’ medication adherence. Patients’ expectations (i.e., expectations about side effects, coping ability, treatment and illness) are analyzed as mediators.DiscussionThe optimization of expectations might be a potential pathway in health care to improve patients’ quality of life during long-term medication intake. The results will provide implications for a possible integration of evidence-based prevention training into clinical practice.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, (NCT01741883).
A prospective study of high dose sedation for rapid tranquilisation of acute behavioural disturbance in an acute mental health unit
Authors: Calver Leonie , Drinkwater Vincent , Isbister Geoffrey K 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
Acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) is a common problem in psychiatry and both physical restraint and involuntary parenteral sedation are often required to control patients. Although guidelines are available, clinical practice is often guided by experience and there is little agreement on which drugs should be first-line treatment for rapid tranquilisation. This study aimed to investigate sedation for ABD in an acute mental healthcare unit, including the effectiveness and safety of high dose sedation.

Methods
A prospective study of parenteral sedation for ABD in mental health patients was conducted from July 2010 to June 2011. Drug administration (type, dose, additional doses), time to sedation, vital signs and adverse effects were recorded. High dose parenteral sedation was defined as greater than the equivalent of 10 mg midazolam, droperidol or haloperidol (alone or in combination), compared to patients receiving 10 mg or less (normal dose). Effective sedation was defined as a fall in the sedation assessment tool score by two or a score of zero or less. Outcomes included frequency of adverse drug effects, time to sedation/tranquilisation and use of additional sedation.

Results
Parenteral sedation was given in 171 cases. A single drug was given in 96 (56%), including droperidol (74), midazolam (19) and haloperidol (3). Effective sedation occurred in 157 patients (92%), and the median time to sedation was 20 min (Range: 5 to 100 min). The median time to sedation for 93 patients receiving high dose sedation was 20 min (5-90 min) compared to 20 min (5-100 min; p = 0.92) for 78 patients receiving normal dose sedation. Adverse effects occurred in 16 patients (9%); hypotension (14), oxygen desaturation (1), hypotension and oxygen desaturation (1). There were more adverse effects in the high dose sedation group compared to the normal dose group [11/93 (12%) vs. 5/78 (6%); p = 0.3]. Additional sedation was given in 9 of 171 patients (5%), seven in the high dose and two in the normal dose groups.

Conclusions
Large initial doses of sedative drugs were used for ABD in just over half of cases and additional sedation was uncommon. High dose sedation did not result in more rapid or effective sedation but was associated with more adverse effects.