bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of caffeic acid on aluminium chloride-induced dementia in rats
Authors: Khan Kafeel A , Kumar Nitesh , Nayak Pawan G , Nampoothiri Madhavan , Shenoy Rekha R , Krishnadas Nandakumar , Rao C Mallikarjuna , Mudgal Jayesh 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Objective
Literature favours the in vitro neuroprotective role of caffeic acid, a naturally derived polyphenolic compound. This study was aimed to investigate the role of caffeic acid in experimental model of Alzheimer's disease.

Methods
Firstly, caffeic acid was tested for in vitro anticholinesterase potential using rat brain homogenate. Later, in vivo antidementia activity of caffeic acid was assessed against aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced dementia in rats. Behavioural (Morris water maze test) and brain biochemical parameters (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, glutathione (GSH) and nitrite levels) were assessed to correlate the cognitive function with cholinergic transmission and oxidative stress.

Key findings
Rats administered with caffeic acid showed improved cognitive function in Morris water maze test. The antidementia activity of caffeic acid was confirmed by the reduction in brain AChE activity and nitrite levels. Further, caffeic acid corrected the diminished level of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, GSH and GST in brain.

Conclusion
These findings suggest the antidementia activity of caffeic acid against AlCl3-induced dementia in rats. The outcome of present study offers a wider scope to screen caffeic acid against neurodegeneration associated disorders.
Perceptions of pediatric asthma in African American underserved families using metaphorical analysis
Authors: McClelland Molly , Wenz Cathy , Sood Kush , Yono Anita 
Published: July 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose was to understand how African American children with asthma and their families living in underserved urban areas experience and perceive asthma.Design and MethodsA narrative inquiry design with metaphorical analysis was used in this study with 20 African American children and their 10 families.ResultsParticipants metaphorically viewed the family system as a functioning healthcare facility. Children didn't find their asthma abnormal but did use asthma symptoms to their advantage. Caregivers were viewed as first‐line medical responders but often made errors in delivering medical treatment. Lack of knowledge relating to appropriate asthma interventions led to insufficient asthma care.Practice ImplicationsResults provide evidence to improve patient–nurse interactions for this vulnerable patient group.
Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) for detection of hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic liver diseases: a prospective study of a native Korean population
Authors: Chon Young Eun , Jung Kyu Sik , Kim Seung Up , Park Jun Yong , Park Young Nyun , Kim Do Young , Ahn Sang Hoon , Chon Chae Yoon , Lee Hye Won , Park Yehyun , Han Kwang‐Hyub 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundControlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a non‐invasive method of measuring hepatic steatosis using a process based on transient elastography. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of CAP in detecting hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).MethodsA total of 135 patients with CLD who underwent liver biopsy and CAP were consecutively enrolled in this prospective study. The performance of CAP for detection of hepatic steatosis compared with liver biopsy was calculated using area under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROC). Steatosis was categorized into S0 (<5%), S1 (5–33%), S2 (34–66%) and S3 (>66% of hepatocytes).ResultsMale gender predominated (n = 87, 64%) and the median age was 51 years. The aetiologies of CLD included non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 56, 41.5%) and chronic viral hepatitis because of hepatitis B (n = 47, 34.8%) and C (n = 12, 8.9%). Steatosis repartition was: S0 31.1% (n = 42), S1 43.7% (n = 59), S2 18.5% (n = 25) and S3 6.7% (n = 9) respectively. In the multivariate analysis, steatosis grade and body mass index were independently associated with CAP (all P < 0.001), whereas fibrosis stage and activity grade were not. The AUROCs of CAP were 0.885 for ≥S1 (sensitivity 73.1%, specificity 95.2%), 0.894 for ≥S2 (sensitivity 82.4%, specificity 86.1%) and 0.800 for S3 (sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 84.1%). The optimal cut‐off CAP values that maximized the Youden index were 250 dB/m (≥S1), 299 dB/m (≥S2), and 327 dB/m (=S3) respectively.ConclusionsOur data showed that CAP had high diagnostic accuracy for detecting hepatic steatosis in patients with CLD and suggested that CAP is also applicable for Asian patients.
Improving immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using dendritic cells (DC) engineered to express IL‐12 in vivo
Authors: Vogt Annabelle , Sievers Elisabeth , Lukacs‐Kornek Veronika , Decker Georges , Raskopf Esther , Meumann Nadja , Büning Hildegard , Sauerbruch Tilman , Strassburg Christian P. , Schmidt‐Wolf Ingo G. H. , Gonzalez‐Carmona Maria A. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundInterleukin 12 (IL‐12), one of the most potent Th1‐cytokines, has been used to improve dendritic cells (DC)‐based immunotherapy of cancer. However, it failed to achieve clinical response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, improved conditions of immunotherapy with DC engineered to express IL‐12 were studied in murine subcutaneous HCC.MethodsTumour‐lysate pulsed DC were transduced with IL‐12‐encoding adenoviruses or cultivated with recombinant (r)IL‐12. DC were injected intratumourally, subcutaneously or intravenously at different stages of tumour‐development.ResultsDendritic cell overexpressing IL‐12 by adenoviruses showed enhanced expression of costimulatory molecules and stronger priming of HCC‐specific effector cells than DC cultured with rIL‐12. Intratumoural but not systemic injections of IL‐12‐DC induced the strongest antitumoural effects reaching complete regressions in 75% of early‐staged tumours and in 33% of advanced tumours. Importantly, antitumoural effects could be further enhanced through combination with sorafenib. Analysing the tumour‐environment, IL‐12‐DC increased the levels of Th1‐cytokines/chemokines and of CD4+‐, CD8+‐T‐ and NK‐cells. Induced immunity was tumour‐specific and sustained since all tumour‐free animals were protected towards hepatic tumour‐cell rechallenge. However, IL‐12‐DC also enhanced immunosuppressive cytokines, regulatory T cells and even myeloid‐derived suppressor cells within the tumours.ConclusionsInduced IL‐12‐overexpression by adenoviral vectors can effectively immunostimulate DC. Intratumoural but not systemic injection of activated IL‐12‐DC was crucial for effective tumour regression. The mechanism of this approach seems to be the induction of a sufficient Th1 tumour‐environment allowing the recruitment of effector cells rather than the inhibition of tumour immunosuppression. Thus, improved immunotherapy with IL‐12‐DC represents a promising approach towards HCC.
Incidence of Early Postpartum Voiding Dysfunction in Primiparae: Comparison Between Vaginal Delivery and Cesarean Section
Authors: AL‐MANDEEL Hazem , AL‐BADR Ahmed , AL‐SHAIKH Ghadeer 
Published: July 2013

ObjectivesTo compare the incidence of early postpartum voiding dysfunction (PPVD) in primiparae women delivered vaginally (VD) to those delivered by elective Caesarean section (CS).MethodsA prospective study of primiparae in early postpartum period, were grouped into: VD group and CS group. Following the first 24 h from delivery, patients had uroflowmetry and post‐void residual urine (PVR) volume measurement.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty six primiparae women recruited; 204 (81%) had VD and 48 (19%) had primary elective CS. Forty‐two women in the VD group (20.2%) diagnosed with PPVD compared to only four (8.3%) in the CS group (P = 0.05). Within VD group, women who had vaginal tear (86.4% vs. 44%, P < 0.001) or epidural analgesia (33.3% vs. 18.1%, P < 0.05) experienced higher incidence of PPVD.ConclusionWomen who had normal VD are at higher risk of transient PPVD than those delivered by CS during their early postpartum period.
Complete hydrothermal re‐equilibration of zircon in the Maniitsoq structure, West Greenland: A 3001 Ma minimum age of impact?
Authors: Scherstén Anders , Garde Adam A. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractZircon in five samples of variably comminuted, melted, and hydrothermally altered orthogneiss from the Maniitsoq structure of southern West Greenland yield a weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 3000.9 ± 1.9 Ma (ion probe data, n = 37). The age data constitute a rare example of pervasive and nearly complete isotopic resetting of zircon during a regional hydrothermal event. Many zircon grains are homogeneous or display weak flame‐like patterns in backscattered electron images. Other grains show complex internal textures, where homogeneous, high‐U fronts commonly cut across relict igneous‐type oscillatory zonation. Inclusions of quartz, plagioclase, mica, and other Al ± Na ± Ca ± Fe‐bearing silicates are very common. In two samples, selective replacement of zircon with baddeleyite occurs along concentric zones with relict igneous zonation, and as specks a few microns large within recrystallized, high‐U areas. We interpret the 3000.9 ± 1.9 Ma date as the minimum age of the recently proposed impact structure at Maniitsoq. The great geographical extent and intensity of the hydrothermal event suggest massive invasion of water into the currently exposed crust, implying that the age of the hydrothermal alteration would closely approximate the age of the proposed impact at Maniitsoq. At the western margin of the Taserssuaq tonalite complex, which postdates the Maniitsoq event, a 207Pb/206Pb mean age of 2994.6 ± 3.4 Ma obtained from zircon has mostly retained igneous‐type oscillatory zonation. A subsequent thermal event at approximately 2975 Ma is recorded in several samples by zircon with baddeleyite replacement textures.
A respiratory nitrate reductase active exclusively in resting spores of the obligate aerobe Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)
Authors: Fischer Marco , Falke Dörte , Sawers R. Gary 
Published: July 2013

SummaryThe Gram‐positive aerobe Streptomyces coelicolor undergoes a complex life cycle including growth as vegetative hyphae and the production of aerial hyphae and spores. Little is known about how spores retain viability in the presence of oxygen; however, nothing is known about this process during anaerobiosis. Here, we demonstrate that one of the three respiratory nitrate reductases, Nar‐1, synthesized by S. coelicolor is functional exclusively in spores. A tight coupling between nitrite production and the activity of the cytoplasmically oriented Nar‐1 enzyme was demonstrated. No exogenous electron donor was required to drive nitrate reduction, which indicates that spore storage compounds are used as electron donors. Oxygen reversibly inhibited nitrate reduction by spores but not by spore extracts, suggesting that nitrate transport might be the target of oxygen inhibition. Nar‐1 activity required no de novo protein synthesis indicating that Nar‐1 is synthesized during sporulation and remains in a latently active state throughout the lifetime of the spore. Remarkably, the rates of oxygen and of nitrate reduction by wetted spores were comparable. Together, these findings suggest that S. coelicolor spores have the potential to maintain a membrane potential using nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor.
In vitro susceptibility of chromoblastomycosis agents to five antifungal drugs and to the combination of terbinafine and amphotericin B
Authors: Daboit Tatiane C. , Massotti Magagnin Cibele , Heidrich Daiane , Czekster Antochevis Laura , Vigolo Suelen , Collares Meirelles Lúcia , Alves Karine , Scroferneker Maria L. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryChromoblastomycosis is a chronic mycosis that affects the skin and subcutaneous tissues caused by several genera of dematiaceous fungi. There is not a treatment of choice. Thus, tools that help guide clinical practice are fundamental. In this sense, antifungal activity tests in vitro could be useful. However, trials with chromoblastomycosis agents are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the in vitro susceptibility of 60 chromoblastomycosis agents to five antifungals and the combination of amphotericin B (AMB) and terbinafine (TRB). TRB, itraconazole (ITZ) and ketoconazole (KTZ) were, in this order, the drugs which showed better activity against the chromoblastomycosis agents. The less active drugs were voriconazole (VRZ) and AMB. The more differentiated group was Exophiala spinifera. Cladophialophora carrionii and Fonsecaea spp. are significantly more susceptible to KTZ than Phialophora verrucosa, whereas C. carrionii is significantly more sensitive to VRZ than P. verrucosa and E. spinifera. Assays in this direction allow the knowledge of the susceptibility of the causative agents which may help the management of patients with this disease. This study includes the largest number of these agents and of genera found in the literature.
Oral Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. polymorphum binds to human salivary α‐amylase
Authors: Zulfiqar M. , Yamaguchi T. , Sato S. , Oho T. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryFusobacterium nucleatum acts as an intermediate between early and late colonizers in the oral cavity. In this study, we showed that F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum can bind to a salivary component with a molecular weight of approximately 110 kDa and identified the protein and another major factor of 55 kDa, as salivary α‐amylase by time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and immuno‐reactions. Salivary α‐amylase is present in both monomeric and dimeric forms and we found that formation of the dimer depends on copper ions. The F. nucleatum adhered to both monomeric and dimeric salivary α‐amylases, but the numbers of bacteria bound to the dimeric form were more than those bound to the monomeric form. The degree of adherence of F. nucleatum to four α‐amylases from different sources was almost the same, however its binding to β‐amylase was considerably decreased. Among four α‐amylase inhibitors tested, acarbose and type 1 and 3 inhibitors derived from wheat flour showed significant activity against the adhesion of F.nucleatum to monomeric and dimeric amylases, however voglibose had little effect. Moreover F. nucleatum cells inhibited the enzymatic activity of salivary α‐amylase in a dose‐dependent manner. These results suggest that F. nucleatum plays more important and positive role as an early colonizer for maturation of oral microbial colonization.
Feasibility of Local Stress Relaxation by Laser Annealing and X‐ray Measurement
Authors: Barile C. , Casavola C. , Pappalettera G. , Pappalettere C. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTMost manufacturing processes generate residual stresses inside the materials and components. Stress relief heat treatments can be used to reduce the magnitude of the residual stresses: by uniformly heating a structure to a sufficiently high temperature, and then uniformly cooling it, residual stresses can be relaxed. This process generally requires the insertion of the entire component in a large furnace, for a fairly long period of time.In this paper, the possibility of using a high power laser source to locally relieve residual stresses is studied; this has the advantage of calibrating and confining the relief process just to the laser affected area. An experimental set‐up was tested on an aluminium specimen, and the preliminary results are reported in this paper.
Belief and Motivation
Authors: Friedrich Daniel 
Published: July 2013

AbstractHumeans claim that all motivation is by desire. Anti‐Humeans maintain that some beliefs can motivate all by themselves. This dispute, I argue, hinges on the question whether belief can rationalize motivation. Moreover, I argue belief can rationalize motivation since rationality requires that one be motivated to φ if one believes one has most reason to φ, and it is possible to be motivated to φ because one believes one has most reason to φ and one exercises one's capacity for rational agency.
Using water industry data to assess the metaldehyde pollution problem
Authors: Kay Paul , Grayson Richard 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe presence of metaldehyde in raw and treated water has become a recognised problem recently. The current study used water industry monitoring data collected over a two and a half‐year period (2008–2011) to quantify the presence of metaldehyde in rivers and finished waters. Measured surface water concentrations were then compared with catchment characteristics in an attempt to identify those factors driving losses of the pesticide to water. An assessment was also made of the robustness of the monitoring strategy used, which was assumed to represent typical water industry practice, and is currently being used to develop catchment management plans. It was found that exceedance of the European Union pesticide standard (0.1 μg/L) during the October–December slug pellet application period is commonplace. Peak concentrations were generally in the 0.4–0.6 μg/L range although sometimes were an order of magnitude higher.
Macrolide-Resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Adolescents and Adults: Clinical Findings, Drug Susceptibility, and Therapeutic Efficacy
Authors: Miyashita Naoyuki , Akaike Hiroto , Teranishi Hideto , Ouchi Kazunobu , Okimoto Niro 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

We investigated differences in the clinical findings between 30 patients with macrolide-resistant
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
pneumonia and 43 patients with macrolide-sensitive
M. pneumoniae
pneumonia in adolescents and adults. No differences in clinical presentation were observed between the two groups. Among patients with macrolide-resistant
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
pneumonia, treatment was more effective in the groups that received quinolones and minocycline than in the group that received macrolides (
P
= 0.0361 and
P
= 0.0237, respectively).
Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Antiviral Activity of GSK2336805, an Inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS5A, in Healthy Subjects and Subjects Chronically Infected with HCV Genotype 1
Authors: Wilfret D. A. , Walker J. , Adkison K. K. , Jones L. A. , Lou Y. , Gan J. , Castellino S. , Moseley C. L. , Horton J. , de Serres M. , Culp A. , Goljer I. , Spreen W. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

GSK2336805 is an orally bioavailable hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitor working through an NS5A-mediated mechanism. This first-time-in-human study was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and efficacy of GSK2336805 in healthy subjects and subjects infected with HCV genotype 1. We performed a three-part, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 46 healthy subjects and 23 HCV-infected subjects. After an overnight fast, healthy subjects received GSK2336805 as 10 mg, 30 mg, 30 mg plus food, and 60 mg in a single dose and 10 mg (7 days), 30 mg (7 days), and 75 mg (14 days) in a once-daily multiple dose. Subjects with HCV received GSK2336805 as a 1- to 120-mg single dose. In subjects with HCV, reductions in HCV RNA were observed within 4 h and a single dose of GSK2336805 of ≥10 mg resulted in a statistically significant ≥2-log reduction in HCV RNA compared with placebo at 24 h postdose. GSK2336805 was readily absorbed in all subjects, and the half-life (
t
1/2
) was suitable for once-daily dosing. Administration of GSK2336805 with food had no effect on plasma GSK2336805 exposure; however, absorption was delayed, with a median
t
max
(time to maximum concentration of drug in serum) of 4.5 versus 2.0 h. Twenty subjects who received GSK2336805 experienced mild to moderate adverse events; none were serious. GSK2336805 was well tolerated and exhibited rapid, significant antiviral activity after a single dose in HCV-infected subjects. These results support the conduct of further studies evaluating GSK2336805 administered once daily for longer durations in combination with peginterferon, ribavirin, and other direct-acting antivirals. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01277692.)
A Chimeric Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein Vaccine Induces High Titers of Parasite Growth Inhibitory Antibodies
Authors: Alaro James R. , Partridge Andrea , Miura Kazutoyo , Diouf Ababacar , Lopez Ana M. , Angov Evelina , Long Carole A. , Burns James M. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe C-terminal 19-kDa domain ofPlasmodium falciparummerozoite surface protein 1 (PfMSP119) is an established target of protective antibodies. However, clinical trials ofPfMSP142, a leading blood-stage vaccine candidate which contains the protective epitopes ofPfMSP119, revealed suboptimal immunogenicity and efficacy. Based on proof-of-concept studies in thePlasmodium yoeliimurine model, we produced a chimeric vaccine antigen containing recombinantPfMSP119(rPfMSP119) fused to the N terminus ofP. falciparummerozoite surface protein 8 that lacked its low-complexity Asn/Asp-rich domain, rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp). Immunization of mice with the chimeric rPfMSP1/8 vaccine elicited strong T cell responses to conserved epitopes associated with the rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp) fusion partner. While specific forPfMSP8, this T cell response was adequate to provide help for the production of high titers of antibodies to bothPfMSP119and rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp) components. This occurred with formulations adjuvanted with either Quil A or with Montanide ISA 720 plus CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and was observed in both inbred and outbred strains of mice.PfMSP1/8-induced antibodies were highly reactive with two major alleles ofPfMSP119(FVO and 3D7). Of particular interest, immunization withPfMSP1/8 elicited higher titers ofPfMSP119-specific antibodies than a combined formulation of rPfMSP142and rPfMSP8 (ΔAsn/Asp). As a measure of functionality,PfMSP1/8-specific rabbit IgG was shown to potently inhibit thein vitrogrowth of blood-stage parasites of the FVO and 3D7 strains ofP. falciparum. These data support the further testing and evaluation of this chimericPfMSP1/8 antigen as a component of a multivalent vaccine forP. falciparummalaria.
Relationship between periparturient management, prevalence of MAP and preventable economic losses in UK dairy herds
Authors: Radia D. , Bond K. , Limon G. , van Winden S. , Guitian J. 
Published: July 2013

Johne's disease (JD) is an infectious, progressive, gastrointestinal disease affecting ruminants. Calves are mostly infected in their first six months of life, or in utero. We investigated the impact of specific periparturient management practices on within‐herd JD prevalence and economic losses foregone in UK dairy herds by means of data synthesis (systematic appraisal of published evidence and expert elicitation) and use of a pre‐existing simulation model. Our results show the scarcity of accurate estimates of the impact of specific periparturient management practices on within‐herd JD prevalence, which could, in part, be explained by challenges associated with the chronic nature of JD. Management practices aiming to limit the faecal‐oral transmission route ofMycobacterium aviumsubspeciesparatuberculosis(MAP) were found to be most effective at reducing within‐herd prevalence of JD. Practices aiming to limit MAP transmission via colostrum and milk were found to be less effective. Losses foregone for a hypothetical herd of 200 milking cows were considerable; based on the assumptions, it is reasonable to expect between £7000 and £11,000 of losses foregone when management practices are implemented as a package of measures. The findings of this study are envisaged to enable farmers and veterinarians to make more informed decisions on changes to periparturient management to control JD.