bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The etiology of mental disorders: Public endorsement of traditional Chinese beliefs in Macau
Authors: Found Andrew , Duarte Carlos 
Published: October 2012

Background: Public beliefs concerning the causes of mental disorders are important in their effective treatment. The relative importance of public beliefs related to the etiology of mental disorders among Chinese populations and their relationship to other attitudes to mental disorders are poorly understood. Aims: To investigate the endorsement of beliefs related to the etiology of mental disorders in Macau, in particular, traditional Chinese beliefs, and to explore their relationship to general attitudes towards mental disorders. Methods: A survey of 361 members of the public measured attitudes towards 32 possible causes of mental disorders as well as contact with and social distance from individuals with a mental disorder. Results: The results indicated that traditional Chinese beliefs were ranked with relatively low importance compared with psychosocial causes. Traditional beliefs related to two underlying factors and were significantly higher in participants with lower education levels. There was a significant negative correlation between endorsement of traditional beliefs and contact with individuals with a mental disorder and a significant positive correlation between endorsement of traditional beliefs and desired social distance from individuals with a mental disorder. Conclusion: Factors underlying traditional Chinese beliefs concerning the causes of mental disorders are associated with more negative attitudes towards individuals with a mental disorder, with such beliefs more strongly endorsed by those with relatively lower education levels.
The effect of partial replacement of carbon black (CB) with halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on the properties of CB/HNT-filled natural rubber nanocomposites
Authors: Ismail Hanafi , Salleh Siti Zuliana , Ahmad Zulkifli 
Published: October 2012

The effect of partial replacement of carbon black (CB) with halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on the properties of natural rubber nanocomposites was investigated. Total hybrid fillers were kept constant at 40 parts per hundred rubber (phr) and were prepared using laboratory two-roll mill. Longer scorch and cure times were observed with the addition of more HNTs. The results also showed a decrement in tensile strength and tensile moduli besides causing an increment in swelling percentage. However, positive results were shown during elongation at break and fatigue life which indicates possible usefulness of HNTs in dynamic application of rubber products. Comparable thermal stability of nanocomposites with variable CB/HNTs ratios was shown in thermogravimetric analysis data.
Effectiveness of different exercises and stretching physiotherapy on pain and movement in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Moyano F Revelles , Valenza MC , Martin L Martin , Caballero Y Castellote , Gonzalez-Jimenez E , Demet G Valenza 
Published: October 2012

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation combined with exercise, classic stretching physiotherapy intervention, and educational intervention at improving patient function and pain in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Design: Randomized, controlled, blind trial over four months. Setting: Urban population, Spain. Participants: Patients undergoing primary care for retropatellar pain. Intervention: Subjects were allocated on three different treatment options: a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and aerobic exercise group, a classic stretching group, and a control treatment were applied over four months under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Main outcome: Knee Society Score, pain reported (Visual analogue scale) and knee range of motion. Assessments were completed at baseline and after four months. Results: 74 patients were enrolled in the study and distributed between groups. Both the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and classic stretching group showed significant changes in all variables after four months intervention ( p < 0.001). The difference in mean Kujala knee score changes between groups (classic stretching group vs. proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group vs. control group) at four months was −24.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) −30.19, −17.90), p ≤ 0.001; vs. −39.03 (95% confidence interval (CI) −42.5, −35.5), p ≤ 0.001; vs. −0.238 (95% confidence interval (CI) −1.2, 0.726), p = 0.621, respectively. Conclusions: A proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation intervention protocol combined with aerobic exercise showed a better outcome than a classic stretching protocol after four months.
Safety and efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves for the management of chronic migraine: Results from a randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, controlled study
Authors: Silberstein Stephen D , Dodick David W , Saper Joel , Huh Billy , Slavin Konstantin V , Sharan Ashwini , Reed Ken , Narouze Samer , Mogilner Alon , Goldstein Jerome , Trentman Terrence , Vaisman Julien , Ordia Joseph , Weber Peter , Deer Timothy , Levy Robert , Diaz Roni L , Washburn Stephanie N , Mekhail Nagy 
Published: October 2012

Background: Chronic migraine (CM) is a debilitating neurological disorder with few treatment options. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerves is a potentially promising therapy for CM patients. Methods: In this randomized, controlled multicenter study, patients diagnosed with CM were implanted with a neurostimulation device near the occipital nerves and randomized 2:1 to active ( n = 105) or sham ( n = 52) stimulation. The primary endpoint was a difference in the percentage of responders (defined as patients that achieved a ≥50% reduction in mean daily visual analog scale scores) in each group at 12 weeks. Results: There was not a significant difference in the percentage of responders in the Active compared with the Control group (95% lower confidence bound (LCB) of −0.06; p = 0.55). However, there was a significant difference in the percentage of patients that achieved a 30% reduction ( p = 0.01). Importantly, compared with sham-treated patients, there were also significant differences in reduction of number of headache days (Active Group = 6.1, baseline = 22.4; Control Group = 3.0, baseline = 20.1; p = 0.008), migraine-related disability ( p = 0.001) and direct reports of pain relief ( p = 0.001). The most common adverse event was persistent implant site pain. Conclusion: Although this study failed to meet its primary endpoint, this is the first large-scale study of PNS of the occipital nerves in CM patients that showed significant reductions in pain, headache days, and migraine-related disability. Additional controlled studies using endpoints that have recently been identified and accepted as clinically meaningful are warranted in this highly disabled patient population with a large unmet medical need. Trial registration: Clinical trials.gov (NCT00615342).
Novel hybrid acid–base membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone), tetraethoxysilane and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane for fuel cell application
Authors: Ren Jiannan , Zhang Shuling , Wang Qinhong , Geng Zhi , Wang Guibin 
Published: October 2012

Two kinds of novel hybrid membranes with and without (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (KH550) were produced using tetraethoxysilane dispersed in sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) matrix by the sol–gel method. The obtained hybrid membranes (SPAES-K-SiO2 and SPAES–SiO2) possessed higher water uptake, proton conductivities and selectivity compared with the pristine SPAES membrane when the SiO2 content was 3 and 6 wt%, whereas the same properties of the obtained hybrid membranes decreased when the SiO2 content was 10 wt%. In addition, the acid–base interactions between SPAES and SiO2 could improve the dispersion of the inorganic particles (SiO2) in the SPAES matrix. As a result, SPAES–K–SiO2 hybrid membranes presented better methanol permeability and selectivity than SPAES–SiO2 hybrid membranes without the acid–base interactions.
The Influence of Cognitive Status on Elder Food Choice and Meal Service Satisfaction
Authors: Crogan Neva L. , Short Robert , Dupler Alice E. , Heaton Grace 
Published: October 2012

Background: This article describes the testing of a new nursing home food delivery system that empowers elders to choose the foods they want to eat and gives them an active voice in menu development. Methods: Using a 2-group, repeated measures design, 61 elderly residents from 2 eastern Washington nursing homes were recruited to participate in a 6-month study. Outcome measures included food and meal service satisfaction, body weight, serum prealbumin, and food intake. Results: Serum prealbumin levels and body weight increased post intervention for treatment group residents. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores were not associated with the changes in serum prealbumin, body weight, or food intake. Discussion: The MMSE scores did not influence the resident’s ability to actively participate in the rate the food process or choose the foods they liked and preferred to eat. Cognitive impaired older adults experienced weight gain similarly to higher functioning elderly individuals.
Epidermis instructs skin homing receptor expression in human T cells
Authors: McCully Michelle L. , Ladell Kristin , Hakobyan Svetlana , Mansel Robert E. , Price David A. , Moser Bernhard 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe localization of memory T cells to human skin is essential for long-term immune surveillance and the maintenance of barrier integrity. Although the mechanisms controlling memory T-cell migration to peripheral tissues are poorly understood, the current paradigm includes the localized secretion of “imprinting” signals from tissue-resident dendritic cells in the draining lymph nodes. Here we show that CCR8 expression by newly activated naive T cells is regulated by skin-specific factor(s) derived primarily from epidermal keratinocytes, thereby providing a mechanism for the preferential expression of CCR8 by skin-resident memory T cells. Importantly, no such effects were observed after coculture with primary cells from skin-unrelated epithelia, including mesothelium and small intestine. The keratinocyte-derived CCR8-inducing factor(s) were soluble, and independent of vitamins A and D. Furthermore, the induction of CCR8 under these conditions correlated with an increase in cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen expression. Our findings challenge current tissue homing paradigms, especially those involving CCR10, and emphasize the importance of steady-state epidermis rather than tissue-resident dendritic cells in controlling the localization of memory T cells within human skin.
The split personality of regulatory T cells in HIV infection
Authors: Chevalier Mathieu F. , Weiss Laurence 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Natural regulatory T cells (Tregs) participate in responses to various chronic infections including HIV. HIV infection is associated with a progressive CD4 lymphopenia and defective HIV-specific CD8 responses known to play a key role in the control of viral replication. Persistent immune activation is a hallmark of HIV infection and is involved in disease progression independent of viral load. The consequences of Treg expansion, observed in HIV infection, could be either beneficial, by suppressing generalized T-cell activation, or detrimental, by weakening HIV-specific responses and thus contributing to viral persistence. The resulting balance between Tregs contrasting outcomes might have critical implications in pathogenesis. Topics covered in this review include HIV-induced alterations of Tregs, Treg cell dynamics in blood and tissues, Treg-suppressive function, and the relationship between Tregs and immune activation. This review also provides a focus on the role of CD39+ Tregs and other regulatory cell subsets. All these issues will be explored in different situations including acute and chronic infection, antiretroviral treatment-mediated viral control, and spontaneous viral control. Results must be interpreted with regard to both the Treg definition used in context and to the setting of the disease in an attempt to draw clearer conclusions from the apparently conflicting results.
Expression of Shigella flexneri gluQ-rs gene is linked to dksAand controlled by a transcriptional terminator
Authors: Caballero Valeria C , Toledo Viviana P , Maturana Cristian , Fisher Carolyn R , Payne Shelley M , Salazar Juan Carlos 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Glutamyl queuosine-tRNAAsp synthetase (GluQ-RS) is a paralog of the catalytic domain of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and catalyzes the formation of glutamyl-queuosine on the wobble position of tRNAAsp. Here we analyze the transcription of its gene in Shigella flexneri, where it is found downstream of dksA, which encodes a transcriptional regulator involved in stress responses.

Results
The genomic organization, dksA-gluQ-rs, is conserved in more than 40 bacterial species. RT-PCR assays show co-transcription of both genes without a significant change in transcript levels during growth of S. flexneri. However, mRNA levels of the intergenic region changed during growth, increasing at stationary phase, indicating an additional level of control over the expression of gluQ-rs gene. Transcriptional fusions with lacZ as a reporter gene only produced β-galactosidase activity when the constructs included the dksA promoter, indicating that gluQ-rs do not have a separate promoter. Using bioinformatics, we identified a putative transcriptional terminator between dksA and gluQ-rs. Deletion or alteration of the predicted terminator resulted in increased expression of the lacZ reporter compared with cells containing the wild type terminator sequence. Analysis of the phenotype of a gluQ-rs mutant suggested that it may play a role in some stress responses, since growth of the mutant was impaired in the presence of osmolytes.

Conclusions
The results presented here, show that the expression of gluQ-rs depends on the dksA promoter, and strongly suggest the presence and the functionality of a transcriptional terminator regulating its expression. Also, the results indicate a link between glutamyl-queuosine synthesis and stress response in Shigella flexneri.
Identification of wild soybean miRNAs and their target genes responsive to aluminum stress
Authors: Zeng Qiao-Ying , Yang Cun-Yi , Ma Qi-Bin , Li Xiu-Ping , Dong Wen-Wen , Nian Hai 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important regulatory roles in development and stress response in plants. Wild soybean (Glycine soja) has undergone long-term natural selection and may have evolved special mechanisms to survive stress conditions as a result. However, little information about miRNAs especially miRNAs responsive to aluminum (Al) stress is available in wild soybean.

Results
Two small RNA libraries and two degradome libraries were constructed from the roots of Al-treated and Al-free G. soja seedlings. For miRNA identification, a total of 7,287,655 and 7,035,914 clean reads in Al-treated and Al-free small RNAs libraries, respectively, were generated, and 97 known miRNAs and 31 novel miRNAs were identified. In addition, 49 p3 or p5 strands of known miRNAs were found. Among all the identified miRNAs, the expressions of 30 miRNAs were responsive to Al stress. Through degradome sequencing, 86 genes were identified as targets of the known miRNAs and five genes were found to be the targets of the novel miRNAs obtained in this study. Gene ontology (GO) annotations of target transcripts indicated that 52 target genes cleaved by conserved miRNA families might play roles in the regulation of transcription. Additionally, some genes, such as those for the auxin response factor (ARF), domain-containing disease resistance protein (NB-ARC), leucine-rich repeat and toll/interleukin-1 receptor-like protein (LRR-TIR) domain protein, cation transporting ATPase, Myb transcription factors, and the no apical meristem (NAM) protein, that are known to be responsive to stress, were found to be cleaved under Al stress conditions.

Conclusions
A number of miRNAs and their targets were detected in wild soybean. Some of them that were responsive to biotic and abiotic stresses were regulated by Al stress. These findings provide valuable information to understand the function of miRNAs in Al tolerance.
Haemoglobinuria among children with severe malaria attending tertiary care in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Ajetunmobi Wasiu A , Orimadegun Adebola E , Brown Biobele J , Afolabi Nathaniel K , Olabiyi Folorunso A , Anetor John I , Omokhodion Samuel , Osinusi Kikelomo , Akinbami Felix O , Shokunbi Wuraola A , Sodeinde Olugbemiro , Fernandez-Reyes Delmiro 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundHaemoglobinuria is one of the manifestations of severe malaria and results from severe intravascular haemolysis. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been implicated in its aetiology. Haemoglobinuria may be associated with severe anaemia and, less frequently, acute renal failure.MethodsA prospective case-control study was carried out to determine the incidence of haemoglobinuria as confirmed by dipstick urinalysis, microscopy and spectrophotometric measurement, among children with severe malaria. A total of 251 children presenting at the Children’s Emergency Ward with severe malaria were recruited over a period of 21 months. The G6PD status and the outcomes of severe malaria in children with and without haemoglobinuria was studied with respect to renal failure, the recurrence of haemoglobinuria and blood pressure changes over a three-month follow-up period.ResultsIt was found that the incidence of haemoglobinuria among children with severe malaria is 19.1%. Children <5 years constituted 76.8% of all the study patients. Patients with haemoglobinuria had median age of 52.5 months, which was significantly higher than 35 months in patients without haemoglobinuria (p=0.001). Although, haemaglobinuria was commoner among boys (54.2%) than girls (45.8%), the difference was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between children with and without haemoglobinuria regarding their nutritional status or parasite densities. Among the clinical features of the study patients, only jaundice was significantly associated with haemoglobinuria (p=0.0001). Renal failure occurred in three out of 48 children with haemoglobinuria and in none of the 203 without. There was not recurrence of haemoglobinuria in the follow-up period. At discharge, blood pressure was elevated in six children (one previously haemoglobinuric), but all returned to normal within the follow-up period.ConclusionsHaemoglobinuria was a prominent feature of severe malaria and it was significantly associated with jaundice at presentation. Haemoglobinuria was commoner in older children than younger children but not related to sex. G6PD deficiency was not an independent predictor of the occurrence or outcome of haemoglobinuria. Blood pressure was not affected by haemoglobinuria on admission nor during follow-up.
Ezrin overexpression predicts the poor prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma
Authors: Jin Jingchun , Jin Tiefeng , Quan Meiling , Piao Yingshi , Lin Zhenhua 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Ezrin is a cytoskeletal protein that is involved in tumor growth and invasion. It has been suggested that Ezrin expression plays an important role in tumor metastasis. This study is aimed to investigate the clinicopathological significance of Ezrin overexpression in gastric adenocarcinomas.

Methods
Ezrin protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 26 normal gastric mucosa, 32 dysplasia, and 277 gastric adenocarcinomas. The relationship between Ezrin expression and the clinicopathological features of gastric cancers was analyzed. In addition, a gastric cancer cell line, MKN-1, was also used for immunofluorescence staining to evaluate the distribution of Ezrin protein.

Results
Ezrin protein located in the cytoplasm and/or membrane in the migrating gastric cancer cells, and it mainly concentrated at the protrusion site; however, only cytoplasmic distribution was observed in the non-migrating cancer cells by immunofluorescence staining. The positive rate of Ezrin protein expression was significantly higher in gastric adenocarcinoma and dysplasia compared with that in the normal gastric mucosa. Moreover, expression frequency of Ezrin protein increased significantly in lymph node metastasis and late clinical stages. Consistently, strong expression of Ezrin was significantly correlated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer.

Conclusion
The detection of Ezrin expression can be used as the marker for early diagnosis and prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Virtual Slides
The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2303598677653946
Activation of the PTHRP/adenylate cyclase pathway promotes differentiation of rat XEN cells into parietal endoderm, whereas Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes differentiation into visceral endoderm
Authors: Chuykin Ilya , Schulz Herbert , Guan Kaomei , Bader Michael 
Published: October 2012

SummaryDuring early mammalian development, primitive endoderm (PrE) is specified and segregated away from the pluripotent epiblast. At a later developmental stage, PrE forms motile parietal endoderm (PE) lying proximal to the trophectoderm, and visceral endoderm (VE) that contacts the developing epiblast and extraembryonic ectoderm. Mouse extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells were isolated and became widely used to study signals governing lineage specification. Rat XEN cell lines have also been derived, but were distinguished from mouse by expression of SSEA1 and Oct4. We showed here that rat XEN cells grown in the presence of a GSK3 inhibitor or overexpressing β-catenin exhibited enhanced formation of cell contacts and decreased motility. Rat XEN cells treated with BMP4 revealed similar morphological changes. Furthermore, we observed that rat XEN cells cultured with GSK3 inhibitor formed adhesion and tight junctions, and acquired bottom-top polarity, indicating the formation of VE cells. In contrast, forskolin, an activator of the cAMP pathway, induced the disruption of cell contacts in rat XEN cells. Treatment with forskolin induced PE formation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rat XEN cells. Using microarray and real-time PCR assays, we found that VE versus PE formation of rat XEN cells was correlated with change in expression levels of VE or PE marker genes. Similar to forskolin, EMT was prompted upon treatment of rat XEN cells with recombinant parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHRP), an activator of the cAMP pathway in vivo. Taken together, our data suggest that rat XEN cells are PrE-like cells. The activation of Wnt or BMP4 pathways in rat XEN cells leads to the acquisition of VE characteristics, whereas the activation of the PTHRP/cAMP pathway leads to EMT and the formation of PE.