bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of epidermal growth factor single‐nucleotide polymorphism on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Yoshiya Shohei , Fujimoto Yukiko , Bekki Yuki , Konishi Hideyuki , Yamashita Yo‐ichi , Ikegami Toru , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Shirabe Ken , Oda Yoshinao , Maehara Yoshihiko 
Published: April 2014

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with an increased risk of hepatic tumors. The study aimed to elucidate the impact of EGF SNP and EGF receptor (EGFR) expression on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy. To examine the impact of EGF SNP and EGFR on recurrent HCC, we retrospectively analyzed 141 HCC patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who underwent curative hepatectomy. The EGF *61 GG allele was present in 69 patients (48.9%), AG in 56 (39.7%) and AA in 16 (11.4%). The AA group had a significantly lower rate of intrahepatic metastasis (0% vs 16.5%, P = 0.02), lower serum EGF concentration (26.3 ± 15.9 pg/mL vs 43.4 ± 30.5 pg/mL, P = 0.02) and lower proportion of early recurrence (≤2 years; 28.6% vs 71.2%, P = 0.03) than the AG/GG group. The AA group had significantly higher recurrence‐free survival than the AG/GG group (P = 0.04), but there was no significant difference in overall survival between these two groups (P = 0.97). High versus low EGFR expression analyzed by immunohistochemical staining in cancer cells was not significantly associated with overall survival (P = 0.37) or recurrence‐free survival (P = 0.39). Therefore, EGF *61 AA was associated with a lower risk of recurrence after curative hepatectomy for HCC in patients with hepatitis C virus infection than other genotypes, but EGFR expression in cancer cells was not significantly associated with prognosis.
RETRACTED: Capn4 is a marker of poor clinical outcomes and promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis via nuclear factor‐κB‐induced matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression
Authors: Zheng Pei‐Chan , Chen Xiong , Zhu Hong‐Wu , Zheng Wei , Mao Li‐Hua , Lin Cheng , Liu Jing‐Nan , Zheng Ming 
Published: April 2014

Calpain small subunit 1 (Capn4) plays a key role in tumor migration or invasion. In this study, expression and function of Capn4 was investigated in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here we report that both mRNA and protein levels of Capn4 were elevated in NPC tissues when compared to normal NP tissues. Similarly, Capn4 was also highly expressed in multiple NPC cell lines, compared to immortalized human nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line NP69. Moreover, expression of Capn4 was significantly correlated with Epstein‐Barr virus infection, advanced stages, and lymph node or distant metastasis (P < 0.001). The patients with NPC displaying higher Capn4 had a significantly shorter overall survival (P = 0.002) and progression‐free survival (P = 0.003). Furthermore, siRNA knockdown of Capn4 suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. These events resulted from Capn4 downregulation were associated with reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), Snail, and Vimentin. Finally, we demonstrated that Capn4 upregulated MMP2 via nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation, manifested by increased phosphorylation of p65, a subunit of NF‐κB. Together, these findings argue a novel function of Capn4 in invasion and metastasis of NPC, and thereby suggest that Capn4 may represent an independent prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target in NPC.
Tissue response of selective retina therapy by means of a feedback‐controlled energy ramping mode
Authors: Park Young‐Gun , Seifert Eric , Roh Young J , Theisen‐Kunde Dirk , Kang Seungbum , Brinkmann Ralf 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety and selectivity of the retinal pigment epithelium lesions by using automatic energy ramping and dosimetry technique for selective retina therapy and to investigate the healing response.MethodsTen eyes of Chinchilla Bastard rabbits were treated with an automatic dosage controlled selective retina therapy laser (frequency doubled Q‐switched Nd:YLF, wavelength: 527 nm, pulse duration: 1.7 μs, repetition rate: 100 Hz, pulse energy: linear increasing from pulse to pulse up to shut down – maximal 110 μJ, max. number of pulses in a burst: 30, retinal spot diameter: 133 μm). After treatment, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were performed at three time points from 1 h to 3 weeks. Histological analysis was performed.ResultsA total of 381 selective retina therapy laser spots were tested (range 13–104 μJ).Typical fundus photographs obtained at 1 h after irradiation showed that 379 out of 381 lesions produced by selective retina therapy were not visible ophthalmoscopically and the lesions could be detected by angiography only. Optical coherence tomography images revealed that the structure of photoreceptors was preserved, but a disrupted retinal pigment epithelium layer was observed as was expected. By 3 weeks, histology showed selective retinal pigment epithelium damage without any effect on the inner retina and focal proliferation of the retinal pigment epithelium layer.ConclusionsAutomatically controlled selective retina therapy is a significant improvement in this innovative treatment. It could be demonstrated that the non‐contact, reflectometric technique with a controlled pulse energy ramp is safe and selective.
Collaborating with families in differential responses: practitioners' views
Authors: Healy Karen , Harrison Gai , Venables Jemma , Bosly Fiona 
Published: April 2014

AbstractChild protection authorities in many countries are concerned with reducing the rates of investigations and with diverting at‐risk families from the child protection service system. In several countries, differential responses have been introduced into child protection law providing service providers with some choice between investigative or family support pathways, depending upon the level of risk posed in the circumstance. In this paper, we report on a study into a form of differential response known as Intervention with Parents' Agreement introduced in Queensland, Australia, in 2005. A unique feature of this differential response is that it occurs after an initial child protection investigation, although it does provide child protection services with options for providing supportive interventions to at‐risk families to prevent the further escalation of concerns. In this paper, we analyse practitioners' perceptions of factors that inhibit and promote implementation of the Intervention with Parents' Agreement. Drawing upon interviews with 25 practitioners, we identify factors that become important for securing participation after an initial investigation has occurred. We discuss the implications for the development of differential responses in child protection service systems.
Positive Allosteric Modulation of GABAB Receptors Ameliorates Sensorimotor Gating in Rodent Models
Authors: Frau Roberto , Bini Valentina , Pillolla Giuliano , Malherbe Pari , Pardu Alessandra , Thomas Andrew W. , Devoto Paola , Bortolato Marco 
Published: April 2014

SummaryBackgroundConverging evidence points to the involvement of γ‐amino‐butyric acid B receptors (GABABRs) in the regulation of information processing. We previously showed that GABABR agonists exhibit antipsychotic‐like properties in rodent models of sensorimotor gating deficits, as measured by the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. The therapeutic potential of these agents, however, is limited by their neuromuscular side effects; thus, in this study, we analyzed whether rac‐BHFF, a potent GABABR‐positive allosteric modulator (PAM), could counter spontaneous and pharmacologically induced PPI deficits across various rodent models.MethodsWe tested the antipsychotic effects of rac‐BHFF on the PPI deficits caused by the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist dizocilpine, in Sprague‐Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, we verified whether rac‐BHFF ameliorated the spontaneous PPI impairments in DBA/2J mice.Resultsrac‐BHFF dose‐dependently countered the PPI deficits across all three models, in a fashion akin to the GABABR agonist baclofen and the atypical antipsychotic clozapine; in contrast with these compounds, however, rac‐BHFF did not affect startle magnitude.ConclusionsThe present data further support the implication of GABABRs in the modulation of sensorimotor gating and point to their PAMs as a novel promising tool for antipsychotic treatment, with fewer side effects than GABABR agonists.
Egocentric and allocentric navigation strategies in Williams syndrome and typical development
Authors: Broadbent Hannah J. , Farran Emily K. , Tolmie Andy 
Published: April 2014

AbstractRecent findings suggest that difficulties on small‐scale visuospatial tasks documented in Williams syndrome (WS) also extend to large‐scale space. In particular, individuals with WS often present with difficulties in allocentric spatial coding (encoding relationships between items within an environment or array). This study examined the effect of atypical spatial processing in WS on large‐scale navigational strategies, using a novel 3D virtual environment. During navigation of recently learnt large‐scale space, typically developing (TD) children predominantly rely on the use of a sequential egocentric strategy (recalling the sequence of left–right body turns throughout a route), but become more able to use an allocentric strategy between 5 and 10 years of age. The navigation strategies spontaneously employed by TD children between 5 and 10 years of age and individuals with WS were analysed. The ability to use an allocentric strategy on trials where spatial relational knowledge was required to find the shortest route was also examined. Results showed that, unlike TD children, during spontaneous navigation the WS group did not predominantly employ a sequential egocentric strategy. Instead, individuals with WS followed the path until the correct environmental landmarks were found, suggesting the use of a time‐consuming and inefficient view‐matching strategy for wayfinding. Individuals with WS also presented with deficits in allocentric spatial coding, demonstrated by difficulties in determining short‐cuts when required and difficulties developing a mental representation of the environment layout. This was found even following extensive experience in an environment, suggesting that – unlike in typical development – experience cannot contribute to the development of spatial relational processing in WS. This atypical presentation of both egocentric and allocentric spatial encoding is discussed in relation to specific difficulties on small‐scale spatial tasks and known atypical cortical development in WS.
Serious harm from inpatient hypoglycaemia: a survey of hospitals in the UK
Authors: Rajendran R. , Rayman G. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAimTo estimate the incidence of serious harm to inpatients with diabetes from hypoglycaemia.MethodAn anonymised questionnaire was e‐mailed to lead organisers at the 142 acute NHS Trusts that contributed to the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit 2012. Each diabetes team was asked collectively to recall and report any serious adverse events from inpatient hypoglycaemia in the previous year. A total of 83 Trusts agreed to participate. Serious harm was defined as death, a cardiac or cerebral event or a fall resulting in permanent physical injury or fracture.ResultsA total of 41 Trusts returned the survey. Of these, only 28 (68.3%) were confident that robust methods existed in their Trust to ensure all such events were reported, and only 23 (56.1%) were confident that all such events were reported to the diabetes team. Despite these reporting concerns, the retrospective nature of the survey and the reliance on recall, 12 serious adverse events were reported from nine trusts: three deaths; two cases of permanent cerebral damage; two successfully resuscitated cardiac arrests; three seizures; and two undefined events. Insulin therapy was implicated in 10 events. Importantly, three events with two deaths occurred in patients who had received insulin/dextrose to correct hyperkalaemia; only one of whom had diabetes.ConclusionsAn alarming number of serious adverse events was reported: 12 serious adverse events with three deaths over a 1‐year period in 41 Trusts. This may be the tip of the iceberg, considering the potential under‐reporting. Robust reporting mechanisms are required to determine the full extent of this serious preventable harm.
Rearing history affects behaviour and performance of two virulent Nasonovia ribisnigri populations on two lettuce cultivars
Authors: ten Broeke Cindy J.M. , Dicke Marcel , van Loon Joop J.A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractMany aphid species have become virulent to host‐plant resistance, which limits the sustainability of insect resistance breeding. However, when this adaptation to resistant plants is associated with fitness costs for the aphids, virulence can be lost in the absence of resistant plants. For two populations of the lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosely) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), we evaluated whether virulence to Nr‐gene‐based resistance was lost on a susceptible lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. (Asteraceae), and assessed possible costs of virulence. The feeding behaviour and performance of these aphids, reared and tested on susceptible and resistant lettuce, were investigated. The rearing plant affected feeding behaviour and performance of the aphids. Temporary reduction and long‐term loss of virulence were found. The total duration of phloem intake was shorter after being reared on susceptible lettuce and tested on resistant lettuce. In addition, one population had a lower survival on resistant lettuce after being reared on susceptible lettuce. There were also indications of fitness costs of the virulence in both populations.
Natural soil microbes alter flowering phenology and the intensity of selection on flowering time in a wild Arabidopsis relative
Authors: Wagner Maggie R. , Lundberg Derek S. , Coleman‐Derr Devin , Tringe Susannah G. , Dangl Jeffery L. , Mitchell‐Olds Thomas 
Published: April 2014

AbstractPlant phenology is known to depend on many different environmental variables, but soil microbial communities have rarely been acknowledged as possible drivers of flowering time. Here, we tested separately the effects of four naturally occurring soil microbiomes and their constituent soil chemistries on flowering phenology and reproductive fitness ofBoechera stricta, a wild relative of Arabidopsis. Flowering time was sensitive to both microbes and the abiotic properties of different soils; varying soil microbiota also altered patterns of selection on flowering time. Thus, soil microbes potentially contribute to phenotypic plasticity of flowering time and to differential selection observed between habitats. We also describe a method to dissect the microbiome into single axes of variation that can help identify candidate organisms whose abundance in soil correlates with flowering time. This approach is broadly applicable to search for microbial community members that alter biological characteristics of interest.
Long‐term outcome after limited cortical resections in two cases of adult‐onset Rasmussen encephalitis
Authors: Villani Flavio , Didato Giuseppe , Deleo Francesco , Tringali Giovanni , Garbelli Rita , Granata Tiziana , Marras Carlo Efisio , Cordella Roberto , Spreafico Roberto 
Published: April 2014

SummaryRasmussen encephalitis (RE) is a progressive inflammatory disorder characterized by brain hemiatrophy, unilateral focal deficits, and drug‐refractory focal epilepsy. Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is a hallmark of the disease. Several immunomodulatory treatments may slow but not halt the disease progression. The treatment of choice still relies on surgical hemispheric disconnection, which is burdened by heavy neurologic morbidity. More limited cortical resections, although more tolerable, are usually considered to be, at best, only transiently effective in RE. Hemispheric disconnections may be not feasible when neurologic functions are preserved and the dominant hemisphere is affected. Adult patients with a milder RE course that preserves neurologic function for a long period are particularly at risk of developing severe deficits after surgery. In this study we present the histories of two patients with adult‐onset RE who have undergone selective cortical resections to control EPC, avoiding, at the same time, the severe postsurgical deficits that may be induced by hemispheric disconnective surgery. The good result obtained on EPC has been stable over a prolonged period; however, this result was not paralleled by the stop of neurologic progression in one of the two cases.A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Heart rate variability analysis indicates preictal parasympathetic overdrive preceding seizure‐induced cardiac dysrhythmias leading to sudden unexpected death in a patient with epilepsy
Authors: Jeppesen Jesper , Fuglsang‐Frederiksen Anders , Brugada Ramon , Pedersen Birthe , Rubboli Guido , Johansen Peter , Beniczky Sándor 
Published: April 2014

SummaryEvidence for seizure‐induced cardiac dysrhythmia leading to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) has been elusive. We present a patient with focal cortical dysplasia who has had epilepsy for 19 years and was undergoing presurgical evaluation. The patient did not have any cardiologic antecedents. During long‐term video–electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, following a cluster of secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS), the patient had prolonged postictal generalized EEG suppression, asystole, followed by arrhythmia, and the patient died despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Analysis of heart rate variability showed a marked increase in the parasympathetic activity during the period preceding the fatal seizures, compared with values measured 1 day and 7 months before, and also higher than the preictal values in a group of 10 patients with GTCS without SUDEP. The duration of the QTc interval was short (335–358 msec). This unfortunate case documented during video‐EEG monitoring indicates that autonomic imbalance and seizure‐induced cardiac dysrhythmias contribute to the pathomechanisms leading to SUDEP in patients at risk (short QT interval).A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Clustering of Trade Prices by High‐Frequency and Non–High‐Frequency Trading Firms
Authors: Davis Ryan L. , Van Ness Bonnie F. , Van Ness Robert A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe examine clustering of transaction prices in a sample that contains high‐frequency trading firms’ transactions. We separate our sample into four categories: transactions with a high‐frequency trading firm on both sides of the transaction, on only one side of the transaction (either liquidity provider or liquidity demander), or on neither side of the transaction. We find that transaction price clustering is less frequent when a high‐frequency trading firm is on both sides of the transaction than when a high‐frequency trading firm is on only one side of the transaction or if a high‐frequency trading firm is not involved in the transaction. Further, we find that transactions where the liquidity providing order, which more likely dictates the price, is submitted by a high‐frequency trading firm cluster less than when the liquidity providing order is submitted by a non–high‐frequency trader. We thus conclude that the tendency of prices to cluster appears to be driven by a distinctly human bias.
Co‐benefits, trade‐offs, barriers and policies for greenhouse gas mitigation in the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector
Authors: Bustamante Mercedes , Robledo‐Abad Carmenza , Harper Richard , Mbow Cheikh , Ravindranat Nijavalli H. , Sperling Frank , Haberl Helmut , de Siqueira Pinto Alexandre , Smith Pete 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector is responsible for approximately 25% of anthropogenic GHG emissions mainly from deforestation and agricultural emissions from livestock, soil and nutrient management. Mitigation from the sector is thus extremely important in meeting emission reduction targets. The sector offers a variety of cost‐competitive mitigation options with most analyses indicating a decline in emissions largely due to decreasing deforestation rates. Sustainability criteria are needed to guide development and implementation of AFOLU mitigation measures with particular focus on multifunctional systems that allow the delivery of multiple services from land. It is striking that almost all of the positive and negative impacts, opportunities and barriers are context specific, precluding generic statements about which AFOLU mitigation measures have the greatest promise at a global scale. This finding underlines the importance of considering each mitigation strategy on a case‐by‐case basis, systemic effects when implementing mitigation options on the national scale, and suggests that policies need to be flexible enough to allow such assessments. National and international agricultural and forest (climate) policies have the potential to alter the opportunity costs of specific land uses in ways that increase opportunities or barriers for attaining climate change mitigation goals. Policies governing practices in agriculture and in forest conservation and management need to account for both effective mitigation and adaptation and can help to orient practices in agriculture and in forestry towards global sharing of innovative technologies for the efficient use of land resources. Different policy instruments, especially economic incentives and regulatory approaches, are currently being applied however, for its successful implementation it is critical to understand how land‐use decisions are made and how new social, political and economic forces in the future will influence this process.
Interannual variation in nitrous oxide emissions from perennial ryegrass/white clover grassland used for dairy production
Authors: Burchill William , Li Dejun , Lanigan Gary J. , Williams Micheal , Humphreys James 
Published: April 2014

AbstractNitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are subject to intra‐ and interannual variation due to changes in weather and management. This creates significant uncertainties when quantifying estimates of annual N2O emissions from grazed grasslands. Despite these uncertainties, the majority of studies are short‐term in nature (<1 year) and as a consequence, there is a lack of data on interannual variation in N2O emissions. The objectives of this study were to (i) quantify annual N2O emissions and (ii) assess the causes of interannual variation in emissions from grazed perennial ryegrass/white clover grassland. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured from fertilized and grazed perennial ryegrass/white clover grassland (WC) and from perennial ryegrass plots that were not grazed and did not receive N input (GB), over 4 years from 2008 to 2012 in Ireland (52°51′N, 08°21′W). The annual N2O‐N emissions (kg ha−1; mean ± SE) ranged from 4.4 ± 0.2 to 34.4 ± 5.5 from WC and from 1.7 ± 0.8 to 6.3 ± 1.2 from GB. Interannual variation in N2O emissions was attributed to differences in annual rainfall, monthly (December) soil temperatures and variation in N input. Such substantial interannual variation in N2O emissions highlights the need for long‐term studies of emissions from managed pastoral systems.