bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enigma of urethral pain syndrome: Why are there so many ascribed etiologies and therapeutic approaches?
Authors: Phillip Harris , Okewole Idris , Chilaka Victor 
Published: January 2014

AbstractUrethral pain syndrome has had several sobriquets, which have led to much confusion over the existence of this pathological condition and the useful options in the care of the afflicted patient. Our aim was to explore the proposed etiologies of this syndrome, and to provide a critical analysis of each proposed etiology and present a balanced argument on the plausibility of the proposed etiology and therapeutic approaches. We carried out an English language electronic search in the following databases: Medline, Embase, Amed, Cinahl, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Trip Database and SUMSearch using the following search terms: urethral syndrome, urethral diseases, urethra, urologic diseases etiology/etiology, presentation, treatment, outcome, therapeutics and treatment from 1951 to 2011. In excess of 200 articles were recovered. With the clearly defined objectives of analyzing the proposed etiologies and therapeutic regimes, two author(s) (HP and IO) perused the abstracts of all the recovered articles, selecting those that addressed the etiologies and therapeutic approaches to treating the urethral pain syndrome. The number of articles was reduced to 25. The full text of all 25 articles were retrieved and reviewed. Through the present article, we hope to elucidate the most probable etiology of this condition whilst simultaneously, advance a logical explanation for the apparent success in the treatment of this condition using a range of different therapeutic modalities. We have carried out a narrative review, which we hope will reduce some of the confusion around this clinical entity by combining the known facts about the disease.
The identification and developmental requirements of colonic CD169+ macrophages
Authors: Hiemstra Ida H. , Beijer Marieke R. , Veninga Henrike , Vrijland Kim , Borg Ellen G. F. , Olivier Brenda J. , Mebius Reina E. , Kraal Georg , den Haan Joke M. M. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryCD169‐positive macrophages in the marginal zone of the spleen and subcapsular sinus of lymph nodes play an important role as gatekeepers, strategically located to capture pathogens. Here we identified a population of CD169‐positive macrophages in the colon and investigated which factors influenced their development. Murine colonic CD115+ F4/80lo CD11clo macrophages expressing CD169 were present in the lamina propria, mainly surrounding the crypts. In spite of the high levels of bacterial flora in the colon and the importance of Toll‐like receptor signalling in mucosal homeostasis, the presence of CD169+ macrophages was not affected in mice that were deficient in MyD88‐mediated Toll‐like receptor signalling and in mice in which the bacterial flora was eradicated. Whereas the development of splenic CD169+ macrophages was dependent on lymphotoxin α, colonic CD169+ macrophages were present in normal numbers in lymphotoxin α‐deficient mice. In contrast, reduced numbers of CD169+ macrophages were found in the colon of mice deficient in vitamin A, whereas CD169+ macrophages in the spleen were unaffected. In conclusion, we identified a new macrophage subset in the lamina propria of the colon characterized by the expression of CD169. Its differentiation, unlike CD169+ macrophages in lymphoid organs, is independent of lymphotoxin α signalling, but requires vitamin A.
Anchovies go north and west without losing diversity: post‐glacial range expansions in a small pelagic fish
Authors: Silva Gonçalo , Horne John B. , Castilho Rita 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAimAs part of an emerging effort to understand the role played by climatic fluctuations in shaping the geographical distributions and abundances of marine organisms, we examined the genetic patterns of leading‐edge populations in the European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, and its American counterpart, the morphologically similar silver anchovy, Engraulis eurystole, in the North Atlantic Ocean.LocationAdults were collected from the western Atlantic, eastern Atlantic (from Norway to Ghana) and western Mediterranean.MethodsA 1045 bp fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene was sequenced (n = 312) and nine microsatellite loci were genotyped (n = 462) for anchovies from 13 locations across the temperate North Atlantic. Populations were surveyed for diversity and differentiation with a range of summary statistics. Multivariate discriminant analysis of principal components was employed to detect the number of genetic clusters in the data and assign individuals to populations based on their microsatellite genotypes. Historical demographic inferences – mismatch distributions and Bayesian skyline plots – were used to observe population size changes relating to climatic oscillations.ResultsTwo mitochondrial clades were recovered, consistent with previous studies of E. encrasicolus, in which the frequency of each clade varied by latitude. Four genetic clusters corresponding loosely to large geographical regions were identified with microsatellite data. The north‐western Atlantic E. eurystole was not reciprocally monophyletic for either mtDNA or microsatellite analyses and is probably conspecific with E. encrasicolus. Genetic diversity peaked in Iberian populations, but differences in genetic diversity were only statistically significant for the least diverse population, Tangier. The indications of demographic expansion were more pronounced in the southern clade and both mtDNA clades exhibited genetic diversity and expansion imprints that are likely to be older than climatic oscillations of the recent Pleistocene.Main conclusionsThe highly mobile nature of anchovies has allowed them to track their optimal thermal physiological conditions during the extreme climate shifts of the Last Glacial Maximum and avoid wholesale population reductions and genetic bottlenecks. Both north‐eastern and north‐western Atlantic were probably rapidly recolonized after the Last Glacial Maximum by large numbers of anchovies, such that leading‐edge populations retained the genetic diversity of parent populations.
Prevalence, Serotype Identification by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Listeria Monocytogenes Isolated from Retail Foods
Authors: Cetinkaya Figen , Elal Mus Tulay , Yibar Artun , Guclu Nedret , Tavsanli Hakan , Cibik Recep 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn the present study, a total of 512 food samples composed of raw milk, dairy products, meat/meat products, chicken meat, seafood and raw vegetables were analyzed for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The results of the standard identification methods showed that 20 (3.9%) of the analyzed samples were found to harbor this pathogen. Further, 8.4% (13/155) of chicken meats, 0.9% (1/105) of meat/meat products and 13.6% (6/44) of fresh vegetables were contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Interestingly, only 18 of these isolates gave expected band size when they were subjected to molecular confirmation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiplex PCR serotyping of the strains revealed that 66.6% (12/18) of which belonged to serotype 1/2a (or 3a), 5.6% (1/18) to serotype 1/2b (or 3b, 7), 5.6% (1/18) to serotype 1/2c (or 3c) and 11.1% (2/18) to serotype 4b (or 4d, 4e). Two strains could not be serotyped by multiplex PCR. The strains were also evaluated by disk diffusion assay for their susceptibility to 15 commonly used antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance was most frequently observed for clindamycin (94.4%), followed by streptomycin and kanamycin (88.9%); penicillin (72.2%), tetracycline and gentamicin (66.7%); quinopristin/dalfopristin and erythromycin (61.1). Interestingly, 13 strains were resistant to more than five antibiotics. All strains were susceptible to linezolid, teicoplanin and vancomycin.Practical ApplicationsListeria monocytogenes is one of the most important foodborne pathogens responsible for several outbreaks and cases of listeriosis in human. This study focused on the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in different raw and ready‐to‐eat foodstuffs, and serotype distribution among the isolates. Antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates were also reported. Information and relief provided to consumers could help elaborate public health and food safety.
On the challenges of measuring interfacial characteristics of three‐phase fluid flow with x‐ray microtomography
Authors: BROWN K. , SCHLÜTER S. , SHEPPARD A. , WILDENSCHILD D. 
Published: January 2014

SummarySynchrotron‐based x‐ray computed microtomography contributes high‐resolution, three‐dimensional observations to investigations of multiphase fluid transport in porous media. Pore‐scale observations are valuable to the development and validation of new theory, as well as numerical models. Computed microtomography has been used previously to measure fluid content and interfacial areas in systems containing two fluids (air–water, oil–water) and to a limited extent to measure fluid content and entrapped fluid morphology in systems containing three fluids (air–oil–water). This study addresses challenges that arise when imaging three‐phase flow in spreading systems. The first challenge is related to wettability alteration. Observations reported herein suggest that the wettability of solid surfaces changed over the course of a three‐fluid phase flow experiment, a phenomenon that has not been observed in similar, previously conducted two‐fluid phase experiments. Follow‐up experiments showed that wettability alteration is significant when oil–solid contact is combined with x‐ray exposure, and is not reversed with a conventional cleaning procedure.The second challenge arises in segmenting three‐phase images, and thereby obtaining data from which various measures can be quantified with sufficient accuracy. Partial volume effects and blur often cause the grey‐scale values of different fluids to overlap and appropriate steps must be taken to avoid ambiguity at phase boundaries. A comparison of images collected at standard resolution (10.6 microns voxel–1) to those collected at a higher resolution (5.3 microns voxel–1) showed that saturation measurements are within 5% of each other, but interfacial areas for three‐phase systems may be underestimated at standard resolution by as much as 25%.
Health‐related quality of life in Guillain‐Barré syndrome patients: a systematic review
Authors: Darweesh Sirwan K. L. , Polinder Suzanne , Mulder Maxim J. H. L. , Baena Cristina P. , van Leeuwen Nikki , Franco Oscar H. , Jacobs Bart C. , van Doorn Pieter A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractGuillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) encompasses a broad spectrum of health‐related quality of life (HRQL) determinants, including mobility, fatigue, pain, and depression. We systematically reviewed the literature on functional outcome domains in which GBS patients experience limitations in the short and long terms and evaluated determinants of HRQL in GBS patients. MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched by two independent reviewers for articles covering HRQL data of GBS patients. Of 730 abstracts screened, 17 articles covering data of 14 studies matched the selection criteria. The included articles showed that many GBS patients experienced physical limitations, even years after the acute phase of the disease, while results were inconsistent for perceived levels of pain, fatigue, and general mental well‐being. Only three papers covered HRQL assessments at more than one time point, generally showing large improvements in HRQL in the first year after GBS onset, but not thereafter. We appraised the methodological quality of included studies using a 13‐item checklist; none of the articles fulfilled all items and only seven articles presented data on correlations between HRQL and determinants. In conclusion, the majority of studies on HRQL in GBS patients are cross‐sectional and of low methodological quality. This paper provides guidance for much needed high‐quality studies on patterns of patient‐perceived recovery after GBS onset.
A double‐blind randomised clinical trial of two techniques for gingival displacement
Authors: Sarmento H. R. , Leite F. R. M. , Dantas R. V. F. , Ogliari F. A. , Demarco F. F. , Faot F. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryKnowledge about security and the potential damage originated by the gingival displacement techniques has not been described through randomised clinical studies. This crossover, double‐blind, randomised clinical trial evaluated clinical and immunological factors related to conventional and cordless gingival displacement (GD) techniques, and patients' perceptions in 12 subjects with the employment of 2 GD techniques: conventional (gingival cord + 25% AlCl3 astringent gel) and cordless (15% AlCl3 astringent‐based paste). In each subject, two anterior teeth were treated and a 10‐day wash‐out period separated the two treatments. Periodontal indices were evaluated before (baseline) and 1 and 10 days after GD. Interleukin 1β, interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor α concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid were measured before and 1 day after GD. Subjective parameters (pain, unpleasant taste and stress) were also evaluated. Data were analysed by one‐way repeated‐measures analysis of variance and Tukey's test (immunological factors), the Friedman test (periodontal parameters) and Fisher's exact or chi‐squared test (subjective parameters), with a significance level of 95%. Gingival bleeding index, probing depth and plaque index values did not differ significantly between groups at any timepoint. Neither technique resulted in worse periodontal indices. Both techniques yielded similar results for pain and unpleasant taste, but conventional GD was significantly more stressful than cordless GD for volunteers. Both treatments significantly increased mean concentrations of the three cytokines, with the conventional technique producing the highest cytokine levels. Cordless GD is less stressful for patients and results in lower post‐treatment levels of inflammatory cytokines compared with conventional GD.
Public‐Private Contracting under Limited Commitment
Authors: DANAU DANIEL , VINELLA ANNALISA 
Published: January 2014

AbstractA government delegates a build‐operate‐transfer project to a private firm in a limited‐commitment framework. When the contract is signed, parties are uncertain about the operating cost. The firm can increase the likelihood of facing a low cost by exerting some noncontractible effort while building the facility. Once the facility is in place, the firm learns the marginal cost and begins to operate. We characterize the contract which stipulates the efficient allocation. We study the financial structure and duration that secure its enforcement. To this end, we take into account that break‐up of the partnership occasions a replacement cost for the government and an expropriation cost for the firm and its lender. Furthermore, both these costs are higher the earlier the contract is terminated. Enforcement is achieved as follows. The firm is instructed to invest some intermediate amount of own and borrowed funds. Under the aegis of a third party that can commit, the government provides guarantees to the lender, conditional on continuation of the partnership. Duration may be shortened, though not to the point where the initial effort of the firm is uncompensated.
Immunomodulatory effects of licochalcone A on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Fontes Lívia Beatriz Almeida , dos Santos Dias Débora , de Carvalho Lara Soares Aleixo , Mesquita Harleson Lopes , da Silva Reis Lívia , Dias Alyria Teixeira , Da Silva Filho Ademar A , do Amaral Corrêa José Otávio 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a murine autoimmune disease used to study multiple sclerosis. Herein, we have investigated the immunomodulatory effect of licochalcone A (LicoA) on NO, H2O2, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 production in cultured cells from EAE mice.

Methods
EAE was induced in C57Bl/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG35–55). LicoA was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata. Splenocytes were obtained from EAE mice and incubated with LicoA (4, 20 and 40 μm). Peritoneal cells were obtained from EAE mice treated with LicoA (15 and 30 mg/kg/day. p.o.). H2O2, NO, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 production was determined in the presence or absence of concanavalin (ConA) or MOG35–55 stimulation.

Key findings
LicoA (40 μm) inhibited H2O2, NO, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 production in splenocytes spontaneously or after both ConA and MOG35–55 stimulation. LicoA (30 mg/kg/day) reduced clinical score and severity of EAE mice, and inhibited TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 production in peritoneal cells.

Conclusions
LicoA possesses immunomodulatory effects on H2O2, NO, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 production in cells from EAE mice. It is suggested that LicoA acts on the mechanism of development of EAE by IFN-γ, IL-17 and TNF-α inhibition, modulating the immune response on both Th1 and Th17 cells.
Regulation of polyamine metabolism in Pyropia cinnamomea (W.A. Nelson), an important mechanism for reducing UV‐B‐induced oxidative damage
Authors: Schweikert Katja , Hurd Catriona L. , Sutherland Judith E. , Burritt David J. 
Published: January 2014

It is generally accepted that ultraviolet (UV) radiation can have adverse affects on phototrophic organisms, independent of ozone depletion. The red intertidal seaweed Pyropia cinnamomea W.A. Nelson (previously Porphyra cinnamomea Sutherland et al. 2011), similar to many other intertidal macrophytes, is exposed to high levels of UV radiation on a daily basis due to emersion in the upper littoral zone. It has been shown that seaweeds, like higher plants, respond to an increased activity of antioxidative enzymes when exposed to stress. However, earlier investigations have shown that P. cinnamomea also compensates for stress due to UV radiation by increasing polyamine (PA) levels, especially bound‐soluble and bound‐insoluble PAs. The PA precursor putrescine (PUT) can be synthesized via two enzymatic pathways: arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Both of these enzymes showed increased activity in P. cinnamomea under UV stress. In higher plants, ADC is the enzyme responsible for increased PA levels during stress exposure, while ODC is correlated with cell division and reproduction. However, there are contrary findings in the literature. Using two irreversible inhibitors, we identified the enzyme most likely responsible for increased PUT synthesis and therefore increased stress tolerance in P. cinnamomea. Our results show that changes in the PA synthesis pathway in P. cinnamomea under UV stress are based on an increased activity of ADC. When either inhibitor was added, lipid hydroperoxide levels increased even under photosynthetically active radiation, suggesting that PAs are involved in protection mechanisms under normal light conditions as well. We also show that under optimum or low‐stress conditions, ODC activity is correlated with PUT synthesis.
Relative reproductive effort drives metabolic changes and maternal emaciation during pregnancy in a viviparous snake
Authors: Dupoué A. , Lourdais O. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractMost viviparous squamates are lecithotrophic, and maternal effort during pregnancy mainly involves behavioural and thermoregulatory shifts to optimize developmental conditions. Still, pregnancy also imposes specific metabolic demands on the female, known as the metabolic cost of pregnancy (MCP). Contrary to the thermoregulatory shift, these energy constraints should be directly fecundity dependent and their evaluation is important to assess the ‘costs’ of viviparity. We measured the metabolic rate of aspic vipers Vipera aspis at three stages (early pregnancy, late pregnancy and post parturition), and we examined the determinants of maternal metabolic changes over time. We found a 55% metabolic increase over the course of pregnancy that was better explained by maternal relative reproductive effort (relative litter mass) when compared with absolute estimates (litter mass, litter size). After parturition, female metabolism dropped below values recorded at early pregnancy and this decrease was closely related to maternal relative reproductive effort. Our estimates for MCP ranged from 13.9 to 14.7% of maternal metabolic rate, suggesting that specific energetic demands of pregnancy are significant. It appears crucial to consider both direct (MCP) and indirect (thermoregulatory shift) components to evaluate overall maternal metabolic demand during pregnancy. Because females are already emaciated at the onset of pregnancy, these combined constraints are likely costly by inducing structural protein mobilization and altered performances after parturition.
DAUPHINE: a randomized phase II study of danoprevir/ritonavir plus peginterferon alpha‐2a/ribavirin in HCV genotypes 1 or 4
Authors: Everson Gregory , Cooper Curtis , Hézode Christophe , Shiffman Mitchell L. , Yoshida Eric , Beltran‐Jaramillo Teresita , Andreone Pietro , Bruno Savino , Ferenci Peter , Zeuzem Stefan , Brunda Michael , Le Pogam Sophie , Nájera Isabel , Zhou Julian , Navarro Mercidita T. , Voulgari Athina , Shulman Nancy S. , Yetzer Ellen S. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsDanoprevir is a hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor with activity against genotypes (G)1/G4, which is maintained at lower doses by ritonavir‐boosting. We report results of a large, randomized, active‐controlled phase IIb study of ritonavir‐boosted danoprevir (danoprevir/r) plus peginterferon alpha‐2a/ribavirin (P/R) in treatment‐naive patients with HCV G1/4 infection.MethodsTreatment‐naive patients with HCV G1/4 infection were randomized to twice‐daily danoprevir/r 200/100 mg (A, n = 92); 100/100 mg (B, n = 93); or 50/100 mg (C, n = 94) plus P/R for 24 weeks; twice‐daily danoprevir/r 100/100 mg (D, n = 94) plus P/R for 12 or 24 weeks; or P/R alone (E, n = 44) for 48 weeks. Patients in the response‐guided therapy arm (D) with an extended rapid virological response (eRVR2: HCV RNA <15 IU/ml during Weeks 2–10) stopped all therapy at Week 12; non‐eRVR2 patients continued all treatment to Week 24. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained the virological response (SVR24: HCV RNA <15 IU/ml after 24 weeks of untreated follow‐up).ResultsSVR24 rates in Arms A, B, C, D and E were 89.1%, 78.5%, 66.0%, 69.1% and 36.4%, respectively, in the overall population; 83.6%, 69.6%, 60.3%, 59.2% and 38.5% in G1a‐infected patients, 96.6%, 93.1%, 73.1%, 78.4% and 28.6% in G1b‐infected patients and 100%, 87.5%, 100%, 100% and 66.7% in G4‐infected patients. Danoprevir/r plus P/R was generally well tolerated compared with P/R alone. There was a higher incidence of serious adverse events in danoprevir‐treatment arms, but most were associated with P/R.ConclusionsThe combination of danoprevir/r plus P/R is efficacious in treatment‐naïve patients with HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection.