bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical and therapeutic aspects of vernal kerato conjunctivitis in Algeria
Authors: LAZREG S 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To evaluate clinical aspects, specific sensitization, epidemiological and therapeutic characteristics of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC)Methods Retospective clinical case series included 300 VKC patients,between may 2008 and may 2012, data included patients and family histories,results of ocular surface exams, allergic tests and response to corticosteroids assocated to mast stablizers (NAAGA) treatment.Results The majority of VKC patients were male(67%), 36% of limbal forms, 56% of corneal complications,15 keratoconus associated, a skin prick tests and specific serum IgE was positive in 58% and 64% of patients respectively. therapeutic results were good in 73% cases, satisfactory with frequent relapses treated with corticosteroids in 21% cases, 5% of steroid dependent and 1% of several unresponsive formsConclusion Vernal keratoconjunctivitis,very common in our climate remains a severe form by they corneal complications and diffficult managment.
Cornea innervation: from physiologic to drug‐induced recovery
Authors: ZURRIA M 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To review the role of corneal innervation both in normal conditions and pathology and provide update on new therapeutic strategies considering cornea nerve fibers as a pharmacological target.Methods A review of the available literature has been performed and insights on new drugs summarized.Results The cornea is the most densely innervated tissue in the human body and the integrity of the nerve fibers is crucial in maintaining its refractive and protective power. A lot of ocular and systemic diseases ‐ as well as ocular surgery ‐ can adversely affect corneal nerves and consequently impair their function, with vision loss as a possible consequence. However, current standard treatment regimens do not consider cornea nerve fiber impairment as a therapeutic target, but the current strategy is to face symptoms. In the recent years, the number of published papers concerning this new therapeutic approach has been growing.Conclusion This report reviews cornea innervation impairment of any kind and the main attributes of therapeutic agents which could be useful in improving corneal nerve recovery stimulating nerve regeneration.
Commercial interest
Bilateral non‐arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy due to excessive use of transdermal estrogen by transgender patient
Authors: DE ZAEYTIJD J , DE POTTER R , MONSTREY S , LEROY BP , HEYLENS G , WIERICKX K , T'SJOEN G 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a common, visually disabling disease. It is usually due to a hypotensive perfusion insufficiency leading to infarction of the optic nerve. Only very rarely, NAION has a thromboembolic etiology. A transgender patient with a sequential bilateral NAION related to excessive use of transdermal estrogen is described.Methods A 44 year‐old male to female transgender patient developed acute painless visual loss in the right eye (RE) followed by the left eye (LE) 2 months later. She underwent a full ophthalmic exam and an extensive etiological work‐up.Results Visual acuity (VA) dropped to perception of light in the RE and, 2 months later, to 3/10 in the left eye. Fundoscopy showed a swollen disc in both eyes in the acute phase, which evolved into pallor later. CT‐brain revealed old ischemic areas unrelated to VA loss. A diagnosis of bilateral sequential NAION was made. Predisposing risk factors, though both well controlled, were diabetes and arterial hypertension. Thrombophilia screening and cardiac work‐up were negative. When estrogen levels of 60 times the normal value were measured, the patient admitted to overdose with transdermal estrogen to enhance her female characteristics. Such high estrogen levels are very thrombogenic. It is highly likely that it caused the cerebrovascular accidents and also triggered the bilateral sequential NAION.Conclusion NAION only rarely has a thromboembolic etiology. However, careful history taking is warranted to exclude modifiable risk factors in the poorly treatable NAION to prevent affection of the second eye and/or the central nervous system.
Optical coherence tomography: a window into the brain of schizophrenic patients
Authors: CABEZON L , ASCASO F , RAMIRO P , QUINTANILLA MA , GUTIERREZ L , LOBO A , CRISTOBAL JA 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Our study aims to assess peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness and volume, and optic nerve head (ONH) measurements in patients affected by schizophreniaMethods 30 schizophrenic patients (mean age 44.5 +/‐ 10.9 years) were enrolled. They were compared with 30 age‐matched controls. In all subjects, peripapillary RNFL thickness, ONH measurements, macular thickness and volume were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The eye studied was the right eyeResults Schizophrenic patients showed an statistically significant reduction of the overall peripapillary RNFL thickness (95.1+/‐ 13.4 µm) compared with those values observed in control eyes (103.3+/‐9.0 µm) (p=0.008, Student t test). We also observed reduced peripapillary RNFL thickness in superior quadrant in schizophrenic patients (114.7+/‐18.0 µm) when compared with controls (127.3+/‐ 14.4 µm) (p=0.004, Student t test). Cup/disk area ratio (cases: 0.45 +/‐ 0.31; controls: 0.26 +/‐ 0.27 p=0.002, Mann‐Whitney U test), cup/disk horizontal ratio (cases: 0.67 +/‐ 0.22; controls: 0.48 +/‐ 0.23 p=0.003, Student t test), cup/disk vertical ratio (cases: 0.60 +/‐ 0.24; controls: 0.44 +/‐ 0.23 p=0.003, Mann‐Whitney U test) and cup area (cases: 1.32 +/‐ 1.09; controls: 0.73 +/‐ 0.82 p=0.001, Mann‐Whitney U test) were statistically increased in schizophrenic patients.Conclusion Schizophrenia patients showed a reduction in peripapillary RNFL thickness evaluated by OCT and an increase in some measurements of ONH. These findings suggest that as previously observed in neurodegenerative disorders, neuronal degeneration could be present in the
Relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the duration and severity of parkinson disease
Authors: JIMENEZ DEL RIO B , ASCASO F , CRISTOBAL JA , PEREZ D , CABEZON L , IBANEZ J , DEL BUEY MA , LOPEZ DEL VAL J 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To determine in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) the correlation between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular thickness and volume, with the duration and severity of the neurological disorder.Methods 102 eyes corresponding to patients affected by PD were compared with 97 eyes of age‐matched controls. In all individuals peripapillary RNFL thickness, macular thickness and volume were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).Results We found statistically significant differences in all parameters of peripapillary RNFL thickness between Parkinson patients and controls. In all quadrants RNFL thickness was significantly lower in PD patients (p = 0.017 in temporal RNFL and p <0.001 in the other quadrants). Nevertheless, macular thickness and volume did not reveal any statistically significant reduction in PD patients when compared with controls (p>0.05). Furthermore, we found a significant inverse correlation between disease duration (years) and disease severity measured by Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and overall peripapillary RNFL thickness (p=0.002 and p <0.001, respectively), indicating that the more years of illness or greater UPDRS score, the lower peripapillary RNFL thickness.Conclusion PD patients showed a statistically significant reduction in peripapillary RNFL thickness evaluated by OCT in terms of evolution and severity of PD. That means that the further evolution of PD, the lower average peripapillary RNFL thickness. Our results suggest that RNFL thickness measured by OCT might be used as a biomarker of PD severity progression or even as an indicator of good response to long‐term treatment.
Axonal loss in multiple sclerosis: a morphological and functional analysis of retinal nerve fibbers
Authors: FAVARD A , MAJZOUB S , NOCHEZ Y , PISELLA PJ 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose The main purpose of this work was to study the retinal nerve fibber layer (RNFL) atrophy by optic coherence tomography in different subtypes of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to compare these results with electrophysiological examinations.Methods Fifty eight patients were included, 43 suffered from a relapsing‐remitting MS and 15 suffered from a progressive MS. We studied all eyes according 2 groups, MS eyes with a history of acute optic neuritis (MS‐ON eyes, n=39) and MS eyes without history of optic neuritis (MS‐non ON eyes, n=76). Electrophysiological exams were performed in all MS patients: (1) visual letter acuity (Snellen Charts), (2) visual evoked potentials, (3) pattern electroretinogram and (4) perimetry (Metrovision France). Retinal nerve fibber thickness were measured by Optical coherence tomography (OCT; fast RNFL thickness protocol).Results The rate of MS‐ON eyes and MS non‐ON eyes were not different between the 2 subtypes of MS (p>0.05, Fisher test). Progressive MS demonstrated a mean value decrease of RNFL thickness particularly in inferior quadrant compared to relapsing‐remitting MS (respectively, 92.9 um and 98.7 um for mean value, p= 0,04; 117.7 um and 127.4 um for inferior RNFL thickness, p=0,05). An increased P100 latency and decreased P50 and N95 amplitude were noted in MS‐non ON eyes compared to MS‐ON eyes (respectively p=0,013; p=0,026 and p=0,003).Conclusion This study seemed to illustrate a potential axonal loss in MS patients through these structural and functional differences between progressive MS and relapsing‐remitting MS optic nerves. The N95 amplitude of non‐affected eyes measurement appeared to be a new index to diagnose early progressive MS.
An interesting case of Mohr‐Tranebjærg Syndrome
Authors: HALFELD FURTADO DE MENDONCA R , ABBRUZZESE S , FERREIRA EL 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To describe an interesting rare case of Mohr‐Tranebjærg Syndrome, a X‐liked recessive syndrome also known as Deafness‐dystonia syndrome.Setting: The severity of the symptoms may vary, but they progress usually to severe deafness and dystonia and sometimes are accompanied by cortical deterioration of vision and mental deterioration.Methods A 24‐year‐old man with Mohr‐Tranebjærg Syndrome underwent electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs).Results Fundus examination showed apparently normal retina with pallor of the optic disc. Pattern reversal VEP and flash VEP responses were non‐recordable. ERG showed amplitude reduction of the fotopic, scotopic and flicker responses.Conclusion Full‐field ERG revealed generalized retinal dysfunction with reduction of cone and rod responses. The progressive neurodegeneration can be associated with a retinal degeneration.
Investigations of the Distribution and Persistence of Salmonella and Ciprofloxacin‐Resistant Escherichia coli in Turkey Hatcheries in the UK
Authors: Mueller‐Doblies D. , Clouting C. , Davies R. H. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThis study aimed at gaining information on the presence of Salmonella in UK turkey hatcheries and possible epidemiological links between breeding farms, hatcheries and finishing farms. The presence of ciprofloxacin‐resistant E. coli in hatchery samples, as well as in faecal samples from farms, and trends in occurrence of resistance were also investigated. Over a 2 year‐period, four British turkey hatcheries were visited and intensively sampled for the presence of Salmonella and ciprofloxacin‐resistant E. coli. In two hatcheries, a link could be demonstrated between the presence of certain Salmonella serovars in the hatcheries and on breeding and finishing farms. Within the hatcheries, serovars linked to breeding farms were found more frequently in the poult processing and dispatch areas, whereas serovars identified as ‘resident hatchery contaminants’ were predominantly found inside the hatcher cabinets. Ciprofloxacin‐resistant isolates of S. Senftenberg were identified in one hatchery, which coincided with enrofloxacin treatment of some of the breeding flocks. Ciprofloxacin‐resistant E. coli was found in two hatcheries, and the majority of these isolates showed multidrug resistance.
Diversitree: comparative phylogenetic analyses of diversification in R
Authors: FitzJohn Richard G. 
Published: August 2012

Summary1. The R package ‘diversitree’ contains a number of classical and contemporary comparative phylogenetic methods. Key included methods are BiSSE (binary state speciation and extinction), MuSSE (a multistate extension of BiSSE), and QuaSSE (quantitative state speciation and extinction). Diversitree also includes methods for analysing trait evolution and estimating speciation/extinction rates independently.2. In this note, I describe the features and demonstrate use of the package, using a new method, MuSSE (multistate speciation and extinction), to examine the joint effects of two traits on speciation.3. Using simulations, I found that MuSSE could reliably detect that a binary trait that affected speciation rates when simultaneously accounting for additional thats that had no effect on speciation rates.4. Diversitree is an open source and available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (cran). A tutorial and worked examples can be downloaded from http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/prog/diversitree.
7-O-Galloyl-d-sedoheptulose ameliorates renal damage triggered by reactive oxygen species-sensitive pathway of inflammation and apoptosis
Authors: Park Chan Hum , Noh Jeong Sook , Tanaka Takashi , Yokozawa Takako 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Objectives
This study was carried out to verify the preventive effects of 7-O-galloyl-d-sedoheptulose (GS), a phenolic compound isolated from Corni Fructus, underlying diabetic renal damage in type 2 diabetes.

Methods
GS was orally administered to db/db mice at doses of 20 and 100 mg/kg body weight per day for six weeks, and its effects were compared with those of the vehicle in db/db and m/m mice.

Key findings
In the serum and kidney, biochemical factors and expression of protein related to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, apoptosis and inflammation were examined. GS treatment attenuated serum and renal oxidative stress through reduction of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and increase in the ratio of glutathione and its oxidised form. Importantly, GS reduced renal protein expression of Nox-4 and p22phox (one of the subunits of NADPH oxidase), pro-apoptotic factors (such as Bax and cytochrome c) and nuclear factor-kappa B-targeting pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2.

Conclusions
These renoprotective effects of GS were achieved through attenuation of diabetes-induced oxidative stress and its sensitive protein expression associated with inflammation and apoptosis in db/db mice.
Adult worm‐specific IgE/IgG4 balance is associated with low infection levels of Schistosoma mansoni in an endemic area
Authors: FIGUEIREDO J. P. , OLIVEIRA R. R. , CARDOSO L. S. , BARNES K. C. , GRANT A. V. , CARVALHO E. M. , ARAUJO M. I. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryField studies have suggested an immune‐mediated mechanism associated with resistance to Schistosoma mansoni infection. Overall, levels of specific IgE have been correlated with resistance to infection, whereas levels of IgG4 have been associated with susceptibility. This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of soluble adult worm antigen preparation (SWAP)‐specific IgE and IgG4 in relation to current infection in a large casuistic of individuals living in an endemic area of schistosomiasis in Bahia, Brazil. The prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 37·7% and the mean parasite burden was 55·4 (0–2100) epg/faeces. There was no significant difference in the levels of SWAP‐specific IgE in individuals with different parasite burden, whereas high producers of parasite‐specific IgG4 presented higher parasite burden when compared to low IgG4 producers. Additionally, S. mansoni parasite load was positively correlated with the levels of specific IgG4 or total IgE. No significant correlation was observed between parasite burden and SWAP‐specific IgE. Nevertheless, SWAP‐specific IgE/IgG4 ratio was higher in uninfected or lightly infected individuals (1–99 epg/faeces) than in heavily infected ones (≥400 epg/feces). These findings highlight the important role of IgE/IgG4 ratio in the resistance to infection, which could be useful for further studies in schistosomiasis vaccine candidates.
Genome Sequence of the Oleaginous Red Yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides MTCC 457
Authors: Kumar Shailesh , Kushwaha Hariom , Bachhawat Anand Kumar , Raghava Gajendra Pal Singh , Ganesan Kaliannan 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

We report the
de novo
assembled 20.05-Mb draft genome of the red yeast
Rhodosporidium toruloides
MTCC 457, predicted to encode 5,993 proteins, 4 rRNAs, and 125 tRNAs. Proteins known to be unique to oleaginous fungi are present among the predicted proteins. The genome sequence will be valuable for molecular genetic analysis and manipulation of lipid accumulation in this yeast and for developing it as a potential host for biofuel production.
Development of a Real-Time Quantitative PCR for Detecting Duck Hepatitis A Virus Genotype C
Authors: Huang Qiuxue , Yue Hua , Zhang Bin , Nie Peiting , Tang Cheng 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Recently, duck hepatitis A virus genotype C (DHAV-C), a causative agent of duck viral hepatitis, has been responsible for increasing economic losses in the duck industry in China and South Korea. In this study, a real-time PCR assay targeting the 2C gene for detecting DHAV-C was developed. The assay was confirmed to be specific and sensitive, and the minimum detection limit was 3.36 × 10
3
copies per reaction, making this assay suitable for rapid diagnosis of DHAV-C infection from clinical samples. In addition, the dynamics of the viral loads in tissues of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) ducklings infected with DHAV-C were investigated using this method. The DHAV-C could be detected earliest in the liver within 12 h postinfection. Moreover, high viral loads were identified in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, bursa of Fabricius, thymus, pancreas, brain, and small intestine after 24 h postinfection. Taking the data collectively, the study described in this report is the first to have developed a real-time PCR method for detection of DHAV-C and thus contributes to pathogenicity research.
Can Propranalol Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
Authors: London W. Thomas , McGlynn Katherine A. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
β-Adrenergic signaling is involved in many processes that may contribute to cancer progression. In this issue of the journal (beginning on page 1007), Nkontchou and colleagues report their retrospective observational finding that the β-blocker propranolol was associated with a highly statistically significant reduction in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with advanced cirrhosis and related esophageal varices. This surprising finding requires confirmation, but the result is biologically plausible. Epidemiologic studies have linked β-blockers with reduced rates of metastasis of other cancers and reduced cancer mortality. Laboratory studies suggest biologic mechanisms for anticancer effects of β-blockers. Cancer Prev Res; 5(8); 989–91. ©2012 AACR.
Improving Geostationary Satellite Rainfall Estimates Using Lightning Observations: Underlying Lightning–Rainfall–Cloud Relationships
Authors: Xu Weixin , Adler Robert F. , Wang Nai-Yu 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis study quantifies the relationships among lightning activity, convective rainfall, and associated cloud properties on both convective-system scale (or storm scale) and satellite-pixel scale (~5 km) on the basis of 13 yr of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission measurements of rainfall, lightning, and clouds. Results show that lightning frequency is a good proxy to separate storms of different intensity, identify convective cores, and screen out false convective-core signatures in areas of thick anvil debris. Significant correlations are found between storm-scale lightning parameters and convective rainfall for systems over the southern United States, the focus area of the study. Storm-scale convective rainfall or heavy-precipitation area has the best correlation (coefficient r = 0.75–0.85) with lightning-flash area. It also increases linearly with increasing lightning-flash rate, although correlations between convective/heavy rainfall and lightning-flash rate are somewhat weaker (r = 0.55–0.75). Statistics further show that active lightning and intense precipitation are not well collocated on the pixel scale (5 km); for example, only 50% of the lightning flashes are coincident with heavy-rain cores, and more than 20% are distributed in light-rain areas. Simple positive correlations between lightning-flash rate and precipitation intensity are weak on the pixel scale. Lightning frequency and rain intensity have positive probabilistic relationships, however: the probability of heavy precipitation, especially on a coarser pixel scale (~20 km), increases with increasing lightning-flash density. Therefore, discrete thresholds of lightning density could be applied in a rainfall estimation scheme to assign precipitation in specific rate categories.
Impact of Gravity Waves on Marine Stratocumulus Variability
Authors: Jiang Qingfang , Wang Shouping 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The impact of gravity waves on marine stratocumulus is investigated using a large-eddy simulation model initialized with sounding profiles composited from the Variability of American Monsoon Systems (VAMOS) Ocean–Cloud–Atmosphere–Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-Rex) aircraft measurements and forced by convergence or divergence that mimics mesoscale diurnal, semidiurnal, and quarter-diurnal waves. These simulations suggest that wave-induced vertical motion can dramatically modify the cloud albedo and morphology through nonlinear cloud–aerosol–precipitation–circulation–turbulence feedback.
In general, wave-induced ascent tends to increase the liquid water path (LWP) and the cloud albedo. With a proper aerosol number concentration, the increase in the LWP leads to enhanced precipitation, which triggers or strengthens mesoscale circulations in the boundary layer and accelerates cloud cellularization. Precipitation also tends to create a decoupling structure by weakening the turbulence in the subcloud layer. Wave-induced descent decreases the cloud albedo by dissipating clouds and forcing a transition from overcast to scattered clouds or from closed to open cells. The overall effect of gravity waves on the cloud variability and morphology depends on the cloud property, aerosol concentration, and wave characteristics. In several simulations, a transition from closed to open cells occurs under the influence of gravity waves, implying that some of the pockets of clouds (POCs) observed over open oceans may be related to gravity wave activities.