bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are single nucleotide polymorphisms in the oxytocin and vasopressin 1A/1B receptor genes likely candidates for variation in ejaculatory function?
Authors: Jern Patrick , Westberg Lars , Johansson Ada , Jonsson Lina , Corander Jukka , Sandnabba N. Kenneth , Santtila Pekka 
Published: August 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?There is also evidence that the etiology of premature ejaculation is partially genetic. So far, all molecular genetic studies of premature ejaculation have focused on serotonergic and dopaminergic genes. Serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission aside, studies on both animals and humans have shown that both oxytocin and vasopressin are also involved in ejaculatory function.The present study is, to our knowledge, the first to investigate effects of polymorphisms in oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes on ejaculatory function. Although a large sample (1517 men) was available for the present study, we could not detect any clear‐cut effects of any gene varant on ejaculatory function. We detected a heterozygote effect of one polymorphism (rs75775) in the oxytocin receptor gene. Rare variants of the vasopressin receptor 1A gene may theoretically have a stronger impact on ejaculatory function, but would need a very large sample in order to be established. Based on our results, we conclude that the oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes are unlikely targets for successful pharmacogenetic interventions.OBJECTIVES
To investigate associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to the oxytocin, and arginine vasopressin 1A and 1B receptor genes and ejaculatory function.
To investigate these associations in a large, population‐based sample.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In all, 1517 male twins and non‐twin brothers of twins aged 18–45 years (mean = 26.43; sd= 4.87) provided questionnaire data regarding ejaculatory function and relevant covariates and saliva samples for genotyping.
A Bayesian linear mixed‐effects model, which appropriately controls for between‐subjects dependence, was used to estimate genotype associations.
We corrected for multiple testing using a linkage disequilibrium correlation measure.
RESULTS
We found a heterozygote effect on one SNP in the oxytocin receptor gene (rs75775), so that individuals heterozygous for this SNP had significantly elevated risk for premature ejaculation symptoms compared with carriers of either homozygote.
Several SNPs in the arginine vasopressin receptor genes had rare or very rare genotypes. This study may be underpowered to detect potential effects of rare genotypic variants in arginine vasopressin receptor genes.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results regarding the oxytocin receptor polymorphisms support previous studies that indicate a complex relationship between oxytocin and ejaculatory function.
Oxytocin receptor genes are, for example, unlikely suitable targets for pharmacogenetic intervention studies.
Rare variants in arginine vasopressin receptor genes may have significant effects on premature ejaculation, but would need larger sample sizes or case–control designs to be detected.
Speech, Gender and Power: Beyond Testimony
Authors: Jackson Cecile 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThis article aims to unsettle some taken‐for‐granted ideas about speech and power, to argue against taking testimony ‘at face value’ without reflecting also on silence, on the forms and techniques of talk, on embodied communication, and on the complex ways in which interests are expressed and animated. It argues that treating direct testimony in public political institutions as a metric of gender inequality may be another example of the distortions that follow from an uncritical adoption of an unmarked male template of speech as universal standard. The article aims thereby to improve the way development researchers ‘hear’, and how practitioners think about ‘participation’.
Separable Attentional Predictors of Language Outcome
Authors: Salley Brenda , Panneton Robin K. , Colombo John 
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to examine the combined influences of infants' attention and use of social cues in the prediction of their language outcomes. This longitudinal study measured infants' visual attention on a distractibility task (11 months), joint attention (14 months), and language outcomes (word–object association, 14 months; MBCDI vocabulary size and multi‐word productions at 18 months of age). Path analyses were conducted for two different language outcomes. The analysis for vocabulary revealed unique direct prediction from infants' visual attention on a distractibility task (i.e., maintaining attention to a target event in the presence of competing events) and joint attention (i.e., more frequent response to tester's bids for attention) for larger vocabulary size at outcome; this model accounted for 48% of variance in vocabulary, after controlling for baseline communication status (assessed at 11 months). The analysis for multi‐word productions yielded direct effects for infants' distractibility, but not joint attention; this model accounted for 45% of variance in multi‐word productions, again after controlling for baseline communication status. Indirect effects were not significant in either model. Results are discussed in light of the unique predictive role of attentional factors and social/attention cues for emerging language.
Preventive Effectiveness of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Reducing Sudden Cardiac Death in the Chinese Population: A Multicenter Trial of ICD Therapy versus Non‐ICD Therapy
Authors: HUA WEI , NIU HONGXIA , FAN XIAOHAN , DING LIGANG , XU YI‐ZHOU , WANG JING , CHEN KEPING , WANG FANGZHENG , ZHANG SHU 
Published: August 2012

Preventive Effectiveness of Implantable Cardioverter. Introduction: This prospective and multicenter trial of the implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) aimed to evaluate the mortality rate (including sudden cardiac death [SCD]) and the efficacy of ICD in Chinese patients with high risk of sudden death.
Methods and Results
: This trial was conducted in 31 centers in China. We enrolled 497 patients who fulfilled Class I indication for ICD (2002 ACC/AHA/NASPE guideline). All patients were followed‐up at 3, 6, and 12 months. Clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were collected at baseline and follow‐up; Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed. Among 497 enrolled patients with Class I indication of ICD therapy, 112 (22.5%) agreed to and received ICD implantation (ICD group). The remaining 385 patients who were not available for ICD therapy were designated as the non‐ICD group. During a mean follow‐up of 11 ± 3 months, there were a total of 38 deaths, 2 in the ICD group with a mortality of 1.8% and 36 in the non‐ICD group, with a mortality of 9.4% and 26 due to SCD. The overall survival rate was 93% at 3 months of follow‐up, 91% at 6 months, and 89% at 12 months, with an incidence of SCD of 5%, 7%, and 8% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively.
Conclusions
: In patients with Class I indication of ICD implantation, the total mortality and incidence of SCD were high. ICD therapy can effectively reduce the mortality in such patients. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. S5‐S9, November 2012)
Alcohol Dependence and Criminal Behavior: Preliminary Results of an Association Study of Environmental and Genetic Factors in an Italian Male Population
Authors: Terranova Claudio , Tucci Marianna , Sartore Daniela , Cavarzeran Fabiano , Barzon Luisa , Palù Giorgio , Ferrara Santo D. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe aim of this study is to propose an innovative approach evaluating the connection between alcohol use disorders and criminal behavior. The research, structured as a case–control study, was based on the analysis of environmental (social variables) and genetic factors (single nucleotide polymorphisms of glutamic acid decarboxylase) in a population (N = 173) of Italian alcohol‐dependent men. Group 1 (N = 47, convicted subjects) was compared with Group 2 (N = 126, no previous criminal conduct). Grade repetition, work problems, and drug problems were statistically associated with criminal behavior. Having daily family meals together and having children were inversely related to convictions. The genotype distribution of the two groups was similar. The association between environmental factors and antisocial behavior confirms previous findings in the literature. The lack of genetic association does not exclude the role of the gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) system in determining antisocial behavior; further studies with larger samples are needed, together with investigation of other components of the GABA pathway.
A review of the consequences of complementary sex determination and diploid male production on mating failures in the Hymenoptera
Authors: Harpur Brock A. , Sobhani Mona , Zayed Amro 
Published: August 2012

AbstractComplementary sex determination is the ancestral sex‐determination mechanism in the Hymenoptera. Under this system, diploid individuals develop into females if they are heterozygous at an autosomal sex‐determining locus or loci, whereas haploid individuals develop into males because they are hemizygous at the sex‐determining locus or loci. However, diploid males can still arise from fertilized eggs if such individuals are homozygous at the sex‐determining locus or loci. Diploid males are often viable but sire few daughters, thereby representing a substantial genetic load in hymenopteran populations. Here, we review the effects of complementary sex determination and diploid male production from the perspective of female hymenopterans. Because female hymenopterans need not mate to produce haploid sons, complementary sex determination can cause special forms of mating failures by preventing some females from controlling the sex ratio of their brood and producing the desired number of daughters. Under some circumstances, complementary sex determination can cause complete mating failure by preventing females from producing daughters altogether. Although we outline serious gaps of knowledge in the field, the data at hand suggest that diploid male production can substantially increase mating failures in small populations of economically and ecologically important hymenopterans.
Relationship between predation byPodisus nigrispinusand developmental phase and density of its prey,Plutella xylostella
Authors: Vacari Alessandra M. , De Bortoli Sergio A. , Torres Jorge B. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis study evaluated the predation byPodisus nigrispinus(Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) at various densities of larvae and pupae of the pestPlutella xylostella(L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). We tested predator behavior of femaleP. nigrispinusat six experimental densities (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 prey items in a 1‐l transparent plastic container, replicated 15 times for each density) of both the fourth instar and pupae ofP. xylostella. The number of prey consumed was monitored every 15 min for 12 h and was subsequently monitored at 24 h.Podisusnigrispinusfemales were weighed before and after the experiments to determine the effect of different densities of prey on their weight gain. Female predators had a Type‐IIfunctional response, with attack rate estimated at 1.387 and 0.260 and a handling time of 0.091 and 0.183 h−1for larvae and pupae, respectively.Podisusnigrispinusconsumed on average 10.9 larvae or 5.5 pupae in 24 h. Despite the similarity of the response type,P. nigrispinuspreferred to feed on larvae, rather than on pupae.
Shortened Red Blood Cell Lifespan Is Related to the Dose of Erythropoiesis‐Stimulating Agents Requirement in Patients on Hemodialysis
Authors: Sato Yasuyuki , Mizuguchi Takashi , Shigenaga Sawako , Yoshikawa Etsuko , Chujo Keiko , Minakuchi Jun , Kawashima Syu 
Published: August 2012

AbstractRenal anemia is an important complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). One of the most important complications of renal anemia is reduced red blood cell (RBC) lifespan, but there has been little research conducted into the causes of and treatments for this anemia. We measured alveolar carbon monoxide (CO) and then estimated RBC lifespan in patients on hemodialysis (HD). We also examined their requirement for erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESA), HD dose, nutrition factors, iron metabolism factor, reticulocyte counts and % reticulocytes. We enrolled 140 patients undergoing intermittent HD; among this group, 31 were not administered ESA and the others were on ESA therapy. Twelve healthy volunteers served as controls. The RBC lifespans in the healthy volunteers and in the HD patients were 128 ± 28 and 89 ± 28 days (mean ± SD), respectively. The RBC lifespan significantly and negatively correlated with ESA requirement (r = −0.489, P < 0.0001) in the HD patients. Other factors suspected to influence the RBC lifespan did not significantly correlate with the RBC lifespan in HD patients, in contrast to the correlation observed for S‐Cr, BUN, S‐ALB and total cholesterol vs. RBC lifespan. A shortened RBC lifespan seems to rather significantly affect the ESA requirement. Better nutritional status or active HD patients also seem to have longer RBC lifespans and lower ESA requirement.
Contribution of High Flux Membranes to the Therapy of Uremia‐Associated Dyslipidemia
Authors: Azak Alper , Huddam Bülent , Öneç Kürşad , Koçak Gülay , Dede Fatih , Aylı Deniz , Duranay Murat 
Published: August 2012

AbstractCardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Uremia induced hypertriglyceridemia; increased levels of lipoprotein remnants and low high‐density lipoprotein are the main features of cardiovascular risk factors. Also, elevated oxidative stress and inflammation are the main contributors of endothelial dysfunction. Even statin based interventional trials failed to improve mortality in dialysis patients, and different treatment options have been proved to be useful. We aimed to evaluate the effect of dialyzer type on uremia‐associated dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction. In total 312 patients were enrolled. The initial and 6th month blood samples were obtained from the non‐arteriovenous fistula arm on the day before the first hemodialysis session of the week. Flow mediated dilatation of the patients was measured from the same arm before obtaining the blood samples. Patients were on hemodialysis therapy for 76.43 ± 52.7 months. According to their dialyzer type, there has been a statistically significant improvement noted in terms of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The flow mediated dilatation of the patients are measured as 4.3 ± 0.5 and 4.4 ± 0.4 in baseline measurements of the low flux and high flux groups, respectively. Sixth month values of the patients were measured as 4.34 ± 0.4 and 4.62 ± 0.6. The improvement in low flux groups was not statistically significant but in the high flux group the endothelial dysfunction was significantly improved. Our results show that high‐flux dialyzers improved dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction in hemodialysis patients. These findings provide a new insight on the selection of high efflux in hemodialysis.
Kinematic groups beyond the solar neighbourhood with RAVE
Authors: Antoja T. , Helmi A. , Bienayme O. , Bland-Hawthorn J. , Famaey B. , Freeman K. , Gibson B. K. , Gilmore G. , Grebel E. K. , Minchev I. , Munari U. , Navarro J. , Parker Q. , Reid W. , Seabroke G. M. , Siebert A. , Siviero A. , Steinmetz M. , Williams M. , Wyse R. , Zwitter T. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
We analyse the kinematics of disc stars observed by the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) survey in and beyond the solar neighbourhood. We detect significant overdensities in the velocity distributions using a technique based on the wavelet transform. We find that the main local kinematic groups are large-scale features, surviving at least up to ∼1 kpc from the Sun in the direction of antirotation, and also at below the Galactic plane. We also find that for regions located at different radii than the Sun, the known groups appear shifted in the vR–vφ velocity plane. For example, the Hercules group has a larger azimuthal velocity for regions inside the solar circle and a lower value outside. We have also discovered a new group at in the solar neighbourhood and confirmed the significance of other previously found groups. Some of these trends detected for the first time are consistent with dynamical models of the effects of the bar and the spiral arms. More modelling is required to definitively characterize the non-axisymmetric components of our Galaxy using these groups.
Tapir health and conservation medicine
Authors: MANGINI Paulo Rogerio , MEDICI Emilia Patrícia , FERNANDES‐SANTOS Renata Carolina 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTapirs have unique nutritional needs, as well as anatomical, physiological, behavioral and ecological adaptations that must be considered when managing their health, both in the wild and in captivity. Information about how tapirs live in their natural habitats can provide crucial knowledge to prevent many of the health problems found in captivity such as infectious and parasitic diseases, reproductive issues and nutritional and behavioral disorders. Likewise, proper management in captivity can significantly contribute toin situconservation programs. Conservation medicine is a science created to address the global health crisis that jeopardizes biodiversity causing imbalances among ecosystem, human, animal and vegetal health. In this context, common threats to tapir health and conservation, such as isolated and small populations surrounded by human activity, chemical pollution, domestic animals and their pathogenic agents, need to be better understood. This manuscript provides information about the health of tapirs both in captivity and in the wild and aims to encourage tapir conservationists worldwide to gather information about pathogen and disease dynamics and manifestation, as well as implications for tapir conservation.
Screening for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Great Danes in the United Kingdom
Authors: Stephenson H.M. , Fonfara S. , López‐Alvarez J. , Cripps P. , Dukes‐McEwan J. 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundGreat Danes (GD) are predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but little is known about progression, clinical manifestations, or inheritance in dogs in the UK. For echocardiographic screening, breed‐specific reference intervals (RI) are required.ObjectivesTo document the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and inheritance of DCM in UK GD. To establish RI for Doppler echocardiography (ECHO) in GD.AnimalsOne hundred and seven client‐owned GDs.MethodsEchocardiographic screening study. Dogs were scored on ECHO and ECG variables and classified as normal (NORM), equivocal (EQUIV), or affected (AFX). Forty NORM dogs were used to determine RI for ECHO. Pedigrees from all dogs were examined for mode of inheritance.ResultsThe prevalence of DCM in this population, based on score, was 35.6%. Significant differences in M mode left ventricular dimensions (MMLVD) were identified between male and female dogs (P < .011). RI for MMLVD and transformed MMLVD (allometric scaling) were lower than previously suggested. When dogs were reclassified using amended RI for MMLVD, prevalence increased to 47%. End‐systolic volume index more reliably identified AFX dogs than other systolic function indices. Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) were commonly identified, with the highest prevalence in AFX dogs (54%). Pedigree analysis suggested an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe prevalence of DCM in UK GD is higher than previously reported and autosomal dominant inheritance is likely. Sex or body weight‐dependent RI should be used for ECHO in GD and current RI might underestimate ESVI in GD. VA might play an important role in GD with DCM.
Equine bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMDMSCs) from the ilium and sternum: Are there differences?
Authors: Adams M. K. , Goodrich L. R. , Rao S. , Olea‐Popelka F. , Phillips N. , Kisiday J. D. , Mcilwraith C. W. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryReasons for performing studyThe 2 sites of bone marrow harvest for isolation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the horse are the sternum and ilium. The technical procedure is based on practitioner preference, but no studies have comparedMSCconcentrations and growth rates between the sites in horses aged 2–5 years.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to compare nucleated cell counts and growth rates between the sternum and ilium and between consecutive 5 ml bone marrow aspirates. We hypothesised that there would be a higher concentration ofMSCs in the sternum than the ilium, and that the first sequential aspirate from either site would yield the greatest concentration ofMSCs. We hypothesised that growth rates of cells from each site would not differ.MethodsSeven horses, aged 2 to 5 years, had 2 sequential 5 ml marrow aspirates taken from the sternum and ilium. Nucleated cell counts (NCCs) were obtained before and after marrow processing. Cells were expanded in culture for 3 passages and growth rate characteristics compared for all aspirates.ResultsTheNCCs of the first 5 ml aspirate were higher than those of the second 5 ml aspirate for both sites (P<0.05). There was no difference between growth rates for any of the groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsTheNCCs and growth rates of progenitor cells in the ilium and sternum are similar for horses in the 2–5 year age category. The first 5 ml bone marrow aspirate has a higher concentration ofNCCs and resulting bone marrow‐derivedMSCpopulation than subsequent aspirates.Potential relevanceThe first 5 ml aspirates from the sternum and ilium offer a rich supply of bone marrow‐derivedMSCs with similar growth rate characteristics. The harvesting procedure of only a 5 ml draw from either the sternum or ilium should result in adequate numbers ofMSCs.