bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of pregnancy outcomes in women with repaired versus unrepaired atrial septal defect
Authors: Yap S‐C , Drenthen W , Meijboom FJ , Moons P , Mulder BJM , Vliegen HW , van Dijk APJ , Jaddoe VWV , Steegers EAP , Roos‐Hesselink JW , Pieper PG ,   on behalf of the ZAHARA investigators
Published: August 2009

Objective  To compare the risks of complications during pregnancy in women with repaired and unrepaired atrial septal defects (ASDs) without associated complex cardiac lesions.Design A retrospective multicentre study.Setting  Tertiary centres in the Netherlands and Belgium.Population  Women with ASD without associated complex cardiac lesions.Methods  Women were identified using two congenital heart disease registries. One hundred women were identified who had 243 pregnancies, including 49 miscarriages and six terminations of pregnancy. Detailed information on each completed pregnancy (n = 188; unrepaired ASD, n = 133; repaired ASD, n = 55) was obtained using medical records and telephone interviews. In addition, data from the Generation R database (a prospective cohort study; n = 9667) were used to determine the background risk (control group).Main outcome measures  Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for cardiac, obstetric and neonatal events controlled for multiple pregnancies per woman using general estimating equation analysis.Results Women with an unrepaired ASD had a higher risk of neonatal events (AOR = 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–7.89, P = 0.027) than women with a repaired ASD. The risk of cardiac and obstetric complications was comparable between women with unrepaired and repaired ASDs. Compared with the general population, women with an unrepaired ASD had higher risks of pre‐eclampsia (AOR = 3.54, 95% CI 1.26–9.98, P = 0.017), small‐for‐gestational‐age births (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.15–3.30, P = 0.013) and fetal mortality (AOR = 5.55, 95% CI 1.77–17.4, P = 0.003). By contrast, no differences were observed when comparing women with a repaired ASD versus controls.Conclusions  Women with an unrepaired ASD are at increased risk of neonatal events in comparison with women with a repaired ASD. Compared with the general population, women with an unrepaired ASD are at increased risk of pre‐eclampsia, small‐for‐gestational‐age births and fetal mortality.
Association of interferon‐γ +874A polymorphism with the risk of developing cervical cancer in north‐Indian population
Authors: Gangwar R , Pandey S , Mittal RD 
Published: August 2009

Objective  Interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine playing a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. A single nucleotide polymorphism located in the first intron of the human IFN‐γ gene can influence the secretion of cytokine. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of IFN‐γ T/A gene polymorphism with the risk of cervical cancer.Design  Case–control study.Setting  Uttar Pradesh State in India.Sample  Two hundred cases with histologically proven cancer of the cervix and healthy controls (n = 230), age and ethnicity matched were recruited in this study.Methods  Genotyping was performed for bi‐allelic +874 (T/A) polymorphism of IFN‐γ by amplification refractory mutation system method.Main outcome measures  Low producer IFN‐γ +874 AA genotype was associated with high risk for cervical cancer, which further modulated the increased risk in tobacco users.Results  IFN‐γ AA genotype which is low producer of IFN‐γ was associated with increased risk of cervical cancer (OR = 2.43, P = 0.003). Allele A was at 1.54‐fold increased risk of cervical cancer (OR=1.54, P = 0.002). The AA genotype showed statistically significant risk with high stage (III + IV) of cervical cancer (OR = 4.99, P = 0.001). In tobacco users, AA genotype showed significantly increased susceptibility to cervical cancer (OR = 5.08, P = 0.010).Conclusion  Variation in IFN‐γ +874 AA genotype because of ethnicity in north‐Indian population may represent an important susceptibility biomarker for cervical cancer risk as well as other diseases and should be explored further.
Effect of chronic pre‐treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on skeletal muscle mitochondrial recovery after ischemia/reperfusion
Authors: Thaveau Fabien , Zoll Joffrey , Bouitbir Jamal , N’Guessan Benoît , Plobner Philippe , Chakfe Nabil , Kretz Jean‐Georges , Richard Ruddy , Piquard François , Geny Bernard 
Published: August 2009

AbstractImpaired skeletal muscle energetic participates in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patient’s morbidity and mortality. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi), cornerstone for pharmacologic risk factor management in PAD patients, might also be interesting by protecting skeletal muscle energetic. We therefore determined whether chronic ACEi might reduce ischemia‐induced mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction in the frequent setting of hindlimb ischemia–reperfusion. Ischemic legs of rats submitted to 5 h ischemia induced by a rubber band tourniquet applied on the root of the hindlimb followed by reperfusion without (IR, n = 11) or after ACEi (n = 14; captopril 40 mg/kg per day during 28 days before surgery) were studied and compared to that of sham‐operated animals (n = 11). The effect of ACEi on the non‐ischemic contralateral leg was also determined in the ACEi group. Maximal oxidative capacities (Vmax) and complexes I, II and IV activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of the gastrocnemius muscle were determined using glutamate–malate, succinate and TMPD–ascorbate substrates. Arterial blood pressure was significantly decreased after ACEi (124 ± 2.8 vs. 108 ± 4.19 mmHg; P = 0.01). Ischemia–reperfusion reduced Vmax (4.4 ± 0.4 vs. 8.7 ± 0.5 μmol O2/min/g dry weight, −49%, P < 0.001), affecting mitochondrial complexes I, II and IV activities. ACEi failed to modulate ischemia‐induced dysfunction (Vmax 5.1 ± 0.7 μmol O2/min/g dry weight) or the non‐ischemic contralateral muscle respiratory rate. Ischemia–reperfusion significantly impaired the mitochondrial respiratory chain I, II and IV complexes of skeletal muscle. Pharmacologic pre‐treatment with ACEi did not prevent or increase such alterations. Further studies might be useful to improve the pharmacologic conditioning of PAD patients needing arterial revascularization.
Combined therapy in the treatment of dyslipidemia
Authors: Reiner Željko 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis systematic review analyses the efficacy, tolerability and safety of combinations of different medicines used to treat dyslipidemias in clinical practice. A PubMed search up to January 2009, was conducted to identify relevant studies. Criteria used to identify studies included (1) English language, (2) published studies with original data or meta‐analyses in peer‐reviewed journals. Although statin treatment is a mainstay of dyslipidemia management today, complementary effects of other lipid‐lowering and/or HDL‐cholesterol‐raising therapies might substantially increase the clinical benefits not only in the small minority of patients with severe dyslipidemias but in others as well. These therapies include combinations with bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam), ezetimibe, niacin, plant sterols, fibrates (fenofibrate, bezafibrate, gemfibrozil), and prescription omega‐3 fatty acids. Therapeutic approaches which incorporate the use of multiple drugs combinations for dyslipidemia treatment should be more widely adopted since combination therapy might offer a means to increase the number of patients able to meet their lipoprotein goals according to the guidelines. However, it has to be stated that for most of these combination therapies data on cardiovascular outcomes are still lacking.
Lasting reduction of postsurgical hyperalgesia after single injection of botulinum toxin type A in rat
Authors: Filipović Boris , Bach‐Rojecky Lidija , Lacković Zdravko 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA single injection of low doses of botulinum toxin type A (3.5 U/kg) completely abolished secondary mechanical hyperalgesia throughout its duration in a model of post surgical pain after gastrocnemius incision in rat.
Reintoxication: the release of fat‐stored Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) into blood is enhanced by food deprivation or ACTH exposure
Authors: Gunasekaran N , Long LE , Dawson BL , Hansen GH , Richardson DP , Li KM , Arnold JC , McGregor IS 
Published: August 2009

Background and purpose:  Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, accumulates in adipose tissue where it is stored for long periods of time. Here we investigated whether conditions that promote lipolysis can liberate THC from adipocytes to yield increased blood levels of THC.Experimental approach:  In vitro studies involved freshly isolated rat adipocytes that were incubated with THC before exposure to the lipolytic agent adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). A complementary in vivo approach examined the effects of both food deprivation and ACTH on blood levels of THC in rats that had been repeatedly injected with THC (10 mg·kg−1) for 10 consecutive days. Lipolysis promoted by ACTH or food deprivation was indexed by measurement of glycerol levels.Key results:  ACTH increased THC levels in the medium of THC‐pretreated adipocytes in vitro. ACTH also enhanced THC release from adipocytes in vitro when taken from rats repeatedly pretreated with THC in vivo. Finally, in vivo ACTH exposure and 24 h food deprivation both enhanced the levels of THC and its metabolite, (‐)‐11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC‐COOH) in the blood of rats that had been pre‐exposed to repeated THC injections.Conclusions and implications:  The present study shows that lipolysis enhances the release of THC from fat stores back into blood. This suggests the likelihood of ‘reintoxication’ whereby food deprivation or stress may raise blood THC levels in animals chronically exposed to the drug. Further research will need to confirm whether this can lead to functional effects, such as impaired cognitive function or ‘flashbacks’.
Porcine endogenous retrovirus released by a bioartificial liver infects primary human cells
Authors: Frühauf Jan‐Henning , Mertsching Heike , Giri Shibashish , Frühauf Nils Roman , Bader Augustinus 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground: Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) remains a safety risk in pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation. There is no evidence of in vivo productive infection in humans because PERV is inactivated by human serum. However, PERV can infect human cell lines and human primary cells in vitro and inhibit human immune functions.Aims: We investigated the potential of primary porcine liver cells to transmit PERV to primary human cells in a bioreactor‐based bioartificial liver (BAL).Methods: Primary human hepatocytes, endothelial cells and the human cell line HEK 293 were exposed to supernatants from BAL or from the porcine cell line PK‐15. PERV polymerase‐specific reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and PCR were used to investigate PERV transmission to human cells. An assay of RT activity was used to detect the presence of retrovirus in the supernatants of BAL, primary human hepatocytes and endothelial cells.Results: Primary human hepatocytes (hHep), endothelial cells and HEK 293 cells were reproducibly infected by PERV, originating from primary porcine liver cells within the BAL and from PK‐15 cells. Infected cells were positive for PERV‐specific DNA and RNA after 8–10 days on an average, and RT activity was detectable in the supernatants of infected hHep and HEK 293 cells.Conclusion: A risk of PERV infection in human cells is documented in this study, indicating that short‐term contact of primary porcine liver cell supernatants with primary human cells could result in PERV transmission.
Night‐time sleep disturbance does not correlate with neuropsychiatric impairment in patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Montagnese Sara , Middleton Benita , Skene Debra J. , Morgan Marsha Y. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground: Sleep–wake disturbances are common in patients with cirrhosis and are generally attributed to the presence of hepatic encephalopathy.Aim: To determine the relationship between sleep and neuropsychiatric disturbances in patients with cirrhosis.Methods: The study population comprised 87 patients, classified as neuropsychiatrically unimpaired or as having minimal/overt hepatic encephalopathy. Nineteen healthy volunteers served as controls. Validated questionnaires were used to assess sleep quality [Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)], day‐time sleepiness [Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS)] and diurnal preference. Health‐related quality of life (H‐RQoL) was assessed using the 36‐item short form health profile (SF‐36v1) and the chronic liver disease questionnaire.Results: Patients slept significantly less well than the healthy volunteers (PSQI score: 8.4 ± 4.9 vs. 4.6 ± 2.5, P<0.01) and had more pronounced day‐time sleepiness (abnormal ESS: 21 vs. 0%; χ2=3.8, P=0.05). No significant relationships were observed between sleep indices and the presence/degree of hepatic encephalopathy. H‐RQoL was significantly impaired in the patients (SF‐36v1 physical score: 36 ± 15 vs. 50 ± 10, P<0.001; SF‐36v1 mental score: 46 ± 11 vs. 50 ± 10, P<0.01); night‐time sleep disturbance was an independent predictor of poor H‐RQoL (P<0.01).Conclusions: Sleep–wake abnormalities are common in patients with cirrhosis; they significantly affect H‐RQoL but are not related to the presence of hepatic encephalopathy.
Alanine aminotransferase, γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) and all‐cause mortality: results from a population‐based Danish twins study alanine aminotransferase, GGT and mortality in elderly twins
Authors: Fraser Abigail , Thinggaard Mikael , Christensen Kaare , Lawlor Debbie A. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground/Aims: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) are widely used markers of liver disease. Several population‐based cohort studies have found associations of these liver enzymes with all‐cause mortality. None of these studies controlled for genetic variation as well as fetal and early life exposure, whether environmental or genetic.Methods: We studied the associations of ALT and GGT with all‐cause mortality using data for 686 twins (73–94 years old) included in the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins.Results: An increase in 1 logged U/L of GGT was associated with a 15% increase in the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99, 1.32] but there was no strong evidence of an association of ALT with all‐cause mortality (HR=1.07, 95% CI 0.82, 1.40) when controlling for potential confounders. In this analysis, the study population was treated as individuals, with similarities between twins accounted for by using robust standard errors. However, an intrapair analysis in which the proportion of twin pairs in which the twin with the higher level of ALT or GGT died first was compared with 50% (expected under the null hypothesis), found no strong evidence that higher ALT or GGT was associated with earlier death within twin pairs; the results were consistent in both monozygotic and dizygotic twins.Conclusions: γ‐glutamyltransferase but not ALT predicts mortality among older Danish twins when using traditional methods for controlling for potential confounders and existing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Environmental developmental origins may explain the association, but larger twin studies are required to replicate our findings.
40Ar/39Ar Constraints on the tectonic history and architecture of the ultrahigh‐pressure Sulu orogen
Authors: HACKER B. R. , WALLIS S. R. , MCWILLIAMS M. O. , GANS P. B. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractNew40Ar/39Ar ages are presented from the giant Sulu ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) terrane and surrounding areas. Combined with U‐Pb ages, Sm‐Nd ages, Rb‐Sr ages, inclusion relationships, and geological relationships, they help define the orogenic events before, during and after the Triassic collision between the Sino–Korean and Yangtze Cratons. In the Qinling microcontinent, tectonism occurred between 2.0 and 1.4 Ga. The UHP metamorphism occurred in the Yangtze Craton between 240 and 222 Ma; its thermal effect on the Qinling microcontinent was limited to partial resetting of K‐feldspar40Ar/39Ar ages. Subsequent unroofing at rates of 5–25 km Myr−1brought the UHP terrane to crustal levels where it underwent a relatively short amphibolite facies metamorphism. The end of that metamorphism is marked by40Ar/39Ar ages in the 219–210 Ma range, implying cooling at crustal depths at rates of 50–200 °C Myr−1. Ages in the 210–170 Ma range may reflect protracted cooling or partial resetting by Jurassic or Cretaceous magmatism. Jurassic 166–149 Ma plutonism was followed by cooling at rates ofc.15 °C Myr−1, suggesting relatively deep crustal conditions, whereas Cretaceous 129–118 Ma plutonism was succeeded by cooling at rates ofc.50 C Myr−1, suggesting relatively shallow crustal depths.
Small‐scaled geographical variation in life‐history traits of the blowfly Calliphora vicina between rural and urban populations
Authors: Hwang C. C. , Turner B. D. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe impact of the urban heat‐island effect, the warming‐up of an urban area caused by human activity, on the blowfly Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was examined at two British sites, 30 km apart. Waterloo in Central London is a highly urbanised built‐up area, whereas Box Hill in the county of Surrey is a rural pasture and woodland location. The phenotypic plasticity of 12 C. vicina cultures, originated from single females from each of the two sites, was measured using three developmental characters: adult body size (represented as the length of the cross vein dm‐cu of the right wing), development time as accumulated degree‐days (ADD), and growth rate (length of dm‐cu/ADD), along a constant temperature series of 16, 20, 24, and 28 °C in the laboratory. The blowflies from Box Hill had the same ADD as those from Waterloo, but showed a significantly larger adult size and growth rate at lower temperatures, suggesting the existence of local adaptations that may be caused by the differing levels of urbanisation between the two studied sites. Not surprisingly, a trade‐off between adult size and development time was found. Females showed longer development times than males at all four temperatures, indicating they may need to ingest more food as larvae to furnish ovarioles and increase fecundity. However, females had larger adult size than males at 16 and 20 °C but a reverse at 28 °C, suggesting that females may be more cold‐adapted than males.
Moroccan national study on prevalence of mental disorders: a community‐based epidemiological study
Authors: Kadri N. , Agoub M. , Assouab F. , Tazi M. A. , Didouh A. , Stewart R. , Moussaoui D. 
Published: August 2009

Objective:  The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders in the Moroccan general population.Method:  On a systematic representative randomized sample, the Moroccan Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to assess the prevalence of mood, anxiety, substance, and alcohol abuse disorders.Results:  Among 5498 subjects interviewed, 40.1% had at least one current mental disorder. Current major depressive disorder was the most common (26.5%), and at least one anxiety disorder was found in 37% of the sample. Mental disorders were more frequent among female, urban, divorced, and unemployed subjects.Conclusion:  Mental disorders are common in the Moroccan general population, particularly mood and anxiety disorders.
Biological activities as patchiness driving forces in wetlands of northern Belize
Authors: Macek Petr , Rejmánková Eliška , Fuchs Roman 
Published: August 2009

Patchiness in wetlands is a common and well documented phenomenon. Oligotrophic wetlands of northern Belize display noticeable vegetation heterogeneity at both large and small scales. In this paper, we document the small scale patches in herbaceous wetlands, describe differences between patches and surrounding wetland habitats and explain patch formation and sustenance.We conducted a survey of patches and confirmed their occurrence by spatial analysis. Patches were distinguished from a surrounding wetland by denser and taller vegetation, higher amount of empty snail shells and elevated soil phosphorus (P). Plants in patches had higher tissue nitrogen (N) and P content and there was also higher total N and P per m2 incorporated in plant biomass. In terms of stable isotopes, plants in patches were enriched in 15N; patch soils were depleted in 13C.Observations of focal individuals of Aramus guarauna, limpkin, a wading bird feeding almost exclusively on snails, revealed the origin of the snail shell piles frequently found in patches. An adult limpkin captured on average 18 snails daily, of these 80% were handled in patches and birds often repeatedly used the same patch.Experimental patch creation by adding chicken manure or P to 1 m2 plots resulted in higher and denser vegetation with values increasing in order: control, P, manure plots. The effect was significant at both experimental locations six months after the treatment and at one location even 40 months after the treatment.We present a simple mechanistic explanation for nutrient redistribution in wetlands and their eventual accumulation in patches. Both nutrient and isotopic differences result from animal input into patches, e.g. bird droppings or prey remnants. Foraging activity of Aramus guarauna is most likely responsible for patch formation. A positive feedback (repeated use of a suitable patch) is apparently the mechanism sustaining patches in these marsh environments.
Nutrients and disturbance history in twoPlantagospecies: maternal effects as a clue for observed dichotomy between resprouting and seeding strategies
Authors: Latzel Vít , Hájek Tomáš , Klimešová Jitka , Gómez Sara 
Published: August 2009

We assessed the role of nutrients and disturbance experienced by mothers (maternal effects) in the growth of progeny in a pot experiment using twoPlantagospecies. Photosynthetic capacity, biomass allocation and fecundity were measured. Offspring of plants grown in nutrient poor conditions produced more leaves, spikes and longer leaves and in case ofP. lanceolata, they had also higher photosynthetic capacity. The progeny ofP. mediamothers that had resprouted after disturbance was favored in nutrient poor conditions whereas the progeny of undisturbed plants was favored in nutrient rich conditions.This study demonstrates that maternal effects may play a role in the success of either a seeding or a resprouting strategy in environments with different nutrient availability. Moreover, we showed that alteration of photosynthetic capacity, even during adult stages, is a mechanism through which maternal plants may impact their progeny.