bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurobehçet disease: clinical and demographic characteristics
Authors: Peño I. Casanova , De las Heras Revilla V. , Carbonell B. Parejo , Di Capua Sacoto D. , Ferrer M. E. Fuentes , García‐Cobos R. , González R. Arroyo 
Published: April 2012

Background: Neurobehçet disease (NBD) is a rare complication of Behçet disease (BD) but with important burdens of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about this complication because there are no validated diagnostic criteria, and all the studies have small number of patients. The prevalence reported normally ranges between 5% and 15% and it is more frequent amongst men between 20 and 40 years old. The typical presentations include focal parenchymal lesions, vascular thrombosis, arterial vasculitis, and aseptic meningo‐encephalitis.Methods: We retrospectively studied medical histories of all patients admitted to the hospital and discharged from it with diagnosis of BD from January 1996 to September 2009. NBD was defined as having neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms with compatible abnormalities in MRI and/or cerebrospinal fluid and without another possible explanation for their symptoms.Results: Behcet disease was diagnosed in 25 patients and seven from these patients fulfilled our criteria of Neurobehcet disease (28%). Patients with NBD were significantly younger at the onset of their symptoms and had a significantly longer evolution until diagnosis and treatment compared to patients with non‐Neuobehçet disease. Six presented a relapsing–remitting pattern, with a good outcome with corticosteroids.Conclusions: As reported in previous studies, progressive course was less frequent, with only one case, and had a more aggressive disease. Brainstem involvement bears a poorer prognosis because it is linked with a progressive evolution. In our series, NBD complication was not that infrequent. It is very important to be highly suspicious of this possibility to start early a correct treatment.
Taste disorders in myasthenia gravis: a multicenter cooperative study
Authors: Kabasawa C. , Shimizu Y. , Suzuki S. , Masuda M. , Nagane Y. , Utsugisawa K. , Suzuki Y. , Utsumi H. , Fujihara K. , Suzuki N. , Uchiyama S. 
Published: April 2012

Background and purpose:  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of taste disorders in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods:  We studied 371 Japanese patients with MG (127 men and 244 women; mean age, 56.6 ± 16.9 years) consecutively evaluated between May and September 2010 in six neurological centers comprising the East Japan MG Study Group. Ninety‐three patients (25%) had thymoma. We interviewed all patients to determine whether they had taste disorders during the clinical course of MG and then further evaluated the patients with MG, who reported having taste disorders, using a questionnaire.Results:  Taste disorders were observed in 16 (4.3%) of the 371 patients with MG. We concluded that taste disorders in 2.4% of patients with MG excluding other factors were associated with MG itself. All patients had thymoma with seropositivity for anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Thymoma tended to be advanced, and four patients with Masaoka stage IVa required radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Five patients noticed taste disorders 2–3 months before the onset of MG. Sweet taste loss was more common than salty, bitter, and sour taste loss.Conclusions:  This was the first systematic survey of taste disorders in patients with MG by a multicenter study. Taste disorders were more common in the present sample of patients with MG than in the general population.
The Radical Status Factor (RSF): a novel metric to characterize skin products
Authors: Herrling T. , Jung K. 
Published: April 2012

SynopsisA scale of skin treatments is analysed, which bases on the detection of UV‐generated free radicals in pig skin. Physiological and anatomical similarities between man and pig made this animal a good model for man in many research areas. The determination of the Radical Status (free radical response) offers the possibility to see in an early stage the effect of exterior and interior influences. The detection of the skin’s response after a normalized radical generation by defined UV dose combined with the application of external and internal influences enables a comprehensive and easy classification of skin products and therapies. The effect of substances, especially, applied topically on the skin, like it is usual in cosmetics and pharmacy, can be classified. The relevance of the RSF method is demonstrated with the application of numerous different treatments on the skin.
Scaling and mechanics of the felid calcaneus: geometric similarity without differential allometric scaling
Authors: Gálvez‐López Eloy , Casinos Adrià 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSix mechanically significant skeletal variables were measured on the calcanei from 60 Felidae specimens (22 species) to determine whether these variables were scaled to body mass, and to assess whether differential scaling exists. The power equation (y = a · xb) was used to analyse the scaling of the six variables to body mass; we compared traditional regression methods (standardised major axis) to phylogenetically independent contrasts. In agreement with previous studies that compared these methodologies, we found no significant differences between methods in the allometric coefficients (b) obtained. Overall, the scaling pattern of the felid calcaneus conformed to the predictions of the geometric similarity hypothesis, but not entirely to those of the elastic similarity hypothesis. We found that the moment arm of the ankle extensors scaled to body mass with an exponent not significantly different from 0.40. This indicated that the tuber calcanei scaled to body mass faster than calcaneus total length. This explained why the effective mechanical advantage of the ankle extensors increased with body mass, despite the fact that limb posture does not change in felid species. Furthermore, this finding was consistent with the hypothesis of the isometric scaling of ground reaction forces. No evidence for differential scaling was found in any of the variables studied. We propose that this reflected the similar locomotor pattern of all felid species. Thus, our results suggested that the differences in allometric coefficients for ‘large’ and ‘small’ mammals were in fact caused by different types of locomotion among the species included in each category.
Stimulation‐history effects on the M100 revealed by its differential dependence on the stimulus onset interval
Authors: Zacharias Norman , König Reinhard , Heil Peter 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe amplitudes of the most prominent component of auditory evoked magnetic fields and electrical potentials, the M100 and N100, recorded from the human scalp depend on the duration of the stimulus onset interval (SOI). Here, we show, using magnetoencephalography, that the SOI dependence of the M100 amplitude strongly depends upon whether stimuli with different SOIs are presented in a conventional block design or in a random manner. This differential dependence reveals that the M100 is affected not only by the stimulus evoking it and by its predecessor, but by a longer‐term history of stimulation. We provide a parsimonious model that accounts for our findings with both designs in a quantitative manner. It assumes a transient, temporally asymmetric reduction in the excitability of a fraction of potentially excitable neurons. A rather stereotyped response function may therefore underlie the stimulation‐history effects in the human auditory cortex.
Circulating cytokine signatures in healthy medical students exposed to academic examination stress
Authors: Kamezaki Yoshiko , Katsuura Sakurako , Kuwano Yuki , Tanahashi Toshihito , Rokutan Kazuhito 
Published: April 2012

AbstractStress‐induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in the brain and periphery is associated with mental distress. In this study, we measured changes in levels of salivary cortisol and 50 circulating immune mediators in 28 4th‐grade medical students (19 males and 9 females) 7 weeks before, 1 day before, immediately after, and 1 week after an authorized nationwide examination for promotion. Repeated measures ANOVA with multiple testing correction and post hoc tests revealed that the examination significantly increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, interferon‐γ, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor‐α), Th2 cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13), and β‐nerve growth factor in association with significant decreases in salivary cortisol levels and anxiety after the examination. These mediators may have a negative impact on the mental state of healthy young adults exposed to naturalistic stressors.
Cerebrospinal fluid α‐synuclein levels are elevated in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica patients during replase
Authors: Wang Honghao , Wang Kai , Xu Wen , Wang Conghui , Qiu Wei , Zhong Xiaonan , Dai Yongqiang , Wu Aimin , Hu Xueqiang 
Published: April 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 19–23.AbstractThe concept that the immune system plays a central role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) was indisputable. However, neurodegenerative pathological features including loss of axons and neurons were also found in the lesions of these diseases. α‐Synuclein is one of the most abundant proteins in pre‐synaptic terminals. Recently, many research show α‐synuclein level in CSF may reflect the progression of synaptic dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis. Whether the levels of CSF α‐synuclein are changed in MS and NMO patients remain unknown. In this study, CSF α‐synuclein was measured by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in MS (n = 18) patients, NMO (n = 22) patients, Parkinson’s disease patients (n = 9), and the controls (n = 11). We found concentration of α‐synuclein in MS and NMO patients were significantly higher than Parkinson’s disease subgroup and the controls. Both MS and NMO revealed an increased disease disability with increased CSF α‐synuclein. Thus, CSF α‐synuclein may be reflect injure axons and neurons in inflammatory demyelinating diseases.
Organic Sulfur Metabolisms in Hydrothermal Environments
Authors: ROGERS KARYN L. , SCHULTE MITCHELL D. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSulfur is central to the metabolisms of many organisms that inhabit extreme environments. While biotic and abiotic cycling of organic sulfur compounds has been well documented in low‐temperature anaerobic environments, cycling of organic sulfur in hydrothermal environments has received less attention. Recently published thermodynamic data have been used to estimate aqueous alkyl thiol and sulfide activities in deep‐sea hydrothermal systems. Here we use geochemical mixing models to predict fluid compositions that result from mixing end‐member hydrothermal fluid from the East Pacific Rise with bottom seawater. These fluid compositions are combined with estimates of methanethiol and dimethylsulfide activities to evaluate energy yields for potential organic sulfur‐based metabolisms under hydrothermal conditions. Aerobic respiration has the highest energy yields (over −240 kJ/mol e−) at lower temperature; however, oxygen is unlikely to persist at high temperatures, restricting aerobic respiration to mesophilic communities. Nitrite reduction to N2 has the highest energy yields at higher temperatures (greater than ∼40 °C). Nitrate and nitrite reduction to ammonium also yield significant energy (up to −70 kJ/mol e−). Much lower, but still feasible energy yields are calculated for sulfate reduction, disproportionation, and reduction with H2. Organic compound family and the activity of methanethiol and dimethylsulfide were less important than metabolic strategy in determining overall energy yields. All metabolic strategies considered were exergonic within some portion of the mixing regime suggesting that organic sulfur‐based metabolisms may be prevalent within deep‐sea hydrothermal vent microbial communities.
Reporting of Quality Indicators and Improvement in Hospital Performance: The P.Re.Val.E. Regional Outcome Evaluation Program
Authors: Renzi Cristina , Sorge Chiara , Fusco Danilo , Agabiti Nera , Davoli Marina , Perucci Carlo A. 
Published: April 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether reporting of hospital performance was associated with a change in quality indicators in Italian hospitals.Data Sources/Study SettingNationwide Hospital Information System for 2006–2009.Study DesignWe performed a pre‐post evaluation in Lazio (before and after disclosure of the Regional Outcome Evaluation Program P.Re.Val.E.) and a comparative evaluation versus Italian regions without comparable programs. We analyzed risk‐adjusted proportions of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), hip fractures operated on within 48 hours, and cesarean deliveries.Data Collection/Extraction MethodsUsing standardized ICD‐9‐CM coding algorithms, we selected 381,053 acute myocardial infarction patients, 250,712 hip fractures, and 1,736,970 women who had given birth.Principal FindingsIn Lazio PCI within 48 hours changed from 22.49 to 29.43 percent following reporting of the P.Re.Val.E results (relative increase, 31 percent; p < .001). In the other regions this proportion increased from 22.48 to 27.09 percent during the same time period (relative increase, 21 percent; p < .001). Hip fractures operated on within 48 hours increased from 11.73 to 15.78 percent (relative increase, 34 percent; p < .001) in Lazio, and not in other regions (29.36 to 28.57 percent). Cesarean deliveries did not decrease in Lazio (34.57–35.30 percent), and only slightly decreased in the other regions (30.49–28.11 percent).ConclusionsReporting of performance data may have a positive but limited impact on quality improvement. The evaluation of quality indicators remains paramount for public accountability.
Transport and pharmacodynamics of albitiazolium, an antimalarial drug candidate
Authors: Wein S , Maynadier M , Bordat Y , Perez J , Maheshwari S , Bette‐Bobillo P , Tran Van Ba C , Penarete‐Vargas D , Fraisse L , Cerdan R , Vial H 
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Choline analogues, a new type of antimalarials, exert potent in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity. This has given rise to albitiazolium, which is currently in phase II clinical trials to cure severe malaria. Here we dissected its mechanism of action step by step from choline entry into the infected erythrocyte to its effect on phosphatidylcholine (PC) biosynthesis.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We biochemically unravelled the transport and enzymatic steps that mediate de novo synthesis of PC and elucidated how albitiazolium enters the intracellular parasites and affects the PC biosynthesis.KEY RESULTS Choline entry into Plasmodium falciparum‐infected erythrocytes is achieved both by the remnant erythrocyte choline carrier and by parasite‐induced new permeability pathways (NPP), while parasite entry involves a poly‐specific cation transporter. Albitiazolium specifically prevented choline incorporation into its end‐product PC, and its antimalarial activity was strongly antagonized by choline. Albitiazolium entered the infected erythrocyte mainly via a furosemide‐sensitive NPP and was transported into the parasite by a poly‐specific cation carrier. Albitiazolium competitively inhibited choline entry via the parasite‐derived cation transporter and also, at a much higher concentration, affected each of the three enzymes conducting de novo synthesis of PC.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Inhibition of choline entry into the parasite appears to be the primary mechanism by which albitiazolium exerts its potent antimalarial effect. However, the pharmacological response to albitiazolium involves molecular interactions with different steps of the de novo PC biosynthesis pathway, which would help to delay the development of resistance to this drug.
Role of comorbidities in outcome prediction after status epilepticus
Authors: Alvarez Vincent , Januel Jean‐Marie , Burnand Bernard , Rossetti Andrea O. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryStatus epilepticus (SE) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. A reliable prognosis may help better manage medical resources and treatment strategies. We examined the role of preexisting comorbidities on the outcome of patients with SE, an aspect that has received little attention to date. We prospectively studied incident SE episodes in 280 adults occurring over 55 months in our tertiary care hospital, excluding patients with postanoxic encephalopathy. Different models predicting mortality and return to clinical baseline at hospital discharge were compared, which included demographics, SE etiology, a validated clinical Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS), and comorbidities (assessed with the Charlson Comorbidity Index) as independent variables. The overall short‐term mortality was 14%, and only half of patients returned to their clinical baseline. On bivariate analyses, age, STESS, potentially fatal etiologies, and number of preexisting comorbidities were all significant predictors of both mortality and return to clinical baseline. As compared with the simplest predictive model (including demographics and deadly etiology), adding SE severity and comorbidities resulted in an improved predictive performance (C statistics 0.84 vs. 0.77 for mortality, and 0.86 vs. 0.82. for return to clinical baseline); comorbidities, however, were not independently related to outcome. Considering comorbidities and clinical presentation, in addition to age and etiology, slightly improves the prediction of SE outcome with respect to both survival and functional status. This analysis also emphasizes the robust predictive role of etiology and age.
Predicting hand function after hemispherotomy: TMS versus fMRI in hemispheric polymicrogyria
Authors: Zsoter Andrea , Pieper Tom , Kudernatsch Manfred , Staudt Martin 
Published: April 2012

SummaryPatients with hemispheric malformations of cortical development (such as polymicrogyria) often develop medically intractable epilepsies for which hemispherotomy can be an excellent treatment option. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are noninvasive methods used to evaluate the sensorimotor system in adults and children before surgery. Preoperative results of both methods and their predictive values regarding hand function after hemispherotomy are described in four boys with hemispheric polymicrogyria, pharmacoresistent epilepsy, and hemiparesis with preserved grasp function of the paretic hand. TMS showing ipsilateral projections from the contralesional hemisphere but no evidence of crossed corticospinal projections from the lesioned hemisphere correctly predicted preserved postoperative grasp function in all four patients. In contrast, the interpretation of sensorimotor fMRI in patients with congenital hemiparesis is more difficult, as ipsilesional activation can occur as it was the case in three of four patients in the current study. This activation might represent contralaterally preserved primary somatosensory (S1) and not primary motor (M1) representation and is apparently not necessary for the paretic hand to still perform grasp movements.
Modulation of epileptiform EEG discharges in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: An investigation of reflex epileptic traits
Authors: Beniczky Sándor , Guaranha Mirian Salvadori Bittar , Conradsen Isa , Singh Mamta Bhushan , Rutar Veronika , Lorber Bogdan , Braga Patricia , Fressola Alicia Bogacz , Inoue Yushi , Yacubian Elza Márcia Targas , Wolf Peter 
Published: April 2012

SummaryPurpose:  Previous studies have suggested that cognitive tasks modulate (provoke or inhibit) the epileptiform electroencephalography (EEG) discharges (EDs) in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Their inhibitory effect was found to be especially frequent (64–90%). These studies arbitrarily defined modulation as a >100% increase or >50% decrease of the EDs compared with baseline, which may not sufficiently distinguish from spontaneous fluctuations. The aim of our study was to assess the modulation of EDs and the precipitation of myoclonic seizures by cognitive tasks and by conventional provocation methods, taking into account also the spontaneous fluctuation of EDs.Method:  Sixty patients with JME underwent video‐EEG recordings including 50‐min baseline, sleep, hyperventilation, intermittent photic stimulation (IPS), and cognitive tasks. To account for spontaneous fluctuations of the EDs we divided the baseline period into 5‐min epochs and calculated the 95% confidence interval for the baseline EDs in each patient. Modulation was assumed when the number of EDs during any 5‐min test period was outside the 95% confidence interval.Key Findings:  Using the arbitrary method, our results were similar to previous publications: Cognitive tasks seemed to inhibit the EDs in 94% of the patients, and to provoke them in 22%. However, when the spontaneous fluctuations were accounted for, inhibition was found in only 29% of the patients and provocation in 18%. A nonspecific effect of any cognitive task seemed to account for the observed significant inhibition in two‐thirds of the cases, but was observed in only one of the patients with significant provocation. Photoparoxysmal response was observed in 23% of the patients. When accounting for the spontaneous occurrence of EDs, IPS had provocative effect in 10% of the patients. Hyperventilation and sleep had provocative effect on EDs to an extent similar to the cognitive tasks (hyperventilation: 22%; sleep: 18%). The conventional provocation methods tended to be more efficient in patients who were not seizure free. Myoclonia were recorded most often during the cognitive tasks (10 patients).Significance:  Spontaneous fluctuations of EDs account for most of the previously described inhibitory effect of the cognitive tasks. The provocative effect of the cognitive tasks is task‐specific, whereas the inhibitory effect seems to be related to cognitive activation in general.
Finding Life Cycle Assessment Research Direction with the Aid of Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Zamagni Alessandra , Masoni Paolo , Buttol Patrizia , Raggi Andrea , Buonamici Roberto 
Published: April 2012

SummaryRapid growth in life cycle assessment (LCA) methodological developments has generated a large body of work that may appear to lack direction. In this article we developed and applied a structured approach, inspired by the meta‐analysis concept, to examine literature and identify research thrusts on how to further develop LCA. The procedure consists of four steps: (1) definition of the research question; (2) carrying out a literature review concerning more than 280 articles, selected from about 2,000 articles according to predefined criteria, which resulted in the identification of some 60 main methodological topics; (3) research gap analysis, in which the methodological topics identified in the previous step were compared with the research priorities identified through a users’ needs survey; and (4) interpretation of results, in which the results of both the previous steps were evaluated and organized into coherent research thrusts.Overall the analysis delivered two main research thrusts: one devoted to increase the practicability of LCA, the other to increase model fidelity. The former is aimed at making knowledge available in an easily usable way, while the latter focuses on better describing the complexity of the systems analyzed and those interrelations that are really meaningful. Specific research topics were identified for each thrust, which suggests that sophistication and practicability can and should coexist in the same method.