bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using the internet to research hidden populations of illicit drug users: a review
Authors: Miller Peter G. , Sønderlund Anders L. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTAims  To review the current research of hidden populations of illicit drugs users using web‐based methods and discuss major advantages and disadvantages.Methods  Systematic review of 16 databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), CSA Sociological Abstracts, Expanded Academic ASAP and Google Scholar.Findings  Substances researched were most commonly ‘party/club drugs’ (such as ecstasy) and cannabis. All of the studies reviewed concluded that the internet is a useful tool for reaching hidden populations, but is likely to impose some bias in samples. Advantages include: access to previously under‐researched target groups; speed; international applications; increased ease of data entry; and improved confidentiality for respondents. The major disadvantage is a lack of representativeness of samples.Conclusions  Internet research is successful at accessing hidden populations of illicit drugs users, when appropriately targeted and provides unprecedented opportunities for research across a wide range of topics within the addictions field. Findings are unlikely to be generalisable to the general public, but appropriate for describing target populations.
The influence of cultural orientation, alcohol expectancies and self‐efficacy on adolescent drinking behavior in Beijing
Authors: Shell Duane F. , Newman Ian M. , Xiaoyi Fang 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTObjective  We hypothesized that the drinking behavior of adolescents in China is influenced by expectancies and self‐efficacy and that adolescents' cultural orientation towards western versus traditional Chinese values influences expectancies, self‐efficacy and drinking behavior, with western values leading to more dysfunctional patterns of beliefs and drinking, and that these beliefs are influenced by students' gender and school environment.Methods  A total of 1020 high school students from Beijing completed the Chinese Adolescent Alcohol Expectancy, the Chinese Cultural Orientation and the Chinese Self‐regulation Self‐efficacy questionnaires.Results  Results generally confirmed our hypotheses. Higher negative expectancies and higher self‐efficacy reduced the likelihood of drinking significantly. Higher positive expectancies increased the likelihood of regular drinking but not occasional drinking. Having western cultural orientation increased the likelihood of drinking. Higher levels of western cultural orientation also increased positive expectancies, lowered negative expectancies and lowered self‐efficacy. Having more western (less traditional) views towards traditional Chinese values decreased positive and negative expectancies. Gender influenced beliefs, with males having higher positive and lower negative expectancies, lower self‐efficacy and more traditional cultural orientation. Students in key and general schools had less traditional cultural orientation and key school students had higher self‐efficacy.Conclusions  Results indicate that cultural orientation influences adolescent drinking and this influence is mediated partially through cultural orientation influences on adolescent drinking expectancies and self‐efficacy. Having more western and less traditional Chinese cultural orientation leads to more drinking, lower self‐efficacy for regulating drinking and more risk‐promoting alcohol expectancies.
Calreticulin is a B cell molecular target in some gastrointestinal malignancies
Authors: Pekáriková A , Sánchez D , Palová-Jelínková L , Šimšová M , Beneš Z , Hoffmanová I , Drastich P , Janatková I , Mothes T , Tlaskalová-Hogenová H , Tučková L 
Published: July 2010

Summary
Calreticulin, upon translocation to the cell surface, plays a critical role in the recognition of tumour cells and in experimentally induced cellular anti-tumour immunity. However, less is known about anti-calreticulin antibodies and their role in malignancies. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we found immunoglobulin (Ig)A and/or IgG anti-calreticulin antibodies in sera of approximately 63% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 57% of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA) and 47% of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PACA), while healthy controls, patients with viral hepatitis C and with chronic pancreatitis reached only 2%, 20% and 31% seropositivity, respectively. We found significantly elevated mean levels of IgA anti-calreticulin antibodies (P &lt; 0·001) in patients with HCC (78·7 ± 52·3 AU, mean ± standard deviation), PACA (66·5 ± 30·9 AU) and CRA (61·8 ± 25·8 AU) when compared to healthy controls (41·4 ± 19·2 AU). Significantly elevated mean levels of IgG anti-calreticulin antibodies (P &lt; 0·001) were detected in patients with HCC (121·9 ± 94·2 AU), gall bladder adenocarcinoma (118·4 ± 80·0 AU) and PACA (88·7 ± 55·6 AU) when compared to healthy controls (56·7 ± 22·9 AU). Pepscan analysis revealed a large number of antigenic epitopes of calreticulin recognized by both IgA and IgG antibodies of patients with HCC and PACA, indicating robust systemic immune response. Moreover, significantly elevated levels of antibodies against peptide KGEWKPRQIDNP (P &lt; 0·001) in these patients, tested by ELISA, confirmed the distinct character of antibody reactivity against calreticulin. The high occurrence and specificity of serum anti-calreticulin autoantibodies in the majority of patients with some gastrointestinal malignancies provide the evidence for their possible clinical relevance.
Toll‐like receptor 4 signalling pathway activation in a rat model of Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Authors: REN M. Y. , WU X. Y. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryThe pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is complicated. In our previous studies, TLR4 was found involved in the process of infection by Acanthamoeba in human corneal cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling pathway in Wistar rats challenged with Acanthamoeba. The rat model of AK was established. Corneas were collected and analysed by real‐time PCR to assess the mRNA levels of TLR 2, 4, myeloid differentiation protein (MyD)88, nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), interleukin (IL)‐8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interferon (IFN) –β. Immunocytochemistry and Western blot were conducted to examine the proteins of TLR2, TLR4, p‐Erk1/2 and p‐IκB. Specific inhibitors PDTC and U0126 were used to pretreat the animals to determine the exact receptor and signalling pathway involved in pathogenesis. Expressions of TLR4, MyD88, all three cytokines, NF‐κB, p‐IκB and p‐Erk1/2 were increased in Acanthamoeba‐treated rat corneas. PDTC inhibited the production of IL‐8 and TNF‐α, while U0126 inhibited the synthesis of IFN‐β. TLR4 was involved in sensing the challenge of Acanthamoeba and inducing production of cytokines through TLR4–NF‐κB and TLR4–Erk1/2 pathways in corneas of Wistar rats.
Regulation of chemokine responses in intestinal epithelial cells by stress andToxoplasma gondiiinfection
Authors: GOPAL R. , BIRDSELL D. , MONROY F. P. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryInfection withToxoplasma gondiiinduces chemokine up‐regulation in several cell types. Here, we investigated the role of stress products (norepinephrine, NE) on chemokine production in mouse intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Purified IECs were used to determine the expression levels of chemokines by real‐time PCR. There was significantly increased expression in CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL2, CXCL9 and CXCL10 in IECs following peroral infection withT. gondii(INF) on day eight post‐infection (PI) compared to infected mice subjected to cold‐water stress (INF+CWS).In vitrostudies using the MODE‐K cell line showed increased chemokine mRNA and protein expression in infected but not in cells exposed to parasite antigen. Down‐regulation of chemokine expression was more pronounced when active infection was used in combination with NE. Chemokine receptor expression was increased in IECs isolated from INF and decreased in the INF+CWS group. In MODE‐K cells, there was decreased mRNA expression of chemokine receptors when incubated with β‐adrenergic antagonists. Neither, adrenergic antagonists blocked the effect of infection on chemokine receptor expression. Cold‐water stress was able to decrease expression of chemokines and their receptors in IECsin vivoandin vitro. Cold‐water stress‐mediated modulation of innate intestinal responses are beneficial in C57BL/6 mice duringT. gondiiinfection.
Silicification of sulphate evaporites and their carbonate replacements in Eocene marine sediments, Tunisia: two diagenetic trends
Authors: HENCHIRI MOHSEN , SLIM‐S'HIMI NAJET 
Published: July 2010

AbstractSamples of chert nodules, diagenetic carbonates and evaporites (gypsum/anhydrite) collected from the gypsiferous limestones of the Kef Eddour Member (Ypressian‐Priabonian) near Metlaoui and Sehib (Tunisia) show selective silicification with great variety in the silicified by‐products. Based on δ13C values, which support an organic origin for the carbon, carbonates replaced evaporites microbially through bacterial sulphate reduction. Observations and results suggest two scenarios for chert formation that are related to the rate and timing of diagenetic carbonate replacement of the evaporites (anhydrite/gypsum). In the absence of early diagenetic carbonate phases, silica with δ18O values from +25 to +28·6‰ [standard mean ocean water (SMOW)] replaced the outer parts of anhydrite nodules at pH < 9. In contrast, pore‐fluid pH values > 9 in the innermost parts of the anhydrite nodules prevented silica precipitation. The record of this chemical barrier is preserved in the microquartz rims and geode features that formed in the inner parts of the nodules after dissolution of the anhydrite nucleus. The microbial diagenetic replacement of evaporites (bacterial sulphate reduction) by carbonates (calcite, aragonite and dolomite) favoured silica replacement of carbonates rather than evaporites. Silica, with δ18O signature of +21 to +26‰ (SMOW), replaced carbonates on a volume‐for‐volume basis, yielding a more siliceous groundmass, and accounting for 90–95% of the nodules. The relatively higher δ18O values of quartz replacing anhydrite can be explained by a diagenetic fluid in equilibrium with mixed (meteoric/marine) to marine water. The lower δ18O values of the quartz that replaced the diagenetic carbonates are ascribed to flushing by meteoric water in a later diagenetic stage. The silica supply for chert formation could be derived from the reworked bio‐siliceous deposits (diatomites) to the west of the basin [vestiges of an opal‐CT precursor undetectable by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were revealed by δ29Si magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance investigations], diagenesis of the extraformational and overlying clay‐rich beds (the host limestones are clay‐poor as shown by XRD measurements), and minor volcanogenic and hydrothermal contributions during early diagenetic stages.
Prophylactic control of post‐operative nausea and vomiting using ondansetron and ramosetron after cardiac surgery
Authors: CHOI D. K. , CHIN J. H. , LEE E. H. , LIM O. B. , CHUNG C. H. , RO Y. J. , CHOI I. C. 
Published: July 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron and ramosetron in the reduction of post‐operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) associated with patient‐controlled analgesia (PCA) after cardiac surgery.Methods: A total of 320 patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four treatment regimens (n=80 in each group): no prophylactic antiemetics (group P); intravenous (i.v.) ondansetron 4 mg at the end of surgery and 12 mg added to PCA (group O); i.v. ramosetron 0.3 mg at the end of surgery and no antiemetics added to PCA (group R1); and i.v. ramosetron 0.3 mg at the end of surgery and 0.6 mg added to PCA (group R2).Results: The incidence of PONV during the 48‐h post‐operative period was lower in groups O (46%), R1 (54%), and R2 (35%) compared with group P (71%, P<0.001). The incidence and severity of nausea were lower in groups O, R1, and R2 than in group P during the 24‐h post‐operative period, whereas the incidence and severity of nausea during 24–48 h after surgery were lower in groups O and R2, but not in group R1, than in group P. Compared with group P (53%), the frequency of rescue antiemetic usage was significantly lower in groups O (34%) and R2 (29%), but not in group R1 (43%).Conclusion: The addition of either ondansetron or ramosetron to PCA can reduce the incidence of PONV during 48 h after cardiac surgery.
Behavioural and biomaterial coevolution in spider orb webs
Authors: SENSENIG A. , AGNARSSON I. , BLACKLEDGE T. A. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractMechanical performance of biological structures, such as tendons, byssal threads, muscles, and spider webs, is determined by a complex interplay between material quality (intrinsic material properties, larger scale morphology) and proximate behaviour. Spider orb webs are a system in which fibrous biomaterials—silks—are arranged in a complex design resulting from stereotypical behavioural patterns, to produce effective energy absorbing traps for flying prey. Orb webs show an impressive range of designs, some effective at capturing tiny insects such as midges, others that can occasionally stop even small birds. Here, we test whether material quality and behaviour (web design) co‐evolve to fine‐tune web function. We quantify the intrinsic material properties of the sticky capture silk and radial support threads, as well as their architectural arrangement in webs, across diverse species of orb‐weaving spiders to estimate the maximum potential performance of orb webs as energy absorbing traps. We find a dominant pattern of material and behavioural coevolution where evolutionary shifts to larger body sizes, a common result of fecundity selection in spiders, is repeatedly accompanied by improved web performance because of changes in both silk material and web spinning behaviours. Large spiders produce silk with improved material properties, and also use more silk, to make webs with superior stopping potential. After controlling for spider size, spiders spinning higher quality silk used it more sparsely in webs. This implies that improvements in silk quality enable ‘sparser’ architectural designs, or alternatively that spiders spinning lower quality silk compensate architecturally for the inferior material quality of their silk. In summary, spider silk material properties are fine‐tuned to the architectures of webs across millions of years of diversification, a coevolutionary pattern not yet clearly demonstrated for other important biomaterials such as tendon, mollusc byssal threads, and keratin.
REVIEW: The evolution of polyembryony in parasitoid wasps
Authors: SEGOLI M. , HARARI A. R. , ROSENHEIM J. A. , BOUSKILA A. , KEASAR T. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPolyembryony has evolved independently in four families of parasitoid wasps. We review three main hypotheses for the selective forces favouring this developmental mode in parasitoids: polyembryony (i) reduces the costs of egg limitation; (ii) reduces the genetic conflict among offspring; and (iii) allows offspring to adjust their numbers to the quality of the host. Using comparative data and verbal and mathematical arguments, we evaluate the relative importance of the different selective forces through different evolutionary stages and in the different groups of polyembryonic wasps. We conclude that reducing the cost of egg limitation is especially important when large broods are favoured. Reducing genetic conflict may be most important when broods are small, thus might have been important during, or immediately following, the initial transition from monoembryony to polyembryony. Empirical data provide little support for the brood‐size adjustment hypothesis, although it is likely to interact with other selective forces favouring polyembryony.
Stem cell system in asexual and sexual reproduction of Enchytraeus japonensis (Oligochaeta, Annelida)
Authors: Yoshida‐Noro Chikako , Tochinai Shin 
Published: July 2010

Enchytraeus japonensis is a small oligochaete species that proliferates asexually via fragmentation and regeneration. As sexual reproduction can also be induced, it is a good model system for the study of both regenerative and germline stem cells. It has been shown by histological study that putative mesodermal stem cells called neoblasts, and dedifferentiated epidermal and endodermal cells are involved in blastema formation. Recently, we isolated three region‐specific marker genes expressed in the digestive tract and showed by in situ hybridization that morphallactic as well as epimorphic regulation of the body patterning occurs during regeneration. We also cloned two vasa‐related genes and analyzed their expression during development and in mature worms that undergo sexual reproduction. The results arising form these studies suggest that the origin and development of germline stem cells and neoblasts may be independent. Furthermore, we carried out functional analysis using RNA interference (RNAi) and showed that a novel gene termed grimp is required for mesodermal cell proliferation at the initial stages of regeneration. These findings indicate that the stem cell system in E. japonensis is regulated by both internal and external environmental factors.
An unusual presentation of Castleman's disease
Authors: BAYSUNGUR Volkan , TEZEL Cagatay , OKUR Erdal , ERGENE Gokhan , OZVARAN Kursat , HALEZEROGLU Semih 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTCastleman's disease is one of the heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders of unknown aetiology. It commonly presents as a mediastinal mass. It can be unicentric involving only a single site, or multicentric involving multiple sites. We report a patient with unicentric Castleman's disease, in which the mass was located in the posterior mediastinum and accompanied by a massive pleural effusion, which is extremely rare in unicentric disease. This case report highlights the imaging techniques used in the differential diagnosis and surgical considerations due to the hypervascular nature of the tumour.
Significance of the progression of respiratory symptoms for predicting community‐acquired pneumonia in general practice
Authors: NAKANISHI Masanori , YOSHIDA Yoshimasa , TAKEDA Nobuya , HIRANA Hirohumi , HORITA Takahiro , SHIMIZU Kazuhiko , HIRATANI Kazuyuki , TOYODA Shigeo , MATSUMURA Takayuki , SHINNO Eizi , KAWAI Satoru , FUTAMURA Akihiro , OTA Masanari , NATAZUKA Toshiki 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Early diagnosis improves outcomes in patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, prediction of CAP based on symptoms and signs is difficult. The present study investigated the evaluation of progression of symptoms as a factor for predicting the occurrence of CAP in general practice.Methods:  Consecutive patients (n = 406) suspected of having CAP on routine clinical examination were studied retrospectively. Selection of patients with suspected CAP was based on progression of symptoms after 5 days, as well as published criteria. Diagnostic yields for the recommended criteria and our proposed criteria were then compared. Scoring systems for the prediction of CAP were designed, based on the results of multiple regression analysis. The diagnostic performance of these systems, including or excluding symptom progression, was compared using the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves.Results:  The sensitivity and specificity of the recommended criteria and our proposed criteria were 0.75 and 0.44, and 0.93 and 0.38, respectively. Sputum production, dyspnoea, fever > 38°C, heart rate > 100 beats/min, decreased breath sounds, coarse crackles and progression of symptoms significantly increased the likelihood of CAP. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves analysis showed that the diagnostic prediction of CAP was significantly improved when the scoring system included progression of symptoms.Conclusions:  Progression of symptoms was a significant factor for predicting CAP and selecting patients who required CXR. Inclusion of progression of symptoms among the other recommended criteria, namely, dyspnoea, fever > 38°C, heart rate > 100 beats/min and abnormal chest findings, improved prediction of the incidence of CAP in general practice.
Reticular basement membrane fragmentation and potential epithelial mesenchymal transition is exaggerated in the airways of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: SOHAL Sukhwinder S. , REID David , SOLTANI Amir , WARD Chris , WESTON Steven , MULLER H. Konrad , WOOD‐BAKER Richard , WALTERS Eugene H. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective: In COPD, the airways are chronically inflamed, and we have now observed fragmentation of the reticular basement membrane (Rbm). This appears to be a hallmark of the process known as epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells migrate through the Rbm and differentiate into fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to confirm the extent and relevance of Rbm fragmentation in smokers and patients with COPD, and to undertake a preliminary analysis of some classical markers of EMT.Methods: Endobronchial biopsies from current smokers (CS;n = 17) and ex‐smokers with COPD (ES;n = 15), smokers with normal lung function (NS;n = 16) and never‐smoking control subjects (NC;n = 15) were stained for the EMT markers, S100A4, vimentin, epidermal growth factor receptor and matrix metalloproteinase‐9.Results: Compared with NC, there was significant Rbm fragmentation in the CS, ES and NS groups, which was positively associated with smoking history in subjects with COPD. Staining for basal epithelial S100A4, epithelial epidermal growth factor receptor and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in cells within Rbm clefts, and for S100A4 in Rbm cells, was increased in the CS, NS and ES groups compared with the NC group. There was also increased Rbm cell S100A4 staining in the CS group compared with the ES and NS groups. Basal epithelial cell staining for S100A4 was inversely correlated with airflow limitation. Double staining for both S100A4 and vimentin further strengthened the likelihood that these changes represented active EMT.Conclusions: This is the first detailed description of fragmentation and cellularity of the Rbm in smokers, which were most marked in subjects with COPD. The data are consistent with active EMT in these subjects.