bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relevance of patient‐reported outcomes in a grass pollen immunotherapy trial in children and adolescents with rhinoconjunctivitis
Authors: Röder Esther , Berger Marjolein Y. , Hop Wim C. J. , de Groot Hans , Gerth van Wijk Roy 
Published: August 2012

To cite this article: Röder E, Berger MY, Hop WCJ, de Groot H, Gerth van Wijk R. The relevance of patient‐reported outcomes in a grass pollen immunotherapy trial in children and adolescents with rhinoconjunctivitis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012.AbstractBackground:  Patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) are the only instruments available to assess the efficacy of an intervention in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. As allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is a systemic disease, it is now recommended to use not only PROs focusing at classical symptoms, but also health‐related quality of life (HRQL) instruments in immunotherapy trials.Methods:  A previously published immunotherapy trial in children and adolescents (6–18 yr) with hay fever provided us with data to assess the relevance of two of these additional outcome measures, the disease‐specific rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the generic COOP/WONCA‐charts (CWC). A PRO was considered relevant if it was responsive to pollen exposure and at least had a moderate correlation with the classical symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Furthermore, we evaluated a post‐season PRO, that is, a global assessment of symptoms (GAS). This assessment is used in clinical trials as a tool for selecting participants with sufficient symptoms and in daily practice to evaluate the patient’s complaints during the preceding season. We assessed the correlation of this retrospective score with the actual symptoms during the previous pollen season.Results:  Data from 36 children and 63 adolescents were analysed. On the basis of the total scores of the paediatric and adolescent version of the RQLQ, both questionnaires were considered relevant as they were responsive to exposure and showed a moderate to strong correlation with the rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms. However, in both children and adolescents, 40% of the RQLQ items were not relevant according to our definition. The CWC as a whole and the separate charts appear less relevant because of the weak correlations with the daily symptom score from the diary. The correlation between our post‐season GAS and the in season daily symptom score was weak.Conclusion:  The paediatric and adolescent RQLQ are relevant, but could be shortened as they contain a substantial number of irrelevant items. The CWC are not relevant in the monitoring of children and adolescents with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by grass pollen. The retrospective GAS does not sufficiently reflect the actual symptoms during the preceding season.
From Severe Combined Immunodeficiency to Omenn syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a RAG1 deficient family
Authors: Martinez‐Martinez Laura , Vazquez‐Ortiz Marta , Gonzalez‐Santesteban Cecilia , Martin‐Nalda Andrea , Vicente Asunción , Plaza Ana M. , Badell Isabel , Alsina Laia , de la Calle‐Martin Oscar 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground:  Mutations in RAG genes cause a spectrum of severe immunodeficiencies ranging from Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) T‐B‐NK+ to Omenn syndrome (OS) through intermediate phenotypes, even for the same alteration. Nowadays, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the unique curative treatment available.Methods:  We describe three related patients from a Moroccan consanguineous family. Patient 1 developed at 1 month of age moderate eczematous dermatitis with eosinophilia, followed by infections and enteritis. He was transplanted and received reduced intensity conditioning regimen previous to HSCT. His brother, patient 2, was born preterm with a severe neonatal erythroderma, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Patient 3, cousin of the two siblings, was also born preterm and fulfilled all criteria for classical OS. Immunological evaluation was performed and RAG genes were sequenced.Results:  Immunological data from all three patients were very diversed, from T lymphopenia to marked lymphocytosis, and different degrees of eosinophilia and IgE levels. Non‐responder T cells and absent B cells were constant. All patients presented the same homozygous mutation in RAG1 gene (c.631delT). Patient 1 fully recovered both clinically and immunologically after HSCT. Two years later, he lost the accomplished lymphoid chimera and the disease relapsed as a classical OS, leading to patient’s death.Conclusions:  This is the first report of a RAG1 deficient patient with a changed clinical and immunological phenotype from SCID to OS after HSCT. The use of a myeloablative conditioning regimen that eliminates reminiscent T cells might have improved patient’s outcome and it should be considered in similar cases.
Heterorhabditis sp. not attracted to synthetic (E)‐β‐caryophyllene, a volatile emitted by roots upon feeding by corn rootworm
Authors: Anbesse S. , Ehlers R.‐U. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a destructive pest of maize, Zea mays L. in North America and Europe. Larvae and pupae can be controlled with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) of the genus Heterorhabditis. When maize is attacked by WCR, the roots of some maize varieties emit (E)‐β‐caryophyllene that attract EPN to the pest larvae. To use synthetic (E)‐β‐caryophyllene in bioassays for the genetic selection of EPN strains with enhanced chemotactic response to a volatile emitted from the damaged root when attacked by larvae of the WCR, different laboratory bioassays were tested. Three sand assays and one agar assay used synthetic (E)‐β‐caryophyllene as an attractant for H. megidis. In none of the assays, attraction of the nematodes to (E)‐β‐caryophyllene was recorded. Possible reasons why (E)‐β‐caryophyllene was not attracting EPN in the bioassays are discussed.
The inhibitory effects of aureobasidin A on Candida planktonic and biofilm cells
Authors: Tan H. W. , Tay S. T. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryAureobasidin A (AbA) is a cyclic depsipeptide antifungal compound that inhibits a wide range of pathogenic fungi. In this study, the in vitro susceptibility of 92 clinical isolates of various Candida species against AbA was assessed by determining the planktonic and biofilm MICs of the isolates. The MIC50 and MIC90 of the planktonic Candida yeast were 1 and 1 μg ml−1, respectively, whereas the biofilm MIC50 and MIC90 of the isolates were 8 and ≥64 μg ml−1 respectively. This study demonstrates AbA inhibition on filamentation and biofilm development of C. albicans. The production of short hyphae and a lack of filamentation might have impaired biofilm development of AbA‐treated cells. The AbA resistance of mature Candidia biofilms (24 h adherent population) was demonstrated in this study.
Shopping with my mother: reminiscences of adult daughters
Authors: Minahan Stella , Huddleston Patricia 
Published: August 2012

AbstractMothers and daughters are an influential dyad seen in US shopping malls, and their purchasing power is critical to the success of the retail industry. This study explores the longevity and relevance of that relationship to the development and maintenance of consumer skills and preferences. Consumer socialization theory has focused on the transfer of skills, values and knowledge, from parent to young child. Studies of intergenerational influences have yet to investigate the mother–daughter shopping relationship. This study investigates the transfer of perceptions and skills of shopping from mother to daughter, and daughter to mother, as seen by the adult daughters. We interviewed daughters aged between 21 and 70 about shopping experiences with their mothers. The objectives were to (1) gain knowledge of how daughters perceive shopping with their mothers; (2) uncover what daughters value in the shopping experience; and (3) listen to, analyse and draw conclusions about accounts of how consumer habits, preferences and experiences are transferred across generations and life stages. The study documents themes relating to pride in gaining independence, establishing social rituals, enjoying the reciprocal coaching and bonding. All the interviewees described their experiences of shopping as a leisure activity that was not associated with the transaction‐based routine shopping events such as supermarket shopping. We found that the importance of the mother–daughter shopping experience extends well beyond feelings of self‐worth resulting from astute choice‐making when shopping, and relates more to the value of the mother–daughter relationship acted out in a retail setting. Surprisingly, none of the participants spoke negatively about their shopping experiences. Finally, the strength of the maternal influence appears to continue throughout the daughter's life, including after the mother's death.
The rise in singleton preterm births in the USA: the impact of labour induction
Authors: Zhang X , Kramer MS 
Published: August 2012

Please cite this paper as: Zhang X, Kramer M. The rise in singleton preterm births in the USA: the impact of labour induction. BJOG 2012;119:1309–1315.Objective  To assess the extent to which increased rates of labour induction and caesarean section have contributed to the recent rise in preterm birth.Design  National birth cohort study.Setting  USA.Population and sample  Singleton live births, with primary analysis based on non‐Hispanic white women.Methods  Ecological study based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia during two time periods 10 years apart: 1992–94 and 2002–04.Main outcome measure  Preterm birth (live birth <37 completed weeks of gestation), based on an algorithm combining menstrual and clinical estimates of gestational age.Results  The state‐level ecological analysis among non‐Hispanic white women showed that the change in preterm birth rate from 1992–94 to 2002–04 was significantly associated with the change in rate of labour induction (r = 0.50, 95% CI 0.26–0.68), but not with the change in rate of caesarean delivery (r = −0.06, 95% CI −0.33 to 0.22). Weaker but otherwise similar associations with labour induction were observed in Hispanic women and in non‐Hispanic black women.Conclusions  Increasing use of labour induction is probably an important cause of the observed increased rate in preterm birth.
Laying date, body mass and tick infestation of nestling tropical Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii predict fledging success, first‐year survival and age at first return to the natal colony
Authors: Monticelli David , Ramos Jaime A. 
Published: August 2012

Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors recorded at individual nests can predict offspring fitness and survival but few studies have examined these effects in the tropics. We recorded nestling survival, post‐fledging survival and age at first return of Roseate Terns breeding at Aride Island, Seychelles, over a 12‐year period (1998–2009). Nest data recorded at the egg, nestling and fledging stages were collected during six breeding seasons (1998, 2001–2005) and a capture‐mark‐recapture dataset of six cohorts of fledglings was obtained from 2001–2009. Logistic regression models were used to assess the predictive effect of reproductive variables on fledging success, while multistate capture‐mark‐recapture models were used to estimate post‐fledging survival and return–recruitment probabilities to the natal site. Nestling survival probability increased with earliness of laying and was negatively affected by tick infestation during the growth period (0–23 days). Fledging probability was also positively related to chick body condition, whereas other pre‐fledging reproductive parameters such as clutch size and egg size were not influential. A multistate modelling of age‐specific survival and return–recruitment (transition) rates found that first‐year survival differed between cohorts and was also negatively affected by tick infestation. Annual survival stabilized from age 2 onwards at 0.83 ± 0.02. Transition rates were positively related to body condition at fledging, with heavier individuals returning for the first time to the natal colony at a younger age compared with lighter individuals. These results highlight the importance of local conditions encountered by tropical seabirds during the breeding season in shaping demographic parameters.
Review: a meta‐analysis of GWAS and age‐associated diseases
Authors: Jeck William R. , Siebold Alex P. , Sharpless Norman E. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryGenome‐Wide Association studies (GWAS) offer an unbiased means to understand the genetic basis of traits by identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to causal variants of complex phenotypes. GWAS have identified a host of susceptibility SNPs associated with many important human diseases, including diseases associated with aging. In an effort to understand the genetics of broad resistance to age‐associated diseases (i.e., ‘wellness’), we performed a meta‐analysis of human GWAS. Toward that end, we compiled 372 GWAS that identified 1775 susceptibility SNPs to 105 unique diseases and used these SNPs to create a genomic landscape of disease susceptibility. This map was constructed by partitioning the genome into 200 kb ‘bins’ and mapping the 1775 susceptibility SNPs to bins based on their genomic location. Investigation of these data revealed significant heterogeneity of disease association within the genome, with 92% of bins devoid of disease‐associated SNPs. In contrast, 10 bins (0.06%) were significantly (P < 0.05) enriched for susceptibility to multiple diseases, 5 of which formed two highly significant peaks of disease association (P < 0.0001). These peaks mapped to the Major Histocompatibility (MHC) locus on 6p21 and the INK4/ARF (CDKN2a/b) tumor suppressor locus on 9p21.3. Provocatively, all 10 significantly enriched bins contained genes linked to either inflammation or cellular senescence pathways, and SNPs near regulators of senescence were particularly associated with disease of aging (e.g., cancer, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, glaucoma). This analysis suggests that germline genetic heterogeneity in the regulation of immunity and cellular senescence influences the human healthspan.
An integrated approach to identify normal tissue expression of targets for antibody‐drug conjugates: case study of TENB2
Authors: Boswell C Andrew , Mundo Eduardo E , Firestein Ron , Zhang Crystal , Mao Weiguang , Gill Herman , Young Cynthia , Ljumanovic Nina , Stainton Shannon , Ulufatu Sheila , Fourie Aimee , Kozak Katherine R , Fuji Reina , Polakis Paul , Khawli Leslie A , Lin Kedan 
Published: August 2012

Background and PurposeThe success of antibody‐drug conjugates (ADCs) depends on the therapeutic window rendered by the differential expression between normal and pathological tissues. The ability to identify and visualize target expression in normal tissues could reveal causes for target‐mediated clearance observed in pharmacokinetic characterization. TENB2 is a prostate cancer target associated with the progression of poorly differentiated and androgen‐independent tumour types, and ADCs specific for TENB2 are candidate therapeutics. The objective of this study was to locate antigen expression of TENB2 in normal tissues, thereby elucidating the underlying causes of target‐mediated clearance.Experimental ApproachA series of pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and mass balance studies were conducted in mice using a radiolabelled anti‐TENB2 ADC. These data were complemented by non‐invasive single photon emission computed tomography – X‐ray computed tomography imaging and immunohistochemistry.Key ResultsThe intestines were identified as a saturable and specific antigen sink that contributes, at least in part, to the rapid target‐mediated clearance of the anti‐TENB2 antibody and its drug conjugate in rodents. As a proof of concept, we also demonstrated the selective disposition of the ADC in a tumoural environment in vivo using the LuCaP 77 transplant mouse model. High tumour uptake was observed despite the presence of the antigen sink, and antigen specificity was confirmed by antigen blockade.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings provide the anatomical location and biological interpretation of target‐mediated clearance of anti‐TENB2 antibodies and corresponding drug conjugates. Further investigations may be beneficial in addressing the relative contributions to ADC disposition from antigen expression in both normal and pathological tissues.
Prevalence and significance of Hepatitis B reverse transcriptase mutants in different disease stages of untreated patients
Authors: Zheng Jinxin , Zeng Zheng , Zhang Duyi , Yu Yanyan , Wang Fang , Pan Calvin Q. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAimsHepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants, which have not been well characterized according to different disease stages. This study aimed to characterize the profiles of naturally occurring mutations in the HBV RT region and their associated clinical outcomes.MethodsHBV RT region mutations and genotypes were determined by PCR‐direct sequencing and compared with p‐distance model.ResultsAmong 467 consecutive eligible patients (262 chronic hepatitis B patients, 105 cirrhotic patients and 100 hepatocellular carcinoma patients), the nucleos(t)ide analogues‐related mutations (rtI169T, rtV173L, rtL180M, rtA181T, rtS202C, rtM204I/V, rtN236T) were found. The p‐distance value reached a peak in the age of 20–30 years in the CHB patients and in the age of 40–45 years in the cirrhotic patients and hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The naturally occurring mutation, rtS106C mutation was higher in chronic hepatitis B patients (14/100, 14.0%) and cirrhotic patients (14/100, 14.0%) than that in hepatocellular carcinoma patients (4/100, 4.0%, P = 0.013). And the rtD134E/G/N/S mutations were also higher in chronic hepatitis B patients (22/100, 22.0%) and cirrhotic patients (21/100, 21.0%) than that in hepatocellular carcinoma patients (10/100, 10.0%, P = 0.021 and P = 0.032 respectively). The mutation frequencies in A–B interdomain were higher in cirrhotic patients (101/1900, 5.3%) than that in hepatocellular carcinoma patients (68/1900, 3.6%) (P = 0.009).ConclusionsThe nucleos(t)ide analogues‐related mutations do exist in treatment naive patients with different disease stages. rtS106C, rtD134E/G/N/S and A–B interdomain mutations may be associated with necro‐inflammation, immune response and cirrhosis development at ages older than 40.
Ventricular Extrasystoles with Interpolation or Postponed Compensatory Pause during Atrial Fibrillation: Fact or Fiction?
Authors: Carbone Vincenzo , Oreto Lilia , Oreto Giuseppe 
Published: August 2012

A Holter recording obtained from a patient with atrial fibrillation showed ventricular extrasystoles often in bigeminal rhythm. Most extrasystoles were followed by a long return cycle, and only in a few instances the postextrasystolic interval was short. The latter phenomenon was interpreted as a manifestation of poor retrograde concealed penetration of the ventricular impulse into the atrioventricular (A‐V) junction: accordingly, an ensuing relatively early fibrillation impulse reached the ventricular chamber, since it did not find the A‐V node refractory. These events are similar to what happens in interpolated ventricular extrasystoles occurring during sinus rhythm, the absent or minimal concealed retrograde penetration of the ectopic impulse into the A‐V node being necessary to permit anterograde conduction of the ensuing sinus impulse.Analysis of the recording also revealed that a very long (>2 second) interval between two consecutive narrow beats only occurred after an “interpolated” extrasystole. This was interpreted with the same mechanism underlying the “postponed compensatory pause” observed at times after interpolated ventricular extrasystoles during sinus rhythm: the minimal or nil penetration of the ventricular ectopic impulse into the A‐V junction, followed by conduction of an ensuing early atrial impulse, “shifts to the right” the A‐V nodal refractory period, preventing conduction of several further supraventricular impulses and generating a pause.Both interpolated ventricular extrasystoles and the phenomenon of “postponed compensatory pause” are, thus, conceivable during atrial fibrillation, although no definite demonstration is possible.
Ultrastructure of the Oral Apparatus of Mesodinium rubrum from Korea
Authors: Nam Seung Won , Shin Woongghi , Wayne Coats D. , Park Jong Woo , Yih Wonho 
Published: August 2012

AbstractMesodinium rubrum Lohmann is a photosynthetic marine ciliate that has functional chloroplasts of cryptophyte origin. Little is known about the oral ultrastructure of M. rubrum compared with several reports on the sequestration of nuclei and plastids from prey organisms, such as Geminigera cryophila and Teleaulax species. Here, we describe the fine structure of the oral apparatus of a M. rubrum strain from Gomso Bay, Korea. The cytopharynx was cone‐shaped and supported by 20–22 ribbons of triplet microtubules. At the anterior end of the cytopharynx, an annulus anchored small cylinders composed of 11 microtubules. The small cylinders were spaced at regular intervals, each reinforced by one set of the triplet microtubules. At the opening of the cytostome, larger 14‐membered microtubular cylinders were set adjacent to the small, 11‐membered microtubular cylinders, each pair surrounded by separate membranes, however, only the large cylinders extended into the oral tentacles. There were 20–22 oral tentacles each having one to five extrusomes at its tip. At the anterior end of the oral apparatus, microtubular bands supporting the cytostome curved posteriad, extending beneath the cell cortex to the kinetosomes of the somatic cirri. The microtubular bands were connected by striated fibers and originated from kinetosomes anchored by fibers. Each cirrus consisted of eight cilia associated with 16 kinetosomes. The ultrastructure of M. rubrum from Korea provides information useful for taxonomic characterization of the genus Mesodinium and relevant to developing a better understanding of the acquisition of foreign organelles through phagocytosis by M. rubrum.
La28−xW4+xO54+3x/2 Powders Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Gil Vanesa , Strøm Ruth A. , Groven Lori J. , Einarsrud Mari‐Ann 
Published: August 2012

Here we report the first aqueous solution‐based synthesis route to lanthanum tungstate nanopowders (La28−xW4+xO54+3x/2). Lanthanum tungstate‐based materials have high proton conductivity at elevated temperatures making them interesting for several energy technology applications. The La28−xW4+xO54+3x/2 powders prepared by developing a new aqueous precursor solution have a narrow particle size distribution with an average grain size of 100 nm. Different pre‐consolidation conditions were studied to enhance powder performance. Dense, single phase materials with homogeneous microstructures with grain size ~4 μm were obtained using sintering temperatures at 1400°C in air. Changing the La/W‐ratio from 5.6 to 5.4 did not affect the densification rate, however, a slight increase in grain growth rate was observed.