bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A randomised controlled trial comparing rocuronium priming, magnesium pre‐treatment and a combination of the two methods*
Authors: Kim M. H. , Oh A. Y. , Jeon Y. T. , Hwang J. W. , Do S. H. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryWe investigated whether magnesium sulphate combined with rocuronium priming shortens the onset of neuromuscular blockade, compared with these methods used alone. Ninety‐two patients scheduled for general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to one of four groups: controls were given 0.6 mg.kg−1 rocuronium; patients in the prime group were given 0.06 mg.kg−1 rocuronium three minutes before a further dose of 0.54 mg.kg−1 rocuronium; patients in the magnesium group were given an infusion of 50 mg.kg−1 magnesium sulphate before rocuronium and patients in the magnesium and prime group were given both the magnesium sulphate and the priming dose of rocuronium. Tracheal intubation was attempted 40 s after the rocuronium injection. The time to onset of neuromuscular blockade was the primary outcome; duration of blockade and tracheal intubating conditions were also measured. The group allocation and study drugs were coded and concealed until statistical analyses were completed. The magnesium and prime group had the shortest mean (SD) onset time (55 (16) s; p < 0.001), and best tracheal intubating conditions (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was found for the duration of blockade. As for adverse events, a burning or heat sensation was reported in eight (35%) and six (26%) patients in the magnesium and magnesium and prime groups, respectively. The combination of magnesium sulphate and rocuronium priming accelerated the onset or neuromuscular blockade and improved rapid‐sequence intubating conditions, compared with either magnesium sulphate or priming used alone.
Karyotyping and cytogenetic mapping of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Ghigliotti L. , Fevolden S.‐E. , Cheng C.‐H. C. , Babiak I. , Dettai A. , Pisano E. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryThe Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is an important natural resource for northern societies and is now also considered to be a promising candidate for aquaculture. In recent years, much effort has been directed towards the development of genomic tools, and genome initiatives for Atlantic cod have been established. Despite the growing attention devoted to the Atlantic cod genomics, basic aspects of its genome structure and organization remain unknown. Thus, the present work aims to study cytogenetic features of the Atlantic cod as a contribution to the knowledge of this species' genome. The Atlantic cod displays a diploid number of 46 chromosomes, with a karyotypic formula 16 m/sm + 30 st/t. Conventional karyotyping was improved by chromosomal mapping of two classes of repetitive sequences. 18S rDNA clusters were assigned to pairs 2 and 4; small amounts of 18S rDNA clusters were occasionally detected on pair 5. These findings could not be related to the geographical origin of the specimens, but were consistent with the variability of these repeated genes in fish in general. 5S ribosomal gene clusters, apparently corresponding to a single 5S rDNA class, were detected on twelve chromosomes (pairs 11, 12, 14, 17, 20 and 21). The present update of the existing but meagre information on the karyotype of Atlantic cod, plus the first physical mapping of repetitive genes in this species herein, opens the way for an integrated approach that combines genetic and physical mapping with the assembly of the genome of this commercially important species.
Comparative adaptations of Aphanizomenon and Anabaena for nitrogen fixation under weak irradiance
Authors: BRADBURN MARK J. , LEWIS WILLIAM M. , McCUTCHAN JAMES H. 
Published: March 2012

Summary1. In situ measurements of nitrogen fixation rates for Aphanizomenon in fertile Colorado lakes with low inorganic nitrogen concentrations demonstrated high efficiency of nitrogen fixation at low irradiance.2. For study populations, rates of N2 fixation in darkness and with alternating exposure to light and darkness were a higher percentage of light‐saturated rates for Aphanizomenon than for Anabaena, suggesting storage of reduced metabolites at high irradiance that are used subsequently by Aphanizomenon when cells are forced by mixing into zones of low irradiance. Also, saturation of N2 fixation occurred over a lower range of irradiance for Aphanizomenon than for Anabaena.3. High efficiency of N2 fixation in Aphanizomenon at low or fluctuating irradiance is complementary to its previously demonstrated high efficiency of photosynthesis at low irradiance. Nitrogen fixation rate was also strongly related to DIN concentration; fixation was highest at low DIN (maximum < 5 μg L−1) but was also most vulnerable to photoinhibition under such conditions.4. The fixation capabilities of Aphanizomenon under weak or varying irradiance could explain its commonly observed domination over Anabaena when transparency is low and available nitrogen is scarce.
Early HER2 dysregulation in gastric and oesophageal carcinogenesis
Authors: Fassan Matteo , Mastracci Luca , Grillo Federica , Zagonel Vittorina , Bruno Sara , Battaglia Giorgio , Pitto Francesca , Nitti Donato , Celiento Tiziana , Zaninotto Giovanni , Fiocca Roberto , Rugge Massimo 
Published: March 2012

Fassan M, Mastracci L, Grillo F, Zagonel V, Bruno S, Battaglia G, Pitto F, Nitti D, Celiento T, Zaninotto G, Fiocca R & Rugge M  (2012) Histopathology 61, 769–776Early HER2 dysregulation in gastric and oesophageal carcinogenesisAims:  To explore human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status in the histological phenotypes [metaplasia, intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN, i.e. dysplasia), and adenocarcinoma] involved in the morphogenesis of both intestinal‐type gastric cancer (GC) and Barrett’s adenocarcinoma (BAc).Methods and results:  A consecutive series of 275 samples of stomach and oesophagus tissue (representing the whole spectrum of the phenotypic changes involved in gastric and Barrett’s carcinogenesis) was studied. HER2 status was assessed by applying two immunohistochemistry (IHC) protocols, using the antibodies 4B5 and CB11. Dual‐colour silver chromogenic in‐situ hybridization (SISH) was also performed on the same tissue samples. In both oesophageal and gastric samples, the rate of HER2 overexpression rose significantly from low‐grade to high‐grade IEN to adenocarcinoma (P < 0.001), with the two IHC protocols showing consistent staining (consistency 95%; k = 0.78; P < 0.001). Intratumour heterogeneity was documented in both GC and BAc (using both IHC protocols). The rate of HER2 amplification (using SISH) increased significantly along with IEN dedifferentiation (P < 0.001). Neither native nor metaplastic mucosa samples (obtained from either stomach or oesophagus) ever showed HER2 amplification. There was excellent agreement between HER2 amplification and protein overexpression (both IHC protocols: SISH/4B5––consistency 97.8%, k = 0.89, P < 0.001; SISH/CB11—consistency 97.8%, k = 0.91, P < 0.001).Conclusions:  There is early involvement of HER2 dysregulation (amplification and protein overexpression) in both gastric (intestinal‐type) and Barrett’s oncogenesis.
Differences in the clinical characteristics between young and elderly men with varicocoele
Authors: Chen S.‐S. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryInformation concerning the clinical characteristics in elderly men with varicocoele is relatively limited. This study was assessed to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics between young and elderly patients with varicocoele by retrospective chart review. Between June 2003 and February 2011, 169 young (18–30 years) men and 156 elderly (45–55 years) men with varicocoele, and 30 age‐matched men without varicocoele were recruited for this study. All the patients were divided into six groups. Thirty‐one infertile patients were assigned to Group 1, 138 fertile patients to Group 2, 35 infertile patients to Group 3 and 121 fertile patients to Group 4. Group 5 (15 young) and 6 (15 elderly) were control groups. The parameters for comparison included body mass index (BMI), semen quality (sperm motility, morphology and density) and pH value, serum concentration of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormones (LH), testosterone, testicular volume, grade of varicocoele and peak retrograde flow (PRF) and maximal vein diameter (MVD) by colour Doppler ultrasound (CDS). Elderly men with varicocoele had a higher incidence of bilateral varicocoele (25.5% vs. 14.8%), but a lower incidence of unilateral right varicocoele (2.6% vs. 7.7%) than young patients with varicocoele. In addition, patients with varicocoele had lower BMI than those without, and infertile young patients with varicocoele had the lowest levels of BMI. Furthermore, infertile patients (Groups 1 and 3) with varicocoele had significantly lower testicular volume and semen pH, lower levels of testosterone, higher levels of FSH and LH and higher PRF than fertile men with varicocoele (Groups 2 and 4). In conclusion, infertile elderly patients with varicocoele had significantly lower levels of testosterone and higher levels of FSH and LH than infertile young men with varicocoele. In addition, infertile elderly patients with bilateral varicocoele (Group 3, n = 8) had the lowest levels of testosterone.
Species formation and geographical range evolution in a genus of Central American cloud forest salamanders (Dendrotriton)
Authors: Rovito Sean M. , Wake David B. , Papenfuss Theodore J. , Parra‐Olea Gabriela , Muñoz‐Alonso Antonio , Vásquez‐Almazán Carlos R. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim  Montane Central America offers an ideal system for testing geographical hypotheses of species diversification. We examined how the complex geological history of Nuclear Central America has shaped the diversification of a genus of cloud‐forest‐inhabiting salamanders (Dendrotriton). We applied parametric models of geographical range evolution to determine the predominant mode of species formation within the genus and to test existing hypotheses of geographical species formation in the region.Location  Montane cloud forests of Nuclear Central America.Methods  We estimated a species tree for Dendrotriton using a multi‐locus DNA sequence data set and several coalescent methods, and performed molecular dating for divergence events within the genus. We then applied the species‐tree estimate to a likelihood‐based time‐stratified model of geographical range evolution, based on current species distributions and available geological information for Central America.Results  Species trees from all methods contain two groups, one corresponding to species from the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and the other containing all remaining species. In most cases, species formation within the genus involved an even division of the geographical range of the ancestral species between descendant species. The ancestor of extant Dendrotriton species was estimated to have occurred in either the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes or the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, and both of these areas appear to have been important for diversification within the genus. The single species found in the Quaternary‐age Guatemalan volcanic cordillera dispersed to the volcanoes from an older highland area.Main conclusions  Models of geographical range evolution, when combined with robust species‐tree estimates, provide insight into the historical biogeography of taxa not available from phylogenies or distributional data alone. Vicariant species formation, rather than peripatric or gradient speciation, appears to have been the dominant process of diversification, with most divergence events occurring within or between ancient highland areas. The apparent dispersal of Dendrotriton to the Quaternary‐age volcanoes raises the possibility that the rich salamander community there is composed of species that dispersed from geologically older areas. The Motagua Valley appears not to have been as important in vicariant species formation within Dendrotriton as it is within other groups.
Evaluation of programmatic changes to an antimicrobial stewardship program with house officer feedback
Authors: Hong Steven Y. , Epstein Lauren H. , Lawrence Kenneth , Davidson Lisa , Taur Ying , Nadkarni Lauren , Doron Shira 
Published: March 2012

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  A collegial relationship between prescribers and antimicrobial stewards, along with an appreciation of the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, is essential for optimal functioning of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP). Programmatic adjustments based on feedback may be beneficial to the success of ASPs. The objective of this study is to assess the experience of house officers with the ASP and the effect of programmatic improvements.Methods  A survey of house officers at an academic medical centre was conducted assessing their experience with the ASP before (2008) and after (2010) programmatic interventions were instituted.Results  Of 225 house officer surveys sent, we received 97 responses (88% from medical doctors). The majority indicated that ASP was either very or somewhat important in fighting antibiotic resistance (100%), improving patient care (97%), preventing medication errors (91%) and containing health care costs (89%). Ninety‐one per cent indicated either a very good or good educational experience with the ASP. The ASP often reminded respondents of a patient's allergy (31%), to adjust for renal function (78%), and 38% were prevented from making a medication error. Comparing 2008 and 2010, a higher proportion of respondents in 2010 said they had a very good or good educational experience with ASP [84% versus 98%, odds ratio (OR) = 8.40, P = 0.022] and a lower proportion of respondents reported confusion about ASP procedures (59% versus 39%, OR = 0.43, P = 0.048).Conclusions  House officer feedback resulted in ASP policy changes which improved the ASP experience.
Genetic trade‐offs and conditional neutrality contribute to local adaptation
Authors: ANDERSON JILL T. , LEE CHENG‐RUEI , RUSHWORTH CATHERINE A. , COLAUTTI ROBERT I. , MITCHELL‐OLDS THOMAS 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDivergent natural selection promotes local adaptation and can lead to reproductive isolation of populations in contrasting environments; however, the genetic basis of local adaptation remains largely unresolved in natural populations. Local adaptation might result from antagonistic pleiotropy, where alternate alleles are favoured in distinct habitats, and polymorphism is maintained by selection. Alternatively, under conditional neutrality some alleles may be favoured in one environment but neutral at other locations. Antagonistic pleiotropy maintains genetic variation across the landscape; however, there is a systematic bias against discovery of antagonistic pleiotropy because the fitness benefits of local alleles need to be significant in at least two environments. Here, we develop a generally applicable method to investigate polygenic local adaptation and identify loci that are the targets of selection. This approach evaluates allele frequency changes after selection at loci across the genome to distinguish antagonistic pleiotropy from conditional neutrality and deleterious variation. We investigate local adaptation at the qualitative trait loci (QTL) level in field experiments, in which we expose 177 F6 recombinant inbred lines and parental lines of Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae) to their parental environments over two seasons. We demonstrate polygenic selection for native alleles in both environments, with 2.8% of the genome exhibiting antagonistic pleiotropy and 8% displaying conditional neutrality. Our study strongly supports antagonistic pleiotropy at one large‐effect flowering phenology QTL (nFT): native homozygotes had significantly greater probabilities of flowering than foreign homozygotes in both parental environments. Such large‐scale field studies are essential to elucidate the genetic basis of adaptation in natural populations.
Geographical structure and adaptive population differentiation in herbivore defence genes in European aspen (Populus tremula L., Salicaceae)
Authors: BERNHARDSSON CAROLINA , INGVARSSON PÄR K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWhen a phenotypic trait is subjected to spatially variable selection and local adaptation, the underlying genes controlling the trait are also expected to show strong patterns of genetic differentiation because alternative alleles are favoured in different geographical locations. Here, we study 71 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from seven genes associated with inducible defence responses in a sample of Populus tremula collected from across Sweden. Four of these genes (PPO2, TI2, TI4 and TI5) show substantial population differentiation, and a principal component analyses conducted on the defence SNPs divides the Swedish population into three distinct clusters. Several defence SNPs show latitudinal clines, although these were not robust to multiple testing. However, five SNPs (located within TI4 and TI5) show strong longitudinal clines that remain significant after multiple test correction. Genetic geographical variation, supporting local adaptation, has earlier been confirmed in genes involved in the photoperiod pathway in P. tremula, but this is, to our knowledge, one of the first times that geographical variation has been found in genes involved in plant defence against antagonists.
Clinical and molecular analysis of RASopathies in a group of Turkish patients
Authors: Şimşek‐Kiper PÖ , Alanay Y , Gülhan B , Lissewski C , Türkyılmaz D , Alehan D , Çetin M , Utine GE , Zenker M , Boduroğlu K 
Published: March 2012

Şimşek‐Kiper PÖ, Alanay Y, Gülhan B, Lissewski C, Türkyılmaz D, Alehan D, Çetin M, Utine GE, Zenker M, Boduroğlu K. Clinical and molecular analysis of patients with RASopathies in Turkish patients.The ‘RASopathies’ are a group of disorders sharing many clinical features and a common pathophysiology. In this study, we aimed to clinically evaluate a group of Turkish patients and elucidate the underlying genetic etiology. Thirty‐one patients with a clinical diagnosis of one of the RASopathy syndromes were included in the study. Of these, 26 (83.8%) had a clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome, whereas 5 had a clinical diagnosis of either Costello, LEOPARD or cardio‐facio‐cutaneous syndromes. Twenty of 31 (64.5%) patients were found to be mutation positive. Mutations in PTPN11, SOS1 and SHOC2 genes were detected in patients with Noonan syndrome (57.6%). Mutations in MEK1, PTPN11, BRAF and HRAS genes were detected in the remaining. Pulmonary stenosis was the most common (61.5%) cardiac anomaly. Among Noonan syndrome patients with a confirmed mutation, mild intellectual disability tended to be more common in patients with PTPN11 mutation than in those with SOS1 mutation. Hematologic evaluation revealed coagulation defects in three Noonan syndrome patients with a mutation. This is currently the largest clinical and molecular study in Turkish RASopathy patients. Our findings indicate that molecular epidemiology and genotype–phenotype correlations in RASopathies are relatively independent from the ethnic population background.
Frost resistance of reproductive tissues during various stages of development in high mountain plants
Authors: Neuner Gilbert , Erler Agnes , Ladinig Ursula , Hacker Jürgen , Wagner Johanna 
Published: March 2012

Frost resistance of reproductive vs aboveground vegetative structures was determined for six common European high alpine plant species that can be exposed to frosts throughout their whole reproductive cycle. Freezing tests were carried out in the bud, anthesis and fruit stage. Stigma and style, ovary, placenta, ovule, flower stalk/peduncle and, in Ranunculus glacialis, the receptacle were separately investigated. In all species, the vegetative organs tolerated on an average 2–5 K lower freezing temperatures than the most frost‐susceptible reproductive structures that differed in their frost resistance. In almost all species, stigma, style and the flower stalk/peduncle were the most frost‐susceptible reproductive structures. Initial frost damage (LT10) to the most susceptible reproductive structure usually occurred between −2 and −4°C independent of the reproductive stage. The median LT50 across species for stigma and style ranged between −3.4 and −3.7°C and matched the mean ice nucleation temperature (−3.7 ± 1.4°C). In R. glacialis, the flower stalk was the most frost‐susceptible structure (−5.4°C), and was in contrast to the other species ice‐tolerant. The ovule and the placenta were usually the most frost‐resistant structures. During reproductive development, frost resistance (LT50) of single reproductive structures mostly showed no significant change. However, significant increases or decreases were also observed (2.1 ± 1.2 K).Reproductive tissues of nival species generally tolerated lower temperatures than species occurring in the alpine zone. The low frost resistance of reproductive structures before, during and shortly after anthesis increases the probability of frost damage and thus, may restrict successful sexual plant reproduction with increasing altitude.
A randomized pilot study of psychotherapy and quetiapine for the acute treatment of bipolar II depression
Authors: Swartz Holly A , Frank Ellen , Cheng Yu 
Published: March 2012

Swartz HA, Frank E, Cheng Y. A randomized pilot study of psychotherapy and quetiapine for the acute treatment of bipolar II depression. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 211–216. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Objectives:  The differential roles of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in the management of bipolar (BP) II depression are unknown. As a first step toward exploring this issue, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of comparing a BP‐specific psychotherapy [Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT)] to quetiapine as treatments for BP‐II depression.Methods:  Unmedicated individuals (n = 25) meeting DSM‐IV criteria for BP‐II disorder, currently depressed, were randomly assigned to weekly sessions of IPSRT (n = 14) or quetiapine (n = 11), flexibly dosed from 25–300 mg. Participants were assessed with weekly measures of mood and followed for 12 weeks. Treatment preference was queried prior to randomization.Results:  Using mixed effects models, both groups showed significant declines in the 25‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [F(1,21) = 44, p < 0.0001] and Young Mania Rating Scale [F(1,21) = 20, p = 0.0002] scores over time but no group‐by‐time interactions. Dropout rates were 21% (n = 3) and 27% (n = 3) in the IPSRT and quetiapine groups, respectively. Overall response rates (defined as ≥ 50% reduction in depression scores without an increase in mania scores) were 29% (n = 4) in the IPSRT group and 27% (n = 3) in the quetiapine group. Measures of treatment satisfaction were high in both groups. Treatment preference was not associated with outcomes.Conclusions:  Outcomes in participants with BP‐II depression assigned to IPSRT monotherapy or quetiapine did not differ over 12 weeks in this small study. Follow‐up trials should examine characteristics that predict differential response to psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.