bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sequential Therapy Versus Tailored Triple Therapies for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children
Authors: Bontems Patrick , Kalach Nicolas , Oderda Giuseppina , Salame Assad , Muyshont Laurence , Miendje D. Yvette , Raymond Josette , Cadranel Samy , Scaillon Michèle 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTAims:The aim of the study was to compare sequential versus tailored triple therapy regimens on Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) eradication rates in children and to assess the effect of antimicrobial susceptibility.Patients and Methods:Prospective, open‐label, multicenter study. Children received randomly either a 10‐day sequential treatment comprising omeprazole (OME) with amoxicillin for 5 days and OME, clarithromycin (CLA), and metronidazole (MET) for the remaining 5 days, or a 7‐day triple therapy comprising OME with amoxicillin and CLA in cases of a CLA‐susceptible strain or MET in cases of CLA‐resistant strain. H pylori eradication was assessed by 13C‐urea breath test.Results:One hundred sixty‐five children, 95 girls and 70 boys, of median age 10.4 years, were included. The intention‐to‐treat (ITT) eradication rate was 76.9% (sequential 68/83 = 81.9%, triple therapy 59/82 = 71.9%, ns), and the per‐protocol (PP) eradication rate was 84.6% (sequential 68/77 = 88.3%, triple therapy 59/73 = 81.8%, ns). Eradication rates tended to be higher using the sequential treatment, but the difference was only statistically significant for ITT analysis in children harboring both CLA‐ and MET‐susceptible strains (87.8% vs 68.5%, odds ratio [OR] 3.3, P = 0.03). Both ITT and PP eradication rates were significantly lower with sequential treatment in CLA‐resistant compared with CLA‐susceptible strains (ITT: 56.2% vs 72.7%, OR 5.5, P = 0.008; PP 64.3% vs 80.0%, OR 7.9, P = 0.009). Both treatments were well tolerated.Conclusions:Sequential treatment is greatly effective for eradicating H pylori in children except in CLA‐resistant strains. Sequential treatment can be used as a first‐line therapy, but only in areas with a low CLA resistance rate.
Correlation of Vitamin E, Uric Acid, and Diet Composition With Histologic Features of Pediatric NAFLD
Authors: Vos Miriam B. , Colvin Ryan , Belt Patricia , Molleston Jean P. , Murray Karen F. , Rosenthal Philip , Schwimmer Jeffrey B. , Tonascia James , Unalp Aynur , Lavine Joel E. ,   NASH CRN Research Group
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTObjectives:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children in the United States. Although changes in diet are often recommended to improve NAFLD, little is known regarding the influence of diet on histologic features of the disease.Subjects and Methods:This was a prospective, cross‐sectional registry‐based study. Children (n = 149) enrolled in the multicenter nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network had demographic, anthropometric, clinical, laboratory, and histology data obtained, including the Block Brief Food Questionnaire. Subjects were grouped by presence or absence of steatohepatitis and grades of histologic features according to NASH Clinical Research Network criteria.Results:No significant differences were found between children with steatosis compared with steatohepatitis for fraction of energy from fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption was low and did not correlate with histologic features, although uric acid, a surrogate marker for fructose intake, was significantly increased in those with definite NASH (P = 0.008). For all groups, vitamin E consumption was insufficient compared with the recommended daily allowance. Median consumption of vitamin E was lower in children with higher grade of steatosis (8.4 vs 6.1 vs 6.9 for grades I, II, and III, respectively, P = 0.05). Those consuming less vitamin C had increased ballooning degeneration (P = 0.05).Conclusions:Children with NAFLD have a diet that is insufficient in vitamin E and this may contribute to the pathophysiology of NAFLD. In children with NAFLD, reported sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption is low; however, uric acid, which may reflect total fructose consumption, was significantly associated with NASH and should be further evaluated.
Celiac Disease in Children With Diarrhea in 4 Cities in China
Authors: Wang Xin‐qiong , Liu Wei , Xu Chun‐di , Mei Hong , Gao Yuan , Peng Han‐ming , Yuan Lan , Xu Jun‐jie 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTObjective:The aim of the study was to investigate whether celiac disease (CD) could be the cause of chronic diarrhea in Chinese patients.Patients and Methods:During the period of January 2005 to December 2008, patients with chronic diarrhea in pediatric hospitals from 4 major cities (Shanghai, Wuhan, Jinan, and Chengdu) in China were included in the study. The clinical history, physical findings, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed.Results:Among 199 patients with chronic diarrhea, 118 were enrolled in the study. Fourteen (11.9%) were diagnosed as being affected by CD.Conclusions:The 14 patients are the first reported cases of CD in Chinese patients with chronic diarrhea.
Assembly and Sorting of the Tonoplast Potassium Channel AtTPK1 and Its Turnover by Internalization into the Vacuole
Authors: Maîtrejean Marie , Wudick Michael M. , Voelker Camilla , Prinsi Bhakti , Mueller-Roeber Bernd , Czempinski Katrin , Pedrazzini Emanuela , Vitale Alessandro 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe assembly, sorting signals, and turnover of the tonoplast potassium channel AtTPK1 of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) were studied. We used transgenic Arabidopsis expressing a TPK1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion or protoplasts transiently transformed with chimeric constructs based on domain exchange between TPK1 and TPK4, the only TPK family member not located at the tonoplast. The results show that TPK1-GFP is a dimer and that the newly synthesized polypeptides transiently interact with a thus-far unidentified 20-kD polypeptide. A subset of the TPK1-TPK4 chimeras were unable to assemble correctly and these remained located in the endoplasmic reticulum where they interacted with the binding protein chaperone. Therefore, TPK1 must assemble correctly to pass endoplasmic reticulum quality control. Substitution of the cytosolic C terminus of TPK4 with the corresponding domain of TPK1 was sufficient to allow tonoplast delivery, indicating that this domain contains tonoplast sorting information. Pulse-chase labeling indicated that TPK1-GFP has a half-life of at least 24 h. Turnover of the fusion protein involves internalization into the vacuole where the GFP domain is released. This indicates a possible mechanism for the turnover of tonoplast proteins.
Cell Wall Modifications in Maize Pulvini in Response to Gravitational Stress
Authors: Zhang Qisen , Pettolino Filomena A. , Dhugga Kanwarpal S. , Rafalski J. Antoni , Tingey Scott , Taylor Jillian , Shirley Neil J. , Hayes Kevin , Beatty Mary , Abrams Suzanne R. , Zaharia L. Irina , Burton Rachel A. , Bacic Antony , Fincher Geoffrey B. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Changes in cell wall polysaccharides, transcript abundance, metabolite profiles, and hormone concentrations were monitored in the upper and lower regions of maize (Zea mays) pulvini in response to gravistimulation, during which maize plants placed in a horizontal position returned to the vertical orientation. Heteroxylan levels increased in the lower regions of the pulvini, together with lignin, but xyloglucans and heteromannan contents decreased. The degree of substitution of heteroxylan with arabinofuranosyl residues decreased in the lower pulvini, which exhibited increased mechanical strength as the plants returned to the vertical position. Few or no changes in noncellulosic wall polysaccharides could be detected on the upper side of the pulvinus, and crystalline cellulose content remained essentially constant in both the upper and lower pulvinus. Microarray analyses showed that spatial and temporal changes in transcript profiles were consistent with the changes in wall composition that were observed in the lower regions of the pulvinus. In addition, the microarray analyses indicated that metabolic pathways leading to the biosynthesis of phytohormones were differentially activated in the upper and lower regions of the pulvinus in response to gravistimulation. Metabolite profiles and measured hormone concentrations were consistent with the microarray data, insofar as auxin, physiologically active gibberellic acid, and metabolites potentially involved in lignin biosynthesis increased in the elongating cells of the lower pulvinus.
Development and validation of a parenting assessment tool for Chinese parents
Authors: Cheng L. , Dai Y. , Zhu Z. , Xie X. , Chen L. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractObjective  The objective of this study was to develop a parenting assessment tool (PAT) for parents of children aged 3 to 6 years to assess parenting attitudes and skills within the Chinese socio‐cultural context.Methods and participants  Focus group discussions were used to gather information for composing the PAT test items. Factor analysis was performed to build and refine the factor structure of PAT. Ten cities included in a larger programme, the Early Childhood Development Promotion Project carried out by the Capital Institute of Pediatrics in China, were chosen as the study area. Six hundred and twelve parents and their single children were chosen from those 10 cities by convenience sampling for the large‐scale investigation of PAT, and the results were used to test and validate the psychometric properties of PAT.Results  The internal consistency of total PAT scores was 0.87, and those of the eight subscales ranged from 0.53 to 0.79. Test–retest reliability over 2 weeks was also significant for the total scores and all subscales (range: 0.68–0.89). For the factor structure, an eight‐factor solution accounting for 65.54% of the variance was most consistently fit. Concurrent validity was supported by significant positive correlations between total PAT scores and children's language ability, sociability and adaptive ability as assessed by the Developmental Diagnostic Scale of Children Aged 0–6 Years.Conclusions  The newly devised PAT test is a reliable instrument to assess the parenting skills and attitudes of parents of young children in urban China.
Children's and parents' beliefs regarding the value of walking: rehabilitation implications for children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Gibson B. E. , Teachman G. , Wright V. , Fehlings D. , Young N. L. , McKeever P. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground  Walking for children with cerebral palsy (CP) has physiological and functional benefits, but also holds symbolic significance that largely remains unexplored. The aims of this pilot study were to describe beliefs about the value of walking held by children with CP and their parents, and to examine how these beliefs inform rehabilitation choices and perceptions of ‘success’.Methods  A critical qualitative design was employed. Six parents and six children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System III or IV, aged 9 to 18 years) each participated in a private interview. Analyses examined the relationship between dominant social beliefs regarding walking and participants' accounts.Results  Parents' accounts revealed that all adopted a stance of doing something/trying anything as part of being a ‘good parent’ and maintaining hope. Tapering of walking interventions contributed to feelings of guilt and doubt. Children primarily viewed walking as exercise rather than functional. Their accounts also demonstrated how they internalized negative attitudes towards disability and judged themselves accordingly.Conclusions  The results of this pilot study provide provisional evidence regarding how dominant social values regarding walking and disability are taken up by parents and children. They suggest that rehabilitation programmes need to consider how they may unintentionally reinforce potentially harmful choices, and how best to engage families in discussions of their evolving values and treatment priorities. Further research is needed with a larger sample.
The impact of childhood abuse history, domestic violence and mental health symptoms on parenting behaviour among mothers in Japan
Authors: Fujiwara T. , Okuyama M. , Izumi M. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground  To assess the impact of childhood abuse history, domestic violence experiences and mental health symptoms on the parenting behaviour of mothers in Japan who have separated from violent husbands or partners.Methods  A self‐administered questionnaire survey was conducted on a sample of mothers (n= 304) and their children (n= 498) residing in 83 mother–child homes in Japan. The survey assessed the mothers' childhood abuse history (physical, psychological and sexual abuse and neglect history), domestic violence experiences, current mental health symptoms (dissociative, depressive and traumatic symptoms) and parenting behaviours after moving into the homes to separate from a violent husband or partner.Results  The mothers' childhood abuse history and experience of domestic violence were not associated with their not playing with their children. In contrast, the mothers' dissociative and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with not playing with their children. Although there was no association between the mothers' total childhood abuse history and not praising their children, their childhood physical abuse history was significantly associated with their not praising their children. The dissociative and depressive symptoms were also associated with no praise. Interestingly, the experience of domestic violence showed an inverse association with no praise.Conclusions  Mental health symptoms, more specifically dissociative and depressive symptoms, are associated with a decrease in parenting quality. Mothers who were physically abused as children are less likely to praise their own children, independent of maternal mental health symptoms. In contrast, mothers who experienced domestic violence but subsequently separated from their violent husbands or partners are more likely to praise their children. The treatment of mental health symptoms, particularly dissociative and depressive symptoms, therapy for childhood abuse history and separation from violent husbands or partners might be effective ways to enhance the quality of parenting in Japan.
3D post‐stack interval velocity analysis with effective use of datuming
Authors: Reshef Moshe , Lipzer Noam , Dafni Raanan , Landa Evgeny 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTInterval velocity analysis using post‐stack data has always been a desire, mainly for 3D data sets. In this study we present a method that uses the unique characteristics of migrated diffractions to enable interval velocity analysis from three‐dimensional zero‐offset time data. The idea is to perform a standard three‐dimensional prestack depth migration on stack cubes and generate three‐dimensional common image gathers that show great sensitivity to velocity errors. An efficient ‘top‐down’ scheme for updating the velocity is used to build the model. The effectiveness of the method is related to the incorporation of wave equation based post‐stack datuming in the model building process. The proposed method relies on the ability to identify diffractions along redatumed zero‐offset data and to analyse their flatness in the migrated local angle domain. The method can be considered as an additional tool for a complete, prestack depth migration based interval velocity analysis.
Numerical performances of a hybrid local‐time stepping strategy applied to the reverse time migration
Authors: Baldassari Caroline , Barucq Hélène , Calandra Henri , Diaz Julien 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTThe numerical simulation of wave propagation in heterogeneous media involves very significant computational costs that can be considerably reduced by using finite elements whose order is adapted to the characteristics of the medium. In this paper, we show that we can further reduce these costs by using a mixed time scheme, combining two discrete formulas and using local time steps. We illustrate the effectiveness of the new scheme considering an application to seismic imaging treated by reverse time migration. We also show that the new scheme greatly reduces the numerical dispersion problems that appear frequently when adapting the orders of approximation in space only.
Elevated CO2 stimulates grassland soil respiration by increasing carbon inputs rather than by enhancing soil moisture
Authors: Carol Adair E. , Reich Peter B. , Trost Jared J. , Hobbie Sarah E. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractIt is not clear whether the consistent positive effect of elevated CO2 on soil respiration (soil carbon flux, SCF) results from increased plant and microbial activity due to (i) greater C availability through CO2‐induced increases in C inputs or (ii) enhanced soil moisture via CO2‐induced declines in stomatal conductance and plant water use. Global changes such as biodiversity loss or nitrogen (N) deposition may also affect these drivers, interacting with CO2 to affect SCF. To determine the effects of these factors on SCF and elucidate the mechanism(s) behind the effect of elevated CO2 on SCF, we measured SCF and soil moisture throughout a growing season in the Biodiversity, CO2, and N (BioCON) experiment. Increasing diversity and N caused small declines in soil moisture. Diversity had inconsistent small effects on SCF through its effects on abiotic conditions, while N had a small positive effect that was unrelated to soil moisture. Elevated CO2 had large consistent effects, increasing soil moisture by 26% and SCF by 45%. However, CO2‐induced changes in soil moisture were weak drivers of SCF: CO2 effects on SCF and soil moisture were uncorrelated, CO2 effect size did not change with soil moisture, within‐day CO2 effects via soil moisture were neutral or weakly negative, and the estimated effect of increased C availability was 14 times larger than that of increased soil moisture. Combined with previous BioCON results indicating elevated CO2 increases C availability to plants and microbes, our results suggest that increased SCF is driven by CO2‐induced increases in substrate availability. Our results provide further support for increased rates of belowground C cycling at elevated CO2 and evidence that, unlike the response of productivity to elevated CO2 in BioCON, the response of SCF is not strongly N limited. Thus, N limited grasslands are unlikely to act as a N sink under elevated CO2.
Temporal trends in N2O flux dynamics in a Danish wetland – effects of plant‐mediated gas transport of N2O and O2 following changes in water level and soil mineral‐N availability
Authors: Jørgensen Christian Juncher , Struwe Sten , Elberling Bo 
Published: June 2011

AbstractTemporal trends of N2O fluxes across the soil–atmosphere interface were determined using continuous flux chamber measurements over an entire growing season of a subsurface aerating macrophyte (Phalaris arundinacea) in a nonmanaged Danish wetland. Observed N2O fluxes were linked to changes in subsurface N2O and O2 concentrations, water level (WL), light intensity as well as mineral‐N availability. Weekly concentration profiles showed that seasonal variations in N2O concentrations were directly linked to the position of the WL and O2 availability at the capillary fringe above the WL. N2O flux measurements showed surprisingly high temporal variability with marked changes in fluxes and shifts in flux directions from net source to net sink within hours associated with changing light conditions. Systematic diurnal shifts between net N2O emission during day time and deposition during night time were observed when max subsurface N2O concentrations were located below the root zone. Correlation (P < 0.001) between diurnal variations in O2 concentrations and incoming photosynthetically active radiation highlighted the importance of plant‐driven subsoil aeration of the root zone and the associated controls on coupled nitrification/denitrification. Therefore, P. arundinacea played an important role in facilitating N2O transport from the root zone to the atmosphere, and exclusion of the aboveground biomass in flux chamber measurements may lead to significant underestimations on net ecosystem N2O emissions. Complex interactions between seasonal changes in O2 and mineral‐N availability following near‐surface WL fluctuations in combination with plant‐mediated gas transport by P. arundinacea controlled the subsurface N2O concentrations and gas transport mechanisms responsible for N2O fluxes across the soil–atmosphere interface. Results demonstrate the necessity for addressing this high temporal variability and potential plant transport of N2O in future studies of net N2O exchange across the soil–atmosphere interface.
Bone morphogenetic protein signalling activity distinguishes histological subsets of paediatric germ cell tumours
Authors: Fustino N. , Rakheja D. , Ateek C. S. , Neumann J. C. , Amatruda J. F. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryGerm cell tumours (GCTs) are cancers of the testis, ovary or extragonadal sites that occur in infants, children and adults. Testicular GCT is the most common cancer in young men aged 15–40 years. Abnormalities in developmental signalling pathways such as wnt/β‐catenin, TGF‐β/BMP and Hedgehog have been described in many childhood tumours. To date, however, the status of BMP signalling in GCTs has not been described. Herein, we examine BMP‐SMAD signalling in a set of clinically‐annotated paediatric GCTs. We find that BMP signalling activity is absent in undifferentiated tumours such as seminomas and dysgerminomas, but robustly present in most yolk sac tumours, a differentiated tumour type. Gene expression profiling of TGF‐β/BMP pathway genes in germinomas and yolk sac tumours reveals a set of genes that distinguish the two tumour types. There is significant intertumoural heterogeneity between tumours of the same histological subclass, implying that the BMP pathway can be differentially regulated in individual tumours. Finally, through miRNA expression profiling, we identify differential regulation of a set of miRNAs predicted to target the TGF‐β/BMP pathway at multiple sites. Taken together, these results suggest that the BMP signalling pathway may represent a new therapeutical target for childhood GCTs.
Are Caucasian–European men delaying fatherhood? Results of a 7 year observational study of infertile couples with male factor infertility
Authors: Salonia A. , Matloob R. , Saccà A. , Ferrari M. , Gallina A. , Castiglione F. , Abdollah F. , Raber M. , Brigante C. , Candiani M. , Rigatti P. , Montorsi F. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryThis study was aimed at assessing presence and predictors of a trend towards more advanced paternal age at presentation in a cohort of 1283 Caucasian–European infertile couples with male factor infertility (MFI) over a short time frame. Multivariate linear regression analysis tested the association between predictors [namely, partners’ age, length of infertility at first presentation, patients’ comorbidities as scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and educational status] and patient’s age at presentation. Using anova, patient’s age at presentation (F ratio: 2.43; p = 0.024) and patients’ educational status (χ2 trend: 142.38; p < 0.001) significantly increased over time. In contrast, length of infertility at first presentation, CCI and partners’ age did not significantly change over time (all p ≥ 0.05). Linear regression analyses showed that CCI, educational status and year of presentation were not correlated with patients’ age at presentation (all p ≥ 0.05), whereas partners’ age (β = 0.170; p < 0.001) and length of infertility (β = 0.123; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of delayed fatherhood. These results showed a significant shift towards advanced paternal age, but a non‐significant increase of maternal age at first presentation among Caucasian–European infertile couples with MFI over a short time frame.