bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of Using MR Enterography for the Assessment of Terminal Ileitis and Inflammatory Activity in Children With Crohn Disease
Authors: Silverstein Jared , Grand David , Kawatu David , Shah Samir A. , Steinkeler Jill , LeLeiko Neal 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:Radiation exposure increases cancer risk in children with Crohn disease (CD). Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) can image the gastrointestinal tract without exposure to radiation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether our MRE protocol could diagnose terminal ileitis and the degree of inflammatory activity in children with CD.Methods:Retrospective review of patients 18 years of age or younger who underwent MRE for known or suspected CD from June 15, 2007 to April 1, 2010. MRE was performed with Volumen and water as oral contrast and gadolinium‐based intravenous contrast. No antiperistaltic agent was used. Each MRE was compared with ileal biopsies obtained within 90 days. Severity of inflammation on MRE was scored and compared with the Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (PCDAI).Results:Seventy‐two patients underwent 80 MREs during the study period. Forty‐two of the 72 patients (58.3%) underwent colonoscopy within 90 days of MRE, and the terminal ileum was intubated in 33. Compared with histology, MRE had a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 100% for terminal ileitis. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 70%, respectively. PCDAI was calculated in 39 of the 72 patients (54.2%) and had a statistically significant positive correlation with MRE score of 0.37 (P = 0.020426).Conclusions:In children with known or suspected CD, our MRE protocol has a high specificity and positive predictive value for terminal ileitis. Severity of inflammation on MRE had a statistically significant positive correlation with PCDAI.
Co‐occurrence of sexual risk behaviors and substance use across emerging adulthood: evidence for state‐ and trait‐level associations*
Authors: King Kevin M. , Nguyen Hong V. , Kosterman Rick , Bailey Jennifer A. , Hawkins J. David 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTAims  Prior research has suggested that problematic alcohol and drug use are related to risky sexual behaviors, either due to trait‐level associations driven by shared risk factors such as sensation seeking or by state‐specific effects, such as the direct effects of substance use on sexual behaviors. Although the prevalence of both high‐risk sexual activity and alcohol problems decline with age, little is known about how the associations between substance use disorder symptoms and high‐risk sexual behaviors change across young adulthood.Design setting and participants  Using a community sample (n = 790) interviewed every 3 years from age 21 to age 30 years, we tested trait‐ and state‐level associations among symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse and dependence and high‐risk sexual behaviors across young adulthood using latent growth curve models.Measurements  We utilized diagnostic interviews to obtain self‐report of past‐year drug and alcohol abuse and dependence symptoms. High‐risk sexual behaviors were assessed with a composite of four self‐reported behaviors.Findings  Results showed time‐specific associations between alcohol disorder symptoms and risky sexual behaviors (r = 0.195, P < 0.001), but not associations between their trajectories of change. Conversely, risky sexual behaviors and drug disorder symptoms were associated only at the trait level, not the state level, such that the levels and rate of change over time of both were correlated (r = 0.35, P < 0.001).Conclusions  High‐risk sexual behaviors during young adulthood seem to be driven both by trait and state factors, and intervention efforts may be successful if they are either aimed at high‐risk individuals or if they work to disaggregate alcohol use from risky sexual activities.
Lack of effect of tofacitinib (CP‐690,550) on the pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A4 substrate midazolam in healthy volunteers: confirmation of in vitro data
Authors: Gupta Pankaj , Alvey Christine , Wang Rong , Dowty Martin E. , Fahmi Odette A. , Walsky Robert L. , Riese Richard J. , Krishnaswami Sriram 
Published: January 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Tofacitinib (CP‐690,550) is a novel, oral Janus kinase inhibitor being investigated as a targeted immunomodulator and disease‐modifying therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.• Non‐renal elimination accounts for 70% of the total clearance of tofacitinib and the metabolism is primarily mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4.• This study was required to determine the effect of tofacitinib on the in vivo pharmacokinetics of a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• The pharmacokinetics of midazolam, a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate, are not altered when co‐administered with tofacitinib in healthy subjects.• Tofacitinib is unlikely to affect the clearance of drugs metabolized by CYP enzymes.• There is no need for dose adjustments of CYP substrates when co‐administered with tofacitinib.AIMS To investigate inhibitive and inductive effects of tofacitinib (CP‐690,550), a Janus kinase inhibitor, on CYP3A4 function via in vitro and in vivo studies.METHODS In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the inhibition and induction potential of tofacitinib for major drug metabolizing enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4). A phase 1, randomized, open‐label, two‐way crossover study (NCT00902460) was conducted to confirm the lack of inhibitive/inductive effect on a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate, midazolam, in healthy subjects. Midazolam pharmacokinetics were assessed over 24 h following single dose 2 mg administration prior to administering tofacitinib and after twice daily dosing of tofacitinib 30 mg for 6 days. The primary endpoint was midazolam area under the concentration–time profile, from time 0 to infinity (AUC(0,∞)).RESULTS In vitro studies demonstrated low potential for CYP inhibition (IC50 estimates tofacitinib >30 µm), CYP3A4 mRNA induction (observed at tofacitinib concentrations ≥25 µm) and no effect on enzymatic activity of CYP substrates. In the human study, AUC(0,∞) adjusted geometric mean ratio for midazolam plus tofacitinib to midazolam alone was 103.97% [90% confidence interval (CI) 95.57, 113.12], wholly within the pre‐specified acceptance region (80, 125). The 90% CI for the ratio of adjusted geometric means of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) (95.98, 108.87) was also wholly within this acceptance region.CONCLUSIONS These data confirm a lack of an inhibitive or inductive effect of tofacitinib on CYP3A activity in humans and, in conjunction with in vitro data, support the conclusion that tofacitinib is unlikely to influence the CYP enzyme system as a whole.
Burkitt lymphoma and the discovery of Epstein–Barr virus
Authors: Epstein Anthony 
Published: January 2012

SummaryThe chance germinal encounter with the first lecture outside Africa on Burkitt lymphoma is described together with the hypothesis of a viral cause. Repeated virological investigations on lymphoma biopsies proved negative, leading to the idea that a latent virus might be activated if lymphoma cells could be cultured, although no human lymphoid cell had at that time ever been maintained in vitro. A chance event reminding of the need for suspension culture with mouse lymphomas led to success. The cultured cells carried a morphologically unequivocal, strangely inert, herpesvirus shown later to be immunologically, biologically and biochemically unique. How this new agent acquired its name, Epstein–Barr virus, is explained.
Viral infections and human cancers: the legacy of Denis Burkitt
Authors: Harford Joe B. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryDenis Parsons Burkitt was born in 1911, and in the late 1950s, described the disease that has come to be known as Burkitt lymphoma based on cases he observed in Uganda. Subsequently, Burkitt lymphoma was recognized as the first human tumour associated with an infectious agent when Epstein–Barr virus was isolated from samples supplied by Burkitt. It is now recognized that over one‐quarter of cancers worldwide are tied to infections. Notably, liver cancer is linked to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections, and cervical cancer to infections involving the human papilloma viruses. In addition, immunocompromise arising from infection with the human immunodeficiency virus allows tumours (e.g., Kaposi sarcoma) caused by other viruses to arise. More than 50 years after the seminal paper by Burkitt based on his work in Africa, it is appreciated that the contribution of viral infections to cancers remains considerably higher in sub‐Saharan Africa than in the rest of the world.
Ammonia may play an important role in the succession of cyanobacterial blooms and the distribution of common algal species in shallow freshwater lakes
Authors: Dai Guo‐Zheng , Shang Jin‐Long , Qiu Bao‐Sheng 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWith the human intensification of agricultural and industrial activities, large amount of reduced nitrogen enter into the biosphere, which consequently results in the development of global eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms. However, no research had reported the effect of ammonia toxicity on the algal succession. In this study, we investigated the ammonia toxicity to 19 algal species or strains to test the hypothesis that ammonia may regulate the succession of cyanobacterial blooms and the distribution of common algal species in freshwater lakes. The bloom‐forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 suffered from ammonia toxicity at high pH value and light intensity conditions. Low NH4Cl concentration (0.06 mmol L−1) resulted in the decrease of operational PSII quantum yield by 50% compared with the control exposed to 1000 μmol photons m−2 s−1 for 1 h at pH 9.0 ± 0.2, which can be reached in freshwater lakes. Furthermore, the tolerant abilities to NH3 toxicity of 18 freshwater algal species or strains were as follows: hypertrophication species > eutrophication species > mesotrophication species > oligotrophication species. The different sensitivities of NH3 toxicity in this study could well explain the distributing rule of common algal species in the freshwater lakes of different trophic states. Meanwhile, the cyanobacterial bloom (e.g. M. aeruginosa) always happened at the low concentration of ammonia in summer, and disappeared with the decrease of ammonia. This may be attributed to the toxic effect of ammonia to M. aeruginosa in spring (the average and maximum ammonia concentration were 0.08 and 0.72 mmol L−1 in 33 Chinese lakes), and the low level of NH3‐N in summer and fall in the lakes might be used as preferred nitrogen nutrition by M. aeruginosa, rather than with toxicity. Therefore, ammonia could be a key factor to determine the distribution of common algal species and cyanobacterial bloom in the freshwater systems.
Consistent effects of nitrogen amendments on soil microbial communities and processes across biomes
Authors: Ramirez Kelly S. , Craine Joseph M. , Fierer Noah 
Published: January 2012

AbstractEcosystems worldwide are receiving increasing amounts of reactive nitrogen (N) via anthropogenic activities with the added N having potentially important impacts on microbially mediated belowground carbon dynamics. However, a comprehensive understanding of how elevated N availability affects soil microbial processes and community dynamics remains incomplete. The mechanisms responsible for the observed responses are poorly resolved and we do not know if soil microbial communities respond in a similar manner across ecosystems. We collected 28 soils from a broad range of ecosystems in North America, amended soils with inorganic N, and incubated the soils under controlled conditions for 1 year. Consistent across nearly all soils, N addition decreased microbial respiration rates, with an average decrease of 11% over the year‐long incubation, and decreased microbial biomass by 35%. High‐throughput pyrosequencing showed that N addition consistently altered bacterial community composition, increasing the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, and decreasing the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. Further, N‐amended soils consistently had lower activities in a broad suite of extracellular enzymes and had decreased temperature sensitivity, suggesting a shift to the preferential decomposition of more labile C pools. The observed trends held across strong gradients in climate and soil characteristics, indicating that the soil microbial responses to N addition are likely controlled by similar wide‐spread mechanisms. Our results support the hypothesis that N addition depresses soil microbial activity by shifting the metabolic capabilities of soil bacterial communities, yielding communities that are less capable of decomposing more recalcitrant soil carbon pools and leading to a potential increase in soil carbon sequestration rates.
Quantification of cyanogenic glycosides in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) from horse pastures in relation to equine grass sickness
Authors: McGorum B. C. , Pirie R. S. , Fry S. C. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAs a preliminary step in testing the hypothesis that ingestion of cyanogenic glycosides in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) may be one of the risk factors for equine grass sickness (EGS, or equine dysautonomia), the cyanogen content of clover leaves collected from fields (n = 16) soon after an occurrence of EGS was compared with that of (i) control white clover samples (n = 10) collected from the same fields out of the disease period and (ii) control clover samples (n = 54) collected sequentially from three control fields. Clover samples from EGS fields were highly cyanogenic, with a median cyanide potential of 497 (range 307–1786) mg kg dry matter−1. Furthermore, clover collected from EGS fields soon after an occurrence of EGS had significantly higher concentrations of the cyanogenic glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin than control samples. While these findings indicate that horses grazing EGS fields may ingest significant quantities of cyanogenic glycosides, the design of the study does not facilitate investigation of any potential association between cyanogens and EGS. Further study is therefore required to determine whether cyanogens are a risk factor for EGS or whether these findings simply reflect variations in plant metabolism unrelated to disease pathogenesis.
In vitro rumen methane output of perennial ryegrass varieties and perennial grass species harvested throughout the growing season
Authors: Purcell P. J. , O’Brien M. , Navarro‐Villa A. , Boland T. M. , McEvoy M. , Grogan D. , O’Kiely P. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe selection and feeding of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties (PRV) or perennial grass species (PGS) may affect enteric methane (CH4) output because of changes in the fermentation dynamics in the rumen as a result of differences in herbage chemical composition. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of PRV and PGS harvested throughout the growing season on herbage chemical composition, and in vitro rumen fermentation variables and CH4 output per unit of feed using a batch culture technique. Seven PRV (Experiment 1: Alto, Arrow, Bealey, Dunluce, Greengold, Malone, Tyrella) and six perennial grasses [Experiment 2: perennial ryegrass (Navan), perennial ryegrass (Portstewart), cocksfoot, meadow fescue, tall fescue, timothy; defined as PGS], managed under a simulated grazing regime, were incubated for 24 h with buffered rumen fluid in two separate experiments. The CH4 output per unit of feed dry‐matter (DM) incubated was not affected (P > 0·05) by PRV (range of mean values across PRV of 23·9–25·3 (SEM 0·41) mL g−1 DM) or by PGS (25·6–26·6 (SEM 0·37) mL g−1 DM). The CH4 output per unit feed DM disappearing during the in vitro rumen incubation was not affected by PRV (33·9–35·1 (SEM 0·70) mL g−1 DM), and although there was an overall PGS effect (P < 0·05; 37·2–40·3 (SEM 0·71) mL g−1 DM), none of the paired contrasts between PGS were significant when analysed using Tukey adjusted comparisons. This outcome reflected either small‐scale or a lack of treatment effects on individual herbage chemical composition (e.g. 454–483 g NDF kg−1 DM, 215–224 g CP kg−1 DM and 94–122 g water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) kg−1 DM across PRV; 452–506 g NDF kg−1 DM, 208–243 g CP kg−1 DM and 73–131 g WSC kg−1 DM across PGS) and in vitro rumen fermentation variables. Hence, these results provide no encouragement that choices among the grasses examined, produced within the management regimes operated, would reduce enteric CH4 output per unit of feed in vivo. However, the technique utilized did not take account of animal × PRV or PGS interactions, such as potential differences in intake between animals, that may occur under farm conditions.
Tetradecylthioacetic acid modulates cardiac transcription in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., suffering heart and skeletal muscle inflammation
Authors: Grammes F , Rørvik K‐A , Takle H 
Published: January 2012

AbstractHeart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) is a disease causing considerable mortality in farmed Atlantic salmon. We have previously reported that pre‐feeding of tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) reduces the mortality during a natural outbreak of HSMI. In the present paper we show that in the cardiac ventricle, during HSMI infection, pre‐feeding TTA increases the expression of the immune genes: TNFα, VCAM‐1, IgM and CD8α. We also show that TTA increases the cardiosomatic index potentially by elevating cardiomyogenesis through activation of the cardiac transcription factors MEF2C and Nkx2.5. Using the recently published genomic sequence of a HSMI associated piscine reovirus (PRV), we could show that the PRV levels have no confounding effects on the mRNA expression of the investigated genes. The results suggest that TTA induced cardiac growth, together with an elevated cardiac recruitment of immune cells, which might lead to increased robustness during HSMI infection.
Nutrition and health of aquaculture fish
Authors: Oliva‐Teles A 
Published: January 2012

AbstractUnder intensive culture conditions, fish are subject to increased stress owing to environmental (water quality and hypoxia) and health conditions (parasites and infectious diseases). All these factors have negative impacts on fish well‐being and overall performance, with consequent economic losses. Though good management practices contribute to reduce stressor effects, stress susceptibility is always high under crowded conditions. Adequate nutrition is essential to avoid deficiency signs, maintain adequate animal performance and sustain normal health. Further, it is becoming evident that diets overfortified with specific nutrients [amino acids, essential fatty acids (FAs), vitamins or minerals] at levels above requirement may improve health condition and disease resistance. Diet supplements are also being evaluated for their antioxidant potential, as fish are potentially at risk of peroxidative attack because of the large quantities of highly unsaturated FAs in both fish tissues and diets. Functional constituents other than essential nutrients (such as probiotics, prebiotics and immunostimulants) are also currently being considered in fish nutrition aiming to improve fish growth and/or feed efficiency, health status, stress tolerance and resistance to diseases. Such products are becoming more and more important for reducing antibiotic utilization in aquafarms, as these have environmental impacts, may accumulate in animal tissues and increase bacterial resistance. This study reviews knowledge of the effect of diet nutrients on health, welfare and improvement of disease resistance in fish.
Visual perceptual strengths and weaknesses in adults with intellectual disabilities compared with a birth year‐matched norm
Authors: Ikeda K. , Kasugai H. , Yamaguchi A. , Uchino Y. , Katase H. , Kanno A. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground  The ventral and dorsal streams are considered to be the brain substrates of vision for perception and action, respectively. Using the Developmental Test of Visual Perception (DTVP), the current study examined whether visual perceptual strengths and weaknesses in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) were attributable to the dichotomy of the visual streams.Method  In study 1, DTVP performance was compared among mild, moderate and severe adult ID groups; study 2 contrasted adult ID groups with and without Down syndrome (DS). To prevent possible contamination by the Flynn effect, participants were matched by birth year with the norm of the DTVP original edition.Results  Independent of the extent of ID among the three groups in study 1 and the aetiological group difference in study 2, relative strength was found for two DTVP tasks: eye–hand coordination and distinguishing target figures from interference background. Relative weakness was obtained in identifying a figural category. Participants with DS demonstrated exceptional weakness in discerning a target from either mirror‐imaged or rotated alternatives, in addition to figural‐category detection.Conclusions  Visual perceptual strengths and weaknesses in persons with ID were difficult to explain on the basis of two visual streams. An interpretation originating in a different research context (e.g. frontal‐lobe dysfunction) appears to be required for explaining visual perceptual weaknesses in persons with ID. For persons with DS, strong frontal‐lobe dysfunction with atypical lateralisation might be the pathological determinant of visual perceptual weaknesses.
Secondary students with moderate/severe intellectual disability: considerations of curriculum and post‐school outcomes from the National Longitudinal Transition Study‐2
Authors: Bouck E. C. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground  A conversation currently exists regarding secondary curriculum (e.g. academics, functional) for students with moderate/severe intellectual disability (ID) without a large research base connecting curriculum to outcomes.Method  This study represented a secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Transition Study‐2 (NLTS2) data to understand in‐school curriculum and educational programming for secondary students with moderate/severe ID as well as the relationship between curriculum and students' post‐school outcomes. Statistical procedures such as frequency distributions, a significance test and logistic regression were utilised to analyse secondary data from the NLTS2.Results  The results suggest the majority of students with moderate/severe ID received a functional curriculum as well as instruction in core content areas; however, their instruction primarily occurred in pull‐out educational settings. The students also reported low rates for the post‐school outcomes examined (i.e. independent living, employment and post‐secondary attendance). Finally, curriculum (functional vs. academics) was not related to any post‐school outcome examined (e.g. independent living, employment).Conclusions  The data suggest additional research is needed to understand what factors impact post‐school outcomes for students with moderate/severe ID. Yet – and regardless of the lack of impact – additional work is needed to help students achieve better post‐school outcomes, including further examination of curriculum and instructional environments.