bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of montelukast and mometasone furoate in the prevention of recurrent nasal polyps
Authors: Vuralkan Erkan , Saka Cem , Akin Istemihan , Hucumenoglu Sema , Unal Binnur Uzmez , Kuran Gokhan , Ocal Berrak 
Published: November 2011

Background: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of montelukast and mometasone furoate nasal spray on the postoperative course of patients with nasal polyposis. Patients and methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with nasal polyposis between March 2006 and August 2007 were included in the study. All patients underwent bilateral endoscopic sphenoethmoidectomy and were randomized postoperatively into two groups. Group A ( n = 25) received 10 mg montelukast per day and group B ( n = 25) received 400 µg mometasone furoate nasal spray twice daily. All patients were followed up for 6 months. Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 scores, polyp grades, computerized tomography (CT) scores (Lund–Mackay), eosinophils in peripheral blood and polyp tissue were evaluated before and after surgery. Results: There was a significant reduction in SNOT-22 scores in both groups throughout the study period. There was a significant difference in the recurrence rate between both groups with a marginal advantage of mometasone furoate nasal spray. Eosinophils in peripheral blood were found to be effective on the recurrence rate ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, both drugs seem to have a complementary action and further studies are needed to determine which patients should receive which treatment.
Dependency on the polycomb gene Ezh2 distinguishes fetal from adult hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Mochizuki-Kashio Makiko , Mishima Yuta , Miyagi Satoru , Negishi Masamitsu , Saraya Atsunori , Konuma Takaaki , Shinga Jun , Koseki Haruhiko , Iwama Atsushi 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Polycomb-group (PcG) proteins are essential regulators of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In contrast to Bmi1, a component of Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), the role of PRC2 and its components in hematopoiesis remains elusive. Here we show that Ezh2, a core component of PRC2, is essential for fetal, but not adult, HSCs. Ezh2-deficient embryos died of anemia because of insufficient expansion of HSCs/progenitor cells and defective erythropoiesis in fetal liver. Deletion of Ezh2 in adult BM, however, did not significantly compromise hematopoiesis, except for lymphopoiesis. Of note, Ezh2-deficient fetal liver cells showed a drastic reduction in trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) accompanied by derepression of a large cohort of genes, whereas on homing to BM, they acquired a high level of H3K27me3 and long-term repopulating capacity. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that Ezh1, the gene encoding a backup enzyme, is highly expressed in HSCs/progenitor cells in BM compared with those in fetal liver, whereas Ezh2 is ubiquitously expressed. These findings suggest that Ezh1 complements Ezh2 in the BM, but not in the fetal liver, and reveal that the reinforcement of PcG-mediated gene silencing occurs during the transition from proliferative fetal HSCs to quiescent adult HSCs.
Defining the role of TORC1/2 in multiple myeloma
Authors: Maiso Patricia , Liu Yi , Morgan Brittany , Azab Abdel Kareem , Ren Pingda , Martin Michel B. , Zhang Yong , Liu Yang , Sacco Antonio , Ngo Hai , Azab Feda , Quang Phong , Rodig Scott J. , Lin Charles P. , Roccaro Aldo M. , Rommel Christian , Ghobrial Irene M. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a downstream serine/threonine kinase of the PI3K/Akt pathway that integrates signals from the tumor microenvironment to regulate multiple cellular processes. Rapamycin and its analogs have not shown significant activity in multiple myeloma (MM), likely because of the lack of inhibition of TORC2. In the present study, we investigated the baseline activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway TORC1/2 in MM cell lines with different genetic abnormalities. TORC1/2 knock-down led to significant inhibition of the proliferation of MM cells, even in the presence of BM stromal cells. We also tested INK128, a dual TORC1/2 inhibitor, as a new therapeutic agent against these MM cell lines. We showed that dual TORC1/2 inhibition is much more active than TORC1 inhibition alone (rapamycin), even in the presence of cytokines or stromal cells. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that p-4EBP1 and p-Akt inhibition could be predictive markers of TORC2 inhibition in MM cell lines. Dual TORC1/2 inhibition showed better inhibition of adhesion to BM microenvironmental cells and inhibition of homing in vivo. These studies form the basis for further clinical testing of TORC1/2 inhibitors in MM.
miR-135b mediates NPM-ALK–driven oncogenicity and renders IL-17–producing immunophenotype to anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Authors: Matsuyama Hironori , Suzuki Hiroshi I. , Nishimori Hikaru , Noguchi Masaaki , Yao Takashi , Komatsu Norio , Mano Hiroyuki , Sugimoto Koichi , Miyazono Kohei 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Many transformed lymphoma cells show immune-phenotypes resembling the corresponding normal lymphocytes; thus, they provide a guide for proper diagnosis and present promising routes to improve their pathophysiologic understanding and to identify novel therapeutic targets. However, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of these aberrant immune-phenotypes is largely unknown. Here, we report that microRNA-135b (miR-135b) mediates nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK)–driven oncogenicity and empowers IL-17–producing immunophenotype in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). NPM-ALK oncogene strongly promoted the expression of miR-135b and its host gene LEMD1 through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3. In turn, elevated miR-135b targeted FOXO1 in ALCL cells. miR-135b introduction also decreased chemosensitivity in Jurkat cells, suggesting its contribution to oncogenic activities of NPM-ALK. Interestingly, miR-135b suppressed T-helper (Th) 2 master regulators STAT6 and GATA3, and miR-135b blockade attenuated IL-17 production and paracrine inflammatory response by ALCL cells, indicating that miR-135b–mediated Th2 suppression may lead to the skewing to ALCL immunophenotype overlapping with Th17 cells. Furthermore, antisense-based miR-135b inhibition reduced tumor angiogenesis and growth in vivo, demonstrating significance of this “Th17 mimic” pathway as a therapeutic target. These results collectively illuminated unique contribution of oncogenic kinase-linked microRNA to tumorigenesis through modulation of tumor immune-phenotype and microenvironment.
Dual functions of cell-autonomous and non–cell-autonomous ADAM10 activity in granulopoiesis
Authors: Yoda Masaki , Kimura Tokuhiro , Tohmonda Takahide , Uchikawa Shinichi , Koba Takeshi , Takito Jiro , Morioka Hideo , Matsumoto Morio , Link Daniel C. , Chiba Kazuhiro , Okada Yasunori , Toyama Yoshiaki , Horiuchi Keisuke 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Previous studies have revealed various extrinsic stimuli and factors involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis. Among these, Notch-mediated signaling has been suggested to be critically involved in this process. Herein, we show that conditional inactivation of ADAM10, a membrane-bound protease with a crucial role in Notch signaling (S2 cleavage), results in myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) highlighted by severe splenomegaly and increased populations of myeloid cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Reciprocal transfer of bone marrow cells between wild-type and ADAM10 mutant mice revealed that ADAM10 activity in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells is involved in the development of MPD. Notably, we found that MPD caused by lack of ADAM10 in nonhematopoietic cells was mediated by G-CSF, whereas MPD caused by ADAM10-deficient hematopoietic cells was not. Taken together, the present findings reveal previously undescribed nonredundant roles of cell-autonomous and non–cell-autonomous ADAM10 activity in the maintenance of hematopoiesis.
Related transplantation with HLA-1 Ag mismatch in the GVH direction and HLA-8/8 allele-matched unrelated transplantation: a nationwide retrospective study
Authors: Kanda Junya , Saji Hiroh , Fukuda Takahiro , Kobayashi Takeshi , Miyamura Koichi , Eto Tetsuya , Kurokawa Mineo , Kanamori Heiwa , Mori Takehiko , Hidaka Michihiro , Iwato Koji , Yoshida Takashi , Sakamaki Hisashi , Tanaka Junji , Kawa Keisei , Morishima Yasuo , Suzuki Ritsuro , Atsuta Yoshiko , Kanda Yoshinobu 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
To clarify which is preferable, a related donor with an HLA-1 Ag mismatch at the HLA-A, HLA-B, or HLA-DR loci in the graft-versus-host (GVH) direction (RD/1AG-MM-GVH) or an HLA 8/8-allele (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1)–matched unrelated donor (8/8-MUD), we evaluated 779 patients with acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndrome who received a T cell–replete graft from an RD/1AG-MM-GVH or 8/8-MUD. The use of an RD/1AG-MM-GVH donor was significantly associated with a higher overall mortality rate than the use of an 8/8-MUD in a multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.49; P < .001), and this impact was statistically significant only in patients with standard-risk diseases (P = .001). Among patients with standard-risk diseases who received transplantation from an RD/1AG-MM-GVH donor, the presence of an HLA-B Ag mismatch was significantly associated with a lower overall survival rate than an HLA-DR Ag mismatch because of an increased risk of treatment-related mortality. The HLA-C Ag mismatch or multiple allelic mismatches were frequently observed in the HLA-B Ag-mismatched group, and were possibly associated with the poor outcome. In conclusion, an 8/8-MUD should be prioritized over an RD/1AG-MM-GVH donor during donor selection. In particular, an HLA-B Ag mismatch in the GVH direction has an adverse effect on overall survival and treatment-related mortality in patients with standard-risk diseases.
Berry-Esséen bound of sample quantiles for negatively associated sequence
Authors: Yang Wenzhi , Hu Shuhe , Wang Xuejun , Zhang Qinchi 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the Berry-Esséen bound of the sample quantiles for the negatively associated random variables under some weak conditions. The rate of normal approximation is shown as O(n
-1/9).

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 62F12; 62E20; 60F05.
Predicting complex quantitative traits with Bayesian neural networks: a case study with Jersey cows and wheat
Authors: Gianola Daniel , Okut Hayrettin , Weigel Kent A , Rosa Guilherme JM 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
In the study of associations between genomic data and complex phenotypes there may be relationships that are not amenable to parametric statistical modeling. Such associations have been investigated mainly using single-marker and Bayesian linear regression models that differ in their distributions, but that assume additive inheritance while ignoring interactions and non-linearity. When interactions have been included in the model, their effects have entered linearly. There is a growing interest in non-parametric methods for predicting quantitative traits based on reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces regressions on markers and radial basis functions. Artificial neural networks (ANN) provide an alternative, because these act as universal approximators of complex functions and can capture non-linear relationships between predictors and responses, with the interplay among variables learned adaptively. ANNs are interesting candidates for analysis of traits affected by cryptic forms of gene action.

Results
We investigated various Bayesian ANN architectures using for predicting phenotypes in two data sets consisting of milk production in Jersey cows and yield of inbred lines of wheat. For the Jerseys, predictor variables were derived from pedigree and molecular marker (35,798 single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPS) information on 297 individually cows. The wheat data represented 599 lines, each genotyped with 1,279 markers. The ability of predicting fat, milk and protein yield was low when using pedigrees, but it was better when SNPs were employed, irrespective of the ANN trained. Predictive ability was even better in wheat because the trait was a mean, as opposed to an individual phenotype in cows. Non-linear neural networks outperformed a linear model in predictive ability in both data sets, but more clearly in wheat.

Conclusion
Results suggest that neural networks may be useful for predicting complex traits using high-dimensional genomic information, a situation where the number of unknowns exceeds sample size. ANNs can capture nonlinearities, adaptively. This may be useful when prediction of phenotypes is crucial.
Mitochondrial genome sequencing helps show the evolutionary mechanism of mitochondrial genome formation in Brassica
Authors: Chang Shengxin , Yang Tiantian , Du Tongqing , Huang Yongjuan , Chen Jianmei , Yan Jiyong , He Jianbo , Guan Rongzhan 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
Angiosperm mitochondrial genomes are more complex than those of other organisms. Analyses of the mitochondrial genome sequences of at least 11 angiosperm species have showed several common properties; these cannot easily explain, however, how the diverse mitotypes evolved within each genus or species. We analyzed the evolutionary relationships of Brassica mitotypes by sequencing.

Results
We sequenced the mitotypes of cam (Brassica rapa), ole (B. oleracea), jun (B. juncea), and car (B. carinata) and analyzed them together with two previously sequenced mitotypes of B. napus (pol and nap). The sizes of whole single circular genomes of cam, jun, ole, and car are 219,747 bp, 219,766 bp, 360,271 bp, and 232,241 bp, respectively. The mitochondrial genome of ole is largest as a resulting of the duplication of a 141.8 kb segment. The jun mitotype is the result of an inherited cam mitotype, and pol is also derived from the cam mitotype with evolutionary modifications. Genes with known functions are conserved in all mitotypes, but clear variation in open reading frames (ORFs) with unknown functions among the six mitotypes was observed. Sequence relationship analysis showed that there has been genome compaction and inheritance in the course of Brassica mitotype evolution.

Conclusions
We have sequenced four Brassica mitotypes, compared six Brassica mitotypes and suggested a mechanism for mitochondrial genome formation in Brassica, including evolutionary events such as inheritance, duplication, rearrangement, genome compaction, and mutation.
Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia among patients treated in primary care centres in the valencian community of Spain
Authors: Cebrián-Cuenca Ana M , Díez-Domingo Javier , San-Martín-Rodríguez María , Puig-Barberá Joan , Navarro-Pérez Jorge ,   the Herpes Zoster Research Group of the Valencian Community
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
Data on the epidemiology and costs related to herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in Spain are scarce; therefore, studies are needed to evaluate the epidemiological and economic impact of HZ and its most common complication, PHN. The present study aimed to estimate the clinical and economic burden of HZ and PHN in Valencia (Spain).

Methods
We prospectively analyzed the burden of HZ and PHN and their attributable costs in patients from 25 general practices in the Autonomous Community of Valencia serving 36,030 persons aged > 14 years. All patients with a clinical diagnosis of HZ who attended these centers between December 1st 2006 and November 30th 2007 were asked to participate. Patients included were followed for 1 year.

Results
Of the 130 cases of HZ followed up, continued pain was experienced by 47.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 35.6-56.7%) at 1 month after rash onset, by 14.5% (95% CI = 7.8-1.2%) at 3 months, by 9.0% (95% CI = 3.7-14.3%) at 6 months, and by 5.9% (95% CI = 1.5-10.3%) at 12 months. The percentage of patients with PHN increased with age, from 21.4% (95% CI = 8.3-40) in patients < 50 years to 59.2% (95% CI = 44.4-74) in patients ≥ 70 years. The estimated total cost for the 130 HZ cases during the follow-up period was €49,160 ($67,349). Mean cost per patient was €378 (range 53-2,830) ($517, range 73-3,877).

Conclusions
This study shows that PHN is a relatively common complication of HZ and that both conditions combined give rise to a significant clinical and economic burden for patients and providers.
An increased response to experimental muscle pain is related to psychological status in women with chronic non-traumatic neck-shoulder pain
Authors: Sjörs Anna , Larsson Britt , Persson Ann L , Gerdle Björn 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
Neck-shoulder pain conditions, e.g., chronic trapezius myalgia, have been associated with sensory disturbances such as increased sensitivity to experimentally induced pain. This study investigated pain sensitivity in terms of bilateral pressure pain thresholds over the trapezius and tibialis anterior muscles and pain responses after a unilateral hypertonic saline infusion into the right legs tibialis anterior muscle and related those parameters to intensity and area size of the clinical pain and to psychological factors (sleeping problems, depression, anxiety, catastrophizing and fear-avoidance).

Methods
Nineteen women with chronic non-traumatic neck-shoulder pain but without simultaneous anatomically widespread clinical pain (NSP) and 30 age-matched pain-free female control subjects (CON) participated in the study.

Results
NSP had lower pressure pain thresholds over the trapezius and over the tibialis anterior muscles and experienced hypertonic saline-evoked pain in the tibialis anterior muscle to be significantly more intense and locally more widespread than CON. More intense symptoms of anxiety and depression together with a higher disability level were associated with increased pain responses to experimental pain induction and a larger area size of the clinical neck-shoulder pain at its worst.

Conclusion
These results indicate that central mechanisms e.g., central sensitization and altered descending control, are involved in chronic neck-shoulder pain since sensory hypersensitivity was found in areas distant to the site of clinical pain. Psychological status was found to interact with the perception, intensity, duration and distribution of induced pain (hypertonic saline) together with the spreading of clinical pain. The duration and intensity of pain correlated negatively with pressure pain thresholds.
Effects of silver impurity on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of ZnO nanowires
Authors: Kim Kyoungwon , Debnath Pulak Chandra , Lee Deuk-Hee , Kim Sangsig , Lee Sang Yeol 
Published: November 2011

Abstract1, 3, and 5 wt.% silver-doped ZnO (SZO) nanowires (NWs) are grown by hot-walled pulsed laser deposition. After silver-doping process, SZO NWs show some change behaviors, including structural, electrical, and optical properties. In case of structural property, the primary growth plane of SZO NWs is switched from (002) to (103) plane, and the electrical properties of SZO NWs are variously measured to be about 4.26 × 106, 1.34 × 106, and 3.04 × 105 Ω for 1, 3, and 5 SZO NWs, respectively. In other words, the electrical properties of SZO NWs depend on different Ag ratios resulting in controlling the carrier concentration. Finally, the optical properties of SZO NWs are investigated to confirm p-type semiconductor by observing the exciton bound to a neutral acceptor (A0X). Also, Ag presence in ZnO NWs is directly detected by both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. These results imply that Ag doping facilitates the possibility of changing the properties in ZnO NWs by the atomic substitution of Ag with Zn in the lattice.
Optimality and Duality Theorems in Nonsmooth Multiobjective Optimization
Authors: Bae Kwan Deok , Kim Do Sang 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn this paper, we consider a class of nonsmooth multiobjective programming problems. Necessary and sufficient optimality conditions are obtained under higher order strongly convexity for Lipschitz functions. We formulate Mond-Weir type dual problem and establish weak and strong duality theorems for a strict minimizer of order m.
An improved EZBC algorithm based on block bit length
Authors: Wang Renlong , Ruan Shuangchen , Liu Chengxiang , Wang Wenda , Zhang Li 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Embedded ZeroBlock Coding and context modeling (EZBC) algorithm has high compression performance. However, it consumes large amounts of memory space because an Amplitude Quadtree of wavelet coefficients and other two link lists would be built during the encoding process. This is one of the big challenges for EZBC to be used in real time or hardware applications. An improved EZBC algorithm based on bit length of coefficients was brought forward in this article. It uses Bit Length Quadtree to complete the coding process and output the context for Arithmetic Coder. It can achieve the same compression performance as EZBC and save more than 75% memory space required in the encoding process. As Bit Length Quadtree can quickly locate the wavelet coefficients and judge their significance, the improved algorithm can dramatically accelerate the encoding speed. These improvements are also beneficial for hardware.

PACS: 42.30.Va, 42.30.Wb
Remarkable changes in the choice of timing to discuss organ donation with the relatives of a patient: a study in 228 organ donations in 20 years
Authors: de Groot Yorick J , Lingsma Hester F , van der Jagt Mathieu , Bakker Jan , IJzermans Jan NM , Kompanje Erwin JO 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Introduction
We studied whether the choice of timing of discussing organ donation for the first time with the relatives of a patient with catastrophic brain injury in The Netherlands has changed over time and explored its possible consequences. Second, we investigated how thorough the process of brain death determination was over time by studying the number of medical specialists involved. And we studied the possible influence of the Donor Register on the consent rate.

Methods
We performed a retrospective chart review of all effectuated brain dead organ donors between 1987 and 2009 in one Dutch university hospital with a large neurosurgical serving area.

Results
A total of 271 medical charts were collected, of which 228 brain dead patients were included. In the first period, organ donation was discussed for the first time after brain death determination (87%). In 13% of the cases, the issue of organ donation was raised before the first EEG. After 1998, we observed a shift in this practice. Discussing organ donation for the first time after brain death determination occurred in only 18% of the cases. In 58% of the cases, the issue of organ donation was discussed before the first EEG but after confirming the absence of all brain stem reflexes, and in 24% of the cases, the issue of organ donation was discussed after the prognosis was deemed catastrophic but before a neurologist or neurosurgeon assessed and determined the absence of all brain stem reflexes as required by the Dutch brain death determination protocol.

Conclusions
The phases in the process of brain death determination and the time at which organ donation is first discussed with relatives have changed over time. Possible causes of this change are the introduction of the Donor Register, the reintroduction of donation after circulatory death and other logistical factors. It is unclear whether the observed shift contributed to the high refusal rate in The Netherlands and the increase in family refusal in our hospital in the second studied period. Taking published literature on this subject into account, it is possible that this may have a counterproductive effect.