bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strategies for Transitioning From PECS to SGD. Part I: Overview and Device Selection
Authors: Frost Lori , McGowan Joy Silverman 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is used to systematically teach functional communication through an evidence-based protocol. As a low-tech AAC system, PECS differs from many treatment protocols in that the learner must give a picture or a sequence of pictures to a communicative partner, thus ensuring social approach and interaction. Students who have mastered Phase IV of the PECS protocol and use a large, categorized vocabulary and sentence structure are candidates for transition to a speech generating devise (SGD). When choosing the SGD, the transition team has an ethical responsibility to ensure that the PECS user does not lose current communication abilities, such as independent access, initiation and efficiency of interactions, and sentence structure and length across environments. With careful assessment of SGD features, the clinician can select a device to replicate current PECS skills and allow for language growth. The use of relevant training strategies from the PECS protocol will help the clinician ensure a successful transition to and use of the SGD.
Impact of Computerized “Sounding out” on Spelling Performance of a Child Who Uses AAC: A Preliminary Report
Authors: McCarthy Jillian H. , Beukelman David R. , Hogan Tiffany P. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Spelling is a vital skill for people who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The ability to spell words provides an opportunity to create novel and spontaneous communication and increases educational, social, and employment opportunities for children and adults. However, many children and youth who rely on AAC struggle to gain functional spelling skills and written language. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to develop a strategy to provide auditory letter-sounds using commercially available computer equipment and to evaluate how such a computerized “sounding out” strategy influences spelling accuracy for one child who required AAC support. The spelling accuracy of both consonants and vowels increased during intervention sessions when individual sounds associated with target words were provided compared to the baseline session when individual sounds were not provided. Future directions are discussed.
Expression and Significance of Lipin1 and AMPKα in Hepatic Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance Rats
Authors: Chen S. , Zhuang X. , Liu Y. , Sun A. , Chen C. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractLipin1, a lately indentified adipokine, may link obesity with insulin resistance and diabetes. The present study aimed to investigate the changes and significance of lipin1 expression and lipin1-AMPK signaling in diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance.24 4-week-old Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: (1) control group (CO), (2) high-fat diet group (HF). Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. The mRNA levels of α1 and α2 subunit of AMPKα as well as Lipin1 were measured using Real-time RT-PCR. The activities of AMPKα and Akt were evaluated by detection of p-AMPKα (Thr-172) and p-Akt (ser473) by Western blot.After treatment of 4 months, HF group showed significantly increased levels of body weight, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels; Plasma and liver total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) levels were also markedly elevated; Lipin1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels were significantly deceased. Compared with CO group, the mRNA and protein levels of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 were not changed, whereas the p-AMPK (Thr-172) and p-AKT (ser473) levels in liver were significantly decreased in HF group.These findings indicated that the decrease in lipin1 expression and AMPKα activation may contribute to hepatic insulin resistance in diet-induced obese rats.
Availability of Self-Recorded Axillary Temperature for Assessment of Thermic Effects of Food: Relationship between HDL-Cholesterol Level and Postprandial Thermoregulation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Suzuki S. , Nishio S.-i. , Ishii H. , Sato A. , Takeda T. , Komatsu M. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe present study was performed to develop a simple procedure for assessment of body temperature and to determine whether postprandial thermoregulation is related to metabolic regulation in diabetic patients.We examined 101 male and female subjects with diabetes. Axillary temperature was measured prior to and after all meals (3 meals per day) and self-recorded for 1 week. The averages were calculated. Positive postprandial thermoregulation (PPT) was defined as a pattern in which each of 3 average postprandial temperatures was higher than the corresponding 3 preprandial temperatures. Negative postprandial thermoregulation (NPT) was defined as the pattern except for PPT.A significant increase in postprandial temperature was observed. With the exception of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels, there were no relationships between the categorized postprandial thermoregulation and other factors, including age, sex, body mass index, thyroid function, HbA1c, diabetic complications, lipid metabolism, and calorie intake. Logistic analysis indicated an independent positive relation between HDL-cholesterol and PPT.A simple method for measurement of body temperature indicated that HDL-cholesterol level was predominantly associated with thermic effects of food in diabetic patients, while other metabolic factors showed no such relations. HDL-cholesterol may affect the postprandial regulation of body temperature in diabetic patients.
Decreased adrenergic tone in acromegaly: evidence from direct recording of muscle sympathetic nerve activity
Authors: Seravalle G. , Carzaniga C. , Attanasio R. , Grassi G. , Lonati L. , Facchini C. , Cozzi R. , Fatti L. M. , Montini M. , Vitale G. , Sciortino G. , Damanti S. , Brambilla G. , Cavagnini F. , Mancia G. , Scacchi M. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryObjectiveSympathovagal imbalance has been shown in acromegaly by indirect measurements of adrenergic tone. Data regarding direct measurement of sympathetic activity are lacking as yet. Aim of this study was to assess the adrenergic tone through direct recording of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in acromegalic patients.DesignFifteen patients (age 26–66 years, eight women) with newly diagnosed active acromegaly without hyperprolactinaemia, pituitary hormone deficiencies, obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiac hypertrophy, and 15 healthy subjects matched for age, sex and body mass index were recruited. After evaluating anthropometric and echocardiographic parameters, anterior pituitary function, glucose and lipid metabolism, and measuring plasma leptin, direct recording of sympathetic outflow via the microneurographic technique was performed.ResultsFor similar anthropometric and metabolic parameters in patients and controls, HOMA index was significantly increased in the former (4·2 ± 2·39 vs 1·6 ± 0·19, P < 0·001). Surprisingly, this finding of insulin resistance was accompanied by a marked sympathetic inhibition (MSNA 18·3 ± 8·10 vs 37·3 ± 6·48 bursts/min, P < 0·0001, respectively in patients and controls). A reduction in plasma leptin (1·6 ± 1·04 vs 6·5 ± 2·01 μg/l, P < 0·0001) was also recorded in the patients. MSNA was positively correlated with leptin (P < 0·0001).ConclusionsNewly diagnosed acromegalic patients without cardiac hypertrophy display a decreased sympathetic outflow in spite of insulin resistance. This finding might be related to hypoleptinaemia.
Impact factor in cytopathology journals: what does it reflect and how much does it matter?
Authors: AbdullGaffar B. 
Published: January 2012

B. AbdullGaffar  Impact factor in cytopathology journals: what does it reflect and how much does it matter?Objective:  To study the trends of impact factor (IF) in four cytopathology journals. To investigate the factors that might influence IF in cytopathology literature and whether IF has any impact on cytopathology practice.Methods:  The IFs of four cytopathology journals were searched from 2005 to 2009. The IFs and their relationships with the types and number of publications, publishers, the official societies, readership, the quality of their contents, the topics covered and the levels of evidence were compared.Results:  Cancer Cytopathology (CC) had the highest IF. Acta Cytologica (AC) had the lowest IF, which appeared to be in decline. Cytopathology (C) and Diagnostic Cytopathology (DC) had a slow but steady increase in their IF. Components that might influence these differences could include the category and the society of the journal, targeted readers and certain types of publications. Publishers, the number of publications, the types of topics covered and the levels of evidence probably have no major effect on IF.Conclusions:  IF has its own benefits and original applications. IF is a quantitative measure that does not reflect the levels of evidence in cytopathology journals. IF should not be abandoned because it might encourage competition between cytopathology journals, but it should not dictate their contents.
Cytokine expression in response to root canal infection in gnotobiotic mice
Authors: Maciel K. F. , Neves de Brito L. C. , Tavares W. L. F. , Moreira G. , Nicoli J. R. , Vieira L. Q. , Ribeiro Sobrinho A. P. 
Published: January 2012

Maciel KF, Neves de Brito LC, Tavares WLF, Moreira G, Nicoli JR, Vieira LQ, Ribeiro Sobrinho AP. Cytokine expression in response to root canal infection in gnotobiotic mice. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 354–362, 2012.AbstractAim  To examine cytokine expression profiles during periapical lesion development in response to synergetic human pathogens in a gnotobiotic mouse model.Methodology  Human strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Peptostreptococcus prevotii were inoculated into the root canals of germ‐free mice in either mono‐ or bi‐association. Animals were killed 7 and 14 days after infection, and periapical tissues were collected. mRNA expression of the cytokines IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand (RANKL), IL‐10, IL‐4 and transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) was assessed using real‐time PCR. Levene’s test was used to assess the equality of variance of the data, whereas a t‐test for independent samples was used to evaluate the significance of the differences between groups (P < 0.05).Results  The mRNA expression of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α was up‐regulated by F. nucleatum during the acute (day 7) and chronic phase (day 14) of periapical lesion development. However, in bi‐infection the expression of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α were effectively absent at both time‐points. RANKL mRNA expression was down‐regulated during dual infection at the chronic phase. As IL‐4 expression was similar at both time‐points, IL‐4 does not appear to be involved in the periapical response to these bacterial strains. IL‐10 was up‐regulated during the chronic phase by mono‐infection with either F. nucleatum or P. prevotii. Dual infection increased TGF‐β mRNA expression on day 7, which paralleled the decrease in IFN‐γ and TNF‐α mRNA levels at the same time‐point. F. nucleatum increased TGF‐β mRNA expression during the chronic phase.Conclusion  Cytokine profiles depend on the nature of the bacterial challenge. Both TGF‐β and IL‐10 appeared to be regulating the proinflammatory cytokine responses at both time‐points of the periapical immune response.
Randomized controlled trial of a lay‐facilitated angina management programme
Authors: Furze Gill , Cox Helen , Morton Veronica , Chuang Ling‐Hsiang , Lewin Robert J.P. , Nelson Pauline , Carty Richard , Norris Heather , Patel Nicky , Elton Peter 
Published: January 2012

furze g., cox h., morton v., chuang l.‐h., lewin r.j.p., nelson p., carty r., norris h., patel n. & elton p. (2012) Randomized controlled trial of a lay‐facilitated angina management programme. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(10), 2267–2279.AbstractAims.  This article reports a randomized controlled trial of lay‐facilitated angina management (registered trial acronym: LAMP).Background.  Previously, a nurse‐facilitated angina programme was shown to reduce angina while increasing physical activity, however most people with angina do not receive a cardiac rehabilitation or self‐management programme. Lay people are increasingly being trained to facilitate self‐management programmes.Design.  A randomized controlled trial comparing a lay‐facilitated angina management programme with routine care from an angina nurse specialist.Methods.  Participants with new stable angina were randomized to the angina management programme (intervention: 70 participants) or advice from an angina nurse specialist (control: 72 participants). Primary outcome was angina frequency at 6 months; secondary outcomes at 3 and 6 months included: risk factors, physical functioning, anxiety, depression, angina misconceptions and cost utility. Follow‐up was complete in March 2009. Analysis was by intention‐to‐treat; blind to group allocation.Results.  There was no important difference in angina frequency at 6 months. Secondary outcomes, assessed by either linear or logistic regression models, demonstrated important differences favouring the intervention group, at 3 months for: Anxiety, angina misconceptions and for exercise report; and at 6 months for: Anxiety; Depression; and angina misconceptions. The intervention was considered cost‐effective.Conclusion.  The angina management programme produced some superior benefits when compared to advice from a specialist nurse.
Topical herbal application as an adjuvant treatment for chronic kidney disease – a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials
Authors: Zhang Hongwei , Ho Yi Fong , Che Chun‐Tao , Lin Zhi‐Xiu , Leung Connie , Chan Lai Sum 
Published: January 2012

zhang h., ho y.f., che c.‐t., lin z.‐x., leung c. & chan l.s. (2012) Topical herbal application as an adjuvant treatment for chronic kidney disease – a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(6), 1679–1691.AbstractAim.  To report a systematic review to evaluate whether topical herbal medicine delays the progress of renal disease and improves its complications in people with chronic kidney disease.Background.  Besides dialysis or renal transplantation, patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those with insufficient renal function, are in a great need of effective conservative treatment methods. Topical application of herbal medicine, a common treatment modality in China, has been found in some clinical studies to benefit the patients with chronic kidney disease.Data sources.  The English databases including CENTRAL (February 2010), Medline (1950 to February 2010), EMBASE (1980 to February 2010), and AMED (1985 to January 2010), and several Chinese databases covering the period of 1949 to February 2010 were searched for randomized controlled trials that compared external use of herbal medicine with no treatment, placebo, or conventional treatment for chronic kidney disease and its complications.Review methods.  We undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis following Cochrane processes.Results.  Twenty‐three trials with a total of 1057 patients were included. Their results suggest that herbal paste and bathing or fuming treatment might have a beneficial effect in terms of delaying the progress of renal disease, improving kidney function, and ameliorating some kidney complications in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the low quality and poor reporting practices of the studies covered led to no definitive conclusion.Conclusion.  Further larger and more rigorously designed clinical trials with proper outcome measures are needed to confirm the findings.
TbPIF8, a Trypanosoma brucei protein related to the yeast Pif1 helicase, is essential for cell viability and mitochondrial genome maintenance
Authors: Wang Jianyang , Englund Paul T. , Jensen Robert E. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryThe trypanosome mitochondrial genome, kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), is a massive network of interlocked DNA rings, including several thousand minicircles and dozens of maxicircles. The unusual complexity of kDNA would indicate that numerous proteins must be involved in its condensation, replication, segregation and gene expression. During our investigation of trypanosome mitochondrial PIF1‐like helicases, we found that TbPIF8 is the smallest and most divergent. It lacks some conserved helicase domains, thus implying that unlike other mitochondrial PIF1‐like helicases, this protein may have no enzymatic activity. TbPIF8 is positioned on the distal face of kDNA disk and its localization patterns vary with different kDNA replication stages. Stem‐loop RNAi of TbPIF8 arrests cell growth and causes defects in kDNA segregation. RNAi of TbPIF8 causes only limited kDNA shrinkage but the networks become disorganized. Electron microcopy of thin sections of TbPIF8‐depleted cells shows heterogeneous electron densities in the kinetoplast disk. Although we do not yet know its exact function, we conclude that TbPIF8 is essential for cell viability and is important for maintenance of kDNA.
Light‐dependent and asynchronous replication of cyanobacterial multi‐copy chromosomes
Authors: Watanabe Satoru , Ohbayashi Ryudo , Shiwa Yuh , Noda Aska , Kanesaki Yu , Chibazakura Taku , Yoshikawa Hirofumi 
Published: January 2012

SummaryWhile bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis harbour a single circular chromosome, some freshwater cyanobacteria have multiple chromosomes per cell. The detailed mechanism(s) of cyanobacterial replication remains unclear. To elucidate the replication origin (ori), form and synchrony of the multi‐copy genome in freshwater cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 we constructed strain S. 7942TK that can incorporate 5‐bromo‐2'‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) into genomic DNA and analysed its de novo DNA synthesis. The uptake of BrdU was blocked under dark and resumed after transfer of the culture to light conditions. Mapping analysis of nascent DNA fragments using a next‐generation sequencer indicated that replication starts bidirectionally from a single ori, which locates in the upstream region of the dnaN gene. Quantitative analysis of BrdU‐labelled DNA and whole‐genome sequence analysis indicated that the peak timing of replication precedes that of cell division and that replication is initiated asynchronously not only among cell populations but also among the multi‐copy chromosomes. Our findings suggest that replication initiation is regulated less stringently in S. 7942 than in E. coli and B. subtilis.
Alloreactivity: An Old Puzzle Revisited
Authors: Nagy Z. A. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAlloreactivity, defined as a strong primary T cell response against allelic variants of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in the species, has been a long‐standing puzzle in immunology with some of its details remaining unclear up to now. Here I shall provide a historical overview of how our understanding of alloreactivity has evolved and propose an interpretation that considers alloreactivity to be a mixture of four mechanistically distinct prototypes of T cell response, namely, self‐restricted peptide specific, allorestricted peptide specific, alloreactive peptide dependent and alloreactive peptide independent. The relative contribution of each prototype to a given alloresponse is dependent on the extent of disparity (i.e. the number and nature of amino acid substitutions in the docking surface for T cell receptor) between the MHC molecule that the T cell recognizes as self and the stimulating MHC molecule.
Childhood adrenocortical carcinoma as a sentinel cancer for detecting families with germline TP53 mutations
Authors: Choong SS , Latiff ZA , Mohamed M , Lim LLW , Chen KS , Vengidasan L , Razali H , Abdul Rahman EJ , Ariffin H ,   for Malaysian Society of Paediatric Haematology‐Oncology
Published: January 2012

Choong SS, Latiff ZA, Mohamed M, Lim LLW, Chen KS, Vengidasan L, Razali H, Abdul Rahman EJ, Ariffin H for Malaysian Society of Paediatric Haematology‐Oncology. Childhood adrenal cortical carcinoma as a sentinel cancer for detecting families with germline TP53 mutations.Li‐Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a highly penetrant, autosomal dominant disorder where affected individuals carry a 50% risk of developing cancer before 30 years of age. It is most commonly associated with mutations in the tumour suppressor gene, TP53. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare paediatric cancer, and up to 80% of affected children are found to carry germline TP53 mutations. Hence, we propose using childhood ACC incidence as selection criteria for referral for TP53 mutation testing, independent of familial cancer history. Under the auspices of the Malaysian Society of Paediatric Haematology–Oncology, four eligible children diagnosed with ACC over a 30‐month study period were referred for mutation testing. Three had a germline TP53 mutation. Subsequent TP53 testing in relatives showed two inherited mutations and one de novo mutation. These findings strongly support paediatric ACC as a useful sentinel cancer for initiating a germline TP53/LFS detection programme, particularly in countries where the lack of structured oncogenetic practice precludes the identification of families with LFS features.
Female factor IX deficiency due to maternally inherited X‐inactivation
Authors: Esquilin JM , Takemoto CM , Green NS 
Published: January 2012

Esquilin JM, Takemoto CM, Green, NS. Female factor IX deficiency due to maternally inherited X‐inactivation.X‐chromosome inactivation is normally a random event that is regulated by the X chromosome itself. Rarely, females are affected by X‐linked disorders from extremely skewed X‐chromosome inactivation. Here, we report a family with hemophilia B with female expression through inherited X skewing that appears to be independent of either X chromosome. This finding suggests the possibility of a dominant autosomal contribution to inherited skewed X inactivation.
Complete Nucleotide Sequence of the RNA 3 of Bacopa chlorosis virus and Production of Polyclonal Antibodies to a Recombinant Coat Protein
Authors: Menzel Wulf , Hamacher Joachim , Weissbrodt Sandra , Winter Stephan 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe complete sequence of the RNA 3 of a virus causing chlorosis in Impatiens in Germany was determined and identified as an isolate of Bacopa chlorosis virus (BaCV, genus Ilarvirus). BaCV has previously only been reported from bacopa in the USA, but no coat protein (CP) sequence has been previously available. Both RNA 3 encoded proteins, CP and movement protein, showed highest sequence identity to Parietaria mottle virus, a subgroup 1 ilarvirus. Attempts to purify BaCV failed, so an antiserum was raised against a recombinant CP. The polyclonal antiserum so produced allowed specific detection of BaCV but showed no serological cross‐reaction with other ilarviruses and was unsuitable for immunoelectron microscopy. The host range includes many important flowering plant species, highlighting the potential threat BaCV might pose for the horticultural industry. This is the first report of BaCV occurring in Germany and outside the US.