bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of hyaluronic acid on urine nerve growth factor in cyclophosphamide‐induced cystitis
Authors: Ho Dong‐Ru , Chen Chih‐Shou , Lin Wei‐Yu , Chang Pey‐Jium , Huang Yun‐Chin 
Published: May 2011

Objectives:  To investigate how hyaluronic acid (HA) affects nerve growth factor (NGF) production and bladder overactivity in a cyclophosphamide (CYP)‐induced cystitis rat model.Methods:  Female Sprague–Dawley rats received three intermittent intraperitoneal injections of CYP (75 mg/kg) or saline. Before or after CYP injection, HA was given intravesically and urine NGF was checked with creatinine correction. Bladder function was evaluated by cystometrograms under Zoletil anesthesia. Furthermore, the effect of HA was counteracted with hyaluronidase (HYAL). Bladder structural change was compared among groups with trichrome stain.Results:  The intercontraction interval (ICI) significantly decreased in CYP‐injected rats in comparison to the saline‐injected controls. In the CYP‐injected groups, bladder HA instillation significantly increased the ICI, but did not change the maximum voiding pressure in comparison to the saline instillation. NGF production significantly increased in CYP‐injected rats, but decreased significantly with HA treatment. Treatment with HA had a more significant effect on urine NGF and the use of HYAL would eliminate this effect. Specific staining showed mucosa swelling after CYP treatment. Little HA coating on bladder mucosa could be found in HA‐treated rats.Conclusions:  Present findings raise the possibility that HA could be an effective treatment for CYP‐related bladder overactivity through the involvement of NGF signaling.
Analysis and evaluation of geriatricians' working routines in German hospitals
Authors: Mache Stefanie , Kusma Bianca , Vitzthum Karin , Nienhaus Albert , Klapp Burghard F , Groneberg David A 
Published: May 2011

Background:  Geriatricians are physicians who work primarily with the elderly and deal with diseases that often accompany old age, such as Alzheimer's disease. In the last few years, data from questionnaires have demonstrated increasing criticism of geriatricians regarding their working conditions in geriatric medicine. Ideally, such rather subjective statements should be compared to data about work strain that is not merely accurate but also evaluated on an objective real‐time basis. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to deliver exact data about geriatricians' work in different geriatric departments to evaluate their working routines and afterwards to optimize their working conditions.Methods:  An observational real‐time study was conducted by shadowing 15 physicians in geriatric medicine individually during weekday shifts at four hospitals in urban German settings. A total of 368 h of observations were recorded by using an ultra‐mobile computer.Results:  The average workday lasted 9 h 36 min 14 s (95% CI = 9.07:35–10.01:23 h) with a high amount of elderly patients to deal with (M = 18) every day. Overall, they spent 14.75% of each workday on indirect patient care, 7.29% on direct patient care and 13.19% on administrative work. Communication took up 4.68% of geriatricians' time, breaks and disruptions 7.5%.Conclusion:  To our knowledge, this is the first real‐time analysis on how geriatricians deal with their working demands and how working routines are organized in geriatric hospital departments. Geriatricians' subjective statements on their working conditions have been partially confirmed. Improving geriatricians work flow could increase work efficiency, job satisfaction and quality of care. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 108–115.
Distinct roles of extracellular polymeric substances in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development
Authors: Yang Liang , Hu Yifan , Liu Yang , Zhang Jingdong , Ulstrup Jens , Molin Søren 
Published: May 2011

SummaryBacteria form surface attached biofilm communities as one of the most important survival strategies in nature. Biofilms consist of water, bacterial cells and a wide range of self‐generated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Biofilm formation is a dynamic self‐assembly process and several distinguishable stages are observed during bacterial biofilm development. Biofilm formation is shown to be coordinated by EPS production, cell migration, subpopulation differentiation and interactions. However, the ways these different factors affect each other and contribute to community structural differentiation remain largely unknown. The distinct roles of different EPS have been addressed in the present report. Both Pel and Psl polysaccharides are required for type IV pilus‐independent microcolony formation in the initial stages of biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Both Pel and Psl polysaccharides are also essential for subpopulation interactions and macrocolony formation in the later stages of P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm formation. Pel and Psl polysaccharides have different impacts on Pseudomonas quinolone signal‐mediated extracellular DNA release in P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms. Psl polysaccharide is more important than Pel polysaccharide in P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Our study thus suggests that different EPS materials play distinct roles during bacterial biofilm formation.
Photosynthetic performance of phototrophic biofilms in extreme acidic environments
Authors: Souza‐Egipsy Virginia , Altamirano María , Amils Ricardo , Aguilera Angeles 
Published: May 2011

SummaryPhotosynthesis versus irradiance curves and their associated photosynthetic parameters from different phototrophic biofilms isolated from an extreme acidic environment (Río Tinto, SW, Spain) were studied in order to relate them to their species composition and the physicochemical characteristics of their respective sampling locations. The results indicated that the biofilms are low light acclimated showing a photoinhibition model; only floating communities of filamentous algae showed a light saturation model. Thus, all the biofilms analysed showed photoinhibition over 60 µmol photon m−2 s−1 except in the case of Zygnemopsis sp. sample, which showed a light‐saturated photosynthesis model under irradiations higher that 200 µmol photon m−2 s−1. The highest values of compensation light intensity (Ic) were showed also by Zygnemosis sp. biofilm (c. 40 µmol photon m−2 s−1), followed by Euglena mutabilis and Chlorella sp. samples (c. 20 µmol photon m−2 s−1). The diatom sample showed the lowest Ic values (c. 5 µmol photon m−2 s−1). As far as we know this is the first attempt to determine the photosynthetic activity of low pH and heavy metal tolerant phototrophic biofilms, which may give light in the understanding of the ecological importance of these biofilms for the maintenance of the primary production of these extreme and unique ecosystems.
Molecular evidence that deep‐branching fungi are major fungal components in deep‐sea methane cold‐seep sediments
Authors: Nagahama Takahiko , Takahashi Eriko , Nagano Yuriko , Abdel‐Wahab Mohamed A. , Miyazaki Masayuki 
Published: May 2011

SummaryThe motile cells of chytrids were once believed to be relics from the time before the colonization of land by fungi. However, the majority of chytrids had not been found in marine but freshwater environments. We investigated fungal diversity by a fungal‐specific PCR‐based analysis of environmental DNA in deep‐sea methane cold‐seep sediments, identifying a total of 35 phylotypes, 12 of which were early diverging fungi (basal fungi, ex ‘lower fungi’). The basal fungi occupied a major portion of fungal clones. These were phylogenetically placed into a deep‐branching clade of fungi and the LKM11 clade that was a divergent group comprised of only environmental clones from aquatic environments. As suggested by Lara and colleagues, species of the endoparasitic genus Rozella, being recently considered of the earliest branching taxa of fungi, were nested within the LKM11 clade. In the remaining 23 phylotypes identified as the Dikarya, the majority of which were similar to those which appeared in previously deep‐sea studies, but also highly novel lineages associated with Soil Clone Group I (SCGI), Entorrhiza sp. and the agaricomycetous fungi were recorded. The fungi of the Dikarya may play a role in the biodegradation of lignin and lignin‐derived materials in deep‐sea, because the characterized fungal species related to the frequent phylotypes within the Dikarya have been reported to possess an ability to degrade lignin.
A postal intervention for dependent cannabis users
Authors: NORBERG MELISSA M. , WRIGHT TRACEY , HICKEY KARINA , COPELAND JAN 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. In Australia, many would‐be treatment seekers for problematic cannabis use live in rural and remote areas, thereby limiting their access to face‐to‐face treatments. In order to address this gap in treatment availability, the present study aimed to assess the feasibility of a mail‐based intervention for regular cannabis users.Design and Methods. Treatment was based upon cognitive‐behavioural and motivational interviewing principles, and consisted of six treatment modules posted fortnightly to participants. In addition to the standardised modules, participants received personalised feedback at four points, based upon their mailed‐in responses to the modules. Participants were recruited via advertisements in rural newspapers and a Google advertisement.Results. A total of 268 people expressed interest in this study and 36 participants went on to complete treatment. Treatment completers demonstrated a significant reduction in cannabis use at the 1 month follow‐up.Discussion and Conclusions. Transposing face‐to‐face treatments into a mailed format has shown some promise and future research is warranted to determine the efficacy of such treatments in a controlled study.[Norberg MM, Wright T, Hickey K, Copeland J. A postal intervention for dependent cannabis users. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:320–326]
Why (not) alcohol energy drinks? A qualitative study with Australian university students
Authors: JONES SANDRA C. , BARRIE LANCE , BERRY NINA 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. Alcohol energy drinks (AEDs) are a recent entry to the ready‐to‐drink market, but there is an absence of research into the reasons young people consume these products and their consumption‐related experiences. The aim of the current study was to investigate university students' perceptions of, and experiences with, pre‐mixed AEDs.Design and Methods. Four focus groups with undergraduate university students in a large regional city in New South Wales; with transcripts coded for key themes.Results. Participants reported a number of benefits of AED consumption, many of which were similar to other ready‐to‐drinks, such as taste and image. However, the primary benefits of AEDs related to their capacity to wake the drinker up at the beginning of the evening and facilitate partying and drinking over a longer period. Many of the participants reported experiencing or observing negative effects from drinking AEDs, some quite severe, but this did not appear to act as a deterrent to their consumption.Discussion and Conclusions. Given the popularity and perceived benefits of AEDs—and evidence from previous research that their consumption is associated with increases in intoxication levels, risky behaviours and harmful alcohol‐related consequences—there is a need to consider a range of strategies to reduce harmful consumption of AEDs. While educational interventions may be of benefit, there is also a role for regulation of the packaging and marketing of a product that is associated with substantial harms.[Jones SC, Barrie L, Berry N. Why (not) alcohol energy drinks? A qualitative study with Australian university students. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:281–287]
A Search for the Body: Is there Space for Christ's Body in Pannenberg's Eschatology?
Authors: McCLEAN JOHN 
Published: May 2011

AbstractPannenberg's thought makes a constant appeal to ‘anticipation’, and this concept depends on a metaphysical proposal, temporalized essentialism, which includes an account of eternity as simultaneity of all history in God. This view of eternity has been both applauded and criticized. This article considers Pannenberg's account of the body of the exalted Christ who is in eternity. Pannenberg affirms the resurrection of Jesus, but has no account of the nature of Jesus’ resurrected body. He emphasizes the church as the body of the exalted Christ, but describes this body as lacking particularity. His account of the Eucharist does not have any place for Christ's corporeal presence or for participation in Christ's exalted body. His account of the return of Christ is oriented to the revelation of the glorified unity of all reality in Christ. The reason that Pannenberg has no account of the body of Christ is due to his conception of eternity, a conception which differs markedly from that of Paul. The Pauline heavenly realm is part of the creation, and thus has a spatio‐temporal relationship to the earthly realm as well as having a spatio‐temporal dimension in itself. Pannenberg's conception of eternity is that it is outside of the created realm and has no spatial dimension. Douglas Farrow argues that a theology that lacks an account of the exalted body of Christ fails to have a proper account of the redemption of humanity and creation, and it seems Pannenberg's view is open to this criticism.
Reflectance confocal microscopy criteria of lichen planus‐like keratosis
Authors: Bassoli S. , Rabinovitz H.S. , Pellacani G. , Porges L. , Oliviero M.C. , Braun R.P. , Marghoob A.A. , Seidenari S. , Scope A. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackground  Lichen planus‐like keratosis (LPLK) may be difficult to differentiate from melanoma and other skin cancers on sun‐damaged skin based on clinical and dermoscopic examination. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) allows evaluation of skin lesions at high resolution.Objectives  The aim of this study was to identify criteria for specific diagnosis of LPLK using in vivo RCM.Methods  Lesions included in the study were derived from patients presenting for skin examination at a private dermatology practice specializing in skin cancer. We retrospectively analysed RCM features of 28 biopsy‐proven LPLK and compared them to RCM findings in skin cancers on sun‐damaged skin, including five in situ squamous cell carcinomas, six actinic keratoses, seven superficial basal cell carcinomas and eight melanomas.Results  The main RCM features of LPLK and their relative frequencies were: (i) typical honeycomb pattern of the spinous layer (78.6%); (ii) elongated cords and/or bulbous projections at the dermal‐epidermal junction (75%); and (iii) numerous plump‐bright cells and/or bright stellate spots in the superficial dermis (92.9%). These RCM features correlated with the following histopathological findings respectively: (i) spinous‐granular layers without significant atypia of keratinocytes; (ii) elongated, bulbous rete ridges; and (iii) dense infiltration of melanophages and lymphocytes in superficial dermis. We propose diagnostic criteria that classify correctly 71.4% of LPLK, while avoiding misclassification of any of the skin cancers in the present series as LPLK.Conclusions  We identified RCM criteria for diagnosis of LPLK that correlate well with histopathological findings and that allow differentiation of LPLK from skin cancer.
Experience with ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe Hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Gulliver W.P. , Jemec G.B.E. , Baker K.A. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackground  Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a severe chronic inflammatory follicular disease characterized by nodules and abscesses affecting apocrine gland‐bearing regions. HS is not well‐controlled with conventional medical therapies such as topical therapy, oral antibiotics and retinoids, however, abrogation of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) function has proven effective in some patients.Objective  To assess the safety and efficacy of the interleukin‐12/23 inhibitor, ustekinumab for treatment of HS in three patients with moderate‐severe disease.Methods  The subjects received 3–45 mg subcutaneous injections of ustekinumab at 0, 1 and 4 months. Improvement was assessed by the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) and physician’s global assessment (PGA) at each monthly visit.Results  Prior to treatment, subjects had moderate‐severe HS (Hurley stage II‐III) with a DLQI score between 8 and 12. At 6 months, one patient showed complete disease remission, while a 25–49% improvement was seen in a second patient and no change in a third. A moderate but statistically significant relationship was observed between VAS and DLQI scores (r = 0.75; P < 0.01).Conclusion  Ustekinumab may provide a safe and effective new treatment strategy for HS in some patients. Interleukin 12/23 inhibition is a potential therapeutic option for patients in which other therapies prove ineffective.
The Failure of Democracy in Turkey: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: McLaren Lauren , Cop Burak 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAlthough Turkey took its initial steps toward establishing democracy in 1950, it has thus far failed to become a fully functioning democracy. Using the comparison cases of Spain and Greece, this article discusses two related variables that are likely to have thwarted the development of full democracy in Turkey: the country's experience with authoritarian rule, and the lack of elite settlement or convergence towards acceptance of the democratic rules of the game. The article ultimately contends that despite the EU's attempt to push Turkey towards full democracy in the modern day it is unlikely that it will become a fully functioning democracy unless it manages to achieve civilian elite agreement regarding the rules of the Turkish democratic game, and that Turkey's experience with authoritarian rule may, in turn, have hindered the development of such rules.
Category Transfer in Sequential Causal Learning: The Unbroken Mechanism Hypothesis
Authors: Hagmayer York , Meder Björn , von Sydow Momme , Waldmann Michael R. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe goal of the present set of studies is to explore the boundary conditions of category transfer in causal learning. Previous research has shown that people are capable of inducing categories based on causal learning input, and they often transfer these categories to new causal learning tasks. However, occasionally learners abandon the learned categories and induce new ones. Whereas previously it has been argued that transfer is only observed with essentialist categories in which the hidden properties are causally relevant for the target effect in the transfer relation, we here propose an alternative explanation, theunbroken mechanism hypothesis.This hypothesis claims that categories are transferred from a previously learned causal relation to a new causal relation when learners assume a causal mechanism linking the two relations that is continuous and unbroken. The findings of two causal learning experiments support the unbroken mechanism hypothesis.
New lake district in Europe: origin and hydrochemical characteristics
Authors: Rzętała Mariusz , Jaguś Andrzej 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThis article presents a new lake district in Southern Poland created as a result of human activity in the Upper Silesian region. The area has been named the Upper Silesian Anthropogenic Lake District. The lake density of the Lake District as delineated by the authors (with an area of 6766 km2) is 2.74%. It includes 4773 water bodies of various origins – reservoirs retained by dams, flooded mineral workings, water bodies formed in subsidence basins and hollows, levee ponds, residual water bodies following river regulation and other water bodies. These are located in urban‐industrial, rural‐agricultural or quasi‐natural areas. The hydrochemical diversity of water bodies is conditioned by their origin, location in the catchment and function. Studies have shown the widespread occurrence of eutrophication processes in limnic waters within the Lake District. The diverse origin and hydrochemical properties of water bodies within the Upper Silesian Anthropogenic Lake District make it special among other anthropogenic lake districts.
Increased numbers of circulating ECs are associated with systemic GVHD
Authors: YAN Z. , ZENG L. , JIA L. , XU S. , DING S. 
Published: May 2011

SummaryIntroduction:  Circulating endothelial cells (ECs) are known to reflect endothelial injury, and endothelial injury is associated with graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). We hypothesised that circulating ECs might be associated with systemic acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD).Methods:  BALB/c (H‐2kd) mice were treated with total body irradiation and then infused with C57B/6‐derived T‐cell‐depleted bone marrow (TCD‐BM) cells or TCD‐BM cells and splenocytes. Cyclosporine was used to prevent aGVHD. Circulating ECs and allogeneic lymphocytes were analysed by flow cytometry at multiple time points. The morphology and ultrastructure of the endothelium were examined by light microscopy or transmission electron microscopy.Results:  The results indicated that the number of circulating ECs peaked at day 5 after lethal irradiation in all mice; allogenic transplanted mice (TCD‐BM cells and splenocytes) developed typical aGVHD beginning at day 7, exhibiting both histological and clinical symptoms of disease. Circulating ECs peaked a second time at day 9 with aGVHD progression. However, following the administration of CSA, an absence of or a reduction in the amount of subsequent endothelial injury was observed.Conclusion:  Circulating ECs might be associated with systemic aGVHD.
Winning the invasion roulette: escapes from fish farms increase admixture and facilitate establishment of non‐native rainbow trout
Authors: Consuegra Sofia , Phillips Nia , Gajardo Gonzalo , de Leaniz Carlos Garcia 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAquaculture is a major source of invasive aquatic species, despite the fact that cultured organisms often have low genetic diversity and tend to be maladapted to survive in the wild. Yet, to what extent aquaculture escapees become established by means of high propagule pressure and multiple origins is not clear. We analysed the genetic diversity of 15 established populations and four farmed stocks of non‐native rainbow trout in Chile, a species first introduced for recreational fishing around 1900, but which has in recent decades escaped in large numbers from fish farms and become widespread. Aquaculture propagule pressure was a good predictor of the incidence of farm escapees, which represented 16% of all free‐ranging rainbow trout and were present in 80% of the study rivers. Hybrids between farm escapes and established trout were present in all rivers at frequencies ranging between 7 and 69%, and population admixture was positively correlated with genetic diversity. We suggest that non‐native salmonids introduced into the Southern Hemisphere could benefit from admixture because local adaptations may not have yet developed, and there may be initially little fitness loss resulting from outbreeding depression.