bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of endogenous H2S formation in reversible remodeling of lung tissue during hibernation in the Syrian hamster
Authors: Talaei Fatemeh , Bouma Hjalmar R. , Hylkema Machteld N. , Strijkstra Arjen M. , Boerema Ate S. , Schmidt Martina , Henning Rob H. 
Published: July 2012

SUMMARY
During hibernation, small mammals alternate between periods of metabolic suppression and low body temperature (‘torpor’) and periods of full metabolic recovery with euthermic temperatures (‘arousal’). Previously, we demonstrated marked structural remodeling of the lung during torpor, which is rapidly reversed during arousal. We also found that cooling of hamster cells increased endogenous production of H2S through the enzyme cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS). H2S suppresses the immune response and increases deposition of collagen. Therefore, we examined inflammatory markers and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in relation to CBS expression and H2S levels in lungs of euthermic and hibernating Syrian hamsters. Lung remodeling during torpor was confirmed by a strong increase in both collagenous and non-collagenous hydroxyproline content. The number of leukocytes in lung was unchanged in any phase of hibernation, while adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, and the inflammatory marker NF-κB (P65) were modestly upregulated in torpor. Gelatinase activity was decreased in lungs from torpid animals, indicating inhibition of the Zn2+-dependent MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, expression of CBS and tissue levels of H2S were increased in torpor. All changes normalized during arousal. Inhibition of gelatinase activity in torpor is likely caused by quenching of Zn2+ by the sulphide ion of H2S. In accord, inhibition of CBS normalized gelatinase activity in torpid animals. Conversely, NaHS decreased the gelatinase activity of euthermic animals, which was attenuated by excess Zn2+. Similar results were obtained on the activity of the Zn2+-dependent angiotensin converting enzyme. Our data indicate that increased production of H2S through CBS in hamster lungs during torpor contributes to remodeling by inhibition of gelatinase activity and possibly by suppression of the inflammatory response. Although administration of H2S is known to induce metabolic suppression in non-hibernating mammals (‘suspended animation’), this is the first report implying endogenous H2S production in natural hibernation.
The relative cost of using luminescence for sex and defense: light budgets in cypridinid ostracods
Authors: Rivers Trevor J. , Morin James G. 
Published: July 2012

SUMMARYLuminescent signals can be used by animals for a number of purposes, including courtship and defense, sometimes by the same individual. However, the relative costs of producing these different behaviors are largely unknown. In the marine ostracod Photeros annecohenae, males utilize extracellular luminescence for complex courtship displays, and both males and females luminesce as a predation defense. We compared the relative luminescent output of courtship with that of defensive displays and also with respect to their total luminescent stores. Courtship displays are relatively inexpensive compared with defensive displays, with an average defensive display releasing 50 times more luminescence than the average courtship display. Furthermore, in order to completely exhaust its stores, a male would have to produce 450 typical courtship displays or approximately 10 average defensive displays. Both courtship pulses and defensive displays show first-order decay kinetics, yet courtship pulses decay three times faster than defensive displays, suggesting that there is differential release of the luciferin, luciferase and mucus in order to control the reaction kinetics.
Flies dynamically anti-track, rather than ballistically escape, aversive odor during flight
Authors: Wasserman Sara , Lu Patrick , Aptekar Jacob W. , Frye Mark A. 
Published: July 2012

SUMMARYTracking distant odor sources is crucial to foraging, courtship and reproductive success for many animals including fish, flies and birds. Upon encountering a chemical plume in flight, Drosophila melanogaster integrates the spatial intensity gradient and temporal fluctuations over the two antennae, while simultaneously reducing the amplitude and frequency of rapid steering maneuvers, stabilizing the flight vector. There are infinite escape vectors away from a noxious source, in contrast to a single best tracking vector towards an attractive source. Attractive and aversive odors are segregated into parallel neuronal pathways in flies; therefore, the behavioral algorithms for avoidance may be categorically different from tracking. Do flies plot random ballistic or otherwise variable escape vectors? Or do they instead make use of temporally dynamic mechanisms for continuously and directly avoiding noxious odors in a manner similar to tracking appetitive ones? We examine this question using a magnetic tether flight simulator that permits free yaw movements, such that flies can actively orient within spatially defined odor plumes. We show that in-flight aversive flight behavior shares all of the key features of attraction such that flies continuously ‘anti-track’ the noxious source.
A spurious haemoglobin A1c result associated with double heterozygote for haemoglobin Raleigh (β1[NA1]Val → Ala) and α+-thalassaemia
Authors: Singha Kritsada , Fucharoen Goonnapa , Chaibunruang Attawut , Netnee Paripat , Fucharoen Supan 
Published: July 2012

Background Accurate measurement of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is useful for long-term glycaemic control in patients with diabetes. Many Hb variants can interfere with HbA1c measurement and cause inaccurate results. Methods The subject was a 31-year-old Thai man who was discovered because of an unexpected HbA1c result; other diabetic parameters were within the normal range. Abnormal Hb was investigated using automated high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a capillary electrophoresis system. Mutation analysis was done by cDNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) and multiplex allele-specific PCR assays. Results Evaluation of HbA1c by cation-exchange HPLC showed a value of 34.9% (reference interval, 4.0–6.0%), but a value of only 4.0% (reference value, 4.8–5.9%) was found with a turbidimetric immunoassay. Haematological analysis revealed a mild anaemia but other parameters were within the normal range. Hb-HPLC analysis demonstrated an unknown Hb variant (47.0%) separating from HbA (46.7%), but capillary electrophoresis identified no abnormal peaks. Mutation analysis identified the Hb Raleigh ( β1[NA1]Val → Ala [G TG → G CG]) mutation in combination with an α+-thalassaemia, a hitherto undescribed association. The Hb Raleigh mutation could be detected by PCR–RFLP or a multiplex allele-specific PCR assay. Conclusions Hb Raleigh can cause falsely increased HbA1c values on cation-exchange HPLC. Definitive diagnosis of this variant using combined Hb and DNA analyses is therefore essential.
Causes of discordance between thyroglobulin antibody assays
Authors: Pickett Alan John , Jones Meinir , Evans Carol 
Published: July 2012

Background Anti-thyroglobulin (Anti-Tg) assays show poor concordance. Methods We have investigated concordance and the causes of discordance between Abbott, Roche and Immulite Anti-Tg assays in 606 patients followed up for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The reference range (RR) or lower reporting limit (LRL) was used to classify samples as negative or positive. Results Anti-Tg prevalence ranged between 6% and 55% depending on the method and cut-off. Concordance was 45% using LRL and 75% using RR. Specimens between the RR and LRL using the Immulite and Roche assays were identified that were positive by the Abbott assay and showed poor recovery of Tg in the Tg assay. This suggests misclassification using the RR. Anti-Tg International Reference Preparation (IRP) concentrations measured by the Roche and Abbott methods agreed well but patient samples did not. This is likely to be due to the heterogeneity of Anti-Tg. The Immulite assay appeared less sensitive than the Abbott and Roche based on investigations using the IRP and the low prevalence of Anti-Tg in the DTC patients (6–8%). Interference by Tg (>1000 μg/L) in the Roche assay was also identified as a cause of assay discordance. Conclusions Anti-Tg is used as a tumour marker for DTC and to predict interference in Tg assays themselves and hence inform clinicians of reported Tg concentrations. We have identified several causes of Anti-Tg assay discordance. This includes variation in assay sensitivity and interference from Tg, the heterogeneity of Anti-Tg and the use of different cut-offs to classify samples as antibody-positive or -negative.
Assessing Pharmacy Residents' Knowledge of Biostatistics and Research Study Design
Authors: Bookstaver P Brandon , Miller April D , Felder Tisha M , Tice Danielle L , Norris LeAnn B , Sutton S Scott 
Published: July 2012

BACKGROUND: Historically, clinicians have demonstrated a lack of confidence and poor aptitude for biostatistics as a tool for medical literature interpretation. Evaluation of pharmacy residents' ability to interpret biostatistics commonly used in peer-reviewed literature has not been previously conducted. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of understanding and perception of biostatistics concepts among pharmacy residents. METHODS: A survey of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residents in American Society of Health-System Pharmacists–accredited residency programs was conducted in May 2009. The survey instrument consisted of 27 items, including 10 knowledge-based questions, and was distributed to residency programs for anonymous reporting via SurveyMonkey. The primary outcome of interest was biostatistics knowledge, defined as the percent total score of correct knowledge items. Statistical attitude and confidence questions were rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). The t-test or 1-way analysis of variance was conducted, as appropriate, to assess for differences in mean biostatistics knowledge scores by respondent characteristics. Forward stepwise regression was used to identify which characteristics were independently associated with biostatistics knowledge. RESULTS: A total of 214 PGY1 residents responded to the online survey assessment, and a subset of respondents (n = 166) answered 1 or more of the biostatistics knowledge questions. Of those who responded to at least 1 knowledge assessment, the overall mean (SD) biostatistics knowledge score was 47.3% (18.50%; range 0-90). Overall, respondents were predominantly female (74%) and younger than 30 years (81%). Residents scored highest in the recognition of the purpose of a double-blind study (92.6%; 95% CI 88.52 to 96.67), interpretation of relative risk (75.8%; 95% CI 69.02 to 82.57), and identification of the appropriate analytic method for a nominal variable (69.4%; 95% CI 62.16 to 76.59). Bivariate analyses showed that there were statistically significant mean differences in knowledge scores by attitude (p = 0.001) and confidence (p < 0.001). The multivariate model showed that above-average confidence ratings were associated with an absolute increase of 7.6% in biostatistics knowledge score (p < 0.019) compared to those whose confidence rating was at or below average. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, pharmacy residents' perception and understanding of biostatistics were poor in this assessment, which correlates with previous reports. Enhanced training in biostatistics and literature evaluation of both mentors and trainees should be incorporated in PharmD programs and residency training sites.
Retrospective Evaluation of Enoxaparin Dosing in Patients 48 Weeks' Postmenstrual Age or Younger in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Hicks J Kevin , Shelton Chasity M , Sahni Jasmine K , Christensen Michael L 
Published: July 2012

BACKGROUND: Enoxaparin is the anticoagulant of choice in neonates because of the ease of administration, predictable pharmacokinetics, and reduced adverse effects when compared to heparin. The Chest guidelines recommend that therapy in patients younger than 2 months should be initiated with enoxaparin 1.5 mg/kg administered subcutaneously twice daily. This starting dosage may be inadequate, leading to a delay in achieving therapeutic anti-factor Xa plasma concentrations. OBJECTIVE: To determine an enoxaparin dose for neonatal patients that achieves a therapeutic anti-factor Xa plasma concentration and compare that dose to the recommended enoxaparin dose per published guidelines for this patient population. METHODS: The study was designed as a single-center chart review. Eligible patients were identified by pharmacy anticoagulation records or a search of the electronic medical record for enoxaparin orders. Patients must have received enoxaparin subcutaneously twice daily and have had a postmenstrual age of 48 weeks or younger. Patients diagnosed with renal failure and those receiving prophylactic doses of enoxaparin were excluded. RESULTS: The mean (SD) initial dose of enoxaparin was 1.4 (0.3) mg/kg subcutaneously twice daily, resulting in 27 of 33 patients (81.8%) having a subtherapeutic anti-factor Xa concentration. A mean enoxaparin dose of 2.0 (0.5) mg/kg was required to achieve a therapeutic anti-factor Xa plasma concentration (p < 0.001). Patients born prematurely required a higher enoxaparin dose (2.2 [0.5] mg/kg) than did those born at full-term gestation (1.8 [0.4] mg/kg; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For patients 48 weeks' postmenstrual age or younger who are treated in a neonatal intensive care unit, a higher initial dose of enoxaparin than that suggested by the Chest guidelines is required to attain a therapeutic anti-factor Xa plasma concentration. Premature neonates require a larger starting dose of enoxaparin than do infants born at full-term gestation.
Ranolazine-Induced Severe Bladder Hypotonia
Authors: Panfili Marco , Iafrate Massimo , Marzot Filippo , Secco Silvia , De Rosa Giovanni , Groppa Francesca , Padrini Roberto 
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of acute urinary retention due to bladder hypotonia during ranolazine treatment. CASE SUMMARY: An 81-year-old male with multiple cardiovascular diseases was hospitalized for worsening angina and heart failure symptoms. Ranolazine 375 mg twice daily was started, in addition to ongoing therapy (clopidogrel 75 mg once daily, diltiazem 60 mg 3 times daily, isosorbide mononitrate 40 mg 3 times daily, carvedilol 6.25 mg twice daily, rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily, enoxaparin 5000 IU once daily, pentoxifylline 600 mg twice daily, pantoprazole 40 mg twice daily, enalapril 20 mg twice daily, furosemide 150 mg once daily, and spironolactone 37 mg once daily). Two months later, the ranolazine dose was increased to 500 mg twice daily; shortly thereafter, acute urinary retention occurred and persisted despite institution of α-lytic (alfuzosin) and antiandrogenic (dutasteride) therapy. A urodynamic study revealed that urinary retention was caused by severe hypocontractility of the detrusor muscle. Ranolazine was withdrawn and, within 2 days, the patient recovered his ability to void spontaneously; a second urodynamic study confirmed that detrusor contractility was substantially improved. Drug rechallenge was not performed due to the patient's clinical condition. Nevertheless, a phenotyping test to assess the activity of the cytochrome isoenzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 (responsible for ranolazine metabolism) was performed, with dextromethorphan used as the probe drug. The urinary metabolic ratios indicated relatively low activity for CYP3A4 and intermediate activity for CYP2D6. DISCUSSION: The causal role of ranolazine in our case of bladder hypotonia is probable according to the Naranjo criteria. The mechanism of bladder dysfunction is tentatively ascribed to blockage of late sodium current in smooth muscle cells. Although drug plasma concentrations were not measured, they were probably elevated, since the metabolic activity of CYP3A4 was at the lower end of the reference range. Enzyme inhibition produced by diltiazem may have contributed to decreasing CYP3A4 activity. CONCLUSIONS: Acute urinary retention in elderly men taking ranolazine may be due to drug-induced bladder hypotonia.
Unresolved Discrepancies between Cannabinoid Test Results for Infant Urine
Authors: Barakauskas Vilte E , Davis Rebecka , Krasowski Matthew D , McMillin Gwendolyn A 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

BACKGROUND
False-positive drug screen results for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been observed. This study investigated the rate of unconfirmed positive screen results in infant and noninfant urine samples and evaluated possible reasons for differences.

METHODS
The rate of unconfirmed positive THC screen results for urine samples was determined retrospectively in 2 independent data sets (n = 14 859, reference laboratory; n = 21 807, hospital laboratory) by comparing positive immunoassay-based drug screen results with the associated results of confirmation tests. We then assessed the rate of positive THC screens for samples with varying likelihoods of cannabinoid presence to evaluate the contribution of infant-specific urine constituents to positive results. Finally, a method to detect a THC metabolite (11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC) that occurs in meconium was developed to determine its prevalence in infant urine.

RESULTS
Positive screen results failed to confirm more frequently in samples from infants (47%) than in noninfants (0.8%). The hospital laboratory observed a similar discrepancy with a different immunoassay. Infant samples with a high likelihood of containing cannabinoids despite negative confirmatory results had a similar rate of positive screening results (50%, n = 20), whereas all samples with a low likelihood of containing cannabinoids screened negative (n = 23). 11-Hydroxy-Δ9-THC was not detected in any infant urine sample tested (n = 16).

CONCLUSIONS
Conventional confirmatory methods for THC may be inappropriate for urine samples from infants. Our results suggest that one or more currently unrecognized THC-associated compounds are responsible for positive THC screen results for infant urine, as opposed to an infant-associated interference.
Salvaging the records of salvage ethnography: The story of the Digital Himalaya Project
Authors: TURIN MARK 
Published: July 2012

The Digital Himalaya Project is a collection, storage and dissemination portal for scholarly content and research findings about the Himalayan region. The project website connects a worldwide user community to a vast corpus of digital resources from or about India, Nepal, Bhutan and
the Tibetan plateau for free and easy download - without payment, subscription or password.
While Digital Himalaya began as a strategy for collecting and protecting the products of colonial-era ethnographic collections on the Himalayas - for posterity and for access by source communities
- the project has now become a collaborative digital publishing environment, bringing a new collection online every month, with close to half a million web visitors since its establishment in 2000.
Almost all of our digitization and scanning is now conducted in Nepal, dramatically reducing
operating costs and increasing productivity. Our funding no longer comes from research councils in the United Kingdom and the United States, but through web referrals and from individual or institutional donations around the world. The project is now supported by people and organizations that
recognize the work and want to contribute to it.
In short, what began as an academic research project a decade ago is now a vast online portal for hosting and disseminating knowledge about the Himalayas to a demanding, fast-growing and truly global user base.
Statin Intake Is Associated With Decreased Insulin Sensitivity During Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Sato Hiroaki , Carvalho George , Sato Tamaki , Hatzakorzian Roupen , Lattermann Ralph , Codere-Maruyama Takumi , Matsukawa Takashi , Schricker Thomas 
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVE
Surgical trauma impairs intraoperative insulin sensitivity and is associated with postoperative adverse events. Recently, preprocedural statin therapy is recommended for patients with coronary artery disease. However, statin therapy is reported to increase insulin resistance and the risk of new-onset diabetes. Thus, we investigated the association between preoperative statin therapy and intraoperative insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic, dyslipidemic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In this prospective, nonrandomized trial, patients taking lipophilic statins were assigned to the statin group and hypercholesterolemic patients not receiving any statins were allocated to the control group. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by the hyperinsulinemic-normoglycemic clamp technique during surgery. The mean, SD of blood glucose, and the coefficient of variation (CV) after surgery were calculated for each patient. The association between statin use and intraoperative insulin sensitivity was tested by multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS
We studied 120 patients. In both groups, insulin sensitivity gradually decreased during surgery with values being on average ∼20% lower in the statin than in the control group. In the statin group, the mean blood glucose in the intensive care unit was higher than in the control group (153 ± 20 vs. 140 ± 20 mg/dL; P &lt; 0.001). The oscillation of blood glucose was larger in the statin group (SD, P &lt; 0.001; CV, P = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that statin use was independently associated with intraoperative insulin sensitivity (β = −0.16; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative use of lipophilic statins is associated with increased insulin resistance during cardiac surgery in nondiabetic, dyslipidemic patients.
Metabolic Effects of High Altitude Trekking in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: de Mol Pieter , Fokkert Marion J. , de Vries Suzanna T. , de Koning Eelco J.P. , Dikkeschei Bert D. , Gans Rijnold O.B. , Tack Cees J. , Bilo Henk J.G. 
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVE
Limited information is available regarding the metabolic effects of high altitude trekking in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Thirteen individuals with type 2 diabetes took part in a 12-day expedition to the summit of Mount Toubkal (altitude, 4,167 m), Morocco, after 6 months of exercise training. Energy expenditure, body weight, blood glucose, fasting insulin, lipids, and HbA1c were assessed.

RESULTS
Training reduced fasting glucose (−0.7 ± 0.9 mmol/L, P = 0.026) and increased exercise capacity (+0.3 ± 0.3 W/kg, P = 0.005). High altitude trekking decreased fasting insulin concentrations (−3.8 ± 3.2 μU/L, P = 0.04), total cholesterol (−0.7 ± 0.8 mmol/L, P = 0.008), and LDL cholesterol (−0.5 ± 0.6 mmol/L, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS
High altitude trekking preceded by exercise training is feasible for patients with type 2 diabetes. It improves blood glucose, lipids, and fasting insulin concentrations, while glucose control is maintained.