bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Annual cycles of metabolic rate are genetically determined but can be shifted by phenotypic flexibility
Authors: Versteegh Maaike A. , Helm Barbara , Gwinner Eberhard , Tieleman B. Irene 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBirds have adjusted their life-history and physiological traits to the characteristics of the seasonally changing environments they inhabit. Annual cycles in physiology can result from phenotypic flexibility or from variation in its genetic basis. A key physiological trait that shows seasonal variation is basal metabolic rate (BMR). We studied genetic and phenotypic variation in the annual cycles of body mass, BMR and mass-specific BMR in three stonechat subspecies (Saxicola torquata) originating from environments that differ in seasonality, and in two hybrid lines. Birds were kept in a common garden set-up, under annually variable day length and at constant temperature. We also studied whether stonechats use the proximate environmental factor temperature as a cue for changes in metabolic rate, by keeping birds at two different temperature regimes. We found that the different subspecies kept in a common environment had different annual cycles of body mass, BMR (variance: Kazakh 4.12, European 1.31, Kenyans 1.25) and mass-specific BMR (variance: Kazakh 0.042, European 0.003, Kenyans 0.013). Annual variation in metabolic measures of hybrids was intermediate or similar to parental species. Temperature treatment did not affect the shape of the annual cycles of metabolic rate, but metabolic rate was higher in birds kept under the variable temperature regime. The distinct annual cycles in body mass and metabolic rate in stonechats subspecies kept in a common environment indicate different genetic backgrounds rather than merely a phenotypically flexible response to proximate environmental cues. Phenotypic effects of temperature are superimposed on this genetically orchestrated annual cycle.
Neuromuscular and biomechanical compensation for wing asymmetry in insect hovering flight
Authors: Fernández María José , Springthorpe Dwight , Hedrick Tyson L. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryWing damage is common in flying insects and has been studied using a variety of approaches to assess its biomechanical and fitness consequences. Results of these studies range from strong to nil effect among the variety of species, fitness measurements and damage modes studied, suggesting that not all damage modes are equal and that insects may be well adapted to compensate for some types of damage. Here, we examine the biomechanical and neuromuscular means by which flying insects compensate for asymmetric wing damage, which is expected to produce asymmetric flight forces and torques and thus destabilize the animal in addition to reducing its total wing size. We measured the kinematic and neuromuscular responses of hawkmoths (Manduca sexta) hovering in free flight with asymmetrically damaged wings via high-speed videography and extracellular neuromuscular activity recordings. The animals responded to asymmetric wing damage with asymmetric changes to wing stroke amplitude sufficient to restore symmetry in lift production. These asymmetries in stroke amplitude were significantly correlated with bilateral asymmetries in the timing of activation of the dorsal ventral muscle among and within trials. Correspondingly, the magnitude of wing asymmetry was significantly although non-linearly correlated with the magnitude of the neuromuscular response among individuals. The strongly non-linear nature of the relationship suggests that active neural compensation for asymmetric wing damage may only be necessary above a threshold, &gt;12% asymmetry in wing second moment of area in this case, below which passive mechanisms may be adequate to maintain flight stability.
Dimiconin, a novel coagulation inhibitor from the kissing bug, Triatoma dimidiata, a vector of Chagas disease
Authors: Ishimaru Yuka , Gomez Eduardo A. , Zhang Feifei , Martini-Robles Luiggi , Iwata Hiroyuki , Sakurai Tatsuya , Katakura Ken , Hashiguchi Yoshihisa , Kato Hirotomo 
Published: July 2012

Summary
Sequence analysis of Triatoma (T.) dimidiata salivary gland cDNA library resulted in the identification of two transcripts (Td60 and Td101) homologous to triabin, an inhibitor of thrombin in T. pallidipennis saliva. In the present study, a recombinant protein of Td60, designated dimiconin, was expressed in Escherichia coli and its activity was characterized. The resulting protein inhibited the intrinsic but not extrinsic blood coagulation pathway, suggesting that dimiconin is not a thrombin inhibitor. Measuring the enzymatic activity of coagulation factors using chromogenic substrates revealed that dimiconin efficiently inhibited factor XIIa (FXIIa) activity in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, pre-incubation of dimiconin with FXII effectively inhibited FXIIa activity whereas dimiconin did not affect already activated FXIIa, indicating that dimiconin inhibits the activation of FXII but not enzymatic activity of FXIIa. These results showed that dimiconin is an inhibitor of the contact phase initiated by FXII activation in the blood coagulation cascade, which differs from the bioactivity of triabin.
Electrophysiological evidence for polarization sensitivity in the camera-type eyes of the aquatic predacious insect larva,Thermonectus marmoratus(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)
Authors: Stowasser Annette , Buschbeck Elke K. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryPolarization sensitivity has most often been studied in mature insects, yet it is likely that larvae also make use of this visual modality. The aquatic larvae of the predacious diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus are highly successful visually guided predators, with a UV-sensitive proximal retina that, according to its ultrastructure, has three distinct cell types with anatomical attributes that are consistent with polarization sensitivity. In the present study we used electrophysiological methods and single-cell staining to confirm polarization sensitivity in the proximal retinas of both principal eyes of these larvae. As expected from their microvillar orientation, cells of type T1 are most sensitive to vertically polarized light, while cells of type T2 are most sensitive to horizontally polarized light. In addition, T3 cells likely constitute a second population of cells that are most sensitive to light with vertical e-vector orientation, characterized by shallower polarization modulations, and smaller polarization sensitivity (PS) values than are typical for T1 cells. The level of PS values found in this study suggests that polarization sensitivity likely plays an important role in the visual system of these larvae. Based on their natural history and behavior, possible functions are: (1) finding water after hatching, (2) finding the shore before pupation, and (3) making prey more visible, by filtering out horizontally polarized haze, and/or using polarization features for prey detection.
Comparative utility of MRI perfusion with MSIDR and DWIBS for the characterization of breast tumors
Authors: Zhang Bing , Zhu Bin , Li Ming , Yuan Lei , Yuan Lihua , Zhang Xin , Yu Haiping , Li Chen , Lu Fangfei , Zhou Zhengyang , Zhuang Xiaoming 
Published: July 2012

Background In recent years, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to evaluate the morphology and functional markers of breast lesions, which might influence local staging and surgical planning. Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of a one stop MRI protocol combined with diffusion-weighted imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS), T2*-weighted perfusion imaging (T2*-PWI) and delayed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI (T1W-C+). Material and Methods All experiments were conducted with a 3-T clinical MRI scanner. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and detectability of lesions in DWIBS, the maximal signal intensity drop rate (MSIDR) in T2*-PWI and the intensity increasing rate (IIR) on T1W-C+ were compared between breast malignancies ( n = 29) and benign lesions ( n = 31). The time–signal curves in the T2*-PWI sequences were classified into two subtypes (a and b) according to the end of the curve. The ADC, MSIDR, the first maximal signal intensity decrease time (MSIDT), and IIR between the malignant and benign lesions were statistically analyzed by unpaired t-tests. Results Overall, 90% of the lesions were detected by DWIBS. There were significant differences in ADC, MSIDR, and IIR between the carcinomas and benign lesions. The Ib subtype in T2*-PWI demonstrated a specificity of 66.7% in differentiating between carcinomas and benign lesions. At a fixed specificity of 93.5%, the MSIDR, IIR, and ADC differentiated breast carcinomas from benign lesions with sensitivities of 82.8%, 44.8%, and 86.2%, respectively. Conclusion DWIBS might be a compensation sequence for detecting breast lesions in pre-contrast sequences. MSIDR from T2*-PWI had the best specificity index, and the two subtypes in the T2*-PWI curve were helpful in the differential diagnosis of carcinomas from benign lesions.
Clinical usefulness of adjusted D-dimer cut-off values to exclude pulmonary embolism in a community hospital emergency department patient population
Authors: Vossen Josephina A , Albrektson Joshua , Sensarma Anirban , Williams Scott C 
Published: July 2012

Background Plasma D-dimer measurement is used in the assessment of the clinical probability of pulmonary embolism (PE), in order to minimize the requirement for pulmonary computed tomography angiography (CTA). Purpose To evaluate whether doubling the threshold value of serum D-dimer from 500 μg/L to 1000 μg/L could safely reduce utilization of pulmonary CTA to exclude PE in our emergency department patient population. Material and Methods Emergency department patients evaluated for PE with a quantitative D-dimer assay and pulmonary CTA were eligible for inclusion. D-dimer values were retrospectively collected in all included patients. Pulmonary CT angiograms were reviewed and scored as positive or negative for PE. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the accuracy of quantitative D-dimer measurements in differentiating between positive and negative PE patients as per CTA. Results A total of 237 consecutive patients underwent pulmonary CTA and had a D-dimer measurement performed. Median D-dimer level was 1007 μg/L and in 11 (5%) patients the pulmonary CT CTA was positive for PE. The ROC curve showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 ( P < 0.0001). Increasing the D-dimer threshold value of 500 μg/L to 1000 μg/L increased the specificity from 8% to 52% without changing the sensitivity. Conclusion Adjusting the D-dimer cut-off value for the emergency department community population and patient age increases the yield and specificity of the ELISA D-dimer assay for the exclusion of PE without reducing sensitivity.
Visually scored calcifications in thoracic arteries predict death: follow-up study after lung cancer CT screening
Authors: Vehmas Tapio 
Published: July 2012

Background Coronary arterial calcification scoring with special cardiac algorithms predicts death. However, a large number of patients undergo a non-cardiac chest CT for other reasons and the information on such arterial calcifications has so far received little attention. Purpose To explore whether visually detected chest atherosclerotic calcifications, which are unrelated to the indication of chest CT, predict mortality. Material and Methods A total of 504 men (aged 39–81 years, mean 63 years) were previously screened for lung cancer with spiral CT and later visually scored for atherosclerotic calcifications in the aorta and the origin of its great branches, and in coronary arteries. Their mortality was later checked in the national register, at a mean follow-up time of 10.4 years. Cox regression was used, adjusted for age, BMI, smoked pack-years, and asbestos exposure. Results One hundred and sixty deaths occurred during the follow-up, of which 57 were from cardiovascular disease. Calcifications at several sites significantly predicted all-cause and cardiovascular deaths in the enter models. In the backward model, calcifications in the aortic arch (hazard ratio HR = 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.08–1.69, P = 0.009) and in the brachiocephalic origin (HR = 1.45, 1.15–1.82, P = 0.002) remained independent predictors of all-cause deaths. As regards cardiovascular deaths, calcifications in the left anterior descending artery (HR = 1.86, 1.29–2.67, P = 0.001) and brachiocephalic calcifications (HR = 1.65, 1.09–2.49, P = 0.018) remained independent predictors in the backward models. Conclusion Incidental arterial calcifications in routine chest CT should be actively reported to aid the recognition, preventive measures and medication of early atherosclerosis. The value of interventions after finding such calcifications should be further studied.
The health care experiences of Travellers compared to the general population: The All-Ireland Traveller Health Study
Authors:   for the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study Research Team, McGorrian Catherine , Frazer Kate , Daly Leslie , Moore Ronnie G , Turner Jill , Sweeney Mary Rose , Staines Anthony , Fitzpatrick Patricia , Kelleher Cecily C 
Published: July 2012

Objectives: Travellers are a minority population in Ireland and Great Britain, who have poorer health status than the general population. This study aims to investigate Traveller health service utilization and experiences of health service quality. Methods: Community-based census survey of all Traveller households on the island of Ireland in 2008 and 2009. Comparisons were made with survey data from a nationally representative sample of the Irish general public entitled to means-tested general medical services from the INSIGHT ′07 survey. Results: Valid responses were provided by 1,947 Traveller respondents (32.5% males). Travellers reported significantly higher use of hospital services including Emergency Room services (sex- and age-adjusted relative risk (RR) 2.37, 95% CI 1.99-2.82) and mental health services (adjusted RR 2.89, 95% CI 2.02-4.14). They described significantly poorer quality health care experiences than did the comparator population, with fewer Travellers expressing trust in caregivers (adjusted RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.47-0.55) and rating the quality of health service they received as being very good or excellent (adjusted RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.55-0.64). After multivariable adjustment for the dimensions of service quality, population (Traveller or INSIGHT ′07) was not associated with an overall rating of health service quality. Conclusions: Travellers report greater use of and adequate access to health services, but describe a consistently poorer quality health care experience. This quality gap has implications for Traveller engagement with health care professionals.
Inhaled Aztreonam Lysine for Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Disease–Related Outcomes
Authors: Pesaturo Kimberly A , Horton Evan R , Belliveau Paul 
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and safety of aztreonam lysine for inhalation (AZLI) for cystic fibrosis (CF)–related signs and symptoms of pulmonary disease. DATA SOURCES: Literature was searched in MEDLINE through PubMed and cross-referenced with EMBASE (1980-June 2012). The key search terms used were aztreonam lysine, nebulized, inhaled, and cystic fibrosis. Bibliographies of selected articles were used to identify additional references. Ongoing trials were identified through a review of Web site trial registries. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Articles were limited to those written in English about studies conducted in humans. Studies included in this review examined both adult and pediatric patients with CF. DATA SYNTHESIS: Aztreonam lysine is an inhaled monocyclic β-lactam antibiotic approved for use in the CF population. Four completed clinical trials with peer-reviewed published data were reviewed to assess the efficacy and safety of single-course AZLI; a fifth trial assessed the safety and efficacy of repeat courses of AZLI. None of these trials compared AZLI in a head-to-head manner with tobramycin for inhalation. In patients with moderate to severe pulmonary disease, AZLI administration improved forced expiratory volume in 1 second measurements, decreased sputum bacterial Pseudomonas aeruginosa density, and improved symptoms. Adverse effects in clinical trials were generally mild and similar to those with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: AZLI is safe and effective for management of pulmonary-related symptoms in patients with CF who are colonized with P. aeruginosa and have moderate to severe pulmonary disease. Additional trial data comparing AZLI with tobramycin are warranted to further establish the place of AZLI in therapy.
Hemarthrosis in a Patient on Warfarin Receiving Ceftaroline: A Case Report and Brief Review of Cephalosporin Interactions with Warfarin
Authors: Bohm Nicole M , Crosby Brittany 
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVE: To report a possible interaction between warfarin and ceftaroline, resulting in hemarthrosis, and provide readers with an understanding of mechanisms of interaction between cephalosporins and warfarin. CASE SUMMARY: Ceftaroline was prescribed for an 85-year-old female with a therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) hospitalized for the treatment of cellulitis. She was subsequently readmitted with shoulder pain and a supratherapeutic INR. The patient was diagnosed with hemarthrosis, presumably related to elevated INR. Evaluation using the drug interaction probability scale for warfarin and ceftaroline yielded a score consistent with a possible or probable interaction. DISCUSSION: Cephalosporins may interact with warfarin through a variety of mechanisms, including potentiation of hypoprothrombinemia related to certain side chain groups, inhibition of P-glycoprotein, or alteration of gastrointestinal flora. All mechanisms reported in the medical literature as of April 2012 are briefly examined, but the latter is the most reasonable mechanism for a ceftaroline interaction with warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers should consider closely monitoring patients receiving antibiotics with activity against Enterobacteriaceae and warfarin, even if no direct mechanism of interaction has been reported. Further research regarding a ceftaroline-warfarin interaction is warranted.
Levetiracetam-Induced Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome
Authors: Gómez-Zorrilla Silvia , Ferraz Antonio Vallano , Pedrós Consuelo , Lemus Miguel , Peña Carmen 
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of levetiracetam-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old white male with a low-grade astrocytoma presenting with tonic-clonic seizures was treated with levetiracetam 1 g twice daily and dexamethasone (initial dosage 12 mg/day, tapered down to 2 mg/day). On day 45 after levetiracetam initiation, dexamethasone was discontinued and levetiracetam continued. The patient developed fever and dyspnea on day 46 and was admitted to the hospital on day 49. A chest X-ray showed bilateral pulmonary interstitial infiltrates, and laboratory tests showed elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; 288 U/L [reference range <204]), ferritin (223 ng/mL [13–178]), and C-reactive protein (CRP; 3.1 mg/dL [<0.5]). Neurologic fever was suspected and the reinitiation of dexamethasone at 6 mg/day was followed by improvement of all symptoms; the patient was discharged on day 55 with dexamethasone 4 mg/day for 2 more days. On day 59, 2 days after the withdrawal of dexamethasone for the second time, the patient presented with a pruritic erythematous maculopapular rash along with recurrence of fever and dyspnea, and was admitted to the hospital. A chest X-ray showed reappearance of the bilateral pulmonary interstitial infiltrates, and laboratory tests showed impaired liver function (alanine aminotransferase 60 U/L [reference range <56], aspartate aminotransferase 53 U/L [<30], LDH 516 U/L, ferritin 419 ng/mL, and CRP 2.6). A diagnosis of DRESS syndrome was suspected and levetiracetam was discontinued. Upon levetiracetam withdrawal, the patient's symptoms resolved by day 66, and radiological images showed resolution of the interstitial infiltrate by day 68. The patient was discharged on day 68. Low-grade fever persisted until day 71, with no other symptoms. During a 2-month follow-up period, liver function test results returned to normal. DISCUSSION: DRESS is a hypersensitivity reaction to several drugs, mainly antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), characterized by cutaneous, hematologic, and visceral involvement. Levetiracetam is structurally and pharmacologically unrelated to other AEDs. Previously, only one case of levetiracetam-induced DRESS syndrome had been reported, which required corticosteroids to control symptoms. We describe a case of levetiracetam-induced DRESS syndrome presenting with pneumonitis and hepatitis that resolved with levetiracetam withdrawal. Our patient was classified as a definitive DRESS case according to the RegiSCAR scoring system, which grades DRESS cases. According to the Naranjo probability scale, the adverse drug reaction was considered probable. CONCLUSIONS: Although levetiracetam is usually well tolerated, clinicians should be aware of the potential for it to cause DRESS syndrome.
The Human Salivary RNA Transcriptome Revealed by Massively Parallel Sequencing
Authors: Spielmann Nadine , Ilsley Diane , Gu Jian , Lea Kristi , Brockman Joel , Heater Sheila , Setterquist Robert , Wong David T W 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Evaluation of the salivary transcriptome is an emerging diagnostic technology with discriminatory power for disease detection. This study explored massively parallel sequencing for providing nucleotide-level sequence information for each RNA in saliva.

METHODS
Transcriptome profiling with the SOLiD™ system was applied to RNA isolated from unstimulated cell-free saliva (CFS) and whole saliva (WS) from healthy human volunteers. Sequenced reads were aligned to human genome build 18 and the Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD).

RESULTS
Massively parallel sequencing enabled the acquisition of complete sequence information for each nucleotide position of the human salivary transcriptome through alignment to multiple sequence databases. Approximately 20%–25% of the sequenced reads from CFS aligned to the human genome, and approximately 30% of the sequenced reads aligned to the HOMD. We detected the expression of &gt;4000 coding and noncoding genes in CFS and WS. Gene expression at different genome loci showed that the structural integrity of the transcripts for the annotated genes was preserved in saliva.

CONCLUSIONS
A single measurement provided RNA sequence information of gene transcript abundance for both coding and noncoding RNAs and identified sequences from &gt;400 different microbial species within a single sample. Contrary to previous data suggesting that salivary RNA is highly fragmented, in our study the structural integrity of RNA was preserved. The high degree of sequence alignment to annotated exons and introns for each of the respective reference genomes, with sequence coverage spanning the full length of the genes, provides strong evidence that the salivary transcriptome is a complex RNA network.