bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional and post-translational regulation of adiponectin
Authors: Liu Meilian , Liu Feng 
Published: December 2009

Adiponectin is an adipose-tissue-derived hormone with anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory functions. Adiponectin circulates in the bloodstream in trimeric, hexameric and high-molecular-mass species, and different forms of adiponectin have been found to play distinct roles in the regulation of energy homoeostasis. The serum levels of adiponectin are negatively correlated with obesity and insulin resistance, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present review, we summarize recent progress made on the mechanisms regulating adiponectin gene transcription, multimerization and secretion. We also discuss the potential relevance of these studies to the development of new clinical therapy for insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Nanoparticles reveal that human cervicovaginal mucus is riddled with pores larger than viruses
Authors: Lai Samuel K. , Wang Ying-Ying , Hida Kaoru , Cone Richard , Hanes Justin 
Published: December 2009

The mechanisms by which mucus helps prevent viruses from infecting mucosal surfaces are not well understood. We engineered non-mucoadhesive nanoparticles of various sizes and used them as probes to determine the spacing between mucin fibers (pore sizes) in fresh undiluted human cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) obtained from volunteers with healthy vaginal microflora. We found that most pores in CVM have diameters significantly larger than human viruses (average pore size 340 ± 70 nm; range approximately 50–1800 nm). This mesh structure is substantially more open than the 15–100-nm spacing expected assuming mucus consists primarily of a random array of individual mucin fibers. Addition of a nonionic detergent to CVM caused the average pore size to decrease to 130 ± 50 nm. This suggests hydrophobic interactions between lipid-coated “naked” protein regions on mucins normally cause mucin fibers to self-condense and/or bundle with other fibers, creating mucin “cables” at least three times thicker than individual mucin fibers. Although the native mesh structure is not tight enough to trap most viruses, we found that herpes simplex virus (approximately 180 nm) was strongly trapped in CVM, moving at least 8,000-fold slower than non-mucoadhesive 200-nm nanoparticles. This work provides an accurate measurement of the pore structure of fresh, hydrated ex vivo CVM and demonstrates that mucoadhesion, rather than steric obstruction, may be a critical protective mechanism against a major sexually transmitted virus and perhaps other viruses.
Focus Group Study of Hand Hygiene Practice among Healthcare Workers in a Teaching Hospital in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Jang Ti-Hyun , Wu Samantha , Kirzner Debra , Moore Christine , Youssef Gomana , Tong Agnes , Lourenco Jenny , Stewart Robyn B. , McCreight Liz J. , Green Karen , McGeer Allison 
Published: December 2009

Objective.To understand the behavioral determinants of hand hygiene in our hospital.Design.Qualitative study based on 17 focus groups.Setting.Mount Sinai Hospital, an acute care tertiary hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.Participants.We recruited 153 healthcare workers (HCWs) representing all major patient care job categories.Methods.Focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was independently conducted by 3 investigators.Results.Participants reported that the realities of their workload (eg, urgent care and interruptions) make complete adherence to hand hygiene impossible. The guidelines were described as overly conservative, and participants expressed that their judgement is adequate to determine when to perform hand hygiene. Discussions revealed gaps in knowledge among participants; most participants expressed interest in more information and education. Participants reported self-protection as the primary reason for the performance of hand hygiene, and many admitted to prolonged glove use because it gave them a sense of protection. Limited access to hand hygiene products was a source of frustration, as was confusion related to hospital equipment as potential vehicles for transmission of infection. Participants said that they noticed other HCWs' adherence and reported that others HCWs' hygiene practices influenced their own attitudes and practices. In particular, HCWs perceive physicians as role models; physicians, however, do not see themselves as such.Conclusions.Our results confirm previous findings that hand hygiene is practiced for personal protection, that limited access to supplies is a barrier, and that role models and a sense of team effort encourage hand hygiene. Educating HCWs on how to manage workload with guideline adherence and addressing contaminated hospital equipment may improve compliance.
RNAsnoop: efficient target prediction for H/ACA snoRNAs
Authors: Tafer Hakim , Kehr Stephanie , Hertel Jana , Hofacker Ivo L. , Stadler Peter F. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Small nucleolar RNAs are an abundant class of non-coding RNAs that guide chemical modifications of rRNAs, snRNAs and some mRNAs. In the case of many ‘orphan’ snoRNAs, the targeted nucleotides remain unknown, however. The box H/ACA subclass determines uridine residues that are to be converted into pseudouridines via specific complementary binding in a well-defined secondary structure configuration that is outside the scope of common RNA (co-)folding algorithms.
Results: RNAsnoop implements a dynamic programming algorithm that computes thermodynamically optimal H/ACA-RNA interactions in an efficient scanning variant. Complemented by an support vector machine (SVM)-based machine learning approach to distinguish true binding sites from spurious solutions and a system to evaluate comparative information, it presents an efficient and reliable tool for the prediction of H/ACA snoRNA target sites. We apply RNAsnoop to identify the snoRNAs that are responsible for several of the remaining ‘orphan’ pseudouridine modifications in human rRNAs, and we assign a target to one of the five orphan H/ACA snoRNAs in Drosophila.
Availability: The C source code of RNAsnoop is freely available at http://www.tbi.univie.ac.at/∼htafer/RNAsnoop
Contact: htafer@tbi.univie.ac.at
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Pleasure as Unconstrained Movement in Renaissance Literary Aesthetics
Authors: Langer Ullrich 
Published: December 2009

Abstract

In this essay I show that the pleasure provided by the poem as an imaginary landscape, as evidenced in rhetorical theory (Quintilian's analysis of
varietas
in Virgil's
Georgics
), and in exemplary poems by Du Bellay (‘Romae descriptio’) and Ronsard (‘Elegie à Louis Des Masures’), can be identified as that of unconstrained movement. Aristotle's definition of pleasure as unimpeded activity of our natural faculties in the
Nicomachean Ethics
captures the aesthetic attraction yielded by descriptive variety and links it to the ethical. Poussin's heroic landscape painting is an avatar of this neo-classical, humanist pleasure.
Predicting the Unpredictable
Authors: Eijkemans Marinus J. C. , van Houdenhoven Mark , Nguyen Tien , Boersma Eric , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Kazemier Geert 
Published: December 2009

Background
: Routine predictions made by surgeons or historical mean durations have only limited capacity to predict operating room (OR) time. The authors aimed to devise a prediction model using the surgeon's estimate and characteristics of the surgical team, the operation, and the patient.

Methods
: Seventeen thousand four hundred twelve consecutive, elective operations from the general surgical department in an academic hospital were analyzed. The outcome was OR time, and the potential predictive factors were surgeon's estimate, number of planned procedures, number and experience of surgeons and anesthesiologists, patient's age and sex, number of previous hospital admissions, body mass index, and eight cardiovascular risk factors. Linear mixed modeling on the logarithm of the total OR time was performed.

Results
: Characteristics of the operation and the team had the largest predictive performance, whereas patient characteristics had a modest but distinct effect on OR time: operations were shorter for patients older than 60 yr, and higher body mass index was associated with longer OR times. The surgeon's estimate had an independent and substantial contribution to the prediction, and the final model explained 27% of the residual variation in log (OR time). Using the prediction model instead of the surgeon's prediction based on historical averages would reduce shorter-than-predicted and longer-than-predicted OR time by 2.8 and 6.6 min per case (a relative reduction of 12 and 25%, respectively), assessed on independent validation data.

Conclusions
: Detailed information on the operative session, the team, and the patient substantially improves the prediction of OR times, but the surgeon's estimate remains important. The prediction model may be used in OR scheduling.
Effects of Prone and Reverse Trendelenburg Positioning on Ocular Parameters
Authors: Grant Geordie P. , Szirth Bernard C. , Bennett Henry L. , Huang Sophia S. , Thaker Rajesh S. , Heary Robert F. , Turbin Roger E. 
Published: December 2009

Background
: In a pilot study of awake volunteers, intraocular pressure (IOP), choroid layer thickness, and optic nerve diameter were shown to increase in the prone position over 5 h with a nonsignificant trend of attenuation using a 4-degree increase of table inclination. These effects have previously not been isolated from anesthetic and fluid administration over a prolonged period, using an adequate sample size.

Methods
: After institutional review board approval, 10 healthy volunteers underwent IOP measurement (Tono-Pen XL, Medtronic Solan, Jacksonville, FL) as well as choroidal thickness and optic nerve diameter assessment (Sonomed B-1000, Sonomed, Inc., Lake Success, NY, or the I System-ABD, Innovative Imaging, Inc., Sacramento, CA) on a Jackson table (Orthopedic Systems, Inc., Union City, CA), during 5 h horizontal prone and 5 h 4-degree reverse Trendelenburg positioning. Measurements were assessed as initial supine, initial prone, and hourly thereafter. Vital signs were recorded at each position and time point.

Results
: IOP, choroidal thickness, and optic nerve diameter were observed to increase with time in the prone position. A small degree of reverse Trendelenburg attenuated the increase in choroidal thickness but not IOP or optic nerve diameter.

Conclusions
: Prolonged prone positioning increases IOP, choroid layer thickness, and optic nerve diameter independent of anesthetics and intravenous fluid infusion and 4 degrees of table inclination (15 cm of head to foot vertical disparity) may not attenuate these effects.
Cerebrospinal Fluid and Spinal Cord Distribution of Hyperbaric Bupivacaine and Baclofen during Slow Intrathecal Infusion in Pigs
Authors: Flack Sean H. , Bernards Christopher M. 
Published: December 2009

Background
Despite the widespread use of implanted pumps for continuous intrathecal drug delivery, there have been no studies aimed at defining the effect of baricity and posture on drug distribution in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord during the very slow infusion rates typically used for chronic intrathecal drug administration.

Methods
Intrathecal microdialysis probes were placed at six points along the neuraxis in both the anterior and posterior intrathecal space of anesthetized pigs to permit cerebrospinal fluid sampling. Animals were then positioned either vertically or horizontally (prone), and a hyperbaric solution containing bupivacaine (7.5 mg/ml) and baclofen (2 mg/ml) was infused at 20 microl/h for 6 h, while the cerebrospinal fluid was collected for measurement of drug concentration. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed, and the spinal cord was removed and divided into 1-cm sections that were further divided into anterior and posterior portions for measurement of drug concentration.

Results
Bupivacaine and baclofen distribution was biased caudally in the vertical group and cephalad in the horizontal group. Drug concentration decreased rapidly in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord as a function of distance from the site of administration in both groups, resulting in most drugs being located in very close proximity to the site of infusion.

Conclusion
Even at very slow infusion rates, drug distribution within the cerebral spinal fluid and spinal cord are affected by baricity/posture. These findings suggest that patient position and solution baricity may be important clinical factors determining the distribution and ultimate efficacy of chronic intrathecal drug infusions.
Acquisition of Critical Intraoperative Event Management Skills in Novice Anesthesiology Residents by Using High-fidelity Simulation-based Training
Authors: Park Christine S. , Rochlen Lauryn R. , Yaghmour Edward , Higgins Nicole , Bauchat Jeanette R. , Wojciechowski Kyle G. , Sullivan John T. , McCarthy Robert J. 
Published: December 2009

Background
Early acquisition of critical competencies by novice anesthesiology residents is essential for patient safety, but traditional training methods may be insufficient. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation training of novice residents in the initial management of critical intraoperative events.

Methods
Twenty-one novice residents participated in this 6-week study. Three hypoxemia and three hypotension scenarios were developed and corresponding checklists were validated. Residents were tested in all scenarios at baseline (0 weeks) and divided into two groups, using a randomized crossover study design. Group 1 received simulation-based training in hypoxemic events, whereas Group 2 was trained in hypotensive events. After intermediate (3 weeks) testing in all scenarios, the groups switched to receive training in the other critical event. Final testing occurred at 6 weeks. Raters blinded to subject identity, group assignment, and test date scored videotaped performances by using checklists. The primary outcome measure was composite scores for hypoxemia and hypotension scenarios, which were compared within and between groups.

Results
Baseline performance between groups was similar. At the intermediate evaluation, the mean hypoxemia score was higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (65.5% vs. 52.4%, 95% CI of difference 6.3-19.9, P < 0.003). Conversely, Group 2 had a higher mean hypotension score (67.4% vs. 45.5%, 95% CI of difference 14.6-29.2, P < 0.003). At Week 6, the scores between groups did not differ.

Conclusions
Event-specific, simulation-based training resulted in superior performance in scenarios compared with traditional training and simulation-based training in an alternate event.
Introduction of Complementary Feeding in 5 European Countries
Authors: Schiess Sonia , Grote Veit , Scaglioni Silvia , Luque Veronica , Martin Francoise , Stolarczyk Anna , Vecchi Fiammetta , Koletzko Berthold ,   European Childhood Obesity Project
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:Little is known about the practice of introducing complementary feeding across Europe. We aim at describing times of solid introduction in healthy infants in 5 European countries.Materials and Methods:Between October 2002 and June 2004, 1678 healthy term infants were either breast‐fed (BF) for at least 4 months (n = 588) or study formula–fed (FF) (n = 1090) with different protein contents. Three‐day‐weighed food protocols were obtained at ages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 completed months.Results:Solids were introduced earlier in FF infants (median 19 weeks, interquartile range 17–21) than BF infants (median 21 weeks, interquartile range 19–24). Some 37.2% of FF infants and 17.2% of BF infants received solid foods at 4 completed months, which is earlier than recommended in Europe. Solids had been introduced at 7 completed months in 99.3% of FF infants and 97.7% of BF infants, respectively. Belgium had the highest percentage of solids feeding in FF infants at 3 (15.8%) and 4 (55.6%) completed months, and in BF infants at 4 (43%) and 5 (84.8%) completed months. Multiple regression showed low maternal age, low education level, and maternal smoking to predictors an early introduction of solids at 3 and 4 completed months.Conclusions:Complementary feeding is introduced earlier than recommended in a sizeable number of infants, particularly among FF infants. Country‐ and population‐specific approaches to adequately inform parents should be explored.
Enteral Nutrient Supply for Preterm Infants: Commentary From the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Committee on Nutrition
Authors: Agostoni C , Buonocore G , Carnielli VP , De Curtis M , Darmaun D , Decsi T , Domellöf M , Embleton ND , Fusch C , Genzel‐Boroviczeny O , Goulet O , Kalhan SC , Kolacek S , Koletzko B , Lapillonne A , Mihatsch W , Moreno L , Neu J , Poindexter B , Puntis J , Putet G , Rigo J , Riskin A , Salle B , Sauer P , Shamir R , Szajewska H , Thureen P , Turck D , van Goudoever JB , Ziegler EE ,   ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTThe number of surviving children born prematurely has increased substantially during the last 2 decades. The major goal of enteral nutrient supply to these infants is to achieve growth similar to foetal growth coupled with satisfactory functional development. The accumulation of knowledge since the previous guideline on nutrition of preterm infants from the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition in 1987 has made a new guideline necessary. Thus, an ad hoc expert panel was convened by the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition in 2007 to make appropriate recommendations. The present guideline, of which the major recommendations are summarised here (for the full report, see http://links.lww.com/A1480), is consistent with, but not identical to, recent guidelines from the Life Sciences Research Office of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences published in 2002 and recommendations from the handbook Nutrition of the Preterm Infant. Scientific Basis and Practical Guidelines, 2nd ed, edited by Tsang et al, and published in 2005. The preferred food for premature infants is fortified human milk from the infant's own mother, or, alternatively, formula designed for premature infants. This guideline aims to provide proposed advisable ranges for nutrient intakes for stable‐growing preterm infants up to a weight of approximately 1800 g, because most data are available for these infants. These recommendations are based on a considered review of available scientific reports on the subject, and on expert consensus for which the available scientific data are considered inadequate.
Early‐onset Crohn Disease Is Associated With Male Sex and a Polymorphism in the IL‐6 Promoter
Authors: Sagiv‐Friedgut Keren , Karban Amir , Weiss Batya , Shaoul Ron , Shamir Raanan , Bujanover Yoram , Reif Shimon , Boaz Mona , Shani Inbar , Levine Arie , Leshinsky‐Silver Esther 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTAims:Pediatric onset of Crohn disease (CD) is characterized by male sex predominance while adult‐onset disease demonstrates female sex predominance. It has been postulated that this phenomenon may be genetically determined or due to an effect of estrogen on age of onset. Interleukin (IL)‐6 modulates the TH17 pathway, and the IL‐6 promoter is modulated by estrogen, possibly linking genetically determined inflammation and the presence of estrogen. The aim of our study was to investigate whether differences in IL‐6 promoter genotype could explain male sex in earlier disease onset.Patients and Methods:We genotyped 333 patients with CD and 100 controls, 162 pediatric‐onset patients (age of onset 18 years and younger) for the IL‐6‐174 polymorphic site. Genotype, sex, and age of onset were compared.Results:Males with IL‐6‐174GG genotype (the wild‐type allele) had an increased risk for a younger age of onset compared to males with IL‐6‐174GC or CC genotype (G → C genotype), hazard ratio (HR) 1.49, P = 0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.09. Females with GG genotype were not found to have an increased risk for a younger age of onset compared with females with G → C genotype, HR 1.01, P = 0.96, 95% CI 0.72–1.41.Conclusions:Males with IL‐6‐174GG genotype are prone to develop CD at a younger age than males with the IL‐6‐174G → C genotype. Our study suggests that age of onset may be modified by the IL‐6‐174GG genotype and this modification is sex dependent. This may be due to increased transcription of IL‐6, an effect that may be repressed by estrogen in females.
Alagille Syndrome and Liver Transplantation
Authors: Kamath Binita M , Schwarz Kathleen B , Hadžić Nedim 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTAlagille syndrome is a multisystem disorder in which progressive liver disease with persistent cholestasis and dramatic pruritus often warrant consideration for liver transplantation. The most important part of the transplant assessment is evaluation of the cardiac and renal involvement. Preoperatively, cardiac performance often must be tested with dynamic stress tests, mimicking hemodynamic changes during liver transplant. Many aspects of the syndrome including cholestasis, pruritus, and hypercholesterolemia improve posttransplant, but short stature is rarely significantly affected. One‐ and 5‐year patient and graft survival after liver transplant is comparable to other elective indications, but effects of long‐term immunosuppressants on evolution of other components of the syndrome, including vascular, bone, and renal disease, remain largely unknown.
Novel Bifunctional Nucleases, OmBBD and AtBBD1, Are Involved in Abscisic Acid-Mediated Callose Deposition in Arabidopsis
Authors: You Min Kyoung , Shin Hyun Young , Kim Young Jin , Ok Sung Han , Cho Sung Ki , Jeung Ji Ung , Yoo Sang Dong , Kim Jeong Kook , Shin Jeong Sheop 
Published: December 2009

AbstractScreening of the expressed sequence tag library of the wild rice species Oryza minuta revealed an unknown gene that was rapidly and strongly induced in response to attack by a rice fungal pathogen (Magnaporthe oryzae) and an insect (Nilaparvata lugens) and by wounding, abscisic acid (ABA), and methyl jasmonate treatments. Its recombinant protein was identified as a bifunctional nuclease with both RNase and DNase activities in vitro. This gene was designated OmBBD (for O. minuta bifunctional nuclease in basal defense response). Overexpression of OmBBD in an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) model system caused the constitutive expression of the PDF1.2, ABA1, and AtSAC1 genes, which are involved in priming ABA-mediated callose deposition. This activation of defense responses led to an increased resistance against Botrytis cinerea. atbbd1, the knockout mutant of the Arabidopsis ortholog AtBBD1, was susceptible to attack by B. cinerea and had deficient callose deposition. Overexpression of either OmBBD or AtBBD1 in atbbd1 plants complemented the susceptible phenotype of atbbd1 against B. cinerea as well as the deficiency of callose deposition. We suggest that OmBBD and AtBBD1 have a novel regulatory role in ABA-mediated callose deposition.