bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acral subcutaneous steatocystoma multiplex: A distinct subtype of the disease?
Authors: Marzano Angelo V , Tavecchio Simona , Balice Ylenia , Polloni Ilaria , Veraldi Stefano 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTSteatocystoma multiplex (SM) is a hamartomatous malformation of the pilosebaceous duct consisting of dermal cysts filled with a sebum‐like material. SM lesions are typically located in areas with sebaceous follicles, although atypical presentations involving sites lacking sebaceous follicles have exceptionally been described. We reviewed retrospectively a series of 32 histologically diagnosed SM observed in our department in the period 2006–2010, evaluating the kinds of lesions and their locations, and family history of SM and associated disorders, to focus on the clinical features of the acral subcutaneous variety of SM and to estimate its prevalence. We found five patients (four women and one man) with asymptomatic deep, skin‐colored nodules on the flexor surfaces of distal upper extremities with a mean age at diagnosis and at disease onset of 32.5 and 26 years, respectively. The prevalence was 15%. All five cases were sporadic. The male patient had eruptive syringomas as an associated condition, together with a family history of this tumour. Acral subcutaneous SM may represent a distinct disease variety by virtue of its distinctive clinical features. Dermatologists should be aware of this form, which has to be included in the wide panel of diseases involving subcutaneous tissue.
Effect of capsule placement with transnasal endoscopy
Authors: Matsunaga Takaharu , Hashimoto Shinichi , Okamoto Takeshi , Harima Satoko , Tanabe Ryo , Nishikawa Jun , Sakaida Isao 
Published: July 2012

Aim:  One of the prohibiting factors in achieving complete small bowel capsule endoscopy is slow gastric transit of the capsule. The present study retrospectively investigated the success rate of, and the time required for, transnasal endoscope‐assisted capsule placement to assess its clinical utility.Methods:  In 24 of 27 patients who underwent capsule placement assisted by a transnasal endoscope, the capsule was successfully transported to and released in the duodenum (capsule placement group). For each patient in the capsule placement group, three age‐ and sex‐matched patients who underwent conventional capsule endoscopy were assigned as controls (n = 72). Gastric transit time, small bowel transit time, and rate of capsule arrival at the cecum within 8 h were compared between the two patient groups.Results:  Among the 27 patients in whom capsule placement was carried out, the capsule was successfully placed in the duodenum in 24 patients (88.9% success rate). In the capsule placement group, gastric transit time was significantly shorter (10.5 vs 46.2 min, P = 0.0021), small bowel transit time was significantly longer (354.7 vs 301.3 min, P = 0.0134), and completion rate (capsule arrival at the cecum within 8 h) was significantly higher (83.3 vs 61.1%, P = 0.0455) than in the control group. There were no procedural accidents associated with capsule placement.Conclusion:  Transnasal endoscope‐assisted capsule placement appears to be a safe and reliable procedure, achieving complete small bowel capsule endoscopy, and is considered clinically useful.
β3 integrin is dispensable for conditioned fear and Hebbian forms of plasticity in the hippocampus
Authors: McGeachie A. B. , Skrzypiec A. E. , Cingolani L. A. , Letellier M. , Pawlak R. , Goda Y. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIntegrins play key roles in the developing and mature nervous system, from promoting neuronal process outgrowth to facilitating synaptic plasticity. Recently, in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, β3 integrin (ITGβ3) was shown to stabilise synaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and to be required for homeostatic scaling of AMPARs elicited by chronic activity suppression. To probe the physiological function for ITGβ3‐dependent processes in the brain, we examined whether the loss of ITGβ3 affected fear‐related behaviours in mice. ITGβ3‐knockout (KO) mice showed normal conditioned fear responses that were similar to those of control wild‐type mice. However, anxiety‐like behaviour appeared substantially compromised and could be reversed to control levels by lentivirus‐mediated re‐expression of ITGβ3 bilaterally in the ventral hippocampus. In hippocampal slices, the loss of ITGβ3 activity did not compromise Hebbian forms of plasticity – neither acute pharmacological disruption of ITGβ3 ligand interactions nor genetic deletion of ITGβ3 altered long‐term potentiation (LTP) or long‐term depression (LTD). Moreover, we did not detect any changes in short‐term synaptic plasticity upon loss of ITGβ3 activity. In contrast, acutely disrupting ITGβ1–ligand interactions or genetic deletion of ITGβ1 selectively interfered with LTP stabilisation whereas LTD remained unaltered. These findings indicate a lack of requirement for ITGβ3 in the two robust forms of hippocampal long‐term synaptic plasticity, LTP and LTD, and suggest differential roles for ITGβ1 and ITGβ3 in supporting hippocampal circuit functions.
Impact of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (7‐36) amide, isosteviol and 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide 1‐β‐d‐ribofuranoside on leucine‐mediated α‐cell dysfunction
Authors: Chen X. , Hermansen K. , Jeppesen P. B. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimTo investigate the acute and chronic effects of l‐leucine on pancreatic α‐cell function in vitro. Furthermore, we wanted to explore if glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), isosteviol (ISV) and 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide 1‐β‐d‐ribofuranoside (AICAR) counteract changes in α‐cell function induced by chronic exposure to leucine.MethodsIsolated mice islets were incubated with 10 mM leucine for 2 or 72 h. We investigated glucagon and insulin secretion at 2 mM and 16.7 mM glucose. In addition, we cultured clonal α‐TC1‐6 cells with 5 mM leucine, 5 mM leucine plus GLP‐1 (10−6 M), or ISV (10−6 M) or AICAR (10−5 M) at high glucose for 72 h. We measured the glucagon secretion, cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) content, cell proliferation as well as gene expression.ResultsTen millimolar of leucine for 2 h significantly stimulated glucagon and insulin secretion both at 2 and 16.7 mM glucose in mice islets. After 72 h incubation with 10 mM leucine the glucagon secretion was enhanced at both 2 and 16.7 mM glucose, whereas the glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (16.7 mM glucose) was inhibited. Chronic exposure to 5 mM leucine increased glucagon secretion, CHO and TG content, cell proliferation and Pcsk2 (p < 0.001), MafB (p < 0.05), Gcg (p < 0.001), Prkaa1 (p < 0.01), Hmgcr (p < 0.001), Srebf2 (p < 0.001), Acaca (p < 0.001), Mtor (p < 0.05) mRNA expression in clonal α‐TC1‐6 cells. While GLP‐1 was cable of reducing glucagon hypersecretion and Pcsk2 (p < 0.05) mRNA expression. ISV and AICAR had no effect on leucine‐induced glucagon hypersecretion.ConclusionsLong‐term exposure to leucine induces hypersecretion of glucagon secretion, that is, aminoacidotoxicity and influences some key genes of pancreatic α‐cells. Interestingly, GLP‐1 counteracts the leucine‐induced α‐cell dysfunction.
Prevalence and correlates of major depression among Nepalese patients in treatment for alcohol‐use disorders
Authors: Neupane Sudan Prasad , Bramness Jørgen G. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsThis study investigated the prevalence of major depression (MD) and its sociodemographic and alcohol‐related correlates among Nepalese patients receiving treatment for an alcohol‐use disorder (AUD).Design and MethodsA cross‐sectional survey was carried out among 188 consecutively admitted AUD patients in eight residential alcohol treatment units in Kathmandu. We recorded sociodemographic data and administered the alcohol use and depression modules of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1 and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Analyses were performed with χ2‐tests, Student's t‐tests, Mann–Whitney U‐tests and logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe lifetime and 12‐month prevalence of MD among AUD patients were found to be 45% and 36% respectively. Living with a spouse and low‐frequency drinking (2–3 days/week) showed negative associations with reporting MD in the preceding 12‐month period, whereas a history of alcohol‐induced blackout and problem drinking in the individual's parents were independently predictive of having a comorbid MD.Discussion and ConclusionMD is common among patients with AUDs in Nepal. Among AUD patients who sought treatment, a few factors, such as marital status, history of alcohol‐induced blackout and drinking frequency, seem to correlate well with comorbid MD. Study results suggest that transgenerational underpinning of AUD‐MD comorbidity may exist in those sections of the population who have strong taboos about the use of alcohol.
The Transformation of the ‘Barcelona Model’: An Analysis of Culture, Urban Regeneration and Governance
Authors: DEGEN MÓNICA , GARCÍA MARISOL 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBarcelona's redevelopment has been widely celebrated for its apparently successful combination of cultural strategies with urban regeneration to address social problems. The ‘Barcelona model’ has evolved, however, with changing relationships between urban regeneration, the use of culture and modes of governance. The role of cultural strategy has shifted from being part of a cultural vernacular with social and political citizenship at its core to become a functional tool for ensuring social cohesion and marketing the city's brand. This is linked to a gradual dilution of bottom‐up participatory democracy in governance. Pressures for international competitiveness are challenging the sustainability of the ‘Barcelona model’, while local actors are trying to ensure social justice at home.RésuméLe réaménagement de Barcelone a été salué pour son alliance apparemment réussie de stratégies culturelles et de régénération urbaine destinée à remédier aux problèmes sociaux. Cependant, le ‘modèle de Barcelone’ a évolué avec les nouveaux rapports entre régénération urbaine, utilisation de la culture et modes de gouvernance. La stratégie culturelle a changé de rôle : de style local culturel nourrissant une citoyenneté sociale et politique, elle est devenue un outil fonctionnel visant à assurer la cohésion sociale et à commercialiser la marque de la ville. Cette situation est liée à un déclin progressif de la démocratie participative ascendante dans la gouvernance. Les tensions créées par la concurrence internationale remettent en question la pérennité du ‘modèle de Barcelone’, tandis que les acteurs locaux tentent de garantir la justice sociale sur place.
Whose Paradise? Itinerant Street Vendors' Individual and Collective Practices of Political Agency in the Tourist Streets of Cusco, Peru
Authors: STEEL GRIET 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe focus of recent studies on street vending in Latin American cities has made a noteworthy shift from street vendors' conflicts with local governments to their resistance strategies. These studies explore how street vendors organize themselves against political repression and consider resistance in terms of collective action or organized protest. However, this article challenges this narrow focus on collective resistance strategies by analysing street vendors' collective and individual strategies for dealing with intensified control and for challenging the measures used by local governments. Drawing on the empirical case of itinerant street vendors in the tourist streets of Cusco, Peru, the article shows that these vendors adopt multiple and fragmented practices of political agency that enable them to make a livelihood in tourism. These less explicit and often more individualized ways of expressing agency are crucial to better understand how itinerant vendors manage to remain in the tourist streets of Cusco. They also explain why some vendors are more powerful than others in challenging repressive policies and benefiting from the global industry that is tourism.RésuméLes études récentes consacrées à la vente ambulante dans les villes sud‐américaines ont opéré une importante réorientation, abandonnant les conflits entre les vendeurs de rue et les autorités locales pour s’intéresser à leurs stratégies de résistance. Elles examinent comment ces vendeurs s’organisent contre la répression politique et envisagent la résistance en termes d’action collective ou de protestation structurée. Cependant, cet article conteste cet intérêt limité pour les méthodes de résistance collective en analysant les stratégies individuelles et collectives des colporteurs pour faire face à l’intensification des contrôles et contester les mesures appliquées par les autorités locales. À partir du cas empirique des vendeurs dans les rues touristiques de Cusco au Pérou, l’article montre que ceux‐ci adoptent des pratiques multiples et fragmentées d’agence politique qui leur permettent de vivre du tourisme. Ces façons moins explicites et souvent plus individualisées d’exprimer leur agence sont essentielles pour mieux comprendre comment ils parviennent à rester dans les rues touristiques de Cusco. Elles expliquent aussi pourquoi certains d’entre eux sont mieux armés que d’autres pour affronter les politiques répressives et tirer profit de l’industrie mondialisée qu’est le tourisme.
Sustainable lifestyles in an urban context: towards a holistic understanding of ethical consumer behaviours. Empirical evidence from Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Papaoikonomou Eleni 
Published: July 2012

AbstractEthical consumer behaviour has been gaining increasing attention in recent times. Nevertheless, most empirical research tends to focus on specific expressions of ethical consumer behaviour such as fair trade shopping and disregard other ethical projects that a consumer might be involved in. The main implication of this is a lack of a holistic understanding of ethical consumer lifestyles. This work adopts a qualitative approach, which, together with a combination of research techniques, makes it possible to observe the ethical consumer experience as a whole. The findings suggest that a wide diversity of behavioural strategies can fit under the same ethical lifestyles. Furthermore, an answer is provided for the ongoing debate as to whether ethical consumerism should be considered a means for change in the guise of political pressure or it should be seen as immoral.
Three decades of populist radical right parties in Western Europe: So what?
Authors: MUDDE CAS 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe populist radical right constitutes the most successful party family in postwar Western Europe. Many accounts in both academia and the media warn of the growing influence of populist radical right parties (PRRPs), the so‐called ‘verrechtsing’ (or right turn) of European politics, but few provide empirical evidence of it. This lecture provides a first comprehensive analysis of the alleged effects of the populist radical right on the people, parties, policies and polities of Western Europe. The conclusions are sobering. The effects are largely limited to the broader immigration issue, and even here PRRPs should be seen ascatalystsrather than initiators, who are neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for the introduction of stricter immigration policies. The lecture ends by providing various explanations for the limited impact of PRRPs, but it is also argued that populist parties are not destined for success in opposition and failure in government. In fact, there are at least three reasons why PRRPs might increase their impact in the near future: the tabloidisation of political discourse; the aftermath of the economic crisis; and the learning curve of PRRPs. Even in the unlikely event that PRRPs will become major players in West European politics, it is unlikely that this will lead to a fundamental transformation of the political system. PRRPs are not a normal pathology of European democracy, unrelated to its basic values, but a pathological normalcy, which strives for the radicalisation of mainstream values.
Screening of effective pharmacological treatments for MELAS syndrome using yeasts, fibroblasts and cybrid models of the disease
Authors: Garrido‐Maraver Juan , Cordero Mario D , Moñino Irene Domínguez , Pereira‐Arenas Sheila , Lechuga‐Vieco Ana V , Cotán David , De la Mata Mario , Oropesa‐Ávila Manuel , De Miguel Manuel , Bautista Lorite Juan , Rivas Infante Eloy , Álvarez‐Dolado Manuel , Navas Plácido , Jackson Sandra , Francisci Silvia , Sánchez‐Alcázar José A 
Published: July 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke‐like episodes) is a mitochondrial disease most usually caused by point mutations in tRNA genes encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Approximately 80% of cases of MELAS syndrome are associated with a m.3243A > G mutation in the MT‐TL1 gene, which encodes the mitochondrial tRNALeu (UUR). Currently, no effective treatments are available for this chronic progressive disorder. Treatment strategies in MELAS and other mitochondrial diseases consist of several drugs that diminish the deleterious effects of the abnormal respiratory chain function, reduce the presence of toxic agents or correct deficiencies in essential cofactors.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We evaluated the effectiveness of some common pharmacological agents that have been utilized in the treatment of MELAS, in yeast, fibroblast and cybrid models of the disease. The yeast model harbouring the A14G mutation in the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) gene, which is equivalent to the A3243G mutation in humans, was used in the initial screening. Next, the most effective drugs that were able to rescue the respiratory deficiency in MELAS yeast mutants were tested in fibroblasts and cybrid models of MELAS disease.KEY RESULTS According to our results, supplementation with riboflavin or coenzyme Q10 effectively reversed the respiratory defect in MELAS yeast and improved the pathologic alterations in MELAS fibroblast and cybrid cell models.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our results indicate that cell models have great potential for screening and validating the effects of novel drug candidates for MELAS treatment and presumably also for other diseases with mitochondrial impairment.
Verapamil‐ and state‐dependent effect of 2‐aminoethylmethanethiosulphonate (MTSEA) on hKv1.3 channels
Authors: Nikouee Azadeh , Janbein Malika , Grissmer Stephan 
Published: July 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE T‐cells usually express voltage‐gated Kv1.3 channels. These channels are distinguished by their typical C‐type inactivation. Therefore, to be able to rationally design drugs specific for the C‐type inactivation state that may have therapeutic value in autoimmune disease therapy, it is necessary to identify those amino acids that are accessible for drug binding in C‐type inactivated channels.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The influence of 2‐aminoethylmethanethiosulphonate (MTSEA) on currents through wild‐type human Kv1.3 (hKv1.3) and three mutant channels, hKv1.3_L418C, hKv1.3_T419C and hKv1.3_I420C, in the closed, open and inactivated states was investigated by the patch‐clamp technique.KEY RESULTS Currents through hKv1.3_L418C and hKv1.3_T419C channels were irreversibly reduced after the external application of MTSEA in the open state but not in the inactivated and closed states. Currents through hKv1.3_I420C channels were irreversibly reduced in the open and inactivated states but not in the closed state. In the presence of verapamil, the MTSEA modification of hKv1.3_T419C and hKv1.3_I420C channels was prevented, while the MTSEA modification of hKv1.3_L418C channels was unaffected.CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS From our experiments, we conclude that the activation gate of all mutant channels must be open for modification by MTSEA and must also be open during inactivation. In addition, the relative movement of the S6 segments that occur during C‐type inactivation includes a movement of the side chains of the amino acids at positions 418 and 419 away from the pore lining. Furthermore, the overlapping binding site for MTSEA and verapamil does not include position 418 in hKv1.3 channels.
Observation of Gastric Mucosa in Bangladesh, the Country with the Lowest Incidence of Gastric Cancer, and Japan, the Country with the Highest Incidence
Authors: Matsuhisa Takeshi , Aftab Hafeza 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is high, but the incidence of gastric cancer is low in natives of Bangladesh. The gastric mucosa was observed in Bangladeshi patients to investigate the differences between Bangladeshis and Japanese.Materials and MethodsThe study involved 418 Bangladeshi and 2356 Japanese patients with abdominal complaints who underwent endoscopy examinations and had no history of H. pylori eradication. The prevalence of H. pylori infection and the gastric mucosa in H. pylori‐positive patients were compared between age‐, gender‐, and endoscopic diagnosis‐matched Bangladeshi and Japanese subjects.ResultsThe prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in Bangladeshi than in Japanese subjects (60.2 and 45.1%, respectively). All the scores for chronic inflammation, neutrophil activity, glandular atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia were significantly lower in H. pylori‐positive Bangladeshis than in H. pylori‐positive Japanese. The ratio of the corpus gastritis score (C) to the antrum gastritis score (A) (C/A ratio) was <1 (antrum‐predominant gastritis) in all age groups of Bangladeshi subjects, whereas the C/A ratio changed from <1 to more than 1 (corpus‐predominant gastritis) with aging in Japanese subjects.ConclusionsThe scores for glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in H. pylori‐positive Bangladeshis were significantly lower than those in Japanese. All age groups of Bangladeshis had antrum‐predominant gastritis, whereas corpus‐predominant gastritis was more common than antrum‐predominant gastritis in older Japanese age groups. These results may explain the low incidence of gastric cancer in Bangladeshis and the high incidence in Japanese.
Validity of the Prenatal Risk Overview for Detecting Drug Use Disorders in Pregnancy
Authors: Harrison Patricia A. , Godecker Amy , Sidebottom Abbey 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo validate the Prenatal Risk Overview (PRO) drug use questions against a structured diagnostic interview among pregnant women.Design and SamplePrenatal care patients were administered the PRO at intake and then asked to consent to a research diagnostic interview. Of 1,367 women asked to participate, 1,274 consented and 745 completed the study.MeasuresThree drug use items comprised one of 13 PRO psychosocial risk domains. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (SCID) was used as the validation instrument. To assess criterion validity, the Moderate/High and High Risk classifications were cross‐tabulated with SCID Drug Use Disorder diagnoses.ResultsIn response to the PRO, almost one third of participants (29.4%) reported drug use during the 12 months pre‐pregnancy awareness and 11.0% reported use post‐pregnancy awareness; 7.0% met SCID diagnostic criteria for Drug Abuse, Drug Dependence, or both, primarily for marijuana use. Drug Use Disorder sensitivity and specificity rates for the PRO Moderate/High Risk classifications were 88.5% and 74.3%, respectively, and for High Risk only, 78.8% and 87.3%.ConclusionThe PRO yielded substantial self‐reporting of drug use before and after pregnancy awareness with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting Drug Use Disorders. PRO results can inform decisions about appropriate clinical responses.