bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of adipocytokines in systolic heart failure patients
Authors: Wu Xue‐Ming , Lin Yen‐Hung , Chen Aaron , Hsu Tse‐Pin , Wu Yen‐Wen , Lin Hung‐Ju , Hsu Ron‐Bin , Lee Chi‐Ming , Wang Shoei‐Shen , Lo Men‐Tzung , Ho Yi‐Lwun , Chen Ming‐Fong 
Published: May 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (10): 1079–1086AbstractObjectives  The goal of this study was designed to assess prognostic values of simultaneous measurement of adipocytokines in systolic heart failure (HF) patients.Methods  Patients with HF manifestations and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50% were selected in this study. Gender, age, medications and serum biochemical data were recorded upon admissions. Adipocytokines including adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin and retinol binding protein‐4 were measured.Results  A total of 108 (83 males and 25 females) patients were enroled. The age was 62 ± 15 years and mean LVEF was 35%. Twenty patients died during 776 ± 323 days follow‐up. In univariate analysis, mortality was found to be associated with the log‐transformed values of serum resistin (β = 5·616, P = 0·04), log‐transformed values of serum adiponectin (β = 4·377, P = 0·038), age (β = 1·071, P < 0·001), NTHA functional status (β = 3·752, P = 0·001) and body mass index (β = 0·858, P = 0·012). Patients with higher level of serum resistin were associated with higher mortality (P = 0·012). In multivariate analysis, mortality is associated with log‐transformed values of serum resistin (β = 3·666, P = 0·045), age (β = 1·044, P = 0·017) and NTHA functional status (β = 2·541, P = 0·025).Conclusions  Serum resistin level was associated with higher mortality in systolic HF patients even after adjusting clinical parameters. Resistin may be an informative risk marker for systolic HF patients.
Climate uncertainty on leaf surfaces: the biophysics of leaf microclimates and their consequences for leaf‐dwelling organisms
Authors: Pincebourde Sylvain , Woods H. Arthur 
Published: May 2012

Summary1. Significant deviations between macro‐ and microclimates are quite common in different ecosystems. Such deviations have also been observed between leaf and air temperatures. The surface of leaves hosts a huge diversity of organisms. Here, we point out the crucial role of leaf microclimates in the fate of leaf‐dwelling organisms in a changing climate.2. Leaf microclimate, which includes temperature and humidity at the leaf surface, results from the biophysical filtering of local macroclimates by the plants themselves through complex and nonlinear processes. However, because the processes contributing to leaf microclimate are poorly understood, we lack a strong basis for predicting the impacts of global warming on plants and their denizens.3. We describe two mechanisms that generate climate uncertainty at the leaf surfaces. First, stomatal responses to the environment generate great complexity in the dynamics of leaf temperatures. Secondly, herbivores, by feeding on leaf tissues, modify their leaf microclimates. Little is known about how these modifications affect the ecophysiology of organisms at the leaf surface, an effect called physical feedback of herbivory.4. Recent findings report a latitudinal gradient in the temperatures of tree leaves, which can be linked to gradients in plant structural traits. We propose two competing hypotheses to describe how the leaf microclimate will change with global warming across latitudes. These hypotheses predict opposite patterns of change in the leaf microclimate.5. How can we reduce our uncertainty about what will happen at leaf surfaces? Recent advances in stomatal biology give cues regarding the direction and the speed at which plant stomata will influence the evolution of leaf microclimates. In addition, local heterogeneity in microclimatic conditions might help leaf‐dwelling organisms to find suitable microhabitats, as long as they can migrate over short distances.6. The challenges now are to understand whether leaf microclimates will buffer or magnify the amplitude of warming, and to determine how much the outcome will affect ecological processes within new microclimates. Leaf microclimates can provide suitable microhabitats in an unfavourable climate, and conversely, they can bring a species to local extinction in what would seem to be an otherwise favourable climate.
Risk factors in the occurrence of molar–incisor hypomineralization amongst a group of Iraqi children
Authors: GHANIM AGHAREED , MANTON DAVID , BAILEY DENISE , MARIÑO RODRIGO , MORGAN MICHAEL 
Published: May 2012

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 197–206
Background.  Despite the worldwide increasing interest in the prevalence studies of molar–incisor hypomineralization (MIH), there is still insufficient evidence to verify the aetiological factors of this condition.Aims.  To investigate risk factors involved in the development of MIH in a group of school‐aged Iraqi children.Design.  Seven‐ to nine‐year‐old school children (823 of 1000 eligible, response rate of 82.3%) had their first permanent molars and incisors evaluated using the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry evaluation criteria for MIH. Mothers completed a medical history questionnaire‐based interview performed in the schools by a trained examiner.Results.  For children with MIH, 6% reported no relevant medical history; the remaining 94% reported various medical conditions putatively associated with MIH compared with 70% for the non‐affected group. Post‐natal medical conditions (33.3%) were most frequently reported. When data were split into the possible risk effect groups, maternal psychological stress (OR, 3.24), frequent exposure to ultrasonic scans during the last gestational trimester (OR, 2.51) and birth order as a fourth sibling or later (OR, 3.17 and 5.73, respectively) were previously unreported significant risk factors and postulated as contributing to, or causing the defect.Conclusions.  Children with MIH had experienced a greater number of medical conditions than their unaffected peers with no single health event identified as a risk factor.
The influence of country of origin on engagement in self‐care behaviours following heart surgery: a descriptive correlational study
Authors: Fredericks Suzanne 
Published: May 2012

Aim.  The aim of this study was to determine whether an individual’s country of origin influenced performance of self‐care behaviours after heart surgery.Background.  Patients are required to perform self‐care behaviours following cardiovascular surgery. Usual care encompasses a patient education initiative that addresses self‐care behaviour performance. Within Canada, current heart surgery patient education efforts have been designed and evaluated using homogenous samples that self‐identify their country of origin as England, Ireland or Scotland. However, approximately 42·6% of Canadian cardiovascular surgical patients self‐identify their country of origin as India or China. Thus, current cardiovascular surgery patient education initiatives may not be applicable to all patients undergoing heart surgery, which may result in decreased patient outcomes such as performance of self‐care behaviours.Design.  This descriptive study.Methods.  A convenience sample of 90 patients who underwent heart surgery at one of two university‐affiliated teaching hospitals, representing individuals of diverse backgrounds. Point‐biserial correlational analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between country of origin and performance of self‐care behaviours.Results.  Findings indicate individuals who self‐identified their country of origin as England or Ireland were associated with a higher score on the number of self‐care behaviours performed (p < 0·05) than individuals who self‐identified other countries of origin. Self‐care behaviours were taught using patient education materials that were designed based on feedback obtained from individuals whose country of origin was England or Ireland.Conclusion.  This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest country of origin influences the amount of self‐care behaviours individuals will perform.Relevance to clinical practice.  Patient education initiatives should incorporate the values, beliefs, attitudes and customs reflective of an individual’s country of origin to enhance the likelihood of producing desired outcomes.
Risk factors for birth‐related perineal trauma: a cross‐sectional study in a birth centre
Authors: da Silva Flora MB , de Oliveira Sonia MJV , Bick Debra , Osava Ruth H , Tuesta Esteban F , Riesco Maria LG 
Published: May 2012

Aim and objectives.  To identify maternal, newborn and obstetric factors associated with birth‐related perineal trauma in one independent birth centre.Background.  Risk factors for birth‐related perineal trauma include episiotomy, maternal age, ethnicity, parity and interventions during labour including use of oxytocin, maternal position at time of birth and infant birth weight. Understanding more about these factors could support the management of vaginal birth to prevent spontaneous perineal trauma, in line with initiatives to reduce routine use of episiotomy.Design.  Cross‐sectional study.Methods.  Data were retrospectively collected from one independent birth centre in Brazil, during 2006–2009. The dependent variable (perineal trauma) was classified as: (1) intact perineum or first‐degree laceration, (2) second‐degree laceration and (3) episiotomy (right mediolateral or median).Results.  There were 1079 births during the study period. Parity, use of oxytocin during labour, position at time of giving birth and infant birth weight were associated with second‐degree lacerations and episiotomies. After adjusting for parity, oxytocin, maternal position at the expulsive stage of labour and infant birth weight influenced perineal outcomes among primiparae only.Conclusions.  Although the overall rate of episiotomies in this study was low compared with national data, it was observed that younger women were most vulnerable to this intervention. In this age group in particular, the use of oxytocin as well as semi‐upright positions at the time of birth was associated with second‐degree lacerations and episiotomies.Relevance to clinical practice.  The use of upright alternative positions for birth and avoidance of use of oxytocin could reduce the risk of perineal trauma from lacerations and need to perform episiotomy.
Quantifying population structure on short timescales
Authors: RAEYMAEKERS JOOST A. M. , LENS LUC , VAN den BROECK FREDERIK , VAN DONGEN STEFAN , VOLCKAERT FILIP A. M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractQuantifying the contribution of the various processes that influence population genetic structure is important, but difficult. One of the reasons is that no single measure appropriately quantifies all aspects of genetic structure. An increasing number of studies is analysing population structure using the statistic D, which measures genetic differentiation, next to GST, which quantifies the standardized variance in allele frequencies among populations. Few studies have evaluated which statistic is most appropriate in particular situations. In this study, we evaluated which index is more suitable in quantifying postglacial divergence between three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations from Western Europe. Population structure on this short timescale (10 000 generations) is probably shaped by colonization history, followed by migration and drift. Using microsatellite markers and anticipating that D and GST might have different capacities to reveal these processes, we evaluated population structure at two levels: (i) between lowland and upland populations, aiming to infer historical processes; and (ii) among upland populations, aiming to quantify contemporary processes. In the first case, only D revealed clear clusters of populations, putatively indicative of population ancestry. In the second case, only GST was indicative for the balance between migration and drift. Simulations of colonization and subsequent divergence in a hierarchical stepping stone model confirmed this discrepancy, which becomes particularly strong for markers with moderate to high mutation rates. We conclude that on short timescales, and across strong clines in population size and connectivity, D is useful to infer colonization history, whereas GST is sensitive to more recent demographic events.
Transcriptome changes after genome‐wide admixture in invasive sculpins (Cottus)
Authors: CZYPIONKA TILL , CHENG JIE , POZHITKOV ALEXANDER , NOLTE ARNE W. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractModels on hybrid speciation assume that hybridization generates increased phenotypic variance that is utilized to invade new adaptive peaks. We test to what extent this prediction can be traced using gene expression data in the fish species Cottus perifretum and Cottus rhenanus as well as a natural hybrid lineage referred to as invasive sculpins. In addition, interspecies crosses were used to explore evolutionary trajectories from initial stages to the hybrid lineage. EST (expressed sequence tag) libraries were sequenced to design an oligonucleotide microarray that was calibrated for probe‐specific differences in binding behaviour. Levels of gene expression divergence between species correlate with genetic divergence at neutral markers and, accordingly, invasive sculpins were intermediate between the parental species overall. However, the hybrid lineage is distinguished through unique patterns of gene expression that are enriched for biological functions which represent candidates for the fitness properties of invasive sculpins. We compare F2 crosses with natural invasive sculpins to show that the variance in gene expression decreases in invasives. Moreover, few of the transgressive patterns of gene expression that distinguish invasives can be directly observed in F2 crosses. This suggests that the invasive transcriptome was subject to secondary changes after admixture. The result is in line with an evolutionary process that reduces maladaptive variance and optimizes the phenotype of an emerging hybrid lineage.
Climate oscillation during the Quaternary associated with landscape heterogeneity promoted allopatric lineage divergence of a temperate treeKalopanax septemlobus(Araliaceae) in East Asia
Authors: SAKAGUCHI SHOTA , QIU YING‐XIONG , LIU YI‐HUI , QI XIN‐SHUAI , KIM SEA‐HYUN , HAN JINGYU , TAKEUCHI YAYOI , WORTH JAMES R. P. , YAMASAKI MICHIMASA , SAKURAI SHOGO , ISAGI YUJI 
Published: May 2012

AbstractWe investigated the biogeographic history ofKalopanax septemlobus, one of the most widespread temperate tree species in East Asia, using a combined phylogeographic and palaeodistribution modelling approach. Range‐wide genetic differentiation at nuclear microsatellites (G′ST = 0.709; 2205 samples genotyped at five loci) and chloroplast DNA (GST = 0.697; 576 samples sequenced for 2055 bp at three fragments) was high. A major phylogeographic break in Central China corresponded with those of other temperate species and the spatial delineation of the two temperate forest subkingdoms of East Asia, consistent with the forests having been isolated within both East and West China for multiple glacial–interglacial cycles. Evidence for multiple glacial refugia was found in most of its current range in China, South Japan and the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. In contrast, lineage admixture and absence of private alleles and haplotypes in Hokkaido and the northern Korean Peninsula support a postglacial origin of northernmost populations. Although palaeodistribution modelling predicted suitable climate across a land‐bridge extending from South Japan to East China during the Last Glacial Maximum, the genetic differentiation of regional populations indicated a limited role of the exposed sea floor as a dispersal corridor at that time. Overall, this study provides evidence that differential impacts of Quaternary climate oscillation associated with landscape heterogeneity have shaped the genetic structure of a wide‐ranging temperate tree in East Asia.
Pleistocene speciation with and without gene flow in Euphaea damselflies of subtropical and tropical East Asian islands
Authors: LEE YAT‐HUNG , LIN CHUNG‐PING 
Published: May 2012

AbstractClimatic oscillations during the Pleistocene period could have had a profound impact on the origin of tropical species by the alternation of allopatric isolation and interpopulation gene flow cycles. However, whether tropical speciation involves strictly allopatric isolation, or proceeds in the face of homogenizing gene flow, is relatively unclear. Here, we investigated geographical modes of speciation in four closely related Euphaea damselfly species endemic to the subtropical and tropical East Asian islands using coalescent analyses of a multilocus data set. The reconstructed phylogenies demonstrated distinct species status for each of the four species and the existence of two sister species pairs, Euphaea formosa/E. yayeyamana and E. decorata/E. ornata. The species divergence time of the sibling Euphaea damselflies dates back to within the last one Mya of the Middle to Lower Pleistocene. The speciation between the populous E. formosa of Taiwan and the less numerous E. yayeyamana of the Yaeyama islands occurred despite significant bidirectional, asymmetric gene flow, which is strongly inconsistent with a strictly allopatric model. In contrast, speciation of the approximately equal‐sized populations of E. decorata of the southeast Asian mainland and E. ornata of Hainan is inferred to have involved allopatric divergence without gene flow. Our findings suggest that differential selection of natural or sexual environments is a prominent driver of species divergence in subtropical E. formosa and E. yayeyamana; whereas for tropical E. decorata and E. ornata at lower latitudes, allopatric isolation may well be a pivotal promoter of species formation.
Fusion of Na‐ASP‐2 with human immunoglobulin Fcγ abrogates histamine release from basophils sensitized with anti‐Na‐ASP‐2 IgE
Authors: ZHAN B. , SANTIAGO H. , KEEGAN B. , GILLESPIE P. , XUE J. , BETHONY J. , De OLIVEIRA L. M. , JIANG D. , DIEMERT D. , XIAO S.‐H. , JONES K. , FENG X. , HOTEZ P. J. , BOTTAZZI M. E. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryNa‐ASP‐2 is a major protein secreted by infective third‐stage larvae (L3) of the human hookworm Necator americanus upon host entry. It was chosen as a lead vaccine candidate for its ability to elicit protective immune responses. However, clinical development of this antigen as a recombinant vaccine was halted because it caused allergic reactions among some of human volunteers previously infected with N. americanus. To prevent IgE‐mediated allergic reactions induced by Na‐ASP‐2 but keep its immunogenicity as a vaccine antigen, we designed and tested a genetically engineered fusion protein, Fcγ/Na‐ASP‐2, composed of full‐length Na‐ASP‐2 and truncated human IgG Fcγ1 that targets the negative signalling receptor FcγRIIb expressed on pro‐allergic cells. The chimeric recombinant Fcγ/Na‐ASP‐2 protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris and shared the similar antigenicity as native Na‐ASP‐2. Compared to Na‐ASP‐2, the chimeric fusion protein efficiently reduced the release of histamine in human basophils sensitized with anti‐Na‐ASP‐2 IgE obtained from individuals living in a hookworm‐endemic area. In dogs infected with canine hookworm, Fcγ/Na‐ASP‐2 resulted in significantly reduced immediate‐type skin reactivity when injected intradermally compared with Na‐ASP‐2. Hamsters vaccinated with Fcγ/Na‐ASP‐2 formulated with Alhydrogel® produced specific IgG that recognized Na‐ASP‐2 and elicited similar protection level against N. americanus L3 challenge as native Na‐ASP‐2.
The morphology, behaviour and molecular phylogeny of Phytophthora taxon Salixsoil and its redesignation as Phytophthora lacustris sp. nov.
Authors: Nechwatal J. , Bakonyi J. , Cacciola S. O. , Cooke D. E. L. , Jung T. , Nagy Z. Á. , Vannini A. , Vettraino A. M. , Brasier C. M. 
Published: May 2012

Since its first isolation from Salix roots in 1972, isolates of a sexually sterile Phytophthora species have been obtained frequently from wet or riparian habitats worldwide and have also been isolated from roots of Alnus and Prunus spp. Although originally assigned to Phytophthora gonapodyides on morphological grounds, it was recognized that these isolates, informally named P. taxon Salixsoil, might represent a separate lineage within ITS Clade 6. Based on phylogenetic analyses and comparisons of morphology, growth‐temperature relationships and pathogenicity, this taxon is formally described here as Phytophthora lacustris sp. nov. Isolates of P. lacustris form a clearly resolved cluster in both ITS and mitochondrial cox1 phylogenies, basal to most other Clade 6 taxa. Phytophthora lacustris shares several unusual behavioural properties with other aquatic Clade 6 species, such as sexual sterility and tolerance of high temperatures, that have been suggested as adaptations to riparian conditions. It appears to be widespread in Europe and has also been detected in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. It was shown to be weakly or moderately aggressive on inoculation to Alnus, Prunus and Salix. The extent of P. lacustris’ activity as a saprotroph in plant debris in water and as an opportunistic pathogen in riparian habitats needs further investigation. Its pathogenic potential to cultivated fruit trees also deserves attention because P. lacustris has apparently been introduced into the nursery trade.
Views on traditional Chinese medicine amongst Chinese population: a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies
Authors: Chung Vincent C. H. , Ma Polly H. X. , Lau Chun Hong , Wong Samuel Y. S. , Yeoh Eng Kiong , Griffiths Sian M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackgroundHealth‐care professionals worldwide have started to appreciate patients' perspectives on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) particularly given its popularity. However, cultural perspectives may vary and it may not be possible to apply research findings on the use of CAM from the west to the east.ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to synthesize usage patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) amongst Chinese populations in different parts of the world and explore potential geographical variations.Search strategySix international and four Chinese databases were searched, and manual searches of relevant monographs and government publications were carried out.Inclusion criteriaQuantitative, qualitative or mixed‐method research that aimed to investigate Chinese patients' perception of, and perspectives on, TCM was included.Data extraction and synthesisFor each study included, texts under the headings of ‘results’ or ‘findings’ were extracted and subjected to analysis. A thematic synthesis approach was adopted for synthesizing qualitative and quantitative studies.Main resultsAmongst the 28 studies included, twenty were quantitative surveys, six were qualitative studies and two were mixed‐method studies. The overall methodological quality was mediocre. Data synthesis suggested that patients from all regions share a common cultural affinity to TCM and consider it to be an effective complement to western medicine (WM) for treating chronic or serious diseases. However, heterogeneous views on (i) disclosing TCM use to WM doctors and (ii) the potential harm of herbs emerged across different study locations.Discussion and conclusionsFuture research should explore how variation in health systems may influence patients' perception of CAM in different countries.