bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Edge effects on growth and biomass partitioning of an Amazonian understory herb (Heliconia acuminata; Heliconiaceae)
Authors: Bruna Emilio M. , de Andrade Ana Segalin 
Published: October 2011

• Premise: After deforestation, environmental changes in the remaining forest fragments are often most intense near the forest edge, but few studies have evaluated plant growth or plasticity of plant growth in response to edge effects.• Methods: In a 2‐year common garden experiment, we compared biomass allocation and growth of Heliconia acuminata with identical genotypes grown in 50 × 35 m common gardens on a 25‐year‐old edge and in a forest interior site.• Key results: Genetically identical plants transplanted to the forest edge and understory exhibited different patterns of growth and biomass allocation. However, individuals with identical genotypes in the same garden often had very different responses. Plants on forest edges also had higher growth rates and increased biomass at the end of the experiment, almost certainly due to the increased light on the forest edge.• Conclusions: With over 70000 km of forest edge created annually in the Brazilian Amazon, phenotypic plasticity may play an important role in mediating plant responses to these novel environmental conditions.
Strong phylogenetic effects on floral scent variation of oil‐secreting orchids in South Africa
Authors: Steiner Kim E. , Kaiser Roman , Dötterl Stefan 
Published: October 2011

• Premise of the study: Evolution involves the interplay between natural selection and phylogenetic constraint. This is particularly evident among the flowering plants where form and diversity of flowers attest to the importance of both pollinator‐mediated selection and phylogenetic constraint. Although this has been studied mostly using visible floral characters, invisible volatile chemicals emitted by the flowers should be subject to these same evolutionary forces. Unfortunately, most analyses of floral volatiles have over‐emphasized the importance of natural selection and underplayed phylogenetic constraint without quantifying their respective roles in the evolution and composition of floral scents.• Methods: We used multivariate analyses to test the relative importance of pollinators vs. phylogeny in determining the composition of floral scents among oil‐secreting orchids in southern Africa. Floral scents of 42 oil‐secreting taxa/ecotypes distributed among 12 subclades in the tribe Diseae were sampled using headspace adsorption and gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy.• Key results: We identified 257 scent compounds distributed over nine different compound classes, with the majority of scents dominated by aliphatic or benzenoid compounds. The only significant predictor of floral scent among these orchids above the species level was phylogeny. Nevertheless, in two of the clades there were differences in scent profiles at the species and ecotype level that corresponded to different pollinators and were thus suggestive of pollinator‐mediated selection.• Conclusions: Scent variation was greater than expected and phylogeny was more important than pollinator‐mediated selection in predicting the composition of floral scents of oil‐secreting orchids, despite the specialized nature of the pollinator reward system.
Neuropeptide Release Augments Serum Albumin Loss and Reduces Ultrafiltration in Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Cavallini Nicola , Delbro Dick , Tobin Gunnar , Braide Magnus 
Published: October 2011

♦Background The triggers of the acute local inflammatory response to peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid exposure remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of neurogenic inflammation and mast cell degranulation on water and solute transport in experimental PD. ♦Methods Single 2-hour dwells in rats with PD catheters were studied. Histamine and the neuropeptides substance P and calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) were measured in PD fluid samples by ELISA. Radiolabeled albumin (125I and 131I respectively) was used as an intraperitoneal (IP) and intravascular tracer. Glucose and urea concentrations were measured in plasma and PD fluid. The effects of varying the volume and osmolarity of a lactate-buffered PD fluid were compared and related to the effects of pharmacologic intervention. ♦Results Application of 20 mL 3.9% glucose PD fluid induced an IP histamine release during the first 30 minutes, blockable by the mast cell stabilizer doxantrazole and the substance P neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R)–blocker span-tide. Histamine release was also inhibited at a reduced PD volume (14 mL), but was not affected by normalizing the PD fluid osmolarity. Blockade of NK1R also reduced plasma albumin leakage to the peritoneal cavity. Inhibition of CGRP receptors by CGRP8-37 improved osmotic (transcapillary) and net ultrafiltration and reduced the dialysate urea concentration. Neuropeptide release was not clearly related to activation of the TrpV1 receptor, the classic trigger of neurogenic inflammation. ♦Conclusions Neuropeptide release exaggerated albumin loss and reduced ultrafiltration in this rat PD model. Intervention aimed at the neuropeptide action substantially improved PD efficiency.
Comparing Cardiac Surgery in Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis Patients: Perioperative Outcomes and Two-Year Survival
Authors: Kumar Victoria A. , Ananthakrishnan Shubha , Rasgon Scott A. , Yan Eric , Burchette Raoul , Dewar Karen 
Published: October 2011

♦Background We sought to compare perioperative outcomes and 2-year survival in a cohort of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients compared with matched hemodialysis (HD) patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery at our institution. ♦Methods We obtained a list of all dialysis-dependent patients who underwent cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or both) at our center between 1994 and 2008. All patients undergoing PD at the time of surgery were included in our analysis. Two HD patients matched for age, diabetes status, and Charleston comorbidity score were obtained for each PD patient. ♦Results The analysis included 36 PD patients and 72 HD patients. Mean age, sex, diabetes status, cardiac unit stay, hospital stay, and operative mortality did not differ by dialysis modality. The incidence of 1 or more postoperative complications (infection, prolonged intubation, death) was higher for HD patients (50% vs. 28% for PD patients, p = 0.046). After surgery, 2 PD patients required conversion to HD. The 2-year survival was 69% for PD patients and 66% for HD patients ( p = 0.73). ♦Conclusions Our findings suggest that, compared with HD patients, PD patients who require cardiac surgery do not experience more early complications or a lesser 2-year survival and that 2-year survival for dialysis patients after cardiac surgery is acceptable.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Spanish Renal Replacement Therapy Program
Authors: Villa Guillermo , Fernández–Ortiz Lucía , Cuervo Jesús , Rebollo Pablo , Selgas Rafael , González Teresa , Arrieta Javier 
Published: October 2011

♦Background We undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis of the Spanish Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) program for end-stage renal disease patients from a societal perspective. The current Spanish situation was compared with several hypothetical scenarios. ♦Methods A Markov chain model was used as a foundation for simulations of the Spanish RRT program in three temporal horizons (5, 10, and 15 years). The current situation (scenario 1) was compared with three different scenarios: increased proportion of overall scheduled (planned) incident patients (scenario 2); constant proportion of overall scheduled incident patients, but increased proportion of scheduled incident patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), resulting in a lower proportion of scheduled incident patients on hemodialysis (HD) (scenario 3); and increased overall proportion of scheduled incident patients together with increased scheduled incidence of patients on PD (scenario 4). ♦Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of scenarios 2, 3, and 4, when compared with scenario 1, were estimated to be, respectively, -€83 150, -€354 977, and -€235 886 per incremental quality-adjusted life year (ΔQALY), evidencing both moderate cost savings and slight effectiveness gains. The net health benefits that would accrue to society were estimated to be, respectively, 0.0045, 0.0211, and 0.0219 ΔQALYs considering a willingness-to-pay threshold of €35 000/ΔQALY. ♦Conclusions Scenario 1, the current Spanish situation, was dominated by all the proposed scenarios. Interestingly, scenarios 3 and 4 showed the best results in terms of cost-effectiveness. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, an increase in the overall scheduled incidence of RRT, and particularly that of PD, should be promoted.
The Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Promoter Genetic Variation in Takayasu Arteritis Susceptibility and Medical Treatment
Authors: LV NAQIANG , DANG AIMIN , ZHU XILIN , LIU YING , LIU YIWEN , ZHENG DEYU , HUI RUTAI , LIU GUOZHANG 
Published: October 2011

Objective.Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine that influences the pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis (TA). There is still no evidence of the relationship between TNF-α gene promoter polymorphisms and TA. We examined whether variations in the TNF-α promoter region may lead to TA susceptibility and disease progression.Methods.Five TNF-α gene promoter polymorphisms (−238G/A, −308G/A, −857C/T, −863C/A, and −1031C/T) were analyzed in 110 Chinese Han patients with TA, with a control group of 362 unrelated healthy individuals. Genotypes of TNF-α gene promoter polymorphisms were identified by direct sequencing. TNF-α plasma concentrations were determined by ELISA.Results.Our results indicated that the frequency of the −863A allele was significantly lower in the patients with TA than in the controls (18.2% vs 25.7%; p = 0.011), but the significance was lost after Bonferroni correction (pc= 0.055). The frequency of −863CA/AA genotypes was significantly lower in the patients with refractory TA than in those with the 863CC genotype (22.4% vs 44.2%; pc< 0.01). The frequency of the GGCCT haplotype was significantly higher in patients than in the controls, while the frequencies of GGCAT and GGCCC haplotypes were significantly lower in patients than in controls. The plasma TNF-α concentrations were significantly lower in the subjects carrying the −863A allele than in those without. Patients with active TA had a significant increase in plasma levels of TNF-α compared with remission patients and the control group.Conclusion.Polymorphisms of the TNF-α promoter are not associated with TA in the Chinese Han population. The A allele of the −863C/A polymorphism is associated with decreased TNF-α expression, which might affect medical treatment.
Effects of Changing from Oral to Subcutaneous Methotrexate on Red Blood Cell Methotrexate Polyglutamate Concentrations and Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: STAMP LISA K. , BARCLAY MURRAY L. , O’DONNELL JOHN L. , ZHANG MEI , DRAKE JILL , FRAMPTON CHRISTOPHER , CHAPMAN PETER T. 
Published: October 2011

Objective.To determine the effects of changing from oral to subcutaneous (SC) methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on red blood cell MTX polyglutamate (RBC MTXGlun) concentrations, disease activity, and adverse effects.Methods.Thirty patients were changed from oral to SC MTX. Trough RBC MTXGlun concentrations were measured for 24 weeks and concentrations fitted to a first-order accumulation model. Disease activity was assessed by 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28).Results.MTXGlu3, MTXGlu4, and MTXGlu5 concentrations, but not MTXGlu1 and MTXGlu2, increased significantly over 24 weeks, reaching 90% of new steady-state concentrations by about 40 weeks. A decrease in DAS28 was associated with increased RBC MTXGlu5 (p = 0.035) and RBC MTXGlu3–5 (p = 0.032). No change in adverse effect frequency occurred.Conclusion.Changing to SC MTX results in increased long-chain MTXGlun. However, it takes at least 6 months for RBC steady-state concentrations to be achieved. Increased long-chain MTXGlun concentrations were significantly associated with reduced disease activity.
The Influence of the Definition of Patient Global Assessment in Assessment of Disease Activity According to the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: DOUGADOS MAXIME , RIPERT MAHAUT , HILLIQUIN PASCAL , FARDELLONE PATRICE , BROCQ OLIVIER , BRAULT YVES , LOGEART ISABELLE 
Published: October 2011

Objective.Patient global assessment (PGA) is one of the 4 items included in the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) for evaluation of activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We studied the influence of the use of 3 different techniques of PGA on the assessment of disease activity.Methods.We evaluated 3 different DAS28 according to the technique of PGA in 108 patients with active RA before and after 12 weeks of etanercept therapy.Results.The reliability (intraclass coefficient of correlation) between screening and baseline was very high and similar for the 3 DAS28. The percentage of patients in the different states of disease (from remission to higher disease activity) and the sensitivity to change across the 3 DAS28 scales were very similar.Conclusion.The different techniques of collection of PGA to be included in the DAS calculation yield similar results. However, an accepted, unequivocal technique should be encouraged in order to reduce heterogeneity in scoring DAS among patients with RA.
A Nonsynonymous Functional Variant of the ITGAM Gene Is Not Involved in Biopsy-proven Giant Cell Arteritis
Authors: CARMONA F. DAVID , SERRANO AURORA , RODRÍGUEZ-RODRÍGUEZ LUIS , CASTAÑEDA SANTOS , MIRANDA-FILLOY JOSÉ A. , MORADO INMACULADA C. , NARVÁEZ JAVIER , SOLANS ROSER , SOPEÑA BERNARDO , MARÍ-ALFONSO BEGOÑA , UNZURRUNZAGA AINHOA , ORTEGO-CENTENO NORBERTO , BLANCO RICARDO , DE MIGUEL EUGENIO , HIDALGO-CONDE ANA , MARTÍN JAVIER , GONZÁLEZ-GAY MIGUEL A. 
Published: October 2011

Objective.To investigate whether a functional integrin alpha M (ITGAM) variant is involved in susceptibility to and clinical manifestations of giant cell arteritis (GCA).Methods.A Spanish cohort of 437 white patients with biopsy-proven GCA and 1388 healthy controls were genotyped using the TaqMan allele discrimination technology.Results.No association was observed between ITGAM rs1143679 and GCA (p = 0.80, OR 0.97). Similarly, subphenotype analyses did not yield significant differences between the case subgroups and the control set or between GCA patients with or without the main specific features of GCA.Conclusion.Our results suggest that the ITGAM rs1143679 variant does not play an important role in the pathophysiology of GCA.
Le corps masculin : une production culturelle ?
Authors: Schneider Monique 
Published: October 2011

Monique Schneider a pour objectif une critique féministe des positions freudiennes sur la virilité. Voulant poser l’anatomie comme destin, Freud ne retient du corps masculin que l’un de ses emblèmes : le pénis, symbolisant la verticalité. Monique Schneider précise qu’il a oublié, au passage, une partie, les testicules, fantasmée, en tant qu’elle transite par le signifiant « les œufs », comme associée à un risque de fracture. Et c’est alors qu’elle affirme que deux fonctions potentiellement masculines sont séparées : le pouvoir politique et la fécondité, à laquelle se vouent les prolétaires. Elle cite en référence F. Héritier, anthropologue, qui souligne l’importance du thème de la fécondité comme marqueur de la différence sexuelle. Fécondité corrélée, dans le rêve très célèbre, celui du « grand exploit », à un phénomène d’accouchement.
Virilité et masculinité des hommes handicapés
Authors: Ancet Pierre 
Published: October 2011

À partir d’un travail clinique récent avec Marcel Nuss sur la virilité avec des hommes atteints d’un handicap l’auteur s’interroge sur les liens entre virilité et masculinité. Est interrogée l’identité sexuelle comme part de l’identité socialement construite dans un dispositif de sexualité. La clinique de l’homme handicapé physique, supposé dépourvu de virilité vient éclairer la clinique du masculin en général. Ne peut-on jouer un rôle masculin (par exemple dans la fonction paternelle, dans la sexualité ou au travail) sans posséder les attributs stéréotypés de la virilité ?
L'Homme déformé chez Bacon
Authors: Reynier Gérard 
Published: October 2011

Le corps de l’homme est ici présenté dans une de ses incarnations singulières : la déformation corporelle chez Bacon. Au-delà des discours consensuels, l’omniprésence de la déformation sera interrogée selon ses deux registres plastique et analytique. Si le premier vise le dévoilement des forces agitant la matière vivante perceptibles dans les sensations affectant la chair, le deuxième concerne le reflet distordu de l’image réfléchie interrogeant le miroir dont il est issu. Miroirs déformants qui conduisent vers celui, singulier, de Bacon révélant une identité aux prises avec le mouvement de l’informe.
Aspiration Prevention Protocol: Decreasing Postoperative Pneumonia in Heart Surgery Patients
Authors: Starks Bobbie , Harbert Christy 
Published: October 2011

BackgroundPostoperative pneumonia contributes to morbidity and mortality in patients who have open heart surgery.ObjectivesTo determine if measures to reduce aspiration in patients after cardiothoracic surgery would decrease the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia.MethodsAll patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery from April 2008 through October 2008 were prospectively enrolled in the study. An aspiration prevention protocol was developed and implemented in a 24-bed intensive care unit. The protocol incorporated a bedside swallowing evaluation by a speech therapist and progressive oral intake.ResultsIn the 6 months before development and implementation of the protocol, postoperative pneumonia developed in 11% of patients. After implementation of the protocol, no patients had postoperative pneumonia (P &lt; .01).ConclusionsImplementing an aspiration prevention protocol was effective in reducing the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia in patients who had cardiothoracic surgery.
Neuroinflammation and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Are Coregulated by Crocin To Prevent Demyelination and Neurodegeneration
Authors: Deslauriers André M. , Afkhami-Goli Amir , Paul Amber M. , Bhat Rakesh K. , Acharjee Shaona , Ellestad Kristofor K. , Noorbakhsh Farshid , Michalak Marek , Power Christopher 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a homeostatic mechanism, which is used by cells to adapt to intercellular and intracellular changes. Moreover, ER stress is closely linked to inflammatory pathways. We hypothesized that ER stress is an integral component of neuroinflammation and contributes to the development of neurological diseases. In autopsied brain specimens from multiple sclerosis (MS) and non-MS patients, XBP-1 spliced variant (XBP-1/s) was increased in MS brains (p &lt; 0.05) and was correlated with the expression of the human endogenous retrovirus-W envelope transcript, which encodes the glycoprotein, Syncytin-1 (p &lt; 0.05). In primary human fetal astrocytes transfected with a Syncytin-1–expressing plasmid, XBP-1/s, BiP, and NOS2 were induced, which was suppressed by crocin treatment (p &lt; 0.05). Crocin also protected oligodendrocytes exposed to cytotoxic supernatants derived from Syncytin-1–expressing astrocytes (p &lt; 0.05) and NO-mediated oligodendrocytotoxicity (p &lt; 0.05). During experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the transcript levels of the ER stress genes XBP-1/s, BiP, PERK, and CHOP were increased in diseased spinal cords compared with healthy littermates (p &lt; 0.05), although CHOP expression was not involved in the EAE disease phenotype. Daily treatment with crocin starting on day 7 post-EAE induction suppressed ER stress and inflammatory gene expression in spinal cords (p &lt; 0.05), which was accompanied by preserved myelination and axonal density, together with reduced T cell infiltration and macrophage activation. EAE-associated neurobehavioral deficits were also ameliorated by crocin treatment (p &lt; 0.05). These findings underscored the convergent roles of pathogenic ER stress and immune pathways in neuroinflammatory disease and point to potential therapeutic applications for crocin.
IL-17 Boosts Proinflammatory Outcome of Antiviral Response in Human Cells
Authors: Ryzhakov Grigory , Lai Cheryl Chuk-ke , Blazek Katrina , To Ken-win , Hussell Tracy , Udalova Irina 
Published: October 2011

AbstractExcessive inflammation during bacterial and viral infections is destructive to the host and involves elevated production of proinflammatory cytokines. It is especially deleterious in organs with space constraints such as lung and the CNS. Indeed, a number of viruses that infect lungs, such as avian influenza virus, SARS-associated coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus, elicit a very high level of proinflammatory cytokines; however, it is unclear what triggers their production. In this study, we show that IL-17 commonly produced during viral infection specifically augments a proinflammatory response by directly synergizing with antiviral signaling. Costimulation of primary human fibroblasts with IL-17 greatly enhanced respiratory syncytial virus-induced or synthetic dsRNA-based viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid-induced expression of proinflammatory genes without affecting expression of IFN-β–stimulated or IFN-stimulated genes. Knockdown of expression of known mediators of the antiviral signaling pathway revealed that the IL-17–poly(I:C) synergy depends on the presence of the transcriptional factors RelA and IFN regulatory factor 3 and IκB kinases. Moreover, this synergy was blocked by an IκB kinase inhibitor, BAY 11-7082. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind IL-17–dependent immunopathology observed in viral infections.
Graphene – A Promising Material for Organic Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Wan Xiangjian , Long Guankui , Huang Lu , Chen Yongsheng 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAs a promising two‐dimensional nanomaterial with outstanding electronic, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties, graphene has been proposed for many applications. In this Progress Report we summarize and discuss comprehensively the advances made so far for applications of graphene in organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells, including that for transparent electrodes, active layers and interfaces layer in OPV. It is concluded that graphene may very likely play a major role in new developments/improvements in OPVs. The future studies for this area are proposed to focus on the following: i) improving the conductivity without comprising the transparency as a transparent electrode material; ii) controlling the sheet sizes, band structure and surface morphology for use as a electron acceptor material, and iii) controlling and improving the functionalization and compatibility with other materials as interface layer material.