bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of sensitivity of the 1‐μg low‐dose ACTH stimulation test in a paediatric population with suboptimal cortisol responses to insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia
Authors: O'Grady Michael J. , Hensey Conor , Fallon Miriam , Hoey Hilary , Murphy Nuala , Costigan Colm , Cody Declan 
Published: June 2012

SummaryContextThe insulin‐tolerance test (ITT) is the gold standard for evaluation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis. The low‐dose ACTH stimulation test is increasingly used for evaluation of secondary adrenal insufficiency as several studies performed in adults have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity when compared to the ITT. Whether the ACTH stimulation test demonstrates similar sensitivity in a paediatric and adolescent population compared with the gold standard is unclear.ObjectiveTo compare the sensitivity of the low‐dose (1‐μg) Synacthen™ test (LDSST) and the gold‐standard ITT in a paediatric and adolescent population.Design and PatientsA retrospective review of 42 consecutive LDSSTs in children and adolescents with suboptimal cortisol responses (peak <500 nm) on ITT.ResultsThirty‐one patients (74%) had an adequate cortisol response to low‐dose Synacthen™ (sensitivity 26%). Patients had a higher cortisol increment with the LDSST than ITT (median Δ cortisol 294 vs 168 nm, P < 0·0001) and correspondingly a higher cortisol peak (median peak cortisol 572 vs 396 nm, P < 0·0001). Patients who had a suboptimal peak cortisol both on ITT and on LDSST had a lower baseline cortisol on ITT (median 178 vs 227 nm, P = 0·04). Peak cortisol on ITT was significantly higher in patients who had a subsequent normal LDSST than those that did not (median 417 vs 300 nm, P = 0·0005).ConclusionsThe 1‐μg LDSST lacks sensitivity in detection of secondary adrenal insufficiency in children when compared to the gold‐standard ITT.
The roles of dispersal limitation and environmental conditions in controlling caddisfly (Trichoptera) assemblages
Authors: LANDEIRO VICTOR LEMES , BINI LUIS MAURICIO , MELO ADRIANO SANCHES , PES ANA MARIA OLIVEIRA , MAGNUSSON WILLIAM ERNEST 
Published: June 2012

Summary1. Many recent studies have quantified the relative importance of environmental variables and dispersal limitations in shaping the structure of stream communities. However, the relative importance of these factors at different spatial extents has been seldom evaluated.2. We analysed the distribution of caddisfly species in 89 Amazonian streams in relation to stream characteristics and spatial variables representing overland dispersal routes. The streams occur in three regions that differ in spatial extent and environmental characteristics. We analysed the data using partial redundancy analysis with two predictor data sets, one environmental and one spatial, to evaluate the variation in assemblage composition. We also separated caddisflies into ‘good’ and ‘poor’ dispersers to evaluate possible differences in the responses of these two groups.3. The environmental component explained a higher proportion of variance in assemblage composition than did the spatial component. Spatial effects were evident only when data from all three regions were analysed together, although the exclusive spatial fraction was quite low. Good dispersers responded similarly to the community as a whole, while poor dispersers were related to environmental variables only in one region and also were not related to spatial variables.4. Caddisflies were most affected by environmental factors. The large environmental effect and small spatial effect are in accord with the use of these stream insects as good indicators of site properties and disturbances in monitoring programmes.
Odour‐active compounds in mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Corazón)
Authors: Pino Jorge A. 
Published: June 2012

SummarySimultaneous distillation–extraction combined with GC‐FID and GC‐MS were used to analyse volatile compounds from mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Corazón) and to estimate the most odour‐active compounds in the fruit. The analyses led to the identification of 167 components, from which 128 were positively identified. The aroma‐active areas in the gas chromatogram were screened by the application of the aroma extract dilution analysis and by odour activity values. Eighteen odorants were considered as the most odour‐active compounds: (E)‐β‐damascenone, ethyl butanoate, (E,Z)‐nonadienal, ethyl 2‐methylpropanoate, (E)‐2‐nonenal, (E)‐β‐ionone, terpinolene, δ‐3‐carene, β‐caryophyllene, ethyl 2‐methylbutanoate, limonene, myrcene, linalool, γ‐octalactone, nonanal, methyl benzoate, 2,5‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxy‐3(2H)‐furanone and hexanal.
Ozonation of corn and potato starch in aqueous solution: effects on the thermal, pasting and structural properties
Authors: Çatal Hatice , İbanoğlu Şenol 
Published: June 2012

SummaryStarch–water suspensions were exposed to ozone gas for 1 h at 5 °C. The concentration of dissolved ozone gas in the suspension was kept at 4.2 mg ozone/L−1 water. Polarised light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to examine the birefringence and surface characteristics of the samples, respectively. A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to measure the gelatinisation properties, while a rapid visco analyser (RVA) was used to examine pasting properties. The structure of corn and potato starch showed very little change after treatment with ozonated water. The DSC gelatinisation temperatures (i.e. onset, peak and conclusion) of starch samples increased as a result of ozonation. However, a decrease in gelatinisation enthalpies was observed for ozonated starch samples. A dramatic decrease in the RVA viscosities of ozonated starch samples was observed after ozonation, which are explained by the partial cleavage of the glycosidic linkages in the starch granules during ozonation.
Influences of food matrices on cytotoxicity of asiatic acid in mammalian cell models
Authors: Jirasripongpun Kalyanee , Jirakanjanakit Nuananong , Sakulsom Premwadee , Wongekalak La‐ongdao , Hongsprabhas Parichat 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThis study investigated the cytotoxicity of asiatic acid (AA) encapsulated in different protein‐carbohydrate matrices in human colon adenocarcinoma SW620, human hepatoblastoma HepG2 and diploid monkey kidney cells (Vero). Mungbean protein concentrate (MPC) and mungbean protein hydrolysate (MPH) in lactose (L) or lactose‐maltodextrin (LM) mixture, were used to fabricate matrices encapsulating AA during lyophilisation. The cytotoxicity of AA was in a dose‐dependent manner for HepG2 and SW620 cells, but not for Vero cells. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of AA in HepG2 and SW620 were 120 and 130 μm respectively. The IC50 of AA encapsulated in MPH‐L matrix in HepG2 was reduced from that of AA alone to 80 μm (P < 0.05). Study of the anti‐cancer activity of AA, in the absence and presence of food matrices, revealed that an MPH‐L matrix led AA to cause more apoptosis deaths in HepG2 cells than either a MPC‐L matrix or pure AA.
Cardiac rehabilitation and the therapeutic environment: the importance of physical, social, and symbolic safety for programme participation among women
Authors: Sutton Erica J. , Rolfe Danielle E. , Landry Mireille , Sternberg Leonard , Price Jennifer A.D. 
Published: June 2012

Sutton E.J., Rolfe D.E., Landry M., Sternberg L. & Price J.A.D. (2012) Cardiac rehabilitation and the therapeutic environment: the importance of physical, social, and symbolic safety for programme participation among women. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(6), 1834–1846.AbstractAim.  To report an exploration of the multidimensionality of safety in cardiac rehabilitation programmes as perceived by women who were enrolled in the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative in Toronto, Canada.Background.  Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women. Although cardiac rehabilitation is clinically effective, significantly fewer women than men participate in available programmes. The literature identifies factors affecting women’s cardiac rehabilitation participation, and provides possible explanations for this gender disparity. Although safety is mentioned among the barriers to women’s cardiac rehabilitation participation, the extent to which safety contributes to programme participation, completion, and maintenance remains under‐explored in the cardiac rehabilitation literature.Design.  We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to examine the role safety and place play for women engaged in cardiac prevention and rehabilitation at the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative.Methods.  From 2005–2006, 14 participants engaged in semi‐structured, qualitative interviews lasting 30–90 minutes. Discussions addressed women’s experiences at the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.Findings.  Three themes were developed: ‘Safety’, which was sub‐categorized according to physical, social, and symbolic interpretations of safety, ‘searching for a sense of place’, and ‘confidence and empowerment’.Conclusion.  Feeling physically, socially, and symbolically safe in one’s cardiac rehabilitation environment may contribute to programme adherence and exercise maintenance for women. Focusing on comprehensive notions of safety in future cardiac rehabilitation research could offer insight into why many women do not maintain an exercise regimen in currently structured cardiac rehabilitation and community programmes.
Humidity levels drive reproductive modes and phylogenetic diversity of amphibians in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: da Silva Fernando Rodrigues , Almeida‐Neto Mário , do Prado Vitor Hugo Mendonça , Haddad Célio Fernando Baptista , de Cerqueira Rossa‐Feres Denise 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim  The diversity of reproductive modes among amphibians constitutes a striking example of how differences in the biology of species provide important explanations for species distribution patterns on a broad scale. We hypothesize that sites with a higher humidity level will support more modes of reproduction than drier sites and will consequently exhibit a higher phylogenetic diversity. Furthermore, if there is a gradient in the tolerance of reproductive modes to desiccation, there will be a nested pattern in the composition of reproductive modes among sites.Location  Twenty‐seven forest sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.Methods  Through a path analysis approach, we evaluated the direct and indirect effects of the humidity level on the number of reproductive modes, as well as the relative importance of both variables on amphibian phylogenetic diversity. A nestedness analysis was used to quantify the extent to which the compositions of both species and reproductive modes in drier sites correspond to subsets of those in sites with higher annual precipitation.Results  We found that the reproductive modes present in drier sites are non‐random subsets of those present in sites with higher humidity levels. Because reproductive modes are phylogenetically conserved among amphibians, sites with a greater number of reproductive modes supported greater phylogenetic diversity. Sites with high precipitation throughout the year provided suitable environmental conditions for a larger number of reproductive modes, whereas sites with low precipitation and typical seasonal climates supported only those reproductive modes specialized to resist desiccation.Main conclusions  Our results show that humidity‐related variables are key environmental factors related to both the richness of reproductive modes and phylogenetic diversity. Our results support the hypothesis that the higher phylogenetic diversity found in moister sites reflects differences in the tolerance to desiccation among different reproductive modes. Given that reproductive modes are associated with susceptibility to desiccation, their incorporation into explanatory models may trigger a significant advance in the understanding of the mechanisms regulating the species richness and composition of amphibian communities.
RHO1 and RHO2 share partially overlapping functions in the regulation of cell wall integrity and hyphal polarity in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Richthammer Corinna , Enseleit Matthias , Sanchez‐Leon Eddy , März Sabine , Heilig Yvonne , Riquelme Meritxell , Seiler Stephan 
Published: June 2012

SummaryRho proteins are key regulators of cellular morphogenesis, but their function in filamentous fungi is poorly understood. By generating conditional rho‐1 mutants, we dissected the function of the essential GTPase RHO1 in cell polarization and maintenance of cell wall integrity in Neurospora crassa. We identified NCU00668/RGF1 as RHO1‐specific exchange factor, which controls actin organization and the cell wall integrity MAK1 MAP kinase pathway through the direct interaction of active RHO1 with the formin BNI1 and PKC1 respectively. The activity of RGF1 is controlled by an intramolecular interaction of its DEP and GEF domains that blocks the activation of the GTPase. Moreover, the N‐terminal region including the DEP domain of RGF1 interacts with the plasma membrane sensor NCU06910/WSC1, potentially to activate the cell wall integrity pathway. RHO1 also functions as regulatory subunit of the glucan synthase. N. crassa possesses a second GTPase, RHO2, that is highly homologous to RHO1. RHO2 is of minor importance for growth and does not interact with BNI1. Conditional rho‐1;rho‐2 double mutants display strong synthetic growth and cell polarity defects. We show that RHO2 does not regulate glucan synthase activity and the actin cytoskeleton, but physically interacts with PKC1 to regulate the cell wall integrity pathway.
National audit of the use of fibrinogen concentrate to correct hypofibrinogenaemia
Authors: Gollop N. D. , Chilcott J. , Benton A. , Rayment R. , Jones J. , Collins P. W. 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYBackgroundMassive haemorrhage occurs in a variety of clinical settings resulting in consumptive and dilutional coagulopathies leading to hypofibrinogenaemia.Methods/MaterialsA prospective observational national cohort study was performed between November 2008 and June 2010 to collect safety data on the off‐label use of a fibrinogen concentrate to treat acquired hypofibrinogenaemia.ResultsA prospective cohort of 63 patients with varying causes of hypofibrinogenaemia resulted from this data collection. A single infusion of fibrinogen concentrate was given in 49 (77%) of patients studied and 12 received more than one infusion. The median inter‐quartile range (IQR) dose of fibrinogen infused was 49 (26–61) mg kg−1. The median (IQR) fibrinogen level before and after infusion was 0·9 (0·6–1·3) and 1·8 (1·4–4·3) g L−1, respectively (P < 0·001). In 31 patients (67%), bleeding stopped within 4 h and fibrinogen was reported to have contributed to this outcome by the treating clinicians. In 84% of cases the treating clinician reported that the use of fibrinogen concentrate reduced the rate of bleeding. Fibrinogen was associated with a statistically significant reduction in red blood cell transfusion (median 4 units before and 0 units after, P < 0·001) and fresh frozen plasma infusion (median 4 units before and 0 units after, P < 0·001). Three venous and one arterial non‐fatal thrombotic events were recorded in the patients treated with fibrinogen.ConclusionFibrinogen concentrate can be used to correct hypofibrinogenaemia and may reduce blood product usage.
On the intersections of basic and applied research in xenotransplantation*
Authors: Dalmasso Agustin P. 
Published: June 2012

Dalmasso AP. On the intersections of basic and applied research in xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 137–143. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  I am very grateful to the Council and members of the International Xenotransplantation Association for this Honorary Membership. In accepting this prestigious award, I pay tribute to my mentors Antonio Oriol i Anguera, Carlos Martinez, Robert A. Good, and Hans Müller‐Eberhard for their guidance and friendship as I was beginning my travels in biomedical research. I also thank the many gifted collaborators, students, and technical personnel, as well as the agencies and taxpayers, who funded our research and made our scientific contributions possible. Here I briefly mention some of these contributions, including early work on the immunobiology of the thymus, my short incursion in the immunology of Chagas disease, and what have been the dominant themes of my career: the mechanisms of complement injury, the role of complement in pathophysiology, and induction of cytoprotection in the vascular endothelium. I emphasize our contributions on the role of complement as related to understanding and overcoming xenograft injury, a work that has been personally very rewarding. Now it is exciting to see that the field of xenotransplantation research is moving forward vigorously, a time of great optimism suggesting that many potential clinical applications of xenotransplantation will come to fruition in the near future.
Clinical lung xenotransplantation – what donor genetic modifications may be necessary?
Authors: Cooper David K. C. , Ekser Burcin , Burlak Christopher , Ezzelarab Mohamed , Hara Hidetaka , Paris Leela , Tector A. Joseph , Phelps Carol , Azimzadeh Agnes M. , Ayares David , Robson Simon C. , Pierson Richard N. 
Published: June 2012

Cooper DKC, Ekser B, Burlak C, Ezzelarab M, Hara H, Paris L, Tector AJ, Phelps C, Azimzadeh AM, Ayares D, Robson SC, Pierson RN III. Clinical lung xenotransplantation – what donor genetic modifications may be necessary? Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 144–158. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Barriers to successful lung xenotransplantation appear to be even greater than for other organs. This difficulty may be related to several macro anatomic factors, such as the uniquely fragile lung parenchyma and associated blood supply that results in heightened vulnerability of graft function to segmental or lobar airway flooding caused by loss of vascular integrity (also applicable to allotransplants). There are also micro‐anatomic considerations, such as the presence of large numbers of resident inflammatory cells, such as pulmonary intravascular macrophages and natural killer (NK) T cells, and the high levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) associated with the microvasculature. We have considered what developments would be necessary to allow successful clinical lung xenotransplantation. We suggest this will only be achieved by multiple genetic modifications of the organ‐source pig, in particular to render the vasculature resistant to thrombosis. The major problems that require to be overcome are multiple and include (i) the innate immune response (antibody, complement, donor pulmonary and recipient macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, and NK cells), (ii) the adaptive immune response (T and B cells), (iii) coagulation dysregulation, and (iv) an inflammatory response (e.g., TNF‐α, IL‐6, HMGB1, C‐reactive protein). We propose that the genetic manipulation required to provide normal thromboregulation alone may include the introduction of genes for human thrombomodulin/endothelial protein C‐receptor, and/or tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and/or CD39/CD73; the problem of pig vWF may also need to be addressed. It would appear that exploration of every available therapeutic path will be required if lung xenotransplantation is to be successful. To initiate a clinical trial of lung xenotransplantation, even as a bridge to allotransplantation (with a realistic possibility of survival long enough for a human lung allograft to be obtained), significant advances and much experimental work will be required. Nevertheless, with the steadily increasing developments in techniques of genetic engineering of pigs, we are optimistic that the goal of successful clinical lung xenotransplantation can be achieved within the foreseeable future. The optimistic view would be that if experimental pig lung xenotransplantation could be successfully managed, it is likely that clinical application of this and all other forms of xenotransplantation would become more feasible.
Taste uncoupled from nutrition fails to sustain the reinforcing properties of food
Authors: Beeler Jeff A. , McCutcheon James E. , Cao Zhen F. H. , Murakami Mari , Alexander Erin , Roitman Mitchell F. , Zhuang Xiaoxi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractRecent findings suggest the reward system encodes metabolic value independent of taste, provoking speculation that the hedonic value of taste could be derived from nutritional value as a secondary appetitive property. We therefore dissociated and compared the impact of nutrition and taste on appetitive behavior in several paradigms. Though taste alone induces preference and increased consumption, in the absence of nutritional value its reinforcing properties are greatly diminished and it does not, like sucrose, induce increased responding over time. In agreement with behavioral data, saccharin‐evoked (but not sucrose‐evoked) dopamine release is greatly attenuated following pre‐exposure, suggesting that nutritional value is critical for dopamine‐mediated reward and reinforcement. Further supporting the primacy of nutrition over taste, genetically increased dopaminergic tone enhances incentive associated with nutritional value with minimal impact on taste‐based, hedonic incentive. Overall, we suggest that the sensory‐hedonic incentive value associated with taste functions as a conditioned stimulus that requires nutritional value to sustainably organize appetitive behavior.
Altered cell cycle‐related gene expression in brain and lymphocytes from a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease [amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (PS1)]
Authors: Esteras Noemí , Bartolomé Fernando , Alquézar Carolina , Antequera Desireé , Muñoz Úrsula , Carro Eva , Martín‐Requero Ángeles 
Published: June 2012

AbstractCumulative evidence indicates that aberrant re‐expression of many cell cycle‐related proteins and inappropriate neuronal cell cycle control are critical events in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Evidence of cell cycle activation in post‐mitotic neurons has also been observed in murine models of AD, despite the fact that most of these mice do not show massive loss of neuronal bodies. Dysfunction of the cell cycle appears to affect cells other than neurons, as peripheral cells, such as lymphocytes and fibroblasts from patients with AD, show an altered response to mitogenic stimulation. We sought to determine whether cell cycle disturbances are present simultaneously in both brain and peripheral cells from the amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) mouse model of AD, in order to validate the use of peripheral cells from patients not only to study cell cycle abnormalities as a pathogenic feature of AD, but also as a means to test novel therapeutic approaches. By using cell cycle pathway‐specific RT2Profiler™ PCR Arrays, we detected changes in a number of cell cycle‐related genes in brain as well as in lymphocytes from APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, we found enhanced 5′‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA in lymphocytes from APP/PS1 mice, and increased expression of the cell proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor Cdkn2a, as detected by immunohistochemistry in cortical neurons of the APP/PS1 mice. Taken together, the cell cycle‐related changes in brain and blood cells reported here support the mitosis failure hypothesis in AD and validate the use of peripheral cells as surrogate tissue to study the molecular basis of AD pathogenesis.