bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A cost‐minimization analysis of root canal treatment before and after education in nickel–titanium rotary technique in general practice
Authors: Koch M. , Tegelberg Å. , Eckerlund I. , Axelsson S. 
Published: February 2012

Koch M, Tegelberg Å, Eckerlund I, Axelsson S.A cost‐minimization analysis (CMA) of root canal treatment before and after education in nickel–titanium rotary technique in general practice.International Endodontic Journal,45, 633–641, 2012.AbstractAim To compare root canal treatments performed before and after education in a nickel–titanium rotary technique (NiTiR) with respect to costs for instrumentation and number of instrumentation sessions in a County Public Dental Service in Sweden.Methodology Following education, 77% of the general dental practitioners adopted completely the NiTiR. The randomly selected sample comprised 850 root canal treatments: 425 performed after the education, mainly using the NiTiR‐technique (group A) and 425 performed before, using mainly stainless steel hand instrumentation (SSI) (group B). The number of instrumentation sessions in root canal treatments in group A and B was calculated. A CMA was undertaken on the assumption that treatment outcome was identical in group A and B. Direct costs associated with SSI and NiTiR were estimated and compared. Investment costs required for implementation of NiTiR were calculated, but not included in the CMA.Results Instrumentation sessions were counted in 418 (98%) root canal treatments performed in group A and 419 (99%) in group B. The number of instrumentation sessions in group A was significantly lower; 2.38, compared with 2.82 in group B (P < 0.001). Thus, on average, for every second root canal treatment performed after the education, one instrumentation session was saved. Root canal treatments in teeth with one canal, and three or more canals, were completed in significantly fewer instrumentation sessions after the education (P < 0.001). Direct costs of instrumentation sessions were SEK 2587 (USD 411) for group A and SEK 2851 (USD 453) for group B, for teeth with one canal, and SEK 2946 (USD 468) for group A and SEK 3510 (USD 558) for group B, for teeth with three or more canals (year 2011). Root canal treatments of teeth with two canals showed no significant difference with respect to number of instrumentation sessions and costs.Conclusions Significantly fewer instrumentation sessions were required in group A, and root canal instrumentation therefore costs less than in group B. On the assumption that treatment outcome is identical in group A and B, root canal instrumentation performed after the education was more cost‐effective.
Life histories have a history: effects of past and present conditions on adult somatic growth rates in wild Trinidadian guppies
Authors: Auer Sonya K. , Lopez‐Sepulcre Andrés , Heatherly Thomas , Kohler Tyler J. , Bassar Ronald D. , Thomas Steven A. , Reznick David N. 
Published: February 2012

Summary1. Environmental conditions in the present, more recent past and during the juvenile stage can have significant effects on adult performance and population dynamics, but their relative importance and potential interactions remain unexplored.2. We examined the influence of food availability at the time of sampling, 2 months prior and during the juvenile stage on adult somatic growth rates in wild Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata).3. We found that food availability during both the early and later parts of an individual’s ontogeny had important consequences for adult growth strategies, but the direction of these effects differed among life stages and their magnitude, in some cases, depended on food levels experienced during other life stages. Current food levels and those 2 months prior to growth measurements had positive effects on adult growth rate; though, food levels 2 months prior had a greater effect on growth than current food levels. In contrast, the effects of food availability during the juvenile stage were higher in magnitude but opposite in direction to current food levels and those 2 months prior to growth rate measurements. Individuals recruiting under low food levels grew faster as adults than individuals recruiting during periods of high food availability. There was also a positive interaction between food levels experienced during the juvenile stage and 2 months prior such that the effects of juvenile food level diminished as the food level experienced 2 months prior increased.4. These results suggest that the similar conditions occurring at different life stages can have different effects on short‐ and long‐term growth strategies of individuals within a population. They also demonstrate that, while juvenile conditions can have lasting effects on adult performance, the strength of that effect can be dampened by environmental conditions experienced as an adult.5. A simultaneous consideration of past events in both the adult and juvenile stage may therefore improve predictions for individual‐ and population‐level responses to environmental change.
Heavy metal stress can prime for herbivore‐induced plant volatile emission
Authors: WINTER THORSTEN R. , BORKOWSKI LENA , ZEIER JÜRGEN , ROSTÁS MICHAEL 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTHeavy metals are important pollutants that can severely impact ecological foodwebs. In addition to direct toxic effects, these contaminants have been suggested to disrupt chemical communication channels between plants and insects that rely on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We investigated how different concentrations of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) stress affect the capacity of Zea mays to synthesize VOCs in the presence and absence of herbivorous insects. Hydroponically grown maize exposed to a high and low concentration of either Cu or Cd showed stunted growth and lower photosynthetic capacities. Herbivores feeding on stressed plants also had attenuated growth rates. Heavy metal treatment alone did not induce VOC emission in maize plants; however, the higher Cu dose was found to prime for enhanced volatile production that can be triggered by caterpillar feeding. Cu stress correlated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species in roots and priming of herbivore‐induced jasmonic acid in leaves. Plants challenged with Cd and herbivory did not differ in responses compared with herbivore‐damaged controls with no heavy metals added to the substrate. For Cu stress, our results support the ‘single biochemical mechanism for multiple stressors’ model which predicts overlapping signalling and responses to abiotic and biotic stress factors.
Metabolome analysis of photosynthesis and the related primary metabolites in the leaves of transgenic rice plants with increased or decreased Rubisco content
Authors: SUZUKI YUJI , FUJIMORI TAMAKI , KANNO KEIICHI , SASAKI ATSUSHI , OHASHI YOSHIAKI , MAKINO AMANE 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTBecause the comprehensive effects on metabolism by genetic manipulation of leaf Rubisco content are unknown, metabolome analysis was carried out on transgenic rice plants with increased or decreased Rubisco content using the capillary electrophoresis‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (CE‐TOFMS) technique. In RBCS‐sense plants, an increase in Rubisco content did not improve light‐saturated photosynthesis. Glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate and sedoheputulose 7‐phosphate levels increased, but ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP), ATP and ADP levels were not affected. It is considered from these results that RuBP regeneration independent of ATP supply became a bottleneck for photosynthesis. In RBCS‐antisense plants, a decline in Rubisco content decreased photosynthesis with a substantial accumulation of RuBP. ATP and ADP levels also increased and were associated with increases in the diphosphate and triphosphate compounds of other nucleosides. These results imply that a decline in Rubisco content slowed down the Calvin cycle and that the resultant excess energy of ATP was transferred to other nucleoside diphosphates and triphosphates. The levels of amino acids tended to decline in RBCS‐sense plants and increase in RBCS‐antisense plants, probably reflecting the demand for Rubisco synthesis. Starch and carbohydrate levels decreased only in RBCS‐antisense plants. Thus, genetic manipulation of Rubisco contents widely affected C and N metabolism in rice.
Comparative Analysis of Spontaneous and Mycobacterial Antigen‐Induced Secretion of Th1, Th2 and Pro‐Inflammatory Cytokines by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Al‐Attiyah R. , El‐Shazly A. , Mustafa A. S. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe cytokines produced by T helper (Th)1 cells (IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and TNF‐β) correlate with protection, whereas the cytokines released by Th2 cells (IL‐4, IL‐5) and the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 correlate with pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). However, the pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α and IL‐12p70) are responsible for both protection and pathogenesis of TB. The aim of this work was to carry out a comparative analysis of cytokines present in early (day 2) and late (day 6) cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from pulmonary tuberculosis patients. PBMCs were cultured in vitro in the absence and presence of exogenously added complex mycobacterial antigens and RD1 peptide pool. The supernatants were collected on day 2 and day 6 of culture and assayed for secreted cytokines using the flow cytomix assay. All of the cytokines, except for IL‐12p70, were spontaneously secreted by PBMCs of 27–100% TB patients, but only TNF‐α concentration was significantly higher on day 2 than day 6 (P < 0.05). Two days following antigenic stimulation, only IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α and IL‐10 were secreted in response to some mycobacterial antigens. However, 6 days later, all of the cytokines, except for IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐8, were secreted significantly in response to all complex antigens and RD1 peptides, compared with the non‐stimulated cultures (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the study shows that the longer in vitro stimulation time (6 days) was necessary for the optimal induction of IFN‐γ and TNF‐β, and practically convenient for the detection of IL‐10, IL‐1 β, TNF‐α and IL‐6.
PLP1 duplication at the breakpoint regions of an apparently balanced t(X;22) translocation causes Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease in a girl
Authors: Fonseca ACS , Bonaldi A , Costa SS , Freitas MR , Kok F , Vianna‐Morgante AM 
Published: February 2012

Fonseca ACS, Bonaldi A, Costa SS, Freitas MR, Kok F, Vianna‐Morgante AM. PLP1 duplication at the breakpoint regions of an apparently balanced t(X;22) translocation causes Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease in a girl.PLP1 (proteolipid protein1 gene) mutations cause Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease (PMD), characterized by hypomyelination of the central nervous system, and affecting almost exclusively males. We report on a girl with classical PMD who carries an apparently balanced translocation t(X;22)(q22;q13). By applying array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (a‐CGH), we detected duplications at 22q13 and Xq22, encompassing 487–546 kb and 543–611 kb, respectively. The additional copies were mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization to the breakpoint regions, on the derivative X chromosome (22q13 duplicated segment) and on the derivative 22 chromosome (Xq22 duplicated segment). One of the 14 duplicated X‐chromosome genes was PLP1.The normal X chromosome was the inactive one in the majority of peripheral blood leukocytes, a pattern of inactivation that makes cells functionally balanced for the translocated segments. However, a copy of the PLP1 gene on the derivative chromosome 22, in addition to those on the X and der(X) chromosomes, resulted in two active copies of the gene, irrespective of the X‐inactivation pattern, thus causing PMD. This t(X;22) is the first constitutional human apparently balanced translocation with duplications from both involved chromosomes detected at the breakpoint regions.
Age‐specific incidence rates for breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1 mutations from Norway
Authors: Møller P , Mæhle L , Vabø A , Clark N , Sun P , Narod SA 
Published: February 2012

Møller P, Mæhle L, Vabø A, Clark N, Sun P, Narod SA. Age‐specific incidence rates for breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1 mutations from Norway.Incidence rates of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 mutation vary according to their reproductive histories and country of residence. To measure cancer incidence, it is best to follow‐up cohort of healthy women prospectively. We followed up a cohort of 675 women with a BRCA1 mutation who did not have breast or ovarian cancer before inclusion and who had a normal clinical examination and mammography at first visit. After a mean of 7.1 years, 98 incident cases of breast cancer were recorded in the cohort. Annual cancer incidence rates were calculated, and based on these, a penetrance curve was constructed. The average annual cancer risk for the Norwegian women from age 25 to 70 was 2.0%. Founder mutations had lower incidence rate (1.7%) than less frequent mutations (2.5%) (p = 0.03). The peak incidence (3.1% annual risk) was observed in women from age 50 to 59. The age‐specific annual incidence rates and penetrance estimate were compared with published figures for women from North America and from Poland. The risk of breast cancer to age 70 was estimated to be 61% for women from Norway, compared with 55% for women from Poland and 69% for women from North America.
Factors related to immunosuppressant medication adherence in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Chisholm‐Burns Marie , Pinsky Brett , Parker Gretchen , Johnson Phaedra , Arcona Steven , Buzinec Paul , Chakravarti Paula , Good Meg , Cooper Matthew 
Published: February 2012

Chisholm‐Burns M, Pinsky B, Parker G, Johnson P, Arcona S, Buzinec P, Chakravarti P, Good M, Cooper M. Factors related to immunosuppressant medication adherence in renal transplant recipients.Abstract:  Non‐adherence to immunosuppressant medications (ISM) is a significant issue for transplant recipients. This study examines factors influencing ISM adherence in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Patient‐reported data were collected through a cross‐sectional survey including use of ISMs, adherence behaviors, perceived adherence barriers, beliefs and attitudes toward ISMs, and patient life satisfaction. Logistic regression was conducted to examine how RTRs’ beliefs about use of ISMs, life satisfaction, and ISM adherence barriers were related to adherence. A total of 512 adult commercial insurance enrollees following renal transplantation were included in the analysis. One hundred and seventy‐seven RTRs were non‐adherent (34.5%); the most frequently cited reason was forgetfulness. RTRs aged 18–29 yr were more likely to be non‐adherent than recipients 46–64 yr old (p ≤ 0.001). Non‐adherent RTRs had greater adherence barriers than adherent RTRs (p < 0.001). Adherent RTRs believed their ISMs were more necessary than non‐adherent RTRs (p < 0.001), while non‐adherent RTRs had greater concerns about taking ISMs (p = 0.009) and believed they had less control over their lives than adherent RTRs (p < 0.001). Non‐adherent RTRs had lower life satisfaction (p < 0.001). Non‐adherence is significantly associated with patients’ beliefs about ISMs, perceived barriers, and lower life satisfaction. Strategies to increase ISM adherence are discussed.
Abnormal circadian blood pressure regulation in liver transplanted children
Authors: Bayrakci Umut Selda , Baskin Esra , Ozcay Figen , Gulleroglu Kaan , Ozbay Ferda , Sevmis Sinasi , Karakayali Hamdi , Haberal Mehmet 
Published: February 2012

Bayrakci US, Baskin E, Ozcay F, Gulleroglu K, Ozbay F, Sevmis S, Karakayali H, Haberal M. Abnormal circadian blood pressure regulation in liver transplanted children.  Pediatr Transplantation 2012: 16: 160–164. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  HT is a frequent cardiovascular risk factor in liver transplant recipients. However, there are only few studies in the literature regarding the risk of HT in liver transplanted children. The aim of this study was to assess the 24 h BP profiles of liver transplanted patients and to compare the results with healthy children. ABPM was performed on 20 liver transplanted patients and 27 healthy children aged 7.1 ± 4.8 and 8.5 ± 2.9 yr, respectively. HT was defined as SDS > 1.64 (i.e., >95th percentile) adjusted for gender and height. The mean duration of post‐transplant follow‐up was 32 ± 19 months. Six (30%) patients were found to be hypertensive. The physiological nocturnal BP fall was attenuated significantly in the study group for diastolic BP (11.5 ± 6.1 mmHg vs. 17.7 ± 7.1 mmHg, p = 0.006). Specifically, the number of patients with high nighttime systolic and diastolic BP SDS (p = 0.02 and p = 0.004, respectively) as well as elevated nighttime systolic (p = 0.03) and diastolic (p = 0.003) BPLs was found to be significantly higher than those in the controls. Alteration of the “normal” circadian rhythm is very frequent in liver transplant recipients. Thus, it is recommended to perform ABPM on all liver transplanted children not to underdiagnose HT.
Optimised radiological diagnosis of hepatic fungal infection during the treatment of leukemia
Authors: Petrausch Ulf , Frauenfelder Thomas , Mueller Nicolas J. , Arn Kornelius , Stussi Georg , Schanz Urs 
Published: February 2012

SummaryHepatic fungal infection is a frequent complication in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute leukaemia. Hepatic lesions may be detected using computerised tomographic (CT) scans, but there is no standardised CT protocol for the diagnosis and follow‐up of hepatic fungal infection. We therefore retrospectively analysed the number and the volume of hepatic fungal lesions in 24 CT of 20 consecutive patients treated for acute leukaemia during late‐arterial and porto‐venous phase. The mean number of lesions per patient was 31 (range: 3–105) in the late‐arterial and 26 (3–81) in the porto‐venous CT (P = 0.026). The mean total volume of all lesions was 6.45 ml in the late‐arterial and 4.07 ml in the porto‐venous CT representing a 1.6fold difference between the two CT scans (P = 0.008). The total volume of the lesions negatively correlated to the absolute contrast difference between liver parenchyma and liver vein (Pearson correlation, r = −0.62; P = 0.002). In conclusion, the late‐arterial CT provides a superior distinction of hepatic lesions due to a delayed perfusion of the outer rim of the fungal lesions resulting in an extended visibility. The late‐arterial CT is superior to the porto‐venous CT for initial diagnosis and follow‐up of hepatic fungal infection.
Topical tacrolimus significantly promotes repigmentation in idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis: a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Rerknimitr P. , Disphanurat W. , Achariyakul M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) is an idiopathic disorder affecting a large number of people. Effective treatments are not yet available.Objectives To investigate the efficacy of topical 0.1% tacrolimus ointment compared with placebo in the treatment of IGH.Materials and methods Twenty‐six patients were included in the study. Lesions on one side of the body were selected to have a treatment with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment, whereas those on the other side served as a control with placebo ointment that had the same physical appearance. Colorimeter was used to assess skin colour at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 months of treatment.Results Mean luminosity scale after adjusted for baseline from the treated side gradually decreased and reached statistical significance compared with the control group after 6 months of treatment (P = 0.019). Physicians’ improvement grading score showed that 11% of the patients demonstrated improvement of their skin lesions on the treated side after 6 months’ treatment.Conclusion Topical 0.1% tacrolimus ointment appeared to be an effective and safe treatment for IGH. The improvements were best observed by colorimetry, yet, they were not statistically significant upon clinical assessments.
Reflectance confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of partially and completely amelanotic melanoma: report on seven cases
Authors: Maier T. , Sattler E.C. , Braun‐Falco M. , Korting H.C. , Ruzicka T. , Berking C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  The clinical diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma is often challenging, because the classical clinical and dermoscopic features of pigmented melanoma are usually missing. The reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) offers an additional possibility of an in vivo diagnosis of both pigmented and amelanotic melanoma lesions.Objectives  To test the value of RCM in vivo in the preoperative prediction of melanoma lesions lacking significant pigment and to compare the results with the evaluation by dermoscopy and histopathology.Methods  We examined seven patients with the clinically uncertain differential diagnosis of partially or completely amelanotic melanoma by RCM and dermoscopy prior to surgical excision of the lesions according to the previously suggested dermoscopy algorithm and RCM score for melanoma. The following RCM features were evaluated: major criteria scored +2 (non‐edged papillae, cytological atypia at the dermo‐epidermal junction) and minor criteria +1 (roundish pagetoid cells, widespread pagetoid infiltration, nucleated cells within dermal papillae, cerebriform cell clusters). The dermoscopic evaluation included the following criteria: polymorphous vessels, dotted and linear irregular vessels, hairpin vessels, pink‐erythematous colour, milky red areas, irregularly shaped depigmentation, blue‐grey dots and subtle pigmentation.Results  The preoperative in vivo RCM analysis revealed common features of melanoma also found in pigmented melanoma lesions. All lesions showed a score above three in the applied RCM algorithm which was proposed earlier as the threshold for malignancy. In dermoscopy, five of seven lesions showed characteristic vascular changes.Conclusion  In vivo RCM is a valuable tool in the preoperative diagnosis of partially and completely amelanotic tumours suspicious for melanoma in addition to dermoscopic evaluation.