bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of preschool wheezing patterns on health-related quality of life at age 4 years
Authors: Hafkamp-de Groen Esther , Mohangoo Ashna D. , Landgraf Jeanne M. , de Jongste Johan C. , Duijts Liesbeth , Moll Henriëtte A. , Jaddoe Vincent W.V. , Hofman Albert , Raat Hein 
Published: July 2012

We assessed whether dynamic preschool wheezing patterns affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at age 4 years.The study included 3878 children participating a prospective cohort study. Information on preschool wheezing was obtained by questionnaire and children were categorised into: never, early, late and persistent wheezing. At age 4 years HRQOL was measured using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).Persistent wheezing was associated with reduced scores for nine out of 13 CHQ scales. No differences in psychosocial CHQ scores (p>0.05), but lower physical CHQ scores were found in children with late and persistent wheezing, compared to children who never wheezed (p<0.001). Mean scores on general health perceptions were, respectively, eight and 12 points lower (on a 0–100 scale) in children with late and persistent wheezing (p<0.001), and children with one to three episodes and four or more episodes of wheezing in the fourth year respectively scored seven and 24 points lower (p<0.001), compared to children who never wheezed.Persistent wheezing during preschool age independently affects a child's HRQOL, particularly general health perceptions and physical domains at age 4 years. HRQOL was more affected by frequent wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life, rather than by the duration of wheezing at age 0–4 years.
Tuberculosis treatment outcome monitoring in European Union countries: systematic review
Authors: van Hest Rob , Ködmön Csaba , Verver Suzanne , Erkens Connie G.M. , Straetemans Masja , Manissero Davide , de Vries Gerard 
Published: July 2012

Treatment success measured by treatment outcome monitoring (TOM) is a key programmatic output of tuberculosis (TB) control programmes. We performed a systematic literature review on national-level TOM in the 30 European Union (EU)/European Economic Areas (EEA) countries to summarise methods used to collect and report data on TOM.Online reference bibliographic databases PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify relevant indexed and non-indexed literature published between January 2000 and August 2010.The search strategy resulted in 615 potentially relevant indexed citations, of which 27 full-text national studies (79 data sets) were included for final analysis. The selected studies were performed in 10 EU/EEA countries and gave a fragmented impression of TOM in the EU/EEA. Publication year, study period, sample size, databases, definitions, variables, patient and outcome categories, and population subgroups varied widely, portraying a very heterogeneous picture.This review confirmed previous reports of considerable heterogeneity in publications of TOM results across EU/EEA countries. PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE indexed studies are not a suitable instrument to measure representative TOM results for the 30 EU/EEA countries. Uniform and complete reporting to the centralised European Surveillance System will produce the most timely and reliable results of TB treatment outcomes in the EU/EEA.
Blunted muscle angiogenic training-response in COPD patientsversussedentary controls
Authors: Gouzi Fares , Préfaut Christian , Abdellaoui Aldjia , Roudier Emilie , de Rigal Philippe , Molinari Nicolas , Laoudj-Chenivesse Dalila , Mercier Jacques , Birot Olivier , Hayot Maurice 
Published: July 2012

The impaired skeletal muscle of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients reduces exercise capacity. Similar to the oxidative muscle fibres, the angio-adaptation of muscle to training may be blunted in these patients, as in other chronic conditions. We therefore compared muscle functional responses and angio-adaptations after training in COPD patients and sedentary healthy subjects (SHS).24 COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s 45.6±17.5% predicted) and 23 SHS (<150 min·week−1of moderate-to-vigorous exercise) completed a 6-week rehabilitation programme based on individualised moderate-intensity endurance training. Histomorphological muscle analysis and measurements of pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and anti-angiogenic thrombospondin (TSP)-1 were conducted before and after training.COPD patients and SHS showed improved symptom-limited oxygen consumption and muscle endurance, although improvements were lower in COPD patients (+0.96±2.4versus+2.9±2.6 mL·kg−1·min−1, p<0.05, and +65%versus+108%, p=0.06, respectively). The capillary-to-fibre (C/F) ratio increased less in COPD patients than SHS (+16±10%versus+37±20%, p<0.05) and no fibre type switch occurred in COPD patients. The VEGF-A/TSP-1 ratio increased in COPD patients and SHS (+65%versus+35%, p<0.05). Changes in C/F and symptom-limited oxygen consumption were correlated (r=0.51, p<0.05).In addition to a lack of fibre switch, COPD patients displayed a blunted angiogenic response to training.
Iloprost improves endothelial barrier function in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury
Authors: Birukova Anna A. , Wu Tinghuai , Tian Yufeng , Meliton Angelo , Sarich Nicolene , Tian Xinyong , Leff Alan , Birukov Konstantin G. 
Published: July 2012

The protective effects of prostacyclin and its stable analogue iloprost are mediated by elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) leading to enhancement of the peripheral actin cytoskeleton and cell–cell adhesive structures. This study tested the hypothesis that iloprost may exhibit protective effects against lung injury and endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by bacterial wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Endothelial barrier dysfunction was assessed by measurements of transendothelial permeability, morphologically and by analysis of LPS-activated inflammatory signalling.In vivo, C57BL/6J mice were challenged with LPS with or without iloprost or 8-bromoadenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (Br-cAMP) treatment. Lung injury was monitored by measurements of bronchoalveolar lavage protein content, cell count and Evans blue extravasation.Iloprost and Br-cAMP attenuated the disruption of the endothelial monolayer, and suppressed the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, Rho signalling, intercellular adhesion molecular (ICAM)-1 expression and neutrophil migration after LPS challenge.In vivo, iloprost was effective against LPS-induced protein and neutrophil accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and reduced myeloperoxidase activation, ICAM-1 expression and Evans blue extravasation in the lungs. Inhibition of Rac activity abolished the barrier-protective and anti-inflammatory effects of iloprost and Br-cAMP.Iloprost-induced elevation of intracellular cAMP triggers Rac signalling, which attenuates LPS-induced NF-κB and p38 MAPK inflammatory pathways and the Rho-dependent mechanism of endothelial permeability.
Insulin receptor substrate-1 prevents autophagy-dependent cell death caused by oxidative stress in mouse NIH/3T3 cells
Authors: Chan Shih-Hung , Kikkawa Ushio , Matsuzaki Hidenori , Chen Jyh-Hong , Chang Wen-Chang 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 is associated with tumorigenesis; its levels are elevated in several human cancers. IRS-1 protein binds to several oncogene proteins. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the initiation and progression of cancers. Cancer cells produce greater levels of ROS than normal cells do because of increased metabolic stresses. However, excessive production of ROS kills cancer cells. Autophagy usually serves as a survival mechanism in response to stress conditions, but excessive induction of autophagy results in cell death. In addition to inducing necrosis and apoptosis, ROS induces autophagic cell death. ROS inactivates IRS-1 mediated signaling and reduces intracellular IRS-1 concentrations. Thus, there is a complex relationship between IRS-1, ROS, autophagy, and cancer. It is not fully understood how cancer cells grow rapidly and survive in the presence of high ROS levels.

Methods and results
In this study, we established mouse NIH/3T3 cells that overexpressed IRS-1, so mimicking cancers with increased IRS-1 expression levels; we found that the IRS-1 overexpressing cells grow more rapidly than control cells do. Treatment of cells with glucose oxidase (GO) provided a continuous source of ROS; low dosages of GO promoted cell growth, while high doses induced cell death. Evidence for GO induced autophagy includes increased levels of isoform B-II microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), aggregation of green fluorescence protein-tagged LC3, and increased numbers of autophagic vacuoles in cells. Overexpression of IRS-1 resulted in inhibition of basal autophagy, and reduced oxidative stress-induced autophagy and cell death. ROS decreased the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase signaling, while overexpression of IRS-1 attenuated this inhibition. Knockdown of autophagy-related gene 5 inhibited basal autophagy and diminished oxidative stress-induced autophagy and cell death.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that overexpression of IRS-1 promotes cells growth, inhibits basal autophagy, reduces oxidative stress-induced autophagy, and diminishes oxidative stress-mediated autophagy-dependent cell death. ROS-mediated autophagy may occur via inhibition of IRS-1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mTOR signaling. Our data afford a plausible explanation for IRS-1 involvement in tumor initiation and progression.
Growth and characterization of TiO2 nanotubes from sputtered Ti film on Si substrate
Authors: Chappanda Karumbaiah N , Smith York R , Mohanty Swomitra K , Rieth Loren W , Tathireddy Prashant , Misra Mano 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
In this paper, we present the synthesis of self-organized TiO2 nanotube arrays formed by anodization of thin Ti film deposited on Si wafers by direct current (D.C.) sputtering. Organic electrolyte was used to demonstrate the growth of stable nanotubes at room temperature with voltages varying from 10 to 60 V (D.C.). The tubes were about 1.4 times longer than the thickness of the sputtered Ti film, showing little undesired dissolution of the metal in the electrolyte during anodization. By varying the thickness of the deposited Ti film, the length of the nanotubes could be controlled precisely irrespective of longer anodization time and/or anodization voltage. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, diffuse-reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the thin film nanotubes. The tubes exhibited good adhesion to the wafer and did not peel off after annealing in air at 350 °C to form anatase TiO2. With TiO2 nanotubes on planar/stable Si substrates, one can envision their integration with the current micro-fabrication technique large-scale fabrication of TiO2 nanotube-based devices.
Content aware optimization for video delivery over WCDMA
Authors: Pandit Kartik , Ghosh Amitabha , Ghosal Dipak , Chiang Mung 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
A content-aware networking framework for transmitting video on the uplink of a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) cellular network is studied in this article. We consider a multi-user scenario and exploit the underlying structure of the video content to optimally schedule frames in order to minimize the total distortion of video quality across all users. In particular, we propose a novel Content-Aware Distortion Fair (CADF) scheme that determines, between multiple flows, the best set of frames to schedule using optimal transmit power, while meeting interference and delay constraints. The optimization problem is considered on the time scale of a single Group of Pictures, and is formulated as a restricted Multiple Knapsack Problem. A key contribution of this study is evaluating the CADF scheme on a Qualcomm 3G emulator, called “High data rate System Emulator 2” (HSE 2), and conducting rate control experiments with different types of emulated channel conditions. Our experimental results show that the CADF scheme significantly reduces video distortion, compared to the existing Foschini-Miljanic closed-loop distributed power control algorithm implemented on the WCDMA uplink. In the Appendix section, we also use the emulator to analyze the Traffic-to-Pilot resource allocation algorithm implemented on the reverse link of Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision-A by profiling over different traffic classes.
Boundary value problems for the quaternionic Hermitian system in "Equation missing"
Authors: Abreu-Blaya Ricardo , Bory-Reyes Juan , Brackx Fred , De Schepper Hennie , Sommen Frank 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
In this paper boundary value problems for quaternionic Hermitian monogenic functions are presented using a circulant matrix approach.

MSC:30G35.
CD44 rs13347 C>T polymorphism predicts breast cancer risk and prognosis in Chinese populations
Authors: Jiang Lan , Deng Jieqiong , Zhu Xun , Zheng Jian , You Yonghe , Li Na , Wu Hongchun , Lu Jiachun , Zhou Yifeng 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Introduction
It has been demonstrated that the interplay of adhesion molecule CD44 and its ligands can regulate cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as tumor-associated angiogenesis and is related to breast cancer patient survival. In this two-stage, case control study, we determined whether common functional tagSNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) are associated with breast cancer risk and prognosis.

Methods
Five tagSNPs of CD44 (rs10836347C>T, rs13347C>T, rs1425802A>G, rs11821102G>A, rs713330T>C) were selected and genotyped in 1,853 breast cancer patients and 1,992 healthy control subjects in Eastern and Southern populations. Potential function of rs13347C>T and association between this variation and breast cancer were further studied.

Results
Compared with the most common rs13347CC genotype, variant genotypes (CT and TT) increased an individual's susceptibility to breast cancer, especially in estrogen receptor (ER) negative patients (odds ratio (OR) = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.17 to 1.59 for ER positive patients; OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 2.00 to 2.80 for ER negative patients). We also found that rs13347CT+ TT genotypes predicts lower five-year survival rate (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.09 to 3.15, P = 0.023), with the lowest survival probability in ER negative T allele carriers. Furthermore, our reporter assay findings, although preliminary and rather modest, showed that miR-509-3p may suppress CD44 expression more strongly in C allele carriers than T allele carriers (P < 0.01). Similarly, rs13347 variant genotypes (CT and TT) carriers were shown to have more CD44 expression than CC carriers in both immunohistochemistry (P < 0.001) and western blotting (P = 0.001) results.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that CD44 rs13347C>T polymorphism may affect breast cancer development and prognosis by increasing CD44 expression.
Human pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 overexpression reinforces oncogene-induced senescence through CXCR2/p21 signaling in breast cancer cells
Authors: Ruan Jhen-Wei , Liao Yi-Chu , Lua Ingrid , Li Ming-Hsun , Hsu Chih-Yi , Chen Ji-Hshiung 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Introduction
hPTTG1 (human pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1) is an oncogene overexpressed in breast cancer and several other types of cancer. Increased hPTTG1 expression has been shown to be associated with poor patient outcomes in breast cancer. Although hPTTG1 overexpression plays important roles in promoting the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells, it also has been suggested to induce cellular senescence. Deciphering the mechanism by which hPTTG1 overexpression induces these contradictory actions in breast cancer cells is critical to our understanding of the role of hPTTG1 in breast cancer development.

Methods
MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells were used to identify the mechanism of hPTTG1-induced senescence. The interplay between hPTTG1 overexpression and chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 2 (CXCR2)/p21-dependent senescence in tumor growth and metastasis of MCF-7 cells was investigated by orthotopic transplantation of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Additionally, human invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) tissue arrays were used to confirm the hPTTG1/CXCR2/p21 axis established in vitro.

Results
In this study, we investigated the mechanism of hPTTG1-induced senescence as well as its role in breast cancer progression and metastasis. Herein, we showed that hPTTG1 overexpression reinforced senescence through the CXCR2/p21 signaling. Furthermore, hPTTG1 overexpression activated NF-κB signaling to transactivate the expression of interleukin (IL)-8 and growth-regulated oncogene alpha (GROα) to execute CXCR2 signaling in MCF-7 cells. When CXCR2 expression was knocked down in hPTTG1-overexpressing MCF-7 cells, hPTTG1-induced senescence was abrogated by alleviating CXCR2-induced p21 expression. In a mouse model, CXCR2-mediated senescence limited hPTTG1-induced tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, CXCR2 knockdown in hPTTG1-overexpressing MCF-7 tumors dramatically accelerated tumor growth and metastasis. Our in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that hPTTG1 overexpression reinforces senescence through CXCR2 signaling, and the evasion of CXCR2/p21-dependent senescence was critical to hPTTG1 exerting its oncogenic potential. Interestingly, although CXCR2-dependent senescence restrained hPTTG1-induced tumor progression, when MCF-7 cells and hPTTG1-overexpressing MCF-7 cells were co-transplanted into the mammary fat pads of SCID mice, hPTTG1-overexpressing senescent cells created a metastasis-promoting microenvironment that promoted lung metastasis of the MCF-7 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of human breast tumor samples also confirmed the importance of the hPTTG1/CXCR2 axis in promoting breast cancer metastasis.

Conclusions
Our findings provide novel molecular insights into hPTTG1-induced senescence and identify a novel mechanism by which hPTTG1 promotes metastasis by regulating the senescence-associated microenvironment.
1D single-site and laterally constrained inversion of multifrequency and multicomponent ground-based electromagnetic induction data — Application to the investigation of a near-surface clayey overburden
Authors: Schamper Cyril , Rejiba Fayçal , Guérin Roger 
Published: July 2012

Electromagnetic induction (EMI) methods are widely used to determine the distribution of the electrical conductivity and are well adapted to the delimitation of aquifers and clayey layers because the electromagnetic field is strongly perturbed by conductive media. The multicomponent EMI device that was used allowed the three components of the secondary magnetic field (the radial [Formula: see text], the tangential [Formula: see text], and the vertical [Formula: see text]) to be measured at 10 frequencies ranging from 110 to 56 kHz in one single sounding with offsets ranging from 20 to 400 m. In a continuing endeavor to improve the reliability with which the thickness and conductivity are inverted, we focused our research on the use of components other than the vertical magnetic field Hz. Because a separate sensitivity analysis of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] suggests that [Formula: see text] is more sensitive to variations in the thickness of a near-surface conductive layer, we developed an inversion tool able to make single-sounding and laterally constrained 1D interpretation of both components jointly, associated with an adapted random search algorithm for single-sounding processing for which almost no a priori information is available. Considering the complementarity of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] components, inversion tests of clean and noisy synthetic data showed an improvement in the definition of the thickness of a near-surface conductive layer. This inversion code was applied to the karst site of the basin of Fontaine-Sous-Préaux, near Rouen (northwest of France). Comparison with an electrical resistivity tomography tends to confirm the reliability of the interpretation from the EMI data with the developed inversion tool.
Childhood psychosocial adversity and adult cortisol patterns
Authors: Power Chris , Thomas Claudia , Li Leah , Hertzman Clyde 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundCortisol levels may be altered in childhood in association with maltreatment (neglect, abuse and witnessing abuse) and other adversities, yet little is known about whether effects on cortisol persist into later life.AimsTo establish whether childhood psychosocial adversities predict cortisol levels in mid-adulthood.MethodChildhood psychosocial adversities were ascertained in the 1958 British birth cohort and cortisol was measured in two saliva samples, one 45 min after awaking (T1) and the other 3 h later the same day (T2), from 6524 participants aged 45 years.ResultsNo association was seen for abuse or household dysfunction in childhood and adult cortisol levels. In women but not men,T1cortisol was lowered by 7.9% per unit increase in childhood neglect score (range 0–3);T1toT2cortisol decline was less steep. High levels of maltreatment (abuse, neglect, witnessed abuse) were associated with >25% lowerT1cortisol in both men and women, and 24% higherT2cortisol for men after adjustment for concurrent depressive/anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsIn a non-clinical population, cumulative maltreatments in childhood were associated with flattened morning cortisol secretion in mid-adult life.
Effect of vitamin D supplement on depression scores in people
with low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: nested case—control study and
randomised clinical trial
Authors: Kjærgaard Marie , Waterloo Knut , Wang Catharina E. A. , Almås Bjørg , Figenschau Yngve , Hutchinson Moira S. , Svartberg Johan , Jorde Rolf 
Published: July 2012

AimsTo compare depressive symptoms in participants with low and high serum
25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and to examine whether
supplementation with vitamin D3 would improve symptoms in
those with low serum 25(OH)D levels.MethodParticipants with low 25(OH)D levels were randomised to either placebo or
40 000 IU vitamin D3 per week for 6 months. Individuals with
high serum 25(OH)D levels were used as nested controls. Depressive
symptoms were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory, Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale, Seasonal Pattern Assessment Scale and
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. The study was registered at
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00960232).ResultsParticipants with low 25(OH)D levels (n=230) at baseline
were more depressed (P<0.05) than participants with
high 25(OH)D levels (n=114). In the intervention study
no significant effect of high-dose vitamin D was found on depressive
symptom scores when compared with placebo.ConclusionsLow levels of serum 25(OH)D are associated with depressive symptoms, but
no effect was found with vitamin D supplementation.