bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variants of the human NR1I2 (PXR) locus in chronic periodontitis
Authors: Folwaczny M. , Tengler B. , Glas J. 
Published: September 2011

Folwaczny M, Tengler B, Glas J. Variants of the human NR1I2 (PXR) locus in chronic periodontitis. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 174–179. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/SBackground and Objective:  Recent studies on genetic variants of the pregnane X receptor (PXR) revealed associations with the mucosal immune response. This study aimed to investigate the potential association of functional polymorphisms of the NR1I2 (PXR)‐encoding gene (rs12721602, rs3814055, rs1523128, rs1523127, rs45610735, rs6785049, rs2276707 and rs3814057) with chronic periodontitis.Material and Methods:  At total of 402 periodontitis patients and 793 healthy individuals were genotyped using PCR and melting‐curve analysis.Results:  Frequency distribution of genotypes for the eight single nucleotide polymorphisms showed no significant difference between patients with periodontitis and controls. Among the eight tested polymorphisms, two blocks were defined showing complete or almost complete linkage disequilibrium (linkage disequilibrium block 1: rs3814055 and rs1523127; and linkage disequilibrium block 2: rs6785049, rs2276707 and rs3814057). For one haplotype (GTGAG) composed of rs12721602, rs3814055, rs1523128, rs12721607 and rs6785049, a significant association with periodontitis was found [p‐value after permutation with 100,000 iterations (ppermut.) = 0.011, odds ratio = 0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.25–0.84) following adjustment for age, gender and smoking.Conclusion:  A rare haplotype of the NR1I2 (PXR) locus was associated with the individual susceptibility for chronic periodontitis in a German cohort. As a result of the borderline significance and the small effect size the present results need further confirmation.
Is self interdental cleaning associated with dental plaque levels, dental calculus, gingivitis and periodontal disease?
Authors: Crocombe L. A. , Brennan D. S. , Slade G. D. , Loc D. O. 
Published: September 2011

Crocombe LA, Brennan DS, Slade GD, Loc DO. Is self interdental cleaning associated with dental plaque levels, dental calculus, gingivitis and periodontal disease? J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 188–197. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/SBackground and Objective:  To ascertain whether interdental cleaning behaviours of Australian adults were associated with lower levels of plaque, gingivitis and periodontal disease.Material and Methods:  Data were obtained from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004–06. Outcome variables were three indicators of oral hygiene outcomes (the presence or not of dental plaque, dental calculus and gingivitis) and two of periodontal disease (the presence or not of at least one tooth with a periodontal pocket or clinical attachment loss of ≥ 4 mm). The independent variable was classified into the following three groups: regularly clean interproximally ‘at least daily’ (daily+); ‘less than daily’ (< daily); and ‘do not regularly clean interproximally’ (reference group). Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) relative to the reference group, adjusted for covariates.Results:  Regular self interdental cleaning was associated with less dental plaque (< daily, PR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.84, 0.95; and daily+, PR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.82, 0.96), less dental calculus (< daily, PR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80, 0.97; and daily+, PR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.70, 0.89) and lower levels of moderate/severe gingivitis (daily+, PR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.94). Periodontal pocketing was less likely for the < daily group (PR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.46, 0.82), but was not associated with daily+ cleaning (PR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.663, 1.49). There was not a significant association between interdental cleaning and clinical attachment loss (< daily, PR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.77, 1.05; and daily+, PR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.95, 1.44).Conclusion:  Regular interdental cleaning was associated with better oral hygiene outcomes, such as dental plaque and gingivitis, although there was no significant association between regular interdental cleaning and clinical attachment loss.
The influence of psoriatic plaques pretreatment with crude coal tar vs. petrolatum on the efficacy of narrow‐band ultraviolet B: a half‐vs.‐half intra‐individual double‐blinded comparative study
Authors: Abdallah Marwa A. , El‐Khateeb Ekramy Ahmed , Abdel‐Rahman Shereen H. 
Published: September 2011

Background/purpose: The value of psoriatic plaques pretreatment with specific topical preparations in the setting of NB‐ultraviolet‐B (UVB) therapy is debatable. It may be clarified through a comparative assessment between crude coal tar and petrolatum as pretreatment candidates.Methods: A prospective study included 40 patients with plaque psoriasis undergoing NB‐UVB therapy. We compared among three treatment regimens: NB‐UVB alone (control group; n=20) as well as NB‐UVB preceded by crude coal tar 3% on one side and petrolatum on the other side (cases group I and II; n=20). Tar and petrolatum were topically applied thrice/day the day before NB‐UVB exposure. Applications were removed using olive oil directly before NB‐UVB exposure. Regimens' frequency was thrice/week and the clinical outcome was assessed, through both psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and physician global assessment (PGA) scores, at baseline and 3 months later.Results: There were significant (P<0.01) decreases in both PASI and PGA scores in all the groups. In comparison with the controls, cases revealed significantly (P<0.05) higher improvement percentages in both PASI and PGA scores for both tar and petrolatum. This influence, through the PGA score, was significantly (P<0.05) in favor of petrolatum.Conclusion: The pretreatment of psoriatic plaques with either petrolatum or crude coal tar may enhance the therapeutic outcome of NB‐UVB, which appeared to favor petrolatum.
Protection against ultraviolet A‐induced oxidative damage in normal human epidermal keratinocytes under post‐menopausal conditions by an ultraviolet A‐activated caged‐iron chelator: a pilot study
Authors: Pelle Edward , Jian Jinlong , Declercq Lieve , Dong Kelly , Yang Qing , Pourzand Charareh , Maes Daniel , Pernodet Nadine , Yarosh Daniel B. , Huang Xi 
Published: September 2011

Background/purpose: Human skin is constantly exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA), which can generate reactive oxygen species and cause iron release from ferritin, leading to oxidative damage in biomolecules. This is particularly true in post‐menopausal skin due to an increase in iron as a result of menopause. As iron is generally released through desquamation, the skin becomes a main portal for the release of excess iron in this age group. In the present study, we examined a strategy for controlling UVA‐ and iron‐induced oxidative stress in skin using a keratinocyte post‐menopausal cellular model system.Methods: Keratinocytes that had been cultured under normal or high‐iron, low‐estrogen conditions were treated with (2‐nitrophenyl) ethyl pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (2‐PNE‐PIH). 2‐PNE‐PIH is a caged‐iron chelator that does not normally bind iron but can be activated by UVA radiation to bind iron. Following incubation with 2‐PNE‐PIH, the cells were exposed to 5 J/cm2 UVA and then measured for changes in lipid peroxidation and ferritin levels.Results: 2‐PNE‐PIH protected keratinocytes against UVA‐induced lipid peroxidation and ferritin depletion. Further, 2‐PNE‐PIH was neither cytotoxic nor did it alter iron metabolism.Conclusion: 2‐PNE‐PIH may be a useful deterrent against UVA‐induced oxidative stress in post‐menopausal women.
Perianal basal cell carcinoma – unusual localization of a frequent tumor
Authors: Kreuter Alexander , Bechara Falk G. , Stücker Markus , Brockmeyer Norbert H. , Altmeyer Peter , Wieland Ulrike 
Published: September 2011

SummaryBasal cell carcinoma is the most common human neoplasia. In more than 80% of patients, who are predominantly elderly, it is located in the head‐and‐neck‐area. Basal cell carcinomas in non‐UV‐exposed areas of the body, such as the anogenital region, are dermatological rarities. We describe an 88‐year‐old patient with a perianal tumor that was detected during skin cancer screening. Histopathology showed the tumor to be a basal cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for Ber‐EP4 was highly positive, clearly distinguishing the tumor from basaloid anal carcinoma, which is the most important histological differential diagnosis. Additional virological analyses for human papil‐lomaviruses (HPV) were negative. Immunohistochemical staining for p16INK4a demonstrated strong expression in the cells of the tumor parenchyma. However, p16INK4a can also be expressed independently of HPV. The present case shows that all uncertain perianal skin lesions should be biopsied.
Age assessment of young asylum seekers
Authors: Hjern Anders , Brendler‐Lindqvist Maria , Norredam Marie 
Published: September 2011

AbstractDuring 2009, 15 100 unaccompanied children sought asylum in Europe. Many of them came from ‘failed states’ like Somalia and Afghanistan where official documents with exact birth dates are rarely issued. This has led to requests to health care professionals in many countries to assist migration authorities in determining whether a young asylum seeker is a child or an adult. Many different methods are currently employed in Europe for this purpose by dentists, paediatricians, radiographers and social workers, but no currently available method has been demonstrated to have the accuracy needed to be of real use in this decision. Unclear guidelines and arbitrary practices may lead to alarming shortcomings in the protection of this high‐risk group of children and adolescents in Europe. Medical participation, as well as non‐participation, in these dubious decisions raises a number of ethical questions.Conclusion:  To improve care for young asylum seekers with undetermined age, we suggest better legal procedures for the determination of age and a more flexible approach to chronological age.
Plant diversity consequences of a herbivore‐driven biome switch from Grassland to Nama‐Karoo shrub steppe in South Africa
Authors: Rutherford Michael C. , Powrie Leslie W. , Husted Lara B. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractQuestionsHow does heavy grazing change plant community structure, composition and species richness and diversity in an ecotone between grassland and semi‐arid shrub steppe‐type vegetation? Does grazing favour plants with arid affinity over those with less arid affinity? Does the grazing‐induced transformation constitute a switch to the equivalent of a shrub‐dominated biome?LocationCentral South Africa.MethodsUsing systematic scanning of SPOT 5 imagery and ground‐truthing, a grazing treatment area was selected that met criteria of intensity of grazing, sampling requirements, and biogeographical position within a broad ecotonal zone. Differential vegetation responses to heavy grazing were tested for significant differences in plant traits, vegetation structure, and species diversity, richness and evenness. Gamma diversity was calculated for the whole study site, whereas, independent beta diversity was calculated across the treatments assuming the additive partitioning of diversity. In addition, the biogeographical association of grazing‐induced species shifts was determined using a range of available databases.ResultsCanopy cover and height of woody shrubs increased significantly with heavy grazing whereas that of graminoid plants declined. The resultant species turnover was modest, apparent extinctions of local species were minimal, species richness was maintained and species diversity was significantly enhanced. There was a significant increase in species evenness, through possible suppression of dominant species. Significant increases in species cover were those associated with mainly the Nama‐Karoo biome indicating that species from more arid areas are more resistant to grazing as would be expected by the convergence model of aridity and grazing resistance.ConclusionsThe significant increase in shrub cover in heavily grazed semi‐arid grassland followed general global expectations. The study confirmed that the supposed former large shift of grassland to shrubby Nama‐Karoo in the eastern upper Karoo can indeed be readily affected by heavy grazing. The negative connotations for biodiversity that have often been associated with intense grazing seem, in terms of the positive responses of plant species diversity in this study, to perhaps be exaggerated. The elevated species diversity with grazing of vegetation with a long evolutionary grazing history in a low resource area may require a reappraisal of the application of certain grazing hypotheses.
Soil Effects on Forest Structure and Diversity in a Moist and a Dry Tropical Forest
Authors: Peña‐Claros Marielos , Poorter Lourens , Alarcón Alfredo , Blate Geoffrey , Choque Urbano , Fredericksen Todd S. , Justiniano Marco J. , Leaño Claudio , Licona Juan Carlos , Pariona William , Putz Francis E. , Quevedo Lincoln , Toledo Marisol 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTSoil characteristics are important drivers of variation in wet tropical forest structure and diversity, but few studies have evaluated these relationships in drier forest types. Using tree and soil data from 48 and 32 1 ha plots, respectively, in a Bolivian moist and dry forest, we asked how soil conditions affect forest structure and diversity within each of the two forest types. After correcting for spatial effects, soil‐vegetation relationships differed between the dry and the moist forest, being strongest in the dry forest. Furthermore, we hypothesized that soil nutrients would play a more important role in the moist forest than in the dry forest because vegetation in the moist forest is less constrained by water availability and thus can show its full potential response to soil fertility. However, contrary to our expectations, we found that soil fertility explained a larger number of forest variables in the dry forest (50 percent) than in the moist forest (17 percent). Shannon diversity declined with soil fertility at both sites, probably because the most dominant, shade‐tolerant species strongly increased in abundance as soil fertility increased.
DNA extraction techniques for DNA barcoding of minute gall‐inhabiting wasps
Authors: DITTRICH‐SCHRÖDER GUDRUN , WINGFIELD MICHAEL J. , KLEIN HILDEGARD , SLIPPERS BERNARD 
Published: September 2011

AbstractDNA extraction from minute hymenopterans and their larvae is difficult and challenging because of their small size indicating a low amount of starting material. Hence, 11 DNA extraction methods were compared to determine their efficacy in isolating DNA. Success of each method was scored on a 2% agarose gel after PCR of the cox 1 mitochondrial locus. A silica‐membrane‐based approach was the most successful, followed by a method using a combination of incubation buffers and a method using magnetic beads. The method using buffers was the most cost‐ and time effective. Using this method, larvae from Eucalyptus seed capsule galls could be assigned a role (parasitoid, gall former or inquiline) in the gall‐inhabiting complex.
Hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C patients infected with genotype 2 is associated with insulin resistance, hepatic fibrosis and affects cumulative positivity of serum hepatitis C virus RNA in peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy
Authors: Itoh Yoshito , Nishimura Takeshi , Yamaguchi Kanji , Yokomizo Chihiro , Fujii Hideki , Minami Masahito , Nagao Yasuyuki , Sumida Yoshio , Hashimoto Hiroaki , Umemura Atsushi , Shima Toshihide , Okanoue Takeshi , Yoshikawa Toshikazu 
Published: September 2011

Aim:  Hepatic steatosis is one of the factors limiting the virological response to interferon‐based antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CH‐C) patients infected with genotype 1, while contradictory results have been reported for genotype 2. We aimed to clarify the effect of hepatic steatosis on therapeutic outcome and cumulative positivity of serum HCV RNA in CH‐C patients infected with genotype 2 treated by peginterferon (PEG‐IFN)α2b and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.Methods:  A total of 74 treatment‐naïve non‐cirrhotic CH‐C patients infected with genotype 2 who received PEG‐IFNα2b and RBV according to the standard regimen were divided into hepatic steatosis 0–10% and >10% groups. The clinical backgrounds, sustained virological response (SVR) rates and cumulative positivity of serum HCV RNA were compared between the two groups.Results:  Among the 74 patients, 61 (82.4%) had hepatic steatosis 0–10% and 13 (17.6%) had hepatic steatosis >10%. Scores of homeostasis model assessment‐insulin resistance and hepatic fibrosis were higher in patients with hepatic steatosis >10% than hepatic steatosis 0–10% (P = 0.040 and 0.042, respectively). Non‐SVR was more frequent in patients with hepatic steatosis >10% than hepatic steatosis 0–10% (P = 0.003). Cumulative positivity of serum HCV RNA was significantly higher in patients with hepatic steatosis >10% than hepatic steatosis 0–10% (P = 0.004).Conclusions:  In CH‐C patients infected with genotype 2 treated by PEG‐IFNα2b and RBV combination therapy, hepatic steatosis >10% was associated with increased insulin resistance, advanced hepatic fibrosis and higher cumulative positivity of serum HCV RNA, which lead to a higher risk of non‐SVR.
Combining static and dynamic variables in species distribution models under climate change
Authors: Stanton Jessica C. , Pearson Richard G. , Horning Ned , Ersts Peter , Reşit Akçakaya H. 
Published: September 2011

Summary1. Methods used to predict shifts in species’ ranges because of climate change commonly involve species distribution (niche) modelling using climatic variables, future values of which are predicted for the next several decades by general circulation models. However, species’ distributions also depend on factors other than climate, such as land cover, land use and soil type. Changes in some of these factors, such as soil type, occur over geologic time and are thus imperceptible over the timescale of these types of projections. Other factors, such as land use and land cover, are expected to change over shorter timescales, but reliable projections are not available. Some important predictor variables, therefore, must be treated as unchanging, or static, whether because of the properties of the variable or out of necessity. The question of how best to combine dynamic variables predicted by climate models with static variables is not trivial and has been dealt with differently in studies to date. Alternative methods include using the static variables as masks, including them as independent explanatory variables in the model, or excluding them altogether.2. Using a set of simulated species, we tested various methods for combining static variables with future climate scenarios. Our results showed that including static variables in the model with the dynamic variables performed better or no worse than either masking or excluding the static variables.3. The difference in predictive ability was most pronounced when there is an interaction between the static and dynamic variables.4. For variables such as land use, our results indicate that if such variables affect species distributions, including them in the model is better than excluding them, even though this may mean making the unrealistic assumption that the variable will not change in the future.5. These results demonstrate the importance of including static and dynamic non‐climate variables in addition to climate variables in species distribution models designed to predict future change in a species’ habitat or distribution as a result of climate change.
Glucocorticoid therapy and the risk of equine laminitis
Authors: Cornelisse C. J. , Robinson N. E. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryAlthough glucocorticoids have been used successfully for the treatment of noninfectious inflammatory diseases of horses for more than 35 years, their use has been attended by a fear of the induction of laminitis. This paper reviews the evidence for this fear and the possible mechanisms whereby glucocorticoids could participate in laminitis induction. Although the association of laminitis with elevated serum cortisol in pituitarypars intermediadysfunction suggests that chronic exposure to glucocorticoids may be part of laminitis pathogenesis, review of published reports and databases suggests that glucocorticoid‐induced laminitis is a relatively rare occurrence. However, several of the actions of glucocorticoids are similar to those known to be involved in laminitis pathogenesis. Glucocorticoid administration can induce insulin resistance, lead to vascular dysfunction that potentiates vasoconstriction, and interfere with keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation as well as matrix integrity, all mechanisms that could possibly induce laminitis. Drug formulation, dose and route of administration, and the systemic and hoof disease history of the horse must all be considered when assessing laminitis risk during glucocorticoid treatment. Generally, local glucocorticoid administration presents little risk as does systemic treatment of recurrent airway obstruction without concurrent disease. Caution should be used however in horses that are overweight and/or insulin resistant, or have had a recent bout of acute laminitis of alimentary or endotoxic origin. Overall, however, the risk of laminitis after glucocorticoid treatment, especially local use, is acceptable compared to the many benefits of these drugs.
Bullous emphysema with haemorrhage in a premature foal
Authors: Bezdekova B. , Skoric M. , Pekarkova M. , Kabes R. , Vavrouchova E. , Dobesova O. , Corley K. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryA Warmblood foal was admitted at one day of age because of prematurity and seizures. Clinical and clinical pathology abnormalities were consistent with prematurity and suspected hypoxic seizures that responded to anti‐convulsive therapy. The foal stabilised after several days of intensive care but then developed an airway infection. Thoracic radiographs showed multiple cavitary lesions and ultrasound examination suggested intra‐cavital haemorrhage. The foal went on to develop septicaemia and was subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem examination revealed multiple bullous emphysema with haemorrhage. This disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of foals having air‐fluid filled cavities on thoracic radiographs.