bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting survival after pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer: previous liver metastases matter
Authors: Landes Ulrich , Robert John , Perneger Thomas , Mentha Gilles , Ott Vincent , Morel Philippe , Gervaz Pascal 
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background
Few patients with lung metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) are candidates for surgical therapy with a curative intent, and it is currently impossible to identify those who may benefit the most from thoracotomy. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of various parameters on survival after pulmonary metastasectomy for CRC.

Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of 40 consecutive patients (median age 63.5 [range 33-82] years) who underwent resection of pulmonary metastases from CRC in our institution from 1996 to 2009.

Results
Median follow-up was 33 (range 4-139) months. Twenty-four (60%) patients did not have previous liver metastases before undergoing lung surgery. Median disease-free interval between primary colorectal tumor and development of lung metastases was 32.5 months. 3- and 5-year overall survival after thoracotomy was 70.1% and 43.4%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the following parameters were correlated with tumor recurrence after thoracotomy; a history of previous liver metastases (HR = 3.8, 95%CI 1.4-9.8); and lung surgery other than wedge resection (HR = 3.0, 95%CI 1.1-7.8). Prior resection of liver metastases was also correlated with an increased risk of death (HR = 5.1, 95% CI 1.1-24.8, p = 0.04). Median survival after thoracotomy was 87 (range 34-139) months in the group of patients without liver metastases versus 40 (range 28-51) months in patients who had undergone prior hepatectomy (p = 0.09).

Conclusion
The main parameter associated with poor outcome after lung resection of CRC metastases is a history of liver metastases.
Darcin: a male pheromone that stimulates female memory and sexual attraction to an individual male's odour
Authors: Roberts Sarah A , Simpson Deborah M , Armstrong Stuart D , Davidson Amanda J , Robertson Duncan H , McLean Lynn , Beynon Robert J , Hurst Jane L 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackgroundAmong invertebrates, specific pheromones elicit inherent (fixed) behavioural responses to coordinate social behaviours such as sexual recognition and attraction. By contrast, the much more complex social odours of mammals provide a broad range of information about the individual owner and stimulate individual-specific responses that are modulated by learning. How do mammals use such odours to coordinate important social interactions such as sexual attraction while allowing for individual-specific choice? We hypothesized that male mouse urine contains a specific pheromonal component that invokes inherent sexual attraction to the scent and which also stimulates female memory and conditions sexual attraction to the airborne odours of an individual scent owner associated with this pheromone.ResultsUsing wild-stock house mice to ensure natural responses that generalize across individual genomes, we identify a single atypical male-specific major urinary protein (MUP) of mass 18893Da that invokes a female's inherent sexual attraction to male compared to female urinary scent. Attraction to this protein pheromone, which we named darcin, was as strong as the attraction to intact male urine. Importantly, contact with darcin also stimulated a strong learned attraction to the associated airborne urinary odour of an individual male, such that, subsequently, females were attracted to the airborne scent of that specific individual but not to that of other males.ConclusionsThis involatile protein is a mammalian male sex pheromone that stimulates a flexible response to individual-specific odours through associative learning and memory, allowing female sexual attraction to be inherent but selective towards particular males. This 'darcin effect' offers a new system to investigate the neural basis of individual-specific memories in the brain and give new insights into the regulation of behaviour in complex social mammals.See associated Commentaryhttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/8/71
Characterization of manganese superoxide dismutase from a marine cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya valderianaBDU20041
Authors: Priya Balakrishnan , Sivaprasanth Reddi K , Jensi Vincent Dhivya , Uma Lakshmanan , Subramanian Gopalakrishnan , Prabaharan Dharmar 
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background
Cyanobacteria are recognized as the primordial organisms to grace the earth with molecular oxygen ~3.5 billion years ago as a result of their oxygenic photosynthesis. This laid a selection pressure for the evolution of antioxidative defense mechanisms to alleviate the toxic effect of active oxygen species (AOS) in cyanobacteria. Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are metalloenzymes that are the first arsenal in defense mechanism against oxidative stress followed by an array of antioxidative system. Unlike other living organisms, cyanobacteria possess multiple isoforms of SOD. Hence, an attempt was made to demonstrate the oxidative stress tolerance ability of marine cyanobacterium, Leptolyngbya valderiana BDU 20041 and to PCR amplify and sequence the SOD gene, the central enzyme for alleviating stress.

Result

L. valderiana BDU 20041, a filamentous, non-heterocystous marine cyanobacterium showed tolerance to the tested dye (C.I. Acid Black 1) which is evident by increased in biomass (i.e.) chlorophyll a. The other noticeable change was the total ROS production by culture dosed with dye compared to the control cultures. This prolonged incubation showed sustenance, implying that cyanobacteria maintain their antioxidant levels. The third significant feature was a two-fold increase in SOD activity of dye treated L. valderiana BDU20041 suggesting the role of SOD in alleviating oxidative stress via Asada-Halliwell pathway. Hence, the organism was PCR amplified for SOD gene resulting in an amplicon of 550 bp. The sequence analysis illustrated the presence of first three residues involved in motif; active site residues at H4, 58 and D141 along with highly conserved Mn specific residues. The isolated gene shared 63.8% homology with MnSOD of bacteria confirmed it as Mn isoform. This is the hitherto report on SOD gene from marine cyanobacterium, L. valderiana BDU20041 of Indian subcontinent.

Conclusion
Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) coupled with induction of SOD by marine cyanobacterium, L. valderiana BDU20041 was responsible for alleviating stress caused by an azo dye, C. I. Acid Black 1. The partial SOD gene has been sequenced and based on the active site, motif and metal specific residues; it has been identified as Mn metalloform.
Effective cardiac resynchronization therapy for an adolescent patient with dilated cardiomyopathy seven years after mitral valve replacement and septal anterior ventricular exclusion
Authors: Mima Takahiro , Baba Shiro , Yokoo Noritaka , Kaichi Shinji , Doi Takahiro , Doi Hiraku , Heike Toshio 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a new treatment for refractory heart failure. However, most heart failure patients treated with CRT are middle-aged or old patients with idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. We treated a 17 year 11 month old girl with dilated cardiomyopathy after mitral valve replacement (MVR) and septal anterior ventricular exclusion (SAVE). Seven years after the SAVE procedure, she presented complaining of palpitations and general fatigue with normal activity. Her echocardiogram showed reduced left ventricular function. Despite of optimal medical therapy, her left ventricular function continued to decline and she experienced regular arrhythmias such as premature ventricular contractions. We thus elected to perform cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D). After CRT-D, her clinical symptoms improved dramatically and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved from 31.2% to 51.3% as assessed by echocardiogram. Serum BNP levels decreased from 448.2 to 213.6 pg/ml. On ECG, arrhythmias were remarkably reduced and QRS duration was shortened from 174 to 152 msec. In conclusion, CRT-D is an effective therapeutic option for adolescent patients with refractory heart failure after left ventricular volume reduction surgery.
A retroperitoneal abscess caused by Haemophilus parainfluenza after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and open cholecystectomy with a common bile duct exploration: a case report
Authors: Patel Shonak B , Hashmi Zubair A , Marx Robert J 
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Introduction
Abscesses after open cholecystectomies have been reported to occur in less than 1% of patients. The majority of these abscesses are colonized by gastrointestinal tract flora. It is clearly known that Haemophilus parainfluenza is a normal inhabitant of the human respiratory tract. However, its origin and route of transmission into the gastrointestinal tract is unknown.

Case presentation
We present the case of a 68-year-old Caucasian female who developed a retroperitoneal abscess caused by H. parainfluenza after open cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration. This presented nearly five weeks post-operatively. She underwent a second operation to drain the abscess, and was subsequently placed on appropriate antibiotics.

Conclusion
A retroperitoneal abscess due to H. parainfluenza is extremely rare. It is a normal inhabitant of the human respiratory tract. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only a few reported cases of these abscesses, and they mainly involve the psoas muscle. The retroperitoneal abscess originated from the oropharynx, most likely after the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed. With the advent of Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery, oral decontamination will need to be considered to decrease the potential for such infections.
The invariant NKT cell subset in anti-viral defenses: a dark horse in anti-influenza immunity?
Authors: Kulkarni R R , Haeryfar S M , Sharif S 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
Review highlights the imporant contributions of iNKT cells to immune responses against viral pathogens with particular emphasis on immunity to influenza infections.
iNKT cells, a small subset of αβ TCR+ T cells, are capable of producing large amounts of cytokines upon activation through their TCR. Unlike conventional T cells that express highly diverse TCRs, iNKT cells express a glycolipid-reactive invariant TCR-α chain paired with a limited number of β chain(s). These cells recognize glycolipid antigens when presented on CD1d molecules found on APC or other cells. Although the immunoregulatory roles of iNKT cells in the context of autoimmune disease are fairly well characterized, several lines of evidence highlight the importance of this cell type in immune responses against microbial insults caused by bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens. Recent studies that have investigated the role of iNKT cells in immune responses against influenza virus have suggested an important role for these cells in innate defense mechanisms as well as antibody- and cell-mediated responses. This review highlights the important contributions of iNKT cells to immune responses against viral pathogens with particular emphasis on immunity to influenza infections.
The Antiproliferative Effects of Progestins in T47D Breast Cancer Cells Are Tempered by Progestin Induction of the ETS Transcription Factor Elf5
Authors: Hilton H. N. , Kalyuga M. , Cowley M. J. , Alles M. C. , Lee H. J. , Caldon C. E. , Blazek K. , Kaplan W. , Musgrove E. A. , Daly R. J. , Naylor M. J. , Graham J. D. , Clarke C. L. , Ormandy C. J. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractProlactin and progesterone act together to regulate mammary alveolar development, and both hormones have been implicated in breast cancer initiation and progression. Here we show that Elf5, a prolactin-induced ETS transcription factor that specifies the mammary secretory cell lineage, is also induced by progestins in breast cancer cells via a direct mechanism. To define the transcriptional response to progestin elicited via Elf5, we made an inducible Elf5 short hairpin-RNA knock-down model in T47D breast cancer cells and used it to prevent the progestin-induction of Elf5. Functional analysis of Affymetrix gene expression data using Gene Ontologies and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed enhancement of the progestin effects on cell cycle gene expression. Cell proliferation assays showed a more efficacious progestin-induced growth arrest when Elf5 was kept at baseline levels. These results showed that progestin induction of Elf5 expression tempered the antiproliferative effects of progestins in T47D cells, providing a further mechanistic link between prolactin and progestin in the regulation of mammary cell phenotype.
A Drosophila melanogaster model of classic galactosemia
Authors: Kushner Rebekah F. , Ryan Emily L. , Sefton Jennifer M. I. , Sanders Rebecca D. , Lucioni Patricia Jumbo , Moberg Kenneth H. , Fridovich-Keil Judith L. 
Published: June 2010

SUMMARY
Classic galactosemia is a potentially lethal disorder that results from profound impairment of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT). Despite decades of research, the underlying pathophysiology of classic galactosemia remains unclear, in part owing to the lack of an appropriate animal model. Here, we report the establishment of a Drosophila melanogaster model of classic galactosemia; this is the first whole-animal genetic model to mimic aspects of the patient phenotype. Analogous to humans, GALT-deficient D. melanogaster survive under conditions of galactose restriction, but accumulate elevated levels of galactose-1-phosphate and succumb during larval development following galactose exposure. As in patients, the potentially lethal damage is reversible if dietary galactose restriction is initiated early in life. GALT-deficient Drosophila also exhibit locomotor complications despite dietary galactose restriction, and both the acute and long-term complications can be rescued by transgenic expression of human GALT. Using this new Drosophila model, we have begun to dissect the timing, extent and mechanism(s) of galactose sensitivity in the absence of GALT activity.
The Effect of Microstructure on Delayed Hydride Cracking Behavior of Zircaloy-4 Fuel Cladding—An International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Program
Authors: Coleman C. , Grigoriev V. , Inozemtsev V. , Markelov V. , Roth M. , Makarevicius V. , Kim Y. S. , Liaqat Ali Kanwar , Chakravarrty J. K. , Mizrahi R. , Lalgudi R. 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
The rate of delayed hydride cracking (DHC) has been measured in Zircaloy-4 fuel cladding in several metallurgical conditions using the pin-loading tension technique. In light water reactor (LWR) cladding in the cold-worked and cold-worked and stress-relieved conditions, the cracking rate followed Arrhenius behavior up to about 280 °C, but at higher temperatures the rate declined with no cracking above 300°C. Non-LWR cladding appeared to behave in the same manner. In LWR cladding in the recrystallized condition, the cracking rate was highly variable because it depended on KI within the test range up to 25 MPa√m, whereas in the other LWR claddings, cracking rate was independent of KI, indicating that KIH was below 11 MPa√m. The main role of microstructure was to control the material strength; the cracking rate increased as the strength increased. Although all the claddings had a radial texture, it did not protect the cladding from DHC. The DHC fracture surface consisted of flat broken hydrides, often in arcs, but no striations were observed, except in one specimen subjected to thermal cycles.
Directionality of Epistasis in a Murine Intercross Population
Authors: Pavlicev Mihaela , Le Rouzic Arnaud , Cheverud James M , Wagner Günter P , Hansen Thomas F 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
Directional epistasis describes a situation in which epistasis consistently increases or decreases the effect of allele substitutions, thereby affecting the amount of additive genetic variance available for selection in a given direction. This study applies a recent parameterization of directionality of epistasis to empirical data. Data stems from a QTL mapping study on an intercross between inbred mouse (Mus musculus) strains LG/J and SM/J, originally selected for large and small body mass, respectively. Results show a negative average directionality of epistasis for body-composition traits, predicting a reduction in additive allelic effects and in the response to selection for increased size. Focusing on average modification of additive effect of single loci, we find a more complex picture, whereby the effects of some loci are enhanced consistently across backgrounds, while effects of other loci are decreased, potentially contributing to either enhancement or reduction of allelic effects when selection acts at single loci. We demonstrate and discuss how the interpretation of the overall measurement of directionality depends on the complexity of the genotype–phenotype map. The measure of directionality changes with the power of scale in a predictable way; however, its expected effect with respect to the modification of additive genetic effects remains constant.
Association of Occupation, Employment Contract, and Company Size with Mental Health in a National Representative Sample of Employees in Japan
Authors: Inoue Akiomi , Kawakami Norito , Tsuchiya Masao , Sakurai Keiko , Hashimoto Hideki 
Published: June 2010

Association of Occupation, Employment Contract, and Company Size with Mental Health in a National Representative Sample of Employees in Japan: Akiomi Inoue, et al. Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the cross‐sectional association of employment contract, company size, and occupation with psychological distress using a nationally representative sample of the Japanese population.MethodsFrom June through July 2007, a total of 9,461 male and 7,717 female employees living in the community were randomly selected and surveyed using a self‐administered questionnaire and interview including questions about occupational class variables, psychological distress (K6 scale), treatment for mental disorders, and other covariates.ResultsAmong males, part‐time workers had a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress than permanent workers. Among females, temporary/contract workers had a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress than permanent workers. Among males, those who worked at companies with 300–999 employees had a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress than those who worked at the smallest companies (with 1–29 employees). Company size was not significantly associated with psychological distress among females. Additionally, occupation was not significantly associated with psychological distress among males or females. Similar patterns were observed when the analyses were conducted for those who had psychological distress and/or received treatment for mental disorders.ConclusionsWorking as part‐time workers, for males, and as temporary/ contract workers, for females, may be associated with poor mental health in Japan. No clear gradient in mental health along company size or occupation was observed in Japan.
Changes in Serum Lipid Levels During Pregnancy in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Göbl Christian S. , Handisurya Ammon , Klein Katharina , Bozkurt Latife , Luger Anton , Bancher-Todesca Dagmar , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra 
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE
Alterations in maternal lipid metabolism could affect fetal programming and the susceptibility for atherosclerosis in the offspring; therefore, we studied differences in lipid profiles of pregnant women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A total of 173 diabetic pregnancies were studied prior to conception (V0), at each trimester (V1–V3), and after delivery and were compared with 137 healthy women at V3.

RESULTS
During gestation, the increase in serum lipid concentrations was less pronounced in type 2 diabetic subjects. At V3, the lipid levels of type 1 diabetic women with normal glucose tolerance were similar but significantly higher then those of type 2 diabetic women. Elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol at V3 were significant predictors for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest smaller changes in serum lipid concentrations during pregnancy in type 2 diabetic mothers. Additionally, we found a positive association between maternal triglycerides and LGA infants independently of chronic glycemic control.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Agarwal Mukesh M. , Dhatt Gurdeep S. , Shah Syed M. 
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) criteria on 1) gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis compared with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria and 2) the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to predict GDM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In 10,283 pregnant women undergoing a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for universal screening of GDM, two FPG thresholds (of the OGTT) were used to rule in and to rule out GDM.

RESULTS
The IADPSG and ADA criteria identified GDM in 3,875 (37.7%) women and 1,328 (12.9%) women, respectively (P &lt; 0.0005). FPG thresholds of ≥5.1 mmol/l ruled in GDM in 2,975 (28.9%) women with 100% specificity, while &lt;4.4 mmol/l ruled out GDM in 2,228 (21.7%) women with 95.4% sensitivity. FPG independently could have avoided the OGTT in 5,203 (50.6%) women.

CONCLUSIONS
The IADPSG criteria increased GDM prevalence nearly threefold. By circumventing a significant number of OGTTs, an initial FPG can greatly simplify the IADPSG diagnostic algorithm.
The Comparative Analysis of Inductor and Reluctance Wind Generators
Authors: Kamoliņš Edmunds 
Published: June 2010

The Comparative Analysis of Inductor and Reluctance Wind GeneratorsIn the presented work two designs of brushless generators are compared: inductor and reluctance. Both designs are multipolar and also can be applied as directly driven wind generators. Both one and the second designs are basically similar, but in the inductor generator are windings of excitation or permanent magnets which complicate a design, increase consumption of the copper and energy losses. In work shown that reluctance generator has no winding of excitation, it is simple and more reliable, it has less weight. It's more competitive for use in low power wind plants.
Investigations of the undamped field effect to the electromagnetic processes in the induction machines
Authors: Koņuhova Marina , Ketners Kārlis , Ketnere Elena , Kļujevska Svetlana 
Published: June 2010

Investigations of the undamped field effect to the electromagnetic processes in the induction machinesThe results of effect of induction motor un-damped field on transient electromagnetic torques in motor switching regime research are presented in these investigations.
Control of Steam-Turbine Regulators at Transition to an Island State
Authors: Georgiev Georgi 
Published: June 2010

Control of Steam-Turbine Regulators at Transition to an Island StateThe simple operating algorithm is presented for steam turbine regulators of type Simadin (Siemens) at emergency switching-off of the generator from system together with some, unknown in advance, load. The given situation is known as "a transition to an island state (regime)". Keeping of turbine speed and preservation of its rating value at a generator blackout when its own needs will be load only, is an easy problem. When the generator remains in its island it is necessary to solve "on-line" two additional problems: to reveal a situation "island" and to estimate the island load for translating a regulator on the new task and providing dynamic stability of transition. The algorithm was tried and entered successfully into practice on Varna TPP, CEZ GROUP (Prague), in 2008.