bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of vitamin D in health and disease
Authors: Wang Sihe 
Published: October 2009

Results from ecological, case–control and cohort studies have shown that vitamin D reduces the risk of bone fracture, falls, autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, CVD and cancer. However, there is still epidemic vitamin D insufficiency especially among individuals living at high latitudes or with dark skin. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are considered the best biomarker of vitamin D nutritional status. Appropriate sunshine exposure or oral supplementation is necessary to maintain sufficient vitamin D status, which is generally accepted as serum 25(OH)D>75 nmol/l. Immunoassays, especially RIA, have been primarily used to measure serum 25(OH)D while liquid chromatography–MS (LC–MS) is considered the ‘gold standard’. There is significant disparity among the immunoassays, and all immunoassays have considerable bias compared with LC–MS methods. Because of the variations among the results from these different assays, it is necessary that assay-specific reference ranges be established or standardisation of the assays take place. The present review focuses on ecological, case–control, and cohort studies that investigated the role of vitamin D in health and disease. In addition, analytical techniques used in laboratory evaluation of vitamin D nutritional status are also critically reviewed. The majority of the literature included in the present review is selected from that searchable in PubMed up to the end of September 2008.
Timing of eplerenone initiation and outcomes in patients with heart failure after acute myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular systolic dysfunction: insights from the EPHESUS trial†
Authors: Adamopoulos Chris , Ahmed Ali , Fay Renaud , Angioi Michael , Filippatos Gerasimos , Vincent John , Pitt Bertram , Zannad Faiez ,   the EPHESUS Investigators
Published: October 2009

AimsTo test the hypothesis that an earlier post‐acute myocardial infarction (AMI) eplerenone initiation in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and heart failure (HF) is associated with better long‐term outcomes.Methods and resultsThe 6632 patients of the EPHESUS study were randomized from day 3 to 14 after the index AMI (median = 7 days), of these 3319 were assigned to eplerenone. We analysed the differential effects of time‐to‐eplerenone initiation vs. placebo, based on the median time to initiation of treatment (<7 days—‘earlier’, ≥7days—‘later’). Effects on outcomes were evaluated over a mean 16‐month follow‐up, using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The earlier eplerenone initiation (<7 days) reduced the risk of all‐cause mortality by 31% (P = 0.001) when compared with the ‘earlier’ placebo’ and also reduced the risks of cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization/CV mortality by 24% (P < 0.0001) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) by 34% (P < 0.0001). In contrast, later eplerenone initiation (≥7 days) had no significant effect on outcomes. Interactions between time‐to‐randomization and treatment were significant. These associations remained substantially unchanged after risk adjustment in multivariable models.ConclusionAn earlier eplerenone administration (3–7days) post‐AMI improved outcomes in patients with LVSD and HF. This benefit was not observed when eplerenone was initiated later (≥7days).
Rationale and design of Ferinject® Assessment in patients with IRon deficiency and chronic Heart Failure (FAIR‐HF) study: a randomized, placebo‐controlled study of intravenous iron supplementation in patients with and without anaemia
Authors: Anker Stefan D. , Colet Josep Comin , Filippatos Gerasimos , Willenheimer Ronnie , Dickstein Kenneth , Drexler Helmut , Lüscher Thomas F. , Mori Claudio , von Eisenhart Rothe Barbara , Pocock Stuart , Poole‐Wilson Philip A. , Ponikowski Piotr ,   on behalf of the FAIR‐HF committees and investigators
Published: October 2009

AimsIron deficiency (ID) and anaemia are common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The presence of anaemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in CHF, and ID is a major reason for the development of anaemia. Preliminary studies using intravenous (i.v.) iron supplementation alone in patients with CHF and ID have shown improvements in symptom status. FAIR‐HF (ClinicalTrials.govNCT00520780) was designed to determine the effect of i.v. iron repletion therapy using ferric carboxymaltose on self‐reported patient global assessment (PGA) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) in patients with CHF and ID.Methods and resultsThis is a multi‐centre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study recruiting ambulatory patients with symptomatic CHF with LVEF ≤ 40% (NYHA II) or ≤45% (NYHA III), ID [ferritin <100 ng/mL or ferritin 100–300 ng/mL when transferrin saturation (TSAT) < 20%], and haemoglobin 9.5–13.5 g/dL. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject®) 200 mg iron i.v. or saline i.v. weekly until iron repletion (correction phase), then monthly until Week 24 (maintenance phase). Primary endpoints are (i) self‐reported PGA at Week 24 and (ii) NYHA class at Week 24, adjusted for baseline NYHA class.ConclusionThis study will provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of iron repletion with ferric carboxymaltose in CHF patients with ID with and without anaemia.
Adherence to medication according to sex and age in the CHARM programme
Authors: Granger Bradi B. , Ekman Inger , Granger Christopher B. , Ostergren Jan , Olofsson Bertil , Michelson Eric , McMurray John J.V. , Yusuf Salim , Pfeffer Marc A. , Swedberg Karl 
Published: October 2009

AimsAlthough many patients with heart failure have incomplete adherence to prescribed medications, predisposing factors remain unclear. This analysis investigates factors associated with adherence, with particular emphasis on age and sex.Methods and resultsA multivariable regression analysis of 7599 heart failure patients from the CHARM trial was done to evaluate factors associated with adherence. Adherence was measured as the proportion of time patients took more than 80% of study medication. The mean age was 66 years (SD 11) and 31.5% (n = 2400) were women. Women were slightly less adherent than men (87.3 vs. 89.8%, P = 0.002), even in adjusted, multivariable models (treatment, P = 0.006; placebo P = 0.004; and overall P < 0.001). However, all‐cause mortality was lower in women (21.5%) than in men (25.3%) (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69–0.86; P < 0.001), but patients with a low adherence regardless of sex had a higher mortality. Age, severity of heart failure, number of medications, and smoking status were not associated with adherence.ConclusionWomen, particularly those <75 years of age, were less likely to be adherent in this large sample of patients with symptomatic heart failure. Understanding factors associated with adherence may provide opportunities for intervention.
Transcript-Based Cloning ofRRP46, a Regulator of rRNA Processing andRGene–Independent Cell Death in Barley–Powdery Mildew Interactions
Authors: Xi Liu , Moscou Matthew J. , Meng Yan , Xu Weihui , Caldo Rico A. , Shaver Miranda , Nettleton Dan , Wise Roger P. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractProgrammed cell death (PCD) plays a pivotal role in plant development and defense. To investigate the interaction between PCD and R gene–mediated defense, we used the 22K Barley1 GeneChip to compare and contrast time-course expression profiles of Blumeria graminis f. sp hordei (Bgh) challenged barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivar C.I. 16151 (harboring the Mla6 powdery mildew resistance allele) and its fast neutron–derived Bgh-induced tip cell death1 mutant, bcd1. Mixed linear model analysis identified genes associated with the cell death phenotype as opposed to R gene–mediated resistance. One-hundred fifty genes were found at the threshold P value &lt; 0.0001 and a false discovery rate &lt;0.6%. Of these, 124 were constitutively overexpressed in the bcd1 mutant. Gene Ontology and rice (Oryza sativa) alignment-based annotation indicated that 68 of the 124 overexpressed genes encode ribosomal proteins. A deletion harboring six genes on chromosome 5H cosegregates with bcd1-specified cell death and is associated with misprocessing of rRNAs but segregates independent of R gene–mediated resistance. Barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing of one of the six deleted genes, RRP46 (rRNA-processing protein 46), phenocopied bcd1-mediated tip cell death. These findings suggest that RRP46, a critical component of the exosome core, mediates RNA processing and degradation involved in cell death initiation as a result of attempted penetration by Bgh during the barley–powdery mildew interaction but is independent of gene-for-gene resistance.
Evaluation of anti‐wrinkle effects of a novel cosmetic containing retinol using the guideline of the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association
Authors: KAWADA Akira , KONISHI Natsuko , MOMMA Tomoyuki , OISO Naoki , KAWARA Shigeru 
Published: October 2009

AbstractRetinol is known to be effective in the treatment of sallowness, wrinkling, red blotchiness and hyperpigmented spots in aging skin. In this study, we have evaluated the anti‐wrinkle effects of a new cosmetic containing retinol. An open study was performed in 30 healthy Japanese women who had wrinkles at the corners of the eyes. The tested lotion, Retin‐OX+ (RoC SA, Colombes, France), was applied on wrinkles of one side of the face for 8 weeks, and not on the other site as a control. Anti‐wrinkle effects were evaluated by two methods: (i) doctors’ observation and photos based on the guideline of the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association; and (ii) the Robo Skin Analyzer. This lotion showed marked and moderate improvement in 34% of the subjects with a significant difference as compared with the control sites (P < 0.05). Moreover, the length and area decreased in the applied site more than the control site with a significant difference (P < 0.01). All the patients completed the study without significant adverse reactions. The tested lotion was well tolerated and may be an optional preparation for the treatment of wrinkles at the corner of the eyes.
Do we have to pay more attention to vitiligo patients? Peculiar histopathological features of primary cutaneous melanoma preceded by vitiligo
Authors: ONSUN Nahide , BÜYÜKBABANI Nesimi , ÜMMETOĞLU Ömer , CEBECI Filiz 
Published: October 2009

AbstractVitiligo is an acquired depigmenting skin disease characterized by the loss of functioning epidermal melanocytes. Vitiligo can be associated with an autoimmune disorder. An unusual and important aspect of vitiligo is its relationship to melanoma. We present herein a 34‐year‐old man who developed regional lymph node metastases of malignant melanoma 2 years after the diagnosis of vitiligo.
When parents love and don't love their children: some children's stories
Authors: D'Cruz Heather , Stagnitti Karen 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses a small pilot study with Anglo‐Australian children aged 6 to 8 years. The children expressed through stories of what it meant for them when parents love and care for their children, and when they do not. Themes from stories of parental love and care included: relationships, shared special times, being safe and protected, and physical affection. Stories about parents who did not love or care for their children covered themes of abandonment, isolation and sadness. The study contributes an approach that can improve professional practice with children and early outcomes showing the importance of seeking children's perspectives in decision‐making about their welfare.
PIM‐1 kinase expression in adipocytic neoplasms: diagnostic and biological implications
Authors: Nga Min En , Swe Nu Nu Ma , Chen Kang Ting , Shen Liang , Lilly Michael B. , Chan Siew Pang , Salto‐Tellez Manuel , Das Kakoli 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumours poses a considerable challenge for pathologists, especially adipocytic tumours, as these may show considerable overlap in clinical presentation and morphological features with many other mesenchymal neoplasms. Hence, a specific and reliable marker that identifies adipocytic differentiation is much sought. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of PIM‐1 kinase in 35 samples of soft tissue tumours using tissue microarray technology and 49 full sections of adipocytic (n = 26) and non‐adipocytic tumours (n = 23). Benign and malignant adipocytic tumours showed strong expression of PIM‐1 while the non‐adipocytic tumours were either negative or showed only weak staining for the protein. In myxoid liposarcomas, PIM‐1 showed a distinct, unique vacuolar staining pattern, clearly outlining fine cytoplasmic lipid vacuoles. By contrast, non‐adipocytic myxoid tumours (myxoma, chordoma and myxoid chondrosarcoma) did not show this vacuolar pattern of PIM‐1 staining, although vacuolated cells were present on H&E. This differential expression was confirmed at a gene expression level in selected cases. Our results indicate that the expression of PIM‐1 in adipose tissue may be a useful marker of adipocytic differentiation, in particular if the staining is both of high intensity and present in a unique, vacuolar pattern.
Patterns of ant species diversity and turnover across 2000 km of Amazonian floodplain forest
Authors: Vasconcelos Heraldo L. , Vilhena José M.S. , Facure Kátia G. , Albernaz Ana L.K.M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAim  To determine the effect and relative importance of geographic and local environmental factors on species richness and turnover of ant assemblages in floodplain forests across the Amazon basin.Location  Twenty‐six mature forest sites scattered along the entire extension of the Amazon River in Brazil. The study area encompassed nearly 18° of longitude and 3.5° of latitude.Methods  Systematic collections of ants were performed at each site during the low‐water season (i.e. when forests are not inundated) using three complementary sampling methods. We used variance partitioning techniques to assess the relative effects of the spatial (latitude and longitude) and environmental (rainfall, length of the dry season and flood height) variables on ant species richness and composition.Results  There was a twofold variation in the number of species per site, which was largely explained by inter‐site variations in rainfall seasonality and flooding intensity. In general, there were more species at sites located in the western part of the basin, where the dry season is less severe, or near the river estuary, where precipitation is also high and flooding is less intense. Ant community composition was also affected by environmental heterogeneity. For instance, some species only occurred at those sites less affected by the river’s seasonal flooding, whereas others were mostly associated with the drier or wetter regions of the basin. In addition, the turnover of species increased significantly as geographic distances increased. Nevertheless, the rate of change was small given that many species had a broad distribution across the study area.Main conclusions  Ant distribution patterns along the floodplain forests of the Amazon appear to be controlled to a relatively large extent by the current gradient in flooding intensity and – most importantly – in precipitation. Altered rainfall regimes resulting from global warming and land‐use change thus have the potential to influence these patterns.
Effects of patch size and density on flower visitation and seed set of wild plants: a pan‐European approach
Authors: Dauber Jens , Biesmeijer Jacobus C. , Gabriel Doreen , Kunin William E. , Lamborn Ellen , Meyer Birgit , Nielsen Anders , Potts Simon G. , Roberts Stuart P. M. , Sõber Virve , Settele Josef , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Stout Jane C. , Teder Tiit , Tscheulin Thomas , Vivarelli Daniele , Petanidou Theodora 
Published: October 2009

Summary 1. Habitat fragmentation can affect pollinator and plant population structure in terms of species composition, abundance, area covered and density of flowering plants. This, in turn, may affect pollinator visitation frequency, pollen deposition, seed set and plant fitness. 2. A reduction in the quantity of flower visits can be coupled with a reduction in the quality of pollination service and hence the plants’ overall reproductive success and long‐term survival. Understanding the relationship between plant population size and/or isolation and pollination limitation is of fundamental importance for plant conservation. 3. We examined flower visitation and seed set of 10 different plant species from five European countries to investigate the general effects of plant populations size and density, both within (patch level) and between populations (population level), on seed set and pollination limitation. 4. We found evidence that the effects of area and density of flowering plant assemblages were generally more pronounced at the patch level than at the population level. We also found that patch and population level together influenced flower visitation and seed set, and the latter increased with increasing patch area and density, but this effect was only apparent in small populations. 5. Synthesis. By using an extensive pan‐European data set on flower visitation and seed set we have identified a general pattern in the interplay between the attractiveness of flowering plant patches for pollinators and density dependence of flower visitation, and also a strong plant species‐specific response to habitat fragmentation effects. This can guide efforts to conserve plant–pollinator interactions, ecosystem functioning and plant fitness in fragmented habitats.
Polygynous supercolonies of the acacia‐antPseudomyrmex peperi, an inferior colony founder
Authors: KAUTZ S. , PAULS S. U. , BALLHORN D. J. , LUMBSCH H. T. , HEIL M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIn ant–plant protection mutualisms, plants provide nesting space and nutrition to defending ants. Several plant–ants are polygynous. Possessing more than one queen per colony can reduce nestmate relatedness and consequently the inclusive fitness of workers. Here, we investigated the colony structure of the obligate acacia‐antPseudomyrmex peperi, which competes for nesting space with several congeneric and sympatric species.Pseudomyrmex peperihad a lower colony founding success than its congeners and thus, appears to be competitively inferior during the early stages of colony development. Aggression assays showed thatP. peperiestablishes distinct, but highly polygynous supercolonies, which can inhabit large clusters of host trees. Analysing queens, workers, males and virgin queens from two supercolonies with eight polymorphic microsatellite markers revealed a maximum of three alleles per locus within a colony and, thus, high relatedness among nestmates. Colonies had probably been founded by one singly mated queen and supercolonies resulted from intranidal mating among colony‐derived males and daughter queens. This strategy allows colonies to grow by budding and to occupy individual plant clusters for time spans that are longer than an individual queen’s life. Ancestral states reconstruction indicated that polygyny represents the derived state within obligate acacia‐ants. We suggest that the extreme polygyny ofPseudomyrmex peperi, which is achieved by intranidal mating and thereby maintains high nestmate relatedness, might play an important role for species coexistence in a dynamic and competitive habitat.
Characteristics of prospectively measured vaginal bleeding among women trying to conceive
Authors: Mikolajczyk Rafael T. , Buck Louis Germaine M. , Cooney Maureen A. , Lynch Courtney D. , Sundaram Rajeshwari 
Published: October 2009

Mikolajczyk RT, Louis GMB, Cooney MA, Lynch CD, Sundaram R. Characteristics of prospectively measured vaginal bleeding among women trying to conceive. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 24–30.SummaryPrevious research has described variability in menstrual cycle lengths within and across women, though less attention has focused on characterising patterns of bleeding. While clinical definitions for menstrual bleeding are often given in standard textbooks, the validity of conventional definitions has not been empirically evaluated in epidemiological studies. The definition of menstrual bleeding may affect the analysis of time to pregnancy and pregnancy dating that relies upon the last menstrual period. We used daily records of vaginal bleeding from a prospective cohort study that included 74 women trying to become pregnant who reported 430 bleeding episodes. A longitudinal mixture model (PROC TRAJ) was used to classify patterns of bleeding.Among the first 74 bleeding episodes, 15% comprised only days with spotting or light bleeding (possibly representing non‐menstrual bleeding given the length of the cycle defined by these bleeding episodes). When all 430 bleeding episodes were analysed, four distinct bleeding patterns emerged: (1) episodic bleeding comprising 1–3 days of spotting (10%), (2) bleeding lasting 3–6 days (40%), (3) bleeding lasting 6–8 days (33%), and (4) bleeding lasting 8–12 days (17%). These findings suggest that non‐menstrual bleeding may be relatively common. Considerable variation in menstrual bleeding patterns is evident, and as such is likely to impact fecundity‐related endpoints or gestational age estimates that rely upon menstrual cycle dates. The association between bleeding patterns and female fecundity awaits future research.
Temporal variation of heterozygosity‐based assortative mating and related benefits in a lesser kestrel population
Authors: ORTEGO J. , CALABUIG G. , BONAL R. , MUÑOZ A. , APARICIO J. M. , CORDERO P. J. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractHeterozygosity as a target of mate choice has received much attention in recent years and there is growing evidence supporting its role in the evolution of mate preferences. In this study we analyse mating patterns in relation to heterozygosity in a lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) population intensively monitored over six study years (2002–2007). The magnitude of heterozygosity‐based assortative mating varied over time, being particularly patent in the last study years (2006, 2007). We have found evidence that this mating pattern entails both direct and indirect‐genetic benefits. Clutch size increased with female heterozygosity and more heterozygous males raised a higher number of fledglings particularly in those years when the strength of the heterozygosity‐based assortative mating was markedly higher. In the last study year, parent–offspring correlation of heterozygosity was stronger and higher than the expected if individuals would have randomly mated with respect to heterozygosity. Overall, our results offer empirical support to the heterozygous mate hypothesis of sexual selection but suggest that genetic diversity may act as a temporally variable target for mate choice.