bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Encephalopathy and SCN1A mutations
Authors: Tang Shan , Lin Jean Pierre , Hughes Elaine , Siddiqui Ata , Lim Ming , Lascelles Karine 
Published: March 2011

SummaryWe describe three children with genetically different sodium channel alpha 1 subunit (SCN1A) mutation associated epilepsy who experienced a sudden and sustained neurologic regression following status epilepticus in two and acute sepsis in one. Neuroimaging showed evidence of cerebral ischemia in one, but the other two cases showed cerebellar signal abnormalities. The selectivity of cerebellar white matter change suggests a different mechanism of injury or increased susceptibility of this brain region to injury in at least some patients with SCN1A mutations. This report adds to the spectrum and mechanism of acute neurologic deterioration and functional deficit associated with SCN1A mutations, which remains to be fully understood.
Modern antiepileptic drug development has failed to deliver: Ways out of the current dilemma
Authors: Löscher Wolfgang , Schmidt Dieter 
Published: March 2011

SummaryDespite the development of various new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) since the early 1990s, the available evidence indicates that the efficacy and tolerability of drug treatment of epilepsy has not substantially improved. What are the reasons for this apparent failure of modern AED development to discover drugs with higher efficacy? One reason is certainly the fact that, with few exceptions, all AEDs have been discovered by the same conventional animal models, particularly the maximal electroshock seizure test (MES) in rodents, which served as a critical gatekeeper. These tests have led to useful new AEDs, but obviously did not help developing AEDs with higher efficacy in as yet AED‐resistant patients. This concern is not new but, surprisingly, has largely been unappreciated for several decades. A second—admittedly speculative—reason is that progress in pharmacologic treatment of drug‐resistant epilepsy will not be made unless and until we develop drugs that specifically target the underlying disease. Although better preclinical approaches will not be able to circumvent regulatory requirements, more efficacious drugs may allow us to abandon clinically questionable trials with intentionally less efficacious controls and noninferiority designs, and require evidence for comparative effectiveness. The failure of AED development has led to increasing disappointment among clinicians, basic scientists, and industry and may halt any further improvement in the treatment of epilepsy unless we find ways out of this dilemma. Therefore, we need new concepts and fresh thinking about how to radically change and improve AED discovery and development. In this respect, the authors of this critical review will discuss several new ideas that may hopefully lead to more efficacious drug treatment of epilepsy in the future.
Immunohistochemical analysis of myenteric ganglia and interstitial cells of Cajal in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Bernardini Nunzia , Segnani Cristina , Ippolito Chiara , De Giorgio Roberto , Colucci Rocchina , Faussone‐Pellegrini Maria Simonetta , Chiarugi Massimo , Campani Daniela , Castagna Maura , Mattii Letizia , Blandizzi Corrado , Dolfi Amelio 
Published: March 2011

AbstractUlcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with alterations of colonic motility, which influence clinical symptoms. Although morpho‐functional abnormalities in the enteric nervous system have been suggested, in UC patients scarce attention has been paid to possible changes in the cells that control colonic motility, including myenteric neurons, glial cells and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). This study evaluated the neural‐glial components of myenteric ganglia and ICC in the colonic neuromuscular compartment of UC patients by quantitative immunohistochemical analysis. Full‐thickness archival samples of the left colon were collected from 10 patients with UC (5 males, 5 females; age range 45–62 years) who underwent elective bowel resection. The colonic neuromuscular compartment was evaluated immunohistochemically in paraffin cross‐sections. The distribution and number of neurons, glial cells and ICC were assessed by anti‐HuC/D, ‐S100β and ‐c‐Kit antibodies, respectively. Data were compared with findings on archival samples of normal left colon from 10 sex‐ and age‐matched control patients, who underwent surgery for uncomplicated colon cancer. Compared to controls, patients with UC showed: (i) reduced density of myenteric HuC/D+ neurons and S100β+ glial cells, with a loss over 61% and 38%, respectively, and increased glial cell/neuron ratio; (ii) ICC decrease in the whole neuromuscular compartment. The quantitative variations of myenteric neuro‐glial cells and ICC indicate considerable alterations of the colonic neuromuscular compartment in the setting of mucosal inflammation associated with UC, and provide a morphological basis for better understanding the motor abnormalities often observed in UC patients.
A limited role for regulatory T cells in post‐ischemic neovascularization
Authors: Hellingman A.A. , van der Vlugt L.E.P.M. , Lijkwan M.A. , Bastiaansen A.J.N.M. , Sparwasser T. , Smits H.H. , Hamming J.F. , Quax P.H.A. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractRecently, it was demonstrated that arteriogenesis is enhanced in mice deficient in regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cell), which can suppress effector T cell responses. The present study investigates the effects of these regulatory T cells on arteriogenesis in more detail by either specific expanding or depleting regulatory T cells. Hind limb ischemia was induced by electro‐coagulation of the femoral artery in mice. Regulatory T cells were either expanded by injecting mice with a complex of interleukin (IL)‐2 with the IL‐2 monoclonal antibody JES6–1, or depleted by anti‐CD25 antibody or diphtheria toxin injections in DEREG mice (depletion of regulatory T cells). Blood flow restoration was monitored using laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Collateral arteries were visualized by immunohistochemistry. Regulatory T cell expansion led to a moderate though significant suppression of blood flow restoration after ischemia induction. Surprisingly, depletion of regulatory T cells resulted in minor increase on blood flow recovery. However, collateral and capillary densities in the post‐ischemic skeletal muscle were significantly increased in DEREG mice depleted for regulatory T cells. The presence of regulatory T cells after ischemia induction when analysed in non‐depleted DEREG mice could be demonstrated by green fluorescent protein staining only in lymph nodes in the ischemic area, and not in the ischemic muscle tissue. The current study demonstrates that, even under conditions of major changes in regulatory T cell content, the contribution of regulatory T cells to the regulation of the arteriogenic response is only moderate.
Bacteraemia with an unknown focus: is the focus de facto absent or merely unreported? A one‐year hospital‐based cohort study
Authors: LARSEN INGE KRISTINE , PEDERSEN GITTE , SCHØNHEYDER HENRIK C. 
Published: March 2011

Larsen IK, Pedersen G, Schønheyder HC. Bacteraemia with an unknown focus: is the focus de facto absent or merely unreported? A one‐year hospital‐based cohort study. APMIS 2011; 119: 275–9.An unknown focus of infection is associated with an increased risk of death in patients with bacteraemia. However, the implications for patient management remain uncertain, and to our knowledge, the validity of an unknown focus has not been evaluated. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective record review of bacteraemias with an unknown focus recorded in a regional bacteraemia database. The study cohort comprised 645 cases of bacteraemia diagnosed in 537 hospitalized patients at Aalborg Hospital, Denmark, in 2003. The focus was unknown in 184 (29%) bacteraemia episodes (162 patients). The record review pointed conclusively to a focus in 39 episodes. The positive predictive value of an unknown focus was 79% and the proportion of bacteraemias with a focus increased from 71% to 78%. Among the 145 cases of bacteraemia with a de facto unknown focus, there were 36 incidents of febrile neutropenia and 20 additional incidents of early death which precluded a search for a focus. The study confirmed the focus to be de facto absent in most patients classified with an unknown focus. The distribution of foci changed only marginally by the disclosure of a focus in one of five patients in the ‘unknown’ group.
Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases with focus on CTX‐M in a low‐endemic area in Sweden
Authors: ÖNNBERG ANNA , MÖLLING PAULA , ZIMMERMANN JOHANNA , SÖDERQUIST BO 
Published: March 2011

Önnberg A, Mölling P, Zimmermann J, Söderquist B. Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases with focus on CTX‐M in a low‐endemic area in Sweden. APMIS 2011; 119: 287–95.During the last decade increasing prevalence of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing Enterobacteriaceae has been detected worldwide, mainly due to dissemination of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae producing CTX‐M‐type ESBLs. CTX‐M‐15 is the most widespread CTX‐M type, and the predominant type in various countries. Dissemination of ESBL‐producing organisms is caused not only by horizontal transfer of plasmids, but also by clonal spread of ESBL‐producing strains. In this study, the molecular epidemiology of class A ESBL (ESBLA)‐producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolated in Örebro County, Sweden, was investigated. Out of 200 ESBLA‐producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, collected over a 10‐year period, 87% were producing CTX‐M, belonging to subgroup CTX‐M‐1 (64%), CTX‐M‐9 (34%), or CTX‐M‐2 (2%). The remaining isolates were producing variants of SHV and TEM. Sequencing of the blaCTX‐M genes revealed 10 different CTX‐M types, with a dominance of CTX‐M‐15 (E. coli 54%, K. pneumoniae 50%) followed by CTX‐M‐14 (E. coli 28%, K. pneumoniae 27%). Phenotypic characterization of the CTX‐M‐producing isolates was performed using the PhenePlate system. Although a few minor clusters of CTX‐M‐15 and CTX‐M‐14 producers were identified, the majority of the isolates did not appear to be clonally related.
Student perceptions of syndicate learning: tutor‐less group work within an undergraduate dental curriculum
Authors: McKerlie R. A. , Cameron D. A. , Sherriff A. , Bovill C. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper describes the implementation of syndicate learning (tutor‐less group working) to teach the basic principles and skills of removable partial denture design within an undergraduate dental curriculum at the University of Glasgow. Student perceptions of syndicate group learning were collected through using questionnaires with Likert scales and through focus group interviews. The majority of students expressed positive views of syndicate learning that focused on the following themes: the added value of the group in terms of learning and in terms of social cohesion; the sense of responsibility to peers that led them to work harder; the autonomy of tutor‐less groups that led them to improve their ability to justify their work; and the effectiveness of the syndicate groups in comparison with other learning methods. On the basis of these findings along with reports from students that learning about group roles enhanced their preparation for future work, we argue that syndicate learning can offer some valuable benefits to the undergraduate dental curriculum.
Interaction of the general transcription factor TnrA with the PII‐like protein GlnK and glutamine synthetase in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Kayumov Airat , Heinrich Annette , Fedorova Kseniya , Ilinskaya Olga , Forchhammer Karl 
Published: March 2011

TnrA is a master transcription factor regulating nitrogen metabolism in Bacillus subtilis under conditions of nitrogen limitation. When the preferred nitrogen source is in excess, feedback‐inhibited glutamine synthetase (GS) has been shown to bind TnrA and disable its activity. In cells grown with an energetically unfavorable nitrogen source such as nitrate, TnrA is fully membrane‐bound via a complex of AmtB and GlnK, which are the transmembrane ammonium transporter and its cognate regulator, respectively, originally termed NrgA and NrgB. The complete removal of nitrate from the medium leads to rapid degradation of TnrA in wild‐type cells. In contrast, in AmtB‐deficient or GlnK‐deficient strains, TnrA is neither membrane‐bound nor degraded in response to nitrate depletion. Here, we show that TnrA forms either a stable soluble complex with GlnK in the absence of AmtB, or constitutively binds to GS in the absence of GlnK. In vitro, the TnrA C‐terminus is responsible for interactions with either GS or GlnK, and this region appears also to mediate proteolysis, suggesting that binding of GlnK or GS protects TnrA from degradation. Surface plasmon resonance detection assays have demonstrated that GS binds to TnrA not only in its feedback‐inhibited form, but also in its non‐feedback‐inhibited form, although less efficiently. TnrA binding to GlnK or GS responds differentially to adenylate nucleotide levels, with ATP weakening interactions with both partners.Structured digital abstract
tnrA
binds to glnK by surface plasmon resonance (View interaction)
GS
binds to tnrA by pull down (View interaction)
tnrA
binds to glnK by pull down (View interaction)
tnrA
binds to GS by pull down (View interaction)
GS
physically interacts with tnrA by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (View interaction)
glnK
binds to tnrA by pull down (View interaction)
glnK
physically interacts with tnrA by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (View interaction)
tnrA
physically interacts with GS by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (View interaction)
tnrA
physically interacts with glnK by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (View interaction)
tnrA
binds to tnrA by cross‐linking study (View interaction)
tnrA
binds to GS by surface plasmon resonance (View interaction)
Penile Implant Utilization Following Treatment for Prostate Cancer: Analysis of the SEER-Medicare Database
Authors: Tal Raanan , Jacks Lindsay M. , Elkin Elena , Mulhall John P. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Prostate cancer treatments, including radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT), may adversely affect erectile function. Penile implant surgery is a well-recognized erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment for prostate cancer survivors who wish to remain sexually active and in whom nonsurgical treatments are ineffective or unpalatable.

Aim
To describe the utilization of penile implants after RP or RT for prostate cancer and to identify predictors of such use.

Methods
From Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry data linked with Medicare claims, we identified men aged ≥66 years diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998–2005 who were treated with RP or RT. Utilization of penile implants was identified in Medicare claims. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic and clinical predictors of implant utilization.

Main Outcome Measures
Medicare claim for penile implant surgery, impact of demographic and clinical factors on penile implant surgery utilization.

Results
The study group comprised 68,558 subjects, including 52,747 who had RT and 15,811 who had RP as primary prostate cancer treatment. The penile implant utilization rate was 0.8% for the entire group, 0.3% for the RT group, and 2.3% for the RP group. Predictors of penile implant utilization were initial treatment modality, younger age, and African American or Hispanic race, being unmarried and residing in the South or West.

Conclusions
Penile implant utilization after prostate cancer treatment is relatively uncommon in men over 65. Men who are younger, African American or Hispanic, and those who have an RP are more likely than their peers to receive a penile implant after prostate cancer treatment.
Perceived Reduced Sleep-Related Erections in Subjects with Erectile Dysfunction: Psychobiological Correlates
Authors: Corona Giovanni , Rastrelli Giulia , Balercia Giancarlo , Sforza Alessandra , Forti Gianni , Mannucci Edoardo , Maggi Mario 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Perceived reduced sleep-related erections (PR-SREs), along with erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypoactive sexual desire, have been recently recognized as the most important symptoms characterizing late-onset hypogonadism in community-dwelling European men. However, the clinical correlates of PR-SREs have not been thoroughly investigated.

Aim
To evaluate the psychobiological correlates of PR-SREs in a large series of subjects consulting for ED.

Methods
A consecutive series of 3,888 (mean age 51.6 ± 13.0 years) ED patients attending an outpatient ED clinic was retrospectively analyzed.

Main Outcome Measures
PR-SREs were investigated using validated question #13 of structured interview on ED, which showed an accuracy of approximately 70% in predicting Rigiscan™ (Dacomed Corp., Minneapolis, MN, USA) parameters in a consecutive subset of 199 subjects. Clinical, biochemical, hormonal, instrumental (penile color Doppler ultrasound; PCDU), and intrapsychic (Middlesex Health Questionnaire) correlates were also evaluated.

Results
PR-SREs were reported by 63.6% of patients. After adjustment for age, total, analog free, calculated free and calculated bioavailable testosterone (T) were significantly lower in subjects reporting more severe PR-SREs. After adjusting for T levels and other confounders, PR-SREs were still associated with higher body mass index, glucose, and triglyceride levels, as well as with an increased 10-year cardiovascular risk score. Accordingly, PR-SREs were more prevalent in subjects showing a reduced dynamic peak systolic velocity at PCDU or reporting severe ED. Among intrapsychic parameters, depressive and histrionic traits were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in subjects with any degree of PR-SREs.

Conclusions
Our study indicates that investigating PR-SREs represents an important step during the andrological consultation. In fact, reduced SREs might indicate an endocrine, organic, and/or psychiatric ED background that might help in directing further investigation.
A possible solution to the [α/Fe]-σ problem in early-type galaxies within a hierarchical galaxy formation model
Authors: Calura F. , Menci N. 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
The most massive elliptical galaxies apparently formed the fastest, because the ratio of α elements (such as oxygen) to iron is the smallest. In fact, iron is mainly produced from type Ia supernovae on a time-scale of ∼0.1–1 Byr, while the α elements come from massive stars on time-scales of a few tens of million years. Reproducing such a α/Fe correlation has long been a severe problem for cosmological theories of galaxy formation, which envisage massive galaxies to assemble gradually from smaller progenitors, and to be characterized by a star formation history too much extended towards late cosmic times. While it has recently become clear that feedback from Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) activity plays a role in the late quenching of star formation, and that early star formation history in the galaxy progenitors affect the α/Fe ratio, major mergers alone cannot enhance the star formation in the high-redshift progenitors to the levels required to match the steepness of the observed α/Fe correlation. Here we report that the inclusion of the effects of fly-by ‘harassments’, that trigger lower level starbursts, combined with the AGN quenching of the starburst activity, considerably enhances the capability to account for the observed α/Fe ratio in ellipticals within cosmological galaxy formation models. The critical difference between the earlier work and the present result is the effect of starbursts driven by fly-by encounters that would have been very common amongst the high-redshift progenitors of massive galaxies and which would have boosted star formation in the first 2 Byr after the big bang, combined with quenching of the burst activity within the first 3–4 Gyr.
An investigation into the Multiple Optimised Parameter Estimation and Data compression algorithm
Authors: Graff Philip , Hobson Michael P. , Lasenby Anthony 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
We investigate the use of the Multiple Optimised Parameter Estimation and Data compression (MOPED) algorithm for data compression and faster evaluation of likelihood functions. Since MOPED only guarantees maintaining the Fisher matrix of the likelihood at a chosen point, multimodal and some degenerate distributions will present a problem. We present not only examples of scenarios in which MOPED does faithfully represent the true likelihood, but also cases in which it does not. Through these examples, we aim to define a set of criteria for which MOPED will accurately represent the likelihood and hence may be used to obtain a significant reduction in the time needed to calculate it. These criteria may involve the evaluation of the full likelihood function for comparison.
IMPROVEMENT OF SHELF LIFE STABILITY OF CAKES
Authors: SOZER NESLI , BRUINS RIEKS , DIETZEL CHRISTIE , FRANKE WILLIAM , KOKINI JOZEF L. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTThe effects of new ingredient strategies to slow down starch retrogradation rate in cakes were investigated. In this study, devil's fudge cakes were formulated using gum, modified starch and enzyme technology. Cake samples that were prepared with combinations of gums, bacterial amylases and pregelatinized starch were found to have slower starch retrogradation rates. An accelerated shelf life protocol was followed to observe the effect of predescribed ingredients on slowing the starch retrogradation rate. The samples were evaluated for moisture content, water activity, texture and thermal properties, as well as morphological characteristics. The staling rate was found to be accelerated by the fluctuations in temperature from high to low temperatures. Modified starches, enzymes and gums were found to decrease the rate of staling and improve product quality. The formulated cakes were found to have 25% lower toughness and hardness values as compared with the control product. It was found that for all the cake formulations, there was a significant decrease in both hardness and toughness values, whereas springiness values did not change much. The basic differences within formulations were created by incorporation of gums, enzymes, soluble fibers, emulsifiers and modified flours in the cake.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSNutritional balance is quite important for each individual. For certain groups of people, based on their activity levels, high energy supplies are required to help them to achieve their optimal performance. Cakes, waffles and pancakes are in the group of breakfast bakery items that provide high energy for these groups of people. In bakery food products, staling reactions start before microbial deteriorations; as a result, they are the major factor in determining shelf life. Cakes that are acceptable to the consumers should be moist and soft in texture.Starch retrogradation is the primary mechanism determining the shelf life of the product. Although the product is microbiologically safe, the adverse affects of starch crystals on textural properties is the main cause of product rejection by the consumer, which leads to huge economical losses. The current methods of controlling starch retrogradation lean on technologies of the 1980s. Despite several studies on bread staling, there is hardly any study on the staling mechanism of cakes and other bakery food items. This study provides information on how to retard staling in cakes by the use of an in‐house developed accelerated shelf life protocol.