bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome predictors and quality of life of severe burn patients admitted to intensive care unit
Authors: Pavoni Vittorio , Gianesello Lara , Paparella Laura , Buoninsegni Laura Tadini , Barboni Elisabetta 
Published: May 2010

Abstract

Background
Despite significant medical advances and improvement in overall mortality rate following burn injury, the treatment of patients with extensive burns remains a major challenge for intensivists. We present a study aimed to evaluate the short- and the long-term outcomes of severe burn patients (total body surface area, TBSA > 40%) treated in a polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU) and to assess the quality of life of survivors, one year after the injury using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire.

Methods
A prospective-observational study was performed in an ICU of a University-affiliated hospital. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors predicting in-hospital mortality. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used to asses participant's long term self-reported general health.

Results
During a period of five years, 50 patients participated in the study. Their mean age was 53.8 ± 19.8; they had a mean of %TBSA burned of 54.5 ± 18.1. 44% and 10% of patients died in the ICU and in the ward after ICU discharge, respectively. Baux index, SAPS II and SOFA on admission to the ICU, infectious and respiratory complications, and time of first burn wound excision were found to have a significant predictive value for hospital mortality. The level of health of all survivors was worse than before the injury. Problems in the five dimensions studied were present as follows: mobility (moderate 68.5%; extreme 0%), self-care (moderate 21%; extreme 36.9%), usual activities (moderate 68.5%; extreme 21%), pain/discomfort (moderate 68.5%; extreme 10.5%), anxiety/depression (moderate 36.9%; extreme 42.1%).

Conclusions
In severe burn patients, Baux index, severity of illness on admission to the ICU, complications, and time of first burn wound excision were the major contributors to hospital mortality. Quality of life was influenced by consequences of injury both in psychological and physical health.
Plasma and synovial fluid microRNAs as potential biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Authors: Murata Koichi , Yoshitomi Hiroyuki , Tanida Shimei , Ishikawa Masahiro , Nishitani Kohei , Ito Hiromu , Nakamura Takashi 
Published: May 2010

Abstract
Introduction
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous small noncoding RNAs regulating the activities of target mRNAs and cellular processes, are present in human plasma in a stable form. In this study, we investigated whether miRNAs are also stably present in synovial fluids and whether plasma and synovial fluid miRNAs could be biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods
We measured concentrations of miR-16, miR-132, miR-146a, miR-155 and miR-223 in synovial fluid from patients with RA and OA, and those in plasma from RA, OA and healthy controls (HCs) by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, miRNAs in the conditioned medium of synovial tissues, monolayer fibroblast-like synoviocytes, and mononuclear cells were examined. Correlations between miRNAs and biomarkers or disease activities of RA were statistically examined.

Results
Synovial fluid miRNAs were present and as stable as plasma miRNAs for storage at -20°C and freeze-thawing from -20°C to 4°C. In RA and OA, synovial fluid concentrations of miR-16, miR-132, miR-146a, and miR-223 were significantly lower than their plasma concentrations, and there were no correlation between plasma and synovial fluid miRNAs. Interestingly, synovial tissues, fibroblast-like synoviocytes, and mononuclear cells secreted miRNAs in distinct patterns. The expression patterns of miRNAs in synovial fluid of OA were similar to miRNAs secreted by synovial tissues. Synovial fluid miRNAs of RA were likely to originate from synovial tissues and infiltrating cells. Plasma miR-132 of HC was significantly higher than that of RA or OA with high diagnosability. Synovial fluid concentrations of miR-16, miR-146a miR-155 and miR-223 of RA were significantly higher than those of OA. Plasma miRNAs or ratio of synovial fluid miRNAs to plasma miRNAs, including miR-16 and miR-146a, significantly correlated with tender joint counts and 28-joint Disease Activity Score.

Conclusions
Plasma miRNAs had distinct patterns from synovial fluid miRNAs, which appeared to originate from synovial tissue. Plasma miR-132 well differentiated HCs from patients with RA or OA, while synovial fluid miRNAs differentiated RA and OA. Furthermore, plasma miRNAs correlated with the disease activities of RA. Thus, synovial fluid and plasma miRNAs have potential as diagnostic biomarkers for RA and OA and as a tool for the analysis of their pathogenesis.
Phylogenetic assessment of alignments reveals neglected tree signal in gaps
Authors: Dessimoz Christophe , Gil Manuel 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBackgroundThe alignment of biological sequences is of chief importance to most evolutionary and comparative genomics studies, yet the two main approaches used to assess alignment accuracy have flaws: reference alignments are derived from the biased sample of proteins with known structure, and simulated data lack realism.ResultsHere, we introduce tree-based tests of alignment accuracy, which not only use large and representative samples of real biological data, but also enable the evaluation of the effect of gap placement on phylogenetic inference. We show that (i) the current belief that consistency-based alignments outperform scoring matrix-based alignments is misguided; (ii) gaps carry substantial phylogenetic signal, but are poorly exploited by most alignment and tree building programs; (iii) even so, excluding gaps and variable regions is detrimental; (iv) disagreement among alignment programs says little about the accuracy of resulting trees.ConclusionsThis study provides the broad community relying on sequence alignment with important practical recommendations, sets superior standards for assessing alignment accuracy, and paves the way for the development of phylogenetic inference methods of significantly higher resolution.
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modulate Cellular Immune Response to Islet Antigen Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Zanone Maria M. , Favaro Enrica , Miceli Ilaria , Grassi Giorgio , Camussi Elisa , Caorsi Cristiana , Amoroso Antonio , Giovarelli Mirella , Perin Paolo Cavallo , Camussi Giovanni 
Published: May 2010

Context: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert an immunosuppressive effect on the immune system. However, studies on the immunomodulatory potential of MSCs in type 1 diabetes are lacking.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether human MSCs may inhibit in vitro pancreatic islet antigen-specific T cell activation in type 1 diabetes.
Design: Human MSCs were isolated and characterized. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from nine type 1 diabetic patients at disease onset and 13 healthy control subjects. IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-4 enzyme-linked immunospot responses of lymphocytes incubated with glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) were investigated in PBMC cultures and PBMC/MSC cocultures. Levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 in supernatants were measured by ELISA. PGE2 inhibition experiments with NS-398 and indomethacin were also performed.
Results: Five diabetic patients were identified with a positive PBMC IFN-γ response to GAD65 and negative IL-10 and IL-4 response. PBMC/MSC cocultures resulted in a significant decrease in the number of spots and in detection of IL-4-secreting cells. PGE2 inhibitors abrogated the immune-suppressive effect, indicating an involvement of PGE2 production, and the constitutive production of PGE2 by MSCs was enhanced in PBMC/MSC coculture. Moreover, in GAD-responder patients, GAD-stimulated PBMC/MSC cocultures significantly decreased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10 and increased secretion of IL-4.
Conclusions: These results provide evidence that human MSCs abrogate in vitro a proinflammatory T helper type 1 response to an islet antigenic stimulus in type 1 diabetes. MSCs induce IL-4-producing cells, suggesting a possible switch to an antiinflammatory T helper type 2 signaling of T cells.
Reduced Oxygenation in Human Obese Adipose Tissue Is Associated with Impaired Insulin Suppression of Lipolysis
Authors: Pasarica Magdalena , Rood Jennifer , Ravussin Eric , Schwarz Jean-Marc , Smith Steven R. , Redman Leanne M. 
Published: May 2010

Context: Adipose tissue in obese individuals is characterized by reduced capillary density and reduced oxygenation.Objective: Our objective was to test whether hypoxia is associated with reduced antilipolytic effect of insulin.Participants, Design, and Setting: Twenty-one lean and obese individuals participated in this cross-sectional study at a university-based clinical research center.Intervention: In all subjects, in situ adipose tissue (AT) oxygenation [AT oxygen partial pressure (ATpO2)] was measured with a Clark electrode, insulin sensitivity as well as basal and insulin-suppressed lipolysis (continuous infusion of (2H5)glycerol) were measured during a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, and abdominal sc AT biopsies were collected to assess fat cell size (Coulter counting of osmium-fixed cells), capillary density (by staining of histological sections), and gene expression (by quantitative RT-PCR).Main Outcome Measure: In situ ATpO2 was evaluated.Results: The ability of insulin to suppress lipolysis (percent) was positively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = 0.43; P &lt; 0.05), ATpO2 (r = 0.44; P &lt; 0.05), vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA (r = 0.73; P &lt; 0.01), and capillary density (r = 0.75; P &lt; 0.01).Conclusion: These results indicate that low capillary density and ATpO2 in AT are potentially upstream causes of AT dysfunction.
Effect of slow desiccation and freezing on gene transcription and stress survival of an Antarctic nematode
Authors: Adhikari Bishwo N. , Wall Diana H. , Adams Byron J. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARY
Nematodes are the dominant soil animals of the Antarctic Dry Valleys and are capable of surviving desiccation and freezing in an anhydrobiotic state. Genes induced by desiccation stress have been successfully enumerated in nematodes; however, little is known about gene regulation by Antarctic nematodes that can survive multiple types and incidences of environmental stress. In order to reveal the molecular response of anhydrobiotic survival, we investigated the genetic response of an Antarctic nematode, Plectus murrayi, which can survive desiccation and freezing. Using molecular approaches, we provide insight into the regulation of desiccation-induced transcripts during different stages of stress survival under conditions characteristic of the Antarctic Dry Valley environment. Our study revealed that exposure to slow desiccation and freezing plays an important role in the transcription of stress, metabolism and signal transduction-related genes and improves desiccation and freezing survival compared with nematodes exposed to fast desiccation and freezing. Temporal analyses of gene expression showed that pre-exposure to mild stress promotes survival of harsher stress. Our results further show that exposure to slow dehydration not only improves extreme desiccation survival but also promotes enhanced cold tolerance. We also provide evidence that slow dehydration can enhance freeze tolerance in an Antarctic nematode. Expression profiling of P. murrayi transcripts is an important step in understanding the genome-level response of this nematode to different environmental stressors.
Target tracking during venom ‘spitting’ by cobras
Authors: Westhoff Guido , Boetig Melissa , Bleckmann Horst , Young Bruce A. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARY
Spitting cobras, which defend themselves by streaming venom towards the face and/or eyes of a predator, must be highly accurate because the venom they spit is only an effective deterrent if it lands on the predator's cornea. Several factors make this level of accuracy difficult to achieve; the target is moving, is frequently &gt;1 m away from the snake and the venom stream is released in approximately 50 ms. In the present study we show that spitting cobras can accurately track the movements of a potentially threatening vertebrate, and by anticipating its subsequent (short-term) movements direct their venom to maximize the likelihood of striking the target's eye. Unlike other animals that project material, in spitting cobras the discharge orifice (the fang) is relatively fixed so directing the venom stream requires rapid movements of the entire head. The cobra's ability to track and anticipate the target's movement, and to perform rapid cephalic oscillations that coordinate with the target's movements suggest a level of neural processing that has not been attributed to snakes, or other reptiles, previously.
Evidence that water exudes when holothurian connective tissue stiffens
Authors: Tamori Masaki , Takemae Chigusa , Motokawa Tatsuo 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYThe dermis of the body wall of sea cucumbers is composed mainly of extracellular materials such as collagens, proteoglycans and water; the water content is as high as 80%. Yet it shows rapid changes in stiffness under neural control. The dermis has been proposed to assume three mechanical states, soft, standard, and stiff. We investigated the relationship between the stiffness and the dermal mass and volume. Both the mass and volume decreased by 15% when the dermis stiffened from the standard state to the stiff state by mechanical stimulation and by chemical stimulation with potassium-rich seawater. The effect of the latter was abolished by anesthesia. The mass decrease was caused largely by water exudation. Tensilin, a holothurian protein that stiffens the soft dermis to form the standard state, did not cause any changes in mass. These results suggested that the stiffening mechanisms responsible for the transition from the soft state to the standard state, and that from the standard to the stiff state, are different. The removal of water from the dermis in the standard state, by soaking in hypertonic solution, caused only slight stiffening, which suggested that water exudation was not the direct cause of the stiffening. A change of pH of the surrounding medium, either more acidic or basic, was not associated with mass changes, although it caused a large increase in stiffness. The implications of the present results for the molecular mechanisms of the stiffness changes are discussed.
Oral and integumental uptake of free exogenous glycine by the Japanese spiny lobsterPanulirus japonicusphyllosoma larvae
Authors: Souza Juan Carlos Rodriguez , Strüssmann Carlos Augusto , Takashima Fumio , Satoh Hiroo , Sekine Shintaro , Shima Yasuhiro , Matsuda Hirokazu 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYThe possibility of direct integumental absorption of the amino acid glycine from a solution in seawater was investigated in 250–260 day old (16.9–50.0 mg wet mass) phyllosoma larvae of the Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus Von Siebold 1824. The uptake of the amino acid was assessed by autoradiography and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) of larvae incubated with [2-3H]glycine and the net uptake was estimated by a time course high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the concentration of glycine in the incubation medium. Autoradiography revealed the presence of labelled glycine in the cuticle, epidermis and internal tissues (digestive system, muscle, haemocytes) within 30 min of the onset of incubation. Absorption through the integument was confirmed by autoradiography and LSC as glycine uptake was observed even in larvae whose mouths were artificially sealed with cyanoacrylate bond prior to incubation. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the body surface revealed no bacterial population that could have mediated the uptake. HPLC revealed a consistent net uptake (0.29–0.39 μmol g−1 body mass h−1) of glycine in larvae incubated in 6 μmol l−1 glycine and high individual variation (e.g. absorption or release) in larvae incubated at higher concentrations (30 and 60 μmol l−1). Thus, the results of this study provide clear confirmation that, in addition to the known mode of oral feeding on macroscopic food masses, P. japonicus phyllosoma larvae are also able to absorb nutrients directly from the surrounding medium.
Orientation and autumn migration routes of juvenile sharp-tailed sandpipers at a staging site in Alaska
Authors: Grönroos Johanna , Muheim Rachel , Åkesson Susanne 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYArctic waders are well known for their impressive long-distance migrations between their high northerly breeding grounds and wintering areas in the Southern hemisphere. Performing such long migrations requires precise orientation mechanisms. We conducted orientation cage experiments with juvenile sharp-tailed sandpipers (Calidris acuminata) to investigate what cues they rely on when departing from Alaska on their long autumn migration flights across the Pacific Ocean to Australasia, and which possible migration routes they could use. Experiments were performed under natural clear skies, total overcast conditions and in manipulated magnetic fields at a staging site in Alaska. Under clear skies the juvenile sharp-tailed sandpipers oriented towards SSE, which coincides well with reported sun compass directions from their breeding grounds in Siberia towards Alaska and could reflect their true migratory direction towards Australasia assuming that they change direction towards SW somewhere along the route. Under overcast skies the sandpipers showed a mean direction towards SW which would lead them to Australasia, if they followed a sun compass route. However, because of unfavourable weather conditions (headwinds) associated with overcast conditions, these south-westerly directions could also reflect local movements. The juvenile sharp-tailed sandpipers responded clearly to the manipulated magnetic field under overcast skies, suggesting the use of a magnetic compass for selecting their courses.
Rhythmic chewing with oral jaws in teleost fishes: a comparison with amniotes
Authors: Gintof Chris , Konow Nicolai , Ross Callum F. , Sanford Christopher P. J. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYIntra-oral prey processing (chewing) using the mandibular jaws occurs more extensively among teleost fishes than previously documented. The lack of muscle spindles, γ-motoneurons and periodontal afferents in fishes makes them useful for testing hypotheses regarding the relationship between these sensorimotor components and rhythmic chewing in vertebrates. Electromyography (EMG) data from the adductor mandibulae (AM) were used to quantify variation in chew cycle duration in the bowfin Amia, three osteoglossomorphs (bony-tongues), four salmonids and one esocid (pike). All species chewed prey using their oral jaw in repetitive trains of between 3 and 30 consecutive chews, a pattern that resembles cyclic chewing in amniote vertebrates. Variance in rhythmicity was compared within and between lineages using coefficients of variation and Levene's test for homogeneity of variance. These comparisons revealed that some teleosts exhibit degrees of rhythmicity that are comparable to mammalian mastication and higher than in lepidosaurs. Moreover, chew cycle durations in fishes, as in mammals, scale positively with mandible length. Chewing among basal teleosts may be rhythmic because it is stereotyped and inflexible, the result of patterned interactions between sensory feedback and a central pattern generator, because the lack of a fleshy tongue renders jaw–tongue coordination unnecessary and/or because stereotyped opening and closing movements are important for controlling fluid flow in the oral cavity.
Functional physiology of lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax) luminescent pattern: differential hormonal regulation of luminous zones
Authors: Claes Julien M. , Mallefet Jérôme 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARY
Lantern sharks are small deep-sea sharks that harbour complex species-specific luminescent photophore patterns. The luminescent pattern of one of these sharks, Etmopterus spinax, is made up of nine luminous zones. Previous experiments revealed that in the largest of these zones (ventral zone), photophores are under hormonal control, light being triggered by both melatonin (MT) and prolactin (PRL). In this study, we analysed the luminescent responses to MT and PRL in five other luminous zones from 12 female and eight male E. spinax specimens. The results showed that all luminous zones respond to both hormones, with each zone having its own kinetic parameters (maximum light intensity, Lmax; total light emitted, Ltot; time from stimulation to Lmax, TLmax), which confirms the multifunctional character of this shark's luminescence. Ltot and Lmax were found to be directly dependent on the photophore density (PD) of the luminous zone, while TLmax varied independently from PD. In addition, we demonstrate a sexual dimorphism in the luminescent response to PRL, with male specimens having smaller Ltot and TLmax in the luminous zones from the pelvic region. As this region also harbours the sexual organs of this species, this strongly suggests a role for the luminescence from these zones in reproduction.
Myoglobin production in emperor penguins
Authors: Ponganis P. J. , Welch T. J. , Welch L. S. , Stockard T. K. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARY
Increased oxygen storage is essential to the diving capacities of marine mammals and seabirds. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this adaptation are unknown. Myoglobin (Mb) and Mb mRNA concentrations were analyzed in emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) adults and chicks with spectrophotometric and RNase protection assays to evaluate production of their large Mb-bound O2 stores. Mean pectoral Mb concentration and Mb mRNA content increased throughout the pre-fledging period and were 15-fold and 3-fold greater, respectively, in adults than in 3.5 month old chicks. Mean Mb concentration in 5.9 month old juveniles was 2.7±0.4 g 100 g−1 muscle (44% that of wild adults), and in adults that had been captive all their lives it was 3.7±0.1 g 100 g−1 muscle. The Mb and Mb mRNA data are consistent with regulation of Mb production at the level of transcription as in other animals. Significant Mb and Mb mRNA production occurred in chicks and young juveniles even without any diving activity. The further increase in adult Mb concentrations appears to require the exercise/hypoxia of diving because Mb concentration in captive, non-diving adults only reached 60% of that of wild adults. The much greater relative increase in Mb concentration than in Mb mRNA content between young chicks and adults suggests that there is not a simple 1:1 relationship between Mb mRNA content and Mb concentration. Nutritional limitation in young chicks and post-transcriptional regulation of Mb concentration may also be involved.