bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contingent incentives reduce cigarette smoking among pregnant, methadone‐maintained women: results of an initial feasibility and efficacy randomized clinical trial
Authors: Tuten Michelle , Fitzsimons Heather , Chisolm Margaret S. , Nuzzo Paul A. , Jones Hendree E. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAimsThis study examined the feasibility and efficacy of behavioral incentives for reducing cigarette smoking among pregnant methadone‐maintained patients.DesignParticipants (n = 102) were assigned randomly to: (i) contingent behavioral incentives (CBI: n = 42); (ii) non‐contingent behavioral incentives (NCBI: n = 28); or (iii) treatment as usual (TAU: n = 32).SettingStudy procedures were implemented at the Center for Addiction and Pregnancy in Baltimore, MD.ParticipantsStudy participants were pregnant, methadone‐maintained women enrolled in substance use disorder treatment.MeasurementsBaseline carbon monoxide (CO) levels were calculated for each participant. Subsequently, breath samples were tested three times weekly to measure changes in smoking behavior. CBI participants received incentives for target reductions from baseline: any reduction (week 1); 10% reduction (weeks 2–4), 25% reduction (weeks 5–7), 50% reduction (weeks 8–9), 75% reduction (week 10–11); and abstinence [CO < 4 parts per million (p.p.m.)] (week 12 until delivery). NCBI participants received incentives independent of smoking CO measurement results. TAU participants received no incentives, the standard treatment at the program.FindingsCBI condition participants submitted significantly lower mean CO values than the NCBI and TAU conditions over the course of the intervention (P < 0.0001). Nearly half (48%) of the CBI participants met the 75% smoking reduction target and one‐third (31%) met the abstinence target at week 12. In contrast, none of the NCBI met either the 75% or abstinence targets. Only 2% of the TAU participants met the 75% reduction and none of the TAU participants met the abstinence targets. These smoking behavior reductions did not yield significant differences in birth outcomes.ConclusionsCigarette smoking may be reduced significantly among pregnant, methadone‐maintained women through the use of contingent reinforcement for gradual reductions in breath carbon monoxide levels.
Systematic review: potential preventive effects of statins against oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Alexandre L. , Clark A. B. , Cheong E. , Lewis M. P. N. , Hart A. R. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryBackgroundThe incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) has risen dramatically in recent decades, and its prognosis remains extremely poor. There is emerging evidence that statins may prevent OAC.AimTo systematically review both the experimental and epidemiological evidence to determine whether statins reduce the risk of developing OAC.MethodsRelevant laboratory and epidemiological studies were identified by systematically searching the PUBMED and EMBASE electronic databases for data on statins and oesophageal cancer (OC). The evidence was assessed according to the nine Bradford Hill criteria (BHC) of causality. Pooled effect sizes (ES) were calculated for the risk of OC with prior statin use.ResultsMany of the BHC were supported including: ‘plausible biological mechanisms’, ‘coherence’, ‘strong associations’, ‘consistency’, ‘biological gradient’, ‘analogy’ and ‘temporality’. Three experimental studies reported that statins inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and may limit metastatic potential in OAC cell lines. Fixed effects meta‐analysis of two prospective studies in Barrett's oesophagus cohorts, involving 1382 participants, showed an ES of 0.53 (95% CI = 0.36–0.78, P = 0.001, I2 = 0%) for risk of OAC with prior statin use. Meta‐analysis of three prospective studies in general population cohorts, involving 35 214 participants, showed an ES of 0.86 (95% CI = 0.78–0.94, P = 0.001, I2 = 0%) for risk of OC with prior statin use. The most important criterion, ‘experiment’, is as yet unfulfilled as to date there are no clinical trials which investigate this hypothesis.ConclusionThere is some evidence that statins may protect against the development of OAC, although to be conclusive, data from randomised clinical trials are required.
Pedigrees as a source of information in mtDNA studies of dogs and horses
Authors: Głażewska I. , Prusak B. , Gralak B. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe goal of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of pedigree data in studies of mitochondrial DNA diversity in dogs and horses. Pedigree information allows for precisely choosing animals with distinct haplotypes for analysis, makes it possible to find rare haplotypes present exclusively in single individuals and helps to evaluate haplotype frequencies at the present and in the past. Estimating founder contributions to gene pools enables evaluating the parts of gene pools observed with the help of mtDNA analysis. An important aspect is also the financial benefits: using pedigree data, researchers can save a significant amount of time and money needed for sample collection and laboratory analysis.
Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase inactivation depends on gene deletion in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Conde Laura , Vilaseca Isabel , Alós Llucia , Bernal‐Sprekelsen Manuel , Cardesa Antonio , Nadal Alfons 
Published: June 2012

Conde L, Vilaseca I, Alós L, Bernal‐Sprekelsen M, Cardesa A & Nadal A  (2012) Histopathology Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase inactivation depends on gene deletion in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomaAims:  Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is an essential enzyme for the methionine and adenosine salvage pathway in normal cells, frequently inactivated in many different human cancers. MTAP status could be important for tumour cell sensitivity to adjuvant chemotherapy. To our knowledge, there have been no reports to date on MTAP status in laryngeal carcinoma.Methods and results:  A series of 31 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas was investigated for MTAP mRNA expression using reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), as well as for MTAP gene deletion and/or promoter hypermethylation using qPCR and methylation‐specific PCR, respectively. Low MTAP mRNA expression was found in 32% of cases, and was associated with MTAP gene deletion (in 70%; P < 0.001) but not with MTAP promoter hypermethylation, indicating that, in this tumour, gene deletion is the main mechanism for MTAP inactivation. Neither low mRNA expression nor gene deletion was associated with any of the clinicopathological parameters investigated.Conclusion:  Given the significance of MTAP status for cell sensitivity to different chemotherapeutic regimens, our results suggest that determination of MTAP inactivation should be taken into consideration in managing laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
In vitro antioxidant and bioactive properties of raw and roasted wattle (Acacia victoriae Bentham) seed extracts
Authors: Ee Kah Y. , Agboola Samson , Rehman Ata , Zhao Jian 
Published: June 2012

SummaryProtease inhibitors (PIs) from raw wattle (Acacia victoriae) seeds as well as phenolic extracts from raw and roasted wattle seeds were analysed for antioxidant, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antitumor and insecticidal activities. Progressive purification of the PIs resulted in increases in their ACE inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity, but decreases in antioxidant activity. Roasting of wattle seed significantly increased the antioxidant activity of the phenolic extracts as did alkaline hydrolysis of wattle seed flour, but the treatment destroyed their ACE inhibitory activity and reduced the level of cytotoxicity. A moderate degree of synergism between the PIs and phenolic extracts of wattle seed was observed for ACE inhibition activity, but not for antioxidant activity or cytotoxicity. Wattle seed PIs exhibited moderate cytotoxicity, but did not possess any significant antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antitumour or insecticidal activities.
Kinetics investigation of antioxidant capacity and total phenols of low‐temperature steeping Bi Luo Chun green tea
Authors: Liao Wayne C. , Wu Wen H. , Lai Shih T. , Lin Wei J. , Liou Hua‐Chien , Chan Chin‐Feng 
Published: June 2012

SummaryTraditionally, tea is steeped in boiled water in Taiwan. In this study, Bi Luo Chun (250 μg mL−1) steeped at 4, 22, 30, 40 and 50 °C reached the saturation of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity at the time of 15, 8, 2, 0.17 (10 s) and 0.17 min (10 s), respectively. The result indicated that tea steeped in cold water (under 22 °C) still can reach a saturation of antioxidant capacity in 15 min. However, the initial scavenging rate (% min−1) was quick and decreased with time at all steeping temperatures (r: −0.98 to −1.00). Total phenols and the DPPH scavenging capacity of Bi Luo Chun showed excellent correlation with time. However, the plot of DPPH scavenging capacity vs. total phenols was not always correlated. The result indicated that polyphenol infusion at different times may have a different DPPH scavenging capacity.
Quality indicators for in‐hospital management of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results of an international Delphi study
Authors: Lodewijckx Cathy , Sermeus Walter , Panella Massimiliano , Deneckere Svin , Leigheb Fabrizio , Troosters Thierry , Boto Paulo Alexandre , Mendes Rita Veloso , Decramer Marc , Vanhaecht Kris 
Published: June 2012

lodewijckx c., sermeus w., panella m., deneckere s., leigheb f., troosters t., boto p.a., mendes r.v., decramer m. & vanhaecht k. (2012) Quality indicators for in‐hospital management of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results of an international Delphi study. Journal of Advanced Nursing69(2), 348–362. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2648.2012.06013.xAbstractAim.  To report a Delphi study that was conducted to select process and outcome indicators that are relevant to study quality of care and impact of care pathways for patients hospitalized with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Background.  Management of patients hospitalized with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is suboptimal and outcomes are poor. To evaluate the impact of care pathways properly, relevant indicators need to be selected.Design.  Delphi study.Methods.  The study was conducted over 4 months in 2008, with 35 experts out of 15 countries, including 19 medical doctors, 8 nurses and 8 physiotherapists. Participants were asked to rate, for 72 process and 21 outcome indicators, the relevance for follow‐up in care pathways for in‐hospital management of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Consensus (agreement by at least 75% of the participants) that an indicator is relevant for follow‐up was sought in two rounds.Results.  Consensus was reached for 26 of 72 process indicators (36·1%) and 10 of 21 outcome indicators (47·6%). Highest consensus levels were found for the process indicators regarding oxygen therapy (100%), pulmonary rehabilitation (100%) and patient education (94·5–88·6%) and for the outcome indicators concerning understanding of therapy (91·4–85·7%) and self‐management (88·6–88·2%).Conclusion.  The selected indicators appear to be sensitive for improvement. Therefore, researchers and clinicians that want to study and improve the care for patients hospitalized with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should primarily focus on these indicators.
Seed dispersal by lizards on a continental‐shelf island: predicting interspecific variation in seed rain based on plant distribution and lizard movement patterns
Authors: Piazzon Martín , Larrinaga Asier R. , Rodríguez‐Pérez Javier , Latorre Lucia , Navarro Luis , Santamaría Luis 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim  We estimated the patterns of seed deposition provided by the eyed lizard, Timon lepidus, and evaluated whether these patterns can be generalized across plant species with different traits (fruit and seed size) and spatial distributions.Location  Monteagudo Island, Atlantic Islands National Park (north‐western Spain).Methods  We radio‐tracked seven lizards for 14 days and estimated their home ranges using fixed kernels. We also geo‐referenced all fruit‐bearing individuals of four plant species dispersed by eyed lizards in the study area (Corema album, Osyris alba, Rubus ulmifolius and Tamus communis), measured the passage time of their seeds through the lizard gut, and estimated seed predation in four habitats (bare sand, grassland, shrub and gorse). Seed dispersal kernels were estimated using a combination of these data and were combined with seed predation probability maps to incorporate post‐dispersal seed fate (‘seed survival kernels’).Results  Median seed gut‐passage times were around 52–98 h, with maximum values up to 250 h. Lizards achieved maximum displacement in their home ranges within 24–48 h. Seed predation was high (80–100% of seeds in 2 months), particularly under Corema shrub and gorse. Seed dispersal kernels showed a common pattern, with two areas of preferential seed deposition, but the importance of these varied among plant species. Interspecific differences among dispersal kernels were strongly reduced by post‐dispersal seed predation; hence, seed survival kernels of the different plant species showed high auto‐ and pairwise‐correlations at small distances (< 50 m). As a result, survival to post‐dispersal seed predation increased with dispersal distance for O. alba and T. communis, but not for C. album.Main conclusions  Seed dispersal by lizards was determined primarily by the interaction between the dispersers’ home ranges and the position of the fruit‐bearing plants. As a result, seed rain shared a common template, but showed considerable variation among species, determined by their specific spatial context. Seed predation increased the spatial coherence of the seed rain of the different species, but also resulted in contrasting relationships between seed survival and dispersal distance, which may be of importance for the demographic and evolutionary processes of the plants.
Exenatide improves excessive daytime sleepiness and wakefulness in obese patients with type 2 diabetes without obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: IDRIS ISKANDAR , ABDULLA HAITHAM , TILBROOK SEAN , DEAN ROY , ALI NABEEL 
Published: June 2012

SummaryWe investigate the effects of exenatide on excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), driving performance and depression score in patients with type 2 diabetes with EDS. Eight obese patients with diabetes but without obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) participated in a placebo‐controlled single‐blind study during which multiple wakefulness and sleep latency test, Epworth score, driving performance, depression score, fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were assessed at baseline, end of placebo and treatment phase at baseline and after 22 weeks of treatment. Mean (±standard error of the mean) age, body mass index (kg m2) and HbA1c [mmol mol−1 (%)] of patients at baseline were 50 ± 4.9 years, 37.6 ± 1.1 and 65 ± 19 (8.06 ± 0.41), respectively. When compared to placebo, exenatide treatment was associated with a decrease in both subjective and objective sleepiness, based on the Epworth score reduction and the sleep latency increase assessed by multiple objective sleepiness and sustained attention (OSLER) tests, respectively. Mean sleep latency time (adjusted for change in HbA1c and weight) were 32.1 ± 1.7, 29.1 ± 1.7 and 37.7 ± 1.7, respectively (P = 0.002). Modelling for covariates suggested that improvement in mean sleep latency time is predicted by changes in weight (P = 0.003), but not by changes in HbA1c (P = 0.054). Epworth sleepiness score was reduced significantly (values for placebo versus exenatide: 11.3 ± 1.2 versus 5.7 ± 1.3; P = 0.003). No significant change was noted in the depression score and driving performance. Exenatide is associated with a significant reduction in objective sleepiness in obese patients with type 2 diabetes without OSA, independent of HbA1c levels. These findings could form a basis for further studies to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleepiness in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Evidence for roles of the Escherichia coli Hda protein beyond regulatory inactivation of DnaA
Authors: Baxter Jamie C. , Sutton Mark D. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe ATP‐bound form of the Escherichia coli DnaA protein binds ‘DnaA boxes’ present in the origin of replication (oriC) and operator sites of several genes, including dnaA, to co‐ordinate their transcription with initiation of replication. The Hda protein, together with the β sliding clamp, stimulates the ATPase activity of DnaA via a process termed regulatory inactivation of DnaA (RIDA), to regulate the activity of DnaA in DNA replication. Here, we used the mutant dnaN159 strain, which expresses the β159 clamp protein, to gain insight into how the actions of Hda are co‐ordinated with replication. Elevated expression of Hda impeded growth of the dnaN159 strain in a Pol II‐ and Pol IV‐dependent manner, suggesting a role for Hda managing the actions of these Pols. In a wild‐type strain, elevated levels of Hda conferred sensitivity to nitrofurazone, and suppressed the frequency of −1 frameshift mutations characteristic of Pol IV, while loss of hda conferred cold sensitivity. Using the dnaN159 strain, we identified 24 novel hda alleles, four of which supported E. coli viability despite their RIDA defect. Taken together, these findings suggest that although one or more Hda functions are essential for cell viability, RIDA may be dispensable.
The role of effective leaf mixing length in the relationship between the δ18O of stem cellulose and source water across a salinity gradient
Authors: ELLSWORTH PATRICIA V. , ELLSWORTH PATRICK Z. , ANDERSON WILLIAM T. , STERNBERG LEONEL S. L. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTPrevious mangrove tree ring studies attempted, unsuccessfully, to relate the δ18O of trunk cellulose (δ18OCELL) to the δ18O of source water (δ18OSW). Here, we tested whether biochemical fractionation associated with one of the oxygen in the cellulose glucose moiety or variation in leaf water oxygen isotope fractionation (ΔLW) can interfere with the δ18OSW signal as it is recorded in the δ18OCELL of mangrove (saltwater) and hammock (freshwater) plants. We selected two transects experiencing a salinity gradient, located in the Florida Keys, USA. The δ18OCELL throughout both transects did not show the pattern expected based on that of the δ18OSW. We found that in one of the transects, biochemical fractionation interfered with the δ18OSW signal, while in the other transect ΔLW differed between mangrove and hammock plants. Observed differences in ΔLW between mangroves and hammocks were caused by a longer effective leaf mixing length (L) of the water pathway in mangrove leaves compared to those of hammock leaves. Changes in L could have caused the δ18OCELL to record not only variations in the δ18OSW but also in ΔLW making it impossible to isolate the δ18OSW signal.
Immunomodulatory Type II Natural Killer T Lymphocytes in Health and Disease
Authors: Rhost S. , Sedimbi S. , Kadri N. , Cardell S. L. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractNatural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes are αβ T cells activated by lipid‐based ligands presented on the non‐polymorphic CD1d‐molecule. Type I NKT cells that carry an invariant Vα14 (in the mouse) or Vα24 (in humans) T cell receptor α‐chain rearrangement have received significant attention for their involvement in a diversity of immune reactions. Their sister population, CD1d‐restricted type II NKT cells, has been more difficult to study because of the lack of molecular markers that specify these cells. In the last few years, however, significant progress has been made, demonstrating that type II NKT cells have unique functions in immune responses to tumours and infections, in autoimmunity, obesity and graft‐versus‐host disease. Type II NKT cells appear more frequent than type I NKT cells in humans and accumulate in certain diseases such as ulcerative colitis, hepatitis and multiple myeloma. Recently, novel type II NKT cell ligands have been identified, and it is becoming clear that the type II NKT cell population may be oligoclonal. Here, we review the recent progress in the study of type II NKT cells, supporting the view that type II NKT cells may be attractive targets for immunotherapy.
B Cell‐Activating Factor Enhances Interleukin‐6 and Interleukin‐10 Production by ODN‐Activated Human B Cells
Authors: Yehudai D. , Snir A. , Peri R. , Halasz K. , Haj T. , Odeh M. , Kessel A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe aim to investigate the additive value of B cell‐activating factor (BAFF) when added to oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN)‐activated B cells with respect to TLR‐9, CD69, MHC‐II expression, IL‐6 and IL‐10 secretion and B cell cycling. Therefore, B cells from healthy individuals were incubated under the following conditions: (1) B cells with medium, (2) B cells with ODN 0.5 μm, (3) B cells with BAFF 20 μm and (4) B cells with both ODN 0.5 μm and BAFF 20 μm. We found that addition of BAFF did not enhance the expression of TLR‐9, CD69 and MHC‐II in ODN‐activated B cells. Incubation of B cells with BAFF and ODN together leads to a marked elevation of IL‐6 and IL‐10 levels compared to ODN alone. Synthesis and mitosis were higher in B cells stimulated by BAFF than in B cells stimulated by ODN. These findings suggest that both BAFF and TLR‐9 contribute independently to B cell function.
Nd isotope mapping of the Lac Dumoine thrust sheet: implications for large‐scale crustal structure in the SW Grenville Province
Authors: Dickin Alan P. , Cooper David , Guo Anlin , Hutton Cara , Martin Chris , Sharma Kamal N.M. , Zelek Mark 
Published: June 2012

Terra Nova, 24, 363–372, 2012AbstractOver 100 new Nd model ages are presented for orthogneisses from the Lac Dumoine region, western Quebec, interpreted as a thrust sheet of the Grenvillian Allochthonous Polycyclic Belt. The thrust sheet has an isotope signature consistent with other terranes of the allochthonous belt, with TDM ages <1.8 Ga in the main allochthon, but ages of 1.8–2.0 Ga in an underlying tectonic unit, itself thrust over parautochthonous Archean crust. However, the new data also reveal a half‐window of Palaeoproterozoic crust that divides the allochthon into two lobes, showing them to be relatively thin‐skinned nappes originating from the Baskatong crustal‐scale ramp. When combined with new Nd isotope mapping for Algonquin Park, Ontario, these results suggest that the main ramp of the Allochthon Boundary Thrust is located further to the SE than previously thought, with a strong SW‐NE linear trend that coincides with dipping reflectors imaged on Lithoprobe seismic line 32 south of Algonquin Park.