bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Edaravone Ameliorates Diabetes-Induced Dysfunction of NO-Induced Relaxation in Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle in the Rat
Authors: Ohmasa Fumiya , Saito Motoaki , Tsounapi Panagiota , Dimitriadis Fotios , Inoue Seiya , Shomori Kohei , Shimizu Shogo , Kinoshita Yukako , Satoh Keisuke 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). Although the etiology of diabetes-induced ED is multifactorial and still unknown, reactive oxygen species are thought to be one of the key factors.

Aim
The aim of this article is to investigate whether administration of edaravone, a free radical scavenger, could prevent type 1 diabetes-induced dysfunction of nitric oxide (NO)-induced relaxation in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in the rat.

Methods
Six-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. One group was treated with citrate-phosphate buffer plus normal saline (group Cont), whereas in the other two groups, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally [i.p.]). Subsequently, the diabetic rats were treated for 4 weeks either with edaravone (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.; group DM+E) or with normal saline (group DM).

Main Outcome Measures
Serum glucose and malondialdehyde levels as well as penile cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentrations were determined, and penile function was estimated by organ bath studies with norepinephrine-mediated contractions and acetylcholine-mediated relaxations. The participation mRNA levels of muscarinic M3 receptors, neuronal nitrous oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS), and participation protein levels of nNOS, eNOS, phosphorylated nNOS, and phosphorylated eNOS were investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoblot analysis, respectively.

Results
Treatment with edaravone prevented partially but significantly the decreased body and penile weight induced by diabetes. Treatment with edaravone significantly improved the increased diabetes-induced malondialdehyde levels, the decreased penile cGMP concentrations, the increased diabetes-induced norepinephrine-mediated contractions, and the decreased acetylcholine-mediated relaxation. Although there were no significant differences in expression levels of mRNAs in nNOS, diabetes-induced upregulation of muscarinic M3 receptor and iNOS mRNAs as well as diabetes-induced downregulations of eNOS, phosphorylated nNOS, and phosphorylated eNOS were significantly prevented by edaravone.

Conclusions
Edaravone decreases the oxidative insult in the penile corpus cavernosum by ameliorating the NO–NOS system and thus preventing partially the developing ED in DM in the rat.
Interstitial Cystitis is Associated with Vulvodynia and Sexual Dysfunction—A Case-Control Study
Authors: Gardella Barbara , Porru Daniele , Nappi Rossella E. , Daccò Maria Diletta , Chiesa Alessia , Spinillo Arsenio 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction are common in women with urological disorders. The study of comorbidity between interstitial cystitis (IC) and vulvodynia seems to be relevant to understand the mechanism generating pain in these conditions.

Aim
To conduct a case-control study for evaluating vulvodynia and sexual dysfunction in women with IC.

Methods
Forty-seven women with new diagnosis (National Institutes of Health [NIH]/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [NIDDK] Criteria) of IC were compared with 188 age-matched, negative controls. Each woman completed a semi-structured interview and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A gynecological examination to assess vulvodynia (cotton swab testing) and genital health (vulvoscopy, Pap smear, culture, and vaginal health index score [VHIS]) was performed.

Main Outcome Measures
Prevalence of vulvodynia, sexual function, and sociodemographic/gynecological variables significantly associated with IC.

Results
Spontaneous or provoked vulvodynia was reported by 23.4% and 74.5% of IC cases, respectively. Sexual function was significantly impaired (median total FSFI score: IC cases 16.85 ± 8.73 vs. controls 27.34 ± 6.41; P &lt;0.0001) in sexually active women, and 23.4% of IC cases as compared to 9% of controls reported no sexual activity in the year preceding the study (χ2 for trend=38.2, P &lt;0.0001). VHIS was highly impaired in women with IC in comparison with controls (P &lt;0.0001). Variables significantly associated with IC were a diagnosis of menopause (odds ratio [OR]=31.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]=8.1–120.5), past (OR=4.6, 95% CI=1.74–12.1) or current (OR=6.9, 95% CI=2.1–22.1) oral contraceptive use, and a histologically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis (OR=3.7, 95% CI=1.1–12.7).

Conclusion
We found an increased prevalence of vulvodynia among women with recently diagnosed IC; both conditions seem to have profound consequences on women's sexual function. A potential role for sex hormone-dependent mechanisms into the comorbidity of vulvar and bladder pain is proposed, but further research is warranted.
Use of the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation in the analysis of family caregiver reaction among families of older people with congestive heart failure
Authors: Yeh Pi‐Ming , Bull Margaret 
Published: April 2011

Yeh P.‐M. & Bull M. (2012) Use of the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation in the analysis of family caregiver reaction among families of older people with congestive heart failure. International Journal of Older People Nursing7, 117–126 doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2011.00275.xBackground.  Little attention has been given to the resiliency process of family caregivers for older people hospitalized with congestive heart failure.Aims.  The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of older peoples’ activities of daily living dependency, family caregivers’ spiritual well‐being, quality of relationship, family support, coping and care continuity on the burden of family caregivers of hospitalized older people with congestive heart failure using the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation.Design and sample.  A descriptive, correlational research design was used. There were 50 family caregivers and 50 older people diagnosed with congestive heart failure recruited from medical and surgical units of two Midwest medical centres.Methods.  Data on activities of daily living dependence of older people, family caregiver burden, spiritual well‐being, coping strategies, quality of older people–caregiver relationship and care continuity were collected using structured questionnaires.Results.  The findings indicated that there were significant positive associations between patients’ activities of daily living dependence and family caregiver burden and between lack of family support and family caregiver burden. There were significant negative associations between quality of relationship and family caregiver burden, between care continuity and family caregiver burden, between coping and family caregiver burden and between spiritual well‐being and burden. In hierarchical multiple regression, the model variables accounted for 66% of the variance in family caregiver burden. Patients’ activities of daily living dependence, quality of relationship and lack of family support are significant predictors of family caregiver burden.Conclusions.  The best predictors of family caregiver burden, using the resiliency model, were the older persons’ activities of daily living dependence, family support, quality of relationship, care continuity, coping strategies and spiritual well‐being.Implications for practice.  It is vital for nurses to assess family caregivers’ needs and resources and the quality of the older person–family caregiver relationship in developing a plan of care that reduces family caregiver burden.
Nurse champions of older people: a national audit and critical review
Authors: Manthorpe Jill 
Published: April 2011

manthorpe j. (2011) Nurse champions of older people: a national audit and critical review. International Journal of Older People Nursing7, 200–207   doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2011.00276.xAims.  This paper aims to equip nurses working with older people with an understanding of the roles and activities of Champions for Older People.Background.  The position of Older People’s Champion was established in England to help implement the National Service Framework for Older People at local level.Methods.  This paper reports on the findings of a national survey of older people’s Champions. It sets this in the context of developments around health polices for older people.Findings.  Forty‐three of the 209 Champions who participated in this study were nurses. Nurses were the most commonly appointed clinical Champions in National Health Service Trusts responding to the survey; they used this position to promote changes within their organisation and locality. While focusing on the implementation of National Service Framework for Older People targets and requirements, some used their position to work with organisations of local older people and advocated for older patients’ interests.Conclusion.  Nurses conceived their position as clinical Champions broadly and reported that they used this role to promote service improvements for older people. Those who established networks with other Champions and older people’s groups found this useful. Their role as Champions appeared to encourage a proactive and outward‐looking perspective and provides evidence of the workings of one model of Championship.Implications for practice.  Embedding championing roles within organisations may be one way of bringing about change in the way that services to older people are developed.
Estimating abundance from presence/absence maps
Authors: Hwang Wen‐Han , He Fangliang 
Published: April 2011

Summary1. An important question in macroecology is: Can we estimate a species’ abundance from its occurrence on landscape? Answers to this question are useful for estimating population size from more easily acquired distribution data and for understanding the macroecological occupancy–abundance relationship.2. Several methods have recently been developed to address this question, but no method is general enough to provide a common solution to all species because of the wide variation in spatial distribution of species.3. In this study, we developed a mixed Gamma‐Poisson model that generalizes the negative binomial model and can characterize spatial dependence in the abundance distribution across cells. Under this framework, without any extra information, the clumping parameter and species abundance can be estimated using a map aggregation technique. This model was tested using a set of empirical census data consisting of 299 tree species from a 50‐ha stem‐mapped plot of Panama.4. A comparison showed that the new method outperformed the previous methods to an appreciable degree. Particularly for abundant species in a finely gridded map (5 × 5 m), its bias is very small and the method can also reduce the root mean square error up to 30%. Like for previous methods, however, the new method’s performance decreases with the increase in cell size.5. As a by‐product, the new method provides an approach to estimate spatial autocorrelation of species distribution which is otherwise difficult to estimate for presence/absence map.
Is no praise good praise? Effects of positive feedback on children's and university students’ responses to subsequent failures
Authors: Skipper Yvonne , Douglas Karen 
Published: April 2011

Background. According to Dweck and colleagues, praise can be delivered using person (‘you are clever') or process terms (‘you worked hard'). Research suggests that giving people process praise after success can help them deal better with subsequent failures because it attributes outcomes to effort rather than fixed ability. However, research has thus far inadequately addressed how these types of praise compare to receiving no evaluative feedback.Aim. The aim of the present research was to examine the effects of person and process praise compared to a control group where only objective outcome feedback was given.Samples. In Study 1, 145 British school children aged 9–11 years took part. In Study 2, participants were 114 British university students.Method. In both studies, participants read three scenarios and were asked to imagine themselves as the main character. In each scenario, they succeeded in an educational task and received either person, process, or no praise. Participants then read two scenarios, where they failed at a task. Following each scenario participants evaluated their performance, affect, and persistence.Results. After one failure, participants who received person praise reacted most negatively on all dependent measures. However, those in the process condition did not differ significantly from those in the control group.Conclusions. These findings suggest that process feedback may not be inherently positive; instead person feedback seems particularly detrimental.
Adaptation options to reduce climate change vulnerability of sustainable forest management in the Austrian Alps
Authors: Seidl Rupert , Rammer Werner , Lexer Manfred J. 
Published: April 2011

Sustaining forest ecosystem functions and services under climate change is a major challenge for forest management. While conceptual advances of adapting coupled social–ecological systems to environmental changes have been made recently, good practice examples at the operational level still remain rare. The current study presents the development of adaptation options for 164 550 ha of commercial forests under the stewardship of the Austrian Federal Forests (AFF). We used a comprehensive vulnerability assessment as analysis framework, employing ecosystem modeling and multicriteria decision analysis in a participatory approach with forest planers of the AFF. An assessment of the vulnerability of multiple ecosystem goods and services under current management served as the starting point for the development of adaptation options. Measures found to successfully reduce vulnerability include the promotion of mixed stands of species well adapted to emerging environmental conditions, silvicultural techniques fostering complexity, and increased management intensity. Assessment results for a wide range of site and stand conditions, stand treatment programs, and future climate scenarios were used to condense robust recommendations for adapting the management guidelines currently used by AFF practitioners. Overall, our results highlight the importance of timely adaptation to sustain forest goods and services and document the respective potential of silvicultural measures.
Identification and characterization of the contact zone between short-tailed shrews (Blarina) in Iowa and Missouri
Authors: Thompson C.W. , Pfau R.S. , Choate J.R. , Genoways H.H. , Finck E.J. 
Published: April 2011

Short-tailed shrews (genus Blarina Gray, 1838) are characterized by divergent karyotypes and are genetically distinct. Blarina species are similar morphologically but, in most cases, can be distinguished morphometrically. Blarina distributions tend to be parapatric along well-defined contact zones; however, it has been suggested that the northern short-tailed shrew ( Blarina brevicauda (Say, 1823)) and Elliot’s short-tailed shrew ( Blarina hylophaga Elliot, 1899) occur sympatrically in Iowa and Missouri. To evaluate this possibility, 179 specimens were collected in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. Karyotypes and total length were used for field identification, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to verify field identifications and to investigate the extent of hybridization. One hundred seventy-eight of 179 specimens were identified to species. The one exception had a karyotype of B. brevicauda (2n = 50, FN = 48); however, AFLP analysis indicated that this individual was likely an F1hybrid. No backcrosses were detected, so it appears that introgression is minimal. The putative hybrid was trapped at a locality with B. brevicauda just north of a locality having only B. hylophaga. No locality contained both species. Therefore, these species are not broadly sympatric as has been suggested, but rather exhibit a distribution similar to the pattern of parapatry seen in most of the contact zones of Blarina.
Foraging space as a limited resource: inter- and intra-specific competition among sympatric pursuit-diving seabirds
Authors: Ronconi R.A. , Burger A.E. 
Published: April 2011

Competition is thought to play a fundamental role in structuring avian communities, yet this has been difficult to quantify and demonstrate in marine ecosystems. We tested for fine-scale competition over foraging space between sympatric pursuit-diving seabirds, Marbled Murrelet ( Brachyramphus marmoratus (J.F. Gmelin, 1789)) and Common Murre ( Uria aalge (Pontoppidan, 1763)). We simultaneous assessed the effects of inter- and intra-specific competition among these predators, predicting that the larger Common Murres would out-compete the smaller Marbled Murrelets for foraging space. A theodolite was used to map the fine-scale (±2 m) distributions of birds on the water; distance from shore measurements and nearest-neighbour spatial statistics quantified the spatial overlap and segregation between species. Species distributions differed with respect to distance from shore, but overlapped extensively within 1200 m of the shoreline. Nearest-neighbour statistics, assessed with randomization tests, showed Marbled Murrelets foraging farther from Common Murres (mean distances 294 m) than from other Marbled Murrelets (95 m), but groups of Common Murres foraged with similar spacing among conspecifics (266 m) and competitors (186 m). These results suggest avoidance of Common Murres by Marbled Murrelets (interspecific competition) but intraspecifc competition among Common Murres. Avoidance behaviour may minimize the impacts of aggression or competition, but by avoiding Common Murres, the Marbled Murrelets may also be reducing their foraging opportunities.
A New BATTLE in the Evolving War on Cancer
Authors: Sequist Lecia V. , Muzikansky Alona , Engelman Jeffrey A. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
The Biomarker-integrated Approaches of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Elimination (BATTLE) trial couples real-time molecular interrogation of cancer specimens with an adaptive Bayesian clinical trial design. Cancer Discovery; 1(1); 14–6. ©2011 AACR.
Commentary on Kim et al., p. 44
Toward Molecular Imaging–Driven Drug Development in Oncology
Authors: de Vries Elisabeth G.E. , Munnink Thijs H. Oude , van Vugt Marcel A.T.M. , Nagengast Wouter B. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
With current testing strategies, the number of novel targeted anticancer agents will exceed our drug selection capacity. Molecular imaging is a powerful additional tool that can assist us in selecting effective drugs and help patients benefit from targeted agents. Moreover, measurement of the functional effects of such targeted agents could permit dynamic tuning of treatment selection at the earliest time point at which loss of functional effects is observed. Cancer Discovery; 1(1); 25–8. ©2011 AACR.
Macrophage Mal1 Deficiency Suppresses Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Null Mice by Activating Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ–Regulated Genes
Authors: Babaev Vladimir R. , Runner Robert P. , Fan Daping , Ding Lei , Zhang Youmin , Tao Huan , Erbay Ebru , Görgün Cem Z. , Fazio Sergio , Hotamisligil Gökhan S. , Linton MacRae F. 
Published: April 2011

Objective—
The adipocyte/macrophage fatty acid-binding proteins aP2 (FABP4) and Mal1 (FABP5) are intracellular lipid chaperones that modulate systemic glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and atherosclerosis. Combined deficiency of aP2 and Mal1 has been shown to reduce the development of atherosclerosis, but the independent role of macrophage Mal1 expression in atherogenesis remains unclear.

Methods and Results—

We transplanted wild-type (WT), Mal1
−/−
, or aP2
−/−
bone marrow into low-density lipoprotein receptor–null (LDLR
−/−
) mice and fed them a Western diet for 8 weeks. Mal1
−/−
→LDLR
−/−
mice had significantly reduced (36%) atherosclerosis in the proximal aorta compared with control WT→LDLR
−/−
mice. Interestingly, peritoneal macrophages isolated from Mal1-deficient mice displayed increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) activity and upregulation of a PPARγ-related cholesterol trafficking gene, CD36. Mal1
−/−
macrophages showed suppression of inflammatory genes, such as
COX2
and interleukin 6. Mal1
−/−
→LDLR
−/−
mice had significantly decreased macrophage numbers in the aortic atherosclerotic lesions compared with WT→LDLR
−/−
mice, suggesting that monocyte recruitment may be impaired. Indeed, blood monocytes isolated from Mal1
−/−
→LDLR
−/−
mice on a high-fat diet had decreased CC chemokine receptor 2 gene and protein expression levels compared with WT monocytes.

Conclusion—
Taken together, our results demonstrate that Mal1 plays a proatherogenic role by suppressing PPARγ activity, which increases expression of CC chemokine receptor 2 by monocytes, promoting their recruitment to atherosclerotic lesions.
Anti-high Mobility Group Box-1 Monoclonal Antibody Protects the Blood–Brain Barrier From Ischemia-Induced Disruption in Rats
Authors: Zhang Jiyong , Takahashi Hideo K. , Liu Keyue , Wake Hidenori , Liu Rui , Maruo Tomoko , Date Isao , Yoshino Tadashi , Ohtsuka Aiji , Mori Shuji , Nishibori Masahiro 
Published: April 2011

Background and Purpose—
High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) exhibits inflammatory cytokine-like activity in the extracellular space. We previously demonstrated that intravenous injection of anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) remarkably ameliorated brain infarction induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. In the present study, we focused on the protective effects of the mAb on the marked translocation of HMGB1 in the brain, the disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and the resultant brain edema.

Methods—
Middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat was used as the ischemia model. Rats were treated with anti-HMGB1 mAb or control IgG intravenously. BBB permeability was measured by MRI. Ultrastructure of the BBB unit was observed by transmission electron microscope. The in vitro BBB system was used to study the direct effects of HMGB1 in BBB components.

Results—
HMGB1 was time-dependently translocated and released from neurons in the ischemic rat brain. The mAb reduced the edematous area on T2-weighted MRI. Transmission electron microscope observation revealed that the mAb strongly inhibited astrocyte end feet swelling, the end feet detachment from the basement membrane, and the opening of the tight junction between endothelial cells. In the in vitro reconstituted BBB system, recombinant HMGB1 increased the permeability of the BBB with morphological changes in endothelial cells and pericytes, which were inhibited by the mAb. Moreover, the anti-HMGB1 mAb facilitated the clearance of serum HMGB1.

Conclusions—
These results indicated that the anti-HMGB1 mAb could be an effective therapy for brain ischemia by inhibiting the development of brain edema through the protection of the BBB and the efficient clearance of circulating HMGB1.