bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Staged diabetes management according to individual patient insulin resistance and β‐cell function ameliorates glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Choi Sung Hee , Hur Kyu Yeon , Kim Dae Jung , Ahn Chul Woo , Kang Eun Seok , Cha Bong Soo , Lim Sung Kil , Huh Kap Bum , Lee Hyun Chul 
Published: January 2008

SummaryObjective  The current consensus algorithm for management of type 2 diabetes is based on the fasting glucose concentration and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level. We applied a new therapeutic strategy by assessing insulin secretion and insulin resistance, in addition to glucose concentrations in individual patients.Design and patients  We enrolled 193 patients with type 2 diabetes. The patients were assigned to one of six groups according to insulin secretion measured by the serum fasting C‐peptide concentration and insulin resistance measured by an insulin tolerance test (ITT). The two groups were treated differently: 108 patients were treated using a new staged diabetes management (SDM) strategy and 85 patients continued with conventional therapy.Measurements  We compared metabolic variables in the two groups at baseline and 12 months after enrolment.Results  In patients treated with the SDM strategy, fasting glucose concentration decreased from 9·8 ± 2·1 to 8·2 ± 1·7 mmol/l (P < 0·001). Postprandial 2‐h glucose concentration decreased from 14·19 ± 3·34 to 12·27 ± 3·24 mmol/l (P < 0·001). HbA1c level decreased from 8·37 ± 1·42% to 7·72 ± 1·39% (P < 0·001). About 43% of the new SDM group achieved an HbA1c of < 7·0% compared with 25% of patients in the conventional treatment group.Conclusions  The new SDM strategy, based on individual data on insulin resistance and insulin secretion, may provide valuable clinical benefits in non‐obese Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.
Significant correlation of glycated albumin, but not glycated haemoglobin, with arterial stiffening in haemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kumeda Yasuro , Inaba Masaaki , Shoji Shigeichi , Ishimura Eiji , Inariba Hiromi , Yabe Sachiko , Okamura Mikio , Nishizawa Yoshiki 
Published: January 2008

SummaryObjective  We recently reported that glycated albumin (GA) is a better indicator of glycaemic control compared with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in haemodialysis (HD) patients with type 2 diabetes. As poor glycaemic control is considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in diabetes, the relationship between GA, HbA1c and arterial stiffening was examined in HD patients with type 2 diabetes.Patients and methods  The present study comprised 134 HD patients with type 2 diabetes, and 158 patients without diabetes. Brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured in all patients using a waveform analyser.Results  The mean plasma glucose (PG), GA and HbA1c levels were 7·49 ± 2·28 mmol/l, 20·8 ± 5·57% and 5·62 ± 1·26%, respectively, in HD patients with diabetes (n = 134), which were significantly greater than the respective values of 5·77 ± 1·89 mmol/l, 15·6 ± 2·34% and 4·98 ± 0·80% in those without diabetes (n = 158) (P < 0·0001). BaPWV was 21·69 ± 6·90 m/s in HD patients with diabetes, which was significantly greater than the value of 18·74 ± 4·89 m/s in those without diabetes (P < 0·0001). When the analysis was performed in a combined population of those patients with and without diabetes, the mean PG (r = 0·155, P < 0·05) and GA (r = 0·117, P < 0·05), but not HbA1c (r = 0·092, P = 0·125), exhibited significant correlations with baPWV. Multivariate regression analysis, which included age, gender, mean blood pressure, and serum levels of albumin, creatinine and LDL cholesterol, to evaluate the independent association of each marker for glycaemic control with baPWV values in HD patients demonstrated that GA, but not HbA1c or PG, was an independent factor that was significantly associated in a positive manner with baPWV in HD patients.Conclusion  It was suggested that poor glycaemic control, as reflected by increased GA values, might be associated with increased arterial stiffening in HD patients.
The use of the ‘borderline’ category in the reporting of cervical cytopathology in the UK: results of a survey conducted under the aegis of the British Society for Clinical Cytology
Authors: Duvall E. 
Published: January 2008

Objective:  To determine how the ‘borderline’ category was used by cytopathologists in the UK when reporting cervical smears.Methods:  A questionnaire was sent by email to members of the British Society for Clinical Cytology.Results:  There is wide variation in the use of the ‘borderline’ category in the UK but the majority of respondents (77.6%) used it when reporting smears that were either on the borderline between negative and low grade squamous dyskaryosis (‘borderline ?low grade’), or on the borderline between negative and high grade squamous dyskaryosis (‘borderline ?high grade’), or on the borderline between negative and glandular dyskaryosis ‘borderline ?glandular dyskaryosis’). A significant minority (15.7%), however, did not use ‘borderline’ when reporting smears that showed an abnormality that was possibly high grade squamous dyskaryosis. A majority (79.1%) of respondents thought that it would be useful to have separate reporting categories for ‘borderline ?low grade’ and ‘borderline ?high grade’.Conclusions:  There is diversity in the use of the category ‘borderline’ in the UK. The proposed revised BSCC terminology with separate categories for borderline ?low grade, borderline ?high grades and borderline ? glandular dyskaryosis reflects the opinion of the majority of respondents to the questionnaire.
Existing in plenty: abundance, biomass and diversity of ciliates and meiofauna in small streams
Authors: REISS JULIA , SCHMID‐ARAYA JENNY M. 
Published: January 2008

Summary1. The ciliate and metazoan meiofaunal assemblages of two contrasting lowland streams in south‐east England were examined over the period of a year, using a high taxonomic resolution. Monthly samples were taken from an oligotrophic, acid stream (Lone Oak) and a circumneutral, nutrient‐rich stream (Pant) between March 2003 and February 2004.2. We assessed the relative importance of ciliates and rotifers within the small‐sized benthic assemblage with respect to their abundance, biomass and species richness. In addition, we examined the influence of abiotic and biotic parameters and season on the assemblage composition at two levels of taxonomic resolution (species and groups).3. Ciliates dominated the assemblages numerically, with maximum densities of over 900 000 and 6 000 000 ind. m−2 in Lone Oak and Pant respectively. Rotifers and nematodes dominated meiofaunal densities, although their contribution to total meiofaunal biomass (maxima of 71.9 mgC m−2 in Lone Oak and of 646.8 mgC m−2 in the Pant) was low and rotifer biomass equalled that of ciliates.4. Although the two streams differed in terms of total abundance of ciliates and meiofauna and shared only 7% of species, the relative proportion of groups was similar. Sediment grain size distribution (the percentile representing the 0.5–1 mm fraction) was correlated with assemblage structure at the species level, revealing the tight coupling between these small organisms and their physical environment. Seasonal changes in the relative abundance of groups followed similar patterns in both streams, and were correlated with the abundance of cyclopoid copepods and temperature.5. Information on these highly abundant but often overlooked faunal groups is essential for estimates of overall abundance, biomass, species richness and productivity in the benthos, and as such has important implications for several areas of aquatic research, e.g. for those dealing with trophic dynamics.
Physiological and visual refuges in a metalimnion: an experimental study of effects of clay turbidity and an oxygen minimum on fish predation
Authors: LILJENDAHL‐NURMINEN ANNE , HORPPILA JUKKA , LAMPERT WINFRIED 
Published: January 2008

Summary1. The effectivity of elevated clay turbidity and low‐oxygen concentration in the metalimnion as refuges for chaoborid larvae against fish predation was studied in experimental water columns.2. When 70–80 nephelometric turbidity unit clay turbidity was combined with 3–4 mg L−1 oxygen concentration, prey capture rate by fish (golden orfe Leuciscus idus) was reduced by 74% compared with the control treatment with no refuges. Oxygen and turbidity refuges alone did not significantly reduce the feeding rate.3. All fish in the control treatment dwelled in the metalimnion, but 36% of the fish in the low‐oxygen treatment and 23% of the fish in the turbidity treatment stayed in the epilimnion. In the combined treatment, 54% of the fish were in the epilimnion.4. The results demonstrated that a combination of moderately elevated turbidity and lowered oxygen concentration in the metalimnion is an effective protection against fish predation, while turbidity or oxygen refuge alone are much less effective.5. In the treatment with the combined refuge, oxygen concentration limited the time fish could spend in the metalimnion and turbidity affected the detection of prey through changes in reactive distance.6. Because of the combined effects of turbidity and oxygen refuges, planktivorous fish and phantom midge larvae may co‐occur in clay‐turbid lakes in high densities. Such situation is problematic for biomanipulation, which aims to enhance the grazing rate of zooplankton through reduction of planktivorous fish.
A latitudinal gradient in climate effects on seabird demography: results from interspecific analyses
Authors: SANDVIK HANNO , COULSON TIM , SÆTHER BERNT‐ERIK 
Published: January 2008

AbstractFor an understanding of the effect of climate change on animal population dynamics, it is crucial to be able to identify which climatologic parameters affect which demographic rate, and what the underlying mechanistic links are. An important reason for why the interactions between demography and climate still are poorly understood is that the effects of climate vary both geographically and taxonomically. Here, we analyse interspecifically how different climate variables affect the breeding success of North Atlantic seabird species along latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. By approaching the problem comparatively, we are able to generalize across populations and species. We find a strong interactive effect of climate and latitude on breeding success. Of the climatic variables considered, local sea surface temperatures during the breeding season tend to be more relevant than the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). However, the effect of NAO on breeding success shows a clear geographic pattern, changing in sign from positive in the south to negative in the north. If this interaction is taken account of, the model explains more variation than any model with sea surface temperature. This superiority of the NAO index is due to its ability to capture effects of more than one season in a single parameter. Mechanistically, however, several lines of evidence suggest that sea surface temperature is the biologically most relevant explanatory variable.
Climate controls on C3vs. C4productivity in North American grasslands from carbon isotope composition of soil organic matter
Authors: Von FISCHER JOSEPH C. , TIESZEN LARRY L. , SCHIMEL DAVID S. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWe analyzed theδ13C of soil organic matter (SOM) and fine roots from 55 native grassland sites widely distributed across the US and Canadian Great Plains to examine the relative production of C3vs. C4plants (hereafter %C4) at the continental scale. Our climate vs. %C4results agreed well with North American field studies on %C4, but showed bias with respect to %C4from a US vegetation database (statsgo) and weak agreement with a physiologically based prediction that depends on crossover temperature. Although monthly average temperatures have been used in many studies to predict %C4, our analysis shows that high temperatures are better predictors of %C4. In particular, we found that July climate (average of daily high temperature and month's total rainfall) predicted %C4better than other months, seasons or annual averages, suggesting that the outcome of competition between C3and C4plants in North American grasslands was particularly sensitive to climate during this narrow window of time. Rootδ13C increased about 1‰ between the A and B horizon, suggesting that C4roots become relatively more common than C3roots with depth. These differences in depth distribution likely contribute to the isotopic enrichment with depth in SOM where both C3and C4grasses are present.
Balancing food production and nature conservation in the Neotropical dry forests of northern Argentina
Authors: GRAU H. RICARDO , GASPARRI N. IGNACIO , AIDE T. MITCHELL 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe growing human population and the increase in per capita food consumption are driving agriculture expansion and affecting natural ecosystems around the world. To balance increasing agriculture production and nature conservation, we must assess the efficiency of land‐use strategies. Soybean production, mainly exported to China and Europe, has become the major driver of deforestation in dry forest/savanna ecosystems of South America. In this article we compared land cover patterns (based on satellite imagery) and land‐use and human population trends (based on government statistics) in regions with two contrasting development pathways in the Chaco dry forests of northern Argentina, since the early 1970s. The area (ca. 13 million hectares) includes one of the largest continuous patches of tropical dry forests and has experienced rapid land‐use change. In the region where land use has been driven by government‐sponsored colonization programs, the expansion of extensive grazing has led to a growing rural population, low food production, and widespread environmental degradation. In contrast, in the region dominated by market‐driven soybean expansion, the rural population has decreased, food production is between 300% and 800% greater, and low‐density extensive cattle production has declined over extensive remaining forested areas, resulting in a land‐use trend that appears to better balance food production and nature conservation.
Acclimation to temperature and temperature sensitivity of metabolism by ectomycorrhizal fungi
Authors: MALCOLM GLENNA M. , LÓPEZ‐GUTIÉRREZ JUAN C. , KOIDE ROGER T. , EISSENSTAT DAVID M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractEctomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi contribute significantly to ecosystem respiration, but little research has addressed the effect of temperature on ECM fungal respiration. Some plants have the ability to acclimate to temperature such that long‐term exposure to warmer conditions slows respiration at a given measurement temperature and long‐term exposure to cooler conditions increases respiration at a given measurement temperature. We examined acclimation to temperature and temperature sensitivity (Q10) of respiration by ECM fungi by incubating them for a week at one of three temperatures and measuring respiration over a range of temperatures. Among the 12 ECM fungal isolates that were tested, Suillus intermedius, Cenococcum geophilum, and Lactarius cf. pubescens exhibited significant acclimation to temperature, exhibiting an average reduction in respiration of 20–45% when incubated at 23 °C compared with when incubated at 11 or 17 °C. The isolates differed significantly in their Q10 values, which ranged from 1.67 to 2.56. We also found that half of the isolates significantly increased Q10 with an increase in incubator temperature by an average of 15%. We conclude that substantial variation exists among ECM fungal isolates in their ability to acclimate to temperature and in their sensitivity to temperature. As soil temperatures increase, ECM fungi that acclimate may require less carbon from their host plants than fungi that do not acclimate. The ability of some ECM fungi to acclimate may partially ameliorate the anticipated positive feedback between soil respiration and temperature.
Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells by carboxybutyrylated glucosamine takes place via down‐regulation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐mediated nuclear factor‐κB signaling
Authors: Rajapakse Niranjan , Kim Moon‐Moo , Mendis Eresha , Kim Se‐Kwon 
Published: January 2008

SummaryGlucosamine (GlcN) has been reported to possess several biomedical properties, and currently a great deal of attention has been focused on improving the functional properties of GlcN for different applications. Therefore, this study was conducted to introduce a carboxybutyryl functional group to GlcN and to find out the inhibitory mechanism of a novel GlcN derivative, carboxybutyrylated GlcN (CGlcN), on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced mouse macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). In the initial experiments, the production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was inhibited by CGlcN pretreatment and suggested the possibility of down‐regulating their respective genes, iNOS and COX‐2. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed that CGlcN can affect both transcriptional and translational levels of iNOS and COX‐2 expression. The data from the nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) promoter gene transfection experiment supported the idea that inhibition of iNOS and COX‐2 is caused by the down‐regulation of their transcription factor, NF‐κB. Following stimulation with LPS, p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) present upstream of NF‐κB signaling were also inhibited by CGlcN treatment. However, the protein level of another MAPK, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), remained unaffected. Moreover, following treatment with CGlcN, the protein expression of I‐κB kinase (IKK) clearly confirmed that its down‐regulation directly inhibited the degradation of IκB and release of NF‐κB. Therefore, it can be concluded that CGlcN is capable of inhibiting iNOS and COX‐2 expression in LPS‐induced RAW264.7 cells via attenuation of NF‐κB signaling by p38 MAPK and JNK, but not by ERK.
Thermal transfer in extracted incisors during thermal pulp sensitivity testing
Authors: Linsuwanont P. , Palamara J. E. , Messer H. H. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim  To measure the temperature distribution within tooth structure during and after application of thermal stimuli used during pulp sensitivity testing.Methodology  Extracted intact human maxillary anterior teeth were investigated for temperature changes at the labial enamel, the dentino‐enamel junction (DEJ) and pulpal surface during and after a 5‐s application of six different thermal stimuli: hot water (80 °C), heated gutta‐percha (140 °C), carbon dioxide dry ice (−72 °C), refrigerant spray (−50 °C), ice stick (0 °C) and cold water (2 °C). J‐type thermocouples and heat conduction paste were used to detect temperature changes, together with a data acquisition system (Labview). Data were analysed using analysis of variance, with a confidence level of P < 0.05.Results  Temperature change was detected more quickly at the DEJ and pulpal surface with the application of hot water, heated gutta‐percha and refrigerant spray than with carbon dioxide dry ice and ice (P < 0.05). Cold water and refrigerant spray were in the same range in terms of time to detect temperature change at both the DEJ and pulpal surface. Thermal stimuli with greater temperature difference from tooth temperature created a greater thermal gradient initially, followed by a greater temperature change at the DEJ and the pulpal surface. In this regard, ice and cold water were weaker stimuli than others (P < 0.05).Conclusions  Thermal stimuli used in pulp testing are highly variable in terms of temperature of the stimulus, rate of thermal transfer to the tooth and extent of temperature change within tooth structure. Overall, dry ice and refrigerant spray provide the most consistent stimuli, whereas heated gutta‐percha and hot water were highly variable. Ice was a weak stimulus.
Effect of photo‐activated disinfection on endodontic pathogens ex vivo
Authors: Bergmans L. , Moisiadis P. , Huybrechts B. , Van Meerbeek B. , Quirynen M. , Lambrechts P. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim  To test the hypothesis that photo‐activated disinfection (PAD) has a bactericidal effect on pathogens inoculated in root canals, with emphasis on biofilm formation/destruction.Methodology  Root canals of extracted teeth (n = 38) were prepared (size 30, 0.10 taper), autoclaved, divided into three groups and two negative controls inoculated (Streptococcus anginosus, Enterococcus faecalis or Fusobacterium nucleatum) and treated (PAD, laser, dye or positive control) according to a cross‐sectional design. Resultant colony‐forming unit counts were associated with observations of cell structural changes using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) on inoculated dentinal surfaces (n = 22, two controls) before (1, 2 and 6 days of incubation) and after treatment with PAD.Results  Treatment of root canals with PAD (15 J) caused a significant reduction of the bacterial load, resulting in a 93.8% kill of S. anginosus (P < 0.0001), a 88.4% kill of E. faecalis (P < 0.05) and a 98.5% kill of F. nucleatum (P < 0.0001), but no sterilization. Laser alone had no significant effect on the load nor did the dye without laser. The ESEM experiment showed that individual cells or monolayers were easily eliminated with PAD. But when biofilms were present (2 and 6 days for E. faecalis, 6 days for S. anginosus), bacterial eradication was substantially reduced in deep layers.Conclusions  Photo‐activated disinfection is not an alternative but a possible supplement to the existing protocols for root canal disinfection as the interaction between light (diode laser) and associated dye (TBO) provides a broad‐spectrum effect. Some endodontic pathogens that grow as single‐species biofilms, however, are difficult to eradicate.
Antimicrobial activity of various ‘active’ gutta‐percha points against Enterococcus faecalis in simulated root canals
Authors: Ebert J. , Roggendorf M. J. , Frank K. , Petschelt A. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim  To test the antimicrobial activity of various gutta‐percha points against Enterococcus faecalis in simulated root canals.Methodology  Root canals were simulated by inoculated glass capillaries. A 2.5 μL increment of a suspension of E. faecalis was placed into 10 simulated root canals together with Calcium HydroxideR points (CHP), Calcium Hydroxide PlusR points (CH+P), active pointsR (AP), conventional gutta‐percha points (CP) (Coltène Whaledent, Langenau, Germany) or no points (NP) (control) (each n = 2). The points and simulated root canals were flushed with 2 mL of sterile saline solution after 10 min or after 5 h of anaerobic incubation (37 °C, 100% humidity). Dilution sequences until 10−3 and 10−4 were prepared and plated on agar plates. The original suspension, diluted until 10−6 and 10−7, served as another control. The numbers of colony forming units were counted after 24 h. This experimental procedure was repeated 15 times.Results  Without gutta‐percha points, bacteria grew threefold in number within 5 h. With CHP and CH+P bacterial counts at 10 min and 5 h were approximately 50% compared with the control. AP killed all bacteria within 5 h. With CP, bacteria proliferated more than without points (counts at 5 h 177% of NP). Except for CHP versus CH+P differences between groups were statistically significant (Mann–Whitney test, P < 0.01).Conclusions  In this experimental model, the potential of CHP and CH+P to kill E. faecalis was limited. CP stimulated bacterial growth. AP killed all bacteria after 5 h.