bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prospective study on gait-related intrinsic risk factors for lower leg overuse injuries
Authors: Hesar N Ghani Zadeh , Van Ginckel A , Cools A , Peersman W , Roosen P , De Clercq D , Witvrouw E 
Published: February 2009

Objective:To determine prospectively gait-related risk factors for lower leg overuse injury (LLOI).Design:A prospective cohort study.Setting:Male and female recruits from a start-to-run (STR) programme during a 10-week training period.Participants:131 healthy subjects (20 men and 111 women), without a history of any lower leg complaint, participated in the study.Interventions:Before the start of the 10-week STR programme, plantar force measurements during running were performed. During STR, lower leg injuries were diagnosed and registered by a sports physician.Main Outcome Measures:Plantar force measurements during running were performed using a footscan pressure plate.Results:During the STR, 27 subjects (five men and 22 women) developed a LLOI. Logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who developed a LLOI had a significantly more laterally directed force distribution at first metatarsal contact and forefoot flat, a more laterally directed force displacement in the forefoot contact phase, foot flat phase and at heel-off. These subjects also had a delayed change of the centre of force (COF) at forefoot flat, a higher force and loading underneath the lateral border of the foot, and a significantly higher directed force displacement of the COF at forefoot flat.Conclusions:These findings suggest that a less pronated heel strike and a more laterally directed roll-off can be considered as risk factors for LLOI. Clinically, the results of this study can be considered important in identifying individuals at risk of LLOI.
Prospective study on shoulder symptoms among kitchen workers in relation to self-perceived and observed work load
Authors: Pehkonen I , Miranda H , Haukka E , Luukkonen R , Takala E-P , Ketola R , Leino-Arjas P , Riihimäki H , Viikari-Juntura E 
Published: February 2009

Objectives:To study the occurrence of shoulder symptoms among professional kitchen workers, and whether reduction in self-perceived and observed physical work load decreases future symptoms.Methods:In this prospective study conducted in 2002–2005 in municipal kitchens in Finland, changes during a 1-year follow-up in the physical strenuousness of work tasks were self-assessed by 376 female workers (substudy I). Changes in exposure to manual lifting and awkward upper arm posture during the follow-up were also observed by experts in 69 kitchens with 183 workers (substudy II). Information on shoulder symptoms was collected with questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up. The risk of shoulder symptoms at follow-up related to changes in exposure was estimated with logistic regression.Results:The 3-month prevalence of shoulder pain was 34% at baseline and 41% at follow-up. Reduction during follow-up in work tasks perceived as the most strenuous physically (ie, receiving and storing raw food) led to a significantly reduced risk of future shoulder pain with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.41 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.98) and trouble caused by the pain with an OR of 0.34 (0.14 to 0.83). The observed reduction in lifting was also associated with a lower risk for future shoulder symptoms.Conclusions:Reduction in lifting showed beneficial protective effects on the shoulder. Although more risk factor and intervention studies are needed to estimate the health impacts of kitchen work, special attention should be paid to work tasks that include lifting when assessing risk and designing preventive measures.
Detection of intergenomic chromosome rearrangements in irradiatedTriticum aestivum –Aegilops biuncialisamphiploids by multicolour genomic in situ hybridization
Authors: Molnár István , Benavente Elena , Molnár-Láng Márta 
Published: February 2009

The frequency and pattern of irradiation-induced intergenomic chromosome rearrangements were analysed in the mutagenized (M0) and the first selfed (M1) generations of Triticum aestivum L. – Aegilops biuncialis Vis. amphiploids (2n = 70, AABBDDUbUbMbMb) by multicolour genomic in situ hybridization (mcGISH). mcGISH allowed the simultaneous discrimination of individual Ae. biuncialis genomes and wheat chromosomes. Dicentric chromosomes, fragments, and terminal translocations were most frequently induced by γ-irradiation, but centric fusions and internal exchanges were also more abundant in the treated plants than in control amphiploids. Rearrangements involving the Ubgenome (Ub-type aberrations) were more frequent than those involving the Mbgenome (Mb-type aberrations). This irradiation sensitivity of the Ubchromosomes was attributed to their centromeric or near-centromeric regions, since Ub-type centric fusions were significantly more abundant than Mb-type centric fusions at all irradiation doses. Dicentrics completely disappeared, but centric fusions and translocations were well transmitted from M0to M1. Identification of specific chromosomes involved in some rearrangements was attempted by sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization with a mix of repeated DNA probes and GISH on the same slide. The irradiated amphiploids formed fewer seeds than untreated plants, but normal levels of fertility were recovered in their offspring. The irradiation-induced wheat – Ae. biuncialis intergenomic translocations will facilitate the successful introgression of drought tolerance and other alien traits into bread wheat.
Mutation scanning and genotyping by high-resolution DNA melting analysis in olive germplasm
Authors: Muleo Rosario , Colao Maria Chiara , Miano Dario , Cirilli Marco , Intrieri Maria C. , Baldoni Luciana , Rugini Eddo 
Published: February 2009

The application of high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis of DNA is reported for scanning and genotyping Olea europaea germplasm. To test the sensitivity of the method, a functional gene marker, phytochrome A (phyA), was used, since this gene is correlated with important traits for the ecology of the species. We have designed a set of oligos able to produce amplicons of 307 bp to scan for the presence of single polymorphic mutations in a specific phyA fragment encompassing the chromophore attachment site (Cys323). The presence of mutations for substitution, either homozygous or heterozygous, was easily detected by melting curve analysis in a high-resolution melter. It has been established that the sensitivity of the HRM analysis can be significantly improved designing specific primers very close to the mutation sites. All SNPs found were confirmed by sequence analyses and ARMS-PCR. The method has also been confirmed to be very powerful for the visualization of microsatellite (SSR) length polymorphisms. HRM analysis has a very high reproducibility and sensitivity for detecting SNPs and SSRs, allowing olive cultivar genotyping and resulting in an informative, easy, and low-cost method able to greatly reduce the operating time.
A comparison of Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging, and strain rate imaging in the assessment of postexercise left ventricular function
Authors: Shave Rob , George Keith , Whyte Greg , Middleton Natalie , Hart Emma , Artis Nigel , Oxborough David 
Published: February 2009

Left ventricular (LV) function is characterized by contraction in the longitudinal, radial, and circumferential planes. Previous studies of postexercise changes in LV function have assessed global indices of LV function. The purpose of this study was to use 2-dimensional (2D) strain analysis to examine LV function following marathon running in the circumferential, radial, and longitudinal planes, and to compare these data with other global and regional indices of function. Fifteen (mean ± SD: age, 32 ± 7 years; stature, 1.76 ± 0.08 m; body mass, 77.8 ± 8.2 kg) competitors in the London Marathon were echocardiographically assessed pre- and postrace. 2D strain (ejection fraction (EF), Doppler (early (E) and late (A) trans-mitral filling), tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) (systolic (S′) and early diastolic (E′) wall-motion velocities); TDI-derived longitudinal strain (εTDI), and systolic and diastolic strain rate (SRTDI); and 2D-derived peak circumferential, radial, and longitudinal strain (ε2D), and systolic and diastolic strain rate (SR2D) were examined. Differences pre- and postrace completion were assessed using paired t tests, with alpha set at 0.01. All participants completed the marathon in a mean time of 213 ± 41 min. A varied response was observed for measures of LV systolic and diastolic function following completion of the marathon (mean ± SD): EF, 63 ± 6 vs. 63 ± 7% (p > 0.01); E:A, 1.70 ± 0.37 vs. 1.17 ± 0.37; E′:A′, 2.36 ± 0.79 vs. 1.60 ± 0.57 (p < 0.01); mean longitudinal εTDI, 19.1 ± 5.1 vs. 17.5 ± 4.2% (p < 0.01); mean longitudinal diastolic SRTDI, 1.81 ± 0.54 vs. 1.58 ± 0.51·s–1 (p < 0.01); mean longitudinal systolic SR2D, 0.73 ± 0.21 vs. 0.97 ± 0.22·s–1 (p < 0.01); mean longitudinal diastolic SR2D, 0.94 ± 0.34 vs. 1.01 ± 0.23·s–1 (p > 0.01); mean radial systolic SR2D, 1.20 ± 0.15 vs. 1.45 ± 0.32·s–1 (p < 0.01); mean radial diastolic SR2D, 1.19 ± 0.25 vs. 1.29 ± 0.41·s–1 (p > 0.01); mean circumferential systolic SR2D, –1.09 ± 0.16 vs. –1.24 ± 0.18·s–1 (p < 0.01); and mean circumferential diastolic SR2D, –1.27 ± 0.28 vs. –1.22 ± 0.31·s–1 (p > 0.01). Marathon running promotes a varied echocardiographic response, with some functional parameters showing no change, some increasing, and some decreasing postexercise. This varied response likely reflects the complexities of cardiac function and highlights the need to adopt a multimodality approach when assessing cardiac function following exercise.
Direct quantitation of omega-3 fatty acid intake of Canadian residents of a long-term care facility
Authors: Fratesi Jennifer A. , Hogg Ryan C. , Young-Newton Genevieve S. , Patterson Ashley C. , Charkhzarin Payman , Block Thomas Karin , Sharratt Michael T. , Stark Ken D. 
Published: February 2009

An increased dietary intake of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA; ≥20 carbons, ≥3 carbon–carbon double bonds), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), is associated with the decreased risk and incidence of several morbidities afflicting the elderly, including cognitive decline, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and macular degeneration. In this study, the dietary intake and blood levels of fatty acids were directly determined in residents of a retirement home or assisted living phase of a continuum of care facility for Canadian seniors. Finger-tip-prick blood samples, 3-day food duplicates, and 3-day food records were collected. The fatty acid composition of food duplicates and blood was determined by gas chromatography. Fifteen participants (7 male, 8 female; 87.1 ± 4.8 years of age) completed the protocol. The daily intake of EPA and DHA combined, determined directly, was 70 mg (95% CI, 41–119) or 0.036% of total energy (95% CI, 0.022–0.058). In finger-tip-prick blood, the percent of n-3 HUFA in total HUFA of whole blood, a biomarker of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status, was 28.8 ± 5.2%. Correlations between daily n-3 HUFA intake and n-3 HUFA in blood were not significant (r = 0.14; n = 15), but became significant after the removal of 2 participants who appeared to consume fish irregularly (r = 0.59; n = 13). The n-3 HUFA intake and corresponding n-3 HUFA blood levels of Canadian long-term care residents are lower than levels estimated to prevent several morbidities associated with aging.
Metabolic profile and quality of life in class I sarcopenic overweight and obese postmenopausal women: a MONET study
Authors: Messier Virginie , Karelis Antony D. , Lavoie Marie-Eve , Brochu Martin , Faraj May , Strychar Irene , Rabasa-Lhoret Remi 
Published: February 2009

Sarcopenia is believed to be associated with disability and metabolic complications. The objective of this study was to examine the metabolic and quality-of-life profile of sarcopenic overweight and obese postmenopausal women. In this cross-sectional study of 136 healthy overweight and obese postmenopausal women, 9 class I sarcopenic women were identified. Class I sarcopenia was defined as an appendicular lean body mass index (ALBMI) ≤ 6.44 kg·m–2 (appendicular lean body mass/height). Outcome measures were body composition (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography), blood lipids, inflammation markers, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp), cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study General Health Survey questionnaire). By design, class I sarcopenic women (n = 9) had a significantly lower ALBMI and appendicular lean body mass than nonsarcopenic women (n = 127). In addition, class I sarcopenic women tended to have lower levels of insulin resistance (p = 0.070) and fasting glucose (p = 0.054). However, no difference between the groups was observed for quality of life. This study showed that, in our sample of class I sarcopenic overweight and obese postmenopausal women, subjects did not present an unfavourable metabolic or quality-of-life profile, compared with nonsarcopenic overweight and obese postmenopausal women.
Future emissions from Canadian boreal forest fires
Authors: Amiro B.D. , Cantin A. , Flannigan M.D. , de Groot W.J. 
Published: February 2009

New estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian forest fires were calculated based on a revised model for fuel consumption, using both the fire fuel load and the Drought Code of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. This model was applied to future climate scenarios of 2×CO2 and 3×CO2 environments using the Canadian Global Climate Model. Total forest floor fuel consumption for six boreal ecozones was estimated at 60, 80, and 117 Tg dry biomass for the 1×CO2, 2×CO2, and 3×CO2 scenarios, respectively. These ecozones cover the boreal and taiga regions and account for about 86% of the total fire consumption for Canada. Almost all of the increase in fuel consumption for future climates is caused by an increase in the area burned. The effect of more severe fuel consumption density (kilograms of fuel consumed per square metre) is relatively small, ranging from 0% to 18%, depending on the ecozone. The emissions of greenhouse gases from all Canadian fires are estimated to increase from about 162 Tg·year–1 of CO2 equivalent in the 1×CO2 scenario to 313 Tg·year–1 of CO2 equivalent in the 3×CO2 scenario, including contributions from CO2, CH4, and N2O.
A robust optimization approach protected harvest scheduling decisions against uncertainty
Authors: Palma Cristian D. , Nelson John D. 
Published: February 2009

Harvest scheduling decisions are made in an uncertain environment, and current modeling techniques that consider uncertainty impose severe difficulties when solving real problems. In this paper we describe a robust optimization methodology that explicitly considers randomness in most of the model coefficients while keeping the model computationally tractable. We apply the method to schedule harvest decisions when both timber yield and demand of two products are uncertain. Since uncertain coefficients must be independent, uniform, and symmetrically distributed, we only address uncertainty attributable to estimate errors of forecast models. The methodology was applied to a 245 090 ha forest in British Columbia, Canada. We compared the change in harvest decisions and objective function when robust solutions are implemented relative to deterministic solutions. Although probability bounds can be used to a priori define the probability of constraint violations, they produce conservative solutions. We therefore tested the rates of constraint violations by simulation. While traditional deterministic decisions were always infeasible when uncertain data were simulated, robust decisions were much less sensitive to uncertainty and were, to a large extent, protected against the occurrence of infeasibilities. In exchange, reasonable reductions in the objective function were observed.
Electrophysiologic changes in heart failure: focus on pacemaker channelsThis article is one of a selection of papers from the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Translational Knowledge for Heart Health (published in part 1 of a 2-part Special Issue).
Authors: Sartiani Laura , Stillitano Francesca , Cerbai Elisabetta , Mugelli Alessandro 
Published: February 2009

Heart failure is a common clinical syndrome occurring as a result of cardiac overload, injury, and a complex interplay among genetic, neurohormonal, inflammatory, and biochemical factors. Occurrence of arrhythmias in heart failure is largely a consequence of disease-induced electrical remodeling of cardiac myocytes, a phenomenon consisting of alterations of ion channels and the ion-transport function that predispose patients to develop lethal arrhythmias. In most cases, the mechanism is the rapid onset of a ventricular tachyarrhythmia progressing to ventricular fibrillation and hemodynamic compromise. This paper highlights some of the important changes in ion channel expression and function that underlie electrical remodeling of the failing heart. Particular attention will be focused on the presence, features, and pharmacologic modulation of f channels expressed in ventricular cardiac myocytes.
Conserved Gene Expression Programs Integrate Mammalian Prostate Development and Tumorigenesis
Authors: Pritchard Colin , Mecham Brig , Dumpit Ruth , Coleman Ilsa , Bhattacharjee Madhuchhanda , Chen Qian , Sikes Robert A. , Nelson Peter S. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Studies centered at the intersection of embryogenesis and carcinogenesis have identified striking parallels involving signaling pathways that modulate both developmental and neoplastic processes. In the prostate, reciprocal interactions between epithelium and stroma are known to influence neoplasia and also exert morphogenic effects via the urogenital sinus mesenchyme. In this study, we sought to determine molecular relationships between aspects of normal prostate development and prostate carcinogenesis. We first characterized the gene expression program associated with key points of murine prostate organogenesis spanning the initial in utero induction of prostate budding through maturity. We identified a highly reproducible temporal program of gene expression that partitioned according to the broad developmental stages of prostate induction, branching morphogenesis, and secretory differentiation. Comparisons of gene expression profiles of murine prostate cancers arising in the context of genetically engineered alterations in the Pten tumor suppressor and Myc oncogene identified significant associations between the profile of branching morphogenesis and both cancer models. Further, the expression of genes comprising the branching morphogenesis program, such as PRDX4, SLC43A1, and DNMT3A, was significantly altered in human neoplastic prostate epithelium. These results indicate that components of normal developmental processes are active in prostate neoplasia and provide further rationale for exploiting molecular features of organogenesis to understand cancer phenotypes. [Cancer Res 2009;69(5):1739–47]
RASSF1A Mediates p21Cip1/Waf1-Dependent Cell Cycle Arrest and Senescence through Modulation of the Raf-MEK-ERK Pathway and Inhibition of Akt
Authors: Thaler Sonja , Hähnel Patricia S. , Schad Arno , Dammann Reinhard , Schuler Martin 
Published: February 2009

AbstractPromoter hypermethylation preventing expression of the RAS association domain family 1 isoform A (RASSF1A) gene product is among the most abundant epigenetic deregulations in human cancer. Restoration of RASSF1A inhibits tumor cell growth in vitro and in murine xenograft models. Rassf1a-deficient mice feature increased spontaneous and carcinogen-induced tumor formation. Mechanistically, RASSF1A affects several cellular functions, such as microtubule dynamics, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis; however, its tumor-suppressive mechanism is incompletely understood. To study the functional consequences of RASSF1A expression in human cancer cells, we made use of a doxycycline-inducible expression system and a RASSF1A-deficient lung cancer cell line. We observed that RASSF1A induces cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and senescence in vitro and in tumors established in immunodeficient mice. RASSF1A-mediated growth inhibition was accompanied by the up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Cip1/Waf1 and proceeded independently of p53, p14Arf, and p16Ink4a. Loss of p21Cip1/Waf1 or coexpression of the human papilloma virus 16 oncoprotein E7 was found to override RASSF1A-induced cell cycle arrest and senescence. Conditional RASSF1A affected mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B/Akt signaling to up-regulate p21Cip1/Waf1 and to facilitate its nuclear localization. In summary, RASSF1A can mediate cell cycle arrest and senescence in human cancer cells by p53-independent regulation of p21Cip1/Waf1. [Cancer Res 2009;69(5):1748–57]
PIK3CA Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Are Associated with Clinical Resistance to EGFR-Targeted Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Sartore-Bianchi Andrea , Martini Miriam , Molinari Francesca , Veronese Silvio , Nichelatti Michele , Artale Salvatore , Di Nicolantonio Federica , Saletti Piercarlo , De Dosso Sara , Mazzucchelli Luca , Frattini Milo , Siena Salvatore , Bardelli Alberto 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
The monoclonal antibodies (moAb) panitumumab and cetuximab target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and have proven valuable for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). EGFR-mediated signaling involves two main intracellular cascades: on one side KRAS activates BRAF, which in turn triggers the mitogen-activated protein kinases. On the other, membrane localization of the lipid kinase PIK3CA counteracts PTEN and promotes AKT1 phosphorylation, thereby activating a parallel intracellular axis. Constitutive activation of KRAS bypasses the corresponding signaling cascade and, accordingly, patients with mCRC bearing KRAS mutations are clinically resistant to therapy with panitumumab or cetuximab. We hypothesized that mutations activating PIK3CA could also preclude responsiveness to EGFR-targeted moAbs through a similar mechanism. Here, we present the mutational analysis of PIK3CA and KRAS and evaluation of the PTEN protein status in a cohort of 110 patients with mCRC treated with anti-EGFR moAbs. We observed 15 (13.6%) PIK3CA and 32 (29.0%) KRAS mutations. PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with clinical resistance to panitumumab or cetuximab; none of the mutated patients achieved objective response (P = 0.038). When only KRAS wild-type tumors were analyzed, the statistical correlation was stronger (P = 0.016). Patients with PIK3CA mutations displayed a worse clinical outcome also in terms of progression-free survival (P = 0.035). Our data indicate that PIK3CA mutations can independently hamper the therapeutic response to panitumumab or cetuximab in mCRC. When the molecular status of the PIK3CA/PTEN and KRAS pathways are concomitantly ascertained, up to 70% of mCRC patients unlikely to respond to EGFR moAbs can be identified. [Cancer Res 2009;69(5):1851–7]