bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding human papillomavirus among university students in Hail, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshammari Farhan , Khan Kashif Ullah 
Published: March 2022

Background
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-known cause of cervical cancer. The prevalence of HPV, insufficient preventive services, inadequate treatment access, socioeconomic conditions, certain cultural causes and values and opinions regarding cervical cancer have been established as factors contributing to the occurrence of cervical cancer in various parts of the world.

Objective
To determine university students’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding HPV and its vaccine.

Material and Methods
The present cross-sectional study included students enrolled at the University of Hail, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from January to May 2020 using a previously validated 26-item questionnaire.

Results
A total of 386 participants responded to the survey; the response rate was 80%. The majority of the respondents (63%) were male and 332 (86%) respondents were single among the overall study population. Most respondents were aged 21–25 years (75.6%), followed by 26–30 years (12.7%). In total, 130 (33.7%) respondents reported that they had heard of HPV before, while 174 (45.1%) reported that HPV infections are rare in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, 102 (26.4%) respondents thought that HPV causes genital warts, while almost 29.5% believed that HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease. Nearly 76.2% of the respondents did not believe that HPV infection can occur without symptoms. Moreover, 53.4% of the respondents stated that they did not know the health problems associated with HPV infection, while 148 (38.8%) stated that cervical cancer is a health problem associated with HPV infection. When asked about their understanding of the HPV vaccine, nearly 267 (62.2%) respondents believed that there is no vaccine for HPV, while 239 (61.9%) believed that the vaccine does not minimise the risk of cervical cancer. In addition, the respondents reported that they would be far more likely to get an HPV vaccine if recommended by their doctors [relative importance index (RII) = 0.745], followed by their friends (RII = 0.675).

Conclusion
The present findings provide a clear understanding of university students’ knowledge, perceptions and attitudes regarding HPV; this information can be used to raise awareness by developing an effective educational strategy. However, further research with a larger sample size is recommended; such efforts would also aid in the development of educational services for various age ranges.
ATP11A promotes EMT by regulating Numb PRRL in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Chen Lin , Tang Jingtong , Sheng Weiwei , Sun Jian , Ma Yuteng , Dong Ming 
Published: March 2022

Purpose
The Numb protein plays a vital role in tumor development. The main aim of this study was to identify ATP11A, which is associated with the biological behavior of pancreatic cancer, and elucidate its relationship with Numb and the underlying mechanism behind this relationship.

Methods
First, data retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEX) databases was used to investigate the expression of ATP11A mRNA and its relationship with Numb mRNA in pancreatic cancer. Western blot assays on 31 pairs of pancreatic cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues, and immunohistochemical assays on 81 pancreatic cancer specimens were performed in order to verify the expression of ATP11A in pancreatic cancer at the protein level. Next, ATP11A was overexpressed or knocked down to observe its effects on the invasion and migration ability of pancreatic cancer cells and the changes of downstream proteins. Rescue assays were conducted to determine the mechanism through which ATP11A affects Numb, ZEB1, Snail2 and other proteins. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation assays were performed to explore the interaction between ATP11A and Numb. Finally, pancreatic cancer cells were stimulated with TGFB1 and ATP11A expression was examined to explore whether the effect of ATP11A on EMT was TGFB dependent.

Results
At the mRNA level, the expression of ATP11A in pancreatic cancer tissues was significantly higher than in normal pancreatic tissues (P < 0.001). ATP11A expression was also highly correlated with Numb expression (R = 0.676). At the protein level, ATP11A expression in pancreatic cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (P = 0.0009), and high ATP11A expression was also correlated with a worse prognosis. Moreover, our results showed that ATP11A can promote the invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Additionally, ATP11A could positively regulate the expression of Numb PRRL, Snail2 and ZEB1 proteins. The rescue experiment results showed that the enhancement effect of ATP11A on ZEB1/Snail2 was suppressed by the specific knockdown of Numb PRRL. In addition, the immunoprecipitation results showed that ATP11A could specifically bind to Numb PRRL. The expression of ATP11A was also upregulated after TGFB stimulation, suggesting that the effect of ATP11A on EMT is TGFB dependent.

Conclusion
ATP11A is significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues, where it promotes the invasion and migration ability of pancreatic cancer cells. It is also associated with adverse prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, ATP11A affects the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pancreatic cancer by regulating the TGFB dependent Numb PRRL-ZEB1/Snail2 pathway.
Immobilization of Potato Tuber Lipoxygenase on Oxirane Acrylic Beads
Authors: del Carmen Pinto María , Gata José Luis , Macías Pedro 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIn this study, lipoxygenase from potato tuber has been purified by a method involving hydrophobic chromatography and the purified enzyme immobilized by covalent coupling to oxirane acrylic beads. The immobilized lipoxygenase exhibited increased long‐term stability without a significant modification of the kinetic parameters. The comparative study on the effects of inhibitors such as dithizone, NDGA, phenidone, and β‐mercaptoethanol on the free and immobilized enzyme highlighted the importance of the lipoxygenase−support interaction, concluding that the immobilization process could cause the protection of the iron atom in the enzyme. The enzymatic specificity was maintained for the immobilized lipoxygenase, and their stability increased as compared to the free enzyme, making it feasible to use the enzyme in a multistep reaction to produce large quantities of leukotriene A4 or other related compounds of interest in the chemical industry and medicine.
Hyperleptinaemia in young adults following cranial irradiation in childhood: growth hormone deficiency or leptin insensitivity?
Authors: Brennan  , Rahim  , Blum  , Adams  , Eden  , Shalet  
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the mechanism of obesity in long‐term survivors of childhood leukaemia, fat mass, lean body mass and serum leptin were assessed in a cohort of 32 (17 males) adults who had received cranial irradiation (XRT) in childhood as part of their treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), and compared with 35 age and body mass index (BMI) matched young adults (18 male).DESIGNThirty‐one patients and 18 controls had fat mass and lean body mass assessed by dual x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA), using a lunar DPX‐L scanner. Serum leptin concentrations were also measured in 27 patients and all controls. Growth hormone status had previously been determined using an insulin tolerance test and arginine stimulation test. Nine patients were classified as severe growth hormone (GH) deficient (group 1), 12 patients as GH insufficient (group 2) and 11 patients as normal (group 3).RESULTSBMI and absolute fat mass were not significantly different between the patients and controls regardless of their gender (P = 0.1 and P = 0.14 respectively). In contrast, absolute lean mass was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) and leptin concentrations were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in patients compared with controls. BMI, fat mass and leptin concentrations but not lean mass were significantly different between the three GH status groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P = 0.004, and P = 0.67 respectively). When leptin concentrations were expressed per unit of fat mass, they were increased in the patients compared with the controls (P = 0.03) with significant differences between the GH status groups (P = 0.004), being significantly higher in the severe GH deficient group.CONCLUSIONSYoung adults who receive cranial irradiation in childhood are prone to GH deficiency and hyperleptinaemia. The pathophysiological significance of the hyperleptinaemia remains to be established but it has occurred either as a consequence of radiation induced hypothalamic damage or GH deficiency.
Vascular reactivity in acromegalic patients: preliminary evidence for regional endothelial dysfunction and increased sympathetic vasoconstriction
Authors: Maison Patrick , Démolis Pierre , Young Jacques , Schaison Gilbert , Giudicelli Jean‐François , Chanson Philippe 
Published: July 2002

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESHypertension is found in one‐third of acromegalic patients. An heterogenous distribution of cardiac output has been recently demonstrated in acromegalic patients with an increased blood flow at the level of the upper limb, suggesting that acromegalic patients may have some degree of endothelial dysfunction. Elsewhere, studies involving hypopituitary GH‐deficient adults have shown that GH and/or IGF‐I may have direct effect on endothelial function.SUBJECTS AND METHODSWe thus compared cutaneous vasoreactivity responses in 10 normotensive patients with active acromegaly (A) (six women and four men) aged 25–59 (mean, 43.2 years), whose basal GH and IGF‐I levels ranged from 7.4 to 158 mU/l and from 401 to 1690 μg/l, respectively, and in 10 normal age‐ and sex‐matched controls (NC) by means of Laser Doppler flowmetry at the levels of the palm and the dorsum of the right hand. Circulatory skin velocities were studied basally and after increasing skin temperature to 44 °C (in order to study direct nonspecific vasodilatation response which is independent of endothelial or autonomous nervous system and reflects normal vascular muscle function), after shear‐stress (known to produce flow‐dependent vasodilatation, mediated by nitric oxyde (NO) originating from endothelial cells) and after cold‐stress applied on the opposite hand (known to produce vaso‐constriction mediated by the sympathetic nervous system).RESULTSThe warm test induced a significant (P < 0.001) and similar increase in both dorsal and palmar skin perfusion in A (mean± SD) (240 ± 96 and 238 ± 134%, respectively) and NC (232 ± 137 and 233 ± 73, respectively). Ischaemia release induced a significant increase in both dorsal and palmar skin blood flows in the two groups (P < 0.001), but reactivities in acromegalic patients were about one half of those measured in controls (22.9 ± 16.2% (A)vs. 46.9  25% (NC), 2P < 0.02, at the level of the dorsum; and 45.0 ± 43.6% (A)vs. 104.7 ± 40.1 (NC), 2P < 0.01, at the level of the palm). Cold pressor test resulted in significant decreases in both cutaneous flows (P < 0.01) in the two groups, with a larger vasoconstriction (that did not reach statistical significance) in acromegalic patients as compared with controls (P < 0.10).CONCLUSIONVascular smooth cell ability to produce skin vasodilatation is normal but endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation appears to be impaired while sympathetic‐mediated vasoconstrictive response might be increased in acromegaly. This endothelial dysfunction may contribute to hypertension and represent a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in acromegaly.
The reintroduction of the swift fox Vulpes velox to South Central Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: Smeeton Clio , Weagle Ken 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe Canadian Swift Fox Reintroduction Programme lasted from 1972 to 1997. From 1983 to 1997, a total of 841 captive-raised swift foxes and 91 translocated swift foxes were released in the Canadian Prairies. In South Central Saskatchewan, 406 captiveraised animals and 14 translocated animals were released from 1990 to 1997. This area was used to develop new release methods (in particular, portable protective shelters (PPS)) and saw the co-operation of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) (Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI)) with two levels of government (Heritage Canada (Grasslands National Park) and the Government of Saskatchewan). A 1996–97 survey of swift foxes in South Central Saskatchewan estimated the population to be 87 animals. No attempt has been made to establish if this population level is sustainable.
Microstructure variation in sponges sharing growth form: The encrusting demospongesDysidea avaraandCrambe crambe
Authors: Galera Jordi , Turon Xavier , Uriz María J. , Becerro Mikel A. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe goals of this study are to assess variability of microarchitecture in sponges with a similar growth form and to look for correlates between microstructural organization, biological functions and ecological strategies. A comparison of the microstructure of the encrusting spongesDysidea avara(Dendroceratida) andCrambe crambe(Poecilosclerida) is performed. The species co‐occur in sublittoral habitats of the western Mediterranean. Histological techniques, image analysis and corrosion castings are used in order to quantify thickness, degree of development of the aquiferous system, relative amount of structural and cellular materials, and size of the choanocyte chambers in both species. The fine structure and cellular types are described and analysed through SEM/TEM. These sponges are known to feature contrasting ecological strategies:D. avarahas higher growth and clearance rates thanC. crambe, it is more susceptible to predation and uses a more opportunistic strategy of space acquisition and maintenance.C. crambegrows slowly, it is chemically protected from predation and it competes successfully for space with other invertebrates. These differences in biological strategies are here shown to have clear structural correlates:D. avarais structurally simpler, with fewer cell types and very scarce matrix material. Most of its section is occupied by the highly developed aquiferous system. Its construction is much looser than inC. crambe. In the latter species, structural complexity is higher, it produces long‐lasting structures such as the spicules, and it is more compact and thinner. It is concluded that there is wide scope for microarchitectural patterns, even in species with similar growth form, and that structural and cytological characters may prove to be useful descriptors of biological strategies in sponges.
Predicting the occurrence of diabetes mellitus in recipients of heart transplants
Authors: Depczynski B. , Daly B. , Campbell L. V. , Chisholm D. J. , Keogh A. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryAimsTo establish the incidence of post‐transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) and factors predictive of its development.MethodsThis was a retrospective review (using hospital records and transplant database) of 97 consecutive adult patients who underwent cardiac transplantation at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia.ResultsMean follow‐up was 27 months. Excluding five patients who had pre‐existing diabetes, the cumulative incidence of PTDM was 15.7%. Pre‐transplant random blood glucose (5.6 ± 0.8 vs. 5.2 ± 0.6 mmol/l,P < 0.05), family history (46% vs. 15%,P < 0.05) and a continuing requirement for insulin on the second post‐transplant day (54% vs. 15%,P < 0.01) differed in those who developed PTDM as opposed to those who remained free of diabetes. Patients who developed PTDM had received slightly higher mean doses of prednisolone at three months (0.21 ± 0.03 vs. 0.19 ± 0.03 mg. kg−1.day−1,P < 0.01). Of the factors identifiable prior to initial hospital discharge, only family history of diabetes mellitus and second post‐transplant day insulin requirement independently predicted the occurrence of PTDM.ConclusionsA family history of diabetes and the need for insulin beyond the first 24 h after transplantation are factors identifiable prior to hospital discharge, which predict patients at risk of developing PTDM. In such patients, consideration to minimizing the dose of glucocorticoids should be given where possible.
Corneal swelling and recovery following wear of thick hydrogel contact lenses in insulin‐dependent diabetics
Authors: Skaff Amanda , Cullen Anthony P. , Doughty Michael J. , Fonn Desmond 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThick, 0.34 mm, 38% water hydrogel lenses were fitted, under a pressure patch, no one eye of 18 type I diabetic patients (aged 18–40 years) to assess the acute response to hypoxia and hypercapnia; the response was compared with that in 18 healthy, aged‐matched non‐diabetic subjects; the closed‐eye lens wear was started mid‐morning. Pre‐lens wear assessments were made of acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal appearance by biomicroscopy. The mean duration of the diabetes was 13 ± 7 years and the average fasting blood glucose was 8.7 ± 3.3 mM l−1. Baseline CCT values were marginally greater in diabetic patients (600 ± 33 μm) compared with a group of non‐diabetic control subjects (584 ± 26 μm; P > 0.5). A 7.7 ± 2.1% increase in CCT was measured after 3 h lens wear in the diabetic patients while an average 10.6 ± 2.4% increase in CCT was measured in the control subjects (P < 0.05). The recovery of corneal thickness to baseline values in diabetic patients was slower (at 44.8 ± 2.0% per hour) than the control subjects (53.9 ± 2.1 per hour; P < 0.05) although recovery of corneal thickness occurred in both groups within 2.5–3 h. IOP values (non‐contact tonometry) were higher in the diabetic patients than in the controls (14.5 ± 2.9 vs 12.4 ± 1.7 mmHg; P < 0.01). Overall, those corneas with greater baseline CCT values tended to swell less than those with lower baseline CCT values (r = 0.582). Positive correlations were also found between corneal thickness and IOP and blood glucose. The diabetic patients thus tended to have slightly thicker corneas (but this could be related to blood glucose or IOP rather than true corneal disease) and also had corneas that tended to swell less with a contact lens stress test (but this could be constitutively due to the slight oedema already present). The different corneal response in diabetic patients may thus be the result of physical determinants such as initial oedema and IOP and not the result of a disease of the cornea itself.
The Pulfrich effect in optometric practice
Authors: Heron G. , McQuaid Maire , Morrice Elizabeth 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThe Pulfrich effect can occur spontaneously, giving severe symptoms of changed visual perception in a variety of conditions in which an interocular latency difference has occurred. The symptoms principally involve misjudgements on the location of objects, especially when driving. Interocular latency differences can inadvertently be created in patients in practice and this study has investigated the Pulfrich effect in anisocoria, uniocular mydriasis, and with uniocular tint (X‐chrom lens). In all cases a Pulfrich effect was consistently evident and compared to the size of the effect provoked by neutral density filters. The results show that with anisocoria, uniocular mydriasis and the X‐chrom lens, the provoked Pulfrich effect is similar to that found reported previously in cases of trauma. These cases had severe visual symptoms so that care should be exercised in practice, where procedures likely to provoke the Pulfrich effect are contemplated. Specifically, patients who have received uniocular mydriasis in practice should be cautioned about the possible visual effects and advised not to drive until the effect of the mydriatic has finished and equal pupil sizes have been restored.
Night driving: effects of glare from vehicle headlights on motion perception
Authors: Anderson Stephen J. , Holliday Ian E. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryElderly drivers often experience disability glare at night from the headlights of oncoming vehicles. To assess the effect of glare from vehicle headlights on visual performance for seeing moving targets, experiments were performed at night on a dimly lit road with observers seated in a stationary motor car viewing a computer‐generated stimulus display at a distance of 23 m (the stopping distance for 50 kph). The display was set 2 m to the side of a second stationary car whose position on the road was that of an oncoming vehicle with respect to the observer. The headlights of the observer's car were on low‐beam while those of the opposing car were switched off (control condition), on low‐beam or on high‐beam. Experiments were performed using mean display luminances of 50 cd/m2 and 0.5 cd/m2. Spatial contrast sensitivity functions for the directional discrimination of drifting (8 Hz) sinusoidal gratings were measured using three different viewing conditions: normal vision (binocular visual acuity (BVA) = 6/6); blurred vision (BVA = 6/9‐); and simulated intraocular lens opacities (BVA =6/6 ‐). The data were fitted with an exponential function, which was extrapolated to 100% contrast to estimate dynamic visual acuity. The results show that simulated lens opacities, which have little or no effect on standard day time measures of visual acuity, have a marked effect on night‐time measures of contrast sensitivity for moving targents. Taking into account the average luminance of objects lit by road lighting, we estimate that high‐beam glare reduces maximum contrast sensitivity by an order of magnitude in persons affected by mild lens opacities, giving a dynamic acuity of 1.0 c/deg (6/180 Snellen equivalent) or less. From this and other studies we argue that there is now a strong case for the introduction of vehicle‐licensing sight re‐testing at regular intervals in the UK. In addition, we suggest that vehicle‐licensing authorities consider the feasibility of introducing sight tests under night‐time driving conditions.
Varifocal contact lenses for the correction of presbyopia
Authors: Port Michael , Refson Kathleen , Minards Jane 
Published: July 2002

SummaryA Nissel + 1.75 D PS45 lens' label power seems to be made up of about + 0.75 D distance and + 0.75 D near addition. There are individual variations which will depend on pupil size, corneal shape, lens position and ocular aberrations. When a + 0.75 Bausch & Lomb U3 lens was used as a control, there was also a significant increase in ‘accommodation’ measured (+ 0.75 D), but this could not be explained. When two other lenses with an aspheric surface were studied, they also showed a near addition effect. In this supplementary study the changes were explained by changes in spectacle accommodation. A lens with two spherical surfaces did not show the expected increase in spectacle accommodation. Astigmatism, as a general rule, was not corrected by the PS45 lens, although the very occasional case did show some reduction. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity at 8 cpd and 3 cpd were not significantly affected when compared to the control lens.