bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemoimmunotherapy With Fludarabine and Rituximab Produces Extended Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Long-Term Follow-Up of CALGB Study 9712
Authors: Woyach Jennifer A. , Ruppert Amy S. , Heerema Nyla A. , Peterson Bercedis L. , Gribben John G. , Morrison Vicki A. , Rai Kanti R. , Larson Richard A. , Byrd John C.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The addition of rituximab to fludarabine-based regimens in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been shown to produce high response rates with extended remissions. The long-term follow-up of these regimens with respect to progression, survival, risk of secondary leukemia, and impact of genomic risk factors has been limited.

Methods

We report the long-term follow-up of the chemoimmunotherapy trial CALGB 9712 from the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, for which treatment regimen was previously reported, to examine end points of progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), impact of genomic features, and risk of therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (t-MN).

Results

A total of 104 patients were enrolled on this study and now have a median follow-up of 117 months (range, 66 to 131 months). The median OS was 85 months, and 71% of patients were alive at 5 years. The median PFS was 42 months, and 27% were progression free at 5 years. An estimated 13% remained free of progression at almost 10 years of follow-up. Multivariable models of PFS and OS showed that immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region mutational status was significant for both, whereas cytogenetic abnormalities were significant only for OS. No patient developed t-MN before relapse.

Conclusion

Long-term follow-up of CALGB 9712 demonstrates extended OS and PFS with fludarabine plus rituximab. Patients treated with fludarabine plus rituximab administered concurrently or sequentially have a low risk of t-MN. These long-term data support fludarabine plus rituximab as one acceptable first-line treatment for symptomatic patients with CLL.
Non-linear robust control of a voltage-controlled magnetic levitation system with a feedback linearization approach
Authors: Zhang J , Tao T , Mei X , Jiang G , Zhang D
Published: February 2011

The magnetic levitation system's control problem is of considerable scientific interest because the system is open-loop unstable and highly non-linear, and the system's parameters are uncertain. In this paper, the system is formulated by a third-order non-linear differential equation. Based on this third-order non-linear system, the system is first linearized by applying the feedback linearization method. Then, the controller is designed based on a global sliding mode technique, which is able to stabilize a linearized system. Experimental results show that, compared with the classic proportional—integral—derivative (PID) controller, the proposed controller provides excellent transient response performance and the system is robust against the non-linear parameter perturbation. Further experiments show that the sampling period is an important parameter to the system robustness. The reason is explained theoretically, and the analysis shows that in the practical global sliding mode control (GSMC) system the smaller the sampling period is, the more robust the controller will be.
Modelling of a novel in-pipe microrobot design with IPMC legs
Authors: Vahabi M , Mehdizadeh E , Kabganian M , Barazandeh F
Published: February 2011

The majority of research activities on microrobotics have been devoted to fabrication and design. The lack of work on modelling and simulation is significant. The majority of microrobots are in-pipe microrobots. This paper presents a new in-pipe microrobot taking advantage of ionic polymer—metal composite (IPMC) actuators. The design and modelling of the robot is presented in this paper. The mathematical model of the microrobot is obtained using the extended Hamilton principle (EHP). Four steps are taken for the robot in every movement cycle. The modelling process has to be carried out for each step separately. The non-linearity of IPMC and the type of motion gait increases the complexity of the model. The main aim is to design the parameters such that the speed of progress is increased. The modelling results show that the body mass does not affect the motion speed. They also reveal that by increasing the foot angle and reducing the spring stiffness, the speed of motion will increase as well.
Soil type identification for autonomous excavation based on dissipation energy
Authors: Dai J S , Lam H K , Vahed S M
Published: February 2011

Knowledge of soil properties and identifying worked soil type are critical for optimized control strategies of an autonomous excavator. The current paper presents an online soil type identification based on real-time measuring of energy components for horizontal dragging tasks. The online energy measurement, calculated by integration of the force acting on an object along a displacement, makes the resulting data robust to noise. Analysis of the energy measurement reveals that the correlation between potential—dissipation energy and displacement has unique characteristics for any given soil, independently of the amount of applied force. This leads to the creation of a new soil ‘energy map' with respect to various soil types. A mathematical model has been developed for each soil's ‘energy map'. An identification algorithm has been developed to utilize these prior mathematical models for cross-referencing with online total energy of the currently worked soil to identify soil type online. The overall approach has been validated experimentally on a laboratory test-rig using mulch, gravel, sand, and clay soils.
Geometric bounding techniques for underwater localization using range-only sensors
Authors: Morice C P , Veres S M
Published: February 2011

This paper describes the application of geometric bounding techniques to range-only navigation of an underwater vehicle. A geometric technique is defined to obtain a position fix of an underwater vehicle using a combination of dead-reckoning navigation and acoustic measurements of range between the underwater vehicle and a global positioning system (GPS)-equipped ship. An assessment is made of the accuracy to which navigational parameters can be estimated using these methods.
Open and endovascular repair of hepatic artery aneurysm: two case reports and review of the literature
Authors: Nathan Derek P , Wang Grace J , Woo Edward Y , Fairman Ronald M , Jackson Benjamin M
Published: February 2011

Hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) represent a complex and often lethal condition. An 80-year-old woman with polyarteritis nodosa and a right hepatic lobe HAA underwent endovascular repair with coils. Her case was complicated by intraoperative HAA rupture requiring exploratory laparotomy. In the second case, a 37-year-old man with a large HAA underwent open repair with a bifurcated graft that extended from the common hepatic artery to the left and right hepatic arteries. These two cases highlight the difficulty of managing HAAs, and provide insight into their treatment. Furthermore, our review of the literature highlights the data on the management of HAAs, including the natural history of this disease process, the indications for repair and the optimal treatment modality.
Surgical outcome in patients with concomitant-infected abdominal aortic aneurysm and spondylitis
Authors: Zhang Ruoyu , Teebken Omke E , Bisdas Theodosios , Haverich Axel , Pichlmaier Maximilian
Published: February 2011

The coexistence of infected abdominal aortic aneurysms and spondylitis is rare but challenging. The etiology of the infection is frequently unknown. The aim of this study was to review the outcome of surgical repair of this complex disease. From 2004 to 2006, six patients were identified who underwent surgical repair of concomitant infected abdominal aortic aneurysm and spondylitis. Diagnosis, treatment and intermediate-term results are presented. The clinical manifestation included the signs of ongoing systemic infection, neurological deficit and abdominal or back pain. Computed tomography revealed abdominal aortic aneurysms associated with polysegmental spondylitis. Patients underwent radical debridement and aortic replacement with cryopreserved aortic allografts or silver-coated prostheses followed by antibiotic treatment. Only one patient received a simultaneous anterior vertebral stabilization. Greater omentum was placed in the abscess cavity. Intensive care unit and hospital stay averaged 3.0 and 28.0 days, respectively. Organisms were identified in all but one patient. Over a follow-up period of 4.4 years, four patients are alive and showing freedom from infection, and two patients had died unrelated at seven and eight months. In conclusion, surgical repair of infected aortic aneurysms with resection of infected tissues and implantation of a homograft or a silver-coated prosthesis achieved favorable results in this sick patient group. Simultaneous vertebral stabilization is rarely necessary.
Long-term complication and patency rates of Vectra and IMPRA Carboflo Vascular Access Grafts with aggressive monitoring, surveillance and endovascular management
Authors: Kakkos S K , Topalidis D , Haddad R , Haddad G K , Shepard A D
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this study is to compare infection, pseudoaneurysm formation and patency rates during long-term follow-up of polyurethane and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular access grafts maintained with contemporary endovascular methods. During a 34-month period, 239 polyurethane and 125 carbon-impregnated PTFE vascular access grafts were placed in 324 consecutive patients. Thirty-six patients (9.9%) developed a pseudoaneurysm (anastomotic, n = 6 or at the needle-stick site, n = 30). An additional 19 patients (5.2%) required graft excision for infection. Three-year graft infection and pseudoaneurysm formation (at needle-stick site) rates were similar in polyurethane and PTFE grafts (11% versus 8%, P = 0.61, and 17% versus 23%, P = 0.72, respectively). Three-year secondary patency was better in polyurethane than PTFE grafts (69% versus 57%, respectively, P = 0.012). Straight upper arm polyurethane grafts had the best secondary patency ( P = 0.001). Contemporary long-term secondary patency of vascular access grafts is satisfactory. Further follow-up is necessary to compare late infection and pseudoaneurysm formation rates.
Drosophila Upf1 and Upf2 loss of function inhibits cell growth and causes animal death in a Upf3-independent manner
Authors: Avery Paul , Vicente-Crespo Marta , Francis Deepthy , Nashchekina Oxana , Alonso Claudio R. , Palacios Isabel M.
Published: February 2011

Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) is a surveillance mechanism that degrades transcripts containing nonsense mutations, preventing the translation of truncated proteins. NMD also regulates the levels of many endogenous mRNAs. While the mechanism of NMD is gradually understood, its physiological role remains largely unknown. The core NMD genes upf1 and upf2 are essential in several organisms, which may reflect an important developmental role for NMD. Alternatively, the lethality of these mutants might arise from their function in NMD-independent processes. To analyze the developmental importance of NMD, we studied Drosophila mutants of the other core NMD gene, upf3. We compare the resulting upf3 phenotype with those defects observed in upf1 and upf2 loss-of-function mutants, as well as with flies expressing a mutant Upf2 protein unable to bind Upf3. Our results show that Upf3 is an NMD effector in the fly but, unlike Upf1 and Upf2, plays a peripheral role in the degradation of most NMD targets and is not required for development or viability. Furthermore, Upf1 and Upf2 loss-of-function inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis through a Upf3-independent pathway. Accordingly, disruption of Upf2–Upf1 interaction causes death, while the Upf2–Upf3 complex is dispensable for viability. Our findings suggest that NMD is essential for cell growth and animal development, and that the lethality of upf1 and upf2 mutants is not due to disrupting their roles during NMD-independent processes, but to their function in the degradation of specific mRNAs by the NMD pathway. Furthermore, our results show that Upf3 is not always essential in NMD.
Proposed Serum Cholesterol Reference Measurement Procedure by Gas Chromatography–Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Edwards Selvin H , Kimberly Mary M , Pyatt Susan D , Stribling Shelton L , Dobbin Kara D , Myers Gary L
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND

Our purpose was to establish a mass spectrometry reference measurement procedure (RMP) for cholesterol to use in the CDC's standardization programs. We explored a gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (GC-IDMS) procedure using a multilevel standard calibration curve to quantify samples with varying cholesterol concentrations.

METHODS

We calibrated the mass spectrometry instrument by isotope dilution with a pure primary standard reference material and an isotopically enriched cholesterol analog as the internal standard (IS). We diluted the serum samples with Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4, 0.05 mol/L, 0.25% Triton X-100) before analysis. We used 17 serum pools, 10 native samples, and 2 standard reference materials (SRMs). We compared the GC-IDMS measurements with the CDC's modified Abell–Levy–Brodie–Kendall (AK) RMP measurements and assessed method accuracy by analyzing 2 SRMs. We evaluated the procedure for lack of interference by analyzing serum spiked with a mixture of 7 sterols.

RESULTS

The mean percent bias between the AK and the GC-IDMS RMP was 1.6% for all samples examined. The mean percent bias from NIST's RMP was 0.5% for the SRMs. The total %CVs for SRM 1951b levels I and II were 0.61 and 0.73%, respectively. We found that none of the sterols investigated interfered with the cholesterol measurement.

CONCLUSIONS

The low imprecision, linear response, lack of interferences, and acceptable bias vs the NIST primary RMP qualifies this procedure as an RMP for determining serum cholesterol. The CDC will adopt and implement this GC-IDMS procedure for cholesterol standardization.
A beaded collar for dual micro GPS/VHF transmitter attachment to nutria
Authors: Haramis G. Michael , White Timothy S.
Published: February 2011

We report on the development of an approximately 85-g beaded collar for dual micro GPS/VHF transmitter attachment to semi-aquatic nutria (Myocastor coypus). Prototype collars were tested on captive nutria and refined during field trials. Central to the design was novel use of the VHF transmitter antenna as a collar. A circular collar was formed by passing the 44-cm antenna cable through a pre-made hole in the transmitter, leaving an approximately 16-cm upright antenna. GPS units were mounted separately via a hole in the base of each unit. For good satellite contact, GPS units (∼28 g) were maintained at the nape of the neck by counterbalance of the heavier VHF transmitters (∼50 g) positioned under the neck. To reduce friction, we lined the collar with alternate-sized plastic and, later, more durable nylon beads. The final collar configuration was worn for approximately 1 month deployments with only minor neck abrasion; one collar was worn successfully for 5 months. Foot entanglement remained the greatest risk of injury from the collar. By fitting collars tightly, we reduced the incidence of foot entanglement to 2 of 33 deployments (6%). Successful GPS tracks were acquired on 29 of 33 deployments (88%).
ISOCORRAG International Atmospheric Exposure Program: Summary of Results
Authors: Knotkova Dagmar , Kreislova Katerina , Dean Sheldon W.
Published: February 2011

Description

The largest collection of atmospheric corrosion and environmental data ever published in a single source!

Access the data collected over a 12-year exposure period carried out in Europe, North America, and Asia. Thirteen countries participated in the exposure program with a total of 53 exposure sites, including industrial, urban, rural, marine, and costal locations in temperate, tropical, and arctic zones. Included are tables showing the location of each site and the type of exposure.

This new ASTM publication provides the results from the ISO CORRAG Program and includes:
A meta-analysis of the associations between common variation in the PDE8B gene and thyroid hormone parameters, including assessment of longitudinal stability of associations over time and effect of thyroid hormone replacement
Authors: Taylor Peter N , Panicker Vijay , Sayers Adrian , Shields Beverley , Iqbal Ahmed , Bremner Alexandra P , Beilby John P , Leedman Peter J , Hattersley Andrew T , Vaidya Bijay , Frayling Timothy , Evans Jonathan , Tobias Jonathan H , Timpson Nicholas J , Walsh John P , Dayan Colin M
Published: February 2011

Objective

Common variants in PDE8B are associated with TSH but apparently without any effect on thyroid hormone levels that is difficult to explain. Furthermore, the stability of the association has not been examined in longitudinal studies or in patients on levothyroxine (l-T4).

Design

Totally, four cohorts were used (n=2557): the Busselton Health Study (thyroid function measured on two occasions), DEPTH, EFSOCH (selective cohorts), and WATTS (individuals on l-T4).

Methods

Meta-analysis to clarify associations between the rs4704397 single nucleotide polymorphism in PDE8B on TSH, tri-iodothyronine (T3), and T4 levels.

Results

Meta-analysis confirmed that genetic variation in PDE8B was associated with TSH (P=1.64×10−10 0.20 s.d./allele, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.142, 0.267) and identified a possible new association with free T4 (P=0.023, −0.07 s.d./allele, 95% CI −0.137, −0.01), no association was seen with free T3 (P=0.218). The association between PDE8B and TSH was similar in 1981 (0.14 s.d./allele, 95% CI 0.04, 0.238) and 1994 (0.20 s.d./allele, 95% CI 0.102, 0.300) and even more consistent between PDE8B and free T4 in 1981 (−0.068 s.d./allele, 95% CI −0.167, 0.031) and 1994 (−0.07 s.d./allele, 95% CI −0.170, 0.030). No associations were seen between PDE8B and thyroid hormone parameters in individuals on l-T4.

Conclusion

Common genetic variation in PDE8B is associated with reciprocal changes in TSH and free T4 levels that are consistent over time and lost in individuals on l-T4. These findings identify a possible genetic marker reflecting variation in thyroid hormone output that will be of value in epidemiological studies and provides additional evidence that PDE8B is involved in TSH signaling in the thyroid.
Efficacy and safety of oral tolvaptan therapy in patients with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
Authors: Verbalis Joseph G , Adler Suzanne , Schrier Robert W , Berl Tomas , Zhao Qiong , Czerwiec Frank S , _ _
Published: February 2011

Objective

Tolvaptan, an oral antagonist of the vasopressin V2receptor, has been found to improve hyponatremia in patients with mixed etiologies. This study analyzed a subgroup of patients with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in this group.

Design and patients

Hyponatremic patients in the SALT-1 and SALT-2 studies with a diagnosis of SIADH were identified based on clinical diagnosis by individual study investigators. Subjects were randomized to receive oral placebo (n=52) or tolvaptan 15 mg daily, with further titration to 30 and 60 mg daily, if necessary, based on the response of serum [Na+] (n=58).

Results

In patients with SIADH, improvement in serum [Na+] was significantly greater (P<0.0001) with tolvaptan than placebo over the first 4 days of therapy as well as the entire 30-day study, with minimal side effects of increased thirst, dry mouth, and urination. Only 5.9% of tolvaptan-treated patients had overly rapid correction of hyponatremia as defined by current guidelines. After discontinuation of tolvaptan, serum [Na+] declined to values similar to placebo. A significant positive treatment effect favoring tolvaptan on the physical component, and a near-significant trend on the mental component, was found using the SF-12 Health Survey. Tolvaptan was associated with a significantly reduced incidence of fluid restriction.

Conclusions

Results for the SIADH subgroup were analogous to those of the combined SALT population regarding efficacy and safety but demonstrated a greater improvement in the physical component of the SF-12 Health Survey than in the full mixed etiology SALT patient group.
Milk-borne lactocrine-acting factors affect gene expression patterns in the developing neonatal porcine uterus
Authors: Chen Joseph C , Frankshun Amy-Lynn , Wiley Anne A , Miller Dori J , Welch Kristene A , Ho Teh-Yuan , Bartol Frank F , Bagnell Carol A
Published: February 2011

Lactocrine communication of milk-borne bioactive factors (MbFs) from mother to offspring through nursing can affect neonatal development with lasting consequences. Relaxin (RLX), a lactocrine-active peptide found in porcine colostrum, stimulates estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) expression required for uterine development shortly after birth (postnatal day=PND 0). Whether other MbFs or cooperative lactocrine mechanisms affect the neonatal uterine developmental program is unknown. To determine the effects of age, nursing, and exogenous RLX on gene expression associated with uterine development, gilts (n=4–5/group) were assigned to nursead libitumor to receive milk replacer, with or without exogenous RLX (20 μg/kg BW i.m./6 h for 48 h), from birth to PND 2 when uteri were collected. Body weight and uterine weight increased (P<0.05) similarly from birth to PND 2 in all gilts. However, colostrum consumption was required for normal uterine ESR1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and RLX receptor (RXFP1) protein and/or transcript expression on PND 2. Uterine ESR1, VEGFA, and MMP9 protein levels were below (P<0.01) the assay sensitivity in replacer-fed gilts. Supplemental RLX increased (P<0.05) uterine ESR1 protein and mRNA in nursed gilts, as well as VEGFA protein in nursed andVEGFAmRNA in both nursed and replacer-fed gilts. RLX treatment did not affect uterineMMP9mRNA levels. When compared with replacer-fed gilts on PND 2, uterineRXFP1mRNA was reduced (P<0.05) in nursed gilts and in RLX-supplemented replacer-fed gilts. These results constitute the first evidence that establishment of the neonatal porcine uterine developmental program requires maternal lactocrine support.
Outcomes of a Universal Shared Reading Intervention by 2 Years of Age: The Let's Read Trial
Authors: Goldfeld Sharon , Napiza Natasha , Quach Jon , Reilly Sheena , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Wake Melissa
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND:

Early shared reading and literacy promotion benefits have stimulated international interest in the development of early-years literacy-promotion programs despite limited evidence of effectiveness at a broader population level.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether a population-based primary care literacy promotion intervention during the first 2 years of life improves early markers of subsequent literacy by 2 years of age.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

This cluster randomized controlled trial took place in 5 relatively disadvantaged areas in Melbourne, Australia. Infants attending their maternal and child health centers were recruited at age 1–2 months. The intervention (4–8, 12, and 18 months) comprised maternal and child health nurses modelling shared reading activities to parents, supported by parent information and free books. Outcomes (at 2 years) included expressive vocabulary (MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventory), communication (Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales), and home literacy environment (StimQ-Toddler). We analyzed the outcomes using random-effects (linear regression) models allowing for clustering.

RESULTS:

A total of 552 families (87.6%; 324 intervention and 228 control families) of 630 recruited families (66.5% response) were retained to outcome. A total of 97.3% of intervention parents received some (93.7% to all) of the intervention. At 2 years, the trial arms had similar vocabulary (adjusted mean difference: −2.0 [95% confidence interval: −6.2 to 2.2]; P = .36), communication (adjusted mean difference: 0.2 [95% confidence interval: −2.3 to 2.7]; P = .87), and home literacy (adjusted mean difference: −0.4 [95% confidence interval: −1.0 to 0.2]; P = .21).

CONCLUSIONS:

This universal literacy-promotion program was not beneficial in relatively disadvantaged communities by the age of 2 years and may be ineffective. Alternative interpretations may relate to program intensity, reach and/or sleeper effects. Definitive outcomes at 4 years are awaited.
Literacy Promotion for Families Participating in the Women, Infants and Children Program
Authors: Whaley Shannon E. , Jiang Lu , Gomez Judy , Jenks Eloise
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE:

This article describes the impact of a bilingual literacy intervention conducted with nearly 118 000 children in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) sites in Los Angeles County, California.

METHODS:

All WIC participants at 6 WIC sites in Los Angeles County participated in the literacy intervention. Three cohorts of participants were selected to participate in the evaluation of the intervention. A control group of 200 families received no intervention, 103 families received 2 years of intervention, and 102 families received 4 years of intervention. Participants were predominantly Hispanic (92%), 3- to 4-year-old children and their parents. All families had low income levels, and more than one-half were Spanish-speaking. School readiness assessments were conducted with the children; parent literacy resources and activities at home were observed. Structural equation modeling was used to allow for simultaneous testing of relationships between variables.

RESULTS:

The Spanish-speaking subset showed a strong intervention effect. Among Spanish speakers, the 4-year intervention group (P < .001) and the 2-year intervention group (P < .05) had significantly higher school readiness scores, compared with the control group. The structural equation model revealed that exposure to the intervention significantly enhanced literacy resources and activities at home, which in turn led to greater school readiness.

CONCLUSION:

WIC-based literacy intervention significantly increased low-income, Spanish-speaking children's school readiness.
Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Authors: Seifert Sara M. , Schaechter Judith L. , Hershorin Eugene R. , Lipshultz Steven E.
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE:

To review the effects, adverse consequences, and extent of energy drink consumption among children, adolescents, and young adults.

METHODS:

We searched PubMed and Google using “energy drink,” “sports drink,” “guarana,” “caffeine,” “taurine,” “ADHD,” “diabetes,” “children,” “adolescents,” “insulin,” “eating disorders,” and “poison control center” to identify articles related to energy drinks. Manufacturer Web sites were reviewed for product information.

RESULTS:

According to self-report surveys, energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. Frequently containing high and unregulated amounts of caffeine, these drinks have been reported in association with serious adverse effects, especially in children, adolescents, and young adults with seizures, diabetes, cardiac abnormalities, or mood and behavioral disorders or those who take certain medications. Of the 5448 US caffeine overdoses reported in 2007, 46% occurred in those younger than 19 years. Several countries and states have debated or restricted energy drink sales and advertising.

CONCLUSIONS:

Energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are understudied and not regulated. The known and unknown pharmacology of agents included in such drinks, combined with reports of toxicity, raises concern for potentially serious adverse effects in association with energy drink use. In the short-term, pediatricians need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks in vulnerable populations and screen for consumption to educate families. Long-term research should aim to understand the effects in at-risk populations. Toxicity surveillance should be improved, and regulations of energy drink sales and consumption should be based on appropriate research.
Assessment of the 4Ts Pretest Clinical Scoring System as a Predictor of Heparin‐Induced Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Strutt Jaclyn K. , Mackey Jennifer E. , Johnson Stephen M. , Sylvia Lynne M.
Published: February 2011

Study Objective. To evaluate the utility of the 4Ts clinical scoring system as a pretest probability method for the detection of heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Design. Prospective observational study.

Setting. Medical and surgical inpatients at a tertiary care medical center.

Patients. Eighty consecutive patients with suspicion of HIT who had a polyspecific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed between December 1, 2008, and April 1, 2009, for detection of platelet factor 4 (PF4)‐heparin antibodies.

Measurements and Main Results. The predictive value of the 4Ts scoring system as determined by using a standard laboratory marker of HIT—the ELISA—and the interrater reliability of the scoring system were assessed. Sixty‐seven (84%) of the 80 patients had low clinical probability of HIT based on the calculated 4Ts score. The ELISA result was negative for PF4–heparin antibodies in 74 patients (93%). Based on the results of the ELISA, the negative predictive value of the 4Ts score was 91%. Each 4Ts score was calculated by two independent investigators and adjudicated by a third investigator when necessary. The interrater reliability of the scoring system was fair (Cohen K coefficient 0.362, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.222–0.502; weighted K coefficient 0.554 (95% CI 0.441–0.667). Determination of the timing of HIT was associated with the largest number of discrepancies (16) between evaluators, followed by other causes of thrombocytopenia (15), degree of decline in platelet count (14), and the presence of thrombosis or other sequelae (2).

Conclusion. A low 4Ts score supports a low probability of HIT based on the results of the polyspecific ELISA. Overall, the interrater reliability of the scoring system was fair. Components of the 4Ts scoring system need to be further clarified or modified in order to improve interrater reliability and thereby increase the clinical utility of this pretest probability model.
Contemporary Management of Transient Ischemic Attack: Role of the Pharmacist
Authors: Rhoney Denise H.
Published: February 2011

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) have been redefined recently. The new tissue‐based definition of TIA abandons the 24–hour restriction on symptom duration previously used to differentiate TIA from acute ischemic stroke and requires neuroimaging studies to identify the cause of the ischemia and to determine the presence and extent of brain injury. This new definition brings to light the need for urgent diagnostic testing and timely initiation of treatment, as well as secondary prevention measures to reduce the increased risk of stroke, cardiovascular complications, and death in the days and weeks after a TIA. Pharmacists play a key role in identifying patients at risk for a first or recurrent TIA or stroke, educating high‐risk patients on the signs and symptoms of TIA or stroke and the need for urgent evaluation and treatment, overcoming barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment, and ensuring that appropriate primary or secondary prevention strategies are in place. Furthermore, studies have shown that pharmacist‐led interventions can lead to significant improvements in modifiable risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as drug adherence, and may reduce the occurrence of strokes. These interventions may also help maintain patients' health‐related quality of life and improve patients' satisfaction with care.
The importance of quantifying propagule pressure to understand invasion: an examination of riparian forest invasibility
Authors: Eschtruth Anne K. , Battles John J.
Published: February 2011

The widely held belief that riparian communities are highly invasible to exotic plants is based primarily on comparisons of the extent of invasion in riparian and upland communities. However, because differences in the extent of invasion may simply result from variation in propagule supply among recipient environments, true comparisons of invasibility require that both invasion success and propagule pressure are quantified. In this study, we quantified propagule pressure in order to compare the invasibility of riparian and upland forests and assess the accuracy of using a community's level of invasion as a surrogate for its invasibility.

We found the extent of invasion to be a poor proxy for invasibility. The higher level of invasion in the studied riparian forests resulted from greater propagule availability rather than higher invasibility. Furthermore, failure to account for propagule pressure may confound our understanding of general invasion theories. Ecological theory suggests that species‐rich communities should be less invasible. However, we found significant relationships between species diversity and invasion extent, but no diversity–invasibility relationship was detected for any species. Our results demonstrate that using a community's level of invasion as a surrogate for its invasibility can confound our understanding of invasibility and its determinants.
Hepatoprotective Effects and Antioxidant Role of Scutia myrtina on Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Sambath Kumar Ramanathan , Asokkumar Kupusamy , Venkateswara Murthy Nallasamy
Published: February 2011

The hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina (EESM) was evaluated against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum transaminase (SGPT and SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein and uric acid. Further, the effects of the extract on lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), Vitamin C and Vitamin E, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were estimated. The ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina (EESM) (100 and 200 mg/kg) produced significant (P < 0.05) hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes, bilirubin, and lipid peroxidation, while it significantly increased the levels of protein, uric acid, GSH, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, SOD and CAT (P < 0.05). The effects of EESM were comparable to that of standard drug Silymarin. The results indicate that EESM shows hepatoprotective effects on paracetamol-induced liver damage in rat this may due to antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of EESM.
Influence of Benefits, Barriers and Cues to Action for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among University Students
Authors: Mhatre Shivani , Artani Sarah , Sansgiry Sujit
Published: February 2011

The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of perceived benefits, barriers, and cues to action on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among university students. This was a prospective, cross sectional questionnaire-based study conducted at a large urban university in Houston, Texas. Of the 400 students surveyed, 143 (35.8%) were current CAM users (used CAM in the past 12 months). Biologically based medications such as herbs, vitamins, supplements and natural products were found to be most profoundly used among students (42%). Perceived benefits (OR 9.14, 95% CI 4.64-18), barriers to CAM use (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.27-0.89) and cues to action (OR 5.21, 95% CI 1.02-26.51) were significant determinants of CAM use among students. Perceived ability of CAM to improve body defenses was found to be the major perceived benefit for CAM use while lack of sufficient scientific testing was found to be the major barrier. Recommendation by health care provider and CAM use by parents and grandparents significantly (p < 0.0001) influenced current CAM use among students. Thus, perceived benefits and cues to action for CAM use significantly promoted CAM usage while perceived barriers were found to hinder CAM use among students.
Retinal Microglial Activation and Inflammation Induced by Amadori-Glycated Albumin in a Rat Model of Diabetes
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed S. , El-Remessy Azza B. , Matragoon Suraporn , Zhang Wenbo , Patel Yogin , Khan Sohail , Al-Gayyar Mohammed M. , El-Shishtawy Mamdouh M. , Liou Gregory I.
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE

During diabetes, retinal microglial cells are activated to release inflammatory cytokines that initiate neuronal loss and blood–retinal barrier breakdown seen in diabetic retinopathy (DR). The mechanism by which diabetes activates microglia to release those inflammatory mediators is unclear and was therefore elucidated.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Microglia activation was characterized in streptozocin-injected rats and in isolated microglial cells using immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses.

RESULTS

In 8-week diabetic retina, phospho-extracellular signal–related kinase (ERK) and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases were localized in microglia, but not in Mueller cells or astrocytes. At the same time, Amadori-glycated albumin (AGA)-like epitopes were featured in the regions of microglia distribution, implicating a pathogenic effect on microglial activation. To test this, diabetic rats were treated intravitreally with A717, a specific AGA-neutralizing antibody, or murine IgG. Relative to nondiabetic rats, diabetic rats (IgG-treated) manifested 3.9- and 7.9-fold increases in Iba-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNAs, respectively. Treatment of diabetic rats with A717 significantly attenuated overexpression of these mRNAs. Intravitreal injection of AGA per se in normal rats resulted in increases of Iba-1 expression and TNF-α release. Guided by these results, a cultured retinal microglia model was developed to study microglial response after AGA treatment and the mechanistic basis behind this response. The results showed that formation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent activation of ERK and P38, but not Jun NH2-terminal kinase, are molecular events underpinning retinal microglial TNF-α release during AGA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide new insights in understanding the pathogenesis of early DR, showing that the accumulated AGA within the diabetic retina elicits the microglial activation and secretion of TNF-α. Thus, intervention trials with agents that neutralize AGA effects may emerge as a new therapeutic approach to modulate early pathologic pathways long before the occurrence of vision loss among patients with diabetes.
Predictors of long-term survival in dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma
Authors: Marconato Laura , Stefanello Damiano , Valenti Paola , Bonfanti Ugo , Comazzi Stefano , Roccabianca Paola , Caniatti Mario , Romanelli Giorgio , Massari Federico , Zini Eric
Published: February 2011

Objective—To determine factors predicting survival in dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma.

Design—Retrospective cohort study.

Animals—127 dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma evaluated at 4 veterinary hospitals from 2000 to 2009.

Procedures—Records were reviewed to identify dogs with completely staged high-grade multicentric lymphoma treated with chemotherapy. Data collected included signalment, history, hematologic findings, tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcome. Long-term survival was defined as surviving > 2 years after diagnosis. Variables were analyzed for associations with dogs living > 2 years.

Results—Among the 127 enrolled dogs, 13 (10%) survived > 2 years with a median survival time of 914 days (range, 740 to 2,058 days). Survival rates at 3, 4, and 5 years were 4%, 3%, and 1 %, respectively. At diagnosis, 11 of the 13 long-term survivors had a body weight ≥ 10 kg, PCV ≥ 35%, absence of ionized hypercalcemia, centroblastic lymphoma, immunophenotype B, absence of bone marrow involvement, and lymphoma stages I through IV and were not previously treated with corticosteroids. The same combination of factors was present in 26 of 114 (23%) dogs surviving ≤ 2 years, yielding a negative predictive value of 97.8% for long-term survivors. Four of the 6 long-term survivors that died during the study died of another cancer; 3 of them had osteosarcoma.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Absence of the aforementioned combination of variables at diagnosis may help identify dogs with lymphoma that will not survive > 2 years. Other types of neoplasia, in particular osteosarcoma, may develop in long-term–surviving dogs.
Dominating and total dominating partitions in cubic graphs
Authors: Southey Justin , Henning Michael
Published: February 2011

In this paper, we continue the study of domination and total domination in cubic graphs. It is known [Henning M.A., Southey J., A note on graphs with disjoint dominating and total dominating sets, Ars Combin., 2008, 89, 159–162] that every cubic graph has a dominating set and a total dominating set which are disjoint. In this paper we show that every connected cubic graph on nvertices has a total dominating set whose complement contains a dominating set such that the cardinality of the total dominating set is at most (n+2)/2, and this bound is essentially best possible.
On the global stability of time delayed CNNs
Authors: Margaris Athanasios
Published: February 2011

The objective of this paper is the concise presentation of the most important and recent lemmas and theorems associated with the global asymptotic and exponential stability of the equilibrium point of time delayed cellular neural networks. For each theorem a short proof is given, so that the reader can understand its features and its relationships to other theorems. In the last section, the presented theorems are grouped according to their characteristics and the way they relate to one another, and some of them are demonstrated, in order to draw conclusions about their use.
Humanistic Paradigms of Education in the Postmodern Vision
Authors: Šarkan Martin , Nemec Rastislav
Published: February 2011

Humanistic Paradigms of Education in the Postmodern Vision

This study portrays the present social trends of the educational system against the background of the transformation of the social institutions that emerge as a result of the general changes to the social paradigm. These transformations have a direct impact on questions over classical humanistic ideals and educational goals relating to the social perceptions of the status of educated people. The aim of this study is to discuss the conditio postmoderna in the education system following the Declaration of Bologna, especially emphasising the thinking of K. Liessmann and G. Lipovetsky. This study also indicates the paradoxical effects of the reform process and compares them with classical ideals of the educated.
Is Borderline Personality a Particularly Right Hemispheric Disorder? A Study of P3a Using Single Trial Analysis
Authors: Meares Russell , Schore Allan , Melkonian Dmitriy
Published: February 2011

Objective: To test the hypothesis that borderline personality disorder is a manifestation of a particularly right hemispheric disturbance, involving deficient higher order inhibition, and to consider the therapeutic implications of the findings.

Methods: A cohort of 17 medication free borderline patients were compared with 17 age and sex matched controls by means of a study of p3a, which reflects the activity of one of the two main generators of the P300 (P3) of the event-related-potential. P3b reflects the output of the other generator. P3a, an aspect of the attentional system, depends upon prefrontally connected neurocircuitry. P3b is underpinned by a particularly parietally connected neural system. Using an oddball paradigm, P3a was extracted from the responses to targets using a novel single trial analysis.

Results: In borderline patients, over homologous electrode sites, p3a amplitudes, but not latencies, were significantly larger in the right hemisphere compared with the left. The differences were most marked fronto-centrally. No such difference was shown in the control subjects. P3a at right hemisphere sites was significantly larger in borderline compared with control patients. There was no significant difference between the groups for the left hemisphere sites.

Conclusions: The abnormally large amplitudes of P3a at right hemisphere sites in borderline patients together with the failure of habituation of P3a, are consistent with deficient inhibitory activity. Discussion of the findings suggest that they may reflect impeded maturation of the fronto-medial processing systems which, it is argued, may be a consequence of the typical early environment of those with the borderline condition. This suggestion leads to a consideration of optimal therapeutic behaviour in this condition, in particular for ‘matching’ or ‘analogical’ responsiveness.
The Nature of Stability in Replicating Systems
Authors: Wagner Nathaniel , Pross Addy
Published: February 2011

We review the concept of dynamic kinetic stability, a type of stability associated specifically with replicating entities, and show how it differs from the well-known and established (static) kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities associated with regular chemical systems. In the process we demonstrate how the concept can help bridge the conceptual chasm that continues to separate the physical and biological sciences by relating the nature of stability in the animate and inanimate worlds, and by providing additional insights into the physicochemical nature of abiogenesis.
Antioxidant Activities of Fractions of Polymeric Procyanidins from Stem Bark of Acacia confusa
Authors: Wei Shu-Dong , Zhou Hai-Chao , Lin Yi-Ming
Published: February 2011

The polymeric procyanidins extracted from Acacia confusa stem bark were fractionated with a step gradient of water, methanol and acetone on a Sephadex LH-20 column. The antioxidant activity of the collected fractions was investigated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. All fractions possessed potent antioxidant activity with the highest activity observed for fraction F9. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analyses suggested that the collected fractions consisted primarily of oligomeric and polymeric procyanidins, with different polymer ranges and most abundant polymer size. For each fraction, catechin and epicatechin were present as both terminal and extension units, and epicatechin was the major component in the extended chain. The mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of each fraction differed, ranging from 1.68 (fraction F2) to 17.31 (fraction F11). There was a relationship between antioxidant activity (IC50/DPPH and FRAP) and mDP (R2DPPH = 0.861, P = 0.006 and R2FRAP = 0.608, P = 0.038), respectively. However, the highest antioxidant activity of fraction (F9) was not coincident with the maximum mDP of fraction (F11).