bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Enhanced In Vivo Platelet α-Granule Release in Different Patient Groups - Comparison of β-Thromboglobulin, Platelet Factor 4 and Thrombospondin Assays
Authors: Lane D A , Ireland H , Wolff S , Ranasinghe E , Dawes J 
Published: July 2018

SummaryDuring the platelet release reaction β-thromboglobulin (βTG), platelet factor 4 (PF4) and thrombospondin (TSP) are released from the platelet into plasma and assays of these proteins can be used to monitor in vivo platelet activation. We have assessed their relative merits as markers of the in vivo platelet α-granule release reaction in a number of patient groups which have previously been shown to have elevated plasma βTG and/or PF4 levels. It is concluded that in diseases or conditions not complicated by its reduced clearance, βTG is the most sensitive marker of in vivo platelet α-granule release. However, the TSP assay may be the least ambiguous when monitoring the platelet α-granule release reaction in patients with renal failure who are undergoing haemodialysis with heparin anticoagulation. Under these circumstances plasma βTG, but not PF4 or TSP, levels are elevated because of impaired renal catabolism, and the presence of a heparin-releasable reservoir of PF4 on the endothelium complicates the use of the PF4 assay. In liver failure none of these assays may accurately reflect platelet α-granule release because of impaired hepatic or renal elimination of the proteins.
Shape and Spreading of Platelets from the Blood of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Vasilieva E J , Orlov V N , Barkagan Z S 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe shape of platelets in circulating blood and alterations of this shape after the contact of platelets with glass surfaces, as well as spontaneous platelet aggregation, were examined in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in controls.The shape of circulating platelets were studied by scanning electron microscopy and the spreading - by differential interference contrast microscopy.Most platelets circulating in the blood of the patients with AMI had non-activated discoid shape; the percentage of these nonactivated platelets was similar to that in the control group. However, these platelets of many AMI patients acquired an increased ability to undergo morphological changes after contact with glass. The percentage of spread platelets in controls was never higher than 50%. In contrast, this percent was higher than 50% in 73% of patients with AMI. Increased spontaneous platelet aggregation was determined only in 30% of AMI patients.
A Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia Cluster Among Iraqi Jews in Israel
Authors: Seligsohn U , Rososhansky S 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA country-wide survey of Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia in Israel identified 44 patients. The patients belong to 23 unrelated families, 17 of whom are of Iraqi Jewish origin. The frequency of thrombasthenia among Iraqi Jews in Israel (total population 270,000) is 1:7714 and thus the calculated frequency of the carrier state is 2.3%.
Platelet Aggregation, β-Thromboglobulin and Platelet Factor 4 in Diabetes Mellitus and in Patients with Vasculopathy
Authors: Fritschi J , Christe M , Lämmle B , Marbet G A , Berger W , Duckert F 
Published: July 2018

SummaryWe have studied 155 subjects, 48 normals, 36 diabetics without complications, 44 with complications and 27 patients with macroangiopathy. β-Thromboglobulin (β-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) are elevated in the patients groups. There is no correlation between the plasma levels of β-TG and the stages of either retinopathy or macroangiopathy or nephropathy. The difference is more marked between normals and diabetics with neuropathy (p = 0.026). The aggregation response to ADP and platelet activating factor (PAF) is enhanced at lower stimulator concentration. Using the β-TG, PF4 and aggregation values the discriminant analysis allows a distinction of several subgroups especially with nephropathy and neuropathy (Table 6).
Abnormalities of Epinephrine-Induced Platelet Aggregation and Adenine Nucleotides in Myeloproliferative Disorders
Authors: Yamamoto Koichiro , Sekiguchi Eisuke , Takatani Osamu 
Published: July 2018

SummaryPlatelet aggregation was studied in 18 patients with myeloproliferative disorders, including 14 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, 2 with polycythemia vera, 1 with myelofibrosis and 1 with thrombocythemia. Fourteen patients (78%) were abnormal in epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation, while 3 (17%) and 4 (22%) cases showed impaired ADP or collagen induced platelet aggregation, respectively. A significant decrease of total ADP content in resting unstimulated platelets and of the amount released to the medium after aggregation was found in all six patients who were evaluated. ATP and AMP in resting platelets tended to be slightly higher in patients compared with the control group. Released ATP was also significantly less, and the percentage release of ADP and ATP was significantly decreased in patients. A storage pool deficiency of adenine nucleotides was considered to be responsible for abnormal platelet function in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.
Plasma Fibronectin Levels in Clinical Disease States and After Cryoprecipitate Infusion
Authors: Ragni Margaret V , Lewis Jessica H , Spero Joel A , Bontempo Franklin A 
Published: July 2018

SummaryFibronectin levels were measured in 151 hospitalized patients with liver disease, sepsis, malignancy, leukemia, and following trauma or surgery, using heterologous precipitating antibody in an immunoassay. The mean ( ± S.E.M.) in 25 controls was 0.95 ±0.06 U/ml, with females, 0.83 ± 0.07 U/ml, lower than males, 1.09 ± 0.09 U/ml. Mean fibronectin levels were decreased in all disease groups except in obstructive liver disease. The reduced levels in hepatocellular disease and the restoration of levels to normal after orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular disease supports the theory that hepatic synthesis contributes significantly to plasma fibronectin levels. Following cryoprecipitate infusion in four hemophiliac patients, plasma fibronectin levels rose to 32% to 45% of the levels predicted. In patients with reduced fibronectin and poor clinical response to standard treatment (antibiotics, chemotherapy), cryoprecipitate infusions may raise the levels of fibronectin and, perhaps, contribute to clinical improvement.
Gabexate Mesilate (Foy®) as an Anticoagulant in Extracorporeal Circulation in Dogs and Sheep
Authors: Oedekoven B , Bey R , Mottaghy K , Schmid-Schönbein H 
Published: July 2018

SummaryGabexate mesilate (GM), a synthetic serine protease inhibitor with a short half-life time of approx. 80 sec, was applied as the exclusive anticoagulant in small scale extracorporeal circulation in narcotized dogs and sheep. The animals underwent a veno-venous bypass. As the blood was drawn out of the femoral vein, GM was infused immediately into the extracorporeal system. GM was greatly reduced because of its short half-life time before the blood reentered the animal via a brachial vein. In order to control the coagulatory state of the blood, the Activated Clotting Time (ACT), Partial Thromboplastine Time (PTT) and Recalcification Time (RT) were measured in regular intervals. In addition, a screen pressure test device was used to monitor on line during ECC the tendency of blood clotting. It was shown that the blood of the extracorporeal system was sufficiently anticoagulated by an infusion of 0.03 mg/ml/min GM. During two hours ECC, simultaneously measured ACT - values of the animals only differed up to 10 percent from the native values. Pilot studies have shown that the results of these model investigations could be successfully transferred to extracorporeal circulation with membrane oxygenators and pumps as they are clinically used.
Effects of Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) Infusions on Circulating Concentrations of Platelet AVP, Factor VIII: C and von Willebrand Factor
Authors: Nussey S S , Bevan D H , Ang V T Y , Jenkins J S 
Published: July 2018

SummaryTo study the possible role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the control of haemostasis AVP infusions at 3 doses (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mU/kg/min) were performed in 6 male volunteers. Both plasma and platelet AVP concentrations rose in a dose-related manner. At doses of 0.2 and 0.3 mU/kg/min there was an increase in the plasma concentrations of both plasma Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor. The data support the hypothesis that AVP, by interacting with platelets and stimulating factor VIII and von Willebrand factor release, plays a role in the control of haemostasis.
Tissue Thromboplastin Induced Reversible DIC and Heparin-Enhanced Inhibitors in Dogs
Authors: Marbet German A , Griffith Michael J 
Published: July 2018

SummaryReversible acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) has been induced in dogs by intravenous injection of homologous tissue thromboplastin. There was no measurable consumption of antithrombin III and heparin cofactor II even if fibrinogen was reduced during DIC by more than 80% of its baseline. The prothrombin level remained practically constant. These data correspond to the generation of a few nanomoles of thrombin in vivo with subsequent pseudo-first order inactivation by the major thrombin inhibitors. An ex vivo measure of the pseudo-first order rate constant (dynamic thrombin inhibitory capacity, DTIC) was a sensitive probe of circulating heparin. There was no change of DTIC during DIC in the absence of exogenous heparin suggesting that heparin-like endogenous glycosaminoglycans were not released in substantial amounts. Pretreatment with heparin efficiently inhibited the development of tissue thromboplastin induced DIC. This animal model may serve as a tool for the study of glycosaminoglycan anticoagulants in vivo.
Tolerance and Biological Activity of Pentosan Polysulfate After Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Administration for Ten Days in Human Volunteers
Authors: Sié P , Albarede J L , Robert M , Bouloux C , Lansen J , Chigot C , Correll S , Thouvenot J P , Boneu B 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThis study reports on the tolerance and the pharmacological activity of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) administered to healthy volunteers for 10 days. Three groups of 10 subjects received either one daily injections of 100 mg of PPS by I. M. route (group I), or two daily injection of 50 mg of PPS by I. M. or S. C. route (groups II and III, respectively). In each group two random subjects received a placebo for the 10 days; on day 0, each subject was injected by a placebo. Clinical tolerance was checked by a daily physical examination; biological tolerance was assessed comparing the results of the main biochemical and haematological constants measured before starting the treatment (day 0) and 12 or 24 h after the end of the treatment (day 11). The pharmacological activity was measured on serial samples taken before treatment and between 1 and 6 h after the drug injection on days 1, 3 and 10; the results were compared to those obtained on day 0. Clinical tolerance was good. The biological side effects concern the transaminase levels and the platelet counts. An increase above the upper normal limit was observed in 18/i4 and 3/24 for alanine and aspartic transaminase respectively. The mean platelet reduction ranged between 24 and 34% according to the groups. The drug injection induced a slight Quick time (PT) prolongation, no significant alteration of factors II, VII-X, V levels and of thrombin clotting time. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged and there was a weak but significant circulating anti-Xa activity. The fibrinolytic activity was enhanced without increase in the tissue plasminogen activator antigen level. These pharmacological effects were at their maximum between 2 and 4 h after the drug injection and returned to the pre-injection equilibrium between 4 and 6 h except for circulating anti-Xa activity; these effects remained unchanged all over the 10-day therapeutic period. The comparison between group I and II indicates that the PT and APTT effects are dose-dependent while the anti-Xa and the profibrinolytic effects are not; the comparison between group II and III indicates that the S. C. and I. M. route are bioequivalent.
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Platelet Aggregation Studies in the Presence of Heparin Fractions or Semi-Synthetic Analogues of Various Molecular Weights and Anticoagulant Activities
Authors: Blockmans D , Bounameaux H , Vermylen J , Verstraete M 
Published: July 2018

SummaryOne case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is reported. Aggregation was observed in the platelet-rich plasma of this patient in the presence of two commercial standard heparin preparations (from a final concentration of 0.025 IU/ml upwards), of two semi-synthetic heparin analogues (0.1 APTT U/ml) and of three low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) fractions (0.1 anti-Xa U/ml) but not in the presence of five other LMWH fractions.The patient’s isolated platelets no longer aggregated in the presence of heparin but the phenomenon recurred after addition of the patient’s platelet poor plasma (PPP).Furthermore, addition of patient’s PPP to control platelets led to heparin-induced aggregation.The phenomenon was associated with thromboxane generation and could be blocked by in vitro addition of aspirin, PGI2, and PGD2 whereas the lag phase was dose-dependently prolonged by adenosine.It is concluded that platelet aggregation may be induced in some patients by standard heparin and by certain LMWH fractions or semi-synthetic analogues, independently of their molecular weight and anticoagulant activity.
Rabbit Polyclonal Antibodies Against the Calcium-Dependent Conformation of Factor IX and Their Application in Solid Phase Immunoradiometric Assays
Authors: Poort S R , Linden I K van der , Es C Krommenhoek-van , Briët E , Bertina R M 
Published: July 2018

SummaryTwo subpopulations of antibodies were isolated from rabbit polyclonal antiserum directed against human factor IX: one against the Ca(II)-dependent conformation of factor IX and one against the Ca(II)-independent conformation of factor IX. The two subpopulations were used for the development of immunoradiometric assays (IRMA’s) for factor IX: Ca(II)Ag and factor IX: NonCa(II)Ag respectively. Ranges for the concentration of factor IX:Ca(II)Ag and factor IX: NonCa(II)Ag were established in plasmas of healthy volunteers, patients treated with oral anticoagulants and hemophilia B patients. In the group of patients using oral anticoagulant therapy a progressively reduced ratio of factor IX:Ca(II)Ag to factor IX: NonCa(II)Ag was observed with increasing intensity of oral anticoagulant treatment. Variant factor IX molecules from hemophilia B patients . (CRM-, CRMRed and CRM+) with a defective Ca(II) binding or defective conformational transition induced by Ca(II) binding, were identified. These defects are absent in variant factor IX molecules from one hemophilia Bm patient and from patients with hemophilia B Leyden.
Burnout in Ophthalmology Residency: A National Survey
Authors: Feng Shu , Taravati Parisa , Ding Leona , Menda Shivali 
Published: July 2018

Purpose To determine prevalence of burnout in ophthalmology residents in the United States using the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey and to identify factors associated with burnout and wellness.
Methods Anonymous survey distributed to residents via residency program directors.
Results Ninety-one programs out of 113 (80.5%) confirmed survey distribution. Of 267 included respondents, 23 (8.6%) met criteria for high burnout, and 169 (63.3%) met criteria for at least one aspect of burnout. Longer work hours, longer hours spent on call, higher number of consults seen on call, fewer hours of sleep on call, and not meeting recommended physical activity minimums were associated with higher emotional exhaustion. Most common factors cited to improve wellness included physical activity, nurturing relationships, and co-resident support, whereas most commonly cited factors that contributed to burnout included sleep deprivation, call, and workload.
Conclusion Burnout in ophthalmology residents is common, occurring at similar rates as reported in residencies of other specialties.
Electrostatic lock in the transport cycle of the multidrug resistance transporter EmrE
Authors: Vermaas Josh V. , Rempe Susan B. , Tajkhorshid Emad 
Published: July 2018

SignificanceEmrE is a small membrane transporter found inEscherichia colithat exports drug-like molecules from the cell, contributing to antibiotic resistance. In EmrE, as well as in the wider small-multidrug resistance transporter family, a specific anionic amino acid (E14) has been implicated in governing the conformational changes that export drugs. However, due to sparse structural information, the exact interactions remain unidentified. Through interactive molecular dynamics to incorporate existing cryo-electron microscopy data, we create a fully refined atomic model of EmrE. We then embed this model in a lipid bilayer and evaluate the interactions within EmrE under different loading states. We find that E14 makes specific hydrogen bonds to neighboring residues, coupling observed experimental phenomena to interactions at the atomic scale.
“Shepherd’s crook” neurons drive and synchronize the enhancing and suppressive mechanisms of the midbrain stimulus selection network
Authors: Garrido-Charad Florencia , Vega-Zuniga Tomas , Gutiérrez-Ibáñez Cristián , Fernandez Pedro , López-Jury Luciana , González-Cabrera Cristian , Karten Harvey J. , Luksch Harald , Marín Gonzalo J. 
Published: July 2018

Significance
In a crowded environment, animals must direct their behavior to the stimulus with the highest priority at each moment. Stimulus selection seems to develop from competitive interactions between concurrent neural inputs. In the avian midbrain, a neural network that reciprocally connects the optic tectum to the isthmi forms a simple neural mechanism for stimulus competition, where neurons mediating enhancement and suppression of tectal inputs are located in separate isthmic nuclei. Here, we show that collaterals of the same tectal neurons simultaneously drive these nuclei, synchronizing both antagonistic processes. These results contribute to our understanding of how distinctive neurons integrate inputs from different sources to drive in parallel several concurrent neural processes underlying a complex behavior.
Early Vascular Aging Risk Assessment From Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring: The Early Vascular Aging Ambulatory Score
Authors: Antza Christina , Doundoulakis Ioannis , Akrivos Evagelos , Stabouli Stella , Trakatelli Christina , Doumas Michael , Kotsis Vasilios 
Published: July 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurement methods, office BP, ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and home BP, in the identification of early vascular aging (EVA) and developed a score to predict the risk of EVA in hypertensive patients.

METHODS
Two-hundred eighty-two consecutive subjects (39.7% male) aged 56.8  ±  15.8 years were included. Office and out-of-office BP measurements including ABPM on a usual working day and 7 days home BP monitoring were performed. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV) was measured in all patients. EVA was defined as c-f PWV values higher than the expected for age average values according to European population data.

RESULTS
In univariate analysis, EVA was significantly correlated with office systolic BP, average 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP, and average 24-hour and office heart rates. The area under the curve for predicting EVA was 0.624 (95% CI 0.551 to 0.697), 0.559 (95% CI 0.484 to 0.635) and 0.565 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.641), for daytime, home, and office systolic BP, respectively. Ambulatory BP variables, age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus (yes/no), and estimated glomerular filtration rate were used to develop a new score for EVA providing a total accuracy of 0.82, 0.84 sensitivity, and 0.78 specificity.

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the new risk score, Early Vascular Aging Ambulatory score, may accurately identify hypertensive patients with EVA using ABPM values and classic cardiovascular risk factors.
CIRCOAST: a statistical hypothesis test for cellular colocalization with network structures
Authors: Corliss Bruce A , Ray H Clifton , Patrie James T , Mansour Jennifer , Kesting Sam , Park Janice H , Rohde Gustavo , Yates Paul A , Janes Kevin A , Peirce Shayn M 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMotivationColocalization of structures in biomedical images can lead to insights into biological behaviors. One class of colocalization problems is examining an annular structure (disk-shaped such as a cell, vesicle or molecule) interacting with a network structure (vascular, neuronal, cytoskeletal, organellar). Examining colocalization events across conditions is often complicated by changes in density of both structure types, confounding traditional statistical approaches since colocalization cannot be normalized to the density of both structure types simultaneously. We have developed a technique to measure colocalization independent of structure density and applied it to characterizing intercellular colocation with blood vessel networks. This technique could be used to analyze colocalization of any annular structure with an arbitrarily shaped network structure.ResultsWe present the circular colocalization affinity with network structures test (CIRCOAST), a novel statistical hypothesis test to probe for enriched network colocalization in 2D z-projected multichannel images by using agent-based Monte Carlo modeling and image processing to generate the pseudo-null distribution of random cell placement unique to each image. This hypothesis test was validated by confirming that adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exhibit enriched colocalization with endothelial cells forming arborized networks in culture and then applied to show that locally delivered ASCs have enriched colocalization with murine retinal microvasculature in a model of diabetic retinopathy. We demonstrate that the CIRCOAST test provides superior power and type I error rates in characterizing intercellular colocalization compared to generic approaches that are confounded by changes in cell or vessel density.Availability and implementationCIRCOAST source code available at: https://github.com/uva-peirce-cottler-lab/ARCAS.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Updating the determinants of health model in the Information Age
Authors: Rice Louis , Sara Rachel 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn 1991, Dahlgren and Whitehead produced a highly influential model of the determinants of health that has since been used by numerous national and international public health organizations globally. The purpose of the model is to enable interventions that improve health to be addressed at four key policy levels. It is not a model of health or disease; instead the model is structured around health policy decision-making. However the model needs an update, since it was devised there has been a digital revolution that has transformed every aspect of: human life, our cities, society and the fundamental principles upon which the global economy operates. The article examines the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on the determinants of health. ICT has given rise to a new Information Age that is implicated in many of the major global health issues today. Addressing contemporary health issues requires intervention at the level of ICT, particularly as health communication online is central to the delivery and dissemination of public health policies.