bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An overlooked complication of hemodialysis: Hoarseness
Authors: Zumrutdal Aysegul 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn hemodialysis patients, some degree of transient hoarseness may occur at the end of the dialysis, and it may be a wearisome, recurrent, and severe state for some hemodialysis patients. However, to date, it has not been a well‐defined complication of hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to state this complication and to throw light on it. Four hundred fifty‐nine hemodialysis patients were questioned about any change in voice quality during hemodialysis. The patients who had this complaint (n = 70) were included in the study, and the group of patients who suffered hoarseness (subgroup 1: severe, subgroup 2: moderate, subgroup 3: mild) were compared with each other and with the control group, which did not suffer hoarseness (n = 51). Hoarseness was found in 15.2% of the hemodialysis patients. The duration of their hoarseness was minumum 1 to maximum 24 hours. In the control group, coronary artery disease (P = 0.056), congestive heart failure (P = 0.049), autonomic neuropathy (P = 0.001), severe intradialytic hypotensive attacks (P = 0.000), heart valve abnormalities (P = 0.000), and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (P = 0.000) were significantly lower than in hoarseness group. Older age (P = 0.024), coronary artery disease (P = 0.014), autonomic neuropathy (P = 0.011), and intradialytic hypotensive attacks (P = 0.0001), were associated with severe and moderate hoarseness. In the comparison of % change for systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the hoarseness subgroups, diastolic blood pressure change was not different (P = 0.521), but systolic blood pressure change was statistically lower in mild group than moderate (P = 0.033) and severe subgroup (P = 0.029). Dialysis‐induced hypotension may be the main contributor of transient hoarseness. Especially elderly and cardiovascularly compromised patients, who are vulnerable to rapid changes in volume status may experience it to serious extent and this complication may be mediated by autonomic nervous control related with volume depletion.
Hidden in taxonomy: Batesian mimicry by a syrphid fly towards a Patagonian bumblebee
Authors: Polidori Carlo , Nieves‐Aldrey José L. , Gilbert Francis , Rotheray Graham E. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Batesian mimicry has been repeatedly reported in syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), with noxious Hymenoptera identified as the models, including bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). Despite the number of detailed studies of bumblebee mimics from the Holarctic, only minimal biological and ecological information is available for the same phenomenon in most other biogeographical regions.

Here, we analyse in detail a case of Batesian mimicry by the syrphid fly Aneriophora aureorufa Philippi towards the bumblebee Bombus dahlbomii Guérin from Patagonia, a relationship only briefly noted previously in taxonomic studies. A. aureorufa possesses strikingly similar red tawny colouration to the highly hairy body of its model, and somewhat resembles it also in size. Cluster analysis suggests that the mimicry is more pronounced towards larger rather than smaller bumblebee workers.

The mimicry is visually very good, but there was no evidence of a behavioural component. Foraging activity of both species seems to be largely restricted to the endemic plant Eucryphia cordifolia. The time spent on flowers was much higher in syrphid flies than in B. dahlbomii and other pollinators, and the time spent between flower visits largely overlapped between all the tested species.

The endemic distribution, the apparent plant specialisation, and the invasion of alien bumblebees, make B. dahlbomii and A. aureorufa potentially threatened in some parts of the austral American forests, a priority conservation area.
Neonatal macrophages express elevated levels of interleukin‐27 that oppose immune responses
Authors: Kraft Jennifer D. , Horzempa Joseph , Davis Celestia , Jung Joo‐Yong , Peña Maria Marjorette O. , Robinson Cory M. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryMicrobial infections are a major cause of infant mortality worldwide because of impaired immune defences in this population. The nature of this work was to further understand the mechanistic limitations of the neonatal and infant immune response. Interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) is a heterodimeric cytokine of the IL‐12 family that is produced primarily by antigen‐presenting cells and is immunosuppressive toward a variety of immune cell types. We show that IL‐27 gene expression is elevated in cord blood‐derived macrophages relative to macrophages originating from healthy adults. We also evaluated the duration over which elevated IL‐27 gene expression may impact immune responses in mice. Age‐dependent analysis of IL‐27 gene expression indicated that levels of IL‐27 remained significantly elevated throughout infancy and then declined in adult mice. Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular cytokine‐stained splenocytes further confirmed these results. Interleukin‐27 may be induced during pregnancy to contribute to the immunosuppressive environment at the fetal–maternal interface because we demonstrate dose‐responsive gene expression to progesterone in macrophages. Neutralization of IL‐27 in neonatal macrophages improved the ability of these cells to limit bacterial replication. Moreover, neutralization of IL‐27 during incubation with the Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine augmented the level of interferon‐γ elicited from allogeneic CD4+ T lymphocytes. This suggests that blocking IL‐27 during vaccination and infection may improve immune responses in newborn and infant populations. Furthermore, mice will be a suitable model system to further address these possibilities.
Epidemiological and clinical features of human coronavirus infections among different subsets of patients
Authors: Cabeça Tatiane K. , Granato Celso , Bellei Nancy 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundEpidemiological and clinical data of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) infections are restricted to span 1–3 years at most. We conducted a comprehensive 9‐year study on HCoVs by analyzing 1137 respiratory samples from four subsets of patients (asymptomatic, general community, with comorbidities, and hospitalized) in São Paulo, Brazil.MethodsA pan‐coronavirus RT‐PCR screening assay was performed, followed by species‐specific real‐time RT‐PCR monoplex assays.ResultsHuman coronaviruses were detected in 88 of 1137 (7.7%) of the samples. The most frequently detected HCoV species were NL63 (50.0%) and OC43 (27.3%). Patients with comorbidities presented the highest risk of acquiring coronavirus infection (odds ratio = 4.17; 95% confidence interval = 1.9–9.3), and children with heart diseases revealed a significant HCoV infection presence. Dyspnea was more associated with HCoV‐229E infections (66.6%), and cyanosis was reported only in HCoV‐OC43 infections. There were interseasonal differences in the detection frequencies, with HCoV‐229E being predominant in the year 2004 (61.5%) and HCoV‐NL63 (70.8%) in 2008.ConclusionsOur data provide a novel insight into the epidemiology and clinical knowledge of HCoVs among different subsets of patients, revealing that these viruses may cause more than mild respiratory tract disease.
Identification of the variables associated with pain during transrectal ultrasonography‐guided prostate biopsy in the era of periprostatic nerve block: the role of transrectal probe configuration
Authors: Moussa Ayman S. , El‐Shafei Ahmed , Diaz Ed , Gao Tianming , Zaytoun Osama M. , Fareed Khaled , Ulchaker James C. , Jones J. Stephen 
Published: March 2013

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Currently, peri‐prostatic nerve block (PPNB) is the most effective method to reduce pain during TRUS biopsy. Although the advance in PPNB allowed a better tolerability of the procedure by most of patients, a minority of men still find the procedure unacceptably painful.
We found in this study that the probe design and the needle guide affect pain encountered during different steps of TRUS guided PBx.
Objective
To identify the different factors that are associated with pain perceived during transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)‐guided prostate biopsy (PBx), with special focus on the role of transrectal probe configuration.
Patients and Methods
We analysed prospective data on 1114 patients undergoing TRUS‐guided PBx at our institute from January 2007 to August 2010.
Patients completed questionnaires based on a 10‐point visual analogue pain scale related to the consecutive steps of PBx: probe insertion, application of periprostatic nerve block (PPNB) and the obtaining of PBx cores.
The variables of interest were age, prostate volume, DRE findings, number of previous biopsies, probe type and the number of retrieved cores.
All variables were correlated to pain scores using multivariate regression analysis.
Results
At the probe insertion step, end‐fire probes were more painful than side‐fire probes.
The Siemens G50TM with metal, short plastic and long plastic needle guides (Siemens, Munich, Germany) had higher pain scores than the B&K probe (Bruel & Kjaer Medical, Copenhagen, Denmark; P = 0.09, 0.008 and 0.003, respectively).
For pain at the PPNB application step, all G50TM guide subtypes and the Sonoline Prima probe (Siemens) had higher pain scores than the B&K probe, but this only reached statistical significance for the G50TM probe with short plastic guide (P = 0.03).
On obtaining PBx cores, all G50TM subtypes had higher pain scores when compared with the B&K probe (P = 0.59, 0.38 and 0.69, respectively).
Conclusions
The probe design and needle guide affect pain during each step of TRUS‐guided PBx.
Both the B&K and Sonoline Prima probes caused less pain when compared with the G50TM probe, regardless of needle guide.
Diagnosing Epidermolysis Bullosa Type and Subtype in Infancy Using Immunofluorescence Microscopy: The Stanford Experience
Authors: Berk David R. , Jazayeri Leila , Marinkovich M. Peter , Sundram Uma N. , Bruckner Anna L. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe natural history of inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) varies significantly across subtypes. When confronted with an infant suspected to have EB, rapidly determining the type and subtype is critical in counselling families accurately about the infant's diagnosis and prognosis. Although transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been considered the criterion standard for EB diagnosis, immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to EB‐specific basement membrane zone proteins has several advantages, but few studies have evaluated the diagnostic utility of IFM. We sought to evaluate the clinical utility of IFM using an expanded panel of EB‐specific mAbs. This was a retrospective review of pathology reports from infants younger < 1 year old with suspected EB primarily analyzed with IFM by the Stanford Dermatopathology service. Seventy‐seven cases were identified for analysis, of which 20 were suboptimal for IFM analysis. Fifty‐five cases were diagnosed with EB and classified as follows: EB simplex (n = 5), junctional EB (n = 31), dystrophic EB (n = 19). TEM was available in 36 of 55 cases (65%). IFM with an expanded panel of EB‐specific mAbs should be considered the first‐line diagnostic test to evaluate infants with clinically suspected EB.
Drug supply for psoriasis – results from a national pharmacy network
Authors: Franzke Nadine , Montenbruck Moritz , Langenbruch Anna Katharina , Beikert Florian C. , Kresken Joachim , Augustin Matthias 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBackgroundIn Germany, drugs are to a large extent provided by pharmacies. Thus, investigations in pharmacies permit drug usage studies both on patients receiving prescribable drugs and using self‐medication. The current study evaluated the quality of medical care, disease burden and spectrum of treatments for patients with psoriasis in a nationwide network of pharmacies.Patients and methodsA nationwide cross‐sectional study was conducted in 61 pharmacies. Patients with psoriasis vulgaris who came to the pharmacy to obtain antipsoriatic drugs or basic ointments were consecutively recruited, interviewed and asked to complete a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on socio‐demographic characteristics and prior therapies for psoriasis. Furthermore, data on the patient's treatment satisfaction, disease‐related burden, and treatment adherence were evaluated. In addition, the proportion and significance of health care providers for psoriasis as well as the number of patients using self‐medication were assessed.ResultsThe data on 241 patients show a high and long‐lasting disease‐related burden. A high utilization of resources was found. Dermatologists were the most frequently consulted providers (reported by 77.1 % of patients), followed by general practitioners (10.4 %). 3.5 % of patients were using self‐medication. Self‐reported adherence with treatment was moderate (71.6 %). Patient satisfaction varied considerably and demonstrated the need for improvement.ConclusionsPsoriasis is a socio‐economically relevant disease. Health care is provided primarily by dermatologists. Surveying patients in a national network of pharmacies is a unique and effective way of collecting relevant “real world” data. Selection biases related to the health care setting are minimized.
Safety Evaluation of Excessive Ingestion of Mozuku Fucoidan in Human
Authors: Abe Sunao , Hiramatsu Kimiko , Ichikawa Osamu , Kawamoto Hitoshi , Kasagi Takeshi , Miki Yasunari , Kimura Takayuki , Ikeda Tadasu 
Published: March 2013

AbstractFucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide in the brown sea algae. This study was conducted in 20 subjects taking excessive fucoidan up to 4.05 g daily for 2 wk. They recorded questionnaire sheets about their health. Blood and urine were collected before and after 2 wk of ingestion. We found that no disorder was apparent in the test period. Although total cholesterol (P value 0.017) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (P value 0.017) showed statistically significant reduction and Cl (P value 0.002) showed significant increase, nothing deviated from the range of normal values. In conclusion, this study showed no abnormalities in the abdominal, fecal states, blood and urine at all.
Sensitivity of different assays for the serological diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: analysis of a cohort of 24 Italian patients
Authors: Calabresi V. , Sinistro A. , Cozzani E. , Cerasaro C. , Lolicato F. , Muscianese M. , Parodi A. , Didona B. , Zambruno G. , Di Zenzo G. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundEpidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by tissue‐bound and circulating autoantibodies to the dermal‐epidermal junction. The autoantibody target is type VII collagen (Col VII) which is involved in dermal‐epidermal adhesion. Diagnosis is made by clinical and histopathological findings, linear deposition of autoantibodies at the dermal‐epidermal junction detected by direct immunofluorescence, and binding to the dermal side of salt‐split skin by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). However, the detection of specific anti‐Col VII reactivity has an important confirmatory value.MethodsThe humoral immune response in EBA sera was analysed by (i) IIF on human skin, (ii) a commercial Col VII ELISA, and (iii) immunoblotting on Col VII produced by an epithelial cell line.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of different approaches for the serological diagnosis of EBA.ResultsThe vast majority of EBA sera (79.2%) bound to the Col VII non‐collagenous domains by a commercial ELISA, while a small proportion of patients (12.5%) exclusively reacted to the collagenous domain by immunoblotting. Of note, the autoantibodies reactivity to Col VII was more frequently detected by IB (91.7%) than by IIF (83.3%) and ELISA (79.2%). Interestingly, 2 out of 24 sera recognized Col VII epitopes undetectable in the native secreted protein but present in the context of extracellular matrix proteins, as assessed by immunomapping on Col VII‐deficient skin.ConclusionOur findings show that the use of multiple assays allows to improve diagnostic performance. An algorithm for efficient serological diagnosis of EBA is proposed.
Spatio‐temporal Variations in the Molecular Diversity of Microeukaryotes in Particular Ciliates in Soil of the Yellow River Delta, China
Authors: Zhao Feng , Xu Kuidong , Zhang Dechao 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe Yellow River delta in China is one of the most active regions of land–ocean interaction. It has suffered serious salinization due to drying‐up of the Yellow River, rising sea level, and seashore erosion, and thus represents a special and extreme environment. We evaluated the microeukaryotic molecular diversity and its response to change of seasons and environmental variables, in particular salinity in the soil of the Yellow River delta, by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and gene sequencing. The sequencing of the microeukaryotic DGGE bands revealed the presence of diverse groups dominated by protists in particular ciliates. We further recovered a high diversity of marine and soil ciliates inhabiting in coastal soil using the ciliate‐specific DGGE. The neighbor‐joining tree indicated that the ciliate 18S rDNA sequences from high‐salinity soil were affiliated to Colpodea, Spirotrichea, Litostomatea, and Oligohymenophorea, while all the sequences unique to the low‐salinity soil were affiliated to Colpodea. Statistical analysis indicated that the microeukaryotic molecular diversity was significantly different among sites, while statistically indistinguishable among seasons. Soil salinity might be the main factor regulating the distribution of microeukaryotes in the soil from the Yellow River delta.
ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS: WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE LAB?
Authors: Friesen Lana , Gangadharan Lata 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn recent years, some of the most influential policies have been either tested or evaluated using experimental methods. Experiments have provided significant insights on the implications of different designs on market outcomes and the lessons learned have helped improve academic debate and the interaction between policy makers and researchers. In this paper, we provide an overview of experiments relating to environmental markets. Expenditure on environmental programs has been growing in importance yet it is controversial in current times due to the fiscal cuts around the world. Finding cost‐effective ways of reaching environmental goals is thus an objective of most governments. Research using experiments can help isolate how individuals and regulators would respond to incentives and therefore identify the most effective programs.
The adhesive and cohesive properties of a bacterial polysaccharide adhesin are modulated by a deacetylase
Authors: Wan Zhe , Brown Pamela J. B. , Elliott Ellen N. , Brun Yves V. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBacterial exopolysaccharide synthesis is a prevalent and indispensible activity in many biological processes, including surface adhesion and biofilm formation. In Caulobacter crescentus, surface attachment and subsequent biofilm growth depend on the ability to synthesize an adhesive polar polysaccharide known as the holdfast. In this work, we show that polar polysaccharide synthesis is a conserved phenomenon among Alphaproteobacterial species closely related to C. crescentus. Among them, mutagenesis of Asticcacaulis biprosthecum showed that disruption of the hfsH gene, which encodes a putative polysaccharide deacetylase, leads to accumulation of holdfast in the culture supernatant. Examination of the hfsH deletion mutant in C. crescentus revealed that this strain synthesizes holdfast; however, like the A. biprosthecum hfsH mutant, the holdfasts are shed into the medium and have decreased adhesiveness and cohesiveness. Site‐directed mutagenesis at the predicted catalytic site of C. crescentus HfsH phenocopied the ΔhfsH mutant and abolished the esterase activity of HfsH. In contrast, overexpression of HfsH increased cell adherence without increasing holdfast synthesis. We conclude that the polysaccharide deacetylase activity of HfsH is required for the adhesive and cohesive properties of the holdfast, as well as for the anchoring of the holdfast to the cell envelope.
Associations between CD14 −159 C>T polymorphism and chronic/aggressive periodontitis susceptibility
Authors: Zhang H , Zhou l , Han Y , Cai Q , Li D , Pan Y , Wang L 
Published: March 2013

ObjectivesCD14 is a causative gene for periodontitis. However, conflicting results had been achieved when evaluating the associations between CD14 −159 C>T and periodontitis, which warranted us to conduct this meta‐analysis.Material and MethodsA meta‐analysis based on eight relevant case–control studies was conducted to address this issue. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to test the association. The statistical heterogeneity across studies was assessed by Chi‐square‐based Q‐test.ResultsRetrieved studies regarding CD14 −159 C>T and periodontitis susceptibility were put into the final analysis. Overall and subgroup analyses were performed. Finally, we did not find that this polymorphism could contribute to modified risk of periodontitis or in stratified analysis by ethnicity and type of disease. However, this polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of mild to moderate periodontitis (TT vs CC, OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.21–0.81, CT/CC vs TT, OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.09–3.35) but not severe periodontitis.ConclusionThe present meta‐analysis provided confirmative evidence that CD14 −159 C>T was involved in the development of periodontitis.
Emergence delirium in children: a randomized trial to compare total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil to inhalational sevoflurane anesthesia
Authors: Chandler John R. , Myers Dorothy , Mehta Disha , Whyte Emma , Groberman Michelle K. , Montgomery Carolyne J. , Ansermino J. Mark 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBackgroundEmergence delirium (ED) refers to a variety of behavioral disturbances commonly seen in children following emergence from anesthesia. Vapor‐based anesthesia with sevoflurane, the most common pediatric anesthetic technique, is associated with the highest incidence of ED. Propofol has been shown to reduce ED, but these studies have been methodologically limited.ObjectiveTo conduct a randomized‐controlled trial comparing the incidence of ED in children following sevoflurane (SEVO) anesthesia and propofol–remifentanil total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).MethodsOne hundred and twelve children, ASA I‐II, aged ≥2 and ≤6 years, undergoing strabismus repair, were assigned to receive TIVA (intravenous induction and maintenance of anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil) or SEVO (inhalational induction and maintenance of anesthesia with sevoflurane). Parent–child induction behavior was scored using the Perioperative Adult Child Behavior Interaction Scale (PACBIS). Postoperatively, ED was assessed by a masked investigator using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) Scale and pain using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Scale every 5 min.ResultsData are reported for 94 subjects. Incidence of ED was higher with SEVO (38.3% vs 14.9%, P = 0.018). There was no difference in the median PACBIS score. A higher FLACC score was seen with SEVO (median 3 vs 1, P = 0.033). Subjects experiencing ED had higher FLACC scores vs those unaffected by ED (median 7 vs 1, P < 0.0001).ConclusionThere was a lower incidence of ED after TIVA. Both intravenous and inhalational inductions were similarly well‐tolerated. The use of TIVA was associated with reduced postoperative pain as measured using FLACC scores.