bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Wound‐related complications and clinical outcomes following open globe injury repair
Authors: Kong George YX , Henderson Robert H , Sandhu Sukhpal S , Essex Rohan W , Allen Penelope J , Campbell William G 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundCareful surgical management of traumatic wounds is important in open globe injury repair. This study examines the clinical outcomes following repair of open globe injuries with particular focus on wound‐related issues.DesignRetrospective, cohort study of consecutive open globe injuries presenting to a tertiary referral eye hospital from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011.ParticipantsA total of 267 eyes of 263 patients, mainly male (82.5%) with a mean age of 44.8 (range: 4–97) years. Average follow up was 6.9 months.MethodsAll cases classified according to Ocular Trauma Classification Group.Main Outcome MeasuresVisual outcomes, risk factors for and rates of postoperative complications and endophthalmitis.ResultsThere were 83 globe ruptures, 182 penetrating and 2 perforating eye injuries, of which 43 cases had intraocular foreign body. Factors contributing to final visual acuity (VA) <6/60 were poor presenting VA (odds ratio [OR] = 16.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.81–53.1), globe rupture (OR = 4.64, [1.99–10.8]), retinal detachment (OR = 3.40, [1.19–9.74]) and age ≥50 (OR = 2.45, [1.05–5.74]). Wound leak occurred in 44 eyes (16%). Of these, 18 (41%) proceeded to re‐suturing. Factors contributing to wound leak were stellate‐shaped wound (OR = 3.28, [1.39–7.73]) and delayed presentation (OR = 2.80, [1.02–7.71]). Ten eyes (3.7%) developed endophthalmitis. Factors associated with endophthalmitis were delayed presentation (OR = 8.91, [1.71–46.6]), microbial keratitis (OR = 12.5, [1.85–85.0]) and lens capsule breach (OR = 12.4, [1.85–83.1]).ConclusionsWound leak is an important postoperative complication of open globe injury repair. Delayed presentation is an important risk factor for postoperative wound leak and endophthalmitis. Prompt and meticulous wound management of open globe injury may reduce these complications.
Quantifying the erosion of natural darkness in the global protected area system
Authors: Gaston Kevin J. , Duffy James P. , Bennie Jonathan 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe nighttime light environment of much of the earth has been transformed by the introduction of electric lighting. This impact continues to spread with growth in the human population and extent of urbanization. This has profound consequences for organismal physiology and behavior and affects abundances and distributions of species, community structure, and likely ecosystem functions and processes. Protected areas play key roles in buffering biodiversity from a wide range of anthropogenic pressures. We used a calibration of a global satellite data set of nighttime lights to determine how well they are fulfilling this role with regard to artificial nighttime lighting. Globally, areas that are protected tend to be darker at night than those that are not, and, with the exception of Europe, recent regional declines in the proportion of the area that is protected and remains dark have been small. However, much of these effects result from the major contribution to overall protected area coverage by the small proportion of individual protected areas that are very large. Thus, in Europe and North America high proportions of individual protected areas (>17%) have exhibited high levels of nighttime lighting in all recent years, and in several regions (Europe, Asia, South and Central America) high proportions of protected areas (32–42%) have had recent significant increases in nighttime lighting. Limiting and reversing the erosion of nighttime darkness in protected areas will require routine consideration of nighttime conditions when designating and establishing new protected areas; establishment of appropriate buffer zones around protected areas where lighting is prohibited; and landscape level reductions in artificial nighttime lighting, which is being called for in general to reduce energy use and economic costs.
Potential role of CC chemokine receptor 6 in prediction of late‐onset cytomegalovirus infection following solid organ transplant
Authors: Camargo Jose F. , Resende Mariangela R. , Zamel Ricardo , Klement William , Bhimji Alyajahan , Huibner Sanja , Kumar Deepali , Humar Atul , Jurisica Igor , Keshavjee Shaf , Kaul Rupert , Husain Shahid 
Published: February 2015

AbstractCCR6 is a chemokine receptor involved in homing memory T cells, particularly Th17 cells, to sites of mucosal inflammation. Despite the critical role of memory T cells in long‐term protective immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that reactivates at multiple mucosal sites, the ability of CCR6 or other Th17 marker expression to predict CMV reactivation following transplantation is not clear. Using 11‐color flow cytometry, in this prospective single‐center pilot study, we measured the expression of CCR6 and other markers of T‐cell function in peripheral blood samples obtained from 21 SOT recipients at the time of discontinuation of anti‐CMV prophylaxis. CMV viremia was monitored on a monthly basis after discontinuation of prophylaxis. Eleven patients (52%) developed CMV viremia during the six‐month follow‐up period. Late‐onset CMV infection was preceded by an immune phenotype characterized by increased CCR6 expression on bulk CD4+ T cells and a reduced number of circulating CMV IE‐1‐specific Th1 (CD4+ IFN‐γ+) cells. Among the markers evaluated, CCR6 was the best single predictor of late‐onset CMV infection. Our results suggest that CCR6 expression at the time of discontinuation of antiviral prophylaxis might be a useful predictor of late‐onset CMV reactivation and provide the basis for future larger prospective studies.
Managing Human Tissue Transfer Across National Boundaries – An Approach from an Institution in South Africa
Authors: Mahomed Safia , Behrens Kevin , Slabbert Melodie , Sanne Ian 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWith biobank research on the increase and the history of exploitation in Africa, it has become necessary to manage the transfer of human tissues across national boundaries. There are many accepted templates of Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) that currently exist internationally. However, these templates do not address the specific concerns of South Africa and even of Africa as a continent. This article will examine three significantly important ethico‐legal concepts that were deliberated and carefully adapted by a South African Institution to suit the transfer of Human Biological Materials (HBMs) and associated data for biobank research, namely: informed consent; benefit sharing arrangements; and ownership together with intellectual property rights in human tissues. The discussion includes an analysis of current practice; the ethico‐legal challenges in the South African/African context; the decisions made with regard to how the related ethico‐legal challenges were addressed in the MTA; and justifications for implementing these decisions. The processes considered could be of benefit to other developing world countries who consider it necessary to manage the transfer of HBMs across national boundaries.
Simultaneous in vivo imaging of blood and lymphatic vessel growth in Prox1–GFP/Flk1::myr–mCherry mice
Authors: Zhu Jimmy , Dugas‐Ford Jennifer , Chang Michael , Purta Patryk , Han Kyu‐Yeon , Hong Young‐Kwon , Dickinson Mary E. , Rosenblatt Mark I. , Chang Jin‐Hong , Azar Dimitri T. 
Published: February 2015

The ability to visually observe angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis simultaneously and repeatedly in living animals would greatly enhance our understanding of the inter‐dependence of these processes. To generate a mouse model that allows such visualization via in vivo fluorescence imaging, we crossed Prox1–GFP mice with Flk1::myr–mCherry mice to generate Prox1–GFP/Flk1::myr–mCherry mice, in which lymphatic vessels emit green fluorescence and blood vessels emit red fluorescence. Corneal neovascularization was induced in these mice using three injury models: implantation of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pellet, implantation of a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) pellet, and alkali burn injury. Vessel growth was observed in vivo by stereomicroscopy on days 0, 3, 7 and 10 after pellet implantation or alkali injury as well as in flat‐mounted corneas via confocal microscopy after the final in vivo imaging time point. We observed blood and lymphatic vessel growth in all three models, with the most significant growth occurring from days 0–7. Upon VEGF stimulation, the growth kinetics of blood and lymphatic vessels were similar. Blood vessels exhibited similar growth patterns in VEGF‐ and bFGF‐stimulated corneas. Alkali burn injury induced robust angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The intrinsic fluorescence of blood and lymphatic endothelial cells in Prox1–GFP/Flk1::myr–mCherry mice permitted simultaneous in vivo imaging of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. This allowed us to differentiate the processes as well as observe their inter‐dependence, and will be valuable in development of therapies targeting angiogenesis and/or lymphangiogenesis.
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions due to excreta returns from grazing cattle in Nasu, Japan
Authors: Mori Akinori , Hojito Masayuki 
Published: February 2015

AbstractTo quantify emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from the excreta returns of grazing cattle, we used a closed‐chamber method to quantify the fluxes of CH4 and N2O from patches of dung, urine and untreated grassland (control) within an experimental site. Fresh dung or urine of beef cattle was applied five times at different times of year to simulate excreta deposition from year‐round grazing. CH4 fluxes were greatest immediately after dung deposition and returned to control fluxes within 10–35 days. When precipitation occurred following dung deposition, CH4 fluxes temporarily increased. Once CH4 emission ceased, however, later rewetting did not lead to a resumption of CH4 emission. CH4 emission factors for dung (CH4 EFdung) averaged 0.052%. During the normal grazing period from May to October, the mean CH4 EFdung was estimated to be 0.076%. The CH4 fluxes were not significantly affected by urine deposition. However, N2O fluxes increased only slightly following dung deposition. During the grass‐growing period, N2O fluxes increased after urine deposition, reached a maximum within 3–14 days, and then returned to the levels measured from untreated controls within 28–35 days. During the winter, N2O fluxes increased slightly after urine deposition. However, relatively small N2O fluxes, typically less than 100 μg N m−2 h−1, were observed intermittently following rainfall events. The N2O emission factors for dung (N2O EFdung) averaged 0.013%, and those for urine (N2O EFurine) averaged 0.570%. During the normal grazing period from May to October, the mean N2O EFdung and N2O EFurine were estimated to be 0.024% and 0.684%, respectively. These results suggest that CH4 and N2O emissions from manure could be reduced by grazing cattle and leaving their manure in the field as opposed to housing cattle and composting their manure.
Impact of defined clinical population and missing data on temporal trends in HIV viral load estimation within a health care system
Authors: Edelman EJ , Tate JP , Fiellin DA , Brown ST , Bryant K , Gandhi N , Gibert CL , Goetz MB , Gordon KS , Rodriguez‐Barradas MC , Braithwaite RS , Rimland D , Justice AC 
Published: February 2015

ObjectivesCommunity viral load (CVL) estimates vary based on analytic methods. We extended the CVL concept and used data from the Veterans Health Administration (VA) to determine trends in the health care system viral load (HSVL) and its sensitivity to varying definitions of the clinical population and assumptions regarding missing data.MethodsWe included HIV‐infected patients in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, 2000−2010, with at least one documented CD4 count, HIV‐1 RNA or antiretroviral prescription (n = 37 318). We created 6‐month intervals including patients with at least one visit in the past 2 years. We assessed temporal trends in clinical population size, patient clinical status and mean HSVL and explored the impact of varying definitions of the clinical population and assumptions about missing viral load.ResultsThe clinical population size varied by definition, increasing from 16 000–19 000 patients in 2000 to 23 000–26 000 in 2010. The proportion of patients with suppressed HIV‐1 RNA increased over time. Over 20% of patients had no viral load measured in a given interval or the past 2 years. Among patients with a current HIV‐1 RNA, mean HSVL decreased from 97 800 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL in 2000 to 2000 copies/mL in 2010. When current HIV‐1 RNA data were unavailable and the HSVL was recalculated using the last available HIV‐1 RNA, HSVL decreased from 322 300 to 9900 copies/mL. HSVL was underestimated when using only current data in each interval.ConclusionsThe CVL concept can be applied to a health care system, providing a measure of health care quality. Like CVL, HSVL estimates depend on definitions of the clinical population and assumptions about missing data.
Evaluation of screening and treatment of cryptococcal antigenaemia among HIV‐infected persons in Soweto, South Africa
Authors: Govender NP , Roy M , Mendes JF , Zulu TG , Chiller TM , Karstaedt AS 
Published: February 2015

ObjectivesWe retrospectively evaluated clinic‐based screening to determine the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia and management and outcome of patients with antigenaemia.MethodsCryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening of HIV‐infected adults who attended the HIV clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital was conducted over 19 months. Data collected from CrAg‐positive patients included CD4 T‐lymphocyte count at screening, prior or subsequent cryptococcal meningitis (CM), antifungal and antiretroviral treatment and outcome after at least 8 months.ResultsOf 1460 patients with no prior CM, 30 (2.1%) had a positive CrAg test. The prevalence of antigenaemia among patients with a CD4 count < 100 cells/μl and no prior CM was 2.8% (20 of 708). Of 29 evaluable CrAg‐positive patients with no prior CM, 14 (48%) did not return for post‐screening follow‐up. Of these 14, five developed CM and one (7%) was known to be alive at follow‐up. Of 15 patients who returned for follow‐up, two already had evidence of nonmeningeal cryptococcosis. Overall, 11 received fluconazole, one did not and fluconazole treatment was unknown for three. Among these 15, one developed CM and 10 (67%) were known to be alive at follow‐up. Overall, 18 (62%) of 29 CrAg‐positive patients died or were lost to follow‐up. Seven (0.5%) of 1430 CrAg‐negative patients developed CM a median of 83 days post‐screening (range 34 to 219 days).ConclusionsLoss to follow‐up is the major operational issue relevant to scale‐up of screen‐and‐treat. Patient outcomes may be improved by rapid access to CrAg results and focus on linkage to and retention in HIV care.
Effect of adjunctive use of green tea dentifrice in periodontitis patients – A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Hrishi TS , Kundapur PP , Naha A , Thomas BS , Kamath S , Bhat GS 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesGreen tea is known to possess anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the effect of a locally prepared green tea dentifrice on specific parameters assessing gingival inflammation and severity of periodontal disease, when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the management of chronic periodontitis by comparing with a fluoride–triclosan‐containing control dentifrice.Materials and methodsThirty patients, with mild to moderate chronic periodontitis, were randomly allocated into two treatment groups, ‘test’ and ‘control’ after initial SRP. The test group was given green tea dentifrice with instructions on method of brushing, while the control group received a commercially available fluoride and triclosan containing dentifrice. Clinical parameters of Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) along with biochemical parameters of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were recorded at baseline line and 4 weeks post‐SRP.ResultsIntragroup analysis at 4 weeks showed statistically significant improvements of GI, PI, BOP, PD, CAL and TAOC in both groups. GST activity however, was increased only in the test group. At the end of the study period, the test group showed statistically significant improvements in GI, BOP, CAL, TAOC and GST levels compared to the control group.ConclusionOn comparison with fluoride–triclosan dentifrice, green tea showed greater reduction of gingival inflammation and improved periodontal parameters. Green tea dentifrice may serve as a beneficial adjunct to non‐surgical periodontal therapy.
Concomitant anterior and posterior urethral valves in pediatrics: A single center experience over 12 years and long‐term follow up after endoscopic treatment
Authors: Kajbafzadeh Abdol‐Mohammad , Hosseini Sharifi Seyed Hossein , Keihani Sorena , Soltani Mohammad Hossein , Tajali Afshin , Salavati Alborz , Payabvash Seyedmehdi , Mehdizadeh Mehrzad 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveTo report our 12‐year experience with endoscopic management of patients with concomitant anterior and posterior urethral valves.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients referred to us for management of urethral valves from 2000 to 2012 to find cases with concomitant anterior and posterior valves. The diagnosis of valves was first suspected on voiding cystourethrography and confirmed by urethrocystoscopy. We collected available data on patients’ age at diagnosis, clinical presentations, ultrasound and urodynamic findings, and surgical treatments. The final outcome at last follow up was also recorded.ResultsFrom 38 cases with anterior urethral valve, six (15.8%) presented concomitant anterior and posterior valves. The age at diagnosis in these patients ranged from antenatal diagnosis to 13 years. Initial presenting symptoms were recurrent urinary tract infection, incontinence, urosepsis and poor urinary stream. All valves were ablated by transurethral fulguration/resection using small‐sized urethrocystoscopes. Among those with concomitant anterior and posterior valves, four patients had vesicoureteral reflux at presentation that resolved in two patients after valve ablation. One patient progressed to renal failure and required dialysis. Bladder hypercontractility and detrusor overactivity were the main urodynamic patterns in these patients.ConclusionsConcomitant anterior and posterior valves seem to be more prevalent than previously assumed, and might be missed on initial assessment. Oblique view voiding cystourethrography with full‐length delineation of the urethra is of paramount diagnostic importance when obstruction is suspected. A meticulous urethrocystoscopy should follow for confirming the diagnosis and endoscopic ablation/resection of the valves.
Calibrating a Basin‐Scale Groundwater Model to Remotely Sensed Estimates of Groundwater Evapotranspiration
Authors: Carroll Rosemary W.H. , Pohll Greg M. , Morton Charles G. , Huntington Justin L. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractRemotely sensed vegetation indices correspond to canopy vigor and cover and have been successfully used to estimate groundwater evapotranspiration (ETg) over large spatial and temporal scales. However, these data do not provide information on depth to groundwater (dtgw) necessary for groundwater models (GWM) to calculate ETg. An iterative approach is provided that calibrates GWM to ETg derived from Landsat estimates of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). The approach is applied to different vegetation groups in Mason Valley, Nevada over an 11‐year time span. An uncertainty analysis is done to estimate the resulting mean and 90% confidence intervals in ETg to dtgw relationships to quantify errors associated with plant physiologic complexity, species variability, and parameter smoothing to the 100 m GWM‐grid, temporal variability in soil moisture and nonuniqueness in the solution. Additionally, a first‐order second moment analysis shows ETg to dtgw relationships are almost exclusively sensitive to estimated land surface, or maximum, ETg despite relatively large uncertainty in extinction depths and hydraulic conductivity. The EVI method of estimating ETg appears to bias ETg during years with exceptionally wet spring/summer conditions. Excluding these years improves model performance significantly but highlights the need to develop a methodology that accounts not only on quantity but timing of annual precipitation on phreatophyte greenness.
The c‐MYC‐ABCB5 axis plays a pivotal role in 5‐fluorouracil resistance in human colon cancer cells
Authors: Kugimiya Naruji , Nishimoto Arata , Hosoyama Tohru , Ueno Koji , Enoki Tadahiko , Li Tao‐Sheng , Hamano Kimikazu 
Published: February 2015

Abstractc‐MYC overexpression is frequently observed in various cancers including colon cancer and regulates many biological activities such as aberrant cell proliferation, apoptosis, genomic instability, immortalization and drug resistance. However, the mechanism by which c‐MYC confers drug resistance remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we found that the c‐MYC expression level in primary colorectal cancer tissues correlated with the recurrence rate following 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)‐based adjuvant chemotherapy. Supporting this finding, overexpression of exogenous c‐MYC increased the survival rate following 5‐FU treatment in human colon cancer cells, and knockdown of endogenous c‐MYC decreased it. Furthermore, c‐MYC knockdown decreased the expression level of ABCB5, which is involved in 5‐FU resistance. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we found that c‐MYC bound to the ABCB5 promoter region. c‐MYC inhibitor (10058‐F4) treatment inhibited c‐MYC binding to the ABCB5 promoter, leading to a decrease in ABCB5 expression level. ABCB5 knockdown decreased the survival rate following 5‐FU treatment as expected, and the ABCB5 expression level was increased in 5‐FU‐resistant human colon cancer cells. Finally, using a human colon cancer xenograft murine model, we found that the combined 5‐FU and 10058‐F4 treatment significantly decreased tumorigenicity in nude mice compared with 5‐FU or 10058‐F4 treatment alone. 10058‐F4 treatment decreased the ABCB5 expression level in the presence or absence of 5‐FU. In contrast, 5‐FU treatment alone increased the ABCB5 expression level. Taken together, these results suggest that c‐MYC confers resistance to 5‐FU through regulating ABCB5 expression in human colon cancer cells.