bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Burrowing as a non‐reflex behavioural readout for analgesic action in a rat model of sub‐chronic knee joint inflammation
Authors: Rutten K. , Schiene K. , Robens A. , Leipelt A. , Pasqualon T. , Read S.J. , Christoph T. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundInnate responses against spontaneous pain are proposed to improve the predictive validity of preclinical analgesia models. Therefore, development and validation of novel readouts is necessary. To investigate whether innate rodent burrowing is a useful alternative behavioural readout for assessment of analgesic efficacy, a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced model of sub‐chronic inflammation was used to compare the effects of naproxen, ibuprofen and pregabalin in weight‐bearing (WB), open‐field (OF) and burrowing assays.MethodsMale Sprague Dawley rats were injected with 150 μL of CFA (2 mg/mL) into the knee (hind leg) 3 days before testing. Naproxen, ibuprofen and pregabalin were administered at different doses 30, 90 and 60 min, respectively, before testing. WB was determined using a rat incapacitance tester; horizontal distance moved and vertical rearings were recorded in an OF; and burrowing was measured by the weight of gravel remaining in a hollow tube after 60 min.ResultsCFA‐induced arthritis reduced WB, OF activity and burrowing. Naproxen, pregabalin and ibuprofen treatment normalized WB; however, horizontal OF activity was not improved by any treatment; rearing behaviour was moderately reinstated by ibuprofen (100 mg/kg). In burrowing, naproxen (100 mg/kg), ibuprofen (31.6 and 100 mg/kg) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg) reversed CFA‐induced deficits.ConclusionsBurrowing performance is an alternative non‐reflex readout relying on innate rodent behaviour that is affected by nociceptive behaviour and can be pharmacologically manipulated. The burrowing assay appears to be more sensitive than OF assays and is as sensitive as WB assays at distinguishing between analgesic doses and doses that impair locomotion.
Circulating Level of Lipocalin 2 As a Predictor of Severity in Patients With Community‐Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Yeh Yuan‐Hung , Chang Junn‐Liang , Hsiao Pei‐Ching , Tsao Shih‐Ming , Lin Chien Huang , Kao Shang‐Jyh , Chou Ming‐Chih , Yang Shun‐Fa , Chien Ming‐Hsien 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the differential plasma levels of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) and its complex with MMP‐9 (where MMP is matrix metalloproteinase) before and after antibiotic treatment in hospitalized adult patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP).MethodPlasma LCN2 and LCN2/MMP‐9 complex levels were measured in 61 adult patients with CAP and 60 healthy controls using commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsA decrease in the number of white blood cells (WBCs) and neutrophils and decreases in the levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP), LCN2, and LCN2/MMP‐9 complex were observed after antibiotic treatment. The plasma level of LCN2, but not that of CRP, was correlated with the severity of CAP based on the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI; r = 0.333, P = 0.009), confusion, urea, respiratory rate and blood pressure (CURB)‐65 (r = 0.288, P = 0.024), and Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores (r = 0.328, P = 0.010). LCN2 levels were also significantly correlated with LCN2/MMP‐9 levels and the numbers of WBCs or neutrophils.ConclusionsPlasma levels of LCN2 and the LCN2/MMP‐9 complex can act as adjuvant diagnostic biomarkers for CAP. Plasma LCN2 might play a further role in the clinical assessment of the severity of CAP, which could potentially guide the development of future treatment strategies.
Determination of Storage Time of Saliva Samples Obtained From Patients With and Without Chronic Periodontitis for the Comparison of Some Biochemical and Cytological Parameters
Authors: Emekli‐Alturfan Ebru , Yarat Aysen , Çalışkan‐Ak Esin , Pisiriciler Rabia , Kuru Bahar , Noyan Ülkü 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundSalivary glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein, sialic acid (SA) levels, cytological parameters, and tissue factor activities (TFa) were investigated when fresh and after 3, 7, 11, 15, 21, and 30 days (d) of storage at −20°C both in the control and the periodontitis group. Moreover, the control and the periodontits groups were compared and continuity of the significances detected between the two groups were evaluated.MethodsGSH, MDA, SA, protein, and TFa were determined using the methods of Beutler, Yagi, Warren, Lowry, and Quick, respectively. Saliva imprint samples were stained with Giemsa and microscopically examined.ResultsWhen the continuity of the significances of differences between the two groups was investigated, differences continued to be significant for GSH and TFa on days 3, 7, 11, 15, 21, and 30. Cytologically, only the significance detected between leucocyte numbers continued to be significant for 30 d. However significance of differences in total protein, MDA, and SA levels on day 0, were interrupted on days 3, 7, and 11, respectively.ConclusionSaliva samples may be stored for 30 d for GSH and TFa analyses in patients with and without periodontitis. However, to compare salivary MDA, SA, and total protein levels in these groups we suggest fresh samples to be studied.
Analysis of β/α Globin Ratio by Using Relative qRT‐PCR for Diagnosis of Beta‐Thalassemia Carriers
Authors: Ranjbaran Reza , Okhovat Mohammad Ali , Mobarhanfard Arash , Aboualizadeh Farzaneh , Abbasi Mozhdeh , Moezzi Leili , Golafshan Habib Allah , Behzad‐Behbahani Abbas , Bagheri Mandana , Sharifzadeh Sedigheh 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundCurrent routine tests for premarital screening of β‐thalassemia carriers are not applicable for diagnosis of rare atypical minor β‐thalassemia cases. A more specialized laboratory evaluation for them is the measurement of β/α chain synthesis ratio with the assistance of radioactive amino acids. This method is also no longer routinely accessible. Consequently it is required to establish a rapid, trouble‐free, and reliable method that encompasses all the cases of β‐thalassemia carriers. Therefore we have determined β/α‐globin mRNA ratio by applying relative qRT‐PCR in various β‐thalassemia patients.MethodsReticulocytes RNA extraction and subsequent cDNA synthesis were performed, followed by relative qRT‐PCR for α‐ and β‐globin chain genes and ‐actin gene as an endogenous reference. ‐Globin gene ratio was then evaluated with the Pfaffl method.ResultsThe mean of β/α ratio was 0.99, 0.81, 0.69, and 0.69 for normal population, minor, intermediate, and major β‐thalassemia, respectively. Approximately 6% of cases with minor thalassemia RBC index and normal HbA2 and having a decreased β/α ratio were located in the minor β‐thalassemia group. The mean of β/α mRNA ratio in normal individuals and minor β‐thalassemia was significantly different with all other groups (P‐value < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no such association between β/α mRNA ratio in major and intermediate β‐thalassemia.ConclusionAccording to the significant differences achieved, no overlapping between minor β‐thalassemia and normal group, capability of diagnosing atypical minor β‐thalassemia, and accessibility of this technique, we can declare that this method could be suggested as a routine premarital screening test for β‐thalassemia carriers.
Measurement of Serum Total Vitamin D (25‐OH) Using Automated Immunoassay in Comparision With Liquid Chromatography Tandem‐Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Shin Sang‐Yong , Kwon Min‐Jung , Song Junghan , Park Hyosoon , Woo Hee‐Yeon 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundThe associations of vitamin D deficiency with many nonskeletal diseases are still being discovered. We evaluated the use of an automated immunoassay to measure serum total vitamin D (25‐OH) and assessed vitamin D status in a Korean adult population.MethodsWe compared the Elecsys Vitamin D (25‐OH) Total Assay (Roche Diagnostics) with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) using 300 serum samples. Total imprecision was calculated using three levels of quality control materials and serum samples. We also investigated the vitamin D status using data for 70,762 cases who had a routine health check‐up in our hospitals.ResultsThe regression equation: Elecsys = 0.882 × LC‐MS/MS + 6.814 (r = 0.926). Total imprecision was within 10% for all quality control materials and serum samples. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency using cut‐off values of <50 nmol/l (<20 ng/ml) were 70.3% in males and 86.4% in females, respectively. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in younger subjects than in older subjects (P for linear‐by‐linear association was <0.001). Serum vitamin D levels were highest in September and lowest in February.ConclusionThe Elecsys Vitamin D (25‐OH) Total Assay was comparable to LC‐MS/MS and appropriate for routine clinical use. Vitamin D deficiency is common in Korean adults.
PDE4D Gene Polymorphisms and Coronary Heart Disease: A Case‐Control Study in a North Indian Population
Authors: Sinha Ekata , Meitei Sanjenbam Yaiphaba , Garg Priyanka Rani , Saraswathy Kallur Nava 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundThe present study aims to assess the association of PDE4D gene polymorphisms (SNP83 and SNP87) with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in a single Mendelian population of Delhi.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was carried out wherein intravenous blood samples were collected from 100 cases and 100 age, sex and ethnicity matched controls along with their demographic, life style, and clinical profiles.ResultsGenotypic frequencies of PDE4D gene variants 83 and 87 did not differ significantly between cases and controls. Odds ratio revealed a 1.4‐fold increased risk with PDE4D 83 C allele; though not significant. Both the SNPs showed significant association with serum triglyceride (TG) (P ≤ 0.05). A significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between the SNPs. The haplotype with mutant alleles of the two SNPs showed fivefold increased risk (though not significant) and that with normal allele of SNP 83 and mutant allele of SNP 87 (T‐T) was found to be significantly associated with the disease in the present population.ConclusionsPDE4D gene variants 83 and 87 did not show any significant association with CHD. However, their interaction with TG and the haplotypic association found in the present population is indicative of the population‐specific risk associated with CHD where majority of the individuals have high cholesterol and high Body Mass Index (BMI).
Vitamin D and Its Relationship with Markers of Bone Metabolism in Healthy Asian Women
Authors: Tan Karen M.L. , Saw Sharon , Sethi Sunil K. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to determine the normal ranges of 25‐hydroxy‐vitamin D3 (25‐OHD3), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and the markers of bone turnover, procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) and C‐terminal cross‐linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX), in normal healthy women in Singapore, and to explore the relationship between vitamin D, PTH, and these markers of bone turnover in the women.MethodsOne hundred and ninety‐seven healthy women, aged 25 to 60, were selected from a hospital staff health screening program; 68% were Chinese, 18% Malay, and 14% Indian. P1NP, CTX, and 25‐OHD3 were measured using the Roche Cobas® electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum PTH was measured using the Siemens ADVIA Centaur® immunoassay.ResultsSixty‐five percent had 25‐OHD3 concentrations <50 nmol/l. Vitamin D insufficiency (25‐OHD3 < 50 nmol/l) was more prevalent in Malays (89%) and Indians (82%) compared to Chinese (56%). There was no correlation between vitamin D and age. PTH positively correlated with age, and Malays and Indians had higher PTH concentrations than Chinese. There was an inverse correlation between PTH and 25‐OHD3, but no threshold of 25‐OHD3 concentrations at which PTH plateaued. The bone turnover markers P1NP and CTX inversely correlated with age but were not different between ethnic groups. CTX and P1NP exhibited good correlation, however, there was no significant correlation between 25‐OHD3 or PTH concentrations and the bone turnover markers P1NP and CTX.ConclusionsHealthy women in Singapore have a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency was more prevalent in Malays and Indians compared to Chinese.
Association of Tyrosyl‐DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 Polymorphism With Tourette Syndrome in Taiwanese Patients
Authors: Wu Bor‐Tsang , Lin Wei‐Yong , Chou I‐Ching , Liu Hsin‐Ping , Lee Cheng‐Chun , Tsai Yuhsin , Wu Wan‐Chen , Tsai Fuu‐Jen 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundGenetic, environmental, immunological, and hormonal factors contribute to the etiology of Tourette syndrome (TS). From the genetic standpoint, TS is a heterogeneous disorder. In our previous study, we found that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of x‐ray repair cross‐complementing group 1 (XRCC1), a DNA repair gene, was associated with TS. Previous studies also showed that tyrosyl‐DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) interacts with XRCC1 to repair damaged DNA. However, the relationship between TS and SNPs of TDP1 gene is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that if the TDP1 SNP, rs28365054 (c.400G>A, Ala134Thr), was associated with TS or not.MethodsA case‐control study was designed to test the hypothesis. A total of 122 TS children and 106 normal children participated in the study. We used polymerase chain reaction to identify the SNP, rs28365054, of the TDP1 gene in the TS patients and the normal children.ResultsA polymorphism at position rs28365054 in the TDP1 gene had a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the genotype distributions between the TS patients and the control group. The AG genotype was a risk factor for TS with an odds ratio of 2.26 for the AG versus AA genotype (95% CI 1.08–4.72).ConclusionThe findings of this study suggested that variants in the TDP1 gene might play a role in TS susceptibility.
Investigation of an alternative generic model for predicting pharmacokinetic changes during physiological stress
Authors: Peng Henry T. , Edginton Andrea N. , Cheung Bob 
Published: July 2013

AbstractPhysiologically based pharmacokinetic models were developed using MATLAB Simulink® and PK‐Sim®. We compared the capability and usefulness of these two models by simulating pharmacokinetic changes of midazolam under exercise and heat stress to verify the usefulness of MATLAB Simulink® as a generic PBPK modeling software. Although both models show good agreement with experimental data obtained under resting condition, their predictions of pharmacokinetics changes are less accurate in the stressful conditions. However, MATLAB Simulink® may be more flexible to include physiologically based processes such as oral absorption and simulate various stress parameters such as stress intensity, duration and timing of drug administration to improve model performance. Further work will be conducted to modify algorithms in our generic model developed using MATLAB Simulink® and to investigate pharmacokinetics under other physiological stress such as trauma.
Long‐term and cross‐reactive immunogenicity of inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine in the elderly: MF59‐adjuvanted vaccine versus unadjuvanted vaccine
Authors: Song Joon Young , Cheong Hee Jin , Noh Ji Yun , Seo Yu Bin , Choi Won Suk , Cho Geum Joo , Hwang Taik Gun , Kim Woo Joo 
Published: July 2013

AbstractElderly people are at great risk for influenza‐related serious complications. However, influenza vaccine‐induced antibodies are believed to decline more rapidly in the elderly. This study was designed to evaluate the long‐term and cross‐reactive immunogenicity among those aged ≥65 years for two seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines during the 2009–2010 influenza season. One vaccine had the MF59 adjuvant, while the other did not contain an adjuvant. Serum hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) titers were determined pre‐vaccination and at 1 and 6 months post‐vaccination. Of the 100 subjects, 95 (95%) were followed‐up for 1 month after vaccination, and 76 (76%) were followed‐up for 6 months after vaccination. Both vaccines met the European Medicines Agency (EMA) criteria 1 month after vaccination. However, seroprotection for influenza B was not satisfactory, with a rate of 55.3% for the MF59 adjuvant vaccine and 47.9% for the vaccine without adjuvant. At 6 months post‐vaccination, the MF59‐adjuvanted vaccine showed a higher seroprotection rate than the unadjuvanted vaccine. At this point, the MF59‐adjuvanated vaccine still met the criteria of EMA for A/H1N1 (62.5% vs. 55.5%, P = 0.64) and A/H3N2 (72.5% vs. 47.2%, P = 0.04). Both vaccines showed excellent cross‐reactive immunogenicity for influenza A/Solomon Island/3/2006 (H1N1) and A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2), without significant differences. In comparison, cross‐reactive immunogenicity was not remarkable for the A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) and A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1) strains, which have a greater antigenic distance. In conclusion, the MF59‐adjuvanted influenza vaccine showed superior long‐term immunogenicity in the elderly compared to the unadjuvanted vaccine. However, cross‐reactive immunogenicity was not remarkably enhanced with the MF59 adjuvant. J. Med. Virol. 85:1591–1597, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Human parechovirus and the risk of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Kolehmainen P. , Koskiniemi M. , Oikarinen S. , Veijola R. , Simell O. , Ilonen J. , Knip M. , Hyöty H. , Tauriainen S. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractHuman parechoviruses (HPeVs) are RNA viruses associated mainly with mild gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in children and also cause neonatal sepsis and CNS infections. Human enteroviruses, close relatives of HPeVs, associate with the development of type 1 diabetes. In this study, the potential role of HPeV infections in promoting beta cell autoimmunity was investigated by analyzing stool samples of 54 prediabetic case and 134 healthy control children for the presence of HPeV RNA and comparing the derived infection frequencies. All 188 children were participants of the Finnish prospective Diabetes Prediction and Prevention study. Viral RNA was screened for using an HPeV‐specific RT‐PCR method coupled to liquid hybridization of the PCR product. The overall HPeV infection frequency did not differ between prediabetic case and control children. However, case boys had more HPeV positive samples in the 6‐month period before becoming autoantibody positive, when compared to the matching time‐period in controls (P < 0.01). HPeV infection at a young age does not appear to play a major role in the development of beta‐cell autoimmunity. In boys, however, HPeVs showed time‐dependent association with the first detection of diabetes‐associated autoantibodies. Thus, in boys, HPeV infections cannot be excluded as a gender‐specific risk factor which promotes the development of type 1 diabetes. J. Med. Virol. 85:1619‐1623, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of norovirus in acute gastroenteritis in the Northwest of Spain during 2010–2011
Authors: Manso Carmen F. , Torres Eva , Bou Germán , Romalde Jesús L. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractA total of 2,643 samples from patients with gastroenteritis in Galicia (NW Spain) were tested for the presence of Norovirus (NoV). NoV genogroup GI was detected in 416 (15.7%) samples, while NoV genogroup GII was detected in 278 (10.5%) samples. Mixed infections of NoV GI and GII were observed in 53 (2%) samples. Total prevalence of NoV in the analyzed samples was 28.3%. Besides NoV diagnosis assay, all the specimens were also submitted to routine clinical bacteriology tests. Cryptosporidium spp. as well as adenovirus (AdV) and rotavirus (RV) were determined on some samples after specific request by hospital units. The results obtained allowed to determine the disease etiology in 14.4% of the patients. Taking into account all the microorganisms studied, the etiological agent was determined for 39.5% of the cases. The results indicated that NoVs are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in all age‐groups in Northwestern Spain, and that the lack of routine NoV diagnosis contributes to the underestimation of the importance of this virus, not only in outbreaks, but also in sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis. J Med. Virol. 85:2009–2015, 2013.. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rotavirus activity and meteorological variations in an Asian subtropical city, Hong Kong, 1995–2009
Authors: Chan Martin C.W. , Mok H.Y. , Lee T.C. , Nelson E. Anthony S. , Leung Ting F. , Tam Wilson W.S. , Chan Paul K.S. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractRotavirus is a leading cause of severe infectious diarrhea in infants and young children aged <5 years. Rotavirus infections have minimal to strong seasonality depending on geographical locations. In this study, a comprehensive retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the association between rotavirus admission and multiple key meteorological variables, including air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and solar radiation over a 15‐year period from 1995 to 2009 in Hong Kong. Rotavirus infections were found to show a distinct cyclical pattern with an annual peak in cold season. The weekly number of cases showed the strongest correlation with average air temperature of the previous 7 days (rho = −0.69; P < 0.0001), followed by atmospheric pressure (rho = +0.67; P < 0.0001); whereas only weak correlation with relative humidity (rho = −0.252; P < 0.0001) and solar radiation (rho = −0.312; P < 0.0001) was observed. Curve fitting regression analysis suggested that the correlation was nonlinear in nature in which the effect was more profound towards lower air temperature and higher atmospheric pressure conditions. In binary logistic regression analysis, a final model that included air temperature (≤20°C) and atmospheric pressure (≥1,013 hPa) predicted correctly 85.3% and 82.6% of weeks with rotavirus activity above and below the baseline level, respectively. In multivariate Poisson model, air temperature and solar radiation were independent factors associated with the weekly number of rotavirus cases, adjusted for seasonal variation. In summary, the current study provides evidence suggesting that local seasonal activity of rotavirus correlated strongly with air temperature, followed by atmospheric pressure but only minimally with relative humidity in pre‐vaccine era. J Med. Virol. 85:2026–2033, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.