bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction: a case–control study of a nondiabetic population
Authors: Kodovazenitis G. , Pitsavos C. , Papadimitriou L. , Vrotsos I. A. , Stefanadis C. , Madianos P. N. 
Published: May 2013

Background and ObjectivePeriodontitis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are two diseases that share common risk factors. The role of periodontitis as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been under debate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an association exists between periodontitis and AMI in a nondiabetic population, using multiple periodontal case definitions.Material and MethodsPeriodontal examination was performed in 204 patients with AMI. The control group comprised 102 healthy subjects, without significant coronary disease, confirmed angiographically. Periodontitis was assessed using measurements of clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth and number of missing teeth. From these measurements, five different case definitions of periodontitis were generated.ResultsUsing the continuous forms of periodontal measurements, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of the association with incident AMI was 1.74 (1.26–2.50), 1.83 (1.10–3.17) and 1.08 (1.06–1.13) for mean CAL, probing depth and number of missing teeth, respectively. A consistent positive association was observed regardless of the case definition of periodontitis.ConclusionIn this nondiabetic population, the association between periodontitis and AMI was consistent across different measurements and/or definitions of periodontitis. The strength of the association increased concomitantly with the robustness of the criteria used to define periodontitis.
Management of ankylosed young permanent incisors after trauma and prior to implant rehabilitation
Authors: Calasans‐Maia J.A. , Neto A.S. , Batista M.M.D. , Alves A.T.N.N. , Granjeiro J.M. , Calasans‐Maia M.D. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe objective of this clinical report is to present decoronation of young permanent ankylosed incisors as an option to preserve the alveolar process in young people where implant rehabilitation is not yet indicated. A 13‐year‐old patient presented with intrusive luxation of the permanent maxillary lateral incisor and lateral luxation of both permanent maxillary central incisors. During 6 months, clinical and radiographic evaluation showed progressive root replacement resorption, and surgical decoronation was recommended for all three incisors and left for a period of 6 years until the implant and grafting procedures be performed. Decoronation in young teeth is a reliable technique in terms of preservation of the width and height of the alveolar process, and improves the aesthetic conditions after installation of the provisional prosthetics. Decoronation may be considered an alternative strategy for complex posttraumatic clinical scenarios, such as young ankylosed incisors.
Knowledge, Cognitive Achievement, and Environmental Luck
Authors: Jarvis Benjamin 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis article defends the view that knowledge is type‐identical to cognitive achievement. I argue, pace Duncan Pritchard, that not only knowledge, but also cognitive achievement is incompatible with environmental luck. I show that the performance of cognitive abilities in environmental luck cases does not distinguish them from non‐abilities per se. For this reason, although the cognitive abilities of the subject are exercised in environmental luck cases, they are not manifested in any relevant sense. I conclude by showing that this explanation is not ad hoc as it can be generalized to apply to causal features besides cognitive abilities.
Melanocytic Nevi in Children of Southern Italy: Dermoscopic, Constitutional, and Environmental Factors
Authors: Patruno Cataldo , Scalvenzi Massimiliano , Megna Matteo , Russo Irene , Gaudiello Francesca , Balato Nicola 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe objective was to estimate the prevalence of melanocytic nevi (MN) in children and to determine their dermoscopic characteristics and relationship with anatomic location and environmental and constitutional factors. The population was a randomly selected sample of 144 children who attended primary schools in Naples, Italy. Before physical examination of the children, standardized interviews were conducted with their parents. Follow‐up interviews of both the children and parents were conducted 1 year later. Photographic and dermoscopic images were obtained. Boys had more MN than girls; 465 MN (55.6%) were observed in boys and 371 (44.4%) in girls (p < 0.05). The trunk and neck were the most common locations of MN (p < 0.001). The main dermoscopic feature of all MN observed was a globular pattern (p < 0.001). A significant correlation between duration of sunbathing and MN counts was revealed (p < 0.05). At 1‐year follow‐up, 118 new MN were identified in 66 children. The trunk and neck areas were the most common regions involved in the appearance of new MN (n = 68, 57.6% of all new MN, p < 0.001). The new MN count was significantly higher in children who reported more sunbathing (p < 0.001). Changes in the dermoscopic pattern were observed in 45 persistent MN, demonstrating more MN with a reticular‐globular pattern, especially on the trunk, neck, and upper extremities (p < 0.001). MN development in early life is the result of complicated relationships between nevus evolution, anatomic location, and environmental and constitutional factors.
Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa Incidence and Survival: 5‐Year Experience of the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America (DebRA) Nurse Educator, 2007 to 2011
Authors: Kelly‐Mancuso Geraldine , Kopelan Brett , Azizkhan Richard G. , Lucky Anne W. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractJunctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a particularly devastating type of epidermolysis bullosa, especially in the newborn period. Data about the number of new cases of JEB in the United States were collected from the records of the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America (DebRA) nurse educator. Seventy‐one children with JEB were reported to have been born in the 5 years between 2007 and 2011, reflecting an incidence of at least 3.59 per million per year, significantly higher than previously estimated (2.04 per million). There was a high prevalence of morbidity and infant mortality of at least 73%, as 52 of the 71 cases proved fatal by June 2012. These data emphasize the need for future research to develop treatment and ultimately a cure for this disorder.
Healthcare‐associated pneumonia: A US disease or relevant to the Asia Pacific, too?
Authors: Dobler Claudia C. , Waterer Grant 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe term ‘health care‐associated pneumonia’ (HCAP) was introduced by the American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2005 to describe a distinct entity of pneumonia that resembles hospital‐acquired pneumonia rather than community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) in terms of occurrence of drug‐resistant pathogens and mortality in patients that—while not hospitalized in the traditional sense—have been in recent contact with the health‐care system. It was proposed that HCAP should be treated empirically with therapy for drug‐resistant pathogens. Over the last few years, there has been increasing controversy over whether HCAP is a helpful definition, or leads to unnecessary and potentially problematic overtreatment. The term HCAP has been extensively criticized in Europe. While most studies have shown that HCAP is associated with more frequent drug‐resistant pathogens and higher mortality than CAP, there is no clear evidence that this is due to inappropriate antibiotic therapy. Therapy consistent with HCAP treatment guidelines has also not been found to improve mortality. Based on current evidence, we suggest broad‐spectrum antibiotic therapy to treat possible pathogens not usually covered in CAP be based on assessment of individual risk factors rather than applying a HCAP classification system in the Asia‐Pacific Region.
Holding the patient's life in my hands: Swedish registered nurse anaesthetists' perspective of advocacy
Authors: Sundqvist Ann‐Sofie , Carlsson Agneta Anderzén 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundAnaesthesia often induces a state of unconsciousness that includes inability to communicate and influence the situation. The patient has to rely on the nurse anaesthetist to speak up for her/him as well as maintain her/his dignity and safety. Consequently, the nurse anaesthetist can be likened to the patient's advocate.AimThe aim of the study was to describe advocacy in anaesthesia care during the perioperative phase from the perspective of the registered nurse anaesthetist.MethodData for this qualitative descriptive study were collected during March and April, 2011. Individual interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 20 nurse anaesthetists from two hospitals in Sweden. The audio‐taped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe main theme, Holding the patient's life in my hands, described the nurse anaesthetists' perception of advocacy and comprised three subthemes: providing dignified care, providing safe care and a moral commitment.ConclusionActing as the patient's advocate includes important health and well‐being issues and could be stressful for the nurse anaesthetists'. A work environment where the nurse anaesthetists' can make their voices heard and feel that their opinion regarding the patient's best interests is taken seriously would be desirable, as all health professionals should ideally focus on those in their care.
JPEG vs. JPEG2000: benchmarking with dermatological images
Authors: Guarneri F. , Vaccaro M. , Guarneri C. , Cannavò S. P. 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundDespite the importance of images in the discipline and the diffusion of digital imaging devices, the issue of image compression in dermatology was discussed only in few studies, which yielded results often not comparable, and left some unanswered questions.ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the performance of the JPEG and JPEG2000 algorithms for compression of dermatological images.MethodsNineteen macroscopic and fifteen videomicroscopic images of skin lesions were compressed with JPEG and JPEG2000 at 18 different compression rates, from 90% to 99.5%. Compressed images were shown, next to uncompressed versions, to three dermatologists with different experience, who judged quality and suitability for educational/scientific and diagnostic purposes. Moreover, alterations and quality were evaluated by calculation of mean ‘distance’ of pixel colors between compressed and original images and by peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, respectively.ResultsJPEG2000 was qualitatively better than JPEG at all compression rates, particularly highest ones, as shown by dermatologists' ratings and objective parameters. Agreement between raters was high, but with some differences in specific cases, showing that different professional experience can influence judgement on images.ConclusionIn consideration of its high qualitative performance and wide diffusion, JPEG2000 represents an optimal solution for the compression of digital dermatological images.
Automated preparation of whole blood–derived platelets suspended in two different platelet additive solutions and stored for 7 days
Authors: Cid Joan , Magnano Laura , Molina Patricia , Diaz‐Ricart Maribel , Martínez Nuria , Maymó Rosa M. , Puig Lluís , Lozano Miguel , Escolar Ginés , Galán Ana M. 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundThe Atreus system (Terumo BCT) automates the preparation of blood components from whole blood donations. Intermediate platelet (PLT) products can be pooled manually or with the OrbiSac (Terumo BCT) and suspended in different PLT additive solutions (PASs) to obtain PLT concentrates (PCs). The aim of our study was to compare the in vitro PLT quality of PCs obtained with either the Atreus 2C+ and the OrbiSac or the Atreus 3C and suspended in PAS‐II or PAS‐IIIM during storage for up to 7 days.Study Design and MethodsWe prepared eight PCs from buffy coats obtained with Atreus 2C+, pooled with the OrbiSac, and suspended in PAS‐II and eight PCs from interim PLT units obtained with the Atreus 3C and suspended either in PAS‐II or in PAS‐IIIM. We measured volume, PLT content, and mean PLT component and performed metabolic assays (pH, glucose, lactate, pO2, and pCO2) and flow cytometry analyses (GPIb, GPIIbIIIa, GPIV, CD62P, CD63, von Willebrand factor [vWF], fibrinogen, Factor V, and annexin V).ResultsPCs prepared with the Atreus 3C showed lower volume and higher PLT concentration when compared with PCs prepared with the Atreus 2C+ and the OrbiSac (p < 0.05). Glucose consumption rate and the expression of CD62P, CD63, and vWF were lower in PCs suspended in PAS‐IIIM when compared with PCs suspended in PAS‐II (p < 0.05).ConclusionPCs prepared with the Atreus 3C and suspended in PAS‐IIIM preserve satisfactorily the in vitro PLT quality during 7‐day storage. PLT activation during a 7‐day storage period was lower when the storage solution was PAS‐IIIM in comparison with PAS‐II.
Aggressive local therapy combined with systemic chemotherapy provides long‐term control in gradeIIstage 2 canine mast cell tumour: 21 cases (1999–2012)
Authors: Lejeune A. , Skorupski K. , Frazier S. , Vanhaezebrouck I. , Rebhun R. B. , Reilly C. M. , Rodriguez C. O. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis retrospective case series evaluates the outcome of 21 dogs with gradeIIstage 2 mast cell tumour (MCT) treated with adequate local therapy and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (prednisone, vinblastine andCCNU). The median survival for all dogs was 1359 days (range, 188–2340). Median disease‐free interval was 2120 days (149–2325 days). Dogs treated with surgery and chemotherapy had shorter survival (median, 1103 days; 188–2010 days) than those that underwent surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy as part of their treatment (median, 2056 days; 300–2340 days). Two patients had local recurrence in the radiation field and four patients hadde novoMCT. Distant metastasis was not observed in any dogs. The results of this study suggest that, in the presence of loco‐regional lymph node metastasis in gradeIIMCT, the use of prednisone, vinblastine andCCNUafter adequate local‐regional therapy can provide a median survival in excess of 40 months.
Flow‐cytometric detection of phenotypic aberrancies in canine small clear cell lymphoma
Authors: Martini V. , Poggi A. , Riondato F. , Gelain M. E. , Aresu L. , Comazzi S. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractHistopathology and immunohistochemistry are mandatory to solve the differential between canine low‐grade lymphoma and reactive hyperplasia. However, clinicians and owners often show reluctance toward these invasive tests. However, molecular biology techniques are still not sensitive and specific enough to be regarded as a reliable tool for final diagnosis. In humans, flow cytometry (FC) allows a definitive diagnosis of T‐cell lymphoma based on high prevalence of antigen aberrancies. We describe here the immunophenotype of 26 cases of suspect canine small‐clear cell lymphoma, determined by multi‐colourFC. All cases showed antigen aberrancies and therefore neoplasia was always confirmed. As a consequence, we argue that the combined use of cytology andFCallows solving the differential diagnosis between small clear cell lymphoma and non‐neoplastic reactive conditions when histopathology is not available. Further studies are needed to establish if any aberrancy can be considered indicative of specific histotypes.
CD47 functions as a removal marker on aged erythrocytes
Authors: van Bruggen R. 
Published: May 2013

CD47 on erythrocytes inhibits phagocytosis through interaction with the inhibitory immunoreceptor signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) expressed by macrophages. Thus, the CD47‐SIRPα interaction constitutes a negative signal for erythrocyte phagocytosis. However, we recently reported that CD47 does not only function as a ‘don't eat me’ signal for uptake but can also act as an ‘eat me’ signal. In particular, a subset of old erythrocytes present in whole blood was shown to bind and to be phagocytosed via CD47‐ SIRPα interactions.Furthermore, we provide evidence that experimental ageing of erythrocytes induces a conformational change in CD47 that switches the molecule from an inhibitory signal into an activating one. We also demonstrate that aged erythrocytes have the capacity to bind the CD47‐binding partner thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1) and that treatment of aged erythrocytes with a TSP‐1‐derived peptide enabled their phagocytosis by human red pulp macrophages. Finally, CD47 on erythrocytes that had been stored for prolonged time was shown to undergo a conformational change and bind TSP‐1.These findings reveal a more complex role for CD47‐ SIRPα interactions in erythrocyte removal, with CD47 acting as a molecular switch for controlling erythrocyte phagocytosis.
Stem cell‐derived erythrocytes as upcoming players in blood transfusion
Authors: Migliaccio A. R. 
Published: May 2013

BackgroundBlood transfusion is current standard‐of‐care for genetic forms of anemia that would be otherwise lethal and allows implementation of aggressive cytotoxic/surgical therapies developed for numerous types of cancer. In developed countries the blood supply is adequate and sporadically even in excess. However, difficulties exist in finding blood with rare phenotypes to treat alloimmunized patients and the progressive ageing of the human population predicts that blood will become scarce by 2050. These considerations establish the need for the development of techniques to generate cultured red blood cell (cRBCs) as transfusion products.Materials and MethodsRecent progress in cell culture techniques is revolutionizing organ replacement therapies. Two new disciplines, cell therapy and tissue engineering, have been developed to generate in vitro therapeutic products for a variety of applications ranging from skin grafts to organ‐function repairs. It is currently believed that these advances will eventually allow ex‐vivo production of various cell types in numbers so great that, in the case of red cells, would be clinically adequate for transfusion.ResultsProof‐of‐principle in animal models indicate that cRBCs generated from murine embryonic stem cells protect mice from lethal anemia. Conditions to generate small amounts of clinical grade cRBCs have been established and the first‐in‐man administration of autologous cRBCs perfomed. The results of this trial indicate that cRBCs survive in vivo at least as long as their natural counterpart.DiscussionThese ground‐breaking reports have raised great excitement for clinical evaluation of cRBCs for transfusion. However, skepticism still persist that production of cRBCs in numbers sufficient for transfusion will ever be possible. This paper will discuss diagnostic and clinical goals pursuable with numbers of cRBCs that may be generated with current technology.ConclusionWe are confident that development of relevant clinical goals achievable with current technologies will not only improve clinical care in transfusion medicine but will also foster studies to overcome scientific and technical barriers that render transfusion with cRBCs of the general population impractical today.
A prototype fan‐beam optical CT scanner for 3D dosimetry
Authors: Campbell Warren G. , Rudko D. A. , Braam Nicolas A. , Wells Derek M. , Jirasek Andrew 
Published: May 2013

Purpose:The objective of this work is to introduce a prototype fan‐beam optical computed tomography scanner for three‐dimensional (3D) radiation dosimetry.Methods:Two techniques of fan‐beam creation were evaluated: a helium‐neon laser (HeNe, λ = 543 nm) with line‐generating lens, and a laser diode module (LDM, λ = 635 nm) with line‐creating head module. Two physical collimator designs were assessed: a single‐slot collimator and a multihole collimator. Optimal collimator depth was determined by observing the signal of a single photodiode with varying collimator depths. A method of extending the dynamic range of the system is presented. Two sample types were used for evaluations: nondosimetric absorbent solutions and irradiated polymer gel dosimeters, each housed in 1 liter cylindrical plastic flasks. Imaging protocol investigations were performed to address ring artefacts and image noise. Two image artefact removal techniques were performed in sinogram space. Collimator efficacy was evaluated by imaging highly opaque samples of scatter‐based and absorption‐based solutions. A noise‐based flask registration technique was developed. Two protocols for gel manufacture were examined.Results:The LDM proved advantageous over the HeNe laser due to its reduced noise. Also, the LDM uses a wavelength more suitable for the PRESAGETM dosimeter. Collimator depth of 1.5 cm was found to be an optimal balance between scatter rejection, signal strength, and manufacture ease. The multihole collimator is capable of maintaining accurate scatter‐rejection to high levels of opacity with scatter‐based solutions (T < 0.015%). Imaging protocol investigations support the need for preirradiation and postirradiation scanning to reduce reflection‐based ring artefacts and to accommodate flask imperfections and gel inhomogeneities. Artefact removal techniques in sinogram space eliminate streaking artefacts and reduce ring artefacts of up to ∼40% in magnitude. The flask registration technique was shown to achieve submillimetre and subdegree placement accuracy. Dosimetry protocol investigations emphasize the need to allow gel dosimeters to cool gradually and to be scanned while at room temperature. Preliminary tests show that considerable noise reduction can be achieved with sinogram filtering and by binning image pixels into more clinically relevant grid sizes.Conclusions:This paper describes a new optical CT scanner for 3D radiation dosimetry. Tests demonstrate that it is capable of imaging both absorption‐based and scatter‐based samples of high opacities. Imaging protocol and gel dosimeter manufacture techniques have been adapted to produce optimal reconstruction results. These optimal results will require suitable filtering and binning techniques for noise reduction purposes.
A Novel Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase, SGM-1, from an Environmental Isolate of Sphingobium sp
Authors: Lamoureaux Toni L. , Vakulenko Viktoria , Toth Marta , Frase Hilary , Vakulenko Sergei B. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT

SGM-1 is a novel class A β-lactamase from an environmental isolate of
Sphingobium
sp. containing all of the distinct amino acid motifs of class A β-lactamases. It shares 77 to 80% amino acid sequence identity with putative β-lactamases that are present on the chromosome of all
Sphingobium
species whose genomes were sequenced and annotated. Thus, SGM-type β-lactamases are native to this genus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing classifies SGM-1 as an extended-spectrum β-lactamase, conferring the highest level of resistance to penicillins. Although SGM-1 contains the conserved cysteine residues characteristic of class A carbapenemases, it does not confer resistance to the carbapenem antibiotics imipenem, meropenem, or doripenem but does increase the MIC of ertapenem 8-fold. SGM-1 hydrolyzes penicillins and the monobactam aztreonam with similar catalytic efficiencies, ranging from 10
5
to 10
6
M
−1
s
−1
. The catalytic efficiencies of SGM-1 for cefoxitin and ceftazidime were the lowest (10
2
to 10
3
M
−1
s
−1
) among the cephalosporins tested, while the catalytic efficiencies against all other cephalosporins varied from about 10
5
to 10
6
M
−1
s
−1
. SGM-1 exhibited measurable but not significant activity toward the carbapenems tested. SGM-1 also showed high affinity for clavulanic acid, tazobactam, and sulbactam (

K
i

< 1 μM); however, only clavulanic acid significantly reduced the MICs of β-lactams.