bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An in vitro and in vivo validation of a novel monitor for intracuff pressure in cuffed endotracheal tubes
Authors: Ramesh Archana S. , Krishna Senthil G. , Denman William T. , Tobias Joseph D. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryBackgroundThe clinical practice of pediatric anesthesiology has changed with increasing use of cuffed endotracheal tubes (cETTs) in infants and children. To limit the risk of tracheal mucosal damage, regular monitoring of intracuff pressure (CP) is necessary. This study evaluates the efficacy and accuracy of a novel syringe device that provides a digital readout of the CP.MethodsThe study was conducted in two phases. In phase 1, an in vitro study, cETTs of sizes 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 mm ID were placed into polyvinylchloride tubing of appropriate sizes. The cuffs were then inflated, and the CP was measured simultaneously using the syringe device and a manometer. In phase 2, an in vivo study on 200 pediatric patients, the syringe device and the manometer were simultaneously attached to the pilot balloon to measure the CP following endotracheal intubation. Statistical analysis included linear regression analysis and Bland–Altman comparison.ResultsLinear regression analysis of the in vitro study demonstrated an R2 value of 0.9989. Bias and precision were −1.92 ± 0.62 with 95% level of agreement (LOA) ranging from −3.13 to −0.72. For the in vivo study, the linear regression analysis demonstrated an R2 value of 0.9943. The bias and precision were −0.53 ± 0.68 with 95% LOA ranging from −1.86 to 0.81.ConclusionThe study has demonstrated clinically acceptable correlation between the CPs obtained from the standard manometer and the syringe device both in vitro and in vivo. This device is a simple, reliable, portable, and affordable method to monitor CP.
UVB Irradiation Enhances TiO2 Nanoparticle‐induced Disruption of Calcium Homeostasis in Human Lens Epithelial Cells
Authors: Wu Qiuxin , Guo Dadong , Du Yuxiang , Liu Dongmei , Wang Daoguang , Bi Hongsheng 
Published: July 2014

AbstractCurrently, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been widely used in various applications including cosmetics, food additives and biomedicine. However, there are few reports available using TiO2 NPs to treat ocular diseases. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery, which is induced by the proliferation and migration of lens epithelial cells. Thus, inhibiting the proliferation of lens epithelial cells will efficiently reduce the occurrence of PCO. In this study, we investigated the effects of TiO2 NPs on HLE B‐3 cells with or without ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation in vitro. We found that TiO2 NPs can inhibit HLE B‐3 cell growth, cause the elevation of intracellular [Ca2+], produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), further reduce Ca2+‐ATPase activity and decrease the expression of plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1), finally disrupt the intracellular calcium homeostasis and induce cell damage. Importantly, UVB irradiation can apparently enhance these effects on HLE B‐3 cells in the presence of TiO2 NPs. Taken together, the generation of excessive ROS and the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis may be both involved in TiO2 nanoparticle‐induced HLE B‐3 cell damage under UVB irradiation.
Tranexamic acid suppresses ultraviolet B eye irradiation‐induced melanocyte activation by decreasing the levels of prohormone convertase 2 and alpha‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone
Authors: Hiramoto Keiichi , Yamate Yurika , Sugiyama Daijiro , Takahashi Yumi , Mafune Eiichi 
Published: July 2014

SummaryBackgroundTranexamic acid (trans‐4‐aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid) is a medicinal amino acid used in skin whitening care. This study examined the effects of tranexamic acid on the melanocyte activation of the skin induced by an ultraviolet (UV) B eye irradiation.MethodsThe eye or ear was locally exposed to UVB at a dose of 1.0 kJ/m2 using a 20SE sunlamp after covering the remaining body surface with aluminum foil.ResultsUVB eye irradiation induced melanocyte activation of the skin, similar to that observed following UVB ear irradiation, which was suppressed by the administration of tranexamic acid treatment. The plasma α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) content was increased by UVB irradiation of the eye; however, the increase in α‐MSH was suppressed by tranexamic acid treatment. In addition, UVB eye irradiation induced the up‐regulation of prohormone convertase (PC) 2 in the pituitary gland. Meanwhile, the increase in PC2 induced by UVB eye irradiation was suppressed by tranexamic acid treatment.ConclusionsThese results clearly indicate that tranexamic acid decreases the expression of PC2, which cleavages from proopiomelanocortin to α‐MSH in the pituitary gland, thereby suppressing melanocyte activation.
Assessing the impact of a school‐based latrine cleaning and handwashing program on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a cluster‐randomized trial
Authors: Caruso Bethany A. , Freeman Matthew C. , Garn Joshua V. , Dreibelbis Robert , Saboori Shadi , Muga Richard , Rheingans Richard 
Published: July 2014

AbstractObjectivesImproving school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions reduces pupil absence and illness. However, these benefits may depend on the conditions of the latrines and availability of consumables. We sought to determine whether a low‐cost, policy‐relevant, environmental‐level latrine cleaning intervention could improve latrine cleanliness, increase its use and reduce absenteeism.MethodsIn a three‐arm, cluster‐randomized trial we assessed absence via periodical roll‐call among 17 564 pupils in 60 schools that had previously received WASH improvements as part of the SWASH+ project. Latrine conditions and use were also assessed using structured observation. Latrine cleanliness increased significantly during the post‐intervention period among schools receiving the latrine cleaning package compared to controls, as did handwashing with soap. We found no difference in latrine use and absence across arms.ConclusionsThe additive impact of cleaning may not have been strong enough to impact absence above and beyond reductions attributable to the original WASH infrastructure improvements and basic hygiene education the schools previously received. Improving latrine conditions is important for the dignity and well‐being of pupils, and investments and strategies are necessary to ensure that school toilets are clean and pupil‐friendly.
Platelet recovery and survival measured in patients by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Doescher Andrea , Petershofen Eduard K. , Hertenstein Bernd , Kraemer Doris , Casper Jochen , Schmidt Jörg‐Peter , Müller Thomas H. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundMitochondrial (mt) DNA markers have been identified as potential targets for the quantification of endogenous and allogeneic platelets (PLTs) in the blood of individuals who received transfusions. Our goal was to develop a routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for ex vivo monitoring of PLT survival in patients after transfusion.Study Design and MethodsTargets were selected for real‐time (RT)‐PCR of mt DNA based on the frequency distribution of nucleotide polymorphisms and assay sensitivity in vitro. The assays were then evaluated with ex vivo samples to measure PLT survival and recovery of therapeutic doses of apheresis PLTs in hematooncologic patients with thrombocytopenia.ResultsNucleotides in two positions (73/310 hypervariable region [HVR] 2) and three positions (295 HVR 2, 16069/16311 HVR 1) had allele frequencies of approximately 0.5 and 0.85, respectively, in a population of 960 Caucasian PLT donors. They provided targets for sensitive assays detecting at least 1 × 103 PLTs per whole blood sample with adequate reproducibility (interassay coefficient of variation <4.0%). Transfusions of single‐donor PLT concentrates in patients with thrombocytopenia (n = 30) were monitored with these markers. The mean 24‐hour corrected count increment was 8.3 and the mean calculated survival time was 3.3 days. Results for a second marker were available for 13 transfusions. The survival time values derived from both markers for the same transfusion were almost identical (linear regression: r2 = 0.957, slope = 0.87).ConclusionThis RT‐PCR method detects mt DNA polymorphisms in Caucasians for a highly sensitive and reproducible quantification of endogenous and allogeneic PLT numbers in blood samples from transfused patients with thrombocytopenia.
A novel point mutation in the β1‐tubulin gene in asymptomatic macrothrombocytopenic Norfolk and Cairn Terriers
Authors: Gelain Maria Elena , Bertazzolo Walter , Tutino Giuseppina , Pogliani Elena , Cian Francesco , Boudreaux Mary K. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundAn asymptomatic macrothrombocytopenia, phenotypically similar to asymptomatic inherited macrothrombocytopenia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, was described in a group of Norfolk Terriers (NT) from Northern Italy, and isolated cases were also reported in Cairn Terriers (CT).ObjectivesThe purpose of this work was to evaluate for the presence of a genetic defect in the β1‐tubulin gene in macrothrombocytopenic NT and CT.MethodsSamples from 20 healthy dogs (13 NT and 7 CT) were collected at different institutions in Italy (n = 8), United Kingdom (n = 3), and United States (n = 9). Genomic DNA was harvested from EDTA‐anticoagulated blood and all coding areas and exon–intron splice sites in the gene encoding β1‐tubulin were amplified and sequenced.ResultsTwelve dogs (9 NT and 3 CT) showed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 1 at nucleotide position 5 (G5A) that would result in the change of an arginine to a histidine at amino acid position 2 (R2H). Four dogs (3 NT and one Cairn Terrier) were heterozygous for the SNP, and 4 dogs (one Norfolk Terrier and 3 CT) matched the normal canine genome. Homozygous dogs for the SNP were macrothrombocytopenic with platelet counts ranging from 19,000 to 110,000/μL. Heterozygous and normal dogs had normal platelet counts and morphology. None had the CKCS point mutation.ConclusionsThe β1‐tubulin N‐terminal amino acids form the nucleotide‐binding domain and thus this mutation could affect GTP binding enough to influence platelet formation in homozygous but not in heterozygous dogs. The presence of macrothrombocytopenia only in homozygous affected dogs reveals an association between the SNP and the phenotype.
Low‐dose three‐dimensional reconstruction of the femur with unit free‐form deformation
Authors: Zeng Xiangsen , Wang Chentao , Zhou Hai , Wei Shan , Chen Xiaojun 
Published: July 2014

Purpose:This paper describes a low‐dose method for reconstructing three‐dimensional models of femur, using a standard shape model (SSM) and two conventional x‐ray images.Methods:The x‐ray images were taken in two orthogonal directions. The x‐ray source and sensor configurations were documented. An optimized algorithm was employed to align the x‐ray image to the three‐dimensional model. A method of direct correspondence building is proposed for linking two‐dimensional images with three‐dimensional projections of a SSM. The reconstruction method proposed in this paper is based on a SSM, which was adapted for x‐ray images of individual bones. The adaption was executed by deforming the template bone shape until its silhouette boundary exactly matched the x‐ray image of the individual bone. A silhouette‐based unit free‐form deformation method was evaluated for its suitability in the adaption of the SSM for x‐ray images. Comprehensive experiments were designed and conducted for 35 specimens.Results:The validity of the low‐dose reconstruction method was demonstrated for the femur, with good results for accuracy (mean error of 1.1 mm, root‐mean‐square error of 2.1 mm), reproducibility (intraobservation coefficient of variation of 1.1%, interobservation coefficient of variation of 1.4%), and time consumption (mean of 5 min for a full femur).Conclusions:Once this approach has been validatedin vivo, it should be suited to multiple applications of routine clinical and research practices.
Computerized analysis of coronary artery disease: Performance evaluation of segmentation and tracking of coronary arteries in CT angiograms
Authors: Zhou Chuan , Chan Heang‐Ping , Chughtai Aamer , Kuriakose Jean , Agarwal Prachi , Kazerooni Ella A. , Hadjiiski Lubomir M. , Patel Smita , Wei Jun 
Published: July 2014

Purpose:The authors are developing a computer‐aided detection system to assist radiologists in analysis of coronary artery disease in coronary CT angiograms (cCTA). This study evaluated the accuracy of the authors’ coronary artery segmentation and tracking method which are the essential steps to define the search space for the detection of atherosclerotic plaques.Methods:The heart region in cCTA is segmented and the vascular structures are enhanced using the authors’ multiscale coronary artery response (MSCAR) method that performed 3D multiscale filtering and analysis of the eigenvalues of Hessian matrices. Starting from seed points at the origins of the left and right coronary arteries, a 3D rolling balloon region growing (RBG) method that adapts to the local vessel size segmented and tracked each of the coronary arteries and identifies the branches along the tracked vessels. The branches are queued and subsequently tracked until the queue is exhausted. With Institutional Review Board approval, 62 cCTA were collected retrospectively from the authors’ patient files. Three experienced cardiothoracic radiologists manually tracked and marked center points of the coronary arteries as reference standard following the 17‐segment model that includes clinically significant coronary arteries. Two radiologists visually examined the computer‐segmented vessels and marked the mistakenly tracked veins and noisy structures as false positives (FPs). For the 62 cases, the radiologists marked a total of 10191 center points on 865 visible coronary artery segments.Results:The computer‐segmented vessels overlapped with 83.6% (8520/10191) of the center points. Relative to the 865 radiologist‐marked segments, the sensitivity reached 91.9% (795/865) if a true positive is defined as a computer‐segmented vessel that overlapped with at least 10% of the reference center points marked on the segment. When the overlap threshold is increased to 50% and 100%, the sensitivities were 86.2% and 53.4%, respectively. For the 62 test cases, a total of 55 FPs were identified by radiologist in 23 of the cases.Conclusions:The authors’ MSCAR‐RBG method achieved high sensitivity for coronary artery segmentation and tracking. Studies are underway to further improve the accuracy for the arterial segments affected by motion artifacts, severe calcified and noncalcified soft plaques, and to reduce the false tracking of the veins and other noisy structures. Methods are also being developed to detect coronary artery disease along the tracked vessels.
Critical Analysis of Compositions and Protective Efficacies of Oral Killed Cholera Vaccines
Authors: Kabir Shahjahan 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTTwo cholera vaccines, sold as Shanchol and Dukoral, are currently available. This review presents a critical analysis of the protective efficacies of these vaccines. Children under 5 years of age are very vulnerable to cholera and account for the highest incidence of cholera cases and more than half of the resulting deaths. Both Shanchol and Dukoral are two-spaced-dose oral vaccines comprising large numbers of killed cholera bacteria. The former containsVibrio choleraeO1 and O139 cells, and the latter containsV. choleraeO1 cells with the recombinant B subunit of cholera toxin. In a field trial in Kolkata (India), Shanchol, the preferred vaccine, protected 45% of the test subjects in all of the age groups and only 17% of the children under 5 years of age during the first year of surveillance. In a field trial in Peru, two spaced doses of Dukoral offered negative protection in children under 5 years of age and little protection (15%) in vaccinees over 6 years of age during the first year of surveillance. Little is known about Dukoral's long-term protective efficacy. Both of these vaccines have questionable compositions, usingV. choleraeO1 strains isolated in 1947 that have been inactivated by heat and formalin treatments that may denature protein. Immunological studies revealed Dukoral's reduced and short-lived efficacy, as measured by several immunological endpoints. Various factors, such as the necessity for multiple doses, poor protection of children under 5 years of age, the requirement of a cold supply chain, production costs, and complex logistics of vaccine delivery, greatly reduce the suitability of either of these vaccines for endemic or epidemic cholera control in resource-poor settings.
Population Analysis of Streptococcus suis Isolates from Slaughtered Swine by Use of Minimum Core Genome Sequence Typing
Authors: Zheng Han , Ji Shaobo , Lan Ruiting , Liu Zhijie , Bai Xuemei , Zhang Wen , Gottschalk Marcelo , Xu Jianguo 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTStreptococcus suis, an important zoonotic pathogen, is a highly diverse species with only a subset of strains that cause disease in humans. Our previous study proposed a minimum core genome (MCG) sequence typing method and defined seven MCG groups, with MCG group 1 as the prevalent group causing human infections. In this study, we identified a set of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed in six genes that were used to identify the seven MCG groups. The 10 SNPs were typed for 179S. suisisolates collected from slaughtered pigs. The most prevalent groups among the tested isolates were MCG groups 6 and 7. Most of the isolates (147/179) were genotyped asmrpnegative,epfnegative,slynegative, and CDS2157 positive. The 179 isolates were also typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and divided into 115 sequence types (STs), 111 of which were new. The 6 serotypes (29, 11, 5, 12, 30, and 2) represented 72.3% of the serotyped isolates. Our data show that the typing assay facilitates the application of genome data to the surveillance ofS. suis.
Lumbar Discitis Caused by Clostridium perfringens
Authors: Lotte Romain , Popoff M. R. , Degand Nicolas , Lotte Laurene , Bouvet Philippe , Baudin Guillaume , Cua Eric , Roger Pierre-Marie , Ruimy Raymond 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACT

We report here a rare case of chronic lumbar discitis caused by
Clostridium perfringens
in an elderly patient that was treated with a combination of β-lactams and clindamycin. Molecular analysis performed on the strain revealed an unusual toxin gene pattern.
Comparison of Amplicor and GeneXpert MTB/RIF Tests for Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis
Authors: Patel Vinod B. , Connolly Cathy , Singh Ravesh , Lenders Laura , Matinyenya Brian , Theron Grant , Ndung'u Thumbi , Dheda Keertan 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACT
There are no data about the comparative accuracy of commercially available nucleic acid amplification tests (GeneXpert MTB/RIF and Roche Amplicor) for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). A total of 148 patients with suspected TBM were evaluated, and cultures served as the reference standard. The sensitivities and specificities (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the Amplicor and Xpert MTB/RIF tests were similar: 46 (31–60) versus 50 (33–67) and 99 (93–100) and 94 (84–99), respectively.
Detection of Respiratory Viruses in Sputum from Adults by Use of Automated Multiplex PCR
Authors: Branche Angela R. , Walsh Edward E. , Formica Maria A. , Falsey Ann R. 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACT

Respiratory tract infections (RTI) frequently cause hospital admissions among adults. Diagnostic viral reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) of nose and throat swabs (NTS) is useful for patient care by informing antiviral use and appropriate isolation. However, automated RT-PCR systems are not amenable to utilizing sputum due to its viscosity. We evaluated a simple method of processing sputum samples in a fully automated respiratory viral panel RT-PCR assay (FilmArray). Archived sputum and NTS samples collected in 2008-2012 from hospitalized adults with RTI were evaluated. A subset of sputum samples positive for 10 common viruses by a uniplex RT-PCR was selected. A sterile cotton-tip swab was dunked in sputum, swirled in 700 μL of sterile water (dunk and swirl method) and tested by the FilmArray assay. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed on “dunked” sputum and NTS samples for influenza A (Flu A), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus OC43 (OC43), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Viruses were identified in 31% of 965 illnesses using a uniplex RT-PCR. The sputum sample was the only sample positive for 105 subjects, including 35% (22/64) of influenza cases and significantly increased the diagnostic yield of NTS alone (302/965 [31%] versus 197/965 [20%];
P
= 0.0001). Of 108 sputum samples evaluated by the FilmArray assay using the dunk and swirl method, 99 (92%) were positive. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed higher mean viral loads in dunked sputum samples compared to NTS samples for Flu A, RSV, and HMPV (
P
= 0.0001,
P
= 0.006, and
P
= 0.011, respectively). The dunk and swirl method is a simple and practical method for reliably processing sputum samples in a fully automated PCR system. The higher viral loads in sputa may increase detection over NTS testing alone.
Inducible Gene Expression in Tumors Colonized by Modified Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Strains
Authors: Stritzker Jochen , Huppertz Sascha , Zhang Qian , Geissinger Ulrike , Härtl Barbara , Gentschev Ivaylo , Szalay Aladar A. 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACT

Exogenous gene induction of therapeutic, diagnostic, and safety mechanisms could be a considerable improvement in oncolytic virotherapy. Here, we introduced a doxycycline-inducible promoter system (comprised of a tetracycline repressor, several promoter constructs, and a
tet
operator sequence) into oncolytic recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVACV), which were further characterized in detail. Experiments in cell cultures as well as in tumor-bearing mice were analyzed to determine the role of the inducible-system components. To accomplish this, we took advantage of the optical reporter construct, which resulted in the production of click-beetle luciferase as well as a red fluorescent protein. The results indicated that each of the system components could be used to optimize the induction rates and had an influence on the background expression levels. Depending on the given gene to be induced in rVACV-colonized tumors of patients, we discuss the doxycycline-inducible promoter system adjustment and further optimization.

IMPORTANCE
Oncolytic virotherapy of cancer can greatly benefit from the expression of heterologous genes. It is reasonable that some of those heterologous gene products could have detrimental effects either on the cancer patient or on the oncolytic virus itself if they are expressed at the wrong time or if the expression levels are too high. Therefore, exogenous control of gene expression levels by administration of a nontoxic inducer will have positive effects on the safety as well as the therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy. In addition, it paves the way for the introduction of new therapeutic genes into the genome of oncolytic viruses that could not have been tested otherwise.