bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hostility, Health Behaviors, and Risk of Recurrent Events in Patients With Stable Coronary Heart Disease: Findings From the Heart and Soul Study
Authors: Wong Jonathan M. , Na Beeya , Regan Mathilda C. , Whooley Mary A. 
Published: October 2013

Background

Hostility is a significant predictor of mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease (
CHD
), but the mechanisms that explain this association are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential mechanisms of association between hostility and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods and Results

We prospectively examined the association between self‐reported hostility and secondary events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and death) in 1022 outpatients with stable
CHD
from the Heart and Soul Study. Baseline hostility was assessed using the 8‐item Cynical Distrust scale. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the extent to which candidate biological and behavioral mediators changed the strength of association between hostility and secondary events. During an average follow‐up time of 7.4±2.7 years, the age‐adjusted annual rate of secondary events was 9.5% among subjects in the highest quartile of hostility and 5.7% among subjects in the lowest quartile (age‐adjusted hazard ratio [
HR
]: 1.68, 95% confidence interval [
CI
]: 1.30 to 2.17;
P
<0.0001). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, participants with hostility scores in the highest quartile had a 58% greater risk of secondary events than those in the lowest quartile (
HR
: 1.58, 95%
CI
: 1.19 to 2.09;
P
=0.001). This association was mildly attenuated after adjustment for C‐reactive protein (
HR
: 1.41, 95%
CI
, 1.06 to 1.87;
P
=0.02) and no longer significant after further adjustment for smoking and physical inactivity (
HR
: 1.25, 95%
CI
: 0.94 to 1.67;
P
=0.13).

Conclusions

Hostility was a significant predictor of secondary events in this sample of outpatients with baseline stable
CHD
. Much of this association was moderated by poor health behaviors, specifically physical inactivity and smoking.
Conditional Knockout of Myocyte Focal Adhesion Kinase Abrogates Ischemic Preconditioning in Adult Murine Hearts
Authors: Perricone Adam J. , Bivona Benjamin J. , Jackson Fannie R. , Vander Heide Richard S. 
Published: October 2013

Background

Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the importance of a cytoskeletal‐based survival signaling pathway using in vitro models of ischemia/reperfusion (
IR
). However, the importance of this pathway in mediating stress‐elicited survival signaling in vivo is unknown.

Methods and Results

The essential cytoskeletal signaling pathway member focal adhesion kinase (
FAK
) was selectively deleted in adult cardiac myocytes using a tamoxifen‐inducible Cre‐Lox system (α‐
MHC
‐MerCreMer). Polymerase chain reaction (
PCR
) and
W
estern blot were performed to confirm
FAK
knockout (
KO
). All mice were subjected to a 40‐minute coronary occlusion followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning (
IP
) was performed using a standard protocol. Control groups included wild‐type (
WT
) and tamoxifen‐treated α‐
MHC
‐MerCreMer
+/−
/FAK
WT/WT
(experimental control) mice. Infarct size was expressed as a percentage of the risk region. In
WT
mice
IP
significantly enhanced the expression of activated/phosphorylated
FAK
by 36.3% compared to
WT
mice subjected to a sham experimental protocol (
P
≤0.05; n=6 hearts [sham], n=4 hearts [
IP
]).
IP
significantly reduced infarct size in both
WT
and experimental control mice (43.7% versus 19.8%;
P
≤0.001; 44.7% versus 17.5%;
P
≤0.001, respectively). No difference in infarct size was observed between preconditioned
FAK KO
and nonpreconditioned controls (37.1% versus 43.7% versus 44.7%;
FAK KO
versus
WT
versus experimental control;
P
=
NS
).
IP
elicited a 67.2%/88.8% increase in activated phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (
PI
3K) p85/activated Akt expression in
WT
mice, but failed to enhance the expression of either in preconditioned
FAK KO
mice.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that
FAK
is an essential mediator of
IP
‐elicited cardioprotection and provide further support for the hypothesis that cytoskeletal‐based signaling is an important component of stress‐elicited survival signaling.
Antioxidative system in the erythrocytes of preterm neonates with sepsis: the effects of vitamin E supplementation
Authors: Bajčetić Milica , Otašević Biljana , Prekajski Niveska Božinović , Spasić Snežana , Spasojević Ivan 
Published: October 2013

Background Vitamin E is routinely supplemented to preterm babies, including those with neonatal sepsis. Our aim was to examine the effects of neonatal sepsis and vitamin E on antioxidative system (AOS) in the blood. Methods A prospective, randomized, open label study involved 65 preterm neonates (control/sepsis – 34/31), which were divided into two subgroups – non-supplemented and supplemented with vitamin E (25 IU/day for 60 days). The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined in erythrocytes at days 0, 30, and 60, following sepsis diagnosis. Results There was no difference in the activity of AOS between controls and neonates with ongoing sepsis. At 60 days, septic neonates showed higher CAT activity compared to controls ( P = 0.027), and lower GPx activity compared to 0 days ( P = 0.022). The later was mitigated by vitamin E, which on the other hand provoked lower GPx activity at 30 days, compared to untreated septic neonates ( P = 0.014). In addition, vitamin E suppressed GR activity in septic neonates ( P = 0.025 and P = 0.017 at 30 and 60 days). Finally, vitamin E supplementation in control neonates provoked a significant increase of GPx activity ( P = 0.015 at 60 days). Conclusions The absence of altered redox settings in the blood of neonates during sepsis episode, and vitamin E-provoked decrease in the activity of some components of AOS, suggest that the supplementation of vitamin E in these patients might not be rational.
Removal of the gadolinium interference from the measurement of selenium in human serum by use of collision cell quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS)
Authors: Harrington Chris F , Walter Alan , Nelms Simon , Taylor Andrew 
Published: October 2013

Background Measurement of selenium in serum is an important clinical biomarker of nutritional status. The presence of gadolinium (Gd) in samples following administration of the contrast agents used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in a significant positive bias when using quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). Methods Three instrumental set-ups were assessed: standard mode with no collision gas and collision cell mode with either a hydrogen:helium mixture or hydrogen. The effect of Gd on the selenium (Se) signal was assessed using external quality assurance (EQA) specimens and internal quality control (IQC) materials, both unspiked and spiked with Gd. Serum previously shown to contain high concentrations of Gd-containing contrast agents were also analysed. Results Recoveries of Se in the spiked compared to the unspiked samples were: between 500% and 1300% using standard mode; 100% and 29,000% using collision cell mode with hydrogen:helium mixture; and between 99% and 103% using hydrogen. The use of H2 in the collision cell provided accurate results, indicating that the charge exchange reaction (CER) of Gd2+ with H2 removes this interference. Analysis of patient serum known to contain the Gd contrast agent using the method gave results within the selenium reference range (adults 0.89–1.65  µmol/L). The presence of Gd, as low as 0.2 mg/L, in serum samples causes a positive interference on the measurement of Se by ICP-MS. Conclusions Using a CER mode with pure H2 in the collision cell it was possible to fully remove the interference due to Gd2+ from the signal for Se.
Cascade testing of primary care blood samples with hyperferritinaemia identifies subjects with iron overload and porphyria cutanea tarda
Authors: Baddams Emma L , Degg Tim , Barth Julian H 
Published: October 2013

Introduction Serum ferritin is routinely used as a first line test for iron status. Testing subjects with low pre-test probability often results in unexpected abnormal results. Raised ferritin is typically found in subjects with iron overload, liver disease, malignancy or inflammation. We sought to determine whether primary care patients with high ferritin had either porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) or hereditary haemochromatosis (HH). Methods Redundant serum samples were collected from consecutive specimens with high ferritin (>500 µg/L) which had been received from primary care sources. Samples were analysed for serum iron and iron-binding capacity and for porphyrins by fluorescence scanning and HPLC. Results There were 240 samples (91 females, 149 males) which represented 2.7% of total over the collection period. Serum iron was 17.3 (18.9) µmol/L (median (IQR)), TIBC 47.3 (14.2) µmol/L and transferrin saturation 35.7 (41.1) %. There were 87/240 (36%) with transferrin saturation >45% (57 males, 30 females). Of the samples 19/236 (8%) were positive for porphyrins by spectrofluorimetry and 14/15 (4 insufficient sample) had total porphyrins >11.2 nmol/L (40(63) median (IQR)) with 3/15 (1.25%) having a typical pattern for PCT. Discussion This study demonstrates the feasibility of cascading tests using laboratory protocols and confirms the ability to identify potential cases. However, further studies for HH genotype and urine and stool porphyrin analysis will be necessary to confirm the diagnoses.
Heavy metals content, phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and insecticidal evaluation of Elaeagnus angustifolia
Authors: Khan Shahid Ullah , Khan Arif-ullah , Shah Azhar-ul-Haq Ali , Shah Syed Majid , Hussain Sajid , Ayaz Mohammad , Ayaz Sultan 
Published: October 2013

Elaeagnus angustifolia was analyzed for determination of metals, phytoconstituents, bactericidal, fungicidal and insecticidal effects and to explore its chemical and biological potential. The root, branches, leaves, stem bark and root bark parts of E. angustifolia were found to contain iron, lead, copper, cadmium, zinc, chromium, nickel and cobalt in different concentrations. Crude extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia (Ea.Cr) was tested positive for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. Ea.Cr and its fractions, n-hexane (Ea.Hex), ethyl acetate (Ea.EtAc) and aqueous (Ea.Aq) showed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while against Pseudomonas aeruginosa only Ea.Hex and Ea.EtAc were effective. When tested for antifungal effect, Ea.Cr exhibited fungicidal action against Aspergillus fumagatus, Ea.EtAc and Ea.Aq against Aspergillus flavis and Ea.EtAc against Aspergillus niger. Ea.Hex was active against all three fungal strains. The chloroform fraction (Ea.CHCl3) was found inactive against the used microbes. Ea.Cr, Ea.Hex, Ea.CHCl3, Ea.EtAc and Ea.Aq caused mortality of Tribolium castaneum and Ephestia cautella insects observed after 24 and 48 h of treatment. These data indicate that E. angustifolia exhibits different heavy metals and compound groups. Methanolic extract of E. angustifolia and its various fractions possess antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal activities, which elucidate medicinal application of the plant.
Protective effect of ascorbic acid and Ginkgo biloba against learning and memory deficits caused by fluoride
Authors: Jetti Raghu , Raghuveer CV , Mallikarjuna Rao C 
Published: October 2013

Fluoride is present in the ground water, World Health Organization permitted level of fluoride in the ground water is 0.5 ppm. Tooth pastes, mouth washes, tea and sea fish are the sources of fluoride. Exposure to these multiple sources results in several adverse effects in addition to the fluorosis. The present study aimed to test the effect of vitamin C and Ginkgo biloba against the behavioural deficits caused by fluoride. Rats were divided into five groups with six animals in each group ( n = 6). Control group received ordinary tap water with 0.5 ppm of fluoride, the remaining groups received 100 ppm of fluoride for 30 days prior to fluoride exposure. Two groups of animals received 100 mg/kg body weight of vitamin C and G. biloba for 15 days prior to fluoride exposure. After 45 days, behavioural studies (T-Maze, passive avoidance) were conducted on the experimental animals. The results of the present study showed no behavioural deficits in the control group of animals however, the rats that received fluoride water exhibited impairment in their spatial learning and memory deficits. The deficits are not marked in the vitamin C and G. biloba groups. To conclude chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride causes severe impairment in the spatial learning and memory, these deficits can be ameliorated with the vitamin C and G. biloba.
Ameliorating effect of pomegranate juice consumption on carbon tetrachloride-induced sperm damages, lipid peroxidation, and testicular apoptosis
Authors: Türk Gaffari , Çeribaşı Songül , Sönmez Mustafa , Çiftçi Mehmet , Yüce Abdurrauf , Güvenç Mehmet , Kaya Şeyma Özer , Çay Mehmet , Aksakal Mesut 
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate whether pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption has an ameliorating effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages and testicular apoptosis associated with the oxidative stress in male rats. The study comprised of four groups (groups 1–4). Group 1 received olive oil + distilled water daily; group 2 was treated with 5 ml/kg PJ + olive oil daily; group 3 was treated with 0.25 ml/kg CCl4 dissolved in olive oil, weekly + distilled water daily; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily PJ. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular catalase activity, significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages when compared with the control group. However, significant ameliorations were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, MDA level, apoptotic index, and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with PJ when compared with group given CCl4 only. In conclusion, PJ consumption ameliorates the CCl4-induced damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the lipid peroxidation.
Insights about health-related quality of life in cancer patients indicate demands for better pharmaceutical care
Authors: Ibrahim Nagwa A , Björnsdottir Ingunn , Al Alwan Ashraf S , Honore Per Hartvig 
Published: October 2013

Objectives To highlight the health-related quality of life scale scores for Saudi patients with different types of cancer, to get understanding and foundation for improvements. To suggest suitable plans for quality of life improvement based on study outcome. The role of oncology pharmacy will be stressed. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary regional hospital using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Attendees were patients diagnosed with any type of cancer and eligible for active anticancer treatment and/or palliative care. Results Quality of life was evaluated for 87 participants. Most of patients were aged between 51 and 60 years; and 50% had active treatment with chemotherapy. Patients seemed to perform well with respect to average scores in both the symptoms and the functional health status scales. The mean score for the global quality of life scale was 47.2 ± 27.1, while the range of mean scores for the five function subscales was 59.0 ± 27.1 to 81.6 ± 13.8, indicating average level of general wellbeing with above average to high level of functional health status, while >50% of the patients met the operational criterion having less severe symptoms. Outpatients generally had somewhat higher scores as compared to hospitalized patients. Conclusion The general quality of life seemed satisfactory, but there is still need to improve care. Based on results from other studies, oncology pharmacists’ roles are essential to improve quality of life through treatment counseling, follow-up on drug support therapy, stress on patient’s education through specific programs, review and update the local guidelines, and conduct more research.
Ergonomics Practice in Nigeria Today
Authors: Adaramola S.S 
Published: October 2013

There is a growing need in Nigeria to develop ergonomics in all sectors of the economy. This led to the inauguration of Ergonomics Society of Nigeria (ESN) on the 14th of Sept, 2006, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The Range of activities undertaken by ESN as at now is not broad coupled with the fact that the society compared with other professional bodies in Nigeria has relatively small number of members. However it is noteworthy that ESN plays a central role in publicizing and promoting ergonomics in the country. In addition: ESN has joined International Ergonomics Association (IEA) as an affiliate society in the third quarter of 2008. As ESN ergonomics activities spread into many areas, it is expected that there will be increase in exchange of information about its activities and about the ways they can address the particular ergonomics related issues found in Nigeria. Promoting Facilitator roles of ergonomists are increasingly important in responding to growing local needs. As a facilitator for ergonomic action, mobilizing local experience and achievements, development of local research and risk-assessment capacities and production and application of participatory ergonomic training programmes are of particular importance. These requirements will be fulfilled by carefully looking at the life and work of the local people in their own socio-cultural conditions. Ergonomics research and training attempts should be reviewed and examined from the viewpoints of facilitating sustainable action and improvement under local initiative. “Learning from each other” is an important message conveyed by recent progress of ergonomics in Nigeria. Many ergonomic improvements carried out by local non-expert people at low-cost encouraging examples. These vital experiences are largely applicable to improving working conditions in industrially developing country like Nigeria. International cooperation in the field of ergonomics will facilitate and increases further local action when focusing on exchanging experiences and supporting local initiative.
Vibro-tactile seat interface as a cueing device for different types of information
Authors: Thomas Lisa C , Mize Anthony 
Published: October 2013

The objectives of the study were to 1) evaluate how well people can discriminate six different tactors embedded in a full seat pad using different cue intensity levels, and 2) investigate the appropriateness of different levels of tactile cue intensity to information types. Participants’ ability to discriminate tactors, as measured by accuracy (90%) and response time (2.0 seconds), was not affected by intensity level. However, the location of the tactor affected accuracy; discrimination between the two back tactors was more problematic than discrimination between the four tactors in the seat pan or between any seat and any back tactor. As expected, participants perceived lower intensity cues to be appropriate for general information and higher intensity cues to be appropriate for emergency information. It is proposed that tactile feedback could be used within the context of a commercial flight deck to provide a limited set of information. From these initial results, we provide guidance on the application of seat-based tactile cues.
A Bayesian adaptive Phase I–II clinical trial for evaluating efficacy and toxicity with delayed outcomes
Authors: Koopmeiners Joseph S , Modiano Jaime 
Published: October 2013

Background In traditional Phase-I oncology trials, the safety of a new chemotherapeutic agent is tested in a dose escalation study to identify the maximum tolerated dose, which is defined as the highest dose with acceptable toxicity. An alternate approach is to jointly model toxicity and efficacy and allow dose finding to be directed by a prespecified trade-off between efficacy and toxicity. With this goal in mind, several designs have been proposed to jointly model toxicity and efficacy in a Phase I–II dose escalation study. A factor limiting the use of these designs is that toxicity and efficacy must be observed in a timely manner. Purpose One approach to overcoming this problem is to model toxicity and efficacy as time-to-event outcomes. This would allow new subjects to be enrolled before full information is available for previous subjects while incorporating partial information when adaptively assigning new subjects to a dose level. Methods We propose a Phase I–II dose escalation study for evaluating toxicity and efficacy with delayed outcomes by jointly modeling toxicity and efficacy as time-to-event outcomes. We apply our proposed design to a Phase I–II clinical trial of a novel targeted toxin for canine hemangiosarcoma. Results Our simulation results show that our design identifies the optimal dose at a similar rate to dose finding that treats toxicity and efficacy as binary outcomes, but with substantial savings in study duration. Limitations Our proposed design has acceptable operating characteristics and dramatically reduces the trial duration compared to a design that considers toxicity and efficacy as binary outcomes, but comes at the cost of enrolling additional subjects when all dose levels are unacceptable. Conclusions We developed a novel Phase I–II design that accounts for delayed outcomes by modeling toxicity and efficacy as time-to-event outcomes. Our design has similar operating characteristics to efficacy/toxicity trade-off designs that consider efficacy and toxicity as binary outcomes, but with a dramatically shorter study duration.
Elevated CXCL1 expression in gp130-deficient endothelial cells impairs neutrophil migration in mice
Authors: Yao Longbiao , Yago Tadayuki , Shao Bojing , Liu Zhenghui , Silasi-Mansat Robert , Setiadi Hendra , Lupu Florea , McEver Rodger P. 
Published: October 2013

Key Points
Elevated CXCL1 expression on gp130-deficient endothelial cells triggers neutrophil arrest but impairs transendothelial migration. Loss of endothelial cell gp130 dysregulates integrin-dependent adhesion and de-adhesion of neutrophils during inflammation.
Cell-intrinsic regulation of murine dendritic cell function and survival by prereceptor amplification of glucocorticoid
Authors: Soulier Annelise , Blois Sandra M. , Sivakumaran Shivajanani , Fallah-Arani Farnaz , Henderson Stephen , Flutter Barry , Rabbitt Elizabeth H. , Stewart Paul M. , Lavery Gareth G. , Bennett Clare , Curnow S. John , Chakraverty Ronjon 
Published: October 2013

Key PointsMurine dendritic cell populations are highly proficient in amplifying local glucocorticoid concentrations. This property is critical in regulating dendritic cell survival and functions in vivo.