bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of flow rate and temperature on transmembrane blood pressure drop in an extracorporeal artificial lung
Authors: Park M , Costa ELV , Maciel AT , Barbosa EVS , Hirota AS , Schettino GdeP , Azevedo LCP 
Published: March 2014

Introduction: Transmembrane pressure drop reflects the resistance of an artificial lung system to blood transit. Decreased resistance (low transmembrane pressure drop) enhances blood flow through the oxygenator, thereby, enhancing gas exchange efficiency. This study is part of a previous one where we observed the behaviour and the modulation of blood pressure drop during the passage of blood through artificial lung membranes. Methods: Before and after the induction of multi-organ dysfunction, the animals were instrumented and analysed for venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, using a pre-defined sequence of blood flows. Results: Blood flow and revolutions per minute (RPM) of the centrifugal pump varied in a linear fashion. At a blood flow of 5.5 L/min, pre- and post-pump blood pressures reached -120 and 450 mmHg, respectively. Transmembrane pressures showed a significant spread, particularly at blood flows above 2 L/min; over the entire range of blood flow rates, there was a positive association of pressure drop with blood flow (0.005 mmHg/mL/minute of blood flow ) and a negative association of pressure drop with temperature (-4.828 mmHg/oCelsius). These associations were similar when blood flows of below and above 2000 mL/minute were examined. Conclusions: During its passage through the extracorporeal system, blood is exposed to pressure variations from -120 to 450 mmHg. At high blood flows (above 2 L/min), the drop in transmembrane pressure becomes unpredictable and highly variable. Over the entire range of blood flows investigated (0 – 5500 mL/min), the drop in transmembrane pressure was positively associated with blood flow and negatively associated with body temperature.
Absolutely stable model-based 2-port force controller for telerobotic applications
Authors: Hart J. Scot , Niemeyer Günter 
Published: March 2014

Large industrial-like slave robots pose a challenging problem for telerobotic control designers focused on achieving good transparency. The human operator typically feels both the large friction forces and heavy inertial forces inherent to these robots. Force control can be used to attempt and hide these internal forces from the user, but force control is a challenging design problem, especially in situations like telerobotics where it is not clear what the environmental impedance will be at any given moment. This paper introduces a model-based force controller designed to reject the friction in slave robots to improve the overall transparency of the telerobotic system. The primary objective of the force controller is to ensure the closed loop slave 2-port is absolutely stable such that the controller maintains the robustness of the overall telerobot. An analysis is provided that shows that, in order to achieve absolute stability, a local slave-side force controller cannot hide any of the robot’s inertial forces. It is from this result that model-based force control gets its name as it uses a model of the robot’s inertial properties to reject friction forces without attempting to reject inertial forces.
Psychological reactivity to laboratory stress is associated with hormonal responses in postmenopausal women
Authors: Fang Carolyn Y , Egleston Brian L , Manzur Angelica M , Townsend Raymond R , Stanczyk Frank Z , Spiegel David , Dorgan Joanne F 
Published: March 2014

Objective The present study examined associations between psychological reactivity and hormonal responses to a standardized laboratory stressor (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) in postmenopausal women. Methods Postmenopausal women aged 50–74 years undertook anxiety and mood assessments prior to and following the TSST. Blood samples were drawn at multiple timepoints for assessment of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Results Forty postmenopausal women completed the assessments. As expected, significant increases in anxiety and negative affect and decreases in positive affect were observed after the TSST; however, the magnitude of change in anxiety and mood varied considerably across individuals. Analyses indicated that greater increases in anxiety and negative affect after the TSST were associated with higher levels of cortisol, ACTH and DHEA after controlling for race, age, body mass index and smoking status. Changes in positive affect were not associated with cortisol, ACTH or DHEA. Conclusions These findings suggest that enhanced reactivity to stress is associated with higher hormone levels among postmenopausal women, which could have potential implications for health.
Altered activation in visual cortex: Unusual functional magnetic resonance imaging finding in early Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhao Yilei , Zheng Xuning , Wang Qidong , Xu Jingfeng , Xu Xiaojun , Zhang Minming 
Published: March 2014

Objective Movement dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is well documented but its cause remains unclear. This study examined whether motor symptoms are caused by sensory impairment, executive dysfunction or other factors. Methods We examined the integration of tactile and motor programmes using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in early stage PD patients compared with neurologically normal controls, to investigate neural mechanisms underlying movement dysfunction. Results Twenty-two control participants exhibited activation in an extensive network of cortical regions involved in tactile–motor integration. Decreased activation in somatosensory and motor regions during performance of passive tactile and movement tasks was found in 21 PD patients. The extrastriate visual cortex exhibited greater activation in controls during performance of the tasks. In contrast, greater activation in bilateral prefrontal regions was found in PD patients. Conclusions These results indicate that the extrastriate visual cortex is a multisensory region playing an important role in sensorimotor integration. The findings suggest that PD patients exhibit decreased activation in the extrastriate visual cortex, possibly related to dysfunctional integrative processing, and compensatory activity in the prefrontal cortex.
Absence of association between atherosclerotic cerebral infarction and TNFSF4/TNFRSF4 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs1234313, rs1234314 and rs17568 in a Chinese population
Authors: Huang Qing , Yang Qi-Dong , Tan Xing-Lin , Feng Jie , Tang Tao , Xia Jian , Zhang Le , Huang Li , Bai Yong-Ping , Liu Yun-Hai 
Published: March 2014

Objective To clarify the association between atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI) and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1234313 and rs1234314 (in TNFSF4) and rs17568 (in TNFRSF4). Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of patients with ACI and healthy control subjects. The presence of carotid plaque was determined. Rs1234313, rs1234314 and rs17568 were characterized via SNP genotyping assay and verified by DNA sequencing. Results Genotype distributions were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. There were no significant differences in the allele and genotype distributions of rs1234313, rs1234314 and rs17568 between patients with ACI ( n = 450) and healthy control subjects ( n = 378), or between patients with ACI and carotid plaque ( n = 342) and controls. Conclusions There were no significant associations between rs1234313, rs1234314 and rs17568 and ACI risk in a Han Chinese population.
Interaction of c-Myb with p300 is required for the induction of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by human AML oncogenes
Authors: Pattabiraman Diwakar R. , McGirr Crystal , Shakhbazov Konstantin , Barbier Valerie , Krishnan Keerthana , Mukhopadhyay Pamela , Hawthorne Paula , Trezise Ann , Ding Jianmin , Grimmond Sean M. , Papathanasiou Peter , Alexander Warren S. , Perkins Andrew C. , Levesque Jean-Pierre , Winkler Ingrid G. , Gonda Thomas J. 
Published: March 2014

Key Points
A mutation preventing interaction between c-Myb and p300 prevents transformation and leukemia induction by MLL-AF9 and AML1-ETO9a oncogenes. Identifying agents that block the c-Myb-p300 interaction may be a valuable approach to developing a therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.
Preclinical targeting of human acute myeloid leukemia and myeloablation using chimeric antigen receptor–modified T cells
Authors: Gill Saar , Tasian Sarah K. , Ruella Marco , Shestova Olga , Li Yong , Porter David L. , Carroll Martin , Danet-Desnoyers Gwenn , Scholler John , Grupp Stephan A. , June Carl H. , Kalos Michael 
Published: March 2014

Key Points
Targeting of CD123 via CAR-engineered T cells results in rejection of human AML and myeloablation in mouse models.
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in Ukraine: antibacterial resistance and virulence factor encoding genes
Authors: Netsvyetayeva Irina , Fraczek Mariusz , Piskorska Katarzyna , Golas Marlena , Sikora Magdalena , Mlynarczyk Andrzej , Swoboda-Kopec Ewa , Marusza Wojciech , Palmieri Beniamino , Iannitti Tommaso 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
The number of studies regarding the incidence of multidrug resistant strains and distribution of genes encoding virulence factors, which have colonized the post-Soviet states, is considerably limited. The aim of the study was (1) to assess the Staphylococcus (S.) aureus nasal carriage rate, including Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains in adult Ukrainian population, (2) to determine antibiotic resistant pattern and (3) the occurrence of Panton Valentine Leukocidine (PVL)-, Fibronectin-Binding Protein A (FnBPA)- and Exfoliative Toxin (ET)-encoding genes.

Methods
Nasal samples for S. aureus culture were obtained from 245 adults. The susceptibility pattern for several classes of antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines. The virulence factor encoding genes, mecA, lukS-lukF, eta, etb, etd, fnbA, were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Results
The S. aureus nasal carriage rate was 40%. The prevalence of nasal MRSA carriage in adults was 3.7%. LukS-lukF genes were detected in over 58% of the strains. ET-encoding genes were detected in over 39% of the strains and the most prevalent was etd. The fnbA gene was detected in over 59% of the strains. All MRSA isolates tested were positive for the mecA gene. LukS-lukF genes and the etd gene were commonly co-present in MRSA, while lukS-lukF genes and the fnbA gene were commonly co-present in Methicillin Sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates. No significant difference was detected between the occurrence of lukS-lukF genes (P > 0.05) and the etd gene (P > 0.05) when comparing MRSA and MSSA. The occurrence of the fnbA gene was significantly more frequent in MSSA strains (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
In Ukraine, S. aureus is a common cause of infection. The prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage in our cohort of patients from Ukraine was 40.4%. We found that 9.1% of the strains were classified as MRSA and all MRSA isolates tested positive for the mecA gene. We also observed a high prevalence of PVL- and ET- encoding genes among S. aureus nasal carriage strains. A systematic surveillance system can help prevent transmission and spread of drug resistant toxin producing S. aureus strains.
Tumor-stroma metabolic relationship based on lactate shuttle can sustain prostate cancer progression
Authors: Sanità Patrizia , Capulli Mattia , Teti Anna , Galatioto Giuseppe Paradiso , Vicentini Carlo , Chiarugi Paola , Bologna Mauro , Angelucci Adriano 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
Cancer cell adopts peculiar metabolic strategies aimed to sustain the continuous proliferation in an environment characterized by relevant fluctuations in oxygen and nutrient levels. Monocarboxylate transporters MCT1 and MCT4 can drive such adaptation permitting the transport across plasma membrane of different monocarboxylic acids involved in energy metabolism.

Methods
Role of MCTs in tumor-stroma metabolic relationship was investigated in vitro and in vivo using transformed prostate epithelial cells, carcinoma cell lines and normal fibroblasts. Moreover prostate tissues from carcinoma and benign hypertrophy cases were analyzed for individuating clinical-pathological implications of MCT1 and MCT4 expression.

Results
Transformed prostate epithelial (TPE) and prostate cancer (PCa) cells express both MCT1 and MCT4 and demonstrated variable dependence on aerobic glycolysis for maintaining their proliferative rate. In glucose-restriction the presence of L-lactate determined, after 24 h of treatment, in PCa cells the up-regulation of MCT1 and of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1), and reduced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase respect to untreated cells. The blockade of MCT1 function, performed by si RNA silencing, determined an appreciable antiproliferative effect when L-lactate was utilized as energetic fuel. Accordingly L-lactate released by high glycolytic human diploid fibroblasts WI-38 sustained survival and growth of TPE and PCa cells in low glucose culture medium. In parallel, the treatment with conditioned medium from PCa cells was sufficient to induce glycolytic metabolism in WI-38 cells, with upregulation of HIF-1a and MCT4. Co-injection of PCa cells with high glycolytic WI-38 fibroblasts determined an impressive increase in tumor growth rate in a xenograft model that was abrogated by MCT1 silencing in PCa cells. The possible interplay based on L-lactate shuttle between tumor and stroma was confirmed also in human PCa tissue where we observed a positive correlation between stromal MCT4 and tumor MCT1 expression.

Conclusions
Our data demonstrated that PCa progression may benefit of MCT1 expression in tumor cells and of MCT4 in tumor-associated stromal cells. Therefore, MCTs may result promising therapeutic targets in different phases of neoplastic transformation according to a strategy aimed to contrast the energy metabolic adaptation of PCa cells to stressful environments.
Robot-assisted arm training in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a pilot study
Authors: Picelli Alessandro , Tamburin Stefano , Passuello Michele , Waldner Andreas , Smania Nicola 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundDespite the growing diffusion of robotic devices in neurorehabilitation, no previous study investigated the effects of robotic training on arm impairment due to Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether robot-assisted arm training might improve upper limb function in patients with Parkinson’s disease.FindingsTen patients with Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn and Yahr stage 2.5-3) received ten, 45-minute, treatment sessions, five days a week, for two consecutive weeks. Robot-assisted arm training was performed with the Bi-Manu-Track (Reha-Stim, Berlin, Germany) that provides a computer-controlled, repetitive, bilateral, mirror-like practice of forearm pronation/supination and wrist extension/flexion. Patients were trained according to the following modalities: passive-passive (both arms moved by the machine) and active-active (both arms actively moving against resistance). The dominant upper limb was evaluated before and immediately after treatment as well as at two weeks of follow-up. Outcomes were the nine-hole peg test, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (upper limb section) and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. After treatment, a significant improvement was found in the nine-hole peg test (P = 0.007) as well as in the upper limb section of the Fugl-Meyer assessment (P = 0.012). Findings were confirmed at the 2-week follow-up evaluation only for the nine-hole peg test (P = 0.007). No significant improvement was found in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale at both post-treatment and follow-up evaluations.ConclusionsOur findings support the hypothesis that robot-assisted arm training might be a promising tool in order to improve upper limb function in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Problems and prospects of current studies on the microecology of tongue coating
Authors: Ye Juan , Cai Xueting , Cao Peng 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Tongue diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) assesses the health by investigation of tongue coating. The science and technology of tongue coating analysis have become a significant issue for modernization of TCM. The relationship between microecology of tongue coating and TCM was relevant to the syndrome differentiation in TCM, such as the cold/hot syndrome may exhibit different specific microbiota patterns in the tongue coating. This article provides a review on the microbiota research of tongue coating.
Epidemiology of bronchial asthma and asthma control assessment in Henan Province, China
Authors: Zhang Wenping , Chen Xianliang , Ma Lijun , Wu Jizhen , Zhao Limin , Kuang Hongyan , Huang Taibo , Cheng Jianjian , Zhang Luoxian , Qi Yong , Sun Beibei , Niu Hongyan 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
Prevalence of bronchial asthma, asthma treatment assessment, and estimation of the control level among asthma patients in Henan Province, China are reported in this paper.

Methods
We selected 10 among the 109 cities and districts in Henan province using a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. A total of 500 households from each city and district were chosen. Approximately 20,000 residents from a total of 5,000 households were randomly selected to answer a questionnaire recommended by the China Asthma Alliance. Asthma patients were asked to answer a detailed questionnaire using the symptom-based guidelines to assess the levels of disease control.

Results
The overall prevalence of asthma was 0.73% ± 0.12%. Urban and rural residents had asthma prevalence rates of 1.1% ± 0.23% (88/7,924) and 0.48% ± 0.12% (57/11,792), respectively. Among the asthma patients, only 33.8% (52) received regular medication, 25% (13) used oral glucocorticoids, and 71.1% (37) used oral theophylline. The classified control levels of patients were as follows: 33.1% controlled, 49.7% partially controlled, and 17.2% uncontrolled. A total of 38.5% and 27.5% of regularly and irregularly treated asthma patients reached controlled level, respectively. The two groups significantly differed in asthma control level.

Conclusion
Asthma prevalence is low in Henan Province, China. Urban residents have higher prevalence of asthma than rural residents do. Patients with asthma receive insufficient medication, resulting in suboptimal asthma control. Improvement in diagnosis and treatment of asthma patients is urgently needed.
Cigarette smoking and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Di Giuseppe Daniela , Discacciati Andrea , Orsini Nicola , Wolk Alicja 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Although previous studies found that cigarette smoking is associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the dose-response relationship remains unclear. This meta-analysis quantitatively summarizes accumulated evidence regarding the association of lifelong exposure to cigarette smoking assessed as pack-years with the risk of RA.

Methods
Relevant studies were identified by a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1966 to October 2013, with no restrictions. Reference lists from retrieved articles were also reviewed. Studies that reported relative risks (RR) or odds ratio (OR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between pack-years of cigarette smoking and rheumatoid arthritis were included in a dose-response random-effects meta-regression analysis.

Results
We included 3 prospective cohorts and 7 case-control studies in the meta-analysis. They included a total of 4,552 RA cases. There was no indication of heterogeneity (P
heterogeneity
= 0.32) and publication bias did not affect the results. Compared to never smokers, the risk of developing RA increased by 26% (RR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.39) among those who smoked 1 to 10 pack-years and doubled among those with more than 20 pack-years (RR for 21 to 30 pack years = 1.94, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.27). The risk of RA was not increasing further for higher exposure levels (RR for >40 pack-years = 2.07, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.73). The risk of RA was statistically significantly higher among rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive RA cases (RR = 2.47, 95% CI 2.02 to 3.02) compared to RF-negative (RR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.18) when comparing the highest versus lowest category of pack-years for the individual studies.

Conclusions
Lifelong cigarette smoking was positively associated with the risk of RA even among smokers with a low lifelong exposure. The risk of RA did not further increase with an exposure higher than 20 pack-years.
The Longevity Prospects of Australian Seniors: An Evaluation of Forecast Method and Outcome
Authors: Tickle Leonie , Booth Heather 
Published: March 2014

AbstractContinuing rapid changes in the level and pattern of mortality require that forecasts are available that are timely, relevant and reliable. This paper evaluates a previous forecast of the mortality and longevity of Australian seniors, both in terms of the validity of the chosen method – the Booth–Maindonald–Smith (BMS) variant of Lee–Carter – and the accuracy and reliability of the forecast itself. The validity of the method is assessed by a comprehensive review and evaluation of available methods, confirming BMS as the method of choice. The accuracy and reliability of the forecast is assessed by comparing it with actual experience and with a new forecast of period and cohort survival probabilities and life expectancies. The evaluation and the current forecast itself will inform the actuarial profession and wider industry in the areas of mortality and longevity risk as well as public debate and policy in population health and ageing.
Liver enzyme abnormalities during antipsychotic treatment: a case report of risperidone-associated hepatotoxicity
Authors: López-Torres Enrique , Süveges Ágnes , Peñas-LLedó Eva M. , Doña Alvaro , Dorado Pedro , LLerena Adrián , Berecz Roland 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background: Drug-induced liver enzyme abnormalities may indicate hepatic injury. Antipsychotic drugs also may cause increase in the liver enzymes and serum bilirubin levels. The present report evaluates the case of a patient with risperidone-associated hepatocellular damage.

Case summary: A 19-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to the Department of Psychiatry with paranoid schizophrenia and risperidone was administered in a gradually increasing dose up to 8 mg/day. After 3 weeks of treatment, he experienced asthenia and weight loss. The level of aspartate aminotransferase was 283 IU/L (normal: <30 IU/L), and the alanine aminotransferase level was 778 IU/L (normal: <36 IU/L). Treatment with risperidone was immediately discontinued. Six days after drug withdrawal, the alanine aminotransferase level fell more than 50%, and a complete return to normalcy was seen within 2 months.

Results: In the present case, a possible causal association between risperidone and hepatocellular damage has been observed due to the temporal relationship between the administration of the drug and the onset of hepatic abnormalities, and a following rapid recovery after stopping the drug. As the hepatic damage could be related to the plasma concentration of risperidone which is highly influenced by the hepatic enzyme CYP2D6, the patient was genotyped for CYP2D6. He was classified as homozygous wild type for CYP2D6.

Conclusions: The risk for developing hepatotoxicity during risperidone therapy cannot be supported by the patient CYP2D6 genotype. In clinical practice, it may be recommended to obtain baseline liver function tests before starting risperidone and regular screening for liver enzyme changes during therapy.