bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estrogen administered after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation ameliorates acute kidney injury in a sex- and age-specific manner
Authors: Ikeda Mizuko , Swide Thomas , Vayl Alexandra , Lahm Tim , Anderson Sharon , Hutchens Michael P. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Introduction
There is a sex difference in the risk of ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI), and estrogen mediates the protective effect of female sex. We previously demonstrated that preprocedural chronic restoration of physiologic estrogen to ovariectomized female mice ameliorated AKI after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR). In the present study, we hypothesized that male mice and aged female mice would benefit from estrogen administration after CA/CPR. We tested the effect of estrogen in a clinically relevant manner by administrating it after CA/CPR.

Methods
CA/CPR was performed in young (10–15 weeks), middle-aged (43–48 weeks), and aged (78–87 weeks) C57BL/6 male and female mice. Mice received intravenous 17β-estradiol or vehicle 15 min after resuscitation. Serum chemistries and unbiased stereological assessment of renal injury were completed 24 h after CA. Regional renal cortical blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler, and renal levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) were evaluated with immunoblotting.

Results
Post-arrest estrogen administration reduced injury in young males without significant changes in renal blood flow (percentage reduction compared with vehicle: serum urea nitrogen, 30 %; serum creatinine (sCr), 41 %; volume of necrotic tubules (VNT), 31 %; P < 0.05). In contrast, estrogen did not affect any outcomes in young females. In aged mice, estrogen significantly reduced sCr (80 %) and VNT (73 %) in males and VNT (51 %) in females. Serum estrogen levels in aged female mice after CA/CPR were the same as levels in male mice. With age, renal ERα was upregulated in females.

Conclusions
Estrogen administration after resuscitation from CA ameliorates renal injury in young males and aged mice in both sexes. Because injury was small, young females were not affected. The protective effect of exogenous estrogen may be detectable with loss of endogenous estrogen in aged females and could be mediated by differences in renal ERs. Post-arrest estrogen administration is renoprotective in a sex- and age-dependent manner.
Improvement of antibiotic therapy and ICU survival in severe non-pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia: a matched case–control study
Authors: Gattarello Simone , Lagunes Leonel , Vidaur Loreto , Solé-Violán Jordi , Zaragoza Rafael , Vallés Jordi , Torres Antoni , Sierra Rafael , Sebastian Rosa , Rello Jordi 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Introduction
We aimed to compare intensive care unit mortality due to non-pneumococcal severe community-acquired pneumonia between the periods 2000–2002 and 2008–2014, and the impact of the improvement in antibiotic strategies on outcomes.

Methods
This was a matched case–control study enrolling 144 patients with non-pneumococcal severe pneumonia: 72 patients from the 2000–2002 database (CAPUCI I group) were paired with 72 from the 2008–2014 period (CAPUCI II group), matched by the following variables: microorganism, shock at admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, immunocompromise, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and age over 65 years.

Results
The most frequent microorganism was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (22.1 %) followed by Legionella pneumophila and Haemophilus influenzae (each 20.7 %); prevalence of shock was 59.7 %, while 73.6 % of patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Intensive care unit mortality was significantly lower in the CAPUCI II group (34.7 % versus 16.7 %; odds ratio (OR) 0.78, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.64–0.95; p = 0.02). Appropriate therapy according to microorganism was 91.5 % in CAPUCI I and 92.7 % in CAPUCI II, while combined therapy and early antibiotic treatment were significantly higher in CAPUCI II (76.4 versus 90.3 % and 37.5 versus 63.9 %; p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, combined antibiotic therapy (OR 0.23, 95 % CI 0.07–0.74) and early antibiotic treatment (OR 0.07, 95 % CI 0.02–0.22) were independently associated with decreased intensive care unit mortality.

Conclusions
In non-pneumococcal severe community-acquired pneumonia , early antibiotic administration and use of combined antibiotic therapy were both associated with increased intensive care unit survival during the study period.
Avemar and Echinacea extracts enhance mobilization and homing of CD34+ stem cells in rats with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Abdelmonem Maha , Kassem Samar H. , Gabr Hala , Shaheen Amira A. , Aboushousha Tarek 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Activation of endogenous stem cell mobilization can contribute to myocardial regeneration after ischemic injury. This study aimed to evaluate the possible role of Avemar or Echinacea extracts in inducing mobilization and homing of CD34+ stem cells in relation to the inflammatory and hematopoietic cytokines in rats suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods
AMI was developed by two consecutive subcutaneous injections of isoprenaline (85 mg/kg). AMI rats were either post-treated or pre- and post-treated daily with oral doses of Avemar (121 mg/kg) or Echinacea (130 mg/kg). In whole blood, the number of CD34+ cells was measured by flow cytometry and their homing to the myocardium was immunohistochemically assessed. Serum creatine kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8 and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor were determined on days 1, 7 and 14 after AMI. Sections of the myocardium were histopathologically assessed.

Results
Rats pre- and post-treated with Avemar or Echinacea exhibited substantial increases in the number of circulating CD34+ cells, peaking on the first day after AMI to approximately 13-fold and 15-fold, respectively, with a decline in their level on day 7 followed by a significant increase on day 14 compared to their corresponding AMI levels. Only post-treatment with Echinacea caused a time-dependent increase in circulating CD34+ cells on days 7 and 14. Such increases in circulating CD34+ cells were accompanied by increased homing to myocardial tissue 14 days after AMI. Interestingly, pre- and post-treatment with Avemar or Echinacea substantially increased serum creatine kinase on day 1, normalized its activity on day 7 and, on continued treatment, only Echinacea markedly increased its activity on day 14 compared to the corresponding AMI values. Moreover, both treatments modified differently the elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor and the lowered granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor levels of the AMI group but did not affect the level of interleukin-8. These results were supported histopathologically by reduced inflammatory reactions and enhanced neovascularization.

Conclusion
Avemar and Echinacea extracts can effectively induce mobilization and homing of CD34+ stem cells to the myocardial tissue and thus may help in stem cell-based regeneration of the infarcted myocardium.
Improved Outcomes After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Light Chain Amyloidosis: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Study
Authors: D'Souza Anita , Dispenzieri Angela , Wirk Baldeep , Zhang Mei-Jie , Huang Jiaxing , Gertz Morie A. , Kyle Robert A. , Kumar Shaji , Comenzo Raymond L. , Peter Gale Robert , Lazarus Hillard M. , Savani Bipin N. , Cornell Robert F. , Weiss Brendan M. , Vogl Dan T. , Freytes César O. , Scott Emma C. , Landau Heather J. , Moreb Jan S. , Costa Luciano J. , Ramanathan Muthalagu , Callander Natalie S. , Kamble Rammurti T. , Olsson Richard F. , Ganguly Siddhartha , Nishihori Taiga , Kindwall-Keller Tamila L. , Wood William A. , Mark Tomer M. , Hari Parameswaran 
Published: September 2015

Purpose Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation, or autotransplantation, is effective in light-chain amyloidosis (AL), but it is associated with a high risk of early mortality (EM). In a multicenter randomized comparison against oral chemotherapy, autotransplantation was associated with 24% EM. We analyzed trends in outcomes after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for AL in North America. Patients and Methods Between 1995 and 2012, 1,536 patients with AL who underwent autotransplantation at 134 centers were identified in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database. EM and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in three time cohorts: 1995 to 2000 (n = 140), 2001 to 2006 (n = 596), and 2007 to 2012 (n = 800). Hematologic and renal responses and factors associated with EM, relapse and/or progression, progression-free survival and OS were analyzed in more recent subgroups from 2001 to 2006 (n = 197) and from 2007 to 2012 (n = 157). Results Mortality at 30 and 100 days progressively declined over successive time periods from 11% and 20%, respectively, in 1995 to 2000 to 5% and 11%, respectively, in 2001 to 2006, and to 3% and 5%, respectively, in 2007 to 2012. Correspondingly, 5-year OS improved from 55% in 1995 to 2000 to 61% in 2001 to 2006 and to 77% in 2007 to 2012. Hematologic response to transplantation improved in the latest cohort. Renal response rate was 32%. Centers performing more than four AL transplantations per year had superior survival outcomes. In the multivariable analysis, cardiac AL was associated with high EM and inferior progression-free survival and OS. Autotransplantation in 2007 to 2012 and use of higher dosages of melphalan were associated with a lowered relapse risk. A Karnofsky score less than 80 and creatinine levels 2 mg/m2 or greater were associated with worsened OS. Conclusion Post-transplantation survival in AL has improved, with a dramatic reduction in early post-transplantation mortality and excellent 5-year survival. The risk-benefit ratio for autotransplantation has changed, and randomized comparison with nontransplantation approaches is again warranted.
Symmetry-Itemized Enumeration of Quadruplets of RS-Stereoisomers Derived from a Trigonal Pyramidal Skeleton
Authors: Fujita Shinsaku 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Stereoisograms of five types are devised as graphical expressions of the action of an RS-stereoisomeric group on a trigonal pyramidal skeleton. A quadruplet of promolecules (i.e., a reference promolecule, its enantiomer, its RS-diastereomer, and its holantimer) contained in a stereoisogram is counted once as an equivalence class under the action of an RS-stereoisomeric group. An RS-stereoisomeric group &lt;img align="middle" src="./Graphics/abst-20150015-1.gif"/&gt; is constructed by starting from the point group C3v of a trigonal pyramidal skeleton, where a point group C3v, an RS-permutation group &lt;img align="middle" src="./Graphics/abst-20150015-2.gif"/&gt;, a ligand-reflection group C3Î are integrated. Fujita’s unit-subduced-cycle-index (USCI) approach for enumeration under point groups is extended to cover enumeration under RS-stereoisomeric groups. The fixed-point-matrix (FPM) method and the partial-cycle-index (PCI) method of the USCI approach are applied to symmetry-itemized and type-itemized enumeration of quadruplets of promolecules under the action of the RS-stereoisomeric group &lt;img align="middle" src="./Graphics/abst-20150015-1.gif"/&gt;. Theoretical foundations of stereochemical nomenclature are discussed on the basis of Fujita’s stereoisogram approach, where three aspects of absolute configuration are emphasized. Prochirality and pro-RS-stereogenicity are clarified to be conceptually distinct, just as chirality and RS-stereogenicity are conceptually distinct. Young’s tableaux for (pro)chirality and those for (pro-)RS-stereogenicity are compared to demonstrate such conceptual distinctions. It follows that a pair of R/S-stereodescriptors is assigned on the basis of RS-stereogenicity, not of chirality; and a pair of pro-R/pro-S-descriptors is assigned on the basis of pro-RS-stereogenicity, not of prochirality.
Fused-Ring Bulky “Rind” Groups Producing New Possibilities in Elemento-Organic Chemistry
Authors: Matsuo Tsukasa , Tamao Kohei 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Kinetic stabilization with sterically bulky substituents or ligands has played a pivotal role in exploring a large variety of unsaturated compounds or low-coordinated complexes. This article describes our findings that a series of fused-ring octa-R-substituted s-hydrindacenyl groups (Rind groups), which we developed since 2007, can act as unique protecting groups both in main group chemistry and in transition-metal chemistry. The synthesis, structures, and properties of various types of highly reactive unsaturated and low-coordinated element-organic compounds of Groups 1, 2, 8, 11, and 13–17 featuring the bulky Rind groups are covered.
Chronic venous insufficiency in a geriatric collective
Authors: Stücker M. , Pientka L. , Reich-Schupke S. , Weyer K. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryAim: Investigation of symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in geriatric patients > 65 years and their relation to activities of daily life and locomotion.Methods: This monocenter pilot study collects data from patients of a geriatric hospital. We qualified Activities of daily live by Barthel Index, locomotion via Timed-Up-and-Go-test and clinical CEAP levels and included data from the Venous Clinical Severity Score and the patient questionnaire of the German Society of Phlebology. Additionally a duplex-sonographic screening was performed. Identified CEAP levels were correlated with results of the scores mentioned above.Results: 42 patients with an average age of 80.5 (64–93) years were included. 76.2 % of them had a CEAP-score of ≥3. CEAP-score 5-6 correlated with limited locomotion and independence in activities of daily life. 81 % of the patients had previous venous therapies.Conclusion: CVI is an underestimated disease in elder patients. In our collective a great part of patients showed relevant clinical symptoms of CVI which were aggravated by limitations of higher age. Early diagnostic and therapy of CVI are indicated to reduce complicated clinical courses.
On Minimal Valid Inequalities for Mixed Integer Conic Programs
Authors: Kılınç-Karzan Fatma 
Published: September 2015

We study disjunctive conic sets involving a general regular (closed, convex, full dimensional, and pointed) cone 𝒦 such as the nonnegative orthant, the Lorentz cone, or the positive semidefinite cone. In a unified framework, we introduce 𝒦-minimal inequalities and show that, under mild assumptions, these inequalities together with the trivial cone-implied inequalities are sufficient to describe the convex hull. We focus on the properties of 𝒦-minimal inequalities by establishing algebraic necessary conditions for an inequality to be 𝒦-minimal. This characterization leads to a broader algebraically defined class of 𝒦-sublinear inequalities. We demonstrate a close connection between 𝒦-sublinear inequalities and the support functions of convex sets with a particular structure. This connection results in practical ways of verifying 𝒦-sublinearity and/or 𝒦-minimality of inequalities. Our study generalizes some of the results from the mixed integer linear case. It is well known that the minimal inequalities for mixed integer linear programs are generated by sublinear (positively homogeneous, subadditive, and convex) functions that are also piecewise linear. Our analysis easily recovers this result. However, in the case of general regular cones other than the nonnegative orthant, our study reveals that such a cut-generating function view, which treats the data associated with each individual variable independently, is far from sufficient.
Rapid, Fully Automated Digital Immunoassay for p24 Protein with the Sensitivity of Nucleic Acid Amplification for Detecting Acute HIV Infection
Authors: Cabrera Carlos , Chang Lei , Stone Mars , Busch Michael , Wilson David H 
Published: September 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has become the standard for high sensitivity in detecting low levels of virus. However, adoption of NAT can be cost prohibitive in low-resource settings where access to extreme sensitivity could be clinically advantageous for early detection of infection. We report development and preliminary validation of a simple, low-cost, fully automated digital p24 antigen immunoassay with the sensitivity of quantitative NAT viral load (NAT-VL) methods for detection of acute HIV infection.

METHODS
We developed an investigational 69-min immunoassay for p24 capsid protein for use on a novel digital analyzer on the basis of single-molecule-array technology. We evaluated the assay for sensitivity by dilution of standardized preparations of p24, cultured HIV, and preseroconversion samples. We characterized analytical performance and concordance with 2 NAT-VL methods and 2 contemporary p24 Ag/Ab combination immunoassays with dilutions of viral isolates and samples from the earliest stages of HIV infection.

RESULTS
Analytical sensitivity was 0.0025 ng/L p24, equivalent to 60 HIV RNA copies/mL. The limit of quantification was 0.0076 ng/L, and imprecision across 10 runs was &lt;10% for samples as low as 0.09 ng/L. Clinical specificity was 95.1%. Sensitivity concordance vs NAT-VL on dilutions of preseroconversion samples and Group M viral isolates was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS
The digital immunoassay exhibited &gt;4000-fold greater sensitivity than contemporary immunoassays for p24 and sensitivity equivalent to that of NAT methods for early detection of HIV. The data indicate that NAT-level sensitivity for acute HIV infection is possible with a simple, low-cost digital immunoassay.
Redesigning the identities of teachers and leaders: A framework for studying new professionalism and educator resistance
Authors: Anderson Gary , Cohen Michael 
Published: September 2015

Neoliberal reforms of public education do more than shape policy and curriculum; they also influence educators’ understanding of themselves as professionals, driving at the very core of what it means to be a teacher or leader. This article explores the effects of Neoliberal policies and New Public Management pracitces on teachers and principals and the ways they result in a “new professionalism.” The authors provide a framework for studying how these new polices and practices might be resisted, as well as a description of characteristics of the new professional and what professionalism might look like if it were grounded in community and advocacy.
Strengths and weaknesses of methods for identifying monoclonal free light chains of Ig: examples from two cases with renal disease
Authors: Levinson Stanley S. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractSerum free light chain (FLC) analysis with ratio and urine immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) are both available for routine use in helping to detect plasma cell dyscrasia and related diseases.Case reports showing one serum positive for serum FLC but that showed a hook effect and overestimated the amount of monoclonal FLC while urine IFE was negative for Bence Jones protein, and a second serum that showed elevated FLC κ and λ but a normal κ/λ ratio, while urine IFE was positive for Bence Jones protein.These two techniques complement one another. Neither of the techniques is truly quantitative, and both exhibit methodological defects.
Estimation of a respiratory signal from a single-lead ECG using the 4th order central moments
Authors: Schmidt Marcus , Krug Johannes W , Schumann Andy , Bär Karl-Jürgen , Rose Georg 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
For a variety of clinical applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the monitoring of vital signs is a common standard in clinical daily routine. Besides the electrocardiogram (ECG), the respiratory activity is an important vital parameter and might reveal pathological changes. Thoracic movement and the resulting impedance change between ECG electrodes enable the estimation of the respiratory signal from the ECG. This ECG-derived respiration (EDR) can be used to calculate the breathing rate without the need for additional devices or monitoring modules. In this paper a new method is presented to estimate the respiratory signal from a single-lead ECG. The 4th order central moments was used to estimate the EDR signal exploiting the change of the R-wave slopes induced by respiration. This method was compared with two approaches by analyzing the Fantasia database from www.physionet.org. Furthermore, the ECG signals of 24 healthy subjects placed in an 3 T MR-scanner were acquired.
Automated classification of stages of anaesthesia by populations of evolutionary optimized fuzzy rules
Authors: Walther C. , Wenzel A. , Schneider M. , Trommer M. , Sturm K.-P. , Jaeger U. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The detection of stages of anaesthesia is mainly performed on evaluating the vital signs of the patient. In addition the frontal one-channel electroencephalogram can be evaluated to increase the correct detection of stages of anaesthesia. As a classification model fuzzy rules are used. These rules are able to classify the stages of anaesthesia automatically and were optimized by multiobjective evolutionary algorithms. As a result the performance of the generated population of fuzzy rule sets is presented. A concept of the construction of an autonomic embedded system is introduced. This system should use the generated rules to classify the stages of anaesthesia using the frontal one-channel electroencephalogram only.
A novel coaxial nozzle for in-process adjustment of electrospun scaffolds’ fiber diameter
Authors: Becker A. , Zernetsch H. , Mueller M. , Glasmacher B. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Electrospinning is a versatile method of producing micro- and nanofibers deposited in mats used as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Depending on the application, single or coaxial electrospinning can be used. Coaxial electrospinning enables the use of a broad spectrum of materials, the fabrication of hollow or core/shell fibers and an automatisation of the entire electrospinning process. In this regard, the design of coaxial nozzles plays a major role in a standardized as well as tailor-made scaffold fabrication. For this purpose an optimised coaxial nozzle has been designed and fabricated. Furthermore, tests have been carried out to validate the new nozzle design. With the use of the costum-made nozzle polymer concentration could be varied in a gradual manner. The variation in polymer concentration lead to fiber diameters between 0.75 to 3.25 μm. In addition, an increase in rotating velocity lead to an increase in fiber alignment as well as a slight decrease in fiber diameter. The demonstrated modifications of coaxial electrospinning proved to be a powerful tool for in-process adjustments of scaffold fabrication.
Design and control of a 3-DOF hydraulic driven surgical instrument
Authors: Cuntz Timo , Comella Laura 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Although the use of minimally invasive surgery techniques has steadily increased, the development of new tools for these procedures has stagnated. Indeed a new generation of surgical instruments, with tips that have multiple degrees of freedom, has been developed. However, they are facing so many technical problems that none have been able to establish themselves in the medical market. To overcome the problems these instruments are facing, a micro hydraulic power transmission system has been developed and been presented in [1]. With these driving units it was possible to design an instrument for minimally invasive surgery with a tip which is movable in 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) and that is light in weight, small in size and powerful in movements and gripping. This paper presents the mechanical setup (including dimensions and materials), describes the theoretical basis for the control with the inverse kinematic model, discusses the external drives setup and gives first performance data of this novel hydraulically actuated laparoscopic instrument with 3 degrees of freedom.