bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pathogenesis of preeclampsia
Authors: Shaker OG , Sadik NAH 
Published: March 2013

This study aimed to investigate the implication of some apoptotic and lipid peroxidation markers in preeclampsia (PE). A total of 25 women with PE and 25 age- and parity-matched normal pregnant women were enrolled in this study. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level, caspase-9 activity and the percentage of DNA fragmentation were significantly higher in placental tissue of PE than in control women. The serum level of MDA was significantly elevated in women with PE having delivery by cesarean section (CS) than in women with PE having vaginal delivery. In vitro study demonstrated that the addition of 0.5 mM Fe2+ and 0.1 mM ascorbate caused increase in the production of MDA level in placental tissue with PE than normal placentas, and vitamin E (100 µM) caused lower inhibition of in vitro lipid peroxidation in placental tissue with PE when compared with normal tissue. The activity of caspase-9 and percentage of DNA fragmentation were associated with the severity of the PE and both could differentiate between PE and control women with 88% and 100% sensitivity and 96% and 100% specificity, respectively. The activities of caspase-8 and/or -9 were positively correlated with the maternal age but only caspase-8 was negatively correlated with neonatal birth weight and placental weight. In conclusion, the elevations of MDA, caspase-9 activity and the percentage of DNA fragmentation in the placentas of women with PE implicate the involvement of lipid peroxidation and apoptosis in PE. The placenta represents a considerable source of the elevated circulating MDA in PE.
Evaluation of estrogenic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorinated pesticides using immature rat uterotrophic assay
Authors: Uslu U. , Sandal S. , Cumbul A. , Yildiz S. , Aydin M. , Yilmaz B. 
Published: March 2013

In this study, we investigated the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides on the serum levels of luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and weights and histomorphometry of uterine tissue in immature female rats using uterotrophic assay. A total of 36 rats were randomly divided into six groups ( n = 6 per group) as control, oestradiol (E2, 100 μg/kg), PCB 180, Aroclor 1221, endosulfan and mirex at 10 mg/kg dosage. After 3 days of injections (subcutaneous), animals were decapitated and blood samples were collected. Uteri were dissected, weighed out and then fixed in 10% formaldehyde. They were processed for histomorphometry. The serum levels of LH and FSH were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Uterine weight was significantly increased by E2 and reduced by mirex ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Total volume of uterus was significantly raised by E2, Aroclor 1221 and endosulfan compared with that of the control group ( p < 0.01). The ratio of epithelium was significantly increased by E2, PCBs and pesticides ( p < 0.01). The uterine cavity ratio was decreased by aroclor ( p < 0.01), PCB 180 and mirex ( p < 0.05). The serum levels of LH did not significantly differ among the groups but the levels of FSH were decreased by PCB 180 and endosulfan ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). These findings suggest that PCB 180, Aroclor 1221 and endosulfan may be estrogenic in immature uterotrophic assay.
A case of severe methemoglobinemia caused by hair dye poisoning
Authors: Ryoo SM , Sohn CH , Oh BJ , Kim WY , Lim KS 
Published: March 2013

Context: Hair dyes are widely used and very popular xenobiotics. Most of these products contain paraphenylenediamine (PPD) that can cause methemoglobinemia. We here report a case of severe methemoglobinemia that we treated using large amounts of methylene blue. Case details: A 30-year-old man visited a regional hospital with cyanosis. He was congenitally blind and had autism. For several weeks, he had mistaken hair dye for toothpaste. When he arrived at a regional hospital, he was drowsy with cyanosis and his initial serum methemoglobin (MetHb) level was 59.5%. After being treated with 2 mg/kg methylene blue (1 mg/kg × 2 administrations), he was transferred to a tertiary university hospital. Upon presentation at the Emergency Department in the tertiary hospital, his MetHb level was found to be 49.4% and his oxygen saturation was 80%. He was then admitted to the intensive care unit. After treatment with 4 mg/kg methylene blue (1 mg/kg × 4 administrations), he successfully recovered. Discussion: Because PPD can result in serious methemoglobinemia, clinicians should test it in cyanotic patients who have been exposed to hair dye for an extended period.
Proactive versus reactive recruitment to a physical activity intervention for breast cancer survivors: Does it matter?
Authors: Zhou Eric S , Dunsiger Shira I , Pinto Bernardine M 
Published: March 2013

Background There is a gap in the current breast cancer survivorship literature identifying potential sample biases that may result from recruiting participants via different methods. Purpose To document whether participant recruitment method influences baseline demographic or psychosocial variables and trial participation among breast cancer survivors recruited for a physical activity intervention trial. Methods Participants were recruited for the trial via either a reactive method (letters mailed through their oncologist’s office inviting them to contact the research staff) or a proactive method (referred in person by their oncologist at a clinic appointment). The groups of participants recruited via the two methods were compared based on baseline sociodemographic characteristics, weight, time since diagnosis, stage of disease, treatment, motivational readiness for physical activity, level of physical activity, self-reported physical and mental health, willingness to receive the intervention, and study retention. Results Participants recruited proactively were closer to the point of diagnosis (mean = 2.5 years, standard deviation (SD) = 1.9 years) than participants recruited reactively via letter mailings (mean = 3.4 years, SD = 2.3 years; p < .05). The two groups were similar with respect to all other baseline characteristics and retention. Limitations Recruitment via the two methods was not concurrent. Also, proactive recruitment occurred at a single hospital site. Mailings were made by the oncologists; we are unable to estimate how many letters were mailed. Similarly, we have no information for the patients who were not referred to the study during proactive recruitment. Conclusions Despite the potential for differences in characteristics and degree of trial participation between trial participants recruited proactively and reactively, in this investigation, the two groups were similar. Information from other trials in other conditions may confirm or modify our conclusion.
Early molecular response and female sex strongly predict stable undetectable BCR-ABL1, the criteria for imatinib discontinuation in patients with CML
Authors: Branford Susan , Yeung David T. , Ross David M. , Prime Jodi A. , Field Chani R. , Altamura Haley K. , Yeoman Alexandra L. , Georgievski Jasmina , Jamison Bronte A. , Phillis Stuart , Sullivan Brad , Briggs Nancy E. , Hertzberg Mark , Seymour John F. , Reynolds John , Hughes Timothy P. 
Published: March 2013

Key PointsIndependent predictors of stable, undetectable BCR-ABL1 during first-line imatinib therapy were female sex and the BCR-ABL1 value at 3 months. Time to achieve an MMR influenced time to stable, undetectable BCR-ABL1, suggesting slower dynamics of BCR-ABL1 decline with delayed MMR.
On the spectral radius of bipartite graphs which are nearly complete
Authors: Das Kinkar Chandra , Cangul Ismail Naci , Maden Ayse Dilek , Cevik Ahmet Sinan 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
For

p
,
q
,
r
,
s
,
t
∈

Z
+

with

r
t
≤
p

and

s
t
≤
q

, let

G
=
G
(
p
,
q
;
r
,
s
;
t
)

be the bipartite graph with partite sets

U
=
{

u
1

,
…
,

u
p

}

and

V
=
{

v
1

,
…
,

v
q

}

such that any two edges

u
i

and

v
j

are not adjacent if and only if there exists a positive integer k with

1
≤
k
≤
t

such that

(
k
−
1
)
r
+
1
≤
i
≤
k
r

and

(
k
−
1
)
s
+
1
≤
j
≤
k
s

. Under these circumstances, Chen et al. (Linear Algebra Appl. 432:606-614, 2010) presented the following conjecture:
Assume that

p
≤
q

,

k
<
p

,

|
U
|
=
p

,

|
V
|
=
q

and

|
E
(
G
)
|
=
p
q
−
k

. Then whether it is true that

λ
1

(
G
)
≤

λ
1

(
G
(
p
,
q
;
k
,
1
;
1
)
)

=

p
q
−
k
+

p
2

q
2

−
6
p
q
k
+
4
p
k
+
4
q

k
2

−
3

k
2

2

.

In this paper, we prove this conjecture for the range

min

v
h

∈
V

{
deg

v
h

}
≤
⌊

p
−
1

2

⌋

.

MSC:05C05, 05C50.
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a cohort of Chinese schoolchildren: comparison of two definitions and assessment of adipokines as components by factor analysis
Authors: Wang Qiaoxuan , Yin Jinhua , Xu Lu , Cheng Hong , Zhao Xiaoyuan , Xiang Hongding , Lam Hugh Simon , Mi Jie , Li Ming 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Although attention to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children has increased, there is still no universally accepted definition and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Our aim was to compare the current definitions of childhood MetS in a Chinese cohort and to examine the clustering pattern of MetS risk factors, particularly inclusion of leptin and adiponectin as additional components.

Methods
3373 schoolchildren aged 6 to 18 years were recruited. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters and adipokines were measured. MetS was identified using both the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and a modified Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) definitions. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to establish grouping of metabolic characteristics.

Results
For children ≥10 years, the prevalence of MetS was 14.3% in the obese group and 3.7% in the overweight group according to the new IDF definition, and 32.3% in the obese group and 8.4% in the overweight group according to the modified ATPIII definition. Frequency of hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), impaired fasting glucose, elevated blood pressure, and central obesity according to the new IDF definition was 16.7%, 20.7%, 15.8%, 25.5% and 75.5% in obese boys and 14.7%, 24.0%, 12.0%, 11.0% and 89.0% in obese girls, respectively. Metabolic abnormalities in children under 10 years of age were also noted. Using factor analysis on eight conventional variables led to the extraction of 3 factors. Waist circumference (WC) provided a connection between two factors in boys and all three factors in girls, suggesting its central role in the clustering of metabolic risk factors. Addition of leptin and adiponectin also led to the extraction of 3 factors, with leptin providing a connection between two factors in girls. When using WC, mean arterial pressure, triglyceride/HDL-C ratio, HOMA-IR and leptin/adiponectin ratio as variables, a single-factor model was extracted. WC had the biggest factor loading, followed by leptin/adiponectin ratio.

Conclusions
MetS was highly prevalent amongst obese children and adolescents in this cohort, regardless of the definition used. Central obesity is the key player in the clustering of metabolic risk factors in children, supporting the new IDF definition. Moreover, our findings suggest that a common factor may underlie MetS. Leptin/adiponectin ratio as a possible component of MetS deserves further consideration.
Health system delay in pulmonary tuberculosis treatment in a country with an intermediate burden of tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jurcev-Savicevic Anamarija , Mulic Rosanda , Kozul Karlo , Ban Bozica , Valic Jasna , Bacun-Ivcek Ljiljana , Gudelj Ivan , Popijac-Cesar Gordana , Marinovic-Dunatov Snjezana , Simunovic Aleksandar 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Delayed diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis increase both the severity of the disease and the duration of infectivity. A number of studies have addressed the issue of health system delays in the treatment of tuberculosis, but mostly in countries with a high or low incidence of the disease. Our understanding of delay is quite limited in settings with an intermediate burden of tuberculosis. We explore the duration and factors associated with delays in the Croatian health system which has free health care and a sufficient network of health services providing tuberculosis diagnosis and care.

Methods
A total of 241 consecutive adults with culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis were interviewed in seven randomly selected Croatian counties and their medical records were evaluated. A health system delay was defined as the number of days from the first consultation with a physician to the initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment. A long delay was defined as a period exceeding the median delay, while an extreme delay was considered to be above the 75th percentile delay.

Results
The median health system delay was 15 days while the 75th percentile was 42 days (the 5th and 95th percentile being 1 and 105 days respectively). Almost 30% of tuberculosis patients remained undiagnosed for more than 30 days after the initial health care visit. Female patients (p = 0.005), patients with a negative sputum smear (p = 0.002) and patients having symptoms other than the usual ones (0.027) were found to be in significant correlation with a long delay. In a multivariate model, a long delay remained associated with the same variables (p = 0.008, p = 0.003, and p = 0.037, respectively).
A significant association was demonstrated between both the female gender (p = 0.042) and a negative sputum smear (p < 0.001) and extreme delay, while only a negative sputum smear (p < 0.001) remained significant in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that some groups of tuberculosis patients experienced a health system delay. In such a setting where tuberculosis incidence is decreasing, which leads to a lack of physician experience and expertise, training in tuberculosis is required. Such measure may be useful in reducing the number of missed opportunities for tuberculosis diagnosis.
Pre-analytical stability of the plasma proteomes based on the storage temperature
Authors: Pasella Sara , Baralla Angela , Canu Elisabetta , Pinna Sara , Vaupel James , Deiana Marta , Franceschi Claudio , Baggio Giovannella , Zinellu Angelo , Sotgia Salvatore , Castaldo Giuseppe , Carru Ciriaco , Deiana Luca 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
This study examined the effect of storage temperature on the protein profile of human plasma. Plasma samples were stored for 13 days at -80°C, -20°C, +4°C and room temperature (20-25°C) prior to proteomic analysis. The proteomic comparisons were based on the differences of mean intensity values of protein spots between fresh plasma samples (named “time zero”) and plasma samples stored at different temperatures. To better understand the thermally induced biochemical changes that may affect plasma proteins during storage we identified proteins with different expressions with respect to the time zero sample.

Results
Using two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by MALDI-TOF MS and /or LC-MS/MS 20 protein spots representing 10 proteins were identified with significant differences in abundance when stored at different temperatures. Our results, in agreement with various authors, indicate that during storage for a short period (13 days) at four different temperatures plasma proteins were more affected by degradation processes at +4°C compared to the other temperatures analysed. However, we founded that numerous protein spots (vitamin D binding protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin, apoplipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein E, haptoglobin and complement factor B) decrease in abundance with increasing temperature up to 4°C, but at room temperature their intensity mean values are similar to those of time zero and -80°C. We hypothesize that these proteins are labile at 4°C, but at the same time they are stable at room temperature (20-25°C). Furthermore we have grouped the proteins based on their different sensitivity to the storage temperature. Spots of serum albumin, fibrinogen gamma chain and haptoglobin are more resistant to the higher temperatures tested, as they have undergone changes in abundance only at room temperature; conversely, other spots of serum albumin, fibrinogen beta chain and serotransferrin are more labile as they have undergone changes in abundance at all temperatures except at -80°C.

Conclusions
Although there are many studies concerning protein stability of clinical samples during storage these findings may help to provide a better understanding of the changes of proteins induced by storage temperature.
A retrospective study: platinum-based induction chemotherapy combined with gemcitabine or paclitaxel for stage IIB-IIIA central non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Lv Chao , Ma Yuanyuan , Wu Nan , Yan Shi , Zheng Qingfeng , Sun Yu , Li Shaolei , Fang Jian , Yang Yue 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Several encouraging phase III clinical trials have evaluated platinum-based induction chemotherapy against stage IIB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Chemotherapy efficacy was assessed using common regimens in this retrospective analysis.

Methods
From 2007 to 2011, the clinical records of stage IIB-IIIA NSCLC patients undergoing surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were reviewed. Gathered data were tested for significance and variables impacting survival were assessed by univariate and Cox regression analyses.

Results
Overall, 84% of patients were male and 93% had central disease. Platinum-based chemotherapy protocols with gemcitabine or paclitaxel gave an overall response rate of 55% (45/82) and 6.1% pathological complete response (5/82). Clinical response was unassociated with regimen or histology, while more pneumonectomies were performed in the stable compared to partial response disease group (P =0.040). Postoperative mortality was 1.2% (1/82), and complications, unassociated with regimen or histology, were atelectasis (26.8%) and supraventricular arrhythmias (13.4%). Right-sided procedures appeared to increase the incidence of bronchopleural fistula (P =0.073). The median disease-free survival time was 18 months and median overall survival time was not reached. Disease-free survival rates at one, two, and three years were 54%, 47%, and 33%, while the overall survival rate was 73%, 69%, and 59%, respectively. Disease-free survival predictors were radiographic response and mediastinal lymphadenopathy before chemotherapy (P =0.012 and 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions
Two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy with gemcitabine or paclitaxel is efficacious for patients with stage IIB-IIIA central disease. Patients achieving clinical response had improved disease-free survival times, while those with mediastinal lymphadenopathy had a higher postoperative recurrence risk.
Evaluation of visible light communication channel delay profiles for automotive applications
Authors: Lee SeokJu , Kwon Jae Kyun , Jung Sung-Yoon , Kwon Young-Hoon 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
In this article, we present channel delay profiles based on simulated data regarding the practical conditions for the use of visible light communication (VLC) in automotive applications such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Practical vehicular LED headlamp and street lamp that consider the lighting regulation for transportation are used to design the ITS scenarios based on VLC. We modeled two usage scenarios, crossroad and metropolitan street, using the CATIA V5 tool. Measurements for the VLC channel delay profile evaluation were then gathered by using a ray-tracing scheme employing commercial LightTools software under the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication links. From the obtained channel impulse responses from both scenarios, we derived the VLC channel delay profiles. From them, we found that the common property of the delay profile was composed of dominant multiple line of sight (LOS) links and a less number of non-LOS delay taps. However, the channel delay profile for the V2I link and metropolitan scenario show more dispersive channel characteristics due to the reflection and diffusion of the visible light.
Immune response profiling identifies autoantibodies specific to Moyamoya patients
Authors: Sigdel Tara K , Shoemaker Lorelei D , Chen Rong , Li Li , Butte Atul J , Sarwal Minnie M , Steinberg Gary K 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundMoyamoya Disease is a rare, devastating cerebrovascular disorder characterized by stenosis/occlusion of supraclinoid internal carotid arteries and development of fragile collateral vessels. Moyamoya Disease is typically diagnosed by angiography after clinical presentation of cerebral hemorrhage or ischemia. Despite unclear etiology, previous reports suggest there may be an immunological component.MethodsTo explore the role of autoimmunity in moyamoya disease, we used high-density protein arrays to profile IgG autoantibodies from the sera of angiographically-diagnosed Moyamoya Disease patients and compared these to healthy controls. Protein array data analysis followed by bioinformatics analysis yielded a number of auto-antibodies which were further validated by ELISA for an independent group of MMD patients (n = 59) and control patients with other cerebrovascular diseases including carotid occlusion, carotid stenosis and arteriovenous malformation.ResultsWe identified 165 significantly (p < 0.05) elevated autoantibodies in Moyamoya Disease, including those against CAMK2A, CD79A and EFNA3. Pathway analysis associated these autoantibodies with post-translational modification, neurological disease, inflammatory response, and DNA damage repair and maintenance. Using the novel functional interpolating single-nucleotide polymorphisms bioinformatics approach, we identified 6 Moyamoya Disease-associated autoantibodies against APP, GPS1, STRA13, CTNNB1, ROR1 and EDIL3. The expression of these 6 autoantibodies was validated by custom-designed reverse ELISAs for an independent group of Moyamoya Disease patients compared to patients with other cerebrovascular diseases.ConclusionsWe report the first high-throughput analysis of autoantibodies in Moyamoya Disease, the results of which may provide valuable insight into the immune-related pathology of Moyamoya Disease and may potentially advance diagnostic clinical tools.