bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vital capacity and oxygen saturation at rest and after exercise predict hypoxaemia during hypoxic inhalation test in patients with respiratory disease
Authors: Ling Ivan T. , Singh Bhajan , James Alan L. , Hillman David R. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground and objectiveThe hypoxic inhalation test (HIT) accurately predicts air travel hypoxaemia, but availability is limited. We assessed whether oxygen saturation (SpO2) during HIT can be predicted by simple measures of lung function and exercise‐induced hypoxaemia.MethodsAnalysis of all patients who had HIT and lung function testing performed between January 2005 and April 2010. Prior to HIT, SpO2 on room air was measured at rest and after 2 min of moderate exercise. HIT was conducted using fractional inspired oxygen concentration 0.14 and SpO2 was measured after equilibration of ≥ 5 min. The relationships between SpO2 during HIT (HIT SpO2) and resting SpO2, post‐exercise SpO2, gas exchange (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide) and ventilatory capacity were examined. Linear regression was performed to identify significant predictors of HIT SpO2.Results137 patients were studied: 70 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 43 interstitial lung disease and 20 extra‐pulmonary restriction. All patients with HIT SpO2 ≤ 85% had post‐exercise SpO2 < 95% (n = 24 (18%)). HIT SpO2 correlated best with post‐exercise SpO2 overall (r = 0.69, P < 0.01). Linear regression identified forced vital capacity % predicted, resting SpO2 and post‐exercise SpO2 as independent predictors of HIT SpO2.ConclusionsIn patients with respiratory disease, post‐exercise SpO2 ≥ 95% on room air may be used to exclude the need for HIT to assess oxygen requirement for air travel. HIT SpO2 can be estimated from forced vital capacity % predicted, resting SpO2 and post‐exercise SpO2 using a linear regression model.
Probable Phaeoacremonium parasiticum as a cause of cavitary native lung nodules after single lung transplantation
Authors: Shah S.K. , Parto P. , Lombard G.A. , James M.A. , Beckles D.L. , Lick S. , Valentine V.G. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractLung nodules after lung transplantation most often represent infection or post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in the allograft. Conversely, native lung nodules in single lung transplant recipients are more likely to be bronchogenic carcinoma. We present a patient who developed native lung cavitary nodules. Although malignancy was anticipated, evaluation revealed probable Phaeoacremonium parasiticum infection. Phaeoacremonium parasiticum is a dematiaceous fungus first described as a cause of soft tissue infection in a renal transplant patient. Lung nodules have not been previously described and this is the first case, to our knowledge, of P. parasiticum identified after lung transplantation.
Disseminated toxoplasmosis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a seronegative recipient
Authors: Osthoff M. , Chew E. , Bajel A. , Kelsey G. , Panek‐Hudson Y. , Mason K. , Szer J. , Ritchie D. , Slavin M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractToxoplasmosis is increasingly diagnosed after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. In the majority of cases, reactivation of latent disease secondary to impaired cellular and humoral immunity after HSCT is believed to be the main pathogenetic mechanism. Hence, primary toxoplasmosis is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of infections after HSCT in a recipient who is seronegative for Toxoplasma gondii pre‐transplant. We herein report a seronegative patient with acute T‐cell lymphoblastic leukemia, who developed primary disseminated toxoplasmosis 5 months after HSCT from a seronegative unrelated donor. A review of all reported cases of primary toxoplasmosis after HSCT revealed significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Patients with negative pre‐transplant Toxoplasma serology should therefore be considered at risk for toxoplasmosis after allogeneic HSCT. Possible prevention and monitoring strategies for seronegative recipients are reviewed and discussed in detail.
Intention of future donations: a study of donors versus non‐donors
Authors: Martín‐Santana J. D. , Beerli‐Palacio A. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryBackgroundRecent years have seen the level of blood donation at a world level come to a standstill or even decline. This situation requires blood donation services to make efforts to increase donor recruitment and retention, as well as to increase the frequency of donations among current donors. In order to obtain good results, it is essential to understand the factors that affect intention to donate.ObjectivesTo determine the explanatory power of a set of factors on intention to donate blood, as well as evaluating the ability of current donors to motivate others.Methods/MaterialsA questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1015 Spanish individuals.ResultsResults indicate that (i) motivations and hindering factors have the greatest explanatory power on intention to donate, (ii) experience as a donor is the most explanatory factor on future intention and (iii) there are significant behavioural and sociodemographic differences between donors and non‐donors.ConclusionThese findings suggest that it is necessary (i) to enhance the donor retention for maintaining the donation system using a personal and frequent communication with donors not only to remind them to schedule their next donation, but also to attract more donors; (ii) to recapture temporarily deferred donors, as they are less reluctant towards donation; (iii) to describe in detail how donation affects donors and clarify the importance of donation for society and (iv) to develop member get member programs in which current donors act as motivators amongst friends, coworkers and family.
The Magnaporthe oryzae effector AVR1–CO39 is translocated into rice cells independently of a fungal‐derived machinery
Authors: Ribot Cécile , Césari Stella , Abidi Imène , Chalvon Véronique , Bournaud Caroline , Vallet Julie , Lebrun Marc‐Henri , Morel Jean‐Benoit , Kroj Thomas 
Published: December 2012

SummaryEffector proteins are key elements in plant–fungal interactions. The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae secretes numerous effectors that are suspected to be translocated inside plant cells. However, their cellular targets and the mechanisms of translocation are still unknown. Here, we have identified the open reading frame (ORF3) corresponding to the M. oryzae avirulence gene AVR1–CO39 that interacts with the rice resistance gene Pi–CO39 and encodes a small secreted protein without homology to other proteins. We demonstrate that AVR1–CO39 is specifically expressed and secreted at the plant–fungal interface during the biotrophic phase of infection. Live‐cell imaging with M. oryzae transformants expressing a translational fusion between AVR1–CO39 and the monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) indicated that AVR1–CO39 is translocated into the cytoplasm of infected rice cells. Transient expression of an AVR1–CO39 isoform without a signal peptide in rice protoplasts triggers a Pi–CO39‐specific hypersensitive response, suggesting that recognition of AVR1–CO39 by the Pi–CO39 gene product occurs in the cytoplasm of rice cells. The native AVR1–CO39 protein enters the secretory pathway of rice protoplasts as demonstrated by the ER localization of AVR1–CO39:mRFP:HDEL translational fusions, and is correctly processed as shown by Western blotting. However, this secreted AVR1–CO39 isoform triggers a Pi–CO39‐specific hypersensitive response and accumulates inside rice protoplasts as shown by Western blotting and localization of AVR1–CO39:mRFP translational fusions. This indicates that AVR1–CO39 is secreted by rice protoplasts and re‐enters into the cytoplasm by unknown mechanisms, suggesting that translocation of AVR1–CO39 into rice cells occurs independently of fungal factors.
Global Imbalances and Petrodollars
Authors: Arezki Rabah , Hasanov Fuad 
Published: December 2012

AbstractOil exporters have run large current account surpluses. We explore oil exporters’ role in the global imbalances debate. Current account dynamics are estimated for oil‐exporting countries and the rest of the world. We find that fiscal policy has a much stronger effect on the current account of oil exporters than on current accounts of other countries. The current account adjustment of oil‐exporting countries is also faster. Fiscal policy of oil exporters can have a significant and speedy impact on global imbalances. The impact via the adjustment of exchange rates might not be effective.
On the Role of Imports in Enhancing Manufacturing Exports
Authors: Turco Alessia Lo , Maggioni Daniela 
Published: December 2012

AbstractMaking use of a large panel data set on Italian manufacturing firms, we provide evidence on the effect of imports on the firm's export performance. We distinguish imports of intermediates according to their origin, and we find that inputs sourced from low labour cost countries promote the firm's export activity. Imports from high‐income countries do not significantly contribute to the export orientation of firms, especially when both persistence in export and the possible endogeneity of the import measures are accounted for via system generalised method of moments (GMM) estimation of a linear probability model. Our evidence suggests that the impact of imports on the firms’ export activity works through the cost‐saving channel rather than the technology channel.
Offshoring of Tasks: Taylorism Versus Toyotism
Authors: Lanz Rainer , Miroudot Sébastien , Nordås Hildegunn K. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis paper contributes to the recent debate on trade in tasks, drawing on insights from the theory of the firm as well as recent developments in trade theory. Recent empirical literature suggests that between 20 and 30 per cent of all jobs in key OECD countries could be digitised and offshored. This study offers a cluster analysis which documents that offshorable and non‐offshorable tasks tend to be performed together across occupations. Therefore, when assessing the offshorability of a job, one needs to take into account all tasks being performed by the worker and the gains from fragmenting jobs versus the benefits of multi‐tasked workers (taylorism versus toyotism). Furthermore, one needs to distinguish between fragmentation of production and fragmentation of jobs.
Trade Policy Review for China: Continuing Globalisation Amidst the World Financial Crisis
Authors: Yao Shujie , Liu Change 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe 2008 world financial crisis had led many industrialised countries to endure a significant decline in their GDPs. Though the Chinese government arranged a 4 trillion RMB stimulus package coupled with 30 trillion RMB of new bank credits in 2008–2010 to mitigate the impact of the world financial crisis, the growth of China’s international trade declined to a single‐digit level after 10 years of rapid growth at more than 20% per annum since its WTO accession. The latest WTO Trade Policy Review for China is a timely piece of literature which provides excellent information on China’s current economic situation, its trade and investment policies and government’s priorities of policy support. In this article, we intend to reveal the latest development in the Chinese economy from the second half of 2011 and to predict what it may happen in the next a couple of years. China’s determination to ‘go global’ has not faded and China can only become more open in the future.
Comparison of beam angle selection strategies for intracranial IMRT
Authors: Bangert Mark , Ziegenhein Peter , Oelfke Uwe 
Published: December 2012

Purpose:Various strategies to select beneficial beam ensembles for intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been suggested over the years. These beam angle selection (BAS) strategies are usually evaluated against reference configurations applying equispaced coplanar beams but they are not compared to one another. Here, the authors present a meta analysis of four BAS strategies that incorporates fluence optimization (FO) into BAS by combinatorial optimization (CO) and one BAS strategy that decouples FO from BAS, i.e., spherical cluster analysis (SCA). The underlying parameters of the BAS process are investigated and the dosimetric benefits of the BAS strategies are quantified.Methods:For three intracranial lesions in proximity to organs at risk (OARs) the authors compare treatment plans applying equispaced coplanar beam ensembles with treatment plans using five different BAS strategies, i.e., four CO techniques and SCA, to establish coplanar and noncoplanar beam ensembles. Treatment plans applying 5, 7, 9, and 11 beams are investigated. For the CO strategies the authors perform BAS runs with a 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20° angular resolution, which corresponds to a minimum of 18 coplanar and a maximum of 1400 noncoplanar candidate beams. In total 272 treatment plans with different BAS settings are generated for every patient. The quality of the treatment plans is compared based on the protection of OARs yet integral dose, target homogeneity, and target conformity are also considered.Results:It is possible to reduce the average mean and maximum doses in OARs by more than 4 Gy (1 Gy) with optimized noncoplanar (coplanar) beam ensembles found with BAS by CO or SCA. For BAS including FO by CO, the individual algorithm used and the angular resolution in the space of candidate beams does not have a crucial impact on the quality of the resulting treatment plans. All CO algorithms yield similar target conformity and slightly improved target homogeneity in comparison to equispaced coplanar setups. Furthermore, optimized coplanar (noncoplanar) beam ensembles enabled more than a 6% (5%) reduction of the integral dose. For SCA, however, integral dose was increased and target conformity was decreased in comparison to equispaced coplanar setups—especially for a small number of beams.Conclusion:Both BAS strategies incorporating FO by CO and independent BAS strategies excluding FO provide dose savings in OARs for optimized coplanar and especially noncoplanar beam ensembles; they should not be neglected in the clinic.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Resistance Patterns among Helicobacter pylori Strains from The Gambia, West Africa
Authors: Secka Ousman , Berg Douglas E. , Antonio Martin , Corrah Tumani , Tapgun Mary , Walton Robert , Thomas Vivat , Galano Juan J. , Sancho Javier , Adegbola Richard A. , Thomas Julian E. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori
is a globally important and genetically diverse gastric pathogen that infects most people in developing countries. Eradication efforts are complicated by antibiotic resistance, which varies in frequency geographically. There are very few data on resistance in African strains. Sixty-four Gambian
H. pylori
strains were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. The role of
rdxA
in metronidazole (Mtz) susceptibility was tested by DNA transformation and sequencing; RdxA protein variants were interpreted in terms of RdxA structure. Forty-four strains (69%) were resistant to at least 8 μg of Mtz/ml. All six strains from infants, but only 24% of strains from adults, were sensitive (
P
= 0.0031). Representative Mtz-resistant (Mtz
r
) strains were rendered Mtz susceptible (Mtz
s
) by transformation with a functional
rdxA
gene; conversely, Mtz
s
strains were rendered Mtz
r
by
rdxA
inactivation. Many mutations were found by Gambian
H. pylori
rdxA
sequencing; mutations that probably inactivated
rdxA
in Mtz
r
strains were identified and explained using RdxA protein's structure. All of the strains were sensitive to clarithromycin and erythromycin. Amoxicillin and tetracycline resistance was rare. Sequence analysis indicated that most tetracycline resistance, when found, was not due to 16S rRNA gene mutations. These data suggest caution in the use of Mtz-based therapies in The Gambia. The increasing use of macrolides against respiratory infections in The Gambia calls for continued antibiotic susceptibility monitoring. The rich variety of
rdxA
mutations that we found will be useful in further structure-function studies of RdxA, the enzyme responsible for Mtz susceptibility in this important pathogen.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of GS-9851, a Nucleotide Analog Polymerase Inhibitor for Hepatitis C Virus, following Single Ascending Doses in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Denning Jill , Cornpropst Melanie , Flach Stephen D. , Berrey Michelle M. , Symonds William T. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

To investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of GS-9851 (formerly PSI-7851), a new nucleotide analog inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV), we conducted a double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, randomized, single-ascending-dose study. Healthy subjects received oral doses of 25 to 800 mg GS-9851. Peak concentrations of GS-9851 in plasma were achieved more rapidly than those of the metabolites GS-566500 (formerly PSI-352707) and GS-331007 (formerly PSI-6206), with time to maximum concentration of drug in plasma (
t
max
) values of 1.0 to 1.8 h, 1.5 to 3.0 h, and 3.0 to 6.0 h, respectively. The majority of systemic drug exposure was from the nucleoside GS-331007, with maximum concentration of drug in plasma (
C
max
) and area under the concentration-time curve to the last measurable concentration (AUC

0–
t

) values at least 7- and 41-fold higher, respectively, than those obtained for GS-9851 after adjusting for differences in molecular weight. The terminal elimination half-life (
t
1/2
) of GS-331007 increased with the dose, achieving a
t
1/2
of 25.7 h at 800 mg GS-9851. Dose proportionality was not observed for GS-331007. The majority of drug recovered in urine was in the form of GS-331007, with the percentage of this metabolite in urine samples ranging from 57% to 27% with increasing dose. GS-9851 was generally well tolerated, with no maximum tolerated dose identified. In conclusion, GS-9851 and its metabolites demonstrated a favorable pharmacokinetic profile consistent with once-daily dosing, and therefore, further clinical studies evaluating GS-9851 in HCV-infected patients are warranted.
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Tolerability of GS-9851, a Nucleotide Analog Polymerase Inhibitor, following Multiple Ascending Doses in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Authors: Lawitz Eric , Rodriguez-Torres Maribel , Denning Jill M. , Albanis Efsevia , Cornpropst Melanie , Berrey Michelle M. , Symonds William T. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

We conducted this double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, randomized, multiple-ascending-dose study to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of GS-9851 (formerly PSI-7851) in treatment-naïve patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. Thirty-two patients received active doses up to 400 mg of GS-9851 once daily for 3 days. GS-9851 and the metabolite GS-566500 (formerly PSI-352707) were rapidly cleared from the plasma, with half-life (
t
1/2
) values of approximately 1 h for GS-9851 and 3 h for GS-566500. Accumulation (21%) was observed only for GS-331007 (formerly PSI-6206) after multiple dosing. GS-331007 was the primary drug-related moiety in the plasma and urine. Increases in the GS-9851, GS-566500, and GS-331007 maximum concentrations in plasma (
C
max
) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were less than dose proportional, particularly at the highest doses. The decline in plasma HCV RNA levels was dose dependent, and a mean maximal change from the baseline of −1.95 log
10
IU/ml was obtained for 400 mg GS-9851, compared with −0.090 log
10
IU/ml for the placebo. Most patients had a decrease in HCV RNA of ≥1.0 log
10
IU/ml after 3 days' dosing with 400 mg GS-9851. No virologic resistance was observed. GS-9851 was generally well tolerated, with no notable differences in adverse event frequency across doses. The pharmacokinetic profile observed in this study was similar to that seen in a single-ascending-dose study in healthy subjects.
Multiscale Distribution and Bioaccumulation Analysis of Clofazimine Reveals a Massive Immune System-Mediated Xenobiotic Sequestration Response
Authors: Baik Jason , Stringer Kathleen A. , Mane Gerta , Rosania Gus R. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACTChronic exposure to some well-absorbed but slowly eliminated xenobiotics can lead to their bioaccumulation in living organisms. Here, we studied the bioaccumulation and distribution of clofazimine, a riminophenazine antibiotic used to treat mycobacterial infection. Using mice as a model organism, we performed a multiscale, quantitative analysis to reveal the sites of clofazimine bioaccumulation during chronic, long-term exposure. Remarkably, between 3 and 8 weeks of dietary administration, clofazimine massively redistributed from adipose tissue to liver and spleen. During this time, clofazimine concentration in fat and serum significantly decreased, while the mass of clofazimine in spleen and liver increased by >10-fold. These changes were paralleled by the accumulation of clofazimine in the resident macrophages of the lymphatic organs, with as much as 90% of the clofazimine mass in spleen sequestered in intracellular crystal-like drug inclusions (CLDIs). The amount of clofazimine associated with CLDIs of liver and spleen macrophages disproportionately increased and ultimately accounted for a major fraction of the total clofazimine in the host. After treatment was discontinued, clofazimine was retained in spleen while its concentrations decreased in blood and other organs. Immunologically, clofazimine bioaccumulation induced a local, monocyte-specific upregulation of various chemokines and receptors. However, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was also upregulated, and the acute-phase response pathways and oxidant capacity decreased or remained unchanged, marking a concomitant activation of an anti-inflammatory response. These experiments indicate an inducible, immune system-dependent, xenobiotic sequestration response affecting the atypical pharmacokinetics of a small molecule chemotherapeutic agent.