bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Remnant Preservation
Authors: Hong Lei , Li Xu , Zhang Hui , Liu Xin , Zhang Jin , Shen Jie Wei , Feng Hua 
Published: October 2012

Background: Efforts still need to be made to improve the technique for surgical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Several reports have claimed that ACLR with the remnant preservation technique can obtain satisfactory clinical results. Purpose: To compare the short-term clinical outcome of remnant-preserving ACLR with standard ACLR. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled study was performed in 90 consecutive patients who underwent ACLR with the remnant preservation technique (study group, n = 45) or the standard technique (control group, n = 45) with the use of a 4-strand allograft. The Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) grade, stability assessments (Lachman test, pivot-shift test, and KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side differences), synovial coverage of the graft, and proprioception measurements were evaluated preoperatively and at the last follow-up. Results: All consecutive patients who were screened for eligibility between August 2008 and April 2010 were enrolled and followed clinically. There were 39 patients in the study group and 41 in the control group who were followed for at least 2 years (mean follow-up, 25.7 months). At the last follow-up, the median Lysholm score was 99 in the study group and 95 in the control group ( P = .07). The IKDC grade was A or B in 38 patients in the study group and 40 patients in the control group ( P = .548). Lachman test results were negative in 38 patients in the study group and 40 patients in the control group ( P = .862), and the pivot-shift test result was negative in 37 patients in the study group and 36 patients in the control group ( P = .523). The mean KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference averaged 1.6 ± 1.7 mm in the study group and 1.8 ± 1.8 mm in the control group ( P = .694). Second-look arthroscopy was performed to evaluate synovial coverage of the graft. Normal or nearly normal synovial coverage, graded as A or B, was 71.4% (20/28) in the study group and 70.4% (19/27) in the control group ( P = .966). The passive angle reproduction test result at 15° was 3.6° ± 1.8° in the study group and 3.9° ± 2.2° in the control group ( P = .739). Conclusion: This short-term study showed that, in terms of stability, synovial coverage, and proprioception recovery, remnant preservation ACLR using an allograft had no evident advantages in clinical outcome over the standard technique.
N-Acetyl cysteine and erdosteine treatment in acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Authors: Saritas Ayhan , Kandis Hayati , Baltaci Davut , Yildirim Umran , Kaya Halil , Karakus Ali , Colakoglu Serdar , Memisogullari Ramazan , Kara Ismail Hamdi 
Published: October 2012

Objective: This study is aimed to investigate the efficacy of erdosteine usage in acetaminophen-induced liver damage and to compare it with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in the treatment and prevention of liver toxicity due to overdose of acetaminophen. Methods: The rats were separated into the following six groups of seven rats each: control group; acetaminophen (1 g/kg, orally); acetaminophen (1 g/kg, orally) + erdosteine (150 mg/kg/day, orally); acetaminophen (1 g/kg, orally) + NAC (140 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 70 mg/kg, orally); NAC (140 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 70 mg/kg, orally); erdosteine (150 mg/kg/kg, orally), subsequently. In all the groups, potential liver injuries were evaluated using biochemical and hematological analyses, oxidant–antioxidant parameters and histopathological parameters. Results: In acetaminophen-treated group, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total oxidant status (TOS) in the blood, prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) were significantly increased when compared with controls. However, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased in group treated with acetaminophen, when compared with control group. Levels of AST, ALT and TOS, PT and INR were decreased in groups treated with NAC and erdosteine after acetaminophen administration, but the levels of TAC and GSH were increased. Histopathological improvements were observed in the groups treated with NAC and erdosteine after acetaminophen administration. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that, in the prevention of liver damage induced by acetaminophen intoxication, an early treatment with a single dose of erdosteine was beneficial instead of NAC administration.
A minimal net reclassification improvement to assess predictions of intensive care mortality
Authors: Redondo Yacine Tandjaoui Lambiotte , Lambert Jérôme , Chevret Sylvie 
Published: October 2012

Objective In assessing the improved discrimination of a new prognostic score, the “Net Reclassification Improvement” from reclassification methods appears of interest. We propose a measure that takes into account improvements in predicted probabilities to assess and allows testing the additional predictive ability of a new scoring system Y compared to a reference score X. Study design and settings To assess and test the improvement in mortality prediction of (X + Y) compared to X, we defined a minimal net reclassification improvement that restricted improvements in predicted probabilities according to some positive threshold δ. Both absolute and relative improvements were considered. A simulation study was performed to assess its performances in a range of practical situations. We then applied our measures to real intensive care unit data. Results Expectedly, minimal net reclassification improvement increased with the effect size of Y and decreased with the value of δ. Using relative improvements allowed erasing the influence of the population mortality. For given effect sizes of X and Y, the difference in all measures of reclassification decreased when a correlation between X and Y was introduced. Conclusion Reclassification methods, particularly the minimal net reclassification improvement, seem to be clinically relevant when used with continuous clinical data with no known threshold.
Culture, Politics and Identity: Critical Readings on Gender in Southeast Asia
Authors: Sarmento Clara 
Published: October 2012

This article discusses some critical readings of theoretical texts on gender in Southeast Asian countries, where the intersections of past and present, of the global and the local, capitalism, post-colonialism and post-modernism define the guidelines to explore the negotiation and evolution of gender concepts. Gender issues are located not only within structures of symbolic meaning, but also in relation to the historical and political forces that have marked a plurality of post-colonial contexts, where local notions about gender (in)equality and complementarity are constantly evolving. This article claims that the previously silenced narratives of non-Western women must be given a new role and status, in a modern transnational, interdisciplinary cultural grid. Narratives of everyday common life create spaces of empathy, and consequently, projects of action and research will be conducted in order to obtain concrete and useful results. However, many narratives of the everyday practice are actually stories of violence, a type of discourse generated by extreme poverty, substantial inequality and daily contact with terror. In addition, this article also analyses the role played by female characters in the building of the nation’s narrative, both in colonial and post-colonial times, with its enduring stereotypes, dichotomies and metaphors of power.
Low degree of cortical pathology is associated with benign course of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Calabrese Massimiliano , Favaretto Alice , Poretto Valentina , Romualdi Chiara , Rinaldi Francesca , Mattisi Irene , Morra Aldo , Perini Paola , Gallo Paolo 
Published: October 2012

Background: Although a more favorable course of multiple sclerosis is associated with a low degree of cortical pathology, only longitudinal studies could definitely confirm this association. Materials and Methods: We followed 95 early relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS; median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) = 1.5, mean disease duration = 3.1 ± 1.3 years) and 45 benign MS patients (EDSS ≤ 3.0, disease duration ≥ 15 years, normal cognition) for 6 years, with EDSS evaluations every 6 months and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and then yearly. Results: At baseline, we detected 406 cortical lesions (CLs) in 67/95 (70.5%) early RRMS and in 24/45 (53.3%) benign MS patients ( p = 0.046). After 6 years, the appearance of new CLs was observed in 80/95 (84.2%; 518 CLs) of our early RRMS and in 25/45 (55.5%; 63 CLs; p < 0.001) benign MS patients. At baseline, after corrections for age and disease duration, we observed a cortical thinning of several frontal and temporal regions in our RRMS study patients, compared to the benign MS patients ( p ranging between 0.001–0.05). After 6 years, the cortical thinning had increased significantly in several cortices of RRMS patients, but only in the occipital-temporal ( p = 0.036) and superior parietal gyrus ( p = 0.035) of those with benign MS. Stepwise regression analysis revealed the CL volume ( p = 0.006) and the cortical thickness of the temporal middle ( p < 0.001), insular long ( p < 0.001), superior frontal ( p < 0.001) and middle frontal gyri ( p < 0.001) as the most sensitive independent predictors of a favorable disease course. Conclusions: Our data confirmed that a significantly milder cortical pathology characterizes the most favorable clinical course of MS. Measures of focal and diffuse grey matter should be combined to increase the accuracy in the identification of a benign MS course.
Advances in the Surgical Management of Articular Cartilage Defects
Authors: Stein Spencer , Strauss Eric , Bosco Joseph 
Published: October 2012

Objective: The purpose of this review is to gain insight into the latest methods of articular cartilage implantation (ACI) and to detail where they are in the Food and Drug Administration approval and regulatory process. Design: A PubMed search was performed using the phrase “Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation” alone and with the words second generation and third generation. Additionally, clinicaltrials.gov was searched for the names of the seven specific procedures and the parent company websites were referenced. Results: Two-Stage Techniques: BioCart II uses a FGF2v1 culture and a fibrinogen, thrombin matrix, whereas Hyalograft-C uses a Hyaff 11 matrix. MACI uses a collagen I/III matrix. Cartipatch consists of an agarose-alginate hydrogel. Neocart uses a high-pressure bioreactor for culturing with a type I collagen matrix. ChondroCelect makes use of a gene expression analysis to predict chondrocyte proliferation and has demonstrated significant clinical improvement, but failed to show superiority to microfracture in a phase III trial. One Step Technique: CAIS is an ACI procedure where harvested cartilage is minced and implanted into a matrix for defect filling. Conclusion: As full thickness defects in articular cartilage continue to pose a challenge to treat, new methods of repair are being researched. Later generation ACI has been developed to address the prevalence of fibrocartilage with microfracture and the complications associated with the periosteal flap of first generation ACI such as periosteal hypertrophy. The procedures and products reviewed here represent advances in tissue engineering, scaffolds and autologous chondrocyte culturing that may hold promise in our quest to alter the natural history of symptomatic chondral disease.
Reduced rRNA expression and increased rDNA promoter methylation in CD34+ cells of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Raval Aparna , Sridhar Kunju J. , Patel Shripa , Turnbull Brit B. , Greenberg Peter L. , Mitchell Beverly S. 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders of hematopoietic stem cells characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis. The DNA-hypomethylating agents 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine are effective treatments for patients with MDS, increasing the time to progression to acute myelogenous leukemia and improving overall response rates. Although genome-wide increases in DNA methylation have been documented in BM cells from MDS patients, the methylation signatures of specific gene promoters have not been correlated with the clinical response to these therapies. Recently, attention has been drawn to the potential etiologic role of decreased expression of specific ribosomal proteins in MDS and in other BM failure states. Therefore, we investigated whether rRNA expression is dysregulated in MDS. We found significantly decreased rRNA expression and increased rDNA promoter methylation in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from the majority of MDS patients compared with normal controls. Treatment of myeloid cell lines with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine resulted in a significant decrease in the methylation of the rDNA promoter and an increase in rRNA levels. These observations suggest that an increase in rDNA promoter methylation can result in decreased rRNA synthesis that may contribute to defective hematopoiesis and BM failure in some patients with MDS.
IGHV-unmutated and IGHV-mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells produce activation-induced deaminase protein with a full range of biologic functions
Authors: Patten Piers E. M. , Chu Charles C. , Albesiano Emilia , Damle Rajendra N. , Yan Xiao-Jie , Kim Dorothy , Zhang Lu , Magli Amanda R. , Barrientos Jacqueline , Kolitz Jonathan E. , Allen Steven L. , Rai Kanti R. , Roa Sergio , Mongini Patricia K. , MacCarthy Thomas , Scharff Matthew D. , Chiorazzi Nicholas 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Clonal evolution occurs during the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and activation-induced deaminase (AID) could influence this process. However, this possibility has been questioned in CLL because the number of circulating AID mRNA+ cells is exceedingly low; synthesis of AID protein by blood CLL cells has not been demonstrated; the full range of AID functions is lacking in unmutated CLL (U-CLL), and no prospective analysis linking AID expression and disease severity has been reported. The results of the present study show that circulating CLL cells and those within secondary lymphoid tissues can make AID mRNA and protein. This production is related to cell division because more AID mRNA was detected in recently divided cells and AID protein was limited to the dividing fraction and was up-regulated on induction of cell division. AID protein was functional because AID+ dividing cells exhibited more double-stranded DNA breaks, IGH class switching, and new IGHV-D-J mutations. Each of these actions was documented in U-CLL and mutated CLL (M-CLL). Furthermore, AID protein was associated with worse patient outcome and adverse cytogenetics. We conclude that the production of fully functional AID protein by U-CLL and M-CLL cells could be involved in clonal evolution of the disease.
Weakly isotone increasing mappings and endpoints in partially ordered metric spaces
Authors: Hussain N , Nashine HK , Kadelburg Z , Alsulami Saud M 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe aim of this work is to extend the notion of weakly isotone increasing mappings to multivalued and present common endpoint theorems forT-weakly isotone increasing multivalued mappings satisfying generalized(ψ,φ)-weak contractive as well as almost contractive inequalities in complete partially ordered metric spaces. Examples are given in support of the new results obtained.MSC:47H10, 54H25, 54H10.
MicroRNAs and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase-2 in human myocardial infarction: expression and bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Boštjančič Emanuela , Zidar Nina , Glavač Damjan 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Cardiac sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase-2 (SERCA2) plays one of the central roles in myocardial contractility. Both, SERCA2 mRNA and protein are reduced in myocardial infarction (MI), but the correlation has not been always observed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act by targeting 3'-UTR mRNA, causing translational repression in physiological and pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. One of the aims of our study was to identify miRNAs that could influence SERCA2 expression in human MI.

Results
The protein SERCA2 was decreased and 43 miRNAs were deregulated in infarcted myocardium compared to corresponding remote myocardium, analyzed by western blot and microRNA microarrays, respectively. All the samples were stored as FFPE tissue and in RNAlater. miRNAs binding prediction to SERCA2 including four prediction algorithms (TargetScan, PicTar, miRanda and mirTarget2) identified 213 putative miRNAs. TAM and miRNApath annotation of deregulated miRNAs identified 18 functional and 21 diseased states related to heart diseases, and association of the half of the deregulated miRNAs to SERCA2. Free-energy of binding and flanking regions (RNA22, RNAfold) was calculated for 10 up-regulated miRNAs from microarray analysis (miR-122, miR-320a/b/c/d, miR-574-3p/-5p, miR-199a, miR-140, and miR-483), and nine miRNAs deregulated from microarray analysis were used for validation with qPCR (miR-21, miR-122, miR-126, miR-1, miR-133, miR-125a/b, and miR-98). Based on qPCR results, the comparison between FFPE and RNAlater stored tissue samples, between Sybr Green and TaqMan approaches, as well as between different reference genes were also performed.

Conclusion
Combing all the results, we identified certain miRNAs as potential regulators of SERCA2; however, further functional studies are needed for verification. Using qPCR, we confirmed deregulation of nine miRNAs in human MI, and show that qPCR normalization strategy is important for the outcome of miRNA expression analysis in human MI.
Proteome remodelling during development from blood to insect-form Trypanosoma brucei quantified by SILAC and mass spectrometry
Authors: Gunasekera Kapila , Wüthrich Daniel , Braga-Lagache Sophie , Heller Manfred , Ochsenreiter Torsten 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background

Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of human African sleeping sickness and Nagana in cattle. In addition to being an important pathogen T. brucei has developed into a model system in cell biology.

Results
Using Stable Isotope Labelling of Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC) in combination with mass spectrometry we determined the abundance of >1600 proteins in the long slender (LS), short stumpy (SS) mammalian bloodstream form stages relative to the procyclic (PC) insect-form stage. In total we identified 2645 proteins, corresponding to ~30% of the total proteome and for the first time present a comprehensive overview of relative protein levels in three life stages of the parasite.

Conclusions
We can show the extent of pre-adaptation in the SS cells, especially at the level of the mitochondrial proteome. The comparison to a previously published report on monomorphic in vitro grown bloodstream and procyclic T. brucei indicates a loss of stringent regulation particularly of mitochondrial proteins in these cells when compared to the pleomorphic in vivo situation. In order to better understand the different levels of gene expression regulation in this organism we compared mRNA steady state abundance with the relative protein abundance-changes and detected moderate but significant correlation indicating that trypanosomes possess a significant repertoire of translational and posttranslational mechanisms to regulate protein abundance.
Marek’s disease virus infection induces widespread differential chromatin marks in inbred chicken lines
Authors: Mitra Apratim , Luo Juan , Zhang Huanming , Cui Kairong , Zhao Keji , Song Jiuzhou 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Marek’s disease (MD) is a neoplastic disease in chickens caused by the MD virus (MDV). Successful vaccine development against MD has resulted in increased virulence of MDV and the understanding of genetic resistance to the disease is, therefore, crucial to long-term control strategies. Also, epigenetic factors are believed to be one of the major determinants of disease response.

Results
Here, we carried out comprehensive analyses of the epigenetic landscape induced by MDV, utilizing genome-wide histone H3 lysine 4 and lysine 27 trimethylation maps from chicken lines with varying resistance to MD. Differential chromatin marks were observed on genes previously implicated in the disease such as MX1 and CTLA-4 and also on genes reported in other cancers including IGF2BP1 and GAL. We detected bivalent domains on immune-related transcriptional regulators BCL6, CITED2 and EGR1, which underwent dynamic changes in both lines as a result of MDV infection. In addition, putative roles for GAL in the mechanism of MD progression were revealed.

Conclusion
Our results confirm the presence of widespread epigenetic differences induced by MD in chicken lines with different levels of genetic resistance. A majority of observed epigenetic changes were indicative of increased levels of viral infection in the susceptible line symptomatic of lowered immunocompetence in these birds caused by early cytolytic infection. The GAL system that has known anti-proliferative effects in other cancers is also revealed to be potentially involved in MD progression. Our study provides further insight into the mechanisms of MD progression while revealing a complex landscape of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that varies depending on host factors.
Antibiotic producing microorganisms from River Wiwi, Lake Bosomtwe and the Gulf of Guinea at Doakor Sea Beach, Ghana
Authors: Tawiah Adelaide A , Gbedema Stephen Y , Adu Francis , Boamah Vivian E , Annan Kofi 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Microorganisms have provided a wealth of metabolites with interesting activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer. In this study, a total of 119 aquatic microbial isolates from 30 samples (taken from water bodies in Ghana) were screened by the agar-well diffusion method for ability to produce antibacterial-metabolites.

Results
Antibacterial activity was exhibited by 27 of the isolates (14 bacteria, 9 actinomycetes and 4 fungi) against at least one of the indicator microorganisms: Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Bacillus thuringiensis (ATCC 13838), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Proteus vulgaris (NCTC 4635) and Bacillus Subtilis (NCTC 10073). A sea isolate MAI2 (identified as a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity (lowest zone of inhibition = 22 mm). The metabolites of MAI2 extracted with chloroform were stable to heat and gave minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging between 250 and 2000 μg/ml. Bioautography of the extract revealed seven active components.

Conclusion
This study has therefore uncovered the potential of water bodies in the West African sub-region as reservoirs of potent bioactive metabolite producing microorganisms.