bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethanol elimination kinetics following massive ingestion in an ethanol naive child
Authors: Wiener Sage W , Olmedo R , Howland MA , Nelson LS , Hoffman RS 
Published: December 2012

Objective: At low-to-moderate concentrations, ethanol elimination follows zero-order kinetics. It is unknown whether renal, pulmonary or other first-order processes become significant in patients with very high serum ethanol concentrations. Additionally, it is unclear whether ethanol naive subjects induce their metabolism during acute intoxication. We present the toxicokinetic analysis in a child with a massive ingestion of ethanol. Case report: A 15-year-old girl without significant medical history presented to the Emergency Department after drinking 24 ounces of tequila. She was found unresponsive at home with a Glasgow Coma Score of 3. Her presenting vitals were as follows: 118/69 mmHg blood pressure; pulse rate was 88 beats per minute; respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute; pulse-oximetry is 96% on room air. Other than obtundation, her physical examination was normal. She was intubated for airway protection and admitted to the ICU. Her initial serum ethanol concentration was 543 mg/dL. A repeat level 3 h later was 722 mg/dL. Post-absorptive ethanol concentrations decreased from 693 mg/dL to 291 mg/dL over the following 15.5 h. The patient had spontaneous eye opening 24 h after presentation. Her projected serum ethanol concentration at that time was 215 mg/dL. She was extubated 2 h later and had an uneventful recovery. Results: The elimination of ethanol in the post-absorptive phase remained zero-order at a rate of 26.3 mg/dL/h (5.7 mmol/L/h) with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient ( R2) of 0.9968 ( p < 0.01). There was no evidence of acute induction in metabolism although pharmacodynamic tolerance likely occurred. Conclusion: Even at very high ethanol concentrations in ethanol naive subjects, elimination of ethanol follows a zero-order toxicokinetic model.
Consequences of manganese administration for striatal dopamine and motor behavior in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-exposed C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Dodd C.A. , Bloomquist J.R. , Klein B.G. 
Published: December 2012

Environmental compounds may be important contributors to Parkinson’s disease etiology. Epidemiological and experimental evidence for the facilitation of parkinsonism by manganese is equivocal. This work addressed methodological concerns in the few studies of manganese modulation of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced toxicity in C57BL/6 mice. Male, retired breeder mice received 0 or 100 mg/kg of manganese chloride (MnCl2; subcutaneously on days 1, 4 and 7) and 0 or 20 mg/kg of MPTP (intraperitoneally on day 8) and survived up to day 15 or 22. On the day of sacrificing, horizontal (grid crossing) and vertical (rearing) open field movement, swimming, grip strength and grip fatigue were examined. Striata were analyzed for dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) using high-performance liquid chromatography. MPTP produced a main effect decrease in striatal dopamine (48.8%) and DOPAC (38.1%), but there was no main effect of MnCl2 or MnCl2 × MPTP interaction. However, modulatory interactions were observed between the effects of MnCl2 and MPTP for grid crossing, rearing and grip strength. Interestingly, these interactions reduced the severity of behavioral deficits attributable to either of these compounds alone. For rearing and grip strength, the MnCl2 × MPTP interaction was dependent upon survival time. The mechanistic nature of the MnCl2 × MPTP interaction upon these behaviors, in the absence of such an interaction for striatal dopamine and DOPAC, remains to be clarified.
Assessment of cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of benzaldehyde using different assays
Authors: Ulker Z. , Alpsoy L. , Mihmanli A. 
Published: December 2012

Benzaldehyde (BA) occurs naturally in a number of plants, including cherry, fig and peach fruit and carnation flowers at therapeutic doses. In addition, it is used in cosmetics, personal care products and food as a preservative. In this study, we aimed to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of different concentrations of BA on cultured human lymphocytes using lactate dehydrogenase assay, cell proliferation (water-soluble tetrazolium salts-1) assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) test (apoptotic test) as a group of cytotoxicity tests at 6th and 24th h on human lymphocyte cell culture. The cytotoxicity increased when cells were treated with 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL concentrations of BA ( p < 0.05). Moreover, treatment of the cells with the same concentrations significantly decreased the cell number at the 6th and 24th hours ( p < 0.05). TUNEL assay results also show that the concentration of BA at 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL caused DNA damage significantly ( p < 0.05). According to our results, the toxic and genotoxic effects of BA have to be further evaluated before using in cosmetic and food products.
A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Activity of Palliative Care Teams in Portugal
Authors: Gonçalves Ferraz , Almeida Ana , Antunes Catarina , Cardoso Alice , Carvalho Margarida , Claro Maria , Coimbra Francisca , Diniz Inês , Fonseca Bruno , Fradique Emília , Gonçalves Edna , Gonçalves Florbela , Gonçalves Maria , Magalhães Américo , Pina Paulo , Pires Conceição , Silva Paula , Silva Ricardo , Silva Rui , Tavares Filipa , Teixeira Laura 
Published: December 2012

Of the 21 Portuguese teams identified, 10 accepted to participate in the study. A total of 164 patients were included with a median of 15.5 per team (4-32). Of all the patients included, 60 (37%) were identified as inpatients in palliative care units; 59 (36%) by an intrahospital support team; 26 (16%) as outpatients; and 19 (12%) at home. The median age was 71 years (16-95). Fifty-one percent were females. The diagnosis was cancer in 151 (92%) patients. The most common cancer was colorectal in 22 (15%) patients, followed by gastric 17 (11%), head and neck 17 (11%), breast 15 (10%), and lung cancers 14 (9%). All patients were treated by doctors and nurses experienced in palliative care.
Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Cilostazol to Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Stent Implantation
Authors: Ding Xiao Liang , Xie Cheng , Jiang Bin , Gao Jie , Zhang Ling Li , Zhang Hua , Zhang Jing Jing , Miao Li Yan 
Published: December 2012

Background: Aspirin and clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) reduce ischemic events in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, recurrent ischemic event occurrence during DAT remains a major concern. This systematic review assesses the efficacy and safety of adjunctive cilostazol to DAT in combination with DAT on reducing clinical adverse events. Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, clinicaltrial.gov, and Chinese Biomedical Database through July 2011. Pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated. Two independent reviewers evaluated the included studies. The extracted data were analyzed by Review Manager 5.1.2 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK) and GRADEprofiler 3.6 (GRADE Working Group). Results: A total of 7 RCTs (4351 patients) were included in the analysis, with a follow-up period of 6 to 12 months. Pooled analysis showed that cilostazol was associated with a significant reduction in major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; pooled RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.91; P = .008) and repeat revascularization (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.89; P = .002); however, cilostazol was not associated with a reduction in the risk of stent thrombosis (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.41-2.45; P = 1.00). Cilostazol seems to be safe, with no significant increase in the risk of bleeding (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.72-1.56; P = .77). The 4 outcomes were low-quality evidence for MACE, moderate-quality evidence for repeat revascularization, and high-quality evidence for bleeding and stent thrombosis. Conclusions: When compared to the currently recommended DAT, triple antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol can reduce repeat revascularization with no increase in the risk of bleeding.
Glimepiride Treatment Facilitates Ischemic Preconditioning in the Diabetic Heart
Authors: Hausenloy Derek J. , Wynne Abigail M. , Mocanu Mihaela M. , Yellon Derek M. 
Published: December 2012

Aims: The diabetic heart is resistant to the myocardial infarct-limiting effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC). This may be in part due to the downregulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase-Akt pathway, an essential component of IPC protection. We hypothesized that treating the diabetic heart with the sulfonylurea, glimepiride, which has been reported to activate Akt, may lower the threshold required to protect the diabetic heart by IPC. Methods: Goto-Kakizaki rats (a type II lean model of diabetes) received glimepiride (20 mg/kg per d, by oral gavage) or vehicle for (a) 3 months (chronic treatment) or (b) 24 hours (subacute treatment). In the third group, glimepiride (10 μmol/L) was administered only to the isolated hearts on the Langendorff apparatus (acute treatment). All hearts were subjected to 35 minutes ischemia and 120 minutes reperfusion ex vivo, at the end of which infarct size was determined by tetrazolium staining. Preconditioning treatment comprised 1 (IPC-1) or 3 (IPC-3) cycles of 5 minutes global ischemia and 10 minutes reperfusion. Results: The diabetic heart was found to be resistant to IPC such that 3-IPC cycles, instead of the usual 1-IPC cycle, were required for cardioprotection. However, pretreatment with glimepiride lowered the threshold for IPC such that both 1 and 3 cycles of IPC elicited cardioprotection: chronic glimepiride treatment (IPC-1 31.9% ± 3.8% and IPC-3 33.5% ± 2.4% vs 43.9% ± 1.4% control, P < .05; N > 6 per group); subacute glimepiride treatment (IPC-1 31.1% ± 3.0% and IPC-3 29.3% ± 3.3% vs 42.2% ± 2.3% control, P < .05 N > 6 per group); and acute glimepiride treatment (IPC-1 28.2% ± 3.7% and IPC-3 24.6% ± 5.4% vs 41.9% ± 5.4% control, P < .05; N > 6 per group). This effect of glimepiride was independent of changes in blood glucose. Conclusions: We report for the first time that glimepiride treatment facilitates the cardioprotective effect elicited by IPC in the diabetic heart.
Relation of Coronary Collateral Circulation With Red Cell Distribution Width in Patients With Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Tanboga Ibrahim Halil , Topcu Selim , Nacar Tuncer , Aksakal Enbiya , Kalkan Kamuran , Kiki Ilhami , Sevimli Serdar 
Published: December 2012

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between red cell distribution width (RDW) value and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods: The study population consisted of 322 consecutive patients with NSTEMI. The patients were classified into impaired CCC (group 1, Rentrop grades 0-1) or good CCC (group 2, Rentrop grades 2-3). Baseline RDW was measured as part of the automated complete blood count. Results: The RDW values were significantly higher in patients with impaired CCC than in those with good CCC (17.2 ± 2.3 vs 14.5 ± 2.5, P < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW (odds ratio: 1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-1.78, P < .001), baseline creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and absence of preinfarction angina were found to be the independent predictors of impaired CCC. In receiver–operating characteristic curve analysis, the RDW value >15.5 yielded an area under curve value of 0.783, with 77% sensitivity and 73% specificity. Conclusions: Our study results demonstrated that, high RDW, high CK-MB, and absence of preinfarction angina were found to be independent predictors of impaired CCC.
Challenges to liberal intergovernmentalism
Authors: Franchino Fabio 
Published: December 2012

Slapin (2011) and Finke et al. (2012) represent the best theory-based book-length studies of the most active period of treaty reform in the history of the European Union – from the Treaty of Amsterdam to the Treaty of Lisbon. These works offer the opportunity to assess the extent to which liberal intergovernmentalism – a ‘baseline’ theory of regional integration – has withstood empirical scrutiny. I first address what I consider a misinterpretation of liberal intergovernmentalism – the presumed pre-eminence given to a country’s relative capability. I then identify challenges to this framework. Methodologically, they concern the measurement of preferences, value of disagreement and opportunities for linkages in treaty negotiations. I then assess evidence of lower-than-unanimity thresholds for treaty reform, which may represent a theoretical challenge. Finally, I suggest that focal points and bargaining dynamics deserve greater scholarly attention.
A New Measure of State Government Ideology, and Evidence that Both the New Measure and an Old Measure Are Valid
Authors: Berry William D. , Fording Richard C. , Ringquist Evan J. , Hanson Russell L. , Klarner Carl 
Published: December 2012

AbstractWe modify Berry et al.‘s congressional-delegation-based measure of state government ideology to construct a new measure—which we call the state-legislative-based state government ideology measure—by relying on Shor and McCarty's National Political Awareness Test common space estimates of the ideal points of U.S. state legislators. We conduct tests of convergent and construct validity for the two measures. We find that they correlate highly in each year for which the state-legislative-based indicator is available (1995–2008), and when observations are pooled across all years. We also replicate numerous published studies assessing the impact of state government ideology using each indicator of ideology and find that the two measures nearly always yield similar conclusions about the effect of government ideology. Because the state-legislative-based measure is based on more direct estimates of the ideal points of state legislators than is the congressional-delegation-based measure—which uses estimates of ideal points for members of Congress from the same state as a proxy—we believe the state-legislative-based measure is superior, and we recommend that scholars use it when it is available for the state-years being studied. Because our empirical evidence indicates that Berry et al.‘s congressional-delegation-based measure is also valid—and it is available for a much longer period (annually beginning in 1960)—we advise that it be used when the state-legislative-based measure is not available.
Multimodal Therapy Concept and Aerobic Training in Breast Cancer Patients With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue
Authors: Kröz Matthias , Fink Matthias , Reif Marcus , Grobbecker Siglinde , Zerm Roland , Quetz Michaele , Frühwirth Matthias , Brinkhaus Benno , Bartsch Christian , Girke Matthias , Gutenbrunner Christoph 
Published: December 2012

Hypothese: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and sleep disorders are some of the most wearing and common symptoms in disease-free breast cancer patients (BC). Aerobic training (AT) is the treatment with the best available evidence, even though it seems to be insufficient with regards to improvements in cognitive fatigue. We introduced a new multimodal therapy concept (MM) consisting of psycho-, sleep-education and new approaches based on anthroposophic medicine such as eurythmy and painting therapy. Study design: This pilot study will test the implementation of MM and yield first results of the MM and AE in our centres. Methods: 31 out of 34 patients suffering from BC and CRF were fully assessed in a ten-week intervention study. 21 patients chose MM and 10 decided on AT. CRF was measured with the help of the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS-D), and the global quality of sleep was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We also captured autonomic regulation (aR) and patients’ satisfaction with questionnaires. Statistical analysis was done with SAS 9.1.3 for windows. Results: The new MM therapy can be implemented with high satisfaction among patients. Significant improvements were found in the MM group with regards to CFS-D, global quality of sleep, sleep efficiency (PSQI), aR and rest/activity regulation compared to baseline (all p<0.05). In the AT group aR orthostatic-circulatory and rest/activity regulation improved significantly (p<0.05), too. However, no improvement in cognitive fatigue was seen in either group. Conclusion: The multimodal therapy concept was feasible and improved cancer fatigue, sleep quality, autonomic and rest-/activity regulation in breast cancer patients. It may therefore constitute a valuable treatment option in addition to aerobic training for BC patients with CRF. A further study with larger sample size needs to be carried out to assess the efficacy of combined multimodal-aerobic therapy.
Gene-expression signatures differ between different clinical forms of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Sumegi Janos , Nestheide Shawnagay V. , Barnes Michael G. , Villanueva Joyce , Zhang Kejian , Grom Alexei A. , Filipovich Alexandra H. 
Published: December 2012

Key Points
Distinct gene expression signatures are associated with genetic and clinical subtypes of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Antiviral effects of autologous CD4 T cells genetically modified with a conditionally replicating lentiviral vector expressing long antisense to HIV
Authors: Tebas Pablo , Stein David , Binder-Scholl Gwendolyn , Mukherjee Rithun , Brady Troy , Rebello Tessio , Humeau Laurent , Kalos Michael , Papasavvas Emmanouil , Montaner Luis J. , Schullery Daniel , Shaheen Farida , Brennan Andrea L. , Zheng Zhaohui , Cotte Julio , Slepushkin Vladimir , Veloso Elizabeth , Mackley Adonna , Hwang Wei-Ting , Aberra Faten , Zhan Jenny , Boyer Jean , Collman Ronald G. , Bushman Frederic D. , Levine Bruce L. , June Carl H. 
Published: December 2012

Key PointsAdoptive transfer of autologous lentiviral-engineered T cells expressing an antisense is safe in chronic HIV infection. Conditionally replicating lentiviral vector was associated with antiviral effects in patients as assessed by viral evolution and viral load.
Evidence for the interaction of fibroblast growth factor-2 with the lymphatic endothelial cell marker LYVE-1
Authors: Platonova Natalia , Miquel Geraldine , Regenfuss Birgit , Taouji Said , Cursiefen Claus , Chevet Eric , Bikfalvi Andreas 
Published: December 2012

Key PointsFGF2 is able to directly interact with LYVE-1 and glycosylation of LYVE-1 is important for the interaction with FGF2. LYVE-1 inhibits FGF2-dependent lymphangiogenesis and FGF2 modulates LYVE-1's endogenous expression and reverses the effect of TNFβ.
Defining bacterial species in the genomic era: insights from the genus Acinetobacter
Authors: Chan Jacqueline Z-M , Halachev Mihail R , Loman Nicholas J , Constantinidou Chrystala , Pallen Mark J 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
Microbial taxonomy remains a conservative discipline, relying on phenotypic information derived from growth in pure culture and techniques that are time-consuming and difficult to standardize, particularly when compared to the ease of modern high-throughput genome sequencing. Here, drawing on the genus Acinetobacter as a test case, we examine whether bacterial taxonomy could abandon phenotypic approaches and DNA-DNA hybridization and, instead, rely exclusively on analyses of genome sequence data.

Results
In pursuit of this goal, we generated a set of thirteen new draft genome sequences, representing ten species, combined them with other publically available genome sequences and analyzed these 38 strains belonging to the genus. We found that analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences were not capable of delineating accepted species. However, a core genome phylogenetic tree proved consistent with the currently accepted taxonomy of the genus, while also identifying three misclassifications of strains in collections or databases. Among rapid distance-based methods, we found average-nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses delivered results consistent with traditional and phylogenetic classifications, whereas gene content based approaches appear to be too strongly influenced by the effects of horizontal gene transfer to agree with previously accepted species.

Conclusion
We believe a combination of core genome phylogenetic analysis and ANI provides an appropriate method for bacterial species delineation, whereby bacterial species are defined as monophyletic groups of isolates with genomes that exhibit at least 95% pair-wise ANI. The proposed method is backwards compatible; it provides a scalable and uniform approach that works for both culturable and non-culturable species; is faster and cheaper than traditional taxonomic methods; is easily replicable and transferable among research institutions; and lastly, falls in line with Darwin’s vision of classification becoming, as far as is possible, genealogical.
Application of protein purification methods for the enrichment of a cytotoxin from Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Gatsos Xenia , Steer David L , Junaid Thamradeen A , Smith A Ian , Adler Ben , Albert M John 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background

Campylobater jejuni, a major foodborne diarrhoeal pathogen is reported to produce a number of cytotoxins of which only a cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) has been characterised so far. One or more additional cytotoxins other than CDT, including a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell active, Vero cell inactive cytotoxin, may mediate inflammatory diarrhoea. Our objective was to develop a method to enrich and thus partially characterise this cytotoxin, as a pathway to the eventual identification and characterisation of the toxin.

Results
A number of biochemical methods including cation- and anion-exchange chromatography were evaluated to enrich the cytotoxin from a cell lysate of a known cytotoxin-producing C. jejuni, C31. The cytotoxin in crude lysate was initially prepared by size-exclusion desalting and then subjected to high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) ion-exchange fractionation. One pooled fraction (pool B) was cytotoxic for CHO cells equivalent to crude toxin (tissue culture infectivity dose 50 [TCID50] of 1–2 μg/ml). The proteins of pool B were identified by mass spectrometry (MS) after separation by SDS-PAGE and trypsin digestion. Also, pool B was directly digested with trypsin and then subjected to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis for identification of lesser abundant proteins in the fraction. A total of 41 proteins were found in the fraction, which included enzymes involved in metabolic and transport functions. Eighteen non-cytoplasmic proteins including 2 major antigenic peptide proteins (PEB2 and PEB3) and 3 proteins of unknown function were also identified in the screen. Cytotoxicity in pool B was trypsin-sensitive indicating its protein nature. The cytotoxic activity was heat-stable to 50°C, and partially inactivated at 60-70°C. The pool B fraction also induced fluid accumulation in the adult rabbit ileal loop assay with cytotoxicity for mucosa confirming the presence of the cytotoxin.

Conclusions
We report the enrichment and partial purification of C. jejuni cytotoxin by HPLC ion-exchange chromatography. Further purification may be achieved using additional complementary chromatographic techniques. A short-list of six candidate cytotoxin proteins was identified using an LCMS screen of pool B. Successful isolation of the cytotoxin will initiate steps for the determination of the role of this cytotoxin in the pathogenesis of C. jejuni diarrhoea.