bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Palliative care need and management in the acute hospital setting: a census of one New Zealand Hospital
Authors: Gott Merryn , Frey Rosemary , Raphael Deborah , O’Callaghan Anne , Robinson Jackie , Boyd Michal 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Improving palliative care management in acute hospital settings has been identified as a priority internationally. The aim of this study was to establish the proportion of inpatients within one acute hospital in New Zealand who meet prognostic criteria for palliative care need and explore key aspects of their management.

Methods
A prospective survey of adult hospital inpatients (n = 501) was undertaken. Case notes were examined for evidence that the patient might be in their last year of life according to Gold Standards Framework (GSF) prognostic indicator criteria. For patients who met GSF criteria, clinical and socio-demographic information were recorded.

Results
Ninety-nine inpatients met GSF criteria, representing 19.8% of the total census population. The patients’ average age was 70 years; 47% had a primary diagnosis of cancer. Two thirds had died within 6 months of their admission. Seventy-eight of the 99 cases demonstrated evidence that a palliative approach to care had been adopted; however documentation of discussion about goals of care was very limited and only one patient had evidence of an advance care plan.

Conclusion
One fifth of hospital inpatients met criteria for palliative care need, the majority of whom were aged >70 years. Whilst over three quarters were concluded to be receiving care in line with a palliative care approach, very little documented evidence of discussion with patients and families regarding end of life issues was evident. Future research needs to explore how best to support ‘generalist’ palliative care providers in initiating, and appropriately recording, such discussions.
The metabolic costs of improving ethanol yield by reducing glycerol formation capacity under anaerobic conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Pagliardini Julien , Hubmann Georg , Alfenore Sandrine , Nevoigt Elke , Bideaux Carine , Guillouet Stephane E 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Finely regulating the carbon flux through the glycerol pathway by regulating the expression of the rate controlling enzyme, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), has been a promising approach to redirect carbon from glycerol to ethanol and thereby increasing the ethanol yield in ethanol production. Here, strains engineered in the promoter of GPD1 and deleted in GPD2 were used to investigate the possibility of reducing glycerol production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae without jeopardising its ability to cope with process stress during ethanol production. For this purpose, the mutant strains TEFmut7 and TEFmut2 with different GPD1 residual expression were studied in Very High Ethanol Performance (VHEP) fed-batch process under anaerobic conditions.

Results
Both strains showed a drastic reduction of the glycerol yield by 44 and 61% while the ethanol yield improved by 2 and 7% respectively. TEFmut2 strain showing the highest ethanol yield was accompanied by a 28% reduction of the biomass yield. The modulation of the glycerol formation led to profound redox and energetic changes resulting in a reduction of the ATP yield (YATP) and a modulation of the production of organic acids (acetate, pyruvate and succinate). Those metabolic rearrangements resulted in a loss of ethanol and stress tolerance of the mutants, contrarily to what was previously observed under aerobiosis.

Conclusions
This work demonstrates the potential of fine-tuned pathway engineering, particularly when a compromise has to be found between high product yield on one hand and acceptable growth, productivity and stress resistance on the other hand. Previous study showed that, contrarily to anaerobiosis, the resulting gain in ethanol yield was accompanied with no loss of ethanol tolerance under aerobiosis. Moreover those mutants were still able to produce up to 90 gl-1 ethanol in an anaerobic SSF process. Fine tuning metabolic strategy may then open encouraging possibilities for further developing robust strains with improved ethanol yield.
New insights on the reorganization of gene transcription in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 at elevated pressure
Authors: Follonier Stéphanie , Escapa Isabel F , Fonseca Pilar M , Henes Bernhard , Panke Sven , Zinn Manfred , Prieto María Auxiliadora 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundElevated pressure, elevated oxygen tension (DOT) and elevated carbon dioxide tension (DCT) are readily encountered at the bottom of large industrial bioreactors and during bioprocesses where pressure is applied for enhancing the oxygen transfer. Yet information about their effect on bacteria and on the gene expression thereof is scarce. To shed light on the cellular functions affected by these specific environmental conditions, the transcriptome ofPseudomonas putidaKT2440, a bacterium of great relevance for the production of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates, was thoroughly investigated using DNA microarrays.ResultsVery well defined chemostat cultivations were carried out withP. putidato produce high quality RNA samples and ensure that differential gene expression was caused exclusively by changes of pressure, DOT and/or DCT. Cellular stress was detected at 7 bar and elevated DCT in the form of heat shock and oxidative stress-like responses, and indicators of cell envelope perturbations were identified as well.Globally, gene transcription was not considerably altered when DOT was increased from 40 ± 5 to 235 ± 20% at 7 bar and elevated DCT. Nevertheless, differential transcription was observed for a few genes linked to iron-sulfur cluster assembly, terminal oxidases, glutamate metabolism and arginine deiminase pathway, which shows their particular sensitivity to variations of DOT.ConclusionsThis study provides a comprehensive overview on the changes occurring in the transcriptome ofP. putidaupon mild variations of pressure, DOT and DCT. Interestingly, whereas the changes of gene transcription were widespread, the cell physiology was hardly affected, which illustrates how efficient reorganization of the gene transcription is for dealing with environmental changes that may otherwise be harmful. Several particularly sensitive cellular functions were identified, which will certainly contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in stress sensing/response and to finding ways of enhancing the stress tolerance of microorganisms.
Data dependence results of new multi-step and S-iterative schemes for contractive-like operators
Authors: Gürsoy Faik , Karakaya Vatan , Rhoades Billy E 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
In this paper, we prove that the convergence of a new iteration and S-iteration can be used to approximate the fixed points of contractive-like operators. We also prove some data dependence results for these new iteration and S-iteration schemes for contractive-like operators. Our results extend and improve some known results in the literature.

MSC:47H10.
Kinetics of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) humoral immune response in swine serum and oral fluids collected from individual boars
Authors: Kittawornrat Apisit , Engle Mark , Panyasing Yaowalak , Olsen Chris , Schwartz Kent , Rice Anna , Lizano Sergio , Wang Chong , Zimmerman Jeffrey 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
The object of this study was to describe and contrast the kinetics of the humoral response in serum and oral fluid specimens during acute porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. The study involved three trials of 24 boars each. Boars were intramuscularly inoculated with a commercial modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (Trial 1), a Type 1 PRRSV field isolated (Trial 2), or a Type 2 PRRSV field isolate (Trial 3). Oral fluid samples were collected from individual boars on day post inoculation (DPI) -7 and 0 to 21. Serum samples were collected from all boars on DPI −7, 0, 7, 14, 21 and from 4 randomly selected boars on DPI 3, 5, 10, and 17. Thereafter, serum and oral fluid were assayed for PRRSV antibody using antibody isotype-specific ELISAs (IgM, IgA, IgG) adapted to serum or oral fluid.

Results
Statistically significant differences in viral replication and antibody responses were observed among the three trials in both serum and oral fluid specimens. PRRSV serum IgM, IgA, and IgG were first detected in samples collected on DPI 7, 10, and 10, respectively. Oral fluid IgM, IgA, and IgG were detected in samples collected between DPI 3 to 10, 7 to 10, and 8 to 14, respectively.

Conclusions
This study enhanced our knowledge of the PRRSV humoral immune response and provided a broader foundation for the development and application of oral fluid antibody-based diagnostics.
Use of enzymatic tools for biomonitoring inorganic pollution in aquatic sediments: a case study (Bor, Serbia)
Authors: Filimon Marioara Nicoleta , Nica Dragos V , Ostafe Vasile , Bordean Despina-Maria , Borozan Aurica Breica , Vlad Daliborca Cristina , Popescu Roxana 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Sediment bacterial communities are key players in biogeochemical cycling of elements in the aquatic environment. Copper mining, smelting, and processing operations located in Bor area (Serbia) are major environmental hot spots in the lower Danube Basin and Western Balkans. In the present study, we evaluate the influence of trace element (TE) concentration in sediments and physico-chemical properties of water on sediment microbial communities in water streams adjacent to the Copper Smelter Complex Bor (RTB Bor, Serbia). The degree to which metabolic activities of bacterial biota inhabiting differently polluted sites is inhibited by inorganic pollution were compared using selected enzymatic bioindicators.

Results
Cu, Zn, Pb, and As concentrations systematically exceeded the target values for metal loadings in aquatic sediments. Water electrical conductivity (WEC) followed the same pattern of spatial variation, irrespective of season. Interestingly, the most intense enzymatic activity occurred at the reference site although this site showed the greatest TE levels in aquatic sediments. Catalase activity (CA), potential dehydrogenase activity (PDA), actual dehydrogenase activity (ADA), urease activity (UA), and phosphatase activity (PA) in aquatic sediments displayed heterogeneous patterns of spatio-temporal variation. Inorganic pollution greatly affected CA, ADA, and PDA, but much less so UA and PA. Canonical correlation analysis showed that pH and WEC were the strongest determinants of enzymatic activity in bacterial biota, with the latter variable being reversely correlated with the enzymatic indicator of sediment quality (EISQ). The median values of EISQ increased with distance from the major sources of pollution. In addition, it was found that sites with different degrees of inorganic pollution can be appropriately classified by applying cluster analysis to EISQ, TE levels in sediments, and physico-chemical properties of water.

Conclusions
Because EISQ can precisely identify changes in overall enzymatic activity of sediment bacterial communities, this enzymatic bioindicator has a great potential for biomonitoring the current status of inorganic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
MRI findings of radiation-induced changes of masticatory muscles: A systematic review
Authors: Al-Saleh Mohammed AQ , Jaremko Jacob L , Saltaji Humam , Wolfaardt John , Major Paul W 
Published: March 2013

Background Radiotherapy to the head and neck regions can result in serious consequences to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and chewing muscles. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrates soft-tissue alterations after radiotherapy, such as morphology and signal intensity. Objective The purpose of this review is to critically and systematically analyse the available evidence regarding the masticatory muscles alterations, as demonstrated on MRI, after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Data sources Electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM reviews and Scopus. Inclusion criteria Reports of any study design investigating radiation-induced changes in masticatory muscles after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer were included. Results and synthesis methods An electronic database search resulted in 162 papers. Sixteen papers were initially selected as potentially relevant studies; however, only four papers satisfied all inclusion criteria. The included papers focused on the MRI appearance of masticatory muscles following radiotherapy protocol. Two papers reported outcome based on retrospective clinical and imaging records, whereas the remaining two papers were case reports. Irradiated muscles frequently show diffuse increase in T2 signal and post-gadolinium enhancement post-irradiation. Also, muscle size changes were reported based on subjective comparison with the contralateral side. The quality of all included papers was considered poor with high risk of bias. Conclusion There is no evidence that MRI interpretations indicate specific radiation-induced changes in masticatory muscles. There is a clear need for a cohort study comparing patients with pre- and post-radiotherapy MRI.
Convergence of two major pathophysiologic mechanisms in nasal polyposis: Immune response to Staphylococcus aureus and airway remodeling
Authors: Pezato Rogério , Balsalobre Leonardo , Lima Milena , Bezerra Thiago F P , Voegels Richard L , Gregório Luis Carlos , Stamm Aldo Cassol , van Zele Thibaut 
Published: March 2013

This review is addressed two pathophysiologic mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis: the unique remodeling process found in nasal polyp tissue and the immune response of patients with nasal polyposis to Staphylococcus aureus. These two theories converge to the same direction in different aspects, including decreased extracellular matrix production, impaired T regulation and favoring of a Th2 immune response. In patients with nasal polyposis, an exaggerated immune response to Staphylococcus aureus may aggravate the airway remodeling process.
Importance of the ammonia assimilation by Penicillium purpurogenum in amino derivative Monascus pigment, PP-V, production
Authors: Arai Teppei , Koganei Kasumi , Umemura Sara , Kojima Ryo , Kato Jun , Kasumi Takafumi , Ogihara Jun 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
A fungal strain, Penicillium purpurogenum IAM 15392, produced the azaphilone Monascus pigment homolog when cultured in a medium composed of soluble starch, ammonium nitrate, yeast extract, and citrate buffer, pH 5.0. One of the typical features of violet pigment PP-V [(10Z)-12- carboxyl-monascorubramine] is that pyranoid oxygen is replaced with nitrogen. In this study, we found that glutamine synthetase (glnB) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh1) genes were expressed in the culture conditions conducive to PP-V production. Gln and Glu both support PP-V biosynthesis, but PP-V biosynthesis was much more efficient with Gln. We determined that synthesis of Gln by glutamine synthetase from ammonium is important for PP-V production.
Computational purification of individual tumor gene expression profiles leads to significant improvements in prognostic prediction
Authors: Quon Gerald , Haider Syed , Deshwar Amit G , Cui Ang , Boutros Paul C , Morris Quaid 
Published: March 2013

AbstractTumor heterogeneity is a limiting factor in cancer treatment and in the discovery of biomarkers to personalize it. We describe a computational purification tool, ISOpure, which directly addresses the effects of variable contamination by normal tissue in clinical tumor specimens. ISOpure uses a set of tumor expression profiles and a panel of healthy tissue expression profiles to generate a purified cancer profile for each tumor sample, and an estimate of the proportion of RNA originating from cancerous cells. Applying ISOpure before identifying gene signatures leads to significant improvements in the prediction of prognosis and other clinical variables in lung and prostate cancer.
Surgical treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Authors: Azegami S. , Kosuge D. , Ramachandran M. 
Published: March 2013

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is relatively common in adolescents and results in a complex deformity of the hip that can lead to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI may be symptomatic and lead to the premature development of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Current techniques for managing the deformity include arthroscopic femoral neck osteochondroplasty, an arthroscopically assisted limited anterior approach to the hip, surgical dislocation, and proximal femoral osteotomy. Although not a routine procedure to treat FAI secondary to SCFE deformity, peri-acetabular osteotomy has been successfully used to treat FAI caused by acetabular over-coverage. These procedures should be considered for patients with symptoms due to a deformity of the hip secondary to SCFE.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:445–51.
Risk factors for post-operative venous thromboembolism in patients with a malignancy of the lower limb
Authors: Kim S. M. , Park J. M. , Shin S. H. , Seo S. W. 
Published: March 2013

It is important to be able to identify patients with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in order to minimise the risk of an event. We investigated the incidence and risk factors for post-operative VTE in 168 consecutive patients with a malignancy of the lower limb. The period of study included ten months before and 12 months after the introduction of chemical thromboprophylaxis. All data about the potential risk factors were identified and classified into three groups (patient-, surgery- and tumour-related). The outcome measure was a thromboembolic event within 90 days of surgery. Of the 168 patients, eight (4.8%) had a confirmed symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis and one (0.6%) a fatal pulmonary embolism. Of the 28 variables tested, age > 60 years, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grade and metastatic tumour were independent risk factors for VTE. The overall rate of symptomatic VTE was not significantly different between patients who received chemical thromboprophylaxis and those who did not. Knowledge of these risk factors may be of value in improving the surgical outcome of patients with a malignancy of the lower limb. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:558–62.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in human growth plate chondrocytes is enhanced at high levels of mechanical loading
Authors: Pichler K. , Herbert V. , Schmidt B. , Fischerauer E. E. , Leithner A. , Weinberg A-M. 
Published: March 2013

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), responsible for extracellular matrix remodelling and angiogenesis, might play a major role in the response of the growth plate to detrimental loads that lead to overuse injuries in young athletes. In order to test this hypothesis, human growth plate chondrocytes were subjected to mechanical forces equal to either physiological loads, near detrimental or detrimental loads for two hours. In addition, these cells were exposed to physiological loads for up to 24 hours. Changes in the expression of MMPs -2, -3 and -13 were investigated.We found that expression of MMPs in cultured human growth plate chondrocytes increases in a linear manner with increased duration and intensity of loading. We also showed for the first time that physiological loads have the same effect on growth plate chondrocytes over a long period of time as detrimental loads applied for a short period.These findings confirm the involvement of MMPs in overuse injuries in children. We suggest that training programmes for immature athletes should be reconsidered in order to avoid detrimental stresses and over-expression of MMPs in the growth plate, and especially to avoid physiological loads becoming detrimental.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:568–73.
Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable tears of the rotator cuff
Authors: Henry P. D. G. , Dwyer T. , McKee M. D. , Schemitsch E. H. 
Published: March 2013

Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDTT) is technically challenging. In order to clarify the local structural anatomy, we undertook a morphometric study using six complete cadavers (12 shoulders). Measurements were made from the tendon to the nearby neurovascular structures with the arm in two positions: flexed and internally rotated, and adducted in neutral rotation. The tendon was then transferred and measurements were taken from the edge of the tendon to a reference point on the humeral head in order to assess the effect of a novel two-stage release on the excursion of the tendon.With the shoulder flexed and internally rotated, the mean distances between the superior tendon edge and the radial nerve, brachial artery, axillary nerve and posterior circumflex artery were 30 mm (26 to 34), 28 mm (17 to 39), 21 mm (12 to 28) and 15 mm (10 to 21), respectively. The mean distance between the inferior tendon edge and the radial nerve, brachial artery and profunda brachii artery was 18 mm (8 to 27), 22 mm (15 to 32) and 14 mm (7 to 21), respectively. Moving the arm to a neutral position reduced these distances. A mean of 15 mm (8 to 21) was gained from a standard soft-tissue release, and 32 mm (20 to 45) from an extensile release.These figures help to define further the structural anatomy of this region and the potential for transfer of the latissimus dorsi tendon.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:517–22.
The three-dimensional morphometry of the odontoid peg and its impact on ventral screw osteosynthesis
Authors: Puchwein P. , Jester B. , Freytag B. , Tanzer K. , Maizen C. , Gumpert R. , Pichler W. 
Published: March 2013

Ventral screw osteosynthesis is a common surgical method for treating fractures of the odontoid peg, but there is still no consensus about the number and diameter of the screws to be used. The purpose of this study was to develop a more accurate measurement technique for the morphometry of the odontoid peg (dens axis) and to provide a recommendation for ventral screw osteosynthesis. Images of the cervical spine of 44 Caucasian patients, taken with a 64-line CT scanner, were evaluated using the measuring software MIMICS. All measurements were performed by two independent observers. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to measure inter-rater variability. The mean length of the odontoid peg was 39.76 mm (sd 2.68). The mean screw entry angle α was 59.45° (sd 3.45). The mean angle between the screw and the ventral border of C2 was 13.18° (sd 2.70), the maximum possible mean converging angle of two screws was 20.35° (sd 3.24). The measurements were obtained at the level of 66% of the total odontoid peg length and showed mean values of 8.36 mm (sd 0.84) for the inner diameter in the sagittal plane and 7.35 mm (sd 0.97) in the coronal plane. The mean outer diameter of the odontoid peg was 12.88 mm (sd 0.91) in the sagittal plane and 11.77 mm (sd 1.09) in the coronal plane. The results measured at the level of 90% of the total odontoid peg length were a mean of 6.12 mm (sd 1.14) for the sagittal inner diameter and 5.50 mm (sd 1.05) for the coronal inner diameter. The mean outer diameter of the odontoid peg was 11.10 mm (sd 1.0) in the sagittal plane and 10.00 mm (sd 1.07) in the coronal plane. In order to calculate the necessary screw length using 3.5 mm cannulated screws, 1.5 mm should be added to the measured odontoid peg length when anatomical reduction seems possible. The cross-section of the odontoid peg is not circular but slightly elliptical, with a 10% greater diameter in the sagittal plane. In the majority of cases (70.5%) the odontoid peg offers enough room for two 3.5 mm cannulated cortical screws. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:536–42.