bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neoproterozoic peritidal phosphorite from the Sete Lagoas Formation (Brazil) and the Precambrian phosphorus cycle
Authors: Drummond Justin B. R. , Pufahl Peir K. , Porto Claudio G. , Carvalho Mariana 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe Neoproterozoic Sete Lagoas Formation (ca 610 Ma) of the São Francisco Basin, Brazil, is a succession of siltstone, limestone and phosphorite. Phosphorite forms part of a previously unrecognized 150 to 200 m thick, unconformity bounded depositional sequence. Lithofacies stacking patterns indicate that deposition was punctuated by higher order fluctuations in base level that produced aggradational parasequences. These shallowing‐upward cycles record the progradation of phosphate‐rich intertidal flats over shallow subtidal deposits as accommodation filled. The presence of mudcracks, authigenic chert nodules, lack of coarse terrigenous clastics and the abundance of silt with fine, abraded quartz grains suggests accumulation along an arid coastline with significant aeolian input. Delivery of phosphorus adsorbed on aeolian Fe‐(oxyhydr)oxide and clay is interpreted as having stimulated phosphogenesis in peritidal environments. Lithofacies associations indicate that windblown phosphorus promoted the establishment of cyanobacterial communities along the coast, which produced photosynthetic oxygen and the suboxic conditions necessary for the precipitation of authigenic carbonate fluorapatite. As in other Precambrian phosphatic systems, nearshore oxygen oases were a prerequisite for phosphorite accumulation because redox sensitive phosphogenic processes were pushed into the sediment to concentrate phosphorus. In more distal, anoxic environments phosphorite could not form because these biotic and abiotic processes were suspended in the water column, which cycled phosphorus in sea water rather than at the sediment–water interface. Such shallow‐water phosphorite is unlike larger, younger Neoproterozoic–Phanerozoic phosphatic deposits inferred to have formed in deeper‐upwelling related environments. The increasing size of phosphatic deposits through the latest Precambrian is interpreted as reflecting the progressive ventilation of the oceans during the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event, and resultant expansion of phosphogenic environments into distal settings. The widespread cycling of bioavailable phosphorus at the sea floor not only produced the first true phosphorite giants, but may have also been an important precondition for the evolution of multicellular animals.
Depositional controls on mixed carbonate–siliciclastic cycles and sequences on gently inclined shelf profiles
Authors: Zeller Michael , Verwer Klaas , Eberli Gregor P. , Massaferro Jose Luis , Schwarz Ernesto , Spalletti Luis 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe interplay between carbonate production and siliciclastic input produces mixed systems that typically contain a very high degree of lateral and vertical facies heterogeneity. This heterogeneity complicates the sequence stratigraphic analysis of mixed systems. Outcrop studies facilitate the deciphering of controls and understanding of facies distributions within sedimentary successions. The Picún Leufú Anticline in the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) offers the opportunity to integrate large‐scale depositional architecture with detailed facies descriptions of the shelf to basin successions of the Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous Quintuco – Picún Leufú – Vaca Muerta System. The strata in the system are mixed and range in depositional environments from shallow marine sandstones and limestones to deep basinal shales. These environments are arranged in metre‐scale shallowing upward cycles and cycle sets, with increasing carbonate proportions in regressive hemicycles. Increased input of siliciclastic material from the volcanic arc area occurred during phases of relative sea‐level rise and was controlled by the intensity of along‐shelf currents. The shelf transport was driven by the available accommodation space on the shelf, and therefore was a function of the eustatic sea‐level fluctuations. Within the studied section, a pure carbonate depositional system developed because siliciclastic input was shut down either due to long‐lived highstand settings or a sudden climatic change to more arid conditions. Carbonate–siliciclastic mixing in this setting is a function of siliciclastic dilution of the carbonate sedimentation and differs from the classical reciprocal sedimentation model, which typically includes shut‐off of carbonate production during lowstand periods. In the regional context, the subsurface strata of time‐equivalent reservoirs in the Eastern Neuquén Embayment display strong similarities of architecture, indicating that similar mixing processes occurred along most of the Neuquén Basin.
Spiegelmer Inhibition of MCP‐1/CCR2 – Potential as an Adjunct Immunosuppressive Therapy in Transplantation
Authors: Kalnins A. , Thomas M. N. , Andrassy M. , Müller S. , Wagner A. , Pratschke S. , Rentsch M. , Klussmann S. , Kauke T. , Angele M. K. , Bazhin A. V. , Fischereder M. , Werner J. , Guba M. , Andrassy J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe rejection process remains the key unsolved issue after transplantation of disparate tissue. The CC chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1/CCL2) has been reported to be involved in the process of alloimmune interaction. Spiegelmers are l‐oligonucleotides that can be designed to bind to pharmacologically relevant target molecules. Here, we tested a high‐affinity Spiegelmer‐based MCP‐1 inhibitor (mNOX‐E36) in an allogeneic heart transplant model. Fully vascularized allogeneic heterotopic heart transplantations from BALB/c to C57BL/6 mice were performed. Mice were either treated with the anti‐MCP‐1‐Spiegelmer (mNOX‐E36) in monotherapy or in combination with subtherapeutic doses of cyclosporine A (CsA) (10 mg/kgBW/day) for 10 days. Controls received equivalent doses of a non‐functional Spiegelmer (revmNOX‐E36). Graft survival of allogeneic heart transplants was slightly but significantly prolonged under mNOX‐E36 monotherapy (median graft survival 10 day ± 0.7) compared to revmNOX‐E36 (median graft survival 7 day ± 0.3; P = 0.001). A synergistic beneficial effect could be seen when mNOX‐E36 was administered in combination with subtherapeutic doses of CsA (18 day ± 2.8 versus 7 day ± 0.3; P < 0.0001). Levels of inflammatory cytokines and ‘alarmins’ were significantly reduced, and the number of F4/80+ cells was lower under combination therapy (1.8% ± 1.3%; versus 14.6% ± 4.4%; P = 0.0002). This novel inhibitor of the MCP‐1/CCR2 axis (mNOX‐E36), which has already proven efficacy and tolerability in early clinical trials, alleviates acute rejection processes in allogeneic transplantation especially when combined with subtherapeutic doses of CsA. Thus, mNOX‐E36 may have potential as an adjunct immunomodulatory agent.
Stored red blood cell susceptibility to in vitro transfusion‐associated stress conditions is higher after longer storage and increased by storage in saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol compared to AS‐1
Authors: Mittag Diana , Sran Amrita , Chan Kasey S. , Boland Martin P. , Bandala‐Sanchez Esther , Huet Olivier , Xu William , Sparrow Rosemary L. 
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUNDBiochemical changes induced in red blood cells (RBCs) during storage may impair their function upon transfusion. Transfusion‐associated stresses may further amplify storage lesion effects including increased phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure at the RBC membrane, microparticle (MP) release, and adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs). RBC stress susceptibility in vitro was investigated in relation to storage time and additive solution.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSLeukoreduced whole blood donations (n = 18) were paired, mixed, and resplit before separating the RBCs for storage in saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol (SAGM) or AS‐1. Samples were taken after 3, 21, or 35 days. For oxidative stress treatment, RBCs were exposed to 0.5 mmol/L tert‐butylhydroperoxide. Transfusion‐associated stress was simulated by overnight culture at 37 °C with plasma containing inflammatory mediators. PS exposure and MPs were measured by flow cytometry and adhesion to ECs was tested under flow conditions. PS specificity of adhesion was tested by blocking with PS‐containing lipid vesicles.RESULTSOxidative stress induced significantly higher PS exposure and adhesion to ECs in RBCs stored for 35 days compared to 3 days (p < 0.04). PS‐containing vesicles blocked RBC‐EC adhesion. After overnight culture with or without plasma, PS exposure and EC adhesion were significantly increased (p < 0.05). MP numbers increased with longer RBC storage and after RBC culture with plasma. Culture conditions influenced MP numbers from Day 35 RBCs. RBCs stored in SAGM had significantly higher PS exposure after stress treatment than AS‐1 RBCs (p < 0.02).CONCLUSIONStorage for 35 days significantly increased RBC susceptibility to oxidative and in vitro transfusion‐associated stresses and was higher for RBCs stored in SAGM compared to AS‐1.
Steady‐state tilt has no effect on cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity in anterior and posterior cerebral circulations
Authors: Tymko Michael M. , Skow Rachel J. , MacKay Christina M. , Day Trevor A. 
Published: May 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
We investigated the effects of superimposed tilt and hypercapnia‐induced cerebral arteriolar dilatation on anterior and posterior cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity using hyperoxic rebreathing in human participants.

What is the main finding and its importance?
The main findings are threefold: (i) cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity in the anterior and posterior cerebrovasculature is unchanged with tilt; (ii) cerebral autoregulation is unlikely responsible due to unchanging cerebrovascular resistance reactivity between positions; and (iii) cerebral blood flow is not pressure passive during tilt as it is with pharmacological or lower body negative pressure‐induced changes in mean arterial pressure, suggesting that sympathetic activation or balanced transmural pressures during head‐down tilt regulate cerebral blood flow.

Cerebral autoregulation is a protective feature of the cerebrovasculature that maintains relatively constant cerebral perfusion in the face of static and dynamic fluctuations in mean arterial pressure (MAP). However, the extent that the cerebrovasculature can autoregulate in the face of superimposed steady‐state orthostasis‐induced changes in MAP (e.g. head‐up and head‐down tilt; HUT and HDT) and CO2‐mediated arteriolar dilatation is unknown. We tested the effects of steady‐state tilt on cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity in the middle and and posterior cerebral artery in the following five body positions: 90 deg HUT, 45 deg HUT, supine, 45 deg HDT and 90 deg HDT on a tilt table during a modified hyperoxic rebreathing test. Absolute and relative cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity [cerebral blood velocity (CBV)/CO2], cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) reactivity (CVR/CO2) and MAP reactivity (MAP/CO2) were quantified using linear regression. Mean arterial pressure was significantly elevated in 90 deg HDT compared with other positions during baseline steady‐state tilt (P < 0.01). Absolute CBV/CO2 and CVR/CO2 were greater in the middle cerebral artery than the posterior cerebral artery (P < 0.01) in all body positions, but relative measures were not different (P = 0.143 and P = 0.360, respectively), nor was there any interaction with tilt position. In addition, there was no difference in absolute (P = 0.556) and relative MAP/CO2 (P = 0.308) between positions. Our data demonstrate that cerebral blood flow remains well regulated during superimposed steady‐state orthostatic stress and dynamic changes in the partial pressure of end‐tidal CO2 during rebreathing. Cerebral autoregulation is likely not the mechanism responsible, but rather sympathetic nervous system activation or a balanced cerebrovascular transmural pressure with HDT maintains resting cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity during rebreathing.
Voltage‐gated sodium channels contribute to action potentials and spontaneous contractility in isolated human lymphatic vessels
Authors: Telinius Niklas , Majgaard Jens , Kim Sukhan , Katballe Niels , Pahle Einar , Nielsen Jørn , Hjortdal Vibeke , Aalkjaer Christian , Boedtkjer Donna Briggs 
Published: May 2015

Key points
Initial studies have described the electrical properties of lymphatic smooth muscle cells from different animal species and the ion channels contributing to these properties. However, there is a translational gap to the human situation where studies on human tissue are lacking.
Voltage‐gated sodium channels are essential for the generation of action potentials, and thus spontaneous contractions in human lymphatic vessels, but not noradrenaline‐induced contractions. A sodium channel opener elicited contractions as a result of calcium influx via voltage‐gated calcium channels and the sodium–calcium exchanger.
Pharmacological characterization and the mRNA expression profile indicate that Nav1.3 is the most prevalent sodium channel.
These results provide support for an important role of sodium channels in spontaneous human lymphatic vessel electrical activity and contractility.
AbstractVoltage‐gated sodium channels (VGSC) play a key role for initiating action potentials (AP) in excitable cells. VGSC in human lymphatic vessels have not been investigated. In the present study, we report the electrical activity and APs of small human lymphatic collecting vessels, as well as mRNA expression and function of VGSC in small and large human lymphatic vessels. The VGSC blocker TTX inhibited spontaneous contractions in six of 10 spontaneously active vessels, whereas ranolazine, which has a narrower VGSC blocking profile, had no influence on spontaneous activity. TTX did not affect noradrenaline‐induced contractions. The VGSC opener veratridine induced contractions in a concentration‐dependent manner (0.1–30 μm) eliciting a stable tonic contraction and membrane depolarization to −18 ± 0.6 mV. Veratridine‐induced depolarizations and contractions were reversed ∼80% by TTX, and were dependent on Ca2+ influx via L‐type calcium channels and the sodium–calcium exchanger in reverse mode. Molecular analysis determined NaV1.3 to be the predominantly expressed VGSC isoform. Electrophysiology of mesenteric lymphatics determined the resting membrane potential to be −45 ± 1.7 mV. Spontaneous APs were preceded by a slow depolarization of 5.3 ± 0.6 mV after which a spike was elicited that almost completely repolarized before immediately depolarizing again to plateau. Vessels transiently hyperpolarized prior to returning to the resting membrane potential. TTX application blocked APs. We have shown that VGSC are necessary for initiating and maintaining APs and spontaneous contractions in human lymphatic vessels and our data suggest the main contribution from comes NaV1.3. We have also shown that activation of these channels augments the contractile activity of the vessels.
Association between quality management and performance indicators in Dutch diabetes care groups: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Campmans-Kuijpers Marjo J E , Baan Caroline A , Lemmens Lidwien C , Klomp Maarten L H , Romeijnders Arnold C M , Rutten Guy E H M 
Published: May 2015

ObjectivesTo enhance the quality of diabetes care in the Netherlands, so-called care groups with three to 250 general practitioners emerged to organise and coordinate diabetes care. This introduced a new quality management level in addition to the quality management of separate general practices. We hypothesised that this new level of quality management might be associated with the aggregate performance indicators on the patient level. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between quality management at the care group level and its aggregate performance indicators.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingAll Dutch care groups (n=97).Participants23 care groups provided aggregate register-based performance indicators of all their practices as well as data on quality management measured with a questionnaire filled out by 1 or 2 of their quality managers.Primary outcomesThe association between quality management, overall and in 6 domains (‘organisation of care’, ‘multidisciplinary teamwork’, ‘patient centredness’, ‘performance management’, ‘quality improvement policy’ and ‘management strategies’) on the one hand and 3 process indicators (the percentages of patients with at least 1 measurement of glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile and systolic blood pressure), and 3 intermediate outcome indicators (the percentages of patients with glycated haemoglobin below 53 mmol/mol (7%); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol below 2.5 mmol/L; and systolic blood pressure below 140 mm Hg) by weighted univariable linear regression.ResultsThe domain ‘management strategies’ was significantly associated with the percentage of patients with a glycated haemoglobin <53 mmol/mol (β 0.28 (0.09; 0.46) p=0.01) after correction for multiple testing. The other domains as well as overall quality management were not associated with aggregate process or outcome indicators.ConclusionsThis first exploratory study on quality management showed weak or no associations between quality management of diabetes care groups and their performance. It remains uncertain whether this second layer on quality management adds to better quality of care.
Association of child health and household amenities in high focus states in India: a district-level analysis
Authors: Gouda Jitendra , Gupta Ashish Kumar , Yadav Ajit Kumar 
Published: May 2015

ObjectivesTo assess household amenities in districts of high focus states and their association with child health in India.DesignThe data for the study are extracted from Annual Health Survey (AHS) and Census 2011.SettingsDistricts in high focus states in India.ParticipantsInformation regarding children below 5 years of age and women aged 15–49 has been extracted from the AHS (2010–2011), and household amenities information has been obtained from the Census (2011).MeasuresHousehold amenities were assessed from the census at the district level in the high focus states. Child health indicators and wealth index were borrowed from AHS and used in this study to check their linkage with household amenities.ResultsAbsence of drinking water from a treated source, improved sanitation, usage of clean cooking fuel and drainage facility in the household were adversely associated with the incidence of acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea, infant mortality rate (IMR) and under 5 mortality rate (U5MR). The mean IMR declined from 64 to 54 for districts where a high proportion of household have improved sanitation. The result of ordinary least square regression shows that improved sanitation has a negative and statistically significant association (β=−0.0067, p<0.01) with U5MR.ConclusionsAlthough child healthcare services are important in addressing child health issues, they barely touch on the root of the problem. Building toilets and providing safe drinking water, clean cooking fuel and drainage facilities at the household level, may prevent a number of adverse child health issues and may reduce the burden on the healthcare system in India.
Performance improvement initiative: prevention of surgical site infection (SSI)
Authors: Ng Wai Khuan , Awad Nawal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMafraq Hospital performs an average of 10,000 surgeries every year. The impact of having high volume high risk surgical procedures calls for the need to ensure safe surgery and a prevention of surgical site infection (SSI). SSI represents a significant portion of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The impact on morbidity, mortality, and cost of care has resulted in identifying the need to reduce SSI as a top priority to prevent healthcare associated infections. The good news is that the majority of SSIs are preventable.Mafraq Hospital performs a range of surgical procedures that covers 14 surgical specialties. The infection prevention and control team performs surveillance for SSI for all patients who undergo operative procedure included in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Operative Procedure Category (40 surgical procedures). Out of the 40 CDC NHSN listed, 33 operative procedures were performed at Mafraq Hospital, of which 17 were reported with SSI for 2013 and 2014. Surgical site infection has implicated an increase average length of stay from seven to 10 additional postoperative hospital days and additional costs of AED 10,000 to AED 100,000/SSI depending on procedure and pathogen.A multidisciplinary team was formed to develop and implement measures to reduce/eliminate surgical site infection, as well as evaluate and monitor compliance. Hence a group of multidisciplinary teams were initiated to analyse the results, find out the gaps, and implement a quality improvement project to correct the deficits. Recommendations for appropriate improvement measures were formed on evidence-based international guidelines from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and CDC. Evidence based practice supports that many of the causes of surgical site infection can be prevented with proper medical attention and care.
Outcome of surgery versus radiotherapy after induction treatment in patients with N2 disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials
Authors: McElnay P J , Choong A , Jordan E , Song F , Lim E 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveChemoradiotherapy is often considered the ‘standard of care’ for patients with N2 disease. The aim was to evaluate survival outcomes of patients with N2 disease in multimodality trials of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analyses (random and fixed effects) were performed. Searches of Medline and Embase (1980–2013) were conducted. Abstracts from thoracic scientific meetings were searched. Reference lists of all relevant studies were reviewed. All studies of patients with N2 disease who received induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy and randomised to surgery or radiotherapy were included. No language restrictions were imposed. The main outcome was overall survival.Results805 publications were identified. 519 and 281 were excluded because they were not primary results from randomised trials (or did not include N2 disease) or did not compare surgery with radiotherapy, respectively. The final six trials consisted of 868 patients. In four trials, patients received induction chemotherapy and in two trials patients received induction chemoradiotherapy. The HR comparing patients randomised to surgery after chemotherapy was 1.01 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.23; p=0.954) whereas for patients randomised to surgery after chemoradiotherapy was 0.87 (0.74 to 1.02; p=0.078). The overall HR of all pooled trials was 0.92 (0.81 to 1.04; p=0.179).ConclusionsIn trials where patients received surgery as part of bimodality (with chemotherapy) or trimodality (with chemoradiotherapy) treatment, overall survival was not significantly better than radiotherapy (with chemotherapy) or combination chemoradiotherapy alone.