bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A provisional strategy for treating true bifurcation lesions employing a scoring balloon for the side branch
Authors: Weisz Giora , Metzger D. Christopher , Liberman Henry A. , O'Shaughnessy Charles D. , Douglas John S. , Turco Mark A. , Mehran Roxana , Gershony Gary , Leon Martin B. , Moses Jeffrey W. 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundThe provisional approach for bifurcation stenting with side‐branch balloon angioplasty is associated with dissections and suboptimal results requiring kissing balloon techniques or bailout stenting. We hypothesized that using a scoring balloon for the side branch and a drug‐eluting stent for the main vessel might improve outcomes of true bifurcation lesions.Methods and ResultsA total of 93 patients with complex bifurcations were enrolled in a multicenter, single‐arm, prospective clinical trial. A drug‐eluting stent was deployed in the main vessel following dilatation of the side‐branch stenosis with a scoring balloon. The overall angiographic success rate was 93.5%, and procedural success rate was 91.4%. The final diameter stenosis was 13.9% ± 7.2% for the main vessel and 33.3% ± 22.9% for the side branch. Crossover to stent deployment in the side branch was required in 10.8%. The postscoring balloon dissection rate was 8.2% and 6% (all ≤ class C) for the main vessel and side branch respectively, which was reduced to 1.1 and 2.1% poststenting. At 9‐month follow‐up, the composite MACE rate [cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization (TLR)] was 5.4%, including a TLR rate of 3.3% (1.1% from hospital discharge to 9 months).ConclusionThe 9‐month results of the AGILITY trial support a simple provisional strategy for treating complex true bifurcation lesions with deployment of a drug‐eluting stent in the main vessel after dilatation of the side‐branch vessel with a scoring balloon. This strategy was associated with excellent and safe procedural results, a low rate of crossover to side‐branch stenting, and favorable outcomes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Feasibility and safety of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects with deficient posterior rim
Authors: Papa Marco , Gaspardone Achille , Fragasso Gabriele , Sidoti Federica , Agricola Eustachio , Gioffrè Gaetano , Iamele Maria , Margonato Alberto 
Published: August 2012

ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous closure of complex secundum‐type atrial septal defects (ASD) in patients with posterior‐inferior rim deficiency.BackgroundTranscatheter approach is the method of choice for ASD closure; however, up to now 20% of the defects are not considered suitable for percutaneous intervention because of the lack of surrounding rims, especially the posterior‐inferior.MethodsA total of 268 patients were evaluated between March 2005 and April 2011 for ASD closure. Twenty‐four patients (9%) were not considered suitable for a percutaneous intervention and referred to surgery due to inadequate rims or a large defect diameter. Out of the remaining 244 patients, 25 (10,2%) had posterior‐inferior rim deficiency and represent our study group.ResultsAfter failure of the conventional approach, alternative techniques were attempted. In 16 patients, an adjusted deployment and alignment maneuver approach was successful. In 5 other patients, a slide out technique was successfully performed by exploiting the right upper pulmonary vein. Finally in the remaining 4 patients, ASD closure was obtained by completely re‐orienting the system with a jugular approach. No peri‐procedural complications occurred, and at 12‐month transesophageal echocardiography evaluation no residual shunt could be detected.ConclusionsOur data show the feasibility of percutaneous approach for ASD closure in presence of a deficient posterior‐inferior rim. The procedural success is strictly related to correct sizing and demonstration of a balloon notch on fluoroscopy. Long‐term follow‐up supports efficacy of the procedure in these selected cases. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficient biomarkers for the characterization of bone tissue
Authors: Gil J. E. , Aranda J. P. , Mérida‐Casermeiro E. , Ujaldón M. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYThis work describes an expert system aimed to an accurate classification of cell tissue on microscopic images coming from studies of bone tissue regeneration from stem cells. We analyze a wide number of phenotype and color issues to build effective vectors of features for the subsequent characterization of tissue into five different classes: bone, cartilage, muscle, fiber and spine. The features selection includes texture, shape and color descriptors, among which we consider color histograms, Zernike moments and circular parameters. Once a preliminary set of vectors candidates are selected, several trained and non‐parametric classifiers based on neural networks, decision trees, Bayesian classifiers and association rules are analyzed, and later compared with unsupervised methods to determine those that fit more closely to our needs for distinguishing bone tissue. Because of the high resolution of our biomedical images, we effectively decompose them into smaller windows for a faster execution, with the impact of the window size being discussed in terms of speed and robustness. Our final study compares accuracy and computational time together with different stainings for revealing tissue properties: Picrosirius red, alcian blue and safranin blue. Overall, safranin blue reveals as the best staining and multilayer perceptron as the most effective classifier. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of carotid stent scaffolding through patient‐specific finite element analysis
Authors: Auricchio F. , Conti M. , Ferraro M. , Reali A. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYAfter carotid artery stenting, the plaque remains contained between the stent and the vessel wall, moving consequently physicians’ concerns toward the stent capability of limiting the plaque protrusion, that is, toward vessel scaffolding, to avoid that some debris is dislodged after the procedure. Vessel scaffolding is usually measured as the cell area of the stent in free‐expanded configuration, neglecting thus the actual stent configuration within the vascular anatomy. In the present study, we measure the cell area of four different stent designs deployed in a realistic carotid artery model through patient‐specific finite element analysis. The results suggest that after deployment, the cell area change along the stent length and the related reduction with respect to the free‐expanded configuration are functions of the vessel tapering. Hence, the conclusions withdrawn from the free‐expanded configuration appear to be qualitatively acceptable for comparative purposes, but they should be carefully handled because they neglect the post‐implant variability, which seems to be more pronounced in open‐cell designs, especially at the bifurcation segment. Even though the investigation is limited to few stent designs and one vascular anatomy, our study confirms the capability of dedicated computer‐based simulations to provide useful information about complex stent features as vessel scaffolding. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incentives and the needham paradox: An agent‐based perspective
Authors: Leong Chee Kian 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis article discusses how restructured incentives could have inhibited innovation in ancient China and explain the Needham paradox. Agents in a genetic algorithmic game maximize their payoffs by choosing between innovating and studying the Classics. By restructuring incentives toward studying the Classics, initial spurts of innovation are smothered, resulting in a population with all agents studying the Classics. The incentive structure has a statistically and quantitatively significant impact on the expected average payoffs and the strategy profile of the population: the average payoffs for a regime which rewards innovation fluctuate more but are always higher and the strategy profile is varied. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2012
Involvement of the MLL gene in adult T‐lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Türkmen Seval , Timmermann Bernd , Bartels Gesine , Gröger Daniela , Meyer Claus , Schwartz Stefan , Haferlach Claudia , Rieder Harald , Gökbuget Nicola , Hoelzer Dieter , Marschalek Rolf , Burmeister Thomas 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWhile the MLL “recombinome” is relatively well characterized in B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL), available data for adult acute T‐lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) are scarce. We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for an MLL split signal on 223 adult T‐ALL samples obtained within the framework of the German Multicenter ALL 07/2003 therapy trial. Three biphenotypic leukemias (T‐ALL/AML) were also included in the analysis. Samples showing any alteration by FISH were further investigated to characterize the MLL aberration. In addition, they were investigated for common genetic lesions known in T‐ALL. Twenty‐two cases (9.5%) showed an abnormal MLL signal by FISH analysis. Most of these appeared to be deletions or gains but in five cases (2.1%) a chromosomal translocation involving the MLL gene was identified. The translocation partners and chromosomal breakpoints were molecularly characterized. Three T‐ALLs had an MLL‐AF6/t(6;11) and two biphenotypic leukemias had an MLL‐ELL/t(11;19). The chromosomal breakpoints in two of the MLL‐AF6‐positive cases were located outside the classical MLL major breakpoint cluster known from BCP ALL. In conclusion, the spectrum of MLL translocation partners in adult T‐ALL much more resembles that of AML than that of BCP ALL and thus the mechanisms by which MLL contributes to leukemogenesis in adult T‐ALL appear to differ from those in BCP ALL. Proposals are made for the diagnostic assessment of MLL fusion genes in adult T‐ALL. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aberrant promoter methylation of beta‐1,4 galactosyltransferase 1 as potential cancer‐specific biomarker of colorectal tumors
Authors: Poeta Maria Luana , Massi Emanuela , Parrella Paola , Pellegrini Pasquale , De Robertis Mariangela , Copetti Massimiliano , Rabitti Carla , Perrone Giuseppe , Muda Andrea Onetti , Molinari Francesca , Zanellato Elena , Crippa Stefano , Caputo Damiano , Caricato Marco , Frattini Milo , Coppola Roberto , Fazio Vito Michele 
Published: August 2012

AbstractEpigenetic alterations, such as CpG islands methylation and histone modifications, are recognized key characteristics of cancer. Glycogenes are a group of genes which epigenetic status was found to be changed in several tumors. In this study, we determined promoter methylation status of the glycogene beta‐1,4‐galactosyltransferase 1 (B4GALT1) in colorectal cancer patients. Methylation status of B4GALT1 was assessed in 130 colorectal adenocarcinomas, 13 adenomas, and in paired normal tissue using quantitative methylation specific PCR (QMSP). B4GALT1 mRNA expression was evaluated in methylated/unmethylated tumor and normal specimens. We also investigated microsatellite stability and microsatellite instability status and KRAS/BRAF mutations. Discriminatory power of QMSP was assessed by receiving operating curve (ROC) analysis on a training set of 24 colorectal cancers and paired mucosa. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.737 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.591–0.881, P = 0.005) with an optimal cutoff value of 2.07 yielding a 54% sensitivity (95% CI: 35.1%–72.1%) and a specificity of 91.7% (95% CI: 74.1%–97.7%). These results were confirmed in an independent validation set where B4GALT1 methylation was detected in 52/106 patients. An inverse correlation was observed between methylation and B4GALT1 mRNA expression levels (r = −0.482, P = 0.037). Significant differences in methylation levels and frequencies was demonstrated in invasive lesions as compared with normal mucosa (P = 0.0001) and in carcinoma samples as compared with adenoma (P = 0.009). B4GALT1 methylation is a frequent and specific event in colorectal cancer and correlates with downregulation of mRNA expression. These results suggest that the glycogene B4GALT1 represent a valuable candidate biomarker of invasive phenotype of colorectal cancer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Poly‐gene fusion transcripts and chromothripsis in prostate cancer
Authors: Wu Chunxiao , Wyatt Alexander W. , McPherson Andrew , Lin Dong , McConeghy Brian J. , Mo Fan , Shukin Robert , Lapuk Anna V. , M. Jones Steven J. , Zhao Yongjun , Marra Marco A. , Gleave Martin E. , Volik Stanislav V. , Wang Yuzhuo , Sahinalp S. Cenk , Collins Colin C. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractComplex genome rearrangements are frequently observed in cancer but their impact on tumor molecular biology is largely unknown. Recent studies have identified a new phenomenon involving the simultaneous generation of tens to hundreds of genomic rearrangements, called chromothripsis. To understand the molecular consequences of these events, we sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes of two prostate tumors exhibiting evidence of chromothripsis. We identified several complex fusion transcripts, each containing sequence from three different genes, originating from different parts of the genome. One such poly‐gene fusion transcript appeared to be expressed from a chain of small genomic fragments. Furthermore, we detected poly‐gene fusion transcripts in the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, suggesting they may represent a common phenomenon. Finally in one tumor with chromothripsis, we identified multiple mutations in the p53 signaling pathway, expanding on recent work associating aberrant DNA damage response mechanisms with chromothripsis. Overall, our data show that chromothripsis can manifest as massively rearranged transcriptomes. The implication that multigenic changes can give rise to poly‐gene fusion transcripts is potentially of great significance to cancer genetics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dietary trans‐Fatty Acid Induced NASH is Normalized Following Loss of trans‐Fatty Acids from Hepatic Lipid Pools
Authors: Neuschwander‐Tetri Brent A. , Ford David A. , Acharya Sahaja , Gilkey George , Basaranoglu Metin , Tetri Laura H. , Brunt Elizabeth M. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPrevious experiments in mice showed that dietary trans‐fats could play a role in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) yet little is known about the accumulation trans‐fats in hepatic lipid pools in relationship to liver injury. NASH is also associated with obesity yet improves with only modest weight loss. To distinguish the role of obesity versus sustained consumption of a trans‐fat containing diet in causing NASH, mice with obesity and NASH induced by consuming a high trans‐fat diet for 16 weeks were subsequently fed standard chow or maintained on trans‐fat chow for another 8 weeks. The accumulation, partitioning and loss of trans‐fats in the major hepatic lipid pools during and after trans‐fat consumption were determined. Obese mice switched to standard chow remained obese but steatohepatitis improved. trans‐fats were differentially incorporated into the major hepatic lipid pools and the loss of trans‐fats after crossover to control chow was greatest in the cholesteryl ester pool. In summary, dietary changes can improve the biochemical and histopathological changes of NASH despite persistent obesity in mice. Analysis of hepatic lipids confirmed that dietary trans‐fats accumulate in the major lipid pools and are released differentially with diet normalization. The substantial loss of trans‐fats from the cholesteryl ester pool in parallel with improvement in NASH suggests that this pool of trans‐fats could play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH.
A Novel Method for Simultaneous Monitoring of 2‐MCPD, 3‐MCPD and Glycidyl Esters in Oils and Fats
Authors: Ermacora A. , Hrncirik K. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe availability of a reliable methodology for the quantification of fatty acid esters of monochloropropropanediol (MCPD) and glycidol is essential for understanding the mechanism of formation of these process contaminants and for developing effective mitigation strategies. While several analytical methods for the determination of MCPD esters have already been developed and evaluated, only very few procedures are currently available for the analysis of glycidyl esters. This work presents a new indirect method for the simultaneous quantification of fatty acid esters of 2‐MCPD, 3‐MCPD and glycidol. The method is based on the acid‐catalyzed conversion of glycidyl esters into 3‐monobromopropanediol (3‐MBPD) monoesters which, owing to the structural similarity to MCPD esters, are quantified by using the procedure we previously optimized for the analysis of MCPD esters. The critical step of the method, which is the conversion of glycidyl esters, was optimized by testing different reagent concentrations and varying other condition settings. The novel method showed good repeatability (RSD <2.5 %) and between‐day reproducibility (RSD ≤5 %). The limit of detection was 0.04 mg/kg for bound 2‐MCPD and 3‐MCPD and 0.06 mg/kg for bound glycidol. The trueness of the method was evaluated by the analysis of spiked samples and by interlaboratory comparison.
New Environmentally Friendly Oxidative Scission of Oleic Acid into Azelaic Acid and Pelargonic Acid
Authors: Godard Anaïs , De Caro Pascale , Thiebaud‐Roux Sophie , Vedrenne Emeline , Mouloungui Zéphirin 
Published: August 2012

AbstractOleic acid (OA) is a renewable monounsaturated fatty acid obtained from high oleic sunflower oil. This work was focused on the oxidative scission of OA, which yields a mono‐acid (pelargonic acid, PA) and a di‐acid (azelaic acid, AA) through an emulsifying system. The conventional method for producing AA and PA consists of the ozonolysis of oleic acid, a process which presents numerous drawbacks. Therefore, we proposed to study a new alternative process using a green oxidant and a solvent‐free system. OA was oxidized in a batch reactor with a biphasic organic‐aqueous system consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 30 %) as an oxidant and a peroxo–tungsten complex Q3{PO4[WO(O2)2]4} as a phase‐transfer catalyst/co‐oxidant. Several phase‐transfer catalysts were prepared in situ from tungstophosphoric acid, H2O2 and different quaternary ammonium salts (Q+, Cl–). The catalyst [C5H5N(n‐C16H33)]3{PO4[WO(O2)2]4} was found to give the best results and was chosen for the optimization of the other parameters of the process. This optimization led to a complete conversion of OA into AA and PA with high yields (>80 %) using the system OA/H2O2/[C5H5N(n‐C16H33)]3{PO4[WO(O2)2]4} (1/5/0.02 molar ratio) at 85 °C for 5 h. In addition, a new treatment was developed in order to recover the catalyst.
ICRP PUBLICATION 118: ICRP Statement on Tissue Reactions and Early and Late Effects of Radiation in Normal Tissues and Organs — Threshold Doses for Tissue Reactions in a Radiation Protection Context
Authors: Stewart F.A. , Akleyev A.V. , Hauer-Jensen M. , Hendry J.H. , Kleiman N.J. , MacVittie T.J. , Aleman B.M. , Edgar A.B. , Mabuchi K. , Muirhead C.R. , Shore R.E. , Wallace W.H. 
Published: August 2012

This report provides a review of early and late effects of radiation in normal tissues and organs with respect to radiation protection. It was instigated following a recommendation in Publication 103 (ICRP, 2007), and it provides updated estimates of ‘practical’ threshold doses for tissue injury defined at the level of 1% incidence. Estimates are given for morbidity and mortality endpoints in all organ systems following acute, fractionated, or chronic exposure. The organ systems comprise the haematopoietic, immune, reproductive, circulatory, respiratory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and nervous systems; the digestive and urinary tracts; the skin; and the eye. Particular attention is paid to circulatory disease and cataracts because of recent evidence of higher incidences of injury than expected after lower doses; hence, threshold doses appear to be lower than previously considered. This is largely because of the increasing incidences with increasing times after exposure. In the context of protection, it is the threshold doses for very long follow-up times that are the most relevant for workers and the public; for example, the atomic bomb survivors with 40–50 years of follow-up. Radiotherapy data generally apply for shorter follow-up times because of competing causes of death in cancer patients, and hence the risks of radiation-induced circulatory disease at those earlier times are lower. A variety of biological response modifiers have been used to help reduce late reactions in many tissues. These include antioxidants, radical scavengers, inhibitors of apoptosis, anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, growth factors, and cytokines. In many cases, these give dose modification factors of 1.1–1.2, and in a few cases 1.5–2, indicating the potential for increasing threshold doses in known exposure cases. In contrast, there are agents that enhance radiation responses, notably other cytotoxic agents such as antimetabolites, alkylating agents, anti-angiogenic drugs, and antibiotics, as well as genetic and comorbidity factors. Most tissues show a sparing effect of dose fractionation, so that total doses for a given endpoint are higher if the dose is fractionated rather than when given as a single dose. However, for reactions manifesting very late after low total doses, particularly for cataracts and circulatory disease, it appears that the rate of dose delivery does not modify the low incidence. This implies that the injury in these cases and at these low dose levels is caused by single-hit irreparable-type events. For these two tissues, a threshold dose of 0.5 Gy is proposed herein for practical purposes, irrespective of the rate of dose delivery, and future studies may elucidate this judgement further.
Prevalence of and risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse and lower urinary tract symptoms among women in rural Nepal
Authors: Lien Ying‐Shuang , Chen Gin‐Den , Ng Soo‐Cheen 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among women seeking healthcare services in 3 discrete rural areas in Nepal.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted using a Nepalese‐specific questionnaire to obtain demographic and personal information. Urinary symptoms were examined using the Urogenital Distress Inventory Short form questionnaire, while POP severity was staged according to the POP‐Q system. The χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine POP risk factors.ResultsOf the 174 women included in the analysis, 106 (60.9%) had stage II POP or greater. In all, 93 women (53.4%) had cystocele, 63 (36.2%) had rectocele, and 37 (21.3%) had uterine prolapse. Univariate analysis identified high parity; young age at first delivery; menopause; squatting or standing position during delivery; and early return to work after delivery as risk factors for POP. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that delivery in a lying position presented a lower risk for cystocele than squatting or standing (odds ratio 0.34; P < 0.01).ConclusionBoth LUTS and POP are common among women in rural Nepal. Cystocele is the most frequent, advanced, and symptomatic form of POP observed in this population.