bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Color Doppler Ultrasound Follow‐Up of Infantile Hemangiomas and Peripheral Vascularity in Patients Treated with Propranolol
Authors: Kutz Ana M. , Aranibar Ligia , Lobos Nelson , Wortsman Ximena 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundInfantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common vascular tumors in childhood. Diagnosis of IHs is usually clinical, however, to determine the actual dimensions of the lesion or the anatomic changes that occur during its evolution and treatment, a color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) examination can be performed. To date, there are few publications that assess the sonographic response to propranolol in IHs, and to our knowledge, none that consider simultaneous evaluation of both intralesional and normal peripheral blood vessels in these cases.ObjectiveEvaluation of the anatomic effect of propranolol in IHs and peripheral blood vessels using CDU.MethodsA cohort study was performed in 10 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of IH in whom systemic therapy with propranolol was indicated. The patients underwent a baseline and 3‐month follow‐up CDUs of the tumor and the main peripheral vessels of the right upper extremity.ResultsThe group was composed of 7 (70%) girls and 3 (30%) boys. The average CDU decrease in size of the longitudinal axis was 11%; of the transverse axis, 24%; tumor thickness, 30%; and intralesional vessel thickness, 46%. Hemangioma volume measured by CDU decreased an average of 51%. The thickness of the peripheral vessels did not change significantly between the baseline and 3‐month follow‐up CDUs.ConclusionCDU permits noninvasive quantification of the changes in IHs and peripheral vessels in patients receiving propranolol therapy. In our cohort of cases there was a significant reduction in tumor volume; however, peripheral vascularity was not significantly affected.
Pediatric Lichen Sclerosus: A Review of the Epidemiology and Treatment Options
Authors: Tong Lana X. , Sun Grace S. , Teng Joyce M.C. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractLichen sclerosus (LS) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory disease of the skin that primarily affects postmenopausal women but may occur in men and children as well. Approximately 7% to 15% of cases are believed to occur in children. The epidemiologic data for LS have been limited and treatment options are not well studied, particularly in children. We reviewed new developments available in the current literature on the epidemiology and management of LS for children.
Novel cystathionine β‐synthase gene mutations in a Filipino patient with classic homocystinuria
Authors: Silao Catherine Lynn T. , Fabella Terence Diane F. , Rama Kahlil Izza D. , Estrada Sylvia C. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundClassic homocystinuria due to cystathionine β‐synthase (CBS) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder of sulfur metabolism. Clinical manifestations include mental retardation, dislocation of the optic lens (ectopia lentis), skeletal abnormalities and a tendency to thromboembolic episodes. We present the first mutational analysis of CBS in a Filipino patient with classic homocystinuria.MethodsGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood collected from a diagnosed Filipino patient with classic homocystinuria. The entire coding region of CBS (17 exons) was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and bidirectionally sequenced using standard protocols.ResultsThe patient was found to be compound heterozygous for two novel mutations, g.13995G>A [c.982G>A; p.D328K] and g.15860‐15868dupGCAGGAGCT [c.1083‐1091dupGCAGGAGCT; p. Q362‐L364dupQEL]. Four known single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (rs234706, rs1801181, rs706208 and rs706209) were also detected in the present patient's CBS. The patient was heterozygous for all the identified alleles.ConclusionsThis is the first mutational analysis of CBS done in a Filipino patient with classic homocystinuria who presented with a novel duplication mutation and a novel missense mutation. Homocystinuria due to CBS deficiency is a heterogeneous disorder at the molecular level.
The Effect of Sperm Concentration and Storage Vessel on Quercetin‐Supplemented Rabbit Semen During Chilled Storage
Authors: Johinke D , de Graaf SP , Bathgate R 
Published: May 2015

ContentsExtending the shelf life of chilled rabbit spermatozoa is vital for the expansion of the farmed rabbit industry. This study evaluated the relationship between sperm concentration and packaging on in vitro quality of chilled rabbit semen over 96 h. Semen was collected from adult bucks (n = 4) and pooled at 37°C following evaluation. Pooled ejaculates were diluted with a Tris‐based extender supplemented with 100 μm quercetin to a concentration of 15, 30 or 60 × 106 spermatozoa/ml, packaged into plastic tubes or 0.5‐ml straws and stored at 15°C. Sperm quality was assessed by computer‐assisted sperm Analysis [total motility (tMOT)] and flow cytometry [viability, acrosome integrity, H2O2 production, plasma membrane disorder, apoptosis and DNA fragmentation index (DFI)] at 0, 48, 72 and 96 h. From 48 h, concentrations of 30 and 60 × 106 spermatozoa/ml reported the highest tMOT, irrespective of storage vessel (p < 0.05). Storage in straws reduced oxidative stress and improved plasma membrane stability. The %DFI, mean DFI and SD‐DFI were increased in spermatozoa stored in tubes compared with straws (p < 0.05). Although the use of low sperm concentrations in artificial insemination doses would facilitate greater dispersion of genetically superior rabbit bucks, dilution to 15 × 106 spermatozoa/ml had a detrimental impact on motility. As such, chilled storage at 30 × 106 spermatozoa/ml may provide a suitable balance between motility and H2O2 production to best maintain overall sperm function and should be evaluated in a large‐scale AI trial.
Evaluation of the role of lung volume and airway size and shape in supine‐predominant obstructive sleep apnoea patients
Authors: Joosten Simon A. , Sands Scott A. , Edwards Bradley A. , Hamza Kais , Turton Anthony , Lau Kenneth K. , Crossett Marcus , Berger Philip J. , Hamilton Garun S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the involvement of airway cross‐sectional area and shape, and functional residual capacity (FRC), in the genesis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in patients with supine‐predominant OSA.MethodsThree groups were recruited: (i) supine OSA, defined as a supine apnoea–hyponoea index (AHI) at least twice that of the non‐supine AHI; (ii) rapid eye movement (REM) OSA, defined as REM AHI at least twice the non‐REM AHI and also selected to have supine AHI less than twice that of the non‐supine AHI (i.e. to be non‐positional); and (iii) no OSA, defined as an AHI less than five events per hour. The groups were matched for age, gender and body mass index. Patients underwent four‐dimensional computed tomography scanning of the upper airway in the supine and lateral decubitus positions. FRC was measured in the seated, supine and lateral decubitus positions.ResultsPatients with supine OSA demonstrated a significant decrease in FRC of 340 mL (P = 0.026) when moving from the lateral to supine position compared to controls with no OSA, and REM OSA patients. We found no differences between groups in upper airway size and shape. However, all groups showed a significant change in airway shape with the velopharyngeal airway adopting a more elliptoid shape (with the long axis laterally oriented), with reduced anteroposterior diameter in the supine position.ConclusionsA fall in FRC when moving lateral to supine in supine OSA patients may be an important triggering factor in the generation of OSA in this patient group.
Risk factors and prognostic scale for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in CMV‐seropositive patients after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Cohen L. , Yeshurun M. , Shpilberg O. , Ram R. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimWe aimed to study the risk factors for first and subsequent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection among patients who are CMV seropositive and underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).MethodsWe performed an historical cohort study of all sequential CMV‐seropositive patients who underwent allogeneic HCT at a single center. Between May 2007 and December 2012, 121 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria.ResultsMultivariate model identified myeloablative preparative regimen (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.297, P = 0.033) and acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) prior to infection (HR = 5.091, P = 0.021) as risk factors for first CMV infection. The cumulative incidences of first CMV infection for patients with 0, 1, and 2 risk factors were 52%, 71%, and 91%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified the diagnosis of lymphoma/myeloma (HR = 3.5, P = 0.049) and GVHD (HR = 1.280, P = 0.045) as risk factors for subsequent CMV infection. High graft CD3 stem cell dose was associated with a trend of lower rate of subsequent CMV infection (HR = 0.543, P = 0.056). The cumulative incidences for subsequent CMV infection in patients with 0, 1, and 2–3 risk factors were 11%, 41%, and 77%, respectively.ConclusionIn conclusion, in CMV‐seropositive patients, myeloablative conditioning and acute GVHD are risk factors for first CMV infection, while lymphoma/myeloma, ongoing GVHD, and low CD3 graft content are risk factors for subsequent infection.
The Effect of Treated High-Vanadium Fuel on Gas Turbine Load, Efficiency, and Life
Authors: Buckland Bruce O. 
Published: May 2015

Tests were run on four inter-cooled regenerative high-temperature gas turbines of like design to measure the effect of burning several different residual fuels. Some of the tests were made with the help and co-operation of the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation on two of their units at Rutland, Vermont. Other tests were made at Bangor, Maine, with the help and co-operation of The Esso Research and Engineering Company, and the Bangor Hydroelectric Company, on the two units in the Graham Station. The results of the tests can be summarized as follows:
1. After a few hundred hours of intermittent operation, the first-stage nozzle area reaches a steady-state condition wherein it oscillates between zero and a maximum of about 8 percent reduction in area due to oil ash. The maximum reduction varies from 4 percent to 8 percent, depending on the fuel;
2. With continuous operation the first-stage nozzle area does not reach a steady-state value in 100 hours but plugs more or less continuously at rates varying from 5 to 24 percent per hundred hours, depending on the fuel. The load decreases also at rates varying from one to twenty percent in the same period;
3. Increasing the magnesium content of the fuel with respect to its vanadium content increases the deposition rate, but increasing the aluminum with respect to the vanadium content has the opposite effect;
4. Substantial temperature changes due to load variations and changes of firing temperature have little or no effect on dislodging the ash, but shutdowns in excess of two hours duration cause recoveries of over 70 percent in the area and over 50 percent in the load;
5. Introducing about 15 pounds of spent refinery catalyst into the low-pressure compressor inlet results in more than 40 percent recovery in the nozzle area and about the same recovery in the load. This cleaning operation, followed by a shutdown, results in practically complete recovery in both load and area during subsequent operation.
A test was run for 2400 hours with a single residual fuel containing about 360 ppm of vanadium following 2700 hours operation on distillate fuel. Comparisons of the gas-path parts with those of two other units of the same design, one using a residual oil having 80 ppm of vanadium and the other using natural gas, lead to the following conclusions:
1. The life of the gas-path parts is no different whether a high vanadium or a low vanadium residual fuel is used;
2. The corrosion of the nozzles and buckets is not much greater with treated residual oil than with natural gas.
Enhancing Change-of-Direction Speed in Soccer Players by Functional Inertial Eccentric Overload and Vibration Training
Authors: Tous-Fajardo Julio , Gonzalo-Skok Oliver , Arjol-Serrano José Luis , Tesch Per 
Published: May 2015

Purpose:To examine the effects of a novel isoinertial eccentric-overload and vibration training (EVT) paradigm on change-ofdirection (COD) speed and multiple performance tests applicable to soccer.Methods:Twenty-four young male players were assigned to an EVT (n = 12) or conventional combined (CONV, n = 12) group, once weekly for 11 wk. EVT consisted of 2 sets of 6–10 repetitions in 5 specific and 3 complementary exercises. CONV used comparable volume (2 sets of 6–10 reps in 3 sequences of 3 exercises) of conventional combined weight, plyometric, and linear speed exercises. Pre- and postintervention tests included 25-m sprint with 4 × 45° COD every 5th m (V-cut test), 10- and 30-m sprints, repeat-sprint ability, countermovement jump, and hopping (RJ5).Results:Group comparison showed very likely to likely better performance for EVT in the COD (effect size [ES] = 1.42), 30-m (ES = 0.98), 10-m (ES = 1.17), and average power (ES = 0.69) and jump height (ES = 0.69) during RJ5. There was a large (r = –.55) relationship between the increase in average hopping power and the reduced V-cut time.Conclusions:As EVT, not CONV, improved not only COD ability but also linear speed and reactive jumping, this “proof-of-principle” study suggests that this novel exercise paradigm performed once weekly could serve as a viable adjunct to improve performance tasks specific to soccer.
Effects of Static and Dynamic Stretching on Injury Prevention in High School Soccer Athletes: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Zakaria Alan A. , Kiningham Robert B. , Sen Ananda 
Published: May 2015

Objective:To determine if there is any benefit to static stretching after performing a dynamic warm-up in the prevention of injury in high school soccer athletes.Design:Prospective cluster randomized nonblinded study.Setting:12 high schools with varsity and junior varsity boys’ soccer teams (24 soccer teams) across the state of Michigan.Participants:Four hundred ninety-nine student-athletes were enrolled, and 465 completed the study. One high school dropped out of the study in the first week, leaving a total of 22 teams.Interventions:Dynamic stretching protocol vs dynamic + static (D+S) stretching protocol.Main Outcome Measures:Lower-extremity, core, or lower-back injuries per team.Results:Twelve teams performed the dynamic stretching protocol and 10 teams performed the D+S stretching protocol. There were 17 injuries (1.42 ± 1.49 injuries/team) among the teams that performed the dynamic stretching protocol and 20 injuries (2.0 ± 1.24 injuries/team) among the teams that performed the D+S protocol. There was no statistically significant difference in injuries between the 2 groups (P = .33).Conclusions:There is no difference between dynamic stretching and D+S stretching in the prevention of lower-extremity, core, and back injuries in high school male soccer athletes. Static stretching does not provide any added benefit to dynamic stretching in the prevention of injury in this population before exercise.
Genome Sequences of Three Strains of Lactobacillus paracasei of Different Origins and with Different Cholate Sensitivities
Authors: Shiwa Yuh , Atarashi Hotaka , Tanaka Naoto , Okada Sanae , Yoshikawa Hirofumi , Endo Akihito , Miyaji Tatsuro , Nakagawa Junichi 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

We report here the draft genome sequences of three strains of
Lactobacillus paracasei
(NRIC 0644, NRIC 1781, and NRIC 1917) isolated from different sources. The three genomes range from 2.95 to 3.15 Mb with a G+C content of 46% and contain approximately 2,700 protein coding sequences.
Metagenome Sequencing of a Coastal Marine Microbial Community from Monterey Bay, California
Authors: Mueller Ryan S. , Bryson Sam , Kieft Brandon , Li Zhou , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Chavez Francisco , Hettich Robert L. , Pan Chongle , Mayali Xavier 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT
Heterotrophic microbes are critical components of aquatic food webs. Linkages between populations and the substrates they utilize are not well defined. We present the metagenome of microbial communities from the coastal Pacific Ocean exposed to various nutrient additions in order to better understand substrate utilization and partitioning in this environment.
Virtual Platform-Based Design Space Exploration of Power-Efficient Distributed Embedded Applications
Authors: Sayyah Parinaz , Lazarescu Mihai T. , Bocchio Sara , Ebeid Emad , Palermo Gianluca , Quaglia Davide , Rosti Alberto , Lavagno Luciano 
Published: May 2015

Networked embedded systems are essential building blocks of a broad variety of distributed applications ranging from agriculture to industrial automation to healthcare and more. These often require specific energy optimizations to increase the battery lifetime or to operate using energy harvested from the environment. Since a dominant portion of power consumption is determined and managed by software, the software development process must have access to the sophisticated power management mechanisms provided by state-of-the-art hardware platforms to achieve the best tradeoff between system availability and reactivity. Furthermore, internode communications must be considered to properly assess the energy consumption.
This article describes a design flow based on a SystemC virtual platform including both accurate power models of the hardware components and a fast abstract model of the wireless network. The platform allows both model-driven design of the application and the exploration of power and network management alternatives. These can be evaluated in different network scenarios, allowing one to exploit power optimization strategies without requiring expensive field trials. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated via experiments on a wireless body area network application.
Molecular Pathways: A Novel Approach to Targeting Hypoxia and Improving Radiotherapy Efficacy via Reduction in Oxygen Demand
Authors: Lin Alexander , Maity Amit 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Tumor hypoxia presents a unique therapeutic challenge in the treatment of solid malignancies. Its presence has been established to be a poor prognostic factor in multiple cancer types, and past hypoxia-directed approaches have yielded generally disappointing results. Previous approaches have centered on either increasing oxygen delivery or administering agents that preferentially radiosensitize or kill hypoxic cells. However, a novel and potentially more effective method may be to increase therapeutic benefit by decreasing tumor oxygen consumption via agents such as metformin or nelfinavir in a patient population that is enriched for tumor hypoxia. This promising approach is currently being investigated in clinical trials and the subject of this article. Clin Cancer Res; 21(9); 1995–2000. ©2015 AACR.
PET Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer Patients to Monitor Treatment Response: A Future Role for EGFR-Targeted Imaging
Authors: van Dijk Laura K. , Boerman Otto C. , Kaanders Johannes H.A.M. , Bussink Johan 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Approximately 50,000 new cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are diagnosed worldwide each year and subsequently treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or targeted therapy. The heterogeneity of the patient population in terms of treatment response drives the search for tumor-specific biomarkers. Imaging of biomarkers can reveal patient-specific responses to therapies and, if assessed early after the start of treatment, may allow adaptation of treatment regimens. In this review, tracers that have been tested to monitor treatment efficacy in HNSCC by PET scanning prior to and early after the onset of treatment are discussed. An important imaging target for this application in HNSCC patients is the EGFR. It steers the pathways related to proliferation, hypoxia, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis, all treatment-resistance mechanisms. The anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab has been labeled with various radionuclides and has been tested as an imaging biomarker in several HNSCC models. These studies suggest that EGFR-targeting tracers can be used to monitor EGFR receptor expression in HNSCC and have the potential to noninvasively monitor cetuximab treatment and steer individualized treatment regimens. Multiple factors can influence the uptake of EGFR-targeting tracers. Here, we discuss the relevance of gene and protein overexpression, mutations, and amplifications related to EGFR signaling. In addition, monoclonal antibody properties and the effect on the host immune system are reviewed in light of the future role of EGFR-targeted imaging in HNSCC. Clin Cancer Res; 21(16); 3602–9. ©2015 AACR.
Abstract 10: Characterization of CD45-/CD31+/CD105+ circulating cells in the peripheral blood of patients with gynecological malignancies
Authors: Yu Hyun-Kyung , Lee Ho-Jeong , Choi Ha-Na , Ahn Jin-Hyung , Choi Ji-Young , Jeong Eun-Jeong , Seok Hyun-Jeong , Song Haengseok , Lee Ki-Heon , Yi Lee S.H. , Kim Sun Jin , Kim Tae Jin , Kim Jang-Seong 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Purpose: Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have been widely used as a prognostic biomarker and regarded as a promising strategy for monitoring the response to treatment in several cancers. However, the presence and biological roles of CECs have remained controversial for decades because technical standards for the identification and quantification of CECs have not been established. Here, we hypothesized that CECs detected by flow cytometry might be monocytes rather than endothelial cells.
Experimental Design: The frequency of representative CEC subsets (i.e., CD45-/CD31+, CD45-/CD31+/CD146+, CD45-/CD31+/CD105+) was analyzed in the peripheral blood of gynecological cancer patients (n=56) and healthy volunteers (n=44). CD45-/CD31+ cells, which are components of CECs, were isolated and the expression of various markers (CD146, CD105, vWF, and CD144 for endothelial cells; CD68 and CD14 for monocytes) was examined by immunocytochemistry.
Results: CD45-/CD31+/CD105+ cells were significantly increased in the peripheral blood of cancer patients whereas evaluation of CD45/CD31+/CD146+ cells was not possible both in cancer patients and healthy controls due to the limited resolution of the flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry analyses showed that these CD45-/CD31+/CD105+ cells did not express vWF and CD146 but rather CD144. Furthermore, CD45-/CD31+/CD105+ cells uniformly expressed the monocyte-specific markers CD14 and CD68. These results suggest that D45/CD31+/CD105+ cells carry the characteristics of monocytes rather than endothelial cells.
Conclusions: Our data indicate that CD45-/CD31+/CD105+ circulating cells, which are significantly increased in the peripheral blood of gynecological cancer patients, are monocytes rather than endothelial cells. Further investigation is required to determine the biological significance of their presence and function in relation with angiogenesis.
Citation Format: Hyun-Kyung Yu, Ho-Jeong Lee, Ha-Na Choi, Jin-Hyung Ahn, Ji-Young Choi, Eun-Jeong Jeong, Hyun-Jeong Seok, Haengseok Song, Ki-Heon Lee, Lee S.H. Yi, Sun Jin Kim, Tae Jin Kim, Jang-Seong Kim. Characterization of CD45-/CD31+/CD105+ circulating cells in the peripheral blood of patients with gynecological malignancies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 10. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-10