bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome of pediatric renal transplantation in north India
Authors: Sinha Aditi , Hari Pankaj , Guleria Sandeep , Gulati Ashima , Dinda Amit K. , Mehra N. K. , Srivastava R. N. , Bagga Arvind 
Published: September 2010

Sinha A, Hari P, Guleria S, Gulati A, Dinda AK, Mehra NK, Srivastava RN, Bagga A. Outcome of pediatric renal transplantation in north India. Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:836–843. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  We report our experience and long‐term outcome of pediatric renal transplantation at a referral center in New Delhi. During 1995–2008, 45 transplants were performed in 43 patients at a mean age of 13.3 ± 4.0 (range 3.8–18) yr. The chief causes for ESRD were reflux nephropathy, obstructive uropathy, vasculitis, renal dysplasia, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Most (91.1%) donors were living related. Post‐transplant immunosuppression comprised prednisolone, a calcineurin inhibitor and azathioprine or MMF. AR and CR were seen in 14 (31.1%) and 12 (26.7%) allografts, respectively. Predictors of CR were unsatisfactory compliance and multiple episodes of AR (p = 0.002 each). Urinary infections (n = 13), septicemia (4), tuberculosis (4), CMV disease (7), viral hepatitis (7), and pneumonia (3) were important causes of morbidity. Two patients each had lymphoproliferative disease and new‐onset diabetes. There were eight (17.8%) graft losses and six (14%) deaths. The one‐, five‐ and 10‐yr graft survivals were 91.1%, 80.4% and 75.1%, respectively; the mean graft survival was 119.4 ± 8.38 months. The respective patient survivals were 95.3%, 87.9%, and 76.9% at one‐, five‐ and 10 yr. Our results affirm that despite scarcity of resources and frequent infections, long‐term outcomes of pediatric renal transplantation are highly satisfactory.
Piwi‐expressing hemoblasts serve as germline stem cells during postembryonic germ cell specification in colonial ascidian, Botryllus primigenus
Authors: Sunanaga Takeshi , Inubushi Hironori , Kawamura Kazuo 
Published: September 2010

Animals that propagate asexually are exciting models to investigate the cellular system, which produces germline cells constitutively throughout life. The present research investigated whether piwi was a germline‐specific marker in the colonial ascidian Botryllus primigenus. An approximately 2.8 kb long cDNA fragment was cloned and termed BpPiwi, since the obtained amino acid sequence (874 aa) contained PAZ and PIWI domains. BpPiwi was expressed specifically by germline cells such as the loose cell mass (germline precursor cells), oocytes, spermatogonia, and spermatocytes. In addition, BpPiwi transcripts were also detected in some coelomic cells in the hemocoel and tunic vessels. BpPiwi+ coelomic cells possessed similar morphological features to hemoblasts (stem cells). The concentration of BpPiwi+ cells was found to be significantly lower than that obtained for hemoblasts suggesting that BpPiwi+ cells comprise a fraction of hemoblasts. Further, the ability of BpPiwi+ cells to serve as somatic stem cells was examined. No BpPiwi signals were detected from somatic hemoblasts forming vascular buds. The genetic knockdown of BpPiwi induced by siRNA injection resulted in the formation of a defective germline precursor. These results suggest that BpPiwi+ hemoblasts reside in the hemocoel and tunic vessels and function as germline stem cells in the postembryonic colony. Based on the findings of the characterization of three effective germline genes piwi, vasa, and nanos, we propose that germline stem cells reside as BpPiwi+/BpVas−/BpNos+ hemoblasts in B. primigenus.
Pilot randomized study comparing two techniques of airway anaesthesia during curvilinear probe endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (CP‐EBUS)
Authors: LEE Hans J. , HAAS Andrew R. , STERMAN Daniel H. , SOLLY Randy , VACHANI Anil , GILLESPIE Colin T. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  This study evaluates two different techniques for topically anaesthetizing the airway with lidocaine during curvilinear probe endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (CP‐EBUS): standard injection through the working channel and spray catheter application.Methods:  This was a randomized, non‐blinded, single‐centre pilot study. Patients with plans for CP‐EBUS under moderate sedation were enrolled. All patients received nebulized lidocaine followed by posterior oropharyngeal lidocaine via atomizer and a cotton ball swab using McGill forceps. Patients were then randomly assigned to lidocaine administration using spray catheter instillation or direct application through the working channel. Lidocaine was administered in a uniform fashion by a single investigator throughout the study. The primary end‐point was the number of significant coughing episodes in the first 30 min of bronchoscopy. Other end‐points included lidocaine and intravenous sedation medication dosage; severe coughing session; and number of transbronchial needle aspirations.Results:  Forty patients were included in the study: 20 patients in each group. The median numbers of coughing episodes in the first 30 min were 1 (spray catheter group) and 2 (standard injection group) (P < 0.004). Six patients in the standard installation group experienced severe coughing sessions, while there was none in the spray catheter group (P = 0.02). There were no statistical differences between the groups in the dosage of lidocaine or intravenous sedation medications used. There were a greater number of transbronchial needle aspirations performed in the spray catheter group (P = 0.008).Conclusions:  Lidocaine delivery via the spray catheter reduced the number of significant coughing episodes compared with standard working channel injection during CP‐EBUS. Larger studies are needed to confirm these exploratory findings.
Coping with Conway v. Rimmer [1968] AC 910: How Civil Servants Control Access to Justice
Authors: Spencer Maureen , Spencer John 
Published: September 2010

The article, based on a review of files in the National Archives, examines the role of civil servants in claims for the suppression of state documents at trial on grounds of public interest immunity (PII). Government lawyers solicited responses from other ministries to the landmark Lords decision in Conway v. Rimmer and coordinated the civil service campaign against this unwelcome judicial intrusion into their professional domain. The decision was seen as a threat to confidentiality and the secret cultivation of administrative expertise.Academic debate on the evolution of the PII doctrine has centred on the allocation of responsibility between an overly deferential judiciary and ministerial concern to avoid political embarrassment. The role of civil servants may have been more coherent and ideologically motivated than previously appreciated. As the courts increasingly challenge government claims for suppression of material at trial, the article highlights the historical factors determining the executive's innate instinct for secrecy.
Real Time Animation of Virtual Humans: A Trade‐off Between Naturalness and Control
Authors: Van Welbergen H. , Van Basten B. J. H. , Egges A. , Ruttkay Zs. M. , Overmars M. H. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract Virtual humans are employed in many interactive applications using 3D virtual environments, including (serious) games. The motion of such virtual humans should look realistic (or ‘natural’) and allow interaction with the surroundings and other (virtual) humans. Current animation techniques differ in the trade‐off they offer between motion naturalness and the control that can be exerted over the motion. We show mechanisms to parametrize, combine (on different body parts) and concatenate motions generated by different animation techniques. We discuss several aspects of motion naturalness and show how it can be evaluated. We conclude by showing the promise of combinations of different animation paradigms to enhance both naturalness and control.
Materials Metabolism Analysis of China's Highway Traffic System (HTS) for Promoting Circular Economy
Authors: Wen Zongguo , Li Ruijuan 
Published: September 2010

SummaryWith the rapid growth of highway mileage and vehicles, the Chinese highway traffic system (HTS) has become one of the great resource consumers. This article attempts to evaluate the material metabolism of China's HTS during 2001–2005 using the approach of material flow analysis (MFA) and to explore possible measures to promote circular economy throughout HTS.We measured a set of indicators to illustrate the whole material metabolism of China's HTS. The results indicated that the direct material input (DMI) of China's HTS increased from 1181.26 million tonnes (Mt) in 2001 to 1,874.57 Mt in 2005, and about 80% of DMI was accumulated in the system as infrastructure and vehicles. The domestic processed output (DPO) increased by 59.0% from 2001 to 2005. Carbon dioxide and solid waste accounted for 80.5% and 10.4% of DPO, respectively. The increase of resource consumption and pollutant emissions kept pace with the growth of transportation turnover. All these suggest that China's HTS still followed an extensive linear developing pattern with large resource consumption and heavy pollution emissions during the study period, which brought great challenges to the resources and the environment. Therefore, it's high time for China to implement a circular economy throughout the HTS by instituting resource and energy savings, by reducing emissions in the field of infrastructure construction and maintenance, by reducing vehicles’ energy and materials consumption, and by recycling waste materials.
Urinary and Fecal Incontinence and Quality of Life in African Americans
Authors: Malmstrom Theodore K. , Andresen Elena M. , Wolinsky Fredric D. , Schootman Mario , Miller J. Philip , Miller Douglas K. 
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVES: To investigate associations between quality of life (QoL) and incontinence in a population‐based African‐American sample.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional survey.SETTING: Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri.PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred fifty‐three non‐institutionalized African Americans aged 52 to 68 in the African American Health study.MEASUREMENTS: Respondents who reported having involuntarily lost urine over the previous month were classified as having urinary incontinence (UI), and respondents who reported having lost control of their bowels or stool over the past year were classified as having fecal incontinence (FI). QoL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and the 11‐item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D).RESULTS: Prevalences of UI and FI were 12.1% (weighted n=102/841) and 5.0% (weighted n=42/841). Participants with UI and those with FI had worse SF‐36 scores than their referent groups (physical function −15.5 and −38.1 points, respectively; role physical −13.2 and −26.5 points; bodily pain −15.7 and −24.5 points; general health perceptions −15.5 and −27.6 points; vitality −15.0 and −16.5 points; social functioning −18.4 and −25.6 points; role emotional −13.2 and −22.1 points; mental health −12.2 and −17.5 points; all Ps<.001), adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and chronic conditions. Proportions with clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms were also higher in both groups (UI+17.9%; P<.001) and FI (+37.2%; P<.001) than in their referent groups.CONCLUSION: UI and FI were strongly associated with worse health‐related QoL as well as symptoms of depression in this population‐based sample of African Americans.
Association Between Life Space and Risk of Mortality in Advanced Age
Authors: Boyle Patricia A. , Buchman Aron S. , Barnes Lisa L. , James Bryan D. , Bennett David A. 
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between life space, a measure of functional status that describes the range of movement through the environment covered during daily functioning, and the risk of mortality in older community‐based persons.DESIGN: Two ongoing, prospective observational cohort studies of aging.SETTING: Greater metropolitan Chicago area.PARTICIPANTS: One thousand four hundred forty‐five community‐based older persons without dementia.MEASUREMENTS: Life space was measured at baseline using a series of questions designed to measure the extent of participants' movement throughout their environment, ranging from the bedroom to out of town. The association between life space and mortality was examined using proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, race, and education.RESULTS: Over up to 8 years of follow‐up (mean 4.1 years), 329 of 1,445 (22.8%) participants died. In a proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, race, and education, a more‐constricted life space was associated with a greater risk of death (hazard ratio=1.18, 95% confidence interval=1.09–1.27, P<.001), such that people with life spaces constricted to their immediate home environment (score=3) were approximately 1.6 times as likely to die as those whose life spaces included trips out of town (score=0). This association persisted after the addition of terms for several potential confounders, including physical activity, performance‐based physical function, disability, depressive symptoms, social networks, body mass index, and number of chronic medical conditions.CONCLUSION: Constricted life space is associated with greater risk of death in older community‐based persons.
Trail‐Walking Exercise and Fall Risk Factors in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yamada Minoru , Tanaka Buichi , Nagai Koutatsu , Aoyama Tomoki , Ichihashi Noriaki 
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of a trail‐walking exercise (TWE) program on the rate of falls in community‐dwelling older adults.DESIGN: Pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT).SETTING: This trial was conducted in Japan and involved community‐dwelling older adults as participants.PARTICIPANTS: Sixty participants randomized into a TWE group (n=30) and a walking (W) group (n=30).INTERVENTION: Exercise class combined with multicomponent trail walking program, versus exercise class combined with simple indoor walking program.MEASUREMENT: Measurement was based on the difference in fall rates between the TWE and W groups.RESULTS: Six months after the intervention, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of falls for the TWE group compared with the W group was 0.20 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.04–0.91); 12 months after the intervention, the IRR of falls for the TWE group compared with the W group was 0.45 (95% CI=0.16–1.77).CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot RCT suggest that the TWE program was more effective in improving locomotion and cognitive performance under trail‐walking task conditions than walking. In addition, participants who took part in the TWE demonstrated a decrease in the incidence rate of falls 6 months after trial completion. Further confirmation is needed, but this preliminary result may promote a new understanding of accidental falls in older adults.
Foot Pain, Plantar Pressures, and Falls in Older People: A Prospective Study
Authors: Mickle Karen J. , Munro Bridget J. , Lord Stephen R. , Menz Hylton B. , Steele Julie R. 
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether foot pain and plantar pressure are associated with falls in community‐dwelling older adults.DESIGN: Community‐based cohort study with 12‐month prospective falls follow‐up.SETTING: Sydney and Illawarra statistical regions of New South Wales, Australia.PARTICIPANTS: Randomly recruited, community‐dwelling adults (158 men and 154 women) aged 60 and older.MEASUREMENTS: Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index to establish baseline foot pain and dynamic plantar pressures. Participants were then classified as fallers (n=107) or nonfallers (n=196) based on their falls incidence over the following 12 months.RESULTS: Fallers had a significantly higher prevalence of foot pain than nonfallers (57.9% vs 42.1%; chi‐square=4.0; P=.04). Fallers also generated a significantly higher peak pressure and pressure‐time integral under the foot than non‐fallers. In addition, individuals with foot pain had a significantly higher peak pressure and pressure‐time integral under the foot than those without foot pain.CONCLUSION: High plantar pressures generated during gait may contribute to foot pain and risk of falls. Providing interventions to older people with foot pain and high plantar pressures may play a role in reducing their falls risk.
Wood borer performance and wood characteristics of drought‐stressed Scots pine seedlings
Authors: Heijari Juha , Nerg Anne‐Marja , Holopainen Jarmo K. , Kainulainen Pirjo 
Published: September 2010

AbstractFour‐year‐old Scots pine [Pinus sylvestris L. (Pinaceae)] seedlings were exposed to medium and severe drought stress for two consecutive years. The anatomical properties of drought‐stressed Scots pine wood and their impact on the performance of destructive wood boring early instars of Hylotrupes bajulus L. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) were studied. Drought stress significantly decreased diameter of earlywood tracheids in both growing years and diameter of latewood tracheids after the second growing season only. Cell lumen area was significantly decreased by both medium and severe drought stress compared to well‐watered controls. In addition, area of cell lumen was significantly smaller in severe drought than in medium drought treatment. The drought stress marginally increased the number of resin canals in the wood, but did not affect the size of resin canals either in wood or bark. The relative growth rate of xylophagous H. bajulus neonatal larvae was not significantly affected by drought stress during the 106‐day feeding period on Scots pine wood blocks. The results show that although water availability was an important factor affecting the development and anatomy of wood cells, observed changes in wood characteristics did not affect the performance of early instars feeding on wood processed from drought‐stressed young Scots pine seedlings.
Efficacy and Safety of Propiverine and Solifenacin for the Treatment of Female Patients with Overactive Bladder: A Crossover Study
Authors: WADA Naoki , WATANABE Masaki , KITA Masafumi , OSANAI Hiroaki , YAMAGUCHI Satoshi , NUMATA Atsushi , KAKIZAKI Hidehiro ,   on behalf of the OAB Study Group in Northern Hokkaido
Published: September 2010

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of propiverine and solifenacin in female patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Methods: A prospective nonrandomized crossover study of propiverine 20 mg and solifenacin 5 mg was conducted. Female OAB patients were assigned alternately to treatment with propiverine for 8 weeks then solifenacin for 8 weeks (Group P‐S) or solifenacin for 8 weeks then propiverine for 8 weeks (Group S‐P). At baseline, 8th week and 16th week, symptoms were assessed using overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS). Results: A total of 121 patients were enrolled. Overall, 38 patients (31.4%) discontinued or dropped out and 83 patients were available for analysis (39 in Group P‐S and 44 in Group S‐P). In both groups, the total score and each score of OABSS were significantly improved after 8 weeks compared with baseline. In only Group P‐S (changing over from propiverine to solifenacin), urgency score in the 16th week was further improved significantly compared with the 8th week. The most bothersome symptom at baseline was urgency incontinence (50.6%), followed by urgency (37.3%). Even after symptom improvement, more than half of the patients were bothered by urgency or urgency incontinence. The incidence of adverse events of moderate and severe grade was higher during propiverine treatment than solifenacin (11.1% vs 2.9%, P = 0.039). Conclusion: Propiverine 20 mg and solifenacin 5 mg were effective for treating female OAB patients. Urgency was further improved after switching from propiverine to solifenacin, but not after switching from solifenacin to propiverine. Solifenacin was better tolerated than propiverine.
Evaluation of Clumping Factor A Binding Region A in a Subunit Vaccine against
Staphylococcus aureus
-Induced Mastitis in Mice
Authors: Gong Rui , Hu Changmin , Xu Haiyang , Guo Aizhen , Chen Huanchun , Zhang Guangzhi , Shi Lei 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT

The present study evaluated the potential of recombinant binding region A of clumping factor A (rClfA-A) to be an effective component of a vaccine against mastitis induced by
Staphylococcus aureus
in the mouse. rClfA-A and inactivated
S. aureus
were each emulsified in Freund's adjuvant, mineral oil adjuvant, and Seppic adjuvant; phosphate-buffered saline was used as a control. Seven groups of 12 mice each were immunized intraperitoneally three times at 2-week intervals. The titers of IgG and subtypes thereof (IgG1 and IgG2a) in the rClfA-A-immunized group were more than 1,000-fold higher than those in the killed-bacteria-immunized group (
P
< 0.01). Of the three adjuvants used, mineral oil adjuvant induced the highest antibody levels for both antigens (
P
< 0.001). Furthermore, the anti-rClfA-A antibody capacities for bacterial adhesion and opsonizing phagocytosis were significantly greater in the rClfA-A-immunized group than in the killed-bacteria-immunized group (
P
< 0.05). Lactating mice immunized with either rClfA-A or inactivated vaccine were challenged with
S. aureus
via the intramammary route. The numbers of bacteria recovered from the murine mammary glands 24 h after inoculation were significantly lower in the rClfA-A group than in the killed-bacteria-immunized group (
P
< 0.001). Histologic examination of the mammary glands showed that rClfA-A immunization effectively preserved tissue integrity. Thus, rClfA-A emulsified in an oil adjuvant provides strong immune protection against
S. aureus
-induced mastitis in the mouse.
Testing Susceptibility of Multidrug-Resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
to Second-Line Drugs by Use of Blood Agar
Authors: Satana Dilek , Coban Ahmet Yilmaz , Uzun Meltem 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT

In this study, the susceptibilities of 35 multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
clinical isolates to second-line drugs, including kanamycin (KM), rifabutin (RBU), ofloxacin (OFX),
p
-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), capreomycin (CAP), clofazimine (CFM), and ethionamide (ETH), were investigated on blood agar according to CLSI recommendations. Compared with the results of the Bactec 460 TB system, agreement was 100, 100, 97, 100, 100, 100, and 86% for KM, RBU, OFX, PAS, CAP, CFM, and ETH, respectively. Compared with the results of the proportion method, agreement was 100, 100, 97, 100, 97, 100, and 77% for KM, RBU, OFX, PAS, CAP, CFM, and ETH, respectively.