bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Acupuncture on LIF and IL‐12 in Rats of Implantation Failure
Authors: Gui Juan , Xiong Fan , Yang Wei , Li Jing , Huang Guangying 
Published: January 2012

ProblemAcupuncture has a positive effect on implantation obstacle, but the mechanism is still not clear, so the aim of the experiment is to explore the possible role that acupuncture plays in implantation.Method of studyEarly pregnant rats were randomized into normal group (N), group treated with mifepristone (M), acupuncture treatment group (A), and progestin treatment group (P). The model of blastocyst implantation obstacle in groups M, A, and P was established with mifepristone. Bilateral ‘Housanli’ and ‘Sanyinjiao’ were needled in group A. The expression of interleukin (IL)‐12, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), LIFR protein, and mRNA in endometrium were detected.ResultsPositivity of the protein expression of IL‐12, LIF, and LIFR in the endometrium was significantly higher in groups N, A, and P; positivity of the mRNA of IL‐12 and LIF in the endometrium was significantly higher in groups N, A, and P.ConclusionAcupuncture could improve the poor receptive state of endometrium by promoting LIF and IL‐12 secretion to improve blastocyst implantation.
Serum sTREM‐1 (Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells‐1) Associates Negatively with Embryo Quality in Infertility Patients
Authors: Haller‐Kikkatalo Kadri , Sarapik Aili , Faure Gilbert C. , Béné Marie‐Christine , Massin Frédéric , Salumets Andres , Uibo Raivo 
Published: January 2012

ProblemSoluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells‐1 (sTREM‐1) is a useful biomarker of infection and inflammation.Method of studyWe studied serum and follicular fluid sTREM‐1 in infertile patients (N = 110) utilizing enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSerum and follicular sTREM‐1 were in good correlation (Pearson's correlation 0.56, P < 0.0001) with higher values in follicular fluid (140.4 ± 34.4 and 115.6 ± 35.1 pg/mL, t‐test, P < 0.0001). Endometriosis associated with lower follicular and serum sTREM‐1 compared with male factor infertility patients (age‐adjusted r = −25.7 pg/mL, P = 0.018; r = −22.1 pg/mL, P = 0.030). No associations between follicular or serum sTREM‐1 and clinical parameters were found, except higher serum sTREM‐1 associated with lower embryo quality in all patients (adjusted r = −0.3%, P = 0.033), with a cutoff value between 111.5 and 113.3 pg/mL (OR = 0.38, P = 0.048; OR = 0.34, P = 0.028) predicting that more than 39% of embryos would be with good quality.ConclusionSerum sTREM‐1 could represent a prognostic marker for female fecundity, probably indicating impaired inflammatory reaction of immune system.
Ten‐year experience of home parenteral nutrition in a single centre
Authors: Wiskin Anthony E , Cole Caroline , Owens Daniel R , Morgan Mary , Burge David M , Beattie R Mark 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim:  Recent data are scarce on the provision of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in children from the UK but would help to commission intestinal failure services. Our aim was to describe 10 years of HPN experience in our centre, which serves a population of 650 000 children.Methods:  Outcome and complication data were collected retrospectively from hospital records of children receiving HPN from April 2001. Data from other centres were used to compare complications and outcomes in the provision of HPN.Results:  Nineteen children (12 females) received 10 213 days (28 years) of HPN. In this group, incidence of blood culture positive sepsis was four episodes/1000 days PN. Two children had early intestinal failure–associated liver disease. Of the 19, seven still receive HPN at our centre, six survived PN, three were transferred to other services while still on HPN and three died.Conclusion:  Outcome and complication data for HPN from a single UK regional paediatric centre are similar to larger centres. These data provide recent evidence of the disease burden of HPN, which are important for the commissioning of intestinal failure services.
Early life‐history stages drive community reassembly in Australian old‐fields
Authors: Scott Andrew J. , Morgan John W. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractQuestionsDo native annual forb seedling communities reassemble after agricultural abandonment to an undisturbed condition? Do environmental changes associated with cultivation affect seedling establishment? Is post‐abandonment recovery of seedling and vegetation communities more limited by seed availability, seedling establishment or seedling survival?LocationNorthern Victoria, Australia.MethodsSeedling density, species richness and composition were sampled across a 100‐yr chronosequence. Standing vegetation, cover of the biological soil crust and soil properties were sampled from the same plots, and the seed bank was sampled from the same sites. Patterns were compared among the seedlings, seed bank and vegetation.ResultsNative seedling density and species richness did not increase with time‐since‐abandonment, despite some recovery in species composition. Native density and richness were negatively associated with soil fertility and bare ground and positively associated with biological soil crust cover; exotics showed the opposite pattern. Species composition showed little association with soil resources. Percentage field emergence from the seed bank was unaffected by time‐since‐abandonment. Compositional similarity between the seedlings and vegetation was higher (81%) than that between the seedlings and seed bank (61%); neither was affected by time‐since‐abandonment.ConclusionsWhile environmental conditions partially determined patterns of seedling recruitment, seed availability was the main driver of seedling density and composition with time‐since‐abandonment. Post‐establishment mortality was apparently not a major determinant of species composition of the standing vegetation. Thus, seed and microsite limitation interacted to drive community reassembly, but seed availability was relatively more important.
Outcome of implant‐supported overdenture treatment – a survey of 58 patients
Authors: Kuoppala Ritva , Näpänkangas Ritva , Raustia Aune 
Published: January 2012

Gerondontology 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00524.x  Outcome of implant‐supported overdenture treatment – a survey of 58 patientsObjective:  The aim of this follow‐up study was to evaluate the long‐term outcome of implant‐supported or implant‐retained mandibular overdenture treatment.Material and methods:  Altogether 112 patients treated with implant‐supported overdentures between 1985 and 2004 were invited to the follow‐up and 58 attended the clinical examination. The total amount of implants examined and still in use was 197. The average number of implants installed was three (range 2–4), and the mean length of the implants was 12 mm (range 8–21 mm). There were altogether 48 overdentures with a bar connection and 10 with a ball connection.Results:  The most frequent prosthetic complications were technical: loosening of the retentive mechanism (39.7%) and breakage of the matrices (5.2%). The most common peri‐implant soft‐tissue findings were bleeding and slight hyperplasia. The implant‐supported overdentures of 19 patients (32.8%) had been renewed, while 39 patients (67.2%) still used their original overdentures, of which the oldest was 20 years old.Conclusion:  The results of this long‐term follow‐up study show that the outcome of implant‐supported mandibular overdenture treatment was excellent. The patients were satisfied with the treatment, regardless of the attachment type used. Removable overdentures are more easy to clean and can be cleaned outside the patient’s mouth, whereas fixed‐implant full‐arch dentures in the edentulous mandible require much more time‐consuming hygiene. This kind of overdenture treatment is suitable also in the elderly, even though their ability to practice appropriate oral hygiene might be decreased.
Effects of systemic sitafloxacin on periodontal infection control in elderly patients
Authors: Nakajima Takako , Okui Takafumi , Miyauchi Sayuri , Honda Tomoyuki , Shimada Yasuko , Ito Harue , Akazawa Kohei , Yamazaki Kazuhisa 
Published: January 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00605.x

Effects of systemic sitafloxacin on periodontal infection control in elderly patientsObjective:  To evaluate the microbiological and clinical effects of the systemic administration of sitafloxacin (STFX) on periodontal pockets in elderly patients receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).Background:  Periodontitis is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Better periodontal health contributes to reduce atherosclerosis‐related diseases in elderly population.Materials and methods:  Forty‐four patients undergoing SPT were randomly assigned to two groups: a test group took 100 mg/day of STFX for five consecutive days, or a control group received scaling and root planing (SRP) under local anaesthesia. Microbiological and clinical parameters were examined at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after therapy.Results:  The presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia was significantly reduced at 1 month after treatment in both groups. The median reductions of the bacteria between the baseline and 1 month were 3.08 and 2.54% in the STFX‐ and SRP‐treated groups, respectively. Both treatments significantly decreased the probing depth at 1 and 3 months compared to the baseline.Conclusion:  The systemic administration of STFX is effective at improving periodontal health during SPT and could be an alternative to SRP for elderly patients who cannot undergo anaesthesia or are at risk of tissue injury.
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Feeding Behaviors and Weight‐for‐Age at 12 months: A Secondary Analysis of the Infant Feeding Practices Study II
Authors: Gaffney Kathleen F. , Kitsantas Panagiota , Cheema Jehanzeb 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTBackground: The World Health Organization has identified childhood obesity as a major threat to global health. Accumulating evidence indicates that excess weight early in life is predictive of later childhood and adolescent obesity. Clinical practice guidelines for infant feeding behaviors have been developed by national and international health organizations. The relationship between these guidelines and infant weight status has not been established.Aim: To examine the relationship between weight‐for‐age at 1 year and adherence to four clinical practice guidelines for feeding behaviors: no bottle‐to‐bed, minimal juice consumption, breastfeeding throughout the first year of life, and introduction to solid food no earlier than age 4–6 months.Methods: Data were obtained from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal, national survey administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that followed mother–infant dyads from pregnancy through 1 year postpartum. The sample was comprised of 691 infants for whom 12‐month survey data were available.Results: Significant associations with weight‐for‐age were found for juice consumption (p= 0.003), breastfeeding during the second half of infancy (p < 0.001), and introduction to solid foods prior to age 4 months (p < 0.001). A regression model that controlled for infant and maternal characteristics demonstrated that these feeding behaviors remained significant predictors of weight‐for‐age at 12 months.Conclusions and Implications: Modifiable infant feeding behaviors contributed to weight‐for‐age at 1 year. Replication studies with economically and culturally diverse samples are needed. Further, testing longitudinal interventions that address infant feeding practices is likely to yield the evidence needed for shaping future clinical practice guidelines that reduce the risk for childhood obesity and related pediatric comorbidities.
Recognizing and Responding to Uncertainty: A Grounded Theory of Nurses’ Uncertainty
Authors: Cranley Lisa A. , Doran Diane M. , Tourangeau Ann E. , Kushniruk Andre , Nagle Lynn 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTBackground: There has been little research to date exploring nurses’ uncertainty in their practice. Understanding nurses’ uncertainty is important because it has potential implications for how care is delivered.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a substantive theory to explain how staff nurses experience and respond to uncertainty in their practice.Methods: Between 2006 and 2008, a grounded theory study was conducted that included in‐depth semi‐structured interviews. Fourteen staff nurses working in adult medical–surgical intensive care units at two teaching hospitals in Ontario, Canada, participated in the study.Findings: The theory recognizing and responding to uncertainty characterizes the processes through which nurses’ uncertainty manifested and how it was managed. Recognizing uncertainty involved the processes of assessing, reflecting, questioning, and/or being unable to predict aspects of the patient situation. Nurses’ responses to uncertainty highlighted the cognitive–affective strategies used to manage uncertainty.Discussion: Study findings highlight the importance of acknowledging uncertainty and having collegial support to manage uncertainty. The theory adds to our understanding the processes involved in recognizing uncertainty, strategies and outcomes of managing uncertainty, and influencing factors.Implications: Tailored nursing education programs should be developed to assist nurses in developing skills in articulating and managing their uncertainty. Further research is needed to extend, test and refine the theory of recognizing and responding to uncertainty to develop strategies for managing uncertainty.Conclusions: This theory advances the nursing perspective of uncertainty in clinical practice. The theory is relevant to nurses who are faced with uncertainty and complex clinical decisions, to managers who support nurses in their clinical decision‐making, and to researchers who investigate ways to improve decision‐making and care delivery.
The Swiss Early Psychosis Project SWEPP: a national network
Authors: Simon Andor E. , Theodoridou Anastasia , Schimmelmann Benno , Schneider Roland , Conus Philippe 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim: The study aims to describe the activities of the Swiss Early Psychosis Project (SWEPP) which was founded in 1999 as a national network to further and disseminate knowledge on early psychosis (EP) and to enhance collaboration between healthcare groups.Methods: The present paper is a detailed account of the initiation and the development of the Swiss network. We describe all activities such as the several educational campaigns that were addressed to primary and secondary care groups since the early days. We also provide an overview of the current status of EP services throughout the country.Results: Today, most regions in Switzerland provide specialized EP inpatient and/or outpatient services with a clinical or combined clinical research approach that targets at‐risk and/or first‐episode populations. Some more recently initiated EP services have been launched as collaborative models between several local or regional psychiatric services.Conclusions: The increasing number of EP services and experts in Switzerland may mirror the catalyzing contribution of the Swiss Early Psychosis Project in this important field of health care. The country's small size and the increasing density of specialized services provide excellent bases for larger‐scale networking activities in the future, both in clinical and research areas.
Novel Treatment Strategies for Liver Disease Due to a1‐Antitrypsin Deficiency
Authors: Maurice Nicholas , Perlmutter David H. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAlpha1‐antitrypsin (AT) deficiency is the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children and is also a cause of chronic hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in adults. Recent advances in understanding how mutant AT molecules accumulate within hepatocytes and cause liver cell injury have led to a novel strategy for chemoprophylaxis of this liver disease. This strategy involves a class of drugs, which enhance the intracellular degradation of mutant AT and, because several of these drugs have been used safely in humans for other indications, the strategy can be moved immediately into clinical trials. In this review, we will also report on advances that provide a basis for several other strategies that could be used in the future for treatment of the liver disease associated with AT deficiency. Clin Trans Sci 2011; Volume 5: 289–294
Deriving Competencies for Mentors of Clinical and Translational Scholars
Authors: Abedin Zainab , Biskup Ewelina , Silet Karin , Garbutt Jane M. , Kroenke Kurt , Feldman Mitchell D. , McGee, Jr Richard , Fleming Michael , Pincus Harold Alan 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAlthough the importance of research mentorship has been well established, the role of mentors of junior clinical and translational science investigators is not clearly defined. The authors attempt to derive a list of actionable competencies for mentors from a series of complementary methods. We examined focus groups, the literature, competencies derived for clinical and translational scholars, mentor training curricula, mentor evaluation forms and finally conducted an expert panel process in order to compose this list. These efforts resulted in a set of competencies that include generic competencies expected of all mentors, competencies specific to scientists, and competencies that are clinical and translational research specific. They are divided into six thematic areas: (1) Communication and managing the relationship, (2) Psychosocial support, (3) Career and professional development, (4) Professional enculturation and scientific integrity, (5) Research development, and (6) Clinical and translational investigator development. For each thematic area, we have listed associated competencies, 19 in total. For each competency, we list examples that are actionable and measurable. Although a comprehensive approach was used to derive this list of competencies, further work will be required to parse out how to apply and adapt them, as well future research directions and evaluation processes. Clin Trans Sci 2012; Volume 5: 273–280
US Government Mandates for Clinical and Translational Research
Authors: Shuster Jonathan J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThis commentary is germane for clinical and translational researchers. Basic scientists may face different obstacles to developing their research careers. Over the past several years, the federal government has seen reductions in funding for extramural research. It seems that under the adverse economic forecasts, things are going to get worse. It might seem logical for the federal government to stretch whatever limited resources exist, by asking the institutions to cost‐share greater fractions of the actual research costs, and as an incentive, avoid the imposition of unfunded mandates. But alas, although well intended, there have been expensive requirements imposed by the government, making it difficult for investigators and institutions to adequately fund and conduct their research and for scientific journals to maintain paying subscribers. Five prominent and costly changes, which are the focus of this commentary are (1) HIPAA, (2) http://ClinicalTrials.Gov, (3) Clinical and Translational Science Awards, (4) Upcoming rule changes for IRBs, and (5) PubMedCentral, each of which will be discussed in the ensuing paragraphs. Clin Trans Sci 2012; Volume 5: 83–84
Allele frequency covariance among cohorts and its use in estimating effective size of age‐structured populations
Authors: JORDE PER ERIK 
Published: January 2012

AbstractA general expression for the covariance of allele frequencies among cohorts in age‐structured populations is derived. The expression is used to extend the so‐called temporal method for estimating effective population size from allele frequency shifts among samples from cohorts born any number of years apart. Computer simulations are used to check on the accuracy and precision of the method, and an application to coastal Atlantic cod is presented.
ENT1, a Ribavirin Transporter, Plays a Pivotal Role in Antiviral Efficacy of Ribavirin in a Hepatitis C Virus Replication Cell System
Authors: Iikura Minami , Furihata Tomomi , Mizuguchi Misa , Nagai Miki , Ikeda Masanori , Kato Nobuyuki , Tsubota Akihito , Chiba Kan 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT
We previously showed that equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) is a primary ribavirin transporter in human hepatocytes. However, because the role of this transporter in the antiviral mechanism of the drug remains unclear, the present study aimed to elucidate the role of ENT1 in ribavirin antiviral action. OR6 cells, a hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication system, were used to evaluate both ribavirin uptake and efficacy. The ribavirin transporter in OR6 cells was identified by mRNA expression analyses and transport assays. Nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) and micro-RNA targeted to ENT1 mRNA (miR-ENT1) were used to reduce the ribavirin uptake level in OR6 cells. Our results showed that ribavirin antiviral activity was associated with its accumulation in OR6 cells, which was also closely associated with the uptake of the drug. It was found that the primary ribavirin transporter in OR6 cells was ENT1 and that inhibition of ENT1-mediated ribavirin uptake by NBMPR significantly attenuated the antiviral activity of the drug as well as its accumulation in OR6 cells. The results also showed that even a small reduction in the ENT1-mediated ribavirin uptake, achieved in this case using miR-ENT1, caused a significant decrease in its antiviral activity, thus indicating that the ENT1-mediated ribavirin uptake level determined its antiviral activity level in OR6 cells. In conclusion, our results show that by facilitating its uptake and accumulation in OR6 cells, ENT1 plays a pivotal role in the antiviral effectiveness of ribavirin and therefore provides an important insight into the efficacy of the drug in anti-HCV therapy.
New Statistical Technique for Analyzing MIC-Based Susceptibility Data
Authors: van de Kassteele Jan , van Santen-Verheuvel Marga G. , Koedijk Femke D. H. , van Dam Alje P. , van der Sande Marianne A. B. , de Neeling Albert J. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTSeventeen laboratories participated in a cooperative study to validate the regional susceptibility testing ofNeisseria gonorrhoeaein The Netherlands. International reference strains were distributed. Each laboratory determined the MICs of ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline, for each strain by Etest. To explore a more transparent assessment of quality and comparability, a statistical regression model was fitted to the data that accounted for the censoring of the MICs. The mean MICs found by all of the laboratories except three were closer than one 2-fold dilution step to the overall mean, and the mean MICs of each antimicrobial agent were close to the MICs for the international reference strains. This approach provided an efficient tool to analyze the performance of the Dutch decentralized gonococcal resistance monitoring system and confirmed good and comparable standards.
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Prophylaxis and Antibiotic Nonsusceptibility in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
Authors: Soeters Heidi M. , von Gottberg Anne , Cohen Cheryl , Quan Vanessa , Klugman Keith P. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT
Among 5,043 invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) isolates identified through South African national surveillance from 2003 to 2007, we estimated the effect of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) prophylaxis on antimicrobial resistance. Patients on TMP-SMX prophylaxis were more likely to have a pneumococcal isolate nonsusceptible to TMP-SMX, penicillin, and rifampin. TMP-SMX nonsusceptibility was associated with nonsusceptibility to penicillin, erythromycin, and rifampin and multidrug resistance. This study informs empirical treatment of suspected IPD in patients with a history of TMP-SMX use.