bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The independent association of provider and information continuity on outcomes after hospital discharge: Implications for hospitalists
Authors: van Walraven Carl , Taljaard Monica , Etchells Edward , Bell Chaim M. , Stiell Ian G. , Zarnke Kelly , Forster Alan J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND:Since hospitalist physicians do not frequently see patients in follow‐up after discharge from the hospital, patient continuity of care will decrease. To determine how this influenced patient outcomes, we examined the independent association of several physician continuity and information continuity measures on death or urgent readmission after discharge from hospital.DESIGN:Multicenter, prospective cohort study of patients discharged to the community after elective or emergency hospitalization. We measured three physician continuity scores (preadmission; hospital; and postdischarge) and two information continuity scores (discharge summary; postdischarge visit information) as time‐dependent covariates. Continuity scores ranged from 0 (perfect discontinuity) to 1 (perfect continuity). The primary outcomes were time to all‐cause death or urgent readmission.RESULTS:A total of 3876 people were followed for a median of 175 days. Death rate was 2.6 events per 100 patient‐years observation (pys) (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0‐3.4) and urgent readmission rate was 19.6 events per 100 pys (95% CI, 15.9‐24.3). After adjusting for important covariates and other continuity scores, increased preadmission physician continuity was independently associated with a decreased risk of urgent readmission (adjusted hazard ratio 0.94 [95% CI, 0.91‐0.98] for each absolute increase in continuity of 0.1). Other continuity measures—including hospital physician continuity—were not associated with either outcome.CONCLUSIONS:After discharge from the hospital, increased continuity with physicians who routinely treated the patient prior to the admission was significantly and independently associated with a decreased risk of urgent readmission. These data suggest that continuity with the hospital physician after discharge did not independently influence the risk of patient death or urgent readmission. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:398–405. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Acute coronary syndrome update for hospitalists
Authors: Bhatt Deepak L. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAcute coronary syndromes (ACSs)—unstable angina, non–ST‐segment (ST, part of an electrocardiogram between the QRS complex and the T wave) or ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI)—remain extremely common and clinically challenging. In addition to electrocardiography and biomarkers, formal risk stratification using risk scores has become an important part of the initial evaluation of patients with ACS. On the basis of the estimated risk of subsequent ischemic events, the optimal use and timing of cardiac catheterization and revascularization procedures can be determined. Additionally, antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy can be instituted, with consideration given to both the ischemic and bleeding risks in an individual patient. A particular challenge in ACS management has been the rapid evolution of guidelines in response to new randomized clinical trial and registry data. Understanding and implementing the recommendations in these evidence‐based guidelines are important parts of hospitalists' practice. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:S15–S21. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Development of prolactin receptor antagonists with reduced pH‐dependence of receptor binding
Authors: Hansen Mathilde J. Kaas , Olsen Johan G. , Bernichtein Sophie , O'Shea Charlotte , Sigurskjold Bent W. , Goffin Vincent , Kragelund Birthe B. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe cytokine hormone prolactin has a vast number of diverse functions. Unfortunately, it also exhibits tumor growth promoting properties, which makes the development of prolactin receptor antagonists a priority. Prolactin binds to its cognate receptor with much lower affinity at low pH than at physiological pH and since the extracellular environment around solid tumors often is acidic, it is desirable to develop antagonists that have improved binding affinity at low pH. The pKa value of a histidine side chain is ∼6.8 making histidine residues obvious candidates for examination. From evaluation of known molecular structures of human prolactin, of the prolactin receptor and of different complexes of the two, three histidine residues in the hormone–receptor binding site 1 were selected for mutational studies. We analyzed 10 variants by circular dichroism spectroscopy, affinity and thermodynamic characterization of receptor binding by isothermal titration calorimetry combined with in vitro bioactivity in living cells. Histidine residue 27 was recognized as a central hot spot for pH sensitivity and conservative substitutions at this site resulted in strong receptor binding at low pH. Pure antagonists were developed earlier and the histidine mutations were introduced within such background. The antagonistic properties were maintained and the high affinity at low pH conserved. The implications of these findings may open new areas of research in the field of prolactin cancer biology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diversity of DNA‐hydrolyzing antibodies from the sera of autoimmune‐prone MRL/MpJ‐lpr mice
Authors: Kostrikina Irina A. , Kolesova Marina E. , Orlovskaya Irina A. , Buneva Valentina N. , Nevinsky Georgy A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIt has been shown for the first time that polyclonal IgG abzymes (Abzs) with DNase activity from the sera of autoimmune‐prone MRL/MpJ‐lpr mice can be separated by isoelectric focusing into many subfractions having the isoelectric points (pI) from 4.5 to 9, with the maximal activity for Abzs with pI = 6.5–9.0. Affinity chromatography on DNA‐cellulose separated DNase IgGs into many subfractions demonstrating a range of affinities for DNA and different levels of the relative DNase activities (RDA) due to intrinsically bound metals and after addition of external Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, and Mg2++Ca2+. Some fractions significantly increase RDAs in the presence of external ions (Mg2++Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Mn2+ > Ca2+), while each of this cofactor can also inhibit or have no influence on the RDAs of another fractions. It is known that complexes of DNA with histones and other proteins of apoptotic cells are the primary immunogens in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and methylated BSA (mBSA) increase the RDAs of only some fractions, while have no effect or inhibit other IgG fractions. The ratio of the RDAs in the presence of all metal ions, BSA, and mBSA was individual for every abzyme fraction. Mn2+ and Ca2+ stimulated accumulation of only relaxed form of supercoiled DNA (scDNA) in the case of all subfractions, while in the presence of Mg2+ antibodies (Abs) of some subfractions (and in the presence of Mn2+ +Ca2+ all subfractions) produced relaxed DNA (rDNA) and linear DNA (linDNA) in a variable extent. The data obtained show that the polyclonal Abzs of mice may be a cocktail of Abs directly to DNA, RNA, and their complexes with proteins and anti‐idiotypic Abs to active centers of different nucleases. The diversity of the physicochemical and kinetic characteristics of the Abzs seems to be significantly widened when pre‐diseased mice spontaneously develop the disease. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple‐gene characterization of rotavirus strains: Evidence of genetic linkage among the VP7‐, VP4‐, VP6‐, and NSP4‐encoding genes
Authors: Benati Fabrício José , Maranhão Adriana G. , Lima Rodrigo S. , da Silva Raquel Cirlene , Santos Norma 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA total of 162 rotavirus strains detected between 1996 and 2006 among individuals with diarrhea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed by multiple‐gene genotyping. Characterization of strains was done by RT‐PCR assay for amplification and typing of the VP7‐, VP4‐, VP6‐, and NSP4‐encoding genes. Overall, 139 (85.8%) strains belonged to the common group A rotavirus combinations: 67 (41.4%) belonged to genotype G1‐P[8]‐I1‐E1; 18 (11.1%) were G2‐P[4]‐I2‐E2; 11 (6.8%) were G3‐P[8]‐I1‐E1; 12 (7.4%) were G4‐P[8]‐I1‐E1; and 31 (19.1%) were G9‐P[8]‐I1‐E1. Two samples presented mixed genotypes (G1 + G3‐P[8]‐I1‐E1 and G1 + G9‐P[9]‐I1‐E1) and rare combinations, such as G2‐P[6]‐I2‐E2 and G9‐P[6]‐I2‐E2, were detected in six (3.7%) strains. The results suggest a linkage among all four genes. Genotypes G1/G3/G4/G5/G9‐P[8] were correlated strongly to I1‐E1 genotypes and G2‐P[4]/P[6] were correlated to I2‐E2 genotypes. Unusual combinations of genes, such as G3‐P[9]‐I2‐E2, G9‐P[9]‐I1‐E2, and G3‐P[9]‐I3‐E3, were observed in 15 (9.3%) strains. The characterization of multiple genes allows a more complete analysis of the rotavirus isolates and provides evidence of natural reassortment of strains. J. Med. Virol. 82:1797–1802, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serological and virological investigation of the role of the herpesviruses EBV, CMV and HHV‐6 in post‐infective fatigue syndrome
Authors: Cameron Barbara , Flamand Louis , Juwana Hedy , Middeldorp Jaap , Naing Zin , Rawlinson William , Ablashi Dharam , Lloyd Andrew 
Published: September 2010

AbstractMultiple previous studies have sought evidence for ongoing, active infection with, or reactivation of, Herpesviruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), with conflicting results. This study aimed to clarify this by studying 20 patients enrolled in a well‐characterized model of the onset and evolution of CFS, the prospective cohort of the Dubbo Infection Outcomes Study (DIOS). The patients selected for examination included five CFS patients with primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection; five CFS patients with acute viral infection not caused by EBV; and 10 matched controls with prompt resolution of primary EBV infection. Serum samples from three timepoints were assayed using a comprehensive range of serological assays for EBV, HHV‐6, and CMV. Viral genomes were assessed using quantitative PCR assays. All patients were seropositive for HHV‐6, and 10 were seropositive for CMV at infection baseline (five patients and five controls). Low titer CMV IgM antibodies were found at infection baseline in two of these cases and three control patients. HHV‐6 IgG antibody titers were highest at infection baseline but did not differ between the CFS cases and the control patients. There were increases in EBV IgG VCA p18, EBNA‐1 IgG, and EA IgG titers over time, but these did not differ between CFS cases and control patients. EBV and HHV6 DNA levels were at control levels in a minority of samples, and CMV was undetectable in all samples. These data do not support the hypothesis of ongoing or reactivated EBV, HHV‐6, or CMV infection in the pathogenesis of CFS. J. Med. Virol. 82:1684–1688, 2010. 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential interactions of plasmid DNA, RNA and genomic DNA with amino acid‐based affinity matrices
Authors: Sousa Angela , Sousa Fani , Queiroz João A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe development of a strategy to plasmid DNA (pDNA) purification has become necessary for the development of gene therapy and DNA vaccine production processes in recent years, since this nucleic acid and most of contaminants, such as RNA, genomic DNA and endotoxins, are negatively charged. An ideal separation methodology may be achieved with the use of affinity interactions between immobilized amino acids and nucleic acids. In this study, the binding behaviour of nucleic acids under the influence of different environmental conditions, such as the composition and ionic strength of elution buffer, and the temperature, is compared with various amino acids immobilized on chromatography resins. Supercoiled (sc) plasmid isoform was isolated with all matrices used, but in some cases preferential interactions with other nucleic acids were found. Particularly, lysine chromatography showed to be an ideal technology mainly on RNA purification using low salt concentration. On the other hand, arginine ligands have shown a greater ability to retain the sc isoform comparatively to the other nucleic acids retention, becoming this support more adequate to sc pDNA purification. The temperature variation, competitive elution and oligonucleotides affinity studies also allowed to recognize the dominant interactions inherent to biorecognition of pDNA molecule and the affinity matrices.
Effects on the dynamic utilization of the adsorptive capacity of chromatographic columns induced by non‐uniform ligand density distributions
Authors: Liapis Athanasios I. , Riccardi Enrico , Wang Jee‐Ching 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe dynamic behavior of the breakthrough curves of a single adsorbate obtained from columns employing adsorbent media which differ from one another only on the spatial distribution of the immobilized ligands in the porous particles is examined. The spatial distributions of the immobilized ligands considered in this study are uniform and non‐uniform, but the total number of immobilized ligands in the particles has the same value whether the spatial distribution is uniform or non‐uniform. The results clearly show that the columns employing adsorbent particles in which the spatial distribution of the immobilized ligands is non‐uniform and such that the concentration of the immobilized ligands increases monotonically from the center of the particle to the outer particle surface, exhibit (i) larger breakthrough times, (ii) steeper breakthrough curves, and (iii) higher dynamic utilization of the adsorptive capacity of the column as the superficial velocity of the flowing fluid stream in the column increases (throughput increase) than the columns using adsorbent particles in which the spatial distribution of the immobilized ligands is uniform. The importance of employing in the columns adsorbent media whose spatial ligand density distributions satisfy the mathematical property of monotonically increasing ligand concentration with increasing from the particle center radial position, will be significantly enhanced when (i) the size of the particle radius is increased, and (ii) continuous counter‐current and periodic counter‐current (simulated moving beds) operations are employed.
Outlook for soybeans and soybean products in 21st century markets
Authors: Wilson Richard F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe United Soybean Board and other agricultural research organizations in the U.S. have devoted considerable attention to genetic modifications of soybean composition and yield enhancement. These innovations, based on strategic research concepts put forward two decades ago [1], are now filling seed‐industry pipelines with a series of elite soybean cultivars that are distinguished by specific quality traits. For example, soybeans that produce high‐oleic oils under the TreusTM and VistiveTM product lines are now becoming commercially available in U.S. markets. Looking forward, knowledge gained from the sequence of the soybean genome will accelerate the development and deployment of additional traits that will continue to reset the ingredient paradigm for a wide range of food and feed products. Soybeans with high levels of omega‐3 fatty acids, and soybean meal with substantially greater amounts of digestible phosphorus are among the innovations that are moving through the pipelines toward commercial production. This review envisions how these next generation soybeans will influence growth in oilseed markets that are increasingly driven by customer demand for quality, nutrition and value.
Getting back on the fast track with pride
Authors: Khan Zia , Katzenbach Jon 
Published: September 2010

Abstract“The good news is that leaders don't necessarily need money to motivate,” Zia Khan and Jon Katzenbach write. “If they look beyond formal rewards and focus on people's sense of pride in their day‐to‐day work, they can tap into a vast reserve of motivational potential.” The key to tapping the power of pride lies not in the structures and systems of the formal organization, they say, but in stories and customs that shape the informal organization. The authors offer four key steps leaders can use to mobilize the informal organization to support change, accelerate economic recovery, and exploit the new opportunities.
Cultivating a culture of respectful engagement
Authors: Kusy Mitchell , Holloway Elizabeth 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn their research, the authors found that 94 percent of leaders they surveyed reported working with toxic, disruptive, or uncivil people—people who use sarcasm, blame, disrespect, and even sabotage to pursue their own ends. Over time, tolerance of such behavior can lead to toxic systems that are particularly resistant to change. The authors outline strategies that can disrupt such toxic systems and create a culture of respectful engagement.
Electrospun Functionalized Polyaniline Copolymer‐Based Nanofibers with Potential Application in Tissue Engineering
Authors: Gizdavic‐Nikolaidis Marija , Ray Sudip , Bennett Jared R. , Easteal Allan J. , Cooney Ralph P. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractNanofibrous blends of HCl‐doped poly(aniline‐co‐3‐aminobenzoic acid) (3ABAPANI) copolymer and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were fabricated by electrospinning solutions of the polymers, in varying relative proportions, in dimethyl sulfoxide/tetrahydrofuran mixture. The morphology, mechanical and electrical properties of the nanofibers were characterized and an assessment of their bioactivity performed. To assess cell morphology and biocompatibility, pure PLA and 3ABAPANI‐PLA nanofibrous mats were deposited in the form of three‐dimensional networks with a high degree of connectivity, on glass substrates, and their ability to promote proliferation of COS‐1 fibroblast cells was determined. The nanofibrous electrospun 3ABAPANI‐PLA blends gave enhanced cell growth, potent antimicrobial capability against Staphylococcus aureus and electrical conductivity. This new class of nanofibrous blends can potentially be employed as tissue engineering scaffolds, and in particular have showed promise as the basis of a new generation of functional wound dressings that may eliminate deficiencies of currently available antimicrobial dressings.
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Polymorphisms of death pathway genes FAS and FASL and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Cao Yun , Miao Xiao‐Ping , Huang Ma‐Yan , Deng Ling , Lin Dong‐Xin , Zeng Yi‐Xin , Shao Jian‐Yong 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe FAS receptor/ligand system is a key regulator of apoptotic cell death and corruption of this signaling pathway has been shown to participate in carcinogenesis. Functional polymorphisms in the FAS (FAS −1377G/A) and FASL (FASL −844T/C) genes alter their transcriptional activity. Therefore, we examined the association between these polymorphisms and the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). FAS −1377G/A and FASL −844T/C genotypes were determined by PCR‐based RFLP analysis in 582 patients with NPC and 613 frequency‐matched controls. We observed a significantly increased risk of NPC associated with the FAS −1377AA genotype [odds ratio (OR) = 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21–2.35] compared with the FAS −1377 GG genotype. In addition, elevated NPC risk was also found among subjects carrying both FAS −1377AA and FASL −844CC genotypes compared with both FAS −1377GG and FASL −844CT or −844TT, the OR was 2.39 (95% CI = 1.50–3.79). After stratification by smoking status, heavy smokers (≥15 pack‐years) carrying FAS −1377AA genotype had an increased risk of NPC compared with FAS −1377GG genotype (OR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.66–7.30). Furthermore, we observed a statistically significant interaction between the two polymorphisms and heavy smoking status (OR = 5.92, 95% CI = 1.91–18.3). Our study provides the first evidence that functional FAS −1377 G/A and FASL −844 T/C polymorphisms are associated with the risk of NPC, and this association is especially noteworthy in tobacco smokers. Mol. Carcinog. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of smell test identification in Parkinson's disease in Mexico: A matched case‐control study
Authors: Rodríguez‐Violante Mayela , Lees Andrew J. , Cervantes‐Arriaga Amin , Corona Teresa , Silveira‐Moriyama Laura 
Published: September 2010

AbstractSmell tests can be useful in the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) but are affected by cultural factors. Currently there is no smell test tailored for the Mexican population but the brief smell identification test (B‐SIT) was created as a cross‐cultural SIT. We have created a translation of this test into Spanish adapted to the Mexican population and have applied it to 70 PD patients and 70 age‐ and gender‐matched controls. The B‐SIT differentiated PD and controls with 71.4% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity, when subjects were divided into two age groups. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Reduced but not oxidized cerebrospinal fluid glutathione levels are lowered in Lewy body diseases
Authors: Maetzler Walter , Schmid Stefan P. , Wurster Isabel , Liepelt Inga , Gaenslen Alexandra , Gasser Thomas , Berg Daniela 
Published: September 2010

AbstractReduced (GSHR) but not oxidized glutathione (GSSG) has been shown to be dramatically altered in the substantia nigra (SN) of Lewy body disease (LBD) patients post mortem; but up to now, there is no convincing evidence that these changes can be monitored in vivo. We investigated GSHR and GSSG in rapidly processed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples of 80 LBD and 35 control subjects and detected reduced CSF GSHR levels in LBD subjects. The reduction was negatively associated with age but not with disease‐associated parameters. Plasma GSHR, CSF GSSG, and plasma GSSG levels did not significantly differ between the groups. Our findings confirm the results from neuropathologic studies, which demonstrated an alteration of the glutathione system in LBD. We hypothesize that alterations of the glutathione system occur in a very early stage of the disease or may even represent a risk marker for LBD. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
A modified vascularized whole knee joint allotransplantation model in the rat
Authors: Larsen Mikko , Friedrich Patricia F. , Bishop Allen T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractPrevious papers have shown surgical neoangiogenesis to allow long‐term bone allotransplant survival without immunosuppression. Whole joint composite tissue allotransplants (CTA) might be treated similarly. A novel rat knee CTA model is described for further study of the roles of neoangiogensis in joint allotransplant survival and adjustment of immunosuppression. Microvascular knee CTA was performed in nine rats across a major histocompatibility barrier with both pedicle repair and implantation of host‐derived arteriovenous (“a/v”) bundles. In the control group (N = 3), the pedicle was ligated. Immunosuppression was given daily. Joint mobility, weight‐bearing, pedicle patency, bone blood flow, and sprouting from a/v bundles were assessed at 3 weeks. All but the nonrevascularized control knees had full passive motion and full weight bearing. One nutrient pedicle thrombosed prematurely. Blood flow was measurable in transplants with patent nutrient pedicles. Implanted a/v bundles produced new vascular networks on angiography. This new rat microsurgical model permits further study of joint allotransplantation. Patency of both pedicles and implanted a/v bundles was maintained, laying a foundation for future studies. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2010.