bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of wound-healing formulation against sulphur mustard-induced skin injury in mice
Authors: Lomash V , Jadhav SE , Ahmed F , Vijayaraghavan R , Pant SC 
Published: December 2011

Sulphur mustard (SM) is a bifunctional alkylating agent that causes cutaneous blisters in human and animals. Remedies to SM-induced dermatotoxicity are still in experimental stage. Due to inevitable requirement of a wound-healing formulation against SM-induced skin lesions, efficacy of formulations including povidone iodine, Aloe vera gel, betaine or framycetin sulphate was evaluated in present study. SM was applied percutaneously (5 mg/kg) once on back region of Swiss albino mice; and after 24 hours, DRDE/WH-02 (Defence Research and Development Establishment/ Wound Healant- 02, containing polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP], A. vera gel and betaine), Ovadine, Soframycin or A. vera gel were applied topically, daily for 3 or 7 days in different groups. Skin sections were subjected to histopathology, histomorphologic grading, tissue leukocytosis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and immunohistochemistry of inflammatory-reparative biomarkers. DRDE/WH-02 treated mice received highest score on the basis of histomorphologic scale and lowest number of TUNEL-positive cells compared to other groups. DRDE/WH-02 showed better wound healing as evidenced by widespread re-epithelialization, homogenous fibroplasias well supported by the expression of transforming growth factor-α, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and fibroblast growth factor. Upregulation of interleukin 6 in DRDE/WH-02-treated mice skin resulted in increased tissue leukocytosis and an early removal of tissue debris that initiated reparative process at faster rate compared to other groups. In conclusion, DRDE/WH-02 provided better healing effect and can be recommended as an effective wound healant against SM-induced skin injury.
The influence of switching from oral risperidone to risperidone long-acting injection on the clinical symptoms and cognitive function in schizophrenia
Authors: Suzuki Hidenobu , Gen Keishi 
Published: December 2011

Objective: This study was a comparative investigation of the effects on clinical symptoms and cognitive function of switching schizophrenia patients from oral risperidone to risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) compared with a control group that continued receiving oral risperidone. Methods: The subjects were 21 patients who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Their clinical symptoms were assessed using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and their cognitive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Keio Version (KWCST) to assess executive function, and the St Marianna University School of Medicine’s Computerized Memory Test (STM-COMET) to assess memory and concentration. Results: No significant differences in clinical symptom improvement efficacy were seen between the group that was switched to RLAI and the control group. No significant differences were seen between the two groups in the mean change from baseline in any of the KWCST tests. The mean changes from baseline on the STM-COMET memory scanning test and memory filtering test were significantly greater in the group that switched to RLAI than in the control group. Furthermore, patients with RLAI needed less biperiden, even though they had similar risperidone-equivalent daily dosages as the group with oral risperidone. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that switching from oral risperidone to RLAI may affect motor processing function and attention improvement efficacy by allowing the dosage of anti-Parkinson’s medication to be reduced.
Drug-induced supersensitivity psychosis revisited: characteristics of relapse in treatment-compliant patients
Authors: Fallon Paul , Dursun Serdar , Deakin Bill 
Published: December 2011

Background: An association between abnormal involuntary movements and psychotic relapse was previously reported in a group of patients compliant with antipsychotic medication ( Fallon and Dursun 2011 ). This was interpreted as the presence of an antipsychotic medication-induced supersensitivity psychosis. Method: From the results of that study and the Chouinard diagnostic criteria for supersensitivity psychosis an abbreviated diagnostic checklist was developed to identify the phenomenon. In the present study the checklist was used on a larger sample of medication-compliant individuals experiencing a psychotic relapse. Results: The checklist demonstrated its utility by identifying a cause of relapse in 70% (29/41) of patients. Furthermore, it identified the presence of supersensitivity psychosis in 39% (16/41) of patients. This study also replicated a number of findings from the previous paper supporting the idea that supersensitivity psychosis is one cause of relapse in psychosis. Discussion: These results suggested that clinicians should exercise caution in prescribing and may have to augment treatment with other agents or switch to low dopamine-affinity antipsychotics.
KLF9 is a novel transcriptional regulator of bortezomib- and LBH589-induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells
Authors: Mannava Sudha , Zhuang DaZhong , Nair Jayakumar R. , Bansal Rajat , Wawrzyniak Joseph A. , Zucker Shoshanna N. , Fink Emily E. , Moparthy Kalyana C. , Hu Qiang , Liu Song , Boise Lawrence H. , Lee Kelvin P. , Nikiforov Mikhail A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBortezomib, a therapeutic agent for multiple myeloma (MM) and mantle cell lymphoma, suppresses proteosomal degradation leading to substantial changes in cellular transcriptional programs and ultimately resulting in apoptosis. Transcriptional regulators required for bortezomib-induced apoptosis in MM cells are largely unknown. Using gene expression profiling, we identified 36 transcription factors that displayed altered expression in MM cells treated with bortezomib. Analysis of a publically available database identified Kruppel-like family factor 9 (KLF9) as the only transcription factor with significantly higher basal expression in MM cells from patients who responded to bortezomib compared with nonresponders. We demonstrated that KLF9 in cultured MM cells was up-regulated by bortezomib; however, it was not through the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Instead, KLF9 levels correlated with bortezomib-dependent inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and were increased by the HDAC inhibitor LBH589 (panobinostat). Furthermore, bortezomib induced binding of endogenous KLF9 to the promoter of the proapoptotic gene NOXA. Importantly, KLF9 knockdown impaired NOXA up-regulation and apoptosis caused by bortezomib, LBH589, or a combination of theses drugs, whereas KLF9 overexpression induced apoptosis that was partially NOXA-dependent. Our data identify KLF9 as a novel and potentially clinically relevant transcriptional regulator of drug-induced apoptosis in MM cells.
Differentially expressed profiles in the larval testes of Wolbachia infected and uninfected Drosophila
Authors: Zheng Ya , Wang Jia-Lin , Liu Chen , Wang Cui-Ping , Walker Thomas , Wang Yu-Feng 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria that are frequently found in arthropods and nematodes. These maternally inherited bacteria manipulate host reproduction by several mechanisms including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CI is the most common phenotype induced by Wolbachia and results in the developmental arrest of embryos derived from crosses between Wolbachia-infected males and uninfected females. Although the molecular mechanisms of CI are currently unknown, several studies suggest that host sperm is modified by Wolbachia during spermatogenesis.

Results
We compared the gene expression of Drosophila melanogaster larval testes with and without the w Mel strain of Wolbachia to identify candidate genes that could be involved in the interaction between Wolbachia and the insect host. Microarray, quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses were carried out on D. melanogaster larval testes to determine the effect of Wolbachia infection on host gene expression. A total of 296 genes were identified by microarray analysis to have at least a 1.5 fold change [q-value < 5%] in expression. When comparing Wolbachia-infected flies to uninfected flies, 167 genes were up-regulated and 129 genes down-regulated. Differential expression of genes related to metabolism, immunity, reproduction and other functions were observed. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed 12 genes are differentially expressed in the testes of the 3rd instar larvae of Wolbachia-infected and uninfected flies. In situ hybridization demonstrated that Wolbachia infection changes the expression of several genes putatively associated with spermatogenesis including JH induced protein-26 and Mst84Db, or involved in immune (kenny) or metabolism (CG4988-RA).

Conclusions

Wolbachia change the gene expression of 296 genes in the larval testes of D. melanogaster including genes related to metabolism, immunity and reproduction. Interestingly, most of the genes putatively involved in immunity were up-regulated in the presence of Wolbachia. In contrast, most of the genes putatively associated with reproduction (especially spermatogenesis) were down-regulated in the presence of Wolbachia. These results suggest Wolbachia may activate the immune pathway but inhibit spermatogenesis. Our data provide a significant panel of candidate genes that may be involved in the interaction between Wolbachia and their insect hosts. This forms a basis to help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of Wolbachia-induced CI in Drosophila and the influence of Wolbachia on spermatogenesis.
Meta-analysis of 8q24 for seven cancers reveals a locus between NOV and ENPP2 associated with cancer development
Authors: Brisbin Abra G , Asmann Yan W , Song Honglin , Tsai Ya-Yu , Aakre Jeremiah A , Yang Ping , Jenkins Robert B , Pharoah Paul , Schumacher Fredrick , Conti David V , Duggan David J , Jenkins Mark , Hopper John , Gallinger Steven , Newcomb Polly , Casey Graham , Sellers Thomas A , Fridley Brooke L 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Human chromosomal region 8q24 contains several genes which could be functionally related to cancer, including the proto-oncogene c-MYC. However, the abundance of associations around 128 Mb on chromosome 8 could mask the appearance of a weaker, but important, association elsewhere on 8q24.

Methods
In this study, we completed a meta-analysis of results from nine genome-wide association studies for seven types of solid-tumor cancers (breast, prostate, pancreatic, lung, ovarian, colon, and glioma) to identify additional associations that were not apparent in any individual study.

Results
Fifteen SNPs in the 8q24 region had meta-analysis p-values < 1E-04. In particular, the region consisting of 120,576,000-120,627,000 bp contained 7 SNPs with p-values < 1.0E-4, including rs6993464 (p = 1.25E-07). This association lies in the region between two genes, NOV and ENPP2, which have been shown to play a role in tumor development and motility. An additional region consisting of 5 markers from 128,478,000 bp - 128,524,000 (around gene POU5F1B) had p-values < 1E-04, including rs6983267, which had the smallest p-value (p = 6.34E-08). This result replicates previous reports of association between rs6983267 and prostate and colon cancer.

Conclusions
Further research in this area is warranted as these results demonstrate that the chromosomal region 8q24 may contain a locus that influences general cancer susceptibility between 120,576 and 120,630 kb.
International practice patterns and factors associated with non-conventional hemodialysis utilization
Authors: Allen Nathan , Schwartz Daniel , Komenda Paul , Pauly Robert P , Zimmerman Deborah , Tanna Gemini , Schiff Jeffery , Rigatto Claudio , Sood Manish M 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
The purpose of our study was to determine characteristics that influence the utilization of non-conventional hemodialysis (NCHD) therapies and its subtypes (nocturnal (NHD), short daily (SDHD), long conventional (LCHD) and conventional hemodialysis (CHD) as well as provider attitudes regarding the evidence for NCHD use.

Methods
An international cohort of subscribers of a nephrology education website http://www.nephrologynow.com was invited to participate in an online survey. Non-conventional hemodialysis was defined as any forms of hemodialysis delivered > 3 treatments per week and/or > 4 hours per session. NHD and SDHD included both home and in-centre. Respondents were categorized as CHD if their centre only offered conventional thrice weekly hemodialysis. Variables associated with NCHD and its subtypes were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The survey assessed multiple domains regarding NCHD including reasons for initiating and discontinuing, for not offering and attitudes regarding evidence.

Results
544 surveys were completed leading to a 15.6% response rate. The final cohort was limited to 311 physicians. Dialysis modalities utilized among the respondents were as follows: NCHD194 (62.4%), NHD 83 (26.7%), SDHD 107 (34.4%), LCHD 81 (26%) and CHD 117 (37.6%). The geographic regions of participants were as follows: 11.9% Canada, 26.7% USA, 21.5% Europe, 6.1% Australia/New Zealand, 10% Africa/Middle East, 10.9% Asia and 12.9% South America. Variables associated with NCHD utilization included NCHD training (OR 2.47 CI 1.25-4.16), government physician reimbursement (OR 2.66, CI 1.11-6.40), practicing at an academic centre (OR 2.28 CI 1.25-4.16), higher national health care expenditure and number of ESRD patients per centre. Hemodialysis providers with patients on NCHD were significantly more likely to agree with the statements that NCHD improves quality of life, improves nutritional status, reduces EPO requirements and is cost effective. The most common reasons to initiate NCHD were driven by patient preference and the desire to improve volume control and global health outcomes.

Conclusion
Physician attitudes toward the evidence for NCHD differ significantly between NCHD providers and conventional HD providers. Interventions and health policy targeting these areas along with increased physician education and training in NCHD modalities may be effective in increasing its utilization.
Design and study protocol of the maternal smoking cessation during pregnancy study, (M-SCOPE)
Authors: Loukopoulou Andriani N , Vardavas Constantine I , Farmakides George , Rossolymos Christos , Chrelias Charalambos , Tzatzarakis Manolis N , Tsatsakis Aristidis , Lymberi Maria , Connolly Gregory N , Behrakis Panagiotis K 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Maternal smoking is the most significant cause of preventable complications during pregnancy, with smoking cessation during pregnancy shown to increase birth weight and reduce preterm birth among pregnant women who quit smoking. Taking into account the fact that the number of women who smoke in Greece has increased steadily throughout the previous decade and that the prevalence of smoking among Greek females is one of the highest in the world, smoking cessation should be a top priority among Greek health care professionals.

Methods/Design
The Maternal Smoking Cessation during Pregnancy Study (M-SCOPE), is a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) that aims to test whether offering Greek pregnant smokers a high intensity intervention increases smoking cessation during the third trimester of pregnancy, when compared to a low intensity intervention. Prospective participants will be pregnant smokers of more than 5 cigarettes per week, recruited up to the second trimester of pregnancy. Urine samples for biomarker analysis of cotinine will be collected at three time points: at baseline, at around the 32nd week of gestation and at six months post partum. The control group/low intensity intervention will include: brief advice for 5 minutes and a short leaflet, while the experimental group/intensive intervention will include: 30 minutes of individualized cognitive-behavioural intervention provided by a trained health professional and a self-help manual especially tailored for smoking cessation during pregnancy, while counselling will be based on the ''5 As.'' After childbirth, the infants' birth weight, gestational age and any other health related complications during pregnancy will be recorded. A six months post-partum a follow up will be performed in order to re-assess the quitters smoking status.

Discussion
If offering pregnant smokers a high intensity intervention for smoking cessation increases the rate of smoking cessation in comparison to a usual care low intensity intervention in Greek pregnant smokers, such a scheme if beneficial could be implemented successfully within clinical practice in Greece.

Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01210118
Construction and characterisation of a recombinant fowlpox virus that expresses the human papilloma virus L1 protein
Authors: Zanotto Carlo , Pozzi Eleana , Pacchioni Sole , Bissa Massimiliano , De Giuli Morghen Carlo , Radaelli Antonia 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Human papilloma virus (HPV)-16 is the most prevalent high-risk mucosal genotype. Virus-like-particle (VLP)-based immunogens developed recently have proven to be successful as prophylactic HPV vaccines, but are still too expensive for developing countries. Although vaccinia viruses expressing the HPV-16 L1 protein (HPV-L1) have been studied, fowlpox-based recombinants represent efficient and safer vectors for immunocompromised hosts due to their ability to elicit a complete immune response and their natural host-range restriction to avian species.

Methods
A new fowlpox virus recombinant encoding HPV-L1 (FPL1) was engineered and evaluated for the correct expression of HPV-L1 in vitro, using RT-PCR, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and real-time PCR assays.

Results
The FPL1 recombinant correctly expresses HPV-L1 in mammalian cells, which are non-permissive for the replication of this vector.

Conclusion
This FPL1 recombinant represents an appropriate immunogen for expression of HPV-L1 in human cells. The final aim is to develop a safe, immunogenic, and less expensive prophylactic vaccine against HPV.
Structural and physical properties of antibacterial Ag-doped nano-hydroxyapatite synthesized at 100°C
Authors: Ciobanu Carmen Steluta , Massuyeau Florian , Constantin Liliana Violeta , Predoi Daniela 
Published: December 2011

AbstractSynthesis of nanosized particle of Ag-doped hydroxyapatite with antibacterial properties is in the great interest in the development of new biomedical applications. In this article, we propose a method for synthesized the Ag-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite. A silver-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite was synthesized at 100°C in deionized water. Other phase or impurities were not observed. Silver-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Ag:HAp) were performed by setting the atomic ratio of Ag/[Ag + Ca] at 20% and [Ca + Ag]/P as 1.67. The X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that powders made by co-precipitation at 100°C exhibit the apatite characteristics with good crystal structure and no new phase or impurity is found. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations suggest that these materials present a little different morphology, which reveals a homogeneous aspect of the synthesized particles for all samples. The presence of calcium (Ca), phosphor (P), oxygen (O), and silver (Ag) in the Ag:HAp is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies revealed that the presence of the various vibrational modes corresponds to phosphates and hydroxyl groups. The strain of Staphylococcus aureus was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Ca10-x
Ag
x
(PO4)6(OH)2 (x = 0 and 0.2). In vitro bacterial adhesion study indicated a significant difference between HAp (x = 0) and Ag:HAp (x = 0.2). The Ag:Hap nanopowder showed higher inhibition.
Fixed point and endpoint theorems for set-valued fuzzy contraction maps in fuzzy metric spaces
Authors: Kiany Fatemeh , Amini-Harandi Alireza 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn this paper, we first present a fixed point theorem for set-valued fuzzy contraction type maps in complete fuzzy metric spaces which extends and improves some well-know results in literature. Then by presenting an endpoint result we initiate endpoint theory for fuzzy contraction maps in fuzzy metric spaces.02000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 47H10, 54H25.
Convergence theorem for an iterative algorithm of λ-strict pseudocontraction
Authors: Chai XinKuan , Song Yisheng 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn this article, we prove strong convergence of sequence generated by the following iteration sequence for a class of Lipschitzian pseudocontractive mapping T:

x

n
+
1

=

β

n

u
+

(

1
-

β

n

)

[

α

n

T

x

n

+

(

1
-

α

n

)

x

n

]

whenever {α
n
} and {β
n
} satisfy the appropriate conditions.2000 AMS Subject Classification: 47H06; 47J05; 47J25; 47H10; 47H17.
On externally complete subsets and common fixed points in partially ordered sets
Authors: Abu-Sbeih Mohammad Z , Khamsi Mohamed A 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn this study, we introduce the concept of externally complete ordered sets. We discuss the properties of such sets and characterize them in ordered trees. We also prove some common fixed point results for order preserving mappings. In particular, we introduce for the first time the concept of Banach Operator pairs in partially ordered sets and prove a common fixed point result which generalizes the classical De Marr's common fixed point theorem.2000 MSC: primary 06F30; 46B20; 47E10.
Noise-robust speech feature processing with empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Wu Kuo-Hau , Chen Chia-Ping , Yeh Bing-Feng 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
In this article, a novel technique based on the empirical mode decomposition methodology for processing speech features is proposed and investigated. The empirical mode decomposition generalizes the Fourier analysis. It decomposes a signal as the sum of intrinsic mode functions. In this study, we implement an iterative algorithm to find the intrinsic mode functions for any given signal. We design a novel speech feature post-processing method based on the extracted intrinsic mode functions to achieve noise-robustness for automatic speech recognition. Evaluation results on the noisy-digit Aurora 2.0 database show that our method leads to significant performance improvement. The relative improvement over the baseline features increases from 24.0 to 41.1% when the proposed post-processing method is applied on mean-variance normalized speech features. The proposed method also improves over the performance achieved by a very noise-robust frontend when the test speech data are highly mismatched.