bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Octogenarian Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Compared with On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Sarin Eric L. , Kayatta Michael O. , Kilgo Patrick , Dara Ameesh , Puskas John D. , Lattouf Omar M. , Chen Edward P. , Halkos Michael E. , Guyton Robert A. , Thourani Vinod H. 
Published: April 2011

Objective Coronary artery bypass grafting (CAB) on elderly patients presenting with multivessel coronary artery disease has become routine in modern day operating rooms. The aim of our study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes in octogenarian patients undergoing off-pump CAB (OPCAB) versus on-pump CAB (ONCAB). Methods A propensity-adjusted, retrospective review of patients older than 80 years who underwent primary CAB from January 1996 to September 2008 at our institution's hospitals was performed. Nine hundred thirty-seven patients were divided into two groups: OPCAB (n = 540) or ONCAB (n = 397). A propensity score was calculated based on 29 preoperative risk factors to adjust for selection bias when comparing the groups for differences in death, stroke, myocardial infarction incidence, and their composite (major adverse cardiac events). Long-term survival status was determined by cross-referencing patient records with the Social Security Death Index. Logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to determine group differences in short- and long-term survival, respectively, adjusted for the propensity score. Kaplan-Meier curves were fit to estimate 10-year survival. Results The mean age (OPCAB: 82.9 ± 2.8 years vs ONCAB: 82.3 ± 2.4, P = 0.003) and male sex (OPCAB: 292/540, 54.1% vs ONCAB: 220/397, 55.4%, P = 0.68) were clinically similar between groups. Although the ejection fraction (OPCAB: 52.1 ± 12.5% vs ONCAB: 50.6 ± 13.1, P = 0.10) were similar between groups, the mean number of distal anastomoses [OPCAB: 2.7 ± 1.0 (median 3) vs ONCAB: 3.4 ± 0.9 (median 3), P < 0.001] were less in the OPCAB group. The median postoperative length of stay was 7 days for OPCAB group and 6 for the ONCAB group (P = 0.31). The Society of Thoracic Surgery predicted risk of in-hospital mortality was similar for OPCAB (5.4%) and ONCAB (5.3%) patients (P = 0.81). However, observed in-hospital mortality was improved for patients in the OPCAB group (OPCAB: 15/540, 2.8% vs ONCAB: 37/397, 9.3%, P = 0.007). Ten-year survival was similar between groups (OPCAB: 28.8% vs ONCAB: 26.3%, P = 0.22). Conclusions In this series, OPCAB reduced the incidence of in-hospital mortality compared with ONCAB. Long-term mortality was similar between groups.
Prebiotics and Oxidative Stress in Constipated Rats
Authors: Li Yanning , Zong Yanhong , Qi Jinsheng , Liu Kun 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTObjectives:Constipation can adversely affect children's health, with disorders of host immunity and enhanced oxidative stress. As nondigestible carbohydrates, prebiotics can affect the host with constipation; however, whether the prebiotics have effects on the content of intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in constipation has not been fully clarified.Methods:In the present study, constipation was induced in female Sprague‐Dawley rats by diphenoxylate, and the prebiotics dissolved in milk were used as an intervention. The indicators of intestinal peristalsis, including the time of passing black stool initially, the grains of black stool in 24 hours, and the advance rate of ponceau, were measured. The content of intestinal sIgA was detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The contents of SOD and MDA in serum and intestinal tissue were analyzed by their detection kits.Results:The changes in intestinal peristalsis show obvious constipation. The content of intestinal sIgA decreases, the content of SOD decreases, but the content of MDA increases in constipated rats. Prebiotics can attenuate the constipation‐caused abnormal indicators significantly.Conclusions:Prebiotics can attenuate decreased intestinal immunity and enhanced oxidative stress, in addition to reduced intestinal peristalsis and of the constipated rats.
Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strain GG in Pediatric Obesity‐related Liver Disease
Authors: Vajro Pietro , Mandato Claudia , Licenziati Maria Rosaria , Franzese Adriana , Vitale Dino Franco , Lenta Selvaggia , Caropreso Maria , Vallone Gianfranco , Meli Rosaria 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTObjective:Various lines of evidence suggest that malfunctioning of the gut–liver axis contributes to hepatic damage of rodents and humans with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We evaluated the effects of short‐term probiotic treatment in children with obesity‐related liver disease who were noncompliant with lifestyle interventions.Patients and Methods:Twenty obese children (age 10.7 ± 2.1 years) with persisting hypertransaminasemia and ultrasonographic (US) bright liver were enrolled in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled pilot study. At baseline, patients underwent clinical and laboratory anthropometric evaluation, measurement of the US hepatorenal ratio, standard liver function tests, oral glucose tolerance test, serum tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, the glucose hydrogen breath test, and evaluation of serum antibodies to antipeptidoglycan‐polysaccharide polymers. After exclusion of causes of liver disease other than obesity, patients received either probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (12 billion CFU/day) or placebo for 8 weeks.Results:Multivariate analysis after probiotic treatment revealed a significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase (average variation vs placebo P = 0.03) and in antipeptidoglycan‐polysaccharide antibodies (average variation vs placebo P = 0.03) irrespective of changes in BMI z score and visceral fat. Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, and US bright liver parameters remained fairly stable.Conclusions:Probiotic L rhamnosus strain GG warrants consideration as a therapeutic tool to treat hypertransaminasemia in hepatopathic obese children noncompliant with lifestyle interventions.
Control of Abscisic Acid Catabolism and Abscisic Acid Homeostasis Is Important for Reproductive Stage Stress Tolerance in Cereals1
Authors: Ji Xuemei , Dong Baodi , Shiran Behrouz , Talbot Mark J. , Edlington Jane E. , Hughes Trijntje , White Rosemary G. , Gubler Frank , Dolferus Rudy 
Published: April 2011

AbstractDrought stress at the reproductive stage causes pollen sterility and grain loss in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Drought stress induces abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis genes in anthers and ABA accumulation in spikes of drought-sensitive wheat varieties. In contrast, drought-tolerant wheat accumulates lower ABA levels, which correlates with lower ABA biosynthesis and higher ABA catabolic gene expression (ABA 8′-hydroxylase). Wheat TaABA8′OH1 deletion lines accumulate higher spike ABA levels and are more drought sensitive. ABA treatment of the spike mimics the effect of drought, causing high levels of sterility. ABA treatment represses the anther cell wall invertase gene TaIVR1, and drought-tolerant lines appeared to be more sensitive to the effect of ABA. Drought-induced sterility shows similarity to cold-induced sterility in rice (Oryza sativa). In cold-stressed rice, the rate of ABA accumulation was similar in cold-sensitive and cold-tolerant lines during the first 8 h of cold treatment, but in the tolerant line, ABA catabolism reduced ABA levels between 8 and 16 h of cold treatment. The ABA biosynthesis gene encoding 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase in anthers is mainly expressed in parenchyma cells surrounding the vascular bundle of the anther. Transgenic rice lines expressing the wheat TaABA8′OH1 gene under the control of the OsG6B tapetum-specific promoter resulted in reduced anther ABA levels under cold conditions. The transgenic lines showed that anther sink strength (OsINV4) was maintained under cold conditions and that this correlated with improved cold stress tolerance. Our data indicate that ABA and ABA 8′-hydroxylase play an important role in controlling anther ABA homeostasis and reproductive stage abiotic stress tolerance in cereals.
Induction of a Longer Term Component of Isoprene Release in Darkened Aspen Leaves: Origin and Regulation under Different Environmental Conditions
Authors: Rasulov Bahtijor , Hüve Katja , Laisk Agu , Niinemets Ülo 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
After darkening, isoprene emission continues for 20 to 30 min following biphasic kinetics. The initial dark release of isoprene (postillumination emission), for 200 to 300 s, occurs mainly at the expense of its immediate substrate, dimethylallyldiphosphate (DMADP), but the origin and controls of the secondary burst of isoprene release (dark-induced emission) between approximately 300 and 1,500 s, are not entirely understood. We used a fast-response gas-exchange system to characterize the controls of dark-induced isoprene emission by light, temperature, and CO2 and oxygen concentrations preceding leaf darkening and the effects of short light pulses and changing gas concentrations during dark-induced isoprene release in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides). The effect of the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway inhibitor fosmidomycin was also investigated. The integral of postillumination isoprene release was considered to constitute the DMADP pool size, while the integral of dark-induced emission was defined as the “dark” pool. Overall, the steady-state emission rate in light and the maximum dark-induced emission rate responded similarly to variations in preceding environmental drivers and atmospheric composition, increasing with increasing light, having maxima at approximately 40°C and close to the CO2 compensation point, and were suppressed by lack of oxygen. The DMADP and dark pool sizes were also similar through their environmental dependencies, except for high temperatures, where the dark pool significantly exceeded the DMADP pool. Isoprene release could be enhanced by short lightflecks early during dark-induced isoprene release, but not at later stages. Fosmidomycin strongly suppressed both the isoprene emission rates in light and in the dark, but the dark pool was only moderately affected. These results demonstrate a strong correspondence between the steady-state isoprene emission in light and the dark-induced emission and suggest that the dark pool reflects the total pool size of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway metabolites upstream of DMADP. These metabolites are converted to isoprene as soon as ATP and NADPH become available, likely by dark activation of chloroplastic glycolysis and chlororespiration.
Effects of fesoterodine on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy volunteers
Authors: Malhotra Bimal , Alvey Christine , Gong Jason , Li Xiaoxi , Duczynski Gregory , Gandelman Kuan 
Published: April 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Drug–drug interactions with warfarin are common with potentially harmful consequences. Preclinical in vitro studies suggest that fesoterodine or 5‐hydroxymethyl tolterodine are not likely to affect warfarin metabolism, but a lack of interaction has not been demonstrated in a clinical study.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• This study shows that the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin 25 mg in healthy adults are unaffected by fesoterodine 8 mg, and that co‐administration of warfarin 25 mg and fesoterodine 8 mg is safe and well tolerated.AIMS To confirm the lack of an interaction of fesoterodine 8 mg with warfarin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in healthy adults.METHODS In this open‐label, two‐treatment, crossover study, subjects (n= 14) aged 20–41 years with normal prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) were randomized to receive a single dose of warfarin 25 mg alone in one period and fesoterodine 8 mg once daily on days 1–9 with a single dose of warfarin 25 mg co‐administered on day 3 in the other period. There was a 10‐day washout between treatments. Pharmacokinetic endpoints were area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC(0,∞)), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), AUC from time 0 to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUC(0,last)), time to Cmax (tmax), and half‐life (t1/2) for S‐ and R‐warfarin. Pharmacodynamic endpoints were area under the INR‐time curve (AUCINR), maximum INR (INRmax), area under the PT‐time curve (AUCPT) and maximum PT (PTmax).RESULTS Across all pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparisons, the point estimates of treatment ratio (warfarin co‐administered with fesoterodine vs. warfarin alone) were 92–100%. The 90% confidence intervals for the ratios of the adjusted geometric means were contained within (80%, 125%). There were no clinically relevant changes in laboratory tests, vital signs or ECG recordings.CONCLUSIONS The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin 25 mg in healthy adults are unaffected by fesoterodine 8 mg. Concomitant administration of fesoterodine and warfarin was well tolerated.
Correlation between insulin requirements and anti-galactose antibodies in patients with type 1 diabetes transplanted with neonatal pig islets
Authors: Esquivel-Pérez R , Rodriguez-Ventura A L , Dorantes L M , Ramírez-González B , López-Santos M G , Valdes-Gonzalez R 
Published: April 2011

SummaryPig xenografts represent an alternative source of organs for transplantation. Immunosuppression can prevent rejection, but involves high risk and cost. New anti-rejection techniques have been developed; however, results have not been successful. Few studies have reported xenoantibody levels in xenotransplanted patients with diabetes and no patients have reported a clinical correlation. We analysed anti-galactose (Gal) and other anti-pig antibody (APA) levels in xenotransplanted patients with type 1 diabetes and the relation to the clinical outcome. Twenty-three patients with type 1 diabetes were transplanted with porcine islets inside a device without immunosuppression. Demographic characteristics, insulin dose and xenoantibody levels at different periods were recorded. Anti-Gal and anti-pig antibodies were measured through indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemolytic anti-pig antibody assay. More than 50% were female; the mean current age, current diabetes duration, diabetes duration at xenotransplantation and time post-transplantation were: 20·8, 11, 5·5 and 5·7 years, respectively. Insulin doses remained with a mean reduction greater than 33% in more than 50% of the patients. The lowest anti-Gal antibody levels were related to the highest insulin dose reductions. This relationship could be explained by the device, Sertoli cells and accommodation process.
Nuclear factor kappa B plays a pivotal role in polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced expression of human β-defensin 2 in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Omagari D , Takenouchi-Ohkubo N , Endo S , Ishigami T , Sawada A , Moro I , Asano M , Komiyama K 
Published: April 2011

SummaryIntestinal epithelial cells (IECs) play an important role in protecting the intestinal surface from invading pathogens by producing effector molecules. IECs are one of the major sources of human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2), and can produce it in response to a variety of stimuli. Although IECs express Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3) and can respond to its ligand, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), hBD-2 expression in response to dsRNA has not been elucidated. In the present study, using an artificial analogue of dsRNA, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), we investigated whether the human IEC line, HT-29, can produce hBD-2 in response to poly I:C. HT-29 cells can express hBD-2 mRNA only when stimulated with poly I:C. The induction of hBD-2 mRNA expression was observed at 3 h after stimulation and peaked at 12 h of post-stimulation. Pre-incubation of the cells with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-specific inhibitor, l-1–4′-tosylamino-phenylethyl-chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and isohelenine abolished the expression of hBD-2. Detection of the poly I:C signal by TLR-3 on the surface of HT-29 cells was revealed by pre-incubating the cells with anti-TLR-3 antibody. The 5′-regulatory region of the hBD-2 gene contains two NF-κB binding sites. A luciferase assay revealed the importance of the proximal NF-κB binding site for poly I:C-induced expression of hBD-2. Among NF-κB subunits, p65 and p50 were activated by poly I:C stimulation and accumulated in the nucleus. Activation of the p65 subunit was investigated further by determining its phosphorylation status, which revealed that poly I:C stimulation resulted in prolonged phosphorylation of p65. These results indicate clearly that NF-κB plays an indispensable role in poly I:C induced hBD-2 expression in HT-29 cells.
Seasonal variation in sesquiterpene lactone concentration and composition of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) cultivars
Authors: Foster J. G. , Cassida K. A. , Sanderson M. A. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPalatability and anthelmintic activity of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) forage are influenced by the sesquiterpene lactones lactucin (LAC), 8‐deoxylactucin (DOL) and lactucopicrin. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how sesquiterpene lactone concentration and composition vary during the growing season. Three forage chicory cultivars (Puna, Forage Feast and Lacerta) grown in West Virginia and Pennsylvania (USA) were managed during two consecutive years to maintain plants in the vegetative stage, and sesquiterpene lactones in leaves were quantified after each growth interval. Cultivars differed in the total concentration of sesquiterpene lactones and in the proportions of LAC and DOL. Total sesquiterpene lactone concentration generally decreased or remained constant during the season, but the specific response depended on the cultivar. Differences in seasonal patterns between years corresponded with unusual climatic conditions. The three cultivars had similar concentrations of DOL in the spring. Forage Feast provided a dramatically lower concentration of DOL during the summer. Uniformly high concentrations of DOL across the growing season in Puna and Lacerta make these cultivars attractive for use in bioactive pastures for control of Haemonchus contortus. Changes in both sesquiterpene lactone concentration and composition during the season result in large variations in forage bitterness.
γδT‐cell function in sepsis is modulated by C5a receptor signalling
Authors: Han Gencheng , Geng Shaoxia , Li Yurong , Chen Guojiang , Wang Renxi , Li Xinying , Ma Yuanfang , Shen Beifen , Li Yan 
Published: April 2011

SummaryWe previously showed that γδT cells are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis, but, the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that γδT cells express the complement C5a receptor (C5aR, CD88) and that CD88 expression in γδT cells was up‐regulated in mice following sepsis both at protein and mRNA levels. Complement C5a itself contributed to the regulation of C5aR expression on γδT cells, as (i) neutralization of C5a in vivo prevented the expression of C5aR on γδT cells in septic mice and (ii) incubation of mouse spleen cells or purified γδT cells with recombinant C5a in vitro increased CD88 expression by γδT cells at both protein and mRNA levels. C5a receptor on γδT cells also mediates increased interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) expression as incubation of mouse spleen cells or purified γδT cells with recombinant C5a promotes the IL‐17 expression by γδT cells. Ligation of the C5aR on γδT cells activated the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling pathway, which enhances CD88 expression and promotes IL‐17 secretion. These results demonstrate that C5a acts directly on the C5aR expressed on γδT cells, resulting in cell activation, and subsequently enhances their capacity for IL‐17 production. The up‐regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway following C5a stimulation contributes to up‐regulation of γδT‐cell function.
An ecological perspective on extreme climatic events: a synthetic definition and framework to guide future research
Authors: Smith Melinda D. 
Published: April 2011

Summary 1. Growing recognition of the importance of climate extremes as drivers of contemporary and future ecological dynamics has led to increasing interest in studying these locally and globally important phenomena. 2. Many ecological studies examining the impacts of what are deemed climate extremes, such as heat waves and severe drought, do not provide a definition of extremity, either from a statistical context based on the long‐term climatic record or from the perspective of the response of the system – are the effects extreme (unusual or profound) in comparison to normal variability? 3. A synthetic definition of an extreme climatic event (ECE) is proposed that includes ‘extremeness’ in both the driver and the response: an ECE is as an episode or occurrence in which a statistically rare or unusual climatic period alters ecosystem structure and/or function well outside the bounds of what is considered typical or normal variability. This definition is accompanied by a mechanistic framework based on the concept that extreme response thresholds associated with significant community change and altered ecosystem function must be crossed in order for an ECE to occur. 4. Synthesis. A definition and mechanistic framework for ECEs is used to identify priorities for future research that will enable ecologists to more fully assess the ecological consequences of climate extremes for ecosystem structure and function today and in a future world where their frequency and intensity are expected to increase.
Medical practice variations: what the literature tells us (or does not) about what are warranted and unwarranted variations
Authors: Mercuri Mathew , Gafni Amiram 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis paper examines the sources of practice variations and definitions of unwarranted variation, as derived from the literature. The literature suggests variables/factors related to patient health needs, doctor ‘practice style’ and environmental constraints/opportunities as sources of practice variations. However, this list is likely to be incomplete because of significant unexplained variation in each study. Furthermore, it is unclear which factors are sources of unwarranted variation because the reviewed studies do not clearly discriminate between those variations that are unwarranted and those that are not. It is also unclear if context plays a role in determining if and when a factor is unwarranted. The literature contains few frameworks of what constitutes unwarranted variation. Among those offered, more information is needed regarding the scientific basis for including the selected factors, and how to operationalize the framework provided a particular one is chosen. A clear and consistent framework for unwarranted variation, and a clear indication how each component factor could be measured and integrated can help investigators determine which variables should be included in their studies, such that the sources of unwarranted variations may be identified. A better understanding of the role of patient preference as a potential source of practice variations is also required.