bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of nonhuman primate models to investigate mechanisms of infection‐associated preterm birth
Authors: Adams Waldorf KM , Rubens CE , Gravett MG 
Published: October 2010

Please cite this paper as: Adams Waldorf K, Rubens C, Gravett M. Use of nonhuman primate models to investigate mechanisms of infection‐associated preterm birth. BJOG 2011;118:136–144.Preterm birth is the most important direct cause of neonatal mortality and remains a major challenge for obstetrics and global health. Intrauterine infection causes approximately 50% of early preterm births. Animal models using pregnant mice, rabbits or sheep demonstrate the key link between infection and premature birth, but differ in the mechanisms of parturition and placental structure from humans. The nonhuman primate (NHP) is a powerful model which emulates many features of human placentation and parturition. The contributions of the NHP model to preterm birth research are reviewed, emphasising the role of infections and the potential development of preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a group at high risk for pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Shand AW , Nassar N , Von Dadelszen P , Innis SM , Green TJ 
Published: October 2010

Please cite this paper as:Shand A, Nassar N, Von Dadelszen P, Innis S, Green T. Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a group at high risk for pre‐eclampsia. BJOG 2010;117:1593–1598.Objective To determine in a group of pregnant women if vitamin D status, based on serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration, was associated with a subsequent risk of pre‐eclampsia or adverse pregnancy outcomes.Design Prospective cohort study.Setting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (49°N).Population Women attending a specialist antenatal clinic because of clinical or biochemical risk factors for pre‐eclampsia (n = 221).Methods Serum 25OHD concentration measured between 10 and 20 weeks of gestation.Main outcome measures Pre‐eclampsia and composite adverse pregnancy outcomes.Results Of the women, 78% were vitamin D insufficient (25OHD <75 nmol/l) and 53% were vitamin D deficient (25OHD <50 nmol/l). There was no difference in the rates of pre‐eclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm birth or composite adverse pregnancy outcomes by 25OHD concentration.Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were common in a group of women at high risk of pre‐eclampsia; however, it was not associated with subsequent risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome.
Critical role of the STAT3 pathway in the cardioprotective efficacy of zoniporide in a model of myocardial preservation – the rat isolated working heart
Authors: Gao L , Tsun J , Sun L , Kwan J , Watson A , Macdonald PS , Hicks M 
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEIschemia‐reperfusion injury plays an important role in the development of primary allograft failure after heart transplantation. Inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger is one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating ischemia‐reperfusion injury. Here we have characterized the cardioprotective efficacy of zoniporide and the underlying mechanisms in a model of myocardial preservation using rat isolated working hearts.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHRat isolated hearts subjected to 6 h hypothermic (1–4°C) storage followed by 45 min reperfusion at 37°C were treated with zoniporide at different concentrations and timing. Recovery of cardiac function, levels of total and phosphorylated protein kinase B, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2, glycogen synthase kinase‐3β and STAT3 as well as cleaved caspase 3 were measured at the end of reperfusion. Lactate dehydrogenase release into coronary effluent before and post‐storage was also measured.KEY RESULTSZoniporide concentration‐dependently improved recovery of cardiac function after reperfusion. The functional recovery induced by zoniporide was accompanied by up‐regulation of p‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 and p‐STAT3, and by reduction in lactate dehydrogenase release and cleaved caspase 3. There were no significant differences in any of the above indices when zoniporide was administered before, during or after ischemia. The STAT3 inhibitor, stattic, abolished zoniporide‐induced improvements in functional recovery and up‐regulation of p‐STAT3 after reperfusion.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONSZoniporide is a potent cardioprotective agent and activation of STAT3 plays a critical role in the cardioprotective action of zoniporide. This agent shows promise as a supplement to storage solutions to improve preservation of donor hearts.
Explant Culture: An Efficient Method to Isolate Adipose‐Derived Stromal Cells for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Jing Wei , Xiao Jingang , Xiong Zhonghua , Yang Xingmei , Huang Yuanding , Zhou Min , Chen Sixiu , Lin Yunfeng , Tian Weidong 
Published: October 2010

AbstractEnzymatic digestion, the commonly used method of adipose‐derived stromal cells isolation, is time consuming and expensive, especially when applied to large volumes of tissue. In the present study, the characteristics of the cells obtained by adipose tissue explant culture were studied. We found that adipose tissue fragments could adhere onto the growth surface of flasks in a very short time after plating and that fibroblast‐like cells migrated from the explants and reached confluence. Morphologic analysis and surface markers expression suggested the mesenchymal origin of the cells derived from adipose tissue explants. After in vitro expansion these cells were successfully induced into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages, which demonstrated their multipotency. The high growth rate and colony‐forming efficiency of explant‐derived cells were similar to those of cells obtained by digestion. Furthermore, explant culture gave higher yield of cells than digestion method after primary culture. The experiment of ectopic adipogenesis in nude mice suggested the prospects for tissue engineering of these cells. In conclusion, we obtained multipotent stromal cells from adipose tissue by explant culture, and this method was simple, time saving, and gave a high yield of cells. Therefore, explant culture can be used as an effective way to isolate adipose‐derived stromal cells for tissue engineering.
Evaluation of HL‐20 Roller Pump and Rotaflow Centrifugal Pump on Perfusion Quality and Gaseous Microemboli Delivery
Authors: Yee Stella , Qiu Feng , Su Xiaowei , Rider Alan , Kunselman Allen R. , Guan Yulong , Ündar Akif 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to compare the HL‐20 roller pump (Jostra USA, Austin, TX, USA) and Rotaflow centrifugal pump (Jostra USA) on hemodynamic energy production and gaseous microemboli (GME) delivery in a simulated neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit under nonpulsatile perfusion. This study employed a simulated model of the pediatric CPB including a Jostra HL‐20 heart‐lung machine (or a Rotaflow centrifugal pump), a Capiox BabyRX05 oxygenator (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), a Capiox pediatric arterial filter (Terumo Corporation), and ¼‐inch tubing. The total volume of the experimental system was 700 mL (500 mL for the circuit and 200 mL for the pseudo neonatal patient). The hematocrit was maintained at 30% using human blood. At the beginning of each trial, a 5 mL bolus of air was injected into the venous line. Both GME data and pressure values were recorded at postpump and postoxygenator sites. All the experiments were conducted under nonpulsatile perfusion at three flow rates (500, 750, and 1000 mL/min) and three blood temperatures (35, 30, and 25°C). As n = 6 for each setup, a total of 108 trials were done. The total number of GME increased as temperature decreased from 35°C to 25°C in the trials using the HL‐20 roller pump while the opposite effect occurred when using the Rotaflow centrifugal pump. At a given temperature, total GME counts increased with increasing flow rates for both pumps. Results indicated the Rotaflow centrifugal pump delivered significantly fewer microemboli compared to the HL‐20 roller pump, especially under high flow rates. Less than 10% of total microemboli were larger than 40 µm in size and the majority of GME were in the 0–20 µm class in all trials. Postpump total hemodynamic energy (THE) increased with increasing flow rates and decreasing temperatures in both circuits using these two pumps. The HL‐20 roller pump delivered more THE than the Rotaflow centrifugal pump at all tested flow rates and temperature conditions. Results suggest the HL‐20 roller pump delivers more GME than the Rotaflow centrifugal pump but produces more hemodynamic energy under nonpulsatile perfusion mode.
The Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Detection and Pain Thresholds As Well As Headache Intensity During Menstrual Cycle in Migraine
Authors: Teepker Michael , Peters Mira , Kundermann Bernd , Vedder Helmut , Schepelmann Karsten , Lautenbacher Stefan 
Published: October 2010

(Headache 2011;51:92‐104)Background.— Clinically, oral contraceptives (OC) can influence pain in both migraine headache and temporomandibular pain disorders. Estrogen as an ingredient of OC might be a responsible factor for these observations. We conducted the present study to test whether OC are able to alter the severity of headache attacks as well as the detection or pain thresholds over the course of the menstrual cycle in patients with migraine.Methods.— Thirteen healthy and regularly menstruating women and 26 migraineurs (13 using OC and 13 not using OC) were studied on the days 1, 4, 14, and 22 of their menstrual cycle. In all participants, saliva was collected first for determination of estrogen on each study day. Then, detection thresholds (warmth, cold, electrical current) and pain thresholds (cold, heat, pressure, electrical current) were assessed. Migraineurs were asked for headache attacks occurring in a period of 24 hours before testing and to estimate pain intensity on a verbal rating scale.Results.— On day 4 of the menstrual cycle, migraineurs using OC suffered significantly more from severe migraine attacks than migraineurs not taking OC. With respect to detection and pain thresholds, no effects of OC could be observed as concerning the differences between migraineurs with or without OC medication. On day 22, the severity of migraine headache was significantly related with the pain thresholds for pressure and electrical current, suggesting paradoxically more severe headache attacks in patients presenting with higher pain thresholds. Healthy volunteers disclosed higher salivary estrogen levels than migraineurs and migraineurs not using OC higher concentrations than migraineurs using OC throughout the menstrual cycle.Conclusions.— In this study, the use of OC intensified migraine (however only at the end of menstruation) however had no influence on detection and pain thresholds in migraineurs. Possible reasons for this dissociation will be discussed.
Saliva and serum lacosamide concentrations in patients with epilepsy
Authors: Greenaway Clare , Ratnaraj Neville , Sander Josemir W. , Patsalos Philip N. 
Published: October 2010

SummaryPurpose:  Lacosamide is a new antiepileptic drug that has a novel mechanism of action, linear pharmacokinetics, and proven efficacy in the adjunctive treatment of partial‐onset seizures. We ascertained the relationship between serum and saliva lacosamide concentrations so as to determine whether saliva may be a useful alternative to serum for therapeutic drug monitoring.Methods:  Blood samples were obtained from 98 people with intractable epilepsy (51 male; mean age 43 ± 12; range 19–76 years) prescribed lacosamide as adjunctive therapy. For 48 patients, concurrent saliva samples were also collected. Lacosamide concentrations in serum (free and total) and in saliva were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results:  Linear regression analysis showed a good correlation between lacosamide dose and both total (r2 = 0.825; n = 32) and free (r2 = 0.815; n = 29) serum concentrations, and lacosamide serum total and free concentrations were linearly related (r2 = 0.721; n = 97). There was also a good correlation between saliva lacosamide and both total (r2 = 0.842; n = 49) and free (r2 = 0.828; n = 47) serum lacosamide concentrations. Based on the saliva data, the protein binding of lacosamide in serum is calculated to be 87 ± 4% and is comparable to the value calculated by direct measurement of the free and total lacosamide concentration in serum (91 ± 4%).Discussion:  These data support the use of saliva as a viable alternative to serum for monitoring lacosamide therapy in patients with epilepsy.
Implantation Success and Infection in Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Procedures Utilizing an Antibacterial Envelope
Authors: BLOOM HEATHER L. , CONSTANTIN LUIS , DAN DANIEL , De LURGIO DAVID B. , El‐CHAMI MIKHAIL , GANZ LEONARD I. , GLEED KENT J. , HACKETT F. KEVIN , KANURU NARENDRA K. , LERNER DANIEL J. , RASEKH ABDI , SIMONS GRANT R. , SOGADE FELIX O. , SOHAIL MUHAMMAD R. ,   for the COMMAND (COoperative Multicenter study Monitoring a CIED ANtimicrobial Device) Investigators
Published: October 2010

Background:
Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection rates are increasing faster than implantation rates. More effective antimicrobial prophylaxis may help reduce CIED infections and improve clinical outcomes. The AIGISRx® antibacterial envelope is a polymer mesh implanted in the generator pocket with the CIED. After implantation it releases two antibiotics, minocycline and rifampin, that have been shown to reduce infections associated with other medical devices. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study is to determine the rate of CIED implantation success and CIED infection in procedures utilizing the antibacterial envelope.
Methods:
This study enrolled consecutive CIED procedures utilizing the antibacterial envelope at 10 US academic, community, and Veterans Affairs medical centers. Procedures following an explantation for a prior CIED infection or off‐label use of the antibacterial envelope were excluded.
Results:
The 624 eligible procedures (age 70 ± 13 years, 68.1% men, 27.2% renal insufficiency, 35.4% oral anticoagulant use, 67.8% replacement/revision procedures) utilized pacemakers (35%), implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICD)(29%), and cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator devices (CRT‐D)(36%). Nearly half of the patients (49%) had at least three predefined risk factors for CIED infection. CIED implantation was successful in 621 procedures (99.5%[95% confidence interval (CI) 98.8–99.9]). There were three major infections (0.48%[95%CI 0.17–1.40]) after 1.9 ± 2.4 months follow‐up. The infections followed one ICD revision and two CRT‐D replacements. There were seven deaths; none was a result of the antibacterial envelope or the CIED procedure.
Conclusions:
CIED procedures that utilized an antibacterial envelope had a high rate of CIED implantation success (>99%). Although the follow‐up to date is short, there was also a low rate of infection (<0.50%) in this population at high risk for CIED infection. (PACE 2011; 34:133–142)
Study Protocol of a Randomised Controlled Group Trial of Client and Care Outcomes in the Residential Dementia Care Setting
Authors: Chenoweth Lynn , King Madeleine , Luscombe Georgina , Forbes Ian , Jeon Yun‐Hee , Parbury Jane Stein , Brodaty Henry , Fleming Richard , Haas Marion 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTPurpose: Literature suggests that quality of life (QOL), quality of care (QOC) and Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) can be improved by relatively simple and inexpensive person‐centred approaches to nursing care practices (PCC) and modifications to physical environment (PCE). Most research on this topic is observational and few randomised controlled trials have included an economic evaluation of PCC and PCE together. The PerCEN study aims to confirm the value of evidence‐based nursing by evaluating the efficacy and cost effectiveness of implementing PCC and PCE in residential dementia care services. This article describes the PerCEN study protocol (ANZCTR 12608000095369).Design/Methods: The 3‐year study commenced in 2009 in 38 eligible government‐accredited residential dementia care homes in New South Wales, Australia. Study participants include 605 consented residents over 60 years of age with dementia and 380 consenting permanent direct‐care staff. The study employs a factorial, group‐randomised, cohort design with stratification to evaluate the main effects of PCC and PCE and their joint effects (PCC + PCE), compared with Usual Care (UC) and Usual Environment (UE) on QOL, QOC and BPSD in dementia.Results: The primary outcomes analysis will use a mixed‐model analysis of covariance to determine the effects of PCC and PCE on resident QOL and BPSD, and QOC, adjusting for stratification and other potential confounders. The incremental cost of providing PCE and PCC over UC and UE will be calculated; costs and outcomes will be presented as a cost‐consequence analysis and cost‐effectiveness ratios will be estimated as a cost per unit change in resident QOL and BPSD.Implications: This cluster‐randomised trial will rigorously test Kitwood's Social‐Psychological Theory of Personhood in Dementia (Kitwood & Bredin 1992). The results will provide timely and solid evidence that can inform policy and nursing practice development in improving the person's QOL and QOC, and reducing BPSD.
Physiological factors influencing capillary growth
Authors: Egginton S. 
Published: October 2010

Abstract(1) Angiogenesis (growth of new capillaries from an existing capillary bed) may result from a mismatch in microvascular supply and metabolic demand (metabolic error signal). Krogh examined the distribution and number of capillaries to explore the correlation between O2 delivery and O2 consumption. Subsequently, the heterogeneity in angiogenic response within a muscle has been shown to reflect either differences in fibre type composition or mechanical load. However, local control leads to targetted angiogenesis in the vicinity of glycolytic fibre types following muscle stimulation, or oxidative fibres following endurance training, while heterogeneity of capillary spacing is maintained during ontogenetic growth. (2) Despite limited microscopy resolution and lack of specific markers, Krogh’s interest in the structure of the capillary wall paved the way for understanding the mechanisms of capillary growth. Angiogenesis may be influenced by the response of perivascular or stromal cells (fibroblasts, macrophages and pericytes) to altered activity, likely acting as a source for chemical signals modulating capillary growth such as vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, haemodynamic factors such as shear stress and muscle stretch play a significant role in adaptive remodelling of the microcirculation. (3) Most indices of capillarity are highly dependent on fibre size, resulting in possible bias because of scaling. To examine the consequences of capillary distribution, it is therefore helpful to quantify the area of tissue supplied by individual capillaries. This allows the spatial limitations inherent in most models of tissue oxygenation to be overcome generating an alternative approach to Krogh’s tissue cylinder, the capillary domain, to improve descriptions of intracellular oxygen diffusion.
Performance of time‐domain and spectral‐domain Optical Coherence Tomography for glaucoma screening
Authors: Bengtsson Boel , Andersson Sabina , Heijl Anders 
Published: October 2010

Abstract.Purpose:  To investigate the measures of validity for selective or population screening of the time‐domain Stratus and the spectral‐domain Cirrus Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging techniques in a population‐based sample and in clinical glaucoma patients at different stages of glaucoma.Patients and methods:  A random sample of 307 subjects living in two rural areas in southern Sweden, and a random sample of 394 clinical glaucoma patients were selected. A large battery of examinations, including Stratus and Cirrus OCT was performed. OCT retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness analyses for average thickness, quadrant and clock‐hour sectors were compared with normative significance limits available in the instruments.Results:  The population‐based sample included 129 healthy and nine glaucoma subjects, and the sample of clinical glaucoma patients included 138 patients. Specificity and positive predictive values were generally better with Stratus than for Cirrus, and sensitivity was generally better with Cirrus. With the average RNFL thickness parameter, Stratus reached 100% specificity and a positive predictive value of 100% and 68% sensitivity in the whole group of the clinical glaucoma patients, but sensitivity was only 28% among the earliest stage glaucoma patients. Sensitivity increased considerably when relying on the quadrant sector parameter, while specificity decreased only marginally.Conclusion:  Stratus, with high specificity and positive predictive values, seemed to be best of choice for screening purposes, while Cirrus, with high sensitivity, was the better choice for early detection.
Paradigms, Poverty and Adaptive Pluralism
Authors: Chambers Robert 
Published: October 2010

SummaryIn earlier analysis, two paradigms were identified in development professionalism, thinking and practice: one, often dominant, associated with things; and one, often subordinate, associated with people. Current development thinking and practice have diverged into two clusters, with procedures associated with the paradigm of things imposed by powerful actors and organisations in tension and contradiction with participatory methodologies (PMs) associated with the paradigm of people. A binocular vision sees both. This sets out to see further, and whether participatory methodologies (PMs) can bridge these binaries with both – and complementarities and win‐wins.In recent years, PMs have proliferated. Contributing factors have been the way methods have multiplied, their versatility, adaptability and combinability, the explosion of applications of Information and Communication Technologies and Web 2.0, and more speculatively an increase in the number of people working in a creative participatory way. PMs that combine methods have proved increasingly versatile and adaptable to contexts and purposes.PMs are well suited to understanding and expressing the local, complex, diverse, dynamic, uncontrollable and unpredictable (lcdduu) realities experienced by many poor people. These contrast with the controlled conditions and universalities sought in much high status professionalism. Paradigmatically and practically, four domains have increasingly converged and cohere: PMs; poor people's lcdduu realities; technology; and complexity.Paradigm can then be defined as a coherent and mutually supporting pattern of: concepts and ontological assumptions; values and principles; methods, procedures and processes; roles and behaviours; relationships; and mindsets, orientations and predispositions. Empirically, a paradigm of adaptive and participatory pluralism can be inferred from experience and examples. This fits with the realities of poor people as adaptive agents and with PMs seen through lenses of technology and complexity. It contrasts with a paradigm of neo‐Newtonian practice.Adaptive pluralism embraces, underpins and expresses ideas and practices of reflexivity, continuous learning, value and principle‐based eclectic improvisation, co‐evolution and continuous emergence. Conceptually, it embodies paradigmatic synergies. Practically, it offers win‐win solutions and generates an agenda for action.