bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of fibrinogen measurement methods with fibrin clot elasticity assessed by thromboelastometry, before and after administration of fibrinogen concentrate in cardiac surgery patients
Authors: Solomon Cristina , Cadamuro Janne , Ziegler Bernhard , Schöchl Herbert , Varvenne Michael , Sørensen Benny , Hochleitner Gerald , Rahe‐Meyer Niels 
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen concentrate administration can be guided by measuring fibrinogen concentration or quality of the fibrin‐based clot. This study compared different fibrinogen concentration measurement methods with maximum clot firmness (MCF) of the fibrin clot, assessed by thromboelastometry (FIBTEM), in 33 cardiovascular surgery patients receiving fibrinogen concentrate for hemostatic therapy.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and after fibrinogen concentrate administration. FIBTEM MCF was measured using a rotational thromboelastometry device (ROTEM, Tem International). Fibrinogen concentration was measured using photo‐optical (CA‐7000, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics), mechanical (KC‐10 steel ball, Schnitger and Gross hook, Amelung GmbH), and electromechanical (STA‐R, Diagnostica Stago) coagulometers. Assessments included agreement between fibrinogen concentration measurements and correlations between fibrinogen concentration and FIBTEM MCF.RESULTS: After CPB, correlations were significant (p < 0.001) between FIBTEM MCF and fibrinogen concentration determined by steel ball (r = 0.71), hook (r = 0.73), STA‐R (r = 0.81), and CA‐7000 (r = 0.82) coagulometers. After fibrinogen concentrate administration, agreement between fibrinogen measurement methods was severely impaired, and correlations with FIBTEM MCF were 0.39 (steel ball), 0.33 (hook), 0.59 (STA‐R), and 0.33 (CA‐7000).CONCLUSION: Agreement between fibrinogen concentration measurement methods decreased considerably after fibrinogen concentrate administration. All methods correlated acceptably with FIBTEM MCF at the end of CPB, but not after hemostatic therapy. Further investigation is needed to explain these findings.
Rescue and Worsening of Congenital Heart Block‐Associated Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Two Transgenic Mice
Authors: KARNABI EDDY , QU YONGXIA , MANCARELLA SALVATORE , BOUTJDIR MOHAMED 
Published: February 2011

Transgenic Murine Models of CHB. Introduction: Congenital heart block (CHB) is a passively acquired autoimmune disease considered to be due to the transfer of maternal autoantibodies, anti‐SSA/Ro –SSB/La, to the fetus resulting in atrioventricular (AV) block and sinus bradycardia. We previously established a murine model for CHB where pups born to immunized wild‐type (WT) mothers exhibited electrocardiographic abnormalities similar to those seen in CHB and demonstrated inhibition of L‐type Ca channels (LTCCs) by maternal antibodies. Here, we hypothesize that overexpression of LTCC should rescue, whereas knockout of LTCC should worsen the electrocardiographic abnormalities in mice.
Methods and Results: Transgenic (TG) mice were immunized with SSA/Ro and SSB/La antigens. Pups born to immunized WT mothers had significantly greater sinus bradycardia and AV block compared to pups from nonimmunized WT. TG pups overexpressing LTCC had significantly less sinus bradycardia and AV block compared to their non‐TG littermates and to pups born to immunized WT mothers. All LTCC knockout pups born to immunized mothers had sinus bradycardia, advanced degree of AV block, and decreased fetal parity. No sinus bradycardia or AV block were manifested in pups from control nonimmunized WT mothers. IgG from mothers with CHB children, but not normal IgG, completely inhibited intracellular Ca transient ([Ca]iT) amplitude.
Conclusions: Cardiac‐specific overexpression of LTCC significantly reduced the incidence of AV block and sinus bradycardia in pups exposed to anti‐SSA/Ro ‐SSB/La autoantibodies, whereas exposure of LTCC knockout pups to these autoantibodies significantly worsened the electrocardiographic abnormalities. These findings support the hypothesis that maternal antibodies inhibit LTCC and [Ca]iT thus contributing to the development of CHB. Altogether, the results are relevant to the development of novel therapies for CHB. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 922‐930, August 2011)
Controlled Mild Hypothermia Prolongs Survival in a Rat Model of Large Scald Burns
Authors: Singer Adam J. , Wang Eric , Taira Breena R. , Steinhauff Nicole , Rooney Jean , Zimmerman Thomas 
Published: February 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:287–291 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  Early surface cooling of burns reduces pain and depth of injury and improves healing. However, there are concerns that cooling of large burns may result in hypothermia and worsen outcomes. In contrast, controlled mild hypothermia improves outcomes after cardiac arrest and traumatic brain injury. The authors hypothesized that controlled mild hypothermia would prolong survival in a rat model of large scald burns.Methods:  Thirty‐six Sprague‐Dawley rats (250–300 g) were anesthetized with 40 mg/kg intramuscular ketamine and 5 mg/kg xylazine, with supplemental inhalational isoflurane as needed. A single full‐thickness scald burn covering 40% of total body surface area was created on each of the rats using a Mason‐Walker template placed in boiling water (100°C) for a period of 10 seconds. The rats were then randomized to hypothermia (n = 18) or no hypothermia (n = 18). Core body temperature was continuously monitored with a rectal temperature probe. In the experimental group, mild hypothermia was induced by applying ice packs over the prone rats until their rectal temperature was reduced by 2°C for a period of 2 hours. After 2 hours of hypothermia, the rats were rewarmed back to their baseline temperature with a heating pad. The control rats were not cooled. The rats were monitored until death or for a period of 7 days, whichever was greater. The primary outcome was time to death. The difference in survival between the groups was determined using Kaplan‐Meier analysis and the log‐rank test.Results:  Hypothermia was induced in all experimental rats within a mean of 22 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] = 17 to 27). The numbers of nonhypothermic and hypothermic rats that were dead at each time point were as follows: 2 hours, five versus none; 18 hours, 16 versus five; 24 hours, 18 versus eight; and 48 hours, 18 versus 13 (p = 0.05). There were no additional deaths after 48 hours. The mean time to survival of the hypothermic rats was significantly greater than that of the nonhypothermic rats (p < 0.001).Conclusions:  Induction of brief, mild hypothermia prolongs survival and increases the survival rate in nonresuscitated rats with large scald burns.ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:1–5 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Orbital Fracture Clinical Decision Rule Development: Burden of Disease and Use of a Mandatory Electronic Survey Instrument
Authors: Yadav Kabir , Cowan Ethan , Wall Stephen , Gennis Paul 
Published: February 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:313–316 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  In preparation for development of a clinical decision rule (CDR) to promote more efficient use of computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing orbital fractures, the authors sought to estimate the annual incidence of orbital fractures in emergency departments (EDs) and the usage of CT to make these diagnoses. The authors also sought to evaluate a mandatory electronic data collection instrument (EDCI) administered to providers to facilitate CDR data collection.Methods:  National estimates were made by analyzing the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) database, while hospital billing system and coding data were used to make local estimates. An EDCI was integrated into the CT ordering system such that providers had to complete the form to perform a CT. Because the EDCI had to be filled out for every CT ordered, data collection efficiency was measured by compliance (counting the number of unrealistic data collection instrument answers) and by timing a convenience sample of providers completing the EDCI.Results:  Out of 116.8 million ED visits in the United States in 2007, 4.1 million patients were treated for injuries of the eye and face. Of those, 820,252 patients underwent CT imaging, with 102,999 patients (12.5%) diagnosed with an orbital fracture. In our local hospital system with 122,500 annual ED visits, 752 CTs of orbits were performed, with 172 (23%) orbital fractures. The EDCI compliance rate was 94.9% and took less than 5 minutes to complete.Conclusions:  National and local data demonstrate a low yield for CT imaging in identifying orbital fractures. Data collection using a mandatory EDCI linked to computerized provider order entry can provide prospective, consecutive patient data that are needed to develop a CDR for the selective use of CT imaging in orbital trauma. Such a decision rule could increase the efficiency in diagnosing orbital fractures, thereby improving patient care, reducing radiation exposure, and decreasing costs.ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:1–4 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Regeneration of infarcted myocardium with resveratrol‐modified cardiac stem cells
Authors: Gorbunov Nikolai , Petrovski Goran , Gurusamy Narasimman , Ray Diptarka , Kim Do Han , Das Dipak K. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe major problem in stem cell therapy includes viability and engraftment efficacy of stem cells after transplantation. Indeed, the vast majority of host‐transfused cells do not survive beyond 24–72 hrs. To increase the survival and engraftment of implanted cardiac stem cells in the host, we developed a technique of treating these cells with resveratrol, and tested it in a rat model of left anterior descending (LAD) occlusion. Multi‐potent clonogenic cardiac stem cells isolated from rat heart and stably transfected with EGFP were pre‐treated with 2.5 μM resveratrol for 60 min. Rats were anaesthetized, hearts opened and the LAD occluded to induce heart attack. One week later, the cardiac reduced environment was confirmed in resveratrol treated rat hearts by the enhanced expression of nuclear factor‐E2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2) and redox effector factor‐1 (Ref‐1). M‐mode echocardiography after stem cell therapy, showed improvement in cardiac function (left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening and cardiac output) in both, the treated and control group after 7 days, but only resveratrol‐modified stem cell group revealed improvement in cardiac function at the end of 1, 2 and 4 months time. The improvement of cardiac function was accompanied by enhanced stem cell survival and engraftment as demonstrated by the expression of cell proliferation marker Ki67 and differentiation of stem cells towards the regeneration of the myocardium as demonstrated by the expression of EGFP up to 4 months after LAD occlusion in the resveratrol‐treated stem cell group. Expression of stromal cell‐derived factor and myosin conclusively demonstrated homing of stem cells in the infarcted myocardium, its regeneration leading to improvement of cardiac function.
The potential utility of telomere‐related markers for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Heaphy Christopher M. , Meeker Alan K. 
Published: February 2011

Abstract

Introduction
Methods for telomere length and telomerase detection
Telomere length as a potential diagnostic marker in cancer
Telomerase activity as a potential diagnostic marker in cancer
Future directions
Conclusions

The role telomeres and telomerase play in the initiation and progression of human cancers has been extensively evaluated. Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes comprising the hexanucleotide DNA repeat sequence, TTAGGG and numerous telomere‐associated proteins, including the six member Shelterin complex. The main function of the telomere is to stabilize the ends of the chromosomes. However, through multiple mechanisms, telomeres can become dysfunctional, which may drive genomic instability leading to the development of cancer. The majority of human cancers maintain, or actively lengthen, telomeres through up‐regulation of the reverse transcriptase telomerase. Because there are significant differences in telomere length and telomerase activity between malignant and non‐malignant tissues, many investigations have assessed the potential to utilize these molecular markers for cancer diagnosis. Here, we critically evaluate whether measurements of telomere lengths and telomerase levels may be clinically utilized as diagnostic markers in solid tumours, with emphasis on breast and prostate cancer as representative examples. Future directions focusing on the direct detection of dysfunctional telomeres are explored. New markers for telomere dysfunction may eventually prove clinically useful.
Two patterns of development of interstitial cells of Cajal in the human duodenum
Authors: Radenkovic Goran 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAt the end of the embryonic period of human development, c‐kit immunoreactive (c‐kit IR) cells identifiable as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are present in the oesophagus and stomach wall. In the small and large bowel, c‐kit‐IR cells appear later (in the small bowel at 9 weeks, and in the colon at 10–12 weeks), also in the MP region. The object of this study was to determine the timing of appearance and distribution of c‐kit IR cells in the human embryonic and foetal duodenum. I used immunohistochemistry to examine the embryonic and foetal duodenum for cells expressing CD117 (Kit), expressed by mature ICC and ICC progenitor cells and CD34 to identify presumed ICC progenitors. Enteric plexuses were examined by way of antineuron‐specific enolase and the differentiation of smooth muscle cells was studied using antidesmin antibodies. At the end of the embryonic period of development, c‐kit IR cells were solely present in the proximal duodenum in the form of a wide belt of densely packed cells around the inception of the myenteric plexus (MP) ganglia. In the distal duodenum, c‐kit IR cells emerged at the beginning of the foetal period in the form of thin rows of pleomorphic cells at the level of the MP. From the beginning of the fourth month, the differences in the distribution of ICC in the different portions of the duodenum were established, and this relationship was still present in later developmental stages. In fact, in the proximal duodenum, ICC of the MP (ICC‐MP), ICC of the circular muscle (ICC‐CM) and ICC of the septa (ICC‐SEP) were present, and in the distal duodenum ICC‐MP and ICC‐SEP only. In conclusion, in the humans there is a difference in the timing and patterns of development of ICC in the proximal duodenum compared to the distal duodenum.
Clustering of polyclonal VanB‐type vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium in a low‐endemic area was associated with CC17‐genogroup strains harbouring transferable vanB2‐Tn5382 and pRUM‐like repA containing plasmids with axe‐txe plasmid addiction systems
Authors: BJØRKENG EVA , RASMUSSEN GUNLÖG , SUNDSFJORD ARNFINN , SJÖBERG LENNART , HEGSTAD KRISTIN , SÖDERQUIST BO 
Published: February 2011

Bjørkeng E, Rasmussen G, Sundsfjord A, Sjöberg L, Hegstad K, Söderquist B. Clustering of polyclonal VanB‐type vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium in a low‐endemic area was associated with CC17‐genogroup strains harbouring transferable vanB2‐Tn5382 and pRUM‐like repA containing plasmids with axe‐txe plasmid addiction systems. APMIS 2011; 119: 247–58.VanB‐type vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates (n = 17) from 15 patients at the Örebro University hospital in Sweden during a span of 18 months was characterized. All patients had underlying disorders and received broad‐spectrum antimicrobial therapy. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) grouped 14 isolates in three PFGE types and three isolates in unique PFGE patterns. All isolates had multi‐locus sequence types [ST17 (n = 5); ST18 (n = 3); ST125 (n = 7); ST262 (n = 1); ST460 (n = 1)] belonging to the successful hospital‐adapted clonal complex 17 (CC17), harboured CC17‐associated virulence genes, were vanB2‐positive and expressed diverse vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs; 8 to >256 mg/L). Isolate 1 had a unique PFGE type and a chromosomal transferable vanB2‐Tn5382 element. Interestingly, the other five PFGE types had Tn5382 located on plasmids containing pRUM‐like repA and a plasmid addiction system (axe‐txe) shown by co‐hybridization analysis of PFGE‐separated S1‐nuclease digested total DNA. The resistance plasmids were mainly of 120‐kb and supported intraspecies vanB transfer. Two strains were isolated from patient 6 and we observed a possible transfer of the vanB2‐resistance genes from PFGE type III ST460 to a more successful PFGE type I ST125. This latter PFGE type I ST125 became the predominant type afterwards. Our observations support the notion that vanB‐type vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium can persist in a low‐endemic area through successful clones and plasmids with stability functions in hospital patients with known risk factors.
Retrospective assessment of β‐d‐(1,3)‐glucan for presumptive diagnosis of fungal infections
Authors: BELLANGER ANNE‐PAULINE , GRENOUILLET FREDERIC , HENON THIERRY , SKANA FLORENCE , LEGRAND FAEZEH , DECONINCK ERIC , MILLON LAURENCE 
Published: February 2011

Bellanger A‐P, Grenouillet F, Henon T, Skana F, Legrand F, Deconinck E, Millon L. Retrospective assessment of β‐d‐(1,3)‐glucan for presumptive diagnosis of fungal infections. APMIS 2011; 119: 280–6.β‐d‐(1,3)‐glucan (BG) is a component of the cell walls of many fungal organisms. Our aims were to investigate the feasibility of the BG assay and its contribution to early diagnosis of different types of invasive fungal infections (IFI) commonly diagnosed in a tertiary care centre. The BG serum levels of 28 patients diagnosed with six IFI [13 probable invasive aspergillosis (IA), 2 proven IA, 2 zygomycosis, 3 fusariosis, 3 cryptococcosis, 3 candidaemia and 2 pneumocystosis] were retrospectively evaluated. The kinetic variations in BG serum levels from the 15 patients diagnosed with IA were compared with those of the galactomannan antigen (GM). In 5/15 cases of IA, BG was positive earlier than GM (time lapse from 4 to 30 days), in 8/15 cases, BG was positive at the same time as GM and, in 2/15 cases, BG was positive after GM. For the five other fungal diseases, BG was highly positive at the period of diagnosis except for the two cases of zygomycosis and one of the three cases of fusariosis. This study, which reflects the common activity of a tertiary care centre, confirms that BG detection could be of interest for IFI screening in patients with haematological malignancies.
Loss of Wnt‐5α is associated with an invasive phenotype of extramammary Paget's disease
Authors: Xie Lining , Hayashida Sayaka , Furue Masutaka 
Published: February 2011

Background: The Wnt (wingless‐type MMTV integration site) gene family encodes secretory signaling molecules that play a diverse biological role in the regulation of normal and pathological processes, including cell growth, differentiation and oncogenesis. However, the role of Wnt genes in the development of extramammary Paget's disease remains unknown. Objective: To investigate the expression of Wnt‐1, Wnt‐5α and their downstream genes, β‐catenin and c‐Myc, in extramammary Paget's disease. Methods: Paraffin‐embedded specimens of extramammary Paget's disease (33 specimens from 22 patients), including 7 specimens with dermal invasion and 4 with lymph node metastasis, were examined immunohistochemically for Wnt‐1, Wnt‐5α, β‐catenin and c‐Myc. Seven normal genital skin specimens served as controls. Results: The expression levels of Wnt‐1 and β‐catenin in extramammary Paget's disease were significantly correlated with each other; however, their expression levels in the invasive extramammary Paget's disease were similar to those of wholly intraepithelial extramammary Paget's disease. Nuclear expression of c‐Myc was significantly higher in the invasive extramammary Paget's disease in comparison with intraepithelial extramammary Paget's disease. Interestingly, the expression of Wnt‐5α in invasive extramammary Paget's disease was significantly downregulated compared to wholly intraepithelial extramammary Paget's disease. Conclusion: The Wnt‐1/β‐catenin pathway may not play an important role in the progression of extramammary Paget's disease. The loss of Wnt‐5α, however, may play a role in the invasiveness of extramammary Paget's disease.Xie L, Hayashida S, Furue M. Loss of Wnt‐5α is associated with an invasive phenotype of extramammary Paget's disease.
Uridine correlates with the concentration of fructosamine and HbA1c in children with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Dudzinska W 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAim:  Treating uridine as a product of UTP degradation and hypoxanthine as a degradation product of ATP, we assessed the concentration of uridine and hypoxanthine in the blood of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. We also sought to define the relationship between indicators of the degree of metabolic control of diabetes (fructosamine, HbA1c) and the concentration of the tested catabolites.Methods:  This study was carried out on 33 children aged 12.26 ± 4.49 with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes during their first hospitalization. The concentration of uridine and hypoxanthine was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results:  The results showed significantly elevated levels of hypoxanthine and uridine in the blood. We further show that blood uridine level is associated with purine metabolism and hyperglycaemia, and we demonstrate a significant positive correlation between the concentration of uridine and (i) the percentage of HbA1c and (ii) fructosamine levels, which indicate the role of hyperglycaemia in the pathogenesis of pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism in type 1 diabetes prior to diagnosis.Conclusion:  The results confirm the existence of a relationship between the degree of metabolic control of diabetes and pyrimidine metabolism. Presumably, the analysis of uridine could be used as an adjunct marker of the severity of diabetic complications in newly diagnosed patients.
Nonbacterial osteitis in children: data of a German Incidence Surveillance Study
Authors: Jansson Annette F , Grote Veit ,   for the ESPED Study Group
Published: February 2011

AbstractAim: To analyse the incidence, clinical presentation, laboratory and radiological findings, as well as diagnostic approaches and therapeutic procedures in paediatric patients suffering from nonbacterial osteitis.Methods: A nationwide incidence survey was conducted from 2006 to 2008 through monthly contacts with all German paediatric and paediatric–orthopaedic hospitals. Children with osteomyelitic bone lesions newly diagnosed as suffering from nonbacterial osteitis were identified. Cases were assessed using a questionnaire to be filled in by the treating physician containing information on time since first symptoms, associated diseases, diagnostic procedures, localization of lesions, complications, laboratory and histological results, and treatment.Results: Nonbacterial osteitis was newly reported in 148 children. The annual incidence was estimated at 0.4 per 100 000 children. Mean manifestation age was 11.4 years (SD 3.2); 99 children (67%) were girls. Palmoplantar pustulosis was observed in 8 (6%). Unifocal manifestations were seen in 50 (34%) patients. Of all patients with vertebral involvement (15%), 9% suffered from vertebral fractures. Bone biopsies were taken in 79 (53%) patients.Conclusions: Nonbacterial osteitis is an auto‐inflammatory disorder resulting in at least 60 new paediatric cases/year in Germany. Spinal lesions and complications are frequently observed, even at first diagnosis.