bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digital vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: a minor manifestation of disease activity?
Authors: Gomes C , Carvalho JF , Borba EF , Borges CTL , Vendramini MB , Bueno C , Costa LP , Bonfá E 
Published: September 2009

The objective of this study is to determine if digital vasculitis (DV), a clinical manifestation with a high systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score, is associated with lupus severity. DV and other clinical manifestations defined according to the SLEDAI were evaluated in 168 consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Two groups were defined according to presence (DV+, n = 27) or absence of DV (DV−, n = 141) at the time of evaluation. The exclusion criterion was the presence of antiphospholipid syndrome (Sapporo’s criteria). The two groups were comparable with regard to age ( P = 0.09), gender ( P = 1.00), white race ( P = 0.81), and disease duration ( P = 0.78). Compared to the DV− group, the DV+ group had a significantly higher frequency of mucocutaneous manifestations (66.7 vs. 39.0%, P = 0.01), haematological abnormalities (22.2 vs. 6.4%, P = 0.02) and constitutional symptoms (11.1 vs. 0.7%, P = 0.01). Renal and neurological involvements were similar in both groups ( P = 0.57 and P = 1.00, respectively). The evaluation of each SLEDAI parameter confirmed that the DV+ group had higher frequencies of mild manifestations, such as new rash ( P = 0.02), alopecia ( P = 0.02), oral ulcers ( P = 0.045), fever ( P = 0.01) and leucopenia ( P = 0.005). In contrast, both groups had similarly increased anti-dsDNA ( P = 0.78) and decreased complement levels ( P = 0.29). In conclusion, DV in patients with SLE identifies a subgroup of a mild disease. The high ‘weighted’ index attributed to this alteration in the SLEDAI score should therefore be revised.
Pulmonary involvement of systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of 90 necropsies
Authors: Quadrelli SA , Alvarez C , Arce SC , Paz L , Sarano J , Sobrino EM , Manni J 
Published: September 2009

Pleuropulmonary manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been reported to be of variable prevalence, depending on the diagnostic methods used. The objective of this study was to determine the anatomopathological prevalence and the nature of lung involvement associated with SLE and to define if there were differences in the grade and type of pulmonary involvement in patients who had died at different time periods, before or after 1996. Complete autopsy studies of 90 patients with SLE diagnosis carried out between 1958 and 2006 and their clinical records were studied. All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumathology (ACR) diagnostic criteria for SLE. Two groups of patients were analyzed: patients who had died before 1996 and those deceased in 1996–2006. Some pleuropulmonary involvement was detected in 97.8% of the autopsies. The most frequent findings were pleuritis (77.8%), bacterial infections (57.8%), primary and secondary alveolar haemorrhages (25.6%), followed by distal airway alterations (21.1%), opportunistic infections (14.4%) and pulmonary thromboembolism (7.8%), both acute and chronic. No cases of acute or chronic lupus pneumonitis were found. Opportunistic lung infections were invasive aspergillosis, disseminated strongyloidiasis, mucormicosis and Pneumocystis carinii. Only three of 23 patients with alveolar haemorrhage showed capillaritis. The four patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PHT) had plexiform lesions. Deceased patients’ age at death (46.09 ± 11.01 vs 30.3 ± 11.5 years, P < 0.0001) as well as survival time from diagnosis date (11.8 ± 11.2 vs 4.4 ± 4.9 years, P < 0.0001) in the second time period evaluated were significantly higher. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of any of the pulmonary manifestations. Sepsis was considered the major cause of death without significant differences in both groups. Our results show that pulmonary manifestations directly caused by systemic lupus erythematosus are very uncommon and that their prevalence has not changed in the past 10 years. Pulmonary infection is still the most frequent affection, and it is an important cause of death in patients with lupus.
Characterization of bovine miRNAs by sequencing and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Jin Weiwu , Grant Jason R , Stothard Paul , Moore Stephen S , Guan Le Luo 
Published: September 2009

Abstract

Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of ~22 nucleotide small RNA molecules which regulate gene expression by fully or partially binding to their complementary sequences in mRNAs or promoters. A large number of miRNAs and their expression patterns have been reported in human, mouse and rat. However, miRNAs and their expression patterns in live stock species such as beef cattle are not well studied.

Results
We constructed and sequenced small-RNA libraries to yield a total of 13,541 small-RNA sequences from 11 bovine tissues including brain, subcutaneous fat, muscle, liver, kidney, spleen and thymus. In total, 228 miRNAs including 29 novel miRNA candidates were identified. Of the 199 miRNAs, 101 have been previously reported as bovine miRNAs and the other 98 are bovine orthologs of known miRNAs that have been identified in at least one other mammalian species. Of the 29 novel miRNA candidates, 17 appeared at this point in time to be bovine specific, while the remaining 12 had evidence of evolutionary conservation in other mammalian species. Five miRNAs (miR-23a, -23b, -99a, -125b and -126-5p) were very abundant across the 11 tissues, accounting for 44.3% of all small RNA sequences. The expression analysis of selected miRNAs using qRT-PCR also showed that miR-26a and -99a were highly expressed in all tissues, while miR-122 and miR-133a were predominantly expressed in liver and muscle, respectively.

Conclusion
The miRNA expression patterns among 11 tissues from beef cattle revealed that most miRNAs were ubiquitously expressed in all tissues, while only a few miRNAs were tissue specific. Only 60% miRNAs in this study were found to display strand bias, suggesting that there are some key factors for mature miRNA selection other than internal stability. Most bovine miRNAs are highly conserved in other three mammalian species, indicating that these miRNAs may have a role in different species that are potential molecular markers for evolution.
In Situ Evidence of KRAS Amplification and Association With Increased p21 Levels in Non–Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Wagner Patrick L. , Perner Sven , Rickman David S. , LaFargue Christopher J. , Kitabayashi Naoki , Johnstone Stephen F. , Weir Barbara A. , Meyerson Matthew , Altorki Nasser K. , Rubin Mark A. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Recent advances in the characterization of the lung cancer genome have suggested that KRAS may frequently be amplified, although little is known regarding the significance of this finding. This is in contrast with activating mutations of KRAS, which occur in approximately 20% of non–small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs).
We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to provide direct evidence of KRAS amplification for the first time in clinical specimens. We detected amplification in 7 of 100 consecutive NSCLCs, with a concurrent activating KRAS mutation in 4 cases. KRAS amplification was associated with greater expression of p21 as assessed by quantitative immunohistochemical analysis (P = .015).
Our data indicate that a sizable subgroup of NSCLCs harbor KRAS amplification, some of which also contain point mutations, and suggest that an increased KRAS copy number may drive p21 overexpression. KRAS amplification may define a unique clinicopathologic subset of NSCLCs with potentially altered responsiveness to targeted therapies.
Diabetic Microangiopathy in the Liver
Authors: Hudacko Rachel M. , Sciancalepore Justin P. , Fyfe Billie S. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Diabetic hepatosclerosis (DH) is a recently described form of diabetic microangiopathy with hepatic sinusoidal fibrosis and basement membrane deposition without cirrhosis. The objective was to investigate the frequency of DH and its correlation with other diabetic microangiopathic complications. Complete autopsies from 57 adults with diabetes were reviewed for liver pathology and other diabetic complications. Basement membrane deposition in the liver was highlighted using laminin and type IV collagen immunostains.
Only 1 case of DH was identified. Other diabetic end-organ damage in this case included nodular glomerulosclerosis and hepatic hyaline arteriolosclerosis, which were the most severe in the series. DH is an uncommon pattern of liver disease in patients with diabetes and is associated with severe end-organ damage. This study supports the presumed vascular etiology of DH, confirms the rarity of the lesion, and supports the suggestion that it is usually accompanied by other end-organ damage.
Microphase-separated multicontinuous phase in low-molecular-mass thermotropic liquid crystals
Authors: Saito Kazuya 
Published: September 2009

AbstractExtensive application of chemical thermodynamics to exotic aggregation formed in thermotropic liquid crystals is briefly described. Through thermodynamic analyses and considerations of experimental results on liquid crystals, the unexpected sharing of common properties by thermo- and lyotropic liquid crystals is demonstrated. In some thermotropic liquid crystals, the terminal alkyl chain attached to the molecular core is highly disordered, as indicated by the magnitude of configurational entropy. The molten chain serves as intramolecular solvent (self-solvent), as evidenced by the close similarity between phase diagrams against chain length and composition in the binary system withn-alkane. These facts lead to the quasi-binary picture of thermotropic liquid crystals. Consideration of the thermodynamic potential expanded in terms of density fluctuation gives a new insight into the multicontinuous phases formed in simple systems consisting of anisotropic, rodlike particles.
Iron Metabolism, Iron Deficiency, Thrombocytosis, and the Cardiorenal Anemia Syndrome
Authors: Besarab Anatole , Hörl Walter Hermann , Silverberg Donald 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
In treating moderate to severe anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD), oral iron is effective only in a minority of nondialysis patients. Intravenous iron is more effective and can raise levels of hemoglobin even without the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Unfortunately, the current assays of iron status that are presently widely available are not especially helpful in predicting response. In patients on dialysis, i.v. iron is effective over a wide range of serum ferritin from &lt;100 ng/ml to 800 ng/ml. None of the three available randomized controlled trials comparing oral with i.v. iron showed evidence of nephrotoxicity caused by i.v. iron.
Iron deficiency is a risk factor for thrombocytosis and should, wherever possible, be avoided. Optimal coadministration of iron may reduce the risk for ESA-driven cardiovascular events. Increased total body iron stores (imperfectly reflected by serum ferritin levels in CKD) do not appear to be related to such events or hospitalization in CKD; it is unclear what other risk factors and mechanisms need to be considered.
In the appreciable proportion of patients with both renal and cardiac dysfunction, management is further complicated by a vicious circle (which can be characterized as cardiorenal anemia syndrome) in which CKD, heart failure, and anemia exacerbate each other. In such patients, correction of anemia appears to improve cardiac function and quality of life without a greater risk for adverse events.
Examining the Involvement of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Tumor Proliferation (Erythropoietin Receptors, Receptor Binding, Signal Transduction), Angiogenesis, and Venous Thromboembolic Events
Authors: Fandrey Joachim , Dicato Mario 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Safety concerns have arisen about the possibility of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) promoting tumor growth and increasing the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). Because of the reported presence of erythropoietin receptors (EPORs) on tumor cells, it was questioned if ESAs had the potential for promoting tumor growth through stimulation of EPORs and tumor vessels and/or enhanced tumor oxygenation. Studies have shown that EPOR mRNA can be isolated from tumor cells, but the presence of EPOR protein has not yet been proven because of a lack of specific antibodies against EPORs. It is questionable whether EPORs on tumor cells are functional and there is no evidence that ESAs (within the approved indication in patients receiving chemotherapy) can stimulate EPORs on tumor cells in vivo. VTEs are frequent in cancer patients, resulting from the effects of malignant disease, cancer treatments, and comorbidities. VTEs are a leading cause of death in cancer patients. There are concerns about ESAs and a possible higher risk for VTEs and shorter survival in cancer patients. The higher risk for VTEs associated with ESAs appears to be a class effect, but the risk may be particularly pronounced when ESAs are used off label, as seen in clinical trials that targeted hemoglobin levels higher than those recommended by current ESA labeling and trials that enrolled patients who were not anemic at baseline. ESA treatment should be used within labeling confines.
Anemia Management in Oncology and Hematology
Authors: Spivak Jerry L. , Gascón Pere , Ludwig Heinz 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAnemia is frequent in cancer patients and its incidence increases with chemotherapy. The probability of requiring transfusions also increases with chemotherapy. Anemia negatively impacts survival and accentuates fatigue in cancer patients. Cancer promotes inflammatory cytokine production, which suppresses erythropoiesis and erythropoietin (EPO) production. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) improve erythropoiesis and reduce transfusion needs in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. However, meta-analyses have shown an increased risk of thromboembolic (TE) events with ESA use during chemotherapy, but not increased on-study mortality or reduced overall survival. Three reasons have been proposed to explain why ESAs might have adverse effects in anemic cancer patients: tumor progression due to stimulation of tumor cell EPO receptors; increased risk of TE; and reduced survival. However, erythropoietin is not an oncogene, nor is the EPO receptor. It has also been demonstrated that erythropoietin does not stimulate tumor proliferation. Increased TE risk associated with ESAs is probably a consequence of increased blood viscosity due to excessive RBC mass elevation with concomitant plasma volume contraction, nitric oxide scavenging, and endothelial cell activation. Increased ESA dosing may also impact survival negatively because EPO contracts the plasma volume and stimulates inflammatory cytokine production independently of increasing erythropoiesis. Furthermore, transfusions themselves are associated with an increase in TE and plasma volume contraction, and these events are potentiated when ESAs are given with transfusions. An update on the management of anemia in oncology, the potential adverse events of ESAs, the benefits and risks of transfusions, and QoL are discussed in this paper.
Is Nephrology More at Ease Than Oncology with Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents? Treatment Guidelines and an Update on Benefits and Risks
Authors: Locatelli Francesco , Gascón Pere 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), which promote RBC production, have been extensively used to reduce transfusion requirements and improve quality of life (QoL) in both cancer patients and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the likelihood of response and duration of treatment differ in the two settings. In renal anemia, ESAs act straightforwardly as hormone-replacement therapy. The anemia of cancer, however, relates not to a lack of endogenous erythropoietin production but to diverse aspects of the disease (including a relevant inflammatory component) and chemotherapy. Response to ESAs is slower and less certain than in nephrology. In both settings, early studies showed that reversal of severe anemia was accompanied by substantial improvement in QoL. However, again in both settings, subsequent studies indicated that efforts to normalize hemoglobin might worsen outcome. In the context of cancer, this concern was reinforced by the suggestion that malignant cells had erythropoietin receptors and that its administration might therefore accelerate tumor growth, and moreover that cancer patients are more susceptible to venous thrombosis. The absence of these concerns for nephrologists, and their greater experience in managing ESAs and patients’ iron status, may make them more at ease with ESAs than their counterparts in oncology. However, both groups of specialists have had to deal with reversals in recommended thresholds for intervention and restrictions imposed by regulatory authorities. In both specialties, the broad consensus now emerging is that the optimum balance of benefits and risks lies in using ESAs aimed at a hemoglobin level in the range of 11–12 g/dl, although for CKD patients there is still room for an individualized approach.
Update on Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents and Clinical Trials in Oncology
Authors: Aapro Matti , Spivak Jerry L. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Anemia commonly occurs among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In these patients, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are effective in managing anemia but there is an increased risk for thrombovascular events. In more recent randomized clinical trials, there have been differing results regarding the impact of ESAs on overall survival and mortality. The balance between studies that show higher ESA-associated mortality and those that don’t show ESA-associated mortality is examined in this review. This review discusses where we stand today on anemia management in cancer patients. Preliminary results from a recent independent patient data meta-analysis for on-study deaths and overall survival in patients receiving chemotherapy (the only oncology population for which ESA treatment is currently indicated) showed no statistically significant difference between the ESA and control groups (on-study deaths hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98–1.24; overall survival HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97–1.11, compared with controls). Possible factors that could influence study results are discussed in this review. There are no convincing data to support ESA-induced tumor stimulation in patients. ESAs decrease RBC transfusion needs and sustain targeted hemoglobin levels, and this ESA response does not significantly impact overall survival or mortality when ESAs are used within guidelines and labeling. However, based on the currently available data and meta-analysis, the use of ESAs has to be carefully balanced against any possible risk for higher mortality.
An Optimized Method To Remove Filter Cake Formed by Formate-Based Drill-In Fluid in Extended-Reach Wells
Authors: Alotaibi M.B.. B. , Nasr-El-Din H.A.. A. , Hill A.D.. D. , Al Moajil A.M.. M. 
Published: September 2009

Summary
Smart, horizontal, and multilateral wells provide an attractive option for maximizing reservoir contact in both oil and gas fields in Saudi Arabia. Formate drill-in fluid has been selected lately for drilling gas wells because of its ability to preserve conventional polymers at high temperatures. The formate salts also can reduce the rate of hydrolytic and oxidative degradation of many viscosifiers and fluid loss agents at high temperatures.
Drilling fluid filter cake can reduce the flow efficiency of cased or openhole wells. Calcium carbonate particles are frequently used as weighting material to maintain the pressure that is required for well control and minimize the leakoff. Such solids become consolidated and trapped in the polymeric material and this makes the filter cake a strong permeability barrier.
The conventional method for cleaning the filter cake is by circulating solids-free formate brines at a high flow rate. This mechanical technique removes only the external drilling fluid damage. Chemical fluids like acids, oxidizers, or chelating agents are usually used as an alternative method for dissolving both the external and internal filter cake. Most of these fluids cannot give a full coverage to the wellbore because of the formation heterogeneity.
A new class of esters can generate an acid downhole at a low rate and distribute it uniformly through the wellbore. Fluid compatibility and thermal stability tests were studied in detail. Return permeability experiments were conducted by using high-pressure/ high-temperature (HPHT) dynamic fluid loss cells. The ester solution was effective in cleaning the filter cake in comparison to the formate brines completion fluid and other organic acids results. Also, circulating formate brine to restore the wellbore permeability or remove the internal filter-cake damage was found to be insufficient. Surface tension measurements indicated that the generated alcohol and lactic acid from the ester solution had lowered the surface tension more than the formate brines.
New Effective-Stress Law for Predicting Perforation Depth at Downhole Conditions
Authors: Grove B. , Heiland J. , Walton I. , Atwood D. 
Published: September 2009

Summary
For natural completions, well productivity is proportional to the depth of the perforation tunnels extending beyond the drilling damage (all other things being equal). Perforation depth, in turn, is generally inversely related to the formation effective stress. Accurate productivity modeling, therefore, requires accurate knowledge of the relationship between the downhole stress environment and perforation depth.
A comprehensive experimental effort was recently conducted to evaluate the penetration performance of shaped charges into stressed Berea sandstone cores. Rock confining stress (σc) and pore fluid pressure (Pp) were varied from ambient to 10,000 psi to simulate a range of downhole stress environments. This current work featured a broader and more systematic investigation of the influence of pore pressure than previous studies.
Our experiments yielded the expected inverse correlation between penetration depth and effective stress (σeff). However, the data suggest a new definition of effective stress. Historically, the perforating community has defined σeff = σc − Pp, but a new treatment (σeff = σc − aPp; a = 0.5) better fits present data. Furthermore, this new effective stress law better fits published historical penetration results. Pore pressure's influence on penetration depth is, therefore, weaker than previously thought; for a given confining stress, increasing pore pressure does increase penetration but to a lesser extent than conventional models would indicate. The present work suggests that all shaped charges would be similarly affected.
These findings are relevant to penetration modeling, and in turn to well productivity modeling and prediction. Further implications are to laboratory testing, regarding scaling of parameters to accurately simulate field conditions.
This work culminates an initial application of combined penetration mechanics and geomechanics analyses to the investigation of shaped charge penetration into geologic materials. Future work will address different rock types, additional poroelastic quantities, and dynamic effects as they contribute to pressure-induced strengthening of reservoir rock.