bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term time-course of nocturnal breathing disorders in heart failure patients
Authors: Pinna G. D. , Maestri R. , Mortara A. , Johnson P. , Andrews D. , Ponikowski P. , Witkowski T. , La Rovere M. T. , Sleight P. 
Published: July 2009

Some important aspects of clinical manifestations of nocturnal breathing disorders in heart failure (HF) patients are still unknown. We questioned whether the severity of these disorders, first, is stable over time; secondly, shows any systematic trend; and, thirdly, can be predicted over time by a single baseline measurement.We studied 79 stable, optimally treated, moderate-to-severe HF patients who performed a monthly cardiorespiratory recording during 1-yr follow-up. According to their behaviour over time, nocturnal breathing disorders were classified as persistent, absent or occasional.During follow-up, clinically relevant breathing disorders were persistent in ∼50% of the patients, absent in <20% and occasional in ∼30%. Increasing/decreasing trends were rarely observed. The positive and negative predictive value of baseline measurement for persistent behaviour over time ranged, respectively, from 71% to 91% and from 91% to 95%, depending on different levels of severity of breathing disorders.A large portion of HF patients experience persistent clinically significant nocturnal breathing disorders over long periods of time. Breathing disorders occur irregularly in about one-third of the patients and are negligible in a minority of them. Rarely do they show a steady increase or decrease over time. A single baseline recording predicts a persistent behaviour with moderate-to-high accuracy.
Interleukin-8 activates coagulation and correlates with survival after talc pleurodesis
Authors: Montes-Worboys A. , Rodriguez-Portal J. A. , Arellano-Orden E. , Digón-Pereiras J. , Rodriguez-Panadero F. 
Published: July 2009

The aim of our study was to investigate whether interleukin (IL)-8 activates systemic coagulation after talc pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion (MPE), and whether levels of IL-8 in plasma are related to early death after talc pleurodesis.IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured in samples from 231 MPE patients before and after talc pleurodesis. Whole blood from 31 healthy volunteers was incubated with IL-8, TNF-α and thromboplastin for 3 hin vitro, and thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) levels were measured. The same stimulation of blood samples was repeated using doses of calibrated talc.Nine, 12 and 17 patients died within 7, 10 and 15 days respectively. IL-8 was elevated in 102 patients within 48 h, and thrombotic events were observed in six of those patients. Survival correlated inversely with IL-8 at 24 and 48 h, and a significant correlation was also found between IL-8 and TAT. A positive dose–dependent correlation with TAT production was observed when blood was stimulated with IL-8in vitro. However, there was no significant response to stimulation with talc, as compared with control blood samples.IL-8 is involved in the activation of coagulation that may occur after talc pleurodesis, and might also be implicated in early death of patients with MPE.
Quality of randomised trials in COPD
Authors: Bausch B. , Spaar A. , Kleijnen J. , Puhan M. A. 
Published: July 2009

Randomised trials can provide high-level evidence to inform treatment decisions. Since their quality in respiratory medicine is largely unknown, we assessed the quality of a large set of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) trials.As a marker of trial quality, we assessed the procedure and concealment of random allocation, and the conduct of an intention-to-treat-analysis in 344 randomised trials published between 1957 and 2006. We used ordered logistic regression to assess the association between trial quality and type of intervention, type of journal, journal impact factor and year of publication.257 (75%) trials assessed pharmacological and 87 (25%) assessed nonpharmacological interventions. The generation of appropriate randomisation was reported in 27.0% of the trials, concealment of random allocation in 11.6% and an intention-to-treat analysis in 21.8% of trials. Significantly higher quality was found in trials on nonpharmacological interventions (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.56–3.99), and in trials published in general medical journals (versusspecialised journals; OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.30–3.90) and after 2000 (versus1957–2000; OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.45–3.58). The association of quality with a high impact factor was of borderline significance (p = 0.06).The quality of many COPD trials is low but tends to become better since the adoption of the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement.
Bronchial nitric oxide is related to symptom relief during fluticasone treatment in COPD
Authors: Lehtimäki L. , Kankaanranta H. , Saarelainen S. , Annila I. , Aine T. , Nieminen R. , Moilanen E. 
Published: July 2009

High levels of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) predict favourable response to inhaled corticosteroids in asthma, but the ability of exhaled NO or inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) to predict steroid responsiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not known.We measured alveolar and bronchial NO output, levels of leukotriene B4(LTB4), cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) and 8-isoprostane in EBC, spirometry, body plethysmography and symptoms in 40 subjects with COPD before and after 4 weeks of treatment with inhaled fluticasone (500 μgb.i.d.).Five subjects (12.5%) with COPD had significant improvement in lung function during fluticasone treatment, whereas 20 subjects (50%) had significant decrease in symptoms. High baseline bronchial NO flux was associated with higher increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity ratio (r = 0.334, p = 0.038) and more symptom relief (r =  -0.317, p = 0.049) during the treatment. Baseline EBC levels of LTB4, cysLTs or 8-isoprostane were not related to response to fluticasone treatment. Inhaled fluticasone decreased bronchial NO flux but not alveolar NO concentration or markers in EBC.High levels of bronchial NO flux are related to symptom relief and improvement of airway obstruction during treatment with inhaled fluticasone in COPD. Markers of inflammation or oxidative stress in EBC are not related to steroid responsiveness in COPD.
Prevalence and severity of self-reported asthma in young adults, 1976–2004
Authors: Browatzki A. , Ulrik C. S. , Lange P. 
Published: July 2009

The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence and severity of asthma in young Danish adults over three decades.Males and females aged 20–35 yrs were sampled from the population of Copenhagen for the three surveys (1976–1978, 1991–1993 and 2001–2004). A total of 3,285 (46% male) subjects answered a questionnaire, and had their height, weight, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity measured.The prevalence of self-reported asthma was 1.5, 4.7 and 6.9%, respectively, in the three surveys (p<0.001). An increasing prevalence of asthma was observed in both males and females, although it was highest among females. The difference in FEV1between asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects gradually increased, being 2.3 (p = 0.56) and 14.2% of the predicted value (p<0.001), respectively, in 1976–1978 and 2001–2004. From the 1991–1994 survey, increasing body mass index, especially >30 kg·m−2, was associated with a lower percentage predicted FEV1(p≤0.005), and further analyses suggested an additive effect of asthma and obesity on FEV1. The proportion of smokers declined from 60 to 38% (p<0.001).The prevalence and severity of asthma have continued to increase over the last three decades among young Danish adults, and the observed increase in severity seems, at least partly, to be related to the increase in prevalence of obesity.
Control of breathing in children with mild sleep apnoea: a 6-year follow-up study
Authors: Rice A. , Costy-Bennett S. , Goodwin J. L. , Quan S. F. , Fregosi R. F. 
Published: July 2009

We have previously shown that children (average age 9 yrs) with mildly elevated obstructive apnoea/hypopnoea indices (OAHI) retained CO2at rest. Here, we report the results of a 6-yr follow-up study on 14 children from that study.Minute ventilation (V′E) and end-tidal CO2partial pressure (PET,CO2) were measured during hypercapnic challenge.OAHI decreased from 7.5±4.7 events·h−1at age 9 yrs to 2.5±1.8 events·h−1at age 15 yrs (p<0.001), despite an increase in body mass index from 20±4.6 kg·m−2to 26±5.7 kg·m−2(p<0.0001). EupneicV′Eincreased from 4.1±0.31 L·min−1·m−2to 5.9±0.4 L·min−1·m−2(p<0.01), whilePET,CO2fell from 44.1±0.8 to 33±1.0 mmHg (p<0.001). TheV′E–PET,CO2obtained during hypercapnia was left shifted, such thatV′Eat aPET,CO2of 50 mmHg increased from 24 L·min−1at age 9 yrs to 36 L·min−1at age 15 yrs. Central respiratory drive did not change.We hypothesise that somatic growth of the pharynx coupled with a regression of tonsillar tissue mass with age leads to enlargement of the upper airway lumen, a reduction in airway resistance and increased respiratory airflow at a given level of ventilatory drive.
CPAP and survival in moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and hypoxaemic COPD
Authors: Machado M-C. L. , Vollmer W. M. , Togeiro S. M. , Bilderback A. L. , Oliveira M-V. C. , Leitão F. S. , Queiroga F. , Lorenzi-Filho G. , Krishnan J. A. 
Published: July 2009

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) often coexists in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present prospective cohort study tested the effect of OSAS treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the survival of hypoxaemic COPD patients. It was hypothesised that CPAP treatment would be associated with higher survival in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS and hypoxaemic COPD receiving long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).Prospective study participants attended two outpatient advanced lung disease LTOT clinics in São Paulo, Brazil, between January 1996 and July 2006. Of 603 hypoxaemic COPD patients receiving LTOT, 95 were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSAS. Of this OSAS group, 61 (64%) patients accepted and were adherent to CPAP treatment, and 34 did not accept or were not adherent and were considered not treated.The 5-yr survival estimate was 71% (95% confidence interval 53–83%) and 26% (12–43%) in the CPAP-treated and nontreated groups, respectively (p<0.01). After adjusting for several confounders, patients treated with CPAP showed a significantly lower risk of death (hazard ratio of deathversusnontreated 0.19 (0.08–0.48)).The present study found that CPAP treatment was associated with higher survival in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS and hypoxaemic COPD receiving LTOT.
Does unrestrained single-chamber plethysmography provide a valid assessment of airway responsiveness in allergic BALB/c mice?
Authors: Zhang Qingling , Lai Kefang , Xie Jiaxing , Chen Guoqin , Zhong Nanshan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackgroundUnrestrained plethysmography has been used to monitor bronchoconstriction because of its ease of use and ability to measure airway responsiveness in conscious animals. However, its reliability remains controversial.ObjectiveTo investigate if unrestrained plethysmography could provide a valid interpretation of airway responsiveness in allergic BALB/c mice.MethodsOvalbumin sensitized BALB/c mice were randomized to receive either a single-dose Ovalbumin challenge (OVA-1D group) or a three-dose Ovalbumin challenge (OVA-3D group). The OVA-1D group was further divided into OVA-1D-I (measured invasively, using lung resistance as the index of responsiveness) and OVA-1D-N group (measured non-invasively, using Penh as the index of responsiveness). Similarly the OVA-3D group was divided into OVA-3D-I and OVA-3D-N groups based on the above methods. The control groups were sensitized and challenged with normal saline. Bronchial alveolar lavage fluid was taken and airway histopathology was evaluated for airway inflammation. Nasal responsiveness was tested with histamine challenge.ResultsCompared with controls, a significant increase in airway responsiveness was shown in the OVA-1D-N group (P < 0.05) but not in the OVA-1D-I group. Both OVA-3D-I and OVA-3D-N groups showed higher responsiveness than their controls (P < 0.05). The nasal mucosa was infiltrated by eosinophic cells in all Ovalbumin immunized groups. Sneezing or nasal rubbing in allergic groups appeared more frequent than that in the control groups.ConclusionPenh can not be used as a surrogate for airway resistance. The invasive measurement is specific to lower airway. Penh measurement (done as a screening procedure), must be confirmed by a direct invasive measurement specific to lower airway in evaluating lower airway responsiveness.
Role of ERK/MAPK in endothelin receptor signaling in human aortic smooth muscle cells
Authors: Chen Qing-wen , Edvinsson Lars , Xu Cang-Bao 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackgroundEndothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoactive peptide, which induces vasoconstriction and proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through activation of endothelin type A (ETA) and type B (ETB) receptors. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are involved in ET-1-induced VSMC contraction and proliferation. This study was designed to investigate the ETAand ETBreceptor intracellular signaling in human VSMCs and used phosphorylation (activation) of ERK1/2 as a functional signal molecule for endothelin receptor activity.ResultsSubconfluent human VSMCs were stimulated by ET-1 at different concentrations (1 nM-1 μM). The activation of ERK1/2 was examined by immunofluorescence, Western blot and phosphoELISA using specific antibody against phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein. ET-1 induced a concentration- and time- dependent activation of ERK1/2 with a maximal effect at 10 min. It declined to baseline level at 30 min. The ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2 was completely abolished by MEK1/2 inhibitors U0126 and SL327, and partially inhibited by the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059. A dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan or the ETAantagonist BQ123 blocked the ET-1 effect, while the ETBantagonist BQ788 had no significant effect. However, a selective ETBreceptor agonist, Sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) caused a time-dependent ERK1/2 activation with a maximal effect by less than 20% of the ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2. Increase in bosentan concentration up to 10 μM further inhibited ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2 and had a stronger inhibitory effect than BQ123 or the combined use of BQ123 and BQ788. To further explore ET-1 intracellular signaling, PKC inhibitors (staurosporin and GF109203X), PKC-delta inhibitor (rottlerin), PKA inhibitor (H-89), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (wortmannin) were applied. The inhibitors showed significant inhibitory effects on ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2. However, blockage of L-type Ca2+channels or calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, chelating extracellular Ca2+or emptying internal Ca2+stores, did not affect ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2.ConclusionThe ETAreceptors predominate in the ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2 in human VSMCs, which associates with increments in intracellular PKC, PKA and PI3K activities, but not Ca2+signalling.
Association of virulence plasmid and antibiotic resistance determinants with chromosomal multilocus genotypes in Mexican Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains
Authors: Wiesner Magdalena , Zaidi Mussaret B , Calva Edmundo , Fernández-Mora Marcos , Calva Juan J , Silva Claudia 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
Bacterial genomes are mosaic structures composed of genes present in every strain of the same species (core genome), and genes present in some but not all strains of a species (accessory genome). The aim of this study was to compare the genetic diversity of core and accessory genes of a Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium (Typhimurium) population isolated from food-animal and human sources in four regions of Mexico. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and macrorestriction fingerprints by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used to address the core genetic variation, and genes involved in pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance were selected to evaluate the accessory genome.

Results
We found a low genetic diversity for both housekeeping and accessory genes. Sequence type 19 (ST19) was supported as the founder genotype of STs 213, 302 and 429. We found a temporal pattern in which the derived ST213 is replacing the founder ST19 in the four geographic regions analyzed and a geographic trend in the number of resistance determinants. The distribution of the accessory genes was not random among chromosomal genotypes. We detected strong associations among the different accessory genes and the multilocus chromosomal genotypes (STs). First, the Salmonella virulence plasmid (pSTV) was found mostly in ST19 isolates. Second, the plasmid-borne betalactamase cmy-2 was found only in ST213 isolates. Third, the most abundant integron, IP-1 (dfrA12, orfF and aadA2), was found only in ST213 isolates. Fourth, the Salmonella genomic island (SGI1) was found mainly in a subgroup of ST19 isolates carrying pSTV. The mapping of accessory genes and multilocus genotypes on the dendrogram derived from macrorestiction fingerprints allowed the establishment of genetic subgroups within the population.

Conclusion
Despite the low levels of genetic diversity of core and accessory genes, the non-random distribution of the accessory genes across chromosomal backgrounds allowed us to discover genetic subgroups within the population. This study provides information about the importance of the accessory genome in generating genetic variability within a bacterial population.
How can accelerated development of bioenergy contribute to the future UK energy mix? Insights from a MARKAL modelling exercise
Authors: Clarke Donna , Jablonski Sophie , Moran Brighid , Anandarajah Gabrial , Taylor Gail 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
This work explores the potential contribution of bioenergy technologies to 60% and 80% carbon reductions in the UK energy system by 2050, by outlining the potential for accelerated technological development of bioenergy chains. The investigation was based on insights from MARKAL modelling, detailed literature reviews and expert consultations. Due to the number and complexity of bioenergy pathways and technologies in the model, three chains and two underpinning technologies were selected for detailed investigation: (1) lignocellulosic hydrolysis for the production of bioethanol, (2) gasification technologies for heat and power, (3) fast pyrolysis of biomass for bio-oil production, (4) biotechnological advances for second generation bioenergy crops, and (5) the development of agro-machinery for growing and harvesting bioenergy crops. Detailed literature searches and expert consultations (looking inter alia at research and development needs and economic projections) led to the development of an 'accelerated' dataset of modelling parameters for each of the selected bioenergy pathways, which were included in five different scenario runs with UK-MARKAL (MED). The results of the 'accelerated runs' were compared with a low-carbon (LC-Core) scenario, which assesses the cheapest way to decarbonise the energy sector.

Results
Bioenergy was deployed in larger quantities in the bioenergy accelerated technological development scenario compared with the LC-Core scenario. In the electricity sector, solid biomass was highly utilised for energy crop gasification, displacing some deployment of wind power, and nuclear and marine to a lesser extent. Solid biomass was also deployed for heat in the residential sector from 2040 in much higher quantities in the bioenergy accelerated technological development scenario compared with LC-Core. Although lignocellulosic ethanol increased, overall ethanol decreased in the transport sector in the bioenergy accelerated technological development scenario due to a reduction in ethanol produced from wheat.

Conclusion
There is much potential for future deployment of bioenergy technologies to decarbonise the energy sector. However, future deployment is dependent on many different factors including investment and efforts towards research and development needs, carbon reduction targets and the ability to compete with other low carbon technologies as they become deployed. All bioenergy technologies should become increasingly more economically competitive with fossil-based technologies as feedstock costs and flexibility are reduced in line with technological advances.
Nuclear accumulation of polyglutamine disease proteins and neuropathology
Authors: Havel Lauren S , Li Shihua , Li Xiao-Jiang 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
There are nine inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in various disease proteins. Although these polyglutamine proteins have different functions and are localized in different subcellular regions, all the polyQ diseases share a common pathological feature: the nuclear accumulation of polyQ disease proteins and the formation of inclusions. The nuclear accumulation of polyQ proteins in turn leads to gene transcriptional dysregulation and neuropathology. Here we will discuss potential mechanisms behind the nuclear accumulation of mutant polyQ proteins, since an understanding of how polyQ proteins accumulate in the nucleus could help elucidate the pathogenesis of these diseases and develop their treatment.
Dynamics of different-sized solid-state nanocrystals as tracers for a drug-delivery system in the interstitium of a human tumor xenograft
Authors: Kawai Masaaki , Higuchi Hideo , Takeda Motohiro , Kobayashi Yoshio , Ohuchi Noriaki 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Introduction
Recent anticancer drugs have been made larger to pass selectively through tumor vessels and stay in the interstitium. Understanding drug movement in association with its size at the single-molecule level and estimating the time needed to reach the targeted organ is indispensable for optimizing drug delivery because single cell-targeted therapy is the ongoing paradigm. This report describes the tracking of single solid nanoparticles in tumor xenografts and the estimation of arrival time.

Methods
Different-sized nanoparticles measuring 20, 40, and 100 nm were injected into the tail vein of the female Balb/c nu/nu mice bearing human breast cancer on their backs. The movements of the nanoparticles were visualized through the dorsal skin-fold chamber with the high-speed confocal microscopy that we manufactured.

Results
An analysis of the particle trajectories revealed diffusion to be inversely related to the particle size and position in the tumor, whereas the velocity of the directed movement was related to the position. The difference in the velocity was the greatest for 40-nm particles in the perivascular to the intercellular region: difference = 5.8 nm/s. The arrival time of individual nanoparticles at tumor cells was simulated. The estimated times for the 20-, 40-, and 100-nm particles to reach the tumor cells were 158.0, 218.5, and 389.4 minutes, respectively, after extravasation.

Conclusions
This result suggests that the particle size can be individually designed for each goal. These data and methods are also important for understanding drug pharmacokinetics. Although this method may be subject to interference by surface molecules attached on the particles, it has the potential to elucidate the pharmacokinetics involved in constructing novel drug-delivery systems involving cell-targeted therapy.