bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Severe reaction in a child with asymptomatic codfish allergy: Food challenge reactivating recurrent pancreatitis
Authors: Pellegrino Katia , D’Urbano Leila Emma , Artesani Maria Cristina , Riccardi Carla , Mancini Sandro , Bella Sergio , Alghisi Federico , Cavagni Giovanni 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
An 8-year-old child during the first year of life manifested severe atopic dermatitis and chronic diarrhea with mucorrhea and rectal bleeding; a fish-free diet was started based on weakly positive skin-prick tests to codfish extract. At the age of 4 years the child began to suffer of recurrent pancreatitis. When he came to our attention for the evaluation of his fish allergy, he was asymptomatic; a weak reactivity to codfish was observed (SPTs: cod, 4 mm, sIgE ImmunoCAP: cod, 1.30kU/l). The food challenge test with cod was negative. When the child ate cod again, within 5 minutes, developed anaphylactic reaction and complained of abdominal pain compatible with pancreatitis (enzyme serum levels risen and parenchymal oedema at ultrasonography), that resolved within 7 days after specific therapy. This case raises two issues: the elimination diet in asymptomatic food allergy on the basis only of SPT and the ethicality of food challenge in gastrointestinal chronic disease.
Age and Geographical Distribution in Families with BRCA1/BRCA2 Mutations in the Slovak Republic
Authors: Ciernikova Sona , Tomka Miroslav , Kovac Michal , Stevurkova Viola , Zajac Vladimir 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Molecular diagnostics of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer is mainly based on detection of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations in suspected families. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency, age and geographical distribution in 130 Slovak hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) families diagnosed within the years 2000-2004. Mutation screening was performed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), heteroduplex analysis (HDA) and sequencing of PCR products showing an abnormal migration pattern. Twenty of 130 (15.6%) HBOC suspected families were found to carry mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. The glossary data from the National Cancer Registry of Slovakia (NCRS) were compared with the results from HBOC suspected kindreds. Age distribution of breast cancer onset in our study group showed the highest proportion of onset in HBC families within the 5th decade of life, while NCRS reports at least a ten year later onset. These findings confirmed that cases of breast cancer under 50 years of age can be used as one of the principal criteria to assign a family as a hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer kindred. In contrast with unselected ovarian cancer cases, about 75% of all HOC index cases were diagnosed between 40 and 49 years of age. To study the geographical distribution of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer, Slovakia was divided into three parts. The distribution of HBOC suspected families approximately follows this division, with an increasing number in the western area of the country.
Comparison of accuracy of optic nerve ultrasound for the detection of intracranial hypertension in the setting of acutely fluctuating vs stable intracranial pressure: post-hoc analysis of data from a prospective, blinded single center study
Authors: Rajajee Venkatakrishna , Fletcher Jeffrey James , Rochlen Lauryn Renee , Jacobs Teresa Lee 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement with bedside ultrasound has been shown in many studies to accurately detect high intracranial pressure (ICP). The accuracy of point-in-time ONSD measurement in the presence of ongoing fluctuation of ICP between high and normal is not known. Recent laboratory investigation suggests that reversal of optic nerve sheath distension may be impaired following bouts of intracranial hypertension. Our objective was to compare the accuracy of ONSD measurement in the setting of fluctuating versus stable ICP.

Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of data from prospective study comparing ONSD to invasive ICP. Patients with invasive ICP monitors in the ICU underwent ONSD measurement with simultaneous blinded recording of ICP from the invasive monitor. Three measurements were made in each eye. Significant acute ICP fluctuation (SAIF) was defined in two different ways; as the presence of ICP both above and below 20 mmHg within a cluster of six measurements (Definition 1) and as a magnitude of fluctuation >10 mmHg within the cluster (Definition 2). The accuracy of point-in-time ONSD measurements for the detection of concurrent ICP >20 mmHg within clusters fulfilling a specific definition of SAIF was compared to the accuracy of ONSD measurements within clusters not fulfilling the particular definition by comparison of independent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results
A total of 613 concurrent ONSD-ICP measurements in 109 clusters were made in 73 patients. Twenty-three (21%) clusters fulfilled SAIF Definition 1 and 17 (16%) SAIF Definition 2. For Definition 1, the difference in the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curves for groups with and without fluctuation was 0.10 (P = 0.0001). There was a fall in the specificity from 98% (95% CI 96 to 99%) to 74% (63 to 83%) and in the positive predictive value from 89% (80 to 95%) to 76% (66 to 84%) with fluctuation. For Definition 2, also, there was a significant difference between the AUC of ROC curves of groups with fluctuation-magnitude >10 mmHg and those with fluctuation-magnitude 5 to 10 mmHg (0.06, P = 0.04) as well as <5 mmHg (0.07, P = 0.01).

Conclusions
Specificity and PPV of ONSD for ICP >20 mmHg are substantially decreased in patients demonstrating acute fluctuation of ICP between high and normal. This may be because of delayed reversal of nerve sheath distension.
NLRs, inflammasomes, and viral infection
Authors: Jacobs Sarah R , Damania Blossom 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Review on the interplay between NLR proteins, and RNA and DNA viruses.
NLR proteins are innate immune sensors that respond to microbial infection. Upon pathogen infection, some NLR proteins form large complexes, called inflammasomes, which activate caspase-1 and induce the production of active IL-1β and IL-18. Activation of inflammasomes can also lead to an inflammatory cell death program, named pyroptosis. In this review, we will discuss the role of various NLR proteins in sensing different viral infections, as well as the strategies used by several RNA and DNA viruses to counteract the antiviral effects of NLR-dependent inflammasomes.
“A Tale Completed in the Mind”: Genre and Imitation in L'Amfiparnaso (1597)
Authors: Schleuse Paul 
Published: May 2012

Musical histories before the twentieth century consistently described Orazio Vecchi's L'Amfiparnaso (published in 1597) as an early or nascent form of opera, despite the composer's explanation that the work is an aural spectacle, not a visual one. Later scholars have persisted in viewing L'Amfiparnaso as a fundamentally theatrical work (in a notional genre called madrigal comedy), designed for quasi-dramatic performance before a listening audience. A close reading of this historiography, along with a partial reconstruction of the membership and movements of the Gelosi and Uniti theater companies in the 1590s, disproves the widely held assumption that L'Amfiparnaso was composed and performed in 1594, and suggests that its characters' names refer to specific actors who performed with the Uniti in Bologna in 1595 and 1596. This new account of the book's origin opens it up to interpretation as a recreational collection of musical imitations of theatre, rather than as an incomplete “script” for a novel kind of dramatic performance.
Through its diverse musical styles and poetic registers (Vecchi penned both the poems and the music), as well as its unusual custom-made woodcut illustrations, L'Amfiparnaso presents scenes whose range defies cinquecento theatrical convention. Urban comic dialogues share the imagined stage with tragicomic monologues, idiosyncratic musical dialogues are found alongside serious madrigals, and the woodcuts depict both characteristic comic and pastoral stage settings. As a whole, then, L'Amfiparnaso represents—in Vecchi's words—“almost all the actions of the private man.” This emphasis on variety locates the book firmly within the poetic sphere of Vecchi's other large-scale collections, Selva di varia ricreatione (1590) and Convito musicale (1597), and adds special resonance to his claim that those seeking “a complete tale” in L'Amfiparnaso will find it only “in the mind.”
Mutational analysis of patients with FGF23-related hypophosphatemic rickets
Authors: Kinoshita Yuka , Saito Tasuku , Shimizu Yuichiro , Hori Michiko , Taguchi Manabu , Igarashi Takashi , Fukumoto Seiji , Fujita Toshiro 
Published: May 2012

ObjectiveX-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLHR) caused by mutations in the PHEX gene is considered to be the most frequent cause of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)-related congenital hypophosphatemic rickets. In previous studies, mutations in the PHEX gene were detected in 60–70% of patients with clinical diagnoses of XLHR. This leads to the question whether current screening methods for mutations in the PHEX gene are inadequate or whether there is a substantial number of patients with other genetic causes of hypophosphatemic rickets. We conducted a genetic analysis of patients with FGF23-related hypophosphatemic rickets to clarify their etiology and evaluate the prevalence of XLHR among this group.Design and methodsWe studied 27 patients with familial and sporadic congenital hypophosphatemic rickets in whom serum FGF23 was above 30 pg/ml using an assay for the full-length protein. Exons and exon–intron junctions of genomic DNA of causative genes for FGF23-related hypophosphatemic rickets were sequenced. PHEX mRNA from peripheral blood was analyzed in some patients.ResultsDirect sequencing of genomic DNA identified 11 novel and four known mutations in the PHEX gene. Additionally, there was a large PHEX gene deletion in one case and abnormal PHEX mRNA splicing in another. In summary, 26 patients (96%) had XLHR and one patient had autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets 2.ConclusionsXLHR is by far the most prevalent cause of FGF23-related hypophosphatemic rickets. We propose that analysis of PHEX mRNA from peripheral blood would be appropriate for the first screening step in determining the etiology of FGF23-related hypophosphatemic rickets.
C-peptide and the risk for incident complications and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients: a retrospective cohort study after a 14-year follow-up
Authors: Bo S , Gentile L , Castiglione A , Prandi V , Canil S , Ghigo E , Ciccone G 
Published: May 2012

ObjectiveC-peptide, a cleavage product of insulin, exerts biological effects in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, but its role in type 2 diabetes mellitus is controversial. Our aim was to examine the associations between fasting C-peptide levels and all-cause mortality, specific-cause mortality and the incidence of chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.DesignRetrospective cohort study with a median follow-up of 14 years.MethodsA representative cohort of 2113 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a subgroup of 931 individuals from this cohort without chronic complications at baseline from a diabetic clinic were studied.ResultsPatients with higher C-peptide levels had higher baseline BMI and triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol values. During the follow-up, 46.1% of the patients died. In a Cox proportional hazard model, after multiple adjustments, no significant association was found between the C-peptide tertiles and all-cause mortality or mortality due to cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. In the subgroup of 931 patients without chronic complications at baseline, the incidence of microvascular complications decreased from the first to the third C-peptide level tertile, while the incidence of cardiovascular disease did not differ. The risks for incident retinopathy (hazard ratio (HR)=0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23–0.47), nephropathy (HR=0.27; 95% CI 0.18–0.38) and neuropathy (HR=0.39; 95% CI 0.25–0.61) were negatively associated with the highest C-peptide tertile, after adjusting for multiple confounders.ConclusionsHigher baseline C-peptide levels were associated with a reduced risk of incident microvascular complications but imparted no survival benefit to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
MEN1-related hyperparathyroidism: response to cinacalcet and its relationship with the calcium-sensing receptor gene variant Arg990Gly
Authors: Filopanti Marcello , Verga Uberta , Ermetici Federica , Olgiati Luca , Eller-Vainicher Cristina , Corbetta Sabrina , Persani Luca , Beck-Peccoz Paolo , Spada Anna 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivePrimary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a challenging problem in type 1 multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1) due to the high postsurgery recurrence rate. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of cinacalcet in MEN1 patients in comparison with patients with sporadic PHPT (sPHPT) and the effect of Arg990Gly calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) polymorphism on the response to treatment.DesignThis is a randomized, crossover, double-blind study carried out in the University Hospitals.MethodsFifteen MEN1 patients with PHPT were randomized to two groups, one administered with 30 mg daily cinacalcet, titrated until calcium normalization, and one with placebo. After 3 months, patients were reassessed and after washout switched to the other treatment. For comparison, 20 sPHPT patients with similar calcium levels were administered with cinacalcet for 3 months. Ionized and total calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were evaluated. CASR Arg990Gly was genotyped on blood DNA by direct sequencing.ResultsCinacalcet normalized calcium, increased phosphate, and reduced PTH levels in all patients. Cinacalcet dosage required to normalize calcium in MEN1 and sPHPT was not significantly different (45±21 vs 54±25 mg/day). Few mild adverse events, not requiring drug withdrawal, were observed in both the groups. No association between Arg990Gly CASR polymorphism and response to cinacalcet was found.ConclusionsThis short-term prospective study demonstrated that the efficacy profile of cinacalcet in patients with MEN1-related PHPT and in those with sPHPT was similar and was not influenced by the 990 CASR variant. Although long-term safety and efficacy data are required, cinacalcet might be considered a treatment option in MEN1 patients who have contraindications to surgery or persistent PHPT after surgery.
An optimal solution to achieve the energy neutral Waste Water Treatment Plant
Authors: Amiel Christophe , Nawawi-Lansade Delphine , Sorensen Kim 
Published: May 2012

Many recent studies have shown processes or models to minimize the energy consumption on a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in operation. Today the main drivers are the energy and CO2 reduction.
On existing plants, the potential success of achieving the Energy neutral WWTP depends on the effluent guarantees demanded and the eventual additional carbon sources on the digesters.
Veolia has now developed a tool to estimate the energy consumption and the CO2 impact to select the appropriate treatment lines (water and sludge) up front at the project stage.
The real challenge is to cover the needs of the plant without external carbon sources added to the digester. At the project stage, before the bid of the WWTP, due to time constraints only few comparisons can be performed to predict the energy consumption and CO2 impact and provide the best solution to reach to the energy neutral plant as electricity wise.
One conclusion of the study is that, the raw water characteristics and the effluent guarantee has a great impact on the possibilities to reach the target. Furthermore, working on reducing the power consumption and on increasing the biogas production for example by a continuous Thermal hydrolysis is a good way to go towards self sufficiency.
Towards energy self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment by optimized sludge treatment
Authors: Arnold M. E. , Merta E. S. 
Published: May 2012

The role of sludge in renewable energy production and the final disposal of sludge are topical issues. The cost of sludge treatment account for a significant share of the total running costs of a WWTP. By increasing the efficiency of sludge treatment, significant savings can be achieved. Savings can be gained e.g. by more efficient energy utilisation of sludge, combined with optimised wastewater treatment processes. In addition to cost efficiency, environmental sustainability of the applied solutions is crucial. The energy balance and green house gas emissions can be used as tools to evaluate the sustainability of sludge treatment options.
This paper presents a case-based comparison of energy balances, green house gas emissions and costs of municipal wastewater sludge process chains based on anaerobic digestion or incineration. Information from existing plants was used for conducting the study. Several utilisation options were covered for biogas energy as well for energy from sludge incineration.
Based on the results, sludge incineration was the most expensive option of the studied scenarios, but justified if the heat generated can be fully utilised e.g. in district heating. Based on costs and energy balances as well as green house gas emissions it is most preferable in anaerobic digestion chains to feed the generated biogas to a gas engine to produce electricity and heat. Moreover, thermophilic anaerobic digestion can improve the overall economy of a WWTP provided that the biogas yield is sufficiently higher than in a mesophilic process. However increased odour is a risk in thermophilic digestion.
The study showed that the most energy efficient process modifications are always very case bound. However the tools developed in this study are generally applicable to waste water treatment plants for similar analyses.
Gasification as an optimum alternative for the sludge management
Authors: Peregrina C. , Audic J. M. , Dauthuille P. 
Published: May 2012

Assimilate sludge to a fuel is not new. Sludge incineration and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engines powered with sludge-derived anaerobic digestion gas (ADG) are operations widely used. However, they have a room of improvement to reach simultaneously a positive net power generation and a significant level of waste reduction and stabilization. Gasification has been used in other realms for the conversion of any negative-value carbon-based materials, that would otherwise be disposed as waste, to a gaseous product with a usable heating value for power generation . In fact, the produced gas, the so-called synthetic gas (or syngas), could be suitable for combined heat and power motors. Within this framework gasification could be seen as an optimum alternative for the sludge management that would allow the highest waste reduction yield (similar to incineration) with a high power generation.
Although gasification remains a promising route for sewage sludge valorisation, campaigns of measurements show that is not a simple operation and there are still several technical issues to resolve before that gasification was considered to be fully applied in the sludge management. Fluidised bed was chosen by certain technology developers because it is an easy and well known process for solid combustion, and very suitable for non-conventional fuels. However, our tests showed a poor reliable process for gasification of sludge giving a low quality gas production with a significant amount of tars to be treated. The cleaning system that was proposed shows a very limited removal performance and difficulties to be operated.
Within the sizes of more common WWTP, an alternative solution to the fluidised bed reactor would be the downdraft bed gasifier that was also audited. Most relevant data of this audit suggest that the technology is more adapted to the idea of sludge gasification presented in the beginning of this paper where a maximum waste reduction is achieved with a great electricity generation thanks to the use of a “good” quality syngas in a CHP engine. Audit show also that there is still some work to do in order to push sludge gasification to a more industrial stage.
Regardless what solution would be preferred, the resulting gasification system would involve a more complex scenario compared to Anaerobic Digestion and Incineration, characterised by a thermal dryer and gasifier with a complete gas cleaning system. At the end, economics, reliability and mass and energy yields should be carefully analysed in order to set the place that gasification would play in the forthcoming processing of sewage sludge.
Optimization of WWTP aeration process upgrades for energy efficiency
Authors: Bell K. Y. , Abel S. 
Published: May 2012

The volatility of energy prices, desire to improve sustainability, recently proposed legislation, and energy-efficiency project funding have created big opportunities to improve energy and operation efficiency at most water and wastewater facilities. One mechanism of developing these opportunities is through energy management planning. Focusing on wastewater treatment, the majority of electrical energy demand is required for the delivery of air to provide oxygen for biological treatment of waste streams and mixing to suspend solids within process units. Aeration processes can account for 60 percent or more of the overall power consumption at a wastewater treatment plant. Consequently, the recent introduction of direct-drive, high-speed, turbo blowers to the wastewater market has been of great interest with respect to potential energy savings, as well as other ancillary benefits.
Given the significant power consumption required by aeration systems at wastewater treatment facilities, demonstration investigations have been conducted to identify the magnitude of energy savings that wastewater treatment facilities could expect. These studies have shown that energy savings in excess of 35 percent can easily be achieved by replacing existing conventional blower technology with direct-drive turbo blowers. Even greater energy savings are anticipated if other process upgrades, such as automatic dissolved oxygen control, is implemented. This paper provides background information on turbo-blower technology and specific findings from demonstration studies in the United States (U.S.).
Potential of hybrid constructed wetland system in treating milking parlor wastewater under cold climatic conditions in northern Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Sharma P. K. , Inoue T. , Kato K. , Ietsugu H. , Tomita K. , Nagasawa T. 
Published: May 2012

A real scale hybrid constructed wetland (CW) system (656 m2), with a configuration of VFA-VFB-HF beds constructed in series is operating since November 2006 in northern Hokkaido, Japan. The system was experimented to assess its capability in purifying 4.5 m3d−1 of high strength milking parlor wastewater under colder climate. Annual mean air temperature at site was recorded as 6.4 oC (extremes vary as -22.8 oC at lowest and 30.6 oC at highest). From the monthly sampling from November 2006 to January 2010, average loading and removal rates of TSS, CODcr, BOD5, TN and TP were 5.4 g m−2 d−1 (98%), 30.3 g m−2 d−1 (88%), 11.5 g m 2 d−1 (89%), 1.2 g m−2 d−1 (76.4%) and 0.2 g m−2 d−1 (76%). System did not stop for a single day, efficiently worked even during snow covered periods and was tolerant to the load fluctuations.