bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electrodeposition of platinum and silver into chemically modified microporous silicon electrodes
Authors: Koda Ryo , Fukami Kazuhiro , Sakka Tetsuo , Ogata Yukio H 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Electrodeposition of platinum and silver into hydrophobic and hydrophilic microporous silicon layers was investigated using chemically modified microporous silicon electrodes. Hydrophobic microporous silicon enhanced the electrodeposition of platinum in the porous layer. Meanwhile, hydrophilic one showed that platinum was hardly deposited within the porous layer, and a film of platinum on the top of the porous layer was observed. On the other hand, the electrodeposition of silver showed similar deposition behavior between these two chemically modified electrodes. It was also found that the electrodeposition of silver started at the pore opening and grew toward the pore bottom, while a uniform deposition from the pore bottom was observed in platinum electrodeposition. These electrodeposition behaviors are explained on the basis of the both effects, the difference in overpotential for metal deposition on silicon and on the deposited metal, and displacement deposition rate of metal.
Localization based on two-stage treatment for dealing with noisy and biased distance measurements
Authors: Cho Hyeonwoo , Lee Jewon , Kim Daehyun , Kim Sang Woo 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Localization can be performed by trilateration in which the coordinates of a target are calculated by using the coordinates of reference points and the distances between each reference point and the target. Because the distances are measured on the basis of the time-of-flight of various kinds of signals, they contain errors which are the noise and bias. The presence of bias can become a major problem because its magnitude is generally unknown. In this article, we propose an algorithm that combines the Kalman filter (KF) and the least square (LS) algorithm to treat noisy and biased distances measured by chirp spread spectrum ranging defined in IEEE 802.15.4a. By using the KF, we remove the noise in the measured distance; hence, the noise-eliminated distance, which still contains bias, is obtained. The next step consists of the calculation of the target coordinates by using the weighted LS algorithm. This algorithm uses the noise-eliminated distance obtained by using the KF, and the weighting parameters of the algorithm are determined to reduce the effects of bias. To confirm the accuracy of the proposed algorithm, we present the results of indoor localization experiments.
Improved survival of patients with coronary artery disease and low ejection fraction with ICD implantation versus conventional therapy in a real world survey
Authors: Aschenbrenner Timo , Brockmeier Johannes , Bramlage Peter , Fimmers Rolf , Cuneo Alessandro , Hochreuther Stefan , Zemmrich Claudia , Tebbe Ulrich 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Randomized controlled trials have shown that implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) improve life expectancy unless they are implanted within the first days after an acute myocardial infarction and guidelines recommend their use. We aimed to validate that these results also apply to patients of a typical community hospital in Germany.

Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing coronary angiography in the Lippe-Detmold Hospital between 2003 and 2006. They had to have significant CAD and an ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 35% and no acute myocardial infarction within 28 days of implantation and no history of ventricular fibrillation.

Results
213 patients were included; 70 of which received an ICD. Patients with an ICD implantation were younger (64.8 ± 9.9 vs. 67.9 ± 9.8 years; p = 0.034), had single vessel CAD more frequently (22.9 vs. 11.2%; p = 0.025) and a lower EF (26.7 ± 6.3 vs. 29.1 ± 4.6%; p = 0.006). Hospital readmissions were comparable between the ICD and the control group (68.6 vs. 72.0%; p = 0.602). ICD therapy was associated with a considerable survival benefit compared to conventional therapy (HR 0.52; 95%CI 0.29-0.93; p = 0.027) in a Cox-Proportional Hazards Regression analysis.

Conclusions
Appreciating the potential limitations of retrospective studies, we found that ICD use was associated with improved survival in patients with significant CAD and an EF <= 35% typical for a large tertiary hospital.
Correlation of SRSF1 and PRMT1 expression with clinical status of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Zou Limin , Zhang Han , Du Chaohao , Liu Xiao , Zhu Shanshan , Zhang Wei , Li Zhigang , Gao Chao , Zhao Xiaoxi , Mei Mei , Bao Shilai , Zheng Huyong 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequently-occurring malignant neoplasm in children, but the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. In a microarray assay using samples from 100 children with ALL, SFRS1 was found to be up-regulated. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1, also termed SF2/ASF), encoded by the SFRS1 gene, had been shown to be a pro-oncoprotein. Our previous study indicated that SRSF1 can be methylated by protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) in vitro; however, the biological function of SRSF1 and PRMT1 in pediatric ALL are presently unknown.

Methods
Matched, newly diagnosed (ND), complete remission (CR) and relapse (RE) bone marrow samples from 57 patients were collected in order to evaluate the expression patterns of SRSF1 and PRMT1. The potential oncogenic mechanism of SRSF1 and PRMT1 in leukemogenesis was also investigated.

Results
We identified significant up-regulation of SRSF1 and PRMT1 in the ND samples. Importantly, the expression of SRSF1 and PRMT1 returned to normal levels after CR, but rebounded in the RE samples. Our observation that SRSF1 could predict disease relapse was of particular interest, although the expression patterns of SRSF1 and PRMT1 were independent of the cytogenetic subtypes. In pre-B-cell lines, both SRSF1 and PRMT1 expression could be efficiently attenuated by the clinical chemotherapy agents arabinoside cytosine (Ara-c) or vincristine (VCR). Moreover, SRSF1 and PRMT1 were associated with each other in leukemia cells in vivo. Knock-down of SRSF1 resulted in an increase in early apoptosis, which could be further induced by chemotherapeutics.

Conclusions
Our results indicate that SRSF1 serves as an anti-apoptotic factor and potentially contributes to leukemogenesis in pediatric ALL patients by cooperating with PRMT1.
Disruption of Yarrowia lipolytica biofilms by rhamnolipid biosurfactant
Authors: Dusane Devendra H , Dam Sushovan , Nancharaiah Yarlagadda V , Kumar Ameeta Ravi , Venugopalan Vayalam P , Zinjarde Smita S 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background

Yarrowia lipolytica is an ascomycetous dimorphic fungus that exhibits biofilm mode of growth. Earlier work has shown that biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids are efficient dispersants of bacterial biofilms. However, their effectiveness against fungal biofilms (particularly Y. lipolytica) has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rhamnolipid on a biofilm forming strain of Y. lipolytica. Two chemical surfactants, cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) were used as controls for comparison.

Results
The methylene blue dye exclusion assay indicated an increase in fungal cell permeability after rhamnolipid treatment. Microtiter plate assay showed that the surfactant coating decreased Y. lipolytica biofilm formation by 50%. Rhamnolipid treatment disrupted pre-formed biofilms in a more effective manner than the other two surfactants. Confocal laser scanning microscopic studies showed that biofilm formation onto glass surfaces was decreased by 67% after sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) treatment with rhamnolipids. The disruption of biofilms after rhamnolipid treatment was significant (P<0.05) when compared to SDS and CTAB.

Conclusion
The results indicate a potential application of the biological surfactant to disrupt Y. lipolytica biofilms.
Premotor biomarkers for Parkinson's disease - a promising direction of research
Authors: Haas Brian R , Stewart Tessandra H , Zhang Jing 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
The second most serious neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson’s disease (PD). Over the past several decades, a strong body of evidence suggests that PD can begin years before the hallmark clinical motor symptoms appear. Biomarkers for PD are urgently needed to differentiate between neurodegenerative disorders, screen novel therapeutics, and predict eventual clinical PD before the onset of symptoms. Some clinical evaluations and neuroimaging techniques have been developed in the last several years with some success in this area. Moreover, other strategies have been utilized to identify biochemical and genetic markers associated with PD leading to the examination of PD progression and pathogenesis in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, or saliva. Finally, interesting results are surfacing from preliminary studies using known PD-associated genetic mutations to assess potential premotor PD biomarkers. The current review highlights recent advances and underscores areas of potential advancement.
Autoantibody profiling to follow evolution of lupus syndromes
Authors: Olsen Nancy J , Li Quan-Zhen , Quan Jiexia , Wang Ling , Mutwally Azza , Karp David R 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Identification of patients who are in early stages of lupus is currently done through clinical evaluation and is not greatly facilitated by available diagnostic tests. Profiling for patient characteristics and antibody specificities that predict disease would enhance the ability of physicians to identify and treat early cases prior to onset of organ damaging illness.

Methods
A group of 22 patients with 4 or fewer diagnostic criteria for lupus were studied for changes in clinical and autoantibody profiles after a mean follow up period of 2.4 years. An array with more than 80 autoantigens was used to profile immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) autoantibodies. Correlations with clinical disease progression were examined.

Results
3 of the 22 patients (14%) added sufficient criteria during follow up to satisfy a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or to acquire a diagnosis of SLE renal disease. Patients who progressed were all females and were younger than those who did not progress (P=0.00054). IgG but not IgM autoreactivity showed greater increases in the progressor group than in the non-progressor group (P=0.047). IgG specificities that were higher at baseline in progressors included proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), beta 2 microglobulin, C1q and hemocyanin (P<0.019). Progressors had significant increases in La/SSB and liver cytosol type 1 (LC1) IgG autoantibodies over the period of evaluation (P≤0.0072). A quantitative risk profile generated from baseline demographic and autoantibody variables yielded highly different scores for the progressor and non-progressor groups (P=1.38 × 10-7)

Conclusions
In addition to demographic features, autoantibody profiles using an expanded array of specificities were correlated with the risk of progressive disease in patients with lupus. These findings suggest the feasibility of developing a simple diagnostic that could be applied by nonspecialists to screen for lupus and permit effective triage for specialty care.
The treatment of unstable fractures of the ankle using the Acumed fibular nail
Authors: Bugler K. E. , Watson C. D. , Hardie A. R. , Appleton P. , McQueen M. M. , Court-Brown C. M. , White T. O. 
Published: July 2012

Techniques for fixation of fractures of the lateral malleolus have remained essentially unchanged since the 1960s, but are associated with complication rates of up to 30%. The fibular nail is an alternative method of fixation requiring a minimal incision and tissue dissection, and has the potential to reduce the incidence of complications.We reviewed the results of 105 patients with unstable fractures of the ankle that were fixed between 2002 and 2010 using the Acumed fibular nail. The mean age of the patients was 64.8 years (22 to 95), and 80 (76%) had significant systemic medical comorbidities. Various different configurations of locking screw were assessed over the study period as experience was gained with the device. Nailing without the use of locking screws gave satisfactory stability in only 66% of cases (4 of 6). Initial locking screw constructs rendered between 91% (10 of 11) and 96% (23 of 24) of ankles stable. Overall, seven patients had loss of fixation of the fracture and there were five post-operative wound infections related to the distal fibula. This lead to the development of the current technique with a screw across the syndesmosis in addition to a distal locking screw. In 21 patients treated with this technique there have been no significant complications and only one superficial wound infection. Good fracture reduction was achieved in all of these patients. The mean physical component Short-Form 12, Olerud and Molander score, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle outcome scores at a mean of six years post-injury were 46 (28 to 61), 65 (35 to 100) and 83 (52 to 99), respectively. There have been no cases of fibular nonunion.Nailing of the fibula using our current technique gives good radiological and functional outcomes with minimal complications, and should be considered in the management of patients with an unstable ankle fracture.
Cost savings of using a cemented total hip replacement
Authors: Griffiths E. J. , Stevenson D. , Porteous M. J. 
Published: July 2012

The debate whether to use cemented or uncemented components in primary total hip replacement (THR) has not yet been considered with reference to the cost implications to the National Health Service. We obtained the number of cemented and uncemented components implanted in 2009 from the National Joint Registry for England and Wales. The cost of each component was established. The initial financial saving if all were cemented was then calculated. Subsequently the five-year rates of revision for each type of component were reviewed and the predicted number of revisions at five years for the actual components used was compared with the predicted number of revisions for a cemented THR. This was then multiplied by the mean cost of revision surgery to provide an indication of the savings over the first five years if all primary THRs were cemented. The saving at primary THR was calculated to be £10 million with an additional saving during the first five years of between £5 million and £8.5 million. The use of cemented components in routine primary THR in the NHS as a whole can be justified on a financial level but we recognise individual patient factors must be considered when deciding which components to use.
More re-operations after uncemented than cemented hemiarthroplasty used in the treatment of displaced fractures of the femoral neck
Authors: Gjertsen J-E. , Lie S. A. , Vinje T. , Engesæter L. B. , Hallan G. , Matre K. , Furnes O. 
Published: July 2012

Using data from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register, 8639 cemented and 2477 uncemented primary hemiarthroplasties for displaced fractures of the femoral neck in patients aged > 70 years were included in a prospective observational study. A total of 218 re-operations were performed after cemented and 128 after uncemented procedures. Survival of the hemiarthroplasties was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and hazard rate ratios (HRR) for revision were calculated using Cox regression analyses. At five years the implant survival was 97% (95% confidence interval (CI) 97 to 97) for cemented and 91% (95% CI 87 to 94) for uncemented hemiarthroplasties. Uncemented hemiarthroplasties had a 2.1 times increased risk of revision compared with cemented prostheses (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 2.6, p < 0.001). The increased risk was mainly caused by revisions for peri-prosthetic fracture (HRR = 17), aseptic loosening (HRR = 17), haematoma formation (HRR = 5.3), superficial infection (HRR = 4.6) and dislocation (HRR = 1.8). More intra-operative complications, including intra-operative death, were reported for the cemented hemiarthroplasties. However, in a time-dependent analysis, the HRR for re-operation in both groups increased as follow-up increased.This study showed that the risk for revision was higher for uncemented than for cemented hemiarthroplasties.
Two-Year Follow-Up of a Prospective Clinical Trial of Cyclosporine for Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome in Children
Authors: Ishikura Kenji , Yoshikawa Norishige , Nakazato Hitoshi , Sasaki Satoshi , Iijima Kazumoto , Nakanishi Koichi , Matsuyama Takeshi , Ito Shuichi , Yata Nahoko , Ando Takashi , Honda Masataka 
Published: July 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Although the safety and efficacy of cyclosporine in children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) have been confirmed, no prospective follow-up data on relapse after cyclosporine have appeared. This study is a prospective follow-up trial after 2-year treatment with cyclosporine to investigate cyclosporine dependency after its discontinuation.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Participants who had undergone 2-year protocol treatment with microemulsified cyclosporine for FRNS between January 2000 and December 2005 were followed for an additional 2 years. The primary end point was relapse-free survival after the complete discontinuation of cyclosporine, and the secondary end point was regression-free survival (time to regression to FRNS).

Results
After exclusion of 7 patients who showed regression to FRNS during the 2-year treatment period, 49 children (median age, 6.5 years) were followed, and classified as children without (n=32; group A) and with (n=17; group B) relapse during the initial cyclosporine treatment. Overall, relapse-free survival probability at 24 months after cyclosporine discontinuation was 15.3% and regression to FRNS-free survival probability was 40.8%. By group, the probability of relapse-free survival was significantly higher in group A (17.9%) than in group B (8.3%) (P<0.001).

Conclusions
Children with FRNS who receive cyclosporine are at high risk of relapse after discontinuation, particularly those who experience relapse during cyclosporine treatment.
Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with CKD and ESRD
Authors: Kumar Gagan , Sakhuja Ankit , Taneja Amit , Majumdar Tilottama , Patel Jayshil , Whittle Jeff , Nanchal Rahul 
Published: July 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
CKD and ESRD are growing burdens. It is unclear whether these conditions affect pulmonary embolism (PE) risk, given that they affect both procoagulant and anticoagulant factors. This study examined the frequency and associated outcomes of PE in CKD and ESRD.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to estimate the frequency and outcomes of PE in adults with CKD and ESRD. Hospitalizations for the principal diagnosis of PE and presence of CKD or ESRD were identified using International Classification of Diseases,
Ninth Revision codes. Data from the annual US Census and US Renal Data System reports were used to calculate the number of adults with CKD, ESRD, and normal kidney function (NKF) as well as the annual incidence of PE in each group. Logistic regression modeling was used to compare in-hospital mortality among persons admitted for PE who had ESRD or CKD to those without these conditions.

Results
The annual frequency of PE was 527 per 100,000, 204 per 100,000, and 66 per 100,000 persons with ESRD, CKD, and NKF, respectively. In-hospital mortality was higher for persons with ESRD and CKD (P<0.001) compared with persons with NKF. Median length of stay was longer by 1 day in CKD and 2 days in ESRD than among those with NKF.

Conclusions
Persons with CKD and ESRD are more likely to have PE than persons with NKF. Once they have PE, they are more likely to die in the hospital.
Exploring the Association between Macroeconomic Indicators and Dialysis Mortality
Authors: Kramer Anneke , Stel Vianda S. , Caskey Fergus J. , Stengel Benedicte , Elliott Robert F. , Covic Adrian , Geue Claudia , Cusumano Ana , MacLeod Alison M. , Jager Kitty J. 
Published: July 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Mortality on dialysis varies greatly worldwide, with patient-level factors explaining only a small part of this variation. The aim of this study was to examine the association of national-level macroeconomic indicators with the mortality of incident dialysis populations and explore potential explanations through renal service indicators, incidence of dialysis, and characteristics of the dialysis population.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Aggregated unadjusted survival probabilities were obtained from 22 renal registries worldwide for patients starting dialysis in 2003–2005. General population age and health, macroeconomic indices, and renal service organization data were collected from secondary sources and questionnaires. Linear modeling with log–log transformation of the outcome variable was applied to establish factors associated with survival on dialysis.

Results
Two-year survival on dialysis ranged from 62.3% in Iceland to 89.8% in Romania. A higher gross domestic product per capita (hazard ratio=1.02 per 1000 US dollar increase), a higher percentage of gross domestic product spent on healthcare (1.10 per percent increase), and a higher intrinsic mortality of the dialysis population (i.e., general population-derived mortality risk of the dialysis population in that country standardized for age and sex; hazard ratio=1.04 per death per 10,000 person years) were associated with a higher mortality of the dialysis population. The incidence of dialysis and renal service indicators were not associated with mortality on dialysis.

Conclusions
Macroeconomic factors and the intrinsic mortality of the dialysis population are associated with international differences in the mortality on dialysis. Renal service organizational factors and incidence of dialysis seem less important.