bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of resistive index, detrusor wall thickness and ultrasound estimated bladder weight regarding the outcome after transurethral prostatectomy for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction
Authors: Huang Tao , Qi Jun , Yu Yong Jiang , Xu Ding , Jiao Yang , Kang Jian , Chen Ya Qin , Zhu Yun Kai 
Published: January 2012

Objectives: To evaluate the value of three parameters from preoperative ultrasonography in predicting the outcome of transurethral prostatectomy in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction.Methods: A total of 239 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction entering our department for surgical therapy were prospectively recruited. All of them underwent both ultrasound and urodynamics before receiving standard transurethral prostatectomy by the same team of surgeons. For 202 patients, 6‐month follow‐up data were available after the surgery, including the International Prostate Symptom Score, the Quality of Life score and the maximum flow rate. Preoperative data stratified by different degree of recovery were compared and the influence of ultrasound parameters on the surgical outcome was analyzed by using logistic regression and receiver–operator characteristic curve analyses.Results: Baseline transitional zone index, intravesical prostatic protrusion, resistive index, detrusor wall thickness and ultrasonic estimation of bladder weight were significantly different between patients with an effective outcome and those with an ineffective outcome (P < 0.05). Resistive index, detrusor wall thickness and ultrasonic estimation of bladder weight were selected as independent factors correlated with the efficacy of transurethral prostatectomy by logistic regression (P < 0.05). All three factors had adequate area under receiver–operator characteristic curve with resistive index having the largest area (0.816, 95% CI 0.759–0.874). The combined positive predictive value in effective surgical outcome of resistive index, detrusor wall thickness and ultrasonic estimation was 96.3%.Conclusions: Resistive index, detrusor wall thickness and ultrasonic estimation adequately predict the outcome of transurethral prostatectomy. Measuring these parameters by preoperative ultrasound might aid in determining the need for surgical intervention.
The value of urinary prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) scores in predicting pathological features at radical prostatectomy
Authors: Durand Xavier , Xylinas Evanguelos , Radulescu Camelia , Haus‐Cheymol Rachel , Moutereau Stephane , Ploussard Gillaume , Forgues Aurelien , Robert Grégoire , Vacherot Francis , Loric Sylvain , Allory Yves , Ruffion Alain , de la Taille Alexandre 
Published: January 2012

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)Level of Evidence 2bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?PCA3 scores correlate to numerous histoprognostic factors, specifically tumour volume and positive surgical margins. These results may have a clinical impact in the near future on the selection of patients eligible to undergo active surveillance and nerve‐sparing surgery.OBJECTIVE
To assess correlations between Prostate CAncer gene 3 (PCA3) levels and pathological features of radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens, which define cancer aggressiveness.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
After digital rectal examination (DRE), first‐catch urine was collected from 160 patients with localized prostate cancer. The PCA3 score was calculated using the Gene Probe Progensa™ assay.
PCA3 scores were then correlated to the pathological features of the RP specimens.
RESULTS
PCA3 scores correlated significantly with tumour volume (r= 0.34, P < 0.01). A PCA3 score of >35 was an independent predictor in a multivariate analysis of a tumour volume >0.5 mL (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, P= 0.04).
It was also an independent predictor of positive surgical margins (OR 2.4, P= 0.04). Receiver–operator characteristic curves indicated PCA3 as the most accurate predictor of positive margins (area under the curve [AUC] 0.62), in addition to a positive biopsy percentage (AUC 0.52).
There was also a significant difference in the mean PCA3 score between Gleason score patient groups (6 vs ≥7) and pathological stage groups (pT0/2 vs pT3/4).
CONCLUSIONS
PCA3 scores correlate to numerous histoprognostic factors, specifically tumour volume and positive surgical margins.
These results may have a clinical impact in the near future on the selection of patients eligible to undergo active surveillance and nerve‐sparing surgery.
Heat‐shock protein 70 from plant biofactories of recombinant antigens activate multiepitope‐targeted immune responses
Authors: Buriani Giampaolo , Mancini Camillo , Benvenuto Eugenio , Baschieri Selene 
Published: January 2012

SummaryAlthough a physiological role of heat‐shock proteins (HSP) in antigen presentation and immune response activation has not been directly demonstrated, their use as vaccine components is under clinical trial. We have previously demonstrated that the structure of plant‐derived HSP70 (pHSP70) can be superimposed to the mammalian homologue and similarly to the mammalian counterpart, pHSP70–polypeptide complexes can activate the immune system. It is here shown that pHSP70 purified from plant tissues transiently expressing the influenza virus nucleoprotein are able to induce both the activation of major histocompatibility complex class I–restricted polyclonal T‐cell responses and antibody production in mice of different haplotypes without the need of adjuvant co‐delivery. These results indicate that pHSP70 derived from plants producing recombinant antigens may be used to formulate multiepitope vaccines.
Fast Subset Scan for Spatial Pattern Detection
Authors: Neill Daniel B. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryWe propose a new ‘fast subset scan’ approach for accurate and computationally efficient event detection in massive data sets. We treat event detection as a search over subsets of data records, finding the subset which maximizes some score function. We prove that many commonly used functions (e.g. Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic and extensions) satisfy the ‘linear time subset scanning’ property, enabling exact and efficient optimization over subsets. In the spatial setting, we demonstrate that proximity-constrained subset scans substantially improve the timeliness and accuracy of event detection, detecting emerging outbreaks of disease 2 days faster than existing methods.
Quantifying Nanoparticle Dispersion by Using The Area Disorder of Delaunay Triangulation
Authors: Bray David J. , Gilmour Steven G. , Guild Felicity J. , Taylor Ambrose C. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryCharacterizing the quality of dispersion of nanocomposites presents a challenging statistical problem for which no direct method has been fully adopted. A high precision, statistically well-grounded measure is required which is suitable for dealing with a single small non-homogeneous particle pattern obtained from the material. Our approach uses the Delaunay network of particles to measure the area disorder ADDel, which can be further used to categorize a material sample into well or poorly dispersed. ADDel-analysis is applied to several micrographs of nanoparticle-modified materials and found to classify the type of dispersion reliably. Selected spatial point processes are employed to estimate expected imprecision in observed measurements.
Mutations analysis in filaggrin gene in northern China patients with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Li M. , Liu Q. , Liu J. , Cheng R. , Zhang H. , Xue H. , Bao Y. , Yao Z. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground  Recently, we have reported filaggrin mutations (FLG) of atopic dermatitis in southern China. However, there have been few detailed reports of FLG mutations of patients with AD in northern China by now.Objectives  The present aim was to establish the mutation spectrum of FLG gene in AD patients in northern China.Methods  A total of 339 cases met Hanifin and Rajka diagnostic criteria of AD were recruited. A comprehensive sequencing of the entire FLG coding region in these patients was conducted. All detected FLG null mutations were screened in a cohort of 301 normal controls.Results  Seven novel mutations (478insA, Q1070X, 4026delT, Q1712X, Q2397X, 7145del4 and 8001del4) and eleven reported mutations (3222del4, 3321delA, 4271delAA, S1515X, Q1790X, 5757del4, 6834del5, Q2417X, E2422X, 7945delA and K4671X) in AD were identified. Mutations 3321delA and K4671X were two of the most common mutations in AD. FLG null mutations were present in 26.0% of AD patients. FLG null alleles (compound genotypes) were significantly higher in AD (P < 0.001) than in the controls. The compound genotypes for all FLG variants were significantly associated with IV (P < 0.001) and palmar hyperlinearity (P < 0.001). The common mutation, K4671X, was significantly associated with AD‐coexistent allergic rhinitis (P = 0.005).Conclusions  Our study increases the total number of FLG mutations. We clearly demonstrated that FLG loss‐of‐function mutations were significantly associated with AD in northern China. The FLG null mutations in the Chinese population differed not only from that in the European population but also from that in sub‐populations of Asians outside of the Chinese mainland.
Group IVA phospholipase A2 is necessary for growth cone repulsion and collapse
Authors: Sanford Staci D. , Yun Bo Goen , Leslie Christina C. , Murphy Robert C. , Pfenninger Karl H. 
Published: January 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 974–984.AbstractThe repellent semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) causes growth cone turning or collapse by triggering cytoskeletal rearrangements and detachment of adhesion sites. Growth cone detachment is dependent on eicosanoid activation of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε), but the characterization of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) that releases arachidonic acid (AA) for eicosanoid synthesis has remained elusive. Here, we show, in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, that Sema3A stimulates PLA2 activity, that Sema3A‐induced growth cone turning and collapse are dependent on the release of AA, and that the primary PLA2 involved is the group IV α isoform (GIVA). Silencing GIVA expression renders growth cones resistant to Sema3A‐induced collapse, and GIVA inhibition reverses Sema3A‐induced repulsion into attraction. These studies identify a novel, early step in Sema3A‐signaling and a PLA2 necessary for growth cone repulsion and collapse.
A proteomic analysis of pediatric seizure cases associated with astrocytic inclusions
Authors: Visanji Naomi P. , Wong Janice C. , Wang Simon X. , Cappel Blair , Kleinschmidt‐DeMasters Bette K. , Handler Michael H. , Ochi Ayako , Otsubo Hiroshi , Rutka James T. , Go Cristina , Weiss Shelly , Vinters Harry V. , Hawkins Cynthia E. , DeSouza Leroi V. , Siu K.W. Michael , Hazrati Lili‐Naz 
Published: January 2012

SummaryCerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions have been observed in a subset of patients with early onset epilepsy, brain structural anomalies, and developmental delay, which indicates that it may represent a unique clinicopathologic entity. To further characterize this condition we use proteomics to investigate differentially expressed proteins in epileptic brain tissue from three pediatric epileptic patients with cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions, ranging in age from 5–13 years, and compare to brain tissue from two normal controls. Catalase and carbonic anhydrase I both exhibited increased expression in epileptic brain tissue compared to controls. These findings were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, both proteins were localized to astrocytes and in epileptic brain were located within the cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions, suggesting a potential role in the generation of this pathologic feature of early onset epilepsy with cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions.
Redesign of coenzyme B12 dependent diol dehydratase to be resistant to the mechanism‐based inactivation by glycerol and act on longer chain 1,2‐diols
Authors: Yamanishi Mamoru , Kinoshita Koichiro , Fukuoka Masaki , Saito Takuya , Tanokuchi Aya , Ikeda Yuuki , Obayashi Hirokazu , Mori Koichi , Shibata Naoki , Tobimatsu Takamasa , Toraya Tetsuo 
Published: January 2012

Coenzyme B12 dependent diol dehydratase undergoes mechanism‐based inactivation by glycerol, accompanying the irreversible cleavage of the coenzyme Co–C bond. Bachovchin et al. [Biochemistry16, 1082–1092 (1977)] reported that glycerol bound in the GS conformation, in which the pro‐S‐CH2OH group is oriented to the hydrogen‐abstracting site, primarily contributes to the inactivation reaction. To understand the mechanism of inactivation by glycerol, we analyzed the X‐ray structure of diol dehydratase complexed with cyanocobalamin and glycerol. Glycerol is bound to the active site preferentially in the same conformation as that of (S)‐1,2‐propanediol, i.e. in the GS conformation, with its 3‐OH group hydrogen bonded to Serα301, but not to nearby Glnα336. kinact of the Sα301A, Qα336A and Sα301A/Qα336A mutants with glycerol was much smaller than that of the wild‐type enzyme. kcat/kinact showed that the Sα301A and Qα336A mutants are substantially more resistant to glycerol inactivation than the wild‐type enzyme, suggesting that Serα301 and Glnα336 are directly or indirectly involved in the inactivation. The degree of preference for (S)‐1,2‐propanediol decreased on these mutations. The substrate activities towards longer chain 1,2‐diols significantly increased on the Sα301A/Qα336A double mutation, probably because these amino acid substitutions yield more space for accommodating a longer alkyl group on C3 of 1,2‐diols.DatabaseStructural data are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession number 3AUJ.Structured digital abstract
Diol dehydrase gamma subunit, Diol dehydrase beta subunit and Diol dehydrase alpha subunit physically interact by X‐ray crystallography (View interaction)
Epidemiological isolation causing variable mortality in Island populations during the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic
Authors: Shanks G. Dennis , Hussell Tracy , Brundage John F. 
Published: January 2012

Please cite this paper as: Shanks et al. (2012) Epidemiological isolation causing variable mortality in Island populations during the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(6), 417–423.Background  During the 1918 pandemic period, influenza‐related mortality increased worldwide; however, mortality rates varied widely across locations and demographic subgroups. Islands are isolated epidemiological situations that may elucidate why influenza pandemic mortality rates were so variable in apparently similar populations.Objectives  Our objectives were to determine and compare the patterns of pandemic influenza mortality on islands.Methods  We reviewed historical records of mortality associated with the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic in various military and civilian groups on islands.Results and Conclusions  Mortality differed more than 50‐fold during pandemic‐related epidemics on Pacific islands [range: 0·4% (Hawaii) to 22% (Samoa)], and on some islands, mortality sharply varied among demographic subgroups of island residents such as Saipan: Chamorros [12%] and Caroline Islanders [0·4%]. Among soldiers from island populations who had completed initial military training, influenza‐related mortality rates were generally low, for example, Puerto Rico (0·7%) and French Polynesia (0·13%). The findings suggest that among island residents, those who had been exposed to multiple, antigenically diverse respiratory pathogens prior to infection with the 1918 pandemic strain (e.g., less isolated) experienced lower mortality. The continuous circulation of antigenically diverse influenza viruses and other respiratory infectious agents makes widespread high mortality during future influenza pandemics unlikely.
Pseudo-Outbreak of Extremely Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Urinary Tract Infections Due to Contamination of an Automated Urine Analyzer
Authors: Hallin M. , Deplano A. , Roisin S. , Boyart V. , De Ryck R. , Nonhoff C. , Byl B. , Glupczynski Y. , Denis O. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

By the end of May 2010, an increase in the number of urine specimens that were culture positive for extremely drug-resistant (XDR)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was observed in our 800-bed university hospital. This led to an infection control alert. No epidemiological link between the patients and no increase in the frequency of XDR
P. aeruginosa
in non-urine samples were observed. Therefore, a pseudo-outbreak due to analytical contamination in the laboratory was rapidly suspected. A prospective and retrospective search of cases was initiated, and the sampling of the automated urine analyzers used in the laboratory was performed. Antibiotypes were determined by disc diffusion, and genotypes were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). From February to July 2010, 17 patients admitted to 12 different departments and 6 outpatients were included. The mixing device of the cytometric analyzer used for the numeration of urinary particles (Sysmex UF1000i) proved to be heavily contaminated. Isolates recovered from 12 patients belonged to the same antibiotype and PFGE type as the isolate recovered from the analyzer. Extensive disinfection with a broad-spectrum disinfectant and the replacement of the entire tubing was necessary to achieve the complete negativity of culture samples taken from the analyzer. A pseudo-outbreak caused by an XDR
P. aeruginosa
clone was proven to be due to the contamination of the cytometric analyzer for urinary sediment. Users of such analyzers should be aware that contamination can occur and should always perform culture either before the processing of the urine sample on the analyzer or on a distinct sample tube.
Developing and validating a scoring tool for identifying people who inject drugs at increased risk of hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Wand Handan , Iversen Jenny , Wilson David , Topp Libby , Maher Lisa 
Published: January 2012

ObjectivesTo develop and validate a scoring tool based on demographic and injecting risk behaviours to identify those who require additional, non-routine serological screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) by assessing their personal risk.DesignCross-sectional and prospective cohorts.SettingPeople who inject drugs (PWID) and attended Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) in Australia during the period from 1998 to 2008.ParticipantsCross-sectional data included 16 127 PWID who attended NSP in Australia. Prospective data included 215 HCV-negative PWID who were recruited through street-based outreach, methadone clinics in Australia.Primary and secondary outcome measuresHCV seroprevalence in the cross-sectional and HCV seroconversions in the prospective data sets.ResultsCurrent study included 16 127 PWID who attended NSP in Australia. Type of drug last injected, frequency and duration of injecting, sharing needles and syringes or other injecting equipment and imprisonment history were associated with HCV infection in all age groups. Strong relationships between an individual's ‘HCV score’ and their risk of testing HCV antibody positive were observed. An estimated 78% (95% CI 75% to 81%), 82% (95% CI 80% to 84%), 80% (95% CI 78% to 82%) and 80% (95% CI 77% to 82%) of HCV infections across the age groups (<25, 25–29, 30–39 and ≥40 years) would be avoided if participants in the upper four quintiles of HCV scores fell instead into the lowest quintile.ConclusionsKnowledge of HCV status has important implications for public health and care and treatment. Risk assessment strategies may assist in alerting PWID who are at increased risk of HCV infection to present for testing.
Rates of maximum food intake in young northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and the seasonal effects of food intake on body growth
Authors: Rosen D.A.S. , Young B.L. , Trites A.W. 
Published: January 2012

Accurate estimates of food intake and its subsequent effect on growth are required to understand the interaction between an animal’s physiology and its biotic environment. We determined how food intake and growth of six young northern fur seals ( Callorhinus ursinus (L., 1758)) responded seasonally to changes in food availability. Animals were given unrestricted access to prey for 8 h·day–1on either consecutive days or on alternate days only. We found animals offered ad libitum food on consecutive days substantially increased their food intake over normal “training” levels. However, animals that fasted on alternate days were unable to compensate by further increasing their levels of consumption on subsequent feeding days. Absolute levels of food intake were highly consistent during winter and summer trials (2.7–2.9 kg·day–1), but seasonal differences in body mass meant that fur seals consumed more food relative to their body mass in summer (~27%) than in winter (~20%). Despite significant increases in absolute food intake during both seasons, the fur seals did not appear to efficiently convert this additional energy into mass growth, particularly in the winter. These seasonal differences in conversion efficiencies and estimates of maximum intake rates can be used to generate physiologically realistic predictions about the effect of changes in food availability on an individual fur seal, as well as the consequences for an entire population.
Cigarette Experimentation in Mexican Origin Youth: Psychosocial and Genetic Determinants
Authors: Wilkinson Anna V. , Bondy Melissa L. , Wu Xifeng , Wang Jian , Dong Qiong , D'Amelio Anthony M. , Prokhorov Alexander V. , Pu Xia , Yu Robert K. , Etzel Carol J. , Shete Sanjay , Spitz Margaret R. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground: Established psychosocial risk factors increase the risk for experimentation among Mexican origin youth. Now, we comprehensively investigate the added contribution of select polymorphisms in candidate genetic pathways associated with sensation seeking, risk taking, and smoking phenotypes to predict experimentation.Methods: Participants (N = 1,118 Mexican origin youth) recruited from a large population-based cohort study in Houston, TX, provided prospective data on cigarette experimentation over 3 years. Psychosocial data were elicited twice—baseline and final follow-up. Participants were genotyped for 672 functional and tagging variants in the dopamine, serotonin, and opioid pathways.Results: After adjusting for gender and age, with a Bayesian False Discovery Probability set at 0.8 and prior probability of 0.05, six gene variants were significantly associated with risk of experimentation. After controlling for established risk factors, multivariable analyses revealed that participants with six or more risk alleles were 2.25 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.62–3.13] times more likely to have experimented since baseline than participants with five or fewer. Among committed never-smokers (N = 872), three genes (OPRM1, SNAP25, HTR1B) were associated with experimentation as were all psychosocial factors. Among susceptible youth (N = 246), older age at baseline, living with a smoker, and three different genes (HTR2A, DRD2, SLC6A3) predicted experimentation.Conclusions: Our findings, which have implications for development of culturally specific interventions, need to be validated in other ethnic groups.Impact: These results suggest that variations in select genes interact with a cognitive predisposition toward smoking. In susceptible adolescents, the impact of the genetic variants appears to be larger than committed never-smokers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 228–38. ©2011 AACR.