bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictors of the highest long-term care expenditures in Japan
Authors: Olivares-Tirado Pedro , Tamiya Nanako , Kashiwagi Masayo , Kashiwagi Kimikazu 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
In Japan, as the number of elderly covered by the Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI) system has increased, demand for long-term care services has increased substantially and consequently growing expenditures are threatening the sustainability of the system. Understanding the predictive factors associated with long-term care expenditures among the elderly would be useful in developing future strategies to ensure the sustainability of the system. We report a set of predictors of the highest long-term care expenditures in a cohort of elderly persons who received consecutive long-term care services during a year in a Japanese city.

Methods
Data were obtained from databases of the LTC insurer of City A in Japan. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of the highest long-term care expenditures. We used a simplified model that focused on the effects of disability status and type of services used, while controlling for several relevant factors. Goodness of fit, a multicollinearity test, and logistic regression diagnostics were carried out for the final model.

Results
The study cohort consisted of 862 current users of LTCI system in city A. After controlling for gender and income, age, increased utilization rate of benefits, decline in functional status, higher care needs level and institutional care were found to be associated with the highest LTCI expenditures. An increased utilization rate of benefits (OR = 24.2) was a strong main effect predictors of the high LTC expenditures. However, a significant interaction between institutional care and high care need level was found, providing evidence of the combined effect of the two covariates.

Conclusions
Beyond to confirm that disability status of elderly persons is the main factor driving the demand of LTC services and consequently the expenditures, we showed that changes in utilization rate of benefits -a specific insurance factor- and the use of institutional care conditional on the high care level, were strongest predictors of the highest LTC expenditures. These findings could become crucial for tracking policies aimed at ensuring financial sustainability of LTCI from a public insurer perspective in Japan.
IκB kinases increase Myc protein stability and enhance progression of breast cancer cells
Authors: Yeh Pei-Yen , Lu Yen-Shen , Ou Da-Liang , Cheng Ann-Lii 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Both IκB kinase (IKK) complex and oncgenic protein Myc play important roles in cancer progression, including cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis. The levels of Myc is regulated by the phosphorylation of Myc at Thr58 and Ser62.

Results
In this study, we show that the expression of Myc is associated with IKKα and IKKβ in breast cancers and that Myc is an IKKs substrate. Suppression of IKK activity by either chemical inhibitor or transfection of kinase-dead mutants decreases the phosphorylation of Myc at Ser62 and enhances the degradation of Myc. Consequently, these treatments decrease the tumorigenic and invasive ability of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, doxorubicin, a frequently used anticancer drug in breast cancer, activates IKKs and Myc, thereby increasing invasiveness and tumorigenesis of breast carcinoma MCF7 cells. Inhibition of IKKs prevents these doxorubicin-induced effects.

Conclusions
Our study indicates that IKKs tightly regulate Myc expression through prolonging protein stability, and suggests that IKKs are potentially therapeutic targets and that suppression of IKKs may be used following chemotherapy to reduce the risk of treatment-induced tumor progression.
Human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cell transplantation: case series of 30 subjects with Hereditary Ataxia
Authors: Yang Wan-Zhang , Zhang Yun , Wu Fang , Zhang Min , Cho SC , Li Chun-Zhen , Li Shao-Hui , Shu Guo-Jian , Sheng You-Xiang , Zhao Ning , Tang Ying , Jiang Shu , Jiang Shan , Gandjian Matthew , Ichim Thomas E , Hu Xiang 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
The differential diagnosis for hereditary ataxia encompasses a variety of diseases characterized by both autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance. There are no curative treatments available for these neurodegenerative conditions. This open label treatment study used human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells (CBMC) combined with rehabilitation training as potential disease modulators.

Methods
30 patients suffering from hereditary ataxia were treated with CBMCs administered systemically by intravenous infusion and intrathecally by either cervical or lumbar puncture. Primary endpoint measures were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), serum markers of immunoglobulin and T-cell subsets, measured at baseline and pre-determined times post-treatment.

Results
A reduction of pathological symptoms and signs was shown following treatment. The BBS scores, IgG, IgA, total T cells and CD3+CD4 T cells all improved significantly compared to pre-treatment values (P < 0.01~0.001). There were no adverse events.

Conclusion
The combination of CBMC infusion and rehabilitation training may be a safe and effective treatment for ataxia, which dramatically improves patients' functional symptoms. These data support expanded double blind, placebo-controlled studies for these treatment modalities.
The influence of colloidal parameters on the specific power absorption of PAA-coated magnetite nanoparticles
Authors: Piñeiro-Redondo Yolanda , Bañobre-López Manuel , Pardiñas-Blanco Iván , Goya Gerardo , López-Quintela M Arturo , Rivas José 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
The suitability of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to act as heat nano-sources by application of an alternating magnetic field has recently been studied due to their promising applications in biomedicine. The understanding of the magnetic relaxation mechanism in biocompatible nanoparticle systems is crucial in order to optimize the magnetic properties and maximize the specific absorption rate (SAR). With this aim, the SAR of magnetic dispersions containing superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles bio-coated with polyacrylic acid of an average particle size of ≈10 nm has been evaluated separately by changing colloidal parameters such as the MNP concentration and the viscosity of the solvent. A remarkable decrease of the SAR values with increasing particle concentration and solvent viscosity was found. These behaviours have been discussed on the basis of the magnetic relaxation mechanisms involved.
PACS: 80; 87; 87.85jf
Experimental infection of a newly emerging Korean type I porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolate in colostrum-deprived pigs
Authors: Kim Hye Kwon , Lee Chul Seung , Kang Bo Kyu , Yeom Min Ju , Moon Hyoung Joon , Park Seong Jun , Nguyen Van Giap , Song Dae Sub , Park Bong Kyun 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackgroundRecently, new emergence of type I PRRSV has been reported in Korea by several research groups. Although specific subgroups of type I PRRSVs in Korea were observed in the previous phylogenetic analysis, there is a lack of information about the virulence of type I PRRSV recently isolated in Korea.MethodsOne type I PRRSV isolate (G2446, 3 times passaged in primarily cultured pulmonary macrophages) in Korea was experimentally infected in colostrum-deprived pigs. The pathological and serological evaluations were performed and compared to type II PRRSV strain (CP07-401-9, 5 times passaged in MARC-145 cell lines)-infected pigs, for 21 days post challenge (dpc).ResultsThe pneumonia found in gross examination was more severe in type I PRRSV-infected pigs than type II PRRSV-infected pigs. Both groups showed bronchointerstitial pneumonia, mild multifocal perivascular lymphohistiocytic myocarditis and lymphadenopathy at 14 dpc. However, the unique histopathologic lesions were not found in the pigs experimentally infected with a Korean type I PRRSV isolate, when compared to previous data about classical pathology of PRRSV. The PRRS-specific antibodies were detected in the first week after challenge and viremia continued at least until 21 dpc in both groups.ConclusionThe gross and histopathologic lesion in this study indicated that Korean type I PRRSV strain (G2446) caused classical PRRSV-specific lesions. Although this study evaluated one representative strain of Korean type I PRRSV, the results may provide information regarding the pathogenicity of type I PRRSV recently emerged in Korea.
Latent tuberculosis in nursing professionals of a Brazilian hospital
Authors: Severo Karen Gisele Person , Oliveira Julia da Silva , Carneiro Marcelo , Valim Andréia Rosane de Moura , Krummenauer Eliane Carlosso , Possuelo Lia Gonçalves 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is considered an occupational disease among health-care workers (HCWs). Direct contact with TB patients leads to an increased risk to become latently infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of latent M. tuberculosis minfection among nursing professionals of a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, assessed by tuberculin skin test (TST). From November 2009 to May 2010, latent M. tuberculosis infection was assessed by TST in 55 nursing professionals. Epidemiological information was collected using a standardized questionnaire. A positive TST result (> or = 10 mm) was observed in 47.3% of the HCWs tested. There was no significant difference in TST positivity when duration of employment or professional category (technician or nurse) was evaluated. The results of this work reinforce the need for control measures to prevent latent M. tuberculosis infection among nursing professionals at the hospital where the study was conducted.
Comprehensive expressional analyses of antisense transcripts in colon cancer tissues using artificial antisense probes
Authors: Saito Rintaro , Kohno Keisuke , Okada Yuki , Osada Yuko , Numata Koji , Kohama Chihiro , Watanabe Kazufumi , Nakaoka Hajime , Yamamoto Naoyuki , Kanai Akio , Yasue Hiroshi , Murata Soichiro , Abe Kuniya , Tomita Masaru , Ohkohchi Nobuhiro , Kiyosawa Hidenori 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Recent studies have identified thousands of sense-antisense gene pairs across different genomes by computational mapping of cDNA sequences. These studies have shown that approximately 25% of all transcriptional units in the human and mouse genomes are involved in cis-sense-antisense pairs. However, the number of known sense-antisense pairs remains limited because currently available cDNA sequences represent only a fraction of the total number of transcripts comprising the transcriptome of each cell type.

Methods
To discover novel antisense transcripts encoded in the antisense strand of important genes, such as cancer-related genes, we conducted expression analyses of antisense transcripts using our custom microarray platform along with 2376 probes designed specifically to detect the potential antisense transcripts of 501 well-known genes suitable for cancer research.

Results
Using colon cancer tissue and normal tissue surrounding the cancer tissue obtained from 6 patients, we found that antisense transcripts without poly(A) tails are expressed from approximately 80% of these well-known genes. This observation is consistent with our previous finding that many antisense transcripts expressed in a cell are poly(A)-. We also identified 101 and 71 antisense probes displaying a high level of expression specifically in normal and cancer tissues respectively.

Conclusion
Our microarray analysis identified novel antisense transcripts with expression profiles specific to cancer tissue, some of which might play a role in the regulatory networks underlying oncogenesis and thus are potential targets for further experimental validation. Our microarray data are available at http://www.brc.riken.go.jp/ncrna2007/viewer-Saito-01/index.html.
Prognostic significance of STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 in human soft tissue tumors - a clinicopathological analysis
Authors: David Diana , Rajappan Lakshmy M , Balachandran Krishna , Thulaseedharan Jissa V , Nair Asha S , Pillai Radhakrishna M 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key signaling molecule and a central cytoplasmic transcription factor, implicated in the regulation of growth. Its aberrant activation has been demonstrated to correlate with many types of human malignancy. However, whether constitutive STAT3 signaling plays a key role in the survival and growth of soft-tissue tumors is still unclear and hence needs to be elucidated further. In our study we examined the expression levels of STAT3 and pSTAT3 in different grades of soft tissue tumors and correlated with its clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods
Expression levels of STAT3 and pSTAT3 in soft tissue tumors were studied using Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and Reverse transcriptase- PCR and correlated with its clinicopathological characteristics using Chi squared or Fisher's exact test and by logistic regression analysis. Statistical analysis was done using Intercooled Stata software (Intercooled Stata 8.2 version).

Results
Of the 82 soft tissue tumor samples, fifty four (65.8%) showed immunoreactivity for STAT3 and twenty eight (34.1%) for pSTAT3. Expression of STAT3 and pSTAT3 was significantly associated with tumor grade (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), tumor location (P = 0.025; P = 0.027), plane of tumor (P = 0.011; P = 0.006), and tumor necrosis (P = 0.001; P = 0.002). Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis showed increased expression of STAT3 and p-STAT3 as grade of malignancy increased.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that constitutive activation of STAT3 is an important factor related to carcinogenesis of human soft tissue tumors and is significantly associated with its clinicopathological parameters which may possibly have potential diagnostic implications.
Pyrosequencing, a method approved to detect the two major EGFR mutations for anti EGFR therapy in NSCLC
Authors: Dufort Sandrine , Richard Marie-Jeanne , Lantuejoul Sylvie , de Fraipont Florence 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations, especially in-frame deletions in exon 19 (ΔLRE) and a point mutation in exon 21 (L858R) predict gefitinib sensitivity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Several methods are currently described for their detection but the gold standard for tissue samples remains direct DNA sequencing, which requires samples containing at least 50% of tumor cells.

Methods
We designed a pyrosequencing assay based on nested PCR for the characterization of theses mutations on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor tissue.

Results
This method is highly specific and permits precise characterization of all the exon 19 deletions. Its sensitivity is higher than that of "BigDye terminator" sequencing and enabled detection of 3 additional mutations in the 58 NSCLC tested. The concordance between the two methods was very good (97.4%). In the prospective analysis of 213 samples, 7 (3.3%) samples were not analyzed and EGFR mutations were detected in 18 (8.7%) patients. However, we observed a deficit of mutation detection when the samples were very poor in tumor cells.

Conclusions
pyrosequencing is then a highly accurate method for detecting ΔLRE and L858R EGFR mutations in patients with NSCLC when the samples contain at least 20% of tumor cells.
Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study
Authors: Djalali Ahmadreza , Khankeh Hamidreza , Öhlén Gunnar , Castrén Maaret , Kurland Lisa 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Earthquakes are renowned as being amongst the most dangerous and destructive types of natural disasters. Iran, a developing country in Asia, is prone to earthquakes and is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in this respect. The medical response in disasters is accompanied by managerial, logistic, technical, and medical challenges being also the case in the Bam earthquake in Iran. Our objective was to explore the medical response to the Bam earthquake with specific emphasis on pre-hospital medical management during the first days.

Methods
The study was performed in 2008; an interview based qualitative study using content analysis. We conducted nineteen interviews with experts and managers responsible for responding to the Bam earthquake, including pre-hospital emergency medical services, the Red Crescent, and Universities of Medical Sciences. The selection of participants was determined by using a purposeful sampling method. Sample size was given by data saturation.

Results
The pre-hospital medical service was divided into three categories; triage, emergency medical care and transportation, each category in turn was identified into facilitators and obstacles. The obstacles identified were absence of a structured disaster plan, absence of standardized medical teams, and shortage of resources. The army and skilled medical volunteers were identified as facilitators.

Conclusions
The most compelling, and at the same time amenable obstacle, was the lack of a disaster management plan. It was evident that implementing a comprehensive plan would not only save lives but decrease suffering and enable an effective praxis of the available resources at pre-hospital and hospital levels.
Prone position and recruitment manoeuvre: the combined effect improves oxygenation
Authors: Rival Gilles , Patry Cyrille , Floret Nathalie , Navellou Jean Christophe , Belle Evelyne , Capellier Gilles 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Introduction
Among the various methods for improving oxygenation while decreasing the risk of ventilation-induced lung injury in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a ventilation strategy combining prone position (PP) and recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) can be practiced. We studied the effects on oxygenation of both RM and PP applied in early ARDS patients.

Methods
We conducted a prospective study. Sixteen consecutive patients with early ARDS fulfilling our criteria (ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) 98.3 ± 28 mmHg; positive end expiratory pressure, 10.7 ± 2.8 cmH2O) were analysed. Each patient was ventilated in both the supine position (SP) and the PP (six hours in each position). A 45 cmH2O extended sigh in pressure control mode was performed at the beginning of SP (RM1), one hour after turning to the PP (RM2) and at the end of the six-hour PP period (RM3).

Results
The mean arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) changes after RM1, RM2 and RM3 were 9.6%, 15% and 19%, respectively. The PaO2 improvement after a single RM was significant after RM3 only (P < 0.05). Improvements in PaO2 level and PaO2/FiO2 ratio were transient in SP but durable during PP. PaO2/FiO2 ratio peaked at 218 mmHg after RM3. PaO2/FiO2 changes were significant only after RM3 and in the pulmonary ARDS group (P = 0.008). This global strategy had a benefit with regard to oxygenation: PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased from 98.3 mmHg to 165.6 mmHg 13 hours later at the end of the study (P < 0.05). Plateau airway pressures decreased after each RM and over the entire PP period and significantly after RM3 (P = 0.02). Some reversible side effects such as significant blood arterial pressure variations were found when extended sighs were performed.

Conclusions
In our study, interventions such as a 45 cmH2O extended sigh during PP resulted in marked oxygenation improvement. Combined RM and PP led to the highest increase in PaO2/FiO2 ratio without major clinical side effects.
EBV LMP1, a viral mimic of CD40, activates dendritic cells and functions as a molecular adjuvant when incorporated into an HIV vaccine
Authors: Gupta Sachin , Termini James M , Niu Liguo , Kanagavelu Saravana K , Schmidtmayerova Helena , Snarsky Victoria , Kornbluth Richard S , Stone Geoffrey W 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTHIV-1 does not significantly activate cellular immunity, which has made it difficult to use attenuated forms of HIV-1 as a vaccine. In contrast, EBV induces robust T cell responses in most infected individuals, perhaps as this virus contains LMP1, a viral mimic of CD40, which is a key activating molecule for DCs and macrophages. Consequently, studies were conducted using LMP1 and LMP1-CD40, a related construct formed by replacing the intracellular signaling domain of LMP1 with that of CD40. Upon electroporation into DCs, LMP1 and LMP1-CD40 mRNAs were sufficient to up-regulate costimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines, indicating that these molecules can function in isolation as adjuvant-like molecules. As a first step toward an improved HIV vaccine, LMP1 and LMP1-CD40 were introduced into a HIV-1 construct to produce virions encoding these proteins. Transduction of DCs and macrophages with these viruses induced morphological changes and up-regulated costimulatory molecules and cytokine production by these cells. HIV-LMP1 enhanced the antigen-presenting function of DCs, as measured in an in vitro immunization assay. Taken together, these data show that LMP1 and LMP1-CD40 are portable gene cassettes with strong adjuvant properties that can be introduced into viruses such as HIV, which by themselves, are insufficient to induce protective cellular immunity.
Inhibitory effect of prostaglandin I2 on bone marrow kinetics of eosinophils in the guinea pig
Authors: Sturm Eva M , Schuligoi Rufina , Konya Viktoria , Sturm Gunter J , Heinemann Akos 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTEnhanced eosinophil trafficking from bone marrow to the tissue is a hallmark of allergic diseases. We have shown previously that PGI2 markedly attenuates the locomotion of human eosinophils in vitro. Here, we set out to determine the effect of PGI2 on the trafficking of bone marrow eosinophils in the guinea pig. Shape change of bone marrow eosinophils was determined by flow cytometry, and chemotaxis assays were performed using a transwell migration system. Eosinophil release from bone marrow of guinea pigs was investigated in the isolated, perfused hind-limb preparation. We found that PGI2 prevented the mobilization of eosinophils from bone marrow and attenuated the shape change and chemotactic responses of bone marrow eosinophils. These effects were mimicked by iloprost and were prevented by the IP antagonist CAY10441 and the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor SQ22536. Immunohistochemical staining of bone marrow confirmed the expression of IPs by bone marrow eosinophils. The rate-limiting enzyme of PGI2 formation, PGIS, was found in large mononuclear cells. These data show that IP activation negatively modulates the mobilization and locomotion of bone marrow eosinophils and might therefore also protect against exaggerated recruitment of eosinophils to inflammatory sites.