bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors That Contribute to Low Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women in Different Amazonian Communities
Authors: Borba-Pinheiro Cláudio Joaquim , Drigo Alexandre Janotta , de Alencar Carvalho Mauro César Gurgel , da Silva Nádia Souza Lima , Dantas Estélio Henrique Martin 
Published: March 2011

Background: The aim of this study was to verify socioeconomic differences, nutrition, body balance and quality of life (QoL) in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) in two Amazonian communities. Methods: A total of 42 female volunteers participated in the study. The volunteers were separated into two groups: Villa ( n = 20; 53 ± 5.5 years) and City ( n = 22; 56 ± 7.9 years). The following evaluation instruments were used: dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); a socioeconomic questionnaire; a QoL questionnaire; a dietary habits questionnaire; and a balance test. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used. Results: The data showed significant differences in socioeconomic level (Δ%=+15.9%, p = 0.000), lumbar spine L2-L4 (Δ% = +0.10%, p = 0.007), balance (Δ% = +4.3%, p = 0.03) and some important aspects of nutrition, such as the consumption of milk (Δ%=+34%, p = 0.01) and alcohol (+14.8%, p = 0.0001). These significant differences also contributed to the total QoL score (Δ%=+76.2%, p = 0.000) and the majority of the QoL-related functions. Conclusion: This study verified that socioeconomic level, nutritional status, physical activity levels and QoL can influence the BMD of postmenopausal women. The study suggests new strategies for official health organizations to use in order to prevent and treat osteoporosis. In addition, this study can provide an orientation to physical activity, nutrition and medical professionals.
Immunotherapeutic effects of IL-7 during a chronic viral infection in mice
Authors: Nanjappa Som G. , Kim Eui Ho , Suresh M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractViral persistence during chronic viral infections is associated with a progressive loss of T-cell effector function called functional exhaustion. There is therefore a need to develop immunotherapies to remediate the functional deficits of T cells during these infections. We investigated the immunotherapeutic effects of IL-7 during chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in mice. Our results showed that the effects of IL-7 on T cells depend on the viral load, timing, and duration of treatment during the course of the infection. We document that the effectiveness of IL-7 was constrained by high viral load early in the infection, but treatment for at least 3 weeks during declining viral titers mitigated the programmed contraction of CD8 T cells, markedly enhanced the number of high-quality polyfunctional virus-specific CD8 T cells with a nonexhausted phenotype, and accelerated viral control. Mechanistically, the enhancement of CD8 T-cell responses by IL-7 was associated with increased proliferation and induction of Bcl-2, but not with altered levels of PD-1 or Cbl-b. In summary, our results strongly suggest that IL-7 therapy is a potential strategy to bolster the quality and quantity of T-cell responses in patients with chronic viral infections.
The breathless adolescent asthmatic athlete
Authors: Carlsen K-H. 
Published: March 2011

This article concerns physical activity and sports in asthmatic adolescents. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is found in 8–10% of the normal child population and in ∼35% of children with current asthma, as reported in a population-based birth cohort study.The mechanisms of EIA are related to markedly increased ventilation during exercise, which causes increased heat and water loss through respiration, leading to bronchial constriction. In athletes and especially in endurance athletes, the repeated daily physical activity during training will, over time, cause epithelial damage and increase inflammation in the respiratory mucosa. With increased exposure to environmental agents, such as as cold air in skiers and chlorine compounds in swimmers, the athlete may contract symptoms and signs of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, either worsening existing asthma or causing symptoms in a previous healthy adolescent athlete.There are several causes of breathlessness in adolescents, including EIA, vocal cord dysfunction, poor physical fitness and others, which are important to consider in the diagnostic procedure.The asthmatic athlete should follow the same guidelines for treating their asthma as an ordinary asthmatic patient, with careful consideration of the special diagnostic rules given for the use of asthma drugs in sports, especially for inhaled β2-agonists.
Increased lung neutrophil apoptosis and inflammation resolution in nonresponding pneumonia
Authors: Moret I. , Lorenzo M.J. , Sarria B. , Cases E. , Morcillo E. , Perpiñá M. , Molina J.M. , Menéndez R. 
Published: March 2011

Neutrophil activation state and its relationship with an inflammatory environment in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remain insufficiently elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the neutrophil apoptosis and cytokine pattern in CAP patients after 72 h of treatment, and their impact on infection resolution.Apoptosis of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils was measured in nonresponding CAP (NCAP), in responding CAP (blood only) and in patients without infection (control). Pro-inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were measured. Main outcomes were clinical stability and days of hospitalisation.Basal neutrophil apoptosis was higher in the BAL and blood of NCAP, whereas spontaneous apoptosis (after 24 h culture) was lower. Cytokines in NCAP were higher than in responding CAP and control: IL-6 was increased in BAL and blood, IL-8 in BAL and IL-10 in blood. An increased basal apoptosis (≥20%) in BAL of NCAP was associated with lower systemic IL-10 (p<0.01), earlier clinical stability (p=0.05) and shorter hospital stay (p=0.02). A significant correlation was found for systemic IL-6 and IL-10 with days to reach stability and length of stay.After 72 h of treatment, an increased basal alveolar neutrophil apoptosis might contribute to downregulation of inflammation and to faster clinical stability.
Piecing the puzzle together: foreign-born tuberculosis in an immigrant-receiving country
Authors: Langlois-Klassen D. , Wooldrage K.M. , Manfreda J. , Sutherland K. , Ellis E. , Phypers M. , Gushulak B. , Long R. 
Published: March 2011

In major immigrant-receiving countries, annual foreign-born tuberculosis (TB) case counts and rates are relatively constant. Why this is so, and who might be a high-yield target for screening for latent TB infection, remain open questions.Foreign-born TB in Canada during 1986–2002 was retrospectively examined using national TB and immigration data as well as census data. Case counts and rates were analysed in relation to demographics, immigration period and time since arrival.Pre-1986 immigrants (n=3,860,853) and 1986–2002 immigrants (n=3,463,283) contributed 8,662 and 9,613 TB cases, respectively. Immigrants arriving ≤5 yrs ago and those arriving >10 yrs ago contributed almost equally to the annual foreign-born TB case count despite a 3.5-fold difference in in-country person-yrs. Remarkably stable and relatively low TB incidence was observed among immigrants >10 yrs post-arrival. Conversely, TB incidence within 5 yrs of arrival was dynamic, demonstrating a strong inverse association with time since arrival and higher sensitivity to changes in immigration level than shifts toward higher incidence source countries.Relative constancy in foreign-born TB incidence is explained by a complex convergence of several factors. Immigrants born in high-incidence countries who arrived ≤2 yrs ago and were aged 15–34 yrs upon arrival constitute high-yield targets for preventive therapy.
Noncanonical BMP Signaling Regulates Cyclooxygenase-2 Transcription
Authors: Susperregui Antonio R. G. , Gamell Cristina , Rodríguez-Carballo Edgardo , Ortuño Maria José , Bartrons Ramon , Rosa José Luis , Ventura Francesc 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Activation of p38 MAPK has been shown to be relevant for a number of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) physiological effects. We report here the involvement of noncanonical phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) signaling in the transcriptional induction of Cox2 (Ptgs2) by BMP-2 in mesenchymal cells and organotypic calvarial cultures. We demonstrate that different regulatory elements are required for regulation of Cox2 expression by BMP-2: Runt-related transcription factor-2 and cAMP response element sites are essential, whereas a GC-rich Smad binding element is important for full responsiveness. Efficient transcriptional activation requires cooperation between transcription factors because mutation of any element results in a strong decrease of BMP-2 responsiveness. BMP-2 activation of p38 leads to increased recruitment of activating transcription factor-2, Runx2, Smad, and coactivators such as p300 at the responsive sites in the Cox2 proximal promoter. We demonstrate, by either pharmacological or genetic analysis, that maximal BMP-2 effects on Cox2 and JunB expression require the function of p38 and its downstream effector mitogen/stress-activated kinase 1. Altogether our results strongly suggest that cooperative effects between canonical and noncanonical BMP signaling allow the fine-tuning of BMP transcriptional responses on specific target genes.
Evaluation of Tensile Strength of Woven Carbon/Epoxy Composite Laminates at Cryogenic Temperatures Using the Open Hole Specimens
Authors: Watanabe Shinya , Shindo Yasuhide , Takeda Tomo , Narita Fumio , Yamaki Satoru 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
We propose a combined numerical-experimental method for the evaluation of the tensile strength properties of woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates at cryogenic temperatures using the open hole specimens. Cryogenic tensile tests were conducted on the open hole specimens of quasi-isotropic woven CFRP laminates, and the length of the hole edge damage zone corresponding to the specimen failure was determined by the microscopic examinations of failed specimens. A finite element based method was developed for estimating the cryogenic tensile strength of the unnotched woven laminates using the experimentally determined failure load and damage zone length. In the damage zone, the material was assumed to carry a uniform normal stress equal to the tensile strength. The results demonstrate that the present method is an efficient approach to measuring the tensile strength of high-strength advanced composites at cryogenic temperatures.
Oxidative DNA damage and obesity in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Al-Aubaidy Hayder A , Jelinek Herbert F 
Published: March 2011

ObjectiveThis study illustrates the relationship between oxidative DNA damage and obesity in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes compared with controls.Design and methodsParticipants attended the School of Community Health, Diabetes Screening Clinic, Charles Sturt University, Australia, between February 2006 and June 2008. A total of 162 participants (35 type 2 diabetic patients; eight prediabetic subjects; and 119 age-, gender-, and weight-matched controls) were investigated. All patients were selected on clinical grounds.ResultsSerum 8-hydroxy 2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG) level was significantly greater in the prediabetic subjects (671.3±140 pg/ml) compared with controls (210.1±166 pg/ml; P<0.01). The diabetic group (1979.6±1209 pg/ml) had the highest level of 8-OHdG. There was a significant increase in serum 8-OHdG in obese subjects (848.5±103 pg/ml; P<0.001) and overweight subjects (724±102 pg/ml; P=0.005) compared with the lean subjects (196.5±327 pg/ml).ConclusionOur results indicate that serum 8-OHdG is increased already in prediabetes suggesting oxidative DNA damage to be present with minor elevation of blood glucose levels (BGLs). The statistically significant positive correlation between serum 8-OHdG and body mass index in the diabetic group indicates that obesity has an additive effect to increased BGL contributing to oxidative DNA damage.
Clinical and Microbiologic Outcomes in Trauma Patients Treated for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Ventilator‐Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Czosnowski Quinn A. , Wood G. Christopher , Magnotti Louis J. , Croce Martin A. , Swanson Joseph M. , Boucher Bradley A. , Fabian Timothy C. 
Published: March 2011

Study Objectives. To determine clinical and microbiologic plus clinical success rates in critically ill trauma patients who received treatment for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP). Design. Retrospective medical record review.Setting. Level I trauma intensive care unit of a large academic medical center.Patients. A total of 101 patients who developed S. maltophilia VAP between January 1997 and December 2007.Measurements and Main Results. Patients' baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as characteristics of their VAP, were documented. The primary study outcome was the rate of clinical success in patients with S. maltophilia VAP; a secondary outcome was microbiologic plus clinical success rate in these patients. Standard definitions were employed to determine these outcomes related to VAP treatment. The study population had higher injury severity scores and a higher rate of traumatic brain injury than is typically observed in the study's intensive care unit. The median time to diagnosis of S. maltophilia VAP was 15 days (interquartile range 11–24 days). Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was the sole organism isolated in 34% of patients; the other patients had polymicrobial VAP. Despite inadequate empiric antibiotic therapy being administered to 97% of the patients, the overall clinical success rate was 87%. The microbiologic plus clinical success rate was 82%. The most common treatments for S. maltophilia VAP were trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (77 patients received monotherapy, 9 received combination therapy) and ciprofloxacin (6 patients received monotherapy, 8 received combination therapy); all‐cause and VAP‐related mortality rates were 13% and 7%, respectively.Conclusion. Critically ill trauma patients with S. maltophilia VAP responded well to therapy despite high rates of inadequate empiric antibiotic administration. Trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole was the most common therapy, but clinical success rates did not differ significantly based on antibiotic selection. This study adds significantly to the available S. maltophilia VAP outcomes data.
Improving Prescribing Safety in Patients with Renal Insufficiency in the Ambulatory Setting: The Drug Renal Alert Pharmacy (DRAP) Program
Authors: Bhardwaja Bharati , Carroll Nikki M. , Raebel Marsha A. , Chester Elizabeth A. , Korner Eli J. , Rocho Bob E. , Brand David W. , Magid David J. 
Published: March 2011

Study Objective. To determine whether a computerized Drug Renal Alert Pharmacy (DRAP) program could decrease the rate of medication errors in drug selection or dosing for 15 target drugs in patients with renal insufficiency.Design. Randomized, controlled, population‐based effectiveness trial.Setting. A large integrated health care delivery system.Patients. A total of 32,917 health plan members who were at least 18 years old, had an estimated creatinine clearance of 50 ml/minute or lower, and were not receiving dialysis between December 1, 2003, and February 28, 2005, were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (16,577 patients) or usual care (control) group (16,340 patients). Of the 32,917 patients, 6125 patients (3025 in the intervention group and 3100 in the usual care group) were prescribed at least one target drug and were included in the analysis.Intervention. A computerized tool—the DRAP program—was used to alert pharmacists at the time of dispensing to possible errors in target drug selection and dosing for patients with renal insufficiency. The 15 target drugs were previously identified based on frequency of use in our health care system and risk of serious adverse events.Measurements and Main Results. The primary outcome was the proportion of medication errors, defined as target drugs that should be avoided or were dosed inappropriately, in the intervention and usual care groups. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE‐AIM) framework was used to evaluate the intervention's potential for translation and generalizability. Among the 6125 patients who received a target drug, no significant differences were noted in age, sex, creatinine clearance, comorbid conditions, and number of target drugs between groups at baseline. Over the 15‐month intervention period, the proportion of medication errors was significantly lower in the intervention group than the usual care group (33% vs 49%, p<0.001). After the study period, when the intervention was expanded to both groups, a 20% reduction in errors was sustained in the combined groups over the subsequent 7 months.Conclusion. The DRAP program was successful in reducing medication errors for patients with renal insufficiency in an ambulatory setting and was demonstrated to have sustainability after study completion.
Extracellular Volume and Glomerular Filtration Rate in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Abraham Alison G. , Muñoz Alvaro , Furth Susan L. , Warady Bradley , Schwartz George J. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryBackground and objectivesExtracellular volume (ECV) is the fluid contained in all noncellular compartments of the body and is a quantity tightly controlled by the kidney. Thus, there is a strong link between ECV and kidney function.Design, setting, participants & measurementsThe Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study uses injected iohexol to obtain direct measures of GFR. Direct calculation of ECV was viable from GFR studies using descriptors of the disappearance curves. Using linear regression methods on the log-transformed variables, markers of size (height and weight) and biomarkers of kidney disease (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and cystatin C) were assessed for their relationships with ECV normalized to body weight (ECV/wt). The relationship to hypertension (systolic BP >95th percentile for age, sex, and height) was also assessed.ResultsData from 790 iohexol studies with medians for GFR = 43.4 ml/min per 1.73 m2, weight = 35 kg, and height = 1.4 m were used. The median ECV was 8.6 L, and the median ECV/wt was 0.23 L/kg. ECV was found to be a function of height (m) and weight (kg) according to the relationshipECV= (Equation is included in full-text article.) ×height. Biomarkers of kidney disease yielded significant relationships with ECV/wt, but the strength of association was small. No significant association between ECV/wt and hypertension was found.ConclusionsECV has relevance to studies of chronic kidney disease, is related to biomarkers, and can be easily estimated from the square root of weight and height.
Desensitization Protocols and Their Outcome
Authors: Marfo Kwaku , Lu Amy , Ling Min , Akalin Enver 
Published: March 2011

Summary
In the last decade, transplantation across previously incompatible barriers has increasingly become popular because of organ donor shortage, availability of better methods of detecting and characterizing anti-HLA antibodies, ease of diagnosis, better understanding of antibody-mediated rejection, and the availability of effective regimens. This review summarizes all manuscripts published since the first publication in 2000 on desensitized patients and discusses clinical outcomes including acute and chronic antibody-mediated rejection rate, the new agents available, kidney paired exchange programs, and the future directions in sensitized patients. There were 21 studies published between 2000 and 2010, involving 725 patients with donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) who underwent kidney transplantation with different desensitization protocols. All studies were single center and retrospective. The patient and graft survival were 95% and 86%, respectively, at a 2-year median follow-up. Despite acceptable short-term patient and graft survivals, acute rejection rate was 36% and acute antibody-mediated rejection rate was 28%, which is significantly higher than in nonsensitized patients. Recent studies with longer follow-up of those patients raised concerns about long-term success of desensitization protocols. The studies utilizing protocol biopsies in desensitized patients also reported higher subclinical and chronic antibody-mediated rejection. An association between the strength of DSAs determined by median fluorescence intensity values of Luminex single-antigen beads and risk of rejection was observed. Two new agents, bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, and eculizumab, an anti-complement C5 antibody, were recently introduced to desensitization protocols. An alternative intervention is kidney paired exchange, which should be considered first for sensitized patients.
Effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonists on anxiety and some oxidative stress markers in rat
Authors: Ciobica Alin , Bild Veronica , Hritcu Lucian , Padurariu Manuela , Bild Walther 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIn addition to its known classical roles, the renin angiotensin system (RAS) has more subtle functions which include the regulation of emotional responses. Previous studies regarding the anxiety related behavior of RAS have showed controversial results. There is also evidence that oxidative stress accompanies angiotensin II infusion, but the role of AT1/AT2 specific receptors is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of central angiotensin II receptor blockers on anxiety state and oxidative stress. Behavioral testing included elevated plus maze, while oxidative stress status was measured though the extent of a lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde-MDA) and the specific activity of some defense antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD and glutathione peroxidase-GPx). The rats treated with angiotensin II spent significantly less time in the open-arms of elevated-plus-maze, while the administration of losartan resulted in a significant increase of this time. We observed a significant increase of MDA concentration in the angiotensin II group and a decrease of MDA levels in both losartan and PD-123177 groups. In addition, a significant correlation was seen between the time spent in the open arms and oxidative stress markers. These findings could lead to important therapeutic aspects regarding the use of angiotensin II receptor blockers in anxiety-related disorders.
Sentinel lymph node in colorectal cancer — 5 years follow up
Authors: Zielinski Jacek , Jaworski Radoslaw , Kabata Pawel , Rzepko Robert , Kruszewski Wiesław , Jaskiewicz Janusz 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
To assess the impact of micrometastases in sentinel and non-sentinel lymph nodes on long-term survival rates of patients treated for colorectal cancer (CRC). Data of 57 patients diagnosed with CRC and treated in the Department of Surgical Oncology in Gdansk in the years 2002–2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinico-histopathological data were analyzed using chi-square tests. The effect on long-time survival rates was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival probability estimates. Identification of the SLN was performed using the blue dye staining method. All regional lymph nodes were subject to standard histopathological examination. Additionally in 32(56.14%) patients whose nodes were found negative for metastases on standard staining further immunohistochemical analyses were performed. In the analyzed group SLNB was performed in 42(73.7%) patients with colon cancer and in 15(26.3%) with rectal cancer. Identification of the SLN was possible in 45(78.9%) patients. The sensitivity of SLNB was 33%. False negatives were found in 66%. SLNB is a feasible method in CRC patients. We presume that lack of micrometastases in the SLN and non-SLN cannot be regarded as a prognostic factor.