bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relative validation of the KiGGS Food Frequency Questionnaire among adolescents in Germany
Authors: Truthmann Julia , Mensink Gert BM , Richter Almut 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to determine the relative validity of the self-administered Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) "What do you eat?", which was used in the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS 2003-2006).

Methods
The validation was conducted in the EsKiMo Nutrition Module, a subsample of KiGGS. The study population included 1,213 adolescents aged between 12 and 17. A modified diet history interview DISHES (Dietary Interview Software for Health Examination Studies) was used as the reference method. In order to compare the food groups, the data assessed with both instruments were aggregated to 40 similar food groups. The statistical analysis included calculating and comparing Spearman's correlation coefficients, calculating the mean difference between both methods, and ranking participants (quartiles) according to food group consumption, including weighted kappa coefficients. Correlations were also evaluated for relative body weight and socioeconomic status subgroups.

Results
In the total study population the Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.22 for pasta/rice to 0.69 for margarine; most values were 0.50 and higher. The mean difference ranged between 1.4% for milk and 100.3% for pasta/rice. The 2.5 percentiles and 97.5 percentiles indicated a wide range of differences. Classifications in the same and adjacent quartile varied between 70.1% for pasta/rice and 90.8% for coffee. For most groups, Cohen's weighted kappa showed values between 0.21 and 0.60. Only for white bread and pasta/rice were values less than 0.20. Most of the 40 food groups showed acceptable to good correlations in all investigated subgroups concerning age, sex, body weight and socio-economic status.

Conclusions
The KiGGS FFQ showed fair to moderate ranking validity except for pasta/rice and white bread. However, the ability to assess absolute intakes is limited. The correlation coefficients for most food items were similar for normal weight and overweight as well as for different socio-economic status groups. Overall, the results of the relative validity were comparable to FFQs from the current literature.
Association of the TRIB1 tribbles homolog 1 gene rs17321515 A>G polymorphism and serum lipid levels in the Mulao and Han populations
Authors: Aung Lynn Htet Htet , Yin Rui-Xing , Wu Dong-Feng , Li Qing , Yan Ting-Ting , Wang Yi-Ming , Li Hui , Wei Dai-Xun , Shi Yuan-Lu , Yang De-Zhai 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
The association of rs17321515 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) near TRIB1 gene and serum lipid profiles has never been studied in the Chinese population. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to detect the association of rs17321515 SNP and several environmental factors on serum lipid levels in the Mulao and Han populations.

Methods
A total of 639 unrelated subjects of Mulao nationality and 644 participants of Han nationality were randomly selected from our previous stratified randomized cluster samples. Genotypes of the TRIB1 rs17321515 A>G SNP were determined via polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, and then confirmed by direct sequencing.

Results
Serum apolipoprotein (Apo) B levels were higher in Mulao than in Han (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies between the two ethnic groups (P > 0.05). High- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C) levels in Han were different among the genotypes (P < 0.05 for each), the subjects with AG/GG genotypes had higher HDL-C and LDL-C levels than the subjects with AA genotype. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1 and ApoB levels in Han males were different among the genotypes (P < 0.05-0.001), the G carriers had higher TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1 and ApoB levels than the G noncarriers. HDL-C levels in Mulao males were different among the genotypes (P < 0.05), the G carriers had lower HDL-C levels than the G noncarriers. Serum HDL-C and LDL-C levels in both ethnic groups and TG levels in Han were correlated with the genotypes or alleles (P < 0.05-0.01). TG and HDL-C levels in Mulao males and TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and ApoA1 levels in Han males were correlated with genotypes or alleles (P < 0.05-0.001). TG and ApoA1 levels in Han females were associated with genotypes (P < 0.05 for each). Serum lipid parameters were also associated with several environmental factors in both ethnic groups.

Conclusions
The associations of TRIB1 rs17321515 SNP and serum lipid levels are different between the Mulao and Han populations. These discrepancies might partly result from different TRIB1 gene-environmental interactions in both ethnic groups.
Complete and safe resection of challenging retroperitoneal tumors: anticipation of multi-organ and major vascular resection and use of adjunct procedures
Authors: Tseng William W , Wang Sam C , Eichler Charles M , Warren Robert S , Nakakura Eric K 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Retroperitoneal tumors are often massive and can involve adjacent organs and/or vital structures, making them difficult to resect. Completeness of resection is within the surgeon's control and critical for long-term survival, particularly for malignant disease. Few studies directly address strategies for complete and safe resection of challenging retroperitoneal tumors.

Methods
Fifty-six patients representing 63 cases of primary or recurrent retroperitoneal tumor resection between 2004-2009 were identified and a retrospective chart review was performed. Rates of complete resection, use of adjunct procedures, and perioperative complications were recorded.

Results
In 95% of cases, complete resection was achieved. Fifty-eight percent of these cases required en bloc multi-organ resection, and 8% required major vascular resection. Complete resection rates were higher for primary versus recurrent disease. Adjunct procedures (ureteral stents, femoral nerve monitoring, posterior laminotomy, etc.) were used in 54% of cases. Major postoperative complications occurred in 16% of cases, and one patient died (2% mortality).

Conclusions
Complete resection of challenging retroperitoneal tumors is feasible and can be done safely with important pre- and intraoperative considerations in mind.
Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy without using special articulating instruments: an initial experience
Authors: Trakarnsanga Atthaphorn , Akaraviputh Thawatchai , Wathanaoran Pakpong , Phalanusitthepha Chainarong , Methasate Asada , Chinswangwattanakul Vitoon 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackgroundSingle-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) was introduced as a novel minimally invasive technique. The benefits of this technique include reducing number of the incision and cosmetic improvement. Unlike the conventional laparoscopic colectomy, majority of previously reported SILC need to be performed using special curved or articulated instruments. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate our initial experience of SILC, which could be performed using the standard laparoscopic instruments.Material and methodsRetrospective review of 14 patients who underwent SILC at Siriraj Hospital from May to December 2010, patient's demographic data, perioperative outcomes, early postoperative complications and pathological data were collected and analyzed.ResultsThe mean age of all patients was 60 years. The most common operation with SILC was sigmoidectomy (n = 9), followed by right hemicolectomy (n = 2), left hemicolectomy (n = 1), anterior resection (n = 1), and total colectomy (n = 1). The trocar insertion techniques were multi-fascial incision using regular port (n = 11) and GelPOINT®(n = 3). The mean operative time was 155 minutes (range 90-280) and the mean estimate blood loss was 32.1 mL (range 10-100). All patients were successfully operated without conversion. The mean length of hospital stay was 9 days (range 5-20). There was no mortality. The pathological results revealed colorectal cancer (n = 12), neoplastic polyp (n = 1) and Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (n = 1). The mean number of lymph nodes retrieval was 16.6 (range 3-34).ConclusionSILC can successfully and safely be performed with standard laparoscopic instruments. This technique might be an alternative procedure to conventional laparoscopic colectomy with better cosmetic result.
Homoepitaxial regrowth habits of ZnO nanowire arrays
Authors: Liu Jian , Xie Shufan , Chen Yanglong , Wang Xianying , Cheng Hongbin , Liu Fang , Yang Junhe 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Synthetic regrowth of ZnO nanowires [NWs] under a similar chemical vapor transport and condensation [CVTC] process can produce abundant ZnO nanostructures which are not possible by a single CVTC step. In this work, we report three different regrowth modes of ZnO NWs: axial growth, radial growth, and both directions. The different growth modes seem to be determined by the properties of initial ZnO NW templates. By varying the growth parameters in the first-step CVTC process, ZnO nanostructures (e.g., nanoantenna) with drastically different morphologies can be obtained with distinct photoluminescence properties. The results have implications in guiding the rational synthesis of various ZnO NW heterostructures.
Study of the efficacy of antimalarial drugs delivered inside targeted immunoliposomal nanovectors
Authors: Urbán Patricia , Estelrich Joan , Adeva Alberto , Cortés Alfred , Fernàndez-Busquets Xavier 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Paul Ehrlich's dream of a 'magic bullet' that would specifically destroy invading microbes is now a major aspect of clinical medicine. However, a century later, the implementation of this medical holy grail continues being a challenge in three main fronts: identifying the right molecular or cellular targets for a particular disease, having a drug that is effective against it, and finding a strategy for the efficient delivery of sufficient amounts of the drug in an active state exclusively to the selected targets. In a previous work, we engineered an immunoliposomal nanovector for the targeted delivery of its contents exclusively to Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells [pRBCs]. In preliminary assays, the antimalarial drug chloroquine showed improved efficacy when delivered inside immunoliposomes targeted with the pRBC-specific monoclonal antibody BM1234. Because difficulties in determining the exact concentration of the drug due to its low amounts prevented an accurate estimation of the nanovector performance, here, we have developed an HPLC-based method for the precise determination of the concentrations in the liposomal preparations of chloroquine and of a second antimalarial drug, fosmidomycin. The results obtained indicate that immunoliposome encapsulation of chloroquine and fosmidomycin improves by tenfold the efficacy of antimalarial drugs. The targeting antibody used binds preferentially to pRBCs containing late maturation stages of the parasite. In accordance with this observation, the best performing immunoliposomes are those added to Plasmodium cultures having a larger number of late form-containing pRBCs. An average of five antibody molecules per liposome significantly improves in cell cultures the performance of immunoliposomes over non-functionalized liposomes as drug delivery vessels. Increasing the number of antibodies on the liposome surface correspondingly increases performance, with a reduction of 50% parasitemia achieved with immunoliposomes encapsulating 4 nM chloroquine and bearing an estimated 250 BM1234 units. The nanovector prototype described here can be a valuable platform amenable to modification and improvement with the objective of designing a nanostructure adequate to enter the preclinical pipeline as a new antimalarial therapy.
A new time-hopping/direct-sequence biorthogonal PPM UWB communication system
Authors: Shen Ye-Shun , Ueng Fang-Biau , Jeng Li-Der 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
In order to increase the capacity and diminish the multiple access interference (MAI) of an ultra-wideband (UWB) system, we propose a new time-hopping/direct-sequence (TH/DS) scheme using N-ary biorthogonal pulse position modulation (BPPM). In contrast with the conventional TH/DS systems employing fixed partition of the TH slots (Shen and Ueng, Proceedings of the IEEE VTC-Spring, 2010), the proposed TH/DS system can put the start location of the TH slot in any one of Q available pulse positions within the frame. In the proposed TH/DS system, the modulation level of BPPM can be increased and the multiple access capability can be improved without degrading the system performance. Compared with the existing TH-UWB system that employs the whole frame to carry out TH process (Shen et al. IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol. 59(2), 742-753, 2010), the proposed system has the merits of smooth power spectral density and low receiver complexity. In this article, we also derive the probability distribution of MAI for each correlator's output of the proposed TH/DS system based on the analytic characteristic function technique. In order to verify the correctness of the performance analyses and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed TH/DS system, some simulation results are given in both the additive white Gaussian noise channel and the realistic UWB fading channels. From the simulation results, we find that the proposed TH/DS system outperforms the conventional TH/DS scheme.
Applications of some basic theorems in the KKM theory
Authors: Park Sehie 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn this review, we introduce a new KKM-type theorem for intersectionally closed-valued KKM map on abstract convex spaces and its direct consequences such as a Fan-Browder-type fixed point theorem and maximal element theorems. For these basic theorems of the KKM theory, we review previously obtained particular consequences of them mainly due to the author and their recent applications obtained by other authors. Therefore, those applications might be improved by following our new results.2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 47H04; 47H10; 52A99; 54H25; 55M20; 58E35; 90D13.
An improved method for color image editing
Authors: Dizdaroğlu Bekir , İkibaş Cevat 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
In this article, an improved approach for editing color images has been presented. In this approach, using the Poisson equation, a guided vector field is created by employing source and target images within a selected region at the first step. Next, the guided vector is used in generating the result image. Most of the existing techniques in the literature perform image editing without taking color information into account. However, without utilizing color information, image geometry cannot be created properly in some cases which may result in unsatisfactory results. Unlike the existing methods, the proposed study utilizes all the information contained in each of the color channels in computing gradient norm and performing inpainting process. The test results show that the suggested technique generates satisfactory results in editing color images.
A systems-based mathematical modelling framework for investigating the effect of drugs on solid tumours
Authors: Liu Cong , Krishnan J , Xu Xiao Yun 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackgroundElucidating the effects of drugs on solid tumours is a highly challenging multi-level problem, since this involves many complexities associated with transport and cellular response, which in turn is characterized by highly non-linear chemical signal transduction. Appropriate systems frameworks are needed to seriously address the sources of these complexities, especially from the cellular side.ResultsWe develop a skeletal modelling framework incorporating interstitial drug transport, intracellular signal processing and cell population descriptions. The descriptions aim to appropriately capture the nature of information flow. The model is deliberately formulated to start with simple intracellular descriptions so that additional features can be incorporated in a modular fashion. Two kinds of intracellular signalling modules which describe the drug effect were considered, one a monostable switch and the other a bistable switch. Analysis of our model revealed how different drug stimuli can lead to cell killing in the tumour. Interestingly both modules considered exhibited similar trends. The effects of important parameters were also studied.ConclusionsWe have created a predictive systems platform integrating drug transport and cellular response which can be systematically augmented to include additional layers of cellular complexity. Our results indicate that intracellular signalling models which are qualitatively different can give rise to similar behaviour to simple (and typical) stimuli, and that validating intracellular descriptions must be performed with care by considering a variety of drug stimuli.
Functional impairment of Tax-specific but not cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in a minor population of asymptomatic human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-carriers
Authors: Takamori Ayako , Hasegawa Atsuhiko , Utsunomiya Atae , Maeda Yasuhiro , Yamano Yoshihisa , Masuda Masato , Shimizu Yukiko , Tamai Yotaro , Sasada Amane , Zeng Na , Choi Ilseung , Uike Naokuni , Okamura Jun , Watanabe Toshiki , Masuda Takao , Kannagi Mari 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackgroundHuman T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in a small percentage of infected individuals. ATL is often associated with general immune suppression and an impaired HTLV-1-specific T-cell response, an important host defense system. We previously found that a small fraction of asymptomatic HTLV-1-carriers (AC) already showed impaired T-cell responses against the major target antigen, Tax. However, it is unclear whether the impaired HTLV-1 Tax-specific T-cell response in these individuals is an HTLV-1-specific phenomenon, or merely reflects general immune suppression. In this study, in order to characterize the impaired HTLV-1-specific T-cell response, we investigated the function of Tax-specific CD8+T-cells in various clinical status of HTLV-1 infection.ResultsBy using tetramers consisting of HLA-A*0201, -A*2402, or -A*1101, and corresponding Tax epitope peptides, we detected Tax-specific CD8+T-cells in the peripheral blood from 87.0% of ACs (n = 20/23) and 100% of HAM/TSP patients (n = 18/18) tested. We also detected Tax-specific CD8+T-cells in 38.1% of chronic type ATL (cATL) patients (n = 8/21), although its frequencies in peripheral blood CD8+T cells were significantly lower than those of ACs or HAM/TSP patients. Tax-specific CD8+T-cells detected in HAM/TSP patients proliferated well in culture and produced IFN-γ when stimulated with Tax peptides. However, such functions were severely impaired in the Tax-specific CD8+T-cells detected in cATL patients. In ACs, the responses of Tax-specific CD8+T-cells were retained in most cases. However, we found one AC sample whose Tax-specific CD8+T-cells hardly produced IFN-γ, and failed to proliferate and express activation (CD69) and degranulation (CD107a) markers in response to Tax peptide. Importantly, the same AC sample contained cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65-specific CD8+T-cells that possessed functions upon CMV pp65 peptide stimulation. We further examined additional samples of two smoldering type ATL patients and found that they also showed dysfunctions of Tax-specific but not CMV-specific CD8+T-cells.ConclusionsThese findings indicated that Tax-specific CD8+T-cells were scarce and dysfunctional not only in ATL patients but also in a limited AC population, and that the dysfunction was selective for HTLV-1-specifc CD8+T-cells in early stages.
Histological damage and inflammatory response elicited by Monobothrium wageneri (Cestoda) in the intestine of Tinca tinca (Cyprinidae)
Authors: Sayyaf Dezfuli Bahram , Giari Luisa , Squerzanti Samantha , Lui Alice , Lorenzoni Massimo , Sakalli Sidika , Shinn Andrew P 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Among the European cyprinids, tench, Tinca tinca (L.), and the pathological effects their cestodes may effect, have received very little or no attention. Most literature relating to Monobothrium wageneri Nybelin, 1922, a common intestinal cestode of tench, for example, has focused on aspects of its morphology rather than on aspects of the host-parasite interaction.

Results
Immunopathological and ultrastructural studies were conducted on the intestines of 28 tench, collected from Lake Piediluco, of which 16 specimens harboured tight clusters of numerous M. wageneri attached to the intestinal wall. The infection was associated with the degeneration of the mucosal layer and the formation of raised inflammatory swelling surrounding the worms. At the site of infection, the number of granulocytes in the intestine of T. tinca was significantly higher than the number determined 1 cm away from the site of infection or the number found in uninfected fish. Using transmission electron microscopy, mast cells and neutrophils were frequently observed in close proximity to, and inside, the intestinal capillaries; often these cells were in contact with the cestode tegument. At the host-parasite interface, no secretion from the parasite's tegument was observed. Intense degranulation of the mast cells was seen within the submucosa and lamina muscularis, most noticeably at sites close to the tegument of the scolex. In some instances, rodlet cells were encountered in the submucosa. In histological sections, hyperplasia of the mucous cells, notably those giving an alcian blue positive reaction, were evident in the intestinal tissues close to the swelling surrounding the worms. Enhanced mucus secretion was recorded in the intestines of infected tench.

Conclusions
The pathological changes and the inflammatory cellular response induced by the caryophyllidean monozoic tapeworm M. wageneri within the intestinal tract of an Italian population of wild tench is reported for the first time.