bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of Immune Cells by Flow Cytometry in Vaginal Lavages from Women with Vulvovaginitis and Normal Microflora
Authors: Giraldo Paulo César , de Carvalho Joziani Beghini Junqueira , do Amaral Rose Luce Gomes , da Silveira Gonçalves Ana Katherine , Eleutério José , Guimarães Fernando 
Published: December 2011

Citation Giraldo PC, de Carvalho JBJ, do Amaral RLG, da Silveira Gonçalves AK, Eleutério J Jr, Guimarães F. Identification of Immune Cells by Flow Cytometry in Vaginal Lavages from Women with Vulvovaginitis and Normal Microflora. Am J Reprod Immunol 2012; 67: 198–205Problem  The extent of the vaginal immune response is not fully determined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vaginal immune cells from women with vulvovaginitis (VV).Method of Study  A total of 142 volunteers diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VC), and BV associated with VC or normal microflora were sampled to evaluate the immune cells by flow cytometry. The immune cells were obtained by vaginal lavage and labeled with fluorochrome‐conjugated monoclonal antibodies to identify neutrophil granulocytes, macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and NK lymphocytes.Results  Neutrophil granulocytes were present in 84.6% of samples among the leukocyte populations. Considering samples in which neutrophils were present, the mean percentage of neutrophil granulocytes was significantly higher in women with VC than BV and normal microflora and was significantly lower in women with BV than normal microflora. Macrophages and lymphocytes were present in a lower percentage of samples. The mean percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes in vaginal lavages was significantly higher in VC and BV compared with women with normal microflora.Conclusions  Neutrophils were the predominant leukocytes and were associated with VC and inversely with BV. CD4+ T lymphocytes were associated with both VC and BV.
Genetic variants in IFIH1 play opposite roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and chronic periodontitis
Authors: Chen G. , Zhou D. , Zhang Z. , Kan M. , Zhang D. , Hu X. , Feng G. , Liu Y. , He L. 
Published: December 2011

SummaryThe IFIH1 gene is a key factor connecting environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of immune‐related diseases. We aimed to investigate whether it has effects on psoriasis, chronic periodontitis and skin test‐positive penicillin allergy and to confirm whether these diseases have shared molecular mechanisms originating from shared genetics. Two common variants in IFIH1 were genotyped in 561 patients with psoriasis, 421 patients with chronic periodontitis, 175 patients with skin test‐positive penicillin allergy and 1100 shared controls. Then, case–control study was used to analyse the association between IFIH1 and the three diseases. The allele distributions of rs1990760 and rs3747517 in the Chinese population are much different from the European population. The A allele of rs1990760 (OR = 1.30, P = 5.4 × 10−3) and A‐G (rs1990760/rs3747517) haplotype (OR = 1.31, P = 3.8 × 10−3) were highly associated with the risk of psoriasis. However, the A allele of rs1990760 (OR = 0.73, P = 7.8 × 10−3) and A‐G haplotype (OR = 0.71, P = 4.5 × 10−3) were identified as protective factors for chronic periodontitis. IFIH1 affects several immune‐related diseases, including psoriasis and chronic periodontitis, and provides a molecular link between genetic susceptibility, viral infections and immune‐related diseases. Moreover, we also confirm the hypothesis that shared molecular mechanisms from common genetic variants contribute to a spectrum of immune‐related diseases.
Longitudinal Analysis of Early HIV-1-Specific Neutralizing Activity in an Elite Neutralizer and in Five Patients Who Developed Cross-Reactive Neutralizing Activity
Authors: Euler Zelda , van den Kerkhof Tom L. G. M. , van Gils Marit J. , Burger Judith A. , Edo-Matas Diana , Phung Pham , Wrin Terri , Schuitemaker Hanneke 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT
We previously established that at 3 years postseroconversion, ∼30% of HIV-infected individuals have cross-reactive neutralizing activity (CrNA) in their sera. Here we studied the kinetics with which CrNA develops and how these relate to the development of autologous neutralizing activity as well as viral escape and diversification. For this purpose, sera from five individuals with CrNA and one elite neutralizer that were obtained at three monthly intervals in the first year after seroconversion and at multiple intervals over the disease course were tested for neutralizing activity against an established multiclade panel of six viruses. The same serum samples, as well as sera from three individuals who lacked CrNA, were tested for their neutralizing activities against autologous clonal HIV-1 variants from multiple time points covering the disease course from seroconversion onward. The elite neutralizer already had CrNA at 9.8 months postseroconversion, in contrast with the findings for the other five patients, in whom CrNA was first detected at 20 to 35 months postseroconversion and peaked around 35 months postseroconversion. In all patients, CrNA coincided with neutralizing activity against autologous viruses that were isolated <12 months postseroconversion, while viruses from later time points had already escaped autologous neutralizing activity. Also, the peak in gp160 sequence diversity coincided with the peak of CrNA titers. Individuals who lacked CrNA had lower peak autologous neutralizing titers, viral escape, and sequence diversity than individuals with CrNA. A better understanding of the underlying factors that determine the presence of CrNA or even an elite neutralizer phenotype may aid in the design of an HIV-1 vaccine.
Common Structural and Epigenetic Changes in the Genome of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Friedlander Terence W. , Roy Ritu , Tomlins Scott A. , Ngo Vy T. , Kobayashi Yasuko , Azameera Aruna , Rubin Mark A. , Pienta Kenneth J. , Chinnaiyan Arul , Ittmann Michael M. , Ryan Charles J. , Paris Pamela L. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Progression of primary prostate cancer to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is associated with numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations that are thought to promote survival at metastatic sites. In this study, we investigated gene copy number and CpG methylation status in CRPC to gain insight into specific pathophysiologic pathways that are active in this advanced form of prostate cancer. Our analysis defined and validated 495 genes exhibiting significant differences in CRPC in gene copy number, including gains in androgen receptor (AR) and losses of PTEN and retinoblastoma 1 (RB1). Significant copy number differences existed between tumors with or without AR gene amplification, including a common loss of AR repressors in AR-unamplified tumors. Simultaneous gene methylation and allelic deletion occurred frequently in RB1 and HSD17B2, the latter of which is involved in testosterone metabolism. Lastly, genomic DNA from most CRPC was hypermethylated compared with benign prostate tissue. Our findings establish a comprehensive methylation signature that couples epigenomic and structural analyses, thereby offering insights into the genomic alterations in CRPC that are associated with a circumvention of hormonal therapy. Genes identified in this integrated genomic study point to new drug targets in CRPC, an incurable disease state which remains the chief therapeutic challenge. Cancer Res; 72(3); 616–25. ©2011 AACR.
Safety of anticoagulants in children with arterial ischemic stroke
Authors: Schechter Tal , Kirton Adam , Laughlin Suzanne , Pontigon Ann-Marie , Finkelstein Yaron , MacGregor Daune , Chan Anthony , deVeber Gabrielle , Brandão Leonardo R. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) is increasingly diagnosed and carries significant risks of recurrence, morbidity, and mortality. Anticoagulant therapy (ACT) is commonly prescribed in childhood AIS. Hemorrhagic complication rates in pediatric stroke are unknown, and adult safety data are of limited applicability. We analyzed a prospectively enrolled cohort of children (aged 1 month-18 years) with acute AIS selected using standardized criteria for protocol-based ACT over14-year period. We assessed ACT-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), including frequency, clinical and radiologic characteristics, predictors, and outcome. Among 215 children with AIS, 123 received ACT within 7 days after diagnosis. During anticoagulation, 14 (11%) children developed new or increased ICH, all within 26 days from diagnosis. ICH was symptomatic in 5 (4%), asymptomatic in 9 (7%), and mild (European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study grades HI1 or HI2) in all but 1 child (ECASS PH-2). Long-term neurologic outcomes after ACT-associated ICH in survivors were abnormal in 73% (8/11). Comparably, 12 of 75 (16%) children treated without anticoagulation developed new or increased ICH on follow-up imaging (P = .3507). We conclude that ACT is relatively safe in children with AIS, with a 4% risk of symptomatic ICH. Based on the safety of ACT in our study, clinical trials of ACT in childhood AIS are warranted.
High resolution profiling of human exon methylation by liquid hybridization capture-based bisulfite sequencing
Authors: Wang Junwen , Jiang Hui , Ji Guanyu , Gao Fei , Wu Mingzhi , Sun Jihua , Luo Huijuan , Wu Jinghua , Wu Renhua , Zhang Xiuqing 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
DNA methylation plays important roles in gene regulation during both normal developmental and disease states. In the past decade, a number of methods have been developed and applied to characterize the genome-wide distribution of DNA methylation. Most of these methods endeavored to screen whole genome and turned to be enormously costly and time consuming for studies of the complex mammalian genome. Thus, they are not practical for researchers to study multiple clinical samples in biomarker research.

Results
Here, we display a novel strategy that relies on the selective capture of target regions by liquid hybridization followed by bisulfite conversion and deep sequencing, which is referred to as liquid hybridization capture-based bisulfite sequencing (LHC-BS). To estimate this method, we utilized about 2 μg of native genomic DNA from YanHuang (YH) whole blood samples and a mature dendritic cell (mDC) line, respectively, to evaluate their methylation statuses of target regions of exome. The results indicated that the LHC-BS system was able to cover more than 97% of the exome regions and detect their methylation statuses with acceptable allele dropouts. Most of the regions that couldn't provide accurate methylation information were distributed in chromosomes 6 and Y because of multiple mapping to those regions. The accuracy of this strategy was evaluated by pair-wise comparisons using the results from whole genome bisulfite sequencing and validated by bisulfite specific PCR sequencing.

Conclusions
In the present study, we employed a liquid hybridisation capture system to enrich for exon regions and then combined with bisulfite sequencing to examine the methylation statuses for the first time. This technique is highly sensitive and flexible and can be applied to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) at specific genomic locations of interest, such as regulatory elements or promoters.
Stagnation-point flow over a stretching/shrinking sheet in a nanofluid
Authors: Bachok Norfifah , Ishak Anuar , Pop Ioan 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
An analysis is carried out to study the steady two-dimensional stagnation-point flow of a nanofluid over a stretching/shrinking sheet in its own plane. The stretching/shrinking velocity and the ambient fluid velocity are assumed to vary linearly with the distance from the stagnation point. The similarity equations are solved numerically for three types of nanoparticles, namely copper, alumina, and titania in the water-based fluid with Prandtl number Pr = 6.2. The skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, and the velocity and temperature profiles are presented graphically and discussed. Effects of the solid volume fraction φ on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are thoroughly examined. Different from a stretching sheet, it is found that the solutions for a shrinking sheet are non-unique.
The outcome at 20 years of conservatively treated ‘isolated’ posterior malleolar fractures of the ankle
Authors: Donken C. C. M. A. , Goorden A. J. F. , Verhofstad M. H. J. , Edwards M. J. , van Laarhoven C. J. H. M. 
Published: December 2011

We assessed the long-term (20 years) outcome of closed reduction and immobilisation in 19 patients with an isolated fracture of the posterior malleolus of the ankle treated at a single hospital between 1985 and 1990. The assessments used were an Olerud functional questionnaire score, physical examination using a loaded dorsal and plantar range of movement measurement, radiological analysis of medial joint space widening, the Cedell score for anatomical alignment of all three malleoli, and the radiological presence of osteoarthritic change. There were excellent or good results in 14 patients (74%) according to the Olerud score, in 18 patients (95%) according to loaded dorsal and plantar range of movement assessment, in 16 patients (84%) as judged by the Cedell score, and for osteoarthritis 18 patients (95%) had an excellent or good score. There were no poor outcomes. There was no correlation between the size of the fracture gap and the proportion of the tibiotalar contact area when compared with the clinical results (gap size: rho values -0.16 to 0.04, p ≥ 0.51; tibiotalar contact area: rho values -0.20 to -0.03, p ≥ 0.4). Conservative treatment of ‘isolated’ posterior malleolar fractures resulted in good clinical and radiological outcome in this series at long-term follow-up.
Assessing patients for joint replacement
Authors: Judge A. , Arden N. K. , Price A. , Glyn-Jones S. , Beard D. , Carr A. J. , Dawson J. , Fitzpatrick R. , Field R. E. 
Published: December 2011

We obtained pre-operative and six-month post-operative Oxford hip (OHS) and knee scores (OKS) for 1523 patients who underwent total hip replacement and 1784 patients who underwent total knee replacement. They all also completed a six-month satisfaction question. Scatter plots showed no relationship between pre-operative Oxford scores and six-month satisfaction scores. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were -0.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.09 to 0.01) between OHS and satisfaction and 0.04 (95% CI -0.01 to 0.08) between OKS and satisfaction. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify a cut-off point for the pre-operative OHS/OKS that identifies whether or not a patient is satisfied with surgery. We obtained an area under the ROC curve of 0.51 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.56) for hip replacement and 0.56 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.60) for knee replacement, indicating that pre-operative Oxford scores have no predictive accuracy in distinguishing satisfied from dissatisfied patients. In the NHS widespread attempts are being made to use patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) data for the purpose of prioritising patients for surgery. Oxford hip and knee scores have no predictive accuracy in relation to post-operative patient satisfaction. This evidence does not support their current use in prioritising access to care.
Respiratory Function Tests and CEA Level Monitoring of Patients Undergoing Smoking Cessation Treatment
Authors: Pezzuto Aldo , Pietrangeli Vittorio 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground and Objectives:Tobacco smoke contains many substances that are harmful and induce cancerogenesis. Carbon monoxide (CO) is the parameter commonly monitored by smoking cessation centres. The purpose of this study was to analyse other parameters and risk factors, including respiratory function and CEA (serum carcinoembryonic antigen) levels, in patients undergoing smoking cessation. Methods:One hundred and eighty current smoking patients current smokers were recruited from the outpatients for smoking cessation. Sociodemographic and lifestyle analyses were performed on them. They were also studied for respiratory function parameters and CEA (serum carcinoembryonic antigen) levels. A control group of 171 former smoking patients were also studied for functional and clinical parameters. Current smokers were also monitored for several parameters in the first 3 months after starting therapy with nicotine inhaler and varenicline, in addition to the behaviour therapy. Results:Some functional and clinical differences were found between the smokers and the former smokers groups. In the smokers' group we found no significant differences in sociodemographic and lifestyle between females and males. Regarding the response to varenicline-nicotine treatment combined with minimal advice, 56% of patients stopped smoking after 3 months of therapy; 30% of these had a level of severe bronchial obstruction. Operating parameters and the level of CEA at the beginning of the therapy were evaluated after 3 months, showing significant differences. Carboxyhemoglobin was reduced by 1.06%, oxyhemoglobin increased by 2.94%, FEF 25/75% increased by 16%. Conclusions:We can say that smoking cessation leads quickly to the improvement of clinical, functional and laboratory parameters. Patients with severe obstruction are more motivated to stop smoking.
Hypnosis in Smoking Cessation: The Effectiveness of Some Basic Principles of Hypnotherapy Without Using Formal Trance — A Case Study
Authors: Riegel Björn , Tönnies Sven 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThis article gives an insight into some possible intervention strategies using the basic principles of hypnotherapy. An excerpt of a treatment is described, showing the main effect with this individual person. The therapist applied the idea of unconscious seedings by narrating other clients' strategies. At the end, he supports the search of individual strategies. Abstinence was controlled one year after the last meeting by self-report and CO-measurement.
Buchbesprechung
Authors: Guski Andreas 
Published: December 2011

Zusammenfassung
McReynolds, Susan, Redemption and the Merchant God: Dostoevky’s Economy of Salvation and Antisemitism. Evanston, Ill.: Northwestern University Press, 2008. XIII, 241 S. (Studies in Russian Literature and Theory; 6) ISBN 978-0-8101-2439-4
Barriers to Referral in Swaziland: Perceptions from Providers and Clients of a System under Stress
Authors: Macintyre Kate CE , Littrell Megan , Hotchkiss David R. , Mndzebele Sibongile , Nkambule Rejoice , Malima Batsile , Gumbi Sikhomba , Dhlamini Thembeyena , Brown Lisanne , Kemerer Verne 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn Swaziland, where one in four adults is HIV positive, identifying and addressing barriers to a strong referral system is critical to ensure continuity of care for HIV positive individuals. This study examines the referral system from the perspectives of health providers, community health workers, traditional healers, clients seeking facility‐based care, and managers of private health organizations. Structured and semi‐structured questionnaires were administered to 52 senior providers, 161 providers, and 307 clients in 52 health facilities. In 82 randomly selected communities, 81 traditional healers and 247 CHWs also participated. Staff from private health agencies providing HIV‐related care were also interviewed. Referral is commonly understood as sending clients to seek care at higher level facilities and is an individualized process dependent on various factors. Providers sending clients rarely hear back on any regular basis about those clients. Referrals and linkages for certain services are particularly weak including nutrition support, psychosocial support, palliative care and home‐based care. Many providers recommended that referral protocols with improved communication tools are needed and said referred clients should be given priority at referral‐receiving sites. Policy recommendations include: referral form redesign; formalizing or reforming the referral protocol; strengthening communication and linkages between community‐ and facility‐based providers; and improving patient‐flow at referral sites.
In the News
Authors: Nicogossian Arnauld 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn the Editors' opinion, the materials summarized in this section have the potential for the development of health policies, standards, or for use in the daily practice and counseling of patients in preventative care. For additional information, readers might wish to visit Internet‐based medical news websites, some free of charge, such as PLoS Medicine, MedScape, Stone Heart, American College of Physicians, and the World Medical Association.
The morphology of an unique population of Corynosoma strumosum (Acanthocephala, Polymorphidae) from the Caspian seal, Pusa caspica, in the land-locked Caspian Sea using SEM, with special notes on histopathology
Authors: Amin Omar , Heckmann Richard , Halajian Ali , El-Naggar Atif 
Published: December 2011

AbstractOver 700 specimens of Corynosoma strumosum (Rudolphi, 1802) Lühe, 1904 were collected from one young male Caspian seal, Pusa caspica (Gmelin) in the southern land-locked Caspian Sea in April, 2009. Collected worms showed consistent variations from those reported by other observers using light microscopy especially in proboscis hook and trunk spine patterns. SEM images revealed many features that have not been previously reported including the shape and distribution of trunk spines, dorsoventral differences in proboscis hooks and their organization, the baldness of anterior proboscis, the rough egg topography, epidermal micropores, and variations in the female gonopore. This isolated population of C. strumosum from the land-locked Caspian Sea is distinguished from others reported from open waters elsewhere by the distribution of trunk spines, consistently smaller size of trunk and testes, larger eggs, and fewer proboscis hooks. Histopathological sections reveal the invasive path of worms in host tissue with damage to intestinal villi and worm encapsulation. Information obtained from SEM studies and histopathological sections is reported for the first time.
A new xenoma-forming microsporidium infecting intestinal tract of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
Authors: Mladineo Ivona , Lovy Jan 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAn undescribed species of Microsporidia Balbiani, 1882 was isolated from the muscularis mucosa of the intestinal mucosa of the reared Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Transmission electron microscopy showed that the pyriform unikaryotic microsporidium, measuring 3.6 μm ± 0.08 in length and 1.8 μm ± 0.04 in width (inferred from TEM sections), had two layers of 14–17 coils of polar filament and a robust manubrium of the filament. No developmental stages were observed in xenoma. Phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit rRNA showed closest similarity with Kabatana spp. (88.4%), clustering the microsporidium together in a sister group with K. takedai and Kabatana sp. (JI-2008)/K. newberryi clade. While recognized Kabatana members show ovoid, rounded to pyriform spore, lack of sporophorous vesicle or xenoma, 3–10 coils of polar filament in 1–2 rows and are localized within cytoplasm of trunk muscle, the new species is markedly pyriform, xenoma forming, with many filament coils in 2 rows and parasitizing smooth intestinal muscle. Since morphological features were not typically congruent with any of Kabatana spp. so far described and molecular clustering indicated paraphyletic position within Kabatana clade, we suggest assigning described species to collective group Microsporidia, as Microsporidium milevae sp. nov., until more evidence permits potential formation of the new genus.