bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Medico‐legal aspects of vertical root fractures in root filled teeth
Authors: Rosen E. , Tsesis I. , Tamse A. , Bjørndal L. , Taschieri S. , Givol N. 
Published: September 2011

Rosen E, Tsesis I, Tamse A, Bjørndal L, Taschieri S, Givol N. Medico‐legal aspects of vertical root fractures in root filled teeth. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 7–11, 2012.AbstractAim  To analyse the medico‐legal aspects of vertical root fracture (VRF) following root canal treatment (RCT).Methodology  A comprehensive search in a professional liability insurance database was conducted to retrospectively identify cases of VRF following RCT. The complaints were categorized as either financial risk bearing or financial nonrisk bearing, and related demographic, prosthetic and endodontic variables were analysed.Results  Seventy‐seven legal cases of patients with VRFs following RCT were identified. Most of the cases were either in premolars or in mandibular molar teeth (P < 0.05). Poor‐quality root filling was associated with an extended delay of diagnosis (P < 0.05). The presence of a post significantly increased the financial risk assessment (P < 0.05).Conclusions  Poor quality root fillings complicate the diagnosis of VRF, which in turn extends the time for achieving an accurate diagnosis and increasing the medico‐legal risk. Premolar and mandibular molar teeth were more prone to medico‐legal claims related to VRF following RCT. Post should be placed only when essential for additional core support to avoid medico‐legal risk.
Determining non‐invasiveness in ornamental plants to build green lists
Authors: Dehnen‐Schmutz Katharina 
Published: September 2011

Summary1. Ornamental horticulture is the most important pathway for plant invasions world‐wide. Large numbers of non‐native plants are used as ornamentals, and current policies fail to effectively address the continued escape of species from cultivation. Legislative measures are often limited to the listing of few high‐risk species banned from sale or planting. This approach, however, may give the impression that non‐listed species are not considered to be a risk and are therefore safe to use. The continued widespread use of species not yet identified as having the risk to become invasive may create a problem in the future.2. This article argues that knowledge gained from studies designed to identify invasive traits of species and factors contributing to their invasion success can also be used to identify species with a low invasion risk that can be recommended to the horticultural trade, landscaping sector and gardeners for safer use.3. The criteria identified for non‐invading species to be listed in a green list include sufficiently long residence time, high propagule pressure, no records of invasive occurrences elsewhere and an indication of some robustness to climate change. An example is provided for a random sample of ornamental species used in Britain.4.
Synthesis and application. There is a pressing need to prevent further plant invasions resulting from ornamental horticulture. A green list of non‐native ornamental species that have been assessed as having a low risk of escaping cultivation will contribute to the prevention of plant invasions. Species not yet assessed which may have the potential to become invasive in the future can then be more easily avoided. This list would be particularly useful in large‐scale plantings and landscaping projects. Currently, policies often focus on (i) species that are already introduced and recognized as invasive and (ii) the prevention of potential further invasions from new introductions. This study suggests that attention to non‐invasive species already present in the country and widely used in horticulture can help to advance policies for dealing with invasive ornamental species.
A peroxisomal carrier delivers NAD+ and contributes to optimal fatty acid degradation during storage oil mobilization
Authors: Bernhardt Kristin , Wilkinson Sabrina , Weber Andreas P. M. , Linka Nicole 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe existence of a transport protein that imports cytosolic NAD+ into peroxisomes has been controversially discussed for decades. Nevertheless, the biosynthesis of NAD+ in the cytosol necessitates the import of NAD+ into peroxisomes for numerous reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions. However, a gene encoding such a transport system has not yet been identified in any eukaryotic organism. Here, we describe the peroxisomal NAD+ carrier in Arabidopsis. Our candidate gene At2g39970 encodes for a member of the mitochondrial carrier family. We confirmed its peroxisomal localization using fluorescence microscopy. For a long time At2g39970 was assumed to represent the peroxisomal ATP transporter. In this study, we could show that the recombinant protein mediated the transport of NAD+. Hence, At2g39970 was named PXN for peroxisomal NAD+ carrier. The loss of PXN in Arabidopsis causes defects in NAD+‐dependent β‐oxidation during seedling establishment. The breakdown of fatty acid released from storage oil was delayed, which led to the retention of oil bodies in pxn mutant seedlings. Based on our results, we propose that PXN delivers NAD+ for optimal fatty acid degradation during storage oil mobilization.
Fresh blood for transfusion in adults with beta thalassaemia
Authors: Priddee N. R. , Pendry K. , Ryan K. E. 
Published: September 2011

Background: Patients with beta‐thalassaemia major require life‐long blood transfusion with the aim of achieving normal growth and development whilst minimising iron overload. A pre‐transfusion Hb between 9·5 and 10 g/dL is thought to achieve this balance. UK consensus is that fresh blood (less than 14 days) is better at maintaining this target pre‐transfusion Hb but there is no firm stipulation in place and no robust evidence supporting this.Methods: After introduction of a universal fresh blood policy for adult beta‐thalassaemics in 2010, we reviewed locally transfused adult patients to determine if there was any significant difference in pre‐transfusion Hb using fresh blood. Nine adult thalassaemic patients were analysed for two consecutive 6‐month periods in 2009 and 2010 (periods 1 and 2).Results: Mean pre‐transfusion Hb was significantly higher by an average of 0·5 g/dL in period 2 than period 1 (P < 0·05). The average unit age was 18 vs 9·5 days for periods 1 and 2 respectively (P < 0·05). There were no significant differences in potential confounders such as transfusion volume (P = 0·06), number of units transfused, ferritin or transfusion interval.Discussion: Use of fresh blood produced significantly higher pre‐transfusion Hb, giving credence to UK consensus. Lesser volumes of fresh blood appeared to achieve the target pre‐transfusion Hb, which may translate to reduced iron overload and chelation costs. Whether the assumption that the use of blood less than 7 days old in these patients would result in greater benefit requires further study.
Audiological findings in 100 USH2 patients
Authors: Abadie C , Blanchet C , Baux D , Larrieu L , Besnard T , Ravel P , Biboulet R , Hamel C , Malcolm S , Mondain M , Claustres M , Roux A‐F 
Published: September 2011

Abadie C, Blanchet C, Baux D, Larrieu L, Besnard T, Ravel P, Biboulet R, Hamel C, Malcolm S, Mondain M, Claustres M, Roux A‐F. Audiological findings in 100 USH2 patients.Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (HL), classically described as mild to severe with a typically down‐sloping audiometric configuration, is the earliest symptom occurring in Usher syndrome type II (USH2).Audiological findings were analyzed in a total of 100 USH2 patients (92 families) divided into three groups according to the gene involved: 88 USH2A, 10 GPR98 and 2 DFNB31 patients. A fine analysis of audiograms was performed (pure tone average, degree of severity, configuration).The median age of HL diagnosis was 5 years (range 8 months–31 years) although the median age at USH2 diagnosis was 34.5 (range 8–76). Moderate HL was predominant (76%) and a gently down‐sloping configuration characterized most audiograms (66%). No statistically significant difference was found between USH2A and GPR98 patients but a tendency was clearly noted for more GPR98 patients to present with severe hearing loss. It is not possible to predict the mutated gene from audiograms.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among familial breast cancer patients from Costa Rica
Authors: Gutiérrez Espeleta GA , Llacuachaqui M , García‐Jiménez L , Aguilar Herrera M , Loáiciga Vega K , Ortiz A , Royer R , Li S , Narod SA 
Published: September 2011

Gutiérrez Espeleta GA, Llacuachaqui M, García‐Jiménez L, Aguilar Herrera M, Loáiciga Vega K, Ortiz A, Royer R, Li S, Narod SA. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among familial breast cancer patients from Costa Rica.The contribution of mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes to the burden of breast cancer in Costa Rica has not been studied. We estimated the frequency of BRCA mutations among 111 Costa Rican women with breast cancer and a family history of breast cancer. These women were mainly from the metropolitan area of San José. A detailed family history was obtained from each patient and a blood sample was processed for DNA extraction. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 were sought using a combination of techniques and all mutations were confirmed by direct sequencing. Four different mutations were identified in five patients (four in BRCA2 and one in BRCA1) representing 4.5% of the total. Two unrelated patients were found to have a BRCA2 5531delTT mutation. Other BRCA2 mutations included C5507G and 6174delT. Only one BRCA1 mutation was found (C3522T). The family with the BRCA1 mutation had five cases of gastric cancer. Families with BRCA2 mutations were also reported to have cases of gastric and prostate cancers; however, the full range of cancers associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in Costa Rica has not yet been established.
Detection of chromosomal aneuploidies in fetal cells isolated from maternal blood using single‐chromosome dual‐probe FISH analysis
Authors: Calabrese G , Baldi M , Fantasia D , Teresa Sessa M , Kalantar M , Holzhauer C , Alunni‐Fabbroni M , Palka G , Sitar G 
Published: September 2011

Calabrese G, Baldi M, Fantasia D, Teresa Sessa M, Kalantar M, Holzhauer C, Alunni‐Fabbroni M, Palka G, Sitar G. Detection of chromosomal aneuploidies in fetal cells isolated from maternal blood using single‐chromosome dual‐probe FISH analysis.Detection of chromosomal aneuploidies using fetal cells isolated from maternal blood, for prenatal non‐invasive genetic investigation, has been a long‐sought goal of clinical genetics to replace amniocentesis and chorionic villous sampling to avoid any risk to the fetus. The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific new assay for diagnosing aneuploidy with circulating fetal cells isolated from maternal blood as previously reported using two novel approaches: (i) simultaneous immunocytochemistry (ICC) evaluation using a monoclonal antibody for i‐antigen, followed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); (ii) dual‐probe FISH analysis of interphase nuclei using two differently labeled probes, specific for different loci of chromosomes 21 and 18; in addition, short tandem repeats (STR) analysis on single cells isolated by micromanipulation was applied to confirm the presence of fetal cells in the cell sample enriched from maternal blood. Blood samples were obtained from women carrying trisomic fetuses, and from non‐pregnant women and men as controls. Using ICC–FISH approach, a large heterogeneity in immunostaining pattern was observed, which is a source of very subjective signal interpretation. Differently, dual‐probe FISH analysis provided for a correct diagnosis of all pregnancies: the mean percentage of trisomic cells was 0.5% (range, 0.36–0.76%), while the mean percentage of trisomic cells in the control group (normal pregnancies or non‐pregnant women) was ≤0.20%. The application of the dual‐probe FISH protocol on fetal cells isolated from maternal blood enables accurate molecular detection of fetal aneuploidy, thus providing a foundation for development of non‐invasive prenatal diagnostic testing.
Isolated and syndromic forms of congenital anosmia
Authors: Karstensen HG , Tommerup N 
Published: September 2011

Karstensen HG, Tommerup N. Isolated and syndromic forms of congenital anosmia.Loss of smell (anosmia) is common in the general population and the frequency increases with age. A much smaller group have no memory of ever being able to smell and are classified as having isolated congenital anosmia (ICA). Families are rare, and tend to present in a dominant inheritance pattern. Despite a strong degree of heritability, no human disease‐causing mutations have been identified. Anosmia is part of the clinical spectrum in various diseases, as seen in Kallmann syndrome, various ciliopathies and congenital insensitivity to pain. This review will focus on ICA through already published families and cases as well as syndromes where anosmia is part of the clinical disease spectrum. Furthermore, olfactory signal transduction pathway genes and animal models may shed light on potential candidate genes and pathways involved in ICA.
Low bone mineral density and nutritional vitamin D deficiency in pediatric renal transplant recipients: Assessment of risk factors and response to oral vitamin D therapy
Authors: Sgambat Kristen , Tuchman Shamir , Ryan Leticia , Wood Rachel , Moudgil Asha 
Published: September 2011

Sgambat K, Tuchman S, Ryan L, Wood R, Moudgil A. Low bone mineral density and nutritional vitamin D deficiency in pediatric renal transplant recipients: Assessment of risk factors and response to oral vitamin D therapy.  Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 790–797. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  VitD deficiency and bone disease are common after Tx. Prevalence and risk factors for low VitD and BMD and response to VitD therapy were investigated in pediatric renal Tx recipients. 25‐hydroxy VitD levels of 71 Tx were compared to 54 healthy AA children. DXA of 44 Tx were compared to 47 AA controls. Of Tx, 59% were AA. Majority (59.1%) of Tx were VitD deficient (23.9%) or insufficient (35.2%). Prevalence of low VitD levels was double in AA (73.9%) vs. non‐AA Tx (37.7%), (p = 0.003). Low VitD among Tx was associated with AA ethnicity (p < 0.01), winter (p < 0.05), older age (p < 0.05), males (p < 0.05) and time <6 months post Tx (p < 0.05). Tx with low VitD were treated with oral ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol (23 each); 13% treated with ergocalciferol vs. 82.6% treated with cholecalciferol achieved repletion (p < 0.0001). Of 36 Tx with whole body DXA, 19.5% had BMD (z < −1) after height adjustment. AA Tx had 3.4‐fold higher risk of low BMD vs. controls (p < 0.05). Low VitD and BMD are prevalent in children after renal Tx. Better repletion of VitD is achieved with cholecalciferol.
The second mini‐transplant for unstable mixed chimerism within the first 100 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplant in severe thalassemia
Authors: Choeyprasert Worawut , Pakakasama Samart , Anurathapan Usanarat , Songdej Duantida , Sirachainun Nongnuch , Sirireung Somtawin , Panthangkool Wanpen , Hongeng Suradej 
Published: September 2011

Choeyprasert W, Pakakasama S, Anurathapan U, Songdej D, Sirachainun N, Sirireung S, Panthangkool W, Hongeng S. The second mini‐transplant for unstable mixed chimerism within the first 100 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplant in severe thalassemia. Pediatr Transplantation 2011. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Allogeneic HSCT is the only curative treatment for severe thalassemia disease. MC occurs in one‐third of these patients within the first two months after HSCT; this is a major risk factor of graft rejection, especially when RHCs are more than 25%. There is still no consensus for the management of MC, especially in the early phase of HSCT. The DLI has also been described in the treatment of MC following HSCT for hemoglobinopathies, but its success is still not guaranteed. The second HSCT has been an approach used in an attempt to cure patients who reject their graft. Concern about toxicity of conditioning regimen, the second HSCT is usually delayed for at least a year after the first HSCT. We would like to demonstrate the successful use of the second mini‐allogeneic HSCT in hemoglobin E/β‐thalassemia with evidence of unstable MC in the first 100 days after allogeneic HSCT to prevent further graft loss after allogeneic HSCT.
Comparison of real‐time florescence quantitative PCR measurements of VAD1 mRNA with three conventional methods in diagnosis and follow‐up treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans infection
Authors: Qishui Ou , Ling Jiang , Ni Lin , Bin Yang , Wen Li 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThis study was to develop a real‐time florescence quantitative PCR (RT‐FQ‐PCR) assay to measure virulence‐associated DEAD‐box RNA helicase (VAD1) mRNA from Cryptococcus neoformans and evaluate its potential use in diagnosis and follow‐up treatment of C. neoformans meningitis (CNM). Cryptococcus neoformans was detected using RT‐FQ‐PCR, ink staining, fungal culturing and C. neoformans antigen detection in CNM compared with a normal control. VAD1 mRNA was measured in both acute and stable CNM patients. The sensitivity of RT‐FQ‐PCR (96%) is higher than ink staining (72%) and culture culturing (64%) (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 respectively), but its sensitivity is the same as antigen detection (96%, P > 0.05). The levels of VAD1 mRNA in the acute and stable phase of a C. neoformans infection are 3.042 ± 0.906 and 2.187 ± 0.665 respectively (P < 0.01). The levels of VAD1 mRNA are correlated to the numbers of C. neoformans, intracranial pressure and glucose concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; P < 0.01, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). The levels of expression of VAD1 mRNA in the group of patients who received an AmB/5‐FC/FZC drug regimen decreased more than in patients taking a 5‐FC/AmB or 5‐FC/FCZ drug combination. Quantitative measurements of VAD1 mRNA are valuable and reliable in diagnosing C. neoformans infection and evaluating a therapy response.
Use of Dermasilk briefs in recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis: safety and effectiveness
Authors: D’Antuono A. , Baldi E. , Bellavista S. , Banzola N. , Zauli S. , Patrizi A. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryDespite the generally excellent results achieved with fluconazole 150 mg weekly in recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC), some patients with a long history of disease do not achieve complete resolution of symptoms following antimycotic treatment. It is thought that use of tight synthetic fabric underwear could be a significant factor in causing recurrence. We decided to compare underwear made of Dermasilk®, a pure fibroin fabric impregnated with a permanent antimicrobial protection, with a cotton placebo to see whether it could be a useful adjunctive tool in the management of RVVC. We recruited 96 women who had a long‐term history of RVVC and had not responded to oral antimycotics with complete satisfaction. The patients were randomly divided into two groups and instructed to use either white cotton placebo briefs or Dermasilk® briefs. Both groups were treated with fluconazole 150 mg once weekly for 6 months. After 6 months, the Dermasilk group showed a statistically significant greater decrease of itching, burning, erythema and a smaller number of recurrences than the cotton group. Our work suggests that Dermasilk® briefs could be a useful adjunctive tool in addition to antimycotic treatment to help relieve the discomfort of recurrent vulvovaginitis.
Sporogenic and vegetative tissues of Saccharina latissima (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) exhibit distinctive sensitivity to experimentally enhanced ultraviolet radiation : photosynthetically active radiation ratio
Authors: Holzinger Andreas , Di Piazza Lavinia , Lütz Cornelius , Roleda Michael Y. 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYFertile Saccharina latissima sporophytes, collected in the Kongsfjorden, Ny‐Ålesund, Spitsbergen, Norway (78°56.87′ N, 11°51.64′ E) were investigated in relation to its sensitivity to experimentally enhanced ultraviolet radiation : photosynthetically active radiation (UVR : PAR) ratios. Irradiance of UVR were 4.30 W m−2 of UV‐A (320–400 nm) and 0.40 W m−2 of UV‐B (280–320 nm), and PAR (400–700 nm) was ∼4.30 W m−2 (=20 µmol photons m−2 s−1). Excised soral (sporogenic) and non‐soral (vegetative) tissues were separately irradiated for 16 h at 7°C. Transmission electron microscopy showed abundant occurrence of physodes, electron dense particles (∼300–600 nm) in the sorus. Paraphysis cells, with partly crystalline content, large mitochondria and abundant golgi bodies were towering over the sporangia. In soral tissue, cells were not visibly altered by the PAR + UVR irradiation. The chloroplasts, flagella and nucleus of unreleased meiospores inside the sporangial parent cells were visibly intact. Severe changes in the chloroplast structure of vegetative tissue occurred after PAR + UVR irradiation. These changes included wrinkling and dilatation of the thylakoid membranes, and appearance of electron translucent areas inside the chloroplasts. In vegetative cells exposed to PAR + UVR, the total amount of physodes, was slightly higher as in cells exposed to PAR only. Initial values of optimum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were 0.743 ± 0.04 in non‐soral and 0.633 ± 0.04 in soral tissue. Vegetative tissue was observed to be more sensitive to radiant exposure of PAR and PAR + UVR compared to reproductive tissue. Under PAR, a 20% reduction in Fv/Fm was observed in non‐soral compared to no reduction in soral tissue, whereas under PAR + UVR, 60% and 33% reduction in Fv/Fm was observed in non‐soral and soral tissues, respectively. This can be attributed to the corresponding three times higher antiradical power (ARP) capacity in soral compared to non‐soral tissue.
Valve morphogenesis in an araphid diatom Rhaphoneis amphiceros (Rhaphoneidaceae, Bacillariophyta)
Authors: Sato Shinya , Watanabe Tsuyoshi , Nagumo Tamotsu , Tanaka Jiro 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYThe pattern centre in valve morphogenesis is an annulus in centric diatoms or a sternum in pennate diatoms. The genus Rhaphoneis is currently placed within a lineage that diverges at the root of the pennate diatom clade in most molecular phylogenies, and its valves have a unique pattern to their striae, i.e. radiating from both apices, giving the impression that a pattern centre exists at both ends of the valve and virgae (ribs) formation proceeds centripetally. The present study, however, shows that the pattern centre is actually a linear sternum and the formation of virgae proceeds centrifugally, a pattern centre that is commonly found in most araphid diatoms. Thus, the hypothesis that valve morphogenesis based on a linear sternum and perpendicular virgae is a synapomorphy of pennate diatoms is supported. Our study also demonstrates that the pattern of valve formation can be observed by light microscopy with a direct mounting method when the specimen is relatively large, i.e. exceeding approximately 50 µm in valve length. An important advantage of the use of the direct mounting method is that it requires no repeated centrifugation steps for dehydration, steps necessary for observation by a scanning electron microscope, causing the loss and/or collapse of the specimen, particularly with fragile valves in the early stages of development.