bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective treatment of anemia in pediatric kidney transplant recipients with methoxy polyethylene glycol‐epoetin beta
Authors: Wedekin Mirja , Ehrich Jochen H. H. , Pape Lars 
Published: February 2011

Wedekin M, Ehrich JHH, Pape L. Effective treatment of anemia in pediatric kidney transplant recipients with methoxy polyethylene glycol‐epoetin beta. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 329–333. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  MPG‐EPO is a continuous erythropoietin receptor activator with a longer half‐life than darbepoetin, hence requires less frequent injections. It has been successfully used in adults, but currently, there are no published data available for its use in children. This pilot study was performed to verify the effect of MPG‐EPO on Hb levels in children. Twelve patients (age 6.4–17.2 yr) were treated with MPG‐EPO as an individual “Heilversuch” according to German law after RTx. Five patients were switched from DA, and seven were naïve to erythropoietin. Over a period of six months, Hb levels were measured monthly. A median MPG‐EPO dose of 2.5 μg/kg was administered intravenously in a single dose every four wk. The median Hb value increased in naïve patients from 9.9 to 11.2 g/dL (median, p = 0.004) and from 10.3 to 11.6 g/dL (median, p = 0.39) in patients switched from DA to MPG‐EPO. No adverse events secondary to MPG‐EPO therapy were detected. Our results indicate that a once‐monthly injection of MPG‐EPO is an effective treatment of anemia in children after renal transplantation. Larger randomized trials will have to confirm our findings.
The use of countercurrent heat exchangers diminishes accidental hypothermia during abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery
Authors: Muth C. M. , Mainzer B. , Peters J. 
Published: February 2011

Background: Perioperative hypothermia is common and likely contributes to morbidity, but the efficacy of prophylactic fluid warming has hardly been analyzed systematically. We tested the hypothesis that the use of an infusion/blood warmer, based on the principle of countercurrent heat exchange, reduces incidence and degree of severe hypothermia following aortic surgery.Methods: In a prospective randomized investigation of patients (n = 50) undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, all fluids/blood products (approx. 3500 ml) administered intraoperatively were infused either (n = 25) via countercurrent‐like heat exchangers (Hotline™ Level 1 Technologies Inc.) or without (n = 25) taking special precautions (infusions stored at 21°C, blood products heated to 37°C in a water bath). Anaesthesia was standardized using a thiopentone, fentanyl, vecuronium induction sequence, and maintained by isoflurane in N2O/O2.Results: The perioperative decrease of oesophageal temperature (−0.35°C ± 0.4) in the group managed with heat exchangers was significantly smaller (P < 0.0001) than in the control group (−1.5°C± 0.54), and oesophageal temperature at the end of surgery was considerably higher (35.1°C ± 0.45 vs. 34.2°C ± 0.7; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, while postoperative hypothermia below 34.5°C was observed in 16 patients (incidence: 64%) of the control group, it occurred in only 2 patients (incidence: 8%) managed with heat exchangers (P < 0.001).Conclusions: The efficacy of fluid/blood warmers has hitherto only been evaluated in bench tests. Our results demonstrate that the use of heat exchangers alone, while not completely preventing hypothermia, markedly reduces the incidence of severe perioperative hypothermia, and lessens its degree during abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.
Epidural vs. intravenous infusion of alfentanil in the management of postoperative pain following laparotomies*
Authors: van den Nieuwenhuyzen M. C. O. , Burm A. G. L. , Vletter A. A. , Stienstra R. , Kleef J. W. van 
Published: February 2011

Background: This study was designed to compare the efficacy of epidural vs. intravenous administration of alfentanil for treatment of postoperative pain.Methods: Twenty patients were randomly allocated to one of the two study groups to receive either an epidural bolus dose (0.75mg) followed by an epidural infusion (0.36mg/h) (EPI group) or an intravenous infusion (0.36mg/h) of alfentanil (IV group) for 24 h. These dose regimens were chosen such that equivalent and subanalgesic plasma concentrations of alfentanil were obtained. PCA‐morphine was available to both groups. Morphine consumption, pain scores measured on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the number of demands were used as variables to evaluate the efficacy of the postoperative analgesic therapy. In addition, plasma concentrations of alfentanil were measured.Results: The mean plasma concentrations of alfentanil were similar and < 20ng/ml in both groups. Total morphine consumption (EPI: 40mg, IV: 43 mg), pain scores (time when the VAS‐score>3.0: EPI: median 215 min; IV: median 215 min) and number of valid demands (EPI: median 25; IV: median 34) did not differ between the groups.Conclusion: Compared to intravenous infusion of alfentanil epidural infusion resulting in the same plasma concentrations is not more effective in relieving postoperative pain. In view of this observation we were not able to demonstrate a spinal mechanism of alfentanil.
Surfactant treatment in experimental Escherichia coli pneumonia
Authors: Song G.‐W. , Robertson B. , Curstedt T. , Gan X.‐Z. , Huang W.‐X. 
Published: February 2011

Background: Deterioration of lung function in bacterial pneumonia may in part be due to inactivation of endogenous surfactant. We investigated the effects of surfactant treatment on gas exchange and lung morphology in an experimental model of pneumonia caused by Escherichia coli.Methods: A total of 117 adult rats received via the trachea 2 ml/kg body weight of a standard suspension of Escherichia coli (4times109 bacteria/ml). After 2–3 days, 31 of the infected animals showed symptoms of respiratory failure with PaO2 <27 kPa during ventilation with 100% O2. All these animals were kept in a multi‐plethysmograph system and ventilated for 45 min with a tidal volume of 6 ml/kg, a frequency of 30/min, an inspiration/expiration ratio of 1: 1, and a positive end‐expiratory pressure of 0.2 kPa. After 15 min of mechanical ventilation, animals were divided in three treatment groups, receiving via the airways (1) no material, (2) normal saline (2 ml/kg), or (3) CurosurfR, 80 mg/ml (2 ml/kg). Ten healthy animals served as controls. Lung‐thorax compliance and blood gases were measured 15 and 30 min after surfactant treatment. After the period of ventilation, animals were killed, and the left lung was weighed and fixed in formalin for histological examination. The right lung was washed in situ with normal saline via the tracheal tube. Total phospholipids, and levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and protein in lavage fluid were determined.Results: In comparison with pre‐treatment values, average PaO2 at 30 min was increased by 76% in animals receiving Curosurf (P<0.01), but did not improve in the other groups. The left lung weight/body weight ratio showed a nearly 3‐fold increase in infected animals in comparison with normal controls. There was also a 3‐fold increase in the protein content of lung lavage fluid from infected rats, but values for total phospholipids and PC content were unchanged in animals not receiving surfactant. Histological examination of the lungs showed wide‐spread non‐specific pneumonia in infected animals, but no difference in alveolar air expansion between surfactant‐treated and non‐treated ones.Conclusion: Surfactant replacement significantly improves oxygenation in rats with E. coli pneumonia, without affecting lung‐thorax compliance during mechanical ventilation or alveolar expansion pattern in lungs fixed by conventional methods.
Quantitative Determination of Progesterone (P4) in Canine Blood Serum Using an Enzyme‐linked Fluorescence Assay
Authors: Brugger N , Otzdorff C , Walter B , Hoffmann B , Braun J 
Published: February 2011

ContentsProgesterone (P4) measurement in the peripheral blood is an objective parameter for determination of reproductive functions in the bitch. This study evaluates an enzyme‐linked fluorescence assay (ELFA) (Biomerieux, France) for the determination of progesterone validated for use in human. The ELFA is to be performed on the MiniVidas automated analyser which provides quantitative results within 45 min. Blood samples from a total of 27 female dogs of different breeds were used. To test the correctness of the ELFA 15 blood samples with a range of 0.3–40.0 ng/ml were compared to a radioimmunoassay (RIA) validated in the dog. The values obtained with the MiniVidas showed a high agreement (mean deviation 15%), deviations were in both directions and the correlation coefficient was 0.989. The coefficient of correlation according to Passing–Bablok test was 0.995. The intra‐assay reproducibility in the MiniVidas system was tested on five samples (mean values 61.8, 6.8, 51.4, 43.7 and 1.1 ng/ml). The coefficients of variation (CV; 10–12 replicates) were 3.4%, 6.7%, 2.6%, 3.1% and 25.4%, respectively. Four serum samples (mean value 47.0, 15.1, 49.1 and 4.0 ng/ml) from different bitches were assayed singly in 10 separate series to test the inter‐assay variability. The corresponding CV was 2.1%, 2.2%, 3.1% and 4.3% respectively. Samples from three dogs were used to test the accuracy of the assay. These samples were diluted (1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16) with charcoal‐stripped human serum (Biomerieux, France) and tested in three runs. The expected values were met in a range of 60–75%. Measurement of progesterone for the detection of ovulation as well as prediction of parturition provided meaningful results. As a conclusion the use of the MiniVidas system for determination of P4 in peripheral blood of the bitch provides rapid and reliable results.
The Cretaceous of the East Asian continental margin: Stratigraphy, paleogeography, and paleoclimate
Authors: Kirillova Galina L. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractLithostratigraphic correlation of a 6–10‐km‐thick Aptian–Maastrichtian terrigenous sequence of the East Asian continental margin and Sakhalin and Hokkaido Islands has revealed the existence of a single marine basin. This basin was populated by mixed Tethyan–Boreal fauna and sloped eastward until the Middle Cenomanian. Intense volcanic and tectonic processes caused the uplift of the continental margin in the mid‐Albian to Cenomanian and eastward migration of the shoreline. Paleobotanical studies have discovered a number of climatic changes. Relatively warm conditions existed in the Aptian, changing to cooler conditions in the Early Albian. The maximum warming occurred from the Late Albian to Cenomanian when large‐leaved flowering plants dominated the population. In the Late Cretaceous, the East Asian volcanic belt created a mountain edifice up to 3000 m high, which controlled longitudinal climatic and floral zonation. This control was more efficient than the latitudinal control. A wide development of flowering Platanaceae flora in the Turonian points to a relative cooling. The floral assemblage shows a temperate climate from the Early Coniacian onwards, with an optimum in the Campanian that is consistent with global transgression. As a result of the warm climate, the early Maastrichtian is characterized by highly diverse biota. Furthermore, in the middle Maastrichtian floral and faunal diversity decreased and the seasonal prevalence increased. Cooling occurred in the latest Maastrichtian. Five periods of coal accumulation are recognized throughout the Late Cenomanian to Late Maastrichtian. Shelf, deltaic, and slope turbidite facies of the continental margin contain organic carbon ranging from 0.3% to 2.2%, which together with direct evidence for oil and gas, are believed to be prolific for hydrocarbon exploration.
Sedimentary history with biotic reaction in the Middle Permian shelly sequence of the Southern Kitakami Massif, Japan
Authors: SHIINO YUTA , SUZUKI YUTARO , KOBAYASHI FUMIO 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe transition of sedimentary environments and their organism‐related responses is exemplified in the active margin setting of the Middle Permian in the Southern Kitakami Massif. The transition in the sedimentary environment began with a shallowing‐upward sequence at an upper slope to an outer shelf depositional setting that was associated with a delta system which transported abundant botanic remains in the Hoso‐o Formation. By contrast, the sediments of the overlying Kamiyasse Formation, the base of which is roughly equivalent to the lowermost Capitanian, were deposited at a lower shoreface to the outer shelf setting, which originated from complex depositional sources, including beach, near shore reef mounds and a nearby independent area of shallow and hard substratum with a considerable difference of depth. This unique depositional setting resulted in the seemingly ‘mixed’ fauna associated with this formation. The depositional environment of the overlying Kurosawa Formation is similar to that of the Hoso‐o Formation, but with far fewer monotonous biotic remains. A comparison of lithological characteristics and fossil remains with those of neighboring regions suggests that the independent mounds were generated as if the talus formed elsewhere so as to provide a large amount of skeletal elements to a deeper basin in the earliest Capitanian. Accordingly, the complex sedimentary setting observed in the Kamiyasse Formation occurs widely throughout the South Kitakami Massif, making possible the ‘mixed’ and seemingly diverse fauna from a mixture of multiple allochthonous origins.
Protein body‐inducing fusions for high‐level production and purification of recombinant proteins in plants
Authors: Conley Andrew J. , Joensuu Jussi J. , Richman Alex , Menassa Rima 
Published: February 2011

SummaryFor the past two decades, therapeutic and industrially important proteins have been expressed in plants with varying levels of success. The two major challenges hindering the economical production of plant‐made recombinant proteins include inadequate accumulation levels and the lack of efficient purification methods. To address these limitations, several fusion protein strategies have been recently developed to significantly enhance the production yield of plant‐made recombinant proteins, while simultaneously assisting in their subsequent purification. Elastin‐like polypeptides are thermally responsive biopolymers composed of a repeating pentapeptide ‘VPGXG’ sequence that are valuable for the purification of recombinant proteins. Hydrophobins are small fungal proteins capable of altering the hydrophobicity of their respective fusion partner, thus enabling efficient purification by surfactant‐based aqueous two‐phase systems. Zera, a domain of the maize seed storage protein γ‐zein, can induce the formation of protein storage bodies, thus facilitating the recovery of fused proteins using density‐based separation methods. These three novel protein fusion systems have also been shown to enhance the accumulation of a range of different recombinant proteins, while concurrently inducing the formation of protein bodies. The packing of these fusion proteins into protein bodies may exclude the recombinant protein from normal physiological turnover. Furthermore, these systems allow for quick, simple and inexpensive nonchromatographic purification of the recombinant protein, which can be scaled up to industrial levels of protein production. This review will focus on the similarities and differences of these artificial storage organelles, their biogenesis and their implication for the production of recombinant proteins in plants and their subsequent purification.
The Ethics of Care, Dependence, and Disability*
Authors: KITTAY EVA FEDER 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAccording to the most important theories of justice, personal dignity is closely related to independence, and the care that people with disabilities receive is seen as a way for them to achieve the greatest possible autonomy. However, human beings are naturally subject to periods of dependency, and people without disabilities are only “temporarily abled.” Instead of seeing assistance as a limitation, we consider it to be a resource at the basis of a vision of society that is able to account for inevitable dependency relationships between “unequals” ensuring a fulfilling life both for the carer and the cared for.**
Transitional Shortcuts to Justice and National Identity
Authors: VENEMA DERK 
Published: February 2011

AbstractNational legal systems undergo profound changes when they are confronted with undemocratic power seizure. The same occurs when they experience a transition (back) to democracy. Thus far, these two types of transition have been studied in relative isolation. Nevertheless, it seems that both undemocratic usurpers and democratizing regimes affect the role of fundamental rule‐of‐law principles in similar ways. This article compares both types of transition and suggests that pragmatism and national identity are the driving forces behind similar legal mechanisms, affecting legal principles, in those two forms of transition. Drawing on Carl Schmitt's idea of the state of exception and Ruti Teitel's work on transitional justice, this article shows that both kinds of transition share the same fundamental legal structure.
Social Dialogue in European Professional Football
Authors: Parrish Richard 
Published: February 2011

AbstractSocial dialogue refers to discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions involving organisations representing the two sides of industry, namely employers and workers. The constitutional basis for social dialogue is located within Articles 153–155 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In July 2008, a social dialogue committee in European professional football was established. This article assesses the significance of this move and argues that the committee has the long‐term potential to transform industrial relations in European football based on the conclusion of binding collective agreements. In the shorter term, the committee performs two functions: first, as a means of effecting a change in governance standards in European football and as a lobbying technique for the social partners in terms of their relationship with the EU; second, as a venue for a negotiated settlement between the rival interests operating within the EU's sports policy subsystem.
Differential impact of landscape transformation on pumas (Puma concolor) and jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest
Authors: De Angelo Carlos , Paviolo Agustín , Di Bitetti Mario 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAim  Jaguars and pumas, being similar in size and behaviour, are the largest felids of the Neotropics. However, pumas appear to be more resistant to human impacts. Our objective was to compare the response of both species with human impacts at a regional scale in a highly modified region where both species had continuous distribution in the past.Location  The Upper Parana Atlantic Forest (UPAF).Methods  Pumas and jaguars presence‐only data were used in an Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA). From the total number of records, we resampled 95 records of each species 10 times to characterize and compare their habitat requirements, built habitat‐suitability maps and examined interspecific differences in niche parameters related to present landscape characteristics.Results  Both species showed high dependence on native forest and habitat protection, and low tolerance to anthropogenic environments. However, jaguars showed higher differences between their optimal habitat and the available landscape (mean ± SD; marginality M = 2.290 ± 0.072) and lower tolerance to deviations from their optimal habitat (tolerance T = 0.596 ± 0.013) than pumas (M = 1.358 ± 0.067, P < 0.001; T = 0.742 ± 0.022, P < 0.001). Although their niches highly overlapped (Pianka’s O = 0.746 ± 0.069), pumas’ higher tolerance resulted in a larger area covered by suitable patches of habitat with higher connectivity. All jaguar‐suitable areas were also suitable for pumas; however, 44 ± 8% of puma‐suitable areas were unsuitable or marginal for jaguars.Main conclusions  Pumas showed more tolerance than jaguars to human impacts at a regional scale in the UPAF, a pattern also observed at local and continental scales. Although the proximate factors responsible for the differential response of pumas to human‐altered environments seem to be similar at all spatial scales (e.g. broader trophic niche than jaguars), the resultant spatial configuration of suitable habitat at a regional scale might be another important factor determining puma persistence and higher jaguar demands on conservation efforts.
Broken Clamp on a Cuffed Tunneled Catheter—Are All Catheters Equal?
Authors: Amin Prashant , Moossavi Shahriar , Vachharajani Tushar J. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe use of a cuffed tunneled catheter (CTC) as an initial access in the incident hemodialysis population in the United States remains high. Several different brands of catheters are available for clinical use. Their mechanical problems (such as broken clamps, hubs or leaking and cracked extension tubes) are seldom reported in the literature, even though they add to morbidity and higher health care expense. This study highlights issues related to commonly used catheters and suggests, in the interest of patient safety, a need for improved regulatory oversight in the manufacturing of CTCs.
Political Corruption in Central America: Assessment and Explanation
Authors: Ruhl J. Mark 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAnalysts agree that political corruption is an obstacle to democratic consolidation but disagree about how to measure the extent of corruption in individual nations. This analysis of the Central American countries demonstrates that the most important competing quantitative measures of political corruption produce strikingly different rankings. These contradictory results are caused less by poor measurement techniques than by the existence of two different dimensions of corruption that do not always coincide. Statistical indicators based on expert perceptions of corruption and alternative indicators based on ordinary citizens' firsthand experiences with bribery measure, respectively, grand corruption by senior officials and petty corruption by lower-level functionaries. This study attempts to explain why several Central American nations suffer primarily from one or the other rather than both. It advances recommendations for future research and future anticorruption policies that may be applied to Latin America as a whole.
Political Institutions, Policymaking, and Policy Stability in Latin America
Authors: Pereira Carlos , Singh Shane P. , Mueller Bernardo 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
In some Latin American nations, policy change occurs frequently, while in others it is stable, less prone to shifts with the prevailing political climate or shocks. The conditions under which institutional rules and the powers of key actors influence the capacity for governance vary, and this variation is seldom addressed in the literature. This project examines the effects of the interactions between key policymakers (the executive and the legislature) in Latin America on policy stability across different institutional frameworks. Countries with simultaneously strong executives and weak legislatures are shown to have unstable policy environments, as are countries with a history of unified government and, to a lesser extent, candidate-centered electoral systems.