bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of a psychoeducational intervention on family members’ views about schizophrenia: Results from the OASIS Italian multi-centre study
Authors: Fiorillo Andrea , Bassi Mariano , de Girolamo Giovanni , Catapano Francesco , Romeo Fabio 
Published: July 2010

Background: The opinions of relatives of patients with schizophrenia about this disorder can influence its course and outcome. Aims: In 2003, the Italian Psychiatric Association promoted a study on family psychoeducational intervention to explore its effectiveness in improving relatives’ opinions and beliefs about schizophrenia. Methods: In each of the 10 Italian mental health centres, 30 patients with schizophrenia and 30 key relatives were randomly recruited to receive the experimental intervention or the standard care. The experimental intervention consisted of 12 manual-based informative sessions on schizophrenia. Each relative filled in the self-reported questionnaire on family opinions about schizophrenia. Results: The treated sample included 107 patients and 112 relatives; the control group consisted of 105 patients and 118 relatives. In both groups, stress, traumas, heredity and family difficulties were most frequently mentioned as causing the disorder. Relatives’ opinions about patients’ civil rights and social competence, in particular the right to get married, to have children and to vote, improved and the belief that patients with schizophrenia are unpredictable decreased at the end of the intervention. Conclusions: These results confirm that relatives of patients with schizophrenia should receive psychoeducational interventions, particularly in Italy where family involvement in schizophrenia care is particularly frequent.
Outcomes From a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Prevention Program in Hispanic Families From a Low-Income School
Authors: Coleman Karen J. , Ocana Leticia L. , Walker Chris , Araujo Rachel A. , Gutierrez Veronica , Shordon Maggie , Oratowski-Coleman Jesica , Philis-Tsimikas Athena 
Published: July 2010

Purpose The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a minimal, tailored diabetes prevention program for families that could be delivered in elementary school settings. Methods Families were eligible for the program if they had at least one child aged 8 to 12 years old attending the elementary school who was at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Families attended ten 90-minute sessions with exercise, cooking demonstrations, and healthy life-style lessons. Height, weight, and self-reported behavior were assessed in parents and height and weight in children before and after classes. Results A total of 82 parents (2% men, 98% women) and 62 children (47% boys and 53% girls) enrolled in the program across 3 replications. Parents had an average weight loss from baseline to the end of the program of 1.5 lb (P = .05). There was a large increase in the number of parents who self-reported engaging in leisure-time physical activity as a result of participating in the program (14% vs 64%; P < .01). There were no changes in children’s body mass index percentile or z score as a result of the program. Conclusions Delivering a diabetes prevention program in an elementary school setting was effective for increasing diabetes-related knowledge, chronic disease awareness, and self-reported healthy behavior in low-income Spanish-speaking families.
Native Chondrocyte Viability during Cartilage Lesion Progression
Authors: Ganguly Kumkum , McRury Ian D. , Goodwin Peter M. , Morgan Roy E. , Augé Wayne K. 
Published: July 2010

Objective: Early surgical intervention for articular cartilage disease is desirable before full-thickness lesions develop. As early intervention treatments are designed, native chondrocyte viability at the treatment site before intervention becomes an important parameter to consider. The purpose of this study is to evaluate native chondrocyte viability in a series of specimens demonstrating the progression of articular cartilage lesions to determine if the chondrocyte viability profile changes during the evolution of articular cartilage disease to the level of surface fibrillation. Design: Osteochondral specimens demonstrating various degrees of articular cartilage damage were obtained from patients undergoing knee total joint replacement. Three groups were created within a patient harvest based on visual and tactile cues commonly encountered during surgical intervention: group 1, visually and tactilely intact surfaces; group 2, visually intact, tactilely soft surfaces; and group 3, surface fibrillation. Confocal laser microscopy was performed following live/dead cell viability staining. Results: Groups 1 to 3 demonstrated viable chondrocytes in all specimens, even within the fibrillated portions of articular cartilage, with little to no evidence of dead chondrocytes. Chondrocyte viability profile in articular cartilage does not appear to change as disease lesion progresses from normal to surface fibrillation. Conclusions: Fibrillated partial-thickness articular cartilage lesions are a good therapeutic target for early intervention. These lesions retain a high profile of viable chondrocytes and are readily diagnosed by visual and tactile cues during surgery. Early intervention should be based on matrix failure rather than on more aggressive procedures that further corrupt the matrix and contribute to chondrocyte necrosis of contiguous untargeted cartilage.
Systematic review and meta-analysis methodology
Authors: Crowther Mark , Lim Wendy , Crowther Mark A. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are being increasingly used to summarize medical literature and identify areas in which research is needed. Systematic reviews limit bias with the use of a reproducible scientific process to search the literature and evaluate the quality of the individual studies. If possible the results are statistically combined into a meta-analysis in which the data are weighted and pooled to produce an estimate of effect. This article aims to provide the reader with a practical overview of systematic review and meta-analysis methodology, with a focus on the process of performing a review and the related issues at each step.
Beneficial effects of synthetic KL4surfactant in experimental lung transplantation
Authors: Sáenz A. , Álvarez L. , Santos M. , López-Sánchez A. , Castillo-Olivares J.L. , Varela A. , Segal R. , Casals C. 
Published: July 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate whether intratracheal administration of a new synthetic surfactant that includes the cationic, hydrophobic 21-residue peptide KLLLLKLLLLKLLLLKLLLLK (KL4), might be effective in reducing ischaemia–reperfusion injury after lung transplantation.Single left lung transplantation was performed in Landrace pigs 22 h post-harvest. KL4surfactant at a dose of 25 mg total phospholipid·kg body weight−1(2.5 mL·kg body weight−1) was instilled at 37°C to the donor left lung (n = 8) prior to explantation. Saline (2.5 mL·kg body weight−1; 37°C) was instilled into the donor left lung of the untreated group (n = 6). Lung function in recipients was measured during 2 h of reperfusion. Recipient left lung bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) provided native cytometric, inflammatory marker and surfactant data.KL4surfactant treatment recovered oxygen levels in the recipient blood (mean±sdarterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction 424±60versus263±101 mmHg in untreated group; p=0.01) and normalised alveolar–arterial oxygen tension difference. Surfactant biophysical function was also recovered in KL4surfactant-treated lungs. This was associated with decreased C-reactive protein levels in BAL, and recovery of surfactant protein A content, normalised protein/phospholipid ratios, and lower levels of both lipid peroxides and protein carbonyls in large surfactant aggregates.These findings suggest an important protective role for KL4surfactant treatment in lung transplantation.
Predictive accuracy of patient-reported exacerbation frequency in COPD
Authors: Quint J.K. , Donaldson G.C. , Hurst J.R. , Goldring J.J.P. , Seemungal T.R. , Wedzicha J.A. 
Published: July 2010

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation frequency is important for clinical risk assessment and trial recruitment. In order to accurately establish exacerbation frequency, patients need to be followed for 1 yr, although this is not always practical. 1) Patient recall of exacerbation number during the year prior to recruitment to the London COPD cohort was compared with the number of exacerbations recorded on diary cards during the subsequent year; and 2) patient recall of their exacerbation number after 1 yr of follow-up was compared with documented exacerbations over the same year.A total of 267 patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s 1.14 L) recorded worsening of respiratory symptoms on daily diary cards for 1 yr. Exacerbations were defined according to previously validated criteria.There was no difference between the exacerbation number recalled by patients prior to recruitment and the number detected during the first year (median 2.0 (interquartile range 1.0–4.0) and 2.0 (1.0–4.0); expected agreement 76.4%; agreement 84.6%; κ = 0.3469). There was no difference between the number of exacerbations remembered by patients and the number recorded on diary cards over the same 1-yr period (2.0 (1.0–4.0) for both groups; expected agreement 74.9%; actual agreement 93.3%; κ = 0.6146).Patients remember the number of exacerbations they have in a year. Accuracy is increased when comparing the same 1-yr period. Patient recall is sufficiently robust for stratification into frequent and infrequent exacerbator groups for subsequent years.
Modelling asthma in macaques: longitudinal changes in cellular and molecular markers
Authors: Ayanoglu G. , Desai B. , Fick R.B. , Grein J. , de Waal Malefyt R. , Mattson J. , McClanahan T. , Olmstead S. , Reece S.P. , Van Scott M.R. , Wardle R.L. 
Published: July 2010

The aim of the present study was to determine whether systemic sensitisation and chronic aeroallergen challenge in macaques replicate the classical and emerging immunology and molecular pathology of human asthma.Macaques were immunised and periodically challenged over 2 yrs with house dust mite allergen. At key time-points, serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial biopsies were assayed for genes, proteins and lymphocyte subpopulations relevant to clinical asthma.Immunisation and periodic airway challenge induced changes in immunoglobulin E, airway physiology and eosinophilia consistent with chronic, dual-phase asthma. Sensitisation increased interleukin (IL)-1β and -6 concentrations in serum, and IL-13 expression in BAL cells. Airway challenge increased: early expression of IL-5, -6, -13 and -19, and eotaxin; and variable late-phase expression of IL-4, -5 and -13, and thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine in BAL cells. CD4+ lymphocytes comprised 30% of the CD3+ cells in BAL, increasing to 50% in the late phase. Natural killer T-cells represented <3% of the CD3+ cells. Corticosteroid treatment reduced serum histamine levels, percentage of CD4+ cells and monocyte-derived chemokine expression, while increasing CD3+ and CD8+ cells in BAL.Sensitisation and periodic aeroallergen challenge of cynomolgus macaques results in physiological, cellular, molecular and protein phenotypes, and therapeutic responses observed in human asthma, providing a model system useful in target and biomarker discovery, and translational asthma research.
Estimation of relatedness among non-pedigreed Yakutian cryo-bank bulls using molecular data: implications for conservation and breed management
Authors: Tapio Ilma , Tapio Miika , Li Meng-Hua , Popov Ruslan , Ivanova Zoya , Kantanen Juha 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackgroundYakutian cattle, the last remaining native cattle breed in Siberia, are well adapted to the extreme sub-arctic conditions. Nowadays onlyca. 1200 purebred animals are left in Yakutia. The semen of six Yakutian bulls was stored in a cryo-bank without any pedigree documentation because of the traditional free herding style of the population.MethodsTo clarify the genetic relatedness between these bulls and to provide recommendations to use their semen in future conservation and breed management programs, we have analysed 30 autosomal microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequences in 60 individuals including the six for which semen has been stored. Four relatedness estimators were calculated. In addition, we assessed the value of the cryo-bank bulls for the preservation of genetic variation of the contemporary Yakutian cattle by calculating allelic and gene diversity estimates and mean molecular coancestries.ResultsOn the basis of microsatellite variability, including the Yakutian cryo-bank bulls increases the allelic variation in the contemporary population by 3% and in the male subpopulation by 13%. In terms of the mean molecular coancestries, they are less related to the contemporary cow population than the breeding bulls and therefore could be used to reduce inbreeding in the living population. Although 30 loci are insufficient to resolve definitely their relatedness categories, the data suggest four pairs of cryo-bank bulls as possible half-sibs.ConclusionsOur results show that even relatively limited cryo-bank storage of semen can carry allelic variation through a bottleneck. We propose a breeding scheme based on the rotation of breeding females and the division of cryo-bank bulls into three groups. Thus, if molecular data (e.g. autosomal microsatellite genotypes) for the contemporary population are available and based on relatively small-scale laboratory analyses, it is possible to avoid serious mistakes in their use for breeding applications. The approach suggested here based on the use of Yakutian cryo-bank semen can be easily extended to cryo-bank materials of other animals in future breeding programs.
Inference of sparse combinatorial-control networks from gene-expression data: a message passing approach
Authors: Bailly-Bechet Marc , Braunstein Alfredo , Pagnani Andrea , Weigt Martin , Zecchina Riccardo 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackgroundTranscriptional gene regulation is one of the most important mechanisms in controlling many essential cellular processes, including cell development, cell-cycle control, and the cellular response to variations in environmental conditions. Genes are regulated by transcription factors and other genes/proteins via a complex interconnection network. Such regulatory links may be predicted using microarray expression data, but most regulation models suppose transcription factor independence, which leads to spurious links when many genes have highly correlated expression levels.ResultsWe propose a new algorithm to infer combinatorial control networks from gene-expression data. Based on a simple model of combinatorial gene regulation, it includes a message-passing approach which avoids explicit sampling over putative gene-regulatory networks. This algorithm is shown to recover the structure of a simple artificial cell-cycle network model for baker's yeast. It is then applied to a large-scale yeast gene expression dataset in order to identify combinatorial regulations, and to a data set of direct medical interest, namely the Pleiotropic Drug Resistance (PDR) network.ConclusionsThe algorithm we designed is able to recover biologically meaningful interactions, as shown by recent experimental results [1]. Moreover, new cases of combinatorial control are predicted, showing how simple models taking this phenomenon into account can lead to informative predictions and allow to extract more putative regulatory interactions from microarray databases.
A novel transgenic zebrafish model for blood-brain and blood-retinal barrier development
Authors: Xie Jing , Farage Eric , Sugimoto Masahiko , Anand-Apte Bela 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackgroundDevelopment and maintenance of the blood-brain and blood-retinal barrier is critical for the homeostasis of brain and retinal tissue. Despite decades of research our knowledge of the formation and maintenance of the blood-brain (BBB) and blood-retinal (BRB) barrier is very limited. We have established anin vivomodel to study the development and maintenance of these barriers by generating a transgenic zebrafish line that expresses a vitamin D-binding protein fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (DBP-EGFP) in blood plasma, as an endogenous tracer.ResultsThe temporal establishment of the BBB and BRB was examined using this transgenic line and the results were compared with that obtained by injection of fluorescent dyes into the sinus venosus of embryos at various stages of development. We also examined the expression of claudin-5, a component of tight junctions during the first 4 days of development. We observed that the BBB of zebrafish starts to develop by 3 dpf, with expression of claudin-5 in the central arteries preceding it at 2 dpf. The hyaloid vasculature in the zebrafish retina develops a barrier function at 3 dpf, which endows the zebrafish with unique advantages for studying the BRB.ConclusionZebrafish embryos develop BBB and BRB function simultaneously by 3 dpf, which is regulated by tight junction proteins. TheTg(l-fabp:DBP-EGFP)zebrafish will have great advantages in studying development and maintenance of the blood-neural barrier, which is a new application for the widely used vertebrate model.
Decreased expression of GST pi is correlated with a poor prognosis in human esophageal squamous carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhihui , He Wei , Yang Guanrui , Wang Junsheng , Wang Zhong , Nesland Jahn M , Holm Ruth , Suo Zhenhe 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackgroundGlutathione S-transferase pi (GST pi) is a subgroup of GST family, which provides cellular protection against free radical and carcinogenic compounds due to its detoxifying function. Expression patterns of GST pi have been studied in several carcinomas and its down-regulation was implicated to be involved in malignant transformation in patients with Barrett's esophagus. However, neither the exact role of GST pi in the pathogenesis nor its prognostic impact in squamous esophageal carcinoma is fully characterized.MethodsImmunohistochemistry was used to investigate GST pi expression on 153 archival squamous esophageal carcinoma specimens with a GST pi monoclonal antibody. Statistic analyses were performed to explore its association with clinicopathological factors and clinical outcome.ResultsThe GST pi expression was greatly reduced in tissues of esophageal carcinomas compared to adjacent normal tissues and residual benign tissues. Absent of GST pi protein expression in cytoplasm, nuclear and cytoplasm/nucleus was found in 51%, 64.7% and 48% of all the carcinoma cases, respectively. GST pi deficiency in cytoplasm, nucleus and cytoplasm/nucleus was significantly correlated to poor differentiation (p< 0.001,p< 0.001 andp< 0.001, respectively). UICC stage and T stage were found significantly correlated to negative expression of GST pi in cytoplasm (p< 0.001 andp= 0.004, respectively) and cytoplasm/nucleus (p= 0.017 andp= 0.031, respectively). In univariate analysis, absent of GST pi protein expression in cytoplasm, nucleus and cytoplasm/nucleus was significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (p< 0.001,p< 0.001 andp< 0.001, respectively), whereas only GST pi cytoplasmic staining retained an independent prognostic significance (p< 0.001) in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsOur results show that GST pi expression is down regulated in the squamous esophageal carcinoma, and that the lack of GST pi expression is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, deficiency of GST pi protein expression may be an important mechanism involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of the squamous esophageal carcinoma, and the underlying mechanisms leading to decreased GST pi expression deserve further investigation.
The reliability of side to side measurements of upper extremity activity levels in healthy subjects
Authors: Acuna Miguel , Amasay Tal , Karduna Andrew R 
Published: July 2010

Abstract

Background
In both clinical and occupational settings, ambulatory sensors are becoming common for assessing all day measurements of arm motion. In order for the motion of a healthy, contralateral side to be used as a control for the involved side, the inherent side to side differences in arm usage must be minimal. The goal of the present study was to determine the reliability of side to side measurements of upper extremity activity levels in healthy subjects.

Methods
Thirty two subjects with no upper extremity pathologies were studied. Each subject wore a triaxial accelerometer on both arms for three and a half hours. Motion was assessed using parameters previously reported in the literature. Side to side differences were compared with the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of the mean, minimal detectable change scores and a projected sample size analysis.

Results
The variables were ranked based on their percentage of minimal detectable change scores and sample sizes needed for paired t-tests. The order of these rankings was found to be identical and the top ranked parameters were activity counts per hour (MDC% = 9.5, n = 5), jerk time (MDC% = 15.8, n = 8) and percent time above 30 degrees (MDC% = 34.7, n = 9).

Conclusions
In general, the mean activity levels during daily activities were very similar between dominant and non-dominant arms. Specifically, activity counts per hour, jerk time, and percent time above 30 degrees were found to be the variables most likely to reveal significant difference or changes in both individuals and groups of subjects. The use of ambulatory measurements of upper extremity activity has very broad uses for occupational assessments, musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand as well as neurological pathologies.
First-line chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic breast carcinoma: combination of paclitaxel and IMP321 (LAG-3Ig) enhances immune responses and antitumor activity
Authors: Brignone Chrystelle , Gutierrez Maya , Mefti Fawzia , Brain Etienne , Jarcau Rosana , Cvitkovic Frédérique , Bousetta Nabil , Medioni Jacques , Gligorov Joseph , Grygar Caroline , Marcu Manon , Triebel Frédéric 
Published: July 2010

Abstract

Background
IMP321 is a recombinant soluble LAG-3Ig fusion protein that binds to MHC class II with high avidity and mediates APC and then antigen-experienced memory CD8+ T cell activation. We report clinical and biological results of a phase I/II in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma (MBC) receiving first-line paclitaxel weekly, 3 weeks out of 4.

Methods
MBC patients were administered one dose of IMP321 s.c. every two weeks for a total of 24 weeks (12 injections). The repeated single doses were administered the day after chemotherapy at D2 and D16 of the 28-day cycles of paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 at D1, D8 and D15, for 6 cycles). Blood samples were taken 13 days after the sixth and the twelfth IMP321 injections to determine sustained APC, NK and memory CD8 T cell responses.

Results
Thirty MBC patients received IMP321 in three cohorts (doses: 0.25, 1.25 and 6.25 mg). IMP321 induced both a sustained increase in the number and activation of APC (monocytes and dendritic cells) and an increase in the percentage of NK and long-lived cytotoxic effector-memory CD8 T cells. Clinical benefit was observed for 90% of patients with only 3 progressors at 6 months. Also, the objective tumor response rate of 50% compared favorably to the 25% rate reported in the historical control group.

Conclusions
The absence of toxicity and the demonstration of activity strongly support the future development of this agent for clinical use in combined first-line regimens.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00349934