bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of the theory of planned behaviour to assess factors influencing the identification of individuals at ultra‐high risk for psychosis in primary care
Authors: Russo Debra A. , Stochl Jan , Croudace Tim J. , Graffy Jonathan P. , Youens John , Jones Peter B. , Perez Jesus 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAim: To design and assess the psychometric properties of a questionnaire to identify and measure factors that influence the identification of individuals at ultra‐high risk for psychosis in primary care. It will inform the subsequent design of educational interventions to help general practitioners (GPs; primary care physicians) detect these individuals.Methods: The questionnaire was developed using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). A semistructured discussion group elicited beliefs underlying GPs' motivations to detect these individuals and informed the construction of a preliminary 106‐item questionnaire incorporating all constructs outlined in the TPB. A pilot phase followed, involving 79 GPs from 38 practices across 12 counties in England, to define the determinants of intention to identify these individuals. A psychometric model of item response theory was used to identify which items could be removed.Results: The final instrument comprised 73 items and showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.77–0.87) for all direct measures. Path analysis models revealed that all the TPB measures significantly predicted intention. Subjective norm, reflecting perceived professional influence, was the strongest predictor of intention. Collectively, the direct measures explained 35% of the variance of intention to identify individuals at ultra‐high risk for psychosis, indicating a good fit with the TPB model.Conclusion: The TPB can be used to identify and measure factors that influence identification of individuals at ultra‐high risk for psychosis in primary care.
Comparison of Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Voriconazole Intravenous-to-Oral Switch in Immunocompromised Adolescents and Healthy Adults
Authors: Driscoll Timothy A. , Frangoul Haydar , Nemecek Eneida R. , Murphey Donald K. , Yu Lolie C. , Blumer Jeffrey , Krance Robert A. , Baruch Alice , Liu Ping 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The current voriconazole dosing recommendation in adolescents is based on limited efficacy and pharmacokinetic data. To confirm the appropriateness of dosing adolescents like adults, a pharmacokinetic study was conducted in 26 immunocompromised adolescents aged 12 to <17 years following intravenous (IV) voriconazole to oral switch regimens: 6 mg/kg IV every 12 h (q12h) on day 1 followed by 4 mg/kg IV q12h, then switched to 300 mg orally q12h. Area under the curve over a 12-hour dosing interval (AUC
0–12
) was calculated using a noncompartmental method and compared to the value for adults receiving the same dosing regimens. On average, the AUC
0–12
in adolescents after the first loading dose on day 1 and at steady state during IV treatment were 9.14 and 22.4 μg·h/ml, respectively (approximately 34% and 36% lower, respectively, than values for adults). At steady state during oral treatment, adolescents also had lower average exposure than adults (16.7 versus 34.0 μg·h/ml). Larger intersubject variability was observed in adolescents than in adults. There was a slight trend for some young adolescents with low body weight to have lower voriconazole exposure. It is likely that these young adolescents may metabolize voriconazole more similarly to children than to adults. Overall, with the same dosing regimens, voriconazole exposures in the majority of adolescents were comparable to those in adults. The young adolescents with low body weight during the transitioning period from childhood to adolescence (e.g., 12 to 14 years old) may need to receive higher doses to match the adult exposures. Safety of voriconazole in adolescents was consistent with the known safety profile of voriconazole.
Phase II Dose Escalation Study of Caspofungin for Invasive Aspergillosis
Authors: Cornely O. A. , Vehreschild J. J. , Vehreschild M. J. G. T. , Würthwein G. , Arenz D. , Schwartz S. , Heussel C. P. , Silling G. , Mahne M. , Franklin J. , Harnischmacher U. , Wilkens A. , Farowski F. , Karthaus M. , Lehrnbecher T. , Ullmann A. J. , Hallek M. , Groll A. H. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT
Our objective was to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose of caspofungin for invasive aspergillosis (IA). The safety and pharmacokinetics of escalating dosages of caspofungin were investigated in IA. Eight patients each received caspofungin 70, 100, 150, or 200 mg once a day (QD). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as the same non-hematological treatment-related adverse event of grade ≥4 in 2 of 8 patients or ≥3 in 4 of 8 patients in a cohort. A total of 46 patients (median age, 61 years; 21 female; 89% with hematological malignancies) received caspofungin (9, 8, 9, and 20 patients in the 70-, 100-, 150-, and 200-mg cohorts) for a median of 24.5 days. Plasma pharmacokinetics were linear across the investigated dosages and followed a two-compartment model, with weight as the covariate on clearance and sex as the covariate on central volume of distribution. Simulated peak plasma concentrations at steady state ranged from 14.2 to 40.6 mg/liter (28%), trough concentrations from 4.1 to 11.8 mg/liter (58%), and area under the concentration-time curve from 175 to 500 mg/liter/h (32%) (geometric mean, geometric coefficient of variation). Treatment was well tolerated without dose-limiting toxicity. The rate of complete or partial responses was 54.3%, and the overall mortality at 12-week follow-up was 28.3%. In first-line treatment of invasive aspergillosis, daily doses of up to 200 mg caspofungin were well tolerated and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Pharmacokinetics was linear. Response rates were similar to those previously reported for voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin.
Clostridium perfringens Iota-Toxin b Induces Rapid Cell Necrosis
Authors: Nagahama Masahiro , Umezaki Mariko , Oda Masataka , Kobayashi Keiko , Tone Shigenobu , Suda Taiji , Ishidoh Kazumi , Sakurai Jun 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Clostridium perfringens
iota-toxin is a binary toxin composed of an enzyme component (Ia) and a binding component (Ib). Each component alone lacks toxic activity, but together they produce cytotoxic effects. We examined the cytotoxicity of iota-toxin Ib in eight cell lines. A431 and A549 cells were susceptible to Ib, but MDCK, Vero, CHO, Caco-2, HT-29, and DLD-1 cells were not. Ib bound and formed oligomers in the membranes of A431 and MDCK cells. However, Ib entered MDCK cells but not A431 cells, suggesting that uptake is essential for cellular survival. Ib also induced cell swelling and the rapid depletion of cellular ATP in A431 and A549 cells but not the insensitive cell lines. In A431 cells, Ib binds and oligomerizes mainly in nonlipid rafts in the membranes. Disruption of lipid rafts by methyl-β-cyclodextrin did not impair ATP depletion or cell death caused by Ib. Ib induced permeabilization by propidium iodide without DNA fragmentation in A431 cells. Ultrastructural studies revealed that A431 cells undergo necrosis after treatment with Ib. Ib caused a disruption of mitochondrial permeability and the release of cytochrome
c
. Staining with active-form-specific antibodies showed that the proapoptotic Bcl-2-family proteins Bax and Bak were activated and colocalized with mitochondria in Ib-treated A431 cells. We demonstrate that Ib by itself produces cytotoxic activity through necrosis.
The Xylella fastidiosa Biocontrol Strain EB92-1 Genome Is Very Similar and Syntenic to Pierce's Disease Strains
Authors: Zhang Shujian , Flores-Cruz Zomary , Kumar Dibyendu , Chakrabarty Pranjib , Hopkins Donald L. , Gabriel Dean W. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Xylella fastidiosa
infects a wide range of plant hosts and causes economically serious diseases, including Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevines.
X. fastidiosa
biocontrol strain EB92-1 is infectious to grapevines but does not cause symptoms. The draft genome of EB92-1 reveals that it may be missing 10 potential pathogenicity effectors.
Complete Genome Sequence of Weissella koreensis KACC 15510, Isolated from Kimchi
Authors: Lee Se Hee , Jung Ji Young , Lee Seung Hyeon , Jeon Che Ok 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Weissella koreensis
KACC 15510 was isolated from kimchi, a representative traditional Korean fermented food. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of
W. koreensis
KACC 15510, consisting of a 1,422,478-bp chromosome and one 18,992-bp plasmid, and provide a description of their annotation.
Review of the clinical pharmacokinetics of artesunate and its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin following intravenous, intramuscular, oral or rectal administration
Authors: Morris Carrie A , Duparc Stephan , Borghini-Fuhrer Isabelle , Jung Donald , Shin Chang-Sik , Fleckenstein Lawrence 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Artesunate (AS) is a clinically versatile artemisinin derivative utilized for the treatment of mild to severe malaria infection. Given the therapeutic significance of AS and the necessity of appropriate AS dosing, substantial research has been performed investigating the pharmacokinetics of AS and its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA). In this article, a comprehensive review is presented of AS clinical pharmacokinetics following administration of AS by the intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), oral or rectal routes. Intravenous AS is associated with high initial AS concentrations which subsequently decline rapidly, with typical AS half-life estimates of less than 15 minutes. AS clearance and volume estimates average 2 - 3 L/kg/hr and 0.1 - 0.3 L/kg, respectively. DHA concentrations peak within 25 minutes post-dose, and DHA is eliminated with a half-life of 30 - 60 minutes. DHA clearance and volume average between 0.5 - 1.5 L/kg/hr and 0.5 - 1.0 L/kg, respectively. Compared to IV administration, IM administration produces lower peaks, longer half-life values, and higher volumes of distribution for AS, as well as delayed peaks for DHA; other parameters are generally similar due to the high bioavailability, assessed by exposure to DHA, associated with IM AS administration (> 86%). Similarly high bioavailability of DHA (> 80%) is associated with oral administration. Following oral AS, peak AS concentrations (Cmax) are achieved within one hour, and AS is eliminated with a half-life of 20 - 45 minutes. DHA Cmax values are observed within two hours post-dose; DHA half-life values average 0.5 - 1.5 hours. AUC values reported for AS are often substantially lower than those reported for DHA following oral AS administration. Rectal AS administration yields pharmacokinetic results similar to those obtained from oral administration, with the exceptions of delayed AS Cmax and longer AS half-life. Drug interaction studies conducted with oral AS suggest that AS does not appreciably alter the pharmacokinetics of atovaquone/proguanil, chlorproguanil/dapsone, or sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine, and mefloquine and pyronaridine do not alter the pharmacokinetics of DHA. Finally, there is evidence suggesting that the pharmacokinetics of AS and/or DHA following AS administration may be altered by pregnancy and by acute malaria infection, but further investigation would be required to define those alterations precisely.
Feasibility and early clinical assessment of flattening filter free (FFF) based stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments
Authors: Scorsetti Marta , Alongi Filippo , Castiglioni Simona , Clivio Alessandro , Fogliata Antonella , Lobefalo Francesca , Mancosu Pietro , Navarria Pierina , Palumbo Valentina , Pellegrini Chiara , Pentimalli Sara , Reggiori Giacomo , Ascolese Anna M , Roggio Antonella , Arcangeli Stefano , Tozzi Angelo , Vanetti Eugenio , Cozzi Luca 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Purpose
To test feasibility and safety of clinical usage of Flattening Filter Free (FFF) beams for delivering ablative stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) doses to various tumor sites, by means of Varian TrueBeam™ (Varian Medical Systems).

Methods and Materials
Seventy patients were treated with SBRT and FFF: 51 lesions were in the thorax (48 patients),10 in the liver, 9 in isolated abdominal lymph node, adrenal gland or pancreas. Doses ranged from 32 to 75 Gy, depending on the anatomical site and the volume of the lesion to irradiate. Lung lesions were treated with cumulative doses of 32 or 48 Gy, delivered in 4 consecutive fractions. The liver patients were treated in 3 fractions with total dose of 75 Gy. The isolated lymph nodes were irradiated in 6 fractions with doses of 45 Gy. The inclusion criteria were the presence of isolated node, or few lymph nodes in the same lymph node region, in absence of other active sites of cancer disease before the SBRT treatment.

Results
All 70 patients completed the treatment. The minimum follow-up was 3 months. Six cases of acute toxicities were recorded (2 Grade2 and 2 Grade3 in lung and 2 Grade2 in abdomen). No patient experienced acute toxicity greater than Grade3. No other types or grades of toxicities were observed at clinical evaluation visits.

Conclusions
This study showed that, with respect to acute toxicity, SBRT with FFF beams showed to be a feasible technique in 70 consecutive patients with various primary and metastatic lesions in the body.
Percutaneous pedicle screw reduction and axial presacral lumbar interbody fusion for treatment of lumbosacral spondylolisthesis: A case series
Authors: Tender Gabriel C , Miller Larry E , Block Jon E 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Introduction
Traditional surgical management of lumbosacral spondylolisthesis is technically challenging and is associated with significant complications. The advent of minimally invasive surgical techniques offers patients treatment alternatives with lower operative morbidity risk. The combination of percutaneous pedicle screw reduction and an axial presacral approach for lumbosacral discectomy and fusion offers an alternative procedure for the surgical management of low-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis.

Case presentation
Three patients who had L5-S1 grade 2 spondylolisthesis and who presented with axial pain and lumbar radiculopathy were treated with a minimally invasive surgical technique. The patients-a 51-year-old woman and two men (ages 46 and 50)-were Caucasian. Under fluoroscopic guidance, spondylolisthesis was reduced with a percutaneous pedicle screw system, resulting in interspace distraction. Then, an axial presacral approach with the AxiaLIF System (TranS1, Inc., Wilmington, NC, USA) was used to perform the discectomy and anterior fixation. Once the axial rod was engaged in the L5 vertebral body, further distraction of the spinal interspace was made possible by partially loosening the pedicle screw caps, advancing the AxiaLIF rod to its final position in the vertebrae, and retightening the screw caps. The operative time ranged from 173 to 323 minutes, and blood loss was minimal (50 mL). Indirect foraminal decompression and adequate fixation were achieved in all cases. All patients were ambulatory after surgery and reported relief from pain and resolution of radicular symptoms. No perioperative complications were reported, and patients were discharged in two to three days. Fusion was demonstrated radiographically in all patients at one-year follow-up.

Conclusions
Percutaneous pedicle screw reduction combined with axial presacral lumbar interbody fusion offers a promising and minimally invasive alternative for the management of lumbosacral spondylolisthesis.
Management of Hot Flashes in Patients Who Have Breast Cancer With Venlafaxine and Clonidine: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Boekhout Annelies H. , Vincent Andrew D. , Dalesio Otilia B. , van den Bosch Joan , Foekema-Töns Joke H. , Adriaansz Sandra , Sprangers Sylvia , Nuijen Bastiaan , Beijnen Jos H. , Schellens Jan H.M. 
Published: September 2011

Purpose Therapies for breast cancer may induce hot flashes that can affect quality of life. We undertook a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with the primary objective of comparing the average daily hot flash scores in the twelfth week among patients treated with venlafaxine, clonidine, and placebo. Additional analyses of the hot flash score over the full 12 weeks of treatment were performed. Patients and Methods In all, 102 patients with a history of breast cancer were randomly assigned (2:2:1) to venlafaxine 75 mg, clonidine 0.1 mg, or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Questionnaires at baseline and during treatment assessed daily hot flash scores, sexual function, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. Results After 12 weeks, a total of 80 patients were evaluable for the primary end point. During week 12, hot flash scores were significantly lower in the clonidine group versus placebo (P = .03); for venlafaxine versus placebo, the difference was borderline not significant (P = .07). However, hot flash scores were equal in the clonidine and venlafaxine groups. Over the course of 12 weeks, the differences between both treatments and placebo were significant (P <.001 for venlafaxine v placebo; P = .045 for clonidine v placebo). Frequencies of treatment-related adverse effects of nausea (P = .02), constipation (P = .04), and severe appetite loss were higher in the venlafaxine group. Conclusion Venlafaxine and clonidine are effective treatments in the management of hot flashes in patients with breast cancer. Venlafaxine resulted in a more immediate reduction of hot flash scores when compared with clonidine; however, hot flash scores at week 12 were lower in the clonidine group than in the venlafaxine group.
Triazole‐Linked DNA as a Primer Surrogate in the Synthesis of First‐Strand cDNA
Authors: Fujino Tomoko , Yasumoto Ken‐ichi , Yamazaki Naomi , Hasome Ai , Sogawa Kazuhiro , Isobe Hiroyuki 
Published: September 2011

AbstractA phosphate‐eliminated nonnatural oligonucleotide serves as a primer surrogate in reverse transcription reaction of mRNA. Despite of the nonnatural triazole linkages in the surrogate, the reverse transcriptase effectively elongated cDNA sequences on the 3′‐downstream of the primer by transcription of the complementary sequence of mRNA. A structure–activity comparison with the reference natural oligonucleotides shows the superior priming activity of the surrogate containing triazole‐linkages. The nonnatural linkages also protect the transcribed cDNA from digestion reactions with 5′‐exonuclease and enable us to remove noise transcripts of unknown origins.
Flow structures at an idealized bifurcation: a numerical experiment
Authors: Hardy R. J. , Lane S. N. , Yu D. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTRiver bifurcations are key nodes within braided river systems controlling the flow and sediment partitioning and therefore the dynamics of the river braiding process. Recent research has shown that certain geometrical configurations induce instabilities that lead to downstream mid‐channel bar formation and the formation of bifurcations. However, we currently have a poor understanding of the flow division process within bifurcations and the flow dynamics in the downstream bifurcates, both of which are needed to understand bifurcation stability. This paper presents results of a numerical sensitivity experiment undertaken using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the purpose of understanding the flow dynamics of a series of idealized bifurcations. A geometric sensitivity analysis is undertaken for a range of channel slopes (0.005 to 0.03), bifurcation angles (22° to 42°) and a restricted set of inflow conditions based upon simulating flow through meander bends with different curvature on the flow field dynamics through the bifurcation. The results demonstrate that the overall slope of the bifurcation affects the velocity of flow through the bifurcation and when slope asymmetry is introduced, the flow structures in the bifurcation are modified. In terms of bifurcation evolution the most important observation appears to be that once slope asymmetry is greater than 0.2 the flow within the steep bifurcate shows potential instability and the potential for alternate channel bar formation. Bifurcation angle also defines the flow structures within the bifurcation with an increase in bifurcation angle increasing the flow velocity down both bifurcates. However, redistributive effects of secondary circulation caused by upstream curvature can very easily counter the effects of local bifurcation characteristics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Herpesvirus saimiri infection of rhesus macaques: A model for acute rhadinovirus‐induced t‐cell transformation and oncogenesis
Authors: Rosenwirth Brigitte , Kondova Ivanela , Niphuis Henk , Greenwood Edward J.D. , Schmidt Fabian , Verschoor Ernst J. , Wittmann Sabine , Heeney Jonathan L. , Bogers Willy M.J.M. , Fickenscher Helmut , Koopman Gerrit 
Published: September 2011

AbstractHerpesvirus saimiri (HVS) causes acute lymphoma and leukemia upon experimental infection of various monkey species. HVS strain C488 is also capable of transforming human T‐lymphocytes to stable growth in culture. The most susceptible species for oncogenesis are New World primates, in particular the cottontop tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). However, Old World monkeys such as macaques are the most used animal model for the close‐to‐human situation. The limited data on HVS infection in Old World monkeys prompted us to investigate susceptibility to infection and disease induction by HVS in macaques. After having established that rhesus macaques can be infected productively, and that rhesus T‐cells can be transformed in vivo by HVS, we observed induction of lymphoma in all inoculated animals. Pre‐existing humoral immunity in part of the rhesus colony capable of blocking HVS infection could be overcome by preselecting rhesus macaques for lack of this immunity of unknown origin. HVS infection of rhesus macaques as compared to that of New World monkeys has the advantages that disease progression is more prolonged, and larger blood volumes can be collected, which allows more extended analyses. Also, rhesus monkeys are the best immunologically and immunogenetically characterized primate species next to humans. This model could be useful for the evaluation of candidate tumor vaccines and to test novel approaches for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, HVS infection of macaques could eventually be useful as a surrogate model to address certain questions in rhadinovirus‐induced human cancer such as effusion lymphoma or Kaposi's sarcoma. J. Med. Virol. 83:1938–1950, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Delay‐dependent passivity and passification for uncertain Markovian jump systems with time‐varying delays
Authors: Zhang Baoyong , Zheng Wei Xing , Xu Shengyuan 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYThis paper deals with the problems of passivity analysis and passivity‐based controller design for Markovian jump systems with both time‐varying delays and norm‐bounded parametric uncertainties. Firstly, new delay‐dependent conditions for the considered system to be passive are obtained by using a mode‐dependent Lyapunov functional and by introducing some slack variables. These conditions are expressed by means of LMIs that are easy to check. It is shown through a numerical example that the obtained passivity conditions are less conservative than the existing ones in the literature. Secondly, the passification problem is investigated. On the basis of the obtained passivity conditions, dynamic output‐feedback controllers are designed, which ensure that the resulting closed‐loop system is passive. The effectiveness of the proposed design method is demonstrated by a numerical example. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.