bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prostate‐derived Ets transcription factor (PDEF) is a potential prognostic marker in patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Ghadersohi Ali , Sharma Satish , Zhang Shaozeng , Azrak Rami G. , Wilding Gregory E. , Manjili Masoud H. , Li Fengzhi 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBACKGROUNDReduced expression of prostate‐derived Ets transcription factor (PDEF) leads to morphologic change as well as increased migration and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. However, the clinical relevance of PDEF expression and its relationship to anti‐apoptotic protein survivin is yet to be determined.METHODSTissue microarrays of 73 prostate carcinomas and their adjacent benign prostate tissue, as well as 50 benign prostates were evaluated for PDEF expression by immunohistochemistry. Results were confirmed in available tumor tissues using Western blot and RT‐PCR. Expression of survivin in prostate carcinoma and benign tissues were determined using Western blot. Results and correlation with clinical data were statistically analyzed.RESULTSPatients' specimens with low Gleason scores (GS < 5) expressed higher levels of PDEF protein and lower levels of survivin protein when compared with moderate‐to‐high GS tumors (GS > 6). Patients with PDEF‐positive tumor survived significantly longer (P < 0.0001) than patients with PDEF‐negative tumor, and the 8‐year survival rate was 94% and 40%, respectively. PDEF expression was detected at the highest levels in benign tissues and was down‐regulated or lost in 30 recently diagnosed prostate carcinomas. Re‐expression of PDEF in prostate cancer cells inhibited survivin expression. Treatment of prostate cancer cells with methylseleninic acid resulted in restoration of PDEF expression, down‐regulation of survivin, and inhibition of tumor cell growth when compared with untreated controls (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSThese studies demonstrated an inverse correlation between PDEF and survivin expression, and that up‐regulation of PDEF was associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Prostate 71:1178–1188, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Resistive memory switching in layered oxides: AnBnO3n+2 perovskite derivatives and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ high‐Tc superconductor
Authors: Koval Y. , Chowdhury F. , Jin X. , Simsek Y. , Lichtenberg F. , Pentcheva R. , Müller P. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractResistive memory switching was investigated in titanates and niobates of the type AnBnO3n+2 and in the high‐Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. We studied the switching by current injection perpendicular to the layers. Both dc and pulsed measurements were performed. Out‐of‐plane transport properties were investigated by measurements of the resistance and current–voltage characteristics (IVs) vs. temperature for different resistive states. The critical temperature of superconducting transition and the critical current of intrinsic Josephson junctions were also analyzed for different resistive states in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. The resistive memory switching was explained in terms of doping of the conducting layers, which is induced by trapped charges in the insulating layers. The charged insulating layers act as a floating gate and reduce or increase the carrier concentration in the conducting layers, respectively. We found that all studied materials demonstrate a different type of non‐persistent resistive switching at low temperatures. This type of switching shows up in a specific form of current–voltage characteristics with a pronounced back‐bending often called s‐shaped IV. Both types of resistive switching with and without memory effect were analyzed in terms of electron overheating. We examine the role of hot electrons and discuss additional factors, which might lead to persistent resistive states.
Development and clinical evaluation of medical robot assisted photodynamic therapy of port wine stains
Authors: Wang Xing‐tao , Duan Xing‐guang , Huang Qiang , Bian Gui‐bin , Zhao Hong‐hua , Huang Nai‐yan , Gu Ying , Tang Xiao‐ying 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackgroundPort wine stains (PWS) are a kind of skin disease for which photodynamic therapy (PDT) has already achieved good results. With manual operation of clinical PDT, the laser density is uneven and laser irradiation of the lesion is arbitrary and non‐uniform. In addition, lengthy manual operation tires doctors; thus a robot system has been developed to assist them.MethodsFirst, a novel medical manipulator consisting of five passive joints (robot arm) and two active joints (robot wrist) was developed to automatically improve the uniformity of laser irradiation. Second, image processing of the lesion was introduced. Third, kinematics and path planning of the robot were analysed, and safety precautions were introduced. Then, accuracy tests of the robot wrist and robot system were conducted separately before clinical application. Finally, a total of 50 PWS cases were treated using the robot system. The clinical outcomes and comparison of non‐parametric values were employed to evaluate the robot system.ResultsThe accuracies of the robot wrist and robot system were shown to meet the requirements of clinical PDT treatment. The robot system performed successfully in 50 PWS cases. Doctors can devote more energy to clinical judgments during treatment with the assistance of the robot system. All the PWS have shown different degrees of improvement. The results show that the robot system is useful in assisting doctors for the PDT treatment of PWS.ConclusionsThe experiments show the feasibility and usefulness of the robot system in assisting doctors giving PDT treatment for PWS. The robot system can lighten the load on doctors and improve the therapeutic effect. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patient-reported outcomes in congenital cardiac disease: are they as good as you think they are?
Authors: Moons Philip 
Published: January 2011

AbstractPatient-reported outcomes are “any outcome based on data provided by patients or patient proxy as opposed to data provided from other sources”. Examples of patient-reported outcomes are quality of life, well-being, functional status, symptoms, adherence to treatment, satisfaction with treatment, and utility or preference-based measures. The main question of this manuscript is whether patient-reported outcomes in patients with congenital cardiac disease are as good as we think they are. In general, we could say yes, because numerous studies show that patients with congenital cardiac disease have an excellent quality of life. By contrast, we could say no, because patients generally overestimate their functioning, and up to two out of three patients are not compliant with the prescribed therapy or recommendations for follow-up. However, most importantly, we have to say that we do not know whether the patient-reported outcomes are good, because research with patient-reported outcomes in congenital cardiac disease is limited. Hence, patient-reported outcomes should be a priority on the agenda for research in the domain of congenital cardiac disease.
NONVANISHING OF JACOBI POINCARÉ SERIES
Authors: DAS SOUMYA 
Published: January 2011

AbstractWe prove that, under suitable conditions, a Jacobi Poincaré series of exponential type of integer weight and matrix index does not vanish identically. For the classical Jacobi forms, we construct a basis consisting of the ‘first’ few Poincaré series, and also give conditions, both dependent on and independent of the weight, that ensure the nonvanishing of a classical Jacobi Poincaré series. We also obtain a result on the nonvanishing of a Jacobi Poincaré series when an odd prime divides the index.
The Botrytis cinerea phytotoxin botcinic acid requires two polyketide synthases for production and has a redundant role in virulence with botrydial
Authors: DALMAIS BÉRENGÈRE , SCHUMACHER JULIA , MORAGA JAVIER , LE PÊCHEUR PASCAL , TUDZYNSKI BETTINA , COLLADO ISIDRO GONZALEZ , VIAUD MURIEL 
Published: January 2011

SUMMARYThe grey mould fungus Botrytis cinerea produces two major phytotoxins, the sesquiterpene botrydial, for which the biosynthesis gene cluster has been characterized previously, and the polyketide botcinic acid. We have identified two polyketide synthase (PKS) encoding genes, BcPKS6 and BcPKS9, that are up‐regulated during tomato leaf infection. Gene inactivation and analysis of the secondary metabolite spectra of several independent mutants demonstrated that both BcPKS6 and BcPKS9 are key enzymes for botcinic acid biosynthesis. We showed that BcPKS6 and BcPKS9 genes, renamed BcBOA6 and BcBO9 (for B. cinerea botcinic acid biosynthesis), are located at different genomic loci, each being adjacent to other putative botcinic acid biosynthetic genes, named BcBOA1 to BcBOA17. Putative orthologues of BcBOA genes are present in the closely related fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, but the cluster organization is not conserved between the two species. As for the botrydial biosynthesis genes, the expression of BcBOA genes is co‐regulated by the Gα subunit BCG1 during both in vitro and in planta growth. The loss of botcinic acid production does not affect virulence on bean and tomato leaves. However, double mutants that do not produce botcinic acid or botrydial (bcpks6Δbcbot2Δ) exhibit markedly reduced virulence. Hence, a redundant role of botrydial and botcinic acid in the virulence of B. cinerea has been demonstrated.
Adherence to treatment guidelines and long‐term survival in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Sarc Irena , Jeric Tina , Ziherl Kristina , Suskovic Stanislav , Kosnik Mitja , Anker Stefan D. , Lainscak Mitja 
Published: January 2011

AbstractRationale and aims  Adherence to treatment guidelines in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to be less than optimal over the COPD continuum. This retrospective study aimed to assess the implementation of COPD guidelines and potential association with long‐term mortality in patients with COPD.Methods  All consecutive patient discharges in the period of February 2002–June 2007 from the University Clinic of Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases Golnik, Slovenia, were screened for a primary discharge diagnosis of COPD.Results  Data on 1185 patients (mean age 70 ± 9 years, 72% men, 64% GOLD stage III/IV) were analysed. In the discharge letters 62% of patients had three or more drugs prescribed; 3% had no regular prescription. Most patients were discharged with short‐acting (91%) and long‐acting β2‐agonists (LABAs, 65%) and inhaled corticosteroids (61%), and 23% received long‐term oxygen therapy. Prescription rates of LABAs, tiotropium and inhaled corticosteroids increased over the disease continuum (P < 0.001). In total, 48% of patients died during a median follow‐up of 1149 days. Deceased patients had been less often treated with LABAs, inhaled corticosteroids and tiotropium. In multivariate Cox proportional‐hazards analysis, advanced age, current smoking status, lower body mass index, longer hospital stay and cancer were associated with higher mortality (P < 0.05 for all), and inhaled corticosteroids predicted lower mortality (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.55–0.94).Conclusion  Implementation of guideline‐recommended therapy was not optimal, particularly in patients who died during follow‐up. The high long‐term mortality calls for careful risk assessment and appropriate adherence to treatment guidelines.
Prolonged, wireless pH‐studies have a high diagnostic yield in patients with reflux symptoms and negative 24‐h catheter‐based pH‐studies
Authors: Sweis R. , Fox M. , Anggiansah A. , Wong T. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackground  Catheter‐based esophageal pH‐monitoring is used to evaluate patients with suspected gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD); however false‐negative results may occur due to poor tolerance of the catheter with reduced oral intake and activity, or high day‐to‐day variation in reflux and symptom events. We assessed diagnostic yield and clinical impact of prolonged, wireless pH‐monitoring in patients with negative results from 24‐h catheter‐based studies and ongoing symptoms.Methods  Esophageal acid exposure (percentage time pH <4), Symptom Index, and Symptom Association Probability (SAP) were calculated. Diagnostic yield was assessed using Average (mean) and Worst Day (24‐h period with highest acid exposure or symptom load) analyses. Outcome data were assessed 6–36 months (median 24) after initiation of definitive therapy based on physiologic testing.Key Results  Data from prolonged pH‐monitoring up to 96‐h (median 72‐h) were available from 38 patients. Using Average and Worst Day analysis, esophageal acid exposure was pathologic in 37% and 47%, whereas SAP was positive in 34% and 63% of patients, respectively. Overall using Average and Worst Day analyses, 61% and 76% patients were diagnosed with GERD based on either pathologic acid exposure or positive symptom association. Of 12 patients that underwent antireflux surgery, 10(83%) reported a good outcome at a median 24 months follow‐up.Conclusions & Inferences  Prolonged, wireless pH‐monitoring increases test sensitivity and diagnostic yield in patients with continuing esophageal symptoms despite negative 24‐h catheter‐based pH‐studies. Without a definitive diagnosis, many would not have received effective treatment.
Gene expression analysis of wounding‐induced root‐to‐shoot communication in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: HASEGAWA SATOKO , SOGABE YUSUKE , ASANO TOMOYA , NAKAGAWA TOMOYUKI , NAKAMURA HARUNA , KODAMA HIROAKI , OHTA HIROYUKI , YAMAGUCHI KAZUO , MUELLER MARTIN J. , NISHIUCHI TAKUMI 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACTRoot‐to‐shoot communication plays an important role in the adaptation to environmental stress. In this study, we established a model system for root‐to‐shoot signalling to observe global gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. The roots of Arabidopsis seedlings were wounded and the expression in the shoots of 68 and 5 genes was up‐regulated threefold at 30 min and 6 h post‐injury, respectively. These genes were designated early and late Root‐to‐Shoot responsive (RtS) genes, respectively. Many of the early RtS genes were found to encode transcription factors such as AtERFs, whereas others were associated with jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET). Some of the late RtS genes were shown to be regulated by 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid (OPDA). In fact, elevated levels of JA and OPDA were detected in the shoots of seedlings 30 min and 6 h, respectively, after wounding of the roots. A mutant analysis revealed that JA and ET are involved in the expression of the early RtS genes. Thus, root‐to‐shoot communication for many RtS genes is associated with the systemic production of JA, OPDA and possibly ET.
Sucrose transporter plays a role in phloem loading in CMV‐infected melon plants that are defined as symplastic loaders
Authors: Gil Lidor , Yaron Imry , Shalitin Dror , Sauer Norbert , Turgeon Robert , Wolf Shmuel 
Published: January 2011

SummaryBased on the high density of plasmodesmata interconnecting the intermediary cells and their neighboring phloem parenchyma or bundle‐sheath cells, and based on the insensitivity to the sucrose transport inhibitor p‐chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS), cucurbits have been concluded to be symplastic loaders. In the present study, we identified and characterized the full‐length sequence of sucrose transporter gene (CmSUT1) from melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Hale’s best jumbo). In vitro experiments confirmed that the identified gene product has sucrose transporter activity in baker’s yeast. Healthy and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)‐infected melon plants were employed to examine sucrose transporter activity in planta. Pretreatment with PCMBS inhibited loading of newly fixed 14CO2 into minor veins of CMV‐infected plants. Moreover, CMV infection caused significant increase in CmSUT1 transcripts expression, mainly in vascular bundles of minor veins, which was associated with elevated sucrose content in phloem sap collected from source‐leaf petioles. We propose that cucurbit plants contain the machinery for apoplastic phloem loading and that CMV infection causes a quantitative shift in the mode by which photoassimilates are loaded into the sieve tube.
Comparison of the bacterial isolates and antibiotic resistance patterns of elderly nursing home and general community patients
Authors: Xie C. , Taylor D. McD. , Howden B. P. , Charles P. G. P. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackground:  Nursing home‐acquired infections may differ from general community‐acquired infections in bacteriology and antibiotic resistance. However, there are currently limited data on this topic in the Australian setting.Aims:  To compare bacterial isolates and antibiotic resistance patterns, from pathology specimens of nursing home and community patients, and to comment on the suitability of empiric antibiotic guidelines for nursing home‐acquired infection.Methods:  This was a retrospective cohort study of patients, aged ≥65 years, who resided in either nursing homes or the general community. Patients with a hospital admission in the previous 28 days were excluded. Positive specimen cultures, collected between July 2003 and June 2008 in the Emergency Department and Outpatient Clinics of the Austin Hospital (Melbourne), were examined. The main outcome measures were the bacterial isolates, and their antibiotic resistance patterns, of patients from nursing homes and the general community.Results:  Specimens of blood (638), sputum (425), urine (4044) and wound cultures (785) were examined. The bacteriology of blood culture isolates did not differ between the two groups (P= 0.3). However, the bacteriology of sputum, urine and wound cultures differed significantly between the groups (P= 0.025, P < 0.001, P= 0.004 respectively). There were also higher proportions of antibiotic resistance among some bacteria in nursing home patients, especially methicillin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus isolates across all specimen types, and resistance to several empiric antibiotics among Enterobacteriaceae isolates in urine cultures.Conclusion:  Empiric antibiotic guidelines appear adequate to treat nursing home‐acquired septicaemia and pneumonia. However, guidelines for urinary tract infections and wound infections may need to be refined.
REALIZING BENEFIT SHARING – THE CASE OF POST‐STUDY OBLIGATIONS
Authors: SCHROEDER DORIS , GEFENAS EUGENIJUS 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACTIn 2006, the Indonesian government decided to withhold avian flu samples from the World Health Organization. They argued that even though Indonesian samples were crucial to the development of vaccines, the results of vaccine research would be unaffordable for its citizens. Commentaries on the case varied from alleging blackmail to welcoming this strong stance against alleged exploitation. What is clear is that the concern expressed is related to benefit sharing.Benefit sharing requires resource users to return benefits to resource providers in order to achieve justice. One benefit sharing tool within health research is the duty to provide a health care intervention which has been proven to be beneficial (or alternative benefits) to research participants after a study has been concluded. This duty is generally known as a post‐study obligation. It was enshrined in the Declaration of Helsinki in 2000 and re‐emphasized in 2008. Yet, there are few, if any, examples of good practice.In this article, we analyse the obstacles to giving more bite to benefit sharing provisions in health research through ethical review. We conclude that the provision of post‐study access to healthcare interventions is not a promising mechanism when monitored through research ethics committees. Alternative benefit provision is preferable if one focuses on achieving compliance. However, even the latter faces challenges, which we address in specific recommendations.
Innovation and evaluation: taming and unleashing telecare technology
Authors: Pols Jeannette , Willems Dick 
Published: January 2011

AbstractTelecare is advocated in most European countries with great, if not grandiose, promises: improving healthcare, lowering costs, solving workforce shortage. This paper does not so much question these specific promises, but rather the ‘register of promising’ as such, by comparing the promises with actual processes of incorporating technologies in healthcare practices. The case we study is the use of webcams in follow‐up care from a Dutch rehabilitation clinic for people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This process shows many changes and contingencies, and corresponding shifts in goals and aims. The conclusion is that when innovative technologies such as telecare are actually put to work, ‘the same’ technology will perform differently. In order to function at all, technology has to be tamed, it has to be tinkered with to fit the practices of the users. The technology, however, is not meekly put to use (tamed), but is unleashed as well, affecting care practices in unforeseen ways. The untenability of pre‐given promises and the fluidity of locally evolving goals has important implications for the way in which innovations are promoted, as well as for the way innovative technologies may be evaluated.
E47 retroviral rescue of intrinsic B‐cell defects in senescent mice
Authors: Landin Ana M. , Frasca Daniela , Harrison Patrick , Scallan Martina , Riley Richard L. , Blomberg Bonnie B. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryIn aging, immune responses are dramatically impaired, specifically the ability to produce protective antibodies. We previously showed that with age there is a B‐cell intrinsic decrease in class switch recombination (CSR) because of a decrease in activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID). One mechanism we have demonstrated for decreased AID includes increased mRNA degradation of the transcription factor E47, critical for AID transcription. Here, we show by means of a retroviral construct containing the DsRED reporter and the 3′UTR of E47 that the 3′UTR lowers mRNA expression, and particularly in B cells from old mice. This is the first demonstration that the E47 3′UTR directly regulates its degradation. The AID mRNA was not differentially regulated by degradation in aging. Therefore, we have here further established critical components for decreased AID with age. The major aim of this study was to establish conditions for the rescue of the intrinsic defect of aged B cells with retroviral addition of the coding region of E47 in splenic B cells to restore their ability to produce optimal AID and class switch to IgG. In this study, we show that young and old primary B cells overexpressing a stable E47 mRNA up‐regulate E47, AID, and CSR and improve B‐cell immune responses in senescent murine B cells. Our results provide a proof of principle for the rescue of intrinsic B‐cell defects and the humoral immune response in senescence.