bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of non‐traditional phosphate binders and cinacalcet on haemodialysis patient biochemistry, pill burden and cost
Authors: GRAY NICHOLAS A , KRISHNASAMY RATHIKA , VARDESH DEEPAK L , HOLLETT PETER R , ANSTEY CHRIS M 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) commenced cost subsidization for haemodialysis patients of sevelamer in December 2007, cinacalcet in July 2008 and lanthanum in May 2009. To determine the impact of PBS listing of these medications, we performed a single centre cross‐sectional, longitudinal study.Methods:  Dialysis parameters and biochemistry were prospectively collected at 6 monthly intervals for all prevalent haemodialysis patients from October 2007 to April 2010. Medications prescribed to manage chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder were recorded. Univariate regression analysis was undertaken for each variable against time.Results:  Patient numbers ranged from 87 to 114 in each period. At baseline, mean age was 68.8 ± 14.3 years, 71% male, 15.1 ± 3.5 haemodialysis hours/week and urea reduction ratio 71.9 ± 9.8%. These variables were unchanged over time. The use of sevelamer, cinacalcet and lanthanum increased (P < 0.001). There was a decrease in the use of aluminium‐ and calcium‐based phosphate binders (P < 0.001) but no change in the use of magnesium based phosphate binders (P = 0.09) or calcitriol (P = 0.11). Serum phosphate (P = 0.13) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P = 0.87) were unchanged. Mean ‘bone pill’ burden fell from 60.3/week to 51.9/week (P = 0.02). Mean pill cost increased from Australian dollars (AUD) 12.85/patient per week to AUD 59.85/patient per week (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  The PBS subsidization of sevelamer, cinacalcet and lanthanum has changed prescribing patterns, although serum phosphate and PTH remain unchanged. These changes have been at an additional cost of AUD 2444/patient per year. Data to address clinical end‐points of mortality and hospitalization is needed to determine if the cost of these newer agents is warranted.
Incidence and features of dual anti‐GBM‐positive and ANCA‐positive patients
Authors: DE ZOYSA JANAK , TAYLOR DOMINIC , THEIN HLA , YEHIA MAHA 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACT:Aims:  Goodpasture's syndrome, glomerulonephritis and pulmonary haemorrhage, may be due to a variety of causes. Rarely, patients with Goodpasture's syndrome present with both anti‐glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). The aim of this report was to determine the incidence, clinical features, management and outcomes of patients presenting with concurrent ANCA and anti‐GBM disease in Auckland.Methods:  Potential patients were identified by an electronic search of serology for ANCA and anti‐GBM antibody, diagnostic renal biopsy, or in‐hospital admissions using ICD9 and ICD10 codes between 1998 and 2008. A retrospective case‐note review of all potential cases was performed.Results:  Six cases were identified: two women and four men. The incidence was estimated at 0.47 cases per million people per year. The mean age of presentation was 59 years (range 25–85 years). One patient was a smoker and two patients were ex‐smokers. All subjects were anaemic, had haemoptysis and an abnormal chest X‐ray at presentation. The mean creatinine at presentation was 225 µmol/L (range 126–406 µmol/L); all patients had haematuria and proteinuria. All patients received corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Two patients were not plasma exchanged and died. Four patients received plasma exchange and are alive. One patient had a clinical relapse 6 years after their initial presentation and is on renal replacement therapy.Conclusion:  Concurrent ANCA and anti‐GBM disease is rare. The mortality rate is high. Aggressive immunosuppression with steroids, cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange can induce remission and preserve renal function. Long‐term monitoring for relapses should occur.
Human α‐mannosidase produced in transgenic tobacco plants is processed in human α‐mannosidosis cell lines
Authors: De Marchis Francesca , Balducci Chiara , Pompa Andrea , Riise Stensland Hilde M. F. , Guaragno Marco , Pagiotti Rita , Menghini Anna R. , Persichetti Emanuele , Beccari Tommaso , Bellucci Michele 
Published: June 2011

SummaryDeficiency in human lysosomal α‐mannosidase (MAN2B1) results in α‐mannosidosis, a lysosomal storage disorder; patients present a wide range of neurological, immunological, and skeletal symptoms caused by a multisystemic accumulation of mannose‐containing oligosaccharides. Here, we describe the expression of recombinant MAN2B1 both transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and in the leaves and seeds of stably transformed N. tabacum plants. After purification from tobacco leaves, the recombinant enzyme was found to be N‐glycosylated and localized in vacuolar compartments. In the fresh leaves of tobacco transformants, MAN2B1 was measured at 10 200 units/kg, and the purified enzyme from these leaves had a specific activity of 32–45 U/mg. Furthermore, tobacco‐produced MAN2B1 was biochemically similar to the enzyme purified from human tissues, and it was internalized and processed by α‐mannosidosis fibroblast cells. These results strongly indicate that plants can be considered a promising expression system for the production of recombinant MAN2B1 for use in enzyme replacement therapy.
The New Independent Higher Education Institutions in China: Dilemmas and Challenges
Authors: Zhang Luxi , Adamson Bob 
Published: June 2011

AbstractOne impact of globalisation has been the expansion of higher education to meet changing current socio‐economic and political requirements. This expansion places considerable stress on the public purse and many states have turned to alternative solutions. In China, a new phenomenon has emerged: independent higher education institutions that complement public and private institutions in helping to cater for the expanded numbers of students. These independent institutions are formed through partnerships between existing institutions and the business sector. After analysing the political, socio‐economic and cultural contexts that shape the policy of developing independent institutions, this paper explores the dilemmas and challenges that have arisen at the implementation level and critiques some of the solutions that have been found.
Modelling the size and composition of fruit, grain and seed by process‐based simulation models
Authors: Martre Pierre , Bertin Nadia , Salon Christophe , Génard Michel 
Published: June 2011

SummaryUnderstanding what determines the size and composition of fruit, grain and seed in response to the environment and genotype is challenging, as these traits result from several linked processes controlled at different levels of organization, from the subcellular to the crop level, with subtle interactions occurring at or between the levels of organization. Process‐based simulation models (PBSMs) implement algorithms to simulate metabolic and biophysical aspects of cell, tissue and organ behaviour. In this review, fruit, grain and seed PBSMs describing the main phases of growth, development and storage metabolism are discussed. From this concurrent work, it is possible to identify generic storage organ processes which can be modelled similarly for fruit, grain and seed. Spatial heterogeneity at the tissue and whole‐plant level is found to be a key consideration in modelling the effects of the environment and genotype on fruit, grain and seed end‐use value. In the future, PBSMs may well become the main link between studies at the molecular and whole‐plant levels. To bridge this phenotype‐to‐genotype gap, future models need to remain plastic without becoming overparameterized.

Contents

Summary
601

I.
Introduction
601

II.
Modelling the morphogenesis and growth of fruit, grain and seed
602

III.
Modelling fruit, grain and seed composition
605

IV.
Next steps in modelling the size and composition of fruit, grain and seed
610

References
612
Heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan mimetic improves pressure ulcer healing in a rat model of cutaneous ischemia‐reperfusion injury
Authors: Tong Miao , Tuk Bastiaan , Hekking Ineke M. , Pleumeekers Mieke M. , Boldewijn Mireille B. , Hovius Steven E.R. , van Neck Johan W. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTPressure ulcers are a major clinical problem, with a large burden on healthcare resources. This study evaluated the effects of the heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan mimetic, OTR4120, on pressure ulceration and healing. Ischemia‐reperfusion (I‐R) was evoked to induce pressure ulcers by external clamping and then removal of a pair of magnet disks on rat dorsal skin for a single ischemic period of 16 hours. Immediately after magnet removal, rats received an intramuscular injection of OTR4120 weekly for up to 1 month. During the ischemic period, normal skin perfusion was reduced by at least 60% and at least 20–45% reperfused into the ischemic region after compression release. This model caused sustained skin incomplete necrosis for up to 14 days and led to grade 2–3 ulcers. OTR4120 treatment decreased the area of skin incomplete necrosis and degree of ulceration. OTR4120 treatment also reduced inflammation and increased angiogenesis. In OTR4120‐treated ulcers, the contents of vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet‐derived growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta‐1 were increased. Moreover, OTR4120 treatment promoted early expression of alpha‐smooth muscle actin and increased collagen biosynthesis. Long‐term restoration of wounded tissue biomechanical strength was significantly enhanced after OTR4120 treatment. Taken together, we conclude that OTR4120 treatment reduces pressure ulcer formation and potentiates the internal healing bioavailability.
Diagnostic Accuracy of the ID Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Cousins Gráinne , Hijazze Samira , Van de Laar Floris A. , Fahey Tom 
Published: June 2011

(Headache 2011;51:1140‐1148)Objective.— The purpose of this systematic review with meta‐analysis is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the identification of migraine (ID Migraine) as a decision rule for identifying patients with migraine.Background.— The ID Migraine screening tool is designed to identify patients with migraine in primary care settings. Several studies have validated the ID Migraine across various clinical settings, including primary care, neurology departments, headache clinics, dental clinics, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and ophthalmology.Methods.— A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all studies validating the ID Migraine, with the International Headache Criteria as the reference standard. The methodological quality of selected studies was assessed using the Quality of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. All selected studies were combined using a bivariate random effects model. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted, pooling only those studies using representative patient groups (primary care, neurology departments, and headache clinics) to determine the potential influence of spectrum bias on the results.Results.— Thirteen studies incorporating 5866 patients are included. The weighted prior probability of migraine across the 13 studies is 59%. The ID Migraine is shown to be useful for ruling out rather than ruling in migraine, with a greater pooled sensitivity estimate (0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.75‐0.90) than specificity (0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.69‐0.83). A negative ID Migraine score reduces the probability of migraine from 59% to 23%. The sensitivity analysis reveals similar results.Conclusions.— This systematic review quantifies the diagnostic accuracy of the ID Migraine as a brief, practical, and easy to use diagnostic tool for Migraine. Application of the ID Migraine as a diagnostic tool is likely to improve appropriate diagnosis and management of migraine sufferers.
Serotonin Depletion Leads to Cortical Hyperexcitability and Trigeminal Nociceptive Facilitation via the Nitric Oxide Pathway
Authors: le Grand Supang Maneesri , Supornsilpchai Weera , Saengjaroentham Chonlawan , Srikiatkhachorn Anan 
Published: June 2011

(Headache 2011;51:1152‐1160)Objective.— To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of cortical hyperexcitability and trigeminal nociceptive facilitation induced by serotonin (5‐HT) depletion.Background.— Nitric oxide and 5‐HT are important in the pathogenesis of primary headaches. An increase in cortical excitability and trigeminal nociception has been demonstrated in animals with low 5‐HT levels. Although the mechanism underlying this increase is unclear, an alteration of the NO system is one possible explanation.Methods.— Male Wistar rats were divided into control and 5‐HT‐depleted groups. 5‐HT was depleted by i.p. injection of parachlorophenylalanine (100 mg/kg). Three days after injection, a microelectrode was inserted into the cerebral cortex for electrocorticograph recording and waves of cortical spreading depression (CSD) were triggered with KCl application. N‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME; 10 mg/kg by i.v. injection) or saline was given after the second CSD wave. Following the experiment, the cerebral cortex and brain stem were removed for anti‐neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and anti‐Fos immunohistochemistry.Results.— Relative to the control group, the 5‐HT‐depleted group exhibited a higher frequency of CSD waves, more nNOS‐immunoreactive cells in both the cerebral cortex and brainstem and more Fos‐immunoreactive cells in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). In the control group, L‐NAME application led to fewer nNOS‐immunoreactive cells in the cerebral cortex and TNC, and fewer Fos‐immunoreactive cells in the TNC; however, L‐NAME was without effect on the CSD pattern. By contrast, in addition to decreased nNOS and Fos expression, L‐NAME significantly reduced the frequency of CSD events in the 5‐HT‐depleted group.Conclusions.— Inhibition of NO production can counter both the cortical hyperexcitability and facilitation of trigeminal nociception that develop in the depleted 5‐HT state. Therefore, NO is likely involved in the increase in both CSD events and CSD‐evoked trigeminal nociception under decreased 5‐HT conditions.
Progranulin contributes to endogenous mechanisms of pain defense after nerve injury in mice
Authors: Lim Hee‐Young , Albuquerque Boris , Häussler Annett , Myrczek Thekla , Ding Aihao , Tegeder Irmgard 
Published: June 2011

AbstractProgranulin haploinsufficiency is associated with frontotemporal dementia in humans. Deficiency of progranulin led to exaggerated inflammation and premature aging in mice. The role of progranulin in adaptations to nerve injury and neuropathic pain are still unknown. Here we found that progranulin is up‐regulated after injury of the sciatic nerve in the mouse ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord, most prominently in the microglia surrounding injured motor neurons. Progranulin knockdown by continuous intrathecal spinal delivery of small interfering RNA after sciatic nerve injury intensified neuropathic pain‐like behaviour and delayed the recovery of motor functions. Compared to wild‐type mice, progranulin‐deficient mice developed more intense nociceptive hypersensitivity after nerve injury. The differences escalated with aging. Knockdown of progranulin reduced the survival of dissociated primary neurons and neurite outgrowth, whereas addition of recombinant progranulin rescued primary dorsal root ganglia neurons from cell death induced by nerve growth factor withdrawal. Thus, up‐regulation of progranulin after neuronal injury may reduce neuropathic pain and help motor function recovery, at least in part, by promoting survival of injured neurons and supporting regrowth. A deficiency in this mechanism may increase the risk for injury‐associated chronic pain.
Long-term depression is a stroke risk factor
Authors: Kocer Emel , Kocer Abdulkadir , Degirmenci Yıldız , Eryılmaz Mehmet 
Published: June 2011

Kocer E, Kocer A, Degirmenci Y, Eryılmaz M. Long-term depression is a stroke risk factor.Background and Aim: Only a few studies have evaluated depression prevalence in pre-stroke period in comparison to controls. We investigated this association based on a hospitalised stroke population.Methods: One hundred and forty-eight stroke patients were evaluated. The presence of depression was compared with those of 100 healthy controls without stroke, from the same region. Depression was accepted as present or not present after history and clinical evaluation according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV. Socio-demographic variables, other stroke risk factors and the time of diagnosis of depression (how many year or month they got depression) were recorded.Results: Gender and mean age of patients and controls were similar in comparison. Depression was diagnosed in 27 patients and 24 controls (p > 0.05). The time period passed after diagnosis of depression was longer in stroke patients in comparison to controls (p < 0.001).Conclusions: The risk of stroke should be considered in elderly with long-term depression. This indicates that treatment of depression is another factor which should be considered in prevention of brain stroke.
A Systematic Review of Methods of Eye Irrigation for Adults and Children with Ocular Chemical Burns
Authors: Chau Janita P.C. , Lee Diana T.F. , Lo Suzanne H.S. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTAim: To present the best available research evidence on eye irrigation methods for ocular chemical burns to facilitate better‐informed clinical decisions.Methods: Randomized, quasi‐randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing the effectiveness of eye irrigation methods among adults or children as an active form of emergency treatment for ocular chemical burns were reviewed. Electronic databases in English and Chinese were searched from inception to June 2010. Two reviewers made independent decisions on whether to include each publication in the review and critically appraised the study quality independently. Given the clinical and methodological diversity among the studies, the review findings are presented in a narrative form.Results and Discussion: Four studies involving 302 adults and children were identified. The results of this review indicate that patients who underwent irrigation with tap water immediately following alkali burns at the scene of injury had significantly better clinical and ocular outcomes. The evidence also suggests that in hospital settings, more patients preferred balanced saline solution (BSS) plus than other irrigation fluids. Irrigation with diphoterine was found in one study that resulted in better ocular outcomes following grade 1 and 2 ocular burns. With regard to duration of eye irrigation, patients with ocular chemical burns treated with prolonged irrigation reported shorter duration of treatment at hospital and absence from work. The results should be treated with caution, as there were significant differences between the comparison groups in some studies.Implications and Conclusions: As prompt eye irrigation with tap water immediately after alkali burns had better outcomes, it would be important to commence eye irrigation immediately after burns are sustained. In this review, irrigating fluids including normal saline, lactated Ringer's, normal saline with sodium bicarbonate added, BSS Plus, and diphoterine solutions all yielded positive ocular outcomes suggesting for its use in hospital settings.
Locally cold flows from large-scale structure
Authors: Aragon-Calvo M. A. , Silk J. , Szalay A. S. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
We show that the ‘cold’ Hubble flow observed for galaxies around the Milky Way does not represent a problem in cosmology but is due to the particular geometry and dynamics of our local wall. The behaviour of the perturbed Hubble flow around the Milky Way is the result of two main factors: at small scales (R &lt; 1 Mpc) the inflow is dominated by the gravitational influence of the Milky Way and at large scales (R &gt; 1 Mpc) the outflow reflects the expansion of our local wall which ‘cools down’ the peculiar velocities. This is an intrinsic property of walls and is independent of cosmology. We find the dispersion of the local Hubble flow (1 &lt; R &lt; 3 Mpc) around simulated ‘Milky Way’ haloes located at the centre of low-density cosmological walls to be σH∼ 30 km s-1, in excellent agreement with observations. The expansion of our local wall is also reflected in the value of the measured local Hubble constant. For ‘Milky Way’ haloes inside walls, we find super-Hubble flows with hlocal≃ 0.77–1.13 over a range of increasingly ‘clean’ environments. The radius of equilibrium (R0) depends not only on the mass of the central halo and the Hubble expansion, but also on the dynamics given by the local LSS geometry. The super-Hubble flow inside our local wall has the effect of reducing the radius at which the local expansion balances the gravitational influence of the Milky Way. By ignoring the dynamical effect of the local wall, the mass of the Milky Way estimated from R0 can be underestimated by as much as ∼30 per cent.
The correlation structure of dark matter halo properties
Authors: Jeeson-Daniel Akila , Vecchia Claudio Dalla , Haas Marcel R. , Schaye Joop 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
We investigate the correlation between nine different dark matter halo properties using a rank correlation analysis and a Principal Component Analysis for a sample of haloes spanning five orders of magnitude in mass. We consider mass and dimensionless measures of concentration, age, relaxedness, sphericity, triaxiality, substructure, spin and environment, where the latter is defined in a way that makes it insensitive to mass. We find that concentration is the most fundamental property. Except for environment, all parameters are strongly correlated with concentration. Concentration, age, substructure, mass, sphericity and relaxedness can be considered a single family of parameters, albeit with substantial scatter. In contrast, spin, environment and triaxiality are more independent, although spin does correlate strongly with substructure and both spin and triaxiality correlate substantially with concentration. Although mass sets the scale of a halo, all other properties are more sensitive to concentration.
Why does ‘good ecological status’ matter?
Authors: Everard Mark 
Published: June 2011

AbstractAchievement of ‘good ecological status’ under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), and various ‘environmental outcomes’ under other legislation and strategies, are accepted as important by environmental interests. However, support from the wider public may be largely altruistic. ‘Ecosystem services’ can better relate ecosystem health to societal benefits, helping communicate the advantages of achieving good status and securing support for environmental priorities. A series of ecosystem services case studies provides lessons about promoting public understanding of the benefits of achieving environmental targets. Framing desired WFD goals in terms of ecosystem service outcomes can optimise societal benefits proved by ‘programmes of measures’ and avert unintended consequences, compared with traditional, discipline‐specific management approaches. It can also highlight potential contributions from ecosystem‐based technologies to achieving multiple benefits across ecosystem service categories. ‘Siloed’ institutions and budgets are likely to perpetuate fragmented approaches unless explicit measures are taken to achieve more systemic outcomes.