bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Visual outcomes 12 months after phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients with diabetes
Authors: Fong Calvin Sze‐un , Mitchell Paul , Rochtchina Elena , de Loryn Tania , Hong Thomas , Wang Jie Jin 
Published: February 2010

Abstract.Purpose:  To assess cataract surgery visual outcomes 12 months postoperatively in patients with diabetes, with or without diabetic retinopathy (DR), compared to patients without diabetes.Methods:  We followed 1192 cataract surgical patients aged ≥65 for 12 months postoperatively. Standardised pre‐ and postoperative pinhole LogMAR visual acuity (VA) measurements were taken. Mean VA improvement was determined by comparing VA after 12 months to preoperative VA.Results:  Of 1192 surgical patients, 324 (27.2%) had diabetes, of whom, 136 (42.0%) had DR. After adjusting for age, gender, diabetes duration and preoperative pinhole VA, the average VA gained 12 months after surgery was 10.8 letters among 868 patients without diabetes, 10.6 letters among 188 patients with diabetes but no DR, 10.0 letters among 95 patients with DR but no past laser treatment, and no letters among 41 patients with DR plus past laser treatment (p < 0.0001, compared to the other three groups). Diabetes duration ≥20 years was associated with mean VA gain of 3 fewer letters than duration <10 years (7 versus 10 letters, p = 0.023), after adjusting for age, gender, DR and preoperative pinhole VA.Conclusion:  Cataract surgery improved VA by an average two lines for patients both with and without diabetes, or with DR but no past laser treatment. No significant VA improvement was evident for patients who had preoperative DR and laser therapy.
A statistical framework for differential network analysis from microarray data
Authors: Gill Ryan , Datta Somnath , Datta Susmita 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackgroundIt has been long well known that genes do not act alone; rather groups of genes act in consort during a biological process. Consequently, the expression levels of genes are dependent on each other. Experimental techniques to detect such interacting pairs of genes have been in place for quite some time. With the advent of microarray technology, newer computational techniques to detect such interaction or association between gene expressions are being proposed which lead to an association network. While most microarray analyses look for genes that are differentially expressed, it is of potentially greater significance to identify how entire association network structures change between two or more biological settings, say normal versus diseased cell types.ResultsWe provide a recipe for conducting a differential analysis of networks constructed from microarray data under two experimental settings. At the core of our approach lies a connectivity score that represents the strength of genetic association or interaction between two genes. We use this score to propose formal statistical tests for each of following queries: (i) whether the overall modular structures of the two networks are different, (ii) whether the connectivity of a particular set of "interesting genes" has changed between the two networks, and (iii) whether the connectivity of a given single gene has changed between the two networks. A number of examples of this score is provided. We carried out our method on two types of simulated data: Gaussian networks and networks based on differential equations. We show that, for appropriate choices of the connectivity scores and tuning parameters, our method works well on simulated data. We also analyze a real data set involving normal versus heavy mice and identify an interesting set of genes that may play key roles in obesity.ConclusionsExamining changes in network structure can provide valuable information about the underlying biochemical pathways. Differential network analysis with appropriate connectivity scores is a useful tool in exploring changes in network structures under different biological conditions. An R package of our tests can be downloaded from the supplementary websitehttp://www.somnathdatta.org/Supp/DNA.
Basophil sensitivity through CD63 or CD203c is a functional measure for specific immunotherapy
Authors: Mikkelsen Susan , Bibby Bo Martin , Dolberg Mette Konow Bøgebjerg , Dahl Ronald , Hoffmann Hans Jürgen 
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background
Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) modifies the allergic response and relieves allergic symptoms. SCIT is the only and a very effective treatment for insect venom allergy. We hypothesized that basophil sensitivity, measured through the basophil activation test, would decrease during SCIT up dosing. Expression of CD203c was compared to CD63 as marker for basophil activation, using a Bland Altman plot and ROC curves.

Methods
Patients (n = 18) starting subcutaneous SCIT for wasp allergy with an up dosing scheme of 7 to 11 weeks were enrolled. Heparinised blood samples were drawn at weeks 1-4, 7 and at the first maintenance visit. Basophils were stimulated at 7 log dilutions of V. vespula allergen for 15 min, and were stained with CD203c and CD63. Basophils were identified as CD203c+ leukocytes, and the proportion of CD63+ and CD203c+ cells were plotted against allergen concentration. A sigmoid curve was fitted to the points, and the allergen concentration at which half of the maximal activation was achieved, LC50, was calculated. In another series of experiments, LC50 calculated in whole blood (AP) was subtracted from LC50 calculated with basophils suspended in plasma from a nonatopic donor (HS) to determine the protective effect of soluble factors in blood of patients treated with SCIT.

Results
Heparin blood basophil activation was similar through CD63 and CD203c. Basophils were significantly more sensitized three weeks after initiation of SCIT compared to baseline (p < 0,01). The difference in LC50 increased by 1,04 LC50 units (p = 0,04) in patients that had just achieved maintenance dose compared with patients before initiating SCIT. When maintenance allergen concentrations had been reached, an increase in the protective plasma component was documented. Blood basophil concentration was marginally reduced by SCIT.

Conclusion
Basophil activation is a versatile and sensitive tool that measures changes in the humoral immune response to allergen during SCIT.
Fabrication of Thin Film Surface Templates from Two Immiscible Polymers by Phase Separation and Phototethering
Authors: Kawamura Koichi , Yokoi Kazuhiro , Fujita Mitsuhiro 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
Thin layer surface templates were fabricated by spin coating two immiscible polymers onto a photoreactive substrate, followed by photoirradiation and removal of the unreacted polymer with solvent. Phase-separation occurs during the spin coating process and the separated structure was tethered onto the substrate surface by photoirradiation, to yield a thin surface pattern on the substrate. The surface patterns thus obtained were robust, applicable to large areas, and could be tuned at will by designing component polymers.
Reshuffling Activity of Protein Disulfide Isomerase Reduces Refolding Yield in the Structure-forming Step of the Oxidative Protein Folding Reaction
Authors: Pal Rituraj , Gonzalez Veronica , Narayan Mahesh 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
We have determined the impact of the oxidoreductase chaperone protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) on the critical structure-forming step during the oxidative maturation of model disulfide-bond-containing proteins. This is achieved by using a novel tool to trap and populate native-disulfide-containing intermediates in unstructured forms that are poised to fold. Our data reveals that PDI inhibits the conformational folding step of oxidative fold maturation and, therefore, has limited overall catalytic efficiency as an oxidoreductase chaperone. Such an anomalous behavior of PDI during a key step in oxidative regeneration may contribute to misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum, aggregation, and neurodegenerative disease.
Atypical Functional Brain Activation During a Multiple Object Tracking Task in Girls With Turner Syndrome: Neurocorrelates of Reduced Spatiotemporal Resolution
Authors: Beaton Elliott A. , Stoddard Joel , Lai Song , Lackey John , Shi Jianrong , Ross Judith L. , Simon Tony J. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractTurner syndrome is associated with spatial and numerical cognitive impairments. We hypothesized that these nonverbal cognitive impairments result from limits in spatial and temporal processing, particularly as it affects attention. To examine spatiotemporal attention in girls with Turner syndrome versus typically developing controls, we used a multiple object tracking task during functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging. Participants actively tracked a target among six distracters or passively viewed the animations. Neural activation in girls with Turner syndrome during object tracking overlapped with but was dissimilar to the canonical frontoparietal network evident in typically developing controls and included greater limbic activity. Task performance and atypical functional activation indicate anomalous development of cortical and subcortical temporal and spatial processing circuits in girls with Turner syndrome.
Sensitivity of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Testing for Swine-Origin 2009 A (H1N1) Influenza Virus in Children
Authors: Hawkes Michael , Richardson Susan E. , Ipp Moshe , Schuh Suzanne , Adachi Dena , Tran Dat 
Published: February 2010

BACKGROUND:
The rapidly evolving pandemic of novel 2009 swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) demands that accurate and practical diagnostics be urgently evaluated for their potential clinical utility.

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) assay for S-OIV by using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as the reference standard.

METHODS:
We prospectively recruited children (aged 0–17 years) assessed in the emergency department of a pediatric referral hospital and a community pediatric clinic for influenza-like illness between May 22 and July 25, 2009. RIDT (performed on-site) and DFA were compared with RT-PCR to determine their sensitivity and specificity for S-OIV. We also compared the sensitivity of RIDT for S-OIV to that for seasonal influenza over 2 preceding seasons.

RESULTS:
Of 820 children enrolled, 651 were from the emergency department and 169 were from the clinic. RIDT sensitivity was 62% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52%–70%) for S-OIV, with a specificity of 99% (95% CI: 92%–100%). DFA sensitivity was 83% (95% CI: 75%–89%) and was superior to that of RIDT (P &lt; .001). RIDT sensitivity for S-OIV was comparable to that for seasonal influenza when using DFA supplemented with culture as the reference standard. RIDT sensitivity for influenza viruses was significantly higher in children 5 years of age or younger (P = .003) and in patients presenting ≤2 days after symptom onset (P &lt; .001).

CONCLUSIONS:
The sensitivity of RIDT for detection of S-OIV is higher than recently reported in mixed adult-pediatric populations but remains suboptimal.
Egy ülésben végzett kétoldali VATS-sympathectomia súlyos fokú hyperhidrosis kezelésérer
Authors: Herke László , Vincze Károly , Matkó Ida 
Published: February 2010

Absztrakt
A szerzők fiatal nőbeteg műtéti megoldását ismertetik, akinél súlyos fokú palmaris hyperhidrosis miatt végeztek szimultán bilateralis mellkasi sympathectomiát VATS-módszerrel. Bemutatják az alkalmazott anaesthesiologiai és műtéttechnikai lépéseket. Az 55 perces műtét során végzett Th2-Th3-as ganglionectomia, illetve az érintett sympathicus köteg eltávolítását követően betegük zavartalan kórlefolyás után panaszmentessé vált, hyperhidrosisa megszűnt. Az endoscopos (VATS) thoracalis sympathectomia rutin eljárás súlyos fokú felső testféli (palmaris, axillaris, facialis) hyperhidrosis kezelésére. Kétoldali érintettség esetén racionális elképzelés az egyidejű bilateralis megoldás, melyet a szerzők az alkalmazott VATS-technikával eredményesen végeztek. Röviden vázolják a hyperhidrosis sebészi kezelésének előzményeit. Véleményük szerint a bilateralis megjelenésű kóros izzadékonyság műtéteit, a nemzetközi szakirodalom adataival egybevágóan, célszerűnek látják egy ülésben mindkét oldalon elvégezni. A módszer biztonságos, kellő hatással bír, emellett rövidebb kórházi tartózkodást igénylő eljárás.
Vertical (La,Sr)MnO3 Nanorods from Track‐Etched Polymers Directly Buffering Substrates
Authors: Carretero‐Genevrier Adrián , Gázquez Jaume , Puig Teresa , Mestres Narcís , Sandiumenge Felip , Obradors Xavier , Ferain Etienne 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA novel and general methodology for preparing vertical, complex‐oxide nanostructures from a sol–gel‐based polymer‐precursor solutions is developed using track‐etched polymers directly buffering substrates. This method is able to develop a nanostructure over the entire substrate, the dimensions and localization of the vertical nanostructures being preset by the polymeric nanotemplate. Thereby, nanostructures with lateral sizes in the range of 100 to 300 nm and up to 500 nm in height have been grown. Two examples are presented herein, the latter being the evolution of the initial, metastable nanostructure. Specifically, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 polycrystalline rods are grown at mild temperatures (800 °C); upon strong thermal activation (1000 °C) they suffer a profound transformation into vertical, single‐crystalline (La,Sr)xOy nanopyramids sitting on a La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 epitaxial wetting layer. The driving force for this outstanding nanostructural evolution is the minimization of the total energy of the system, which is reached by reducing the grain‐boundary, total‐surface, and strain‐relaxation energies. Finally, advanced electron‐microscopy techniques are used to highlight the complex phase separation and structural transformations occurring when the metastable state is overcome.
DNA‐Based Micelles: Synthesis, Micellar Properties and Size‐Dependent Cell Permeability
Authors: Liu Haipeng , Zhu Zhi , Kang Huaizhi , Wu Yanrong , Sefan Kwame , Tan Weihong 
Published: February 2010

AbstractFunctional nanomaterials based on molecular self‐assembly hold great promise for applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. However, their efficacy could be a problem and can be improved by precisely controlling the size, structure, and functions. This would require a molecular engineering design capable of producing monodispersed functional materials characterized by beneficial changes in size, shape, and chemical structure. To address this challenge, we have designed and constructed a series of amphiphilic oligonucleotide molecules. In aqueous solutions, the amphiphilic oligonucleotide molecules, consisting of a hydrophilic oligonucleotide covalently linked to hydrophobic diacyllipid tails, spontaneously self‐assemble into monodispersed, three‐dimensional micellar nanostructures with a lipid core and a DNA corona. These hierarchical architectures are results of intermolecular hydrophobic interactions. Experimental testing further showed that these types of micelles have excellent thermal stability and their size can be fine‐tuned by changing the length of the DNA sequence. Moreover, in the micelle system, the molecular recognition properties of DNA are intact, thus, our DNA micelles can hybridize with complimentary sequences while retaining their structural integrity. Importantly, when interacting with cell membranes, the highly charged DNA micelles are able to disintegrate themselves and insert into the cell membrane, completing the process of internalization by endocytosis. Interestingly, the fluorescence was found accumulated in confined regions of cytosole. Finally, we show that the kinetics of this internalization process is size‐dependent. Therefore, cell permeability, combined with small sizes and natural nontoxicity are all excellent features that make our DNA–micelles highly suitable for a variety of applications in nanobiotechnology, cell biology, and drug delivery systems.
Compartmentalization of the precheliceral neuroectoderm in the spider Cupiennius salei: Development of the arcuate body, optic ganglia, and mushroom body
Authors: Doeffinger Carola , Hartenstein Volker , Stollewerk Angelika 
Published: February 2010

AbstractSimilarly to vertebrates, arthropod brains are compartmentalized into centers with specific neurological functions such as cognition, behavior, and memory. The centers can be further subdivided into smaller functional units. This raises the question of how these compartments are formed during development and how they are integrated into brain centers. We show here for the first time how the precheliceral neuroectoderm of the spider Cupiennius salei is compartmentalized to form the distinct brain centers of the visual system: the optic ganglia, the mushroom bodies, and the arcuate body. The areas of the visual brain centers are defined by the formation of grooves and vesicles and express the proneural gene CsASH1, followed by expression of the neural differentiation marker Prospero. Furthermore, the transcription factor dachshund, which is strongly enriched in the mushroom bodies and the outer optic ganglion of Drosophila, is expressed in the optic anlagen and the mushroom bodies of the spider. The developing brain centers are further subdivided into single neural precursor groups, which become incorporated into the grooves and vesicles but remain distinguishable throughout development, suggesting that they encode spatial information for neural subtype identity. Several molecular and morphological aspects of the development of the optic ganglia and the mushroom bodies are similar in the spider and in insects. Furthermore, we show that the primary engrailed head spot contributes neurons to the optic ganglia of the median eyes, whereas the secondary head spot, which has been associated with the optic ganglia in insects and crustaceans, is absent. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:2612–2632, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structure Determination of a Flexible Cyclic Peptide Based on NMR and MD Simulation 3J‐Coupling
Authors: Gattin Zrinka , Zaugg Judith , van Gunsteren Wilfred F. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) simulations, in which experimental values such as nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs), dipolar couplings, 3J‐coupling constants or crystallographic structure factors are used to bias the values of specific molecular properties towards experimental ones, are often carried out to study the structure refinement of peptides and proteins. However, 3J‐coupling constants are usually not employed because of the multiplicity of torsional angle values (φ) corresponding to each 3J‐coupling constant value. Here, we apply the method of adaptively enforced restraining using a local‐elevation (LE) biasing potential energy function in which a memory function penalizes conformations in case both the average <3J> and the current 3J‐values deviate from the experimental target value. Then, the molecule is forced to sample other parts of the conformational space, thereby being able to cross high energy barriers and to bring the simulated average <3J> close to the measured <3J> value. Herein, we show the applicability of this method in structure refinement of a cyclo‐β‐tetrapeptide by enforcing the 3J‐value restraining with LE on twelve backbone torsional angles. The resulting structural ensemble satisfies the experimental 3J‐coupling data better than the NMR model structure derived using conventional single‐structure refinement based on these data. Thus, application of local‐elevation search MD simulation in combination with biasing towards 3J‐coupling makes it possible to use 3J‐couplings quantitatively in structure determination of peptides.
Association of two clones allows for optimal detection of human FOXP3
Authors: Presicce Pietro , Moreno‐Fernandez Maria E. , Lages Celine S. , Orsborn Kris I. , Chougnet Claire A. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractFOXP3 is a key transcription factor expressed by regulatory T cells (Treg cells). However, differences in staining and analysis protocols have led to conflicting results. Moreover, the transient upregulation of FOXP3 that follows activation in non‐Treg cells renders the interpretation of FOXP3 data more difficult in humans than in mice. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), isolated CD25− or CD25+CD4+ T cells were stained with three different anti‐FOXP3 clones (PCH101, 206D, and 259D) alone or in combination, and using different permeabilization methods. FOXP3 expression was evaluated following T cell activation by several pathways. Gating based on a population that did not express FOXP3 (such as CD3−CD4− T cells) allowed for the optimal characterization of Treg cells. The 206D clone detected a lower percentage of cells than PCH101 or 259D. In contrast, 259D stained a population of activated T cells that PCH101 did not. Staining with two clones together consistently increased the proportion of FOXP3+ cells. However, it is likely that only the double positive cells are Treg cells, as they expressed the highest CD25 and lowest CD127 levels. Our results emphasize that the choice of staining protocol leads to very different results concerning the frequency of Treg cells in humans. A more consistent identification of these cells will improve the knowledge of their biology, particularly during disease processes. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
DeadEasy neurons: Automatic counting of HB9 neuronal nuclei in Drosophila
Authors: Forero Manuel G. , Pennack Jenny A. , Hidalgo Alicia 
Published: February 2010

AbstractResearch into the genetic basis of nervous system development and neurodegenerative diseases requires counting neurons to find out the extent of neurogenesis or neuronal loss. Drosophila is a widely used model organism for in vivo studies. However, counting neurons throughout the nervous system of the intact animal is humanly unfeasible. Automatic methods for cell counting in intact Drosophila are desirable. Here, we show a method called DeadEasy Neurons to count the number of neurons stained with anti‐HB9 antibodies in Drosophila embryos. DeadEasy Neurons employs image filtering and mathematical morphology techniques in 2D and 3D, followed by identification of nuclei in 3D based on minimum volume, to count automatically the number of HB9 neurons in vivo. The resultant method has been validated for Drosophila embryos and we show here how it can be used to address biological questions. Counting neurons with DeadEasy is very fast, extremely accurate, and objective, and it enables analyses otherwise humanly unmanageable. DeadEasy Neurons can be modified by the user for other applications, and it will be freely available as an ImageJ plug‐in. DeadEasy Neurons will be of interest to the microscopy, image processing, Drosophila, neurobiology, and biomedical communities. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry