bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing quality of care for the dying: The development and initial validation of a postal self-completion questionnaire for bereaved relatives
Authors: Mayland Catriona R , Williams Evelyn MI , Ellershaw John E 
Published: November 2011

Background: Evaluating ‘quality of care for the dying’ from the patients’ perspective has practical and ethical difficulties: an alternative is to use bereaved relatives’ views as ‘proxy’ measures. Currently, within the United Kingdom, there is no validated instrument which specifically examines quality of care in the last days of life or the impact of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for the Dying Patient. Aim: To develop and validate a questionnaire for use with bereaved relatives assessing the quality of care for patients and families in the last days of life and the immediate period after the bereavement. Design: The instrument, ‘Evaluating Care and Health Outcomes – for the Dying’ (ECHO-D), was developed in four distinct phases: 1. Question formulation, 2. Expert panel review ( n = 6), 3. Wider audience review ( n = 25), 4. Pilot, including cognitive pre-testing interviews and preliminary test–retest reliability assessment with bereaved relatives ( n = 80) Setting: The study was conducted within a hospice and an acute hospital involving healthcare professionals, lay members and bereaved relatives. Results: The systematic and robust process of questionnaire development generated evidence for ECHO-D’s face and content validity. Response rate for the pilot stage with bereaved relatives, however, was comparatively low (23.4%). Test–retest analysis from the pilot showed moderate or good stability for 13 out of 17 key questions, although small sample numbers limited the interpretation. Conclusions: ECHO-D is the first instrument specifically to assess ‘quality of care for the dying’, focussing on the last days of life, and has direct links with the use of the LCP Programme.
Influence of flavonoid extracts from celery on oxidative stress induced by dichlorvos in rats
Authors: Cao J , Zhang X , Wang Q , Jia L , Zhang Y , Zhao X 
Published: November 2011

The present work was to investigate the effects of flavonoid extracts from celery on oxidative stress induced by dichlorvos (DIC) in male Wistar rats maintained on a normal diet. The rats were given DIC through intragastric administration by the dose of 7.2 mg/kg·body weight (bw)/day and additionally added 5% flavonoid extracts to the diet for 4 weeks continuously. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione- S-transferase (GST) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in livers of rats were measured at the end of the experiment. Under the influence of DIC, there were significant decrease in the activities of SOD, CAT and GST and significant increase in GPx activity and MDA content. The results also showed that the activities of SOD, GST and CAT in the DIC-treated group declined significantly when compared with the flavonoid extracts group and the DIC + flavonoid extracts group, respectively. With regard to GPx activity and MDA content, significant increase were showed in the DIC-treated group in comparison to those in the flavonoid extracts group and the DIC + flavonoid extracts group, respectively. The observations presented lead us to conclude the harmful effects of DIC during the exposure and the protective role of flavonoids in minimizing these effects.
Biofilm and planktonic pneumococci demonstrate disparate immunoreactivity to human convalescent sera
Authors: Sanchez Carlos J , Hurtgen Brady J , Lizcano Anel , Shivshankar Pooja , Cole Garry T , Orihuela Carlos J 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is the leading cause of otitis media, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), sepsis, and meningitis. It is now evident that S. pneumoniae forms biofilms during nasopharyngeal colonization; the former which facilitates persistence, the latter, a prerequisite for subsequent development of invasive disease. Proteomic evaluation of S. pneumoniae suggests the antigen profile available for host-recognition is altered as a consequence of biofilm growth. This has potentially meaningful implications in regards to adaptive immunity and protection from disseminated disease. We therefore examined the antigen profile of biofilm and planktonic pneumococcal cell lysates, tested their reactivity with human convalescent sera and that generated against biofilm pneumococci, and examined whether immunization with biofilm pneumococci protected mice against infectious challenge.

Results
Biofilm pneumococci have dramatically altered protein profiles versus their planktonic counterparts. During invasive disease the humoral immune response is skewed towards the planktonic protein profile. Immunization with biofilm bacteria does not elicit a strong-cross-reactive humoral response against planktonic bacteria nor confer resistance against challenge with a virulent isolate from another serotype. We identified numerous proteins, including Pneumococcal serine-rich repeat protein (PsrP), which may serve as a protective antigens against both colonization and invasive disease.

Conclusion
Differential protein production by planktonic and biofilm pneumococci provides a potential explanation for why individuals remain susceptible to invasive disease despite previous colonization events. These findings also strongly suggest that differential protein production during colonization and disease be considered during the selection of antigens for any future protein vaccine.
DPO multiplex PCR as an alternative to culture and susceptibility testing to detect Helicobacter pylori and its resistance to clarithromycin
Authors: Lehours Philippe , Siffré Elodie , Mégraud Francis 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
Macrolide resistance in Helicobacter pylori is the major risk factor for treatment failure when using a proton pump inhibitor-clarithromycin containing therapy. Macrolide resistance is due to a few mutations on the 23S ribomosal subunit encoded by the 23S rRNA gene. The present study aimed at investigating the performance of the dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO)-PCR kit named Seeplex® ClaR-H. pylori ACE detection designed to detect H. pylori and two types of point mutations causing clarithromycin resistance in H. pylori.

Methods
The performance of Seeplex® ClaR-H. pylori ACE detection was evaluated on 127 gastric biopsies in comparison to conventional bacterial culture followed by the determination of susceptibility to clarithromycin by E-test, as well as by an in-house real-time PCR using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology.

Results
Considering culture as the reference test, the sensitivity of DPO-PCR and real-time FRET-PCR was 97.7% and 100% while specificity was 83.1% and 80.7%, respectively. However, both PCR were concordant in detecting 14 H. pylori positive cases which were negative by culture. Globally, E-test and DPO-PCR were concordant with regard to clarithromycin susceptibility in 95.3% of the cases (41/43), while real-time FRET-PCR and DPO-PCR were concordant in 95% (57/60).

Conclusion
The DPO-PCR is an interesting tool to detect H. pylori on gastric biopsies and to study its susceptibility to clarithromycin in laboratories that cannot perform real-time PCR assays.
High prevalence of HPV in non-cervical sites of women with abnormal cervical cytology
Authors: Crawford Robin , Grignon Anne-Laure , Kitson Sarah , Winder David M , Ball Siolian LR , Vaughan Katie , Stanley Margaret A , Sterling Jane C , Goon Peter KC 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are causally associated with ano-genital and a subset of head and neck cancers. Rising incidence of HPV+ anal cancers and head and neck cancers have now been demonstrated in the developed world over the last decade. The majority of published data on HPV prevalence at the anal and oro-pharyngeal sites are from studies of higher-risk populations. There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of HPV at non-cervical sites in lower risk, non-HIV+ women and this study was designed to provide initial pilot data on a population of women recalled for colposcopy as part of the UK cervical screening programme.

Methods
100 non-HIV+ women with abnormal cervical cytology, attending clinic for colposcopic examination were recruited. Swabs from the oro-pharyngeal, anal and cervical sites were taken and DNA extracted. HPV detection and genotyping were performed using a standardised, commercially available PCR-line blot assay, which is used to genotype 37 HPV subtypes known to infect the ano-genital and oro-pharyngeal areas. Strict sampling and laboratory precautions were taken to prevent cross-contamination.

Results
There was a very high prevalence of HPV infection at all three sites: 96.0%, 91.4% and 92.4% at the cervix, anus and oro-pharynx, respectively. Multiple HPV subtype infections were dominant at all 3 mucosal sites. At least one or more HR genotype was present at both the cervix/anus in 39/52 (75.0%) patients; both the cervix/oro-pharynx in 48/56 (85.7%) patients; and both the anus/oro-pharynx in 39/52 (75.0%) patients. HPV 16 infection was highly dominant across all mucosal sites, with over a 2-fold increase over the next most prevalent subtype (HPV 31).

Conclusions
Women with abnormal smears have widespread infection with high-risk HPV at the cervical, anal and oro-pharyngeal mucosal sites and may represent a higher risk population for HPV disease in the future.
Prevnar 13, the New 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Authors: Sucher Allana J , Chahine Elias B , Nelson Michael , Sucher Brandon J 
Published: November 2011

Objective: To review the immurtogenicity, efficacy, and safety of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for use in pediatric patients. Data Sources: A MEDLINE search (2000-September 2011) was conducted using the key words Streptococcus pneumoniae and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for clinical trials, limited to studies conducted in humans and published in English. Studv Selection And Data Extraction: Randomized, controlled, multicenter trials were reviewed and included to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PCV13, Literature on the epidemiology and pathology of pneumococcal Infections and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) were also reviewed. Data Synthesis: PCV13 is approved for routine vaccination of all infants as a 4-dose series at age 2,4,6, and 12–15 months for children who previously received 1 or more doses of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), and for children with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for pneumococcal disease or its complications. PCV13 has comparable immunogenicity to the serotypes common with PCV7 and also provides protection against 6 additional pneumococcal serotypes. PCV13 has also been shown to have a comparable adverse reaction profile to PCV7. Conclusions: Based on published immunogenicity and safety data, as well as the recent recommendations by the ACIP for routine use in infants and indications for high-risk pediatric patients, PCV13 is a revised formulation of pneumococcal vaccine that should be included on pharmacy formularies.
Site-selective time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy of Eu and Cm doped LaPO4
Authors: Holliday K. S. , Babelot C. , Walther Clemens , Neumeier S. , Bosbach Dirk , Stumpf Th. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Samples of LaPO4 doped with Eu
3+
or Cm
3+
were synthesized by a hydrothermal process which resulted in a solid solution at temperatures less than conventional processing. Time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy was used to probe the incorporated Eu
3+
or Cm
3+
in order to gain structural information on its local environment. This revealed that Eu
3+
and Cm
3+
incorporate on the La site as expected. The emission spectrum of Eu
3+
resolves the fully degenerate 5-fold splitting of the peaks in the F2 transition due to the low symmetry of the site, confirming previous calculations. A minor site in the Eu
3+
doped sample is identified as coordinated with hydroxide contamination. Direct excitation of Cm
3+
doped samples show the presence of “satellite” species. Although these spectral features have been observed in Cm
3+
doped LuPO4 and YPO4, this is the first time that these satellites are resolved into their individual species. These are hypothesized to be due to a disturbance in the ideal structure which creates a break in the equivalence of the four lanthanum sites within a unit cell. The 4-fold ground state splitting of all species is identical, although slightly shifted, indicating similar environments. The fluorescence lifetimes were long (1.2 ms for Cm and 3.6 ms for Eu) indicating an absence of water in the immediate coordination sphere due to the incorporation of the doping ion.
Pathways of Microvascular Permeability in the Synovium of Normal and Diseased Human Knees
Authors: SIMKIN PETER A. , BASSETT JOHN E. 
Published: November 2011

Objective.Our study uses the entire proteomes of serum and synovial fluid (SF) to characterize the avenues of microvascular egress of plasma proteins, and quantifies that traffic in normal and diseased human knees.Methods.Paired aliquots of serum and SF were collected from 17 knees of 11 subjects who died without evident joint disease and 16 patients with clinical effusions, fractionated by gel filtration chromatography and analyzed as continuous plots of the SF/serum concentration ratio versus molecular radius from 1 to 12 nanometers (nm). Curve-stripping methodology, a 3-pore model, and known protein kinetics were then applied to estimate the dimensions of and the net outflow through fenestral, “small,” and “large” apertures in the microvascular endothelium.Results.The 3-pore model correlated highly with the observed data (r = 0.992 in normal and 0.980 in arthritis), yielding the following mean values: for the fenestra, the normal radius (nm) was 1.75 and the effused 3.5, and the normal flow (μl/min) was 1.74 and the arthritic 22.0; for the small pore, the normal radius was 8.6 and the effused 8.5, and the normal flow was 1.5 and the arthritic flow 9.1; for the large pore, the normal radius was 40 and the effused 36, and the normal flow was 0.24 and the arthritic flow 15.5.Conclusion.These findings provide the first functional definition of synovial, endothelial fenestrae; reveal that the “increased vascular permeability” of inflammation is not limited to interendothelial gaps; present evidence suggesting that glycocalyceal damage and aquaporin upregulation may affect permeability in arthritic synovium; and define a straightforward methodology for interpretation of biomarker concentrations in arthritic SF.
Serglycin: A Structural and Functional Chameleon with Wide Impact on Immune Cells
Authors: Kolset Svein O. , Pejler Gunnar 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Among the different proteoglycans expressed by mammals, serglycin is in most immune cells the dominating species. A unique property of serglycin is its ability to adopt highly divergent structures, because of glycosylation with variable types of glycosaminoglycans when expressed by different cell types. Recent studies of serglycin-deficient animals have revealed crucial functions for serglycin in a diverse array of immunological processes. However, its exact function varies to a large extent depending on the cellular context of serglycin expression. Based on these findings, serglycin is emerging as a structural and functional chameleon, with radically different properties depending on its exact cellular and immunological context.
Longitudinal Interplay Between Alcohol Use, Mood, and Functioning in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Sperry Sarah H. , Stromberg Audrey R. , Murphy Victoria A. , Lasagna Carly A. , McInnis Melvin G. , Menkes Margo W. , Yocum Anastasia K. , Tso Ivy F. 
Published: June 2024

ImportanceAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is present in nearly half of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and is associated with markedly worsening outcomes. Yet, the concurrent treatment of BD and AUD remains neglected in both research and clinical care; characterizing their dynamic interplay is crucial in improving outcomes.ObjectiveTo characterize the longitudinal alcohol use patterns in BD and examine the temporal associations among alcohol use, mood, anxiety, and functioning over time.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study selected participants and analyzed data from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder (PLS-BD), an ongoing cohort study that recruits through psychiatric clinics, mental health centers, and community outreach events across Michigan and collects repeated phenotypic data. Participants selected for the present study were those with a diagnosis of BD type I (BDI) or type II (BDII) who had been in the study for at least 5 years. Data used were extracted from February 2006 to April 2022, and follow-up ranged from 5 to 16 years.Main Outcomes and MeasuresAlcohol use was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Depression, mania or hypomania, anxiety, and functioning were measured using the 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire, the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder assessment scale, and the Life Functioning Questionnaire, respectively.ResultsA total of 584 individuals (386 females (66.1%); mean [SD] age, 40 [13.6] years) were included. These participants had a BDI (445 [76.2%]) or BDII (139 [23.8%]) diagnosis, with or without a lifetime diagnosis of AUD, and a median (IQR) follow-up of 9 (0-16) years. More problematic alcohol use was associated with worse depressive (β = 0.04; 95% credibility interval [CrI], 0.01-0.07) and manic or hypomanic symptoms (β = 0.04; 95% CrI, 0.01-0.07) as well as lower workplace functioning (β = 0.03; 95% CrI, 0.00-0.06) over the next 6 months, but increased depressive and manic or hypomanic symptoms were not associated with greater subsequent alcohol use. These latter 2 associations were more pronounced in BDII than BDI (mania or hypomania: β = 0.16 [95% CrI, 0.02-0.30]; workplace functioning: β = 0.26 [95% CrI, 0.06-0.45]). Alcohol use was not associated with anxiety over time.Conclusions and RelevanceThis study found that alcohol use, regardless of diagnostic status, was associated with mood instability and poorer work functioning in BD, but increased mood symptoms were not associated with subsequent alcohol use. Given its prevalence and repercussions, dimensional and longitudinal assessment and management of alcohol use are necessary and should be integrated into research and standard treatment of BD.
Validation of a Handheld 6-Lead Device for QT Interval Monitoring in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Metcalfe John Z. , Economou Tamsin , Naufal Fahd , Kucukosmanoglu Murat , Kleiman Robert , Phillips Patrick P. J. , Conradie Francesca 
Published: June 2024

ImportanceRifampin-resistant tuberculosis treatment regimens require electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring due to the use of multiple QTc-prolonging agents. Formal 12-lead ECG devices represent a significant burden in resource-constrained clinics worldwide and a potential barrier to treatment scale-up in some settings.ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a handheld 6-lead ECG device within resource-constrained clinics.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis diagnostic study was performed within a multicenter, pragmatic (broad eligibility criteria with no exclusions for randomized participants), phase 3 rifampin-resistant tuberculosis treatment trial (BEAT Tuberculosis [Building Evidence for Advancing New Treatment for Tuberculosis]) in South Africa. A total of 192 consecutive trial participants were assessed, and 191 were recruited for this substudy between January 21, 2021, and March 27, 2023. A low proportion (3 of 432 [0.7%]) of all screened trial participants were excluded due to a QTc interval greater than 450 milliseconds. Triplicate reference standard 12-lead ECG results were human calibrated with readers blinded to 6-lead ECG results.Main Outcomes and MeasuresDiagnostic accuracy, repeatability, and feasibility of a 6-lead ECG device.ResultsA total of 191 participants (median age, 36 years [IQR, 28-45 years]; 81 female participants [42.4%]; 91 participants [47.6%] living with HIV) with a median of 4 clinic visits (IQR, 3-4 visits) contributed 2070 and 2015 12-lead and 6-lead ECG assessments, respectively. Across 170 participants attending 489 total clinic visits where valid triplicate QTc measurements were available for both devices, the mean 12-lead QTc measurement was 418 milliseconds (range, 321-519 milliseconds), and the mean 6-lead QTc measurement was 422 milliseconds (range, 288-574 milliseconds; proportion of variation explained, R2 = 0.4; P &amp;lt; .001). At a QTc interval threshold of 500 milliseconds, the 6-lead ECG device had a negative predictive value of 99.8% (95% CI, 98.8%-99.9%) and a positive predictive value of 16.7% (95% CI, 0.4%-64.1%). The normal expected range of within-individual variability of the 6-lead ECG device was high (±50.2 milliseconds [coefficient of variation, 6.0%]) relative to the 12-lead ECG device (±22.0 milliseconds [coefficient of variation, 2.7%]). The mean (SD) increase in the 12-lead QTc measurement during treatment was 10.1 (25.8) milliseconds, with 0.8% of clinic visits (4 of 489) having a QTc interval of 500 milliseconds or more.Conclusions and RelevanceThis study suggests that simplified, handheld 6-lead ECG devices are effective triage tests that could reduce the need to perform 12-lead ECG monitoring in resource-constrained settings.
Augmented Optoelectronic Quantum Dot‐Enhanced Heterogeneous IGZO‐Te Photodiode for Artificial Synaptic Image Processing Applications
Authors: Dutta Riya , Naqi Muhammad , Cho Yongin , Oh Jooon , Kim Taewoong , Jeong Uisik , Yu Yunjeong , Lee Yuseong , Kim Sunkook 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study presents a novel photodiode technology with augmented optoelectronic capabilities through the incorporation of quantum dots (QDs). The photodiode, composed of Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide‐Tellurium (IGZO‐Te), is engineered for enhanced light sensitivity and tailored optoelectronic interactions. The primary application of this advanced photodiode lies in the domain of artificial intelligence and machine learning, where it plays a pivotal role in simulating synaptic connections for image processing tasks. Due to the exceptional optical and electrical properties of the IGZO‐Te‐QDs active material combination, the photodiode demonstrates consistent and dependable optical synaptic functions linked to learning. This is achieved through conduction modulation and time duration modulation of light stimulus. In addition, the opto‐synaptic functionalities such as short‐term and long‐term memory has also been successfully demonstrated not only on single device but also on 6 × 6 photodiodes array device. These findings underscore the significant potential of the hybrid structure of IGZO‐Te with QDs in optical artificial neuromorphic chips.