bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Chinese version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) 3.0 Asthma Module: reliability and validity
Authors: Feng Lifen , Zhang Yingfen , Chen Ruoqing , Hao Yuantao 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been recognized as an important health outcome measurement for pediatric patients. One of the most promising instruments in measuring pediatric HRQOL emerged in recent years is the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™). The PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module, one of the PedsQL™disease-specific scales, was designed to measure HRQOL dimensions specifically tailored for pediatric asthma. The present study is aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module.

Methods
The PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module was translated into Chinese following the PedsQL™ Measurement Model Translation Methodology. The Chinese version scale was administered to 204 children with asthma and 337 parents of children with asthma from four Triple A hospitals. The psychometric properties were then evaluated.

Results
The percentage of missing value for each item of the scale ranged from 0.00% to 8.31%. All child self-report subscales and parent proxy-report subscales approached or exceeded the minimum reliability standard of 0.70 for alpha coefficient, except 3 subscales of Young Child (aged 5-7) self-report (alphas ranging from 0.59 to 0.68). Test-retest reliability was satisfactory with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) which exceeded the recommended standard of 0.80 in all subscales. Correlation coefficients between items and their hypothesized subscales were higher than those with other subscales. The PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module distinguished between outpatients and inpatients. Patients with mild asthma reported higher scores than those with moderate/severe asthma in majority of subscales. The intercorrelations among the PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module subscales and the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales were in medium to large effect size. The child self-report scores were consistent with the parent proxy-report scores.

Conclusions
The Chinese version of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module has acceptable psychometric properties, except the internal consistency reliability for Young Child (aged 5-7) self-report. Further studies should be focused on testing responsiveness of the Chinese version scale in longitudinal studies, evaluating the reliability and validity of the scale for the patients with severe asthma or teens independently, and assessing HRQOL of children with asthma in other areas.
Adrenomedullin in rat follicles and corpora lutea: expression, functions and interaction with endothelin-1
Authors: Li Lei , O Wai-Sum , Tang Fai 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Adrenomedullin (ADM), a novel vasorelaxant peptide, was found in human/rat ovaries. The present study investigated the interaction of ADM and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in follicles and newly formed corpora lutea (CL) and the actions of ADM on progesterone production in CL during pregnancy.

Methods
The peptide and gene expression level of adrenomedullin in small antral follicles, large antral follicles and CL was studied by real-time RT-PCR and EIA. The effect of ADM treatment on oestradiol production in 5-day follicular culture and on progesterone production from CL of different pregnant stages was measured by EIA. The interaction of ADM and ET-1 in follicles and CL at their gene expression level was studied by real-time RT-PCR.

Results
In the rat ovary, the gene expression of Adm increased during development from small antral follicles to large antral follicles and CL. In vitro treatment of preantral follicular culture for 5 days with ADM increased oestradiol production but did not affect follicular growth or ovulation rate. The regulation of progesterone production by ADM in CL in culture was pregnancy-stage dependent, inhibitory at early and late pregnancy but stimulatory at mid-pregnancy, which might contribute to the high progesterone production rate of the CL at mid-pregnancy. Moreover, the interaction between ADM and ET-1 at both the production and functional levels indicates that these two vasoactive peptides may form an important local, fine-tuning regulatory system together with LH and prolactin for progesterone production in rat CL.

Conclusions
As the CL is the major source of progesterone production even after the formation of placenta in rats, ADM may be an important regulator in progesterone production to meet the requirement of pregnancy.
A high sensitivity assay is more accurate than a classical assay for the measurement of plasma CRP levels in endometriosis
Authors: Vodolazkaia Alexandra , Bossuyt Xavier , Fassbender Amelie , Kyama Cleophas M , Meuleman Christel , Peeraer Karen , Tomassetti Carla , D'Hooghe Thomas M 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Endometriosis is associated with chronic subclinical inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, could serve as a biomarker of endometriosis. We tested the hypothesis that a high sensitivity CRP assay (hsCRP) is more accurate than a classical CRP assay in the detection of subclinical inflammation in plasma of women with endometriosis.

Methods
CRP levels were measured by hsCRP and classical CRP assays in plasma of 204 women with endometriosis and 91 women without endometriosis. Both assays were compared with respect to their value for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Results
The number of plasma samples with detectable CRP was significantly higher (100%) using the hsCRP assay when compared to the classical CRP assay (42.7%) (p < 0.0001). Significantly increased CRP plasma levels were found in women with endometriosis when compared with controls when the hsCRP assay was used in samples obtained during the luteal phase (p = 0.008). The highest discriminative ability for the diagnosis of endometriosis was also obtained using the hsCRP assay during the luteal phase, especially for moderate -severe endometriosis. At a cut-off level of hsCRP > 0.71 mg/L, moderate-severe stages were diagnosed with 80.7% sensitivity and 63.9% specificity during the luteal phase. Using a similar cut-off value for CRP analyzed by the classical method, moderate-severe endometriosis was diagnosed with lower sensitivity (67.7%, p = 0.06) and comparable specificity (63.9%).

Conclusions
The hsCRP assay was superior to the classical CRP assay for the detection of low CRP levels and for revealing subclinical inflammation in plasma of women with endometriosis.
Engineered artificial antigen presenting cells facilitate direct and efficient expansion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
Authors: Ye Qunrui , Loisiou Maria , Levine Bruce L , Suhoski Megan M , Riley James L , June Carl H , Coukos George , Powell Daniel J 
Published: August 2011

AbstractBackgroundDevelopment of a standardized platform for the rapid expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with anti-tumor function from patients with limited TIL numbers or tumor tissues challenges their clinical application.MethodsTo facilitate adoptive immunotherapy, we applied genetically-engineered K562 cell-based artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) for the direct and rapid expansion of TILs isolated from primary cancer specimens.ResultsTILs outgrown in IL-2 undergo rapid, CD28-independent expansion in response to aAPC stimulation that requires provision of exogenous IL-2 cytokine support. aAPCs induce numerical expansion of TILs that is statistically similar to an established rapid expansion method at a 100-fold lower feeder cell to TIL ratio, and greater than those achievable using anti-CD3/CD28 activation beads or extended IL-2 culture. aAPC-expanded TILs undergo numerical expansion of tumor antigen-specific cells, remain amenable to secondary aAPC-based expansion, and have low CD4/CD8 ratios and FOXP3+ CD4+ cell frequencies. TILs can also be expanded directly from fresh enzyme-digested tumor specimens when pulsed with aAPCs. These "young" TILs are tumor-reactive, positively skewed in CD8+ lymphocyte composition, CD28 and CD27 expression, and contain fewer FOXP3+ T cells compared to parallel IL-2 cultures.ConclusionGenetically-enhanced aAPCs represent a standardized, "off-the-shelf" platform for the direct ex vivo expansion of TILs of suitable number, phenotype and function for use in adoptive immunotherapy.
Self-assembly of copper and cobalt complexes with hierarchical size and catalytic properties for hydroxylation of phenol
Authors: Dong Huaze , Tao Wenbo , Bi Jianhong , Milway Victoria , Xu Zhiqiang , Zhang Shengyi , Meng Xiangchun , Bi Wentao , Li Jian , Li Meng 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
A feasible and effective self-assembly method to synthesize different scale coordination polymers in highly dilute solution (from nanocrystals to microcrystals and to bulk crystals) without any blocking agent has been described. The growth of crystalline particles was controlled by removing the particles at different reaction times to interrupt the growth at the desired size. The nano and microscale particles show better catalytic conversions and selectivities in the hydroxylation of phenols than the bulk crystals.
Growth mechanism and magnon excitation in NiO nanowalls
Authors: Gandhi Ashish Chhaganlal , Huang Chih-Yeh , Yang Chun Chuen , Chan Ting Shan , Cheng Chia-Liang , Ma Yuan-Ron , Wu Sheng Yun 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
The nanosized effects of short-range multimagnon excitation behavior and short-circuit diffusion in NiO nanowalls synthesized using the Ni grid thermal treatment method were observed. The energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping technique was used to characterize the growth mechanism, and confocal Raman scattering was used to probe the antiferromagnetic exchange energy J
2 between next-nearest-neighboring Ni ions in NiO nanowalls at various growth temperatures below the Neel temperature. This study shows that short spin correlation leads to an exponential dependence of the growth temperatures and the existence of nickel vacancies during the magnon excitation. Four-magnon configurations were determined from the scattering factor, revealing a lowest state and monotonic change with the growth temperature.
PACS: 75.47.Lx; 61.82.Rx; 75.50.Tt; 74.25.nd; 72.10.Di
Preparation of monolayers of [MnIII
6CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets on HOPG, mica and silicon surfaces and characterization by means of non-contact AFM
Authors: Gryzia Aaron , Predatsch Hans , Brechling Armin , Hoeke Veronika , Krickemeyer Erich , Derks Christine , Neumann Manfred , Glaser Thorsten , Heinzmann Ulrich 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
We report on the characterization of various salts of [Mn

III

6

Cr

III

]

3+
complexes prepared on substrates such as highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), mica, SiO2, and Si3N4. [Mn

III

6

Cr

III

]

3+
is a single-molecule magnet, i.e., a superparamagnetic molecule, with a blocking temperature around 2 K. The three positive charges of [Mn

III

6

Cr

III

]

3+
were electrically neutralized by use of various anions such as tetraphenylborate (BPh4
-), lactate (C3H5O3
-), or perchlorate (ClO4
-). The molecule was prepared on the substrates out of solution using the droplet technique. The main subject of investigation was how the anions and substrates influence the emerging surface topology during and after the preparation. Regarding HOPG and SiO2, flat island-like and hemispheric-shaped structures were created. We observed a strong correlation between the electronic properties of the substrate and the analyzed structures, especially in the case of mica where we observed a gradient in the analyzed structures across the surface.
ZAP: a distributed channel assignment algorithm for cognitive radio networks
Authors: Junior Paulo Roberto Walenga , Fonseca Mauro , Munaretto Anelise , Viana Aline Carneiro , Ziviani Artur 
Published: August 2011

AbstractWe propose ZAP, an algorithm for the distributed channel assignment in cognitive radio (CR) networks. CRs are capable of identifying underutilized licensed bands of the spectrum, allowing their reuse by secondary users without interfering with primary users. In this context, efficient channel assignment is challenging as ideally it must be simple, incur acceptable communication overhead, provide timely response, and be adaptive to accommodate frequent changes in the network. Another challenge is the optimization of network capacity through interference minimization. In contrast to related work, ZAP addresses these challenges with a fully distributed approach based only on local (neighborhood) knowledge, while significantly reducing computational costs and the number of messages required for channel assignment. Simulations confirm the efficiency of ZAP in terms of (i) the performance tradeoff between different metrics and (ii) the fast achievement of a suitable assignment solution regardless of network size and density.
Detection of HIV-1 dual infections in highly exposed treated patients
Authors: Andreani Guadalupe , Espada Constanza , Ceballos Ana , Ambrosioni Juan , Petroni Alejandro , Pugliese Dora , Bouzas María Belén , Fernandez Giuliano Silvia , Weissenbacher Mercedes C , Losso Marcelo , Benetucci Jorge , Carr Jean K , Martínez Peralta Liliana 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Genetic characterization of HIV-1 in Argentina has shown that BF recombinants predominate among heterosexuals and injecting drug users, while in men who have sex with men the most prevalent form is subtype B.

Objectives
The aim of this work was to investigate the presence of HIV dual infections in HIV-infected individuals with high probability of reinfection

Study design
Blood samples were collected from 23 HIV positive patients with the risk of reinfection from Buenos Aires. A fragment of the HIV gene pol was amplified and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Antiretroviral drug resistance patterns of all the sequences were analyzed.

Results
Five dual infections were detected with four patients coinfected with subtype B and BF recombinants and one patient was coinfected with two BF recombinants presenting different recombination patterns. Prolonged infection with a stable clinical condition was observed in the five individuals. Resistance mutation patterns were different between the predominant and the minority strains.

Conclusions
Our results show that HIV dual infection can occur with closely related subtypes, and even with different variants of the same recombinant form in certain populations. Clinical observations showed neither aggressive disease progression nor impact on the resistance patterns in the dually-infected patients.
Evaluation of pathogenesis caused in cattle and guinea pig by a Mycobacterium bovisstrain isolated from wild boar
Authors: Meikle Virginia , Bianco María V , Blanco Federico C , Gioffré Andrea , Garbaccio Sergio , Vagnoni Lucas , Di Rienzo Julio , Canal Ana , Bigi Fabiana , Cataldi Angel 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
In many regions of the world, wild mammals act as reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis, a situation that prevents the eradication of bovine tuberculosis. In order to observe whether a strain isolated from a wild boar, previously tested as highly virulent in a mice model, is also virulent in cattle, we performed cattle experimental inoculation with this strain

Results
Groups of Friesian calves were either infected with the wild boar strain M. bovis 04-303 or with the bovine strain NCTC10772 as a control. We found that antigen-specific IFN-γ release in whole blood samples occurred earlier in animals infected with M. bovis 04-303. Both M. bovis strains resulted in a positive skin test, with animals infected with the wild boar isolate showing a stronger response. These results and the presence of more severe organ lesions, with granuloma and pneumonic areas in cattle demonstrate that the wild boar isolate is more virulent than the NCTC10772 strain. Additionally, we tested the infectivity of the M. bovis strains in guinea pigs and found that M. bovis 04-303 had the highest pathogenicity.

Conclusions

M. bovis strains isolated from wild boars may be pathogenic for cattle, producing TB lesions.
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation compared to neoadjuvant radiation alone and surgery alone for Stage II and III soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities
Authors: Curtis Kelly K , Ashman Jonathan B , Beauchamp Christopher P , Schwartz Adam J , Callister Matthew D , Dueck Amylou C , Gunderson Leonard L , Fitch Tom R 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCR) prior to resection of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has been studied, but data are limited. We present outcomes with NCR using a variety of chemotherapy regimens compared to neoadjuvant radiation without chemotherapy (NR) and surgery alone (SA).

Methods
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 112 cases.

Results
Treatments included SA (36 patients), NCR (39 patients), and NR (37 patients). NCR did not improve the rate of margin-negative resections over SA or NR. Loco-regional relapse-free survival, distant metastases-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were not different among the treatment groups. Patients with relapsed disease (OR 11.6; p = 0.01), and tumor size greater than 5 cm (OR 9.4; p = 0.01) were more likely to have a loco-regional recurrence on logistic regression analysis. Significantly increased OS was found among NCR-treated patients with tumors greater than 5 cm compared to SA (3 year OS 69 vs. 40%; p = 0.03). Wound complication rates were higher after NCR compared to SA (50 vs. 11%; p = 0.003) but not compared to NR (p = 0.36). Wet desquamation was the most common adverse event of NCR.

Conclusions
NCR and NR are acceptable strategies for patients with STS. NCR is well-tolerated, but not clearly superior to NR.
C-Jun N-terminal kinase controls TDP-43 accumulation in stress granules induced by oxidative stress
Authors: Meyerowitz Jodi , Parker Sarah J , Vella Laura J , Ng Dominic CH , Price Katherine A , Liddell Jeffrey R , Caragounis Aphrodite , Li Qiao-Xin , Masters Colin L , Nonaka Takashi , Hasegawa Masato , Bogoyevitch Marie A , Kanninen Katja M , Crouch Peter J , White Anthony R 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
TDP-43 proteinopathies are characterized by loss of nuclear TDP-43 expression and formation of C-terminal TDP-43 fragmentation and accumulation in the cytoplasm. Recent studies have shown that TDP-43 can accumulate in RNA stress granules (SGs) in response to cell stresses and this could be associated with subsequent formation of TDP-43 ubiquinated protein aggregates. However, the initial mechanisms controlling endogenous TDP-43 accumulation in SGs during chronic disease are not understood. In this study we investigated the mechanism of TDP-43 processing and accumulation in SGs in SH-SY5Y neuronal-like cells exposed to chronic oxidative stress. Cell cultures were treated overnight with the mitochondrial inhibitor paraquat and examined for TDP-43 and SG processing.

Results
We found that mild stress induced by paraquat led to formation of TDP-43 and HuR-positive SGs, a proportion of which were ubiquitinated. The co-localization of TDP-43 with SGs could be fully prevented by inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). JNK inhibition did not prevent formation of HuR-positive SGs and did not prevent diffuse TDP-43 accumulation in the cytosol. In contrast, ERK or p38 inhibition prevented formation of both TDP-43 and HuR-positive SGs. JNK inhibition also inhibited TDP-43 SG localization in cells acutely treated with sodium arsenite and reduced the number of aggregates per cell in cultures transfected with C-terminal TDP-43 162-414 and 219-414 constructs.

Conclusions
Our studies are the first to demonstrate a critical role for kinase control of TDP-43 accumulation in SGs and may have important implications for development of treatments for FTD and ALS, targeting cell signal pathway control of TDP-43 aggregation.
Towards targeted screening for acute HIV infections in British Columbia
Authors: Steinberg Malcolm , Cook Darrel A , Gilbert Mark , Krajden Mel , Haag Devon , Tsang Peggy , Wong Elsie , Brooks James I , Merks Harriet , Rekart Michael L 
Published: August 2011

BackgroundOur objective was to describe the characteristics of acute and established HIV infections diagnosed in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Province‐wide HIV testing and surveillance data were analyzed to inform recommendations for targeted use of screening algorithms to detect acute HIV infections.MethodsAcute HIV infection was defined as a confirmed reactive HIV p24 antigen test (or HIV nucleic acid test), a non‐reactive or reactive HIV EIA screening test and a non‐reactive or indeterminate Western Blot. Characteristics of unique individuals were identified from the British Columbia HIV/AIDS Surveillance System. Primary drug resistance and HIV subtypes were identified by analyzing HIV pol sequences from residual sera from newly infected individuals.ResultsFrom February 2006 to October 2008, 61 individuals met the acute HIV infection case definition, representing 6.2% of the 987 newly diagnosed HIV infections during the analysis period. Acute HIV infection cases were more likely to be men who have sex with men (crude OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.01‐2.89], to have had a documented previous negative HIV test result (crude OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.52‐5.51), and to have reported a reason for testing due to suspected seroconversion symptoms (crude OR 5.16; 95% CI 2.88‐9.23). HIV subtypes and rates of transmitted drug resistance across all classes of drugs were similar in persons with both acute and established HIV infections.ConclusionsTargeted screening to detect acute HIV infection is a logical public health response to the HIV epidemic. Our findings suggest that acute HIV infection screening strategies, in our setting, are helpful for early diagnosis in men who have sex with men, in persons with seroconversion symptoms and in previously negative repeat testers.