bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peritoneal Dialysis–Associated Peritonitis Rates and Outcomes in a National Cohort are not Improving in the Post-Millennium (2000 – 2007)
Authors: Brown Michaela C. , Simpson Keith , Kerssens Jan J. , Registry Robert A. 
Published: August 2011

Background Peritoneal dialysis (PD)–related peritonitis remains the leading cause of technique failure and a significant cause of morbidity among PD patients. Rates in the literature vary, reflecting differences in study design and in populations. The objective of the present study was to determine peritonitis incidence and outcomes in Scotland and to compare them with national guidelines. Methods All 10 adult renal units in Scotland prospectively collect data relating to peritonitis for all PD patients in Scotland. Complete audit data between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2007 were analyzed for the study. Results The 1918 peritonitis episodes in 38 106 PD treatment months yielded a national rate of 1 episode every 19.9 months. The UK Renal Association standard was met every year, but is not consistently improving. The median peritonitis-free survival was 526 days (95% confidence interval: 463 to 589 days). The spectrum of causative organisms reflected those in previous reports, with a culture- negative rate of 19.4%. Nationally, the cure rate was 74.6%, the refractory rate was 22.6%, and the death rate was 2.8%. Outcome varied by organism. Recurrences represented 9.3% of episodes, and technique failure occurred in 14.9%. The peritonitis rate was higher for continuous ambulatory PD patients than for automated PD patients (1 episode every 17.6 months vs 1 episode every 22.3 months, p < 0.001, relative risk: 1.27). There were significant differences between renal units. Conclusions This large national PD cohort met targets for peritonitis rates every year during the 8 years covered by the present report, but showed no consistent trend for improvement. Peritonitis remains the main cause of technique failure in Scotland. Peritonitis rates varied widely between the units, which suggests that we should look to the units and countries with lower peritonitis rates to see if we can adopt successful elements of their practice before resigning ourselves to our ongoing peritonitis burden.
Peritoneal Morphology after Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis with Biocompatible Fluid: Recent Clinical Practice in Japan
Authors: Ayuzawa Nobuhiro , Ishibashi Yoshitaka , Takazawa Yutaka , Kume Haruki , Fujita Toshiro 
Published: August 2011

♦Background Morphology changes of the peritoneal membrane after long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) consist of denudation of peritoneal mesothelial cells, interstitial sclerosis, and hyalinizing vasculopathy. Those changes are considered to be the result of uremia and bioincompatible effects of conventional acidic lactate-buffered dialysate with glucose degradation products (GDPs). In the last decade, biocompatible dialysate with neutral pH and low GDPs has become widely used. Clinical practice has been modified in Japan, especially for anuric patients, and now includes the use of hybrid therapy. The impact on peritoneal morphology has not been well reported. ♦ Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effect on peritoneal morphology and function of biocompatible fluid use and current clinical practice in Japan, including hybrid dialysis therapy. ♦Methods We evaluated peritoneal biopsy specimens from patients who had undergone PD for more than 3 years. We used the average peritoneal thickness (APT) of the submesothelial compact zone as a marker of interstitial sclerosis and the lumen/vessel diameter ratio (L/V ratio) at postcapillary venules as a marker of hyalinizing vasculopathy. Demography and other data for the patients, including dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) ratio of creatinine, were obtained at baseline and every 6 months by peritoneal equilibration test. ♦Results Between 2002 and 2009, 110 patients started PD therapy with biocompatible dialysate at Tokyo University Hospital. Among them, 11 patients (8 men, 3 women; age: 54.2 ± 11.8 years; 1 with diabetes mellitus) were enrolled into this morphology study. The mean duration of PD in this group was 61 ± 11.3 months, and the mean time to peritoneal biopsy was 58 ± 15.1 months. The median APT was 180 μm (96 – 1424 μm), and the median L/V ratio was 0.66 (0.46 – 0.74). No obvious correlations between APT, L/V ratio, and PD duration were detected. The D/P creatinine of the 11 patients was maintained at a favorably low value, comparable with that of the other 99 patients. ♦Conclusions Peritoneal dialysis therapy using biocompatible dialysate in conjunction with modification of clinical practice may minimize the progression of peritoneal interstitial sclerosis and hyalinizing vasculopathy, preserving favorable peritoneal function for more than 3 years.
Dietary Micronutrient Intake in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Relationship with Nutrition and Inflammation Status
Authors: Martín-del-Campo Fabiola , Batis–Ruvalcaba Carolina , González–Espinoza Liliana , Rojas–Campos Enrique , Ángel Juan R. , Ruiz Norma , González Juana , Pazarín Leonardo , Cueto–Manzano Alfonso M. 
Published: August 2011

♦ Objective To compare dietary intake of micronutrients by peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients according to their nutrition and inflammatory statuses. ♦ Design This cross-sectional study evaluated 73 patients using subjective global assessment, 24-hour dietary recall, and markers of inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6]. ♦Results Half the patients had an inadequate micro-nutrient intake. Compared with dietary reference intakes, malnourished patients had lower intakes of iron (11 mg) and of vitamins C (45 mg) and B6 (0.8 mg). Malnourished and well-nourished patients both had lower intakes of sodium (366 mg, 524 mg respectively), potassium (1555 mg, 1963 mg), zinc (5 mg, 7 mg), calcium (645 mg, 710 mg), magnesium (161 mg, 172 mg), niacin (8 mg, 9 mg), folic acid (0.14 mg, 0.19 mg), and vitamin A (365 μg, 404 μg). Markers of inflammation were higher in malnourished than in well-nourished subjects. Compared with patients in lower quartiles, patients in the highest CRP quartile had lower intakes (p < 0.05) of sodium (241 mg vs 404 mg), calcium (453 mg vs 702 mg), vitamin B2 (0.88 mg vs 1.20 mg), and particularly vitamin A (207 μg vs 522 μg). ♦Conclusions Among PD patients, half had inadequate dietary intakes of iron, zinc, calcium and vitamins A, B6, C, niacin, and folic acid. Lower micronutrient intakes were associated with malnutrition and inflammation. Patients with inflammation had lower intakes of sodium, calcium, and vitamins A and B2. Micronutrient intake must be investigated in various populations so as to tailor adequate supplementation.
Identifying Preliminary Domains to Detect and Measure Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares: Report of the OMERACT 10 RA Flare Workshop
Authors: BINGHAM CLIFTON O. , ALTEN RIEKE , BARTLETT SUSAN J. , BYKERK VIVIAN P. , BROOKS PETER M. , CHOY ERNEST , CHRISTENSEN ROBIN , FURST DANIEL E. , HEWLETT SARAH E. , LEONG AMYE , MAY JAMES E. , MONTIE PAM , POHL CHRISTOF , SANDERSON TESSA C. , STRAND VIBEKE , WOODWORTH THASIA G. 
Published: August 2011

Background.While disease flares in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are a recognized aspect of the disease process, there is limited formative research to describe them.Methods.The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) RA Flare Definition Working Group is conducting an international research project to understand the specific characteristics and impact of episodic disease worsening, or “flare,” so that outcome measures can be developed or modified to reflect this uncommonly measured, but very real and sometimes disabling RA disease feature. Patient research partners provided critical insights into the multidimensional nature of flare. The perspectives of patients and healthcare and research professionals are being integrated to ensure that any outcome measurement to detect flares fulfills the first OMERACT criteria of Truth. Through an iterative data-driven Delphi process, a preliminary list of key domains has been identified to evaluate flare.Results.At OMERACT 10, consensus was achieved identifying features of flare in addition to the existing core set for RA, including fatigue, stiffness, symptom persistence, systemic features, and participation. Patient self-report of flare was identified as a component of the research agenda needed to establish criterion validity for a flare definition; this can be used in prospective studies to further evaluate the Discrimination and Feasibility components of the OMERACT filter for a flare outcome measure.Conclusion.Our work to date has provided better understanding of key aspects of the RA disease process as episodic, potentially disabling disease worsening even when a patient is in low disease activity. It also highlights the importance of developing ways to enhance communication between patients and clinicians and improve the ability to achieve “tight control” of disease.
The Importance of Service Integration in Developing Effective Employment Services for People with Severe Mental Health Conditions
Authors: Waghorn Geoff , Stephenson Adel , Browne Deborah 
Published: August 2011

Introduction: This report examines the importance of integrating mental health services with supported employment services for people with severe mental health conditions and psychiatric disabilities. Integrated mental health and employment services are considered a key principle of evidence-based practices in supported employment for this group. Method: The importance of this principle was tested by examining both the service practices and the employment outcomes attained by 270 clients of a segregated employment service in Christchurch, New Zealand. Service practices were examined using an established scale to assess the fidelity of evidence-based practices in supported employment. Employment outcomes were benchmarked to a range of employment outcome variables reported in national and international studies of specialised supported employment services. Results: Despite only a fair overall fidelity score of 64/75, 73.7% of clients commenced competitive employment within a mean of 86 days from programme entry. The mean hours worked by those employed was 22 hours per week, and 41.5% of those who commenced employment worked for 26 weeks or more. Conclusion: These promising results confirm that very good implementation of evidence-based practices other than service integration practices can compensate for the disadvantages of service segregation.
Websites de unidades de informação como ferramentas de comunicação com seus próprios públicos
Authors: Amaral Sueli Angelica do , Guimarães Tatiara Paranhos 
Published: August 2011

Tem como objetivo discutir o uso de websites de unidades de informação como ferramentas de comunicação capazes de melhorar o relacionamento dessas organizações com os seus diversos públicos, levando em conta o potencial tecnológico e comunicacional da web. O estudo destaca que os gestores das unidades de informação devem se preocupar com os websites e torná-los capazes de desempenhar diversas funções, pois representam a unidade de informação na web. Ressalta que o uso do website como ferramenta de comunicação para o relacionamento com os diversos públicos pode ser analisado pelo seu desempenho da função de comunicação. Por meio dos websites, essa comunicação deve ocorrer em duas vias, tanto da unidade de informação em direção aos seus públicos, como desses públicos para a unidade de informação. São apresentados resultados obtidos em pesquisas com o uso de esquema classificatório das funções desempenhadas pelos websites de unidades de informação para verificar o desempenho específico da função de comunicação. A maior parte dos resultados das pesquisas mostrou que o potencial da web não estava sendo explorado em sua totalidade e evidenciou que a comunicação era realizada de forma assimétrica, pois os websites demonstraram o uso de comunicação desbalanceada.
Single night postoperative prone posturing in idiopathic macular hole surgery
Authors: Malik Arshed , Dooley Ian , Mahmood Usman 
Published: August 2011

Purpose To evaluate the role of postoperative prone posturing for a single night in the outcome of trans pars plana vitrectomy (TPPV) with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel and 20% perfluoroethane (C2F6) internal tamponade for idiopathic macular hole. Methods This prospective trial enrolled 14 eyes in 14 consecutive patients with idiopathic macular hole. All eyes underwent TPPV with vision blue assisted ILM peeling with and without phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) for macular hole. Intraocular gas tamponade (20% C2F6) was used in all cases with postoperative face-down posturing overnight and without specific posturing afterwards. LogMAR visual acuity, appearance by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and ocular coherence tomography (OCT) scans were compared preoperatively and postoperatively to assess outcome. Results Among 14 eyes recruited, all eyes were phakic; 50% of patients underwent concurrent phacoemulsification with IOL. The macular holes were categorized preoperatively by OCT appearance, 4 (28.57%) were stage 2, 7 (50%) were stage 3, and 3 (21.43%) were stage 4. Mean macular hole size was 0.35 disk diameters. Symptoms of macular hole had been present for an average of 6.5 months. All holes (100%) were closed 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Mean visual acuity (logMAR) was improved to 0.61 at 3 months and was stable at 6 months after the surgery. None of the eyes had worse vision postoperatively. Conclusions Vitrectomy with ILM peeling and 20% C2F6 gas with a brief postoperative 1 night prone posturing regimen is a reasonable approach to achieve anatomic closure in idiopathic macular hole. Concurrent cataract extraction did not alter outcomes and was not associated with any additional complications.
Larval Epidermis of the Red Eye Tree Frog Agalychnis callidryas (Anura, Hylidae): Ultrastructural Investigation on the Kugelzellen, Specialized Forms of the Constitutive Skein Cell Line
Authors: Giachi Filippo , Tanteri Gianfranco , Malentacchi Cecilia , Delfino Giovanni 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAn ultrastructural study was carried out on the epidermis of Agalychnis callidryas tadpoles during limb development. Larval epidermis consisted of four cell layers: basal, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, and surface or apical layers. Basal cells represented the stem compartment of intermediate cells: both belong to the skein cell (SC) lineage, described in several anuran species, on account of the conspicuous intracytoplasmic tonofilament bundles. Apical cells were secretory in nature and released mucus on the body surface. Intermediate SCs exhibited a hydrated central cytoplasm and peripheral tonofilament bundles. They closely resembled the epidermal ball‐like cells, Kugelzellen (KZn) of Xenopus laevis tadpoles, and possibly shared their turgor‐stiffness properties. In A. callidryas, the stratification of intermediated SCs on their stem cell layer provided the chance to study their cytodifferentiation in a suitable sequence, until basal cell differentiation shifted toward the keratinocyte lineage in premetamorphic stages. Present data assign A. callidryas to the anuran species with a constitutive SC population in larval epidermis, and demonstrate that KZn express the ultimate specialization of such cell line. SCs were arranged in the fashion of a random‐rubble stone groundwork, and possessed long processes. These cytoplasmic outgrowths contained a tonofilament axial rod and held together contiguous cells. Ultrastructural findings suggest that this complex structure may impart compressive as well as sliding strengths to the larval epidermis, representing a possible adaption to the fresh water environment. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Localized Acid Instillation by a Wedged‐Catheter Method Reveals a Role for Vascular Gap Junctions in Spatial Expansion of Acid Injury
Authors: Parthasarathi Kaushik , Bhattacharya Jahar 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAcid aspiration is a major cause of acute lung injury. However, the mechanisms that underlie this spatial expansion of the injury remain undefined. In current animal models of acid injury, intratracheal acid instillation replicates the lung injury. However intratracheal instillation causes a global effect, precluding studies of how the injury spreads. Here, we report an airway catheter‐based method for localized acid delivery in the isolated blood‐perfused rat lung. We co‐instilled hydrochloric acid with evans blue through the catheter into one lung and determined blood‐free extravascular lung water in tissue samples from regions that either received, or did not receive the instilled acid. Tissue samples from the noncatheterized contralateral lung were used as controls. Lung water increased both in the regions that received acid, as well as in adjacent regions that did not. Pretreating the lung with vascular infusions of the gap junctional blocker, glycerrhetinic acid, blunted the acid‐induced lung water increase at the adjacent regions. These findings indicate that endothelial gap junction communication causes spread of lung injury from regions that were directly acid injured, to adjacent sites that did not directly receive acid. Our new method for establishing localized acid injury provides evidence for a novel role for vascular gap junctions in the spatial expansion of acid injury. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intracellular Detection of Cytosine Incorporation in Genomic DNA by Using 5‐Ethynyl‐2′‐Deoxycytidine
Authors: Guan Lirui , van der Heijden Godfried W. , Bortvin Alex , Greenberg Marc M. 
Published: August 2011

Abstract5‐Ethynyl‐2′‐deoxycytidine triphosphate (EdCTP) was synthesized as a probe to be used in conjunction with fluorescent labeling to facilitate the analysis of the in vivo dynamics of DNA‐centered processes (DNA replication, repair and cytosine demethylation). Kinetic analysis showed that EdCTP is accepted as a substrate by Klenow exo− and DNA polymerase β. Incorporation of 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxycytidine (EdC) into DNA by these enzymes is, at most, modestly less efficient than native dC. EdC‐containing DNA was visualized by using a click reaction with a fluorescent azide, following polymerase incorporation and T4 DNA ligase mediated ligation. Subsequent experiments in mouse male germ cells and zygotes demonstrated that EdC is a specific and reliable reporter of DNA replication, in vivo.
Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Reactions of Sulfur Aromatic Compounds
Authors: Samokhvalov Alexander 
Published: August 2011

AbstractSulfur aromatic compounds, such as mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and tetraalkyl‐substituted thiophene, benzothiophenes, dibenzothiophenes, are the molecular components of many fossils (petroleum, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen). Structural units of natural, cross‐linked heteroaromatic polymers present in brown coals, turf, and soil are similar to those of sulfur aromatic compounds. Many sulfur aromatic compounds are found in the streams of petroleum refining and upgrading (naphthas, gas oils) and in the consumer products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuels, heating fuels). Besides fossils, the structural fragments of sulfur aromatic compounds are present in molecules of certain organic semiconductors, pesticides, small molecule drugs, and in certain biomolecules present in human body (pheomelanin pigments). Photocatalysis is the frontier area of physical chemistry that studies chemical reactions initiated by absorption of photons by photocatalysts, that is, upon electronic rather than thermal activation, under “green” ambient conditions. This review provides systematization and critical review of the fundamental chemical and physicochemical information on heterogeneous photocatalysis of sulfur aromatic compounds accumulated in the last 20–30 years. Specifically, the following topics are covered: physicochemical properties of sulfur aromatic compounds, major classes of heterogeneous photocatalysts, mechanisms and reactive intermediates of photocatalytic reactions of sulfur aromatic compounds, and the selectivity of these reactions. Quantum chemical calculations of properties and structures of sulfur aromatic compounds, their reactive intermediates, and the structure of adsorption complexes formed on the surface of the photocatalysts are also discussed.
Mammal remains at Rantis Cave, Israel, and Middle–Late Pleistocene human subsistence and ecology in the Southern Levant
Authors: Marder Ofer , Yeshurun Reuven , Lupu Ronit , Bar‐Oz Guy , Belmaker Miriam , Porat Naomi , RON Hagai , Frumkin Amos 
Published: August 2011

AbstractRantis Cave is a recently discovered filled cave in central Israel, displaying a rich faunal accumulation of micromammals, ungulates and carnivores. U–Th dating assigns the beginning of accumulation to ca. 140 ka. The accumulation is culturally assigned to the late half of the Middle Paleolithic (MP) period. Single‐grain optically stimulated luminescence measurements attest to a complex sedimentological history. We present the cross‐disciplinary results of taphonomic and geomorphological analyses, which point to the cave serving as a natural pitfall trap for the large fauna, with little human or carnivore activity. The fauna is dominated byDamaamong the ungulates and byMicrotusamong the micromammals. These data in conjunction with ungulate tooth mesowear analysis suggest a xeric Mediterranean environment on the eastern margin of the southern Levantine foothills. The relative taxonomic abundance of ungulate taxa shows some differences from anthropogenic MP sites, possibly reflecting the prey choice patterns of MP hunters. Overall, the natural accumulation scenario for Rantis Cave provides a rare paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic reference to the rich anthropogenic MP faunas of the Southern Levant, enabling the reconstruction of a rich and diverse environmental setting for this important human dispersal route. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GABA (γ‐aminobutyric acid), a non‐protein amino acid counters the β‐adrenergic cascade‐activated oncogenic signaling in pancreatic cancer: A review of experimental evidence
Authors: Al‐Wadei Hussein A. N. , Ullah Mohammad F. , Al‐Wadei Mohammed 
Published: August 2011

AbstractGABA is a bioactive constituent of fruits, vegetables, cereals and is believed to play a role in defense against stress in plants. In animals, it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain while also expressed in non‐neuronal cells. Studies have implicated the regulator of fight or flight stress responses, β‐AR signaling cascade, as mediators of cancer growth and progression in in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic malignancies. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in western countries. This malignancy is generally unresponsive to conventional radio‐ and chemotherapy, resulting in mortality rate near 100% within 6 months of diagnosis. We review a series of experiments from our laboratory and those of others examining the contribution of this signaling network to pancreatic and other human malignancies. Stimulation of the β‐adrenergic receptor by lifestyle and environmental factors, as well as a pre‐existing risk of neoplasm, activates downstream effector molecules that lead to pro‐oncogenic signaling and thereby aid cancer growth. GABAergic signaling mediated by the serpentine receptor GABAB acts as an antagonist to β‐adrenergic cascade by intercepting adenylyl cyclase. These evidences enhance the pharmacological value of human diets rich in GABA for use as an adjuvant to standard therapies.