bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Albumin Dialysis Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System: Impact of Dialysate Albumin Concentration on Detoxification Efficacy
Authors: Drexler Kerstin , Baustian Claas , Richter Georg , Ludwig Julia , Ramlow Wolfgang , Mitzner Steffen 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAlbumin dialysis with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) or single pass albumin dialysis (SPAD) uses human serum albumin (HSA) as an addendum of the dialysate fluid. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the impact of the dialysate albumin concentration on removal efficacy. Heparinized human plasma (3 L/test) was spiked with creatinine (1000 mg/L), unconjugated bilirubin (100 mg/L), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) (100 mg/L), and diazepam (3 mg/L). The MARS albumin circuit was primed with different amounts of HSA (150, 100, 60, and 40 g). The plasma, albumin, and dialysate flow rates were 200, 200, and 40 mL/min, respectively. Clearances were calculated based on repeated sampling during the experiments, which lasted 480 min. The effective HSA concentrations in the dialysate were 175, 115, 77, and 46 g/L, respectively. They decreased over treatment time to 147, 99, 63, and 41 g/L, respectively, due to surface adsorption. The plasma–HSA concentration remained unchanged over time in all experiments (average 39 g/L). The creatinine clearance was not impacted by dialysate HSA concentration. For the albumin‐bound markers a clear correlation between HSA‐concentration and clearance was demonstrated with the highest clearances for the 100 and 150 g HSA experiments. The 100 g HSA setup appeared to be the one with best cost–benefit ratio, resulting in clearances (after 1 h of treatment) of 31 mL/min creatinine, 0.3 mL/min unconjugated bilirubin, 11 mL/min CDCA, and 35 mL/min diazepam. Low albumin concentrations, such as in SPAD, result in low clearance rates for albumin‐bound substances. The optimal clearances in these experiments were reached with a priming dose of 100 g HSA.
Predictive Criteria for the Outcome of Patients With Acute Liver Failure Treated With the Albumin Dialysis Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System
Authors: Novelli Gilnardo , Rossi Massimo , Ferretti Giancarlo , Pugliese Francesco , Ruberto Franco , Lai Quirino , Novelli Simone , Piemonte Vincenzo , Turchetti Luca , Morabito Vincenzo , Annesini Maria C , Berloco Pasquale B 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement of prognostic parameters after treatment with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) in patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH). The parameters conducive to a positive prognosis include: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≥11, intracranial pressure (ICP) <15 mm Hg or an improvement of the systolic peak flow of 25–32 cm/s via Doppler ultrasound in the middle cerebral artery, lactate level <3 mmol/L, tumor necrosis factor‐α <20 pg/mL, interleukin (IL)‐6 <30 pg/mL, and a change in hemodynamic instability from hyperkinetic to normal kinetic conditions, and so define the timing (and indeed the necessity) of a liver transplant (LTx). From 1999 to 2008 we treated 45 patients with FH with MARS in the intensive care unit of our institution. We analyzed all the parameters that were statistically significant using univariate analysis and considered the patients to be candidates for inclusion in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Thirty‐six patients survived: 21 were bridged to liver transplant (the BLT group) and 15 continued the extracorporeal method until native liver recovery (the NLR group) with a positive resolution of the clinical condition. Nine patients died before transplantation due to multi‐organ failure. We stratified the entire population into three different groups according to six risk factors (the percentage reduction of lactate, IL‐6 and ICP, systemic vascular resistance index values, GCS <9, and the number of MARS treatments): group A (0–2 risk factors), group B (3–4 risk factors), and group C (5–6 risk factors). Analyzing the prevalence of these parameters, we noted that group A perfectly corresponded to the NLR group, group B corresponded to the BLT group, and group C was composed of patients from the non‐survival group; thus, we were able to select the patients who could undergo a LTx using the predictive criteria. For patients with an improvement of neurological status, cytokines, lactate, and hemodynamic parameters, LTx was no longer necessary and their treatment continued with MARS and standard medical therapy.
Albumin Dialysis in Liver Failure: Comparison of Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System and Single Pass Albumin Dialysis—A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Kortgen Andreas , Rauchfuss Falk , Götz Max , Settmacher Utz , Bauer Michael , Sponholz Christoph 
Published: September 2009

AbstractDespite improvement in critical care, liver failure is still associated with high mortality. Therapeutic concepts are aimed at restoring endogenous liver function or to bridge the time to liver transplantation. In addition to standard medical treatment, extracorporeal liver support with albumin dialysis is used for this purpose. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of single pass albumin dialysis (SPAD) in comparison to the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) in patients treated at our university hospital intensive care unit between July 2004 and August 2008. In this retrospective analysis we studied patients presenting with liver failure who were treated with albumin dialysis. Laboratory parameters, daily health scoring, the number of transfusions, and mortality were recorded. The (paired) t‐test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. In all, 163 albumin dialysis treatments, 126 with MARS and 37 with SPAD, in 57 patients were performed. MARS resulted in a significant decrease in bilirubin (−38 ± 66.5 µmol/L from a baseline of 301 ± 154.6 µmol/L), γ‐glutamyltransferase (γ‐GT), alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea. SPAD resulted in a significant decrease in bilirubin (−41 ± 111.2 µmol/L from a baseline of 354 ± 189.4 µmol/L) and γ‐GT, while lactate levels increased. No differences in the need for blood transfusion, health scoring, or mortality between the two treatment modalities were detected. This retrospective analysis suggests equal efficacy of MARS and SPAD; however, prospective assessment to further define the role of SPAD in the treatment of acute or acute‐on‐chronic liver failure is needed.
Extracorporeal Liver Support Therapy With Prometheus in Patients With Liver Failure in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Oppert Michael , Rademacher Sibylle , Petrasch Kathrin , Jörres Achim 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAcute liver failure (ALF) and acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (AoCLF) are associated with a high mortality. In these patients an accumulation of both water‐soluble and water‐insoluble, protein‐bound, metabolic waste products occurs. Conventional extracorporeal blood purification techniques based on diffusion and/or convection such as hemodialysis or hemofiltration may only eliminate small molecular weight, water‐soluble compounds. In recent years, fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (FPSA) with the Prometheus system has been introduced for extracorporeal liver support therapy. To date, however, only limited data is available regarding the effect of this treatment on mortality and outcome of patients with advanced liver disease. Here we report on our experience with 23 patients with severe liver failure who were treated with Prometheus in our medical intensive care unit. Fourteen patients had AoCLF, and nine patients experienced ALF. The median bilirubin level at the start of Prometheus therapy was 30.5 mg/dL and the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 26. During 40 individual treatment sessions lasting 5–6 h, Prometheus therapy reduced serum bilirubin levels from 23.7 mg/dL to 15.0 mg/dL (median values) (P < 0.001), and the overall survival was 26%. ALF patients had a better survival compared to AoCLF patients (44% vs. 22%; P = 0.022). Apart from one patient who developed hemodynamic instability during a treatment session, Prometheus therapy was well tolerated without relevant side‐effects. In conclusion, extracorporeal liver support therapy with Prometheus is a novel and safe treatment option in patients with severe liver failure. In this series, patients with ALF showed a significantly better outcome with Prometheus therapy compared to AoCLF patients.
Effect of Extracorporeal Liver Support by Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System and Prometheus on Redox State of Albumin in Acute‐on‐Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Oettl Karl , Stadlbauer Vanessa , Krisper Peter , Stauber Rudolf E 
Published: September 2009

AbstractOxidative stress is believed to play an important role in acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (AoCLF). Albumin, an important transport vehicle, was found to be severely oxidized in AoCLF patients. Extracorporeal liver support systems may exert beneficial effects in AoCLF via removal of albumin‐bound toxins. At present, two systems are commercially available, the molecular adsorbents recirculating system (MARS) and fractionated plasma separation, adsorption and dialysis (FPAD, also known as Prometheus). The aim of this study was to compare the effect of MARS and Prometheus treatments on the redox state of human serum albumin. Eight patients with AoCLF underwent alternating treatments with either MARS or Prometheus in a randomized cross‐over design. Sixteen treatments (eight MARS and eight Prometheus) were available for analysis. The fraction of human mercaptalbumin (HMA), human nonmercaptalbumin‐1 (HNA1), and human nonmercaptalbumin‐2 (HNA2) were measured before and after single MARS and Prometheus treatments and during follow‐up. In AoCLF patients the oxidized fractions of albumin, HNA1, and HNA2 were markedly increased. Both MARS and Prometheus treatments resulted in a shift of HNA1 to HMA, while HNA2 was not significantly affected. This shift in albumin fractions was transient and disappeared within 24 h after treatment. There were no significant differences between MARS and Prometheus treatments with respect to the redox state of albumin. Both MARS and Prometheus treatments lead to transient improvements of the redox state of albumin, which could be beneficial in the treatment of AoCLF.
EFFECT OF ARTISANAL PARBOILING METHODS ON MILLING YIELD AND COOKED RICE TEXTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: MANFUL JOHN T. , ABBEY LAWRENCE D. , COKER RAYMOND D. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT One of the main objectives of artisanal rice parboiling is to reduce the levels of broken grains (brokens) on milling. Rice samples that had been parboiled using different regimes of soaking temperatures and steaming times were analyzed for their physical properties and cooked rice textures. It was established that inappropriate soaking and steaming regimes resulted in greater levels of brokens than raw‐milled paddy. Consequently, in artisanal parboiling, the initial soaking temperature should be about 90C and the steaming time should be more than 8 min, ideally, about 12 min. On cooking, more severely parboiled rice samples had firmer textures than mildly parboiled samples. The commercially parboiled sample and the more severely laboratory‐parboiled samples required a rice‐to‐water ratio of 1:3, while the raw‐milled sample and the mildly parboiled ones required a 1:2½ rice‐to‐water ratio for optimum cooking. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSArtisanal rice parboiling is carried out mainly to reduce the levels of broken grains and increase the yield of milled rice in many countries. If this is carried out very well, there are economic benefits as more rice of better quality is available to be sold. This study provides information on optimum processing conditions, i.e., initial soaking temperature of about 90C and a steaming time of about 12 min. The study also provides recommendations on optimum cooking conditions, i.e., rice‐to‐water ratio, for the variably parboiled rice samples.
EFFECT OF WAX APPLICATION ON THE QUALITY, LYCOPENE CONTENT AND CHILLING INJURY OF TOMATO FRUIT
Authors: MEJÍA‐TORRES SILVIA , VEGA‐GARCÍA MISAEL , VALVERDE‐JUÁREZ JAVIER , LÓPEZ‐VALENZUELA JOSÉ , CARO‐CORRALES JOSÉ 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT Waxed and nonwaxed mature green tomato fruits were stored at 12C (nonchilled) or 5C (chilled) for 5, 10, 15 and 20 days before being transferred to 22C for 3, 6, 9 and 12 days, were evaluated for weight loss, chemical composition, skin color, chilling injury (CI) index and pigment content. Waxed fruits showed a delay in weight loss, color development and ripening. The sensitivity of tomato fruit to CI was reduced in waxed fruits, which showed a delay in the appearance of symptoms. A delay in chlorophyll degradation and lycopene synthesis was observed as a result of the use of wax and low temperature. Waxing of tomato fruits allowed their storage at temperatures below critical reducing CI sensitivity and maintaining quality giving more time for marketing. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSNowadays, local tomato producers use wax on fruits as an everyday practice to carry postharvest fungicides and to improve brightness. They store tomato fruits at nonchilling temperature (12C) because lower temperatures would cause chilling injury and irregular ripening. In this way, it is interesting that waxing tomato fruits allow reducing their storage temperature, protecting them from chilling injury and maintaining their quality and correct color change and ripening; thereby producers and sellers have more days to position their fruits with no extra cost.
Constraints to Watershed Planning: Group Structure and Process1
Authors: Floress Kristin , Mangun Jean C. , Davenport Mae A. , Williard Karl W.J. 
Published: September 2009

Floress, Kristin, Jean C. Mangun, Mae A. Davenport, and Karl W.J. Williard, 2009. Constraints to Watershed Planning: Group Structure and Process. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1352‐1360.Abstract:  The roles that agencies and other partners play in collaborative watershed management are not always clearly identified. Key factors contributing to group‐level outcomes in watershed groups include both structural and procedural elements. Structural elements include membership systems, project partners, and funding, while procedural elements include leadership, shared vision, and mission development. The current research reports on a case study conducted with a Midwestern watershed group that received Clean Water Act Section 319 funds to undertake a watershed planning process. Data come from focus groups, interviews, public comments, and meeting observation, and were analyzed using grounded theory. Findings of this study indicate that homogenous skill set, discord over group and partner roles, and failed problem identification contributed to the organizational inertia experienced by the watershed group. Implications of this research for groups receiving 319 funds are provided.
sofsog: a suite of programs to avoid inbreeding in plantation designs
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ J. , GONZÁLEZ‐MARTÍNEZ S. C. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractCost‐effective ways of controlling inbreeding in conservation or productive plantations imply the allocation of individuals reducing the possibility of close relatives’ mating and, consequently, limiting inbreeding. sofsog is a suite of programs, which helps to design plantation sites. First, if the plantation scheme involves several plots, it allows distribution of individuals available among different sites minimizing within‐site global coancestry. Then, it yields a plantation design for each site, either following the classical permutated neighbourhood strategy or the recently developed method by Fernández and González‐Martínez. This new method allows the implementation of different pollen dispersion kernels, and to include in the designing strategy any available information on individual relationships, reproductive success, differences in phenology, etc., via weighting or penalization matrices. Additionally, the package includes a tool for calculating the molecular coancestry (Identity By State) from codominant marker data.
Introduction of Ertapenem into a Hospital Formulary: Effect on Antimicrobial Usage and Improved In Vitro Susceptibility of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Goldstein Ellie J. C. , Citron Diane M. , Peraino Victoria , Elgourt Tanya , Meibohm Anne R. , Lu Shuang 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

After ertapenem was added to the formulary of a 344-bed community teaching hospital, we retrospectively studied its effect on antimicrobial utilization and on the in vitro susceptibility of various antimicrobial agents against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Three study periods were defined as preintroduction (months 1 to 9), postintroduction but before the autosubstitution of ertapenem for ampicillin-sulbactam (months 10 to 18), and after the policy of autosubstitution (months 19 to 48) was initiated. Ertapenem usage rose slowly from introduction to a range of 36 to 48 defined daily doses/1,000 patient days (DDD) with a resultant decrease in ampicillin-sulbactam usage due to autosubstitution. Imipenem usage peaked 6 months after the introduction of ertapenem and started to decline coincidently with the increased use of ertapenem. During the second period, imipenem usage decreased (slope = −1.28;
P
= 0.002). Prior to the introduction of ertapenem, the susceptibility of
P. aeruginosa
to imipenem increased from 61 to 81% at month 7 but then decreased slightly to 67% at month 9. After the introduction of ertapenem, susceptibility continued to increase; the increasing trend was significant (slope = 1.74;
P
< 0.001). In the third period, the median susceptibility (interquartile range) was 88% (82 to 95%). This change appeared related to decreased imipenem usage. For every unit decrease in the monthly DDD of imipenem, there was an increase of 0.38% (
P
= 0.008) in the susceptibility of
P. aeruginosa
to imipenem in the same month. Ertapenem was effective in our antimicrobial stewardship program and may have helped improve the
P. aeruginosa
antimicrobial susceptibility to imipenem by decreasing the unnecessary usage and selective pressure of antipseudomonal agents.
Fmt Bypass in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Causes Induction of MexXY Efflux Pump Expression
Authors: Caughlan Ruth E. , Sriram Shubha , Daigle Denis M. , Woods Angela L. , Buco Jennifer , Peterson Ron L. , Dzink-Fox JoAnn , Walker Susan , Dean Charles R. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The intrinsic resistance of
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 to the peptide deformylase inhibitor (PDF-I) LBM415 was mediated by the MexAB-OprM and MexXY-OprM efflux pumps, the latter of which was strongly induced by LBM415. Single-step exposure of PAO1 deleted for
mexAB-oprM
(therefore lacking both MexAB-OprM and MexXY-OprM functions) to PDF-Is selected for
nfxB
mutants, which express the MexCD-OprJ efflux pump, indicating that these compounds are also substrates for this pump. Selection of resistant mutants by use of levels of LBM415 greater than that accommodated by efflux yielded two additional groups of mutations, in the methionyl-tRNA
fmet
formyltransferase (
fmt
) and
folD
genes. Both mechanisms are known to impose an in vitro growth deficit (also observed here), presumably due to impairment of protein synthesis. We surmised that this inherent impairment of protein synthesis would upregulate expression of
mexXY
in a fashion similar to upregulation by LBM415 or by ribosome inhibitory compounds. Transcriptional profiling and/or
mexX
::
lux
promoter fusion analysis revealed that
fmt
and
folD
mutants were strongly upregulated for
mexXY
and another gene known to be required for upregulation of the pump, PA5471. Complementation of the
fmt
mutation in
trans
reversed this constitutive expression. This supports the notion that MexXY has a natural physiological function responding to impairment of ribosome function or protein synthesis and that
fmt
mutation (Fmt bypass) and
folD
mutation generate the intracellular
mexXY
-inducing signal.
In Vivo Investigations of Selected Diamidine Compounds againstTrypanosoma evansiUsing a Mouse Model
Authors: Gillingwater Kirsten , Kumar Arvind , Anbazhagan Mariappan , Boykin David W. , Tidwell Richard R. , Brun Reto 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTSurra is an animal pathogenic protozoan infection, caused byTrypanosoma evansi, that develops into a fatal wasting disease. Control measures rely on diagnosis and treatment. However, with the continuous emergence of drug resistance, this tactic is failing, and the pressing need for new chemotherapeutic agents is becoming critical. With the introduction of novel aromatic diamidines, a new category of antitrypanosomal drugs was discovered. Nevertheless, their efficacy within aT. evansi-infected mouse model was not known. In total, 30 compounds previously selected based on their in vitro activity were tested in aT. evansimouse model of infection. Six of the compounds were capable of curingT. evansi-infected mice at drug doses as low as 0.5 and 0.25 mg/kg of body weight administered for 4 consecutive days, and they were more effective than the standard drugs suramin, diminazene, and quinapyramine. After all selection criteria were applied, three diamidine compounds (DB 75, DB 867, and DB 1192) qualified as lead compounds and were considered to have the potential to act as preclinical candidates againstT. evansiinfection.
Susceptibilities of 23
Desulfovibrio
Isolates from Humans
Authors: Nakao Ken-ichi , Tanaka Kaori , Ichiishi Suguru , Mikamo Hiroshige , Shibata Toshiyuki , Watanabe Kunitomo 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 23 strains of
Desulfovibrio
spp. were tested by Etest. Generally,
Desulfovibrio
spp. were highly susceptible to sulbactam-ampicillin, meropenem, clindamycin, metronidazole, and chloramphenicol: MIC
90
s of 6, 4, 0.19, 0.25, and 8 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, these strains generally showed high MICs to piperacillin and piperacillin-tazobactam.
D
esulfovibrio fairfieldensis
(eight strains) was the species least susceptible to most agents, especially β-lactams, and was the only species resistant to fluoroquinolones.
D
esulfovibrio desulfuricans
strain Essex 6 isolates were less susceptible to β-lactams than
D. desulfuricans
strain MB isolates.