bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are fibroblast growth factor 23 concentrations in renal transplant patients different from non‐transplanted chronic kidney disease patients?
Authors: Filler Guido , Liu Daisy , Sharma Ajay Parkash , Grimmer Joanne 
Published: November 2011

Filler G, Liu D, Sharma AP, Grimmer J. Are fibroblast growth factor 23 concentrations in renal transplant patients different from non‐transplanted chronic kidney disease patients?  Pediatr Transplantation 2012: 16: 73–77. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  To compare the pattern of serum FGF23 levels in pediatric renal transplant recipients and GFR‐matched controls. We performed a cross‐sectional matched pair study in 19 stable pediatric renal transplant recipients and 19 GFR‐matched controls with native CKD. After assessment for normal distribution, demographic and bone metabolism parameters were compared with Student’s t‐test, Wilcoxon’s matched pairs (for non‐normal distribution) test, and correlation analysis. The groups were comparable for anthropometric parameters, cystatin C eGFR (71.10 ± 37.28 vs. 76.11 ± 26.80 mL/min/1.73 m2), cystatin C, urea, creatinine, intact PTH, pH, CRP, alkaline phosphatase, phosphate, calcium, ionized calcium, FGF‐23 (63.44 [IQR 38.42, 76.29], 49.92 [IQR 42.48, 76.97]), albumin, and urinary calcium/creatinine ratio. The renal transplant patients had significantly lower 25‐(OH) vitamin D levels (66.63 ± 17.54 vs. 91.42 ± 29.16 ng/mL), and higher 1,25‐(OH)2 vitamin D levels (95.78 ± 34.54 vs. 67.11 ± 35.90 pm). FGF‐23 levels correlated negatively with cystatin C eGFR (r = −0.3571, p = 0.02770) and positively with PTH (r = 0.5063, p = 0.0026), but not with serum phosphate (r = 0.2651, p = 0.1077). We conclude that the increase in FGF23 levels with GFR decline in pediatric renal transplant patients remains similar to that in the patients with CKD. The relationship between FGF23 and serum vitamin D needs further evaluation.
Adverse interactions between antifungal azoles and vincristine: review and analysis of cases
Authors: Moriyama Brad , Henning Stacey A. , Leung Janice , Falade‐Nwulia Oluwaseun , Jarosinski Paul , Penzak Scott R. , Walsh Thomas J. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryTriazole and imidazole antifungal agents inhibit metabolism of vincristine, leading to excess vinca alkaloid exposure and severe neurotoxicity. Recent reports of debilitating interactions between vincristine and itraconazole, as well as posaconazole, voriconazole and ketoconazole underscore the need to improve medical awareness of this adverse combination. We, therefore, undertook a comprehensive analysis of reports of adverse drug interactions (ADIs) with the combination of vincristine and azole antifungal agents, established a new classification, and provided a detailed summary of these toxicities. In patients who had sufficient data for analysis, 47 individuals were identified who had an ADI with the combination of vincristine and antifungal azoles. Median age was 8 years (1.3–68 years) with 33(70%) having a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Median time to ADI with vincristine was 9.5 days with itraconazole, 13.5 days posaconazole and 30 days voriconazole. The median number of vincristine doses preceding the ADI was 2 doses with itraconazole, 3 doses posaconazole and 2 doses voriconazole. The most common severe ADIs included gastrointestinal toxicity, peripheral neuropathy, hyponatremia/SIADH, autonomic neuropathy and seizures. Recovery from these ADIs occurred in 80.6% of patients. We recommend using alternative antifungal agents if possible in patients receiving vincristine to avoid this serious and potentially life‐threatening drug interaction.
Vertical stratification of subsurface microbial community composition across geological formations at the Hanford Site
Authors: Lin Xueju , Kennedy David , Fredrickson Jim , Bjornstad Bruce , Konopka Allan 
Published: November 2011

SummaryMicrobial diversity in subsurface sediments at the Hanford Site 300 Area near Richland, Washington state (USA) was investigated by analysing 21 samples recovered from depths of 9–52 m. Approximately 8000 near full‐length 16S rRNA gene sequences were analysed across geological strata that include a natural redox transition zone. These strata included the oxic coarse‐grained Hanford formation, fine‐grained oxic and anoxic Ringold Formation sediments, and the weathered basalt group. We detected 1233 and 120 unique bacterial and archaeal OTUs (operational taxonomic units at the 97% identity level) respectively. Microbial community structure and richness varied substantially across the different geological strata. Bacterial OTU richness (Chao1 estimator) was highest (> 700) in the upper Hanford formation, and declined to about 120 at the bottom of the Hanford formation. Just above the Ringold oxic–anoxic interface, richness was about 325 and declined to less than 50 in the deeper reduced zones. The deeper Ringold strata were characterized by a preponderance (c. 90%) of Proteobacteria. The bacterial community in the oxic sediments contained not only members of nine well‐recognized phyla but also an unusually high proportion of three candidate divisions (GAL15, NC10 and SPAM). Additionally, 13 novel phylogenetic orders were identified within the Deltaproteobacteria, a clade rich in microbes that carry out redox transformations of metals that are important contaminants on the Hanford Site.
The profile of executive function in very preterm children at 4 to 12 years
Authors: AARNOUDSE‐MOENS CORNELIEKE S H , DUIVENVOORDEN HUGO J , WEISGLAS‐KUPERUS NYNKE , VAN GOUDOEVER JOHANNES B , OOSTERLAAN JAAP 
Published: November 2011

Aim  To examine executive functioning in very preterm (gestational age ≤30wks) children at 4 to 12 years of age.Method  Two‐hundred very preterm (106 males, 94 females; mean gestational age 28.1wks, SD 1.4; mean age 8y 2mo, SD 2y 6mo) and 230 term children (106 males, 124 females; mean gestational age 39.9wks, SD 1.2; mean age 8y 4mo, SD 2y 3mo) without severe disabilities, born between 1996 and 2004, were assessed on an executive function battery comprising response inhibition, interference control, switching, verbal fluency, verbal and spatial working memory, and planning. Multiple regression analyses examined group differences while adjusting for effects of parental education, age, sex, and speed indices.Results  Relative to children born at term, very preterm children had significant (ps<0.02; where ps represents p‐values) deficits in verbal fluency (0.5 standardized mean differences [SMD]), response inhibition (0.4 SMD), planning (0.4 SMD), and verbal and spatial working memory (0.3 SMD), independent of slow and highly fluctuating processing speed. A significant group by age interaction indicated that group differences for response inhibition decreased between 4 and 12 years.Interpretation  Very preterm birth is associated with a profile of affected and non‐affected executive functions independent of impaired speed. Deficits are of small to moderate magnitude and persist over time, except for response inhibition for which very preterm children catch up with peers.
Biological characterization of a novel class of toll‐like receptor 7 agonists designed to have reduced systemic activity
Authors: Biffen M , Matsui H , Edwards S , Leishman AJ , Eiho K , Holness E , Satterthwaite G , Doyle I , Wada H , Fraser NJ , Hawkins SL , Aoki M , Tomizawa H , Benjamin AD , Takaku H , McInally T , Murray CM 
Published: November 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Toll‐like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists have potential in the treatment of allergic diseases. However, the therapeutic utility of current low molecular weight TLR7 agonists is limited by their systemic activity, resulting in unwanted side effects. We have developed a series of TLR7‐selective ‘antedrugs’, including SM‐324405 and AZ12441970, which contain an ester group rapidly cleaved in plasma to reduce systemic exposure.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Agonist activity at TLR7 of the parent ester and acid metabolite was assessed in vitro in reporter cells and primary cells from a number of species. Pharmacokinetics following a dose to the lungs was assessed in mice and efficacy evaluated in vivo with a mouse allergic airway model.KEY RESULTS Compounds were selective agonists for TLR7 with no crossover to TLR8 and were metabolically unstable in plasma with the acid metabolite showing substantially reduced activity in a number of assays. The compounds inhibited IL‐5 production and induced IFN‐α, which mediated the inhibition of IL‐5. When dosed into the lung the compounds were rapidly metabolized and short‐term exposure of the ‘antedrug’ was sufficient to activate the IFN pathway. AZ12441970 showed efficacy in a mouse allergic airway model with minimal induction of systemic IFN‐α, consistent with the low plasma levels of compound.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The biological and metabolic profiles of these TLR7‐selective agonist ‘antedrug’ compounds are consistent with a new class of compound that could be administered locally for the treatment of allergic diseases, while reducing the risk of systemic side effects.LINKED ARTICLE This article is commented on by Kaufman and Jacoby, pp. 569–572 of this issue. To view this commentary visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2011.01758.x
Can Intensive Hemodialysis Prevent Loss of Functionality in the Elderly ESRD Patient?
Authors: Cornelis Tom , Kotanko Peter , Goffin Eric , Kooman Jeroen P. , van der Sande Frank M. , Chan Christopher T. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractInitiation of dialysis may be accompanied by decline in physical and cognitive function and independence, especially in the elderly ESRD patient. Here, we postulate the underlying factors, which may contribute to this observation in the elderly dialysis population, such as increased risk of dialysis‐induced hypotension and associated cerebral and cardiac events, as well as malnutrition, infections, sleep abnormalities, and psychological complications of dialysis initiation. We describe an elderly dialysis patient who did well on nocturnal home hemodialysis (HD), and we hypothesize how intensive HD (i.e., nocturnal HD and/or short daily HD) may reduce the incidence of these dialysis complications and may therefore be considered as an option to attempt to preserve functional status and quality of life, especially early after the transition from predialysis to dialysis. Before general adoption of this strategy, further studies on the etiology of functional loss at the time of dialysis initiation, as well as on the potential advantageous effects of intensive HD in the elderly ESRD patient as compared with conventional HD, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation, are required.
Pregnancy in End Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Hladunewich Michelle , Hercz Adam Engel , Keunen Johannes , Chan Christopher , Pierratos Andreas 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe ovulatory menstrual cycle is known to be affected on multiple levels in women with advanced renal disease. Menstrual irregularities, sexual dysfunction, and infertility worsen in parallel with the renal disease. Pregnancy in women with ESRD on dialysis is therefore uncommon. Furthermore, when pregnancy does occur, it can prove hazardous to both mother and baby owing to a multitude of potential complications including accelerated hypertension and preeclampsia, poor fetal growth, anemia, and polyhydramnios. Data are emerging, however, to suggest that pregnancy while on intensified renal replacement regimens may result in better pregnancy outcomes, and emerging trends include the decreased rate of therapeutic abortions probably reflecting a change in counseling practices over time. Nevertheless, a pregnant woman on intensive dialysis requires meticulous follow‐up by a dedicated team including nephrology, obstetrics, and a full multidisciplinary staff. In this article, we will address fertility issues in young women with ESRD, review pregnancy outcomes in women on both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and provide suggestions for the management of the pregnant women on intensive hemodialysis.
FISH for MYC amplification and anti‐MYC immunohistochemistry: useful diagnostic tools in the assessment of secondary angiosarcoma and atypical vascular proliferations
Authors: Fernandez Anthony P. , Sun Yang , Tubbs Raymond R. , Goldblum John R. , Billings Steven D. 
Published: November 2011

Background: Secondary angiosarcoma and benign but microscopically atypical vascular proliferations (herein referred to as atypical vascular lesion or AVL) are rare consequences of radiation therapy and/or chronic lymphedema most commonly seen in breast cancer patients. Differentiating angiosarcoma from AVL can be difficult due to overlapping clinical and microscopic features. Recently, amplification of MYC has been associated with 55–100% of secondary angiosarcomas but is reportedly absent in AVL. We examined a series of secondary angiosarcoma and AVL for MYC amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and expression by immunohistochemistry to investigate the diagnostic utility for discriminating angiosarcoma from AVL.Methods: Cases of secondary angiosarcoma (n = 8) and AVL (n = 4) were retrieved from our archives and examined by FISH and immunohistochemistry.Results: All angiosarcoma cases (8/8 = 100%) demonstrated high‐level MYC amplification by FISH, whereas all AVLs (0/4 = 0%) were negative for MYC amplification. Additionally, all angiosarcoma cases (8/8 = 100%) demonstrated nuclear positivity for MYC, whereas all AVLs (0/4 = 0%) were negative.Conclusion: Amplification of MYC and nuclear expression of MYC is present in secondary angiosarcoma but not AVL. These ancillary tests can be useful to distinguish angiosarcoma from AVL in difficult cases.Fernandez AP, Sun Y, Tubbs RR, Goldblum JR, Billings SD. FISH for MYC amplification and anti‐MYC immunohistochemistry: useful diagnostic tools in the assessment of secondary angiosarcoma and atypical vascular proliferations.
Lower Urinary Tract Function in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 6
Authors: TATENO Fuyuki , SAKAKIBARA Ryuji , SUGIYAMA Megumi , KISHI Masahiko , OGAWA Emina , TAKAHASHI Osamu , YANO Masashi , UCHIYAMA Tomoyuki , YAMAMOTO Tatsuya , TSUYUZAKI Yohei 
Published: November 2011

Objective: To investigate lower urinary tract function in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6).Methods: We recruited, without bias, nine SCA6 patients with a mean cytosine‐adenine‐guanine repeat length of 24.3 (21–26, normal <18). They were four men, five women; mean age 58.6 years; mean disease duration 8.2 years. We performed a urinary symptom questionnaire and a urodynamics.Results: Urinary symptoms were observed in five of nine patients (56%) and urinary frequency in three of nine patients (33%), and none had urinary retention. Urodynamic abnormalities included detrusor overactivity in one (11%) and weak detrusor on voiding in two, but none had postvoid residual urine. Sphincter electromyography revealed, while mild in degree, neurogenic change in five of the eight patients (63%) on whom the test was performed.Conclusion: We observed urinary frequency in 33%; detrusor overactivity in only 11%; and neurogenic change in the sphincter electromyography in 63% of our nine SCA6 patients. These findings might be relevant to the cerebellar and spinal cord pathologies of this disease.
Postgraduate education – meeting the needs and expectations of those we serve: The dynamic duo of psychiatric diagnosis and formulation
Authors: Mellsop Graham , Clapham Howard Fiona 
Published: November 2011

AbstractService users and those who support them have an expectation that a health diagnosis will offer insight into the cause of their symptoms, and will come with a prognosis that will determine treatment options. However, psychiatric diagnostic systems do not usually provide links to aetiology or prognosis, both of which can be highly individualised. As a result, there is a gap between mental health service users’ expectations and what can be realistically provided by diagnosis alone. However, when paired with a thorough and reflective formulation, diagnosis is placed in a context that leads ineluctably to a comprehensive management or recovery plan. This dynamic combination results in a collaborative plan that is better placed to meet both the needs and the expectations of those we serve.
Toward a better understanding of the gamma index: Investigation of parameters with a surface‐based distance methoda)
Authors: Li Heng , Dong Lei , Zhang Lifei , Yang James N. , Gillin Michael T. , Zhu X. Ronald 
Published: November 2011

Purpose:The purpose of this work was to clarify the interactions between the parameters used in the γ index with the surface‐based distance method, which itself can be viewed as a generalized version of the γ index. The examined parameters included the distance to agreement (DTA)/dose difference (DD) criteria, the percentage used as a passing criterion, and the passing percentage for given DTA/DD criteria. The specific aims of our work were (1) to understand the relationships between the parameters used in the γ index, (2) to determine the detection limit, or the minimum detectable error, of the γ index with a given set of parameters, and (3) to establish a procedure to determine parameters that are consistent with the capacity of an IMRT QA system.Methods:The surface‐based distance technique with dose gradient factor was derived, and then the relationship between surface‐based distance and γ index was established. The dose gradient factor for plans and measurements of 10 IMRT patients, 10 spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) patients, and 3 Radiological Physics Center (RPC) head and neck phantom were calculated and evaluated. The detection limits of the surface‐based distance and γ index methods were examined by introducing known shifts to the 10 IMRT plans.Results:The means of the dose gradient factors were 0.434 mm/% and 0.956 mm/% for the SRS and IMRT plans, respectively. Key quantities (including the mean and 90th and 99th percentiles of the distance distribution) of the surface‐based distance distribution between two dose distributions were linearly proportional to the actual shifts. However, the passing percentage of the γ index for a given set of DTA/DD criteria was not associated with the actual shift. For IMRT, using the standard quality assurance criteria of 3 mm/3% DTA/DD and a 90% passing rate, we found that the detection limit of the γ index in terms of global shift was 4.07 mm/4.07 % without noise.Conclusions:Surface‐based distance is a direct measure of the difference between two dose distributions and can be used to evaluate or determine parameters for use in calculating the γ index. The dose gradient factor represents the weighting between spatial and dose shift and should be determined before DTA/DD criteria are set. The authors also present a procedure to determine γ index parameters from measurements.
Serotype Emergence and Genotype Distribution among Macrolide-Resistant Invasive Streptococcus Pneumoniae Isolates in the Postconjugate Vaccine (PCV-7) Era
Authors: Liu Zhenying , Nachamkin Irving , Edelstein Paul H. , Lautenbach Ebbing , Metlay Joshua P. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

We conducted population-based surveillance for pneumococcal bacteremia within a 5-county region surrounding Philadelphia from October 2001 through September 2008, the period following introduction of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Erythromycin resistance increased from 14.7% in 2001-2002 to 20.3% in 2007-2008, while the resistance rate to penicillin (MIC, ≥2 μg/ml) decreased from 7.2% to 4.2% during the same period. The most predominant serotypes associated with erythromycin resistance in 2007-2008 included 19A (29.7%), 15A (29.2%), 6C (10.1%), 3 (5.6%), and 6A (4.5%). The molecular mechanisms for the increasing erythromycin resistance were mainly due to the growing presence of
mef(A)
negative
erm
(B)

+

and
mef(A)

+

erm
(B)

+

genotypes, which increased from 20.0% to 46.1% and from 1.8% to 19.1%, respectively, from 2001-2002 to 2007-2008. However,
mef(A)
-mediated erythromycin resistance decreased from 72.7% in 2001-2002 to 34.8% in 2007-2008. Serotypes related to the
erm
(B) gene were 15A (45.6%), 19A (20.9%), 3 (10.1%), and 6B (6.3%); serotypes related to the
mef(A)
gene were 6A (18.6%), 19A (15.0%), 6C (9.3%), and 14(8.4%); serotypes associated with the presence of both
erm
(B) and
mef(A)
were 19A (81.5%), 15A (7.7%), and 19F (6.2%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated that erythromycin-resistant isolates within the 19A serotype were genetically diverse and related to several circulating international clones. In contrast, erythromycin-resistant isolates within the 15A serotype consisted of clonally identical or closely related isolates.
Bacteremia Caused by Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Sequence Type ST131 and Non-ST131 Clones: Comparison of Demographic Data, Clinical Features, and Mortality
Authors: Chung Hsing-Chun , Lai Chung-Hsu , Lin Jiun-Nong , Huang Chun-Kai , Liang Shiou-Haur , Chen Wei-Fang , Shih Yi-Chun , Lin Hsi-Hsun , Wang Jiun-Ling 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
producing the highly virulent, multidrug-resistant, CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), sequence type 131 (ST131), has emerged on three continents since the late 2000s. We described the molecular epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of ESBL-producing
E. coli
bacteremia in Taiwan from 2005 to 2010. This study aims to determine whether the risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes of the ST131 isolate differ from those of non-ST131 isolates. From 2005 to 2010, we collected 122 nonduplicated, consecutive, ESBL-producing
E. coli
isolates from bloodstream infections in a 1,200-bed hospital in Taiwan. Isolates were characterized using multilocus sequence typing. Demographic data, clinical features, and outcomes were collected from medical chart records. Thirty-six (29.5%) patients with bacteremia with ESBL-producing
E. coli
ST131 were identified. Patients with clone ST131 were more likely to have secondary bacteremia and noncatheterized urinary tract infections (
P
< 0.05). Secondary bacteremia (odds ratio [OR], 5.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 23.56) and urinary catheter nonuse (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.17 to 12.18) were independent risk factors for the ST131 clone after adjustment. Mortality rates at day 28 were similar in ST131 and non-ST131 populations. Independent risk factors predicting mortality at day 28 included malignancy, shock, and hospital-acquired bacteremia. In ESBL-producing
E. coli
bloodstream infections, the ST131 clone was not associated with health-care-associated risk factors, such as urinary catheter use or antibiotic exposure. Although highly virulent and multidrug resistant, the ST131 clone was not associated with higher mortality than non-ST131 clones.