bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term outcome of pediatric renal transplantation: a single center experience
Authors: Abe Toyofumi , Ichimaru Naotsugu , Kakuta Yoichi , Okumi Masayoshi , Imamura Ryoichi , Isaka Yoshitaka , Takahara Shiro , Kokado Yukito , Okuyama Akihiko 
Published: April 2010

Abe T, Ichimaru N, Kakuta Y, Okumi M, Imamura R, Isaka Y, Takahara S, Kokado Y, Okuyama A. Long‐term outcome of pediatric renal transplantation: a single center experience. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 388–394. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Renal transplantation is the optimal treatment for pediatric end‐stage renal disease. We examined 51 children <20 yr old who underwent a total of 52 living‐donor renal transplantations at Osaka University Hospital between 1972 and 2004. The mean age at transplantation was 13.7 (3–19 yr). The mean duration of follow‐up was 16.5 yr. The five‐, 10‐, and 20‐yr patient survival rates following renal transplantation were 94%, 90%, and 87%, respectively. The five‐, 10‐, and 20‐yr graft survival rates were 76%, 65%, and 48%, respectively. A double‐drug regimen was used before 1987; this was replaced by a triple‐drug regimen including a calcineurin inhibitor in 1988. The five‐, 10‐, and 20‐yr graft survival rates after 1988 (89%, 80%, and 60%, respectively) were higher than those before 1987. Growth was examined among patients <15 yr old at the time of surgery, and height standard deviation (SD) scores (Z‐scores) were analyzed in 14 patients who displayed favorable renal function after transplantation. At the time of transplantation, mean SD score (SDS) was −2.39, and mean final adult SDS was −1.79. Rates of patient and graft survival after renal transplantation were mostly favorable. Future goals must include overcoming chronic rejection and establishing a steroid discontinuation protocol to improve growth.
Monitoring of minimal residual disease by quantitative WT1 gene expression following reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Candoni Anna , Toffoletti Eleonora , Gallina Roberto , Simeone Erica , Chiozzotto Marianna , Volpetti Stefano , Fanin Renato 
Published: April 2010

Candoni A, Toffoletti E, Gallina R, Simeone E, Chiozzotto M, Volpetti S, Fanin R. Monitoring of minimal residual disease by quantitative WT1 gene expression following reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia.  Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 308–316. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  WT1 is well‐known to be a panleukemic marker that is expressed in 90% of acute myeloid leukemias (AML). Quantification of WT gene expression in bone marrow (BM) samples may be useful as a marker of minimal residual disease (MRD) during and after treatment for early prediction of relapse. We evaluated the validity of this AML‐MRD marker after reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). The quantitative assessment of WT1 expression by real‐time quantitative PCR (RQ‐PCR) was measured in 25 patients (pts) with AML at diagnosis, at the time of RIC‐SCT and after transplant at precise time points. All pts showed high WT1 levels at diagnosis with a mean of 4895 (SD 4462) and a median of 3679 (range 454–16 853) copies WT1/104 ABL. At transplant, 18/25 pts (72%) were in complete cytologic remission (CcR) and 7/25 (28%) had refractory AML. At the pre‐SCT evaluation, BM samples from pts transplanted in CcR showed significantly lower WT1 expression levels compared to the samples from pts with refractory AML (p = 0.002). Median follow‐up after RIC‐SCT was 18 months (range 2–54). On 18 pts transplanted in CcR, those (17/18) who maintained CcR after RIC‐SCT displayed a WT1 copy number persistently low during all the follow‐up period. In patients who received RIC‐SCT with active disease obtaining a sustained CcR after transplant (3/25), WT1 levels decreased to normal range in the first two months after RIC‐SCT and remained low through the entire study period. All pts who relapsed after RIC‐SCT (4/25) had a high WT1 copy number before the cytologic relapse. In 50% of these cases, an increase in WT1 expression was documented before molecular chimerism decreasing. With this experience, taking into account the limited number of pts, we confirmed a concordance between WT1 expression levels (measured by RQ‐PCR at precise and sequential time points) and status of AML before and after RIC‐SCT and we found a concordance between WT1 expression levels and hematopoietic chimerism status. Our data suggest that, in the RIC‐SCT setting, the sequential and quantitative analysis of WT1 may be useful as a leukemia marker for monitoring MRD and as a predictor of overt AML cytologic relapse.
Expanded human cord blood‐derived endothelial progenitor cells salvage infarcted myocardium in rats with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Hu Cheng‐Heng , Li Zhi‐Ming , Du Zhi‐Min , Zhang Ai‐Xia , Rana Jamal S , Liu Dong‐Hong , Yang Da‐Ya , Wu Gui‐Fu 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. Cell transplantation has promise as a therapeutic option for restoring impaired heart function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the optimal cell type to use remains controversial. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and feasibility of intramyocardial transplantation of human umbilical cord blood‐derived endothelial progenitor cells (hUCB‐EPC) in rats with AMI.2. The Wistar rats myocardial infarction model was established by ligating the left anterior descending artery. The labelled hUCB‐EPC were transplanted through intramyocardial injection. Left ventricular function was assessed using a pressure‐volume catheter and echocardiogram. Anti‐VIII immunohistochemistry staining was used to reflect the degree of angiogenesis in peri‐infarcted areas by calculating the average capillary density. The fibrosis degree of infarcted myocardium was analysed by Masson staining and the collagen volume fraction was calculated.3. The labelled donor endothelial progenitor cells were detected in the new microvessels in host myocardium by double‐positive staining with CM‐Dil and FITC‐UEA‐l. An increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fractional shortening, left ventricular end‐systolic pressure, first derivative of left ventricular pressure (+dP/dtmax and −dP/dtmax), as well as a decrease in the left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure in rats with cell therapy indicated a significant improvement in global heart function. The cell therapy group had increased microvessel formation and a decreased degree of myocardial fibrosis compared to the control group. Moreover, the degree of myocardial fibrosis was less than that of the control group.4. The improved global heart function and decreased cardiac fibrosis in rats with AMI implies the potential benefit of hUCB‐EPC transplantation.
Role of endothelin in the effects of isoprenaline on potassium currents and calsequestrin 2 expression in the heart
Authors: Li Na , Jia Nan , Dai De‐Zai , Hu Chen , Dai Yin 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. Activation of β‐receptors may modulate potassium channels and calcium handling proteins and serve as a basis for arrhythmogenesis. We determined whether an endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist CPU0213 could relieve the isoprenaline‐(ISO) induced changes in IKr and IKs and calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2) in the heart.2. In isolated ventricular myocytes, the IKr and IKs currents and expression for CASQ2, FKBP12.6, SERCA2a and ETAR were measured in the presence of ISO and either propranolol or CPU0213.3. In the presence of ISO, IKr and IKs currents were significantly exaggerated and FKBP12.6, SERCA2a and CASQ2 were downregulated together with upregulation of ETAR in the myocardium. Interestingly, endothelin‐1 was also effective in downregulating the expression of CASQ2. These changes were partially relieved by either CPU0213 or propranolol.4. IKr and IKs currents can be separated into exaggerated/induced and basic components in the presence of ISO. The former, induced by ISO, is pathological and sensitive to either CPU0213 or propranolol.5. Exaggerated IKr and IKs and downregulated CASQ2 by ISO are relevant to stress‐related events in which the ET pathway is actively involved. By suppressing the ISO‐exaggerated IKr and IKs and normalizing the expression of CASQ2, endothelin receptor antagonism is likely promising in dealing with stress‐related cardiac arrhythmias.
Involvement of nonselective cation channels in the depolarisation initiating vasomotion
Authors: Wölfle Stephanie E , Navarro‐Gonzalez Manuel F , Grayson T Hilton , Stricker Christian , Hill Caryl E 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. Coordinated oscillations in diameter occur spontaneously in cerebral vessels and depend on the opening of voltage dependent calcium channels. However, the mechanism that induces the initial depolarisation has remained elusive. We investigated the involvement of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels, which encode nonselective cation channels passing Na+ and Ca2+ currents, by measuring changes in diameter, intracellular Ca2+ and membrane potential in branches of juvenile rat basilar arteries.2. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ abolished vasomotion and relaxed arteries, but paradoxically produced depolarisation.3. Decrease in temperature to 24°C or inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) abolished vasomotion, hyperpolarised and relaxed arteries and decreased intracellular Ca2+.4. Reduction in the driving force for Na+ through decrease in extracellular Na+ produced similar effects and prevented the depolarisation elicited by removal of extracellular Ca2+.5. Nonselective TRP channel blockers, SKF96365 and gadolinium, mimicked the effects of inhibition of the PLC pathway.6. Depolarisation of vessels in which TRP channels were blocked with SKF96365 reinstated vascular tone and vasomotion.7. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed TRPC1 as the predominantly expressed TRPC subtype.8. Incubation with a function blocking TRPC1 antibody delayed the onset of vasomotion.9. We conclude that nonselective cation channels contribute to vasoconstriction and vasomotion of cerebral vessels by providing an Na+‐induced depolarisation that activates voltage dependent calcium channels. Our antibody data suggest the involvement of TRPC1 channels that might provide a target for treatment of therapy‐refractory vasospasm.
Survey of management of neonatal haemolytic jaundice in Australasia
Authors: Malhotra Atul , Carse Elizabeth 
Published: April 2010

Background:  Haemolytic jaundice is an important entity in neonatal clinical practice. Because of the decrease in rhesus isoimmunisation since the advent of anti‐D immunoglobulin and improved antenatal management strategies, its management in the neonatal period has become less intensive and exchange transfusions rarely performed.Aim:  We planned to review the practice of Australasian perinatal units in light of recent advances and recommendations.Methods:  An electronic survey was sent to the directors of all 25 tertiary‐level perinatal units across Australasia. The questionnaire comprised 20 questions dealing with the management of haemolytic jaundice.Results:  Twenty out of the 25 neonatal units responded. Most were aware of the recent American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, but only eight (40%) based their practice on it. Fifty per cent of neonatal units had written protocols to manage such infants, but almost all had written guidelines for performing exchange transfusions. Seven (35%) units started prophylactic phototherapy; however, the criteria used for early exchange were variable, most related to cord haemoglobin or rate of rise of bilirubin. Few units used high‐dose intravenous immunoglobulin in haemolytic jaundice. Average exchange rates (based on the last 2 years) were 3.5/year (0–10).Conclusion:  Variable practice was noted across the Australasian units. Written protocols form the backbone of management of jaundice in such babies. The use of intravenous immunoglobulin is minimal, and the information available on its use needs to be critically appraised.
A 6‐year prospective surveillance of healthcare‐associated infections in a neonatal intensive care unit from southern part of Turkey
Authors: Yapicioglu Hacer , Satar Mehmet , Ozcan Kenan , Narli Nejat , Ozlu Ferda , Sertdemir Yasar , Tasova Yesim 
Published: April 2010

Aim:  To report the incidence of healthcare‐associated infections (HAIs), site of infection and bacterial epidemiology in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a university hospital in Adana, Turkey, between 2001 and 2006.Methods:  During these years, HAIs were collected by an active surveillance system.Results:  Five hundred one of 2832 infants hospitalised more than 72 h had 1124 HAI. The HAI incidence and incidence density ranged between 14.1 and 29.7 infections/100 patients, and 10.9–17.3 infections/1000 patient days within the study period; 61.5% of HAIs were ventilator‐associated infections; 26.2% were bloodstream infections; 3.5% were urinary tract infections; 3.5% were necrotising enterocolitis (Stages II and III) and 1.4% was meningitis. The most frequent pathogens were gram‐negative pathogens (75.6% of all infections) followed by gram‐positive micro‐organisms (21.4%) and Candida species (3.0%). Birthweight, gestational age and Apgar scores were lower and overall mortality rate (32.9% vs. 19.7%) and number of inpatient days were higher in patients with HAIs (for all P < 0.001) when compared with those who did not have HAIs. Furthermore, HAI rate was inversely related to birthweight (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  In this study, the overall infection rate is high compared with developed countries and predominant micro‐organisms are gram‐negative enteric rods. These results strongly suggest the need for improving measures for prevention and control of HAIs in this hospital.
Accuracy of weight status perception in contemporary Australian children and adolescents
Authors: Abbott Rebecca A , Lee Amanda J , Stubbs Christina O , Davies Peter SW 
Published: April 2010

Aim:  To explore weight status perception and its relation to actual weight status in a contemporary cohort of 5‐ to 17‐year‐old children and adolescents.Methods:  Body mass index (BMI), derived from height and weight measurements, and perception of weight status (‘too thin’, ‘about right’ and ‘too fat’) were evaluated in 3043 participants from the Healthy Kids Queensland Survey. In children less than 12 years of age, weight status perception was obtained from the parents, whereas the adolescents self‐reported their perceived weight status.Results:  Compared with measured weight status by established BMI cut‐offs, just over 20% of parents underestimated their child's weight status and only 1% overestimated. Adolescent boys were more likely to underestimate their weight status compared with girls (26.4% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.05) whereas adolescent girls were more likely to overestimate than underestimate (11.8% vs. 3.4%, P < 0.05). Underestimation was greater by parents of overweight children compared with those of obese children, but still less than 50% of parents identified their obese child as ‘too fat’. There was greater recognition of overweight status in the adolescents, with 83% of those who were obese reporting they were ‘too fat’.Conclusion:  Whilst there was a high degree of accuracy of weight status perception in those of healthy weight, there was considerable underestimation of weight status, particularly by parents of children who were overweight or obese. Strategies are required that enable parents to identify what a healthy weight looks like and help them understand when intervention is needed to prevent further weight gain as the child gets older.
Assembly history dictates ecosystem functioning: evidence from wood decomposer communities
Authors: Fukami Tadashi , Dickie Ian A. , Paula Wilkie J. , Paulus Barbara C. , Park Duckchul , Roberts Andrea , Buchanan Peter K. , Allen Robert B. 
Published: April 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 675–684AbstractCommunity assembly history is increasingly recognized as a fundamental determinant of community structure. However, little is known as to how assembly history may affect ecosystem functioning via its effect on community structure. Using wood‐decaying fungi as a model system, we provide experimental evidence that large differences in ecosystem functioning can be caused by small differences in species immigration history during community assembly. Direct manipulation of early immigration history resulted in three‐fold differences in fungal species richness and composition and, as a consequence, differences of the same magnitude in the rate of decomposition and carbon release from wood. These effects – which were attributable to the history‐dependent outcome of competitive and facilitative interactions – were significant across a range of nitrogen availabilities observed in natural forests. Our results highlight the importance of considering assembly history in explaining ecosystem functioning.
Decreasing resilience of kelp beds along a latitudinal temperature gradient: potential implications for a warmer future
Authors: Wernberg Thomas , Thomsen Mads S. , Tuya Fernando , Kendrick Gary A. , Staehr Peter A. , Toohey Benjamin D. 
Published: April 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 685–694AbstractSuccessful mitigation of negative effects of global warming will depend on understanding the link between physiological and ecological responses of key species. We show that while metabolic adjustment may assist Australasian kelp beds to persist and maintain abundance in warmer waters, it also reduces the physiological responsiveness of kelps to perturbation, and suppresses canopy recovery from disturbances by reducing the ecological performance of kelp recruits. This provides a warning not to rely solely on inventories of distribution and abundance to evaluate ecosystem function. The erosion of resilience is mediated by a shift in adult‐juvenile interactions from competitive under cool to facilitative under warm conditions, supporting the prediction that positive interactions may become increasingly important in a warmer future. Kelp beds may remain intact but with a lower threshold for where additional impacts (e.g., extreme storms or reduced water quality) will lead to persistent loss of habitat and ecological function.
Community‐level consequences of density dependence and habitat association in a subtropical broad‐leaved forest
Authors: Chen Lei , Mi Xiangcheng , Comita Liza S. , Zhang Liwen , Ren Haibao , Ma Keping 
Published: April 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 695–704AbstractHow extraordinary numbers of species can coexist in hyper‐diverse communities remains unresolved. While numerous hypotheses have been proposed based on observational and theoretical investigations, little is known about which mechanisms are truly active in forest communities and less is known about their relative contributions to community assembly. In this study, generalized linear mixed models with crossed random effects were used to assess the relative contributions of density dependence and habitat association to community‐level diversity maintenance. Species habitat associations were classified based on soil nutrients, topography and species composition. Local neighbourhood effects were also addressed with spatially explicit models of seedling survival. The results shown here reveal that local‐ and community‐level seedling dynamics were consistent with density‐dependent predictions, although habitat association played a more important role in shaping short‐term seedling survival. We conclude that density dependence could promote species coexistence on the premise of habitat partitioning.
Detection of denitrification genes by in situ rolling circle amplification‐fluorescence in situ hybridization to link metabolic potential with identity inside bacterial cells
Authors: Hoshino Tatsuhiko , Schramm Andreas 
Published: April 2010

SummaryA target‐primed in situ rolling circle amplification (in situ RCA) protocol was developed for detection of single‐copy genes inside bacterial cells and optimized with Pseudomonas stutzeri, targeting nitrite and nitrous oxide reductase genes (nirS and nosZ). Two padlock probes were designed per gene to target both DNA strands; the target DNA was cut by a restriction endonuclease close to the probe binding sites, which subsequently were made accessible by 5′‐3′ exonucleolysis. After hybridization, the padlock probe was circularized by ligation and served as template for in situ RCA, primed by the probe target site. Finally, the RCA product inside the cells was detected by standard fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The optimized protocol showed high specificity and signal‐to‐noise ratio but low detection frequency (up to 15% for single‐copy genes and up to 43% for the multi‐copy 16S rRNA gene). Nevertheless, multiple genes (nirS and nosZ; nirS and the 16S rRNA gene) could be detected simultaneously in P. stutzeri. Environmental application of in situ RCA‐FISH was demonstrated on activated sludge by the differential detection of two types of nirS‐defined denitrifiers; one of them was identified as Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis by combining in situ RCA‐FISH with 16S rRNA‐targeted FISH. While not suitable for quantification because of its low detection frequency, in situ RCA‐FISH will allow to link metabolic potential with 16S rRNA (gene)‐based identification of single microbial cells.
Geographical and environmental gradients of lianas and vines in China
Authors: Hu Liang , Li Mingguang , Li Zhen 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTAim  Climbing plants are characterized by long, wide vessel elements, which may be vulnerable to cold‐ or drought‐induced embolism. However, the difference in vulnerability between lianas (woody climbing plants) and vines (herbaceous climbing plants) has not yet been reported. Here we hypothesize that both lianas and vines are more sensitive to variations in water and temperature than are self‐supporting plants. Consequently, the proportions of lianas and vines in flora are expected to decline significantly along geographical and environmental gradients.Location  China.Methods  A unique dataset describing 82 floras in China was examined. The proportion of lianas in the flora (LPF) and the proportion of vines in the flora (VPF) were calculated independently. The proportion of the climbing plants in total spermatophyte flora (CPF) was also calculated. LPF and VPF were compared along latitudinal, mean annual rainfall (Rain), and mean January temperature (T1) gradients. Local linear regression analyses showed the changing tendencies of LPF and VPF. Prediction models of LPF using geographical and environmental factors were studied in some subranges.Results  (1) LPF was highest in the tropics (13.8% on average), decreased linearly with increasing latitude within the latitude < 42 °N subrange, and reached < 1% north of 42 °N in China. VPF fluctuated slightly from tropical (4.7%), to subtropical (4.2%) to warm temperate (4.5%) regions, but declined significantly in temperate (3.2%) and dry (1.5%) zones in China. (2) LPF decreased significantly with decreasing rainfall, and decreased significantly with decreasing T1 in areas where T1 > −10 °C. In contrast, VPF tended to be constant in areas where T1 > −5 °C or Rain > 1000 mm, and declined under extreme water or temperature stresses. (3) Predictions of LPF using Rain and T1 in areas where T1 > −10 °C, and using latitude and altitude within the latitude < 42 °N subrange were both reliable. According to the geographical model for LPF and a constant VPF, tropical Asian forests would have a LPF as high as 25.4% and the highest CPF would be c. 30%.Conclusions  We conclude that liana diversity is more sensitive to temperature and water availability than that of vines and other plants. Geographical and environmental gradients affected LPF but not VPF. Shorter life spans and underground nutrient storage may be effective strategies adopted by vines to avoid drought and cold stresses.