bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of interleukin-1 type 1 receptor enhances the accumulation of mutant huntingtin in the striatum and exacerbates the neurological phenotypes of Huntington's disease mice
Authors: Wang Chuan-En , Li Shihua , Li Xiao-Jiang 
Published: November 2010

AbstractHuntington's disease results from expansion of a glutamine repeat (>36 glutamines) in the N-terminal region of huntingtin (htt) and is characterized by preferential neurodegeneration in the striatum of the brain. N171-82Q mice that express N-terminal 171 amino acids of htt with an 82-glutamine repeat show severe neurological phenotypes and die early, suggesting that N-terminal mutant htt is pathogenic. In addition, various cellular factors and genetic modifiers are found to modulate the cytotoxicity of mutant htt. Understanding the contribution of these factors to HD pathogenesis will help identify therapeutics for this disease. To investigate the role of interleukin type 1 (IL-1), a cytokine that has been implicated in various neurological diseases, in HD neurological symptoms, we crossed N171-82Q mice to type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI) knockout mice. Mice lacking IL-1RI and expressing N171-82Q show more severe neurological symptoms than N171-82Q or IL-1RI knockout mice, suggesting that lack of IL-1RI can promote the neuronal toxicity of mutant htt. Lack of IL-1RI also increases the accumulation of transgenic mutant htt in the striatum in N171-82Q mice. Since IL-1RI signaling mediates both toxic and protective effects on neurons, its basal function and protective effects may be important for preventing the neuropathology seen in HD.
Clinical guidelines for the recognition of melanoma of the foot and nail unit
Authors: Bristow Ivan R , de Berker David AR , Acland Katharine M , Turner Richard J , Bowling Jonathan 
Published: November 2010

AbstractMalignant melanoma is a life threatening skin tumour which may arise on the foot. The prognosis for the condition is good when lesions are diagnosed and treated early. However, lesions arising on the soles and within the nail unit can be difficult to recognise leading to delays in diagnosis. These guidelines have been drafted to alert health care practitioners to the early signs of the disease so an early diagnosis can be sought.
Prognostic Significance of Nuclear Survivin Expression in Resected Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Ko Yoon Ho , Roh Sang-Young , Won Hye Sung , Jeon Eun Kyoung , Hong Sook Hee , Lee Myung Ah , Kang Jin Hyoung , Hong Young Seon , Kim Min Sik , Jung Chan-Kwon 
Published: October 2010

Abstract

Objectives
The expression of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, in tumor cells is associated with poor clinical outcome for various cancers. We conducted this study to determine survivin expression in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck and to identify its clinical significance as a prognostic factor.

Materials and methods
We performed immunohistochemical staining for survivin, p53, bcl-2 protein, and Ki-67 in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 37 cases of head and neck ACC. We also reviewed the patients' clinical records to determine the association of staining with clinical course.

Results
Of the 37 cases of head and neck ACC, 31 (83.8%) were positive for cytoplasmic survivin expression, and 23 (62.2%) were positive for nuclear survivin expression. There was a significant association between nuclear survivin expression and bcl-2 (P = 0.031). A larger tumor was more commonly a survivin-positive tumor (cytoplasmic survivin, P = 0.043; nuclear survivin, P = 0.057). Median overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in patients not expressing nuclear survivin (P = 0.035). A multivariate analysis revealed that nuclear survivin expression significantly impacted OS (hazard ratio 8.567, P = 0.018) in addition to lymph node involvement (hazard ratio 7.704, P = 0.016).

Conclusions
The immunohistochemical expression of nuclear survivin has a prognostic impact in patients with head and neck ACC. These results suggest that nuclear survivin expression may be a useful biomarker for predicting prognosis in patients with head and neck ACC who were treated with surgical resection.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid: good or bad nutrient
Authors: Gonçalves Daniela C , Lira Fabio S , Carnevali Luiz C , Rosa Jose C , Pimentel Gustavo D , Seelaender Marília 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a class of 28 positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid octadecadienoic.Currently, it has been described many benefits related to the supplementation of CLA in animals and humans, as in the treatment of cancer, oxidative stress, in atherosclerosis, in bone formation and composition in obesity, in diabetes and the immune system. However, our results show that, CLA appears to be not a good supplement in patients with cachexia.
Validity of the work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire - general health version in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Zhang Wei , Bansback Nick , Boonen Annelies , Young Adam , Singh Amitabh , Anis Aslam H 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Introduction
The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire is a well validated instrument to measure impairments in work and activities. However, its validation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been well established. The present study's purpose is to evaluate the construct validity of the WPAI-general health version among RA patients and its ability to differentiate between RA patients with varying health status.

Methods
Patients who were enrolled in the Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Network cohort and were employed at their most recent follow-up were recruited into this sub-study. A questionnaire battery incorporating the WPAI was administered along with a number of health outcomes including the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire, fatigue and patient assessment of disease activity. The construct validity of the WPAI was tested by the correlations between the WPAI and the health outcomes and other measures of productivity. Student's t tests were used to identify whether the WPAI outcomes differed between the two levels of heath status based on the median of health outcomes.

Results
A total of 150 patients completed the WPAI questionnaire. The average age was 52 years old and the disease duration was 37.5 months since the first rheumatology visit. Of the 137 patients who were working for pay, 26 reported missing work in the past week due to their health problem, accounting for 45.5% of their working time (absenteeism). While 123 patients were working, 24% of their work was impaired due to their health problem (presenteeism). In addition, 33% of the patients' regular daily activities (activity impairment) had been prevented due to their health problems. There were moderate correlations between the WPAI absenteeism and function, pain, fatigue, and disease severity (r = 0.34 to 0.39). The WPAI presenteeism and activity impairment were strongly correlated with the health outcomes (0.67 to 0.77). Patients with more severe disease status (for example, low/high functional disability by median) had significantly higher absenteeism (4%/15%), presenteeism (15%/39%), and activity impairment (19%/53%) than those with less severe disease status.

Conclusions
The WPAI is a valid questionnaire for assessing impairments in paid work and activities in RA patients and for measuring the relative differences between RA patients with different health status.
Increased HMGB1 expression and release by mononuclear cells following surgical/anesthesia trauma
Authors: Manganelli Valeria , Signore Michele , Pacini Ilaria , Misasi Roberta , Tellan Guglielmo , Garofalo Tina , Lococo Emanuela , Chirletti Piero , Sorice Maurizio , Delogu Giovanna 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Introduction
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a key mediator of inflammation that is actively secreted by macrophages and/or passively released from damaged cells. The proinflammatory role of HMGB1 has been demonstrated in both animal models and humans, since the severity of inflammatory response is strictly related to serum HMGB1 levels in patients suffering from traumatic insult, including operative trauma. This study was undertaken to investigate HMGB1 production kinetics in patients undergoing major elective surgery and to address how circulating mononuclear cells are implicated in this setting. Moreover, we explored the possible relationship between HMGB1 and the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Methods
Forty-seven subjects, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, scheduled for major abdominal procedures, were enrolled. After intravenous medication with midazolam (0.025 mg/Kg), all patients received a standard general anesthesia protocol, by thiopentone sodium (5 mg/Kg) and fentanyl (1.4 μg/Kg), plus injected Vecuronium (0.08 mg/Kg). Venous peripheral blood was drawn from patients at three different times, t0: before surgery, t1: immediately after surgical procedure; t2: at 24 hours following intervention. Monocytes were purified by incubation with anti-CD14-coated microbeads, followed by sorting with a magnetic device. Cellular localization of HMGB1 was investigated by flow cytometry assay; HMGB1 release in the serum by Western blot. Serum samples were tested for IL-6 levels by ELISA. A one-way repeated-measures analysis ANOVA was performed to assess differences in HMGB1 concentration over time, in monocytes and serum.

Results
We show that: a) cellular expression of HMGB1 in monocytes at t1 was significantly higher as compared to t0; b) at t2, a significant increase of HMGB1 levels was found in the sera of patients. Such an increase was concomitant to a significant down-regulation of cellular HMGB1, suggesting that the release of HMGB1 might partially derive from mononuclear cells; c) treatment of monocytes with HMGB1 induced in vitro the release of IL-6; d) at t2, high amounts of circulating IL-6 were detected as compared to t0.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates for the first time that surgical/anesthesia trauma is able to induce an early intracellular upregulation of HMGB1 in monocytes of surgical patients, suggesting that HMGB1 derives, at least partially, from monocytes.
Impact of Introducing Stereotactic Lung Radiotherapy for Elderly Patients With Stage I Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Population-Based Time-Trend Analysis
Authors: Palma David , Visser Otto , Lagerwaard Frank J. , Belderbos Jose , Slotman Ben J. , Senan Suresh 
Published: November 2010

Purpose Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for stage I non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with high local control rates. The impact of introducing SBRT in patients 75 years of age or older was studied using a population-based cancer registry. Methods The Amsterdam Cancer Registry was assessed in three eras: 1999 to 2001 (period A, pre-SBRT); 2002 to 2004 (period B, some availability of SBRT), and 2005 to 2007 (period C, full access to SBRT). χ2, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression were used to compare treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) in three treatment groups: surgery, radiotherapy (RT), or neither. Results A total of 875 elderly patients were diagnosed with stage I NSCLC in the study period. Median follow-up was 54 months. Primary treatment was surgery in 299 patients (34%), RT in 299 patients (34%), and neither in 277 patients (32%). RT use increased between periods A and C (26% v 42%, P < .01), corresponding to a decrease in untreated patients. The percentage of RT patients undergoing SBRT in periods B and C was 23% and 55%, respectively. Median survival for all patients increased from 16 months in period A to 21 months in period C (log-rank P < .01; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.80). The improvement in OS was confined to RT patients (HR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.99), whereas no significant survival improvements were seen in the other groups. Conclusion SBRT introduction was associated with a 16% absolute increase in RT use, a decline in the proportion of untreated elderly patients, and an improvement in OS.
Privacy Regulation and Online Advertising
Authors: Goldfarb Avi , Tucker Catherine E. 
Published: October 2010

Advertisers use online customer data to target their marketing appeals. This has heightened consumers' privacy concerns, leading governments to pass laws designed to protect consumer privacy by restricting the use of data and by restricting online tracking techniques used by websites. We use the responses of 3.3 million survey takers who had been randomly exposed to 9,596 online display (banner) advertising campaigns to explore how privacy regulation in the European Union (EU) has influenced advertising effectiveness. This privacy regulation restricted advertisers' ability to collect data on Web users in order to target ad campaigns. We find that, on average, display advertising became far less effective at changing stated purchase intent after the EU laws were enacted, relative to display advertising in other countries. The loss in effectiveness was more pronounced for websites that had general content (such as news sites), where non-data-driven targeting is particularly hard to do. The loss of effectiveness was also more pronounced for ads with a smaller presence on the webpage and for ads that did not have additional interactive, video, or audio features. This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Core conflictual relationship theme – guided psychotherapy: Initial effectiveness study of a 16‐session manualized approach in a sample of six patients
Authors: Jarry Josée L. 
Published: November 2010

Objective.This study examined the effectiveness of a manualized, 16‐sessions, core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT)‐based treatment.Design.Treatment effects were assessed for statistical and clinical significance in a pre‐ and post‐therapy design.Methods.Six patients seeking help mostly for interpersonal difficulties received CCRT‐based psychotherapy. The therapists were six supervised doctoral students. An average of four assessment sessions and one goal‐setting session preceded 16 sessions of psychotherapy consisting mainly of interpretive work focused on one CCRT. Patients completed measures of general and treatment specific outcome indicators at the beginning and the end of therapy. Alliance measures were completed by patients after each session.Results.The alliance was strong and the treatment had high credibility. Parametric and non‐parametric tests showed that patients significantly improved on the general measures of self‐esteem, symptomatic distress, anxiety, and depression, as well as on the treatment specific measures of interpersonal functioning, use of immature defences, and CCRT‐associated subjective discomfort, with large effect sizes.Conclusions.These preliminary results suggest that this manualized, CCRT‐based, treatment produces general and approach specific improvements. Replication is needed to ascertain its effectiveness with a larger sample size and within a controlled design.
Common reference intervals for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in serum: results from an IFCC multicenter study
Authors: Ceriotti Ferruccio , Henny Joseph , Queraltó Josep , Ziyu Shen , Özarda Yeşim , Chen Baorong , Boyd James C. , Panteghini Mauro 
Published: October 2010

Abstract

Background: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) measurements are important for the assessment of liver damage. The aim of this study was to define the reference intervals (RIs) for these enzymes in adults, paying attention to standardization of the methods used and careful selection of the reference population.

Methods: AST, ALT and GGT were measured with commercial analytical systems standardized to the IFCC-recommended reference measurement systems. Three centers (two in Italy and one in China) measured their own freshly collected samples; one of these centers also measured frozen samples from the Nordic Countries RI Project and from a Turkish center. RIs were generated using non-parametric techniques from the results of 765 individuals (411 females and 354 males, 18–85 years old) selected on the basis of the results of other laboratory tests and a specific questionnaire.

Results: AST results from the four regions (Milan, Beijing, Bursa and Nordic Countries) were statistically different, but these differences were too small to be clinically relevant. Likewise, differences between the upper reference limits for genders was only 1.7 U/L (0.03 μkat/L), allowing a single RI of 11–34 U/L (0.18–0.57 μkat/L) to be defined. Interregional differences were not statistically significant for ALT, but partitioning was required due to significant gender differences. RIs for ALT were 8–41 U/L (0.13–0.68 μkat/L) for females and 9–59 U/L (0.15–0.99 μkat/L) for males, respectively. The upper reference limits for GGT from the Nordic Country population were higher than those from the other three regions and results from this group were excluded from final calculations. The GGT RIs were 6–40 U/L (0.11–0.66 μkat/L) for females and 12–68 U/L (0.20– 1.13 μkat/L) for males, respectively.

Conclusions: For AST and ALT, the implementation of common RIs appears to be possible, because no differences between regions were observed. However, a common RI for GGT that is applicable worldwide appears unlikely due to differences among populations.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1593–601.
Towards the development of a certified reference material for hemoglobin A2
Authors: Paleari Renata , Muñoz Amalia , Mosca Andrea 
Published: October 2010

Abstract

Background: In 2004, a working group on the standardization of hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) was created within the IFCC, with the aim of developing a reference system for this analyte. One goal was to prepare a certified reference material in collaboration with the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM). This paper describes the properties of a first batch of this candidate study material.

Methods: Eighty millilitre of fresh whole blood, collected from a healthy blood donor, was treated by removing plasma, white blood cells and platelets. Red cells were hemolyzed to prepare 100 vials of lyophilized material (approximately 155 mg per vial). After reconstitution, the HbA2 content was measured with a total of seven HPLC methods, three electrophoretic techniques, and two capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods. Homogeneity was tested in a subset of five vials. Stability during storage at +4°C and –20°C was tested monthly over a period of 1 year. The commutability of this material was assessed by analysing the study material together with a set of 54 fresh blood samples, with a subgroup of the above mentioned methods, only by one routine HPLC (Bio-Rad Variant II, dual kit) and by a CE method (Beckman PA800, Analis kit), respectively.

Results: The chromatographic and electrophoretic patterns obtained by all the HPLC, electrophoretic and CE techniques did not show any difference between those obtained using the first study material and those obtained with fresh blood samples. The lot was found to be homogeneous on the basis of the content of lyophilized powder per vial. The HbA2 concentration in the lyophilized material remained stable at +4°C and –20°C, even after 1 year of storage. After reconstitution, the HbA2 concentration did not change for more than 2 weeks in the refrigerator at +4°C. The normalized residual of the study material, measuring the degree of its commutability was 0.9, similar to that obtained on other home prepared and some commercial controls.

Conclusions: Ideally, fresh whole blood is the best reference material in the meterological traceability chain for HbA2 analysis. However, for a number of reasons the preparation of large batches of fresh whole blood to be used as secondary reference material for HbA2 is not practical. In our work, we have proven that lyophilization does not appear to cause any matrix effect or inhomogeneity in the study material, which also confirmed to be commutable for the Bio-Rad Variant II (dual kit) and Beckman PA800 (Analis kit) methods. We conclude that a material similarly prepared as the current study material and value assigned with the candidate reference measurement procedure still under development will be suitable to calibrate various routine methods for HbA2. This will result in improvement of the inter-method variability for this important biochemical marker.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1611–8.
First certified reference material for cystatin C in human serum ERM-DA471/IFCC
Authors: Grubb Anders , Blirup-Jensen Søren , Lindström Veronica , Schmidt Camilla , Althaus Harald , Zegers Ingrid 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
The IFCC Working Group for the Standardisation of Cystatin C (WG-SCC), in collaboration with the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), announces the availability of the new certified reference material ERM-DA471/IFCC. The material was characterised using a pure protein primary reference preparation (PRP) as calibrant. The PRP was prepared from recombinant cystatin C, and its concentration measured using dry mass determination. The characterisation of ERM-DA471/IFCC was performed by particle enhanced immuno-nephelometry, particle enhanced immuno-turbidimetry, and enzyme amplified single radial immuno-diffusion. The certified cystatin C mass concentration in ERM-DA471/IFCC, if reconstituted according to the specified procedure, is 5.48 mg/L, the expanded uncertainty (k=2) being 0.15 mg/L.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1619–21.
Standardization activities in the field of thyroid function tests: a status report
Authors: Thienpont Linda M. , Van Uytfanghe Katleen , Van Houcke Sofie 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground:Laboratory testing is an essential tool for diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases. However, the current status of standardization hampers the interchangeability of results. To improve this situation, the Working Group for Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests was established.Methods:Method comparisons were organized for measurement of human thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and free and total thyroid hormone in serum from apparently healthy donors. The aim was to assess the status of standardization and the quality of the performance of current routine assays. A second objective was to investigate the effect of mathematical recalibration of the results using their relationship to the overall mean (TSH) or the reference measurement procedure values (other thyroid hormones).Results:The need for standardization was shown to be highest for free thyroid hormone and total triiodothyronine measurements, while the majority of TSH and total thyroxine assays agreed within 10% of the reference. Most assays showed good performance. However, some could benefit from improved precision, consistency of calibration, or within- and between-run stability. Recalibration eliminated assay-specific bias. Thus, the residual spread was due to within-method effects. Not withstanding, sample-related effects remained.Conclusions:These studies confirmed the feasibility of standardization based on method comparison with native sera, but highlighted the need to resolve issues, such as sample-related effects. In view of the fact that in this phase the project worked with samples from individuals with euthyroid status, the next method comparison shall place emphasis on challenging the performance of the assays with clinical samples and expanding the covered measurement range.Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1577–83.