bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dai‐kenchu‐to attenuates rat sinusoidal obstruction syndrome by inhibiting the accumulation of neutrophils in the liver
Authors: Narita Masato , Hatano Etsuro , Tamaki Nobuyuki , Yamanaka Kenya , Yanagida Atsuko , Nagata Hiromitsu , Asechi Hiroyuki , Takada Yasutsugu , Ikai Iwao , Uemoto Shinji 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is drug‐induced liver injury that occurs in patients who receive hematopoietic cell transplantation and oxaliplatin‐contained chemotherapy. The aim of study was to investigate the pharmacological treatment of SOS using a traditional Japanese medicine, Dai‐kenchu‐to (DKT).Methods:  Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were treated with monocrotaline (MCT) to induce SOS. The rats were divided into three groups: control, MCT and MCT+DKT groups. In the MCT+DKT group, DKT was gavaged at 12 h after MCT treatment and given every 12 h until the end of the protocol. The rats of MCT group were treated with water instead of DKT. At 48 h after MCT treatment, blood and liver samples were collected.Results:  In the MCT+DKT group, the macroscopic and histological findings revealed liver congestion, sinusoidal alteration and the destruction of sinusoidal lining, which were comparable with those of the MCT group. However, the area of hepatic necrosis and serum AST levels significantly decreased in the MCT+DKT group compared with those of the MCT group. Treatment with DKT resulted in the reduction of neutrophil accumulation, myeloperoxidase activity and the expression of cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) and intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) mRNA in the liver compared with those of the MCT group. Treatment with processed ginger, one of the ingredients in DKT, resulted in similar effects to those shown by DKT.Conclusions:  Dai‐kenchu‐to attenuates MCT‐induced liver injury by preventing neutrophil‐induced liver injury through blockage of upregulation of CINC and ICAM‐1 mRNA level.
Inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis enables extended maintenance of integrity and function of isolated hepatocytes in suspension
Authors: Wigg Alan J , Barritt Greg J , Young Graeme P , Phillips John W 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAims:  Isolated hepatocytes in suspension may offer an alternative culture system for bioartificial liver devices. However, maintenance of isolated hepatocyte suspensions in conventional media leads to rapid loss of cell integrity. The aim of this study was to develop a modified medium to better maintain hepatocyte integrity.Methods:  Isolated rat hepatocytes were prepared by collagenase digestion. Hepatocytes were purified in a Percoll gradient, suspended in bicarbonate buffered isotonic saline supplemented with d‐α‐tocopherol succinate and glucose and medium changed at 24 h (modified medium). The properties of cells treated this way were compared with those prepared by collagenase digestion and suspension in bicarbonate buffered isotonic saline (basic medium). Both media were maintained at 30°C for 48 h on an orbital shaker. Markers for oxidative stress, apoptosis and metabolic function were measured enzymatically. Cell morphology was assessed by electron microscopy.Results:  When compared to collagenase‐isolated hepatocytes maintained in basic medium, hepatocytes purified by Percoll (Amersham Biosciences, Castle Hill, Australia) and maintained in modified medium demonstrated significantly increased glutathione (GSH) and GSH : glutathione disulphide (GSSH) ratios, decreased lipid peroxidation product formation, decreased caspase‐3 protease activity, reduced uptake of trypan blue and loss of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increase preservation of cellular adenosine triphosphate concentration ([ATP]), urea synthesis, ammonia removal and glycogen content. Cell morphology was substantially preserved following 48 h of maintenance in the modified medium.Conclusions:  The use of Percoll and modified medium reduces cell injury and apoptosis and greatly improves maintenance of cell function and morphology. The modifications reported here and the use of isolated hepatocyte suspensions in bioartificial liver devices are worthy of further investigation.
Resumption of oral intake following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
Authors: Paramsothy Sudarshan , Papadopoulos George , Mollison Lindsay C , Leong Rupert W L 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) provides enteral nutrition to patients who cannot swallow. Few studies have prospectively evaluated its long‐term outcomes or eventual resumption of oral intake.Methods:  Consecutive PEG patients were prospectively recruited from a tertiary hospital over 12 months and followed until all had met the primary endpoints of death or resumption of oral diet with PEG extubation. Data was collected by standardised periodic phone interview.Results:  Forty patients (24 males, median age 74 years) were followed for up to 8.4 years (median 5.3 months, interquartile range [IQR] 13.6 months). The end‐of‐study mortality rate was 70% (median 6.8 months, IQR 19.9 months) and the only predictor of mortality was head injury as the indication for PEG (Cox regression HR 5.90, 95% CI: 1.2–28.4). At two years following PEG, 30% of patients had resumed oral intake (median 2.9 months, IQR 7.2 months) and 19% remained on PEG‐feeding. Predictors of resumption of oral intake were the ability to tolerate some oral intake at 3 months (HR: 248.5, 95% CI: 8.7–7065.3) and 6 months (HR: 6.3, 95% CI: 1.03–38.9) but not at 12 months. Cumulative survival was highest for ear nose and throat (ENT) tumour and worst for acute head injury (log rank P = 0.048).Conclusions:  Half of all PEG patients remained alive at 2 years using PEG or have resumed full oral intake. A supervised trial of oral intake at 3 or 6 months may help predict eventual resumption of per oral diet.
Effects of formula supplementation in breast‐fed infants with failure to thrive
Authors: Hren Irena , Mis Nataša Fidler , Brecelj Jernej , Čampa Andreja širca , Sedmak Marjeta , Kržišnik Ciril , Koletzko Berthold 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackground:  The aim of the present study was to assess whether formula supplementation of infants with failure to thrive can improve underweight without jeopardizing breast‐feeding.Methods:  In a prospective intervention study 31 term exclusively breast‐fed infants were studied, who were admitted to hospital at an age of 28–99 days with failure to thrive (≤40% expected weight gain for age and/or bodyweight ≤10th percentile for age) without underlying disease. Infant formula was offered ad libitum after each breast‐feeding, while continued breast‐feeding was supported.Results:  Energy intake per day increased from 352 ± 111 kJ/kg (mean ± SD) at study start to 587 ± 115 kJ/kg (P < 0.001, days 1–3 of supplementation) and 501 ± 99 kJ/kg (days 29–31; P < 0.001 vs study entry). Twenty‐five infants continued to be partially (n = 21) or fully (n = 4) breast‐fed. Human milk intake decreased from 476 ± 163 g/day (study days 1–3) to 349 ± 285 g/day (study days 29–31; P < 0.01). The contribution of breast milk to total milk intake decreased from 100% to 42 ± 35% (P < 0.001). Supplementation over 31 days led to increased weight (0.98 [0.70], standard deviation scores [SDS]), length (+0.40 [0.41] SDS) and head circumference (+0.59 [0.93] SDS).Conclusions:  One month of formula supplementation successfully improved growth in 72% of infants with failure to thrive on human milk feeding. Breast‐feeding was maintained in 81% of infants.
Effect of transfusion on the venous blood lactate level in very low‐birthweight infants
Authors: Takahashi Daijiro , Matsui Miyu , Shigematsu Reiko , Sato Tetsuji , Miyaji Ryosuke , Sakai Michio , Shirahata Akira 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackground:  In recent years the blood lactate level can be easily and quickly measured with a small amount of blood, and the availability of an arterial blood lactate level has been reported as an indicator of oxygen deficit in adults. To determine whether venous blood lactate level can serve as such a marker for determining the indications for transfusion, blood lactate and hemoglobin level were monitored before and after transfusion.Methods:  The study subjects consisted of 12 very low‐birthweight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and who had transfusion between June 2005 and June 2007. The data on the blood lactate and hemoglobin were collected retrospectively by referring to the clinical records.Results:  A total of 18 transfusions was performed. There was no significant relationship between venous blood lactate and hemoglobin concentration before transfusion. The subjects were classified into two groups according to the lactate level before transfusion: 3.3 mmol/L and <3.3 mmol/L. In the high‐lactate group the lactate decreased significantly after transfusion (P < 0.01) and it continued to decrease thereafter. In the low‐lactate group, however, the lactate remained unchanged.Conclusions:  Venous blood lactate measurements may offer some additional information regarding the optimal time for performing a transfusion. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report to study the changes in lactate levels using venous blood sampling in red blood cell transfusion in very low‐birthweight infants.
The Rapoport effect is detected in a river system and is based on nested organization
Authors: Beketov Mikhail A. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTAim  To test two hypotheses: (i) the Rapoport effect is valid for a river continuum, particularly regarding the altitudinal distribution of mayflies over the large‐scale continuum from alpine stream to medium‐sized lowland river, and (ii) the observed Rapoport effect is based on high nestedness of the meta‐assemblage, implying the presence of a common species pool and species‐thinned nested subsets.Location  Geometric centre of Eurasia, south‐western Siberia, Russia.Methods  Regression analysis of breadth and midpoints of species altitudinal ranges, species richness and altitude. Comparison of the observed patterns with the null model predicted by the mid‐domain effect and conventional null hypothesis. Nestedness analysis.Results  The Rapoport effect was explicitly demonstrated: species altitudinal ranges expanded with increase in the ranges’ midpoints and average per‐altitude ranges increased with increase in altitude and concurrent decrease in species richness. The significance of each trend was confirmed with respect to both the null models applied. Nestedness analysis has revealed that the observed Rapoport effect is based on nested organization of the meta‐assemblage over the river altitudinal/longitudinal gradient: a common species pool at low (but not the lowest) altitudes and nested subsets of this pool at higher altitudes.Main conclusions  This study for the first time credibly shows the altitudinal Rapoport effect in freshwaters. This finding demonstrates cross‐habitat‐type consistency of the Rapoport effect, but does not suggest that the Rapoport effect is an obligatory attribute of river systems or lotic organisms. High nestedness underlying the observed Rapoport effect together with some previous studies indicate that the Rapoport effect in altitudinal and bathymetric gradients in general may be based on nested organization. The study highlights a deficiency of cross‐habitat‐type analyses of macroecological patterns (i.e. over terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats).
Dispersal traits linked to range size through range location, not dispersal ability, in Western Australian angiosperms
Authors: Gove Aaron D. , Fitzpatrick Matthew C. , Majer Jonathan D. , Dunn Robert R. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTAim We examine the relative importance of seed dispersal mode in determining the range size and range placement in 524 species from six focal plant families (Agavaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvacaeae, Sapindaceae, Proteaceae and Fabaceae (Acacia)).Location Western Australia.Methods Taxa were categorized by dispersal mode and life‐form and their distributions modelled usingmaxent. Geographical range size was compared amongst dispersal mode, life‐form and biome using phylogenetically independent contrasts. Geographical range placement was considered in a similar manner.Results Range size did not vary with dispersal mode (ant versus wind and vertebrate dispersal) or life‐form, and instead varied primarily as a function of the biogeographical region in which a species was found. Range placement, however, did vary among dispersal modes, with the consequence that diversity of wind‐ and ant‐dispersed plants increased with latitude while the diversity of vertebrate‐dispersed plants was more evenly distributed.Main conclusions For the taxa studied, range sizes were a function of the biogeographical region in which species were found. Although differences in range size may exist among species differing in dispersal modes, they are likely to be far smaller than differences among species from different biogeographical regions. The trait most likely to affect species geographical range size, and hence rarity and risks associated with other threats, may simply be the geographical region in which that species has evolved.
Bringing About Changes to Corporate Social Policy through Shareholder Activism: Filers, Issues, Targets, and Success
Authors: ROJAS MIGUEL , M'ZALI BOUCHRA , TURCOTTE MARIE‐FRANCE , MERRIGAN PHILIP 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTWe examine shareholder initiated social policy proposals' capacity to exert pressure on management to force it to adopt the suggested changes in policy. We show that social proposals, filed under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Rule 14a‐8, have a more limited capacity to change corporate social policy than it has been previously reported. However, the capacity to exert pressure on firms can be substantially higher for some types of filers, notably pension funds and mutual funds. The analysis also suggests that the capacity to influence management is higher for some types of issues presented in the resolution, such as those related to board diversity, energy and environment, and international laborand human rights. We also provide suggestions explaining why shareholder activism is a persistent practice despite its limited results.
Your E‐mail Trail: Where Ethics Meets Forensics1
Authors: MOORE JENNIFER M. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTThis article addresses ethical and legal issues arising from the increasing use of e‐mail and other forms of instant written communication in the conduct of business. E‐mail communications are often casual and informal. Yet e‐mail is a written record that can be more permanent and widely accessible than a paper communication. This article focuses on the implications of this fact, including (1) how individuals compromise their own privacy by the voluntary use of e‐mail; (2) how e‐mail has complicated the duty of confidentiality of employees to employers, and professionals to clients; (3) whether the use of e‐mail affects ethical deliberation and choice; and (4) the use of e‐mail as evidence of corporate conduct and intent in civil and criminal litigation. The article suggests that e‐mail users think “forensically” about their e‐mail—i.e., consider its potential as evidence in the context of other emails and underlying events—before pressing the “send” button.
Inter‐observer agreement on acne severity based on facial photographs
Authors: Beylot C , Chivot M , Faure M , Pawin H , Poli F , Revuz J , Auffret N , Moyse D , Dréno B ,   Groupe Expert Acné (GEA)
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackground  The three‐grade acne classification (mild, moderate, severe) is widely used to define the licensed indications of acne treatments, and for therapeutic decision‐making in clinical practice, but its reproducibility has never been assessed.Methods  Ten photographs of facial acne were scored independently by eight experts using the three‐grade acne classification. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the results, based on graphical representation of the scores for each photograph.Results  Inter‐observer agreement on acne severity based on the three‐grade acne classification was very poor.Conclusion  The classical three‐grade acne classification is poorly reproducible. A new rating tool accompanied by a clinical description of each severity level would be extremely useful.
Evidence of a geographically variable competitive mimicry relationship in coral reef fishes
Authors: Rainey M. M. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractIn Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, juvenile surgeonfish Acanthurus pyroferus have been shown to gain access to food resources defended by the damselfish Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus by mimicking a pygmy angelfish, Centropyge vrolikii, that does not compete with the damsel for food. I tested whether A. pyroferus juveniles gain the same competitive advantage from mimicking a different pygmy angelfish, Centropyge flavissima, in Moorea, French Polynesia. Through abundance and substrate surveys, behavioral observations and stomach content analyses, I demonstrate that in Moorea, mimicry of Ce. flavissima does not provide A. pyroferus with access to damselfish Stegastes nigricans territories; Ce. flavissima models are always attacked upon territory entry and A. pyroferus mimics avoid damsel territories. Damselfish aggression toward the model angelfish cannot be attributed to overabundance of the deceptive mimic; instead, aggression can best be explained by the fact that Ce. flavissima competes with damsels in Moorea by consuming their algal turfs, making them inappropriate models for competitive mimics. Juveniles of many Indo‐Pacific surgeonfishes appear to mimic pygmy angelfishes; I suggest that these mimics' success in gaining access to damselfish territories is geographically variable and may be determined by the extent to which mimics, models and receivers overlap in resource use at a given site. This mimicry complex may thus present an excellent illustration of the geographic mosaic model of coevolution.
Experimental Evaluation of a New Antithrombogenic Stent Using Ion Beam Surface Modification
Authors: Sugita Yoichi , Suzuki Yoshiaki , Someya Kenji , Ogawa Akira , Furuhata Hiroshi , Miyoshi Shinichiro , Motomura Tadashi , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Igo Stephen , Nosé Yukihiko 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA new antithrombogenic stent using ion beam surface modification nanotechnology was evaluated. The ion stent is being developed to inhibit acute and chronic stent‐related thrombosis. Thirty self‐expanding mesh stents were fabricated from Ti‐Ni metal wires with a dimension of 4 mm (diameter) × 25 mm (length) × 0.15 mm (thickness). Twenty stents were coated with type I collagen and irradiated with a He+ ion beam at an energy of 150 keV with fluences of 1 × 1014 ions/cm2 (ion stent group). Ten stents had no treatment (non‐ion stent group). The self‐expanding stents were implanted into the right and left peripheral femoral arteries of 15 beagle dogs (vessel diameter approximately 3 mm) via a 6Fr catheter under fluoroscopic guidance. Heparin (100 units/kg) was administered intravenously before implantation. Following stent implantation, no antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs were administered. The 1‐month patency rate for the non‐ion stent group was 10% (1/10), and for the ion stent group it was 80% (16/20) with no anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs given after stent implantation (P = 0.0004 by Fisher's exact test). Ten stents remain patent after 2 years in vivo with no anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. These results indicate that He+ ion‐implanted collagen‐coated Ti‐Ni self‐expanding stents have excellent antithrombogenicity and biocompatibility. This ion stent is promising for coronary and cerebral stent applications.
Heparin Coating of Small‐Caliber Decellularized Xenografts Reduces Macrophage Infiltration and Intimal Hyperplasia
Authors: Cai Wei‐Wei , Gu Y. John , Wang Xue‐Ning , Chen Chang‐Zhi 
Published: May 2009

AbstractSmall‐caliber decellularized xenografts with surface heparin coating are known to reduce in vivo thrombogenicity. This study was performed to examine whether heparin coating on the small‐caliber decellularized xenografts would reduce macrophage infiltration and intimal hyperplasia. In a rabbit model of bilateral carotid implantation, each of the animals (n = 18) received a heparin‐coated decellularized xenograft from a canine carotid artery on one side and a nonheparin‐coated one on the other side. These experiments were terminated respectively at 1 week (n = 6), 3 weeks (n = 6), and 12 weeks (n = 6). Results showed that, compared with the nonheparin‐coated grafts, the heparin‐coated grafts had significantly less macrophage infiltration 1 week after implantation, identified by the mouse antirabbit macrophage antibody (RAM11)‐positive cells on the vascular wall, covering all the proximal, middle, and distal parts of the grafts (P < 0.01). Moreover, the heparin‐coated grafts also showed less deposition of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)‐positive cells on the vascular wall, indicating less cell proliferation, which was significant not only at 1 week (P < 0.01) but also at 12 weeks (P < 0.01). Intimal hyperplasia, measured by the intimal : media (I : M) ratio, was found similar in both groups at 1 and 3 weeks. However, the I : M ratio was significantly lower in the heparin‐coated group than in the nonheparin‐coated group at 12 weeks, especially in the proximal anastomosis area (0.76 ± 0.12 vs. 0.345 ± 0.06, P < 0.01). Heparin coating of small‐caliber decellularized xenografts is associated with an early reduction of macrophage infiltration and intimal hyperplasia in a rabbit model of bilateral carotid artery implantation for 12 weeks. Thus, heparin coating appears to deliver not only the antithrombogeneity but also the antiproliferative property for small‐caliber decellularized xenografts.
Flow Visualization Study of a Novel Respiratory Assist Catheter
Authors: Budilarto Stephanus G. , Frankowski Brian J. , Hattler Brack G. , Federspiel William J. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractRespiratory assist using intravenous catheters may be a potential therapy for patients with acute and acute‐on‐chronic lung failure. An important design constraint is respiratory catheter size, and new strategies are needed that enable size reduction while maintaining adequate gas exchange. Our group is currently developing a percutaneous respiratory assist catheter (PRAC) that uses a rotating bundle of hollow fiber membranes to enhance CO2 removal and O2 supply with increasing bundle rotation rate. In this study, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to analyze the fluid flow patterns and velocity fields surrounding the rotating fiber bundle of the PRAC. The goal of the study was to assess the rotational flow patterns within the context of the gas exchange enhancement that occurs with increasing fiber bundle rotation. A PRAC prototype was placed in a 1‐in. internal diameter test section of an in vitro flow loop designed specifically for PIV studies. The rotation rate of the PRAC was varied between 500 and 7000 rpm, and PIV was used to determine the velocity fields in the primary (r‐θ) and secondary (r‐z) flow planes. The secondary flow exhibited time‐varying and incoherent vortices that were consistent with the classical Taylor vortices expected for Taylor numbers (Ta) corresponding to the rotation speeds studied (2200 < Ta < 31 000). In the primary flow, the tangential velocity exhibited boundary layers of less than ½ mm adjacent to the fiber bundle and vessel wall. The estimated shear stress associated with the Taylor vortices was approximately 11 dyne/cm2 at 7000 rpm and was over 10 times smaller than the shear stress in the primary flow boundary layers.