bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—BASIC SCIENCE: Acute and Repeated Flibanserin Administration in Female Rats Modulates Monoamines Differentially Across Brain Areas: A Microdialysis Study
Authors: Allers Kelly A. , Dremencov Eliyahu , Ceci Angelo , Flik Gunnar , Ferger Boris , Cremers Thomas I.F.H. , Ittrich Carina , Sommer Bernd 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is defined as persistent lack of sexual fantasies or desire marked by distress. With a prevalence of 10% it is the most common form of female sexual dysfunction. Recently, the serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist and the serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) receptor antagonist flibanserin were shown to be safe and efficacious in premenopausal women suffering from HSDD in phase III clinical trials.

Aim
The current study aims to assess the effect of flibanserin on neurotransmitters serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in brain areas associated with sexual behavior.

Methods
Flibanserin was administered to female Wistar rats (280–350 g). Microdialysis probes were stereotactically inserted into the mPFC, NAC, or MPOA, under isoflurane anesthesia. The extracellular levels of neurotransmitters were assessed in freely moving animals, 24 hours after the surgery.

Main Outcome Measures
Dialysate levels of DA, NE, and serotonin from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAC), and hypothalamic medial preoptic area (MPOA) from female rats.

Results
Acute flibanserin administration decreased 5-HT and increased NE levels in all tested areas. DA was increased in mPFC and MPOA, but not in the NAC. Basal levels of NE in mPFC and NAC and of DA in mPFC were increased upon repeated flibanserin administration, when compared to vehicle-treated animals. The basal levels of 5-HT were not altered by repeated flibanserin administration, but basal DA and NE levels were increased in the mPFC. Glutamate and GABA levels remained unchanged following either repeated or acute flibanserin treatment.

Conclusions
Systemic administration of flibanserin to female rats differentially affects the monoamine systems of the brain. This may be the mechanistic underpinning of flibanserin’s therapeutic efficacy in HSDD, as sexual behavior is controlled by an intricate interplay between stimulatory (catecholaminergic) and inhibitory (serotonergic) systems.
Effectiveness of Weekly Percutaneous Maxacalcitol Injection Therapy in Patients With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Saito Atsushi , Matsumoto Yuji , Oyama Yuhta , Asaka Mitsuhiro , Yokoyama Hitoshi 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPercutaneous injection therapy with vitamin D has been applied in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism (HPT); however, the application of percutaneous injection therapy with vitamin D lacks established guidelines regarding the volume of injected solution and the frequency of injection. We have developed an outpatient treatment regimen using percutaneous maxacalcitol injection therapy (PMIT) on a weekly basis for 4–6 weeks following dialysis without major complications. Intact parathyroid hormone decreased from 797 ± 178 pg/mL to 253 ± 25 pg/mL, and the parathyroid gland volume initially increased during the first week, but thereafter, it gradually decreased with weekly PMIT (wPMIT). Finally, the parathyroid gland volume decreased from 1.27 ± 1.06 cm3 to 0.24 ± 0.15 cm3 after wPMIT. The benefits of our method were confirmed on weekly ultrasonographic examinations, which detailed the gradual reduction in gland size following an initial increase after the first injection. Therefore, we conclude that our carefully implemented PMIT method would be an effective treatment against refractory secondary HPT.
Successful Permanent Catheter Implantation After Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty to the Right Subclavian and Inominate Vein Stenosis in a Hemodialysis Patient
Authors: Nishioka Hiroaki , Morimoto Satoshi , Yurugi Takatomi , Nishikawa Mitsushige , Iwasaka Toshiji , Maki Kei 
Published: February 2010

AbstractDifficulties in gaining vascular access have become one of the major problems in long‐term hemodialysis patients. We report a case with an extreme vascular access problem, which was solved by the placement of a permanent central vein catheter after successful angioplasty to the right subclavian and inominate vein stenosis. A 78‐year‐old woman with end‐stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy had been on hemodialysis since 1982. She had a history of four procedures that created an arteriovenous fistula during the first four years. In 1986 she was switched to peritoneal dialysis. However, hemodialysis was restarted with a regular arteriovenous fistula in 1991 because of repeated peritonitis, and from 1993 a superficialized brachial artery was used until the artery was exhausted. Since 1997, a permanent central vein catheter was utilized and reinsertion was required four times due to catheter infection during a 6‐year period. In 2004, difficulty was experienced in reinserting a new central venous catheter because of multiple stenotic and occlusive lesions of the central veins. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was carried out in the stenotic right subclavian and inominate veins, and after successful angioplasty, a permanent central vein catheter could be placed into the right subclavian vein as a vascular access for hemodialysis. Pretreatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the stenotic central veins before inserting a permanent catheter may be a useful strategy in patients that experience difficulty in the insertion of a catheter.
Successful Long‐term Outcome of ABO‐incompatible Liver Transplantation Using Antigen‐specific Immunoadsorption Columns
Authors: Saliba Faouzi , Ichaï Philippe , Azoulay Daniel , Habbouchi Houssam , Antonini Teresa , Sebagh Mylène , Adam René , Castaing Denis , Samuel Didier 
Published: February 2010

AbstractABO‐incompatible (ABO‐I) liver transplantation has been performed essentially in patients with acute liver failure awaiting an urgent liver transplantation. Early results with ABO‐I liver transplantation were disappointing with a very low graft survival rate (20–50%). The main risk is the occurrence of severe humoral and cellular rejection, vascular thrombosis, and biliary complications. In order to avoid humoral rejection and improve graft survival, total plasma exchange in combination with an intense immunosuppressive regimen has been proposed to decrease hemagglutinin titers in ABO‐I liver grafts. In some centers, this regimen was associated with splenectomy, phototherapy, and portal or arterial intrahepatic infusion therapy; however, as these patients are at high risk of sepsis, a selective approach using antigen‐specific immunoadsorption with immunoadsorbent columns has been successfully proposed for ABO‐I living donor kidney transplantation. Few cases have been reported following liver transplantation. We report our recent experience with three adult patients (two patients with acute liver failure, and one with severe cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy) transplanted in an emergency situation with an ABO‐I liver graft and managed with the use of GlycoSorb ABO immunoadsorbent columns and a quadruple immunosuppressive regimen with preservation of the spleen. Eight sessions were performed in the three patients. Antigen‐specific immunoadsorption greatly lowered the anti‐A hemagglutinin titers. None of the three patients developed acute humoral or cellular rejection. Two patients are alive at 1.5 and 3 years follow‐up with a normally functioning graft. The third patient died with a functioning graft, one month after the transplantation, from septic complications.
A NOVEL MULTIPLEX POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION FOR SIMULTANEOUS DETECTION OF YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA, STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, AEROMONAS AND SALMONELLA FROM CHICKEN MEAT AND MILK SAMPLES
Authors: BALAKRISHNA K. , MURALI H.S. , BATRA H.V. 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTYersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas and Salmonella are among the most important foodborne bacterial pathogens. The majority of human infections caused by all of these organisms are associated with ingestion of undercooked and contaminated meat, dairy products and water where in the secreted bacterial toxins lead to foodborne intoxications. We, here, report a new multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection of these important foodborne bacterial pathogens. The mPCR targeted Ail and virF genes of Y. enterocolitica, nuc and entB genes of S. aureus, aerA and 16S rRNA genes of Aeromonas and invA, an invasion protein A gene of Salmonella. An internal amplification control designed to check the false negative reactions in mPCR was also included. This procedure could detect initial populations of 1–100 cfu/g or /mL within 24 h in experimentally spiked food and water samples. When evaluated on a total of 104 naturally occurring food samples, the mPCR detected two samples to contain S. aureus, one was identified to contain Y. enterocolitica and four samples were identified to contain Salmonella species individually. This was compared with the standard microbiological and biochemical identification procedures.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSAll the microorganisms selected in this study are food and waterborne and contaminate a variety of food items. Pathogenic Y. enterocolitica and Aeromonas species are able to grow and multiply and secrete toxins even at low temperatures. The high throughput and cost‐effective multiplex polymerase chain reaction method reported here could be a viable alternative for detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, S. aureus, Aeromonas and Salmonella from food and environmental samples.
Efficacy of High‐frequency Magnetic Stimulation of the Sacral Root in Patients with Urinary Incontinence Following a Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: KAI Nobuyuki , KAWAJIRI Masakazu , SEKI Narihito , TAKANO Naruaki , KIRA Jun‐ichi , TOBIMATSU Shozo , NAITO Seiji 
Published: February 2010

Objectives: We report on our initial data from a prospective study to determine the efficacy of high‐frequency magnetic stimulation on the sacral root (MSSR) for the intractable post‐radical prostatectomy, stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: A total of 14 men with persistent SUI after a radical prostatectomy underwent treatment once every 2 weeks over a 40‐week period for a total of 20 sessions. The outcome was assessed by these variables at baseline, at immediately after the first session, and at immediately after the final (20th) session. Results: Mean leak episodes (per day) consistently decreased after the first to the final session (from 6.1 ± 2.9 to 3.5 ± 2.6, and to 3.0 ± 2.3, P < 0.01), and it remained to be decreased following 2 months after the final session. The mean pad weight (per h) also decreased after the treatment (but no statistically significant change compared to the pretreatment level). The cystometric bladder capacity at the first desire to void and the capacity at the strong desire to void increased significantly following the high‐frequency MSSR (first desire to void: from 146 ± 43 to 182 ± 52 mL; strong desire to void: from 224 ± 69 to 258 ± 60 mL, P < 0.01). No obvious complication was observed in any patients during or after the treatment. Conclusion: This study provides the preliminary evidence that high‐frequency MSSR may potentially afford a useful option with minimal invasiveness for the patients with obstinate SUI after a radical prostatectomy.
Primary localised pleural neurofibroma: expanding the spectrum of spindle cell tumours of the pleura
Authors: Langman G , Rathinam S , Papadaki L 
Published: February 2010

AimsPrimary localised pleural neoplasms are a rare group of thoracic tumours, with solitary fibrous tumour representing the most frequently encountered entity. Two cases of localised pleural neurofibromas involving the pleura are described.Methods and resultsThe patients were both female: 78 and 29 years of age. In the former a pleural-based lesion was identified on a chest radiograph after she presented with shoulder pain. The second patient was known to have neurofibromatosis type I, and the pleural lesion was found incidentally during excision of a metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the lung. Both tumours were localised and composed histologically of bland neoplastic spindle cells embedded in a loose collagenous matrix. There was variable immunoreactivity for S100 and CD34, while ultrastructure examination in the two cases showed a mixture of nerve sheath cell types.ConclusionTo the best of the authors' knowledge, localised neurofibromas have not been previously reported within the pleura. The presence of a bland spindle cell pleural neoplasm immunoreactive for CD34 may potentially be mistaken for a solitary fibrous tumour. While distinction is usually achieved on close attention to the histological features, staining with S100 protein, especially in small biopsies, should be considered to exclude a neurofibroma.
TCR-Vβ flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood for assessing clonality and disease burden in patients with T cell large granular lymphocyte leukaemia
Authors: Feng B , Jorgensen J L , Hu Y , Medeiros L J , Wang S A 
Published: February 2010

AimsT cell large granular lymphocytes (T-LGLs) are commonly increased in reactive conditions as well as T-LGL leukaemia. This differential diagnosis often requires a combined assessment of clonality and tumour burden. In this study we assessed the utility of flow cytometric (FC) analysis of T cell receptor β chain variable region (TCR-Vβ) expression by using 24 antibodies reactive to 70% of the TCR-Vβ repertoire.MethodsAnalyses were performed on peripheral blood samples obtained from 20 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of T-LGL leukaemia and 18 patients without known T cell lymphoproliferative diseases.ResultsThe results were compared with TCR gene rearrangement status assessed by PCR. By FC analysis, 19/20 T-LGL leukaemia cases were CD3+CD8+ and one case was CD3+CD4+. All the cases demonstrated at least one immunophenotypic aberration, with altered CD5 expression being most frequent. Abnormal Vβ expression was detected by FC in 19 of 20 (95%) T-LGL leukaemia cases, but in none of the controls; this showed 100% concordance with TCR gene rearrangement studies. In addition to establishing clonality, FC Vβ analysis enables calculation of absolute numbers of clonal T cells; this is important in monitoring tumour burden after treatment.ConclusionsIt is concluded that FC Vβ analysis is a fast, reliable and quantitative method that can simultaneously assess T-LGL leukaemia clonality and tumour burden.
Cardiac findings in leptospirosis
Authors: Shah Kinjal , Amonkar Gayathri P , Kamat Rima N , Deshpande Jaya R 
Published: February 2010

Background/aimIn leptospirosis, although cardiac involvement in the form of ECG changes and myocarditis is known, it is not considered to be significant. This study analysed cardiac changes in leptospirosis.MethodsTwenty-four hearts from patients who had died from leptospirosis were studied. Detailed gross and light microscopic examination was carried out.ResultsMyocarditis was noted in 96% of cases. Endocardial inflammation was seen in 50% of cases. This endocardial inflammation correlates with vasculitis, which is the principal pathogenetic mechanism of the disease.ConclusionsThere is definite cardiac involvement in leptospirosis, which even though not symptomatically evident, may add to the morbidity or be contributory to the mortality associated with the disease. In addition, a possibility of dilated cardiomyopathy as a delayed consequence of severe myocarditis remains, and may need evaluation.
Association between hypoparathyroidism and defective T cell immunity in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Herwadkar A , Gennery A R , Moran A S , Haeney M R , Arkwright P D 
Published: February 2010

AimsAlthough poor thymic function leading to viral and fungal infections can be a feature of chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, most patients have relatively normal immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate which clinical and laboratory parameters best predict the likelihood of serious or recurrent infections in patients with this syndrome.MethodsClinical and laboratory parameters from 64 patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome referred to two immunology centres in the north of England were studied retrospectively.Results31 (48%) patients had no problems with infection, 21 (33%) had bacterial infections, and 12 (19%) had recurrent or persistent thrush and/or viral enteritis and bronchiolitis, the latter suggestive of a significant T cell immunodeficiency. Patients with a history of thrush/viral infections, but not those with bacterial infections, had significantly lower CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte numbers (relative risk (95% CI) 0.3 (0.1 to 0.8)) and phytohaemagglutinin mitogen responses (0.4 (0.2 to 0.8)) adjusted for age at testing. Hypoparathyroidism was associated with low T lymphocyte numbers and function (p<0.05) as well as an increased risk of thrush/viral infections (p<0.0001) after adjusting for age at testing.Conclusions22q11.2 syndrome patients with hypoparathyroidism are more likely to have a clinically significant T cell immunodeficiency and lower laboratory parameters of T cell function, with a higher risk of thrush and viral bronchiolitis and enteritis. Measurement of absolute CD3 count is a simple and accurate predictor of fungal/viral infection risk, with phytohaemagglutinin mitogen responses providing little or no further value in most patients.
Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma including cases with pleomorphic features analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation
Authors: Matsumura T , Yamaguchi T , Tochigi N , Wada T , Yamashita T , Hasegawa T 
Published: February 2010

BackgroundAngiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft-tissue tumour of uncertain differentiation and low metastatic potential. Cytogenetics and/or molecular genetics have revealed that most have a rearrangement of theEWSR1gene, whereas aFUSgene rearrangement is present in a minority of cases. Although some cases of AFH display striking pleomorphism and mitotic activity, there are no known clinical, morphological or genetic factors that predict metastasis. The authors present clinicopathological features of AFH, including cases showing a pleomorphic histological appearance, and results of fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis ofEWSR1andFUSrearrangements.MethodsTumour samples from 10 patients were subjected to clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis and dual-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation forEWSR1andFUSwith split-signal probes.ResultsAll cases showed clinical features (sites: extremities followed by trunk; age: adolescent to young adult), morphology (multinodular proliferation of spindle cells, lymphoid cuffs and pseudovascular spaces) and immunohistochemical results (more than half were positive for CD68, CD99, desmin and epithelial membrane antigen) typical of AFH. There were two local recurrences in each of two patients. Two patients developed distant metastases and died from the disease; tumours of these two patients showed focal proliferation of large pleomorphic cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and high proliferative activity (>10/10 high-power field and Ki-67 labelling index >10%). There were no clinical, histological or immunohistochemical differences between the nine cases withEWSR1rearrangement and one case withFUSrearrangement.ConclusionsWide surgical excision and careful follow-up are necessary for patients with AFH in view of its risk of local recurrence and metastasis leading to a fatal outcome.
Comprehensive Automated Quality Assurance of Daily Surface Observations
Authors: Durre Imke , Menne Matthew J. , Gleason Byron E. , Houston Tamara G. , Vose Russell S. 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
This paper describes a comprehensive set of fully automated quality assurance (QA) procedures for observations of daily surface temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth. The QA procedures are being applied operationally to the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN)-Daily dataset. Since these data are used for analyzing and monitoring variations in extremes, the QA system is designed to detect as many errors as possible while maintaining a low probability of falsely identifying true meteorological events as erroneous. The system consists of 19 carefully evaluated tests that detect duplicate data, climatological outliers, and various inconsistencies (internal, temporal, and spatial). Manual review of random samples of the values flagged as errors is used to set the threshold for each procedure such that its false-positive rate, or fraction of valid values identified as errors, is minimized. In addition, the tests are arranged in a deliberate sequence in which the performance of the later checks is enhanced by the error detection capabilities of the earlier tests. Based on an assessment of each individual check and a final evaluation for each element, the system identifies 3.6 million (0.24%) of the more than 1.5 billion maximum/minimum temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth values in GHCN-Daily as errors, has a false-positive rate of 1%−2%, and is effective at detecting both the grossest errors as well as more subtle inconsistencies among elements.
Asymmetry of Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies over the Western North Pacific between El Niño and La Niña*
Authors: Wu Bo , Li Tim , Zhou Tianjun 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
The asymmetry of the western North Pacific (WNP) low-level atmospheric circulation anomalies between the El Niño and La Niña mature winter is examined. An anomalous WNP cyclone (WNPC) center during La Niña tends to shift westward relative to an anomalous WNP anticyclone (WNPAC) center during El Niño. Two factors may contribute to this asymmetric response. The first factor is the longitudinal shifting of El Niño and La Niña anomalous heating. The composite negative precipitation anomaly center during La Niña is located farther to the west of the composite positive precipitation anomaly center during El Niño. The westward shift of the heating may further push the WNPC westward relative to the position of the WNPAC. The second factor is the amplitude asymmetry of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the WNP, namely, the amplitude of local cold SSTA during El Niño is greater than that of warm SSTA during La Niña. The asymmetry of SSTA is originated from the asymmetric SSTA tendencies during the ENSO developing summer. Although both precipitation and surface wind anomalies are approximately symmetric, the surface latent heat flux anomalies are highly asymmetric over the key WNP region, where the climate mean zonal wind speed is small. Both the anomalous westerly during El Niño and the anomalous easterly during La Niña in the region lead to an enhanced surface evaporation, strengthening (weakening) the enhancement of the cold (warm) SSTA in situ during El Niño (La Niña). The asymmetry of the SSTA in the WNP is further amplified due to anomalous wind differences between El Niño and La Niña in their mature winter. Atmospheric general circulation model experiments demonstrate that both factors contribute to the asymmetry between the WNPAC and WNPC. The asymmetric circulation in the WNP contributes to the asymmetry of temporal evolutions between El Niño and La Niña.