bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engaging HIV-HCV co-infected patients in HCV treatment: the roles played by the prescribing physician and patients' beliefs (ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort, France)
Authors: Salmon-Ceron Dominique , Cohen Julien , Winnock Maria , Roux Perrine , Sadr Firouze Bani , Rosenthal Eric , Martin Isabelle Poizot , Loko Marc-Arthur , Mora Marion , Sogni Philippe , Spire Bruno , Dabis François , Carrieri Maria Patrizia ,   the HEPAVIH group
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background
Treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be delayed significantly in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Our study aims at identifying the correlates of access to HCV treatment in this population.

Methods
We used 3-year follow-up data from the HEPAVIH ANRS-CO13 nationwide French cohort which enrolled patients living with HIV and HCV. We included pegylated interferon and ribavirin-naive patients (N = 600) at enrolment. Clinical/biological data were retrieved from medical records. Self-administered questionnaires were used for both physicians and their patients to collect data about experience and behaviors, respectively.

Results
Median [IQR] follow-up was 12[12-24] months and 124 patients (20.7%) had started HCV treatment. After multiple adjustment including patients' negative beliefs about HCV treatment, those followed up by a general practitioner working in a hospital setting were more likely to receive HCV treatment (OR[95%CI]: 1.71 [1.06-2.75]). Patients followed by general practitioners also reported significantly higher levels of alcohol use, severe depressive symptoms and poor social conditions than those followed up by other physicians.

Conclusions
Hospital-general practitioner networks can play a crucial role in engaging patients who are the most vulnerable and in reducing existing inequities in access to HCV care. Further operational research is needed to assess to what extent these models can be implemented in other settings and for patients who bear the burden of multiple co-morbidities.
Low fatness, reduced fat intake and adequate plasmatic concentrations of LDL-cholesterol are associated with high bone mineral density in women: a cross-sectional study with control group
Authors: Sarkis Karin S , Martini Lígia A , Szejnfeld Vera L , Pinheiro Marcelo M 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background
Several parameters are associated with high bone mineral density (BMD), such as overweight, black background, intense physical activity (PA), greater calcium intake and some medications. The objectives are to evaluate the prevalence and the main aspects associated with high BMD in healthy women.

Methods
After reviewing the database of approximately 21,500 BMD scans performed in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil, from June 2005 to October 2010, high BMD (over 1400 g/cm2 at lumbar spine and/or above 1200 g/cm2 at femoral neck) was found in 421 exams. Exclusion criteria were age below 30 or above 60 years, black ethnicity, pregnant or obese women, disease and/or medications known to interfere with bone metabolism. A total of 40 women with high BMD were included and matched with 40 healthy women with normal BMD, paired to weight, age, skin color and menopausal status. Medical history, food intake and PA were assessed through validated questionnaires. Body composition was evaluated through a GE-Lunar DPX MD + bone densitometer. Radiography of the thoracic and lumbar spine was carried out to exclude degenerative alterations or fractures. Biochemical parameters included both lipid and hormonal profiles, along with mineral and bone metabolism. Statistical analysis included parametric and nonparametric tests and linear regression models. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results
The mean age was 50.9 (8.3) years. There was no significant difference between groups in relation to PA, smoking, intake of calcium and vitamin D, as well as laboratory tests, except serum C-telopeptide of type I collagen (s-CTX), which was lower in the high BMD group (p = 0.04). In the final model of multivariate regression, a lower fat intake and body fatness as well a better profile of LDL-cholesterol predicted almost 35% of high BMD in women. (adjusted R2 = 0.347; p < 0.001). In addition, greater amounts of lean mass and higher IGF-1 serum concentrations played a protective role, regardless age and weight.

Conclusion
Our results demonstrate the potential deleterious effect of lipid metabolism-related components, including fat intake and body fatness and worse lipid profile, on bone mass and metabolism in healthy women.
A multi-layered OFDM system with parallel transmission for multicell cooperative cellular networks
Authors: Yang Jiaxin , Wang Xianbin , Park Sung Ik , Kim Heung Mook 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Recent development in multicell cooperation poses significant technical challenges to the design of robust and flexible transmission techniques. A new multi-layered orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (ML-OFDM) system is proposed in this article to provide a dynamic platform for multicell cooperation with efficient base station coordination capability. The proposed enhanced layers (ELs), which are overlaid with the cellular communication data (the base layer) in both frequency and time domains, can be used for several specific purposes indispensable to multicell cooperation. It provides an efficient way of sharing the necessary information, e.g., channel state information, user data and other transmission parameters, between the collaborative BSs without the requirement of additional signaling or control channels. Overall network efficiency is substantially enhanced due to the reduction of radio resource overhead. Furthermore, cross BS synchronization and multimedia broadcast multicast service for next generation cellular networks can be simultaneously achieved by the proposed parallel orthogonal ELs. The transceiver design for the ML-OFDM system, particularly the modulation/demodulation of the ELs and EL-induced interference cancelation is presented. Overall system performance is further optimized by proposing a power distribution scheme with a set of practical constraints. The performance of the ML-OFDM system is analyzed and verified through numerical simulations.
Characterization of the antiproliferative activity of Xylopia aethiopica
Authors: Choumessi Aphrodite T , Danel Mathieu , Chassaing Stefan , Truchet Isabelle , Penlap Véronique B , Pieme Anatole Constant , Asonganyi Tazoacha , Ducommun Bernard , Valette Annie 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background
Xylopia aethiopica, a plant found throughout West Africa, has both nutritional and medicinal uses. The present study aims to characterize the effects of extracts of this plant on cancer cells.

Results
We report that X. aethiopica extract prepared with 70% ethanol has antiproliferative activity against a panel of cancer cell lines. The IC50 was estimated at 12 μg/ml against HCT116 colon cancer cells, 7.5 μg/ml and > 25 μg/ml against U937 and KG1a leukemia cells, respectively. Upon fractionation of the extract by HPLC, the active fraction induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and apoptotic cell death. By using NMR and mass spectrometry, we determined the structure of the active natural product in the HPLC fraction as ent-15-oxokaur-16-en-19-oic acid.

Conclusion
The main cytotoxic and DNA-damaging compound in ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica is ent-15-oxokaur-16-en-19-oic acid.
Effectiveness and safety of 30 mg versus 40 mg stavudine regimens: a cohort study among HIV‐infected adults initiating HAART in South Africa
Authors: Maskew Mhairi , Westreich Daniel , Fox Matthew P , Maotoe Thapelo , Sanne Ian M 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundAs stavudine remains an important and widely prescribed drug in resource‐limited settings, the effect of a reduced dose of stavudine (from 40 mg to 30 mg) on outcomes of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) remains an important public health question.MethodsWe analyzed prospectively collected data from the Themba Lethu Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. We assessed the relationship between stavudine dose and six‐ and/or 12‐month outcomes of stavudine substitution, failure to suppress viral load to below 400 copies/ml, development of peripheral neuropathy, lipoatrophy and hyperlactatemia/lactic acidosis. Since individuals with a baseline weight of less than 60 kg were expected to have received the same dose of stavudine throughout the study period, analysis was restricted to individuals who weighed 60 kg or more at baseline. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsBetween 1 April 2004 and 30 September 2009, 3910 patients were initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a recorded stavudine dose and were included in the analysis. Of these, 2445 (62.5%) received a 40 mg stavudine dose while 1565 (37.5%) received 30 mg. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving a 40 mg dose were more likely to discontinue stavudine use (adjusted odds ratio, OR 1.71; 95% confidence limits, CI 1.13‐2.57) than those receiving 30 mg by 12 months on ART. Additionally, patients receiving 40 mg doses of stavudine were more likely to report peripheral neuropathy (OR 3.12; 95% CI 1.86‐5.25), lipoatrophy (OR 11.8; 95% CI 3.2‐43.8) and hyperlactatemia/lactic acidosis (OR 8.37; 95% CI 3.83‐18.29) in the same time period. Failure to suppress HIV viral load within 12 months of HAART initiation was somewhat more common among those given 40 mg doses (OR 1.62; 95% CI 0.88, 2.97) although this result lacked precision. Sensitivity analyses accounting for death and loss to follow up generally supported these estimates.ConclusionsLower stavudine dosage is associated with fewer reports of several stavudine‐associated adverse events and also a lower risk of stavudine discontinuation within the first year on ART.
Roles of histone deacetylases in epigenetic regulation: emerging paradigms from studies with inhibitors
Authors: Delcuve Geneviève P , Khan Dilshad H , Davie James R 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe zinc-dependent mammalian histone deacetylase (HDAC) family comprises 11 enzymes, which have specific and critical functions in development and tissue homeostasis. Mounting evidence points to a link between misregulated HDAC activity and many oncologic and nononcologic diseases. Thus the development of HDAC inhibitors for therapeutic treatment garners a lot of interest from academic researchers and biotechnology entrepreneurs. Numerous studies of HDAC inhibitor specificities and molecular mechanisms of action are ongoing. In one of these studies, mass spectrometry was used to characterize the affinities and selectivities of HDAC inhibitors toward native HDAC multiprotein complexes in cell extracts. Such a novel approach reproducesin vivomolecular interactions more accurately than standard studies using purified proteins or protein domains as targets and could be very useful in the isolation of inhibitors with superior clinical efficacy and decreased toxicity compared to the ones presently tested or approved. HDAC inhibitor induced-transcriptional reprogramming, believed to contribute largely to their therapeutic benefits, is achieved through various and complex mechanisms not fully understood, including histone deacetylation, transcription factor or regulator (including HDAC1) deacetylation followed by chromatin remodeling and positive or negative outcome regarding transcription initiation. Although only a very low percentage of protein-coding genes are affected by the action of HDAC inhibitors, about 40% of noncoding microRNAs are upregulated or downregulated. Moreover, a whole new world of long noncoding RNAs is emerging, revealing a new class of potential targets for HDAC inhibition. HDAC inhibitors might also regulate transcription elongation and have been shown to impinge on alternative splicing.
Induction of long-term B-cell depletion in refractory rheumatoid arthritis patients preferentially affects autoreactive more than protective humoral immunity
Authors: Teng YK Onno , Wheater Gillian , Hogan Vanessa E , Stocks Philip , Levarht EW Nivine , Huizinga Tom WJ , Toes Rene EM , van Laar Jacob M 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Introduction

B-cell depletion has become a common treatment strategy in anti-TNF-refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the exact mechanism of how B-cell depletion leads to clinical amelioration in RA remains to be elucidated, repetitive treatment with B-cell-depleting agents leading to long-term B-cell depletion has been reported to be beneficial. The latter has led to the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of B-cell depletion might act through their influence on pathogenic autoreactive plasma cells.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effects of a fixed retreatment regimen with anti-CD20 mAbs on the humoral (auto)immune system in a cohort of therapy-refractory RA patients.

Results

Fixed retreatment led to long-term B-cell depletion in peripheral blood, bone marrow and, to a lesser extent, synovium. Also, pathologic autoantibody secretion (that is, anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs)) was more profoundly affected by long-term depletion than by physiological protective antibody secretion (that is, against measles, mumps and rubella). This was further illustrated by a significantly shorter estimated life span of ACPA-IgG secretion compared to total IgG secretion as well as protective antibody secretion.

Conclusion

By studying plasma cell function during an extensive 2-year period of B-cell depletion, autoantibody secretion was significantly shorter-lived than physiologically protective antibody secretion. This suggests that the longevity of autoreactive plasma cells is different from protective long-lived plasma cells and might indicate a therapeutic window for therapies that target plasma cells.
Characterization of synovial angiogenesis in osteoarthritis patients and its modulation by chondroitin sulfate
Authors: Lambert Cécile , Mathy-Hartert Marianne , Dubuc Jean-Emile , Montell Eulàlia , Vergés Josep , Munaut Carine , Noël Agnès , Henrotin Yves 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Introduction
This work aimed at comparing the production of inflammatory and pro- and anti-angiogenic factors by normal/reactive (N/R) or inflammatory (I) areas of the osteoarthritic synovial membrane. The effects of interleukin (IL)-1β and chondroitin sulfate (CS) on the expression of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors by synovial fibroblasts cells (SFC) were also studied.

Methods
Biopsies from N/R or from I areas of osteoarthritic synovial membrane were collected at the time of surgery. The inflammatory status of the synovial membrane was characterized by the surgeon according to macroscopic criteria, including the synovial vascularization, the villi formation and the hypertrophic aspect of the tissue. We assessed the expression of CD45, von Willebrand factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antigen by immunohistochemistry in both N/R and I biopsies. The production of IL-6, -8, VEGF and thrombospondin (TSP)-1 by N/R or I synovial cells was quantified by ELISA. SFC were cultured in the absence or in the presence of IL-1β (1 ng/ml) and with or without CS (10, 50, 200 μg/ml). Gene expression of pro-angiogenic factors (VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and angiopoietin (ang)-1) and anti-angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI), TSP-1 and -2) were determined by real time RT-PCR. Production of VEGI and TSP-1 was also estimated by ELISA.

Results
Immunohistochemistry showed the increase of lymphocyte infiltration, vascular density and VEGF expression in I compared to N/R synovial biopsies. Synovial cells from I areas produced more IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF but less TSP-1 than cells isolated from N/R synovial biopsies. The expression of pro-angiogenic factors by SFC was stimulated by IL-1β. A time dependent regulation of the expression of anti-angiogenic factor genes was observed. IL-1β stimulated the expression of anti-angiogenic factor genes but inhibited it after 24 h. CS reversed the inhibitory effect of IL-1β on anti-angiogenic factors, VEGI and TSP-1.

Conclusions
We demonstrated that synovial biopsies from I areas expressed a pro-angiogenic phenotype. IL-1β induced an imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors in SFC and CS tended to normalize this IL-1β-induced imbalance, providing a new possible mechanism of action of this drug.
Impact of non-neurological complications in severe traumatic brain injury outcome
Authors: Corral Luisa , Javierre Casimiro F , Ventura Josep L , Marcos Pilar , Herrero José I , Mañez Rafael 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Non-neurological complications in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are frequent, worsening the prognosis, but the pathophysiology of systemic complications after TBI is unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze non-neurological complications in patients with severe TBI admitted to the ICU, the impact of these complications on mortality, and their possible correlation with TBI severity.

Methods
An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted in one multidisciplinary ICU of a university hospital (35 beds); 224 consecutive adult patients with severe TBI (initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 9) admitted to the ICU were included. Neurological and non-neurological variables were recorded.

Results
Sepsis occurred in 75% of patients, respiratory infections in 68%, hypotension in 44%, severe respiratory failure (arterial oxygen pressure/oxygen inspired fraction ratio (PaO2/FiO2) < 200) in 41% and acute kidney injury (AKI) in 8%. The multivariate analysis showed that Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at one year was independently associated with age, initial GCS 3 to 5, worst Traumatic Coma Data Bank (TCDB) first computed tomography (CT) scan and the presence of intracranial hypertension but not AKI. Hospital mortality was independently associated with initial GSC 3 to 5, worst TCDB first CT scan, the presence of intracranial hypertension and AKI. The presence of AKI regardless of GCS multiplied risk of death 6.17 times (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37 to 27.78) (P < 0.02), while ICU hypotension increased the risk of death in patients with initial scores of 3 to5 on the GCS 4.28 times (95% CI: 1.22 to15.07) (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Low initial GCS, worst first CT scan, intracranial hypertension and AKI determined hospital mortality in severe TBI patients. Besides the direct effect of low GCS on mortality, this neurological condition also is associated with ICU hypotension which increases hospital mortality among patients with severe TBI. These findings add to previous studies that showed that non-neurological complications increase the length of stay and morbidity in the ICU but do not increase mortality, with the exception of AKI and hypotension in low GCS (3 to 5).
Iterative orthology prediction uncovers new mitochondrial proteins and identifies C12orf62 as the human ortholog of COX14, a protein involved in the assembly of cytochrome coxidase
Authors: Szklarczyk Radek , Wanschers Bas FJ , Cuypers Thomas D , Esseling John J , Riemersma Moniek , van den Brand Mariël AM , Gloerich Jolein , Lasonder Edwin , van den Heuvel Lambert P , Nijtmans Leo G , Huynen Martijn A 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Background
Orthology is a central tenet of comparative genomics and ortholog identification is instrumental to protein function prediction. Major advances have been made to determine orthology relations among a set of homologous proteins. However, they depend on the comparison of individual sequences and do not take into account divergent orthologs.

Results
We have developed an iterative orthology prediction method, Ortho-Profile, that uses reciprocal best hits at the level of sequence profiles to infer orthology. It increases ortholog detection by 20% compared to sequence-to-sequence comparisons. Ortho-Profile predicts 598 human orthologs of mitochondrial proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe with 94% accuracy. Of these, 181 were not known to localize to mitochondria in mammals. Among the predictions of the Ortho-Profile method are 11 human cytochrome c oxidase (COX) assembly proteins that are implicated in mitochondrial function and disease. Their co-expression patterns, experimentally verified subcellular localization, and co-purification with human COX-associated proteins support these predictions. For the human gene C12orf62, the ortholog of S. cerevisiae COX14, we specifically confirm its role in negative regulation of the translation of cytochrome c oxidase.

Conclusions
Divergent homologs can often only be detected by comparing sequence profiles and profile-based hidden Markov models. The Ortho-Profile method takes advantage of these techniques in the quest for orthologs.
Congenital and Postnatal Factors Inducing Malocclusions in Japanese Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients—Determination Using Logistic Regression Analysis
Authors: Kajii Takashi S. , Alam Mohammad K. , Mikoya Tadashi , Oyama Akihiko , Koshikawa-Matsuno Mino , Sugawara-Kato Yuki , Sato Yoshiaki , Iida Junichiro 
Published: March 2012

Objective To assess the congenital and postnatal factors that affect degree of malocclusion in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate using multivariate statistical analysis. Design Retrospective study. Patients All information on 135 subjects with unilateral cleft lip and palate was obtained from an oral examination and radiograph at the initial examination at an orthodontic clinic and from surgical records. Plaster models were taken before orthodontic treatment. The ages of the subjects ranged from 5 to 8 years with a mean age of 6.9 years. All primary surgeries for the patients were performed at a university hospital. Main Outcome Measures The GOSLON Yardstick was used to assess the dental arch relationships (degree of malocclusion) in patients. Family history of Class III, degree of cleft, and congenitally missing upper lateral incisor on the cleft side were chosen as congenital factors inducing malocclusion. Presurgical orthopedic treatment, cheiloplasty, and palatoplasty were chosen as postnatal factors. Associations between various factors and dental arch relationships were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results According to adjusted odds ratios, family history of Class III is associated with a significantly worse dental arch relationship. Palatoplasty using push-back alone correlated to a dental arch relationship that was significantly worse than palatoplasty using push-back with a buccal flap. Conclusions Multivariate analysis shows evidence that a positive family history of Class III and palatoplasty using push-back alone are associated with worse malocclusion of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients.
T = 0 phase diagram of the 1D Hubbard model with magnetic interactions in the narrow band limit
Authors: Mancini Ferdinando , Plekhanov Evgeny , Sica Gerardo 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn this paper we study a generalization of the Hubbard model by considering spin-spin interactions described by the exchange constant J. An external magnetic field his also taken into account. In the narrowband limit and for the 1D case, we present the exact solution obtained in the framework of the Green’s function formalism, using the Composite Operator Method. We report the T = 0 phase diagram for both ferro (J > 0) and anti-ferro (J < 0) couplings. The competition of the different energy scales (U, J, and h; being U the local charge interaction) generates a variety of phases and different charge and spin orderings.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza — real threat or unjustified panic? The experience of one pediatric hematology-oncology center
Authors: Irga Ninela , Osak Marcelina , Jaworski Radoslaw , Bronk Marek , Kosiak Wojciech , Adamkiewicz-Drozynska Elzbieta 
Published: March 2012

Abstract