bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How to assess scar hypertrophy—a comparison of subjective scales and Spectrocutometry: A new objective method
Authors: Kaartinen Ilkka S. , Välisuo Petri O. , Bochko Vladimir , Alander Jarmo T. , Kuokkanen Hannu O. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTScar hypertrophy is a significant clinical problem involving both linear scars from elective surgery and scars caused by trauma or burns. The treatment of hypertrophic scars is often time consuming, and patients may need to be followed up for months or even years. The methods for reliable quantification of scar hypertrophy are at present unsatisfying. We have developed a new, objective method, Spectrocutometry, for documentation and quantification of scar hypertrophy. The instrument is based on standardized digital imaging and spectral modeling and calculates the estimated concentration change of hemoglobin and melanin from the entire scar and also provides standardized images for documentation. Three plastic surgeons have assessed 37 scars from melanoma surgery using Spectrocutometry, the Vancouver scar scale, and the patient and observer scar assessment scale. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the Vancouver scar scale and the patient and observer scar assessment scale was lower than required for reliable assessment (r=0.66 and 0.60, respectively). The intraclass correlation coefficient for Spectrocutometry was high (r=0.89 and 0.88). A Bayesian network analysis revealed a strong dependency between the estimated concentration change of hemoglobin and scar pain. Spectrocutometry is a feasible method for measuring scar hypertrophy. It is shown to be more reliable than subjective rating in assessing linear surgical scars.
Transforming growth factor‐β1 suppresses the up‐regulation of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 by lung fibroblasts in response to tumor necrosis factor‐α
Authors: Ye Hong , Cai Peng‐Cheng , Zhou Qiong , Ma Wan‐Li 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTExposed to inflammatory factors or cytokines, fibroblasts appear to play additional roles beyond the deposition of extracellular matrix. It has been reported that tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) induces the production of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in fibroblasts. In this study, we demonstrated that the active MMP‐2 secreted by lung fibroblasts reached the peak level at 12 hours after TNF‐α treatment, whereas, by adding anti‐TGF‐β1 antibody in the culture medium, the MMP‐2 production in response to TNF‐α was maintained at high levels after 24 hours of treatment. We also confirmed that TNF‐α induced up‐regulation of active TGF‐β1 and exogenous TGF‐β1 induced down‐regulation of MMP‐2 synthesis in lung fibroblasts. Moreover, an increased MMP‐2 level was observed in a rat model with pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis induced by bleomycin‐A5. This revealed that MMP‐2 in the lung reached the peak level when TNF‐α reached the peak level at the 7th day, and then MMP‐2 decreased along with an increase in the TGF‐β1 level. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TNF‐α induced an increase of MMP‐2 and TGF‐β1 in lung fibroblasts, and the TGF‐β1 attenuated the up‐regulation of MMP‐2. This suggests that MMP‐2 secreted from fibroblasts modulated by TNF‐α/TGF‐β1 might play an important role in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.
Use of flow cytometry to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of silver‐containing wound dressings against planktonic Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Percival Steven L. , Slone Will , Linton Sara , Okel Tyler , Corum Linda , Thomas John G. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTSilver‐impregnated wound dressings continue to be routinely used for the management of infected wounds, or wounds that are at risk of becoming infected. The ability of antimicrobials that have been incorporated into wound dressings to kill microorganisms within the dressing requires appropriate evaluation using in vitro models. In vitro models that have been exploited for this purpose have included the corrected zone of inhibition and the log reduction assay. However, these and other related culturable‐based assays are purported to have poor correlation with the overall microbicidal barrier activity of an antimicrobial wound dressing. This is because culturable‐based methods only retrospectively indicate bacterial cell death and do not take into account viable but nonculturable states of microorganisms. Consequently, it was the purpose of this study to show that the use of flow cytometry, in conjunction with Syto® 9 and propidium iodide, could be used as a method for accurately evaluating and comparing the antimicrobial barrier efficacy of a silver alginate and a silver carboxymethyl cellulose dressing on individual bacterial cells without the need for the use of culturable assays. When a comparison of antimicrobial barrier efficacy on individual planktonic Staphylococcus aureus cells in a simulated wound fluid assay was made between each dressing, enhanced antimicrobial efficacy (as showed by the percentage of dead to alive bacterial cells) of the silver alginate dressing was shown. When Pseudomonas aeruginosa was exposed to both silver‐containing dressings, equivalent kill rates were showed for up to 4 days. This result was not significantly different (p<0.05). By utilizing the use of flow cytometric assays, the antimicrobial barrier efficacy of wound dressings can be accurately evaluated enabling differentiation to be achieved between individual dead and live bacteria. The flow cytometric assay is considered a significant advancement to the traditionally used culturable‐based methods that are presently used for antimicrobial barrier efficacy testing on planktonic microorganisms.
Stromal‐derived factor‐1 delivered via hydrogel drug‐delivery vehicle accelerates wound healing in vivo
Authors: Henderson Peter W. , Singh Sunil P. , Krijgh David D. , Yamamoto Masaya , Rafii Daniel C. , Sung Josephine J. , Rafii Shahin , Rabbany Sina Y. , Spector Jason A. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTTopical treatment of superficial wounds has many advantages including decreased cost and increased ease of application compared with systemic treatments. Many of the advantages, however, are lost when it is necessary for repeated doses of topical medications to be given over an extended period of time. Therefore, a drug‐delivery vehicle that delivers biologically appropriate doses in a sustained fashion would prove valuable. In this study, an alginate hydrogel scaffold impregnated with the angiogenic chemokine stromal‐derived factor‐1 was used to provide targeted, though short‐term, delivery directly into the wound bed. Wounds were created on the dorsum of mice, and either a stromal‐derived factor‐1‐impregnated or a saline‐impregnated scaffold was applied. Wounds were explanted after 1, 3, 7 days, wound area was measured, and histology and immunohistochemistry for endothelial markers were performed. The remaining wound area in stromal‐derived factor‐1‐treated wounds vs. controls was not significant 1 day after wounding (96.7±0.1 vs. 97.5±1.1%, p=0.317), but was significant after 3 days postwounding (46.7±0.1 vs. 82.3±2.4%, p=0.046) and 7 days postwounding (2.3±1.3 vs. 32.0±4.0%, p=0.049). Immunohistochemistry revealed a greater degree of endothelial cell invasion into the wound bed infiltration compared with controls. The results of this study suggest significant clinical promise for our hydrogel‐delivery vehicle in the treatment of wounds.
Investigation of the influence of textiles and surface treatments on blistering using a novel simulant
Authors: Guerra C. , Schwartz C. J. 
Published: April 2011

Background: Friction blisters occur when shear loading causes the separation of dermal layers. Consequences range from minor pain to life‐threatening infection. Past research in blister formation has focused on in vivo experiments, which complicate a mechanics‐based study of the phenomenon.
Methods: A Synthetic Skin Simulant Platform (3SP) approach was developed to investigate the effect of textile fabrics (t‐shirt knit and denim cottons) and surface treatments (dry and wet lubricants) on blister formation. 3SP samples consist of bonded elastomeric layers that are surrogates for various dermal layers. These layers display frictional and mechanical properties similar to their anatomical analogues. Blistering was assessed by the measurement of deboned area between layers.
Results: Denim caused greater blistering than did the t‐shirt knit cotton, and both lubricants significantly reduced blister area and surface damage. A triglyceride‐based lubricant had a more pronounced effect on blister reduction than corn starch. The triglyceride lubricant used with t‐shirt knit cotton resulted in no blisters being formed.
Conclusion: The performance of the 3SP approach follows previously reported frictional behavior of skin in vivo. The results of textile and surface treatment performance suggest that future 3SP iterations can be focused on specific anatomical sites based on application type.
The objective evaluation of the severity of psoriatic scales with desquamation collecting tapes and image analysis
Authors: Kim J. H. , Kim B. Y. , Choi J. W. , Kim S. O. , Lee H. S. , Park K. C. , Youn S. W. 
Published: April 2011

Background: Assessment of psoriatic scales is important to determine the severity of psoriasis. However, there are very limited numbers of objective, quantitative and observer‐independent tools for measuring the severity of psoriasis.Objective: To determine whether the bioengineering parameters of the psoriatic scale can be used to assess the severity of psoriasis instead of the psoriatic severity index of scales (PSIs) score.Methods: Thirty‐four patients with psoriasis were included. A representative lesion from each patient was selected and bioengineering parameters were measured using the Corneofix®. Simultaneously, the severity of the scales was assessed by the PSIs score using clinical photographs of the lesions. In addition, skin color and elasticity parameters were also measured using the Colorimeter®, the Mexameter® and the Cutometer®.Results: Statistical differences in the scale parameters were observed between the PSIs 2 and 3 scores. Among the scale parameters, the percent area and area in μm2 were negatively correlated with the PSIs score. In addition, the Colorimeter®a, b parameters and the Cutometer® R9 parameters were significantly correlated with the PSIs score.Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the severity of psoriatic scales could be measured objectively using the Corneofix®.
Participation in leisure activities and sensory modulation deficiencies of children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Engel‐Yeger Batya , Shani‐Adir Ayelet , Kessel Aharon 
Published: April 2011

AbstractAim:  To examine whether the complexity of atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms and the sensory modulation deficiencies (SMD) that accompany it may limit child’s preference to participate in leisure activities.Methods:  Thirty‐seven children diagnosed with AD and 104 healthy peers aged 6–11 years participated in this study. Disease severity was assessed using SCORAD scores. Both groups were compared in regard to their sensory modulation abilities measured by the ‘Short Sensory Profile’ (SSP) and in regard to their activity preference measured by the ‘Preference for Activities of Children’ (PAC).Results:  Children with AD showed lower preference to participate in leisure activities as compared with healthy peers (F = 4.63, p < 0.0001). Among children with AD, significant correlations were found between SMD in several modalities and preference to participate in specific leisure activities. No significant correlations were found between AD severity and the child’s preferred activities.Conclusions:  Children with AD may show lower preference to participate in activities in comparison with their typical peers. This lower preference may be impacted by their SMD. Multidisciplinary intervention may be beneficial for children with AD. This intervention should refer to AD symptoms and considers the child’s sensory profile and participation in daily living.
Determinants of breastfeeding practices: An analysis of the Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey 2006–2007
Authors: Senarath Upul , Siriwardena Indika , Godakandage Sanjeeva S.P. , Jayawickrama Hiranya , Fernando Dulitha N. , Dibley Michael J. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIdentification of factors that predict a woman's infant feeding choice is important for breastfeeding promotion programmes. We analysed a subsample of children under 2 years of age from the most recent Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS) to assess breastfeeding practices and factors associated with suboptimal practices. SLDHS 2006–2007 used a stratified two‐stage cluster sample of ever‐married women aged 15–49 years. Breastfeeding indicators were estimated for the last‐born children (n = 2735). Selected indicators were examined against independent variables through cross‐tabulations and multivariate analyses. Of the sample, 83.3% initiated breastfeeding within 1 h of birth. Continuation rates declined from 92.6% in first year to 83.5% in second year. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate under 6 months of age was 75.8%, with median duration being 4.8 months. Delayed initiation of breastfeeding was associated with low birthweight [odds ratio (OR) = 2.24] and caesarean delivery (OR = 3.30), but less likely among female infants (OR = 0.75), mothers from ‘estate’ sector (OR = 0.61) or richer wealth quintile (OR = 0.60). Non‐EBF was associated with children from urban areas (OR = 1.72) and estate sector (OR = 4.48) and absence of post‐natal visits by a public health midwife (OR = 1.89). A child was at risk for not currently breastfeeding if born in a private hospital (OR = 3.73), delivered by caesarean section (OR = 1.46) or lived in urban areas (OR = 2.80) or estate sector (OR = 3.23). Those living in estates (OR = 11.4) and not receiving post‐natal home visits (OR = 2.62) were more likely to discontinue breastfeeding by 1 year. Breastfeeding indicators in Sri Lanka were higher compared with many countries and determined by socio‐economic and health care system factors.
Oral hygiene care status of elderly with dementia and in residential aged care facilities
Authors: Philip Philcy , Rogers Clive , Kruger Estie , Tennant Marc 
Published: April 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00472.x

Oral hygiene care status of elderly with dementia and in residential aged care facilitiesObjective:  To explore the effectiveness of oral hygiene care on plaque and gingival status of residents with dementia.Background:  Oral hygiene and oral hygiene care has been reported to be poor among the institutionalised elderly with dementia. The severity of oral diseases has been shown to increase with the severity of physical and cognitive impairment related with dementia. Little research has been carried out on plaque and gingival status of elderly with dementia and the impact of disability related with dementia on oral health in residential aged care facilities (RACF).Materials and methods:  A cross‐sectional study of 205 elderly residing in RACF in Perth.Results:  Forty‐one percent of the residents in RACF had dementia. Sixty percent of the residents with dementia and 75% of the residents with an Activities of Daily Living Oral Health score of D were assisted with oral care. Mean plaques scores and extent of gingival inflammation were higher for residents in the DD and D subgroups and resident with dementia. Residents assisted with brushing had higher mean plaque score and more moderate gingival inflammation.Conclusion:  Oral hygiene care status in residents with dementia was poor despite the fact that oral care assistance was being provided.
Methanotrophic bacteria associated to rice roots: the cultivar effect assessed by T‐RFLP and microarray analysis
Authors: Lüke Claudia , Bodrossy Levente , Lupotto Elisabetta , Frenzel Peter 
Published: April 2011

SummaryRice plants play a key role in regulating methane emissions from paddy fields by affecting both underlying processes: methane production and oxidation. Specific differences were reported for methane oxidation rates; however, studies on the bacterial communities involved are rare. Here, we analysed the methanotrophic community on the roots of 18 different rice cultivars by pmoA‐based terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) and microarray analysis. Both techniques showed comparable and consistent results revealing a high diversity dominated by type II and type Ib methanotrophs. pmoA microarrays have been successfully used to study methane‐oxidizing bacteria in various environments. However, the microarray's full potential resolving community structure has not been exploited yet. Here, we provide an example on how to include this information into multivariate statistics. The analysis revealed a rice cultivar effect on the methanotroph community composition that could be affiliated to the plant genotype. This effect became only significant by including the specific phylogenetic resolution provided by the microarray into the statistical analysis.
Kinetics and Magnitude of Antibody Responses against the Conserved 47-Kilodalton Antigen and the Variable 56-Kilodalton Antigen in Scrub Typhus Patients
Authors: Chen Hua-Wei , Zhang Zhiwen , Huber Erin , Mutumanje Elissa , Chao Chien-Chung , Ching Wei-Mei 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTWestern blot analysis ofOrientia tsutsugamushiwhole-cell lysates with scrub typhus patient sera has identified at least five protein antigens ofO. tsutsugamushiwith molecular sizes of 22 kDa, 47 kDa, 56 kDa, 58 kDa, and 110 kDa. In this study, sera from serial bleedings of 108 patients were used to study the kinetics and the magnitude of specific antibody responses against the 47-kDa and 56-kDa antigens. Recombinant protein of the conserved 47-kDa antigen (r47b) or a mixture of truncated 56-kDa antigen (r56s) from three prototype strains was used as the antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that 76% and 93% of these patients had elevated IgM and IgG against r47b, respectively, and 98% and 100% had elevated IgM and IgG against r56s, respectively. The kinetics of antibody responses against r47b and r56s can be grouped into three patterns. In the first type of response, IgM and IgG against r47b and r56s appeared about the same time. The IgM and IgG titers against r56s were much higher than those against r47b. In the second type of response, induction of IgM appeared to be similar to that in the first type. The major difference to the first type is that the IgG titers against r47b were induced at least 1 week later than those against the r56s. The third type showed strong IgG responses against both r47b and r56s, and low or no IgM responses indicated a secondary infection. This is the first systematic investigation of antibody response kinetics against the conserved 47-kDa antigen versus the variable 56-kDa antigen in scrub typhus patients.
Serological Evaluation of Suspected West Nile Virus Human Cases following Its Introduction during a Dengue Outbreak in Puerto Rico in 2007
Authors: Hunsperger Elizabeth , Beltran Manuela , Acosta Luz Nereida , Jordan-Munoz Jorge , Torres Jomil , Luce Richard , Tomashek Kay M. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTA laboratory testing algorithm was evaluated to confirm West Nile virus (WNV) infection in human serum following the introduction of the virus in Puerto Rico in 2007. This testing algorithm used two standard diagnostic assays, the IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC ELISA) and real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), along with two nonconventional assays, the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) ELISA and a 90%-plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) with IgG depletion for dengue virus (DENV) and WNV. A total of 2,321 serum samples from suspected WNV human cases were submitted for testing. Approximately one-third (867, 37%) were cross-reactive for DENV and WNV by MAC ELISA and had negative RT-PCR results for both viruses. Of a subset of 43 samples tested, 31 (72%) of these cases were identified as positive for DENV in the PRNT90with IgG depletion and 8 (19%) were positive in the DENV NS1 antigen ELISA. These two assays combined differentiated 36 (84%) of the samples that could not be diagnosed using the standard diagnostic testing methods.
Characterization of Neisseria meningitidis Isolates That Do Not Express the Virulence Factor and Vaccine Antigen Factor H Binding Protein
Authors: Lucidarme Jay , Tan Lionel , Exley Rachel M. , Findlow Jamie , Borrow Ray , Tang Christoph M. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

Neisseria meningitidis
remains a leading cause of bacterial sepsis and meningitis. Complement is a key component of natural immunity against this important human pathogen, which has evolved multiple mechanisms to evade complement-mediated lysis. One approach adopted by the meningococcus is to recruit a human negative regulator of the complement system, factor H (fH), to its surface via a lipoprotein, factor H binding protein (fHbp). Additionally, fHbp is a key antigen in vaccines currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Here we characterize strains of
N. meningitidis
from several distinct clonal complexes which do not express fHbp; all strains were recovered from patients with disseminated meningococcal disease. We demonstrate that these strains have either a frameshift mutation in the
fHbp
open reading frame or have entirely lost
fHbp
and some flanking sequences. No fH binding was detected to other ligands among the
fHbp
-negative strains. The implications of these findings for meningococcal pathogenesis and prevention are discussed.
Antibodies Recognizing Protective Pertussis Toxin Epitopes Are Preferentially Elicited by Natural Infection versus Acellular Immunization
Authors: Sutherland Jamie N. , Chang Christine , Yoder Sandra M. , Rock Michael T. , Maynard Jennifer A. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTDespite more than 50 years of vaccination, disease caused by the bacteriumBordetella pertussispersists, with rates increasing in industrialized countries over the past decade. This rise may be attributed to several factors, including increased surveillance, emergence of vaccine escape variants, waning immunity in adults, and the introduction of acellular subunit vaccines, which include chemically detoxified pertussis toxin (PTd). Two potently protective epitopes on pertussis toxin (PTx) are recognized by the monoclonal antibodies 1B7 and 11E6, which inhibit catalytic and cell-binding activities, respectively. In order to determine whether the PTx exposure route affects antibody responses to these epitopes, we analyzed sera from 30 adults with confirmed pertussis exposure and from 30 recently vaccinated adults for specific anti-PTx antibody responses andin vitroCHO cell neutralization titers. While overall titers against PTx and the genetically detoxified variant, PTg, containing the R9K and E129G substitutions, were similar in the two groups, titers against specific epitopes depended on the exposure route. Natural infection resulted in significantly higher titers of anti-PTx-subunit 1, 1B7-like, and 11E6-like antibodies, while acellular vaccination resulted in significantly higher titers of antibodies recognizing PTd. We also observed a correlation betweenin vitroprotection and the presence of 1B7-like and 11E6-like antibodies. Notably, chemical detoxification, as opposed to genetic inactivation, alters the PTx tertiary and quaternary structure, thereby affecting conformational epitopes and recognition of PTx by 1B7 and 11E6. The lower levels of serum antibodies recognizing clinically relevant epitopes after vaccination with PTd support inclusion of PTg in future vaccines.