bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Treating Airway Compromise due to Bronchial Stenosis with Intralesional Corticosteroids and Cutting‐Balloon Bronchoplasty
Authors: Nouraei S. A. Reza , Mills Heide , Butler Colin R. , Ghufoor Khalid , Sandhu Guri S. , George P. Jeremy 
Published: July 2011

ObjectivesTo determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of treating benign bronchial stenosis with laryngoscopy, jet ventilation, intralesional corticosteroids, and cutting‐balloon bronchoplasty.Study DesignCase series with planned data collection.SettingNational airway unit.Subjects and MethodsTen adult patients with bronchial stenosis caused by Wegener’s granulomatosis (n = 6), tuberculosis (n = 2), intubation (n = 1), and photodynamic therapy (n = 1) who underwent bronchoplasty using cutting‐balloon dilation via suspension laryngoscopy in 2009. Information about patient demography, etiology, lesion characteristics, and details of the interventions were recorded. Patients underwent spirometry before surgery and at last follow‐up. Chest infection rate in the 6 months before bronchoplasty and from bronchoplasty to the last follow‐up was ascertained.ResultsThere were 3 men and 7 women. Mean age at bronchoplasty was 46 ± 20 years. Length of stay was 1 day in all cases, and no treatment‐related complications occurred. One patient required a second bronchoplasty at 55 days. Mean follow‐up was 7 ± 2.3 months. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second increased from a prebronchoplasty mean of 1.6 ± 0.6 to 2.2 ± 0.5 at last follow‐up (P <. 0001; paired Student t test). Forced vital capacity rose from 2.7 ± 0.6 to 3.1 ± 0.6 (P =. 02), and peak expiratory flow rate increased from 3.7 ± 0.8 to 5.0 ± 0.8 (P <. 0001). Chest infection rate fell from an average of 0.7 ± 0.3 infections per month to 0.2 ± 0.2 (P <. 003; paired Student t test).ConclusionCutting‐balloon bronchoplasty via suspension laryngoscopy is an effective treatment for benign bronchial stenosis. It is safer than airway stenting and is less invasive than thoracotomy. The authors propose its use as first‐line treatment for this condition.
Dysphagia after Nonsurgical Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
Authors: Wilson Janet A. , Carding Paul N. , Patterson Joanne M. 
Published: July 2011

ObjectiveAssess patients’ perspectives on the severity, time course, and relative importance of swallowing deficit before and after (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.Study DesignBefore‐and‐after cohort study.SettingHead and neck cancer UK multidisciplinary clinic.Subjects and MethodsA total of 167 patients with a primary cancer, mostly laryngopharyngeal, completed the MD Anderson Dysphagia Index (MDADI) and the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UWQOL) before treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Pretreatment swallowing, age, gender, and tumor site and stage were assessed. Statistical methods used were Mann‐Whitney, analysis of variance, and logistic regression.ResultsThere was a sharp deterioration in swallowing on average by 18%, from before treatment to 3 months post treatment (mean difference in MDADI score = 14.5; P <. 001). Treatment schedule, pretreatment score, and age accounted for 37% of the variance in 3‐month posttreatment MDADI scores. There was then little improvement from 3 to 12 months. Patients treated with only 50‐Gy radiotherapy reported significantly less dysphagia at 1 year than patients receiving higher doses or combined chemoradiation (P <. 001). Swallowing was the most commonly prioritized of the 12 UWQOL domains both before and after therapy. The MDADI and UWQOL scores were strongly correlated: ρ > 0.69.ConclusionSwallowing is a top priority before and after treatment for the vast majority of patients with head and neck cancer. Swallowing deteriorates significantly posttreatment (P <. 001). Treatment intensity, younger age, and lower pretreatment scores predict long‐term dysphagia. After chemoradiation, there is little improvement from 3 to 12 months.
Effect of a split-injection strategy on the performance of stratified lean combustion for a gasoline direct-injection engine
Authors: Park C , Kim S , Kim H , Lee S , Kim C , Moriyoshi Y 
Published: July 2011

Fuel economy can be significantly improved in a gasoline direct-injection (GDI) engine owing to the stratified mixture formation strategy which guarantees stable combustion under ultra-lean air–fuel mixture conditions. In the GDI engine, it is widely accepted that the spray-guided direct-injection system, which is characterized by a close configuration between the centrally mounted injector and the spark plug, is regarded as a promising technology among the efforts to realize stratified lean combustion. With this configuration, the split injection can be an effective fuel injection scheme because of its potential to modulate the spray characteristics as well as to create a combustible mixture in the proximity of the spark plug. In this study, the split-injection strategy was assessed as a way to achieve ultra-lean operation in a GDI engine and the resulting lean-combustion characteristics were investigated in terms of the engine performance and emissions. The engine was tested at constant operating conditions (an engine speed of 3000 r/min and an indicated mean effective pressure of 0.4 MPa) with a change in the fuel injection pressure ranging from 10 MPa to 20 MPa. The excess air ratio λ varied from stoichiometry to the lean flammability limit, which turned out to be extended in the GDI approach. The engine test results show that the split injection of fuel allowed the formation of an adequately stratified mixture in lean-combustion conditions, and thus stable combustion was guaranteed. These results indicate that an excess air ratio was one of the important factors affecting the thermal efficiency and nitrogen oxide (NO x) emissions and was significantly extended to λ = 2.0 by the split-injection scheme. In addition, several fuel injection parameters such as the injection quantity, the split ratio, and the number of splits were examined with an emphasis on their impact on the fuel economy and emissions. The results demonstrate that there exists a trade-off between the NO x reduction and the efficiency, and therefore it is required to choose an appropriate injection strategy depending on the engine operating conditions in order to satisfy emission regulations.
Suppression of aldosterone mediates regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension
Authors: Pouleur Anne-Catherine , Uno Hajime , Prescott Margaret F , Desai Akshay , Appelbaum Evan , Lukashevich Valentina , Smith Beverly A , Dahlöf Björn , Solomon Scott D ,   (for the ALLAY Investigators)
Published: July 2011

Background: High circulating aldosterone levels stimulate myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, it is not clear whether suppression of aldosterone directly contributes to LVH regression in hypertensive patients. Methods: The Aliskiren in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (ALLAY) trial randomised 465 hypertensive overweight subjects with LVH to the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren 300 mg, losartan 100 mg or the combination and followed patients for 9 months. All patients were treated to standard blood pressure targets. Left ventricular (LV) mass index (LVMI) and LV wall thickness (LVWT) were assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. A subset of 136 patients who had plasma aldosterone concentration (ALDO) measured at baseline and study end was analysed. Results: At baseline, plasma ALDO was modestly related to systolic blood pressure, LVMI, and wall thickness (all, p < 0.05). Aliskiren, either alone or in combination, was associated with a significantly greater reduction from baseline to 9 months in plasma aldosterone than losartan alone ( p < 0.02). Reduction in ALDO was related to reduction in LVMI even after adjustment for baseline ALDO, BP reduction and treatment group ( p for trend = 0.042). Conclusion: In hypertensive patients with increased LVWT, aliskiren alone or in combination with the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan provides greater reduction in aldosterone compared to losartan alone. Moreover, suppression of aldosterone was associated with reduction of LVH, independently of the change in SBP, suggesting that suppression of aldosterone, a known mediator of LVH, may be particularly important for LVH regression and as a target for therapy.
Comparison of the effects of long-term pioglitazone and rosiglitazone therapy on liver enzymes in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Phey Ming Yeap  , Lockman Khalida Ann , Elton Rob , Boyd Margaret , Hayes Peter Clive , Jaap Alan J 
Published: July 2011

Aims Insulin resistance is a major factor influencing the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hence, insulin sensitisers such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are a potential treatment for NAFLD although their long-term benefits remain unknown. Methods We retrospectively studied 396 and 364 type 2 diabetes patients who received pioglitazone and rosiglitazone therapy respectively from diabetes clinics between May 2001 and November 2007. Results One hundred and seventy-seven pioglitazone-treated and 152 rosiglitazone-treated patients were included. After a year of treatment, significant improvement in glycated haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was observed in both groups despite weight gain. Changes in HbA1C and liver function test (LFT) were positively correlated in pioglitazone-treated (ALT p=0.01; GGT p<0.001; ALP p=0.006) and rosiglitazone-treated (GGT p= 0.01, ALP p=0.002) groups. Multiple regression showed no significant difference in the changes in ALT (p=0.43) and GGT (p=0.13) between the groups but a larger reduction in ALP (p=0.03) was noted in rosiglitazone-treated patients. Sixty patients remained on pioglitazone and 46 patients continued on rosiglitazone after four years. Sustained improvement in ALT, GGT and HbA 1C was observed in both groups despite weight gain over four years.
Inflammatory effects of blood leukocytes: association with vascular function in neuropeptide Y proline 7-genotyped type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Kakko Tanja , Jaakkola Ulriikka , Raitakari Olli T , Kallio Jaana 
Published: July 2011

Objective: We investigated the associations of inflammatory blood cell activation with vascular parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes to elucidate the possible mechanisms of accelerated atherosclerosis observed in subjects with the Leucine 7 to Proline 7 polymorphism (Leu7Pro) in the neuropeptide Y (NPY). Methods: Our study included 31 Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes; 12 of them had the Leu7Pro7 (heterozygous), and 19 had the Leu7Leu7 (wild type) genotype. Vascular parameters were determined by ultrasound methods. Leukocyte analyses were performed from blood samples using flow cytometry. NPY concentrations were determined in plasma. Results: The amount of platelet—granulocyte complexes was positively correlated with NPY concentration ( p=0.008) and carotid intima-media thickness ( p=0.035) in the Leu7Pro7 group. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) expression in monocytes correlated negatively with brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation also in the Leu7Pro7 group ( p=0.037). The expression of tissue factor on monocytes correlated negatively with brachial artery diameter in the Leu7Pro7 patients as well ( p=0.019). Conclusion: The results indicate significant associations between inflammatory cell activation in blood and vascular atherosclerosis in genetically prone subjects, and provide possible mechanistic information about the role of NPY and the Leu7Pro polymorphism in the development of atherosclerosis.
Why are health authorities concerned about home treatment of patients with sleep apnoea?
Authors: Escarrabill J. 
Published: July 2011

Educational aimsTo give an overview of the variability of home treatment for CPAPTo give insight into the reason for this variabilitySummaryAlthough individual costs are low, the long-term treatment of patients with sleep apnoea has a large overall cost. In trying to assess the economic price of treatment of these patients, authorities need to consider many different aspects of the treatment, including the diagnosis, indications and patient compliance. However, this is complicated by the variability within these aspects. Although the number of patients has seen a steady increase, variability in diagnosis is dictated by efficient management of waiting lists. Variability of indications is more difficult to explain, although differences in diagnostic criteria and provision of service may have influence here. Finally, variability in compliance is a key aspect and must be considered during prescription of treatment.
Management of cough in adults
Authors: Kardos P. 
Published: July 2011

Educational aimsTo illustrate reasonable and cost-effective management of cough, one of the most frequent reasons for primary care consultations.To assist in the secondary care diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough as the solely presenting symptom if chest radiography and lung function tests remain inconclusive.To emphasise the rational order starting with simple (noninvasive and cost-effective) diagnostic procedures, graduating to complex, invasive and expensive (e.g.computed tomography and bronchoscopy) measures.SummaryCough is highly prevalent as a cumbersome presenting complaint for many patients. The symptom cough is elicited by a myriad of very different respiratory and nonrespiratory diseases. Symptomatic pharmacological treatment is of very limited efficacy. Presently, no new drug for cough in the pipeline has completed phase II development. Therefore, treating cough requires exact diagnosis for causal treatment. Cough is often the first (but not necessarily an early) symptom of life-threatening diseases, such as lung tumours or recurrent pulmonary embolism. Thus, in 2004, the German Respiratory Society published evidence-based guidelines on the management of cough. Acute and chronic cough were defined, and algorithms were provided for diagnostic workup. In 2010, the guidelines were updated (http://leitlinien.net). An abridged english version is also now available [1]. In this review, evidence-based recommendations (mostly weak evidence or consensus) from these guidelines are adapted into learning points.
How to treat patients that do not tolerate continuous positive airway pressure
Authors: Vanderveken O.M. , Hoekema A. 
Published: July 2011

Educational aimsTo outline recommendations concerning the proper management of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) patients that cannot be treated adequately with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) due to intolerance, poor compliance or CPAP refusal.To provide information about the selection of appropriate patients for alternative non-CPAP treatment modalities.To better understand the different aspects of OSAHS treatment with oral appliances, including indications, contraindications, medical work-up and clinical protocol, and expected short- and long-term results.To discuss the different surgical options for the treatment of OSAHS and to provide information on the important issue of a proper patient selection for upper airway surgery, as most OSAHS surgical outcomes are associated with the pre-operative assessment of the level(s) of upper airway collapse. Finally, to present future perspectives in sleep apnoea surgery.SummaryThe effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is potentially high for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS), but accounting for the relatively low acceptance and compliance, and correcting for sleep time, its actual effect and use, the adjusted CPAP effectiveness remains relatively low.Oral appliance therapy has emerged as a noninvasive alternative to CPAP in subjects with OSAHS who do not tolerate or comply with CPAP. Surgical procedures can be performed successfully in carefully selected patients. Moreover, concerning the surgical treatment options, it appears from the available evidence that maxillomandibular advancement is a safe and highly effective surgical treatment modality for OSAHS that should be indicated more readily in clinical practice.Two methods of pre-treatment airway evaluation will be discussed. First, newer technologies using imaging techniques coupled with computational fluid dynamics methods allow investigation of the flow characteristics and aerodynamic forces within the upper airway of the OSAHS patient. Secondly, routine application of drug-induced sleep endoscopy to assess the site(s) of flutter and upper airway obstruction during drug-induced sleep can increase the success rate of both upper airway surgery and oral appliance therapy.
A novel method to identify cooperative functional modules: study of module coordination in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle
Authors: Hsu Jeh-Ting , Peng Chien-Hua , Hsieh Wen-Ping , Lan Chung-Yu , Tang Chuan Yi 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background
Identifying key components in biological processes and their associations is critical for deciphering cellular functions. Recently, numerous gene expression and molecular interaction experiments have been reported in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and these have enabled systematic studies. Although a number of approaches have been used to predict gene functions and interactions, tools that analyze the essential coordination of functional components in cellular processes still need to be developed.

Results
In this work, we present a new approach to study the cooperation of functional modules (sets of functionally related genes) in a specific cellular process. A cooperative module pair is defined as two modules that significantly cooperate with certain functional genes in a cellular process. This method identifies cooperative module pairs that significantly influence a cellular process and the correlated genes and interactions that are essential to that process. Using the yeast cell cycle as an example, we identified 101 cooperative module associations among 82 modules, and importantly, we established a cell cycle-specific cooperative module network. Most of the identified module pairs cover cooperative pathways and components essential to the cell cycle. We found that 14, 36, 18, 15, and 20 cooperative module pairs significantly cooperate with genes regulated in early G1, late G1, S, G2, and M phase, respectively. Fifty-nine module pairs that correlate with Cdc28 and other essential regulators were also identified. These results are consistent with previous studies and demonstrate that our methodology is effective for studying cooperative mechanisms in the cell cycle.

Conclusions
In this work, we propose a new approach to identifying condition-related cooperative interactions, and importantly, we establish a cell cycle-specific cooperation module network. These results provide a global view of the cell cycle and the method can be used to discover the dynamic coordination properties of functional components in other cellular processes.
Gene discovery using next-generation pyrosequencing to develop ESTs for Phalaenopsis orchids
Authors: Hsiao Yu-Yun , Chen Yun-Wen , Huang Shi-Ching , Pan Zhao-Jun , Fu Chih-Hsiung , Chen Wen-Huei , Tsai Wen-Chieh , Chen Hong-Hwa 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background
Orchids are one of the most diversified angiosperms, but few genomic resources are available for these non-model plants. In addition to the ecological significance, Phalaenopsis has been considered as an economically important floriculture industry worldwide. We aimed to use massively parallel 454 pyrosequencing for a global characterization of the Phalaenopsis transcriptome.

Results
To maximize sequence diversity, we pooled RNA from 10 samples of different tissues, various developmental stages, and biotic- or abiotic-stressed plants. We obtained 206,960 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with an average read length of 228 bp. These reads were assembled into 8,233 contigs and 34,630 singletons. The unigenes were searched against the NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein database. Based on sequence similarity with known proteins, these analyses identified 22,234 different genes (E-value cutoff, e-7). Assembled sequences were annotated with Gene Ontology, Gene Family and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Among these annotations, over 780 unigenes encoding putative transcription factors were identified.

Conclusion
Pyrosequencing was effective in identifying a large set of unigenes from Phalaenopsis. The informative EST dataset we developed constitutes a much-needed resource for discovery of genes involved in various biological processes in Phalaenopsis and other orchid species. These transcribed sequences will narrow the gap between study of model organisms with many genomic resources and species that are important for ecological and evolutionary studies.
A novel method to prepare L-Arabinose from xylose mother liquor by yeast-mediated biopurification
Authors: Cheng Hairong , Wang Hengwei , Lv Jiyang , Jiang Mingguo , Lin Shuangjun , Deng Zixin 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background
L-arabinose is an important intermediate for anti-virus drug synthesis and has also been used in food additives for diets-controlling in recent years. Commercial production of L-arabinose is a complex progress consisting of acid hydrolysis of gum arabic, followed by multiple procedures of purification, thus making high production cost. Therefore, there is a biotechnological and commercial interest in the development of new cost-effective and high-performance methods for obtaining high purity grade L-arabinose.

Results
An alternative, economical method for purifying L-arabinose from xylose mother liquor was developed in this study. After screening 306 yeast strains, a strain of Pichia anomala Y161 was selected as it could effectively metabolize other sugars but not L-arabinose. Fermentation in a medium containing xylose mother liquor permitted enrichment of L-arabinose by a significant depletion of other sugars. Biochemical analysis of this yeast strain confirmed that its poor capacity for utilizing L-arabinose was due to low activities of the enzymes required for the metabolism of this sugar. Response surface methodology was employed for optimization the fermentation conditions in shake flask cultures. The optimum conditions were: 75 h fermentation time, at 32.5°C, in a medium containing 21% (v/v) xylose mother liquor. Under these conditions, the highest purity of L-arabinose reached was 86.1% of total sugar, facilitating recovery of white crystalline L-arabinose from the fermentation medium by simple methods.

Conclusion
Yeast-mediated biopurification provides a dynamic method to prepare high purity of L-arabinose from the feedstock solution xylose mother liqour, with cost-effective and high-performance properties.