bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Abacavir on Acute Changes in Biomarkers Associated with Cardiovascular Dysfunction
Authors: Patel Pragna , Bush Tim , Overton Turner , Baker Jason , Hammer John , Kojic Erna , Conley Lois , Henry Keith , Brooks John T ,   the SUN Study Investigators
Published: December 2011

Background This study examined the effect of abacavir on acute changes in biomarkers associated with cardiovascular dysfunction. Methods Among the Study to Understand the Natural History of HIV/AIDS in the Era of Effective therapy (SUN) participants, we identified 25 individuals (cases) who were HLA-B5701-negative and who had ≥2 weeks without abacavir exposure at one visit and ≥2 weeks with abacavir exposure at the consecutive visit while maintaining viral suppression. We identified 43 individuals (controls) similarly unexposed and exposed to tenofovir. We assessed concentrations of prothrombin fragment F(1+2), D-dimer, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-8, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, serum amyloid A and serum amyloid P. We examined the median percentage change of these biomarkers from the unexposed to exposed state among cases and controls compared with the expected assay variability using a sign test, and compared changes among cases with controls using the Wilcoxon rank–sum test. Results Baseline characteristics were similar between cases and controls: median age 45 versus 46 years, 80% versus 81% male, 64% versus 63% non-Hispanic White and median CD4+ T-cell count 538 versus 601 cells/mm3, respectively. Mean exposure times were 65 and 15 weeks for abacavir and tenofovir, respectively. We observed no significant changes in biomarkers from the unexposed to exposed state among cases or controls compared with the expected assay variability. We found that no biomarkers were significantly increased among cases compared with controls; however, prothrombin fragment F(1+2) was significantly lower among controls ( P=0.035). Conclusions In virologically suppressed contemporary HIV-infected patients, abacavir exposure was not associated with increases in biomarkers associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
High-Resolution Melting and Real-Time Pcr for Quantification and Detection of Drug-Resistant HBV Mutants in a Single Amplicon
Authors: Hsiao Chia-Chieh , Chang Juliana , Wu Jeng-You , Liu Wan-Hsin , Han Shih-Yun , Chen Pei-Jer , Yeh Shiou-Hwei 
Published: December 2011

Background Antiviral therapy by nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) effectively reduces HBV replication in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Because long-term NA treatments will eventually select for drug- resistant mutants, early detection of mutants and frequent monitoring of viral loads is crucial for successful NA therapy. Because no efficient test for one-tube quantification and qualification of various HBV-resistant mutants exists, we propose to use high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis in combination with real-time PCR to achieve this unmet need. Methods We developed a single amplicon for detecting HBV mutants resistant to lamivudine (LMV), adefovir (ADV) and entecavir (ETV), which are commonly used for CHB treatment. Our design consists of two steps: real-time PCR for viral quantification, and hybridization probe HRM analysis for detection of specific drug-resistant mutants. Results Assay quantification was accurate ( R=0.98) for viral loads from 103 to 109 copies/ml. HRM analysis produced distinct melting temperatures that clearly distinguished the mutants, rtM204V/I (LMV), rtA181V and rtN236T (ADV), and rtT184G and rtM250V (ETV), from their respective wild types. The assay detected mutants at only 10–25% of the HBV population. The clinical applicability of this assay was tested in a pilot study with serial samples from patients receiving LMV treatment. Conclusions Flexibility, speed and cost-efficiency are additional benefits unique to our assay. The clinical sample results further support the feasibility of applying our design to frequent and long-term monitoring of CHB patients receiving NA treatments in the clinical setting.
Association Between Depression and Vascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: GRECO CAROL M. , LI TRACY , SATTAR ABDUS , KAO AMY H. , DANCHENKO NATALYA , EDMUNDOWICZ DANIEL , SUTTON-TYRRELL KIM , TRACY RUSSELL P. , KULLER LEWIS H. , MANZI SUSAN 
Published: December 2011

Objective.Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. Although depression may contribute to CVD risk in population-based studies, its influence on cardiovascular morbidity in SLE has not been evaluated. We evaluated the association between depression and vascular disease in SLE.Methods.A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2002–2005 in 161 women with SLE and without CVD. The primary outcome measure was a composite vascular disease marker consisting of the presence of coronary artery calcium and/or carotid artery plaque.Results.In total, 101 women met criteria for vascular disease. In unadjusted analyses, several traditional cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers, adiposity, SLE disease-related factors, and depression were associated with vascular disease. In the final multivariable model, the psychological variable depression was associated with nearly 4-fold higher odds for vascular disease (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.37, 10.87) when adjusted for other risk factors of age, lower education level, hypertensive status, waist-hip ratio, and C-reactive protein.Conclusion.In SLE, depression is independently associated with vascular disease, along with physical factors.
Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acid Content Is Related to Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: SUNDSTRÖM BJÖRN , JOHANSSON GUNNAR , KOKKONEN HEIDI , CEDERHOLM TOMMY , WÅLLBERG-JONSSON SOLVEIG 
Published: December 2011

Objective.To investigate fatty acid composition in the diet, plasma phospholipids, and adipose tissue in a cohort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to determine their correlations to disease activity and blood lipids in a cross-sectional study.Methods.Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire in 66 patients with AS. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma phospholipids and gluteal adipose tissue were measured using gas chromatography. Disease status was quantified using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and proinflammatory cytokines.Results.Diet did not correlate with disease activity assessed by the BASDAI, but there were negative correlations between the dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and ESR (rs= –0.27, p < 0.05). The plasma phospholipid content of arachidonic acid correlated significantly with the BASDAI score (rs= 0.39, p < 0.01). There were correlations between the intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and high-density lipoproteins and serum triglycerides (rs= 0.26 and rs= –0.25, respectively, p < 0.05).Conclusion.There was a positive correlation between levels of arachidonic acid in plasma phospholipids and disease activity assessed by BASDAI in patients with AS. A Western diet does not appear to influence this correlation, but seems to affect blood lipids involved in atherogenic processes.
Mortality and Incidence of Malignancy in Korean Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: KIM YUN JUNG , SHIM JEE-SEON , CHOI CHAN-BUM , BAE SANG-CHEOL 
Published: December 2011

Objective.To determine the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for malignancy in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.We enrolled 1534 patients with RA who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria, from October 2001 to December 2007. Baseline assessment included sociodemographic variables, laboratory findings including rheumatoid factor, anticitrullinated protein antibody, functional class, radiological stage, medication, and the Korean version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire. We used the national mortality rate from 2001 to 2007 from the Korean National Statistical Office (KNSO) and the incidence rate from the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) from 2001 to 2007 as comparison data for estimates of SMR and SIR. Confidence intervals were calculated based on the Poisson distribution.Results.There were 57 deaths in 6683 person-years of followup. The number of expected deaths (derived from the KNSO) was 42.33 and the SMR for patients with RA was 1.35 (95% CI 1.02–1.74). The main causes of death were malignancy, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. In the cause-specific SMR, deaths from respiratory disease, especially from interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pneumonia, were significantly higher than expected: 4.66 (95% CI 2.13–8.85) for all respiratory disease, 18.18 (95% CI 2.20–65.64) for ILD, and 10.26 (95% CI 2.79–26.26) for pneumonia. Thirty malignancies had occurred in 1501 patients. The number of expected malignancies derived from the KCCR was 34.91, yielding a SIR for cancer of 0.86 (95% CI 0.58–1.23).Conclusion.Our study demonstrates that the SMR was slightly higher in patients with RA, but the incidence rates of malignancies were not significantly different from the general population. But deaths from respiratory diseases were significantly higher.
Risk Factors Associated with Relapse in Japanese Patients with Microscopic Polyangiitis
Authors: WADA TAKASHI , HARA AKINORI , ARIMURA YOSHIHIRO , SADA KEN-EI , MAKINO HIROFUMI ,   Research Group of Intractable Vasculitis, Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan
Published: December 2011

Objective.We retrospectively studied the risk factors associated with relapse during remission maintenance therapy for myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (MPO-ANCA)-positive microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).Methods.Sixty-two patients diagnosed with MPA according to the European Medicines Agency classification algorithm during a 2-year period from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2006, and who achieved remission after the first remission-induction therapy, were examined (registration no. UMIN000001785).Results.The patient group comprised 25 men and 37 women aged 70.0 ± 8.9 years. The mean observation period was 30.2 ± 15.9 months. The rate of relapse was 24.2% (15/62), and mean interval between remission and relapse was 16.9 ± 13.5 months. During maintenance therapy following remission, the risk of relapse increased when the reduction rate of prednisolone increased above 0.8 mg/month (OR 12.6, 95% CI 2.2–97.9). Proteinuria at the start of maintenance therapy (regression coefficient 1.991 ± 0.758, p < 0.05) and the change in red blood cell counts in urine during the period from the start of maintenance therapy to the final observation (regression coefficient 0.126 ± 0.040, p < 0.01) were identified as risk factors influencing the vasculitis damage index.Conclusion.In Japan, relapse of MPO-ANCA-positive MPA may be associated with the reduction rate of oral prednisolone administration during maintenance therapy.
Relation of Hand Enthesophytes with Knee Enthesopathy: Is Osteoarthritis Related to a Systemic Enthesopathy?
Authors: GIBSON NADIA , GUERMAZI ALI , CLANCY MARGARET , NIU JINGBO , GRAYSON PETER , ALIABADI PIRAN , ROEMER FRANK , FELSON DAVID T. 
Published: December 2011

Objective.Enthesopathy has been reported as a feature of osteoarthritis (OA) in the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. We previously reported that central bone marrow lesions (BML) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are associated with OA. In this study, we evaluated whether hand and knee enthesopathy were related.Methods.We studied knee and hand radiographs of subjects from the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study. Subjects seen in 2002–2005 had bilateral posteroanterior hand radiographs, weight-bearing knee radiographs, and knee MRI scans. Hand radiographs were read for enthesophytes at the juxtaarticular nonsynovial areas of metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and DIP joints, and midshafts of the phalanges. We selected 100 cases of knees with central BML and 100 matched controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess associations.Results.Subjects with enthesophytes of at least 1 score ≥ 2 at DIP, PIP, and/or MCP were not more likely to have central knee BML (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.17–1.40) than those without enthesophytes. Similarly, having at least 1 score ≥ 2 on the shafts was not significantly associated with having a central knee BML (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.23–1.51). Adjustment for the presence of diabetes mellitus did not affect these results, but there was an increased prevalence of diabetes in those with hand enthesophytes (OR 3.09, 95% 1.29–7.40, enthesophyte score ≥ 2).Conclusion.We found no increase in the prevalence of hand enthesophytes among persons with central knee BML on their knee MRI scans. This provides evidence against a systemic enthesopathic disorder in association with knee OA.
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Tetrazolium Reductase Identifies Microvasculature Activation in Muscle from Adult Patients with Dermatomyositis
Authors: CHARLES-SCHOEMAN CHRISTINA , VERITY M. ANTHONY 
Published: December 2011

Objective.Previous work has suggested involvement of the muscle microvasculature in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis (DM). Our study evaluates whether standard histochemical reactions can identify microvascular changes in muscle biopsies from patients with DM compared to myopathic and nonmyopathic controls.Methods.Muscle biopsies were obtained from 111 patients, including 45 patients with DM. Microvascular quantitation was performed on transversely oriented 1-μm toluidine blue-stained plastic sections. Histoenzymatic procedures included alkaline phosphatase (AP), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome C oxidase (COX), and myosin ATPase reactions.Results.Capillary density was significantly lower in DM muscle biopsies compared to biopsies from patients with noninflammatory myopathies (NIM; n = 26) and healthy control muscle (n = 27; mean ± SD: 252 ± 114 vs 402 ± 56 and 325 ± 109 capillaries/mm2, respectively; p values < 0.05). In contrast, a marked increase in the number of capillaries staining with NADH-TR was noted in DM compared to other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM; n = 13), NIM, and controls (49.8 ± 50.7 vs 8.0 ± 7.1, 6.7 ± 7.2, and 3.6 ± 2.8 capillaries/mm2; p < 0.05 compared to DM). DM capillaries also demonstrated mildly increased staining with AP compared to controls; however, no increased SDH or COX reactivity was observed.Conclusion.DM muscle capillaries are highly reactive with NADH-TR compared to myopathic and nonmyopathic controls. The lack of staining of DM capillaries with mitochondrial SDH and COX reactions suggests that NADH-TR reactivity may be secondary to activation of the microvascular endoplasmic reticulum, rather than mitochondrial hyperplasia.
Gestão dos Riscos Urbanos em São Paulo: as áreas contaminadas
Authors: Ramires Jane Zilda dos Santos , Ribeiro Wagner Costa 
Published: December 2011

Este trabalho apresenta a problemática relacionada às áreas contaminadas. Esta questão ambiental passou a ser de conhecimento público a partir da década de 1980, por meio do processo de desconcentração industrial verificado na mais densa área urbana do Brasil. Na primeira parte, será analisado como este fenômeno, somado a mudança do uso do solo urbano resultou no surgimento das áreas de risco, uma vez que as áreas contaminadas estão sendo utilizadas ou receberam novos usos, como residenciais ou serviços, sem que fossem realizados estudos ambientais específicos com posterior recuperação e/ou remediação. Com o objetivo de auxiliar no entendimento, abrangência e magnitude da questão, será apresentado um mapeamento, por distrito, das indústrias existentes na mancha urbana paulista; o qual expressa à distribuição dos riscos e perigos construídos ao longo de décadas no território do município de São Paulo. Na segunda parte, aborda-se como o poder público trata o tema; suas dificuldades e acertos. Por fim, estão as conclusões, que indicam que a aplicação efetiva da legislação específica para a gestão de áreas contaminadas, com a exigência da realização dos estudos ambientais, além da disponibilização das informações à sociedade, com aumento da visibilidade do problema, pode ser o caminho para solucioná-los, ainda que hoje a participação popular, incipiente nesse caso, seja fundamental nesse processo.
Use of the ISO 19906 Arctic Structures Standard
Authors: McKenna Richard , Spring Walt , Thomas Graham 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
The new ISO 19906 Arctic Offshore Structures standard contains provisions relating to a number of different types of offshore oil and gas structures in the Arctic and in other cold regions. Its provisions supplement those of ISO 19902 (steel offshore structures), ISO 19903 (concrete offshore structures), ISO 19904–1 (floating offshore structures) and other standards in the ISO 19900 series.
This paper focuses on important arctic provisions and on how the standard can be used in conjunction with the other ISO offshore structures standards. Issues dealt with include features of arctic and cold regions; when the standard should be used; types of ice actions and how they should be applied; ice actions in the context of other physical environmental actions; manmade islands; subsea installations; ice data collection; monitoring; interpretation and analysis; ice management systems and operational aspects of arctic structures; and low temperature materials and equipment.

Introduction

Background
Many of the structure design concepts used in arctic regions are similar to those in other areas and the same design principles apply. Nevertheless, the arctic environment poses a number of additional challenges due to marine icing on exposed surfaces, actions from sea ice and icebergs, structural vibrations as a result of ice actions, ice rubble encroachment, and brash ice build-up from icebreaker operations. In many cases, special operational procedures are required in harsh environmental conditions, which need to be factored into the designs. As a brittle solid, ice can exert considerable pressure over small contact areas, frequently exceeding average values over the loaded area. Local design requirements for ice are an integral part of the design process.
It is because of the above issues that the ISO 19906 standard [1] was developed and, because their implementation can differ from standard practice, is why the present paper reviews its application.

Terminology
The ISO series has some particularities in terms of terminology with respect to North American usage. The main one is the use of the term "action" instead of "load", which is a more general term that could imply a load, an acceleration or a displacement. The characteristic value of an action or parameter is one that has a specified annual probability of being exceeded, which is often interpreted as a return period value. The representative value of an action is a characteristic value or some other value that is used for design.
Considerations in the Application of Horizontal Directional Drilling to Pipeline Construction in the Arctic
Authors: Hair John D. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
This paper assesses the current state of the art in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for pipeline installation, reviews analytical methods associated with HDD pipeline design and installation, and presents concepts useful in the application of HDD techniques to pipeline construction in the arctic. The current state of the art is defined by a review of recent commercial applications of HDD to pipeline construction. Details on completed projects defining feasibility limits with respect to length and pipe diameter are presented. Restrictions with respect to subsurface conditions are examined. Theoretical limits on HDD pipeline installation are explored including a discussion of analytical methods available to calculate pulling loads associated with very long HDD Installations. The paper concludes with conceptual design examples of how HDD installation might be applied to obstacles presented by the arctic environment.

Current State of the Art in Pipeline Installation by Horizontal Directional Drilling
Three primary characteristics govern the feasibility of an HDD installation:subsurface conditions,pipe diameter, anddrilled length.
These three characteristics work in combination to limit what can be accomplished using existing HDD tools and techniques. Individual limits for each of these characteristics are discussed in the following paragraphs. It should be noted that, consistent with the objectives of this paper, this discussion is founded on commercial experience within the HDD Industry. The limits of directional drilling technology applied to drilling oil wells are not considered. While such tools and techniques may be applied to pipeline installation in the future, this paper discusses what is being utilized in the Pipeline Industry today.

Subsurface Conditions
The nature of the subsurface material through which the drilled path must pass is critical in determining the technical feasibility of an HDD pipeline installation. For a pipeline to be installed by HDD, either an open hole must be cut into the subsurface material so that installation of a pipeline by the pullback method is possible, or the properties of the subsurface material must be modified so that the soil behaves in a fluid manner allowing a pipeline to pass through it.
In the open hole condition a cylindrical hole is drilled through the subsurface. Drilling fluid flows to the surface in the annulus between the pipe and the wall of the hole. Drilled spoil is transported in the drilling fluid to the surface. This is generally applicable to rock and cohesive soils. It may also apply to some sandy or silty soils depending on the density of the material, the specific makeup of the coarse fraction, and the binding or structural capacity of the fine fraction.