bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
(P2-78) The Unique Role of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in an Earthquake – A Community Based Approach
Authors: Jaffe E. , Ben-zvi S. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionThe goal of most EMS is to provide treatment to those in need of urgent medical care, with the purpose of satisfactorily treating the problem, or arranging for timely removal of the patient to the next point of definitive care. Earthquakes are among the most destructive types of natural disasters, striking suddenly with no accurate method of prediction or warning, thereby taking a heavy toll on life, injury and property. The damage created affects all aspects of the community - transportation, telecommunication, and infrastructure and can easily overwhelm local health services, damage clinics, hospitals and render them useless.AimTo review the pertinent literature and to analyze the information in order to set practical guidelines for EMS work in earthquakes with a community-based approach.ResultsSurvival of casualties extricated from under the rubble depends upon early medical interventions by emergency teams on site. EMS needs to strive for: • early arrival • early qualified treatment • Earthquakes differ from other disasters, where the system is intact.: early transport and definitive care. • They present a vast number of patients • problems concerning availability of medical personnel, • accessibility to patients, means of transportation & communication.ConclusionsA routine national community-based approach will strengthen the ability to provide early response in both daily and disastrous events, improving both morbidity and mortality rates. Possibly no immediate definitive care.
(P2-91) EMS Trauma Triage: Does the Red-Blue Criteria Enable Overtriage?
Authors: Higgins D.M. , Thaxton R.E. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionWith the current need for effective trauma center utilization, understanding how current trauma triage criteria may promote overtriage will enable both field and hospital teams to provide the most appropriate patient care. It is hypothesized that current Southwest Texas trauma criteria promote overtriage by prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) of patients in favor of a Level 1 trauma facility when compared to physician assessment and Injury Severity Score (ISS).MethodsThis prospective, observational study at a Southwest Texas military Level 1 trauma center compared adult trauma patients' prehospital status noted by EMS personnel with the triage criteria documented by the treating emergency physician. The patients were divided into four groups: Prehospital Criteria Met or Not Met; Arrival Criteria Met or Not Met. Each patient's ISS and mechanism of injury were also collected and compared to initial assessment for predictive value. Descriptive statistics were used.ResultsThe study enrolled 278 adult trauma patients. EMS reported Level 1 trauma status similar to physician assessment (60.1% vs. 59.7%, respectively). The rates patients met Level 1 trauma status corresponded with trauma severity when compared to the ISS. Assessment between EMS and physicians for ISSs were similar among the four groups. Comparisons using multivariate analysis of the four groups found similar ISSs, except for the Prehospital Criteria Met/Arrival Criteria Not Met group. Seventy-five percent of these patients were assigned an ISS in the Minor (ISS < 9) category (p = 0.013).ConclusionTrauma triage criteria assessment skills were similar between EMS personnel and emergency physicians except for identifying minor trauma patients. While the criteria generally led to overtriage, EMS crews appear to overtriage minor trauma patients at a much higher rate.
(P2-96) A Single, Simple Triage Method
Authors: Raviolo M. , Bortolin M. , Vivalda M. , Bono D. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionAt this time, no triage method is considered better than another in comparison to the outcome of the casualties. It is important and useful to identify a triage method that can be used for both adults and children at the same time. It should consider the anatomical and physiological differences between adults, children, and infants.ObjectivesTo revise and adapt the current triage system in use in the Piemonte Emergency Medical Services for the first triage in a validated method that is effective for adults, children, and babies in order to unify and simplify the triage system.MethodsIn accordance with pediatricians, the “Triage Sieve” procedure and parameters were revised into a single method.ResultsSetting the height of the casualty was considered to be both quick and easy. In this revised method, all the casualties are classified with the sieve methods, but some changes have been introduced. Casualties with a stature < 59 cm are classified as infants, and are therefore priority T1 (red) in every case. Casualties > 60 cm but < 120 cm in stature are classified as children. Children with a respiratory rate < 15 or > 40 breaths per minute and a heart rate < 80 or > 160 beats per minute are classified as T1.ConclusionsChildren will probably be over-triaged in this method, but the authors do not consider that a substantial problem. This first triage system is simple and effective. But, it has not yet been tested effectively during an actual mass-casualty incident or disaster.
(P2-98) Disease Pattern in a Rural Setting Three Weeks After the 2008 Sichuan, China Earthquake—Hong Kong Red Cross Basic Health Clinic in Yanmen
Authors: Hung K. , Chan E.Y.Y. , Lam E. , Rainer T. , Graham C. 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundThe Sichuan earthquake on 12 May 2008 with a magnitude of 8.0 killed > 87,000 people. The response of the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) included a basic healthcare team to a small rural town called Yanmen three weeks after the earthquake. The objective of this study was to review HKRC's medical records to identify the disease pattern in the Chinese rural setting post earthquake.MethodsA cross-sectional, record-based study of all patients treated by the HKRC basic healthcare team from 01 June to 19 June 2008. This retrospective study studied the medical records collected during the clinical consultations, and descriptive analysis was performed for the demographic and clinical information. Blood pressure measurement was classified according to the JNC-7 classification, and the age- and gender-specific prevalence of hypertension was sought.ResultsA total of 2,034 cases were seen during the 19-day period with daily attendance ranging from 73 to 153 cases. Musculoskeletal, respiratory, and gastrointestinal problems were the top three categories and accounted for 30.4, 17.4, and 12.7% respectively. Trauma accounted for 5.4% of the cases attended, and 26.0% of the injuries were related to the earthquake. A total of 38.7% of the consultations were for medical problems that existed before the earthquake. A total of 43.4% patients with blood pressure measurements were above the recognized cutoff for hypertension.ConclusionsDue to the impact and time phase post disaster, trauma, and injuries directly resulting from the earthquake did not contribute to a large number of cases. However, the management of chronic illness was an important issue, especially with the excessive prevalence of high blood pressure found in this study. Further studies to investigate the relationship between chronic diseases including hypertension and post-earthquake conditions are needed.
Representing first-order causal theories by logic programs
Authors: FERRARIS PAOLO , LEE JOOHYUNG , LIERLER YULIYA , LIFSCHITZ VLADIMIR , YANG FANGKAI 
Published: May 2011

AbstractNonmonotonic causal logic, introduced by McCain and Turner (McCain, N. and Turner, H. 1997. Causal theories of action and change. In Proceedings of National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), Stanford, CA, 460–465) became the basis for the semantics of several expressive action languages. McCain's embedding of definite propositional causal theories into logic programming paved the way to the use of answer set solvers for answering queries about actions described in such languages. In this paper we extend this embedding to nondefinite theories and to the first-order causal logic.
Dual transcriptional profiling of a bacterial/fungal confrontation: Collimonas fungivorans versus Aspergillus niger
Authors: Mela Francesca , Fritsche Kathrin , de Boer Wietse , van Veen Johannes A , de Graaff Leo H , van den Berg Marlies , Leveau Johan H J 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Interactions between bacteria and fungi cover a wide range of incentives, mechanisms and outcomes. The genus Collimonas consists of soil bacteria that are known for their antifungal activity and ability to grow at the expense of living fungi. In non-contact confrontation assays with the fungus Aspergillus niger, Collimonas fungivorans showed accumulation of biomass concomitant with inhibition of hyphal spread. Through microarray analysis of bacterial and fungal mRNA from the confrontation arena, we gained new insights into the mechanisms underlying the fungistatic effect and mycophagous phenotype of collimonads. Collimonas responded to the fungus by activating genes for the utilization of fungal-derived compounds and for production of a putative antifungal compound. In A. niger, differentially expressed genes included those involved in lipid and cell wall metabolism and cell defense, which correlated well with the hyphal deformations that were observed microscopically. Transcriptional profiles revealed distress in both partners: downregulation of ribosomal proteins and upregulation of mobile genetic elements in the bacteria and expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress and conidia-related genes in the fungus. Both partners experienced nitrogen shortage in each other's presence. Overall, our results indicate that the Collimonas/Aspergillus interaction is a complex interplay between trophism, antibiosis and competition for nutrients.
Occurrence of Downy Mildew Caused by Peronospora belbahrii on Sweet Basil in Hungary
Authors: Nagy G. , Horváth A. 
Published: May 2011

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant in Hungary that is cultivated over a large area. During field surveys conducted in 2010, significant incidence of downy mildew was observed in two plant stands at Budapest-Soroksár and Tordas. In 2003, the disease occurred in a greenhouse at Albertirsa as well. By the end of September, on full-grown leaves of two sweet basil cultivars, the frequency of disease occurrence and the percentage of infected leaf area reached 80 to 90% and 17 to 20%, respectively, at Budapest-Soroksár. Symptoms appeared mainly on cvs. Genovese and Milita among others. On leaves, large chlorotic lesions with soft margins developed, followed by necrotization from the middle. Chlorosis often involved the entire leaf surface. Necrotic spots were irregular, variable in diameter, and limited by the main veins. A typical grayish white furry growth could be observed mainly on abaxial leaf surfaces both in chlorotic and necrotic regions. Most abundant growth developed on the leaves of cv. Genovese. Premature leaf fall on diseased plants occurred as well. The fungus was identified as Peronospora belbahrii Thines on the basis of morphological investigation suggested by Thines et al. (4). Sporangiophores were colorless with a long, straight trunk and monopodially branched five to seven times with a length of 416 to 784 μm (average 572 μm). Sporangiophores ended with two slightly curved acute branchlets, the longer one measured 12.5 to 25.0 μm (average 17.1 μm) and the shorter one measured 5.0 to 18.8 μm (average 9.5 μm) long. Ratio of longer to shorter branchlets was 0.7 to 3.0, the average ratio was 1.9. Sporangia were rounded or slightly ovoid, olive to dark brown, and measured 29.3 × 25.6 (23.8 to35.0 × 20.0 to 31.3 μm). Length/width ratio was 1.2 (1.0 to 1.4). Molecular investigation of two isolates was performed. DNA extraction from sporangiophores was followed by PCR using ITS5 and ITS4 primers. The obtained sequence (GenBank Accession No. HQ702191) showed 99.8 to 100.0% similarity with sequences of P. belbahrii (e.g., Accession Nos. FJ394335 and HN462241) and Peronospora sp. (e.g., Accession Nos. AY884605, AY919301, and FJ346561) isolated from sweet basil. In Europe, the disease was reported from Italy (2), France (3), Germany (4), and Switzerland (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew on sweet basil in Hungary. References: (1) L. Belbahri et al. Mycol. Res. 109:1276, 2005. (2) A. Garibaldi et al. Plant Dis. 88:312, 2004. (3) A. Garibaldi et al. Plant Dis. 89:683, 2005. (4) M. Thines et al. Mycol. Res. 113:532, 2009.
Anorectal Manometry May Identify Children With Spinal Cord Lesions
Authors: Siddiqui Anees , Rosen Rachel , Nurko Samuel 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:We previously showed that approximately 10% of patients with intractable constipation have spinal abnormalities without any other physical findings. Given that spinal magnetic resonance imaging is costly and often requires deep sedation in children, it would be useful to find a screening tool to determine who has a higher likelihood of having a spinal abnormality. The aim of the study was to determine whether anorectal manometry is a useful screening test in predicting which patients will have abnormal spinal MRIs.Patients and Methods:This is a case‐control study comparing the anorectal manometries of 10 children with constipation who had abnormal spinal MRIs (cases) to the manometries of 10 age‐matched children with normal MRIs (controls).Results:The maximum relaxation of the sphincter after balloon distention was achieved with a significantly smaller balloon in the cases as compared with the controls (35 ± 20 vs 60 ± 23 mL; P = 0.02). The dose‐response curve of sphincter relaxation at different balloon distention was shifted to the left in patients with spinal lesions. Anal spasms after balloon distention were noted in 60% of the patients with abnormal magnetic resonance images compared with 0% of the controls (P < 0.003). There were no other differences.Conclusions:Patients with spinal cord abnormalities may show changes in anorectal manometry. Anal spasms on anorectal manometry are significant predictors of spinal abnormalities. Also, patients with spinal abnormalities have maximum sphincter relaxations with smaller balloon sizes. Further studies are needed to determine the utility of anorectal manometry as a screening test for spinal abnormalities in patients with constipation.
Nurse‐like cells show deregulated expression of genes involved in immunocompetence
Authors: Bhattacharya Nupur , Diener Susanne , Idler Irina S. , Rauen Judith , Häbe Sarah , Busch Hauke , Habermann Annett , Zenz Thorsten , Döhner Hartmut , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Mertens Daniel 
Published: May 2011

SummaryChronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells convert CD14+ cells from patients into ‘nurse‐like’ cells (NLCs). CLL cells can also convert CD14+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors into cells with morphological similarities to NLCs (CD14CLL‐cells). However it is unclear whether only CLL cells induce this conversion process. This study showed that CD14+ PBMCs from healthy donors could also be converted into differentiated cells (CD14B‐cells) by non‐malignant B‐cells. In order to identify changes specifically induced by CLL cells, we compared gene expression profiles of NLCs, CD14CLL‐cells and CD14B‐cells. CD14+ cells cultured with CLL cells were more similar to NLCs than those cultured with non‐malignant B‐cells. The most significant changes induced by CLL cells were deregulation of the antigen presentation pathway and of genes related to immunity. NLCs had reduced levels of lysozyme activity, CD74 and HLA‐DR in‐vitro while expression of inhibitory FCGR2B was increased. These findings suggest an impaired immunocompetence of NLCs which, if found in‐vivo, could contribute to the immunodeficiency in CLL patients.
Genomic gain and over expression of CCL2 correlate with vascular invasion in stage I non‐seminomatous testicular germ‐cell tumours
Authors: Gilbert D. C. , Chandler I. , Summersgill B. , McIntyre A. , Missiaglia E. , Goddard N. C. , Huddart R. A. , Shipley J. 
Published: May 2011

SummaryTesticular germ‐cell tumours (TGCT) are the most frequent solid tumour to affect young Caucasian adult males and have increased in incidence over recent decades. In clinical stage I non‐seminomas, (NSGCT) histological vascular invasion (VI) is a prognostic factor for metastatic relapse. Using array comparative genomic hybridization, we have previously shown that the presence of VI is associated with gain of a region at 17q12, containing a cluster of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines. We here confirm this finding using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrating gain in 12 out of 42 (29%) assessable samples. Interrogation of previously published expression microarray data suggests that of the genes contained within this region, CCL2 [monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1)] is frequently overexpressed in TGCT. Immunohistochemistry confirms this finding in a collection of 67 clinical stage I NSGCT, demonstrating an association with the presence of VI (p = 0.049) that was not seen with VEGF‐A, MMP2 or MMP9, although all were frequently expressed. This work gives further insight into the mechanisms involved in invasion in this tumour type, which may ultimately have implications for the management of patients with stage I disease.
Gene expression alterations at baseline and following moderate exercise in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Authors: Light A. R. , Bateman L. , Jo D. , Hughen R. W. , VanHaitsma T. A. , White A. T. , Light K. C. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract.  Light AR, Bateman L, Jo D, Hughen RW, VanHaitsma TA, White AT, Light KC (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA). Gene expression alterations at baseline and following moderate exercise in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome. J Intern Med 2012; 271: 64–81.Objectives.  To determine mRNA expression differences in genes involved in signalling and modulating sensory fatigue, and muscle pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) at baseline, and following moderate exercise.Design.  Forty‐eight patients with CFS only, or CFS with comorbid FM, 18 patients with FM that did not meet criteria for CFS, and 49 healthy controls underwent moderate exercise (25 min at 70% maximum age‐predicted heart rate). Visual‐analogue measures of fatigue and pain were taken before, during and after exercise. Blood samples were taken before and 0.5, 8, 24 and 48 h after exercise. Leucocytes were immediately isolated from blood, number coded for blind processing and analyses and flash frozen. Using real‐time, quantitative PCR, the amount of mRNA for 13 genes (relative to control genes) involved in sensory, adrenergic and immune functions was compared between groups at baseline and following exercise. Changes in amounts of mRNA were correlated with behavioural measures and functional clinical assessments.Results.  No gene expression changes occurred following exercise in controls. In 71% of patients with CFS, moderate exercise increased most sensory and adrenergic receptor’s and one cytokine gene’s transcription for 48 h. These postexercise increases correlated with behavioural measures of fatigue and pain. In contrast, for the other 29% of patients with CFS, adrenergic α‐2A receptor’s transcription was decreased at all time‐points after exercise; other genes were not altered. History of orthostatic intolerance was significantly more common in the α‐2A decrease subgroup. FM‐only patients showed no postexercise alterations in gene expression, but their pre‐exercise baseline mRNA for two sensory ion channels and one cytokine were significantly higher than controls.Conclusions.  At least two subgroups of patients with CFS can be identified by gene expression changes following exercise. The larger subgroup showed increases in mRNA for sensory and adrenergic receptors and a cytokine. The smaller subgroup contained most of the patients with CFS with orthostatic intolerance, showed no postexercise increases in any gene and was defined by decreases in mRNA for α‐2A. FM‐only patients can be identified by baseline increases in three genes. Postexercise increases for four genes meet published criteria as an objective biomarker for CFS and could be useful in guiding treatment selection for different subgroups.
Determinants of sleep quality in middle‐aged women with fibromyalgia syndrome
Authors: MUNGUÍA‐IZQUIERDO DIEGO , LEGAZ‐ARRESE ALEJANDRO 
Published: May 2011

SummaryThe objectives of this study were: (i) to compare the sleep quality at home of patients with fibromyalgia with that of healthy controls; and (ii) to examine the factors associated with sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia. In addition to anthropometric measures, 75 women with fibromyalgia and 48 healthy controls completed standardized questionnaires that assessed sleep quality, functional impairment (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), depression, anxiety and physical activity level. Comparisons between groups, correlation coefficients and a series of hierarchical multiple regressions were performed. The global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were worse in patients with fibromyalgia than in the controls. This result was partly explained by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score. For the patients with fibromyalgia, the results of the first model that tested the importance of demographic factors were not statistically significant. In the disease‐related model, the duration of symptoms and symptom severity contributed to poor sleep quality. A measurement of physical activity participation and the sum of the skinfold thickness were added to the demographic factors. In the psychological model, the level of anxiety contributed to poor sleep quality. When all variables were entered simultaneously, the level of physical activity, duration of symptoms and symptom severity remained significant determinants of sleep quality. In conclusion, our results showed that the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia contributed to poor overall sleep quality in patients compared with healthy subjects. The findings also suggest that the duration of symptoms, symptom severity and especially a sedentary lifestyle contributed to decreased sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia.
Interactions among Trypanosoma brucei RAD51 paralogues in DNA repair and antigenic variation
Authors: Dobson Rachel , Stockdale Christopher , Lapsley Craig , Wilkes Jonathan , McCulloch Richard 
Published: May 2011

SummaryHomologous recombination in Trypanosoma brucei is used for moving variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes into expression sites during immune evasion by antigenic variation. A major route for such VSG switching is gene conversion reactions in which RAD51, a universally conserved recombinase, catalyses homology‐directed strand exchange. In any eukaryote, RAD51‐directed strand exchange in vivo is mediated by further factors, including RAD51‐related proteins termed Rad51 paralogues. These appear to be ubiquitously conserved, although their detailed roles in recombination remain unclear. In T. brucei, four putative RAD51 paralogue genes have been identified by sequence homology. Here we show that all four RAD51 paralogues act in DNA repair, recombination and RAD51 subnuclear dynamics, though not equivalently, while mutation of only one RAD51 paralogue gene significantly impedes VSG switching. We also show that the T. brucei RAD51 paralogues interact, and that the complexes they form may explain the distinct phenotypes of the mutants as well as observed expression interdependency. Finally, we document the Rad51 paralogues that are encoded by a wide range of protists, demonstrating that the Rad51 paralogue repertoire in T. brucei is unusually large among microbial eukaryotes and that one member of the protein family corresponds with a key, conserved eukaryotic Rad51 paralogue.