bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical efficacy and safety of Flebogammadif®, a new high‐purity human intravenous immunoglobulin, in adult patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Julia A. , Kovaleva L. , Loria S. , Alberca I. , Hernandez F. , Sandoval V. , Sierra J. , Vidaller A. , Ayguasanosa J. , Carretero M. 
Published: September 2009

summary.Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count and bleeding, whose incidence is approximately 6·2 for each 100 000 adults per year. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) can be useful in patients with ITP to prevent bleeding or prior to surgery. In this study, the efficacy and safety of Flebogammadif®, a new high‐purity IVIG, were assessed by an open, multicentre, non‐controlled, prospective study in adult patients with chronic ITP. A total of 20 patients (enrolled if experiencing chronic ITP since at least 6 months before recruitment and if platelet count <20 ×109L−1 before treatment) received 0·4 g kg−1‐bw of Flebogammadif® for 5 consecutive days and were followed‐up for 3 months. Efficacy endpoints were three: proportion of patients who reached a platelet count ≥50 ×109L−1, time for the platelet count to reach that level and duration of response. Safety parameters [adverse events (AE), laboratory determinations and vital signs] and viral markers were regularly monitored. A total of 14 patients achieved a platelet count of ≥50 ×109L−1. The median time to platelet response was ≤2·5 days, and the median number of days in which the platelet count remained ≥50 ×109L−1 was ≥7 days. A regression of haemorrhages was reported for 17 patients on day 14. Eight patients presented 21 AEs (mostly mild) potentially related to the study drug. Neither abnormalities in laboratory values nor in viral markers were registered during the follow‐up period. Flebogammadif® was well tolerated and succeeded in providing a haemostatic platelet count in patients with ITP.
En‐bloc resection of multiple type 1 gastric carcinoid tumors by endoscopic multi‐band mucosectomy
Authors: Hopper Andrew D , Bourke Michael J , Hourigan Luke F , Tran Kayla , Moss Alan , Swan Michael P 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Gastric carcinoid tumors are rare but increasing in incidence. Current recommendations suggest endoscopic resection for type I carcinoids found in the stomach, however reports of incomplete resection have led to difficulty planning future management. Our purpose was to describe the application of the endoscopic multi‐band mucosectomy (MBM) device to achieve en‐bloc resection of multiple gastric carcinoid tumors.Methods:  Over a 30‐month period (June 2006–January 2009) eight patients attending for endoscopic assessment of gastric carcinoid tumors were identified at two tertiary referral centers. Patients underwent endoscopic resection of the carcinoids with an MBM device. En‐bloc specimens underwent histological evaluation for identification and tumor resection margins. Patients with type I carcinoids were subsequently enrolled in an endoscopic follow‐up program.Results:  A total of 34 gastric carcinoid tumors were removed from eight patients. On histological analyses seven out of eight patients were diagnosed with type I tumors. In the remaining patient a single, sporadic (type III) gastric carcinoid was diagnosed. No complications of severe bleeding or perforation occurred. All specimens were shown to have clear deep and peripheral histological resection margins.Conclusion:  Complete ‘en‐bloc’ endoscopic resection of multiple ‘type I’ gastric carcinoid tumors can be safely and easily performed with an MBM technique.
Patterns and gradients of diversity in South Patagonian ombrotrophic peat bogs
Authors: KLEINEBECKER TILL , HÖLZEL NORBERT , VOGEL ANDREAS 
Published: September 2009

AbstractMany north‐hemispherical mires seemingly untouched by drainage and cultivation are influenced by a diffuse sum of man‐made environmental changes, such as atmospherical nitrogen deposition that mask general patterns in species richness and functional group responses along resource gradients. To obtain insights into natural diversity‐environment relationships, we studied the vegetation and the peat chemistry of pristine bog ecosystems in southern Patagonia along a west–east transect across the Andes. The studied bog ecosystems covered a floristic gradient from hyperoceanic blanket bogs dominated by cushion building vascular plants via a transitional mixed type to Sphagnum‐dominated raised bogs east of the mountain range. To test the influence of resource availability on diversity patterns, species richness and functional groups were related to environmental variables by calculating general regression models and generalized additive models. Species richness showed strong linear correlations to peat chemical features and the general regression model resulted in three major environmental variables (water level, total nitrogen, NH4Cl soluble calcium), altogether explaining 76% of variance. Functional group response illustrated a clear separation along environmental gradients. Mosses dominated at the low end of a nitrogen gradient, whereas cushion plants had their optimum at intermediate levels, and graminoids dominated at high nitrogen contents. Further shifts were related to NH4Cl soluble calcium and water level. The models documented partly non‐linear relationships between functional group response and trophical peat properties. Within the three bog types, the calculated models differed remarkably illustrating the scale‐dependency of the explanatory factors. Our findings confirmed several general patterns of species richness and functional shifts along resource gradients in a surprisingly clear way and underpin the significance of undisturbed peatlands as reference systems for testing of ecological theory and for conservation and ecological restoration in landscapes with strong human impact.
Subtle topographical differences along a floodplain promote different plant strategies among Paspalum dilatatum subspecies and populations
Authors: MOLLARD FEDERICO P. O. , STRIKER GUSTAVO G. , PLOSCHUK EDMUNDO L. , INSAUSTI PEDRO 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIt was hypothesised that subtle topographical differences might cause the existence of ecotypes along a floodplain. The apomict grass Paspalum dilatatum subspecies dilatatum inhabits flood‐prone lowlands as well as nearby uplands in the floodplains of Argentina, while the sexual P. dilatatum subspecies flavescens almost exclusively inhabits the uplands. The aim of the present study was to identify the different traits that allow these P. dilatatum populations to inhabit different habitats. Plants of P. dilatatum were reciprocally transplanted between uplands and lowlands. Morphophysiological traits related to flooding tolerance were measured during a flood. Subspecies dilatatum from the uplands and subspecies flavescens showed a high physiological performance in the uplands but a considerable decrease in stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis rates and tiller number in the flooded lowlands. In contrast, the subspecies dilatatum from the lowlands showed relatively lower and stable stomatal conductance, photosynthesis rates and leaf water potential at both sites. Subspecies dilatatum from the lowlands outperformed upland populations at the lowland site with respect to tillering. Leaves of subspecies dilatatum from the lowlands that had grown at the lowland habitat had a lower blade/sheath proportion than leaves of plants transplanted to the uplands. This behavior did not occur in both upland populations. Results suggest that dilatatum Lowland plants have the typical strategy of stress‐tolerant genotypes and that the upland populations are adapted to habitats where competitive species are selected. In conclusion, habitats with subtle differences in topographic level can favour both ecotypic differentiations within an apomict subspecies but also the maintenance of morphophysiological similitudes between coexisting upland populations belonging to different subspecies.
A role for calcium‐calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II in the consolidation of visual object recognition memory
Authors: Tinsley C. J. , Narduzzo K. E. , Ho J. W. , Barker G. R. , Brown M. W. , Warburton E. C. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe aim was to investigate the role of calcium‐calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase (CAMK)II in object recognition memory. The performance of rats in a preferential object recognition test was examined after local infusion of the CAMKII inhibitors KN‐62 or autocamtide‐2‐related inhibitory peptide (AIP) into the perirhinal cortex. KN‐62 or AIP infused after acquisition impaired memory tested at 24 h, indicating an involvement of CAMKII in the consolidation of recognition memory. Memory was impaired when KN‐62 was infused at 20 min after acquisition or when AIP was infused at 20, 40, 60 or 100 min after acquisition. The time‐course of CAMKII activation in rats was further examined by immunohistochemical staining for phospho‐CAMKIIThre286α at 10, 40, 70 and 100 min following the viewing of novel and familiar images. At 70 min, processing novel images resulted in more phospho‐CAMKIIThre286α‐stained neurons in the perirhinal cortex than did the processing of familiar images, consistent with the viewing of novel images increasing the activity of CAMKII at this time. This difference was eliminated by prior infusion of AIP. These findings establish that CAMKII is active within the perirhinal region between ∼20 and 100 min following learning and then returns to baseline. Thus, increased CAMKII activity is essential for the consolidation of long‐term object recognition memory but continuation of that increased activity throughout the 24 h memory delay is not necessary for maintenance of the memory.
Cell size trade‐offs govern light exploitation strategies in marine phytoplankton
Authors: Key Tim , McCarthy Avery , Campbell Douglas A. , Six Christophe , Roy Suzanne , Finkel Zoe V. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryMarine phytoplankton show complex community structures and biogeographic distributions, the net results of physiological and ecological trade‐offs of species responses to fluctuating, heterogeneous environments. We analysed photosynthesis, responses to variable light and macromolecular allocations across a size panel of marine centric diatoms. The diatoms have strong capacities to withstand and exploit fluctuating light, when compared with picophytoplankton. Within marine diatoms, small species show larger effective cross‐sections for photochemistry, and fast metabolic repair of photosystem II after photoinactivation. In contrast, large diatoms show lower susceptibility to photoinactivation, and therefore incur lower costs to endure short‐term exposures to high light, especially under conditions that limit metabolic rates. This size scaling of key photophysiological parameters thus helps explain the relative competitive advantages of larger versus smaller species under different environmental regimes, with implications for the function of the biogenic carbon pump. These results provide a mechanistic framework to explain and predict shifts in marine phytoplankton community size structure with changes in surface irradiance and mixed layer depth.
Asaia, a versatile acetic acid bacterial symbiont, capable of cross‐colonizing insects of phylogenetically distant genera and orders
Authors: Crotti Elena , Damiani Claudia , Pajoro Massimo , Gonella Elena , Rizzi Aurora , Ricci Irene , Negri Ilaria , Scuppa Patrizia , Rossi Paolo , Ballarini Patrizia , Raddadi Noura , Marzorati Massimo , Sacchi Luciano , Clementi Emanuela , Genchi Marco , Mandrioli Mauro , Bandi Claudio , Favia Guido , Alma Alberto , Daffonchio Daniele 
Published: September 2009

SummaryBacterial symbionts of insects have been proposed for blocking transmission of vector‐borne pathogens. However, in many vector models the ecology of symbionts and their capability of cross‐colonizing different hosts, an important feature in the symbiotic control approach, is poorly known. Here we show that the acetic acid bacterium Asaia, previously found in the malaria mosquito vector Anopheles stephensi, is also present in, and capable of cross‐colonizing other sugar‐feeding insects of phylogenetically distant genera and orders. PCR, real‐time PCR and in situ hybridization experiments showed Asaia in the body of the mosquito Aedes aegypti and the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus, vectors of human viruses and a grapevine phytoplasma respectively. Cross‐colonization patterns of the body of Ae. aegypti, An. stephensi and S. titanus have been documented with Asaia strains isolated from An. stephensi or Ae. aegypti, and labelled with plasmid‐ or chromosome‐encoded fluorescent proteins (Gfp and DsRed respectively). Fluorescence and confocal microscopy showed that Asaia, administered with the sugar meal, efficiently colonized guts, male and female reproductive systems and the salivary glands. The ability in cross‐colonizing insects of phylogenetically distant orders indicated that Asaia adopts body invasion mechanisms independent from host‐specific biological characteristics. This versatility is an important property for the development of symbiont‐based control of different vector‐borne diseases.
Critical analysis of complications after robotic‐assisted radical cystectomy with identification of preoperative and operative risk factors
Authors: Kauffman Eric C. , Ng Casey K. , Lee Ming Ming , Otto Brandon J. , Portnoff Alyse , Wang Gerald J. , Scherr Douglas S. 
Published: September 2009

Study Type – Therapy (case series)  Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVETo better characterize short‐ and long‐term complications in patients after robotic‐assisted radical cystectomy (RRC) using standardized complications‐reporting systems, and to identify preoperative and operative risk factors predicting their occurrence.PATIENTS AND METHODSData were collected for 79 consecutive patients with bladder cancer undergoing RRC with extracorporeal urinary diversion by one surgeon at our institution. Complications occurring ≤90 days after RRC were graded according to two standardized reporting methods (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Modified Clavien), and additionally stratified by organ system. Nineteen preoperative and operative variables were tested by univariate analysis for association with the occurrence of one or more postoperative complications. Variables with a significant (P < 0.05) or near‐significant (P < 0.20) association on univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis to identify independent risk factors.RESULTSPatients were of relatively poor health, with 58% having an American Society of Anesthesiology class or Charlson Index score of ≥3. Advanced bladder disease was frequent (41% had pT3/pT4). After RRC, one or more complications occurred within 90 days of surgery for 39/79 (49%) patients. The vast majority of complications were low grade (79%), and mostly infectious (41%) or gastrointestinal (27%). Sixteen high‐grade complications occurred in 13/79 (16%) patients. Urinary obstruction, abscess, enteric fistula, gastrointestinal bleeding and thromboembolism constituted most of the high‐grade complications, nearly half (seven of 16) of which occurred 31–90 days after RRC. On multivariate analysis, only preoperative renal insufficiency and intraoperative intravenous (i.v.) fluids of >5000 mL were significantly associated with postoperative complications of any grade, with respective odds ratios (ORs) of 4.2 and 4.1. For high‐grade complications, significant independent risk factors included an age of ≥65 years, operative blood loss of ≥500 mL and intraoperative i.v. fluids of >5000 mL, with respective ORs of 12.7, 9.7 and 42.1.CONCLUSIONEven among relatively sick patients with frequent advanced disease, the vast majority of complications after RRC are low grade. High‐grade complications are infrequent and similar in nature to high‐grade events after open RC, and a notable proportion may occur at >30 days after RRC underscoring the importance of longer reporting intervals. The surgeon’s ability to limit blood loss and i.v. fluids during RRC may provide effective risk reduction, particularly for high‐grade events.
Genome‐wide SNP genotyping study using pooled DNA to identify candidate markers mediating susceptibility to end‐stage renal disease attributed to Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Craig D. W. , Millis M. P. , DiStefano J. K. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAims  Genetic factors play a major role in the progression of kidney disease in diabetes. To identify candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with potential effects on susceptibility to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), we performed a whole genome association scan using pooled DNA from Caucasian individuals with Type 1 diabetes.Methods  We utilized the Illumina Infinium II HumanHap 550 beadchip platform to genotype 555 352 SNPs in DNA pools comprised of 547 cases with ESRD and 549 control subjects with Type 1 diabetes duration > 20 years and no ESRD. Pooled probe intensity was used to predict mean allele frequency (MAF) for each locus. Individual genotyping was performed using the iPLEX assay in conjunction with the MassARRAY platform (Sequenom).Results  We identified 2870 markers showing substantial differences in MAF (5.0–10.7%) between pools. To initiate validation of these findings, we genotyped 22 high‐ranking markers in 462 individuals with ESRD and 470 unaffected control subjects selected from the genome‐wide SNP genotyping study sample. We observed the strongest evidence for association between ESRD and rs1749824, located in the ZMIZ1 gene [OR = 1.47 (1.21–1.78) per copy of T allele; P = 8.1 × 10−5] and rs9298190, located in the musculin gene [OR = 1.56 (1.28–1.91) per copy of C allele; P = 1.6 × 10−5]. Evidence for nominal association with markers in or near the IRS2, TMPO, BID, KLRA1, ELMO1 and CNDP1 genes was also observed (P ≤ 0.0006).Conclusions  These findings identify several novel loci which may contribute to ESRD susceptibility in individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
Role of glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity in the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and emerging treatment strategies
Authors: Del Prato S. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractType 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by persistent and progressive deterioration of glucose tolerance. Both insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion contribute to development of Type 2 diabetes. However, whilst insulin resistance is fully apparent in the pre‐diabetic condition, impairment of insulin secretion worsens over the time, being paralleled by a progressive decline in both pancreatic B‐cell function and B‐cell mass. Intense research has identified a number of genetic variants that may predispose to impaired B‐cell function, but such predisposition can be precipitated and worsened by toxic effects of hyperglycaemia (glucotoxicity) and elevated levels of free fatty acids (lipotoxicity). All these aspects of the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes are discussed in this review. Moreover, treatments that target reduction in glucotoxicity or lipotoxicity are outlined, including emerging strategies that target the role of glucagon‐like peptide 1 and sodium glucose co‐transporter 2.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of taspoglutide, a once‐weekly, human GLP‐1 analogue, after single‐dose administration in patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kapitza C. , Heise T. , Birman P. , Jallet K. , Ramis J. , Balena R. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAims  The study objectives were to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, as well as safety and tolerability, of single doses of taspoglutide, a human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogue.Methods  In a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, 48 patients with Type 2 diabetes [mean age 56 ± 7 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 30.4 ± 3.0 kg/m2] inadequately controlled with metformin (≤ 2 g/day) were enrolled in three sequential cohorts; 12 patients in each cohort were randomized to a single subcutaneous injection of taspoglutide (1, 8 or 30 mg) and four received placebo.Results  Plasma concentrations peaked within 24 h after injection and were sustained for ≥ 14 days with all doses. In comparison with placebo, the 8‐ and 30‐mg doses of taspoglutide significantly reduced glycaemic parameters, including 24‐h blood glucose and 5‐h postprandial glucose areas under the curve (AUCs), for up to 14 days with the 30‐mg dose (P < 0.001). The most common adverse events, primarily gastrointestinal in nature, were dose‐dependent and transient.Conclusions  A single dose of taspoglutide significantly improved glycaemic parameters in Type 2 diabetes patients for up to 14 days. The formulation was well tolerated and appears suitable for weekly administration.
A rational model of the surface swept by a curve*
Authors: Johnstone John K. , Williams James P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThis paper shows how to construct a rational Bezier model of a swept surface that interpolates N frames (i.e., N position/orientation pairs) of a fixed rational space curve c(s) and maintains the shape of the curve at all intermediate points of the sweep. Thus, the surface models an exact sweep of the curve, consistent with the given data. The primary novelty of the method is that this exact modeling of the sweep is achieved without sacrificing a rational representation for the surface. Through a simple extension, we also allow the sweeping curve to change its size through the sweep. The position, orientation, and size of the sweeping curve can change with arbitrary continuity (we use C2 continuity in this paper). Our interpolation between frames has the classical properties of Bezier interpolation, such as the convex hull property and linear precision.This swept surface is a useful primitive for geometric design. It encompasses the surface of revolution and extruded surface, but extends them to arbitrary sweeps. It is a useful modeling primitive for robotics and CAD/CAM, using frames generated automatically by a moving robot or tool.
Algorithms for Extracting Correct Critical Points and Constructing Topological Graphs from Discrete Geographical Elevation Data
Authors: Takahashi Shigeo , Ikeda Tetsuya , Shinagawa Yoshihisa , Kunii Tosiyasu L. , Ueda Minoru 
Published: September 2009

AbstractResearchers in the fields of computer graphics and geographical information systems (GISs) have extensively studied the methods of extracting terrain features such as peaks, pits, passes, ridges, and ravines from discrete elevation data. The existing techniques, however, do not guarantee the topological integrity of the extracted features because of their heuristic operations, which results in spurious features. Furthermore, there have been no algorithms for constructing topological graphs such as the surface network and the Reeb graph from the extracted peaks, pits, and passes. This paper presents new algorithms for extracting features and constructing the topological graphs using the features. Our algorithms enable us to extract correct terrain features; i.e., our method extracts the critical points that satisfy the Euler formula, which represents the topological invariant of smooth surfaces. This paper also provides an algorithm that converts the surface network to the Reeb graph for representing contour changes with respect to the height. The discrete elevation data used in this paper is a set of sample points on a terrain surface. Examples are presented to show that the algorithms also appeal to our visual cognition.
Synthetic Vision and Audition for Digital Actors
Authors: NOSER Hansrudi , THALMANN Daniel 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWe present an overview of some principles of synthetic vision and audition for digital autonomous actors in virtual worlds. After a short review of the state‐of‐the‐art we focus on some aspects of synthetic vision and virtual world constraints. Then, we present a simple real time structured sound renderer. This sound renderer is used as audition channel for synthetic and real actors and synchronized sound track generator for video film productions.