bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Platelet Function, Activation and Apoptosis During and After Apheresis
Authors: Bakry Rania , Sayed Douaa , Galal Hanan , Shaker Sanaa 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPlatelets are known to undergo shape change, activation, release reaction and apoptosis/necrosis during processing and storage. Apheresis may have a deleterious impact on platelet achievability and functional integrity. Platelet concentrates from 50 male volunteers obtained by COBE spectra were screened for platelet activation (CD62 and CD154) and apoptosis (phosphatidylserine detected by Annexin V). Donor samples before separation, during apheresis and at the third day of storage were used as baseline donor samples. Platelet aggregation to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen was performed. There was a statistically significant increase in the expression of activation markers in two different samples (during separation samples and third day samples). Although the increase in Annexin V expression was not so observable, it showed a significant increase also. There was marked decline in the platelet aggregation. The correlations between the values of CD62, CD154 and Annexin V were detected in baseline samples and increased during separation and at the third day of platelets storage. Correlation between values of platelet aggregation to collagen and Annexin V was relevant only in the baseline samples. No other correlations were encountered between platelet aggregation and markers of activation and apoptosis during apheresis and storage. Initial platelet activation induced by apheresis may have an impact on phosphatidylserine expression with no impact on aggregation function of platelets during storage.
Breaking stress of neutron star crust
Authors: Chugunov A. I. , Horowitz C. J. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The breaking stress (the maximum of the stress–strain curve) of neutron star crust is important for neutron star physics including pulsar glitches, emission of gravitational waves from static mountains and flares from star quakes. We perform many molecular dynamic simulations of the breaking stress at different coupling parameters (inverse temperatures) and strain rates. We describe our results with the Zhurkov model of strength. We apply this model to estimate the breaking stress for time-scales ∼1 s–1 yr, which are most important for applications, but much longer than can be directly simulated. At these time-scales, the breaking stress depends strongly on the temperature. For coupling parameter Γ≲ 200 matter breaks at very small stress, if it is applied for a few years. This viscoelastic creep can limit the lifetime of mountains on neutron stars. We also suggest an alternative model of time-scale-independent breaking stress, which can be used to estimate an upper limit on the breaking stress.
The Urico-Ictus Study, a Phase 3 Study of Combined Treatment with Uric Acid and rtPA Administered Intravenously in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients within the First 4.5 H of Onset of Symptoms
Authors: Amaro Sergio , Cánovas David , Castellanos Mar , Gállego Jaime , Martí-Fàbregas Joan , Segura Tomás , Chamorro Ángel 
Published: July 2010

Rationale Oxidative stress is a major contributor to brain damage in patients with ischaemic stroke. Uric acid (UA) is a potent endogenous antioxidant molecule. In experimental ischaemia in rats, the exogenous administration of uric acid is neuroprotective and enhances the effect of rtPA. Moreover, in acute stroke patients receiving rtPA within 3 h of stroke onset, the intravenous administration of uric acid is safe, prevents an early decline in uric acid levels and reduces an early increase in oxidative stress markers and in active matrix metalloproteinase nine levels. Aim To determine whether the combined treatment with uric acid and rtPA is superior to rtPA alone in terms of clinical efficacy in acute ischaemic stroke patients treated within the first 4.5 h of onset of symptoms. Study design Multicentre, interventional, randomised, double-blind and vehicle-controlled efficacy study with parallel assignment (1:1). Estimated enrolment: 420 patients over 3 years, starting in January 2010. Treatment arms included patients will receive a single intravenous infusion of 1 g of UA dissolved in a vehicle (500 ml of 0.1% lithium carbonate and 5% mannitol) ( n = 210) or vehicle alone ( n = 210). Inclusion and exclusion criteria: the study will include patients older than 18 years, treated with rtPA within the first 4.5 h of clinical onset and with a baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score >6 and <25 and a modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2 before the ischaemic event. Patients with renal insufficiency, gout or asymptomatic hiperuricaemia treated with allopurinol will be excluded. Study outcomes The primary outcome measure is the proportion of patients achieving an modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 1 at 3 months after treatment or two in those patients with a prior qualifying modified Rankin Scale of 2. Secondary outcome measures include the final infarction volume measured at 72 h and the proportion of patients with symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (≥ 4 points of increase in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score).
Effect of Strengthening Exercise in Addition to Task-Specific Gait Training after Stroke: a Randomised Trial
Authors: Scianni Aline , Teixeira-Salmela Luci F. , Ada Louise 
Published: July 2010

Rationale Gait deficits contribute considerably to functional disability after stroke, and the regaining of walking ability is a major goal in most stroke rehabilitation programmes. Evidence suggests that muscular strengthening exercises after stroke can improve strength and activity. Additionally, task-related practice performed at high intensities may enhance walking competency in people with stroke. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude which approach is most effective. Aim This study will test the hypothesis that task-specific walking training plus targeted strength training is superior to task-specific walking training alone in improving strength, motor co-ordination, quality of independent walking, and participation in acute stroke patients. Design This trial is a prospective, randomised clinical trial. People after stroke who are living at home and attending outpatient clinics will be randomly allocated into either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group will undertake task-specific walking training, plus targeted strength training three times per week over 10 weeks, while the control group will only undertake task-specific walking training. At baseline, after 10 weeks of intervention and 4 weeks after the cessation of the interventions, allocation-blinded researchers will collect outcome measures. Study outcomes Primary outcomes will be measured for levels of impairment (strength and co-ordination), activity (quality of walking), and participation (quality of life). Secondary outcomes will be the minimal clinically important differences of lower limb strength, motor co-ordination, and gait speed.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The relationship between patients’ perception of the effects of neurofibromatosis type 2 and the domains of the Short Form‐36
Authors: Neary W.J. , Hillier V.F. , Flute T. , Stephens S.D.G. , Ramsden R.T. , Evans D.G.R. 
Published: July 2010

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 291–299Objectives:  To investigate the relationship between those issues concerning quality of life in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) as identified by the closed set NF2 questionnaire and the eight norm‐based measures and the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) Questionnaire.Design:  Postal questionnaire study.Setting:  Questionnaires sent to subjects’ home addresses.Participants:  Eighty‐seven adult subjects under the care of the Manchester Multidisciplinary NF2 Clinic were invited to participate.Main outcome measures:  Sixty‐two (71%) completed sets of closed set NF2 questionnaires and SF‐36 questionnaires were returned.Results:  Subjects with NF2 scored less than the norm of 50 on both the physical component summary and mental component summary scores and the eight individual norm‐based measures of the Short Form‐36 questionnaire. Correlations (using Kendall’s tau) were examined between patients’ perceptions of their severity of difficulty with the following activities and the eight norm‐based measures and the physical component summary and mental component summary scores of the Short Form‐36 questionnaire: Communicating with spouse/significant other (N = 61). The correlation coefficients were significant at the 0.01 level for the mental component summary score, together with three of the norm‐based scores [vitality (VT), social functioning and role emotional]. Social communication (N = 62). All 10 correlations were significant at the 0.01 or 0.001 level. Balance (N = 59). All 10 correlations were highly significant at the P < 0.001 level. Hearing difficulties (N = 61). All correlations were significant at either the 0.01 level or less apart from the mental component summary score and three of the norm‐based scores (role physical, VT and mental health). Mood change (N = 61). All correlations were significant at the 0.01 level or less, apart from one norm‐based score (role physical).Conclusions:  The Short Form‐36 questionnaire has allowed us to relate patients’ perceptions of their difficulties, as identified by the closed set NF2 questionnaire, to the physical and mental domains measured by this validated and widely used scale, and has provided further insight into areas of functioning affected by NF2.
Local origin of two vegetative compatibility groups ofFusarium oxysporumf. sp.vasinfectumin Australia
Authors: Wang Bo , Brubaker Curt L. , Summerell Brett A. , Thrall Peter H. , Burdon Jeremy J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPathogenicity and genetic diversity ofFusarium oxysporumfrom geographically widespread nativeGossypiumpopulations, including a cotton growing area believed to be the center of origin of VCG 01111 and VCG 01112 ofF. oxysporumf. sp.vasinfectum(Fov) in Australia, was determined using glasshouse bioassays and AFLPs. Five lineages (A–E) were identified among 856 isolates. Of these, 12% were strongly pathogenic on cotton, 10% were weakly pathogenic and designated wildFov, while 78% were nonpathogenic. In contrast to the occurrence of pathogenic isolates in all five lineages in soils associated with wildGossypium, in cotton growing areas only three lineages (A, B, E) occurred and all pathogenic isolates belonged to two subgroups in lineage A. One of these contained VCG 01111 isolates while the other contained VCG 01112 isolates. Sequence analyses of translation elongation factor‐1α, mitochondrial small subunit rDNA, nitrate reductase and phosphate permease confirmed that AustralianFovisolates were more closely related to lineage A isolates of nativeF. oxysporumthan toFovraces 1–8 found overseas. These results strongly support a local evolutionary origin forFovin Australian cotton growing regions.
Exploring the evolutionary ecology of fungal endophytes in agricultural systems: using functional traits to reveal mechanisms in community processes
Authors: Saunders Megan , Glenn Anthony E. , Kohn Linda M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAll plants, including crop species, harbor a community of fungal endophyte species, yet we know little about the biotic factors that are important in endophyte community assembly. We suggest that the most direct route to understanding the mechanisms underlying community assembly is through the study of functional trait variation in the host and its fungal consortium. We review studies on crop endophytes that investigate plant and fungal traits likely to be important in endophyte community processes. We focus on approaches that could speed detection of general trends in endophyte community assembly: (i) use of the ‘assembly rules’ concept to identify specific mechanisms that influence endophyte community dynamics, (ii) measurement of functional trait variation in plants and fungi to better understand endophyte community processes and plant–fungal interactions, and (iii) investigation of microbe–microbe interactions, and fungal traits that mediate them. This approach is well suited for research in agricultural systems, where pair‐wise host–fungus interactions and mechanisms of fungal–fungal competition have frequently been described. Areas for consideration include the possibility that human manipulation of crop phenotype and deployment of fungal biocontrol species can significantly influence endophyte community assembly. Evaluation of endophyte assembly rules may help to fine‐tune crop management strategies.
Richness‐environment relationships in epigaeic ants across the Subantarctic‐Patagonian transition zone
Authors: FERGNANI PAULA NILDA , SACKMANN PAULA , RUGGIERO ADRIANA 
Published: July 2010

Abstract. 1. We analysed ant species richness‐environment relationships across the Subantartic‐Patagonian transition, in southern South America. We tested the predictions of the (i) thermal limitation hypothesis: temperature limits ant species richness, (ii) the productivity hypothesis: ant richness is driven by the indirect effect of climate (temperature and precipitation) mediated by changes in plant environment (plant cover and litter accumulation). We also evaluated the effects of (iii) plant species richness, and (iv) habitat use by cattle on richness.2. We collected ants using 450 pitfall traps within a ∼150 × 150 km area. We used path analysis to evaluate the associations of ant richness with environmental predictors. We evaluated the influence of local abundance variation on richness‐environment relationships; we applied principal co‐ordinates of neighbour matrices to model the spatial autocorrelation in the data and combined spatial and ecological descriptors of ant richness into partial regression.3. Ant richness responded positively to indirect effects of precipitation mediated by shrub cover and tree cover, towards the west, and by litter accumulation, towards the east of the transition. Direct climatic effects on richness were negative or weak throughout. The local increase in plant species richness and habitat disturbance by cattle promoted an increase in ant richness, mostly towards the east of the transition. These results were not seriously affected by variation in local abundance and the spatial autocorrelation in the data.4. We suggest that climate, either directly or indirectly, through its biological effect on plant environment interacts with micro‐spatial variation in habitat heterogeneity and disturbance to account for ant species diversity across this transition.
Association of complement factor H Y402H polymorphism and age‐related macular degeneration in Brazilian patients
Authors: Teixeira Anderson G. , Silva Aldacilene S. , Lin Fabio L.H. , Velletri Roberta , Bavia Lorena , Belfort Jr Rubens , Isaac Lourdes 
Published: July 2010

Abstract.Purpose:  The aim of this study was investigate the association between complement Factor H polymorphism (Y402H) and age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) in Brazilian patients.Methods:  Patients with AMD aged 50 or more and age‐matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was isolated from leucocytes of patients and controls; the Y402H polymorphism of complement Factor H gene (CFH) was determined by polymerase chain reaction directed sequencing.Results:  The frequency of 1277C allele of Factor H was 56.30% in patients with AMD compared with 36.51% in controls (p‐value = 0.001). The genotypic distribution differed significantly between the two groups (1277CC 36.98%, 1277CT 38.65% and 1277TT 24.37% for AMD group; 1277CC 13.16%, 1277CT 46.71% and 1277TT 40.13% for controls, p‐value = 0.001). The odds ratio for patients with AMD carrying only one 1277C allele was 1.36 and for those carrying two 1277C alleles was 4.63, when compared to the control group.Conclusions:  These results suggest the Y402H polymorphism of CFH is a risk factor to the development of AMD in Brazilian patients. This is in accordance with findings from the majority of previous study population in Europe and North American.
Nutraceuticals and Atherosclerosis: Human Trials
Authors: Badimon Lina , Vilahur Gemma , Padro Teresa 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYThe high prevalence of obesity, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is largely attributable to the contemporary lifestyle that is often sedentary and includes a diet high in saturated fats and sugars and low ingestion polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), fruit, vegetables, and fiber. Epidemiological studies have confirmed a strong association between fat intake, especially saturated‐ and transfatty acids, plasma cholesterol levels, and rate of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. In counterpart, beneficial cardiovascular effects have been reported in populations consuming the “healthy” Mediterranean‐type diet. Indeed, many nutrients and phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables, and wine, including fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, have shown to be independently or jointly responsible for the apparent reduction in CVD risk. Therefore, in patients with overt CVD, efforts have focused on combining both drug treatments and nutrition interventions. Undoubtedly, the advances in the knowledge of both the disease processes and healthy dietary components have provided new avenues to develop pharmaceutical and/or dietary strategies to halt the development of vascular disease. In this regard, within the last years, pioneering nutritional strategies, such as nutraceuticals, have been developed aimed at reducing the main atherosclerotic risk factors and promoting cardiovascular health. Furthermore, a growing body of clinical evidence has demonstrated positive cardiovascular effects associated with dietary fibers, cholesterol‐lowering natural agents, olive oil, ω‐3 PUFAs, antioxidants, and polyphenols intake. Moreover, monounsaturated fatty acids intake has shown to modulate the expression of key atherosclerotic‐related genes. Yet, in the case of antioxidants, some large clinical trials have failed to confirm such atheroprotective effects. Furthermore, there might be interactions between these natural food supplements and cardiovascular medications that cannot be overlooked. Hence, there is a need for a better understanding and more scientific evidence of the relative contribution of major nutraceutical constituents to the inhibition of the progression of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences.
Safety of Herbal Supplements: A Guide for Cardiologists
Authors: Cohen Pieter A. , Ernst E. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYMany patients use herbal supplements to treat chronic cardiovascular conditions and often combine herbal ingredients with cardiovascular medications. However, physicians do not reliably elicit a history of herbal use from their patients and may overlook herbal supplements' adverse effects. Although often considered harmless by patients, herbal supplements may cause adverse cardiovascular effects from an herbal ingredient, a contaminant, or an herb–drug interaction. Herbal stimulants, including bitter orange, ephedra, caffeine, guarana, maté, kola, areca, lobelia, khat, and others are the most common category of herbal therapies to cause cardiovascular effects. However, dozens of other herbal ingredients have also been linked to adverse cardiovascular events. In addition to listed ingredients, herbal supplements may become contaminated at a number of stages during production. Pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria, and pharmaceutical agents have been detected in herbal supplements. Supposedly “herbal” products that are adulterated with prescription anorectics, antidepressants, diuretics, phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors along with other medications have been identified throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. All of these adulterants have potential cardiovascular effects. Herbal interactions with a variety of cardiovascular medications may also lead to adverse events. Herbal ingredients may cause pharmacokinetic as well as pharmacodynamic herb–drug interactions. We review clinically relevant patterns of adverse cardiovascular reactions to herbal supplements, and we provide resources and recommendations for practicing cardiologists evaluating patients with suspected herbal adverse effects.
Cardiovascular Ion Channels as a Molecular Target of Flavonoids
Authors: Scholz Eberhard P. , Zitron Edgar , Katus Hugo A. , Karle Christoph A. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYFlavonoids are a class of naturally occurring polyphenols abundant in edibles and beverages of plant origin. Epidemiological studies consistently associate high flavonoid intake with a reduced risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. So far these beneficial effects have been mainly attributed to nonspecific antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that flavonoids specifically target molecular structures including cardiovascular ion channels. Playing a pivotal role in the regulation of vascular tone and cardiac electric activity, ion channels represent a major target for the induction of antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects. Thus, pharmacological properties of flavonoids on cardiovascular ion channels, ion currents and tissue preparations are being increasingly addressed in experimental studies. Whereas it has become clear that cardiovascular ion channels represent an important molecular target of flavonoids, the published data have not yet been systematically reviewed.
The elliptic Hall algebra, Cherednik Hecke algebras and Macdonald polynomials
Authors: Schiffmann O. , Vasserot E. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWe exhibit a strong link between the Hall algebraHXof an elliptic curveXdefined over a finite field 𝔽l(or, more precisely, its spherical subalgebraU+X) and Cherednik’s double affine Hecke algebras$\ddot {\mathbf {H}}_n$of type GLn, for alln. This allows us to obtain a geometric construction of the Macdonald polynomialsPλ(q,t−1) in terms of certain functions (Eisenstein series) on the moduli space of semistable vector bundles on the elliptic curveX.
Differential Selection of Single-Step AmpC or Efflux Mutants of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
by Using Cefepime, Ceftazidime, or Ceftobiprole
Authors: Queenan Anne Marie , Shang Wenchi , Bush Karen , Flamm Robert K. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

Single-step
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
mutants, selected with ceftobiprole, ceftazidime, or cefepime, were generated at frequencies of 10
−6
to <10
−9
at two and four times the MIC. The chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase activity was increased in all ceftazidime-selected mutants. Mutants selected with cefepime either increased AmpC activity or upregulated expression of the
mexXY
efflux genes. Mutants selected with ceftobiprole did not overexpress AmpC; 90% of these produced elevated levels of
mexXY
RNA, indicating that increased efflux, not AmpC derepression, is the predominant response to ceftobiprole during first-step mutations in
P. aeruginosa
.