bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discriminant validity, responsiveness and reliability of the rheumatoid arthritis-specific Work Productivity Survey (WPS-RA)
Authors: Osterhaus Jane T , Purcaru Oana , Richard Lance 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Introduction
The rheumatoid arthritis-specific Work Productivity Survey (WPS-RA) measures the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and treatment on patient productivity within and outside the home. It contains nine questions addressing employment status, productivity within and outside the home, and daily activities. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the discriminant validity, responsiveness, and reliability of the WPS-RA in patients with active RA.

Methods
Two hundred twenty subjects (mean age was 53.8 years, 83.6% were female, mean disease duration was 9.54 years, mean number of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs failed was 2, and 38.6% were employed outside the home) in a phase III, 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial completed the WPS-RA at baseline and every 4 weeks until withdrawal/study completion. Validity was evaluated via known groups using baseline data (first and third quartiles of subjects' Health Assessment Questionnaire – Disability Index [HAQ-DI] scores and Short Form-36 health survey [SF-36] scores). To evaluate responsiveness, mean changes in WPS-RA at week 24 were compared between American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) (or HAQ-DI) responders and non-responders. Standardized response mean (SRM) was also used to quantify responsiveness. All group comparisons were conducted using a non-parametric bootstrap-t method.

Results
Subjects with lower HAQ-DI or SF-36 scores generally had statistically greater RA-associated losses in productivity within and outside the home compared with subjects with higher scores (25 of 32 evaluations were statistically significant). Smallest differences between groupswere seen in work absenteeism and days with outside help. At week 24, ACR20 and HAQ-DI responders reported large improvements in productivity within and outside the home; non-responders reported mainly a worsening in productivity (P ≤ 0.05). Effect size for productivity changes in ACR20 or HAQ-DI responders was moderate to large for six out of eight items (SRM = 0.48 to 1.12). The effect size was small for work absenteeism and days with outside help. (SRM = 0.4 and 0.24, respectively). In non-responders, the magnitude of change was negligible (SRM < 0.1) or small (SRM < 0.3).

Conclusions
The WPS-RA has demonstrated properties of discriminative validity, reliability, and responsiveness for the measurement of productivity within and outside the home in subjects with active RA.
A constant risk for familial breast cancer? A population-based family study
Authors: Czene Kamila , Reilly Marie , Hall Per , Hartman Mikael 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Introduction
The incidence of breast cancer in the unaffected breast of women with previous breast malignancy remains constant after the first diagnosis. We investigated whether there is a similar pattern in the breast cancer incidence in first-degree relatives of breast cancer patients. We studied the risk for breast cancer in mothers at ages older than their daughter's age at diagnosis.

Methods
We analyzed a Swedish population-based cohort with complete family links and calculated incidence rates of breast cancer in mothers of 48,259 daughters diagnosed with breast cancer.

Results
The risk for breast cancer in mothers of breast cancer patients is elevated relative to the background population at all ages. Mothers have an overall incidence of 0.34%/year at ages older than a daughter's age at diagnosis. This rate is not affected to any large extent by the daughter's age at diagnosis. A constant incidence rate of 0.40%/year from age 35 years onward is seen in mothers of breast cancer patients diagnosed before 35 years of age. For mothers of daughters diagnosed at age 35 to 44 years the incidence pattern is less clear, with the rate being stable for approximately 20 years after the daughter's age at diagnosis and rising thereafter. Older age at a daughter's diagnosis (≥ 45 years) appears to confer an age-dependent increase in incidence in the mother.

Conclusions
Incidence of familial breast cancer in first-degree relatives may increase to a high and constant level by a predetermined age that is specific to each family. This phenomenon appears inconsistent with accepted theories of malignant transformation.
Heliox reduces respiratory system resistance in respiratory syncytial virus induced respiratory failure
Authors: Kneyber Martin CJ , van Heerde Marc , Twisk Jos WR , Plötz Frans B , Markhors Dick G 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Introduction
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease is characterised by narrowing of the airways resulting in increased airway resistance, air-trapping and respiratory acidosis. These problems might be overcome using helium-oxygen gas mixture. However, the effect of mechanical ventilation with heliox in these patients is unclear. The objective of this prospective cross-over study was to determine the effects of mechanical ventilation with heliox 60/40 versus conventional gas on respiratory system resistance, air-trapping and CO2 removal.

Methods
Mechanically ventilated, sedated and paralyzed infants with proven RSV were enrolled within 24 hours after paediatric intensive care unit (PICU)admission. At T = 0, respiratory system mechanics including respiratory system compliance and resistance, and peak expiratory flow rate were measured with the AVEA ventilator. The measurements were repeated at each interval (after 30 minutes of ventilation with heliox, after 30 minutes of ventilation with nitrox and again after 30 minutes of ventilation with heliox). Indices of gas exchange (ventilation and oxygenation index) were calculated at each interval. Air-trapping (defined by relative change in end-expiratory lung volume) was determined by electrical impedance tomography (EIT) at each interval.

Results
Thirteen infants were enrolled. In nine, EIT measurements were performed. Mechanical ventilation with heliox significantly decreased respiratory system resistance. This was not accompanied by an improved CO2 elimination, decreased peak expiratory flow rate or decreased end-expiratory lung volume. Importantly, oxygenation remained unaltered throughout the experimental protocol.

Conclusions
Respiratory system resistance is significantly decreased by mechanical ventilation with heliox (ISCRTN98152468).
Early drotrecogin alpha (activated) administration in severe sepsis is associated with lower mortality: a retrospective analysis of the Canadian ENHANCE cohort
Authors: Hodder Richard V , Hall Richard , Russell James A , Fisher Harold N , Lee Bobbie 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Introduction
Early multimodal treatment of severe sepsis, including the use of drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA) when indicated, is considered essential for optimum outcome. However, predicting which infected patients will progress to severe sepsis and the need for aggressive intervention continues to be problematic. We therefore wished to explore whether there were any potential early markers that might predict improved survival in response to early use of DrotAA in patients with severe sepsis. In particular, in the dynamic setting of severe sepsis, we postulated that changes in markers reflecting evolving rather than baseline clinical status might guide therapy.

Methods
Data on a cohort of 305 Canadian patients from the open label ENHANCE trial of DrotAA in severe sepsis was retrospectively analyzed to search for potential clinical predictors of outcome in severe sepsis. Patients received a 96-hour infusion of DrotAA and were followed for 28 days. The association between time to treatment and mortality within subgroups defined by dynamic changes in various potential markers was explored.

Results
Mortality at 28 days was 22.6% and the variables of age, time to treatment, and early changes in serum creatinine and platelet count were identified by logistic regression as independent predictors of mortality. Across all age ranges, 28-day mortality was lower when DrotAA was administered within 24 hours of first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction compared to administration after 24 hours for both subgroups of patients defined by changes in platelet count and creatinine within the first day.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that when indicated, treatment with DrotAA should be initiated as soon as possible, regardless of age.

Trial Registration
Previous trial registration number: NCT00568893
Ethyl pyruvate decreases HMGB1 release and ameliorates murine colitis
Authors: Davé Shaival H , Tilstra Jeremy S , Matsuoka Katsuyoshi , Li Fengling , DeMarco Richard A , Beer-Stolz Donna , Sepulveda Antonia R , Fink Mitchell P , Lotze Michael T , Plevy Scott E 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
In two murine models of the human inflammatory bowel diseases, treatment with ethyl pyruvate ameliorated multiple features of active colitis, possibly by inhibiting expression and release of the damage-associated molecular pattern molecule HMGB1 from inflamed intestinal mucosa.
Signals from stressed cells and the enteric microbiota activate macrophages and dendritic cells and mediate intestinal inflammation. HMGB1 serves as an immunogenic stimuli causing release of inflammatory cytokines by myeloid cells. Ethyl pyruvate inhibits secretion of HMGB1 and improves survival in models of endotoxemia and hemorrhagic shock. We reasoned that ethyl pyruvate may be protective in colitis, which involves similar inflammatory pathways. In IL-10−/− mice with established chronic colitis, ethyl pyruvate administration ameliorated colitis and reduced intestinal cytokine production. IL-10−/− mice demonstrated increased intestinal HMGB1 expression and decreased expression of RAGE compared with wild-type mice. Fecal HMGB1 levels were decreased in ethyl pyruvate-treated mice. Furthermore, ethyl pyruvate induced HO-1 expression in intestinal tissue. In TNBS-induced colitis, intrarectal administration of ethyl pyruvate resulted in amelioration of colitis and reduced intestinal cytokine production. In LPS-activated murine macrophages, ethyl pyruvate decreased expression of IL-12 p40 and NO production but did not affect IL-10 levels. Ethyl pyruvate did not inhibit nuclear translocation of NF-κB family members but attenuated NF-κB DNA binding. Additionally, ethyl pyruvate induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression and HO-1 promoter activation. Moreover, ethyl pyruvate prevented nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1. In conclusion, the HMGB1/RAGE pathway has pathophysiologic and diagnostic significance in experimental colitis. Ethyl pyruvate and other strategies to inhibit HMGB1 release and function represent promising interventions in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Aberrant TGF-β signaling reduces T regulatory cells in ICAM-1-deficient mice, increasing the inflammatory response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Windish Hillarie Plessner , Lin P Ling , Mattila Joshua T , Green Angela M , Onuoha Ezenwa Obi , Kane Lawrence P , Flynn JoAnne L 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Uncontrolled lung pathology resulting from reduced T regulatory cells causes increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in ICAM-1-deficient mice.
Foxp3+ T regulatory cells are required to prevent autoimmune disease, but also prevent clearance of some chronic infections. While natural T regulatory cells are produced in the thymus, TGF-β1 signaling combined with T-cell receptor signaling induces the expression of Foxp3 in CD4+ T cells in the periphery. We found that ICAM-1−/− mice have fewer T regulatory cells in the periphery than WT controls, due to a role for ICAM-1 in induction of Foxp3 expression in response to TGF-β1. Further investigation revealed a functional deficiency in the TGF-β1-induced translocation of phosphorylated Smad3 from the cytoplasmic compartment to the nucleus in ICAM-1-deficient mice. This impairment in the TGF-β1 signaling pathway is most likely responsible for the decrease in T regulatory cell induction in the absence of ICAM-1. We hypothesized that in the presence of an inflammatory response, reduced production of inducible T regulatory cells would be evident in ICAM-1−/− mice. Indeed, following Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, ICAM-1−/− mice had a pronounced reduction in T regulatory cells in the lungs compared with control mice. Consequently, the effector T-cell response and inflammation were greater in the lungs of ICAM-1−/− mice, resulting in morbidity due to overwhelming pathology.
Lymphoma After Solid Organ Transplantation: Risk, Response to Therapy, and Survival at a Transplantation Center
Authors: Knight Jason S. , Tsodikov Alexander , Cibrik Diane M. , Ross Charles W. , Kaminski Mark S. , Blayney Douglas W. 
Published: May 2009

Purpose We studied the incidence, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) that occurred at the University of Michigan since 1964. Patients and Methods We identified 7,040 patients who received solid organ transplantation (SOT) and post-transplantation immunosuppressive therapy. Seventy-eight patients developed PTLD. Results Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 43), polymorphic PTLD (n = 10), Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 7), Burkitts lymphoma (n = 6), plasmacytoma (n = 5), and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (n = 3) were all over-represented in the SOT population compared with a population sample from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database; follicular lymphoma (n = 0) was underrepresented. Negative pretransplantation Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology was a risk factor for PTLD. Available histologic analysis of tumor tissue showed that 75% were CD20 positive and that 62% were EBV positive; EBV-positive tumors occurred sooner after SOT than EBV-negative tumors (mean, 29 v 66 months). Extralymphatic disease (79%), poor performance status (68%), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; 71%), and advanced stage (68%) disease were all common at the time of lymphoma diagnosis. Two thirds of patients had a complete response when treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone–like chemotherapy (either with or without rituximab). Median overall survival in all patients with PTLD was 8.23 years (95% CI, 2.28 to 30.0 years). Conclusion EBV-naïve patients who receive a donor organ from an EBV-infected donor are in the highest-risk situation for PTLD development. Most of these lymphomas are CD20 positive. Follicular lymphoma is unusual. With treatment, survival of patients with PTLD was indistinguishable from that of the SEER population sample.
Money Doctoring after World War II: Arthur I. Bloomfield and the Federal Reserve Missions to South Korea
Authors: Alacevich Michele , Asso Pier Francesco 
Published: May 2009

We explore the foreign economic policy activities of Arthur I. Bloomfield, a prominent economist of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the 1940s and the 1950s. During the cold war, Bloomfield headed several missions to South East Asia, assisting local authorities in shaping new foreign exchange regimes and banking institutions. Bloomfield's most successful mission concerned the constitution of a new central bank in South Korea, established in June 1950.In line with the Fed's new strategy established by Robert Triffin, head of the Latin American section, Bloomfield moved away from the dogmatic style of Edwin Kemmerer that dominated U.S. overseas missions in the first half of the twentieth century; “Southern” economies, in fact, rather than benefiting from Kemmerer's policies, had been increasingly hit by cyclical instability. According to Triffin and Bloomfield, U.S. overseas missions should loosen constraints on the activity of economic institutions and policy authorities, in order to increase their effectiveness as guarantors of financial stability and promoters of national development.We examine this episode in the light of the U.S. postwar foreign economic relations and the concept of “embedded liberalism.” The Bloomfield missions to South Korea show with great clarity the principal features of the Fed's new foreign strategy and the need to examine the actual advisory activity of Fed economists during the 1940s: they were at the intersection between domestic and international political and economic systems. Ultimately, they played a major role in forging the actual foreign policy of the United States.
Comparison of blood glucose meters in a New Zealand diabetes centre
Authors: Florkowski Christopher , Budgen Christopher , Kendall Deborah , Lunt Helen , Moore M Peter 
Published: May 2009

Background To assess the accuracy and precision of the Roche Performa and Medisense Optium Xceed (5 and 10 s reading) blood glucose meters. Methods Capillary blood samples were taken from 100 patients attending a diabetes centre and blood glucose measured on Roche Performa ( n = 4) and Medisense Optium Xceed 5 s ( n = 2) and 10 s reading ( n = 2) meters. Venous plasma glucose from samples taken simultaneously was measured by the laboratory hexokinase method as reference standard. Imprecision was determined on the meters by replicate analysis ( n = 20) of control solutions provided by the manufacturers and also patient venous whole-blood samples. Accuracy was assessed relative to the reference method by Bland–Altman plots, Passing and Bablok regression analysis, and both Clarke and consensus error grid analysis. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated to determine imprecision. Results Bland–Altman and Passing–Bablok analysis confirmed significant systematic bias for all meters, with relative under-reading of higher glucose concentrations. Error grid analysis showed that <5% readings exceeded ±20% (or ±0.83 mmol/L for readings <4 mmol/L) deviation from the reference method (1%, 2% and 4% for the Roche, Optium 5 and 10 s meters, respectively). CVs were all <4% for the control solutions and <6% for patient samples. Conclusions Both Roche Performa and Medisense Optium glucose meters (5 and 10 s readings) perform satisfactorily and are acceptable for operational use.
Haemodialysis patients longitudinally assessed by highly sensitive cardiac troponin T and commercial cardiac troponin T and cardiac troponin I assays
Authors: Jacobs Leo H , van de Kerkhof Jos , Mingels Alma M , Kleijnen Vincent W , van der Sande Frank M , Wodzig Will K , Kooman Jeroen P , van Dieijen-Visser Marja P 
Published: May 2009

Background Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) concentrations predict an increased mortality in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study compares the performance of a precommercial high-sensitive cTnT assay (hs-cTnT) with two contemporary cTn assays in detecting cTn elevations in ESRD patients during a six-month follow-up. Methods Thirty-two ESRD patients were followed for six months, during which cTn concentrations were assessed every two months. Baseline biomarker concentrations were compared with those in a simultaneously measured reference population of 501 healthy subjects. Results During follow-up 26 (81%), 32 (100%) and 9 (28%) of the patients showed elevated cTn concentrations according to the current cTnT, the hs-cTnT and the cTnI assays, respectively. The range of concentrations measured in each patient had a median (interquartile range) magnitude of 0.03 μg/L (0.02–0.06), 0.017 μg/L (0.011–0.029) and 0.011 μg/L (0–0.017) according to the aforementioned assays. Conclusion According to the hs-cTnT assay, all of the ESRD patients had elevated cTnT concentrations at least once during the follow-up. As elevated cTn concentrations are highly prognostic of adverse events, the use of serial measurements has thus identified additional patients at risk for such events. The fact that we find cTn concentrations to be higher in patients with a history of cardiac disease is in line with this. Additional studies in ESRD patients are needed to investigate the added diagnostic and prognostic value of the very low cTnT concentrations and variations detected only by the hs-cTnT assay.
Differentially displayed proteins as a tool for the development of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Dincer Ayse , Onal Secil , Timur Suna , Zeytunluoglu Ali , Duman Erdal , Zihnioglu Figen 
Published: May 2009

Background Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease that still requires a great deal of work to be carried out to understand the pathophysiology. Recently, researchers have focused on studying the organs and tissues known to be involved in the development of the type 2 phenotype using a proteomic approach. Little work has been reported on plasma of type 2 diabetics in whom the clinical status has been well characterized. In this study, changes in plasma proteins of type 2 diabetics were investigated by proteomic analysis in well-characterized individuals with type 2 diabetes (early and late stage) and control groups (with or without a family history of diabetes). Methods Samples were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and significantly differentiated proteins were identified by nano-LC-ESI-MS. Results A total of 12 protein signatures that were differentially displayed with high significance compared with controls were selected. Four of the differentially displayed proteins were identified as haptoglobin alpha2, haptoglobin Hp2(fragment) and transthyretin and Chain A (formerly prealbumin), and all were up-regulated. Thiol-specific antioxidant protein, Chain A, tertiary structures of three amyloidogenic transthretin variants and haptoglobin-related protein precursor were all down-regulated in controls with a family history of diabetes, early and late diabetic patients in comparison with the control. Conclusion A proteomic-based approach was used to discover and identify the differentially expressed proteins in various states of type 2 diabetes.
Exact Algorithms for the Quadratic Linear Ordering Problem
Authors: Buchheim Christoph , Wiegele Angelika , Zheng Lanbo 
Published: May 2009

The quadratic linear ordering problem naturally generalizes various optimization problems such as bipartite crossing minimization or the betweenness problem, which includes linear arrangement. These problems have important applications, e.g., in automatic graph drawing and computational biology. We present a new polyhedral approach to the quadratic linear ordering problem that is based on a linearization of the quadratic objective function. Our main result is a reformulation of the 3-dicycle inequalities using quadratic terms. After linearization, the resulting constraints are shown to be face-inducing for the polytope corresponding to the unconstrained quadratic problem. We use this result both within a branch-and-cut algorithm and within a branch-and-bound algorithm based on semidefinite programming. Experimental results for bipartite crossing minimization show that this approach clearly outperforms other methods.