bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dofetilide Reduces the Frequency of Ventricular Arrhythmias and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapies
Authors: BAQUERO GISELLE A. , BANCHS JAVIER E. , DEPALMA SONDRA , YOUNG SALLIE K. , PENNY‐PETERSON ERICA D. , SAMII SORAYA M. , WOLBRETTE DEBORAH L. , NACCARELLI GERALD V. , GONZALEZ MARIO D. 
Published: September 2011

Dofetilide Reduces VT/VF and ICD Therapies. Background: Patients with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and ventricular arrhythmias leading to ICD therapies have poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. Antiarrhythmic agents and catheter ablation are needed to control these arrhythmias. Dofetilide has only been approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The role of dofetilide in the control of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with an ICD has not been established.Objective: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of dofetilide in a consecutive group of patients with an ICD and recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/ or ventricular fibrillation (VF) after other antiarrhythmic drugs have failed to suppress these arrhythmias.Methods: We studied 30 patients (age 59  ±  11; 5 women) with symptomatic VT or VF and ICDs for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. These patients had an average of 1.8  ±  4.5 episodes of VT/VF per month despite antiarrhymic therapy. Twenty‐one patients (70%) had recurrent appropriate ICD therapies prior to initiation of dofetilide, and 9 (30%) VTs below the programmed detection rate of the ICD. Twenty‐three patients (77%) had coronary artery disease. Mean ejection fraction was 30 ± 14% and 26/30 (87%) had congestive heart failure. All patients had previously failed 2 ± 1 antiarrhythmic drugs including amiodarone (n = 19) and sotalol (n = 10).Results: During the first month of treatment, 25 patients (83%) had complete suppression of VT/VF and of the 21 patients with ICD therapies 16 (76%) had no therapies during the first month of treatment. During a follow‐up period of 32  ±  32 months, dofetilide reduced the monthly episodes of VT/VF from 1.8  ±  4.5 to 1.0  ±  3.5 (P = 0.006). Monthly ICD therapies decreased from 0.9 ± 1.4 to 0.4 ± 1.7 (P = 0.037). In 9 patients that presented with slow VTs under the ICD detection zone, dofetilide reduced monthly VT/VF episodes from 0.7  ±  0.6 to 0.1  ± 0.1 (P = 0.01) and 6 (67%) had no further ICD therapies. Dofetilide was discontinued in 13 patients (43%) after 24  ±  30 months due to failure to control VT/VF (n = 7), placement of a left ventricular assist device (n = 3), catheter ablation (n = 1), heart transplantation (n = 1), and left ventricular restoration surgery (n = 1). There were 7 documented deaths (2 patients died suddenly; 3 patients of progressive heart failure; and 2 of non‐cardiac causes).Conclusions: In patients with an ICD and ventricular arrhythmias, dofetilide decreases the frequency of VT/VF and ICD therapies even when other antiarrhythmic agents, including amiodarone, have previously been ineffective. Recurrences still occur in some patients requiring catheter ablation, mechanical support, or heart transplantation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23 p. 296‐301, March 2012.)
PPAR‐γ Activator Pioglitazone Prevents Age‐Related Atrial Fibrillation Susceptibility by Improving Antioxidant Capacity and Reducing Apoptosis in a Rat Model
Authors: XU DONGZHU , MURAKOSHI NOBUYUKI , IGARASHI MIYAKO , HIRAYAMA AKI , ITO YOKO , SEO YOSHIHIRO , TADA HIROSHI , AONUMA KAZUTAKA 
Published: September 2011

PPAR‐γ Activator as Upstream Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation in Rat. Introduction: The in vivo role of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ, an essential transcriptional mediator of lipid and glucose metabolism, in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains to be fully elucidated. We investigated the effects of pioglitazone, a PPAR‐γ activator, in an in vivo AF rat model.
Methods and Results:
We studied 3 groups of Wistar rats: young group, 3‐month‐old rats treated with vehicle; aged group, 9‐month‐old rats treated with vehicle; and aged+Pio group, 9‐month‐old rats treated with pioglitazone. After 4‐week treatment, AF duration induced by 30‐second burst pacing, gene and protein expressions, and atrial structural changes were compared between the 3 groups. Atrial oxidant reducing activity was measured by electron spin resonance method. AF duration was markedly prolonged in the aged group but significantly shortened in the aged+Pio group. Age‐induced decrease in free radical reducing activity was reversed by pioglitazone. Gene and protein expression levels of antioxidant molecules Sod2 (MnSOD) and Hspa1a (heat shock 70 protein) were significantly enhanced, and p22phox and gp91phox, two NADPH oxidase subunits, were significantly decreased in aged+Pio rats. Pioglitazone treatment significantly increased phosphorylated (p‐) Akt but significantly reduced p‐ERK1/2 and p‐JNK. Pioglitazone significantly restored p‐Bad and reduced cleaved caspase‐3 and ‐9, indicating that pioglitazone prevented age‐related enhancement of apoptotic signaling. Microscopic analysis revealed suppression of age‐related histological changes (interstitial fibrosis and apoptosis) by pioglitazone.
Conclusions:
Pioglitazone inhibited age‐related arrhythmogenic atrial remodeling and AF perpetuation by improving antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway. PPAR‐γ activators could become a novel upstream therapy for age‐related AF. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 209‐217, February 2012)
Intravenous Epinephrine Infusion Test in Diagnosis of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: MARJAMAA ANNUKKA , HIIPPALA ANITA , ARRHENIUS BIANCA , LAHTINEN ANNUKKA M. , KONTULA KIMMO , TOIVONEN LAURI , HAPPONEN JUHA‐MATTI , SWAN HEIKKI 
Published: September 2011

Epinephrine Infusion in Diagnosis of CPVT. Introduction: A test involving intravenous infusion of epinephrine has been proposed as a method alternative to exercise stress test in diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). We aimed at estimating the predictive value of intravenous epinephrine administration in CPVT patients with frequent exercise‐induced ventricular ectopy.Methods and Results: We recruited 81 subjects, including 25 CPVT‐linked ryanodine receptor 2 (RYR2) mutation carriers, 11 genetically undefined CPVT patients, and 45 unaffected family members. All subjects underwent a maximal exercise stress test and an intravenous epinephrine infusion test. Exercise stress test was positive in 25 (31%) patients including 14 of 25 (56%) established RYR2‐mutation carriers and all 11 (100%) genetically undefined CPVT patients. Epinephrine infusion induced arrhythmias in 3 (12%) RYR2‐mutation carriers, 4 (36%) genetically undefined CPVT patients, and 1 (2%) unaffected family member. A total of 18 exercise stress test positive patients did not respond to intravenous epinephrine administration, whereas only 1 epinephrine test responder had a normal exercise stress test. Thus, if exercise stress test is used as a standard, the sensitivity of the epinephrine infusion test is 28% and specificity is 98%.Conclusions: Intravenous epinephrine infusion has low sensitivity and may not be considered as an alternative method for a maximal exercise stress test in diagnosis of CPVT. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 194‐199, February 2012)
Xenobiotic Particle Exposure and Microvascular Endpoints: A Call to Arms
Authors: STAPLETON PHOEBE A. , MINARCHICK VALERIE C. , McCAWLEY MICHAEL , KNUCKLES TRAVIS L. , NURKIEWICZ TIMOTHY R. 
Published: September 2011

Please cite this paper as: Stapleton PA, Minarchick VC, McCawley M, Knuckles TL and Nurkiewicz TR. Xenobiotic Particle Exposure and Microvascular Endpoints: A Call to Arms. Microcirculation 19: 126–142, 2012.AbstractXenobiotic particles can be considered in two genres: air pollution particulate matter and engineered nanoparticles. Particle exposures can occur in the greater environment, the workplace, and our homes. The majority of research in this field has, justifiably, focused on pulmonary reactions and outcomes. More recent investigations indicate that cardiovascular effects are capable of correlating with established mortality and morbidity epidemiological data following particle exposures. While the preliminary and general cardiovascular toxicology has been defined, the mechanisms behind these effects, specifically within the microcirculation, are largely unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this review is several fold: first, a historical background on toxicological aspects of particle research is presented. Second, essential definitions, terminology, and techniques that may be unfamiliar to the microvascular scientist will be discussed. Third, the most current concepts and hypotheses driving cardiovascular research in this field will be reviewed. Lastly, potential future directions for the microvascular scientist will be suggested. Collectively speaking, microvascular research in the particle exposure field represents far more than a “niche.” The immediate demand for basic, translational, and clinical studies is high and diverse. Microvascular scientists at all career stages are strongly encouraged to expand their research interests to include investigations associated with particle exposures.
Processing and Properties of Co‐Extruded Lead Zirconate Titanate Fibers
Authors: Ismael Marina R. , Clemens Frank , Wyss Peter , Graule Thomas , Hoffmann Michael J. 
Published: September 2011

The development of the whole process chain, starting with feedstock preparation and rheological characterization, followed by debinding, sintering, and the final properties is described for the fabrication of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) fibers through the co‐extrusion process. ThePZT‐polymer and carbon black (CB)‐polymer feedstocks were prepared using a high‐shear mixer and their rheological behavior was characterized by torque rheometry and by the evaluation of viscosity models which consider the influence of the volume fraction of solids on the relative viscosity Based on the rheology of the compounds, a feedstock containing 58 vol% ofPZTand another containing 35 vol% ofCBwere selected for the co‐extrusion process. By varying the viscosity ratio between the co‐extruded materials, three different co‐extrusion investigations were carried out. To detect any defect present in the green co‐extruded monofilament composites that may become evident only after debinding, sintering or even at the test stage, X‐ray tomography was performed. To establish the developed co‐extrusion process chain, the microstructure, and the electromechanical properties of successfully co‐extruded and sintered fibers (ø ~250 μm) were compared with fibers produced by conventional thermoplastic extrusion. The extruded fibers revealed a maximum strain of 0.39%, whereas this value was decreased to 0.22% for the co‐extruded ones.
Dielectric, Ferroelectric, and Magnetic Characteristics of LuFeCuO4 Ceramics
Authors: Qin Ying , Chen Xiang Ming , Liu Xiao Qiang 
Published: September 2011

The LuFeCuO4 ceramics with a rhombohedral crystal structure in space group were prepared by a solid‐state reaction process, and both the dielectric and magnetic characteristics were investigated. An obvious dielectric relaxation with activation energy of 0.37 eV was observed, which could be well fitted by the modified Debye equation and Arrhenius law. A P–E hysteresis loop was observed in the present ceramics at 150 K, with a remnant polarization of 5.78 × 10−2 μC/cm2 and a coercive field of 10.76 kV/cm. The LuFeCuO4 was antiferromagnetic with TN of 57 K, and a slim hysteresis loop observed at 5 K demonstrated the weak ferromagnetic behavior below Néel temperature. The room‐temperature magnetodielectric response in LuFeCuO4 suggested the existence of magnetic–dielectric coupling.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Venous Blood Gas Electrolytes for Identifying Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Emergency Department
Authors: Menchine Michael , Probst Marc A. , Agy Chad , Bach Dianne , Arora Sanjay 
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:1105–1108 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  Diagnosing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has traditionally required a venous blood gas (VBG) to obtain serum pH and a serum chemistry panel to obtain electrolyte values. Because newer blood gas analyzers have the ability to report electrolyte values and glucose in addition to pH, this diagnostic process could theoretically be condensed. However, neither the diagnostic accuracy of the VBG for DKA nor the agreement between the VBG electrolytes and the serum chemistry electrolytes, including sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate, has been evaluated in the context of acute hyperglycemia. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of VBG electrolytes for diagnosing DKA using serum chemistry electrolytes measures as the criterion standard and to describe the correlation between VBG and serum chemistry electrolytes in a sample of hyperglycemic patients seen in the emergency department (ED).Methods:  The authors prospectively identified a convenience sample of ED patients with serum blood glucose ≥ 250 mg/dL and examined their paired VBG and serum chemistry electrolytes. The diagnosis of DKA was made by using American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria including serum glucose ≥ 250 mg/dL, serum anion gap > 10 mEq/L, bicarbonate ≤ 18 mEq/L, serum pH ≤ 7.30, and presence of ketosis. Serum chemistry electrolyte values were considered to be the criterion standard. Diagnostic test characteristics of VBG electrolytes including sensitivity and specificity were compared against this standard. In addition, correlation coefficients for individual electrolytes and anion gap between VBG and chemistry electrolytes were calculated.Results:  Paired VBG and serum chemistry panels were available for 342 patients, of whom 46 (13.5%) had DKA. The sensitivity and specificity of the VBG electrolytes for diagnosing DKA was 97.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 88.5% to 99.9%) and 100% (95% CI = 98.8% to 100%), respectively. One case of DKA was missed by the VBG. Correlation coefficients between VBG and serum chemistry were 0.90, 0.73, 0.94, and 0.81 for sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, and anion gap, respectively.Conclusions:  The VBG electrolytes were 97.8% sensitive and 100% specific for the diagnosis of DKA in hyperglycemic patients. These preliminary findings support the use of VBG electrolytes in lieu of VBG along with serum chemistry analysis to rule in or rule out DKA.
Modification of Glasgow Coma Scale Criteria for Injured Elders
Authors: Caterino Jeffrey M. , Raubenolt Amy , Cudnik Michael T. 
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:1014–1021 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  An abnormal field Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≤13 has been used in our emergency medical services (EMS) system to prompt transport to a trauma center. For elders, Ohio has recently adopted a GCS of ≤14 to prompt EMS transport to a trauma center, as older patients respond differently to trauma and may benefit from a different GCS threshold. This study sought to determine if a field GCS of 14 is an appropriate cutoff to initiate transport to a trauma center among injured elders.Methods:  This was a retrospective, observational statewide analysis of injured patients ≥16 years old captured by the Ohio Trauma Registry from 2002 to 2007. Outcomes studied included mortality, traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurosurgical intervention, and endotracheal intubation (ETI). Multiple imputation was performed to account for missing data. Age‐stratified sensitivity and specificity for proposed GCS cutoffs of 13 and 14 were calculated. A series of multivariate logistic regression models was then constructed using each outcome as a dependent variable. Independent variables included age, GCS score, sex, blood pressure, injury type, nontrauma center, race, ethnicity, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Two separate analyses were performed. For each age group, odds ratios (ORs) of each outcome were calculated both for the decrease in GCS from 15 to 14 and for the decrease from 14 to 13. The group of elders with GCS 14 was then compared to adults with GCS 13.Results:  A total of 52,412 study patients were identified. For a GCS cutoff of 13, sensitivity among elders for each outcome was >20% less than sensitivity for adults, and specificity was 5% to 10% greater. Increasing the GCS cutoff for elders to 14 resulted in improved sensitivity for all outcomes (approximately 10%), with a decline in specificity to values near that of adults with GCS 13. In the multivariate models for elders, mortality increased with a decrease in GCS both from 15 to 14 (OR = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07 to 1.83) and from GCS 14 to 13 (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.57 to 3.52). In adults, mortality did not increase with the drop from GCS 15 to 14 (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.88 to 1.71) or from GCS 14 to 13 (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.91 to 2.30). When comparing elders with GCS 14 to adults with GCS 13, elders had greater odds of mortality (OR = 4.68, 95% CI = 2.90 to 7.54) and TBI (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.45 to 2.34).Conclusions:  Changing the EMS trauma triage cutoff for elders from GCS 13 to GCS 14 results in improved sensitivity for clinically relevant outcomes. In injured elders, the decline in GCS from 15 to 14 is associated with increased mortality, a finding not observed in younger adults. Elders with GCS 14 have greater odds of mortality and TBI than adults with GCS 13. These results support recent changes in EMS trauma triage guidelines for elders adopted in Ohio.
The use of whole‐cell protein profile analysis by SDS‐PAGE as an accurate tool to identify species and subspecies of coagulase‐negative staphylococci
Authors: SANTOS ODELTA DOS , DE RESENDE MARIAH COSTA CARVALHO , DE MELLO ARIÉLE LIMA , FRAZZON ANA PAULA GUEDES , D’AZEVEDO PEDRO ALVES 
Published: September 2011

Dos Santos O, De Resende MCC, De Mello AL, Frazzon APG, D’Azevedo PA. The use of whole‐cell protein profile analysis by SDS‐PAGE as an accurate tool to identify species and subspecies of coagulase‐negative staphylococci. APMIS 2012; 120: 39–46.We used sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) as a tool to characterize coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CoNS). Of 253 clinical isolates and 10 control strains, five species and four subspecies were analyzed. All the isolates were identified using conventional phenotypic tests and SDS‐PAGE. Discrepant results between these methods, as well as less common species and subspecies, were confirmed by sodA and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Intraspecies similarities, calculated by the Dice coefficient, were significantly higher when compared to interspecies similarities. The conventional method failed to identify eight (3.2%) molecularly defined and SDS‐PAGE‐determined isolates. Therefore, SDS‐PAGE was able to discriminate between all unidentified or misidentified isolates using a phenotypic method. In addition, SDS‐PAGE identified all atypical isolates using biochemistry and CoNS at the subspecies level.
Ten‐year results of a three arms prospective cohort study on implants in periodontally compromised patients. Part 2: clinical results
Authors: Roccuzzo Mario , Bonino Francesca , Aglietta Marco , Dalmasso Paola 
Published: September 2011

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare long‐term outcomes of implants placed both in patients treated for periodontitis and in periodontally healthy patients (PHP).Material and methodsOne hundred and twelve partially edentulous patients were consecutively enrolled in private specialist practice and divided into three groups according to their initial periodontal condition: PHP, moderately periodontally compromised patients (PCP) and severely PCP. Implants were placed to support fixed prostheses, after successful completion of initial periodontal therapy [full‐mouth plaque score (FMPS) <25%, full‐mouth bleeding score (FMBS) <25%]. At the end of active periodontal treatment (APT), patients were asked to follow an individualized supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) program. Diagnosis and treatment of peri‐implant biological complications was performed according to cumulative interceptive supportive therapy. At 10 years, clinical measures were recorded by two calibrated operators, blinded to the initial patient classification, on 101 patients, as 11 were lost to follow‐up. The number of sites treated according to therapy modalities C and D (antibiotics and/or surgery) during the 10 years was registered.ResultsEighteen implants were removed for biological complications. Antibiotic and/or surgical therapy was performed in 10.7% of cases in PHP, in 27% of cases in moderate PCP and in 47.2% cases in severe PCP, with a statistically significant differences between PHP and severe PCP (P = 0.002). At the final examination, the percentage of implants, with at least one site which presented a PD ≥6 mm, was respectively 1.7% for PHP, 15.9% for moderate PCP and 27.2% for severe PCP, with a statistically significant difference between PHP and moderate PCP (P = 0.005) and PHP and severe PCP (P = 0.0001).ConclusionPatients with a history of periodontitis presented a statistically significant higher number of sites which required additional treatment. Therefore, patients with a history of periodontitis should be informed that they are more at risk for peri‐implant disease. This underlines the value of the SPT in enhancing long‐term outcomes of implant therapy, particularly in subjects affected by periodontitis. Therefore, the approach for multiple preventive dental extractions and implant placement, based on the assumption the implants perform better than teeth, should be followed with extreme caution.
Engineering of a periodontal ligament construct: cell and fibre alignment induced by shear stress
Authors: Kim Sahng G. , Kim Seong‐Gon , Viechnicki Bryon , Kim Syngcuk , Nah Hyun‐Duck 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAimWe report an in vitro technique to establish alignment of collagen fibres and cells within a three‐dimensional tissue equivalent that mimics the natural periodontal ligament (PDL) using a novel custom‐designed bioreactor.Material and MethodsShear stress was applied to the tissue equivalent prepared with collagen solution and seeded with human PDL cells. Stress‐strain dynamics and the alignment of collagen fibres and PDL cells in tissue equivalents were analysed.ResultsShear stress aligned collagen fibres and PDL cells in a direction parallel to the principle strain vector. PDL cells and Collagen fibres aligned in strained tissue equivalents with higher uniformity than in unstrained tissue equivalents.ConclusionsThe cell and fibre alignment of the engineered PDL was precisely guided by mechanical shear stress along the direction of principal strain vector using a custom‐designed bioreactor, suggesting that the enhanced functional property of engineered PDL constructs could be achieved with this technique.