bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simple standing test predicts and water ingestion prevents vasovagal reaction in the high‐risk blood donors
Authors: Ando Shin‐ichi , Kawamura Natsumi , Matsumoto Mari , Dan Emi , Takeshita Akira , Murakami Kazuko , Kashiwagi Seizaburo , Kiyokawa Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND:One of the serious complications of blood donation is vasovagal reaction (VVR) with syncope. This study was performed to determine if the measurement of hemodynamic responses to standing before blood collection (BC) was useful to identify the high‐risk donors for VVR and also examined the effect of 300 mL of water ingestion in the prevention of VVR.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:Blood pressure and heart rate (HR) during 5 minutes of standing were examined before and after BC in 93 donors. Because HR increase of 6 of 7 donors who developed syncopal VVR during standing after BC was 15 beats per minute (bpm) or greater, those with HR increase of 15 bpm or greater were determined as high‐risk donors (n = 31). In another group (n = 117), 45 donors were identified as high risk based on the HR response before BC (≥15 bpm). The effect of 300 mL of water ingestion 15 minutes before BC on hemodynamic responses to standing and the rate of VVR after BC were analyzed.RESULTS:Water ingestion given to the high‐risk donors of the second group reduced HR increase with standing before BC (−6.6 ± 13.6 bpm, p < 0.02 vs. HR increase before water ingestion) and significantly suppressed VVR rate (2 of 45 donors with high risk, 4.4%, p < 0.04 vs. the first group; 6 of 31 high‐risk donors, 19.4%).CONCLUSION:HR response to standing before BC may detect the high‐risk donors for VVR. For the high‐risk donors, 300 mL of water ingestion may be a simple and effective way of prevention against syncopal VVR.
Calcium‐sensing receptor gene polymorphisms and cardiac valvular calcification in patients with chronic renal failure: A pilot study
Authors: TURKMEN Funda , OZDEMİR Ali , SEVİNC Can , EREN Pιnar Ata , DEMİRAL Serdar 
Published: April 2009

AbstractCardiac valvular calcification (VC) is a frequent finding in chronic hemodialysis patients. In addition to demographic and metabolic factors, genetic susceptibility may also influence the occurrence and severity of these abnormalities and account for interindividual variability among patients. In this report, we studied the relation of calcium‐sensing receptor (CaSR) gene polymorphisms to the development of VC in chronic hemodialysis patients. A total of 41 chronic hemodialysis patients (26 male, mean age 47.23 ± 11.36 years vs. 15 females, mean age 48.13 ± 14.66 years) undergoing treatment for more than 1 year were evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography. In patients with and without VC, CaSR gene polymorphisms (A990G, C1011G) were investigated by PCR, using allele‐specific primers. In randomly chosen subjects, PCR analysis was verified by DNA sequencing. Cardiac valve calcification was detected in 21 patients (51.2%). Five of these patients (12.2%) had mitral valve calcification, 4 (9.75%) had aortic valve calcification, and 12 (29.27%) had both. In patients with VC, the frequency of the A/G genotype was slightly higher than those with no VC with a borderline P value (42.9% vs. 15%, χ2=3.840, P=0.050). The frequency of the C/C genotype was similar in patients with and without VC (90.5% vs. 85%, P>0.05). The results of this study are not enough to prove the role of CaSR gene polymorphisms in the development of VC. There is a need for large‐scale studies on this topic.
Rate of creatinine equilibration in whole blood
Authors: SCHNEDITZ Daniel , YANG Yichien , CHRISTOPOULOS Georgios , KELLNER Josef 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe classic assumption that a large fraction of blood creatinine remains sequestered within erythrocytes when blood is dialyzed has been challenged by recent observations where approximately 60% of erythrocyte water appeared accessible to diffusive creatinine transport during a dialyzer transit. This discrepancy provided the motivation to revisit and reanalyze the equilibration of creatinine across the erythrocyte membrane in a series of in vitro studies with normal human blood under erythrocyte loading and unloading conditions at 37 °C. The time course of plasma creatinine concentrations measured by a kinetic picric acid assay was analyzed using a 2‐compartment model. In 7 experiments, the equilibration constant was 0.052 ± 0.013/min, corresponding to a mean half‐life of 13.8 ± 2.8 minutes, and comparable for erythrocyte loading and unloading. With these values and with mean dialyzer transit times in the range of 20 seconds the fraction of erythrocyte water accessible to diffusive clearance is in the range of 2%. These results are comparable to what has been measured with radiolabeled markers almost half a century ago. Therefore, when dialyzer outlet concentrations are sampled without equilibration the effective diffusion volume flow rate for creatinine is close to plasma water flow and does not include sizeable fractions of erythrocyte water flow.
Causes and consequences of inflammation on anemia management in hemodialysis patients
Authors: CHAWLA Lakhmir S. , KRISHNAN Mahesh 
Published: April 2009

AbstractInflammation is common among hemodialysis patients, and evidence is accumulating to suggest that inflammation is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Several factors have been suggested as potential causes of inflammation, including infections and the atherosclerosis process, as well as etiologies directly related to kidney disease such as reduced renal function and dialysis. Among several inflammatory biomarkers investigated, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) is the most widely used. In hemodialysis patients, raised CRP levels have been shown to be predictive of cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality. Elevated CRP levels may correlate with comorbidities and intercurrent events, all of which may impact the response to erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) and lead to higher ESA doses. Most dialysis facilities do not routinely measure CRP, despite recommendations by the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative. Regular measurement of CRP levels may help providers to understand change in ESA dosing and identify patients at risk for cardiovascular events. This review explores the inter‐relationships between inflammation, CRP levels, and anemia management in patients receiving hemodialysis.
Interdialytic weight gain and ultrafiltration rate in hemodialysis: Lessons about fluid adherence from a national registry of clinical practice
Authors: LINDBERG Magnus , PRÜTZ Karl‐Göran , LINDBERG Per , WIKSTRÖM Björn 
Published: April 2009

AbstractExcessive interdialytic weight gain (IWG) and ultrafiltration rates (UFR) above 10 mL/h/kg body weight imply higher morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of high fluid consumers, describe UFR patterns, and describe patient characteristics associated with IWG and UFR. The Swedish Dialysis DataBase and The Swedish Renal Registry of Active Treatment of Uremia were used as data sources. Data were analyzed from patients aged ≥18 on regular treatment with hemodialysis (HD) and registered during 2002 to 2006. Interdialytic weight gain and dialytic UFR were examined in annual cohorts and the records were based on 9693 HD sessions in 4498 patients. Differences in proportions were analyzed with the chi‐square test and differences in means were tested using the ANOVA or the t test. About 30% of the patients had IWG that exceed 3.5% of dry body weight and 5% had IWG ≥5.7%. The volume removed during HD was >10 mL/h/kg for 15% to 23% of the patients, and this rate increased during the first dialytic year. Patient characteristics associated with fluid overload were younger age, lower body mass index, longer dialytic vintage, and high blood pressure. By studying IWG and dialytic UFR as quality indicators, it is shown that there is a potential for continuing improvement in the care of patients in HD settings, i.e., to enhanced adherence to fluid restriction or alternatively to extend the frequency of dialysis for all patients, e.g., by providing daily treatment.
Cool dialysate reduces asymptomatic intradialytic hypotension and increases baroreflex variability
Authors: CHESTERTON Lindsay J. , SELBY Nicholas M. , BURTON James O. , McINTYRE Chris W. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractIntradialytic hypotension (IDH) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and can be ameliorated by cool temperature HD. The baroreflex arc is under autonomic control and is essential in the short‐term regulation of blood pressure (BP). This study aimed to investigate if the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) response to HD differed between standard and cool‐temperature dialysate. Ten patients (mean age 67±2 years) prone to IDH were recruited into a randomized, crossover study to compare BRS variation at dialysate temperatures of 37 °C (HD37) and 35 °C (HD35). Each patient underwent continuous beat‐to‐beat BP monitoring during a dialysis session of HD37 and HD35. During HD37 2 patients developed symptomatic IDH, as opposed to 1 with HD35. However, asymptomatic IDH occurred with a frequency of 0.4 episodes per session with HD35 and 6.2 episodes per session during HD37 (odds ratio15.5; 95%CI 5.6–14.2). Although absolute BRS measurements did not differ between the 2 modalities, BRS variability increased during HD35. Our study has demonstrated that in IDH‐prone patients, cool HD resulted in a reduction in heart rate and a greater reduction in cardiac output and stroke volume. Mean arterial pressure was maintained through a significantly greater increase in total peripheral resistance. Furthermore, although absolute BRS values during HD were not significantly altered by a reduction in dialysate temperature, there was a greater percentage increase in BRS values during cool HD. Understanding the varied causes of, and categorizing impaired hemodynamic responses to HD will enable further individualization of HD prescriptions according to patient need.
Low cholesterol along with inflammation predicts morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients
Authors: TSIRPANLIS George , BOUFIDOU Fotini , ZOGA Margarita , TRIANTAFYLLIS George , FATOUROU Alexandra , STAMATELOU Kyriaki , BLETA Aliki , PETRIHOU Christiana , CHATZIPANAGIOTOU Stylianos , NICOLAOU Chrysoula 
Published: April 2009

AbstractLow and not high cholesterol seems to predict high mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The confirmation of this reverse epidemiology as well as its possible interconnection with the increased inflammatory activity observed in this population is being explored in the present study. A group of 136 HD patients was prospectively studied for 2 years, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as all‐cause mortality and morbidity were recorded. Baseline lipid profile, inflammatory status, and patients' characteristics were studied as potential survival and hospitalization predictors. During the 24‐month follow‐up, 21 deaths (52.4% due to CVD) and 38 hospitalizations (55.3% due to CVD) were recorded. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, decreased interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and decreased total serum cholesterol (TChol) were the only independent predictors of CVD mortality while C‐reactive protein and decreased TChol predicted all‐cause mortality. Interleukin‐10 at baseline was 11.29 ± 21.49 vs. 5.51 ± 4.57 pg/mL (P<0.018) and TChol 167.37 ± 47.84 vs.122.04 ± 26.48 mg/dL (P<0.000) in survivors vs. nonsurvivors from CVD, while C‐reactive protein at baseline was 9.37 ± 11.54 vs. 23.15 ± 18.76 mg/L (P<0.000) and TChol 169.26 ± 46.42 vs. 133.26 ± 46.33 mg/dL (P<0.003) in survivors vs. nonsurvivors from any cause of death. Using the same method of statistical analysis, IL‐6 and decreased soluble gp130 (sgp130)—an antagonist of IL‐6 action—were found to be the only independent prognostic factors for hospitalization due to CVD while decreased soluble gp130 remained the sole predictor of hospitalization due to any cause. In conclusion, reverse epidemiology regarding cholesterol is confirmed in the present study. Furthermore, inflammatory activity also predicts, independently of or in conjunction with low‐cholesterol, CVD and all‐cause morbidity and mortality in HD patients.
Oxygen‐conserving reflexes of the brain: the current molecular knowledge
Authors: Schaller B. , Cornelius J. F. , Sandu N. , Ottaviani G. , Perez‐Pinzon M. A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe trigemino‐cardiac reflex (TCR) may be classified as a sub‐phenomenon in the group of the so‐called ‘oxygen‐conserving reflexes’. Within seconds after the initiation of such a reflex, there is neither a powerful and differentiated activation of the sympathetic system with subsequent elevation in regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) with no changes in the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) or in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc). Such an increase in regional CBF without a change of CMRO2 or CMRglc provides the brain with oxygen rapidly and efficiently and gives substantial evidence that the TCR is an oxygen‐conserving reflex. This system, which mediates reflex protection projects via currently undefined pathways from the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata to the upper brainstem and/or thalamus which finally engage a small population of neurons in the cortex. This cortical centre appears to be dedicated to reflexively transduce a neuronal signal into cerebral vasodilatation and synchronization of electrocortical activity. Sympathetic excitation is mediated by cortical‐spinal projection to spinal pre‐ganglionic sympathetic neurons whereas bradycardia is mediated via projections to cardiovagal motor medullary neurons. The integrated reflex response serves to redistribute blood from viscera to brain in response to a challenge to cerebral metabolism, but seems also to initiate a preconditioning mechanism. Better and more detailed knowledge of the cascades, transmitters and molecules engaged in such endogenous (neuro) protection may provide new insights into novel therapeutic options for a range of disorders characterized by neuronal death and into cortical organization of the brain.
Effects of a short behavioural intervention for dental flossing: randomized‐controlled trial on planning when, where and how
Authors: Schüz Benjamin , Wiedemann Amelie U. , Mallach Natalie , Scholz Urte 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim: Regular dental flossing has been widely recommended to prevent periodontal diseases. Nevertheless, compliance is below a desirable level. This study evaluates the effects of a brief behavioural intervention on dental flossing and determines whether the effects of such an intervention are stronger in a specific subgroup of individuals (those intending to floss regularly=implemental mindset).Materials and Method: Behavioural intervention (planning when, where and how to floss) trial was conducting with 194 participants assigned to an intervention or a control group by a random time schedule; the primary outcome was validated self‐report of flossing behaviour. Follow‐up data were collected 2 and 8 weeks post‐intervention.Results: Individuals receiving the planning intervention significantly outperformed those in the control condition at both the 2‐ and the 8‐week follow‐up (4.24 times flossing/week versus 3.9 at 2 weeks; 4.02 versus 2.98 at 8 weeks). Intervention effects were stronger in individuals in the implemental mindset. Dropout rates were higher for participants who received the planning intervention but were not in the implemental mindset.Conclusion: Planning interventions are an economic and effective way to change oral self‐care behaviour, and are more effective in individuals in an implemental mindset.
Aggressive periodontitis is likely influenced by a few small effect genes
Authors: De Carvalho Flavia M. , Tinoco Eduardo M. B. , Govil Manika , Marazita Mary L. , Vieira Alexandre R. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim: To evaluate the inheritance mode of aggressive periodontitis in a collection of families with a similar geographic origin.Materials and Methods: Segregation analysis was performed in pedigree data from 74 families by the use of the SEGREG program of SAGE v.5.4.2. Homogeneous no transmission, homogeneous Mendelian transmission, homogeneous general transmission, semi‐general transmission and heterogeneous general transmission models were tested assuming the prevalence of aggressive periodontitis as 1% and no deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The parameters of the model were estimated by the method of maximum likelihood, which provides the overall ln (likelihood), ‐2ln and the AIC (Akaike's score) for each model. The likelihood ratio test (LRT) was used to compare each model against a fully general model (p>0.05).Results: The most parsimonious mode of inheritance was the semi‐general transmission model that allows the heterozygote transmission probability to vary.Conclusion: This result provides strong support for the hypothesis that genetic factors play a role in aggressive periodontitis and that a few loci, each with relatively small effects, contribute to aggressive periodontitis, with or without interaction with environmental factors.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Suppression of Mamu‐AG by RNA Interference
Authors: Drenzek Jessica G. , Vidiguriene Jolanta , Vidiguris Geminis , Grendell Richard L. , Dambaeva Svetlana V. , Durning Maureen , Golos Thaddeus G. 
Published: April 2009

Problem  The role of placental major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in pregnancy is not well understood. Mamu‐AG, the rhesus monkey homology of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G expressed in the human placenta, was targeted for degradation by RNA interference (RNAi), a powerful tool to aid in determining gene function, to determine the effect that this knockdown has on NK cell function.Method of study  A series of potential target short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequences to suppress Mamu‐AG expression was screened, which identified an optimal sequence to use in transfection experiments. Knockdown in two different Mamu‐AG‐expressing cell lines was measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity assays were performed to correlate Mamu‐AG expression with NK cell cytotoxicity.Results  Decreased expression of Mamu‐AG by short interfering RNA (siRNA) (70–80%) in cell types tested was associated with increased lysis of Mamu‐AG target cells.Conclusion  Target sequences have been identified that knocked down Mamu‐AG expression by RNAi and increased lysis by NK cells. This supports the concept that NK cell receptors recognize this placental non‐classical MHC class I molecule.
An optimized method to separate reticulocytes from peripheral blood for molecular analysis
Authors: PETRUZZELLI R. , PALUMBO I. , GAUDINO S. , SCALIA G. , DEL VECCHIO L. , IZZO P. , GROSSO M. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryA method based on immunomagnetic sorting of reticulocytes from peripheral blood was set up and combined to a commercial extraction kit for the isolation of total RNA from whole blood. This procedure resulted in high‐quality RNA samples suitable for molecular analysis. We used this procedure to analyse erythroid‐specific transcripts, starting from peripheral blood samples, to search for differently expressed mRNAs in patients with hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin. After erythrocyte lysis, CD15+and CD45+ peripheral cells were negatively sorted to remove leucocyte populations that could have affected the subsequent screening procedure. The cell sorting and RNA extraction procedure was completed within 1–2 h of erythrocyte lysis, which represents a consistent saving of time compared with other procedures. Moreover, it produced 1 μg of total RNA per ml of blood samples, which is sufficient for molecular analysis. Therefore, our method is a reliable and efficient tool to isolate RNA from specific cell subpopulations poorly represented in peripheral blood, particularly when accurate detection and characterization of highly unstable and poorly expressed molecules is required.
Features of hemolysis due to Clostridium perfringens infection
Authors: BOYD S. D. , MOBLEY B. C. , REGULA D. P. , ARBER D. A. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryInfection by Clostridium perfringens can be an unsuspected cause of hemolysis in emergency room patients. Historically, this condition has been associated with wound contamination and other tissue infections. We report the case of an autistic patient who presented to our emergency department with a distended abdomen and hemolysis of unknown etiology. The patient had no history of recent surgery. Exploration of the abdomen revealed a hepatic abscess. Blood cultures tested culture positive for C. perfringens. We present images demonstrating the salient features of the peripheral blood smear in cases of this uncommon but deadly cause of hemolysis.
Impacts of the summer 2007 floods on agriculture in England
Authors: Posthumus H. , Morris J. , Hess T.M. , Neville D. , Phillips E. , Baylis A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractExceptional rainfall during the summer of 2007 caused widespread flooding in parts of England. While the focus of attention has been correctly placed on the impact on densely populated urban areas, large tracts of rural land were seriously affected by flooding. Summer flooding is particularly damaging to farming. This paper presents the results from an evaluation of the impacts of the summer 2007 flood events on agriculture. High financial losses were incurred in the horticultural sector. Arable farmers incurred direct losses in the form of crop loss or yield reduction due to flooding and associated waterlogging of fields. Livestock farmers incurred indirect losses in the form of additional housing and feeding costs for livestock. Although total costs to agriculture were small compared with urban flood costs, they were typically large at the individual farm scale. Such impacts should be properly acknowledged in future strategies for flood risk management.
DNA barcoding of stygofauna uncovers cryptic amphipod diversity in a calcrete aquifer in Western Australia’s arid zone
Authors: BRADFORD T. , ADAMS M. , HUMPHREYS W. F. , AUSTIN A. D. , COOPER S. J. B. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe arid Yilgarn region of Western Australia contains numerous subterranean calcrete aquifers with unique assemblages of obligate groundwater invertebrates (stygofauna). We aimed to establish a DNA barcoding framework for the macro‐invertebrates present in a single calcrete, as a basis for future assessment of biodiversity of the Yilgarn calcretes and for investigating food webs. Intense sampling of a bore field grid in the Sturt Meadows calcrete was undertaken to obtain representatives of the entire macro‐invertebrate ecosystem. A 623‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase 1 (COI) gene was used to provide DNA barcodes for stygobiont macro‐invertebrates plus terrestrial organisms that are found in the calcrete. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the existence of 12 divergent monophyletic groups of haplotypes. Subterranean amphipods (Chiltoniidae) showed three groups ofCOIhaplotypes with sequence divergences between them of >11%. Allozyme analyses found a large number of fixed allelic differences between these three amphipod groups, indicating that there are three morphologically cryptic species within the Sturt Meadows calcrete. Unlike the sister triplet of dytiscid beetles present, the amphipods are not sister clades and are more closely related to other Yilgarn and non‐Yilgarn amphipods than to each other. Our results show that the aquifer contains at least 12 macro‐invertebrate species and DNA barcoding provides a useful means for discriminating species in this system.