bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneity of Intramural Function in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Aletras Anthony H. , Tilak Gauri S. , Hsu Li-Yueh , Arai Andrew E. 
Published: May 2011

Background—
In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), myocardial abnormalities are commonly heterogeneous. Two patterns of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) have been reported: a bright “confluent” and an intermediate intensity abnormality termed “diffuse,” each representing different degrees of myocardial scarring. We used MRI to study the relation between intramural cardiac function and the extent of fibrosis in HCM. The aim of this study was to determine whether excess collagen or myocardial scarring, as determined by LGE MRI, are the primary mechanisms leading to heterogeneous regional contractile function in patients with HCM.

Methods and Results—

Intramural left ventricular strain, transmural left ventricular function, and regions of myocardial fibrosis/scarring were imaged in 22 patients with HCM, using displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE), cine MRI, and LGE. DENSE systolic strain maps were qualitatively and quantitatively compared with LGE images. Intramural systolic strain by DENSE was significantly depressed within areas of confluent and diffuse LGE but also in the core of the most hypertrophic nonenhanced segment (all
P
<0.001 versus nonhypertrophied segments). DENSE demonstrated an unexpected inner rim of largely preserved contractile function and a noncontracting outer wall within hypertrophic segments in 91% of patients.

Conclusions—
LGE predicted some but not all of the heterogeneity of intramural contractile abnormalities. This indicates that myocardial scarring or excess interstitial collagen deposition does not fully explain the observed contractile heterogeneity in HCM. Thus, myofibril disarray or other nonfibrotic processes affect systolic function in a large number of patients with HCM.
Long-Term Complications Related to Biventricular Defibrillator Implantation
Authors: Landolina Maurizio , Gasparini Maurizio , Lunati Maurizio , Iacopino Saverio , Boriani Giuseppe , Bonanno Carlo , Vado Antonello , Proclemer Alessandro , Capucci Alessandro , Zucchiatti Chantal , Valsecchi Sergio , Ricci Renato P. , Santini Massimo 
Published: May 2011

Background—
Long-term data on device-related untoward events in patients receiving defibrillators for resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) are lacking. We quantified the frequency of repeat invasive procedures and the nature of long-term complications in current clinical practice and examined possible predictors of device-related events and their association with long-term patient outcome.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed data from 3253 patients who underwent de novo successful implantation of CRT-D and were followed up for a median of 18 months (25th to 75th percentiles: 9 to 30) in 117 Italian centers. Device-related events were reported in 416 patients, and, specifically, surgical interventions for system revision were described in 390 patients. Four years after the implantation procedure, 50% of patients underwent surgical revision for battery depletion and 14% for unanticipated events. For comparison, at 4 years battery depletion occurred in 10% and 13% of patients who received single- and dual-chamber defibrillators at the study centers, and unanticipated events were reported as 4% and 9%, respectively. In CRT-D, infections occurred at a rate of 1.0%/y, and the risk of infections increased after device replacement procedures (hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 4.09;
P
=0.045). Left ventricular lead dislodgements were reported at a rate of 2.3%/y and were predicted by longer fluoroscopy time and higher pacing threshold on implantation. Device-related events were not associated with a worse clinical outcome; indeed, the risk of death was similar in patients with and without surgical revision (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 1.47;
P
=0.682).

Conclusions—
In current clinical practice device-related events are more frequent in CRT-D than in single- or dual-chamber defibrillators, and are frequently managed by surgical intervention for system revision. However, a worse clinical outcome is not associated with these events.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01007474.
Impact of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Mortality and Cardiovascular Events After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Community
Authors: Goel Kashish , Lennon Ryan J. , Tilbury R. Thomas , Squires Ray W. , Thomas Randal J. 
Published: May 2011

Background—
Although numerous studies have reported that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is associated with reduced mortality after myocardial infarction, less is known about its association with mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and Results—

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from a prospectively collected registry of 2395 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2008. The association of CR with all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, or revascularization was assessed with 3 statistical techniques: propensity score–matched analysis (n=1438), propensity score stratification (n=2351), and regression adjustment with propensity score in a 3-month landmark analysis (n=2009). During a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 503 deaths (199 cardiac), 394 myocardial infarctions, and 755 revascularization procedures occurred in the study subjects. Participation in CR, noted in 40% (964 of 2395) of the cohort, was associated with a significant decrease in all-cause mortality by all 3 statistical techniques (hazard ratio, 0.53 to 0.55;
P
<0.001). A trend toward decreased cardiac mortality was also observed in CR participants; however, no effect was observed for subsequent myocardial infarction or revascularization. The association between CR participation and reduced mortality rates was similar for men and women, for older and younger patients, and for patients undergoing elective or nonelective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Conclusions—
We found that CR participation after percutaneous coronary intervention was associated with a significant reduction in mortality rates. These findings add support to published clinical practice guidelines, performance measures, and insurance coverage policies that recommend CR for patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.
CD48 on hematopoietic progenitors regulates stem cells and suppresses tumor formation
Authors: Boles Nathan C. , Lin Kuanyin K. , Lukov Georgi L. , Bowman Teresa V. , Baldridge Megan T. , Goodell Margaret A. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells is balanced to ensure adequate generation of differentiated cells, stem cell homeostasis, and guard against malignant transformation. CD48 is broadly expressed on hematopoietic cells but excluded from quiescent long-term murine HSCs. Through its interactions with CD244 on progenitor cells, it influences HSC function by altering the BM cytokine milieu, particularly IFNγ. In CD48-null mice, the resultant misregulation of cytokine signaling produces a more quiescent HSC, a disproportionate number of short-term progenitors, and hyperactivation of Pak1, leading to hematologic malignancies similar to those found in patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. CD48 plays a vital role as an environmental sensor for regulating HSC and progenitor cell numbers and inhibiting tumor development.
Organization and molecular evolution of a disease-resistance gene cluster in coffee trees
Authors: Ribas Alessandra F , Cenci Alberto , Combes Marie-Christine , Etienne Hervé , Lashermes Philippe 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Most disease-resistance (R) genes in plants encode NBS-LRR proteins and belong to one of the largest and most variable gene families among plant genomes. However, the specific evolutionary routes of NBS-LRR encoding genes remain elusive. Recently in coffee tree (Coffea arabica), a region spanning the S

H

3 locus that confers resistance to coffee leaf rust, one of the most serious coffee diseases, was identified and characterized. Using comparative sequence analysis, the purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the genomic organization and evolution of the S

H

3 locus.

Results
Sequence analysis of the S

H

3 region in three coffee genomes, Ea and Ca subgenomes from the allotetraploid C. arabica and Cc genome from the diploid C. canephora, revealed the presence of 5, 3 and 4 R genes in Ea, Ca, and Cc genomes, respectively. All these R-gene sequences appeared to be members of a CC-NBS-LRR (CNL) gene family that was only found at the S

H

3 locus in C. arabica. Furthermore, while homologs were found in several dicot species, comparative genomic analysis failed to find any CNL R-gene in the orthologous regions of other eudicot species. The orthology relationship among the S

H

3-CNL copies in the three analyzed genomes was determined and the duplication/deletion events that shaped the S

H

3 locus were traced back. Gene conversion events were detected between paralogs in all three genomes and also between the two sub-genomes of C. arabica. Significant positive selection was detected in the solvent-exposed residues of the S

H

3-CNL copies.

Conclusion
The ancestral S

H

3-CNL copy was inserted in the S

H

3 locus after the divergence between Solanales and Rubiales lineages. Moreover, the origin of most of the S

H

3-CNL copies predates the divergence between Coffea species. The S

H

3-CNL family appeared to evolve following the birth-and-death model, since duplications and deletions were inferred in the evolution of the S

H

3 locus. Gene conversion between paralog members, inter-subgenome sequence exchanges and positive selection appear to be the major forces acting on the evolution of S

H

3-CNL in coffee trees.
Pain, power and patience - A narrative study of general practitioners' relations with chronic pain patients
Authors: Kristiansson Mia Hemborg , Brorsson Annika , Wachtler Caroline , Troein Margareta 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Chronic pain patients are common in general practice. In this study "chronic pain" is defined as diffuse musculoskeletal pain not due to inflammatory diseases or cancer. Effective patient-physician relations improve treatment results. The relationship between doctors and chronic pain patients is often dysfunctional. Consultation training for physicians and medical students can improve the professional ability to build effective relations, but this demands a thorough understanding of the problems in the relation. Several studies have defined the issues that frequently cause problems, but few have described the process. The aim of this study was to understand and illustrate what GPs' experience in contact with chronic pain patients and what works and does not work in these consultations.

Methods
Our theoretical perspective is constructivist, based upon the relativist view that individuals construct realities to understand and navigate the world. Five Swedish General Practitioners (GPs), two male and three female, were interviewed and asked to tell a story about a difficult encounter with a chronic pain patient. Tapes of the interviews were transcribed and analysed using narrative analysis. Three GPs told narratives suited for our analytic tools and these were included in the final results.

Results
Each narrative highlights a certain dilemma and a strategy. The dilemmas were: power game; good intentions that fail when a patient is persuaded against her own conviction; persuasion of the unwilling; transferred tiredness; distrust and dissociation from the patient. Professional strategies of listening, encouraging and teamwork were central to handling difficult situations.

Conclusions
The narratives show that GP's consultations with chronic pain patients sometimes are characterized by conflicts and difficult situations. They are facilitated by methods such as active listening and teamwork, but still may remain hard to handle. This has not before been studied among Swedish GPs. Narratives based on experience are known to be successful in education and this study suggest how narratives can serve as a training of consultation for medical students, but also in Continuing Professional Development groups for experienced doctors in practice.
The association of serum lipids with the histological pattern of rectosigmoid adenoma in Taiwanese adults
Authors: Sun Zih-Jie , Huang Ying-Hsiang , Wu Jin-Shang , Yang Yi-Ching , Chang Ying-Fang , Lu Feng-Hwa , Chang Chih-Jen 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe mortality rate of colorectal cancer ranks third behind lung and hepatic cancer in Taiwan. Colorectal cancer mostly arises from adenomatous polyps of left colon. The aim of our study was to examine the association of serum lipids with the histological pattern of rectosigmoid adenoma.MethodsThere were 2,506 eligible examinees aged 20 and above who underwent sigmoidoscopy as a screening examination in National Cheng Kung University Hospital between January 2003 and October 2006. They were classified into three groups: tubular adenoma (333 subjects), villous-rich (tubulovillous/villous) adenoma (53 subjects) and normal (2,120 subjects). We defined high total cholesterol (TC) as a level ≧200 mg/dl, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as a level <40 mg/dL, and high triglyceride (TG) as a level ≧200 mg/dl according to the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults. Adenoma histology was classified as tubular, tubulovillous and villous according to the proportion of villous part.ResultsAmong the study population, 333 subjects (13.3%) had tubular adenomas and 53 subjects (2.1%) had villous-rich adenomas. The odds ratio (OR) for villous-rich adenoma in subjects with TG≧200 mg/dL compared to those with TG < 200 mg/dL was 3.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.71-6.01), after adjusting for age, gender, general obesity, central obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and alcohol consumption. If further taking high TC and low HDL-C into consideration, the OR was 4.42 (95% CI:2.03-9.63).ConclusionsOur study showed that subjects with high serum TG tended to have a higher risk of tubulovillous/villous adenoma in rectosigmoid colon. Therefore, reducing the serum TG level might be one method to prevent the incidence of colorectal cancer.
Adenoviral infectivity of exfoliated viable cells in urine: Implications for the detection of bladder cancer
Authors: Murali Anuradha , Kasman Laura , Voelkel-Johnson Christina 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Bladder cancer, the 5th most common malignancy in the USA, is often detected as a result of incidental findings or by presenting hematuria. Once diagnosed the disease is one of the costliest cancers to treat due to frequent, invasive and often lifelong follow-up procedures. Because cells are shed into urine, there has been an emerging effort to develop non-invasive tests for the detection of bladder cancer. Expression of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, has been associated with bladder cancer. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of transducing viable exfoliated cells obtained from urine with an adenoviral vector in which a reporter gene is under the control of the survivin promoter.

Methods
Exfoliated cells from urine were obtained from 36 human subjects (> 40 years old). An adenovirus in which GFP expression is under control of the survivin promoter (Ad.Surv.GFP) was generated. An adenovirus in which GFP is expressed from the CMV promoter served as a control. GFP expression was analyzed by fluorescent microscopy and quantified by flow cytometry.

Results
Short-term cultures from exfoliated cells in urine could be established in 16 of 31 samples. These cultures were successfully transduced with Ad.CMV.GFP. Analysis of GFP expression following transduction with Ad.Surv.GFP, indicated that the survivin promoter was preferentially active in UM-UC-3 bladder cancer cells compared to non-malignant UROtsa cells. Interestingly, baseline levels of GFP expression in cultures from exfoliated cells in urine exhibited higher baseline levels than UROtsa following transduction with Ad.Surv.GFP.

Conclusions
We demonstrated the feasibility of establishing and analysing short-term cultures isolated from exfoliated cells in voided urine by means of adenoviral transduction, thereby forming the foundation for future studies to determine the specificity and sensitivity of a non-invasive test based on survivin promoter activity.
Strain engineering for improved expression of recombinant proteins in bacteria
Authors: Makino Tomohiro , Skretas Georgios , Georgiou George 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Protein expression in Escherichia coli represents the most facile approach for the preparation of non-glycosylated proteins for analytical and preparative purposes. So far, the optimization of recombinant expression has largely remained a matter of trial and error and has relied upon varying parameters, such as expression vector, media composition, growth temperature and chaperone co-expression. Recently several new approaches for the genome-scale engineering of E. coli to enhance recombinant protein expression have been developed. These methodologies now enable the generation of optimized E. coli expression strains in a manner analogous to metabolic engineering for the synthesis of low-molecular-weight compounds. In this review, we provide an overview of strain engineering approaches useful for enhancing the expression of hard-to-produce proteins, including heterologous membrane proteins.
Molecular and process design for rotavirus-like particle production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Rodríguez-Limas William A , Tyo Keith EJ , Nielsen Jens , Ramírez Octavio T , Palomares Laura A 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Virus-like particles (VLP) have an increasing range of applications including vaccination, drug delivery, diagnostics, gene therapy and nanotechnology. These developments require large quantities of particles that need to be obtained in efficient and economic processes. Production of VLP in yeast is attractive, as it is a low-cost protein producer able to assemble viral structural proteins into VLP. However, to date only single-layered VLP with simple architecture have been produced in this system. In this work, the first steps required for the production of rotavirus-like particles (RLP) in S. cerevisiae were implemented and improved, in order to obtain the recombinant protein concentrations required for VLP assembly.

Results
The genes of the rotavirus structural proteins VP2, VP6 and VP7 were cloned in four Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains using different plasmid and promoter combinations to express one or three proteins in the same cell. Performance of the best constructs was evaluated in batch and fed-batch cultures using a complete synthetic media supplemented with leucine, glutamate and succinate. The strain used had an important effect on recombinant protein concentration, while the type of plasmid, centromeric (YCp) or episomal (YEp), did not affect protein yields. Fed-batch culture of the PD.U-267 strain resulted in the highest concentration of rotavirus proteins. Volumetric and specific productivities increased 28.5- and 11-fold, respectively, in comparison with batch cultures. Expression of the three rotavirus proteins was confirmed by immunoblotting and RLP were detected using transmission electron microscopy.

Conclusions
We present for the first time the use of yeast as a platform to express multilayered rotavirus-like particles. The present study shows that the combined use of molecular and bioprocess tools allowed the production of triple-layered rotavirus RLP. Production of VLP with complex architecture in yeasts could lead to the development of new vaccine candidates with reduced restrictions by regulatory agencies, using the successful experience with other yeast-based VLP vaccines commercialized worldwide.
Association between metabolic abnormalities and HBV related hepatocelluar carcinoma in Chinese: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhao Jinyan , Zhao Yunpeng , Wang Hao , Gu Xing , Ji Jun , Gao Chunfang 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Previous studies suggested that the abnormality of metabolism is a newly identified risk factor in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The association between metabolic factors and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been clarified up to now. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in HCC and to probe the association between metabolic parameters and liver function as well, so as to evaluate the interactions between metabolism and the development of HBV-related HCC.

Methods
Totally 179 cases of HBV-related HCC, who were surgically treated and pathologically confirmed were enrolled. HBV carriers (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 150) were recruited from routine physical examination during the same period. Body mass index (BMI) was obtained from medical documentation. All the metabolic-related parameters and liver function tests were determined with routine biochemical or immunological analytic methods. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity(TAOC)were detected by chemical analytic methods. A stratified analysis was conducted according to BMI, glycated albumin (GA), free fatty acids (FFA), and the relationships between the metabolic-related parameters and liver functions were analyzed in HCC and control subjects.

Results
HCC group showed significantly high levels of mean BMI, serum glucose, low serum lipids levels than controls (P < 0.05). Acquired by stratified analysis, the higher the BMI, the higher level of insulin and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P < 0.01) were found in HCC patients. Elevated level of MDA and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were revealed in those with high serum FFA level for the first time. Strong associations between metabolic factors and liver function were shown in HCC (P < 0.05). Higher GA level was strongly associated with increased risk of cancer compared to healthy controls (OR = 9.87, 95% confidence interval: 1.86~52.29). Serum triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were negative contributory factors for HCC (OR = 0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.01~0.27 and OR = 0.32, 95% confidence interval, 0.11~0.95: respectively).

Conclusions
Metabolic abnormalities are closely associated with the occurrence and development of HBV-related HCC. Oxidative stress and/or lipid peroxidation might be involved in the pathogenesis and acceleration of liver function impairments in HCC.