bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Teaching and Tomorrow: A Novel Recruitment Program for a Pediatric Subspecialty
Authors: Graham Rose C , Heubi James E , Cohen Mitchell B , Li BUK 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:In 2001, the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition created Teaching and Tomorrow, a novel pediatric subspecialty recruitment program to provide prospective fellows the opportunity to participate in the society's annual meeting and to interact with current trainees and members. The aims of this report are to describe participant survey data from the first 4 years of the program and to explore potential influences of participation on outcomes and proposed career choices.Materials and Methods:Pre‐ and postprogram surveys were administered during opening and closing breakfast meetings, respectively, to ascertain demographics, certainty of career intent, factors influencing choice of specialty, and anticipated benefits from participation.Results:Among 189 applications, 107 (57%) participated and 107 (57%) matriculated into gastroenterology(GI) fellowship. The matriculation rate was similar between participants and nonparticipants. Among applicants who became GI fellows, there was a 42% lower odds of being female than male (OR 0.42; χ2 = 8.48, P < 0.01). Among participants who completed both pre‐ and postprogram surveys (n = 91) and who reported certainty about entering GI both before and after, 79% entered GI fellowship. Among participants who reported uncertainty about entering GI both before and after, 8% entered GI. More participants were interested in jobs as clinician‐investigators and funded clinical or translational investigators.Conclusions:In a selected population of pediatric residents with high interest in pediatric gastroenterology, there was no difference in the matriculation rate into pediatric GI fellowship training among those who participated compared with those who did not. However, those who eventually matriculated had a higher odds of being male than female. There was a high retention rate of participants who were initially certain and a modest conversion rate of those who were initially uncertain about pursuing a career in pediatric GI.
Parenteral Lipid Emulsions Based on Olive Oil Compared With Soybean Oil in Preterm (<28 Weeks' Gestation) Neonates: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Deshpande Girish C , Simmer Karen , Mori Trevor , Croft Kevin 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTBackground:New olive oil–based (OL) lipid emulsions (olive:soy oil = 4:1) have lower polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (20% vs 60%) and higher vitamin E content (an antioxidant) compared with traditional soybean oil (SO) emulsions.Objective:Compare efficacy and safety of OL with SO emulsions in preterm neonates (<28 weeks) at high risk for oxidative stress.Patients and Methods:Preterm neonates (gestation 23–<28 weeks) were randomised to receive OL or SO emulsion for 5 days using a standard protocol in a tertiary perinatal centre (King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Western Australia). Investigators and outcome assessors were masked to allocation. Plasma F2‐isoprostanes (lipid peroxidation marker), plasma, and red blood cell fatty acids were measured before and after the study. Safety was monitored by liver function tests.Results:Forty‐four of 50 participants (OL‐23, SO‐21) completed the study. Both emulsions were well tolerated with no significant adverse events. F2‐isoprostane levels were comparable at baseline and study end. Oleic and linoleic acid levels were significantly high on day 6 in OL and SO groups, respectively. Long‐chain PUFA levels were similar between groups despite the lower PUFA content of OL. The olive oil–based group had significantly higher levels of C18:4n‐3, suggesting Δ6‐desaturase enzyme inhibition in the SO group.Conclusions:Olive oil–based emulsion was safe and well tolerated by preterm neonates. Similar long‐chain PUFA levels were achieved in the OL group despite significantly lower amount of PUFA content; however, there was no difference in lipid peroxidation (F2‐isoprostane levels). Large trials are needed to confirm these benefits.
Pro‐ and Prebiotic Supplementation Induces a Transient Reduction in Hemoglobin Concentration in Infants
Authors: Kuitunen Mikael , Kukkonen Kaarina , Savilahti Erkki 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:Regarding safety, we investigated the effect of prenatal probiotic and 6 months of pro‐ and prebiotic supplementation of infants on their hematologic values at 6 months and 2 years and factors affecting these values.Patients and Methods:In a prospective randomized controlled probiotic intervention trial in infants at high risk for allergy, we obtained blood samples consecutively from 98 infants at 6 months and from 658 children at 2 years to measure hematologic values. We collected fecal samples at 3 and 6 months to measure immunologic development by calprotectin, α‐1‐antitrypsin, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and immunoglobulin A.Results:At 6 months, infants in the probiotic group had significantly lower hemoglobin (Hb) values than did the placebo group, mean (SD): 119.8 g/L (6.3) versus 123.3 g/L (8.4), P = 0.025. Adjustment for factors that might affect Hb values (breast‐feeding duration, solid‐food introduction, and sex), revealed no need for adjustment. A significant negative correlation emerged between Hb values at 6 months and fecal calprotectin at age 3 months r = −0.301, P = 0.009, which was affected neither by breast‐feeding, sex, nor study group. At 2 years, hematologic values in both groups became similar.Conclusions:Probiotics cause a gut mucosal inflammation with decreased Hb values during intervention, corrected after halting the supplementation.
Impact of Anxiety in the Puerperium on Breast‐feeding Outcomes: Role of Parity
Authors: Zanardo Vincenzo , Gasparetto Sara , Giustardi Arturo , Suppiej Agnese , Trevisanuto Daniele , Pascoli Irene , Freato Federica 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTObjective:Studies in animals indicate that stress and anxiety can depress lactation, but there is much less information available concerning humans. We aimed to determine whether maternal anxiety in puerperium, potentially exacerbated by the primiparity inexperience, has a negative impact on breast‐feeding outcomes.Subjects and Methods:The state‐trait anxiety inventory Y form (Spielberger, 1983) was administered to a total of 204 mothers, 101 primiparae, and 103 pluriparae on the third to fourth day postpartum.Results:We found that primiparae had state anxiety (T) scores significantly higher than pluriparae (44.57 ± 5.85 vs 43.28 ± 7.10, P = 0.03). Increased state anxiety levels impaired breast‐feeding success. In addition, in the logistic regression analysis model used to assess factors predictive of breast‐feeding longer than 3 months, maternal state anxiety was the most significant risk factor (odds ratio 0.99; 0.88–0.98, P < 0.01).Conclusions:In the puerperium, anxiety, potentially exacerbated by primiparae inexperience, is associated with impaired lactation. Alleviating maternal anxiety could be beneficial for stimulating breast‐feeding in more vulnerable women.
Noninvasive Procedures to Evaluate Liver Involvement in HIV‐1 Vertically Infected Children
Authors: Rubio Amandine , Monpoux Fabrice , Huguon Emilie , Truchi Régine , Triolo Valérie , Rosenthal‐Allieri Maria‐Alessandra , Deville Anne , Rosenthal Eric , Boutté Patrick , Tran Albert 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:Progressive liver injury is a concern in HIV‐infected children exposed to long‐term antiretroviral drugs and to the cytopathic effect of HIV. Yet liver biopsy is usually considered too invasive to be repeated in these patients. The aims of this study are to evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive hepatic investigations in HIV‐1‐infected children, assess the prevalence of signs of liver affection, and analyse the influence of the HIV disease severity and the exposure to antiretroviral therapy.Materials and Methods:A cross‐sectional study conducted in 26 HIV‐1 vertically infected children ages 8 to 18 years old. Liver function was assessed with standard serum biochemical markers, FibroTest, ActiTest, SteatoTest, Forns index, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, ultrasound, and Fibroscan.Results:Nineteen (>60%) children had signs of liver affection on at least 1 of the test results: 13 (50%) had elevated liver enzymes, 15 (63%), 8 (33%), 5 (21%), and 5 (21%) had abnormal FibroTest, ActiTest, Forns index, and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index results, respectively. Four children (17%) had mild liver steatosis on ultrasound. Fibroscan measures were significantly higher in patients than in age‐matched healthy children. Patients with elevated Fibroscan measures also had significantly higher FibroTest results. Age, HIV stage N in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification and exposure duration to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs were the main risk factors for hepatotoxicity.Conclusions:More than half of our population of HIV‐infected children had biological and/or radiological signs of liver affection. Regular follow‐up of liver function is necessary in these patients, which is now possible with noninvasive procedures.
Esophageal Impedance and Esophagitis in Children: Any Correlation?
Authors: Salvatore S , Hauser B , Devreker T , Arrigo S , Marino P , Citro C , Salvatoni A , Vandenplas Y 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTAim:The aim of this study was to correlate the data obtained with multiple intraluminal esophageal impedance and pH (MII‐pH) recordings in infants and children referred for suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophageal histology.Materials and Methods:In a prospective study, results of esophageal biopsies and MII‐pH recording obtained in 45 children (mean age ± SD: 69 ± 55 months) were analyzed. Regarding the MII‐pH data, an automatic (Autoscan Bioview Analysis Software, version 5.3.4, Sandhill Scientific Inc, Highlands Ranch, CO) and a manual reading were performed; an automatic pH analysis (meal included) was also performed.Results:Acidic, weakly acidic, and alkaline reflux episodes accounted, respectively, for 48.7%, 49.5%, and 1.8% of the total number of reflux episodes detected by MII‐pH. Esophagitis was present in 25 (56%) children. Concordance between classic pH‐study analysis (alone) and esophageal histology was found in 19 of 45 (42%) children. According to the MII‐pH analysis, the mean and median value of the pH were significantly higher in the group with esophagitis than in the group with normal esophageal histology. A longer clearance time was found in the group with esophagitis than in subjects with normal histology. Gas reflux episodes represented 21% of the total reflux episodes and were comparable in both groups.Conclusions:Multiple intraluminal esophageal impedance and pH analysis does not provide a distinct parameter to predict esophageal mucosal injury in children. In our population, MII‐pH shows comparable acidic, weakly acidic, alkaline, and gas reflux in children with and without esophagitis. Further research is needed to analyze clearance parameters.
Analysis of Faecal Volatile Organic Compounds in Preterm Infants Who Develop Necrotising Enterocolitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Garner Catherine E , Ewer Andrew K , Elasouad Kalifa , Power Francis , Greenwood Rosemary , Ratcliffe Norman M , Costello Ben de Lacy , Probert Chris S 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTObjective:To determine differences in the profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in faecal samples from preterm infants who develop necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) compared with non‐NEC controls.Materials and Methods:Daily faecal samples from preterm infants were collected prospectively during an 8‐month period from a level 3 regional neonatal intensive care unit. Six infants subsequently developed NEC and were matched with 7 non‐NEC infants. Solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to extract and identify the VOCs from the headspace above the faecal samples taken before the onset of NEC and after the disease was diagnosed. Faecal samples at similar ages were also studied from the control infants.Results:Two hundred twenty‐four different VOCs were extracted from 65 samples. Volatile organic compounds increased in number with age for non‐NEC infants. In the days before and after the diagnosis of NEC a reduction in the number of VOCs extracted was observed. In addition, 4 specific esters present in controls—2‐ethylhexyl acetic ester, decanoic acid ethyl ester, dodecanoic acid ethyl ester, and hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester—were consistently absent from all faecal samples in those infants who developed NEC in the 4 days before the onset of the disease.Conclusion:This pilot study shows that VOC extraction from faeces may be used to identify infants that are at risk of developing NEC.
Prostaglandin EP2 receptor expression is increased in Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: JIMÉNEZ P. , PIAZUELO E. , CEBRIAN C. , ORTEGO J. , STRUNK M. , GARCÍA‐GONZALEZ M. A. , SANTANDER S. , ALCEDO J. , LANAS A. 
Published: October 2009

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 440–451SummaryBackground  Accumulating evidence suggests that cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2)‐derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is involved in oesophageal adenocarcinogenesis. PGE2 exerts its biological action by binding to specific receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4).Aim  To investigate which PGE2 receptor subtypes regulate PGE2 signals in the oesophageal adenocarcinoma sequence.Methods  Expression was determined in oesophageal biopsies from 85 patients with oesophagitis, Barrett’s metaplasia, intraepithelial neoplasia, oesophageal adenocarcinoma and normal oesophagus. Levels of mRNA and protein expression were determined by quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry and western‐blot. Expression of EP receptors was also determined in response to acid and bile exposure in the Barrett’s adenocarcinoma cell line OE33.Results  All four EP receptors subtypes were expressed in human oesophageal tissues. COX‐2 and, especially, EP2 were increased in the Barrett’s metaplasia‐intraepithelial neoplasia‐adenocarcinoma sequence. Expression of the EP4 receptor protein was increased in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. In contrast, expression levels of COX‐1 and EP3 receptor were decreased along the sequence. No differences in EP1 expression were found. Treatment with the bile acid deoxycholate increased COX‐2, EP1, EP2 and EP4 expression in OE33 cells.Conclusions  Our data suggest that in addition to COX‐2, EP2 and EP4 receptors could be a selective target in the prevention and/or treatment of the Barrett’s‐associated adenocarcinoma.
Activation profile of Toll-like receptors of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Wong C K , Wong P T Y , Tam L S , Li E K , Chen D P , Lam C W K 
Published: October 2009

Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease associated with aberrant activation of T and B lymphocytes for the production of inflammatory cytokines and autoreactive antibodies. Animal studies of SLE have indicated that Toll-like receptors (TLR) are important in the pathogenesis of murine lupus. In the present clinical study, differential protein expressions of TLR-1–9 of monocytes and different lymphocyte subsets from patients with SLE and normal control subjects were determined by flow cytometry. Results showed that the expression of intracellular TLRs (TLR-3, -8, -9) and extracellular TLRs (TLR-1, -2, -4, -5, -6) were elevated in monocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes of SLE patients compared to control subjects (all P &lt; 0·001). Moreover, cell surface expression of TLR-4 on CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and TLR-6 on B lymphocytes, were correlated positively with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (TLR-4 on CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes: r = 0·536, P = 0·04; r = 0·713, P = 0·003; TLR-6 in B lymphocytes: r = 0·572, P = 0·026). In concordance with the above results, there is an observable increased relative induction (%) of inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12, chemokines CCL2, CXCL8, CCL5 and CXCL10 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) upon differential stimulation by PolyIC (TLR-3 ligand), lipopolysaccharide (TLR-4 ligand), peptidoglycan (TLR-2 ligand), flagellin (TLR-5 ligand), R837 (TLR-7 ligand) and CpG DNA (TLR-9 ligand) in SLE patients compared to controls. These results suggest that the innate immune response for extracellular pathogens and self-originated DNA plays immunopathological roles via TLR activation in SLE.
Aquaporins in the human testis and spermatozoa – identification, involvement in sperm volume regulation and clinical relevance
Authors: Yeung C. H. , Callies C. , Tüttelmann F. , Kliesch S. , Cooper T. G. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryDespite the high water‐permeability of human spermatozoa, little is known about the identity and the role of aquaporins (AQP) in them or germ cells. Using ejaculates from donors, sperm AQPs were identified by western blotting followed by the analysis of mRNA with RT‐PCR. Protein expression in the testis and spermatozoa was localized by immunocytochemistry. Inhibitors were used to investigate the involvement of aquaporins in water transport when ejaculated spermatozoa were swollen in medium mimicking uterine hypo‐osmolality by quinine that blocks volume regulation. Sperm AQP7 and AQP8 in 39 infertile patients and 11 healthy donors were quantified by flow cytometry. AQP1 was absent from spermatozoa. Sperm and testicular AQP7‐9 had nucleotide sequences identical to those of somatic cells but AQP8 mRNA also showed shorter variants. AQP7 was expressed abundantly by round and elongated spermatids and ejaculated spermatozoa, AQP8 by all germ cells and spermatozoa, and AQP9 rarely by spermatocytes or Sertoli cells. Protein bands showed specificity by western blotting for AQP7 and AQP8 but not AQP9. The absence of sperm AQP9 was further suggested by the ineffectiveness of its inhibitor phloretin in blocking quinine‐induced swelling, but HgCl2, which inhibits AQP8, was effective. Sperm AQP7 expression was correlated with progressive motility and was lower in patients than in donors. Sperm AQP8 expression was inversely correlated with the extent of sperm coiling, which is a swelling phenomenon, but showed no difference between patients and donors. In conclusion, AQP7 and AQP8 were identified in human spermatozoa and could play a role in glycerol metabolism and water transport respectively.
Use of garlic, Allium sativum, to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
Authors: Nya E J , Austin B 
Published: October 2009

AbstractGarlic, Allium sativum, which was fed at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g per 100 g of feed for 14 days to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), led to control of experimental infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. At doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g garlic per 100 g of feed, there was a reduction in mortalities to 4% compared with the controls (88%). Moreover, there was a significant increase in growth, feed conversion and protein efficiency. There was stimulation of the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes, a significantly higher haematocrit, enhancement of phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, lysozyme, anti‐protease and bactericidal activities following feeding with garlic.
Use of dietary ginger, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, as an immunostimulant to control Aeromonas hydrophila infections in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
Authors: Nya E J , Austin B 
Published: October 2009

AbstractGinger, Zingiber officinale, which was fed at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g per 100 g of feed for 14 days to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), led to control of experimental infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. At 0.5 g ginger per 100 g of feed, there was a reduction in mortalities to 0% compared with the controls (64%). Moreover, there was a significant increase in growth, feed conversion and protein efficiency. There was proliferation in the number of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes, and enhanced phagocytic, respiratory burst, lysozyme, bactericidal and anti‐protease activities compared with the controls.
Lagrange time delay estimation for scanning electron microscope image magnification
Authors: SIM K.‐S. , THONG L.W. , TING H.Y. , TSO C.P. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryInterpolation techniques that are used for image magnification to obtain more useful details of the surface such as morphology and mechanical contrast usually rely on the signal information distributed around edges and areas of sharp changes and these signal information can also be used to predict missing details from the sample image. However, many of these interpolation methods tend to smooth or blur out image details around the edges. In the present study, a Lagrange time delay estimation interpolator method is proposed and this method only requires a small filter order and has no noticeable estimation bias. Comparing results with the original scanning electron microscope magnification and results of various other interpolation methods, the Lagrange time delay estimation interpolator is found to be more efficient, more robust and easier to execute.
The amplification of polymerized diaminobenzidine with physical developers: sensitizing effects of transition metal salts and sulphide
Authors: VON RUHLAND C.J. , JASANI B. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryAmplification of metal‐complexed polymerized diaminobenzidine by two light‐insensitive physical developers was systematically examined in a dot blot model system following either polymerizing diaminobenzidine in the presence of transition metal salts or applying the metal salts post‐diaminobenzidine polymerization. The effect of sodium sulphide treatment on subsequent amplification was also investigated. Those metal–diaminobenzidine complexes that facilitated the most powerful amplification were subsequently tested in an immunohistochemical setting. The most dramatic amplification of polymerized diaminobenzidine was observed following its post‐polymerization treatment with salts of platinum alone, or gold or vanadium with subsequent sulphide treatment, and allowed previously invisible quantities of polymerized diaminobenzidine to be clearly seen. Three other transition metal salts also improved the amplification of polymerized diaminobenzidine but to a lesser degree, namely nickel alone, and silver or rhodium with subsequent sulphide treatment. Sensitivity was comparable with the colloidal gold–silver amplification system.
Automatic identification of Caenorhabditis elegans in population images by shape energy features
Authors: OCHOA D. , GAUTAMA S. , PHILIPS W. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryExperiments on model organisms are used to extend the understanding of complex biological processes. In Caenorhabditis elegans studies, populations of specimens are sampled to measure certain morphological properties and a population is characterized based on statistics extracted from such samples. Automatic detection of C. elegans in such culture images is a difficult problem. The images are affected by clutter, overlap and image degradations. In this paper, we exploit shape and appearance differences between C. elegans and non‐C. elegans segmentations. Shape information is captured by optimizing a parametric open contour model on training data. Features derived from the contour energies are proposed as shape descriptors and integrated in a probabilistic framework. These descriptors are evaluated for C. elegans detection in culture images. Our experiments show that measurements extracted from these samples correlate well with ground truth data. These positive results indicate that the proposed approach can be used for quantitative analysis of complex nematode images.