bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PROGRESS IN UREMIC TOXIN RESEARCH: Highlights and Hotspots of Protein Glycation in End‐Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Thornalley Paul J. , Rabbani Naila 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAnalysis of tissues, plasma, urine, other body fluids, and dialysate for glycation adducts has revealed the presence of two major forms: glycation adduct residues of proteins and related glycated amino acids—called glycation free adducts. The major effect on protein glycation in uremia is loss of clearance of glycation free adducts and their marked increase in plasma. Changes in glycation adduct residue content of plasma protein in uremia is, in contrast, relatively modest. There is now doubt as to whether the concept of interaction of advanced glycation endproduct (AGE)‐modified proteins with putative AGE receptors can be sustained in vivo. A residual important feature of the receptor for AGEs may be decrease in expression of glyoxalase 1 of the antiglycation defence by S100A12 protein leaving the vasculature vulnerable to dicarbonyl stress and related AGE formation. The dicarbonyl proteome, proteins susceptible to dicarbonyl glycation at functional sites, is the likely mediator of glycation damage in uremia. Glycation of type IV collagen with shedding of endothelial cells and glycation of apolipoprotein B100 with increased atherogenicity of low density lipoprotein are two examples which may link protein glycation to increased risk of cardiovascular disease in end‐stage renal disease.
TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS OF GRACILARIA CHANGII (RHODOPHYTA) IN RESPONSE TO HYPER‐ AND HYPOOSMOTIC STRESSES1
Authors: Teo Swee‐Sen , Ho Chai‐Ling , Teoh Seddon , Rahim Raha Abdul , Phang Siew‐Moi 
Published: August 2009

Osmotic stress is one of the most significant natural abiotic stresses that occur in the intertidal zones. Seaweeds may physiologically acclimate to changing osmolarity by altering their transcriptome. Here, we investigated the transcriptomic changes of Gracilaria changii (B. M. Xia et I. A. Abbott) I. A. Abbott, J. Zhang et B. M. Xia in response to hyper‐ and hypoosmotic stresses using a cDNA microarray approach. Microarray analysis revealed that 199 and 200 genes from ∼3,300 genes examined were up‐ and down‐regulated by >2‐fold in seaweed samples treated at 50 parts per thousand (ppt) artificial seawater (ASW) compared with those at 30 ppt ASW, respectively. The number of genes that were up‐ and down‐regulated by >2‐fold in seaweed samples treated at 10 ppt ASW compared with those at 30 ppt ASW were 154 and 187, respectively. A majority of these genes were only differentially expressed under hyper‐ or hypoosmotic conditions, whereas 67 transcripts were affected by both stresses. The findings of this study have shed light on the expression profiles of many transcripts during the acclimation of G. changii to hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic conditions. This information may assist in the prioritization of genes to be examined in future studies.
Physical Activity and Executive Function in Aging: The MOBILIZE Boston Study
Authors: Eggermont Laura H. P. , Milberg William P. , Lipsitz Lewis A. , Scherder Erik J. A. , Leveille Suzanne G. 
Published: August 2009

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between physical activity and cognition, specifically executive function, and the possible mediating role of factors such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors, chronic pain, and depressive symptoms.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study.SETTING: Population‐based study of individuals aged 70 and older in the Boston area.PARTICIPANTS: Older community‐dwelling adults (n=544; mean age 78, 62% female).MEASUREMENTS:Presence of heart disease (self‐reported physician diagnosed), pain, and depressive symptomatology were assessed using interviewer‐administered questions. Blood pressure was measured. Engagement in physical activity was determined using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Cognitive function was measured using a battery of neuropsychological tests.RESULTS: The older adults who engaged in more physical activity had significantly better performance on all cognitive tests, except for Letter Fluency and the memory test of delayed recall, after adjusting for age, sex, education, and total number of medications. With further adjustment for CVD and CVD risk factors (heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and hypertension), pain, and depressive symptoms, PASE score remained significantly associated with executive function tests.CONCLUSION: Even after multivariate adjustment, neuropsychological tests that were executive in nature were positively associated with physical activity participation in this cohort of older community‐dwelling adults. In contrast, delayed recall of episodic memory was not associated with physical activity, supporting the idea that the relationship with executive function represents a specific biologically determined relationship.
The Effect of a High‐Intensity Functional Exercise Program on Activities of Daily Living: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Residential Care Facilities
Authors: Littbrand Håkan , Lundin‐Olsson Lillemor , Gustafson Yngve , Rosendahl Erik 
Published: August 2009

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a high‐intensity functional weight‐bearing exercise program reduces dependency in activities of daily living (ADLs) in older people living in residential care facilities, focusing on people with dementia.DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial.SETTING: Nine residential care facilities.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety‐one older people dependent in ADLs and with a Mini‐Mental State Examination score of 10 or greater. One hundred (52.4%) of the participants had dementia.INTERVENTION: A high‐intensity functional weight‐bearing exercise program or a control activity consisting of 29 sessions over 3 months.MEASUREMENTS: The Barthel ADL Index; follow‐up at 3 months (directly after the intervention) and 6 months with intention‐to‐treat analyses.RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding overall ADL performance. Analyses for each item revealed that a smaller proportion of participants in the exercise group had deteriorated in indoor mobility at 3 months (exercise 3.5% vs control 16.0%, P=.01) and 6 months (7.7% vs 19.8%, P=.03). For people with dementia, there was a significant difference in overall ADL performance in favor of the exercise group at 3 months (mean difference 1.1, P=.03) but not at 6 months.CONCLUSION: A high‐intensity functional weight‐bearing exercise program seems to reduce ADL decline related to indoor mobility for older people living in residential care facilities. The program does not appear to have an overall effect on ADLs. In people with dementia, the exercise program may prevent decline in overall ADL performance, but continuous training may be needed to maintain that effect.
Bedrail Use in English and Welsh Hospitals
Authors: Healey Frances M. , Cronberg Alexandra , Oliver David 
Published: August 2009

OBJECTIVES: To explore rates of bedrail use, nurses' rationale, and factors related to bedrail use.DESIGN: An overnight observational study of patient and equipment characteristics related to bedrail use, analyzed using a logistic regression model.SETTING: A stratified random sample of seven organizations, drawn from 167 organizations providing acute general hospital care in England and Wales during 2006.PARTICIPANTS: One thousand ninety‐two inpatients on adult inpatient wards observed at night.MEASUREMENTS: Categorical data on bedrail use related to bed type, mattress type, patient age, nurses' description of patients' mobility and confusion, and nurses' rationale for bedrail use or nonuse.RESULTS: Approximately one‐quarter of patients had full bedrails raised at night; prevention of falls was the nurses' main rationale. Full bedrail use was much more likely to occur in patients who nurses described as immobile and very or slightly confused. Older patients appeared no more likely to be given bedrails than younger patients after adjusting for individual patient and equipment factors.CONCLUSION: Bedrail use varied significantly between organizations and could not be explained by differences in nurses' description of patients' mobility and confusion levels, equipment, or policy.
Nursing Home Residents and Enrollment in Medicare Part D
Authors: Briesacher Becky A. , Soumerai Stephen B. , Field Terry S. , Fouayzi Hassan , Gurwitz Jerry H. 
Published: August 2009

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of Medicare Part D in the nursing home (NH) setting.DESIGN: A population‐based study using 2005/06 prescription dispensing records, Poisson regressions with generalized estimating equations, and interrupted times series estimation with segmented regression methods.SETTING: Nursing Homes.PARTICIPANTS: A nationwide sample of long‐stay Medicare enrollees in NHs (N=861,082).MEASUREMENTS: Probability of Part D enrollment, changes in source of drug payments, changes in average number of monthly prescriptions dispensed per resident.RESULTS: In 2006, 81.0% of NH residents were enrolled in Part D, 16.1% had other drug coverage, and 3.0% (n=11,000) remained without drug coverage, which was the same rate of no drug coverage as in 2005. NH residents who did not enroll in Part D were the oldest (relative risk (RR)=0.82, P<.001), had no drug coverage in 2005 (RR=0.84, P<.001), and had high comorbidity burden (RR=0.94, P<.001). The proportion of prescription drugs paid out of pocket decreased from 11.0% in 2005 to 8.1% in 2006 (P<.001). Average monthly prescription use per resident in 2006 decreased by half a prescription from 2005 levels (9.6 vs 10.1, P=.003).CONCLUSION: Part D decreased some out‐of‐pocket drug costs but did not expand drug coverage in the NH population or reach some vulnerable segments. Part D was also associated with some disruption in NH drug use, especially right after implementation.
Evaluation of the persistence and characteristics of indeterminate reactivity against hepatitis C virus in blood donors
Authors: Melve Guro Kristin , Myrmel Helge , Eide Geir Egil , Hervig Tor 
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: A substantial number of individuals are excluded from blood donation due to indeterminate results in screening tests for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV). Disclosure of the characteristics of the indeterminate serologic pattern could optimize the testing and the management and care of blood donors.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Ninety‐two former blood donors deferred from blood donation due to consistent reactivity in anti‐HCV enzyme immunoassay and indeterminate HCV recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) results were retested for anti‐HCV to examine the extent of disappearance of reactivity. In addition, they were screened for selected viral, immunologic, and inflammatory variables to detect possible causes of the test reactivity pattern.RESULTS: After a median observation time of 75 months, 66 of 92 individuals had persistent indeterminate HCV RIBA results. Reactivity against the nonstructural NS5 antigen was the most frequent finding. A significant association was detected both between indeterminate reactivity in HCV RIBA and against the NS5 antigen independently and detectable antibody against adenovirus. Novel indeterminate reactivity showed increased prevalence during autumn and winter months.CONCLUSION: Indeterminate HCV RIBA reactivity in blood donors persists over years. Increased prevalence during autumn and winter and association to detection of adenovirus antibody indicate that viral infection and cross‐reactivity are etiologic factors in indeterminate HCV RIBA reactivity. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the results.
Positive association of DRB1*04 and DRB1*15 alleles with Fya immunization in a Southern European population
Authors: Picard Chistophe , Frassati Coralie , Basire Agnes , Buhler Stephan , Galicher Vital , Ferrera Virginie , Reviron Denis , Zappitelli Jean‐Pierre , Bailly Pascal , Chiaroni Jacques 
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: Anti‐Fya has been implicated in hemolytic transfusion reactions. However, not all Fy(a−) patients develop anti‐Fya after transfusion with 1 unit of blood [Fy(a+)]. This study was designed to identify HLA‐DRB1 alleles associated with a predisposition to Fya immunization after blood transfusion.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To identify HLA‐DRB1 alleles prone to immunization after blood transfusion or pregnancy, HLA‐DRB1 genotyping using polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific oligonucleotide nonradioactive probe/sequence‐specific priming methods was performed on blood samples from 67 immunized patients and 200 unrelated controls from the same southern European population in a case‐control retrospective study.RESULTS: Ninety‐six percent of patients with anti‐Fya had at least one HLA‐DRB1*04 or HLA‐DRB1*15 allele compared to 34% of controls (pc < 0.001). Furthermore HLA‐DRB1*04 and HLA‐DRB1*1501 frequencies were significantly increased in Fya‐immunized patients (35% vs. 12%, pc < 0.001; and 30% vs. 19%, pc < 0.001, respectively). Among HLA‐DRB1*04 allelic subtypes, DRB1*0401 and DRB1*0403 alleles were more strongly correlated with Fya immunization (51% vs. 24% and 19% vs. 9%; pc < 0.001, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that HLA‐DRB1*04 and DRB1*1501 are overrepresented in Fya‐immunized patients. The correlation between these alleles and Fya immunization could be due to a particular presentation of the Fya peptide in HLA‐DRB1 molecules.
The Impact of the Secondary Market on Life Insurers’ Surrender Profits
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Hoermann Gudrun , Schmeiser Hato 
Published: August 2009

AbstractLife insurers often claim that the life settlement industry reduces their surrender profits and leads to an adverse shift in their portfolio of insured risks; that is, high risks remain in the portfolio instead of surrendering. In this article, we aim to quantify the effect of altered surrender behavior––subject to the health status of an insured––in a portfolio of life insurance contracts on the surrender profits of primary insurers. Our model includes mortality heterogeneity by applying a stochastic frailty factor to a mortality table. We additionally analyze the impact of the premium payment method by comparing results for annual and single premium payments.
Wolff‐Parkinson‐White Syndrome and Atrioventricular Nodal Re‐Entry Tachycardia in a Swedish Population: Consequences on Health‐Related Quality of Life
Authors: WALFRIDSSON ULLA , STRÖMBERG ANNA , JANZON MAGNUS , WALFRIDSSON HÅKAN 
Published: August 2009

Background: Living with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia affects a patient's whole life situation, but few studies have addressed health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) aspects in these patients. The aim was therefore to describe HRQOL in patients with atrioventricular nodal re‐entry tachycardia (AVNRT) or Wolff‐Parkinson‐White (WPW) syndrome, referred for radiofrequency ablation (RF‐ablation), compared to age‐ and gender‐matched Swedish reference groups.
Methods: HRQOL was assessed with SF‐36 and EuroQol (EQ‐5D and EQ‐VAS) and the patients were asked disease‐specific questions.
Results: The 97 patients with AVNRT [53 ± 16 years of age/65 women] and 79 patients with WPW [42 ± 15 years of age/26 women] exhibited significantly lower HRQOL scores in SF‐36 in the same seven of the eight scales: Physical functioning (PF), role‐physical (RP), social functioning (SF), role‐emotional (RE), general health (GH), vitality (VT), and mental health (MH) while there was no difference in bodily pain (BP) compared to their respective age‐ and gender matched Swedish reference group. HRQOL scores were lower for patients with AVNRT compared to WPW in the areas of PF (P < 0.001), BP (P < 0.05), and GH (P < 0.01) in SF‐36, and the same was found in EQ‐VAS (64.8 vs. 71.2, P < 0.05). Occurrence of episodes of tachycardia more often than once a month compared to less frequently than once a month was associated with significantly lower HRQOL in all eight scales in SF‐36 (GH, RE, MH: P < 0.01 and PF, RP, BP, VT, SF: P < 0.001) and EQ‐5D index (P < 0.001) and EQ‐VAS (P < 0.05) Arrhythmia duration longer than one hour compared to patients with shorter duration of the tachycardia‐affected GH in SF‐36 negatively (P < 0.05). Patients who experienced symptoms not only during activity but also at rest scored lower in SF‐36 GH (P < 0.01) and SF (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Measuring HRQOL in patients with WPW or AVNRT is an important way to evaluate and describe these patients’ life situation. These conditions were found to have a pronounced negative impact on HRQOL. The frequency of arrhythmia occurrence is one important factor to consider when setting priorities for treatment with RF‐ablation.
Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Is It Time to Expand the Criteria?
Authors: VERSTEEG HENNEKE , SCHIFFER ANGÉLIQUE A. , WIDDERSHOVEN JOS W. , MEINE MATHIAS M. , DOEVENDANS PIETER A. , PEDERSEN SUSANNE S. 
Published: August 2009

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a promising treatment for a subgroup of patients with advanced congestive heart failure and a prolonged QRS interval. Despite the majority of patients benefiting from CRT, 10–40% of patients do not respond to this treatment and are labeled as nonresponders. Given that there is a lack of consensus on how to define response to CRT, the purpose of this viewpoint is to discuss currently used definitions and their shortcomings, and to provide recommendations as to how an expansion of the criteria for CRT response may be useful to clinicians.
Methods and Results: Analysis of the literature and case reports indicates that the majority of established measures of CRT response, including New York Heart Association functional class and echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and neurohormonal parameters, are poor associates of patient‐reported symptoms and quality of life. Moreover, the potential moderating role of psychological factors in determining health outcomes after CRT has largely been neglected.
Conclusions: It is recommended to routinely assess health status after CRT with a disease‐specific questionnaire in standard clinical practice and to examine its determinants, including psychological factors such as personality traits and depression. This may lead to improved (secondary) treatment and prognosis in CHF patients treated with CRT.
The Carina Angle—New Geometrical Parameter Associated with Periprocedural Side Branch Compromise and the Long‐Term Results in Coronary Bifurcation Lesions with Main Vessel Stenting Only
Authors: GIL ROBERT J. , VASSILEV DOBRIN , FORMUSZEWICZ RADOSLAW , RUSICKA‐PIEKARZ TERESA , DOGANOV ALEXANDER 
Published: August 2009

Background:

The two main problems unresolved in coronary bifurcation stenting are periprocedural side branch compromise and higher restenosis at long term. The purpose of this study is to reveal the link between periprocedural side branch compromise and long‐term results after main vessel stenting only in coronary bifurcations.
Methods:

Eighty‐four patients formed the study population. The inclusion criteria were good‐quality angiograms, with maximal between‐branch angle opening, no overlap, permitting accurate angiographic analysis. Carina angle (α)—the distal angle between main vessel (MV) before bifurcation and side branch (SB)—was measured pre‐ and poststenting. Clinical follow‐up 9–12 months was obtained with coronary angiography if needed.
Results:

The patient population was high‐risk with 33% diabetics and 84% two‐ and three‐vessel disease. Ninety‐five stents were implanted in 92 lesions, with three T‐stenting cases. Drug‐eluting stents were implanted in 54%. Kissing‐balloon (KBI) or sequential inflation was performed in 35%. SB functional closure occurred in 17.4%, with independent predictors α < 40° and diameter ratio MB/SB >1.22. After 12±4 months there were five myocardial infarctions (6%) and 13 (15%) target lesion revascularization procedures. Independent predictors of major cardiovascular events were carina angle <40°, MB lesion length >8 mm, negative change of between‐branch angle, DES usage, and KBI.
Conclusions:

Smaller carina angle with straightening of MV—main branch from stent implantation in coronary bifurcations predicted higher SB compromise, restenosis, and MACE rates during follow‐up of 1 year.
Outcomes of Patients with Coronary Artery Perforation Complicating Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Correlations with the Type of Adjunctive Antithrombotic Therapy: Pooled Analysis from REPLACE‐2, ACUITY, and HORIZONS‐AMI Trials
Authors: DOLL JACOB A. , NIKOLSKY EUGENIA , STONE GREGG W. , MEHRAN ROXANA , LINCOFF A. MICHAEL , CAIXETA ADRIANO , MCLAURIN BRENT , CRISTEA ECATERINA , FAHY MARTIN , KESANAKURTHY VIJAYA , LANSKY ALEXANDRA J. 
Published: August 2009

Background:

The lack of a specific counteragent to bivalirudin may complicate the management of patients with coronary artery (CA) perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Aim:

Assess outcomes of patients with CA perforation from three PCI trials comparing intravenous bivalirudin with provisional glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibition versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) plus GP IIb/IIIa.
Methods:

A pooled analysis of patients treated with PCI in three randomized trials including REPLACE‐2, ACUITY, and HORIZONS‐AMI.
Results:

Among a total of 12,921 patients, CA perforation occurred in 35 patients (0.27%). By multivariable analysis, baseline creatinine clearance was the only independent predictor of CA perforation (per 10 mL/min decrease, odds ratio [95% confidence interval]= 1.28 [1.11, 1.47], P = 0.0007). At 30 days, patients with versus without CA perforation had significantly (all P values ≤0.001) higher rates of 30‐day mortality (11.4% vs. 1.0%), myocardial infarction (MI) [Q wave: 22.9% vs. 5.7%; non‐Q wave: 17.1% vs. 4.9%], target vessel revascularization (TVR) [20.1% vs. 1.8%], and composite end‐point of death/MI/TVR (31.4% vs. 7.8%). Patients assigned to bivalirudin versus UFH plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor had nonsignificantly lower rates of death (0% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.08), similar rates of MI (26.7% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.92), significantly lower rates of TVR (6.7% vs. 37.5%, P = 0.04), and similar rates of the composite end‐point of death/MI/TVR (35.5% vs. 26.7%, P = 0.54).
Conclusion:

In three PCI trials, treatment of patients experiencing CA perforation with adjunctive antithrombotic therapy of bivalirudin monotherapy was not associated with worse outcomes compared to treatment with UFH plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
No evidence for switching the antidepressant: systematic review and meta‐analysis of RCTs of a common therapeutic strategy
Authors: Bschor T. , Baethge C. 
Published: August 2009

Bschor T, Baethge C. No evidence for switching the antidepressant: systematic review and meta‐analysis of RCTs of a common therapeutic strategy.Objective:  Switching antidepressants is a common strategy for managing treatment‐resistant depressed patients. However, no systematic reviews have been conducted to date.Method:  We systematically searched MEDLINE/EMBASE/Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and additional sources. We included double‐blind studies of patients with depressive symptomatology who were not responding to initial antidepressant monotherapy and were subsequently randomized to another antidepressant or to continue the same antidepressant. Results were pooled for meta‐analysis of response + remission rates using a fixed‐effects model.Results:  A total of three studies were included. Switching to another antidepressant was not superior to continuing the initial antidepressant in any of these studies. Our meta‐analysis showed no significant advantages to either strategy and no significant heterogeneity of results [OR for response rates: 0.85 (95% CI: 0.55–1.30) favoring continuing].Conclusion:  There is a discrepancy between the published evidence and the frequent decision to switch antidepressants, indicating an urgent need for more controlled studies. Pending such studies we recommend that physicians rely on more thoroughly evaluated strategies.