bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Tennessee Children's Respiratory Initiative: Objectives, design and recruitment results of a prospective cohort study investigating infant viral respiratory illness and the development of asthma and allergic diseases
Authors: HARTERT Tina V. , CARROLL Kecia , GEBRETSADIK Tebeb , WOODWARD Kimberly , MINTON Patricia ,   the Vanderbilt Center for Asthma and Environmental Health Research Investigators and Collaborators
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The ‘attack rate’ of asthma following viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) is about 3–4 fold higher than that of the general population; however, the majority of children who develop viral LRTI during infancy do not develop asthma, and asthma incidence has been observed to continuously decrease with age. Thus, we do not understand how viral LRTI either predispose or serve as a marker of children to develop asthma. The Tennessee Children's Respiratory Initiative has been established as a longitudinal prospective investigation of infants and their biological mothers. The primary goals are to investigate both the acute and the long‐term health consequences of varying severity and aetiology of clinically significant viral respiratory tract infections on early childhood outcomes.Methods:  Over four respiratory viral seasons, 2004–2008, term, non‐low birth weight previously healthy infants and their biological mothers were enrolled during an infant's acute viral respiratory illness. Longitudinal follow up to age 6 years is ongoing.Results:  This report describes the study objectives, design and recruitment results of the over 650 families enrolled in this longitudinal investigation. The Tennessee Children's Respiratory Initiative is additionally unique because it is designed in parallel with a large retrospective birth cohort of over 95 000 mother–infant dyads with similar objectives to investigate the role of respiratory viral infection severity and aetiology in the development of asthma.Conclusions:  Future reports from this cohort will help to clarify the complex relationship between infant respiratory viral infection severity, aetiology, atopic predisposition and the subsequent development of early childhood asthma and atopic diseases.
Polymorphisms in the transforming growth factor‐β1 gene and the risk of asthma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: ZHANG Yonggang , ZHANG Jie , HUANG Jin , LI Xiaobo , HE Chao , TIAN Can , PENG Chunhong , GUO Liang , XIAO Yuling , FAN Hong 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Polymorphisms in the transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) gene have been implicated in susceptibility to asthma, but a large number of studies have reported inconclusive results. A meta‐analysis was performed to investigate the association between polymorphisms in the TGF‐β1 gene and asthma susceptibility.Methods:  Searches were performed of Medline (Ovid), PubMed, the Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBM), the Chinese Journals Full‐text Database (CNKI), the Cochrane Library Database and the Web of Science, covering all papers published up to 30 April 2009. Statistical analysis was performed using Revman4.2.8 and STATA10.0 software.Results:  Two polymorphisms (−509C/T and 915G/C(G25C)) were investigated in 14 studies, involving 2979 asthma patients and 4941 control subjects. The results showed that individuals carrying the −509T allele (TT+TC) had a 36% increased risk of asthma, when compared with homozygotes (−509CC) (OR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.12–1.65). However, there was no significant association with risk of asthma in carriers of the 915C allele (GC+CC) compared with 915GG homozygotes (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.65–1.70). In a subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the risk of asthma associated with the −509T allele was significantly elevated among Asians (OR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.04–2.17) but not Caucasians (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00–1.36). In a subgroup analysis by age, the −509T allele was associated with a significantly elevated risk of asthma among adults (OR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.09–1.92) but not children (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 0.96–1.46).Conclusions:  This meta‐analysis suggested that the −509C/T polymorphism in the TGF‐β1 gene may be a risk factor for asthma. To further evaluate gene–gene and gene–environment interactions between polymorphisms in the TGF‐β1 gene and asthma susceptibility, more studies involving thousands of patients are required.
Extracerebellar progenitors grafted to the neurogenic milieu of the postnatal rat cerebellum adapt to the host environment but fail to acquire cerebellar identities
Authors: Rolando Chiara , Gribaudo Simona , Yoshikawa Kazuaki , Leto Ketty , De Marchis Silvia , Rossi Ferdinando 
Published: April 2010

AbstractStem or progenitor cells acquire specific regional identities during early ontogenesis. Nonetheless, there is evidence that cells heterotopically transplanted to neurogenic regions of the developing or mature central nervous system may switch their fate to adopt host‐specific phenotypes. Here, we isolated progenitor cells from different germinative sites along the neuraxis where GABAergic interneurons are produced (telencephalic subventricular zone, medial ganglionic eminence, ventral mesencephalon and dorsal spinal cord), and grafted them to the prospective white matter of the postnatal rat cerebellum, at the time when local interneurons are generated. The phenotype acquired by transplanted cells was assessed by different criteria, including expression of region‐specific transcription factors, acquisition of morphological and neurochemical traits, and integration in the cerebellar cytoarchitecture. Regardless of their origin, all the different types of donor cells engrafted in the cerebellar parenchyma and developed mature neurons that shared some morphological and neurochemical features with local inhibitory interneurons, particularly in the deep nuclei. Nevertheless, transplanted cells failed to activate cerebellar‐specific regulatory genes. In addition, their major structural features, the expression profiles of type‐specific markers and the laminar placement in the recipient cortex did not match those of endogenous interneurons generated during the same developmental period. Therefore, although exogenous cells are influenced by the cerebellar milieu and show remarkable capabilities for adapting to the foreign environment, they essentially fail to switch their fate, integrate in the host neurogenic mechanisms and adopt clear‐cut cerebellar identities.
Hydrostatic pressure affects membrane and storage lipid compositions of the piezotolerant hydrocarbon‐degrading Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus strain #5
Authors: Grossi Vincent , Yakimov Michail M. , Al Ali Badr , Tapilatu Yosmina , Cuny Philippe , Goutx Madeleine , La Cono Violetta , Giuliano Laura , Tamburini Christian 
Published: April 2010

SummaryA new piezotolerant alkane‐degrading bacterium (Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus strain #5) was isolated from deep (3475 m) Mediterranean seawater and grown at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and at 35 MPa with hexadecane as sole source of carbon and energy. Modification of the hydrostatic pressure influenced neither the growth rate nor the amount of degraded hexadecane (≈ 90%) during 13 days of incubation. However, the lipid composition of the cells sharply differed under both pressure conditions. At 0.1 MPa, M. hydrocarbonoclasticus #5 biosynthesized large amounts (≈ 62% of the total cellular lipids) of hexadecane‐derived wax esters (WEs), which accumulated in the cells under the form of individual lipid bodies. Intracellular WEs were also synthesized at 35 MPa, but their proportion was half that at 0.1 MPa. This lower WE content at high pressure was balanced by an increase in the total cellular phospholipid content. The chemical composition of WEs formed under both pressure conditions also strongly differed. Saturated WEs were preferentially formed at 0.1 MPa whereas diunsaturated WEs dominated at 35 MPa. This increase of the unsaturation ratio of WEs resembled the one classically observed for bacterial membrane lipid homeostasis. Remarkably, the unsaturation ratio of membrane fatty acids of M. hydrocarbonoclasticus grown at 35 MPa was only slightly higher than at 0.1 MPa. Overall, the results suggest that intracellular WEs and phospholipids play complementary roles in the physiological adaptation of strain #5 to different hydrostatic pressures.
Novel α‐ketoglutarate dioxygenase tfdA‐related genes are found in soil DNA after exposure to phenoxyalkanoic herbicides
Authors: Gazitúa M. C. , Slater A. W. , Melo F. , González B. 
Published: April 2010

SummaryPhenoxyalkanoic herbicides such as 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4‐D), 2,4‐dichlorophenoxybutyrate (2,4‐DB) or mecoprop are widely used to control broad‐leaf weeds. Several bacteria have been reported to degrade these herbicides using the α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetate dioxygenase encoded by the tfdA gene, as the enzyme catalysing the first step in the catabolic pathway. The effects of exposure to different phenoxyalkanoic herbicides in the soil bacterial community and in the tfdA genes diversity were assessed using an agricultural soil exposed to these anthropogenic compounds. Total community bacterial DNA was analysed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of the 16S rRNA and the tfdA gene markers, and detection and cloning of tfdA gene related sequences, using PCR primer pairs. After up to 4 months of herbicide exposure, significant changes in the bacterial community structure were detected in soil microcosms treated with mecoprop, 2,4‐DB and a mixture of both plus 2,4‐D. An impressive variety of novel tfdA gene related sequences were found in these soil microcosms, which cluster in new tfdA gene related sequence groups, unequally abundant depending on the specific herbicide used in soil treatment. Structural analysis of the putative protein products showed small but significant amino acid differences. These tfdA gene sequence variants are, probably, required for degradation of natural substrate(s) structurally related to these herbicides and their presence explains self‐remediation of soils exposed to phenoxyalkanoic herbicides.
Microaerobic conditions enhance type III secretion and adherence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli to polarized human intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Schüller Stephanie , Phillips Alan D 
Published: April 2010

SummaryAdvances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) have greatly benefited from the use of human epithelial cell lines under aerobic conditions. However, in the target site of EHEC infection, the human intestine, conditions are microaerobic. In our study we used polarized human colon carcinoma cells in a vertical diffusion chamber system to investigate the influence of reduced apical oxygen levels on EHEC colonization. While apical microaerobiosis did not affect cell integrity and barrier function, numbers of adherent bacteria were significantly increased under low compared with high apical oxygen concentrations. In addition, expression and translocation of EHEC type III secreted (T3S) effector proteins was considerably enhanced under microaerobic conditions and dependent on the presence of host cells. Increased colonization was mainly mediated via EspA as adherence levels of an isogenic deletion mutant were not influenced by low oxygen levels. Other potential adherence factors (E. coli common pilus and flagella) were only minimally expressed under high and low oxygen levels. Addition of nitrate and trimethylamine N‐oxide as terminal electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration failed to further increase bacterial colonization or T3S under microaerobiosis. This study indicates that EHEC T3S and colonization are enhanced by the microaerobic environment in the gut and therefore might be underestimated in conventional aerobic cell culture systems.
Sulphonylurea–metformin combination therapy, cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality: the Fremantle Diabetes Study
Authors: Sillars B. , Davis W. A. , Hirsch I. B. , Davis T. M. E. 
Published: April 2010

Aim: To determine whether combination of metformin–sulphonylurea is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in an urban community‐based cohort of type 2 patients. Methods: We studied 1271 (98.2%) of 1294 type 2 participants in the observational Fremantle Diabetes Study (mean age 64.2 years, 48.8% males) who had detailed diabetes‐specific therapy recorded at baseline and complete follow‐up data. Mortality and hospital discharge data were collected over 13 174 patient‐years (mean ± SD: 10.4 ± 3.9 years). Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to determine whether baseline diabetes treatments were independently associated with cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for/death from CVD or all‐cause mortality after adjustment for other explanatory variables. Results: During follow‐up, 523 deaths occurred (41.1%) of which 269 (51.4%) were attributed to CVD. Hospitalization for CVD as principal diagnosis occurred at least once for 481 (37.8%) participants. In Kaplan–Meier analyses, there were significant differences in cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for/death from CVD and all‐cause mortality between diabetes therapy groups (p < 0.001). Compared with diet and metformin monotherapy, those treated with metformin–sulphonylurea had higher cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality (p ≤ 0.024). Insulin users had significantly higher cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for/death from CVD and all‐cause mortality than those on combination therapy (p ≤ 0.016). After adjustment for significant variables in the most parsimonious models, diabetes treatment was not independently associated with any of the three study endpoints (p ≥ 0.49). Conclusions: Combination metformin–sulphonylurea appears as safe as other blood glucose‐lowering therapies used for type 2 diabetes.
Semiparametric Approach to Point Source Modelling in Epidemiology and Criminology
Authors: Rodrigues Alexandre , Diggle Peter , Assuncao Renato 
Published: April 2010

SummaryBy treating the conditional approach that was suggested by Diggle and Rowlingson as a generalized additive model, we provide a semiparametric method for point process modelling with point source interventions. We illustrate the flexibility of this approach with two applications. The first is a reanalysis of an epidemiological case–control data set in which we compare the semiparametric fit with a previously reported parametric model. The second is an application to a complex intervention in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, in which we show how the installation of 60 closed-circuit television cameras has changed the spatial distribution of crimes within an area of high criminal activity.
Estimating Causal Effects in Trials Involving Multitreatment Arms Subject to Non-Compliance: A Bayesian Framework
Authors: Long Qi , Little Roderick J. A. , Lin Xihong 
Published: April 2010

SummaryData analysis for randomized trials including multitreatment arms is often complicated by subjects who do not comply with their treatment assignment. We discuss here methods of estimating treatment efficacy for randomized trials involving multitreatment arms subject to non-compliance. One treatment effect of interest in the presence of non-compliance is the complier average causal effect, which is defined as the treatment effect for subjects who would comply regardless of the treatment assigned. Following the idea of principal stratification, we define principal compliance in trials with three treatment arms, extend the complier average causal effect and define causal estimands of interest in this setting. In addition, we discuss structural assumptions that are needed for estimation of causal effects and the identifiability problem that is inherent in this setting from both a Bayesian and a classical statistical perspective. We propose a likelihood-based framework that models potential outcomes in this setting and a Bayes procedure for statistical inference. We compare our method with a method-of-moments approach that was proposed by Cheng and Small in 2006 by using a hypothetical data set, and we further illustrate our approach with an application to a behavioural intervention study.
HIV and pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review
Authors: Janda S , Quon BS , Swiston J 
Published: April 2010

ObjectivesHIV‐related pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare entity but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The literature describing the outcomes of therapy for this disease is limited to case series and cohort studies. The objective of this study was to systematically review and synthesize the literature on HIV‐related PAH.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, PapersFirst, the Cochrane collaboration and the Cochrane Register of controlled trials were searched with pre‐defined search terms. Randomized controlled trials, observational cohort studies, case–control studies and case reports were considered for inclusion in the qualitative analysis.ResultsA total of 180 case reports of PAH in HIV‐infected patients were identified. Twenty‐six were excluded and thus 154 case reports were included in the qualitative analysis. Thirteen cohort, one case series and two case–control studies were also identified and included in the review. The average baseline CD4 count at the time of diagnosis of PAH was 352 ± 304 cells/μL. The average time from diagnosis of HIV infection to diagnosis of PAH was 4.3 ± 4.0 years. Predominant chest X‐ray findings included cardiomegaly (80%) and pulmonary arterial enlargement (75%). Highly active antiretroviral therapy, bosentan, and prostaglandin therapy have all been reported to be beneficial in improving haemodynamic and functional status in HIV‐related PAH.ConclusionHIV‐related PAH is a rare entity with clinical, laboratory, imaging and pathological manifestations similar to those of idiopathic PAH. The evidence for various treatments is limited to cohort, case series and case–control studies. Randomized controlled trials are needed to properly assess the utility of these therapies in the treatment of HIV‐related PAH.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at 1Hz and 5Hz produces sustained improvement in motor function and disability after ischaemic stroke
Authors: Emara T. H. , Moustafa R. R. , ElNahas N. M. , ElGanzoury A. M. , Abdo T. A. , Mohamed S. A. , ElEtribi M. A. 
Published: April 2010

Background:  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a simple and non‐invasive method of augmenting motor recovery after stroke, probably mediated by restoring inter‐hemispheric activation balance. This placebo‐controlled pilot study examined the possible benefit of stimulating the lesioned hemisphere (5‐Hz rTMS) or inhibiting the contra‐lesional hemisphere (1‐Hz rTMS) on clinical recovery of motor function in patients with ischaemic stroke and assessed the sustainability of the response.Methods:  Sixty patients with ischaemic stroke (>1 month from onset) with mild‐to‐moderate hemiparesis were randomized to receive 10 daily sessions of either sham rTMS, 5‐Hz ipsi‐lesional rTMS or 1‐Hz contra‐lesional rTMS, in addition to a standard physical therapy protocol. Serial assessments were made over a period of 12 weeks by the thumb‐index finger tapping test (FT), Activity Index (AI) score and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).Results:  In contrast to control patients, those receiving active rTMS as ipsi‐lesional 5‐Hz stimulation or 1‐Hz contra‐lesional stimulation showed statistically significant improvement on the FT test, AI scores and mRS score at 2 weeks, and the effect was sustained over the 12‐week observation period. No significant adverse events were observed during treatment in either group.Conclusions:  Repetitive TMS has beneficial effects on motor recovery that can be translated to clinically meaningful improvement in disability in patients with post‐stroke hemiparesis, with a well‐sustained effect. The similarity of inhibitory and stimulatory rTMS in producing these effects supports the inter‐hemispheric balance hypothesis and encourages further research into their use in long‐term neurorehabilitation programmes of patients with stroke.
Evaluation of admission characteristics, hospital length of stay and costs for cerebral infarction in a medium‐sized city in China
Authors: Ma Y. , Liu Y. , Fu H. ‐M. , Wang X. ‐M. , Wu B. ‐H. , Wang S. ‐X. , Peng G. ‐G. 
Published: April 2010

Background and purpose:  Stroke is a heavy economic and health burden for the patients and society. This study aimed to evaluate hospital length of stay (LOS) by admission characteristics and costs correlated with medical insurance status for cerebral infarction in a medium‐sized city in China.Methods:  A total of 557 consecutive patients with principal diagnosis of cerebral infarction were enrolled. Admission characteristics, LOS, and costs were retrospectively analyzed.Results:  The mean LOS was 18.5 days (median, 16 days). Our analysis demonstrated that medical insurance status, stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, Functional Independence Measure cognitive and motor score, Glasgow coma scale), Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) classification, some comorbidities (coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hyperlipemia), and raised leukocytes were the main explanatory factors for LOS by stepwise multiple regression model. The mean per patient costs were US$ 983.0, and mean daily costs US$ 67.0. Drugs were the most expensive cost subtype, all subtypes costs except non‐medical care were significantly higher in patients with state medicine than in those with new cooperative medical scheme (NCMS) (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  Stroke severity, OCSP classification, raised leukocytes on admission, some comorbidities, and medical insurance status may help to predict LOS for patients with cerebral infarction. Healthcare expenditures were heavy burdens to inhabitants. State medicine patients could shorten unnecessary LOS to improve the resources allocation and cost‐efficiency.
The potential power of social policy programmes: income redistribution, economic resources and health
Authors: Lundberg Olle , Fritzell Johan , Åberg Yngwe Monica , Kölegård Maria L. 
Published: April 2010

Lundberg O, Fritzell J, Åberg Yngwe M, Kölegård ML. The potential power of social policy programmes: income redistribution, economic resources and healthInt J Soc Welfare 2010: ••: ••–••© 2010 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and International Journal of Social Welfare.This Supplement includes a number of articles dealing with the role of social policy schemes for public health across the life course. As a key social determinant of health, poverty and its consequences have historically been at the forefront of the public health discussion. But also in rich countries today, economic resources are likely to be important for health and survival, both on an individual and an aggregate level. This introductory article serves as a background for the more specific analyses that follow. The focus is on why income and income inequality could have an effect on individual and population health. We discuss relationships between the individual and population levels and between income and health, and some of the possible mechanisms involved. We also present arguments for why welfare state institutions may matter.