bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alcohol prevention in Swedish antenatal care: effectiveness and perceptions of the Risk Drinking project counseling model
Authors: NILSEN PER , SKAGERSTRÖM JANNA , RAHMQVIST MIKAEL , HULTGREN EVA , BLOMBERG MARIE 
Published: March 2012

Abstract Objective. To compare an earlier Swedish antenatal care counseling routine concerning alcohol consumption with an expanded model in terms of effectiveness in achieving abstinence in pregnancy. A further objective was to assess the women's perceptions of the alcohol counseling. Design. Cohort study. Setting. Antenatal care center in a provincial Swedish university town. Population. Women who received alcohol counseling; 1533 in cohort 1 (routine counseling) and 1476 in cohort 2 (expanded model). Approximately 93% of all pregnant women in Linköping are registered at this center. Methods. Data were collected by means of an anonymous questionnaire. Thirteen questions in the questionnaire were analysed for this study. Main outcome measures. Replies from three questions concerning pre‐pregnancy drinking and three questions on drinking during pregnancy. Results. The response rate was 60% for cohort 1 and 64% for cohort 2. Perceptions of the advice from the antenatal care center were generally favorable. Similar proportions of women, approximately 6%, in both cohorts drank at least once during the pregnancy (after pregnancy recognition). There were four predictors for drinking during pregnancy: older age; having previously given birth to a child; frequency of pre‐pregnancy drinking; and perceiving the message from antenatal care as “small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy don't matter.”Conclusions. An expanded counseling model implemented in Swedish antenatal care did not reduce the proportion of women who continued drinking during pregnancy in comparison with a previous counseling model, although the advice provided in the new model was perceived more favorably.
Restless legs syndrome during and after pregnancy and its relation to snoring
Authors: SARBERG MARIA , JOSEFSSON ANN , WIRÉHN ANN‐BRITT , SVANBORG EVA 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjective. To study development of restless legs syndrome (RLS) during and after pregnancy, and whether RLS is related to snoring or other pregnancy‐related symptoms. Design. Prospective study. Setting. Antenatal care clinics in the catchment area of Linköping university hospital, Sweden. Population. Five hundred consecutively recruited pregnant women. Methods. Sleep disturbances, including symptoms of RLS and snoring, were assessed with questionnaires in each trimester. A complementary questionnaire was sent three years after delivery to women experiencing symptoms of RLS during pregnancy. Main outcome measures. Symptoms of RLS in relation to snoring in each trimester. Results. Symptoms of RLS were reported by 17.0% of the women in the first trimester, by 27.1% in the second trimester and by 29.6% in the third trimester. Snoring in the first trimester was correlated to increased prevalence of RLS in all three trimesters (p= 0.003, 0.017 and 0.044 in the first, second and third trimester, respectively). No correlation was found between RLS and anemia, parity or body mass index. Among the women who experienced RLS, 31% still had symptoms three years after delivery. Fifty‐eight per cent of those whose symptoms had disappeared stated that this happened within one month after delivery. Conclusions. Symptoms of RLS progressed most between the first and second trimester. Women who snored in the first or second trimester of pregnancy had a higher prevalence of RLS in the third trimester, which indicates that snoring in early pregnancy might predict RLS later. Symptoms of RLS disappear quite soon after delivery, but about one‐third of women with RLS during pregnancy may still have symptoms three years after childbirth.
Comparison of three diagnostic techniques for detection of rotavirus and coronavirus in calf faeces in Australia
Authors: Izzo MM , Kirkland PD , Gu X , Lele Y , Gunn AA , House JK 
Published: March 2012

Objective  Compare real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow immunochromatography assay (LAT) for the detection of rotavirus and coronavirus in faecal samples collected from diarrhoeic calves.Design  Prospective survey.Method  Samples were tested at two separate facilities using a commercial ELISA and an in‐house qRT‐PCR. Simple logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between the two tests. A subset of samples was screened using qRT‐PCR, ELISA and a commercial LAT dipstick (132 faecal samples were tested for coronavirus and 122 samples for rotavirus).Results  Of the 586 samples tested, 131 (22.39%) and 468 (79.86%) were positive for coronavirus and group A rotavirus, respectively, using qRT‐PCR. The number of samples positive on ELISA for coronavirus and rotavirus was 73 (12.46%) and 225 (38.40%), respectively. Using LAT, 30 (22.73%) and 43 (35.35%) samples were positive for coronavirus and rotavirus, respectively. Simple linear regression revealed a statistically significant (P < 0.05) but weak (r2=−0.07 and −0.40) correlation between the rotavirus/coronavirus qRT‐PCR and ELISA, respectively. There was also poor agreement between the LAT and qRT‐PCR assays.Conclusion  The sensitivity and specificity of the commercial ELISA and LAT assays evaluated in this study were low compared with qRT‐PCR. The low positive and negative predictive values of the assays suggests that they were of limited diagnostic benefit in the population sampled.
Intravesical Application of Lidocaine and Sodium Bicarbonate in the Treatment of Obstructive Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats
Authors: Zezza L. , Reusch C.E. , Gerber B. 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundIn human patients with interstitial cystitis, intravesical instillation of alkalinized lidocaine sometimes is associated with sustained amelioration of symptoms beyond the acute treatment phase. Interstitial cystitis shares many features in common with feline idiopathic cystitis.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether intravesical instillation of alkalinized lidocaine decreases recurrence of urethral obstruction and severity of clinical signs in cats with obstructive idiopathic LUTD.AnimalsTwenty‐six cats with obstructive idiopathic LUTD. Twelve cats in case group (treatment with alkalinized lidocaine) and 14 control cats (treatment with placebo or standard treatment).MethodsCats were randomly assigned to treatment (2 or 4 mg/kg lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate) or placebo groups (0.2 mL/kg saline solution and sodium bicarbonate). The intravesical instillation was done once a day for 3 days. Some cats underwent standard treatment only (indwelling urinary catheter for 3 days without intravesical instillations). A 2‐week, 1‐month, and 2‐month follow‐up after treatment was made using a questionnaire. The recurrence rate and amelioration scores of clinical signs were assessed and compared.ResultsRecurrence of urethral obstruction was 58% (7/12) in the case group and 57% (8/14) in the control group. Amelioration scores were similar between the 2 groups.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceIntravesical administration of lidocaine for up to 3 consecutive days had no apparent beneficial effect on decreasing recurrence rate and severity of clinical signs in cats with obstructive idiopathic LUTD.
Dynamic respiratory endoscopy of Standardbred racehorses during qualifying races
Authors: PRIEST D. T. , CHEETHAM J. , REGNER A. L. , MITCHELL L. , SODERHOLM L. V. , TAMZALI Y. , DUCHARME N. G. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryReason for performing study:Examination of the equine upper airway during racing has not previously been documented.Objective:To describe the feasibility and appearance of the upper airways by overground respiratory endoscopic examination during racing conditions.Methods:Overground videoendoscopic examinations were performed on 46 Standardbred racehorses during qualifying races. Examined horses' speeds were recorded throughout the race with a portable GPS device.Results:The procedure did not interfere with performance as there were no significant differences in race times between races in which horses were examined with the endoscope in place and prior unexamined races. Airway obstructions during or after the race were documented in 21 horses. Most previously reported causes of upper airway obstruction were observed; surprisingly bilateral ventro‐medial arytenoid displacement (VMAD; n = 5) was seen during exercise as frequently as dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Although DDSP (n = 10) was the most common diagnosis made, many displacements (n = 5) occurred after the race. Horses that demonstrated DDSP after the race had slower speeds than unaffected horses during the race.Conclusions:Racing endoscopy permits the diagnosis of upper airway obstructions without affecting performance. The occurrence of DDSP immediately after exercise may be clinically relevant. During racing VMAD may be an important anomaly.Potential relevance:Racing endoscopy could be used to correlate the sensitivity of diagnostic endoscopy during race‐training or treadmill examination. The pathogenesis and significance of VMAD deserves further investigation.
Enhancement of gene expression and melanin production of human tyrosinase gene loaded in elastic cationic niosomes
Authors: Khositsuntiwong Narinthorn , Manosroi Aranya , Götz Friedrich , Werner Rolf G , Manosroi Worapaka , Manosroi Jiradej 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Objectives
Disturbance in the synthesis of tyrosinase might be one of the major causes of vitiligo. The enhancement of tyrosinase gene expression and melanin production by loading the plasmid in elastic cationic niosomes was investigated in tyrosinase gene knocked out human melanoma (M5) cells and in tyrosine-producing mouse melanoma (B16F10) cells.

Methods
Niosomes composed of Tween 61/cholesterol/dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide at 1 : 1 : 0.5 molar ratio were prepared by the freeze-dried empty liposomes method. The thin lipid film was redissolved in distilled water or 25% ethanol to obtain the non-elastic or elastic cationic niosomes, respectively.

Key findings
The maximum loading of the plasmid in non-elastic and elastic niosomes was 130 and 100 µg per 16 mg of the niosomal contents, respectively. The plasmid-loaded elastic cationic niosomes exhibited high specific tyrosinase activity of 1.66 and 1.50 fold in M5 cells and 6.81 and 4.37 fold in B16F10 cells compared with the free plasmid and the plasmid-loaded non-elastic cationic niosomes, respectively.

Conclusions
This study has demonstrated not only the enhancement of the expression of human tyrosinase gene by loading in elastic cationic niosomes, but also the potential application of this gene delivery system for the further development of vitiligo gene therapy.
Monte Carlo simulation of breast imaging using synchrotron radiation
Authors: Fitousi N. T. , Delis H. , Panayiotakis G. 
Published: March 2012

Purpose:Synchrotron radiation (SR), being the brightest artificial source of x‐rays with a very promising geometry, has raised the scientific expectations that it could be used for breast imaging with optimized results. The “in situ” evaluation of this technique is difficult to perform, mostly due to the limited available SR facilities worldwide. In this study, a simulation model for SR breast imaging was developed, based on Monte Carlo simulation techniques, and validated using data acquired in the SYRMEP beamline of the Elettra facility in Trieste, Italy. Furthermore, primary results concerning the performance of SR were derived.Methods:The developed model includes the exact setup of the SR beamline, considering that the x‐ray source is located at almost 23 m from the slit, while the photon energy was considered to originate from a very narrow Gaussian spectrum. Breast phantoms, made of Perspex and filled with air cavities, were irradiated with energies in the range of 16–28 keV. The model included a Gd2O2S detector with the same characteristics as the one available in the SYRMEP beamline. Following the development and validation of the model, experiments were performed in order to evaluate the contrast resolution of SR. A phantom made of adipose tissue and filled with inhomogeneities of several compositions and sizes was designed and utilized to simulate the irradiation under conventional mammography and SR conditions.Results:The validation results of the model showed an excellent agreement with the experimental data, with the correlation for contrast being 0.996. Significant differences only appeared at the edges of the phantom, where phase effects occur. The initial evaluation experiments revealed that SR shows very good performance in terms of the image quality indices utilized, namely subject contrast and contrast to noise ratio. The response of subject contrast to energy is monotonic; however, this does not stand for contrast to noise ratio, since there is a range of optimal performance for SR (18–21 keV). In comparison to conventional mammography, SR shows improved subject contrast for energies lower than the mean energy of each spectrum.Conclusions:The comparison of the results of the two models, conventional and SR, proved that SR exhibits better performance in the majority of cases. The proposed simulation model offers the possibility to perform exhaustive search to evaluate the performance of SR in clinical applications such as breast imaging.
Modulation of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) Antibody Secretion in Mice Immunized with TNF-α Kinoid
Authors: Assier Eric , Semerano Luca , Duvallet Emilie , Delavallée Laure , Bernier Emilie , Laborie Marion , Grouard-Vogel Géraldine , Larcier Patrick , Bessis Natacha , Boissier Marie-Christophe 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTTumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blockade is an effective treatment for patients with TNF-α-dependent chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and psoriasis. TNF-α kinoid, a heterocomplex of human TNF-α and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) (TNF-K), is an active immunotherapy targeting TNF-α. Since the TNF-K approach is an active immunization, and patients receiving this therapy also receive immunosuppressant treatment, we evaluated the effect of some immunosuppressive drugs on the generation of anti-TNF-α antibodies produced during TNF-K treatment. BALB/c mice were injected intramuscularly with TNF-K in ISA 51 adjuvant. Mice were also injected intraperitoneally with one of the following: phosphate-buffered saline, cyclophosphamide, methylprednisolone, or methotrexate. Anti-TNF-α and anti-KLH antibody levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the anti-TNF-α neutralizing capacity of sera by L929 bioassay. Our results showed that current treatments used in rheumatoid arthritis, such as methylprednisolone and methotrexate, do not significantly alter anti-TNF-α antibody production after TNF-K immunization. In contrast, the administration of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) after immunization significantly reduced anti-TNF-α antibody titers and their neutralizing capacity.
Molecular Detection of Capillaria aerophila, an Agent of Canine and Feline Pulmonary Capillariosis
Authors: Di Cesare Angela , Castagna Giuseppe , Otranto Domenico , Meloni Silvana , Milillo Piermarino , Latrofa Maria Stefania , Paoletti Barbara , Bartolini Roberto , Traversa Donato 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Capillaria aerophila
, a trichuroid nematode causing pulmonary infections in wild and domestic carnivores, is occasionally and potentially poorly recognized in infections of humans due to clinicopathological mimicry and a lack of accurate, robust laboratory diagnostics. The present work evaluated the efficiency of a DNA-based assay amplifying a partial cytochrome
c
oxidase subunit 1 (
cox
1) gene of
C. aerophila
in the diagnosis of lung capillariosis. Fecal samples from 34 dogs and 10 cats positive at parasitological examination for
C. aerophila
and other endoparasites (i.e., other lungworms, whipworms, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and/or coccidia) and from 44 animals negative for
C. aerophila
but positive for other endoparasites were molecularly examined. Of the 44 samples positive for
C. aerophila
at copromicroscopy, 43 scored positive (i.e., 33/34 dogs and 10/10 cats) in seminested PCR, resulting in a sensitivity of 97 to 100%. Samples that were copromicroscopy negative for
C. aerophila
although positive for other endoparasites never produced a PCR product or nonspecific amplicons. The specific PCR amplification of
C. aerophila
(i.e., specificity of 100%) was confirmed by a nucleotide sequence analysis of the
cox
1 amplicons. The potential implications of the molecular diagnosis of lung capillariosis are discussed.
Cost Savings Associated with Testing of Antibodies, Antigens, and Nucleic Acids for Diagnosis of Acute HIV Infection
Authors: Karris Maile Y. , Anderson Christy M. , Morris Sheldon R. , Smith Davey M. , Little Susan J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT
Efforts to identify all persons infected with HIV in the United States are driven by the hope that early diagnosis will lower risk behaviors and decrease HIV transmission. Identification of HIV-infected people earlier in the course of their infection with HIV antigen/antibody (Ag/Ab) combination assays (4th-generation HIV assays) should help achieve this goal. We compared HIV RNA nucleic acid test (NAT) results to the results of a 4th-generation Ag/Ab assay (Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo [HIV Combo] assay; Abbott Diagnostics) in 2,744 HIV antibody-negative samples. Fourteen people with acute HIV infection (HIV antibody negative/NAT positive) were identified; the HIV Combo assay detected nine of these individuals and was falsely negative in the remaining five. All five persons missed by the HIV Combo assay were in the stage of exponential increase in plasma virus associated with acute HIV infection (3, 7, 20, 35, 48). In contrast, most acutely infected persons detected by the HIV Combo assay demonstrated either a plateauing or decreasing plasma viral load. The HIV Combo assay also classified as positive five other samples which were negative by NAT. Taken together, the HIV Combo assay had a sensitivity of 73.7% and a specificity of 99.8%. Using published data, we estimated secondary transmission events had HIV infection in these five individuals remained undiagnosed. Screening of our population with NAT cost more than screening with the HIV Combo assay but achieved new diagnoses that we predict resulted in health care savings that far exceed screening costs. These findings support the use of more sensitive assays, like NAT, in HIV screening of populations with a high prevalence of acute HIV infection.
Novel Molecular Method for Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae Applicable to Clinical Microbiology and 16S rRNA Sequence-Based Microbiome Studies
Authors: Scholz Christian F. P. , Poulsen Knud , Kilian Mogens 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

The close phylogenetic relationship of the important pathogen
Streptococcus pneumoniae
and several species of commensal streptococci, particularly
Streptococcus mitis
and
Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae
, and the recently demonstrated sharing of genes and phenotypic traits previously considered specific for
S. pneumoniae
hamper the exact identification of
S. pneumoniae
. Based on sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes of a collection of 634 streptococcal strains, identified by multilocus sequence analysis, we detected a cytosine at position 203 present in all 440 strains of
S. pneumoniae
but replaced by an adenosine residue in all strains representing other species of mitis group streptococci. The
S. pneumoniae
-specific sequence signature could be demonstrated by sequence analysis or indirectly by restriction endonuclease digestion of a PCR amplicon covering the site. The
S. pneumoniae
-specific signature offers an inexpensive means for validation of the identity of clinical isolates and should be used as an integrated marker in the annotation procedure employed in 16S rRNA-based molecular studies of complex human microbiotas. This may avoid frequent misidentifications such as those we demonstrate to have occurred in previous reports and in reference sequence databases.
Cepheid Xpert MRSA Cycle Threshold in Discordant Colonization Results and as a Quantitative Measure of Nasal Colonization Burden
Authors: Stenehjem Edward , Rimland David , Crispell Emily K. , Stafford Cortney , Gaynes Robert , Satola Sarah W. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

We analyzed the cycle threshold (

C
T

) of PCR surveillance MRSA swabs obtained from veterans. Lower

C
T

on admission was associated with a positive culture from nasal swabs at discharge. Compared to PCR, direct plating of nasal swabs performed poorly, especially for patients with an elevated

C
T

. The

C
T

is strongly correlated with quantitative nasal cultures. Clinical and infection control applications of the

C
T

have yet to be defined and warrant further evaluation.
Extensive Genetic Diversity within the Dutch Clinical Cryptococcus neoformans Population
Authors: Hagen Ferry , Illnait-Zaragozí María-Teresa , Meis Jacques F. , Chew William H. M. , Curfs-Breuker Ilse , Mouton Johan W. , Hoepelman Andy I. M. , Spanjaard Lodewijk , Verweij Paul E. , Kampinga Greetje A. , Kuijper Ed J. , Boekhout Teun , Klaassen Corné H. W. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

A set of 300 Dutch
Cryptococcus neoformans
isolates, obtained from 237 patients during 1977 to 2007, was investigated by determining the mating type, serotype, and AFLP and microsatellite genotype and susceptibility to seven antifungal compounds. Almost half of the studied cases were from HIV-infected patients, followed by a patient group of individuals with other underlying diseases and immunocompetent individuals. The majority of the isolates were mating type α and serotype A, followed by αD isolates and other minor categories. The most frequently observed genotype was AFLP1, distantly followed by AFLP2 and AFLP3. Microsatellite typing revealed a high genetic diversity among serotype A isolates but a lower diversity within the serotype D set of isolates. One patient was infected by multiple AFLP genotypes. Fluconazole and flucytosine had the highest geometric mean MICs of 2.9 and 3.5 μg/ml, respectively, while amphotericin B (0.24 μg/ml), itraconazole (0.08 μg/ml), voriconazole (0.07 μg/ml), posaconazole (0.06 μg/ml), and isavuconazole (0.03 μg/ml) had much lower geometric mean MICs. One isolate had a high flucytosine MIC (>64 μg/ml), while decreased susceptibility (≥16 μg/ml) for flucytosine and fluconazole was found in 9 and 10
C. neoformans
isolates, respectively.
A New and Highly Divergent Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotype Isolated from a Renal Transplant Recipient
Authors: Pomares Christelle , Santín Monica , Miegeville Michel , Espern Anne , Albano Laetitia , Marty Pierre , Morio Florent 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

A 49-year-old renal transplant recipient was admitted to our hospital due to abundant liquid diarrhea and dehydration. Parasitological investigations, including genotyping, led to the diagnosis of intestinal microsporidiosis due to a new and highly divergent internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotype of
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
. The potential route of transmission through horse stools is discussed.