bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ONE UNIT'S EXPERIENCES WHEN ESTABLISHING BUTTONHOLE TECHNIQUE, ANALYSIS OF REASONS FOR FAILURE OF PROCEDURE: A REPORT
Authors: Galante Nelson Zocoler , Rabelo Lúcia Lima , Yamamoto Atsuko , Bonato Rozana Aparecida , Azevedo Luiz Sergio 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYThe buttonhole technique of access of needle insertion into a single selected site in the arteriovenous fistula has proved to be a reliable alternative to older methods due to its overall low complication rates. Although the use of blunt needles improves the technique, the success rate of cannulation with these needles is difficult to predict. We analysed the short‐term outcome of 16 patients receiving in‐centre haemodialysis and compared clinical relevant parameters between patients with and without buttonhole technique failure. Our dialysis unit treats about 180 patients and is located in a tertiary hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The variables as discussed in the paper were the same for both groups. The incidence of technique failure was 43.7%. Patients enrolled later in the study had a better buttonhole failure‐free survival rates than patients enrolled at the beginning (p < 0.05). Patients’ clinical characteristics did not predict the success rate of buttonhole tunnel tracks cannulation with blunt needles. This paper also reports on our successes and failures in buttonhole technique and gives some reasons and reflections for both.
ANAEMIA MANAGEMENT IN CARDIO RENAL DISEASE
Authors: Silverberg Donald S. , Wexler Dov , Iaina Adrian , Schwartz Doron 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYAnaemia is common in congestive heart failure (CHF) and is associated with increased mortality, morbidity and progressive renal failure. The common causes of the anaemia are the associated renal failure and excessive cytokine production, both of which can cause depression of the erythropoietin (EPO) production in the kidney and depression of EPO response in bone marrow. The cytokines can also induce iron deficiency by increasing hepcidin production from the liver, which both reduces gastrointestinal iron absorption and reduces iron release from iron stores located in the macrophages and hepatocytes. Attempts to control this anaemia will have to consider the use of both erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) as well as oral and, probably more importantly, intravenous (IV) iron. Studies of anaemia in CHF with ESA and oral or IV iron and even with IV iron alone have shown a positive effect on hospitalisation, fatigue and shortness of breath, cardiac and renal function, quality‐of‐life, exercise capacity and reduced beta natriuretic peptide and have not demonstrated an increase in cardiovascular damage related to therapy. Although some studies and meta‐analyses have revealed improvement in these parameters others have not. Adequately powered long‐term placebo‐controlled studies of ESA and of IV iron in CHF are needed and are currently being carried out.
CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Authors: Foley Robert N. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYThe public health importance of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has only come to be appreciated in the last decade. While glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary albumin creatinine levels are highly predictive of mortality, thresholds that may be useful for screening may be much closer to ‘normal’ than generally recognised. When optimising the balance between true negative and true positive mortality prediction, GFR from creatinine and GFR from cystatin C and albumin creatinine ratios all seem to perform similarly. Among the older population, mortality rates with creatinine‐based GFR are lowest for those with levels between 60 and 90 ml/min/1.73 m2, unlike with GFR from cystatin C, where mortality rates climb monotonically with declining GFR. Thus, the validity of creatinine‐based GFR in older community‐dwelling individuals is questionable. Nationally, representative data suggest management of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in adults with CKD is far from optimal. This paper explores the possibility that robust associations between declining kidney function and cardiovascular outcomes could be caused by an unknown, confounding, shared‐risk factors and extrapolates findings from renal transplant donor populations to support this hypothesis.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS CONTRIBUTING TO RENAL DYSFUNCTION IN CHRONIC HEART FAILURE
Authors: Damman Kevin , Kalra Paul R. , Hillege Hans 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYRenal dysfunction is extremely common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Although the pathogenesis of reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) may differ between patients and even over time within an individual, the result is the same: reduced GFR is strongly related to increased mortality and morbidity. Potential explanations for the renal impairment include shared aetiological risk factors, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. Furthermore, a complex series of pathophysiological interactions exists between these two organ systems; an abnormality in one system will in general adversely impact on the other, resulting in a vicious cycle of disease progression. Improved understanding of the aetiology of reduced GFR in patients with CHF is fundamental to identifying appropriate therapies. Whilst reduced cardiac output and thereby renal perfusion is undoubtedly important, other factors, such as increased central venous pressure and anaemia may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.
WEIGHT LOSS IN OBESE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: WHO AND HOW?
Authors: Teta Daniel 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYObesity has adverse consequences in the general population. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), it is associated with increased inflammation, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, which are important risk factors for CKD progression and death. In adults with CKD stages 1–4, weight loss should be encouraged, it reduces proteinuria and glomerular hyperfiltration, which are frequent in obese patients. Proposals for modifications of lifestyle, physical activity and calorie restriction are the first measures. Pharmacological treatments are generally unsafe in these patients, except orlistat, but that has modest efficacy. Bariatric surgery may be the only option in severe obesity, if all other measures fail. For obese patients on dialysis treatment, who are eligible for kidney transplantation, weight loss is mandatory to prevent obesity‐related surgical complications and improve patient and graft survival after transplantation. Interventions should place an emphasis on exercise to increase muscle mass, and calorie but not protein restriction. Bariatric surgery should be carried out by experienced surgeons due to the high risk of complications. For obese patients who are not considered transplant candidates the benefits of weight loss remain uncertain.
Isolation and genetic characterization of an improved benzene‐tolerant mutant of Pseudomonas putida S12
Authors: Volkers Rita J. M. , Ballerstedt Hendrik , De Winde Johannes H. , Ruijssenaars Harald J. 
Published: May 2010

Summary Pseudomonas putida S12.49, a mutant stain of P. putida S12 that tolerates up to 20 mM benzene, was obtained by evolutionary selection. The genetic basis for the strongly enhanced benzene tolerance was investigated by proteome and transcriptome analysis. Indications were found that the highly benzene‐tolerant phenotype is the resultant of multi‐level systemic changes. The solvent extrusion pump SrpABC was constitutively expressed in P. putida S12.49, which could be attributed to the disruption of the srpS regulator gene by the indigenous mutator element ISS12. The occurrence of this and two additional transposition events was in good agreement with the increased transcriptional activity of transposase‐encoding genes in strain S12.49. These observations suggested that transposition events are an important force driving the generation of the genetic diversity apparently required to obtain highly solvent‐tolerant phenotypes. In addition, various expression responses relating to energy generation indicated system changes that accommodated the energy demand associated with the high‐level expression of the proton‐driven solvent extrusion pump. The relatively modest effect of a respiratory chain uncoupler on benzene tolerance in P. putida S12.49 indicated the involvement of an alternative, non‐respiratory mechanism to maintain the proton gradient.
Plasmapheresis for neuroinflammatory disorders
Authors: Schröder Alexandra , Linker Ralf A. , Gold Ralf 
Published: May 2010

AbstractNowadays, therapeutic plasma exchange (PE) is the most common apheresis procedure. Plasma is separated from corpuscular blood constitutents and replaced with a substitution fluid. Thus, PE is a non‐specific treatment modality. Its therapeutic effect is based on the removal of circulating, pathogenic immune factors, including autoantibodies. To date, PE is well established for several immune mediated neurological disorders. Whilst the first experience was acquired in acute life‐threatening conditions, such as the treatment of Guillain–Barré syndrome or myasthenic crisis, therapeutic success was later achieved in other chronic autoimmune diseases; PE was applied successfully in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, paraproteinaemic polyneuropathy, stiff‐person syndrome and might also be tried in autoimmune diseases of paraneoplastic origin. From a novel aspect, PE was also established as an escalation therapy for steroid unresponsive relapses of multiple sclerosis, and thus has gained even more widespread attention. Humoral disease mechanisms dominate even more in neuromyelitis optica, as a subtype of MS, and usually respond to PE. Adding to its increasing application in clinical practice, the procedure is usually well tolerated. Possible adverse reactions of PE arise from the large‐size vascular access site, the use of replacement fluids and the need for anticoagulation. (Clin. Exp. Neuroimmunol. doi: 10.1111/j.1759‐1961.2010.0010.x, 2010)
Equine glaucomas
Authors: Ollivier F. , Monclin S. 
Published: May 2010

SummaryThe glaucomas are diseases that lead to the destruction of retinal ganglion cells and their axons via a number of mechanisms such as direct pressure damage, hypoxic and toxic injuries. The aim of this article is to present a review of this condition in horses in order to have a proactive attitude and to enable an early diagnosis to be made in order to determine the most adequate prophylactic (on predisposed individuals) and therapeutic treatment.
Two Novel Antibiotic Resistance Genes,
tet
(44) and
ant(6)-Ib
, Are Located within a Transferable Pathogenicity Island in
Campylobacter fetus
subsp.
fetus
Authors: Abril Carlos , Brodard Isabelle , Perreten Vincent 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT

New tetracycline and streptomycin resistance genes,
tet
(44) and
ant(6)-Ib
, were identified in
Campylobacter fetus
subsp.
fetus
within a transferable pathogenicity island that is typically unique to
Campylobacter fetus
subsp.
venerealis
. The 640-amino-acid tetracycline resistance determinant, Tet 44, belongs to a class of proteins that confers resistance to tetracycline and minocycline by ribosomal protection. The 286-amino-acid streptomycin resistance determinant, ANT(6)-Ib, belongs to a family of aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferases. The resistance phenotypes were demonstrated by gene inactivation and expression.
Engineering of
Lactobacillus jensenii
To Secrete RANTES and a CCR5 Antagonist Analogue as Live HIV-1 Blockers
Authors: Vangelista Luca , Secchi Massimiliano , Liu Xiaowen , Bachi Angela , Jia Letong , Xu Qiang , Lusso Paolo 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT

The development of effective microbicides for the prevention of HIV-1 sexual transmission represents a primary goal for the control of AIDS epidemics worldwide. A promising strategy is the use of bacteria belonging to the vaginal microbiota as live microbicides for the topical production of HIV-1 inhibitors. We have engineered a human vaginal isolate of
Lactobacillus jensenii
to secrete the anti-HIV-1 chemokine RANTES, as well as C1C5 RANTES, a mutated analogue that acts as a CCR5 antagonist and therefore is devoid of proinflammatory activity. Full-length wild-type RANTES and C1C5 RANTES secreted by
L. jensenii
were purified to homogeneity and shown to adopt a correctly folded conformation. Both RANTES variants were shown to inhibit HIV-1 infection in CD4
+
T cells and macrophages, displaying strong activity against HIV-1 isolates of different genetic subtypes. This work provides proof of principle for the use of
L. jensenii
-produced C1C5 RANTES to block HIV-1 infection of CD4
+
T cells and macrophages, setting the basis for the development of a live anti-HIV-1 microbicide targeting CCR5 in an antagonistic manner.
Secondary Integrase Resistance Mutations Found in HIV-1 Minority Quasispecies in Integrase Therapy-Naive Patients Have Little or No Effect on Susceptibility to Integrase Inhibitors
Authors: Ceccherini-Silberstein Francesca , Van Baelen Kurt , Armenia Daniele , Trignetti Maria , Rondelez Evelien , Fabeni Lavinia , Scopelliti Fernanda , Pollicita Michela , Van Wesenbeeck Liesbeth , Van Eygen Veerle , Dori Luca , Sarmati Loredana , Aquaro Stefano , Palamara Guido , Andreoni Massimo , Stuyver Lieven J. , Perno Carlo Federico 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to explore the presence of integrase strand transfer inhibitor (InSTI) resistance mutations in HIV-1 quasispecies present in InSTI-naïve patients and to evaluate theirin vitroeffects on phenotypic susceptibility to InSTIs and their replication capacities. The RT-RNase H-IN region was PCR amplified from plasma viral RNA obtained from 49 HIV-1 subtype B-infected patients (21 drug naïve and 28 failing highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] not containing InSTIs) and recombined with an HXB2-based backbone with RT and IN deleted. Recombinant viruses were tested against raltegravir and elvitegravir and for replication capacity. Three-hundred forty-four recombinant viruses from 49 patients were successfully analyzed both phenotypically and genotypically. The majority of clones were not phenotypically resistant to InSTIs: 0/344 clones showed raltegravir resistance, and only 3 (0.87%) showed low-level elvitegravir resistance. No primary resistance mutations for raltegravir and elvitegravir were found as major or minor species. The majority of secondary mutations were also absent or rarely present. Secondary mutations, such as T97A and G140S, found rarely and only as minority quasispecies, were present in the elvitegravir-resistant clones. A novel mutation, E92G, although rarely found in minority quasispecies, showed elvitegravir resistance. Preexisting genotypic and phenotypic raltegravir resistance was extremely rare in InSTI-naïve patients and confined to only a restricted minority of secondary variants. Overall, these results, together with others based on population and ultradeep sequencing, suggest that at this point IN genotyping in all patients before raltegravir treatment may not be cost-effective and should not be recommended until evidence of transmitted drug resistance to InSTIs or the clinical relevance of IN minor variants/polymorphisms is determined.
Investigating the Induction of Vaccine-Induced Th17 and Regulatory T Cells in Healthy,Mycobacterium bovisBCG-Immunized Adults Vaccinated with a New Tuberculosis Vaccine, MVA85A
Authors: de Cassan Simone C. , Pathan Ansar A. , Sander Clare R. , Minassian Angela , Rowland Rosalind , Hill Adrian V. S. , McShane Helen , Fletcher Helen A. 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTTuberculosis (TB) remains a threat to global health. While advances in diagnostics and treatment are crucial to the containment of the epidemic, it is likely that elimination of the disease can only be achieved through vaccination. Vaccine-induced protection fromMycobacterium tuberculosisis dependent, at least in part, on a robust Th1 response, yet little is known of the ability of TB vaccines to induce other T-cell subsets which may influence vaccine efficacy. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by Th17 cells which has been associated with both immune pathology and protection against infectious disease. Following vaccination with MVA85A, a viral vector vaccine aimed at enhancing immune responses toM. tuberculosis, antigen-specific IL-17A-producing T cells were induced in the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers. These T cells are detected later than gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-secreting T cells and are of a low magnitude. Preexisting immune responses to mycobacterial antigens were associated with higher CD4+CD25hiCD39+T-cell levels in the periphery and a reduced capacity to produce IL-17A following immunization. These data highlight the intricate balance of effector and regulatory immune responses induced by vaccination and that preexisting immunity to mycobacterial antigens may affect the composition of vaccine-induced T-cell subsets.
Immune Responses to Recombinant Pneumococcal PsaA Antigen Delivered by a Live Attenuated
Salmonella
Vaccine
Authors: Wang Shifeng , Li Yuhua , Shi Huoying , Scarpellini Giorgio , Torres-Escobar Ascencion , Roland Kenneth L. , Curtiss Roy 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide and particularly in developing countries. In this study, we evaluated PsaA, a conserved antigen important for
S. pneumoniae
adhesion to and invasion into nasopharynx epithelia, for its ability to induce protective immunity against
S. pneumoniae
challenge when delivered by recombinant attenuated
Salmonella
vaccine (RASVs) strains. RASVs were engineered to synthesize PsaA peptides of various lengths. Vaccination with an RASV synthesizing full-length PsaA induced high titers of anti-PsaA antibodies in both systemic (IgG in serum) and mucosal (IgA in vaginal washes, nasal washes, and lung homogenates) sites. BALB/c (haplotype H2
d
) or C57BL/6 (haplotype H2
b
) mice vaccinated either orally or intranasally exhibited a significant reduction in colonization of nasopharyngeal tissues after intranasal challenge with
S. pneumoniae
strains compared to controls, although protection was not observed with all challenge strains. None of the vaccine constructs provided protection against intraperitoneal challenge with
S. pneumoniae
strain WU2 (serotype 3). Immunization with RASVs synthesizing truncated PsaA generated lower titers of IgA and IgG and did not provide significant protection. Our results showed that RASVs synthesizing full-length PsaA can provide protection against nasal colonization by some
S. pneumoniae
strains. PsaA may be a useful addition to a multivalent vaccine, providing protection against pneumonia, otitis media, and other diseases caused by
S. pneumoniae
.
Comparison of the Eragen Multi-Code Respiratory Virus Panel with Conventional Viral Testing and Real-Time Multiplex PCR Assays for Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Authors: Arens Max Q. , Buller Richard S. , Rankin Anne , Mason Sheila , Whetsell Amy , Agapov Eugene , Lee Wai-Ming , Storch Gregory A. 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT
High-throughput multiplex assays for respiratory viruses are an important step forward in diagnostic virology. We compared one such assay, the PLx Multi-Code Respiratory Virus Panel (PLx-RVP), manufactured by Eragen Biosciences, Inc. (Madison, WI), with conventional virologic testing, consisting of fluorescent-antibody staining plus testing with the R-mix system and fibroblast tube cultures. The test set consisted of 410 archived respiratory specimens, mostly nasopharyngeal swabs, including 210 that had been positive by conventional testing for a balanced selection of common respiratory viruses. Specimens yielding discrepant results were evaluated using a panel of respiratory virus PCR assays developed, characterized, and validated with clinical specimens. PLx-RVP increased the total rate of detection of viruses by 35.8%, and there was a 25.7% increase in the rate of detection of positive specimens. Reference PCR assay results corroborated the PLx-RVP result for 54 (82%) of 66 discrepancies with conventional testing. Of the 12 specimens with discrepancies between PLx-RVp and the reference PCRs, 6 were positive for rhinovirus by PLx-RVP and the presence of rhinovirus was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. The remaining six specimens included five in which the PLx-RVP failed to detect parainfluenza virus and one in which the detection of influenza A virus by PLx-RVP could not be confirmed by the reference PCR. Taking the results of the reference PCR assay results into account, the sensitivities of the PLx-RVP for individual viruses ranged from 94 to 100% and the specificities ranged from 99 to 100%. We conclude that PLx-RVP is a highly accurate system for the detection of respiratory viruses and significantly improves the rate of detection of these viruses compared to that by conventional virologic testing.
Development of Microsphere-Based Multiplex Branched DNA Assay for Detection and Differentiation of Avian Influenza Virus Strains
Authors: Cha Wonhee , Ma Yunqing , Saif Yehia Mo , Lee Chang-Won 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT
We developed and evaluated a multiplex branched DNA assay for the detection and subtyping of avian influenza (AI) virus strains. The assay successfully detected all 94 AI virus strains of 15 different hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes tested while simultaneously differentiating 24 North American H5, 11 Eurasian H5, and 11 H7 strains. Our study demonstrates for the first time that a branched DNA method can detect targets that show a great amount of sequence variation.
Switching of Inferred Tropism Caused by HIV during Interruption of Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Sarmati L. , Parisi S. G. , Andreoni C. , Nicastri E. , Buonomini A. R. , Boldrin C. , Dori L. , Montano M. , Tommasi C. , Andreis S. , Vullo V. , Palù G. , Andreoni M. 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT

After interruption of highly active antiretroviral therapy, 15 out of 53 patients with the X4 HIV strain had a significantly larger decrease in CD4
+
T cell count (
P
= 0.001) and shorter length of treatment interruption (
P
= 0.02) than patients with the R5 strain. At treatment resumption, HIV inferred tropism switched from the X4 strain to the R5 variant in 9 patients (60%). These patients had a prolonged length of treatment interruption compared to that of those who still carried the X4 strain.
Outbreak of Canine Norovirus Infection in Young Dogs
Authors: Ntafis Vasileios , Xylouri Eftychia , Radogna Arianna , Buonavoglia Canio , Martella Vito 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTAn outbreak of norovirus (NoV) infection was identified in a kennel. Sequence analysis of a short fragment in the polymerase complex indicated the clonal origin of the strains, which were similar to the prototype canine NoV strain GIV.2/Bari/170/07-4/ITA (94.7% nucleotide identity). The findings demonstrate that canine NoV circulates in dogs in Greece and that it can spread easily across a group of animals.