bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of pharmacodynamic principles to inform β‐lactam dosing: “S” does not always mean success
Authors: Lodise Thomas P. , Butterfield Jill 
Published: January 2011

AbstractDose optimization is one of the key strategies for enhancing antimicrobial stewardship. There have been tremendous strides in our understanding of antibiotic exposure‐response relationships over the past 25 years. For many antibiotics, the “pharmacodynamic” or the exposure variable associated with outcome has been identified. With advances in mathematical modeling, it is possible to apply our understanding of antimicrobial pharmacodynamics (PD) into clinical practice and design empirical regimens that have a high probability of achieving the PD target linked to effect. By optimizing antibiotic doses to achieve PD targets predictive of efficacy, clinicians can improve care and minimize drug toxicity. For β‐lactams, the PD parameter most predictive of maximal bactericidal activity is the duration of time free drug concentrations remain above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) during the dosing interval (fT > MIC). Unfortunately, the conventional intermittent β‐lactam dosing schemes often used in practice have suboptimal PD profiles. Prolonging the infusion time of β‐lactams is one method to maximize the probability of achieving concentrations in excess of the MIC for the majority of the dosing interval, especially against pathogens with elevated MIC values. Prolonged infusions of intravenous β‐lactams are not only associated with improved probability of target attainment (PTA) profiles but offer possible cost savings and greater potential for reducing emergence of resistance relative to intermittent infusions. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;6:S16‐S23. ©2011 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Antimicrobial stewardship for inpatient facilities
Authors: Ohl Christopher A. , Luther Vera P. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAntibiotic stewardship aims to improve patient care and reduce unwanted consequences of antimicrobial overuse or misuse, including lowered efficacy, emergence of antimicrobial resistance, development of secondary infections, adverse drug reactions, increased length of hospital stay, and additional healthcare costs. Recent guidelines make specific recommendations for the development of institutional programs to enhance antimicrobial stewardship. Optimally, such programs should be comprehensive, multidisciplinary, supported by hospital and medical staff leadership, and should employ evidence‐based strategies that best fit local needs and resources. An infectious diseases physician and clinical pharmacist with infectious diseases training are recommended as core members of the multidisciplinary team, although a hospitalist with interest (and perhaps additional training) in antimicrobial therapy may be able to fill the void. Program directors and core members should be compensated for their time. Principal proactive strategies—with evidence supporting their consideration—include prospective audits, with intervention and feedback, formulary restriction, and preauthorization. Other strategies include persistent one‐on‐one education, guidelines adapted to local needs, and informatics to support clinical decision making. Intervention goals are to prevent unnecessary antimicrobial starts, to streamline or de‐escalate therapy early in its course, and to convert from parenteral to oral therapy, optimize dosing, and ensure the appropriate length of therapy. Most community hospitals, if sufficiently resourced, should be able to implement a successful antimicrobial stewardship program. Evidence suggests that good antimicrobial stewardship can lead to less overall and inappropriate antimicrobial use, lower drug‐related costs, reductions inClostridium difficile–associated disease, and, in some studies, less emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;6:S4‐S15 ©2011 Society of Hospital Medicine.
A framework for the evaluation of the South Asian summer monsoon in a regional climate model applied to REMO
Authors: Saeed Fahad , Hagemann Stefan , Jacob Daniela 
Published: January 2011

AbstractConsidering the complex spatial and vertical structure of the South Asian summer monsoon (SASM), the validation of a regional climate model (RCM) dealing with only a few surface variables is considered insufficient. Therefore, we have proposed an evaluation framework for the better assessment of the capability of an RCM in capturing the fundamental structure of SASM. This framework has been applied to the regional climate model REMO using ERA40 lateral boundary conditions for the period 1961–2000.The application of framework yielded satisfactory performance of REMO in capturing the lower, middle, and upper component of the SASM circulation. REMO has higher correlation between different SASM indices as compared to ERA40, showing its ability in capturing the dynamical link between these indices better than ERA40. We have employed different criteria for the assessment of the monsoon onset, and the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during the boreal summer and REMO has captured these phenomena reasonably well. The model has also shown the association of the meridional temperature gradient with the easterly shear of zonal winds. These results lead us to the conclusion that REMO is well suited for long‐term climate change simulations to examine projected future changes in the complex SASM system. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Laboratory test results after living liver donation in the adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation cohort study a,b,c
Authors: Trotter James F. , Gillespie Brenda W. , Terrault Norah A. , Abecassis Michael M. , Merion Robert M. , Brown Robert S. , Olthoff Kim M. , Hayashi Paul H. , Berg Carl L. , Fisher Robert A. , Everhart James E. 
Published: January 2011

Abstract
Information on the long-term health of living liver donors is incomplete. Because changes in standard laboratory tests may reflect the underlying health of donors, results before and after donation were examined in the Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study (A2ALL). A2ALL followed 487 living liver donors who donated at 9 US transplant centers between 1998 and 2009. The aminotransferase [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, bilirubin, international normalized ratio (INR), albumin, white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), platelet count, ferritin, serum creatinine (SCR), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured at the evaluation and after donation (1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, and yearly thereafter). Repeated measures models were used to estimate median laboratory values at each time point and to test for differences between values at the evaluation (baseline) and postdonation time points. Platelet counts were significantly decreased at every time point in comparison with the baseline, and at 3 years, they were 19% lower. Approximately 10% of donors had a platelet count < 150 × 1000/mm3 2 to 3 years post-donation. Donors with a platelet count ≤ 150 × 1000/mm3 at 1 year had significantly lower mean platelet counts (189 ± 32 × 1000/mm3) versus the remainder of the cohort (267 ± 56 × 1000/mm3, P < 0.0001) at the evaluation. Statistically significant differences compared to the evaluation values were noted for AST, AP, INR, and albumin through the first year, although most measurements were in the normal range. The median values for WBC, HGB, ferritin, albumin, SCR, BUN, and INR were not substantially outside the normal range at any time point. In conclusion, after 3 months, most laboratory values return to normal among right hepatic lobe liver donors, with a slower return to baseline levels for AST, AP, INR, and albumin. Persistently decreased platelet counts warrant further investigation.
Liver Transpl, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Is cytomegalovirus infection dangerous in cytomegalovirus-seropositive recipients after liver transplantation?
Authors: Kim Jong Man , Kim Sung-Joo , Joh Jae-Won , Kwon Choon Hyuck David , Song Sanghyun , Shin Milljae , Moon Ju Ik , Kim Gaab Soo , Hong Seung Heui , Lee Suk-Koo 
Published: January 2011

Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections contracted after liver transplantation put patients at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We analyzed the effects of CMV infection by time of onset, mortality, and graft failure risk factors in liver recipients who were CMV donor-positive/recipient-positive (D+/R+). We reviewed 618 medical records for consecutive adult liver transplant cases. CMV pp65 antigenemia assays to determine patient CMV status were administered monthly. The incidences of CMV infection and disease were 55.7% (344 of 618 records) and 5.5% (34 of 618 records), respectively. The differences in patient survival and graft failure rates for CMV-infected and CMV-uninfected patients were not significant (P = 0.707 and P = 0.973), but the rates were lower in patients with CMV disease than in CMV-uninfected patients (P = 0.005 and P = 0.030, respectively). The recurrence of hepatitis B virus and hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic dysfunction, infection, numerous pp65-staining cells, and CMV disease were found to be the risk factors for mortality and graft failure in CMV D+/R+ adult liver transplant patients. In conclusion, the occurrence of CMV disease, and not asymptomatic CMV infection, was a risk factor for mortality and graft failure in adult liver transplant recipients with CMV D+/R+.
Liver Transpl, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
Epigenetic profile of developmentally important genes in bovine oocytes
Authors: Heinzmann J. , Hansmann T. , Herrmann D. , Wrenzycki C. , Zechner U. , Haaf T. , Niemann H. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAssisted reproductive technologies are associated with an increased incidence of epigenetic aberrations, specifically in imprinted genes. Here, we used the bovine oocyte as a model to determine putative epigenetic mutations at three imprinted gene loci caused by the type of maturation, either in vitro maturation (IVM) in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM) or modified synthetic oviduct fluid (mSOF) medium, or in vivo maturation. We applied a limiting dilution approach and direct bisulfite sequencing to analyze the methylation profiles of individual alleles (DNA molecules) for H19/IGF2, PEG3, and SNRPN, which are each associated with imprinting defects in humans and/or the mouse model, and are known to be differentially methylated in bovine embryos. Altogether, we obtained the methylation patterns of 203 alleles containing 4,512 CpG sites from immature oocytes, 213 alleles with 4,779 CpG sites from TCM‐matured oocytes, 215 alleles/4,725 CpGs in mSOF‐matured oocytes, and 78 alleles/1,672 CpGs from in vivo‐matured oocytes. The total rate of individual CpGs and entire allele methylation errors did not differ significantly between the two IVM and the in vivo group, indicating that current IVM protocols have no or only marginal effects on these critical epigenetic marks. Furthermore, the mRNA expression profiles of the three imprinted genes and a panel of eight other genes indicative of oocyte competence were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. We found different mRNA expression profiles between in vivo‐matured oocytes versus their in vitro‐matured counterparts, suggesting an influence on regulatory mechanisms other than DNA methylation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:188–201, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimization of spiral‐based pulse sequences for first‐pass myocardial perfusion imaging
Authors: Salerno Michael , Sica Christopher T. , Kramer Christopher M. , Meyer Craig H. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAlthough spiral trajectories have multiple attractive features such as their isotropic resolution, acquisition efficiency, and robustness to motion, there has been limited application of these techniques to first‐pass perfusion imaging because of potential off‐resonance and inconsistent data artifacts. Spiral trajectories may also be less sensitive to dark‐rim artifacts that are caused, at least in part, by cardiac motion. By careful consideration of the spiral trajectory readout duration, flip angle strategy, and image reconstruction strategy, spiral artifacts can be abated to create high‐quality first‐pass myocardial perfusion images with high signal‐to‐noise ratio. The goal of this article was to design interleaved spiral pulse sequences for first‐pass myocardial perfusion imaging and to evaluate them clinically for image quality and the presence of dark‐rim, blurring, and dropout artifacts. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved myo‐inositol detection through Carr–Purcell PRESS: A tool for more sensitive mild cognitive impairment diagnosis
Authors: Hancu Ileana , Gillen Robert , Cowan John , Zimmerman Earl A. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractA 3‐T study is presented, comparing the ability of two1H spectroscopy pulse sequences, Carr–Purcell point resolved spectroscopy (CPRESS; TE = 45 msec), and conventional PRESS (TE = 35 msec), to separate between groups of 20 normal control (NC) and 20 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. Both sequences showed higher myo‐inositol (mI) and mI/N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA) levels in the posterior cingulate gyrus of the MCI subjects. The increased intrasubject repeatability of mI and mI/NAA CPRESS measurements (∼6% vs. 9% for PRESS) translated into decreased intraclass variability. A 22% intraclass mI PRESS variability was reduced to 16% for CPRESS, and an 18% intraclass mI/NAA PRESS variability was reduced to 12% for CPRESS for the group of NC subjects. Similar results were observed for the MCI subjects. Decreased intraclass variability led to improved separation between NC and MCI subjects (P= 0.017 for PRESS andP< 0.0001 for CPRESS mI/NAA, the best NC/MCI discriminant for each method). Seventy‐five percent sensitivity at eighty percent specificity was demonstrated by mI/NAA CPRESS measurements in separating NC from MCI subjects. High correlations were also observed between subject performance on a number of neuropsychological tests (probing verbal memory, visuoconstruction performance, and visual motor integration) and the mI/NAA ratio; higher correlation coefficients (with stronger statistical significance) were consistently evident for CPRESS than for PRESS data. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Altered Hippo signalling in polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Happé Hester , van der Wal Annemieke M , Leonhard Wouter N , Kunnen Steven J , Breuning Martijn H , de Heer Emile , Peters Dorien JM 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive deterioration of renal function and formation of cysts, and is an important cause of end‐stage renal disease. Previously we showed that tubular epithelial injury accelerates cyst formation in inducible Pkd1‐deletion mice. In these mice, expression of the planar cell polarity (PCP) component Four‐jointed (Fjx1) is decreased during epithelial repair, while in control mice Fjx1 expression is increased and may be required during tissue regeneration. In cystic kidneys, however, Fjx1 expression is also increased. Besides a PCP component, Four‐jointed is also implicated in the Hippo‐signalling pathway. This pathway is involved in organ size control by regulating proliferation and apoptosis. The role of Hippo signalling, together with the opposing expression pattern of Fjx1 during epithelial repair and at cystic stages, triggered us to investigate the activity of the Hippo pathway during these processes. Therefore, we examined its final effector molecule, the transcriptional co‐activator Yes‐associated protein (YAP) and observed that during tissue repair, YAP expression was not different between Pkd1‐deletion mice and controls, ie during tissue regeneration YAP expression was increased and predominantly localized in the cytoplasm but normalized after tissue repair. At a later stage, however, in cystic epithelia and epithelia of dilated tubules, strong nuclear YAP accumulation was observed, accompanied by up‐regulation of the YAP transcriptional targets Birc‐3, Ctgf, InhbA, and Fjx1. Altered activity of the Hippo pathway was confirmed in renal tissues from human ADPKD and ARPKD patients, as well as in cystic renal tumours. Our data strengthen the concept that during epithelial repair Four‐jointed is involved in PCP signalling, while in cystic kidneys it is related to Hippo signalling and cyst growth. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Autoantibody‐induced intestinal inflammation and weight loss in experimental epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
Authors: Ishii Norito , Recke Andreas , Mihai Sidonia , Hirose Misa , Hashimoto Takashi , Zillikens Detlef , Ludwig Ralf J 
Published: January 2011

AbstractType VII collagen (COL7) is a major constituent of the cutaneous basement membrane. Loss of tolerance to COL7 leads to the blistering skin disease epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Antibodies to COL7 have also been detected in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet reports on the expression of COL7 in the gut are controversial and a pathogenic relevance of anti‐COL7 autoantibodies in IBD has not been demonstrated. We therefore characterized the expression patterns of COL7 in murine gastrointestinal organs and investigated if anti‐COL7 antibodies induce an inflammatory response in the gut. COL7 expression was analysed on the mRNA and protein levels. Mice were injected with rabbit anti‐murine COL7 IgG (passive EBA) or immunized with a fragment of murine COL7 (active EBA). COL7 was found to be expressed in buccal mucosa, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. In addition to skin blistering, in both passive and active EBA, autoantibodies bound to the gastrointestinal basement membrane, fixed complement, and led to recruitment of leukocytes. Furthermore, blister formation was observed in the oesophagus (40%/38% of mice in passive/active model), stomach (40%/63%), small intestine (20%/13%), and colon (20%/13%). Compared to control animals, we found a significantly reduced body weight in diseased mice, suggesting that autoantibody‐induced gastrointestinal inflammation is clinically relevant. Those observations may help us to understand the co‐incidence of IBD with EBA, and vice versa: The inflammatory response in IBD might expose novel antigens (COL7), which leads to the formation of anti‐COL7 antibodies. On the contrary, anti‐COL7 antibody‐induced gastrointestinal inflammation might pave the way for IBD pathogenesis. In summary, our results provide strong evidence that COL7 is expressed in different portions of the gut and that anti‐COL7 antibodies induce distinct gastrointestinal tissue damage. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consistency between causality assessments obtained with two scales and their agreement with clinical judgments in hepatotoxicity
Authors: Miljkovic Milena M. , Dobric Silva , Dragojevic‐Simic Viktorija 
Published: January 2011

AbstractPurposeReliability and usefulness of scales for causality assessment in hepatotoxicity have not been fully explored. The goal of this study was to examine consistency between causality assessments obtained with two commonly used scales and their agreement with initial clinical assessments in hepatotoxicity reported in Serbia, and to review usefulness of these scales.MethodsWe compared the two scales (CIOMS/RUCAM and NARANJO) in 80 cases reported during 1995–2009. The initial clinical assessments performed at the time of reporting served as a control for comparison with the subsequent causality assessments. The agreement between obtained causality assessments and the initial clinical assessments were analysed by Kappa weighted (Kw) statistical test.ResultsIn the 80 cases, the NARANJO scale showed better agreement with the initial clinical assessments (Kw: 0.62) than the CIOMS/RUCAM scale (Kw: 0.50) with moderate mutual agreement (Kw: 0.58). Results for 69 cases reported before the start of the study showed the same. In 11 cases reported in 2009 (after the start of the study) the CIOMS/RUCAM scale showed better agreement with the initial clinical assessments (Kw: 0.80) than the NARANJO scale (Kw: 0.70) with perfect mutual agreement (Kw: 1.0).ConclusionThe two scales showed good similarity and the same was true when their outcomes were compared with the clinical judgments provided by the reporting physicians. Both scales may be useful in pharmacovigilance and clinical practice, but the CIOMS/RUCAM scale provides more specific data. Our results also confirmed that the quality of data and documentation influence the reliability of the method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Formation and morphology development of poly(butylene terephthalate) nanofibers from poly(butylene terephthalate)/cellulose acetate butyrate immiscible blends
Authors: Li Mufang , Xiao Ru , Sun Gang 
Published: January 2011

AbstractNano‐scale poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers were prepared from PBT/cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) immiscible polymer blends due to in situ microfibrillar formation during a melt extruding process. The morphological development of the dispersed phase was studied with samples collected at different zones in a twin screw extruder. It was found that the holistic developmental trends of PBT dispersed phase were nearly the same. Fibers began to form even under the shear flow of the twin‐screw extruder. The morphology developmental mechanism of the dispersed phase involved the formation of sheets, holes and network structures, then the size reduction and formation of nanofibers. The effect of viscosity ratio, blend ratio, and shear rate on the morphology evolution was also studied by analyzing the shape and size distribution of the samples. The diameter distribution of the nanofibers could be affected by viscosity ratio, blend ratio, and shear rate. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Cognitive‐behavioral therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Rotheram‐Fuller Erin , MacMullen Laura 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAutism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a continuum of cognitive and social problems that vary considerably in both impact and presentation for each child affected. Although successful interventions have been developed that target specific skill deficits often exhibited by children with autism, many of those interventions are exclusively behavioral in nature, and do not address the cognitive components of presenting problems. The use of cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) to address issues related to ASD, however, has been increasing. More specifically, CBT interventions have often been used to address issues of anxiety for children with ASD, and these promising results may be useful to inform practices in schools. This review examines existing literature on CBT interventions that have been evaluated with children with ASD and suggests methods and implications for adapting these interventions for use within the school setting. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.