bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive Effect of Serial Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Levels on Spontaneous HBeAg Seroconversion in Chronic Genotype B and C HBV–Infected Children
Authors: Wu Jia‐Feng , Su Yu‐Ru , Chen Chen‐Hsin , Chen Huey‐Ling , Ni Yen‐Hsuan , Hsu Hong‐Yuan , Wang Jane‐Ling , Chang Mei‐Hwei 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTObjective:The present study aimed to investigate the association between serial serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion age in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)–infected children.Patients and Methods:One hundred four HBeAg‐positive chronic genotype B or C HBV–infected patients were included in this long‐term prospective cohort study (mean initial age 7.20 years). Serial serum ALT levels and HBV serology markers were measured every 6 to 12 months. The 104 subjects made a total of 2525 visits during the study period, and the majority (93.6%) of visits were within a 1‐year interval apart from previous visits. Cox proportional hazards model with time‐dependent covariates was used in the survival analysis of HBeAg in these subjects.Results:During the chronic course of HBV infection, the median remaining times to spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion were 8.35, 5.14, 4.25, 3.95, and 2.80 years after the ALT levels crossed 20, 30, 40, 60, and 150 IU/L, respectively. The incidence rate of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion within 6 months when a subject entered the phase of ALT between 60 and 150 IU/L was 5.57 times that of the phase with ALT < 60 IU/L. The incidence rate of HBeAg seroconversion once ALT levels were above 150 IU/L was 9.87 times that of the phase of ALT < 60 IU/L.Conclusions:The ALT levels above 30 IU/L served as a cutoff of the inflammatory phase in chronic genotype B and C HBV–infected patients. Serial ALT levels in chronic HBV–infected subjects offer a predicted effect on the occurrence of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion.
Injecting Zebrafish with DNA or RNA Constructs Encoding Fluorescent Protein Reporters: Figure 1.
Authors: Godinho Leanne 
Published: July 2011

INTRODUCTIONIn the last two decades, the small tropical freshwater-dwelling zebrafish has emerged as a popular model for developmental biologists. The exceptional optical accessibility of zebrafish embryos coupled with the ability to use genetic tools to indelibly tag cells have been exploited to watch developmental events as they unfold. Moreover, because zebrafish are vertebrates, the knowledge gained through such studies is broadly applicable. Injecting zebrafish with constructs that encode fluorescent proteins is a versatile method for labeling cells and tissues for imaging. The method, described here, can be used to generate transiently or stably transfected organisms showing ubiquitous or mosaic patterns of fluorescence.
Live Imaging of Zebrafish Development: Table 1.
Authors: Godinho Leanne 
Published: July 2011

INTRODUCTIONIn the last two decades, the small tropical freshwater-dwelling zebrafish has emerged as a popular model for developmental biologists. The exceptional optical accessibility of zebrafish embryos coupled with the ability to use genetic tools to indelibly tag cells have been exploited to watch developmental events as they unfold. Moreover, zebrafish are vertebrates. Thus, the knowledge gained through such studies is broadly applicable. This article outlines the advantages of using zebrafish to study development by in vivo microscopy, highlights the kinds of developmental questions that can be addressed, presents strategies for fluorescently labeling cellular and subcellular structures, and discusses general parameters that need to be taken into account for repetitive in vivo imaging.
The SINA E3 Ligase OsDIS1 Negatively Regulates Drought Response in Rice
Authors: Ning Yuese , Jantasuriyarat Chachawan , Zhao Qingzhen , Zhang Huawei , Chen Songbiao , Liu Jinling , Liu Lijing , Tang Sanyuan , Park Chan Ho , Wang Xuejun , Liu Xionglun , Dai Liangying , Xie Qi , Wang Guo-Liang 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
Ubiquitin-regulated protein degradation is a critical regulatory mechanism that controls a wide range of biological processes in plants. Here, we report that OsDIS1 (for Oryza sativa drought-induced SINA protein 1), a C3HC4 RING finger E3 ligase, is involved in drought-stress signal transduction in rice (O. sativa). The expression of OsDIS1 was up-regulated by drought treatment. In vitro ubiquitination assays showed that OsDIS1 possessed E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and that the conserved region of the RING finger was required for the activity. Transient expression assays in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and rice protoplasts indicated that OsDIS1 was localized predominantly in the nucleus. Overexpression of OsDIS1 reduced drought tolerance in transgenic rice plants, while RNA interference silencing of OsDIS1 enhanced drought tolerance. Microarray analysis revealed that a large number of drought-responsive genes were induced or suppressed in the OsDIS1 overexpression plants under normal and drought conditions. Yeast two-hybrid screening showed that OsDIS1 interacted with OsNek6 (for O. sativa NIMA-related kinase 6), a tubulin complex-related serine/threonine protein kinase. Coexpression assays in N. benthamiana leaves indicated that OsNek6 was degraded by OsDIS1 via the 26S proteasome-dependent pathway and that this degradation was abolished by the OsDIS1(H71Y) mutation, which is essential for its E3 ligase activity. Together, these results demonstrate that OsDIS1 plays a negative role in drought stress tolerance through transcriptional regulation of diverse stress-related genes and possibly through posttranslational regulation of OsNek6 in rice.
Intoxicated workers: findings from a national Australian survey
Authors: Pidd Ken , Roche Ann M. , Buisman‐Pijlman Femke 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTAims  To identify prevalence of alcohol and drug use and intoxication at work.Participants  A total of 9828 Australian workers ≥14 years old.Setting  Australia 2007.Measurements  Work‐place alcohol use and drug use, intoxication at work, industry and occupation of employment.Design  Secondary analysis of a large nationally representative survey involving descriptive and weighted multivariate logistic regressions.Findings  Differential patterns were identified by drug type, worker characteristics and occupational setting, controlling for demographic variables. Nearly 9% of workers surveyed (8.7%) usually drank alcohol at work and 0.9% usually used drugs at work. Attending work under the influence of alcohol was more prevalent (5.6%) than attending work under the influence of drugs (2.0%), and significantly more likely among young, male, never married workers with no dependent children. Hospitality industry workers were 3.5 times more likely than other workers to drink alcohol and two to three times more likely to use drugs at work or attend work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Other high‐risk industries and occupations included construction, financial services, tradespersons and unskilled workers.Conclusion  More than one in 20 Australian workers admit to having worked under the influence of alcohol and almost one in 50 report attending work under the influence of psychoactive drugs. The rates are higher for some industries, such as the hospitality industry, than others.
Co‐occurrence of obsessive‐compulsive disorder and substance use disorder in the general population
Authors: Blom Rianne M. , Koeter Maarten , van den Brink Wim , de Graaf Ron , ten Have Margreet , Denys Damiaan 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTAim  Very little is known about the relationship between obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and substance use disorder (SUD). The aim of this study is to compare the co‐occurrence of OCD with SUD to the co‐occurrence of SUD with other psychiatric disorders in a representative community sample.Design  In order to examine the association of SUD and OCD, logistic regression analyses were used generating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for life‐time prevalence and 12‐month prevalence.Setting and participants  Cross‐sectional data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS), a large representative sample of the Dutch population (n = 7076).Measurements  The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 1.1 was used to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Axis I criteria for psychiatric disorders.Findings  The life‐time and 12‐month odds of being diagnosed with SUD in subjects with OCD are significantly higher than the odds of SUD for people without a psychiatric disorder. In men, the co‐occurrence of substance dependence and OCD is significantly higher than the co‐occurrence of substance dependence and other psychiatric disorders, whereas in women this co‐occurrence does not differ significantly.Conclusions  The co‐occurrence of substance dependence in obsessive–compulsive disorder is higher than the co‐occurrence of substance dependence in other non‐obsessive–compulsive disorder DSM disorders, especially in men.
Physicians' reported needs of drug information at point of care in Sweden
Authors: Rahmner Pia Bastholm , Eiermann Birgit , Korkmaz Seher , Gustafsson Lars L. , Gruvén Magnus , Maxwell Simon , Eichle Hans‐Georg , Vég Anikó 
Published: June 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• The computerization of health care has increased dramatically in the last decades in most European countries, but no standardization of any of the information support systems has been established on common ground.• The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) is available all over Europe in written form and in some of the countries even electronically, but the structure and the content of the information vary.• The physicians' needs for useful and reliable information about drugs at point of care are a question of patient safety.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• A qualitative approach, in this case focus group discussions, proved advantagous compared with questionnaires.• Knowledge gained from physicians' experiences promoted the work of restructuring and organizing the e‐SmPC database.• Most of the required information from physicians appeared to be possible to transfer from current SmPCs to clinical decisions support systems.AIMSRelevant and easily accessible drug information at point‐of‐care is essential for physicians' decision making when prescribing. However, the information available by using Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) often does not meet physicians' requirements. The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) is statutory information about drugs. However, the current structure, content and format of SmPCs make it difficult to incorporate them into CDSSs and link them to relevant patient information from the Electronic Health Records. The aim of the study was to evaluate the perceived needs for drug information among physicians in Sweden.METHODSWe recruited three focus group discussions with 18 physicians covering different specialities. The information from the groups was combined with a questionnaire administered at the beginning of the group discussions.RESULTSPhysicians reported their needs for knowledge databases at the point of drug prescribing. This included more consistent information about existing and new drugs. They also wished to receive automatically generated alerts for severe drug–drug interactions and adverse effects, and to have functions for calculating glomerular filtration rate to enable appropriate dose adjustments to be made for elderly patients and those with impaired renal function. Additionally, features enhancing electronic communication with colleagues and making drug information more searchable were suggested.CONCLUSIONSThe results from the current study showed the need for knowledge databases which provide consistent information about new and existing drugs. Most of the required information from physicians appeared to be possible to transfer from current SmPCs to CDSSs. However, inconsistencies in the SmPC information have to be reduced to enhance their utility.
Complete skin examination is essential in the assessment of dermatology patients: findings from 483 patients
Authors: Moran B. , McDonald I. , Wall D. , O’Shea S.J. , Ryan C. , Ryan A.J. , Kirby B. 
Published: June 2011

Summary
Background Dermatological teaching has traditionally stressed that complete skin examination is essential in the assessment of patients with potential skin disease.
Objectives To determine whether complete skin examination results in increased diagnoses of skin malignancies that would not have been discovered otherwise.
Methods New patients (n =483) attending a dermatology clinic in a university teaching hospital and private dermatology practice had a complete skin examination, as is our normal practice. These patients were seen over a 9-month period (January–September 2009). All patients were examined by the same consultant dermatologist. Data were collected on patients’ sex, age, presenting complaint and findings on complete skin examination.
Results Two nodular malignant melanomas with mean Breslow thickness of 0·6 mm (0·4%) and one melanoma in situ were identified at sites distant from the patient’s presenting complaint. Sixteen patients (3·3%) had a basal cell carcinoma that would not have been discovered if the presenting lesion alone had been examined. Thirty-three patients (6·8%) had actinic keratoses or squamous cell carcinoma in situ and nine (1·9%) had dysplastic naevi. A further 21 patients (4·3%) had a suspicious lesion biopsied or excised with subsequent benign histology. Seventy-three patients (15·1%) had other benign dermatological diagnoses requiring treatment or investigation.
Conclusions In a 9-month period, in a sample of 483 new patients, three patients (0·6%) had potentially lethal skin malignancies identified that would not have been diagnosed without a complete skin examination. Sixteen (3·3%) patients had basal cell carcinomas that would have been missed without complete skin examination. This study confirms the traditional teaching that complete skin examination has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality from cutaneous malignancy.
Laser and intense pulsed light therapy for the treatment of hypertrophic scars: a systematic review
Authors: Vrijman C. , van Drooge A.M. , Limpens J , Bos J.D. , van der Veen J.P.W. , Spuls P.I. , Wolkerstorfer A. 
Published: June 2011

Summary
Hypertrophic scars are difficult to improve and remain a therapeutic challenge. Several lasers and light sources have been evaluated in the past decades and have been shown to improve hypertrophic scars. However, a systematic review is not available. To assess current evidence of efficacy of all laser and intense pulsed light therapies used in the treatment of hypertrophic scars, we performed a systematic review searching electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL. The quality of the controlled clinical trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias. Thirteen articles involving seven different lasers met the inclusion criteria. Most evidence was found for the pulsed dye laser (PDL) 585 nm (eight studies), followed by the PDL 595 nm (two studies), whereas limited evidence (one trial per laser) was available for the fractional nonablative laser 1540 nm, CO2 laser 10 600 nm, low-level laser therapy, Nd:YAG laser 532 nm and Erbium:YAG laser 2940 nm. Treatment recommendations should be formulated with caution as current evidence is insufficient for comparing the efficacy of different laser therapies. The PDL 585 nm showed a low efficacy for the treatment of hypertrophic scars. With moderate efficacy, the PDL 595 nm is promising, although more research is necessary. Little evidence was found for the efficacy of other lasers. Future research, with a low risk of bias, well-defined scar characteristics, validated outcome measures, standardized measurement methods, follow-up periods of at least 6 months and well-defined laser settings, is needed.
Lymphomas in sub‐Saharan Africa – what can we learn and how can we help in improving diagnosis, managing patients and fostering translational research?
Authors: Naresh Kikkeri N. , Raphael Martine , Ayers Leona , Hurwitz Nina , Calbi Valeria , Rogena Emily , Sayed Shahin , Sherman Omar , Ibrahim Hazem A.H. , Lazzi Stefano , Mourmouras Vasileios , Rince Patricia , Githanga Jessie , Byakika Bessie , Moshi Emma , Durosinmi Muheez , Olasode Babatunde J. , Oluwasola Olayiwola A. , Akang Effiong E. , Akenòva Yetunde , Adde Melissa , Magrath Ian , Leoncini Lorenzo 
Published: June 2011

SummaryApproximately 30 000 cases of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occur in the equatorial belt of Africa each year. Apart from the fact that Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is very common among children and adolescents in Africa and that an epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is currently ongoing in this part of the world, very little is known about lymphomas in Africa. This review provides information regarding the current infrastructure for diagnostics in sub‐Saharan Africa. The results on the diagnostic accuracy and on the distribution of different lymphoma subsets in sub‐Saharan Africa were based on a review undertaken by a team of lymphoma experts on 159 fine needle aspirate samples and 467 histological samples during their visit to selected sub‐Saharan African centres is presented. Among children (<18 years of age), BL accounted for 82% of all NHL, and among adults, diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma accounted for 55% of all NHLs. Among adults, various lymphomas other than BL, including T‐cell lymphomas, were encountered. The review also discusses the current strategies of the International Network of Cancer Treatment and Research on improving the diagnostic standards and management of lymphoma patients and in acquiring reliable clinical and pathology data in sub‐Saharan Africa for fostering high‐quality translational research.
Mannose-binding lectin deficiency linked to cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and survival in lung transplantation
Authors: Kwakkel-van Erp J M , Paantjens A W M , van Kessel D A , Grutters J C , van den Bosch J M M , van de Graaf E A , Otten H G 
Published: June 2011

SummaryDespite the use of immunosuppressives mainly influencing T and B cell responses, the prevalence of the bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplantation is high. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a pattern recognition molecule of complement and an important component of the innate immunity. MBL is associated with rejection, infection and survival in other solid organ transplantations. In this study the relation between functional MBL levels and cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivations and the development of BOS and survival after lung transplantation was investigated. MBL levels were measured in 85 patients before and in 57 of these patients after lung transplantation. The relation of MBL on survival, CMV reactivation and the development of BOS were investigated with Kaplan–Meier (log-rank) survival analysis. MBL levels decreased on average by 20% (P &lt; 0·001) after transplantation and eventually returned to pretransplant levels. Fourteen of the 85 patients had deficient pretransplant MBL levels and these patients had a tendency towards a better survival compared to those with normal MBL levels (P = 0·08). Although no correlation was found between MBL deficiency and the development of BOS, more CMV reactivations occurred in recipients with deficient versus normal levels of MBL (P = 0·03). Our results suggest that MBL deficiency is associated with CMV reactivations and a longer overall survival, but not with the development of BOS.
Expansion of T helper type 17 lymphocytes in patients with chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: Horváth R , Rožková D , Lašťovička J , Poloučková A , Sedláček P , Šedivá A , Špíšek R 
Published: June 2011

SummaryHyper-immunoglobulin (Ig)E syndrome (HIES) is a primary immunodeficiency associated with mutations in STAT3 resulting in impaired development of T helper type 17 (Th17) lymphocytes. HIES patients with a reduced frequency of Th17 cells present with infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and/or Candida strains. The same spectrum of pathogens is present in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).We analysed the characteristics of the Th17 compartment in HIES and CGD. HIES patients showed very low numbers of Th17 cells. By contrast, the frequency of Th17 cells and production of Th17-derived cytokines was significantly higher among CGD patients when compared to both control samples and HIES. Naive CD4+ cells in CGD patients had a normal capacity to differentiate into IL-17-producing cells and the numbers of Th17 cells in the CGD patients normalized following successful bone marrow transplantation. Our findings complement recent data on the importance of Th17 cells for elimination of infections with C. albicans and S. aureus.
Lung transplantation affects expression of the chemokine receptor type 4 on specific T cell subsets
Authors: Paantjens A W M , van de Graaf E A , Kwakkel-van Erp J M , Hoefnagel T , van Kessel D A , van den Bosch J M M , Otten H G 
Published: June 2011

Summary
Alloreactive T cells that infiltrate the graft after lung transplantation (LTx) play a role in chronic rejection. Chemokines such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) are produced locally in the lung and attract T cells via chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4). In a TARC gradient, cells expressing CCR4++ migrate more efficiently than CCR4+-expressing cells. In this study, we compared the CCR4 expression of T cells in blood from 20 lung transplant recipients to healthy controls. We then examined whether CCR4 expression is associated with the occurrence of chronic rejection. The CCR4++ expression was decreased on CD4 T cells from LTx patients (P &lt; 0·0001) when compared to healthy controls. The analysis of CD4 T cell subsets showed that this decrease was present on central memory, effector memory and terminally differentiated T cells (P = 0·0007, P &lt; 0·0001 and P = 0·05, respectively), while a trend was found for naive CD4 T cells (P = 0·06). Also, the expression of CCR4+ on regulatory T cells (Tregs) was decreased in LTx patients when compared to healthy controls (P = 0·02). Interestingly, the CCR4++ expression on CD4 effector memory T cells was decreased in patients developing chronic rejection sometimes more than a year before the clinical diagnosis when compared to patients who did not (P = 0·04). The analysis of CD8 T cell subsets only showed the CCR4+ expression to be increased significantly on effector memory and terminally differentiated CD8 T cells (P = 0·02, P = 0·03, respectively) in LTx patients, but no relation was found in chronic rejection. In conclusion, the expression of CCR4 on T cell subsets was altered after LTx and appears to be related to chronic rejection.