bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surveillance of Occupational Blood and Body Fluid Exposures Among French Healthcare Workers in 2004
Authors: Venier A. G. , Vincent A. , L'Hériteau F. , Floret N. , Sénéchal H. , Abiteboul D. , Reyreaud E. , Coignard B. , Parneix P. 
Published: September 2007

Objective.To estimate the incidence rate of reported occupational blood and body fluid exposures among French healthcare workers (HCWs).Design.Prospective national follow-up of HCWs from January 1 to December 31, 2004.Setting.University hospitals, hospitals, clinics, local medical centers, and specialized psychiatric centers were included in the study on a voluntary basis.Participants.At participating medical centers, every reported blood and body fluid exposure was documented by the occupational practitioner in charge of the exposed HCW by use of an anonymous, standardized questionnaire.Results.A total of 375 medical centers (15% of French medical centers, accounting for 29% of hospital beds) reported 13,041 blood and body fluid exposures; of these, 9,396 (72.0%) were needlestick injuries. Blood and body fluid exposures were avoidable in 39.1% of cases (5,091 of 13,020), and 52.2% of percutaneous injuries (4,986 of 9,552) were avoidable (5.9% due to needle recapping). Of 10,656 percutaneous injuries, 22.6% occurred during an injection, 17.9% during blood sampling, and 16.6% during surgery. Of 2,065 splashes, 22.6% occurred during nursing activities, 19.1% during surgery, 14.1% during placement or removal of an intravenous line, and 12.0% during manipulation of a tracheotomy tube. The incidence rates of exposures were 8.9 per 100 hospital beds (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.7-9.0 exposures), 2.2 per 100 full-time—equivalent physicians (95% CI, 2.4-2.6 exposures), and 7.0 per 100 full-time—equivalent nurses (95% CI, 6.8-7.2 exposures). Human immunodeficiency virus serological status was unknown for 2,789 (21.4%) of 13,041 patients who were the source of the blood and body fluid exposures.Conclusion.National surveillance networks for blood and body fluid exposures help to better document their characteristics and risk factors and can enhance prevention at participating medical centers.
Surgical Site Infection After Surgery to Repair Femoral Neck Fracture: A French Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Merrer Jacques , Girou Emmanuelle , Lortat-Jacob Alain , Montravers Philippe , Lucet Jean-Christophe ,   Groupe de Recherche sur l'Antibioprophylaxie en Chirurgie
Published: September 2007

Objective.Femoral neck fracture is the most frequent orthopedic emergency among elderly persons. Despite a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in this population, no multicenter study of antibiotic prophylaxis practices and the rate and microbiological characteristics of surgical site infection (SSI) has been performed in France.Design.Retrospective, multicenter cohort study.Setting.Twenty-two university and community hospitals in France.Patients.Each center provided data on 25 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for femoral neck fracture during the first quarter of 2005. Demographic, clinical, and follow-up characteristics were recorded, and most patients had a follow-up office visit or were involved in a telephone survey 1 year after surgery.Results.These 22 centers provided data on 541 patients, 396 (73%) of whom were followed up 1 year after surgery. Of 504 (93%) patients for whom antibiotic prophylaxis was recorded, 433 (86%) received a cephalosporin. Twenty-two patients had an SSI, for a rate of 5.6% (95% confidence interval, 3.7-8.0). SSI was reported for 15 (6.9%) of patients who had a prosthesis placed and for 7 (3.9%) who underwent osteosynthesis (P = .27). SSI was diagnosed a median of 30 days after surgery (interquartile range, 21-41 days); 7 (32%) of these SSIs were superficial infections, and 15 (68%) were deep or organ-space infections. MRSA caused 7 SSIs (32%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused 5 (23%), other staphylococci caused 4 (18%), and other bacteria caused 2 (9%); the etiologic pathogen was unknown in 4 cases (18%). Reoperation was performed for 14 patients with deep or organ-space SSI, including 6 of 7 patients with MRSA SSI. The mortality rate 1 year after surgery was 20% overall but 50% among patients with SSI. In univariate analysis, only the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System risk index score was significantly associated with SSI (P = .006).Conclusions.SSI after surgery for femoral neck fracture is severe, and MRSA is the most frequently encountered etiologic pathogen. A large, multicenter prospective trial is necessary to determine whether the use of antibiotic prophylaxis effective against MRSA would decrease the SSI rate in this population.
MSQT for choosing SNP assays from multiple DNA alignments
Authors: Warthmann Norman , Fitz Joffrey , Weigel Detlef 
Published: September 2007

AbstractMotivation: One challenging aspect of genotyping and association mapping projects is often the identification of markers that are informative between groups of individuals and to convert these into genotyping assays.Results: The Multiple SNP Query Tool (MSQT) extracts SNP information from multiple sequence alignments, stores it in a database, provides a web interface to query the database and outputs SNP information in a format directly applicable for SNP-assay design. MSQT was applied to Arabidopsis thaliana sequence data to develop SNP genotyping assays that distinguish a recurrent parent (Col-0) from five other strains. SNPs with intermediate allele frequencies were also identified and developed into markers suitable for efficient genetic mapping among random pairs of wild strains.Availability: The source code for MSQT is available at http://msqt.weigelworld.org, together with an online instance of MSQT containing data on 1214 sequenced fragments from 96 ecotypes (wild inbred strains) of the reference plant A.thaliana. All SNP genotyping assays are available in several formats for broad community use.Contact: weigel@weigelworld.orgSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The CYP2D6 polymorphism in relation to the metabolism of amitriptyline and nortriptyline in the Faroese population
Authors: Halling Jónrit , Weihe Pál , Brosen Kim 
Published: September 2007

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • The metabolisms of amitriptyline (AT) to (E)‐10‐hydroxyamitriptyline and of nortripyline (NT) to (E)‐10‐hydroxynortriptyline are catalysed by CYP2D6.• A correlation between the sparteine metabolic ratio and the NT/(E)‐10‐hydroxynortriptyline and the AT/(E)‐10‐hydroxyamitriptyline ratios, respectively, has been observed in patients in treatment with the same dose of AT or NT.• The frequency of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (PMs) is 15% (twofold compared with other Whites) among healthy Faroese.• This frequency has not been investigated in Faroese patients in AT treatment and the consequences of the CYP2D6 PM phenotype for dose and plasma concentrations of AT and metabolites are not known in these patients. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • In patients treated with different daily dosages (5–100 mg) of AT a correlation between the sparteine metabolic ratio and the NT/(E)‐10‐hydroxynortriptyline and AT/(E)‐10‐hydroxyamitriptyline ratios was observed.• A high proportion (22%) of CYP2D6 PMs in a Faroese patient group medicated with AT was observed.• However, similar doses of AT and concentrations of AT and NT were noted in extensive metabolizers and in PMs.AIMTo determine the frequency of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (PMs) in a Faroese patient group medicated with amitriptyline (AT) and to investigate plasma concentrations of AT and metabolites in relation to CYP2D6.METHODSCYP2D6 phenotype and genotype were determined in 23 Faroese patients treated with AT. Plasma concentrations of AT and metabolites were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography and investigated in relation to CYP2D6 activity.RESULTSOf the 23 patients phenotyped and genotyped, five (22%) (95% confidence interval 7.5, 43.7) were CYP2D6 PMs. No difference was found in AT daily dosage between PMs (median 25 mg day−1; range 5–80) and extensive metabolizers (EMs) (median 27.5 mg day−1; range 10–100). The (E)‐10‐OH‐nortriptyline (NT)/dose concentrations were higher in EMs than in PMs and the NT/(E)‐10‐OH‐NT and AT/(E)‐10‐OH‐AT ratios were higher in PMs compared with EMs. The log sparteine metabolic ratio correlated positively with the NT/(E)‐10‐OH‐NT ratio (rs = 0.821; P < 0.0005) and the AT/(E)‐10‐OH‐AT ratio (rs = 0.605; P < 0.006).CONCLUSIONA high proportion of CYP2D6 PMs was found in a Faroese patient group medicated with AT. However, similar doses of AT and concentrations of AT and NT were noted in EMs and PMs, probably due to varying doses and indications for AT treatment.
Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men
Authors: Pettersson Jonas , Hindorf Ulf , Persson Paula , Bengtsson Thomas , Malmqvist Ulf , Werkström Viktoria , Ekelund Mats 
Published: September 2007

What is already known about this subject • The occurrence of idiosyncratic drug hepatotoxicity is a major problem in all phases of clinical drug development and the leading cause of postmarketing warnings and withdrawals.• Physical exercise can result in transient elevations of liver function tests.• There is no consensus in the literature on which forms of exercise may cause changes in liver function tests and to what extent. What this study adds • Weightlifting results in profound increases in liver function tests in healthy men used to moderate physical activity, not including weightlifting.• Liver function tests are significantly increased for at least 7 days after weightlifting.• It is important to impose relevant restrictions on heavy muscular exercise prior to and during clinical studies.AimTo investigate the effect of intensive muscular exercise (weightlifting) on clinical chemistry parameters reflecting liver function in healthy men.MethodsFifteen healthy men, used to moderate physical activity not including weightlifting, performed an 1 h long weightlifting programme. Blood was sampled for clinical chemistry parameters [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (γGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin] at repeated intervals during 7 days postexercise and at a follow‐up examination 10–12 days postexercise.ResultsFive out of eight studied clinical chemistry parameters (AST, ALT, LD, CK and myoglobin) increased significantly after exercise (P < 0.01) and remained increased for at least 7 days postexercise. Bilirubin, γGT and ALP remained within the normal range.ConclusionThe liver function parameters, AST and ALT, were significantly increased for at least 7 days after the exercise. In addition, LD and, in particular, CK and myoglobin showed highly elevated levels. These findings highlight the importance of imposing restrictions on weightlifting prior to and during clinical studies. Intensive muscular exercise, e.g. weightlifting, should also be considered as a cause of asymptomatic elevations of liver function tests in daily clinical practice.
Circulating CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells correlate with chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: Peng Guoping , Li Shuping , Wu Wei , Sun Zhen , Chen Yiqiong , Chen Zhi 
Published: September 2007

SummaryCirculating CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been demonstrated to maintain immunotolerance and suppress the antigen‐specific or antigen‐non‐specific T‐cell responses, but their role in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in humans has not been well characterized. In this study, we analysed the frequency and phenotypic characteristics of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs in patients of different hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status, and investigated the effect of Tregs on antiviral immune responses in CHB patients, and the mechanism of this effect. A total of 137 subjects, including 79 CHB patients, 26 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASCs), 12 acute hepatitis B (AHB) patients and 20 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. We found that the frequency of CD4+ CD25high Tregs in AHB patients was comparable to that in healthy controls, while it was significantly increased in CHB patients. CD4+ CD25+ Tregs produced interleukin (IL)‐10 but little or no interferon (IFN)‐γ under anti‐CD3 stimulation. In CHB patients, the frequency of CD4+ CD25high Tregs positively correlated with serum viral load, and the Tregs were capable of suppressing the proliferation and IFN‐γ production of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mediated by HBV antigen stimulation in vitro. However, combined administration of anti‐programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) and anti‐cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) monoclonal antibody slightly enhanced the cellular proliferation and significantly increased the IFN‐γ production of PBMC cocultured with Tregs at a ratio of 2 : 1. Thus, the frequency of circulating CD4+ CD25+ Tregs is increased in patients with CHB, and this may play an important role in viral persistence by modulating virus‐specific immune responses.
Generalized idiopathic root resorption: a case report
Authors: BHATT NEHA , HOLROYD ISABELLE 
Published: September 2007

Background.  Cases of generalized idiopathic root resorption have been reported in the literature. However the majority of previously reported cases have affected adults, and it has been rare that a possible link to a medical condition has been found.Case Report.  The subject of this case report was 11 years old when generalized root resorption was first diagnosed. This case report is unusual in that the resorption may be connected to a bone dysplasia. The possible medical diagnoses and links to tooth resorption have been discussed for this very rare case.Conclusion.  The investigation into the exact diagnosis of the patient and the treatment of tooth resorption is still ongoing and has required input from many disciplines of Medicine and Dentistry.
Mothers as facilitators of oral hygiene in early childhood
Authors: MOHEBBI SIMIN Z. , VIRTANEN JORMA I. , MURTOMAA HEIKKI , VAHID‐GOLPAYEGANI MOJTABA , VEHKALAHTI MIIRA M. 
Published: September 2007

Background.  Toothbrushing twice daily is a recommended component of oral self‐care soon after the eruption of primary dentition.Aim.  This study aims to investigate oral hygiene and frequency of oral cleaning in children up to 3 years, in relation to mother‐related factors.Design.  A cross‐sectional study of 504 children aged 12–36 months in Tehran, Iran was implemented. Mothers answered questions about their own oral self‐care and their activity in their children's oral hygiene. The child's oral hygiene was assessed on the basis of visible dental plaque on the labial surfaces of the upper central incisors. Data analysis included chi‐square test, analysis of variance (anova) and logistic regression.Results.  Twice daily oral cleaning was reported for 5% of all children and once daily cleaning for 19% of the 12‐ to 15‐month‐old children, 18% of the 16‐ to 23‐month‐old children, and 48% of the 24‐ to 36‐month‐old children. Of the mothers, 59% stated that they lacked the skill to clean their children's teeth. Dental plaque was observed in 65–76% of the children. Clean teeth were more likely (OR = 1·7, 95% CI 1.3–2.3) in children of mothers who themselves have a higher toothbrushing frequency.Conclusions.  To improve oral hygiene in early childhood, more emphasis should be placed on mothers’ own toothbrushing and their skills in their children's oral cleaning.
A survey of 460 supernumerary teeth in Brazilian children and adolescents
Authors: DE OLIVEIRA GOMES CARLOS , DRUMMOND SERGIO NEVES , JHAM BRUNO CORREIA , ABDO EVANDRO NEVES , MESQUITA RICARDO ALVES 
Published: September 2007

Objective.  This study aimed to survey the demographic profile of supernumerary teeth (ST) in Brazilian children and adolescents.Methods.  A retrospective analysis was carried out of all nonsyndromic patients with ST attended at the Pediatric Oral Surgery Service of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais between 1995 and 2004. Diagnosis of ST was based on clinical and radiographic examination. Chi‐squared test was used for statistical analysis.Results.  This study included 460 ST found in 305 patients. Radiographic assessment (32.1%) was the main care‐seeking reason and also the means through which most (97.6%) permanent ST were identified. Most cases were single (63.0%), conical (44.6%), and unerupted (76.8%) ST. Most teeth were fully developed (41.3%), normally orientated (78.9%), placed in a palatal/lingual‐sagittal position (84.1%), adjacent to the crown of permanent teeth (50.2%) (P < 0.001). The most frequent clinical complication was permanent teeth displacement (36.0%). Treatment was surgical removal followed by orthodontics (61.6%).Conclusions.  The demographic profile of ST herein presented will be useful to provide additional epidemiological information. A wide range of factors should be considered when evaluating ST. In addition, it is essential to detect ST as early as possible to avoid complications and to assure successful management. Even after treatment, patients must be followed up.
A cyclic‐di‐GMP receptor required for bacterial exopolysaccharide production
Authors: Lee Vincent T. , Matewish Jody M. , Kessler Jennifer L. , Hyodo Mamoru , Hayakawa Yoshihiro , Lory Stephen 
Published: September 2007

SummaryBis‐(3′,5′)‐cyclic‐dimeric‐guanosine monophosphate (c‐di‐GMP) has been shown to be a global regulatory molecule that modulates the reciprocal responses of bacteria to activate either virulence pathways or biofilm formation. The mechanism of c‐di‐GMP signal transduction, including recognition of c‐di‐GMP and subsequent phenotypic regulation, remain largely uncharacterized. The key components of these regulatory pathways are the various adaptor proteins (c‐di‐GMP receptors). There is compelling evidence suggesting that, in addition to PilZ domains, there are other unidentified c‐di‐GMP receptors. Here we show that the PelD protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a novel c‐di‐GMP receptor that mediates c‐di‐GMP regulation of PEL polysaccharide biosynthesis. Analysis of PelD orthologues identified a number of conserved residues that are required for c‐di‐GMP binding as well as synthesis of the PEL polysaccharide. Secondary structure similarities of PelD to the inhibitory site of diguanylate cyclase suggest that a common fold can act as a platform to bind c‐di‐GMP. The combination of a c‐di‐GMP binding site with a variety of output signalling motifs within one protein domain provides an explanation for the specificity for different cellular responses to this regulatory dinucleotide.
Aer on the inside looking out: paradigm for a PAS–HAMP role in sensing oxygen, redox and energy
Authors: Taylor Barry L. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryAer, the Escherichia coli aerotaxis (oxygen‐sensing) receptor, is representative of a small class of receptors that face the cytoplasm in bacteria. Instead of sensing oxygen directly, Aer detects redox changes in the electron transport system or cytoplasm when the bacteria enter or leave a hypoxic microniche. As a result, Aer sensing also enables bacteria to avoid environments where carbon deficiency, unfavourable reduction potential or other insults would limit energy production. An FAD‐binding PAS domain is the sensor for Aer and a HAMP domain interacts with the PAS domain to form an input–output module for signal transduction. By analogy to the first solution structure of an isolated HAMP domain from Archaeoglobus, Aer HAMP is proposed to fold into a four‐helix bundle that rotates between a signal‐on and signal‐off conformation. Aer is the first protein in which a PAS–HAMP input–output module has been investigated. The structure and signal transduction mechanism of Aer is providing important insights into signalling by PAS and HAMP domains.
A sample of mJy radio sources at 1.4 GHz in the Lynx and Hercules fields – I. Radio imaging, multicolour photometry and spectroscopy
Authors: Rigby E. E. , Snellen I. A. G. , Best P. N. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
With the goal of identifying high-redshift radio galaxies with Fanaroff–Riley class I (FR I) classification, here are presented high-resolution, wide-field radio observations, near-infrared and optical imaging and multi-object spectroscopy of two fields of the Leiden–Berkeley Deep Survey. These fields, Hercules.1 and Lynx.2, contain a complete sample of 81 radio sources with S1.4 GHz &gt; 0.5 mJy within 0.6 deg2. This sample will form the basis for a study of the population and cosmic evolution of high-redshift, low-power, FR I radio sources which will be presented in Paper II. Currently, the host galaxy identification fraction is 86 per cent with 11 sources remaining unidentified at a level of r′≥ 25.2 mag (Hercules; four sources) or r′≥ 24.4 mag (Lynx; seven sources) or K≳ 20 mag. Spectroscopic redshifts have been determined for 49 per cent of the sample and photometric redshift estimates are presented for the remainder of the sample.
Reassessment of tissue Na+ concentration as a criterion for salinity tolerance in bread wheat
Authors: GENC YUSUF , MCDONALD GLENN K. , TESTER MARK 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACTWheat is the most important crop grown on many of world's saline and sodic soils, and breeding for improved salinity tolerance (ST) is the only feasible way of improving yield and yield stability under these conditions. There are a number of possible mechanisms by which cereals can tolerate high levels of salinity, but these can be considered in terms of Na+ exclusion and tissue tolerance. Na+ exclusion has been the focus of much of the recent work in wheat, but with relatively little progress to date in developing high‐yielding, salt‐tolerant genotypes. Using a diverse collection of bread wheat germplasm, the present study was conducted to assess the value of tissue Na+ concentration as a criterion for ST, and to determine whether ST differs with growth stage. Two experiments were conducted, the first with 38 genotypes and the second with 21 genotypes.A wide range of Na+ concentrations within the roots and shoots as well as in ST were observed in both experiments. However, maintenance of growth and yield when grown with 100 mm NaCl was not correlated with the ability of a genotype to exclude Na+ either from an individual leaf blade or from the whole shoot. The K+ : Na+ ratio also showed a wide range among the genotypes, but it did not explain the variation in ST among the genotypes. The results suggested that Na+ exclusion and tissue tolerance varied independently, and there was no significant relationship between Na+ exclusion and ST in bread wheat. Consequently, similar levels of ST may be achieved through different combinations of exclusion and tissue tolerance. Breeding for improved ST in bread wheat needs to select for traits related to both exclusion and tissue tolerance.
Issues and challenges of involving users in medical device development
Authors: Bridgelal Ram Mala , Grocott Patricia R. , Weir Heather C. M. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground  User engagement has become a central tenet of health‐care policy. This paper reports on a case study in progress that highlights user engagement in the research process in relation to medical device development.Objectives  To work with a specific group of medical device users to uncover unmet needs, translating these into design concepts, novel technologies and products. To validate a knowledge transfer model that may be replicated for a range of medical device applications and user groups.Methods  In depth qualitative case study to elicit and analyse user needs. The focus is on identifying design concepts for medical device applications from unmet needs, and validating these in an iterative feedback loop to the users.Results  The case study has highlighted three interrelated challenges: ensuring unmet needs drive new design concepts and technology development; managing user expectations and managing the research process.Conclusion  Despite the challenges, active participation of users is crucial to developing usable and clinically effective devices.