bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liver function tests in patients with bacteremia
Authors: Kanai Shinichiro , Honda Takayuki , Uehara Takeshi , Matsumoto Takehisa 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate liver function tests as potential indicators of bacteremia. We examined 156 patients with laboratory‐confirmed bacteremia (bacteremia group) and 211 bacteremia‐negative patients with bacterial infections (control group). The patients of the two groups had no underlying liver diseases. For patients in the bacteremia group, we analyzed liver function tests results obtained the day when the first positive blood culture was ordered. For those in the control group, the same data were obtained on the day when the first of multiple negative blood cultures was ordered. At t‐test analyses, serum levels of gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher, and those of albumin, total cholesterol, and cholinesterase were significantly lower in the bacteremia group than in the control group. Multivariate analyses found serum cholinesterase as an independent factor with adjusted odds ratio of 0.319 (per 65 U/L, standard deviation [SD] size). Serum level of C‐reactive protein (CRP), on the other hand, showed no significant difference between the two groups. Serum levels of γ‐GT, ALP, albumin, total cholesterol, and cholinesterase more rapidly altered when various bacterial infections accompanied bacteremia. Therefore, they may be useful in detecting sepsis in its early stages. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:66–69, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of multiple complications in type 2 diabetes is associated with the increase of multiple markers of chronic inflammation
Authors: Hwang Jawl‐Shan , Wu Tsu‐Lan , Chou S.C. , Ho C. , Chang Pi‐Yueh , Tsao Kuo‐Chien , Huang Jeng‐Yi , Sun Chien‐Feng , Wu James T. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractPatients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are known at risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), nephropathy, and cancer. We were interested to find out whether multiple markers associated with chronic inflammation are detectable in patients with T2DM and are increased in patients with T2DM who developed additional clinical complications. A sequence of multiple risk markers for atherogenesis, associated with chronic inflammation, was measured in patients with T2DM before and after the development of clinical complications. We found that multiple clinical complications frequently developed simultaneously in patients with T2DM. At the early stage of T2DM, only low levels and low percent elevations of multiple risk markers were detected. However, both the level and the percent elevation of these markers were found to increase with disease progression and the development of clinical complications. We believe that chronic inflammation not only contributes to the pathogenesis of T2DM but also continues to increase in T2DM patients who are developing additional clinical complications. It appears that these multiple markers are potentially useful not only for monitoring the progression of T2DM but also predicting the risk of developing macro‐ and microvascular disease, nephropathy, and cancer. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:6–13, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of hemodialysis on traditional and innovative cardiac markers
Authors: Montagnana Martina , Lippi Giuseppe , Tessitore Nicola , Salvagno Gian Luca , Targher Giovanni , Gelati Matteo , Lupo Antonio , Guidi Gian Cesare 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe diagnostic approach to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is challenging in patients with impaired renal function since most serum biomarkers are commonly increased in this clinical setting. Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK MB), myoglobin, and ischemia modified albumin (IMA), were assayed in 45 patients prehemodialysis (pre‐HD) and posthemodialysis (post‐HD), and results were adjusted for hemoconcentration. The pre‐HD values of serum IMA and cTnT were above the respective diagnostic thresholds (IMA<85 K units/L; cTnT <0.03 ng/mL) in six (13%) and 27 (60%) patients undergoing chronic HD, respectively. A significant (105.0 vs. 79.0 K units/L, P<0.0001) and variable (+38%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12–65%) increase of serum IMA was observed post‐HD, whereas the other biomarkers significantly decreased (cTnT: 0.029 vs. 0.044 ng/mL, P=0.016; CK‐MB: 2.33 vs. 2.50 µg/L, P<0.0001; myoglobin: 128.1 vs. 148.7 µg/L, P<0.0001). Biomarkers of myocardial injury, especially cTnT and IMA, might be used in HD patients, provided that an appropriate diagnostic interpretation is guarantee, according to individual baseine value, metabolism, and time of sampling. Moreover, IMA might be reliably applied to stratify the long‐term risk of these patients, but not for diagnosing an ACS during or immediately post‐HD. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:59–65, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determination of terephthalic acid isopropylamide in urine with a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method
Authors: Baumann F. , Mauz‐Körholz C. , Clauß D. , Borrmann S. , Giannis A. , Merkel N. , Körholz D. , Preiss R. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractA sensitive and simple liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method was developed for the determination of terephthalic acid isopropylamide, the final metabolite of procarbazine in human urine. A solid‐phase extraction with C18 cartridges was used followed by LC/MS with a single mass spectrometer (SSQ 7000 from Finnigan). Terephthalic acid isobutylamide was the internal standard. The quantification limit was 30 ng/mL in urine (6 × noise). This assay was applied for drug monitoring of terephthalic acid isopropylamide in urine after oral administration of procarbazine in children and adolescents with Hodgkin lymphomas. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:21–28, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical and laboratory evaluation of idiopathic male infertility in a secondary referral center in India
Authors: Abid Shadaan , Maitra Anurupa , Meherji Pervin , Patel Zareen , Kadam Seema , Shah Jatin , Shah Rupin , Kulkarni Vijay , Baburao V. , Gokral Jyotsna 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe genetic basis of infertility has received increasing recognition in recent years, particularly with the advent of assisted reproductive technology. It is now becoming obvious that genetic etiology for infertility is an important cause of disrupted spermatogenesis. Y‐chromosome microdeletions and abnormal karyotype are the two major causes of altered spermatogenesis. To achieve biological fatherhood, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is performed in cases of severe infertility with or without genetic abnormalities. There is a concern that these genetic abnormalities can be transmitted to the male progeny, who may subsequently have a more severe phenotype of infertility. A total of 200 men were recruited for clinical examinations, spermiograms, hormonal profiles, and cytogenetic and Yq microdeletion profiles. Testicular biopsy was also performed whenever possible and histologically evaluated. Genetic abnormalities were seen in 7.1% of cases, of which 4.1% had chromosomal aberrations, namely Klinefelter's mosaic (47XXY) and Robertsonian translocation, and 3.0% had Yq microdeletions, which is very low as compared to other populations. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly increased in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) as compared to severe oligoasthenozoospermia (P<0.0001), whereas testosterone levels were significantly decreased in men with microdeletions as compared to men with no microdeletions (P<0.0083). Low levels of androgen in men with microdeletions indicate a need to follow‐up for early andropause. Patients with microdeletions had more severe testicular histology as compared to subjects without deletions. Our studies showed a significant decrease (P<0.002) in the serum inhibin B values in men with NOA, whereas FSH was seen to be significantly higher as compared to men with severe oligoasthenozoospermia (SOAS), indicating that both the Sertoli cells as well the germ cells were significantly compromised in cases of NOA and partially affected in SOAS. Overall inhibin B in combination with serum FSH would thus be a better marker than serum FSH alone for impaired spermatogenesis. In view of the genetic and hormonal abnormalities in the group of infertile men with idiopathic severe oligozoospermia and NOA cases, who are potential candidates for ICSI, genetic testing for Y‐chromosome microdeletions, karyotype, and biochemical parameters is advocated. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:29–38, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of interleukin‐18 gene polymorphism with asthma in Chinese patients
Authors: Lee Cheng‐Chun , Lin Wei‐Yong , Wan Lei , Tsai Yuhsin , Tsai Chang‐Hai , Huang Chung‐Ming , Chen Chih‐Ping , Tsai Fuu‐Jen 
Published: January 2008

AbstractLike other allergic diseases, asthma results from multiple conditions. Asthmatic beginning and severity are mediated by both environmental and genetic factors. In asthma studies, important work is realization of the genetic background and identification of genetic factors resulting in asthma development and phenomena. Here, we investigated whether interleukin (IL)‐18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are involved in Chinese asthma patients. IL‐18 (IL‐18) SNP was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based restriction analysis in 201 patients with asthma and 60 normal controls. Significant differences were found in the genotype distribution of IL‐18 SNP between asthma patients and controls (P=0.000003). Allelic frequency of the IL‐18 gene distinguished asthma patients from controls (P=0.000066). The results revealed a significant difference between asthma patients and normal controls in IL‐18 SNP and a statistical correlation between IL‐18 polymorphisms (105A/C) and asthma formation. We concluded that Chinese who carry the C/C homozygote of the IL‐18‐105A/C gene polymorphism in coding regions may have a higher risk of developing asthma. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:39–44, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison between two PCR‐based bacterial identification methods through artificial neural network data analysis
Authors: Wen Jie , Zhang Xiaohui , Gao Peng , Jiang Qiuhong 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) and 16S‐23S rRNA spacer region genes are commonly used as taxonomic and phylogenetic tools. In this study, two pairs of fluorescent‐labeled primers for 16S rRNA genes and one pair of primers for 16S‐23S rRNA spacer region genes were selected to amplify target sequences of 317 isolates from positive blood cultures. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of both were then subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis by capillary electrophoresis after incomplete digestion by Hae III. For products of 16S rRNA genes, single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was also performed directly. When the data were processed by artificial neural network (ANN), the accuracy of prediction based on 16S‐23S rRNA spacer region gene RFLP data was much higher than that of prediction based on 16S rRNA gene SSCP analysis data(98.0% vs. 79.6%). This study proved that the utilization of ANN as a pattern recognition method was a valuable strategy to simplify bacterial identification when relatively complex data were encountered. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:14–20, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of tritium‐labeled bilirubin
Authors: Latli Bachir , Hrapchak Matt , Krishnamurthy Dhileepkumar , Senanayake Chris H. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractTritium‐labeled bilirubin with specific activities ranging from 6.8 to 8.8 Ci/mmol was prepared in a single step by reducing biliverdin dihydrochloride with sodium borotritide in ethanol. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A survey of the year 2006 literature on applications of isothermal titration calorimetry
Authors: Okhrimenko Oksana , Jelesarov Ilian 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIsothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a fast and robust method to determine the energetics of association reactions in solution. The changes in enthalpy, entropy and heat capacity that accompany binding provide unique insights into the balance of forces driving association of molecular entities. ITC is used nowadays on a day‐to‐day basis in hundreds of laboratories. The method aids projects both in basic and practice‐oriented research ranging from medicine and biochemistry to physical chemistry and material sciences. Not surprisingly, the range of studies utilizing ITC data is steadily expanding. In this review, we discuss selected results and ideas that have accumulated in the course of the year 2006, the focus being on biologically relevant systems. Theoretical developments, novel applications and studies that provide a deeper level of understanding of the energetic principles of biological function are primarily considered. Following the appearance of a new generation of titration calorimeters, recent papers provide instructive examples of the synergy between energetic and structural approaches in biomedical and biotechnological research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A sialylation study of mouse brain gangliosides by MALDI a‐TOF and o‐TOF mass spectrometry
Authors: Zarei Mostafa , Bindila Laura , Souady Jamal , Dreisewerd Klaus , Berkenkamp Stefan , Müthing Johannes , Peter‐Katalinić Jasna 
Published: January 2008

AbstractMatrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) process of sialoglycoconjugates is generally accompanied by different levels of cleavage of sialic acid residues and/or by dehydration, and decarboxylation reactions. Quantitative densitometry of the mouse brain ganglioside (MBG) components separated by high‐performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and evidenced by orcinol staining was a basis to verify the ganglioside composition pattern with respect to the relative abundances of individual components in the mixture. A systematic mass spectrometry (MS) sialylation analysis has been carried out to evaluate the feasibility of an axial time‐of‐flight (a‐TOF) MS, equipped with a vacuum MALDI source and an orthogonal‐TOF (o‐TOF) instrument with an ion source operated at about 1 mbar of N2. Besides, the esterification by one methyl group of the carboxyl group in sialic acid to increase the stability of the ganglioside species for MALDI MS analysis has been tested and the yield of intact ganglioside species and of the neutral loss of water and carbon dioxide estimated. For the sialylation analysis of native ganglioside mixtures the MALDI o‐TOF analysis with 6‐azo‐2‐thiothymine/diammonium citrate (ATT/DAC) as a matrix appears as an optimal approach for ganglioside profiling. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐term trends of synoptic‐scale breaking Rossby waves in the Northern Hemisphere between 1958 and 2001
Authors: Isotta F. , Martius O. , Sprenger M. , Schwierz C. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBreaking synoptic‐scale Rossby waves are frequent features of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) which affect both global‐ and regional‐scale dynamics. Furthermore, they directly influence ozone distribution through meridional transport of ozone‐rich air towards the south and ozone‐poor air towards the north. Here, trends in the frequency of these breaking waves are assessed by analysing a 44‐year climatology (1958–2002) of potential vorticity (PV) streamers on isentropic surfaces from 310 to 350 K. These streamers are viewed as breaking Rossby waves, whereby stratospheric (tropospheric) streamers indicate southward (northward) breaking waves. Two complementary techniques are used to analyse the trends. First, linear trends are computed using the least‐squares regression technique. Statistically significant linear trends are found to vary in location and magnitude between isentropic levels and the four seasons. In winter significant trends are detected in the eastern Pacific between 340 and 350 K. A positive trend of stratospheric streamers in the Tropics is related to an increase of total column ozone, whereas the positive trend of tropospheric streamers in the mid‐latitudes is associated with a decrease of total ozone. Secondly, a nonlinear trend analysis is performed using the seasonal‐trend decomposition procedure based on Loess (STL). With this technique, the low‐frequency variability of the time series is analysed during the 44‐year period. For instance, over the eastern Atlantic on 350 K, a phase of decreasing PV streamer frequencies in the 1950s and 1960s is followed by a positive streamer tendency after the 1970s. Additionally, trends of the zonal wind are investigated. One prominent outcome of this analysis is the observation that equatorial easterlies over the Atlantic are weakening. A dynamically meaningful link exists between the trends observed in both wind velocity and PV streamers. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Evaluation of barley and triticale as feed ingredients in growing Iberian pigs: amino acid and carbohydrate ileal digestibility
Authors: Fernández‐Fígares Ignacio , García María A , Ruiz Raquel , Rubio Luis A 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Iberian pig production is linked to the use of the Mediterranean woodland, where the use of local feed resources is of paramount importance for the sustainability of the system. The aim of the present work was to explore the potential of triticale cv. Camarma as compared to barley cv. Esgueva in Iberian pig feeding by studying their respective ileal digestibilities of amino acids and carbohydrates in animals cannulated at the end of the ileum.RESULTS: Leu, Met and Tyr had (P < 0.05) greater standardised ileal digestibilities (SID) in pigs fed triticale diet. There was a trend (P = 0.07) towards greater SID of Thr in pigs fed the barley diet. The least digestible indispensable amino acids were Ile (74.6% SID) for barley and Thr (78.9% SID) for triticale. Except for β‐glucans, apparent ileal digestibilities (AIDs) of individual non‐starch polysaccharide (NSP), sugars and starch were greater in pigs fed triticale (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, total amounts of NSP digested were greater in pigs fed the barley diet (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Overall, triticale cv. Camarma had greater amino acid and carbohydrate AID than barley cv. Esgueva and may represent a valuable grain for Iberian pig feeding. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of a chitosan‐based coating with ascorbic acid on post‐harvest quality and core browning of ‘Yali’ pears (Pyrus bertschneideri Rehd.)
Authors: Lin Lin , Wang Baogang , Wang Meng , Cao Jiankang , Zhang Jingjing , Wu Yu , Jiang Weibo 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Chitosan (CTS), as an ideal coating material, has been used for post‐harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables. The effects of coating with 1.5% CTS, alone or combined with 10 mmol L−1 ascorbic acid (AsA), on post‐harvest quality and core browning (CB) incidence in ‘Yali’ pears during storage at room temperature (25 ± 1 °C) were investigated in this study.RESULTS: It was found that both CTS coating and CTS + AsA coating delayed the increase of weight loss, retained greater firmness, total soluble solids and titratable acidity content than controls; coatings decreased respiration rate and membrane permeability, and also effectively inhibited CB after 60 days of storage. Compared with CTS coating alone, CTS + AsA coating increased these beneficial effects and also helped to retain a much higher AsA content and the activities of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase).CONCLUSION: The CTS coating has the potential to maintain post‐harvest quality and control CB which is the main problem in ‘Yali’ pears during storage. The CTS + AsA coating has more effective application in this study, which could not only be due to reducing the respiration rate and inhibiting the senescence process, but also to increasing the antioxidant capability of the fruit. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Impact of cultivar variation in grain density of rice panicle on grain weight and quality
Authors: Wang Feng , Cheng Fangmin , Zhang Guoping 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: In the last two decades, newly released rice cultivars in southeastern China have been mainly characterised by more grains per cm panicle (GPCP), i.e. a compact panicle. These compact panicle cultivars show high yield potential but inferior quality. Accordingly, experiments were conducted to study the effect of GPCP on grain weight and quality.RESULTS: Two compact panicle and two loose panicle cultivars of japonica rice were used to investigate the effect of GPCP on the variation in grain weight and quality within a panicle. Significant differences in grain quality, including brown rice length, width and length/width ratio, brown rice and head‐milled rice percentages, chalky grain percentage and amylose and protein contents, were found among grains within a panicle. In general, the compact panicle cultivars showed lower grain weight and larger variation in brown rice length, width and length/width ratio, chalky grain percentage and amylose content among grains within a panicle than the loose panicle cultivars.CONCLUSION: GPCP is negatively associated with quality uniformity, and increasing the grain number on top secondary rachises may reduce the variation in grain weight and quality within a panicle. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Formation of Ordered Two‐Dimensional Polymer Latticeworks With Polygonal Meshes by Self‐Organized Anisotropic Mass Transfer
Authors: Li Wei , Nie Yaru , Zhang Junhu , Zhu Difu , Li Xiao , Sun Haizhu , Yu Kui , Yang Bai 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis manuscript addresses the formation of self‐assembled two‐dimensional (2D) polymer latticeworks with multiple polygonal meshes packed in various ordered arrays. Firstly, ordered arrays of water droplets were formed in the hydrophilic regions of patterned self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) consisting of isolated hydrophilic circles surrounded by a continuous hydrophobic region. After dip‐coating this water‐patterned surface into a polymer solution in chloroform, dewetting of the polymer solution led to the formation of a crater‐like porous polymer film. Next, the resulting polymer film with round pores arranged in a 2D ordered array was subjected to a thermal treatment carried out at a temperature higher than the glass‐transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer. The thermal annealing process resulted in a morphological transformation from circular pores into polygonal meshes packed in either a similar or different ordered array. This morphological transition is self‐organized, involving mass transfer, an anisotropic process, and is controlled by the minimization of the Gibbs free energy. An empirical equation was established to guide the experiments. Thus, the patterned features of the polymer meshes can be designed via the ordered arrays of the hydrophilic circles of the SAMs as well as by experimental parameters such as the concentration of the polymer solution. The formation of the polymer latticework with polygonal meshes reveals that self‐organized mass transfer can be applied in micropatterning by elaborate experimental design.magnified image