bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chondroitinase ABC has a long‐lasting effect on chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycan content in the injured rat brain
Authors: Lin Rachel , Kwok Jessica C. F. , Crespo Damaso , Fawcett James W. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractChondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are axon growth inhibitory molecules present in the glial scar that play a part in regeneration failure after damage to the CNS and which restrict CNS plasticity. Removal of chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains with chondroitinase‐ABC (chABC) in models of CNS injury promotes both axon regeneration and plasticity. We have analysed the immediate and long‐term effects of a single injection of chABC on CSPGs, GAGs and axon regeneration. We made unilateral nigrostriatal lesions in adult rats accompanied by an adjacent infusion of either chABC or a bacterial‐derived control enzyme (penicillinase). Within 24 h of chABC treatment there was digestion of GAGs, including hyaluronan, and a reduction in neurocan in an area extending 1.5 mm around the injection site. Around 50% of GAG is inaccessible to chABC digestion, even in tissue digested in vitro, which probably represents intracellular stores. In control penicillinase treated animals, total GAGs recovered from the lesioned brains were up‐regulated by 4‐fold 7 days after injury and gradually decreased to normal at 28 days post‐lesion. In chondroitinase‐treated animals, the total GAG remained at low level throughout the 28‐day experimental period. This suggests the persistence of active chABC for at least 10 days after injection which is able to digest CSPGs released from cells during this time. This was confirmed by immunological detection of enzyme for 10 days and by retrieval of active enzyme from the brain at 10 days after injection. Our results suggest that a single injection of chABC can produce an environment conducive to CNS repair for over 10 days.
Calcium carbonate precipitation in cyanobacterial mats from sandy tidal flats of the North Sea
Authors: KREMER B. , KAZMIERCZAK J. , STAL L. J. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTPrecipitated calcium carbonate was found in annual cyanobacterial mats developing on the beaches of the North Sea barrier island Schiermonnikoog (the Netherlands). A variety of different calcium carbonate morphs were found in the cyanobacterial mucous secretions and identified by light‐ and scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Most of the calcium carbonate seemed to be associated with degrading extracellular polymer. It is conceived that supersaturation of calcium carbonate resulted from the periodic evaporation of the mats and from the release of calcium from the cyanobacterial mucous as a result of its degradation. The analysis of the carbon stable isotopic composition of the calcium carbonate showed only a slight depletion of 13C, indicating that it did not in major part originated from the decomposition of organic matter. The δ18O values of the calcium carbonate confirmed the temperature differences between spring and summer but excluded the possibility that excessive evaporative events controlled precipitation. The precipitation of calcium carbonate could represent a potential factor enhancing the stabilization of intertidal siliciclastic sediments through cementing the sand. The discovery of massive calcium carbonate precipitation in these cyanobacterial mats was unexpected and hitherto unknown.
Dissolved and total organic and inorganic carbon in some British rivers
Authors: Baker Andy , Cumberland Sue , Hudson Naomi 
Published: November 2007

Rivers transport both organic and inorganic carbon from their sources to the sea. Results of ~800 organic and inorganic analyses from various British rivers of contrasting size and land use are presented here: (1) the headwater River Tern, a rural river of 852 km2 catchment; (2) the Ouseburn, a small urban 55 km2 catchment; (3) the River Tyne, a larger river system of ~3000 km2 catchment; (4) a spatial survey from 205 sample sites on ~60 rivers from SW England. We found that, with the exception of peat‐rich headwaters, DIC concentration is always greater than DOC. DIC is primarily in the form HCO3
−
, with DIC concentrations highest in highly urbanised catchments, typically greater than those observed in catchments with carbonate bedrock, demonstrating a significant and previously unrecognised anthropogenic inorganic carbon input to urban rivers.
The Civil Rights Movement and the Presidency in the Hot Years of the Cold War: A Historical and Historiographical Assessment
Authors: Catsam Derek 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe two most important phenomena that the United States confronted in the quarter century after the end of World War II were the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. Four presidents, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson had to deal with the most critical years of both the struggle for racial justice and the challenge of Communist totalitarianism. This historiographical article seeks to situate each of these presidents within the context of the explosion of literature on the presidency and the fight for black equality and to provide suggestive assessments of these presidencies and their successes and failures in addressing black demands.
Persistent ischemia impairs myofibroblast development in wound granulation tissue: A new model of delayed wound healing
Authors: Alizadeh Navid , Pepper Michael Sean , Modarressi Ali , Alfo Katia , Schlaudraff Kai , Montandon Denys , Gabbiani Giulio , Bochaton‐Piallat Marie‐Luce , Pittet Brigitte 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTWe describe a new animal model designed to assess the impact of ischemia on wound healing. Eight patterns of arterial lesion in the limb were first tested in 24 Wistar rats. Resection of the external iliac artery down to the femoral artery at the level of the knee was chosen as the reference model and performed on the left limb of 45 rats; the right limb was used as the control. Skin wounds measuring 1.2 × 0.8 cm were created on both feet. Ischemia was assessed by blood flow measurement, which decreases dramatically in the ischemic limb. A significant delay in wound closure with a decrease in wound contraction was observed in the ischemic limb. Myofibroblast quantification showed a significant delay in appearance as well as a decrease in the number of these cells in the ischemic wound. Vascular endothelial growth factor‐A appearance and evolution were qualitatively similar in both situations. However, collagen type I mRNA was markedly decreased in ischemic granulation tissue 10 days after wounding. These findings suggest that decreased wound contraction plays an important role in delayed ischemic wound healing, probably due to reduced myofibroblast development and activity.
Mouse chromosome 9 quantitative trait loci for soft tissue regeneration: Congenic analysis and fine mapping
Authors: Yu Hongrun , Baylink David J. , Masinde Godfred L. , Li Runzhi , Nguyen Bay , Davidson Heather M. , Xu Shizhong , Mohan Subburaman 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTDevelopment of gene therapies for wound healing will depend on the identification of the genes involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Previous quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies in mice using the ear punch model have shown that major QTL exist on chromosome (Chr) 9 for soft tissue regeneration. In this study, we have developed a congenic line that contains the Chr 9 QTL chromosomal region from super healer MRL/MpJ in the genomic background of poor‐healing SJL/J. The phenotypic effect of this QTL was confirmed in male mice, where the congenic line has shown significant healing improvement over SJL. Fine mapping of the Chr 9 QTL region with 23 markers at an average distance of 4.2 Mb using a total of 1,564 MRL/MpJ × SJL/J F2 mice revealed the presence of at least three QTL peaks, implying that three separate loci may contribute to the phenotypic effect of this QTL. Based on the 2‐LOD intervals, the total QTL region was confined to a combined length of no more than 28.2 Mb. Application of a Bayesian shrinkage estimation indicated that a major locus was located in a region of just 1.3 Mb.
The Prevalence and Impact of Migraine on US Military Officer Trainees
Authors: Helseth Erek K. , Erickson Jay C. 
Published: November 2007

Objective.— To determine the prevalence and impact of migraine in US Army officer trainees.Background.— The prevalence of migraine in military officer trainees, frequency of diagnosis, pharmacologic management, and the impact of migraine on military training has not been previously determined. We sought to elucidate the above and also to identify trainee characteristics associated with impaired training performance because of the disabling effects of migraine.Methods.— An anonymous voluntary migraine questionnaire was administered to 1389 consecutive US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets upon completion of 5 weeks of military training. Headaches were classified as definite migraine or possible migraine. Migraine frequency, prior diagnosis, number of missed or suboptimal training days attributable to migraine, patterns of analgesic use, and trainee characteristics associated with impaired training performance were identified.Results.— In total, 741 of 1389 (54%) officer trainees completed the migraine questionnaire, including 582 males and 159 females. The prevalence of definite migraine was 18% in all cadets including 14% in males and 31% in females. Migraines had been previously diagnosed in only 10% of trainees meeting criteria for definite or possible migraine. During training, male trainees experienced a mean of 0.70 migraines/month compared with female trainees at 1.4 migraines/month. Only 3% of trainees meeting criteria for definite or possible migriane had ever been prescribed triptans. Eight percent of cadets experienced impaired training performance because of migraine resulting in 63 days of suboptimal or missed training. Characteristics associated with impaired training performance included a prior diagnosis of migraine, screening positive for definite migraine vs possible migraine, and a higher baseline frequency of migraine.Conclusions.— Migraine is common yet underdiagnosed and undertreated in US Army officer trainees and adversely impacts military training. We identified characteristics which place military trainees at risk for impaired training performance. We predict that improved diagnosis and treatment of migraine would result in improved training performance.
Body Mass Index and Nine‐Year Mortality in Disabled and Nondisabled Older U.S. Individuals
Authors: Kulminski Alexander M. , Arbeev Konstantin G. , Kulminskaya Irina V. , Ukraintseva Svetlana V. , Land Kenneth , Akushevich Igor , Yashin Anatoli I. 
Published: November 2007

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and 9‐year mortality in older (≥65) Americans with and without disability.DESIGN: Cohort study.SETTING: The unique disability‐focused National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS) data that assessed the health and well‐being of older individuals in 1994 were analyzed.PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand seven hundred ninety‐one individuals in the 1994 survey.MEASUREMENTS: BMI (kg/m2) was calculated from self‐ or proxy reports of height and weight. The analysis was adjusted for 1‐year change in BMI and demographic and health‐related factors, as well as reports by proxies, and death occurring during the first 2 years after the interview.RESULTS: The relative risk of death as a function of BMI formed a nonsymmetric U‐shaped pattern, with larger risks associated with lower BMI (<22.0) and minimal risks for BMI of 25.0 to 34.9. (BMI 22.0–24.9 was the reference.) Adjustments for demographic and health‐related factors had little effect on this pattern. Nondisabled individuals exhibited a similar U‐shaped pattern but with lower risks associated with lower BMI. For disabled individuals, the mortality–risk pattern was higher for lower BMI (<22.0) and flat for higher BMI, thus exhibiting an inverse J shape. BMI patterns were age sensitive, with disability status affecting sensitivity.CONCLUSION: Overweight or mild (grade 1) obesity was not a risk factor for 9‐year mortality in older Americans participating in the 1994 NLTCS. A flatter BMI pattern of the relative risk of death for disabled than for nondisabled individuals suggests that optimal body weight can be sensitive to age and health and well‐being.
Implant‐Retained Partial Overdenture with Resilient Attachments
Authors: Chikunov Igor , Doan Phuong , Vahidi Farhad 
Published: November 2007

AbstractManagement of partially edentulous patients can still be a prosthodontic challenge. Replacing the missing teeth with conventional removable partial dentures (RPDs) is the traditional method for the treatment of partial edentulism; however, there are many potential disadvantages associated with traditional RPDs. With the advent of osseointegrated dental implants, possibilities of prosthetic reconstruction for partial edentulism are endless. This article discusses the implant‐retained partial overdenture (IRPOD) with resilient attachments as a predictable and cost‐effective treatment for partially edentulous patients.
Structural epitope matching for HLA‐alloimmunized thrombocytopenic patients: a new strategy to provide more effective platelet transfusion support?
Authors: Duquesnoy Rene J. 
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND: During the past three decades, HLA matching for platelet (PLT) transfusion of refractory thrombocytopenic patients has been based on serologic cross‐reactivity between HLA‐A and HLA‐B antigens. Although many blood banks are using this matching strategy, the general experience is that such matched PLT transfusions are often ineffective.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This report describes a new HLA matching algorithm that considers structurally defined epitopes recognized by antibodies. HLAMatchmaker is a computer program that determines histocompatibility at the amino acid level initially designed as triplets (i.e., linear sequences of three residues in molecular surface–exposed positions) but now updated as eplets representing patches of antibody‐accessible polymorphic residues surrounded by residues within a 3‐Å radius. The eplet version of HLAMatchmaker is also useful in the analysis of HLA antibody reactivity patterns of alloimmunized patients so that acceptable mismatches can be identified.CONCLUSION: An HLA epitope–based matching protocol is proposed that may permit a more effective PLT transfusion management of refractory patients. This protocol includes high‐resolution HLA‐A, ‐B, and ‐C typing of patients and donors, serum screening to identify acceptable mismatches, and the identification of suitable donors in a donor database that incorporates HLAMatchmaker as a search engine. HLAMatchmaker programs can be downloaded from the Web site http://tpis.upmc.edu/tpis/HLAMatchmaker/.
Bacterial contamination of random‐donor platelets in a university hospital in the midwestern region of Brazil
Authors: Cunha Geraldo , Leão Lara , Pimenta Fabiana 
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND: Bacterial blood contamination was probably the first recognized transfusion‐transmitted disease. Although the transfusion‐associated bacterial sepsis has been known for a long time, it remains an important health problem. At present it is the most frequently reported cause of infectious transfusion‐related fatalities. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of microbiologic contamination in random‐donor platelets (RDPs) and to identify the isolated microorganism obtained from a Brazilian university hemotherapy service.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 2000 RDPs were analyzed from November 2004 to June 2005. The time of storage of the platelet (PLT) concentrates studied ranged from the day of donation (Day 0) to the fifth day of storage (Day 5). The RDP cultures were initially performed in pools with bottles containing brain heart infusion (BHI) growth medium, and cultures were incubated aerobically at 37°C for up to 7 days and subcultured onto chocolate agar at 37°C for 48 hours under conditions of microaerophilia. In the cases of positivity of one pool, the culture was individually performed for all the samples of that pool.RESULTS: Eight units (0.4%; 95% confidence interval, 0.31‐0.49) were found to be contaminated. Isolated microorganisms were three Acinetobacter lwoffii, one Enterobacter intermedium, one Serratia phymuthica, one Staphylococcus haemolyticus, one Staphylococcus hominis, and one Bacillus sp.CONCLUSION: PLT concentrates were contaminated with bacteria in 0.4 percent of tested units, which represents a potential risk to patients and a public health problem. Regarding the contaminant microorganisms, a predominance of Gram‐negative agents was observed (62.5%).
Residual infectious disease risk in screened blood transfusion from a high‐prevalence population: Santa Catarina, Brazil
Authors: Maresch Christina , Schluter Philip J. , Wilson Andrew D. , Sleigh Adrian 
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND: Infectious disease testing has improved but viral infection transmission through transfusion continues to occur. Residual risk, however, is now so low in some countries that it can only be estimated by mathematical modeling. With hierarchical Bayesian methods, this study estimates the residual risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections in Santa Catarina, Brazil.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data from the six state blood collection services covering Santa Catarina between 1998 and 2002 were used. Information was obtained on donor profiles, screening and confirmatory test results, and records of all allogeneic blood donations for repeat donors. Residual risk estimates of hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human T‐cell leukemia virus (HTLV) were separately derived from posterior distributions of incidence rates and preseroconversion window‐period lengths.RESULTS: Estimated risks of a donation infectious for HBV and HIV entering the blood supply are 1:10,700 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1:4900‐1:28,200) and 1:26,200 (95% CI, 1:14,800‐1:64,100) donations, respectively. Estimated risks for HCV and HTLV were 1:19,300 (95% CI, 1:10,400‐1:44,800) and 1:116,300 (95% CI, 1:40,200‐1:1,000,000) donations, respectively. HBV risk is 1.8 times greater than HCV risk, 2.4 times greater than HIV risk, and 10.8 times that of HTLV. Actual risks would be lower due to immune recipients and subinfectious levels of undetected viremia.CONCLUSION: The major factor contributing to risk differences between Santa Catarina and countries with similar testing regimes is the much higher source population diseases prevalence. Payoff for nucleic acid testing would be low, thus additional investment in safety should be based on studies of the cost‐effectiveness of different strategies to reduce overall transmission.
Human immunodeficiency virus‐1 infection correlates strongly with herpes simplex virus‐2 (genital herpes) seropositivity in South African and United States blood donations
Authors: Benjamin Richard J. , Busch Michael P. , Fang Chyang T. , Notari Edward P. , Puren Adrian , Schoub Barry D. , Tobler Leslie H. , Hogrefe Wayne , Du P. Heyns Anthon , Stramer Susan L. , Crookes Robert L. 
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) infection correlates with herpes simplex virus‐2 (HSV‐2; genital herpes) seropositivity in genitourinary disease clinic attendees. HSV‐2 infection may be a marker for risk behavior and/or directly facilitate HIV‐1 transmission. The rate of HSV‐2 infection in HIV‐infected South African and US blood donations was assessed, and whether the infections were correlated in donors screened and found negative for high‐risk behavior by predonation interview was questioned.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 625 South African and 393 US HIV‐1–infected repository samples previously characterized for longstanding or recent HIV‐1 infection were tested with two commercially available HSV‐2–specific assays. The prevalence of HSV‐2 antibodies in South Africa was further assessed in 106 HIV‐1–infected and 106 HIV‐1–negative donors matched for sex, race, and donation history, as well as 200 random HIV‐1–negative donors.RESULTS: A total of 52.2 percent of US and 69.3 percent of South African HIV‐1–infected donations were HSV‐2–seropositive. Age, race, and sex were independent risk factors for HSV‐2 antibody prevalence in HIV‐1–infected South African donors, who were more likely to be HSV‐2 antibody–reactive than random HIV‐1–negative donors (72.6% vs. 8.5%: odds ratio [OR], 28.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14.5‐55) or matched donors (71.6% vs. 19.6%: OR, 10.3; 95% CI, 5.4‐19.8). HIV‐1 infection and HSV‐2 seropositivity correlated in white and black populations when analyzed by age group.CONCLUSIONS: HIV‐1 infection correlates strongly with HSV‐2 seropositivity in US and South African blood donors. Our data describe the characteristics of HSV‐2 antibody testing as a surrogate marker for HIV‐1 infection and support a facilitating role for HSV‐2 infection in HIV‐1 transmission.
Heavy‐tailed Behavior of Commodity Price Distribution and Optimal Hedging Demand
Authors: Jin Hyun J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis study explores the importance of imposing a correct distributional hypothesis in a risk management strategy, by comparing hedge ratios under the restrictive normality assumption to those under the generalized stable distribution. Concepts are illustrated for the case of a representative Pennsylvania dairy farm manager who purchases corn as a feed input. The results show that time processes of corn prices and basis risk in five Pennsylvania regions do not correspond to the normal distribution, and they more correctly correspond to one of the stable distribution set. The estimated hedge ratios under the stable distribution are typically larger than those under the normal distribution. The difference would be a bias from imposing a wrong distributional assumption.
Incidence and Predictors of Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients with Diastolic Heart Failure
Authors: AL‐KHATIB SANA M. , SHAW LINDA K. , O'CONNOR CHRISTOPHER , KONG MELISSA , CALIFF ROBERT M. 
Published: November 2007

Introduction: Although it is known that patients with diastolic heart failure are at an increased risk of death, their mode of death has not been clearly defined. We conducted this study to examine the incidence and predictors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with isolated diastolic heart failure. Methods and Results: Using the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease, we identified patients with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) and an ejection fraction of greater than 50% who were enrolled in the database from 1995 through 2004. Mode of death was adjudicated by two independent reviewers. Of the 1,941 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 548 (28%) died (40 were SCD). Using a Cox proportional hazards model, five variables were found to be independently associated with a significant increase in the risk of SCD. These variables include diabetes mellitus (P < 0.01), the presence of mild mitral regurgitation (P < 0.01), severity of CHF (P < 0.01), the occurrence of a myocardial infarction within 3 days prior to the date of the index cardiac catheterization (P = 0.01), and severity of coronary artery disease (P = 0.02). Conclusions: SCD is not uncommon in patients with isolated diastolic heart failure. We identified some clinical variables that are associated with a significant increase in the risk of SCD and that may be used in the risk stratification of patients for SCD. Studies are needed to validate our findings.