bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Revascularization of rat fasciocutaneous flap using CROSSEAL® with VEGF protein or plasmid DNA expressing VEGF
Authors: McKnight Colin D. , Winn Shelley R. , Gong Xi , Hansen Juliana E. , Wax Mark K. 
Published: July 2008

BACKGROUNDFasciocutaneous tissue transfer is a common reconstructive procedure. Revascularization of flap tissue is an important component of tissue healing. Gene therapy offers an avenue through which the period of pedicle vascular dependency can be reduced.MATERIALS AND METHODSRat fasciocutaneous flaps were elevated and a two‐hour ischemic time induced. Polycation complex (jet PEI) and human fibrin sealant CROSSEAL® was applied between flap and underlying abdominal tissues. Group 1 (six rats) was the control; Group 2 (seven rats) had vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein applied; Group 3 (seven rats) had plasmid DNA expressing VEGF applied. Vascular pedicles were ligated on postoperative day 5, percentage flap survival evaluated on day 7.RESULTSAll flaps survived initial ischemia. Mean ± SD percentage area of the flap that survived was 28.1 ± 12.4 (Group 1), 71.6 ± 16.2 (Group 2), and 77.5 ± 12.7 (Group 3) (P < 0.001, Group 1‐3, 2‐3). No differences were observed between Groups 2 and 3.CONCLUSIONSLocally administered VEGF protein or plasmid DNA expressing VEGF enhanced survival of fasciocutaneous flaps.
Hearing impairment in pregnancy toxemia
Authors: Bakhshaee Mehdi , Hassanzadeh Malihe , Nourizadeh Navid , Karimi Ebrahim , Moghiman Toktam , Shakeri Mohammadtaghi 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVEPreeclampsia characterized by widespread endothelial damage and dysfunction, systemic toxicity, coagulation defects, and an increased systemic inflammatory response, poses some risk factors for hearing loss.STUDY DESIGNA case‐control study.SUBJECTS AND METHODSTwo groups with 37 pre‐eclamptic and 38 healthy pregnant women were matched by age. Other factors that could possibly influence hearing were ruled out. Transient otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) was carried out for both groups before delivery and was repeated two weeks after delivery in cases of failure.RESULTSWe could not find any abnormality in the healthy pregnant women who underwent the TEOAE test, but five of the preeclamptic women failed the initial test before delivery. This condition was recovered two weeks later. Statistical analysis showed significant difference (TEOAE disturbances) between the two groups (P = 0.025).CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that pregnancy toxemia might have effects on hearing abilities.
Determination of perineural invasion preoperatively on radiographic images
Authors: Lee Kimberly J. , Abemayor Elliot , Sayre James , Bhuta Sunita , Kirsch Claudia 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVEPerineural invasion in head and neck cancers has important prognostic implications, and even if clinically silent, can be radiographically evident. This study analyzed the frequency of preoperative diagnosis, radiographic features, and importance of the preoperative diagnosis in treatment planning.STUDY DESIGNRadiographic studies of 38 patients with histopathologically proven perineural spread from head and neck cancer were retrospectively reviewed and compared with preoperative reports.SUBJECTS AND METHODSThe percent agreement with pathology, kappa values, and 95 percent confidence intervals were determined for relevant nerves. Salient radiographic findings were compared with the contralateral normal side.RESULTSPreoperative agreement was less than 10 percent for all nerves, and retrospectively was 56 percent for the trigeminal nerve and 40 percent for the facial nerve. Radiographic features included neural thickening and enhancement, and foraminal widening.CONCLUSIONCancers of the head and neck can spread perineurally. Preoperative radiographic determination, although under‐reported, is imperative, because diagnosis impacts management and prognosis.
The expression of MMP‐2, MMP‐7, MMP‐9, and TIMP‐1 in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis
Authors: Can Ilknur Haberal , Ceylan Kursat , Caydere Muzaffer , Samim Ethem Erdal , Ustun Huseyin , Karasoy Durdu Sertkaya 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the expression and clinical significance of MMP‐2, MMP‐7, MMP‐9, and TIMP‐1 in patients with nasal polyposis (NP) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).STUDY DESIGNProspective study.SUBJECTS AND METHODSThis study involved 54 patients. There were three groups: nasal polyposis group, chronic rhinosinusitis group, and control group. Specimens were collected during endoscopic sinus surgery. Each sample was immunohistochemically examined.RESULTSExpression of MMP‐2 was found significantly increased in NP, whereas MMP‐7 expression was found significantly increased in CRS (P < 0.001). TIMP‐1 was significantly high in control group compared to CRS and NP (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively).CONCLUSIONSDifferent regulation type of activation of MMPs has been found in these two diseases. If MMP‐2 expression is intense in the mucosa, then this ends with polyp formation; if MMP‐7 expression is intense, it ends with CRS or stays as CRS.
Rhinitis symptoms and comorbidities in the United States: Burden of rhinitis in America survey
Authors: Derebery Jennifer , Meltzer Eli , Nathan Robert A. , Stang Paul E. , Campbell Ulka B. , Corrao Marlo , Stanford Richard 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVETo assess the burden of nasal symptoms in the United States (U.S.) and the comorbid conditions associated with nasal symptoms.SUBJECTS AND METHODSA self‐administered screening questionnaire and follow‐up survey was sent to targeted households from a representative sample of 15,000 households in the U.S. Subjects with comorbid asthma completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT).RESULTSOut of 7024 evaluable subjects who responded, 3831 subjects were classified as rhinitis “sufferers.” Individuals with active rhinitis symptoms were 1.5 to 4.5 times more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions including asthma, conjunctivitis, otitis media, sinusitis, eczema, food and insect bite allergies, migraine, and depression. Almost half of all respondents with moderate or severe rhinitis symptoms and comorbid asthma had poorly controlled asthma as defined by an ACT score of ≤19.CONCLUSIONSA strong relationship exists between rhinitis symptoms and various comorbidities, including asthma, in the U.S. population. Poorly controlled rhinitis contributes to the public health burden of rhinitis and asthma.
Planar shock waves in liquids produced by high-energy KrF laser: A technique for studying hydrodynamic instabilities
Authors: Zvorykin V.D. , Berthe L. , Boustie M. , Levchenko A.O. , Ustinovskii N.N. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe paper is devoted to research and development of a novel experimental technique—liquid-filled laser-driven shock tube (LST) for modeling of Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) hydrodynamic instabilities development at the contact surface of two immiscible liquids under shock wave (SW) passage. 100-J, 100-ns KrF laser facility GARPUN has been used to irradiate some opaque liquids. A homogenizing focusing system combined multi-element prism raster and a lens to provide non-uniformity less than a few percents across a square 7 × 7-mm spot, laser intensities being varied in the range of q = 0.004–2 GW/cm2. Surface plasma blow-off produced a planar SW, which propagated into the liquid. SW amplitudes as high as 0.8 GPa weakly damping with increasing thickness were measured in dibutyl-phthalate (DBP), which volumetrically absorbed ultraviolet (UV) laser light. Nonlinear absorption coefficients and laser breakdown thresholds were measured for pure water and UV optical materials intended to confine plasma. Test bench experiments were performed to produce standing acoustic waves as initial perturbations at the interface between two immiscible liquids.
Biofluid mechanics of the human reproductive process: modelling of the complex interaction and pathway to the oocytes
Authors: Foo Jong Yong Abdiel , Lim Chu Sing 
Published: July 2008

SummaryRecent revelations in the human reproductive process have fuelled much interest in this field of study. In particular, the once prevailing view of large numbers of ejaculated sperms racing towards the egg has been refuted recently. This is opposed to the current views derived from numerous clinical findings that state that only a very small number of sperms will ever enter the oviduct. It is believed that these few sperms must have been guided to make the long, tedious and obstructed journey to the egg. For a mature spermatozoon, its hyperactivated swimming motility upon capacitation plays an important role in the fertilization of a mature egg. Likewise, the female genital tract also provides guiding mechanisms to complement the survival of normal hydrodynamic profile sperms and thus promotes an eventual sperm–egg interaction. Understanding these mechanisms can be essential for the derivation of assisted conception techniques especially thosein vitro. With the aid of computational models and simulation, suitability and effectiveness of novel assisted conception methodology can be assessed, particularly for those yet to be ready for clinical trials. This review discusses the possible bioengineering models and the mechanisms by which human spermatozoa are guided to the egg.
Age, period and cohort effects on body weight and body mass index in adults: The Doetinchem Cohort Study
Authors: Nooyens Astrid CJ , Visscher Tommy LS , Verschuren WM Monique , Schuit A Jantine , Boshuizen Hendriek C , van Mechelen Willem , Seidell Jacob C 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo study the development of body weight with ageing, in a general adult population, taking into account possible period and cohort effects.DesignA prospective cohort study with 11 years of follow-up. At baseline and after 6 and 11 years, body weight and height were measured.SettingThe Doetinchem Cohort Study, consisting of inhabitants of Doetinchem, a town in a rural area of The Netherlands.SubjectsIn total, 4070 healthy men and women aged 20–59 years at baseline.ResultsIncrease in BMI with ageing was less profound based on cross-sectional data than based on longitudinal data. More recent-born cohorts had a higher BMI at a given age than cohorts who were born earlier. Increase in mean BMI with ageing was observed in all age groups and was similar for groups with a different educational level. Highest increase in BMI over 11 years was observed in the youngest group, aged 20–29 years at baseline (2·2 [95 % CL 2·0, 2·3] kg/m2), and lowest increase in the oldest group, aged 50–59 years at baseline (1·1 [1·0, 1·3] kg/m2).ConclusionsFindings of the present study using longitudinal data suggest that increase in BMI with ageing is underestimated in all age groups by studying cross-sectional data only. Further, weight gain is present in all educational levels and does not stop at middle age.
Quorum-sensing signals in the microbial community of the cabbage white butterfly larval midgut
Authors: Borlee Bradley R , Geske Grant D , Robinson Courtney J , Blackwell Helen E , Handelsman Jo 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
The overall goal of this study was to examine the role of quorum-sensing (QS) signals in a multispecies microbial community. Toward this aim, we studied QS signals produced by an indigenous member and an invading pathogen of the microbial community of the cabbage white butterfly (CWB) larval midgut (Pieris rapae). As an initial step, we characterized the QS system in Pantoea CWB304, which was isolated from the larval midgut. A luxI homolog, designated panI, is necessary for the production of N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) by Pantoea CWB304. To determine whether AHL signals are exchanged in the alkaline environment of the midgut, we constructed AHL-sensing bioluminescent reporter strains in Pantoea CWB304 and a panI mutant of this strain. In the gut of the CWB larvae, the reporter in an AHL-deficient Pantoea CWB304 detected AHLs when coinoculated with the wild type. To study the role of AHL signals produced by a community invader, we examined pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in CWB larvae. Mortality induced by P. aeruginosa PAO1 was significantly reduced when signaling was interrupted by either a potent chemical inhibitor of QS or mutations in the lasI and rhlI AHL synthases of P. aeruginosa PAO1. These results show that AHLs are exchanged among bacteria in the alkaline gut of CWB larvae and contribute to disease caused by P. aeruginosa PAO1.
Stalls and Revisions: A Developmental Perspective on Sentence Production
Authors: Rispoli Matthew , Hadley Pamela , Holt Janet 
Published: July 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to test the empirical validity of the stall–revision distinction and to provide a characterization of the development of sentence production using this distinction.MethodThe stall–revision dichotomy for sentence disruptions was studied in 20 typically developing children. The children’s production of short sentences was observed from 21 to 33 months of age. Developmental changes in stall and revision rates were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling, time centered at 27 months. Differences between stall and revision rates across 2 levels of sentence length were also explored with repeated-measures analysis of variance when the children were 33 months of age.ResultsA clear development trend was observed for revision rate. At 27 months of age, revisions occurred in approximately 1% of children’s sentences and increased with age. No significant individual differences were apparent in the growth parameters for revision rate. In contrast, group developmental trends in stall rate were not discernable. However, stall rate increased significantly with sentence length, whereas revision rate remained constant.ConclusionThe contrasting pattern of findings provides support for the stall–revision dichotomy. The authors argue that the developmental changes in revision rate reflect changes in the children’s ability to monitor their language production.
Vocabulary Abilities of Children With Williams Syndrome: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Relation to Visuospatial Construction Ability
Authors: Mervis Carolyn B. , John Angela E. 
Published: July 2008

PurposeThis project was designed to identify relative strengths and weaknesses in vocabulary ability for children with Williams syndrome (WS) and to demonstrate the importance of stringent matching criteria for cross-group comparisons.MethodChildren with WS and typically developing (TD) children completed standardized assessments of intellectual and language ability. Children with WS also completed a visuospatial construction ability assessment.ResultsStudy 1: Concrete and relational vocabulary standard scores were significantly lower for 5- to 7-year-olds with WS than for TD children. Children with WS earned significantly higher standard scores for concrete than for relational vocabulary. When groups were stringently matched for relational vocabulary size, children with WS did not evidence a specific weakness in spatial vocabulary. Study 2: Standard scores for relational vocabulary were similar to those for visuospatial construction ability for 5- to 7-year-olds with WS. Study 3: Nine- to 11-year-olds with WS demonstrated very limited relational vocabulary ability; relational vocabulary ability at 5–7 years was highly correlated with later relational language ability.ConclusionsConcrete vocabulary is a relative strength for children with WS; relational vocabulary ability is very limited and is at about the level of visuospatial construction ability. Accurate determination of group comparison results depends on stringent group matching.
Experimental Evaluation of a Preschool Language Curriculum: Influence on Children’s Expressive Language Skills
Authors: Justice Laura M. , Mashburn Andrew , Pence Khara L. , Wiggins Alice 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate child impacts following implementation of a comprehensive language curriculum, the Language-Focused Curriculum (LFC; Bunce, 1995), within their preschool classrooms. As part of this larger purpose, this study identified child-level predictors of expressive language outcomes for children attending at-risk preschool programs as well as main effects for children’s exposure to the language curriculum and its active ingredients—namely, teacher use of language stimulation techniques (LSTs; e.g., open questions, recasts, models).

Method
Fourteen preschool teachers were randomly assigned to 2 conditions. Treatment teachers implemented the experimental curriculum for an academic year; a total of 100 children were enrolled in their classrooms. Comparison teachers maintained their prevailing curriculum; a total of 96 children were enrolled in these classrooms. Teachers’ fidelity of implementation was monitored using structured observations conducted 3 times during the academic year. Children’s growth in expressive language was assessed using measures derived from language samples in the fall and spring, specifically percent complex utterances, rate of noun use, number of different words, and upper bound index.

Results
Children’s language skill in the fall, socioeconomic status (household income), and daily attendance served as significant, positive predictors of their language skill in the spring. The impact of the language curriculum and LST exposure was moderated by children’s classroom attendance, in that the language curriculum accelerated language growth for children who attended preschool regularly; a similar effect was seen for LST exposure.

Conclusions
Adoption of a comprehensive language curriculum may provide a value-added benefit only under highly specific circumstances. Findings suggest that at-risk children who receive relatively large doses of a curriculum (as measured in days of attendance during the academic year) that emphasizes quality language instruction may experience accelerated expressive language growth during pre-kindergarten.
The Effect of the 226-Hz Probe Level on Contralateral Acoustic Stapedius Reflex Thresholds
Authors: Day Jessica E. , Feeney M. Patrick 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the 226-Hz probe level on the acoustic stapedius reflex threshold.

Method
Contralateral reflex thresholds for a 1000-Hz pure-tone stimulus were obtained from 40 young adults with normal hearing using an experimental system at four 226-Hz probe levels (70, 75, 80, and 85 dB SPL) with a repeated measures experimental design.

Results

A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that as the probe level increased over this 15-dB range, there was a mean decrease in reflex threshold of 2.5 dB SPL (
p
< .001), with the largest decrease for an individual participant of 12 dB.

Conclusion
The results suggest that the level of the 226-Hz probe tone as used in clinical reflex measurements and as specified in the American National Standards Institute (1987) standard is sufficiently high to affect the acoustic reflex by facilitating its activation. The effect is small, on average, but may be of clinical significance for some individuals.
Global Analysis of Arabidopsis Gene Expression Uncovers a Complex Array of Changes Impacting Pathogen Response and Cell Cycle during Geminivirus Infection
Authors: Ascencio-Ibáñez José Trinidad , Sozzani Rosangela , Lee Tae-Jin , Chu Tzu-Ming , Wolfinger Russell D. , Cella Rino , Hanley-Bowdoin Linda 
Published: July 2008

AbstractGeminiviruses are small DNA viruses that use plant replication machinery to amplify their genomes. Microarray analysis of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transcriptome in response to cabbage leaf curl virus (CaLCuV) infection uncovered 5,365 genes (false discovery rate &lt;0.005) differentially expressed in infected rosette leaves at 12 d postinoculation. Data mining revealed that CaLCuV triggers a pathogen response via the salicylic acid pathway and induces expression of genes involved in programmed cell death, genotoxic stress, and DNA repair. CaLCuV also altered expression of cell cycle-associated genes, preferentially activating genes expressed during S and G2 and inhibiting genes active in G1 and M. A limited set of core cell cycle genes associated with cell cycle reentry, late G1, S, and early G2 had increased RNA levels, while core cell cycle genes linked to early G1 and late G2 had reduced transcripts. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of nuclei from infected leaves revealed a depletion of the 4C population and an increase in 8C, 16C, and 32C nuclei. Infectivity studies of transgenic Arabidopsis showed that overexpression of CYCD3;1 or E2FB, both of which promote the mitotic cell cycle, strongly impaired CaLCuV infection. In contrast, overexpression of E2FA or E2FC, which can facilitate the endocycle, had no apparent effect. These results showed that geminiviruses and RNA viruses interface with the host pathogen response via a common mechanism, and that geminiviruses modulate plant cell cycle status by differentially impacting the CYCD/retinoblastoma-related protein/E2F regulatory network and facilitating progression into the endocycle.
Inhibition of flucloxacillin tubular renal secretion by piperacillin
Authors: Landersdorfer Cornelia B. , Kirkpatrick Carl M. J. , Kinzig Martina , Bulitta Jürgen B. , Holzgrabe Ulrike , Sörgel Fritz 
Published: July 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Most β‐lactams are excreted by filtration and to a greater extent by tubular secretion, which is a capacity‐limited saturable pathway.• Pharmacokinetic interactions between co‐administered β‐lactams have been frequently reported; however, their mechanism and possible clinical benefits are not well defined.• We are not aware of the interaction between piperacillin and flucloxacillin being reported in the literature.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• Piperacillin inhibits the renal and nonrenal elimination of flucloxacillin to a clinically significant extent, but not vice versa.• Modelling suggests that the mechanism for the decrease of renal clearance of flucloxacillin is probably competitive inhibition of renal tubular secretion by piperacillin.• Piperacillin has a 15‐times higher affinity for the renal transporter than flucloxacillin based on the molar ratio.AIMSTo explore the extent, time course, site(s), mechanism and possible clinical relevance of the pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction between piperacillin and flucloxacillin.METHODSA single‐dose, randomized, six‐way crossover study in 10 healthy volunteers where all subjects received all of the following as 5‐min intravenous infusions: (i) 1.5 g piperacillin, (ii) 0.5 g flucloxacillin, (iii) 1.5 g piperacillin + 0.5 g flucloxacillin, (iv) 3 g piperacillin, (v) 1 g flucloxacillin, and (vi) 3 g piperacillin + 1 g flucloxacillin. Drug concentrations in plasma and urine were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. WinNonlin® was used for PK modelling and statistics.RESULTSPiperacillin significantly decreased the renal clearance of flucloxacillin from 5.44 to 2.29 l h−1(medians,P < 0.01) and the nonrenal clearance of flucloxacillin from 2.67 to 1.80 l h−1(P < 0.01). The renal clearance of flucloxacillin was reduced to 45% (point estimate, 90% confidence interval 40 to 50%) and the nonrenal clearance to 66% (59, 73). The extent of interaction was larger at the higher doses. Competitive inhibition of tubular secretion by piperacillin was identified as the most likely mechanism for the decreased renal clearance of flucloxacillin. Piperacillin had a 15‐times higher affinity for the renal transporter than flucloxacillin based on the molar ratio. Piperacillin PK was only slightly affected by flucloxacillin.CONCLUSIONSPiperacillin inhibits renal and nonrenal elimination of flucloxacillin. This interaction seems clinically significant, as total clearance was reduced by a factor of 1.5 for the lower and 2.1 for the higher doses. PK interactions, especially with piperacillin, are likely to occur also with other β‐lactam combinations and might be useful to improve the effectiveness of antibacterial treatment.