bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study protocol for a three-armed randomized controlled trial to assess whether house screening can reduce exposure to malaria vectors and reduce malaria transmission in The Gambia
Authors: Kirby Matthew J , Milligan Paul J , Conway David J , Lindsay Steve W 
Published: June 2008

Abstract

Background
Mosquito-proofing homes was one of the principal methods of environmental management in the early 1900s. House screening provides protection against malaria by reducing exposure to malaria parasites and has the added benefit of protecting everyone sleeping in the house, avoiding issues of inequity within the household. The aim of this study is to determine whether house screening protects people against malaria in Africa. It is hoped that this study will mark the beginning of a series of trials assessing a range of environmental interventions for malaria control in Africa.

Design
A 3-armed randomised-controlled trial will be conducted in and around Farafenni town in The Gambia, West Africa, to assess whether screening windows, doors and closing eaves or installing netting ceilings in local houses can substantially reduce malaria transmission and anaemia compared to homes with no screening. Eligible houses will be sorted and stratified by location and the number of children in each house, then randomly allocated to the interventions in blocks of 5 houses (2 with full screening, 2 with screened ceilings and 1 control house without screening). Risk of malaria transmission will be assessed in each house by routine collections of mosquitoes using light traps and an anaemia prevalence study in children at the end of the main transmission period.

Discussion
Practical issues concerning intervention implementation, as well as the potential benefits and risks of the study, are discussed.

Trial Registration
ISRCTN51184253 – Screening-homes to prevent malaria
Is there a role for lengthening flexor hallucis and flexor digitorum longus tendons in surgery for club foot?
Authors: Lahoti O. , Bajaj S. 
Published: June 2008

Most cases of club foot (congenital talipes equinovarus) respond to non-operative treatment but resistant cases may need surgery. It is broadly accepted that lengthening of tendo Achillis, the tendon of tibialis posterior and capsulotomy of the ankle and subtalar joints are necessary during surgical release, but there is no consensus as to whether lengthening of the tendons of flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus is required. We randomised 13 children with severe bilateral club foot deformities to undergo lengthening of the flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus tendons on one side and simple decompression on the other. We found no difference in the deformities of the toes between the lengthened and non-lengthened sides at a mean follow-up of four years (2 to 6). We conclude that routine lengthening of the tendons of flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus during soft-tissue surgery for resistant club foot is not necessary.
Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing in developmental dysplasia
Authors: McBryde C. W. , Shears E. , O’Hara J. N. , Pynsent P. B. 
Published: June 2008

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing was performed for developmental dysplasia in 96 hips in 85 patients, 78 in women and 18 in men, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 43 years (14 to 65). These cases were matched for age, gender, operating surgeon and date of operation with a group of patients with primary osteoarthritis who had been treated by resurfacing, to provide a control group of 96 hips (93 patients). A clinical and radiological follow-up study was performed. The dysplasia group were followed for a mean of 4.4 years (2.0 to 8.5) and the osteoarthritis group for a mean of 4.5 years (2.2 to 9.4). Of the dysplasia cases, 17 (18%) were classified as Crowe grade III or IV.There were five (5.2%) revisions in the dysplasia group and none in the osteoarthritic patients. Four of the failures were due to acetabular loosening and the other sustained a fracture of the neck of femur. There was a significant difference in survival between the two groups (p = 0.02). The five-year survival was 96.7% (95% confidence interval 90.0 to 100) for the dysplasia group and 100% (95% confidence interval 100 to 100) for the osteoarthritic group. There was no significant difference in the median Oxford hip score between the two groups at any time during the study.The medium-term results of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing in all grades of developmental dysplasia are encouraging, although they are significantly worse than in a group of matched patients with osteoarthritis treated in the same manner.
Early infection after hip fracture surgery
Authors: Edwards C. , Counsell A. , Boulton C. , Moran C. G. 
Published: June 2008

Prospective data on hip fracture from 3686 patients at a United Kingdom teaching hospital were analysed to investigate the risk factors, financial costs and outcomes associated with deep or superficial wound infections after hip fracture surgery. In 1.2% (41) of patients a deep wound infection developed, and 1.1% (39) had a superficial wound infection. A total of 57 of 80 infections (71.3%) were due to Staphylococcus aureus and 39 (48.8%) were due to MRSA. No statistically significant pre-operative risk factors were detected. Length of stay, cost of treatment and pre-discharge mortality all significantly increased with deep wound infection. The one-year mortality was 30%, and this increased to 50% in those who developed an infection (p < 0.001). A deep infection resulted in doubled operative costs, tripled investigation costs and quadrupled ward costs. MRSA infection increased costs, length of stay, and pre-discharge mortality compared with non-MRSA infection.
Total shoulder replacement in young and middle-aged patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis
Authors: Raiss P. , Aldinger P. R. , Kasten P. , Rickert M. , Loew M. 
Published: June 2008

Our aim in this prospective study was to evaluate the outcome of total shoulder replacement in the treatment of young and middle-aged active patients with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. We reviewed 21 patients (21 shoulders) with a mean age of 55 years (37 to 60). The mean follow-up was seven years (5 to 9). The same anatomical, third-generation, cemented implant had been used in all patients. All the patients were evaluated radiologically and clinically using the Constant and Murley score. No patients required revision. In one a tear of the supraspinatus tendon occurred. Overall, 20 patients (95%) were either very satisfied (n = 18) or satisfied (n = 2) with the outcome. Significant differences (p < 0.0001) were found for all categories of the Constant and Murley score pre- and post-operatively. The mean Constant and Murley score increased from 24.1 points (10 to 45) to 64.5 points (39 to 93), and the relative score from 30.4% (11% to 50%) to 83% (54% to 116%). No clinical or radiological signs of loosening of the implant were seen. For young and middle-aged patients with osteoarthritis, third-generation total shoulder replacement is a viable method of treatment with a low rate of complications and excellent results in the mid-term.
Callus distraction for humeral nonunion with bone loss and limb shortening caused by chronic osteomyelitis
Authors: Liu T. , Zhang X. , Li Z. , Zeng W. , Peng D. , Sun C. 
Published: June 2008

Nonunion of the humerus with bone loss and shortening due to osteomyelitis is rare but difficult to treat. We describe our experience with a callus distraction technique using a monolateral external fixator for the treatment of this condition. Between October 1994 and January 2004, 11 patients were treated. There were seven males and four females, with a mean age of 14 years (10 to 17). The mean bone loss was 1.9 cm (1 to 2.7) and the mean length discrepancy in the upper limb was 5.6 cm (3.5 to 8.0). The mean follow-up was for 106 months (54 to 166). The mean external fixation index was 34.8 days/cm (29.8 to 40.5). The mean lengthening was 9.5 cm (5.5 to 13.4). There were seven excellent results, three good and one poor. There were nine excellent functional results and two good. The treatment of humeral nonunion with bone loss and shortening due to osteomyelitis by callus distraction is a safe and effective means of improving function and cosmesis.
Peri-articular steroid injection improves the outcome after unicondylar knee replacement
Authors: Pang H.-N. , Lo N.-N. , Yang K.-Y. , Chong H.-C. , Yeo S.-J. 
Published: June 2008

We have performed a prospective double-blind, randomised controlled trial over two years to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intra-operative peri-articular injection of triamcinolone acetonide in patients undergoing medial unicondylar knee replacement. We randomised 90 patients into two equal groups. The study group received an injection of triamcinolone acetonide, bupivacaine, and epinephrine into the peri-articular tissues at the end of the operation. The control group received the same injection mixture but without the addition of triamcinolone. The peri-operative analgesic regimen was standardised.The study group reported a significant reduction in pain (p = 0.014 at 12 hours, p = 0.031 at 18 hours and p = 0.031 at 24 hours) and had a better range of movement (p = 0.023 at three months). There was no significant difference in the rate of infection and no incidence of tendon rupture in either group.The addition of corticosteroid to the peri-articular injection after unicondylar knee replacement had both immediate and short-term benefits in terms of relief from pain, and rehabilitation with no increased risk of infection.
Statistical Methods for Monitoring the Relationship between the IFCC Reference Measurement Procedure for Hemoglobin A1c and the Designated Comparison Methods in the United States, Japan, and Sweden
Authors: Geistanger Andrea , Arends Sabine , Berding Christoph , Hoshino Tadao , Jeppsson Jan-Olof , Little Randie , Siebelder Carla , Weykamp Cas ,   the IFCC Working Group on Standardization of Hemoglobin A1c
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Background: The American Diabetes Association (ADA)/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)/International Diabetes Federation (IDF)/IFCC Consensus Statement on the worldwide standardization of HbA1c states that “… [HbA1c] results are to be reported world-wide in IFCC units … and derived NGSP units … , using the IFCC-NGSP master equation.”
Methods: We describe statistical methods to evaluate and monitor the relationships as expressed in master equations (MEs) between the IFCC Reference Measurement procedure (IFCC-RM) and designated comparison methods (DCMs) [US National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP), Japanese Diabetes Society/Japanese Society for Clinical Chemistry (JDS/JSCC), and Mono-S in Sweden]. We applied these statistics, including uncertainty calculations, to 12 studies in which networks of reference laboratories participated, operating the IFCC-RM and DCMs.
Results: For NGSP and Mono-S, slope, intercept, and derived percentage HbA1c at the therapeutic target show compliance with the respective MEs in all 12 studies. For JDS/JSCC, a slight deviation is seen in slope and derived percentage HbA1c in 2 of the 12 studies. Using the MEs, the uncertainty in an assigned value increases from 0.42 mmol/mol HbA1c (IFCC-RM) to 0.47 (NGSP), 0.49 (JDS/JSCC), and 0.51 (Mono-S).
Conclusions: We describe sound statistical methods for the investigation of relations between networks of reference laboratories. Application of these statistical methods to the relationship between the IFCC-RM and DCMs in the US, Japan, and Sweden shows that they are suitable for the purpose, and the results support the applicability of the ADA/EASD/IDF/IFCC Consensus Statement on HbA1c measurement.
Isolation and Transcriptional Profiling of Purified Hepatic Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Chiao Eric , Elazar Menashe , Xing Yi , Xiong Anming , Kmet Muriel , Millan Maria T. , Glenn Jeffrey S. , Wong Wing H. , Baker Julie 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
The differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into functional hepatocytes provides a powerful in vitro model system for studying the molecular mechanisms governing liver development. Furthermore, a well-characterized renewable supply of hepatocytes differentiated from hESCs could be used for in vitro assays of drug metabolism and toxicology, screening of potential antiviral agents, and cell-based therapies to treat liver disease. In this study, we describe a protocol for the differentiation of hESCs toward hepatic cells with complex cellular morphologies. Putative hepatic cells were identified and isolated using a lentiviral vector, containing the α-fetoprotein promoter driving enhanced green fluorescent protein expression (AFP:eGFP). Whole-genome transcriptional profiling was performed on triplicate samples of AFP:eGFP+ and AFP:eGFP− cell populations using the recently released Affymetrix Exon Array ST 1.0 (Santa Clara, CA, http://www.affymetrix.com). Statistical analysis of the transcriptional profiles demonstrated that the AFP:eGFP+ population is highly enriched for genes characteristic of hepatic cells. These data provide a unique insight into the complex process of hepatocyte differentiation, point to signaling pathways that may be manipulated to more efficiently direct the differentiation of hESCs toward mature hepatocytes, and identify molecular markers that may be used for further dissection of hepatic cell differentiation from hESCs.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
A Comprehensive Study of Reservoirs Exhibiting Dual-Storage Effects During Well Testing
Authors: Azari Mehdi , Wooden W. O. , Petak K. R. , Soliman M. Y. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
This paper presents a thorough investigation, the first of its kind, of well tests in which the early-time portion of the log-log plot of pressure and derivative data form parallel straight lines with slopes ranging from 0.5 to 1.0. Several well tests have exhibited this unusual pressure behavior that prevails over several log cycles and in a few cases over the entire test period.
Detailed modeling of various reservoir types exhibiting such early-time linear log-log profiles clearly indicated this type of behavior to be tied to secondary storage effects. The slope of this region was shown to depend on the magnitude of wellbore storage and its interaction with a secondary storage effect. Analysis techniques for this dual-storage pressure behavior are not documented in the literature and are presented herein for selected reservoir types.
The following represents reservoir configurations which have exhibited dual-storage behavior: a massive hydraulic fracture with significant fracture storagepressure falloff tests in water injection wells where liquid levels remain at the surface throughout the falloffnatural fractures intersected by a hydraulic fracture permeability variation away from the wellbore a horizontal wellbore intersected by natural fractures.
Reservoir characteristics that exhibit dual-storage behavior, an analysis technique, and several field examples are presented in this paper.
Pioglitazone Decreases Fasting and Postprandial Endogenous Glucose Production in Proportion to Decrease in Hepatic Triglyceride Content
Authors: Ravikumar Balasubramanian , Gerrard Jean , Dalla Man Chiara , Firbank Michael J. , Lane Annette , English Philip T. , Cobelli Claudio , Taylor Roy 
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—Hepatic triglyceride is closely associated with hepatic insulin resistance and is known to be decreased by thiazolididinediones. We studied the effect of pioglitazone on hepatic triglyceride content and the consequent effect on postprandial endogenous glucose production (EGP) in type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Ten subjects with type 2 diabetes on sulfonylurea therapy were treated with pioglitazone (30 mg daily) for 16 weeks. EGP was measured using a dynamic isotopic methodology after a standard liquid test meal both before and after pioglitazone treatment. Liver and muscle triglyceride levels were measured by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and intra-abdominal fat content was measured by magnetic resonance imaging.
RESULTS—Pioglitazone treatment reduced mean plasma fasting glucose and mean peak postprandial glucose levels. Fasting EGP decreased after pioglitazone treatment (16.6 ± 1.0 vs. 12.2 ± 0.7 μmol · kg−1 · min−1, P = 0.005). Between 80 and 260 min postprandially, EGP was twofold lower on pioglitazone (2.58 ± 0.25 vs. 1.26 ± 0.30 μmol · kg−1 · min−1, P &lt; 0.001). Hepatic triglyceride content decreased by ∼50% (P = 0.03), and muscle (anterior tibialis) triglyceride content decreased by ∼55% (P = 0.02). Hepatic triglyceride content was directly correlated with fasting EGP (r = 0.64, P = 0.01) and inversely correlated to percentage suppression of EGP (time 150 min, r = −0.63, P = 0.02). Muscle triglyceride, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat content were not related to EGP.
CONCLUSIONS—Reduction in hepatic triglyceride by pioglitazone is very closely related to improvement in fasting and postprandial EGP in type 2 diabetes.
Relationship Between Risk Factors and Mortality in Type 1 Diabetic Patients in Europe
Authors: Soedamah-Muthu Sabita S. , Chaturvedi Nish , Witte Daniel R. , Stevens Lynda K. , Porta Massimo , Fuller John H. ,   for the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study Group
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors for mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Baseline risk factors were measured in the EURODIAB Prospective Cohort Study with 2,787 type 1 diabetic patients (51% men and 49% women) recruited from 16 European countries. Mortality data were collected during a 7-year follow-up.
RESULTS—There was an annual mortality rate of 5 per 1,000 person-years in patients with type 1 diabetes (mean age at baseline 33 years, range 15–61 years); of the total 2,787 subjects, 102 died. The final multivariable model contained age at baseline (standardized hazard ratio 1.78 [95% CI 1.44–2.20]), A1C (1.18 [0.95–1.46]), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (1.32 [1.14–1.52]), pulse pressure (1.33 [1.13–1.58]), and non-HDL cholesterol (1.33 [1.12–1.60]) as risk factors for all-cause mortality. Macroalbuminuria (2.39 [1.19–4.78]) and peripheral (1.88 [1.06–3.35]) and autonomic neuropathy (2.40 [1.32–4.36]) were the most important risk markers for mortality. Similar risk factors were found for all-cause, non-cardiovascular disease (CVD), unknown-cause, and CVD mortality.
CONCLUSIONS—Important risk factors for the increased total and non-CVD mortality in type 1 diabetic patients are age, WHR, pulse pressure, and non-HDL cholesterol. Microvascular complications from macroalbuminuria and peripheral and autonomic neuropathy are strong risk markers for future mortality exceeding the effect of the traditional risk factors.
MEL‐type Pure‐Silica Zeolite Nanocrystals Prepared by an Evaporation‐Assisted Two‐Stage Synthesis Method as Ultra‐Low‐k Materials
Authors: Liu Yan , Sun Minwei , Lew Christopher M. , Wang Junlan , Yan Yushan 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA MEL‐type pure‐silica zeolite (PSZ), prepared by spin‐on of nanoparticle suspensions, has been shown to be a promising ultra‐low‐dielectric‐constant (k) material because of its high mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and chemical stability. In our previous works, a two‐stage synthesis method was used to synthesize a MEL‐zeolite nanoparticle suspension, in which both nanocrystal yield and particle size of the zeolite suspension increased with increasing synthesis time. For instance, at a crystal yield of 63%, the particle size is 80 nm, which has proved to be too large because it introduces a number of problems for the spin‐on films, including large surface roughness, surface striations, and large mesopores. In the current study, the two‐stage synthesis method is modified into an evaporation‐assisted two‐stage method by adding a solvent‐evaporation process between the two thermal‐treatment steps. The modified method can yield much smaller particle sizes (e.g., 14 vs. 80 nm) while maintaining the same nanocrystal yields as the two‐stage synthesis. Furthermore, the nanoparticle suspensions from the evaporation‐assisted two‐stage synthesis show a bimodal particle size distribution. The primary nanoparticles are around 14 nm in size and are stable in the final suspension with 60% solvent evaporation. The factors that affect nanocrystal synthesis are discussed, including the concentration, pH value, and viscosity. Spin‐on films prepared by using suspensions synthesized this way have no striations and improved elastic modulus (9.67 ± 1.48 GPa vs. 7.82 ± 1.30 GPa), as well as a similar k value (1.91 ± 0.09 vs. 1.89 ± 0.08) to the previous two‐stage synthesized films.
VEGF‐Functionalized Polyelectrolyte Multilayers as Proangiogenic Prosthetic Coatings
Authors: Müller Sabine , Koenig Géraldine , Charpiot Anne , Debry Christian , Voegel Jean‐Claude , Lavalle Philippe , Vautier Dominique 
Published: June 2008

AbstractStimulation of transprosthetic vascularization represents an interesting strategy in implantology to allow rapid tissue integration and finally to avoid prosthetic rejection. To achieve this goal, we modified the surface of porous titanium implants with polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films functionalized with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Among the two PEM systems investigated, poly(L‐lysine)/poly(L‐glutamic acid) (PLL/PGA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PAH/PSS), the (PAH/PSS)4 architecture was selected to functionalize porous titanium, both for its high efficiency to adsorb VEGF and for its biocompatibility toward endothelial cells. In an original way, we unambiguously demonstrated that VEGF adsorbed on (PAH/PSS)4 maintains its bioactivity in vitro and stimulates endothelial cells proliferation. This effect was correlated with specific activation of intracellular signaling pathways induced by successive phosphorylation of the endothelial VEGF receptor VEGFR2 and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK1/2. By clearly demonstrating the proangiogenic activity of the VEGF‐PEM coating in vitro, the present study constitutes a first step toward in vivo application.
Thermally crosslinked anionic hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(γ‐glutamic acid): Preparation, characterization, and drug permeation behavior
Authors: Lee Young‐Gi , Kang Hahk‐Soo , Kim Mi‐Soon , Son Tae‐Il 
Published: June 2008

AbstractpH‐sensitive anionic hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(γ‐glutamic acid) (γ‐PGA) were prepared by the freeze drying method and thermally crosslinked to suppress hydrogel deformation in water. The physical properties, swelling, and drug‐diffusion behaviors were characterized for the hydrogels. In the equilibrium swelling study, PVA/γ‐PGA hydrogels shrunk in pH regions below the pKa (2.27) of γ‐PGA, whereas they swelled above the pKa. In the drug‐diffusion study, the drug permeation rates of the PVA/γ‐PGA hydrogels were directly proportional to their swelling behaviors. The cytocompatibility test showed no cytotoxicity of the PVA/γ‐PGA hydrogels for the 3T3 fibroblast cell lines. The results of these studies suggest that hydrogels prepared from PVA and γ‐PGA could be used as orally administrable drug‐delivery systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008