bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exercise training improves relaxation response and SOD-1 expression in aortic and mesenteric rings from high caloric diet-fed rats
Authors: de Moraes Camila , Davel Ana Paula Couto , Rossoni Luciana Venturini , Antunes Edson , Zanesco Angelina 
Published: May 2008

Abstract

Background
Obesity has been associated with a variety of disease such as type II diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Evidences have shown that exercise training promotes beneficial effects on these disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical preconditioning prevents the deleterious effect of high caloric diet in vascular reactivity of rat aortic and mesenteric rings.

Methods
Male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SD); trained (TR); sedentary diet (SDD) and trained diet (TRD) groups. Run training (RT) was performed in sessions of 60 min, 5 days/week for 12 weeks (70–80% VO2max). Triglycerides, glucose, insulin and nitrite/nitrate concentrations (NOx
-) were measured. Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were obtained. Expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) was assessed by Western blotting.

Results
High caloric diet increased triglycerides concentration (SDD: 216 ± 25 mg/dl) and exercise training restored to the baseline value (TRD: 89 ± 9 mg/dl). Physical preconditioning significantly reduced insulin levels in both groups (TR: 0.54 ± 0.1 and TRD: 1.24 ± 0.3 ng/ml) as compared to sedentary animals (SD: 0.87 ± 0.1 and SDD: 2.57 ± 0.3 ng/ml). On the other hand, glucose concentration was slightly increased by high caloric diet, and RT did not modify this parameter (SD: 126 ± 6; TR: 140 ± 8; SDD: 156 ± 8 and TRD 153 ± 9 mg/dl). Neither high caloric diet nor RT modified NOx
- levels (SD: 27 ± 4; TR: 28 ± 6; SDD: 27 ± 3 and TRD: 30 ± 2 μM). Functional assays showed that high caloric diet impaired the relaxing response to ACh in mesenteric (about 13%), but not in aortic rings. RT improved the relaxing responses to ACh either in aortic (28%, for TR and 16%, to TRD groups) or mesenteric rings (10%, for TR and 17%, to TRD groups) that was accompanied by up-regulation of SOD-1 expression and reduction in triglycerides levels.

Conclusion
The improvement in endothelial function by physical preconditioning in mesenteric and aortic arteries from high caloric fed-rats was directly related to an increase in NO bioavailability to the smooth muscle mostly due to SOD-1 up regulation.
Extended flow cytometry characterization of normal bone marrow progenitor cells by simultaneous detection of aldehyde dehydrogenase and early hematopoietic antigens: implication for erythroid differentiation studies
Authors: Mirabelli Peppino , Di Noto Rosa , Lo Pardo Catia , Morabito Paolo , Abate Giovanna , Gorrese Marisa , Raia Maddalena , Pascariello Caterina , Scalia Giulia , Gemei Marica , Mariotti Elisabetta , Del Vecchio Luigi 
Published: May 2008

Abstract

Background
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a cytosolic enzyme highly expressed in hematopoietic precursors from cord blood and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor mobilized peripheral blood, as well as in bone marrow from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. As regards human normal bone marrow, detailed characterization of ALDH+ cells has been addressed by one single study (Gentry et al, 2007). The goal of our work was to provide new information about the dissection of normal bone marrow progenitor cells based upon the simultaneous detection by flow cytometry of ALDH and early hematopoietic antigens, with particular attention to the expression of ALDH on erythroid precursors. To this aim, we used three kinds of approach: i) multidimensional analytical flow cytometry, detecting ALDH and early hematopoietic antigens in normal bone marrow; ii) fluorescence activated cell sorting of distinct subpopulations of progenitor cells, followed by in vitro induction of erythroid differentiation; iii) detection of ALDH+ cellular subsets in bone marrow from pure red cell aplasia patients.

Results
In normal bone marrow, we identified three populations of cells, namely ALDH+CD34+, ALDH-CD34+ and ALDH+CD34- (median percentages were 0.52, 0.53 and 0.57, respectively). As compared to ALDH-CD34+ cells, ALDH+CD34+ cells expressed the phenotypic profile of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, with brighter expression of CD117 and CD133, accompanied by lower display of CD38 and CD45RA. Of interest, ALDH+CD34- population disclosed a straightforward erythroid commitment, on the basis of three orders of evidences. First of all, ALDH+CD34- cells showed a CD71bright, CD105+, CD45- phenotype. Secondly, induction of differentiation experiments evidenced a clear-cut expression of glycophorin A (CD235a). Finally, ALDH+CD34- precursors were not detectable in patients with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA).

Conclusion
Our study, comparing surface antigen expression of ALDH+/CD34+, ALDH-/CD34+ and ALDH+/CD34- progenitor cell subsets in human bone marrow, clearly indicated that ALDH+CD34- cells are mainly committed towards erythropoiesis. To the best of our knowledge this finding is new and could be useful for basic studies about normal erythropoietic differentiation as well as for enabling the employment of ALDH as a red cell marker in polychromatic flow cytometry characterization of bone marrow from patients with aplastic anemia and myelodysplasia.
Primary lymphoma of the breast involving both axillae with bilateral breast carcinoma
Authors: Garg Neeraj K , Bagul Nitin B , Rubin Gary , Shah Elizabeth F 
Published: May 2008

Abstract

Background
Primary Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (PHNL) of the breast is a rare entity, while secondary involvement of the breast with diffuse disease of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is more common. However, PNHL is the most frequent haematopoietic tumour of the breast. Diagnostic criteria for PNHL of the breast are presence of technically adequate pathologic specimens, close association of mammary tissue and lymphomatous infiltrate, no prior diagnosis of an extarammamary lymphoma, and no evidence of concurrent widespread disease, except for ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes if concomitant with the primary lesion.

Case presentation
A 57-year-old woman was recalled because her screening mammograms revealed three separate lesions in her right breast and one in the left. Histology of the lesions confirmed lymphoma in one breast with ductal carcinoma in the other.

Conclusion
Most of reported cases in literature have been involving the right breast, and almost all the patients were females. NHLs of the breast typically present as unilateral mass; the frequency of bilateral disease at first presentation ranges from 5–25%. Our objective is to report a case of primary lymphoma of the breast involving both axillae with concomitant bilateral primary breast cancer which has not been reported yet to our best of knowledge in literature.
Toll-like receptor 4-dependent upregulation of cytokines in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Jin Jing-Ji , Kim Hong-Duck , Maxwell J Adam , Li Ling , Fukuchi Ken-ichiro 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackgroundAβ deposits in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are closely associated with innate immune responses such as activated microglia and increased cytokines. Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that innate immune/inflammatory responses play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD: either beneficial or harmful effects on the AD progression. The molecular mechanisms by which the innate immune system modulates the AD progression are not well understood. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are first-line molecules for initiating the innate immune responses. When activated through TLR signaling, microglia respond to pathogens and damaged host cells by secreting chemokines and cytokines and express the co-stimulatory molecules needed for protective immune responses to pathogens and efficient clearance of damaged tissues. We previously demonstrated that an AD mouse model homozygous for a destructive mutation of TLR4 has increases in diffuse and fibrillar Aβ deposits as well as buffer-soluble and insoluble Aβ in the brain as compared with a TLR4 wild-type AD mouse model. Here, we investigated the roles of TLR4 in Aβ-induced upregulation of cytokines and chemokines, Aβ-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes and Aβ-induced immigration of leukocytes.MethodsUsing the same model, levels of cytokines and chemokines in the brain were determined by multiplex cytokine/chemokine array. Activation of microglia and astrocytes and immigration of leukocytes were determined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry followed by densitometry and morphometry, respectively.ResultsLevels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10 and IL-17 in the brains of TLR4 wild-type AD mice were significantly higher than those in TLR4 wild-type non-transgenic littermates. Such increases in cytokines were not found in TLR4 mutant AD mice as compared with TLR4 mutant non-transgenic littermates. Although expression levels of CD11b (a microglia marker) and GFAP (a reactive astrocyte marker) in the brains of TLR4 mutant AD mice were higher than those in TLR4 wild type AD mice, no difference was found in levels of CD45 (common leukocyte antigen).ConclusionThis is the first demonstration of TLR4-dependent upregulation of cytokines in an AD mouse model. Our results suggest that TLR4 signaling is involved in AD progression and that TLR4 signaling can be a new therapeutic target for AD.
A template for reviewing the strength of evidence for obstetric brachial plexus injury in clinical negligence claims
Authors: Draycott Tim , Sanders Carolyn , Crofts Joanna , Lloyd Joanna 
Published: May 2008

Obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) is uncommon but accounts for a significant proportion of obstetric clinical negligence claims. There is debate in the medical literature and in legal proceedings regarding the causation of OBPI, particularly whether OBPI is caused by the accoucheur applying excessive traction or simply through the forces of labour itself. This paper reviews the medical literature and legal case law surrounding OBPI and presents a template for reviewing the strength of evidence for OBPI in clinical negligence claims. The template contains factors more likely to be present if the OBPI was caused by the maternal forces of labour ‘propulsion injury’ (injury to the posterior arm, no documented evidence of shoulder dystocia, up-to-date training, appropriate shoulder dystocia management, no evidence of excessive traction, correct number of birth attendants, precipitous second stage, temporary injury) and factors more likely if the injury is iatrogenic (injury to the anterior arm, shoulder dystocia, no recent training, incorrect shoulder dystocia resolution manoeuvres used, evidence of excessive traction, insufficient birth attendants, fundal pressure, permanent injury). Each factor does not, in itself, establish causation, but the template may provide a useful aid to legal teams reviewing medical notes.
The trouble with safety in the National Health Service: a personal view
Authors: Lilleyman John 
Published: May 2008

Public interest in NHS safety has been fired by cataclysmic reports of thousands of patients being killed through medical errors. These terrifying but unreliable figures almost certainly overstate the size of the problem, but the matter is complicated since there are presently no reliable data and there is no common definition of what an avoidable medical mishap is. So a very serious matter is somewhat clouded by confusion. Focusing on death and severe harm through unambiguous human error (a good place to start), the most obvious way to reduce such events is to educate frontline clinical staff about the science of safety – how this has been developed in other fields of human endeavour and how it translates to healthcare. This will take time – a professional generation, probably, as the young are more amenable to new practices than the old. There are other obstacles, including disincentives to report mishaps and a present lack of professional ownership of the safety initiative. But as awareness grows the pace of change will accelerate and better data will give a clearer picture of what is going on.
Human factors in primary care telemedicine encounters
Authors: Bulik Robert J 
Published: May 2008

Summary Traditional delivery of primary care takes place in a face-to-face transaction between provider and patient. In telemedicine, however, the transaction is ‘filtered’ by the distance and technology. The potential problem of filtered communication in a telemedicine encounter was examined from a human factors perspective. Patients with and without experience of telemedicine, and providers who had experience of telemedicine, were asked about patient–provider relationships in interviews and focus groups. Seven themes emerged: initial impressions, style of questions, field of view, physical interaction, social talk, control of encounter and ancillary services. This suggests that communication can be improved and better patient–provider relationships can be developed in a primary care telemedicine encounter if attention is paid to four areas of the interaction: verbal, non-verbal, relational and actions/transactional. The human factors dimension of telemedicine is an important element in delivery of health care at a distance – and is one of few factors over which the provider has direct control.
Communicating textual health information to the mobile phones of visually-impaired users
Authors: Kummervold Per Egil , Holthe Halgeir 
Published: May 2008

Summary We investigated how short messages communicating health information would best be distributed to people with vision difficulties using mobile phones. Twelve visually-impaired persons who were unable to read short message service (SMS) messages directly compared three methods of presenting text messages as speech: (1) ordinary SMS messages were sent to the users and converted into speech by the mobile phone; (2) multimedia messages were sent to the users with prerecorded speech-synthesized information; and (3) mobile phone calls were placed to the users and prerecorded speech-synthesized messages were streamed to them. The latter two approaches used server-generated sound files. Over a three-month trial period, we sent a total of 88 SMS messages to the subjects, 111 multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages and 104 telephone calls. All of the SMS messages, 88% of the MMS messages and 69% of the telephone calls were received. In subsequent interviews, we asked the users which presentation method they preferred. SMS scored significantly better than both MMS ( P = 0.033) and telephones ( P = 0.006). All three methods had serious drawbacks. However, the study suggests that it might be possible to develop suitable technology for communicating with people with vision difficulties by mobile phone.
Teleneurology in patients with multiple sclerosis: EDSS ratings derived remotely and from hands-on examination
Authors: Kane Robert L , Bever Christopher T , Ehrmantraut Mary , Forte Alan , Culpepper William J , Wallin Mitchell T 
Published: May 2008

Summary We compared the telemedicine assessment of 20 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with the findings of a hands-on examiner. The remote specialist was a neurologist with expertise in MS; the hands-on examination was performed by an experienced mid-level practitioner. We also compared the findings of a second specialist viewing the examination in the room with the patient. The videoconference link operated at a bandwidth of 384 kbit/s. All three examiners independently completed a standardized rating scale for neurological functions. Cronbach's α for the three raters' total expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score was 0.99 with individual correlations ranging from 0.96–0.97. Agreement between raters for individual neurological domain scores was more variable. The most consistent assessments were for optic, bowel and bladder, and cerebral functions. The least consistent were for cerebellar and brain stem functions. Agreement between the remote and local examiners was similar to that reported for different neurological examiners directly assessing the same patient using the EDSS rating system.
Current status and future perspectives in telecare for elderly people suffering from chronic diseases
Authors: Botsis Taxiarchis , Hartvigsen Gunnar 
Published: May 2008

Summary We reviewed the literature on home telecare for elderly patients suffering from chronic diseases. Articles published between 1990 and 2007 were identified via the PubMed database. The literature search yielded 485 papers. After reviewing the title and abstract from each, 54 were selected for closer examination. They were published in 37 different journals. The number of papers increased from one in 1997 to 14 in 2006. The diseases in which home telecare had been used were diabetes (14 studies), heart failure (13 studies), cognitive impairment (dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease, 10 studies), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5 studies), chronic wounds (4 studies) and mobility disabilities (4 studies). Patients were generally satisfied with home telecare, but they preferred a combination of home telecare with conventional health-care delivery. Health-care professionals were positive about telecare. Users felt that on many occasions telecare led to a reduction in costs due to time savings and avoidance of travelling. Even though there were important benefits from home telecare, there are organizational, ethical, legal, design, usability and other matters that need to be resolved before widespread implementation can occur.
A comparison of telehealth and face-to-face presentation for school professionals supporting students with chronic illness
Authors: Spaulding Ryan J , Davis Kathy , Patterson James 
Published: May 2008

Summary We compared the perceptions of school professionals who received education about students with chronic illness by videoconference (VC) or by face-to-face (FTF) presentation. Forty-five different one-hour presentations were provided by a paediatric educator to a total of 1389 subjects – 919 viewed FTF presentations and 417 viewed VC presentations. Subjects completed a 10-item survey to assess satisfaction and other perceptions, such as access and convenience of the sessions, on a 5-point Likert scale. The results for the two different modalities were compared using analysis of variance. Participants at the FTF presentations (mean 4.6, SD = 0.6) and VC presentations (mean 4.3, SD = 0.7) indicated that they were very satisfied with the instruction they received. The FTF participants were significantly more satisfied than the VC participants ( P < 0.001). Similarly, comfort with the sessions, perceived preparedness, convenience and other items were also highly rated in both groups, although the FTF group rated many of these perceptions significantly higher. Regression analysis showed that the comfort level with the presentations was a predictor of satisfaction, suggesting that people might not be familiar enough with VC sessions to be comfortable and satisfied with this delivery mechanism. Nonetheless, VC delivery appears to be a viable alternative when FTF is not possible, particularly in rural areas.
SERPINA1 Gene Variants in Individuals from the General Population with Reduced α1-Antitrypsin Concentrations
Authors: Zorzetto Michele , Russi Erich , Senn Oliver , Imboden Medea , Ferrarotti Ilaria , Tinelli Carmine , Campo Ilaria , Ottaviani Stefania , Scabini Roberta , von Eckardstein Arnold , Berger Wolfgang , Brändli Otto , Rochat Thierry , Luisetti Maurizio , Probst-Hensch Nicole ,   the SAPALDIA Team
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Background: Individuals with severe deficiency in serum α1-antitrypsin (AAT) concentrations are at high risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas those carrying the PI*MZ genotype are at slightly increased risk. Testing appropriate subgroups of the population for AAT deficiency (AATD) is therefore an important aspect of COPD prevention and timely treatment. We decided to perform an exhaustive investigation of SERPINA1 gene variants in individuals from the general population with a moderately reduced serum AAT concentration, because such information is currently unavailable.
Methods: We determined the Z and S alleles of 1399 individuals enrolled in the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) with serum AAT concentrations ≤1.13 g/L and submitted 423 of these samples for complete exon 2→5 sequencing.
Results: We found that 900 of 1399 samples (64%), carried the normal PI*MM genotype, whereas 499 samples (36%) carried at least 1 SERPINA1 deficiency variant. In the subpopulations in which AAT concentrations ranged from &gt;1.03 to ≤1.13 and from &gt;0.93 to ≤1.03 g/L, individuals with the PI*MM genotype represented the majority (86.5% and 53.8%, respectively). The PI*MS genotype was predominant (54.9%) in the AAT range of 0.83 to 0.93 g/L, whereas PI*MZ represented 76.4% in the AAT range of &gt;0.73 to ≤0.83 g/L.
Conclusions: This analysis provided a detailed molecular definition of intermediate AATD, which would be helpful in the diagnostic setting.
Interactivity: A review of the concept and a framework for analysis
Authors: Quiring Oliver , Schweiger Wolfgang 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe terms ‘interactivity’ and ‘interactive media’ became significant buzzwords during the late 1980s and early 1990s when the multi-media euphoria fascinated politicians, economists, and researchers alike. However, right from the beginning of the scientific debate, the inconsistent usage of the term ‘interactivity’ massively complicated the comparability of numerous empirical studies. This is where this article joins the discussion. First, the article sheds light on the terminological origins of ‘interactivity’ and distinguishes the term from cognate expressions. Further, it restructures and extends existing findings on the basis of a new analysis framework which considers three levels of interactive communication (action level, level of subjective situation evaluation, and level of meaning exchange). Finally, it delivers a systematic overview of specific criteria of interactive communication.
Conversations about local media and their role in community integration
Authors: Mahrt Merja 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
For decades, scholars have been interested in the relationship between community integration and local media use. Some have argued that the use of the local media furthers integration. Others have seen integration into a community as a prerequisite for attention to the media. In this study, a survey explored whether a relationship between the two dimensions actually exists and whether personal conversations about media topics could link both phenomena. The results show that social integration is not only related to media use, but also to conversations specifically about media content. Thus, the media's contribution to community integration could be an indirect one, by facilitating conversations and by helping integrate individuals socially through conversational topics.
The digital divide in Flanders: Disappearance or persistence?
Authors: Vandoninck Sofie , Roe Keith 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Recent empirical evidence suggests that the so-called ‘digital divide’ persists in both Europe and North America. The purpose of this (follow-up) study is to establish whether the digital divide persists in Flanders and, if so, to examine its extent and main contours. The results suggest that, although showing signs of diminishing, the digital divide is still very much in place and is still structured along classic socio-demographic lines such as gender, age, level of education, and occupational status.