bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Eletriptan in Migraine‐Related Functional Impairment: Functional and Work Productivity Outcomes
Authors: Silberstein Stephen D. , Cady Roger K. , Sheftell Fred D. , Almas Mary , Parsons Bruce , Albert Kenneth S. 
Published: November 2006

Objective.—To provide a multidimensional assessment of the extent of functional impairment during an acute migraine attack, and of the improvement in functioning in response to treatment, using 4 concurrently administered scales: the 7‐item work productivity questionnaire (PQ‐7), the functional assessment in migraine (FAIM) activities and participation (FAIM‐A&P) subscale, the FAIM‐impact of migraine on mental functioning (FAIM‐IMMF) subscale, and the traditional 4‐point global functional impairment scale (FIS).Methods.—Outpatients with an International Classification of Headache Disorders diagnosis of migraine were randomized to double‐blind treatment of a single attack with either oral eletriptan 20 mg (n = 192) once‐daily, eletriptan 40 mg (N = 213) once‐daily, or placebo (n = 208). Patients were encouraged to take study medication as soon as they were sure they were experiencing a typical migraine headache, after the aura phase (if present) had ended. Patients with moderate‐to‐severe functional impairment were identified on each of the 4 disability scales, and 2‐hour functional response was compared between treatments.Results.—At baseline, the PQ‐7 and FAIM‐IMMF items that assessed ability to perform tasks requiring concentration, sustained work or attention, and ability to think quickly or spontaneously, were especially sensitive to the effects of mild headache pain, with 27% to 48% of patients (n = 92‐112) reporting moderate‐to‐severe impairment. Only 11.3% of patients (n = 112) reported this level of impairment due to mild pain on the FIS. Functional response at 2 hours was significantly higher on eletriptan 40 mg versus placebo on the FAIM‐A&P (63% vs 36%; n = 218; P < .0001); on the PQ‐7 (56% vs 34%; n = 116; P= .0052); and on the FAIM‐IMMF (50% vs 34%; n = 215; P= .017). These rates were all lower than the functional response rates on the FIS for eletriptan 40 mg (75%) and eletriptan 20 mg (70%) versus placebo (45%; P < .001).Conclusions.—In this exploratory analysis, use of multidimensional scales was found to provide a sensitive measure of headache‐related functional impairment, especially for detecting clinically meaningful cognitive effects, and for detecting drug versus placebo differences.
Decision Sciences Research in China: A Critical Review and Research Agenda—Foundations and Overview*
Authors: Zhao Xiande , Flynn Barbara B. , Roth Aleda V. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on decision sciences research in China, providing an overview of current research and developing a foundation for future China‐based research. China provides a unique research opportunity for decision sciences researchers, owing to its recent history, rapid economic development, and strong national culture. We examine recent economic reforms and their impact on the development of research questions in the decision sciences, as well as discuss characteristics of the diverse regions in China and their potential as sites for various types of research. We provide a brief overview of recent China‐based research on decision sciences issues relating to national culture, supply chain management, quality management, production planning and control, operations strategy, and new product development and discuss some of the unique methodological challenges inherent in China‐based research. We conclude by looking forward to emerging research opportunities in China.
Where To Go From Here? Thoughts on Future Directions for Research on Individual‐Level Technology Adoption with a Focus on Decision Making*
Authors: Venkatesh Viswanath 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThis article recognizes the maturity of individual‐level technology‐adoption research and suggests three broad future research directions. They are: (i) business process change and process standards, (ii) supply‐chain technologies, and (iii) services. Each of these areas is identified based on the topics likely of interest to the readers of the Decision Sciences by closely examining Decision Sciences' editorial mission and the recent research published in it. Within each of these three different broad topic areas, a few different specific directions are identified. The directions outlined here are not meant to be exhaustive but rather potential directions that can result in a theoretical contribution to individual‐level technology‐adoption research and the specific topic area.
Multiproduct, Multicriteria Model for Supplier Selection with Product Life‐Cycle Considerations
Authors: Narasimhan Ram , Talluri Srinivas , Mahapatra Santosh K. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTIn industrial purchasing contexts firms often procure a set of products from the same suppliers to benefit from economies of scale and scope. These products are often at different stages of their respective product life cycles (PLCs). Firms consider multiple criteria in purchasing such products, and the relative importance of these criteria varies depending on the PLC stage of a given product. Therefore, a firm should select suppliers and choose sourcing arrangements such that product requirements across multiple criteria are satisfied over time. The extant models in sourcing literature for evaluating and selecting suppliers for a portfolio of products have not considered this important and practical issue faced by firms. This article proposes a mathematical model that effectively addresses this issue and contributes to the sourcing literature by demonstrating an approach for optimally selecting suppliers and supplier bids given the relative importance of multiple criteria across multiple products over their PLC. The application of the model on a hypothetical data set illustrates the strategic and tactical significance of such considerations.
Bringing IT Back: An Analysis of the Decision to Backsource or Switch Vendors
Authors: Whitten Dwayne , Leidner Dorothy 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTWhereas the decision to outsource information systems (IS) has been an important focus in IS research and practice, the decision to switch vendors or to backsource has received little attention. Evidence suggests that in practice, however, the decision to backsource or to switch vendors is becoming increasingly common as firms vie for ways to continue to cut information technology (IT) costs and improve IT service levels. This research specifically examines the factors associated with the decision to backsource or to switch vendors. Based on a sample of 160 IT managers involved with application development, we compare and contrast the perceptions of those who switched vendors, backsourced, or continued in an outsourcing relationship for application development. Our findings suggest that product quality, service quality, relationship quality, and switching costs are related to the decision to backsource application outsourcing. However, service and product quality did not influence the decision to switch vendors. Rather, firms that made the decision to switch vendors reported high levels of service and product quality but low levels of relationship quality and switching costs.
Obesity As a Risk Factor for Sustained Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in MADIT II Patients
Authors: PIETRASIK GRZEGORZ , GOLDENBERG ILAN , McNITT SCOTT , MOSS ARTHUR J. , ZAREBA WOJCIECH 
Published: November 2006

Background: Obesity, as defined by body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, has been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, data on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death by BMI in patients after myocardial infarction with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Methods: The risk of appropriate defibrillator therapy for ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) by BMI status was analyzed in 476 nondiabetic patients with left ventricular dysfunction who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial‐II (MADIT II). Results: Mean BMI was 27 ± 5 kg/m2. Obese patients comprised 25% of the study population. After 2 years of follow‐up, the cumulative rates of appropriate ICD therapy for VT/VF were 39% in obese and 24% in nonobese patients, respectively (P = 0.014). In multivariate analysis, there was a significant 64% increase in the risk for appropriate ICD therapy among obese patients as compared with nonobese patients, which was attributed mainly to an 86% increase in the risk of appropriate ICD shocks (P = 0.006). Consistent with these results, the risk of the combined endpoint of appropriate VT/VF therapy or sudden cardiac death (SCD) was also significantly increased among obese patients (Hazard Ratio 1.59; P = 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in nondiabetic patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 is an independent risk factor for ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Evaluation of an Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay for Strongyloidiasis as a Tool for Diagnosis and Follow-Up
Authors: Boscolo Marina , Gobbo Maria , Mantovani William , Degani Monica , Anselmi Mariella , Monteiro Geraldo Badona , Marocco Stefania , Angheben Andrea , Mistretta Manuela , Santacatterina Maria , Tais Stefano , Bisoffi Zeno 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

The diagnostic accuracy of an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for
Strongyloides stercoralis
at different serum antibody titers was evaluated. To assess diagnostic sensitivity, sera from 156 patients with known strongyloidiasis were collected. Negative control sera were obtained from a composite group of 427 subjects (blood donors and hospitalized patients). With an area under the receiver-operating characteristic plot of 0.98, the IFAT showed a high level of diagnostic accuracy for strongyloidiasis. An antibody titer of ≥1:20, with 97% sensitivity and 98% specificity, was identified as the diagnostic threshold with the best overall performance. Cross-reactions were evaluated with 41 additional samples from patients with other known helminth infections, and the IFAT detected low-titer positivity in only one subject with filariasis. A positive IFAT result at an antibody dilution of ≥1:80 was virtually 100% specific, with 71% sensitivity. To test the usefulness of the IFAT as a monitoring tool, the changes in specific-antibody titers after treatment in a group of 155 patients were evaluated. Seroreversion or a decrease in antibody titer of twofold or more was observed in 60% of the patients. Response to treatment was directly correlated to the initial antibody titer, and a baseline titer of ≥1:80 was identified as the best predictor of response. In conclusion, a positive IFAT result at an antibody dilution of ≥1:20 is the optimal cutoff for screening. A titer of ≥1:80, with virtually no false-positive result, is a reliable cutoff for a serological assessment of treatment efficacy and for inclusion in clinical trials.
Expression of Antibodies Directed to
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Glycosphingolipids during the Course of Paracoccidioidomycosis Treatment
Authors: Bertini Silvio , Colombo Arnaldo L. , Takahashi Helio K. , Straus Anita H. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a granulomatous disease caused by the dimorphic fungus
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
. The immunoglobulin classes and isotypes of antibodies directed to acidic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and glucosylceramide of
P. brasiliensis
were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of sera from 31 PCM patients. The reactivities of 38 serum samples were analyzed by considering the stage of treatment: before antifungal treatment (
n
= 10), during 1 to 4 months of treatment (T1-4;
n
= 9), during 5 to 12 months of treatment (T5-12;
n
= 9), and posttreatment (PT;
n
= 10). Sera from healthy subjects (
n
= 12) were used as controls. Only the GSL Pb-1 antigen, which presents the carbohydrate structure Gal
f
β1-6(Manα1-3)Manβ1, was reactive with the PCM patient sera. The PCM patient sera did not react with Pb-2, which lacks the Gal
f
residue and which is considered the biosynthetic precursor of Pb-1, indicating that the Gal
f
residue is essential for antibody reactivity. The Pb-1 glycolipid from nontreated patients elicited a primary immune response with immunoglobulin M (IgM) production and subsequent switching to IgG1 production. The IgG1 titer increased after the start of antifungal treatment (T1-4 group), and general decreases in the anti-Pb-1 antibody titers were observed after 5 months of treatment (T5-12 and PT groups). The Pb-1 antigen, an acidic GSL with terminal Gal
f
residue, has potential application as an elicitor of the host immune response in patients with PCM.
Monoclonal Antibody-Based Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detecting and Quantifying West Nile Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies in Horse Sera
Authors: Choi Kang-Seuk , Ko Young-Joon , Nah Jin-Ju , Kim Yong-Joo , Kang Shien-Young , Yoon Kyoung-Jin , Joo Yi-Seok 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTA rapid immunoassay for detecting and quantifying West Nile virus (WNV)-neutralizing antibodies in sera was developed as an alternative to the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), the gold standard test for WNV. The assay is a competitive, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using neutralizing monoclonal antibody 5E8 (NT-ELISA). A cutoff percent inhibition (PI) value of 35% (mean PI plus 3 standard deviations), with a specificity of 99%, was established based on analysis of 246 serum samples from horses free of WNV. The NT-ELISA detected neutralizing antibodies in all sera collected 7 or 14 days postinoculation from mice (n= 11) infected with lineage I (strain NY385-99) or II (strain B956) WNV. When sera from WNV-vaccinated horses (n= 212) were tested by NT-ELISA and PRNT, the NT-ELISA gave a positive result for 96.1% (173/180) of the PRNT-positive sera and 3.1% (1/32) of the PRNT-negative sera. Discrepancies between the two tests were observed mainly with sera with low PRNT90titers (expressed as the reciprocal of the highest dilution yielding ≥90% reduction in the number of plaques) for WNV or low PIs by NT-ELISA. The overall agreement (kvalue) between the two tests was 0.86. A good correlation (r2= 0.77) was also observed between the tests for endpoint titration of sera (n= 116). In conclusion, the newly developed NT-ELISA may be a good alternative serologic assay for detecting WNV that can be used for large-scale testing of WNV-neutralizing antibodies in multiple species.
Sequencing of the
pncA
Gene in Members of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Complex Has Important Diagnostic Applications: Identification of a Species-Specific
pncA
Mutation in “
Mycobacterium canettii
” and the Reliable and Rapid Predictor of Pyrazinamide Resistance
Authors: Somoskovi Akos , Dormandy Jillian , Parsons Linda M. , Kaswa Michel , Goh Khye Seng , Rastogi Nalin , Salfinger Max 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

Testing for susceptibility to pyrazinamide (PZA) and analysis of the
pncA
gene sequences of 423
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex isolates have revealed a unique silent nucleotide substitution that enables the rapid identification of “
M. canettii
” (proposed name). Moreover, the lack of a defined mutation within the
pncA
gene strongly suggests that an alternative mechanism is responsible for PZA resistance. Our results indicate that DNA sequencing of the
pncA
gene has the potential to shorten the turnaround time and increase the accuracy of PZA susceptibility testing of the
M. tuberculosis
complex.
Conjugative Transfer of Chromosomally Encoded Antibiotic Resistance from
Helicobacter pylori
to
Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Oyarzabal Omar A. , Rad Roland , Backert Steffen 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

Many strains of
Helicobacter pylori
are naturally competent for transformation and able to transfer chromosomal DNA among different isolates using a conjugation-like mechanism. In this study, we sought to determine whether
H. pylori
can transfer DNA into
Campylobacter jejuni
, a closely related species of the
Campylobacterales
group. To monitor the transfer, a chromosomally encoded streptomycin resistance cassette prearranged by a specific mutation in the
rpsL
gene of
H. pylori
was used. Mating of the bacteria on plates or in liquid broth medium produced
C. jejuni
progeny containing the streptomycin marker. DNA transfer was unidirectional, from
H. pylori
to
C. jejuni
, and the progeny were genetically identical to
C. jejuni
recipient strains. DNase I treatment reduced but did not eliminate transfer, and DNase I-treated cell supernatants did not transform, ruling out phage transduction. Recombinants also did not occur when the mating bacteria were separated by a membrane, suggesting that DNA transfer requires cell-to-cell contact. Transfer of the streptomycin marker was independent of the
H. pylori comB
transformation system, the
cag
pathogenicity island, and another type IV secretion system called
tfs3
. These findings indicated that a DNase I-resistant, conjugation-like mechanism may contribute to horizontal DNA transfer between different members of the
Campylobacteriales
group. The significance of this DNA uptake by
C. jejuni
in the context of acquiring antibiotic resistance is discussed.
Identification of Sequence Diversity in the
Escherichia coli fliC
Genes Encoding Flagellar Types H8 and H40 and Its Use in Typing of Shiga Toxin-Producing
E. coli
O8, O22, O111, O174, and O179 Strains
Authors: Beutin Lothar , Strauch Eckhard 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

Flagellar type H8 is associated with many strains of pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC), such as O8, O22, O111, O174, and O179 strains. Serological typing of the H8 antigen is limited to motile strains only and suffers from cross-reactivity between flagellar H8 and H40 antigens. In order to develop a method useful for typing of motile and nonmotile STEC O111 and other strains, we have analyzed the flagellar antigen (
fliC
) genes in representative
E. coli
H8 and H40 types. Two genotypes of the
fliC
gene encoding H8 (the
fliC
-H8 gene) were identified. Genotype
fliC
-H8a was found to be conserved in STEC O111, O174, and O179 strains; and type
fliC
-H8b was associated with STEC O8 and O22 strains. Sequence variations were also found in the genetically closely related
fliC
-H40 gene, although the latter was not found to be associated with STEC strains. A PCR was developed for the specific identification of the
fliC
-H8 and the
fliC
-H40 genes in motile and nonmotile
E. coli
strains. Digestion of PCR products with HhaI resulted in restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) which were associated with genotypes
fliC
-H8a and -H8b as well as with genotypes
fliC
-H40a and -H40b. The
fliC
-specific PCR/RFLP typing method was suitable for the rapid typing of motile and nonmotile STEC O8, O22, O111, O174, and O179 strains from different sources whose
fliC
-H8 genotypes were found to be highly conserved. The
fliC
genotyping method is advantageous over serotyping and is useful for epidemiological investigations and studies of the evolution of STEC clones.
Discovering Potential Pathogens among Fungi Identified as Nonsporulating Molds
Authors: Pounder June I. , Simmon Keith E. , Barton Claudia A. , Hohmann Sheri L. , Brandt Mary E. , Petti Cathy A. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT
Fungal infections are increasing, particularly among immunocompromised hosts, and a rapid diagnosis is essential to initiate antifungal therapy. Often fungi cannot be identified by conventional methods and are classified as nonsporulating molds (NSM).We sequenced internal transcribed spacer regions from 50 cultures of NSM and found 16 potential pathogens that can be associated with clinical disease. In selected clinical settings, identification of NSM could prove valuable and have an immediate impact on patient management.
Diversity in Indian Equine Rotaviruses: Identification of Genotype G10,P6[1] and G1 Strains and a New VP7 Genotype (G16) Strain in Specimens from Diarrheic Foals in India
Authors: Gulati B. R. , Deepa R. , Singh B. K. , Rao C. Durga 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT
Rotaviruses causing severe diarrhea in foals in two organized farms in northern India, during the period from 2003 to 2005, were characterized by electropherotyping, serotyping, and sequence analysis of the genes encoding the outer capsid proteins. Of 137 specimens, 47 (34.31%) were positive for rotavirus and exhibited at least five different electropherotypes (E), E1 to E5. Strains belonging to different electropherotypes exhibited either a different serotype/genotype specificity or a lack of reactivity to typing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) used in this study. Strains belonging to E1, E2, and E5 exhibited genotype G10,P6[1], G3, and G1 specificities and accounted for 19.0, 42.9, and 9.5% of the isolates, respectively. Though they possessed G10-type VP7, the E1 strains exhibited high reactivity with the G6-specific MAb, suggesting that the uncommon combination of the outer capsid proteins altered the specificity of the conformation-dependent antigenic epitopes on VP7. E3 and E4 strains accounted for 28.6% of the isolates and were untypeable. Sequence analysis of VP7 from E4 strains (Erv92 and Erv99) revealed that they represent a new VP7 genotype, G16. The detection of unexpected bovine rotavirus-derived G10,P6[1] reassortants, G1 serotype strains, and a new genotype (G16) strain in two distant farms reveals an interesting epidemiological situation and diversity of equine rotaviruses in India.
Rapid and Real-Time Detection of Chikungunya Virus by Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay
Authors: Parida M. M. , Santhosh S. R. , Dash P. K. , Tripathi N. K. , Lakshmi V. , Mamidi N. , Shrivastva A. , Gupta N. , Saxena P. , Babu J. Pradeep , Rao P. V. Lakshmana , Morita Kouichi 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

The standardization and validation of a one-step, single-tube, accelerated, quantitative reverse transcription (RT) loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay targeting the E1 gene for the rapid and real-time detection of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are reported. A linear relationship between the amount of template and time of positivity value over a range of 2 × 10
8
to 2 × 10
2
copies was obtained. The feasibility of CHIKV RT-LAMP for clinical diagnosis was validated with patient serum samples from an ongoing epidemic in Southern India. Optimal assay conditions with zero background were established for the detection of low levels of CHIKV in acute-phase patient serum samples. The comparative evaluation of the RT-LAMP assay with acute-phase patient serum samples demonstrated exceptionally higher sensitivity by correctly identifying 21 additional positive borderline cases that were missed by conventional RT-PCR (
P
< 0.0001) with a detection limit of 20 copies. The quantification of virus load in patient serum samples was also determined from the standard curve based on their time of positivity and was found to be in the range of 2 × 10
8
to 2 × 10
1
copies. In addition, the field applicability of the RT-LAMP assay was also demonstrated by standardizing SYBR Green I-based RT-LAMP wherein the amplification was carried out in a water bath at 63°C for 60 min, which was followed by monitoring gene amplification with the naked eye through color changes. These findings demonstrated that the RT-LAMP assay is a valuable tool for rapid, real-time detection as well as quantification of CHIKV in acute-phase serum samples without requiring any sophisticated equipment and has potential usefulness for clinical diagnosis and surveillance of CHIKV in developing countries.