bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Use and Material Wear of Polymeric Tracheostomy Tubes
Authors: Björling Gunilla , Axelsson Sara , Johansson Unn‐Britt , Lysdahl Michael , Markström Agneta , Schedin Ulla , Aune Ragnhild E. , Frostell Claes , Karlsson Sigbritt 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjectives: The objectives were to compare the duration of use of polymeric tracheostomy tubes, i.e., silicone (Si), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyurethane (PU), and to determine whether surface changes in the materials could be observed after 30 days of patient use.Methods: Data were collected from patient and technical records for all tracheostomized patients attending the National Respiratory Center in Sweden. In the surface study, 19 patients with long‐term tracheostomy were included: six with Bivona TTS Si tubes, eight with Shiley PVC tubes, and five with Trachoe Twist PU tubes. All tubes were exposed in the trachea for 30 days before being analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). New tubes and tubes exposed in phosphate‐buffered saline were used as reference.Results: Si tubes are used for longer periods of time than those made of PVC (P < .0001) and PU (P = .021). In general, all polymeric tubes were used longer than the recommended 30‐day period. Eighteen of the 19 tubes exposed in patients demonstrated, in one or more areas of the tube, evident surface changes. The morphologic changes identified by SEM correlate well with the results obtained by ATR‐FTIR.Conclusions: Si tracheostomy tubes are in general used longer than those made of PVC and PU. Most of the tubes exposed in the trachea for 30 days suffered evident surface changes, with degradation of the polymeric chains as a result.
Enhanced Survival of Bone–Marrow‐Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells in an Animal Model of Auditory Neuropathy
Authors: Matsuoka Akihiro J. , Kondo Takako , Miyamoto Richard T. , Hashino Eri 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjective: The loss of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) is one of the major causes of profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Stem cell replacement therapy, which is still in its infancy, has the potential to treat or cure those who suffer from an array of illnesses and degenerative neurologic disorders, including sensorineural deafness (SNHL). Little is known about the potentials of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their ability to take on properties of SGNs. The two main purposes of this study were to evaluate the survival of mouse MSCs transplanted into normal and ouabain‐treated gerbil cochleae and to determine the migratory patterns of MSCs with two differing injection methods.Subjects: Thirty‐two Mongolian gerbils, 3 to 4 months old, were used as recipients, and four 6‐week‐old TgN(ACTbEGFP) mice that ubiquitously express green fluorescent protein (GFP) were used as donors.Design: The animals were deafened by ouabain, which damaged SGNs while leaving hair cell systems intact. After 4 weeks of recovery, the animals received an intraperilymphatic transplantation of 1.0 × 106 GFP‐positive undifferentiated MSCs via two different injection methods: scala tympani injection and modiolar injection. Seven days after the transplantation, the survival of MSCs was evaluated by microscopic examination of frozen sections cut through the cochleae of the recipient animals. The number of profiles was counted on the five most central modiolar sections. One‐way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine any significantdifferences among mean profile counts across the experimental conditions.Results: Our findings indicated that undifferentiated MSCs were able to survive in the modiolus both in the control and the ouabain‐treated cochleae. The average number of profiles found in the modiolus was greater in the ouabain‐treated cochleae than in the control cochleae. This difference was statistically significant (P < .01) as determined using a one‐way ANOVA and an ad hoc Tukey‐Kramer's test. With the scala tympani injection, there were no profiles found in the modiolus either in the control or ouabain‐treated cochleae. This finding may indicate that donor MSCs need to be directly injected into the modiolus to replace injured SGNs. Finally, there was no evidence of hyperacute rejection in any of the gerbils despite the use of xenotransplantation.Conclusions: These findings may have important clinical implications as a means of delivering MSCs in the cochlea for stem‐cell replacement therapy. Survival of transplanted MSCs into the modiolus of the cochlea may result in regeneration of damaged SGNs.
Over‐Expression of Neuropeptide Urocortin and Its Receptors in Human Allergic Nasal Mucosa
Authors: Kim Tae Hoon , Lee Sang Hag , Lee Heung Man , Lee Seung Hoon , Lee Se Woo , Kim Woo Joo , Park Se Jin , Kim Yang Soo , Choe Hwan , Hwang Ho Yeon , Yoo Ik One 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjectives: Urocortin (UCN) is a member of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) neuropeptide family. UCN act as locally expressed proinflammatory factor and induce mast cell degranulation, cytokine secretion, and trigger vascular permeability, which are mediated by CRF receptors in peripheral tissues. Considering its functional roles, UCN and its receptors may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic nasal mucosa. Therefore, we investigated the expression profile and distribution of UCN and CRF receptors in normal and allergic nasal mucosa.Methods: Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were applied to the normal and allergic nasal mucosa.Results: The expression levels of UCN and CRF receptors were increased in allergic nasal mucosa in comparison with normal nasal mucosa. In normal nasal mucosa, UCN and CRF receptors were restricted to the vascular endothelium of submucosal cavernous sinusoids where faint staining was found. However, in allergic nasal mucosa, UCN was expressed in small vessels distributed in lamina propria and the vascular endothelium of cavernous sinusoid located in submucosa. Many scattered positive cells were also found in allergic nasal mucosa, probably UCN‐positive leukocytes. CRF receptors were also localized in the vascular endothelium of small vessels and cavernous sinusoid.Conclusions: These results indicate that UCN may play a role in the regulation of vascular swelling in normal nasal mucosa. Moreover, in allergic nasal mucosa, increased expression levels of UCN and its receptors may contribute to increased mucosal swelling and vascular permeability, playing an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
Vaccinations With Dendritic Cells Primed With Apoptotic Tumor Cells Can Elicit Preventive Antitumor Immunity in a Poorly Immunogenic Animal Model of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Jeong Han‐Sin , Lee Hyunah , Ko Yejeung , Son Young‐Ik 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground: Dendritic cells (DCs) can effectively mediate the prevention and regression of a variety of solid tumors. However, not much has been determined about their efficacy for the prevention of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), partly because there are no known tumor‐specific antigens or low immunogenicity for this tumor. The authors aimed to determine the preventive effect of DC‐based immunotherapy in a SCC animal model.Methods: Bone marrow derived DCs of C3H/He mice were pulsed with ultraviolet–B‐irradiated apoptotic SCCVII cells, which are known as a poorly immunogenic SCC cell line. After the animals were vaccinated with these DCs, a tumorigenic dosage of SCCVII cells was subcutaneously injected and the tumor growth assessed.Results: Animals pretreated with apoptotic SCCVII cell‐pulsed DCs showed tumor extinction within 2 weeks after forming a small tumor, or there was no tumor formation at all, as seen in 81% of the mice; in the remaining 19% of the mice, tumor growth was significantly retarded compared with the control groups (P = .0029). The SCCVII cell‐specific T‐cell response was observed in the immunized mice.Conclusion: The adoptive transfer of DCs primed with apoptotic tumor cells can hopefully serve as an effective preventive vaccine, even in poorly immunogenic SCC.
Optical Stimulation of the Facial Nerve: A New Monitoring Technique?
Authors: Teudt Ingo Ulrik , Nevel Adam E. , Izzo Agnella D. , Walsh Joseph T. , Richter Claus‐Peter 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjectives/ Hypothesis: One sequela of skull base surgery is iatrogenic damage to cranial nerves, which can be prevented if the nerve is identified. Devices that stimulate nerves with electric current assist in nerve identification. Contemporary devices have two main limitations: 1) the physical contact of the stimulating electrode and (2) the spread of the current through the tissue. In contrast to electrical stimulation, pulsed infrared optical radiation can be used to safely and selectively stimulate neural tissue and might be valuable for screening.Methods: The gerbil facial nerve was exposed to 250 microsecond pulses of 2.12 μm radiation delivered via a 600‐μm‐diameter optical fiber at a repetition rate of 2 Hz. With use of 27 GA, 12‐mm intradermal electrodes, muscle action potentials were recorded. Nerve samples were examined for possible tissue damage.Results: Eight facial nerves were stimulated with radiant exposures between 0.71 and 1.77 J/cm2, resulting in compound muscle action potentials (CmAPs) that were simultaneously measured at the m. orbicularis oculi, m. levator nasolabialis, and m. orbicularis oris. Resulting CmAP amplitudes were 0.3 to 0.4 mV, 0.15 to 1.4 mV, and 0.3 to 2.3 mV, respectively, depending on the radial location of the optical fiber and the radiant exposure. Individual nerve branches were also stimulated, resulting in CmAP amplitudes between 0.2 and 1.6 mV. Histology revealed tissue damage at radiant exposures of 2.2 J/cm2 but no apparent damage at radiant exposures of 2.0 J/cm2.Conclusions: The experiments showed that selective muscle action potentials can be evoked optically in the gerbil facial nerve without direct physical contact.
Adsorption of human serum albumin on the chrysotile surface: a molecular dynamics and spectroscopic investigation
Authors: Artali Roberto , Pra Antonio Del , Foresti Elisabetta , Lesci Isidoro Giorgio , Roveri Norberto , Sabatino Piera 
Published: July 2007

The human serum albumin (HSA) secondary structure modifications induced by the chrysotile surface have been investigated via computational molecular dynamics (MD) and experimental infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) on synthetic chrysotile nanocrystals coated with different amount of HSA. MD simulations, conducted by placing various albumin subdomains close to the fixed chrysotile surface, show an initial adsorption phase, accompanied by local rearrangements of the albumin motifs in contact with the chrysotile layer. Next, large-scale rearrangements follow with consequent secondary structure modifications.Gaussian curve fitting of the FTIR spectra obtained for HSA-coated synthetic chrysotile nanocrystals has allowed the quantification of HSA structural modifications as a function of the amount of protein adsorbed. The experimental results support the atomistic computer simulations providing a realistic description of the adsorption of plasma proteins onto chrysotile and unravelling a key step in the understanding of asbestos toxicity.
A comparison of two techniques for inserting the Airtraq™ laryngoscope in morbidly obese patients
Authors: Dhonneur G. , Ndoko S. K. , Amathieu R. , Attias A. , Housseini L. E. L. , Polliand C. , Tual L. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryWe postulated that video‐controlled tracheal intubation with the Airtraq™ laryngoscope using the reverse manoeuvre instead of the standard technique of insertion could facilitate the airway management of morbidly obese patients. For the reverse manoeuvre the laryngoscope is inserted 180° opposite to that recommended, and once in place rotated into the conventional pharyngeal position. Eighty (40 lean and 40 morbidly obese) ASA I–III adult patients were randomly allocated to four equal groups to compare the standard technique to the reverse manoeuvre for inserting the Airtraq laryngoscope. Video‐controlled and clinical tracheal intubation characteristics were recorded. The reverse manoeuvre did not influence tracheal intubation characteristics in the group of lean patients. In the group of morbidly obese patients, the standard technique of insertion was not satisfactory in 20% of cases and the reverse manoeuvre facilitated, speeded and secured tracheal intubation.
An evaluation of cardiac output by five arterial pulse contour techniques during cardiac surgery
Authors: De Wilde R. B. P. , Schreuder J. J. , Van Den Berg P. C. M. , Jansen J. R. C. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThe bias, precision and tracking ability of five different pulse contour methods were evaluated by simultaneous comparison of cardiac output values from the conventional thermodilution technique (COtd). The five different pulse contour methods included in this study were: Wesseling's method (cZ); the Modelflow method; the LiDCO system; the PiCCO system and a recently developed Hemac method. We studied 24 cardiac surgery patients undergoing uncomplicated coronary artery bypass grafting. In each patient, the first series of COtd was used to calibrate the five pulse contour methods. In all, 199 series of measurements were accepted by all methods and included in the study. COtd ranged from 2.14 to 7.55 l.min−1, with a mean of 4.81 l.min−1. Bland‐Altman analysis showed the following bias and limits of agreement: cZ, 0.23 and − 0.80 to 1.26 l.min−1; Modelflow, 0.00 and − 0.74 to 0.74 l.min−1; LiDCO, – 0.17 and − 1.55 to 1.20 l.min−1; PiCCO, 0.14 and − 1.60 to 1.89 l.min−1; and Hemac, 0.06 and − 0.81 to 0.93 l.min−1. Changes in cardiac output larger than 0.5 l.min−1 (10%) were correctly followed by the Modelflow and the Hemac method in 96% of cases. In this group of subjects, without congestive heart failure, with normal heart rhythm and reasonable peripheral circulation, the best results in absolute values as well as in tracking changes in cardiac output were measured using the Modelflow and Hemac pulse contour methods, based on non‐linear three‐element Windkessel models.
Optimal skin surface landmark for the SVC‐RA junction in cancer patients requiring the implantation of permanent central venous catheters
Authors: Hsu J. H. , Wang S. S. , Lu D. V. , Cheng K. I. , Wang C. K. , Wu J. R. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryWe compared four different skin surface landmarks, the lower margin of the right 2nd costo‐sternal junction (point A); the upper margin of the right 3rd costo‐sternal junction (point B); the lower margin of the right 3rd costo‐sternal junction (point C); and a point 5 cm below the manubrio‐sternal junction (point D), in 20 cancer patients undergoing insertion of permanent central venous catheters whose tips were placed near the superior vena cava – right atrium (SVC‐RA) junction under transoesophageal echocardiography guidance. The landmark was satisfactory if it was located within 1 cm of the SVC‐RA junction. Points C and D were closer to the SVC‐RA junction than points A and B (p < 0.0001). However, point C had the highest incidence (C: 70%, A: 0%, B: 20%, D: 30%, p < 0.0001) of being within 1 cm of the SVC‐RA junction.
Quantifying the impact of longline fisheries on adult survival in the black‐footed albatross
Authors: VÉRAN SOPHIE , GIMENEZ OLIVIER , FLINT ELIZABETH , KENDALL WILLIAM L , DOHERTY JR PAUL F. , LEBRETON JEAN‐DOMINIQUE 
Published: July 2007

SummaryIndustrial longline fishing has been suspected to impact upon black‐footed albatross populationsPhoebastria nigripesby increasing mortality, but no precise estimates of bycatch mortality are available to ascertain this statement. We present a general framework for quantifying the relationship between albatross population and longline fishing in absence of reliable estimates of bycatch rate.We analysed capture–recapture data of a population of black‐footed albatross to obtain estimates of survival probability for this population using several alternative models to adequately take into account heterogeneity in the recapture process. Instead of trying to estimate the number of birds killed by using various extrapolations and unchecked assumptions, we investigate the potential relationship between annual adult survival and several measures of fishing effort. Although we considered a large number of covariates, we used principal component analysis to generate a few uncorrelated synthetic variables from the set and thus we maintained both power and robustness.The average survival for 1997–2002 was 92%, a low value compared to estimates available for other albatross species. We found that one of the synthetic variables used to summarize industrial longline fishing significantly explained more than 40% of the variation in adult survival over 11 years, suggesting an impact by longline fishing on albatross’ survival.Our analysis provides some evidence of non‐linear variation in survival with fishing effort. This could indicate that below a certain level of fishing effort, deaths due to incidental catch can be partially or totally compensated for by a decrease in natural mortality. Another possible explanation is the existence of a strong interspecific competition for accessing the baits, reducing the risk of being accidentally hooked.Synthesis and applications.The suspicion of a significant impact of longline fishing on the black‐footed albatross population was supported by the combination of a low estimate of adult survival for the study period, and a significant relationship between adult survival and a synthetic measure of fishing effort. This study highlights the sensitivity of the black‐footed albatross to commercial longline fishing, and should exhort fishery management authorities to find adequate seabirds avoidance methods and to encourage their employment.
Climatic influences on fire regimes along a rain forest‐to‐xeric woodland gradient in northern Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Kitzberger Thomas , Veblen Thomas T. , Villalba Ricardo 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT. Influences of annual climatic variation on fire occurrence were examined along a rainfall gradient from temperate rainforest to xeric woodlands in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Fire chronologies were derived from fire scars on trees and related to tree‐ring proxy records of climate over the period 1820–1974. Similarly, fire records of four Patagonian national parks for the period 1940–1988 were compared to instrumental weather data. Finally, the influences of broad‐scale synoptic weather patterns on fire occurrence in northern Patagonia were explored.Fire in Nothofagus rainforests is highly dependent on drought during the spring and summer of the same year in which fires occur and is less strongly favoured by drought during the spring of the previous year. The occurrence of fire in dry vegetation types near the steppe ecotone is less dependent on drought because even during years of normal weather fuels are thoroughly desiccated during the dry summer. In xeric Austrocedrus woodlands, fire occurrence and spread are promoted by droughts during the fire season and also appear to be favoured by above‐average moisture conditions during the preceding 1 to 2 growing seasons which enhances fuel production. Thus, in the xeric woodlands fire is not simply dependent on drought but is favoured by greater climatic variability over time scales of several years.Fire activity in northern Patagonia is greatly influenced by the intensity and latitudinal position of the subtropical high pressure cell of the southeast Pacific. Greater fire activity is associated with a more intense and more southerly located high pressure cell which blocks the influx of Pacific moisture into the continent. Although long‐term changes in fire occurrence along the rainforest‐to‐xeric woodland gradient have been greatly influenced by human activities, annual variation in fire frequency and extent is also strongly influenced by annual climatic variation.
The physiological basis of seed dormancy in Avena fatua. VIII. Action of malonic acid
Authors: Adkins S. W. , Symons S. J. , Simpson G. M. 
Published: July 2007

Adkins, S. W., Symons, S. J. and Simpson, G. M. 1988. The physiological basis of seed dormancy in Avena fatua. VIII. Action of malonic acid ‐ Physiol. Plant, 72: 477–482.A low concentration of malonic acid (50 mM) induced germination in four genetically pure dormant lines of Avena fatua L. Sensitivity to this treatment was poor immediately after harvest but increased markedly during after‐ripening, indicating that the mode of action of malonic acid (50 mM) was similar to that of another organic acid, citric acid. Over the concentration range (10–50 mM) where malonic acid promoted germination, oxygen uptake was also stimulated, and this was before the first visible signs of germination. At higher concentrations (100–300 mM) where there was no promotion of germination, malonic acid strongly inhibited oxygen uptake. These results show that malonic acid has a dual effect on oxygen uptake and subsequent germination. Low concentrations (10–50 mM) act by stimulating the Krebs cycle and germination through an acidification reaction like citric acid, and high concentrations (100–300 mM) act by inhibiting germination through enzymatic restraint of the Krebs cycle.The stimulation of both oxygen uptake and germination by three established germination promoters (sodium nitrate, citric acid and ethanol) was inhibited by a high concentration of malonic acid (200 mM) but unaffected by a low concentration (50 mM). These results show that oxygen uptake, and hence the activity of the Krebs cycle, are important processes involved in the dormancy breaking mechanism of these three promotors.
Correction of chlorophyll‐defective male‐sterile winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) through organelle exchange: Characterization of the chlorophyll deficiency
Authors: Jarl Carin I. , Ljungberg Ulla K. , Bornman Chris H. 
Published: July 2007

Jarl, C. I., Ljungberg, U. K. and Bornman, C. H. 1988. Correction of chlorophyll‐defective male‐sterile winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) through organelle exchange: Characterization of the chlorophyll deficiency. ‐ Physiol. Plant. 72: 505–510.As is known, the introduction of male‐sterile Raphanus sativus L. cytoplasm into Brassica napus L. results in male‐sterile oilseed rape plants, which display a temperature‐related chlorophyll defect. The influences of temperature and irradiance on this defect were investigated. Compared to a line of normal (green phenotype) male‐fertile oilseed rape, the male‐sterile line had reduced chlorophyll content, fewer chloroplasts per cell, an altered ultrastructure of the chloroplasts and reduced activities of both photosystems, although the relative amounts of the photosystems and the chlorophyll a/b ratio were similar. The lower activity of the photosystems is explained by a decreased functional antennae size and a reduced efficiency in the interactions between the nuclear‐encoded light‐harvesting proteins and the reaction centres coded for by the plastome. Some thylakoid polypeptides differed in proportion between the male‐fertile line with green phenotype and the male‐sterile line with chlorotic phenotype. Characters, in which the two lines exhibited differences, are ascribed to difficulties in molecular communication between the oilseed rape nucleus and the radish cytoplasm, which are combined in the deficient male‐sterile line.