bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of recovery times and complication rates between a modified slanted slot and the standard ventral slot for the treatment of cervical disc disease in 20 dogs
Authors: McCartney W. 
Published: June 2007

Objectives: To compare the recovery times and complication rates between the standard ventral slot and the modified slanted ventral slot for the treatment of cervical disc disease in dogs with the same neurological grade. Methods: A retrospective analysis of an equal number of cervical disc cases for each procedure was carried out specifically to determine the recovery times and complication rates. To allow for meaningful comparison only dogs that had the same neurological grade were selected. Outcomes were determined by time to recover and the resolution of symptoms and complications were graded in terms of severity. Results: The standard ventral slot cases had a higher complication rate than the modified slanted slot cases with one case dying in the postoperative period. However, the modified slanted slot cases on average had a marginally slower recovery time than standard ventral slot cases. Clinical Significance: Ventral decompression using the modified slanted slot instead of the standard ventral slot will allow for spinal decompression with potentially less destabilisation, and incur a similar incidence of complications and rate of recovery.
Fluid Inclusion, Rare‐Earth Element and Stable Isotope Study of Carbonate Minerals from the Pongkor Epithermal Gold–Silver Deposit, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Warmada I Wayan , Lehmann Bernd , Simandjuntak Marolop , Hemes Herian Sudarman 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe Pongkor gold–silver deposit is the largest low‐sulfidation epithermal precious metal deposit in Indonesia, and is of Pliocene age. The deposit consists of nine major subparallel quartz–adularia–carbonate veins with very low sulfide content. Vein infill records five paragenetic sequences, dominated by calcite in the early stage and quartz in the later stage of the hydrothermal evolution. Fluid inclusions in hydrothermal calcite and quartz of all stages indicate a temperature ranging from 180 to 220°C and a meteoric water origin (very low salinity close to 0 wt% NaCl equivalent). Carbon isotope data on calcite display a narrow range from −6.5 to −3.0‰δ13C. The oxygen isotope values have a wider range of +4.6 to +10.1‰δ18O. The broadly positive correlation of the δ13C versus δ18O plot suggests that the carbon species, which equilibrated during the formation of calcite, is dominated by H2CO3 not far from equilibrium with HCO3−. The abundance of rare earth and yttrium (REY) in carbonate samples is very low (>REY mostly <2 ppm). However, there is always a positive Eu anomaly, which indicates a deeper fluid reservoir at >250°C.
Chemical Composition of Rock‐Forming Minerals in Copper–Gold‐Bearing Tonalite Porphyries at the Batu Hijau Deposit, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia: Implications for Crystallization Conditions and Fluorine–Chlorine Fugacity
Authors: Idrus Arifudin , Kolb Jochen , Meyer F. Michael 
Published: June 2007

AbstractCopper–gold mineralization at the world‐class Batu Hijau porphyry deposit, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, is closely related to the emplacement of multiple stages of tonalite porphyries. Petrographic examination indicates that at least two texturally distinct types of tonalite porphyries are currently recognized in the deposit, which are designated as “intermediate tonalite” and “young tonalite”. They are mineralogically identical, consisting of phenocrysts of plagioclase, hornblende, quartz, biotite and magnetite ± ilmenite, which are set in a medium‐coarse grained groundmass of plagioclase and quartz. The chemical composition of the rock‐forming minerals, including plagioclase, hornblende, biotite, magnetite and ilmenite in the tonalite porphyries was systematically analyzed by electron microprobe. The chemical data of these minerals were used to constrain the crystallization conditions and fluorine–chlorine fugacity of the corresponding tonalitic magma during its emplacement and crystallization. The crystallization conditions, including temperature (T), pressure (P) and oxygen fugacity (fO2), were calculated by applying the hornblende–plagioclase and magnetite–ilmenite thermometers and the Al‐in‐hornblende barometer. The thermobarometric data indicate that the tonalite porphyries were emplaced at 764 ± 22°C and 1.5 ± 0.3 × 105 kPa. If the pressure is assumed to be lithostatic, it is interpreted that the rim of hornblende and plagioclase phenocrysts crystallized at depths of approximately 5.5 km. As estimated from magnetite–ilmenite thermometry, the subsolidus conditions of the tonalite intrusion occurred at temperatures of 540–590°C and log fO2 ranging from −20 to −15 (between Ni‐NiO and hematite–magnetite buffers). This occurred at relatively high fO2 (oxidizing) condition. The fluorine–chlorine fugacity in the magma during crystallization was determined on the basis of the chemical composition of magmatic biotite. The calculation indicates that the fluorine–chlorine fugacity, represented by log (fH2O)/(fHF) and (fH2O)/(fHCl) in the corresponding tonalitic magma range from 4.31 to 4.63 and 3.62 to 3.79, respectively. The chlorine fugacity (HCl) to water (H2O) is relatively higher than the fluorine fugacity (HF to water), reflecting a high activity of chlorine in the tonalitic magma during crystallization. The relatively higher activity of chlorine (rather than fluorine) may indicate the significant role of chloride complexes (CuCl2− and AuCl2−) in transporting and precipitating copper and gold at the Batu Hijau deposit.
Behavior of Major and Trace Elements during Ore Deposition: Example from the Low‐Sulfidation Pantingan Gold System, Mount Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines
Authors: Payot Betchaida D. , Tamayo Rodolfo A. , Maglambayan Victor B. , Dimalanta Carla B. , Yumul Graciano P. , Suzuki Shigeyuki , Zhou Mei‐Fu 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe evaluation of the relatively fresh host rock and altered rock samples associated with the Pantingan Gold System exposed in Mount Mariveles, Bataan yield several notable observations that are useful in pinpointing potential gold pathfinder elements. Geochemical and petrologic analysis showed that the altered rocks can be subdivided into rocks that underwent propylitic alteration (group 1), argillized rocks with silica contents similar to those of the fresh host rocks (group 2), argillized but not strongly silicified rocks (group 3) and argillized and strongly silicified rocks (group 4). Selected element ratio patterns in the altered rocks and gold concentrations in gold‐bearing quartz veins vary between the rock groups. Moreover, mass balance calculation also reflected the geochemical observations pertaining to the gains and losses of SiO2, Fe2O3+ MgO, CaO + Na2O and K2O, which are believed to be chemical reactions (i.e. breakdown of plagioclase, silica inundation or leaching, sulfide and calcite formation) caused by the influx of hydrothermal fluids.
Porphyry‐Type Mineralization at Selogiri Area, Wonogiri Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Imai Akira , Shinomiya Jumpei , Soe Maung Thiha , Setijadji Lucas Donny , Watanabe Koichiro , Warmada I Wayan 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe Selogiri area, situated in Wonogiri regency, Central Java, is one of several gold prospecting areas in the Southern areas Mountain Range in Java, Indonesia. Three types of dioritic–andesitic intrusive rocks occur in the Selogiri area, namely, hornblende andesite porphyry, hornblende diorite porphyry and hornblende diorite, exposed in a half‐circular depression where volcanic breccia and tuff are widely distributed. The occurrence of stockwork quartz veinlets and associated with magnetite and malachite coating along the cracks in the diorite porphyry suggests porphyry type mineralization. This is also supported by the occurrence of polyphase hypersaline fluid inclusions in the stockwork veinlet quartz. Small‐scale miners are mining NS‐trending quartz veins for gold associated with base metal sulfides. These veins are probably epithermal‐type mineralization that overprinted porphyry‐type mineralization. The Neogene intermediate to silicic hydrous magmatism in Java could have formed the porphyry‐type mineralization in Selogiri, as in the rest of the Sunda–Banda arc.
Clinical significance of fatty liver associated with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Kogiso Tomomi , Moriyoshi Yuriko , Nagahara Hikaru 
Published: June 2007

Aim:  Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been recognized as a high‐risk disorder that leads to life‐threatening diseases, such as coronary vascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of fatty liver (FL) with MS in order to establish an effective treatment for FL.Methods:  One thousand two hundred and fifty‐four individuals (694 males, 560 females) who visited the Department of General Medicine, International Medical Center of Japan for a human dry dock annual check‐up from 2000 to 2004 were analyzed.Results:  FL was diagnosed in 41.5% of the males and 10.7% of the females, with the prevalence rate increasing in postmenopausal females over 55 years old. High body mass index and waist circumference were observed in those with FL, whereas body mass index reduction was strongly correlated with a decrease in alanine aminotransferase level (R = 0.6,P < 0.01). MS complications were more common in subjects with FL and the most common initial events of MS were shown to be obesity, hyperlipidemia and FL, followed by glucose intolerance and hypertension. Subjects with FL showed a higher level of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) (normal: FL = 0.38: 0.73 mg/L, P < 0.05), which was strongly correlated with serum markers that indicated lipid and glucose metabolism in females with FL (R = 0.61–0.77, P < 0.05).Conclusions:  FL could be a part of or, at least, a predictor of MS. Further, bodyweight reduction is an effective treatment for FL.
Double filtration plasmapheresis and interferon combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 and high viral load
Authors: Fujiwara Kenji , Kaneko Shuichi , Kakumu Shinichi , Sata Michio , Hige Shuhei , Tomita Eiichi , Mochida Satoshi ,   The Virus Reduction Therapy Study Group
Published: June 2007

Aim:  The efficacy and safety of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) plus interferon (IFN) combination therapy were compared with those of IFN therapy alone in 193 chronic hepatitis C patients having a high hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid load of difficult‐to‐treat genotype 1b.Methods:  All patients received either interferon alpha‐2b (IFN‐α‐2b) monotherapy or combination therapies with ribavirin and IFN‐α‐2b or pegylated interferon alpha‐2b (PEG‐IFN‐α‐2b). Each patient individually decided whether to receive concomitant DFPP. DFPP was immediately followed by IFN treatment, and up to five sessions were given during the first week.Results:  Sixty patients decided to receive DFPP. In the DFPP plus PEG‐IFN‐α‐2b therapy group (n = 30), viral load reduction at 4 weeks after the start of treatment was greater than innon‐DFPP (n = 74) (2.47 vs 1.52, log, P = 0.010), and the sustained virus response was also higher (77.8% vs 50.0%), even in cases of re‐treated patients (relapsers or non‐responders to previous IFN therapies). Adverse events, mild and transient, were observed in 38.3% of all DFPP‐treated patients.Conclusion:  DFPP plus IFN combination therapy produced a great reduction of viral load during the early stage of treatment and achieved a high sustained virus response, suggesting that this combination therapy may be a new modality for chronic hepatitis C patients at difficult‐to‐treat states.
Oral branched‐chain amino acid supplementation improves the oxidized/reduced albumin ratio in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Fukushima Hideki , Miwa Yoshiyuki , Shiraki Makoto , Gomi Ikuko , Toda Katsuhisa , Kuriyama Shoko , Nakamura Hironori , Wakahara Toshitatsu , Era Seiichi , Moriwaki Hisataka 
Published: June 2007

Aim:  Branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation improves hypoalbuminemia in decompensated cirrhotics. Recently, it was clarified that the ratio of oxidized albumin within total albumin rises with progression of liver cirrhosis. We conducted a feasibility study to investigate whether BCAA supplementation might improve this ratio.Methods:  Seven cirrhotic patients (age: 70 ±> 6 years; M/F = 4/3; etiology: hepatitis C in six and non‐B/non‐C hepatitis virus in one; Child–Pugh classification: A in six and B in one) were enrolled consecutively in this study in October 2004 to March 2005. Patients were given 4 g BCAA after each meal for 8 weeks. Serum total, oxidized and reduced albumin, plasma amino acids, glutathione, zinc, selenium, and lipid peroxide concentrations were measured every 2 weeks.Results:  Low total albumin, high oxidized albumin, and low reduced albumin levels were observed at entry. After 8 weeksBCAA supplementation, the ratio of oxidized albumin within total albumin decreased significantly and that of reduced albumin increased significantly (P < 0.05, respectively). Total albumin tended to rise and lipid peroxide concentrations tended to fall, but not significantly.Conclusion:  BCAA supplementation improved the oxidized/reduced state of serum albumin. This intervention is effective to maintain the quality of serum albumin in cirrhotic patients.
Evaluation of long‐term biochemical responses to combination therapy of interferon plus ribavirin in those infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and high baseline viral load
Authors: Sezaki Hitomi , Suzuki Fumitaka , Kawamura Yusuke , Yatsuji Hiromi , Hosaka Tetsuya , Akuta Norio , Kobayashi Masahiro , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Arase Yasuji , Ikeda Kenji , Kumada Hiromitsu 
Published: June 2007

Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine the long‐term effects in non‐responders (NRs) to 48‐week interferon (IFN) and ribavirin combination treatment in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b and high baseline viral loads.Methods:  We measured serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV‐RNA levels in 52 consecutive patients infected with HCV genotype 1b and high viral loads who received combination therapy for 48 weeks.Results:  Sustained virologic response (SVR) was noted in 30 patients (57.7%). Virologic response (VR), that is serum HCV‐RNA negativity by the end of treatment and positivity during follow‐up, was noted in nine patients (17.3%). Thirteen (25.0%) patients were NRs. Significantly lower serum albumin (P = 0.007) and ribavirin doses according to body weight (P = 0.021) and higher gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT,P = 0.038) were noted at baseline in the NR group than in the SVR and VR groups. ALT normalization rates at six months after the completion of treatment were 55.6% (5/9) in VR and 61.5% (8/13) in NRs. Sustained ALT normalization at two years after the completion of treatment was noted in 55.6% (5/9) and 58.3% (7/12), respectively.Conclusion:  Our study indicates a high rate of ALT normalization in patients infected with HCV genotype 1b and high baseline viral loads who received combination therapy and that such a rate could be maintained after the completion of therapy, even in NRs. Our results suggest that combination therapy should be continued in NRs who show ALT normalization in order to prevent potential hepatocarcinogenesis.
Association between hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and frequency of human leukocyte antigen class I and II alleles in Turkish patients
Authors: Aydinli Bulent , Pirim Ibrahim , Polat Kamil Y. , Gursan Nesrin , Atamanalp Sabri S. , Ezer Mehmet , Donmez Ramazan 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a potentially fatal, chronically progressive hepatic infestation that is characterized by a long asymptomatic period in which an invasive tumor‐like lesion develops. Several studies have suggested that genetic susceptibility to AE may be linked to HLA class II alleles. We investigated the association between AE and antigen HLA‐A, B, C, DR and DQ profiles of patients with hepatic AE (HAE) in the eastern part of Turkey.Methods:  This case‐controlled study was performed on 44 unrelated patients with HAE and 76 control subjects. The diagnosis was supported by clinical, radiological, and histopathological evidence. The association of class I and class II HLA antigens was examined in the patients with HAE and control subjects.Results:  There was an increase in the antigen frequencies of HLA‐DRB1*15, HLA‐DQB1*02, 06, 07 in the HAE patientscompared with those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). HLA‐DQB1*02, 06, 07 were more frequent in patients with stages III and IV who were classified according to the PNM staging system.Conclusions:  The present study indicates that susceptibility to HAE in the Turkish population is essentially HLA class II and poorly class I mediated, with HLA‐26, and DRB1*015, DQB1* 02, 06, 07 with more allele distribution in the patient group. Our results are not similar to those of other studies, but contribute to the discussions on the association of HLA class I and class II alleles with AE.
Prolonged engraftment of human hepatocytes in mice transgenic for the deleted form of human hepatocyte growth factor
Authors: Krishnan Anuradha , Viker Kimberly , Rietema Heleen , Telgenkamp Marije , Knudsen Bruce , Charlton Michael 
Published: June 2007

Aim:  Small animal models chimeric for human hepatocytes have provided valuable insights into the biology of hepatotropic viral infection and provided a platform for the study of therapeutic agents. Existing models of human hepatocyte transplantation are limited by phenotypic fragility and impaired immunity. We hypothesized that mice transgenic for human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent human hepatocyte mitogen, would engraft human hepatocytes in the absence of immunodeficiency.Methods:  A plasmid construct containing the 2.3 kb coding region of the 723 amino acid isoform of HGF cDNA under the transcriptional control of the mouse albumin promoter/enhancer was used to generate transgenic mice. Cryopreserved human hepatocytes were transplanted into nine transgenic and six non‐transgenic mice. Engraftment of human hepatocytes was followed for a period of 12 weeks by immunoblotting for human albumin in mouse serum samples.Results:  In six out of the nine transgenic mice, abundance of human albumin, following an initial decline, increased andpeaked at > 70 days post transplantation, demonstrating sustained engraftment of transplanted human hepatocytes. In all the non‐transgenic mice, post‐transplant human albumin levels declined sequentially without evidence of sustained engraftment. Immunostaining of mouse liver sections indicated the presence of human hepatocytes adjacent to clusters of non‐staining murine hepatocytes.Conclusion:  These results demonstrate that sustained engraftment of human hepatocytes in mice is facilitated by expression of the human dHGF transgene. Human hepatocyte engraftment in this model has been achieved on an immunocompetent strain background and merits further study as a candidate for the study of hepatotropic viral infections.
Anti‐hepatitis C virus activity of albinterferon alfa‐2b in cell culture
Authors: Liu Chen , Zhu Haizhen , Subramanian G. Mani , Moore Paul A. , Xu Yiling , Nelson David R. 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Interferon‐based combination therapy is the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The weekly administration of long‐acting pegylated interferons (PEG‐IFNα‐2a or PEG‐IFNα‐2b) provides superior antiviral efficacy over standard interferon alfa (IFNα) for the treatment of HCV infection. Albinterferon alfa‐2b (alb‐IFN) is a novel recombinant protein consisting of IFNα‐2b that is genetically fused to human albumin.Methods:  To test alb‐IFN antiviral efficacy, we compared the antiviral activity of unmodified IFNα with the three modified interferons (PEG‐IFNα‐2a, PEG‐IFNα‐2b, and alb‐IFN) at clinically relevant serum concentrations using liver cell‐based and non‐liver cell‐based HCV replicon cell lines. The EC50 in GSB cells for IFNα‐2b, PEG‐IFNα‐2a, PEG‐IFNα‐2b and alb‐IFN was 7 U/mL, 1.1 ng/mL, 18 ng/mL, and 15 ng/mL, respectively.Results:  At clinically relevant patient serum concentrations, alb‐IFN exhibits more antiviral activity than the pegylated interferons. Alb‐IFN showed similar inhibition of HCV replication in human liver cells and non‐liver cells, indicating it has anti‐HCV activity in non‐liver cells. The magnitude of induction of interferon‐stimulated genes (MxA, 2′5′OAS1, IFI44, and IFI27) at 6 h and 48 h was comparable for all the modified IFNs in human liver cells at the drug concentrations evaluated.Conclusion:  The present study indicates that alb‐IFN has a potent, direct anti‐HCV activity in both liver and non‐liver cells.
Changes in viral loads of lamivudine‐resistant mutants during entecavir therapy
Authors: Suzuki Fumitaka , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Akuta Norio , Yatsuji Hiromi , Sezaki Hitomi , Arase Yasuji , Kawamura Yusuke , Hosaka Tetsuya , Kobayashi Masahiro , Ikeda Kenji , Kobayashi Mariko , Watahiki Sachiyo , Kumada Hiromitsu 
Published: June 2007

Aim:  Entecavir therapy is effective against lamivudine‐resistant virus in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. We investigated viral load changes of YMDD mutant virus (rtM204I [YIDD sequence], rtM204V [YVDD]) in serial serum samples during entecavir treatment for lamivudine‐resistant virus and determined changes in viral precore and core promoter mutants.Methods:  Nineteen patients were treated in randomized, double‐blind phase II clinical trials of entecavir at 0.5 or 1.0 mg for breakthrough hepatitis due to lamivudine‐resistant virus. Viral changes in YMDD mutants (rtM204I, rtM204V), amino acid changes in the polymerase reverse transcriptase region and precore/core promoter mutations at 52 weeks were determined in 18 patients.Results:  Changes in viral loads of rtM204I and rtM204V were similar. No differences in load changes were seen betweenthe 0.5 and 1.0 mg groups. However, load changes for rtM204I alone were greater than those for the rtM204I + rtM204V mixed‐type (P = 0.042, at both 40 and 52 weeks). Load changes in rtM204I and rtM204V with G1896A tended to be greater than those without. Moreover, G1896A was replaced by wild‐type virus in two patients at 52 weeks.Conclusion:  RtM204I only or the existence of precore mutation was more sensitive to entecavir therapy against lamivudine‐resistant virus.
Multivariate Analysis of Complex DNA Sequence Electropherograms for High-Throughput Quantitative Analysis of Mixed Microbial Populations
Authors: Trosvik Pål , Skånseng Beate , Jakobsen Kjetill S. , Stenseth Nils C. , Næs Tormod , Rudi Knut 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

High-throughput quantification of genetically coherent units (GCUs) is essential for deciphering population dynamics and species interactions within a community of microbes. Current techniques for microbial community analyses are, however, not suitable for this kind of high-throughput application. Here, we demonstrate the use of multivariate statistical analysis of complex DNA sequence electropherograms for the effective and accurate estimation of relative genotype abundance in cell samples from mixed microbial populations. The procedure is no more labor-intensive than standard automated DNA sequencing and provides a very effective means of quantitative data acquisition from experimental microbial communities. We present results with the
Campylobacter jejuni
strain-specific marker gene
gltA
, as well as the 16S rRNA gene, which is a universal marker across bacterial assemblages. The statistical models computed for these genes are applied to genetic data from two different experimental settings, namely, a chicken infection model and a multispecies anaerobic fermentation model, demonstrating collection of time series data from model bacterial communities. The method presented here is, however, applicable to any experimental scenario where the interest is quantification of GCUs in genetically heterogeneous DNA samples.